Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on December 21, 2025, 06:28:26 PM
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Never in doubt.
10 in a row
7 clear of 4th and 5th, 9 clear of 6th.
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Get the fuck in!!
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Fuck beaten to it by the bloke in the time machine.
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About time.
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Easy work.
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That's Aston Villa's best run in 111 years, by the way, following their worst start to a season in 28 years.
Some turnaround.
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YESSS! Fuck off, you wankers!
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Get the fuck in Villa. Get the fuck in. Well done Morgan. If Wirtz cost Liverpool £120M, then our Morg is £150M
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Not our best, but I don’t care.
Two tough ones up next.
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It's Christmassssss!
Yesssssssssss
Thank fuck for that.
Fucked the fucking fuckers.
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Even the curse couldn’t stop us - it tried hard, we were rubbish. But Morgz has too much.
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Feels good
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Get the fuck in!!
Can't break the run of me doing post-matches and we keep winning. It would be bad ju-ju.
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Merry Christmas Villa
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Yesssss!
The points way more important than the performance, though Rogers was imperious again.
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Phew. Definitely not our best day, but arise Sir Morgan ...
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Quoted the wrong post!
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Hilarious. As the game ends the lass on Sky Sports just said “we have to keep talking about them until they drop off”. Seriously love, do fuck right off.
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Was OK.
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Phew! Got away with one there.
Saying that, do we just decide to score one, and only one, more than the other team?
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Hilarious. As the game ends the lass on Sky Sports just said “we have to keep talking about them until they drop off”. Seriously love, do fuck right off.
Yes that irked me too. They don’t even try to hide it.
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As Plato said, "we're gonna score one more than you".
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thanks for the company guys
we wasnt the best today but thats what winners do . 2 spendid goals from the 140 million man , add a striker and right winger in Jan and we have champs league .
merry fucking christmas x
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We've played 10 times better against them in the past and lost.
Played shit today and won.
Unai has worked it out!!
Well done lads.
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thanks for the company guys
we wasnt the best today but thats what winners do . 2 spendid goals from the 140 million man , add a striker and right winger in Jan and we have champs league .
merry fucking christmas x
Two players for the title
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Rogers: Fans have made Villa Park a fortress
Aston Villa man of the match Morgan Rogers on Sky Sports:
"The fans make football. Playing with no fans, playing with fans, two completely different sports.
"It's so enjoyable playing here, we've got the crowds behind us, we're so strong at home and you can see it in our performances.
"Each and every one of them come here and make it a great place to play."
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We were pretty poor but by God, that was sooooo good!
Cash the happiest man at VP tonight 😅
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We were pretty poor but by God, that was sooooo good!
Cash the happiest man at VP tonight 😅
Last week Konsa was caught in the tunnel stating Morgz saved his life. I expect the same from Cash this week.
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Just.. thank God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Beating these f*****s means so much.
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Can someone tell me how many they beat us by on xG, so we can all enjoy this unsustainable behaviour. Thanks.
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Not by much.
(https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-fd865572-8c4a-48b9-8aa8-04b896143a9a.png)
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Can someone tell me how many they beat us by on xG, so we can all enjoy this unsustainable behaviour. Thanks.
I hope we keep up this unsustainable football all season. I quite enjoy it.
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I don’t care how. Beating them bastards is glorious
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Never in control and our midfield were under par but screw it. I'll take any win against that lot.
That Utd fan is never getting his hair cut is he?
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We've played 10 times better against them in the past and lost.
Played shit today and won.
Unai has worked it out!!
Well done lads.
This, exactly.
We now have the winning mentality, long may it stay with us.
UTV
Roger’s scoring two worldies.
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I turn on TS (I know, I know) and they are chatting about Man U. Don’t change a thing football media. It suits us just fine.
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Obviously there is no version of us beating them that wouldn't be very satisfying.
But after the last thirty years I reckon them coming away saying how they were probably the better team on the day, and had they only scored that one chance it might have all been different, or if that one player hadn't needed to go off injured, and how they can take a lot of positives from the performance if not the result, and how sometimes a better team just has one brilliant player and that's all they need to get a result even if they're not playing well...
Has to be up there as one of the better versions of it.
It really only needed the "that one refereeing decision to have gone the other way" for the full house of our post-Man Utd commentary from the last couple of decades.
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
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(https://scontent-lhr8-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/601457265_1468278964663415_4889654560952617383_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s640x640_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=sxSA9BTqzcIQ7kNvwHw0Afu&_nc_oc=AdmfwHtyPwAjBjZDLz64gNmmG1Ie1kOw2NlweIrf3L27cr7UO0ulJVVfbbfLDSCMYVk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr8-2.xx&_nc_gid=bZkaCEvIZZqFBFToqNAUZQ&oh=00_Afkny3XPp3M2uIksmOU6te4F5OGLPeIRe5o3oHD3UxO-HQ&oe=694E0FB3)
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Obviously there is no version of us beating them that wouldn't be very satisfying.
But after the last thirty years I reckon them coming away saying how they were probably the better team on the day, and had they only scored that one chance it might have all been different, or if that one player hadn't needed to go off injured, and how they can take a lot of positives from the performance if not the result, and how sometimes a better team just has one brilliant player and that's all they need to get a result even if they're not playing well...
Has to be up there as one of the better versions of it.
It really only needed the "that one refereeing decision to have gone the other way" for the full house of our post-Man Utd commentary from the last couple of decades.
Exactly this. They’re almost becoming good at playing the plucky card.
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She I like you. But stop talking shit.
Sue Smith
Former Leeds and England forward on BBC Radio 5 Live at Villa Park
Absolutely incredible from Aston Villa. The record, the run that they're on, but Morgan Rogers has been a big part of that and we saw that today. Two absolute brilliant goals from him.
And you have to feel for Man Utd. They kept going, they kept trying to get that equaliser. But from an Aston Villa perspective, unbelievable. What a record.
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Keane: "Its world class, world class finish, he's world class"
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
He is dreadful.
We need a poll on the Watkins thread to see how many people are still Watkins Worshippers.
A reckon a few have become atheists over the past few weeks.
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A tough watch. We were poor all over the park and never really got going. I'm not sure how wingnut missed that header from 5yds but hey ho, fantastic Morgz.
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Did John e get his bare arse out by The Holte Pub...just asking ..
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Thank you for making my day/week/Christmas you lovely Villa boys
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Two delicious goals from Morgan. Great win, doesn't matter how, just do it, and we did. You can have a lot of the ball but if you do nothing with it, tough shit. Up the Villa,
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Anything that passes Fergie and Gary Neville off is fine with me.
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She I like you. But stop talking shit.
Sue Smith
Former Leeds and England forward on BBC Radio 5 Live at Villa Park
Absolutely incredible from Aston Villa. The record, the run that they're on, but Morgan Rogers has been a big part of that and we saw that today. Two absolute brilliant goals from him.
And you have to feel for Man Utd. They kept going, they kept trying to get that equaliser. But from an Aston Villa perspective, unbelievable. What a record.
She is doing exactly what Keown wasn't doing in that statement and the rest is pretty much spot on apart from 8 words which of course doesn't apply to us.
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Obviously there is no version of us beating them that wouldn't be very satisfying.
But after the last thirty years I reckon them coming away saying how they were probably the better team on the day, and had they only scored that one chance it might have all been different, or if that one player hadn't needed to go off injured, and how they can take a lot of positives from the performance if not the result, and how sometimes a better team just has one brilliant player and that's all they need to get a result even if they're not playing well...
Has to be up there as one of the better versions of it.
It really only needed the "that one refereeing decision to have gone the other way" for the full house of our post-Man Utd commentary from the last couple of decades.
Exactly this. They’re almost becoming good at playing the plucky card.
[/quote
For all their "dominance", they only scored courtesy of an early Christmas present from Matty Cash.
I couldn't give a shiney shite about xG.
The only metric that counts is balls in the Onion Bag.
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WelshBlue
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Replying to IanT
18:09, SUN 21 DEC
Rogers is Bellingham lite. He does very good things but Bellingham does more things good.
That said, maybe TT doesn't t need everything Jude is good at in that shirt.
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Get that right up you you glory hunting ******.
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Unai, throwing his coat and giving it large. Sir Unai.
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Awful performance really. I think only three players played up to par. Was quite impressed with Man United. Tactically they did us in midfield, both Cunha and Mount were very impressive. Fortunate we have this complete freak of a player playing on our left today. Outstanding.
Martinez 7 - solid throughout
Cash 5 - awful mistake for the goal, made one great block in second half
Konsa 6 - one great block too but a bit iffy including a weird defensive header
Lindelof 4 - shocking indictment on West Ham they didn't press him onto his left foot like today, Konsa and him watched Cunha miss that sitter
Maatsen 6 - a bit meh but had a big problem next to him
Kamara 5 - poor today, caught ahead of ball constantly
Onana 5 - age old problem evident again - unable to play on half turn
McGinn 8 - great ball to Rogers for the first, battled really well
Rogers 9 - outstanding goals, dug us out of a massive hole today with his quality
Tielemans 4 - really poor. Anonymous first half and not much better in second
Watkins 4 - midfield was the problem position today but can't ignore his current level of performance
Not sure about subs today, Buendia should have come on a lot earlier I thought. Digne was ok.
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
He is dreadful.
We need a poll on the Watkins thread to see how many people are still Watkins Worshippers.
A reckon a few have become atheists over the past few weeks.
Please, in the name of McGrath, let's not drag this over here as well.
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Did John e get his bare arse out by The Holte Pub...just asking ..
Woooar!
Thank you Santa Baby, for the Villa win. I was telling you I've been a good girl this year! X
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I was sure they were going to bring on Van Nistelrooy to score a late double...
