Will we win the Premier League

[aj2k77]

Our last 38 league games shows a record of won 23, drawn 8 and lost 7 for 77 points. Over the last 10 years that would have put us 2nd 3 times, 3rd 5 times and 4th twice.

We won't win the league but unless we fall apart will qualify for the Champions League again which surely should put an end to our FFP/SCR problems for a while.

[Mister E]

Maybe Garcia plays a half, then we see where we're at?
Who else can play in the pivot? We've had Yuri rotating in there for 45 mins at a time. Onana and Kamara for a game and a half a piece. You could play SJM there, I guess - but that just leaves us short elsewhere.
Thinking that the elegantly named George Hemmings will see some action from the bench.

I don't think Emery will risk any inexperience: Bogarde at right-back, Youri and Onana in the double pivot and Watkins / Rogers / McGinn / Buendia ahead. Sancho and Malen will come on second half. Injuries may force a Garcia introduction, but any midfield injury will - I think - be covered by bringing on Digne.
I just don't see our George getting on in the Arsenal game ... but we may well see him in the FAC3 game.

[tomd2103]

We must be a nightmare to face, how do you stop us? We gave the league a 5 game start and are in the title fight. We went away to one of the best sides in the country, gave them a 60 min head start and still won with their keeper keeping them in it.

If we play well, you're fucked. If we play badly, you're fucked. If we go ahead, you're fucked. If you go ahead, you're fucked. Allow us freekicks, you're fucked. Let us play through balls, you're fucked. Let us shoot from range, you're fucked. Try and stop our key players, someone else steps up and you're fucked.

One of the real key things for me thus season has been having bench options that can genuinely change games.  Of course, you need a manager who knows when and how to use those options, but yesterday was a good example of how substitutions changed the game.

[eamonn]

Maybe teams will counter our rope-a-dope strategy by copying what we do. Draw us on in the first half and then bring on their five "finishers" off the bench.

[PeterWithesShin]

By the time the Jan window closes our only away games against 'rivals' are ManU and ManC. Even at home it will only be Chelsea and Liverpool. Be close at the end of the window with a couple of good 'uns in and who knows.

[eamonn]

Our last two games of the season are killer though. Think we'll need to have the title wrapped-up by then.

[Dave]

By the time the Jan window closes our only away games against 'rivals' are ManU and ManC. Even at home it will only be Chelsea and Liverpool. Be close at the end of the window with a couple of good 'uns in and who knows.

Also, if we keep pace at the top through January, it means players are going to be more keen to join us, and we might feel more comfortable splurging a bit, "safe" in the knowledge that we'll have Champions League money coming in to pay for it.

Opta* have the likelihood of us finishing in the top five at something like 98.3% at the moment, so that's a much happier position to spend money from than it was last January when we were ninth.

*yes, I know it's bullshit.

[Olneythelonely]

Maybe teams will counter our rope-a-dope strategy by copying what we do. Draw us on in the first half and then bring on their five "finishers" off the bench.

Then we’ll counter that with whatever tactic Unai has up his sleeve. He’s playing a different sport altogether. Easily the best coach in the league.

[algy]

Maybe teams will counter our rope-a-dope strategy by copying what we do. Draw us on in the first half and then bring on their five "finishers" off the bench.

Then we’ll counter that with whatever tactic Unai has up his sleeve. He’s playing a different sport altogether. Easily the best coach in the league.

This is it. Just look at our attacking at the moment. Up til the tail end of last season we were prolific at shorter range stuff. Other managers worked out how to counter that, by sitting deep, but that now gives us so much space that Rogers & Little Emi can have a field day scoring bangers every week.

Genuinely think we have the best manager and one of the strongest first teams in the league at the moment, and regardless of whether something happens this season or not we’re on the cusp of an era of Villa dominance on a level that hasn’t been seen since the days of Queen Victoria and Edward VII.

[Olneythelonely]

Maybe teams will counter our rope-a-dope strategy by copying what we do. Draw us on in the first half and then bring on their five "finishers" off the bench.

Then we’ll counter that with whatever tactic Unai has up his sleeve. He’s playing a different sport altogether. Easily the best coach in the league.

This is it. Just look at our attacking at the moment. Up til the tail end of last season we were prolific at shorter range stuff. Other managers worked out how to counter that, by sitting deep, but that now gives us so much space that Rogers & Little Emi can have a field day scoring bangers every week.

Genuinely think we have the best manager and one of the strongest first teams in the league at the moment, and regardless of whether something happens this season or not we’re on the cusp of an era of Villa dominance on a level that hasn’t been seen since the days of Queen Victoria and Edward VII.

Was the same with the high line too.