Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on November 30, 2025, 04:04:26 PM
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Never in doubt.
3rd and the only side to win every league game after a European tie this season.
p.s.
Come on Arsenal!
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Somehow 3rd
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Easy work.
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That's the difference with this era, we dig out good wins.
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Good win.
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Ugly win, but it’s a win.
Martinez great.
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Reminded me of those dour derby games against them in the 70s. Little of note with a class goal this time.
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3 points, job done. Might need to play better in the next two games.
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Big win.
Poor performance.
Rogers terrible today.
McGinn excellent.
Sancho...dreadful cameo.
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3 points, objective met.
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(https://i.ibb.co/Y7CSjZTc/IMG-8459.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Y7CSjZTc)
Mental after the start we made to the season and generally that we’ve not been overly convincing.
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Wolves - Villa Park See You In the Thirties
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Wolverhampton will focus on the fact that Martinez had to pull off some good saves,no problem with that but you can see why they have only 2 points
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Yep, last time we'll have to host them for a while. Mind the gap, dickheads.
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Don't bother watching MOTD tonight
Running order
Chelsea v Arse
Yanited revival
Billy Bonds memorial game/Liverpool back on track
Dyche touch deserts him
Yesterday's goals
Credits roll - our result pops up.
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SJM. Absolutely unplayable today. At his best. Martinez too. Kamara was quality. A few of them had stinkers (Buendia, Rogers, even YT was a bit off it).
Watkins again looked truly off the pace when he came on. We need a new CF in January of we’re going to stay in the top 4.
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I don't blame them.
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Oh and, hahahahaha Wolves. You played quite well in a very limited way and still didn’t win you absolute clowns.
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Last season we were dropping points for these sort of matches. We found a way today.
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Great win, great goal, world class save, McGinn brilliant, everything else pretty average to shit.
Let's cut straight to highlights from the Liverpool game and talk about them in the title race.
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As somebody that lived in Wolverhampton for the best part of 40 years, I dont care how we win this one as long as we do.
It did nothing for my system after staying awake after the nightshift though.
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Always a slog against them, but got it done.
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The result was all important. But it was a poor performance, even taking into account the fact that Wolves defended deep and in numbers.
Martinez man of the match, for me (that’s a few in recent games, now).
Great strike from Bouba, but he was slightly under par today (again, not for the first time in recent games).
McGinn got us going, eventually.
Onana was strong when he came on, and Ollie’s energy was welcome.
Buendia was wasteful and did not keep the ball moving enough.
Felt sorry for Sancho, all of the decisions he made were the wrong ones, and in such a short space of time. It was embarrassingly bad.
Everyone else average.
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Mind the chasm you dingle bastards
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Goal and save deserved to win the game. SJM was… super. Not much else to say.
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We had an off day but still won.
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The co-commentator mentioned a rift between Ollie and Emery. That’s the first I’ve heard? If anything I’d say Emery has kept him in the side longer than he’s needed too. He’s been way off form, but he generally plays him.
In hindsight, this was a game more suited to Ollie than Malen. They packed their own box and it was extremely tough messy derby.
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Can't wait for Harry's song.
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Can't wait for Harry's song.
Not Harry Lauder I hope.
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I do think today reemphasised that Don, as good as he’s been, is not a lone striker in the Premier League.
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McGinn brilliant today. Martinez 1 extraordinary save and 2 very good (i.e regulation for him) saves too.
Kamara, Cash, Konsa and Pau all adequate. And Amadou and Bogarde when he came one.
Rest were well below par in my opinion. Defo should have worked Johnstone more.
The knuckle dragging obsese hunchbacks can go back to the Chumpionship.
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Another one and another 3 points pocketed
https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1329227152550023
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Apparently we are "the luckiest team ever"...
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The definition of winning ugly - apart from the goal which was a thing of beauty. We just had too much quality. And McGinn, who's like having an extra man when he's on it like he was today.
Nice to finish November on a high. December looks like being a right bastard.
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Apparently we are "the luckiest team ever"...
Moral victories will keep them warm when they break Derbys record.
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The definition of winning ugly - apart from the goal which was a thing of beauty. We just had too much quality. And McGinn, who's like having an extra man when he's on it like he was today.
The ugliest win since Matthew Vaughn married Claudia Schiffer.
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I can’t envision watching highlights on repeat like I usually do all day Monday after a Villa win.
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It was hard work but I had a feeling it was going to be. Buendia was a bit off it and it was no surprise when he went off. Martinez was just immense. The one save was ridiculous.
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Did anyone see the ref discussing the red card that should have happened with McGinn? McGinn is doing the two footed action and the ref repeats the foul to McGinn but does it with one foot. He watched it replayed several times, how can he be that fucking blind?
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SJM. Absolutely unplayable today. At his best. Martinez too. Kamara was quality. A few of them had stinkers (Buendia, Rogers, even YT was a bit off it).
Watkins again looked truly off the pace when he came on. We need a new CF in January of we’re going to stay in the top 4.
Pretty much nailed it though despite being the stand out player, I've seen SJM have even better games. 8/10 for me.
Emi Martinez a 7.5/10, 7 for Kamara, Konsa a 6.5, Pau and Malen a 6, the rest 4/10 with the exception of Rogers who I don't think completed a pass and Sancho who really shouldn't even be here 3/10.
Agree we need a new centre forward. Watkins really looks like he'd benefit from a move. It's just not working out for him now and sometimes a move is a good as a rest and he looks completely knackered both physically and mentally.
All that said, we're up to third. Let's stay there or heaven forbid, push on.
