Glenn Whelan

[SwanVsDalton]

Also a pity to see Villa over-stocked with centre midfielders: Bjarnason and Lansbury were signed in January and Jedinak and Gardner are there two. If they play 3 in midfield what are the chances two will be Whelan and Hourihane and the other will be from those 4? I know Jedinak has played a bit at centre half and Gardner isn't a world-beater but if they got with 2 in midfield then Hourihane's development could be stunted.

Over-stocked but a lot of doss. Bjarnason is playing wide more than central, and he's been a bit rubbish. Gardner hasn't played well either.

Could see Whelan and Jedinak playing together when Bruce wants to keep it tight, one or the other if he wants a more attacking shape. I would like Hourihane to play further forward and there's certainly an open spot for a creative, more attacking midfielder. It's probably a scrap with Lansbury on that front.

[Charlie Darwin]

If he can't get ahead of at least two of those guys then he's better off elsewhere.

[tricky_colour]

Villa currently top the table, in a alphabetical order, will they remain top all season?


I say YES!!

(wonder what the odds are ;) )

[CraftyToePoke]

I think they are a smart bet, they weren't a million miles away last run from a play off spot and have experience in key positions with Whelan and Terry added by a manager with previous in that division. What are the odds tricky do you know ?

[pineapple stu]

They were 18 points adrift - that's a long way off the play-offs

[CraftyToePoke]

Its six wins in a forty-six game league, so not really. Its a dodgy month or six weeks from being in the mix, which is exactly what they had early in they year after bringing players in in January. I feel Villa in that league having added the two they have and are a bit more tidy in their work can comfortably be six to ten wins better, comfortably you hear ?

Now shouldn't you be working on some obscure formula whereby the sun finally shines on the UCD ass somehow ?

[pineapple stu]

Sure they were nearer relegation the whole season, and ended up just 11 points off the drop. They were never I the play-off places all season, or even remotely challenging. They've been a basket case club for years now.

They may challenge next season, but it's daft to reckon they'll challenge based on adding two veterans to a crap squad.

[geysir]

Villa are the betting odds favourites for promotion and most probably that's not based upon them adding two older players to their squad.

[swinfordfc]

I'm a Villa supporter for a long time and they being crap since the day MON left the club! ... and he was right to leave cause Lerner, the American owner was a fool! ... The at the bottom now looking up cause of the Chinese owner ****ing in tonnes of money but at last a proper manager to spend it! ... Think they get up this year but wont win it ...actually will get up through the play offs! ... Still need a top class striker!

[CraftyToePoke]

They may challenge next season, but it's daft to reckon they'll challenge based on adding two veterans to a crap squad.

So they may challenge, but have a crap squad, the addition of two veterans to which is irrelevant in terms of any challenge.

Very good.

I'd be curious what you would put any challenge down to in those circumstances. Incantation ? The moon ? An algorithm ?

[pineapple stu]

Football can be unpredictable. So while they're a basket case of a club who've been going steadily backwards for years at this stage, were closer to relegation than a play-off spot last year and look, on prior performance, to be more likely to follow Bolton than Newcastle, they could indeed win the league.

But saying "they weren't a million miles off" a play-off spot is nonsense. Not sure what part of that is hard to get.

[geysir]

I'm a Villa supporter for a long time and they being crap since the day MON left the club! ... and he was right to leave cause Lerner, the American owner was a fool! ... The at the bottom now looking up cause of the Chinese owner ****ing in tonnes of money but at last a proper manager to spend it! ... Think they get up this year but wont win it ...actually will get up through the play offs! ... Still need a top class striker!
Get in the queue for the top class striker :)
What was that rotten patch about when they lost 7 games or so in a row? was that all about getting rid of some and bedding in the new players?
Why do you think they are regarded as favourites for promotion?

[tricky_colour]

Whelan is too good for the championship!!

It is a great move by Villa!!

Villa favourite to go up!!

[OwlsFan]

Villa are the betting odds favourites for promotion and most probably that's not based upon them adding two older players to their squad.

Yes, they improved as time went on last season. I see though the bookies have Hull, Sunderland and Leeds mid-table. The half-Irish team Preston hovering on the fringes of the relegation zone.

[KrisLetang]

They're stealing my song about Oh what a Phelan when Terry's dancin' on the ceiling for the new Whelan song.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-fans-come-up-13377438

[mark12345]

From someone who has given Glen Whelan his fair share of criticism over the years, glad to see that Villa fans have taken to him with aplomb. Following a 0-0 draw with Watford on Saturday fans were over the moon about his performance.

On Twitter

"Glen Whelan was like Petrov at his finest today. Very very impressive performance"
"Think Whelan's the name on most fans lips after that Alex, very impressive indeed."
"After watching Glen Whelan today I thought what a cracking singing he is."

Good luck to him with his new club.

[swinfordfc]

Villa only favs to go up cause they got Terry! ... which is crap! They wont score enough goals to get up I think!

