Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: kippaxvilla2 on March 15, 2024, 02:01:51 PM
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Here we go.
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What exactly are *those* poll options?!
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I would be astonished (and delighted) if we won this one. They’ve got all their key players back, our midfield is massively exposed, we don’t know if Ollie will make it, and we never beat them at their place. Massive ask for us.
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We need 4-6 points from the next 3 games. A win on Sunday would be a good start but think it'll be a draw.
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We don't draw many games do we.
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1-1 i reckon.
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What exactly are *those* poll options?!
My standard Cholmondley Warner ones on the rare occasions I start one.
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I think we'll be looking at a defeat there. We've never won at their new council house, and we've no midfield. If Watkins is out, that makes it worse.
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I think we'll be looking at a defeat there. We've never won at their new council house, and we've no midfield. If Watkins is out, that makes it worse.
Is Ramsey out ?
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No idea on this - could be 4.0 either way. And anything in between
I have a badish feeling but then again they are so inconsistent
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I think we'll be looking at a defeat there. We've never won at their new council house, and we've no midfield. If Watkins is out, that makes it worse.
Is Ramsey out ?
Nothing out from any pre-match press conference yet, but I'd say it's 100% certain he won't be playing.
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0-0
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If we were to get a draw it would be a good result.
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What exactly are *those* poll options?!
#BringBackSmirker 8)
3-1 Villa, FTF
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I think we'll be looking at a defeat there. We've never won at their new council house, and we've no midfield. If Watkins is out, that makes it worse.
Is Ramsey out ?
Nothing out from any pre-match press conference yet, but I'd say it's 100% certain he won't be playing.
On that basis and assuming Watkins is out i'd switch to micro strikers and go -
-------- Martinez --------
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
---- Luiz -- Irogbunam --
Tielemans ----- -- Zaniolo
--- Bailey ---- Diaby ----
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Listening to talksport on the drive home last night and one after another of their fans came on moaning about Moyes’ football after they had won handsomely :-) apparently it is turgid to watch…grudging praise for him getting a trophy in the bag etc…bizarre bunch!
‘If’ we can get half hour in defensively solid ie not giving Bowen half the pitch to run into or not giving Ward-Prowse set pieces to smash in their crowd might get a bit restless.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
Iroegbunam Luiz
Bailey Tielemans Diaby
Watkins
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Reckon we'll lose 2-0, soz.
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0-3 win fort us.
Diaby, Bailey and Zaniolo.
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Where is the hyphen?
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Hyphen? What the hell happened to the Aitch and Tee?
Re: World Cup Winning Kit Stealers v Aston Villa Pre-Matc hread - Sunday - 2pm.
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Their form is patchier than ours, away is the new home, if we can win at Brentford hoodoos are irrelevant. 3 points for the Villa.
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I'd take a draw.
After last season, I have no desire to go this time around. It was like watching Subbuteo and was an all round crap experience.
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I'd take a draw.
After last season, I have no desire to go this time around. It was like watching Subbuteo and was an all round crap experience.
Must be the worst away trip in the Prem closely followed by Newcastle and Ci$y
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I think we’ll massively struggle to cope with their physicality and set pieces.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
Iroegbunam Luiz
Bailey Tielemans Diaby
Watkins
For all our injury concerns, that would still be a very strong team to put out.
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I'd take a draw.
After last season, I have no desire to go this time around. It was like watching Subbuteo and was an all round crap experience.
Must be the worst away trip in the Prem closely followed by Newcastle and Ci$y
If you leave aside the fact we always lose up there, I like the Newcastle away trip. Great city, easy to get to the stadium, good ground.
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is Watkins touch and go or more go
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I'd take a draw.
After last season, I have no desire to go this time around. It was like watching Subbuteo and was an all round crap experience.
Must be the worst away trip in the Prem closely followed by Newcastle and Ci$y
If you leave aside the fact we always lose up there, I like the Newcastle away trip. Great city, easy to get to the stadium, good ground.
It's a good ground in proximity to the town and bars etc , i meant the away is a bit crap and you need Oxygen etc.
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We need to avoid cheap concession of set-pieces against this lot. Moyes still has one foot in the past. Agricultural when required.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
Iroegbunam Luiz
Bailey Tielemans Diaby
Watkins
For all our injury concerns, that would still be a very strong team to put out.
