Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: AV84 on May 08, 2024, 08:22:30 PM
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Thought I'd ask this now before things get emotional tomorrow night, one way or the other.
Just wondering what people's feelings are about the whole competition now we've done a season of it? Anyone's opinion of it changed since we qualified, for better or worse?
Anyone travelled to some/all of the games and able to compare it to previous European adventures?
I thought it was nice to be in any kind of European competition after so long but didn't really rate it that highly in terms of prestige. But I think it's been a really useful learning curve for the team, especially when you compare it to something like Newcastle getting CL before they were ready for it. We're down to bare bones of a squad and those left are running on fumes but it feels like it's an experience that's really bonded the team and it really seems like something special is happening at Villa.
I'll be sick if we can't turn things around tomorrow night, but in terms of what this thread is asking, I am now of the opinion that the Conference League is a fantastic thing to be a part of, and the aim should always be to move up a level but it's nothing to look down on, and I think I'll always have a little soft spot for the competition going forward, whatever happens tomorrow night.
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I don't think it's about being ready for the CL or not, I'm sure we wouldn't have been too concerned about that had we qualified last year.
However, where I do think there's a bit of truth in that argument is that having had the opportunity to go deep into a European competition has more value - on pitch, not financially - than 6 CL group games and out you go would.
Newcastle were quite unlucky to get such an awful group so hopefully we get a more forgiving one.
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I've not been to any of the away games (a couple of mates are over in Athens now) but I've enjoyed it overall. It's been different, maybe because it's been so long since we had European games. This time last year, I thought it might be too soon for us but up to now, we've coped pretty well with it and we'll be doing it all over again next season. Which is nice.
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Didn't have a high opinion at the start but I've been to all the home games and enjoyed them, witnessing a perfect record until the Olympiacos game, the mentalness of the Hibs and Lille fans and the surrealness of the missing Legia fans. European nights feel special regardless of the competition you're in.
I've not given up hope of going to Athens just yet. I'll go whether I have a ticket or not because my mates and I have all got pass-outs to do it off the other halves and, without being morbid about it, we may never get another chance to do a European final.
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I've not been to any of the away games (a couple of mates are over in Athens now) but I've enjoyed it overall. It's been different, maybe because it's been so long since we had European games. This time last year, I thought it might be too soon for us but up to now, we've coped pretty well with it and we'll be doing it all over again next season. Which is nice.
I think we are really feeling the burden of the extra long season, but we are at least feeling it right at the end which suggests it'll be easier to remedy with returning players plus signings.
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I've really enjoyed it so far. Hopefully there's one more round to go, but even if there isn't - even if this is it - it's been great fun. Not been to any of the aways, although I'll go to Athens sans-ticket if we make the final, but been to a good number of the home games. Loved getting back in to going to Villa semi-regularly again ... I had just opened to go to a league game and one European game this season but enjoyed it so much I've just kept going to them.
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I have absolutely loved it and can’t understand the antipathy towards it from some quarters. Superb entry level competition for teams in around 6/7 in the League. Builds the team discipline and drum beat of playing twice a week, dealing with travel etc.
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I prefer this song to the Champions League song. There, I’ve said it.
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I don't think it's about being ready for the CL or not, I'm sure we wouldn't have been too concerned about that had we qualified last year.
However, where I do think there's a bit of truth in that argument is that having had the opportunity to go deep into a European competition has more value - on pitch, not financially - than 6 CL group games and out you go would.
Newcastle were quite unlucky to get such an awful group so hopefully we get a more forgiving one.
When I say ready for the CL I meant in terms of squad depth and experience of playing so many mid week games. We had one up on Newcastle anyway with Emery in charge, who is vastly experienced in European competition compared to Howe who was learning on the job.
Obviously if we'd finished in 4th last season and had CL this year I'd have enjoyed every second of it, but quite likely we'd have had the same experience as Newcastle, and had the injuries/fatigue hit earlier in the season. I think the same thing happened to Brighton, and West Ham last season. They won the CL but their league form suffered, but they balanced things much better this season, perhaps as a result of things learned last year.
But yeah, in terms of preparing and building towards actually competing in the Champions League, not just making up the numbers, I think the Conference has been invaluable and will stand to us next season.
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Two of the injuries (Mings and Buendia) were back in August so just unlucky and nothing to do with extra games. You can probably add Ramsey to that as the challenge he received that broke his foot has lasted all season, and that was as a result of somebody stamping on him. Without those three injuries we'd probably be in a much stronger place to see out the season.
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It has been exactly what I thought of it , a 3rd tier euro competition designed for smaller nations/clubs gatecrashed by a few bigger clubs. Many of the games have been insipid and boring , Alkmaar away stands out . It's a good stepping stone for us for next season though whichever more challenging tournament we end up in.
We entered the conference as favourites, if we don't win it a few questions need asking .
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I think it’s a good competition, and I think it’s been very useful for building up the player’s experience of the cadence of managing European football.
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It’s certainly tested us at times, and whetted the appetite for hopefully more of the same in the future. That said, and at the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, I really hope we manage to win it, because in an ideal world we won’t be in this competition again any time soon. It is, however, blindingly clear that this squad needs a sizeable upgrade in many areas if and when we compete in Europe again next season.
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It has been exactly what I thought of it , a 3rd tier euro competition designed for smaller nations/clubs gatecrashed by a few bigger clubs. Many of the games have been insipid and boring , Alkmaar away stands out . It's a good stepping stone for us for next season though whichever more challenging tournament we end up in.
We entered the conference as favourites, if we don't win it a few questions need asking .
Think this is spot on until the last sentence
I just think it’s got in the way this season and mucked us around.
Ultimately we have to be looking to making progress to where we ought to be as a Club. This has been a distraction although hopefully provided experience too,
I have great faith in Unai and I do think he has kept a sense of perspective.
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I think it’s been a great tournament, however it turns out, I’ve done all the homes, but not ventured abroad, they have looked a great experience for all who have been though, which is what it is all about. I do think the squad will benefit from this, getting used to all the travelling as well as the extra games. For me, the chance to win a trophy is something we should all be embracing, it’s certainly been a while, so no thoughts of it being a competition that has no gravitas from me
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I’ve enjoyed it, and been great to take my lad to his first, of hopefully many, European game
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Sorely missed and thoroughly enjoyed our run so far and Hibs is up there with my favourite ever away trips.
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I think it’s a good competition, and I think it’s been very useful for building up the player’s experience of the cadence of managing European football.
This
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Bayern been kippered here .
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Bayern been kippered here .
Oh, Timothy!
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Two of the injuries (Mings and Buendia) were back in August so just unlucky and nothing to do with extra games. You can probably add Ramsey to that as the challenge he received that broke his foot has lasted all season, and that was as a result of somebody stamping on him. Without those three injuries we'd probably be in a much stronger place to see out the season.
With those 3 players fit though you could argue other players wouldn't have had to play so much, so even as pre season injuries, they've played their part in the fatigue we're seeing now. (Although there's also an argument that without those injuries we maybe don't have Zaniolo and Lenglet, maybe even Rogers, and then the squad is the same size and game time remains the same.....)
Whatever way you look at it it's a learning experience for the players who will still be here next year, and for the management to identify which positions we need to add depth, and which we just straight up need to improve.
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It's been nice to progress in a cup competition for a change and for the most part we seem to have handled it well. Was gutted after last Thursday but on reflection, if this is it, it beats going out with a whimper early like we do with domestic cups.
Best part was ticking something off the bucket list by seeing the Villa play away in Europe. After 13 years, I was determined to make one trip abroad and Mostar will live long in the memory, a fantastic experience.
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Newcastle were quite unlucky to get such an awful group so hopefully we get a more forgiving one.
From 2024-25, all teams will now play eight matches (instead of six) against eight different opponents, with four home ties and four away.
All 36 sides will be ranked in one single league table - three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat.
The top eight in this table will go straight into the knockout stages, while those from ninth to 24th will compete in two-legged play-offs to join them in the last 16.
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Bayern been kippered here .
No, the game didn't end in a tie.
*Apologies for the American sawker speak.
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Seeing as Villa Park was bouncing up and down a year ago to see us even qualify for the Conference League, it really is surprising to see some of our supporters still treating the competition with disdain. Up to you I guess, but I've enjoyed the ride and I hope there's more to come still.
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I think it’s a good competition, and I think it’s been very useful for building up the player’s experience of the cadence of managing European football.
Same for me.
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Coming out of Villa Park at nearly 10pm on a Thursday night after the Hibs game felt a bit strange, but I've been to all the home games and have enjoyed it.
The group wasn't the greatest draw, but Ajax and Lille were good draws in the knockout stages along with the semi-final. Really wanted us to win it and still hold out some hope for tomorrow night, but it has been a good introduction back into European football whatever happens. Think it will have been a good experience for the players who might not have played European football before and they will only benefit from it going forward.
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Didn't have a high opinion at the start but I've been to all the home games and enjoyed them, witnessing a perfect record until the Olympiacos game, the mentalness of the Hibs and Lille fans and the surrealness of the missing Legia fans. European nights feel special regardless of the competition you're in.
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I'd give a mention to the small band of Bosnian fans that came for the Mostar game as well. Didn't stop singing all game.
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I was really hoping we would break our trophy drought - that was more important than it being European competiton or whatever. Looks like it won't be happening though.
On the other hand, as a rehearsal for the Champions League (or Europa League), it will hopefully be extremely useful.
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Enjoyed being in the competition and the progress but not been impressed with the performances.
That changes later today. Finally we'll take the competition seriously. No excuses. Can't wait!
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Enjoyed being in the competition and the progress but not been impressed with the performances.
That changes later today. Finally we'll take the competition seriously. No excuses. Can't wait!
I agree.
We haven't gone "full gun" in this competition yet. We have saved that for specific PL games.
I have said before that despite uneven form this year, we still have a good performance in the bag.
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Brilliant. And essential for our continued grow.
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I wanted us to qualify but I have not been invested in it.
I wanted us to get the experience of playing in Europe but would have been ok with us getting knocked out before the quarter final stage even though I hate it when we lose. For me the league is much more important.
My concern has always been that as fatigue and injuries set in we could miss out on Champions League and winning the Conference, this is the prospect we are facing right now.
I have not found the European games any where near as exciting or as satisfying as the PL performances against Citeh, Arse Twice, Bournemouth etc.
It would be great to get through tonight but I would chose beating Liverpool on Monday night.
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Agree with Chicago above. It’s been a great learning curve for the team with more illustrious competitions ahead (hopefully the most illustrious). But I’ve cared way more about the league games.
I really hope we do something special tonight. But I won’t be heart broken if we don’t (so long as we get over the line in the league).
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One of the goals I’ve celebrated the most this season is McGinn against Zrjinski at home. I’ve loved every second of it, really frustrating at times especially in terms of our performances. We’ve only really turned it on twice against AZ away and Ajax at home.
I was gutted last week, genuine chance to win something and to fall so close to the end would be terrible.
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Went into it thinking it would just be a platform to get used to midweek games and travelling for the players, not really bothered about winning it - but now I'm absolutely desperate for us to go all the way.
It's given me my first ever experience of a European away match, having managed to get out to Ajax and Lille. Wonderful trips, drinking, chatting with mates and rival fans - Memories that will last a lifetime. I think a lot of us are invested in it now - We've been starved of success, and more importantly, trophies, for so long, we are desperate to win something. I think it would be the perfect bookend to an unbelievable season too - Unai and the players have moved mountains this season, and they absolutely deserve that trophy and winners medals for their efforts this season.
I know we have it in us to get over this final hurdle tonight. I'm a believer mate!
UTV
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The closest thing to cup winners cup for me
We got shafted on the draws thats for sure as we have been given the hardest possible route to the final
Been enjoyable. The away games have been a mixed bag
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I've done all of the homes. And Legia, Alkmaar, Ajax and Lille away.
I've enjoyed it immensely. The homes have been extra special as I've been able to take my 17 year old to his first European Home matches. Quite surreal when his first Villa match was Steve Bruce's first match 1-1 at Home to Wolves. He's had a season ticket ever since that match!
The aways have been wonderful. I've met some fantastic people and made some new Villa mates on my travels. It's been great Visiting some new Cities and taking in the pre-match atmosphere. At times Its felt like I've been living the dream. They have all been great trips.
Flights booked for the Final in Athens and will be going regardless, this time with the wife and kids in toe as it's School holidays.
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Given we were the bookies favourites to win this competition games have been a lot more difficult than many on here expected. With the exception of A Z away and Ajax at home every other game has been challenging. It's been a great experience for both the players and the fans before we step up to a higher level next season, and the management/owners will know we need to carry a larger squad to be competitive to the end.
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Really enjoyed the experience. Been to all home and 4 aways. Hopefully the experience gained will be vital in the next few seasons of European football
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Hopefully, it is good experience for the CL next season but - as Chicago says above - Monday is a massive game for us (unless Spurs screw up against Burnley).
Right now, I'm fully invested in tonight's game.
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I'd describe it as a useful "hors d'ouevres" ahead of competing in the future in major European competitions.
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It's been fantastic, and I'll be gutted if we go out tonight. It's brilliant to see European football back at Villa Park, and having the chance to go to one of the away games (Lille) almost 20 years after my last European away was a real treat.
Being in it will undoubtedly be a benefit for tougher European ties next year - far too few of our squad had experience of the demands of the extra games, travelling etc., so this was invaluable. Also, for all of the injuries and fatigue we may be suffering now, it's worth reflecting on the fact that without the additional games in the Conference League we almost certainly couldn't have carried the squad size we have. I doubt we would have been able to carry a squad with the likes of Lenglet, Zaniolo and even Tielemans this season if we didn't have the bonus of the additional games that mean all have got plenty of regular football, so without the Conference we could still be in exactly the same or an even worse position with the long-term injuries we've had this year.
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I've enjoyed it more than the Premier League this season, in the respect that it's been more unpredictable (and not swamped with utter.******)
It's also made me a bit homesick for Europe for the first time in my life, really. I would've gone to all the away games, ticket or no ticket, if I lived a bit closer.
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It's been brilliant I've really enjoyed the Europa Conference League I've been to every home European game it's been good for us.
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loved it....not been to a European game this season due to work commitments, but it has been great watching on the tv and listening to fans of other clubs talking about us just with that small hint of jealousy that goes with wishing that their teams were in Euro competition.
going to be tough to turn it around and get through, but nervously excited for tonight :)
UTV
The Doc
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It’s been brilliant. Missed Hibs H and A as was on Holiday but been to all the home games and 4 of the aways. It’s been a superb experience and one we’ve been missing for so long. This is the pinnacle of club football, playing in Europe so quite why you wouldn’t want to is a mystery to me. This is what last years efforts were all about and hopefully this years efforts will see us in the big one next year. I can’t wait.
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It's been a wonderful re-introduction to European football for the club and whatever competition we find ourselves in next year this season will have stood us in good stead
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It's had its ups and downs. The football has largely been crap and the refereeing performances have been, in the main, very poor. But I've loved the hoopla of it, the lights at Villa Park, the drama of late results, even though some of them have no doubt shortened my life.
I can't lie, though, I'm gutted that we'll probably go out tonight. I wanted the trophy for all of the hard work we've put in on the pitch and as supporters, and to put away two of the bigger teams in the knockouts and capitulate to a relative shower like Olympiacos is incredibly galling. It may be entitled, but there it is.
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Enjoyed being in the competition and the progress but not been impressed with the performances.
That changes later today. Finally we'll take the competition seriously. No excuses. Can't wait!
That's where I'm at. I've done all the home fixtures and it seemed we were in low gear for most part apart from the effort we put in against the Bosnian team to get the winner.
If this competition is still going in 5 years I'll be surprised. I can see it being absorbed into the Europa League as the Div 2 of European Competition.
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I've enjoyed it and it's great European experience for the squad. We will be much stronger in the CL / Europa next season having played in the UCL this year.
I never felt it was a particularly important trophy and I've said before it was prob below the league cup for me in terms of prestige (no need for us to have that debate again). I still feel the same, but would still love us to win it.
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I've enjoyed it and it's great European experience for the squad. We will be much stronger in the CL / Europa next season having played in the UCL this year.
I never felt it was a particularly important trophy and I've said before it was prob below the league cup for me in terms of prestige (no need for us to have that debate again). I still feel the same, but would still love us to win it.
Pretty much where I'm at. And I still think we're going to win it.
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First of all, I am not writing us off tonight. Like all of us, I am hopeful of a big performance tonight that somehow sees us through to another trip to Athens in three weeks time.