[KrisLetang]

From someone who has given Glen Whelan his fair share of criticism over the years, glad to see that Villa fans have taken to him with aplomb. Following a 0-0 draw with Watford on Saturday fans were over the moon about his performance.

Pretty excited at the Villa board too.
https://www.villatalk.com/topic/16608-glenn-whelan/?page=13

[geysir]

Villa only favs to go up cause they got Terry! ... which is crap! They wont score enough goals to get up I think!

They were joint favorites for promotion long before Terry signed

[swinfordfc]

They were joint favorites for promotion long before Terry signed

Were they? ... don't understand that ... back line was ok and Johnstone the keeper is fine ... midfield is crap, really bad - Grealish is shocking - Whelan will make a massive differences defensively but going forward, Villa are very poor. Kojila is a good striker but likes to play by himself, not good working beside another player, Gabby and McCormack are crap and waiting to see what Hogan is like. They will struggle to score goals this year, hoping to win a lot of games 1-0! Wont win the league or get close!

[Kingdom]

Football can be unpredictable. So while they're a basket case of a club who've been going steadily backwards for years at this stage, were closer to relegation than a play-off spot last year and look, on prior performance, to be more likely to follow Bolton than Newcastle, they could indeed win the league.

But saying "they weren't a million miles off" a play-off spot is nonsense. Not sure what part of that is hard to get.

Have to agree with Stu here, it is absolute nonsense to suggest the above.

[DeLorean]

Depends. How many miles equates to eighteen points? :)

I missed all the 'grow up' posts... hate when that happens.

[geysir]

You guys are stuck on a pedantic point of a "million miles away" and not looking at the main point.
It's not that difficult to understand what Toe Poke was on about, he reckons that it's achievable Villa can make up that ground and challenge for promotion, he mentioned the sticky spell losing 23 out 24 points in the first 8 games of 2017, which coincided with changing personal, that Bruce has steadied the team and now they are boosted by a rejuvenated Glen Whelan who is currently hot, smoke coming from his boots.
And from the end of last season, Villa have been joint favs for promotion.

[SwanVsDalton]

Villa have a decent-ish squad, infected with some dross holdovers from the chaotic Lambert/Sherwood/Garde years. Last season, they lacked leadership (late goals would account for most if not all of those 18 points up the play-offs) and direction (more managerial upheaval, slew of signings in both summer and January) but there seems to be a more solid idea of how they're going to go forward.

The Championship's tough but hard to argue that they wouldn't be one of the favourites to go up. If they play as good as their first XI looks on paper, Villa should be major challengers.

[DeLorean]

You guys are stuck on a pedantic point of a "million miles away" and not looking at the main point.
It's not that difficult to understand what Toe Poke was on about, he reckons that it's achievable Villa can make up that ground and challenge for promotion, he mentioned the sticky spell losing 23 out 24 points in the first 8 games of 2017, which coincided with changing personal, that Bruce has steadied the team and now they are boosted by a rejuvenated Glen Whelan who is currently hot, smoke coming from his boots.
And from the end of last season, Villa have been joint favs for promotion.

That's how I read it as well. Justice for Toe Poke.

[tricky_colour]

Villa 1-0 v Hull, Whelan on a yellow already, Hull have McGregor in goal!

Hourihane on the bench.

[the 12 th man]

He had a good game I thought.

[DannyInvincible]

Whelan won MOTM against Birmingham City earlier today: http://www.punditarena.com/football/bbarry/glenn-whelans-stats-today-may-interest-ireland-management-ahead-denmark-clash/

http://i66.tinypic.com/2vrwtc6.png

That has to be a positive, assuming he'll come in for Meyler in the first leg in Denmark on account of McCarthy's injury.

[tetsujin1979]

The replies to the tweet disagree with his award: https://twitter.com/SkySportsStatto/status/924639458959462402

[DannyInvincible]

The replies to the tweet disagree with his award: https://twitter.com/SkySportsStatto/status/924639458959462402

Heh, they're all pretty damning too.

Maybe not so good, after all!

[Charlie Darwin]

If people on twitter disagree then he must have been good. Wonder how many of them were Irish Premier League fans who didn't watch the match.

[tricky_colour]

He was the 3rd best villa man here https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1193402/Live/England-Championship-2017-2018-Birmingham-Aston-Villa
6 Birmingham players had higher ratings.

[Colbert Report]

Simply MUST start the away leg.

[mark12345]

Simply MUST start the away leg.

Brady, Hendrick, Arter, Hoolahan, Hourihane, O'Dowda, O'Kane, Meyler are all ahead of him

[Olé Olé]

Brady, Hendrick, Arter, Hoolahan, Hourihane, O'Dowda, O'Kane, Meyler are all ahead of him

Meyler is out of the first leg. So will we put O'Dowda at the base of the midfield to keep an eye on Eriksen?

