 By badger123 on December 26, 2024 Hooray, I finally got my internet installed this morning and for a supposedly inferior country, it´s fast. 600Mb is pretty much the standard and I´m getting 400Mb down and 350Mb up via the router. Makes our infrastructure look embarrassing, in my opinion, but there you go.Anyway, I´m really not sure what to think about this game. I still think we don´t look great, especially in defence, but there´s no doubting that we seem to be over our bad run. I don´t really think I´m jinxing anything by saying that either, as this is going to be a tough test either way.Squad news and fortunately for us, but not the players, Newcastle have a few out. Goalkeeper, Nick Pope, is out with a knock. Callum Wilson (hamstring), Sven Botman (ligament), Jamaal Lascelles (ligament), and Emil Krafth (broken collarbone) are also all out.Alexander Isak will lead the line in Callum Wilson’s absence. Jacob Murphy will continue in the starting XI and is likely to partner up with Anthony Gordon in attack.More importantly, we have no new concerns, which is surprising seeing as the lads must have had a few training sessions since the last game (I´m being sarky).Jacob Ramsey is back in training, but he´s doubtful and Leon Bailey has recovered from his muscle injury, but is also doubtful.So I think this could go either way then. Both teams have been poor over say, the last twelve games, but have recently picked up. They have a couple of players who might give us plenty to worry about and I particularly like Anthony Gordon, who could tear our right back a new one. Wilson is a big miss for them but Isak´s pretty decent too.It´s another one that looks drawish to me, but if anything, I´d say Newcastle will edge it, mostly because they have home advantage.2-1 to Newcastle it is then, but I nearly went for a one all draw.Whatever, I think it should be a very watchable game.UTV! |
As for Watkins Bill, I don’t think he’s a CF. At Brentford he was played out wide mostly and with his work rate which is his biggest strength, that’s the best position for him. His finishing is woeful compared to Duran. Thankfully he converted the penalty but he should have had a hat trick.
We play with one style!
The defence is not able to meet these demands. Emery really needs to address this problem.
How often when we are under pressure do the midfield turn into a pantomime performance. This time Barkley has the ball and ponders on it too long and is tackled and looses it.
Where is our defensive midfield wall in the last 15 minutes if a game? Missing again.
Watkins is shot at the moment. I have now lost count at the number of times he beats the defence and then dwells on the ball and loose it or makes a poor decision to shoot when crowded out.
Sorry Unai this is becoming tedious! Please sort it out.
If you ask me the whole team is in the wrong position Back to front. As for Onana, he didn’t even raise a gallop in the game for me.
Tiemanns and McGinn put in a shift but the rest of the midfield and Ollie were well off it. When Morgan surges forward and has 4 players on him he needs to play the ball into space. Our defence needs to be a helluva lot more compact.
Gutted this morning. I think we’ll see wholesale changes soon. IF PSR allows. Fuming.
Same here BumBum I’m gutted. Looking a the league positions we should be sitting pretty probably second. I still think Unai making wrong decisions in defence and bad choices in forwards. Either in training, they show willingness but fail on the pitch. Onana was useless and if my memory serves me right gave them a chance on goal playing half-soaked the time he was on the pitch.
I’m really angry about last night after the way we gifted them the first goal, got back into it and lead 2-1 and should have scored 2 or 3 more, before shooting ourselves in the foot and nearly losing!
How many more points would we have if the games finished at 75 minutes? 4 points dropped from last night and Bournemouth could prove very costly at the end of the season.
I don’t understand the logic in taking off Kamara and Tielemans at the same time and replace with Barkley and Onana when they need to get up to speed in a short space of time when Brighton were on top.
It’s a worry that Torres went off with what looked a serious injury. Mings and Carlos both went down with issues too so let’s hope we at least two available on Saturday.
I keep saying it but we need a RB, RW and a CB if Carlos goes. Talk of Philogene going on loan possibly means Bailey as only choice and we need better than him based on this season’s form.
Torres metertasal so predicted to be out for at least 2 months.
Can see us trying to get a CB in, in January most probably on loan. Not sure what sort of quality we can get though.
I’m not expecting us to do any real business because of the crap PSR – will probably have to wait until after June and our financial year end.
Imperative we qualify in top 8 in CL – Torres going to be a big miss in the CL.
Arise Sir Gareth Southgate! You have finally won something 🥳
Arise Sir Sycophant of Obsequious Hall!