Given the opposition I would fear for us from set pieces and just physicality generally. That said, our best chance is attacking them and not letting them get near our defensive third.
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2-0.
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It’s looking a bit dicey in the middle without either or both of Boubacar and SJM. Gulp!
Time for Tim and Youri to show us what they can do and afford Doug the space to set Ollie and Leon free to nail the Hammers!
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I think we’ll massively struggle to cope with their physicality and set pieces.
Will they struggle to cope with our pace in transition?
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I think we’ll massively struggle to cope with their physicality and set pieces.
Will they struggle to cope with our pace in transition?
I hope so, but we’ll need to actually hit our levels in respect of that. We did yesterday, which was great, but Ajax did make it very easy.
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Torres and Luiz will be key in this game , playing out from the back will place a lot of emphasis on them two playing well .
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Torres and Luiz will be key in this game , playing out from the back will place a lot of emphasis on them two playing well .
I think the flanks are absolutely critical - if we let West Ham get it wide and cross it in we’ll struggle.
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Torres and Luiz will be key in this game , playing out from the back will place a lot of emphasis on them two playing well .
I think the flanks are absolutely critical - if we let West Ham get it wide and cross it in we’ll struggle.
We're going to have to be a bit more organised in those areas . Whoever plays there either side is going to have to work really hard. West Ham aren't anything special but they are functional .
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We always lose here. Same as we always lose at Brentford, Fulham and Sheff Utd.
1-2 The Mighty Lions.
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We've not lost in London under Emery. Won 4, drawn 4.
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We've not lost in London under Emery.
Mental really, we had some awful long record of losing there at some stage during the decade of doom.
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I'd take a draw.
After last season, I have no desire to go this time around. It was like watching Subbuteo and was an all round crap experience.
I was 100% this. Until I was on the train to Brum on Monday and on a quick check of tickets on the Villa App a couple came up. Returns I assume having missed the original purchase. Row 64 top tier. Straight in and 2 bought even though I should know better - I was there last season and can be pretty confident I'd have a better view from home in Warwick. Still. It's a day out. Oh and of course don't forget to factor in that I have to drive to High Wycombe (and back) to avoid the Rail Replacement Buses.
But then there's my 2024 away record to fall back on....
1-0 Middlesbrough
0-0 Everton
0-0 Chelsea
2-1 Fulham
0-0 Ajax
Not the worst but would have been improved by Sheff U and Luton which I couldn't get tix for !
Still. Come on you Villa boys.
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We've not lost in London under Emery. Won 4, drawn 4.
Ah …bollocks. Wish you had not reminded us of that. These things have a habit of turning for the worse.
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Sheff U and Luton which I couldn't get tix for !
Still. Come on you Villa boys.
Can you please not go?😉
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Shape change again I suspect. We lose the legs in midfield, so we add legs that move very quickly wide to spread the opposition and not choke the centre, where we're a little more vulnerable now.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Digne
Big Tim
Dougie
Tielemans
Diaby
Watkins
Bailey
Midfield for me will need Tim sitting as the screen, Yuri that connection in the half space. Big onus on Dougie.
That's a team I wouldn't like to play against. That front 3 looks like effort and still loads of quality elsewhere too. Let's win.
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It would be nice to win at the athletics track finally. We've gone close a few times hopefully they are knackered after the Freiburg game.
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Shape change again I suspect. We lose the legs in midfield, so we add legs that move very quickly wide to spread the opposition and not choke the centre, where we're a little more vulnerable now.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Digne
Big Tim
Dougie
Tielemans
Diaby
Watkins
Bailey
Midfield for me will need Tim sitting as the screen, Yuri that connection in the half space. Big onus on Dougie.
That's a team I wouldn't like to play against. That front 3 looks like effort and still loads of quality elsewhere too. Let's win.
Agree with all of this and suspect the shape we used in the latter phases of the Ajax game was Emery tweaking for this one.
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I'd be tempted to put Pau in central midfield.
Like McGrath in the late 80s for Ireland, he has the all-round game intelligence to do it. Can set the tempo from deep and gives us decent defensive cover.
I believe he's already played there for Villareal when required, so doing it at that level is prob worth more than Tim doing it for QPR in fits and starts.
The latter gives the ball away too much at this level; something even Moyes' boofball throwbacks could exploit.
