STM

The fact hes now being seen in the team photos etc, suggests hes now close. Ultimately, if the injury is gone, we will start seeing him in the squad. Even if its for a 10 minute cameo.

I cant believe i forgot how good he is.

Football is weird like that. Last year it didnt work at all but team chemistry is constantly changing and sometimes a tweak back to what didn't work, is the difference.

He understands his job so well, off the ball in particular.

Overpaid. Hes worth double, already.

The fact we created chances for him is the good thing and that we didnt need his goals to win. He was in all the right areas.

So pleased for him. I think being able to rest him can give a few more years at this level.

A lesson how to bide your time and take your chance when in the team. Putting in some numbers now.

Joy division for Barnes. How apt.

Our season looks entirely different with Hall, Tino and potentially Wissa.

Joelinton has been outrageous.

Playing really well.

Its ok Carragher says they need to spend more money.

Karma is a bitch

An ironic cheer of happiness that Chiesa came on for Isak. What a shame.

Isak getting jeered off.

3 complete lunatics out of 109 isnt a bad ratio TBF. If they out themselves maybe we can give them a special badge to wear.

I really dont know why you are bothering. At this stage you are winding yourself up.

Hes a good player, in a side performing shite. Bruno has been wank recently, in the same side, it doesn't make him shite. Murphy was shite. Gordon was shite (ok hes back to that tbf) Joelinton, Burn, Trippier, Krafth and so on, have all been "shite" to varying degrees during their time here. He has looked really neat and tidy but hes clearly playing within himself right now. He will prove people wrong, in time.

Surely given the manager is Eddie Howe and he knows better than you or I, you trust him to make the correct call.. in time?

Yeah nobody has the balls to actually suggest sacking him. They just imply he should be sacked, or say things like "the Saudis wont be happy". The same people who when talking about the clubs hierarchy claim that they arent doing a good job, its that Howe was performing miracles. Which is it? All of a sudden Howe has lost his magic dust? Losing games of football is so infuriating that people vent, thats fine and sometimes their emotional response is misguided. Thats what's going on here.

What does this even mean? Our results have nothing to do with other clubs working out our formula, its to do with our current group not performing. At our best, we would have beaten Brentford at the weekend and there would have been nothing they could have done to stop us.

Theres virtually no scenario whereby id consider sacking Howe. Thats because hes a class manager whos side is going through turbulence, just like most sides do. Criticism is fine, but thats not what's going on, its thinly veiled insinuation, which ironically has been happening since he arrived, despite incredible success. Even if we finish bottom half, he should still stay, because hes an outstanding manager and who better to get us going again. Its also worth remembering that whilst we are flatlining in the league, hes also bouncing us through cup competitions with ease, unlike pretty much any other manager weve had in a long time. It will come good but I suspect he will have to upset a few in the process.

Villa are on sky cricket? This must be on sky rugby.