Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: KNVillan on April 05, 2025, 04:27:47 PM
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Eight changes for Villa
(https://i.ibb.co/Ps2hdHDK/20250405-161917.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Ps2hdHDK)
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That is a most unexpected first 11. It says to me that we are prioritising the cups.
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Ok, that might work. Not convinced. But let’s see!
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Best bench we've ever had
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Very attacking. Makes me feel more, not less nervous.
No Wood for them.
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Tielemans and Rogers the only undroppables I guess.
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Not sure about thay defence against their pace?
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Just parked up seen this. Should I just drive back home?
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Emery is the best manager we’ve ever had in my lifetime, but…. Playing a back 4 that has never played together is a mistake isn’t it? I mean fucking hell! We need to win this one.
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Team sheet of both teams
(https://i.ibb.co/6cRwBZZX/20250405-163009.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6cRwBZZX)
Courtesy of Matt Maher
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Team news - Rashford on bench
From the Beeb. I think they're a bit obsessed.
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Looking at the games going on at the moment, winning this would be very good for us. Usually in this position we screw it up.
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We'll win. Have no fear. Ollie to respond to this upstart Rashford with a brace.
A fuming Rogers to set up 2 and score 1
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So, we're playing 2 big CB and Forest don't seem to have a big bustling CF ...
I applaud Emery's choice of starting XI: 2 pacy fullbacks, a lump of a DMF and Malen and Watkins up top.
It may work ...
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It highlights what an incredible squad we have
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Bit light in midfield with Kamara rested. Is the plan to keeps their wide players busy with more attacking full backs?
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Based on the players who are not starting, I think we can probably hazard a guess as to the majority of the starters on Wednesday. It seems to me that Unai is prioritising the cups. However, in Unai we trust...
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Martinez captain.
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Unai making the most of having 5 substitutions available.
Still a quality starting eleven.
Villa to win
2-1
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It's not prioritising the cups, it's using a squad where we almost have two players of equal quality for every position.
We need Ty and Disasi cos Forest are physical and Pow gets bullied too easily plus there's no real drop-off between Konsa and Disasi.
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Blimey.
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One and half eyes on Wednesday it seems .
COYVB's
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It's not prioritising the cups, it's using a squad where we almost have two players of equal quality for every position.
We need Ty and Disasi cos Forest are physical and Pow gets bullied too easily plus there's no real drop-off between Konsa and Disasi.
Kamara?
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So, we're playing 2 big CB and Forest don't seem to have a big bustling CF ...
Probably for the inevitable corners etc.
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Hudson Odoi back for them.
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Elanga v Maatsen anyone
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One thing I'd say: Emery seems intent on playing Rogers on the right, but the player doesn't seem best-utilised in that role.
Just saying.
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It highlights what an incredible squad we have
That was my first reaction, too. We pretty much have two very good teams.
The only niggling worry is how we'll perform without Kamara.
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Let's smash these ducks!
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One thing I'd say: Emery seems intent on playing Rogers on the right, but the player doesn't seem best-utilised in that role.
Just saying.
Won’t it be Rogers left, Asensio ‘10’, Malen right?
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It highlights what an incredible squad we have
That was my first reaction, too. We pretty much have two very good teams.
The only niggling worry is how we'll perform without Kamara.
Yeah, what an amazing array of talent we have. Think SUE is planning on winning the Champions League.
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That is an obscene team off the back of eight changes. Imagine what that would've looked like at this stage last season.
It's the right decision. Lots of games coming. Need to trust the squad. Considering how far behind we are this is the least important competition, but that team is more than good enough for three points.
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One thing I'd say: Emery seems intent on playing Rogers on the right, but the player doesn't seem best-utilised in that role.
Just saying.
Won’t it be Rogers left, Asensio ‘10’, Malen right?
Think that's how it should be
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Did I not expect that line up!
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One thing I'd say: Emery seems intent on playing Rogers on the right, but the player doesn't seem best-utilised in that role.
Just saying.
