Work. The curse of the drinking class.
That’s the saying, but it also applies to the footy fan class as well. I didn’t finish work until 3.20, so missed most of the first half.
What I did see of it looked pretty good and really it was all quite comfortable, with us doing our usual trick of playing some very slick, first time stuff that’s a joy to watch.
The goal came and that was it. Watkins was given it, but Bailey had it covered anyway and it was 1-0. All good at half time.
Then came the restart, with Morgan Rogers quickly scoring a really nice goal to make it two and I was thinking it was game over, Brentford crumble and we go on to win at a canter.
Oh, no, no, no.
It’s never that simple with the Villa.
Brentford go on to score, maybe a bit luckily, with the ball going in from the player’s back foot after he’d missed it with his primary foot. It gave Martinez no chance and that was that. How they go in isn’t important. The score is.
And then Brentford scored again within a couple of minutes which had me fuming. How can you go two goals up and then concede two in a couple of minutes?
It’s quite easy when you’re the Villa.
There was commentary that said it was a great goal, but I don’t care. For me, it was just poor defending.
And then to send me totally apoplectic, we conceded again after taking a free kick and instantly giving it away, for christ’s sake.
This is amateurish stuff.
Emery was apparently doing his fruit and no wonder.
Meanwhile, I was nigh on having a coronary myself, complaining about how we had switched off and had allowed a plainly inferior side to dominate the game.
We pulled the equaliser back, but we never looked like we were going to get the winner and quite simply I kept thinking to myself that’s a massive two needless points dropped and my guess is it will have cost us fourth place when we look back at the season.
I know everything is possible in Premier league football and anyone can beat anyone on the day.
But you just can’t afford to not get the win in this kind of fixture if you want to be successful.
My over-riding thought during the last few minutes?
How often do we get that last minute winner that the usual teams do?
And the answer is “hardly ever”, isn’t it? I certainly don’t remember many.
And that’s how I knew we wouldn’t win.
UTV!
I’m fuming 🙁
And that f*cking ref!
One of our players was grabbed by the arm and blatantly pulled over. It was clear and obvious. He gave nothing, which had me questioning what the hell he actually sees in that sort of event.
And Brentford? I thought they were dirty in the first game. This confirmed it.
They’re on my wishlist now to go down.
I know the fans were chanting Diego but alongside Torres we have two CB’s who are very static with zero pace. That’s why Konsa is better there to compensate for Torres. I appreciate Cash is out but I’m wondering if Kesler-Hayden will just be a bench warmer till he goes out on loan again or sold.
I really hope Mings can get back to how he was before his injury but I have my doubts. Losing Kamara has been the biggest problem because he was a 5th CB when needed where Tielemans is poor defensively.
I think our bad luck with injuries will cost us 4th place so hopefully our English contingent in Europe will go on a long way to get the 5th place we probably will need unless Man Ure produce an amazing finish.
McGinn admitted a few weeks ago we mentally switch off when a couple of goals up. Low and behold we do it again.
I was fuming today as this is 2 points we could not afford to drop. I know injuries have impacted on the team make up. I do struggle with Tilesman when Villa need to put a foot in and act tough.
Now Luiz has a ban coming his way. Let’s hope Spurs and Manure can both go on loosing streaks. Somehow I doubt it!
We have conceded far too many goals this season. Even Everton have conceded less than us with 11 teams conceding more which is poor considering there are 16 teams below us. Carlos at RCB isn’t as good as Konsa and Mings under Emery last season was better than Torres IMO. It’s true that Torres has a good range of passing but he looks vulnerable when defending the box.
Without Kamara starting next season we either need to give Ireogbunam more game time to show he can cover that position or get a loan signing in.
A place in the Champions League next season would offer better hopes of signing better players you would think.
Rubbish that and every team has had big injuries this season so can’t blame it on that but we will finish 5th so if English teams continue to do well in Europe we will still get into the champions league which will still be a hell of an achievement
Have to disagree Little about the injuries. Yes, all teams have injuries and suspensions but against Citeh we had 8 first team top players missing – 8 and we don’t have the squad depth of Citeh et al.
Four of our best players – have been out long term -Buendia and Ming’s all season, Kamara for more than half the season (he was injured earlier in the season) and Ramsey for all but about half a dozen games. Add in the other injuries and the extent to which they have disrupted our defence and I think it is now massively impacting our season.
Tbf, unlike pretty much any other manager, Emery hasn’t once even mentioned the length of our injury list let alone used it as an excuse. Even today in his post match conference he was more self critical than pointing fingers at the players.
Spot on, Hitch. Unai is class. Since the opening day, after Mings and Buendia, he made it clear that to use the injuries as the reason was “excuses.” He was basically not allowing the squad an easy get out.
But the reality is he’s been without his two most creative players all season and a rock in defence. Add to that Kamara now and it’s a near miracle they’re still clinging on to their targets for the season, with one month left. One last big push needed!
Could be worse could be a blue nose haaaaa
Although I miss the big derby would still love them to go down im sure poor old Tom Brady has never tasted defeat on a week to week basis before haaaa
Torres positioning for 2 of the Brentford goals was hopeless. For their 3rd he has let a man with the ball get 10+ yards beyond him and he is just jogging back. Have to agree with Holte, if that is his best effort as a CB, then we need Konsa at CB and a RB. With Luiz banned Torres can move up a row.
Just watched a carbon copy of our match in Scotland. 3-3 Rangers and Celtic. I’m still gutted and furious how we gave Palace a point and we lost 2 . Torres is weak and he’s guilty of many times being out of position we need a solid centre back .
Mings.
