Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on March 04, 2026, 09:38:12 PM
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Have we bottomed out yet?
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Shocking starting selection but then we got ourselves in front and for 20 minutes Bailey looked good. But after that, Chelsea took control. We tried to play on the break a bit having opened the game up but you need your forwards to take the chances created. It is utter insanity that Watkins continues to play when we have a very good option in Abraham. He misses 4 good chances and couldn’t even look along the line to stay onside when he had all that space. As a discussion, it’s almost pointless now because he will start again in the next fixture and do the same. So, when people moan about Emery not having resources, let’s look at how he uses those he has.
Konsa was utterly woeful and Martinez drops another decisive clanger.
But the biggest criticism is for the manager. Shocking selection and then shocking game management. Bringing on Bogarde to play right back?!?! If you want someone to try to lock down Garnacho, Lindelof who knows him and either put him or Konsa at right back.
Luiz off when he was decent?
Starting Buendia?!
No Abraham until about 15 minutes left?
No matter how phenomenal he’s been for us (and he has) he has utterly utterly and completely shat the bed this second half of the season.
And yet again another massive occasion that we gave blown. This team has little big game mentality and consistently prove this point.
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It's football. Keep the faith. UTV!!
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None of us saw that coming at 6:30pm.
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How are we still 4th?!
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Absolutely unacceptable.
Relegation form. Only Villa could manage this.
It smells like something is ending.
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Dreadful stuff
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Are any of the Coaches challenging Emery? I know he is doubling down on his beliefs but its costing us big time.
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Pathetic
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Gutless and clueless, it's not a great combination. Theres not many I'd be sorry to see the back of in the summer.
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Well at least we have a weekend off
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Said it when we lost vs Palace at home, when he fucks up he really fucks up.
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Confused performance, coaching and plan which was once so strong seems off. Wonder what is happening in the background because I think something has changed since Jan and not just the injuries have fucked us.
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That one stings.
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None of us saw that coming at 6:30pm.
You mean we all did! Unless you're being iconic.
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Whoever saw us getting thumped with that starting line up? Another pathetic performance to add to the wolves horror show
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Suicidal high line, they carved us apart. Needed more from everyone tonight. Really poor.
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Gutless and clueless, it's not a great combination. Theres not many I'd be sorry to see the back of in the summer.
It’s so strange seeing the arse fall out of a good team so quickly though.
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None of us saw that coming at 6:30pm.
You mean we all did! Unless you're being iconic.
What do you think?
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Yes we have lost 3 key players.
But it didn’t have to be this way.
Recently Emery has week in week out picked the wrong team.
And week in week out made ridiculous substitutions.
He has been as bad as many of the bad managers we have seen over the years.
But it’s not too late Emery.
You still have time to sort this.
Over a week until Lille to try a new shape.
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Unacceptable - everyone one from the manager through to every player should be embarrassed. We continue to do the same thing every week and it’s fucking obvious it’s not working.
We’ve lost three key players - that’s rough. It’s not an excuse to be as bad as we have been for weeks. Guess what if they’re integral to playing the way we wanted to play maybe try something different when they’re not available. There are teams with less talent playing much better than us.
Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
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Confused performance, coaching and plan which was once so strong seems off. Wonder what is happening in the background because I think something has changed since Jan and not just the injuries have fucked us.
We were winning games by the odd goal with an emphasis on quick turnovers in midfield. McGinn, Kamara and Tielemans are the best at that. It's not that surprising really. Our lack of battle and fucking organisation is really disappointing though.
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Not the best.
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I cba for the rest of the season, which is unfortunate because twelve hours ago I bought a ticket for the Lille match.
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Schooled by a bloke sacked by Hull.
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Gutless and clueless, it's not a great combination. Theres not many I'd be sorry to see the back of in the summer.
It’s so strange seeing the arse fall out of a good team so quickly though.
The arse didn't fall out, the entire midfield did. Unless you meant SJM?
We are simply a very different side when we don't have Kamara, Youri and SJM in midfield. With those three fit and playing, we look like Champions League contenders. Without them, we look mid-table, at best.
The worrying thing is, I think by the time Youri and SJM are back, we'll be playing catch-up against teams right in form, rather than defending a points lead ahead of them.
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That was absolute crap after the first 15 mins. It pains me to say it but smirker is right - Watkins is finished. The only players that come out of that shit with any credit are Luiz and Barkley - and McGrath only knows why Emery decided to sub Luiz. Rogers and Buendia were woeful. The reffing was also so biased it invites suggestions of corruption. Unai has been tremendous for us, and yes we do have key players missing, but we have shown nothing over the past couple of months to convince that we are Champion's League pedigree. Emery can definitely turn it around but right now his stubbornness and predictability are killing us.
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How many fecking times did a simple ball over the top rip us open?
Were trying to play as if we still have Kamara and Tielemans in midfield.
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Buendia Watkins and Bailey are a waste of a shirt. When you add that to the missing then we will lose more often than not.
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The space Garnacho had all night was terrifying. We did absolutely nothing about it from minute one to minute ninety. Serious questions need to be asked. Buendia can never start in midfield again. He's far too lightweight. He's a no10 and nothing else. Ollie is done. He's a workaholic and that's great but his finishing is awful and has cost us lots of points this season. He had a brilliant chance to make it 2-3 and completely fucked it up and the offside goal he scored was just daft. I know Rogers delayed the pass a bit too much but Ollie was looking along the line and had absolutely no reason to go early. It was four on two. Those are the pivotal moments that swing games one way or another.
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Gutless and clueless, it's not a great combination. Theres not many I'd be sorry to see the back of in the summer.
It’s so strange seeing the arse fall out of a good team so quickly though.
The arse didn't fall out, the entire midfield did. Unless you meant SJM?
We are simply a very different side when we don't have Kamara, Youri and SJM in midfield. With those three fit and playing, we look like Champions League contenders. Without them, we look mid-table, at best.
The worrying thing is, I think by the time Youri and SJM are back, we'll be playing catch-up against teams right in form, rather than defending a points lead ahead of them.
I don’t agree that we shouldn’t be competitive though and we’re just not.
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Gutless and clueless, it's not a great combination. Theres not many I'd be sorry to see the back of in the summer.
It’s so strange seeing the arse fall out of a good team so quickly though.
The arse didn't fall out, the entire midfield did. Unless you meant SJM?
We are simply a very different side when we don't have Kamara, Youri and SJM in midfield. With those three fit and playing, we look like Champions League contenders. Without them, we look mid-table, at best.
The worrying thing is, I think by the time Youri and SJM are back, we'll be playing catch-up against teams right in form, rather than defending a points lead ahead of them.
I wouldn’t say Liverpool are right in form.
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Abysmal yet so predictable.
The missing midfield three has been done to death: there's much more to this than that.
- A non-scoring striker that is forever first pick
- An international-class player in Rogers whose decided to go through the motions
- A world class goalkeeper who is now not as good as he was
- Smith and Gerrard era players who are past their sell-by date
- A manager who looks increasingly obdurate and tactically inflexible
Aston Villa: failing to deliver since 1920
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That was absolute crap after the first 15 mins. It pains me to say it but smirker is right - Watkins is finished. The only players that come out of that shit with any credit are Luiz and Barkley - and McGrath only knows why Emery decided to sub Luiz. Rogers and Buendia were woeful. The reffing was also so biased it invites suggestions of corruption. Unai has been tremendous for us, and yes we do have key players missing, but we have shown nothing over the past couple of months to convince that we are Champion's League pedigree. Emery can definitely turn it around but right now his stubbornness and predictability are killing us.
I definitely think we can turn this around and I think Man Utd are going to be on the sharp end of this up turn, wait and see.
We go to Old Trafford and we win.
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That was absolute crap after the first 15 mins. It pains me to say it but smirker is right - Watkins is finished. The only players that come out of that shit with any credit are Luiz and Barkley - and McGrath only knows why Emery decided to sub Luiz. Rogers and Buendia were woeful. The reffing was also so biased it invites suggestions of corruption. Unai has been tremendous for us, and yes we do have key players missing, but we have shown nothing over the past couple of months to convince that we are Champion's League pedigree. Emery can definitely turn it around but right now his stubbornness and predictability are killing us.
I definitely think we can turn this around and I think Man Utd are going to be on the sharp end of this up turn, wait and see.
We go to Old Trafford and we win.
Ha ha ha.
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Confused performance, coaching and plan which was once so strong seems off. Wonder what is happening in the background because I think something has changed since Jan and not just the injuries have fucked us.
We were winning games by the odd goal with an emphasis on quick turnovers in midfield. McGinn, Kamara and Tielemans are the best at that. It's not that surprising really. Our lack of battle and fucking organisation is really disappointing though.
We were playing much better football than snagging the odd goal.
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Schooled. Men against boys.
Bailey set the goal up and Watkins played a part as well but even the most one eyed fan would have found issue with the starting line up.
Once again I thought Barkley and Sancho, who showed a bit of previously unseen pace, were tidy as was Alyson.
