Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on September 25, 2025, 09:58:08 PM
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We won.
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Elliott has obviously done something to piss off the management. Bizarre not to give him time. A completely unconvincing game; pretty awful.
Ball retention and game control totally lacking.
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We win when we want…..
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Job done. Poor but not terrible.
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Some nice moments and at least we played it at something faster than walking pace. But boy do we need to work on our passing
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It wasn’t pretty awful, it was a team low on confidence. First half good, second was nervy.
Kamara and Pau were particularly good.
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Fuck me, we made heavy weather of that.
Defence was good and Kamara excelled.
I don't know what's going on with Watkins and Rogers, but they need to sort themselves out.
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A win. I'll take it. Let's be honest this competition is our only hope this season.
Mid table and 3rd round exit of FA Cup home to a team from South likely.
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Get a second while on top and that would have been healing but we just couldn't get that second.
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Better first half. If Rogers can't make a pass he can't be 10, it's killing us in transition. Elliot has to play behind Ollie on Sunday.
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Some one tell Rogers we play in claret and blue.
The same problems as we have seen all season.
Rogers Watkins Guessand not good enough.
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We did a win! Once again though I found myself drifting off and doing other things at multiple times. I miss being gripped.
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Job done.
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We bore a strange resemblance to a football team tonight.Onwards and erm upwards??
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Get a second while on top and that would have been healing but we just couldn't get that second.
Yep. The pen miss pretty much took any confidence out of the players and fans.
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Pretty bad but a win. Guessand is awful. Rogers needs dropping. Kamara MotM for me.
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A nervy win. The second half was very poor - Watkins' penalty miss was very bad and how Rogers manages to play 90 minutes week in and week out is beyond me.
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First half we were excellent.
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That second half from Rogers was unbelievable. Pau’s best game for ages.
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We really need a reliable penalty taker. There was no one on the pitch that made you really fancy we'd score it. And it definitely shouldn't be Ollie taking them.
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Thanks Robbie.
Robbie Savage
Forest Green manager on TNT Sports
Villa were good in the first half and didn't do that great in the second but they got the win and that's a boost ahead of the weekend.
1-0, job done
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Pau and Kamara were excellent.
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A very much needed victory, still some spirit in the side, to stay positive, Konsa looks a real classy defender even when off the ball, Bizot looks like being a very good second choice keeper, Guessand better but should have been taken off earlier and Elliot on.
Rogers.....I will not get negative tonight about him but when your own fans start taking the piss you need to get your finger out.
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Guessand was not as bad as people are making out.
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We’re like Austin Powers when he lost his mojo. All our best players are a fraction of what they have been when confidence was high.
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Get a second while on top and that would have been healing but we just couldn't get that second.
Yep. The pen miss pretty much took any confidence out of the players and fans.
Well, we can’t beat this lot 2-0 ever year.
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Guessand was not as bad as people are making out.
Agreed, he was decent until he tired in the last 15 minutes.
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We played pretty well for the first 20 or so. After that, not so much.
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Jadon Sancho looks to be the best attacking player we have this season. Get him in. The back seven is fine. The other three attacking spots are the problem right now.
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Some one tell Rogers we play in claret and blue.
The same problems as we have seen all season.
Rogers Watkins Guessand not good enough.
Did you watch it? It was far from perfect, but it was nothing like the other games this season.
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Guessand was not as bad as people are making out.
you mean not as bad as Watkins.
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Stopped the rot. Kamara, Torres looked more like it. Rogers needs a rest, I really rate him but he's been abysmal this season. Can someone practice penalties, anybody?
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And Kamara is a just liquid.
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Second half has deflated me after a more encouraging first. I thought Watkins and Sancho coming on made us worse than when we had Malen and Buendia. Last season this game would have been so comfortable. Pau and Kamara were our highlights I think.
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Guessand was not as bad as people are making out.
Agreed, he was decent until he tired in the last 15 minutes.
I also agree. Probably needed subbing for the last 15 but I thought he was alright until then.
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Some very negative comments on here. That was so much better tonight. But hairy in the second half but never really thought we were in trouble. It’s a massive win. Guessand is okay. He will get better.
