Comments for The Doc's Diagnosis: Routledge - A great bit of business at http://www.avfcblog.com , comment 1 to 38 out of 20 comments http://www.avfcblog.com Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:17:10 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-16134 Decent squad player - can't go wrong for that kind of money. Hope we get some quality though. MON is great, but if he has a weakness it's his signings. - nhuggy Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:40:20 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-16047 Spot on. I think MON is going for youth, players acclimated to England and with a shared background as a squad backbone, and overall athleticism (speed, strength) as a counter to the African influence in the Premiership. This is why (athleticism) I think Cahill was behind Davies and Knight. (Also it seems MON likes to give extended runs to players.) I think this is also why MON isn't so worried about the depth. He wants to give all these youngsters games, and let the team grow together, so he's not looking to be making all sorts of moves week in, week out, even to the extent that he rarely uses all three subs. I saw on an interview where MON was saying, "If you ask the players, they want to be playing." So, he's not really bothered by the idea of fatigue in his young squad. Better they should gain experience, and I agree that 20-somethings should have no problems playing the number of games they have this season. They won't get better being rotated. This way, they're acclimated to the rigors of the league, and also get to experience the ebb and flow of form, getting back out there and finding it, rather than having one off game and finding themselves sitting down. I've never understood that "he had an off game, so he's out," approach. You pick an 11, let them play, then bring on subs to change things up, or because of injuries. MON wants to see what this 11 can do, week in, week out over a full season. I love his methodical patience. He wants to be proper manager, not just a guy with a big checkbook. As the season has unfolded, he's seeing just what his players can and can't do. If and when he does make any big signings, he'll know just exactly who, and why. - kohoutek Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:17:01 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-16035 got to be honest after watching Milner play first team football at Newcastle I am glad we never got him, don't get me wrong he is all heart but that's about it and his delivery is often poor - MON has seen something in this 20 yr old and look what he's done for Ashley Young, arguably our best player of the season - Jimmy Villain Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:16:14 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-16028 A good bit of business I believe. yes we need a few others but they will come. He has the potential and MON will get the best out of him. I have faith so should everyone else. If he wasn't that good why would we be challenging for the Champions League spot now. I be annoyed if we would still be in the bottom half of the table but we having a great season so he must be doing something right. - Topsy Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:00:47 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-16026 The thing about Routledge is that maybe MON can turn him around and make him look like a good player but after playing very little 1st team football for the past 3yrs that won't happen over night. Can we afford to give him this time what with 4th spot up for grabs and every point worth its weight in gold. This is why im not happy with this signing. We needed to bring in a player that has been playing regular football this season and would hit the ground running. I would much prefer to see Barnes or Milner come in. - AK28 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:59:46 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-16003 Great signing, bags of pace and good on the ball, I can see Gabby moving into his preferred central striking position alongside Carew and us continuing to have blistering pace down that right wing. Let's not forget that system has probably garnered half our goals this season and pace has been one of the things that scares the sh* out of opposition defenders. Free kicks and set plays have contributed to probably half our goal tally this season… Not sure that Chimbonda is good idea and that seems to have a cooled a little although it seems the American keeper is a done deal and the rumours about Boateng seem to be getting stronger. Jermain Defoe anyone? ;) - Jimmy Villain Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:58:45 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-16002 here is an idea why don't we just get all of the unwanted spurs players on a team coach, get them smashed, thow a few strippers into the mixer and drive them straight to the training ground for a pissed up mediacl...sign on the dotted line Mr Chimbonda - MHeaven Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:54:10 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15999 I think the problem with most fans who are being a little negative is not that we've signed Wayne Routledge....it's that we've ONLY signed Wayne Routledge ! I was a little surprised with this move at first but now i've thought about it, could be a stroke of genius from MON. It seems that most of us really want to see just one really high quality player to take us forward and give us a real boost going into the close season and they're probably right. MON was at the Leicester v Palace game the other night apparently watching either Foxes' right back Richard Stearman or Palace's Dean Scannell (right winger ?) so either of these (or both of them) could be joining the fold before midnight. Apparently, there is a hearing being held today for the American goalie we're after and i've just read the was voted best in the MLS last year, could be a good investment. Last night's footy highlights gave us one or two "reasons to be cheerful". Firstly, Agent Ridgewell's delightful back header, Darius Vassels' inability to