Either way, the journey has been tremendous. Thinking back to the end of last season how exciting was it to get the points we needed to qualify for European competition for the first time in a long long time? And subsequently this season an exciting run to the semis and (perhaps) the final. Ok - the performances generally haven’t been great, nevertheless it’s been great to see us back in Europe again.
I personally have enjoyed attending all the UECL matches I have been to (all the homes plus Hibs and Lille away) even if the performances could have been better. And I think the club, the team and the fans are better for the experience. Anyway, fingers crossed we might have one more UECL match after tonight.
Btw don’t forget that next season we will have to change the last line of the Moussa Diaby song to ‘We are going to Munich/Bilbao *’ (* delete as appropriate).
UTV
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I’m fucking proud of them. I know the results hasn’t been good but fuck me what a season it’s been so far. I’ve very sad that it’s ended this way, but it’s still a miracle we’ve even got here.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
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I can't be angry, really. Which is more dispiriting as we have two games left, and if it were just a bad display you could get angry about it would mean improvement was possible.
But I don't know if it is. They just look absolutely dead.
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Not sure it made a difference or not, but interesting that both Lille and Olympiakos had time off the weekend before our ties.
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Big learning curve. Deepest we have gone in Europe since the 1980s.
Proud of the boys and gutted we have had no luck with injuries this year or referees.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Over the top drivel.
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Come on Man City! (And Burnley for that matter).
This team has given it all this season and has absolutely nothing left.
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We are running on fumes against sides in the PL and Europe that don’t have close to the number of injuries as we have had to contend with. This isn’t about these two games. It’s about where we are and how we got here. There is loads to be proud about even if we are all unhappy about how these two games went.
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Meh. You can count our good performances on your thumbs. Tactically I haven't a clue what Emery has been trying to do other than keep the players fresh of the league.
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I’m not proud of them for that. Sorry, it has been a great season and hopefully we’ll get 4th which would be an amazing achievement. But going into that tie if anyone had said we’d lose 6-2 on aggregate they’d probably have been laughed at. The level across those two games was dreadful. We were defensively all over the shop and we just didn’t look like we had a plan of attack (particularly tonight). For all the good of this season, this semi-final was close to embarrassing.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
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Done good, all the way to the semi final, that would have seemed impossible just a few short seasons ago, good experience to take us on, if we make the CL it really will mean the board will have to dig deep and go into the the transfer market in no small way, big summer spends ahead.
Well done Villa, thanks for the journey.
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Disappointing. We were clear favourites to win it and fell well short . Many of the games were borefests to be honest . Alkmaar away was very good . Good experience for the players ahead of next season when we are in a proper European competition. Overall I'm glad I stayed away from the games and conserved my money for next season .
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My heart sort of sank when the quarter-final and semi final draws were made. We couldn't have got a tougher route to the final. And having to play the first leg of both at home.
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We are clearly fucked. There was no other way to play tonight as we had no other options, look at the state of the bench for a start.
It’s very disappointing to let in six to such a mediocre side but though the first leg wasn’t a brilliant performance everything that could go against us, did.
The tie was over with the missed penalty.
We kept the ball well tonight but switched off and they score. We on the other hand had run out of ideas in the final third. Cash must have passed backwards from the edge of their box 100 times.
So yes, it is very disappointing and not what we wanted, but seriously, pick any match thread from just over 18 months back and look at where we were. Back then you’d never have believed we’d be playing a European semi final and in line for a CL place.
Strengthen over the summer, recharge and go at it again.
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I can't be angry, really. Which is more dispiriting as we have two games left, and if it were just a bad display you could get angry about it would mean improvement was possible.
But I don't know if it is. They just look absolutely dead.
Barely inconvenienced the opposition in over 180 minutes. Gifted them the first leg after Martinez suspension meant Olsen started. Dreadful way to exit a tournament is to not even try to get back into the game.
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As I said at end of the match thread:
It’s a meaningless observation at this point but we just haven’t got the squad left at this stage of the season. I feel very sorry for them all as they’ve given everything to get this far on fumes. Rotten luck with injuries.
Never mind, it’s been fun and I haven't gone as mental at anything in football as I did the Lille penalties in a very long time.
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I am enormously disappointed at the manner in which we went out tonight and at VP. There were some absolutely shocking performances and Olympiakos weren't even that good.
That said, we are already guaranteed Europa League next season, with a very good chance of Champion's League. The season has been a resounding success regardless of the result tonight. Onwards and most definitely upwards.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
Why Cash receives the ball in space on the right and ALWAYS plays it back rather than put a cross in.
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I’m not proud of them for that. Sorry, it has been a great season and hopefully we’ll get 4th which would be an amazing achievement. But going into that tie if anyone had said we’d lose 6-2 on aggregate they’d probably have been laughed at. The level across those two games was dreadful. We were defensively all over the shop and we just didn’t look like we had a plan of attack (particularly tonight). For all the good of this season, this semi-final was close to embarrassing.
Was it fuck.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Oh please, just give over.
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Sad we ran out of steam but proud of how far we have come. Fuck it if the the blue Fanny’s can celebrate getting relegated we can celebrate how far we have come and bring in Europe. Listening to the wm phone in and think a few need Samaritans. We go again
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I’m sympathetic to this (seemingly eternal) ‘running on fumes’ argument but hells bells, we could surely have lifted it for these two games, no? Winners find a way to win, we’re not the first club to have a full fixture list. Great season of course but to go out with such a whimper over 3 hours against qualifiers is pretty lame.
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If we can get some sort of depth back with Tielemans or, eh, Zaniolo returning we *might* get a point against either the Redscouse or Palace.
But with the same mob out there this evening it's asking a lot. They're running on empty.
Nowt more to give.
Nice that we made a Greek team look good n'all. Makes me feel proud to be part of the European family.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
Konsa played RB when we beat Man City and Arsenal. He probably is playing there at the moment because Cash was out injured for a period recently and now that Cash is back he is plugging a gap in midfield where we are to the bare bones.
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Well we had a good run, but my personal opinion is we should of played the kids and stiffs as soon as we knew we had a serious chance of champions league contention. ie november. West ham were mid table they were able to take it serious.
Irogbunam, Kesler etc could of had 16 games under their belts by now (well probably less as we most likely would have been eliminated earlier) but they'd be in a better position to help out the team in the run in.
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Utter shit. I can't find any positives in the tie at all. A limited team worked out a squad that is a Manchester City win away from the Champions League. That's not tiredness, that's just crap.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
Konsa actually being good at right back is one of those things that just makes me want to scream. He's fine! He's generally perfectly fine! The trouble is when there's no pressure on the midfield and they turn us! Both full-backs struggle with that whoever they are! And there's no pressure in midfield because of the injuries and fatigue! Which is also why Cash was at right wing! Hence Konsa at right back! Etc etc.
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This team has performed brilliantly for many months and given us some fantastic games to watch. They somehow managed to get those seven points from nine while Spurs didn’t play, which I never expected as they have been quite clearly shot for a while.
We’ll learn from this, hopefully we will also have far better luck with injuries next season. I don’t mean the odd knock, but the injuries we’ve had to Ramsey, Mings, Kamara and Buendia is unbelievable. You could probably include Morneo in that lot. He’s never quite recovered properly.
Onwards and upwards and it would be lovely to get something from the Liverpool game. UTV.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
You're so ridiculously harsh. We have no options on the bench and have one of the most overcooked and smallest squads in the league currently.
Proud of us, we're still going places. Don't listen to the misery arses
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Not sure it made a difference or not, but interesting that both Lille and Olympiakos had time off the weekend before our ties.
Once again, the French Ligue 1 has 18 teams in it. The Greek league has 14 teams in it. The Premier League has 20 teams in it. It is not some unfair cheating by foreigners, they simply have space in their calendar.
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It's disappointing, and frustrating that we couldn't go at them with a squad and near fit side. But we've come a ridiculously long way, 9 years ago today we beat West Ham. We then won 4 of our next 52 league games.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
Konsa actually being good at right back is one of those things that just makes me want to scream. He's fine! He's generally perfectly fine! The trouble is when there's no pressure on the midfield and they turn us! Both full-backs struggle with that whoever they are! And there's no pressure in midfield because of the injuries and fatigue! Which is also why Cash was at right wing! Hence Konsa at right back! Etc etc.
And when did it last work? When did it last NOT cause a really bad goal?
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I’m sympathetic to this (seemingly eternal) ‘running on fumes’ argument but hells bells, we could surely have lifted it for these two games, no? Winners find a way to win, we’re not the first club to have a full fixture list. Great season of course but to go out with such a whimper over 3 hours against qualifiers is pretty lame.
No, we’re not, but we haven’t much of a squad left - just look at the bench tonight.
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Just too big a stretch. We let in poor goals at bad times and no luck. We never really looked like scoring, same against brighton.
But the bench today shows what an achievement it has been to get this far, missing these players:
1. Moreno
2. Mings
3. Tielemans
4. Ramsey
5. Rogers
6. Kamara
7. Buendia
8. Zaniólo
Thats crazy, just no options. Luiz and Diaby seem to be struggling particularly for form / struggling to play the role they are asked.
Need one more performance to secure 4th - I hope they have 1 more in them. Would be gutting to have got this close on two front just to run out of steam inches before the finish line.
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Just finished work. Missed the game. Was hoping to come out to good news.
Disappointed obviously, but European experience including a penalty shoot out will bode us well for next season.
This season has been amazing. I’ve loved it.
We are in a great place and should be so proud of our boys.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
[/quote]
What rubbish. Injuries clearly explain why Konsa is playing right back.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Talking shit again.
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We were favourites to win this trophy and didn’t win it, and we lost home and away to a team that we should have beaten over two legs. It’s a failure.
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Well done Villa......i've had the pleasure of attending every home ECL game with my lad......It's the best Villa side he has ever seen in his 27 years. Saying that we never really sparkled in any of the euro games but hey ho it was fun whilst it lasted.
Great pricing from the club as well.....i'm almost done with premier league costs.
UTV!
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
Why Cash receives the ball in space on the right and ALWAYS plays it back rather than put a cross in.
We play a different style of football now mate and it has made us relevant for the first time in almost 30 years.
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https://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=64921.0
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
Konsa actually being good at right back is one of those things that just makes me want to scream. He's fine! He's generally perfectly fine! The trouble is when there's no pressure on the midfield and they turn us! Both full-backs struggle with that whoever they are! And there's no pressure in midfield because of the injuries and fatigue! Which is also why Cash was at right wing! Hence Konsa at right back! Etc etc.
And when did it last work? When did it last NOT cause a really bad goal?
When did we last have pressure in midfield? That's the problem. You're attacking the symptom not the cause.
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I had high hopes and thought that Emery's experience would see us go all the way. The reasons we've hit a brick wall have been done to death but are legitimate. I reckon two or three fewer absentees and we'd be looking forward to another visit to Athens.
We've come a long way in a relatively short time, with players that Emery has improved but are probably still not genuine Top 4 first teamers. That will need to change. Let's hope this season is but a learning step and not one that we'll look back with a sense that it was as good as it got. I don't think it will be. In the meantime, up the fucking Villa!
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Well that was a massive tub of turd. An absolute anal fissure of a performance.
Still, we made it to a European semi-final and are favourites to finish fourth in the league, despite a casualty rate that would have had even Field Marshal Hague thinking of chucking it in and getting the next boat back to Blighty.
I feel like it would be somewhat churlish to complain too much.
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Highlight was shout-out against Lille but League have had priority. Else: we coudnt manage number of games at the end of season.
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Im not proud of them. Two rubbish performances in these two legs against a average team. Had we at least tried to make a game of it like mcginn and diaby were trying to big up since the first leg then maybe.
We did well to get go semis. But overall we have been pretty shit in this tournament performance wise. We had a few good performances like AZ and ajax. But its been a lot of under par performances and these last two legs being the worst
Its a tad embarrassing losing 6-2 on aggregate. Even maccabi gave them more a game ovee two legs.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Over the top drivel.
On the basis of the 2 legs it isn't. 6 very poor goals conceded and little to no quality in the final third. Digne jogged back for their first goal tonight and Konsa stopped running twice for their second.
Its been an exceptional season we all agree and a joy to watch for the vast majority of it. Its not unfair to be critical of the performance tonight and over the 2 legs. Both have been crap.
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We had 8 or 9 first team players out tonight. Having to play players carrying injuries or out of form. I can’t be pissed off with any of them.
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https://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=64921.0
Why?
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Just too big a stretch. We let in poor goals at bad times and no luck. We never really looked like scoring, same against brighton.
But the bench today shows what an achievement it has been to get this far, missing these players:
1. Moreno
2. Mings
3. Tielemans
4. Ramsey
5. Rogers
6. Kamara
7. Buendia
8. Zaniólo
Thats crazy, just no options. Luiz and Diaby seem to be struggling particularly for form / struggling to play the role they are asked.
Need one more performance to secure 4th - I hope they have 1 more in them. Would be gutting to have got this close on two front just to run out of steam inches before the finish line.
Plus Torres managing an injury since Christmas and Bailey doing the same this past month.
As we've seen with James Chester and a few others, there can be serious repercussions for that sort of thing.
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Not a competition I personally got very excited about but I do feel sorry for the younger fans who haven't seen us win a trophy yet. For me though Champions league qualification will be a bigger achievement.
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Not our night.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Oh please, just give over.
Your one post tonight isn't on the match thread, it's to have a go at me. Exactly the same last match. Probably best you just put me on ignore, I really don't need a weird stalker in my life, cheers. Baby Reindeer.
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We were favourites to win this trophy and didn’t win it, and we lost home and away to a team that we should have beaten over two legs. It’s a failure.
That's where I am as well. There won't be an asterisk next to the score in the history books saying that we had a ton of injuries. It'll just be Olympiacos in the final and the folk memories of two sets of fans wondering where the hell this El Kaabi bloke came from for one week in May 2024.
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Fucking hell there’s some bollocks being talked on here.
We’re all gutted to lose, because this was obviously winnable.
But we’re knackered, running on empty, riddled with injuries. We’ve had a great season but there’s very little left. The players it there tonight are heroes for what they’ve done this season. Olympiacos are a decent side and had the weekend off.
We weren’t great but there’s also a lot of variance - their dodgy penalty, ours not given, our missed pen, three fine margin offside goals etc.
To use words like “embarrassing” and “a disgrace” is a fucking joke after where these players have got us.
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Which twat put this up on the BBC Website?
Am I the only one who thinks Emery has underachieved with this Villa squad? Not a bad season but should be winning this competition."
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Proper post match thread title.
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https://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=64921.0
Why?
Reflections on Conference League.
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No lack of effort, a few look mentally shot which knocks onto poor decision making - we needed likes of Teilemans / Zaniolo / Moreno & Rogers in the squad tonight. One look at that bench said we couldn’t afford to need to resort to plan b.
Personally I have no wish to slag any of them off….theyve given everything this season, come up short on this occasion, we just have to hope we don’t where 4th is concerned.
UTV
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We dont to conference and the likes, we do champions league and whatever it was called in English in 82.
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Great European run. We didn't have what it takes to get to the.final. we can only learn from this and try to do better next time.
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Massively disappointed tonight but I’d wrote us off after last weeks game.
Hopefully Tielemans is back on Monday along with Zaniolo and Moreno to boost the bench. Looking at it tonight show the dire state of what we’ve got to change games at the moment.
Unlike other seasons we are fighting on 2 fronts and are guaranteed European football again next season.
What a fantastic season this has been. Just one last push on Monday could make us all forget this game.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Oh please, just give over.
We can have a diminished squad go further than they might have under the circumstances and be disappointed by how poorly we ultimately did at the crunch. Both things can be true.
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
Frustrating as Olympiacos are the definition of average. The turning point of the whole tie was Dougie’s raised arm at 2-2. Having got back level, I think we’d have we’d have put the tie out of reach.
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Just went back on the match day tread and it's like reading the like of Manchester United and Chelsea forums, generally if you want to whine people up please go onto another Villa forum
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Not a competition I personally got very excited about but I do feel sorry for the younger fans who haven't seen us win a trophy yet. For me though Champions league qualification will be a bigger achievement.
Yeah, I'm not pissed off at all, which means I don't rate the competition or the mitigation is enough. Or maybe we were that shit it's been obvious for a week now. Either way, fall over the line into fourth, celebrate, let the lads go and have a breather.
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It was not to be.
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Not great but how many of these lads will be nailed on starters next season, six? There's nothing left in the tank, we've all been there in some part of our lives or other and you just can't magic it out, however hard you try. Fun and games to come in the next five days, let's look forward to it.
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A bridge too far...
It is a bloody miracle we are where we are considering all the injuries we have had this season. Let’s just take it has being a learning curve for Europe for next season.
