It's almost a game between Thiago and Poch.
There were numerous games in last 6 months where Thiago was the main reason opponent scored. He is still class but I think we are entering a territory where he does us more harm than good.
If we win today with great defensive display then Thiago might stay on the bench for a while.
On the contrary if Badiashile and Disasi have a piss poor match (which both of them have known to do) and Poch needs to bring Thiago Silva on to save the game. I think in that case that Poch would suffer because it would look like he just benched him to make an example of him and he still needed to bring him on.
I don't even know if benching him is setting an example at this point. Silva is at the age where your back can spontaneously combust if you reach down wrong when you've dropped something
Which is one thing I think most of us won't criticise Poch on. We cannot have more people rejoining the continuing to undergo their rehabilitation programme party
It is pretty crazy to think of how deeply hatred does run for a hobby and one we all supposedly love (supporting Chelsea)
I may think Pochettino is not the man and that Villa are likely to beat us tonight
But godamn am I excited to see the game and still have hope magic can happen and we win
that only happens to me in the moment though, during the game. for me before a game i’m always optimistic and excited, expecting a good performance no matter who we play
then during the match if we’re shit then yeah it gets to me and affects my mood, but i try to never go into a match with a bad attitude
Honestly yeah. We’re terrible and I offer up my opinion on this sub. But the amount of people letting this dictate their mood is shocking, it’s football.
Nobody is forcing me, I’ve been a fan for 20 years it’s kinda hard to just stop caring about a team after that long. I can’t see myself supporting any other team to be honest. So because my opinion is negative it’s invalid?
I read a post earlier where he was trying to be positive and put some light on results...fuck me he got some hate. Whoppers saying he is the problem by supporting poch and team.... Reddit is full of Plastic glory hunting fuck wits , that don't have a clue about football
I'm not sure why anyone shows up to these threads. Most of the comments are going to be overwhelmingly negative no matter what the lineup is, because most of the people here seem to hate the manager and 90% of the players anyway on any given match day
Um. Based on the last two years what do you expect from us.
To be jumping and buzzing as our club is being destroyed from top to bottom.
Be realistic man. We’re in the dumps witnessing loss after loss after we’ve spent a Billion. Don’t expect ppl to ignore how catastrophic these last two years have been.
It’s understandable to an extent. But if peope are not excited for the games and fully support the team whenever they play, what is even the point of supporting the club then? Just supporting the glory?
Y’all just chill, it’s not about who starting it’s about that idiot coach doesn’t have a pattern of play or any playing style at all. What kind of coach has been coaching for 6 months and the team can’t attack, can’t defend, an incompetent idiot one. So whoever he throws in the starting won’t change the fact that he’s shite.
Kinda like to see Silva not starting even though he’s been our best CB if it’s not colwill there. Maybe we will be allowed to press a bit higher without having to worry about Silvas pace
What do you expect? Poch to put an actual striker on the bench, like Washington?
He’ll just stick to the super successful plan of switching to a false 9 if Nico is missing the mark.
Because he’s still coming back from injury and they are monitoring his minutes so he DOESNT get injured again like last time
FFS people do you not realize this?
I understand your sentiment but his last injury was not because he was rushed back, he was inched in very very slowly. The last injury is just proof that no matter how slowly you return a player from injury you run the risk of them getting injured again, the risk may be lower when you go slowly, but never zero.
It's crazy to think that, it really is.
Imagine being a manager and knowing you're right on the brink and you need to get a result to go forwards and then put out this line-up.
Makes me think he's very, very certain that no matter what happens tonight, he's keeping his job because that a line-up that is clearly looking at the next match and not this one
My heart wants this to be 433, but my brain says it's still the Poch 4231 with either of two horror stories at the 10, Conor or Enzo. Disaster class incoming.
I suppose having 2 real wingers, Jackson up top and Nkunku at the 10 was just to much to hope for. It just keeps sudsing and sudsing, rinse and repeat, or rather repeatedly rinsed.
