Post by: PeterWithesShin on May 03, 2026, 08:55:36 PM
Post by: Tuscans on May 03, 2026, 08:56:02 PM
Post by: Tuscans on May 03, 2026, 08:56:42 PM
Post by: Demitri_C on May 03, 2026, 08:56:57 PM
Post by: Villan82 on May 03, 2026, 08:57:05 PM
Post by: N'ZMAV on May 03, 2026, 08:57:27 PM
Post by: Toronto Villa on May 03, 2026, 08:57:37 PM
Post by: LukeJames on May 03, 2026, 08:57:46 PM
The only problem with that is we also adapted that gameplan at Fulham last week and then we weren't exactly decent at Forest anyway.
Post by: Proposition Joe on May 03, 2026, 08:58:00 PM
I hate Liverpool
I hate Arsenal
I hate Wolves
I hate Blues
I hate Oldham
I hate Brentford
On days like today, I hate Villa more than any of them.
Post by: brontebilly on May 03, 2026, 08:58:11 PM
Post by: Holy Trinity on May 03, 2026, 08:58:29 PM
No fight, total lower mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
Post by: Somniloquism on May 03, 2026, 08:58:35 PM
Post by: Smirker on May 03, 2026, 08:58:40 PM
We could regret that in a year or two if Spurs end up sorting themselves out. We could have sent them down.
Fucking joke.
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on May 03, 2026, 08:58:43 PM
Post by: Deano's Mullet on May 03, 2026, 08:58:48 PM
Post by: Holy Trinity on May 03, 2026, 08:58:49 PM
Every player is up for sale in the summer, not 1 player deserves to be here.
No fight, total loser mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
So angry I messed up an edit
Post by: AlexAlexCropley on May 03, 2026, 08:58:53 PM
Post by: itmustbe_it is! on May 03, 2026, 08:59:01 PM
Post by: Caribbeanvillan on May 03, 2026, 08:59:07 PM
Post by: Mellin on May 03, 2026, 08:59:10 PM
Post by: curiousorange on May 03, 2026, 08:59:25 PM
Post by: BoVillan esq on May 03, 2026, 08:59:48 PM
Post by: OzVilla on May 03, 2026, 08:59:58 PM
You’d almost think they bunged us a few quid to do that. Massive missed opportunity on so many levels.
Post by: Toronto Villa on May 03, 2026, 09:00:21 PM
This will be forgotten when we win on Thursday
we will win 1-0 and lose on penalties. We will miss all of them.
Post by: TopDeck113 on May 03, 2026, 09:00:27 PM
Remember ten years ago when we were as shit as Spurs (well shitter if we're honest), how many teams chasing Champions League qualification rolled over for us? Fucking none. But Villa? Every time. This will come back to haunt us in both the short and medium term.
Post by: passport1 on May 03, 2026, 09:00:41 PM
Post by: Monty on May 03, 2026, 09:00:45 PM
Also - hate for Watkins, for Pau, for Onana, for Konsa? sorry but naff off. Look what happens without them. Mings isn't good enough, Barkley's mostly not good enough, Abraham is aggressively not good enough, Sancho should be in jail, Lindelof is (broadly) good enough but not as good as Konsa. Apologies for those guys c/o Aston Villa Player Liaison.
Post by: pelty on May 03, 2026, 09:00:58 PM
Every player is up for sale in the summer, not 1 player deserves to be here.
No fight, total lower mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
If that is his attitude, I hope he does. That performance is as much on him as anyone else. Disgraceful team selection with CL on the line.
Post by: Steve67 on May 03, 2026, 09:01:38 PM
Post by: Caribbeanvillan on May 03, 2026, 09:01:47 PM
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on May 03, 2026, 09:01:50 PM
Post by: Lizz on May 03, 2026, 09:01:54 PM
Post by: Somniloquism on May 03, 2026, 09:02:14 PM
Beggers belief, we could now have been celebrating Champions League next season, (bar the shouting), now we go into a 2nd leg against a team that will be seriously buoyed by this result and that includes factoring in the 7 player laid off tonight because they have already beaten them.And the fans would have been buzzing for Thursday. Now they just had a massive public show of how Emery and the players just don't care about them at all.
Post by: TaxDodger on May 03, 2026, 09:02:14 PM
Post by: Monty on May 03, 2026, 09:02:50 PM
Every player is up for sale in the summer, not 1 player deserves to be here.
No fight, total lower mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
If that is his attitude, I hope he does. That performance is as much on him as anyone else. Disgraceful team selection with CL on the line.
You're really odd.
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 03, 2026, 09:02:52 PM
Post by: Somniloquism on May 03, 2026, 09:02:56 PM
Can't remember a team (forget a shit team) that dominated us for 90 minutes at Villa Park.
Did they dominate us or did just none of our staff even care about today?
Post by: pauliewalnuts on May 03, 2026, 09:02:58 PM
At a certain pointpoint, I said to the Mrs, “ it’s weird. I feel like describing this as ‘beautiful’ or even ‘incredible’ is doing it a disservice, those words just do not even get near to describing it.
It is almost like superlatives had no place there, there isn’t a word strong enough to describe it.
Anyway, watching that tonight, I was thinking back to the above scenario as very similar to how I feel tonight, and it feels uncannily similar.
Except the words here are not “beautiful” and “incredible”, they are “embarrassing”, “pathetic” and “shameful”.
Post by: jwarry on May 03, 2026, 09:03:02 PM
Post by: LeonW on May 03, 2026, 09:03:06 PM
Looks like Emery has put all his eggs in the Europ League basket.
Which is a problem considering our recent history.
Post by: Toronto Villa on May 03, 2026, 09:03:10 PM
Looks like Emery has put all his eggs in the Europ League basket.
we though that post Fulham and then promptly shit the bed at Forest. I have little faith that's what he's done by some design.
Post by: Mellin on May 03, 2026, 09:03:13 PM
Go through on Thursday and personally I won’t give a fuck about today.
Indeed. No one will.
Post by: Ianu on May 03, 2026, 09:03:18 PM
Looks like Emery has put all his eggs in the Europa League basket.
So they should be practicing penalties everyday. Got a feeling it might go to that..
Post by: russon on May 03, 2026, 09:03:49 PM
This will be forgotten when we win on Thursdaysome VP games you can never erase from the memory, Stoke under MON still weighs on me and i don't think I'll ever fully recover from tonight's farrago
Post by: Goldenballs on May 03, 2026, 09:03:55 PM
But I'm as fuming as the rest of you, utter garbage. Doing our absolute best to throw it away.
Cowards
Post by: Woody17 on May 03, 2026, 09:04:09 PM
Post by: brontebilly on May 03, 2026, 09:04:16 PM
That's pissed me off.
We could regret that in a year or two if Spurs end up sorting themselves out. We could have sent them down.
Fucking joke.
Said it in transfer thread but they have lots of good players that were either injured and/or terribly mismanaged. Humiliated us tonight.
Post by: LeonW on May 03, 2026, 09:04:30 PM
This will be forgotten when we win on Thursdaysome VP games you can never erase from the memory, Stoke under MON still weighs on me and i don't think I'll ever fully recover from tonight's farrago
Agreed. This is definitely one of them.
Post by: Somniloquism on May 03, 2026, 09:04:51 PM
Quote
Tottenham's Conor Gallagher speaking to TNT Sports:
"It was a fantastic performance. Exactly what we needed.
"Everything we did in the week leading up to the game, we showed tonight and we're really happy with the performance and three points.
Bless that Gallagher though Spurs did anything this week to actually influence the result other then want to fight slightly. It was all our preparations that gave you the performance and the three points.
Post by: Chip Butty 111 on May 03, 2026, 09:04:57 PM
Resembled a team who had already been relegated and were on the beach.
Got a ticket for Thursday but not really that bothered now tbh, the team look like they have checked out ... defeats against Fulham, Forest , Spurs is absolutely shocking for a team looking for the CL..
Post by: bilsim on May 03, 2026, 09:05:10 PM
Post by: Nev on May 03, 2026, 09:05:14 PM
Post by: jwarry on May 03, 2026, 09:05:21 PM
Can't remember a team (forget a shit team) that dominated us for 90 minutes at Villa Park.
They didn’t. We won the second half
Post by: Legion on May 03, 2026, 09:05:21 PM
Post by: geolex on May 03, 2026, 09:05:38 PM
Maybe but winning on Thursday doesnt A) give us CL football or B) a trophy.. winning today would have all but nailed CL for next seasonGo through on Thursday and personally I won’t give a fuck about today.
Indeed. No one will.
Post by: Deano's Mullet on May 03, 2026, 09:06:13 PM
Post by: ROBBO on May 03, 2026, 09:06:34 PM
Post by: Legion on May 03, 2026, 09:07:22 PM
We.wont take another point in the league now last three games.
We'll beat Burnley.
Post by: ez on May 03, 2026, 09:07:28 PM
Post by: Holte132 on May 03, 2026, 09:07:35 PM
Post by: OzVilla on May 03, 2026, 09:07:43 PM
Post by: LeonW on May 03, 2026, 09:07:59 PM
Post by: Somniloquism on May 03, 2026, 09:08:17 PM
So, so, so, utterly predictable. As is Thursday.
Come-on Woody, even you couldn't predict we would have put out a team who decided "Effort" was banned word at Villa Park now and a manager who thinks 83 mins is the amount of time you should give when following the Big Ron style of "you guys got us in this mess, it is up to you to get us out" to see that they are not actually listening to that and not bothered to get us out.
Post by: Flamingo Lane on May 03, 2026, 09:08:32 PM
Post by: Deano's Mullet on May 03, 2026, 09:08:55 PM
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on May 03, 2026, 09:08:59 PM
Can't remember a team (forget a shit team) that dominated us for 90 minutes at Villa Park.
Did they dominate us or did just none of our staff even care about today?
It depends if it was intentional we couldn't two passes together all game while did the opposite.
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 03, 2026, 09:09:09 PM
Post by: BoVillan esq on May 03, 2026, 09:09:11 PM
Post by: Goldie.7 on May 03, 2026, 09:09:14 PM
He’s also completely burned out Rogers, which is borderline neglect.
Post by: itbrvilla on May 03, 2026, 09:09:47 PM
Add Bradford to that.This will be forgotten when we win on Thursdaysome VP games you can never erase from the memory, Stoke under MON still weighs on me and i don't think I'll ever fully recover from tonight's farrago
Agreed. This is definitely one of them.
Post by: Billy Walker on May 03, 2026, 09:09:56 PM
Last year we went on holiday to the Canadian Rockies. It was beautiful. Just incredible views everywhere.
At a certain pointpoint, I said to the Mrs, “ it’s weird. I feel like describing this as ‘beautiful’ or even ‘incredible’ is doing it a disservice, those words just do not even get near to describing it.
It is almost like superlatives had no place there, there isn’t a word strong enough to describe it.
Anyway, watching that tonight, I was thinking back to the above scenario as very similar to how I feel tonight, and it feels uncannily similar.
Except the words here are not “beautiful” and “incredible”, they are “embarrassing”, “pathetic” and “shameful”.
*If* the logic behind tonight's team selection gets us over the line on Thursday night, will those adjectives change?
Post by: Proposition Joe on May 03, 2026, 09:10:00 PM
Go through on Thursday and personally I won’t give a fuck about today.
Indeed. No one will.
I will. A win today would have made CL all but certain, a win on Thursday just gets us into a final and does not guarantee we won't shit the bed in said final.
