Lush Vlad

I think there is more chance of Villa getting back on track. Than Man U suddenly becoming a dominant team. One is 10 ahead and the other only 5. So that’s the way I’m looking at it.

Well not really. That’s why I’m questioning it. As in, even saying ‘what do I know’. I don’t watch every Man U game. Could you enlighten me?

I’m wondering if we can make up 5 points on Man U and people think we’re going to catch Villa who are 10 clear?! Would much rather that was a draw or Villa win there. We’re still not playing particularly well and look wide open every week. The stats back that up and it doesn’t seem like Willock or Anderson returning are going to suddenly change that. Pope probably not back until late March/April and all. I just can’t see us going on a big run of wins the way the team is currently.

They kept proving me wrong last year and are doing so again this season. So what do I know But I just don’t think Man U are much good. 6th place with a 0 goal dif. It’s like us that season under Pardew. Game plan relies so heavily on counter attacking and riding their luck/moments of magic. They still get outplayed most weeks I watch them. A bit like us, injuries haven’t helped. But I still have no idea what Ten Hag’s style and identity is supposed to be? Been there plenty of time now. If they failed to win here. I think we’d have a chance of catching them. But just glanced their next few fixtures and they look easy enough. They have been finding a way to win of late, which is quite a decent trait to have, I suppose.

He’s played plenty of games this season and has always looked sluggish to me. A bit like Isak, he has just never looked 100% all season.

He scores some massive goals for them. Fair play. Villa must be kicking themselves. Had so many good openings and wasted good chances. Soft defending from them whenever the ball has come into the box.

When he is fit and firing. He is lethal and his all round play as a genuine 9 is arguably better than Isak’s. Quite different strikers. He just can’t play 2 games in a week and now it seems like even playing 90 minutes without breaking down is too much for him. He has never been rapid during his time with us. But this season, he looks a yard slower and not as sharp.

McGinn has been really good. Lovely weight of pass on him.

Watkins would be absolutely lethal in our side the way we set up. The same way he is for Villa and probably would be for most teams. Never lets the CB’s rest, presses from the front, works his bollocks off and chips in with goals and assists in almost equal measure. Only real weakness is how many chances he sometimes needs to score.

Enjoyable game this.

Villa’s final ball/shot is lacking. But they’re finding space all over the pitch since the goal.

Still just look like they did last season, to me. A very effective counter attacking side, that have some top players and ride their luck. Not having it that they’re suddenly a top side. A lot more competitive for the top 4 this season and all. They’re getting bopped now since they scored. But the way Villa play and Man U set up. They’ll keep getting chances on the break, for sure.

In fairness, whilst I agree with all of that. We have had some injuries to the back 4, Trippier had a massive drop in form and the midfield 3 that has played for a lot of Dubravka’s run in the side. Offers fuck all in the way of protection to the defence and are slower than me after a curry and 8 pints. So many things going wrong at the same time. Unrecognisable at the back compared to most of Howe’s time here.

Horrendous from every corner so far.

I don’t. They’re playing Man U. Even after all the shit with them over the years. I’m never cheering for Man U over anyone. Unless they’re playing sunderland or it’s for a result that massively helps us.

As has been said numerous times. It’s fine not having 3 recognised strikers. However going into the season with only 2. One who is made of glass and the other that has barely been fully fit since being here. Always seemed like a risk and it has certainly coming back to bite us on the arse. Wilson needs to go in the summer. Some great memories, even in some dark times. But almost a waste of a squad place at this point.

Nah. I think we can catch Man U. Villa have had a slight drop off and Man U a bit of an upturn. But I don’t suddenly think Villa have become shit and vice versa.

I’ve been saying it since the summer window. It would have been ideal to sign a younger, wide forward type, who is also a genuine option as a striker. Closer to Isak than Gordon, for example. Quite who this mythical, good value, low risk player is, I’m not quite sure But he would have come in very useful this season with the injuries to our strikers and wide men. Howe does supposedly favour a bit of positional versatility when it comes to signings. So it would make sense. I’m sure that gets reported and I’ve not made that up!

That finish, though……

I thought we’d get 4-6 points from the last three games. So 7 is a decent return. It just feels like it’s the wrong way round. Dropping points at home to Luton in what should have been the easiest game. If we manage to win next weekend. Then we’ve put together a good mini run of form considering how the season has gone. Before a free hit away to Arsenal.

Muscle injury in his arm? Makes a change from the usual hamstring and groin injuries our two strikers keep getting, I suppose.

When he turned a clearance/long ball from Botman into a corner. There is loads to his game like that, that won’t show up on the stats sheet. Works like an absolute dog. He even managed to win his usual amount of fouls. Which was quite impressive. Seeing as the ref was happy for both sides to kick the shit out of each other.

I actually would have made changes earlier. But to play devil’s advocate, it was a tight game, Howe clearly has his guys he trusts and he sees as his main men. So like it or not, they are going to play for as long as they reasonably can to execute his gameplan. Gordon did looked gassed. Whilst simultaneously still offering a great outlet and also helping out Trippier defensively. I did think Wilson could have come off earlier and Murphy on (just seen he got a knock in the warm up) Gordon through the middle for a bit. But if they equalised and he was sat on the sidelines. Howe would get stick from plenty of fans and pundits alike.

Much better on the left. But then again, he was gassed for most of his time spent on the right. It’s a tricky one. As it would be good to get Barnes and him starting games together and Miggy has been poor since he got ill and not great for most of the season. I’m just not sure if we can get the best out of Gordon on the right. Albeit based on a very small sample size. Nice to have some options out wide again, anyway.