ozvillafan

2 overseas investors take over a club that is stuggling and use their wealth and influence to propel them up the league.... ... and we now sit in 6th place. The only difference between us and Wrexham? Clubs in our league spend more than us. The hypocrisy in this thread is amazing.

I don't think he's ever kept a clean sheet and clearly not comfortable with the ball at his feet, doesn't command his area and doesn't leave his box. That completely stiffles the way Emery wants us to play. We need an upgrade. Here's a shout: Matthew Ryan Aussie international Premier league experience Currently playing in the Netherlands Knows how to play with his feet and be a sweeper

umm... an uncovered outdoor area? You're in England. You play games in winter. It's always raining. Can't see that getting much use.

Aye - but I doubt he's stupid enough to take that job

I don't think we can under estimate how big an influence losing Martinez was. Not just because he was in good form, but the keeper now plays an important part in how we build and defend. Since Olsen is not likely to be a "sweeper keeper", we could no longer hold a high line. Since his ball skills and distribution is not as good as Martinez, we struggled to play out. That meant Brentford had a good 20 minutes of total control. And even then, they only scored off a mistake and with a few substitutions we got a deserved equalizer as we punished their decision to sit back. We could have even won it if the communication between Buendia and Watkins was better - in fact, that was the tale of the game. Had those 2 been on the same page, it may have even been a comfortable win. I'll take that point. We need to be able to compete regardless of the opposition and the situation we find ourselves in - and I thought we did just that.

... wasn't Nyland playing behind Konsa and Mings?

Slated by a few in the match thread. I'm not sure what he's supposed to do when the rest of the players are clearly struggling around him - but he still got an assist.

How is it that a player heads the ball while another raises a boot and catches him in the face drawing blood.... ... and it doesn't even get called a foul, let alone a yellow card?

Olsen not to blame for the goal, but we can't play out at the back with him between the sticks - and every player on the pitch knew it. Case in point: Mings has the ball facing his own goal about 10 yards out of our penalty area. Without any pressure on him, he plays a (successful) skewed ball to Konsa, rather than the easy tap back to the keeper. Credit Brentford - they took advantage of that to pile on the pressure and found a napping Young to capitalize. We need Martinez back. We looked better with the substitutions, particularly the crossing from both Digne and Chambers. Might even have knicked all 3 points at the end.

Martinez off, Olsen on. Our chances of a result just took a dive.

I don't think we are playing badly - I just think Brentford have done their homework. It's not quite sticking but that's largely because we aren't finding the kind of space we did against Newcastle at home. Still promising.

I dunno - Bailey - Carlos - Cash - Kamara - Coutinho Most of those are starters. I wouldn't say that was lucky

@chappy @dubbs We share a birthday! I can't think of a better present than a Villa win

I'm too hardened a Villa fan to ever think the wins can keep on coming. 0-0 draw today.

He's in rare air at the moment: - He knows what he wants and how he wants his team to play - He has a squad that is eager to learn and improve, and who play for each other

Even I'd fancy my chances against those 2. Watkins must be salivating at the thought.

If Wet Spam go down, then Fabianski

He cancelled Cancelo

Moreno just tore an in-form Trippier a new one..... .... Imagine what he will do to the defensively suspect TAA

Nah. One of those 2 is Chelsea

The reality is that we won't win all of the next 7 games. It took us something like 26 years to repeat our now 5 game winning run. But that is also true of our rivals for Europe. Since we are behind on points and just about every other metric (goals scored, goals against, goal difference) our aim is simply to win more than our rivals over the next 7 games. So, who are our likely rivals? - Brighton. Playing great football but with fixture congestion looming large - Tottenham. On form, the worst performing team in the top 5 and a run of big games coming up (Newcastle, ManUre, Liverpool) - Liverpool. In shocking form at the moment and with problems across their squad, but seem to turn up for the bigger games and can still hurt teams. Have an easy run in. Beyond that (Newcastle, ManUre and a CL place) probably requires one of those 2 to drop the ball. As much as I'd like that to happen (particularly for ManUre) it seems unlikely. I suspect we can, should and will get 5th place.

Bwahahahahahaha spuds

I'm a big fan, but I have noted the amount of times he is easily dispossessed in midfield, especially with his back to goal and pressure as soon as he receives the ball. Not so today. Superb. He twisted and turned, even won back possession up the pitch and got under Dan Burn's skin (McGinn finished the job). Found so much space between the lines as their midfield struggled to contain us. Some lovely passing and through balls. Great performance

Doesn't get a lot of plaudits and - I'll admit - I thought he was done about 12 months ago. He was excellent today, both in and out of possession. His partnership with Mings and Martinez is superb.