Created more opportunities and attempts on target in 90 minutes of football than we have in 7 matches. This is from a team who stayed up by the skin of their teeth last year.

They identified their weaknesses and shortcomings and took steps to rectify them.

They spent around £80 million in the summer, as opposed to the £1 million we spent

100% correct - they invested and strengthened and we went skint and started season weaker than last season !!!!!!

They've spent smarter this time round instead of just throwing money around like last year.

They spent £150 million ish last year, £70 million ish this time round.

s6t9a2f3f wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:21 pm

100% correct - they invested and strengthened and we went skint and started season weaker than last season !!!!!!

They don't have to balance their books, you probably know that but it doesn't matter to you.

randomclaret2 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:21 pm

They spent around £80 million in the summer, as opposed to the £1 million we spent

Looks like they spent it wisely second time around, as they spent close to £150 million last season and nearly failed.

“Ross Barkley isn’t good enough for us...”

Most of the time (before somebody mentions Fulham), it's all about the money. £80 million like it was nothing.

The £150 million they did spend previously the players have bedded in now & are more adapted to the league the £70 million on top as just enhanced that.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:22 pm

They don't have to balance their books, you probably know that but it doesn't matter to you.

stating a fact not blaming anybody, not Garlicks fact covid appeared - we have been a championship club in waiting for 3-4 years now, so chill out and enjoy the ride

The fact they had more chances in one game compared to our total in 7 games would be one thing, but the fact they did that away at Arsenal is quite something. I'd wager they probably had the same number of chances, if not more, against Liverpool the other week, too.

So whilst they have spent, they've spent very wisely indeed. They play some very attractive, high tempo stuff and are a huge threat on the counter.

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:34 pm

The fact they had more chances in one game compared to our total in 7 games would be one thing, but the fact they did that away at Arsenal is quite something. I'd wager they probably had the same number of chances, if not more, against Liverpool the other week, too.

So whilst they have spent, they've spent very wisely indeed. They play some very attractive, high tempo stuff and are a huge threat on the counter.

Agreed. And a good team to watch.

s6t9a2f3f wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:32 pm

stating a fact not blaming anybody, not Garlicks fact covid appeared - we have been a championship club in waiting for 3-4 years now, so chill out and enjoy the ride

Championship club in waiting?

So like pretty much half the PL then, if not more.

I can see Ollie Watkins becoming a far better striker than Harry Kane and going on to have a more successful career.

Jenny55 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:23 pm

Looks like they spent it wisely second time around, as they spent close to £150 million last season and nearly failed.

But didn’t

joey13 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:45 pm

But didn’t

Just imagine this forum if we'd spent £150 million and survived on the last day...

Spijed wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:44 pm

I can see Ollie Watkins becoming a far better striker than Harry Kane and going on to have a more successful career.

You never disappoint do you Spijed?

Jenny55 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:23 pm

Looks like they spent it wisely second time around, as they spent close to £150 million last season and nearly failed.

And but for a Hawkeye failure, would’ve done.

Villa were superb today, don't care how much you spend, just look at Utd and how inconsistent they are and how much they have spent. Credit where it is due, Villa look a really good side this season.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:39 pm

Championship club in waiting?

So like pretty much half the PL then, if not more.

Thats 10 teams plus so here we go :

Fulham
West Brom
Burnley
Brighton
Sheff Utd

phew struggling now, presume the other 5 (plus if not more as quoted) your thinking teams like Leeds ? Palace ? West Ham ? Southampton ? Newcastle ? Villa ?

or are you adding into that any of the rest of the teams ? utd, city, liverpool, spurs, chelsea, arsenal, leicester, wolves, and everton ??

Spijed wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:44 pm

I can see Ollie Watkins becoming a far better striker than Harry Kane and going on to have a more successful career.

Kane - 201 goals in 301 appearances in all competitions for Spurs.
22 goals in 49 appearances for England.

Hell of a strike rate.

Also now he's got a manager with a winning mentality and proven record at winning trophies at every club he's managed then Kane could actually end up with some silverware.

