alexf

I was so pissed off with him getting himself suspended, mainly because I just had a feeling he was going to put in a massive performance in the final and be a real nuisance. I feel he was one of the few we really couldn't be without to have a chance. The others were Isak, Tonali, Hall and Botman and we already lost two of them aswell. So it's gonna be a hell of an ask but just gotta hope the whole team can play the game of their lives.

Bournemouth's fixtures look favourable aswell and can see them picking up a good haul from their next few. It really is going to be impossibly tight and unfortunately leaves very little room for slip ups. If you drop points there's 4-5 teams that can take advantage.

He even does the same, can't look you in the eye while I'm talking, thing that Ashley used to do.

How bad was Nunez btw. Every single thing he did was shit. Actively made them worse when he came on. Still can't get over those two goals against us, everything since has been garbage.

Couldn't have gone much better I suppose. Demoralising defeat in a competition they had big hopes of winning. Extra time energy sap and a couple of injuries potentially. Not that it drastically improves our chances but better than if they had won comfortably. If they play with any of the speed and intensity they did tonight at times against us then we'll get steam rolled.

Trippier sucks at left back. Lesser of two evils putting him in his most comfortable position. Tino arguable has had more good games at left back than right. But his crossing is a weakness on both sides, but atleast he can carry the ball and I'd rather have him 1v1 on Salah than pretty much anyone else in the squad.

Isak looked miles off it tonight but hopefully saving something back for next week rather than carrying a injury.

Eh?

Trippier wasn't bad by any means tonight but that long ball over his head is such a danger. Feels like it was so easy to get in behind him and almost showed the main reason why Pope needs to play with this back 4. At the very least he sweeps better than Dubs.

Great result to keep the race for Europe hopeful and gives us a big carrot to chase coming out of the final. Still believe it would take some kind of miracle to win the final with this team. West ham were awful tonight but we still gave away some scary moments defensively.

Said it earlier. Just gotta protect against that counter pace of Kudus and Bowen. Will be hard for Barnes to get the better of Wan Bissaka also.

Would suggest that means he's planning to go with Barnes over the Willock/Joelinton combo next week then. Big chance for him in that case, hope he takes it.

Kudus Bowen and Paqueta normally cause us problems. I'd like to think we always have a chance if Isak is playing but how fit or how committed he will be, especially if their big CB's try to rough him up, knowing he'll be trying to avoid getting injured for the final. But worse is our defence at the moment. Looked so vulnerable past month or 2.

This is the face most of us are probably pulling at the thought of the cup final right now.

What did he do exactly? From that image he looks like he just did what Klopp used to do on a weekly basis and get away without so much as a telling off.

And yet we witnessed one of the most farcical decisions ever against us in the same stadium. Liverpool getting battered here and would be a few goals and a man down. Fucking jammiest of jammy fuckers always, even when they have a decent team. Even the fact they had next to no injuries this season compared to most.

They are so fucking jammy if they get away with that and the offside.

Probably says more about my knowledge of players these days. But I couldn't name you a single club brugge player. I think that's kind of telling of the level of quality Villa are up against in comparison to what we had to face last year, and this is the last 16! Yeah does feel like they have replaced us. They are raking in some serious dosh this year from this run, possibly could win the fa cup and are still in with a shout for top 5. So will be in a stronger position than us financially moving forward.

So you are happy to lose then. That team isn't winning a premier league game unfortunately.

He's supposed to be the fastest player at the club or something, according to their recorded times or so I heard. Just don't think we see enough of it. Maybe it's a stamina issue but he just doesn't give us the running and nuisance value that Gordon does. It's a pretty crushing blow to lose that even if it was just run the opposition tired and then bring Barnes on fresh near the end of we were in it. I'd be stunned if Eddie doesn't just go Big Joe left and Barnes remains as impact sub. He hasn't shown enough to warrant the start or the defensive discipline to play down the left with Salah there. It's a shame most of his chances have been playing right wing however. It pretty much nullifies his main asset.

Said it before but the thought of Robertson up again himbin the final. He will smash into Murphy a few times and defeat him mentally for the rest of the game. He's fine with space to run into but the amount of times he keeps getting bullied and losing possession in dangerous positions is a problem. Not sure why we haven't tried Osula out there,even as a late sub. Had a decent shift against Birmingham and was atleast a nuisance factor with his size and unpredictability.

Everytime I've seen it the more sure I am they won't overturn it. It's too blatant, too forceful and too direct to the head rather than the chest or back. Can argue that the 3 game punishment is harsh and I completely agree, but those rules are already set. Gutted as he was a really important nuisance factor to help give us a sliver of hope, and whilst his form had been off like many recently I felt like he was one who was going to really step up on the day of the final and give a good show. Just so disappointed in him, mainly cus of all the players I would never have predicted he'd be naive enough to be that stupid so close to the final. Could have guessed Schar or Joelinton or something losing their head, but Gordon always felt more switched on than that. Possibly season ruining moment that, as it has ripples into everything. If he stays on there's a good chance we win the game and stay in the cup, there was a chance for us in the final and we were still pushing for top 5.

Despite being way behind the rest of the others and switching off for their winning goal, thought he was one of our better players yesterday. He was clearly shattered by that point. In a strange way I'd feel more confident with him defensively up against Salah than Hall. Just from a pure 1v1 aspect, not from all the other elements Hall brings to the side that we will miss. But that means Trippier on the other side and I can see Diaz or Gakpo having him on toast unfortunately.

Always felt we needed every single one of our best 11 fully fit and playing well to have a chance here. We're looking at No Gordon, No Hall, possibly no Botman, a half fit Isak, half fit Joelinton and majority of our lads massively out of form. Will take some kind of miracle to pull this off and a defensive masterclass.

Couldn't have gone much worse this really. Out the cup, players having to go 120 minutes for no reward. Isak half fit and possibly injured again, Hall pregame news, Gordon being an absolute weapon and losing his cool at the worst possible moment in our season. The one game feels like such a weighted impact. Effectively ended two chances at trophies and probably has a knock on effect for our league form now also. I'm choosing to blame it all on Gordon for now because it kind of is his fault. Apart from all that, it was absolutely criminal how often we gifted chances and gave the ball away in dangerous areas. We really aren't a great side minus Isak.