If we could defend, we’d have at least 9 more points and sitting in 2nd. I would give Mings and Konsa a run of games in the centre. Carlos makes me extremely nervous every time he has the ball and I’d prefer it if he wasn’t in the team. Regardless of how inexperienced Ned is, I’d give him a go whenever Cash is unavailable. Hopefully, Pau will be back for the knockout stages of the CL, assuming we progress.
We need a top class right back and, in my opinion, TWO top class center backs that are BETTER than Mings and Konsa IF we want to kick on.
I was at the match last night and was disappointed but not surprised.
– Concede an early goal: check.
– Play slow, sideways, backwards football for long periods of the game: check.
– Manage (somehow) to get ourselves into a lead: check.
– Miss hatful of chances due to dithering, indecision, and poor decision making: check.
– Switch off for periods to allow opposition to play freely: check.
– Concede a late goal to throw away (another) two points: check.
– Conclusion: SHIT. AGAIN.
Remedy:
– STOP conceding early goals. How? Attack. Go FORWARDS.
– Move the ball faster. How? You’re the footballers, you tell me…
– Keep getting into the lead.
– STOP switching off. How? FOCUS!
– STOP conceding late goals. How? Press the opposition. Don’t give them time and acres of space on the ball to cross and shoot. Win the ball back. Go FORWARDS.
Football is a simple game. We’re making it look like chess: shit, boring, and complicated. Tip: watch Liverpool play for how to do it. It’s really simple.
Happy New Year to all!
Oh, and a big F U to the disgrace of an FA for the Duran situation. Beyond disgusting. Hang your heads in shame and embarrassment – if there is a conscience.
Bloody hell BFR my sentiments as well, that’s why I posted about Unai getting it wrong. You think and see like me but put it better. He does make mistakes but a bloody good
Coach.
Well apart form that BFR, we’re sound as a pound? 😁
My TV just packed in so need to order another and hopefully collect tomorrow from somewhere open 😡
I agree with your assessment BFR. After watching Liverpool this season, I’m really envious how exciting they are and little of the backwards / sideways passing. We are a million miles from catching up with them right now and Arsenal have increased the margin in quality between them and us. Forest might drop away but I think they will finish above us alongside Chel$ea, Citeh and Newcastle. If that proves the case then we are looking at 7th at best!
I hope Monchi can deliver the goods and live up to his reputation of being one of the best. Right now I’m on the fence to if he is a good acquisition or not. Proving himself in the premier league is a different proposition to the Spanish league.
So far it looks like we are missing Luiz and Diaby who I didn’t rate but now we haven’t got competition on the RW. We have clearly gone backwards this season in the league and I think blaming Champions League is a weak excuse considering we were playing Thursday evenings in the Conference League last season. We desperately need to pick a best XI and keep with them barring injuries and suspensions. There has been far too much tinkering IMO. Emery is making wrong decisions more frequently too plus the players discipline and concentration levels have dropped off too.
Maybe an FA Cup run would be a nice distraction although I wouldn’t be surprised if we go out against West Ham.
Another gripe from many supporters was the decision to make the Brighton game a category A price range with tickets in excess of £70. Considering there are 3 home games in a row, the decision makers should hang their heads with shame as they take advantage of supporters loyalty.
Anyway apologies for the long post. This is the fault of my bust TV 🙂
Happy new year to all of you and UTMV!
£72.50 for my ticket. Sadly, it’s not worth it and I’ll think thrice before going again.
Could Maatsen fill in at right back? It’s been done before…
Happy new year to you all woo hoo
On another note how did boring bottler Southgate get knighted saying that so did ruined london khan got one as well who the hell picks these people might as well give everyone at va fixed r one as well as the pricks who now look to give Duran a 4 game ban
Yes new year and still moaning folks
Sorry about the grammar by the way too many festivities last night
UTV
Happy New Year Villans – just surfaced after a great evening with the daughter; good food, wine (lots of it) and a dodgy head as a reward LOL.
Daughter and our grandson went to the game having won two tickets in a raffle which cost her £20. Entertained in the McGregor Suite then had two seats on the glass fronted balcony (corner between Trinity Road & Holte End). Apparently it’s where Prince William sits. Her seat number AA! She thought it was pretty good value for money 🙂
Salah, Trent, and Van Dijk free to talk to other clubs. That’s about 200 million quid’s worth of talent flushed down the shitter. How much would it cost to replace them? Unbelievable but surely they know what they’re doing? 🤔
Donyell Malen? Looks like it’s going to happen. I haven’t a clue about him to be honest.
