Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on April 30, 2026, 09:53:34 PM
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We don't like making it easy do we.
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Forest crap..Villa crap..ref crap
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Should have been better, could have been worse.
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C-
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Gash
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Horrible side to play.
Must do better next week.
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One-nil down at HT. Not the end of the world. Welcome to Fortress Villa Park next week.
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Make it special next week Villa
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They won't be happy with 1-0. We can turn it around.
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30 years of watching us melt in finals and semis. Im sick to fucking death of it!
We need to stick a rocket up the lot of them, if we dont make this final we are an embarrassment
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Fucking shit second half. Awful.
The ref and VAR, an utter disgrace.
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That was pretty bloody poor.
We have lost all sense of attacking purpose of late - we’re ponderous and aimless.
Terrible ref and just amateur from Digne.
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we're a competent referee and a goal at home away from taking control of this tie.
support the team.
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Nothing between the teams other than 2 key VAR calls that both went for them. Mostly cancelled each other out really.
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I knew this would happen. It's so fucking Villa.
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Cock Piss Partridge
Well we need a really special European night next week.
Can we do it?
Yes.
Will we?
Not sure
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Too many shit performances
Digne
Tielemans
Glass legs Onana
Mcginn
Bogarde fuck me
Buendia abysmal
Not over but we will need an early goal
Ref atrocious
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Poor play away again. Still it would have been 0-0 until Digne realised hands at the sides or low down gifts penalties in Europe so thought there was no way it would be given if stuck straight above his head.
Would have been a more interesting tie without Anderson for both of legs but we find the only European ref who is ok with Studs up challenges. And Emi keeps his save at the season against Forest but ending up on the losing side record going.
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Poor and against a side that whilst are better than their league position suggests, are still no great shakes. It’s another no show in a big game I’m afraid, no matter how some will want to dress it up. We seemed intent on trying to create the perfect goal.
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They can’t play any better and are 1-0 from a penalty. Villa Park next week will be a much different game.
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A moment of madness by Digne. An hour of madness by Buendia!
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C-
Very very generous
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Would've taken that before the game and def when they went 1-0 after Digne's brainfart.
We're going to need some sort of attacking verve over the next three games if we want to do owt this season.
Not entirely convinced where it is going to come from.
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Onana was superb, the rest were shit.
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Utterly predictable. Another toothless performance.
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Not a disaster, didn't expect it to be an easy game at all. Villa Park we will be better. Put Anderson in a Villa shirt and we win that.
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Sell Digne the hand raising twat
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They can’t play any better and are 1-0 from a penalty. Villa Park next week will be a much different game.
Need to start creating more as we don't usually.
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Cheating bastards. We, at least, draw that if the referee or VAR do their job, and would have a massive advantage with their star player out of the second leg. Pure cowardice.
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Too many shit performances
Digne
Tielemans
Glass legs Onana
Mcginn
Bogarde fuck me
Buendia abysmal
Not over but we will need an early goal
Ref atrocious
Mc Ginn was decent.
Buendia awful
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I’m a bit concerned that we’ve lost sight a bit of the fact it’s not all about control. Against Fulham and Forest we’ve allowed to win the games through doing very little.
We need to actually try and win games.
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We were doing more or less OK until Onana went off. He was making loads of interceptions with his telescopic legs.
After that, we just sort of scrapped our way to the end without creating a single chance.
Play like that again next week and it'll be curtains.
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1-0 down 0-0 whatever, Forest have the advantage but that is all they have, it was always the case that on this kind of result we would need 2 goals or more at Villa, I'm actually more confident we can win this now, than at the start of the game tonight.
We have only one way to play now and that's going forward. Forest have a lot to think about, that's not the way they play, they are not a considered side.
No problem.
Would add to this, we need to beat Spurs at the weekend at all costs.
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The result's not a catastrophe but that was pretty terrible. No pace, no urgency and the number of times a Villa player miscontrolled the ball or dawdled and gave it away was shocking.
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We were shit, don't care how Forest played
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Both teams created nothing, bit of a turgid game and they’ve got to come to a rocking VP. I’m confident we’ll do these.
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It all feels very Old Trafford from the last game of last season. No bollocks in this team in the big moments and big games.
Forest were very ordinary and we showed them far too much respect.
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Dog shit
Forest strangled the game after the penalty and they'll see it out next week. We've fucked yet another semi final
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I refuse to accept that elliot wouldn't have been a better option than either buendia or sancho
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Pretty shit tbh.
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Another weak ref at VP and we will likely be out. I am taking a big dislike to Forest and their dirty, cheating gamesmanship, very Leeds-like.
We played for the draw and lost. Buendia and Digne were very poor, SJM and Tielemans were very quiet and poor Onana injured again.
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Well, we have another chance to redeem ourselves and prove we aren’t bottling another big moment again, but we had nothing up front tonight.
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People losing their minds when there's a second leg at home. Look at the teams we've beaten at home in Europe over the last three years. We're still in the tie which is what you need in Europe. Goid teams are still in the tie when the lose by 2/3 more often than not.
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Would be very different if Anderson had been correctly sent off - he’d be suspended for the second leg too.
Clattered Watkins with his studs up - it’s irrelevant that his calf touched the ball on the follow through. Crazy decision.
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Anderson should be out of the game and second leg. Ref was a ******.
See you lot in a week, you absolute ******.
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We need to PSG them without conceding the early goals. We can do this.
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Once again Emi makes a spectacular save only to be rewarded for it by a defeat.
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No doubt that Bogarde struggled, he is such a big Stepdown from Kamara and Onana. Buendia very poor, Sancho lively and I reckon he will get the nod next week. People forget he was playing well prior to the Sunderland debacle.
If we are honest, we have struggled for fluency coming forward for much of the season. We don't create enough, teams double up on Rogers and we don't have players elsewhere to take advantage. It has to be the biggest priority in the summer.