I can’t see the point of signing Tammy if you’re not going to start him when he’s clearly showing a hell of a lot more than Watkins, who was much better tonight, but if you were him you’d be a bit pissed off.
Defence was woeful and it’s the worse game I’ve seen Konsa have in years.
All I would say is that we’re not out of it yet, yes we may lose in Manchester but they’ll lose games as will Chelsea and Liverpool. We just need to turn around this wretched form and hope that UE can clear his mind a bit.
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them. Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting. Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement. Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice. If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start. We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16. A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.
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I suspect a number of these players are hiding behind the injury problems the squad has.
Not one of the players out there tonight has anything remotely resembling leadership qualities
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The team selection was pathetic and the loss is on Emery 100%. Buendia, Bailey and Watkins are shite and have been for some time.
By mid March we'll have 8 games left and a mini league for 2 CL places with 3,maybe 4 teams in for them. With any luck McGinn and Tileman's will return fresh and ready to go. Hopefully we get through Lille so still have the Europa to have a go at too.
The seasons on life support for sure bit it's not dead just yet.
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I thought if we could get 4 points out of the Wolves and Chelsea we would be pretty much qualified.
To have lost it 6-1, and for the most part to have been completely spineless has been really disapointing.
Unai's worst 2 games for us. He got the line up, tatics and subs wrong. The mentality of these players is shocking - when ever there is real pressure on we go to pot. Its the playing wages that are killing us financial and they just arent earning it. Ollie has been poor all season - and had 4 clear chances today and missed 3 and strayed offside for the other.
Onana just goes missing when he is needed most. Konsa seems to have gone to pot. The problem is with the money, and rules To blow CL football for a second season in a row could be a real sliding doors moment.
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That was absolute crap after the first 15 mins. It pains me to say it but smirker is right - Watkins is finished. The only players that come out of that shit with any credit are Luiz and Barkley - and McGrath only knows why Emery decided to sub Luiz. Rogers and Buendia were woeful. The reffing was also so biased it invites suggestions of corruption. Unai has been tremendous for us, and yes we do have key players missing, but we have shown nothing over the past couple of months to convince that we are Champion's League pedigree. Emery can definitely turn it around but right now his stubbornness and predictability are killing us.
I definitely think we can turn this around and I think Man Utd are going to be on the sharp end of this up turn, wait and see.
We go to Old Trafford and we win.
Hope work isn’t early tomorrow.
That’s going to be a 6/7/8-0 shellacking
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Manchester United could be in the isthmian league and still beat us.
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them. Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting. Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement. Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice. If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start. We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16. A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.
Hindsight. Really?
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Emery doubled down and the consequences were predictable. At least he shifted Buendia and Rogers around but that aside same team that flunked it v Leeds. Very strange. Kamikaze tactics at best that verged on a rabble in the second half. Going with a man less in midfield than a technically superior Chelsea was silly. Injuries in midfield aside his team is firmly in decline now. Taking off Luiz again early beggared belief. No idea where we go from here. Further down the table most likely.
Martinez 5 - couple of great saves but an unnecessary parry finished the game.
Cash 4 - roasted by Garnacho but tactically Emery had to address the space over there
Konsa 3 - miles off it in recent games, played onside for one of the goals
Mings 2 - sad but playing against a top forward tonight he was brutally exposed. Finished at the highest level
Maatsen 7 - kept trying to do the right thing, a rare positive on the night throughout
Onana 1 - charlatan of the highest order.
Luiz 7 - fine goal and was setting a good tempo - reward - hooked on the hour
Bailey 5 - fortunate assist. Better I thought, from a very low base mind
Rogers 2 - shit attitude from the start, gave away the ball constantly all night. Stayed on naturally
Buendia 5 - decent first half I thought, gave away horrible ball for one of the goals, put Ollie through
Watkins 6 - hard to rate, did a awful lot right. Movement much better, key to our goal, but horrible at the key moments
Bogarde was destroyed at right back, Sancho lovely touches and no delivery, Alysson ok, Barkley nice cross for Tammy but can't play in midfield, Tammy, maybe should score when he hit the bar
Emery - awful night, selections, subs, tactics - heart and legs gone from the team and possibly the coach.
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them. Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting. Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement. Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice. If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start. We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16. A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.
Hindsight wasn't needed for this one. As soon as I saw that Bailey and Watkins were starting (and I don't like Luiz and Onana as our midfield 2), I was pretty confident of a defeat, as I think many were. I didn't quite think it would be that embarrassing, though.
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I could sell my soul to Satan for a win at Old Trafford and I think even he couldn't make it happen.
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Onana is playing like a man who get injured a lot but wants to go to the World Cup in the summer.
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The start of the match thread shows that virtually no one was a fan of the starting 11.
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them. Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting. Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement. Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice. If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start. We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16. A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.
Hindsight wasn't needed for this one. As soon as I saw that Bailey and Watkins were starting (and I don't like Luiz and Onana as our midfield 2), I was pretty confident of a defeat, as I think many were. I didn't quite think it would be that embarrassing, though.
If you read my pre-match team selection, you will see that it was very different to the one selected tonight. When we went 1-0 up, I bet there were a few who thought Emery had, in fact got it right. The selection was wrong, plain and simple, to rely on players who might have done it at some point in the past is hurting us now.
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I actually enjoyed the first half. At least we played with energy, although there were plenty of signs to tighten up at the back.
Another day, we go in at half time 2-1 to the good, but when you’re on the run we’re on, we go down 2-1 with an almost identical decision to make by VAR.
Second half we have been extremely sloppy with possession and our back line was even more shocking than the first half. Is that down to Mings or Konsa or both? Who’s in charge of that back line?
Buendia and Rogers have been so careless with the ball and it was harder for Ollie not to score than score. Suddenly instead of 2-3 we’re 4-1 down and fucked.
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them. Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting. Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement. Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice. If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start. We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16. A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.
Cash was walking a red card tightrope as Garnacho was seeing a hell of a lot of the ball. He didn’t show much attacking threat in the first half but that option was completely out of the window when Bogarde was put there, that attacking option was then gone, which in turn limited the options in midfield. I didn’t think either midfield was great but Dougie in the limited (2nd) time he’s been here always makes me think he’s likely to do something than Onana who’s struggling, along with the majority, at the moment.
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That was absolute crap after the first 15 mins. It pains me to say it but smirker is right - Watkins is finished. The only players that come out of that shit with any credit are Luiz and Barkley - and McGrath only knows why Emery decided to sub Luiz. Rogers and Buendia were woeful. The reffing was also so biased it invites suggestions of corruption. Unai has been tremendous for us, and yes we do have key players missing, but we have shown nothing over the past couple of months to convince that we are Champion's League pedigree. Emery can definitely turn it around but right now his stubbornness and predictability are killing us.
I definitely think we can turn this around and I think Man Utd are going to be on the sharp end of this up turn, wait and see.
We go to Old Trafford and we win.
Ha ha ha.
We’ll get absolutely pulped in that game.
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Onana is playing like a man who get injured a lot but wants to go to the World Cup in the summer.
That and a complete absence of footballing ability. Cheers Unai
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them. Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting. Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement. Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice. If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start. We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16. A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.
Hindsight wasn't needed for this one. As soon as I saw that Bailey and Watkins were starting (and I don't like Luiz and Onana as our midfield 2), I was pretty confident of a defeat, as I think many were. I didn't quite think it would be that embarrassing, though.
If you read my pre-match team selection, you will see that it was very different to the one selected tonight. When we went 1-0 up, I bet there were a few who thought Emery had, in fact got it right. The selection was wrong, plain and simple, to rely on players who might have done it at some point in the past is hurting us now.
I really don't think, even at 1-0, that many will have thought he got the selection right. We've all seen it too often in recent weeks to know what was coming. They cut through us willfully most of the game.
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them. Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting. Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement. Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice. If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start. We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16. A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.
There’s no hindsight about it - it was very evident, and called out, pre-game. Sadly the manager is inexplicably unaware at the moment.
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing…..
Go have a look at the first 4-5 pages of the match thread.
There wasn’t just the odd eye brow raised, pretty much everyone who posted said the same thing…..suicidal team selection.
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them. Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting. Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement. Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice. If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start. We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16. A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.
Hindsight wasn't needed for this one. As soon as I saw that Bailey and Watkins were starting (and I don't like Luiz and Onana as our midfield 2), I was pretty confident of a defeat, as I think many were. I didn't quite think it would be that embarrassing, though.
If you read my pre-match team selection, you will see that it was very different to the one selected tonight. When we went 1-0 up, I bet there were a few who thought Emery had, in fact got it right. The selection was wrong, plain and simple, to rely on players who might have done it at some point in the past is hurting us now.
I really don't think, even at 1-0, that many will have thought he got the selection right. We've all seen it too often in recent weeks to know what was coming. They cut through us willfully most of the game.
Yes they did, we were far too passive. They were absolutely dominant, possibly and embarrasingly, the easiest game they've had for a while. Villa were absolutely horrendous tonight.
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Again.
