Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on September 21, 2024, 05:08:14 PM
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Never in doubt.
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What a team we have
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We are learning to win in different ways. A terrible first half but such a one sided second. Blew the tramps away in the end.
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One team is joint top, the other is joint bottom. Which is nice.
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Poor first half, much, much better second half. Lovely three points.
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Start Big D.
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Get this back on the main page
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Gave Unai some stick at half time but he put our difference makers on from the bench and they all contributed well.
We have that "top team" feel now of knowing we can overwhelm teams even when losing at VP and even though we weren't great we started to get a few moves going and there was only one winner once it went to 1-1.
Was a bit like the Palace game early last season which was crucial to our mentality up to Xmas so hopefully same again.
At some point though Unai will have to rotate the regular 11, Ramsey for example did very little today and Rogers is just going through a spell where he's taking too many touches when on the ball so those two are big candidates along with Digne.
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Anyone see that Wolves fan flicking the V's at the Villa fans when they scored? Wish they'd showed him when our third went in.
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It doesn't matter if we're playing badly, and losing, if Unai can get them in a room for 15 minutes, he can change enough that we become unrecognisable (in a good way). I don't know what was said at half-time, but we looked a completely different side second half. The subs were all very good too.
It's a nice feeling to know that even when we go behind, we're more than capable of scoring enough to win a game. It would be nice to not go behind in the first place, but while we're scoring three goals a game, we're in with a fighting chance against anyone.
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Carlos gave them one in the first half and nearly one in the second half. Good come back though.
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(https://i.ibb.co/VCbBd9t/20240921-170751.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5jCcd46)
I believed mate
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Decent win against a horrible, niggly side at the end of a busy week.
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I know some people hate stats, but I'd love to see a first-half vs second-half comparison for today. It felt like we were second best most of the first half, and completely dominant in the second. I love that we have multiple options on the bench who can actually come on and genuinely influence the game in a positive way, even when they're replacing current first-choice players. I can't remember the last time that was true.
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We've had worse weeks.
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Wolves really are a horrible bunch. Deservedly put to the sword.
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Believe.
Even the likes of City and Liverpool have off days - the best teams find a way, and that’s what we did today.
This team and this manager are rock solid, and developing nicely. Fucking awesome.
UTV
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I know some people hate stats, but I'd love to see a first-half vs second-half comparison for today. It felt like we were second best most of the first half, and completely dominant in the second. I love that we have multiple options on the bench who can actually come on and genuinely influence the game in a positive way, even when they're replacing current first-choice players. I can't remember the last time that was true.
Somebody posted the first half stats from the BBC in the match thread. We were 42% possession, 2 shots, non on target and about 6 touches in the Wolves box.
At the end, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/czxdvg7d53pt#MatchStats
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Still a case of if we can sort out our defence we'll be near unstoppable.
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Weather has took a right turn in the area, thunder and lightening, hail and shit load of rain. The Speghetti Monster a Wolves fan?
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(https://i.ibb.co/VCbBd9t/20240921-170751.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5jCcd46)
I believed mate
Very glad to be proven wrong. Didn’t see that after the first half, so very pleased. Having quality goal scorers (and creators) always gives you that chance. Fair play to the team for coming back.
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If we can score 3 at home every week, then we're not going to l drop that many points.
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We are inevitable.
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Hopefully McGinn is all right for next CL match.
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Much better second-half, feed the panda and he will score.
Disappointing game for Ramsey and Rogers (assist aside). Youri and Konsa improved as the game went on. Nice cameo from Barkley. Maatsen was outstanding. Carlos with his typical error - he owes Emi for losing the clean-sheet bonus.
Our ability to win after going behind is quite remarkable.
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Even the Almighty is applauding!!!
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We gave them a 70 minute headstart and still twatted them.
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Did someone on here at half time really say we have a thin squad?!
The subs made the difference as you'd expect them to. Maatsen, Bailey and Duran would all start for teams directly below us imo.
Now let's see some of these guys get a prem start in the near future as they're earning the right from the bench most weeks.
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What a turnaround. Superb substitutions from Super Unai.
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Poor in the first half but their game plan was always going to tire them quickly and we stayed patient. The changes added another dimension and added pace they couldn't handle and we were in complete control second half.
I thought Maatsen was superb after an unusually flat performance by Digne (maybe partly due to tiredness and the knock he took in the game). This was probably more a Barkley type of game than Onana and that seemed to ring true once Ross came on. We kept the ball better and were more incisive. Onana's great at what he does but isn't the best on the ball (at least compared to the other mids).
Duran's bulldozing definitely (and not surprisingly) added to our threat.
I thought Rogers was superb at times and his assist was excellent too. He got right the pass he didn't quite pull off against Everton. It's also an end product to all the great runs he makes. JJ not as good as Tuesday but not bad.
Bailey stretched the game but I feel like it'll be a few weeks for him to warm into the season and show the end product he did last year.
It was fairly routine by the end but again, harder opponents will follow and we have to be better at the back. Carlos is a worry. When he's good he's very good but there's a rick in him almost every game.
The fact we have Mings, Kamara and Jadon to come back, as well as Beundia just coming back is mouth-watering.
October will be a big test and a good indicator of where we're at in the Prem and UCL but I'm optimistic. Ollie scoring now to add to the almost inevitability that Duran will net is exciting.
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GAme of two halves .
The subs was great , Rogers I thought was out of sorts but 2 assists , Watkins wasnt that good but scored , Youri was having a mare and then that cross. This is doing what the so called big teams used to do , take it up a level when needed.
Carlos , Im still nervous when he passes but Barkley was very good such coolness , Maatsen is class,Bailey was ok to be fair and Duran caused Pandamonium .
i actually thought Onana was best of the bad bunch and JJ didnt do much .
It makes so much difference to have a bench like that and with Mings and Kamara hopefully back before Santa it is going to look like a really good bench.
Not sure how bad SJM is , he seemed to be doing too much and then it tweaked .
Over the moon as its my birthday so off to get a Ruby , nice and hot like the Villa.
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We will play at the last 30mins pace one game soon and some teams conceding 6 to 8 goals (fingers crossed, Man Utd) . Far too pedestrian first half. They are really dirty niggly bastards too, all the time.
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Did someone on here at half time really say we have a thin squad?!
The subs made the difference as you'd expect them to. Maatsen, Bailey and Duran would all start for teams directly below us imo.
Now let's see some of these guys get a prem start in the near future as they're earning the right from the bench most weeks.
Our squad depth has won us all our games this season
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Great comeback but Wolves are soft as shite under pressure.
The only disappointment for me was Tony Morley not coming on for the last two minutes when the game was safe.
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Great comeback Villa, big Jhon fantastic again.
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I could get used to this.
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Wolves got exactly what they deserved for deploying anti football tactics.
They could be a half decent team but not with weasel Gary O'Neil in charge.
Great day for Football to win out and a fitting send off for Gary Shaw.
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Great stuff.
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Never in doubt. We let them have a headstart because we like to play on hard level, but in the end of our quality showed. That's the verdict of the Oktoberfest jury anyway.
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Did someone on here at half time really say we have a thin squad?!
The subs made the difference as you'd expect them to. Maatsen, Bailey and Duran would all start for teams directly below us imo.
Now let's see some of these guys get a prem start in the near future as they're earning the right from the bench most weeks.
Our squad depth has won us all our games this season
Very true - worth remembering those summer debates on the relative impact of losing Dougie. 12 months ago, we’d not have made such impactful changes and would have relied instead on Luiz in the hope he found some inspiration at the last, as with Sheff Utd.
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My delight is threefold
1. We won well
2. Predicted how the match would pan out on the pre-match thread for possibly the first time
3. Off to my sister's birthday bash in the Land of the Dingles
Marvellous
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I know some people hate stats, but I'd love to see a first-half vs second-half comparison for today. It felt like we were second best most of the first half, and completely dominant in the second. I love that we have multiple options on the bench who can actually come on and genuinely influence the game in a positive way, even when they're replacing current first-choice players. I can't remember the last time that was true.
