Smal

We really need to change the midfield shape here. Another one where Miley just can't get back.

Gordon and Bruno yellows are textbook reputation bookings

yeah, absolutely. I just think we need to tweak the system and sit another midfielder back when he plays so we don't get caught out (like we have a couple of times in the last few minutes).

I really like Miley but he has no recovery pace. We can't rely on him for defensive transitions at all compared to when Joelinton's playing.

well it is, yeah. We're a pressing & counter-pressing side. If your forwards are winning the ball then they're doing excellently. The lad in the quote deleted his post

well it is, yeah. We're a pressing & counter-pressing side. If your forwards are winning the ball then they're doing excellently.

There have been 14 tackles in the whole game and Miggy has won 7 of them.

Miggy looks better physically after a bit of a rest. Hope we can get Barnes back soon so Gordon can get the same.

Done what's needed so far. Outfought them in duels all over and silenced the crowd. Need to see more of Isak 2nd half. Let him drop a bit deeper to link play and get runners beyond him.

Big Joe turning every 50/50 into a 100/0 is a joy

their RB booked now. He's having an absolute howler.

Their right back is terrible. ITV X is so far behind

Sean ffs . What on earth was that.

Isak should hold him off and score tbh

Schar's radar has been off for a few weeks now. Not sure if it's him or the movement.

should be getting on the end of that Trippier cross

Burn is good. He needs Gordon to actually be able to do his job defensively though.

Really hope Trippier is on it. The difference him being in form makes is absolutely monumental and we can embarrass them if he's on his game.

Need leaders/characters for games like this. It's easy to see why Burn and Longstaff were picked over Livramento and Miley. Livramento was the worst player on the pitch against a very low bar against Liverpool. Didn't look right at all.

Trips is definitely there, anyway

hate it when keepers don’t even dive

they have been if you go by xG difference since Emery took charge, but it’s a big enough sample size now to say their position in the league can’t be by accident. I’d be interested to see some opinions from analysts on what Villa are specifically doing to defy these metrics so consistently. Man UFC are the spawniest cunts going, like. I wish Bruno Fernandes got injured for once because they might actually get relegated without him.

Pope being out is making a really massive difference. It feels strange to say that after Dubs made a lot of good saves yesterday but... The defensive line doesn't know where to position itself when he's playing because he never comes off his line and they are second guessing themselves as a result. I've seen more of our defenders make mistakes when trying to keep a defensive/offside line in recent weeks (Burn, Trippier, Livramento, Botman all been guilty in the past couple of weeks alone) than I have in all the time Pope has played for us. Pope's aggressive sweeping and presence lets them play higher (+ crucially closer to the midfield line) and more confidently. IMO it's time we went out and got a similar keeper to Pope who isn't allergic to the ball at his feet. Seems harsh on Pope but this is the second time he's had this shoulder injury and that's a concern on top of his lack of ball playing ability. Don't ask me who we should get like, 'cause I've no idea.

I guess the evidence from the Man Utd game (that we won 3-0 away!) is an argument for rotation and playing fresh players to give regulars a break every now and then. That team was fresh and managed to carry out Howe’s principles and won 3-0 away against a CL team. A functioning Howe team is far more than the sum of its parts so why not play some of that side more often when the main lot are absolutely on their knees and have been for weeks (months?)? Some of them simply cannot fulfil basic duties.