Sorry for the terrible title, but it’s as good as anything else I can think of.
I’ve seen it said a few times over the last couple of months that we’re on the edge of hammering someone, but you could have fooled me and I don’t know what game they’re watching. In fact we look more like the team that could get hammered, with our defence, in my opinion.
Not today though and I’ll be watching this one with some interest. Firstly, because we only knocked the Irons out of the cup a couple of weeks ago. The big questions are was the reason they lost last time because Potter hadn’t had any time to work with them and has he managed to improve what wasn’t a great side?
And then there’s Donyell Malen, who, when you consider we got £20 million plus £3 million in add ons for Philogene, was a bargain at an initial fee of £21 million, rising to £27.7 million. That’s for a Dutch international and it seems to be a really excellent purchase and a great bit of business by Monchi and the Villa. Or is he just somewhat over-hyped and we’ve just got him at fair value? I suspect not.
Let’s hope playing on the right (which I’ve no doubt is where he will play) proves more fruitful for him than it has for a fair few players over the last few years. The position seems to destroy players for some reason and it’s a bit of a coincidence that I believe our biggest weakness is who will no doubt be playing behind him; IE the right back.
Regardless, Donyell has talked about how he wants to get goals and assists, but has recently talked about how training has involved defending. And this is the part I’m interested in. How well does he track back and help out? It took Bailey ages to learn to work back, after all and I hope it’s not the case here, because as much as we want that attacking part of the game, defence is equally important in my eyes.
I believe the Dutchman has decent pace too and that’s something we sorely need.
Squad news and nothing has changed. McGinn is training with the squad, but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready yet. Onana is still training on his own and is obviously miles away, as is Pau. Ross Barkley still isn’t ready either
As for West Ham, they have central defender Konstantinos Mavropanos out having been red carded last week for two yellows. Fellow central defender Jean-Clair Todibo is also a big doubt. Jared Bowen isn’t ready and it’s the same with Crysencio Summerville. Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug are definitely out.
Am I the only one who’s never heard of most of those players? Whatever, it sounds good for us defensively and attack-wise.
After hearing of West Ham’s woes, I’m encouraged. They beat Fulham in their previous game but lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace at home in their last game. It doesn’t seem Potter’s had enough time to change much and given our home advantage, I have to go for a Villa win. I’m going to stick my neck out and say I think Malen will get a goal too. Perhaps that’s wishful thinking, but I do see goals. If we can’t take advantage of a West Ham side without their two best defenders and a weakened attack, well…….
So what do I think the score will be, then?
I’m tempted to say 3-1. But I think a repeat of that previous 2-1 win is more likely.
I’ll take either.
UTV!
From a non emotional stand point – we’ve stuffed ourselves by leaving us short at CB.
Digne is not a CB and it showed.
I have to question the strategy in this transfer window – what are we actually trying to achieve – other than shooting ourselves in the foot.
One very pissed off Villan
Balanced books, Hitch. Not a balanced team.
Easy to blame PSR but our management team need to be more savvy and ruthless when it comes to making sure the footballing side aren’t sacrificed to the bean counters.
We should never have sold Carlos in this window whatever the situation.
On the plus side, it was good to see Mings put for the second half smiling which suggests it’s not a serious injury – although will probably keep him out of Wednesday’s game.
Not sure how we’re going to line up – play Swinkels at CB – Digne’s not the answer.
And we didn’t need this type of game before Wednesday.
Sadly, I can see our season going down the tubes
Since the start of the 2016/17 season, no Aston Villa player has won more duels or made more tackles in a Premier League game than Boubacar Kamara against West Ham.
◉ 17 duels won
◉ 9 tackles made
He also won possession 11 times, the most by a Villa player in a PL game this season.
In other words, without him, we’d be f*****.
He’s top class BFR – without a doubt.
Word for Konsa who was also superb.
Agreed. Kamara was awesome again. His value is sky high!
Referee was a joke and how many times have I said that now. The decision not to award a second yellow card for Alvarez was disgraceful.