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
Without Ollie, Morgan doesn’t score the second.
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Lindelof being marked lower than the rest of the defence seems a bit harsh.
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We beat ManU at home, 10 straight wins, 10s for everyone involved.
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A tough watch. We were poor all over the park and never really got going. I'm not sure how wingnut missed that header from 5yds but hey ho, fantastic Morgz.
Teams on a good run usually have a bad patch. Our's was today and now we can get going again against Chelsea.
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Awful performance really. I think only three players played up to par. Was quite impressed with Man United. Tactically they did us in midfield, both Cunha and Mount were very impressive. Fortunate we have this complete freak of a player playing on our left today. Outstanding.
Martinez 7 - solid throughout
Cash 5 - awful mistake for the goal, made one great block in second half
Konsa 6 - one great block too but a bit iffy including a weird defensive header
Lindelof 4 - shocking indictment on West Ham they didn't press him onto his left foot like today, Konsa and him watched Cunha miss that sitter
Maatsen 6 - a bit meh but had a big problem next to him
Kamara 5 - poor today, caught ahead of ball constantly
Onana 5 - age old problem evident again - unable to play on half turn
McGinn 8 - great ball to Rogers for the first, battled really well
Rogers 9 - outstanding goals, dug us out of a massive hole today with his quality
Tielemans 4 - really poor. Anonymous first half and not much better in second
Watkins 4 - midfield was the problem position today but can't ignore his current level of performance
Not sure about subs today, Buendia should have come on a lot earlier I thought. Digne was ok.
Utter rubbish, anyone would think we got battered.
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Neville can get it up him too the red twat. More biased than the ref today.
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
He is dreadful.
We need a poll on the Watkins thread to see how many people are still Watkins Worshippers.
A reckon a few have become atheists over the past few weeks.
Great assist for the winner though.
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I actually thought he was ok today (cue getting pelters 🤣). United’s press was pretty impressive today and we never worked it out. Thakfully Rogers was the difference.
Neville can get it up him too the red twat. More biased than the ref today.
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Awful performance really. I think only three players played up to par. Was quite impressed with Man United. Tactically they did us in midfield, both Cunha and Mount were very impressive. Fortunate we have this complete freak of a player playing on our left today. Outstanding.
Martinez 7 - solid throughout
Cash 5 - awful mistake for the goal, made one great block in second half
Konsa 6 - one great block too but a bit iffy including a weird defensive header
Lindelof 4 - shocking indictment on West Ham they didn't press him onto his left foot like today, Konsa and him watched Cunha miss that sitter
Maatsen 6 - a bit meh but had a big problem next to him
Kamara 5 - poor today, caught ahead of ball constantly
Onana 5 - age old problem evident again - unable to play on half turn
McGinn 8 - great ball to Rogers for the first, battled really well
Rogers 9 - outstanding goals, dug us out of a massive hole today with his quality
Tielemans 4 - really poor. Anonymous first half and not much better in second
Watkins 4 - midfield was the problem position today but can't ignore his current level of performance
Not sure about subs today, Buendia should have come on a lot earlier I thought. Digne was ok.
Largely agree with this, although I thought Lindy did okay, given that the oppo were very aggressive in the press.
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Obviously there is no version of us beating them that wouldn't be very satisfying.
But after the last thirty years I reckon them coming away saying how they were probably the better team on the day, and had they only scored that one chance it might have all been different, or if that one player hadn't needed to go off injured, and how they can take a lot of positives from the performance if not the result, and how sometimes a better team just has one brilliant player and that's all they need to get a result even if they're not playing well...
Has to be up there as one of the better versions of it.
It really only needed the "that one refereeing decision to have gone the other way" for the full house of our post-Man Utd commentary from the last couple of decades.
More from Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim speaking to Sky Sports:"I saw from the beginning of the season a team that is going forward, but sometimes relax a little bit and sometimes is not there in the right moment to fight. Today was completely the opposite, we were the better team against a team that is strong at home and in a very good run. We were really unlucky today."
Almost.
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Neville can get it up him too the red twat. More biased than the ref today.
well, of course he was. He doesn't hide his affiliation ... don't know what you expected ...😁
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
He is dreadful.
We need a poll on the Watkins thread to see how many people are still Watkins Worshippers.
A reckon a few have become atheists over the past few weeks.
Great assist for the winner though.
It wasn't even an attempt at a pass, he was trying to get a touch on it ahead of the defender and it dropped to Rogers who wasn't even in the line of the direction of the ball. It goes down as an assist, same way if you rolled the ball from a free kick and someone scored it you'd get the assist, but it's hardly a great assist.
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Largely agree with this, although I thought Lindy did okay, given that the oppo were very aggressive in the press.
Most of the opposition players and the manager worked with Lindelof until 6 months ago so they would definitely know any weaknesses to his game, especially on his weaker side.
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I don’t care how we played, we beat those insufferable plastics and we owe them plenty more than this.
Thank you Villa, we are third at Christmas and I love it!
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Great win but I still feel that we need to work out how to play against a 3-5-1-1 or 3-5-2 with an intense press. Crystal Palace have beaten us the last 3 or so times using it and United gave us trouble all game doing the same thing. We play Palace away in January and need to have it sussed by then.
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A tough watch. We were poor all over the park and never really got going. I'm not sure how wingnut missed that header from 5yds but hey ho, fantastic Morgz.
As someone said earlier, the litany of games where they rely on the ref to turn us over, and let face it, it was like that today. Fernandez ran the game in the first half and that sap of a ref let it happen. We've hammered them and been stitched up but today we gave it em back. Fuck them.
We'll play better.
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We won’t lose another match now until the 7th January. We visit Palace on that day so, would probably save The players legs and just award them the 3 points. However, I do fancy a win at The Bridge and at least a draw against The Arse.
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
Without Ollie, Morgan doesn’t score the second.
not far from an assist that
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Never in doubt.
Always in doubt. Mount had the run of our midfield. We have the hottest player on the planet right now and that's why we won.
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Largely agree with this, although I thought Lindy did okay, given that the oppo were very aggressive in the press.
Most of the opposition players and the manager worked with Lindelof until 6 months ago so they would definitely know any weaknesses to his game, especially on his weaker side.
He was slow in stepping up to try to stop Cunha or at least putting him off taking aim.
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We have the hottest player on the planet right now and that's why we won.
Rob Edwards will be getting jealous.
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Had this aged banger in my head all day. But Unai's the Hoodoo Guru.
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Hilarious. As the game ends the lass on Sky Sports just said “we have to keep talking about them until they drop off”. Seriously love, do fuck right off.
Maybe but Arsenal and Citeh control games. We don't, that could be/surely must be intentional to agree but I'm not sure how sustainable it is to keep winning by the odd goal. Rogers can't play out of his skin in every game.
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That was a hard watch. We had very little control of the game and consistently gave the ball away and lost possession. So nice to have played poorly and won. I’ve seen us play much better against them in the past and we’ve lost or drawn at best. Watched on Sky which is rare for me as I go to the home games. As has been mentioned many times on here their coverage is so biased against us but a kinder more balanced analysis in the post match analysis.
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Back to MUTV business as usual on Sky.
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
Without Ollie, Morgan doesn’t score the second.
not far from an assist that
It was an assist.
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Last 5 against them at VP
W2 D2 L1.
We're becoming their bogey ground.
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Maybe but Arsenal and Citeh control games
Neither did in their defeats to us.
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
Without Ollie, Morgan doesn’t score the second.
Absolutely
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Did John e get his bare arse out by The Holte Pub...just asking ..
There was too much drizzle for that shizzle. He can revisit his promise when the sun comes out.
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Neville can get it up him too the red twat. More biased than the ref today.
Thought he was pretty fair tbh.
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Awful performance really. I think only three players played up to par. Was quite impressed with Man United. Tactically they did us in midfield, both Cunha and Mount were very impressive. Fortunate we have this complete freak of a player playing on our left today. Outstanding.
Martinez 7 - solid throughout
Cash 5 - awful mistake for the goal, made one great block in second half
Konsa 6 - one great block too but a bit iffy including a weird defensive header
Lindelof 4 - shocking indictment on West Ham they didn't press him onto his left foot like today, Konsa and him watched Cunha miss that sitter
Maatsen 6 - a bit meh but had a big problem next to him
Kamara 5 - poor today, caught ahead of ball constantly
Onana 5 - age old problem evident again - unable to play on half turn
McGinn 8 - great ball to Rogers for the first, battled really well
Rogers 9 - outstanding goals, dug us out of a massive hole today with his quality
Tielemans 4 - really poor. Anonymous first half and not much better in second
Watkins 4 - midfield was the problem position today but can't ignore his current level of performance
Not sure about subs today, Buendia should have come on a lot earlier I thought. Digne was ok.
Largely agree with this, although I thought Lindy did okay, given that the oppo were very aggressive in the press.
I think this is pretty good, but I actually thought Maatsen was pretty solid today and thought McGinn was poor by his standards.
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They might have had the better xG today.
But Villa had the X Factor - Morgan Rogers.
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Hilarious. As the game ends the lass on Sky Sports just said “we have to keep talking about them until they drop off”. Seriously love, do fuck right off.
Maybe but Arsenal and Citeh control games. We don't, that could be/surely must be intentional to agree but I'm not sure how sustainable it is to keep winning by the odd goal. Rogers can't play out of his skin in every game.
Let me check last two Aresenal results? Oh yes single goal wins against Wolves and Everton.
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Maybe but Arsenal and Citeh control games
Neither did in their defeats to us.
Yep, Yanited played far better than those teams did at VP. This run is incredible but our margin for error does seem a lot less than those two.
