We so rarely get that far that I’ve practically forgotten what it is.
I thought that was a good game overall. Not particularly footballing-wise, albeit we play some cracking stuff at times. Indeed, Villa did what they usually do and scare me witless through giving the opposition the upper hand for long periods of the game.
No, I thought it was more because Spurs were incredibly dirty, with the way that they so often didn’t even try to tackle and either manhandled or just blatantly pushed our players. That used to be called ungentlemanly conduct and the culprit would have been booked a lot earlier. In fact I found myself raging at the telly asking how many times they would get away with it before a card came out.
It’s disgusting play, to my mind, designed to just bully the opposition. Fortunately we did superbly in not letting it get to us.
Whereas along with many other Villa fans I’ve previous called our lads a bunch of softies (ahem) I thought we were exactly the opposite today and that’s what got us through the game.
The first, really early goal gave us loads of confidence and allowed us to play our favourite game, in rapid, tight, passing that left Spurs chasing shadows and running their guts out for very little gain. That said, Spurs made it easy for us too, in leaving acres of space for loads of our players.
The Lilywhites showed plenty of resilience too and came out a lot better in the second half, which is where my usual unease set in. Fortunately, they seem bereft of confidence and frankly weren’t good enough.
The best part was being able to call Rashford and Asensio on for the last half hour. That gave the whole crowd and myself a great lift and I thought that pretty much finished Spurs off. We did let ourselves down and failed to keep a clean sheet again after Bogarde couldn’t stop the goal. That was a shame, as I thought he’d done pretty well up until then.
There were very good performances. Rogers was quite rightly given MOTM. Ramsey, McGinn and Digne showed lots of effort and it’s probably easier to say who I didn’t think were too good. Which is probably only Tielemans, who I thought had an off day, by his standards.
So the over-riding plus points for me were being able to bring on the quality of subs we did and actually qualifying for the fifth round.
And then there is something. even more encouraging. Look at the teams that have been knocked out already. Liverpool, just today, Arsenal and Chelsea. All the teams that we know would most likely beat us in a one off game. Everyone else is eminently beatable and the only risk I see is Newcastle.
The point is, this could prove to be the best chance we’ve had to actually win this pot after so, so long.
And with Emery the cup winning manager that we all know he is, in charge you just never know. This could actually be our year.
Perhaps the best thing of all is that it seems to me that now we’ve got this far, Unai is actually going to take this very seriously, something I’ve never thought before.
I don’t want to jinx us, but it all bodes well and I’m a very happy bunny today.
Oh and I can’t wait for the draw tomorrow!
I had to work in Manchester over the weekend, so never found time to write anything.
I made sure I got back just in time for the game though š
Rashfordās debut was class, as I expected. But, for me, it was Asensio who stood out.
Immediately gripped the fans attention with that āMcGinnā š¤£ turn with his first touches and just never slowed down from there, and apparently PSG wonāt stand in our way to buy him, maybe they will after seeing that.
Consistency is key, though, and theyāll all need to demonstrate that kind of level in the PL too.
Another shock for me was how quality Malen was, I thought heād be half-hearted today as he was livid that he was left out of CL squad, but he was the opposite, trying to prove Unai wrong maybe; or maybe is he trying to get us into CL next year so maybe he gets a look in then. š¤£
All round class and so refreshing to see us progress this far in any cup tbh, and long may it continue. Up The Villa!
Asensio?
Na,we got loads of players that can do that!
Ask Badgeršš
Great result, should have put it to bed earlier but all made for a great spectacle.
I thought Malen looked good too.
Mind you, it’s as I said, nearly all were pretty good, particularly effort-wise.
I meant to mention Asensio and his reverse flick. There were a couple of examples of that type of thing and it’s a great sign of confidemce.
For those who attended the game, the after game interview with Rogers and Ramsey was raved about by the pundits.
They all loved how the younger players see the incomers as competition who might steal their places, meaning they have to work hard to stay on top of their game.
