Zhan_Zhuang

However Ramsey was fine when he started against Wolves. He looks good to me and to be fair we need his energy, we are far too slow in the midfield at the moment.

Is that when he was tight against the touchline? Great bit of a skill to deftly knock the ball ahead of two opposing players. I wonder if he could play in Barkley's position, Trezeguet on the right and El Ghazi left-side? Would be better protection for Elmohamady too.

Based on several factors there is no way we are finishing sixth, no way!

Traore is class, he's working a lot harder defensively now. I echo the sentiment that he should be the man we look to in the absence of Grealish. Schmeichel also was out of order for basically pinning him down after he scored.

Ramsey needs to start games, he has the energy we require. My MOTM as he showed more than Barkley in his twenty minutes from the bench. Our midfield let us down again. Second-half we were much better but we should make some changes to the midfield, we have two passengers in there every game and we give the opposition the incentive. This happens every game now and we are far too passive in midfield.

McGinn started last season well then up to now his form has been inconsistent at best. I've been saying it for a year now he will hold us back. He is not dynamic enough, too slow, weak and gives the ball away far too much. Within the first minute of the game against Leicester he gave the ball away, does it every game and yet won't be dropped. Luiz, Sanson and Ramsey are our best three. Then Nakamba ahead of McGinn in the pecking order.

Again so weak in the midfield, it's been happening for many games. Both McGinn and Barkley gave the ball away within the first minute of the game against Leicester, yet it happens every week. Should drop all of the midfield passengers. Ramsey again looked good, so too Sanson. Nakamba is so unlucky to not be playing, I'd argue he is actually our in-form midfielder, no defeats with him in the PL (I think?).

I always thought this bloke was a bit of a word removed but you have to give them a chance. He has no energy, desire or will. Today he had an opportunity to be the star and he fluffed it. Opening minute of the game McGinn gives the ball away and then Barkley does the same which unfortunately set the pattern for the next twenty minutes and we lost the game. Problem is our midfield has been weak for many games now and teams continue to dominate us every week. One of the pundits said at half-time our midfield was non-existent.

I wonder if Harry Kane is set to leave Spuds at some point, I wonder if that ties into the prospective thinking of the two or three clubs who could actually afford Grealish and/or Kane. In transfer land at the highest level it's often said there is a 'domino effect' of one transfer leading to another. Who knows, all conjecture and I for one hope Grealish stays and becomes God of all Aston Villa Gods!

I thought it was Benteke?

It's a pity Jack hasn't been able to score from a few of those epic runs against Dirty Leeds and Dirty Burnley. Probably goals of the season if he had done and games we might have won too; think against Dirty Leeds it was 0-0 then too. I hope he gets to score a goal like this soon, surely only a matter of time. Incidentally, it seems Jack is getting locked into left-side where it is easy for two players to close him down. I think Villa should adapt, drop Barkley and let Jack roam in a free role. In the summer buy a super left-side player to complement him; Rodrigo De Paul can play left-side. Or Jack and De Paul can alternate?

Yes indeed. Mings is a leader too, one thing hugely apparent watching matches without fans is how much you can hear him during games coordinating things and encouraging others around him. Mings is more of a traditional Captain in the mold of a John Terry type.

Sorry, had to be done....

'Scapegoat', ah the often tired expression of a fan with a holier than thou outlook. Villa fans want players who compete not those who look knackered after five minutes, pull out of tackles and give the ball away. The statistics back up how s*** Barkley is and many had their doubts the moment he signed as to which Barkley we would get. I'd rather Ramsey in for Barkley, way more energy. Sanson in for McGinn. Then we wouldn't be two players light every game, no wonder we are getting played through in the middle EVERY match!

Must admit I think Rodrigo De Paul is a better option if Barkley continues his poor form. Lingard is certainly interesting, funny how most didn't want him here and then look what he did to us funny how little we really know.

Unfortunately other teams around us and particularly above us are finding form. Whilst we continue to stutter. However top ten is a great return considering. I don't think we are quite good enough or consistent enough for top six, yet.

It's one thing to say we'd buy three players with the £60 million in theory. But I'm not sure we would, maybe a replacement for Konsa would be a 40 million pound player? Looking at our signings we seem to be potentially looking for players in the £30-40million bracket to really push on and improve. Well that is what I expect, whether that happens we'll have to wait and see!

Leeds are this season's Sheffield United. I agree they will struggle next season.

I've been thinking there is a clause for Barkley all along. The fact he isn't getting dropped surely backs this up. Ramsey would offer us much more energy than Barkley.

This should finally result in him being dropped, surely those checking the statistics know how costly he is? It's not just against Brighton either it's practically every week, we are so soft in the middle it's painful to watch us not try to address it.

Sanson looked to have more energy than Barkley and Mcginn combined. Sanson for McGinn and Ramsey for Barkley next game please!

McGinn and Barkley are our weak links and as a result we are severely handicapped every game as the opposition play right through us. In the case of McGinn he started last season well but if you remember his form drastically plummeted way before his injury. Since then we rushed him back and he under-performed and the enforced break through Covid seemed to help him a little. This season out all our games I can't think of too many outstanding performances, he's been non-existent since Chelsea. We need Barkley and Mcginn out until we find a better balance.

I can only see a defeat here.* They are playing well and we aren't plus we have the added handicap of playing with only nine players as two of them are missing in McGinn and Barkley. We are due a thumping and if Brighton were Leicester we'd have lost that previous match 3-0. *of course, I do hope I'm wrong!

Steed Malbranque. I looked him up to still find him playing football in Auvergne in Southern France. Beautiful part of the world, Auvergne. This is of particular resonance to me as my ex-girlfriend was from that part of France. She was also very beautiful.

If Fulham can win a couple of them the pressure will be on the Barcodes. Please Fulham make it happen.