You know what's happening on Saturday, don't you?

[Sir C]

Martinez' revenge, that's what's happening.

It will truly be a 'good ebening' for a certain vampirical-looking dude :-(

[PSRB]

Martinez' revenge, that's what's happening.

It will truly be a 'good ebening' for a certain vampirical-looking dude :-(

Already in full would take a point mode.

[Sir C]

Already in full would take a point mode.

I'd be delighted with 5 from our next 3 games.

4, even :-(

[PSRB]

I'd be delighted with 5 from our next 3 games.

4, even :-(

:nod: 11 from our next 5 would be a great haul

[Luis Anaconda]

Martinez' revenge, that's what's happening.

It will truly be a 'good ebening' for a certain vampirical-looking dude :-(

Meh - hardly the first time we played against him. Last two times at Villa Park, he should have conceded a penalty in one (if only there was VAR oh wait there was) and scored and own goal, and was stranded in our half when one of our Gabis scored in the other

[PSRB]

Meh - hardly the first time we played against him. Last two times at Villa Park, he should have conceded a penalty in one (if only there was VAR oh wait there was) and scored and own goal, and was stranded in our half when one of our Gabis scored in the other

Martinez, also usually decides to have his worst game of the season for them.

[Luis Anaconda]

Martinez, also usually decides to have his worst game of the season for them.

Yeah - was at the game when he palmed the penalty save straight back to Auba as well

[7sisters]

Meh - hardly the first time we played against him. Last two times at Villa Park, he should have conceded a penalty in one (if only there was VAR oh wait there was) and scored and own goal, and was stranded in our half when one of our Gabis scored in the other

We had a better keeper between the sticks in fairness. We go into this encounter with jelly on a plate..

[Luis Anaconda]

We had a better keeper between the sticks in fairness. We go into this encounter with jelly on a plate..

I'm firmly pro Ramsdale, as I had said before, but Raya is a very good keeper. Got his way into the Spain squad while playing at Brentford. What were your thoughts on Martinez when he was unimpressive on loan at Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford, Rotherham? Or conceding 5 on his debut against Reading?

[WES]

I'm firmly pro Ramsdale, as I had said before, but Raya is a very good keeper. Got his way into the Spain squad while playing at Brentford. What were your thoughts on Martinez when he was unimpressive on loan at Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford, Rotherham? Or conceding 5 on his debut against Reading?

If I recall correctly, he went through a pretty rough period at Villa last year, or maybe the year before. Howlers all over the place.

Wasn't particularly convincing in the WC as well, I think.

Keepers, eh :shrug:

[Luis Anaconda]

If I recall correctly, he went through a pretty rough period at Villa last year, or maybe the year before. Howlers all over the place.

Wasn't particularly convincing in the WC as well, I think.

Keepers, eh :shrug:

He's a very good keeper but has his dodgy periods - thrown a couple in the net this season as well. Let's hope for a poor performance from him on Saturday. Is ridiculous the number of ex-keepers we have around - Martinez, Fabianski, Turner, Leno in the Premiership, Szczesny in Italy. Fairly sure Mart Poom will turn up at Luton before the end of the season

[IUFG]

Martinez' revenge, that's what's happening.

It will truly be a 'good ebening' for a certain vampirical-looking dude :-(

we survive the first 15 minutes of inevitable onslaught from them...we'll be fine :thumbup:

I'd take a point now, mind.

[Luis Anaconda]

we survive the first 15 minutes of inevitable onslaught from them...we'll be fine :thumbup:

I'd take a point now, mind.
their big strength is their high line and offside trap - watched the Spurs game and they could have been 5 down by half time. Our front three could have a fun time - if they time their runs. Havertz could be very useful in this respect as well

[IUFG]

their big strength is their high line and offside trap - watched the Spurs game and they could have been 5 down by half time. Our front three could have a fun time - if they time their runs. Havertz could be very useful in this respect as well

Emery must have changed, man...

I specifically remember the game at the Emirates, under Unai, when we beat Villa (2-1, 3-2?) with a very late Aubameyang free-kick and was appalled at how our defenders kept dropping off and dropping off, eventually into the area, inviting shots and free movement from Villa. Obviously an instruction from the manager.