Won’t it be Rogers left, Asensio ‘10’, Malen right?
Both Rogers and Malen can play left or right, but my first though was Rogers on the left.
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I'm less confident than I was pre-match, and I wasn't that confident then. Just win Villa, and put some pressure on Citeh and Chelsea.
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If Wood was playing I'd be happy with that back 4. With him out I don't think we needed to go as physically dominant.
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Jeez Maatsen just let that be taken off his feet. What the hell was he doing?
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first shot malen
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One thing I'd say: Emery seems intent on playing Rogers on the right, but the player doesn't seem best-utilised in that role.
Just saying.
Won’t it be Rogers left, Asensio ‘10’, Malen right?
you're absolutely right; just checking that everyone is paying attention ...
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goood move villa
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another good move villa
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There are times when we look utterly excellent nowadays
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Watkins first touch in a different post code.
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Nothing like Villa Park on a sunny day
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poor finish from youri
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Need a goal while on top
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SCORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRCHIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Good job they listen me and not Unai
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haha
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roggerrssssssssssssss
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Well deserved, we've been well on top.
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Get in!
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That’s a ridiculous finish.
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Get the fuck in!
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Brilliant
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Excellent goal.
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Wonderful pass from Tielemans for that.
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great ball , great touch and great finish . relieved it fell to rogers and not ollie to be fair .
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SCORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRCHIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Malen with the second.
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……and that is just liquid football.
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Good lord!!!
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Rogers on the left: who'd have thought it?!!
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Smash them Villa, smash them hard.
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what a fucking brilliant goal
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Nice goal.
And another! Malen!
We need to make hay before Nuno tweaks the formation and they tighten up.
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Time to sort out that goal difference now.
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Holy shit we look amazing!
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Ohh spicy!
I hope we keep this intensity up.
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Come on give them a proper going over
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Malen is a class act. We need to keep him!!
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Let's pad the goal difference whilst we can, Nuno has got this badly wrong with a life block back 5.
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Unreal!
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Get the fuck in!!!
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We scored in the first half, miracles do happen.
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double dutch
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Back to early last season, quick goals
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Decent start, need to keep it tight.
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We're able to press hard because we're have a fresh team and don't need to conserve energy for Paris. This is superb squad management.
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I'm not blaming Watkins for our lack of form this season but it's clear as day that what we were missing from last season is goals from other parts of the pitch. That's what we fixed in January.
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Blimey again.
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Yeaaaj
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ONE
https://x.com/GoalwireDaily/status/1908562038890389514
TWO
https://x.com/GoalwireDaily/status/1908562328015995108
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Asensio hasn’t scored yet.
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What's this 'not scoring for 5 mins' bullshit. Sort it out.
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Elanga shows it's not done yet.
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Bloody hell only just managed to start watching, wasn’t expecting this.
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Lots of fresh legs on and everyone trying to impress the gaffer for PSG places..lovely
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Another chance for Forest, Unai not happy.
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We need a couple more before we can relax. Another 5-5 anyone?
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wake up villa
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We've started giving it away cheaply for some reason. Focus!
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Gone bit sloppy here
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Quiet match thread today! Everyone enjoying the sun?
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We need a couple more before we can relax. Another 5-5 anyone?
no thanks; another clean sheet, please.
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maatesn having a good game
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Alan Smith suggesting that's a pen, twatt
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Just need 17 more goals to go ahead of Man City into 5th.
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Alan Smith suggesting that's a pen, twatt
cant listen to him. I have Andy T :)
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Alan Smith suggesting that's a pen, twatt
Not sure if he mentioned it but sky live text was comparing it to the pen Arse conceded so probably why he moaned.
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Poor from Watkins there. Two options he had and fluffed it.
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poor ollie just asensio to pass too and fucked it
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His drop off in form is stark!
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Watkins been really poor so far
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It feels harsh to say it given the scoreline, but Ollie's been pretty poor.
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Watkins been really poor so far
Get Rashers on after the hour
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It feels harsh to say it given the scoreline, but Ollie's been pretty poor.
