Heroes and Villans: Aston Villa (H, Lge Cup 2) Tue 23 Aug @7.45pm

[Dodger]

Aston Villa training field this week
https://mobile.twitter.com/AVFCOfficial ... wsrc%5Etfw

[TANGODANCER]

Aston Villa training field this week
https://mobile.twitter.com/AVFCOfficial ... wsrc%5Etfw

Credit to good planing then. They apparently tried it again shortly after.

[Bruce Rioja]

Funny one innit - the third, wtf was he doing?

I suppose the question is what would the score have been with Trafford in net? My gut is we lose but not 4-1. So for me that’s the end of Joel Dixon…if he wants first team football I’d look for a 1 in 1 out before the end of august.

But I'll also lay you very short odds that if our goalkeeping paucity is flagged-up to Evatt, as it should be, he'll respond with a typically nonchalant "It's not a priority position for us" or something similar.

He appears to have learned precious little, if anything, from the Crellin fiasco.

[BWFC_Insane]

Funny one innit - the third, wtf was he doing?

I suppose the question is what would the score have been with Trafford in net? My gut is we lose but not 4-1. So for me that’s the end of Joel Dixon…if he wants first team football I’d look for a 1 in 1 out before the end of august.

But I'll also lay you very short odds that if our goalkeeping paucity is flagged-up to Evatt, as it should be, he'll respond with a typically nonchalant "It's not a priority position for us" or something similar.

He appears to have learned precious little, if anything, from the Crellin fiasco.

This. People are bagging Dixon. Who is a keeper we signed from Barrow and emerged from non league. He is what he is. A borderline non league/league two keeper. And is our backup.

I think we should have better and primarily because it’s too big a risk.

But it’s an Evatt blind spot and certainly not Dixons fault. He is what he is. It’s not for the want of trying. Who would expect any better considering where he came from?

[Prufrock]

I can see the logic to keeping Dixon as second choice. He *has* to be cheap. Though given his most recent performances we genuinely might as well have a child there.

It's a risk long term in that if Trafford gets injured, we're utterly fecked. But I can see why you might take that gamble and use the money elsewhere given keepers tend to be fine injury wise.

But I just can't see why he played. Keepers don't get tired. Injury risk is minimal. Given how shite he is, I suppose 4 isn't too bad.

He conceded direct from a corner (and gave away a penalty, though pretty blameless for that) and it *wasn't even the worst thing he did all game*.

I'm sorry but I'm absolutely not having "he produced two of the worst bits of goalkeeping you will ever see, giving away two goals, but he also made some decent stops so you know about par".

[LeverEnd]

Very true. Keepers are expected to make saves as standard. It's the ones that go in that shouldn't and vice versa that matters. I don't think he saved anything out of the ordinary, certainly not enough to cancel our the errors. He's at the wrong level. Put a youngster on the bench or apply for an emergency loan if that's still a thing and Trafford gets injured. There's just no point keeping him.

[officer_dibble]

He’s the best keeper we own- city could recall Trafford in Jan if they had say 2 injuries.

I dunno, I am guessing he has kept Joel happy by playing him - so joel has said if I haven’t a sniff of first team I want out. If that’s the case I’d see if we can switch at the end of august. Second choice keeper is the weirdest place in a squad - there isn’t any opportunity to come on for 10 minutes, you are either in the team or out.

[LeverEnd]

City wouldn't recall, they'd just sign another.

[The_Gun]

I can kind of see the logic of wanting to keep Dixon somewhat happy, but when you’re playing Premier League opponents, live on Sky with a 20k+ crowd, and you’ve got one of the best young keepers in the country, you have to play him.

[BWFC_Insane]

I can see the logic to keeping Dixon as second choice. He *has* to be cheap. Though given his most recent performances we genuinely might as well have a child there.

It's a risk long term in that if Trafford gets injured, we're utterly fecked. But I can see why you might take that gamble and use the money elsewhere given keepers tend to be fine injury wise.

But I just can't see why he played. Keepers don't get tired. Injury risk is minimal. Given how shite he is, I suppose 4 isn't too bad.

He conceded direct from a corner (and gave away a penalty, though pretty blameless for that) and it *wasn't even the worst thing he did all game*.

I'm sorry but I'm absolutely not having "he produced two of the worst bits of goalkeeping you will ever see, giving away two goals, but he also made some decent stops so you know about par".

That’s the same problem I have with santos though. For all the great recovery stuff and striding out with the ball he makes mistakes which cost us goals. In possession and positionally. Does looking good generally cover for mistakes that cost us points?

I’m in agreement though as to the sense of playing Dixon. Especially when Sadlier didn’t play and if it’s about keeping people happy then Sadlier must be apoplectic right now.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I see why he played him. It's always tough on the 'cup keeper' if he gets dropped the first time a decent opponent looms – makes a mockery of the "strong squad" notion.

But then, tough decisions are what managers make. That's the job. Evatt made the call, and it went wrong again.

