So I’m in sunny Spain for a few weeks. I could say that it hit 21c today and I was sat in my shorts in the afternoon, but I wouldn’t want to make anyone jealous. Being abroad did bring some problems though and the big one was that for some reason I couldn’t access the site to post anything. Hopefully I’ve sorted things now.
Bearing in mind I haven’t read any comments on here, I’ll give my opinion.
I know Tielemens got MOTM and I agree somewhat. His through ball for the first goal was just superb, for example. He does so much in the middle of the park, that doesn’t get noticed as much as the more obvious stuff.
Even so, I’m going to choose Rogers as my MOTM, because I just thought he was excellent all round. He unselfishly passed to Duran for the first, hit the post and then later, scored, all while constantly scaring the proverbial out of Man City.
I just love watching the lad. I do appreciate that he’s not everyone’s cup of tea though. Why, perplexes me, but it’s all about opinions, isn’t it?
Regardless and I’m not trying to put a dampener on the result, how poor are City? Make no mistake, we played very well for a good part of the game, but boy, City offered very little and showed exactly how a team can revolve around a couple of players and when both aren’t available, the team struggles. I’ve had a few chats with footy fans generally and the basic conclusion has been that Pep should have left a rapidly aging side far behind him in the summer, safe in the knowledge that he’d done a good job (if you think stupid amounts of money doesn’t matter). They surely must have offered stupid amounts of money for him to stay.
Suffice to say they look like relegation candidates to me, bearing in mind that I said similar about us very recently and we seem to have turned things around.
Which takes me back to us and not them.
I thought the game was won in the middle, with all the mids p!aying well. They outfought city’s and I remember mentally noting that we just wanted it more than them. We still played too slowly at times, misplaced loads of passes (city were worse) and the defence still looks easily breachable, albeit better.
My somewhat cynical self was left wondering how we’d do against superior opposition and we’ll no doubt see that in our next game against the Barcodes.
I’m taking nothing away from the lads though. You can only beat what’s in front of you and in a game where generally speaking a win is unlikely, they got it.
It was a great result, simple as.
UTV!
Great win, regardless of any of my seeming negativity 😁
I hate typing on a bloody Kindle and it’s auto correct. 14 edits! Fortunately, a proper computer arrives on Tuesday, if that doesn’t go boobs up too.
I posted this on the previous topic site, but it is relevant to Villa’s forwards.
So Louie Barry is recalled from Stockport. For the benefit of Stockport and our relationship I hope we can loan them another striker – because terminating a loan to a promotion-chasing side is pulling the rug from under them, it is not as if Stockport are not giving Louie game time.
An odd FIFA rule comes into consideration: a player may only play for the first team of a maximum 2 clubs in any season. So if Louie does make the bench at Villa and come on, he cannot then go on loan to a 3rd team. The BM suggests Villa want to move him up to the Championship.
I have my doubts about Louie’s physique – nothing else – in the EPL. I think he may be too small and light even for a #10 role – a winger maybe
OLL – if. I recall correctly he played as a left sided winger for Villa youth teams.
There have been some very good ‘small, wiry’ players – Modric for instance?
Yes Hitchens – but Modric is a stand out exception and he is a midfielder, you might add Liverpool’s Jota as a small forward, but even Jota does not start many Liverpool matches. I think the plan is come Summer to sell Watkins and replace him with Barry.
Messi? Alan Wright? 😁
Garth Crooks was bad enough but Troy Deeney’s team of the week is constantly a joke. It supposed to be team of the week not team of the last three or four games played!
Is it his barely disguised hatred of Villa that prevented him from picking either Tielemans or Rogers in his latest selection – or maybe he just isn’t able to see what’s right in front of him.
Not even sure why I bother to look!
Badger
What many people forget is that Morgan Rogers has only played 28 games in the Premier League. His rate of development is truly exceptional. I believe under Unai’s tutoring he can become a dominant force in the Premier and if remaining at Villa, be a key component in solidifying us as one of the top four teams, year on year.
I notice today it is being reported that Villa have agreed to sign Yazin Oszcan, a young centre half. I know nothing about him but trust Monchi and Unai in bringing in young talented players to improve the squad.
In the meantime I hope one and all have a relaxing Christmas.
Yes, merry Christmas Sid and everyone else too.
I totally agree with your thoughts on Rogers.
I always wanted to support Ramsey, as one of our own and indeed still do,
But I feel Rogers will prove to be better.
It’s a mouthwatering thought, two top notch attacking mids.
We all know they’re worth their weight in gold and have either a great attacking option or loads of value, moneywise.
Indeed, Sid.
I´ve always liked Ramsey, as one of our own.
But I think Rogers will prove to be better, because he has it all round.
Whatever, it´s a mouthwatering thought.
Two top driving mids?
We all know what they´re worth, whether to the team or money-wise.
Oops, posted twice, sorry.
It’s all that sun Badger! 🙂
Merry Christmas to one and all.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Does anybody know how the team will travel to Newcastle? If by coach on matchday they will arrive leggy but with the money in the game now it would not surprise me if they chartered a plane or two helicopters up to Newcastle airport.
Merry Xmas everyone 🙂
Thanks all for the good wishes and very much the same from the Wild Atlantic Villa Outpost
Merry Unaimas Everyone!!!!! 🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅
Ramsey at the best we’ve seen him is better than the best we’ve seen of Rogers so far – in my opinion, of course. But that was about two years ago now. Can JJ get back to where he was before the injury and then improve further, as he should at his age?
Merry Christmas!
Good question and one I keep asking myself. Personally, I think Ramsey is done.
I hope not, but have a feeling he´s peaked.
Since his foot injury he’s not had a run of games in which to reach full match fitness. My concerns therefore are around his ability to stay fit.
Maybe they’re just not rushing him back this time. Players are often too eager to get playing time, understandably.
Don’t forget the game is on Amazon today, guys!!
Really need an upgrade on Cash!
Have a go at Cash if you like but yet another shite referee!
Anthony Taylor hates us – that is completely stupid
I knew what was coming the moment this bent MFr gave a free kick when Guimarães completely missed the ball, kicked the air and fell over.
A complete effing joke.
Congratulations Anthony Taylor. One off with 10 to go!
That was clumsy by Duran, but not malicious.
Gonna be interesting from here on in. Onana’s balls have been awful today.
The games over for us now. Try to keep it at 1-0. I’m fed up of losing heavily to these cheating w******
Fed up of playing against 12 men!
Had a nice 600Mb internet connection installed this morning. I wrote a post too.
And that´s when it all went boobs up.
Meanwhile, not sure what to think about Duran´s red card.
Our stats are really poor.
Yes the Panto season continues at Newcastle. The stats about refs are stacking up against Taylor though I would have to say it looked as though Duran could have brought his foot down beside, not on the back of, Schar – so the red card is Duran’s fault. That is 3 matches off. Taylor was conned for a Barcodes free kick by Gordon pulling Cash’s shirt yet VAR did not correct it.
It can only get worse in the 2nd half.
2-0 and the commentators are creaming themselves. Anthony Taylor will also be delighted. Another 4 or 5 beating looks inevitable.
All this started when we gift them a goal within 2 minutes.