And we won't go through on Thursday anyway, will we. We'll concede an idiotic goal on about 14mins and spend the rest of the game huffing and puffing and never looking remotely like blowing the house down. Either that or Konsa and Pau will just pass the ball to each other for 85mins and we'll just realise we're behind in the tie for the last 5mins.
Post by: TaxDodger on May 03, 2026, 09:10:20 PM
Post by: LeonW on May 03, 2026, 09:11:00 PM
Go through on Thursday and personally I won’t give a fuck about today.
Indeed. No one will.
I will. A win today would have made CL all but certain, a win on Thursday just gets us into a final and does not guarantee we won't shit the bed in said final.
And we won't go through on Thursday anyway, will we. We'll concede an idiotic goal on about 14mins and spend the rest of the game huffing and puffing and never looking remotely like blowing the house down. Either that or Konsa and Pau will just pass the ball to each other for 85mins and we'll just realise we're behind in the tie for the last 5mins.
Unfortunately, I think this will be the case.
Post by: JUAN PABLO on May 03, 2026, 09:11:25 PM
Absolute dire tonight . Emery what are you doing ?
Post by: BoVillan esq on May 03, 2026, 09:12:12 PM
Thinking back. My suspicions were aroused by Emery’s post match interview on Thursday. He mentioned the second leg then hesitatingly mentioned Tottenham almost like he didn’t care.
Funny you should say that i watched his interview on TNT, I really thought how strange he was, so stressed, his pronunciation was boiling over the bloke asking the question must have got covered in spit but he looked like he'd lost it, especially about the tackle.
Post by: danno on May 03, 2026, 09:12:18 PM
Start slowly let the opposition gain confidence, concede, little to no reaction, concede again, let game drift, final whistle.
Tottenham’s situation is one thing but we could have all but wrapped up a top five finish with a win tonight.
Post by: Matt C on May 03, 2026, 09:12:20 PM
Post by: brontebilly on May 03, 2026, 09:12:42 PM
Shocking choice starting XI overall.
Was the subs or lack thereof that did me. Only other time I've seen Emery behave like that was at home to Palace in a league cup game.
Never want to see Barkley or Sancho in a Villa shirt again but that barely even scratches the surface of how bad that was individually or collectively.
Go into Thursday with confidence firmly on the floor. Forest score first and atmosphere will be vicious.
Post by: Villatillidie25 on May 03, 2026, 09:13:06 PM
If it wasn’t for the fact that Tottenham going down would have been hilarious, my only criticism with the starting line up would have been the fact that it contained Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans.
Exactly. If you’re going to rest people. Rest the two most important players.
Also. Just never ever ever play Bogarde in central midfield. He’s absolute tosh.
Post by: Demitri_C on May 03, 2026, 09:13:17 PM
Post by: OzVilla on May 03, 2026, 09:13:26 PM
Post by: JUAN PABLO on May 03, 2026, 09:15:02 PM
Post by: brontebilly on May 03, 2026, 09:15:27 PM
If it wasn’t for the fact that Tottenham going down would have been hilarious, my only criticism with the starting line up would have been the fact that it contained Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans.
Exactly. If you’re going to rest people. Rest the two most important players.
No matter how badly those two play they simply can't get out of the team. They have been playing poorly for quite some time.
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on May 03, 2026, 09:15:43 PM
Emery makes no sense. He claims the priority is the league, but then plays Bogarde over Luiz. I’ve never been the biggest Luiz fan, but even I know he’s light-years better than Bogarde.
He’s also completely burned out Rogers, which is borderline neglect.
Bogarde was one of our better players considering he worked mainly by himself. How it took 85 minutes to replace Barkley who at best was going through the motions I'll never know. And people moan about Buendia. At least he fucking cares. Shocking performance but then playing him as a 10 was a joke.
Post by: BoVillan esq on May 03, 2026, 09:15:50 PM
Shocking choice starting XI overall.
Was the subs or lack thereof that did me. Only other time I've seen Emery behave like that was at home to Palace in a league cup game.
Never want to see Barkley or Sancho in a Villa shirt again but that barely even scratches the surface of how bad that was individually or collectively.
Go into Thursday with confidence firmly on the floor. Forest score first and atmosphere will be vicious.
Correct Forest will know if they can silence the crowd with an early goal, game over. terrible message sent out tonight.
Post by: Proposition Joe on May 03, 2026, 09:15:55 PM
Rogers looks done for this season too.
Not totally his fault, he's been played into the ground this season. Poor lad, at the WC he'll look like typical tournament Harry Kane, like he's running around pulling a tractor tyre behind him.
Post by: pelty on May 03, 2026, 09:15:57 PM
Every player is up for sale in the summer, not 1 player deserves to be here.
No fight, total lower mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
If that is his attitude, I hope he does. That performance is as much on him as anyone else. Disgraceful team selection with CL on the line.
You're really odd.
I am odd for not wanting a manager who, according to your initial description, would not want to be here because he does not think he can improve us? That seems like a pretty sensible position to hold.
Post by: Deano's Mullet on May 03, 2026, 09:16:32 PM
Post by: Monty on May 03, 2026, 09:17:13 PM
Every player is up for sale in the summer, not 1 player deserves to be here.
No fight, total lower mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
If that is his attitude, I hope he does. That performance is as much on him as anyone else. Disgraceful team selection with CL on the line.
You're really odd.
I am odd for not wanting a manager who, according to your initial description, would not want to be here because he does not think he can improve us? That seems like a pretty sensible position to hold.
I don't remember saying anything like that. You must have me confused with the scribbled crayon screaming in your head.
Post by: PeterWithesShin on May 03, 2026, 09:18:55 PM
Post by: Tokyo Sexwhale on May 03, 2026, 09:19:22 PM
Everytime Spurs beat us, pip us to a European place, outbid us for a transfer target, injure one of our players or negatively affect us in anyway, we'll be harking back to this day and this result.
We had the opportunity to set them back 4 or 5 years, and under DeZerbi, they won't be as bad again next season.
Post by: Villatillidie25 on May 03, 2026, 09:19:39 PM
Emery makes no sense. He claims the priority is the league, but then plays Bogarde over Luiz. I’ve never been the biggest Luiz fan, but even I know he’s light-years better than Bogarde.
He’s also completely burned out Rogers, which is borderline neglect.
Bogarde was one of our better players considering he worked mainly by himself. How it took 85 minutes to replace Barkley who at best was going through the motions I'll never know. And people moan about Buendia. At least he fucking cares. Shocking performance but then playing him as a 10 was a joke.
Bogarde was absolutely useless. Completely anonymous and when he did get the ball was too incompetent to do anything with it. But Barkley was equally inept tbh.
Post by: Charlie8182 on May 03, 2026, 09:19:46 PM
Post by: curiousorange on May 03, 2026, 09:20:31 PM
Spurs are probably safe now. If that's the result that saves them, we've missed a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Everytime Spurs beat us, pip us to a European place, outbid us for a transfer target, injure one of our players or negatively affect us in anyway, we'll be harking back to this day and this result.
We had the opportunity to set them back 4 or 5 years, and under DeZerbi, they won't be as bad again next season.
This is true and unbelievably aggravating.
Post by: Randy Gurner on May 03, 2026, 09:20:54 PM
Post by: algy on May 03, 2026, 09:21:41 PM
I’m not a happy boy.
Post by: pelty on May 03, 2026, 09:22:07 PM
Every player is up for sale in the summer, not 1 player deserves to be here.
No fight, total lower mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
If that is his attitude, I hope he does. That performance is as much on him as anyone else. Disgraceful team selection with CL on the line.
You're really odd.
I am odd for not wanting a manager who, according to your initial description, would not want to be here because he does not think he can improve us? That seems like a pretty sensible position to hold.
I don't remember saying anything like that. You must have me confused with the scribbled crayon screaming in your head.
He “has hit his ceiling” suggests he thinks he cannot improve us and needs to leave. What does “hit his ceiling” mean to you?
And leave off the rest of your nonsense, eh?
Post by: BoVillan esq on May 03, 2026, 09:22:51 PM
Spurs are probably safe now. If that's the result that saves them, we've missed a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Everytime Spurs beat us, pip us to a European place, outbid us for a transfer target, injure one of our players or negatively affect us in anyway, we'll be harking back to this day and this result.
We had the opportunity to set them back 4 or 5 years, and under DeZerbi, they won't be as bad again next season.
That's exactly right, for them to have been relegated would have set them back years, what we have now will be a team reinvented next season, lets hope we don't have to meet them whereby we are in a precarious position because they will put us to the sword without mercy and with great pleasure.
Post by: PaulWinch again on May 03, 2026, 09:22:53 PM
Dismal - all of them.
Post by: Monty on May 03, 2026, 09:23:24 PM
Every player is up for sale in the summer, not 1 player deserves to be here.
No fight, total lower mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
If that is his attitude, I hope he does. That performance is as much on him as anyone else. Disgraceful team selection with CL on the line.
You're really odd.
I am odd for not wanting a manager who, according to your initial description, would not want to be here because he does not think he can improve us? That seems like a pretty sensible position to hold.
I don't remember saying anything like that. You must have me confused with the scribbled crayon screaming in your head.
He “has hit his ceiling” suggests he thinks he cannot improve us and needs to leave. What does “hit his ceiling” mean to you?
And leave off the rest of your nonsense, eh?
Ah. Your problem isn't insanity I now see. It's reading.
Post by: AlexAlexCropley on May 03, 2026, 09:24:18 PM
Post by: Somniloquism on May 03, 2026, 09:24:22 PM
Post by: Stu on May 03, 2026, 09:24:36 PM
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 03, 2026, 09:25:08 PM
Throwing the game like that is a utter disgrace
And while I think you are prone to hyperbole at times i honestly think this is what happened tonight.
Post by: danno on May 03, 2026, 09:25:42 PM
Spurs are probably safe now. If that's the result that saves them, we've missed a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Everytime Spurs beat us, pip us to a European place, outbid us for a transfer target, injure one of our players or negatively affect us in anyway, we'll be harking back to this day and this result.
We had the opportunity to set them back 4 or 5 years, and under DeZerbi, they won't be as bad again next season.
This is true and unbelievably aggravating.
It’s not quite true. We could have beaten them and then watched them still stay up by winning some of their remaining games.
We missed the opportunity to keep them two points behind West Ham, not outright relegate them.
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 03, 2026, 09:25:58 PM
Post by: russon on May 03, 2026, 09:26:40 PM
Well. That was bad.that's at least three notches above the truth, even 'bad' would have got us a point against that shower but we couldn't raise our game beyond 'atrocious'
Post by: pelty on May 03, 2026, 09:27:31 PM
Every player is up for sale in the summer, not 1 player deserves to be here.
No fight, total lower mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
If that is his attitude, I hope he does. That performance is as much on him as anyone else. Disgraceful team selection with CL on the line.
You're really odd.
I am odd for not wanting a manager who, according to your initial description, would not want to be here because he does not think he can improve us? That seems like a pretty sensible position to hold.
I don't remember saying anything like that. You must have me confused with the scribbled crayon screaming in your head.
He “has hit his ceiling” suggests he thinks he cannot improve us and needs to leave. What does “hit his ceiling” mean to you?
And leave off the rest of your nonsense, eh?
Ah. Your problem isn't insanity I now see. It's reading.
Again, please enlighten me as to your meaning. If my problem is reading, yours is writing clearly.