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Hilarious. As the game ends the lass on Sky Sports just said “we have to keep talking about them until they drop off”. Seriously love, do fuck right off.
Maybe but Arsenal and Citeh control games. We don't, that could be/surely must be intentional to agree but I'm not sure how sustainable it is to keep winning by the odd goal. Rogers can't play out of his skin in every game.
Let me check last two Aresenal results? Oh yes single goal wins against Wolves and Everton.
Also, it's like people weren't paying attention when Man U and before them Liverpool built empires that lasted years on finding a way to win, no matter what it took, different ways to win. How many times did Man United look at best average and then still win in the Ferguson era (especially against us)?
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Alan Pardew, on radio, in replying to a Villa fan who said Villa did not play very well "Villa were brave they said to United go on then let's see what you got"
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We never do well over the Christmas period. Never beat Manure. Who gives a fuck how we played. This is highly unusual and most certainly a fabulous result. Whodoos, who fucking cares. Woohoo, enjoying the ride and very very happy/ pissed.
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One day we'll learn to enjoy 10 wins in a row and not look for negatives.
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Slightly off it passing through midfield today but we seem to have developed a team who just dig in and win by any means.
When you win with 2 world class goals against this lot it just makes it even sweeter.
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Alan Pardew, on radio, in replying to a Villa fan who said Villa did not play very well "Villa were brave they said to United go on then let's see what you got"
Might explain why Alan is no longer managing.
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Slightly off it passing through midfield today but we seem to have developed a team who just dig in and win by any means.
When you win with 2 world class goals against this lot it just makes it even sweeter.
I feel in a few games we've applied the least effort to win. This wasn't one of them
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Another one!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=919435767502080
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Alan Pardew, on radio, in replying to a Villa fan who said Villa did not play very well "Villa were brave they said to United go on then let's see what you got"
Might explain why Alan is no longer managing.
He’s surprisingly good on that show.
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Also, it's like people weren't paying attention when Man U and before them Liverpool built empires that lasted years on finding a way to win, no matter what it took, different ways to win. How many times did Man United look at best average and then still win in the Ferguson era (especially against us)?
Reminds me of all those times when we played really well against these ****** but ended up losing the game, usually to a dodgy pen or deflected goal. They can fuck off back to Salford with their better performance wrapped up in their kit bag.
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Just watched Emery’s post match interview there’s not another coach on the planet I’d rather have at Villa. Absolutely brilliant
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10 in a row takes some doing at any level but where we are operating it’s incredible. And number ten against that lot? At Christmas time? Sorcery.
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We were pretty poor but by God, that was sooooo good!
Cash the happiest man at VP tonight 😅
Last week Konsa was caught in the tunnel stating Morgz saved his life. I expect the same from Cash this week.
Another one!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=919435767502080
Cash made a "phew" gesture.
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An' I like it I like it I like it I like it
I la la la like it
La la la la
Here we gooooo
VILLA'S WON 10 IN A ROW!!!!!
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As impressive as 10 in a row is 16 wins out of 18. That's obscene at this level.
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Hilarious. As the game ends the lass on Sky Sports just said “we have to keep talking about them until they drop off”. Seriously love, do fuck right off.
Maybe but Arsenal and Citeh control games. We don't, that could be/surely must be intentional to agree but I'm not sure how sustainable it is to keep winning by the odd goal. Rogers can't play out of his skin in every game.
Let me check last two Aresenal results? Oh yes single goal wins against Wolves and Everton.
100%. And that was 2 own goals and a stupid penalty. Arses have not been on fire.
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An' I like it I like it I like it I like it
I la la la like it
La la la la
Here we gooooo
VILLA'S WON 10 IN A ROW!!!!!
We need more Quo songs at Villa Park. 8)
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It's unprecedented for us. Amidst all the talk of Onana, Cash and Watkins etc I don't think some realise just how special this run is at the moment. We're basically winning every game for months. It's incredible and the work the boys have done behind the scenes and on the pitch must be immense to get us to this position.
I know there's areas to improve but let's forget those and leave them to the experts right now and just bask in what must be one of the best runs we've had if not the best run in 150 years and we're lucky to be living in it.
PS please win a trophy though Unai.
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Brilliant - it really is unprecedented - to be the poorer team and win. To have the difference maker in our team.
Amazing - these really are special times.
Merry Christmas - God Bless us - Everyone!
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As impressive as 10 in a row is 16 wins out of 18. That's obscene at this level.
As you said, people still looking for negatives. You can't be brilliant every game, you just need to win.
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Awful performance really. I think only three players played up to par. Was quite impressed with Man United. Tactically they did us in midfield, both Cunha and Mount were very impressive. Fortunate we have this complete freak of a player playing on our left today. Outstanding.
Martinez 7 - solid throughout
Cash 5 - awful mistake for the goal, made one great block in second half
Konsa 6 - one great block too but a bit iffy including a weird defensive header
Lindelof 4 - shocking indictment on West Ham they didn't press him onto his left foot like today, Konsa and him watched Cunha miss that sitter
Maatsen 6 - a bit meh but had a big problem next to him
Kamara 5 - poor today, caught ahead of ball constantly
Onana 5 - age old problem evident again - unable to play on half turn
McGinn 8 - great ball to Rogers for the first, battled really well
Rogers 9 - outstanding goals, dug us out of a massive hole today with his quality
Tielemans 4 - really poor. Anonymous first half and not much better in second
Watkins 4 - midfield was the problem position today but can't ignore his current level of performance
Not sure about subs today, Buendia should have come on a lot earlier I thought. Digne was ok.
I give McGinn only 1, just because he kicked the ball out when Bruno was hobbling, not a serious injury not our fault, evidence also is when Tilimens is out in the centre circle and Oliver let Manchester still play while they were in a attack position and then stopped play later
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Also, it's like people weren't paying attention when Man U and before them Liverpool built empires that lasted years on finding a way to win, no matter what it took, different ways to win. How many times did Man United look at best average and then still win in the Ferguson era (especially against us)?
Reminds me of all those times when we played really well against these ****** but ended up losing the game, usually to a dodgy pen or deflected goal. They can fuck off back to Salford with their better performance wrapped up in their kit bag.
This is beautiful prose.
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The last time I felt like this was 89/90,
I’m 57 next month, the next 2 games are massive. If we are still in and around those two it’s game on. UTV!!!
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
Thanks for the assist though Ollie.
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
Without Ollie, Morgan doesn’t score the second.
Careful, assists don’t matter….
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As impressive as 10 in a row is 16 wins out of 18. That's obscene at this level.
It’s bonkers. An absolutely incredible run and there’s some real character and resilience in there.
Also whilst it was pretty ordinary from Konsa and Lindelof, it was glorious that Cunha missed an absolute sitter.
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Amorim’s quotes about being the better side and deserving more…YES YOU WERE AND YES YOU DID NOW FUCK OFF, BECAUSE THET’S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU’RE NOT SPECIAL AND NO-ONE GIVES A FUCK.
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Cunha fits right in there. A player who is a legend in his own head. Made Wolves worse and Man U no better.(the transfer)
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Personally I am focusing on the points - all these point make CL more likely. CL football means this whole amazing era goes on a bit longer and for me thats the dream.
Winning a trophy would be amazing - but CL football puts us at the top table and hopefully keeps Unai here a little longer.
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We beat ManU at home, 10 straight wins, 10s for everyone involved.
Agree
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Cunha fits right in there. A player who is a legend in his own head. Made Wolves worse and Man U no better.(the transfer)
I’d love him to play for us.
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Simon Stone on the BBC, and I presume, Neville on Sky. Top one, nice one you biased ******
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I have to say its a bit bizarre that people are picking holes in a squad thats won 10 in a row.
Well done to Unai and the whole setup because we've only dreamed of things like this.
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The amount of times I’ve seen us be the better side against that mob and lose… Love that for once they have to cling to moral victories whilst we have all three points.
Oh and Mount for England BBC? lol lol lol
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Thought Mount was pretty good to be honest.
We were off our game today, really felt Pau’s absence, but Rogers was sublime and when you have a player that good it can win you big games.
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Neville can get it up him too the red twat. More biased than the ref today.
Did he name man of the match today. If he did i missed it?
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I’ve always liked Mount. He would be great here.
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Neville can get it up him too the red twat. More biased than the ref today.
Did he name man of the match today. If he did i missed it?
I think it was Brian McClair.
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Not at our best today but this result is massive, best Christmas present I could ask for.
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We may never see such a sequence of successive wins again, so hats off and kudos to all the management and players.
I was expecting us to play better once Fernandes went off, but we seemed to let Dorgu (who I had understood was 'rubbish') have a free rein, and we didn't do too much to counter it.
However, Rogers's finishing deserved to win the game alone.
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I’ve always liked Mount. He would be great here.
I don’t mind him really I just thought it was a little daft that his England chances were being talked up after he played well against…checks notes… wolves! ;D
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, even Grealish must have more of a case.
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A win while not playing well - the sign of a good side.
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Plucky mid-table team come and have a go at the home of a big six club, but the home team’s England number 10 dispatches them with two moments of class. Off ya pop!
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/cvgr3nez9x9o
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On this date last year we beat Man City by the same score, and at home.
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Even with 30 seconds left I was thinking they are probably going to fuck us over.
Glad that’s out the way.
Morgan is unplayable.
Chelsea haven’t a hope.
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Incredible result.
My voice/ throat is ripped to shreds.
I detest those fuckers so I couldn’t care less about the performance.
10 in a row…………Is anyone still doing those grim reaper things ?
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Got back a few mins ago. Did what weneed to, not great but did enought to beat those f**kers.
Ollie just looks so off it. Not chasing around as much as he used to, just didn't get going. That 1st opportunity where he came back on to his right summed it up...a prime Ollie would have leathered it with his left.
