Reluctant Striker

That 1 point for Villa, from 1-3, with nightmare defending, right now has been taken as a massive point gained. Spurs now have to beat Man City to keep 4th possible. Even if Spurs take 6 points from 6, things will still be in Villa's hands. To just avoid defeat. But would be great if Palace (a) had no requirements on it. Duran Duran just had to happen on a Monday night..

Feel bad for Luton. But Forest, with all the spending & the points deduction have done just about enough. It just wouldn't happen in a good league like the Bundesliga or La Liga. 3 very interesting matches ahead over the next 3 days. Think I'm still backing Man City to win out. Though I guess many neutrals will be cheering on Liverpool & then Spurs this week. The biggest drama perhaps could still be who finishes 8th. And doesn't even get to play Zrinjski Mostar on a cold Thursday evening next season.

I'd go with: Martinez (I think his bad boy rep & Arsenal reject tag hinder him in these things) TAA, Gabriel, Saliba, Gvardiol MacAllister, Rice, Douglas Luiz Foden, Haaland, Palmer Left out: Salah, just because Foden feels to have significantly risen & Palmer dramatically emerged. White, Van Der Ven & Pau Torres could have been in my back 4. Gordon a 4th winger & perhaps oddly I'd opt with him for England over Palmer. But perhaps both over Grealish & Rashford. Rodri left out, similar to Salah, I just feel the other 3 deserve recognition for noticeable step ups. MacAllister had to play a different position at a new club. Rice carried on his form at Arsenal. Could have gone with McGinn, but he's spent time as a winger-10, with Douglas Luiz the actual midfield play maker & penalty taker. Palmer the only non Top 4 inclusion.. 3 Man City, 3 Arsenal, 2 Liverpool, 2 Villa & 1 over performer of Chelsea.

Didn't see this one, but Sky Sports is generally quite hyperbolic in recent years. And probably because they want certain loyal customers of certain clubs to stay tuned, even when its the battle for the conference league. Reflections on the injustice of being nowhere near the top. And the long term journey back to where they want to be. Perhaps with a different customer base & mindset, there is usually a bit better balance on the neutral & for everyone BBC. But there is definitely a bias toward certain clubs in all media. To be fair, it was pretty much the same case with Liverpool before they were getting 2nd place to City so often. But it can be jarring when a club dismantles a bigger brand on the pitch.

Anyone but West Brom, please. And Norwich now feel like a slightly dull yo-yo club. Although many could perhaps imagine Ipswich & Norwich usefully taking 2 of the bottom 3 spots. Leeds & Southampton certainly seem the 2 that could add something to the mid table areas of the top division. Maybe raise the relegation bar back to more normal levels.

If I was David Moyes I think I'd have walked with this news. No chance of West Ham improving on 9th now. There has always been this 'manager for now' vibe, but surely just let whatever caretaker have the last 2 matches. Another club will give Moyes a job. If not for the start of next season, at least when they decide they need proven experience. He's long past this caretaker trialist level West Ham are treating him like.

I did think Spurs were capable of going zero from 12, but didn't genuinely expect it. If they do carry on & lose this one, even if they get 3 wins, with a bucket load of goals Vs Burnley, Man City & Sheffield United. Villa would just need 1 more win from Liverpool or Palace. Feels like both sides just staggering toward the finish line. A decent chance Villa stay 4th with 2 defeats.

Could do with Liverpool aiming to finish with a bit of pride. Spurs will look to give it a go, with 7 points to make up over their 4, to Villa's 2. On Brighton 1 - 0 Villa. Kind of back to the drop off for Villa now, after the resurgence of recent weeks.

Birmingham City may still be the last West Midlands club to win one of the 3 big trophies, but amusing this outcome has followed Tom Brady, Wayne Rooney, owners bantering about being the real Birmingham club & plans for a Tottenham stadium of the West Midlands.

I have to say, I'm not sure Villa are 'ready' to be in the Champions League, but as they've never been in the modern day version, which is about to update again next year, we may as well be there if we can. Even if just to get a few autographs, selfies & visit a few Euro giants. I did feel Spurs were capable of losing to Newcastle, Arsenal & Chelsea, with Anfield still ahead, but it's still been quite surprising to not see them even get a draw or 2. And to an extent that Villa got better Arsenal & Chelsea results. Spurs loss at Anfield would leave them with 9 points to aim for. Villa win at Brighton takes them 10 ahead. The 3 team race between Man United, Newcastle & Chelsea looking a much closer race.

