The College Dropout

Think Villa are going to be brilliant next season and qualify for the CL. With all that revenue they will get from the CL and Duran sale. I hope they have Conference league or no European football along with it. They’ll build a proper squad to challenge on all fronts and entrench themselves.

It was must win and we did it. It’s a tight pack. 5th likely to be CL. If any of the pack can go on a good run for 5-6 games and not fall to bits otherwise, it’s Europa league minimum. This iteration of the Europa league is brilliant without the CL dropouts. I feel like CL dropouts won the Europa League or at least got to the final, more seasons than not. That was shit. I reckon 5th only needs 66 points or so. 63 should secure 6th and Europa spot.

Thought he was decent pre recent injury. I’m not so quick to call players done. (although I did to Wilson kneejerky)

Benefit of the doubt is that goal was rustiness. Because it was Dubravka bad. Im not sure what level Pope is at. I’m a big fan. But he’s not making the saves he used too. His throwing is great. Ur his passing is wow bad. I don’t want to see him and Burn in the same team.

Happy to hear the reaction to Anderson. Thought he was decent too.

I’m hoping he can take his box instincts to another level. Not sure if he has the finishing ability. I compare him a little to Sadio Mane. Fast, great engine, hard worker. Sadios movement and timing of the runs was elite. With Gordon he doesn’t have elite technical ability and I don’t think his finishing will be as good as Manes in the box. But I think Gordon can sniff out the goals.

We miss his composure badly. Especially with Pope in goal.

He's not starting against Liverpool imo. Howe might schedule Gordon in for 2x 60-70 minute games as a way of resting. That's the Bruno G "rest".

Think he might of thought he was offside but then wasn't sure it was going in. It was though.

It's great end product. Whoever we replace him with, I don't expect more G/A - i'd be happy with what Murphy is producing. It's the rest of the game that will help us keep the ball and control a game better. Take away penalties I'm sure Murphy is similar to Mbeumo for G/A. I would still prefer an all-round playmaker type.

Rather Osula comes on at RW and Barnes upfront to use his pace and nominally press.

Disagree. He often recovers well from a poor start. He’s just not that good at football he’s extremely effective in the final third. But his all round game has major weaknesses. So yeh he’s going to give the ball away a lot. It’s not mental weakness, it’s the lack of ability.

With his technical gifts I want to see him control more of a game.

I’m a big Murph fan. But a player that gives the ball away a lot is always going to get groans. Gordon is typically tidy and secure on the ball. As a fanbase we should try and do better.

This. He’s also going to give the ball away under no pressure too. He can strike a ball, he’s quick, works hard and will create. Take the rough with the sublime. It is what it is.

He’s not got the best acceleration but when he gets going he’s quick. Most wingers have that initial explosion which he has to measure up against in the right way or else he gets ripped. Elanga got the run on him once and motored away. we need a specific plan for Salah. Probably a 5.

It looks like the instruction was to sit a bit deeper in numbers and see the game out. But that translated to a lack of intensity off the ball. And sloppiness. It’s Howe’s job to ensure the players have the right mentality.

I was desperate fit the Wissa one but he didn’t get a touch. having my worst season in some time. Ranked over a million. Going to aim for a sub 200k finish. Need to zag often but not every week.

He did that last season without Joe and Sandro. He’s just struggling a bit atm.

aye lad plus so much. Today was one of those games he usually owns - controls it brings composure. Nothing Today.

His quick throws led to 2 of our goals. That was excellent.

The issue isn’t defending a lead. We are usually good at that. Too many bad often we are off the pace.

He’s the manager. It’s his job to motivate the team. He’s the o my one to problem. Especially as it happens repeatedly.

It’s been pretty typical.

Still just 18. Crazy. He’s got all the technical attributes and a great size now. Could go up a level or two physically. I think that’s what he needs to start dominating games.