[swinfordfc]

Whelan and Arter starts the first leg in front of the midfield .... Hendrick, Brady and McClean in front of them with Long as striker?

[Diggs246]

Whelan and Arter starts the first leg in front of the midfield .... Hendrick, Brady and McClean in front of them with Long as striker?

Yep, that's almost definite to be the line up

[Olé Olé]

Agree with all that but Murphy potentially ahead of Long?

[jbyrne]

Agree with all that but Murphy potentially ahead of Long?

am I correct in thinking that murphy hasn't been in the last few forrest squads? checked the last few games at the time and dint see his name mentioned

[Charlie Darwin]

am I correct in thinking that murphy hasn't been in the last few forrest squads? checked the last few games at the time and dint see his name mentioned
Missed the last couple of weeks with a hamstring problem: http://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/experienced-players-key-role-play-716081

[mark12345]

Meyler is out of the first leg. So will we put O'Dowda at the base of the midfield to keep an eye on Eriksen?

Not at all. Put O'Dowda out on left or right wing, with McClean on opposite wing and Shane Long in the middle. We will be defending for most of the night anyway so we're going to need an out ball for the defence. McClean and O'Dowda can run down the channels and put them under pressure, and one of them tires, bring on McGeady. Whelan will only get in the way (I know Meyler is out for the first leg).

[mark12345]

Agree with all that but Murphy potentially ahead of Long?

No way. Long first (even though he's not pulling up any trees at the moment), Maguire second and then a toss up between Hogan and Murphy. Murphy is an open book to any defence. Hit it long, he'll win one or two in the air and the ball will fall kindly for the defenders all night long.

[DannyInvincible]

Not at all. Put O'Dowda out on left or right wing, with McClean on opposite wing and Shane Long in the middle. We will be defending for most of the night anyway so we're going to need an out ball for the defence. McClean and O'Dowda can run down the channels and put them under pressure, and one of them tires, bring on McGeady. Whelan will only get in the way (I know Meyler is out for the first leg).

But who do you think will replace Meyler? Whelan is the most obvious candidate in the absence of McCarthy.

[mark12345]

But who do you think will replace Meyler? Whelan is the most obvious candidate in the absence of McCarthy.

Harry Arter

I did say to put Long in at center forward, but the more I look at it he doesn't reall deserve to start (on current form).


Randolph
Christie Duffy Clark Ward

Arter

Hendrick Brady

Hoolahan

McClean O'Dowda

[DannyInvincible]

Harry Arter

I did say to put Long in at center forward, but the more I look at it he doesn't reall deserve to start (on current form).


Randolph
Christie Duffy Clark Ward

Arter

Hendrick Brady

Hoolahan

McClean O'Dowda

So you'd just play with no striker or target-man at all? We're hardly Spain.

Arter and Whelan will both play in front of the defence, just as Arter and Meyler did in Cardiff. We'll be set up as we were in Cardiff. I don't see Hoolahan or O'Dowda starting and we'll obviously have a striker; either Murphy or Long, most likely, although I'd love to see O'Neill take a punt on Maguire based on the lad's current form.

My guess is that our line-up in Copenhagen will be similar to one of these:

http://i65.tinypic.com/2uelnoo.png http://i67.tinypic.com/s5kz2f.png

Maybe Brady will be a bit more advanced and central, although Hendrick seemed to occupy that central advanced position in Cardiff with Brady spending the majority of the game on the right.

[Diggs246]

So you'd just play with no striker or target-man at all? We're hardly Spain.

Arter and Whelan will both play in front of the defence, just as Arter and Meyler did in Cardiff. We'll be set up as we were in Cardiff. I don't see Hoolahan or O'Dowda starting and we'll obviously have a striker; either Murphy or Long, most likely, although I'd love to see O'Neill take a punt on Maguire based on the lad's current form.

My guess is that our line-up in Copenhagen will be similar to one of these:

http://i65.tinypic.com/2uelnoo.png http://i67.tinypic.com/s5kz2f.png

Maybe Brady will be a bit more advanced and central, although Hendrick seemed to occupy that central advanced position in Cardiff with Brady spending the majority of the game on the right.

Option A) with Long
http://i65.tinypic.com/2uelnoo.png

[DeLorean]

So Whelan is retired, sort of, and will captain the side in his potentially last game against Northern Ireland - https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/soccer/oneill-says-glenn-whelan-willbe-skipper-against-north-864951.html

Interesting comments on Matt Doherty too. He'll be waiting a while if ousting Coleman is best chance of getting a game.

[OwlsFan]

I hope Glenn gets the standing ovation he deserves. A great servant of Ireland. Interesting that when Stoke sold him, they promptly got relegated.

[Diggs246]

I thought he was a poor player, but he had the heart of a lion, was all available and did his best for Ireland every time. Fair play to him

Can you imagine what he thinks of Michael Obafemi !

[tetsujin1979]

I liked this from RTE
1062785223543414789