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The realization is, following that, Fulham is going to be a very very difficult game.
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Get a second while on top and that would have been healing but we just couldn't get that second.
Yep. The pen miss pretty much took any confidence out of the players and fans.
Well, we can’t beat this lot 2-0 ever year.
No, but then last year our players confidences were high and fans weren't cheering because one player passed to another.
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I would swap Guessand right now for about 30 wingers in the Prem. Sorry. Don't see it. Happy to be proven wrong.
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A wins a win
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Some very negative comments on here. That was so much better tonight. But hairy in the second half but never really thought we were in trouble. It’s a massive win. Guessand is okay. He will get better.
So you being physically sick was your liver problems. Maybe keep those posts to the "Whats wrong with you?" thread.
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Get a second while on top and that would have been healing but we just couldn't get that second.
Yep. The pen miss pretty much took any confidence out of the players and fans.
Well, we can’t beat this lot 2-0 ever year.
No, but then last year our players confidences were high and fans weren't cheering because one player passed to another.
That was pretty bloody ordinary.
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Guessand was not as bad as people are making out.
Really? I’m struggling to think of anything intentional that he executed successfully during the game.
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Konsa saying he could hear the crowd getting frustrated with one of two players. Keown just mentioned Morgan lost the ball 28/29 times.
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I think our intent was completely different this game. We set out to create and did well for a good chunk of the first half.
Kamara was excellent, and Torres was really good all round. We had a better structure - we wasted a few chances and got nervy second half.
It was far from perfect, but it was never going to be from where we’ve been. It was a step forward.
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Jadon Sancho looks to be the best attacking player we have this season. Get him in. The back seven is fine. The other three attacking spots are the problem right now.
The fact he couldn't be arsed chasing that guy at end was a bit worrying.
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Some one tell Rogers we play in claret and blue.
The same problems as we have seen all season.
Rogers Watkins Guessand not good enough.
Did you watch it? It was far from perfect, but it was nothing like the other games this season.
he was rubbish Rogers . How did he stay on?
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Konsa saying he could hear the crowd getting frustrated with one of tow players. Keown just mentioned Morgan lost the ball 28/29 times.
Yeah the crowd doing that doesn’t help.
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Keown w*****r - it's the crowds fault they can be tricky!!! And Konsa agrees!!! Grooming him for a move? Haymre every time our boys feature in England set up, suddenly we aren't good enough!!!
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"John says the crowd were flat and rightly so we've been crap for 5 games"
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Backline was good especially off side trapping
Front line is so shocking it’s laughable if you weren’t a Villa fan
Kamara is different potatoes
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Some very negative comments on here. That was so much better tonight. But hairy in the second half but never really thought we were in trouble. It’s a massive win. Guessand is okay. He will get better.
So you being physically sick was your liver problems. Maybe keep those posts to the "Whats wrong with you?" thread.
Stop stalking me you weirdo :-).
Obviously during play you think you’re going to concede every time the team attacks. It’s Villa after all. However, once you have a chance to reflect you produce a more grounded review of what has happened.
I hope you understand. I’ll post where I want, I’ll post where I wannnttt.
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We sound like a team of whiney excuse makers this season.
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Konsa saying he could hear the crowd getting frustrated with one of tow players. Keown just mentioned Morgan lost the ball 28/29 times.
Yeah the crowd doing that doesn’t help.
It doesn't but if Keown was correct that Rogers lost the ball 28 times from 29 attempts, then it goes to show why the fans were getting frustrated, especially when he is a big reason our attack this season is dead on arrival. As I mentioned, it if fully on Emery for putting starting him every match with no criticism when playing this badly, but naming Elliot as not doing things correctly.
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Thank goodness for that! Made hard work of it though...
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(https://i.ibb.co/v4XXdQ01/image.png) (https://ibb.co/v4XXdQ01)
Rogers pass percentage in 90 min...and add 5 dispossessions to that. Now imagine if we faced a PL side...
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You’d think winning the young player of the year award would have had Roger’s floating into Villa Park after the summer. It’s like he’s taken it as a massive knock to his confidence and can’t even get the weight on a pass right let alone make a correct decision under pressure. I can’t remember anyone going into this kind of decline like this it’s hard to watch.