As for Wolves, they gave their best but sometimes or most of the time as they're finding out this season, your best just isn't good enough. As Leeds found out last weekend, playing like cloggers comes with consequences and those yellow cards must be adding up. What was it the General said about 'rolling around with pigs'? Fortunately we resisted the temptation to play to their rules.
Onwards and upwards.
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I see it's moral victory o'clock in Wolverhampton. What a shame for them.
Great goal by Kamara. Martinez and McGinn, Sancho... less so.
The referee was a twat, they were animals and they should have finished with nine men. Play like that against Man U next week and the referee will have abandoned the game by half-time.
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Thought occurred to me that Strand Laursen could do a job for us. Having resisted the Jaudis this summer, can't see them being able to keep hold of him in January. What's the going rate?
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I'd imagine there will be a relegation clause and he will go in the summer.
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Thought occurred to me that Strand Laursen could do a job for us. Having resisted the Jaudis this summer, can't see them being able to keep hold of him in January. What's the going rate?
The Dingles paid €30m for him, 14 goals last season in 35 games.
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Think the Jaudis were bidding £60m-odd. Which is too much. But he was involved in two actions today that reminded me of what we're missing up front.
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Thought occurred to me that Strand Laursen could do a job for us. Having resisted the Jaudis this summer, can't see them being able to keep hold of him in January. What's the going rate?
I really like him as well.
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SJM will sleep good tonight. Winning ugly is the sign of a top 4 team and something we are getting better at.
Youri, Morgan and lil Emi were not at their best, but SJM was imperious. I'm surprised we didn't bring on Maatsen at HT as Digne's lack of speed was a problem.
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Just did enough again. But, that's enough.
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We did enough, that's always good for the Manager so it's good enough for me.
The ref was all over the place, for both teams but helping the Wolfs player up was really a bit off.
Tielemans and Bundia can't play in the same side, SJM was magnificent and Emi did what he does.
Next!
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Thought occurred to me that Strand Laursen could do a job for us. Having resisted the Jaudis this summer, can't see them being able to keep hold of him in January. What's the going rate?
I really like him as well.
Agreed, he would be a very good acquisition if we could get him.
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Plus plus plus: clean sheet!
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That challenge from Torres was top class.
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We did just about enough against a team out to bully and be physical.
You can only beat whats in front of you, and we beat the PL's biggest shitstain.
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It’s been a long time since I shouted myself hoarse at a game.
I did today, mainly because the ref was an incompetent twat.
Another hard fought, scrappy win.
I’ll take it, happily.
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Watched at home. Ref was shit. Happy if current game stays as it is, means the League is in our hands.
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On refereeing decisions I didnt understand,,why didn’t Gomes get a yellow for picking the ball up and stopping play? That would have been his second I think. Ref just gives a free kick
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Scrappy as hell but we’ll take it, the ref didn’t help matters, he had a ‘mare.
SJM and EMI1 awesome. Jadon Sancho just WTF!
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That challenge from Torres was top class.
Don't forget though, he can't defend, is too weak and isn't a Premier League player.
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that ends up 1-1 or 0-0 under Smith or Gerrard - so bank the win happily :)
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Ginny and his arse were completely unplayable today, just brilliant.
Tielemans - had one of those 90% games he chucks in every now and again, rather than his usual 95-100%
Rogers was very in and out.
A wonderful goal from Bouba who played well again.
It seemed that Buendia went back to the player of old.
And Sancho did himself no favours in his cameo.
I must say that Cash, who is a long way from being my favourite, had a very good game again. Second half in particular he was immense.
A couple of things still grind my gears.
Players holding onto the ball longer than they need to. If you beat a player once or twice, you don’t need to go a try and beat the same player again.
If you get tackled and end up on the ground and are not hurt, get the fuck up and get on with it.
Don’t stay down with your hands held wide waiting for a free kick that isn’t coming.
Get up and help your teammates.
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Scrappy as hell but we’ll take it, the ref didn’t help matters, he had a ‘mare.
SJM and EMI1 awesome. Jadon Sancho just WTF!
Sancho put in one of the worst sub appearances that I can remember.
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A couple of things still grind my gears.
Players holding onto the ball longer than they need to. If you beat a player once or twice, you don’t need to go a try and beat the same player again.
If you get tackled and end up on the ground and are not hurt, get the fuck up and get on with it.
Don’t stay down with your hands held wide waiting for a free kick that isn’t coming.
Get up and help your teammates.
Totally agree!
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Not quite marlon harewood standards, but it was pretty bad.
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So tell me the difference between Caicedo's red and Arias's yellow?
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One observation on Sancho's clearance. There's a time, not so long ago, we'd have all been screaming at him to knock it. Now we groan when we don't take it down and play it about. We have truly been Emeryed.
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Scrappy as hell but we’ll take it, the ref didn’t help matters, he had a ‘mare.
SJM and EMI1 awesome. Jadon Sancho just WTF!
Sancho put in one of the worst sub appearances that I can remember.
I agree. He’s lucky it finished 1-0. There were at least 2 or 3 times he lost the ball and shit out of challenges. He is a luxury player who, if not contributing luxury, is a bit of a waste of space. He is definitely talented, but seems to have the heart of a kitten.
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We still to be better at producing more “straightforward” chances. We really don’t make many and it could easily have cost us today. Obviously the run is great, but next few games are really tough. A few bundled in goals wouldn’t go amiss.
