Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on March 01, 2026, 06:26:39 PM
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A massive game in midweek. We have allowed Man City and Arsenal to vanish into the distance, Man U and Liverpool to catch us. We cannot allow Chelsea to do the same. We need a win and a return to some positive energy. It’s been really gloomy of late. This needs to be a springboard to the balance of the season in the league and Europa. I want to see us open up a bit and play faster more flowing football. I’m probably asking too much. So I’ll go for an edgy nervy 2-1 win.
Rogers and Tammy for us. Palmer penalty for them.
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Dread.
Fucking do them, Villa.
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Villa 0 Chelsea 3
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Head says no fooking chance in our current form.
But try not to listen to my head too much.
2-1 Villa, somehow, Dougie, Abraham
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While a win would be great, do not lose. A 6 point gap with 9 to go is massive psychologically.
1-1
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Another opportunity to reset and really hammer home the advantage - remarkable really given how rubbish we’ve been of late. Turn up Villa, ffs.
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Play the right team first .
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Start Tammy, don't start Bailey. Or Bring Bailey on. Or let him in the stadium.
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Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Digne
Luiz
Onana
Rogers
Sancho
Tammy
Watkins
Two up top and direct. Lots of high balls into their box.
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We have a good record against them, and they're coming off the back of a demoralising defeat against their local rivals. 2-1 to the Villa Boys.
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0-4.
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Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Digne
Luiz
Onana
Rogers
Sancho
Tammy
Watkins
Two up top and direct. Lots of high balls into their box.
Yes I thought that earlier re two up top and a more direct approach.
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No Neto for them I assume which helps. He generally tears us a new down their right
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We've had 46 hours more prep time plus Emery is a a professor while Liam is still on his teaching practice. 4-1.
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They will be massively up for this, it’s one of their ‘shit or bust’ games.
3-1 away win I fear.
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0-3
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One thing I’m certain of is if we approach the game like we have recently and play like we have we will lose. If we show more proactivity Chelsea are at the most vulnerable in defence, we need a proper attacking strategy. We have to attack the game, which will then get the crowd into the game.
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Please, for the love of god, just win this one.
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0-4
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Another reason to really attack this - we’ve had nearly two days more recovery.
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I would take the world’s scruffiest 0-0 at this point, just to maintain the six point gap while moving another week closer to McGinn and Tielemans coming back. Though if we play the way we have in recent games it’s a dead cert loss.
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Another reason to really attack this - we’ve had nearly two days more recovery.
I'm trying to remember when that last helped us. We're at our best playing Thursday and Sunday. Give these pillocks one game a week and we struggle.
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Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Digne
Luiz
Onana
Rogers
Sancho
Tammy
Watkins
Two up top and direct. Lots of high balls into their box.
Think I’d start Maatsen in this one.
Think Luiz and Onana might struggle as a two against Caicedo and Fernandes, would be tempted to start Barkley and just leave Tammy up maybe.
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I'd play Maatsen instead of Digne, Abraham instead of Watkins and Barkley instead of Buendia.
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Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Digne
Luiz
Onana
Rogers
Sancho
Tammy
Watkins
Two up top and direct. Lots of high balls into their box.
Think I’d start Maatsen in this one.
Think Luiz and Onana might struggle as a two against Caicedo and Fernandes, would be tempted to start Barkley and just leave Tammy up maybe.
Barkley only useful if we are dominating possession. Can't run and that's a big problem. Maybe switch up to 433/451 with Alysson and Rogers on wings. Bogarde into midfield. Maatsen on left. Let's make it a scrap anyway. Lindelof into LCB.
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1-3
Cant see how we win this one.
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Well we can - we’re playing rubbish, below what we should be doing. But that’s the point, even with the injuries, we’re less than the sum of our parts right now. We might lose, but if Unai and the players get their act together we can definitely win.
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Gonna lose quite comfortably i am afraid
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Huge game which we really need to win, as I think it's between us and them now for that final Champions League spot. 9 points ahead of them with 9.games to go (and the fixtures they have) would be very big.
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We don't "need" to win, but we desperately need not to lose. Win would be immense and be the biggest lift of the season.
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We go again....
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Depends on his team selection, if he tries something new like two strikers and get the ball into their penalty box first chance we have a shot, if he goes play it slow out of defence and a gradual build up we lose.
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Rinse and repeat. Emery won't have learnt a thing from Friday and it'll be the same staid boring shit, resulting in Chelsea taking full advantage. A loss but I'd love to be proved wrong and see a genuine reaction from the players.
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We don't "need" to win, but we desperately need not to lose. Win would be immense and be the biggest lift of the season.
Yep that’s exactly the situation.