Up the Villa!
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Olympiakos deserved the win. We cannot have any complaints with refs VAR . We bottled it , they played well .
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Fucking hell there’s some bollocks being talked on here.
We’re all gutted to lose, because this was obviously winnable.
But we’re knackered, running on empty, riddled with injuries. We’ve had a great season but there’s very little left. The players it there tonight are heroes for what they’ve died this season. Olympiacos are a decent side and had the weekend off.
We weren’t great but there’s also a lot of variance - their dodgy penalty, ours not given, our missed pen, three fine margin offside goals etc.
To use words like “embarrassing” and “a disgrace” is a fucking joke after where these players have got us.
That just sounds like sour grapes. Olympiakos deserved the win over two legs. They were better in both legs just like lille were and we scraped through.
Thats four games we were pretty shit in. Its just disappointing we didnt even try to put any form of pressure on them or not. They just looked terrified out there. As soon as Olympiakos went for a attack they shat their pants and game over. We last a whole 10 minutes. Fatigue or not thats poor
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Did well to get to the semis but overall we haven't really set this competition alight. We've largely just been scraping through.
We have by far the biggest budget in this competition and have the European specialist in charge so I honestly expected more.
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This is the best Villa team I have ever seen, with one of the best managers in the world. The future is very bright and all the negativity on here boggles me - the players gave everything and the squad is down to the limit. Emery is basically entirely out of options.
We didn't actually play that badly across the two legs, just nothing went out way. There were fractions in the offsides for two of their goals, and obviously the two penalties. If a few things had gone very slightly differently the tie would have been completely different.
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Which twat put this up on the BBC Website?
Am I the only one who thinks Emery has underachieved with this Villa squad? Not a bad season but should be winning this competition."
Hopefully it’s someone who’s club will be playing the likes of Shrewsbury and Stevenage next season.
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5 years ago we were just about to play 2nd successive play off semi final in 2nd tier having nearly been Glasgow Rangers MK II the year before and a lost decade.
2 days later my son was born and the day after we got through to the final and it has been mostly been one way since. Certainly underlyingly so.
We matter for the first time in yonks. Properly matter again.
A set back heart wrenching one at that over last 2 Thursdays. A set back but not end of the world.
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We won’t win a trophy in my lifetime.
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We won’t win a trophy in my lifetime.
Are you ancient then?
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We were favourites as McGinn just said . It's a massive underachievement this . Pathetic in both legs of the semi .
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Midlife. It’s been 28 years now. How much longer is it going to take?
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Yeah im getting those vibes too.
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Which twat put this up on the BBC Website?
Am I the only one who thinks Emery has underachieved with this Villa squad? Not a bad season but should be winning this competition."
Hopefully it’s someone who’s club will be playing the likes of Shrewsbury and Stevenage next season.
In fairness I like to wind one of my more staunch Nose mates up by claiming that Villa have had a merely ok season for such a massive club. It really annoys him for some reason!
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I’m sympathetic to this (seemingly eternal) ‘running on fumes’ argument but hells bells, we could surely have lifted it for these two games, no? Winners find a way to win, we’re not the first club to have a full fixture list. Great season of course but to go out with such a whimper over 3 hours against qualifiers is pretty lame.
It was totally shit but at the same time I just don’t think the first teamers we have remaining have any energy in them any more. Arsenal and Bournemouth games were great results, and we got a point against a resurgent Chelsea team. Given the colossal injury list we have, it’s not like Emery could change things.
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Incredibly frustrating, we dictated play until a ragged last half hour when we had clearly lost heart.
We continue to concede really poor goals, I don't know if Emery can fix that without taking away from our attacking threat.
It can be hard to watch us chase a game because we're committed to the gradual build-up and at times there is a need for mixing things up a bit more. I feel McGinn is the only one who brings impetus with his arse-beating press and through balls.
We need more players who are comfortable on the ball in the middle of the park and can speed things up on a more frequent basis. An in-form Ramsey, even Buendia's bursts of acceleration are sorely missed. Kamara's absence has been sorely felt by Luiz and the late-season emergence of Rogers has thankfully been the difference in us hanging onto 4th and in danger of being caught by Chelsea and Newcastle, let alone Spurs.
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We won’t win a trophy in my lifetime.
We will
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I think what cost us over the whole tjie was conceding so soon after we pulled it back to 2-2 in the first leg. Didn't think we played that bad first half but their first goal obviously killed it.
Disappointed but not too downhearted. A defeat for Spurs in their one of their last three league games gives us Champions League football next season. I'll take that and we fucking deserve it.
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Some people on here...jeez.
We were poor but, thin squad due to injuries, more pressure on the ones who are playing..they just look jaded. Just hope there is enough to get over the line in the Prem
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We won’t win a trophy in my lifetime.
Yes you will and better ones than the conference league.
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Really disappointed we haven’t made the final, but the players have gained some much-needed European football experience which should stand those players in good stead for next season. Our best season for many a year or probably decades but so proud of the team and staff.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Oh please, just give over.
Your one post tonight isn't on the match thread, it's to have a go at me. Exactly the same last match. Probably best you just put me on ignore, I really don't need a weird stalker in my life, cheers. Baby Reindeer.
I rarely post on match threads because I’m watching the game. But thanks for the advice. I will ignore your mindless drivel from now on.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
True
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If I had to chose between this and champions league, I would have chosen champions league. Thats something I never believed for a minute I would see in my live time - I thought MON blew our chance. TBH I was more disappointed in the Brighton game than these.
It doesnt help that anytime we get a bright spark in the last few months they get injured, Youri comes and looks great, but gets injured. So does Rogers. Hell even Zaniolo looked useful and ended up injured.
I just pray we can get this one over the line - the players, manager and fans deserve it, we've been so good this campaign.
Just one more big performance - UTV
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I think what cost us over the whole tjie was conceding so soon after we pulled it back to 2-2 in the first leg. Didn't think we played that bad first half but their first goal obviously killed it.
Disappointed but not too downhearted. A defeat for Spurs in their one of their last three league games gives us Champions League football next season. I'll take that and we fucking deserve it.
Soon as we missed pen last week thought our chances went
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Incredibly frustrating, we dictated play until a ragged last half hour when we had clearly lost heart.
We continue to concede really poor goals, I don't know if Emery can fix that without taking away from our attacking threat.
It can be hard to watch us chase a game because we're committed to the gradual build-up and at times there is a need for mixing things up a bit more. I feel McGinn is the only one who brings impetus with his arse-beating press and through balls.
We need more players who are comfortable on the ball in the middle of the park and can speed things up on a more frequent basis. An in-form Ramsey, even Buendia's bursts of acceleration are sorely missed. Kamara's absence has been sorely felt by Luiz and the late-season emergence of Rogers has thankfully been the difference in us hanging onto 4th and in danger of being caught by Chelsea and Newcastle, let alone Spurs.
Agree.
I think that's the players learning and adapting to gradual build up play give a few windows and seasons then the players remaining and those enhancers we sign to play football we'll be competing in every competition and dominating games every match!
Only way is up!
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.
God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily
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I don't know about tactics and where players should play, all I know that you stick the ball into the net, but they are people talking shit and it's been happening for months.
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One thing to point out from my perspective, because this seems to come up a lot, it is both possible to be delighted with what Emery has done, and be fully aware how far we’ve come - we’re on the cusp of the Champions League. But simultaneously not be impressed with our level in the two legs of this semi-final. We are very short of options, but with the players on the pitch the level should have been better. We didn’t actually look like we had a plan, not saying that is the case (I’m sure it wasn’t) but it’s how it looked. We were favourites to win the Conference League, so this is a failure for me. Hopefully we’ll complete our overachievement in the league.
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.
God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily
Manager
José Mendilibar has pedigree so have to give their manager credit.
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The squad is big enough, it's just that around a third of it isn't available.
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
To be fair, there aren't many clubs that would cope with losing six players from midfield.
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Still proud to be Villa. Out played and there are reasons for that. Hard of to Olimpyakos they were the better team.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Oh please, just give over.
Your one post tonight isn't on the match thread, it's to have a go at me. Exactly the same last match. Probably best you just put me on ignore, I really don't need a weird stalker in my life, cheers. Baby Reindeer.
I rarely post on match threads because I’m watching the game. But thanks for the advice. I will ignore your mindless drivel from now on.
Sent from my iphone
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.
God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily
Manager
José Mendilibar has pedigree so have to give their manager credit.
100% very impressive manager. Not many people school emery and he did over two games
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One thing to point out from my perspective, because this seems to come up a lot, it is both possible to be delighted with what Emery has done, and be fully aware how far we’ve come - we’re on the cusp of the Champions League. But simultaneously not be impressed with our level in the two legs of this semi-final. We are very short of options, but with the players on the pitch the level should have been better. We didn’t actually look like we had a plan, not saying that is the case (I’m sure it wasn’t) but it’s how it looked. We were favourites to win the Conference League, so this is a failure for me. Hopefully we’ll complete our overachievement in the league.
m
Agree, just like it’s possible to question some of Emery’s decisions whilst also thinking he’s the best manager we’ve possibly ever had.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Have to be honest…I rarely note you have anything positive to say……just saying …
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
Konsa actually being good at right back is one of those things that just makes me want to scream. He's fine! He's generally perfectly fine! The trouble is when there's no pressure on the midfield and they turn us! Both full-backs struggle with that whoever they are! And there's no pressure in midfield because of the injuries and fatigue! Which is also why Cash was at right wing! Hence Konsa at right back! Etc etc.
I'm of the view that Konsa is appalling at right back. He reminds me on Wan Bissaka on the ball. When Konsa and Cash are over there that flank is where the ball goes to die. To be honest Konsa has been poor enough at CB recently too, he was pathetic for that second goal. Why stop running?
Our defence certainly needs strengthening over the summer. Mings hopefully back fully fit will improve upon Lenglet and put hard pressure on Torres for that LCB slot. Serbian RB to put Cash under pressure. I think we could do with a younger option at LB to replace one of Moreno/Digne and Carlos needs to be moved on and replaced.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Oh please, just give over.
Your one post tonight isn't on the match thread, it's to have a go at me. Exactly the same last match. Probably best you just put me on ignore, I really don't need a weird stalker in my life, cheers. Baby Reindeer.
I rarely post on match threads because I’m watching the game. But thanks for the advice. I will ignore your mindless drivel from now on.
Sent from my iphone
Hah! Took me a minute, that one.
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We won’t win a trophy in my lifetime.
That may indeed come to pass. But we're a bloody damn sight closer than we were even two years ago. Let's enjoy the journey and hope that the disappointment of tonight is the spur for achieving that elusive silverware.
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Have to be honest…I rarely note you have anything positive to say……just saying …
Tbf there is nothing positive over the two legs to report
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I'm massively disappointed we didn't win this thing, because the quality of the competition is so poor, but should Manchester City do the decent thing and hang Spurs out to dry (or us do the startling thing, and give a performance on Monday), we will have gone from relegation spots to the Champions League via the third tier European tournament in less than two seasons. That's an astonishing leap and will be difficult to maintain without some serious decisions on the makeup of the squad.
At the moment, I'm just focused on how frustrating it all is. People are saying we'll win better trophies than this. I'd have been fine starting with this one.
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Big learning curve. Deepest we have gone in Europe since the 1980s.
Proud of the boys and gutted we have had no luck with injuries this year or referees.
This is the thing….with ball there money…it took years for Man City to progress in the CL…. There seems to be an experience that only comes from playing in a tournament….just my thoughts….UTV!!
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There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Oh please, just give over.
Your one post tonight isn't on the match thread, it's to have a go at me. Exactly the same last match. Probably best you just put me on ignore, I really don't need a weird stalker in my life, cheers. Baby Reindeer.
I rarely post on match threads because I’m watching the game. But thanks for the advice. I will ignore your mindless drivel from now on.
Sent from my iphone
Hah! Took me a minute, that one.
It’s taken me much longer than a minute. I got there in the end.
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.
God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily
The squad size is fine:
Martinez/Olsen
Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno
Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn
Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby
Watkins/Duran
The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
This ‘oh no, Konsa at right back’ theme. He was right back in both wins over Arsenal and the home game v Man City. How many better performances have there been when he’s played Cash there?
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Which twat put this up on the BBC Website?
Am I the only one who thinks Emery has underachieved with this Villa squad? Not a bad season but should be winning this competition."
Yes you’re the only one.
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.
God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily
The squad size is fine:
Martinez/Olsen
Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno
Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn
Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby
Watkins/Duran
The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.
Thats the issue though merlin you got to expect injuries and when we have 2 or 3 we look thin. I think we need to add another 3 to the numbers we already have
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Incredibly frustrating, we dictated play until a ragged last half hour when we had clearly lost heart.
We continue to concede really poor goals, I don't know if Emery can fix that without taking away from our attacking threat.
It can be hard to watch us chase a game because we're committed to the gradual build-up and at times there is a need for mixing things up a bit more. I feel McGinn is the only one who brings impetus with his arse-beating press and through balls.
We need more players who are comfortable on the ball in the middle of the park and can speed things up on a more frequent basis. An in-form Ramsey, even Buendia's bursts of acceleration are sorely missed. Kamara's absence has been sorely felt by Luiz and the late-season emergence of Rogers has thankfully been the difference in us hanging onto 4th and in danger of being caught by Chelsea and Newcastle, let alone Spurs.
We dictated nothing. They had a 3 goal advantage. Why would they waste their energy pressing us as we kept trying to get them to do? They didn't need the ball. We did and did nothing with it for mall but a handful.of attempts over 180 minutes.
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Obviously bitterly disappointing tonight, but hopefully the players can somehow pick themselves up for Monday night and finish on a high note. The players and Unai can feel very proud of what they've achieved this season.
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Disappointing. If we ever get to a European semi again then we won't play a side as shite as them. Might make beating somebody really decent in the Champions League extra sweet I suppose.
Lost in the first leg more than likely. Couldn't land a glove in the final third.
Can't help but be a bit thoughtful sat on coach 7 getting back ro Athens, stuck in traffic. What a brilliant run we've had. Some absolutely amazing away games, meeting some top Villa on the way. So it ends here, but I've had a blast. As I'm sure everyone who has followed us has. I desperately want a trophy and this manager will deliver it one way or the other at some point. But I want to have fun with this hobby and there is absolutely no doubt, I've enjoyed this European campaign .ore than any other.
Here's to next year and Champions League football. May we draw shit teams at home and some crackers away!
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.
God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily
The squad size is fine:
Martinez/Olsen
Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno
Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn
Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby
Watkins/Duran
The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.
Thats the issue though merlin you got to expect injuries and when we have 2 or 3 we look thin. I think we need to add another 3 to the numbers we already have
We haven't got two or three though, we're missing eight of those twenty two.
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I don't think it's Konsa that's a problem in and of itself, it's that Torres probably isn't fit to be starting so many games, and Carlos blows hotter and colder than a fucked air conditioner, and Cash is so far below the Emery curve that he's only of interest to the Royal College of Statisticians.
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We won’t win a trophy in my lifetime.
We’ve won five in mine and I can even remember two
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.
God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily
The squad size is fine:
Martinez/Olsen
Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno
Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn
Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby
Watkins/Duran
The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.
Thats the issue though merlin you got to expect injuries and when we have 2 or 3 we look thin. I think we need to add another 3 to the numbers we already have
We haven't got two or three though, we're missing eight of those twenty two.
Indeed. One thing I will say is it has turned out to be a mistake loaning the Donk out. He'd have done a job in there. Obviously that was pre-Kamara ACL, but would have been good to have him around at the moment.
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They played against us how we played for lots of Unais reign, they let us have the ball, kept their shape and discipline and watched us get frustrated and then rush things.
We looked well short of ideas in the final third and their keeper had little to do, despite us dominating possession, just looked again like we were running on fumes. First goal was disappointing as it came again against the run of play at the worst possible time, and was preventable. Second goal was a shocker, Sunday League stuff.
So disappointed that we won’t get so good a chance of silverware, they eased through without really looking that good. That we couldn’t raise ourselves to make a game of that is really worrying, even accounting for injuries we should have had too much but didnt really lay a glove on them.
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Let’s be honest, it’s basically just the Intertoto.
A sort of European Watney’s Cup.
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I thought he’d take us all the way. Very disappointing. Will keep one foot on the floor next season.
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.
God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily
The squad size is fine:
Martinez/Olsen
Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno
Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn
Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby
Watkins/Duran
The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.
Thats the issue though merlin you got to expect injuries and when we have 2 or 3 we look thin. I think we need to add another 3 to the numbers we already have
We haven't got two or three though, we're missing eight of those twenty two.