Pau needs to be fully fit to do it though, which I'm not entirely convinced he is. There was a lot wrong with that performance against Total Hypershite. But something overlooked is Torres, Konsa and Carlos are still working their way back to full fitness.
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I'd be tempted to put Pau in central midfield.
Like McGrath in the late 80s for Ireland, he has the all-round game intelligence to do it. Can set the tempo from deep and gives us decent defensive cover.
I believe he's already played there for Villareal when required, so doing it at that level is prob worth more than Tim doing it for QPR in fits and starts.
He needs to be fully fit to do it though, which I'm not entirely convinced he is. There was a lot wrong with that performance against Total Hypershite. But something overlooked is Pau, Konsa and Carlos are still working their way back to full fitness.
Well Carlos hit a the big snake on that and gone all the way back to the bottom.
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At some point we are going to have to give Irogbunam a start and let him sink or swim.
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I agree with KG suggestion of playing Torres in midfield.
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1-4
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I dont think playing pau at DM is a good option tbh. Has he even ever played there? Its also a very demanding position i wouldnt wanna risk it when he just coming back from injury. I think this has draw
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I dont think playing pau at DM is a good option tbh. Has he even ever played there? Its also a very demanding position i wouldnt wanna risk it when he just coming back from injury. I think this has draw
he has and on the basis that Emery obviously does not think Tim is the answer then we don’t have too many options.
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I dont think playing pau at DM is a good option tbh. Has he even ever played there? Its also a very demanding position i wouldnt wanna risk it when he just coming back from injury. I think this has draw
he has and on the basis that Emery obviously does not think Tim is the answer then we don’t have too many options.
Imo its not that Emery doesn't think tim is the answer, more that he needs to be eased in as he's had barely any first team football this season. He'll play a fair bit in the next few matches I think. Torres is too vital to our back line and is more effective with his passing from deep to break lines imo
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We have the players to do 433. We finished with it Thursday. I don't get the infatuation with shoe horning players into random spots at the expense of their natural position. Why weaken two areas?
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Reckon we'll lose 2-0, soz.
is that you Legion?
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revised team.
---------- Martinez ----------
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
---- Luiz -- Tielemans ------
Bailey -------------- Zaniolo
-- Diaby ------ Duran ------
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revised team.
---------- Martinez ----------
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
---- Luiz -- Tielemans ------
Bailey -------------- Zaniolo
-- Diaby ------ Duran ------
That team is losing 6-0.
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revised team.
---------- Martinez ----------
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
---- Luiz -- Tielemans ------
Bailey -------------- Zaniolo
-- Diaby ------ Duran ------
Watkins will surely be ok to start?
I wouldn't be against some version of 433 either. No way to Zaniolo
Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne
Iroegbunam, Luiz, Tielemans
Bailey, Watkins/Duran, Diaby
Don't think we have any chance of keeping a clean sheet but that front three should be dangerous. Midfield looks weak
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Controversial but I would rest Watkins as it’s only one game from the break and pull him out of the internationals.
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Controversial but I would rest Watkins as it’s only one game from the break and pull him out of the internationals.
That’d be a good way to torch his goodwill towards the club.
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revised team.
---------- Martinez ----------
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
---- Luiz -- Tielemans ------
Bailey -------------- Zaniolo
-- Diaby ------ Duran ------
Watkins will surely be ok to start?
I wouldn't be against some version of 433 either. No way to Zaniolo
Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne
Iroegbunam, Luiz, Tielemans
Bailey, Watkins/Duran, Diaby
Don't think we have any chance of keeping a clean sheet but that front three should be dangerous. Midfield looks weak
i've assumed Watkins isn't available
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Controversial but I would rest Watkins as it’s only one game from the break and pull him out of the internationals.
Very glad you're not the manager
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That’s just a fcuking stupid thing to say isn’t it when you think about it. He got injured on Thursday there’s one game left before a break so it maybe good to be cautious as I think Duran can give them problems. No goodwill torched no silly fcuking jibes about me not being the manager just another persons viewpoint.
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Watkins will play at any costs. Every game is ridiculously important now.
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At some point we are going to have to give Irogbunam a start and let him sink or swim.
He can play alongside Pao, Rodgers and MacGinn.
