Lerner's Driver

I'm going on Saturday for the first time since 2016! Can't wait...

Yes!

Ok, let's do it

Sutton predicted 2-2 before the game - looks a decent bet.

Emery out. This is dire. Why can't we just have some of that Stevie G pragmatism?

Hard to call, but I think we can win. If we score first we will give ourselves a good chance.

And no Olsen!

From the BBC... Maybe the best 90 minutes we played here since I arrived' FT: Aston Villa 3-0 Bournemouth Aston Villa boss Unai Emery to BBC Match of the Day: "After the matches we lost to Arsenal and Leicester, the reaction has been fantastic. Today is maybe the best 90 minutes we played here since I arrived. We conceded some chances to them, but I think it is normal because they are in a good moment. "I'm happy today and I want to share it with the players and supporters." On Jacob Ramsey: "He is young; he is here and involved at Aston Villa. He has the potential to learn some things and understand tactically what we want. Today he played the best match since I'm here."

Not today. My MotM.

Agreed. Clear pen. Delighted we still made them pay.

A very very good performance. We are going places under this manager. That was another step forward. Sure, "it's only Bournemouth", but they just beat Liverpool and we are clearly on a roll. The players believe in the manager, so are responding, unlike the last word removed. Lots of very good performances today. Seeeeexxxxxx fluids, much like the football itself, which is actually extraordinary if you consider that he took over mid season when we were utter shit.

Is it going to be one of those games?

Normally I try and say to myself, stay patient, give the bloke a chance, every player takes a different amount of time to find their feet, but he doesn't look like he has the tools to make it. Too weak for this league.

A slightly disappointing result, but further evidence of the playing style taking shape and another decent point. Without doubt, the biggest advance and thing of utmost wonder, is our control of the football, it is sexy and in complete contrast to what we have had to put up with for much of my adult life. We are already a very good away team indeed and once we are fully formed, we are going to be James Brownesque. Thank you Unai and well done boys!

Agree with all of this. I just think both things can be true at the same time... We are learning a new playing style (mid-season) AND it does quite often feel terrifyingly risky because we aren't consistently good at executing it yet. It's probably going to be like this for the rest of the season as well, so best strap in! If you think about it, given the dramatic shift from keep it tight nothingness, to this dynamic mix of ideas, it's pretty impressive that we are winning as much as we are. It's incredibly difficult being patient as a football fan, but it is going to be worth it, you can just tell, mostly because the benefits are already outweighing the growing pains.

Who hypes Palace?

But not in any way progressive or as comfortable on the ball. He'll do a job, but we will be significantly diminished.

Why buy a player (no matter how good when fit), who is never fit long enough to be worth his salary? We are surely past taking punts like that?

He's right, but good to hear him acknowledge it. MotM today.

Thank **** for that. Some good play but as usual we made it hard for ourselves again against a really shit agricultural Palace team. Should have been out of sight. Wins a win.

Standard nervy shit

Here we go

Anyone sense an undeserved equaliser?

That is really curious isn't it? Does anyone on here have any theories? Obviously, in general, we don't have that many players available who can step in, but what about the outfield youth prospects? Even if they are just sat on the bench, surely that makes more sense than filling a sub spot with a goalie that has zero chance of playing in the match?