According to BBC Stats we didn't have any shots on goal for the first 63 minutes (2 blocked).
Rogers and Tielmans, who have both been excellent this season, were largely anonymous up to that point. Some turnaround.
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Me an old'n wearing a Villa kit when we won t' Cup in 57. I have never seen a team/squad/Manager like this. Even in '81-83. THIS is something special even in the modern game.
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Was a bit like the Palace game early last season which was crucial to our mentality up to Xmas so hopefully same again.
Sam Johnstone wasted time in that game too when we conceded the opening goal.
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Great week. Think we are 3 pts better off already after same no of games last year.
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We’re a serious fucking side. The best team we’ve had for 40 years. Love it!
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Even last season - as good as it was - there was a sense that us getting the first goal and starting positively was vital to the outcome.
Now we seem to be able to withstand a dodgy opening 20/30 (or like today 60) minutes and still come up with solutions.
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Not sure what to make of us, we were slow and sloppy for a lot of today and got a bit of luck with Watkin's equaliser coming off Dawson.
Ait-Nouri was class for them, I'd also take Cunah off them. But in terms of play and approach, they're an awfully niggly, physical team to play against. I'd be curious to see how much time the ball was actually in play, it was stop-start all game.
Thankfully we showed our quality, going forward we always carry danger. The odd clean sheet in the league would be nice though and tougher tests will come although at least the oppo will be less cynical.
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Great win 3-1 as predicted. I think.
Carlos is a liability. Calling Durán a panda is dodgy but H&V accepts all sorts so fair play to all!
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Wolves wont win many matches if they put all there energy into the first 45 minutes.
Thankfully, Unai has much better game management and overall, the best team won.
Well done lads, onwards and upwards.
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In retrospect, it’s probably a good thing that we gave them 45 minutes head start.
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To be fair, as poor as we were first half it almost felt like our typical Wolves struggles. We seem to hate playing them and struggle, even if we've been in good form. To win comfortably by the end, I'll take it and enjoy not having to play those dirty shites until the Molineux game.
Two wins on the bounce against them and we weren't brilliant last season at VP. Any semblance of a hoodoo hopefully broken.
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Great result even though the score line doesn’t tell the full story - great to see our ability to change things from the bench and more points on the board
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https://www.skysports.com/football/aston-villa-vs-wolves/report/505847
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Great come back.
When is Cash back?
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Good of us to give the minnows a head start to keep it interesting.
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Great result even though the score line doesn’t tell the full story - great to see our ability to change things from the bench and more points on the board
It absolutely does tell the full story. They got in front from a really poor error and had a few half chances as we lost control a bit before we absolutely trounced them when they decided to defend the edge of their box and time-waste for the entire 2nd half. Both teams got exactly what the deserved from their approach over the 90minutes.
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We’re a serious fucking side. The best team we’ve had for 40 years. Love it!
30. Big Ron 92/93 still casts a near-glorious shadow..
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The football jinx gods (rightly) went for LeeB for an hour, but then remembered they couldn't possibly reward Wulfs. All is well with the world.
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Well before the equaliser the touches in the opposition box for the second half were 16 for us and 1 for them. And also, with 70 minutes on the clock there was still 35 minutes due to play due to a long injury to Bailey and a long injury to one of theirs. By the end of the game the touches in the opposition box were 31 us, 19 them. Only 4 of ours were in first half, only 2 of theirs were second half. The classic game of two halves, which we deservedly won.
This narrative that somehow Wolves were hard done to is total bollocks.
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Me an old'n wearing a Villa kit when we won t' Cup in 57. I have never seen a team/squad/Manager like this. Even in '81-83. THIS is something special even in the modern game.
I feel exactly the same, all the years I've been watching The Villa I have never seen us play like this; no longer a team of just 11 players, our Manager has managed to turn substitutes into continual game changers.
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(https://i.ibb.co/DLhpdYq/IMG-4067.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DLhpdYq)
Found near Villa Park today.
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Fan since 1988, I don't panic when we're losing any more. This team needs a trophy to match the previous three top sides we've had on my time - 90,.93 and 96. The game has changed but I think the current lot would beat those three comfortably.
Anyone know what the odds of a 3-1 win was prematch?
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Although obviously the 90 side didn't win anything 😉
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Nice that we seem to be able to come from behind to win this Season, which we couldn't do last year.
If we can get back to holding onto leads like last Season, we'll really be rocking.
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Was a bit like the Palace game early last season which was crucial to our mentality up to Xmas so hopefully same again.
Sam Johnstone wasted time in that game too when we conceded the opening goal.
I keep on forgetting he's in goal for them, genuinely thought it was still Jose Sa.
The ref was very pro us today aswell. Was booking Wolves players for everything and letting shirt tugs by us go unpunished (Rogers did a very clear one second half when they were breaking and wasn't booked). Also Onana got away with a pretty late challenge.
Shows we've made it as no double on Molineux misery forum they'll be crying about bias and all that.
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I'm still terrified of being confident as for me with the Villa, it has a horrible habit of kicking me in the bollocks. Well done Villa.
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Start Big D.
Why? Why would we want to lose his production from the bench?
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Pleased with that. Was sat having a beer after looking around a Hunebed museum with the kids, and we were one nil down. Got home and we’d won.
Daft thing is I really thought we would go on to win, whereas oftentimes in the past I’d have written us off at half time.
Taking advantage of the unlimited beer in the local all you can eat restaurant now. Life’s good being a Villa fan these days.
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We are finding ways to win. Haven't really got into our stride yet but made a great start. When Bailey is on it again and Kamara and Mings are back we will be flying. No one will fancy coming to Villa Park this season.)
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I wonder if Harry will do a song today.
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Absolutely love Unai’s honesty here in the post match interview.
https://x.com/avfcofficial/status/1837543564458578230?s=46
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Was a bit like the Palace game early last season which was crucial to our mentality up to Xmas so hopefully same again.
Sam Johnstone wasted time in that game too when we conceded the opening goal.
I keep on forgetting he's in goal for them, genuinely thought it was still Jose Sa.
The ref was very pro us today aswell. Was booking Wolves players for everything and letting shirt tugs by us go unpunished (Rogers did a very clear one second half when they were breaking and wasn't booked). Also Onana got away with a pretty late challenge.
Shows we've made it as no double on Molineux misery forum they'll be crying about bias and all that.
Dunno about that. Ait Nouri got away with twatting Bailey in the face even though he’d already been booked.
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We looked tired. We just didn’t look comfortable against a team that were well organised and came to spoil, foul and waste time.
The RB situation is not ideal and we look unbalanced when trying to play along our back 4.
Emery got the subs right and Duran gave us an energy and spark which caused them problems.
Once we equalised there was only 1 outcome.
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Thought we were piss poor first half. When we scored, with the time that was left, I was pretty sure we'd win.
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We were poor in the first half and deserved to be losing, although we gifted them the goal, but Barkley and Maatsen made a difference. Unai took off the right players as Ramsey was off form and Onana was playing it all a bit too slowly againt their double block.
Wolves always seem to pick up cards which helped us as the game went on. Gomes and Lemina foul a lot.
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
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When we move the ball quickly we are superb.
First half not so good but we wore them down and then finished them off.
It’s a shame about McGinn but he was having to do the work of a right back and right midfielder so I’m not surprised.
It’s great have quality players to bring off the bench and they made all the difference today.
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We were lulling them in to a false sense of security.
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
Harsh on them if the only option is £150+
I bet the vast majority were unsold hospitality or GA+ stuff. I think I read that they'll only re-sell seats from season ticket holders who can't go until they've shifted all the hospitality? (or as much as they thing they can, before releasing them at short notice) I could be wrong though.
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Wolves got what their approach to the game deserved.
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
Saw 4 in a row in A2 this morning with a champagne glass emblem still available, when I clicked on them they were £400+...might explain the empty seats
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Well, what can you say.
An awful first half…..we looked leggy and drained.
After Unai’s half time guidance, we were a different team.
Tielemens was again superb.
But, special mention for Rogers. He looked spent after 40 mins, but his second half performance was superb. He got a second wind, and then some.
