Lerner's Driver

Irritating because we didn't really deserve to lose that. They have some nice passers of the ball and looked dangerous whenever they attacked. Worthy champions. I get the logic of resting players and support it, but I suspect we would have won with our strongest team out today. Our fullbacks were once again our weakest link. Gaping holes down Hutton's side and if there's one thing you can bet your house on, it is that any promising attack will die when Neil Taylor gets possession. Ultimately best to get the loss out of the way now though. Overall, a super second half of the season, so well done to all concerned.

Credit to Hourihane for standing up for our rights. Credit to Bielsa for ordering his team to be sportsmen. Jannson is cheating scum.

Neither team at their fluent best, but I think that is partly our game plan to let Jack win free kicks and so far it's working. Breaks up their play and frustrates them winning us free kicks and buying us time. A few decent headed chances we might have done better with and a decent shout for a peno, so I'd say we're going in just about on top. Don't like how much room they've been allowed to run at us with in midfield at times, but that is their game and has been one of our weaknesses all season. That said, their shooting has been off and we've looked decent when they do attack. If they don't significantly improve in the second half and the pattern continues, we can win this.

Can't work out if opposition keepers are regularly having blinders against us, or our finishing is just poor. A bit of both, no doubt, which gave the game a degree more jeopardy than it deserved. Millwall weren't in the match at all, other than as a reasonably effective defensive unit. Won at a canter.

We are utterly dominating this game and it's beautiful to watch. Stroking it around, fluent, patient passing. A delight to watch.

I do, on the grounds that giving him a cap could go to his head and deflect his attention from the infinitely more important task of getting Aston Villa promoted. It would also make him more interesting to certain other clubs wanting to buy him, so overall, it's a great big fat no, he's not ready. Even if he is.

Back to Bruce level cack

Complacent from the off.

Is it possible to rate him as 'awful', if you also acknowledge that 'he got better'? Personally, I think he made two or three errors, which saw him drop below his typically very high standard. Awful is too strong.

Promotion winning form. Nice.

You don't say. Piercing insight.

Bromance material...

Bizzarely, belatedly, unbelievably, beautifully, our squad is beginning to look and feel promotion ready.

Beautiful. At last, a game in which Villa were fully dominant without a single question mark. Thank you Dean Smith. Whelan superb. Fingers crossed for Tammy.

Perfection.

Righto, fair enough to have doubts. I too am/was concerned re: how we adapted without Grealish and Tuanzebe, but his hands were tied to a great extent. We've seen enough before and after their absence to know he can get a team to play, so actually, with positives and negatives weighed in the round, he deserves more credit than criticism. You carry on, banging on, having an opinion for the attention.

Players who couldn't pass now can because of Grealish. That said, not particularly pretty on this occasion, but certainly clinical, hardworking and resolute, as epitomised by MoM John McGinn. Capped off by yet another commanding performance from Mings. How very pleasing.

Please please please sign Mings. We are a different team with Jack. McGinn also wonderful. On our way!

Given up on this season.

We are going to be here for quite a while whether he leaves or not.

Low expectations = plenty of time

He's a Grime rapper 'as well', apparently, so probably can't be arsed with the footy any more, which makes him a perfect fit with our current crop. Jesus saw his talent though, so who am I to question the boy?

A fair summary, but to your original point re: being certain Smith will turn it around if given the time, I'm not sure he'll get it, especially if we continue looking this inept. Personally, I hate that we can't pass the ball at pace without Grealish.

What run of form and performance style would countenance you changing your mind?

Do you think it's any better than under Bruce, whose football you hated?