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Listening to this on the radio and, out of nowhere, my utterly football-uninterested better half just said "STOP SAYING UNITED WE DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE YOU MEAN!". I'm so proud.

Aye the thing the bloke bangs on about more than anything is a lack of identity. He can't see what it is that they're supposed to be trying to be. The one thing that gets talked about based on noises coming out of the club is the fact that Gerrard sees himself as a figurehead and puts his assistant manager in charge of training and tactics. He lost his assistant manager at the end of last season when he went to manage QPR, so to all intents and purposes Villa have had a manager change because a brand new person is in charge of training and tactics. I can understand taking that approach when you've earned your stripes as a manager and know enough to take a step back and oversee/tinker where things are going wrong. But to start your managerial career with "training and tactics are someone else's job".... Well you don't really want to be a football manager, do you? Maybe his experience of managers at Liverpool reflects this approach, but that's because by the time someone is managing Liverpool they've earned the right to take that step back and become an overseer. But they didn't start their managerial careers doing that. He's basically got to the same place that Bruce has, where one has done it through laziness and the other through wrong headed thinking about what a manager's job is.

Was just waiting for their last minute winner to go in so happy enough with that in the end, we were huffing and puffing a bit at the end with some poor decision making as well. Should've made it count first half and pawson can fuck off with the non penalty decision, the rookie on var never going to overrule him. Eddie should've took Burn off a bit sooner, was always an iffy decision playing him LB today IMO. Injuries and squad depth a bit of a concern and from what I saw of Everton the other day we'll have to be a bit more with it but I've a feeling we might be missing more players again.

Took the dog to Chopwell Woods earlier. Turned up in the car park and all the LARPers were there getting ready. And then who do I spot but @Alex, @Howmanheymanand @Rentongetting in a spot of pre match LARPing. Renton was telling them to "watch how fast I get combat-ready" then walking away from the group and spinning round with his fighting staff held aloft. To be fair, the other two looked canny impressed. I think I heard HMHM say "Forsooth, Lord Renton, verily you do get combat ready canny fucking quick like". As I walked away Alex was spinning a staff around like the Star Wars Kid while Renton was helping HMHM get his mace out of the boot. Harmless enough, I suppose. Keeps them out of bother.

"So what order do we think the 'big eleven' will finish in this season?"

Botman. Wow. It's said a lot recently. But he's class.

I can't recall ever wanting anybody to gum disease before in my life, until klopp.

Owen: "the one in the first half was more a case" Shay: "I think they're both penalties" Rafa: "Mitrovic needs to work harder in training and show that he will listen to instruction to gain my confidence"

I don't. I hope he ends up penniless and destitute, the fucking neanderthal cunt.

If fucking LOVE to see Wood get a winner here.

if you need a hand with fire stick stuff mate in the future I'm always here to help.

Hands up if you’ve missed half the first half because you forgot to update your fire stick 🙋🏻‍♂️

So like a Maxi pad?

Just seen the Bamford/Gabriel incident.

Rumours on twitter UM thinking of trying a gin in the labour club instead of the usual cheeky vodka.

We've had a few lucky breaks here. Good test today and, as expected, we're not there yet. But we're putting a gap between us and the teams below us and catching up with the likes of this lot. It's just gonna take time.

Which half did you miss?

People joked about the "big 6" becoming the "big 7" and here we are

“ What were the antibiotics for Therese?” ” Strep Gunt. Still a bit sticky, tbh”.

no, doesn't seem that way - he managed 32+ games in each of his past three seasons in la liga. we seem to be getting loads of these muscle injuries, perhaps one of the costs of howe's intense pressing style

Look at the state of the random shite just floating round the pitch. And don’t get me started on the litter.

“ C ee y hi s.” FTMd your cheesy chips display.

west brom 2 up, the no bruce bounce.

I did like their banner.

in their match thread somebody who's there says.... what the fuck even is that? looks like somebody's brought in a barrow load of old christmas decorations. a reply..... think it says neil quiff another reply..... and now it's blowing all over the pitch.

think we've been robbed of more points than we've been lucky to gain, most notably against palace and the red dippers. although not great performances we hit the woodwork twice against bournemouth and likewise with the last kick of the ball at wolves. fine margins I know but these far outweigh the fortunate point at brighton. we could easily be sitting a couple of places higher in the league and this without wilson, bruno, maximan, isak and even shelvey for more games than with. tottenham away is probably our hardest game between now and the world cup break, get a reasonable haul of points between now and then and remain within touching distance of the top 4 and I'm sure with a fully fit squad plus a couple of additions (maddison please) then the 2nd half of the season will be something to really, really look forward to.

Agreed completely. I said the instant it happened that it was a dive, and it turned out it wasn't, but his ridiculous overreaction actually sold the ref (and somehow VAR) on it being simulation.

He had a couple of lucky escapes today tbf. Got caught square/flat footed a couple of times. He's not a natural full back

Happy with a point. We looked a different team 2nd half. While Eddies has done miracles, it will be much better when we have a bit more quality in depth. Still too many championship players taking up places.

Has one of our away fans took over VAR

What happens in Chopwell Woods, stays in Chopwell Woods.

Sky Sports

Lucky Wilson is so reliable.

Is she still committed to paying bankers bonuses? Is she still refusing to impose a windfall tax on the energy companies?

I agree. The truth is if we are aiming to compete at the highest level under the constraints of FFP then generating a sizeable passive income through this and other commercial means is necessary. There's a massive difference between bringing in serious dineros and merely masquerading to bring more brand awareness for your own company.

We never get much meaningful info on Maxi's injuries, progress or expected return dates to the point where it's becoming odd.

That's Milton Nunez.

I genuinely thought that was a shot from the warm up and those were training cones.

Not quite 'mag' behaviour but a cute attempt. Losers.

I've just never seen the "top half" go up to 11 before

Just listening to the Athletic weekend preview pod and the Villa fan on there has described things under Gerrard as "very similar to Villa under Steve Bruce".