[Albion] Villa

[Not Andy Naylor]

Meh. A player who has never come close to living up to the massive hype around him as far as I'm concerned. A sort of deluxe Jack Rodwell.

 

[schmunk]

A real signing of interest. My fantasy team will be flying now as i was banking on him moving. I cant see keepers saving much against him. Good to see it was a loan though. I would say that signing builds them a solid base. Rate him as a player. I assume they did a fitness cheque or they will want to send him bacs right away.

Surely the FFP bods would be all over that ?

I’d bank on it.

Great discussion, CHAPS.

 

[Grombleton]

Meh. A player who has never come close to living up to the massive hype around him as far as I'm concerned. A sort of deluxe Jack Rodwell.

I was about to type similar. He's an alright player, but i'm still to see anything to suggest that he's as good as he is hyped to be. Hasn't done much since he was at Everton.

 

[drew]

They were always going to strengthen this season, and their team started to gel towards the end of last season. Thats why i wanted them to go down rather than Bournemouth

Started to gel towards the end of the season!!! Not sure how that can be said. From Dec to Lockdown they last all but 4 games, beating Norwich, Burley and Watford and grabbing a lucky draw away to us. After lockdown, they only won two games and had two massive pieces of luck, one due to dodgy technology and the other to the incompetence of Jon Moss as the VAR.

This season they have only played Fulham and a very poor (compared to last season) Sheffield.

 

[zefarelly]

This season they have only played Fulham and a very poor (compared to last season) Sheffield.

I keep forgetting there's only one average sized team in Sheffield.

 

[Justice]

Started to gel towards the end of the season!!! Not sure how that can be said. From Dec to Lockdown they last all but 4 games, beating Norwich, Burley and Watford and grabbing a lucky draw away to us. After lockdown, they only won two games and had two massive pieces of luck, one due to dodgy technology and the other to the incompetence of Jon Moss as the VAR.

This season they have only played Fulham and a very poor (compared to last season) Sheffield.

And they still look like the Grealish show.

 

[southstandandy]

Villa and Leeds seem to be the only lesser clubs that are spending freely.
Don`t expect either to be involved in relegation battle.

The only battle they'll have is balancing the books!

 

[zefarelly]

The only battle they'll have is balancing the books!

Which begs the question, will teams be suicidally attampting to buy themselves survival at any cost , to avoid the drop and even more dire financial consequences than normal . . . . we'll be watching Villa.

 

[Palacefinder General]

Really needed them to go down last season, that Sheffield Utd VAR disaster was such a clusterf**k

 

[GT49er]

How good a signing Barclay will be remains to be seen...good for a cameo...but a reliable performer? I’d question that ...be interesting to see where they fit him in

Excellent player - I'd have been delighted to have had him with us, but probably well out of our price range, wages-wise.

 

[southstandandy]

Are there special rules about FFP and squad size for them?

They seem to sign a couple of players every week and have unlimited sums for transfers and wages.

I guess they have to be in the PL for 3 years in the PL for the rules to come in but what about their losses in the championship, are they written off?

I think on the back of Man City getting away with their recent alleged breaches, FFP has little or no relevance - it's almost just like a suggested but barely enforceable operational guideline.

A bit like the Covid 'rule of 6' - a suggested and supposed legal guideline but who really is going to enforce it and try to prove you have 7 or 8 people in your home?

With such rich backers Villa will probably just at worst cop a fine if proved to be breaching FFP and do what Bournemouth did a few years ago and let the chairman pay it.

 

[Marshy]

mmm im not so sure about Villa just yet. Initial signs they have improved.

However they were lucky to beat 10 man Sheff Utd and have beaten a piss poor Fulham.

 

[Lethargic]

Barkley and Grealish in the same team

Good players, but similar position and style, would be difficult to get them in the same team surely? How are Villa able to spend so much? I just don’t understand how it makes any financial sense, I thought their spending last year was insane but with current circumstances, just how can they afford it and stay within their means?

This was my first thought Barkley has the talent but just doesn't seem to kick on, could go either way but if they click they will be fine.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Meh. A player who has never come close to living up to the massive hype around him as far as I'm concerned. A sort of deluxe Jack Rodwell.

Agree completely. I also don't see him improving their side. Their midfield actually looked well balanced on Monday. Trying to fit him in, will not make it better.

 

[Napper]

Agree completely. I also don't see him improving their side. Their midfield actually looked well balanced on Monday. Trying to fit him in, will not make it better.

He's 26 and has 33 caps for England.

Is good enough to play and look good in a top 4 side.

Respect your opinion but there is no way he doesnt improve a team like Villa.

Similar to Lallana for us but could argue Barclay can get even better.

Be interesting to see

 

[junior]

Quality player. Good signing for Villa and expect them to do well this season.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

No need to 'massage' their egos

No, wouldn't want to rub them up the wrong way

 

[hans kraay fan club]

He's 26 and has 33 caps for England.

Is good enough to play and look good in a top 4 side.

Respect your opinion but there is no way he doesnt improve a team like Villa.

Similar to Lallana for us but could argue Barclay can get even better.

Be interesting to see

He improves their SQUAD, for sure, because it makes them less reliant of Grealish.

But in terms of balance - I think leaving out McGinn or Luis to make room, makes them a worse-balanced side. Time will tell, of course.

 

[dwayne]

Feels like the prem is stronger this season. Apart from Fulham not seeing any obviously weak teams. As bad as Burnley are at the moment they always seem to turn it round and I would never predict them to go down.

Cant pick the 3 at the moment and as well as we are playing I hope we are not one of those too good to go down (that do go down) outfits !!

 

[clockend1983]

They’ve played Sheffield Utd and Fulham
I would hope we take 6 points from those two games
They ain’t that great