TWar

Disagreeing with you doesn't make me a "know it all", nor does chatting about statistics. And I didn't say he was shit, I never have. I thought Armstrong was more promising coming in and admittedly he didn't work out how I had hoped, but Broja has done well and I'm over the moon about it. He is going through a bit of a quieter period and there is nothing wrong with pointing that out. Especially whilst pointing out the others who have been killing it like JWP, KWP, romeu and Adams. My second statement more regards people who disliked Ralph and JWP and seem actively unhappy that they are both smashing it, to the point they don't post nearly as much anymore. I was low on Broja, but when he started doing well I was never anything but really happy about it.

Yeah. His shooting and dribbling are that good. Also he's only 20, Ralph can improve him.

That's a huge shout. And I'm often wrong and am fine with that. I thought Long would be completely useless and he's actually been pretty handy this season. I thought Armstrong would hit the ground running much more than he has. You don't have to be "always right" to think "Broja is the best young player we've seen since Gascoigne" is a wild claim. Especially as a club that produced Shaw, Bale, Theo, etc. There is nothing wrong with pointing out a young players limitations, I'm not even saying he's bad, I said I'd be very happy to sign him as a record deal. I just don't think he is up to the mad high standards some on here put him at, especially as someone who can't really pass or link play at all well.

Basically agree but I think I want Villa to beat Brighton. Brighton are a much better side than Villa with more points so pose more of a threat to our top half finish imo.

I think this "backed into a corner" thing takes opinions on a football forum way too seriously. If I have a negative view and it's proven wrong then I am happy. I think some people put being right on the forum over the team winning. It's weird.

Wouldn't say each game, he has scored one goal in his last 7 games. He is definitely on a downturn of form. If he'd scored yesterday his hold up play and passing would still be poor but it would certainly help. As is, he had a hot start with us and now is on a fairly average run of form. It's hard to comment what is the norm and which was the exception. Pre saints form it would suggest his initial flurry was the exception, but I think the jury is still out. If he scores a few goals in our coming easier fixtures then it would go further to proving his quality.

I move around on him tbh. My initial criticism is he doesn't create much and contribute to our attack other than scoring, not great hold up play or vision etc. He was just a good finisher. He then added proactive running and pressing to his game alongside being a superb finisher, so I relented and admitted he was very good option for us. The issue is now he is on a bit of poor form (by his early standards) and hasn't scored in a few games it becomes harder to overlook those initial faults of being pretty poor at passing, hold up play, and situational awareness. His inability to find unmarked teammates in the box has cost us atleast a couple of goals in the last few games. I'm still positive on him and if we announced a £25m deal for him tomorrow I'd be very happy, I just don't think he is really at a level to play for a team like Arsenal or Chelsea as yet, as some suggested a few weeks back.

I dunno if it's that calculated, he has tried to pass a few times and cocked it up. I think he just lacks composure. When in the high pressure situation he doesn't stop and assess the situation, his head never even gets up, he just hits it goalwards or drives goalwards. Inability to pass and lack of situational awareness have always been issues for him here, even before he got all this hype. Best case scenario for me is Chelsea see this, decide he is a level below what they'd want, and accept a record bid from us for him. Then Ralph improves his composure on the ball like he seems to have Che's. (And with any luck he helps Arma play to his strengths a bit better too)

In terms of value added it's between Sa, Dennis, Gray, and Tino for me. The others have had better seasons, arguably, but Tinos age compared to quality and price put him right up there. Also Cucarella has been class. Amusingly amongst the worst transfers one would probably have to put Ings and Vestergaard, alongside the likes of Lukaku.

Best prediction so far imo! Massive kudos to @tajjuk

Did you take this bet?

Wow what a negative thread. My attempt at positivity was only 13th. At some point someone said we had enough quality not to be relegated and was laughed at!

I'd say same team as we are rolling although in the last two games vs West Ham we pivoted to a 4141 and both times it worked well so I wouldn't be surprised to see that again.

Broja has gone off the boil a bit. We should put a bid in quick before his form picks back up! Actually thought Che struggled a bit too today to get involved but he took one chance very well and that's all that really matters!

Very routine victory, superb play from KWP, Romeu, Stu, Livra, Salisu, and JWP. Thought Broja was poor today and has had a couple of poor games recently where he has looked a little off it. Adams too I thought maybe struggled a bit outside of his goal. Either way we did very well, Romeu and JWP dominated them, as expected.

KWP and Tino have been class, Broja has been a bit off it unfortunately. We are shooting all the time, wonder if it's because we think Gunn is shite.

Unchanged lineup, Tino starts.

Doubt Conte leaves. He was annoyed after the game but to be honest he has suggested he is about for the long haul a couple of times. Spurs have a very mediocre squad for a team aiming for top 4 and he surely knew that coming in, that wasn't going to be turned around in one January transfer window. In the summer if he requests big moves and they don't happen then maybe we'll see him walk but I doubt he goes before then. Could be wrong though if results really nose dive and they end the season bottom half or something then he might get the sack.

If Forster gets extended does that put to bed us looking for another keeper? Or do we then attempt to shift McCarthy? Can't imagine us wanting three.

Emerson Royale is so poor for spurs, bet they are kicking themselves for selling KWP.

Exactly, because the event is not independent. One definitely going down effects the odds for the other three. You could take it as 75% one of teams A, B, or C goes down. But then, imagining that one of them does go down (for example C). There is then a 66% chance one of A and B go down as their are 3 teams left with equal chances. Then after that it is 50% whether the third team go. 3/4 × 2/3 × 1/2 = 9/12 × 8/12 × 6/12 = 432/1728 = 1/4 or 25%

That was my initial instinct too. Not controversial enough to be properly controversial, just flat out ridiculous picks.

Crooks is a buffoon, he put Maguire in after they shipped two goals to Leeds. Then again, maybe he just does things like that to stir controversy.

I think most of Ings' best work has been in a front two and they probably thought he could play that role next to Watkins. Unfortunately Watkins is crap in that role so they had to ditch it. Then Gerrard came in and he doesn't seem to rate a front 2 at all. I think Watkins is just about better in the middle of a front 3, but neither are particularly good. The other issue is that Villa are one of the most overrated teams in the league. They relied 100% on Grealish and now he's gone they look completely blunt going forward most of the time. Ings entered at the same time the guy that made the team left, it's a big ask for him to start scoring goals there when they don't have a single player who has put up over 3 assists in their team. They still expect forwards to be putting up numbers like last year when they went from feeding off one of the best creators in Europe to Buendia and Ashley Young. Coutinho is in now and may help as long as he doesn't perform like he did at Barca.

Our fullbacks were the best in Europe apparently