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That’s just a fcuking stupid thing to say isn’t it when you think about it. He got injured on Thursday there’s one game left before a break so it maybe good to be cautious as I think Duran can give them problems. No goodwill torched no silly fcuking jibes about me not being the manager just another persons viewpoint.
Crikey! He hasn't shagged your bird or cat, has he?
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That’s just a fcuking stupid thing to say isn’t it when you think about it. He got injured on Thursday there’s one game left before a break so it maybe good to be cautious as I think Duran can give them problems. No goodwill torched no silly fcuking jibes about me not being the manager just another persons viewpoint.
Crikey! He hasn't shagged your bird or cat, has he?
I’m saying nothing! But a parrot might have been involved oh that bird.
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West Ham seem to alternate between a Moyes In game and a Moyes Out. They're due an 'Out' after twatting Freiburg so hopefully we win.
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Controversial but I would rest Watkins as it’s only one game from the break and pull him out of the internationals.
The mind boggles
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Got a good feeling we are going to see a great away performance tomorrow.
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Watford played today mate.
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Opportunity presented by Spurs.
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Controversial but I would rest Watkins as it’s only one game from the break and pull him out of the internationals.
The mind boggles
Foresight!
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Given Fulham result it would be lovely to get something from this game.
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Indeed and we have to be bold. I’m certain Wham will score so we need to be carrying a proper attacking threat and going for this. If we sit in, like we did against Spurs, we’ll crumble.
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Indeed and we have to be bold.
With McGinn out, I'd prefer us to go with an attacking mindset rather than playing it safe. If we lose so be it, but a win would be massive.
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Watford played today mate.
And they did us proud !
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Indeed and we have to be bold.
With McGinn out, I'd prefer us to go with an attacking mindset rather than playing it safe. If we lose so be it, but a win would be massive.
Play on the break . That'll suit the fast lads - Bailey, Diaby , Duran.
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Indeed and we have to be bold.
With McGinn out, I'd prefer us to go with an attacking mindset rather than playing it safe. If we lose so be it, but a win would be massive.
Play on the break . That'll suit the fast lads - Bailey, Diaby , Duran.
Didn’t work against Spurs.
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Indeed and we have to be bold.
With McGinn out, I'd prefer us to go with an attacking mindset rather than playing it safe. If we lose so be it, but a win would be massive.
Play on the break . That'll suit the fast lads - Bailey, Diaby , Duran.
Didn’t work against Spurs.
Sorry what I meant more was play our normal game of drawing teams on then hit them on the quick transition.
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That’s just a fcuking stupid thing to say isn’t it when you think about it. He got injured on Thursday there’s one game left before a break so it maybe good to be cautious as I think Duran can give them problems. No goodwill torched no silly fcuking jibes about me not being the manager just another persons viewpoint.
Sensitive and stupid, that's a bad combination
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So was there any pre=match news on the injuries to the players and likelihood of playing for Watkins and Ramsey?
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Let’s hope we can change our usual Villa ways and get something out of this match, even if it’s a draw. In this situation, when we can get a march on other teams, we normally stumble.
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That’s just a fcuking stupid thing to say isn’t it when you think about it. He got injured on Thursday there’s one game left before a break so it maybe good to be cautious as I think Duran can give them problems. No goodwill torched no silly fcuking jibes about me not being the manager just another persons viewpoint.
Sensitive and stupid, that's a bad combination
I agree but don’t put yourself down so much.
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That’s just a fcuking stupid thing to say isn’t it when you think about it. He got injured on Thursday there’s one game left before a break so it maybe good to be cautious as I think Duran can give them problems. No goodwill torched no silly fcuking jibes about me not being the manager just another persons viewpoint.
Sensitive and stupid, that's a bad combination
I agree but don’t put yourself down so much.
That's the adult way of saying " I know you are you said you are"
Just have a day off mate, you'll feel better
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Careers not been the same since The Lost Boys has it mate? :-)
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Both of you pack it in.
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Just a bit of flirting dave, dw
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Because of injuries and tactical adjustments forced upon us, we are in Jeckyll and Hide mode.
I am a betting man, but I wouldn't bet on this game.
On second thought, the number of goals scored odds are tempting.
