Ok, I don’t want to get ideas above mine or any Villa fans expectations, but if I was one of my Grandsons, I’d be very excited right now, because the possibilities are endless and we so remind me of the title winning team that we all revere.
The grandsons were at that game and strangely enough, that’s the first time they’ve seen the Villa win away. Go figure.
Cut to the quick and Fulham were unbeaten at home this season. Yes, it’s early days, but it matters, imo.
The simple fact is I thought we battered them.
Yes, they saw the same old tactic of trying to beat us with pace down our right side, where we all know that Cash, (while a good, hardworking servant who has performed well) is the biggest weak link in the team. I continue to call for an improvement in this position, as even though he can do good things, so he can do bad ones.
But it mattered not too much as our midfield had too much for them.
This struck me as a very impressive win, because I still believe Fulham are a good side, who will easily finish in the top half. It was made even more impressive when you consider the players we had on the bench.
As the currently fit squad stands, we look very strong, with decent quality as back up.
McGinn on the bench, for example?
Of course, we’re not at Man City or Chelsea type levels, because let’s face it, they’ve been able to blatantly bypass the rules over the years. And as we’ve seen, a couple of injuries makes us look lacking, meaning we don’t quite compete on level terms.
Whatever. What did I like?
The constant search for goals. It’s the name of the game, after all and I thought we totally took it to Fulham without fear. The midfield won us this, with Tielemans pulling the strings yet again, while strongly backed up by Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey. I’m loving those two rampaging lads and there are no doubt many envious eyes on them.
Ollie scored again and what is there to say about that? He keeps doing his job, while I still often keep telling myself “how the heck did you not score there?”. Is it fair to sort of criticise him for not being clinical enough, with this season’s goalscoring record? I’m not sure it is, but I’d guess that if it was Haarland in his place he’d have double the goals.
His header today was quality, let’s have no qualms about that. It’s hard for me to question him too, because I think he’s quality, but the question needs to be asked, I feel.
What didn’t I like?
Cash, while a decent defender occasionally, isn’t good enough. What it is specifically, I can’t say.
He can defend well, but often gets caught out of position. He lacks pace too. I don’t know. I’m struggling to pin it down, but the fact is he’s just not good enough. Other managers know it, plain and simple.
Yes Pau messed up for their goal, but that apart, I thought he did well. And then when you win 3-1 away , how can anyone really complain?
The truth is you can’t. But it’s obligatory for us old farts to moan, isn’t it?
Consider we’ve only lost to Arsenal, who by all accounts from neutrals I’ve spoken to, were lucky and I think we currently sit in a very good place.
The name “Aston Villa” is becoming feared, I feel. Long may it continue.
UTV!
Need Arse n Pool to draw…
Should have put Mings on in defence gutted could have worried the top two .
Bill still plenty of time left for us to do that…
Nearly ground out a win but there you go. I’m not too unhappy though as we’re still averaging 2 points a game in the Prem and, after nine games, we’ll still be in the top four whatever happens in the other games.
To concede with practically the last kick of the ball from a set piece is annoying. Emery wasn’t happy with MacPhee in the last game and I’m guessing he will be far from impressed to lose the lead that way.
At least it looks like we haven’t picked up any injuries.
I wrote after Fulham that Bournemouth were a team who would test our credentials, and so it proved. Having hooked Watkins and Rogers we were short of defensive heading ability. Travers was the MoM though his team put bodies in the way to help. Only Rogers in the 1st half had a glaring miss so Villa were not wasteful.
One for McPhee to work out – should we line up on the 18yd line or the 12yd line for the last FK of the match?
I think Emery cost us this game personally. Got his subs wrong. We scored and then instead of applying more pressure, we invited it on ourselves.
Pretty sure all 3 subs combined for what should’ve been the winning goal, Texas.
Then took Ollie off for Kamara. Bournemouth defended very well today and Ollie played some neat work. Once he went off the momentum changed in their favour.
