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!
Interesting the views towards Morgan. Some fans think he is not that good. The Daily Mail made him out man of the match with 8/10. Personally, I think he is someone who is becoming very special. His ability to drive at the opposition is excellent. His choice when to pass / shoot will improve with experience. He has only
played 16 Premier matches- 3 goals and 3 assists. The key for me is that Emery rates him highly. And that’s it, Emery knows more about football than any of us.
The real question is where does McGinn fit into the team, when he returns to fitness?
If it is broken down by position and pairing:
DM pivot: Onana / Kamara
Pivot: Tilesman / Barclay
Left: Ramsey / Rogers
Attacking Mid: Rogers/ Buendia
Right: Bailey, Philiogene
I see McGinn becoming a squad player starting matches in the bench. He’s 30 next month. Do Villa look to cash in on him next summer? Pure profit under PSR/FFP
That’s the point Sid, mine yours or any other average punters opinion is totally academic, Unai rates him and who are we to question his far more qualified judgement?
Yes I’ll hold my hands up, highly critical of his first half performance yesterday.
From a punters point of view he really at times frustrates me but that’s just my opinion, anyone is free to disagree.
Second half two assists, jobs a good one.
In Unai we trust.
Agree with the age issue, Sid, but that’s a bit harsh on the skipper. Victim of his own versatility and ability to play anywhere; I’ve no doubt he’d do a sterling job at right back. He can, and probably has, played every single one of those positions you’ve listed. Yet, we all know, he’s brilliant as an 8 or even a 10. Still plenty of room in the team for super John McGinn, in my opinion. But, yes, he’s not getting any younger.
McGinn becoming a squad player. Bloody hell! If he’s dropable, then my God we’ve come a long way!
I’m not a fan of dropping players or slating them at the drop of a hat. Meatball has been asked to play in his less than favoured role more often than not and he always excels. I don’t understand the ‘Chesty is shite’ brigade either! Carlos effed up yesterday but still put in a shift and some important blocks. We have an embarrassment of riches and a God at the helm, although I’ve seen some question Emery recently. I give up!!!
I’d like to see a radically changed side for Wycombe on Tuesday too. Rest a few players while we can…
P.s. come on Citeh!!!
We are becoming a monsterous team, and the opposition, when Duran comes on, just go, ‘Bugger’, as he scores yet again. Enjoy the ride and remember where we’ve been for the past 40 years.
I was one who thought Rogers was poor first half (sadly couldn’t watch the second half) but, having seen MoTD Rogers contributed second half.
Yes, at times he hangs onto the ball too long but given he only stepped up to the EPL less than twelve months ago, at £16m (?), I reckon we’ve got a bargain. He’s powerful, not afraid to run with the ball and he’s going to scare a few European defences shitless!
Emery is undoubtedly a world class coach and we now have a really good squad (actually more than really good!) Someone commented on the quality of our second half substitutions saying that sort of quality is only normally seen in the top six sides.
We’re not always going to be at our best but guys enjoy the ride – we’re at the top where we belong – sensational.
We’re still 3 rd Man City last 2 minutes equalised 2-2 Grealish helped to break through ..
Roy Keane has got Micah on the back foot 🤣🤣🤣
He ain’t having none of his BS 😂
Absolutely there is. Rogers is quality as far as I’m concerned.
Yes, it doesn’t always work, but he frightens defenders because they don’t know how to treat players like him (Ramsey is exactly the same).
Anyway, what a performance.
I was slating them blind in the first half, but we totally turned it round and guess what?
Whisper it quietly, because saying this seems somewhat wrong;
We’re doing what the very best sides do in grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat.
Hence we must be a very good side.
I’m now beginning to reconsider my prediction that we won’t achieve CL again this season.
We are beginning to look extremely difficult to beat and that bodes well.
I’m not quite there with the ultra optimism, Badger. Excellent start to the season and excellent progress, yes. However, clean sheets are a distant memory and that must change. It’s the only way to compete against the top 4 rivals – see City and Arsenal at home last season. These teams won’t concede 2 or 3 if we go behind.
Moreover, compare Liverpool’s and City’s attempts at goal and attempts on target to Villa’s. There’s a chasm there that needs closing. And these are stats that don’t lie. Plain and simple facts. Room for improvement at both ends, taking nothing away from our special manager and his brilliant team. Keep pushing…
UTV!
Ok fair enough, he’s the best player ever to don the claret and blue, never had a bad touch, pass, game, header or give the ball away (this list is not exhaustive) and is above all reproach.
My eyes deceived me, he was absolutely and obviously our most exceptional and standout player in both halves.
Thanks for putting me straight chaps, much appreciated.
Cynic 🙂
Anyway, you’re right RSS, even Unai acknowledged it in his post match interview – ‘We were sh*t first half and I’m not sure why’. Classic – even Linekar mentioned it!