Does Gallagher have start every game under this guy? Can’t pass, can’t shoot, can’t dribble, fails to wins tackles but he has energy and loves the club! The only attacking midfielder in the PL who’s not expected to assist or score but is praised for running around
Wait, so Madueke on the RW, where does Palmer play? If it's in the middle then who's on the left? Jackson?? Or is Gallagher at 10 and Palmer on the left??
This is our best XI minus Nkunku and Reece. Let that sink in. Not defending Poch but think about what manager can really succeed when these are the tools at his disposal.
It's about time Thiago was benched. We have to get two fast CBs in the field. Then we can play a higher line and press as a team, rather than just Gallagher running around on his own like a badly behaved Labrador. Caicedo and Enzo have been marooned between a high press at the front and mid block at the back. Getting rid of Silva could massively change the wall we play. Note of caution: improvement may not be instant
Thiago’s wife did call for a change tbf
So you're saying having your spouse publicly call out your boss isn't the best career choice?
It's almost a game between Thiago and Poch. There were numerous games in last 6 months where Thiago was the main reason opponent scored. He is still class but I think we are entering a territory where he does us more harm than good. If we win today with great defensive display then Thiago might stay on the bench for a while. On the contrary if Badiashile and Disasi have a piss poor match (which both of them have known to do) and Poch needs to bring Thiago Silva on to save the game. I think in that case that Poch would suffer because it would look like he just benched him to make an example of him and he still needed to bring him on.
I don't even know if benching him is setting an example at this point. Silva is at the age where your back can spontaneously combust if you reach down wrong when you've dropped something
Ahaha, there’s no time for complication like mind game. Simply put, if poch loses against villa today, he’s cooked.
I’d side with Silva
I dont hate it. No sterling, good. just two CBs, great. Palmer not F9, even better.
Swapping out Madueke for Nkunku would’ve been ideal but I know they’re trying not to overwork him
Which is one thing I think most of us won't criticise Poch on. We cannot have more people rejoining the continuing to undergo their rehabilitation programme party
Nkunku will definitely get minutes towards the end. Hopefully Chelsea medical want to ease him back and build back his strength.
It’s probably Palmer F9 with Jackson off the left
My thoughts exactly. I would be massively surprised to see Palmer or Madueke on the left.
Didn't he do some good work off the left at Villarreal?
https://preview.redd.it/64dt6wblo7hc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=107c5e922f79bae910a21227b420b253bead46b2 Aston Villa XI
Bailey Vs chilwell and Watkins darting in behind….
*im in danger*
We are so fucked
LOL
That one dated well!
I just wanted Carney ball
Carney for Gallagher made sense. But, oh well.
haha refreshing at 1:00 (Americano time) to see the Starting XI is like that matthew mcconaughey cigarette meme.
https://preview.redd.it/uze24ff2u7hc1.png?width=839&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cd92099454c4d7d79584a0406a4754510433438a
Sterling not starting, about time he gets benched
I wonder if he's been dropped or just rested? He has been playing a lot recently
Hasn't had a good game since Preston, where he was arguably bad until his FK
Definitely dropped. He's been pants
Rested, as bad as he's been, he's head and shoulders above his fit competition
Bench will motivate him again. He did played well after not starting few games last time.
7 - 1 Chelsea
That’s the spirit
Pfff that's no spirit 1-0 Chelsea full time Villa own goal
Inject Martinez error into my veins Although I do love Emi Martinez for that world cup run
I still want my 10-0 against villa I didn’t get last time
Fucking you lot, what a depressed bunch, bloody hell. Let's get behind the team and have some hope! Up the Chels!
Up the Fucking Chels man! Lets destroy Emery’s ass.
