Will we qualify for the CL?

[PaulWinch again]

Let’s be blunt after last night it is a perfectly reasonable and rational response to be deflated and pissed. It was embarrassing and in no way is it the best way you can prepare for a game that you need to win by two clear goals.

At the same time we can do it - we need to find our identity and purpose again, and play on the front foot from the off. We must not replicate anything from what we did last night, because it was pathetic. In a practical sense, the team are going to need to show the fans Thursday will be different. If they do that, we can come through the tie and also carry it into the remaining league games.

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The "metrics" of us winning all our European home games this season, Forest only 3 away, with a record of 1 defeat and 1 draw (which should have been 3 points as it was never a foul) over the past 3 seasons ought to be "metrics" that give confidence to the players that there is a well to draw upon. That and Forest being a side we've contained twice pretty effectively in the past 2 weeks and ought to have battered, having previously battered at Villa Park already. Fear should not come into the equation.

[Tony Daleys Shorts]

I haven't seen anyone say that.

Forest are the better team in every metric since Pereira took over, and they have a 1 goal head start. We've played them twice under him, not won, and scored 1 goal.

Bookies make them favourites to qualify.

Hardly a bizarre take that Villa fans might feel the same when looking at it objectively.

A week ago we matched them and were a brainfart away from a draw. On Thursday we're at home, under the lights, conditions where in the past eighteen months or so we've beaten Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester City and Arsenal. They might be slight favourites to go through but the attitude in some quarters is unbelievable. That's what annoys me.

Indeed, just to add further statistical positivity, we’ve won 5 from the last 6 home games against Manchester City and Arsenal, currently the two best sides in the league. We don’t always ‘shit it’ in big games.

[pauliewalnuts]

The "metrics" of us winning all our European home games this season, Forest only 3 away, with a record of 1 defeat and 1 draw (which should have been 3 points as it was never a foul) over the past 3 seasons ought to be "metrics" that give confidence to the players that there is a well to draw upon. That and Forest being a side we've contained twice pretty effectively in the past 2 weeks and ought to have battered, having previously battered at Villa Park already. Fear should not come into the equation.

There's another metric - that the team we played last night are statistically one of the worst in the league. Made no difference, though.

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The "metrics" of us winning all our European home games this season, Forest only 3 away, with a record of 1 defeat and 1 draw (which should have been 3 points as it was never a foul) over the past 3 seasons ought to be "metrics" that give confidence to the players that there is a well to draw upon. That and Forest being a side we've contained twice pretty effectively in the past 2 weeks and ought to have battered, having previously battered at Villa Park already. Fear should not come into the equation.

There's another metric - that the team we played last night are statistically one of the worst in the league. Made no difference, though.

No as the manager wasn't arsed, hence the side picked, the way we played and his lack of reaction. If there was an option to have not bothered at all and take an automatic defeat, I think Emery probably would have done that.

[PaulWinch again]

Which is not acceptable for a number of reasons, but most pertinently I’m not sure you can just flick a switch and hit the ground running again. Hopefully I’m wrong on that though.

[Goldenballs]

We were shit under Gerrard, not really relevant to this game though. We've played them twice under their new manager very recently, not won either and scored once.

If you think we're nailed on, good for you. Some people's predictions would have us wrapping up the league in Feb and winning the quadruple.

Doesn't mean people who aren't as confident shouldn't even bother turning up though.

[Sexual Ealing]

If we get through on Thursday last night will be less than a footnote. If we don't it will forever be the Thane of Lochaber knocking around the joint.

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We were shit under Gerrard, not really relevant to this game though. We've played them twice under their new manager very recently, not won either and scored once.

If you think we're nailed on, good for you. Some people's predictions would have us wrapping up the league in Feb and winning the quadruple.

Doesn't mean people who aren't as confident shouldn't even bother turning up though.

Nobody is saying we're nailed on? People are taking issue with the inference that we're snookered.

We have played them twice. Created golden chances to win wnd were separated by a pair of VAR decisions last Thursday.

[Dave]

I reckon the Venn diagram of people who just know that we're going to smash it out the park on Thursday and the people who just knew that we were going to right a generation of wrongs at Old Trafford 49 weeks ago is probably a circle.

[RamboandBruno]

We were shit under Gerrard, not really relevant to this game though. We've played them twice under their new manager very recently, not won either and scored once.

If you think we're nailed on, good for you. Some people's predictions would have us wrapping up the league in Feb and winning the quadruple.

Doesn't mean people who aren't as confident shouldn't even bother turning up though.

Its not about being a better fan or the right to feel unconfident, I know plenty that are shitting it and thats fine, Ill be nervous as anything. Thats all different to extreme anxiety and anger, lots of which was on display yesterday. It was really shit yesterday no doubt and we all pay a lot of money and have the right to express what we want, but that kind of anxiety/anger if things aren’t going our way early doors, will not help.

[PaulWinch again]

No one really knows, but it is pretty much inarguable that if we play like we have the last three games - where any attacking plan/cohesion has vanished - it’s highly unlikely we’ll succeed. We have to be at it from the off, conserving energy is not a priority in this game.

[Beard82]

I think everything will be fine so long as we all feel that we turn up on t hursday.

that was what was so sickening last night - that it felt that we didnt try.   We were fine at the city ground - we tried and were unlucky - a bad ref and a moment of madness away from feeling confident.

But yesterday tested everyone- we seemed like we didnt care when we could have (all but) guarenteed CL football by playing at about 70% of what were able to.  This in turn means the expectation is were going to be chomping at the bit on Thursday.  If that doesnt happen - then I think people will be spitting feathers

[Olneythelonely]

The "metrics" of us winning all our European home games this season, Forest only 3 away, with a record of 1 defeat and 1 draw (which should have been 3 points as it was never a foul) over the past 3 seasons ought to be "metrics" that give confidence to the players that there is a well to draw upon. That and Forest being a side we've contained twice pretty effectively in the past 2 weeks and ought to have battered, having previously battered at Villa Park already. Fear should not come into the equation.

There's another metric - that the team we played last night are statistically one of the worst in the league. Made no difference, though.

No as the manager wasn't arsed, hence the side picked, the way we played and his lack of reaction. If there was an option to have not bothered at all and take an automatic defeat, I think Emery probably would have done that.

Why did he play Tielemans and Rogers for 90+ minutes, if he didn’t care?

[Beard82]

TBF - it was the subs that showed me he didnt care.

Our midfield was missing, sancho was as bad as he has been for most of the season - and we had options on the bench and we didnt use.

At 25 mins - he sent teh subs up to warm up - he then decided he would rather not risk them.  At the end of the season that will either look understandable, or be unexplainable.