Plus, you can only have a squad of what, 25, with a certain amount having to be home-grown.
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It's like the Anglo-Italian had a baby with the Simod Cup.
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I thought he’d take us all the way. Very disappointing. Will keep one foot on the floor next season.
Yeah, you wouldn't want to get carried away would you.
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Let’s be honest, it’s basically just the Intertoto.
A sort of European Watney’s Cup.
You mean Dave Collett was right all along?!
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If Fiorentina win it might as well be renamed the Anglo-Italian.
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One of the biggest disappointments for me tonight was the absolutely appalling set plays. I know fatigue is a issue but seriously cant blame fatigue for some of these set pieces. The freekicks corners all really bad tonight
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Well done to the soothsayers who forecasted our exit in February.
Reach Semi Final : Chicago Lion , Mpls Villa, Tax dodger, Edgy Satsuma 89, Eamonn, Legion.
And Dogtanian semi final/final
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If Fiorentina win it might as well be renamed the Anglo-Italian.
They looked pretty tasty against Brugge 2nd half. Oh well. Semi finals the bare minimum across the board from now on. Champions League notwithstanding.
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Yes but in answer to Watneys and Intertoto comparisons we look shitter than a Moyes West Ham 12 months ago!
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One thing to point out from my perspective, because this seems to come up a lot, it is both possible to be delighted with what Emery has done, and be fully aware how far we’ve come - we’re on the cusp of the Champions League. But simultaneously not be impressed with our level in the two legs of this semi-final. We are very short of options, but with the players on the pitch the level should have been better. We didn’t actually look like we had a plan, not saying that is the case (I’m sure it wasn’t) but it’s how it looked. We were favourites to win the Conference League, so this is a failure for me. Hopefully we’ll complete our overachievement in the league.
On balance, I'd say that's fair.
The better teams find a way.
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Well done to the soothsayers who forecasted our exit in February.
Reach Semi Final : Chicago Lion , Mpls Villa, Tax dodger, Edgy Satsuma 89, Eamonn, Legion.
And Dogtanian semi final/final
Dogtanian gaming the system there by effectively having two guesses.
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Yes but in answer to Watneys and Intertoto comparisons we look shitter than a Moyes West Ham 12 months ago!
We've payed proper fucking teams throughout not some chumps from a resort in fucking Cyprus.
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If ,after the loss to Fulham last season, anyone had said that at the end of the following season we would reach the semi -final of European competition and finish fifth in the league they would probably been regarded as a hopelessly deluded optimist. The fact that in spite of the extent of the disruption we have suffered through injuries to key players at various times we would now feel a sense of disappointment at such an outcome shows what a spectacular turn around there has been. I can't remember seeing us play such exciting football for donkey's years and I've bloody loved it.
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
It’s genuinely perplexing to me that intelligent people can’t see this.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
This ‘oh no, Konsa at right back’ theme. He was right back in both wins over Arsenal and the home game v Man City. How many better performances have there been when he’s played Cash there?
Plenty, plus Konsa was hooked in that first Arsenal game as he was getting roasted. It's the same argument put forward for Carlos (but Haaland, but Arsenal), are we to ignore nearly every other game?
Emery has been itching to play 3 x CBs all season. If Mings hadn't got injured we would have seen a lot more of it. He's obviously trying to replicate, with Konsa, what Arteta has done with Ben White but all it does is weaken the centre of our defence and limits our ability to bring our RB into the play. If he simply doesn't rate Cash then he needs to move him on. Every manager has a weakness and I think this is his.
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Have we ever had injuries like this? I'm struggling to recall.
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
It’s genuinely perplexing to me that intelligent people can’t see this.
Amen.
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It doesn't always happen for you. Nobody expected Atalanta to get past Liverpool, for a start.
My accumulator at the start of the season was Man City, Liverpool and us to win the three competitions, but in the end, we were the only ones to reach a semi final even.
It was not a great performance tonight, we passed them to death but didn't do the business in the final third.
In the last 15 years I've seen countless games where we barely had 20% of the ball and couldn't string two passes together. That at least wasn't the case tonight.
Fatigue has caught up with us, an we're almost certainly likely to just get over the line in the league, but this tie, combined with the shit luck of the first leg, and a switch off inside ten minutes tonight for their goal, all those things combined to make it too much for us.
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It was not to be.
What was the question?
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It was not to be.
What was the question?
Was it to be?
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I’ve done 3 aways and have had a fantastic time and some great memories. Here’s to at least 4 more next season.
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
It’s genuinely perplexing to me that intelligent people can’t see this.
Some sense there Perce.
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One thing to point out from my perspective, because this seems to come up a lot, it is both possible to be delighted with what Emery has done, and be fully aware how far we’ve come - we’re on the cusp of the Champions League. But simultaneously not be impressed with our level in the two legs of this semi-final. We are very short of options, but with the players on the pitch the level should have been better. We didn’t actually look like we had a plan, not saying that is the case (I’m sure it wasn’t) but it’s how it looked. We were favourites to win the Conference League, so this is a failure for me. Hopefully we’ll complete our overachievement in the league.
On balance, I'd say that's fair.
The better teams find a way.
When you say favourites you mean the bookie’s favourites….that won’t have been the case “ abroad”….for proof look at the UK odds for England then look farther afield….👍
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Well I’m proud of them and Unai, we have a future not just a past.
No excuse we were beaten by a very decent team, but come on! What a season!
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
It’s genuinely perplexing to me that intelligent people can’t see this.
I know, it's just so obvious.
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Would rather win the League cup.
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You either hate Villa for not winning a trophy or love them because they have before and might again.
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They played against us how we played for lots of Unais reign, they let us have the ball, kept their shape and discipline and watched us get frustrated and then rush things.
We looked well short of ideas in the final third and their keeper had little to do, despite us dominating possession, just looked again like we were running on fumes. First goal was disappointing as it came again against the run of play at the worst possible time, and was preventable. Second goal was a shocker, Sunday League stuff.
So disappointed that we won’t get so good a chance of silverware, they eased through without really looking that good. That we couldn’t raise ourselves to make a game of that is really worrying, even accounting for injuries we should have had too much but didnt really lay a glove on them.
I’m pretty much thinking the same as you PW, though I actually think they do look good, round pegs in round holes with a clear game plan. Not stellar, but certainly effective, and they were the better team over 180 minutes.
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Still proud to be Villa. Out played and there are reasons for that. Hard of to Olimpyakos they were the better team.
There was very little to be proud of in those two legs. We were shocking tonight, and they looked like they'd given up.
Oh please, just give over.
Your one post tonight isn't on the match thread, it's to have a go at me. Exactly the same last match. Probably best you just put me on ignore, I really don't need a weird stalker in my life, cheers. Baby Reindeer.
I rarely post on match threads because I’m watching the game. But thanks for the advice. I will ignore your mindless drivel from now on.
Sent from my iphone
Well played. Sorry Risso. Don’t really want an argument. Just pissed off is all.
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One thing to point out from my perspective, because this seems to come up a lot, it is both possible to be delighted with what Emery has done, and be fully aware how far we’ve come - we’re on the cusp of the Champions League. But simultaneously not be impressed with our level in the two legs of this semi-final. We are very short of options, but with the players on the pitch the level should have been better. We didn’t actually look like we had a plan, not saying that is the case (I’m sure it wasn’t) but it’s how it looked. We were favourites to win the Conference League, so this is a failure for me. Hopefully we’ll complete our overachievement in the league.
On balance, I'd say that's fair.
The better teams find a way.
When you say favourites you mean the bookie’s favourites….that won’t have been the case “ abroad”….for proof look at the UK odds for England then look farther afield….👍
I suspect we were favourites outside of just the bookies, but yeah I accept that won’t have been universal. But either way, it’s still falling short not to win the tournament. It’s disappointing, again it doesn’t mean Unai hasn’t done a fantastic job. He clearly has and has moved us on unbelievably quickly, but we should have won this.
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
It’s genuinely perplexing to me that intelligent people can’t see this.
Some sense there Perce.
Bang on.
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Disappointing semi, in fact a total flop.
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
It’s genuinely perplexing to me that intelligent people can’t see this.
I know, it's just so obvious.
I think some of the people not seeing it tonight will see it tomorrow after a night's rest.
It's always a bit nuts during and just after a match.
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If you've not enjoyed this, then fucking give up you joyless twerp. This is why you support the Villa. Competing in Europe. Gutted to have lost, probably our one and only appearance in the competition too. Up the fucking Villa.
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They played against us how we played for lots of Unais reign, they let us have the ball, kept their shape and discipline and watched us get frustrated and then rush things.
We looked well short of ideas in the final third and their keeper had little to do, despite us dominating possession, just looked again like we were running on fumes. First goal was disappointing as it came again against the run of play at the worst possible time, and was preventable. Second goal was a shocker, Sunday League stuff.
So disappointed that we won’t get so good a chance of silverware, they eased through without really looking that good. That we couldn’t raise ourselves to make a game of that is really worrying, even accounting for injuries we should have had too much but didnt really lay a glove on them.
I’m pretty much thinking the same as you PW, though I actually think they do look good, round pegs in round holes with a clear game plan. Not stellar, but certainly effective, and they were the better team over 180 minutes.
A lot of Villa fans thought we would win the tournament easy. But teams like Lille and Olympiacos have played much more European football than we have over the past 15 years.
We basically spent ten years in the wilderness. I had a sinking feeling when the quarter-final/semi-final draw was made and we drew two tough teams with the first leg of both away.
We will have learned a lot. But as a club we have to stick together and focus on the future.
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
It’s genuinely perplexing to me that intelligent people can’t see this.
I know, it's just so obvious.
I think some of the people not seeing it tonight will see it tomorrow after a night's rest.
It's always a bit nuts during and just after a match.
Terror of missing out on the CL doesn't help either. Terror I utterly share, I might add.
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We were rightly favourites for it at the start of the season, losing a third of our squad changed that.
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This is the best Villa team I have ever seen, with one of the best managers in the world. The future is very bright and all the negativity on here boggles me - the players gave everything and the squad is down to the limit. Emery is basically entirely out of options.
We didn't actually play that badly across the two legs, just nothing went out way. There were fractions in the offsides for two of their goals, and obviously the two penalties. If a few things had gone very slightly differently the tie would have been completely different.
I would clap and serve an ace, tune Mr Wellers guitar, and compare the Blues end of season collapse if I could, to this from Mr Kileen. Not good tonight, with a number of players running on empty fumes. We'll be back and I would not want to encounter us next season if I was the top two seeds in any group stages of European competition. We, as a collective, will have learnt so much and I suspect it will drive us on.
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We were rightly favourites for it at the start of the season, losing a third of our squad changed that.
Yeah, but obviously everyone involved should have known about that and bought a billion other players just in case.
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I didn't see it as Konsa playing right back. To me it was a back three with Digne and Cash playing wide of a very depleted midfield which would have suited Moreno rather than Digne had he been fit.
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Good luck to Olympiakos - they deserved the victory and will fancy their chances in the final.
We will learn. It’s never a straight line to success.
It doesn’t change the narrative around this season. It’s been a tremendous success and, next year we will continue to grow, improve, and win.
Disappointed tonight but, so positive for the future.
UTV
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01:10 and not off the car park. Absolute fucking shit show
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I think I did my mourning last week, had a good evening with a couple of mates in the pub, occasionally punctuated by a few FFS at our final ball.
What's such a pity is that we haven't given the best account of ourselves in the two biggest matches of the season. There are well documented reasons for this and it makes me sad rather than angry.
We will almost certainly qualify for the Champions' League next season and that's a great achievement whichever way you dice it but ask me a thousand times if I'd prefer a trophy and I'll always give the same answer.
There's always next year
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We wouldn't have won that game even if we had bunged the ref a tasty mil. I don't think I've ever seen a team look as mentally and physically fucked as we do.
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01:10 and not off the car park. Absolute fucking shit show
When you have a chance mate can you head to the Heck thread? Intrigued to hear your take on today's interview with gabby where a new stadium was firmly ruled out 'in my lifetime' and in discussing the next two summers no mention was made of any major redevelopment...
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01:10 and not off the car park. Absolute fucking shit show
Is African car reverser there?
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Gutted to have lost, probably our one and only appearance in the competition too.
I did think this too. If we never play in this competition again it's because things have gone very right, or very wrong.
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I think I did my mourning last week,
Yeah, me too, that's why I am not distraught tonight. It was always almost certainly going to end up like this, the minute we missed that penalty.
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It’s been great for us - some amazing away trips seeing the same faces in different locations, night time games at Villa Park, European experience for the squad and great opportunity for all of us to dream. The win at Lille was one of my best memories travelling with the Villa in years, and I’d probably never have gone to Mostar if it weren’t for us playing there.
That we’ve managed to stay around the top 4 in the same season has been an incredible achievement. Fingers crossed we hold on to 4th and then have more great European trips next season.
But tonight hurts.
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I didn't see it as Konsa playing right back. To me it was a back three with Digne and Cash playing wide of a very depleted midfield which would have suited Moreno rather than Digne had he been fit.
Digne clearly is not suited to that position. Options were incredibly limited tonight but playing five defenders didn't seem the best bet of clawing back a two goal deficit.
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.
What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.
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Emery no excuses culture is far more forgiving and accepting than Gerrards was.
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There will, no doubt be some comments about us coming up short and comparing us to West Ham's win last season.
Here are the current league positions of the teams we've played this season
Mostar - 5th
Legia Warsaw 6th
AZ Alkmaar- 4th
Ajax - 5th
Lille - 4th
Olympiacos - 4th
And these are the end of season positins of the teams West Ham played last season all the way through to the final
Anderlecht 11th
Silkeborg Denmrk 7th
Red Star Bucharest 2nd
AEK Larnaka Cyprus 3rd
Ghent 5th
AZ Alkmaar 4th
Fiorentina 8th
Would it be fair to say that we've had a tougher set of fixtures than they did last season?
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Emery no excuses culture is far more forgiving and accepting than Gerrards was.
This is actually a really good point. 'No excuses' doesn't mean 'so FUCK YOU for screwing up'; it just means you can always learn something, always try to improve. Gerrard was just looking to blame someone other than himself, which is a very different game.
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There will, no doubt be some comments about us coming up short and comparing us to West Ham's win last season.
Here are the current league positions of the teams we've played this season
Mostar - 5th
Legia Warsaw 6th
AZ Alkmaar- 4th
Ajax - 5th
Lille - 4th
Olympiacos - 4th
And these are the end of season positins of the teams West Ham played last season all the way through to the final
Anderlecht 11th
Silkeborg Denmrk 7th
Red Star Bucharest 2nd
AEK Larnaka Cyprus 3rd
Ghent 5th
AZ Alkmaar 4th
Fiorentina 8th
Would it be fair to say that we've had a tougher set of fixtures than they did last season?
Yes, definitely.
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.
What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.
Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.
What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.
Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .
Sigh.
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Emery no excuses culture is far more forgiving and accepting than Gerrards was.
This is actually a really good point. 'No excuses' doesn't mean 'so FUCK YOU for screwing up'; it just means you can always learn something, always try to improve. Gerrard was just looking to blame someone other than himself, which is a very different game.
Gerrard was Haig. Emery is Montgomery.
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.
What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.
Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .
Maybe football isn't for you if you can't grasp this basic point.
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Bore off Coopers Injury, you Beckford loving troll.
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There will, no doubt be some comments about us coming up short and comparing us to West Ham's win last season.
Here are the current league positions of the teams we've played this season
Mostar - 5th
Legia Warsaw 6th
AZ Alkmaar- 4th
Ajax - 5th
Lille - 4th
Olympiacos - 4th
And these are the end of season positins of the teams West Ham played last season all the way through to the final
Anderlecht 11th
Silkeborg Denmrk 7th
Red Star Bucharest 2nd
AEK Larnaka Cyprus 3rd
Ghent 5th
AZ Alkmaar 4th
Fiorentina 8th
Would it be fair to say that we've had a tougher set of fixtures than they did last season?
Yes, definitely.
I would also say West Ham finished lowly last season in the league 14th
Leicester City year before got to semis and finished 8th in league while challenging for top 4
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
Most people mentioning injuries are giving it as a reason to explain performances not as an excuse to justify them. Absolutely not playing a card…it’s stating a fact
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Fekin Greeks!!!
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I didn't see it as Konsa playing right back. To me it was a back three with Digne and Cash playing wide of a very depleted midfield which would have suited Moreno rather than Digne had he been fit.
Digne clearly is not suited to that position. Options were incredibly limited tonight but playing five defenders didn't seem the best bet of clawing back a two goal deficit.
But what do you do when you only have two fit midfielders other than Tim and Kelllyman? He still played three attacking players.