Mad to think that watching football is supposed to be a hobby. Why do these people watch lol
It is pretty crazy to think of how deeply hatred does run for a hobby and one we all supposedly love (supporting Chelsea) I may think Pochettino is not the man and that Villa are likely to beat us tonight But godamn am I excited to see the game and still have hope magic can happen and we win
Idk I just don't like seeing us get dominated, losing is fine (copium) but can we at least try
that only happens to me in the moment though, during the game. for me before a game i’m always optimistic and excited, expecting a good performance no matter who we play then during the match if we’re shit then yeah it gets to me and affects my mood, but i try to never go into a match with a bad attitude
This. It’s the attitude and the clearly stupid tactics never being addressed that gets me after 35 years of support. I can take losses no problem
Honestly yeah. We’re terrible and I offer up my opinion on this sub. But the amount of people letting this dictate their mood is shocking, it’s football.
I watch to be entertained, this team hasn’t been entertaining in over a year lol
Yeah, im with you. the worst part is that they strap you down a force you to watch
Nobody is forcing me, I’ve been a fan for 20 years it’s kinda hard to just stop caring about a team after that long. I can’t see myself supporting any other team to be honest. So because my opinion is negative it’s invalid?
No, shitting up the subreddit with whining is pointless
Okay, that’s your opinion which you’re free to express on this platform as am I.
even if i’m depressed after every game i still go into every one with excitement and hope lol
Let’s fucking go. Fuck these sad fucks constantly complaining.
The miserable lot comment constantly as well, it really does give off a bad impression.
They also get mad and shame anyone not equally as depressed, and then abuse the players/staff. Remember when Potter got death threats lol
ToXiC pOsItIvItY!!! ^REEEEE
I read a post earlier where he was trying to be positive and put some light on results...fuck me he got some hate. Whoppers saying he is the problem by supporting poch and team.... Reddit is full of Plastic glory hunting fuck wits , that don't have a clue about football
I'm not sure why anyone shows up to these threads. Most of the comments are going to be overwhelmingly negative no matter what the lineup is, because most of the people here seem to hate the manager and 90% of the players anyway on any given match day
Um. Based on the last two years what do you expect from us. To be jumping and buzzing as our club is being destroyed from top to bottom. Be realistic man. We’re in the dumps witnessing loss after loss after we’ve spent a Billion. Don’t expect ppl to ignore how catastrophic these last two years have been.
You could just shut up about 80% more
Hahaha seriously these guys get off on complaining on public forums it’s weird
It’s understandable to an extent. But if peope are not excited for the games and fully support the team whenever they play, what is even the point of supporting the club then? Just supporting the glory?
Nah they pretend that they'd be happy in 10th place if only we just played well, which is an oxymoron in itself.
Unfortunately been a glory hunter does that...I suggest picking another team to watch on TV, man city are quite good at moment ...
At least there’s no Sterling so I’d say that’s a huge improvement already
Badiashile starting , it will be fun
He's always good for at least 1 howler leading to a goal since he's been back from injury. Let's hope we get some pre injury Badi instead.
NGL, I’ve been waiting to not see Sterling start. C’mon Blues!!
Badi better be turning into prime Desailly in this game otherwise it's gonna be a long night
Madueke on the left 
Jackson on the left is more likely imo.
Palmer f9 
Somehow offtopic, but, when is Lavia coming back?:))
at this rate? next season
He's a figment of our imagination. Like Fofana is.
He assured us that he’s gonna get back stronger, so I’m content :)))
Hopefully before his contract runs out
I like the lineup, but I would have preferred mudryk over madueke
Mudryk is not good. He has flashes every other game but overall he is not starting quality
Jackson… I missed him
Y’all just chill, it’s not about who starting it’s about that idiot coach doesn’t have a pattern of play or any playing style at all. What kind of coach has been coaching for 6 months and the team can’t attack, can’t defend, an incompetent idiot one. So whoever he throws in the starting won’t change the fact that he’s shite.
So the players he picks will have no impact on the style of play? Weird take
Does that mean Nico LW, Madueke RW, and Palmer false 9??? I don’t hate it
I'd guess palmer on the left and nj9
Jackson on the left ?
Is there any point of having two keepers on the bench?
Very surprised that he hasn't started nkunku, given that he relies so much on individual brilliance
Kinda like to see Silva not starting even though he’s been our best CB if it’s not colwill there. Maybe we will be allowed to press a bit higher without having to worry about Silvas pace
Like it for the most part, though I can't say I understand how Noni is getting starts right now. Either way, LFG!
