Nine

Lets go boys

Never a foul

LOL

They look deadly today

Sharp run from Joe

While I agree with the ambition, the current state of our squad suggests to me that maintaining and finishing within top 10 this season IS a positive. I've said it before, one or two key injuries (Bruno/Wilson even Botman or Schar) could significantly harm our current consistency and given the intensity we play/train at its likely at some point. I dont see it as lowering the bar myself, I think we are actually performing above the bar right now.. no reason we cant continue but realistically I think its unlikely. I think we as fans tend to forget where we started when Howe came in, things have moved very quickly (credit to Howe, players and ownership) but there will be bumps in the road up ahead. Theres no way 8th/9th would be disappointing to me, theres a long way to go even after our great start.

The gap from 8th-10th could be miniscule, no need to get to caught up on placement (below 7th) as top 10 still indicates massive progress

Think Marsch might be the next on the chopping block

IF we can win this we head into a pretty good run of games feeling unstoppable, could be a big day for us today

Professional football manager btw

Klopps gonna cry

Get in. That place went nuts then

Well then at least you weren’t shouting ‘sell him, he’s shit’ after every game like alot on here did

I always defended him and saw his qualities as an asset. Was never convinced that he had a run of goal scoring form in him that hes been on lately mind.

Villa are so narrow that Willian will just cut in over and over from the left and get free shots on goal

Villa are absolute shit, reading their forum they all want Gerrard out asap

Don’t expect him to start any time soon myself, looks quality in moments but not sure he’s there overall yet.

People saying he’s been Howe’d and he has to a degree but this upturn in goals is more down to the player imo, looks different when he’s got some confidence about him. If he can keep this run up he will easily go into double figures this season, always loved his work rate output and his commitment so it’s great to see him getting these goals.

6th is of course doable after our start but it will take a big amount of good fortune to get there imo. It’s a weird season with the World Cup break and the squad is thin key areas as we all know. The intensity we play at will stretch this squad during the second half of the season, more so if you add in good cup run. Luckily for us we don’t have a full team of internationals but a few of our biggest players will be playing in good sides at the WC so might not come back as fit as we’d like.. it is of course a good chance to get Isak, ASM and Shelvey back to full fitness though. We saw last night that we conserved energy well during the second half by stepping off the press a bit and letting a toothless Everton use the ball, I have faith in Howe to manage this squad to get most of it while reducing the chance of injuries.. Jan window will be interesting to. Long story short with a good slice of luck, one of the usual top 6 hitting some bad form and we keep our key players fit there’s no reason we can’t hit 7th or even 6th.. I don’t expect it though. We are ahead of where I thought we might be during this transitional season but Id still be happy enough with top 10.

First half was complete dominance, 2nd we looked to conserve energy and stepped off them more and probably let them have possession more than we might have liked but the plan looked to me that we wanted to counter them. They did ok enough at the back that it didn’t really pay off, a couple of poor individual performances in there but overall it was a very comfy win. Schar, Miggy, Bruno and Wilson the highlights for me tonight. We looked tired by the end mind.

We are bossing this in the middle

MIGGY

Getting excited for this now, love a weekday game

Silly to change our midfield to accommodate Shelvey when it just a massive risk to his mid-long term fitness

I’d expect him to start tonight over Sunday if he is to be rested for one of these games