Happinesstan

It's a silent p, like in swimming pool.

I think his first touch is often very intelligent. It often looks heavy, but more often than not it is into a space where he can pick it up again quite quickly. Could just be lucky [every time] but I think his reading of the game is impeccable so I trust it is his intelligence.

As long as it does Karaoke on a Tuesday.

Feckin gerrin son.

Looks a bit like a longstaff. The longest of longstaffs.

Eh? It was a brilliant occasion that will have them chomping at the bit for more. I'm not at all concerned about recharging mentally. I wonder if our fitness levels are up to par for a second game in 5 days, that's all.

Yeah I was just enjoying the fact that I'm excited about the game, without really concerning myself with what the result will be. It'll probably be a damp squib now.

He's the perfect fit for the club right now. He's obviously expected to grow with the club, and vice versa. Could well be the next Fergie if the club doesn't outgrow him.

Yep. The fact that Villa will undoubtedly be a challenge makes this game an exciting test for where we are. Said the same about the Everton game and we passed with flying colours. Win this and West Ham is the next test. Lose and our next test is Brentford in the game after.

We're not, but taking the positives it's safe to say that had he been here at the start of pre-season, with the additions, we wouldn't be talking about relegation. He's got 16 games more to go, double the games he missed.

If we beat Villa today they'll be more determined to beat Watford next week. Lose and they may relax a little.

Not when you're in the bottom half of the bottom, and they the top.

Since 3 out of the bottom 4 go down, do they all not start at 75% chance and anything lower is confident?

Telling that he couldn't remember the name of the third sub against Leeds.

The last two games have been significant in building my confidence, going into this. In those games we seem to have fixed everything that was broken. Villa is a different test, of course, but I'll remain anxiously confident until things look awful again. Win this and I'll be confident against West Ham.

Let ASM run the show in the first half. I think he'd benefit from scoring an early goal. His performances regularly demand/deserve a goal, and I think if he can get the personal satisfaction out of the way, he'll be more focussed on the team. I think we'll blow someone away one day when he scores early on, and we see just how good he truly is.

Probably playing these at a good time. Out of the danger zone, relatively comfortable. That will likely change after we beat them.

Very nicely poised, if we continue our progress. Looking at the teams in the bottom half, I think we can be confident of beating them. Maybe not Leicester, and maybe Southampton. And we've played Leeds. If we can beat each of them we will be dragging them into the mire, giving them more to play for in the games against other relegation rivals. One or two hard fought draws against the rest and we should be safe.

It's one of the reasons I was reluctant about the deal. The world was never going to allow that to happen, and in a sense if it did then the takeover would be a failure.

Everton beating Leeds 3-0, who drew with Villa last week, after we've just beaten both Leeds and Everton. Should be confident going into this.

I think my formation is taking it to them. They'll be prepared for a similar approach to Everton. They'll be looking to Coutinho to find the attackers against Lascelles and Schar, who have been admirable, but against Coutinho will struggle. Play 3 CBs and instruct them to look for the interceptions. Schar can make the decision to cover when necessary. If we can delay Coutinho releasing the ball we can win it in midfield and release ASM into space.

I'd be expecting ASM to exploit that space. I only put him there to suggest a free role. Edit: Start with him attacking the right. I imagine they're focussed on dealing with him on the left. Once they realise [at 2-0] that their plan is shot to shit, switch him back to the left and release Trippier on the right. Or bring on Fraser.

Can't really boycott the government. To a degree it's possible, but then you find you're embroiled in World War 3 before your breakfast eggs have boiled.

Twitter is the place to go for hypocrisy.

I'm now wondering whether or not it might be an idea to change everything. I imagine Gerrard would have been quite confident of a result, before the Everton game, and focussed mainly on their own game-plan but that result, and performance will have sharpened their focus on how we did it. Could throw them off completely by going 532 or 523, providing Trippier and Burn are fit. 3CBs should be able to restrict Coutinho's passing options long enough for the midfield to pressure him into losing the ball, then we counter through ASM. Dubs Lascelles Schar Burn Trippier Manquillo Joelinton Shelvey Bruno G ASM Wood Draw then into the middle then crowd them out with Joelinton and Bruno's pressing and quick release. Leaves us with Fraser and Willock to come on and do damage against tired legs.