It’s good, healthy competion and as was said, it’s a manager’s dream.
A lot of plus points from today. I thought defensively we were very good, even when Konsa went off. Of course we gave away the obligatory goal which is annoying. Garcia was excellent and will push Cash for a starting role. Bogarde as well apart from when he lost his man for their consolation goal. Kamara again was pure class and Digne had one of his best games which makes me feel sympathy for Maatsen.
In midfield we had š¶McGinn, super John McGinnš¶ and Tielemans who shooting apart played well.
In front of them, Ramsey ran them ragged and should have had 3 or 4 goals and Rogers was immense. Bailey wasnāt poor but I think this is the last season for him at VP.
Special mention to Malen who led the line with great effect and proved a worthy stand in for Watkins.
Rashford and Asensio certainly picked up the pace when they came on and Asensio especially looks quality while Rashford is rapid and showed great intensity.
The downside was Konsa and another defender out. Hopefully it was nothing serious and he will be back quickly. Also what happened with Onana? No mention why he wasnāt in the squad.
As for Spursy Spurs, I do have sympathy for Ange having 11 players out. Of course the BBC post match coverage was more about why they lost than why we won.
Ange should take a leaf out of Unaiās book and stop looking at injuries for an excuse!
Bemoaning the loss of his CBās – well heās not alone – but Unai just gets on with it telling his squad players thatās what youāre here for!
We had plenty of first team regulars out tonight – including Onana for whatever reason – then we lose our only fit specialist CB after 20 minutes. Emery though never references this.
Maybe psychologically if you infer your squad players arenāt up to it you start to dismantle team confidence?
And just as a final thought – we only had seven players on the bench of which two were goalkeepers!
But, in Maatson, Asensio and Ashford we had real quality.
Posters a of certain age (that sounds like a Tina Turner number š¤£) may have noticed this here orange ball is very similar to the Wembley Trophy football of the 70’s ( you know or you don’t).
Makes me wonder is our name on the cup this year?
Our time for a “Wembley Trophy”?
Brilliant win but oh wish someone would teach them how to finish and put games to bed,otherwise it looked like the villa of early last season going forwards.
Defense a worry though I thought bogarde and kamara did well consider their basically midfielder.
I’ve followed villa since 1957 and can’t remember ever seeing so many cb out injured at the same time that we have no fit cb.
Hopefully disasi will play in next match.
I hope the new players will keep it up and not be a flash in the pan types.
Asensio looks a brilliant addition if he can play like that every match.
It also showed what a midweek off can do for the players,they pressed with energy today.
And I hope that can continue with the new players able to come in on rotation utv
Onana? Prior to the window, it looked like he was playing with an injury, or not fully fit rather than anything else. We needed him urgently, but now we have all of our midfielders back, and new signings too, we can allow ourselves the luxury of giving him proper time to recover.
That’s my take on it anyway…
Is Onana injured again, ill or is he just being rested?
Canāt find any reference as to why he was missing last night.
I don’t think he’s been fit for a while, but we tend to keep these things very quiet or players become a target. If we advertise Onana has a crocked left ankle for instance, opposition aim for the weak point…The cynical fouls are worse than ever. Especially stamping on the top of a players boot. Leroy was caught by that yesterday.
Great win, great performance, Rashford and Asensio looked amazing, and the atmosphere was amazing at the back of the Holte (first time there for about 12 years probably).
Mr. Negative strikes again; Ramsey can be dropped if he doesn’t start passing. Don’t get me wrong he played amazing but he needs to pass more, no excuse not to give Asensio an open goal for his debut first goal and 3-0 to Villa. Although I imagine he was probably buzzing Ramsey didn’t pass, no player wants an open net on their debut, too scared to miss!!!
Overall amazing. And, 5th round? First time since Lambert!
No way will Unai drop Ramsey, imo.
