jackbauer24

Yeah there's making a point and then there's ridiculous statements... Benteke rarely scores (these days), Davis will NEVER score! Benteke has five goals this season... Davis won't score that many in the Premier League in his entire career! He's only got two at Championship level so I wouldn't be confident he'll reach 5 in that league over is career either!! Of course, he just needs a loan then he'll come back world class...

I don't think we're in with a chance of Top 4, but it's almost a little insulting we're not even in the conversation in the BBC article by Danny Murphy. Mentions West Ham, Everton, Arsenal and Spurs - all but Everton of which we'd be ahead of if we win our games in hand. It's a bit like someone insulting your parents instead of you; I'm happy to point out our deficiencies but everyone else should have a little respect for what we've achieved to this point.

Clearly some people missed my ever so subtle nomination on page 4...

While it is to be expected, and the progression has been huge, our lack of depth is going to bite us on the ass for the remainder of the season and I'm thankful we have as many points as we do to leave us not worrying about relegation. If our luck had held out we may have snuck in to a European spot but I think that dream will be dead by the end of March given the injuries and form. Grealish is an obvious loss but Cash is right up there as one of our biggest players with a massive drop in quality in his replacement. Barkley hasn't been good since his return and I think our minimal squad rotation is beginning to hurt - although looking at the quality of the squad you understand Smith's reluctance to use it. Martinez will give us a chance in a lot of matches (lose him and I'd genuinely be questioning where the points would come from) but I can't see us winning many more games this season without Grealish or Cash. Some teams we might be able to sneak a win against (WBAs), others we'll be resolute in our defence against and pick up a point but teams that we go at toe to toe will pick us off and destroy us! I genuinely think Leeds are one of the worst teams we could play at the moment and can see it being embarrassing. If we were playing Man City I'd be more optimistic of a point. Leeds or Wolves at the moment are too fluid and energetic for us but not 'big' enough for us to get our mindset right like we do for the truly top teams. Could be worse than reverse fixture.

My daughter, even I just wanted her to die every hour. I'm not going to put that sentence in to context because it's creepier that way...

Not suspicious, maybe it's phrased wrong. I'm more irritated by the press than the science behind it - it's just pumped out without clarity and understanding. Press should explain complex issues to the public, not just publish articles like the first one that make no sense whatsoever, as you agree. In fact, it's things like that which CREATE conspiracy and suspicion as it's so strange.

Really confused and there hasn't been enough time between the vaccine being approved and them knowing it's effectiveness over time surely? How can they know it's still effective 6 months later when people started being given them in late January?! Once again, all this stuff gets pumped out in to the press but no one says 'wait a second, this doesn't make any sense...'

I've read this article, in a few different forms, and it confuses me... What it seems to suggest is get Jab 1 and you get 76% protection that doesn't drop for three months. Get Jab 2 after 12 weeks and you increase your protection by about 5% (there's a question of value in that for another time) But get Jab 2 after 6 weeks and your protection DROPS to 55%. How does that work?!

I almost feel we'd be better off losing one of these games to shake up the team and stop saying it was a hard won point because, Emi aside, it wasn't. Not a single player looked that bothered and we drew because Brighton aren't clinical. I don't have much time for the defence either tonight, they were just light years ahead of the most abject midfield performance of the last few seasons. The defence were equally as sloppy, lazy and uninterested as everyone else, it's just they could throw in a last ditch tackle or a vertical header every so often. But jeez, Barkley, McGinn, Traore, Luiz and Grealish (in that order) all had awful games. I think they all had close to their worst games in Villa shirts, in the same game! Brighton had 26 shots!! I'm not going to depress myself but I'd dread to look at how many succesful passes we had, how many consecutive passes we had or how many touches we had in their half even!! The most one-sided draw in a long time. I'm genuinely amazed that ended 0-0. And that's now 4 or 5 games where we have been atrocious... We are in for an absolute demolition soon unless we change that midfield. I was hoping the longer break may refresh us but we looked as flat as ever. Even Grealish couldn't control a ball or successfully create an opportunity. It's not a one off game, it's a pattern that's developing and we're looking devoid of ideas and, crucially, effort. We look like we've been worked out. Martinez is incredible, could have been an absolute rout. Martinez 10 - couldn't have done a single thing more Defence 5 - head/body in the way... But any actual football on display? Barkley & McGinn 2 - neither offered a damn thing. Maybe generous for Barkley, he didn't even run. Traore 3 - Great ball For Grealish, nothing else. Luiz and Grealish 4 - poor touches, no vision and couldn't get in the game Watkins 6 - what can the lad do with that behind him? Not a single opportunity created for him. We've come a long way but that shows how much further we have to go.