Post by: Villatillidie25 on May 03, 2026, 09:27:35 PM
Spurs are probably safe now. If that's the result that saves them, we've missed a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Everytime Spurs beat us, pip us to a European place, outbid us for a transfer target, injure one of our players or negatively affect us in anyway, we'll be harking back to this day and this result.
We had the opportunity to set them back 4 or 5 years, and under DeZerbi, they won't be as bad again next season.
This is true and unbelievably aggravating.
It’s not quite true. We could have beaten them and then watched them still stay up by winning some of their remaining games.
We missed the opportunity to keep them two points behind West Ham, not outright relegate them.
This is true but beating them would have halted any revival from their win last week, left them in the drop zone with Forest still to play and given us some confidence after a crap performance last week (x2).
Post by: LeeS on May 03, 2026, 09:28:20 PM
Post by: steamer on May 03, 2026, 09:29:58 PM
10 years ago give or take a week we were relegated. Maybe the players playing like that was one of those tribute things we have done in the past.I agree
Most of those players tonight should not be at VP next year
Passion and Pace is what we need
But Uni needs to look in a mirror also
He sends out the team and sets the style
Post by: Monty on May 03, 2026, 09:30:08 PM
Every player is up for sale in the summer, not 1 player deserves to be here.
No fight, total lower mentality and its happening consistently.
I honestly think Unai is going in the summer, he had a look of a man who knows he's hit his ceiling with us tonight.
If that is his attitude, I hope he does. That performance is as much on him as anyone else. Disgraceful team selection with CL on the line.
You're really odd.
I am odd for not wanting a manager who, according to your initial description, would not want to be here because he does not think he can improve us? That seems like a pretty sensible position to hold.
I don't remember saying anything like that. You must have me confused with the scribbled crayon screaming in your head.
He “has hit his ceiling” suggests he thinks he cannot improve us and needs to leave. What does “hit his ceiling” mean to you?
And leave off the rest of your nonsense, eh?
Ah. Your problem isn't insanity I now see. It's reading.
Again, please enlighten me as to your meaning. If my problem is reading, yours is writing clearly.
I'd just ask you whose post you initially replied to.
Post by: Deano's Mullet on May 03, 2026, 09:30:12 PM
Without massive surgery in the squad over the summer, this team is relegation fodder. Don’t tell me we are 5th. I dont want to hear it. Ever since that mega run (where we fluked a load of wins) we have been bad. Really bad.
This is true. 4 wins in 15.
Post by: Flamingo Lane on May 03, 2026, 09:31:19 PM
Post by: Somniloquism on May 03, 2026, 09:32:20 PM
Throwing the game like that is a utter disgrace
And while I think you are prone to hyperbole at times i honestly think this is what happened tonight.
They played a weakened side in this match last year to help us go for CL and we pinky-sweared we would do the same when they called in the favour.
Post by: onebyone12 on May 03, 2026, 09:32:23 PM
Post by: Somniloquism on May 03, 2026, 09:33:02 PM
I'm sure we all have our own oersonal highlights from that game. I think mine was the corner kick routine very early in the second half, when Sancho played it short, and was immediately flagged offside on receiving it straight back.
All Tielemans that.
Post by: Deano's Mullet on May 03, 2026, 09:33:28 PM
Post by: AlexAlexCropley on May 03, 2026, 09:34:16 PM
Without massive surgery in the squad over the summer, this team is relegation fodder. Don’t tell me we are 5th. I dont want to hear it. Ever since that mega run (where we fluked a load of wins) we have been bad. Really bad.Pre season,Joe Cole figured we'd struggle .
Oh how I laughed.Maybe he saw something
Post by: russon on May 03, 2026, 09:34:19 PM
I'm sure we all have our own oersonal highlights from that game. I think mine was the corner kick routine very early in the second half, when Sancho played it short, and was immediately flagged offside on receiving it straight back.i thought Mings' side-footed pass directly out of play at the beginning of the 2nd half was exquisite, particularly given there was nobody within a million miles of him
Post by: adrenachrome on May 03, 2026, 09:34:59 PM
Can't remember a team (forget a shit team) that dominated us for 90 minutes at Villa Park.
Did they dominate us or did just none of our staff even care about today?
Both propositions can be true, and probably are.
My first game at VP was in 1966, so I have witnessed some dire games, but there was usually a spark of hope, even when going down to Division 3.
This was fucking abject.
Post by: Brazilian Villain on May 03, 2026, 09:35:11 PM
Without massive surgery in the squad over the summer, this team is relegation fodder. Don’t tell me we are 5th. I dont want to hear it.
We are fifth.
Post by: rob_bridge on May 03, 2026, 09:35:23 PM
Without massive surgery in the squad over the summer, this team is relegation fodder. Don’t tell me we are 5th. I dont want to hear it. Ever since that mega run (where we fluked a load of wins) we have been bad. Really bad.
Which wins did we 'fluke'? I can't recall any.
People saw us beating most of the other best teams at the time and thought - fupp not Villa Park. Kamara Youri and McGinn lost in successive games and only McGinn looked on it since coming back.
The surgery we need is getting Kamara and Onana fit and identifying a long term replacement for McGinn.
We need Bailey, Buendia, Digne and Mings replaced - the loanees won't be here. Big ask but get that part right and we are more than a match for all but 3 or 4.
I get your frustration but can't see a relegation battle.
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on May 03, 2026, 09:36:04 PM
I just hope Emery is honest with himself when he's interviewed. Wank selection, inept ponderous performance. Second best in every position. Only one shot on target, a lack of movement, no energy, poor passing, every free kick and corner was wasted. Really, really poor performance. Abject display. Why is it that we limp towards the end of the season, make stupidly shit decisions.
Can't argue with a word of that, Steve.
Post by: Chris_Jephcott on May 03, 2026, 09:36:29 PM
Golden opportunity utterly fluffed. Well done Emery. You’ve done incredible wonders with us, but tonight was dreadful.
Winning on Thursday is not an option now. If we fluff our lines, you’ll be gone on this one. Very very poor decision making unless it’s to bring Forest to play their strongest team tomorrow
Post by: pelty on May 03, 2026, 09:37:31 PM
I'd just ask you whose post you initially replied to.
Ah, I see that the OP was not yours, so I apologize for putting HT’s words in your mouth.
But, why do you think my original position is odd? Would you want a manager who does not want to be here if that is, in fact, a decent reading of HT’s meaning?
Post by: eamonn on May 03, 2026, 09:37:43 PM
Buendia man of the match...says it all.
Does it? The poor cvnt gets picked on even when he scores one of his salmon-leap headers.
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 03, 2026, 09:38:10 PM
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 03, 2026, 09:38:33 PM
Post by: VancouverLion on May 03, 2026, 09:38:46 PM
Post by: Chris_Jephcott on May 03, 2026, 09:38:58 PM
And the doom mongers predicted it because this is what we do.
I fear that the doom mongers are actually realists
Post by: purpletrousers on May 03, 2026, 09:39:12 PM
We could regret that in a year or two if Spurs end up sorting themselves out. We could have sent them down.
4D chess tbh. Balls of steel. Forest gonna have to work hard tomorrow. What team will they play Thursday now?
Go through on Thursday and personally I won’t give a fuck about today.
Shocking choice starting XI overall.
I don't think i've ever seen Villa ditch a game so blatantly as that.
Thinking back. My suspicions were aroused by Emery’s post match interview on Thursday. He mentioned the second leg then hesitatingly mentioned Tottenham almost like he didn’t care.
If it wasn’t for the fact that Tottenham going down would have been hilarious, my only criticism with the starting line up would have been the fact that it contained Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans.
Spurs are probably safe now. If that's the result that saves them, we've missed a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Everytime Spurs beat us, pip us to a European place, outbid us for a transfer target, injure one of our players or negatively affect us in anyway, we'll be harking back to this day and this result.
We had the opportunity to set them back 4 or 5 years, and under DeZerbi, they won't be as bad again next season.
Just gotta hope that it was entirely deliberate as otherwise it is incredibly worrying.
That putting pressure on Forest really outweighs momentum for us, that resting plenty except maybe the one that needed it most, pays off.
Would really have liked to have knocked Spurs back off balance to reduce their future threat, but if Emery gets this right, and winner takes all then all is forgiven. if.
Post by: eamonn on May 03, 2026, 09:39:17 PM
Disgusting. I'm sure Damian Five Bellies will be whooping up the troops for Thursday.. Spin and not much substance seems to be our stock in trade.
Out of order. Most of us have bigger bodies than we should.
Post by: Villatillidie25 on May 03, 2026, 09:41:53 PM
I'm sure we all have our own oersonal highlights from that game. I think mine was the corner kick routine very early in the second half, when Sancho played it short, and was immediately flagged offside on receiving it straight back.
That was Tielemans’ fault. I think mine was the free kick routine after Rogers was fouled (when the ref should have played on given Sancho was 1 on 1 with the full back basically in the box).
Post by: OzVilla on May 03, 2026, 09:42:16 PM
I'm sure we all have our own oersonal highlights from that game. I think mine was the corner kick routine very early in the second half, when Sancho played it short, and was immediately flagged offside on receiving it straight back.i thought Mings' side-footed pass directly out of play at the beginning of the 2nd half was exquisite, particularly given there was nobody within a million miles of him
Gosh, so many but another shout out for Sancho but this time his simple 10 yard pass in front of his man that he managed to shovel out for a goal kick in the first half was hilariously bad.
Post by: dorsetvillian on May 03, 2026, 09:42:33 PM
Post by: Villa Lew on May 03, 2026, 09:44:18 PM
Post by: geolex on May 03, 2026, 09:44:51 PM
A bit harsh ,that was the only time we got in their penalty area in 1st half.. :)I'm sure we all have our own oersonal highlights from that game. I think mine was the corner kick routine very early in the second half, when Sancho played it short, and was immediately flagged offside on receiving it straight back.i thought Mings' side-footed pass directly out of play at the beginning of the 2nd half was exquisite, particularly given there was nobody within a million miles of him
Gosh, so many but another shout out for Sancho but this time his simple 10 yard pass in front of his man that he managed to shovel out for a goal kick in the first half was hilariously bad.
Post by: Grande Pablo on May 03, 2026, 09:44:52 PM
Post by: Beard82 on May 03, 2026, 09:47:23 PM
Im clinging to a belief that Unai thinks we're not able to be competitive for two games in a week so surrended this one. Thats the only conclusion as we did not even try to turn it around.
So gutted - I was desperate to see spurs go down but we gifted them the win that will most likely play a big part in keeping them up. We saw this season with conner gallagher the advantages there position affords them so it would have been great to get them out the division.
We dont have a squad - we have about 14 very good players - and 10 that just arent up to the level needed. A mixture of PSR and poor recruitment we cant rotate because the rest are too weak.
Post by: martyn ellis on May 03, 2026, 09:50:29 PM
Post by: ez on May 03, 2026, 09:51:57 PM
That was as bad as I can remember. Thats was as abject and embarssing as anything I can remember. I hope to christ we secure CL football - because otherwise that will look like the complete self-sabatage. It will be completely unforgiveable to blow it.
Im clinging to a belief that Unai thinks we're not able to be competitive for two games in a week so surrended this one. Thats the only conclusion as we did not even try to turn it around.
So gutted - I was desperate to see spurs go down but we gifted them the win that will most likely play a big part in keeping them up. We saw this season with conner gallagher the advantages there position affords them so it would have been great to get them out the division.