And then Maatsen. Wow, what an impact. The thing that stood out for me is that the bloke is obviously a winner.
He was annoyed with himself when he failed to make a difficult cross, and was celebrating after making a lung busting run and getting in a great tackle.
I’m looking forward to him being our main left back.
We are a very, very special team, with an incredibly special manager .
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
Harsh on them if the only option is £150+
I bet the vast majority were unsold hospitality or GA+ stuff. I think I read that they'll only re-sell seats from season ticket holders who can't go until they've shifted all the hospitality? (or as much as they thing they can, before releasing them at short notice) I could be wrong though.
It’s what they are doing. I think they are holding GA back as well.
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Not a happy bunch on Mmix, earmarked for relegation with O'Neill
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Gary O'Neil's side have just one win across their past 15 Premier League matches - including 11 defeats - their worst run for more than two years.
Next 4 league games
Liverpool H
Brentford A
Man City H
Brighton A
Can't be long before a tumbril shows up outside Molineux.
It'll be good riddance to his anti football style.
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He's a horrible little prick as well.
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Poor first half with another error from Carlos. Great comeback (again) though.
This is a great time to be a Villa fan!
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He's a horrible little prick as well.
Plus he spells O'Neill incorrectly.
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A shame about the Gary Shaw tribute. A combination of a PA announcer who set the wrong tone and a referee who bottled it.
Poor first half. As I said on here it was crying out for Barkley and Duran. I still think the jury is out on Onana. I’m not sure he suits this team’s style of play at all.
Duran is incredibly unlucky not to be starting.
In the end a thoroughly enjoyable day!
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He's a horrible little prick as well.
Plus he spells O'Neill incorrectly.
Correct.
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
Harsh on them if the only option is £150+
I bet the vast majority were unsold hospitality or GA+ stuff. I think I read that they'll only re-sell seats from season ticket holders who can't go until they've shifted all the hospitality? (or as much as they thing they can, before releasing them at short notice) I could be wrong though.
It’s what they are doing. I think they are holding GA back as well.
Over 300 GA seats in the Upper Trinity unsold. Total tickets available 900…
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
What a load of bollocks.
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
Harsh on them if the only option is £150+
I bet the vast majority were unsold hospitality or GA+ stuff. I think I read that they'll only re-sell seats from season ticket holders who can't go until they've shifted all the hospitality? (or as much as they thing they can, before releasing them at short notice) I could be wrong though.
It’s what they are doing. I think they are holding GA back as well.
Over 300 GA seats in the Upper Trinity unsold. Total tickets available 900…
Thank you Mr Heck for your wrong headed, idiotic strategy
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Apparently Wolves have now scored none and conceded seven in the second half of matches this season.
We probably didn't need to sweat too much at half time after all.
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Apparently Wolves have now scored none and conceded seven in the second half of matches this season.
We probably didn't need to sweat too much at half time after all.
Nearly, it was seven before they played us, it's now ten.
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Gary O'Neil's side have just one win across their past 15 Premier League matches - including 11 defeats - their worst run for more than two years.
Next 4 league games
Liverpool H
Brentford A
Man City H
Brighton A
Can't be long before a tumbril shows up outside Molineux.
It'll be good riddance to his anti football style.
That Brentford game looks huge for them.
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Was a bit like the Palace game early last season which was crucial to our mentality up to Xmas so hopefully same again.
Sam Johnstone wasted time in that game too when we conceded the opening goal.
I keep on forgetting he's in goal for them, genuinely thought it was still Jose Sa.
The ref was very pro us today aswell. Was booking Wolves players for everything and letting shirt tugs by us go unpunished (Rogers did a very clear one second half when they were breaking and wasn't booked). Also Onana got away with a pretty late challenge.
Shows we've made it as no double on Molineux misery forum they'll be crying about bias and all that.
Dunno about that. Ait Nouri got away with twatting Bailey in the face even though he’d already been booked.
That was completely unintentional. Football has really gone downhill if people at the ground were calling for a second yellow for that. Bailey turned as he does, Ait Nouri turned his body to react and his hand has just gone up and made contact where Bailey is moving into.
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Was at the game earlier. Thought we started brightly, conceded a poor goal and then just fell into a lull with the attacking part of the team not really functioning.
Thought the strengthening of the squad in the summer really showed in the second half though and Maatsen and Barkley did really well when they came on. We just overpowered them in the closing stages and they got blown away. A performance that was a fitting tribute to Gary Shaw.
I know we’ve had our moans about the corporate nature taking over the game (disappointing to see blocks of empty seats in the Trinity and Doug Ellis), but then there are little moments that make you remember why you fell in love with the game in the first place. There was a little lad with his Dad sat in front of me in the North Stand Lower with a full Martinez kit on. He’d made a sign with an Argentinian flag on something in Spanish that I couldn’t understand! He stood at the front with his sign before the game and looked really disappointed when Emi made his way down the tunnel after his warm-up. I said to them both to go down the front after the game as he does come over sometimes.
The lad spent most of the game shouting to Martinez and waving at him, and needless to say was straight down the front after the game with his sign. I was watching from my seat as Emi did come over but he went to another group of kids and gave them his gloves. Just as he was off to make his way down the tunnel, he saw the kid’s sign, stopped, came over, took off his shirt and gave it to him. I’ve never seen a kid look so chuffed and he got loads of pats on the back as he made his way up the steps. A little gesture from Emi that kid will probably cherish for years to come
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Was a bit like the Palace game early last season which was crucial to our mentality up to Xmas so hopefully same again.
Sam Johnstone wasted time in that game too when we conceded the opening goal.
I keep on forgetting he's in goal for them, genuinely thought it was still Jose Sa.
The ref was very pro us today aswell. Was booking Wolves players for everything and letting shirt tugs by us go unpunished (Rogers did a very clear one second half when they were breaking and wasn't booked). Also Onana got away with a pretty late challenge.
Shows we've made it as no double on Molineux misery forum they'll be crying about bias and all that.
Dunno about that. Ait Nouri got away with twatting Bailey in the face even though he’d already been booked.
That was completely unintentional. Football has really gone downhill if people at the ground were calling for a second yellow for that. Bailey turned as he does, Ait Nouri turned his body to react and his hand has just gone up and made contact where Bailey is moving into.
I didn’t see it at all clearly and haven’t seen a replay, but it was a definite red and most likely an actual hanging offence in the eyes of the law.
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What happened to their bloke who got stretchered off? Look like a nothing tangle with Watkins.
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Was at the game earlier. Thought we started brightly, conceded a poor goal and then just fell into a lull with the attacking part of the team not really functioning.
Thought the strengthening of the squad in the summer really showed in the second half though and Maatsen and Barkley did really well when they came on. We just overpowered them in the closing stages and they got blown away. A performance that was a fitting tribute to Gary Shaw.
I know we’ve had our moans about the corporate nature taking over the game (disappointing to see blocks of empty seats in the Trinity and Doug Ellis), but then there are little moments that make you remember why you fell in love with the game in the first place. There was a little lad with his Dad sat in front of me in the North Stand Lower with a full Martinez kit on. He’d made a sign with an Argentinian flag on something in Spanish that I couldn’t understand! He stood at the front with his sign before the game and looked really disappointed when Emi made his way down the tunnel after his warm-up. I said to them both to go down the front after the game as he does come over sometimes.
The lad spent most of the game shouting to Martinez and waving at him, and needless to say was straight down the front after the game with his sign. I was watching from my seat as Emi did come over but he went to another group of kids and gave them his gloves. Just as he was off to make his way down the tunnel, he saw the kid’s sign, stopped, came over, took off his shirt and gave it to him. I’ve never seen a kid look so chuffed and he got loads of pats on the back as he made his way up the steps. A little gesture from Emi that kid will probably cherish for years to come
Lovely to hear.
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
What a load of bollocks.
Agree.
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We do need to start improving defensively, so we’re not making it difficult for ourselves. But very satisfying that we clearly believe in ourselves.
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They came to spoil delay foul and use any underhand tactics they could come up with to nick points. Even their manager looks like a car thief.