Jack Grealish had a field day.

After the 20+ game honeymoon, we were dog**** under Emery. Especially at the end of the season.

[Peter]

Emery must have changed, man...

I specifically remember the game at the Emirates, under Unai, when we beat Villa (2-1, 3-2?) with a very late Aubameyang free-kick and was appalled at how our defenders kept dropping off and dropping off, eventually into the area, inviting shots and free movement from Villa. Obviously an instruction from the manager.

Jack Grealish had a field day.

After the 20+ game honeymoon, we were dog**** under Emery. Especially at the end of the season.

I think the scale of Arteta's rebuild gives a good window into the absolute **** show that Emery inherited. He never stood a chance in the short term and our transfer activity was all over the shop while he was here.

He is clearly a very, very good coach and under different circumstances he could have done well with us.

[Peter]

He's a very good keeper but has his dodgy periods - thrown a couple in the net this season as well. Let's hope for a poor performance from him on Saturday. Is ridiculous the number of ex-keepers we have around - Martinez, Fabianski, Turner, Leno in the Premiership, Szczesny in Italy. Fairly sure Mart Poom will turn up at Luton before the end of the season

He is a very good keeper but he isn't too hot with his feet and he has far too much to say for and about himself for Arteta's liking. I suspect the 'values' were an issue in him staying with us.

Despite current form, I would think Raya is the slightly better keeper. Both have exceptional handling, Raya is better with his feet. Martinez is more aggressive and full of himself (in a positive sense).

Villa and Anfield are going to be incredibly difficult games.

[IUFG]

I think the scale of Arteta's rebuild gives a good window into the absolute **** show that Emery inherited. He never stood a chance in the short term and our transfer activity was all over the shop while he was here.

He is clearly a very, very good coach and under different circumstances he could have done well with us.

found it...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49705154

that team, smfh

Leno
Maitland-Niles
Papastathopoulos
David Luiz
Kolasinac
Guendouzi
Xhaka
Pépé
Ceballos
Saka
Aubameyang

Subs
Özil
Torreira
Chambers
Nelson
E Martínez
Willock
Martinelli

Perhaps you have a point, P.

[Peter]

found it...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49705154

that team, smfh

Leno
Maitland-Niles
Papastathopoulos
David Luiz
Kolasinac
Guendouzi
Xhaka
Pépé
Ceballos
Saka
Aubameyang

Subs
Özil
Torreira
Chambers
Nelson
E Martínez
Willock
Martinelli

Perhaps you have a point, P.

You look at that list and it isn't just that it isn't a great team. Think about what the dressing room was like. Big egos on the likes of Aubamayang, Ozil, Luiz but no real sense of leadership. Younger players with a bit of attitude like Guendouzi and Maitland-Niles.

Then the relatively useless, such as Kolasinac, Pepe, the big Greek lad. No thought has gone into that squad, or if it has it is the various thoughts of too many cooks.

Total mess. No wonder Edu and Arteta set about dismantling the entire thing and starting again.

[7sisters]

He is a very good keeper but he isn't too hot with his feet and he has far too much to say for and about himself for Arteta's liking. I suspect the 'values' were an issue in him staying with us.

Despite current form, I would think Raya is the slightly better keeper. Both have exceptional handling, Raya is better with his feet. Martinez is more aggressive and full of himself (in a positive sense).

Villa and Anfield are going to be incredibly difficult games.

This keeper mess lays squarely at the feet of Arteta. He saw something he liked in Raya but overlooked the pressure in playing in front of 60k for a top 4 club. He also underestimated the loyalty to Ramsdale who played a huge part in last seasons success.
It was a stupid move in my book. We had other priorities and hooking Ramsdale without the requisite string of poor performances, was ill conceived.
We now have two keepers who are a bundle of nerves every time they take the field.
There’s a fag paper between them in terms of ability where their ought to be an obvious step up in class with Raya.

[IUFG]

You look at that list and it isn't just that it isn't a great team. Think about what the dressing room was like. Big egos on the likes of Aubamayang, Ozil, Luiz but no real sense of leadership. Younger players with a bit of attitude like Guendouzi and Maitland-Niles.

Then the relatively useless, such as Kolasinac, Pepe, the big Greek lad. No thought has gone into that squad, or if it has it is the various thoughts of too many cooks.

