Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on April 19, 2025, 07:26:00 PM
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Told you we'd twat them.
4-1 massively flattered Newcastle.
7 goals in 2 games against PSG and Newcastle isn't too shabby.
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Could have genuinely been ten
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Time to funeral cheat fc now.
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Well, that was nice :)
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Absolutely pissed it against the most obvious case of 12 men I’ve ever seen.
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We're on fire and scoring for fun.
3-1 Villa FTF.
8)
Well and truly smashed them.
We are a top team, Unai is a genius and this is a golden era to be a Villa fan.
Thank you everyone.
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Just keep winning, Villa. We can get top four AND win the Cup.
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Just keep winning, Villa. We can get top four AND win the Cup.
We could finish 2nd 8)
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That was fantastic. We are clicking at exactly the right time. You're right, 4-1 really flattered Newcastle. Our football was a pleasure to watch.
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ANOTHER ONE
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Made them Look shit!
So satisfying
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Brilliant.
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I love this club
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Kevin Keegan, Faustino Asprilla, Cheryl Tweedy, Jimmy Five Bellies, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Thomas Pelham-Holles...WEMBLEY HORSE! CAN YOU HEAR ME WEMBLEY HORSE? YOUR BOYS TOOK ONE HELL OF A FUNERALLING, A HELL OF A FUNERALLING!
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A collosal and vital win. It was critical we did this.
Lots of great performances, but Ollie - superb player.
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We're on fire and scoring for fun.
3-1 Villa FTF.
8)
Well and truly smashed them.
We are a top team, Unai is a genius and this is a golden era to be a Villa fan.
Thank you everyone.
Ahem!
Us 4 Them 0
We'll twat Palace as well. In fact let them both play us at the same time, we'll twat them.
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What a thoroughly excellent display. I had an ominous feeling about it beforehand, but as usual, my innate pessimism was misplaced.
We have an insanely well-stocked squad and Emery is using it brilliantly. It makes all the difference at the end of a gruelling season.
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Just keep winning, Villa. We can get top four AND win the Cup.
No one will want to play against us right now, form team in the league and look like we're getting stronger.
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Yes. !! Total belief in Uani
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Well I enjoyed the first half but that second was incredible. Ollie was awesome and Ian Maatsen has been brilliant the last two league matches. He’s a real terrier, he makes things happen.
Special mention to Tielemans and Kamara, what a combination they are. Quality players.
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Just keep winning, Villa. We can get top four AND win the Cup.
We could finish 2nd 8)
I was just looking at the league table and thinking that. Probably needs Arsenal to mess up against Ipswich tomorrow. But if they did do that, and were to lose away to Liverpool ... it might be a bit close :)
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We're on fire and scoring for fun.
3-1 Villa FTF.
8)
Well and truly smashed them.
We are a top team, Unai is a genius and this is a golden era to be a Villa fan.
Thank you everyone.
Ahem!
Us 4 Them 0
We'll twat Palace as well. In fact let them both play us at the same time, we'll twat them.
Nice work Mr. Shin 8)
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Simply magnificent, when we have a fully fit squad we can beat anyone in Europe, end of.
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I’d have taken the draw at the start - but this was one hell of a performance and score line.
1/ I think we all thought we’d be jaded post PSG - but with clever squad rotation, we looked fresh and dynamic today.
2/ We just stuffed a fellow CL competitor for this season.
3/ I think teams are now dreading coming to Villa Park. It’s become a fortress and the defeat of PSG has gone to show this.
4/ Although we got plumped out of the CL in the 1/4 Finals, we will have learnt a lot from playing the best teams in Europe - and it’s showing through in the league right now. We’re playing with much more flair and speed.
5/ We have become one hell of a team. This is going to be a gripping end of the season for us.
6/ I would love us to win the FA Cup. We need some Silverware somewhere.
7/ Great performance by everyone today. Asensio bossed the early game in midfield, but faded quickly.
8/ I’ll say it again… what a time to be a Villa fan. 2-3 signings and we’re going to be something else next season. We just need to shift our deadwood and clear our wage bill as a result.
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Once they stopped kicking us around because of the yellows to Linton and Guimares, we took control.
Astonishingly, the foul count was:
AV 9-12 NUFC
One of the most incontinent refs seen at Vila Park - stream of shite from start to finish.
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Just keep winning, Villa. We can get top four AND win the Cup.
We could finish 2nd 8)
I was just looking at the league table and thinking that. Probably needs Arsenal to mess up against Ipswich tomorrow. But if they did do that, and were to lose away to Liverpool ... it might be a bit close :)
I could see it happening. Their focus will be on the CL and they're not gonna fall out of the top 5.
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Brilliant performance...simply superb from start to finish.
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Yessss, yesss, yesss and yessss! Well done the mighty Villa and f*ck off tindal and the toun army! UTV!
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Is it too much to hope Spurs do us a favour on Monday? Things could be looking very good come Tuesday evening.
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Great absolutely fucking great..
My beer tastes even better..
Enjoy the WE.
UTV
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Lovely
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My 18 month old's fourth ever word was 'Goal!' as that Onana strike nestled in the top corner. Magical.
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Fuck the ginger twat brother in law of mine who has never been to Newcastle.
Fuck Ant and Dec. That weird rail bridge they have as well.
On to batter the oil cheats now, we are in decent form at the right time. Ours to grab and theirs to lose now.
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It was a pretty dicey match that I was worried could go either way, until about an hour in. Then we turned on the gas and obliterated them. This is sort of turning into our MO. Tread water for the first half, and then flip the switch for 20 minutes in the second. We looked sublime.
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Fantastic win and well deserved, Watkins pulled them apart at the back and yet again Unai's subs were brilliant.
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Well done villa. Easy to pile on those who comment not knowing we are all in the same team.
We don’t all have to be robots .
C’mon villa!
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One of the most incontinent refs seen at Vila Park - stream of shite from start to finish.
Literally piss all over the pitch surprised more players didn’t slip over.
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You love to see it:
(https://i.ibb.co/8DhmFX9P/Screenshot-2025-04-20-at-1-34-40-AM.png)
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Such a great win. Keeps momentum going for top 5, great performance, beat one of our rivals and it was the Barcodes too…sweeeeet.
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They'll be happy as fuck to get out of that with just the 4. Could've been an abliteration.
We are just motoring along!
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Wow. Just, wow. Absolutely outstanding.
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It seemed it might be one of those games where it goes against you, but justice was done in the end. So unlucky to not get 5,6 or 7.
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Ollie has just said he knew Newcastle would go man for man. Emery is a tactical genius.
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Absolutely brilliant Villa, the league performance of the season, bring on Man City.
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Alan Shee-ra! Jimmy Nail! Cheryl Tweedy! Ross Noble! Thomas Addison! Paul Gascoigne! Wee Jimmy Krankie's dipshit cousin! Geordie Peacock and Tosker! McPartlin and Donnelly! Your boys took one HELL of a beating!!!
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Looking forward to Bronte’s ratings tonight. My favourite part of the week.
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Great, great win!! Watkins superb and Maatsen outstanding. The whole team and the club deserve every plaudit that they will receive.
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Watkins just said he was fuming only playing 20 minutes against PSG.
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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/13351085/aston-villa-4-1-newcastle-ollie-watkins-inspires-unai-emerys-side-to-statement-victory-in-race-for-europe
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The Newcastle equivalent of the bloke that wanted Martinez sold at Half Time.
"Would be happy to see Bruno and Isak moved on in the summer. I am not a subnormal kneejerking freak"
https://newcastle-online.org/topic/38394-aston-villa-4-1-newcastle-united-19042025/page/58/
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An almost perfect performance. To me the players understood the referee was doing everything possible to make sure those barcode thugs left with a result so they made sure that wasn't going to happen by absolutely steamrolling them.
MOTM was Tielemans because to not concede a single foul in 96 minutes against their big midfield players is very rare.
We are bang in-form which is incredible.
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When it comes to ratings Tielemans goes up to 11
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4xgx4k83zzc/maxresdefault.jpg)
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Jason Tindall - looks like a bottle blond fake tanned low life who's wandered in from one of E4's cheapskate non-celebtity reality programmes.
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Looking forward to Bronte’s ratings tonight. My favourite part of the week.
Complete annihilation really. Thought Mings, Maatsen, Tielemans and Watkins were outstanding. Best performance of the season. Emery 10.
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Looking forward to Bronte’s ratings tonight. My favourite part of the week.
Complete annihilation really. Thought Mings, Maatsen, Tielemans and Watkins were outstanding. Best performance of the season. Emery 10.
There's also be something to be said for JJ too. He was involved in the goals that turned it from a win into a hammering.
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Watkins just said he was fuming only playing 20 minutes against PSG.
He'll hopefully get over it. He put in a display today, especially first half that he's been missing this season. His 15 minute cameo against Southampton was a clear indication he was finally looking fresh and today goes to confirm how much he needed a rest. He was back to last season Watkins and up against two tough central defenders, he ran them ragged.
All that said, McGinn gets my MOTM. Leads by example and nobody is allowed not to put in a full shift with him as captain. We are blessed. Proud of every single one of them. I've been waiting all season for a performance like that and what a time to deliver it.