We were asked a question and gave them an answer. Onwards and Upwards!
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Marvellous, just marvellous.
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We are joint top of the League. Might be Chelsea that will be the the strongest challenger to the top four this season.
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
I couldn't get 2 seats together, so didn't go - harsh to let my young daughter sit on her own.
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We are joint top of the League. Might be Chelsea that will be the the strongest challenger to the top four this season.
Point of order, we’re not joint top. We have the same points as top, but if the season stopped now we’d be third.
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What happened to their bloke who got stretchered off? Look like a nothing tangle with Watkins.
Whatever it was, it serves the fucker right.
He dived in on Rogers trying to hurt him and hurt himself in the process.
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Any idea what Konsa was trying to do with his flying backheel goal? Going for style points or trying to not get clattered by Carlos?
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Was at the game earlier. Thought we started brightly, conceded a poor goal and then just fell into a lull with the attacking part of the team not really functioning.
Thought the strengthening of the squad in the summer really showed in the second half though and Maatsen and Barkley did really well when they came on. We just overpowered them in the closing stages and they got blown away. A performance that was a fitting tribute to Gary Shaw.
I know we’ve had our moans about the corporate nature taking over the game (disappointing to see blocks of empty seats in the Trinity and Doug Ellis), but then there are little moments that make you remember why you fell in love with the game in the first place. There was a little lad with his Dad sat in front of me in the North Stand Lower with a full Martinez kit on. He’d made a sign with an Argentinian flag on something in Spanish that I couldn’t understand! He stood at the front with his sign before the game and looked really disappointed when Emi made his way down the tunnel after his warm-up. I said to them both to go down the front after the game as he does come over sometimes.
The lad spent most of the game shouting to Martinez and waving at him, and needless to say was straight down the front after the game with his sign. I was watching from my seat as Emi did come over but he went to another group of kids and gave them his gloves. Just as he was off to make his way down the tunnel, he saw the kid’s sign, stopped, came over, took off his shirt and gave it to him. I’ve never seen a kid look so chuffed and he got loads of pats on the back as he made his way up the steps. A little gesture from Emi that kid will probably cherish for years to come
Lovely to hear.
We as a club have in many respects become a class act again.
Emi is my 5 year old ad's favourite player. Every time there is a goalkeeper on the TV he asks is - '..he as good as Emi Martinez, Daddy.'. 'No or Nearly is the response.
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There was a little lad with his Dad sat in front of me in the North Stand Lower with a full Martinez kit on. He’d made a sign with an Argentinian flag on something in Spanish that I couldn’t understand! He stood at the front with his sign before the game and looked really disappointed when Emi made his way down the tunnel after his warm-up. I said to them both to go down the front after the game as he does come over sometimes.
Just as he was off to make his way down the tunnel, he saw the kid’s sign, stopped, came over, took off his shirt and gave it to him. I’ve never seen a kid look so chuffed and he got loads of pats on the back as he made his way up the steps. A little gesture from Emi that kid will probably cherish for years to come
¿Me das tu camisa, por favor?*
*According to translate.
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Think it was ¿Dónde se han ido las sábanas limpias, Dibu?
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It’s great that even when we give the opposition a goal you just know we will come back from it. Great second half with some very good performances from our players.
When Emery went down the tunnel just before half time you could see he was not happy and whatever he said to the players worked.
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Good teams just get the job done….took us a while to turn up, not sure they were any great shakes first half but were gifted a goal…second half they were garbage and we did what was needed.
For Torres was motm, he was the only one looking to be genuinely proactive first half
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Nice that we seem to be able to come from behind to win this Season, which we couldn't do last year.
If we can get back to holding onto leads like last Season, we'll really be rocking.
As far as I can see we have never lost a lead this season that impacted the match result.
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Apparently our best start to a season since 1998/99. Great that we didn't panic, great to have the quality of the likes of Barkley to bring on.
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Its odd that I feel more confident about us winning game from 0-1 down, than I do when we're 2-1 up.
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Today we brought on Bailey, Duran, Maatsen and Barkley and Buendia.
Let's be honest that is comfortably a Top6 bench. With a few cushions to spare.
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Fantastic turnaround again . How good was Tielemans! The subs were superb . Absolutely fantastic, well done lads !
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What happened to their bloke who got stretchered off? Look like a nothing tangle with Watkins.
Getting a scan on a suspected ‘serious’ knee injury, apparently.
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How good was Tielemans!
The play that lead to the Duran corner was superb. The drag back after selling the pass dummy to the Wolves fan was *kiss*.
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How good was Tielemans!
The play that lead to the Duran corner was superb. The drag back after selling the pass dummy to the Wolves fan was *kiss*.
He was superb today , really took hold of the game at the scruff of the neck . Massive player for us and a huge Luiz upgrade.
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When a team blatantly times wastes from the off, then it’s always great to win the game with late goals
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Good win again today. Just wish some of the 30,000 on our waiting list would make a bit of an effort to fill the empty seats!
Harsh on them if the only option is £150+
I bet the vast majority were unsold hospitality or GA+ stuff. I think I read that they'll only re-sell seats from season ticket holders who can't go until they've shifted all the hospitality? (or as much as they thing they can, before releasing them at short notice) I could be wrong though.
No, twice at the end of last season and, again for today’s match, my brother had to put his ticket up for resale and wasn’t sold on any of these 3 occasions. May as well give it away for free, if it happens again, as getting sod all back from the Club!!
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What happened to their bloke who got stretchered off? Look like a nothing tangle with Watkins.
Getting a scan on a suspected ‘serious’ knee injury, apparently.
Looked bad on MOTD.
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Was at the game earlier. Thought we started brightly, conceded a poor goal and then just fell into a lull with the attacking part of the team not really functioning.
Thought the strengthening of the squad in the summer really showed in the second half though and Maatsen and Barkley did really well when they came on. We just overpowered them in the closing stages and they got blown away. A performance that was a fitting tribute to Gary Shaw.
I know we’ve had our moans about the corporate nature taking over the game (disappointing to see blocks of empty seats in the Trinity and Doug Ellis), but then there are little moments that make you remember why you fell in love with the game in the first place. There was a little lad with his Dad sat in front of me in the North Stand Lower with a full Martinez kit on. He’d made a sign with an Argentinian flag on something in Spanish that I couldn’t understand! He stood at the front with his sign before the game and looked really disappointed when Emi made his way down the tunnel after his warm-up. I said to them both to go down the front after the game as he does come over sometimes.
The lad spent most of the game shouting to Martinez and waving at him, and needless to say was straight down the front after the game with his sign. I was watching from my seat as Emi did come over but he went to another group of kids and gave them his gloves. Just as he was off to make his way down the tunnel, he saw the kid’s sign, stopped, came over, took off his shirt and gave it to him. I’ve never seen a kid look so chuffed and he got loads of pats on the back as he made his way up the steps. A little gesture from Emi that kid will probably cherish for years to come
Thanks for sharing , I love little good stuff like this . I've seen a few down the years often from players who dont get the best press,
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Just back from pub and this cheered me up
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Watched the game on a Peacock stream from the US. Cough.
After the game they went to an ‘Early Morning Fan Park’ from Chicago. Basically about a fan park for the Premier League. About 1,500 people with a stage and Patrick Vieira was there.
And just to the left was someone holding up a big face cardboard of Emi. Class
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Just back from pub and this cheered me up
Well let’s face looking at the time you returned from pub anything would cheer you up including a note from your partner that they have left you to go and live in a commune in Antarctica.
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I feel cheated...where is Lucas' latest "another one" video ???
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I know some people hate stats, but I'd love to see a first-half vs second-half comparison for today. It felt like we were second best most of the first half, and completely dominant in the second. I love that we have multiple options on the bench who can actually come on and genuinely influence the game in a positive way, even when they're replacing current first-choice players. I can't remember the last time that was true.
Somebody posted the first half stats from the BBC in the match thread. We were 42% possession, 2 shots, non on target and about 6 touches in the Wolves box.
At the end, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/czxdvg7d53pt#MatchStats
We had 70% possession second half. Seven shots vs. none for Wolves.
