Hopes & expectations for 2024/25 Season

[simboy]

My view on cup competitions is a bit old skool I'm afraid. I can remember what we won in 1981,1982, 1994 and 1996. I struggle to remember our increased turnover between 2006 and 2010 when we always qualified for Europe under O'Neill. MoN got blasted for the side against CSKA. I don't say Emery should but that bench was rather "experimental" last night.

Moreover, i can also remember who won the League cup in 2010 [when we were stitched in the final] and worst of all who won it in 2011.

If the aim is Europe every year under UE then I thought domestic cup competitions qualify you for the same.

[Accent Guy]

Geting shot down for suggesting we maybe, just maybe, aren't at Man City and Liverpool's level, might be looking a bit ridiculous given our recent form. (Not that it wasn't a batshit mental suggestion beforehand)

1 point and 1 goal in 3 games against the Sky 6, out of the cup and drawing with Ipswich and Bournemouth, is objectively not title challenging level.

We are a good side, no doubt about that, but top 5 would be a great finish and i still believe we can end the season there.

Big week ahead.

[Villan82]

I think 22/23 Emery's Villa and 23/24 Emery's Villa would comfortably beat 24/25 Emery's Villa.

The structure isn't as good, the finishing isn't nearly as good, the defending has been very iffy. I don't know if there is a bit of fatigue at play, mentally? Or if the recruitment is questionable but it is a real shame after giving it such a right good go for two years.

[PaulWinch again]

It’s the same as I said before. In the league we’ve had benign fixtures and up to today were about par for results. But our performances are continually really sloppy at both ends of the pitch and the midfield gives us no control. Today has been coming and something needs to change as our level is below what it needs to be.

[levico]

Today was a dent in expectations. How big a dent remains to be seen.

[Rigadon]

Today was a dent in expectations. How big a dent remains to be seen.

Nah.  Today was a dodgy second half and an incompetent referee. 

[Demitri_C]

Today was a dent in expectations. How big a dent remains to be seen.

Nah.  Today was a dodgy second half and an incompetent referee.

Sorry mate but we cant blame the ref for today. That was all on us.  A pretty pathetic display that second half.

[PaulWinch again]

I think the form Bailey had last is a huge loss - he was a brilliant creative outlet.

Also people might have been frustrated with him, but Diaby’s pace and directness gave us something different. If Rogers isn’t on the pitch we don’t really have players to drive at the opposition, it makes it easy to recover against us.

[Rigadon]

Today was a dent in expectations. How big a dent remains to be seen.

Nah.  Today was a dodgy second half and an incompetent referee.

Sorry mate but we cant blame the ref for today. That was all on us.  A pretty pathetic display that second half.

I can and will blame the ref for allowing Udogie and Bentancur a free license to kick our players for about 75 mins before booking one of them.  They did this for the majority of the game, and could have had 2 red cards.  The Udogie one at the start set the tone. 

The 2nd half was just lacklustre.  It happens and against a team like Spurs, if you miss chances you should score (Watkins X2) and fuck up great attacking situations with a poor final ball then you are liable to conceding.

There were lots of people saying we were fucked for 4th after they did the same shit to us last season.  I will wait to see what happens this time too.

[Villan82]

I think the form Bailey had last is a huge loss - he was a brilliant creative outlet.

Also people might have been frustrated with him, but Diaby’s pace and directness gave us something different. If Rogers isn’t on the pitch we don’t really have players to drive at the opposition, it makes it easy to recover against us.

Diaby was a big loss and Bailey turning to the old Bailey has compounded the loss of Diaby.

[Demitri_C]

I think the form Bailey had last is a huge loss - he was a brilliant creative outlet.

Also people might have been frustrated with him, but Diaby’s pace and directness gave us something different. If Rogers isn’t on the pitch we don’t really have players to drive at the opposition, it makes it easy to recover against us.

I agree with the doaby part of your post. Was saying this same thing when we sold him.  I really wanted to be wrong but so far it seems this is one of our biggest attcking flaws this season

[Aldridge Villa]

Diaby suddenly appears to be a far better player now that he’s gone.

[Demitri_C]

Diaby suddenly appears to be a far better player now that he’s gone.

Diaby was never a bad player for us. He hit a bit of bad form towards end of season but was still creating chances for us. Look at his stats last season. Very impressive for a players first season in england

Was gutted when we sold him then and still am now.

[PaulWinch again]

Diaby suddenly appears to be a far better player now that he’s gone.

Nope he offered something different to what we have and from memory he was involved in 13 goals in the league. He wasn’t perfect but he had an important impact.

[ez]

I'm not giving up on it yet but for the first time this season I am having doubts that we'll improve on last season’s league position.