First off, let me say what a fantastic advert for the Premier League that was. It’s no wonder it’s the most watched league by far, as nowhere else can you see a game ebbing and flowing the way it did today, especially when you consider it was nearly top of the league against the bottom. Would you get that in La Ligue? Doubtful, at least the vast majority of the time. Consider Forest beat Liverpool on their own patch today too.
It just had everything, in Everton taking an undeserved, but typical Aston Villa type game lead. They even went on to lead 2-0 too, even though we’d spanked them for the first 20 minutes, with some good pressing and some lovely, rapid one touch play. Was anyone surprised when that happened? I wasn’t and not being young, I very much suspect I wasn’t alone.
Which brings me to my big concern. I don’t want to put a dampener on things, but today’s approach was a case of “we’re gonna score one more than you”. And while that can be great to watch, it’s almost always unsuccessful. Maybe Unai thought we could go that way today and fortunately, if so, he called it right.
But I doubt that was the case and he’ll surely have been as disappointed as I was at the way we were breached so easily. Was there one strong Everton attack that we managed to resist? If so I don’t remember it or at least it didn’t impress me much.
We look weak at the back and quite simply, Champions league teams will rip us to pieces; certainly the better ones, if that’s all our defence can muster.
Still, today, I prefer to think that Unai was more interested in attacking Everton and ultimately, it worked.
Ollie looks miles off it to me, but proved me totally wrong in getting two goals. He missed another he should have buried, but given the result, I can live with it. No doubt if we’d lost I’d have been complaining like mad, but that’s what it’s about isn’t it? He said himself he’s not 100%, so again we can’t complain.
So why not play Duran from the off and give Ollie a rest? The youngster thinks he’s better than Ollie and certainly looks the better out and out striker. But his time will come and it isn’t just yet, in my opinion. Keep doing what you’re doing Jhon and you’ll be playing when you look more likely than Ollie.
The world really is his oyster at the moment and he’s so young too.
So who played well and who didn’t?
Rogers looks so threatening and is very much like Ramsey, in exactly the driving type of midfielder I like to see. To have two of these types is great and we saw exactly why today. Rogers played well and Ramsey not so well. We always have that big attacking threat is the point.
Tielemens pulled loads of strings and was a close second for me. He’s really starting to look like the player we thought he was and made things tick.
Watkins also has to be up there, although I’m not so prone to praising strikers for doing there basic requirement, but when you consider how far off it he looks, he did well. I do find it concerning that he doesn’t look happy in his play of late, but I’m inclined to think he might be mentally jaded more than anything.
And of course, Duran “the petulant” also did well. Along with the longest distance goal this season, he also hit it with such a curl, it’ll be remembered by many this season. He also did a nice chest down and high level scissor kick that would probably have surpassed his first if it had gone in. “Dangerous” is definitely the word, where he’s concerned and while I still think Ollie is by some way the better player, he now doesn’t look quite the liability he did a while back and I’d be perfectly happy for him to come on against any team. Including the likes of Bayern, which is some praise coming from me, seeing as I wanted him gone just weeks ago, because I thought his attitude was irretrievable. No doubt Unai’s word in his ear has worked. I’m happy to say that’s great, if so.
I’m not going to say too much about who didn’t play well, especially when they were mostly young lads, but John McGinn will be able to take it. I thought he also looks off it. Being played out wide definitely takes from his game, but no doubt he’s just doing as he’s told and playing for the team.
I still think we need another RB, but it is what is.
So a great win, although I’d have been going nuts if we’d lost.
Does that make me fickle or is it just an indicator of those fine dividing lines that the Prem is all about?
UTV!
Carols has become a liability. Sent off preseason, crap pass out from Young Boys nearly conceded and today his shocking pass out meant we went 0-1 down.
Yep. And after reading ‘that” article, I have my suspicions that he may well be compromised in some way.
Only one side in this at the moment and it’s not Villa!
Why do we always struggle against Wolves?
The way I see this game now is Wolves are here to beat us and we are here to play football, we are so tuned in to playing pass the ball it’s time to get tough.
Spot on Bill.
Rogers is having a poor game
Badger, your chesty love in is lost on me.
He’s f*”king awful.
