Memphis

I don't know what to do!!

I thought this might happen, felt like it could happen, eventually felt like it logically was going to happen, but now that it's happened, I don't know what to do. 

It's like the takeover, I'm so staggered by the achievement that I can't even react yet.

What a fucking season!!!!

What a performance. Stepped up and fought like warriors in the biggest game of the year. 

One thing I wonder about - while there's no doubt that our guys want to finish as high in the league as possible, in the back of their minds they'll know, some of them, that if we end up in the CL, they're very likely not part of the future of the club. Has to be a weird mix of emotions for the mid-tier players.

Agree that Trippier is becoming a liability defensively. Burn too. Leeds only attacked wide. We don't have cover for them when our midfielders are leggy, as they were today. Need a DM and need younger and better fullbacks.

We need a true DM in the worst way.

Seeing how Brighton are getting their business done early is very impressive. Identifying targets, going after them aggressively, knowing exactly what they want to do. Given Dan Ashworth's influence on proceedings there, I suspect we'll be doing similar, though I think we've identified several really top-level candidates. We're going to have to wait a bit on them until we know where we're going to play next year. 

Once we know for sure about next season, I'd expect a couple of "out of the blue" signings to be announced very quickly - we would have been lining them up for months, mind you.

Some of our fans are starting to remind me of our players out there today. One setback knocked them completely off their game and we're seeing the same in here. In actual fact, little has changed. If we do what we are more than capable of doing, we will be in the Champions League next year. 

On the other hand, if the team loses the mental edge and starts to play scared, we won't. But there's nothing to indicate that will happen against sides like Leeds, Leicester, Chelsea, or even Brighton. 

If we want the players to be calm, we need to do the same as supporters.

Just a bit worried about our mentality now. Troubling that we have underperformed in two of our biggest games. We lack a bit of composure and we could absolutely do with an experienced pro in the #6 position to calm us. Jorginho and Casemiro have run the shop against us in those huge games. We need someone similar.

Thought we were mentally stronger than this, honestly. Kind of disappointed.

Good indication of how far we have to go to be a consistent elite team. Not there yet.

Need Eddie to sort out the mentality a bit too. We're unusually frantic. We're missing a bit of composure in the midfield. That's one of the few downsides with Joe and Bruno, both guys are easily riled up. Need a Jorginho type to just settle us down. We've got goals in us but we're second best so far.

Need less width from Isak. More composure needed too. Bruno off his usual pace. Joelinton too. Sloppy in the middle. Don't think Wilson and Isak together has been what we needed. Need ASM on for Murphy.

No issues with our effort or application so far. Arsenal playing exceptional football since the goal. We have to step up defensively.

Of all the insane ludicrous superstar signings, Neymar is the one who maybe kind of possibly could make some sense in a very weird situation. The others are far too old and in a different stratosphere. With Neymar, at least we have Brazilian connections, he's 31 - not 38 - and he plays a position we are looking to strengthen. 

It's obviously not going to happen for any number of reasons. 

https://twitter.com/GraemeBailey/status/1654156120338907139?t=djYuaXVdWS8L9-4q8Et0yA&s=19

OK, that potential Vitor Roque transfer has me fully engorged.

If we could pull that off (so to speak), it would be an enormous statement to the rest of the footballing world. He is a world class prospect. Insanely exciting player.

In this day and age, you can never truly know what's in a player's heart - but man, it surely looks and feels like Bruno adores the club and the city as much as the supporters adore him. We all know how talented he is, it's obscene what he can do, but I would argue almost as important has been his attitude, his approach, his whole-hearted love of the club and his teammates. He joined us when we were in the shit and helped to drag us out of it, without a relegation clause in sight. He seems to have taken the elevation of the club as a personal goal and him raising the standard has done so, so much for the entire club. 

I just love him.

One of those days. It was bound to happen. Villa are flying and we've been hit by the same thing we've been doing to opponents all season, out fought and out thought. Look like we need rest.

(to the chorus of "Jailhouse Rock")

Isak

Alexander Isak

he wears the 14 up top

we love Alexander Isak

14 minutes ago, mikejaxer said:

Looking at the line-up last time we were in the US and it was absolutely tragic. Imagine travelling miles to see Newcastle and Shane Ferguson and Adam Armstrong is playing.

 

This time the USA folks get to watch Big Joe, Bruno, Isak and Botman.

I remember driving 10+ hours with my 8-month pregnant wife in 2011 to watch a turgid 0-0 with Sporting KC in 100 degree F weather - she was a real trooper, I give her massive credit. I did get to go to training and pre-match sessions, watching Hatem was very very special indeed. But otherwise, yikes.

At his best I would put Joelinton up there with almost any box-to-box midfielder in the league. He is physically off the charts, he's gigantic, he's strong, fearless, has learned to finish, genuinely seems to love competing against the best. Every elite side needs a player like him, he does the work of two players and allows the forward players to have so much more space and time. I think he's worth twice what we paid for him, which is an incredible tribute to his persistence and to Howe's (and staff) coaching.

Cannot believe how much better he's gotten. Love his attitude and his commitment. He's a valuable squad member, no doubt. We can and will upgrade on him from a skill standpoint but players like him buying in and grafting like crazy are a big reason we are the squad we are.