Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2013/14

Neil3030

COYVB wrote: »

If he has a decent preseason and gets more comfortable with English, the area and his team mates, he's going to be a monster.

jimmy the car

Great start to the season!

17/08/2013 15:00 Arsenal (a)

24/08/2013 15:00 Liverpool (h)

31/08/2013 15:00 Chelsea (a)

14/09/2013 15:00 Newcastle United (h)

21/09/2013 15:00 Norwich City (a)

28/09/2013 15:00 Manchester City (h)

the_doctor199

jimmy the car wrote: »

Great start to the season!

17/08/2013 15:00 Arsenal (a)

24/08/2013 15:00 Liverpool (h)

31/08/2013 15:00 Chelsea (a)

14/09/2013 15:00 Newcastle United (h)

21/09/2013 15:00 Norwich City (a)

28/09/2013 15:00 Manchester City (h)

You can probably move Chelsea to another date as they play Athletico on the 30th

matrim

Poor opening run. I was hoping to start with a couple of easier games to help the new guys gel into the team.

Doodee

Got to take the good with the bad I guess.

Is there any more rumour with Belhanda? would still like to hear us make a coup with his signing.

death1234567

Doodee wrote: »

Is there any more rumour with Belhanda? would still like to hear us make a coup with his signing.

I'd doubt there was anything in it to begin with to be honest.

Neil3030

Jeaaaysis that's a rough run of fixtures. If we've 3 points from those games we'll be doing well.

OneColdHand

Well that's a tough start alright. But in one way it's not a bad thing. There's no pressure on as we're not expected to do much in those games. It will give the new guys a chance to gel, and hopefully they will be well bedded in by the time fixtures get a bit easier.

And actually, frequently the bigger teams aren't that hot either in the first couple of games. Chelsea and City will both have new managers and presumably new players, so it will be a bedding in period for them too. It might be as good a time as any to nick a point from them!

listermint

OneColdHand wrote: »

Well that's a tough start alright. But in one way it's not a bad thing. There's no pressure on as we're not expected to do much in those games. It will give the new guys a chance to gel, and hopefully they will be well bedded in by the time fixtures get a bit easier.

And actually, frequently the bigger teams aren't that hot either in the first couple of games. Chelsea and City will both have new managers and presumably new players, so it will be a bedding in period for them too. It might be as good a time as any to nick a point from them!

And pool will have no andy carroll or suarez :P

Patser

listermint wrote: »

And pool will have no andy carroll or suarez :P

And Newcastle are currently having all sorts of fun and games within their management, I'd imagine there'll be a few French lads looking for a way out of there soon.

Also just to add, finally there could be a Christmas season we could enjoy - have a vague memory the last few Christmases have been very tough. And there're a few games before the last day we could target for points if in another relegation scrap.

jimmy the car

Patser wrote: »

And Newcastle are currently having all sorts of fun and games within their management, I'd imagine there'll be a few French lads looking for a way out of there soon.

Also just to add, finally there could be a Christmas season we could enjoy - have a vague memory the last few Christmases have been very tough. And there're a few games before the last day we could target for points if in another relegation scrap.

We nearly always were the Stephens and or New Years Day televised game because it was against one of the big 4 so in a way it's a plesent surprise we don't play them this year.

LeBash

November looks like it could be an alright month for us. Just hope they gel by then. There are a lot of players that need to click and if we beleive what we hear therewill be at least one more potentially 2

Neil3030

Not too worried about the team gelling as they'll have a full preseason and not many of the new signings will immediately be starters. I don't see Bacuna or Helenius commanding an immediate start and it's unlikely Tonev will get ahead of Gabby and Weimann. But we'll see, I guess.

CSF

Luna confirmed as per club Facebook.

jimmy the car

Holman gone so the shipping out starts...

djPSB

Season expectations? Top 10 perhaps?

CSF

djPSB wrote: »

Season expectations? Top 10 perhaps?

