Erikse

Is it really that bad to be used as a stepping stone by the odd player? Isak contributed massively to 2 CL qualifications and the cup trophy. Then when he threw a tantrum we banked twice the transfer fee that we paid. I'd say that's a pretty damn good outcome, even considering that he was a cunt who forced a move in the end. I wonder what we would have achieved if we didn't make that signing out of concern of being used as a stepping stone. The issue is how we wasted all the money that we got for him..

In the last 2 seasons they are at a net positive in transfer fees. Here are the 24/25 outgoings: Total amortization cost doesn't include fees gained from sales. Only the amortization that they were paying for the player will be subtracted. Villa has earned so much through sales.

I wouldn't mind it too much if it wasn't for the fact that I don't trust us to reinvest it well at all. Will probably struggle until august with buying anyone of note, and then panic at the end.

He's going on strike in protest for them not buying enough quality in the window. It doesn't seem like he's trying to get sold, he's just throwing a tantrum. Not sure if this can be considered as transfer news.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15519037/Cristiano-Ronaldo-goes-strike-refusing-play-Saudi-club.html C. Ronaldo unhappy with PIF, and goes on strike.

Might be an unpopular opinion this, but I personally don't like the fact that we put so much into the Carabao Cup in a CL season when our squad isn't big enough to fight on all fronts. We fielded several key players against Bradford in our first round, for instance. I'm not trying to downplay the feeling of winning a trophy, but it's a long shot for us to win it again in a season with so many games, when we still need a stronger squad. It's overwhelmingly likely that we'll just end up with more injuries and fatigue, and then go out later anyways. Last season we had strong reasons to go hard in this cup. The trophy drought and no Europe. Not this season, for me atleast. Not saying we should have given it up completely, but I would have liked atleast a little more rotation. Heck, even if we go out early due to rotation, we can still go hard on the FA Cup later down the line, a greater cup that we haven't won in recent time.

He has been very good for a while in 2025, but we've kept 4 clean sheets in the league in games where he has played atleast half of it (all of them vs bottom 6 sides). In the first 4 games of the season when he wasn't playing yet, we kept 3 clean sheets. We've never looked rock solid at the back since he came. Ofcourse it's far from just his fault, but I miss the times of Burn and Schar at their peak for us. There was a time where our CBs rarely ever let someone get past them.

xG truly is reliable.

Problem is, we need 15 chances to score, while they need like 3.

Well.. Gordon needs to be careful with his pressing now. There goes that purpose.

Must be for the press? I thought Wissa could press well, though.

True. First time this season? Probably needed a rest. I believe he was returning from injury the other times that he was on the bench.

Atleast he will turn up today, then.

That choice of picture. Tbf I would also want to do that to van Dijk.

I get the choice of Barnes and Elanga at the wings, but then I'd bench Gordon and play Wissa instead. Seems like benching Gordon is never an option, though. I don't want to say too much now, because I would look silly if Gordon scores.

Imagine if Joao Pedro added consistency to his game. He would be unstoppable.

Especially as they had to beat City aswell to even stand a chance.. 5 games in they had 2 points with the remaining games being BVB (a), City (h), and Atletico (a).. 7 points needed.

Atleast we stopped PSG from getting top 8. That's a win by itself.

Bodø Glimt just had to beat City and Atletico away in the last 2 to get through.. Add a draw away to BVB in the round before that. What an incredible comeback.

Maybe not, but he has to cover for Botman, whos going to solve all our midfield issues.

According to livescore, this is what Eddie has in mind.

Since the Milan home game 2 years ago? Guess it depends on how you see it.

I agree. Problem is that except from Schar and Barnes we don't have players who can hit them all that well. People say that Villa are lucky with their goals, but maybe they're just really good at long range shots and well coached in terms of when they should go for it.

Said it many times, but we allways looked kind of meh last season when Isak was injured, or even just out of form. His form coincided with our form. When he was not fit, we looked more like what we do this season.