wilko154

Thought Ramsey was absolutely superb yesterday. Defensively suspect as other's have mentioned... but he's now physically ready for the PL and he can hold his own in a challenge. However going forward he can pick a ball up and carry it forward for the team. It's something that Grealish used to do for us, and it's exactly what we missed whenever he was missing with injury. His composure on the ball is brilliant, and he was key to some of the link up play yesterday.

Thank god for VT! I've seen some strange opinions on Sanson on Twitter and Facebook. I thought he was very good yesterday, he's obviously not fully fit yet and was playing a very good team in Chelsea. With a run of games he will become an important player for us. I've seen a lot of midfielders sign for Villa and look anonymous in our midfield, Sanson was the opposite of that yesterday.

Personally I wouldn't bother with an attacking player (striker or winger) in this window; unless we could go back for Julian Alvarez who now seems to be the hottest property in football. Our forward players are strong and Traore and Bailey will improve us when fully fit. I would look to offload Trezeguet and El Ghazi. Leaving our forward players as Watkins, Ings, Buendia, Traore, Bailey, Archer, Davis. Midfield would be an area I would look at improving. There's been a lot of talk of a defensive midfielder coming in, however with the new shape we play the midfield is almost a flat unit that drops in at every opportunity. Personally I would love Bissouma, but I think a player like Lingard would fit into the midfield well helping link up the play. The midfield is actually quite strong with McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Sanson, Young, Chukwuemeka. But a new player to cover Nakamba's injury would give us more quality and strength in depth. In defence I would look to add a left back to the mix. Although Young was signed in January he's become a versatile player all over the pitch for us, we could do with a left back to push Targett for a first team spot. I would hope our long term plan is for Kesler to push Cash next season for his spot. The Aaron Hickey links would be ideal for us. Mings, Konsa, Hause, Tuanzebe, Targett, Young, Cash Martinez, Steer

I see the Mings bashing is in full swing as per usual. The second goal wasn't an error; it was poor defending based on poor positioning, but ultimately Lukaku's positioning was superb and the goal was extremely clever. He'll do the same against many more centre backs this season. Players make mistakes all over the pitch for us every week, yet for some reason Tyrone is the only one that seems to get called out on it. He's been an absolute rock for us since Gerrard came in, one poor passage of play doesn't change that.

I think we are really clutching at straws to be blaming Targett for the 3rd goal. We over committed for the throw into the box to grab an equaliser, leaving Targett exposed against Lukaku who is an absolute powerhouse. It means very little as the game was already lost.

Not working for Ings at the moment but there's still plenty of time. For me he hasn't looked fully fit since his injury early in the season, and so yesterday more than anything was a good run out for him. I'm pretty sure that he will come good, we created chances for him yesterday which is something we hadn't done early on in the season. A couple of balls through to him had a bit too much on them to come off, but it's now starting to look likely. Once he's off the mark again he'll start firing, I'm almost certain of it.

Strange, I thought he was very good yesterday. In the context that we were playing against the Champions League winners. His passing is very good, and we played some lovely stuff at times with Buendia being key. His movement impressed me the most, the guy just doesn't stop running. He's improving game on game and it will soon click for him in games where we can dominate possession. If some of his balls through to Ings and Watkins had resulted in goals it would be a different story, and although they didn't come off we are getting a lot closer to the finished product than we were a few weeks ago.

They sent out match previews for Burnley and then cancelled it half an hour later.

Merry Christmas all!

If we had to play Jed Steer or Emi Martinez up front who would you put up there?

Pretty grim really...

I think I've misread your sarcasm here... Either that or you're an MP

I would say it's probably not ok to go out with a positive test. Seeing as the world has been on stop for the last 18 months due to the Covid virus, going out whilst positive for the virus with a bit of cloth over your mouth is a pretty selfish thing to do.

I mean if thats what the Government think then possibly for the first time in a long time they are correct...

What an absolute mess this game has become.

With Chelsea playing today (the PL turned down their appeal not to play), there is a chance this goes ahead on Boxing Day. It will all depend how many players we have out, and how many the PL determine need to be out for the game to proceed.

I completely understand why people don't want to get vaccinated, they understand the risks involved, they understand that the virus could be worse for them and that hospitalisations could be higher. But if they don't want it they don't have to have it. I also understand the Governments worries, they are worried that the hospitals beds will become full on scale of the first lockdown. Mainly by unvaccinated people whose effects will be greater. But... many people in this country have now played their part. They've locked down, they've socially distanced, and they've now fully vaccinated. Germany for me have it spot on, crack on and limit the unvaccinated people for a few months during the winter period. It's harsh, but why should everyone now face restrictions to keep those unvaccinated safe. Covid passports can be used, take away the lateral flow tests from any one of vaccination age. U18's don't need to prove any status. No mandatory vaccinations, but a level of control allowing those who have played their part to continue their lives.

Missed the deadline to bring in Lacazette by 2 minutes as I was leaving it late. I give up on FPL, seems pointless this season.

I did exactly the same thing, brought him in just before leaving the house as the game looked to be going ahead. 15 minutes later, on the motorway to Villa Park and the games off.

Just finished Your Honour, once again thanks to those who recommended it. Great series!

What am I reading here? Why should players get vaccinated? It's completely up to them if they get vaccinated or not. Personally I've had the vaccines, but many people don't want them and are entitled to that opinion. The virus will still spread whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated

I've been pretty wary of taking hits this season, I took way too many last season. But I would recommend taking them at this point in the season. Last week I took a -8 which allowed me to remove 3 players who totalled 1 point (2 cancellations and a flagged Foden), and gained 12 points off the back of it (unfortunately brought in Gallagher and left him on the bench with 15 points). But it lined me up ready for the midweeks. This week I took a -4 which allowed me to remove 2 players with cancellations, and gained 24 points off the back of it. That gain of 36 points has paid back the -12 points easily and set me up for a push up the rankings, now sat at 15k The problem we now have though is last minute cancellations of games after the deadlines.

Foden and Watkins in at the last minute last night for a -4, paid off very nicely. Somehow coming through this Covid period in a strong position... but there's plenty of time for that to change yet. Antonio now coming in for King with the Watford game postponed.

It will be interesting to see what Sanson can do!

How can a player getting injured be a blessing in disguise?