I’m losing it Brentford not Palace , it’s this wind in Cornwall driving me bonkers 20 ft waves and sheets of rain. Want to go home.
That’s why I currently wouldn’t even think about holidaying in the UK Bill.
When the weather’s good, there’s nowhere better. But how often does that happen?
I do though, appreciate that foreign travel might be a bit too much though.
Been in Brighton all day supporting daughter in the local marathon.
Clear blue skies and sun all day – absolutely gorgeous weather even if it was a little windy early on.
A few bevvies supped – great day out.
You can’t beat the English seaside on a day like today 🙂
I’m fed up of hearing about Utd, Spurs, Pool or Citeh or whoever having major injury problems. I think it’s Villa and Newcastle who have suffered the most but you don’t hear Emery or Howe whining on about their bad luck. Considering we have had 3 ACL’s in just one season to players who would have been played most of the season, plus Ramsey too missing for the vast majority, then you have to marvel at the excellence of Emery’s management to be in the top 4 nearly all season.
I think Spurs have the best chance of finishing top 4 now especially with us still to play Arsenal and Pool plus the added European games. A couple of months ago I predicted us finishing 6th because I thought Man Ure would overtake us but if they lose to Pool today we should get at least 5th. That would be remarkable given the constant changes particularly in defence.
Just imagine what could be achieved if we offload a few of the duds such as Zaniolo and Chambers and get back Buendia and hopefully Mings plus Ramsey for next season with a couple of quality additions, with a lot less injuries and Emery in charge!!
Spot on, Holte.
Great positive comments Holte ye hopefully get through this season and pinch champions league then think we will be even better with everyone back next season
Against the run of play but Forest just equalised, its 1-1 and we are 4th again. Happy Sunday
Forest now losing. Spuds get the 3 points. I still think this will go down to the wire for 4th as this season has thrown up massive suprises.
ManU will in no way catch us or Spuds. I’m gonna put a tenner on this being decided on the last day of the season.
P.s. Anyone who criticises Emery needs their head examined.
Bournemouth, Chelsea (a bit of revenge on order) and Forest all at home next while Spuds get mashed at Arsenal, Citeh and Liverpool.
I sensed Ollie was rightly fuming after yesterday’s result. Our defence has been patched up and running on empty for months. Pau must be carrying injuries and Carlos too for the amount of games they have both missed so absolutely zero criticism from me.
Ah, I’ve just read Ollie’s comments questioning our winning mentality.
That’s probably a better way of explaining what I was trying to get at.
We’re nowhere near the finished top level team yet.
But a long way from where we were two years ago?
A bit of perspective?
How can you enjoy the highs without the lows?
Else you end up being a Man U, City of Bin Dipper fan.
Not somewhere I want to be.
That’s what I mean Ron.
I’m being strongly critical of the lads when the reality is they’ve done superbly this season.
I’m viewing us as a top level side and fully expecting top four.
And it’s unfair of me.
Nice goal from Morgan Rogers. Last couple of games his ability has started to show so maybe some who have been critical will come round.
TBF even City cock up sometimes. We really do seem to be on the right path though.
Given Forest and Everton points deductions we are way past the point City should be getting caned. Preferably before the end of this season too. Not going to happen but it’s a nice thought
Our next 4 games: Arsenal. Bournemouth. Chelsea. Brighton. We should get 7 points from those games if not more.
Spuds: Newcastle (A), Citeh. Arsenal. Liverpool. 1 point for Spuds there? It is possible that Spuds won’t pick up another point until they play Burnley.
So utterly frustrating. I sense this will galvanise the squad. Ollie was well hacked off which will hopefully focus us even with the Lille games. It doesn’t look like anyone will be coming back from injury for the rest of this season so we need to work with what we have. We count the Arse game as a free hit, much like the Citeh one, so as long as our GD doesn’t take a hammering, Luiz may be taking a well earned rest. Crazy to pick up a suspension with 2 minutes to go until the cards were all wiped off but what can you do!?!?
“I think they’re pretty much guaranteed to get into the top four, I can’t see Manchester United going on a run. It would be a capitulation from Tottenham if they didn’t get Champions League football right now.”
Those are the words of Jamie Redknapp! Clearly he has nothing but disdain at the very thought that Villa could ever finish top 4. So much so that he thinks Man Ure are the only team that can challenge Spurs.
I hate Sky and it’s arrogant bunch of pundits from the Sky 6 teams. Complete biased bunch of w*****s!
We might not like the wording, but I think he’s right.
I agree with your thoughts but the reality is that it’s now down to Spurs to throw the top 4 away.
Nothing is impossible and indeed, I watched the documentary about us winning the EC again before game yet again and I was reminded of how looking back, it seemed we were destined to win that competition.
I’m not feeling that we are destined to get forth this year.
I agree that if I was a betting man then I would pick Spurs for 4th, but the fact he refers to Utd probably not going on a run without mentioning Villa is laughable. Maybe Villa were mentioned but not paragraphed in the BM! Unfortunately or probably fortunately I didn’t watch the Sky post match waffle 😏
I’m sticking to us getting 4th. Spurs have just 2 non-top club games left this season, Burnley and Sheffield. The other 5 or 6 games are very, very tough for them. Bradford was a bitch but we can create daylight between us and them over April. Keep the faith!!!!
Sometime a good fright is better than good advice. That’s what happened Saturday. I think that game will shock the squad into waking up especially with McGinn and Cash due back. Luiz will also have a breather. These guys will not want to throw away an incredible season by wimping out and limping off. It’s time for them to show their true colours and behave like men, not kids. Backbone is what’s needed to get us over the line.
Berserker mode: ON!!!!!