2024/25 Sean Dyche

[GrandOldTeam]

I largely agree with that but also I’d note how easily and quickly things can change . Had things not improved dramatically at HT we could easily be 5 points behind palace and below Southampton on GD about to face Newcastle with the real prospect of going into the international break rock bottom . Then I suspect he’d have both been under real pressure and would have been viewed slightly differently.

That's football though isnt it?

If we had players who didn't bottle a 2-0 lead on 87 minutes at Bournemouth.

If Villa didn't score a worldie to beat us at Villa Park.

If we didn't pickup points vs Leicester/Palace then that's that - results are what they are.

But I didn't expect us to beat Brighton, or Villa/Spurs away.

 

[Harryflashman]

That's football though isnt it?

If we had players who didn't bottle a 2-0 lead on 87 minutes at Bournemouth.

If Villa didn't score a worldie to beat us at Villa Park.

If we didn't pickup points vs Leicester/Palace then that's that - results are what they are.

But I didn't expect us to beat Brighton, or Villa/Spurs away.

Oh absolutely and I’m not saying any different , there are lots of sliding doors moments of course . I was just musing that despite some hard work in trying circumstances his reputation at the club is hardly set in stone

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Well, on talking on whether we should be better than last season - you're saying summer signings improved us 'big style'.

I don't think so, as I said before a ball was kicked;





NDiaye looks a belter, thankfully. Hopefully he can find some goals/creaitivty in the final third because that would be massive. Also looks like he can progress play.

Iroegbunam looks good against expectations that was on the floor, I didn't think he'd play, but not having he's better than Onana. Often said people would rewrite Onana here to justifty them continually slating him here. He was an effective player for us, he doesn't get in Belgiums Euros or a big transfer if he wasn't.

The summer was another in which we didn't invest in the team - a team which has been scrapping relegation for 3 seasons.

We've got a player in Ndiaye who can get you on the edge of your seat, he's made a big difference up front for us, opposition defenders are petrified of him whenever he picks the ball up, sometimes doubling up on him.

All about opinions mate but Tim came in and from the off and started doing the job that Onana should have been doing for us. Not saying that makes him the better player out of the 2.

Onana has started really well at Villa and may go on to be absolutely boss, time will tell.

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

I largely agree with that but also I’d note how easily and quickly things can change . Had things not improved dramatically at HT we could easily be 5 points behind palace and below Southampton on GD about to face Newcastle with the real prospect of going into the international break rock bottom . Then I suspect he’d have both been under real pressure and would have been viewed slightly differently.

Things could have been very different. I noticed after the game that we only had 2 shots on goal (on target) all game. Both goals.

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

As debated to death, he suffered from playing for Everton - as James Garner often does. A consequence of the necessity of relegation fodder, % football.

To Onana, and Calvert-Lewin's biggest critics - I used Gordon as the example in the consequence of Everton. The lad scored/assist more than our entire team last season.

But anyone who has any clue on football whatsoever could see Onana is a top player.

Think Onana played /plays a lot better when surrounded by better players. Bit like Tarkowski

 

[Marius57]

His job is to improve us.

We went from needing the final home game of the season to stay up, for two successive seasons - to, as you say, finishing "12th" if you remove the deduction.

But let's have it right - even last season, it still took us 34 league games to earn the 40 points (if you put the deducted points back) you look for to stay up.

That dictates relegation scrap for most of the season. Until we've earned 40 points, we're all going to be stressing - and if we dont earn that until 30+ games, then most of the season we're stressing.

We then didn't spend a penny, again. 0 investment into the squad for the 3rd summer running.

There's a reason we were joint 4th favourites with Forest to go down.

I appreciate how long it took us. But ultimately that would have been 12th. It’s stressful for any team in the bottom half ultimately because it takes a long time to confirm safety.

But, the rhetoric has gone from that points total, to us looking to “survive relegation”. The target should be comfortably above 40 points again, if not over 50. Not accepting scrapping to scrape over 40 points (or less)

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Think Onana played /plays a lot better when surrounded by better players. Bit like Tarkowski

That's every footballer isn't it?

Apart from maybe some centre halfs who need to play in a low block and exposed in a better team/higher line.

