Rovers13

Wow how lucky. But Gabby shouldve played through Benteke in the first place so Villa didn't deserve to score but Arsenal did deserve to concede. Now please, please don't sit back.

I didn't realize what a prick wilshere is. He's not afraid to make a tough tackle but when someone does to him he freaks out.

Is Weimann playing hurt? He's been very off today, and doesn't want to sprint

Ok maybe I exaggerated a little by saying they've outplayed Arsenal, but think of the best chances. For all the complaints about the defending, Arsenal have really only had one good chance. Whereas Villa have had at least two, one the penalty and two Benteke was one on one with the keeper. So I'd say so far Villa have had the better chances.

That should be a fooul on Oxlade Chamberlain what the that is an awful decision. What did the assistant see in that challenge?

How good has Luna been today? Very impressive.

Villa have outplayed Arsenal so far at the Emirates. Tough to complain

Delph has been the worst player except maybe Vlaar imo. He's missed two great opportunities to play Gabby and Weimann through for one on ones. Could easily be two or three one if he had

Wow that was so bizarre why didn't benteke go left of szcsezny?

To be honest Arsenal really haven't had too many chances so far. Not a bad start.

Kea and WEestwood have looked pretty good, generally positive and looking forward. Delph on the other hand just goes back to the keeper or defenders which does nothing. The front guys have been pretty isolated and Vlaar... yeah.

100% Vlaars fault. When he committed it left a 3 on 2. Baker had to go out and meet the ball and Luna had to mark two guys. he sort of stayed with Oxlade Chamberlain but no one was with Giroud obviously.

And if Rovers won at the Emirates last year, there's no way I can pick against Villa.

Maybe El Ahmadi will be a pleasant surprise this year, other midfielders have struggled settling before at the beginning.

Lukaku had a great year, but 3 of his goals came in the last game when Man U was more worried about a sir Alex retirement party. They weren't trying that hard at the end of that game

See to me this is a really good point. I think Mourinho is good and flexible enough that he could manage at a lower level, but could you really see AVB doing well in the championship or with a lower premier league team? Or Wenger at this point? I'm not so sure, and I think people always act like managing a top club and winning is doing a better job than managing a bottom dweller and getting mid table, when its not really.

Pretty much this. But more than that, infact. Swansea's footballing philosophy actually goes far back beyond Martinez and Rodgers. It is a philosophy that has been in place for a number of years, and runs through the club at all levels. Managers at all levels are carefully selected to buy into their footballing ways, and pick up where the last manager left off. Players are carefully selected for their ability to play 'the Swansea way', even the goalkeeper was bought (partly) because of his ball playing ability. Which is why Liverpool's appointment of Rodgers was particularly ill founded. They thought that just because they poached their manager, they would all of a sudden start playing Swansea's possession football. It takes much more than one man. Anyway: Best manager would be Mourinho Most overrated would be Moyes (Unless we're talking about Villa fans, in which case Lambert) Most underrated would be the painfully unfashionable Allardyce Worst would be Hughes or Di Canio How is Moyes overrated? His Everton team consistently finished higher than sides with more money and even got top four once. He's always done a solid job, I'm not sure how he's overrated. At this point he's probably underrated because everyone seems to think he'll fail at Man U. Agree on Mourinho and Allardyce though.

Would you be outraged if we finished 8th? That's probably close enough to ninth he'd be okay, but if Villa finished top four then that might be an outrage.

This is where the Dortmund comparison makes more sense. They were young and didn't really have anyone who had won before, yet they won anyway. Why? Cause the players were good enough.

Borussia Dortmund! I like Dortmund, but them as an example is overblown. Germanys different from England because they only have one club with huge financial power whereas England has at least 3, plus Dortmund are one of the biggest German clubs, they just fell on hard times. 80000 fans regularly, it's not quite comparable

I couldn't not post this, it had me laughing out loud. From a fictional villa fm story. Connolly is the fictional managers name, though I guess you'd figure that out. http://www.fmscout.com/q-7170-The-Lions-of-Aston-Villa--Becoming-King-of-the-Jungle-Once-More.html?d=2\ The second thing should be in a quote box, but i scewed that up. The Boardroom LERNER: "Welcome gentlemen, how are you both?" CONNOLLY: "Not too bad, thanks." CANTONA: "A leetle tipsy." LERNER: "Professional as always Eric." "Anyway, as you can see from my e-mail, Celtic have made an approach for you, Jason. Their chairman, Desmond White is holding a press conference later today after he relieves Neil Lennon from his duties. Second place and seven points off the pace in a league minus Rangers is unacceptable in his eyes." "He's offered us £2.5m in compensation for you." CANTONA: "£2.5m??? That ees an eensult, get him on ze phone now!!!" LERNER: "Eric, calm down... Jason, your thoughts?" CONNOLLY: "Randy, I love this club, I've been a supporter since I was a boy. So was my dad. We are going places and I have no intention of leaving, I signed a three year deal and that will be honoured. LERNER: "Exactly what I wanted to hear.... Eric, are you crying?" CANTONA: "Non, I just have some something in my eye!" CONNOLLY: You look like you're crying. LERNER: Yeah, you do. CANTONA: "Ooooh, so ze enigmatic Frenchman has to be devoid of feelings?" "If you must know, that is ze most beautiful thing I have heard uttered in this boardroom, Jason!" "Your loyalty is second to none, just vonderful. You are a marvellous human being and I respect you for staying true to your club." Cantona storms out, unable to hold back any more tears. LERNER: "What a fruitcake." CONNOLLY: "I know. But he means well." "Anyway boss, I need to kick on and get the lads ready for Burnley, see you soon." LERNER: "See you later." Connolly exits. A pleased Lerner flicks the projector screen on and Gangnam Style comes pounding through the speakers. LERNER: (To self) No one is around and I've just kept hold of the brightest young manager in the world.... "OPPA GANGNAM STYLE!!!!" The American business tycoon, in a moment of pure joy, kicks out of his chair and dances to the music... Connolly re-enters the room. CONNOLLY: "Just left my phone on the desk boss!" LERNER: "Jason... I was just.... Ehhh...." Connolly shuts door and leaves.

He's just so dismissiveness about it what a word I'm not allowed to say. Edit: Kept watching the video it's amazing he's awful

Yep I can confirm that it is. And how is this thread still going? This is madness

How'd Grant Hanley look?

Thats awesome for Lambert. Waits forever for an England call, gets one and scores a winner against Scotland with his first touch. Gotta be happy for him.