Even as Sadio scored the first one I was saying "**** me, he stayed on his feet". If he'd done what he normally does, that wonderful hat-trick would never have happened. Vin
So far this season I have been to only two league games (Leicester and Everton ), so having trouble picking a game we might win so that I can go. I should probably have gone to this one, but just as well I've stayed away to give us a chance. I here by give notice that if we don't win I will have a meltdown...I've earned it and I intend to have it. So pull your fingers out lads and COYR.
For me, this has now become THE most important game of the season. The team just HAS to put in a competent performance and get the three points. A scruffy, scrappy win won't do much for my overall confidence, although it is difficult to gauge what it would do for the team. Our following 4 fixtures are versus London, (Palace, Arsenal, Spuds and Spam) and the speed and directness, with which some of them attack, could give us nightmares, based on our performances against Leicester, Everton and Liverpool. I would hate to go into the London fixtures on the back of another poor result.
A win is essential...a good performance would be icing on the cake. I suspect the team is even less philosophical than the fans...they must be like deflated balloons. Essential may be an exaggeration at this point of the season, but this game has added importance coming after 3 losses. A comfortable 2-0 or 3-1 would be top banana.
We certainly need something to rebuild the confidence. We have been sub standard for a number of weeks now; three points will hardly make us Europa League contenders again but will settle some nerves. Frankly, I am not sure what team is going to turn up; our performances have be inconsistent and, dare I write this, some of the selections/tactics have raised some questions in my mind. So I will settle for a scrappy 1-0 at the moment!
I expect Clasie to get dropped. He's been off the pace. Pelle Tadic Davis Mane Romeu Wanyama Bertrand VVD Fonte/Yoshida Cedric Stekelenburg That's what I want to see. Romeu to play as we need to slow things down and calm down. He should give the defence a bit more confidence. Some of the players' confidence will be very low after the last three games. Davis DM/AMC, JWP AMC/DM is an option. But I prefer this. I never knew I said I'd play him over Stekelenburg. That's news to me. I didn't realise I said I'd play myself over Van Dijk, Fonte, Yoshida or Gardos either. Please refer me to the posts where I said these things.
Maya in every position (including keeper) would be difficult for a team like Villa to score against. Question is whether he would be able to score or not.
Yeah, that goal was a brilliant goal. He'd be a threat in the air too at centre forward. If one player was going to be every position on the pitch, including keeper, then I would probably choose him for the role out of our whole squad.