Dixon had a good pre-season in terms of shot-stopping. Surprisingly good given his stats at Barrow. Here's Iles in the report from the Watford win: "The Wanderers keeper has been in good touch this summer and over the next few minutes he would make two saves that genuinely did deserve praise. The first arrived when Watford worked the ball well down the right, Pedro picking out sub Ismaila Sarr with a fine cross, but Dixon somehow diverted the header over the bar from point blank range. He then surpassed that save with a full-length effort to push another shot from Sarr around the post, drawing some gasps of amazement from the smattering of staff and press stood on the sidelines."

He's confident with the ball at his feet and he's not a bad shot-stopper. But he's not a reliably good goalkeeper. Not good enough for the third division, let alone Prem opponents.

Last four games Dixon's played, he's knocked us out of the Pizza Pot, conceded two at home to Wycombe, conceded an early goal to fourth-tier Salford and conceded four last night. Not all of that is his fault, but he's closer to a liability than a life-saver.

As an aside, it's weird how two days ago the mood music was all about how players shouldn't have a divine right to a first-XI space, and this was used as a stick with which to beat the manager – and then when the manager rotates his squad, this is used as a stick with which to beat the manager. Almost like some folk have an agenda....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

As a further aside, Christ knows which keeper we'll get next. Given recent recruitment, he'll either be Lev Yashin or Helen Keller.

[BWFC_Insane]

I see why he played him. It's always tough on the 'cup keeper' if he gets dropped the first time a decent opponent looms – makes a mockery of the "strong squad" notion.

But then, tough decisions are what managers make. That's the job. Evatt made the call, and it went wrong again.

Dixon had a good pre-season in terms of shot-stopping. Surprisingly good given his stats at Barrow. Here's Iles in the report from the Watford win: "The Wanderers keeper has been in good touch this summer and over the next few minutes he would make two saves that genuinely did deserve praise. The first arrived when Watford worked the ball well down the right, Pedro picking out sub Ismaila Sarr with a fine cross, but Dixon somehow diverted the header over the bar from point blank range. He then surpassed that save with a full-length effort to push another shot from Sarr around the post, drawing some gasps of amazement from the smattering of staff and press stood on the sidelines."

He's confident with the ball at his feet and he's not a bad shot-stopper. But he's not a reliably good goalkeeper. Not good enough for the third division, let alone Prem opponents.

Last four games Dixon's played, he's knocked us out of the Pizza Pot, conceded two at home to Wycombe, conceded an early goal to fourth-tier Salford and conceded four last night. Not all of that is his fault, but he's closer to a liability than a life-saver.

As an aside, it's weird how two days ago the mood music was all about how players shouldn't have a divine right to a first-XI space, and this was used as a stick with which to beat the manager – and then when the manager rotates his squad, this is used as a stick with which to beat the manager. Almost like some folk have an agenda....

The thing is that you can’t compare bringing Dixon in from the cold to bringing santos back automatically when Aimson had excelled.

The point of a squad is you should earn a place. Dixon gets chances yet hasn’t earned them. Sadlier gets none yet probably has.

I think Evatt is young and new to running a squad but some decisions are questionable.

[Worthy4England]

Sadlier - is an interesting one. He was struggling to be getting into Rotherham's starting XI and cited that and playing WB as the two reasons he wanted to leave - on both, he seems to be in the same position here...

[officer_dibble]

I fear he will be joining Andranik in my ‘underused BWFC XI’

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I suspect Sadlier will start one of the next two games. I hope it's Plymouth at No.10 rather than Crewe at RWB.

[irie Cee Bee]

The problem is that Sadlier is a "Jack of all trades master of none" kind of guy. What is his specialty? Always good to have around but is he a winger, defender, midfielder, forward..what? And so, will always be benched when the specialist is around.

[irie Cee Bee]

Cant comment on the game as I wasn't able to see it, but when I saw the team Villa put out when following match Live on Bolton News, I gave us no chance. Glad we bravely fought but class is class.

[Worthy4England]

I suspect Sadlier will start one of the next two games. I hope it's Plymouth at No.10 rather than Crewe at RWB.

To do the "we have a squad and they're all equal" narrative vs "this is my first XI" and do it successfully, you need a squad that's actually close in capability. I'm not as convinced as Evatt, that we have thar.

In respect of Sadlier, I think we've seen on here a good few places he "could play." I've not been particularly disappointed when he has played. But. I don't know where he should play...

[BWFC_Insane]

I suspect Sadlier will start one of the next two games. I hope it's Plymouth at No.10 rather than Crewe at RWB.

To do the "we have a squad and they're all equal" narrative vs "this is my first XI" and do it successfully, you need a squad that's actually close in capability. I'm not as convinced as Evatt, that we have thar.

In respect of Sadlier, I think we've seen on here a good few places he "could play." I've not been particularly disappointed when he has played. But. I don't know where he should play...

My view on Sadlier is he’s Kevin Nolan. Not in the exact way but in that he will play somewhere behind a striker and bag you goals. There will be other players who look better overall in that position but not get anywhere near as many goals.

Such players seem overlooked in modern football but if Sads was played most matches I bet he’d be in double figures for goals. Could be difference between a few league places that. But it’s about fitting him in and I’m not sure he’s the Evatt way.