Saint Charlie

No Wanyama in the training video from what I noticed. Doesn't mean he won't play, maybe just extra recovery time from Wednesday.

Glad Koeman has recognised the significance of the game, hopefully our players will be well aware of it too.

As long as the players realise that AFCB will be bang on it and that it does mean something to their fans then we will be fine. Downplaying it too much is complacent IMO. Its not Pompey of course, but it IS different to other PL games we will play this season.

Fans abuse players then can't take a bit of water squirting near them. Absolutely pathetic and I hope they felt embarassed when he ended up not playing a few games and we suffered for it. Hope he does it again if he plays tbh.

Svensson was not much better than average for us though, in reality.

Should be a good reception for both, certainly Surman. Boruc will probably be booed, mainly by those mindless idiots in the Chapel who almost got us relegated the season they goaded Boruc, by miles our best keeper then, into a suspension - leading to another hapless Gazza/KD episode that cost us points. As we well know, Boruc, for all his weirdness, is a good keeper and capable of some excellent saves.

I'm sure as this is the modern day Boruc will get lots of booing towards him, but for me he should get a decent reception. Was a good keeper in some of our best PL years ever. No hard feeling at him wanting to leave when we so clearly labelled Forster as the no1 no matter what.

Think it was actually Romeu for the first. But certainly not a Villa misplaced pass.

Indeed. Key is to stop Ritchie getting good sights of goal on his left foot. Also realising that they will be bang up for it and despite what the belittlers say, it isn't just another game, there is an added spice which the players will need to be expecting. Fast start ideal as they have conceded a lot of late.

I was agreeing with you. It is a little odd.

Apart from the inaacuracies of the second paragraph: For 50 minutes in this game Villa were solid and stable. They probably just edged it as the Saints were slow and laboured. But then within seconds they found themselves behind. A misplaced pass left Jordan Amavi in trouble and Yoshida intercepted, played a one-two with James Ward-Prowse, then slammed past Brad Guzan, From that moment there was no way back for the away side. 1. It was a Davis pass, not a Villa misplaced pass. 2. The one two was with Ramirez. Also says JWP passed to Tadic for the second goal but it was Davis.

Villa did sell out though in this case.

Norwich was his best game for the club IMO as he put himself about more. However they did play with 10 men for 60 minutes.

Can't recall a single creative pass, good run, shot, tackle, interception myself. He has good technique but just never influences games from open play. Game of opinions. Davis miles better suited to that more advanced role. Noticeable we were miles better when he came on.

Fairly good at what? Keeping possession (mostly passing back to the person who passed to him) and putting in good set plays. But in his position as the more advanced player you need more than that to stay in the side IMO. As he offers little defensively, if he also offers little going forward despite playing in an advanced position then his role is what exactly?

Also agree. Definitely in no way a no10, especially when supporting a striker with no pace. Same issue as always with JWP, good technique but fills a space rather than ever really adding to the performance. Will he ever kick on? Is quite an experienced player for his age, but his obvious limitations, mostly physical, hold him back a lot. Targett also lacks that yard which will sustain him as a PL player, offers next to nothing going forward and susceptible to anyone with pace going forward.

Tough draw, but winnable. Certainly will need the strongest team, no rotation.

First half dire. Second better. From now to progress we need to pick our strongest team, Villa luckily were ****e. Tadic and Davis made a massive difference when they came on. Ramirez was decent, Juanmi looks like an off the shoulder striker rather than creative player. JWP extremely ineffective and surely the experiment of him being a no10 should be over by now?!

At least one of Juanmi and Ramirez will need to have a good game for us to win. Interesting Reed doesn't even get on the bench in this competition. He needs a loan.

Villa team iffy but their bench much stronger than ours.

Not a first choice team but all good players. Will be an even game IMO.

Boruc versus Norwich was a good penalty save in isolation.

I don't think Long or Jay will be back for Sunday from what RK has said.

Javi de Pedro?

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/oct/24/manchester-city-united-youth-policy This I thought was very interesting on the City Academy. Obviously gathering a lot of good players, and many from the area. Whether they are good enough City is a different issue, but some of those results are eye-catching.