The College Dropout

If Villa can tur this around and win. They'll get another 10 points this season. Luckily, I think they maybe down and out.

Villa are a crazy side. Looked a shambles this second half so far. Pressure them and they're likely to lose their composure. When in their groove they look good.

WHOOP! There it is.

Need a L'pool second. Villa can't be this bad for the whole half.

Villa look shocking again and the world is at peace.

He's the ultimate bad guy, because he's the ultimate cunt. But I agree, we've never seen the likes of him. The best heel in Premiership history.

3 drags a few of the other teams in though, and I'd be very surprised if we don't win 2 of the last 5-6 games even if we don't beat Sunderland. True but our run-in isn't the best and IMO the Europa is so important. The other teams would also expect to get at least 3 from the next 2.

IMO this side and Pardew are mich better than the lot that got relegated. However, the competition is better this time. Hull where terrible and deserved to go down. Wigan & Villa are getting stronger, they have the momentun. Heck even QPR are in decent overall form. Luckily, Sunderland/Norwich and maybe a couple others are right down there struggling too.

Villa will get at least 10 points from now until the end of the season. Wigan too imo. We are in some difficulties to say the least.

Yep. He's not dependent on his team creating for him. His pace, skill, dribbling, movement gets him opportunities. He'll score today and that might save us.

If we give Sunderland 3, we are right back in it. I expect Villa/Wigan to pick up a good number of points from now until the end. QPR too. QPR are a bit too far away but the other two can definitely catch us.

Anything less than 6 from the next two and i'll start to get worried. Villa & Wigan are getting stronger.

Benteke....

IMO only Saylor is good in the air. And only Raylor can seemingly deliver a good set-piece. Here we are. Useless.

It's going to be the death of the England side.

He's done. I sincerely hope the same fate does not belong to Hatem.

Italy went to the final with their top scorer on 2 goals. So? It's rare for even top goalscorers to net more than a few in international tournaments. So Balotelli's 3 is actually rather impressive (and it was tied for first at Euro 2012.) Point is, most international sides need a proven striker in order to succeed. The few here are exceptions. Spain rely on possession to win, Italy rely on defense (though less so in recent years). I'm a big fan of Mario Balotelli but he's not a proven goal scorer. Or at least he wasn't last summer. You're misunderstanding the point. The goal scoring ratio for international football is lower than club football, especially over the last 10 years. This is mostly a European thing. Top scorers in Copa America have scored 5 or more for the last 6 tournaments. "Forwards" and AM's where joint top scorers in the last WC. Before that, Golden Boot winners where strict strikers. Suker, Ronaldo, Klose. For 3 tournaments in a row in the Euros 96-04, the top scorer had scored 5 goals. None of which played for the eventual winners. You don't need Alan Shearer in his pomp to do well in international football. The great French team around the millenium was built on the same principle. Rock hard defence. A controlling midfield that could handle pressure along with a genius AM. They did have great strikers but none lit up tournaments.

Okay. Point remains. How many did Guivarch get? The last European teams to be led to finals/winners in big tourny's must be Villa/Torres '08. Before that? Why are we limiting it to European teams if we're including World Cups? Not disagreeing that there is some merit to your argument. European teams have won the last two world cups. Other than Ronaldo, a striker hasn't fired his team to international success in my life time. He hardly fired them to the title. That was built on a very tight defence and midfield. Greece are the exact side that fits my description of international football. At international level you can get away with your striker only scoring 2-3 goals. Giroud and an in-form Benzema could do that imo.

Truthfully, I only expect him to be around another season tops. Considering he joined at 25, right? A year as captain and a big money move, I wouldn't hold it against him at all. Would be great if we could really kick on and have loads of players of his quality. But when you have CL quality players in a team not in the CL, eventually they will leave.

Okay. Point remains. How many did Guivarch get? The last European teams to be led to finals/winners in big tourny's must be Villa/Torres '08. Before that?

Also won the world cup with the striker on 2 goals.

Italy went to the final with their top scorer on 2 goals.

True but it is always a bonus to have somebody who can score regularly. I would argue that with Villa Spain at least have somebody with a history of scoring at that level. Did he play as a striker in the WC? Didn't go to the Euros. International football is more about a strong defence, a midfield that can control games and holding your nerve using this combo. Balotelli was probably the star striker last summer. He scored twice.

Hodgson is crap too. Honestly, rather have 'Arry. Hodgson waited and waited to make a sub. Reminded me of Pardew.

Neither. The Big 4 doesn't exist anymore. Rightfully, only key Arsenal and Liverpool players start. Milner lacks quality but he's a real option for City. Lescott is on the fringes and shouldn't play for England.