I said before the game, that I’d be okay with a two goal deficit, but I’ve changed my mind.
While PSG looked good, I do wonder how much we allowed them to do it.
Certainly, trying to sit back and just defend doesn’t work and I believe your best form of offence is attack, which is what I’d expect Unai to tell the lads when we play them at Villa park.
The reason I’m so gutted is that if this had stayed at 2-1, I’d have thought we had a very good chance of getting something from the tie overall. Now it’s 3-1 and they looked so totally domineering, I just don’t see us pulling that margin back.
The most disappointing part is that how are you supposed to get a feel for things if you barely get imvolved? Our passing was abysmal purely because we allowed them so much ball without hardly touching it ourselves. You just can’t be expected to go through a whole game like that and if we try the same tactic at home, exactly the same will happen.
All that said, they are an excellent side, with top skill all over the pitch.
Will they look as good if you take it to them? Probably, but even so, nothing ventured, nothing gained, I feel.
I’m not sure how you beat that side and you can see how they’re favourites.
They’re unbeaten in their league and going for the ‘invincibles’ title.
Unai? And ideas? Ramos would know what to do…
BFR,
I’m not saying it’s a given and ok they were impressive on their own turf but come on mate, one off the bar, one of the post?
The third I’ll give them.
But saying all that we played a defensive damage limitation line up. Maybe they really are that good?
We’ll see next Tuesday.
Onwards and upwards.
Up the Villa.
A Shit league
I think we need to be brave at VP. If we deploy the same tactics, we will be going out with a whimper. Use the home crowd to our advantage. If we sit back and play a low block, the fans will become agitated and that will only favour PSG.
They are a brilliant team think they will do us at home as well but at least we still are in the tie
PSG won 4-0 at home under Emery in the CL and then lost 6-1 to Barcelona in the second leg.
Emery’s true redemption is to soundly beat PSG in the second leg next week.
Ah – but one can only dream
Ah! So it’s all a cunning ploy to humiliate PSG!!! I like it!!!!
I just don’t get them. They had all these big names a season or two ago and it didn’t work. It’s like they flicked a switch , taken a new approach and landed flat on their feet in a full sprint. Man for Man are they really that much better?? Clearly they have some world class talent but I just felt like I was watching Villa play rigged computer game last night they were that good, but my brain just doesn’t accept that they are for some reason. Very similar style to pep’s Barcelona I thought. Keep possession, squeeze the pitch, gang up and win the ball back quickly. In other words, everything you could dream of your team doing. Commentators a joke last night too.
Exactly, Tom. Isn’t that exactly how football should be played?
Oh, and…shoot! If you don’t shoot, you don’t score. If you don’t score, you don’t win. So shoot. Simple game, really.
It’s disappointing but not unexpected. I was on a plane from 5 mins before the start until a few minutes after the end so I had no idea how the match was panning out. I figured 3-1 or 4-1 so not surprised but still.
PSG goals were pretty stunning tbf. We have to bear in mind that they have been in this completion for the last 10 years while it’s our first time. We have come a long way.
I hope we have a real go at VP but I’m proud of how far we have got in the competition.
The quality of the shooting by PSG contrasted with what the current Villa squad can do. Duran could hit the ball hard and accurately like the first two PSG goals. None of the Villa team can do that – if they try to hit a shot that hard they miss the goal. We were well beaten by a better side on the night and it is hard to foresee a radical change in our fortunes.
Disaster was the weak link when he came on. I think his strength as a defender is best against large physical opponents, whereas Cash is better against the nippy types.
Asensio, McGinn, and Tielemans are all more than capable of shooting and scoring from outside the box. So are Digne, Cash, and arguably Rogers and Ramsey.
We will need to shoot from range next Tuesday. Just like they did last night. I hope there’s plenty of it in the training sessions before the second leg and that it’s part of the game plan. I dont think Dunnarunna is a great keeper and he needs testing. We don’t do it anywhere near often enough. But there are players capable…
PSG really remind me of Barcelona. Great passing accuracy coupled with patience and world class players. No wonder as Luis Enrique, who did the treble with Barcelona, is their manager.
