[Escobar]

The team picks itself, Varane in for Licha.

I think we can win this, they’re not going to play a low block at home and we can pick them off on the counter attack. Another positive from the West Ham is that Onana is starting to look like a competent keeper.

2-0 United

Agreed. Obvious line up for me

 

[red_de_pologne]

Shaw at LCB please.

No thanks if it means Lindelof at LB

 

[Havak]

I think we can win this, but I also wouldn't be surprised if we down tools again and get well beaten in a stinker (even if not necessarily by the scoreline).

I think we need to win this game if we have aspirations of 4th/5th. Only remaining chance to take points off a team we can catch. I'll be surprised if we overtake both Spurs & Villa unless this glimmer of form turns into a solid run.

Bottom line is I think we need to win this game for the latter to happen.

 

[Chumpsbechumps]

I think we can win this, but I also wouldn't be surprised if we down tools again and get well beaten in a stinker (even if not necessarily by the scoreline).

I think we need to win this game if we have aspirations of 4th/5th. Only remaining chance to take points off a team we can catch. I'll be surprised if we overtake both Spurs & Villa unless this glimmer of form turns into a solid run.

Bottom line is I think we need to win this game for the latter to happen.

I don’t think this team has downed tools to be fair. There’s been so many interruptions we haven’t had a chance to build up momentum. I mean when Ole and Jose were at the end, you could see there was no coming back.

I don’t see that yet with ETH. Last few games, with players back there have been improvements. If we beat Villa it’s a clear sign the players don’t have an issue or concerns with the manager.

 

[Bertie Wooster]

I think we can win this, but I also wouldn't be surprised if we down tools again and get well beaten in a stinker (even if not necessarily by the scoreline).

I think we need to win this game if we have aspirations of 4th/5th. Only remaining chance to take points off a team we can catch. I'll be surprised if we overtake both Spurs & Villa unless this glimmer of form turns into a solid run.

Bottom line is I think we need to win this game for the latter to happen.

It's a really hard game so I don't think a draw there would be a bad result at all.

Though, with an even harder away game at Man City on the horizon, then it would make the four more winnable games either side of City 'must wins' in terms of still getting 4th or 5th position.

I'd say 13 points from the next six would be great, given that two are away at Villa and City. So a draw away at Villa would be fine, but then puts huge pressure on all our very winnable home games, and a tricky away match at Luton, as 'must wins' if we're to look at 4th or 5th position.

 

[rooney2009]

This could easily end up as 5-4, both teams have pacy attackers and Villa play a high line so should suit us.

 

[Lemon Moon]

Evans over Maguire

Harry absolutely craps himself in possession. Evans also more natural playing LCB for me.

 

[Pronewbie]

A must-win match for our top 4 aspirations. Martinez's ball playing skills would have been perfect.

 

[MonkeysMagic]

We are scoring goals, which is a positive. But conceding far too many chances and better teams will punish you, so can see this being a 3-2 to us or 4-2 to them!

 

[Red00012]

Can see a lot of goals in this . We were lucky West Ham couldn’t finish anything Sunday. Varane for Martinez is the only change that is needed.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

So what's wrong with what I said ?

Just think equating it to Anfield is a bit much

 

[Buster15]

Same lineup but Evans in for Licha for me.

I would say Varane.

 

[USREDEVIL]

Casameiro gonna have to play well for us to win this. Cover the defenders and make solid through passes.

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

Casameiro gonna have to play well for us to win this. Cover the defenders and make solid through passes.

We need to strengthen the midfield our 2 pit bulls in Casi & Amra

 

[tomaldinho1]

We need to strengthen the midfield our 2 pit bulls in Casi & Amra

Them pit bulls been enjoying too many treats

 

[kouroux]

Just think equating it to Anfield is a bit much

I didn't but that's how you understood it

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I would say Varane.

Yeah it has to be Varane, he's the best box defender we have.

 

[Ayoba]

Fair to say this game will make or break our season. Lose, and we're out of the top 4/5 race. Win and we have half a chance of getting into the CL.

 

[erikcred]

Fair to say this game will make or break our season. Lose, and we're out of the top 4/5 race. Win and we have half a chance of getting into the CL.

If we draw?

 

[Ayoba]

If we draw?

Yes. We can also draw.

 

[Chumpsbechumps]

Yes. We can also draw.

A draw would be bad in so much as where we are coming from, but its a good result in general. But I kind of agree, I feel we need to win it when you look at some of the permatations.

I think Villa and Spurs are vulnerable. I think 70-75 points is enough to get top 5. That means we need to get 32-37 points from 15 games (45). We can afford to drop 8 - 13 points depending on Villa/Spurs. We basically cant afford any slip ups againts any teams "we should beat".

Ideally we win at Villa, and the two league games before city. After city there is another bunch of winnable games but we really dont want to be any further off then we are now after the city game.

Spurs actually have a handy run of league games until End of April when they play Liverpool, Arsenal and City in a row. If we are anywhere near them by end of April we could pip them.

We will very likely drop points to City, Pool, Arsenal which really leaves only one more game. So for me we need to win at least 11 of our final 15 games. Its a big ask, but doable if we can find form.