Thinking the same and actually if anything, he’s the weak link.
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disasi love him
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It feels harsh to say it given the scoreline, but Ollie's been pretty poor.
Playing himself of a starting place for PSG here, the lad looks short of confidence. Badly needs a goal
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Maatsen starting to look like a £35m player.
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Midfield 2 and Maatsen have done very well so far. Ascensio is a bloody nightmare. To play against.
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shame malen isnt in the champs squad .. he looks great
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They have had their first shot on target so we won't be adding to that stat.
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I really hope Ollie gets that PL record soon
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I really hope Ollie gets that PL record soon
If he doesn’t get it this season he may not be here for the next one.
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I really hope Ollie gets that PL record soon
Me too. Really he should have got it by now.
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keep it clean until HT Villa
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Since that blistering start, we've been really quite sloppy.
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That half was ok for a couple of mins.
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TBF to Watkins, they're playing three at the back. The space is elsewhere.
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First half masterclass. Maatsen outstanding
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An excellent first half
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I know fuck all.
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TBF to Watkins, they're playing three at the back. The space is in the middle.
That doesn’t explain bad first touches and bad decision making.
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One player we absolutely don’t miss at the moment, is Bailey
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TBF to Watkins, they're playing three at the back. The space is in the middle.
And all 3 are focused on him, it's why there's so much space for Rogers, Malen and Asensio.
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great half
maatsen great
the rest have done well , ollie looks lost.
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Hopefully that was our bad half.
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TBF to Watkins, they're playing three at the back. The space is in the middle.
That doesn’t explain bad first touches and bad decision making.
No, but it's mitigation. I'm no Watkins fanboy either.
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People starting to realise Watkins is nowhere near as good as they thought he was, especially since Asensio and Rashford came in.
I'd sell this summer for anything above £50m.
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Very good, they’re shit scared of Watkins and Roger’s which is giving Asensio and Tielemans acres of space. Stroll in the park so far. They’re good in transition but when we drop and they’ve got to make the play they’re pretty crap. Early goal second half put it to bed and get the subs going.
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we didn't have to do much to be winning that one. Onana is blowing out of his arse and Watkins is super quiet - maybe some more changes to come? Malen and Maatsen lively.
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Just don't concede. In all honesty we've switched off since 2-0. Keep the sheet clean or this could easily turn.
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Key thing here is nothing sloppy early second half, whilst he got mocked for it 2-0 is a dangerous
lead which all hinges on the next goal. 2-1 is a massive psychological blow as a team goes from cruising to panicking.
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hopefully another one and a few 3 - 0 's lately .
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Great first 15 mins, controlled the rest. Only threat is Elanga on the counter. We still need another goal to put this to bed. Lots of great performances all across the pitch. I note with interest that Cashy has taught Garcia and Maatsen how to do the chop.
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Key thing here is nothing sloppy early second half, whilst he got mocked for it 2-0 is a dangerous
lead which all hinges on the next goal. 2-1 is a massive psychological blow as a team goes from cruising to panicking.
Yeah, would be very happy to get to 65 mins with the score as it is.
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1-0 is a dangerous lead, 2-0 sees the side win the vast vast majority of times.
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Get another early in the second half to put it to bed please.
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I think the 2nd half we'll make it a scratchy/slow game and practice locking it down. Unlikely to be a fun watch, but I like the way we seem to manage game state much better lately.
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the trees won't want to see Rashford and JJ coming on neither .
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Just don't concede. In all honesty we've switched off since 2-0. Keep the sheet clean or this could easily turn.
We haven’t switched off. We’ve been a bit sloppy at times. But they’ve not created anything of note. Emi hasn’t been tested. Much like their keeper. The game has been mostly balanced which when you consider we’re up against the 3rd placed team in the PL isn’t bad at all.
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Did I not expect that line up!
Are you Graham Taylor?
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I'm not blaming Watkins for our lack of form this season but it's clear as day that what we were missing from last season is goals from other parts of the pitch. That's what we fixed in January.
