M_Afro

We’re doing well here. Their goal was incredibly lucky for a number of reasons and we have had good chances. We should be winning not losing here. Keep the faith everyone our luck is about to change.

2 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

I keep hearing this 2PPG line pedalled out as if we should all be super confident we’re going to finish in the top 5 because of it. 

We’ve been woeful for 2 months and we’re being torn apart by injuries. I’m happy some of you think we’re going to finish well because of what’s happened before, but it’s wishful thinking. We’re all over the place at the minute. 

Yet we’re still averaging two points per game so far this season in spite of our poor recent form. It’s going to get harder because we are in uncharted territory but it’s more likely that we’ll turn the form around than we won’t. Have some faith. Negativity is really bad for you.

Our form is bad at the moment but why are people so sure that we won’t turn it around. Whenever we are on a run of good form people are always quick to remind us that it won’t last forever but when that happens why are people so certain that our poor form will be sustained. It defies logic.

Our form during the Emery reign is roughly two points per game. We may have short periods above/below that but over a period of time we average out to that 2 points. Unless we get totally obliterated by injuries, there’s no reason to think that things will change significantly for the remainder of the season. That makes the game tomorrow important but it’s certainly not make or break. 
Anyway, hopefully we’ll batter them. UTV. SOTC

1 minute ago, MachoFantastico said:

Doku is just a better-rounded player at this point too. 

He is now. I think peak Villa Jack was better.

3 minutes ago, PieFacE said:

Surprised they've not brought Jack on here. 

Jack’s career at city is surely over. He never gets trusted by Pep. Is he happy to remain a cheer leader or does he actually want to play football? I really hope for his own sake and for England, he leaves at the end of the season. He is wasting away there. He could have been a world beater.

Just now, CVByrne said:

It's been 6 months to the day that Emery said he had his injury in the press conference and said it was a 6, 7 or 8 month injury.

Let's hope he's back in training next month. We could use him for the run in as impact off the bench especially in Europe or against these low block PL teams.

Has he been named in the Euro squad? If not, then will he be able to play? I agree we could do with extra numbers.

The main problem is the players. They look incredibly anxious and it’s really impacting the performances. It was always going to be difficult to maintain our levels as the pressure cranked up. Our players aren’t used to being in this position. They aren’t handling it very well at the moment. All’s not lost yet though. There’s still a long way to go. UTV.

Well that was fun. I didn’t think we could possibly play worse than against Newcastle but what do I know! Only way is up, that’s for sure.

4 minutes ago, GingerCollins29 said:

If we signed hermoso, where do yiu think that leaves mings? 

I would not be surprised if Mings left. Pau is first choice and I doubt big Ty will be happy with that at this stage of his career. It will be a sad day if it happens though. The role he has played in establishing us back in the top flight cannot be understated. He’s a modern day great in my view.

6 minutes ago, El-Reacho said:

Wonder will we try to upgrade Diego Carlos with someone who can pass it through the middle of the park the way Torres can but who’s right footed.

I think that this is a certainty. If we don’t sell this year then we will lose any realistic chance of getting a decent return. We will try and replace with a much younger, more mobile centre back.

He did ok today. People need to back him. He could easily have walked away with a goal and an assist. 

Another great press conference from this King today. I was starting to feel a bit nervous about tomorrow until I watched that and remembered that we have a bone fide football God in charge. We’re gonna thrash those scamps tomorrow. UTV

4 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

McGinn was excellent last night. He wasn't the problem

I thought he was terrible in the first half. In the first 10 minutes he lost the ball 3 times leading to dangerous Newcastle attacks. He just looked (like the rest of them) half asleep. He just wanted so much time on the ball.

He was much better as the game went on though but unfortunately it was too late. He is the captain and should set the tempo. He didn’t do that last night but hopefully he’ll be back to his arse busting best on Saturday.

1 minute ago, VillaChris said:

Did December not happen? Worldie at Bournemouth, brilliant v Man. City, assist v Arsenal, scored v Burnley and robbed of goal that would've probably taken us top of the league v Sheffield.

I'd say that's a pretty consistent spell of form when starting games in recent times.

He's hit and miss away from home but if you look at his goals and assists he's been very good in home games pretty much since Emery came in.

He does have the odd good game when he starts. He was unbelievable against City. Truly amazing but he’s too inconsistent in my mind. I really like him as an impact player. He is much more consistent when he doesn’t start. 

Just now, Leeroy said:

Newcastle didn't have a top 4 squad last season either but still did it. 

That’s true. That should give us a bit of hope. Still plenty to play for.

JJ will come back. He needs a run of games without injury. When he’s at the top of his game he’s so key for us. One of the very few who can carry the ball effectively at pace. 

The problem is, he rarely puts those performances in when he starts. He’s always great off the bench but often invisible when he gets the chance to start. Having said that, he has to start our next match. Diaby and Zaniolo are miles off it at the moment.

Unai has had us punching above our weight for over a year. We are no way a top 4 squad but he has kept us up there for ages. The fact that we are still in the top 4 at this stage is incredible. I don’t think we will get CL but if anyone can make it happen, it’s the Sultan. We need to turn it around quickly though. The last month has been way below par.

Just now, andym said:

There were a couple of instances early on that stood out.

Both times the ball went into McGinn, and the first one he held on too long and was easily robbed setting newcastle on a counter. Second time he did roll the newcastle player, but then passed it straight out of play.

Not necessarily a criticism of McGinn, but it summed up the sloppiness of us for most of that game

I love McGinn but he was awful in that first half. He got better as the game went on fortunately but it was too little too late today.

I don’t blame Unai for that. The players were just woeful. They looked really scared and didn’t look up for it. They need to take responsibility and fight back. They seem to have lost their mojo.

I really hope we don’t buy this guy. He is miles off it. I know it’s fairly early days but he just wants too much time. He dawdles on the ball longer than McGinn but without the ability to keep the players at arms length. It’s a no from me.

17 minutes ago, villan95 said:

Must win.

It’s not a must win but it’s certainly a must play much better. We have been off it since the City game. Our intensity in that match was amazing but since then we have been flat as a pancake. I thought that was going to be a springboard for us but it’s actually been quite the opposite. Very strange and we must change it soon.