-
There will, no doubt be some comments about us coming up short and comparing us to West Ham's win last season.
Here are the current league positions of the teams we've played this season
Mostar - 5th
Legia Warsaw 6th
AZ Alkmaar- 4th
Ajax - 5th
Lille - 4th
Olympiacos - 4th
And these are the end of season positins of the teams West Ham played last season all the way through to the final
Anderlecht 11th
Silkeborg Denmrk 7th
Red Star Bucharest 2nd
AEK Larnaka Cyprus 3rd
Ghent 5th
AZ Alkmaar 4th
Fiorentina 8th
Would it be fair to say that we've had a tougher set of fixtures than they did last season?
Yes, definitely.
I would also say West Ham finished lowly last season in the league 14th
Leicester City year before got to semis and finished 8th in league while challenging for top 4
My man's on a roll.
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.
What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.
Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .
But you clearly don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about Coops.
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.
What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.
Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .
But you clearly don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about Coops.
Of course he doesn't.
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Emery no excuses culture is far more forgiving and accepting than Gerrards was.
This is actually a really good point. 'No excuses' doesn't mean 'so FUCK YOU for screwing up'; it just means you can always learn something, always try to improve. Gerrard was just looking to blame someone other than himself, which is a very different game.
Gerrard was Haig. Emery is Montgomery.
Emery's Caesar; Gerrard's hardly even Lepidus.
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
Most people mentioning injuries are giving it as a reason to explain performances not as an excuse to justify them. Absolutely not playing a card…it’s stating a fact
Look at the players we had out on the pitch costing tens of millions we had more than enough to beat these but they just didn't deliver in either leg . Very very poor .
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
Most people mentioning injuries are giving it as a reason to explain performances not as an excuse to justify them. Absolutely not playing a card…it’s stating a fact
Look at the players we had out on the pitch costing tens of millions we had more than enough to beat these but they just didn't deliver in either leg . Very very poor .
Give it a rest mate honestly, we get it
Just because you have more expensive players etc etc doesn't mean you'll win every game, that's football.
The players are knackered, we have lots of injuries, they've played lots and lots of minutes and so probably aren't sharp at the moment.
In your world if we play badly it's down to 'bottle' or effort or some other dinosaur idiotic nonsense. The players tried and have had a magnificent season but we didn't play well enough in these 2 matches, that's ok
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Mind you, we can't overlook Dougie's disastrous hair style change plus his return to the arms of whatshername, that all coincided with a downturn of form.
Probably more impactful than losing Kamara.
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Emery is a European expert juggling domestic alongside , he loves more games and balances with less training . The players didn't deliver.
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To be fair, my attention wanders when I'm looking at Alisha Lehmann.
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Emery is a European expert juggling domestic alongside , he loves more games and balances with less training . The players didn't deliver.
Just, extreme sighing and shrugging.
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.
What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.
Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .
We have been beaten just like we’ve got a huge injury issue. I’d say that and that fact our opponents didn’t have to play a few days ago like we did have them an advantage. You only have to look at the bench to see the issues.
They weren’t shite either and have a lot more European experience than we do.
You don’t have to buy it, it’s a fact.
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Emery is a European expert juggling domestic alongside , he loves more games and balances with less training . The players didn't deliver.
He's not a magician. Why don't you just cut them some slack instead of diving headfirst into this sort of grim tribute act thing that just reminds us all of Cooper's Injury and Silhilvilla?
All you need to do is mention Beckford 'being at it' again and the conversion will be complete.
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Emery is a European expert juggling domestic alongside , he loves more games and balances with less training . The players didn't deliver.
They also got really fucking injured, very often.
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Mind you, we can't overlook Dougie's disastrous hair style change plus his return to the arms of whatshername, that all coincided with a downturn of form.
Probably more impactful than losing Kamara.
that's assuming these things aren't related. Does Kamara even get injured if Dougie's single - I, for one, think not
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Fucked the coaches off and in a taxi back to the bar. I intend to salute this European adventure in the best possible way, but drinking my body weight in gin. Fucking love the Villa.
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There are some insane takes in here.
The team are on the whole shattered.
There has been little to no rotation.
Other European clubs have been waived their league games between euro fixtures.
Our lot have had to play in the most intense league between conference fixtures.
We have three ACLs to key players.
Our primary subs tonight were kids.
The first 11 were out on their feet from the start.
They’ve improved on last year significantly.
We might get champions league.
We were at real risk of getting relegated only 18 months ago.
Please, PLEASE don’t act like a miserable spoiled child because you might miss the only positive period we’ve had in over a decade. It won’t always be this good. Cheer up.
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Unai is a fucking genius to have got us to this point with such a shit hand in terms of injuries and fatigue. We are well ahead of where any of us expected to be so I forgive Cash and Digne being poor and Doug trying too hard. We are destined for bigger and better things so West Ham can dine out on winning this cup all they like, where has it got them? In Unai I absolutely trust and can’t wait for the summer.
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We lost that tie because of the way we approached the first 30 mins at Villa park.
We should have dominated and overrun them. We didn’t. We started well for 5 mins then dropped back into slow ponderous play which gave them the opportunity to,get into,the game. They were frightened to death about playing us….we rolled over for them
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There are some insane takes in here.
The team are on the whole shattered.
There has been little to no rotation.
Other European clubs have been waived their league games between euro fixtures.
Our lot have had to play in the most intense league between conference fixtures.
We have three ACLs to key players.
Our primary subs tonight were kids.
The first 11 were out on their feet from the start.
They’ve improved on last year significantly.
We might get champions league.
We were at real risk of getting relegated only 18 months ago.
Please, PLEASE don’t act like a miserable spoiled child because you might miss the only positive period we’ve had in over a decade. It won’t always be this good. Cheer up.
It makes sense what you're saying but your name doesn't as you're called Grumpy and actually seem positive and give good contextual perspective and also you ended with cheer up. Why are you called Grumpy?
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To be fair, my attention wanders when I'm looking at Alisha Lehmann.
Is she really all that?
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There are some insane takes in here.
The team are on the whole shattered.
There has been little to no rotation.
Other European clubs have been waived their league games between euro fixtures.
Our lot have had to play in the most intense league between conference fixtures.
We have three ACLs to key players.
Our primary subs tonight were kids.
The first 11 were out on their feet from the start.
They’ve improved on last year significantly.
We might get champions league.
We were at real risk of getting relegated only 18 months ago.
Please, PLEASE don’t act like a miserable spoiled child because you might miss the only positive period we’ve had in over a decade. It won’t always be this good. Cheer up.
Being told to cheer up by literal Grumpy should shame some.
(Not me, of course. But that's because I'm Moronically Optimistic).
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There are some insane takes in here.
The team are on the whole shattered.
There has been little to no rotation.
Other European clubs have been waived their league games between euro fixtures.
Our lot have had to play in the most intense league between conference fixtures.
We have three ACLs to key players.
Our primary subs tonight were kids.
The first 11 were out on their feet from the start.
They’ve improved on last year significantly.
We might get champions league.
We were at real risk of getting relegated only 18 months ago.
Please, PLEASE don’t act like a miserable spoiled child because you might miss the only positive period we’ve had in over a decade. It won’t always be this good. Cheer up.
It makes sense what you're saying but your name doesn't as you're called Grumpy and actually seem positive and give good contextual perspective and also you ended with cheer up. Why are you called Grumpy?
Because I’m generally an all round miserable bastard.
I however I can’t for a second be pissed off about this season though and all the potential we have to look forward to.
I’ve been a fan since 1994, I’ve never felt so optimistic.
(I’ve also had a few sizeable whiskies tbf)
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We lost that tie because of the way we approached the first 30 mins at Villa park.
We should have dominated and overrun them. We didn’t. We started well for 5 mins then dropped back into slow ponderous play which gave them the opportunity to,get into,the game. They were frightened to death about playing us….we rolled over for them
That's not totally wrong but it's pretty much by design.
We might go at it hard for the opening spell, but -when we're in better nick - after that opening burst, we're content to let teams come on to us and wait for the gaps to open.
This works well when you have a GK like Martinez who can almost act as an additional outfield player. It works less well you have an Olsen-type, who is more like a traditional GK.
We're capable of going up the gears or dropping the pace to suit with more personnel. Less so when we're relying on the XI we've been putting out for the past 3>4 games.
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.
What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.
Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .
But you clearly don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about Coops.
Of course he doesn't.
To be fair, when I said I was perplexed by intelligent people not getting it, I was obviously not thinking of Dim Tim/Cooper’s Injury.
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I don't want to go down the 'would we have settled for that at the start?' route, but the worst that this season can show for us now is that we got to the semi finals of a European competition and qualified for the Europa by finishing 5th...
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Absolutely gutted, as I felt from the off that this presented us with our best chance of winning a trophy for some time. Unfortunately, the most important couple of weeks in recent history have coincided with a downturn in our form. There are a number of reasons for that drop off, mainly the number of injuries that have been suffered, but we have looked spent for a few games now.
Let's be honest, the home leg was our big opportunity, but it went horribly wrong on the night and it was a major uphill task from there.
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I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .
What an idiotic post.
We haven't been able to rotate for the best part of 3 months. Most of the XI tonight, while it looked good on paper, have had to play every minute of most of those games. The tiredness is WHY our level is so low. It's not rocket science. Slagging off the players is the kind of rubbish that the Sky 6 fans would do.
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I've never seen us win anything and probably never will, shame really.
They did their homework on us and were very good. They didn't take the Martinez press bait once over two legs and because that's a big part of our build-up play we didn't know what to do.
Every time we're so close to some silverware we just don't perform. The century curse goes on......
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So you’ve given up that easily? 18 months we were fighting to stay up. Now we just fell short in a European competition and could finish 4th. Why is not reasonable to assume that the next logical steps would be to add talent, get healthy and become consistent as a side operating at the top of the table and latter stages of competitions. Today was shit, but remember the journey. We are long way from the finished article.
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Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough
We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.
God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily
The squad size is fine:
Martinez/Olsen
Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno
Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn
Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby
Watkins/Duran
The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.
Thats the issue though merlin you got to expect injuries and when we have 2 or 3 we look thin. I think we need to add another 3 to the numbers we already have
2 or 3?
We've got 8 of the 22 above out. Including 3 for the best part of a year and 2 more with recurring problems for almost the same amount of time.
That we've lasted this long is a miracle in itself.
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
It’s genuinely perplexing to me that intelligent people can’t see this.
Yep, me too.
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I've never seen us win anything and probably never will, shame really.
You should have a bet on that, it would be 'easy money'.
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So you’ve given up that easily? 18 months we were fighting to stay up. Now we just fell short in a European competition and could finish 4th. Why is not reasonable to assume that the next logical steps would be to add talent, get healthy and become consistent as a side operating at the top of the table and latter stages of competitions. Today was shit, but remember the journey. We are long way from the finished article.
Being far, far too reasonable for this evening!
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I’m sympathetic to this (seemingly eternal) ‘running on fumes’ argument but hells bells, we could surely have lifted it for these two games, no? Winners find a way to win, we’re not the first club to have a full fixture list. Great season of course but to go out with such a whimper over 3 hours against qualifiers is pretty lame.
It was totally shit but at the same time I just don’t think the first teamers we have remaining have any energy in them any more. Arsenal and Bournemouth games were great results, and we got a point against a resurgent Chelsea team. Given the colossal injury list we have, it’s not like Emery could change things.
I agree with you both.
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Imagine what would have happened if that unbiased referee hadn't ruled out the perfectly good goal that Bailey scored at the start of the tie...
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Imagine what would have happened if that unbiased referee hadn't ruled out the perfectly good goal that Bailey scored at the start of the tie...
I imagine we'd have lost the tie by 3 goals instead of 4.
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I've never seen us win anything and probably never will, shame really.
They did their homework on us and were very good. They didn't take the Martinez press bait once over two legs and because that's a big part of our build-up play we didn't know what to do.
Every time we're so close to some silverware we just don't perform. The century curse goes on......
I wonder why they didn’t take the Martinez press bait in the first leg?
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There are some insane takes in here.
The team are on the whole shattered.
There has been little to no rotation.
Other European clubs have been waived their league games between euro fixtures.
Our lot have had to play in the most intense league between conference fixtures.
We have three ACLs to key players.
Our primary subs tonight were kids.
The first 11 were out on their feet from the start.
They’ve improved on last year significantly.
We might get champions league.
We were at real risk of getting relegated only 18 months ago.
Please, PLEASE don’t act like a miserable spoiled child because you might miss the only positive period we’ve had in over a decade. It won’t always be this good. Cheer up.
Doesn't even rhyme.
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I've never seen us win anything and probably never will, shame really.
They did their homework on us and were very good. They didn't take the Martinez press bait once over two legs and because that's a big part of our build-up play we didn't know what to do.
Every time we're so close to some silverware we just don't perform. The century curse goes on......
I wonder why they didn’t take the Martinez press bait in the first leg?
"It is nearly an insoluble pancake, a conundrum of inscrutable potentialities, a snorter."
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We were fortunate to beat Lille, this was another game too far based on our depleted resources.
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Fucked the coaches off and in a taxi back to the bar. I intend to salute this European adventure in the best possible way, but drinking my body weight in gin. Fucking love the Villa.
Much love, Ads, to you and every Villa fan who went out there. Disappointing, but these things happen and we've been bested fairly over two legs.
Enjoy it, and safe travels back.
UTV
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Disappointed of course but this isn’t an ending, it’s just the beginning. Two more games to get out just reward for an excellent season.
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Fucked the coaches off and in a taxi back to the bar. I intend to salute this European adventure in the best possible way, but drinking my body weight in gin. Fucking love the Villa.
That holdback in the car park was insane. Apparently police riders were not available to escort coaches back to the pick up venue.
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Very proud and delighted with what this squad of players have achieved this season, but as we’ve seen many times this season, we aren’t good enough to carry this many injuries or when our main players are out of form. We’re literally the walking wounded with a patched up side, players carrying injuries, players playing out of position, and dead on their feet with the schedule. These last few games have been a few games too far for this squad…and as much as I’d love us to put in an amazing end of season win against Liverpool under the lights, unfortunately I can only see a couple of more defeats on the cards unless a few players come back and are actually fit enough to play to their ability. As such, we’ll be relying on other teams to do their business to get us over the line to finish 4th. We’ll just have to see how this pans out over the next few weeks…I’ll be totally disappointed and gutted if we don’t do it but I’ll also understand the reasons why if we don’t. UTV.
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Really torn on this. On the one hand I get the injuries and fatigue argument, plus first season back in Europe, managing a cup run with being on the cusp of CL qualification for the first time and a season to remember.
But there‘s a the nagging feeling that we should have done better in the semi finals in a competition we were favourites for although we’ve largely been playing Europa level opposition. We’ve been turned around a bit too easily at points. Olympiakos most effective tactic being the big switch out to Pondence and him just shifting and playing balls across. The lack of attacking quality from us at most moments in the final third was very disappointing. It wasn’t just a few times. It was almost constant.
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I am fiercely proud of Villa, for the first time in a long time. Our players have given everything this season in a way I've rarely seen before. Emery has so hugely overachieved to get a group of players on the cusp of the relegation spots to potentially forth and a European semifinal.
When we were shite, I used to dream we could have a team that would just look interested, so yes we're out and that's that, but we gave it everything we had and I love them for that.
We're a club on the up and we're just getting started.
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We didn’t play badly in either leg. They had every single bounce of the ball and decision. Finish the job in the league now and we can all be outrageously proud of the squad and staff for what’s been an amazing effort.
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Did well in the 1st half - for me we needed a young Countinho type of player, to break down their 10 man defence when we were attacking
2nd half the game became more stop / start and fair play to them, they seemed more organised than us and were able to cope with our attacks.
Thought Cash did well and was our best attacking threat.
Hopefully the experience that the players have gained will help them with our European adventure next season, whichever tournament we are in.
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Hard to be critical with our injuries etc,etc
But when your expectations are raised its difficult to not be disappointed.
But if we finish 4th, whole new chapter, to not be one season ponies like the Geordies the squad needs some serious upgrades. But I think that is in the plan.
This adventure will be seen as the start of the journey.
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Safe journey home Ads, olaftab, and everyone else who went.
I'm disappointed that I'm not now planning my own trip over to Athens. But those players have given everything this season, it's been a marvellous adventure, and they can hold their heads up high in a way that many Villa teams over the last 10 or so years haven't been able to.
This is the best Villa side since 1996 now, undoubtedly, and had it not been for some absolutely awful luck with injuries I'm sure we'd be in the final and saying it was the best Villa team since 1982.
