RichiBoi11

Bring back Ulises De La Cruz

I'm sure I've read previously that most, if not all of our first team players have relegation clauses in their contracts. So if we do drop back in to the championship we will still have a high wage budget for that division, but it shouldn't be as astronomical or crippling as some people think. I also don't see the owners being taken for mugs on prices. Jack would inevitably leave, but not for a cut price, and I could see us holding on to McGinn and Mings. McGinn is only returning from an injury so there's no guarantee someone would pay the money we would want, and we wouldn't be under pressure to sell. Mings I also think wouldn't have as many suitors as people on here think. His blocks and clearance stats are good, but he's leader of the leagues worst defence, has had multiple injuries in the past, and we would want a profit on what we paid. If he doesn't make the England squad for the Euro's then I could see him sticking around. Yes, relegation would hurt, but I think we could put ourselves in a much better position to be competetive next season and attempt to win promotion back at the first time of asking. There doesn't need to be a fire sale and rebuild, just clever additions and a refusal to sell players on the cheap.

Even if for some ludicrous reason we can't send him back without paying the rest of the loan deal off just do it. If he can't be sent back early just tell him he's not welcome at the training ground or games and let him linger at home until the deal expires. There's no space in a relegation scrap for characters like this anywhere near the team, regardless of if they're in the squad.

I love your optimism and mathematically it is still in our hands, but we've been on 25 points for almost two months. The fact we aren't cut adrift is more a commentary on how poor the league is as opposed to our hopes of staying up. I'd love you to be right mate, but I just can't see it.

Our best run of form in terms of points totals has been that on one occasion we have taken 7 points from 3 games. That came in September to October (Burnley D, Norwich W, Brighton W) Since then the best we have mustered is 4 points from 2 games, which we've only achieved on two occasions (Newcastle W, Man Utd D) in November/December and (Brighton D, Watford W) in January. I'd love to be wrong, but I can't see us replicating any of those sorts of points totals from the next four games (Chelsea, Wolves, Liverpool, Man Utd) so by the time we have any realistic opportunity of getting points on the board it could be too late. Additionally, if we take a hammering in a couple of those games it will also make the games people view as 'winable' much harder because of the pressure and the confidence of the players realistically being in tatters. We've given ourselves too much to do, and the odds are that this squad doesn't have the quality or nouse to put together the run of form we need in the remaining games. I wanted us to at least go down swinging, but if this was a combat sport the ref would be calling it to a stop now because we're a bloodied mess unable to defend ourselves.

Add in to this that before Reina did lose his mind, Leicester could have been 3-0 up from corners alone. Elmo was marking Evans ffs! The organisation is criminal.

I'd say so. At this point I think the only hail mary shot we have is changing the manager and hoping the bounce effect of even a caretaker can scrape us the points required. That won't happen though. We're a soft touch as a club and Dean is going nowhere regardless of how the season finishes.

This is the issue for me. It's still in our hands, if we win the game in hand we just need to match Bournemouth and Watford to stay up. The problem is the players look like they have no desire to make that happen. Even Grealish was a shadow last night. Losing to a team like Leicester is acceptable. But throwing in the towel against them isn't.

If Nyland doesn't start against Chelsea its criminal

I've always believed in backing a manager and providing stability mate. I hoped Smith would grow as a Premier League manager but sadly he looks out of his depth

I like Smith and I've never called for this prior to tonight but he has to go. He looks to have lost the dressing room. Get him out and hope the bounce effect can keep us up. Let's not forget if we win our game in hand we climb out of the bottom three. Let's give someone a chance to breathe new life and fresh ideas in to that team and that could still be possible

I get that you're a wind up merchant, but some could consider this post just a little bit misguided considering what happened at Leicesters ground involving a helicopter.

Ronaldo would have ended up like David Dunn That is next level banter.

Smith said in January none of the first team squad have a release clause in their contract. He could be lying of course, but if you take that on face value the talk of Jack having a clause is just typical paper rumour mill clickbaiting.

This highlights the problem with our summer recruitment. I completely understand why we went with the strategy we did, but we were relying on too many players settling quickly and living up to their potential. If we had been able to sprinkle in a couple of solid Premier League performers as well to lead the team and take the pressure off the younger players I think we'd be much further up the table. For me Nakamba and Luiz are both guilty of this, there's been times when they've needed a helping hand, or to be taken out of the firing line for a couple of games, but unfortunately, they have to play through bad form due to the lack of alternatives. I think both will go on to be solid Premier League players, I just hope it's for us.

Foden is a real talent, there's no doubt about that, but he's a young man playing in a very good team. Jack has carried Villa for the last 2 and a half seasons. For me there's no comparison. If Grealish was playing for City Foden wouldn't get a look in.

Spot on. Even if he's at 70 or 80% he's a better option off the bench than Lansbury.

Tactical fouling is an under rated part of the game and something I think we need to start doing much more often. How many goals have we conceeded this season where the move started with a player running free in midfield? Where a swift shirt pull or trip would have given away a free kick in a non dangerous position whilst allowing us to regroup? Lots. Nakamba and Luiz are both guilty of this, considering both are holding or deeper lying centre mids, I'd expect them both be racking up yellow cards at this point of the season. They have 4 each. Get the team involved in the dark arts a bit more and we've got more of a chance. Nakamba as the holding player is one I want to see doing this more often. Also the tackle on Aguero. Not even a foul. Studs down, 1 footed, won the ball cleanly. He should have got a medal for that challenge.

We had Man City on the ropes at the end. The formation change suited us. It should tell those players we have enough to compete and stay in this league!

I didn't know he was struggling before the game, but if that's true then a question needs to be asked of the management as to why he was playing.

The issue wasn't rolling the dice, it was the lack of urgency to get back after rolling a dud. What if we end up down on the last day by one goal on goal difference. These decisions can have big implications.

I think his jog back to halfway when Southampton were breaking from our corner would imply otherwise.

He did save a penalty last season, to secure 3 points at Swansea. https://www.soccersouls.com/give-him-a-knighthood-dont-need-a-new-keeper-some-aston-villa-fans-celebrate-star-man-after-1-0-win-match-report/

I love your optimism, and whilst I may not whole heartedly share it, I hope you're right.

I think Nyland will start. I was of the opinion Reina would get the nod right up until Southampton, and especially after Smith's comments about some players playing themselves out of the final. For me Reina was one of them. His distribution was terrible, gifting Southampton the ball, and despite making a few saves his decision to go up for a corner and then just stand in front of the opposition keeper without any run up or chance to make a nuisance of himself, before strolling back to halfway as Southampton scored sealed his fate to be on the bench this weekend. He may not have made it, but he didn't even try to get back to the goal. Also Nyland has been excellent in the cup, and apart from the home game against City (when everyone was toilet) he's actually looked good every time he's come in. He deserves the start and the opportunity to try and wrestle a starting spot back in the league as well.