Total mess. No wonder Edu and Arteta set about dismantling the entire thing and starting again.

Certainly the dressing room was a ****show at that time. Auba and Ozil hoovering the life out of it. Emery didn't deal with either of them.

Villa finished 17th that season and made us look as bad as they were.
We only finished 8th. Behind Wolves.

As good as Emery might be. We didn't see it.

[Peter]

This keeper mess lays squarely at the feet of Arteta. He saw something he liked in Raya but overlooked the pressure in playing in front of 60k for a top 4 club. He also underestimated the loyalty to Ramsdale who played a huge part in last seasons success.
It was a stupid move in my book. We had other priorities and hooking Ramsdale without the requisite string of poor performances, was ill conceived.
We now have two keepers who are a bundle of nerves every time they take the field.
There’s a fag paper between them in terms of ability where their ought to be an obvious step up in class with Raya.

Overall I agree there is little difference in quality, but they have different strengths. Raya is much better at coming for crosses (bar the other night!), he has better hands and he is more comfortable on the ball. Ramsdale is bigger, cockier, his reflexes are better and I have a feeling that he reads the path of the ball better, explaining some of his more spectacular saves.

If Arteta wants a guy who is good on the ball and stronger on catching crosses, Raya is the better bet.

I do agree though, he has created a problem that wasn't there before. Long term, I am hoping it makes us better but in the hsort term it is a big problem.

This is what you get with an inexperienced manager. We all acknowledge that players improve but we rarely have the same conversation about managers. He is very inexperienced and we have seen almost a surplus of ideas and initiatives. This season he changed too much too soon, as seen with the ridiculous Partey experiment alongside a brand new midfield. Bad idea!

But you also get the creativity- look at our work with throw ins this season. We have caught teams out at least three times with weird runs from throws.

[Peter]

Certainly the dressing room was a ****show at that time. Auba and Ozil hoovering the life out of it. Emery didn't deal with either of them.

Villa finished 17th that season and made us look as bad as they were.
We only finished 8th. Behind Wolves.

As good as Emery might be. We didn't see it.

We definitely didn't see it. I couldn't work out what his team was about when he was with us but having watched him since his sides have a very clear identity. I just think he didn't have what he needed with us and the power struggles going on above him meant he couldn't ask for it. By the end he had totally lost the dressing room. It was pretty sad.

If he had had Edu with him, who knows.

Either way, it meant we got Arteta :-)

[redgunamo]

Seconded, 100% agree!


Overall I agree there is little difference in quality, but they have different strengths. Raya is much better at coming for crosses (bar the other night!), he has better hands and he is more comfortable on the ball. Ramsdale is bigger, cockier, his reflexes are better and I have a feeling that he reads the path of the ball better, explaining some of his more spectacular saves.

If Arteta wants a guy who is good on the ball and stronger on catching crosses, Raya is the better bet.

I do agree though, he has created a problem that wasn't there before. Long term, I am hoping it makes us better but in the hsort term it is a big problem.

This is what you get with an inexperienced manager. We all acknowledge that players improve but we rarely have the same conversation about managers. He is very inexperienced and we have seen almost a surplus of ideas and initiatives. This season he changed too much too soon, as seen with the ridiculous Partey experiment alongside a brand new midfield. Bad idea!

But you also get the creativity- look at our work with throw ins this season. We have caught teams out at least three times with weird runs from throws.

[IUFG]

we survive the first 15 minutes of inevitable onslaught from them...we'll be fine :thumbup:

I'd take a point now, mind.

Didn't survive the first 15 minutes. FFS....

[redgunamo]

No, we did not. Good call. Still should've battered them though. #goals



Didn't survive the first 15 minutes. FFS....

[Sir C]

Martinez' revenge, that's what's happening.

It will truly be a 'good ebening' for a certain vampirical-looking dude :-(

I must be Mystic ****ing Meg :-(

[IUFG]

I must be Mystic ****ing Meg :-(

And a dreadful set of results for us this weekend.

****!

[Peter]

And a dreadful set of results for us this weekend.

****!

I know it was Spurs, but seeing Newcastle get another spanking was still kind of nice :-)