Holden McGroin

You can always rely on Villa to embarrass themselves to the point our defeat at Sheff Wed doesn't look bad. Takes the shade off us. Well done lads.

They will probably get them next round as PL opposition will be no match for the mighty mackems.

In terms of the manner of the defeat. Im not downbeat at all. If you think the amount of times we've gone down without a whimper in a piss-poor performance over the past 15 years then losing is more palatable when the team gives everything but is unlucky. On another day we win the 6-3.

It would be amusing if they decided the winner of FA Cup would go into Champions League. It would be taken seriously then.

Aye Fraser is the superior player to Murphy. I wonder if the length of Murphys contract has anything to do with it. eg Trying to make a player out of him or putting him in the shop window. I think we are stuck with him for 4 years or we part pay his wages elsewhere. No PL club will pick him up. I'd also be surprised a championship club does as well. Fair play to the lad though. Works hard and has a good contract so nothing against him.

On another day we win this comfortably. Im not concerned. Perversely, I would rather lose this one than a PL game. My major concern would be If you take Trippier or Bruno out of the team we lack the class. My other area of concern is where the goals are going to come from. If the Almiron run was just a purple patch we'll need to find goals from other outlets. Makes the Maddison pursuit all the more important for me.

Wood is not upto standard. Howe knows this more than anyone but there were other players who missed big chances. On reflection we missed 5 absolute sitters: 2 x Isak 1 x Murphy (that lob was simple) 1 x Anderson 1 x Wood On another day we would have won that comfortably. Manquillo played well Murphy would be a decent player in league 1. Would probably struggle in a Championship team. Same for Wood.

I'd go with something like this: --------Dubravka\Darlow Manquillo-Lascelles-Botman-Burn Anderson-Longstaff-Joelinton Fraser-----------------Maxi ------------Wood

That could be the other thing. 🙂

I thought I was the only person that did this !

I don't think there should ever be a case where you air your dirty laundry. But thats just me and I assume he needs an income.

I think you are right but we have a few injury problems and when you start putting in 3rd choice players then it could get tricky. If we didn't play Trippier it would be Manquillo, Botman would mean Burn shuffles over and Lewis comes in. I'd like to see E. Anderson and Maxi start. Id certainly leave Bruno and Trippier on bench.

Yeah, I get that and its working at the moment so I would be hesitant to change the personnel and system too much. However, somewhere down the line we will start trading blood and guts for more ball retention and technical ability.

Pickford is the shortest player in the 6 yard box on a corner. That includes Lisandro Martinez. I bet his Tinder profile says 6 foot though.

Dummett and S. Longstaff did okay. Probably a long list of failures though (M. Longstaff, The 5 that joined Rangers one season etc etc)

3-0 tonking coming our way starting with an Saka goal after an odegaard miscue.

Dubravka is on his way back. Like a new signing.

https://www.themag.co.uk/2022/12/big-blow-as-kieran-trippier-ruled-out-of-arsenal-match-after-newcastle-0-leeds-0-newcastle-united/

Isn't he suspended?

Didn't realise Trippier was out. Ouch. Ive always fancied Schar to be decent at filling in at full back but it would be a risk to play break up his partnership with Botman. Manquillo will need to have the game of his life.

If Maddison was involved in that squad yesterday we would have won. I'd seriously spunk a load of cash on him now (providing he fits in with intensity of this team). Tielemans would be good too but think he is seeing his contract out.

Aye. Very underrated. Wand of a left foot but lacked a bit pace.

I'll have whatever Craig has been sniffing.

Aye, Owen played well in that little pocket. On Goalies. I think the standard of goalkeeping has come on so much these days. If you look back at PL years (eg) 92/93 a big percentage of goals conceded are GK howlers or shots that current GKs would have saved easily these days.

Ive just put him in my fantasy football squad so no doubt he'll do something bad now.