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That was absolute crap after the first 15 mins. It pains me to say it but smirker is right - Watkins is finished. The only players that come out of that shit with any credit are Luiz and Barkley - and McGrath only knows why Emery decided to sub Luiz. Rogers and Buendia were woeful. The reffing was also so biased it invites suggestions of corruption. Unai has been tremendous for us, and yes we do have key players missing, but we have shown nothing over the past couple of months to convince that we are Champion's League pedigree. Emery can definitely turn it around but right now his stubbornness and predictability are killing us.
I definitely think we can turn this around and I think Man Utd are going to be on the sharp end of this up turn, wait and see.
We go to Old Trafford and we win.
I love your optimism but I'm worried for your mental health if you actually believe any of that! Hopefully you're just drowning your sorrows and are heavily into a sesh. Stay safe BV.
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Unacceptable - everyone one from the manager through to every player should be embarrassed. We continue to do the same thing every week and it’s fucking obvious it’s not working.
We’ve lost three key players - that’s rough. It’s not an excuse to be as bad as we have been for weeks. Guess what if they’re integral to playing the way we wanted to play maybe try something different when they’re not available. There are teams with less talent playing much better than us.
Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
Completely agree Paul. You would think after the disgraceful performance vs wolves they would show guts pride and passion. Only luiz showed that today. They disgraced the club. Fucking pathetic
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I fucking hate football...
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I actually enjoyed the first half. At least we played with energy, although there were plenty of signs to tighten up at the back.
Another day, we go in at half time 2-1 to the good, but when you’re on the run we’re on, we go down 2-1 with an almost identical decision to make by VAR.
Second half we have been extremely sloppy with possession and our back line was even more shocking than the first half. Is that down to Mings or Konsa or both? Who’s in charge of that back line?
Buendia and Rogers have been so careless with the ball and it was harder for Ollie not to score than score. Suddenly instead of 2-3 we’re 4-1 down and fucked.
Mings I guess but looked to my eye he was dropping off a lot. Complete confusion between Konsa and himself whether to drop off or push up. Would be interested to hear the views of those in VP to see what was going on there....No pressure on the ball with Chelsea having a man extra in midfield so it was very high risk.
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Onana is playing like a man who get injured a lot but wants to go to the World Cup in the summer.
Onana’s effort has been lamentable.
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I think as PWA said above, from the position we were in a few weeks ago, it would be unacceptable for us not to get Champions League.
From that position we just needed the average form we have had under Emery to walk CL, and with Mid Table form we would still make it.
And thats a strange thought - for the first time under Unai - it feels there is a very real risk of us underachieving. Our worst possible team under Emery should be able to get midtable results. But were not and thats what feels so strange and depressing.
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Think I'll watch Newsnight instead of MOTD.
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I actually enjoyed the first half. At least we played with energy, although there were plenty of signs to tighten up at the back.
Another day, we go in at half time 2-1 to the good, but when you’re on the run we’re on, we go down 2-1 with an almost identical decision to make by VAR.
Second half we have been extremely sloppy with possession and our back line was even more shocking than the first half. Is that down to Mings or Konsa or both? Who’s in charge of that back line?
Buendia and Rogers have been so careless with the ball and it was harder for Ollie not to score than score. Suddenly instead of 2-3 we’re 4-1 down and fucked.
Mings I guess but looked to my eye he was dropping off a lot. Complete confusion between Konsa and himself whether to drop off or push up. Would be interested to hear the views of those in VP to see what was going on there....No pressure on the ball with Chelsea having a man extra in midfield so it was very high risk.
I’d like to hear the thoughts of the boss on this one. I’m sure he will asked.
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Unacceptable - everyone one from the manager through to every player should be embarrassed. We continue to do the same thing every week and it’s fucking obvious it’s not working.
We’ve lost three key players - that’s rough. It’s not an excuse to be as bad as we have been for weeks. Guess what if they’re integral to playing the way we wanted to play maybe try something different when they’re not available. There are teams with less talent playing much better than us.
Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
Got to agree. Yes our options in certain positions are limited but to keep picking players who have severely underperformed when you have other options isn’t great. You need a plan B&C so you can chop and change accordingly.
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Think I'll watch Newsnight instead of MOTD.
I would rather watch TOWIE (and thats me absolutely detesting that show abd everyone associated with it!) Than watch that garbage again
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I can take losing, i just cant stomach the idea of all that good stuff before Xmas just being utterly undone and blown away by a poor end to the season - a bit like Gregory's first year. None of that will count for anything if we finish outside the top five on a run of defeats.
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Still joint third as it stands.
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They outclassed us - Pedro led both Mings and Konsa a merry dance - Palmer was excellent for them
We just seemed to run out of steam after 20 mins - and they just passed the ball around us
Buendia and Bailey how do they both keep getting picked - Unai needs to long hard look at the team - and hopefully we can get a good result next week in the Europa
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As shit as we were, and we were shit, anyone have the lines for the Watkins and Pedro "goals"?
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We need to go for some warm weather training or whatever the ‘we are on a shite run’ cliche is.
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We need to go for some warm weather training or whatever the ‘we are on a shite run’ cliche is.
If only we could play us.
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Still joint third as it stands.
I cannot believe this. Unbelievable
It really does show how poor the standatd of the league is.
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The standard of the league is very high. I don't get why people think the standard is low because the Sky6 aren't pissing it. When the reason they aren't is how good everyone else is.
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It's the hope that kills you. I hoped we were were building something special when Collymore arrived and it all evaporated. I hoped we were going to break through when MON was getting 6th place finishes and that collapsed like a house of cards. This time with Unai it hasn't just been hope but real expectation that we were breaking through.
Maybe it's for the best if we once again have it all snatched away. We would just turn into the very things we hate about modern football. The corrupt financial system put in place to protect the world wide brand clubs that can generate so much money for vested interests. The whole bloody media hype, entitled fans, manager merry go rounds, overpriced tickets if you can even get hold of them, half and half scarfs and bloody tourists.
I hate modern football.
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Point of order weren’t not joint third, we’re fourth. Much like last season when we finished sixth not fifth.
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I do not believe that tonight's performance was gutless or passionless.
It was incompetent, which is more concerning on many levels.
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We need to go for some warm weather training or whatever the ‘we are on a shite run’ cliche is.
If only we could play us.
The universe would implode.
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I do not believe that tonight's performance was gutless or passionless.
It was incompetent, which is more concerning on many levels.
It’s definitely all of those things.
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Unai post match
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=34247026974943468
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The disappointing thing about all of this is that outside of all the noise, I thought we were set with Emery. The game would still be twisted and ridiculous and the ESL clubs would still have things handed to them on a plate, but we'd be there, a thorn in everyone's side, a team which would be a regular cup final opponent. And then when Emery left, we'd be in such a good state that another elite coach would slot in no questions asked. And we were so nearly there as well.
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Fell apart after their first and the second killed us. A game of fine margins and had Watkins goal not been a millimetre offside the game would’ve been a lot closer. What has this game turned into? The excitement has been stripped bare by the shit show that is VAR, pathetic refereeing and certain clubs being allowed to spend what they like. It’s times like this that I find my support for our club get stronger as I give 2 fingers to the pathetic people who run this game.
We’ve been decimated by injuries and cannot replace them, they won’t allow us to spend a penny. We weren’t good enough tonight but I stayed to the end to clap them off as it’s us against them now and I’m firmly behind us.
Didn’t agree with the line up but there’s not a chance in hell I’m kicking Emery while he’s down.
UTFV
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Tonight laid bare the facts.
They were better, stronger, faster and the quality was way above anything we could match.
We better get used to it because this is the future. We've had our moment but it's gone.
And that is just how it needs to be for the continued progression of the EPL.
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Onana is playing like a man who get injured a lot but wants to go to the World Cup in the summer.
Onana’s effort has been lamentable.
...except for the huge celebratory effort he put in with the crowd when Watkins 'scored' the disallowed goal.
Great at cheerleading, but for the rest of the time, he was missing again. He had no influence in the game, and let their midfield run the game.
As for the Garnacho thing, it was obvious to everyone from early on, but there was no change, nobody to cut out the supply and no effective support for Cash or Bogarde.
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The disappointing thing about all of this is that outside of all the noise, I thought we were set with Emery. The game would still be twisted and ridiculous and the ESL clubs would still have things handed to them on a plate, but we'd be there, a thorn in everyone's side, a team which would be a regular cup final opponent. And then when Emery left, we'd be in such a good state that another elite coach would slot in no questions asked. And we were so nearly there as well.
I'd we finish Top 5 I think we can do that, with better recruitment. Without it, we're back to the drawing board.
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I thought it was better than it has been in an attacking sense than the last few games but thats where the slight postives end. The class told eventually, Pedro especially was very good. There just doesn't seem to be a lot of options at the moment to make a difference.
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Tonight laid bare the facts.
They were better, stronger, faster and the quality was way above anything we could match.
We better get used to it because this is the future. We've had our moment but it's gone.
And that is just how it needs to be for the continued progression of the EPL.