Truly, onwards and upwards.
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Also amusing reading some comments on the BBC's "Speak you're branes" during their Saturday live coverage. Someone wrote in saying something like "all the teams pushing for Europe seem to be stumbling, only Newcastle seem like they want it". Hmm, I believe I can think of one more...
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Best performance/result of the season. When them goals went in I was limbs all over the pub
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Jason Tindall - looks like a bottle blond fake tanned low life who's wandered in from one of E4's cheapskate non-celebtity reality programmes.
Geordie Shore? Probably failed an audition as an extra but hung-around Quayside long enough for Uncle Eddie to get him to put the cones out in training.
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We were absolutely magnificent. Against a really good team in excellent form we absolutely demolished them.
We've had some brilliant performances under Emery, but for me this was the best so far
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Shearer unequivocally praising
Given a bit grudging
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Interesting that Ollie didn't mention that he has a couple of years left on his contract to go past the Gabby record? Talked about having 5 games left rather than 'I'll smash it over the next couple of years and set a new record'. Conspiracy theory!!
Brilliant second half. We schooled them. Several excellent performances. Brilliant finish from both Maatsen and Onana, who are both beginning to look the value we paid for them. Just watching the analysis bit and we really are a good side.
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Good in the first half, awesome in the second - made the 'best form team in the EPL' look like idiots. It was so bad I was expecting two of their players to start fighting each other.
C'mon Fulham and dare I say it, Spurs.
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After PSG, I didn't think we'd be able to produce such a great performance in such a short space of time against the form team in the league. It could have been a few more than 4.
I've not seen Unai looking so happy when he went down the tunnel and Monchi was on the pitch congratulating all the players which I don't recall seeing before this season.
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Aston Villa - wow.
I’m currently in a bar in Greece surprisingly surrounded by bar codes. Had to keep it calm as goal after goal went in. Danced my way to the counter.
Bit of trepidation before the match as I thought we may have bit of a hangover after PSG - fuck no ! We played some outstanding football, great goals, twatted a rival for CL but most sweetly revenge for Boxing Day.
My holiday couldn’t have gone any better.
My life, my club, they are my pride, they have my admiration- AVFC FOREVER!!!!
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Tremendous in the end. We're such a good team these last few years, it'd be brilliant to get a trophy to top it off.
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A fantastic performance. I believe we have another truly special performance in us and it will come in the Fa Cup Final. Emery said a couple of weeks ago that now is the moment and they have stepped up to the mark. He's right, now is the moment, we are beating all our rivals. Man City away, we do them and just wow. It's in our hands.
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What a result, it could have easily been a lot more, brilliant.
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Looking forward to Bronte’s ratings tonight. My favourite part of the week.
He is a strong analyst of a footballer with his own eyes, eschewing stats. Like Cloughie and Taylor used to judge a player. Not saying Bronte can take Forest to the title and back-to-back Big Cups but...who knows?
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Absolutely bossed that from start to finish. Could and should have been way more. Beautiful.
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Shearer unequivocally praising
Given a bit grudging
Think he wants to have an affair with us. Anyone willing to be wined and dined?
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Can’t wait to watch Match of the day tonight..
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Looking forward to Bronte’s ratings tonight. My favourite part of the week.
Complete annihilation really. Thought Mings, Maatsen, Tielemans and Watkins were outstanding. Best performance of the season. Emery 10.
There's also be something to be said for JJ too. He was involved in the goals that turned it from a win into a hammering.
It's so wank that assists don't count for own-goals. He did brilliant for that goal.
His curled shot off the post was reminiscent of his goal against Brighton at VP last season. So unlucky, he has the ability to finish in that classy way that only Asensio in the squad can better.
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Very disappointed we didn't score the 7 we should have done.
I blame Emery for me missing out on double points on Guess the Crowd.
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A disservice to give a man of the match, eleven of them today. Just fantastic.
The third goal PSG scored against us in the first leg kept on springing to mind. Six or seven tippy, tappy 5 yard passes between 2 players, then bang. We did that on a number of occasions today. We are learning a lot playing these top sides and getting even better every week.
Thanks Villa. Onwards and upwards.
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Pretty, pretty good.
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Absolutely outstanding performance. Some of our football is an absolute joy to watch. From start to finish we were far and away the better team. Tielemans gets my MOTM but most of the team are putting in 7-8 out of 10 each game now and it must get better
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Pretty, pretty good.
Not bad at all, was it? Not. Bad. At. All
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Good in the first half, awesome in the second - made the 'best form team in the EPL' look like idiots. It was so bad I was expecting two of their players to start fighting each other.
C'mon Fulham and dare I say it, Spurs.
Yeah, I don't wanna have to be cheering on Spuds, but, needs must...
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Missed the game as stuck at home with man flu.
That result has perked me up no end. Onto the Emptihad 👍🏼
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Good in the first half, awesome in the second - made the 'best form team in the EPL' look like idiots. It was so bad I was expecting two of their players to start fighting each other.
C'mon Fulham and dare I say it, Spurs.
Yeah, I don't wanna have to be cheering on Spuds, but, needs must...
Nah, it's completely fine in these circumstances.
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COYS!!!
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Our dog shit goal difference will cost us
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Jason Tindall - looks like a bottle blond fake tanned low life who's wandered in from one of E4's cheapskate non-celebtity reality programmes.
True dat
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Pretty, pretty good.
Not bad at all, was it? Not. Bad. At. All
Noice!
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Looking forward to Bronte’s ratings tonight. My favourite part of the week.
He is a strong analyst of a footballer with his own eyes, eschewing stats. Like Cloughie and Taylor used to judge a player. Not saying Bronte can take Forest to the title and back-to-back Big Cups but...who knows?
He really isn’t. He talks nonsense that I suspect he gets off a really shit podcast, as one person on his own couldn’t possibly be as clueless.
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It's still you
(https://i2-prod.birminghammail.co.uk/article11299983.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/JS89233785-1.jpg)
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Looking forward to Bronte’s ratings tonight. My favourite part of the week.
He is a strong analyst of a footballer with his own eyes, eschewing stats. Like Cloughie and Taylor used to judge a player. Not saying Bronte can take Forest to the title and back-to-back Big Cups but...who knows?
He really isn’t. He talks nonsense that I suspect he gets off a really shit podcast, as one person on his own couldn’t possibly be as clueless.
Minded of Henry Sellars. 'If I can't celebrate tonight, then when can I the bastards how dare they do this to me...'
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When Da Boat Gets Sunk, Pet
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Our midfield 3 largely bossed their midfield 3 (who still got up to all their niggly dirty tricks). And then we were able to bring on Onana
First team on paper very little difference but compare the benches and largely a no contest
Pace of game caught up with them and thought they should have started with Gordon.
Youri is our Man of the Season - last few weeks he has been immense. Maybe playing next to Kamara makes it a little easier.
Big shout again to Konsa who has been somewhat inconsistent this season - another top performance even as his partners are rotated.
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Newcastle supporters make me laugh.
They chant that we only sing when we’re winning, that our support is fucking shit and they are the loyalist supporters the world has ever seen and then the 4th goes in and half of them leave!
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Asensio seemed to be a little under par until you watch the analysis of the game and see his little runs that pull defenders away from the ball. Absolute quality movement. I can't fault a single player, superb tonight.
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Newcastle supporters make me laugh.
They chant that we only sing when we’re winning, that our support is fucking shit and they are the loyalist supporters the world has ever seen and then the 4th goes in and half of them leave!
They remind me of a certain other club in that respect. You know the one who Keep Right On save when they lose e.g. last Sunday
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Newcastle players getting very chippy with the Villa fans behind the dugout. Don’t like it when things are going against them… wonder if Targett will make any videos tonight?
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Watkins just said he was fuming only playing 20 minutes against PSG.
He'll hopefully get over it. He put in a display today, especially first half that he's been missing this season. His 15 minute cameo against Southampton was a clear indication he was finally looking fresh and today goes to confirm how much he needed a rest. He was back to last season Watkins and up against two tough central defenders, he ran them ragged.
Absolutely. Ollie's best performance since Brentford at VP last season. Immense.
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There is one post on the Newcastle forum re SJM that said "I hate John McGinn the c**t, he's got an arse the size of Ayres Rock". Made me smile.
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That was just superb. It really should have been 6.
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There is one post on the Newcastle forum re SJM that said "I hate John McGinn the c**t, he's got an arsenal the size of Ayres Rock". Made me smile.
Arse envy.
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According to Tindall, it is tough playing three games in 6 days and that is why they couldn't cope as it caught up with them. As that was our 6th game in 17, let me play the worlds smallest violin for you.
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There is one post on the Newcastle forum re SJM that said "I hate John McGinn the c**t, he's got an arsenal the size of Ayres Rock". Made me smile.
I had a works dinner last week and was talking to sn Arsenal fan about all things football. Very down to earth and level headed he was, and then he came out with how much he hates McGinn. I had no idea that other fans loathed him so much. Makes me like him even more.
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According to Tindall, it is tough playing three games in 6 days and that is why they couldn't cope as it caught up with them. As that was our 6th game in 17, let me play the worlds smallest violin for you.
