Marka Ragnos

That "passion" for the Villa cost about £30,000 a week plus add-ons. Sorry, while recognise the humanity of any person, I would hope, I just don't feel obligated to concern myself much with the feelings of professional football players. And they don't ask me for my opinion or feelings-help either, but I'm happy to share and care with any Villa player with they want to ring me. But I actually do like Leon Bailey -- a lot. I still feel concern. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. If he did indeed -- and I'm hearing differing accounts -- storm off down the tunnel while the rest of his teammates and the away supporters dealt with Anfield, he's not helping himself, the club, or his teammates.

Point taken. Anfield does this. And they are young adults, too. So they're learning. But hopefully the players will shake off the bad feelings and find a way along with Unai to regain a positive mindset. I mean, we all saw Fernandes against Liverpool last year. It happens.

My dad gave me a little claret and blue Aston Villa pin when I became a Villa supporter in 1974. It was inscribed on the back, "Expect good days and bad days." He didn't really, but he could have.

Yes, and this idea that players are routinely right to be aggrieved, sorry, respectfully, that's not something I can go along with. That horseshit spreads. Respect has to be earned, and it's mutual. Tantrums might be understandable, but I don't give a shit about a player's precious ****-ing £5,200,000 a year feelings. It's football. Put on your big boy trousers and do the job.

You're right of course, but I'm sure not happy.

Licking wounds for a while ... We definitely have a mentality problem. That seems new -- or really old -- and scary. Can't just give up. It felt like we did today.

Positive: It IS worth remembering: Only one team won at Anfield last season that wasn't Liverpool. Martinez kept it from being a thrashing. Negative: We capitulated. I didn't think we'd ever do that. It feels a bit of a betrayal.

A homeless person holding a tin cup is more fit and proper than Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

I know. But you know -- you just never know. Things happen. I don't know if Pavlidis still plays for AZ, but he's got feet and scores shitloads of goals with them.

I'd be surprised if he doesn't start. Not sure we have anyone besides Ollie who can scamper forward fast enough to stay close to Moussa, and if we don't have those coordinated attacks and last-second passes in the box, I don't see how we beat Liverpool.

That's amazing. Not to sound too corporate gobbledygooky, but what a great brand ambassador for a Villa that want to crash the top of the table in people's minds, too.

I see Lehmann has committed to three more years at Villa ... that seems good. She's a good and strong forward -- and probably hasn't hit her peak yet. I think she's the most well-known Aston Villa player in the world at the moment.

I just wonder so much who thought it a good idea given the whole Saudi PIF context to give them Saudi flag kits. Someone surely gave the Castore design team guidelines, but who? Did word come down from Riyadh? You wouldn't have thought that the Saudis would be trying to go low-key given the publicity, but maybe they're over that now and are ready to flaunt Newcastle United's enmeshment (ultimately) with the Saudi government. Still find it hard to believe MBS -- arguably a de facto true owner -- in essence passed the "fit and proper test" whereas the utterly benign Louis Tomlinson of One Direction -- who actually loves Doncaster Rovers and wanted to get involved -- failed to be deemed "fit and proper."

It is irritating, innit? Just really sticks in my craw. I keep thinking if only Mings hadn't shoulder-tackled Isak and instead he'd just let the ball roll out of play and he wouldn't whipped around at that harsh angle and put all that pressure on his ACL ...

Mitoma is like an escaped little tiger. Just mauling ‘em. Does he ever get tired?

Brighton play like street ballers. So **** good with bouncy balls in limited areas.

Yes, and Mings horror.

Can’t say it enough. It’s repulsive.

Fati must be pleased.

You see all these cheeky straight-back straight-legged passes by the Brighton players? They’re playing—and I mean playing at this point. reminding me a bit of the Brazilian style of play.

Newcastle need to do a training friendly with Hibs.

Holy shit.

How the **** did Newcastle beat us? (I know the answer but still.) Brighton have their cheat code.

Goal of the week.

The sack? That’s getting off lightly with the Saudis.