Anderson excellent for them, aside from the ankle breaker. He is a quality player.
Shite to concede from a nothing situation. Tielemans, for all his attributes, needs to score more.
They are setting off fireworks and celebrating like they are through. Let's stick it to them next
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I was somewhat confused at the commentary almost being adamant that Digne tackle in the second half was lucky not to be a red compared to Anderson crunching Watkins above the ankle after glancing the ball.
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‘Prepared’…..change to ‘Shit the Bed’.
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Once again played well within ourselves but we can't do it every game so I hope we open up in the next two games.
I would've taken that before ko tbh. Emery did with the subs and the way we took no risks.
It was always a tricky place to go, and if the roles were reversed I wouldn't be too cocky going into a second leg there with just a one goal lead
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I'm going for pens next week, where all our practice will come to good use.
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A tale of two VAR calls. I thought Anderson and MGW were unfortunately head and shoulders above our midfield for large chunks of the game, so I hope we have a decent plan to do a better job on them next week.
My big fear is we've now played 180 minutes against this lot this month, and our only goal was an own-goal. I'd feel more confident about next week if we'd at least been creating some decent chances.
I am hoping Unai's plan was to keep it tight and maybe nick one, and it was undone by the VAR pen - because if we play like that next week, we're going out.
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We need to PSG them without conceding the early goals. We can do this.
PSGing them will only take us to penalties and a 4-2 loss on those. We need a three goal lead going into the 93rd minute.
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Buendia was dreadful. He ponders on the ball and then wonders why hes been dispossessed. Too many others didnt really turn up.
Its half time, lets see how next week goes but that was predictable and far too cautious. Hey ho
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Missing Onana for the 2nd leg would be a huge miss and Bogarde proving again why we were praying for Onana to be fit to start.
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Unfortunate penalty I thought. Very tight game with attacking players well held on both teams. Onana limping off a huge issue. Other three subs were lively I thought. Need a lot more from McGinn and Tielemans particularly.
Martinez 8 - one super save and solid as a rock in the air
Cash 8 - dealt with MGW really well, strong as ever defensively and poor as ever in the opposition box
Konsa 8 - best game for some time, cool, calm and composed
Torres 6 - distribution very mixed and nervy enough defensively
Digne 5 - poor first half, distribution average and shouldn't be in the team
Onana 7 - very strong first half but yet another muscle injury
Tielemans 5 - struggled once again with pace of game, Anderson utterly dominated
McGinn 6 - just a bit off it tonight, so was Williams. Need more from the captain next week
Buendia 5 - kept losing the ball in silly positions. Overcooking the Rogers through ball was particularly poor
Rogers 7 - strong second half and a decent out ball all night
Watkins 6 - battled hard but missed a huge chance
Bogarde isn't good enough on the ball, other three were lively in fairness. Would much prefer to see Luiz and Maatsen starting.
Emery 6 - predictable line up but faith in Bogarde is misplaced. Subs at least came on a bit earlier tonight.
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Frustrating. We were starting to get on top second half before conceding the penalty.
Onana seemed to walk off ok so not sure why he had to go off really. If it is a calf strain can he recover by next week?
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If we play like that next week we won’t win.
We have to be more dynamic.
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Yet again we fail to turn up in a semi final. Martinez was ok, Cash and Konsa passable, Buendia was their best player, utterly useless waste of a shirt, list the ball so many times, Watkins lacking yet again. Digne you fucking cock. McGinn was a passenger. Need to go for it next week.
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Can’t believe our players and management didn’t make more of the Anderson challenge. Shocking
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My worry is we went full strength and struggled. We are going to have to find the net somehow at Villa Park.
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Well, we have another chance to redeem ourselves and prove we aren’t bottling another big moment again, but we had nothing up front tonight.
Really don't understand why we bothered buying Abraham. Surely he can't be that bad? Less than zero can only be.
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We were doing more or less OK until Onana went off. He was making loads of interceptions with his telescopic legs.
After that, we just sort of scrapped our way to the end without creating a single chance.
Play like that again next week and it'll be curtains.
Watkins missed a sitter!
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Forest will score on the break next week. We won’t score 3. That was a fucking shite performance.
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Well, we have another chance to redeem ourselves and prove we aren’t bottling another big moment again, but we had nothing up front tonight.
Really don't understand why we bothered buying Abraham. Surely he can't be that bad? Less than zero can only be.
You’d be going to the manager in the summer and asking for a transfer.
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Too many shit performances
Digne
Tielemans
Glass legs Onana
Mcginn
Bogarde fuck me
Buendia abysmal
Not over but we will need an early goal
Ref atrocious
Mc Ginn was decent.
Buendia awful
Watkins and Rogers didn’t cover themselves in glory either
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Not the worst result.
Var is bollocks - I don’t understand it. I don’t understand how the Anderson tackle is not a red. When the video shows it was high over the ball and studs up.
I then don’t understand how the on pitch referee gives it out of play and then var says it wasn’t. Both are subjective views we don’t have the technology to know iif it was out or not - we don’t have the lines like we do for offside or the goal line tech.
I think it was an even game - the ref had a shocker and we were on the wrong end of it. Play at our best and we’ll still go through comfortably
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Blimey, there's been some shite on the match thread and on here. In the first away leg ofa 2-leg semi-final, the plan is to close down the opposition and minimise goals-conceded. That's what we did, and actually we played quite well, too.
Most of our players played well: Buendia was poor and I'm surprised he started (he's better as a sub), and Bogarde was slack and unreliable. For the rest, we did fine.
Bring in next Thursday!
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We need to PSG them without conceding the early goals. We can do this.
That's it, put another way, its half time we are 1-0 down, against a team very limited in what it can do, they either bludgeons you to death or nothing, I don't think their is anything to be dejected about.