We dont have a squad - we have about 14 very good players - and 10 that just arent up to the level needed. A mixture of PSR and poor recruitment we cant rotate because the rest are too weak.
Yes. Emery didn't need today to tell him we don't have strength in depth. He knew we would probably lose.
Post by: brontebilly on May 03, 2026, 09:52:00 PM
Without massive surgery in the squad over the summer, this team is relegation fodder. Don’t tell me we are 5th. I dont want to hear it. Ever since that mega run (where we fluked a load of wins) we have been bad. Really bad.
It's been a really poor PL this season. Guardiola's weakest Man City team seem to be going to win it. A Man United team managed by a clown for a lot of the season and still starting Maguire & Shaw are third. Liverpool and Chelsea have sabotaged themselves. We are fifth but arguably our team has been on the slide for the last two seasons. The rebuild may have started last summer but for the Old Trafford debacle.
We have lots of really solid pros who have been stalwarts for us. But their time at the highest level is done. Still utterly reliant on likes of Cash, McGinn and Watkins. I was all for bringing Tammy back but his hold up play makes Malen seem Shearer esque in comparison. Huge summer ahead, if it means Rogers and Martinez moving on then so be it to fund a younger team with power and pace.
Post by: rougegorge on May 03, 2026, 09:52:07 PM
Just make sure y'all don't come across any Hammers fans. They must be furious. I would be.I agree. It was almost like bringing the game into disrepute.
Post by: taylorsworkrate on May 03, 2026, 09:52:10 PM
Post by: Clampy on May 03, 2026, 09:54:10 PM
Post by: Behind Bluenose Lines on May 03, 2026, 09:54:51 PM
Are there sanctions for fielding a too weak team in league games?Just make sure y'all don't come across any Hammers fans. They must be furious. I would be.I agree. It was almost like bringing the game into disrepute.
Post by: Demitri_C on May 03, 2026, 09:56:34 PM
Are there sanctions for fielding a too weak team in league games?Just make sure y'all don't come across any Hammers fans. They must be furious. I would be.I agree. It was almost like bringing the game into disrepute.
If i was a west ham i would be livid at us and rightly so. Pathetic and unprofessional
Post by: martyn ellis on May 03, 2026, 09:57:06 PM
Post by: ez on May 03, 2026, 09:57:15 PM
Post by: Clampy on May 03, 2026, 09:57:47 PM
Post by: Beard82 on May 03, 2026, 09:58:32 PM
didnt blackpool or some team managed by Ian Hollyway(?) get fined for thatAre there sanctions for fielding a too weak team in league games?Just make sure y'all don't come across any Hammers fans. They must be furious. I would be.I agree. It was almost like bringing the game into disrepute.
Post by: PaulWinch again on May 03, 2026, 09:59:51 PM
Post by: Demitri_C on May 03, 2026, 10:00:29 PM
Before we go overboard about a weakened team, its not as if we played load of kids.
Unfortunately it showed a host of these players are not good enough. I love mings buts it clear his best days are coming to the end. Bogarde has looked trash last few games. Samcho useless, barkley dreadful the list goes on.
Just a absolutely terrible evening in every sense
Post by: Hopadop on May 03, 2026, 10:01:11 PM
Post by: Beard82 on May 03, 2026, 10:01:24 PM
Something's up somewhere along the line. Since when has Emery stood there expressionless motionless and passionless throughout a whole game? Since when has he left it till the 86th minute to make significant changes? Very weird which even the commentators noted. I'd love to know what's going on. At least Bailey had his cameo and was able to show off his new hairdo.I think he was prepared to suffer this to field his strongest team in peak shape on Thursday. Its the only way it makes sense
Post by: rob_bridge on May 03, 2026, 10:01:31 PM
Just make sure y'all don't come across any Hammers fans. They must be furious. I would be.I agree. It was almost like bringing the game into disrepute.
I'd be furious if I was a Hammers fan. Relying on Forest or Spuds being worse than them whilst Leeds and Sunderland wave ta-ra.
We can blame ourselves for not helping relegate Spuds. West Ham can not blame anyone other than themselves. NOBODY.
Post by: PaulWinch again on May 03, 2026, 10:01:49 PM
didnt blackpool or some team managed by Ian Hollyway(?) get fined for thatAre there sanctions for fielding a too weak team in league games?Just make sure y'all don't come across any Hammers fans. They must be furious. I would be.I agree. It was almost like bringing the game into disrepute.
It wasn’t that weak - it was first team squad players.
Post by: brontebilly on May 03, 2026, 10:01:50 PM
Unai walks this summer and I honestly believe we’d struggle to stay up, this squad is so bad.
He can walk if he delivers CL football. Would be a great way to sign off and right off the OT debacle last season. His team needs to be gutted this summer in any case.
Does deserve credit for avoiding a Newcastle esque slump this season that we looked set for. But recruitment has been increasingly patchy in recent transfer windows.
Post by: Paul.S on May 03, 2026, 10:02:02 PM
We have 6 points to play with and a semi final on Thursday and he had to gamble tonight. It backfired because the only midfielder worth their salt was Tielemans. When they run through you at will and your out ball is Sancho who doesn’t tackle there’s only 1 outcome.
Hopefully McGinn is fit for Thursday and if so we have a great chance.
Post by: Demitri_C on May 03, 2026, 10:04:24 PM
As bad as the game was, and it was abject, what you don’t need is a crowd like that! The booing at half time was loud and I had to think where we are in the league. Laying into and abusing your own players is pathetic and it started after the first goal. I suppose that’s the modern way to support your club but count me out.
We have 6 points to play with and a semi final on Thursday and he had to gamble tonight. It backfired because the only midfielder worth their salt was Tielemans. When they run through you at will and your out ball is Sancho who doesn’t tackle there’s only 1 outcome.
Hopefully McGinn is fit for Thursday and if so we have a great chance.
Sorry but they deserved to be booed off. They were pathetic. None of them were closing, trying to win the ball or interested in trying to create anything. The fans dont ask for much but that was absolutely atrocious 1st half
Post by: PaulWinch again on May 03, 2026, 10:05:06 PM
As bad as the game was, and it was abject, what you don’t need is a crowd like that! The booing at half time was loud and I had to think where we are in the league. Laying into and abusing your own players is pathetic and it started after the first goal. I suppose that’s the modern way to support your club but count me out.
We have 6 points to play with and a semi final on Thursday and he had to gamble tonight. It backfired because the only midfielder worth their salt was Tielemans. When they run through you at will and your out ball is Sancho who doesn’t tackle there’s only 1 outcome.
Hopefully McGinn is fit for Thursday and if so we have a great chance.
I generally agree with that, but there are also times when even a team who has delivered a lot, need to understand what is not acceptable.
Post by: martyn ellis on May 03, 2026, 10:06:25 PM
Post by: SamTheMouse on May 03, 2026, 10:07:09 PM
We effectively lost that one before we even left the dressing room, too.
Post by: Beard82 on May 03, 2026, 10:11:02 PM
As bad as the game was, and it was abject, what you don’t need is a crowd like that! The booing at half time was loud and I had to think where we are in the league. Laying into and abusing your own players is pathetic and it started after the first goal. I suppose that’s the modern way to support your club but count me out.I rarely agree with booing a team - and not sure I agreed today. But - football is an expensive hobby - and that was such a poor performance in terms of the lack of guile, effort and determination which is inexcusable.
We have 6 points to play with and a semi final on Thursday and he had to gamble tonight. It backfired because the only midfielder worth their salt was Tielemans. When they run through you at will and your out ball is Sancho who doesn’t tackle there’s only 1 outcome.
Hopefully McGinn is fit for Thursday and if so we have a great chance.
Fans of non-big 6 clubs hate the big 6 - and giving spurs an out by effectively surrendering the game just rubbed salt into the wound.
Post by: olaftab on May 03, 2026, 10:11:12 PM
Post by: ez on May 03, 2026, 10:11:58 PM
The worst performance against Spurs since McCleish.
We effectively lost that one before we even left the dressing room, too.
Didn't they have a player sent off and were still all over us.
Post by: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on May 03, 2026, 10:12:38 PM
We have had some shite sides and some shite performances over the years. We have played worse, we have had worse results but this one is on a different level.
A lack of effort and application both on and off the pitch because an upcoming fixture is considered more important.
We could go through on Thursday and go on and win a trophy (although I am less confident of that than I was a few hours ago). This wasn't a bit of squad rotation, it was wholesale sabotage being applied. Even when it became apparent just how badly misjudged these changes were you could see that there was no urgency to change things I assume because of the next game coming up.
Today Aston Villa players and management have through a lack of effort embarrassed and shamed the club thus compromising the integrity of the league tournament.
Post by: martyn ellis on May 03, 2026, 10:12:48 PM
Post by: Paul.S on May 03, 2026, 10:13:25 PM
As bad as the game was, and it was abject, what you don’t need is a crowd like that! The booing at half time was loud and I had to think where we are in the league. Laying into and abusing your own players is pathetic and it started after the first goal. I suppose that’s the modern way to support your club but count me out.
We have 6 points to play with and a semi final on Thursday and he had to gamble tonight. It backfired because the only midfielder worth their salt was Tielemans. When they run through you at will and your out ball is Sancho who doesn’t tackle there’s only 1 outcome.
Hopefully McGinn is fit for Thursday and if so we have a great chance.
Sorry but they deserved to be booed off. They were pathetic. None of them were closing, trying to win the ball or interested in trying to create anything. The fans dont ask for much but that was absolutely atrocious 1st half
It’s not for me, never has been and never will be. We need the fans and players pulling together this week and not laying into players who a lot were bench warmers.
They didn’t come out and throw the game, they weren’t good enough when in the side at the same time. I heard some proper idiots tonight,
the abuse was embarrassing and I was just waiting for the sarcastic applause to start as it has done before.
Post by: olaftab on May 03, 2026, 10:14:41 PM
Post by: Allan C on May 03, 2026, 10:15:07 PM
This will be forgotten when we win on ThursdaySorry but that will never be forgotten
Post by: Demitri_C on May 03, 2026, 10:17:19 PM
As bad as the game was, and it was abject, what you don’t need is a crowd like that! The booing at half time was loud and I had to think where we are in the league. Laying into and abusing your own players is pathetic and it started after the first goal. I suppose that’s the modern way to support your club but count me out.
We have 6 points to play with and a semi final on Thursday and he had to gamble tonight. It backfired because the only midfielder worth their salt was Tielemans. When they run through you at will and your out ball is Sancho who doesn’t tackle there’s only 1 outcome.
Hopefully McGinn is fit for Thursday and if so we have a great chance.
Sorry but they deserved to be booed off. They were pathetic. None of them were closing, trying to win the ball or interested in trying to create anything. The fans dont ask for much but that was absolutely atrocious 1st half
It’s not for me, never has been and never will be. We need the fans and players pulling together this week and not laying into players who a lot were bench warmers.
They didn’t come out and throw the game, they weren’t good enough when in the side at the same time. I heard some proper idiots tonight,
the abuse was embarrassing and I was just waiting for the sarcastic applause to start as it has done before.
Everyone was fuming, you can only see this and other forums tonight as wlel as the online groups. The fans are united in fuming at that pathetic display.
