AvfcTheObsession

We need to get something against Arsenal. Norwich matched them for large periods recently and got a draw, and Sunderland had chances at 2-1 down and on another day may have got a draw before succumbing to a third on the counter. Teams in the bottom 4/5 have shown you can get some joy out of Arsenal, we have to show that we are good enough. Time to show some spirit and a bit more quality.

At a guess, is it because some Villa fans were slating Deeney for how he reacted after he scored, goading the Holte End etc. Was Momo trying to say that Lolley would have celebrated in the same way with the boot being on the other foot (Villa fan scoring at Blues' home ground), and therefore people shouldn't have had a go at Deeney doing it? That's the best I can come up with unless Momo sheds more light on it.

Think he means how many records broken under Lerner.

I think this is quite likely for two reasons. - Lescott is a left footed, left sided CB - Garde made Lescott Captain v Southampton Another option is to go with Lescott at LB

Interested to know where these stories are? Garde said last week that Kozak wasn't being picked because he didn't feel he was better than what we currently had.

Bit early, my Dad's a Huddersfield fan and he still has a way to go to even win them over yet.

We absolutely cannot afford to write off any games. That's why some people were disappointed at letting the lead slip to draw at Southampton. In isolation it's a good point, but when you are miles behind 19th place, draws aren't much use. If we don't win against Arsenal, we are 3 games away from the halfway point of the season with just 1 win to our name. I'd say we need a point just to be clinging on by a thread, really we need snookers (in this context shock wins against top 4 sides, or away at top half teams like Southampton). I'm not suggesting we go all out attack, but we shouldn't be timewasting if we are drawing with 10 minutes to go or anything like that. We've possibly restored a little confidence with a decent point on the road, the only way to restore further confidence is with a win, and it needs to arrive very soon.

I think the weekend's point will unfortunately prove to be another 'false dawn'. We start games so slowly, we did under Sherwood, we did under McDonald in his brief stint and we have done under Garde. More often than not these slow starts get punished (Spurs away, Everton away, Watford last week). We may have got away with it yesterday but I doubt Arsenal will be so unforgiving next week if they have 2 or 3 chances in the first 20 minutes.

30-32. About 6 short of what we need to have a chance.

Sunderland's squad is poor, definitely one of the worst 3 or 4 in the league. Even in our state the only players I'd potentially want would be Kaboul, Lens, M'Vila and Defoe.

5 points. Beat Norwich, draw against Newcastle and West Ham. Doubt that return would get us any closer to safety than we are now. We need 2 or 3 wins this month.

To be honest it is the Big Sam effect, because everything he does is based on clean sheets. Sunderland were able to win at Palace because they had frustrated them for 80 mins, were worthy of a 0-0 draw but then from being in the game they managed to force the mistake from the Palace defender. We aren't getting ourselves into those positions because we can't keep it tight at the back.

Sorry you are right, he picked up a yellow against small Heath too, so he's got 5 this season.

True, as he was the one who decided to place a load of people in positions higher than they'd ever been in before, forming this 'transfer committee' which has about as much football nous as Lerner and my left bollock. He tasked them with the responsibility of spending over 50 million, leaving us where we are.

Clark isn't suspended, he has 4 yellows in the PL. Hopefully Richards passes a late fitness test as he's needed whether it be at CB or RB. Llori hasn't been fit for 4 months now it's getting ridiculous.

It isn't allowed. They will take it off you. Only time I've drunk on the coaches was a sneaky vodka and coke in a normal coke bottle.

It's getting a bit tiring you calling them losers or babies in every other post. Everyone of a Claret and Blue persuasion is frustrated but little digs like this are pointless.

Apparently there were only 50 tickets left earlier so it should be the usual sold out Villa away end by the weekend, which would be impressive given it's £35, 3 weeks before Xmas and no win since August.

Llori was injured last week according to the OS, should be an update on there tomorrow/Friday. Physioroom have Gardner and Gabby as recovering from injuries. I'd play: ----------Guzan---------- Hutton Richards Okore Crespo Gana Sanchez Veretout Traore Gabby/Kozak Ayew

If you want a bit of optimism, Leicester were 3 points adrift of safety this time last year. They ended the season 6 points clear of the relegation zone, a 9 point swing in their favour. So no-one has escaped relegation from our position before, but every season is different and the points swing we need was done just last season so we shouldn't give up.

Still not sold out despite being on general sale. Right call from the TO on this occasion, the league cup game was £12 so that's why that sold out in no time.

Thing is Sherwood only had to be 1 point better than 1 team to keep us up, as we were 18th on goal difference when he came in. Garde has to gain points on 3 teams, and 5 points on 1 of them too. The one thing he does have on his side is time, but it remains to be seen whether the players are good enough.

We have never started this badly when we have survived in previous seasons, and we have only just survived by the skin of our teeth. I'd be amazed if we have 10 points by January and even more amazed if we get 30 points for the entire season Not exactly known for your optimism though are you? If you had Katy Perry sucking you off, you'd probably moan because Megan Fox wasn't sat on your face at the same time.

Grealish is 20, hardly a kid and I'd expect him to start 30+ games this season for us, I don't consider that too big an ask for him mentally or physically or that it would be 'burning him out'.

From Swansea OS: Supporters are reminded that tickets are still available on general sale for Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa (3pm).The Swans head to Villa Park aiming to bounce back from Monday's home defeat against Stoke City, while the hosts will be looking to move themselves out of the Premier League's bottom three.Our ‘True to 22’ ticket initiative has now ended for this fixture, which means prices will return to an original price. Read more at http://www.swanseacity.net/news/article/tickets-still-available-for-aston-villa-trip-2753646.aspx#0sqiTZHeBCof0ytg.99 I think the attendance will be around 32,500.