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Watkins
People losing their minds when there's a second leg at home. Look at the teams we've beaten at home in Europe over the last three years. We're still in the tie which is what you need in Europe. Goid teams are still in the tie when the lose by 2/3 more often than not.
We failed to support anyone who received the bal up the field. No one near them after 4-5 seconds after they've received the ball every fucking time.
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Blimey, there's been some shite on the match thread and on here. In the first away leg ofa 2-leg semi-final, the plan is to close down the opposition and minimise goals-conceded. That's what we did, and actually we played quite well, too.
Most of our players played well: Buendia was poor and I'm surprised he started (he's better as a sub), and Bogarde was slack and unreliable. For the rest, we did fine.
Bring in next Thursday!
How did we play quite well?
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The ball wasn’t out. It was a monumentally Keith Curle decision from Digne.
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Well, we have another chance to redeem ourselves and prove we aren’t bottling another big moment again, but we had nothing up front tonight.
Really don't understand why we bothered buying Abraham. Surely he can't be that bad? Less than zero can only be.
That is the crucial question. We don’t have the resources that the teams above us have, yet we have the strange Elliot situation, the strange Tammy situation and the strange Malen situation.
If we don’t achieve our goals this year, whoever sanctioned those deals should be held accountable
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We were doing more or less OK until Onana went off. He was making loads of interceptions with his telescopic legs.
After that, we just sort of scrapped our way to the end without creating a single chance.
Play like that again next week and it'll be curtains.
Watkins missed a sitter!
And Youri's shot at the end - neither was a gilt-edged chance, but a chance nonetheless. Not much else though. (I wouldn't call Sancho's shot a 'chance', really)
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There was lots of tired, ropey performances, but Buendia was absolutely appalling.
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Nothing in that game, except for a soft penalty & an obvious red card. They created even less than us.
They will make it very difficult next week.
Buendia might as well have been playing for Forest.
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I can't see us scoring twice next Thursday
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If thought this Thursday was nerve-racking, just wait till next week.
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Next week, they are absolutely going to park the bus and protect the 1-0.
And that is precisely what we struggle against.
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With our tenancy to bottle big games in recent years and Forest seeming to come into better form and scoring loads in the last couple of games I expected a complete embarrassment and an unreversable scoreline so the fact that we're still in the tie is something. Concerning though about Onana and I agree that the main issue tonight and quite often lately is the final third, Watkins looks like he's not getting enough support and we keep giving the ball away. Really depends which Villa and which Forest turn up next week but failure of 5th place beating 16th place over two legs is another total bottle job. Please do better next week.
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Watkins People losing their minds when there's a second leg at home. Look at the teams we've beaten at home in Europe over the last three years. We're still in the tie which is what you need in Europe. Goid teams are still in the tie when the lose by 2/3 more often than not.
We failed to support anyone who received the bal up the field. No one near them after 4-5 seconds after they've received the ball every fucking time.
My hope is that was just playing to the plan. Calm, composed, and not taking risks. I am hoping the home leg will be different. No gun-ho, obviously (not Unai's style), but I would hope to see more urgency and a bit more willingness to attack in numbers.
Unfortunately, they looked pretty tidy on the break, which makes me nervous as I expect we'll dominate the ball next week, and they'll just be looking to pick us off with breaks when we lose the ball.
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I thought it was a penalty but also thought Anderson’s was a clear a red as possible. It was a shocking challenge.
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Next week, they are absolutely going to park the bus and protect the 1-0.
And that is precisely what we struggle against.
Yep it’s played into their hands, and at the moment Unai doesn’t appear particularly able to get us to react when we’re behind.
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I can't see us scoring twice next Thursday
I doubt we’d score twice in training between now and then.
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Just a bit of VAR housekeeping, if they awarded the goal kick, should they really have gone back to then check the handball? Just thinking back to Rogers at Old Trafford - the ref apparently couldn't go back and review that decision of the foul on tne keeper.
Let's be honest, there have been a lot of those type of away performances this season, so it doesn't really come as a surprise
We've been a different proposition at home on the whole though, so we'll see.
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We are experts at finding ways to lose.
Terrible performance in a semi final yet again but this time we have another chance. Balls that up and I give in.
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Well, we have another chance to redeem ourselves and prove we aren’t bottling another big moment again, but we had nothing up front tonight.
Really don't understand why we bothered buying Abraham. Surely he can't be that bad? Less than zero can only be.
This is a good point, where are these players, were is Allyson, and the other player who's name has escaped me he's been mentioned so little, the 2 cost 20ML, are we saying these players can't even muster a run out from time to time or have we sent them to terraform Mars or something.
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We can be so much better , I dont think they can.
Still in it but need to bloody improve loads , Im sure next week they will.
Ref was awful , be nice to see buendia control the ball and players pass to each other thou.
No creativity , no width and no intensity again. Too many games like this.
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Well, we have another chance to redeem ourselves and prove we aren’t bottling another big moment again, but we had nothing up front tonight.
Really don't understand why we bothered buying Abraham. Surely he can't be that bad? Less than zero can only be.
You’d be going to the manager in the summer and asking for a transfer.
I've been thinking that for the last few months, Leon.
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Blimey, there's been some shite on the match thread and on here. In the first away leg ofa 2-leg semi-final, the plan is to close down the opposition and minimise goals-conceded. That's what we did, and actually we played quite well, too.
Most of our players played well: Buendia was poor and I'm surprised he started (he's better as a sub), and Bogarde was slack and unreliable. For the rest, we did fine.
Bring in next Thursday!
We were poor and with the help of the weaknref, gifted them the game.
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Next week, they are absolutely going to park the bus and protect the 1-0.
And that is precisely what we struggle against.
Exactly what i'm thinking. Forest can smell the final.