We had joy we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
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Twenty minutes against PSG: as good as it got.
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Tonight laid bare the facts.
They were better, stronger, faster and the quality was way above anything we could match.
We better get used to it because this is the future. We've had our moment but it's gone.
And that is just how it needs to be for the continued progression of the EPL.
We had joy we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the table that we climbed was two seasons gone behind.
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We've turned into a "fashion brand" selling loads of Adidas gear - we need to revert to SGT's 89-90 team, played same colours virtually every match, f**k the f**kers!
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With the Watkins offside - why didn't we get the 5cm of tolerance? Oh! Yeah! We're not Liverpool.
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Unacceptable - everyone one from the manager through to every player should be embarrassed. We continue to do the same thing every week and it’s fucking obvious it’s not working.
We’ve lost three key players - that’s rough. It’s not an excuse to be as bad as we have been for weeks. Guess what if they’re integral to playing the way we wanted to play maybe try something different when they’re not available. There are teams with less talent playing much better than us.
Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
Amen.
I've been saying for weeks we needed to re-enforce the midfield, throw an extra body in there. What happens? Nothing. Unai goes to the same theory as our poor run at the beginning of the season, the players need to adapt to his approach and eventually they'll get it right. Once they do we'll be fine. He was right but now working with inferior players, sadly it doesn't work. It never will work. He needs to stop and address the fucking elephant in the room.
Positive from tonight: I thought Dougie looked more like the player we all loved. Not perfect but a massive improvement. The less said about the lanky streak of piss next to him (copyright Chris Jameson) the better.
Once again, over to you, Unai.
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I'd really like to be more positive, but I just can't.
We have to scrape what we can while others cherry pick and the result is there for all to see.
We may make the CL this season, but you can be sure everything will stacked against to stop it happening again. It's not an inferiority complex but the hard truth.
We are allowed the Cup, Europe League, the odd foray into the top competition but that's it's.
Cannon folder, for eternity.
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With the Watkins offside - why didn't we get the 5cm of tolerance? Oh! Yeah! We're not Liverpool.
Watkins was punished for the size of his feet. Ridiculous decision by VAR that completely changed the game. Watkins wearing Ronald McDonald's boots didn't help especially as we played for the first time maybe this season, in a form that suited his strengths. As others have pointed out, he really should have scored four tonight.
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Watched it on the box at home. Turning points for me wete Ollie being judged millimetres offside and Pedro being judged to be millimetres onside. Those decisions are at the behest of whoever has the power to move the mouse forward one frame or back one frame. In real time Ollie looked slightly on and Pedro looked slightly off. McManaman said the same. Thought he was excellent btw. The other turning point was Ollies golden chance to make it 2-3. Once again he fluffed his lines and they went down the other end to make it 1-4. It was alarming how easily they opened us up. Garnacho had the time of his life
Next up Man Utd. Ollie MUST be dropped to the bench and Tammy must start. Bailey should be nowhere near the first eleven.
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Will be a cricket score against rat FC
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Last year we had Rashford and Asensio to turn the game. This year we didn't.
It's about quality. We're not allowed to have any.
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Positive from tonight: I thought Dougie looked more like the player we all loved. Not perfect but a massive improvement. The less said about the lanky streak of piss next to him (copyright Chris Jameson) the better.
Once again, over to you, Unai.
[/quote]
With all respect to Chris Jamieson the quote I remember is “ you long streak of paralysed piss” from Bob Hoskins in The Long Good Friday
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Positive from tonight: I thought Dougie looked more like the player we all loved. Not perfect but a massive improvement. The less said about the lanky streak of piss next to him (copyright Chris Jameson) the better.
Once again, over to you, Unai.
With all respect to Chris Jamieson the quote I remember is “ you long streak of paralysed piss” from Bob Hoskins in The Long Good Friday
[/quote]
Ha! Chris was describing himself and he was spot on.
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Ollie MUST be dropped to the bench and Tammy must start. Bailey should be nowhere near the first eleven.
Watkins will start.
The Meritocracy that has often been a strength under Emery has gone. The idea that Watkins has been carrying an injury is starting to look quite hollow when there is a very good alternative in form and hungry that is not starting. Plus, most players carry injuries/niggles over a season.
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On another note, the amount of Chelsea tourists in the Witton today was a joke. This is on top of a few (more subtle) Leeds fans the other week. Maybe the atmosphere would be better if we didn't sell our grossly overpriced tickets to fucking away fans...
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Positive from tonight: I thought Dougie looked more like the player we all loved. Not perfect but a massive improvement. The less said about the lanky streak of piss next to him (copyright Chris Jameson) the better.
Once again, over to you, Unai.
With all respect to Chris Jamieson the quote I remember is “ you long streak of paralysed piss” from Bob Hoskins in The Long Good Friday
Ha! Chris was describing himself and he was spot on.
[/quote]
I defer to your superior knowledge of lanky streaks of piss!
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Ollie MUST be dropped to the bench and Tammy must start. Bailey should be nowhere near the first eleven.
Watkins will start.
The Meritocracy that has often been a strength under Emery has gone. The idea that Watkins has been carrying an injury is starting to look quite hollow when there is a very good alternative in form and hungry that is not starting. Plus, most players carry injuries/niggles over a season.
I can only think he's trying to drain ever last drop of confidence out of Abraham before starting him to prove to everybody he was right and we need to play Watkins. Nothing makes sense.
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Watched it on the box at home. Turning points for me wete Ollie being judged millimetres offside and Pedro being judged to be millimetres onside. Those decisions are at the behest of whoever has the power to move the mouse forward one frame or back one frame. In real time Ollie looked slightly on and Pedro looked slightly off. McManaman said the same. Thought he was excellent btw. The other turning point was Ollies golden chance to make it 2-3. Once again he fluffed his lines and they went down the other end to make it 1-4. It was alarming how easily they opened us up. Garnacho had the time of his life
Next up Man Utd. Ollie MUST be dropped to the bench and Tammy must start. Bailey should be nowhere near the first eleven.
Not much in either decision but on the replays it looked the opposite to me, Watkins offside and Pedro on, although they seemed to show the Villa one more than the Chelsea one.
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Ollie MUST be dropped to the bench and Tammy must start. Bailey should be nowhere near the first eleven.
Watkins will start.
The Meritocracy that has often been a strength under Emery has gone. The idea that Watkins has been carrying an injury is starting to look quite hollow when there is a very good alternative in form and hungry that is not starting. Plus, most players carry injuries/niggles over a season.
I can only think he's trying to drain ever last drop of confidence out of Abraham before starting him to prove to everybody he was right and we need to play Watkins. Nothing makes sense.
Nothing makes sense. Roll on the same thing again next game.
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Unacceptable - everyone one from the manager through to every player should be embarrassed. We continue to do the same thing every week and it’s fucking obvious it’s not working.
We’ve lost three key players - that’s rough. It’s not an excuse to be as bad as we have been for weeks. Guess what if they’re integral to playing the way we wanted to play maybe try something different when they’re not available. There are teams with less talent playing much better than us.
Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
Amen.
I've been saying for weeks we needed to re-enforce the midfield, throw an extra body in there. What happens? Nothing. Unai goes to the same theory as our poor run at the beginning of the season, the players need to adapt to his approach and eventually they'll get it right. Once they do we'll be fine. He was right but now working with inferior players, sadly it doesn't work. It never will work. He needs to stop and address the fucking elephant in the room.
Positive from tonight: I thought Dougie looked more like the player we all loved. Not perfect but a massive improvement. The less said about the lanky streak of piss next to him (copyright Chris Jameson) the better.
Once again, over to you, Unai.
Agreed on both counts. Dougie has played well in the last two games for me. Inexplicably replaced in both. He was poor v Leeds and Brighton but there's still a decent footballer in there. Still lacks half a yard at times when it comes to closing down players, similar to Tielemans early on. Stick in Bogarde in there in a three and give Luiz more scope to push forward. He nearly scored v Wolves and did tonight.
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Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
If unacceptable happens you would obviously want Unai to be sacked?
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Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
If unacceptable happens you would obviously want Unai to be sacked?
Couldn't just sell all our players and with the money get Unai to buld a really shit hot 5 a side team?
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Mings, Buendia, Bailey and Watkins. You make it very hard for yourself with the selection.
Pedro has 3 shots, scores a hatrick, Watkins? Rounds a keeper and doesnt even get a shot off. 1 goal in 12 now. You cannot sustain that.
Midfield position is all wrong. We put not pressure on the ball and Onana/Luiz are too deep. We dont ever find Rogers in space without Yuri, we don't go knocking for the ball without McGinn or Kamara. Buendia is woefully innefectual and Bailey is worse. Mings cannot progress it at all.
We need McGinn and Yuri back.
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Generally an optimistic fan, have been most of 2026, but tonight is a bit of a step to far for me.
Signs of something, but that offside decision killed the game off and Unai completely incapable of working it out.
Feels like Europa or bust now. Cannot keep relying on those below us to underperform whilst you're not winning games. We are so, so lucky this hasn't happened sooner.