Watkins has got a lot to do and he's already 24.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:55 pm

Kane - 201 goals in 301 appearances in all competitions for Spurs.
22 goals in 49 appearances for England.

Hell of a strike rate.

Also now he's got a manager with a winning mentality and proven record at winning trophies at every club he's managed then Kane could actually end up with some silverware.

Watkins has got a lot to do and he's already 24.

I wasn't being serious.

s6t9a2f3f wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:54 pm

Thats 10 teams plus so here we go :

Fulham
West Brom
Burnley
Brighton
Sheff Utd

phew struggling now, presume the other 5 (plus if not more as quoted) your thinking teams like Leeds ? Palace ? West Ham ? Southampton ? Newcastle ? Villa ?

or are you adding into that any of the rest of the teams ? utd, city, liverpool, spurs, chelsea, arsenal, leicester, wolves, and everton ??

Teams never to have been relegated from the PL are as follows-

Utd, Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Brighton (they won't last forever)

Everyone else has, some more than once.
We're all just cannon fodder and relegation will happen for at least half the PL clubs, closer to 2/3rds.

Some have gone down after spending over £100 million in a summer, see Fulham, others after spending hundreds of millions over a number of seasons.

You can argue with it as much as you'd like but those are the facts.

I rate Villa's manager he has attacking principles

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:00 pm

Teams never to have been relegated from the PL are as follows-

Utd, Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Brighton (they won't last forever)

Everyone else has, some more than once.
We're all just cannon fodder and relegation will happen for at least half the PL clubs, closer to 2/3rds.

Some have gone down after spending over £100 million in a summer, see Fulham, others after spending hundreds of millions over a number of seasons.

You can argue with it as much as you'd like but those are the facts.

Ah I thought you meant just this season and you thought over half the league would be in a relegation battle at some point.

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:50 pm

Villa were superb today, don't care how much you spend, just look at Utd and how inconsistent they are and how much they have spent. Credit where it is due, Villa look a really good side this season.

yes they did but the sign of the times are Villa won tonight and won well away at Arsenal, Leeds won the other week at Villa 3-0 and yesterday leeds lost away at Palace 4-1 !!!! might be a season of all sorts of topsy turvey results.

s6t9a2f3f wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:12 pm

Ah I thought you meant just this season and you thought over half the league would be in a relegation battle at some point.

Nope, I mean in the history of the PL, majority of teams won't become established.

Some fans think their club is after maybe 5-6 years but the reality is they're just making up the numbers.

s6t9a2f3f wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:15 pm

yes they did but the sign of the times are Villa won tonight and won well away at Arsenal, Leeds won the other week at Villa 3-0 and yesterday leeds lost away at Palace 4-1 !!!! might be a season of all sorts of topsy turvey results.

Yes, strange results.
We could do with a couple of unexpected wins, but somehow I feel we won't get them.

s6t9a2f3f wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:15 pm

yes they did but the sign of the times are Villa won tonight and won well away at Arsenal, Leeds won the other week at Villa 3-0 and yesterday leeds lost away at Palace 4-1 !!!! might be a season of all sorts of topsy turvey results.

agree, it's bonkers !!

Villa had to replace virtually a whole team last season and just managed
to stay up and then this season spend less but still a considerable amount.
And hung onto their best player in Grealish.
They play attractive football and the results against Liverpool and Arsenal today
must give them hope they can finish in the top 10 if not higher.
And brought in youngsters such as Cash and Watkins from the Championship who have already made a mark.

It does seem clear that, as a consequence, they've cemented their position in the top league
probably for a number of seasons to come.

So their owners have supported spending 200m+ to ensure 130-150m a year keeps coming in.

We can't compete with that and probably never will be able to even with new wealthy owners.

Fair play to them. It’s about time the PL had a team like Southampton/Swansea were 6/7 years back when Poch/Laudrup were there. Just play decent football, will get beat some weeks, will win some weeks. No pretence that their owt special like you see Leicester/Wolves nowadays. Rock n Roll football.