We are still in with a shout but, if we do go out by the odd goal, I certainly won’t be downhearted. We’re just starting our European journey whereas PSG have been having a go for decades. We will learn a lot whatever happens.
However, at fortress Villa Park, Emery believes that we might surprise everyone and, after all, football is a funny old game, isn’t it?
My game plan would be to break the game down into two halves. We have to win 1-0 in each half. When you look at it like that, psychologically, it sounds much more doable. Then dig in extra time and, if necessary, do what you need to do with penalties. I don’t think getting through over 90 minutes is even remotely doable or realistic, given the calibre of the opposition. But the way I’ve described it sounds doable to me. It will take a near flawless performance, though.
Let’s pummel Southampton in the meantime to take some frustration out…
Trouble is BFR there’s no way PSG won’t score. We will need to score 3 minimum in my opinion.
As much as I hate saying it, PSG was the better team by miles. Their skills are evident in their ability to move the ball quickly, especially in the last seconds of passing. They have players moving into position to create opportunities.we do have players that can shoot at a distance but don’t do it often enough. Will we beat them at Villa Park? We need to change our approach and use strength plus energy for 90 minutes its not over till the fat lady
Sings .
Turning my thoughts to Southampton tomorrow and, as I suggested earlier, the EPL remains the primary focus.
Unai, in his press conferences, has been clear that we are not where he wanted us in the EPL but in todays press conference he talked about three wins on the spin putting us back in contention for a CL place.
‘We have to win tomorrow’ was his clear message but if we’re not clear in our approach we can lose – stark warning then.
I can’t see him making 8 changes from Wednesday but then, what do I know? Whatever team he puts out it should have enough to overcome Southampton such is our strength in depth.
BUT we have a tendency to take these game too lightly and Southampton are determined to score the points necessary to avoid Derby’s record. They also have the ‘benefit’ of new manager bounce, such as it is.
If we lose tomorrow we’ll have thrown away all the recent good work.
Sorry guys (because I have a terrible record at predicting results) but I have to go for a win – but I don’t think it will be easy. 1-2 Villa then
I think he will make at least 7 changes. Back 4: Mings, Disasi, Maatsen, and Garcia. I think Onana will start, as will Ollie and Malen…
Yes, the B team will be given a run out. Won’t surprise me if Barkley comes in to give Tielemans a rest. Is Bailey fit? Rogers and Kamara are two more who need to conserve energy for PSG.
Bailey to have a fitness test according to Emery – all others fit pre yesterday’s training session.
I agree re Barkley and Onana getting a run out.
Only Digne Kamara and McGinn ‘rested’. Otherwise A team players turn out again and Watkins still benched. Emery not chancing the B team.
City look home and hosed against their bogey team, and Chelsea will despatch Ipswich tomorrow. Absolute, must win, mini ‘cup final’ today. No complacency, please!
Some early hope from Palace (0-2) but City are well on top now(4-2). We will just have to win hem all.
This looks like a team that is still hopeful about Tuesday.
Marco Asensio
M. Cash
E. Konsa
I. Maatsen
E. Martínez (c), Captain
T. Mings
A. Onana
J. Ramsey
M. Rashford
M. Rogers
Y. Tielemans
Subs
L. Digne
A. Disasi
Pau Torres
Andrés García
B. Kamara
D. Malen
J. McGinn
R. Olsen
O. Watkins
Very very surprised that Ollie, Malen, and Garcoa don’t start.
Even more surprised that Garcia doesn’t start! 😏
Those track suit tops our lot wear are a bit E17?
Baby if you have to play away 🎵🎶 😂
I bloody well hope this isn’t another Ipswich…
Bit too passive for me which is, of late, typical Villa playing sides at the bottom of the table.
Barring Malen, everybody who can shoot is on the field, but still they don’t have a go.
Time for Ollie to rescue. Agree OLL shooting is poor.
We are struggling against the low block. Too passive and we lack the ability of a De Britney who can score from outside the box.
Is it worth putting Malen on for Asensio to allow Rogers to move in. Also Rashford is better out wide so unless Watkins is injured or something else is going on, would it be better to switch.
We need to win this. A draw would be very costly in our hopes of finishing top 5.