As for Villa, we were shit again. We have only had a couple of good games all season and we were lucky to have a got a draw in the end..
Someone on here said Emery is a one trick pony and I’m beginning to agree. We started full throttle and got the goal and then…… nothing!
I don’t understand the decision to play Digne at CB and bring Maatsen on at LB. That meant two positional changes when he could simply have brought Bogarde on. So what happened next was West Ham get the ball out wide and put crosses in against mostly midgets compared to West Ham’s attacking players.
Bournemouth have 9 players out injured and they are tearing teams apart. I can see Spurs knocking on their door for Iraola after today.
I can’t even be bothered to be angry after that load of crap.
It’s more resignation in the fact that I think that could be the game that costs us CL qualification.
And frankly we don’t deserve it anyway. We have no pace, are lightweight, get pressed to death all the time, don’t create chances and can’t defend even before Mings got injured. Just so many things wrong with us.
And how Pacqueta never got sent off is beyound me.
I’m all in favour of letting a game flow, but that ref never got a grip of the game and was so, so poor.
Potter needs to work on his goal celebrations. For a moment, I thought he was taking a big constipated shit.
Money in the bank who cares about winning football matches as long as we ok Money wise.
I think emery has reached his ceiling time to move on Bournemouth manager anybody at least see attacking football.
What happened to our attacking with pace we had last year ?
They started so well tonight then what a shambles after mings went off,why didn’t he bring bogarde on or play kamara ch with bogarde in midfield manager has lost the plot time to go I hate to say it.
Something has gone terribly wrong with the club behind the scenes.
Celtic will rip us apart and destroy us.
Back to reality and 60s football
Classic self-inflicted Villa cock-up. Martinez as bad as the rest for fumbling tonight.
Laughable switch after Mings departed, it should have been Bogarde on. Maatsen has got nowhere near the performance to match his transfer fee, so we weakened 2 positions instead of 1. Free crosses from their right wing and overload Cash at the back post, West Ham have been doing that as long as we have had a short-arsed right back.
I will take the opposite view to the rest of you. I find Buendia a catalyst for a slump. It does not surprise me he was absent for the whole of our best season. Pretty footwork but no end product. Wake me up when he scores or assists in a match Villa win.
Disagree on Buendia, OLL. Loads of end product before the injury. And end product aside, the tone he sets alone makes the team go up at least one gear. And gets the crowd going. Which might get another gear out of the team.
In my opinion, Bailey shouldn’t start another game this season. Buendia in the 10, with instructions to shoot to score, and play Ollie in. McGinn on the right. Either Morgan or JJ left. That works best for me.
I can’t believe the view being Emery has reached his ceiling and should be replaced. All I say to rubbish like that is Cubishley and Charlton!
I think the problem we have this year is PSR impacting on Emery being able to make the full changes he would like to. Don’t forget PSR meant Luiz and Diaby were sold, two quality players who have not been replaced.
The wealth clubs league published this week had us at 18th but with a 96% wage to revenue ratio. To be in Europe next year (at this rate we might not achieve 7th), that ratio has to be 70%. This is really restricting our ability to update our squad. Therefore, I really believe that our squad is going through a period of rejuvenation.
I think the key is who Emery will want there in 3 years time. From the starters today I would say:
Martinez
Konsa
Kamara
Rogers
From the bench, who came on
Maatsen
Malan
Those out injured:
Onana
Torres
I expect a real turnover of players this summer. PSR means moving on high earners for young players with potential to develop and sell, like Duran.
This season I hope we give it our best in all fronts, but expect inconsistency.
It might also mean selling Duran for north of £80m and spending the money more wisely than Purslow did.
If PSR is now the ultimate arbitrator in football then we should sell Duran.
As always Europe adopts the worst of American practices without understanding the difference between franchised sport and our game.
Bill, us oldies saw the best of football, the modern generation sees the worst of financial might.
I think we may well sell Duran. I think he brings an element of risk and that will probably cost us as much as it benefits us other times.
