Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on October 26, 2025, 12:46:59 PM
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Largely happy with that. Need to be so much better than midweek.
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Harvey Elliott doesn’t even make the match day squad.
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Elliot not even on the bench.
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Guessand on the bench. Or should that be beach.
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Really wanted to see Malen and Watkins up top again..
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Elliott not on the bench is bonkers.
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Harvey Elliott doesn’t even make the match day squad.
You said there was nothing to worry about on the other thread ;)
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More or less what I would have gone with.
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Harvey Elliott doesn’t even make the match day squad.
Not a huge shock. Barkley has been o.k as sub so he was always returning to the bench and we have Malen and Sancho as the two attacking options.
Hopefully Digne is fine as we will soon see if he's not 100% fit.
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Elliott not on the bench is bonkers.
We're a big club now, Liverpool reserves are Villa reserves too.
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It’s our best side. If he’s not injured, Elliott must be miles off it or has piped up and been left out as a result.
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I'd perfer Mings vs Haaland
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I think I’d have preferred to see Mings in because of the physicality of the cyborg.
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I think I’d have preferred to see Mings in because of the physicality of the cyborg.
Pau has done alright against Haaland in the last two VP games. Haaland dosen't cause Pau as many issues in duels and pressing as Mateta does.
Wouldn't be throwing Mings into this from the start when he's just been out for a month aswell.
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We’ve been Citeh twice at home the last two years with Pau starting.
I’m not sure trying to match Haaland physically actually works. We need to play our game.
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I think I’d have preferred to see Mings in because of the physicality of the cyborg.
Pau has done alright against Haaland in the last two VP games. Haaland dosen't cause Pau as many issues in duels and pressing as Mateta does.
Wouldn't be throwing Mings into this from the start when he's just been out for a month aswell.
And Pau has been excellent in making us play much better too.
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I think I’d have preferred to see Mings in because of the physicality of the cyborg.
Pau has done alright against Haaland in the last two VP games. Haaland dosen't cause Pau as many issues in duels and pressing as Mateta does.
Wouldn't be throwing Mings into this from the start when he's just been out for a month aswell.
And Pau has been excellent in making us play much better too.
Tielemans gave a passing masterclass v them last season at VP, won MOTM. He'll be a big miss today so hopefully Pau can pick his moments to tread balls through to Rogers when he drops deeper.
Think this also explains Buendia starting this as he can press and will also drop into the box midfield that tends to work well for us in these games.
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Harvey Elliott doesn’t even make the match day squad.
You said there was nothing to worry about on the other thread ;)
I did and there isn’t. In October with most of the season left to go and lots of games. Today hasn’t changed that. I’m just surprised he’s not on the bench.
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Harvey Elliott doesn’t even make the match day squad.
You said there was nothing to worry about on the other thread ;)
But who comes out?
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More or less what I would have gone with.
Same here, pleasantly surprised to see Digne starting.
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I'm feeling slightly uneasy about this one. They've got their mojo back, and Cro-Magnon Man is due a performance against us.
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Guessand on the bench. Or should that be beach.
Definitely the beach.
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I'm feeling slightly uneasy about this one. They've got their mojo back, and Cro-Magnon Man is due a performance against us.
Yes I fear this one.
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Football fan logic, he hasn't scored for ages so we know he'll score against us. They haven't won for ages so we know they'll beat us. Also fan logic, he's scored in 12 straight games so we know he'll score against us, they're on a good run so we know they'll beat us.
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It’s not an exaggeration to say we’ve played them off the pitch on their previous two visits to Villa Park.
More of the same today please.
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I would have gone with Lindelof, Barkley and Sancho and saved others for the more winnable Liverpool game specially as we have mighty MTA after that.
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Just thought “this match thread is deserted”.
Then realised the clocks have gone back.
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I would have gone with Lindelof, Barkley and Sancho and saved others for the more winnable Liverpool game specially as we have mighty MTA after that.
I feel like that isn't discussed enough.
