thunderball

Yes! Hourihane has been on it from the second he stepped on the pitch

Urgh. Taylor is poor today

Really not very encouraging so far. Is it time to start worrying?

Grealish needs to look for free kicks around the edge of the box. Swap Whelan for Hourihane and look for triangles and free kicks

I’d swap Adomah for Kodjia, see if he can spark it up a bit given he is the most unpredictable. We have lost our mojo.

We are playing like we did at Wembley last year, we forgot we had to try

A good bollocking might help at half time

McGinn is the only one showing drive and desire

Little movement, little energy, players running into dead ends. Taylor and Elmo not been great offensively, Albert looks a busted flush now. DS needs to roll the dice, they are making this defence look the best in the league while it’s the exact opposite.

Get green on for uncle Albert, we need to shake it up

FFS we are taking so much time on the ball. Elmo slows it down every time

Very tight, we are plodding and trying to play through them but there is no room. We need to stretch them with pace

Steer!

Full strength. Reassuring bench too - both cover and options there

Prediction: Tammy El Ghazi Green McGinn Grealish Hourihane Taylor Mings Tuenzebe Elmo Steer 4-0 Hourihane pips it due to form and attacking intent under DS and Home.

I’d be happy with keeping Jack, signing Mings, El Ghazi, Haus, Maupay and Lolley. Would also like to see Tammy (loan or perm), a CB and a RHS wide man. We could spend more but we need to reconcile or run the risk of another ‘Too many new faces’ syndrome, like 4 years ago.

Football all day today, I don’t actually enjoy these sorts of games but am obviously compelled to watch them (on my own and not in company). Also looking forward to the other semi today to check out the possible opponents. Despite this, feeling strangely confident but know WBA will be equally stoked. Hopefully no luck required but I feel we need to win 2-0. Catch you later.....

The Albion we played this season hasn’t played against the Villa team we currently are, fully fit, we are the best team in the division, and we should be pretty much fully fit. We really should win this by a couple of goals and I expect us to score away too. re Championship: it’s a great league, so much more honest and lacking In the PL bullshit and hype. A lot of very good players and at least 6 teams worthy of the PL here. Enjoyed almost every minute and have a very high respect for the division.

No one over 26 y.o. please

I am saying nothing

My worry is having been here 2.5 years and even acknowledging his injuries bad luck, he hasn’t torn up any trees despite having the talent. I worry that he thinks he has it good on a long and much improved deal. Hourihane arrived at the same time with the equal reputation. I think he could be a very valuable player, I think he is technically good and should fit DS’s system and philosophy. He has energy and an eye for goal, so he has everything going for him, I want us to keep him. Anecdotally, I know some one who knows him and his family well - they both have holiday homes in Portugal, she thinks he is a good egg FWIW, but he is a bit wrapped up in the lifestyle, but then again there’s probably few footballers that aren’t! (she also knows John Terry)

Would have won with our full team, sure about that, Hourihane stepped up nicely and Wheelo nearly scored a worldie with the outside of his boot! Nice that Kodjia is on a bit of form: 3 from last 4 is exactly what we want from our back striker. Thought Green looked good too, improv in all the time, if he continues he could be quite a useful player for us. Farewell Alan Hutton, quite an eventful Villa career all told, our very own zombie returning from the dead several times, however it was plain to see today why we were conceding so many goals in the first half of the season! Thanks for the memories, one very special one, if nothing else you have an abundance of spirit and determination.

Yes, didn’t set the world on fire but didn’t look out of place and integrated well. Pretty good from such a long time out i would say. Useful squad player at most I would say, it’s up to his own desire how far he wants to go, should be pushing wheels and Hourihane for the 3rd midfield berth for me but not sure he wants it that much.

McCormack, Hogan, Gestede, Ayew, Helenius.... We really haven’t had much luck since Benteke. Cutting our losses would be good. Sheffield want him apparently, really surprised by this but good luck Scott, it would be good for both parties. We really need to buy two new forwards for next year if we go up.

Maybe El Ghazi could play as a striker? Just a thought. I think Kodjia is a confidence player - yes he has tricks and talent but clicking with the team (the team we have become through monotony) needs time which we don’t have. Hopefully he plays Sunday but I fear those around him will be rested, at least he will get used to the responsibility. I think he has the ability to work, when he is on it he is right up there in this division. No way is Kodjia fit for purpose for next season, I even doubt if we go up that we can rely on Tammy as the no1 forward, I think we need someone else. At 21 Tammy will continue to improve, he will be a great asset.