Five Ken McNaughts

I do agree that Vassilev's terrier-like energy would have been ideal in that sort of match situation. He also gets the crowd going just when a more subdued nervous tension can take hold. Think Smith missed a trick there.

Totally agree with many of the previous comments. Engels punched in the head by late-arriving goalie: VAR does nothing. El Ghazi butted in the face by late-arriving defender: VAR does nothing. When will commentators and officials stop calling everything that doesn't involve a player's boot a "coming together" or "accidental clash". If you get there half a second late and totally level the guy who has just played the ball, it doesn't matter what body part you do it with – it is a sodding FOUL! What part of that is so complicated?

If it takes two minutes, multiple replays, multiple camera angles, and super-slow-motion to identify a "Clear and Obvious" error, then VAR is not only torturing football fans, it is torturing the English language. The whole farce of a system lost sight of its founding principles a long time ago.

Only two hurricanes and a global pandemic ago.

Yep. Mason Mount, David Dunn, Seth Johnson, Steve Guppy... Jack can only dream of being as good as England players.

Turns 22 today. One way or another, it's a massive few months for his Villa career coming up. Caused Man City a lot of problems at the Etihad (including getting Fernandinho sent off for fouling him). Would love to have him as an option from the bench at Wembley. Here's hoping his new age brings a new age of better luck for the guy.

I like O'Hare's Jedi mind trick there. Totally disengage from the match, go for a stroll, scratch your nose, look at your boots... Once you have made yourself fully invisible, receive the ball in acres of space, lob the defence, goal. That blow to the head has unlocked special powers.

You forgot "looks like a dark-haired Dolph Lundgren". Always useful if it all kicks off between the benches.

Sometimes it pays to remember the basics. Jack is an Aston Villa fan... His current job is playing football for Aston Villa in the Premier League... In the summer he will start a new hobby – playing for England at major championships... Unlike greats of yesteryear, he will never need another job (and will retire a very wealthy man in his 30s). Only in the twisted alternate reality circus of Sky / Premier League / Football Agents are we all encouraged to look at that situation and think "Yeah, this is totally untenable. Something's gotta give. Probably in the next transfer window."

Good point in many cases but does this apply to Keinan too? I am not on social media so only really see it if someone else mentions it. is Keinan even on it? I have never seen a link to anything from him (regarding injury updates, for example).

How fantastic that you were there for the first League Cup final @MikeMcKenna and @briny_ear. I read a nice retrospective piece on the match – with a cracking photo of the old Witton Lane stand – and those comments by match-winner Peter McParland about Villa supporters (yourselves included, no doubt!) “They are the greatest fans in football,” he said. “Even when we had not scored and were still trying to make up a 2-0 deficit they kept urging us on.” I hope the club have some plans to make McParland a guest at the final, or at least recognise him in some way. A genuine Villa legend and a part of League Cup and Wembley folklore – not a bad CV! In my daydreams, he is invited to say a few words to the team (naturally, the Villa then go out and play like men possessed). https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-beat-rotherham-win-119952.amp

The fact goalkeepers leaving their line for penalties is now routinely ignored is effectively a rule change half way through the season. I can only imagine a memo went out and, as with so much else in VAR decision making, the trend then swung wildly the other way (it's painful how much office politics there seems to be in VAR world). At the start of the season they were rocking footage back and forth to see if a keeper's heel was in contact with the paint. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and the Sheffield United goalie was in the middle of his six yard box to save from Jesus. I've said it before, but it simply beggars belief how badly VAR is run from top to bottom.

This might help: All games at U23 level: 7 goals and 8 assists in 32 appearances. All games at first team level: 4 goals and 5 assists in 55 appearances. To give some perspective, Keinan has actually played a similar number of minutes at both levels (U23s: 2356 mins or 26 "whole" matches / First team: 2148 mins or 24 "whole" matches). He also has 2 goals in 3 appearances for England U20s. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/keinan-davis/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/412660

Let's be clear – the goalkeeper's intent is utterly irrelevant. You're late with a clearance, the other guy gets to the ball first and you kick him... Foul. You're late with a header, the other guy gets to the ball first and you nut him... Foul. You're late with a punch, the other guy gets to the ball first and you lay him out... FOUL!!

Just remember, by the age of 17 most Premier League players have had the best part of a decade of top academy coaching. Keinan was playing for Biggleswade Town and training to be a hairdresser (after being released by Stevenage for being too small!). In terms of coaching & learning, he is much younger than 21. Stick with this guy. We'll be glad it was us who spotted him.

If the critical comments about Davis... in the post-match thread... after an excellent performance... are "general" rather than "specific"... It may as well be the "Vent your pre-conceived ideas thread".

NO idea how Davis has received some critical comments in this thread (along with the positive ones). Two games back from injury. Two positive impacts off the bench. Time to change a few scratched records, I feel.

So we now have Bjorn, Borja and Orjan... Can't believe we weren't in for Bojan.

You realise you're a fan, right? Football without sentiment. Christ. Count me out.

What a lovely farewell message to a selfless Villa captain. You're all heart, mate.

The law would be 100% on your side too. The only You Tube clip I have watched from someone on the pitch (shame I had to add to their "views") shows the phone holder flicking V's at Leicester fans, verbally abusing Vardy then joining in a cringeworthy sing-song about Ezri Konsa's penis. Such fantastic family memories.

Making memories? If the next home semi-final has a reduced capacity on police advice, be sure to have that chat with all the fans who can't get a ticket.

Some moron was grabbing Nyland round the neck and gurning into his raised phone for a selfie. That's right, mate – it's all about you! And why don't you give our goalie a neck strain while you're at it? What an age of repugnant narcissism we live in.

I don't like it one bit. An experienced head, a good influence, and now with a genuine role as cover for the back three. We have nothing to gain from loaning / selling Chester at this stage of his career and contract. And why on Earth would we not want him around the dressing room in the build-up to Wembley and on the day? Not happy about this at all.

21 years old with a great attitude and work ethic. Cost us nothing. Low wages. Looked highly effective against a top team last night. That's enough for me. Keep it up, Keinan!