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We have got to target their right hand side.
Oh and Foden always scores against us.
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Just thought “this match thread is deserted”.
Then realised the clocks have gone back.
Most people are busy returning their clocks and watches.
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To leave Elliot out of the squad altogether, after the debacle of the other night when he wasn't given a minute on the pitch, is bad management IMHO. Unless he's ill or injured of course.
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Lee Hendrie saying we've missed Ramsey and Bailey and that our fans have criticised Watkins. That's why we have started badly. Not sure any of those statements are true. Yes, we'd like Ollie to score more goals, but he still adds something to the team.
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I’m not sure I’ve ever heard Lee Hendrie say anything I’ve agreed with.
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Just thought “this match thread is deserted”.
Then realised the clocks have gone back.
completely forgot that until you posted haaa
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Any news on when Youri is back?
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I'd loff if no one sang after the announcer does that.
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Any news on when Youri is back?
march 2026
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Any news on when Youri is back?
In real weeks or Villa weeks?
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That Man City kit is…errr.
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onana with his normal half asleep start
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Cash struggling, getting little support.
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no one marking no 4
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Cash struggling, getting little support.
missing guessand :)
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onana with his normal half asleep start
He marks empty space and then does half arsed tackles.
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I’m not sure I’ve ever heard Lee Hendrie say anything I’ve agreed with.
He always says Villa are massive.
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Shaky start here. Can't get turned on ball and getting overran in middle. Diabolical run from Watkins early on top when Buendia broke.
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We're in passive/containing mode. It never works out well for us when we try this vs them. Our successes have come when we've been aggressive and on top of them.
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Feel like there are warning signs here.
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Giving the ball back to them at every opportunity isn’t the best of tactics.
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Feel like there are warning signs here.
Yep needs a tweak
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This feels like another game where our main aim is to get to HT 0-0.
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Any waterfalls please, the usual is arid today.
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It’s a victory of sorts that they didn’t score from their first shot. But I just hate it when we roll over like this and give them the all the possession. Why can’t we just take the game to them instead? A couple of seasons ago that win at home, goal by Leon was heralded as one of the best ever performances by us against anyone let alone this lot. Why have we stopped being that side?
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Not great.
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Feel like there are warning signs here.
Yep needs a tweak
Swapping Buendia and Rogers for one. Rogers not working hard enough
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This feels like another game where our main aim is to get to HT 0-0.
All our games are like that. That is our tactic.
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terrible pass cash
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onana with his normal half asleep start
Not sure why it's Onana's fault if somebody underhits a pass to him, but some people decide who they're going to slag off before kick-off.
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This feels like another game where our main aim is to get to HT 0-0.
miss the villa when we used to be aggressive from the start
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onana with his normal half asleep start
Not sure why it's Onana's fault if somebody underhits a pass to him, but some people decide who they're going to slag off before kick-off.
Well guessand is not available.
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Rogers looking more like his old self.
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Bit better
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When is Tielemans back?
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When is Tielemans back?
He's aiming for the 2038 World Cup.
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They said during the international break it’ll be another five weeks.
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Better again
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Decent chance if Ollie could have sorted his feet out.
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watkins poor there
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Buendia looking very lively.
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Watkins there, doing his thing.
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This is better.
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Corner for Villa, hopefully we don't concede from it.
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Clear corner, you cheating twat.
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Corner for Villa, hopefully we don't concede from it.
Thank fuck it wasn't a penalty.
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I don’t think we’re doing too badly at all.
I still wish that Ollie would just hit it sometimes without thinking about it though…
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buendia and rogers doing ok here
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1-0 Aston Villa. Cashy
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That’s a beauty of a goal.
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Matttyyyyyyyyyygoooollll
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cash the man
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Very nice
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1-0 Aston Villa. Cashy
Why did I think that this was a Man City goal and not ours???
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Well done Mr McPhee.
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onana with his normal half asleep start
Not sure why it's Onana's fault if somebody underhits a pass to him, but some people decide who they're going to slag off before kick-off.
