I like watching the matches without the fake supporter noise because you hear what the players and managers are often saying and it's insightful. In the match against Everton you heard Mings shout that you have to be brave, a moment after El Ghazi almost had the ball. I'm not saying El Ghazi isn't brave or that Mings was aiming that at El Ghazi. I'm saying I don't like fake public noise.
What I've also said in the past is that I don't see El Ghazi at Aston Villa next season. I don't think there is enough about him. I don't think he contributes to the bigger picture enough. Yes he scored against Everton and if the Club were on social media at the time they'd be whoring him out, but he doesn't put his foot where it's needed, he falls over too easily and out of ten, he's a 5.5 or a 6. Take away his goals and he'd be a solid 4.
We need to have a solid 7 in his position, not a player that can get to seven two or three times a season. I don't mean this to be mean and I think many would agree with me. But we're not in a position to have a player like him in the side even if I believe every team needs a player like him in the side. I guess what I'm really saying is I think we can do better. Actually, I think we already have better than El Ghazi at the Club.
But he did win us that game and if he does leave in the summer he'll be sent off with a thank you and if he ever comes back to Villa Park he should be applauded. But I should have written that a few days ago. Today, I should be writing about Manchester United.
And here is the thing about Manchester United; they will still think they have a chance of winning the Premier League after what happened between Chelsea and Manchester City yesterday. The thing is, Manchester United haven't exactly played great football this season, it's just that they've played well as a team.
And on our day, we can play well as a team. Today isn't written in the stars even though Manchester United will think they can still win the League. I write this because I think SHIB is going to the moon but that doesn't mean it will happen.
But I have a few hours before all that starts and before I forget, the competition. I voided it because not all games were played and guesses were based on all the games. I'll be doing another competition for next weekend, I've not forgotten. Thanks Luke!
Match facts from the BBC
Head-to-head
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 21 Premier League away games against Aston Villa since a 3-1 loss on the opening day of the 1995-96 campaign. It's the longest unbeaten away run one side has had against another in English top-flight history.
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in the last Manchester United team to lose a game at Villa Park when they were beaten 3-0 in a League Cup third-round clash in 1999.
- Aston Villa have earned just one victory in the past 44 Premier League meetings and are winless in their last 16 against United since a 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford in December 2009.
Aston Villa
- Villa have lost nine Premier League matches in 2021 - only three sides have fared worse. The Villans lost only four of their 14 league fixtures this season before the turn of the year.
- They are aiming to win consecutive league games for the first time since December.
- They've not beaten a team in the Premier League's top two since a 1-0 win over Chelsea in March 2014, drawing three and losing nine of their subsequent 12 attempts.
- Only Chelsea and Manchester City have kept more Premier League clean sheets this season than the 14 by Villa. However, no top-flight side is on a longer current run of matches without a clean sheet as Villa's seven.
- Ollie Watkins is one shy of equalling the club record for the most Premier League goals scored by an Englishman in a season: 14, set by Julian Joachim in 1998-99.
- Watkins' seven Premier League goals against established top-six opponents is the most by any player this season.
Manchester United
- Manchester United are unbeaten in 24 Premier League away games (W15, D9), just three short of Arsenal's top-flight record set between April 2003 and September 2004.
- The only two clubs to have remained unbeaten in all top-flight away matches in a season are Preston North End in 1888-89 and Arsenal in both 2001-02 and 2003-04.
- The last team to do it in one of Europe's top five leagues was Bayern Munich in 2012-13.
- United have only lost one of their past 27 Premier League matches (W17, D9).
- Bruno Fernandes has scored in both of his Premier League appearances against Aston Villa. Both were from the penalty spot, and both ended up being the winning goal.