The Fish

I've got to stop being a pussy by always predicting we'll concede.

I had been convinced that the Championship was much stronger this time round, but this is like Accadacca all over again. There are still some decent sides in this league, but honestly, there are some absolute shite. We put 6 past QPR at their place, what are we capable of doing to Leeds, Preston or Burton Albion at St James'? Thing is, when Shelvey is rotated/injured I trust in Rafa to modify our approach so that his absence isn't disastrous. I'd imagine Diame would be given more license to attack and he'd carry the ball rather than launching it forward. Apparently Hayden was pinging the ball about too, so perhaps he can help out? Fucking Hell this is brilliant, isn't it?

I was hoping to see Yedlin start at least. Perch isn't quick at all and Yedlin's pace would terrify him.

Lazaar, Yedlin, Gamez still not getting ahead of Anita and Dummett? Don't understand that line up and can only think Mbemba and Diame have picked up knocks/being rested.

To be fair, they didn't specify which table they would expect to be in the middle of.

Look, I think we can all agree I'm having a nightmare. So lets brush it under the carpet and move on, deal?

Didn't mean point, meant... I dunno, it made me laugh. Fuck the pair of you, I'm tired. The point is that Moyes had a top striker when he was at Everton, in Lukaku.

I think Rafa said as much. The plan was to keep the ball in the corner, then Shelvey saw Perez and Yedlin's movement.

They've played all of the bottom 3 teams at home (Leeds, Preston, Blackburn) and only taken 4 points from them. They've picked up two wins on the road, at Wigan (22nd) and Cardiff (18th). Their home form is pretty bad, 17th overall, and our away form is decent (5th). We've only failed to score in 1 game and have kept a clean sheet since Reading got a penalty in the 45th minute (4 1/2 games). Loftus Road's pitch is reportedly pretty small which should play to our defensive strengths. We're in stride without playing particularly brilliantly, so this could be another "professional" performance, or QPR's debutants may want to put on a performance. All of this points to a 1-0 win... Which is why there's no way I'm putting money on that

Just listened to the Football Ramble and one of them made a good point; 'Moyes said he'd have won the league at Everton if he'd had a top striker. Well Romelu Lukaku just put three past sunderland last night, there's your top striker you mug'

Well, on your head be it.

No. wrong. They're beige cunts.

What if he can't be arsed uninstalling and reinstalling?

You're better off trying twitter mate.

I'd love for us and someone like Huddersfield or Derby to go up automatically and Villa to lose out in the playoff semis. In front of 20k "fans".

Was that one quality striker Yahweh?

I'm 50/50 on Lazaar, and I think Yedlin will usurp Anita as 1st choice RB, but I honestly don't expect Atsu to nail down a starting place. Especially if he's played on front of an attacking fullback like Yedlin.

Does mean they'd be able to look at the Championship sides and buy their best players for £5-£10m without breaking the bank too badly though.

Yeah, even if the promoted sides go back down, they go down with all that lovely TV money plus whomever they managed to secure on deals for this season. Viktor Fischer in the Championship? Jesus...

To be honest I expect all of them to be used sparingly, more so than Yedlin. Murphy is a Mitrovic substitute, Lazaar may be too attacking for away days or home games against top teams, Atsu is surely an attacking substitute when we want to stretch games?

Huddersfield are playing well, but man for man, we're the best side. The energy levels required for that style of play are incredible and I'm not sure if they'll be able to maintain it, especially when teams get wise to it and deliberately wear them out in the first half with possession across the defensive lines and ranging passes down the flanks. Another point on RDM, I don't think he's operated under this amount of pressure before. As has been said, the Chelsea team picked (and managed) itself, and the expectations at West Brom were go for promotion, but at Villa... Xia doesn't just want to win the league, he wants to do it in style and isn't afraid of going online to voice his displeasure, the fans expect the title and good football because they're Villa. They've made a couple of big signings and a couple of good signings, but marquee players don't win you the Championship, a team does and Aston Villa are not a team at the minute. Mental isn't it, they should have bought strength in depth throughout their squad, instead they've spunked a fortune on a couple of strikers and centre backs. £23m on two championship strikers, neither of whom are up and coming. In fact, only 2 of the players they've bought are under 26, so when the season is over, up or not, their squad's average age will be 27 and the majority aren't going to be good enough for the Premier League and so another overhaul will surely be required, will Xia really be happy putting his hand in his pocket to the tune of £50m again?

Think with the games coming so quickly Rafa will rotate the squad for QPR and that's why we didn't see the likes of Hayden, Mitrovic, Atsu, Clark, Lazaar.

Di Matteo doesn't strike me as the man to foster a sense of togetherness when one isn't already apparent, either. The longer the slow start lingers, the greater effort it's going to take to get going, no? Who're their next games? Brentford at home. The Bees have 3 wins and a draw, they've done ok against traditionally fancied sides too. Ipswich away. McCarthy's sides are usually well drilled but look softer this year. Mind you they're unbeaten at home. Newcastle at home. We're comfortably the best side in the division thus far, but we still set up to grind out a result and with their strike force, we may invite more pressure than we can handle? Barnsley away - Tykes going great guns at the moment, but haven't had the toughest start. Point is, I can't see them winning 4 on the bounce to rapidly climb the table and with each passing fixture the ascent becomes steeper.

This is the internet, I don't imagine we'll run out of abusive language any time soon, you scat-worshipping ferret-cocked cuckold.

2-1 to the cocksnot snorters