Well guessand is not available.
I love guessand haaa
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Goal machine Matty Cash!
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Pick that out!
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Micky Oliver knows he fucked-up with the corner award, he'll try to think of anything to disallow it, or even it up later with a pen for the cyborg, just wait...
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GET IN!!!!
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Wow. He is in some form lately!
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Humble pie for lunch around here
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Cashback!!!!
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Yesss, it's Mattigol.
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Great goal.
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I’ve often wished I had a daughter so she could marry Matthew Cash.
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Micky Oliver knows he fucked-up with the corner award, he'll try to think of anything to disallow it, or even it up later with a pen for the cyborg, just wait...
He didnt fuck up it wsas clearly a corner
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The goal
https://x.com/topyersking/status/1982452281170612670
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Micky Oliver knows he fucked-up with the corner award, he'll try to think of anything to disallow it, or even it up later with a pen for the cyborg, just wait...
https://www.specsavers.co.uk/book/location
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Lovely stuff. Another 4 please Villa, because Foden and Haaland will score.
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Live footage of Eamonn
(https://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/george_costanza_squinting_seinfeld.gif)
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Micky Oliver knows he fucked-up with the corner award, he'll try to think of anything to disallow it, or even it up later with a pen for the cyborg, just wait...
https://www.specsavers.co.uk/book/location
I'm watching it on the radio and trusting to believe in Clinton Morrison's analysis. He couldn't possibly be anti-Villa.
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We've got our Rogers back. 🙂
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rogers is getting back
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He needs to knock that golf swing thing on the head.
Good goal though.
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Rogers continues to look more and more his old self
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He needs to knock that golf swing thing on the head.
Good goal though.
Promptly follows is up with a fuck up
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He needs to knock that golf swing thing on the head.
He can do it as often as he likes as far as I'm concerned so long as he keeps up the form
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Buendia down and in trouble
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5 goals against donnarummer last 6 mths
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Quite like them showing the other goals in play.
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just saw the same golf swing celebration at bournemth
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Please no Guessand. That will represent a huge drop-off in quality.
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Buendia is doing really well. Been a really good outlet on the left.
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Sancho on.
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Buendia off. That's a shame, he was playing well. Sancho on.
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Hinchcliffe ‘There wasn’t a city player near him’ Nunes was all over him! Twat
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shame,, buendia has looked great
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Stinks for Buendia. He was looking good today.
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Real blow need Sancho to step up.
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That’s a shame he was getting back to his best
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Close!
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I hope it’s nothing serious for Emi. He’s been looking excellent in the last few games
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Buendia been our best player so far
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Metatarsal injury there for Buendia?
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Nearly two.
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Got to feel for Emi. He was getting a lot of joy down that side.
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Hopefully just a minor knock and we see Emi back next season.
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shame,, buendia has looked great
Yep he has been really good today
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How many blatant fouls to stop us breaking is he going to let them make before he remembers his cards?
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SJM has to get that on target or lay it off to Rogers in acres of space.
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They can't handle the runs of Ollie causing loads of bother
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Get a bloody second.
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Quite like them showing the other goals in play.
especially if its against wolves
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I want a 3rd so as we go 6th.
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Quite like them showing the other goals in play.
especially if its against wolves
Indeed.
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I don’t care how many we score, just as long as we beat them
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Quite like them showing the other goals in play.
especially if its against wolves
Yes
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These are moaning twats.
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Get a bloody second.
Missed two great chances, McGinn and Ollie.
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That should be a booking. No attempt whatsoever to play the ball, and a reasonable chance of injuring the player.
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Played Onana, never doubted you.
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Finally a booking.
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Dirty fecker Savinho.
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That should be a booking. No attempt whatsoever to play the ball, and a reasonable chance of injuring the player.
. Reindjers has had a few of them today
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Half the Man City team should be in the book. The dirty cheating feckers
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Two City widemen likely to be hooked at half time.
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Come on Villa get another.