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As others have said the introduction of Barkley, Bailey Duran and Maatsen made a difference. Thought their left back should have been sent off for the challenge on Bailey early in the second half. The game was bitty but we showed we could win in those sorts of games.
Villa really do need to sort out entry to the lower Holte. It’s becoming a health and safety issue. 30 minutes to gain entry with no proper crowd control. Taking turnstile operatives out ain’t a good idea. If I was paying £72 for a one off experience with my kid I wouldn’t be coming back again.
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First half wasn't great, it just didn't seem to click although Unai was a bit more critical haha. I still felt confident we'd go on and win if we pulled one back. The subs made a difference but Rogers was terrific in the second half.
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I couldnt post yesterday as was at a wedding but what a turn around. We we so gash 1st half but 2nd excellent. That was a real jekyll and hyde performance
The subs made a massive impact
Has anyone noticed hiw well rogers and duran are linking up? Its a very exciting prospect.
Duran and maatsen have to start vs wycombe
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When I go past their ground the work on the 50,000 seater stadium and surrounding state of the art entertainment quarter seems to be proceeding exceedingly slowly. You’d hardly realise that it was happening at all.
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When I go past their ground the work on the 50,000 seater stadium and surrounding state of the art entertainment quarter seems to be proceeding exceedingly slowly. You’d hardly realise that it was happening at all.
Huh? You have lost me Richard
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Unai must have given them the hairdryer treatment at half time
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Unai must have given them the hairdryer treatment at half time
Yep, he didn't look remotely happy. A similar performance to Wolves at home last season. A fairly limp first half, followed by a much better second.
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I have to say when villa scored all the goals yesterday the fans went nuts. Its been a while since i seen our fans go that mental.
Brilliant to see !
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As others have said the introduction of Barkley, Bailey Duran and Maatsen made a difference....
I thought Bailey had very little impact during his time on the pitch, other than giving the leftback something a bit different to think about. Bailey rarely took him on, and when he did - dinking the ball up from his right foot - he created a goalscoring opportunity.
The biggest difference the substitutions made was to energise Rogers (particularly) and to allow Watkins a little more space. Those two things were fundamental to our success.
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I thought Bailey and the threat he carries with his pace pushed back their left side which snuffed out any threat they had. Whilst he did very little with the ball, I agree, the threat offered going forward is far more than McGinn. The full back being on a yellow when Bailey came on also helped.
Part of Emery’s skills is his teams shut down the strengths of the opposition. I just thought him having Bailey warming up at half time affects the Wolves plans. Ait-Nouri was their best player first half.
I may be overthinking it
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I don't think Baily was helped by getting smashed with an elbow to the face 30 seconds after coming on.
Anyway, we got away with a poor performance in the first half. Much improved after the subs, but we won't get away with it against better teams. I know there's no easy games but the top teams have these games won by 60 minutes, whilst we're still going at full tilt in the 90th minute.
It's still early in the season, but hopefully we get things in full flow soon, preferably before Bayern come to town.
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As others have said the introduction of Barkley, Bailey Duran and Maatsen made a difference....
I thought Bailey had very little impact during his time on the pitch, other than giving the leftback something a bit different to think about. Bailey rarely took him on, and when he did - dinking the ball up from his right foot - he created a goalscoring opportunity.
The biggest difference the substitutions made was to energise Rogers (particularly) and to allow Watkins a little more space. Those two things were fundamental to our success.
i thought Tielemans just came alive and took control of the middle , the tweaks Emery made certainly transformed the pattern of the game
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When Bailey came on two Wovvles players were immediately drawn towards him to stop his diagonal incursions. This didn't give him a lot of space to run into, but it did help generate space in the middle.
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Unai must have given them the hairdryer treatment at half time
In Unai’s own words, on MOTD no less.
We were shit.
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Just watching the 2nd goal again , the finish from Konsa deserves more credit. Also goal 3, the pass from Maatsen to Rogers is perfect as is Rogers ball across, you seem them overhit so often
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It looked to me like the players underestimated them and weren't as up for it as they were. For the first 15mins we were passing it around like it was a training session. Once they noticed and started pressing us we went to shit and they dominated the rest of the half.
However for all that we were bad in the first half they were far worse in the 2nd. I can't think of many away teams that have come out so desperate to get to 90.
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It's easier to explain how the game went poor first half much better second.
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Just watching the 2nd goal again , the finish from Konsa deserves more credit. Also goal 3, the pass from Maatsen to Rogers is perfect as is Rogers ball across, you seem them overhit so often
Agreed, even Dave called it a 'bundle', when you could just as easily have called it a brilliantly improvised outside of the foot volley. To quote Paddy, the truth, as ever, is somewhere in between...
One thing for sure though, the cross is insane, just insane. And you're right about Rogers - the lad's literally turning into Kaká.
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The issue was with John McGinn playing wide right and Konsa at right back. Konsa is not an attacker in that position and he was worried about Carlos, McGinn was not worried about Konsa and that left lot of space for Ait-Nouri to exploit. Furthermore McGinn does not provide attacking threat when playing there all he does is receive turn back and pass to a defender or midfielder, again Ait-Nouri was not under pressure. Introduction of Bailey changed that. Wolves rather than just concentrating on our left side attacks had to move to cover against Bailey. Ait-Nouri dropped back and so did rest of their defence and midfield. After that it was just a matter of time.....
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Unai must have given them the hairdryer treatment at half time
Yep, he didn't look remotely happy. A similar performance to Wolves at home last season. A fairly limp first half, followed by a much better second.
How could he look happy after he obviously spotted me sitting there holding my head in my hands.
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When I go past their ground the work on the 50,000 seater stadium and surrounding state of the art entertainment quarter seems to be proceeding exceedingly slowly. You’d hardly realise that it was happening at all.
Rise is LEVELS is a slow process.
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And you're right about Rogers - the lad's literally turning into Kaká.
Puts Unai’s pithy description of our first half performance into context.
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Just watching the 2nd goal again , the finish from Konsa deserves more credit. Also goal 3, the pass from Maatsen to Rogers is perfect as is Rogers ball across, you seem them overhit so often
Agreed, even Dave called it a 'bundle', when you could just as easily have called it a brilliantly improvised outside of the foot volley. To quote Paddy, the truth, as ever, is somewhere in between...
One thing for sure though, the cross is insane, just insane. And you're right about Rogers - the lad's literally turning into Kaká.
That's a libel right there!
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When Bailey came on two Wovvles players were immediately drawn towards him to stop his diagonal incursions. This didn't give him a lot of space to run into, but it did help generate space in the middle.
Rogers was taking up some really intelligent positions at the edge of the box when Bailey was being double teamed. It felt like Leon wanted to create single handedly and take on both defenders. Would have liked to see him look up a couple of times and use Rogers, to give the defenders something else to think about instead of rushing to double team him every time. Of course the way we set up, he rarely gets an overlap from Konsa/Cash.
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Did someone on here at half time really say we have a thin squad?!
The subs made the difference as you'd expect them to. Maatsen, Bailey and Duran would all start for teams directly below us imo.
Now let's see some of these guys get a prem start in the near future as they're earning the right from the bench most weeks.
Yeah I said that - and although I was clearly the first person that has over reacted on a match thread - I do have some concern. Being able change things up from the bench is clearly an improvement - but all out competitors can do that and it’s how the game is now played. the point I was trying to make is we’re asking about 17 players to perform at ucl most weeks - and it is a big ask.
We might have two great left backs - but we have 1 decent winger and he wasn’t playing because he was coming back from injury. Mean while we have McGinn in an ineffective position because of this. We also don’t have a right back of the required level and Carlos isn’t of the standard we need. A couple of injuries or loss of form away from potentially struggling. It’s amazing that we’re now in a position where we can play badly go behind and still win - there are a lot tougher tests to come.
The squad is clearly the best we could assemble given the circumstances - but over the summer Monchi talked of having two starting 11 without a drop off in quality and although we have that in a couple of key positions were aren’t in others.
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I fucking love this team
Focus, determination, graft, collectiveness, togetherness and a shit load of tactical nous and pure footballing ability.