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We don't "need" to win, but we desperately need not to lose. Win would be immense and be the biggest lift of the season.
Agree
Win magnificent
Draw good
Loss disaster
Avoid defeat at all costs
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I wonder if we'll fall into the trap of involving McGinn before he is ready to give them a gee-up, only to cause longer term damage?
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I hate games that are 'mustn't lose', so I'll think about this one as being a 'must win' (even though I agree with the posts above).
I just hope we start off in a positive and rousing fashion and not in a defensive crouch.
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Would gladly take a draw. They only lost to Arsenal on corners and look far more dangerous than anything we're doing currently.
Watkins got so much joy out of their bumbling centre backs and goalie last time, he's got to take confidence from that as it's not coming from anywhere else at the moment.
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Win this and I'll believe we're in with a decent chance of finishing 5th, lose and I'll consider it largely game over. A draw would be fine, but would feel largely like kicking the can down the road.
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We don't "need" to win, but we desperately need not to lose. Win would be immense and be the biggest lift of the season.
This could have been written by a Chelsea fan. It's the proverbial six pointer.
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I wonder if we'll fall into the trap of involving McGinn before he is ready to give them a gee-up, only to cause longer term damage?
He’d a few weeks off yet, I believe
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It might help having a team coming onto us a bit, it's been low block merchants for a while now.
I'm clinging to this faint hope.
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It might help having a team coming onto us a bit, it's been low block merchants for a while now.
I'm clinging to this faint hope.
Been ages since a had a Chelsea come onto me.
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would take a draw but the problem is , If Emery sets up for a draw and plays that slow passive football and then it backfires and they score , we lose. Id just go for the jugular from the start and set up to win , fast , direct and plenty of intensity.
Nervous already.
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I wonder if we'll fall into the trap of involving McGinn before he is ready to give them a gee-up, only to cause longer term damage?
Would be a very un-Emery thing to do.
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0-3 is what I've gone for on the Skybet6.
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When we need to step up, we’ll do what we usually do in these situations. Lose, I’m afraid.
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would take a draw but the problem is , If Emery sets up for a draw and plays that slow passive football and then it backfires and they score , we lose. Id just go for the jugular from the start and set up to win , fast , direct and plenty of intensity.
Nervous already.
We can do it when we want, we did it to Forest and Newcastle at home in the run in last season.
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I don't think they're that good that they'll hammer us but I still think we'll lose. 0-1 or 1-2 is my guess.
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0-3 is what I've gone for on the Skybet6.
March '99, Tore Andre Flo tearing us a new one after being top at Christmas.
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On team selection: Don't pick Torres! He's the weak link at the back. Mings or Lindelof are proper leaders. Start Maatsen, and certainly Tammy. Go at Chelsea on the front foot. They drew with Leeds and Burnley at home recently, despite being in the lead.
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Press them high, as the keeper is a liability. Same at corners, someone on his toes and load the area. We have to be aggressive in the tackle (They do like a sending off) The crowd needs to be loud and proud, no negativity, no nerves. This is one of the most important games at Villa Park for years, and we can certainly beat Chelsea.
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On team selection: Don't pick Torres! He's the weak link at the back. Mings or Lindelof are proper leaders. Start Maatsen, and certainly Tammy. Go at Chelsea on the front foot. They drew with Leeds and Burnley at home recently, despite being in the lead.
Didn’t Torres start basically all of our winning run?
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Edit: less gratuitously meanly - I don't really get how people can have watched us when we're good and concluded that Torres is nothing more than a weak link.
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0-3 is what I've gone for on the Skybet6.
March '99, Tore Andre Flo tearing us a new one after being top at Christmas.
Was chatting to my brother at that game about how good Flo was when the bloke in front of got up and slapped my brother round the face, as you do. He got it back in spades and we moved our season tickets after.
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I wonder if we'll fall into the trap of involving McGinn before he is ready to give them a gee-up, only to cause longer term damage?
Generally speaking, the manager doesn’t get to decide these things nowadays. Even Unai has to listen to the advice of the medical staff.
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I may be clutching at straws here, but we’ve played a lot of “low block’, “come and beat us“ type teams lately. All the way back to Everton, who were like 2 solid rows of defenders.
Chelsea won’t play like that. And we won’t have as much of the ball. That at least means we’ll find space.
That’s all I’ve got. Just give us a draw please.
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Can't remember the exact numbers but it was something like we've won 2 of the last 10 when we've had 65%+ possession.
I reckon the crowd will be really up for it, hopefully the energy isn't sapped with 30 mins of sideways passing walking football and no shots.
Maybe more of a ding dong game will get us going. Hopefully Wolves was rock bottom and we'll bounce back like we very often do under Emery.
