timeEd32

Completely forgot about the new crest plans. Hopefully the club did too.

He's just making excuses, but the volume of managers and players talking about how difficult the grind of two games every week is increasing. No one wants excuses, least of all Eddie, but it's necessary perspective on this season.

Not sure if this was posted earlier, but interesting: https://theanalyst.com/articles/premier-league-player-fatigue-stats-running-sprints-injuries-rotation

I can understand not being optimistic, but if you take money out of the equation then this is easily one of the biggest games of the season. If this were 50 years ago we'd say the league is irrelevant at this point and the biggest games left would be this one, the LC semifinal, and the FA Cup. But everyone reacts so strongly to league performances and I don't think anyone is holding onto title aspirations, so all that's left is qualifying for Europe and earning money to then buy new players. This is a high profile game in the top European competition with a chance to earn a bundle of money and advance further than ever. This is where I become stuck. How are there "bigger games coming up?"

When I opened this I planned to comment: Biggest European game since ... ? And then I see this: Honestly not sure what anyone wants at this point. We're playing the European champions with a chance to advance further than ever in this competition (and bank €11m for those so worried about missing out on Europe next year).

Good thing we have a massive European game to look forward to!

There are going to be many words spilled after this, but this is basically it. We just have a very difficult time putting the ball in the net. Everything else is secondary.

Ramsey has been pretty bright since he came on. Wissa, Woltemade, Barnes, Gordon, Trippier, and even Hall very disappointing.

Eddie when asked about the lack of shots / goals from outside the penalty area (and compared to Villa): “Sandro, for example, has got a rocket of a right foot and we're always encouraging him to shoot more than he does because, you know, I've said many times that he's got one of the hardest shots that I've seen and we see that continually in training,” Howe added. “But it's getting him in those positions and getting him feeling comfortable to do that. So I think it's very much dependent on the individual player."

Infuriating, but loved him. Some outrageous goals in there.

They could play Auxerre on Tuesday and I'm not sure it would trouble them too much.

Did it ever open?

Everyone will hate this at first no matter what. If the song is bad it will be gone within a few years. If the song is good then it will be considered iconic in 2067.

It's not them I'm belittling. It was a ridiculous comment. We've already made more in CL prize money than Villa would get if they win the Europa League. Yes, trophies are the goal and we have a recent one, they don't. But all this angst everyone has where it seems like every result is treated like a turning point in the club's history is driven by money. There are people not enjoying us playing clubs like PSV and Benfica off the park or looking forward to playing the European champions next week or being in (another) LC semifinal because we might finish 8th instead of 5th. No one would actually care about that except it's the difference between many, many millions and potentially better players. If every week is spent fretting about qualifying for the Champions League and then it's not enjoyed when we're in the middle of it then the odds of finding any joy in modern day football are pretty low.

Every morning I wake up, see Villa 2nd in the Europa League table, and am overcome with jealousy about the £520k top 8 finishing bonus they are going to receive.

Doing it yesterday I also came to the conclusion that there's little difference between drawing and losing (barring a crazy set of results). I must have been a bit more negative as I basically had us stuck in the 13-15 range, but the potential opponents from 11-14 aren't all that different. 15th has the downside of matching up with 1 or 2 in the R16. If we don't win in Paris then I just hope we get a reasonable playoff opponent and then may as well be RM in the knockouts. Something different and would rather play them than an English side or PSG again.

Our midfield this time last year once Tonali switched to the 6 was better than anything involving Longstaff. But to the larger point this is why I was very interested in Gallagher.

I think this was true when he was at his best. One of the criticisms lobbed at Eddie is he hasn't liked to let go of his favorites, which Sean definitely was at one point. I think it's pretty telling that he let him go.

No

We would have that team if the rules were even slightly different. It’s not even that expensive of a team (comparatively speaking).

Going to take over from Bruno as the most fouled player in the coming years. The only way they can contain him.

I wonder if guaranteeing a CL knockout round has changed any thinking. An out of the blue signing before this run of games would hit so hard.

I was only not counting him given his age. If he wanted to move on I'd hold no grudge, but I think the crazy bastard wants a statue.

He's honestly made me care a lot less about who could get sold in the next 12 months or so. Tonali? Tino? So be it. Miley (and Hall) is the rock we build around.