Huh? Rogers has been scoring all season. Malen did the back-stick run and finish that Bailey should have been doing all season.
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Rashford getting his goals the last few games was really good timing. He could potentially just have the day off today and it doesn't result in stories about him being dropped, or falling out of favour.
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TBF to Watkins, they're playing three at the back. The space is in the middle.
That doesn’t explain bad first touches and bad decision making.
He's barely touched it. Only fcuked-up once.
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Konsa on for Garcia. Thought he did very well.
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Quality from Emi earlier
(https://scontent.fbhx4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/488936874_709874101371487_4271169515772664931_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s640x640_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=vEQEmXDhVDIQ7kNvwE8LIyl&_nc_oc=Adm8GGlppLwI6MRx3nB2AKv_2kLjyAYtSNo5MkBEljk3makqRp5os6Up0Ji2prD3eQs&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fbhx4-2.fna&_nc_gid=O4cAJt7cgu5DItUn08lSAQ&oh=00_AYG_0TzJIHPg4NBubFI5Uy7Bq4fJhORIqntW2sRED22KwA&oe=67F7552E)
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Fantastic first 20 minutes. They couldn't figure out our shape, we were walking through them. Should have killed them off with a 3rd and a 4th.
BUT then, Martinez decides to do his stand on the ball trick. We lose impetus, give them the initiative and they create a few chances.
I love Emi but he really flustrates me on occasion. Sometimes, his antics are the oppositions best means of defence because he nullifies our attack.
Come on Villa, go for the jugular straight from the start of the second half. Get 4-0 up and then pass the ball to Emi!!
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8 changes and we’re 2-0 up against third in the league.
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Elanga off, Jota on
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they are bringing grealish on more early than usual
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I think we should have gone for the jugular a bit more and tested Sels with a few hopeful shots as he had the sun in his eyes but Forest did get more of a grip. We still give-up too many chances. Next goal is crucial. They get it and I don't see us winning.
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Konsa on for Garcia. Thought he did very well.
Konsa at RB, or in the centre?
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Malen goal was a carbon copy of the ‘82 goal. Minus shins and posts.
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Good move, García is stil pretty green.
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elanga off .. good news
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What an atmosphere.
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Dirty twat
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lack of ideas forest .
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Asensio booked
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Konsa on for Garcia. Thought he did very well.
Konsa at RB, or in the centre?
Centre,Disasi rb
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lack of ideas forest .
Might be tempting fate, but I can't believe how static and passive they have been
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Phew
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And again. Sort it Villa!
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Disasi needs to stop giving it away.
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We’ve stopped playing here and are inviting an equaliser.
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Wake up Villa. Forest going close
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thought that was in
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We’ve stopped playing here and are inviting an equaliser.
Do away goals count double?
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2 let offs.
Come on Villa
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We’ve stopped playing here and are inviting an equaliser.
Is it 2-1?
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They're going to score here.
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ffs villa wake yourselves up
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We’ve stopped playing here and are inviting an equaliser.
Do away goals count double?
Started on the wine a bit too early obviously.
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That should have been a booking
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2-1
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Poundland Grealish scores
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Fuck sake. That goal was coming from the time we started the second half.
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Has been coming, gone sloppy all over the place
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FFS we’ve got sloppy here. That was dreadful defending.
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No complaints, we've done fuck all this half.
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lump on 3-2 to them.
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Very sloppy Villa
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It's been coming.
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Fucking shite. We were asking for that, we have been in "faff around till the opposition score" mode this half.
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That’s been coming since we kicked off.
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Another Forest chance.
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what the fuck are villa doing . midfield has gone.
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Sorry, but that isn't surprising. We're at risk here and it has been obvious since about the 30th minute.
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FUCKING SORT IT OUT!
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Changes needed now
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We’ve stopped playing here and are inviting an equaliser.
Is it 2-1?
Shit.
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Subs coming soon
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why bring konsa on
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Changed their shape and we haven't responded.