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I don’t think 1 goal will be enough, with all their bloody options.
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Martinez distribution surprisingly poor today
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Not sure how that's not a booking.
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Who's on cocomms on Sky because he's the most negative, pessimistic ****** I've ever heard. Is it Hinchcliffe?
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He needs to knock that golf swing thing on the head.
Good goal though.
I like Matty Cash. And golf. Fine by me!
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Cash can golf swing all he wants if he scores.
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Great first half. Just disappointed it's only one-nil.
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Dodgy start but were dominant after that.
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We're an Emery team today
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That’ll do.
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Good half
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Fuck off Micah
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Hopefully that was our bad half
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Think we've got more goals in us.
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Good half but we’ll need at least one more I suspect.
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Looked nervy for the first 10 but since that we've dominated them.
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Swingin' to the left and swingin' to the right
Think about Matty, I'll swing all night
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Who's on cocomms on Sky because he's the most negative, pessimistic ****** I've ever heard. Is it Hinchcliffe?
keeps going on about them having a penalty
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Best performance for a long while. Only shame is that we’re not more goals ahead.
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Really good half. He gets some stick, but Onana has bossed that midfield.
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Really good after a poor start. Likes of Konsa and Onana showing some much needed aggression in their respective performances. I think we have bullied them a bit, disappointed only one up. Ollie working hard but really doesn't look sharp in front of goal. Martinez distribution has been shite.
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Onnana's best half for us. Looks a 50m player for once.
Cash and Buendia also very good.
Can't fault any of them really.
Citeh had a great 10 mins and we have been better team since
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Only saw the last 20 but that looked as good as anything as the famous December 2023 1-0 win against them that we all cream ourselves over.
Think we needed a second though, while on top. Citeh are rarely kept scoreless and our only clean sheets have come in nil-nils so far this season.
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Other than the first 10 minutes, pretty comfortable.
Golf stars to Onana, Kamara and Cash.
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great half. took 15 mins to get going and then that was the villa we know . Shame about little Emi but Sancho has looked alright and Rogers getting back to his best. Just wish SJM had found Rogers instead of shooting for 2 0 .
everyone has been really decent with some great breaks at time but the ref letting them get away with too much .
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Micky Oliver knows he fucked-up with the corner award, he'll try to think of anything to disallow it, or even it up later with a pen for the cyborg, just wait...
He didnt fuck up it wsas clearly a corner
I meant that Citeh were claiming a free kick just before it which Guardiola was still arguing about when the corner was being taken and 5Live seemed to agree with them.
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Best half of the season. By some distance
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Oh good objective 'analysis' from Micah Richards.
Can whichever Village has been missing him, please reclaim him. It has been far too long.
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Up to 7th now. Hope we can build on this in the second half!
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Onnana's best half for us. Looks a 50m player for once.
Cash and Buendia also very good.
Can't fault any of them really.
Citeh had a great 10 mins and we have been better team since
Excellent first half, especially Onanna superb.
Above sums it up for me.
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Dodgy start but were dominant after that.
Agreed. Played some good stuff after the first 10 minutes or so.
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great half. took 15 mins to get going and then that was the villa we know . Shame about little Emi but Sancho has looked alright and Rogers getting back to his best. Just wish SJM had found Rogers instead of shooting for 2 0 .
everyone has been really decent with some great breaks at time but the ref letting them get away with too much .
McGinn was within his rights to have a shot there, fancied him to score.
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Onana has been excellent. Rogers looking like his normal self.
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I don’t expect the 2nd half to be an easy one.
Would love us to score an early 2nd as I think Man City will co at us in the 2nd half.
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It’s a victory of sorts that they didn’t score from their first shot. But I just hate it when we roll over like this and give them the all the possession. Why can’t we just take the game to them instead? A couple of seasons ago that win at home, goal by Leon was heralded as one of the best ever performances by us against anyone let alone this lot. Why have we stopped being that side?
Hoping we can maintain this form and win the game so I look a complete twat for doubting Unai at the start.