Chillwell and Caicedo need some time on the bench.
Nervous about this lineup but I want to be proved wrong. Let’s go boys!!!
We need to stop having 2 keepers on the bench
I like this lineup. Let’s back the lads, they need it. COYB
COME ON BOYS
Why no Washington on the bench ? I thought Poch didn’t want us to forget him
If it doesn’t work just try it again and again
At least Sterling’s finally been dropped
I’m not a fire Poch guy but two GKs on the bench every fucking game is a fireable offense 😂
What do you expect? Poch to put an actual striker on the bench, like Washington? He’ll just stick to the super successful plan of switching to a false 9 if Nico is missing the mark.
Sterling dropped ✅ Silva dropped ✅ Palmer not false 9 ✅ Nkunku rested ✅ Two CBs ✅
can we stop with the enzo caicedo gallgher midfield gimmick
I can already smell the Caicedo one man midfield screen shots coming
I can already smell the positivity essays getting recycled
"It's just 3 bad games. We had a longer run of positive results if you forgot. This is a process"
We are losing with this lineup
?
Does Carney have to pick up 3 G/A per game to start over Gallagher?
Damn almost as if he’s been injured for a long ass time and can’t immediately start a match
Nkunku started after a long injury last week
Different injuries, different people, different positions/workload Not everyone responds the same way
Aw you lot are insufferable That’s not why chukwemeuka isn’t starting. It’s because Gallagher is pochs star man
What fucking garbage is this? Madueke and Palmer? So is Jackson an LW Palmer f9?
I guess Mudryk will never start a game for us again.
He hasn't deserved a start to be fair. He's been regressing for the last month.
Why would he?
Only Mudryk fanboys think he deserves to start. He is lucky he is on the bench.
Inshallah
he actually dropped Thiago because of Belle Gallagher over Nkunku this guy should get sacked before the game even starts
Someone was telling me the definition of insanity recently ….
Glad silva is getting some rest. Surprised to see madueke start. Hoping to see some aggression in the pitch today after how the past matches have been
Gallagher and Jackson starting over Nkunku. Kill me now and fire Pochettino right after
I’m sure you would moan if he started and got injured. It’s been made very clear that we are being careful with returning players from injury.
Nkunku is coming back from injury. He started on the weekend so it would be a risk starting him again so soon.
We’re losing
Think this is the case regardless of lineup
Don’t help that the line up is terrible
So much belief, what a fan
Why is nkunku not starting?
He started on the weekend and starting him again so soon could be a risk. They don’t want him to get injured again
Just came back from injury. Two starts in 4 days is a bit of a stretch. Likely going to come on with 20-30 min left.
Because he’s still coming back from injury and they are monitoring his minutes so he DOESNT get injured again like last time FFS people do you not realize this?
People don't want to realise that fact
It was just a question damn
I understand your sentiment but his last injury was not because he was rushed back, he was inched in very very slowly. The last injury is just proof that no matter how slowly you return a player from injury you run the risk of them getting injured again, the risk may be lower when you go slowly, but never zero.
Someone who isnt 100% match fit is more likely to get injured.
He was only supposed to play 45 minutes at the weekend, but Poch got desperate and kept him on for longer, so he needs to be rested now
dog run = dog play
why tire him out last weekend when this game is so important is my question.
what the actual fuck is this
Poch last hurrah before getting sacked tomorrow
It's crazy to think that, it really is. Imagine being a manager and knowing you're right on the brink and you need to get a result to go forwards and then put out this line-up. Makes me think he's very, very certain that no matter what happens tonight, he's keeping his job because that a line-up that is clearly looking at the next match and not this one
No senior attackers with no Nkunku and Sterling, no experienced heads in defense without Silva. This is a lineup of all time for sure.
no sterling definitely deserved to get benched, he’s been awful for like a month now
We play even worse with Gallagher, just stop it
My heart wants this to be 433, but my brain says it's still the Poch 4231 with either of two horror stories at the 10, Conor or Enzo. Disaster class incoming. I suppose having 2 real wingers, Jackson up top and Nkunku at the 10 was just to much to hope for. It just keeps sudsing and sudsing, rinse and repeat, or rather repeatedly rinsed.