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Wolves are very us in 15/16. Play well and still get done. Play well and they hit a thundercunt and their keeper has a blinder. And as fans you cling to every positive as you need to and even though you know you're utter shit you keep taking those positives and telling yourself just a couple of wins gives you a chance. But the wins rarely come and by late Feb you're checking away allocations at Championship grounds.
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Don't bother watching MOTD tonight
Running order
Chelsea v Arse
Yanited revival
Billy Bonds memorial game/Liverpool back on track
Dyche touch deserts him
Yesterday's goals
Credits roll - our result pops up.
Seems fair. We're boring to watch.
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We miss Jack in his pomp and also Leon 22/23. Badly need a similar player
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Ginny and his arse were completely unplayable today, just brilliant.
Tielemans - had one of those 90% games he chucks in every now and again, rather than his usual 95-100%
Rogers was very in and out.
A wonderful goal from Bouba who played well again.
It seemed that Buendia went back to the player of old.
And Sancho did himself no favours in his cameo.
I must say that Cash, who is a long way from being my favourite, had a very good game again. Second half in particular he was immense.
A couple of things still grind my gears.
Players holding onto the ball longer than they need to. If you beat a player once or twice, you don’t need to go a try and beat the same player again.
If you get tackled and end up on the ground and are not hurt, get the fuck up and get on with it.
Don’t stay down with your hands held wide waiting for a free kick that isn’t coming.
Get up and help your teammates.
Or the Wolves option: roll around clutching your head and the ref stops play.
A hard fought win but I’ll take it. Martinez and McGinn the only top performers for me, althoughKamara’s goal was class. Genuinely don’t know he had that in him.
Otherwise a selection of average performances. Buendia played awful passes in dangerous positions in the first half and Roger’s seemed to struggle with his passing too. Ollie helped with the press and when he was alongside Malen we probably had our best spell.
Sancho makes me angry just typing his name.
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Thought occurred to me that Strand Laursen could do a job for us. Having resisted the Jaudis this summer, can't see them being able to keep hold of him in January. What's the going rate?
I really like him as well.
Agreed, he would be a very good acquisition if we could get him.
Am I missing something.
Has scored 1 goal this season. And that was from the penalty spot.
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I think against a stronger team we could have lost playing as we did, but maybe an element of complacency set in. We hardly bothered trying to press them for much of the first half which just wasted a lot of time where nothing happened and no momentum could be built.
Our approach lacked intensity, but McGinn was great and the defence was generally solid.
Andre was the only player that stood out for them. I'm not sure he's done much this season, so maybe it's not a coincidence if he's trying to up his game with Man U apparently interested in signing him in January.
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We miss Jack in his pomp and also Leon 22/23. Badly need a similar player
Good shout that.
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Thought occurred to me that Strand Laursen could do a job for us. Having resisted the Jaudis this summer, can't see them being able to keep hold of him in January. What's the going rate?
I really like him as well.
Agreed, he would be a very good acquisition if we could get him.
Am I missing something.
Has scored 1 goal this season. And that was from the penalty spot.
This is me too. Was thinking during the game how lucky the Saudis got getting Woltemade instead. Miles better.
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Niggly, scrappy game but got the win. .Great goal by Kamara and remarkable save by Martinez in.the 1st half. We give the ball away too cheaply far too often and it limits the number of chances we can create.
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https://youtu.be/ohHToKw7yjI?si=SCzTdoDoulef0ORc
3:40 "Villa's not our main rivals, its always been Albion, I quite like Villa".
When Uncle Jorge rode into town these ****** spunked there pants quicker than anything to manufacture a rivalry with us. Now they're back on their way to a decade plus in the lower Leagues with a squad of players that even the most die hard Wolves fans wouldn't recognise if they walked past them in the Mander Center, and all of a sudden the 'rivalry' is brushed under the carpet as if it never happened. Monumental bell ends.
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Thought occurred to me that Strand Laursen could do a job for us. Having resisted the Jaudis this summer, can't see them being able to keep hold of him in January. What's the going rate?
I really like him as well.
Agreed, he would be a very good acquisition if we could get him.
Am I missing something.
Has scored 1 goal this season. And that was from the penalty spot.
Yes, saw that too. Think he’s been out injured though. Plus, you wouldn’t expect to be scoring much in that team.
But you may be right. I was just basing it on what I saw from him today, really.
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https://youtu.be/ohHToKw7yjI?si=SCzTdoDoulef0ORc
3:40 "Villa's not our main rivals, its always been Albion, I quite like Villa".
When Uncle Jorge rode into town these ****** spunked there pants quicker than anything to manufacture a rivalry with us. Now they're back on their way to a decade plus in the lower Leagues with a squad of players that even the most die hard Wolves fans wouldn't recognise if they walked past them in the Mander Center, and all of a sudden the 'rivalry' is brushed under the carpet as if it never happened. Monumental bell ends.
I have walked past Stevie Bull in the Mander Centre in the past.
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It’s amazing how Unai manages to orchestrate wins when none of our likely goal scorers are playing that well. The worry is we can’t keep conjuring up super strikes to win games. Wolves played well and were unlucky to lose, they seem to dramatically up their game when playing us. They were getting away with far too many fouls though.
As others have said, Mcginn and big Emi were great, Sancho was truly awful.
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It’s not a bad place to be when our collective biggest worry seems to be we’re scoring too many screamers.
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Laursen took Sancho’s shirt after the game (presumably wanted one that had no danger of sweat being on it) the camera caught him talking to Martinez briefly at the end and it looked like he said “keep it and join us”.
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Tough game, Wolves were really physical and we got dragged into a scrap for large parts of the game. Still we found a way, which is what good teams do.
