30 Dec 2023 21:56:24
I'm sure a few poster's on here were down there today, we all hear chants football in a library, well that was Villa park today. Burnley probably deserved something today, they nearly broke our high line more than the once they scored. It's obviously great we will still be in the top four after tomorrow's matches, however I can't believe the euphoria after a number of very average performances. Our slow build up is becoming frustrating, the groans and apathy around Villa park shows fans are not happy. Why are we struggling to dominate average teams, Emery is a class act however some of our recent performances are lacking more creativity and is that because he doesn't think the current squad is capable.My view is exactly the issue, I just hope we have quality on its way.

1.) 31 Dec 2023
30 Dec 2023 22:46:25
So many teams “nearly” Scot but nearly doesn’t get any job done.
I agree that we need reinforcements but the last 3 games have being played without 3 of our first team players, big players who would get in 75% of the PL teams.
we had something like 19 shots and only 7 on target, I don’t remember to many hit and hope from outside the box, most were good chances and most were in around the 6 yard box, for me todays problem wasn’t creativity it was composure, we have had games where we struggled to create but I don’t think we did today, we had the chances to finish that game comfortably, watching the game and the match stats to me don’t reflect a tight game or that they deserved anything.

2.) 31 Dec 2023
30 Dec 2023 22:47:46
Despite our position we are not yet a team that can be expected to do that every week.
I haven't seen anyone suggest we're the best team in the world and I have no idea why you always seem to think anything less than that is rubbish.
Our aims at the start of the season were 4th-6th and trying to win the ECL. As far as I can see we are well on our way to achieving those aims fairly comfortably.
Just because we've had a good year doesn't mean we should drastically move the goalposts. The last 3 games have seen us missing 2 guaranteed starters and Tielemans who can be a difference maker. We still picked up points missing key players unlike Spurs and Newcastle.
We are dominating games, we just aren't going gung ho trying to force chances. Opposition teams are outperforming their xG against our makeshift back four while our conversion has dropped off a little.
Mourinho won the title with Chelsea after a season packed with 1-0 and 2-0 wins, including against bottom half sides that parked the bus.
Emery has found his formula to win points and his opinion, which the statistics back up, is that his formula works more often than it doesn't.

3.) 31 Dec 2023
30 Dec 2023 22:50:21
Sitting joint top and you still have the audacity to moan.Supporting Villa is definitely not for you!

4.) 31 Dec 2023
30 Dec 2023 23:02:45
Scotty a few points, firstly you can’t play your best week in week out and good teams get wins when they aren’t playing well which we did so you can’t ask for more that really. However teams have sussed how to play against us which is sit in and ask us to break them down and to be fair we have struggled to do that against two of the poorer sides in the division, which is a bit of a worry, we certainly need to be more clinical in front of goal as if we are as profligate in other games as we were today then we will undoubtedly get punished. The other thing I would say is not only are we missing Torres, and his ability to carry the ball drawing out the opposition midfield, but also we definitely lose something playing Konsa as an auxiliary right back, we are much more solid with him at centre back, personally I don’t feel particularly comfortable with Carlos and Lenglet as a pair I don’t think Foster would have got away from Torres for the second goal if he had been playing. It was also interesting that with people saying playing ‘long ball’ was outdated and dead that given the right circumstances that way of playing can be a viable option. Personally if you can mix your style of play up and keep the opposition guessing so much the better in my view.

5.) 31 Dec 2023
30 Dec 2023 23:25:31
When you have Konsa at R/B, Kamara and Tielemans out it’s obviously going to upset the system. Must admit, the slow build up does drive you mad . Especially against a side parking the bus, surely this is when we need to speed it up, we just keep giving sides time to get set back up
FA cup next UTV

6.) 31 Dec 2023
31 Dec 2023 01:00:41
We've played a lot of games and only made a couple of changes each game. We're a bit tired and teams sit back. Man City had 84% possession today and only scored twice. Guess they don't have any creative players either!

7.) 31 Dec 2023
31 Dec 2023 08:42:48
I knew there was a reason I don't visit this site anymore :- (

10 games in just over a month - Won 6, drew 3 and lost 1 - And this missing key players through injury and suspension. We are 2nd in the league on goal difference alone and through to the next round of the Conference League as group winners but there are still complaints - If this is "average" sign me up to average long term!

