The College Dropout

I think we’ll need a result either at Anfield, Emirates, Amex and Villa Park. I think we need a couple draws at least. Last year we got 3 points from those iiirc? And that’s assuming we beat Wham away and deal with everyone at home which hasn’t been the case this season.

Been a fan of Tino since Southampton days. But if you told me City were after one of our fullbacks I would assume it’s the other one.

If they get players back Spurs are a good team. Especially at home. Ange ball is always susceptible to quality and pace on the counter. It doesn’t impact us directly but I really hope Spurs or Man U don’t win the Europa league. Can you imagine how smug Ange will be if SPURS win the Europa league? No matter what happens in his career - if he’s wins the Europa league this season - he has defeated all fraud allegations

Just this post in the main tbf:

A good result here would be massive for us. We haven’t had many good results against these in some time.

Let him go in the summer then. If he’s so shot, Howe should play Osula instead. Hes always been injury prone. If the club renew him that’s up to them, they knew the risks. Don’t see why he should be disrespected.

Scored the goals that got us into the CL. When he’s fit, he contributes. Very disrespected player.

Piss poor. No thought Villa would be in the CL race. Too many games for them to handle.

Didn’t captain Palmer on FPL. Chelsea 3-0 and no Palmer returns but I regret not captaining him. Southampton are absolutely awful. Could be 10 here.

I don’t think Villa would leave themselves in a £100m+ PSR hole.

From what I’ve seen from Minteh, he’s a final third player but more about goals than assists. Doesn’t get much involved in build up. We need another player that can put his football on the ball. Maybe that’s Miley taking over from Joe and we get a speed demon killer in the box at RW.

For comparison a D1 college basketball coach would earn in the low millions. A college American football coach at a D1 would earn several million. The English football pyramid is one of the few things in this country that is genuinely wealthy. £60k in this country is considered really good.

Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton have all controlled/dominated games for us in different ways. The next step for Miley is imposing himself on a game. That’s how he closes the gap to those Brazilian and Italian internationals ahead of him.

Ffs it’s not a complaint. No need to be so defensive.

I think Murphy is a playmaker type in the meaning of a creator. He’s there to provide assists. It’s just that he doesn’t have the all-round playmaking skills. Im thinking someone that can provide for our strikers. But is super comfy on the ball in deeper areas. I like Mbeumo but Mbeumo is a forward. He scores and creates chances but is not overly influential in the build up. In our team - Burn, Murphy, Joelinton, Pope and to lesser degree Livra they bring the football level down. Having Tonali, Dubs and Botman, even Tripps significantly increased the footballing level. Allows us to play with more composure and assurance. We suddenly had so much more ability on the ball. We milly rocked at old Trafford. Another proper baller changes the team again imo.

Not a criticism. A few pages back I said wow about him. He’s brilliant for an 18 year old. The best young central midfielder I’ve seen is Ceac Fabregas. Cesc was dominating PL games like he was 25 years old. Mileys great - technically, his touch, dribbling in tight areas and passing is excellent. And he’s got great size now. And an eye for goal. Already I think he can bring what Longstaff brings and more. That next level is ‘ok this is my game now’. He dictates the flow of the game. At their best that’s what each of our 3 in midfield can do in their own way. Miley has great ability. That puts him above the Longstaffs and co. I hope he can play himself into 4th choice CM or a rotation option. But long-term his ability to control a game (or not) will make or break his good he can become. His floor is high - I’m thinking about his ceiling.

Think that’s coming down. Diaby, Carlos and other sales would be on big wages. And the revenue will take a massive increase. They won’t make both of those sales permanent. Duran and CL is £100m+. They can spend in the summer no doubt. No need to sell.

I think Gordon's box instincts are good and that was one of Mane's strengths. But Gordon doesn't have that late run-in-the-box type movement and he's an inferior finisher off both feet.. and in the air. Mane was a top bins lad, Gordon likes to shoot low and safe. One of the things I associate with Mane most is the sharpness of the mind and feet, getting scrappy goals. I think Gordon has that ability.

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.