Lush Vlad

Any idea when the games in hand are going to be rearranged? I read something a while back that seemed to be suggesting there somehow weren't many spare slots left to get the games in between now and May? Plus, it seems like our game with Palace might get rescheduled, should they beat Stoke in the FA Cup. Might work in our favour if they are pushed back until later in the season. Trippier and possibly even Wilson back. However, having loads of games to cram in and pressure to get results isn't ideal.

Who was it that picked him up and half-dragged him back on the pitch, just to get the game stopped at the very least? Was it Burn? Hope you're right and what is being reported is true. Targett straight back in at left back and Manquillo at right back in the next game or two isn't too bad. It would soften the blow a bit of losing Trippier.

Aye. Fraser tends to be on corners and set pieces in and around the box when looking for a cross.

I think they said they thought it was ankle ligaments? I guess he'll need an MRI and maybe wait until the swelling goes down to get it sorted. Looked like it could have been his achilles tendon the way he landed. So I suppose it's good that wasn't mentioned. Fingers crossed it's a sprain and he's not out long. I thought he defended pretty well when he was on.

The two games where he has played right back. He has looked pretty useful and confident going forward. But then ropey at times defensively. I never thought it would be that way around. I always thought he looked like a fairly limited and not particularly good defender. I'm guessing it is going to be Krafth for the foreseeable whilst Trippier and Manquillo are out. Not that he has been very good at wing back, never mind right back. But I think Murphy may play the odd game, as well.

This is the crux of it, for me. We still seem to struggle to build anything through the middle of the park and retaining possession is an issue most games. It feels like the opposition regularly have control of the ball in the middle of the park. Although we are very good at disrupting them high up, whilst also defending very well of late. We never seem to have spells of dominating the ball and looking in control. Shelvey sits on the toes of the centre backs, he is pretty static and it doesn't seem like we're ever looking to form any passing triangles or lanes on the pitch with him. Willock is very good at nicking it back higher up the pitch and getting hold of loose balls. But doesn't really look like someone who is looking to get on the ball regularly. Joelinton's best work has been off the ball. Again, I think like Willock. He is best at winning the ball and picking it up to then spring a counter, or just lay it off wide. He's not even a midfielder by trade. I guess it is about finding a balance and perhaps horses for courses. Despite his improved performances. I still think mid to long term. Bruno plays instead of Shelvey.

I guess we won't have an idea until we know what bone he has broken and the severity of it. But any idea on how long he will be out? If we could somehow keep picking up points in the easier fixtures and keep our heads above water. Then getting Trippier and hopefully Wilson back for the last 5-6 games or so, would be a massive boost.

Gerrard has had the same lid since he was born. Like a Lego or Playmobil man.

Would send a weird message out. When it seems like he has been rewarding players who are starting on the winning team. Plus he was MOTM. Hoping it may be a bit of luck that Lascelles had to sit out. Otherwise who knows what happens today and when Burn would even come in.

I thought he was poor. But it was a hard game to come into and ASM defended even less than usual. Kind of hung out to dry, a bit. Not sure if it was by design, leaving ASM up or just him not fancying it. As Joelinton was helping out even more than usual on the left. ASM barely came back into our half after Dummett came on.

He is doing something right. As that is 10/12 points when he has played. He does give centre backs something to think about. Wins his fair share in the air and is a focal point we have needed for a long while. I think overall, we look more threatening in an attacking sense, with us getting a bit higher up the pitch. Set pieces seem to be more dangerous for us now, as well. But his touch back to goal, man. It’s like a Walrus trying to trap a beach ball. Place your bets on where it will end up, as it’s anybody’s guess. Doesn’t look like a target man in that sense.

His workrate was amazing again. Covers so much ground and never seems to tire. Slight concern about some of his challenges and tackling, though. Two games in a row where his technique and naivety have had him running the risk of a card and has given away daft, pointless fouls. Absolute beast in the middle. Just wish he had that same composure when he was in the final third.