Tielemans did seem strange for a while. I generally do think when a player starts sulking to leave, which it seemed from what I read & saw, it probably is best the player moves on fairly quickly. Regardless who it is, where they are, if it's seen as ok to seem like a selling club, etc. His actual plan to get to Arsenal (..?) didn't work out, likely because he seemed in such bad form for so long & who knows how much was because he was playing with an attitude that he thought he should have already got his Kante or Maguire move. And then instead just kind of ending up being washed up on the shores at Villa Park.. looking to get back to doing Leicester style antics. Or at least that's how it all seemed to me. So yes, Tielemans, any similar cases, bad management & not replacing Kasper Schmeichel were bad, but at most should have been a slump to the 9th to 14th range. From where they were.

It was 1 of the more surprising relegations of recent times. And at least was followed by 1 of the most predictable immediate bounce backs. It would not surprise me if they challenge in the top half again straight away, pending any punishment. But also expecting next season's bottom 3 to be a less obvious set of clubs too.

Yes, difficult to know what to make of this, but everybody knew the current method was not fit for purpose. This does, at first glance, appear to allow more spending, if clubs are in a position to splash around more cash, from an increased benefactor? Within set limits? And difficult to understand exactly why my club voted against. I can only guess they felt confident about growing the clubs finances within the existing arrangements. Yet Arsenal, Spurs, Newcastle, Liverpool, West Ham, etc, all voted for this.

1 point doesn't really surprise me. 3rd match with them this season & they've turned up for a contest all 3 times. 7 points between 4th & 5th. Over to Spurs for a run of Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool.. It might get close, but right now it feels better to have actual points on the board. And that 1 point mathematically confirms it is only Spurs that can catch Villa. Different slant to put on it than any media are likely doing.

Another 3 points for Villa & anything but 6 points for Spurs from Arsenal & Chelsea this week, could be the race for 4th sorted. Would be great to play Cheltenham today, but have a feeling Chelsea will actually turn up at Villa Park.

Reached the stage a while back that Bournemouth (h) is an expected 3 points. But great to get them, after going a goal down & 3 days after European extra time. Chelsea next can feel positive with just 1 point, or maybe even near to a free hit. 6 or 7 games left of what's been a good season. Slightly above my expectations. Way above many neutrals. Every game like a final now, until it's over.

It has been sad for the state of English club football that the 3 promoted teams have done so badly. The most Luton & Burnley can get to is 37 & 36 points. And they will not be getting there. I'd say Forest have tougher games than Everton, but feels like both should do enough. Could be the least dramatic area of the table this season.

Personally I think continental & global football bodies should stop expanding what is only ever going to be gimmick tournaments, for a select few fans & new target audiences.

I remember when they brought in replay penalties.. and scrapped replays until an actual winner. I'm sure no replays will pass out of thought. But for certain, a brave away draw by an underdog is likely much better rewarded with a home reply. Not penalties on the day.

Crazy that Villa play 2 home games (Bournemouth & Chelsea) before Spurs play another league match. The next 3 for Spurs being Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool all away. Obviously I'd be delighted with Villa taking 4 points, to give a 7 point lead, to heap the pressure on a run of 3 fixtures like those. I'm sure Spurs will improve on the Newcastle result. But Villa do have it in their hands again right now. For 4th. And still in the Conference League too. Best it's been for a long time.

It would have been nice if Man City (a) could have gone more like this. But, where Villa finish could be significant in terms of the owners ambition to grow the club. I think we are starting to see that Liverpool were patched up in some areas & Arsenal perhaps do lack a Salah or De Bruyne level game changer.

Yes, I think Man United is the toughest Premier League manager job right now. But not for any good reasons. The recruitment has lacked any vision for a while. Liverpool sound like they are going for Amorim. Perhaps the most on trend available name. Chelsea perhaps need a manager who can get the best out of the youthful squad the owners opted for. But Man United, to get to where most their fans think they should be, they are likely several good transfer windows away, before they can even start looking at the right head coach to get them to the top again.

I don't know & follow all the ins & outs. I just know it's incredibly sad it went from terrorist kidnappings to accusations of genocide intent to military confrontation with Iran. And Russia is still in Ukraine. And there's probably other things around the world not making it to BBC News. Just really sad.

Not many stand out candidates around for too many vacancies. Alonso could yet be a 1 season wonder. Tuchel has looked to me for a while like he has an external desire to be Klopp, with an inner Roy Keane. Whether it's Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, or all 3 appointing a new manager this summer, it could be on who takes the best gamble. For many Emery had failed in England. Not sure many saw Big Ange as an obvious Premier League candidate. Bournemouth were criticised. The Wolves manager abandoned a sinking ship. Was Eddie Howe a clear & obvious choice? Given the lack of obvious big names, and the gambles that have, to an extent, paid off over recent seasons, I think it would be football snobbery to entirely rule out a Southgate, or a Roberto Martinez, or whoever seems like a currently insufficient name.

I'd laugh @ Spurs but Villa play at Arsenal tomorrow.