One name that I haven't seen mentioned is Neto's mate from Lazio Bruno Jordao. If we are talking about players with potential in his brief appearances for the club he has looked like a real prospect to me.

It is too soon to judge him, but from what I have seen, Jordao doesn't look anything special.

But to be fair haven't seen much of him, so hopefully proves me wrong.

Good shout that Gem. He looks decent.

When you look at our current rivals they all have more quality in depth than us. As Boston said you look at our bench and there is potential but precious few match winning options. We have very little redundancy in the squad, injuries or loss of form and we're fecked. And I think that's what we're seeing at the moment, a bit of mental tiredness in the squad which is perfectly understandable and a corresponding lack of sharpness leading to a lack of creativity in the opposition half.

I understand Nuno not wanting a bloated squad with unhappy players stinking up the place but I think the squad is lacking options at the moment and it needs to be addressed in the next two windows.

I didn't look at anything in isolation, our two principle new arrivals turned out to be a disaster and a big part of the reason why we now have very few options from the bench. If that is our standard window we won't be challenging for anything.

And yeah Goldi, we should remember this isn't the size of squad Nuno wants either.

Have to say, Villa have been on the rough end of some terrible decisions this season.

Ah well

Yes that was never a penalty for Utd tonight. Villa were matching them until then. Villa have the advantage of playing West Ham on the last day if they could stay within three points of them, but they just don’t look like winning a game.

Bournemouth look likely to go down with them but they were at least a draw against Spurs who have become typically boring under Mourinho. Spurs should have had a pen though

Be great to see Bournemouth go down.

We should be thankful to Spurs and Mourinho as well

Speaking of potential. I've seen that kid Greenwood a few times and he's got what it takes. No reason why some of ours can't do the same.

And if they are good enough they will. Meanwhile United also added Bruno Fernandes in January despite a lot of young talent and it has been his arrival that has changed their season.

Cinci says I don't look at things in isolation, then goes on to mention two players that didn't work out, ignoring Neto and other signings that show promise. (shakes head)

I ask who had a better transfer window, and the only one he can mention is Fernandes, which has been a great signing. So in all the league he can only name one team and one player.

Oldgold, got to say that was never a penalty against Villa. But whats the point of VAR if it is not going to overturn something like that?

I will say Villa also got away with one against Sheffield UTD though.

Back to the VAR debate again.
There are as many mistakes with it than without so its solved nothing. It devalues the ref on the pitch and still takes a ridiculous time to make a decision.
It's rubbish and should be scrapped.

I think the VAR official was right not to overturn it. There was contact and it could be considered subjective as to whether it was a penalty, as the Villa player was clumsy and rushed in.

I do think that they should have sent the referee to the monitor so he could view It again though.

I didn't see the Villa player move, Fernandes put his foot on the ball and tried to spin round, but fell onto the Villa player, in my opinion.
When you see the Harry Kane penalty not given it shows what a farce VAR is. Again in my opinion.

The Villa player ran up behind and didn't stop himself in time. Everyone I have seen saying it wasn't a penalty have been showing a still image and not the full clip,

I think people seem to want VAR to take subjectivity out of football, which it definitely isn't going to do and it would be boring if it did. Look at the offside rule enforcement for example.

I did see the incident in full and Konsa did stop in time and Fernandes stepped back into him. Definitely not a penalty in my eyes and var should have corrected a clear and obvious error. Similarly var should have awarded a penalty to Spurs when Kane was pushed in the back. Following on from not giving Sheff Utd a goal at Villa when the ball had clearly crossed the line it seems the one thing var is not doing is correcting clear and obvious errors.

The offside enforcement is also flawed. They are prepared to deem a player is one inch offside despite the technology not existing to prove the line is drawn at the exact moment the ball is played. One pixel either way could lead to a different decision.

Did read today that next season a goal will only be disallowed if accidental handball happens immediately before the ball is played into the net. That’s an improvement but in my opinion accidental handball should never be an offence.

Pretty much agree with you Spangles. But Boly accidentally putting the ball in with his hand against Man City, has to be an offence, surely?

But anything accidental in a build up, is just plain stupid, and not something fans want to see.

As for offside, I think you need to look at the reasons it was bought in, it was to stop goal hanging, not to call somebody's toe offside 25yards from goal.

There has to be some common sense involved, as it stands VAR seems more intent on disallowing goals than giving them, which from a fans point of view can't be right.

The Villa player didnt stop in time. Fernandes turned on the ball and both their momentums caused the contact. I can definitely see the argument for it not being a penalty, but I dont think it is for the VAR official to overturn in that instance as it could be a subjective decision.

I think the referee should be told to have a second look at a monitor and they it is up to him whether he changes the decision. I think he probably would have last night.

comment by Amigawolf no longer MIA (U18508)
posted about 7 hours ago
Cinci says I don't look at things in isolation, then goes on to mention two players that didn't work out, ignoring Neto and other signings that show promise. (shakes head)

I ask who had a better transfer window, and the only one he can mention is Fernandes, which has been a great signing. So in all the league he can only name one team and one player.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Your argument is nonsensical. Our two main signings of the summer are not even at the club anymore but yet you still can't be critical of the club. If you showed a little balance then perhaps it would be a sensible debate.

As for Utd, that had nothing to do with your question, it was in response to Wolfie randomly mentioning a successful youngster as if it proved something relating to Wolves.

Cinci stop looking at things in isolation, we had two players that did not work out, as it was it didn't cost us much, we have other players who look very promising, overall not a bad transfer window.

As for UTD, whether it was an answer to my question or not, it is probably the only deal you could point to that was any better than what we did.

Stop looking at things in isolation Amiga.

Sander Berge to Sheff United, Stephen Bergwijn to Spurs, Dani Olmo to RB Liepzig, Erling Haaland to Dortmund, Paco Alacer to Villareal, Piatek to Hertha Berlin etc. All better deals than we did in January

Is it just me seeing the irony in Amiga talking about seeing things in isolation whilst holding up Neto against my pointing out two separate players?

Be interested to see which other clubs two main signings of the summer had left their clubs by January?

Cinci I have acknowledged the players that have failed, I have also acknowledged the players likely to succeed, how in any way could that be construed as talking in isolation?

I might also add that, Cutrone was being looked at as competition up front, Vallejo was simply being accessed, as it was a simple loan deal, and not a major signing, or a signing at all as it turned out.