As others have said, McGinn was man of the match by a mike I thought, Martinez double save onto the bar then to flick it away was incredible. Torres and Cash were also really good I thought and Bogarde did well off the bench.
Big week coming up.
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I’ve had such a wonderful day thanks to my beloved Aston Villa football club. I’m buzzing and here is why interspersed with personal stuff:
First game for a very long time with my younger son and we really bonded more.
Managed to get a lucky parking spot near the ground;
Saw a van which licence plate on the way in ended ‘SJM’. Thought that must be a sign!
Browsed around the club shop and picked up a coffee mug, get to the front of the queue and an advert pops up on the counter £50 for a home shirt with McGinn 7 - today only. Mama Mia! Raced back round and picked it up.
That McGinn Tifo nearly brought a tear to my eye. What a servant for the club he’s been.
We huffed and puffed and fluffed so many final balls. However !
That goal from the Rolls Royce was worthy to win any match. Oh how I celebrated with the other fans around me.
Pre-Covid in the dingles promotion year and their subsequent Prem return, I had to endure daily drives home with the football phone in on WM and my goodness the wankfest and posturing and the mind the gap bollucks was vomit inducing.
One particular specimen used one of his 6 fingers to dial in to scold Franksie that villa hadn’t given them their entitled allocation of tickets. How many did they give to villa (silence).
How is that meaningful gap now Dingles?
Celebrated the win with a mixed grill. Ah the beauty of a home win.
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It’s not a bad place to be when our collective biggest worry seems to be we’re scoring too many screamers.
Very true, but we’re not scoring simple goals. They’re very important.
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The three points and win was crucial. However it is difficult to see our position in the top 5 as sustainable without more of our forward players gaining some form. Pre match was outside the main entrance to the Trinity with some others from the Bournemouth Lions. We had a long chat with Shaun Teale who was outside having a vape!. It was great to catch up on his Bournemouth and Villa memories.
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Scoring too many goals is so 23/24. I quite enjoyed beating them 1-0. It was proper scrappy and niggly like any localish derbyish game should be.
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I might be wrong, but I think the lack of intensity in games at times is entirely intentional. I think Emery is taking a calculated risk by trying to win games whilst playing well within ourselves for periods during games. As in previous years, he wants to finish the season strongly.
Today, had we pressed with more urgency and moved the ball quicker, and we might have won comfortably by 3 or 4, but then come up short against Brighton on Wednesday and Arsenal on Saturday.
It worked on Thursday night and worked today. It didn't work against Go Ahead Eagles. It is a calculated risk as it is not always easy to increase the intensity or have success moving the ball quicker - which is why SJM staying on for the full 90 minutes and the injection of energy from Watkins were key today. UTV
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Russ is of course correct. Our languid continental style can be frustrating but is designed to see us competitive with teams with deeper squads at the pointy end of the season.
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For the "t'aint fairers", the BBC are trying to state the challenge on Gomes came thirteen seconds before we scored. Fuck off. 40 seconds afterwards more like.
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A hard fought victory with a great goal by Kamara who up until that point had been sluggish. I thought Rogers had a poor game, he is so sloppy at times, in fact I think that’s him, do something brilliant which everyone remembers and for the rest of the game be wasteful or worse, a liability.
Wolves were decent without having any end product the Martinez saves aside. They won’t, but I hope they find some form to make a good fight to stay up.
McGinn was easily player of the match, he’s so good followed by Martinez.
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We scraped it with one moment of class in a dire match not helped by a useless referee.
3 players did well Konsa Martinez and MOM SJM ,he was magnificent.
Rogers and Buendia looked well off the pace and both guilty of poor decision making.Digne had another tough afternoon, Tielemens probably feeling the effects of several weeks out. Watkins looks completely shot but WTF Jaydon Sancho , I do not think I have ever seen a player so scared of physical contact. We are paying the waste of space tens of thousands a week to do fuck all.
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I might be wrong, but I think the lack of intensity in games uat times is entirely intentional. I think Emery is taking a calculated risk by trying to win games whilst playing well within ourselves for periods during games. As in previous years, he wants to finish the season strongly.
Today, had we pressed with more urgency and moved the ball quicker, and we might have won comfortably by 3 or 4, but then come up short against Brighton on Wednesday and Arsenal on Saturday.
It worked on Thursday night and worked today. It didn't work against Go Ahead Eagles. It is a calculated risk as it is not always easy to increase the intensity or have success moving the ball quicker - which is why SJM staying on for the full 90 minutes and the injection of energy from Watkins were key today. UTV
Thats a really good summary and for what its worth I would concur.
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We scraped it with one moment of class in a dire match not helped by a useless referee.
3 players did well Konsa Martinez and MOM SJM ,he was magnificent.
Rogers and Buendia looked well off the pace and both guilty of poor decision making.Digne had another tough afternoon, Tielemens probably feeling the effects of several weeks out. Watkins looks completely shot but WTF Jaydon Sancho , I do not think I have ever seen a player so scared of physical contact. We are paying the waste of space tens of thousands a week to do fuck all.
about right.
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Well it wasn't a classic was it, we seemed always in control but lacked any kind of fluidity in the final third and created little with many players off the pace, they came to scrap for a point and nearly got it. With Rogers and Buendia out of sorts we lack a bit of sparkle with McGinns strength seeming the most likely way of making chances.
If they were just a little bit more ambitious in getting forward they might have won more set pieces and caused us even more problems.