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I can only think Unai is fining them £10k a bad pass as our ball retention has been excellent. Add to that the one touch passing, we've kept Man City on the back foot. The fastest 45 minutes I can recall for a long time which is always a good sign. Just need Sancho not to slow it down, release the ball quicker and put in the shift of his life. Losing Little Emi is a massive loss as he knows what Unai wants and delivers.
Another goal or three please lads.
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I don’t expect the 2nd half to be an easy one.
Would love us to score an early 2nd as I think Man City will co at us in the 2nd half.
No it’ll be tough. The last time they didn’t score was 23rd August. They’ll almost certainly get a goal.
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Good thing is that we look much more menacing than them going forward. Citeh play is slow and methodical, allowing us to get into a good defensive shape.
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Guardiola trying to grease Oliver’s palm on the way out.
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A lot of empty seats at the Molineux. Evel Knievel or Torville and Dean must be opening a garden centre.
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great half. took 15 mins to get going and then that was the villa we know . Shame about little Emi but Sancho has looked alright and Rogers getting back to his best. Just wish SJM had found Rogers instead of shooting for 2 0 .
everyone has been really decent with some great breaks at time but the ref letting them get away with too much .
McGinn was within his rights to have a shot there, fancied him to score.
It was heading on target before taking a slight deflection off the man city defender.
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Not sure why players don't always grab their head when they go down injured.
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was a foul on ollie
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Onana has a hurty head
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onana did good there
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Ref not giving us anything.
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Another good McPhee effort
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Reindeer booked
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Another booking, just means they'll probably take him off.
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Better decision from the ref, they get away with too many like that.
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Need another goal.
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That should've been Reinders second booking.
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Reindeer booked
Ho ho ho
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Onana’s having a blinder.
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I love the way we always try and play out however some times we just make far too many of our own problems.
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Four subs coming on for them.
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Magnificent from Pau
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Yikes.
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What a clearance by Pau
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VAR check
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Check over
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The Velvet Underground are coming on.
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Need to get a grip on this.
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I was a bit scared then.
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If we continue to sit back they’ll score.
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Onana’s having a blinder.
I think we've seems bits of this from him quite often but today he seems totally on his game and everything is coming together.
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Doku always worries me
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How did Pau keep that out?
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I was a bit scared then.
Person up for goodness sake.
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Cash rarely puts those ones back out for a corner. Put it out to edge of box and you are asking for trouble. Lucky escape.
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They're turning the screw a bit now. Let's see what Unai does to counterit
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We defo need another. Their squad depth is ludicrous.
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Really good from Rogers there with the cross.
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We defo need another. Their squad depth is ludicrous.
It’s amazing what flaunting and not caring about the 115 PSR charges will do a squad depth.
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Niko booking
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These are cynical twats.
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I can see a Dennis Tuaeart equaliser here.
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Pau clearance
https://x.com/SkySportsPL/status/1982467909357092946
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Cynical rotational fouling is how they defend, fair play to Oliver for giving them a couple of bookings for it.
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Sancho needs to pass the ball to Digne instead of hanging on to it and waiting. He’s slowing Digne’s crossing down
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I was a bit scared then.
Person up for goodness sake.
Yes but you'll be saying that you feel physically sick in the next 20 minutes.
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Sancho is contributing absolutely nothing.
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Sancho is contributing absolutely nothing.
Agreed, Id nearly hook him.
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I'd get Harvey on for Sancho
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I'd get Harvey on for Sancho
He's already on. Is it just me that can see Harvey?
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Sancho is contributing absolutely nothing.
He is, he’s slowing things down
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I was a bit scared then.
Person up for goodness sake.
I nearly personed my lunch up.
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I’m feeling quite tense now.
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Nearly.
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Good from Sancho as I predicted
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How is there still so long left ffs.
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Ross getting ready
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Getting a bit deep, here.
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McGinn making it a back 5, which is nice
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Too deep.
