This final game of the season isn’t just about qualifying for the Champions league.
It is of course about that as well, but perhaps more importantly, it could be a very big pointer as to which direction the club takes over the next few years.
First off, let’s put simply what we need for us to actually qualify. We need to win and either Chelsea or Newcastle drop a point against Forest and Everton respectively. Either that, or Man City have to lose at Fulham.
Any other combination won’t be enough and that worries me, (everything worries me with the Villa), but I certainly don’t think it’s impossible. Everton are a very tough side to beat. Forest could still pinch our current Europa league place so still have something to play for. And Man City have improved of late, but they still seem liable to being beaten by anyone.
So it’s a big ask and I’m not even going to discuss our record against Man U. We’ve had the worst record of any club against them since the Prem was formed. Enough said.
I’ve been saying for months that qualifying for the Champions League was the most single important thing, apart from winning it this year and we’re very soon going to see why.
If we qualify, It’s all sweetness and roses. We might have to part with one top player, but the revenue should be adequate, albeit maybe £50 million light as a pure guess.
But failing to qualify will slash our revenue. The Champions league earned the club just over £45 million this season, but it’s more than just that. It’s the sponsorship and the prestige too. And then, being in it massively improves our pulling power. Or just as importantly, in my opinion, our ability to hold onto players.
I know Martinez looked like he was a goner last week and he definitely looks like he might be off, as it makes perfect sense to me, but I don’t think for one minute he’s made his mind up. He’s happy here. His kids look at Brum as home and apparently his missus has just set up a clothes shop in Tamworth. Of course, 300 grand a week in Saudi can easily turn people’s heads, but keeping the missus happy might prove just as important (I’m clutching at straws, aren’t I?).
But if we already have to flog one player and we don’t qualify, I can see that turning into two or maybe even three players leaving. Say, two of Martinez, Watkins and Rogers and probably Mings too, if rumours are to be believed. And Tielemens is also being mentioned too.
As much as I trust Emery and Monchi to bring decent replacements in, that sort of loss would be a major setback. I’m quite happy for us to do a Rogers, in getting a player in cheap, improving him and then flogging him in short time for a fat profit, but I definitely don’t want to see us having to rip a big chunk out of the team. You need at least a decent amount of stablity.
So this is the biggest game since, er, the last big game. And we’ve had a few this season, haven’t we?
Squad news and Rashford is out , but importantly Youri Tielemens has a fair chance of being at least on the bench after Emery reported that he’s trained since Friday. Jacob Ramsay is available after his suspension.
As for Man U, Leny Yoro probably won’t be risked. Lisandro Martinez is out, as is Matthijs de Ligt.
I think the fact that I’ve never heard of two of those players says it all about how the Reds are in freefall and I also believe that we’re easily capable of beating Man Utd.
The big problem I have is our disgusting record against them.
Even so, it doesn’t really matter to some extent. We win, and the show goes on until the other teams have finished.
We lose and I’ll be close to tears. Yes, the Villa still have the ability to do that to me.
I’m going for a scappy 2-1 win, although I’d love to see us put five past them.
UTV!
I have just seen the Manure chances re-run. Torres is absolutely 2nd. 2nd to everything and 2nd rate. How many games have we lost in EPL that Mings started – none.
The front three have been non existent so losing Asensio probably won’t affect the way the game is going. I would take Rogers and Watkins off as well and put on Ramsey and Malen. If it’s still 0-0 with 10 minutes to go then throw on Tielemans and Bailey for McGinn and Cash and go with a back 3.
Thin ice now.
Cash if f**** useless !
When it comes to the crunch games, it seems we have a team of bottlers.
We’re not getting battered.
It’s actually worse than that.
😁😂
Is Emery waiting till we go 1-0 down before any substitutions??
OMG. This is agony!!!!
Everton winning
Barcodes losing!!!!
Man U bringing players who are leaving, so they can say goodbye. Shows what they think about the game.
Everton have taken the lead!
Everton taken the lead, could this be another Arsenal 81?
I’ll be amazed if we hold onto this.
This is a f**king hard watch, don’t know how much more my ticker can take.
I can’t take this…
VAR!
That’s a goal. No control of the ball at all.
🤦♂️
OMG, the ref apparently blew before the goal. For what, then?
I smell a court case coming on.
Atwell is a useless c**t.
Utd score and we lose our CL place because of that c**t.
Typical.
To be honest we don’t deserve it the way we’ve played, papering over the cracks of our shite performance.
Cheated
I think I’m done! This ref has done us!
How do you vent this frustration. Seriously
Denied because of yet another pro United referee fk up. Beyond apoplectic.
That’s so blinkered, something I’d expect to hear from a Nose.
We were shite.
End of.
Corrupt as fuck however we’ve done ourselves no favours by playing fuckin shit
I don’t care anymore. Bent officiating on top of a shite performance. Olympiakos, Palace and now sums up the fact we lack mentality to get the job done.
I blame Emery for this one as we needed to kick them while they were down but we just stood off and watched them grow in confidence.
Agree 💯 Holte.
Times you have to take to the opposition something we don’t seem to have in the locker.
Is that down to the players or the manager?
Fuck me, he hasn’t touched him and he’s give a pen.
This is so bent. How are you supposed to beat these when they get every decision?
That fucking ref!
Mate yea the Ref weren’t great but can you say hand on heart can you say we deserved anything from that performance?
CRAP
All we needed was a draw!
We don’t deserve anything. It was a penalty and the Manure / Old Trafford hoodoo continues. All those who were saying we have a simple win and deep down I felt something like this would happen. The usual Villa thing when we get close and blow it. This Utd team is the worst in premier league history but we allowed them to look incredible.