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On team selection: Don't pick Torres! He's the weak link at the back. Mings or Lindelof are proper leaders. Start Maatsen, and certainly Tammy. Go at Chelsea on the front foot. They drew with Leeds and Burnley at home recently, despite being in the lead.
Didn’t Torres start basically all of our winning run?
Yes, but don't forget Torres had a midfield of Kamara, McGinn and Tielemans in front of him, plus Onana! The midfield is simply far weaker now.....
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On team selection: Don't pick Torres! He's the weak link at the back. Mings or Lindelof are proper leaders. Start Maatsen, and certainly Tammy. Go at Chelsea on the front foot. They drew with Leeds and Burnley at home recently, despite being in the lead.
Didn’t Torres start basically all of our winning run?
Yes, but don't forget Torres had a midfield of Kamara, McGinn and Tielemans in front of him, plus Onana! The midfield is simply far weaker now.....
Those players were all available and playing (for the most part) at the start of the season, when we couldn't buy a win. Our run of form began five minutes after Pau replaced Mings half an hour in against Fulham, when Ollie equalised. He was then in the side for the months of wins that followed.
Obviously it's more complicated than that and Pau certainly isn't without his flaws but calling him the weak link is just daft.
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He absolutely starts for me, irrespective of his performance against Wolves. There will be so much space to exploit, especially as they're likely to have the lions share of possession.
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On team selection: Don't pick Torres! He's the weak link at the back. Mings or Lindelof are proper leaders. Start Maatsen, and certainly Tammy. Go at Chelsea on the front foot. They drew with Leeds and Burnley at home recently, despite being in the lead.
Didn’t Torres start basically all of our winning run?
Yes, but don't forget Torres had a midfield of Kamara, McGinn and Tielemans in front of him, plus Onana! The midfield is simply far weaker now.....
Those players were all available and playing (for the most part) at the start of the season, when we couldn't buy a win. Our run of form began five minutes after Pau replaced Mings half an hour in against Fulham, when Ollie equalised. He was then in the side for the months of wins that followed.
Obviously it's more complicated than that and Pau certainly isn't without his flaws but calling him the weak link is just daft.
Torres isn't playing particularly well with or without the ball of late. It probably points to structural issues further up the pitch. Opponents are covering the space in the middle for his passes where once Buendia and Rogers were thriving. Leaving Maatsen out hurt us v Wolves as Digne simply can't or won't push forward any more. That out ball down the left wasn't on.
It's a real stick or twist decision for Chelsea with Mings or Torres. I'd go with Lindelof but that's the most unlikely decision I suspect. Cash aside, I thought our defence was rubbish v Wolves as it was v Leeds. That's against very limited forwards too.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Pau Maatsen
Bogarde Onana
Alysson Luiz Rogers
Abraham
Please Unai!
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Pau Maatsen
Bogarde Onana
Alysson Luiz Rogers
Abraham
Please Unai!
I’d like that team to start. Don’t think it will though.
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Torres isn't playing particularly well with or without the ball of late.
He's not, but then nobody is really.
But given our bigger issue is creating and scoring goals rather than leaking them (Friday notwithstanding) it still feels more like the solution to that problem is helped (not solved) by Pau being there over the alternatives.
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Torres isn't playing particularly well with or without the ball of late.
He's not, but then nobody is really.
But given our bigger issue is creating and scoring goals rather than leaking them (Friday notwithstanding) it still feels more like the solution to that problem is helped (not solved) by Pau being there over the alternatives.
Certainly felt that way v Leeds where Mings was let have the ball. But Torres wasn't much better when he came in v Wolves. Luiz was able to get turned on the ball a good bit more to my eye than v Leeds, we only looked a competent team when that happened. To be fair to Torres and Luiz, when they look forward Buendia/Rogers/Watkins are simply not retaining possession in tight spaces. Digne doesn't offer an outlet either on that side. Just think if we shifted Rogers left it might give him more space like in the Newcastle cup game. Tammy has a better touch than Ollie too. Might make the game a bit easier for Torres and Luiz too.
I've pretty much written off the other flank until McGinn returns. Cash doesn't look fully fit to me, having to do the work of two players not helping matters.
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Let's just hope they don't get another player sent off. You know what we're like against 10 men.
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So it all comes down to this. Well, it doesn't at all, there are and will be plenty of opportunities after this game even if we lose but it does have the feel of a pivotal game in our season. We're on a bad run and one would hope the nadir was Friday, all teams have bad runs and most come out of them. Prior to that wet performance on Friday I believed that we were more likely to win this game than in the land that time forgot. Yes, the stats and everything else indicated otherwise but sometimes, in fact quite often, the ebb and flow of football doesn't follow the script.