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With our tenancy to bottle big games in recent years and Forest seeming to come into better form and scoring loads in the last couple of games I expected a complete embarrassment and an unreversable scoreline so the fact that we're still in the tie is something.
Same as that.
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Watkins People losing their minds when there's a second leg at home. Look at the teams we've beaten at home in Europe over the last three years. We're still in the tie which is what you need in Europe. Goid teams are still in the tie when the lose by 2/3 more often than not.
We failed to support anyone who received the bal up the field. No one near them after 4-5 seconds after they've received the ball every fucking time.
Hopefully the noise of the crowd will inspire more energy at home. They were allowed too much space but apart from the Emi wonder save did nothing with it.
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There was lots of tired, ropey performances, but Buendia was absolutely appalling.
I’m not one to criticise a player but Buendia had a right stinker tonight and was driving me nuts.
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Disappointed with the way we played more than the scoreline. Hopefully a rocking Villa Park will see us through but it needs to be better.
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We're hoping two insipid attacking performances becomes razor sharp again. The only difference we have is what is fans can provide at Villa Park. We will step up, but do I have faith the players will?
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Blimey, there's been some shite on the match thread and on here. In the first away leg ofa 2-leg semi-final, the plan is to close down the opposition and minimise goals-conceded. That's what we did, and actually we played quite well, too.
Most of our players played well: Buendia was poor and I'm surprised he started (he's better as a sub), and Bogarde was slack and unreliable. For the rest, we did fine.
Bring in next Thursday!
How did we play quite well?
Defended well, moved the ball well, created chances, caused them problems ... conceded an unfortunate penalty.
It's halftime!!
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We’ve been poor for about half the season. Just a great purple patch after the shocking start until just after new year has got us even close plus other teams inconsistencies.
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Blimey, there's been some shite on the match thread and on here. In the first away leg ofa 2-leg semi-final, the plan is to close down the opposition and minimise goals-conceded. That's what we did, and actually we played quite well, too.
Most of our players played well: Buendia was poor and I'm surprised he started (he's better as a sub), and Bogarde was slack and unreliable. For the rest, we did fine.
Bring in next Thursday!
This takes the biscuit from a talking drivel perspective.
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We were doing more or less OK until Onana went off. He was making loads of interceptions with his telescopic legs.
After that, we just sort of scrapped our way to the end without creating a single chance.
Play like that again next week and it'll be curtains.
Watkins missed a sitter!
And Youri's shot at the end - neither was a gilt-edged chance, but a chance nonetheless. Not much else though. (I wouldn't call Sancho's shot a 'chance', really)
Tielemans was a shit effort, make him save it anyway. He's miles off it in my view. Sancho, Rogers etc efforts you expect the keeper to save them. Our set pieces were shit tonight too.
I think Maatsen into the team can give us a lot more legs in second leg, no idea why Digne is playing so much last couple of months. Buendia might be dropped too. Clear Emery hasn't much faith in Luiz but give him 60-70 mins at weekend with Tielemans at 10 and see how they go. Give Rogers a breather.
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Next week, they are absolutely going to park the bus and protect the 1-0.
And that is precisely what we struggle against.
Exactly what i'm thinking. Forest can smell the final.
Thank fuck they didn't go down to 10 as IMO were the worst team with aan advantage I've ever seen and that extends back to the late 90s.
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Next week, they are absolutely going to park the bus and protect the 1-0.
And that is precisely what we struggle against.
The way they saw the game out they should be fairly confident of succeeding. They reminded me of us first half of the season.
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I’m in Asia so have been out till after 4 am watching that so apologies for emotion.
Fuck me Digne what an idiot. Firstly I’m
Not sure he knew blonde boy was going for the ball and was slow to react. Secondly don’t wave your pissing arms in the air like a Honolulu dancer. Absolute amateur shite making the refs life simple when the ball just needed shepherding out.
They won all the midfield duels and were first to every second ball. We were tepid and off the pace all round the pitch. I honestly couldn’t name an outfield MOM.
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I thought we didn’t get much from the ref, they didn’t create much but neither did we. Buendia and Bogarde had shockers, but lots of our players a bit flat. I’m just gutted to be honest. We’ve been better than Forest for a couple of years, but when it mattered we didn’t get big performances out of Rogers, Tielemans, Watkins, McGinn, just like Olympiacos. Hopefully we pick things up next week but only Konsa, Martinez and Onana pre-injury come out with much credit tonight in our biggest game of the season.
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Blimey, there's been some shite on the match thread and on here. In the first away leg ofa 2-leg semi-final, the plan is to close down the opposition and minimise goals-conceded. That's what we did, and actually we played quite well, too.
Most of our players played well: Buendia was poor and I'm surprised he started (he's better as a sub), and Bogarde was slack and unreliable. For the rest, we did fine.
Bring in next Thursday!
We were poor and with the help of the weaknref, gifted them the game.
Yes I admire the optimism, and we might turn it round at Villa Park. But if you don’t set out to score goals/don’t have a coherent way to get them you’re always exposed. Two consecutive 1-0 defeats away won’t be good for confidence. We are under pressure now.
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Blimey, there's been some shite on the match thread and on here. In the first away leg ofa 2-leg semi-final, the plan is to close down the opposition and minimise goals-conceded. That's what we did, and actually we played quite well, too.
Most of our players played well: Buendia was poor and I'm surprised he started (he's better as a sub), and Bogarde was slack and unreliable. For the rest, we did fine.
Bring in next Thursday!
How did we play quite well?
Defended well, moved the ball well, created chances, caused them problems ... conceded an unfortunate penalty.
It's halftime!!
We created one chance of note that I can recall: a deflected shot that fell to Watkins. Difficult opportunity. Let’s not forget that Forrest are in a relegation battle. Jesus expectations are low.
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Onana was superb, the rest were shit.
Konsa and Big Emi played well
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Still think the ball was out for the pen.