Come Thursday though they will have all our backing but we expect and demand better than that absolute dig shit tonight. Show some passion and pride and get us ti turkey
Post by: Villatillidie1982 on May 03, 2026, 10:17:25 PM
Post by: eamonn on May 03, 2026, 10:17:32 PM
Rogers has started 47 of our 51 games and come on as sub in the other 4. Plus 7 internationals. It's no wonder he's looking jaded.
He wants to play every game, Emery recognises him as our most important attacker and his match-vematch-vest doesn't show him in the red zone. He's young and full of spunk, that's how it is.
Post by: PaulWinch again on May 03, 2026, 10:17:42 PM
This will be forgotten when we win on ThursdaySorry but that will never be forgotten
I’ll let it go if we win the Europa League, but that feels very far away right now.
Post by: Dave on May 03, 2026, 10:18:27 PM
Genuinely can't remember a worse performance, and I'm normally someone who is happy taking the most minor of silver linings. There was literally nothing today.
Post by: ez on May 03, 2026, 10:20:32 PM
Post by: Chip Butty 111 on May 03, 2026, 10:21:17 PM
on the back of the last 3 displays, tonight was a different level, I honestly can't see us beating Forest by 2 clear goals. They will let us have the ball, and hit us on the counter. We look completely gassed and short on confidence.This will be forgotten when we win on ThursdaySorry but that will never be forgotten
Post by: Demitri_C on May 03, 2026, 10:21:32 PM
When spurs came to villa park last season they rested players and took it easy because they had a europa league game after. No-one said anything about it.
Spurs were not as pathetic as we were then and were the away side.
Post by: Brazilian Villain on May 03, 2026, 10:21:36 PM
This will be forgotten when we win on Thursday
Sorry but that will never be forgotten
Lest we forget.
Post by: Halfway to Moseley on May 03, 2026, 10:22:33 PM
It’s one thing playing poorly or being beaten by a good side. But that was just a capitulation - zero effort or desire.
We better win on Thursday or we’ll look very stupid indeed.
Post by: Mellin on May 03, 2026, 10:23:41 PM
Post by: Max Villan on May 03, 2026, 10:25:19 PM
I think people are too emotional and are failing to see what he's doing. Don't worry about the integrity of the league (this stuff happens every season). Don't worry about who gets relegated. Don't worry about what fans of other clubs think. Worry about Villa getting what they want out of both the league and the Europa.
The issues comes if we lose Thursday though. Its a gamble from Unai, I hope it pays off.
But this is Villa, it wont. We'll lose. We're cursed.
Post by: Crown Hill on May 03, 2026, 10:26:05 PM
Post by: Bobby Boy on May 03, 2026, 10:26:47 PM
Sorry, performance is the wrong word.
Sickened by that surrender.
Hand out the white flags to everyone in the home dressing room.
Post by: Mellin on May 03, 2026, 10:27:42 PM
I think people are too emotional and are failing to see what he's doing. Don't worry about the integrity of the league (this stuff happens every season). Don't worry about who gets relegated. Don't worry about what fans of other clubs think. Worry about Villa getting what they want out of both the league and the Europa.
The issues comes if we lose Thursday though. Its a gamble from Unai, I hope it pays off.
But this is Villa, it wont. We'll lose. We're cursed.
Yeah, I get it's a gamble. I think it'd would've been worse (for the Europa) to win and give Forest the opportunity to do what we've done though. It was intentional. He knows what he's doing. Hopefully he's right.
Post by: eamonn on May 03, 2026, 10:29:58 PM
So bad that the "give Spurs points to shit Forest up before Thursday" conspiracy theory actually seems very plausible.
Genuinely can't remember a worse performance, and I'm normally someone who is happy taking the most minor of silver linings. There was literally nothing today.
Hope you and the kids stayed for Emi's cracking header. You could tell them we won the second half. Kids cling to shit like that.
Post by: Demitri_C on May 03, 2026, 10:35:21 PM
I think people are too emotional and are failing to see what he's doing. Don't worry about the integrity of the league (this stuff happens every season). Don't worry about who gets relegated. Don't worry about what fans of other clubs think. Worry about Villa getting what they want out of both the league and the Europa.
If we win Thursday night all will be forgiven. But if we lose that as well i think most us are going to be furious
Post by: Mellin on May 03, 2026, 10:36:36 PM
Post by: Brazilian Villain on May 03, 2026, 10:36:57 PM
If we win Thursday night all will be forgiven. But if we lose that as well i think most us are going to be furious
Even more furious than people are now?
Post by: AlexAlexCropley on May 03, 2026, 10:37:23 PM
Post by: Nii Lamptey on May 03, 2026, 10:41:09 PM
Some saying it’s a tactical decision to throw the game to give Forest something to think about prior to Thursday, but it’s all very risky and shorty term gain in my opinion.
Surely the better tactical plan would have been to batter Spurs today, going some way to dispatching one of our key rivals in the league and transfer market down to the championship?
Instead, they’ve created unrest amongst the fans, and the first misplaced/sideways pass on Thursday is going to have fans spitting feathers!
Post by: RamboandBruno on May 03, 2026, 10:45:56 PM
Post by: Halfway to Moseley on May 03, 2026, 10:46:31 PM
Post by: mallo on May 03, 2026, 10:46:58 PM
Post by: LeeB on May 03, 2026, 10:47:00 PM
Disgraced ourselves as a club tonight.
Yep.
Post by: LeeB on May 03, 2026, 10:49:38 PM
Wankers.
Post by: Nev on May 03, 2026, 10:53:14 PM
Sincerely hope this game doesn’t end up being Emery’s CSKA Moscow.
I said that as soon as I saw the team.
Post by: Hillbilly on May 03, 2026, 10:53:58 PM
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 03, 2026, 10:54:49 PM
Post by: AlexAlexCropley on May 03, 2026, 10:56:33 PM
Does anybody seriously believe he was thinking about doing Forest over ahead of this game? Ffs.No.Only loons and mooks
Post by: brontebilly on May 03, 2026, 10:57:30 PM
up after them and getting ran over repeatedly. Bogarde left lost trying to cover a massive space.
Post by: AlexAlexCropley on May 03, 2026, 11:00:36 PM
It's not a laughing matter though is it,Luca
Post by: Nev on May 03, 2026, 11:00:39 PM
Post by: eamonn on May 03, 2026, 11:01:17 PM
I start a new job on Tuesday, would've been nice to start without an unrelated existential threat but there you go eh?
Wankers.
Good luck.
Hope your new boss isn't a WHammer.
Post by: olaftab on May 03, 2026, 11:01:37 PM
He has now put himself and team of his choice under even more pressure for Thursday night.Sincerely hope this game doesn’t end up being Emery’s CSKA Moscow.I said that as soon as I saw the team.
Post by: Des Little on May 03, 2026, 11:01:42 PM
Post by: Halfway to Moseley on May 03, 2026, 11:03:08 PM
Barkley & Tammy leading our press from the front tonight. Was like a bad dream. Tielemans pushing
up after them and getting ran over repeatedly. Bogarde left lost trying to cover a massive space.
Is Barkley back on the booze again? I’m not sure I saw him even break into a jog.
Post by: Brazilian Villain on May 03, 2026, 11:05:22 PM
I start a new job on Tuesday, would've been nice to start without an unrelated existential threat but there you go eh?
Wankers.
Good luck.
Hope your new boss isn't a WHammer.
The good news is his new boss is a Spurs fan. He's already got a promotion.
Post by: ChicagoLion on May 03, 2026, 11:05:44 PM
Yes that’s what I don’t get, what was going on with Rogers at the end?If it wasn’t for the fact that Tottenham going down would have been hilarious, my only criticism with the starting line up would have been the fact that it contained Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans.
Exactly. If you’re going to rest people. Rest the two most important players.
Also. Just never ever ever play Bogarde in central midfield. He’s absolute tosh.
Post by: Nev on May 03, 2026, 11:07:11 PM
Barkley & Tammy leading our press from the front tonight. Was like a bad dream. Tielemans pushing
up after them and getting ran over repeatedly. Bogarde left lost trying to cover a massive space.
Is Barkley back on the booze again? I’m not sure I saw him even break into a jog.
He was the furthest forward for much of the game which is crackers. In my mind he's there for ball retention when we have the game secure. The fact that he was left on for so long gave away Emery's intention.
Post by: Mellin on May 03, 2026, 11:09:06 PM
Does anybody seriously believe he was thinking about doing Forest over ahead of this game? Ffs.No.Only loons and mooks
Bit unnecessary, but I suppose when your head's gone that's how people react.
Post by: LeeB on May 03, 2026, 11:10:09 PM
I start a new job on Tuesday, would've been nice to start without an unrelated existential threat but there you go eh?
Wankers.
Good luck.
Hope your new boss isn't a WHammer.
The good news is his new boss is a Spurs fan. He's already got a promotion.
I've only spoken to him and there's a slight cockney twang so you might be right.
Post by: Chris Harte on May 03, 2026, 11:17:27 PM
Jadon Sancho - I was saying before the game that he's not done enough to justify a permanent move to the club and frankly after that gutless display I'll be willing to drive him to Dortmund because they reportedly want him again. Christ knows why, but I suppose there's nowt as queer as folk.
I don't want to lay into Lamare Bogarde but he really isn't worthy of a starting spot in the team. Maybe in future he will be, but not right now.
Playing Tammy ahead of Ollie and you lose a dimension that was apparent withing a few minutes of Ollie coming on, namely his ability to hold the ball up.
Post by: TheToffnar on May 03, 2026, 11:18:26 PM
The one thing I'm clinging to is the goal. If we'd have gone into Thursday without scoring for 270 minutes, I'd be even more worried then I am now.
Post by: Olneythelonely on May 03, 2026, 11:19:51 PM
Post by: LeeB on May 03, 2026, 11:21:46 PM
If this was some sort of master plan, to pile pressure on Forest, why did he start our (certainly from Unai’s point of view) two most important players? I like clinging to any positive as much as the next man, but why would he risk those two?
There will be a reason, just simple folk like us haven't sussed it yet.
Post by: Dave P on May 03, 2026, 11:22:20 PM
Does anybody seriously believe he was thinking about doing Forest over ahead of this game? Ffs.
It’s a by product of it but no way was it planned
Post by: Hookeysmith on May 03, 2026, 11:22:32 PM
Cash - ok defensively but zero impact going forward
Linderlof- defended adequately but no forward passing of note.
Mings - way too slow and needs 3 touches before a sidewards pass. Time is up for him
Maatsen- little opportunity to get forward
Tielemans- looked like his had cement boots on. Not looked right since his return. Dead balls were abysmal
Bogarde - shocking and cannot be Part ofour future simply not up to it
Barkley - another running in treacle and caught in possession so many times it was unforgivable- amazed he stayed on so long
Rogers - as usual tries to do too much
Tammy - nostalgia brought him back but cannot be a starter at this level.
Sancho - where do I begin with this bottless waste of a skin. I am sure they can hang his kit up for the next game, did not break sweat, did not attempt to make a single tackle, did not go to ground once. Coward of a footballer, bottles even 60/40tackles in his favour and spends most of his time hiding in field to not receive the ball. If Emery even considered another loan for this twat he should be sacked.
Watkins- usual no service and blind alleys
Buendia - nice goal and a bit of urgency
Emery - I love the bloke and everything he has done for us but we cannot lose sight of his insistence to play only one way and at one tempo. Tonight was so bad it was almost like he did not give a shit as I have never seen him so passive. He is in great danger of going from a messiah to the "nearly man " who cannot handle the big games.
