timnufc22

I understand the sentiment and logic, but while we do that someone like Iraola goes to another club and we miss an opportunity that could be great for us. We have to look at the landscape and make a decision in the cold light of day and there are more than enough signs to point towards Howe not being the man to rejuvenate this team.

Iraola agreed to signing 18yr old Kroupie last summer who has started a lot of their games, scoring 10 premier league goals this season and 19yr old Rayan in January who has stated 7 games, scoring 2 goals. That Iraola is happy and willing to start young players is completely in line with an element of the transfer strategy we need to adopt and a massive tick. To me it is clear Howe has a cautious nature when it comes to developing youth. Apparently we were looking at Rayan in January, Howe has the final say so I can only assume he didn’t fancy taking a ‘risk’ on a 19yr old for the first team. Just taking it at face value, Bournemouth & Iraola’s talent ID was clearly better in that situation.

@Kid Icarus did you get a look at the shorts & socks?

A couple of colour versions:

@Shadow Puppets any idea about the socks mate??

😅 just looking at things logically, I never ruled Villa out after their loss to Man City because of this. I really hope Fulham, Spurs & Man Utd can turn up and beat them.

I’ll say it again, I think people underestimate how easy Villa’s fixtures are. Bournemouth (a) is a potential tough one, but they should comfortably win the rest. Where-as while we could win our games, you wouldn’t be surprised if we lost away to Arsenal, not massively draw/lose against Chelsea as it’s such a tight game and Brighton (a) is not exactly a walk in the park either.

@Shadow Puppets any idea on the socks colour / style?

I simply cannot see Villa not winning their remaining games, bar Bournemouth away, which isn’t exactly a guaranteed loss either.

Can you say if the adidas stripes are white or black?

Are there any stripes at all on the back, at the top or bottom?

Any spares going?

The club need to pull the plug and do a bus parade, simple as.

His refusal to play the ball down the line to Tino on the overlap sums up his obsession with coming inside and playing square passes instead. He does it too much when on the left, even though I understand wanting to come onto your natural foot, but the fact he also refuses to go down the line on the right, on his natural side, is baffling.

He’s a no.10, ultimately.

He rarely tries to. He comes inside all the time, like it’s beneath him to take a player on using his pace, it’s weird.

He's a good player but, dare I say, he's not all that and I've been uncomfortable with this aura of an almost elite status that has surrounded him and he has a lot of good PR. It like we're trying to fit him in and afraid to keep him RW for any extended run as if we don't want to upset him, granted I know Howe would say he's trying to get him back to a higher level. But his strengths have always been his raw bursts of pace, his tenacity, his pressing and fearlessness. Trying to shoehorn him into this creative, silky, reliable finisher isn't going to work, which is why I've always insisted his strengths are better suited to RW in the long-run, despite playing well LW season.

Actions speak louder than words and the manager and staff can tell him whatever they want, but those words will be hollow from his point of view when he's never given a long run and subbed every game he plays. He should have been LW all season up til now, Gordon has not played well and came back late. Barnes was ready and sharp and still scored brilliant goals from the starts/sub appearances he did get. But Gordon is always quick to get his LW back, look at the Brighton game - low and behold Barnes is dropped and while Gordon was lively in the first 20 mins, his end product was once again was poor.

Those impacts will start to fade very quickly once he realises he's not trusted to be a first eleven player, I'm really surprised and disappointed at Eddie's handling of him. Barnes has scored a number of worldies this season yet he's almost being viewed as a write-off and while he needs to do more at times (like every other player so far), part of that perception stems from being subbed off every single time and never being given a long run in the side.

I think if Tonali was sitting deeper it wouldn't be much of an issue, Bruno himself doesn't necessarily have to fly forward, Isak can cover those areas between the lines defensively, I don't see him as a lazy player off the ball or anything. Like I say, I'd be tempted to play Willock as a 10 behind Isak for now until we signed another forward. I'd like to see Tonali & Bruno form that partnership, I can imagine they'd very much be on the same wavelength.

Wilson/Osula/New Striker Isak Barnes Bruno Tonali Gordon Tonali and Bruno have the quality and know-how to play together surely... and I can imagine Tonali enjoying playing with a skilful no10 in front of him while also having the option of playing longer passes in behind to a second forward. Isak needs a partner to work with in front of him and he's also perfect to link the midfield and attack. He naturally wants to drop deep and get on the ball, he needs to be closer to the likes of Bruno and other technical players. He'll get more space in the box arriving slightly deeper too and can also carry the ball from deep. We need more goal threats on the pitch, if Osula isn't ready to play many minutes I question those use of funds and either way I'd be looking to spend a decent amount on a quality striker to play with Isak. In the mean time I'd also be tempted to play Willock in the no10 role to link with Isak further ahead, which is his natural position anyway imo.

Perhaps let the lad have a long run in the side, without being the first one to be subbed all the time aswell, to find out? I can imagine any player finding it more difficult to get into a rhythm when you know you know you’re not trusted as much as others even though you’ve never had a proper run in the side. He scored a superb goal vs Spurs and did as good as anyone else in general play yet was dropped the next game. It’s frustrating because I see don’t necessarily see the the likes of Murphy & Gordon being judged on the same standards.

Why is Barnes judged differently to other players? How come others are allowed off days / up and down form, yet the moment Barnes doesn't score a worldly, he's questioned, subbed off or switched away from the LW...

Transformative stuff apparently... so I'm confused why they haven't walked the Championship the last 2 years? Also confused how Spurs finished 8th the season before last and scraped 5th last season when they have so many gigs on and such a clear advantage? I'm being slightly facetious of course, but you get the point.