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We have to completely go for the neck from the off next week. Shit result and less than great performance.
We need to be better next week. Much much better.
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Well, we have another chance to redeem ourselves and prove we aren’t bottling another big moment again, but we had nothing up front tonight.
Really don't understand why we bothered buying Abraham. Surely he can't be that bad? Less than zero can only be.
You’d be going to the manager in the summer and asking for a transfer.
I've been thinking that for the last few months, Leon.
And to add to this; we know we need a turnover of players. I wouldn’t trust the current set up to replace or improve what we have.
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It's commendable trying to have perspective on tonight and the chances of turning it over next week, but talking about how comfortable we were in large part is a red herring. I wasn't concerned about us being uncomfortable, I was concerned about us doing something utterly fucking dumb or being on the wrong end of a dumb decision. I'm still worried about it, even if we play with the shackles off at Villa Park. I don't doubt our talent pool but our concentration absolutely sucks.
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Next week will be a very different game, no way does Forest have what it takes to 'Park the Bus' for ninety minutes, away from home, at Villa Park, we are just 1 goal down.
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3 semis on the trot,piss poor really even if it is only half time. Toothless up front yet again.
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We were largely comfortable, but we didn’t look like we had an attacking plan at all. You should be pretty comfortable if you’re just focussed on control, the problem is it’s a fucking mountain to climb if you concede first - as we’ve seen the last two games. Compounded by the fact we have no pace in our side really.
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I don't think we played that badly really and their goal was ridiculous. Concerned about the goals drying up last couple but we've scored eight in our last two home matches.
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Blimey, there's been some shite on the match thread and on here. In the first away leg ofa 2-leg semi-final, the plan is to close down the opposition and minimise goals-conceded. That's what we did, and actually we played quite well, too.
Most of our players played well: Buendia was poor and I'm surprised he started (he's better as a sub), and Bogarde was slack and unreliable. For the rest, we did fine.
Bring in next Thursday!
How did we play quite well?
Defended well, moved the ball well, created chances, caused them problems ... conceded an unfortunate penalty.
It's halftime!!
..we didn't move the ball well, we didn't create chances(their goalie had a very quiet night) and we didn't cause them problems..
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Buendia keeps his place because he drops back to defend but his touch is woeful, his golden spell is definately over, Bogarde coming on after his disaster last game is a head scratcher. We had better players on the bench but Unai doesn't play them. We are too reliant on Rogers performing miracles each game. I worry that we have fallen away at precisely the wrong time and I don't fancy us next game against a side trying to avoid relegation, lose that one and we are in dire straits.
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We need Tielemans pre injury back. He’s still way off his best.
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If somebody could explain to me how Anderton stays on the pitch I'd appreciate it.
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Forest created one real chance - the Dibu wonder save. And the pen.
Ortega made 2 decent saves in the first half and blocked Ollie's effort in the 2nd half.
Onana went off injured - should be back for the 2nd leg.
The ref/VAR were cretinous re Anderson's tackle on Watkins - a yellow at least, probably a red, but not even reviewed - how so?
Gloom and doom as ever when we lose.
Needed to be more opportunistic/aggressive when we broke forward - perhaps some shots from distance Duran style?
A rocking Villa Park next week channelling our PSG vibe - should see us through.
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It does have the distinct feeling of a deflating balloon with no obvious puncture.
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It's like we can't go up that extra gear to finish off teams and we get in a rut for a few games until we discover we have an extra level and then we look world beaters again. We have it in us to put Forest away, but we seem content to play within outselves and tiptap the ball around with no end product. Need to find our Mojo fast or we are done in the second leg. They'll sit back.
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If somebody could explain to me how Anderton stays on the pitch I'd appreciate it.
We were all too polite
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We played ok. We know what we are capable of when we play well and tonight wasn't it.
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Too many shit performances
Digne
Tielemans
Glass legs Onana
Mcginn
Bogarde fuck me
Buendia abysmal
Not over but we will need an early goal
Ref atrocious
Onana played well.
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Genuine question - can Anderson be retrospectively punished? Or is that gone? I’m outraged that he did that and waved Ollie to get up.
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These ****** think they've won it. Fireworks the lot, the 6 fingered fucking slags.
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Buendia has had his moments but as the season has gone on its become more obvious that he should only really be used as a super sub, when the opposition are fucked and he can hurt them with fresh legs and clever play around the penalty area. As a starter he's mostly a liability.
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Next week is going to be the defining moment in Unai’s tenure.
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Rogers, for a bloody big fella, is getting knocked off the ball far too easily lately. A far cry from the player who had Declan Rice bouncing off him when he broke into the team.
If he’s being doubled up on, stop holding onto the ball so long and bloody release it!
Fuming! How many more times are we going to shit the bed when it matters?!
Forward play across the team was abysmal tonight. If Onana is missing next week. I think we can kiss goodbye to Istanbul.
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Onana was superb, the rest were shit.
Konsa and Big Emi played well
Actually, you’re quite right, Konsa did play very and after Onana went off it was really only him trying to drive us forward.
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VAR is supposed to be there for clear and obvious errors, yet can call a ball a millimetre in play, and not call a near leg breaking challenge.
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Onana was really good
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It was actually the kind of performance i feared tonight. It's carried over from the Fulham game.
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If somebody could explain to me how Anderton stays on the pitch I'd appreciate it.
We were all too polite
There’s something to be said how other teams chase down a ref and we don’t.
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Rogers, for a bloody big fella, is getting knocked off the ball far too easily lately. A far cry from the player who had Declan Rice bouncing off him when he broke into the team.
If he’s being doubled up on, stop holding onto the ball so long and bloody release it!
Fuming! How many more times are we going to shit the bed when it matters?!
Forward play across the team was abysmal tonight. If Onana is missing next week. I think we can kiss goodbye to Istanbul.