Their no9 worked his socks off and bulldozed his way to a few chances but for that kind of money, surely we can find someone who does all that and has a little finesse and speed?
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I might be wrong, but I think the lack of intensity in games at times is entirely intentional. I think Emery is taking a calculated risk by trying to win games whilst playing well within ourselves for periods during games. As in previous years, he wants to finish the season strongly.
Today, had we pressed with more urgency and moved the ball quicker, and we might have won comfortably by 3 or 4, but then come up short against Brighton on Wednesday and Arsenal on Saturday.
It worked on Thursday night and worked today. It didn't work against Go Ahead Eagles. It is a calculated risk as it is not always easy to increase the intensity or have success moving the ball quicker - which is why SJM staying on for the full 90 minutes and the injection of energy from Watkins were key today. UTV
Today reminded me of us beating Southampton 1-0 about this time last season. A poor game won by individual skill and one we could've pushed to score more but were just happy to sit on a 1-0.
It was frustrating to watch but Brighton and Arsenal will be two intense games in quick succession so it felt a bit like us putting in a terrible performance at Go Ahead Eagles with more minds on the Man. City game.
On the flip side it's not just home games against relegation fodder where we try to win doing the bare minimum physically for large parts of a game. We also do it in first halves of FA Cup SFs and final games of the season which decide CL so those are performances which leaves month of regret.
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Pre match was outside the main entrance to the Trinity with some others from the Bournemouth Lions. We had a long chat with Shaun Teale who was outside having a vape!. It was great to catch up on his Bournemouth and Villa memories.
Hope he made his allegiances clear and that he wasn't vaping a cherry-flavoured one.
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We really struggle with sides who pack their defence, as said before Grealish would be ideal for those situations. Midfield too often passing between themselves at times it looked like a practice match. Buendia needs to maintain his better form he was inefective today and Sancho did himself no favours. I get the impression from the last few games that we really need to get new players in if we are to challenge for a top four spot. Oh McGinn brilliant.
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The definition of winning ugly - apart from the goal which was a thing of beauty. We just had too much quality. And McGinn, who's like having an extra man when he's on it like he was today.
The ugliest win since Matthew Vaughn married Claudia Schiffer.
Claudia did improve aesthetically after her trip to Turkey.
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Sancho …. What an absolute turd he is. I was watching this with my Makem friend and one stage even he loudly uttered WTF after a gutless challenge by our loathsome loanee
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I do think today reemphasised that Don, as good as he’s been, is not a lone striker in the Premier League.
He was up against three big centre backs in a low block defence.
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Did what we needed to do. They were overly physical, and we tried not to get involved so no injuries. Sancho seems to be a leader.
Ugly game but a lot of our focus and priority this week falls on Wednesday and Saturday.
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Sancho a leader? That’s an odd take Drummond!!
They did try and turn it into a scrap.
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Wolves are very us in 15/16. Play well and still get done. Play well and they hit a thundercunt and their keeper has a blinder. And as fans you cling to every positive as you need to and even though you know you're utter shit you keep taking those positives and telling yourself just a couple of wins gives you a chance. But the wins rarely come and by late Feb you're checking away allocations at Championship grounds.
This - i thought the same as i was watching Wolves playing.
I can remember us being the plucky underdogs and having the moral victory even when losing against the Man Citys and Chelseas, and deciding that losing one nil is better than being hammered, while the team that takes the 3 points just disappear out of sight up the league.
I'm so glad we're not that team anymore - and to all the mouthy Dingles from a few years ago - mind the gap now you pricks. Enjoy the 2nd division with Blues and West Brom.
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Sancho a leader? That’s an odd take Drummond!!
They did try and turn it into a scrap.
I think he meant Fanny dancing bottle merchant.
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Well I keep saying we can't keep scoring screamers to win games. Then we keep scoring screamers to win games. That's Man City, Tottenham, Leeds and Wolves in this run - all winners from outside the box. Plus the goals to put us ahead against Bournemouth and Fulham.
Is it a conscious change in tactic? Unai has always played the percentages and appeared to consider long range shooting 'high risk' prior to this season. But they only ever follow orders so I wonder if the coaching staff have worked on this as another means of breaking down deep defences. It'd still be nice to score a few more tap-ins.
Also re Wolves, I'm not the statto I was when I was a kid but other than the goalkeeper and centre forward, I couldn't tell you anything about any of their players nor recognise them from a picture. I've no idea if they've spent big money on any of them or not. They were physical, niggly and at times played some nice enough football in places which didn't hurt us. You'd expect them to have more than 2 points based on yesterday.
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Wolfs always seen to get under our skin and yesterday was no different but we can now win the games rather than fold to these annoying sides, apart from Palace obvs.
On a side note, we caught the shuckle buz back from the game yesterday for the 2nd game in a row and it has improved greatly. Instead of waiting an age to get onto the Lichfield Road, they have done something with the route/traffic and it only took 20 mins to get back into Town.
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Not a sliding doors moment as such, but the last weekend in Sept in gameweek 6, we were heading bottom of the league with 2 points as Wolves were going to get three on the Saturday match. Then they conceded with the last kick of the game. We then beat Fulham and didn't look back. There is now 22 points between us rather then 1.
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Wolves do work hard chasing down continually. My favourite moment from the game yesterday the goal apart was one of their corners which we cleared that had McGinn running with the ball at his feet surrounded by 3 or 4 of them snapping at his leges like a pack of er… Wolves!
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That was a tough watch, Wolves were well organised and were the better team before we got the goal, but we got the win, despite a lot of players being under par. I couldn't understand, why Rogers didn't take the free kick at the end, instead of giving it to Digne, who I'm pretty sure hasn't scored a free kick for us in nearly 4 years he's being with us.