Calvert-Lewin would score a lot more goals for Villa, than he does Everton.

Branthwaite would look even better at Man City.

Often said Onana would make people who slated him look silly. Top, top player.

 

[DL100]

Yeah. Now instead of cherry picking a line to react to read the quote youve highlighted in context. Nobody is suggesting getting the bunting out or having a street party because weve one one in six.

calm down luv.

im pointing out one of the main reasons why fans have had enough.

his record is shocking
he isnt a miracle worker
he is barely a PL manager

 

[MJA]

calm down luv.

im pointing out one of the main reasons why fans have had enough.

his record is shocking
he isnt a miracle worker
he is barely a PL manager

Why the calm down love bit? What is that all about? You cherry picked a quote out of context and thats it. If you wanna make inane comments and try and be funny then do it with someone else.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I appreciate how long it took us. But ultimately that would have been 12th. It’s stressful for any team in the bottom half ultimately because it takes a long time to confirm safety.

But, the rhetoric has gone from that points total, to us looking to “survive relegation”. The target should be comfortably above 40 points again, if not over 50. Not accepting scrapping to scrape over 40 points (or less)

For 3 years mate we've averaged 41 points.

It took us 34 games to get to 40 last season - without the deduction. Remember, we won 5 of our last 8. Losing only 2 - Chelsea and Arsenal Away. That, and the bottom 3 made it look more comfortable than it was.

Why should we be expecting to not be in a relegation scrap this season?

Sure, we should be aiming to avoid it, but after we didn't spend in the window I expected another long slog.

 

[Rita_Poon]

That's every footballer isn't it?

Apart from maybe come centre halfs who need to play in a low block and exposed in a better team/higher line.

Calvert-Lewin would score a lot more goals for Villa, than he does Everton.

Branthwaite would look even better at Man City.

Often said Onana would make people who slated him look silly. Top, top player.

The irony of the goalkeeper.

Pickford looked like a roided up superman at Sunderland, because the team in front of him was made of soggy tissue paper so he had a shift to put in every game. Then I think there is the famous Italian defender quote, possibly Maldini about his failure as a player being realised when he had to get involved directly against an attacker. (The subtext, being able to mark the man and the space to deny any chance of possession to his man etc)

 

[DL100]

Why the calm down love bit? What is that all about? You cherry picked a quote out of context and thats it. If you wanna make inane comments and try and be funny then do it with someone else.

You seemed rather upset.

 

[DL100]

That's every footballer isn't it?

Apart from maybe some centre halfs who need to play in a low block and exposed in a better team/higher line.

Calvert-Lewin would score a lot more goals for Villa, than he does Everton.

Branthwaite would look even better at Man City.

Often said Onana would make people who slated him look silly. Top, top player.

You mean he would miss more chances at Villa. Can we move on form this narrative that DCL doesnt score many goals because we dont create many chance for him or our style of play doesnt suit.

he is just a useless striker that cant finish. he gets plenty of opportunities to score but he fluffs his lines.

He would score less at Villa because he wouldn't get a game.

And lets be honest its way too early to call Onana a 'Top, Top Player'

 

[MJA]

You seemed rather upset.

Based on what? What is it with people on here who cant have a reasoned debate and then come back with nonsense like that? On what basis have you come to that conclusion? In fact dont tell me im not really that interested. Do me a favour and dont interact with me again full stop. I dont come on here to listen to nonsense. You might be impressing other people but i just find it boring.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

You mean he would miss more chances at Villa. Can we move on form this narrative that DCL doesnt score many goals because we dont create many chance for him or our style of play doesnt suit.

he is just a useless striker that cant finish. he gets plenty of opportunities to score but he fluffs his lines.

He would score less at Villa because he wouldn't get a game.

And lets be honest its way too early to call Onana a 'Top, Top Player'

Ah, yeah. "Just misses loads".

Just searched your username and Gordon. First post;

We create chances, we just dont have anyone to take them. Gordon misses 3 sitters each week.

Weird eh, how he then leaves and has 21 G/A last season.

Comfortably more goals and assists than anyone we had.

But yeah - it's just a narrative.