The not turning up performances are starting to stack up and we seem to lose every time we have a seemingly great opportunity to progress.
Thursday is now a huge pressure game and possibly a watershed for his tenure
Post by: Smithy on May 03, 2026, 11:22:58 PM
Barkley & Tammy leading our press from the front tonight. Was like a bad dream. Tielemans pushing
up after them and getting ran over repeatedly. Bogarde left lost trying to cover a massive space.
This happened multiple times. There was one period, just before they scored their second, when it genuinely appeared as if the entire team was trying to win a bet that they could go an entire premier league game without breaking into a sprint at any point. It just felt like the entire team was out for a gentle stroll, while Spurs were willing to run over anyone in their way. It felt like they were playing with 15.
I can accept defeats. I can accept bad performances. What I am loathe to accept is lying down passively and not putting the effort in. For me, that's the only reason the crowd reacted the way it did at half-time. Not the 0-2 scoreline - but the effort shown. We will always accept a poor result, but we won't accept a poor effort - and that's how it felt tonight. Well, until the last 10 minutes or so.
I just hope it pays off and we get a proper performance (and result) on Thursday. Because play anything like that, and we're heading out.
Post by: Ads on May 03, 2026, 11:23:42 PM
It was bad, everybody Emery included hugely distracted.
Tammy- not mobile enough to play up front on his own.
Barkley- not the legs to play that high up the park. We couldn't press and Spurs had endless time on the ball.
Sancho- doesn't offer anything off the ball or enough contributions on it.
Bogarde- not a midfielder. He can't play with his back to goal.
Mings- just gone at Premier League level, never mind the top 5. Awful. Slows us down, can't play long, can't play forward. Really disrupts our style of play.
Post by: Dave on May 03, 2026, 11:26:58 PM
Cash - ok defensively but zero impact going forward
Maatsen- little opportunity to get forward
Reckon you've been very generous there. Kolo Muani and Tel were running round both of them as if they weren't there at times.
Post by: LeeB on May 03, 2026, 11:27:22 PM
Post by: Somniloquism on May 03, 2026, 11:27:53 PM
Apart from the last minute of course. All the others I totally agree with.
Cash - ok defensively but zero impact going forward
Post by: KevinGage on May 03, 2026, 11:34:50 PM
Hi Def. Low effort.
Standard end-of-the- season
End-of-the-pier
Performance from the Villa boys.
Post by: mallo on May 03, 2026, 11:35:21 PM
Post by: DB on May 03, 2026, 11:43:51 PM
Whatever happens, the squad needs a overhaul based on that performance.
Post by: brontebilly on May 03, 2026, 11:50:29 PM
Apart from the last minute of course. All the others I totally agree with.
Cash - ok defensively but zero impact going forward
Lindelof was awful for the second goal I thought. Maatsen bullied by Muani with ease. Front 6 were useless. Bogarde at least ran.
Post by: devilla on May 03, 2026, 11:55:01 PM
Worst performance I've seen in a very long time. Outplayed, outthought and most worrying, outfought. We made a terrible team look like Real Madrid. Absolutely no goal threat until the match was nearly over.
There was a moment in the second half which summed it up for me. We get our first corner, everyone's in the box waiting for a cross but what happens? They try a fancy ass short corner routine which ends when we go offside.
I understand about prioritising the Europa League but do we think we're going to get past Forest on the back of that result? Yes a few players will be changed but success isn't a tap that can be just turned on at will. What happens if we don't win it and have to rely on our league position? Realistically, we have one winnable league game left and based on tonight's performance we may even lose that.
Post by: Smithy on May 03, 2026, 11:57:11 PM
Emery wrote that game off with his team selection. He's gambles for Thursday, I bloody hope he was right. We don't have the depth in squad quality to make that many changes. After our first choice 11, we really are poor.
Whatever happens, the squad needs a overhaul based on that performance.
I don't think it's THAT bad after the first 11, but I don't think it's good enough to make 7 changes and not see a drop off in standard. 2 or 3 changes, that's easy enough. 7 though? No, that's going to have a noticeable impact. And it did. And until we can stack our squad with International players, that's always going to be the case.
I think every Villa fan saw that line-up and thought "okay, he's prioritising Thursday". And you know what, that's fair enough. It's a risk, but he's paid to make those decisions. However, I suspect Unai was expecting one or two of those players to really stand up and make him think about including them in this club's biggest game of the season. And not one of them did that.
About 20 years ago, a mate of mine that I played with on a Saturday, was getting married on the Sunday - but he chose to play our league game the day before, because we were short. He jumped out of every tackle. Avoided all aerial challenges, and barely broke a sweat all game. His kit didn't need washing.
I hadn't thought about that game in years, until I watched our first half today.
Post by: brontebilly on May 03, 2026, 11:59:53 PM
Barkley & Tammy leading our press from the front tonight. Was like a bad dream. Tielemans pushing
up after them and getting ran over repeatedly. Bogarde left lost trying to cover a massive space.
Is Barkley back on the booze again? I’m not sure I saw him even break into a jog.
He can't run. Ok in midfield against likes of West Ham who stepped off us but against most PL teams he's a liability. Another Emery blindspot.
Post by: PeterWithe on May 04, 2026, 12:19:04 AM
There was a moment in the second half which summed it up for me. We get our first corner, everyone's in the box waiting for a cross but what happens? They try a fancy ass short corner routine which ends when we go offside.
Yup, I thought that was a pivotal moment, we were appalling first half but I was thinking,well we can’t get worse.
Then that happened, and it sucked any misplaced confidence out of the crowd. Really shit from that Fanny Sancho.
Post by: aj2k77 on May 04, 2026, 12:22:52 AM
Post by: TonyD on May 04, 2026, 12:24:48 AM
I don't think i've ever seen Villa ditch a game so blatantly as that.Moscow?
Post by: TonyD on May 04, 2026, 12:29:57 AM
Throwing the game like that is a utter disgraceWell that is exactly what happened
He did indeed threw the game.
Hope it pays off if we beat Forest n Burnley.
Post by: eamonn on May 04, 2026, 12:30:05 AM
Stevenage?
Man City away two seasons ago.
Brighton away two seasons ago.
Palace on the last day a couple of weeks later when we were on the piss.
Unai seems to be more at peace with this stuff, maybe it's more accepted in Spain where fans aren't fleeced by the cost of football so much.
Post by: TonyD on May 04, 2026, 12:36:05 AM
That was the most pathetic “performance” I’ve seen in years. They should all be utterly embarrassed. We’ve been rubbish since January, but that’s the first time I feel we’ve actually chucked it.It wasn’t their fault
Dismal - all of them.
Emery obviously threw the game
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 04, 2026, 01:11:27 AM
Can’t disagree
Post by: LeonW on May 04, 2026, 01:23:16 AM
Spurs are probably safe now. If that's the result that saves them, we've missed a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Everytime Spurs beat us, pip us to a European place, outbid us for a transfer target, injure one of our players or negatively affect us in anyway, we'll be harking back to this day and this result.
We had the opportunity to set them back 4 or 5 years, and under DeZerbi, they won't be as bad again next season.
Totally agree. We’re always very obliging. Like letting Matt Targett go to Newcastle for a smallish fee and he helps keep them up.
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 04, 2026, 01:25:24 AM
Post by: dorsetvillian on May 04, 2026, 01:25:40 AM
Post by: CT Villan on May 04, 2026, 01:40:28 AM
Post by: aj2k77 on May 04, 2026, 01:53:03 AM
Thursday is going to be a massive battle, we aren't very good at the moment and haven't been for a while. They're on the up and have a lead to cling to.
If we approach the game passive and playing at walking pace then we will lose.
Post by: ROBBO on May 04, 2026, 04:31:47 AM
There were eleven Villa players on the pitch who earn more playing football in one year than the people watching earn in a lifetime. The one player i give a break to is Bogarde, he did try the effort was there it isn't his fault that he's just not good enough. The attitude of the manager on the touchline said it all, if the players weren't interested neither was the manager, I have never seen Unai so passive. I thought the players would walk of at half time to thunderous booing, there was some, but it seems the crowd was fairly passive too.
Post by: OzVilla on May 04, 2026, 04:43:50 AM
If nothing else this demonstrated how threadbare this squad really is in ability and ticker. And how shocking our recent recruitment has been.
Post by: steamer on May 04, 2026, 07:09:47 AM
The Greek GameI don't think i've ever seen Villa ditch a game so blatantly as that.Moscow?
Utd last year
Post by: steamer on May 04, 2026, 07:24:20 AM
Post by: Tom_Mc9? on May 04, 2026, 08:12:51 AM
Sancho isn't good when he's confident. When he's lacking confidence is a £200k a week League Two player.
Bailey could come in for him but only because he couldn't do much worse. Hardly on merit.
Tielemans dreadul. Maybe he can go in the Mings category.
Basic stuff like not being able to do simple passes? The Sancho Tielemans corner routine? The Tielemans can't get past the first man, can't cross past the first man, can't pass past the same man on the third attempt corner routine?
The not shooting against a keeper who doesn't exactly shout out confidence until injury time?
Lost for words on how bad it was. I'm not joining in on the hyperbole about Unai, he's got more credit in the bank than any manager across the country in some regards. Not his best selection but he couldn't predict that some of these players wouldn't do something as basic as Mings 5-10 yard unopposed pass to Lindelof wrong.
Cash just about comes away with some credit, maybe Martinez. 3/10 for them.
Dreadful.
Post by: Bobby Boy on May 04, 2026, 08:50:59 AM
One team wanted it the other couldn't wait to get off the pitch. I have seldom seen a team capitulate so early in the game. For those unfortunate to attend you should get compensated.
There were eleven Villa players on the pitch who earn more playing football in one year than the people watching earn in a lifetime. The one player i give a break to is Bogarde, he did try the effort was there it isn't his fault that he's just not good enough. The attitude of the manager on the touchline said it all, if the players weren't interested neither was the manager, I have never seen Unai so passive. I thought the players would walk of at half time to thunderous booing, there was some, but it seems the crowd was fairly passive too.
I booed at half-time and I get all the the reasons why that is not helpful but that was a disreputable first half performance. It was a corrupt performance. The lack of effort, the absence of application, the inertia was gutting to witness.
I didn't go to Moscow so actually I don't think I've ever seen a Villa game that didn't feel right but last night felt very wrong.
That's tainted Emery a bit for me and some will say that's being precious but that wasn't Aston Villa FC out there.
I hope never to see it again from a team wearing our shirt and carrying our name.
Post by: oldhill_avfc on May 04, 2026, 08:53:41 AM
Sadly, I agree Mings has to go.
Bogarde - not good enough currently to be even 4th choice.
Luiz - if he’s not better than Bogarde, then what’s the point?
Bailey, Sancho, Elliot - we all know they’re not up to it
Buendia- no problem with off the bench, but not a starter
Tammy - he’s not a Watkins replacement/doesn’t suit our preferred style of play
And, for me, most importantly - when the opposition press well we really struggle without McGinn. He gives us the outball and control to break and move forward. We desperately need a plan B for when hes not available.
Post by: wolfman999 on May 04, 2026, 09:20:42 AM
Post by: Steve67 on May 04, 2026, 09:28:13 AM
Post by: PeterWithe on May 04, 2026, 09:33:20 AM
Post by: Olneythelonely on May 04, 2026, 09:34:53 AM
Maybe, when we are in for a young foreign player, and he chooses similar wages but the lights of London and Tottenham instead, we will regret sacrificing this game.
