Sibierski

Teams are still stumbling, time for us to make hay. 4 wins on the bounce and go into Villa at home with the bit between our teeth.

Villa are better off tossing away Europa and going all out for the league. The door is open.

Some blow up by Palace. From the cup win to most likely being in a relegation battle next season (having lost Guehi, Eze and likely Mateta / Wharton by then in between).

This outcome was predictable as from Frank. Dire football.

God I’d fucking LOVE it if we finish above Liverpool and got UCL. Genuinely would be worthwhile karma for the first 4 months of this season.

I also don’t like both starting because it’s leaves minimal impact off the bench. Elanga needs a run of games to play his way into form. Howe can say he needs an environment to express himself, but at same time he needs a run to enable that. Murphy out for a few games is that chance. Knowing he’s starting games will do his confidence more than sitting on bench unknown what situation he will be coming on into and what minute.

Yep. And giving how shit so many teams are this season, there’s a genuine window open for them to get into Europe. Wish the cunts didn’t go up.

Hopefully they persist. Spurs away with Frank in charge is a 70% win chance game IMO, spurs without frank and it’s more 50/50 at best.

Like most games against these sides, all about taking the game away from the home fans early on. Get ahead early and don’t do a West Ham, we can control it and pick our moments. I’d hope the conserved nature to the midweek game means we have the energy in the tank for a fast 60, before we sit off.

They’ll struggle more in second half now sides have a half season of data on what they’re about. Hard early on in season because it was literally a whole new XI and nothing to go on. Unless they address the scoring situation next season, it could be proper second season syndrome.

Glad today came quick to show this not true.

End of the Pep era.

He’ll be awful.

People want us to sign Ake

Been signing many an average players, and ones that are not his usual possession focussed. Pep must detest working with this group Vianna has giving him.

That defending from Lewis. Christ.

Man City fucking woeful, but Man Utd press been excellent. If only we pressed them instead of sitting off.

If he can’t start when Murphy is out against the bottom of league, I’m not sure how that can help his confidence anymore than fans grumbling when he takes an awful touch.

He won’t be looking great for Forest for next 4 months because Dycheball is tragic for CMs like Anderson, but it’s for England where he will show his talents. When he’s been put in a side with other top talents, he’s looked better himself but importantly, the best out there. Just makes it all tick and that’s not something any average midfielder can do. The World Cup will be what seals his move and prices him out from moving to us.

It’s a different type of defending you need when at the big sides. Why you can often have someone who’s elite in defensive stats like blocks / headers / tackles, but put them in a top side they look like a donkey because the defending is more about positional play / awareness / front foot. Often needing to cover more of a distance and look to control the defending by possession. Guehi will be interesting, because I’m not fully convinced he’s the right mould for a top side (high line / front foot aggression). When he’s played for England it’s always felt he was bit of a weak link to get at.

Many things to throw at Howe, but not beating Man City when at fucking Bournemouth is something

Rico Lewis athletic? He’s like a paper plane.

Strand-Larssen linked to Leeds.

I'm more confident home to Villa then going away to a side who has 7 points after 21 games Like our recent wins (even if not convincing), it's about showing the intent and seizing the initiative. Despite the average season, we're firmly in the UCL hunt and can only blame ourselves if we fuck it up, not VAR, not PSR, ourselves. Winning these games are a must (and home games) because it means when we go to Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs, the pressure is off us, we could lose and it not be a disaster, whilst for those sides, anything less than a win is a disaster. We need to ensure we are going to those games with that balance, and beating Wolves is a step towards it.

Issue with Osula is he needs games to develop. Not going to get that here because we spent £55m on Wissa and £55m on Elanga, so he has to go. He could kick on, and it be another what if, but unfortunately we've made a rod for our own back there.