 

[Utd heap]

A draw would be bad in so much as where we are coming from, but its a good result in general. But I kind of agree, I feel we need to win it when you look at some of the permatations.

I think Villa and Spurs are vulnerable. I think 70-75 points is enough to get top 5. That means we need to get 32-37 points from 15 games (45). We can afford to drop 8 - 13 points depending on Villa/Spurs. We basically cant afford any slip ups againts any teams "we should beat".

Ideally we win at Villa, and the two league games before city. After city there is another bunch of winnable games but we really dont want to be any further off then we are now after the city game.

Spurs actually have a handy run of league games until End of April when they play Liverpool, Arsenal and City in a row. If we are anywhere near them by end of April we could pip them.

We will very likely drop points to City, Pool, Arsenal which really leaves only one more game. So for me we need to win at least 11 of our final 15 games. Its a big ask, but doable if we can find form.

It's always really tempting to forecast what games we need to win / where we will likely drop points.

But it's pretty much always proven wrong. We'll win at City and lose to luton etc.

Not losing at Villa does seem pretty big in terms of catching them though.

 

[redcucumber]

I cannot believe Coufal injured Martinez in his first proper game back ffs. What are the cnuting chances.

 

[Chaky_Best]

If it was last year, I would say that we should park the bus. Issue is that this year we can't defend as a unit for 90 minutes, so we also need to attack.

I am afraid of this game as usually Emery gives us a real hard time.

 

[Mike Smalling]

I hope Aston Villa get +120 minutes of grueling FA Cup action tonight. Maybe with a few red cards as well.

 

[Sassy Colin]

The good news is that we've finally worked out how to score goals. So, Onana might throw a couple in his own net, but I feel reasonably confident we can score 3.

 

[soapythecat]

If we play anything like we have of late, we will score but concede more. We've got away with it as teams haven't been clinical - Villa could really hurt us if they have their shooting boots on. Predicting the correct scoreline is proper bone throwing stuff!

 

[DJ_21]

If we play anything like we have of late, we will score but concede more. We've got away with it as teams haven't been clinical - Villa could really hurt us if they have their shooting boots on. Predicting the correct scoreline is proper bone throwing stuff!

We need the performance like the 1st half against wolves to be consistent. Wouldn’t say West Ham threatened us at all. They had more than halve there shots outside the area.

 

[Gordon S]

Villa with their shooting boots on - our inability to defend- Onana being Onana- our young guns kicking into gear vs Villas high line..
The game is going to end up with double digits on both sides.

 

[GregM40]

Villa have a couple of key injuries, namely Konsa and potentially Pau Torres, but he could be back for this, just.

Martinez a huge blow for us, I'd be confident with him in the team, but we are still able to get a result here with our forward line finally clicking.

 

[buckooo1978]

hoping Chelsea run them hard tonight

pivotal game for rest of season

if we fall 11 points behind we can forget 5th place

 

[erikcred]

Villa with their shooting boots on - our inability to defend- Onana being Onana- our young guns kicking into gear vs Villas high line..
The game is going to end up with double digits on both sides.

We're on a clean sheet streak.

 

[next_number_seven]

hoping Chelsea run them hard tonight

pivotal game for rest of season

if we fall 11 points behind we can forget 5th place

How likely is it that 5th will result in a CL place?

 

[Nicolarra90]

I'd take a point of offered now - a win would be absolutely huge - especially as we'll be without Licha. Also a good performance might show the other Martinez (Emmy) that he should be replacing our latest clown keeper

Replacing a clown with a bigger clown

 

[Chumpsbechumps]

Villa struggling tonight

Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing for Sunday

 

[JustinC00]

IDK think decent chance we can go there and get a W. Villa been kind of meh at home their last 4 home matches. Drew 1-1 with Sheffield, got beat by Newcastle by 2 goals. Went down 2-1 to 10 man Burnley and needed a 90th min penalty to get the 3 points and now they are down 0-2 within 20 minutes to Chelsea as I type this.

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

Villa struggling tonight

Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing for Sunday

I hope we at least outrun them

 

[JustinC00]

Villa struggling tonight

Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing for Sunday

Villa been struggling since before Christmas.

Drew at home to Sheffield
Lost to Us
Scrapped by Burnley at home (Burnley had 10 men for 35 minutes and Villa got a 90th min penalty)
Barely scrapped by Middlesbrough 1-0
Drew with Everton
Drew with Chelsea (forcing a replay)
Lost at home to Newcastle 1-3
Now down to Chelsea 0-2 as we type.

 

[mav_9me]

Villa been struggling since before Christmas.

Drew at home to Sheffield
Lost to Us
Beat Burnley (but Burnley had 10 men for 35 minutes and Villa got a 90th min penalty)
Barely scrapped by Middlesbrough 1-0
Drew with Everton
Drew with Chelsea (forcing a replay)
Lost to Newcastle 1-3
Now down to Chelsea 0-2 as we type.

Good observations.

Definitely tailing off as the season gets busier

 

[cyberman]

I can’t see why they’d suddenly shut up shop and not leave the space they’ve been doing for weeks now.
we can’t have a day of missing can’t miss chances. It’ll kill us