Sell him while his stock is high. He hasn’t impressed the last couple of times on the pitch and I’m not sure he really sees us as his home.
Shame though
Agreed (again) Sid. I think we’ll see a mass clear out this year as the next stage of the project begins. Unfortunately unless you’re one of the sides that can spend, spend, spend with zero repercussions, finance is now ruling squads more than ever. It’s not about sustainability or protecting clubs for the fans, it’s about maintaining the status quo. We’re clearing the decks ready invest again.
In saying that, letting Carlos go was a big mistake unless a quality CB arrives this week.
If I had any doubts about how corrupt football has become the reaction to this game removes them.
Paqueta who is a talented footballer is lauded but all his cheating and trying to get players booked or worst is overlooked. Questions about whether Digne should have been red carded when Paqueta dramatically threw himself to the ground seem to be the main topic – but no questions as to why Alvarez was allowed to stay on the field when it was absolutely clear under the rules of the game that he should have received at least two yellow cards.
This lack of consistency and generally poor standard of refereeing is unacceptable. Why isn’t VAR intervening and advising the ref that Alvarez should have received a second yellow? Oh the comms say – ‘he”s a lucky boy’ that’s all bollocks and it’s no wonder I’m starting to get so pissed off with football that I’m seriously starting to have doubts about why I should watch it.
Alvarez should have been red carded. No question. Not sure about Digne. He put out an elbow after being pushed but it didn’t seem overly aggressive to me. Stupid risk to take though. I thought the ref was poor. I’m not sure it was bias. Just crap refereeing. It’s a shit job though. Every decision 50% of viewers think you are a wanker.
TBF I thought West Ham played well. They could have crumbled the way we started and bearing in mind the disruption to a team with a limited squad they did well.
As for Villa, we started really well and a second goal may well have seen us cruise to a win. After they got a foothold they squeezed us and controlled midfield. Pacqueta is irritating but brilliant. I wish he was in our team.
Unfortunately Malen did a blinding impression of Bailey with a weak attempt on goal after cutting on to his left foot. I hope he turns out better.
Our record after CL games is appalling. Hard to see a win against Celtic but even if we do I don’t expect us to go further than the next round.
PSR is really screwing us. We would have a much stronger squad than now without that, and it pisses me off that we have to sell players that we would like to keep justo balance the books when the owners are keen to spend their own money to make us stronger.
We are this years Newcastle
BTW , in regards to CH I would be surprised if we don’t buy one and take one on loan before the end of the window . You couldn’t knock Carlos commitment but he wasn’t good enough for the way Emery wants the team to play.
DS that’s the minimum requirement – but it won’t help on Wednesday as any new CB’s coming in won’t be eligible in any case.
My reference to ‘corrupt football’ was not a suggestion of individual bias but the generally inconsistency and poor standard of refereeing which is unacceptable.
VAR is supposed to remove these inconsistencies – it doesn’t. It’s poor in every aspect of its involvement and only adds to the frustration of fans.
Hard not to sympathise with that view but if you ever do the job you will realise how tough it is to make split second decisions based on your viewpoint/position.
Var is ok for offsides or off the ball incidents but I think it’s hard to assess intent from a slow motion of a real time incident . It also suffers from an inherent bias to support an onfield decision but in some ways that’s what we all want.
The solution is simple. Score a few more goals than your opponent and if a decision doesn’t go your way it doesn’t matter. I don’t know why we just don’t do that!
I accept that DS but I still think, as fans, it’s not unreasonable to expect a generally consistent standard of refereeing.
Maybe I’m just remembering through rose tinted glasses or maybe it’s the much higher level of TV and media exposure and scrutiny but the standard of refereeing today seems poorer than that of yesteryear.
Whilst the objective of VAR is commendable I don’t think it’s improved fans experience or enjoyment of the game and confidence in the ‘fairness’ of decision making. On that basis it needs a complete rethink and a different communication strategy.
It has much to learn from rugby and cricket but do those that are responsible have the humility to accept it needs to change?
