Ace

7 minutes ago, Pata said:

 

Alright mate.  I'm not a native speaker but in my mind extremely unlikely (low one digit probability) is pretty fucking close to non-existent.

My apologies I made the assumption you were a native speaker. 

I love Eddie’s and his work here is fantastic but it would be hypocritical to ignore when he gets it wrong and just praise when he gets it right.

I think though a lot of players underperformed we set up naively as the way Villa set up is to crowd the middle and play it up directly to Watkins.

Our set up with a high defensive line helped them out with this and put a lot of pressure on our defence particularly the right hand side. They also set the trap to press Burn a lot which we kept falling for (he should have just got rid).

Easy to say with hindsight but moving to a 4-4-1-1 with Gordon being told to get on Luiz might have helped. 

Just now, The Fountain said:

I said to the lads last night I'd be happy if we matched Spurs result today. 

Did you assume saying that it would be a win or a draw though ? ? As I had a similar sentiment 

Just now, Optimistic Nut said:

Can't remember seeing Joelinton at all today.

For the first time since his midfield conversion he looked like he was getting ran about a bit. Wonder if the illness Longstaff had has effected others? 

2 minutes ago, Pata said:

 

I said it's extremely unlikely, so unlikely that I don't consider them to be in the race at all. Is that fine with you?

No initially you said they aren’t in the race this season not that it’s unlikely they get in the top 4. I’d have agreed if you’d said that. 

2 hours ago, Pata said:

 

There's a reason we were favourites today but it's football and games have to be played before giving anyone points. Predicting that we are the better team was right.  Anything can happen but Villa finishing in top 4 instead of us, Man U, Spurs, Brighton and Liverpool is extremely unlikely.

You said they weren’t in the race not that it was unlikely. 
 

I’d back them comfortably ahead of Liverpool. I’d say Man U are favourites to come finish in the top 4 then it’s close between us, spurs and Brighton and will likely come down to the games between them. Villa are an outsider  and need help to get in and can’t afford much if any of a slip up but are very much involved due to their form and then Liverpool pretty much need to win out (or win all but 1) to have a chance. 

1 minute ago, Pata said:

 

 

What’s that a predicted finish? It means nothing 
 

people were predicting all week that Villa weren’t as good as their results and they spanked us. ?‍♂️ 
 

This stage of the season anything can and will happen. We need to up our game and get it done. Villa are behind but they are on form and are setting up really well. Winning out may not be possible but winning 6/7 isn’t beyond the realms of possibility for them and if we/others fuck up they can catch us 

Biggest game of the season so far. Spurs look vulnerable but with their front 3 they can still beat anyone when it all clicks. 

19 minutes ago, Pata said:

I don't think Villa are in the race at all this season, bit worried about them next season though.

They are 2 wins behind us, they might not be in the best position but they are definitely there

3 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Loved Schar this season. But we need some pace in central defence. 

Might be the wrong thread but I agree 

1 minute ago, Alberto2005 said:

I really doubt Longstaff would have made a difference to outcome of the game, we were off it all over the pitch.

I think we would have lost as we were shit all over but we looked so unbalanced. Longstaff knows his job and does it and that alone would have made us better today IMO

4 minutes ago, timeEd32 said:

It really isn’t unless you expected us to win every game left. Most of the pessimism in here is based on everyone thinking the teams around and behind us are going to win every game. All of these teams are going to drop points. 
 

We need to beat Spurs next week though to maintain any sort of comfort. Biggest game of the season.

Course it is if we won today we could still afford to lose at least 3 now it’s at least 2 that’s a pretty significant drop.

I agree Spurs is where our season is decided pretty much

On this day I pledge never to underestimate how important to the team he is again

The margin for error is now significantly thinner

It all depends on how we turn it round

Totally shit the bed all round. 
 

We are still in a good position but the margin for error is gone 

16 minutes ago, Miggys First Goal said:

Targett must be wondering what he has to do to get a start. 

I can understand it vs the last 2 where they are big teams but today was the day 

Targett for Burn

Wilson for one of Murphy, Willock or Gordon

Best thing is it’s only 1-0 and hopefully we can’t be as bad but unfortunately I’m sure the ref will get worse 

We’ve massively underperformed but it’s hard playing against 12 

Ramsey has Trippier on toast 

Missing Longstaff here 

All over the shop, think we’ve got it tactically wrong here

Expecting some serious reffing bullshit today 

21 minutes ago, 80 said:

We've been better front foot than back foot so fairly pleased about that.

 

Slightly concerned about Murphy reverting to type and getting bullied out of the game, though. May be worth having Joelinton over on his side for a change.

Yeah even though Murphy has done well recently the majority of his time here does make you worry he will drop off.

Just seen their line up and it seems they are being more conservative. First goal will be huge as if they have to press up we will pick them off but if they can drop into block we will struggle to break them down.

Its Gordon’s moment to shine 

A more aggressive line up than I thought especially considering players we have missing. Was sure the 4 midfielders would be playing 

13 hours ago, Infatuation Junkie said:

 

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/var-overrule-goal-line-technology-29301011.amp

Wow, if it’s true there was a malfunction it’s maybe not as bad. Was it actually the right decision when VAR corrected it? As it doesn’t say in the article 

Youd think with goal line tech it wouldn’t be hard to have an extra monitor on say the 4th official in case the refs didn’t work.

I also think talking to the crowd like in the NFL to explain what is going on would help everything.