El Segundo

I and quite a few others said after Newcastle that Emery should be wary of playing a high line against the better teams. He doesn’t seem to have learned from that pasting, or have come up with a plan B. Good teams and coaches know how to beat it with pacey runners from deep, and they can bury their chances when they come. All very well being flat track bullies using plan A, but not much good if we get regularly spanked by the better teams. I also said after Newcastle that he needs to realise that Bailey has always been an utter waste of space away from home, especially against the better teams. He doesn’t seem to have realised that yet either. Easier games against Everton, Hibs and Burnley seem to have lulled us into a false sense of competence and we turned up today as if we thought we could cruise it. We gave them a much better game last season – should have won, probably - when they were arguably stronger, and we were arguably weaker. Torres needs to get up to speed PDQ if he wants to stay in the team. Woeful and a liability today. McGinn was off it, just like at Newcastle. Our only proper main striker has been pretty awful so far this season Cash, while ok as a wing back, doesn’t look up to snuff as a right back in a four. Hardly anyone comes out with any credit today – maybe Martinez, Konsa, Diaby.

I've just been staying with an Italian friend of mine and asked his views on Zaniolo. Talented but a bit of a playboy and maybe a bit of a Balotelli in terms of temperament was his opinion. Could be interesting.

I think you may have missed Nigel's point/joke here.

Good win, but should have been more comfortable. Came out half asleep after half time but every team is going to have a spell of pressure against you at some point. We also afforded Rodriguez two very good chances at the end, and things could have been different if the bastard had decided to use his hands again. Zaniolo looked decent but really should have squared for an Ollie tap in instead of going for glory. That would have killed the game at 3-0. Mind you, despite his Hibs hat trick Ollie has missed several very scoreable chances already this season, so who knows. McGinn is in top form, another brilliant performance driving things forward from midfield. The build up to the second goal was great football, and a great strike from Cash. Olsen generally ok but still some shaky moments and odd decision making.

A comfortable win but we won’t have many easier games. Everton were awful and look doomed to another relegation battle. I feel we could and probably should have had more if we’d upped the intensity a bit more second half and really gone for it, but I guess there was one eye on midweek. McGinn was outstanding, especially first half, Luiz very good and Digne had a great first half, with several excellent crosses. Watkins had one of his poor control / poor finishing days, although I think he was getting a bit of stick off their CBs. Glad he’s off penalties. Cash wasn’t great at either end and I think an upgrade at RB would really help us. That said, I’m glad Ashley Young wasn’t playing for us today. Diego looked very calm and collected and is a proper unit. Bailey showing he can do it in home games even if he is a passenger in away games. Had no issues with the ref for once, although the challenge that injured Bailey looked like it could have been a pen.

Don't think it could have been obstruction though - I believe obstruction was removed from the laws quite a few years ago. Wrongly in my view, because many fouls given when players are supposedly barge din the back are actually obstruction the other way. And if we are lamenting the loss of 38 year old Ashley Young as a mistake then I think we are in a much worse position than many of us imagined, and need to question our recruitment

Maybe, but the comparison is because El-Ghazi was a very patchy player who would be involved and effective for short spells every few games and then disappear. The difference is that while Bailey is a bit like that at home, El Ghazi also had good spells and got goals and assists away from home. Bailey just looks relentlessly hopeless in away games.

There were a few sub-standard performances today but Bailey still stood out as being a level below. Others were poor - e.g. Kamara, Cash, Watkins - but still did the occasional good thing. They also have credit in the bank from other games. I can't think of anything positive Bailey did apart from one cross which led to nothing. Home games I think he's ok, he contributes goals and assists reasonably regularly, in an El Ghazi style "excellent 20 minutes every now and then" kind of way. Away from home I am struggling to remember anything approaching a decent performance, and struggling even more to remember a goal or even an assist. I dunno maybe I've missed something but I think the guy is a waste of space when we play away .

He's always struggled when up against a decent winger one on one. He's had the run around from Barnes before when he was at Leicester, Estupinan tied him up in knots in the Brighton game at the end of last season and today he managed to make Gordon look way better than I've ever seen from him before. If his forward play is meant to be his saving grace, the appalling miss today indicates he's not good enough at that either.

Bailey was decent? I'm far from his biggest critic but all I saw from him was giving the ball away, being challenged and losing it, or falling over and failing to get a free kick. Can you name one genuinely decent thing he did? I can think of one ok cross and that's it. In fact can you name one notable contribution he's made in an away game ever? I honestly struggle to think of anything since he's been with us. Inconsistent at VP, usually anonymous away from home.

Newcastle are a very good side and this was always going to be tough, - But - Third season in a row where the start of the season seems to have taken us by surprise and we play like clueless rabbits in the headlights. We looked slow, lethargic, indecisive and vulnerable from the off, got it together for 30 minutes and then did bugger all second half. We just didn't look well prepared or up for it. Again. Sub-standard performances all round but special mentions for Cash , who made the normally useless Gordon look top notch and then missed an absolute sitter, and Bailey who may as well not have travelled. Watkins fluffed a very decent chance and then did nothing. Second half Diaby and Watkins disappeared, Kamara gave the ball away constantly, Konsa gifted them a goal which effectively killed our chances, and then the whole defence fell to pieces. Torres looked ok on the ball but does not look like he's been trained in playing the high line properly. Creatively the midfield missed Buendia and Ramsey today. McGinn was way off it, and Tielemans looked poor when he came on. Difficult to imagine any other of last year's top 7 or 8 capitulating like we did today to the extent of shipping 5. Unai has some work to do to sort it out. And please never ever pick Bailey for an away game again.