This month will be a tough one for us, starting with Brighton, if we're still in the top 4, come New Years Day, I will be a happy man, if a tad surprised.
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Not a sliding doors moment as such, but the last weekend in Sept in gameweek 6, we were heading bottom of the league with 2 points as Wolves were going to get three on the Saturday match. Then they conceded with the last kick of the game. We then beat Fulham and didn't look back. There is now 22 points between us rather then 1.
Yes remember that and when Jiminez scored there was an eerie silence at Villa Park till the equaliser.
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Sancho a leader? That’s an odd take Drummond!!
I think Drummond meant a loader as in loading his bank account.
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It aye fair
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Was surprised Digne didn't go off at half-time as their winger seemed to have the beating of him. Not sure what we/they changed but didn't cause us nearly so many problems in the second half.
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I couldn't understand, why Rogers didn't take the free kick at the end, instead of giving it to Digne, who I'm pretty sure hasn't scored a free kick for us in nearly 4 years he's being with us.
It was possibly too far out for one of Rogers/Emi's 'knuckball' efforts. I think Digne scored a free kick in UE's first game didn't he? On the back of some second hand insider info from Austin McPhee, I spent a season backing Digne as a goalscorer, didn't win a bean. Apparently he's fantastic at them in training.
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It aye fair
Grey goatee bloke was a proper salty twat. We don't need to be brilliant every week we just pocket the points with a worldie again. Jog on and cry in your faggits and paze.
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We had more points than Wolves have now after one game in 15/16!
I think they'll win a few and probably get up to about 20 points.
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I wonder which way round is cause and effect: Ollie not scoring and the team scoring so many from outside the box?
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We had more points than Wolves have now after one game in 15/16!
I think they'll win a few and probably get up to about 20 points.
They worked hard yesterday but it's hard to see where the goals are going to come from. They needed Cunha turning into one of the best players in the league for half a season to claw their way up to 16th - only ahead of three terrible relegated teams and a Spurs team that sacked off their domestic season in January.
Without him, I reckon they scrape ahead of Derby and Southampton but I think 20 is very optimistic (on their behalf).
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With that referee they could stay up. With referees that weren't recruited for the day from the World Wrestling Federation the twats would be lucky to get into double figures for points.
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It aye fair
To be fair, when I think of Wolves fans they are exactly what I picture, all 3 of them in word, look and attitude.
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Fuck off Wolves. I hope they go down with 2 points and they can all piss off and desert the club again.
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Martinez the hero. Kept us in the game with some great saves. Solid otherwise defensively
Clean sheet 3 points happy days
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We had more points than Wolves have now after one game in 15/16!
I think they'll win a few and probably get up to about 20 points.
They aren't as bad as us that season. Or Derby 2008
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It was when, not if, they won the Premier League title, we were never going to finish above them again, the top tier of Europe was their level etc etc etc.
Drown in your well deserved tears, Wolves fans. I’m going to enjoy every moment of this.
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We had more points than Wolves have now after one game in 15/16!
I think they'll win a few and probably get up to about 20 points.
They aren't as bad as us that season. Or Derby 2008
Maybe they’ll get 24-26 points. Nailed on for the drop though and they won’t be back any time soon. Oh well.
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With that referee they could stay up. With referees that weren't recruited from the day from the World Wrestling Federation the twats would be lucky to get into double figures for points.
He was shockingly bad. The worst this season so far.
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It was when, not if, they won the Premier League title, we were never going to finish above them again, the top tier of Europe was their level etc etc etc.
Drown in your well deserved tears, Wolves fans. I’m going to enjoy every moment of this.
Well I don't see how we can enjoy Wulvz demise knowing they're only handing over that mantle to the inevitable rise of Birmingham City.
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With that referee they could stay up. With referees that weren't recruited from the day from the World Wrestling Federation the twats would be lucky to get into double figures for points.
He was shockingly bad. The worst this season so far.
It’s a tough competition
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Worst since Juventus, IMO.
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Much like that reprobate David Coote, he also has one of those faces that make him look as hapless as he actually is.
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I still remember looking at Molineux Micks (I had no idea they had so many Irish fans) a few years ago, and someone wrote: "our fans need to understand we're not competing with the likes of Albion and Villa anymore. Real Madrid are our rivals now." And bloody hell, he was right. Sorry, not Real Madrid, Oxford United.
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https://youtu.be/ohHToKw7yjI?si=SCzTdoDoulef0ORc
3:40 "Villa's not our main rivals, its always been Albion, I quite like Villa".
When Uncle Jorge rode into town these ****** spunked there pants quicker than anything to manufacture a rivalry with us. Now they're back on their way to a decade plus in the lower Leagues with a squad of players that even the most die hard Wolves fans wouldn't recognise if they walked past them in the Mander Center, and all of a sudden the 'rivalry' is brushed under the carpet as if it never happened. Monumental bell ends.
That video just confirms my theory that at least 50% of Wolves fans are called Craig.
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I still remember looking at Molineux Micks (I had no idea they had so many Irish fans) a few years ago, and someone wrote: "our fans need to understand we're not competing with the likes of Albion and Villa anymore. Real Madrid are our rivals now." And bloody hell, he was right. Sorry, not Real Madrid, Oxford United.
Also when we first came back up and we signed loads of players that were dismissed by them as they were after a different calibre of player - levels !
