Keener window-cleaner

Not sure Wenger is the one to compare with, I'd rather say sir Alex and he won a few ?

As DS said he was a bit sloppy with his passing in the first half and hoofed it away forward to no good a couple of times. I'm still not fully convinced he is suited to this position, but I'm staring to understand more and more why DS plays him there. His set plays and the fact that he will get goals no and then is very valuable. And as much as I'm saying he is not a good enough passer for that position, he is on another planet compared to Jedi. He is probably better than Thor too at the ticking-over passing. He has the ability to play some good through balls and to pick out players with crosses. Hopefully he improves, I think he can. And defensively while he is weak, he runs a lot, so as long as he cuts out the standing still throwing out his arms and complaining when he looses the one on ones and instead runs and tracks back, he may make up for being a bit weak. I had thought his best position would be in the Jack/John position further forward, but I love seeing players being coached into new positions that benefits the team (compared to Jedi as CB as an example). So hopefully he can improve and make this position his own. And pop up with these wonderful free kicks now and then! Would like us to go for Huddlestone in that position though. My god he can pick out passes and control games (as long as Tammy doesn't take him out of the game that is ?)

Now I've seen it being stated that it was the best performance in a decade, the past 5 years, since we were relegated, in a while, in a long time. We better get our acts together here. When was the last time we played this good??

YES YES YES! Exactly this! The last minutes of a game isn't just the the end of that game, it's also the start of the preperation for the next game. Sitting back defending a lead will stick into the mind of the players who and they will carry that mentality with them to the next game. It's as much for the next game as for the current that we should keep on playing. FINALLY a manager who thinks the same. I loved it when he was announced but he is better than the already high hopes I had, better than in my wildest dreams even!

What a mind blowing second half! Did they even have the ball??!!

That second half ???

Very good game for Championship standards imo, both teams play good passing fotball in a high tempo and creates a lot of chances. Best 0-0 half I've seen in a while. Nyland made some super saves, other wise I think we have been the better team, at least for the first 30 mins.

I'm not convinced by Hourihane as the holding mf, but hope he and DS proves me wrong! A very attacking line up!!

Fully agree that he looks smaller. Not sure he is too lightweight though, compare him to De Gea for example. The problem for me is that he is too cautious and careful, too nice perhaps. Allthough I in general don't like nasty players, in his case I'd like to see him shout and bark more and make it hurt for opponents who try to win the ball when he comes out for the ball in his area. Something like that to gain respect and build up some confidence. He still looks scared on the pitch. His shot stopping looks good and I think he is good with his feet, just learn to get the crosses and I think he can be ok.

I wonder how much we'd have to pay for him to sign him?

Where can I see/hear the interview?

Ok, next week it's 8 h every day working on crosses. Every minute, every day, day in day out, only crosses. Nothing else.

I think he had a decent game, but I'm not convinced that holding midfielder is a good role for him. It worked today against a bad team, but he is not a good enough passer and too reliant on his left foot to be the playmaker. He is also too slow and weak to do a job defensively. I'd say he best suited to be a substitute to Jack or McGinn in their roles.

A game we should have won regardless of manager, form, tactics or players we put out on the pitch. What pleases me so much is that we didn't switch of at any time, no more of the one good half one bad half. It was a steady stable win where we controled the game from start to finish. Didn't hit the heights that we knoe we can, but saw it out. Happy times!

I don't think he has been great in any way, but not that bad either. I think he has showed over the last games that he is an ok left back at this level. I actually think his passing is quite good and that he is contributing to the improvement in our passing play. At times where our other defender would have just koncked it away, he tries to find a pass and quite often succeeds with it.

Tuanzebe: "We're playing much better football and it's a style I enjoy – keeping the ball and trying to create something by playing from the back. We've adapted well so far." I wonder what the midfielders and forwards think about the style of play then! (https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-bruce-smith-tuanzebe-15344697)

It's based on the assumtion that Bolton wont have a singel shot at goal ?

I think we have seen steady improvement in our passing and playing pattern, we have created loads of half chances and quite many clear cut chances, but haven't had luck on our side. I think Friday will be the game where all falls in it's place and we will blow Bolton away, both in terms of play and goals. I'm going for 4-0!

My god, we have just totally bossed the opponents away from home, playing som really good stuff. The margins wasn't on our side and they were lucky to nick a goal. How on earth can you blame DS for a match like this?

Completely bossed the game away from home for the first time in a long while, our passing and movement is improving very much. Can't believe we lost that one, very undeserved. If we play like this the coming games we will win most of them.

I agree that he was one of the better players. I think we could see signs of us taking more risks in the passing in midfield, previously it was mostly a direct pass back to the defenders who knocked in in the channels. Yesterday we tried some more risky passes between the midfielders which I think is good, and I think that's part of why Whelan looked better. He is a decent passer and comes more to his right when he can have the ball and pass, rather than chase the ball and defend.

I thought they were better during that 20 min spell between their goals, of which one was an error. Over the whole game I thought we were better, hitting the post and having more half chances. Last 10 we pressed and showed urgency and with some luck could have scored.

Very poor, Kodjia did much more on the few minutes he was on...

We didn't play particularly well, but didn't derserve to lose. Thought we were slightly better. Passing not good enough and Nyland error again. Tuanzebe the biggest plus, motm for me.