And if you think we have a better option than him and what brings to the side at the moment, I’m glad you’re not the manager š
18 yo Yasin Ozcan has been signed on a pre contract for Ā£6,7 mill.
That’s a lot of dough for a kid.
https://tbrfootball.com/what-aston-villa-insiders-are-saying-about-yasin-ozcan-as-7m-signing-now-announced/
Home to Cardiff.
That’ll do for me.
Could it be our year?
Newcastle and Man Utd home draws as well , this is going to be interesting.
2 of Newcastle, Brighton, Wolves and Bournemouth also to go out next round.
Great home draw!!!
Need Newcastle and Bournemouth out, ideally…
Very reasonable draw but beware our FA Cup history at home against lower league sides.
Oh, definitely Hitch.
But we seem a better bet now.
And if we can’t beat Cardiff, we quite simply don’t deserve to progress.
Take nothing for-granted, but… this is starting to smell like our season!
Ye good draw that very happy and a great chance of the quarters UTMV
On a different note Oil City have to play a CL qually tomorrow against Real while our lads watch with their feet up knowing weāre already through.
I find that hysterically funny.
Whoād have thought that a few seasons ago?
Badger. If you don’t know what the 5th round is, barring another major upset, you’ll be scratching your head as to what on earth a quarter final is!!!
Ipswich next too!!!
Anyone heard anything about Canadian Pete? He’s been as regular as clockwork with his shows for 3 years, and he’s disappeared…Very odd.
Absolutely. It could be a good week or so when we start up again.
Quarter final? That would be witchcraft, let alone down to a top manager.
I noticed that Bum Bum (Canadian Pete) – hope allās OK
Also no new podcast from MOMS
Perhaps they couldnāt face talking about the Wolves game š
Excellent Villa performance, but not enough to get the papers talking about that instead of Spurs problems. Villa player in the front page picture of the Times Game section – guess who – Rashford!
Their keeper having gifted us a goal (gifts like that for us still a rarity) then had a blinder for 89 minutes making saves to keep us out.
Maatsen looks good attacking but I still don’t rate him as a defender – he qualifies for the barbed praise ‘he is a real threat to the nearest goal’. In this case he is so far away from the player on Spurs right wing who is crossing the ball, so that man has time to watch Tal chose his run (in front of or behind his marker) and deliver the right ball. Watch the highlights and Maatsen isn’t in shot.
Maatsen strikes me as a mistake. Digne and Moreno are both better, imo and it would seem Unai agrees.
The moral of the story is “you can’t win ’em all”.
Would imagine his show will be on tomorrow bum bum it’s a brilliant production
It is but there’s no Wolves show, nothing on the January window and no Spurs write up. Most unusual…
https://x.com/Holy_Trinity_AV/status/1889017753123639661/
Thanks Gerry. Ill but not dead!!!
A player went down at the final whistle playing for Halesowen Town the weekend and didn’t move. Looked very hairy but he’s okay now.
You never know do you! Stay safe Villians and take your multi vitamins!!!
Thanks Gerry – wondered if he was āunder the weatherā
Know how he feels – been feeling pretty c**p myself over the last couple of weeks. Think I have to thank the flu jab that it wasnāt worse!
Iāve had it and believe me not funny , Iām 86 and often wonder why Iām still around, all I can say is donāt let it drag you down weāve got to be at Wembley when we get there . Must get one of them dressing gowns . š
What’s your secret, Bill?
Sex and whiskey š„ works wonders BFR .
Bill – I drink plenty of whisky š„ š
Back to the cup game against spurs. Did you see the amount of ground the Emi covered to get into position to save Son’s shot. He guessed perfectly that the ball would be squared for Son and committed to the exact place he needed to be. I keep watching and it’s weird. The game replay is still on BBC I player
Yeh but it was a desperately shite finish, was it not? Well done Emi, nonetheless.
Still on the Cup, would love to see Forest go out, as I think they are the biggest threat along with Bournemouth, not Newcastle, City or United.