Administrator Stan Posted February 24, 2023 Administrator Posted February 24, 2023 all kick-offs 15.00 (GMT) unless stated Saturday 25th February, 2023 Everton vs Aston Villa Leeds vs Southampton Leicester vs Arsenal West Ham vs Nottm Forest Wednesday 1st March, 2023 Arsenal vs Everton, 19.45 Liverpool vs Wolves, 20.00
Subscriber Dan+ Posted February 24, 2023 Subscriber Posted February 24, 2023 They'll just have too much for us I'd imagine. Last weekend wasn't all bad and we definitely looked a bit better going forward than we had done but we're still too easy to create against, no clean sheet since before the World Cup, and Arsenal are a clearly very good team. The test of how much Rodgers respects Arsenal will be how near his set up is to what it was against Man City (5-4-1 - the only side we consistently do this against) or 4-2-3-1 like we did against Spurs / Man Utd. Arteta's won 3/3 games away here as manager all by two goals. I can see exactly that happening again this weekend, I've put 1-3. Maddison doubtful apparently. There's a part of me that thinks keep him fresh for Southampton next week. Would be extremely Leicester to play him against Arsenal, goes off in the first half and we lose him for that and Chelsea. Think these lingering injuries are the only reason he's not yet had a bigger move.
Administrator Stan Posted February 24, 2023 Author Administrator Posted February 24, 2023 Also gone for a 1-3 loss. Probably go ahead early after a fast start. Get sussed out tactically. Have our creative or energetic players taken off. Concede a couple of goals in quick succession. Chase the game, defence exposed even more and then concede a 3rd late on. Not a game I'm expecting anything from. Whether it's 1 point or 3 if we do get any, I'll be happy.
Subscriber RandoEFC+ Posted February 24, 2023 Subscriber Posted February 24, 2023 Would be lovely if we can sneak another 1-0.
Lucas Posted February 24, 2023 Posted February 24, 2023 Been saying this is a 'must win' for a few weeks now and as the weeks gone by, the win hasn't come. Absolutely bored of saying it but this really, really is that. We are behind schedule of projected points needed from winnable fixtures and we can't fall even further behind that. Also, to be perfectly frank, if we don't beat Southampton at home, do we really deserve to stay up? I'd personally say no. If we fall behind, I do fear Elland Road will turn nasty. Sadly I think that's where we're at right now, frustration and anger. Elland Road can be really 50/50 sometimes, some players take to it, others can't handle the pressure. We need the crowd fully behind us. And we massively need some sort of break to go our way in a game because we're absolutely due it, whether it's an OG in our favour, a penalty, VAR decision or even a smash and grab, against the run of play win. Something just to turn the tide a bit and feel like not everything is against you.
Reluctant Striker Posted February 24, 2023 Posted February 24, 2023 I do still think it's important Villa get their heads back into the idea of needing points. January gave out all kinds of 'take what we have' signs. And 3 straight 2 goal defeats (even if 2 were the top 2) have meant we're just very, very fortunate to still sit 11th & near Chelsea. Plenty of winnable looking matches ahead, but sooner than later please Villa players.
Redcanuck Posted February 25, 2023 Posted February 25, 2023 VAR ruling out two goals in the Leicester Arsenal game. Close call on the Arsenal goal. Hand holding?
Subscriber RandoEFC+ Posted February 25, 2023 Subscriber Posted February 25, 2023 Good scrap this. Villa had some good possession early on but we've kept them quiet and got ourselves on top. Too bad we couldn't get ourselves ahead. McNeil and Maupay should have scored between them late in the half but took too many touches and Martinez pulled off an excellent save earlier from an Onana header. Really hope we can nick this with the guarantee that others round the bottom will be dropping points against each other.
Subscriber RandoEFC+ Posted February 25, 2023 Subscriber Posted February 25, 2023 Villa lead through a penalty. Looked from one angle like Gueye might have got a toe on it. I assume it got checked . Very harsh on us to be trailing.
Reluctant Striker Posted February 25, 2023 Posted February 25, 2023 Certainly sounds a 2 sided match going on at Everton. Just in the minutes before the opener, apparently Mings cleared off the line & Pickford had tipped a shot/header onto the post. New Villa record for Ollie Watkins. Only player to score in 5 consecutive Premier League matches. He really has stepped up very well since Ings left.
