VillaChris

Think all Sheff Weds need to do to stay up is win at Sunderland.

They're basically down with two draws so would be comical if Rowett plays the final two like he did Rotherham. Judging by his comments today he realises they'll need to have more of a go so that will leave more space between midfield and defence and Huddersfield do have pace in the final third. Sheff Weds need to just match their results now so would finish above them drawing their final two. They couldn't finish above Plymouth on 48 points unless Plymouth lost their last two games by six goals. I'd say it's looking far more likely they're going this time compared to other years personally. 49 points and they're still down if Plymouth draw one game (and don't lose the other heavily), Blackburn draw one game and Sheff Weds win one of their final two games.

Carney and Sterling doubts so basically their front line will be Palmer in number 10 position with Mudryk and Mudeke either side, they really don't have anyone else and bench will be full of kids.

Why wouldn't they? Their record v us is abysmal in the last four years so even when they're clicking their style doesn't really click v us. We won 6-1 v them when they'd won 5 of their first 6 prem games of the season.

Played three games v us and hasn't scored yet so he's not some jinx player to face for us just yet.

He'd been with us the previous season on loan so I assumed his partner had moved over from the Netherlands by then compared to our 2019-20 intake. Can't have been Gulibert or Engels as neither played for us much after that season resumed and Wes was of course sadly injured. Interesting Newcastle wanted him in summer 2019, he'd have flopped like Gerrard did and admitted as much in the interview. Think the other serious job offer while he was here was from Boro (Sunderland interview came after he left).

Ansu Fati has flopped aswell, came in with huge expectations and think he's started about five games. One of those seasons though where if Man. United, Newcastle and Chelsea all moan they've dropped down the league due to having ten injuries then Brighton will certainly drop down the league having ten injuries.

Just watching the podcast now....I assume the player he's talking about from 8 minutes is Samatta as his performances massively declined as soon as football returned during lockdown. I was genuinely wondering what had happened as he'd looked o.k in the 4-5 games he first played. Edit: Might've been Trez given he did alright the next season according to Terry.

Certainly limping to the end of the season now. I thought they'd pick up again after exiting Europa but hasn't happened. Their transfer strategy is rightly lauded but I think last few months have shown the drawbacks of it. If I'm right they replaced Caciedo and Alexis Mac with Dahoud (clearly didn't settle and now back in Bundesliga), Baleba (promising but just a kid) and Lallana?!!!! Milner would probably be playing central midfield if he was fit currently. Gilmour was doing o.k but that's a real downgrade in a key part of the pitch and why De Zerbi is moaning so much so a little chink and we'll see what they do in the next window as the spark has gone from their play big time and this is how teams slowly fall back down the premier league.

Gomez played about four games for Liverpool (after endless years of injuries), got injured again and has since been warming the bench again so that would be a nonsense pick. Think it will just be the same as last few tournaments. Three RBs and Trippier will just cover the LB spot (and possibly have to play there). England same as all other tournaments, some great attackers but feels like one injury to Rice and it will all fall apart. Also left hand side pretty weak with Maguire and probably going to have to gamble on Shaw when he's barely played second half of the season, can't see him lasting a full tournament and Chilwell was abysmal in the March games. I'm actually disappointed it's gone up to 26 as was looking forward to Southgate actually having to make some tough calls but now he'll have the space to call up all his old mates. I don't really understand why it hasn't gone down to 23 as you can still name them all on the bench and have 5-6 sub option so that's enough to rotate and keep people fresh surely?

Gusto out would be great. Alfie Gilchirst looks like that token local player in their squad who's won a prize to play prem as he gives 100% but playing Arsena was simply too much for him. We're missing a trick if we don't continue getting the ball forward quickly and have Ollie moving to the left as him with Digne on the overlap will overwhelm him I imagine. Only other option is to move one of the CBs to RB.

We played very well right at the end of last season at Anfield when they were in better form than they are now (we're the same level pretty much) so not sure why that's automatically being written off. It's not even Klopp's final game and they'll save all their energy for his home farewell.

I've been surprised by how good the prices have been for these knock out ties. Would not have criticised the club one bit if they'd ramped them up to prem levels given how rare SF games are at VP in last 30 years. Given the Chelsea match was also 20-30 quid they've clearly learnt from the nonsense of the Everton league cup so more of the same next season please.

Must admit I thought Liverpool were only on 71 points so thought we were right on their tails. Yeah 8 point gap is too much. It's a bit like trying to catch Newcastle last season when they had a dip in form.

Genuinely can't understand how that could ever stand up in a court of law. Sala could've scored 10 goals for them in the prem....but they could've all been consolation goals in 2-1 defeats. It's like us signing Samatta in Jan 2020. He scored twice I think and they were both goals in games we lost so really no difference if anything had happened to him like poor Sala.