There was a sports club over the road from the Rotterdam stadium open when the coach arrived early. Took sterling over the bar. A fifty a side kickabout v Bayern fans but most of us just enjoying sunshine and Dutch lager. Oh and I think there was a proper match later in the evening - lots of shouting and dancing anyway.HAHA I remember Highbury unfortunately Rotterdam was a blur I was drunk leaving Brierley Hill for the ferry and unfortunately I never recovered for the duration of the trip.
Anyone else not sleep.
I'm still in pinch-me mode :)
I made it by about 5, missed this morning completely - worth it thoughHalf 3 before i sloped off to bed pissed out me head
Surely this should be in the Really Interesting Thread?had to be up at 7.30am as we were having the fusebox moved.
Not yet mate I would love to see it as well, I think at times it was a 4,2,3,1 which is why Barkley had that freedom, and McGinn was sitting quite deep at times, which might explain why Liverpool found it troubling on the edge of our box, Although saying that Grealish and Trezeguet dropped quite deep at times and Barkley was still up there making it more of a 4,4,1,1.
How we played, how the players were moving around I absolutely loved it, the fact we were organised but players had the freedom to move in and out of different positions was impressive and I believe we really are working on something and it's starting to click.
Surely this should be in the Really Interesting Thread?
First thing is, he's got to get fit enough for 90mins at that pace and the second is that he'll have to learn to pass at the right time. Over to you Deano/Shaky - make him top class.Trezeguet might actually have something, Traore is going to have some job trying to oust that lad now.
Because now we have a forward line every team will fear Iv'e said this before somewhere but last season every team came to VP looking for a win except Burnley and thinking about it Newcastle but now the lesser teams will come and put a wall up.The better teams will still come expecting to win but we have the pace now to get behind these teams.
Trezeguet might actually have something, Traore is going to have some job trying to oust that lad now.
I thought he was the difference back in his correct position battling and scrapping not trying to be a no8 where he doesn't cut it.
I said earlier in the week I see Barkley playing no8 and SJM taking over from the wand as SJM has the all-round game that you know who will never have
Yep going to be interesting isn't itAs I mentioned last night - nobody is likely to try and play a high line against us for the rest of the season so that will immediately nullify at least some of our new found prowess up front.
We'll have more time and space in midfield because of that, however, so perhaps the requirement will be less about pace and running with the ball and more on quality passing to leverage that pace against people who are sitting back more.
I still think that suggests that you-know-who could play a part in that respect and provide more competition, and cover, for our midfield generals - let's see if anything turns up over the next fortnight.
Yup - you called that one right mate so respect - I remembered what you'd said and noticed straight from the kick off that's where SJM was planted.
I think he still has room to improve defensively if Deano starts playing him in a 4,2,3,1, Unfortunately I cannot load the video clips on here after I've slow mode them down, But better positioning and Liverpool wouldn't of had them 2 goals.
Not taking anything away from the result, but we need to still look at where it went wrong and how we can improve on that for next time, Totally different position for him last night, Worked really hard and was all over the pitch.
He did lose possession more than any other Villa player 17, and the only player to lose possession more was Robinson for Liverpool.
Passing accuracy was poor at 58% 18/31
So wasn't a MotM performace for me, and has room to improve in his new role but with that beautiful assist best of the match and a good goal, you have to give him an 8/10.
I've always liked SJM but that's my unbiased opinion.