brady1993

This move makes sense from a couple different angles. 
1) It's a sign to the rest of the academy players.
2) It encourages Bird to stay with us. Important because he's arguably going to be our most important player next year.
3) He's been touted as a future captain for a while 
 

Sensible decision. Probably a sign that he'll be captaining us to the Championship title next season.

I agree with all of that.
NML just looks like he's got the ability to change a game and teams really have to be wary of him. And I'm not sure the same can be said about Barkhuizen or Knight who both are a bit more straight forward to defend against.

I imagine because it's not really Hourihane's or Thompson's game particularly. Underlines that Bird is kinda critical going into the season as it stands.

I imagine because it's not really Hourihane's or Thompson's game particularly. Underlines that Bird is kinda critical going into the season as it stands.

I imagine because it's not really Hourihane's or Thompson's game particularly. Underlines that Bird is kinda critical going into the season as it stands.

I imagine because it's not really Hourihane's or Thompson's game particularly. Underlines that Bird is kinda critical going into the season as it stands.

I don't think that's entirely surprising, him and Hourihane feels a bit mismatched.

I imagine because it's not really Hourihane's or Thompson's game particularly. Underlines that Bird is kinda critical going into the season as it stands.

I imagine because it's not really Hourihane's or Thompson's game particularly. Underlines that Bird is kinda critical going into the season as it stands.

I imagine because it's not really Hourihane's or Thompson's game particularly. Underlines that Bird is kinda critical going into the season as it stands.

I imagine because it's not really Hourihane's or Thompson's game particularly. Underlines that Bird is kinda critical going into the season as it stands.

I mean admittedly I actually really enjoy that side of things. I enjoy getting in the weeds with stats and trying to analyse exactly what a player is doing and why. And I enjoying coming on here and really discussing it with people. But I'm an analytical person and football is far from the only thing I'm like this with. 
If you don't enjoy and it sucks the fun out of it for you, I'm sorry to hear that and I can definitely see how it wouldn't be for everyone.

I actually think there is a decent chance at something like this happening after watch us versus Berlin in the first half.
We've shifted tactically from last season. Last season the full backs would push very high, wingers come narrow and the defensive midfielders would split and stay deep. Something like: 
              CB  CB 
         DM           DM
    RB  RW CAM LW  LB
                   CF
This season however it looks like we are going to try to us the fullbacks more auxiliary midfielders. It was noticeable that the full back would stay in a line with Bird when we were in position and come slightly narrow. Hourihane would then push right up, playing close to Mcgoldrick and both winger stayed high and on the touch line.  More like 
              CB  CB 
        RB     DM      LB
             DM  CAM
    RW        CF        LW
So the demands of a full back here wouldn't be the same in fact you'd probably want someone who is comfortable being in midfield (not necessarily a midfielder). So trialing Knight and possibly Smith would make a lot of sense. 
Although what I will say is I'd be very very wary about playing Fozzy with how we currently look to be setting up.

I mean admittedly I actually really enjoy that side of things. I enjoy getting in the weeds with stats and trying to analyse exactly what a player is doing and why. And I enjoying coming on here and really discussing it with people. But I'm an analytical person and football is far from the only thing I'm like this with. 
If you don't enjoy and it sucks the fun out of it for you, I'm sorry to hear that and I can definitely see how it wouldn't be for everyone.

I hope he does. He’s got something about him. Good with his feet, retains possession, gets stuck in despite his stature. I haven’t really registered his long passing ability though ? He always plays it clean and sharp. 
 
The delightful thing is going to be watching how we shape up and how players fight to make a position their own. I feel that after the last 2 seasons along with all the new boys, we have a completely new team feel. No hangover from Mac and Nigel, the changes have been well and truly rung

I think Tommo is probably earmarked as one of 4 players for the 2 DM spots (i dont think Bielik is particularly in the planning). And as such given how many games we will need to play this season I suspect he will start a decent amount.

That would honestly be a complete disaster waiting to happen with how we are looking to play.

I mean admittedly I actually really enjoy that side of things. I enjoy getting in the weeds with stats and trying to analyse exactly what a player is doing and why. And I enjoying coming on here and really discussing it with people. But I'm an analytical person and football is far from the only thing I'm like this with. 
If you don't enjoy and it sucks the fun out of it for you, I'm sorry to hear that and I can definitely see how it wouldn't be for everyone.

Last season was more like:
GK
CB   CB
DM                 DM
RB   RW   AM   LW   LB
CF

Hourihane feels the most surprising. 
But the cheesy answer is that first raft of signings and new contracts a couple days after Clowes took over were critical. It sent out the message that we'd stabilised, that players are safe to come to us and that the players we have here aren't for sale for peanuts.

I'm not too privy into his attitude, although I'm sure it's good, but when he was at Barnsley - he was the one who would be making the most passes, most tackles, he would be having shots... in short: he would be the one that would make things happen. 
I really liked him then and he seemed to play a slightly different role for Villa, but at Barnsley he was involved in every single passage of play. 

Maybe yeah? Although I do think Knight Bird and Roberts were virtually in line especially in the first two thirds of the pitch.
I do worry about playing fozzy though if we really expect the left back to be involved in the starting of moves. Roberts, on the other hand looks more than comfortable.
Out of possession is more or less the same shape as last year virtually falling back into a 442.

That probably teaches me not to start reading a thread with the last page..... ?

I actually think there is a decent chance at something like this happening after watch us versus Berlin in the first half.
We've shifted tactically from last season. Last season the full backs would push very high, wingers come narrow and the defensive midfielders would split and stay deep. Something like: 
              CB  CB 
         DM           DM
    RB  RW CAM LW  LB
                   CF
This season however it looks like we are going to try to us the fullbacks more auxiliary midfielders. It was noticeable that the full back would stay in a line with Bird when we were in position and come slightly narrow. Hourihane would then push right up, playing close to Mcgoldrick and both winger stayed high and on the touch line.  More like 
              CB  CB 
        RB     DM      LB
             DM  CAM
    RW        CF        LW
So the demands of a full back here wouldn't be the same in fact you'd probably want someone who is comfortable being in midfield (not necessarily a midfielder). So trialing Knight and possibly Smith would make a lot of sense. 
Although what I will say is I'd be very very wary about playing Fozzy with how we currently look to be setting up.