Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2019/2020

Bounty Hunter

Corholio wrote: »

Mbaye Diagne the latest name linked. Senegalese striker with Galatasaray.

Interesting character to try and judge. 27 years old and has already been playing in China and only 6 months ago got his move to the biggest club he has played for in Galatasaray (he didn't play a game when he was on Juve's books several years ago).

That said it is hard to argue with his goals to games ratio (Career total 147games 98goals), in particular his past year in Turkey where he scroed 30 goals in 29 games. Half of that year was not at Galatasaray too as he had been playing alongside Trezeguet at Kasımpaşa.

At the mooted 12m fee he could prove a bargain especially when you see some of the fees being thrown around (think I saw a similar fee in a story today for Dybala's agent) but who knows if there is even substance behind that link.

Corholio

Ya I think this week there will be agents touting players everywhere so will be a lot of dud links. Turkish league isn't great so hard to judge his quality if the link is real.

Benrahma was training with Brentford today as well.

CSF

That recent goal scoring record is crazy to be fair

Corholio

Hogan going on loan to Stoke it seems, Villa reported to have replacements lined up.

Douglas Luiz was granted his visa last night, he is flying to the UK today (Brazilian time)

Corholio

Douglas Luiz all cleared.

Hogan gone to Stoke on season long loan.

https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1159146089225838592?ref_src=twcamp%5Ecopy%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Ecopy%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3

JPA

Nice earrings.

LeBash

McGinn signed a new 5 year deal. Hopefully theres no release clauses in it.

Brian201888

Get Jack a new one now and get his release clause removed

Corholio

Smith confirmed in press conference no other players in today, may be some out.

Maybe a bit worried about striking options if Wesley doesn't bed in quick but style of play does mean goals can come from a few places. Hopefully Kodj can step up as well when needed.

artanevilla

Judging from comments he's expecting goal contributions from midfield.

Corholio

The hold up on Douglas Luiz's move was his passport delayed in returning to him, nothing to do with permit.

How does everyone see the team lining up for Spurs then?

My guess:

Heaton.

Elmo. Engels. Mings Targett.

Jota. Grealish. McGinn. Hourihane. El-Ghazi.

Wesley.

Could be Guilbert for Elmo but I think for the first game he might go for experience. Trezeguet for Jota possible too, he looks pacier too and he might use that for tracking back etc.

LeBash

Corholio wrote: »

The hold up on Douglas Luiz's move was his passport delayed in returning to him, nothing to do with permit.

How does everyone see the team lining up for Spurs then?

My guess:

Heaton.

Elmo. Engels. Mings Targett.

Jota. Grealish. McGinn. Hourihane. El-Ghazi.

Wesley.

Could be Guilbert for Elmo but I think for the first game he might go for experience. Trezeguet for Jota possible too, he looks pacier too and he might use that for tracking back etc.

Is El Ghazi fit? He was down a long time and hobbled off against RB Leipzig. Either way, he was poor in that game.

Bounty Hunter

Corholio wrote: »

Smith confirmed in press conference no other players in today, may be some out.

Maybe a bit worried about striking options if Wesley doesn't bed in quick but style of play does mean goals can come from a few places. Hopefully Kodj can step up as well when needed.

Can't complain too much given how the window has gone but that's a pity. Was getting excited about the ikes of the lad from Galatasaray, Ben Yedder, Benhrama. The fact that they were still in for players until now though means we might be active again in January.

I'd be starting Guilbert & Trezequet myself and wouldn't be surprised to see one of our DM signings getting 30m vs Spurs

Corholio

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

Can't complain too much given how the window has gone but that's a pity. Was getting excited about the ikes of the lad from Galatasaray, Ben Yedder, Benhrama. The fact that they were still in for players until now though means we might be active again in January.

I'd be starting Guilbert & Trezequet myself and wouldn't be surprised to see one of our DM signings getting 30m vs Spurs

Smith mentioned January as well if they felt they needed someone. I could see Benrahma being a possibility then, reports saying he was a top target at start of the summer. Could see Nakamba starting if he's up to speed, he sounds much more of whats needed there than Hourihane away to Spurs.

Brian201888

I'd expect Guilbert and Jota to start, they both had good pre seasons

Corholio

Bree to Luton on loan supposedly.

JPA

Bit disappointed. Thought Benrahama was happening.

Esse85

JPA wrote: »

Bit disappointed. Thought Benrahama was happening.

This, would also be majorly worried if Wesley picked up an injury or doesn't hit the ground running.

Kodjia is not good enough to deliver on the PL stage.

matrim

Thor released by mutual agreement.

artanevilla

I'd like another striker and another winger. Otherwise happy enough. I'd be aiming for a nice boring 13th - 15th place finish (well clear of trouble).

LeBash

Esse85 wrote: »

This, would also be majorly worried if Wesley picked up an injury or doesn't hit the ground running.

Kodjia is not good enough to deliver on the PL stage.

Hard to argue with the amount of players we got in and the timing of getting them in.

Nobody has back up everywhere and if a striker is willing to sit on the bench, hes not good enough for the PL, De Jesus and Origi probably being 2 of the very few exceptions. An in form Kodjia is probably about the weight of a back up striker.

listermint

artanevilla wrote: »

I'd like another striker and another winger. Otherwise happy enough. I'd be aiming for a nice boring 13th - 15th place finish (well clear of trouble).

Ballax. Take up uniteds spot in top six.


:P

sc86

artanevilla wrote: »

I'd like another striker and another winger. Otherwise happy enough. I'd be aiming for a nice boring 13th - 15th place finish (well clear of trouble).

After spending so much would that really keep the owners happy?

artanevilla

sc86 wrote: »

After spending so much would that really keep the owners happy?