Thanks.
To be fair Hitch maybe I went a tad over the top with the ‘shite’ comment? It was born out of frustration and in heat of the moment (sorry Chesty).
I was disappointed to see the starting 11 after the CL game. Its early in the season to be playing pretty much the same 11 game in game out. Emery is between a rock and a hard place though. We won’t qualify for CL by winning so it has to be league position. He will feel we need to keep winning games to get a top 4 slot which we do. It’s nice to see such a strong bench though. 5 or 6 potential game changers there.
Emery deserves the plaudits but hats off to the owners who really seem to know what they are doing and have backed the club financially. It’s a shame PSR or whatever it’s called now is holding us back right at the time we need to consolidate
Reading Chesty’s stats, in the 1st half he was actually the worst player ever to wear a Villa shirt, but in the second, his stats were off the chart! Who was it who said football is a game of 2 halves??? 🙂
3rd! Cor blimey, Guv! A big rest for the main players tomorrow night?
BFR. Carlos – What ‘article’?????
Bum Bum, this one:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cd05385k722o
I couldn’t believe how easy it is to ‘influence’ matches and for a player to be compromised, yet at the same time, I wasn’t surprised in the slightest. After reading it, any baffling and unforced error I see by a professional player makes me suspicious, without accusing anyone of anything, of course; I have to emphasise that.
Have a read. See what you think. I’ll never look at another error on the pitch in the same way after reading it.
I understand why you might be ‘concerned’ when seeing what appears to be an unforced error and you make it clear that you were not suggesting anything untoward but, maybe, we all need to be cautious in the way we voice our concerns – particularly on social media.
Mate I ain’t buying that, a loose pass nothing more more sinister imo.
And you could possibly make the argument if Onana had been little more savvy and say took one for the team he could have stopped the player one way or another?
Agreed. Like I said, after reading it, the perspective becomes somewhat skewed.
With so many eyes globally on the EPL and CL, I’d be amazed if it happened with any regularity at this level. The lower leagues, the evidence is there.
Looking forward to John Gregory’s old club tonight???? I expect full scale changes. As DS said above, we can’t risk players burning out early. ‘When’ we’re in the next round of the CL, I wonder if we’ll have budgeted to spend that money January? Apart from obvious cover needed at right back, where else do we need cover considering the return of our injured stars?
The good news BB, it’s on SKY main event Yeah!
Another top class center back for me. Very vulnerable position, always prone to injuries. But with Mings on his way back and Bogarde in the mix, I doubt it.
Swinkels and Bogarde. Thank you for making my point, Unai.
Team for tonight – intriguing?
Some definite inclusions I suspect – Gauci, Maatson, Bogarde, Carlos, Buendia, Barkley, Duran, Ned Kelly – after that not sure.
Assuming Cash, Kamara, Mings and Philogene not fit enough to play then maybe Bailey to get him some game time and Young who recently signed a new contract.
Unai might through in a couple of the U21’s – Swinkles for instance and could we see Rory Wilson on the bench.
I know it’s (only) the Carabou Cup but I’m looking forward to it.
UTV
2 hours to kick off! I think it’ll be a good game with considerably less stress!
We have a game at Ipswich followed by entertaining Bayern! Top drawer games comingbthick and fast…Careful what you wish for. I’m exhausted by it all!!! All the ‘football beers’ are giving me heartburn!
Aston Villa: Gauci, Nedeljkovic, Bogarde, Swinkels, Maatsen, Barkley, Onana, Bailey, Young, Buendia, Duran.
I am looking forward to this line up!
Pretty close with my team selection – wonder if I’ve got Unai concerned 🙂 🙂 can’t see who’s captain.
Like you Sid – looking forward to seeing how this group play.
PS Carlos replaced on the subs bench last minute – no reason given.
Picked up and injury in the warm up, apparently.
Buendia captain
Very inexperienced defence and it shows with Carlos injury no-one on the bench to reinforce it!
Plenty of fire power but we need to move the ball quicker.
Carlos minor injury in warm up…
So much for 8-0. Let’s just get past these and move on.
Interesting that Joao Felix is facing Barrow when he could have been facing Bayern with Villa. Just saying…
Why is Onana playing????
Would have preferred Rogers but I think Onana’s role is to protect an inexperienced defence – well that’s the theory 🙂
Not sure how Emery can change this apart from bringing Ramsey on,on the left to run at their defence.
Wycombe have all the chances so far but I like the look of Gauci.
Villa lacking a bit in energy – this is a cup tie against a L1 side so we need to be more aggressive.
Bailey is bang out of form. When was the last time he scored or assisted? Arsenal away?
A quick goal will take the wind out of their sales…Wanderers energy levels will drop later in the game, unless the occasion and adrenalin carries them through…