Kamara had a bad game by his high standards.
2 centre back were excellent.
But they were poor, have some good invidual players but so incoherent. Oh well.
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Fantastic win. As belting as Rogers goals were, McGinn was just fucking immense at times.
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Got back a few mins ago. Did what weneed to, not great but did enought to beat those f**kers.
Ollie just looks so off it. Not chasing around as much as he used to, just didn't get going. That 1st opportunity where he came back on to his right summed it up...a prime Ollie would have leathered it with his left.
Kamara had a bad game by his high standards.
2 centre back were excellent.
But they were poor, have some good invidual players but so incoherent. Oh well.
It also showed that for most of the match he was up against two CH's.
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The Morgan Rogers Variety Performance.
Bet Prince William wishes he was at Villa Park.
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
He is dreadful.
We need a poll on the Watkins thread to see how many people are still Watkins Worshippers.
A reckon a few have become atheists over the past few weeks.
Very sad but it's true he was a liability today.
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5Live?
We looked tired, Newton Heath looking sharp, blah blah fucking blah.
This is precisely why I hate them and their fucking mates in the media. No matter how shit they are, they're great.
Fuck off.
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Thought Manure were dangerous going forward and pish defensively.
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G8uHYMEWUAALKGF?format=jpg&name=medium)
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Don’t like that.
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Not a fan of those photos unless you achieve something. Lose the next 3 and you look as daft as Newcastle used to.
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Just got back, it was hard work at times but I will take a messy performance for that result.
Rogers is showing signs of being world class and was the difference.
Concerned we looked a bit tired , Lindeloft did well, Cash back to being erratic, Maatsen did good and bad things in equal measure. Tielemans Onana Kamara looked leggy but kept going. SJM fantastic, We needed Martinez today.
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Stalwart victory, Rogers what can you say, the bloke is turning into 'World Class' awesomeness, I reckon come the summer this guy will go full tilt world class, first name on the team sheet (move over Harry and Jude, you just got up-staged) not sure if anybody else is picking this up on media but we are getting the usual excuses for Man Utd, off day, bad day at the office apparently, fact is you have to be seriously good these days to beat Villa at Villa park and I mean worldly good.
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Don’t like that.
What, to enjoy the last game at home in 2025 and a record run....yeah shit that.
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No Unai. He was probably taking the photo. That's how humble he is.
And also demanding, demanding in his use of the camera, always seeking to be better, with all the supporters.
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If only we could improve our XG rather than scoring screamers as that becoming boring now ;D
What a time to be a Villa fan
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
He is dreadful.
We need a poll on the Watkins thread to see how many people are still Watkins Worshippers.
A reckon a few have become atheists over the past few weeks.
I think you’ve put most people off reading that thread.
Scrappy game, great win.
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No Unai. He was probably taking the photo. That's how humble he is.
And also demanding, demanding in his use of the camera, always seeking to be better, with all the supporters.
He's next to Konsa.
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It was noticed where we were that Unai was getting a little bit impatient at times to put it mildly.
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Don’t like that.
What, to enjoy the last game at home in 2025 and a record run....yeah shit that.
Like when we did one under Gregory and then didn't win for a month?
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It was noticed where we were that Unai was getting a little bit impatient at times to put it mildly.
He went mental at Onana at one point.
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Don’t like that.
What, to enjoy the last game at home in 2025 and a record run....yeah shit that.
Like when we did one under Gregory and then didn't win for a month?
That's the power of photography for you.
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Not our greatest performance, but I don't care, we beat Man United and I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever say that again. Another magnificent performance from Morgan, I wouldn't swap him for any other player in the league, no make that Europe!
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Think you have to enjoy these times for what they are, we will lose some games, its odds on, nailed on if you like, my money would be a draw at Chelsea and Arsenal exacting revenge, hope i'm 100% wrong, even so, we are still top 4 and we have to fight like shit to hang in there throughout the rest of the season.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/cvgr3nez9x9o
So we need to sell Rogers or Kamara in the summer apparently
I am not sure how the maths work
Higher turnover than under the mad Dr Xia, spening less on players, squad size lean to say the least
Our payroll can't have increased proportionally that much that we need to sell talents valued at anywhere between £80m and £140m
Or am I missing something
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Think you have to enjoy these times for what they are, we will lose some games, its odds on, nailed on if you like, my money would be a draw at Chelsea and Arsenal exacting revenge, hope i'm 100% wrong, even so, we are still top 4 and we have to fight like shit to hang in there throughout the rest of the season.
Can't believe you don't believe we'll end the season with 33 consecutive wins. The negativity is astounding.
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Onwards. Leave those wankers behind
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It was noticed where we were that Unai was getting a little bit impatient at times to put it mildly.
He went mental at Onana at one point.
It was the stop and pass back early in the second half. That said we missed his heading skills when he went off.
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Shit performance, excellent result, Rogers is the biggest talent we've had for a generation, ten wins on the spin. It'll do.
Happy fucking Christmas!
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Bit of a struggle today and the way they were set up caused us problems, but will never complain.about beating them. Two great goals from Rogers, buy think we will.have to be a bit better to get results in the next two games.
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Love that today
All those years where we have played these scrotes and lost games where we have played well or moral victories claimed….its there turn to try and claim that moral victory :-)
Rogers immense finishing
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Today, they were us.
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Today, they were us.
This.
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It was noticed where we were that Unai was getting a little bit impatient at times to put it mildly.
He went mental at Onana at one point.
It was the stop and pass back early in the second half. That said we missed his heading skills when he went off.
Emi was going mad at the midfield a couple of times too.
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Thought Mount was pretty good to be honest.
We were off our game today, really felt Pau’s absence, but Rogers was sublime and when you have a player that good it can win you big games.
Not taking anything away from Rogers as they were two fantastic goals, especially the first but I thought he was quiet, like the majority but once again gave us something to win the game.
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Four pages of the BBC teletext match report belong to Man Utd, mentioning their injuries and twice that they lost Fernandes.
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Our run is incredible and I love that we are getting up the noses of some. I’d love us to continue forcing the media to have to talk about us. Like it’s a chore! We’re the story of the season based on how we started and what we’re doing with what we have. Rodgers is having a Platt season.
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It was noticed where we were that Unai was getting a little bit impatient at times to put it mildly.
He went mental at Onana at one point.
It was the stop and pass back early in the second half. That said we missed his heading skills when he went off.
Emi was going mad at the midfield a couple of times too.
Our central midfield was not functioning for large parts.
Tielemens Onana Kamara were off it and why Manure dominated possession for much of the game.
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Media can cracking on ignoring us while we're running round the Bullring with a cup.
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It was noticed where we were that Unai was getting a little bit impatient at times to put it mildly.
He went mental at Onana at one point.
It was the stop and pass back early in the second half. That said we missed his heading skills when he went off.
Emi was going mad at the midfield a couple of times too.
He needed to. Kamara was consistently playing a poor pass, even for the Rogers goal he played the ball badly behind Youri as well but luckily we had time to recover it and carry on from there.
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Oh completely, they didn’t get going at all. But ho hum.
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A mention for Lindelof. He's been alright hasn't he?
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Alright. Not great.
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I think the reason the midfield wasn’t great today was because we didn’t have Pau playing it out and Kamara had a poor game.
When is Pau back?
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A mention for Lindelof. He's been alright hasn't he?
OK but not great. He was indecisive for their goal. Hope Pau is back v chelsea.
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A mention for Lindelof. He's been alright hasn't he?
OK but not great. He was indecisive for their goal. Hope Pau is back v chelsea.
Yeah agreed, he’s ok but I think our indecisiveness generally is influenced by Pau’s absence. I got the impression he’s not back before early Jan at the best, sadly, but I may be wrong.
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I though Emery said yesterday two or three weeks for Torres.
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A mention for Lindelof. He's been alright hasn't he?
Yes, been generally solid and what you’d expect of a squad player who you’d hope would play no more than 10 or so games. Didn’t do anything wrong today that I can remember.
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Lindelof being marked lower than the rest of the defence seems a bit harsh.
i thought Lindelof played very well, irs all about opinions.Watkins played his socks off but was totally isolated and his only service was punts upfield from Emi. Watkins scored shitloads of goals when we had wingers providing a service. If Unai is hsppy to play him then I'm hsppy to go along with that. Watkins scoring or not we have won 16 in 18 matches, so for those having a go at him stop the moaning and stop looking for scapegoats, we are WINNING GAMES ffs.
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That’s probably the worst our midfield unit of Kamara, Onana and Tielemans have played in ages, they wasn’t particularly good at hardly anything. They were out bossed for most of the game. However we still probably had the best chances, albeit early on, but we’re still showing we have World beaters in the team, even when off our game.
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That’s probably the worst our midfield unit of Kamara, Onana and Tielemans have played in ages, they wasn’t particularly good at hardly anything. They were out bossed for most of the game. However we still probably had the best chances, albeit early on, but we’re still showing we have World beaters in the team, even when off our game.
Did we have any chances, did their keeper make a meaningful save?
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Lindelof being marked lower than the rest of the defence seems a bit harsh.
i thought Lindelof played very well, irs all about opinions.Watkins played his socks off but was totally isolated and his only service was punts upfield from Emi. Watkins scored shitloads of goals when we had wingers providing a service. If Unai is hsppy to play him then I'm hsppy to go along with that. Watkins scoring or not we have won 16 in 18 matches, so for those having a go at him stop the moaning and stop looking for scapegoats, we are WINNING GAMES ffs.
Exactly Malcolm….we don’t need excuses or scapegoats for winning
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That’s probably the worst our midfield unit of Kamara, Onana and Tielemans have played in ages, they wasn’t particularly good at hardly anything. They were out bossed for most of the game. However we still probably had the best chances, albeit early on, but we’re still showing we have World beaters in the team, even when off our game.