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Thought we actually started the game well and although they equalised and started to get on top as the first half went on, we were still getting chances and scored the goal that was ruled out. If that was a blow, then for them to go and score in injury time was a real knockout punch and you could just feel the deflation in the ground. They totally dominated the second half to the point where it looked like it could have well been six or seven.
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Felt like a re run of the Wolves games. Poor selection. Worse subs. Desperately poor midfield.
Unai’s strength always seemed to be his method and structure. Currently that’s his weakness!
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Felt like a re run of the Wolves games. Poor selection. Worse subs. Desperately poor midfield.
Unai’s strength always seemed to be his method and structure. Currently that’s his weakness!
I agree with this and can not fathom why he persists with this set up and selections.
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Why Bailey and Buendia are anywhere near starting is beyond me.
Tonight we looked like a bottom 6 side against a faltering Chelsea before tonight who made us look like mugs.
Rogers gave the impression he couldn’t give a fuck and I don’t think he could with his passing. He’ll be gone next window and hopefully we’ll get maximum dough.
We miss our 3 players. If Chelsea miss one they can roll on a clone. Still, the outcome is what the PL want so all’s well.
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Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
If unacceptable happens you would obviously want Unai to be sacked?
This is obviously against the majority on here but I'll say it anyway, if certain other past managers had produced a two month period of performances such as these, we'd want them out.
I think it's irrelevant anyway as I'm pretty sure he's off come summer, think he's realised that's as far as he can take us and with pfp, its not getting any better.
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If ever there was a time for loading the defence and hitting on the break it was this one, even when we went ahead you could tell we were wide open on both flanks. Emery has been brilliant but he's been found out by dodgy team selection for weeks now. I hope such a spanking will finally open his eyes to the fact that Buendia, Bailey and Watkins are no longer good enough. If he keeps sending the same troops out we will be lucky to finish in the top eight.
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I’m not sure if the replacements on the bench for Buendia, Bailey or Watkins will make any difference. Sancho? Nah, he’s just wrong. Barkley? Doesn’t look any better. Abraham? Not that convinced yet.
I wouldn’t mind sitting Bogarde in the middle and drop Buendia and use him as an impact sub again and Torres for Mings, but I do wonder if he’s carrying an injury and being used sparingly, same with Luiz, he’s been take off when we really could do with him on the pitch. I don’t think that’s been a tactical change, but forced.
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Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
If unacceptable happens you would obviously want Unai to be sacked?
I would rather a host of these players were sacked (when i say sacked moved on not let on a free for example)
They have let the fans down and the manager from the turn of the year. Im not hiding behind the injury excuse. Some of the performances from players like buendia and konsa have been absolutely pathetic since the start of 2026. Bailey who has been very criticised was one of our better players yesterday. Dougie was the only player trying. Rogers another one thats fallen off the cliff. Fatigue probably as played too many games because players like sancho not contributing enough and the manager doesnt have enough trust in starting them.
Say like Nev said it seems like we have had our time and it feels like we are going to be back in a midtable club. Only way we compete is if we become ond this state owned clubs as they acn do what they want and get away with it. E.g citeh
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It's getting warmer, shall be taking up cricket.
Keep the faith.
UTV!
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If we had a functioning centre forward we’d have won the game. The result was freakish.
The biggest issue we have is Ollie Watkins. He is now inept. Abraham - what was the point in signing him? Yes, the offside was extremely marginal, but fuck sake, he had chances to score again didn’t he.
We have been kicked out of a league title challenge.
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Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
If unacceptable happens you would obviously want Unai to be sacked?
No. I always find this type of reaction odd, you can be critical of the the team and still support it. The levels of performance of late, both tactical and physical, have not been good enough and yesterday’s performance and result was unacceptable. “Unacceptable” does not mean sack everyone - it means don’t do it again. Unai needs to reflect as what he’s doing at the moment is not working. I still think he’s the right man, but he’s not infallible and he needs to stop repeating very obvious mistakes.
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If we had a functioning centre forward we’d have won the game. The result was freakish.
The biggest issue we have is Ollie Watkins. He is now inept. Abraham - what was the point in signing him? Yes, the offside was extremely marginal, but fuck sake, he had chances to score again didn’t he.
We have been kicked out of a league title challenge.
We absolutely had those chances and should have scored some. But the result wasn’t freakish. Chelsea were much better than us, and we did nothing to address the obvious tactical flaws they were exploiting.
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The only freakish thing about it is that our world class manager seems to have a blind spot. Both the Wolves game and the Chelsea game were inept performances. Utterly unacceptable, without heart or fight.
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Yeah, there was nothing freakish about it. We set up in exactly the way Chelsea would want us to. A zig zig high line, without any pressure on their best passers. Madness.
Continuing with Watkins, Buendia and Mings is like a form of self-harm.
I think we’re coming to the end of the Unai era, and I’m worried about what’s next.
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Yeah, there was nothing freakish about it. We set up in exactly the way Chelsea would want us to. A zig zig high line, without any pressure on their best passers. Madness.
Continuing with Watkins, Buendia and Mings is like a form of self-harm.
I think we’re coming to the end of the Unai era, and I’m worried about what’s next.
Completely agree.
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Our forward press lacked any co-ordination. Buendia, Watkins, Bailey and Rogers were running around like blue arse flies, to easy to breakthrough and left our fullbacks exposed. It was easy to see Chelsea scoring 4, 5 or maybe more.
Until SJM and Tielemans return we should be defending in numbers from the back and then counter attack.
Something like:
Martinez
Cash Konsa Mings/Pau Maatsen
Sancho Onana Lindelof Luiz Rogers
Tammy
Unai knows better than me but maybe it's time to try something new before it's too late.
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2025/2026 season, - Malen, Guessand, Abrahams and Watkins, Watkins has the lowest Goals/Assists contributions.
This is becoming a problem.
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The only freakish thing about it is that our world class manager seems to have a blind spot. Both the Wolves game and the Chelsea game were inept performances. Utterly unacceptable, without heart or fight.
I dont accept that there was no heart of fight. We lack quality, depth and possibly a bit of belief. We were a inch from going 2-1 in front last night but like i said, the quality and class told in the end.
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Score the chances we had, we’d have won. It absolutely was a freak result. They scored their chances, we missed ours.
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I’m not a huge fan of xG, but 0.78 vs 3.60 tells its own story. We had a few chances but they were cutting us open at will.
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The only freakish thing was Chelsea not scoring more, it’s hardly a new phenomenon that Ollie Watkins misses chances and yesterday was one of his better games.
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Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
If unacceptable happens you would obviously want Unai to be sacked?
No. I always find this type of reaction odd, you can be critical of the the team and still support it. The levels of performance of late, both tactical and physical, have not been good enough and yesterday’s performance and result was unacceptable. “Unacceptable” does not mean sack everyone - it means don’t do it again. Unai needs to reflect as what he’s doing at the moment is not working. I still think he’s the right man, but he’s not infallible and he needs to stop repeating very obvious mistakes.
But you said "unacceptable" which to me means you are saying his position is not acceptable?
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The only freakish thing about it is that our world class manager seems to have a blind spot. Both the Wolves game and the Chelsea game were inept performances. Utterly unacceptable, without heart or fight.
I dont accept that there was no heart of fight. We lack quality, depth and possibly a bit of belief. We were a inch from going 2-1 in front last night but like i said, the quality and class told in the end.
We definitely gave both clubs named way too much respect, no aggression whatsoever from Villa. For me, fight/aggression can be used interchangeably. Working hard to close down, disrupting their passing etc, all really poor.
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Last night was unacceptable. Doesn’t mean it’s not recoverable.
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What pissed me off more than anything else last night was us standing and watching them take the absolute piss by delaying the kick off to hold a huddle on the centre circle, on our pitch - not once, but twice.
Says a lot about where we are mentally if we stand for that blatant disrespect. We need leaders right now and clearly we don’t. Lions my arse.
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One thing we did do well last night? Make Garnacho look worth the money. Well done the right side of the Villa and all those associated with it.
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What pissed me off more than anything else last night was us standing and watching them take the absolute piss by delaying the kick off to hold a huddle on the centre circle, on our pitch - not once, but twice.
Says a lot about where we are mentally if we stand for that blatant disrespect. We need leaders right now and clearly we don’t.
You're wrong. When they did it at the start of the second half, two or three of our players were complaining to the ref.
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Garnacho is going to be one of those McMana an/El Kaabi/Nakhi Wells players whose world class performances only come against us.
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I’m not a huge fan of xG, but 0.78 vs 3.60 tells its own story. We had a few chances but they were cutting us open at will.
The way I saw it too. Pedro should have equalised soon after we scored. Far too narrow in midfield and our centre backs didn't know whether to stick or twist.
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What pissed me off more than anything else last night was us standing and watching them take the absolute piss by delaying the kick off to hold a huddle on the centre circle, on our pitch - not once, but twice.
Says a lot about where we are mentally if we stand for that blatant disrespect. We need leaders right now and clearly we don’t.