Alternatively Tindall can fuck off and have a nice relaxing bath of Cuprinol.
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From The Athletic
ASTON VILLA 4 -1 NEWCASTLE 1 WATKINS SHOWS HIS VALUE; VISITORS' LACK OF ROTATION IS COSTLY
Aston Villa romped to a big win over visitors Newcastle, striking a hefty blow on one of their rivals in the race for Champions League qualification.
Goals from Ollie Watkins, Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana, plus a Dan Burn own goal, saw Unai Emery’s side move up to sixth place in the table, but within two points of Newcastle in third with five games to go.
The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, George Caulkin and Chris Waugh pick apart the key talking points…
OLLIE WATKINS PROVES HIS VALUE
Despite remaining their top scorer, Ollie Watkins’ importance to Aston Villa and manager Unai Emery has noticeably reduced in recent months. A consequence of his toiling form and Villa having richer attacking depth, the England striker is no longer looked to as the team’s key source of goals.
Watkins has been omitted from crunch matches, such as both legs of the recent Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, with Emery favouring Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, who is now regarded as a No 9 in his system, coming off the bench after 79 minutes of the game in France and after 82 in the return.
This has essentially led to Watkins becoming overlooked in Villa’s quest to secure Champions League football again next season, struggling for rhythm and to overcome small, frustrating injuries. His future has been a bone of contention since Arsenal made their interest in signing him known in January and discussions will be held as to his longer-term plans this summer.
Having been chosen to start this time around, the onus was on the 29-year-old to rediscover the form that made him the first player in Europe’s top five leagues last season to register 15 goals and 10 assists.
To exacerbate the necessity of finding momentum quickly, Watkins was one goal away from Gabriel Agbonlahor’s record as Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer (74).
As it transpired, the tension in him vanished inside the opening minute.
After wriggling away from pressure, he hit a strike that deflected off Newcastle’s Fabian Schar and past Nick Pope in goal. It gave the forward a confidence boost and meant he was level with Agbonlahor.
Watkins was then a threat throughout the match, constantly running off Newcastle’s centre-backs and showing clarity in his decision-making. He brought team-mates into play and was at the heart of Villa’s best work, hitting the crossbar with a powerful left-footed effort before heading against the post. In the game’s first 28 minutes, Watkins had scored and hit two different parts of the woodwork.
He had a penalty appeal dismissed and gave Schar a scare when the defender — who was Newcastle’s last man — brought him down. The referee, Jarred Gillett, showed Schar a yellow card, though the decision was borderline as most of the Villa Park crowd yelled for a sending off.
His second-half assist for Ian Maatsen’s goal was from a typical Watkins position and from a typical Villa move — ripping Newcastle open through the middle before the ball found him in the inside left channel. His weight of pass was perfect for Maatsen’s overlap and strike, offering a reminder of how big an advantage a fit and firing Watkins gives his team.
EMERY’S SUBS PAY OFF AGAIN
Emery’s penchant for inspired substitutions has been something of a trend in recent times. All three goals against Southampton last week were scored by replacements and the theme continued a week later.
Villa were good in the first half, but mindful of Newcastle’s threat. Emery has been able to rotate over the past month due to having every player fit and available and having incredible strength in depth, so there is not a discernible drop-off if changes are made.
His team are peaking heading into the defining part of the season and also within matches. As Newcastle’s legs grew weary here, Villa came on strong, playing towards their favoured Holte End and powered by their subs.
Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana were introduced in the 72nd minute, and in the space of three minutes had both played an integral part in Villa scoring twice more to put the game away. Ramsey crossed for Dan Burn’s deflected own goal, while Onana’s strike — first-time from outside the box — was thunderous and met with a similar response from supporters.
Villa often score twice in quick succession, and such impact from the bench is critical in winning matches against fellow rivals for a Champions League spot.
Jacob Tanswell
NEWCASTLE SUFFER FOR LACK OF ROTATION
For Newcastle, familiarity has bred content.
For the seventh game in succession, their starting lineup was unchanged, becoming the first Premier League side since 2016 to do this across all competitions.
Jason Tindall, again filling in for the ill Eddie Howe, said before kick-off that his team “picks itself” after a run of six consecutive victories but, in retrospect, perhaps it should not have done. On this occasion, consistency of selection brought inconsistency of performance.
While Tindall’s logic was understandable — there is always a reluctance to change a winning side — fatigue rippled through Newcastle in what was their third game in seven days. After those fine victories over Manchester United and Crystal Palace by a combined scoreline of nine goals to one, Newcastle’s efforts caught up with them.
Across the pitch, there were heavy legs. Kieran Trippier was targeted by Villa at right-back, Bruno Guimaraes waded through treacle in midfield and Alexander Isak struggled to make any impact up front. They were far from alone. In terms of athleticism and physicality, Villa had the measure of their guests, bouncing back from their acute disappointment in the Champions League in midweek.
Newcastle have a tight squad in terms of quality and have not strengthened their first XI for three transfer windows now, but not rotating on Saturday was a choice rather than being forced on them.
This was one game too many.
George Caulkin
NEWCASTLE LOSE MOMENTUM IN TOP-5 RACE
It is squeaky-bum time for Newcastle now, with five fixtures remaining.
That exceptional run of six successive victories in all competitions was always going to come to an end, but the devastating fashion in which Villa tore them apart during today’s second half has suddenly made the Champions League qualification race appear extremely congested.
Only two points separate four teams between Newcastle in third and Villa in sixth, and seventh-placed Chelsea can overtake Emery’s side on goal difference if they beat Fulham in a west London derby on Sunday.
There may be an additional spot in Europe’s premier competition via the Premier League this season, but two of these five teams are going to miss out.
Newcastle remain favourites to secure one of the three slots behind title-bound Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal, given they already have 59 points and host relegation-candidates Ipswich Town next weekend and also play at home to top-five rivals Chelsea before the season is out.
Villa and fifth-placed Nottingham Forest have next weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals to think about, and Chelsea are at the same stage in the UEFA Conference League, but Newcastle and Manchester City, fourth after their win at Everton earlier on Saturday, only have the top five to focus on.
Whether that is an advantage remains to be seen, because Villa have serious momentum and, while Newcastle had it too until this weekend, it is important they respond to this humbling immediately.
Whether that is with Howe back on the touchline, only time will tell.
Chris Waugh
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And some more from The Athletic
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was ‘fuming’ over PSG exclusion: ‘I let Unai Emery know that’
Ollie Watkins has spoken of his anger at being excluded from the starting line-up for both legs of Aston Villa’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Watkins has scored 23 goals across all competitions this season, including eight in the Champions League, but started neither tie of Villa’s 5-4 aggregate loss, with on-loan forward Marcus Rashford selected as the sole starting striker.
The 29-year-old was substituted on in the 79th and 76th minutes of the tie, before scoring in the subsequent Premier League victories over Southampton and Newcastle United respectively.
“I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games, I am not going to lie, I was fuming that I wasn’t playing — I let him [Emery] know that,” Watkins told Sky Sports after the match.
“He’s the manager, at the end of the day you have to respect his decision. I am not one of these players which is happy to sit on the bench.
“Something I have not experienced before and to miss out on the biggest stage. I think me and a few others were disappointed that we didn’t start the game, but it is the manager’s decision.
“The team played well, but I wanted to be out on the pitch for much longer. I have played a big part to get to where we are today and I want to play in those games.
“Against Southampton I came off the bench. I was angry I wasn’t playing and you have got to use that as motivation rather than let it hinder you.”
Watkins scored in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle, as sixth-place Villa moved level on points with Nottingham Forest, in fifth, in the Premier League.
Emery said of Watkins in his post-match press conference: “He was fantastic. To be angry is fantastic. To play like he did was fantastic. This is the competitive way I want.
“He’s a very good person and respectful always. His commitment is always very positive, with the team-mates, the coaches, the manager and the workers.
“With Watkins, it was a very good conversation and when he responded today, wow, i am so, so happy for him, the team and our objectives.”
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Anybody saying Newcastle had an off day is wrong.
Could clearly see they are a good side. They just came up against one of top sides in Europe.
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Anybody saying Newcastle had an off day is wrong.
Could clearly see they are a good side. They just came up against one of top sides in Europe.
Our midfield bossed theirs and hence Ollie and Rogers exposed their back four to more pressure than they are used to.
They should have rotated if it was 3rd game in 6 days. We've had worse demands since international break. They could have played Gordon, Willock, Longstaff, Osula
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Tindall strikes me as someone that is a twat.
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Another truly great Emery-Villa performance, to do that to a really good team in incredible. Newcastle have been fearlessly hammering sides this year, properly on the up, so that is an astonishing result and performance from us. I was at the last game we beat them 4-1 at Villa Park - where Herewood came on and changed the game haha
Just as a slight aside off the back of this game, I found a thread from some Sunderland supporters and their comments were really warming. Shared here and a few choice comments.
https://x.com/Capt_Fishpaste/status/1913662031498211707
And remember what the national football museum at Preston said about them and us; Sunderland and Aston Villa, world footballs first great club rivalry.
Praying they stay strong and never leave Villa Park and move to soulless bowl.
Still hopeful FA Cup semi finals return to club grounds, with Villa Park being used when appropriate
And one of the best managers to grace our earth
They are a huge club, all the things you describe.