25 year old Dutch player. I’ve seen him play for both Dortmund and the Netherlands mostly as an impact sub. He’s ferociously fast and quite physical but appears to have been too inconsistent for Dortmund this season. However, there’s a real player in there and if Emery can improve his consistency then we’d have a real banger on the right wing.
Just seems to me that we’re shopping in the bargain basement of Poundland – a consequence of the biased financial regime to keep ambitious clubs in their place – not a criticism of the club.
According to Sky a right sided defender and an attacking mid fielder are our priorities – but then all they could come up with is a regurgitation of summers non news. The sane article says that the only specialised right back we have is Cash – Ned Kelley might be young but, as far as I know, he’s still a specialised right back!
Surely, as a priority, we need at least one experienced and reliable CB – even if it’s a six month loan?
We’re down to bare bones (again?) for tomorrow’s game.
Carlos and Torres are injured as is Philogene whilst Rogers and Duran are suspended.
So we’re down to two fit CB’s and it’s back to the ‘old faithful’ duo of Konsa and Mings – could be a hell of a lot worse! I assume Emery will draft in someone like Swinkels for the bench.
It seems we haven’t done the double over Leicester for over 20 years – let’s see if we can put it right tomorrow – and secure a clean sheet.
I’ll be there, freezing my tits off…
Well the alcohol has gone to my head lads gone and got a ticket in the North Stand for the Westham game anyone going Friday as I’ve heard £1.50 a point. Not bothered about the game getting my money’s worth😇 in booze.
I think there are a number of things at £1.50 to commemorate the 150 year anniversary! The bus fare from Brum to VP and match programme are two other things. Mind you Chris Heck has already milked fan loyalty on extortionate ticket prices. £25 for adults and £10 for kids to see the FA cup game v West Ham is an attempt to soften fans anger. I suppose paying £70 plus for a ticket to see us go out without a whimper would be a bitter pill to swallow!
Yes, I read about that on the MOMS site…
https://myoldmansaid.com/revealed-everything-that-will-cost-1-50-at-villas-anniversary-game/
Just read the MOMS. Very funny RSS! It’s a little cynical but with good reason.
I know mate, yes a tad cynical but very funny.
Heck should work for the revenue. Give with one hand. Take (more) with the other.
Hey Bill, do you remember the first All Inclusive Holidays. I think it was Mexico and every traveller (gypsy) in Ireland went. You may have found the latest All Inclusive soccer match.
Seems like we’ve upped our offer for Malen. Sounds like a serious target.
Dortmund appear to be playing hard to get and definitely overhyping the player.
That’s the big issue with the January window – paying over the odds for players.
At least we’re not ManU!!! Any of their rejects worth pursuing????
Depends what you mean by pursuing, Bum Bum! 😏
Is that an accidental double entendre????? 🤣
Watched Canadian Pete’s last couple of shows and his analysis really is eye opening. The fact only Liverpool and Chelsea have created more clear chances than us all season shows we’re only a few tweaks away from hitting a reall good run. Ollie needs to find form (in saying that last match was one goal and one assist), he needs to get angry and focus. Duran’s suspension stinks of corruption, even the MOTD guys said it was harsh. We do need more goals from midfield. We need to break quicker to stop the opposition getting back in numbers and crowding out the goal. For all the glaring defensive errors, our back 6 have all made numerous killer blocks and played some great balls forward. Again we just need to concentrate.
It’ll be a battle today but I’m looking forward to 3pm. We need the 3 points. It’s soooooo close up top.
UTV!!!!
Tell em to eff off.
Is that an accidental double entendre????? 🤣
Watched Canadian Pete’s last couple of shows and his analysis really is eye opening. The fact only Liverpool and Chelsea have created more clear chances than us all season shows we’re only a few tweaks away from hitting a reall good run. Ollie needs to find form (in saying that last match was one goal and one assist), he needs to get angry and focus. Duran’s suspension stinks of corruption, even the MOTD guys said it was harsh. We do need more goals from midfield. We need to break quicker to stop the opposition getting back in numbers and crowding out the goal. For all the glaring defensive errors, our back 6 have all made numerous killer blocks and played some great balls forward. Again we just need to concentrate.
It’ll be a battle today but I’m looking forward to 3pm. We need the 3 points. It’s soooooo close up top.
UTV!!!!