All conducted by a grand master of the art.
I am not sure when, but under ti's genius and with our trajectory, we will win the Premier league
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Did someone on here at half time really say we have a thin squad?!
The subs made the difference as you'd expect them to. Maatsen, Bailey and Duran would all start for teams directly below us imo.
Now let's see some of these guys get a prem start in the near future as they're earning the right from the bench most weeks.
Yeah I said that - and although I was clearly the first person that has over reacted on a match thread - I do have some concern. Being able change things up from the bench is clearly an improvement - but all out competitors can do that and it’s how the game is now played. the point I was trying to make is we’re asking about 17 players to perform at ucl most weeks - and it is a big ask.
We might have two great left backs - but we have 1 decent winger and he wasn’t playing because he was coming back from injury. Mean while we have McGinn in an ineffective position because of this. We also don’t have a right back of the required level and Carlos isn’t of the standard we need. A couple of injuries or loss of form away from potentially struggling. It’s amazing that we’re now in a position where we can play badly go behind and still win - there are a lot tougher tests to come.
The squad is clearly the best we could assemble given the circumstances - but over the summer Monchi talked of having two starting 11 without a drop off in quality and although we have that in a couple of key positions were aren’t in others.
Where do you think SJM should play to be more effective? Instead of Tielemans, Onana, Ramsey, Rogers?
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Did someone on here at half time really say we have a thin squad?!
The subs made the difference as you'd expect them to. Maatsen, Bailey and Duran would all start for teams directly below us imo.
Now let's see some of these guys get a prem start in the near future as they're earning the right from the bench most weeks.
Yeah I said that - and although I was clearly the first person that has over reacted on a match thread - I do have some concern. Being able change things up from the bench is clearly an improvement - but all out competitors can do that and it’s how the game is now played. the point I was trying to make is we’re asking about 17 players to perform at ucl most weeks - and it is a big ask.
We might have two great left backs - but we have 1 decent winger and he wasn’t playing because he was coming back from injury. Mean while we have McGinn in an ineffective position because of this. We also don’t have a right back of the required level and Carlos isn’t of the standard we need. A couple of injuries or loss of form away from potentially struggling. It’s amazing that we’re now in a position where we can play badly go behind and still win - there are a lot tougher tests to come.
The squad is clearly the best we could assemble given the circumstances - but over the summer Monchi talked of having two starting 11 without a drop off in quality and although we have that in a couple of key positions were aren’t in others.
Where do you think SJM should play to be more effective? Instead of Tielemans, Onana, Ramsey, Rogers?
I think the point is we shouldnt neccessarily be playing all of them every week as we risk getting to the end of the season and being knackered like we did last year.
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For the 2nd week running another great comeback from the boys, the subs made all the difference, special mention goes to Ross, was class today. Hopefully SJM's injury is not serious, but reckon a few weeks off will do him good. Also all the best to Mosquera for a speedy recovery.
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Did someone on here at half time really say we have a thin squad?!
The subs made the difference as you'd expect them to. Maatsen, Bailey and Duran would all start for teams directly below us imo.
Now let's see some of these guys get a prem start in the near future as they're earning the right from the bench most weeks.
Yeah I said that - and although I was clearly the first person that has over reacted on a match thread - I do have some concern. Being able change things up from the bench is clearly an improvement - but all out competitors can do that and it’s how the game is now played. the point I was trying to make is we’re asking about 17 players to perform at ucl most weeks - and it is a big ask.
We might have two great left backs - but we have 1 decent winger and he wasn’t playing because he was coming back from injury. Mean while we have McGinn in an ineffective position because of this. We also don’t have a right back of the required level and Carlos isn’t of the standard we need. A couple of injuries or loss of form away from potentially struggling. It’s amazing that we’re now in a position where we can play badly go behind and still win - there are a lot tougher tests to come.
The squad is clearly the best we could assemble given the circumstances - but over the summer Monchi talked of having two starting 11 without a drop off in quality and although we have that in a couple of key positions were aren’t in others.
Where do you think SJM should play to be more effective? Instead of Tielemans, Onana, Ramsey, Rogers?
I think the point is we shouldnt neccessarily be playing all of them every week as we risk getting to the end of the season and being knackered like we did last year.
I agree with that. Just wondering where SJM is more effective than right-midfield. To me, he’s cover for a number of positions when people are injured/rotated. Which is a sign of a pretty strong squad.
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I fucking love this team
Focus, determination, graft, collectiveness, togetherness and a shit load of tactical nous and pure footballing ability.
All conducted by a grand master of the art.
I am not sure when, but under ti's genius and with our trajectory, we will win the Premier league
I feel it’s a top drawer defender away. We’re that good.
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Just watching the 2nd goal again , the finish from Konsa deserves more credit. Also goal 3, the pass from Maatsen to Rogers is perfect as is Rogers ball across, you seem them overhit so often
Absolutely. That finish for a cb was breath taking
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Did someone on here at half time really say we have a thin squad?!
The subs made the difference as you'd expect them to. Maatsen, Bailey and Duran would all start for teams directly below us imo.
Now let's see some of these guys get a prem start in the near future as they're earning the right from the bench most weeks.
Yeah I said that - and although I was clearly the first person that has over reacted on a match thread - I do have some concern. Being able change things up from the bench is clearly an improvement - but all out competitors can do that and it’s how the game is now played. the point I was trying to make is we’re asking about 17 players to perform at ucl most weeks - and it is a big ask.
We might have two great left backs - but we have 1 decent winger and he wasn’t playing because he was coming back from injury. Mean while we have McGinn in an ineffective position because of this. We also don’t have a right back of the required level and Carlos isn’t of the standard we need. A couple of injuries or loss of form away from potentially struggling. It’s amazing that we’re now in a position where we can play badly go behind and still win - there are a lot tougher tests to come.
The squad is clearly the best we could assemble given the circumstances - but over the summer Monchi talked of having two starting 11 without a drop off in quality and although we have that in a couple of key positions were aren’t in others.
Where do you think SJM should play to be more effective? Instead of Tielemans, Onana, Ramsey, Rogers?
I think the point is we shouldnt neccessarily be playing all of them every week as we risk getting to the end of the season and being knackered like we did last year.
I agree with that. Just wondering where SJM is more effective than right-midfield. To me, he’s cover for a number of positions when people are injured/rotated. Which is a sign of a pretty strong squad.
I think in some positions we do have good depth - but CB, RB and RW I think need more cover. We have some brillaint players and an absolutely world class manager. But I do think some areas of the squad are thinner than we would like. Carlos isnt good enough, but had to play - and ended up gifting them a goal.
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For the 2nd week running another great comeback from the boys,
We've won our last two PL games after trailing at half-time, the same number of times we've done it in the last 99 top-flight games (D11, L86) when we were behind at the interval.
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For the 2nd week running another great comeback from the boys,
We've won our last two PL games after trailing at half-time, the same number of times we've done it in the last 99 top-flight games (D11, L86) when we were behind at the interval.
Thats an amazing stat
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I fucking love this team
Focus, determination, graft, collectiveness, togetherness and a shit load of tactical nous and pure footballing ability.
All conducted by a grand master of the art.
I am not sure when, but under ti's genius and with our trajectory, we will win the Premier league
Aye t'is only a matter of time 😃
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I really, really, really, really , really wants this group of players and manager to win a trophy.
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Wonder if our starting XI might evolve
At the moment it’s hard to argue Duran, Barkley and Maatsen shouldn’t be starting.
And probably Bailey too if he can get fit again.
With a change of right back too that’s probably five changes on yesterday
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When Unai arrived at the club he spoke a lot about mentality and how it was important to have players that had the strength to compete at the top level. To not be afraid of the challenge, to embrace and enjoy it. With that comes the ability to overcome adversity. We have had to earn all of that. We have had to go through humiliating defeats to the likes of Stevenage to arrive where we are today. We now have a club that can compete at the top of the table because we are just tougher everywhere. That all came from the manager and it now lives in the players in games and between games.