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Thing is Rogers was obviously trying hard tonight. I just don’t see the value in getting on his back.
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Same old Villa, always winning.
Next.
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Konsa definitely needs some PR lessons from the media team.
Kamera was class and Sancho must be close to starting.
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We did a win! Once again though I found myself drifting off and doing other things at multiple times. I miss being gripped.
Gripped and groped ftw
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You’d think winning the young player of the year award would have had Roger’s floating into Villa Park after the summer. It’s like he’s taken it as a massive knock to his confidence and can’t even get the weight on a pass right let alone make a correct decision under pressure. I can’t remember anyone going into this kind of decline like this it’s hard to watch.
Leon Bailey about 12 months ago. I don't think it's chronic with Rogers though. You could see Bailey was done.
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Most important of all, proof that PWS is indeed a time traveller.
(https://i.ibb.co/N6qwcJnS/Screenshot-20250925-212731-Ecosia.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N6qwcJnS)
Look at the time top left with the time of his post.
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That's aged me a few years, but a vital win for our season, I think Elliott wasn't played due to the conditions of his loan deal and Emery was only gonna use him, if we lost our lead, but we gotta start him on Sunday, along with Sancho, who impressed me when he came on.
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Konsa definitely needs some PR lessons from the media team.
Kamera was class and Sancho must be close to starting.
Kamara is just amazing, coming right back from an injury....and owning everyone and everything like form is something you can pin on with the matchshirt!
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Most important of all, proof that PWS is indeed a time traveller.
(https://i.ibb.co/N6qwcJnS/Screenshot-20250925-212731-Ecosia.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N6qwcJnS)
Look at the time top left with the time of his post.
Doesnt that just prove you have a crap phone that can't even keep time?
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Yeah, it's shit we can only play yer man from Def Leppard half a dozen times more before Xmas.
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I did not see anything tonight that gives me any confidence we can beat Fulham. If we wondered why Malen didn't get more game time tonight proved the point, him and Buendia simply not premiership standard. Rogers should sit the next couple out but he won't. Last season we had the strongest bench I have seen at Villa Park but now we look very weak. Pau and Kamara steady all night but another very poor performance.
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We won, and it's 3 points in one of our tougher games in the EL. On to Fulham.
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McGinn getting some more records and being in exalted company.
Only Peter Withe (9) and Gary Shaw (8) have more goals in major European competition for Aston Villa than John McGinn (7).
He’s the first player to score in three different major European competitions for them (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League).
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That's aged me a few years, but a vital win for our season, I think Elliott wasn't played due to the conditions of his loan deal and Emery was only gonna use him, if we lost our lead, but we gotta start him on Sunday, along with Sancho, who impressed me when he came on.
Haven't we effectively bought Elliott? Why on earth couldn't we play him in Europa, unless I've missed something
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I did not see anything tonight that gives me any confidence we can beat Fulham. If we wondered why Malen didn't get more game time tonight proved the point, him and Buendia simply not premiership standard. Rogers should sit the next couple out but he won't. Last season we had the strongest bench I have seen at Villa Park but now we look very weak. Pau and Kamara steady all night but another very poor performance.
I would argue that this time last year, our bench looked as weak when we still had the injuries. The time it looked strong was second half when we had everyone back from injuries and Asensio/Rashford.
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That's aged me a few years, but a vital win for our season, I think Elliott wasn't played due to the conditions of his loan deal and Emery was only gonna use him, if we lost our lead, but we gotta start him on Sunday, along with Sancho, who impressed me when he came on.
Haven't we effectively bought Elliott? Why on earth couldn't we play him in Europa, unless I've missed something
The rumour of he can't play 10 games before Jan or we have to declare the payment in the accounts which we can't afford at the moment under the UEFA SCR.
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Most important of all, proof that PWS is indeed a time traveller.
(https://i.ibb.co/N6qwcJnS/Screenshot-20250925-212731-Ecosia.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N6qwcJnS)
Look at the time top left with the time of his post.