It's undoubtedly a big night on Wednesday, it will feel like a massive game and I sincerely hope the team respond, whatever players are selected. But I will stick with what I said a couple of hours before KO in Greater Bilston; it will be typical Villa to lose this and beat Chelsea....
2-0
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Torres isn't playing particularly well with or without the ball of late.
He's not, but then nobody is really.
But given our bigger issue is creating and scoring goals rather than leaking them (Friday notwithstanding) it still feels more like the solution to that problem is helped (not solved) by Pau being there over the alternatives.
Agreed. You could pretty much drop everyone on the basis of the Wolves game anyway. We need as much potential creativity as we can get right now.
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Aside from Cash, who's been eternal for us all season.
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Tamny would be up for this you would imagine against his pld club. Also dropping ollie hopefully gives him a kick up the backside as he has been shocking last few games
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I would definitely start Maatsen, he was one of the very few, who does deserve some credit from last Friday, would also like to see Alysson come on a lot earlier, around the 70 minute mark.
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I would definitely start Maatsen, he was one of the very few, who does deserve some credit from last Friday, would also like to see Alysson come on a lot earlier, around the 70 minute mark.
I'd start the kid and Tammy just to see some different things, movements and touches, something to give us an element of unpredictability, it's become so depressingly sterile.
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Without either McGinn or Mings there does not seem to be any leadership on the pitch when the going gets tough.
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I would definitely start Maatsen, he was one of the very few, who does deserve some credit from last Friday, would also like to see Alysson come on a lot earlier, around the 70 minute mark.
And another one to tick the "show your former club what they're missing" box. Barkley, too.
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We can't keep persisting with Bailey, Buendia and Sancho and expecting something different to happen.
It's clear Onana and Luiz can't play together so we need to try something different in midfield.
If only we had the quality that Asensio and Rashford gave us in the Chelsea match last season!
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Aside from Cash, who's been eternal for us all season.
Nah.
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I would definitely start Maatsen, he was one of the very few, who does deserve some credit from last Friday, would also like to see Alysson come on a lot earlier, around the 70 minute mark.
And another one to tick the "show your former club what they're missing" box. Barkley, too.
Sancho, Alysson, Tammy and Barkley. If you can't do it for Villa, do it to deny Chelsea.
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Without either McGinn or Mings there does not seem to be any leadership on the pitch when the going gets tough.
Was badly missing the last day. Buendia and Rogers needed to be told to chill out after about 5 minutes. Wolves were all over the place but Buendia was hyped to the max, kept fouling and giving away possession. Rogers lost focus very quickly too.
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Can't see Emery changing his system, which has become the problem!
So yet more slow numb boring football that will see us lose unless we score a couple (at least) worldies!
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...OK maybe we're a bit fickle.
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He said that we played the first half how he wanted so...yeah, expect more slow, scared shit.
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I'd go radical and incur the wrath of CD.
Martinez
Konsa Mings Pau
Cash Maatsen
Onana Luiz
Sancho Rogers
Abraham
Subs:
Watkins for Sancho
Alysson for Mings
Bogarde for Onana
Barkley for Luiz
Width, runners, passing ability. Can switch to a back four at any point by leaving Cash/Maatsen up as a wide player, and change that probably by Alysson for Mings. And Lindelof can replace a centre back or CM too if needed.
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I'd go radical and incur the wrath of CD.
Martinez
Konsa Mings Pau
Cash Maatsen
It was nice knowing you, Drummond.
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I think we have to pack the middle of the pitch and leave it to Rogers and Abraham to try and cause havoc in front of them.
Barkley should start with Maatsen giving us some pace on the left. I’d also bring Mings back in for some leadership.
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...OK maybe we're a bit fickle.
Fans of every club the world over are fickle!
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It might help having a team coming onto us a bit, it's been low block merchants for a while now.
I'm clinging to this faint hope.
Been ages since a had a Chelsea come onto me.
Can really see your accent changing now you've been in Italy.
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I'd go radical and incur the wrath of CD.
Martinez
Konsa Mings Pau
Cash Maatsen
Onana Luiz
Sancho Rogers
Abraham
Subs:
Watkins for Sancho
Alysson for Mings
Bogarde for Onana
Barkley for Luiz
Width, runners, passing ability. Can switch to a back four at any point by leaving Cash/Maatsen up as a wide player, and change that probably by Alysson for Mings. And Lindelof can replace a centre back or CM too if needed.
Little or no point playing three centre backs up against Joao Pedro who floats around anyway. You end up with Konsa and Mings on the ball far more than we want. They ran rings around Kamara/Tielemans for 60 mins earlier in the season so no chance Onana/Luiz in current structure will hold them. We will get no legs or energy with playing Barkley or Sancho at 10.