Perfect example in this game with Alvarez. He is already on a yellow when he thinks he is fouled, so grabs the ball with both hands as he hits the ground. Ref has not blown for the foul on him, so that is a deliberate hand ball and should have been a second yellow. If the ref is keeping tally, that has already ‘let Alvarez off’ once so there is no more wriggle room. The final foul by Alvarez needs no excuse. It is no attempt to play the ball. An elbow into the face of Kamara as Kamara is breaking away with support so likely to lead to an effort on goal. A certain yellow for a player without one – so how the hell is it not the 3rd yellow card offence?
The ref should be stood down for 2 matches.
He let him off at least 5 times.
Well if anybody is willing to listen to my rant then that’s appreciated. I did my best to deny it at first, but in all honesty we are barely above average. When you set yourself the task of identifying three comfortable PL performances and find yourself struggling as a Champions League outfit, then there is definitely a cause for concern.
I admit I am fickle, but today’s result was nothing short of a disgrace. Our defensive woes are a joke. We have completely shot ourselves in the foot selling a half-decent back-up centre back with no guaranteed replacement, and the midfield does not pass the ball strongly enough, and with pressure constantly mounting on our weak defence, you can almost guarantee us conceding every single game we play.
The right side is a joke. I’ve no doubt teams deliberately take advantage of this area on the pitch, because we just look so weak. Defensively, Cash is not good enough, and in terms of attack we find ourselves in a dead end far too much, and I find that every single game the left side is a far more productive route in terms of producing goals.
At the minute the football is unsustainable. However, we could’ve got away with that last season because we’d have killed the game off in the first 20 minutes… what has changed?!
Any ideas are welcome but for me the effort has dropped and it has also shown during periods where we have had no sign of fixture congestion, so excuses are very limited. And with all due respect please bore off with criticising the referee, bored of it now it’s every week I see far too much of it, lazy excuse, ref was also OK today in my opinion, but some people won’t agree.
Always the possibility of me going to Wolves next week, but happy to watch it at home in the warm… UTV!
Alfie – all fair comment.
I would just make the point that at no time have I held the ref responsible for our defeat – that would be nonsensical. My gripe is with the lack of consistency – there is no doubt that Alvarez should have received a second yellow but I don’t think for a minute that would have changed the outcome.
But it’s this inconsistency that winds fans up – that’s my point.
The real concern is, as you say, some naive mistakes in the transfer market and a concern that, just maybe, Emery has lost his way?
Having said all that it seems we’re suffering in the same way Newcastle did during their first season in the Champions League.
Cheers Hitch.
Yeah that is fair enough but obviously every team has had their fair share of mistakes made by the officials over the years.
Yep, something has to change in terms of transfers.
I do not even want to put our results down to the CL as we’ve won games with fixture congestion and lost them during the CL break. So I think it is down to effort and thinking that games are won before the kick-off.
what has changed?!
I remember listening to Joey Barton talking about managers and players, how the changing room get sort of immune to the managers BS after a period of time. The only choice then being regularly to
(A) change the players?
or
(B) Alternatively the manager has to go?
The point I’m trying to make is have the players tired of Emery and his methods?
What has changed?
– Martinez not keeping clean sheets. He’s not the best in the world for that reason alone. Under Smith, when the team was far inferior, we would win a games 1-0, especially away, mostly down to him. That has changed.
– Dougie used to SCORE from corners. Now we just give the ball back to the opposition. That has changed. Minus Dougie’s goals and assists from midfield – that’s a big change.
– Bailey had countless goals and assists last season. That has definitely changed and I’d like to see him sold ASAP.
– Diaby – see Dougie.
– Watkins suffering due to loss of Diaby and Dougie.
Add to that, Pau injury, Ramsey still not back to anywhere near his best, and the small matter of CL football, and you see the results. Every little (doesn’t) help. The results after a CL game midweek speak for themselves. Add to that the weakening of the squad and injuries, and it’s basically a toxic mix. Very little of which is Unai’s fault.