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What I love most is that Unai sees it the same as us. Literally called the 1st half for what it was..... Shit!
The other main difference is that unlike pretty much ALL of our previous managers, he has the ability and tactical nous to effect change and turn the result around during a match, rather than just stating the bloody obvious in post match interviews as to what 'could have been'.
We really have hit the jackpot with this fella, and I'm starting to think.... could we?? 👀
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Wonder if our starting XI might evolve
At the moment it’s hard to argue Duran, Barkley and Maatsen shouldn’t be starting.
It's equally hard to argue Watkins, Onana or Digne should be dropped.
Just get used to having a quality squad finally, playing under an elite manager
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I fucking love this team
Focus, determination, graft, collectiveness, togetherness and a shit load of tactical nous and pure footballing ability.
All conducted by a grand master of the art.
I am not sure when, but under ti's genius and with our trajectory, we will win the Premier league
I feel it’s a top drawer defender away. We’re that good.
Mings?
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Just watching the 2nd goal again , the finish from Konsa deserves more credit. Also goal 3, the pass from Maatsen to Rogers is perfect as is Rogers ball across, you seem them overhit so often
Absolutely. That finish for a cb was breath taking
It took some guts with Carlos steaming in as well!
-
I fucking love this team
Focus, determination, graft, collectiveness, togetherness and a shit load of tactical nous and pure footballing ability.
All conducted by a grand master of the art.
I am not sure when, but under ti's genius and with our trajectory, we will win the Premier league
I feel it’s a top drawer defender away. We’re that good.
Agreed and it was evident SUE thought so as well hence our links with Guitruder (sp)
Maybe Jan will provide this?
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Wonder if our starting XI might evolve
At the moment it’s hard to argue Duran, Barkley and Maatsen shouldn’t be starting.
It's equally hard to argue Watkins, Onana or Digne should be dropped.
Just get used to having a quality squad finally, playing under an elite manager
Not sure that’s true unfortunately!
The evidence is mounting.
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Wonder if our starting XI might evolve
At the moment it’s hard to argue Duran, Barkley and Maatsen shouldn’t be starting.
It's equally hard to argue Watkins, Onana or Digne should be dropped.
Just get used to having a quality squad finally, playing under an elite manager
Not sure that’s true unfortunately!
The evidence is mounting.
what evidence ? Watkins has 3 in 2 , Onana and Digne have been brilliant this season so far
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I was watching with a mate from Toulouse. I had bigged up Emery's Villa, was pontificating on our set pieces, and being fairly refreshed up at the time, I recall telling him that Catweazle's name was Craig Shakespeare rather than Austin MacPhee.
So we watched the first half, my mate obviously thought I was a right div (yes, I hear you screaming to confirm), and I said, I'm not too worried I think we'll win 3-1 anyway.
Quod erat demonstrandum.
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For the 2nd week running another great comeback from the boys,
We've won our last two PL games after trailing at half-time, the same number of times we've done it in the last 99 top-flight games (D11, L86) when we were behind at the interval.
Thats an amazing stat
We were a terrible team for far too long. Any kid who got on board with us post-2010 deserves these glory days as much as any of our supporters.
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I have to say when villa scored all the goals yesterday the fans went nuts. Its been a while since i seen our fans go that mental.
Brilliant to see !
Huh? Last Saturday evening, the goal of the season led to limbs, surely?
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I don't think Baily was helped by getting smashed with an elbow to the face 30 seconds after coming on.
Looked more like a hand swatted in the eyes/nose which is what saved yer man from a second booking. Top player though, Ait-Nouri. If we weren't well-served at LB, I'd be keen on us going for him.
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Apparently our best start to a season since 1998/99. Great that we didn't panic, great to have the quality of the likes of Barkley to bring on.
The "best start to a season" stats are always quite rogue as no one really knows when the "start" of a season ends.
Unlike this season, we won our first four league games four years ago, in the full Covid-season (1-0 against t'Blades, 0-3 at Craven Cottage, 7-2 against well, you know who, and then last-gasp Barkley 1-0 at Lesta).
Our fifth game of that season saw us destroyed by Paddy Bamford at Villa Park but four stars out of five either way "and that's unheard of" (Arctic Monkeys' last decent song imo).
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Love this quote from Johnstone,
We’re playing against Villa at Villa Park, and we said at half-time it was going to be tough.
But no matter how much you brace yourself for it, once it starts, the waves start coming, and they score a goal that turns things.
We’re frightening.
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Did someone on here at half time really say we have a thin squad?!
The subs made the difference as you'd expect them to. Maatsen, Bailey and Duran would all start for teams directly below us imo.
Now let's see some of these guys get a prem start in the near future as they're earning the right from the bench most weeks.
Yeah I said that - and although I was clearly the first person that has over reacted on a match thread - I do have some concern. Being able change things up from the bench is clearly an improvement - but all out competitors can do that and it’s how the game is now played. the point I was trying to make is we’re asking about 17 players to perform at ucl most weeks - and it is a big ask.
We might have two great left backs - but we have 1 decent winger and he wasn’t playing because he was coming back from injury. Mean while we have McGinn in an ineffective position because of this. We also don’t have a right back of the required level and Carlos isn’t of the standard we need. A couple of injuries or loss of form away from potentially struggling. It’s amazing that we’re now in a position where we can play badly go behind and still win - there are a lot tougher tests to come.
The squad is clearly the best we could assemble given the circumstances - but over the summer Monchi talked of having two starting 11 without a drop off in quality and although we have that in a couple of key positions were aren’t in others.
Where do you think SJM should play to be more effective? Instead of Tielemans, Onana, Ramsey, Rogers?
I think the point is we shouldnt neccessarily be playing all of them every week as we risk getting to the end of the season and being knackered like we did last year.
That's a fair point. I was surprised yesterday we didn't make 2-3 changes to the starting 11 and said as much at half time as first half we were a yard off things and could've been more than a goal down.
I think as the season goes on we'll see Duran, Maatsen and Barkley start more prem games as what they're giving off the bench currently is enough to turn around losing positions.
If we still had Diaby then he could've gone over to the right to cover Bailey's injury but we had to accept what was offered and instead hope Jaden Philogene develops as the season goes on. Currently him and Ned aren't deemed quite ready and getting the Tim treatment.
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The issue was with John McGinn playing wide right and Konsa at right back. Konsa is not an attacker in that position and he was worried about Carlos, McGinn was not worried about Konsa and that left lot of space for Ait-Nouri to exploit. Furthermore McGinn does not provide attacking threat when playing there all he does is receive turn back and pass to a defender or midfielder, again Ait-Nouri was not under pressure. Introduction of Bailey changed that. Wolves rather than just concentrating on our left side attacks had to move to cover against Bailey. Ait-Nouri dropped back and so did rest of their defence and midfield. After that it was just a matter of time.....
If we are going to play McGinn on the right, I'd like to see Nedeljkovic at RB, for his pace and overlapping qualities.
And I take the point made by others above, that Bailey's role was to draw the defenders away and create space for Rogers et al. It worked!!
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It was brilliant so see those changes yesterday. Bailey, whilst not having a stellar impact per se kept Ait Nouri on the back foot and nullified a first half threat. In doing so he freed up space for Rogers. Barkley had a very good impact and I think his simple passing allowed Tielemans to have more impact going forward, and Maatsen once again provided pace and revitalized our left side. Our subs gave Wolves problems to solve, their subs just replaced tired players with lesser quality.
There were a lot of Wolves fans on the train to Witton and they were very full of it , making it clear they really don’t like us, nearly as much as they hate the Albion. I said to Chico Hamilton that they would be really up for it and I felt that showed for the whole of the first half. We don’t seem to approach this fixture with the derby mentality that they do. I think the players and coaching team deserve massive credit for the way we turned this game around. It’s wonderful to feel that being a goal down doesn’t mean a lost cause, as Brazilian Villa’s stats showed earlier.
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Everton & Wolves are the bottom 2 teams though so we just need to keep that in mind. We've made heavy weather of both games in reality .
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That’s a fair point. We did great to come back, but we need to stop conceding so many goals, and soft ones at that. It will start to cost us if it continues.
