So that purely money-spinning Nations league rubbish, that I’m sure is a big part of leading to players complaining about playing too many games, is over. The sooner they get rid of it, the better, for me, but the money stream is established, meaning it probably won’t happen. Hence my guess is it will become the international equivalent of the League cup, in that players won’t want to turn up and clubs will hold their best players back fron the tournament.
But we’ll see.
The big news is probably that about the squad and it’s good. For the first time this year, we have no injuries. Robin Olsen isn’t available, but even he is training.
Of course, this means that Mings and Buendia are both available and by the sounds of it, ready to see minutes on the pitch. Let’s hope we’re in a good enough position to give them some tomorrow.
Unai Emery has pointed out that we have a Champion’s league game against Bologna, meaning that he will at least be looking to shuffle the pack as much as possible. He’s also talked about Duran getting starts and the big question there has to be will that be alone up top, or half a pair alongside Ollie? I personally suspect the former and it might happen on Tuesday.
Squad news for Fulham and Saša Lukić and Timothy Castagne returned from internationals with injuries and will be unavailable for Saturday’s match. Jorge Cuenca and Carlos Vinícius are both out.
I actually thought Fulham were seriously struggling, but they’re only three points behind us in 8th. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, as they are my dark horse tip for this season. So I expect them to be quite good while hoping they’re not tomorrow, of course.
We don’t seem to have really hit any form up to now and I’ve commented previously that generally I see it as a good thing if we’re winning games while playing relatively poorly, as it’s a sign of a decent team. Given the demands that are being placed on the players, because we are fighting on four fronts while not having the squad depth of the bigger clubs, I expect Unai to continue this pack shuffling, which means while he still has his favoured first eleven, they won’t be playing together for much of the time. Hence it wouldn’t surprise me if our play remains somewhat disjointed.
It’ll probably lead to some consternation on my part as we struggle on the face of things, but if we keep winning, I won’t mind.
The thing is, we haven’t been winning lately have we? The odds have to be strongly against another draw, but it just seems the most likely outcome to me. I’d call a win for us, but I’m sure I’ll only be let down again and it’s the hope that kills you, isn’t it?
While I don’t see us losing, I really think at most, there will only be a single goal in it, so it could go either way.
But I’m going for a fairly dour 1-1 draw, where Marco Silva has his players well set up and we struggle to break them down.
UTV
Waaaaat-A-Kiiiiiinnnnnss!!!!!
Diop OG.
3-1
Goal Villa
1-3. Own goal
3!!!!!
If we’d have beaten Ipswich we’d be top tonight…And Arsenal we’d be on 23.
And if we’d have bought Messi…🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
Grrat result today! Shame about Billie Jean’s red though…Very silly.
My thoughts exactly. We should be top. Nonetheless, kudos to Unai and the boys! 👌👌👌
Yippeee great win at a tough place absolutely buzzing woo hoo
Gonna cook spaghetti bolognaise tuesday. Eat it up, hoping Villa can match the metaphor. That would be 9 points and 95% certain to progress!!!! Not counting chickens, as this could be a tough game. Duran to start???
Mate, if that works, I’ll be eating a cockrel before we play Spurs…
Wolves might be trickier to procure, and somewhat less appetising!
Our bench today 💪. The strongest I have ever seen
Three home games in 3 different competitions before the month’s end. Win all 3 and things look very interesting on all 3 fronts. Then a mammoth November before the treadmill that is the festive period.
Need to keep the squad strong, both physically and mentally.
UTV
I would have happily settled for a draw as Fulham were in good form but three goals away is a statement. It looks like we’ll have the luxury of a full squad for the Bologna game and a win on Tuesday would be enormous.
Happy days!
A win would be fantastic and could mean a few a rested for Brugge, as it’s sandwiched with two very tough away league games… 🤞
One last word today:
BOURNEMOUTH.
Having watched MoTD it seemed to me that Philogene’s second yellow was very harsh.
Yes it was a foul but a yellow card not in my book – that was a player making the most of an innocuous situation and getting a fellow player sent off.
Was it yet another case of a referee deciding he needed to ‘even the score’?
Maybe I just have my claret and blue glasses on!
The second yellow was an awful decision. Even Mike Dean said ref had got it wrong on Sky Sports and he very rarely goes against the refs decisions.
Wonder if we were to appeal it would we get the same outcome as Man U’s Bruno Fernandez?
Somehow I doubt it.
These refs so bias, Man City if that’d been us there’s no doubt in my mind that would have been chalked off.
Bent.