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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Villa got a result against Spurs but the performance wasn't great. Feels harder to get out of our half. Understandable with our back 6 without Pau or Maatsen, reliant on Suzuki's long passes. Starting Harwood-Belis & adding wide options like Mbaye or Garnacho would help a lot.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Unai Emery sides need an outlet who can threaten the box, like Watkins last year Tammy struggles to do both. Against a back 3 though our 3 10s approach needs more natural width to find the space between the WBs and CBs, Alysson provided that Garnacho should have been on too.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Makes some sense after thinking about it for a bit, our CL matches are fairly light. THB and Madjo get time to bed themselves into Emery's progression system and forward demands in tough PL matches before the business end of the CL.

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Unfitforpurpose @unfitforpurpose.net · 02/09/2026

Because Robbie Gibb has had years to reshape the reporting capability of the BBC and his efforts are bearing fruit.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Hopefully just kicking the tyres before going for Jackson. There's a lot to do still, CB, RW/10 & now a forward with Martinez & Bailey out.

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

"Yes, I'm still patronizing the social media site run by the white nationalist billionaire who vocally supports murdering immigrants, but you see, I have to go there for news about this minor league baseball team I like. I have no choice. I'm powerless here."

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Konsa is gone. Villa need a new CB in a difficult situation; both Mings & Lindelöf have contracts up in 2027, Wan-Bissaka is just a loan with option. For now we ideally target a partner for Pau. An aggressive ball winning defender who is good in the air fitting our U25 summer signings.

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Tim Keech @timkeech.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The Yan Diomande back story...I'm not alleging any wrong doing but a kid from Ivory coast doesn't just happen to end up in America, and then just sign for some random Spanish team. An African club/agency paid for him to go to America, he then joined a club who have the same ownership.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Like you take £50m when Jackson is clearly keen & Watkins' downside risk is massive. The 👑. Don't expect us to be getting results until January though, which is a concern for the CL league phase.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Maybe citizens are less likely to do this if they're not frustrated by the poor deal they get from the authorities. A system where they don't have to flood the bureaucracy to claim what they're actually due.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

How your email finds me this morning.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I'm happy with Garnacho the player, I hope Garnacho the person experiences some growth. An ideal Emery strikewing to turn it up at 60 minutes & start after CL midweek if he stays happy enough with that. Still need a left footer up there for me.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

A bunch of cis women are going to find out they've got a Y chromosome because it's not actually the presence of said chromosome that sets off the path to male sexual features. Gender criticals remain deeply dumb.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I already posted about replacing Rogers & Villa already got one of my recommendations to replace central progression & defending. We need a RW though; Soule at Roma is the standout, though is not quite an Emery strikewing. Wouldn't be surprised with a Rashford, Jackson or Rowe with fewer RW options

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Despite the big difference in their heights, a busy kick people midfielder that can progress with carries does somewhat replace Onana. Less need for Tielemans passing range when you start Pau & Maatsen too. Fullbacks & a right sided strikewing next.

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Mike Goodman @themlg.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

It's a subtle effect, but you can kind of see here how Thomas Tuchel's tactical adjustments didn't quite work for England.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

What a day, & not one I'm horribly sad about. Manzambi was Freiburg's progression guy & should replace some of Tielemans output with help from a good possession LB in Maatsen. I think Unai looks at 6ish 8 guy with others higher up as well as the signings needed on the right.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I'd be very happy with Manzambi, no idea how we afford him though. Newcastle's window appears to be cursed though.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

The Bluesky-est take of the world cup goes to 'other kids had the same talent as Haaland but aren't Nepo babies.' A take that stands up if you think football is the arts but crumbles if you know anything about the academy system, kids grassroots football, any of Beckham's kids, etc.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Next time someone tells you if you don't vote Labour, you get the Torys/Farage. Remind them, we did vote Labour & got Tory.