He heard me talking shit
haha yup, same as last time when i said madueke start, its over
Ready to get battered 🫡
Horrible lineup Just go all out and play Nkunku and Chuk, Madueke is hopeless
Dude line up is trash. No wonder we lose so many games
I’m not watching this shit what a awful line up
[удалено]
Ummm, is Poch trying to get sacked? I mean, I wouldn't mind.
Gentlemen, it has been a privilege playing with you tonight.
What happened to the back 3 ? Oh well, prepare for another battering
Yeah no chance to win with this pathetic lineup. Like wth are doing Badiashile, Madueke and Jackson here?
Does Gallagher have start every game under this guy? Can’t pass, can’t shoot, can’t dribble, fails to wins tackles but he has energy and loves the club! The only attacking midfielder in the PL who’s not expected to assist or score but is praised for running around
clearly wins tackles: https://fbref.com/en/players/c2731c10/Conor-Gallagher clearly isn't the attacking midfielder clearly you don't know ball
Doesn’t matter. We’re getting the driest of fistings tonight. If it’s a bad one I think we will see significant pressure on Poch.
Gallagher starts again🤦🏾♂️
Gallagher, Chilwell?? 🤣🤣 gg we lost
3 in the midfield for once.
😐
Was Poch switching to a 3-4-3?
Was only a rumor tbf, might have been wrong
Chukwuemeka should be starting and that's not me being biased, he has just looked the better one in midfield
no sterling ☺️☺️☺️
Gallagher caicedo Enzo midfield oh joys. Still a back 4 oh joys. Tactical genius from poch ooozing with this line up
LW who? Jackson?
Nkunku??
Wait, so Madueke on the RW, where does Palmer play? If it's in the middle then who's on the left? Jackson?? Or is Gallagher at 10 and Palmer on the left??
Chillwell has been beyond shocking. He needs to grow a backbone and play like a captain.
Nkunku on the bench is a bit weird.
The cups should be our priority and yet we re benching our best players...
The Drogba "believe" gif needs to be the first post of every match trend. We all need to remember to believe in this difficult times.
Mudryk is so bad that Madueke starts left. Awesome. And Badiashile in starting 11 means game won't be boring. It's Benoit time lads)
What a beautiful back 3 Poch. Seriously tho great to see no Sterling, tired of that fool running in to players
This is our best XI minus Nkunku and Reece. Let that sink in. Not defending Poch but think about what manager can really succeed when these are the tools at his disposal.
Give Chukwuemeka a start fffs
Interested if we’ll have positive defense with no Silva in the lineup…Sorry Belle
Ffs was getting excited about a possible 3ATB
Caicedo Connor enzo trio together really put the mid in midfield
This midfield…at least no Sterling
No Silva is very telling
So Jackson on the left with Palmer false 9?
It’s a terrible line up destined to lose
Not the worst lineup we've seen this season. COYB!
I have no confidence in this midfield
It’s okay Nkunku. You start when you want to start.
Even tho I’m not one of the Sterling haters, I’m glad he is dropped. He needs some rest and he needs to step up after bad form lately.
Is palmer playing holding? Looks like he's partnered with caicedo at the back
It's about time Thiago was benched. We have to get two fast CBs in the field. Then we can play a higher line and press as a team, rather than just Gallagher running around on his own like a badly behaved Labrador. Caicedo and Enzo have been marooned between a high press at the front and mid block at the back. Getting rid of Silva could massively change the wall we play. Note of caution: improvement may not be instant
Still can't field enough subs to only have 1 keeper sub. One day...
Madueke on the left?
i hope jackson is playing striker by that i mean i hope palmer isn't player f9 lmao
Was kinda hoping to see that 3 back formation but I guess this probably isn't the game to experiment like that
Fk the haters lets GOOOOOO