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Interesting that in the quarter final and semi final, both Lille and Olympiacos had no competitive fixtures on the weekend before both games. I think that helped massively, and when you take into the fatigue that the players undoubtedly were feeling and the limited squad options that we had it is hardly surprising that we struggled so much over all four legs. Food for thought for the Premier League? Nah, don't think so!
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Hopefully they have gained great experience from this and our travelling supporters have enjoyed it. It’s a huge step in the right direction.
Too many below par performances to get over the line but all in all we must learn from this experience, the manager included. He needs to identify the areas to make us compete with the best. A fully fit and performing team and we can, but an injury or two and a couple off form and our whole game changes.
Last night we missed the drive of Ramsey or Rogers. Bailey’s running on empty, he hasn’t looked as fluid and sharp lately which is no surprise. Digne and Cash seemed were well off the quality needed too.
We’ve missed Mings massively all season, his commanding influence and his positioning make us far more solid. Our defence has been really ropey all season, probably down to unfortunate tinkering due to injuries and not enough choices, especially in the right back position.
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Down to our last 11 senior players, some playing out of position, all mentally exhausted. It’s the alertness of thought, and sharpness of passing that has deserted us. It’s the definition of hitting the wall.
It’s genuinely perplexing to me that intelligent people can’t see this.
Yep, me too.
Yes but two of them we knew about after the 1st game. I think we should have added more bodies esp at right back.
With JJ all season he has been out not sure why he didnt try get a loan back or get sanson back if we didnt want to sign anyone. We let dendonker go and got no one in.
We recall kesler and dont give him any minutes instead playing konsa at rb where he is doing his best but lets be really he is pretty shite there.
Yes fatigue has been a issue, but we were poorly prepared for any potential advancement in europe for injuries. Playing 52 games maybe 53 of we got to final we should have been prepared or slowly implemented some youngsters in to help. Not just play same players every week and they picking up injuries e.g rodgers (how much did we miss him last night?)
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When Cash did pass forward we created stuff, but so many times he stopped the attacked and passed back.
At a minimum this squad needs a first choice right back, first choice defensive midfielder and a back-up keeper…
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Really torn on this. On the one hand I get the injuries and fatigue argument, plus first season back in Europe, managing a cup run with being on the cusp of CL qualification for the first time and a season to remember.
But there‘s a the nagging feeling that we should have done better in the semi finals in a competition we were favourites for although we’ve largely been playing Europa level opposition. We’ve been turned around a bit too easily at points. Olympiakos most effective tactic being the big switch out to Pondence and him just shifting and playing balls across. The lack of attacking quality from us at most moments in the final third was very disappointing. It wasn’t just a few times. It was almost constant.
Exactly this.
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When Cash did pass forward we created stuff, but so many times he stopped the attacked and passed back.
At a minimum this squad needs a first choice right back, first choice defensive midfielder and a back-up keeper…
We do have a first choice defensive midfielder but he's injured. Agree about the other two though.
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Having had time to take it all in now I think we can be really proud of the team, but at the same time it’s hard to take when you bow out with a whimper like we did. We’ve had so much bad luck and nothing has gone our way.
I’m not going to dwell on it though as we’ve got two games left with our Champions League place in our own hands. We just need one more big performance to get it over the line and despite everything I think we’ll get it.
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Thought Cash and Bailey played ok last night and left it all out there . There was a lack of composure generally about our play .
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I thought we were rubbish last night, but did so well to get to this stage.
Up the fucking Villa.
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I’m not keen on a back 3/5 whatever you want to call it, it don’t work
After 10 minutes they scored in front of an open goal, I know the reasons for it gives license to the full backs to get forward, It also means that no one knows where to be in their positions and they get caught out
I would rather drop Carlos and go with Duran upfront and be a bit more direct try and cause danger in their penalty box and shoot at every opportunity, we had a lot of the ball last night but not very many chances especially in the first half
We’ve done well this year, but it’s fizzling out badly at the moment due to tiredness and injuries obviously but we also don’t help ourselves sometimes
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Never want to see cash in midfield again. Honestly he is so bad there. He tries hard so i cant be too critical on him but man he just is not good there.
Good luck to ny greek brothers olympiakos. I will be cheering for you in the final!
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Doesn't work apart from all the teams who've won championships, Champions Leagues, World Cups etc?
It can work. It's also not what we were playing. Konsa was at right back, Cash further forward. The trouble with the first goal - the trouble with our entire game in recent weeks - is that our midfield is basically non-existent.
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I thought we had little chance pre match given being 2-4 down, but then first 10 mins we started well and I got drawn into believing we could do something. Their goal was soft from our point of view and a sucker punch. Second half they just managed the game well and we ran out of legs and ideas.
Feel flat today but felt much worse last Friday, with the realisation that we’d royally f***ed the semi final up.
Its a weird feeling now as the season draws to an end. This time last year we had all the momentum and charged towards 7th and it kind of felt euphoric. This season, if Spurs beat Burnley, it kind of feels like we’re clinging onto 4th by our finger tips and hoping man city do us a favour. It feels kind of sickly, strange really but reminds me football is a lot about momentum and timing. I’ll be glad now when this season is over, hope is a lot more stressful than mediocrity.
Whatever happens now in the next two weeks its been a remarkably good season, in particular with the huge challenges the team has faced. One more push.
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You either hate Villa for not winning a trophy or love them because they have before and might again.
I’ve come to terms with the idea that we won’t win anything again during my lifetime. As a mate put it: I’ve reached the Paulie Gualtieri stage of Villa winning nothing:
Chrissy: “you ever feel like nothing good is gonna happen to you?”
Paulie: “Yeah, and nothing did. So what?”
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I've gone back to...ahh, it's only the conf league, Europe's 3 competition.
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Doesn't work apart from all the teams who've won championships, Champions Leagues, World Cups etc?
It can work. It's also not what we were playing. Konsa was at right back, Cash further forward. The trouble with the first goal - the trouble with our entire game in recent weeks - is that our midfield is basically non-existent.
Yeah, I think we’ve gone down this Wilton Path before so there’s no point going over again
I suppose all systems and formations can work as long as you’ve got the right players playing in them
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Something I now remember pissing me off during the game that I mentioned to my brother, the amount of times we were all set to break and the pass went to the players feet rather than into a stride in front of him so we could continue to build momentum. As Cruyff used to say, 'dont pass to where he is, pass to where he's going to be'
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I thought we were rubbish last night, but did so well to get to this stage.
Up the fucking Villa.
Yep thats where im at. Disappointed but happy we at least got to semis and didnt embarrass ourselves in the tournament
CL gonna be a lot tougher so hoping the experience will help alot of them next year if we get there
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When Cash did pass forward we created stuff, but so many times he stopped the attacked and passed back.
At a minimum this squad needs a first choice right back, first choice defensive midfielder and a back-up keeper…
We do have a first choice defensive midfielder but he's injured. Agree about the other two though.
But he is out until January. Add in suspensions and injuries, then we need two. It’s a vital role in our team and without him we don’t control games and it blunts SJM and Luiz.
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Doesn't work apart from all the teams who've won championships, Champions Leagues, World Cups etc?
It can work. It's also not what we were playing. Konsa was at right back, Cash further forward. The trouble with the first goal - the trouble with our entire game in recent weeks - is that our midfield is basically non-existent.
Yeah, I think we’ve gone down this Wilton Path before so there’s no point going over again
I suppose all systems and formations can work as long as you’ve got the right players playing in them
All about the balance I think. Strikes me that this Villa team is very finely tuned - meaning if something goes wrong anywhere in the structure the whole thing starts to creak and wobble.
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I've gone back to...ahh, it's only the conf league, Europe's 3 competition.
Nah, I still think it was a great chance to win some silverware, but it just wasn't to be for a number of reasons. Can't linger on it now though, we've still got something big to play for.
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I really enjoyed this campaign and was hoping to get to the final to compete for our first trophy in 28 years. Loved our trip to Lille and it’s inspired us to make further European trips next season with or without a match tkt. It’s injuries that did us in the end…we’ve had an horrific run of them this season, so it’s great we got as far as we did.
We lost the semi at VP, where both Luiz and McGinn went awol. I’m not convinced Luiz in particular is a big game player. We needed to go into the away fixture with at least a 2 goal advantage and failing to do this left us on the back foot. As fans we need to be more intimidating at home (the 12th man, as Saunders used to say). Legia, Lille and Olympiacos have shown us the way. On our travels we have to be sure not to leave all our chanting in the squares of the cities we’re visiting.
I’m proud of the club, Unai and the players overall. I’m also proud of the fans who went away in numbers and to my knowledge conducted themselves brilliantly.
Here’s to the next European campaign! UTV!
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I was never that bothered about this Anglo-Italian Cup to be honest
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Losing Tielemans, Rogers, Moreno and Zaniolo for the home straight has been a bridge too far clearly. McGinn and Luiz don't work well as a CM pairing and Bailey/Digne desperately need a rest. I'd probably have gambled a bit more with using the kids in the last couple of games as the gap between them and a 'dead on his feet' senior player must be greatly reduced, but Unai seems them in training and must not think they are up to it.
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The Mostar trip was fantastic - incredible town, friendly locals and a great night followed by a couple of mental nights in Sarajevo. Who gives a shit what other clubs’ fans think of the Conference League, it’s given a lot of travelling Villa fans one of their best ever seasons.
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I don't know whether it's a stick or twist issue, really. Once we got to game 33 or whatever it was and we were in pole position to get Champions League, it would have been perfectly understandable for Emery to play a second string in the Conference League. But would we as a fan base have accepted that? As it is, we've done our best to do both, but in hindsight maybe we should have chucked this in.
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I've considered everything that happened last night, looked at the stats, expected goals, form and injuries for both sides and cannot shake off the thought that I had at 8pm last night. We lost because the manager had no gel in his hair and I've never seen this on Matchday before. It may come over as slightly biblical in a Samson style but I hope he cracks open the Brylcreem or even Vitalis before kick off on Monday.
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Pleased to see more energy than the Brighton game, everyone looked completely out of steam during that one.
Sad, not angry, at the result.
Proud at where we are now, and how much effort has gone into us getting here.
Unfortunately I do believe our amount of games and injury list - more so the most recent to Tielemans, Rogers & Zaniolo - has left us relying on Spurs to lose one of their remaining games, rather than us winning one of ours; I just don't see anything left in the locker.
I cannot berate Unai for the tactical choices he made, there are no other options left than to play who we have left, even those that are unfit and the others that are out of form.
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I don't know whether it's a stick or twist issue, really. Once we got to game 33 or whatever it was and we were in pole position to get Champions League, it would have been perfectly understandable for Emery to play a second string in the Conference League. But would we as a fan base have accepted that? As it is, we've done our best to do both, but in hindsight maybe we should have chucked this in.
I think you are right but he would have got pelters.
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I've never seen us win anything and probably never will, shame really.
They did their homework on us and were very good. They didn't take the Martinez press bait once over two legs and because that's a big part of our build-up play we didn't know what to do.
Every time we're so close to some silverware we just don't perform. The century curse goes on......
You will don’t worry.
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Reflections this morning are disappointment as we could have won this and if we do get CL next year, will we be content to go as far as we can as we have little hope of winning it. What concerns me the most is how venomous these boards got at times. We can all get carried away and get frustrated but at times this run in has brought out the absolute worst in some who simply cannot see what a journey this has been. Not saying we have to be happy with the results but at times I wondered why some actually bother supporting us. It has took the shine off things to hear the team being called cowards etc and quite tiring.
Yes we may fall to 5th to a team who have played 20 games less than us but we should be proud of how high we have gotten and use this as a learning curve to play better in Europe next season as CL or not we are back in Europe again next season.
Be proud and we will get better when we have more of a squad who isnt injured! And be nicer to each other
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Fucked the coaches off and in a taxi back to the bar. I intend to salute this European adventure in the best possible way, but drinking my body weight in gin. Fucking love the Villa.
That holdback in the car park was insane. Apparently police riders were not available to escort coaches back to the pick up venue.
I think the Police were deliberately taking the piss. Streets were empty in the Uber and the car park was rammed with those police busses. All the police were drinking cups of tea.
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Last night was one of those games where I think Buendia would have been useful. He always wants the ball and always looks to make something happen.
He's been a bigger miss for us this season than you might think.
If not for all the fucking injuries, there's a fair chance we'd be in the final and challenging for the league title too.
I genuinely can't remember us having had such rotten luck in that respect. Although we've never been what you'd call fortunate. The epitome of that was probably Nilis. Turns up, looks bloody amazing, and two games later his career's over.
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Usual Talksh*te nonsene about last night, no mention of our depleted squad that's down to the bare bones with the last men standing running on fumes!
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Usual Talksh*te nonsene about last night, no mention of our depleted squad that's down to the bare bones with the last men standing running on fumes!
It's almost like they want you to get annoyed.
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I don't know whether it's a stick or twist issue, really. Once we got to game 33 or whatever it was and we were in pole position to get Champions League, it would have been perfectly understandable for Emery to play a second string in the Conference League. But would we as a fan base have accepted that? As it is, we've done our best to do both, but in hindsight maybe we should have chucked this in.
In hindsight, you're right.
We'd definitely have got something from the Brighton game, probably feel better going into the Liverpool game and would likely have 4th place wrapped up by now.
As you say though, he would've been ripped to shreds by the fanbase if he did so.
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Usual Talksh*te nonsene about last night, no mention of our depleted squad that's down to the bare bones with the last men standing running on fumes!
It's almost like they want you to get annoyed.
It’s not working. They’ll realise we don’t have the Sky fanbase that goes onto national radio and slates the club and cry like babies.
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I've been listening to the calls there just now. Very pragmatic and pointing out our injuries.
Jim White's moving onto Chelsea already... ;)
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We actually played on over the two legs. We missed Martinez in the first and with a patched up defence and midfield.
Fair play to Olympiakos, they were the better team and played to their strengths and our weaknesses. Would have liked to have won it. But we gave it a good crack. Without league commitments that’s all you can ask for. Great experience and have loved having so many games to watch.
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I've been listening to the calls there just now. Very pragmatic and pointing out our injuries.
Jim White's moving onto Chelsea already... ;)
Hilarious that the bait has been thrown back in his face.
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I don't know whether it's a stick or twist issue, really. Once we got to game 33 or whatever it was and we were in pole position to get Champions League, it would have been perfectly understandable for Emery to play a second string in the Conference League. But would we as a fan base have accepted that? As it is, we've done our best to do both, but in hindsight maybe we should have chucked this in.
I think you are right but he would have got pelters.
He would have got pelters.
Of course, if the other English teams hadn't under-performed, the day we secured 5th we would also have guaranteed Champions League and could have rested players in the league games.
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Yeah, in the end it's Arsenal and Man Utd who fucked us.
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Yeah, in the end it's Arsenal and Man Utd who fucked us.
Arsenal and Newcastle I'd say.
Newcastle taking Dortmund out in the groups rather than meekly surrendering twice and handing them six points, Dortmund wouldn't be in the final, Germany's coefficient would be in the toilet and we'd have had Champions League sewn up weeks ago.
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Yeah, in the end it's Arsenal and Man Utd who fucked us.
Arsenal and Newcastle I'd say.
Newcastle taking Dortmund out in the groups rather than meekly surrendering twice and handing them six points, Dortmund wouldn't be in the final, Germany's coefficient would be in the toilet and we'd have had Champions League sewn up weeks ago.
I know what you mean, but I don't think in the end Newcastle stood a chance. Arsenal really did have a good shout, a gunfight quarterfinal against a wilt-happy Bayern, and they blew it.
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Spurs getting Europa League is good, as they will have the extra games and hopefully be worse for it with their dog chasing a car style. Us getting Champions League is unequivocally brilliant. Man United being awful is always good value, tempered only by the manager likely getting potted.
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It’s been great for us - some amazing away trips seeing the same faces in different locations, night time games at Villa Park, European experience for the squad and great opportunity for all of us to dream. The win at Lille was one of my best memories travelling with the Villa in years, and I’d probably never have gone to Mostar if it weren’t for us playing there.
That we’ve managed to stay around the top 4 in the same season has been an incredible achievement. Fingers crossed we hold on to 4th and then have more great European trips next season.
But tonight hurts.
I really need to sort my passport out ready for next season.
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Spurs getting Europa League is good, as they will have the extra games and hopefully be worse for it with their dog chasing a car style. Us getting Champions League is unequivocally brilliant. Man United being awful is always good value, tempered only by the manager likely getting potted.
It's a risk-reward thing I guess - if we do scrape over the line, the four CL spots becomes the best case scenario.
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"If". Pft.