Now I had no issue with them before that, even felt sorry for them when there pitch was miles from the main stand and the other 3 sides shut
Don't think they will be back for a while
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I still remember looking at Molineux Micks (I had no idea they had so many Irish fans) a few years ago, and someone wrote: "our fans need to understand we're not competing with the likes of Albion and Villa anymore. Real Madrid are our rivals now." And bloody hell, he was right. Sorry, not Real Madrid, Oxford United.
Was it Longford Wolf? I've only ever encountered one Wolves top over here (same with Blues).
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We had more points than Wolves have now after one game in 15/16!
I think they'll win a few and probably get up to about 20 points.
We got more points from yesterday’s game alone than wolves have got all season!
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A hard fought victory with a great goal by Kamara who up until that point had been sluggish. I thought Rogers had a poor game, he is so sloppy at times, in fact I think that’s him, do something brilliant which everyone remembers and for the rest of the game be wasteful or worse, a liability.
Wolves were decent without having any end product the Martinez saves aside. They won’t, but I hope they find some form to make a good fight to stay up.
McGinn was easily player of the match, he’s so good followed by Martinez.
Nailed it for me, Bren. The points you make about Rogers is something I've noted, we all know he has talent but he's either brilliant or a liability. We seem to ignore his lack of pass completion and point the finger at Watkins for not scoring but for too many games they're both so ineffective they may as well not be on the pitch. In Watkins' defence he's largely relying on Rogers for the pass.
For two players that dream of going to the World Cup, on current form they should be looking to buy tickets rather than hope they get selected. I still think Unai needs to play Watkins and Malen together as neither is best suited to playing as the lone striker. The question then is who do you drop to accommodate the additional striker? Maybe sticking Rogers on the left would help but then you still need a hard working 10 in front of Youri and Kamara. On current form only a lunatic would drop SJM and despite not having a great game, Buendia as he offers us so much.
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Thought occurred to me that Strand Laursen could do a job for us. Having resisted the Jaudis this summer, can't see them being able to keep hold of him in January. What's the going rate?
I really like him as well.
Agreed, he would be a very good acquisition if we could get him.
Am I missing something.
Has scored 1 goal this season. And that was from the penalty spot.
We could do with someone able to score from the penalty spot...
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I still remember looking at Molineux Micks (I had no idea they had so many Irish fans) a few years ago, and someone wrote: "our fans need to understand we're not competing with the likes of Albion and Villa anymore. Real Madrid are our rivals now." And bloody hell, he was right. Sorry, not Real Madrid, Oxford United.
Was it Longford Wolf? I've only ever encountered one Wolves top over here (same with Blues).
What a bunch of clueless idiots. Surely Nobody is That Thick.
Real's rivals are Barca, Atletico and the Enormo Club CL regulars like PSG, Liverpool, Bayern. They have about 12m fans in Spain alone
Even if Villa won 6 Premier Leagues and 3 Champions Leagues in the next decade, we'd still at best have about 20% of their global 'fan' base.
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I still remember looking at Molineux Micks (I had no idea they had so many Irish fans) a few years ago, and someone wrote: "our fans need to understand we're not competing with the likes of Albion and Villa anymore. Real Madrid are our rivals now." And bloody hell, he was right. Sorry, not Real Madrid, Oxford United.
Was it Longford Wolf? I've only ever encountered one Wolves top over here (same with Blues).
What a bunch of clueless idiots. Surely Nobody is That Thick.
Real's rivals are Barca, Atletico and the Enormo Club CL regulars like PSG, Liverpool, Bayern. They have about 12m fans in Spain alone
Even if Villa won 6 Premier Leagues and 3 Champions Leagues in the next decade, we'd still at best have about 20% of their global 'fan' base.
You've not been to Wolverhampton then?
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It's that they turned into such massive twats thinking they were going to massively expand the ground and become a European super power and their constant "mind the gap", "levels" etc that makes them being so comically shit so very enjoyable.
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It's that they turned into such massive twats thinking they were going to massively expand the ground and become a European super power and their constant "mind the gap", "levels" etc that makes them being so comically shit so very enjoyable.
That and the fact that none of them seemed to realise that what is happening now was inevitable given how they were operating. Many people tried to warn them that basing your entire strategy on being friendly with an agent wasn't a long-term strategy and they just wouldn't hear it.
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Did what we needed to do. They were overly physical, and we tried not to get involved so no injuries. Sancho seems to be a leader.
Ugly game but a lot of our focus and priority this week falls on Wednesday and Saturday.
Sorry, should have been a semi colon after that bit to explain the Sancho reference.
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I think the other issues is the same as we had with Xia, one rule change from Beijing and suddenly they don't have the liquid cash to spend at a football club. (Also Covid really knocked their spending from 2022 as well).
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I think the other issues is the same as we had with Xia, one rule change from Beijing and suddenly they don't have the liquid cash to spend at a football club. (Also Covid really knocked their spending from 2022 as well).
Absolutely , but even without that just being a finishing school for Mendes clients was always a risk.
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I still remember looking at Molineux Micks (I had no idea they had so many Irish fans) a few years ago, and someone wrote: "our fans need to understand we're not competing with the likes of Albion and Villa anymore. Real Madrid are our rivals now." And bloody hell, he was right. Sorry, not Real Madrid, Oxford United.
Was it Longford Wolf? I've only ever encountered one Wolves top over here (same with Blues).
What a bunch of clueless idiots. Surely Nobody is That Thick.