The players have been nothing short of EXCEPTIONAL, they are clearly running on fumes after a draining 5 weeks - How anybody can criticize this squad is beyond me, they have been revelatory for over a year now and I expect us to get better now the gruelling December is over.

8.) 31 Dec 2023
31 Dec 2023 09:28:15
Don’t let the moaning put you off BK, I have to confess I wondered where you’d gone.

9.) 31 Dec 2023
31 Dec 2023 10:31:21
Seriously Scotty, you rarely post anything positive on here. When will you be happy with what we’ve achieved?
We have made huge strides in the past 15 months. There have been some blips but the curve is most definitely upwards. In fact we the most improved side in the Premier league by some considerable margin.
It is disappointing when we lose or don’t win but don’t just focus on the negatives.
Happy New Year to all!

10.) 31 Dec 2023
31 Dec 2023 13:13:08
Happy new year to all on here. I'm always amazed that anyone with the audacity to criticise on here is classed as disloyal has no idea.Everything I post is as I see things with the only focus on improving the current position, which is brilliant.However my mantra both in sport and personal life is "never rest on your Laurels". When you are doing well at anything the only way you improve on doing well is to critique what's working and what can be done to improve.In my book this is not moaning, disloyal, clueless, all things that have been levelled at me on more than one occasion.I promise you I'm as loyal, committed and want the best for my team as anything, the difference is I want us to be the best and i will never be happy with second best unlike many on here.So if you are not happy with me aspiring to be the best team in the country by me pointing out things i see as holding us back then your goals and ambitions are not on the same page as me. Just remember my views have always been consistent, I recall the same gripes when I criticised when we were in the championship, when we had Smith and Gerrard in the premier League and surprise, surprise the owners agreed with me and that's why we are where we are today. Wanting the best and seeing things that possibly get in the way if this seems like common sense.I listen and respect others views even though I don't agree, I just wish some would offer me the same courtesy. Happy new year to one and all.

11.) 31 Dec 2023
31 Dec 2023 16:22:21
I get that to a certain extent Scotty but you are continually calling out inadequacies as you see them but rarely if ever praising the positive, and since Emery came on board we have had much more to be positive about than to criticise in my view. That said each to his own. Anyway Happy New Year to you and all other posters and to the Ed’s too.

12.) 31 Dec 2023
31 Dec 2023 16:55:53
LOTM, of course we have had far more positives and if you check my previous I have commented in a positive way, you only get better by identifying areas that can be improved, no matter how many positives there are. Of course praise and a pat on the back is great, let me give you an example of a couple of Emery's style, we all love what Mcginn and Dougie have contributed to our success and are probably our best form players, if I had criticised either of them i would have had pelters, however if you watched Emery's interviews on the subject of how good these two have played, he failed to compliment them, he said he expected more, why would he say this, because he wants more and a pat on the back is not his style to get the best out of player's.So comments that are honest observerations with no intent of malice, just hoping for the improvements that i genuinely believe are needed to compete with the big boys, not over half a season but a full season.

13.) 31 Dec 2023
31 Dec 2023 21:38:58
Scot, of course we want to reach that level but targets have to be hard but achievable to be motivating.
The target is to be 1-3 places better than last season and although we're smashing those targets currently we still have a long way to go.
I'm sure the January plan will be to adjust the target to try stay in that top 4/5 now we have a nice little cushion but we can't expect to jump to being the best every game just because we've done well so far.

14.) 01 Jan 2024
01 Jan 2024 01:47:19
RK, I always appreciate your balanced style, however why not "reach for the stars" think big and not accept anything but the best and see what that brings, happy new year

15.) 01 Jan 2024
01 Jan 2024 09:12:07
That is the long term aim I'm sure but improvements to most of the current players will be marginal from now on, they already had the big jump last year.
Finances then stop us making big changes in the squad in the short term. It's not worth risking point deductions or loss of any trophy we might win breaking those rules.
Reaching for the stars too soon has been the downfall of many people and organisations. Constant improvement is needed but targets need to be fully achieved before setting tbe new target.
Happy New Year yourself.