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Evanny also getting ready
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SJM and Sancho off
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Sancho off just as he started looking good. McGinn off because them's the rules.
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100% Sancho should come off. Bottled the last 3 tackles and showing as much fight as Bailey did.
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Sancho off just as he started looking good. McGinn off because them's the rules.
Emery is a fan of the sub on/sub off move.
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Sancho doesn’t look chuffed.
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That was pish, Ollie.
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Sancho off just as he started looking good. McGinn off because them's the rules.
Emery is a fan of the sub on/sub off move.
He's a bit like Mr. Miyagi.
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Ollie being very Watkins there.
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There he is.
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ollie should have won it there
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There he is.
Haha
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That was pish, Ollie.
Brutal...lively start from Barkley
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Ollie has done well today.
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ollie should have won it there
How? He's at full stretch, it's good goalkeeping for Donnarumma in timing his run out from goal.
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Ollie has done well today.
Off the ball, there’s no one better.
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To be fair to Ollie there was just a bit too much pace on the pass
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Ollie has done well today.
He has, should have scored though.
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Not sure I'd blame Watkins for that, just couldn't quite get to it.
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Fuck off ref
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Fuck off ref
+1.
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Sancho doesn’t look chuffed.
He's a bit of a clown.
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Nico Gonzalez has committed about a billion fouls since coming on. The next one should see him off.
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this fcukin ref
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Dirty twat Foden
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Well done Ross and Guessand.
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And well done Evanny
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Donny and Iany coming on
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Fuck me that is a shocking decision.
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Onana would get double figures in headers of he could attach them as well as he defends them
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onana looks 50 million
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That's it Evan, bully the little runt
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That's not just a foul by Foden, it's borderline sexual assault.
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Onana MOTM for me
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It his his head you fucking idiot commentator.
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Onana MOTM for me
He’s been all over the place and that last defensive header exemplified his overall performance today. Put his body on the line.
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Maatsen? No, he's dozy as fcuk
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Not so much a header as a "facer". Brave lad.
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5 to go of the 90
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Ollie and Digne off
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5 to go of the 90
This game isn’t helping my horrible hungover stomach pain
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Think Malen just ran offside and it distracted Barkley.
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Shit control from Rossy
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Shit control from Rossy
Brilliant from Guessand before that though.
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Nice strength amd skillz from Guessand
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Come on Villa!!!
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He can't play on like that.
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Offside
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Haaland scores, but offside.
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VAR confirms
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Crikey.
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Phew
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Bloody hell. The sphincter is quivering like a cold penguin. 5p. 50p
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6 added mins
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6 mins. Could be better could be worse.
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Hopefully six actual minutes not six Liverpool minutes.
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Disallowed and Haaland has a damaged piston.
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Fuck me that was a close shave.
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6 added mins
Grooooan.
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Disallowed and Haaland has a damaged piston.
Jokes aside. That is painful and has made me wince
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Onana MOTM.
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Phew
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Booby nearly costs us
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Onana MOTM.
Agreed, and Guessand and Barkley have been immense off the bench.
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Onana MOTM.
Agreed, and Guessand and Barkley have been immense off the bench.
Yep.
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kamara please dont do that
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I am actually hating this. And my stream is lagging too
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Onana MOTM.
Well deserved too
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Last minute
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Blow the final whistle ref
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Pressing refresh like it’s some really bad nervous tick
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And relax.
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Pressing refresh like it’s some really bad nervous tick
Yep I'm with you mate
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I feel like I've spent half my life shitting myself and desperate to hear the final whistle.
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That’ll do
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I have to say that beating Man City at Villa Park is becoming a routine
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Fucking superb
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Job done!
Three home wins in a row over Citeh.
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Top performance, now for Liverpool!
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I have to say that beating Man City at Villa Park is becoming a routine
How good is that.
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What a fcukin win! Best performance in a long time…well done players and staff! Awesome!
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And relax.
My second favourite post after scorchio (posted in lower case to avoid misunderstanding).