Stockbridgehibby

Well done, Villa! Good luck for the rest of the competition. For us, Livi beckons!

Olsen?! Now we have a chance!

Digne is worthy. as he was against Everton. can’t believe Villa would even consider letting him go on this form

Great goal. Too easy.

We love the English. Friends and neighbours. Don’t mistake rivals for enemies.

“Bordering” on the top 30? Does that mean he is 31/32? Who exactly is in this top 30?

Looks like we will be moved to Wednesday night

Desperately sorry for Mings. Chasing back, he was already a victim of our own high line. But he was also unbalanced by Isaac’s nudge, causing his legs to get tangled up. I know that would never be given as a foul, but I do wonder - it wasn’t a “shoulder charge” between two players with an equal chance of going for the ball (in my view Mings had done well to get his body just in front of Isaac) but a “jockey”, something which is a routine part of the game when it involves two standing players and a high ball, but potentially quite dangerous to inflict on someone running at pace.

I share Newhaven’s view that we are unlikely to be Villa’s opponents in the next round. Tonight’s match may still be of interest to Villans though. First, Martin Boyle is genuinely rapid, and when SJM was here provided an excellent outlet for long balls clipped over the defence. I am hoping Diaby will give SJM a similar option now at Villa. Second, in the unlikely event Hibs do get through, watch out for Boyler racing past Villa’s advancing, high defensive line! GGTTH UTV (See you behind the goals!)

Not sure I follow you

It’s also a big commitment from SJM. If he stays that long, he will have given by far the greater part of his career to Villa. Also, 4 years, from the club’s point of view, is really there to ensure they can get a decent fee for him after 2 years, should both the club and SJM decide to call it a day. SJM had 2 years on his contract anyway, and this ensures he wouldn’t, in that eventuality, leave for nothing. Again, it’s a big commitment from John.

SJM on R5 live: “this club should not be celebrating 7th place”.

Wasn’t aware our captain has been letting the side down in recent weeks. Was there any particular game you had in mind? When would you say he last played like a captain?

SJM arrived at Villa in Aug 18 on a 4 year contract. In Dec 20, with 2 years still to run, his contract was extended to June 25. With just 2 years left on his current deal, Villa will once again be thinking about renewing his contract, assuming these negotiations haven’t started already. No one is a guaranteed starter, but I don’t believe SJM would be too happy with the idea that he might be reduced to coming on for 30 mins to prove any sort of point. The guy’s playing out of his skin week after week, and yet still people on here are talking about an upgrade. As a Hibby Villan since the days of Cropley and Bremner, I would love it if he stays and wins trophies at Villa. But if all Villa have to offer SJM is the odd game or the odd half hour here and there, then I’m afraid they are probably better off without each other.

Disallowed! Words removed

Hello!? What’s this? 2-2?

Thanks, but no apologies needed, Sidcow, certainly not from reading your comments. Just delighted that Villa, through Emery, have finally found a way of playing SJM that allows him to come close to showing the form he had at Hibs. For a while there, as a regular reader of this forum, I just didn’t think you understood (as the song doesn’t quite go!). I am also aware that some of his critics, while much less vocal in recent months during which SJM has been outstanding, will pipe up again just as soon as he can be interpreted as having had an off day (in fact this has already happened, after the Man U and Wolves games, though that interpretation has been disputed on this forum). I get it that SJM isn’t necessarily the kind of player that will appeal to every fan. Some might even think that anyone who cost just £2.5m can’t possibly be good enough for a side with top 6 aspirations. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I am sure all Villa fans would want these opinions to be expressed in a respectful manner.

I’m sure McGinn would love to get back into European competition (he scored a great goal for Hibs in the Europa League against Asteras Tripolis, 6 days before joining Villa).

Yes, I believe Dean Smith was interviewed at the start of last season, where he said that SJM was brought back the season before last, while still only part fit, in order to save Villa from relegation. By the time of Villa’s status-saving run in the last few games, he had recovered some of his form. Apologies to WallisFrizz if I gave the impression of being ITK, as I have no more insight than any other fan, but with all due respect to the likes of Traore and Barclay, while they have many other qualities, pressing the game appears not to be one of them. It’s obvious that pressing can only be done by players hunting in packs, and watching Villa this season, it’s easy to see why they got overrun in midfield, with SJM a sorry figure trudging about the park often chasing only shadows. Villa have been my English team since Des Bremner, and I hope both player and club will flourish. UTV

Ha ha! Don’t worry, he’s outgrown us by some considerable distance! ... actually, watching Billy Gilmour, I wondered if he, or a player like him, would solve Villa’s positional conundrums: he could bring the best out of SJM, and others...even Jack (should he stay)!

I have loved watching SJM in the Premiership and I‘m convinced he sees his future as part of a successful Villa side: first promotion, then survival, consolidation, and soon challenging for a top 6 finish. I love the way Villans embraced him, and adopted the SJM anthem. He has had his struggles in the last season and a half: serious injury, being asked to return from injury sooner than was good for him, being played out of position, opponents working out some of his tricks, being too reliant on his left peg, being surrounded by midfielders who don’t share his enthusiasm for hard work and a high press. But having also been an avid follower of the comments on this forum, it’s pretty clear that a sizeable number of those commenting (about 50%?) like McGinn well enough, yet have serious reservations about his future in the side, valuing him more as a squad player at best. I would love to see Villa competing again at the very top, but wonder if both club and player would now benefit from parting company.

I thought each individual Villa player had to work incredibly hard last night in an intense and enthralling game. As a team however they got overrun in midfield. I think SJM is being asked to do too much and is also being played out of position: last season he was too far advanced, now he is being asked to play too deep, though admittedly, in that position, he still put in some important blocks: one in the first half outside the box, and another in added time in the 6 yard box. Both he and Douglas were pinned back doing more defensive duties, and the ease with which Southampton carved a swathe through the midfield seemed to me more due to Traore and Barclay being fairly anonymous. I really hope this guy Sanson solves the problem for Villa and dominates central midfield. If so, Villa should end up having the great season they deserve. If that means leaving SJM out, as many posters here seem to be arguing, then I really hope, for his sake, that SJM moves on to a club where he can finally return to the left-sided central midfield position he made his own at Easter Road.

Long way to go

Nice if we could test this GK a bit more.