Junxs

We've been so poor for so long, even if they turn up at 40% they will beat us. We look completely void of any attacking ideas or build up play, and reverted to pass around the back then Mings aimlessly lump it up the pitch. Best we can hope for is 0-0 I think

If the shots on take it by all means.. but not when its blatantly going to get blocked and its a tight angle. Think all defenders know exactly how to play him now, they know he isnt going to pass. I just see a slightly better version of Tonev now. Zaha does the same at Palace, just twists and turns looking to shoot. Its why he failed at Man Utd. He's a more skillful version of El Ghazi but both very predictable. These type of players inevitably get a few goals by the sheer volume of shots they take, but they are so frustrating for team mates. 16 blocked shots we had against Newcastle, 16! There were times when players were free 8 or 10 yards away but he just tried to piledrive it through the defender in front of him.

Nothing frustrates me more than seeing a player shoot from a tight angle with a defender in the way (who will inevitably block the shot), whilst there's a team mate screaming for the ball in a better position to shoot and is unmarked. He does this every game. If he has to play then we should switch him to the right to stop him from shooting every time he gets the ball, and to get him to pass more.

Ah ok. Thanks

Blonde haired chap from the left wing. Tait?

Who's Kane Hayden? I suspect Mark Regan is getting someone else mixed up with Kane Kesler? He's said it every time he touched the ball

I said in the pre-match thread, since the Covid outbreak we have forgotten how to play football.. that our tactics are just lump it forward whether that's Martinez or Mings. For a moment in the first 20 minutes it felt like we rediscovered something, but after that it was back to lump it forward again. We really are an eyesore right now, with or without Grealish.

Our possession might be looking ok for the last few weeks.. but in reality we either pass around the back for Martinez to launch it or pass around the back for Mings to launch it. Its not been easy on the eye for a while now. Something has changed since that break for covid, before that we were playing the best football I've seen us play for over a decade. Wish we could somehow get back to it.

I don't know why so many people in this thread are thinking we just turn up and win. Yes Sheffield United are bottom and not lost only 5 games, but if people actually bothered to watch them, they are playing the exact same as last season, creating lots of chances but just dont have any one to put them away, McGoldrick is as bad as they come in the premier league for finishing, and they've lost Henderson who was key last few years for them. They have lost nearly every game by just the one goal, in the smae way that nearly all their victories were just by one goal last season. The football is the same. Billy Sharp was an ageing striker last year and he's even older this year. They are not to be taken lightly. I have also seen many people suggesting for the return of Ross Barkley as this is "an easy game for him to get into form" - no thank you! This is exactly the type of game where you need everyone to be on the same page and working hard, they are definitely not as bad as the league table suggests.

Ha! The incredible sulk!

No way should he come straight back into the team v Shef Utd. He's had his chance, 8 games in a row where hes been poor. Ramsey had a good game, and he deserves a run in the side, and Sanson is still patiently waiting for his full debut. As far as I'm concerned Barkley can wait his turn and barring an injury crisis I'd be fine if he doesn't start another game this season. Giving Ramsey a run of starts could mean saving millions in the summer, I'd rather we used the rest of the season to develop him.

After thinking about if for a month, I've finally decided that Barkley has a must play if fit clause How many poor games in a row does he have to play before getting dropped? This isnt scapegoating, as at least the others have a decent game now and again

Its a double gameweek for a couple of teams, people just want to capitalise on that. Let's not get carried away now. Plus we've not been great recently, I even considered taking him out this week

I don't think anyone is saying El Ghazi is amazing, but he scored 5 goals in 6 games and was dropped as soon as Barkley returned from injury. That's what we are trying to argue, a man in red hot form with the team playing amazing - did absolutely nothing wrong yet found himself out the side. Barkley has started 7 games in a row and gradually got worse in each outing, but still finds himself in the starting lineup. Not only El Ghazi, but Ramsey and Sanson must all be scratching their heads, this is very similar to when Drinkwater just kept starting every game. Barkley needs dropping and earning his place in the side after some good performances from the bench. Part of me is thinking "must play when fit" clause in his contract from Chelsea

I agree, I don't think El Ghazi is great.. but he's much much better (effective) than Barkley, especially the way we play. We need willing runners not people standing around and just trying to do fancy flicks

Get him in the team, much rather spend the rest of the season developing him than playing an underperforming Chelsea player, just so they can get some money for him in the summer.

Another way to look at it is, betting on 32red has brought you joy 6 turns in a row and you've suddenly switched to a different number (Barkley) which has got you nothing! Maybe time to switch back to the winning number?

It's clear to see we are a worse team with him in it than when he's not. El Ghazi must be really confused why he's been dropped after scoring so many goals for someone who doesn't even run.

3 goals in 3 games, all outside the box. Yet I had to debate about 10 pages back with people who were saying let him go on a free or he's only worth 1-2m Why do we always undervalue our players. Daniel Levy could easily get 12m for this type of player. I got pelters for suggesting it. He's worth it for promotion chasing championship teams and bottom half premier league teams. Just look at some of the prices we paid for absolute rubbish when we were down there. Keeps this up I don't see why not. I knew he would kill it, much improved player since we were down there.

Good news, about bloody time

It really isn't, or have you conveniently forgotten how good we were before the covid outbreak? Grealish had been playing in the 10 position and El Ghazi was doing well on the left, I'm not his biggest fan but he was doing well. It was appalling how a player who scored 4 in 5 was just kicked out the team to accommodate an unfit loan signing. Jacob Ramsey was also knocking on the door for a start. I don't even think Sansom is seen as a number 10 player.

I've never been a fan of loan signings, mainly because when they are out of form they never get dropped. The big clubs insist you play their players. We looked a really good team with Jack in the middle and were destroying teams whilst Barkley was out the side with injury before covid kicked in.. since we've come back we've been awful and Ross has started every game

One thing I do find odd about Villa Park is that fans always say how shit the individual stands are, but then the same people always say its a brilliant stadium I've read how awful the North Stand is, how ugly the Trinity is and no one has anything good to say about the Witton Lane stand. Seems the only good thing about Villa Park is the Holte End.. Yet the same people say its the best stadium there is. Thats not my opinion, just what I've observed.

Ah OK, thanks. I've never used that word in my life so I guess that why I've never figured it out!

I've been trying for years to find out what this "word removed" is, I know its an auto filter, but never managed to work out which word/phrase is replaced