FLVillan

I think that's called hitting the nail on the head. He's just perfectly suited to Unai's style/system. As a "traditional" left back he'd be seen as being average defensively. In this system his emphasis is attacking with the ball from deeper areas. Reminds me very much of the role that Kenny Swain used to play for us (a converted winger) where Gary Williams on the left would stay deeper behind Tony Morley while Swain had free reign to bomb forward from right-back.

Moreno is an outstanding player. To play at the speed that he does while exhibiting close control and picking out teammates with passes is simply sensational. When you look at the speed he was traveling when he intercepted the ball before picking out Watkins with an inch perfect pass for the disallowed goal, it's incredible. Last left back of the same ilk was Colin Gibson. Could argue for Staunton too I suppose but he lacked (any) pace.

I actually think we are better on the right wing with SJM out there. Dendoncker was superb today, just as he was when we beat ManUre. I wish fans wouldn't define him by his single mistake against Stevenage. Other than that moment he has been very good for us. Versatile, mobile, efficient, technically sound and can tackle. Good player, and outstanding squad player.

Interesting. I was watching TV coverage here in the US (on a laptop sitting in a highway rest area) and the place sounded like it was rocking.

Talked to a mate last night who's a Leicester fan. He said that was a typical Barnes performance. ie. producing a moment of magic but then being entirely unproductive and failing to capitalize on the obvious. I told him they can have Bailey if they want...

Thought the same thing....any Leicester fans watching the coverage abroad would have been fuming....

Just said the same in the match thread. That first touch by Barnes was probably the best he's ever produced. Would've beaten any fullback. And the finish was equally inch-perfect.

TV coverage here showed Marc Albrighton sitting in the stands with Johnny Evans. Wonder what Marc did when Bertie scored?

He looked so f**ing happy when he ran to the fans. Loved it.

Some on social media giving Ashley Young pelters for their goal (saying he's too old blah, blah, blah). Perspective here, Barnes' first touch was probably the best first touch he's ever produced in his career and would've skinned any fullback in the world. Literally took a touch inside that was perfectly weighted so he could accelerate into the space. Ditto for the placement of his shot - the only place he could've put it where no keeper can save it. IMHO Young was excellent today against a very good player.

To really appreciate the impact of proper coaching, Tyrone Mings has to be the absolute best and most visible example of the impact that Emery has had on the players. Mings has had some very clear "basic defending" flaws to his game throughout his time at the club, namely his 1v1 defending (never getting close enough to his opponent), not closing down on shots (trying to be a second goalkeeper if you will), and his habit of always dropping behind the rest of the back-four and playing opponents onside. Under Dean Smith (and John Terry) and Gerrard these bad habits were never corrected. Just four months with Unai and his staff and he's looking like all of those issues have been resolved.

I think the general public "outrage," sponsor reaction, plus a few high-profile celebrity women reacting badly would stop them from bringing him back. I remember something similar with a (I think, Sheffield Utd) player a few years back and they quickly reversed their decision after sponsor threats and media coverage.

I agree with this but it's complex. The very top managers don't need years, for certain, but only if they're coming into a club that is functional in the first place. Conte at Spuds is an example of a proven manager not being able to do what he wants because the club itself isn't giving the requisite support. Credit must go to our owners in providing the right structure and support for Unai. Also, there are quite a few examples of managers being given time to build and going on to high levels of success - it's two-way street - the manager restructures things while also improving his own managerial skillset. Ferguson at United, Moyes at Everton both battled at the wrong end for their first couple of years. The other caveat is that there aren't that many top managers out there to be had, so sometimes clubs have to take a risk. Even Saudi Arabia FC had to take a calculated risk with Eddie Howe (because our Unai told them to do one... )

Quick question for the regulars at Villa Park. Is there an "Unai, give us a wave" chant, and if so, has he responded? I know he prefers to get straight off the pitch as soon as the match is over, so I'd imagine it's a no, but just curious.... Secondly, he's getting to a stage where the old standard "Unai's claret and blue army" seems to be insufficient. I think he needs his own song....

Newcastle starting to get the preferential treatment previously the purview of the Sky six.....

As do Remi Garde, Stuart Taylor, Kieran Richardson and Tom Cleverley....

I agree, he's not blatantly biased like some, but his base knowledge of the game is horrendous and he gets overtly emotional over simple things.