hit a cows arse with a banjo on several occasions...LMAO Hope we don't go for Chimbonda. He's obviously trouble seeing as a vast majority of the Spurs fans booed his every touch last night and he looks lazy too...waste of dough. Therefore, Im punting that we will have the Routledge, that US goalie, Stearman and Scannell in by tonight for a collective £8million-ish which we should get back from the sale of Luke Moore and Gary Cahill. Maybe if Luke does go, MON will grab us a lethal striker as well ! We live in hope...eh lads ! UP THE VILLA ;) ;) - AV33 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:05:29 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15998 So many of us on here have got a degree in hindsight!! We're all so wise after the fact..... One of the worst things ever done at Villa in recent times was to let Crouch go. To my memory, he did brilliantly well when given a chance to have a run of games (scoring twice at Boro in a great away day victory) and Juan Pablo who was going to be out for quite a long spell with a dodgy knee seemed to make a miraculous recovery from injury once IMO he felt he had some real competition for his place and Crouch was dropped again and the rest is history. MON's profile seems to be for predominantly young quick black English players and I'm happy with his philosophy so far as its reaping some excellent results. Keep the faith, I'm sure he has more up his sleeves. - NickC Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:46:20 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15997 what i've written above doesn't sound right i think carew has been excellent for us and i think he'll end up been more important during the rest of this season - especailly if he keeps scoring at the current ratio of 1 in 3 .. what i mean is, long term - we need someone just like carew, i.e. crouch or we move to a different formation and have a very quick player in teh middle i.e. gabby thought i shoudl set the record straight about that - Damian Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:46:17 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15996 I think everyone is just ready to get on with it. Routledge is not world class, we all know. But our way has to be develop and nurture class players. Maybe Routledge isnt in that mould, if hes not, goodbye after 18 months, well probably get 1mil back for him anyway. But we all know MON's strength is challenging players and drawing the best out of them, its worked so far. Luke Moore, he'll be gone because MON couldnt get the best out of him, despite chances. In with the next. Id love to get Barnes, him along with Ash,Gab and yes Routledge, could make certain other teams look like their playing underwater. Lets see what we land today........ - Leroy Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:39:46 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15994 Andrew j: Exactly mate, hate this idea that because someone hasnt made it at one club means they wont make it at another. Every clubs squad, chairman, manager, ambition etc is different, theres no reason why someones reject cant be our star. Hopefully the MON factor, ambition of the club, other young english players and a fresh start will kick routledge back into his palace form. We needed a right winger, MON delivered! Hopefully more to come!!! - Juan pablo Angel Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:36:38 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15992 bublee - i'd get shot of carew for crouch any day of the week. i might even get rid of carew for gabby as the sole striker with two wide men and three in the middle carew is a good player - but like i've said about barry - we wont the leageu with him - although carew i suspect would be quite decent in the uefa cup next season, what with his experience in most leagues throughout europe - Damian Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:26:19 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15993 If we qualify for for European competitions, we're not going to struggle at registering Homegrown players for the group stage/knockout stage :D - Dizzy Mugs Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:26:19 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15991 Right again Doc. You know what else will attract the big names of the future? When they play England for their respective national teams, get beat and see half the line up stems from our beloved AVFC. Like Man Utd of the 90's anyone? Smart buys in my mind. I'll be happy with a 5th spot finish, even if we miss out on the Champions League on goal difference. - Arrlui Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:23:43 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15990 And portsmouth have signed baros, who i seem to recall was our scraps. its all swings and round-abouts. have faith in the manager, support the lads and enjoy the best football at villa park in years. - Andrew J Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:19:00 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15989 He's on a short term contract for very little fee. We can't go wrong, he may only be back up for a bigger signing now or in the summer. Whats not to like about this situation. - gazza Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:16:10 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15988 I remember a lot of poo pooing on here just as we signed Carew. Who'd give him up now! No one can really dismiss a player MON might sign, he's gonna get the best out of them. - bublee Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:49:56 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15986 Spec Routledge is not "pure class" if he was Pompey and Fulham would have signed him on a permanent deal. We have yet again picked the scraps from another team. - Mark Taylor Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:44:40 +0100 http://www.avfcblog.com/content/view/2200/70/#comment-15985 Routledge is a great signing, he is pure class, just needs a few games and he will easily get into the swing of things. - Spec Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:19:38 +0100