TRon

I would expect Gordon and Bruno to be on the bench anyway, they could get a run out if needed - which they shouldn't be. This game is obviously important, but playing a side so far below us in stature gives us the opportunity to let some of our other players start a game. Tha's the whole point in having a strong squad.

I think we've changed strategy since then anyway. Carlos was probably a good defender, but wasn't he close to 30? His resale value will be pretty low by the time he leaves Villa.

Tbh we should be able to put out a team with a few key players rested and still beat Wimbledon at home. If we can't then we weren't meant to win this competition anyway.

Yeah don't know why Eddie is even saying there's a decision to make. We don't have any fit strikers other than Osula, Gordon should probably be rested anyway and wrapped in cotton wool for Everton.

Only saw the first half but my impression was that Man U were playing the ball quite nicely out of defence - although they did get caught a couple of times by the Spurs press - but they looked powder puff going forward. Basically a team trying to play the right way, but looking a bit soft and lacking any real fire throughout.

They might live in the same neighbourhood.

I'd be disappointed with a point tbh.

That's pretty crazy like.

Not convinced he was ever much of a player tbh.

Top 4 it's hard to see past City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. I guess if we are taking a cheeky shot at CL only 5th place looks realistic. 7th at this point of the season is not too bad though, sitting above Man U and Spurs anyway.

I get what you are saying, I just think it takes a really good CM to replace him, and I don't think it's high on our priorities right now. Might have been if we'd sold him though.

Think this will be a comortable win for Villa. Ipwsich trying to match them for football doesn't look like a recipe for success.

Think Guehi is a top CB tbh, the reason no clubs came in for him is he's got less than 2 years left on his contract. The top clubs will wait and force Palace's hand because they know that they can get him for £50m tops in January, and a lot less in summer.

Seems mad that City let him go to Chelsea. I suppose it puts us losing Minteh into perspective.

I can't say I've been that impressed by Murphy, would rather he wasn't involved, but yeah I would like to see Kelly at CB so not the worst shout if there's no one else who can play LB.

Id Murphy a LB? For some reason I had him down as a CB, haven't seen any of the games he's been involved in pre-season.

Yep, that's really the only sustainable model for us unless the AP sponsorship rules are blown out of the water. We aren't buying bad players, but with our current strategy we can't buy enough of them to consistently challenge for the CL. So when we don't qualify that means we risk losing the players we've already bought anyway.

For those arguing it wasn't a pen, where was Gordon expected to go once the keeper's basically blocked him from going past? If he tries to jump over him then he's basically lost the opportunity of getting the ball and scoring. If the keeper comes and spreads himself in front of the striker, he HAS to get the ball otherwise it's rightly a pen because he's prevented the goalscoring opportunity so well done Gordon for making the most of that illegal contact.

Agree. I did think when he was stalling over his contract whether it might be the right time to sell him. But then for all his faults, he still brings a lot to the table. It would probably cost a lot of money to replace him, just not sure that position is a priority for us ahead of RW or CB.

I used to criticise him for sitting on the fence, now I wish he would go back to that because his takes on the game are invariably shit.

Yep, this is the role that suits him best, a squad player who can come on and make some tackles, and give us some legs when we are tiring.

I think that's pretty much it tbh, think I said this earlier as well. He's not a natural midfielder and that shows sometimes, but while he can lose the ball sometimes because of that lack of awareness, he also can bring the ball out of a melee and set off a counter attack which leads to goals. Add his physicality and you've still got a beast of a player despite him not really being an elite midfielder.

I think it helped that they didn't have that much pace in their side, at least not in areas that would hurt us. Bruno was in the game a lot more as a result, that gap between defence and midfield wasn't so glaring today.

I was just praying it didn't lead to another goal on the break, I don't think he could have come back from that.

He probably likes us as a club anyway, but he has always had good words for Howe. As someone said earlier, I think he recognises a kindred spirit. They both play the game on the floor, and they both are kinda obsessed with the game as well.