1. SHA (obvious) 2. Leeds (more recent but they're not a fallen 'great' like I think of Notts Forest, they've always just been scummy) 3. Newcastle (the only 'big' team that have never actually been big) 4. West Ham (cheating to stay in Premier League, daring to wear Claret and Blue and for disappointing me on every holiday as a child when I thought I'd found some unofficial Villa merchandise at a crappy seaside store) 5. Grimsby (only knew one fan, he was a pr*ck - went to a Lincoln away game and place smelt of fish) 6. MK Dons (Want Wimbledon above them forever, never sat right) 7. Cardiff (for more non-football pitch stuff, the afore mentioned crassness at a player's death and the whole badge/colours thing) 8. Hull City (more disrespect from an owner, get what they deserve) 9. Aston Villa under the ownership of Xia (just embarrasing) 10. WBA/Wolves (same team in my eyes, just jealous and will never be the real biggest team in the West Midlands)

I'm worried they might get relegated. There is a chance they could enjoy next season and win a 'title' that they celebrate for the next 100 years. Is it not best to keep them in a perpetual state of depression circling around the drain in an unimportant league rather than even give them moments of happiness?! But maybe I'm being unfair... I suppose they may sink down League One too and then be dissolved, ultimately selling their ground to Coventry City...

Think the ratings above speak volumes, 170ish votes for MOTM and only 4 of them are for a midfielder and none at all for Grealish. That's rare! Think the midfield were largely anonymous today, defence superb and Watkins fantastic. Personally I give the MOTM to Cash as he nullified Arsenal's biggest threat.

I just don't know how you look at the last two or three games and decide it is Luiz who needs a rest/is the problem. Or maybe DS read the news wrong and thought it was our Luiz that wasn't available... I can see the argument for leaving the team completely alone find their form again but this change is odd. Furthermore, in the few positions we have choices, he's chosen less defensive players against a very attacking Arsenal - Traore really needs to work today otherwise we'll be overrun, we can't afford 5 minutes of sublime attacking touch and 85mins of watching the game pass him by...

As bad as anything from last season. Only Watkins played well, everyone else below their best.

Personally I think Ek Ghazi and Barkley are battling to see who can have the worst half of football this season. McGinn was in the race but accidentally made one succesful pass... The midfield is anonymous, the defence are sloppy and the team are devoid of ideas and effort. Watkins only player to come out of this with credit so far.

I thought using a hashtag #sarcasm was a bit unnecessary in my post - but no, I don't think we'll be challenging for the title next season! I meant more the jump was significant this year and really you just need to keep improving. My mind always goes to F1 when talking about improvement actually, or cars more precisely. I give you £1000 to modify your car and you can probably get it around a track a minute quicker (vague example!) but for every improvement after that it gets harder and more expensive... F1 cars now spend millions to shave 0.01 seconds off a lap time. The same will apply broadly to a team, throw money at a poor team and big strides will be made in a short space of time but the higher we get the more expensive and harder it will be to push forward so steps become smaller and smaller. 17th to, say, 10th would be good. Next year 10th to 6th. 6th to 4th. 4th to 3rd... You see what I'm saying. Just keep showing progress, and that might not even be measurable in direct position - stabilising in top 10 for a few seasons has to be considered great progress based on the last decade. But I'll dream of a title sometimes... (When I sleep which this post clearly demonstrates I don't do...)

The league is beginning to just show a few cracks where the battles will be. We seem to have a top 4 which are just beginning to get that consistency and make a little gap start forming (points in the bag vs games in hand) Then 5th to about 12th where a mini run gets you dreaming of Europe and a blip in form makes you feel like the bubble has burst. 13th to 17th are probably focusing on not having a mare of a second part of the season and know safety, without drama, is their aim. Then you've got the bottom three who are adrift and hoping to be the one team that escapes with a minor miracle. We're clearly in that second band - 5th to 12th, so even finishing middle of that pack in 8th/9th would be big year on year progress and I'd be happy if a little anti climactic after our stunning start to the season. Make the same strides again in 21/22 and you're fighting for the title!

We've got 1 point against Burnley this season. Hold that up when delusions of grandeur rears its head again. Ming is the worst culprit, he's been awful all season and we can't keep carrying him. They should never be getting a corner for the first goal, he's complacent and increasingly lazy. You can't keep a player in first XI because he shouts a bit. Could see this result coming a mile off, not clinical and trying to be too clever. We actually have good players who play well in spells but the complacency today was clear for all to see. Barkley clearly not fit either. Davis was embarrasing but he won a prize to get that cameo didn't he?! Clearly not a footballer.

Villa basically freewheeled through that match, Newcastle are horrific based on that performance! Konsa (MOTM), Nakamba and Watkins all played really really well. Barkley looked shattered from about the 40th minute. Most other players strolled through the match. Weakest link, and even that might be slightly harsh, was Mings who lost the ball a few times and was helped out by Konsa a lot. Shows how far we've come quickly when Mings is now our worst player in the back four. Solid, easy three points. Almost like a preseason run out which is kinda what we need at the moment!!