12-14th. Top 10 would be asking alot

JPA

CSF wrote: »

12-14th. Top 10 would be asking alot

Don't know if its unrealistic. West Brom, Swansea and west ham managed it and were no great shakes.

astonaidan

Champions by Feb for me

CSF

JPA wrote: »

Don't know if its unrealistic. West Brom, Swansea and west ham managed it and were no great shakes.

Would have been a bold prediction for them too. Someone has to fill those 8th to 10th places though

Frankie Lee

With Okore in defence I reckon Villa be much improved, so anywhere between 8th and 13th I'd expect.

CSF

Frankie Lee wrote: »

With Okore in defence I reckon Villa be much improved, so anywhere between 8th and 13th I'd expect.

How much of Okore have you seen?

COYVB

CSF wrote: »

12-14th. Top 10 would be asking alot

We weren't particularly far off it this season. There's not that much of a jump from 17th to 10th in the premiership over the difference of a season, really

CSF

COYVB wrote: »

We weren't particularly far off it this season. There's not that much of a jump from 17th to 10th in the premiership over the difference of a season, really

Think you might be underestimating that a tiny bit. I remain cautious but hopeful. Still think Lamberts plan won't fully pay dividends for another season or 2

COYVB

CSF wrote: »

Think you might be underestimating that a tiny bit. I remain cautious but hopeful. Still think Lamberts plan won't fully pay dividends for another season or 2

I wouldn't say so. Couple of results in our favour and we'd have been top half. The premier league isn't that good outside the top 5

Corholio

N'Zogbia 'injured while on holiday'. May miss the start of the season.

CSF

COYVB wrote: »

I wouldn't say so. Couple of results in our favour and we'd have been top half. The premier league isn't that good outside the top 5

I know how close it is, but we haven't seen anything to suggest Villa have bridged the gap on Swansea or West Brom yet. Lets hope the new lads do the biz.

COYVB

CSF wrote: »

I know how close it is, but we haven't seen anything to suggest Villa have bridged the gap on Swansea or West Brom yet. Lets hope the new lads do the biz.

The last few months of the season didn't suggest that?

Neil3030

The Luna has landed

CSF

COYVB wrote: »

The last few months of the season didn't suggest that?

No all teams have good and bad spells throughout a season. Those teams were more consistent throughout the season. Consistency is what Lambert needs to prove this season and I think he will to an extent, just maybe not quite as much as you think he will.

Doodee

Neil3030 wrote: »

The Luna has landed

Excellent!
Have loads more options now. Going to be very exciting seeing this team grow together.

Patser

astonaidan wrote: »

Champions by Feb for me

Champions or Championship.........


or Champions League!!!!:cool:

CSF

COYVB wrote: »

The last few months of the season didn't suggest that?

And while I really don't want to become the thread's Negative Nancy, it wasn't even 2 months of form. It was a good 8 game spell despite 2 defeats but was worthy of the end result of staying up where it hadn't looked previously likely.

Still lots of work to do to push away from the relegation battle and into the safe confines of the top half of the table.

COYVB

CSF wrote: »

And while I really don't want to become the thread's Negative Nancy, it wasn't even 2 months of form. It was a good 8 game spell despite 2 defeats but was worthy of the end result of staying up where it hadn't looked previously likely.

Still lots of work to do to push away from the relegation battle and into the safe confines of the top half of the table.

It wasn't about results, from half time in the newcastle game we clicked. We looked a far more cohesive unit - they players looked like they "got it" at last. Screw the results, I'm talking about the massive strides in football

CSF

COYVB wrote: »

It wasn't about results, from half time in the newcastle game we clicked. We looked a far more cohesive unit - they players looked like they "got it" at last. Screw the results, I'm talking about the massive strides in football

That is the difference with form and confidence brought about by good performances. Remains to be seen if that will follow into next season especially with the tough start. If Benteke went tomorrow I'd still be terrified of the drop. I'm happy enough keeping my expectations low and allowing myself to be pleasantly surprised.

Corholio

I think it's important the defence can gel quickly and be a lot more solid than last season, not keeping a clean sheet for 6 months was shocking to be honest and only saved by Benteke's great form. All the signs is Okore could be a good signing there, but like all the others we'll wait and see.

