DJBOB

On the face of it - it's a longer shopping list than we would like. Another RB surely. I'm not sure we can move the CB's, but I'd be looking for another right footed CB. Another LB is not out of the question. A CDM/CM is a must for me. And one attacker position that could play across the front - think we targeted it several times in the summer between Asensio and Goncalves. So 5 in? A number of lesser value players out but can't stop thinking that we might have to make a decent sized sale.

Because there's little context around why people are 'satisfied' with 4th. Of course there's always room for improvement, but not long ago we were struggling to get out of the relegation zone. And then you have other fans complaining about not going for it against title winners when we're on a bare bones squad. I think the larger reason is that there are some posters who are willing to write reams and reams of text when we lose and then just a nice little, "job done" when we win. That's fans at large - there's always some bloke moaning endlessly about anything when you're at VP too. But that type of negativity, in general, is annoying when it's so heavily slanted to one side. So as annoying eternal optimism is, so is the eternal pessimism.

This kind of goes to my point though that when you look up and down the Chelsea squad - they're not a big squad. Benoit and Disasi are big lads but their midfield is small. Caicedo and Gallagher in particular are way over the edge when it comes to reckless tackles. The yellow card ratio is very high among midfielders so it makes sense that Chelsea will get a lot of yellow cards between Enzo, Caicedo, Gallagher, Palmer, Mudryk etc. United in comparison have a much bigger lineup. Refs unfairly (or maybe fairly depending on the type of tackle) the smaller players.

Included in the squad for Brentford, imagine he would start given he was supposed to do so against City.

Ollie included in the squad for Brentford, but that's usually code for bench from Unai.

From what little I've read and what @Deano & Dalian's Umbrella has posted, probably for the best? Seems like the type of injury that was really painful to play through. Even when he went off at Luton, it looked rather innocuous but just the x-ray itself looks painful.

Like any long campaign, the resources in the beginning are almost never the same resources at the end. Especially given the injuries we’ve had this year, I doubt Unai would have thought he would be without Mings, Buendia, and Kamara at this point in the season. JJ has played the full 90 only 7 times. Part of being a leader is having that situational awareness and Unai’s own comments, while on the humble side, has been reflective of that. He never once thought about being this squad being a title challenger. He consistently stated the danger of Chelsea, United, and Newcastle overtaking us. He didn’t want to talk about UCL until match week 33-34. And yet he’s motivated this team far enough where UCL is far more likely than not and we’re in the quarters for conference league. There are no style points to win and nothing left to prove. Win enough matches for 4th/5th, win the conference league and get these players to the summer for a much needed rest.

Actually comical how Chelsea are incapable of finishing. 6 vs 3 in the box!

Clearly Klopp is trying to toss the match by subbing out Salah. What a loser mentality!

Have to laugh at Jackson just casually running past a jogging Casemiro. Unbelievable effort from United!

My word. How's Disasi not even put it on target!

Palmer's lucky he's a footballer because he looks like he can't run the till at a Tesco.

United can't defend and struggle to break down any sort of low block. Chelsea can defend (when they feel like it) but have probably the worst set of finishing attackers or midfielders (I don't count Palmer penalties). Really is just a variety of weaknesses to both sides. Makes for entertainment at least.

It's amazing to me how many times Chelsea find themselves in a good position in the 18 and somehow manage to pick the wrong decision 9/10 times.

Only problem is Chelsea are in 12th for a reason so that's the unfortunate part of watching these two.

United are shit and won't get 5th.

I think a sign of his ability is that his teammates are not afraid to pass it to him. Different positions and Tim won't shine as much because he's not in a more free attacking role, but you saw the same thing even when Dougie or Kamara started out with us. Teammates trusted Dougie to receive the ball in tight spaces and they do so with Morgan as well. They're a lot more hesitant to pass it to Tim. To earn starts so quickly after his transfer is a great sign for his potential.

I'm assuming Archer is injured? Not seen him in the lineup in a while.

UCL qualifying might not be the floodgate that pushes us back into the spotlight. But it also could be. Saying that it definitely won't overlooks the massive importance it has in terms of boosting our revenues and our profile to be able to compete on an annual basis. It may well end up like Newcastle or Leicester. But we could also propel ourselves into constant European campaigns and a closer reach for a title race, more funds for a bigger squad to compete in cups. It's kind of boggling to me that people are understating it. We were last in the Europa league 13 some years ago. We were last in the European Cup 40 years ago! There's a whole generation of Villa fans who have never seen us in the European Cup/UCL - including me.

He takes too long to shoot and was the same with us. Had some memorable shots from around the edge of the box when he had plenty of time to wind up, but the difference between he and Foden shooting is the release of the shot. For as unpredictable he can be on the dribble, his shooting is painfully predictable so unless he really sells his marker and there's no one else to cover - he gets a lot of them blocked.

Think we prioritized keeping the 4 available on the counter over 3 in the middle and, in fairness, would've equalized it had Luiz finished on either side of Ortega. Tim often dropped into a back 5 - not dissimilar to what Kamara did at home and what they had Rice doing for Arsenal against City. City normally play with 5 along the forward line but as the opener showed, Rodri has been used as the cut back option.

If United lose today against Chelsea and allowing them a win every match except for Liverpool and Arsenal will top them out at 66. Which means we will need to win only 3 more matches. It has to be said repeatedly - United are not going to get 5th.

Emi Konsa Diego Pau Digne Bailey McGinn Luiz Rogers Diaby Watkins Fairly confident this will be the side given the rotations. Watkins fitness aside, only question would be Rogers who played the full 90 against City. Might see Tielemans instead.

We didn’t have the ball a lot but also thought he made sound decisions in possession too.

Well said. I’ve given Unai pelters over some quirky decisions (Cash RM should be mercifully retired and the Spurs 5 at the back will haunt me) but consistency and control over 38 league matches + Europe + cups means we’ve played well when everyone is healthy, have generally won the matches against lesser competition and have some important scalps and doubles this season. When I watch West Ham, Newcastle, and United, I see that helter skelter unstructured chaos that provides entertainment but lacks consistency. Unai isn’t immune to cranking the pressure up for a few key matches but it is a long campaign. And next year, even tougher.