We came out of the blocks like we were wearing concrete boots. Unforgivable to be so unprepared. Terrible defending the first 10-15 minutes Gordon goes down at the merest touch so Cash runs around barging into him. Genius. I don't tend to pick on Bailey but honestly has he ever had a decent game away from home? Or even made a meaningful contribution? At best a passenger and at worst a liability. Surely JPB or Archer can't do any worse. McGinn seems very subdued. Watkins erratic as is too often the case. Diaby looks sharp but should have done better with his second chance. Martinez - lucky not have a red, WTF was he doing out there? Pau has looked calm and solid. Kamara, Luiz, Digne and Konsa all doing ok. Too many yellows, a red is almost inevitable. Hopefully Emi won't be dumb enough to get it for timewasting again. Their defence isn't all that, we're creating chances and should really be level. And finally there are some right drama queens on here - it's shit luck, sure, but we have depth at CB With Ezri Carlos, Pau, Chambers, plus Kamara is supposed to be able to play CB too, and isn't Hause still with us. And the window is still open.

Cash is utter shite today

This twatter comment below looks totally false to me - smacks of being written by a PR person, especially the exclamation mark at the end. Villa trying to justify their mistake? I'm all for maximising revenue but there is plenty of room in the stadium elsewhere for hospitality style seating and packages. The Holte is the hotbed of the most vocal and passionate supporters, it's not the place for such things and core support should not be messed with. Although I suspect it is intended to replace North Stand hospitality while we rebuild that stand, I think NSWE have dropped a huge bollock in terms of fan relations messing with the Holte. Especially if there is a claim it is based on that fan consultation. I don't believe for a second many fans would have wanted this.

Villa through and through but once had soft spots for: Norwich - went to UEA in the 80s and took in a few games at Carrow Road (the "Chase Out" era). Plus we had some great games against them in the 70s and early 90s. Arsenal - yes I know, not now, but pre-Wenger I lived in Finsbury Park and used to wander down to Highbury and stand on the North Bank, including one game against Villa where they were bricking it every time Tony Daley got the ball. At that time I found the fans to be decent, self deprecating and down to earth unlike a lot of the arrogant Spurs fans I encountered. That all changed post Wenger when they became mega successful, moved to the Emirates, and their fans turned into entitled tarquins. Sheffield Wednesday - I think because they were the first team I remember seeing us play at VP back in the early-mid 60s. Now back in Brum and it's just Villa.

I suspect Liverpool have fallen victim to FOMO prompted by Chelsea showing interest in both Caicedo and Lavia. I suspect at least a part of Chelsea's strategy would have been to drive up the price of both players, so that if they didn't get them, their rivals would have to pay a King's ransom for them. Job done.

Spurs probably thought Bissouma was a safe bet at £35m. Chelsea no doubt thought the same of Cucurella at £60 odd million.

Part of Mourinho's MO is to pick on a (usually star) player and ostracise him to show the others who is boss and how ruthless he is. See also Dele at Spurs, Shaw at United.

Whilst 80-82 was our peak in terms of achievement I wouldn't say there was a great deal of hope or expectation at the start of the 1980-81 season and the achievements that followed were somewhat out of the blue, and perhaps aided by Ellis not being around. Then Ellis soon returned and ruined it. Past periods where there was a lot of hope and expectation for me were: 1976-1978-ish, Saunders team with Andy Gray/Dennis Mortimer/Alex Cropley/John Gidman etc. when we played some of the most exciting football we've ever played - but it didn't last after Gray and Gidman left. Taylor's first season back in the first division with Platt, Cowans, McGrath etc. when we finished second - ended when Taylor left for England and Ellis appointed Venglos. Big Ron's era with Saunders/Dalian/Mcgrath/Yorke, also second and won the League Cup. Just went downhill after some of the players got too old and we signed the likes of Fashanu. The early part of the Lerner/O'Neil era up to the "Marlon Harewood moment" where it became obvious to me O'Neill was a dick and that Lerner would fund whatever dickery he pursued. I'd say now is the first time we've had the full package of elite manager and coaches, top players, wealthy and ambitious owners, top notch academy, state of the art training facilities, and the stadium sold out every game. It does feel like we could be on the verge of some good times, but then there are 6 or 7 other clubs in similar positions so it's still a battle.

Joao Pedro has looked very good for Brighton. Gallagher has looked good for Chelsea.

The last time I remember seeing Coutinho play for us was Arsenal at home where, from memory, I thought he had a decent game and took his goal brilliantly. He may not have been as good as we'd hoped based on his initial loan spell, but I certainly don't remember thinking he was a busted flush who should be got rid of asap.

The ref yellow carding Grealish at Palace - Look at his expression. A mixture of glee and smug satisfaction and as if he's going "ha take that you diving bastard, and wotcha gonna do about it". He was determined to book Grealish and didn't care how it happened. The arsehole.

Our potential depends a lot on what some of the sky 6 and top 10 end up doing. e.g. Will Chelsea be back to their best because of Pochettino, or a complete basket case again because of Boehly and a huge unmanageable squad of overpriced under performers? Will Spurs get in a top manager and challenge again, or will they sell Kane and end up struggling without him? Will Liverpool be able to rebuild their midfield sufficiently to have a more consistent season? Will Arsenal suffer a hangover from missing out on winning the league? Outside of the sky 6 will the likes of Brighton, Brentford and Fulham be able to retain their best players, or adequately replace them? A lot of variables but if we recruit well I see top 6 as a legitimate and achievable target.

Almost as funny as you calling people crazy in the January transfer thread if they even thought we should or could go for Europe this season.

He is a nob but arresting him for being a nob is up there with arresting the "Not my King" people, it's thought policing.