KMitch

Villa Park is ROCKING

6 minutes???!?!?!?!?!?!?! What the Hell happened this half to justify that much time??? Did Fergie come out of retirement?

This has been arguably Ramsey's most complete performance in a Villa shirt... Excellent all around today.

5 central midfielders??? What is this wizardry???

Which is ironic because he already got two in his first half. Gerrard couldn't even get 1 in 4 matches this season!

Lots of good film for the team to work on this week. Many times this half the boys didn't know where they should be, when they should press, which one of them needs to pick up which runner, or where to move into space but that's OK! That's the stuff they'll learn and pick up over time. The most impressive thing is that on his first game, he's already set up the team to both play to their strengths and try to stifle Man United's counterattack.

What a half!!! I can't remember us ever being that patient and composed on the ball... A great example is looking at how we responded to their high press early on before our first goal was vastly different from Gerrard's methods and even Smith's. You'd sense that eventually they'd get impatient and boot the ball up the field into the channel eventually, but by slowing down and continuing to be patient, we'd eventually find a wide open fullback to start the attack up the field. Martinez is playing a blinder today. Unlucky about the defection just before halftime, but Emi looks unstoppable today. Digne looks like the fullback who was getting called up to the French national team again today. Bailey is mercurial... You sense something special is going to happen every time he gets the ball. It doesn't always come off, but when it does it's magical. Emery has been a big presence on the sidelines directing and encouraging the boys all game. Great start to his spell as our manager. Let's see if we can fine tune some things this half and walk away with all three points today! UTV!!!

It could be worse...

Can someone get this man a booster seat for press conferences? Looks like an infant up there with everyone else.

TBH, I don't understand why they're changing the crest... again. Probably because NSWE haven't done it yet themselves and want to symbolize a new era under their stewardship, but I don't mind the current crest. That said, option 1 looks like an MLS badge... Way too modern and sleek. Option 2 is an update of the old school 80s badge and it's the clear winner. Not even close.

We just had a manager who didn't run training, didn't handle the team video reviews, and didn't run tactical sessions with the team. The only thing he apparently spent his time doing was giving halftime talks, slagging off the players to the media, and convinced players to sign for us. Now we have a manager who wants to run training, VOD reviews, and tactical sessions instead of wasting time doing a media circus on his first day... and people are complaining. Can't make this up!

Percy saying we've signed Emery to a 4.5 year contract, the longest contract we've ever signed a new manager to in recent memory. Also says Emery is bringing with him up to 8 backroom staffers. Going to be here for the long haul and both parties are treating this like a long term project.

Shhhhh!!!! We're supposed to be beating Lange up for signing Gerrard, McGinn, & Mings in here!!!

Exactly... I don't understand the obsession some have with firing everyone at the club and starting over every time we sack a manager. Purslow was ruthless with Suso... Trust me, there is accountability going on behind the scenes. If Lange isn't doing his job, they'll find someone else who will.

Only if he plays Watkins at CM!

So was Watkins...

He's Gabby with work ethic... No brain, no touch, just pace.

Still think everyone is overreacting about the commentators... I don't think they've been very biased at all...

TBH, both teams have gotten into good positions when going forward but were lacking that final ball... If Watkins didn't have the touch of a mummy, we could arguably be level right now.

Thank God that's offside... Need to just get into halftime now and reset...

FFS...

Fookin' Watkins... It's like playing with 10 men out there...

Almiron looks like a cartoon turtle.

Oh... That does not good for Buendia...

How was that not a goal????? Brilliant passage of play