It's Your Round

You have married the right woman there.

I’ve always chanted up. I’m sure those around me were doing the same. Or were they? Maybe they were singing off and wondering who the bald clearing in the woods was singing the wrong words..

He’s always hated Villa, it’s impossible for him to ever give us any credit.

That one does look good, I’ve had my eye on the Xacuti on the previous page. We had it in Goa a couple of years ago and would love to make it myself.

I just hope we don’t suffer any serious injuries. 48 hours between games and starting the same team doesn’t leave much room for recovery. At least Konsa only played one half so should be fresh. I worry about McGinn, Watkins and Grealish. I know Jack is extremely fit but if there’s ever a time to pick an injury up...

A draw would be a great result, I’d be more than happy with that, all things considered.

small heath will still find a way to lose. You’re right though, something’s got to give. They won’t want to quit the CL, and they need to qualify for next year’s through the PL. I just hope that our rescheduled game with them comes at a time when they’re exhausted from the fixture congestion. I’d like to see some recompense for the Villa Park drubbing in January.

You forgot the main tactic of “give it to Jack!!”.

Yeah I forgot about Pulisic.

Not suspended, I’ve got him in my FPL team and there was no indication he’d be missing.

I’m backing Jack to run rings around Rudiger and Hause to dominate Giroud. Mason Mount is the danger in that team. We need Douglas-Luiz to keep him quiet.

I’d like to play them after they’ve played Everton but in the same week, and after they’ve already played someone else. Preferably our game would be their third game in five days. Make the words removed suffer!

Watched the first two episodes of Ratched last night. It’s set as the prequel to One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Next, it’s a very stylish and slightly disturbing story about a perfect nurse with sinister undertones, who joins a mental institute. Might watch the rest tomorrow but it’s been interesting so far.

Just made my first batch of mango habanero chilli sauce. Tastes wonderfully fruity with a rip your throat out kick. Only made half a bottle as nobody else will want to try it.

I’m very impressed with this one, can’t wait to work my way through it.

Thanks, that means a plethora.

New book for Christmas, The Curry Bible. So spent yesterday procuring a fantastic array of spices and whipped up a nice turkey jalfrezi last night. There’s some brilliant recipes in it, street food, classic curries and British Indian restaurant dishes. I’ve made up 3 litres of base sauce and a tub of special spice mix, ready to try a plethora of dishes. My wife will be pleased that her sense of smell still hasn’t returned

I’m loving the fact we’re playing again so soon after Boxing Day. Of course it helps that we’re in good form. I’ve accepted that it’s likely we won’t win this one, but I’m still kind of hopeful that we will. Chelsea won’t have the easy ride they enjoyed at Villa Park last season, where they passed us off the park with ease. We should give them much more of a game today. We’re a very dangerous side in attack and we’re tougher to break down. Hopefully Konsa and Hause can handle whatever Chelsea come up with. My prediction, 3-1 or 1-3. Hope Watkins gets his goal today.

It’s on after Celebrity Kung Fu Gruffalo on Ice, I think.

I’m still technically working, if occasionally checking my work phone counts as work. Got the mulled wine warming on the hob, presents dropped off with family and a belly full of mince pies. Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you all have a nice time.

Same here, I’m the only one in my team that used my annual leave up before the first lockdown. Which on the face of it sounds sad, but I’m working from home and the majority of people are off. As long as I’ve got my phone on, I can pretty much do whatever I want.

Thanks for sharing that. I watched the Planet of the Humans film and found it quite depressing, I suspected that it wasn’t all as it seemed seeing as Michael Moore was involved. This one provides some hope, although I still don’t believe it will be enough. Too little too late IMHO.

I was thinking about this earlier. It’s nice to be getting back towards Villa being the top dogs again.

I’m still really annoyed by that offside decision, but there’s sod all we can do about it. It’s just how football is now, unfortunately. I’ve been impressed with Watkins so far, he’s already been a huge improvement on Wesley, Davis and Sammatta. He’s got so many positive attributes, power, pace, finishing, attitude and energy. He will only get better. The best for me is that his presence up front has enabled Smith to play the football that he wants, we sorely missed that dynamic forward last season and you can see the difference in our attacks now. So much more fluid and unpredictable.

I’m really pleased for El Ghazi, he’s taken a battering from fans and his confidence has been smashed. He’s always had the ability but like all wingers, bar the very best, he’s struggled with consistency. The chances he missed against Burnley could have derailed his confidence but he came back and didn’t give up. His two goals last night should give him a huge boost. It’s great to see the players rally round him with support too, the team spirit is abundant. He may not keep his place when Barkley’s back, as you’d expect Jack back on the left. But at least we now have a viable option from the bench that can change a game.