Ronnie Whelan

My only hope with Villa is if they are in the final of the Conference League, they might rest players. I just don't see us winning there. Even when we were playing well, I was very nervous about it. Watkins is a lovely player, but they have numerous players I really like and Emery is a very good manager. Still, I don't think it's quite done yet. If we do win our five games, I'd give us a 30% percent chance, because if say City draw a game, it's then goal difference between us and them and I think Arsenal will draw with Spurs. That's why we do need to keep an eye on goal difference, because while Arsenal are out of sight, not beyond the realms of possibility that it does come down to it with City. Would be nice if we were the ones getting a moment go our way in a title race for a change like Brighton taking points off City or the Mancs doing Arsenal (yeah I know I know).

Villa is the dodgy one for me. I think if we win the five games we have a huge chance because I think Spurs will take points of one, but possibly both Arsenal and City.

I'm guessing he'll play rather than me madly wanting him to play. The last few weeks have shown he doesn't have it in him to play at an elite club chasing the biggest trophies. Before it, you could see moments of brilliance and plenty of raw ability. I had a soft spot for him and was thinking he might just make it as a top player because he seems likeable and is entertaining. He doesn't - his level is "very good" player at West Ham who you see in moments in games or match of the day and you think oh yeah that fella is handy. It's different being at a club where every game may decide winning a title which by and large is where he have been at over the past few years. Having said that, I do think he has it in him to smash in a load of goals in a purple patch, so hopefully that's in the next five games. Even though he looks full of confidence, I actually think he's a real confidence player and despite his presentation, he's lacking it. Mo is the polar opposite regarding confidence. I never get the sense with Mo, he's lacking it. I actually just think he's looking past it as an elite player. Having said that, I wouldn't bet against him making a difference in the coming weeks. Anyhow, whoever it is, really has to step up with Diogo out for a few games.

Gutted to be honest. He's a world class player and he is pretty much guaranteed goals when he plays. Mo really needs to step up. I'm just hoping Nunez gets a goal and gets his confidence up - he's one of those that could go on a little run of being unplayable and it would be a good time for him to hit a purple patch. I wouldn't be selling Diogo personally. Possibly could have been rushed back here - if he was I understand why.

I'm very worried about Villa. Very good side and as has been said Watkins is one of the best players in the league. Hopefully, they are in a European final and have their eyes on other things. Spurs are a funny one - they can be top class or shite. They could take points off all three of us. West Ham are playing very bad, but the timing is horrible. I think we'll beat the blueshite but it will be a battle. City have nasty games. I don't expect them to drop more than 2 points but you never know. I have Arsenal dropping 2-3 points, but you never know we might get a surprise and they lose more. It was nice to look more like a decent side yesterday. Not perfect, but a good win against a pretty good side away from home.

Not perfect but nice that we look like a proper team again. I thought Gakpo was good and Diogo was Diogo. If we win all of our remaining games, we have a decent chance.

If we win there, it will give us a boost which might stand to us. If we overcome the three goal deficit, it means most likely that we have solved a huge amount of the issues that have impacted us recently - shite defending and shite finishing. You know what, I have this feeling, we could suddenly start playing well and that just shows how frail our players are mentally. The pressure was getting to them. No other reason for multiple games where multiple players were missing easy chances. They bottled it. Now it's essentially hope that City drop points which is very unlikely and we become a functional team again. Even before the last few weeks, I had us drawing at Villa, so that shows the enormity of what is in front of us in the league. Virgil has really pissed me off over the past few games. I've no doubt Bob would have bombed him out in the summer if it was his era and with a new manager coming in, it will be interesting what happens. He's been admiring himself over the past few weeks and I don't see too much leadership from him. Robbo is clearly not the player he was, but fuck me his attitude was brilliant yesterday. Unless Virgil gets a grip and has a good look in the mirror, we haven't got a hope of getting results because he is essential in a Jurgen team. Right now, he looks about as far removed from imperious as you get.

The defence is getting off lightly imo, given how badly the attack has been. Virgil most of all. To be fair Robbo and Ali were very good today. I can accept Jota's miss. It's unlike him. The others though if you took them on a one of game, but it's multiple games where they are wasteful. A few days ago, I critiqued Haaland as being a great striker/mediocre player...what I wouldn't give for that right now. With the level of chances we create, any half decent finisher could get 30 goals. Mo is goosed. If we get a decent offer this summer, just take it. You see a player like Watkins and what he brings to Villa. He's consistently been top class for them. He might not be Mo of two years ago, but I'm very sure if we had a player like him (especially with Jota out in recent weeks), we'd be top of the league. Got to be honest Emery is a very good manager. If we haven't a deal boxed off for anyone, I'd be seriously tempted by him. He knows the league and that's an advantage. Yeah, he's not Jurgen, but who is.

Sorry my mistake!

Today is gigantic. For me, it's the performance as much as the result. If we play shite and win 2-1, for me it just tells me, we're most likely finishing third. If we play with confidence and swagger and take our chances, I'd be hopeful going into what will be a very tough fortnight of away games. It's all about the mindset. Last week, we played the occasion. On Thursday, we thought this shower are shite and got turned over because of our arrogance. We've seven cup finals left - six in the league and one in Italy. We need to knock this shite on the head. Spurs will take points of two of the three teams imo. Yesterday, was classic Spurs, but our game with them will be seriously hard. It'll be a horrible game for Arsenal at their place and they could do a number on City as well.