Think the below might be our best bet. Rogers to drop into a midfield four out of possession with Alysson a bit higher up. Huge ask for him to come into a game like this but I can't see Bailey or Sancho again.
Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen
Bogarde, Onana, Luiz
Alysson, Tammy, Rogers
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Cole and james fot for them. Cucrella and estavao may also be back.
Wonderful
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I think Bogarde deserves a start. The Onana Dougie is just not working.
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I think Bogarde deserves a start. The Onana Dougie is just not working.
I would drop buendia go bogarde in the defensive role and have luiz a little more forward as thats where he is at his best.
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FFS. Shoot the damn ball Villa. Just getting in some practice.
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If you look at pragmatism given our injuries. The way to be pragmatic against Chelsea is to prioritise attack, Chelsea’s weakness is in central defence and goal keeper. You have to pressure them. If we don’t pose a threat they’ll comfortably beat us.
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Any references to Alysson starting shows how much we’ve been struggling. That’s not a criticism of him, but he’s had the smallest of cameos where he’s shown a bit of promise. That’s great, but that translating to him starting a game of this importance shows it’s been really poor.
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We have to think about this,we still have 30pts to play for, of course we can't lose this but a draw isn't all that bad, one things for sure we must stop this losing games now we are into the run-in, we have to cling on to 4th spot, if Liverpool win and we draw we are still ahead of them by a point, still 4th, we also deny Chelsea progressing any further.
I'm going for a win, a draw isn't a disaster and probably a good thing.
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I think one big tactical thing we need to do is get the two midfielders playing more defensively much closer to Rogers. At the moment the gap between them is really hindering fluidity of play. It basically means Rogers ends up very isolated.
It brings a risk and is demanding, but we have to address it. If we leave a big gap in the midfield for Chelsea they’ll completely dominate us.
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Rogers is too careless with the ball to be a 10 with Luiz and Onana. For me, Barkley 10, Onana at 6 and Luiz floating between, Rogers left side, Sancho right. Abraham up top. Buendia should be benched for his petulance. Watkins because he’s been beyond shit for too long.
Lindelof and Torres at the back too. Konsa needs a wake up call. Give big Vic the armband.
I expect the same side. With the same result. The stubborn goat will then say the same thing. And I will continue to be thoroughly depressed on the drive him.
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Midfield, Chelsea’s strength and our weakness, fail to address this and we lose.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Pau Maatsen
Bogarde Luiz
Rogers Barkley Watkins
Abraham
Onana and Alysson to come on for Barkley and Watkins (or Abraham, depending on). Poss get Big Vic on at some point.
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Rogers is too careless with the ball to be a 10 with Luiz and Onana. For me, Barkley 10, Onana at 6 and Luiz floating between, Rogers left side, Sancho right. Abraham up top. Buendia should be benched for his petulance. Watkins because he’s been beyond shit for too long.
Lindelof and Torres at the back too. Konsa needs a wake up call. Give big Vic the armband.
I expect the same side. With the same result. The stubborn goat will then say the same thing. And I will continue to be thoroughly depressed on the drive him.
I don’t think he’s careless on the ball, he’s just trying to do difficult things most of the time. Also if that’s your complaint about him then Barkley is an odd choice as an alternative - he often gives the ball away trying to play progressive passes. Again understandable, but he does the same thing.
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Martinez
Cash. Konsa Pau Maatsen
Lindeloft
Onana. Luiz
Rogers Sancho
Tammy
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Martinez
Cash. Konsa Pau Maatsen
Lindeloft
Onana. Luiz
Rogers Sancho
Tammy
Surely you'd play him up top?
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Rogers is the only one that tries to make things happen, sometimes he takes on too much but thats because he can see wer'e shit up front.
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Martinez
Cash. Konsa Pau Maatsen
Lindeloft
Onana. Luiz
Rogers Sancho
Tammy
Surely you'd play him up top?
That would be a conversion.
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Martinez
Cash. Konsa Pau Maatsen
Lindeloft
Onana. Luiz
Rogers Sancho
Tammy
Surely you'd play him up top?
That would be a conversion.
Perhaps help him climb the ladder...
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Martinez
Cash. Konsa Pau Maatsen
Lindeloft
Onana. Luiz
Rogers Sancho
Tammy
Surely you'd play him up top?
That would be a conversion.
Perhaps help him climb the ladder...
We'll need to be attic from.the start.
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Martinez
Cash. Konsa Pau Maatsen
Lindeloft
Onana. Luiz
Rogers Sancho
Tammy
Surely you'd play him up top?