Doesnt that just prove you have a crap phone that can't even keep time?
You have your theory, I have mine.
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That's aged me a few years, but a vital win for our season, I think Elliott wasn't played due to the conditions of his loan deal and Emery was only gonna use him, if we lost our lead, but we gotta start him on Sunday, along with Sancho, who impressed me when he came on.
Haven't we effectively bought Elliott? Why on earth couldn't we play him in Europa, unless I've missed something
Some boring accountancy arse tickling shenanigans.
I just want to watch the footballers play football.
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I wonder how many in the crowd had to have the Tifo explained to them as they'd have no idea what a Polaroid is.
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We won, and it's 3 points in one of our tougher games in the EL. On to Fulham.
Is the right answer. I’m surprised by the negativity of some of the reaction - it was always going to be tough, we’ve been on a shocking run. But we won and we showed more than we have done - defensive structure, attacking intent. Loads to improve, but by some of the reactions you’d think we’d lost.
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That's aged me a few years, but a vital win for our season, I think Elliott wasn't played due to the conditions of his loan deal and Emery was only gonna use him, if we lost our lead, but we gotta start him on Sunday, along with Sancho, who impressed me when he came on.
Haven't we effectively bought Elliott? Why on earth couldn't we play him in Europa, unless I've missed something
The rumour of he can't play 10 games before Jan or we have to declare the payment in the accounts which we can't afford at the moment under the UEFA SCR.
Bloody SCR, at this rate we'll be on the next episode of 'Can't pay, we'll take it away'...
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SCR?
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Swedish Car Reverser
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Suspiciously Conveniant Renumerations.
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SCR?
Squad Cost Ratio (or Super Cristiano Ronaldo).
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Spawny crying rottervilers
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First half good, second was nervy.
McGinn, Kamara and Pau were particularly good.
FTFY
Great to see Pau put in a solid performance. He hasn't lost it. Just like a new signing.
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Guessand was not as bad as people are making out.
Really? I’m struggling to think of anything intentional that he executed successfully during the game.
What are you talking about?
He broke through on goal early in the first half, only to be denied by a strong save from the keeper. Later he skipped past two defenders and delivered a dangerous cross that Ollie almost turned into a shot, before it was scrambled away for a corner. His hold-up play under pressure was decent at times, and he worked hard tracking back. Yes, he faded a bit in the second half, but I think some of the criticism he’s had on here is harsh—especially when players like Rogers were well below par.
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That's aged me a few years, but a vital win for our season, I think Elliott wasn't played due to the conditions of his loan deal and Emery was only gonna use him, if we lost our lead, but we gotta start him on Sunday, along with Sancho, who impressed me when he came on.
Haven't we effectively bought Elliott? Why on earth couldn't we play him in Europa, unless I've missed something
Some boring accountancy arse tickling shenanigans.
I just want to watch the footballers play football.
Yeah well you can't, accountants rule. As they should.
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Some boring accountancy arse tickling shenanigans.
I just want to watch the footballers play football.
Yeah well you can't, accountants rule. As they should.
Hear! Hear!
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I'm an Ops Manager and we manage the P&L on our sites within the business. There's a Finacial Controller who oversees the region, but basically does fuck all, and technically no accountants.
It's a smart way of doing things. Get in the furnace.
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Hardly thrilling but job done. We never looked like conceding but didn’t look like extending our lead either.
Torres first half was excellent, McGinn and Kamara good games throughout. Bizot very confident with the ball at his feet receiving it under pressure which in turn spreads to the defenders.
Bologna must have been taking lessons from Filippo Inzaghi the amount of times they were offside.
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Good start to the game but then it tailed off massively.
We look flat and I have no idea where the goals are coming from this season. Defensively better apart from that sitter they missed.
There was no atmosphere at all and why anyone in that ground felt it necessary to cheer when Rogers made a successful pass towards the end is beyond me. He was terrible tonight but there’s absolutely no excuse for that. I’d rather the boo’s ring out than that cheap shot.
Embarrassing!
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Can we stop talking about the game and set fire to the accountants please. Thanks.
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Thing is Rogers was obviously trying hard tonight. I just don’t see the value in getting on his back.
