major events
Triple change for villa, Barkley, Rodgers and Digne were replaced by Luiz, Matsen and Buendia. And almost immediately, Buendia cut out a pass that went into the path of Watkins who, perhaps coincidentally, sent a shot flying over the bar.
Sunderland counter and, when Diarra attacks through the inside-left channel and squares to Brobby, Udogi really did a good job of pushing him out of the way, and preventing a potentially match-winning goal in the process.
“That push from Brobbie probably wasn’t the booking,” “But he knew exactly what he was doing and it was a dirty, dirty game,” Richard emails Coupe.
Harsh, I think – it was an attempt to deceive the referee, but I don’t think he thought anyone would get hurt.
Kari Tulinius believes, “After the goal was deflected De Zerbi gave a look that said: ‘So this is how to manage Spurs’.” “I can see what he’s trying to do with Tottenham, prolonging the game, creating space and attacking quickly, but players still have to think before they do it. There’s not much time to add muscle to that skeleton.”
Yes, this is a complicated matter. At this point, the ideal is probably a vibes manager, not a systems manager, but the board probably thinks De Zerbi can do the job permanently, so have gone to him on that basis, hoping to stay up and assuming, if they don’t, under him, there’s a better chance for them to get straight back in again.
Oh man, Romero won’t be able to continue and he’s leaving the pitch with tears in his eyes. It didn’t seem like a bad injury – a dead-leg type of thing – but he wanted to be on the pitch, and now he’s not, replaced by Denso.
The great Rob Smith battle is going on between Chelsea vs Man City…
Villa are on the attack in nottingham, Sales hits a cross which falls well into the path of Rodgers… who sends his shot over the bar.
Oh my God, Brobby follows because Romero wants to get back to Kinski, There’s a slight push from the striker and a collision ensues, with Romero firing over the keeper’s head. De Zerbi wants a second yellow for Brobby but the referee doesn’t show one, and there is a long pause while both Spurs players are given treatment.
De Zerbi was preparing a triple change, which he does after the goal: Tell, Sarr and Palinha replace Gray, Bergvall and Richardson.
Target Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Mukiele 61)
And there it is! Mukiele took the ball from Sadiki, who moved down the right side as a decoy, causing his full-back to turn infield, beat the nearest defender, and hit a shot that looked inside the near post, only for Van de Ven to extend a leg and deflect the effort into the far post, leaving Kinski stranded. This feels like a key moment in the season…
As they did in the first half, Spurs found Richarlison stretching down the left, and then, his finish composed, passed straight to Roafes. I think De Zerbi needs to do something, because his team looks impotent, while Sunderland is more dangerous.
We may have a new entry in my list of players for whom I will struggle the most in the eleven: Brian Brobbey is pushing for Antonio Rudiger to be included in the team.
Sunderland got off to a slow start to the second half, with neither side threatening. I wonder if De Zerbi might take a gamble and try Simmons, as his side are seriously lacking finesse, invention and quality.
Watkins goes to the line and Williams moves to block; There is no contact but both have hurt themselves and after a pause, both feel okay to continue.
Tielemans was caught trying to play outside and Jesus passed through the centre, When he could have continued waving at the top, he opted to shoot from the side. Villa will know that they have got away with one.
Benjamin Gravestock believes, “No news, but Villa are much better with Tielemans in that midfield unit.” “Makes all the players around him better, too.
Villa were properly, properly, sucker-punched – Forest weren’t showing much at the time. Bizot is a fairly solid ‘keeper, but if MartÃnez is going to get worse physically – this recurring back issue appears to be more recurring – I’m not sure he’s ever going to reach the heights he once did and Bizot hasn’t performed well enough to convince me that he has the potential to be the number one. 1.
Was very pleased to see the link with James Trafford in the summer and thought he would have a good chance to be the main man next season, but my football supporter friends think he will stay because Pep sees him as ‘the future’. Given that Donnarumma has a lot in store for the future, I think Trafford/Villa would be an excellent match.
