Mantis

They'll get some young flavour of the month in from Europe, it'll all go wrong within a few months and by the new year they'll be going after Ancelotti or something.

49 minutes ago, Tayls said:

Honestly it feels like we will lose when he plays. It’s an association thing now. Sure he is a lovely bloke and all that jazz, but we just seem to let in a rediculous amount when he’s between the sticks. 

He'll have like 2 games out of 10 where he's very very good.

Problem is the other 8 games tend to be drubbings.

14 minutes ago, villan95 said:

Emi has prevented something like 8 xG this season. We rely heavily on having a top goalkeeper and we still ship a fair few with him in goal.

There's no doubt Martinez is world class and is going to be head and shoulders above any backup GK, but it's also true that Olson is genuinely dreadful and way below average for even a backup.

I wouldn't mind moving him on tbh.

Nyland was comfortably better than Olsen. Nyland was poor of course, but Olsen genuinely is that bad.

Bye.

Good riddance.

Been off VT for a few weeks so have missed all the recent stuff but once again, this man has worked miracles. To get us top 4 even with all the injuries, which he's barely if ever complained about, is an achievement up there with the best of them.

2 hours ago, a-k said:

BBC headline is that Chelsea comeback to "dent" Villa's Top 4 hopes. Are we not 7 points clear of 5th? Would rather have the points than the games in hand...

That's the media for you. They have to spin every single game as huge and decisive.

Honestly the whole thing surrounding this this season is weird. We've gone 2-0 up and not won thrice this season, yet we're having our best season in decades. Furthermore, all of the 7 points we've dropped from winning positions (a very low total compared to most teams) have been from two goals up. Not once have we gone only a goal up this season and not won.

We've dropped 7 points from winning positions this season which is actually really good but bizarrely, they've all been from being 2 goals up. I don't know why we so often enter self-destruct mode at 2 goals up.

12 minutes ago, stewiek2 said:

It puts pressure on them and really puts us in the driving seat. Psychology is a big thing in the final stretch of a season. A win tonight would be huge.

Oh I know, just saying that I don't think we'll be quite be at the "practically guaranteed" stage yet (like we were practically guaranteed of 5th after beating Bournemouth last week for example).

11 minutes ago, stewiek2 said:

4 games left and European football guaranteed this week without playing a game, and both times meant we went from conference league to Europa league. Let's end the weekend with champions league practically guaranteed.

We've 4 games left and cannot drop below 5th, have European competition next season guaranteed.

And we have the chance to win a European trophy this season with so many key players missing.

It will be a disgrace if they give manager of the season to anyone but the Don.

Even a win tonight and a Spurs loss tomorrow wouldn't practically guarantee Champions League, although it would put is in a very very good position.

3 minutes ago, est1874 said:

I don't think they were.

I think we just **** hate the goblins.

Nah loads were. Back when it was assumed 5th would get CL there was genuine fear that they would overtake us.

I'm worried about Newcastle now etc

Whatever happened to the great Ethan Moore?

Tonight is another huge game of course, but a tad less huge than it would've been had we not gotten 6 points from Arsenal and Bournemouth. A draw wouldn't be ideal but also not the end of the world.

16 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

it is but I'm going to go back there....

1 PL, 1 FA Cup, 2 League cups, 1 CL in 9 seasons, he they / have underachieved 

he'll be put up there with fergie, wenger, pep and jose but doesn't have the trophy cabinet to match

That's a great point actually.

Mourinho and Fergie could be massive pricks as well but they had the silverware to back it up. Klopp doesn't really, and actually I'd say he's a bigger prick than either of those two ever were. Horrible man.

10 hours ago, Biskitt said:

Interesting article here about our possession and conserving energy.

Martinez has the most time on the ball of all players in the premier league and Pau and Konsa also rank in the top 10 which allows us the team to have a break. Only 3 teams have covered less ground than us this season as well.

Smarter not harder

In most of our Conference League games this season, even though we've won most of them, we've seemed like we're playing in 2nd gear. Lille away especially it felt like we were doing the bare minimum. Do wonder now if it was a conscious choice.

1 minute ago, John said:

Chelsea were beaten 4-2 by Wolves at Stamford Bridge, before they knocked us out of the FA Cup, so awful as they were last night, we can't take a win for granted. I thought they would lose last night, but not by so many against another London club. They are at home to Spurs on Thursday, being at home and given the two clubs mutual dislike for each other, I'm hoping they will show up for that one. 

This is very true, although worth also noting that the game before their 4-2 defeat by Wolves was a 4-1 defeat away at Liverpool. Hopefully they've got one more stinker in them.

20 minutes ago, Talldarkandransome said:

Its in our hands, our hands. Imagine saying that 18 months ago with 12 points after 13 games.

I think most of us would've imagined we'd be talking about "being safe from relegation" being in our hands.