Elton

Totally agree. I’ve never understood the myth that the Championship is some how more physical than the Premier League. The PL is full of absolute units that are normally bigger, stronger and quicker than their lower league counterparts and can also play too. The physicality in lower leagues is just more obvious as there is less quality.

I agree, although if they lose those games to our/their relegation rivals then they are right in the thick of it. We probably need Palace to win those games as I think Palace should be able to crawl across the line anyway.

Given the type of player Jack is, who doesn’t rely on speed, he can expect to play at the top level for another 10 years easily. I don’t think we need to wave him off just yet for the sake of his career, not that this should be a factor anyway. We need to do what is the best for the club.

Let’s hope we can spring a surprise in the cup final. Winners medal, Europa League and still in PL and he stays for sure imo.

I was thinking the same but Sheffield United have confirmed match on and this is normal Manchester weather, so assume both will be on.

I agree that is correct. I misunderstood the point you were making I think. I was referring to the fact he is eligible to play in the U23’s league not the PL rule about registering players. As there is no chance he’ll make a PL squad anytime soon.

I can guarantee De Bruyne won’t too but he’s still a half decent player.

It’s U23’s not U21’s. Although it’s pointless anyone 22/23 years old playing at that level to determine if they will be suitable for Premier League football. I’m not expecting us to keep him regardless of which league we are in next season. I’d expect the Ramsey’s and Louie Barrie are more likely to break through at some stage in the next season or 2 than O’Hare.

Sir Rushian Hepburn-Murphy?

That’s the spirit! I wonder if the fans of the 3 teams below us have given up too.

I think this is quite straightforward. If we stay up he stays for at least one more season. Why would we risk a rebuild by selling our best player, we will build around him. Ask Zaha etc how easy it is to force a move away, it’s not anymore. You even need 80m to get a centre half from Leicester.. Go down, he leaves.

Problem with that is you need money to replace players you are not even getting a fee for and losing for the season. It’s possible but unlikely. I’d expect selling Jack would mean we could possibly afford to keep the rest anyway. I wouldn’t worry though. We’ll spank Spurs in a week or 2 and won’t look back.

Massive blow. Let’s hope it’s a precaution. I can’t see how it’s reckless to play him as he only played for 25 minutes tonight, so hardly a heavy load after 25 minutes on Saturday too.

We can but Drinkwater is injured.

He was definitely referring to this season. He has just done another 10 minutes on Villa TV today. Doesn’t really go into this season’s aims in any detail but talks about long term vision and how committed our owners are to get us back to being a great club.

Davis starts for the u23’s tonight. Presumably building up match fitness.

No, it’s not a good thing at all but like it or not pressurising refs, as most teams do, will often influence them. There is no point us being the only good guys. Captains often get more favourable treatment from refs, which is why a lot of teams have the captain who is their best player. It’s just sound logic.

I don’t. Agree that Mings is a big presence and leader but Grealish being captain gives him extra leeway to moan at refs and get in their ear without being booked for all the fouls he receives to pressure for free kicks and yellow cards/sending off.

Personally I’d never sacrifice defensively solidly, that’s absolutely crucial to every good team. Hause will attack and win every aerial ball in his zone. It’s a huge strength. Engels won’t so you might not see it as a weakness but Engels won’t be even competing for as many headers in dangerous areas. Hause can play on the floor. He isn’t showing it lately but as I said I think Hause’s passing options (and therefore passing success) are being affected by opponents overloading to block the supply to Jack on the left side. He doesn’t seem to get an easy out ball. I’m not anti Engels at all. It’s a tough choice for Smith but there won’t be many better judges of a centre back than Terry and Smith.

Maybe but it’s not all about passing, I prefer our defenders to be good at the defending bit. For Hause’s weakness at playing the ball out, he is far stronger in the tackle then Engels, way better in the air and appears faster too. Also, Hause doesn’t often have loads of passing options when he’s on the ball. I think this is an affect of Grealish playing left so the opposition is generally trying to cut off Jack’s supply and opponents are overloading our left side. When we switch it quick to the right it’s quite noticeable that Fred etc is often in a lot of space. I think Hause’s passing suffers due to our left side being congested.

Not really given he played all but 5 minutes against 10 men. This is not a dig at Engels by the way.

Agree but I do think we should fancy ourselves at home to beat some of the likes of Spurs/Arsenal/Man U/Chelsea/Wolves etc. Obviously we probably won’t beat all of them but no reason we can’t get another 12 or so points from our home games. We’ve played 4 out of the top 5 in the away table at home already and they were our 4 home defeats since the first home defeat against Bournemouth, which was unlucky.

I think you mean once in 106 minutes, as that’s all he’s played in the league this season? Unless yet again he is being unfairly judged on his scoring record as a 19 year old?

This is a difficult selection. Yes, Engels is better on the ball than Hause, but be prepared to be bullied on crosses and set pieces again if Hause is out of the side. This was a real problem before Hause came in.

I’m fairly sure Davis was going to come in for Wesley until he was injured in the Wolves game. Davis was starting to get more minutes and I think I recall Smith talking him up like he was about to start him just before he did he hamstring.