Did we have any chances, did their keeper make a meaningful save?
In the first few minutes yes. But then Martinez didn't have to do much either apart from the Sesko close down.
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It's so good to beat these fuckers. Sign of the times they're claiming moral victories and taking the positives from losing while we go marching on.
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Neville can get it up him too the red twat. More biased than the ref today.
Thought he was pretty fair tbh.
I was surprised he could speak how far up Manyews arse his tongue was, especially first half.
That today was for all the bent decisions, cheating refs, dodgy penalties, two goal leads thrown away, stoppage time winners, disallowed goals, 4-0 batterings, fans dancing on the pitch, Dwight Yorke and Ashley Young celebrating against us... Happy Christmas Man United, you've seen the Villa, met the reaper, now fuck off home.
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
He is dreadful.
We need a poll on the Watkins thread to see how many people are still Watkins Worshippers.
A reckon a few have become atheists over the past few weeks.
Very sad but it's true he was a liability today.
It should be noted Watkins got an assist on the 2nd goal.
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Neville can get it up him too the red twat. More biased than the ref today.
Thought he was pretty fair tbh.
I find that quite bizarre….he was shocking!!
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Thank god for morgs. Watkins has to be replaced asap
He is dreadful.
We need a poll on the Watkins thread to see how many people are still Watkins Worshippers.
A reckon a few have become atheists over the past few weeks.
Please, in the name of McGrath, let's not drag this over here as well.
Seconded
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Media can cracking on ignoring us while we're running round the Bullring with a cup.
Absolutely. We need points more than we need column inches.
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Two delicious goals from Morgan. Great win, doesn't matter how, just do it, and we did. You can have a lot of the ball but if you do nothing with it, tough shit. Up the Villa,
&list=RDWLS99zDpeBQ&start_radio=1
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This one was part of a wonderful day for me.
Sandwiched between morning Eucharist at church, and the carol service at half six. I had a few bevvies in the Wheatsheaf in the middle and cooked the family roast dinner in the middle. Sweating on the final score but th eref blew up just as we arrived to evening service.
One of our friends who has been recovering from a serious injury made it to the service and had a great session in the pub. Loads of Man Utd fans in the village so good day all round.
This team are so resilient. I'm in my 50s and can not remember a tea as reliable or talented as this. Good times.
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Also, it's like people weren't paying attention when Man U and before them Liverpool built empires that lasted years on finding a way to win, no matter what it took, different ways to win. How many times did Man United look at best average and then still win in the Ferguson era (especially against us)?
Reminds me of all those times when we played really well against these ****** but ended up losing the game, usually to a dodgy pen or deflected goal. They can fuck off back to Salford with their better performance wrapped up in their kit bag.
That’s small minded and ungracious. I fully endorse this 😊
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Extra special day for me as my lad made a surprise visit home for Xmas from Australia where he has been living for the past 15 months. He had asked me to get an extra ticket for his friend which I managed to get. So it was great to be able to make the journey and take in the game together. The win against that lot was so sweet...
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This one was part of a wonderful day for me.
Sandwiched between morning Eucharist at church, and the carol service at half six. I had a few bevvies in the Wheatsheaf in the middle and cooked the family roast dinner in the middle. Sweating on the final score but th eref blew up just as we arrived to evening service.
One of our friends who has been recovering from a serious injury made it to the service and had a great session in the pub. Loads of Man Utd fans in the village so good day all round.
This team are so resilient. I'm in my 50s and can not remember a tea as reliable or talented as this. Good times.
It's Christmas - let's not bring religion into this.
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That’s probably the worst our midfield unit of Kamara, Onana and Tielemans have played in ages, they wasn’t particularly good at hardly anything. They were out bossed for most of the game. However we still probably had the best chances, albeit early on, but we’re still showing we have World beaters in the team, even when off our game.
Selection error from Emery for me. Without Torres we have no distributor at the back, an issue made worse by Tielemans playing higher up the pitch. Too easy to press Onana in particular. Tielemans was the worst of the three of them today but the other two weren't much better than their no show last May.
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That’s probably the worst our midfield unit of Kamara, Onana and Tielemans have played in ages, they wasn’t particularly good at hardly anything. They were out bossed for most of the game. However we still probably had the best chances, albeit early on, but we’re still showing we have World beaters in the team, even when off our game.
Selection error from Emery for me. Without Torres we have no distributor at the back, an issue made worse by Tielemans playing higher up the pitch. Too easy to press Onana in particular. Tielemans was the worst of the three of them today but the other two weren't much better than their no show last May.
...We did win, though.
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Did John e get his bare arse out by The Holte Pub...just asking ..
Let's just say the last time there was this much chat about pants being pulled down in B6, Morgan Rogers had just signed for Villa.
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Long, but enjoyable write-up from F365
16 Conclusions from Aston Villa 2-1 Man United: Rogers, Amorim, title deeds and rocking-horse sh*t
Aston Villa ended a year in which they’ve turned Villa Park into a fortress with victory over the one team that has never had reason to fear a trip here.
Morgan Rogers’ double in a hard-fought 2-1 victory keeps Villa – who were not at their best – on the tails of Arsenal and Man City at the top of the table and perhaps (but only perhaps) more significantly extends their lead over any other Champions League chaser to a chasm-like seven points.
Unai Emery and his side really are on the road to something special, while there was encouragement, frustration and a brand new quandary for Ruben Amorim.
1. For all but the youngest Man United fans, there will have been something uncannily familiar about this game. An away team coming to a team on a formidable winning run and throwing absolutely everything at them, arguably having the better of the game on the balance of the 90 minutes, and then going home with absolutely nothing.
Old Trafford saw more games like this than any of care to remember in the 1990s and 2000s. That Villa Park is now the venue for such behaviour really is quite something. For the first time since before that era of United dominance – before the invention of football in 1992 even – Villa have won seven top-flight matches in a row. Things are happening here.
2. It shouldn’t really need reaffirming about a team that’s just won seven in a row – and 11 in 12 – but Aston Villa absolutely are in a title race now right up until they aren’t. What’s happened since the late winner against Arsenal goes against all narrative tradition for the unexpected team that suddenly inserts itself into a title situation with a thunderously significant and dramatic victory over a team that in that one moment suddenly becomes a direct rival.
Falling behind at West Ham last weekend could have ended the title charge as soon as it began. The visit of a Man United team that had lost to Villa here once in 30 years could have ended the title charge. But on Villa go.
If we can still talk about them as we are now in nine days’ time after trips to Stamford Bridge and the Emirates…
3. What’s absolutely true for now, though, is that Villa have placed themselves into a leading pack with Arsenal and City – on merit – and thoroughly distanced themselves from the chasing pack. The gap to fourth place is now seven points. It’s an astonishing position they find themselves in, especially after the way the season started with the now-infamous five-match streak without a win – four matches without even so much as a goal.
Wins for Arsenal and City on Saturday denied Villa the chance to hurt them, but Chelsea’s dropped points at Newcastle offered the chance to put real distance between them and the chasing pack. Taking that chance in the manner they did must be enormously pleasing for Unai Emery and his team.
4. Hardly revelatory to highlight Morgan Rogers as the star attraction here. Two stunning goals added to a collection of stunning goals this season, Leny Yoro given an absolute torrid, and a first-half trick duly repeated in the second.
5. Rogers also produces these moments when they really count, too. These were his first Villa Park goals of this Premier League season, but this is more praise than criticism. All his other goals in the league this season have come in victories from behind away from home. Vital goals at vital times in the toughest situations.
That applies just as much here, with both his goals sublime on their own aesthetic and technical level but also coming at vital times where Villa appeared to be second best.
6. That fact will be only part of what frustrates Ruben Amorim about what was genuinely one of his more impressive games as Man United manager; for all Rogers’ brilliance with both goals they were also avoidable from a United point of view.
Yoro had a desperately poor game in a generally sound United effort achieved despite great adversity. Yoro’s futile struggle to get to grips with Rogers was a key contributor to both goals, but especially the first.
7. There’s no real shame in being beaten by the threat and talent Rogers possesses; but there is in apparently being unaware of its existence.
With time ticking down in a first half United had rather impressively controlled, John McGinn fizzed a thigh-high pass out from midfield to Rogers on the left. His first touch was good enough to keep the ball alive but no more.
Yet as Rogers buzzed over towards the touchline to retrieve it, Yoro merely ambled in that general direction. By the time Rogers had danced inside onto his right foot and curled a shot inside Senne Lammens’ far post, Yoro still hadn’t twigged what was happening. Still hadn’t got close enough to even pressure the shot, never mind actually prevent or block it.
It takes nothing away from the brilliance of everything Rogers did to note he was given a bizarre helping hand by some astonishingly passive defending against Villa’s most conspicuous threat.
8. And then it all happened again, in much the same way and in with the general flow of the match at that point feeling much the same. Absolutely maddening for Amorim.
9. If only for the obvious reason that the United boss had got so much right. A great deal of it was firmly in ‘needs must’ territory but that is often the fire where the greatest solutions are forged.
With Casemiro suspended and Kobbie Mainoo unavailable through injury, Manuel Ugarte was handed a start in United’s midfield almost by default.
His jarring lack of quality on the ball remains a massive issue, and there was one conspicuous moment in the first half where Youri Tielemans picked his pocket all too easily, but he did at least perform a semi-functional destroyer’s role as the deepest point of a midfield triangle that, in the first half at least, featured Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes as its more advanced corners
10. This is not the first time in recent weeks that Amorim has moved away slightly from his trademark rigid and unshakeable adherence to 3-4-3 and it is most welcome. The acknowledgement that more bodies were needed in the middle of the park against an opponent of Villa’s quality is a sign of self-awareness. That’s a strength, not a weakness.