Ah FFS. It looked like he was holding his calf when he went down and just assumed it was that. Fingers crossed it’s precautionary and just badly bruised. Plenty were saying a right back won’t change us and the spine needed more of the improvements. But he has transformed us. Everything about him has been elite level.

Personally think that is 3 games in a row, where he has been one of our top performers. I thought if not for Burn, he was MOTM. Gets forward on and off the ball into good areas. Seems to get 2-3 nutmegs in a game. Massively involved high up the pitch and the only one that seems to support Wood in any meaningful way. He is deceptively quick, with a good change of pace and his fitness levels seem a lot better. Along with all of the squad. Even winning that free kick for the goal is massive. He is basically the only player in our team apart from ASM that will even dribble with the ball like that.

I thought Dummett was crap, even allowing for the fact ASM just left him to do it on his own. But agree with all the others.

He wasn’t on the ball anywhere near as much as usual and I still thought he was a bystander and in no man’s land too often. But he got through a POWER OF RUNNING (been waiting to use that since that Scottish commentator kept saying it) Made some key interceptions and tackles in that second half. I thought the midfield was actually a bit crap second half. Not really on Shelvey, mind. The commitment and effort from him has been consistently decent since Howe has been here. Bar 1-2 games. Fair fucking play to him. Not his biggest fan by any means. But that was a proper shift today.

I said the same about Targett. We can be wrong together, Antonio

Pushes up into the space behind the midfield and is on the striker’s touch all the time. Never giving them time to turn. Seemed to get us playing higher. Which isn’t all on him, of course. But he seemed more than comfortable doing it and it was noticeable. Got some outrageous hang time going up for his headers and they often went to one of our players or a safe area. The casual head back home to Dubravka. So simple and basic. Yet None of our centre backs attempt that bar him. Covered in behind a few times when needed to and didn’t look slow. Just a fucking Superb debut, basically. Oh and he is taller than the interview advertising board

I think this is probably true. Despite my rant barely 5 minutes ago Chelsea players and their manager earlier this season saying there is an agenda against them. Arsenal fans all this week saying refs treat them more harshly. I felt for a spell that decisions were going against us because of the takeover. Mainly because we had so many in close proximity to each other. Think it is just in football fans nature to focus on the decisions against them and feel they are hard done by.

I thought the ref was really good first half. Was just letting a lot of the 50/50’s go and pressing players into a mistake or just hitting the deck. Didn’t automatically equal a foul. I can’t remember where I heard it. But don’t refs get feedback and comments at half time on their performance? Often friendly advice by the managers. It may have been Clattenburg on Carragher’s podcast. But either way, there must be some truth in it. Second half, it was like Mike Dean had dropped his digital board and was reffing the fucker Apart from VAR saving us. Every single niggly challenge and marginal call went their way. Just easy free kicks to give in nothing areas, when we’re snapping in high up the pitch or pressing in midfield. Won it back countless times and it looked fair. The Villa player then falls on the ball and then the slow motion whistle comes in from Pawson. Utter cunt. Hope he is nowhere near our games again this season. All that said. Could have sent Joelinton off

Ugly win and we were poor second half. But that felt more important than Tuesday, somehow. As winning when we don’t play too well and things go against us is massive. Fortunate with the offside goal. But for all their possession and pretty passing second half. They didn’t create much. Burn is the right call for MOTM, I’d say. Three games in a row where Willock has been up there in the conversation. Long may it continue.

R2D2 has flown in specially for the game. Massive Joelinton fan.

So far so good. Half time came at a decent time for us. Looks like they are committing more numbers forward and finally got a good spell of possession going. I think we have been a bit wasteful in the final third. Under hit lay offs, nothing crosses and not picking the right pass was a regular theme in that half. Improve that and there are more goals for us here.

They are playing some lovely stuff. Just the final pass or finish is usually lacking.

Whilst I’d take a draw. I do think we are perhaps overrating Villa a bit? I know performances have been a lot better since Gerrard came in and they have some quality players. But The results have still been a bit up and down, haven’t they? It’s not like we’re playing a team in the top 6, who barely concede. I think we can get at them. I just worry about the midfield for this one, as I have probably mentioned a few times already.