Subscriber RandoEFC+ Posted February 25, 2023 Subscriber Posted February 25, 2023 Anthony Taylor has been horrific here.
Subscriber RandoEFC+ Posted February 25, 2023 Subscriber Posted February 25, 2023 0-2 that was poor from Coady and Tarkowski. Proper smash and grab scoreline from Villa here but it's the fault of our board that they have clinical players and options from the bench while we have to watch Maupay stumble over 4 or 5 half chances without generating a shot on target, Doucoure the closest thing to a second striker in this system and Tom Davies the player we turn to at two nil down.
Subscriber RandoEFC+ Posted February 25, 2023 Subscriber Posted February 25, 2023 Shaded it for 60 minutes, on another day that one Mings clears off the line goes over and we shut down the game for a 1-0. Easier answer is we buy a striker in January who can deputise effectively for Calvert-Lewin in this system. Then concede a penalty through a risky challenge and another goal late on when we over commit. Annoying result as that was a winnable game and we were doing well for much of it. When you can't score goals like us though the first goal is essential.
N U F C Posted February 25, 2023 Posted February 25, 2023 Massive wins for Leeds and West Ham. Personally can't see any of Leicester, West Ham & Wolves dropping but it's looking so tight down there. How nice not to actually be involved in it for once.
Administrator Stan Posted February 25, 2023 Author Administrator Posted February 25, 2023 Expected nothing. Got nothing. By way of performance or points. It was literally all Arsenal . Absolutely nothing positive from us.
Administrator Stan Posted February 25, 2023 Author Administrator Posted February 25, 2023 One thing I will say though is that Arsenal should be ashamed and embarrassed by what their players have become when it comes to faking injuries, wasting time and just being generally pathetic. Straight out of the Pep playbook via Arteta. Martinelli is one of the biggest culprits.
Lucas Posted February 25, 2023 Posted February 25, 2023 Absolute ugly game from two teams devoid of quality in the final third. It had a bit of a dogfight about it beforehand and in my eyes, both of us could still drop to be fair, it was that bad a game. The only difference being we showed more intent to win it and got ourselves into promising positions despite being wasteful. Perhaps we were rewarded for being the more positive, allbeit with an extremely scrappy finish. Saints should have showed more ambition really, we were there for the taking at 0-0 and you sensed the nerves in the ground with 20mins to go. The result is ultimately all that matters today though, it had to be a win at all costs and it's nice to enjoy your weekend with three points in the bag, completely forgot that feeling. I hope this gives the boys some confidence to kick on. I can't say hand on heart walking away from that I can too positive about our chances but given Gracia had little time to work with the players, he at least had us looking less frantic, more organised and rather than press high, we sat back and were more patient. We didn't seem to try and 'force' the ball too much either. Definitely need to play better against tougher opposition though.
Subscriber RandoEFC+ Posted February 25, 2023 Subscriber Posted February 25, 2023 This decision could go either way but what I have a gripe with is how short the time was between the referee blowing for a penalty and it getting taken. It was like they didn't even bother to review the decision. I'm quite happy for VAR to keep their hands off marginal decisions but it does strike me that if this was a Super Sunday game they'd have gone through all of the replays for the benefit of the spectacle and be really anal about it but with these 'last on MOTD' fixtures they actually stick to their high bar for intervention.
Happy Blue Posted February 25, 2023 Posted February 25, 2023 Arsenal still looking off form, maybe burnt out
6666 Posted February 25, 2023 Posted February 25, 2023 Maybe not the best performance but got the job done. Should've been easier if we got an obvious penalty which the referee and VAR decided to ignore. Great finish from Martinelli for the winner though. Shame about Trossard's goal being ruled out. Was a great hit. Not sure if it was the right decision either. Very soft. 3 points in the bag though.
Reluctant Striker Posted February 25, 2023 Posted February 25, 2023 On face value of the result, Arsenal should be content with any win at Leicester. I do feel Leicester's win at Villa Park was more emphatic. They are still more than capable of returning to their form of recent seasons. Certainly a very strong side for 14th.
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