And it worked, it really did. It might be a stretch to say United dominated the first half, but they certainly controlled it, and went in deservedly level after Matheus Cunha profited from Patrick Dorgu’s good work in for once pressuring Villa into a mistake as they looked to play through the United press.
Matty Cash is so often such a reliable conduit for Emi Martinez to start such proceedings, but was badly caught out this time.
11. Yet by the time of those goals at the end of the first half, another potentially seismic moment for United’s whole season had already occurred. Bruno Fernandes picked up a muscle injury. It cannot be overstated what a big deal that is, both in its potential impact on United’s season and sheer rocking-horse-shit rareness.
Fernandes is that rare player seemingly capable of just playing all the football all the time with almost no ill-effects. Indeed, he seemed so perplexed by the entire concept of doing a hammy that he was unwilling to accept it had happened. Or perhaps unaware of what that painful sensation in his leg even was.
He limped and laboured on until half-time despite it being obvious to every single other person among the 40,000 inside Villa Park what had just happened.
12. His half-time withdrawal marked just the third time he had failed to reach 90 minutes in a Premier League game this season. In the previous two he came off after 85 and 87 minutes.
He has cleared the 3000-minute mark in the Premier League alone in each of his five full seasons at United. He has never missed more than two Premier League games in a season through injury.
In all he has featured in 212 out of 221 Manchester United league games since joining in the January transfer window of 2020. It’s a remarkable effort.
And if today’s injury is anything like what it looked like – and Amorim did not sound at all cheery about it post-match – then he and United could be entering whole new territory.
13. Every crisis presents an opportunity, though. This freakishly unusual Fernandes setback was spectacularly ill-timed for United and Amorim. As the United boss scoured a substitutes’ bench denuded by AFCON, injuries and suspensions, he will have seen precious little option.
One was Joshua Zirkzee, the only outfielder among the United replacements to have started a game in the Premier League this season. That was the obvious option, but an imperfect one for the task at hand given United were level at what is currently the toughest ground to visit in the country and had secured their foothold in the game on the back of winning that midfield battle.
14. Amorim went for Plan B and Lisandro Martinez, himself on the road back from serious injury but with midfield experience from his Ajax days. He did a fine job. The orientation of the triangle altered slightly; there were now two deeper-lying points in Ugarte and Martinez with Mount more advanced.
If one wanted to be mischievous, one might suggest Martinez’s 45 minutes in the role offered a more compelling case than Ugarte’s 73 before he duly made way for Zirkzee as United chased another equaliser.
At the very least, Martinez has put himself into the conversation should Fernandes’ absence be a lengthy one. He might even have got himself a goal and you’d certainly be surprised now to see Amorim revert back to his previous midfield shape for future games in and around this tariff of difficulty.
15. The other obvious opportunity comes for Mason Mount. His whole Man United career has been defined by Bruno Fernandes’ sheer reliability in terms of both appearances and output. Even in recent weeks when he has proved rather nicely that he absolutely can play alongside United’s star man it has been in a support-act kind of way.
But with Mount playing the best football of his United career in that time and now seeing the field quite literally cleared for him, we do wonder. He’s something of a forgotten man but 2026 could yet prove a big one for him with both club and country; we know Thomas Tuchel doesn’t need much excuse to call up players he knows he can trust, and few Englishmen are more firmly inside that particular circle than Mount.
16. The final word has to go to Villa, though, who have completed an extraordinary year with an extraordinary set of home numbers. In all competitions they played 27 games at Villa Park in 2025. They won 22, drew four and lost only one.
Among the teams beaten here this year have been both their current title rivals, six of the other seven members in all of what we’ll reluctantly and frankly inaccurately label the Big Eight, as well as the literal best team in Europe.
And it really does set up the possibility of 2026 being even more memorable
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The result was massive. The performance bang average goals aside.
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We seemed to struggle for rhythm once those early chances had come and gone. But we just had the game’s best player, so there.
My daughter’s baptism at Villa Park. Magic.
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I have mixed feelings about the game. I'm a lot more happy with the score than the performance. It still looks like we have an inferiority complex against man utd. We played like we were the underdogs relying on counter attacking when really we should be taking the game to them a lot more. Still, it worked on this occasion so onwards and upwards.
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What a early xmas present 🎁 👏
We didn't play well but who cares. We beat those bastards and another one!
Thought maatsen was very good but of course rogers.
Expect our winning run to come to a end with Chelsea and arsenal away. Its abit of a ask to win both so just enjoying it while we can UTV and merry xmas to all
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Haven't read the thread so apologies for repeating anything but a lovely feeling to beat those fuckers by doing 'just enough'. Absolutely delicious to read one of my glory hunting mates describe it as a 'moral victory', like a plucky non-league team visiting in the cup, playing well but leaving with fuck all.
Rogers' goals were top drawer but I didn't think he was at his best overall, and certainly allowed Maatsen to get overrun a little in the first half. We seemed to struggle with the amount of traffic in the middle of the park, perhaps as we missed the Torres-Youri-Rogers series of vertical passes forward. Shaw in particular was pretty effective in stopping McGinn being the target for the outball resulting from their very effective press.
My MOM (albeit very unfair on MR) was Onana.
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Mcginn found the physical battle with shaw really tough. They have some similarities in how they compete and it’s not often SJM gets outmuscled.
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The result was a ‘heist’ according to the guardian ‘talking points’.
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The result was a ‘heist’ according to the guardian ‘talking points’.
We didnt play well to be fair but united hardly battered us either. United were better side but not by much.
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The result was a ‘heist’ according to the guardian ‘talking points’.
Newton Heath get a special bit all to themselves as well.
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The result was a ‘heist’ according to the guardian ‘talking points’.
"Villa were very lucky..." Well, maybe but both sides had several chances to score more goals. In the end, Villa's solid defence did its job well. What is more interesting is that Manchester set the team up in way which Villa found difficult to cope with ... which makes the victory even more creditable.
The narrative that without Rogers we'd have lost is lazy: yes, he scored one outstanding goal and was well-positioned to score the second, but they were team goals created from good passing and individual skill from other players (McGinn's pass to Rogers for the first should be given far more credit than I've seen / heard / read-about, and Tielemans' persistence and skill for the second was classy). Furthermore, without Heaven's first-half defending display, Villa would have been out of sight.
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As Mr Clough said to the BBC interviewer 45 years ago when Forest were top of the league, and all they were banging on about was Liverpool, Utd and Arsenal...."one day you lot will realise we are a decent side"....
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They played the prettier football, we didnt click too often but still managed to win. Just a reminder they scored form our cock up at the back
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That game was all about man to man marking to block transition in midfield. That's why we found it so difficult to get going. I'm puzzled why we didn't have a high press at home against a fragile defence. Reminded me of the Liverpool away set up. Maybe not for the purists, but much better second half when we stopped trying to play from the back.
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We have to be better against Chelsea.
I think we will be.
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We seemed to struggle for rhythm once those early chances had come and gone. But we just had the game’s best player, so there.
My daughter’s baptism at Villa Park. Magic.
Man Utd, to be fair to them, broke up our play quite effectively at times.
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Did John e get his bare arse out by The Holte Pub...just asking ..
Next game mate
Sky sports covering the great reveal
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I do think the crowd tension might have been reflected a little in that last 20 minutes performance ….you could sense most were just waiting for the ‘inevitable equaliser’ or ‘inevitable penalty’. The roar at the end when Guessand was dribbling and Oliver blew the whistle felt more of an exhaling of breath than a cheer :-) - shows what history does because we weren’t playing Madrid or PSG we were playing a bang average team who played slightly above themselves
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The result was a ‘heist’ according to the guardian ‘talking points’.
"Villa were very lucky..." Well, maybe but both sides had several chances to score more goals. In the end, Villa's solid defence did its job well. What is more interesting is that Manchester set the team up in way which Villa found difficult to cope with ... which makes the victory even more creditable.
The narrative that without Rogers we'd have lost is lazy: yes, he scored one outstanding goal and was well-positioned to score the second, but they were team goals created from good passing and individual skill from other players (McGinn's pass to Rogers for the first should be given far more credit than I've seen / heard / read-about, and Tielemans' persistence and skill for the second was classy). Furthermore, without Heaven's first-half defending display, Villa would have been out of sight.
Tim de Lisle, who was also the minute-by-minute guy, literally writes a Man Utd fan Substack.
I don't really care about the silly press coverage re us vs. the Big Fucks, but it's got extra silly this weekend I must say.
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Not a fan of those photos unless you achieve something. Lose the next 3 and you look as daft as Newcastle used to.
They've just won 10 games in a row which we hadn't previously done in the top flight since 1914. I think that's an achievement worth a photo. When the run ends it'll be too late to have a photo marking it.
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The result was a ‘heist’ according to the guardian ‘talking points’.
"Villa were very lucky..." Well, maybe but both sides had several chances to score more goals. In the end, Villa's solid defence did its job well. What is more interesting is that Manchester set the team up in way which Villa found difficult to cope with ... which makes the victory even more creditable.
The narrative that without Rogers we'd have lost is lazy: yes, he scored one outstanding goal and was well-positioned to score the second, but they were team goals created from good passing and individual skill from other players (McGinn's pass to Rogers for the first should be given far more credit than I've seen / heard / read-about, and Tielemans' persistence and skill for the second was classy). Furthermore, without Heaven's first-half defending display, Villa would have been out of sight.
Tim de Lisle, who was also the minute-by-minute guy, literally writes a Man Utd fan Substack.
