a close up of a man 's face with the words handle the on the bottom ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the words handle the on the bottom

Reminding me of Colonel Nathan Jessup…

Well worth a listen for Villa fans here… With a great first question on Rashford/Asensio from ‘Kev’… 😉 #avfc

Rashford at Villa is an obvious one but keen to hear your thoughts on Asensio. What will he offer, and how can Villa get the most out of him? Can he work alongside Morgan Rogers, for example?

Assuming no Ollie, Mings, I would guess at a midfield of McGinn, Onana, Tielemans, Ramsey with Rogers just behind Malen. Think we’ll see Rashford in the second half for Ramsey, Asensio possibly for Onana with McGinn shifting across.

Great. The ref who guesses and ignores his assistant referee and the fourth official 🙄

Yes.

I mean, Duran scores that late DCL chance. From that exact spot past Pickford, a 90-yard half volley.

Then just shrugs in celebration.

Still feel we overplay, a bit. And look for a perfect finish. Both JJ chances v Everton and West Ham, he looked like he was trying to top corner both times. Get either on target and they’re in.

I’ve heard Malen gets a lot of shots away so hoping we can trouble oppo GKs more…

Had knee issues too, I think.

Yep - didn’t have the composure at CB. Much better at RB but I figured fitness was an issue there. Agree, I thought he was a good signing. And he was good, for half a season, I thought.

I’m hoping he goes on a run now, in classic Ollie fashion.

I know - should have had three by HT (Youri, Ollie, JJ) and cruised that. Should have done the same v West Ham and Leics too, and Brighton.

Really? Maybe. He’s changed his story about Villa quite a lot whenever asked: from Dean telling him he wasn’t fit, to Bruce, to Steve Clarke. Which suggests he wasn’t really up to it at all, post PL. Perhaps he wasn’t struggling when we signed him.

Yeah. I can guess who you might mean!

Who, Ollie? Yeah, it’s a tricky chance from there - angle, distance. Thought he could have tried to run across Pickford, opened up his view of the goal. Maybe a player in confidence tries that.

That squad.. Villa got a lot of stick for signing a few young players from France but they had talent. I always felt they were hung out to dry by the senior pros that season, who completely ducked responsibility. Partly why I never find Micah remotely amusing.

It was. With the pace and distance Pickford came out though, I’d have liked to see Ollie shift to his right to open up the angle; Pickford probably wouldn’t have been able to move quickly enough. But still; easy to say now, harder in the moment. Took his next chance at least!

Playing on the edge, Jamie.

I don’t like it.

I thought the Ramsey chance was an easier one, BTW.

I thought it was a difficult one, too. Much further out than it was made to sound and he didn’t have much to aim at. Probably should have tried to open the angle with another touch or two but far from a sitter.

Agree. His movement and quick combinations are very hard to defend. Get him, Rogers and Maatsen going on the left/inside left channel and we’re hurting teams.

With you on this. I genuinely thought he’d been signed to be De Bruyne’s long term successor, as an 8-10. I doubt he regrets the move in terms of trophies but do wonder how he feels about our rise under Unai, playing CL football.

‘… and that is Coufal’s first ever goal for West Ham. It’s taken a massive deflection and he looked clearly offside - no VAR tonight, remember - and it puts the Hammers ahead with five minutes to go…’

Indeed. Thing is, the whole thing was done on Teams (I think), the day after Boxing Day. Notes released 10 days later. Could have been recorded; should be, and footage released. Club appealing should have a rep present. Otherwise, who knows what really gets said in these?

Hmmm. If you’re happy to use that kind of language (act of brutality) during what’s supposed to be a review of an officiating decision, I don’t think you should have any place on an ‘independent panel’. Axe to grind springs to mind.

Same here. He’s got six months tops left at Villa, I would think.

Yeah, hard to tell with Diego. Went down twice on Monday, looked he was keen to come off, but been in the training pics these last two days. Not the first time he’s been unexpectedly unavailable this season… Philogene I’d guess is more down to a potential move.

Do wonder what his state of mind must be like, these past few months. Yes, he has the trophies but he’ll know he’s nowhere near the player he once was. His former club are transformed from the side he left; regardless of where we finish this season, with CL football, etc. Left out of Eng Euro squad.

CHRISTMAS IS CANCELLED 😂

Sam - please tell me you basted it in 100-year-old port six weeks ago before letting it rest nestled in the branches of an outdoor Christmas
Spruce tree, misting it gently with rock salt and orange juice every 12 hours? Otherwise…

Emery heard Rose’s pre match comments about Leipzig’s prep being easy as he knew how we’d play and thought ‘nah…’

Looking at tonight’s line-up… nearly. Just Carlos starting over Mings but other than that, the defensive and midfield set up I was suggesting… #avfc

Yep. I think because he’s big and strong, we think he’s a potential DM. But I have my doubts, too. I like the control we get with Kamara and Tielemans (Barkley too). So, I do wonder whether we can use Onana as a box to box type. Massive guy striding forward to cause havoc, etc