Two things to take from that video... 1) The second Norwich got relegated, we didn't need Conor anymore!! 2) The editor needs to step away from the 'effects' button!

I love Conor, he goes down as one of those players I'll forever love because of him as a pro, what he's done for us and because I always have to stick up for those who are unfairly picked on, which in my view he has been. A favourite doesn't have to be a world beater, just someone you respect. He's worked his way up the divisions, scored in all of them, always worked hard and never kicked up a fuss. Selfishly, I'd rather he stay as I still think he's currently our best option from the bench. We also have no-one, even Jack, who can replace his set-piece abilities currently. I acknowledge, our quite meteoric rise since Smith's arrival has meant he has been left behind somewhat and he's not going to be a regular in a team in the top half. I still think he would walk in to lot of lower Prem teams too. His goals have been both spectacular (eg Blues) and vital (eg WBA). He joined a select group of players who've scored league hat trick for us, especially as a midfielder. His assists could be spectacular too - the ball for the opening goal in the play off final was fantastic, despite not being a direct sssist. He was the first to react to the Leeds debacle and the first in to protect Grealish from the fan attack. He joined us in the Championship and was instrumental, even key, in getting us promoted. He cost £3m and gets endless stick from fans despite clearly having an outstanding work ethic, highlighted by fact he wants to go on loan against Smith's preference (looking at you Lansbury) and it's always infuriated me when fans turn against those who've done so much for us. This isn't a Drinkwater/Kodja thing where they're lazy or a situation where he's got in to some controversy. He's simply not at the level we are now BECAUSE he helped get us here. Of course we will leave these players behind if you are to progress, the same might be said of the likes of McGinn or Cash etc... but I have little time for any one who can't recognise, and applaud, the massive impact Conor has had for Villa in our dark recent history. Good luck Conor, a fantastic servant for the club.

If that stat is accurate, surely he should be playing there now! That's averaging over a goal every two games...

I can't confirm but I suspect this is the youngest average age starting XI in the FA Cup as well as the most first team debuts in one game? Would love some stats like that to be proven! Well played, Revan looked particularly impressive.

Same at my school, gone from 20ish in first (warm) lockdown to around 80 this time... In the cold. Funny that. We ask but actually we haven't asked anyone to prove it as it's already quite a tense relationship with parents. A lot more people consider themselves keyworkers now and some seem very very suspect. They also seem to use one parent, even when we know the other is at home. What's even stranger is most of our parents are unemployed so nearly every one of the ones who do have jobs are keyworkers. Really?! The other thing that always winds me up is 'vulnerable children' - slight tangent but not allowed to say this publically; if they are in such a vulnerable situation to NEED school despite the implied risks, why are they a) allowed home at all and b) abandoned over weekends, holidays etc. Not saying not vulnerable, just seems a mixed rule that can only mean we're being too cautious or abandoning them. I don't see what we provide them during a lockdown that they don't have a right to all the time anyway. Not free school meals as hundreds get that through vouchers. Don't know answer. But yes, currently about 20% full.

As a teacher, I am just stopping for the night... we've prepared for most things to some degree but the ridiculous late nature of the announcement and the timescale in which to react to it, against a backdrop of us being told (threatened?!) with the absolute opposite scenario has resulted in an absolute mess where we can not possibly open to ANY children tomorrow. In summary we have been given 12 hours, assuming no sleep/dinner/family commitments, to; Prepare online resources for tomorrow (sketches were in place so can react ok to it - however, all planning/resources for onsite teaching is wasted) Organise Vulnerable children list (largely up to date from last closure but most multi support agencies closed before Xmas to verify) Organise Key Workers list (another words ask parents tonight if they qualify and hope numbers are accurate) Rewrite risk assessment, using incomplete data with new questions (can new bubbles be formed of now mixed ages?) Organise paper packs of current curriculum (can't be generic packs) and get them to parents without laptops asap. Begin Free School Meals processes again (massive ball ache!) Respond to academic and pastoral concerns from parents. Also reply to angry parents about situation we have no control over but blame us for. Do this on reduced staff due to their family commitments at short notice. Timetable this within guidelines. And from yesterday's message being COME BACK TO SCHOOL to today's message of closure for SIX WEEKS made jaws drop. Knowing the government would screw it up, some back up plans were in place but they covered two weeks maximum. We have been told over and over again children are returning so have had to fully immerse ourselves in planning a full curriculum for this half term, it is not possible to have two high quality curricula planned alongside each other, there is not the time. Scotland had at least already told schools they were delaying opening so they now have a week to prepare. Yes it's the same for lots of people now having to sort childcare or what not but what gets me is the constant abuse teachers get through this, and were getting due to the unions stance, today every single teacher in my school and every single teacher at my wife's school turned up ready for the next term, the next battle, the next challenge to make life normal and happy for children, yet apparently many believe we'll be skiiving for 6 weeks... Rant over