That would be a conversion.
Perhaps help him climb the ladder...
We'll need to be attic from.the start.
We need to insulate our defence
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Any references to Alysson starting shows how much we’ve been struggling. That’s not a criticism of him, but he’s had the smallest of cameos where he’s shown a bit of promise. That’s great, but that translating to him starting a game of this importance shows it’s been really poor.
Sancho, Bailey, Guessand, Elliot have all bombed in that position I guess. Alysson up against that sideshow bob character would be a tough debut I suspect but Emery has to try something different. Only other option I can think of is Rogers on the right which he hates and Sancho again off the left where he prefers to play.
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Rogers is the only one that tries to make things happen, sometimes he takes on too much but thats because he can see wer'e shit up front.
So does Emi. He just doesn't have the muscular body to fend-off farmers from Leeds and Wolverhampton.
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Any references to Alysson starting shows how much we’ve been struggling. That’s not a criticism of him, but he’s had the smallest of cameos where he’s shown a bit of promise. That’s great, but that translating to him starting a game of this importance shows it’s been really poor.
Sancho, Bailey, Guessand, Elliot have all bombed in that position I guess. Alysson up against that sideshow bob character would be a tough debut I suspect but Emery has to try something different. Only other option I can think of is Rogers on the right which he hates and Sancho again off the left where he prefers to play.
Sideshow bob is injured.
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Cucurella ain't Sideshow Bob, that was David Luiz. And he didn't dive like the current poodle-dick does.
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Any references to Alysson starting shows how much we’ve been struggling. That’s not a criticism of him, but he’s had the smallest of cameos where he’s shown a bit of promise. That’s great, but that translating to him starting a game of this importance shows it’s been really poor.
Sancho, Bailey, Guessand, Elliot have all bombed in that position I guess. Alysson up against that sideshow bob character would be a tough debut I suspect but Emery has to try something different. Only other option I can think of is Rogers on the right which he hates and Sancho again off the left where he prefers to play.
Sideshow bob is injured.
Maybe. Rosenior has said he'll either be back tomorrow or at the weekend.
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Unai Emery on the singing section against Chelsea: “Firstly, we have to transmit our energy and to connect with them. It starts with us. Then we need Villa Park tomorrow. It is not 'Super John McGinn' but we need 'Super Aston Villa'."
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This is the side:
Martinez
Cash. Konsa Pau Maatsen
Lindeloft
Bograde Luiz
Alysson Rogers
Tammy
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This is the side:
Martinez
Cash. Konsa Pau Maatsen
Lindeloft
Bograde Luiz
Alysson Rogers
Tammy
I don’t think backs to the wall and reliance of a kid is the way to go.
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Onana offers much more than Bogarde and Lindelof at his best. I appreciate he might not be at his best, but he has really turned up in big games before. Picking Bogarde or Lindelof ahead of him would be so negative.
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Unai Emery on the singing section against Chelsea: “Firstly, we have to transmit our energy and to connect with them. It starts with us. Then we need Villa Park tomorrow. It is not 'Super John McGinn' but we need 'Super Aston Villa'."
Unai is no fool , he knows the team have to do their part and the crowd will follow, and is acknowledging that fact.
Whether he starts Watkins, Buendia or Bailey will dictate a lot of that "energy" and conection.
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Onana offers much more than Bogarde and Lindelof at his best. I appreciate he might not be at his best, but he has really turned up in big games before. Picking Bogarde or Lindelof ahead of him would be so negative.
Onana has been so negative the last few games.
Barely broke into a trot.
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That’s not about capability though. All things being equal he’s got a much higher ceiling and we need our best players.
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Onana offers much more than Bogarde and Lindelof at his best. I appreciate he might not be at his best, but he has really turned up in big games before. Picking Bogarde or Lindelof ahead of him would be so negative.
Onana has been so negative the last few games.
Barely broke into a trot.
Unless he’s injured there is no way he doesn’t start tomorrow. Bogarde or Barkley may be put in alongside him and Luiz to try and combat Caicedo and Fernandes. Think it might be something like
Martinez
Cash. Konsa. Torres. Mastsen
Bogarde Onana. Luiz
Sancho. Rogers
Abrahams
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Any references to Alysson starting shows how much we’ve been struggling. That’s not a criticism of him, but he’s had the smallest of cameos where he’s shown a bit of promise. That’s great, but that translating to him starting a game of this importance shows it’s been really poor.
I think based of what I've seen, mainly in highlights videos, Alysson would be up for serious consideration not so much for his attacking talent but for his defensive duties. The lad's not afraid to put a shift in, track back and help the defence out. What he can do with the ball on the front foot is open to question but right now I'd bet his overall contribution is way higher than either Sancho or Bailey.