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Unusual Efforts @unusualefforts.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Perhaps this is the unsettling, unintentional other story of the biggest soccer tournament in history and its expansion: serious allegations of sexual assault around the globe — and football’s aversion to saying anything about it. apple.news/Aj8j1bJpMRI6...

apple.news

The story of the biggest World Cup in history that nobody wants to talk about — The Athletic

Sidny Lopes Cabral is climbing, swallowed up by the terraces. Officials be damned. Let them tap their watches. This is dream state. Cape Verde are level, again, against the reigning world champions, A...

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I've not done much World Cup posting but Tuchelball & great talent grinding out results for England is us. Britain's greatest strength has always been to be a melting pot of influences, often foreign ones & some bull headedness. That is our national character even if nationalists say otherwise.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

I studied evolutionary biology in a group that focused on sexual conflict, so when I say that if you use the term biological male or female to be trans exclusionary, you are not only wrong but also dumb, it is backed up by professional standards.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Now off to AC Milan for more than I would have expected. Fee's have really jumped in the last couple of years, if we can't pay those fees we have to take the options like Openda or Darwin Nunez & hope we can round out their shape edges.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Replacement thread. Did my summer Villa transfer thread based on selling Watkins but there's a few players who could leave, with a lot of noise around Rogers so start with him. In my plan he's the secondary shot getter & primary creator that load can be spread.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Morgan Rogers is constantly one of the highest attacking usage players in the league, adding him to a squad with Saka & Odegaard doesn't make sense unless you think he's a striker. Spending a big bag to test that theory is also dumb but I never said the market was rational. Replacement thread soon.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Was in my list of busy CMs that Villa could target to eventually ease McGinn out of the side. Good technical skills matched to a big physical profile. bsky.app/profile/1874...

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Every possible criticism of Darwin should be answered with "he gets 4 shots a game." Complete box office & I'd pretty happily have him at Villa...[pointing at Jonah Hill] because he gets 4 shots a game.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

This is the UK government's flagship policy after losing a ton of votes to the Greens in local elections. I didn't expect much out of Starmer's Labour so didn't vote for them but I thought they would at least manage to be centerist technocrats they portrayed themselves as.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Villa transfer thread! Did a short summary of Villa's squad position here. Our ceiling is great but floor raisers are older or injured, leading to our inconsistencies. It's a several window project to fix that, we extended several of those players & need to sell at least one major contributer.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

What do do with Evann Guessand? His Palace option expired yesterday & he wouldn't be the first player Unai reintegrated. He was asked to play as a true winger but he is more a low touch forward. Emery opens up after 60 mins & there's a role for Guessand there as the secondary shot getter.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Mbaye out too, not keen on Chevalier but I wonder if Villa can get a bulk buy discount.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

That's an absurd deal for the best all rounder 8 in the league that isn't Rice.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Great win, CL! but we don't do that week to week, why? Watkins McGinn Digne Mings 7/10 games become 4/10 with age. Martinez Bogarde Either great or crap, both sides of the age curve. Barkley Kamara Onana Max 25 starts/year Leaves you with Konsa, Cash as consistent all weather floor raisers.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

It's because Slot's playing Mac over you king. Sod that contract offer & let pap Unai get you into the England squad. (Probably not going to happen because Liverpool are big mad over Elliott)

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Men are never beating the phallic imagery allegations.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

This Emi Martinez performance reminding me that I've had @afhstewart.bsky.social's analytics FC goalkeeper consistency article sitting in a to read tab for far too long.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Just so everyone knows, I already did the scouting for my Villa sensible transfers thread this summer. The fact that 3 Freiburg players feature is because I liked them before the final. I just need everyone to know that.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Colder climate, more physical game, tougher training schedule. Not easy adapting to Europe, let alone England. Hopefully he is fit for preseason & we can see what he's about.

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Michael Caley @michaelcaley.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Eddie Howe has developed into one of the most classic coaching archetypes -- a clearly plus coach who cannot under any circumstances be allowed to build his own squad because he has a terrible understanding of player value

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Buendia has had a fine season, not enough to re-up his contract for me. We loose a directness when starting him & McGinn. When Ramsey was fit, he was great there. Defensively combative, direct when it was on, decent possession passer when it wasn't. Another one to address in the summer.

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

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Dan Pritchard @1874pritch.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Did she ghost write this article?

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