You're wrong. When they did it at the start of the second half, two or three of our players were complaining to the ref.
I couldn’t understand for the life of me why the referee just let them carry on with it. The half time break had been nearly twenty minutes as it was!
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I didn't think we were terrible, but we had Ollie on the end of our chances and they didn't. And he was one of our best players, apart from in front of goal. We tried, we battled, we ran, but weren't good enough. I give a lot of credit to Chelsea, who I thought were as good as I've seen at VP this year, they were brutally efficient at exposing our structural and individual weaknesses and it was something of a relief they declared at 4. Their speed in transition was something else, quickly getting the ball forward and wide to get us on the back foot and pinned in our half.
They had clearly identified that Rogers either doesnt get back at all or if he does, is attracted to the ball centrally leaving loads of space behind to get the full back into, and did it over and over without a reaction.
In all I thought that they did to us what we are capable of doing do weaker teams when we are on it, creating a few chances, taking them, then keeping the ball and killing the game. Someone said there is a smell of the end of a era and I can see something in that, we look a little old, lacking in vigour, pace, aggression and ideas.
I hope Unai sticks around to supervise a rebuild.
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PS, Ollie missed chances but Tammy missed the easiest of the lot, although there only seemed to be about half a dozen left to witness it.
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I thought we looked a lot brighter than we have, even at 1-1 we seemed to go again and were on the front foot, but the two VARs shot the team and then the crowd. Where did he find 8 mins from? After that it was as bad as it has been for a long time. Dougie and Alysson the only ones to come out of it with any credit. I disagree with a lot of what people are saying about Barkley - he was awful, giving it away, can;t run, the midfield poured through even more once he was on. Yes he did a couple of decent passed once it was 4-1 and they weren't bothered anymore. But most of my ire is for Onana. Our record signing, who Unai urged to be "the man" in our hour of injury need, and apart from Newcastle away he has been like a league one player. I also worry that Rogers and Konsa look like they can't wait to get away now as well.
Worst of all though, I bought my Lille ticket while we were having a pint in the Warehouse, when my son reminded me our window has opened, so I do it all again!
Then, M1, M40, M25 all shut so get home at quarter to one to cap the night off.
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Oh, and I got a parking ticket. Magic.
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Agreed on Barkley, his lack of mobility is laughable in a midfield two. Bring him on as a 10 sure if we are dominating possession but we need to pad out midfield for a few weeks instead. He's never been any kind of solution.
It's the same with Sancho, lovely touches but a bit of space for a cross and he either duffs it or rolls it back to the full back. Broke nicely with the ball at one stage before he realised he was outnumbered and just stopped. A nothing player.
The two of them are poster boys for career underachievement.
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I didn't think Barkley was bad, he seemed to get the ball played forward pretty quickly, he has to be very careful when playing as a DM, he has to play the ball quickly to whatever is on at the time as if he gets caught in possession, he hasn't got the legs to get back and recover the ball.
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At the end I was just happy it was only 4, in the end they almost looked like they were gonna score every time they attacked, sadly when SJM and Youri return, it'll probably be too late for CL qualification.
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Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.
If unacceptable happens you would obviously want Unai to be sacked?
No. I always find this type of reaction odd, you can be critical of the the team and still support it. The levels of performance of late, both tactical and physical, have not been good enough and yesterday’s performance and result was unacceptable. “Unacceptable” does not mean sack everyone - it means don’t do it again. Unai needs to reflect as what he’s doing at the moment is not working. I still think he’s the right man, but he’s not infallible and he needs to stop repeating very obvious mistakes.
But you said "unacceptable" which to me means you are saying his position is not acceptable?
That's flawed logic.
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We were thoroughly outplayed all over the pitch. They attacked with pace out wide and deft touches through the middle. Our fullbacks we're totally exposed time and time again and the center of the pitch we chased shadows and pressed at the wrong moments leaving us being ran at too often. The center backs we're unfortunately all over the place with the ball over the top. Martinez again parried a weakish shot in to danger.
The midfield continue to give the ball away sloppily allowing attacks from transition which we struggle to deal with due to our lack of pace throughout the team. Chelsea looked physical, quick and accomplished at one touch football and we're good value for their win.
The starting selection of Buendia, Bailey and Watkins set the tone for more of the same and things have caught up with us. It was a poor night from the 2nd minute onwards and that includes from the management. We won't finish in the top 5 now, we've done one of our famous collapse jobs.
The transfer windows are showing the full effect of how bad a job Monchi did and January's appear lazy in ''getting the old band back together' a lack of planning and imagination.
A great season is fizzling out, we punched well above our weight for 60% of it but we're punching below it now.
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I didn't think we were terrible, but we had Ollie on the end of our chances and they didn't. And he was one of our best players, apart from in front of goal. We tried, we battled, we ran, but weren't good enough. I give a lot of credit to Chelsea, who I thought were as good as I've seen at VP this year, they were brutally efficient at exposing our structural and individual weaknesses and it was something of a relief they declared at 4. Their speed in transition was something else, quickly getting the ball forward and wide to get us on the back foot and pinned in our half.
They had clearly identified that Rogers either doesnt get back at all or if he does, is attracted to the ball centrally leaving loads of space behind to get the full back into, and did it over and over without a reaction.
In all I thought that they did to us what we are capable of doing do weaker teams when we are on it, creating a few chances, taking them, then keeping the ball and killing the game. Someone said there is a smell of the end of a era and I can see something in that, we look a little old, lacking in vigour, pace, aggression and ideas.
I hope Unai sticks around to supervise a rebuild.
Chelsea were good because we played into their hands. With the team selection and formation we gave them everything they could have asked for.
Only having two in the middle was asking to be dominated there and we were. We stood off them and let them play.
Suicide.
We played some nice stuff ourselves of course. Created some good chances. Had some nice moves.
But with the way the team were set up we had no chance over 90 minutes. They were going to get through us.
Emery's job is to give us the best chance to win every week. That has to mean tweaking things to take the opponent into account. He doesn't feel prepared to do that.
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Outplayed by a young, hungry team that cost 3 x ours at least. No surprises there unfortunately.
However on transfers we can't just lay all the blame on Monchi - Unai has to have input and is also culpable. The fact we have Bailey, Mings, Konsa, Cash, Luiz, Buendia shows how little the squad has actually evolved and is aging and declining.
It feels like Konsa and Mings have been our CB's for the last 10 years.
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There have been so many things wrong all over the team for weeks now.
But I am sick and tired of seeing Buendia buzzing around like an annoying gnat but causing more problems to his own team than to the opposition.
I have lost count of the number of times he has wafted his boot in an attempt to make a tackle, loses it and then just stands and watches, throwing his arms in the air, as the opponent jogs away with the ball.
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Given that Garnacho was killing us and Fernandes was doing most of the feeding of him, there was a strong argument for us putting Konsa, our best man marker, to RB on the former, and Bogarde to get close to the latter. But I suppose by then we were behind and its a negative change.
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I think we should change the ownership and management of the club ,who will spend billions of pounds or euros on players, because the present ownership have purchased players who should have realized they were going to be shit,we should be like Manchester United and Chelsea who have spent billions and are near and around us, anyone who scouted the like of Bailey again should be given a first and final warning,I mean I could see he was shit when warming up on first game
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There have been so many things wrong all over the team for weeks now.
But I am sick and tired of seeing Buendia buzzing around like an annoying gnat but causing more problems to his own team than to the opposition.
I have lost count of the number of times he has wafted his boot in an attempt to make a tackle, loses it and then just stands and watches, throwing his arms in the air, as the opponent jogs away with the ball.
He has an infuriating habit of challenging for the ball from the wrong side allowing himself to get rolled easily. But I have never been a big fan so there is a bit of bias there.
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This morning doesn't seem to make me feel any more optimistic. I was furious when hearing the lineup, and the performance confirmed what we all knew. Unai has been a magician since arriving, and getting Villa into the position we were at Xmas was incredible. However, he hasn't managed to get a tune out of the team since the injuries and seems to be as lost as the players. Our one hope is the return of McGinn and Touri.
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There have been so many things wrong all over the team for weeks now.
But I am sick and tired of seeing Buendia buzzing around like an annoying gnat but causing more problems to his own team than to the opposition.
I have lost count of the number of times he has wafted his boot in an attempt to make a tackle, loses it and then just stands and watches, throwing his arms in the air, as the opponent jogs away with the ball.
He has an infuriating habit of challenging for the ball from the wrong side allowing himself to get rolled easily. But I have never been a big fan so there is a bit of bias there.
True that about the Bias thing
if we’re honest we all have a bit of conscious or even unconscious bias
I always had a problem with players who arn’t comfortable with the ball and struggle to control it,
Probably to a ridiculously stupid level
So Ming’s, Konsa, Watkins, Onana, Tammy come with a negative bias from the off
Whereas McGinn, Pau, Buendia, Malen would always get a more positive reaction from me even when they’re having bad games
I’ve picked the players out that have come in for criticism in the past. Players like Kamara and Tielamans we know our fucking brilliant.