I was at the game on Thursday and it's rare I get to go these days. Got talking to a lovely Irish family who had got up at 2 in the morning to get a coach from Kerry to Dublin. They were then going straight back after the game to get a coach to Holyhead and back to Kerry. The kids were so excited and had learned a lot of the songs. The Dad told me they sacrificed a holiday abroad to come over because the kids were so mad for seeing a game and the travel companies over there are charging an arm and a leg. It's actually disgusting. It sounds like the company they went with get a lot of tickets from the club because about five coaches went over - must suit the club as tourists will spend in the club shop. You would have to respect the dedication of a lot of our foreign fans or those coming from places like Southampton, but the club seem to be marketing it as an "experience", which will impact the atmosphere, as you're more likely to get to understand the match day rituals by being around local Reds. If I ended up at a Boca game, I'm sure the local fans would think I'm a complete twat. I do feel it is like a Jurgen pilgrimage right now. Even I was thinking will it be the last time I see him managing us live.

We do have history against them...Aldo's final game!

Maybe I'm a romantic, but I have this feeling we are going to hit a team for six or seven in the remaining games. I always felt Luton keeping City to winning by 3 goals would be a decent result for us. A win by 4 isn't but I had this worry they would hit them for six or seven so not a horrible disaster. I think if we lose it, it will be because we fuck up at Villa or West Ham (could be nearly any game going on last Thursday) rather than goal difference, but ideally we hunt Arsenal down in terms of it and keep ahead of City.

He's a really good player in fairness. I can't say I've seen too much of him this year, but anytime I have he's looked very good.

He's an absolute twit that fella. You would swear Arsenal just needed to show up. Looking at the Bayern team, you had seasoned winners at all levels. Their best player has won fuck all, but is one of the best players in the world. Arsenal might get to that level in the coming years, but right now they are the very talented protender. Clueless gobshites. It's like the bafflement from the media when Kane went to Bayern, like he'd gone to a pub team. One of the great clubs of world football with a decent chance of winning a Champions League every year and they couldn't get over it.

Good post. From memory, West Ham don't play the night we play Everton which makes that a very tough Saturday game. It's funny though, even if Spurs had achieved their goal, I'd still worry about them and equally hold out hope for them against City. I have this hope Villa could do a number on Arsenal this weekend. A huge advantage we have is that we have numerous players coming back from injury at just the right time. Fair enough City will too but Arsenal have had a lot of luck in this regard.

Kane is such a beautiful player. I genuinely find it hard to dislike him. He'd be a revalation here. Bayern look good too. Arsenal have become a very good team, but I can't help but feel that they're still the level below elite and a lot of mediocre teams have made them look exceptional recently. That's why I have a hope they drop a few points in the next seven games. I actually love seeing Bayern and Real scoring but the best thing is they both get through if I'm being honest.

Hope you're right Dave!

Surely the practical thing would be to put the game in Croke Park, which is over 80k. I personally have no issue with cities like Dublin getting big games. It's bad enough that UEFA have dilluted competitions where so many countries either won't make it into group competition, or are also rans if they do, without letting them get the chance of the biggest games. Better than Paris with dickhead police and a huge population of people who are seriously on the margins and who see fans as a target. At least in Dublin, their scals are basically the same as ours. Uefa always fuck up the allocation. It's a story as old as time.

People need to forget about Alonso. He was a very good player here and became an outstanding one after he left us. Maybe he realises it's a bit of a poisoned challice coming here, but more likely he knows Ancelloti is leaving Real next year and that's the one he wants - not us or Bayern. I'm sure he likes us, no more than Suarez, Torres or Mascherano might, but if he really loves us, he'd come. He isn't so let's just move on. I know nothing about this guy, but he's tactically supposed to be very good.

Good post. My gut is we'll drop points at Villa Park. Think we'll edge Spurs in a high scoring and nervy game. I have this feeling we'll smash Everton, but West Ham will be a horrible game that we'll just get over the line. The others will be okay I feel. I have this feeling Spurs will take points off the other two. We may get another surprise as well like Villa drawing at Arsenal or City at Brighton. We just need to hope City don't batter Luton this weekend so they don't edge ahead on the goal difference.

A mate of mine from when I lived in London all them years ago is a Brighton season ticket holder. He adores him. Said the club and De Zerbi tried to manage his game time when he was belting the goals in, he lost momentum and has been picking up injuries here and there. Said his confidence is shot right now, but reckons he'll be top notch again in no time.

Yeah me too. It's a bit like the game yesterday where we could hammer them of a given day or we could stupidly drop points. Hopefully they use up a bit of energy before they play us. Wonder when that City-Spurs game will be re-arranged for?

That's exactly it. You can see nearly all four of the away games being tight affairs and he is one of the most clinical players in the game imo. I'm also worried about Spurs - they're genuinely a Russian Roulette team that can be shite or world class on a given day. I've no doubt they will take points off one of the three, but possibly all of us. Of course, without going back over previous points, if we create that level of chances in the coming games, there is a chance we could hit a team for six or seven. My best mate is an old school Blue and he actually said that to me this morning - he said our game with them could be like the Rush 5-0 game. Being honest, I'd taken any kind of three points there but we have a better chance of puting games to bed with Jota. I've no doubt if he was on the pitch against City, we would have won, while yesterday would have been over by half time.

Jota might lead us to the title. We create so much that any decent finisher will get goals. Jota is world class imo. We just need him to stay fit. I always felt that he would be crucial on his return and the last few games have highlighted our wastefullness and how a sharp shooter like him is going to make a difference. Him and Macca linking up is a beautiful thought.