Well said Ron that’s what I think too,they just switch off when he goes on in his meetings plus do they really understand his language.
It’s a sign of madness when he picks same players same system and ends up with same result.
I liked emery and hate it when you change manager but I do wonder if he’s lost the dressing room.
And I think the Spanish way he plays is no longer the way forward.
This was the way to play before maybe but it’s all changed now.
Look at the way Bournemouth play attacking attractive football that gets the fans out of their seats
I really don’t think Emery has lost the changing room. I am sure if that were the case NSWE would sell the players than change the manager.
Disruption due to injuries is playing a major role again. Further, the club not being able to get a right back last summer has impacted. Then add in Bailey has gone backwards are all key ingredients. I’d also add in taking Watkins off on 65 minutes to give Duran game time does not help.
Sid, if we can’t play Duran and Watkins together and someone is prepared to stump up between £80 and £100m including a good striker as part of the deal then I say go for it.
I think the talk around giving Louie Barry a new contract is interesting. He’s still only 21 and fits Emery’s profile for players whereas Duran is (or appears to be) a maverick.
Talk about him going out on loan to a Championship side but if Emery thinks he’s good enough I would rather see him in the first team squad now.
On the note Sid, Paul Merson asked Ollie about these late substitutions (him for Duran) and how Ollie having run the defenders into the ground for 60 odd minutes then – exit stage left Ollie – enter Duran, who then benefits from coming on fresh against tired defenders.
Ollie, shall we say wasn’t overenamored with this situation because has he pointed out, a lot of his goals came late in games?
Random question
Has anybody had there tickets sent for Celtic yet ?
Sorry but looking at the posts above I had to have a look at the table again to check that we weren’t in a relegation battle. But no, still just four points off a CL place and still with a chance of top eight in the CL itself.
Probably no wonder that we didn’t play well as the West Ham game was sandwiched between two CL games. Plus there’s the dratted new manager bounce which we’ll probably come across again in the cup when Ange gets sacked.
Let’s face it, playing in the CL and trying to keep your head above water in the PL is bloody difficult and a steep learning curve for our players. Also we don’t really have a squad that’s big and good enough for the CL but we’re getting there.
Emery has brought us to an important stage and a great game against Celtic. Games like this don’t happen often in Villa’s history so strap in and enjoy the ride.
We’ll put 1874.
Sadly, a rather pessimistic attitude has been ground into Villa fans (particularly us older fans) and it’s hard to put it aside sometimes.
Demons lurk where there aren’t any – keep up the good work 🙂
On to matters of transfer rumours – according to Signor Romano we’ve agreed personal terms with Disasi at Chelsea who wants to join Villa over other interested teams in Europe. We now have to agree a deal with Chelsea although I wouldn’t see that as too much of an issue given our mutual trading history – that is unless they ask for Duran 🙂
Louie Barry is set to go out on loan probably to Hull – again a club with whom we seem to have a good relationship and trust to look after and give our players game time. I still see him as someone who can step up to the first team squad.
Fair comment 1874.
Our season looks like it’s going to run in the same vein as Newcastle’s last?
But you have to admit some of our performances have been less than convincing and some criticism is warranted?
Fair comments 1874! I think we tend to post our views quickly when emotions are raw. Probably best to wait a couple of days till we can be more rational. However I do think that our levels have dropped off since last season. Whether that’s the fault of the players or the coaching staff, then that’s up for debate. We have a better squad than last season supposedly even though we lost Luiz and Diaby. There’s no doubt Luiz going was down to PSR/FFP so we need to become European regulars so season by season we nudge ourselves into the big boys spending league. It’s an almost impossible task with the top 6 teams established thanks to Sky and other media. I work in a place which has Talkshite on all the time and all I hear is Liverpool, Citeh, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manure and Spurs. Hardly any talk of Forest, Newcastle and Bournemouth except the patronising pundits who comment on them overachieving.