A lot of us are like that on here you know exactly which posters are gonna moan about certain players I’m no different to anyone else in that respect
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PS, Ollie missed chances but Tammy missed the easiest of the lot, although there only seemed to be about half a dozen left to witness it.
You'll have to refresh my memory. I recall Tammy hitting the bar with a looping header that wasn't easy. I saw Watkins 8 yards out with only the keeper to beat and he didn't even get a shot in. Similar in the first half but not quite such a golden opportunity.
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Why is Unai above criticism from some on here? And why, when he is criticised (completely fairly because he’s having a mare at the moment) do people reach for the smelling salts?
He’s human. He’s capable of making mistakes. He’s also capable of putting those mistakes right. I hope he does. I believe he will. But he’s not having a good few weeks.
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Why is Unai above criticism from some on here? And why, when he is criticised (completely fairly because he’s having a mare at the moment) do people reach for the smelling salts?
He’s human. He’s capable of making mistakes. He’s also capable of putting those mistakes right. I hope he does. I believe he will. But he’s not having a good few weeks.
Not sure there's many left who consider him untouchable. Thankfully, we seem past the point where criticizing him is perceived the same way as calling for his head.
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PS, Ollie missed chances but Tammy missed the easiest of the lot, although there only seemed to be about half a dozen left to witness it.
You'll have to refresh my memory. I recall Tammy hitting the bar with a looping header that wasn't easy. I saw Watkins 8 yards out with only the keeper to beat and he didn't even get a shot in. Similar in the first half but not quite such a golden opportunity.
You could've read War and Peace in the time it took him to get his shot away for that chance.
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Was at the front of the upper holte, directly looking down on that chance. Don't think I've ever lost it with a player quite so much as I did in the moments after he fumbled it.
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
It was like an intimidating tactic, saying we are on your ground, in your back yard, and we don’t give a fuck.
It worked.
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
Well it worked out alright for them.
Maybe we should try it.
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I will take comfort that all the top six are dropping points.
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
It was like an intimidating tactic, saying we are on your ground, in your back yard, and we don’t give a fuck.
It worked.
Absolutely.
Still.pissed me off though.
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
It was like an intimidating tactic, saying we are on your ground, in your back yard, and we don’t give a fuck.
It worked.
Absolutely.
Still.pissed me off though.
Made no difference to the outcome but it was infuriating, and weak refereeing allowing them to do it.
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PS, Ollie missed chances but Tammy missed the easiest of the lot, although there only seemed to be about half a dozen left to witness it.
You'll have to refresh my memory. I recall Tammy hitting the bar with a looping header that wasn't easy. I saw Watkins 8 yards out with only the keeper to beat and he didn't even get a shot in. Similar in the first half but not quite such a golden opportunity.
You could've read War and Peace in the time it took him to get his shot away for that chance.
Or got served with a pie and a drink by our marvellous catering staff.
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I don't think any of us need to be "Rocket Scientists" to see how much Emery is struggling at the moment. The team selection last night was strange anf without wanting to alienate the player, it's bizarre that Bailey is in the starting line up.
It looks like stalwart such as Martinez and Watkins may move in the summer and surely Mings is not performing well either.
Champions League is now a huge ask given our rotten form
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
It was like an intimidating tactic, saying we are on your ground, in your back yard, and we don’t give a fuck.
It worked.
Absolutely a strong other side would gone and done the same thing but in their penalty box. You wanna take the piss we will do the same.
Unfortunately dont see many leaders in our team and hard men.
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
One of our players should have got their willy out and started to piss on the huddle, would have stopped the performative cvnts sharpish.
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PS, Ollie missed chances but Tammy missed the easiest of the lot, although there only seemed to be about half a dozen left to witness it.
You'll have to refresh my memory. I recall Tammy hitting the bar with a looping header that wasn't easy. I saw Watkins 8 yards out with only the keeper to beat and he didn't even get a shot in. Similar in the first half but not quite such a golden opportunity.
You could've read War and Peace in the time it took him to get his shot away for that chance.
In the original Russian, having had to learn the language from scratch.
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
It was like an intimidating tactic, saying we are on your ground, in your back yard, and we don’t give a fuck.
It worked.
Absolutely a strong other side would gone and done the same thing but in their penalty box. You wanna take the piss we will do the same.
Unfortunately dont see many leaders in our team and hard men.
All it would have taken would be for a player or two to go over and start to shove them out the way. The ref would then get involved and it would be broken up. Instead we stood there and watched.
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The passage of play leading to Roger’s being booked was just beyond belief. I get he’s not allowed to kick the ball away in frustration but the defender was allowed to virtually pull his shirt off him and then got the free kick as soon as Rogers touched him.
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I'm really disappointed I hope we can turn this around asap.
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The passage of play leading to Roger’s being booked was just beyond belief. I get he’s not allowed to kick the ball away in frustration but the defender was allowed to virtually pull his shirt off him and then got the free kick as soon as Rogers touched him.
It was absolutely shocking, he was wrestling Rogers the whole time and every one expected the foul to be given in Rogers favour.
It’s stuff like that , that makes you think it’s bent.
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McManaman on comms said that the referee was on the wrong side of the play to see that fouling.
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Ref was weak as piss. We complain and he does fuck all
https://x.com/rionnyler/status/2029347163759677588
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At that point you insert yourself in to the circle, make it physical and the ref has to get involved.
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
It was like an intimidating tactic, saying we are on your ground, in your back yard, and we don’t give a fuck.
It worked.
Absolutely a strong other side would gone and done the same thing but in their penalty box. You wanna take the piss we will do the same.
Unfortunately dont see many leaders in our team and hard men.
All it would have taken would be for a player or two to go over and start to shove them out the way. The ref would then get involved and it would be broken up. Instead we stood there and watched.
Yeah the angry little man in me was apoplectic at that sheer piss take on our fucking turf. Why on earth did our lot stand and watch? McManaman on comms called the whole thing pathetic. Sorry but in my playing days me and my team mates would of been knocking them out of the way like skittles.
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That Chelsea huddle was an absolute piss-take. The ref should have told them straight away to get the fuck away, but as usual, did sweet fuck all.
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Too passive, too much time spent feeling sorry for ourselves whether it's mates leaving or the rules not suiting us, the mentality isn't one of winners and that's why this bunch choke when we get to the climax of situations too often and will end up achieving nothing.
It's harsh on them because of where we've come from but I honestly think it's the truth.
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That Chelsea huddle was an absolute piss-take. The ref should have told them straight away to get the fuck away, but as usual, did sweet fuck all.
The refs aren't going to help us, the rules aren't going to help us and VAR isn't going to help us. We feel sorry for ourselves too often.
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The passage of play leading to Roger’s being booked was just beyond belief. I get he’s not allowed to kick the ball away in frustration but the defender was allowed to virtually pull his shirt off him and then got the free kick as soon as Rogers touched him.
That was outrageous and the moment i decided to fuck off. It was either bent or extremely incompetent reffing.
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That Chelsea huddle was an absolute piss-take. The ref should have told them straight away to get the fuck away, but as usual, did sweet fuck all.
The refs aren't going to help us, the rules aren't going to help us and VAR isn't going to help us. We feel sorry for ourselves too often.
This. There's no conspiracy theory, officiating is just the worst it's likely ever been in the modern era and we're getting the rough cut of it at the moment. Got to fucking buck up and get on with it.
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For me, the ‘huddle’ was ungentlemanly conduct. Every one of the fuckers should have been booked.
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It's fucking pathetic and the ref is just bending over for it.
If I was an opposition player I'd have joined the huddle and took the piss back. I'd join in Arteta's pitch side team talks that take place when alone of their players feign injury as well.
Fuck 'em.
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It's fucking pathetic and the ref is just bending over for it.
If I was an opposition player I'd have joined the huddle and took the piss back. I'd join in Arteta's pitch side team talks that take place when alone of their players feign injury as well.
Fuck 'em.
Agreed,we need to man up, it's time to stop being lovely cuddly Aston Villa
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It's fucking pathetic and the ref is just bending over for it.
If I was an opposition player I'd have joined the huddle and took the piss back. I'd join in Arteta's pitch side team talks that take place when alone of their players feign injury as well.
Fuck 'em.
I would have got the whole villa team to huddle around there huddle
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The passage of play leading to Roger’s being booked was just beyond belief. I get he’s not allowed to kick the ball away in frustration but the defender was allowed to virtually pull his shirt off him and then got the free kick as soon as Rogers touched him.
It was absolutely shocking, he was wrestling Rogers the whole time and every one expected the foul to be given in Rogers favour.
It’s stuff like that , that makes you think it’s bent.
And to cap it all that snidey little shit Enzo Fernandes ran 30 yards to applaud the referee.
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There is a mentality issue with these players when the pressure is on. The majority of last night’s team being the ones that failed v Olympiakos in the ECL. Last season they struggled in the Palace SF, couldn’t beat the worst Man U team for years. Since Xmas struggled in the games at home we thought might be bankers, Brentford, Leeds and even Everton. Leadership on the pitch is an issue.