Well part of the problem with that is he often had no one around him to give the ball. The absence of movement, and running from midfield makes it so bloody difficult.
I don’t want to labour on it, but Buendia was so bad it was scarcely believable.
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Still think the ball was out for the pen.
Agreed. I certainly didn’t see anything that conclusively proved that it wasn’t out. The frame of the goal is in front of the ball, which means it is closer, which due to the laws of perspective means it is bigger.
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Complacency...a reminder!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21022502
After this I have no doubt we can fuck it up next week!
:-(
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Assuming Onana is out for next week Unai now has a huge dilemma again. McGinn more central maybe and a Sancho start. Forest got a penalty tonight when we were so comfortable. They are certainly getting these slices of good fortune in this Europa Cup at key moments. It is annoying that Villa don't impose ourselves in an attacking sense on these away games. Forest looked very ordinary yet we couldn't raise our levels which is a real worry. This team simply have to get over the line next Thursday. The fallout will quite rightly point to constant failure in the crucial games.
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Rogers, for a bloody big fella, is getting knocked off the ball far too easily lately. A far cry from the player who had Declan Rice bouncing off him when he broke into the team.
If he’s being doubled up on, stop holding onto the ball so long and bloody release it!
Fuming! How many more times are we going to shit the bed when it matters?!
Forward play across the team was abysmal tonight. If Onana is missing next week. I think we can kiss goodbye to Istanbul.
Well part of the problem with that is he often had no one around him to give the ball. The absence of movement, and running from midfield makes it so bloody difficult.
I don’t want to labour on it, but Buendia was so bad it was scarcely believable.
As soon as Rogers has the ball he’s surrounded by three or four players. This should give space to anyone trying to capitalise on that, but we lack the quality in the final third sometimes.
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Still think the ball was out for the pen.
Agreed. I certainly didn’t see anything that conclusively proved that it wasn’t out. The frame of the goal is in front of the ball, which means it is closer, which due to the laws of perspective means it is bigger.
Ball wasn't out, and Digne was a dick in the moment.
Not the result we wanted but we are still in this.
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It's half time and 1-0 down is not a bad result. Next Thursday night, Villa Park must play its part - we can do this! UTV.
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andy reid is a c&&&
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In fact win fuck all again and I'm going to question "what's the point?"
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Stupid pen to give away was looking an almost certain nil nil, hopefully Onana wtll be fit for next week, we missed him badly when he went off. Buendia was dreadful, should have been subbed at half time.
It's 50/50 going into next week, the way the players were playing endless passes across the back 4 in the last few minutes, it seemed they were happy with the score. The best move of the match was saved until the 90th min, started with a quick throw out from Emi and ended with Tielemans striking the ball over the bar.
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Onana calf. Unai said we will work on him next few days
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These ****** think they've won it. Fireworks the lot, the 6 fingered fucking slags.
I do enjoy you when you're angry.
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He’s not playing against spurs.
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Hush up Karen Carney. Go get a shave.
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Forest created one real chance - the Dibu wonder save. And the pen.
Ortega made 2 decent saves in the first half and blocked Ollie's effort in the 2nd half.
Onana went off injured - should be back for the 2nd leg.
The ref/VAR were cretinous re Anderson's tackle on Watkins - a yellow at least, probably a red, but not even reviewed - how so?
Gloom and doom as ever when we lose.
Needed to be more opportunistic/aggressive when we broke forward - perhaps some shots from distance Duran style?
A rocking Villa Park next week channelling our PSG vibe - should see us through.
Exactly.
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Welcome to Villa Unai.
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa
Unai Emery lost a leg of a Europa League semi-final for the first time since his Sevilla side lost 3-1 at Valencia in May 2014, having gone unbeaten in eight straight semi-final matches in the competition before today (W6 D2
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Could try Luiz and McGinn in middle v Spurs. Interesting that Sancho came onto the left tonight and Rogers went right. Still there for us but we need a strong performance v Spurs to tee us up nicely for it.
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On Andy Reid’s argument that Anderson won the ball and it was just a coming together between two players: What the actual fuck?Anderson went over the top of the ball with his studs up and went into Watkins’ ankle
With his full momentum. That is the definition of being out of control.
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Deep down, I think Unai will not be to disappointed with that result. Even our players seemed to settle for 1-0.
We all know what Villa Park is like on a big european night and I reckon the villans in the crowd will roar/energise the lads over the line. We will be set up to attack with a lot more intent and I didn't see anything from Forest tonight to worry us on the counter attack.
It will be all guns blazing in the second half.
3-1 Villa on aggregate
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Welcome to Villa Unai.
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Aston Villa
Unai Emery lost a leg of a Europa League semi-final for the first time since his Sevilla side lost 3-1 at Valencia in May 2014, having gone unbeaten in eight straight semi-final matches in the competition before today (W6 D2
Well it’s 4 semi-final games played 4 lost for us so far. Hopefully the 5th times a charm.
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Will we actually turn up? And if we don’t what is the point of even competing. Made it harder for ourselves than needs be. I am not happy going into next week a goal down. But predictable as this is Aston rabbit in the headlights Villa.
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With previous Emery teams, 1-0 down against Forest with the home leg still to go, I’d absolutely fancy us.
That’s not the case at the minute - I’m not sure this team has it in them. I hope I’m wrong.
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Carrying on from before the match, I don't think I've ever seen a more biased report than Nick the prick Mashiter on the BBC.
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On Andy Reid’s argument that Anderson won the ball and it was just a coming together between two players: What the actual fuck?Anderson went over the top of the ball with his studs up and went into Watkins’ ankle
With his full momentum. That is the definition of being out of control.
Would have been a red in the Premier League. I'm still a bit puzzled by the process of the penalty award. He clearly gave a goal kick, so for a penalty to be awarded, they had to overturn the goal kick decision first and I'm not sure how they could do that.