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Defence is a real issue . The goals A column tells its own story, Carlos / Lenglet need moving on . Konsa isn't a RB . Torres is good on the ball but a weak CB.
Next season we can hopefully go back to Konsa / Mings in the middle .
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"If". Pft.
You're lucky I didn't italicise it!
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I've been listening to the calls there just now. Very pragmatic and pointing out our injuries.
Jim White's moving onto Chelsea already... ;)
Yea all the callers were good value. To be fair Martin Keown, did say we’re missing Mings, Beundia, Tielemans and Kamara and how important that was.
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Imagine 18 months ago, anyone even suggesting we'd be in Europe, never mind the semi-final. It's been a brilliant experience. Playing decent sides all the way through, giving us a glimpse of what it will be like in future; next season we have at the very minimum the Europa League to look forward to. This club is, very definitely, on the way up.
The players will be gutted, as we all are, but it's about building for the future.
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Defence is a real issue . The goals A column tells its own story, Carlos / Lenglet need moving on . Konsa isn't a RB . Torres is good on the ball but a weak CB.
Next season we can hopefully go back to Konsa / Mings in the middle .
Pau is world class.
We have had an injury crisis.
We are 7 points clear in 4th.
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Imagine 18 months ago, anyone even suggesting we'd be in Europe, never mind the semi-final. It's been a brilliant experience. Playing decent sides all the way through, giving us a glimpse of what it will be like in future; next season we have at the very minimum the Europa League to look forward to. This club is, very definitely, on the way up.
The players will be gutted, as we all are, but it's about building for the future.
Absolutely. And we have a manager who has revolutionised how we play. And guess what? We have our best season since 1995-96, 28 years ago.
Yet still I am seeing people moaning about Pau and how we play. I sometimes think the fan base could do with having a few of those video sessions with Emery!
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Defence is a real issue . The goals A column tells its own story, Carlos / Lenglet need moving on . Konsa isn't a RB . Torres is good on the ball but a weak CB.
Next season we can hopefully go back to Konsa / Mings in the middle .
Pau is world class.
We have had an injury crisis.
We are 7 points clear in 4th.
He really isn't at defending .
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Defence is a real issue . The goals A column tells its own story, Carlos / Lenglet need moving on . Konsa isn't a RB . Torres is good on the ball but a weak CB.
Next season we can hopefully go back to Konsa / Mings in the middle .
Pau is world class.
We have had an injury crisis.
We are 7 points clear in 4th.
He really isn't at defending .
Nonsense again Coops.
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I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.
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I can't be angry, really. Which is more dispiriting as we have two games left, and if it were just a bad display you could get angry about it would mean improvement was possible.
But I don't know if it is. They just look absolutely dead.
I think this is it. They looked dead on their feet.
They worked as hard as is possible when fucked, but everything was just too far away, too close, too fast, too slow, too far in front, too far behind.
It was never in the goldilocks zone whether that was possession, ball control, passing, etc.
And thats usually the case when players are blowing out of their arses.
I am dreading the next couple of games & think the biggest element with us either qualifying for Champions League or not is the Spurs v ManC game...
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I was never that bothered about this Anglo-Italian Cup to be honest
JFO.
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Cash fouling himself in their box with a gaping net in front of him, and nobody else within miles, summed up the whole tie.
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I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.
You just need to look at the Goals A column to see there are some issues .
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Cash fouling himself in their box with a gaping net in front of him, and nobody else within miles, summed up the whole tie.
That was quite funny. Was that his attempt at "throwing himself at it"?
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I didn't find it funny. That's not champions league level. It's lower league
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I'm only really disappointed for the younger villa fans who haven't seen us win anything.
Personally I'm indifferent towards the competition. For me Champions league qualification was always the priority and the conference league was like a ramp up event to better things. Am I gutted we didn't win it? Cant say i am. Will I be gutted if we don't get 4th place? Absolutely.
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We were comfortably beaten on aggregate but thought the games were pretty close despite us being way off the pace.
Our approach of trying to draw teams onto us doesn’t really work when they have a two goal cushion and no incentive to press us high up
the pitch. But we didn’t really have the players to try something else or the legs to press with intensity ourselves.
It is what it is. I still think we’ll stumble over the line to get 4th which would be an incredible achievement. As someone said further up, we may as well enjoy this it might not be this good again for a while and we’ve certainly known it a lot worse!
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I didn't find it funny. That's not champions league level. It's lower league
Yes. The first thought that came into my head was we need better than that, much better if we have any delusions of competing against superior opposition.
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I didn't find it funny. That's not champions league level. It's lower league
Yes. The first thought that came into my head was we need better than that, much better if we have any delusions of competing against superior opposition.
"And if I laugh at any mortal thing,
'T is that I may not weep; and if I weep,
'T is that our nature cannot always bring
Itself to apathy..."
Ed: written by a guy who also fell in Greece.
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I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.
You just need to look at the Goals A column to see there are some issues .
So the goals against issue is down to him alone even when he’s not playing?
Our biggest issues are in midfield where multiple injuries have meant we are constantly having to make do and mend. The patched up formation means that we do not have the controlled possession of the first part of the season m resulting in us losing the ball in dangerous areas before we can regain our shape and then do not have the reassurance of Kamara providing that extra line of protection.
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I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.
The first goal is a case in point,
The eventual scorer is behind Pau, frantically waving his arms, to say I am here free give me the ball, Pau is ball watching and moves to close the space, at no point does he even check to see what is behind him, the ball gets played across, the space doesn't score but the bloke who Pau has been oblivious to does. Game over.
School boy stuff.
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Interesting that in the quarter final and semi final, both Lille and Olympiacos had no competitive fixtures on the weekend before both games. I think that helped massively, and when you take into the fatigue that the players undoubtedly were feeling and the limited squad options that we had it is hardly surprising that we struggled so much over all four legs. Food for thought for the Premier League? Nah, don't think so!
Agreed that it’s a disadvantage when opposition are a little fresher but don’t agree that teams competing in Europe should be “facilitated”. That impinges on the integrity of domestic league. And it’s not just PL, Bundesliga, Italian and Spanish Leagues teams also played on both weekends.
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I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.
You just need to look at the Goals A column to see there are some issues .
OK whilst you’re doing that don’t forget to look at goals for column and Pau contribution to that.
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Coopers Injury for you.
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It’s why i think Torres and Mings would work well or maybe Torres in the 6 role - but not sure he is mobile enough for that.
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Defence is a real issue . The goals A column tells its own story, Carlos / Lenglet need moving on . Konsa isn't a RB . Torres is good on the ball but a weak CB.
Next season we can hopefully go back to Konsa / Mings in the middle .
Pau is world class.
We have had an injury crisis.
We are 7 points clear in 4th.
He really isn't at defending .
It depends what you class as defending. Stopping goals going in, emanates across the whole pitch. Pau is champions league quality, you are wrong in your assessment
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Coopers Injury for you.
That’s who it is! I was worried Dave Cooper had gone mental.
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Defence is a real issue . The goals A column tells its own story, Carlos / Lenglet need moving on . Konsa isn't a RB . Torres is good on the ball but a weak CB.
Next season we can hopefully go back to Konsa / Mings in the middle .
Pau is world class.
We have had an injury crisis.
We are 7 points clear in 4th.
He really isn't at defending .
He definitely is.
Defending isn’t just for the defenders. A lot of goals we’ve been conceding lately stem from the midfield allowing easy balls through or runners. Torres is a top central defender who can play a bit as well. He’s fundamental to the way we play.
At this rate we’ll need a whole new squad because I’ve read Diaby isn’t good enough, we should sell Luiz to Arsenal, Konsa isn’t fast enough, Cash needs to go and now this.
He’s also playing with an injury.
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I wonder how many times this season Emery has been able to name what he considers our strongest starting 11.
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I wonder how times this season Emery has been able to name what he considers our strongest starting 11.
Pre-season!
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They played against us how we played for lots of Unais reign, they let us have the ball, kept their shape and discipline and watched us get frustrated and then rush things.
We looked well short of ideas in the final third and their keeper had little to do, despite us dominating possession, just looked again like we were running on fumes. First goal was disappointing as it came again against the run of play at the worst possible time, and was preventable. Second goal was a shocker, Sunday League stuff.
So disappointed that we won’t get so good a chance of silverware, they eased through without really looking that good. That we couldn’t raise ourselves to make a game of that is really worrying, even accounting for injuries we should have had too much but didnt really lay a glove on them.
I’m pretty much thinking the same as you PW, though I actually think they do look good, round pegs in round holes with a clear game plan. Not stellar, but certainly effective, and they were the better team over 180 minutes.
A lot of Villa fans thought we would win the tournament easy. But teams like Lille and Olympiacos have played much more European football than we have over the past 15 years.
We basically spent ten years in the wilderness. I had a sinking feeling when the quarter-final/semi-final draw was made and we drew two tough teams with the first leg of both away.
We will have learned a lot. But as a club we have to stick together and focus on the future.
Emery has shit loads of experience.
I get the fatigue issues.
But expected more tactically from Emery.
For me he didn’t do enough to try and shake it up.
Playing Cash in front of Konza was clearly not working.
Diaby should have been hooked after 15 mins. Anyone on the bench would have been better.
So he needs to get creative to get something out of the last 2 games.
You watch we will go and batter Liverpool.
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It's all good experience, but I cant shake the feeling that to get so close & not win it makes the whole thing a bit pointless & distracting, considering how knackered & injury hit the squad is now.
I suppose if we qualify for Champions League, then I will probably drop that feeling because I do know that it's irrational & wrong, but I cant shake it atm.
If we don't qualify for Champs League, then I wont be able to shake the feeling that the Conference League participation will have contributed to wearing us out at the last hurdle.
And that disappointing feeling will become even stronger.
Apologies if thats a bit negative, but I think the whole semi final blow out is still a bit raw...
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This Conference League experience will be invaluable come next year when we are in a better competition. It's definitely not a wasted effort.
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I'm gutted about last night.There's a bit of me that thinks football is so geared towards the already rich that our chances of winning the Premier or Champions league haven't really altered despite the obvious strides made. So this pot was a realistic chance to dust down the claret and blue ribbons. But,
I've never been so calm and happy about our squad. This lot are head and shoulders above almost anything I've ever seen and, in all likelihood, will be improved on over coming seasons. Twelve months ago we had an amazing run-in, which always feels great. This year, with a hobble to May, the worst that will happen is a semi-final defeat in Europe and fifth place. Not just better than last year, you have to go back almost three decades for anything comparable. It'll be fine.
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They played against us how we played for lots of Unais reign, they let us have the ball, kept their shape and discipline and watched us get frustrated and then rush things.
We looked well short of ideas in the final third and their keeper had little to do, despite us dominating possession, just looked again like we were running on fumes. First goal was disappointing as it came again against the run of play at the worst possible time, and was preventable. Second goal was a shocker, Sunday League stuff.
So disappointed that we won’t get so good a chance of silverware, they eased through without really looking that good. That we couldn’t raise ourselves to make a game of that is really worrying, even accounting for injuries we should have had too much but didnt really lay a glove on them.
I’m pretty much thinking the same as you PW, though I actually think they do look good, round pegs in round holes with a clear game plan. Not stellar, but certainly effective, and they were the better team over 180 minutes.
A lot of Villa fans thought we would win the tournament easy. But teams like Lille and Olympiacos have played much more European football than we have over the past 15 years.
We basically spent ten years in the wilderness. I had a sinking feeling when the quarter-final/semi-final draw was made and we drew two tough teams with the first leg of both away.
We will have learned a lot. But as a club we have to stick together and focus on the future.
Emery has shit loads of experience.
I get the fatigue issues.
But expected more tactically from Emery.
For me he didn’t do enough to try and shake it up.
Playing Cash in front of Konza was clearly not working.
Diaby should have been hooked after 15 mins. Anyone on the bench would have been better.
So he needs to get creative to get something out of the last 2 games.
You watch we will go and batter Liverpool.
Im not sure its true that anyone on the bench would of better than Diaby or Cash, they were mainly untried kids.
I hope your right about the Liverpool game
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I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.
You just need to look at the Goals A column to see there are some issues .
OK whilst you’re doing that don’t forget to look at goals for column and Pau contribution to that.
Which is why i said he's great with the ball gets some great moves going , but his defending is much less assured / strong . Which is probably why he isn'y at Real or C115y or Dortmund .
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Will Mings be fit for the start of next season?
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Will Mings be fit for the start of next season?
Hopefully ready for pre-season games .
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One thing that was great to see was the clapping between the fans villa and the greeks at the end of the season. Alot of mutual repsect from both clubs. Alot of videos showing it. Class
Although we lost i was a proud greek last night to see that.
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Pau is world class.
Ha! Shake those pom-poms! I'm all for a bit of positivity, especially on days like today but ffs, can we try and keep it just a touch real?
Torres can't get in the Spanish team and it's not like he has much competition. Right now he's lucky he's at a club with so many injuries as his current form is less than convincing. My guess is he's not fully fit which may explain why he's missing games.
Spain have one world class player and it sadly ain't Pau Torres.
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His passing is world class, his defending (all season) certainly isn't.
However, he is vital to how we play, but needs other good footballers in the team, who can accept passes in tight spaces and be aware of the space they can play in.
Kamara, Doug, SJM and Teilemans fit this description.
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Some cannot accept any criticism of Torres . And i 'd rather not call him Pau , That's like calling Alexander-Arnold "Trent" like he's your mate.
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Alexander-Arnold doesn't have Trent on the back of his shirt.
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Fuck me Twitter and other social media is so toxic at times. You can be upset at the result but the kind of horrible shit some post directly at players is unacceptable. If you have any clue of the journey we have been on the past 3 decades then this is such a good time to be a fan of this club. There are some really unappreciative wankers who follow us.
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Some cannot accept any criticism of Torres . And i 'd rather not call him Pau , That's like calling Alexander-Arnold "Trent" like he's your mate.
Or “Cooper”
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Torres will be much better with Mings back next to him. Mings is a brilliant defender and a good footballer. Torres is a great footballer, who will hoepfully benefit from having Mings do a lot more of the defensive work next to him.
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Torres will be much better with Mings back next to him. Mings is a brilliant defender and a good footballer. Torres is a great footballer, who will hoepfully benefit from having Mings do a lot more of the defensive work next to him.
If we'd had this pairing for the majority of the season I don't think our Champions League status would be in much doubt.
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Some cannot accept any criticism of Torres . And i 'd rather not call him Pau , That's like calling Alexander-Arnold "Trent" like he's your mate.
I think he’s a fantastic player, but he’s been a bit under par of late. He can do great defensive work though.
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His passing is world class, his defending (all season) certainly isn't.
However, he is vital to how we play, but needs other good footballers in the team, who can accept passes in tight spaces and be aware of the space they can play in.
Kamara, Doug, SJM and Teilemans fit this description.
His passing is world class when it comes off. As for his defending, doesn't he always look better when partnered with Konsa? I don't think Unai did anybody any favours bringing back Diego and Cash is no midfielder.
I was left wondering last night whether or not we need a serious defence rebuild. Then I look at the league table and apart from the top 3 only Everton have conceded more. Still, if we want to narrow that gap and as we saw last night, we can't always rely on scoring more goals than we concede, a tighter defence next season is a must.
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Pau is world class.
Ha! Shake those pom-poms! I'm all for a bit of positivity, especially on days like today but ffs, can we try and keep it just a touch real?
Torres can't get in the Spanish team and it's not like he has much competition. Right now he's lucky he's at a club with so many injuries as his current form is less than convincing. My guess is he's not fully fit which may explain why he's missing games.
Spain have one world class player and it sadly ain't Pau Torres.
You sure about that?
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Torres will be much better with Mings back next to him. Mings is a brilliant defender and a good footballer. Torres is a great footballer, who will hoepfully benefit from having Mings do a lot more of the defensive work next to him.
I'm concerned about leaving Konsa out. The only player who has been dribbled around more is Vin Dijk, twice, Konsa 3 times.
Perhaps a 3? Or Torres left back?
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Pau has looked off it recently, think it's the knock he's carrying. What I will say is I don't think it's coincidence our first dip from winning the league form was when he was out.
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I am just back from Athens and I want to thank our super fans who made it an enjoyable experience. Good natured in town, supporting the Villa all the way through - especially the half time 'Thursday Night' singing and then the class act of applauding the Olympiacus team and fans at the end. A shame that we are out but we are at the beginning of an exciting journey and there is a lot to look forward to. UTV
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Pau has looked off it recently, think it's the knock he's carrying. What I will say is I don't think it's coincidence our first dip from winning the league form was when he was out.
Torres has indeed looked off it not helped by Konsa who has also been a mixed bag .