This is it. Its a weird thing to think he’s like doing it on purpose or couldn’t give a shit. He never hid tonight, yes nothing came off for him but the sarcastic cheer was bad I thiought and will do nothing to help him.
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Can we stop talking about the game and set fire to the accountants please. Thanks.
You don't need to set fire to the accountants, we're hot enough already.
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Started ok and overall played reasonably well in the first half. Second half not so good but it's job done.
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Thing is Rogers was obviously trying hard tonight. I just don’t see the value in getting on his back.
This is it. Its a weird thing to think he’s like doing it on purpose or couldn’t give a shit. He never hid tonight, yes nothing came off for him but the sarcastic cheer was bad I thiought and will do nothing to help him.
I thought at least in the last 20 he was receiving the ball and turning in to space which was better than previous games. His passing was crap but I’d agree that it doesn’t help at all to cheer when one does reach its target. I wouldn’t have started him and if I did he wouldn’t have played 90 minutes it there we are.
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Passed to a Villa player once out of 29 attempts. That must be a record.
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Passed to a Villa player once out of 29 attempts. That must be a record.
Is that true? If so, that’s quite something.
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Got the win, but it was pretty turgid stuff. Thought they were a poor side and am struggling to remember a team that was caught offside so many times in a match.
We weren't much better though and it was just so laboured again at times. Saying that, thought Bizot, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara and McGinn were fine. Thought Malen and Buendia had a go and were a bit unlucky to get subbed when Rogers and Guessand were struggling. Thought Sancho did OK again when he came on.
Elliott has seemingly pissed on his chips already given that he wasn't given a run out tonight.
Oh yeah, what was with the vans with electronic signs about Israel.on Trinity Road before the game? Had they got wrong match?
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We weren't really convincing tonight but didn't need to be. What was important was the win.
The opponents offered minimal threat, but that's not our problem.
Ironic cheering when one of Rodger's passes came off was just bullshit, and isn't "supporting" your team. Don't do it.
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They were caught offside as much because our offside line was working so well for most of it.
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I wonder how many in the crowd had to have the Tifo explained to them as they'd have no idea what a Polaroid is.
Gentlemen Take Polaroids...great album ;)
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They were caught offside as much because our offside line was working so well for most of it.
Maybe so, but it was a bit ridiculous the number of times they were offside.
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After Sunderland, Rogers shouldn’t have been anywhere near that squad, let alone starting!?
And to avoid the hook when the 3 players subbed were 3 of our BETTER players tonight is beyond me!?
Really can’t be arsed to go on Sunday, and ruin yet another weekend. If I see Rogers’ name on the team sheet, that’ll make my mind up I think. It’s not a one off, he’s been shite for most of this calendar year, and that’s on Unai for not dropping him.
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Pau playing well is always helpful, he does seem rather better at leading the offside line than Mings. The flipside is that he's nowhere near as commanding in the air, and Bologna - hardly a very aerial side - had us panicking a bit. We did well enough but it was a bit hairy.
He's so very good on the ball though, and he and McGinn kept finding outs for us when they were pressing. That's where the trouble started though - I don't think Guessand was as bad as others think, but he wasn't especially stellar, Buendia is useful but never seems to to execute the right option, Malen did OK but is still struggling to keep the ball, and Rogers...I mean, the ironic cheering of our own player is a bunch of shit, but it's undeniable he had a remarkably horrible night. Surely he can't start against Fulham.
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After Sunderland, Rogers shouldn’t have been anywhere near that squad, let alone starting!?
And to avoid the hook when the 3 players subbed were 3 of our BETTER players tonight is beyond me!?
Really can’t be arsed to go on Sunday, and ruin yet another weekend. If I see Rogers’ name on the team sheet, that’ll make my mind up I think. It’s not a one off, he’s been shite for most of this calendar year, and that’s on Unai for not dropping him.
I did think that they were quite strange substitutions at that point. Fine with Sancho.coming on, but Buendia was doing OK and should have gone into a more central area with Rogers coming off, more for his own good than anything.
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Creeping ever closer to being ok.