I don't really care about the silly press coverage re us vs. the Big Fucks, but it's got extra silly this weekend I must say.
Even other fans are taking the piss in the comments section, as they do whenever Simon Stone writes a Newton Heath love letter on the Beeb.
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I do think the crowd tension might have been reflected a little in that last 20 minutes performance ….you could sense most were just waiting for the ‘inevitable equaliser’ or ‘inevitable penalty’. The roar at the end when Guessand was dribbling and Oliver blew the whistle felt more of an exhaling of breath than a cheer :-) - shows what history does because we weren’t playing Madrid or PSG we were playing a bang average team who played slightly above themselves
I think this is 100% bang on the money.
It was incredibly tense. It was nerve shredding.
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It was tense. As we've all seen this game played out before and usually with a disastrous ending. But this team is different and hopefully we can overcome that tension in future versions of this fixture. I also think we did play with half an eye on the next two games hence a more controlled approach rather than pressing them hard. On another day we're out of sight by half time given the early chances we had.
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That last free kick of theirs had me thinking it's going to happen again.
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That last free kick of theirs had me thinking it's going to happen again.
There set pieces were awful , luckily
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That last free kick of theirs had me thinking it's going to happen again.
There set pieces were awful , luckily
The long throw straight to Martinez was a highlight
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Villa won and didn't even get out of 2nd gear. Utd's goal was an xmas gift there was only a minute to go before half time! Cash could of launched it. I never felt they were a threat at all although Dorgu did keep cashy on his toes all game. If Rogers has a good world cup we will be fending off record bids in the summer.
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I'm loving that Newton Heath fans are moaning about our luck and how much better they were.
They have a case but hey, fuck off anyway and keep crying.
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That’s probably the worst our midfield unit of Kamara, Onana and Tielemans have played in ages, they wasn’t particularly good at hardly anything. They were out bossed for most of the game. However we still probably had the best chances, albeit early on, but we’re still showing we have World beaters in the team, even when off our game.
Selection error from Emery for me. Without Torres we have no distributor at the back, an issue made worse by Tielemans playing higher up the pitch. Too easy to press Onana in particular. Tielemans was the worst of the three of them today but the other two weren't much better than their no show last May.
I don't think it was a selection error, we just need to have a plan for teams brave enough to go man-for-man when they press us. It's been pretty rare this year we've faced a team doing that, so we've always been able to move the ball quick enough to find the free man - but there wasn't one against United. All three midfielders had players up their arse when the ball was going across the back four, and that removed our ability to control and dictate the play from our own box. I'm sure Pau would have been able to pick a few passes to get the ball to McGinn/Rogers had he been playing, but without him, we need to be better at dealing with a man-for-man press.
I'm absolutely sure Unai has a plan should Chelsea try the same thing at Stamford Bridge (Man Utd had a certain degree of joy with this tactic, so I'd expect it to be copied). It wouldn't surprise me to see McGinn or Rogers drop deeper to make a midfield four, pulling their fullback deeper and leaving it 2v2 up top for a longer ball.
Either way, teams are figuring out how to press us better, that's 2 goals in 2 games conceded while being pressed, and so we need to evolve.
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They had a lot of the ball and it mostly ended with them plopping a cross straight into Martinez hands. They had that Sesko chance which was from a mistake, that ball shouldn't have got through about 6 players, and Cunha fluffing that header, and that was it.
Wulvz caused us as much and maybe more bother, and they got fuck all as well. They think they're in the fight but we're in 2nd gear.
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Yeah, we rarely twat anyone. Unai wants to win while using as little energy as possible. Even the best managers can still learn and he has learned from how knackered we were at the end of the season two years ago and determined not to repeat that. Ten wins in a row, nine of them by the odd goal, isn't a fluke, it's deliberate.
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Agreed, but I’d love us to gub someone 10-0
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We should have put ten last Young Twats, tbh. They were shite.
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Agreed, but I’d love us to gub someone 10-0
I'd like to save that for the FA Cup if at all possible, and against yesterday's opposition.
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I have mixed feelings about the game. I'm a lot more happy with the score than the performance. It still looks like we have an inferiority complex against man utd. We played like we were the underdogs relying on counter attacking when really we should be taking the game to them a lot more.
Really? Read this piece from F365 report:
For all but the youngest Man United fans, there will have been something uncannily familiar about this game. An away team coming to a team on a formidable winning run and throwing absolutely everything at them, arguably having the better of the game on the balance of the 90 minutes, and then going home with absolutely nothing.
Old Trafford saw more games like this than any of care to remember in the 1990s and 2000s. That Villa Park is now the venue for such behaviour really is quite something. For the first time since before that era of United dominance – before the invention of football in 1992 even – Villa have won seven top-flight matches in a row. Things are happening here.
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Yeah, we rarely twat anyone. Unai wants to win while using as little energy as possible.
I heard he was raging with anger after the Bournemouth game. Kept them locked in for 30 mins and showers were adjusted down to zero degrees.
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I should hope so too. No surprise to me we have hardly seen Barkley since, quite rightly being punished for scoring the third goal when his job was to fuck up to bring Bournemouth back into it so we could win by one, as usual.
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It's difficult to put your finger on. Best home side in Europe over 3 years is not luck, but there are so many tight games and we just do enough. I think there's a bit of energy conservation going on. Maybe there's a strategy for ahead, level and behind. We are obsecenely good at seeing out games when in front whilst the number of one goal wins means we're not as good at extending it. Those stats pull over the full 3 years too.
There has to be a reason for that.
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I think the tightness / 1 goal wins come from the realtive lack of depth compared with other teams targetting the top 4. For years Man City have been doing enough, and then can bring on 200m of talent for the last 20 mins and they add 1 or 2 more.
In the nicest possible way - bringing on Guessard just doesnt have the same impact.
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I'm loving that Newton Heath fans are moaning about our luck and how much better they were.
They have a case but hey, fuck off anyway and keep crying.
Exactly that.
If we can’t hammer them (and the are due an absolute shoeing from us) this is the next best thing.
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They had a lot of the ball and it mostly ended with them plopping a cross straight into Martinez hands. They had that Sesko chance which was from a mistake, that ball shouldn't have got through about 6 players, and Cunha fluffing that header, and that was it.
Wulvz caused us as much and maybe more bother, and they got fuck all as well. They think they're in the fight but we're in 2nd gear.
We were totally outplayed in midfield though. I was surprised how decent they were. That's even with Martinez, the centre back, coming in there at half time. Ugarte didn't contribute anything but Mount and Cunha were far too involved.
West Ham probably matched our three too.
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Thought we soaked it up and conserved energy fist half which is the Unai way. We always up the lace when Malen comes on.
McGinn was my MoTM. Huge passion. Onana poor and I think Kamara concerns about being one booking away from suspension. Class from Rogers. Terrible mistake from Cash who looked ropey against their wingback. Not totally convinced about Lindelof and Konsa but they didn’t threaten.
Fernandes a big loss for them but we do get stronger as games go on anyway. Cunha impressive but then they paid so much for him.
Enjoyable win against an awful Club based on myth and finance.
What happened to Emi with the physios. Were they trying to get him to go off for a concussion check?
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They had a lot of the ball and it mostly ended with them plopping a cross straight into Martinez hands. They had that Sesko chance which was from a mistake, that ball shouldn't have got through about 6 players, and Cunha fluffing that header, and that was it.
Wulvz caused us as much and maybe more bother, and they got fuck all as well. They think they're in the fight but we're in 2nd gear.
We were totally outplayed in midfield though. I was surprised how decent they were. That's even with Martinez, the centre back, coming in there at half time. Ugarte didn't contribute anything but Mount and Cunha were far too involved.
West Ham probably matched our three too.
I think them having the edge for a lot of the game, is very different to us being totally outplayed. That just isn’t the game I was at.
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They reckon they have been ravaged by injuries.
By my calculations Man U spent £445m on their starting XI; Villa spent £175m. I don't think it's unlucky if they spent over £115m combined on Sesko and Yoro. More like stupidity.
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Thought we soaked it up and conserved energy fist half which is the Unai way. We always up the lace when Malen comes on.
McGinn was my MoTM. Huge passion. Onana poor and I think Kamara concerns about being one booking away from suspension. Class from Rogers. Terrible mistake from Cash who looked ropey against their wingback. Not totally convinced about Lindelof and Konsa but they didn’t threaten.
Fernandes a big loss for them but we do get stronger as games go on anyway. Cunha impressive but then they paid so much for him.
Enjoyable win against an awful Club based on myth and finance.
What happened to Emi with the physios. Were they trying to get him to go off for a concussion check?
I don't think the medics could agree on the concussion? Emi was desperate to stay on though!
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Sesko and Gyokeres look really poor.
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I'm so happy we beat them good win.
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Even more ecstatic that we beat them whilst not at our best. HOW many times have they done that to us over the years.
Been a long time coming that one, and hopefully the first of many. UTV.
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They reckon they have been ravaged by injuries.
By my calculations Man U spent £445m on their starting XI; Villa spent £175m. I don't think it's unlucky if they spent over £115m combined on Sesko and Yoro. More like stupidity.
Only 2 injuries in their starting line up plus rat boy at half time. The rest were AFCON (they chose to sign them) or suspension (he chose to commit large numbers of bookable offences).
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Even more ecstatic that we beat them whilst not at our best. HOW many times have they done that to us over the years.
Been a long time coming that one, and hopefully the first of many. UTV.
I too take extra joy from this. Fernandes getting injured without anyone touching him was also an unexpected win.
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Even more ecstatic that we beat them whilst not at our best. HOW many times have they done that to us over the years.
Been a long time coming that one, and hopefully the first of many. UTV.
I too take extra joy from this. Fernandes getting injured without anyone touching him was also an unexpected win.