Jenny55 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:23 pm

Looks like they spent it wisely second time around, as they spent close to £150 million last season and nearly failed.

And would have done if Hawkeye were working.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:48 pm

Just imagine this forum if we'd spent £150 million and survived on the last day...

Basically shows the gulf between the Championship and the Prem when you can spend that money & struggle to survive! I think that gaps getting wider, tbh.

What I like about Villa is their fearlessness, no matter who the opposition is it doesn't faze them, and they'll continue playing their own game, yes they'll lose a few, but they'll win a lot more playing this way, there's a reason why they haven't drawn any games yet.

And that 3rd goal must be a strong contender for GOTM in November a sweeping move the whole length of the pitch and a stunning finish, and that was at 2-0 up, this just shows how high their confidence is right now.

And also they've added a natural goalscorer to their line-up, how many times last season did they dominate games, but lacked the killer product, that won't be an issue this season, not with Watkins in this form.

Jack Grealish.

How Grealish is not in the England team is a mystery.
I can't think of anyone better at the moment.

throw enough "dirt" at the wall and some of it will stick... oh and Jack Grealish, he's already a fantastic footballer and they have added to his quality. I genuinely hope that he doesn't have a serious injury because of his children's shin pads that he uses.

It's great for the Premier league that we have these attacking sides going at the big clubs. Great entertainment.

I just hope we beat Arsenal before we eventually go down.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:48 pm

Just imagine this forum if we'd spent £150 million and survived on the last day...

Or Villa’s, or any other clubs for that matter

Villa were never far off being a good side last year IMO. Unlucky with injuries to key players. Pleased for Dean Smith, who kept to his principals to play expansive, attractive football even when they were unfortunate to be on the wrong end of results. That said, if Villa had gone down, would they have stuck with him? Fine margins as SD would say.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:22 am

It's great for the Premier league that we have these attacking sides going at the big clubs. Great entertainment.

I just hope we beat Arsenal before they eventually go down.

I've now corrected that for you Quicken!

"Just imagine this forum if we'd spent £150 million and survived on the last day"

Or, been relegated from the PL having spent just £1 million on bringing in a midfielder from Brighton with his best days behind him.

kentonclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:05 am

"Just imagine this forum if we'd spent £150 million and survived on the last day"

Or, been relegated from the PL having spent just £1 million on bringing in a midfielder from Brighton with his best days behind him.

Or got into Europe with arguably one of the lowest budgets in PL history.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:25 am

Or got into Europe with arguably one of the lowest budgets in PL history.

I reckon Rovers won the premier league and got champions league football on far less.

So it's certainly arguable.








But I get your point.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:49 am

I reckon Rovers won the premier league and got champions league football on far less.

So it's certainly arguable.








But I get your point.

When Rovers won the PL they were one of the richest clubs in the world at the time.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 09, 2020 10:52 am

When Rovers won the PL they were one of the richest clubs in the world at the time.

So are we now.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:44 pm

I can see Ollie Watkins becoming a far better striker than Harry Kane and going on to have a more successful career.

https://youtu.be/HPn_KZysAYg?t=594 ..... this is how I reacted when I read this..... Really? REALLY? I mean come on Spijed.


Really? Jesus Wept.

Having Mcginn fully fit makes a big difference to the structure of the team .

In the 29 months that the owners have been Villa they have added £379m (£75m in the last 4 weeks) in share capital, sold part of the training ground to HS2 for £14.5m and Villa park for £56.7m to themselves and made another payment of £30m to Randy Lerner on promotion to the Premier League. That is a £480m cash injection into the club above other earnings, they have haven't made an operating profit for years and are unlikely to do so for some time yet - it is a gamble that is running at a subsidy of over £3.5m a week on average, how many people are prepared to do that for too long.

The good thing the owners have done (from a wider perspective) is remove all the debt from the club and passed that liability directly onto themselves - of course the club is no where near worth what they have spent so far. The club is definitely living beyond it's means though and that is not a good thing in the medium or long term and I question it in the short term, though others will feel differently about the short term