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Another manager we've destroyed!
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And another one! (Villa no-show in a semi-final)
Thank goodness it's only 1-0
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I must've misunderstood and we've been knocked out tonight. I'm gonna give people the benefit of the doubt and presume beers have been consumed. Jesus.
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On Andy Reid’s argument that Anderson won the ball and it was just a coming together between two players: What the actual fuck?Anderson went over the top of the ball with his studs up and went into Watkins’ ankle
With his full momentum. That is the definition of being out of control.
Would have been a red in the Premier League. I'm still a bit puzzled by the process of the penalty award. He clearly gave a goal kick, so for a penalty to be awarded, they had to overturn the goal kick decision first and I'm not sure how they could do that.
It was clearly not fully over the line as shown by several angles. Its just unforgivable from Digne
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Fucking, I just hate Villa.
I was born in 1990, I don't really remember the 90s League Cups. However - I remember the worst FA Cup final in history, I remember the Vidic-Terry diumverate of fuck in 2010, I remember the Bradford debacle, the Arsenal debacle, the Olympiakos debacle, the Crystal Palace debacle.
And now this fucking shit. It's always something. I suppose the atrocious Anderson decision (reminded me irresistibly of Gerrard's red on Boateng some 25 years ago) makes a bit of a triumvirate of fuck, albeit from an absolute homer of a ref rather than a craven sycophant. But it's also a shiteshow. What in the fuck Digne, a reliable and experienced player, was thinking...We managed turn a 0-0 into a 0-1 with that shit.
I'm just sick of it. I'm sick of our biggest games being always our worst performances. I'm sick of our bad form whenever the business end happens, whether our coach is one of the best in the business or Tim actual Sherwood (sorry Unai, your Europa League magic is no match for The Curse). I'm sick of it always being fucking something, we never just have a nice, good day. And I wouldn't mind as much if we never got close, it's the endless fandancing that annoys me. Like, for Christ's sake Salome, either take it off or put it all away and stop bothering me.
No problem with Forest, proper club, not their fault they got that ref, I'm sure we'd be happy as anything with the roles reversed and I can't blame them. It's not like they're Chelsea.
At least there's the second leg. Lol.
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Last season I called us "The New Spurs" because we have become the stereotypical "Bottlers" - but I suppose it could be worse? Although our "nearest and dearest" have the shout that they were the last West Midlands team to win a trophy :-(
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Last season I called us "The New Spurs" because we have become the stereotypical "Bottlers" - but I suppose it could be worse? Although our "nearest and dearest" have the shout that they were the last West Midlands team to win a trophy :-(
It's half time!
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Terry's tackle on Milner comes to mind.
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Mentality is just something that can't be coached. You earn it through putting everything on the line to win. How many Villa players since those League Cups can you say we've had that applies to?
Turn up, get the flags out, have a picnic and go home skint. That's how Villa do things. If we ever want it to stop, next week has to be the time, because if we don't do it then, we never will again.
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What concerns me is the lack of chances we created, again.
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On Andy Reid’s argument that Anderson won the ball and it was just a coming together between two players: What the actual fuck?Anderson went over the top of the ball with his studs up and went into Watkins’ ankle
With his full momentum. That is the definition of being out of control.
Would have been a red in the Premier League. I'm still a bit puzzled by the process of the penalty award. He clearly gave a goal kick, so for a penalty to be awarded, they had to overturn the goal kick decision first and I'm not sure how they could do that.
As said above, the referee gave a goal kick award. As far as I am aware the VAR has no decision to make regarding goal kicks or corner kicks. Therefore how come the VAR got involved when the referee had made the decision that the ball went out of play and awarded a goal kick.
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Predictable negativity to an OK result.
We'll win the second leg comfortably.
See you after the second leg.
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I do not and WILL NOT believe that Monty is ten years younger than me.
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In fact win fuck all again and I'm going to question "what's the point?"
Bye.
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We're a different beast at home. We'll be fine next week.
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Predictable negativity to an OK result.
We'll win the second leg comfortably.
See you after the second leg.
Exactly this.
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Predictable negativity to an OK result.
We'll win the second leg comfortably.
See you after the second leg.
If he plays Rogers in the middle and picks old man Digne again next week, I wouldn’t be so confident, to be honest.
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It is highly annoying and would be just so, fucking so Villa, to manage to fuck this up.
However, it's only 1-0, and turgid though we were at times, and have been away for a long while now, it was very nearly 0-0. We can do Forest at home, no doubt about that.
We just need to fucking deliver and get it done. No more final (or final minus one) hurdle fuck ups, Villa.
I don't see us ever having a better manager than this one, and better owners than these, so if we still manage to not win anything this season, or not qualify for the CL, I reckon we all just find a new hobby.
Because that, too, would be SO Villa.
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We show no nous going forwards. Massive up hill battle now because they'll put everyone behind the ball and hope we get edgy and make a nervous mistake.
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On Andy Reid’s argument that Anderson won the ball and it was just a coming together between two players: What the actual fuck?Anderson went over the top of the ball with his studs up and went into Watkins’ ankle
With his full momentum. That is the definition of being out of control.
Would have been a red in the Premier League. I'm still a bit puzzled by the process of the penalty award. He clearly gave a goal kick, so for a penalty to be awarded, they had to overturn the goal kick decision first and I'm not sure how they could do that.
As said above, the referee gave a goal kick award. As far as I am aware the VAR has no decision to make regarding goal kicks or corner kicks. Therefore how come the VAR got involved when the referee had made the decision that the ball went out of play and awarded a goal kick.
That's what I don't get. In the one still they showed it was pretty clear the ball had left the Forest player's foot so wasn't accurate. Take the Rogers goal at Old Trafford last season. The referee gave a foul, but we were told that they could not go back and look at that decision even though it was wrong.
