Aston Villa

[fergus90]

Yeah true, of course that's what comes with being a good team as you imply - more competitions and more games.

Shame to hear you missed a lot of chances. I normally think Cash is solid so sucks he made mistakes for the equaliser.

Glad you went to the game anyway (do you have a season ticket?) and sucks they couldn't get the win. Been a few draws for Villa in the league recently, home results have been up and down.

I don't have a season ticket anymore, although at one point my whole life would revolve around going to football. I used to go home and away when I was younger right through until my mid 20's. Then I got a job where I was away often in the week and with more games being midweek now it just would've been a waste of money with the uncertainty around attendance.

Me and my father go to a fair few home games still and my girlfriend will go once or twice a season with me but nothing regularly. My last away game bar Wembley appearances was in September 2016 so quite some time ago now.

 

[Maradona37]

I don't have a season ticket anymore, although at one point my whole life would revolve around going to football. I used to go home and away when I was younger right through until my mid 20's. Then I got a job where I was away often in the week and with more games being midweek now it just would've been a waste of money with the uncertainty around attendance.

Me and my father go to a fair few home games still and my girlfriend will go once or twice a season with me but nothing regularly. My last away game bar Wembley appearances was in September 2016 so quite some time ago now.

Thanks for the info mate. I used to go to Rangers games when I was younger and an adult but obviously since I stopped supporting them due to hating the bigotry in and out of the stadium I don't go.

I was thinking about going to watch my local team sometimes. They're in the fifth level of Scottish football (after always being in the third or fourth) and the football is likely poor and the stadium very small, but would be good to get out for the day and watch them sometimes. We will see what happens.

 

[Maradona37]

@fergus90

Going through a rough patch mate. Do you think it's a reversion to a general level after such a brilliant season last season? Or just a blip and hangover after the amazing Bayern result?

I did think it would be hard to maintain the level from last season, especially given more games this year. It's also been quite a tricky run of games for you I think. It's probably safe to say that Emery had you punching above your weight, and that you have a good but not brilliant set of players that he has been extracting the maximum from. Of course it's difficult to do that indefinitely. Highlights what a brilliant coach he is and I hope people and the media don't start to turn on him in a difficult phase.

Do you think Villa will come back this season? How do you feel about top four? You think you'll struggle to get it or still have a good chance?

 

[fergus90]

@fergus90

Going through a rough patch mate. Do you think it's a reversion to a general level after such a brilliant season last season? Or just a blip and hangover after the amazing Bayern result?

I did think it would be hard to maintain the level from last season, especially given more games this year. It's also been quite a tricky run of games for you I think. It's probably safe to say that Emery had you punching above your weight, and that you have a good but not brilliant set of players that he has been extracting the maximum from. Of course it's difficult to do that indefinitely. Highlights what a brilliant coach he is and I hope people and the media don't start to turn on him in a difficult phase.

Do you think Villa will come back this season? How do you feel about top four? You think you'll struggle to get it or still have a good chance?

We are indeed. I think we are now operating at the expected level to be honest mate given the squad we have, although we are still only a point of 3rd place I would expect us to be nowhere near that come May. A bulk of the players we have now are players we bought when we were struggling to stay in the division until Emery arrived or were bought in or from the Championship.

We had a season not so different to Newcastle the year prior really where we are punching above our weight but the reality is it's difficult to maintain. Especially when things like PSR have to be navigated too. We finish 4th yet we have to sell Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby. Yes we got replacements but I think our depth this year is worst than last. If a side has aspirations of breaking the top 6 permanently then the squad needs to be constantly invested in to ensure competition and strength in depth.

My prediction is that we will finish 7th but get to the CL quarter finals. I think in the next couple years the usual suspects e.g. United and Chelsea will stabilise and the top 5 will be a familiar sight again for the foreseeable future.

 

[Maradona37]

We are indeed. I think we are now operating at the expected level to be honest mate given the squad we have, although we are still only a point of 3rd place I would expect us to be nowhere near that come May. A bulk of the players we have now are players we bought when we were struggling to stay in the division until Emery arrived or were bought in or from the Championship.

We had a season not so different to Newcastle the year prior really where we are punching above our weight but the reality is it's difficult to maintain. Especially when things like PSR have to be navigated too. We finish 4th yet we have to sell Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby. Yes we got replacements but I think our depth this year is worst than last. If a side has aspirations of breaking the top 6 permanently then the squad needs to be constantly invested it to ensure competition and strength in depth.

My prediction is that we will finish 7th but get to the CL quarter finals. I think in the next couple years the usual suspects e.g. United and Chelsea will stabilise and the top 5 will be a familiar sight again for the foreseeable future.

Top post and I tend to agree. Obviously I hope for you to maintain how well you are doing, but the signs of reversion are there (as they have been with Newcastle, though they have a lot more money in terms of revenue). Unfortunately with PSR those clubs who have great revenue will always have an advantage.

Tbh I always thought that FFP and PSR were more of a gimmick or a way to keep the rich clubs/'big' clubs permanently on top. What do you think? At the same time though clubs do need protection from spending themselves into oblivion. It is a tough one. But as you say not being able to consolidate your squad and having to compromise i.e. selling Luiz and Diaby to bring in new people, is not great.