Need Rashford on
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We’ve completely switched off since half time. They’ll score again if we don’t sort this quick.
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Get Kamara on now
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Another chance, they're battering us
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Dunno why Garcia came off
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We have just gone to sleep FFS
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Get Bouba on
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Booby, JJ and Rashy coming on it seems
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It's so annoying because Forest are shite. The table does sometimes lie.
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All on our right side
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We’ve completely gone.
The right hand side is completely open.
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Gutless since we went two up. Take the first 15 minutes out, Forest have battered us
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Gutless since we went two up. Take the first 15 minutes out, Forest have battered us
Hyperbolic guff
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Unai made the sub to shore up that right hand side and it's done the opposite.
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Fuck knows the reckoning to bring Konsa on and shove Diasisi wide. But it has played right into their hands.
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Ollie, Malen and Onana off
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Watkins poor again
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Gutless since we went two up. Take the first 15 minutes out, Forest have battered us
Oh hello, someone has decided to post now I see.
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All on our right side
Malen no man's land this half
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Dunno why Garcia came off
if you are , bring cash on.
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Gutless since we went two up. Take the first 15 minutes out, Forest have battered us
You were quiet at 2-0
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Onana died of death in 2nd half again
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"Where were you, where were you, where were you when we were good?"
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Gutless since we went two up. Take the first 15 minutes out, Forest have battered us
Hyperbolic guff
Indeed, we've been shit since halftime but that's not enough for some so they have to pretend that we were well on top in the first half.
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Better from Morgy
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Unai made the sub to shore up that right hand side and it's done the opposite.
and elanga went off
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Gutless since we went two up. Take the first 15 minutes out, Forest have battered us
Hyperbolic guff
It's what he does.
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Unlucky Morgan
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Dirty ****** though
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Morgz you have to score.
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Morgz I shld put it on a plate for Rashy
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Should score fucj
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Another Forest chance
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shsould have passed to rashford?
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Great run and ball - good save in the end
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You feel that the next team to score will go on to win this.
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Fucking pass it Rogers!!! Heavy touch though.
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Could have killed the game with that Rodgers counter. I think this is either going to be 3-1 or 2-2.
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You feel that the next team to score will go on to win this.
Agree - let's hope no-one does
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Villa chance. A tad end to end.
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Konsa hasn't improved us
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Can't carry on like this villa
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Get a grip lads!
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Much better lads
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We've just totally lost control of the game.
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We've just totally lost control of the game.
?
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A manic end to end game suits them more than us.
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We need control
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SJM getting ready
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kamara has helped
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Jota booked
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SJM getting ready
Asensio off
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We've just totally lost control of the game.
?
Pretty self-explanatory, isn't it? We controlled proceedings in the first half. Now it's looking like a lottery, which will suit Forest just fine.
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Their keeper has made 3 great saves, we could and probably will restore our lead soon
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Poundshop Grealish enjoying himself out there.
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Trampish Jack Grealish really is a scumbag.
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Ramsey has given us more attacking impetus this half
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Poundshop Grealish enjoying himself out there.
How the f *is* he still out there?
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Forest's Jack Grealish is maybe even more annoying than Man City's.
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The Grealish wannabe should be on very thin ice, 4-5 fouls now and already booked.
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Their keeper has made 3 great saves, we could and probably will restore our lead soon
We're way ahead in shots on target
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Looks like I chose a bad weekend to give up drugs
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Fuck me, we can't keep letting them shoot.
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How are we letting these cloggers march through us so much?
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Disasi has been shit. He keeps coming inside, like Konsa does when he's at right back.
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We need at least one more here
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Why the fuck do refs let Yates get away with so many fouls?
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When they break the attack with pace so directly. We don't seem to know how to handle it
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Much better again
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When they break the attack with pace so directly. We don't seem to know how to handle it
It's what they're good at, at lot of teams have struggled with their fast breaks.
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And still they shoot.
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Special word for Townsend for being a prick
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Getting battered now.
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Disasi has been shit. He keeps coming inside, like Konsa does when he's at right back.