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Don't risk Watkins. Konsa and Torres together in centre, Cash at RB, Digne at LB, Tim in for Sir John with Luiz to protect back four and let Duran, Bailey and Diaby cause merry hell up front with Tielmans feeding the front 3. 4-2-1-3 (or 4-2-3-1). Zaniolo can take Tielmans place in last 30. We got burnt playing it safe last week so sod it, let's try and use what we have and hopefully the break will see some lads getting a much needed rest and others recovering for the big last push.
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If Watkins still has two legs, two arms and a head, he has to play, regardless.
There is no risk. He has a cut and two weeks to let it heal after today.
I’d rather he play today and miss the International games. Internationals have cost us one player this season, I’d rather not risk another as we approach the run in.
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It's probably the least confident I have been about a game this season. They have generally performed well and had some big results when they have Paqueta, Kudus and Bowen all available, and they are a big, physical side which we tend to struggle against even when we don't have three of our midfield five out injured. Plus our record down there is dire.
Unai's Villa has a good knack of surprising me when I expect the worse so here's hoping.
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At some point we are going to have to give Irogbunam a start and let him sink or swim.
Agreed, bung him in, lets see what he can do.
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I cant find this on the TV schedules, can someone point me in the right direction?
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I cant find this on the TV schedules, can someone point me in the right direction?
No-one is showing it although if any other of the top 6 were playing, it would be on.
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Massive opportunity after the favour Fulham did us
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maybe Watkins will keep safe today so he can play for England especially as Kane hobbled off yesterday
Whether he plays or not today he will Definitely play for England,
not a great scenario for us but you can’t see it happening
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I can’t understand this ‘don’t risk Watkins’ stuff. He played for 20 mins after the cut knee (and scored). Why on earth would villa not play him so he ca play for England FFS. It’s downright weird.
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I cant find this on the TV schedules, can someone point me in the right direction?
I've sent you a link to the Canal & River Trust
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If Watkins still has two legs, two arms and a head, he has to play, regardless.
Fitness update on Watkins this morning. He's only ticking one of the boxes.
(https://i.ibb.co/xJv44WC/TELEMMGLPICT000299009750-trans-Nv-BQz-QNjv4-Bq69f-D36-Z3-CN-HTLd-FKJRGX72qg64-Pwfp-WTVsk1bt9-Mk-Q-jp.webp) (https://ibb.co/xJv44WC)
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I can’t understand this ‘don’t risk Watkins’ stuff. He played for 20 mins after the cut knee (and scored). Why on earth would villa not play him so he ca play for England FFS. It’s downright weird.
Wonder what Watkins see's as his priority today or England. I'd play him today if it's just a cut.
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We're generally rubbish against these on the road, true.
But the same was said previously of Brentford and Fulham. 4-3 to the Villa.
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I can’t understand this ‘don’t risk Watkins’ stuff. He played for 20 mins after the cut knee (and scored). Why on earth would villa not play him so he ca play for England FFS. It’s downright weird.
Wonder what Watkins see's as his priority today or England. I'd play him today if it's just a cut.
I don’t think he’s the sort to swap the chance of being Kane’s understudy in the summer for the prospect of Champions League football next season.
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1-1. Play Ollie. If he gets injured he'll have 13 days to recover. Fuck England, don't give a toss
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The England games should have zero influence on the decision to select Watkins or not today
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We're Aston Villa, we play who we want.
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Got a funny feeling about today....
0-2
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I've lumped a few quid on Spam, to ease the pain of our inevitable defeat.
Not looking forward to this, I think we're going to get dominated physically.
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Draw on the cards - both teams coming off good midweek wins, and they are strong physically.
Then a 2 week break which I think we need - tiredness is going to kick in given the relatively small squad - will help recharge the batteries for the critical run in
UTV
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I've lumped a few quid on Spam, to ease the pain of our inevitable defeat.
Not looking forward to this, I think we're going to get dominated physically.
Yeah I think McGinn will be a particularly big miss.
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I've lumped a few quid on Spam, to ease the pain of our inevitable defeat.
Not looking forward to this, I think we're going to get dominated physically.
It's your money but i could never bet against my own team, it would just feel wrong.
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I do it all the time. I'm down since Unai arrived, but massively up in general.
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Indeed.
It's paid for quite a few consolation pints.
Particularly in the Championship, when we were usually odds on favourites to beat Millwall away etc.
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I do it all the time. I'm down since Unai arrived, but massively up in general.
He's costing me a fortune, it's brilliant.
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Duran AND Watkins!