Gale is awful, as is Gary Birtles. Jim Beglin isn't much better. But quite honestly, the worst anti-Villa commentary I've heard in the past year or so was from our former captain Andy Townsend. It's like he was going out of his way to prove he hates the club.

Forgive my out-of-touch/out-of-date question, but is there still a TV licence fee in the UK? If yes, is that not exclusively for the "privilege" of watching the BBC? Which essentially makes them a government entity..... I'm in my 50's and I barely watch anything on "traditional" TV anymore. After the 9/11 attacks I stopped watching "news" on TV (they spent more time showing repeat pictures of George Bush in a classroom than the efforts to recover survivors)... Everything I watch is through YouTube and other online platforms. Can't imagine that the BBC has a whole lot of strength if the vast majority of the nation doesn't care too much about their output....? I mean, Match of the Day was very relevant in the 70's/80's, but now? I'm not really much into political opinions as I've believed all of my adult life that all politicians are liars and thieves. But comparing the statement of the government to that of Nazi's is probably not too wise given the respective history of our country and the fact that there are plenty of folks still around today who were directly or indirectly affected.....

Yet they would have been two of our best players not so long ago. I guess our standards have gone up quite a bit! Personally I think Dendonker is a very decent footballer who just doesn't really have a natural position. The best game I've seen him have for us was ManUre when he played three different positions within the 90 minutes, and then for Belgium as part of a back-three.

Man City for me with Chelsea a close second. They have ruined the English game that I grew up with. Two clubs who historically have been yo-yo and, at best, occasional challengers. The immense money injection and then manipulation of the rules at every turn. The sickening part for me is that the media bias that existed twenty years ago pales in comparison to the pathetic bias that we see today. Forest got promoted in 1978 and won the league the following year. We got promoted in 1988 and came second in 1990 and 1993. That was down to good/great management and a league that had parity. Impossible now. Leicester won the league in 2016, sure, and then their two best players f***ed off to Chelsea and Citeh. The corrupt FFP "rules" only applied to Leicester. When Forest won it not only did they keep their team, but they added to it and went on to win two European Cups.

Looks like he's filled out a bit, which should be good for his longer term development.

I was a season ticket holder at Villa Park as a young kid in the 70's all the way up to emigrating in the 90's. The booing and moaning isn't some type of new phenomenon. I can remember the season under Dr Jo in 89-90 when the atmosphere was toxic and particularly remember a run of two or three games where Kevin Gage was booed whenever he touched the ball. This was a player who had been one of our top performers in the previous season as a holding midfielder and was now being played out of position at left-back. He was doing his best, but you could see the poor bloke was struggling. Being booed on every touch surely didn't help and he had left the club within twelve months. Genuinely felt sorry for the lad as he had been an important part of the team that kept us up just two seasons earlier. This is obviously an isolated example, but certainly not the only one where the atmosphere at Villa Park, to me, was truly unfair to one of our own players. There have been several players down the years that have really struggled at Villa for similar reasons, Alan Thompson being the most obvious example. You do have to have a thick-skin as a professional footballer, and perhaps a bit thicker when it comes to playing in B6. I've stood (and sat) next to some fans who are simply determined to have a go at our own players no matter what they do. Even during the glory days of the early 80's they would moan and abuse our own players no matter what the circumstances or result. Some people just aren't content if they're not having a moan. Having said all that, Villa Park CAN be a superb place to watch football and when the fans get behind the team can be a really difficult place for the opposition. Now if we could start singing more pro-Villa stuff and quit the small-time "we hate Small Heath" songs we could really have a great influence. Maybe the new North Stand can have wood panels installed below the seats so we can get it rocking like the old Trinity...:)

Why can't a goalkeeper be the first piece in the jigsaw? Maybe because I was a keeper and keeper coach that I'm biased, but people underestimate the importance of the position, not just in terms of ability to do everything, but the solidity and calmness a top keeper brings to the ten players in front of him. There's no rule or reason as to where you build from. In fact, conventional wisdom says that you build from the back. His presence and increased public profile can help us attract more top players across the park and if we can break top ten this year and Europe next, then we'll have a 32 year-old keeper with arguably his best years still ahead of him. ManUre went to a different level when they added Schmeichel, as did Forest in the 80's when they added Shilton. It could be argued that Spuds have continued to be bridesmaids because Lloris isn't at the required level, and look what happened at the Dippers when they brought in Allisson.

BLASPHEMY!!!