Joao Felix possibly coming in? Is the Villa transfer policy becoming a Groundhog Day effect? I assume the fact Buendia is off to Leverkusen that we already have Felix coming in or is it going to be a bit like Bade not coming after Carlos has already departed. Surely they wouldn’t screw up again. Axel Disasi from Chelsea also in the pipeline.
Unfortunately we are down to one experienced CB against Celtic so the best approach would be attack being the best form of defence. Let’s hope Konsa doesn’t get crocked or we will be in major trouble.
Not impressed from what I’ve seen with Felix. He looks a bit lightweight.
Chelsea apparently interested in Duran. To let him go to a EPL competitor would be madness.
48 hours until Celitic.
Sorry Rimmer. Not on the list for tickets so no idea if they’ve been delayed. Good luck!
Is Onana injured again? At least McGinnyGinnGinn will be back and raring to go!!!!
Juan Foyth…
“The 27-year-old, who reportedly has a £46m release clause, was forced to miss the first four months of the season due to a knee injury sustained in pre-season and only made his return in mid-December.”
£46m for a 27 year old with dodgy knees?
I can’t say I get that.
Joao Felix?
I’d suggest there are around 170,000 reasons why Joao wont be coming to VP?
Ron Saunder Stand , I’ve been saying it for weeks, I cannot see us improving we get caught out week after week with what we don’t do !! the long ball is the answer for god sake send the bloody ball up field.
Couldn’t agree more Bill.
But what gets me is we never seem to adapt our style to the opposition?
One size fits all footy Bill.
I hadn’t seen this stat before – but if true (which I believe it is), is a poor reflection either on money spent this season or our luck with injuries.
https://x.com/DougieCritchley/status/1883901097171177696
Just finished watching the latest Claret and Blue podcast on YouTube where John Townley was asked the same question and basically replied that it’s too soon to say. He also states that such a simple stat hides a lot of complexity. A good listen.
A typical year, I might agree but last year was our highest finish in a long time. This means any player we bought (for big money) was meant to improve the first team. I’m not passing final judgment; I think Maatsen and Onana will come good – but I do question why the heck we spent nearly 40m on Maatsen, unless it was all part of the swapsie FFP deal going on with Chelsea, why we spent that on a LB when we already had 3, and the impact it’s had on our ability to manoeuvre in positions of greater need. I think we’ve had some bad luck with injuries but Maatsen I think was poor use of funds, even if he turns out awesome.
Ah, Mister “I’ll give him 6”
Everytime he does a players ratings article, I lose just a little bit more respect for him.
His base number is 6 and moving him away from that is nearly impossible.
Ouch!
I’m not convinced that Monchi is living up to his reputation either. Our dependable stars are those signed before Emery took the reins. The premier league is a step up from La Liga where nearly all the clubs can win against top teams.
The qualty in the team are predominantly Smithy signings but there again he was known for doing his due diligence on players?
Could you have seen him signing Duran?
And Spain have an International team far superior to England!
Do you think so?
Personally, I thought we had a decent side, absolutely shite manager and let’s be honest, Germany, Holland and the likes of Croatia aren’t the team’s they once were?
Spain and their bore fest football is killing the game as a spectacle Imo.
If quality is measured in outcomes then Spain wins hands down.
How many trophies have they won to our single success in 1966?
At least, being long in the tooth, I was able to watch the final on our tiny black and white TV and vividly remember it – not just the final but all their World Cup games that year.
But is it?
France 06
England 90
Brazil 82
Netherlands 74
Hungary 54
I’ll hold my hands up, I’m biased and would rather paint a door and watch it dry very slowly over many, many hours than watch a minute of Spanish footbore.
Sorry Ron but try watching some and then tell me that players like Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Olmo etc are boring. Best national team by a mile and they will be for a while.
Sorry, not having it, Spanish football sucks, too slow too tiki taka and just too dull.
Give me the old blood and thunder of the English game any day and no, I’ll kindly decline offer to watch, far better ways to kill 90 minutes? Maybe Scraping off all the bubble gum off the underside of the desks?