I hope we can progress in the second half; Villa need to score a run after missing out for a long time in the Ber-Teleginmar-A triangle (sorry).
Yes, agree on Bizot, and Donnarumma isn’t going anywhere, I shouldn’t think – at 27, he could easily play another decade at the same level. Trafford are also too good to wait, so I would be surprised if he doesn’t make a visit again this summer.
Forest finished the first half strongly and have made a good start to the second half as well. Hudson-Odoi crosses towards the far post and Igor Jesus is on top… but, under pressure, he dips low and heads wide of the near post.
Here we go again…
Righto, I’m going to restart my computer in hopes that will improve matters – Currently, I’m watching Sunderland on my laptop and Forest on my phone, with no games allowed on my main screen.
half time score
Crystal Palace 0-1 Newcastle United
nottingham forest 1-1 aston villa
Sunderland 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Udogi goes down from the left and someone, O’Nien, I think, slides in to make the stop but leaves the ball there for Solanke – it’s a chance – but the finish is a bit hasty, sidefooted heavily and Ruffs is allowed to block when the dink probably means 1-0.
We’re in extra time and, when Sunderland put the ball into the box from a free-kick and the flick-on falls into the path of Brobby, Kinski moved out early and well to block a punched shot, Mukiele hit a follow-up to the body of Gallagher.
And here it comes, Osula is slipping while chasing a low cross from Miley, looking like he might score with his buttocks before adjusting his feet, squeezing football-style and, from a sitting position, flicking. It sounds simple, but it’s excellent improvisation.
Target Crystal Palace 0-1 Newcastle United (Osula 43)
The man brought in today puts Newcastle in front; Hopefully the target will be shown properly to us soon.
“It’s a strange world, Daniel,” writes Stephen O’Sullivan. “I’m actually seeing the Palace V toon clear like a bell here in Kuala Lumpur. The Palace is just a little bit off the lead.”
Isn’t that enough? I am afraid that my new internet connection is much better and faster than the replaced internet connection so they told me, it is actually not the case.
Target Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa (Williams 38)
Forest moves down the right and, when Hutchinson crosses, Hudson-Odoi drops back for Williams, who takes responsibility and, shaped to shoot for the far corner, instead pulls a low shot through McGinn’s legs and inside from close, Solskjaer-style; It’s a great finish and we’re on par.
…then breaks it from above.
…He also takes his time in preparing himself…
I’m sure Xhaka loves it…
It’s a really tight game at the Stadium of Light, but Sunderland have the upper hand, with Brobby’s physicality and nose causing problems for Spurs’ centre-backs. And, as I type, he fouls Van de Ven, which turns into a yellow card for dissent, and his team now has a free-kick on the edge of the box, just right of center.
more importantly, Why doesn’t Brobby have a song for this?
Broby battles for the ball with Poro, eventually elbowing Coupons. So Porro goes down, as anyone might – now that you ask, obviously I would have ruled it out myself – and the referee shows a yellow card. This is absolutely the right call; I can’t pretend I don’t suspect Brobby’s intentions, but it was more of a strike than a swing, so there’s just enough ambiguity to keep it 11 vs. 11.
O’Nien’s throw-in gives Sunderland the winAnd when the ball is only half-way, it falls to Xhaka’s laces on the edge of the box, right of centre… and he connects beautifully, his shot fractionally wide.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chris Wood come on for Forest at half-time – Currently, they lack box presence, constantly moving the ball around but having no one to shoot or play to.
At Selhurst, it’s still Palace 0-0 Newcastle, But the sad thing is that I am not allowed to watch the game at the moment. Hopefully the half-time turn-off-on will sort things out.
Come here again to the villa, Again a pass was thrown to Rodgers, who turned around the corner and through the middle into the path of Watkins. The first touch is heavy, but works well, provoking sales to come out… only to end right after post.
No penalty for Spurs!
It seemed inevitable. Alderete won the ball, so no foul was called, and you almost feel for the referee, having to explain to the crowd that he completely misinterpreted what he saw.
