et tu brute

I think every game is now nervous just because we are doing so well and you think a banana skin is just around the corner. Villa have some decent players and can beat a lot of teams on a good day (mind so can most teams in the division). Howe seems to have the team focused though since Bournemouth (in hindsight that game might have been a blessing). If we play our normal home game we will win. Villa looked decent on Saturday but that was against Brentford who are in poor form and not that good away from home. Similar game to Everton for me, however Everton's defence is better than Villas. Will still be nervous as reasons stated above, but I do fancy us to win. Seemingly Young has been a key player for them, but I think he will have his work cut out with Miggy's pace and intensity. They do have some decent forwards, but you're always confident now with Schar and Botman. Fulham just put constant pressure on them from the off in their last away game and they couldn't cope, hopefully we will do the same.

Hopefully it inspires Joelington for a mammoth performance. I've seen players crumble also knowing their international manager is watching, but I think he is made of sterner stuff.

What's nice to see is the number of YouTube/podcasts about from outside sources, all saying positive stuff about the team and Howe. Even the Villa ones (shows best to ignore idiots on Twitter) have been full of praise. Long may it continue.

Im actually a little surprised that PSG didn't send him out on loan. I get the argument about working with top level players could improve his game, but as you said his lack of game time, even when the game is well won, is a bit mystifying. Could compare him with Anderson, but I think Howe is genuinely easing him in to the premier league and is now on the verge of upping his game time minutes. This is backed up by the comments on the two players by their respective managers.

Just noticed when I was looking on the official site, that the cup tie is a sell out. Is this a reduced capacity or an actual full house?

He be giving him box loads of stuff on a daily basis no doubt. I honestly think he's with had a good hiding off some Newcastle fans at some point or his dad was a Newcastle fan and fucked off. He is using his faux outrage since October 7th as he didn't mention a thing before that (mind you could say that about the lot of them over there). I'm still pretty sure he's not even a Sunderland fan, as he never posts anything about them or the team. He also has a ready made audience to spout his shite.

You're probably right, hopefully not and our fans just walk by, but as Wallsendmag said a half five kick off with supporters pissed up, gets me thinking it may kick off. I'm all for people having their views and if they're unhappy about the ownership that's totally fine. Is the protesting group thinking that this is an opportunity to actually get more publicity by creating a negative scene for the cameras and press. We have all stated there could be problems, so surely they have considered this also. This then opens the question when and how to protest and when and how not to protest. Just got to hope supporters just respect the protesters rights and walk by and get themselves ready for the game. Got a bad feeling about this though as SOME pissed up fans (or people in general) can be easily wound up.

If we continue to progress he will be here for a good while at least. All the other clubs had the opportunity to sign him, but didn't take the plunge. He knows the project and he knows it won't happen overnight. He looks like he's living the dream, his family are loving every moment and he's just experienced the greatest gift you can have in life. Honestly think for the next two year minimum, his and his family's personal happiness will take priority. Hopefully by the time he starts to prioritise his professional ambitions, the club has continued to progress to match these also. I'm confident they will.

Be interesting if the current situation continues, if we go in again in the Summer or if that ship has now sailed. We were obviously keenly interested in both windows just gone.

'Not on the same scale' The faux outrage summed up in one short sentence

Under Ashley undoubtedly, not under the ownership we have now.

Think they have based it on Kane's foot being ahead of the ball at the moment it's headed across. So technically correct.

'Huge catchment' area bein used again even though they are only situated 14 miles down the road and have a thread on our fans within their 'catchment' area

They're totally over the edge since Sunday

No chance will it be only 30 million for all 3. Individually possible, but not all 3.

One of the most blatant deliberate handballs I've seen. He's nearly playing a volleyball shot

Does anyone else think he will be replaced in the Summer and sold. He's hardly even getting any minutes as a substitute. I know playing Burn allows Trippier to get forward, but I just find it strange that he's hardly getting any minutes on the pitch. It was reported that Howe was looking at other options before he resigned.

Said on the other thread that the five or so minutes he was on, he played 3 perfect balls into the wide areas of the pitch. This meant valuable time was wasted and allowed the team to take up the correct positions. I'm not sure if Shelvey has the legs to be a long term regular in Howe's system, but I actually believe he will be a valuable player for the rest of this season (maybe more as a mainly substitute replacement) until we see these positions upgraded. To his credit he has obviously worked hard to get a lot fitter and no Hollywood balls today just very sensible placing not the ball to assist in playing time out.

You can really sense the desolation and doom over there now. The unfortunate thing for them is that we are still only at a very early stage. The faux outrage is not being discussed half as much as usual this last week. Also noted that it's not only the 20 or so 'outragers' posting, there are quite a few occasional posters also giving views. Of course it's still mainly we won't win anything being spouted.

I thought first 15 minutes he was poor, but after that he was actually very decent and was actually taking players on. He will probably be moved on or at best a squad player a year or two as we start replacing with European level quality. He is a bit unlucky that when he does lose the ball or has a misplaced pass, it often results in an opportunity for the opposition. Thought he did well today though.

The way he marshals the team is outstanding. It's great also when there are players complaining about decisions, he steps in, tells them to move away and the obvious respect they have for him, they all follow his instructions without a word. The utter respect the other players have for him is so obvious. I'm convinced he will be here beyond his playing days in a coaching position.

Reality is hitting home hard (apart from the usual section of bitter cunts). Quite a few (to be fair) on there are seeing the genuine progress being made and that genuine building blocks are now in place. I honestly couldn't think of anything worse (footballing wise) if the roles were reversed.

The disappointment bit about Grealish is that he didn't put out a public apology after being pissed up and stupid. Even a private apology with an announcement by Howe saying they had spoken would have been ok. The fact he hasn't it's just totally disrespectful (even though he actually thought what he was saying was correct) and against a player who has not a bad bone in his body is out of order (I put money on that would have got to Miggy). We have seen the videos of Grealish with the disabled girl where he shows genuine care and support. We have all done stupid things in drink and I bet he couldn't even remember it the following day the state he was in. However, when the video was made public, he should have owned it and came out. Nights form is not due to Grealish, it's down to the management and his own team mates. He who laughs last, laughs loudest comes to mind at this moment of time. Edit: I've been guilty of questioning Miggy's end product also (as have many others), but I'm delighted that this season this his end product is being produced regularly.

To think he would be gone by now if the takeover hadn't of happened. I always thought he was a bit of s liability defensively though very cultured on the ball. However since Howe has come in he's been like a brick wall and I genuinely can't remember the last outright defensive mistake he made. Absolute bargain for what we paid for him (and he already was before Howe was coach to be fair), this last year had genuinely made him one of the best pound for pound players the club has seen

Got to be player of the month surely and a win next week surely Howe manager of the month also