Fake fan sound

And so we are back. How was it for you?

I personally thought it was ok, if somewhat underwhelming. The Villa game was ok, we played alright, created a few chances, but of course the relatively low intensity of the encounter, coupled with the absence of fans probably made it pretty unbearable for the neutral. I couldn't bring myself to even try out the fake-crowd noise option as it just seems utterly wrong. Where does it end - augment the Villa front line so that we can watch them score some fake goals as well as just create a few chances?

I'd said that the result would likely shape the season for Villa - and from the moment I'd written what that likely means in win or lose scenarios; I knew this game would be a draw. Villa do this; rarely ever settling their future one way or another, but leaving the fans in a state of perpetual discomfort. The draw tells me that we are neither so bad that we'll bomb, nor good enough to take advantage of our superiority in the game and pull away from the relegation zone. So we will continue to scratch around and I am sure now we won't be safe until game week 37 or 38 at the earliest, if at all.

A big shout out to the wonderful failing of the previously infallible goal-line technology; and the absence of doing a VAR review, when of course any of the actual cameras would have confirmed that Sheffield had in fact scored. A look at any of the Villa players faces would also have confirmed the goal - humans are bad at styling out this sort of concession - but kudos to Nyland for trying. I particularly liked that he walked back through his goal to rest the ball against the post - presenting it to the ref as "here, it's jammed against the post" - excellent. 

Man City did exactly as I would have expected; helped of course by David Luiz's amazing cameo. When I saw him come on as sub I remember wondering "hmm why didn't he start?". That question was promptly and resoundingly answered. 

And so - onwards. First of all WTF was the rest day yesterday all about? This is no summer tournament if we have a rest day after a single day. Fixture committee, consider yourself on a warning. At least now we can look forward to a solid 7 day run of games. 

Tonight offers up some good ones. Southampton and Norwich has torn me a bit. Do I want to keep Southampton pegged into possible relegation candidacy; or just see Norwich further condemned? After careful consideration, I think I need to accept that it is a 3 from 6 scenario at the bottom; and support Southampton.

Then Spurs vs United should be good - its genuinely tight around the 4th champs league spot and Europa places, and a Spurs win would make things very tasty indeed, so I will watch that one with interest.