I read the other day that even into the 1970s, they led the way with the most major honours in the English game.
They certainly did. I remember in my old Rothman's back then they were right up there. Most cup wins, I think, right until the PL era.
Yes 83 years as the most successful club in the country
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Outstanding performance. Destroyed them across the board. Even their goal was a free kick that never was and from a player that shouldn’t have been on the pitch.
Watkins and Maatsen particularly outstanding today.
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This end to the season reminds me of the end to the 2023 season. We beat Forest and an inform Newcastle in April. Downside is we lost at Old Trafford late on.
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Outstanding performance. Destroyed them across the board. Even their goal was a free kick that never was and from a player that shouldn’t have been on the pitch.
Watkins and Maatsen particularly outstanding today.
And allowed into the net by a player who should be dropped and then sold.
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Just back. How impressive was that. Performance of the season so far for me .
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They have gone toe to toe with the best europe has to offer and know they need fear no one. Today was confirmation of that belief. Onwards and upwards!
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According to tindall they tired due to having three games in six days. Obviously we didn’t of course.
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According to tindall they tired due to having three games in six days. Obviously we didn’t of course.
We didn't. We had 6 in 19.
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Last 11 games in all competitions.
P 11, W 10, D 0, L 1, F 28, A 8,
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Emery is using the squad to perfection .
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Outstanding performance. Destroyed them across the board. Even their goal was a free kick that never was and from a player that shouldn’t have been on the pitch.
Watkins and Maatsen particularly outstanding today.
And allowed into the net by a player who should be dropped and then sold.
Martinez?
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Last 11 games in all competitions.
P 11, W 10, D 0, L 1, F 28, A 8,
The 'A' is impressive in recent week. Kamara coming back has got tb be a key factor. Too many conceded this season Nov to Feb.
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Tindall whining that 3 games in 6 days took it's toll.
Meanwhile we've played 30/3, 2/4, 5/4, 9/4, 12/4, 15/4, 19/4.
And also play 22/4 and 26/4.
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Outstanding performance. Destroyed them across the board. Even their goal was a free kick that never was and from a player that shouldn’t have been on the pitch.
Watkins and Maatsen particularly outstanding today.
And allowed into the net by a player who should be dropped and then sold.
Martinez?
(Check the match thread).
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Last 11 games in all competitions.
P 11, W 10, D 0, L 1, F 28, A 8,
The 'A' is impressive in recent week. Kamara coming back has got tb be a key factor. Too many conceded this season Nov to Feb.
The return of a fully fit Mings cannot be underestimated. At least 5 of the A8 were games Mings didn't play in .
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Last 11 games in all competitions.
P 11, W 10, D 0, L 1, F 28, A 8,
The 'A' is impressive in recent week. Kamara coming back has got tb be a key factor. Too many conceded this season Nov to Feb.
Not just Kamara, but having a settled fit defence. Up until then, Cash, Mings, Torres, Carlos were injured. I can’t remember the stats, but the amount of different combinations we had to endure it was no surprise we had been a mess at the back.
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Outstanding performance. Destroyed them across the board. Even their goal was a free kick that never was and from a player that shouldn’t have been on the pitch.
Watkins and Maatsen particularly outstanding today.
And allowed into the net by a player who should be dropped and then sold.
Ha ha! You forgot all us Sky agenda followers!
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Last 11 games in all competitions.
P 11, W 10, D 0, L 1, F 28, A 8,
The 'A' is impressive in recent week. Kamara coming back has got tb be a key factor. Too many conceded this season Nov to Feb.
Not just Kamara, but having a settled fit defence. Up until then, Cash, Mings, Torres, Carlos were injured. I can’t remember the stats, but the amount of different combinations we had to endure it was no surprise we had been a mess at the back.
Yup - options and choices because Unai wants to make them is the key.
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For the 4th I was really impressed with Rogers’ composure. He’d just been denied a goal by a great save, but still was cool enough to lay on the opportunity for Onana.
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For the 4th I was really impressed with Rogers’ composure. He’d just been denied a goal by a great save, but still was cool enough to lay on the opportunity for Onana.
The guy is brilliant considering how much he has played this season. Astonishing 15 months ago as seems a lot longer going from a squad player for a good Championship team to a key pillar in CL last 8 team and full international.
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Last 11 games in all competitions.
P 11, W 10, D 0, L 1, F 28, A 8,
Last 4 League games scored 12 conceded 2. And 3 games were against CL place rivals proper 6 pointers.
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When we're on it we're a very special team indeed.
I've thought for the last few days we're going to win the FA Cup and didn't see anything to change my mind tonight.
Mentality was spot on from kick off and we just have huge momentum now and a fully fit squad which is critical given all the games we've had this season and short turnarounds.
McGinn and Tielemans tonight looked like they were just coming off a pre season, got through so much work to nullify their CMs on the rare occasions they weren't fouling.
Was a tricky patch during the winter but yet again Unai has timed our season to perfection and we are getting stronger as others are getting weaker or stagnating so going to be a very exciting last six weeks.
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The passing play for all the goals. Tremendous.
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MOTD pundits praising Emi’s distribution…pffffttt. Sooner we drop him and sooner we sell him the better.
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MOTD pundits praising Emi’s distribution…pffffttt. Sooner we drop him and sooner we sell him the better.
Dunno what the problem is - sign Ramsdale (a clear upgrade) for 40m and sell Emi for 160m. Tell VillaforLife what is wrong with That Plan.
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MOTD pundits praising Emi’s distribution…pffffttt. Sooner we drop him and sooner we sell him the better.
I take it from various comments that someone was being a numpty on the Match Thread?
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Stop following the Sky narrative!
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MOTD pundits praising Emi’s distribution…pffffttt. Sooner we drop him and sooner we sell him the better.
I take it from various comments that someone was being a numpty on the Match Thread?
Opinion on the necessity of an impending replacement for Emi was divided. Somewhat disporportionatlely against.
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One of the best performances for a long time. Everyone played well, and intelligently. We have a very strong squad, now that most are fit. We could have scored 6 or 7 and that would not have flattered us.
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Last 11 games in all competitions.
P 11, W 10, D 0, L 1, F 28, A 8,
The 'A' is impressive in recent week. Kamara coming back has got tb be a key factor. Too many conceded this season Nov to Feb.
Mings is the main factor. At least 5 of those conceded when he wasn’t playing. But I might have mentioned that Konsa/Mings is our best CB partnership once or twice before.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
Debatable as Mings has no equal as a leader and organiser of our defence, but regardless, a much larger sample size of the Konsa/Mings partnership exists and reinforces their superiority.
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Dearest Brenda,
We were shite.
Yours always,
Neville.
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Sob on the Tyne Ole Ole....
Sob on the Tyne Ole Ole....
Sob on the Tyne
Sob on the Tyne
Sob on the Tyne Ole Ole....
Tindell you twat. Fuck off.
And Targett.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
But this , but that etc .
We are infinitely better with Mings leading the backline . The stats do not lie.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
True, but a much larger sample size of the Konsa/Mings partnership exists and reinforces their superiority.
It does. But just using those posted stats the PSG games sway it massively in favour of Mings over Torres when two of Mings games also were against Cardiff and PNE. Will be interesting who plays against Citeh.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
True, but a much larger sample size of the Konsa/Mings partnership exists and reinforces their superiority.
It does. But just using those posted stats the PSG games sway it massively in favour of Mings over Torres when two of Mings games also were against Cardiff and PNE. Will be interesting who plays against Citeh.
I edited that post to highlight Mings’ leadership and organisational qualities.
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We could have had prime McGrath and PSG would have still twatted us in Paris. Sometimes you don't play bad and make mistakes, a very good team just plays far better than you on the day.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
But this , but that etc .
We are infinitely better with Mings leading the backline . The stats do not lie.
"But this, but that" is your favourite thing to do isn't it? You were doing it for both PSG games when only one might have been stopped with Mings at the back.
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Had a little look on their Forums ( sad i know) quite enjoyable , some salty about the ref and our diving apparently , but in the main they agreed they were out played 😃
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We could have had prime McGrath and PSG would have still twatted us in Paris. Sometimes you don't play bad and make mistakes, a very good team just plays far better than you on the day.
Edit. Forgot you don’t like me disagreeing with you.
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It’s possible that as Mings makes us better defensively in all the other competitions, it might translate into the CL as well.
As can be easily verified, even Carlos/Pau was better partnership than Konsa/Pau.
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(https://forumstatic.oneplusmobile.com/opforum-gl/upload/image/front/thread/20220615/939513/1089230236874702857/1089230236874702857.jpg)
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We could have had prime McGrath and PSG would have still twatted us in Paris. Sometimes you don't play bad and make mistakes, a very good team just plays far better than you on the day.
Nah. We got it wrong over there . Showed way too much respect and space . Basically we did not play well on the night .
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Oh here he goes again. Likes expressing his POV, doesn’t like me disagreeing.
I won’t search for titty babby gif or meme as I’m not 12.
Maybe my little girl will be able to find one.
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You replied to me, as usual. True you aren't 12, more like an 8 year old just lately.