No. He’s having a bad game…
Changes due at half time?
No, he’s shite.
Ball don’t stick, passing woeful shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team.
Form temporary, class permanent.
I cannot see us beating Wolves with the setup on at the minute, he has to change this way , Watkins not in the game get Bailey on and see if we can get him in the game if not Duran needs to come on . As for Carlos get rid too slow.
Emery needs to use his squad. Apart from Carlos it’s the third match of the week for these players. Lacking sharpness. Use the subs.
I am hoping Bailey comes on. It will mean we can attack down both flanks. Currently only have a cutting edge on the left. Duran for Rogers? Play two attackers with half their defence in yellow cards.
Duran for Rodgers?
Jesus I’d put Bosko Balaban, Douglas Bader or Helen Keller on in his place.
He’s like playing with a player short, absolutely shocking display.
Carlos is useless and should be substituted. Rogers too having a stinker and Watkins not in the game. Only Onana has been good first half. It looks like McGinn is going off so Bailey should come on. Also Bogarde should come on and Carlos off so Konsa can go back to CB. Maybe put Duran on for Watkins!
Wolves are getting stuck in and disrupting our rhythm. We need to toughen up otherwise I can see them scoring more.
Have we scored????? Can’t believe I missed this one!
Yeasssss Ezzzriii 2-1 comment onnnnn
Very similar the Palace game last season at VP, literally about the same time in September, when we looked out of it then came back to win. This team’s resilience reminds me of Fergies United, and that’s a big compliment!
Yeeeeaasss great turnaround by the super villaaaaa we are joint top of the league say we are joint top of the league woo hoooo
This team has got balls!
BFR I think you may be getting a little carried away, we played the Dingles, rock bottom – scored 5 conceded 14.
Hardly what you could call stiff opposition?
I’ll pardon your pun, RSS!
What fantastic entertainment. Oh and the game wasn’t bad either.
Rogers is knackered them are the times we should change players, well I’ve changed my mind , we will win this 😇😇
The depth of our squad when used means we can beat virtually any team in this league consistently.
As soon as Bailey came on, we had 2 flanks to attack and Wolves could not cope.
As soon as we stop conceding sloppy goals we will really start to motor.
Lively to hear the fans chanting about Gary Shaw!
villa baby i love ya 💋
I think Emery gave them a roasting at half time. Definitely a game of two halves. Rogers improved massively and Barkley added that ability to pass forward. Credit to Carlos for not letting his howler get to him. We are showing a resilient side we never had before Emery.
Also kudos to Maatsen who was excellent when he came on. Emery just knows what’s needed when things are going wrong.
Brilliant ball to Rogers, perfect weight on the pass so he ( Rogers) didn’t have to take a touch before sliding it Ollie (no bad thing considering the nightmare first half he’d had!).
Duran not Ollie 🤦♂️
Bloody hell it’s great to be a villa fan at the moment have an amazing weekend Villains
I’d like to see Barkley, Duran, and Buendia annihilate Wycombe next week. 8-0? 4 for Duran? No harm in speculating…
I was watching my local team, last days of the warm summer… Keeping an eye on your comments as the game went along 🤣.
Remarkable finish. What great days we’re experiencing. MOTD later will be a thrill, especially with the Barcodes losing! Whooooo!!!!
Terrible first half BB, I was pulling what’s left of my hair out, motd won’t do it justice.
Unai turned around in second half due to some smart substitutions and no doubt, very harsh words at half time.
Emery’s MOTD interview was hilarious! ‘We were shit in the first half’!!!!
Nice to see the ‘terrible’ Chesty getting 2 assists!!!!! Cracking game!!!!
He was woeful in the first half and having a bit of Google of his short spell at Boro…
“He has lost possession on average 18.3 times per 90 minutes played, which puts him in the top 20 in the Championship this season, and means that 34% of his touches lead to him losing the ball.
His pass success rate of 72.2% is remarkably low.”
Unai is a far better judge than me but he’s far from the finished article imo.
Could that be because he’s brave enough to pass forwards and try to break lines and create goalscoring opportunities, rather than play safe and go sideways a la Ashley Westwood? There are lies, damn lies,…
There is something in what you say BFR.