COYVB

CSF wrote: »

That is the difference with form and confidence brought about by good performances. Remains to be seen if that will follow into next season especially with the tough start. If Benteke went tomorrow I'd still be terrified of the drop. I'm happy enough keeping my expectations low and allowing myself to be pleasantly surprised.

IMO that exact same squad we had on the last day of the season would be capable of top 10 this coming season with no ins or outs. The squad now is capable of it too. If we lose Benteke, we're still capable of it, but we'll need a hell of a step up from Gabby or Andi, or for Helenius to make a hell of a mark. 8th, 9th and 10th could be literally any team who stayed up last season. Everton have a new manager now too - I don't necessarily think they're a given to be in the European chasing clubs.

Mistakes, inexperience and lack of familiarity hurt us big time last season. Will we make mistakes again this season? Absolutely. Will we get punished for almost every single one of them with a goal against like we did last season? Highly unlikely. Those players have a very, very tough season under their belts now too, and towards the end of the season they looked a lot more comfortable. Yes, that might be a handily timed bump in form or confidence, but it could also be that the players were finally after growing comfortable with what's being asked of them.

We were absolutely awful for a good deal of the season last year, and still could've made top 10 without too much more. We lost a LOT of games playing the wrong system. When we settled on one, there was an almost immediate improvement in performances, and then results. It wasn't quite enough at times, but that's the good thing about young players - they improve all the time.

Relegation won't be a concern this year, realistically. Sadly our starting fixtures probably mean there'll be a bit of hysteria around it since we'll essentially be giving everyone else a big head start, but we'll be fine long term IMO

Eathrin

Villa could definitely finish 9-11 this year. As long as we stay away from relegation fights I think we're showing progress.

Dr. Greenthumb

When you consider that 6 more points last season would have put Villa in 9th, then top 10 is achievable next season. Good leads were thrown away last season and had a fair share of bad luck which hopefully won`t be as significant in the upcoming season.

As for Benteke, if he doesn`t sign an extension, it would be better to hold on to him for a season and sell him for 10m next Summer than to sell him for 25m this Summer IMO. A season of relative stability is needed.

kevthegaff

what ye reckon will be the first team nxt year?

death1234567

kevthegaff wrote: »

what ye reckon will be the first team nxt year?

Guzan

Lowton - Vlaar - Okore - Luna

Westwood - Delph/Sylla

Gabby - "New Signing" - Weimann

Beneteke

BUNK1982

Does anyone think we should be looking at Wanyama from Celtic?

I still feel need a strong midfielder.

JPA

BUNK1982 wrote: »

Does anyone think we should be looking at Wanyama from Celtic?

I still feel need a strong midfielder.

Probably wouldn't be prepared to pay the fee.

matrim

JPA wrote: »

Probably wouldn't be prepared to pay the fee.

I think there's still money there if Lambert can justify a signing. Maybe not a 20m player but I could easily see us paying 10m for someone if they were good enough

Esse85

Helix wrote: »

el ahmadi looks like he'll be a really good signing, as does holman, somewhat unexpectedly

LOL

Esse85

Helix wrote: »

the seasonal goal was always staying in the league, which we'll comfortably do LOL KEA is a better version of petrov LOL, vlaar is twice the player of collins, LOL

:rolleyes:

Esse85

Helix wrote: »

i think you're all underrating herd. he's a very good player as things stand, with the potential to get a lot better

LOL

Esse85

Helix wrote: »

i think both the defence and the midfield are a lot better than you assume

LOL

Esse85

Helix wrote: »

Center back
Central Midfield
Centre forward

The spine of the team is much stronger than last season. Then you've the younger lads like Liston, Bennett and the chesterfield chap... Arguably Bennett can't be worse than warlock and Liston can't be worse than hutton... So that's both full backs strengthened too

LOL

JPA

matrim wrote: »

I think there's still money there if Lambert can justify a signing. Maybe not a 20m player but I could easily see us paying 10m for someone if they were good enough

Maybe but not on a defensive midfielder.

A Playmaker or a classy creative type could see the cash being splashed.