Greenlizard0 PL & Championship Football Thread ** spoilers ** [28th - 29th August 2021]

I do enjoy going to Villa Park. Really good ground to watch football from, and the away end always seems to be bathed in sunshine whenever we go.

1-1 about fair, but I thought we could have nicked it all things being equal. However, if Smith had bought Watkins on 15 mins earlier it could have been a different result.

3 games unbeaten for the bees, including 2 away games and only 1 goal conceded. Not been behind at all during the 4.5 hrs we've played so far.

I'd be really happy if we bought in a wing back and maybe an 8 or 10, but all in all I'm quite pleased with where we are.

Brighton at home after the international break, and can't really explain how excited I am about the Liverpool game at home next month!
 
BaZ87 said:
How many times was he battling 1 vs 3? And fwiw, my initial comment wasn't a dig at Lukaku, more a small piece of praise for VVD. Like pretty much every CF he's come up against, VVD wins almost all physical battles. There were a number of people questioning how VVD will come back after his injury and Lukaku is probably the toughest CF you can come up against in terms of size and power but again VVD handled him as comfortably as he did 2-3 years ago.

On Lukaku generally, he'll score a load of goals for Chelsea but the best way to deal with him is to push high up the pitch - it's easier said than done though and not every team has a VVD. I was slightly surprised that Chelsea didn't start Werner instead of one of Havertz or Mount because it was obvious that we would push right up the pitch and his extra pace could have caused us more problems.
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My response was aimed at the comment that Lukaku doesn't turn up to big games. Most of the second half, Lukaku was dropping deep, trying to hold up the ball against a midfielders and two defenders. He was obviously much more effective in the first half - there was one moment in particular when he was completely clear of all defenders and should have been played in. That was good movement rather than bad defending.

VVD did very well. Exceptional defender, I've never had any doubt he would return to his peak (although I do wonder if there is a risk of chronic repeat injures in that area now). His physicality is useful leverage but even if it didn't return to its peak, his reading of the game is a stand out attribute and would more than compensate. After the first half, it just wasn't much of a challenge for the Liverpool defenders.
 
Only two things have united Liverpool and Utd fans and that was the late, great cm (I wonder where he is now) and disliking Burnley.
 
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