Torres was excellent, the line was good as well. SJM and Kamara were fab.
Marlon was ok and Guessand had some good moments.
Rogers looks like he's trying too hard but he's been gash for ages so that's what led to the sarcasm. No, it doesn't help, I cringed but in the list of blame for our malaise this season, the fans are way down the line.
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Guessand was not as bad as people are making out.
Really? I’m struggling to think of anything intentional that he executed successfully during the game.
What are you talking about?
He broke through on goal early in the first half, only to be denied by a strong save from the keeper. Later he skipped past two defenders and delivered a dangerous cross that Ollie almost turned into a shot, before it was scrambled away for a corner. His hold-up play under pressure was decent at times, and he worked hard tracking back. Yes, he faded a bit in the second half, but I think some of the criticism he’s had on here is harsh—especially when players like Rogers were well below par.
He was not good. He tracked back yes, but failed.to stop at least 3 crosses coming in. He just doesn't look good.enough going fwd, ran into players and lost it. Rather have Bailey back as nothing I have seen this season tells me he is an upgrade....but let's see.
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We won!! Most important thing.
Decent first half, not so great 2nd half…created more chances tonight and worked their keeper a bit which was progress.
Kamara, Torres and Maatsen good…Malen did ok at holding the ball up first half. Guessand did a couple of nice things but doesn’t look particularly of the set up yet.
Referee….let a lot of obvious fouls go
Ironically cheering one of our own players making a pass was pretty pathetic, using the Bronte scale 3/10 for those. Hopefully they won’t be whinging about loyalty if he leaves next summer
Rogers is still a young player in terms of top level experience, he is having a blip as they all do and did (Jack / Giggs / Rooney / Gerrard) but tonight he wanted the ball constantly wasnt hiding but his distribution was poor but it was for Unai to take him off.
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Neither side was remotely impressive and thank heavens we were not playing one of the European Giants who would have been far more ruthless in front of goal than Our visitors tonight.
A welcome win but there are clearly some problems in the squad and the next two home games will give us a good indication of whether or not this is a temporary blip or a long-term malaise.
Villa are unimpressive at best so far this season so a big improvement is needed quickly
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It’s a win but I’m not so sure it’s an improvement, Bologna were pretty poor.
There were glimpses of promise in the first half but we were dreadful after the break and the subs seemed to make us worse.
It’s painful watching Rogers at the moment - utterly bizarre that Emery won’t give him a break, for his own sake as much as the team’s.
Watkins looks so low in confidence - scoring the pen would have helped but I fear missing in the manner he did has made things much worse.
It’s early days on Guessand but at this stage it looks like he doesn’t possess an X factor that makes a successful premier league forward - he’s not quick, not powerful and not particularly skilful. He’s just…there.
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These twazzocks ramble about Villa being stale like bread with green bits...
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Why would you do that to yourself?
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I don't need to hear O'Hara or Cundy's view on anything, unless it's if they're talking about how each other is a dipshit. You couldn't find me a more off-putting thumbnail.
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Is Cundy doing phone-ins from the lav?
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I thought Kamara was back to his very best tonight. An excellent performance.
I feel for Rogers. The kid has obviously been struggling for months and his confidence is shot to shit.
So what’s the best option, keep playing him, game after game after awful game and hope he plays through it, or take him out of the firing line for a few weeks ?
My ire from tonight is saved for Malen.
I thought he was absolutely dreadful.
Always a second behind the act that was actually needed.
Slow to shoot, slow to make a clinical pass, on his heels when receiving a pass.
Christ knows how much we are paying the bloke, but whatever it is, it is wasted on him.
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Sorry, this is better. Stan Petrov and Dicky Dunne have their say on Dublin TV:
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It was better wasn’t it? Far from perfect, but better. Green shoots, I’ll take it.
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We played pretty well for the first 20 or so. After that, not so much.
Just got home and that is pretty much my view. I’ve seen the stats on the way home and backed up my thoughts that Bologna should have got something from the game.
The defence were generally ok but creatively we were poor. I never felt we’d get a second, not even with the penalty, so it was nervy.
Shit drive home too. Thank god it’s Friday tomorrow