Onana’s tackle although I thought the challenge was a fair one but the ref gave a free kick.
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Even more ecstatic that we beat them whilst not at our best. HOW many times have they done that to us over the years.
Been a long time coming that one, and hopefully the first of many. UTV.
I too take extra joy from this. Fernandes getting injured without anyone touching him was also an unexpected win.
Very magnanimous of John to kick the ball out rather than pick it up and go for goal when the nag pulled up.
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Only just found out that the kid having a pre-game kick about with SJM was Ozzy’s grandson.
I’d have never have recognised Kelly Osbourne, but I thought that the bloke looked like a musician type.
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Even more ecstatic that we beat them whilst not at our best. HOW many times have they done that to us over the years.
Been a long time coming that one, and hopefully the first of many. UTV.
I too take extra joy from this. Fernandes getting injured without anyone touching him was also an unexpected win.
Very magnanimous of John to kick the ball out rather than pick it up and go for goal when the nag pulled up.
Still don’t understand how the ref restarted the game.
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Fuck the Hyprpctical Neville Fuck Ratboy Fuck Simon Stone Fuck all the Whinging sycophants in the media for the last 60 years. Fuck all their plastic fans Fuck the celeb fsns more.
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I don’t go along with all this conserving energy stuff, just don’t buy it
I think it’s just the way we play sometimes and people have made up some sort of tactical theory about it
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Fuck the Hyprpctical Neville Fuck Ratboy Fuck Simon Stone Fuck all the Whinging sycophants in the media for the last 60 years. Fuck all their plastic fans Fuck the celeb fsns more.
Luke Littler and Angry Ginge seem alright.
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Even more ecstatic that we beat them whilst not at our best. HOW many times have they done that to us over the years.
Been a long time coming that one, and hopefully the first of many. UTV.
I too take extra joy from this. Fernandes getting injured without anyone touching him was also an unexpected win.
Very magnanimous of John to kick the ball out rather than pick it up and go for goal when the nag pulled up.
Yep. Classy sportsmanship.
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He should have kicked it at the rat's hamstring.
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He should have kicked it at the rat's hamstring.
F*cking right! And then stamped on his face.
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He should have kicked it at the rat's hamstring.
F*cking right! And then stamped on his face.
While singing "Ben, the two of us need look no more...".
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So the media insist on saying we have only beaten Man U however many times it is in the last however many years, ignore the fact that we have beaten them twice since Unai joined us. I'm losing my voice screaming at the tv every time they ignore that fact!
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I don’t go along with all this conserving energy stuff, just don’t buy it
I think it’s just the way we play sometimes and people have made up some sort of tactical theory about it
It's mostly come about from the fact that we've regularly looked the fitter and stronger team in the last 15-20 minutes of games over the last few months.
I think tactics do play a part in it because we're quite tidy and efficient in how we play, often trying to control the tempo but also we pretty clearly make planned subs with the goal of them bringing energy against tiring teams. Buendia, Malen and Bogarde have all been brilliant with it the last few months.
Aside from that I think there's been a lot more focus on fitness this season and we're managing playing time more actively for most of the team. Only really Cash, Konsa and Rogers are playing 90 minutes most weeks.
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I’m sure I saw a stat that as a team we ran 4 or 5 km less than Arsenal when we played them. More efficient.
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109.56km v 113.9km v Arsenal
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
Compare the end of last season where we finished strongly, with the exception of at OT, and the previous conference league season where we were running on fumes to cross the line.
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
Compare the end of last season where we finished strongly, with the exception of at OT, and the previous conference league season where we were running on fumes to cross the line.
Exactly.
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
Compare the end of last season where we finished strongly, with the exception of at OT, and the previous conference league season where we were running on fumes to cross the line.
Exactly.
Agree with all this. Can’t get too exercised about Europa League performances when we have won 5/6. We need to avoid those two extra games.
Look at how inconsistent Spurs and Newcastle are due to additional ECL demands. Everton and Palace with much thinner squads are doing better.
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Fuck the Hyprpctical Neville Fuck Ratboy Fuck Simon Stone Fuck all the Whinging sycophants in the media for the last 60 years. Fuck all their plastic fans Fuck the celeb fsns more.
Luke Littler and Angry Ginge seem alright.
I dunno who latter is.
Ok 95% of them
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
Not disagreeing with your point, but I think we have decent strength and should be able to manage the players’ minutes.
Mings, Pau, Digne, Buendia, Malen, and Barkley are senior pros that weren’t selected yesterday. Bogarde looks decent and needs minutes. There’s a risk we will become stretched for attacking players as Guessand, Sancho, and Elliot are underwhelming, but even here we can repurpose Barkley and Tielemans to add some further options.
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
Not disagreeing with your point, but I think we have decent strength and should be able to manage the players’ minutes.
Mings, Pau, Digne, Buendia, Malen, and Barkley are senior pros that weren’t selected yesterday. Bogarde looks decent and needs minutes. There’s a risk we will become stretched for attacking players as Guessand, Sancho, and Elliot are underwhelming, but even here we can repurpose Barkley and Tielemans to add some depth.
Which is fair comment DL. I suppose what separates us from the likes of Newcastle, Man U and Spurs is the bang for buck we get from our squad as opposed to them. And that’s down to one man and his back room team and their management and coaching of the team.
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
Not disagreeing with your point, but I think we have decent strength and should be able to manage the players’ minutes.
Mings, Pau, Digne, Buendia, Malen, and Barkley are senior pros that weren’t selected yesterday. Bogarde looks decent and needs minutes. There’s a risk we will become stretched for attacking players as Guessand, Sancho, and Elliot are underwhelming, but even here we can repurpose Barkley and Tielemans to add some depth.
Which is fair comment DL. I suppose what separates us from the likes of Newcastle, Man U and Spurs is the bang for buck we get from our squad as opposed to them. And that’s down to one man and his back room team and their management and coaching of the team.
Emery joins Newcastle instead of us in early 2022, we'd likely be nowhere near Europe, and Spurs wouldn't be part of Big6 anymore.
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
Not disagreeing with your point, but I think we have decent strength and should be able to manage the players’ minutes.
Mings, Pau, Digne, Buendia, Malen, and Barkley are senior pros that weren’t selected yesterday. Bogarde looks decent and needs minutes. There’s a risk we will become stretched for attacking players as Guessand, Sancho, and Elliot are underwhelming, but even here we can repurpose Barkley and Tielemans to add some depth.
Which is fair comment DL. I suppose what separates us from the likes of Newcastle, Man U and Spurs is the bang for buck we get from our squad as opposed to them. And that’s down to one man and his back room team and their management and coaching of the team.
“The Bang for Buck” metric is spot on. A combination of good management and flexible players means we are getting way more from our budget compared to the teams around us (actually below us).
Man U and Spurs are good examples of clubs that consistently spend way more but actually create problems by having too many players.
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Even more ecstatic that we beat them whilst not at our best. HOW many times have they done that to us over the years.
Been a long time coming that one, and hopefully the first of many. UTV.
I too take extra joy from this. Fernandes getting injured without anyone touching him was also an unexpected win.
Very magnanimous of John to kick the ball out rather than pick it up and go for goal when the nag pulled up.
Yep. Classy sportsmanship.
I was howling at McGinn to tear down the pitch. Would have been brilliant and 1% payback for all the refereeing atrocities we’ve suffered against them over the years.
Note Tielemans was down for a while in the second half with what from afar looked like an head injury and ref boy just allowed play to go on. Twat.
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
Compare the end of last season where we finished strongly, with the exception of at OT, and the previous conference league season where we were running on fumes to cross the line.
Exactly.
I usually look at the match stats on BBC and we invariably run fewer kn than the opposition. They split it into jogging, sprinting and full speed Ross Barkley and we are always lowest on the sprints.
To me it’s a very considered tactic by Emery to manage our squad. I think he has learned from spring 2023.
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Non Villa view
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If you don’t manage minutes and effort it eventually catches up with you. It’s easy for the big turnover clubs with large squads to manage, for us, we’ve got to be careful and our lower tempo almost continental style is the way to do it. The benefit will be felt when we’re still strong in the title run in and challenging for European Glory.
Compare the end of last season where we finished strongly, with the exception of at OT, and the previous conference league season where we were running on fumes to cross the line.
Exactly.
I usually look at the match stats on BBC and we invariably run fewer kn than the opposition. They split it into jogging, sprinting and full speed Ross Barkley and we are always lowest on the sprints.
To me it’s a very considered tactic by Emery to manage our squad. I think he has learned from spring 2023.
Yep can’t be bothered to get into an argument but to me it’s absolutely obvious we are conserving energy first half. It’s been the pattern since at least the 0-2 win at Arsenal two seasons ago. When the subs come on we play a different tempo and Unai’s arm waving starts!
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Non Villa view
Good lad, and he seemed to enjoy himself.
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Good lad, and he seemed to enjoy himself.
Yeah, he seems sound as a pound. Also, the good thing about it being on YouTube is that it comes with subtitles for English speakers.
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Has anyone seen any fan videos from the away end on Sunday? I like watching them to see the rest of the ground erupt when we score. I don’t mean those fan reaction ones where someone's watching on TV, I mean one from the ground.
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Has anyone seen any fan videos from the away end on Sunday? I like watching them to see the rest of the ground erupt when we score. I don’t mean those fan reaction ones where someone's watching on TV, I mean one from the ground.
The Leeds fan cam at Elland Road is the best away one. Always good value (especially when we win).
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Pitchside Sunday is a good watch.
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Predictably biased reffing from Oliver.
They were allowed to hammer into tackles with no bookings while, on several occasions, we looked to win fair tackles which were whistled up for fouls.