coalman

Steady on. No wonder Russ is so frustrated with the fans' unrealistic expectations

It's games that are close like these we really miss Jack Stephens' ability to step up and get the kind of senseless red card that gives the bearded excuse monkey his out.

I've gone from watching the match to reloading Saintsweb on my way to the pantomime. Quality of life improvements beyond belief.

If we can just hang in there we can play out the kind of result that gets everyone a hug. Apart from Joe. He put his laces through it.

The referee has 30 minutes to make a decision which allows Martin to bemoan his bad luck. Need to see something from the officials here or the post match interview might come off as self serving bollocks.

Oh well at least Watkins won't have a point to prove here

Christ, we're so brave. I'm tearing up here.

That would require shooting AND hitting the target. Neither of which we've managed.

We're going to score straight after half time and Villa's heads will drop. Trust the process.

That's not fair. We're comfortably the worst coached team in any of the top leagues in Europe.

I love the way we neutralised Villa's half time team talk by offering no threat to any goal except our own.

No hug for Joe. TayTay is getting his portion.

Spurs need some Christmas spirit next eeek

Come on TayTay tell us again how the tactics are working and that this is what the players want.

Best in Europe at creating goals

It's only matter of time before we gift them another goal

Yet strangely also forget to play any central midfielders who can tackle.

Or, what's more likely, a crushing 3-0 loss and RM to stay in job for the coming weeks.

I'd play 451 - Downes and Aribo in central mid with Fernandes just ahead of them

Our central midfield looks lacking (again). Just Downes and Fernandes (who should be higher up the pitch)

Lallana. No real running required and he'll get plenty of touches of the ball so we get to use his quality. Plus, with his physical presence we'll be able to dominate any crosses that come into our box.

If we'd failed to field a team for any game this season and copped the automatic 3-0 defeat each game, our points difference would only be 5 less, goals against only 12 worse and our goal difference only 23 worse. Which is a good marker for how much better Russball is than not bothering to show up at all.

Only if he got Dragan's cash without Rasmus's dumbfuckery

He's got to play us next weekend which will buy him some time to turn things around and play his team into form.

Translation: "It's great that there are teams playing losing football because it makes my job easier." I'm not sure Emery was being complimentary by saying that. He just needed something positive sounding yet ambiguous.