Football

Villa got their tactics right by pressuring intensely high up the pitch in the first 15 minutes and launching an aerial bombardment to exploit their height advantage in the box. At one stage I was hoping the full backs would just let the initial cross into the box to avoid conceding a corner, where we were most vulnerable. Once Villa got the goal it was eerily reminiscent of the defeat against Chelsea, exposing our limitations and lack of patience against a packed defense. Congrats on the win; I hope other managers don't cotton on and replicate the tactics but I fear they will.

Balotelli's movement was woeful. He seemed to be either walking or bending down to tie his shoes laces for most of the game. When the ball is dead he switches off. Compare that to the constant movement and alertness of Suarez. We would have been better starting with Lambert. The sooner Sturridge is back, the better. Realistically, top 4 looks like it will be a struggle without Suarez.