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Not going to litigate the pen, would've been apoplectic not to have got it the other way. It's just a tale of two VARs - or rather, of one dog that didn't VARk in the nighttime.
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We show no nous going forwards. Massive up hill battle now because they'll put everyone behind the ball and hope we get edgy and make a nervous mistake.
Getting worse over the last 3 seasons.
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We need a much more attacking line up next week.
Maatsen & Sancho to start. No Digne or Buendia.
Forest will definitely park the bus.
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The ball wasn’t out. It was a monumentally Keith Curle decision from Digne.
Nothing like the Keith Curle penalty. I clearly remember him catching the ball with both hands, running to the ref blowing on his whistle putting the ball on the penalty spot then stamping on his own keepers hands while muttering f*ck you Man U.
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We show no nous going forwards. Massive up hill battle now because they'll put everyone behind the ball and hope we get edgy and make a nervous mistake.
Getting worse over the last 3 seasons.
I'm gonna blow your minds here. it's because our attack, as a collective, isn't top level. It was better last season and the season before. But we're still in the Champions League spots, comfortably, and have a one goal deficit going into the home leg of a European semi-final.
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We show no nous going forwards. Massive up hill battle now because they'll put everyone behind the ball and hope we get edgy and make a nervous mistake.
Getting worse over the last 3 seasons.
I'm gonna blow your minds here. it's because our attack, as a collective, isn't top level. It was better last season and the season before. But we're still in the Champions League spots, comfortably, and have a one goal deficit going into the home leg of a European semi-final.
Nah, we’re shit and the tie is lost. No point turning up next week.
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Result based on VAR intervening on one big call and not another.
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Result based on VAR intervening on one big call and not another.
Agreed. The one doesn't happen if the other is called correctly either. What can you do?
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We show no nous going forwards. Massive up hill battle now because they'll put everyone behind the ball and hope we get edgy and make a nervous mistake.
Getting worse over the last 3 seasons.
I'm gonna blow your minds here. it's because our attack, as a collective, isn't top level. It was better last season and the season before. But we're still in the Champions League spots, comfortably, and have a one goal deficit going into the home leg of a European semi-final.
Nah, we’re shit and the tie is lost. No point turning up next week.
Call it off. We're Villa. We're shit. Last time I checked we were in the Championship 6/7 years ago. That was shit. This is great.
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Last season I called us "The New Spurs" because we have become the stereotypical "Bottlers" - but I suppose it could be worse? Although our "nearest and dearest" have the shout that they were the last West Midlands team to win a trophy :-(
I suggest you go and support another side or take up another hobby
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It feels like some sort of collective breakdown brought on by us having too much riding on the competition because the wait has been so long for silverware.
We have 7 days to get it out of our system and make Villa Park roar us over the line.
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First time I can remember Emery being very vocal about the decision not to send off Anderson. He's not very happy at all.
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Thank you
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Bit of a nothing game with neither team willing to commit the players forward needed to make it better.
The game plan nearly worked, Digne is a fucking idiot.
I wasn’t confident before so not unduly terrified going into the second leg 1 down.
The Anderson tackle, mistimed. I honestly thought the ref was really good letting the game flow and the tackles land
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Sorry if this was posted earlier. Rare you hear Unai being so scathing about any officiating but he was livid at VAR for not reviewing the foul on Ollie
https://xcancel.com/footballontnt/status/2049965814975955165?s=46
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Unai was right in the sight line and didn’t react, he immediately looked away and gave someone else a bollocking
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First time I can remember Emery being very vocal about the decision not to send off Anderson. He's not very happy at all.
Long overdue really. We might not like it and hate it when others do it but we’ve been far too passive about past poor decisions that have gone against us in the past and we’ve had to tolerate some absolute whoppers.
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Fucking, I just hate Villa.
I was born in 1990, I don't really remember the 90s League Cups. However - I remember the worst FA Cup final in history, I remember the Vidic-Terry diumverate of fuck in 2010, I remember the Bradford debacle, the Arsenal debacle, the Olympiakos debacle, the Crystal Palace debacle.
And now this fucking shit. It's always something. I suppose the atrocious Anderson decision (reminded me irresistibly of Gerrard's red on Boateng some 25 years ago) makes a bit of a triumvirate of fuck, albeit from an absolute homer of a ref rather than a craven sycophant. But it's also a shiteshow. What in the fuck Digne, a reliable and experienced player, was thinking...We managed turn a 0-0 into a 0-1 with that shit.
I'm just sick of it. I'm sick of our biggest games being always our worst performances. I'm sick of our bad form whenever the business end happens, whether our coach is one of the best in the business or Tim actual Sherwood (sorry Unai, your Europa League magic is no match for The Curse). I'm sick of it always being fucking something, we never just have a nice, good day. And I wouldn't mind as much if we never got close, it's the endless fandancing that annoys me. Like, for Christ's sake Salome, either take it off or put it all away and stop bothering me.
No problem with Forest, proper club, not their fault they got that ref, I'm sure we'd be happy as anything with the roles reversed and I can't blame them. It's not like they're Chelsea.
At least there's the second leg. Lol.
I'm the same age mate. Seen Bolton, Palace, Bradford and countless other shithouse teams confidently dispatch us when it matters.
Starting to become a bit numb to it tbh, it's almost more painful to get so so close and fail so often than to never get anywhere near.
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Sorry if this was posted earlier. Rare you hear Unai being so scathing about any officiating but he was livid at VAR for not reviewing the foul on Ollie
https://xcancel.com/footballontnt/status/2049965814975955165?s=46
Yep, tells its own story. Still goes out of his way to praise the ref, to say it wasn't his fault, to be a gent about it all, but yeah. Insane that the VAR hasn't sent the ref to the monitor over that.
I think it's the outrage over player safety that's sent him over the edge tbh. Like, reds for hairpulling but not for possible ankle-breakers? It's not right.