nobler

They really do like to have a midfielder that sits back though, whether it be Keita, Toure, Busquets or even Marquez, who people have forgotten about after his long injury problems. I'm pretty sure Cesc could even do a decent defensive job aswell when needed. Either way, it's just scary how good their squad is. I think they might sell Toure this summer though.

I'm not sure they'll abandon their 4-3-3 system which they've played pretty much forever and i'm pretty certain Pedro will be a regular starter next season after his phenomenal season. In my opinion Cesc has the ability to slot into any position in midfield, it's just a case of bringing in better players all the time when you're at the top, I don't think anyone would need to worry about how he would fit in.

I do agree that Mascerano has generally had poor games against Villa but you can't really compare peoples entire careers on one off games. Mascerano, in my opinion, is world class on his day. Those world class performances probably don't come too often but i wouldn't say any player except Torres has performed excellently in what's been an extremely average season for them. Reo Coker doesn't have one attribute that i'd say was better, basically Mascerano does what Reo-coker does much better, in almost every single possible way. Just my opinion of course, you're totally entitled to yours.

Looks like Cesc to Barca will probably be this summers big transfer, which will drag on and on till the last second of when players need to be registered for champions league. Arsene will definately milk this though and get an incredible deal for Arsenal. It's a huge blow to them though, no amount of money can replace what Fabregas offers them.

Did I see just see this correctly?

I'll never be able to accept a result like this. Another season and still unable to sort out our poor home form. What should have been a firey display with the potential of finishing 5th has just fizzled out with a whimper. Annoying.

Not sure of the actual dates but i heard on SSN that the team that finishes 7th has to enter the Europa league one month earlier than everyone else. Meaning that would leave hardly anytime at all after the world cup and would just be a mess. Very much need to finish 6th.

Interesting stat: • Victory would make Villa the first club outside of the Big Four to reach 1,000 Premier League points. Sorry if someone already posted it, haven't read through.

fonz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sooooooooo bored of our seasons fizzling out. Not blaming the players, they really tried tonight, but tiredness, same team selections week in week out, no tactical changes to freshen anything up, just same old predictable stuff and a loss of 4 points in two games, which sees us now fighting for even 8th place as Everton are storming up the league.

Poorest game i've seen in a long time. Absolutely no quality from either side, just lumping balls into the box and hoping for the best, it was pretty horrific.

More positive please people

Can't find any positives from this whatsoever. Obvously i hate having my heart ripped out at the end like that but makes it even more annoying when you're undone by pathetic mistakes instead of quality play. Confidence will be incredibly low after this. A huge period for Martin O'neill and the team now, please let's not capitulate.

Haha he almost took some blokes eye out

Absolutely delighted to be in a semi final

Slightly worrying tonight. Even this early into the season, a few injuries, the shifting round of a few players and we look exhausted and out of ideas. We seem to be plagued by a really complacent, not bothered attitude against the lower teams in the league, there was absolutely no hunger tonight, no urgency and with the chance to go 4th and really show the league we can actually do something this season, there looked like a few players who don't seem up to the job. There had been signs at Wolves and Sunderland and i was hoping the horrendously out of form Carew, Heskey and Young may start to show signs of turning it around tonight, clearly not. It's not the end of the world though, a win on the weekend with the return of Milner and Cuellar should prove to be really important and hopefully lift us back on track. If we carry on showing this type of attitude away from home though against the likes of West Ham and Blackburn, who are both very poor, the losses will just build up and into a very average season. I thought Petrov, Warnock and Gabby did ok, Young was lively but as ever his delivery was very poor. Everyone else, tired and didn't wanna be there.

Velvet Underground - Heroin.

It's fun watching Barca at the moment just to see the ridiculous positions Gerard Pique finds himself in every game. His forward play is remarkable, i think he could actually get double figures this year.

Stan Collymore: "Collins seems to be limping gingerly"

I'm very happy

Really, Beye does not deserve to be dropped. I really want Cuellar to just have a settled run at centreback. I know there's an excellent defender in him somewhere.

The butterflies have started. Why do i naturally shit myself when up against the noses? :?

Bouma for me, purely on ability. It's quite a depressing list, due to the fact we've included a couple of our worst squad players of the last 10 years and a right back into the list. I don't think any of us could knock Alan Wright's contribution to the club but by the 00's, i remember him being a little lost in his ways and the crowd very much on his back.

Actually you guys have a fair point. Most of Southgates achievements were before year 2000, i kind of considered the 4th/5th place finish, FA cup semi final etc to be in the last 10 years. Time flies, eh? However, that aside, leading us to an FA cup final and generally being a big player, influential captain that cemented himself as a solid England international, i'd still favour Southgate over Mellberg. Mellberg was unlucky enough to be around at a really bad period and though he was a shining light in generally bad times, i personally just think Laursen/Southgate should represent the two best centrebacks.

Can't believe Mellberg is getting more votes than Southgate.