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You replied to me, as usual. True you aren't 12, more like an 8 year old just lately.
I edited it as I forgot you didn’t like it, as stated.
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(https://forumstatic.oneplusmobile.com/opforum-gl/upload/image/front/thread/20220615/939513/1089230236874702857/1089230236874702857.jpg)
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What a mature, well-adjusted and witty middle-aged man.
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Thanks, can't say the same about you.
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Thanks, can't say the same about you.
I was talking about Jay. Compared to you.
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Absolutely brilliant win could have been a lot more so proud of the boys.
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Neil is smart and witty compared to you, so there's that.
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Mention for Cash , who again was superb today , a player who gets plenty of flack sometimes.
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Thank God for Big Daz breaking up the petulance
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Had a little look on their Forums ( sad i know) quite enjoyable , some salty about the ref and our diving apparently , but in the main they agreed they were out played 😃
I did laugh at their cheek in chanting at the ref midway through the second half.
In first 10 minutes Burn cleans out Ollie, no yellow.
Guimaraes made about four bookable offence fouls before he finally got one on the hour mark.
On another day Schar could've been sent off as he was last man when he tugged back Ollie.
Penalty I actually thought it wasn't so no issue on that.
Missed all the obvious fouls Newcastle didn't get and we were so in control a yellow here and there for us wouldn't have mattered.
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Neil is smart and witty compared to you, so there's that.
SCOOOORCHIOOO!
Lol.
Definitely beats having three books published that does.
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Beats thinking foreigners are bad as well.
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Had a little look on their Forums ( sad i know) quite enjoyable , some salty about the ref and our diving apparently , but in the main they agreed they were out played 😃
I'm guessing they didn't mind diving as much when it won them the free kick that led to their goal?
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Beats thinking foreigners are bad as well.
Yeah, sorry. I know you’re proud of it.
Ooh, is this something to do with my short-lived spell of being a Brexidiot, six months before the vote in 2016, that ended when I realised that all the racists supported it? I do regret that but I didn’t vote for it.
Ah fuck it, I deserve that anyway.
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C'mon lads, we should all be happy and getting along tonight.
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Guys look at us, squabbling, bickering, like children, we never used to be like this!
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Guys look at us, squabbling, bickering, like children, we never used to be like this!
Yes we did.
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Guys look at us, squabbling, bickering, like children, we never used to be like this!
I enjoy reading a nice little argument, but not between two posters that I like and respect.
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Guys look at us, squabbling, bickering, like children, we never used to be like this!
I enjoy reading a nice little argument, but not between two posters that I like and respect.
Who else has Percy been arguing with?
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Guys look at us, squabbling, bickering, like children, we never used to be like this!
Yes we did.
He’s right Rik.
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Guys look at us, squabbling, bickering, like children, we never used to be like this!
I enjoy reading a nice little argument, but not between two posters that I like and respect.
Who else has Percy been arguing with?
Haha.
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That was a terrific performance and could have won by more. Two of our best performances under Unai Emery have come at home against them - today and the 3-0 win in his first season. We were so quick and inclusive in the break today.
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That's a dress rehearsal for Wembley if I'm reading Emery .
Few tweaks Tuesday for another important game , your Disasi's , Barkley's and Torres may start,
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Pretty accurate take from a travelling Newcastle fan/vlogger.
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Absolutely brilliant win could have been a lot more so proud of the boys.
Always nice to hear the voice of reason.
*I'm not implying you're Woodrow Wyatt. Don't want another contretemps breaking out.
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Pretty accurate take from a travelling Newcastle fan/vlogger.
Fair enough, seems like a reasonable and likeable bloke.
Maybe if I'd met more geordies like that, instead of the twats I have met, I wouldn't dislike them so much.
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That's a dress rehearsal for Wembley if I'm reading Emery .
Few tweaks Tuesday for another important game , your Disasi's , Barkley's and Torres may start,
I think that would be a mistake in a must win-game. Disasi is fine, but he is no RB and Konsa should stay in the middle. Barkley does not have the pace to keep up with City’s midfield. Need to run it back with today’s lineup or something close to it.
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Pretty accurate take from a travelling Newcastle fan/vlogger.
Fair enough, seems like a reasonable and likeable bloke.
Maybe if I'd met more geordies like that, instead of the twats I have met, I wouldn't dislike them so much.
Seems like a really nice bloke, not sure on his first half take with us hitting the woodwork twice and Asensio missing a sitter, mind. Can he tell his fans to stop being pissy little twats about us ripping them about relegation? Even the toon journo on the football weekly podcast had a dig at us referencing the relegation ribbing when Dan Bardell wished them well around the cup final (he said he wouldn't return the wishes if it was the other way around). And then you have the Saudis... nah, fuck 'em.
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Newcastle supporters make me laugh.
They chant that we only sing when we’re winning, that our support is fucking shit and they are the loyalist supporters the world has ever seen and then the 4th goes in and half of them leave!
With joyful renditions of ‘is there a fire drill’ and ‘you've seen the Villa now fuck off home’ ringing in their ears.
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🎶 You’ve seen the Villa, now punch a horse 🎶
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Mention for Cash , who again was superb today , a player who gets plenty of flack sometimes.
He did play well. Barnes hardly got a sniff.
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As complete a thrashing as the 3-0 was last season. We made them look like a championship side.
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Definitely the best performance of the season. We had only won by more than one goal once all season before doing it three times in the last four league games. The failure to put teams away cost us so many points and even the Southampton and Leicester home games were a struggle.
We have addressed that issue entirely in the winter window. Fresh, hungry players coming in and out and running the legs off the opposition. The manager is a genius and we should never doubt him for a second.
Having lost our last three games to that lot with an aggregate of 12-1, it was highly satisfying to see Unai deploy a gameplan to combat their strengths much like he did when we humped them in his first half season. We ran them ragged with pace and were more direct. Worked a treat! So exciting to see us peaking at the right time.
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Must admit I was a bit worried when we had so much possession, so many chances and yet it was still 1-1, I dont think a scoreline of 7 or 8 would have flattered us. Difficult to pick a MOM between McGinn, Youri, Watkins and Cash but I reckon Youri shaded it, again the subs allowed us to go up a gear when they were tiring, great use of the squad from Unai.
Ironic that the self congratulatory 'best football supporters in the world' were so few in number in the last 15 minutes, yet again they win the prize of 'most likely to be seen banging on their coach windows'.
Put your shirts back on and fuck off home.
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I think throwing a few rocks at the Newcastle greenhouse is a bit much when half the Lower Trinity Road had fucked off by 85 minutes. I haven’t seen a home stand empty as quickly every game before the final whistle at any other ground. I realise it’s up to individuals and beating the traffic yada yada yada but it really blows my mind especially when it’s a late kick off and there is hardly any traffic to beat. Anyway each to their own.
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I do find it weird how anti some people are about Pau. He’s a really good and important player - this weird narrative that he can’t defend because he’s not as physically dominant as Mings is just odd.
My take on it is, and I know this is crazy - they’re both good players and key to a strong squad. I quite like them both to do well, I suspect a few take joy in us conceding if it helps prove their point (not all, but some).
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2 ‘statement’ wins in a week.
7 goals scored against PSG and Newcastle.
Fecking hell. This is a special time.
2 more huge performances over the next 6 days and we really can achieve our ‘double’.
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I know it's a minority but in all my years supporting the Villa, somebody has always got to be shit. Let's just enjoy the journey we're on because the next few weeks could be special.
That was a superb team performance yesterday, on the back of another one against PSG. Nobody will be looking forward to playing us.
If we qualify for the Champions League again, with a few tweaks to the squad & a bit of good luck, I'd fancy us for a go at the title next season.
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Emery got it spot on. Again. He negated their high press, which usually does for most teams, by using Emi Martinez as a sweeper!! His passing is phenomenal for a keeper which meant a lot of the time they didn't know whether to stick or twist. Push high and Emi just dropped it into space behind them. Hang back and we'd play it out and pass it through them usually breaking down our right where Cash had a field day. Listening to 5 Live one of their lot was blaming the ref. Apparently he gave us everything and he couldn't believe we finished the game with 11 men which is exactly the same as I saw it only the other way round. I guess all that proves is football fans in general are biased and convinced everyone is against their team. I don't care though. We were brilliant and the Geordies can fuck right off.
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I know it's a minority but in all my years supporting the Villa, somebody has always got to be shit. Let's just enjoy the journey we're on because the next few weeks could be special.
That was a superb team performance yesterday, on the back of another one against PSG. Nobody will be looking forward to playing us.
If we qualify for the Champions League again, with a few tweaks to the squad & a bit of good luck, I'd fancy us for a go at the title next season.
Couldn't get to sleep last night so had a nose on the Forest and Man City forums, you can almost smell the sweat.
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If we qualify for the Champions League again, with a few tweaks to the squad & a bit of good luck, I'd fancy us for a go at the title next season.
I'd be happy with not struggling in the league as we have another good run in the CL. That may well translate as challenging for the league title, but managing to establish ourselves as a regular Top 4 side, without having spent the billions, would be a real achievement, and it's a while since someone's done it, outside the big spenders.