I think it's realistic if not a little ambitious, money doesn't guarantee success. I'm mildly optimistic about the season but you can pick holes in the squad if you look at it objectively.

matrim

This season should be a consolidation season. Yes we've spent a lot but we had to spend a good chunk of it just to keep the squad together.

Brian201888

sc86 wrote: »

After spending so much would that really keep the owners happy?

I'd hope they'd be absolutely fine with a 15th place finish, I know I would be. Long term view is what's needed to build ourselves up

kilburn

I think looking at the teams around us 10th - 12th is a very realistic target

Some really poor teams in the bottom half.

Key is not to get spanked by Spurs and the next 6 or 7 games are winnable decent points tally by new year and we can kick on with relegation monkey of our back.

Sheff Utd, Norwich, Brighton, Newcastle, Southampton, Burnley & Palace are poor teams we should easily finish above

Bounty Hunter

Staying up should be all that matters imo. I am confident that there are enough weaker teams in the league that Villa can do that but especially in the first few months while the side is still gelling the expectations will need to be kept in check. If they are in any kind of battle at the bottom heading into January though it is good to know that the club were already to invest more on a couple of big signings.

sc86

Course minimum hope for season is to stay up for sure , but with level of investment and more to come in january id would hope for mid table , there is some really bad teams at the bottom , while we are no wolves they have shown what can be done with correct investment

Panrich

If Wesley gets injured then we are looking at a very threadbare attacking force. Kodjia has not done it for 2 years and Davis is not a goal scorer at championship level.

matrim

Panrich wrote: »

If Wesley gets injured then we are looking at a very threadbare attacking force. Kodjia has not done it for 2 years and Davis is not a goal scorer at championship level.

That's our main worry. Wesley either getting injured or not performing. Most other positions we have at least ok cover but I wouldn't trust our cover up front.

The only up side is that we did get a decent amount of goals from other areas of the team last year and if we can keep that up some of the pressure is off Wesley.

Corholio

Staying up should be the target and I hope fans are somewhat reasonable as the season goes on. Villa will lose a good few games this season, it's just how it will be, some possibly in the first few weeks. Making Villa Park a tough place to come to will be key, most promoted teams who do well become tough to beat at home. Because of the way the team plays, points should be obtainable in quite a lot of away games too.

listermint

Sure,

Roll on tomorrow !

Corholio

Interesting article from Percy about Villa's summer. Apparently Villa bid for Webster the day after the play off final but it was rejected. He's since signed for Brighton of course. Villa then bought Engels for a third of what Bristol City wanted for Webster.

https://twitter.com/JPercyTelegraph/status/1159855536625672192?ref_src=twcamp%5Ecopy%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Ecopy%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3

circadian

Balls, pay wall. Can't believe season starts tomorrow!

remoteboy

Heading to the game tomorrow. Sitting in the Spurs end. Can’t wait.

pavb2

remoteboy wrote: »

Heading to the game tomorrow. Sitting in the Spurs end. Can’t wait.

Same here though I'll be in the Villa end.

Looking forward to seeing their new ground, a Villa win and the start of a new chapter in our history.

A bit corny I know but lets get completely carried away with the occasion and indulge ourselves.

'That's it . . . the fallen giants are back on their feet. Aston Villa one of the great clubs in English football return to the elite . . . and Dean Smith a man steeped in the cause has guided them there. '

https://twitter.com/i/status/1133116027464818688

Corholio

Interesting lineup. Taylor, Elmo and Trezeguet all start. Luiz on bench, no Marvelous or Guilbert in squad.

https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1160211750454747137?ref_src=twcamp%5Ecopy%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Ecopy%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3

CSF

I don't think its a gigantic shock that he has stuck with many of the lads who went on a 10 game winning run and won the playoffs. Plenty of time to integrate the newbies.

sc86

Shocked taylor playing !

LeBash

sc86 wrote: »

Shocked taylor playing !

And Hourihane, thought he would start with one of the 2 new lads but his frees and corners against Leipzig were top notch.

Corholio

CSF wrote: »

I don't think its a gigantic shock that he has stuck with many of the lads who went on a 10 game winning run and won the playoffs. Plenty of time to integrate the newbies.

Ya I think first few games of the season can be like that, trying to leverage experience and those that are already well integrated. Away to Spurs probably wasn't the ideal game either with new signings. Hopefully Taylor and Hourihane can have solid games. Those two bring the most worry in their positions.

Panrich

Nakamba and Guilbert not on the bench. Nakamba is looking like a strange signing when we had Luiz and Hourihane already for the DM spot.

CSF

Panrich wrote: »

Nakamba and Guilbert not on the bench. Nakamba is looking like a strange signing when we had Luiz and Hourihane already for the DM spot.

I don't think Hourihane's spot in this squad will be the DM spot. I think the only reason he plays there today is because Luiz and Nakamba haven't been much of a part of the pre-season. Hourihane will be Grealish and McGinn's backup IMO, because there isn't really anyone else there.


Unless we expect Lansbury to see minutes. Which I don't.

CSF

That is a seriously depleted Spurs team by the way. You've got Lo Celso, Son, Eriksen, Alli, Aurier, Vertonghen, Sessegnon all to come into the equation later.


Worth a mention that they don't have a proper striker on the bench either for if anything happens Kane here.


You won't get easy games away to Spurs but this is about as weakened as anyone will play them all year.

Esse85

Strange lineup from DS

artanevilla

Super John.

Corholio

Super finish from McGinn!

artanevilla

Corholio wrote: »

Super finish from McGinn!

Great ball by Grealish.

kilburn

Thought it was mings long ball