Martinez
Cash. Konsa Pau Maatsen
Onana Bogarde
Luiz
Rogers Alysson
Tammy
Of the three midfielders selected I trust Bogarde the most. Onana and Dougie need to step up their game a level or three. I'd be half tempted to bring in Barkley in the Luiz role but not sure he has the legs for it. It would be more box to box than a jogging back 10. Whatever team we put out tomorrow night they'll all need to fight like their lives depend on it. Do that and we'll take all three points.
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If Onana had Bogarde and Dougie with him in a three it would hopefully allow him the play with more freedom.
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I like Rudy's team
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If, and I think its a huge if, we can win this - it would be a massive result when we really need it.
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Seize the bloody moment Villa, just this once!
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come on now villa with the red scousers losing , come on......
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Seize the bloody moment Villa, just this once!
Indeed - another opportunity presents itself.
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The players must be lifted both by Liverpool losing but also that Wolves beat them, and our defeat there doesn't mean we're hopeless.
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I’m sorry but I don’t trust us one bit right now. Hope I’m very wrong.
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The place will be rocking, need a fast start (lol) and crowd will be right up for it.
I'd 100% take a draw though, we're horseshit without Kamara.
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Yet again, an opportunity has presented itself to put distance between us and the chasers. If there's genuine leaders in that team, now is the time to stand up and be counted.
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I like Rudy's team
Yes, we need that extra body in midfield.
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I love Rudys team, shame it won't be anything like that though.
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Martinez
Cash. Konsa. Mings. Maatsen
Luiz. Onana
Sancho. Barkley. Rogers
Abraham
Only for two reasons, 4 ex-Chelsea players with a point to prove. Lots of height with Mings, Onana and Abraham as we can cause them issues with set pieces. The midfield three is interchangeable. Come on Villa, please!!
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No to Mings, because the thing we have to do is create more above all else. Clearly didn’t work the other night, but we have a much better chance of doing that if Pau plays. Our best team has Pau in it, he has to play.
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No to Mings, because the thing we have to do is create more above all else. Clearly didn’t work the other night, but we have a much better chance of doing that if Pau plays. Our best team has Pau in it, he has to play.
100%
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Absolutely massive game now. If we win I think we’re there, as even if we drop points over the coming games we’ll have enough of a cushion until Youri and McGinn come back. I feel sick already.
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No to Mings, because the thing we have to do is create more above all else. Clearly didn’t work the other night, but we have a much better chance of doing that if Pau plays. Our best team has Pau in it, he has to play.
Agreed, it's not the night for Mings. That selection would just scream we have a lack of leadership in the team (we do!) and to hell with the tactical consequences.
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Surprised how many tickets are left for tonight. Thought it would have been a nailed on sell out by now.
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What a boost it would be for the run in tonight if we were to turn these over. This feels like a genuine must not lose game.
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Liverpool had exactly the same issue we did against Wolves, because they did the same thing - play really slowly and without intent. It is so important we shake that off, because any top flight side can easily defend against it.
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What a boost it would be for the run in tonight if we were to turn these over. This feels like a genuine must not lose game.
As the old line goes “It’s the hope that kills you”.
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Liverpool had exactly the same issue we did against Wolves, because they did the same thing - play really slowly and without intent. It is so important we shake that off, because any top flight side can easily defend against it.
The difference is Chelsea won't sit back and defend their box like Wolves did. They will attack, sometimes for sustained periods. It's a different challenge, but I would be very surprised if you don't see us offering much quicker attacks tonight on the transition, which simply aren't possible against teams who are happy to sit deep and let us have the ball.
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I've felt completely pessimistic about every game since Brentford expecting at most a draw, but feel weirdly confident about this one.
There's a weird arrogance to that team that continually costs them. I think so long as we're composed and take our chances (a big ask), we'll do em.
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We're gonna do them. Relax. Have faith.
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Martinez
Cash. Konsa. Mings. Maatsen
Luiz. Onana
Sancho. Barkley. Rogers
Abraham
Only for two reasons, 4 ex-Chelsea players with a point to prove. Lots of height with Mings, Onana and Abraham as we can cause them issues with set pieces. The midfield three is interchangeable. Come on Villa, please!!
The team I would go for but Pau for Mings.
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Liverpool had exactly the same issue we did against Wolves, because they did the same thing - play really slowly and without intent. It is so important we shake that off, because any top flight side can easily defend against it.
The difference is Chelsea won't sit back and defend their box like Wolves did. They will attack, sometimes for sustained periods. It's a different challenge, but I would be very surprised if you don't see us offering much quicker attacks tonight on the transition, which simply aren't possible against teams who are happy to sit deep and let us have the ball.