Real's rivals are Barca, Atletico and the Enormo Club CL regulars like PSG, Liverpool, Bayern. They have about 12m fans in Spain alone
Even if Villa won 6 Premier Leagues and 3 Champions Leagues in the next decade, we'd still at best have about 20% of their global 'fan' base.
You've not been to Wolverhampton then?
I did the Birmingham and Black Country half marathon twice. Starts in Wolverhampton city centre. Finishes NIA. The first 2-3km I covered were the quickest.
I assume they go in that direction because nobody would sign up if the route was reversed.
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It’s a good event, that.
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We had more points than Wolves have now after one game in 15/16!
I think they'll win a few and probably get up to about 20 points.
We got more points from yesterday’s game alone than wolves have got all season!
Boring!
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It aye fair
Grey goatee bloke was a proper salty twat. We don't need to be brilliant every week we just pocket the points with a worldie again. Jog on and cry in your faggits and paze.
I would use much stronger words to describe Craig, the other two weren't bad
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I must admit I like Craig, Craig and Craig. Much prefer them to the gurning histrionics you get at Arsenal, Spurs etc.
Although it would've kicked off if Craig hadn't talked down Craig at 3.50.
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I must admit I like Craig, Craig and Craig. Much prefer them to the gurning histrionics you get at Arsenal, Spurs etc.
Although it would've kicked off if Craig hadn't talked down Craig at 3.50.
***snigger***
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We had more points than Wolves have now after one game in 15/16!
I think they'll win a few and probably get up to about 20 points.
We got more points from yesterday’s game alone than wolves have got all season!
Boring!
Yes, a real unnecessary cheap shot at our lupine neighbours.
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I must admit I like Craig, Craig and Craig. Much prefer them to the gurning histrionics you get at Arsenal, Spurs etc.
Although it would've kicked off if Craig hadn't talked down Craig at 3.50.
Yeah they’re fine in a yokel way. Compare that to a Brummy red / no contest for levels of distaste.
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I've no issue with the tatters to be honest but it is amusing to have gone from listening to the 'levels' nonsense to a SHA style claim of moral victories for singing loudly and drinking in town. Like a non league team visiting in the 3rd round of the Cup would.
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I must admit I like Craig, Craig and Craig. Much prefer them to the gurning histrionics you get at Arsenal, Spurs etc.
Although it would've kicked off if Craig hadn't talked down Craig at 3.50.
Yeah they’re fine in a yokel way. Compare that to a Brummy red / no contest for levels of distaste.
Sorry to be a pedant but it's Brummie not Brummy.
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There was a bunch of their fans on the train yesterday and when the announcement at Aston station reminded travellers to mind the gap, one of them said 'Mind the what?' Don't think he realised what he was saying!
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I still remember looking at Molineux Micks (I had no idea they had so many Irish fans) a few years ago, and someone wrote: "our fans need to understand we're not competing with the likes of Albion and Villa anymore. Real Madrid are our rivals now." And bloody hell, he was right. Sorry, not Real Madrid, Oxford United.
Major LOL, very good.
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Fuck off Wolves. I hope they go down with 2 points and they can all piss off and desert the club again.
this is the right sentiment.
mind the fucking gap.
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Good win and clean sheet get in there.
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Living amongst them I have maintained a disdainful silence as they rattle off their excuses and myths about the match. I was told today that they were looking forward to playing the Bitters again if they went down. That sums up the difference for me, the other Midland clubs all want to play each other while we want to test ourselves against the best in this country and Europe
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It's just deflection. In reality it's eating them up inside that they're going down without a whimper.
Just like the bogeyes and their Greed League shtick.
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The points you make about Rogers is something I've noted, we all know he has talent but he's either brilliant or a liability. We seem to ignore his lack of pass completion and point the finger at Watkins for not scoring but for too many games they're both so ineffective they may as well not be on the pitch. In Watkins' defence he's largely relying on Rogers for the pass.
I think Emery always has 1 (or 2) players that he encourages to try things while accepting that a lot of the time it won't come off - maintaining a rigid defensive structure should allow coverage and the element of chaos is worth it in a system that otherwise aims for control.
This year it's Rogers, but previously it was Bailey.
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I must admit I like Craig, Craig and Craig. Much prefer them to the gurning histrionics you get at Arsenal, Spurs etc.
Although it would've kicked off if Craig hadn't talked down Craig at 3.50.
Yeah they’re fine in a yokel way. Compare that to a Brummy red / no contest for levels of distaste.
Sorry to be a pedant but it's Brummie not Brummy.
No need to apologise. Your pedantry is absolutely required on this occasion :)
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The points you make about Rogers is something I've noted, we all know he has talent but he's either brilliant or a liability. We seem to ignore his lack of pass completion and point the finger at Watkins for not scoring but for too many games they're both so ineffective they may as well not be on the pitch. In Watkins' defence he's largely relying on Rogers for the pass.
I think Emery always has 1 (or 2) players that he encourages to try things while accepting that a lot of the time it won't come off - maintaining a rigid defensive structure should allow coverage and the element of chaos is worth it in a system that otherwise aims for control.
This year it's Rogers, but previously it was Bailey.
You could well be right, Garyth. I doubt even Unai would be demanding ball retention from our forwards at the same level as our defence and midfielders but I bet he wants more. Obviously it doesn't help when teams double up on Rogers and as we've seen in these last two league games, give him a clobbering too. The ref yesterday was a joke but then we should be used to it by now.
Post match Unai: "Always I'm worried for something we need to improve. We try to identify where we're weak even when we're winning. We're not scoring a lot of goals. We're being defensively strong and keeping clean sheets. We want to score goals and individually get numbers."