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Emery got it spot on. Again. He negated their high press, which usually does for most teams, by using Emi Martinez as a sweeper!! His passing is phenomenal for a keeper which meant a lot of the time they didn't know whether to stick or twist. Push high and Emi just dropped it into space behind them. Hang back and we'd play it out and pass it through them usually breaking down our right where Cash had a field day. Listening to 5 Live one of their lot was blaming the ref. Apparently he gave us everything and he couldn't believe we finished the game with 11 men which is exactly the same as I saw it only the other way round. I guess all that proves is football fans in general are biased and convinced everyone is against their team. I don't care though. We were brilliant and the Geordies can fuck right off.
Who did they think we should've had sent off?
The argument from our side is that if the ref sees the schaar one as stopping a goalscoring chance it would've been red and that Guimaraes had 5 fouls given against him and 3 more waved away as play on, that's easily enough to be 2 yellows but the ref seemed to forget to count the ones he played on from.
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Anthony Gordon should have been sent off. He didn't do anything wrong but just the look of him offends me.
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Is anyone else suprised how open the game was, suited Villa no end as we struggle against packed defences.
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Is anyone else suprised how open the game was, suited Villa no end as we struggle against packed defences.
Not really, both teams have been on great runs so thought they could win the game.
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Before the game yesterday I got the vibe from the BBC and SKY build up that Newcastle were simply going to brush us aside. Even at 1:1 early in the 2nd half SKY were saying Newcastle could win the game with their strong bench, totally overlooking the fact we have currently got the best bench in the league. Tindall saying they were tired after playing 3 times in a week, after we'd given everything against PSG was comedy gold.
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We get no credit for anything, from some.
I watched the sky coverage when I got back from the game last night.
After Ollie scored the first goal, the twat Smith on co-commentary said, ‘a few of the Villa goals against PSG were deflections’.
What the actual fuck was that lanky fucker on about ?
Like I say, we get no credit from some.
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I fucking hate Tindall. Arrogant twat.
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Simply a sensational performance, considering the opposition and our last game, was the biggest one we've played for over 40 years, it was probably our best performance since the 7-2. The MOTM has to be shared bewteen Ollie, Tielemans and Maatsen, Ian's performance was the one that pleased me most, his best display for us by some way.
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Anthony Gordon should have been sent off. He didn't do anything wrong but just the look of him offends me.
😁
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Emery got it spot on. Again. He negated their high press, which usually does for most teams, by using Emi Martinez as a sweeper!! His passing is phenomenal for a keeper which meant a lot of the time they didn't know whether to stick or twist. Push high and Emi just dropped it into space behind them. Hang back and we'd play it out and pass it through them usually breaking down our right where Cash had a field day. Listening to 5 Live one of their lot was blaming the ref. Apparently he gave us everything and he couldn't believe we finished the game with 11 men which is exactly the same as I saw it only the other way round. I guess all that proves is football fans in general are biased and convinced everyone is against their team. I don't care though. We were brilliant and the Geordies can fuck right off.
Who did they think we should've had sent off?
The argument from our side is that if the ref sees the schaar one as stopping a goalscoring chance it would've been red and that Guimaraes had 5 fouls given against him and 3 more waved away as play on, that's easily enough to be 2 yellows but the ref seemed to forget to count the ones he played on from.
I genuinely thought Guimares had already been booked when the referee showed him a yellow yesterday. Every time I see them play him Burn and Joelinton get a ridiculous amount of leeway from the officials.
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Great win, dominated them for vast majority of the game. Its becoming a real tussle between the two teams of the last few years.
They are such a physical side, McGinn, Tielemans and Kamara did really well to combat that. Ollie and Mastsen superb.
Form and momentum are with us. Massive week coming up.
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Anthony Gordon should have been sent off. He didn't do anything wrong but just the look of him offends me.
I’d have died for his hairstyle in the early 80’s. A longer version of Tony Morley circa 1982. I didn’t have balls for a perm and colour😆
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🎶 You’ve seen the Villa, now punch a horse 🎶
Haha Brilliant.
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Anthony Gordon should have been sent off. He didn't do anything wrong but just the look of him offends me.
I’m pretty sure that the laws of the game specifically say that it’s a straight red card offence to look like a waxwork of Clare Balding from a really bad Madame Tussaud’s rip-off at Blackpool.
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I have a cousin who lives in the North East and follows them. He's a great bloke and we have always had some some good banter. I once put a Villa flag on the side of his house which he didn't notice for almost a week! He likes villa and has been to quite a few home games with us when visiting the city. His only comment after the game was "bloody hell what just happened?" I left it till this morning and told him we owed you that. They got Duran sent off on boxing day and we don't like perma tan Tindall after he kicked off in the tunnel up there. We both agree that Villa/Newcastle in the CL is a a great thing because it breaks up the media accepted cartel of the "sky 6"
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We get no credit for anything, from some.
I watched the sky coverage when I got back from the game last night.
After Ollie scored the first goal, the twat Smith on co-commentary said, ‘a few of the Villa goals against PSG were deflections’.
What the actual fuck was that lanky fucker on about ?
Like I say, we get no credit from some.
I can't stand Alan Smith on comms, he's an absolute joy sponge.
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I was very impressed with Emi's long ball distribution today.
Some games he's a bit all over the place but today he was faultless.
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Mention for Cash , who again was superb today , a player who gets plenty of flack sometimes.
Thought he bullied Barnes, a player who has caused us huge problems for years.
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Our extra days rest was to blame for their capitulation, so says the crying Geordies. Their match thread is comedy gold.
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Our extra days rest after playing one of the best, if not the best, team in Europe, as opposed to their light training session against Crystal Palace?
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Our extra days rest after playing one of the best, if not the best, team in Europe, as opposed to their light training session against Crystal Palace?
Settled down to watch game on Wed thinking really hard test for Geordies. Palace make you work for it
Fecking training kick about.
He could have rotated his squad old Timderbox and chose not too.
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Anthony Gordon should have been sent off. He didn't do anything wrong but just the look of him offends me.
Excellent
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I was very impressed with Emi's long ball distribution today.
Some games he's a bit all over the place but today he was faultless.
Keown specifically called that out on MOTD.
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I mistakenly thought yesterday was Maatssen's first goal for us, and I was interested to see how many players have scored for us this season. Turns out he scored before, but here's the list anyway. Not as good as last season where I believe every outfield player scored for us, even Dendoncker.
Onana
Duran
Watkins
Tielemans
Ramsey
Konsa
Buendia
Rogers
McGinn
Barkley
Cash
Bailey
Asensio
Rashford
Malen
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Newcastle rely on power and pace. Yesterday we played over them and through them with our passing while playing a lower back line than they’d like us to have played.
The excuse given to Mr Suntan by Sky after was just comical. He picked up on it and used it not knowing our workload had been higher. He looked a broken man and that was wonderful to see. Apparently he doesn’t like being in the limelight, what a shame!
He likes mouthing off from behind someone else and when there’s no one else there he keeps it shut.
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It was his first Prem goal wasn't it?
Distinct lack of central defender goals this season in the league, and the one Konsa scored, he was playing right-back at the time.
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It was his first Prem goal wasn't it?
Distinct lack of central defender goals this season in the league, and the one Konsa scored, he was playing right-back at the time.
He scored a pretty important goal against PSG while playing at CB last week.
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It was his first Prem goal wasn't it?
Yup, he got one in the home game against Brugge.
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It was his first Prem goal wasn't it?
Distinct lack of central defender goals this season in the league, and the one Konsa scored, he was playing right-back at the time.
Yeah. I remember him scoring one and it being disallowed, can't remember if it was Prem or CL though. Pretty sure Pau had one ruled out at some point too.
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I was very impressed with Emi's long ball distribution today.
Some games he's a bit all over the place but today he was faultless.
Keown specifically called that out on MOTD.
Carragher as well on the Sky post match.
Said that Villa drew Newcastle in with a few passingoutfromthebacks and then mainly bypassed the press thanks to superb distribution by Emi
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We also did this incredible repetitive passing between two players which I’ve not seen before. Just kept doing it until a gap opened up and then threaded it through.
Between a few different pairs as well.
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I have watched the full game on TV and I must say yesterday I didn't appreciate that wonderful bit of deft touch from the oil tanker for our third.
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Is anyone else suprised how open the game was, suited Villa no end as we struggle against packed defences.
We don't struggle against packed defences as proved in many recent games and particularly Forest in the first half.
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Since the new signings we are playing a different style of football. Yesterday for instance we had only 51 per cent possession which shows how direct and devastating we were when we had it!
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I think throwing a few rocks at the Newcastle greenhouse is a bit much when half the Lower Trinity Road had fucked off by 85 minutes. I haven’t seen a home stand empty as quickly every game before the final whistle at any other ground. I realise it’s up to individuals and beating the traffic yada yada yada but it really blows my mind especially when it’s a late kick off and there is hardly any traffic to beat. Anyway each to their own.
I've just been watching a video filmed from the away section and the Middle Trinity either side of the tunnel was about 50% empty before the end of the game. What the hell is going on? Maybe Damien need to have a word with Chris Heck.
