Smal

Was playing well until he got beaten by Walker once and ever since then he’s just given up . Worst mentality I’ve seen for us, and he’s supposed to be a gets it merchant.

Please sub him, man. He is mentally one of the weakest players I’ve ever seen . Just gives up after nothing.

Tonali has been phoning it in on the ball for too long now, like. What’s he playing at

Gordon is absolutely fucking hopeless man

good keeping from Dubs tbf

Just let Hall take it please

Been coming. Sat deep since we scored the second.

was 1000% a foul by Bruno, absolutely shocking decision not to overturn it I’ll take it, like.

they’ve started playing to their strengths. It’s a limited approach but perfect for where they’re at atm.

yeah, one thing that is entirely Howe’s responsibility, and something that I think it’s very fair to criticise him for this season, is that he needs to develop better attacking play that suits us playing with Woltemade more. It’s clear he has fantastic ability imo, but we aren’t seeing it in general play at all atm. He’s mostly just getting bullied by physical defenders whilst he’s fairly isolated.

well for sure, but performances do actually matter long term.

I know it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but fwiw Villa’s xG difference (xG for - xG against) is -0.29 per 90, the 15th best in the league (ours 3rd, btw). Much like Forest last season, they are where they are in the league through a fair bit of luck and someone banging in low percentage goals most games. Say what you want about this stuff but history would suggest that it isn’t sustainable. On the eye test I haven’t really seen them play well much at all this season.

Villa are basically last season’s Nottingham Forest. No idea how they’re doing it playing like this. They aren’t good or particularly well coached.

He would be really good in our deepest midfield role I think. Obviously he’s mint at LB so the obvious question is why change that, but if we can find a way for him to be able to influence games more, then his ability dictates that we should try to do it imo.

Villa been as bad as they have been all season from what I’ve seen, only difference being that Rogers hasn’t bailed them out by scoring from 30 yards for once.

Barnes and Murphy get goals and assists. This guy doesn’t get either. I really don’t understand why he gets picked.

feel sorry for him, looks in a different league to our other players in terms of quality and composure atm.

given that the third midfielder has been so ineffective recently, I’d agree with some of the comments above. Can’t see why we haven’t tried him and Woltemade together at all. Not that he looked like getting on the end of anything tonight anymore than Woltemade did, like.

we were really poor and didn’t create anything decent against a really, really bad Man U side.

sick of the sight of him

beaten by Dorgu, retire the club

Barnes on for Gordon would be my first change. Need some goal/box threat.

thought we were good before they scored. Fallen apart since.

Went to Whitley Bay v North Shields today. 1,659 there, pretty decent. Awful game, like. Finished 0-1.

Van Dijk is/was really fast, yeah Was certainly rapid before his drop-off earlier this year. One of the main features of his play.