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I think an early goal here and we can really open the floodgates against them. Lets go full tilt, Watkins, Bailey and Diaby to score and a 3-0 advantage for the away leg. 

Nothing much to add from yesterday's game save for how cringeworthy and sycophantic the commentary was. I usually like McCoist but he was grating me severely yesterday and Darren Fletcher...well the less said about him the better. An absolute nause with his tongue so far up City's arsehole he was tickling their tonsils. 

About time "the other 14" tried to do something about it because I'm sick of paying subscriptions to listen to what is little more than Fan TV. Same goes for Carragher commentating on Liverpool and Neville on United. More irritating than the result yesterday. 

Diaby's also been a whisker away from a couple of truly beautiful goals for us this season, thinking the volley at home to Everton that Pickford tips onto the post, and that superb touch and finish that was a toenail offside against Palace. He's struggling for confidence at the mo but he's certainly shown in large patches what he's about and I think it's down more to misfortune that his record for us isn't at least slightly better! 

Watkins is the perfect striker for us. Maybe he could be more clinical, maybe he could be slightly sharper in the box (I'm really stretching here) but in terms of what he's good at, he's like 7 or 8 out of 10 at absolutely everything. I cannot wait for him to break Agbonlahor's record and I really hope he hits the 20 goal mark in the league this season too - he's right on course as it stands. 

Was very impressed with him Saturday, felt like he stepped up a lot second half at 3-2 when we were a little rocky and helped us re-assert our control over the game with the ball. 

4 minutes ago, duke313 said:

We created plenty of chances last night to win two games. The back four last night weren’t responsible for all the sitters we missed.

It's all about the control aspect I suppose as Emery always says. Without Konsa and Torres, I feel like we lack that control. And when you're giving up chances in the box like that late McTominay one yesterday well, as well as how poor the first was, straight away we're needing to score 3 to win. 

I'm not saying we don't need to improve our finishing, obviously we do, but I'd feel more confident of the front players regaining their spark than this makeshift back four functioning to a high level. 

I can't see us picking up points against anybody half decent while this back four is the one being wheeled out. Fate has certainly conspired against us with these injuries! Whilst I don't think individually Lenglet, Carlos, Cash and Moreno are actively bad players by any stretch, it's just a combination that does not seem to work. 

Right back and another wide forward/striker please. Sacha Boey &.....I dunno. Definitely not Timo Werner as the papers seem to think.

I like Carlos a lot but he needs to cut out these lazy bullshit passes into midfield, and Id like to see more from him in an attacking sense at set pieces too. Torres has grabbed a header at Spurs but do any of our centre backs routinely threaten from set pieces? Even Mings doesn't really, and he's about 7ft tall.

Don't know if anybody else takes any notice of these but I quite like reading the "Jones Knows" betting and score predictions articles on Sky Sports every week. Link below if anyone is interested;

Premier League predictions: Brighton to rock Manchester United, Brentford to hit vulnerable Newcastle defence | Football News | Sky Sports

He says in our preview (and mentions it in the Wolves v Liverpool preview) that we're quite overrated? And follows it up with tipping Palace to win. Don't know if it's just me but I feel that's quite a harsh comment, I don't think we're especially overrated by anybody. I see plenty of articles about "non big six" combined teams and very few in any of our players ever seem to come up in those. I don't think we're in a different class to Brighton for example, and yet people will rave about them. I would think that looking to beat Palace at home would be a fairly standard point of view for any side just looking to finish top half, never mind in European contention.  

I think 6 points from the first 4 league games, along with cruising into the Conference group stage is about what we all expected when the fixtures were announced. I am a bit alarmed however by the nature of the defeats - 8 goals shipped and 1 scored away at sides who, in theory, we want to be competing with or at least in and around is pretty disappointing. We can't be getting slapped every time we go away from home to a decent side.

Lively and alert to pinch that throw from Keane. Ably assisted by Ashley Young  really pleased for Duran, hope he starts on Wednesday to try and add to his tally as he'll be full of confidence now

I feel a frustrating 1-1 draw ahead

1 minute ago, Mantis said:

Unfortunately not, but there's this guy called Pau Torres who can. Very highly rated, used to play under Emery. We should sign him.

I was operating under the assumption that Emery might want to try him at LB again as per pre season. Maybe we can try Carlos there, I think he was left sided at Sevilla. 

On topic, I'm not convinced by Zaniolo but maybe that means he's exactly the type of player Emery could get a tune out of him like his collection of prem rejects at Villarreal (Coquelin, Foyth, Danjuma, etc)

I wonder if we might now consider another centre back, but one with the physical attributes that Mings brings to the team. Recovery pace and aerial ability are the big two, leadership and communication obviously intangible and harder to judge. Somebody like Hancko maybe, would still allow us to persist with Pau at LB if that's to be the plan. 

Beyond that, a RB and wide midfielder/forward player still required. Maybe Zaniolo fills that wide role, I'm not convinced by him currently. I wonder if the links to the young Levante RB (Pubill?) were accurate?

Can he play LCB? 

We always fall apart without him, how’re we going to cope for an entire season? Horrible horrible omen 

Attacker, wide midfielder and right back please, urgently

Rough introduction

Defends rashly and can't cross, perfect blend for a Premier League fullback 

Performance was **** embarrassing. So many completely off the pace, we didn't look ready for the game at all. 

Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch 

Moussa Diaby, he drinks sauvignon, he eats bourguignon, he loves the Villa! Buzzing with this signing, anyone staying up to watch his debut tonight?

12 minutes ago, MWARLEY2 said:

A proud proud absolutely wankered dad . Whos last words were up the villa  . All those away trips to watch his son play as a kid and taking him training 2/3 times a week. And 15 years later his son starts a champions league final and wins it .

His loyalty is 100 percent first to his son . And then after that its Villa . If anyone thinks it should be the other way round then give your head a big wobble.   

Absolutely right, can't blame his dad at all and he has every right to be proud of his son. Still couldn't ever bring myself to wish Grealish well though - he plays for another English club who we are in "direct competition" (in a manner of speaking) with for 3 of the 4 competitions we'll be in next year. If anything, I'd want to beat them in the FA Cup final on penalties and hopefully see him cry 

14 minutes ago, av1 said:

100% it’s been a great season, and actually, whatever happens this weekend we’ll go into the last game of the season with a mathematical chance of making it. Incredible. 

Best points tally since before I went to university in 2010. So many ruined weekends over the last 13 years, thank you to Don Unai and the players for making us believe again. Let's get over the line and grab 7th!