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I think throwing a few rocks at the Newcastle greenhouse is a bit much when half the Lower Trinity Road had fucked off by 85 minutes. I haven’t seen a home stand empty as quickly every game before the final whistle at any other ground. I realise it’s up to individuals and beating the traffic yada yada yada but it really blows my mind especially when it’s a late kick off and there is hardly any traffic to beat. Anyway each to their own.
I've just been watching a video filmed from the away section and the Middle Trinity either side of the tunnel was about 50% empty before the end of the game. What the hell is going on? Maybe Damien need to have a word with Chris Heck.
Maybe they had all left and gone to get home. A few by us left before the final whistle as well.
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Fantastic performance and giving a rest to Rashford, Malen , Digne , Disasi , Torres and Bailey too , not that JJ played for too long.
Noticed there was none of that slow ponderous passing around at the back yesterday and none of Emi just standing on the ball for 30 seconds etc , we was so more direct with Emi even kicking a few through balls quick causing havoc.
Should have been about 10 . I just remembered the SJM one on one too as well the woodwork efforts and Asensio sitter.
Maatsen , Watkins, Youri , SJM and Booba was excellent , no idea where SJM got his energy from after Tuesday and Youri could get a job as Robocop after football.
Bring on the corrupt saudi fcukers Tuesday now ....
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I think throwing a few rocks at the Newcastle greenhouse is a bit much when half the Lower Trinity Road had fucked off by 85 minutes. I haven’t seen a home stand empty as quickly every game before the final whistle at any other ground. I realise it’s up to individuals and beating the traffic yada yada yada but it really blows my mind especially when it’s a late kick off and there is hardly any traffic to beat. Anyway each to their own.
I've just been watching a video filmed from the away section and the Middle Trinity either side of the tunnel was about 50% empty before the end of the game. What the hell is going on? Maybe Damien need to have a word with Chris Heck.
Maybe they had all left and gone to get home. A few by us left before the final whistle as well.
I think that late, with a 3 goal lead, there is no tension. You know we're going to win, I can understand the mentality and I reckon it wouldn't have happened as much with just a 2 goal lead.
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I was very impressed with Emi's long ball distribution today.
Some games he's a bit all over the place but today he was faultless.
A tactic I gladly use because it's exactly how Newcastle it
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I think throwing a few rocks at the Newcastle greenhouse is a bit much when half the Lower Trinity Road had fucked off by 85 minutes. I haven’t seen a home stand empty as quickly every game before the final whistle at any other ground. I realise it’s up to individuals and beating the traffic yada yada yada but it really blows my mind especially when it’s a late kick off and there is hardly any traffic to beat. Anyway each to their own.
I've just been watching a video filmed from the away section and the Middle Trinity either side of the tunnel was about 50% empty before the end of the game. What the hell is going on? Maybe Damien need to have a word with Chris Heck.
In terms of 'beating the traffic' I noticed something yesterday as I walked down Upper Sutton St towards the Barton's. Traffic was queued up heading back towards Villa Park.
I appreciate that many would be looking to get into the expressway at Park circus, off Victoria Road, but they are heading into and exacerbating a snarl up coming away from Villa Park.
If you are parked down towards Park Lane, you can be out in minutes by heading onto Walsall Road/ Newtown Row & turning left and getting onto the expressway at the Matalan island. If you are local traffic it is then really easy to get into the outside lane for Erdington etc.
I think if more people took this route that is a bit longer but massively quicker, maybe a lot more people wouldn't need to beat the traffic.
When I drive I am usually out in no time!
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I do find it weird how anti some people are about Pau. He’s a really good and important player - this weird narrative that he can’t defend because he’s not as physically dominant as Mings is just odd.
My take on it is, and I know this is crazy - they’re both good players and key to a strong squad. I quite like them both to do well, I suspect a few take joy in us conceding if it helps prove their point (not all, but some).
I’m not anti Pau, I think he’s a really good footballer. There IS quite a stark difference between how solid we are with Mings and Konsa playing there though. However, I totally get that he adds a lot to our attacking play, and can see the trade off MIGHT be worth it at times.
Last season and the first half of this one though, I think that in the biggest games the trade off between the more fluid play with Cash at RB was definitely NOT worth sacrificing the defensive strength that Konsa provided in that position.
Agreed on the squad thing though. As I’ve said many times, Cash is worthy of a place in less demanding games, and is even showing signs of curing some of his defensive frailties. It seems to happen to nearly everyone eventually, with Emery’s guidance.
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When I drive I am usually out in no time!
You forget I've witnessed your driving, Amfy! You could hang around Villa Park post match for half an hour and still be the first Villa fan home. ;)
I get fans leaving early to beat the traffic but the empty seats seems to be in very specific areas, plus why would you want to leave early when we were playing the best football we've played all season? I'm just glad my Dad didn't decide we'd seen enough at half time when we were 5-1 up against Liverpool, though some may argue as we didn't score again in the second half, we missed a trick.
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People leave early for different reasons. People stay till the end because they can and they want to.
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People leave early for different reasons. People stay till the end because they can and they want to.
Ha! Yes, we know that. The main point is why were the majority of empty seats only in specific areas? Clustering? A moody coach driver who wanted to leave at 7.30 to get back to for Britain's Got Talent? The return of the Phantom Farter? I guess we'll never know.
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They're more noticeable where the seats are blue, too.
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It’s one of the changes which has come in with more people having season tickets and less paying on the day in the Premier League era.
Some people do it routinely on 80 minutes no matter how crucial or how precarious the match is.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
But this , but that etc .
We are infinitely better with Mings leading the backline . The stats do not lie.
We are more creative with Torres at the back. Stats do not lie.
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I think were very lucky to have 2 brilliant lcb. They bring different things and I think Unai has been really good at rotating them. I personally would play Pau v Man City and Ty against Crystal palace. Neither are perfect but are both very good players
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Got to rotate but defo Mings v Palace.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
But this , but that etc .
We are infinitely better with Mings leading the backline . The stats do not lie.
We are more creative with Torres at the back. Stats do not lie.
What are those stats, please?
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Sorry you got me, I am wrong. I think we should drop Pau and sell him.
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For me thinking Pau is an unbelievable footballer doesn’t mean I’m anti Mings, far from it. All I know is August to December last season is some of the most exhilarating football I’ve ever seen down Villa Park. We may not have been watertight defensively, but we were dismantling teams, Brighton, West Ham, Fulham, Everton, Luton, Man City, also beating Arsenal in more of a backs to the wall. Pau was central to the way we played. He was also key to us beating Bayern and played really well against PSG at home as well.
None of this means we aren’t more solid with Mings and Konsa, people seem to have stats for that. But surely its horses for courses and not one or the other. I don’t get the obsession with one poster in particular constantly having to start the debate that Mings is the better defender.
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Mings might be a better defender, but Pau is definitely a better footballer.
Horses for courses and in Unai we trust, amen.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
But this , but that etc .
We are infinitely better with Mings leading the backline . The stats do not lie.
We are more creative with Torres at the back. Stats do not lie.
What are those stats, please?
Please don't! Some on here are still pining for Chaos Carlos. I thought Mings just dominated Isak, step ahead of him throughout. Didn't impact the amount of chances we created.
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Mings might be a better defender, but Pau is definitely a better footballer.
Horses for courses and in Unai we trust, amen.
The question is , does Torres better football ability make up for his poorer defensive capabilities when compared to Mings?
Based on what I have seen since Ming’s return, it doesn’t.
However the need to rotate is apparent.
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Mings might be a better defender, but Pau is definitely a better footballer.
Horses for courses and in Unai we trust, amen.
The question is , does Torres better football ability make up for his poorer defensive capabilities when compared to Mings?
Based on what I have seen since Ming’s return, it doesn’t.
However the need to rotate is apparent.
Yet Ming's played no part last season and we finished 4th with Pau, Carlos (another who many didn't rate) and Konza.
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Mings might be a better defender, but Pau is definitely a better footballer.
Horses for courses and in Unai we trust, amen.
The question is , does Torres better football ability make up for his poorer defensive capabilities when compared to Mings?
Based on what I have seen since Ming’s return, it doesn’t.
However the need to rotate is apparent.
Yet Ming's played no part last season and we finished 4th with Pau, Carlos (another who many didn't rate) and Konza.
Yes, and maybe Torres has been targeted a bit more this season.
Just looking at our defence since Mings return.
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Up until February Mings, Carlos, Torres and Cash were injured at different times. The whole back line was compromised and disjointed. Including injuries to Kamara. That’s a lot to deal with and no wonder we’ve struggled to keep clean sheets. Not forgetting we wasn’t as clinical at the other end, therefore putting extra pressure on us out scoring the other team. This argument who’s best is silly when you factor those injuries.
I’d say there’s a need for both players for different circumstances and I’m glad we have them. Two quality players with different skill sets.
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Fair point Ian.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
But this , but that etc .
We are infinitely better with Mings leading the backline . The stats do not lie.
We are more creative with Torres at the back. Stats do not lie.
What are those stats, please?
Please don't! Some on here are still pining for Chaos Carlos. I thought Mings just dominated Isak, step ahead of him throughout. Didn't impact the amount of chances we created.
Yes, I’d avoid facts if they contradicted my opinions too.
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We also did this incredible repetitive passing between two players which I’ve not seen before. Just kept doing it until a gap opened up and then threaded it through.
