The 2020/21 midway point - How do you feel things are going so far? | Page 3 | Vital Football

The 2020/21 midway point - How do you feel things are going so far?

A great first half to the season, not really much else you can say, we’ve nearly already reached our entire total for last season and we’re playing so exciting stuff too.

Anything in the top half would be a good finish in my view. I think European qualification will be just beyond us as there’s so many clubs in the same chasing pack as us and of course Arsenal and Chelsea will be looking to recover too. If the europa places go down to 7th then there’s an outside chance we can sneak in but I think 8-10th is our realistic target, we’re a bit too inconsistent (understandably due to our inexperience in this position) to mount a serious top 6 challenge
 
I dunno if this is worth it's own thread......

Do we want to qualify for Europe or not?

It makes us money, attracts better players.....but can punish a team without a decent squad - it could jeopardise our long-term progress.
 
Gillette said:
I dunno if this is worth it's own thread......

Do we want to qualify for Europe or not?

It makes us money, attracts better players.....but can punish a team without a decent squad - it could jeopardise our long-term progress.
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For me yes. I'm sure many will say that the Europa League is a pain in the arse but the fact is that being in European competition marks you out as one of the elite teams in your country. We got into Europe more often than not up until about a decade ago and we need to get back.
 
JW1985 said:
For me yes. I'm sure many will say that the Europa League is a pain in the arse but the fact is that being in European competition marks you out as one of the elite teams in your country. We got into Europe more often than not up until about a decade ago and we need to get back.
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The idea is great, and we are also used to playing in empty grounds now so 15k in Villa Park on Thursday night against a team you've never heard of would be frightening for the lads,
 
Gillette said:
I dunno if this is worth it's own thread......

Do we want to qualify for Europe or not?

It makes us money, attracts better players.....but can punish a team without a decent squad - it could jeopardise our long-term progress.
Click to expand...
Definitely for me. We have the money to bulk up the squad enough to compete in an extra competition. It's another opportunity to see us win something and I loved some of the games in the UEFA cup a few years ago.

Also, with the Europa league now being another route into the Champions league, it has to be an aim for us. Qualifying for the modern era Champions league is well overdue for us and I truly believe the year we qualify will be the start of something big.
 
We’re probably already safe - bonus!

I’m not looking at finishing positions, just progression on and off the pitch. Sansom could be a great signing, the potential is there but only time will tell. The kids are also showing signs of promise and I see our short term future resting with them - if they can break into this team they’ll be really good.

We’ll continue to get frustrating results (Burnley), but all teams throw away points. Must beat Manure this season, then I’ll be happy 😃

Said before the season 54-56pts and see where that puts us, but our current trajectory suggests 60+pts. If that happens, I’ll be like a dog with two dicks.

So, in summary, delighted with our style of play, beating Plop and the Arse a bonus but must beat Manure for a stellar season - oh, Filth and Stripy Filth to go down for the cherry on top.
 
Hifriedelity said:
Happy but still think we are in a rush......what position do we need to be in at the end of the season for Grealish to stay?
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If he's not getting European football there will be a danger of losing him, but it depends on other clubs finances. I think he's only with us now as no one was prepared to stump up a large enough bid in the Summer.
It does make me chuckle when I keep seeing reports about Arsenal or Spuds needing to sign him. There's not a chance in hell that either of those 2 would pay the asking price. I think the 2 Manc clubs are the only ones who would possibly have the financial clout to do it
 
garygaryshaw said:
If he's not getting European football there will be a danger of losing him, but it depends on other clubs finances. I think he's only with us now as no one was prepared to stump up a large enough bid in the Summer.
It does make me chuckle when I keep seeing reports about Arsenal or Spuds needing to sign him. There's not a chance in hell that either of those 2 would pay the asking price. I think the 2 Manc clubs are the only ones who would possibly have the financial clout to do it
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Not a chance that Jack would sign for anyone else in this country even if they wanted him, he's Villa and he's not for sale. It really is that simple
 
Half term report for me is easily an A+

Of course we still make mistakes and there are still things we can improve upon, but when you confirm where we are with what the expectations were at the start of the season we're massively exceeding.
 
Villan57 said:
Not a chance that Jack would sign for anyone else in this country even if they wanted him, he's Villa and he's not for sale. It really is that simple
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As much as I wished that was true, its not. What will probably keep him here is his high valuation and the seeming lack of big money transfers at the moment.
But to avoid getting off topic, you'd have to be either deluded or a right miserable whatsit not be happy with our season so far.
 
I was confident of progress this year but I was thinking 12th-ish or maybe 10th if stuff really came together, so I'd say the start we've had has been absolutely brilliant. Most exciting time since John Gregory threatened the top of the league before falling short.

The football is so exciting without being suicidal; you can see the thought behind every player in each position; we've one of the best line-leading strikers in the country; we have arguably THE best keeper in the country; we have inarguably the best and most exciting attacking player in the country; our biggest gripe is one of our centre-backs, but who is part of a defence that's conceded the 4th least goals in the league; and, and this is actually more important to me than I though it should be, I really LIKE our players and can see they really like each other and love playing for each other.

The fact I'd be really disappointed if we finished 12th now says it all, for a team "that only stayed up because of Hawkeye".
 
At the start of the season I said I just want to see an improvement on last season. We have definitely seen that and then some! Very happy with how things are going and dreaming of Europe. And yes I do want us to qualify for Europe. I'd be amazed if any Villa fan didn't want European football. We're not Reading!
 
I thought I'd posted in this thread.

I'm gobsmacked at the transformation from what I considered an underperforming season last year. I love how we are trying to play, we aren't there yet but then, we are only in our second season back in the Premiership. I know we have had disappointing results along with the great ones, but that is the thing, we are disappointed again. I don't know about you, but for so long, I was almost (almost) resigned to losing because we have been poor for so long.
 
just wondering how many if any goals we have scored from midfield this season and maybe we could do with a few more goals to help the forwards out a bit
 
Barkley has scored a couple and that’s it I think - Hourihane scored in the first game too. We’ve got a decent goal record this season so goals from midfield aren’t too much of a worry if our front three continue doing their job.
 
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