Elton

I think that performance puts the conspiracy theories to bed why he was behind Hause and Konsa in the pecking order. He isn’t PL quality unfortunately. Every defender will make the odd last ditch tackle but Engels problem is every tackle is last ditch as he isn’t fast enough to track the runner or strong enough to hold them off. You can’t rely on getting your big toe to the ball a fraction of a second before the striker every time. He was always a penalty or a sending off waiting to happen. I feel sorry for him for that late error but that was under 8 level stuff and we can’t afford to have him in the team.

I feel like I’m watching Socceraid when Drinkwater’s on the pitch. Although a bit better today but still well off the pace and a joke that Nakamba gets dropped for him.

I’m going to leave early today due to the flood disruption, so will leave in about 40 minutes.

Yes, as good as they’ve been away, they have been very poor at home. Ground half full today and booed off at full time. It’s a great opportunity for 3 points.

I see him as likely to be a Daniel Johnson type that isn’t really going to be good enough to play at PL level but if we were to find ourselves playing in the Championship, then fans would be bemoaning letting him go, if he was doing ok for Preston or whoever. Ultimately, we can’t be hanging onto players in case we spend another 3 years in the Championship. We will hopefully have Louie Barry, Ramsey’s and Vassilev etc pushing to break into the squad and 1 or 2 of them proving to be capable of playing at PL level. I don’t think this is likely with O’Hare.

It’s because we have improved in defence. Not a lot but a bit. The 2 games before we switched we allowed 36 shots on our goal against the current bottom 2 alone (Watford and Norwich).. I can’t remember all the goals we conceded due to Hause’s ‘suicidal passes’ to be honest. I guess there must have been loads right? I do remember Hause getting his head on every high ball in our box though and being an absolute unit to get passed. If you think that Engels is as good in the air as Hause then you aren’t paying attention.

If you just stopped at Maddison you might have got away with it. Bringing Mount up in a discussion with Grealish is as bad as comparing Zidane with Craig Gardner.

Some talk the EFL make teams start in League 2, if relegated in these circumstances. It wouldn’t be all bad for them though, at least then Phil Foden would have found his level.

A lot of journalists now saying Premier League will give Man City a points deduction for this season as compelled to act after UEFA’s decision. I suppose a 50 point deduction is too much to ask for?

I hope so but it will probably just make them angry and try and take it out on us. Good job we have a strong defence..

Well they have. It’s a independent court that ‘could’ overturn. UEFA have decided.

I’m not sure when Mourinho took over but they haven’t won an away game for 2 months. Obviously won’t be easy and a draw would be a decent result but I think we can compete with them at home.

Hause stays in the team for me. When Engels was in the team (not obviously all down to him) we were conceding plenty of goals and allowing a lot of shots on goal. This seems to have improved with the back 3 and Hause winning nearly every aerial ball. I think I’d rather be nervous when Hause makes the odd stray pass then when the ball comes into our box 20 times a game from crosses and corners without Hause and the opposition have a field day.

The Spurs who have won 2 of 12 away games this season? I think you need to stop smoking whatever it is you’re smoking.

I think it was John Percy who reported that we refused to recall him and Stoke were looking to do a sub loan to get rid of him. As such I’m not sure we necessarily agreed and did the deal with Blues, if Percy was correct. I don’t know if such things are possible, I guess it depends on the contract terms.

The bolded bit key though. Having a fast top speed (probably measured chasing/running without the ball) isn’t much use if you can’t compete over 5/10 yards etc.

So we are one win on Sunday away from a Premier League record. Even when we are struggling we make history.. Aston Villa's seven Premier League victories this season have remarkably come on six different days of the week. They now have a chance to achieve a first in the history of the competition, and a feat that has only been managed once before in the top flight, by Sunday's opponents Tottenham Hotspur.

He has another year after this season. We can’t sell him though, his wages are too high. No one will match what we pay him. Best case is another loan.

Fan base size and atmosphere at grounds for me. When they were flying high years/decades ago, Elland Road was an intimidating away fixture, like a lot of the traditional bigger clubs. The likes of Burnley, Bournemouth, Watford don’t really generate much atmosphere or interest. Although I obviously prefer Leeds to stay down there!

According to Smith, Konsa is fit for this but Davis will be out for 2/3 weeks.

Update on McGinn on OS: The Villa boss also provided an update on the progress of midfielder John McGinn. The Scotland international is recovering from the fractured ankle he sustained against Southampton in late December. “He’s out of the boot, he’s been out of it for the last week or two,” said Smith, offering a positive report. “He’s pushing the medical staff all the time to hasten his recovery. He’s a really, really energetic person as well as a player. “He’s well liked around the place and he’ll be pushing me to try and get back for that cup final. “But I think it’ll be a week or two later than that, but it won’t be for the want of trying with John. “And the added bonus for us is it’s like having a brand new signing coming into the team at a really important time.”

I guess their involvement in possible FA Cup replays could be a factor? I also wonder if we don’t want to rush into a rearrangement, as if delay we might get McGinn/Davis fit. But then again we could get others injured in the meantime..

I remember when we were reportedly desperately trying to get him to sign a new contract as we were in danger of losing him to Rangers on a free. I guess we don’t even answer his agents calls now.

I don’t really see the issue with these supposed ‘difficult’ teams at home. Man U/Arsenal/Spurs/Chelsea etc are as poor as they have been for years and Sheffield United might finish above all of them. Absolutely nothing to fear. In fact I think I’d rather play that lot over most of our direct relegation rivals. I’m not saying we’ll beat them all but I’d say we have an equal chance of a win against almost any of our home opponents that we have left. None are easy but none are especially tough this season either. We’ve played the best 3 away teams already, the rest aren’t that special.

I’m pretty sure he will be playing U23’s as soon as he’s back from England duty. He played and scored for us in an U23 friendly as soon as he joined.