AyeDubbleYoo

Won’t surpass Nicky Butt until he masters the aimless 360 spin followed by chipping the ball blindly to an opposition player. But a good start.

He was class.

Agree. As I’ve said before, I’m not convinced that Villa have improved that much in the transfer market this summer. I guess they have added a little bit is depth but they will need to take great care about when to use people like Tielemans. Sometimes he’ll just be overwhelmed by the pace of games. Thought McGinn was completely out of his depth as well, which was nice to see.

Think his combo of attributes is what makes him so hard to categorise. Great engine and enthusiasm, short passing, long passing, runs into the box, tackling. He’s got everything and seems to have a really good understanding of what’s needed at different moments.

I didn’t mind the fire like, adds a bit of drama in a way. Not necessary but I don’t think it’s too bad. Will look class for CL night games as well.

I like Lavia and Caicedo but I feel very smug watching clubs battle to pay massive fees for them when we got Sandro and Bruno in for great prices.

Don’t think I’ve ever seen a team so well prepared for the first game of a season. Absolutely silly levels of professionalism. He never even played that lineup in preseason and he had to go to the US instead of just training quietly in Austria or something, but everyone knew their jobs perfectly and executed it brilliantly.

I don’t know, just saying that might have been part of the decision making process. Either way it was the decision I was hoping for.

This guy could end up with a crazy goals per minute ratio if he keeps coming on in the second half.

I agree but it’s quite funny that he needs a redemption arc after barely playing for the club

Like I said before, blessing in disguise if Longstaff wasn’t quite fit enough to start. I don’t know the decision making process but I was really hoping Tonali would just get thrown in. He’s a class act, he’ll thrive in competitive games when he has something to prove.

Nah didn’t get it either. It took about 2 seconds to get through the gate. FWIW there was a massive queue for the turnstile on my ticket, but a couple down there was nobody. So I just scanned in at that one and walked along once I was inside. I don’t think people realise that your ticket opens other turnstiles and not just the one number. Not a solution but a workaround if you know the stadium and how to walk around inside.

There were quite a lot throughout the game.

Where I was in the middle of the Leazes was pretty loud. Maybe just got lucky to have a few singers around me but it was better than I expected.

I thought he was good like, people just fixate on his mistakes for some reason. Maybe because we naturally appreciate the people who play simple first-time passes. But if Bruno doesn’t allow himself to take those extra touches he’ll never be able to get turned and hurt teams the way he does.

I thought maybe so but it was throughout the game. Maybe people gave up, I dunno.

I just came on to say how good it was

Thought he messed up the subs as well. Diaby was looking dangerous and then he moved him inside in some weird attempt to play Cash as a winger. Tielemans was also dogshit and completely the wrong man for the intensity of the game. Mings injury was a blow of course but seemed like he was trying to be a bit too clever.

Atmosphere was great but it was strange to see so many empty seats. Especially Milburn stand.

Three Arsenal coaches at the front of the technical area.

Always liked him for Man Utd in the bits I saw. Awoniyi is a proper handful as well, plus the other two forwards.

Forest looked like scoring for ages there. Think Elanga will be a really good signing for them.

I was loving my Saliba and White gamble for a while there

Not sure 65k is enough, you could fill that just with new ST holders.

Can’t decide if he meant the back heel or not.