Sibierski

Burn and getting tight

Muric is why if I was Ipswich, I’d be going after Pope (if we was open for a sale). Not going to help them playing out, but like Muric is a sure thing doing that anyway, and importantly, Pope won’t be throwing in goals and costing valuable points. Ipswich have the goals to stay up, but not the solidity.

How much more was Delap than Osula? £5m?

We win tomorrow and suddenly everything is milhouse gif.

Tino was a needed signing. Future long term RB, where we only had one in Trippier and on his last legs. Low wages that can grow, young profile where money can be brought back. Our issue hasn’t been the signings made, it’s the players not sold.

We were shite away from home, Sheff Utd the only help.

Villa have a legit chance of back to back UCL as you do expect this season for England to get 5 places. Which would be a massive thing for them to stay cemented up there and do some serious future proofing.

Firing Forest to Europe

Wayne Rooney.

Shouldn’t need to be bringing in that many players each window, and with such a high turnover Would end up a disaster. Main thing is slimming down squad, having quality concentrated in 15-16 core outfield players, with others made up of promising / raw youngsters of the 18-22 age. Allows you to keep your stars on competitive wages and a clear pathway for the promising talent over the bigger clubs. Just we can’t do the latter still, because squad is still bloated with likes of Hayden on books And need to get rid of many more players.

Is Wilson in same boat as Sturridge? Where a lot of the injuries is in his head?

Thinking about this game yesterday, and despite having little confidence in getting a result, it is the sort of game where should be expecting better energy levels then the opposition and a good plan to approach the game. Whole positive point of not being in Europe is for this type of game. We’ve had a week to work on a specific game plan for opposition, whilst they are travelling back from Europe Friday morning and will have scratch training just working briefly on shape and set up.

We had a number of players who could cover LW, just would mean needing to be creative elsewhere. Isak / Joelinton / Anderson were all capable of playing there. Meant then signing a ST / RW, but as been touched on previously, Barnes was the opportunistic move which Howe would’ve endorsed with Staveley backing and the rest is history. Would expect those types of deals don’t happen again now.

Best case is he’s back in December, gets 5 games, scores 2 goals, and it’s enough to entice a club in bottom 5 to sign him for £5m in desperation for goals.

ASM still the same. From the brilliance dribbling to make gains and break lines, to the pure shit end product. Still miss him though.

Wasn’t even hindsight to sell him in 2023. Isak was the number one striker and we needed to sell players. Club decided not too, spend, then had the financial mess this summer (and probably why Staveley was sent packing). Would expect moving forward for things to be different now when it comes to selling at the peak time, with a consistent list of players refreshed ready to target as a replacement should an offer come in.

Get them up, and get them dished with a dose of reality when they’re back to losing most weeks.

Mbuemo I’d take all day. But then you look at the issues we’ve faced this summer, I feel I’d rather see the club go elsewhere. Had we been able to get a fee for Almiron/Wilson, then Mbeumo would be great as he would be the 2nd striker too and still allow for another named RW. But that’s two players where it should be £40m summer 2023, likely going summer 2025 for £0.

Raphina on fire.

Just looked at our first two seasons back, and it’s a prime example of why we’re stagnant with the squad. Of the players remaining: Murphy £12m - Still here, little resale value Dubravka £4m - Useless Schar £3m - Superb, but no resale value Almiron £21m - Little resale value Compare that to Villa first two seasons back: Luiz £15m - Sold this summer for £45m plus players Konsa £12m - Big value Mings £20m - Knee injury dented value and sale chance Martinez £17m - Solid Cash £14m - Should get money back Watkins £28m - Big player Villa were more ambitious when they came back up. And now they’ve got a competent manager, they’re getting dividends as it’s a base to build on. We’re still paying the price for Ashley lean years, but come next summer, we should be in a position where we can start moving forward with a better base. Would say Villa have overtaken us, but it can and should swing next summer if we are ambitious.

Villa recruitment still has some Ls. Spent a lot on LB, and still need to sign a LB. Carlos is a dud. Onana was a sure thing, but it’s big money for what could be a routine CM. Diaby they were fortunate to get money back. They’ve also signed a number of players that will have little impact. Inheriting Martinez, Konsa, McGinn and Watkins as the core who have all stepped up under Emery been the key. Our core for similar was Dubravka, Schar, Longstaff and Wilson Replacing/Improving that core in upcoming seasons will be Villas test. Like it’s easy to forget how much Villa spent in their first seasons back up, whilst we were still very tight under Ashley.

Villa will be fine over Christmas, their issue will be come March time and players being shagged. Form will drop off, like it did last season. Just depends where they are points wise, if it’s a position that can be ridden out. Put themselves in with a great early chance of finishing top 8 and going into the L16 rather than last 32. In which case, would be a legit chance of making UCL QFs. That money there will help them spend well next season, which is partly one reason which fucked us. We no doubt banked on having UCL 2nd half of season and it showed.

From what I’ve heard about him, he would be the ideal RB if we see Tino as long term RB. Fits the profile for the market we should operate in for the back ups to first team players.

I feel the system for me will depend on what Howe sees being the future role of Tino, as he’s clearly a long term RB. Last season, when Hall wasn’t close to breaking into the side, I suggested something like this in the build up: Schar , Botman, Burn Bruno , Tonali Tino, New RW, Willock, Gordon Isak Basically Tino would push right up as a RW, and the RW would be someone who can play in the pockets, utilising Tino as the attacking outlet. But now, giving Hall is finally in the side and looking good, I’d like to see us train Tino to be a good defensive full back and it be: Tino, Schar, Botman Tonali, Hall Barnes, Bruno, Willock, Gordon Isak Hall to revert in to help with build up, allowing Bruno to be further forward. Just doesn’t feel it’s possible to have both Tino / Hall as full backs going wide, as it’s something you see very little of at the top level currently.

Glad he’s got a new deal. Needs to improve his end product to go next level, but I would rather keep him than lose him as his drive and work rate is something you can’t coach into a player. Hopefully it’s a start of positive stuff to come from the club moving forward now.