Diasi has been poor today. His first off performance.
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Can't take much more of this, I'll be shocked if we don't concede another
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Getting battered now.
Stay strong padewan
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Forest aren't a shite team, obviously, but we just can't seem to get any control over this half. Dunno why.
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Getting battered now.
The xG is saying pretty much exactly 2-1 and hardly any of their shots have been on target
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The midfielders and forwards need to stop letting runners just waltz past them.
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Special word for Townsend for being a prick
Always when we play. Applying the principle of charity, maybe he tries extra hard to show he's not biased, rather than actively dislike us.
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Rashford has calmed us down
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When they break the attack with pace so directly. We don't seem to know how to handle it
It's what they're good at, at lot of teams have struggled with their fast breaks.
Got to say I'm impressed. There's none of the moving it side to side and slowing it down. Every pass seems to be an attacking pass forward.
I'm glad plenty of their chances have fallen to Williams though. Don't think he's got one on target yet.
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The midfielders and forwards need to stop letting runners just waltz past them.
Same thing happened at their place. Should have been a comfortable 3 points but once they upped the tempo a bit we shit the bed. And today we're shitting the bed again.
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Now you've done it.
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Great save
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When they break the attack with pace so directly. We don't seem to know how to handle it
It's what they're good at, at lot of teams have struggled with their fast breaks.
Got to say I'm impressed. There's none of the moving it side to side and slowing it down. Every pass seems to be an attacking pass forward.
I'm glad plenty of their chances have fallen to Williams though. Don't think he's got one on target yet.
I agree Forest are better than I thought they were
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Martinez booked for time wasting. Isn't that a guaranteed 10 mins added nowadays?
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Now entering "when we lost it at the City Ground" time. I'm shitting myself.
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When they break the attack with pace so directly. We don't seem to know how to handle it
It's what they're good at, at lot of teams have struggled with their fast breaks.
Got to say I'm impressed. There's none of the moving it side to side and slowing it down. Every pass seems to be an attacking pass forward.
I'm glad plenty of their chances have fallen to Williams though. Don't think he's got one on target yet.
I agree Forest are better than I thought they were
They're a one trick pony, good trick though.
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Rogers feet are magnetic
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They're pretty much us under Pubehead.
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They are a mouthy bunch
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Had the opportunities to kill this
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They're pretty much us under Pubehead.
Superb comparison
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Had the opportunities to kill this
So have they
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They're pretty much us under Pubehead.
Yep, that's exactly what they remind me off.
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4 added mins
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Had the opportunities to kill this
So have they
Indeed but they don’t have the quality up top today that we have
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They hit the bar
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Jesus fucking Christ my heart can't take this.
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Massive few moments in the season this
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Fucking hell!
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Had the opportunities to kill this
So have they
Not really, I can't think of a good chance for them since about 60 mins. We've let them roll the dice too many times but we've had easily the better chances.
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They hit the bar
I would too but have stupidly early start tomorrow
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Their gk is keeping them in it
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Lev Yashin in goal
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If we don't win this is have no idea how
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Their gk is keeping them in it
He has he’s a good keeper
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FT. Never in doubt.
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Come on PWS blow the whistle.
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Their gk is keeping them in it
He has he’s a good keeper
Certainly is
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Get in. Good warm up for Wednesday
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And lie down and monitor my heart rate go back to normal.
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Thank fuck for that
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Thank fuck for that
Amen to that brother!
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Jesus we got away with that . Running on fumes
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Jesus we got away with that . Running on fumes
And yet it was their keeper that had to make goal bound saves
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Jesus we got away with that . Running on fumes
We had 17 shots, 8 on target. It was hardly a fluke.
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Jesus we got away with that . Running on fumes
And yet it was their keeper that had to make goal bound saves
If a team had beaten us 2-1 and had 3-4 other good chances all the usual moaners would be talking about how shit we were ad deserved nothing, we do it to someone else and we were somehow lucky to get away with the points.
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Jesus we got away with that . Running on fumes
haha, nice one