Broadly speaking I agree. My worry is once you lose the habit of scoring it’s not always easy to get it back. I think it’s really important we don’t go for “backs against the wall” type stuff.
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I predict Luiz will become the new pariah after conceding a stupid free kick just outside the box.
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I'd have Bogarde in midfield, just covering the space Palmer seems to find quite easily, alongside Onana with Barkley ahead of those 2.
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If he wants the crowd onside and involved don't pick bloody Bailey
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I've actually started to look forward to it tonight now, for some bizarre reason. Nothing about our last few performances logically give me any hope we will turn up, but something is making me think we just might!
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If Onana had Bogarde and Dougie with him in a three it would hopefully allow him the play with more freedom.
I'm sure that's what Chelsea will be hoping for. Leave Onana on the ball and he will start panicking. I think Emery needs to make the game very simple for Onana tonight. Chelsea are weak in the air so Onana has to own both boxes for set pieces.
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If Buendia starts he'll be chasing shadows. If Bailey starts we'll lose the ball. If Luiz starts we'll concede possession or free-kicks in dangerous places. If Mings starts we'll not control the ball at the back and won't get out of our own box other than conceding throw-ins at the halfway line. If Watkins starts we won't score. If Digne starts we'll have no pace. If Bogarde starts we won't enough experience. If Sancho starts we'll have no bite in forward areas. If Konsa starts we'll not have the right attitude. If Onana starts we'll not have Kamara and control. If Barkely starts we'll have no energy........
Or we'll just go out and beat the fuckers with whatever team Emery puts out. He has a habit of focusing on these games, to the detriment of the likes of the Wolves game.
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If Buendia starts he'll be chasing shadows. If Bailey starts we'll lose the ball. If Luiz starts we'll concede possession or free-kicks in dangerous places. If Mings starts we'll not control the ball at the back and won't get out of our own box other than conceding throw-ins at the halfway line. If Watkins starts we won't score. If Digne starts we'll have no pace. If Bogarde starts we won't enough experience. If Sancho starts we'll have no bite in forward areas. If Konsa starts we'll not have the right attitude. If Onana starts we'll not have Kamara and control. If Barkely starts we'll have no energy........
Or we'll just go out and beat the fuckers with whatever team Emery puts out. He has a habit of focusing on these games, to the detriment of the likes of the Wolves game.
If what you are saying is true, don't you think that not focusing on the Wolves game was somewhat, er, negligent?
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If Buendia starts he'll be chasing shadows. If Bailey starts we'll lose the ball. If Luiz starts we'll concede possession or free-kicks in dangerous places. If Mings starts we'll not control the ball at the back and won't get out of our own box other than conceding throw-ins at the halfway line. If Watkins starts we won't score. If Digne starts we'll have no pace. If Bogarde starts we won't enough experience. If Sancho starts we'll have no bite in forward areas. If Konsa starts we'll not have the right attitude. If Onana starts we'll not have Kamara and control. If Barkely starts we'll have no energy........
Or we'll just go out and beat the fuckers with whatever team Emery puts out. He has a habit of focusing on these games, to the detriment of the likes of the Wolves game.
If what you are saying is true, don't you think that not focusing on the Wolves game was somewhat, er, negligent?
Yes
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Ughhhhhh, I forgot we were playing again tonight
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Live on TNT Sport! What can go wrong?
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I've actually started to look forward to it tonight now, for some bizarre reason. Nothing about our last few performances logically give me any hope we will turn up, but something is making me think we just might!
The thought of the ghost of Asensio turning the game with flicks and finishes is divine.
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Ughhhhhh, I forgot we were playing again tonight
Yeah, I've stopped looking forward to games lately too!
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Changing back to my lighter and luckier coat tonight. Hope this brings a change of luck although that brings the possibility of not being able to wear the warmer coat to matches in the future!
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Ughhhhhh, I forgot we were playing again tonight
Yeah, I've stopped looking forward to games lately too!
Doesn't take much
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I know we've been bad but they have the Samaritans walking around the Warehouse!!
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Bailey and Watkins are starting!!
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The live coverage on the BBC football page gives out the headline 'Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea all in action tonight.'
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Bailey starts. Wow.
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The live coverage on the BBC football page gives out the headline 'Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea all in action tonight.'
They are, aren't they?
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Bailey and Watkins are starting!!
FFS!
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The live coverage on the BBC football page gives out the headline 'Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea all in action tonight.'
It would turn your stomach.
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Bailey and Watkins are starting!!
FFS!
And Buendia. FFS
Could be an Emery genius masterstroke, fingers crossed.