While we’re on the blame game, step forward Mr J. Duran. Always happy to give it the big ‘I am’ and take the (deserved) plaudits. However. One guild edged chance spurned + powder-puff marking for their winner = your fault we didn’t win. Big tantrum on Tuesday followed by that. Pride comes before a fall, son. Time to take responsibility if you really are the real deal.
*for their equaliser
You know BFR you’re right, Duran had a glaring chance to have had us fans demanding full game start for him , a winning goal and he snuffed it plus may I add let a opposing player score in the last minute of the game . No wonder Emery not happy , we have got to stop relaxing in games and go for the jugular in all games, I think Emery will get it right as long as we don’t let the top teams pull away on points.
Today was the first match I’ve been able to attend since we returned to the Premier- great to visit again. Enjoyed the fans zone outside the Holte End. I was lower right of the Holte directly in line with Matty Cash’s position.
My observations were:
1: Cash proved to me he is a great back up right back, but not the man for the level we are aiming for. His defending was shakey.
2: First half playing out from the back was awful. Bournemouth pressed really well blocking off the left handside. As a result unless played long the ball went out to Konsa. At this point Cash was marked and McGinn did not have the presence for the boot up field. It resulted in the ball going back Martinez or Onana, who was surrounded.
3: Hindsight – Roger’s has played pretty much every minute this season. He was well off the pace today. Buendia could have started or an experiment with Watkins and Duran together from the start could have been tried.
4: Ref – what a prat- all about him. Stupid yellow cards. Worse challenge was on Duran and nothing given. Every minor challenge was in the book.
5: Duran is growing in stature every game. Too often no Villa player wanted to take the shot and pass it to someone else. Not Duran, he took ownership, he really is something special.
6: Control the ball, control the game. The last 10 minutes we abandoned that concept and played without a brain. Repeatedly giving the ball away and pathetic free kicks in dangerous positions, which cost us with the last kick of the match.
Didn’t see the second half as lost the internet – always a risk sitting in the Caribbean sun!
However, I felt throughout the first half that we were never in complete control of the game and wasn’t surprised to see the result although I was surprised to see the manner of it. Emery / Villa are normally very good at closing out games. Emery will not be a happy bunny.
Was it a case (again) of ‘after the Lord Mayors show’ or is that being disrespectful to Bournemouth who looked a well organised side buoyed by an exceptional display from their ‘stand in’ GK?
I heard this game described as ‘scrappy’. Personally I thought it was great. Apart from their winner. B’mouth were a powerful side and don’t forget they beat Arse 2-0 last week. Another Arse and Chelsea defeat wouldn’t go amiss. Some of our passing (as I said yesterday) was incredible and Kamara was like a lion when he came on.
Oh well.
I think Kamara had a few words to say over the goal, his anger was at Duran seen him swing his arms in anger, but according to the analysis in the studio it was said Cash had left his man by not getting close to the player that scored. Emery doesn’t seem too upset and spoke about the game in general. All not lost lads we fight another day,
The referee wanted to be the star of the show and booked 13 players (14 is the record) in what wasn’t a dirty game at all. Not every foul is a yellow card. It seems the initial wagging finger with a warning for a first foul wasn’t enough for Kavanagh!
The MOTD muppets thought Bournemouth were unlucky not to have two penalties. IMO, Semenyo clearly dragged his foot along the pitch to try and fool the referee and the second incident was Bailey misjudging (again) the flight of the ball as it dropped onto his already stretched arm.
Overall my opinion on yesterday’s result wasn’t one that can be blamed on playing Tuesday against Bologna. It was purely down to sloppy defending from Cash and Duran who allowed their striker to run between them uncontested. I’m sure Emery will make bring it up in one of his lengthy analytic meetings.
Correct Holte both player you have to blame,
If Liverpool win we remain 3rd, if Arsenal win or its a draw we stay 4th. Not a totally bad weekend but we should have won.
EPL are blessed with a plethora of narcissists who they call, very loosely, referees.
Kavanagh made a right muppet of himself and, clearly, couldn’t control a rice pudding 🙂