I agree. A player that completely bossed our midfield, scoring the opener, is proof that happens, foreign or not.
Post by: Villan82 on May 04, 2026, 09:42:54 AM
So disappointed. Urgh
Post by: Olof's Beard on May 04, 2026, 09:50:10 AM
Now the season rests on an already high stakes game with the pressure notched up several levels. All eyes on us, mostly hoping we fall flat on our face. The last 9 months as a whole are so hard to judge. Our winning run was incredible and should not be downplayed. It was built on no little skill, a dogged will to win and unstoppable momentum. Even then, however, we rarely dominated a whole game and frequently came out on top of fine margins. If you constantly walk on the edge of the cliff, there's always the chance you could fall off.
And either side of that run? I think it's 5 wins in 22 games isn't it? I can't be arsed to tot it up but presumably we run at an average of less than 1 goal scored per game during that run as well. Over half a season worth with fifteen points gained from wins. It's been a bit of a theme around much of the league with the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth and Palace also fluctuating between long runs of bad form and good form. But it's also really difficult to judge where we are going into last season. So many performance have been insipid and ponderous. You can't usually question the attitude mind but you definitely could last night.
We'd better win on Thursday. Either way, there's a big summer ahead.
Post by: pauliewalnuts on May 04, 2026, 09:50:56 AM
minutes?
Post by: Crown Hill on May 04, 2026, 09:55:21 AM
If that was about resting players, why did the one player above all who needs to be rested play all 90
minutes?
I’m not convinced we actually rested players apart from the central defenders and Ollie. Rogers and Tielemans played and will be crucial on Thursday. It mainly seemed to be about the approach and passive football. It’s a hard one to work out. The game plan seemed to be that Spurs were low on confidence and would panic and ceding the midfield gave them their confidence back through the long shot.
Post by: Percy McCarthy on May 04, 2026, 09:58:10 AM
Negative: I didn’t want to watch it.
Post by: bill on May 04, 2026, 10:00:34 AM
Post by: OzVilla on May 04, 2026, 10:03:19 AM
Maybe, when we are in for a young foreign player, and he chooses similar wages but the lights of London and Tottenham instead, we will regret sacrificing this game.
I agree. A player that completely bossed our midfield, scoring the opener, is proof that happens, foreign or not.
I think we were gazumpped quite considerably on wages in fairness.
Post by: Richard E on May 04, 2026, 10:05:38 AM
Post by: Goldenballs on May 04, 2026, 10:09:41 AM
Maybe, when we are in for a young foreign player, and he chooses similar wages but the lights of London and Tottenham instead, we will regret sacrificing this game.
I agree. A player that completely bossed our midfield, scoring the opener, is proof that happens, foreign or not.
I think we were gazumpped quite considerably on wages in fairness.
And we will be again in the summer if Spurs fancy the same player we do.
Post by: john e on May 04, 2026, 10:13:57 AM
but even so Martinez, Cash, Maartsen, Tielamans, Rogers are all starters, so that’s half the team
Then Lindalof who many people have been saying hasn’t put a foot wrong and needs more game time even over Konsa and Pau
Then there’s Ming’s who’s supposed to be the most physical of our central defenders and always get mentioned when we play a physical side, loads of people, wanting him starting over Pau
Barkley who’s not much of a downgrade on Buendia if at all
Tammy who’s we’ve thrown a load of money at and a big long contract
Sancho who we are supposedly be interested in keeping next season for some unknown reason
And Bogarde who some rate highly ( not me)
So yes, the side was weak, but not weak enough to produce that tepid piss poor performance right up there with one of the worst we’ve ever seen at VP
There’s no excuses we’ve not been good for weeks even when we played a strong side we need to sort it out for Thursday night somehow
Post by: PeterWithe on May 04, 2026, 10:17:16 AM
Maybe, when we are in for a young foreign player, and he chooses similar wages but the lights of London and Tottenham instead, we will regret sacrificing this game.
I agree. A player that completely bossed our midfield, scoring the opener, is proof that happens, foreign or not.
I think we were gazumpped quite considerably on wages in fairness.
And we will be again in the summer if Spurs fancy the same player we do.
Whilst I dont know for sure, there are enough media reports about that suggest that our wage ceilings are similar.
Post by: nick harper on May 04, 2026, 10:26:42 AM
Maybe, when we are in for a young foreign player, and he chooses similar wages but the lights of London and Tottenham instead, we will regret sacrificing this game. On reflection, Spurs were very good, organised and far more athletic than us all over the park, but they, like us, could have taken it easy and conserved energy for the upcoming games, and still beaten us comfortably.
I thought their midfield 3 set the tone in the first 5 mins. Bentancour, Gallagher and Paulinho were very aggressive and intense from the off, hunting in packs and pressing high. Tielemans and Bogarde were outnumbered and overrun and with Abrahams and Barkley non-existent, it was a case of how many for a while.
Not dissimilar to the Chelsea game a couple of months ago where we stood off and they pulled us apart.
Post by: Behind Bluenose Lines on May 04, 2026, 10:31:19 AM
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!
Post by: RamboandBruno on May 04, 2026, 10:36:04 AM
Woke up this morning.Honestly, apologising to West Ham & Forest fans?? Its a bloody rubbish performance, but who cares about west ham or forest fans?
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!
Post by: LeeB on May 04, 2026, 10:38:56 AM
Post by: Meanwood Villa on May 04, 2026, 10:39:15 AM
Woke up this morning.
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!
Doesn't scan as well as the previous version of the song
Post by: Behind Bluenose Lines on May 04, 2026, 10:39:55 AM
I know, I know. It's just the way I feel at the moment. Give me a couple of days: I might feel differently.Woke up this morning.Honestly, apologising to West Ham & Forest fans?? Its a bloody rubbish performance, but who cares about west ham or forest fans?
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!
Post by: martin o`who?? on May 04, 2026, 10:41:10 AM
Woke up this morning.Why apologise?? - us resting players is no different to clubs fielding drastically weakened sides in the domestic cups and everyone accepts it as normal. As for West Ham fans blaming us for them being in the bottom three - well silly me thought that was because they've lost 17 games this season. If we get through on Thursday then all this will be just another indication of Emery's genius.
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!
Post by: ChicagoLion on May 04, 2026, 10:44:57 AM
If that was about resting players, why did the one player above all who needs to be rested play all 90Exactly, I just don’t get the rationale behind still putting at risk Rogers and Tielemens.
minutes?
It’s like Emery tried to get half pregnant.
Post by: Ads on May 04, 2026, 10:54:17 AM
Post by: Behind Bluenose Lines on May 04, 2026, 10:58:18 AM
:DWoke up this morning.
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!
Doesn't scan as well as the previous version of the song
Post by: AV82EC on May 04, 2026, 11:00:22 AM
In the grand scheme of things a defeat is hardly the worst thing in the world BUT that’s three in a row, form seems to be patchy at best and the crowd are getting very restless. Unai and the players need to focus in and give us something.
What should’ve been a cruise into CL qualification and hopefully a final appearance is now looking somewhat threadbare and questions will be asked of the management group and this group of players if neither is achieved. This is elite level sport it’s not good enough to be nearly or dare I say it there or thereabouts.
Post by: Billy Walker on May 04, 2026, 11:01:09 AM
Woke up this morning.
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!
Maybe Crystal Palace should apologise to us for throwing the match v Bournemouth?...No, of course they won't, their boss wants to win (another) trophy.
Post by: PeterWithesShin on May 04, 2026, 11:26:01 AM
Post by: martin o`who?? on May 04, 2026, 11:34:35 AM
Post by: olaftab on May 04, 2026, 11:35:17 AM
Post by: Nev on May 04, 2026, 11:52:03 AM
Post by: enigma on May 04, 2026, 11:53:27 AM
I have slept on, gymed on it, swam on it and I am still very angry.Same. That performance has really got to me. It was the first thing I thought about as soon as I woke up. Had to get up and make myself busy as I was just laying there stewing about it.
What I don't get is when Unai took over we played a really high line and high tempo football but that resulted in us burning out towards the rest of the season. So we switch to a slower, more controlled style to counter that and we're still Blues, playing with no energy and limping over the line.
Post by: Crown Hill on May 04, 2026, 12:05:48 PM
I have slept on, gymed on it, swam on it and I am still very angry. What was Emery thinking sending them out half-arsed? It has never worked before and it is unlikely to work this time.
I think that’s the real issue, we only rested three and one of them came on as sub.
Watkins was mouthing “Thursday” at the Holte at the end and that was the mentality. Unai’s behaviour showed that as did Tammy telling Martinez to calm things rather than kick long.
Post by: taylorsworkrate on May 04, 2026, 12:35:06 PM
Post by: john e on May 04, 2026, 12:36:13 PM
I'm more angry at the lack of effort from the players who were selected to be honest. They couldn't give a shit at all.
I’m sort of hoping they weren’t trying very hard last night
Because if they were it’s even worse
Post by: Nelly on May 04, 2026, 12:46:10 PM
I'm happily done with Barkley, Abrahams, Sancho and others. Just totally going through the motions and seemingly no desire to make an impact.
One thing that did occur to me, that book, Rise Of The Villains, quite proudly boasted that one of Unai's greatest victories has been educating the Villa Park crowd about how to play. All I'd say is, yes - if we're seen to be giving a shit. I don't think any stadium will put up with a dramatic slide in form and then a performance like that against Spurs.
It's gutting because we have so many problems now and players perhaps not buying into Emery is not at all what we need now.
Post by: The Edge on May 04, 2026, 01:00:03 PM
Post by: brontebilly on May 04, 2026, 01:10:55 PM
Maybe, when we are in for a young foreign player, and he chooses similar wages but the lights of London and Tottenham instead, we will regret sacrificing this game. On reflection, Spurs were very good, organised and far more athletic than us all over the park, but they, like us, could have taken it easy and conserved energy for the upcoming games, and still beaten us comfortably.
I thought their midfield 3 set the tone in the first 5 mins. Bentancour, Gallagher and Paulinho were very aggressive and intense from the off, hunting in packs and pressing high. Tielemans and Bogarde were outnumbered and overrun and with Abrahams and Barkley non-existent, it was a case of how many for a while.
Not dissimilar to the Chelsea game a couple of months ago where we stood off and they pulled us apart.
Thought at least v Chelsea that night we were a rabble out of possession for sure but with the ball created a lot of chances. Being outnumbered in midfield is on Emery. Barkley and Tammy pressing from the front was laughable
Post by: RamboandBruno on May 04, 2026, 01:20:20 PM
The booing doesn't exist in a vacuum, it's the response to us sliding and having terrible form, now putting in a "couldn't care less" performance like that. It makes me wonder if the players have stopped responding to Emery?If I could be arsed to scroll back on some threads to early to mid-September, I’m pretty much certain there will be comments about Emery losing the dressing room, the players not responding to his methods anymore etc etc. so is that the rule now, this theory gets rolled out everytime we go on a bad run?
I'm happily done with Barkley, Abrahams, Sancho and others. Just totally going through the motions and seemingly no desire to make an impact.
One thing that did occur to me, that book, Rise Of The Villains, quite proudly boasted that one of Unai's greatest victories has been educating the Villa Park crowd about how to play. All I'd say is, yes - if we're seen to be giving a shit. I don't think any stadium will put up with a dramatic slide in form and then a performance like that against Spurs.