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We've seen this season, with almost 60 games that there shouldn't be a starting 11 - but a group of 20 players that could start every game.
Konsa Mings - Mings Torres - Konsa Torres - should all be options, none of which significantly weaken us.
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I am just back from Athens and I want to thank our super fans who made it an enjoyable experience. Good natured in town, supporting the Villa all the way through - especially the half time 'Thursday Night' singing and then the class act of applauding the Olympiacus team and fans at the end. A shame that we are out but we are at the beginning of an exciting journey and there is a lot to look forward to. UTV
Brilliant. I saw a video this morning where he filmed from the away section, underneath the Villa stand during half time. The fella just looked up, turned to the camera and says "Class!". Don't be surprised if we get grouped with them in the Champions League next season.
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Pau is world class.
Ha! Shake those pom-poms! I'm all for a bit of positivity, especially on days like today but ffs, can we try and keep it just a touch real?
Torres can't get in the Spanish team and it's not like he has much competition. Right now he's lucky he's at a club with so many injuries as his current form is less than convincing. My guess is he's not fully fit which may explain why he's missing games.
Spain have one world class player and it sadly ain't Pau Torres.
You sure about that?
As sure as I am that you're a very silly, excitable child. Like Unai, I'm demanding, want us to improve and won't stop until we're the best team in Europe again.
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That's reassuring Mark.
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Most defences look weaker when their best defensive midfielder is out, look at Man City without Rodri. If we'd just had Kamara avoid his injury we'd have 4th sewn up ages ago and we'd be one game from a trophy now.
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Most defences look weaker when their best defensive midfielder is out, look at Man City without Rodri. If we'd just had Kamara avoid his injury we'd have 4th sewn up ages ago and we'd be one game from a trophy now.
You're forgetting the Conference League. ;)
Our midfield have been the key to our success and failures this season. When they're on song we can beat anybody.
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Interesting that in the quarter final and semi final, both Lille and Olympiacos had no competitive fixtures on the weekend before both games. I think that helped massively, and when you take into the fatigue that the players undoubtedly were feeling and the limited squad options that we had it is hardly surprising that we struggled so much over all four legs. Food for thought for the Premier League? Nah, don't think so!
Agreed that it’s a disadvantage when opposition are a little fresher but don’t agree that teams competing in Europe should be “facilitated”. That impinges on the integrity of domestic league. And it’s not just PL, Bundesliga, Italian and Spanish Leagues teams also played on both weekends.
Integrity is a good point. But the main issue is that you can’t vanish games. If we hadn’t played Brighton then when would we play them? It would have to be squeezed in somewhere else. And we’d already be catching up on the games we’d missed ahead of the first leg and the two Lille games and the Ajax games. You can’t make them disappear. They just stack up and have to be played. I’m actually sick of hearing this one. Sorry.
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I agree with Lee. There is no space in the calendar, as shown by them cancelling FA Cup replays. The PL plays more games than most European leagues as it's a 20 team league but that is not going to change as it would take 14 of the 20 teams to agree to reduce to 18 teams and turkeys don't have a strong history of voting for Christmas.
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We don't need games re-arranging to try and give us a benefit over the opposition, we need a squad with more quality in depth and better luck with long-term injuries than what we've had this season. We can't do anything about the latter but we can the former, and this was our first 50+game season in a long time.
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I hear that a lot but have yet to see any hard evidence of Turkey voting patterns.
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I agree with Lee. There is no space in the calendar, as shown by them cancelling FA Cup replays. The PL plays more games than most European leagues as it's a 20 team league but that is not going to change as it would take 14 of the 20 teams to agree to reduce to 18 teams and turkeys don't have a strong history of voting for Christmas.
I would have happily played brighton midweek next week of meant we got a week off to prepare for olympiakos
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I'm not saying that the Premier League should cancel fixtures to help teams in Europe. Just stating a fact that both Lille and Olympiacos had no games before each match which I think showed. They looked fitter than us on both occasions. It was massively disappointing because I think the Villa team at Christmas would have destroyed both Lille and Olympiacos (not at the same time though)
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I agree with Lee. There is no space in the calendar, as shown by them cancelling FA Cup replays. The PL plays more games than most European leagues as it's a 20 team league but that is not going to change as it would take 14 of the 20 teams to agree to reduce to 18 teams and turkeys don't have a strong history of voting for Christmas.
I would have happily played brighton midweek next week of meant we got a week off to prepare for olympiakos
Trouble is Brighton have a game on Wednesday (rearranged from the latters cup run I imagine without checking). The only way is to reduce the division to 18. Will it happen ? Most unlikely. Personally - and perhaps not for this thread - I would take the top 5 divisions (120 clubs) and with the top 32 create a PL and PL 2 then 4 divisions of 22. There's enough top sides to make 32 attractive for TV so the money keeps rolling in for the teams who sit from 10th down - and fewer games for the elites to allow them to concentrate on Europe as well as the PL.
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Reduce the size of the league. We don't need mobs like Sheffield United or Wolves wasting our time.
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I'm not saying that the Premier League should cancel fixtures to help teams in Europe. Just stating a fact that both Lille and Olympiacos had no games before each match which I think showed. They looked fitter than us on both occasions. It was massively disappointing because I think the Villa team at Christmas would have destroyed both Lille and Olympiacos (not at the same time though)
Once again, the French Ligue 1 has 18 teams, and the Greeks 14. So they have more wiggle-room in their calendar.
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I don't know whether it's a stick or twist issue, really. Once we got to game 33 or whatever it was and we were in pole position to get Champions League, it would have been perfectly understandable for Emery to play a second string in the Conference League. But would we as a fan base have accepted that? As it is, we've done our best to do both, but in hindsight maybe we should have chucked this in.
The co-efficient fucked us. If we could have settled for fifth two or three weeks ago we could have rested players and I think we’d have got to the final.
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I'm only really disappointed for the younger villa fans who haven't seen us win anything.
Personally I'm indifferent towards the competition. For me Champions league qualification was always the priority and the conference league was like a ramp up event to better things. Am I gutted we didn't win it? Cant say i am. Will I be gutted if we don't get 4th place? Absolutely.
Depends on what you mean by younger, but people below a certain age have never seen us even be competitive on the level we are now. And they're still fans! This season should have been a brilliant new experience for them too.
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I don't know whether it's a stick or twist issue, really. Once we got to game 33 or whatever it was and we were in pole position to get Champions League, it would have been perfectly understandable for Emery to play a second string in the Conference League. But would we as a fan base have accepted that? As it is, we've done our best to do both, but in hindsight maybe we should have chucked this in.
The co-efficient fucked us. If we could have settled for fifth two or three weeks ago we could have rested players and I think we’d have got to the final.
I agree. Marginal gains in some of this, and at this end of an insanely busy season, they really count.
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I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.
The first goal is a case in point,
The eventual scorer is behind Pau, frantically waving his arms, to say I am here free give me the ball, Pau is ball watching and moves to close the space, at no point does he even check to see what is behind him, the ball gets played across, the space doesn't score but the bloke who Pau has been oblivious to does. Game over.
School boy stuff.
He did check actually. They highlighted it on the erm… highlights show.
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I am just back from Athens and I want to thank our super fans who made it an enjoyable experience. Good natured in town, supporting the Villa all the way through - especially the half time 'Thursday Night' singing and then the class act of applauding the Olympiacus team and fans at the end.
Just reading tonnes of comments from their fans who apart from being shocked as they'd never seen anything like it, now have so much respect for our club but especially our fans. Well done one and all.
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One thing that was great to see was the clapping between the fans villa and the greeks at the end of the season. Alot of mutual repsect from both clubs. Alot of videos showing it. Class
Although we lost i was a proud greek last night to see that.
We clapped Olympiacos when they came over to our corner during their lap of say honour so in return all around their fans clapped us. Lot of scarves and flags were exchanged. That’s how it should be.
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One thing that was great to see was the clapping between the fans villa and the greeks at the end of the season. Alot of mutual repsect from both clubs. Alot of videos showing it. Class
Although we lost i was a proud greek last night to see that.
We clapped Olympiacos when they came over to our corner during their lap of say honour so in return all around their fans clapped us. Lot of scarves and flags were exchanged. That’s how it should be.
Yup, very nice to hear.
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We clapped Olympiacos when they came over to our corner during their lap of say honour so in return all around their fans clapped us. Lot of scarves, wallets and flags were exchanged. That’s how it should be.
FTFY
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😂😂😂 Love it RCF.
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Pau has looked off it recently, think it's the knock he's carrying. What I will say is I don't think it's coincidence our first dip from winning the league form was when he was out.
Torres has indeed looked off it not helped by Konsa who has also been a mixed bag .
Konsa a mixed bag? He has been outstanding all season bar a couple of recent games despite playing numerous games out of position at right back. He was also outstanding in both of the England games
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If my memory serves, last time the team had a good break, we were shit in the next match.
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I agree with Lee. There is no space in the calendar, as shown by them cancelling FA Cup replays. The PL plays more games than most European leagues as it's a 20 team league but that is not going to change as it would take 14 of the 20 teams to agree to reduce to 18 teams and turkeys don't have a strong history of voting for Christmas.
I would have happily played brighton midweek next week of meant we got a week off to prepare for olympiakos
Trouble is Brighton have a game on Wednesday (rearranged from the latters cup run I imagine without checking). The only way is to reduce the division to 18. Will it happen ? Most unlikely. Personally - and perhaps not for this thread - I would take the top 5 divisions (120 clubs) and with the top 32 create a PL and PL 2 then 4 divisions of 22. There's enough top sides to make 32 attractive for TV so the money keeps rolling in for the teams who sit from 10th down - and fewer games for the elites to allow them to concentrate on Europe as well as the PL.
That’s far too sensible a solution, you won’t get very far talking sense like that.
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I agree with Lee. There is no space in the calendar, as shown by them cancelling FA Cup replays. The PL plays more games than most European leagues as it's a 20 team league but that is not going to change as it would take 14 of the 20 teams to agree to reduce to 18 teams and turkeys don't have a strong history of voting for Christmas.
I would have happily played brighton midweek next week of meant we got a week off to prepare for olympiakos
Trouble is Brighton have a game on Wednesday (rearranged from the latters cup run I imagine without checking). The only way is to reduce the division to 18. Will it happen ? Most unlikely. Personally - and perhaps not for this thread - I would take the top 5 divisions (120 clubs) and with the top 32 create a PL and PL 2 then 4 divisions of 22. There's enough top sides to make 32 attractive for TV so the money keeps rolling in for the teams who sit from 10th down - and fewer games for the elites to allow them to concentrate on Europe as well as the PL.
That’s far too sensible a solution, you won’t get very far talking sense like that.
Indeed. People would start thinking football is a sport.
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I am just back from Athens and I want to thank our super fans who made it an enjoyable experience. Good natured in town, supporting the Villa all the way through - especially the half time 'Thursday Night' singing and then the class act of applauding the Olympiacus team and fans at the end. A shame that we are out but we are at the beginning of an exciting journey and there is a lot to look forward to. UTV
Brilliant. I saw a video this morning where he filmed from the away section, underneath the Villa stand during half time. The fella just looked up, turned to the camera and says "Class!". Don't be surprised if we get grouped with them in the Champions League next season.
Do you know who posted that one Mark? I haven’t seen it but thought the others were very good. One Olympiacos fan in particular (AZ something ?) was basically shitting all over bluenose interlopers and telling them to go wax their dolphins and return to division 3. He sounded like an adopted Villa fan!
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Cash fouling himself in their box with a gaping net in front of him, and nobody else within miles, summed up the whole tie.
Think we all knew then it wasn't going to happen for us.
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Torres will be much better with Mings back next to him. Mings is a brilliant defender and a good footballer. Torres is a great footballer, who will hoepfully benefit from having Mings do a lot more of the defensive work next to him.
Mings playing at RCB would be ghastly. He can hardly turn onto his right side without falling over. It will be Mings or Torres I'd say, unless Emery hasnt kicked that horrible habit of 3 x CBs. Maybe Torres has been carrying an injury of late as he really has been struggling for form. Defenders have to defend at times, his efforts for that first goal was piss poor. Competition with Mings will make us stronger.
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'They're both left-footed' seems a petty reason to not play our obviously best two centrebacks together.
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'They're both left-footed' seems a petty reason to not play our obviously best two centrebacks together.
If neither of them can pass and play out with their right foot then we will be very easy to press against. Mings definitely won't be able on the other side and Torres tends to always want to play it with his left foot too. We saw this when Lenglet played RCB for a few games earlier, ok for a game or two but then it becomes very predictable.
Not sure what it is with our lefties.. Diaby is another one who is completely one sided, McGinn too. Bailey seems to have improved his weaker foot.
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Why does nobody bring this up with right sided centre backs? When was the last time you saw any of them play a good pass with their weaker foot under pressure? I think people just notice it more with lefties.
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I am just back from Athens and I want to thank our super fans who made it an enjoyable experience. Good natured in town, supporting the Villa all the way through - especially the half time 'Thursday Night' singing and then the class act of applauding the Olympiacus team and fans at the end. A shame that we are out but we are at the beginning of an exciting journey and there is a lot to look forward to. UTV
Brilliant. I saw a video this morning where he filmed from the away section, underneath the Villa stand during half time. The fella just looked up, turned to the camera and says "Class!". Don't be surprised if we get grouped with them in the Champions League next season.
Obviously doesn't make up for the loss but it's nice to think the fans represented the club so well on our first European tour for quite some time. Apart from the Legia fans at Villa Park it seems like we've made some new friends/fans along the way.
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Why does nobody bring this up with right sided centre backs? When was the last time you saw any of them play a good pass with their weaker foot under pressure? I think people just notice it more with lefties.
This always baffles me. I was just reading an article which was stating how it is preferred to have a left footed-right footed CB partnership and it was broadly right... then they shot themselves in the foot with this paragraph:
'But more often than not a defender can look incredibly uncomfortable, and that's why managers stock-pile defenders with different preferred feet. A prominent example of the ultimate balancing act is Paul Lambert collecting Ron Vlaar, Jores Okore (both right), Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker (both left) for his central defensive corps.'
Talk about fucking your argument sky high!
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I am just back from Athens and I want to thank our super fans who made it an enjoyable experience. Good natured in town, supporting the Villa all the way through - especially the half time 'Thursday Night' singing and then the class act of applauding the Olympiacus team and fans at the end. A shame that we are out but we are at the beginning of an exciting journey and there is a lot to look forward to. UTV
Brilliant. I saw a video this morning where he filmed from the away section, underneath the Villa stand during half time. The fella just looked up, turned to the camera and says "Class!". Don't be surprised if we get grouped with them in the Champions League next season.
Do you know who posted that one Mark? I haven’t seen it but thought the others were very good. One Olympiacos fan in particular (AZ something ?) was basically shitting all over bluenose interlopers and telling them to go wax their dolphins and return to division 3. He sounded like an adopted Villa fan!
I'll dig it out for you fella.
Coming over for Sporting-Villa game?
Apparently Paddy can't make it.
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Invaluable experience for the team in terms of playing European football again, managing the the extra games and building up stamina in the team over a much longer season. Undoubtedly the team will have learned a heck of alot from this.
Where I think we probably need to be careful is in thinking it we can just as effectively navigate a season playing Europa or champions league opponents in Europe next season. Yes, we effectively played a number of Europa level teams this time out and managed the Thursday/Sunday routine quite well. But there likely won’t be any Hibs or Zelenski level teams that we’ll face. We weren’t often on top of teams for large parts of games in the conference league and that is probably a concern, even when we did have a much fuller compliment of players.
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Depends on the draw really, Liverpool had it pretty easy in the group stages, I thought. Then again they are changing the format next season, so it's probably going to be a tough run.
CL will definitely be a massive step up, and I'm not sure I'd be expecting much out of it. I believe there's a play off at some point to join the top teams in the last 16. If we were even in those spots, I'd think we'd done well.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
Konsa played RB when we beat Man City and Arsenal. He probably is playing there at the moment because Cash was out injured for a period recently and now that Cash is back he is plugging a gap in midfield where we are to the bare bones.
Cash played right-back in the first leg.
That went well.
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Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.
Konsa played RB when we beat Man City and Arsenal. He probably is playing there at the moment because Cash was out injured for a period recently and now that Cash is back he is plugging a gap in midfield where we are to the bare bones.
Cash played right-back in the first leg.
That went well.
Exactly, Cash’s form has been intermittent, Emery seems to have concerns over him. Its an urban myth that every game Konsa plays right back is a failure, I still prefer him at CB, but he also played there in the 1st leg, which as you say went well.
Diaby was also our best player in the 1st leg.