The College Dropout

Delighted for him. He's been our best CB all season and top 3 performer.

Iraola is on an upwards trajectory but he’s not like a post Dortmund Klopp. He’s not achieved anything Howe hasn’t. Likewise we aren’t such a big step/opportunity given PSR. Not saying there won’t be reasons Howe might get fired/leave.

There’s also not an obvious candidate or easy lever for us to improve. Look at the managers Spurs, Bayern, Man U, Liverpool, Juve and Chelsea have hired in recent years. None of them have the same trajectories or accolades Ancelotti, Mourinho, Klopp, Guardiola, Tuchel, Conte etc. had. That brand name manager era seems to be over. At least the ones that do the rounds. There’s only really Alonso that’s a massive name not at a super club.

For me the intensity it requires makes you wonder if it’s scalable to 50+ games a season. And then is he a man that can win trophies ? Any trophies? Emerys teams tend to struggle with European cup runs in the league. But we know he can win trophies. Villa won’t win the CL but they’ve got a great chance of winning the FA Cup. Howe has to answer both questions.

Detailed strategy is doing heavy lifting. There are only so many things that can be done to lift a clubs revenue. Maximise existing channels or do something innovative/use levers Barcelona style. Or the rules change. A point people in the know made after the takeover was that PIF would often set ambitious targets but not have a realistic plan to achieve those targets. With that in mind - pressure on commercial team and hesitancy to leverage APT agreements doesn’t fill me with hope.

I just don’t think Eddie fits the description of gatekeeper the way Jordan originally meant. Many pundits said from the start Howe would stabilise us if it would be another manager tasked to take us to consistent European football and then title challenge. He would be our Hughes, Ranieiri or even a Dean Smith at Villa or Chris Hughton at Brighton. Even Adkin’s at Soton. That’s for getting us here but we know we need someone else to kick on. I think he’s already surpassed that. Gatekeepers aren’t given the chance to fail - they’re just meant to hold the forte and keep the seat warm and ensure minimum standards are met. It’s like calling Arteta a gatekeeper if he gets sacked without winning the league or CL. I agree with the points raised. But I think they are being used to justify a statement that’s already proven incorrect.

He's contradicted himself a bit re: Eddie. The "gatekeeper" comment suggests he's a bit of a Chelsea-Ranieri or City-Hughes which isn't the case. The pivot in the point he makes talking about Owners expectations perhaps is true... but that's not what gatekeeping means. Or at least not the original type of gatekeeper he intended

I was a massive fan of Asensio pre-injury. At his best he was like a B level Madrid player. He was really handy in his last couple of seasons at Madrid too but mostly off the bench iirc. Didnt pay attention to him at PSG. He’s come to Villa and just looks a class above. For us and Villa these are heady times. I wonder if they have the feeling we have with Isak, Bruno, Tonali etc. like ‘these lads can do things I’ve never seen our players do in my life’. For me Bruno and Tonali are 1 & 2 CMs for us and it’s not close. I don’t think either are ‘world class’ but they are so good it’s crazy.

Hala Madrid

Then the rules need to be changed. Double touches allowed if they are accidental.

I mean the rules are the rules.

The ball moves ever so slightly before it’s struck

Rules are rules. Unlucky. nobody was upset when Mitro double kicked his pen against us. I don’t see the double touch mind. Maybe the ball moves a bit before it’s hit? The ball does move in the air in an unnatural way. But I don’t see the contact clearly.

I’m not pretending. But they really stunk tonight. This is a week for football curses to be broken. Scenes we’ve never seen before need to happen.

Best R16 for a long time imo. The matches I’ve watched these last couple days feel like QFs or SFs.

Worse than Manchester United? Or Liverpool?

He looked terrified. But he struck it well and only missed by margins. I guess any pen on target is better but Rudigers and Lucas pens were poor.

Almost. PSG winning on pens at Anfield. Atleti beating Real on penalties in Europe. Newcastle winning a cup.. against Liverpool. These aren’t things that happen. Atleti losing to real in a CL shootout because of the faintest double touch and a shit penalty sneaking in is peak Atleti. It’s peak underdog.

Atleti will always be Madrid’s little boys in Europe. Kinda wanted Atleti to win it on pens. Atleti are us. Atleti vs history. Incredible shoot out drama.

Mbappe the player that wasn’t needed. Would be poetic for PSG to go through and Real to go out. Lad is toxic in a dressing room.

Real have stunk it out.

My God Vini has been awful today. Been his biggest Fan but this is an abomination

Aye scored in 2 CL finals but can he do it on a Monday night at Selhurst Park?

Nacho being captain was one thing about Lucas V? Should’ve been in the MLS 2 years ago.

So has Jude