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There is a mentality issue with these players when the pressure is on. The majority of last night’s team being the ones that failed v Olympiakos in the ECL. Last season they struggled in the Palace SF, couldn’t beat the worst Man U team for years. Since Xmas struggled in the games at home we thought might be bankers, Brentford, Leeds and even Everton. Leadership on the pitch is an issue.
Was the pressure not on beating Arsenal, Man City & Chelsea earlier in the season?
We are in a serious funk currently, tactical and player availability related. But Emerys Villa team is our best since Little's time.
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There is a mentality issue with these players when the pressure is on. The majority of last night’s team being the ones that failed v Olympiakos in the ECL. Last season they struggled in the Palace SF, couldn’t beat the worst Man U team for years. Since Xmas struggled in the games at home we thought might be bankers, Brentford, Leeds and even Everton. Leadership on the pitch is an issue.
Was the pressure not on beating Arsenal, Man City & Chelsea earlier in the season?
We are in a serious funk currently, tactical and player availability related. But Emerys Villa team is our best since Little's time.
I agree with you but feel a lot of our fans need him to win a trophy to see it like that. On here there are a few posters who hold him to a very high standard and I think it's because they wan't a cup, any cup.
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There is a mentality issue with these players when the pressure is on. The majority of last night’s team being the ones that failed v Olympiakos in the ECL. Last season they struggled in the Palace SF, couldn’t beat the worst Man U team for years. Since Xmas struggled in the games at home we thought might be bankers, Brentford, Leeds and even Everton. Leadership on the pitch is an issue.
Theres loads of examples of where this group haven't failed under Emery. Having numerous historic winning runs at home, beating and outplaying Man City three years on the trot, beating Arsenal home and away, beating Man Utd twice at home when we haven’t beaten them at home in over 25 years. Qualifying for the champions league, beating Bayern Munich and PSG at home.
The last month has been shit and the last two games in particular, but please do not pick a handful of examples of how this group have failed, when Emery has turned them into the best team we’ve had for 30 years.
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
It was like an intimidating tactic, saying we are on your ground, in your back yard, and we don’t give a fuck.
It worked.
Absolutely a strong other side would gone and done the same thing but in their penalty box. You wanna take the piss we will do the same.
Unfortunately dont see many leaders in our team and hard men.
All it would have taken would be for a player or two to go over and start to shove them out the way. The ref would then get involved and it would be broken up. Instead we stood there and watched.
Yeah the angry little man in me was apoplectic at that sheer piss take on our fucking turf. Why on earth did our lot stand and watch? McManaman on comms called the whole thing pathetic. Sorry but in my playing days me and my team mates would of been knocking them out of the way like skittles.
Quite why no one on our side said or did anything says a lot I think.
Super John McGinn would have been making his feelings heard I would say.
Didn't Rosenior mouth off at an Arsenal coach to "f*** off and stay on the right side of the pitch during the League Cup warm up?
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I dont know why people keep saying we stood around and did nothing. Three of our players complained to the ref when they did it before the second half started.
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Yeah but it looked a bit timid complaining to the ref I thought. A bit more aggression is required than has been on slow the last month. I’ve found myself shouting “win a fucking tackle in midfield” far too often lately. The huddle they did second half needed a reaction from the players beyond moaning to the ref. I am not saying they should be violent obviously, but we are way too nice and easy to play against at the moment.
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There is a mentality issue with these players when the pressure is on. The majority of last night’s team being the ones that failed v Olympiakos in the ECL. Last season they struggled in the Palace SF, couldn’t beat the worst Man U team for years. Since Xmas struggled in the games at home we thought might be bankers, Brentford, Leeds and even Everton. Leadership on the pitch is an issue.
Was the pressure not on beating Arsenal, Man City & Chelsea earlier in the season?
We are in a serious funk currently, tactical and player availability related. But Emerys Villa team is our best since Little's time.
It’s the games we are favourite to win is the problem
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It’s all games that are a problem at the moment. Hopefully that ended yesterday.
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And to cap it all that snidey little shit Enzo Fernandes ran 30 yards to applaud the referee.
Didn't he get booked for that? If so about the only thing the ref got right.
I didn't really notice the huddle thing, if we felt slighted we should have got into them when the game started rather than getting gubbed and moaning about it now.
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And to cap it all that snidey little shit Enzo Fernandes ran 30 yards to applaud the referee.
Didn't he get booked for that? If so about the only thing the ref got right.
I didn't really notice the huddle thing, if we felt slighted we should have got into them when the game started rather than getting gubbed and moaning about it now.
He did get booked, yes.
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He's a prick, Enzo, but Christ we gave him the freedom of the final third to pick a pass last night.
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There is a mentality issue with these players when the pressure is on. The majority of last night’s team being the ones that failed v Olympiakos in the ECL. Last season they struggled in the Palace SF, couldn’t beat the worst Man U team for years. Since Xmas struggled in the games at home we thought might be bankers, Brentford, Leeds and even Everton. Leadership on the pitch is an issue.
Was the pressure not on beating Arsenal, Man City & Chelsea earlier in the season?
We are in a serious funk currently, tactical and player availability related. But Emerys Villa team is our best since Little's time.
I dont think it was as still alot of game time and les spressure then. The oressur starts hitting after xmas fixtures
This team just can't hack the pressure. Its like dejavu
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There is a mentality issue with these players when the pressure is on. The majority of last night’s team being the ones that failed v Olympiakos in the ECL. Last season they struggled in the Palace SF, couldn’t beat the worst Man U team for years. Since Xmas struggled in the games at home we thought might be bankers, Brentford, Leeds and even Everton. Leadership on the pitch is an issue.
Was the pressure not on beating Arsenal, Man City & Chelsea earlier in the season?
We are in a serious funk currently, tactical and player availability related. But Emerys Villa team is our best since Little's time.
I dont think it was as still alot of game time and les spressure then. The oressur starts hitting after xmas fixtures
This team just can't hack the pressure. Its like dejavu
So there was no pressure when we beat Forest. One league game and fifteen days later Santa had belatedly delivered us a load of pressure so we lost to Everton. That sounds reasonable.
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There is a mentality issue with these players when the pressure is on. The majority of last night’s team being the ones that failed v Olympiakos in the ECL. Last season they struggled in the Palace SF, couldn’t beat the worst Man U team for years. Since Xmas struggled in the games at home we thought might be bankers, Brentford, Leeds and even Everton. Leadership on the pitch is an issue.
Was the pressure not on beating Arsenal, Man City & Chelsea earlier in the season?
We are in a serious funk currently, tactical and player availability related. But Emerys Villa team is our best since Little's time.
I dont think it was as still alot of game time and les spressure then. The oressur starts hitting after xmas fixtures
This team just can't hack the pressure. Its like dejavu
So there was no pressure when we beat Forest. One league game and fifteen days later Santa had belatedly delivered us a load of pressure so we lost to Everton. That sounds reasonable.
And after we lost to Everton, we went and outplayed and beat Newcastle away for the first time in er 20 odd years.
The post xmas pressure theory doesn’t ring true. Despite the terrible day at man utd last May, our form post xmas last year, was virtually title winning.
The issue now is the inter relationship between players missing, lack of adequate replacements and the managers seeming unwillingness to bend a bit tactically at the moment.
It was no coincidence post xmas last year our form was excellent and we had Tielemans, McGinn, Kamara as well as Rashford and Asensio as options.
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I also do lnt buy the post Xmas pressure argument. But equally, there is no pressure playing Arsenal or City in November. We aren’t expected to win those. It will playing City on the final day for a UCL spot that will be pressure. I don’t think we are up to that.
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If it comes down to needing something against Citeh it’s done. We won’t get a result there.
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He's a prick, Enzo, but Christ we gave him the freedom of the final third to pick a pass last night.
An absolute prick that I would love in our team!!!
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He's a prick, Enzo, but Christ we gave him the freedom of the final third to pick a pass last night.
An absolute prick that I would love in our team!!!
what 105 million gets you
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One of the most annoying experiences last night apart from the obvious?
Chelsea's pathetic team huddle right on the halfway line while we're waiting to start the second half.
It was like an intimidating tactic, saying we are on your ground, in your back yard, and we don’t give a fuck.
It worked.
And not one of our lot had the balls to go and break it up. Would you imagine Arsenal, Red filth standing for that?
We are just meek and its been a problem for us for a while.
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He's a prick, Enzo, but Christ we gave him the freedom of the final third to pick a pass last night.
An absolute prick that I would love in our team!!!
what 105 million gets you
And anoher £115m next to him in Caicedo.
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Watching back their goals, horrendous really. No pressure on ball a given but our defensive line between both centre backs was all over the place. Konsa's efforts stopping Pedro getting to the first were pathetic, Mings was similar for the earlier header that Martinez saved. Konsa ball watching for the second and Mings playing Pedro onside. Onana awol. Martinez piss poor for the third. We aren't defending the edge of our box well of late. Bogarde must have been 10 yards out of position for the fourth.
A lot to fix and not just by putting another body into midfield.