Between a few different pairs as well.
Two games against PSG and we pick up on, and implement, their best bits!
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For me thinking Pau is an unbelievable footballer doesn’t mean I’m anti Mings, far from it. All I know is August to December last season is some of the most exhilarating football I’ve ever seen down Villa Park. We may not have been watertight defensively, but we were dismantling teams, Brighton, West Ham, Fulham, Everton, Luton, Man City, also beating Arsenal in more of a backs to the wall. Pau was central to the way we played. He was also key to us beating Bayern and played really well against PSG at home as well.
Agree, horses for courses
Both play key roles in the games they are chosen for.
Not a csae of arguing one is better than the other.
None of this means we aren’t more solid with Mings and Konsa, people seem to have stats for that. But surely its horses for courses and not one or the other. I don’t get the obsession with one poster in particular constantly having to start the debate that Mings is the better defender.
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It's good that we have different defenders for different circumstances. If Haarland was fit for tomorrow, he'd probably start Mings. Instead he may well go with Torres. They just both have different attributes.
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Both excellent players with different attributes. Vive la difference.
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It's good that we have different defenders for different circumstances. If Haarland was fit for tomorrow, he'd probably start Mings. Instead he may well go with Torres. They just both have different attributes.
Has to be Pau tomorrow and Mings for the more physical Palace on Saturday.
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Best wishes to Eddie Howe on his recovery from pneumonia but one thing I found satisfying about this win was because it reversed a couple of crashing down to Earth situations that Villa have experienced in the past. When Martin O'Neil had just left us in 2010 the first game post MON was against West Ham that we put a great performance in and won 3-1 (James Milner's last game for us). We went to Newcastle full of optimism only to get thrashed 6-0. Then, just after Gerrard had been sacked we bounced back to beat Brentford (who were a bogey side for us at the time) with a great performance. Again we went to Newcastle only again to get a pasting, 4-0 this time. This week we reversed the situation: Newcastle had great results and performances this week while Eddy Howe recovers in hospital. They came to Villa Park full of optimism only to be bought crashing down to Earth, as we were those couple of times. A taste of their own medicine.
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Best wishes to Eddie Howe on his recovery from pneumonia but one thing I found satisfying about this win was because it reversed a couple of crashing down to Earth situations that Villa have experienced in the past. When Martin O'Neil had just left us in 2010 the first game post MON was against West Ham that we put a great performance in and won 3-1 (James Milner's last game for us). We went to Newcastle full of optimism only to get thrashed 6-0. Then, just after Gerrard had been sacked we bounced back to beat Brentford (who were a bogey side for us at the time) with a great performance. Again we went to Newcastle only again to get a pasting, 4-0 this time. This week we reversed the situation: Newcastle had great results and performances this week while Eddy Howe recovers in hospital. They came to Villa Park full of optimism only to be bought crashing down to Earth, as we were those couple of times. A taste of their own medicine.
They also twatted us up there this season and at B6 last season and celebrated like they had just won the club world cup .
This one was for Matty (another one) Target
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What's the beef with Matt Targett?
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What's the beef with Matt Targett?
He was taking the piss out of the Digne celebration last week
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There were some morons on Saturday who booed Matt Targett when he came on. What was that about?
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There were some morons on Saturday who booed Matt Targett when he came on. What was that about?
Taking the piss out of Digne’s “and another one”.
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What's the beef with Matt Targett?
He was taking the piss out of the Digne celebration last week
Ah, didn't know that. Fuck him, then. He made a good living out of our club.
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I also booed him, because out of all players in the league, he's the one most likely to start crying.
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What's the beef with Matt Targett?
He was taking the piss out of the Digne celebration last week
Ah, didn't know that. Fuck him, then. He made a good living out of our club.
they posted it on their official X page after they twatted Palace midweek, did a mock "another one" in the tunnel post game . Seems there's some scar tissue with the Villa Digne upgrade and him getting moved on .
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Yep it’s a weird thing to do for a player who had a decent time here (or at least I thought he did) and one who never gets a game.
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Would that have been ‘another one’ where he had taken no part ?
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Would that have been ‘another one’ where he had taken no part ?
Another deposit in his bank account for doing sweet FA.
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
But this , but that etc .
We are infinitely better with Mings leading the backline . The stats do not lie.
We are more creative with Torres at the back. Stats do not lie.
What are those stats, please?
Please don't! Some on here are still pining for Chaos Carlos. I thought Mings just dominated Isak, step ahead of him throughout. Didn't impact the amount of chances we created.
Yes, I’d avoid facts if they contradicted my opinions too.
How's that echo chamber working out for you?
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What's the beef with Matt Targett?
He was taking the piss out of the Digne celebration last week
Ah, didn't know that. Fuck him, then. He made a good living out of our club.
This is it. Pathetic twat
https://x.com/tomfahy93/status/1913664763571196004?s=46
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What's the beef with Matt Targett?
He was taking the piss out of the Digne celebration last week
Ah, didn't know that. Fuck him, then. He made a good living out of our club.
This is it. Pathetic twat
https://x.com/tomfahy93/status/1913664763571196004?s=46
Well surprised he has a sense of humour the gormless plonker
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How precious must footballers (and fans) be to discover Digne’s “another one” celebration and be offended.
(Ditto us finding Target doing it)
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How precious must footballers (and fans) be to discover Digne’s “another one” celebration and be offended.
(Ditto us finding Target doing it)
Yep, I doubt Digne is too bothered. As for Targett he needs to ask himself why a right back who is five years his senior is keeping him out of the Newcastle starting line up.
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How precious must footballers (and fans) be to discover Digne’s “another one” celebration and be offended.
(Ditto us finding Target doing it)
Some of our own fans hated it. But not bothered on what Targett was doing tbh.
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Mention for Cash , who again was superb today , a player who gets plenty of flack sometimes.
He did play well. Barnes hardly got a sniff.
Some achievement given the size of his hooter (there must be something about wingers and a long nose. Our Marc Albrighton and Barry Manilow are no doubt distantly-related).
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Although at least five was also against a very very good attacking team, probably the best team we have played against under Emery. And four of those might not have been stopped even with Mings on the pitch.
But this , but that etc .
We are infinitely better with Mings leading the backline . The stats do not lie.
We are more creative with Torres at the back. Stats do not lie.
What are those stats, please?
Please don't! Some on here are still pining for Chaos Carlos. I thought Mings just dominated Isak, step ahead of him throughout. Didn't impact the amount of chances we created.
Yes, I’d avoid facts if they contradicted my opinions too.
How's that echo chamber working out for you?
You were just in it Dopy. So I can put ‘echo chamber’ on the list of things you don’t understand alongside ‘rudimentary fundamentals of football’.
Still calling the fourth best defence in the CL league phase ‘the dreaded Konsa experiment’? Wasn’t quite so good when the experiment stopped was it.
Too embarrassed to post your hilariously inaccurate ratings for everyone to laugh at today? Good judgement from you there, well done. There’s a first time for everything.
*braces self for classic narcissism, casual homophobia, gaslighting and no grasp of numeracy whatsoever*
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Mention for Cash , who again was superb today , a player who gets plenty of flack sometimes.
He did play well. Barnes hardly got a sniff.
Some achievement given the size of his hooter (there must be something about wingers and a long nose. Our Marc Albrighton and Barry Manilow are no doubt distantly-related).
Other than the assist I barely remember Barnes featuring .
Same can be said for Isak who I don't recall doing anything that's how well marshalled he was . Was a cracking team performance.
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How precious must footballers (and fans) be to discover Digne’s “another one” celebration and be offended.
(Ditto us finding Target doing it)
I think it is made a little bit weirder (and more bitter) by the fact that Targett lost his place and was booted out of the club by us signing Digne, so it's not just a random players taking the piss out of another.
Like if in a few years Digne's taking the piss out of Maatsen.
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How precious must footballers (and fans) be to discover Digne’s “another one” celebration and be offended.
(Ditto us finding Target doing it)
I think it is made a little bit weirder (and more bitter) by the fact that Targett lost his place and was booted out of the club by us signing Digne, so it's not just a random players taking the piss out of another.
Like if in a few years Digne's taking the piss out of Maatsen.
So basically he’s just a little bit bitter about playing for Newcastle and not us.
Edit, being their sub and not a squad player for us.
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What's the beef with Matt Targett?
He was taking the piss out of the Digne celebration last week
Ah, didn't know that. Fuck him, then. He made a good living out of our club.
This is it. Pathetic twat
https://x.com/tomfahy93/status/1913664763571196004?s=46
Do we even know he was referencing Digne? Could just be a coincidence.
Not that I particularly care either way.
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Like I say it was weird, but I’m surprised by how upset some got. Like the post on the link - calm down eh.
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What's the beef with Matt Targett?
He was taking the piss out of the Digne celebration last week
Ah, didn't know that. Fuck him, then. He made a good living out of our club.
This is it. Pathetic twat
https://x.com/tomfahy93/status/1913664763571196004?s=46
Do we even know he was referencing Digne? Could just be a coincidence.
Not that I particularly care either way.
I'd say it's unlikely to be a coincidence.
I also couldn't give a shit.