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What I love most is that Unai sees it the same as us. Literally called the 1st half for what it was..... Shit!
The other main difference is that unlike pretty much ALL of our previous managers, he has the ability and tactical nous to effect change and turn the result around during a match, rather than just stating the bloody obvious in post match interviews as to what 'could have been'.
We really have hit the jackpot with this fella, and I'm starting to think.... could we?? 👀
On the beeb site one of the Doghead fans said - main difference yesterday was Emery made changes and O'Neil didn't know how to respond.
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I have to say when villa scored all the goals yesterday the fans went nuts. Its been a while since i seen our fans go that mental.
Brilliant to see !
Huh? Last Saturday evening, the goal of the season led to limbs, surely?
I think fans were just amazed by that one. Alot of fans were just speechless but the goals here fans went berserk
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Everton & Wolves are the bottom 2 teams though so we just need to keep that in mind. We've made heavy weather of both games in reality .
Yes but we have the same number of points from those two as we did beating 115C and Arsenal last season. Only thing I will bear in mind is two wonderful wins.
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Everton & Wolves are the bottom 2 teams though so we just need to keep that in mind. We've made heavy weather of both games in reality .
We drew at home against the bottom team last season. Progress.
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Everton & Wolves are the bottom 2 teams though so we just need to keep that in mind. We've made heavy weather of both games in reality .
We found a way to win both games. We’re not Man City, Arsenal or Liverpool in terms of overall talent or depth. So for us to keep manufacturing victories from losing positions is exceptional. Something we couldn’t do at all in the past. I’d rather keep that in mind.
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I still can't quite work out how that ball ended up in the net from Konsa.
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I did count eight players from the team of 82 (pluss two ladies amongst them), anyone figured out who those eight was?
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I still can't quite work out how that ball ended up in the net from Konsa.
Me neither
From every angle it seems different
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What I love most is that Unai sees it the same as us. Literally called the 1st half for what it was..... Shit!
The other main difference is that unlike pretty much ALL of our previous managers, he has the ability and tactical nous to effect change and turn the result around during a match, rather than just stating the bloody obvious in post match interviews as to what 'could have been'.
We really have hit the jackpot with this fella, and I'm starting to think.... could we?? 👀
On the beeb site one of the Doghead fans said - main difference yesterday was Emery made changes and O'Neil didn't know how to respond.
Like any team low on confidence, they stopped playing once we got going after about 60 mins and camped around their 18 yard box. Rogers played very central and Maatsen was very high so they really should have tried to push Semedo on and tried to break down our left more. Cunha was very sharp but they couldn't get him involved, surely should have tried moving him over onto Torres. Instead they kept trying to get through the middle. Once we equalised I knew we would win, in the last 10 mins it was a question of by how many.
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I still can't quite work out how that ball ended up in the net from Konsa.
Me neither
From every angle it seems different
Brilliant technique, unbelievable volley
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Everton & Wolves are the bottom 2 teams though so we just need to keep that in mind. We've made heavy weather of both games in reality .
We did what we needed to do, it's what the successful sides are adept at.
We've more games this season that require bigger performances, and games like the two mentioned maybe don't get as much preparation, or the players' mindsets are just not right. Quick chat with the boss and he sorts it.
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Everton & Wolves are the bottom 2 teams though so we just need to keep that in mind. We've made heavy weather of both games in reality .
We found a way to win both games. We’re not Man City, Arsenal or Liverpool in terms of overall talent or depth. So for us to keep manufacturing victories from losing positions is exceptional. Something we couldn’t do at all in the past. I’d rather keep that in mind.
Good teams play badly and still win.
See Man United for years and years under Ferguson for a great example (and very frequently against us, too - how many times have we seen us build a lead against them only to have it overturned late on?)
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Everton & Wolves are the bottom 2 teams though so we just need to keep that in mind. We've made heavy weather of both games in reality .
We found a way to win both games. We’re not Man City, Arsenal or Liverpool in terms of overall talent or depth. So for us to keep manufacturing victories from losing positions is exceptional. Something we couldn’t do at all in the past. I’d rather keep that in mind.
Good teams play badly and still win.
See Man United for years and years under Ferguson for a great example (and very frequently against us, too - how many times have we seen us build a lead against them only to have it overturned late on?)
Exactly my thoughts. Good teams can have bad moments, but still find a way to win. I like how we've turned games around. In the past I've seen us go behind and just seem to run out of ideas for the whole game.
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I do agree, but I also enjoy a good "play well for 90 minutes and keep a clean sheet" performance. Once of those soon please!
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Some team will get a good hiding one day soon. Like that performance against Newcastle (3-0) or the Brighton game (6-1)
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A second consecutive goal against the Wulfs that Konsa "didn't mean". Maybe he's our lucky mascot for these games.
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I do agree, but I also enjoy a good "play well for 90 minutes and keep a clean sheet" performance. Once of those soon please!
Agreed, I'd like a comfortable win against Ipswich rather than doing what we needed to do.
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A second consecutive goal against the Wulfs that Konsa "didn't mean". Maybe he's our lucky mascot for these games.
You think it just hit him and went in by chance
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I do agree, but I also enjoy a good "play well for 90 minutes and keep a clean sheet" performance. Once of those soon please!
Agreed, I'd like a comfortable win against Ipswich rather than doing what we needed to do.
We've also got the worst goal difference of the top five, and worse than Spurs and Brighton too.
So while that very much feels like first-world problems, it's something that could end up being important and would be good to fix.
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A second consecutive goal against the Wulfs that Konsa "didn't mean". Maybe he's our lucky mascot for these games.
I’ll give you last years goal but what do you think he was trying to do on Saturday 2 yards out unmarked.
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Weirdly we’ve played 5 league games won 4 of them and yet our best performance so far was the one we lost imo
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Weirdly we’ve played 5 league games won 4 of them and yet our best performance so far was the one we lost imo
Possibly - but Arsenal are miles better than the other 4. That was a strange game we basically controlled from 15mins to 70 mins but whoever scored first was unlikely to let it slip.
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Weirdly we’ve played 5 league games won 4 of them and yet our best performance so far was the one we lost imo
I thought we played well at West Ham and really should have scored 4 or 5 that day
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Arsenal were afraid of us. They only looked properly comfortable at 2-0 up. Had we have scored one of our chances, that game was ours.
Not that I want to compare the god that is Emery to Martin O'Neill, but we are a bit how we were back than, in that even if we are poor we can suddenly have a purple patch and stick the ball in the back of the net two or three times and see someone off.
How many times over the years have we played top teams and lost and come away thinking we'd played really well and deserved something from the game? Other teams are starting to say that about us now.
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Arsenal have played us, Spurs and Man City away, been outplayed for the most part of all 3 games and got 2 wins and a draw. Loved Arteta's face when they conceded yesterday...
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A second consecutive goal against the Wulfs that Konsa "didn't mean". Maybe he's our lucky mascot for these games.
I’ll give you last years goal but what do you think he was trying to do on Saturday 2 yards out unmarked.
I'm sure he wanted to shoot but I don't think he could have planned how he actually executed it.
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No, that was a brilliant finish.
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Great finish, did really well to avoid being put off and just keep his eye on the ball. There's no way he didn't mean it, what else would he be doing charging into the Wolves penalty area and twatting the ball towards their goal?
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Maybe he was being chased by a wasp?
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Alloa scum.
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I thought Alloa would be a harmless place.
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Great finish, did really well to avoid being put off and just keep his eye on the ball. There's no way he didn't mean it, what else would he be doing charging into the Wolves penalty area and twatting the ball towards their goal?
Ezri forgot which box he was in and was terrified of Carlos dropping a clanger so thought better cover him and he did and cleared the ball into the net. In a prallel assessment that was superb piece of anticipation and athleticism.
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Weirdly we’ve played 5 league games won 4 of them and yet our best performance so far was the one we lost imo
By a country mile. We battered Arsenal for about an hour. A lethargic Ollie Watkins was the only reason we didn't win that game and we would be sitting pretty at the top of the table right now. Fine margins and all that.