It's gutting because we have so many problems now and players perhaps not buying into Emery is not at all what we need now.
Post by: wolfman999 on May 04, 2026, 01:31:09 PM
Woke up this morning.
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!
Doesn't scan as well as the previous version of the song
Sounds like a country song.
Post by: wolfman999 on May 04, 2026, 01:34:23 PM
[/b]Woke up this morning.Why apologise?? - us resting players is no different to clubs fielding drastically weakened sides in the domestic cups and everyone accepts it as normal. As for West Ham fans blaming us for them being in the bottom three - well silly me thought that was because they've lost 17 games this season. If we get through on Thursday then all this will be just another indication of Emery's genius.
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!
IF
(that's a big if)
Post by: N'ZMAV on May 04, 2026, 01:36:36 PM
Post by: The Edge on May 04, 2026, 01:39:16 PM
It does seem that way. I think the modern parlance is pantwetting.The booing doesn't exist in a vacuum, it's the response to us sliding and having terrible form, now putting in a "couldn't care less" performance like that. It makes me wonder if the players have stopped responding to Emery?If I could be arsed to scroll back on some threads to early to mid-September, I’m pretty much certain there will be comments about Emery losing the dressing room, the players not responding to his methods anymore etc etc. so is that the rule now, this theory gets rolled out everytime we go on a bad run?
I'm happily done with Barkley, Abrahams, Sancho and others. Just totally going through the motions and seemingly no desire to make an impact.
One thing that did occur to me, that book, Rise Of The Villains, quite proudly boasted that one of Unai's greatest victories has been educating the Villa Park crowd about how to play. All I'd say is, yes - if we're seen to be giving a shit. I don't think any stadium will put up with a dramatic slide in form and then a performance like that against Spurs.
It's gutting because we have so many problems now and players perhaps not buying into Emery is not at all what we need now.
Post by: olaftab on May 04, 2026, 01:42:11 PM
The booing doesn't exist in a vacuum, it's the response to us sliding and having terrible form, now putting in a "couldn't care less" performance like that. It makes me wonder if the players have stopped responding to Emery?No. Players did exactly what Emery wanted with his approach to this match. So yes they are taking full note if their manager's attitude.
Post by: Flamingo Lane on May 04, 2026, 01:46:30 PM
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on May 04, 2026, 01:46:48 PM
Post by: ROBBO on May 04, 2026, 01:52:43 PM
Post by: eye digress on May 04, 2026, 01:55:07 PM
I'm avoiding Sky Sports for a few days.Is the right answer.
Post by: PaulWinch again on May 04, 2026, 02:00:43 PM
Forest will be more motivated than ever after that throwing of a game directly affecting them.
Of all the things to worry about, I wouldn’t about that.
The far bigger issue is we haven’t been very good generally. To then, at best, look past a game with the expectation it suddenly is going to click on Thursday is probably a touch on the optimistic side.
Post by: Cliftonville Villlain on May 04, 2026, 02:11:32 PM
Post by: aj2k77 on May 04, 2026, 02:18:23 PM
Post by: Cliftonville Villlain on May 04, 2026, 02:20:01 PM
Post by: ez on May 04, 2026, 02:23:41 PM
One team wanted it the other couldn't wait to get off the pitch. I have seldom seen a team capitulate so early in the game. For those unfortunate to attend you should get compensated.
There were eleven Villa players on the pitch who earn more playing football in one year than the people watching earn in a lifetime. The one player i give a break to is Bogarde, he did try the effort was there it isn't his fault that he's just not good enough. The attitude of the manager on the touchline said it all, if the players weren't interested neither was the manager, I have never seen Unai so passive. I thought the players would walk of at half time to thunderous booing, there was some, but it seems the crowd was fairly passive too.
I booed at half-time and I get all the the reasons why that is not helpful but that was a disreputable first half performance. It was a corrupt performance. The lack of effort, the absence of application, the inertia was gutting to witness.
I didn't go to Moscow so actually I don't think I've ever seen a Villa game that didn't feel right but last night felt very wrong.
That's tainted Emery a bit for me and some will say that's being precious but that wasn't Aston Villa FC out there.
I hope never to see it again from a team wearing our shirt and carrying our name.
If we somehow win through on Thursday night and the teams just below us don't close the gap I can see Emery doing the same again.
Post by: caster troy on May 04, 2026, 02:23:41 PM
Post by: Brazilian Villain on May 04, 2026, 02:24:50 PM
Forest will be more motivated than ever after that throwing of a game directly affecting them.
Before last night, Forest weren't bothered about getting to a European final and winning some silverware, but now they're motivated.
Post by: martin o`who?? on May 04, 2026, 02:38:52 PM
Forest will be more motivated than ever after that throwing of a game directly affecting them.we didn't "throw" anything - we acted in our own best interests and fuck anybody else - West Ham and Forest included.
Post by: cdbearsfan on May 04, 2026, 02:40:08 PM
Post by: mike on May 04, 2026, 02:42:00 PM
Forest will be more motivated than ever after that throwing of a game directly affecting them.we didn't "throw" anything - we acted in our own best interests and fuck anybody else - West Ham and Forest included.
I think winning the game and relegating a rival was in our best interests.
Post by: BoVillan esq on May 04, 2026, 02:50:58 PM
So what was really hard to take was the West Ham fans some in tears because they could not believe the performance Villa put in, some actually claiming there should be an investigation against the club the suggestion being the club had thrown the game, in part this was based on Emery's body language, completely different to any other game, part of me as real empathy for them because on the day its stated when West Han are relegated, sooner than later Villa have to be in some part responsible, Spurs are shite, and we have having to listen to there bleeding heart excuses for seasons now, like anybody gives a flying flip flop for them, that said Villa performance last night was something that words are lost on and Emery's post match answers to questions was equally bland and weak.
Terrible outcome to a game we should have romped home and now be celebrating Champions League that we have earned, as for Forest if the Forest manager has any intelligence whatsoever he should know exactly how to beat Villa on Thursday and Villa will exit the Europa League.
Post by: Toronto Villa on May 04, 2026, 02:53:11 PM
Post by: N'ZMAV on May 04, 2026, 02:55:26 PM
Post by: BoVillan esq on May 04, 2026, 03:01:14 PM
Fuck Spurs, fuck West Ham, fuck everyone other than Aston Villa.
That's the spirit
Post by: Clampy on May 04, 2026, 03:12:31 PM
Post by: Skipper_The_Eyechild on May 04, 2026, 03:26:17 PM
Post by: Allan C on May 04, 2026, 03:29:01 PM
I don’t think Emery has “ lost the dressing room” either. I can take a bad run, they all have them but the outcry on here is not about a bad run, it’s about an absolutely disgusting display by the players we support. How I laughed a few weeks ago at Chelsea at Brighton but we were worse!! I saw my first game in 1969 and I’ve seen some dross out there but this was right up there with them. Emery is arguably our best ever coach but he must take responsibility for that rubbish. Whatever the outcome this season, qualify for CL and win EL, I’ll never forget that displayIt does seem that way. I think the modern parlance is pantwetting.The booing doesn't exist in a vacuum, it's the response to us sliding and having terrible form, now putting in a "couldn't care less" performance like that. It makes me wonder if the players have stopped responding to Emery?If I could be arsed to scroll back on some threads to early to mid-September, I’m pretty much certain there will be comments about Emery losing the dressing room, the players not responding to his methods anymore etc etc. so is that the rule now, this theory gets rolled out everytime we go on a bad run?
I'm happily done with Barkley, Abrahams, Sancho and others. Just totally going through the motions and seemingly no desire to make an impact.
One thing that did occur to me, that book, Rise Of The Villains, quite proudly boasted that one of Unai's greatest victories has been educating the Villa Park crowd about how to play. All I'd say is, yes - if we're seen to be giving a shit. I don't think any stadium will put up with a dramatic slide in form and then a performance like that against Spurs.
It's gutting because we have so many problems now and players perhaps not buying into Emery is not at all what we need now.
Post by: Demitri_C on May 04, 2026, 04:15:24 PM
If we win Thursday night all will be forgiven. But if we lose that as well i think most us are going to be furious
Even more furious than people are now?
Yep as this is probably our best ever chance to win something and yet again going out just feels like de ja vus another semi final we fucked
Post by: brontebilly on May 04, 2026, 04:25:46 PM
At the game last night, I thought Emi should have possibly done better with Gallagher's effort. Watched it back since and I can't decide. Maybe he saw it late and i'm being harsh?
Harsh I think. Blame game starts with Tammy's non effort to stop him at edge of box.
Post by: Monty on May 04, 2026, 04:26:34 PM
At the game last night, I thought Emi should have possibly done better with Gallagher's effort. Watched it back since and I can't decide. Maybe he saw it late and i'm being harsh?
Harsh I think. Blame game starts with Tammy's non effort to stop him at edge of box.
I said on the thread that I don't think they score that with Ollie on the pitch.
Post by: Demitri_C on May 04, 2026, 04:27:20 PM
At the game last night, I thought Emi should have possibly done better with Gallagher's effort. Watched it back since and I can't decide. Maybe he saw it late and i'm being harsh?
I cant blame emi for that. I think the lack of denfesive play leading up to it was more at fault.
What pisses me off though was it wss yet a again a 1st attack that we go and concede a goal
Post by: Exeter 77 on May 04, 2026, 04:27:27 PM
Yes, harsh. Gallagher hit it really early and it was right in the corner.At the game last night, I thought Emi should have possibly done better with Gallagher's effort. Watched it back since and I can't decide. Maybe he saw it late and i'm being harsh?
Harsh I think. Blame game starts with Tammy's non effort to stop him at edge of box.
Post by: oldhill_avfc on May 04, 2026, 04:37:30 PM
Post by: oldhill_avfc on May 04, 2026, 04:40:34 PM
[/b]Woke up this morning.Why apologise?? - us resting players is no different to clubs fielding drastically weakened sides in the domestic cups and everyone accepts it as normal. As for West Ham fans blaming us for them being in the bottom three - well silly me thought that was because they've lost 17 games this season. If we get through on Thursday then all this will be just another indication of Emery's genius.
Still mortified and appalled over that spectacle last night from my club, Aston Villa, supposedly a proud name worldwide. I just want to apologise to every West Ham and Forest fan out there over us undermining the integrity of the league.
God knows what will happen on Thursday!IF(that's a big if)
left]BELIEVE[/left](that's a big if)
Post by: eamonn on May 04, 2026, 05:22:24 PM
Post by: Demitri_C on May 04, 2026, 05:55:25 PM
It was like watching a under 12 team
Post by: Somniloquism on May 04, 2026, 07:35:19 PM
Post by: olaftab on May 04, 2026, 08:10:40 PM
Emery and MacPhee were shouting at Abraham to get across but he was too slow and when he did, Gallagher's first touch bamboozled Tammy and took him out of the game.That was comical from Tammy, he moved away from Gallagher covering no one.
Post by: Olneythelonely on May 04, 2026, 08:39:38 PM
I remember almost smashing my tv at that first set piece corner when sancho stupidly got himself offside.
It was like watching a under 12 team
That was completely Tielemans’ fault. As shite as Sancho is.
Post by: Demitri_C on May 04, 2026, 09:18:18 PM
I remember almost smashing my tv at that first set piece corner when sancho stupidly got himself offside.
It was like watching a under 12 team
That was completely Tielemans’ fault. As shite as Sancho is.
I couldnt believe it. Honestly so poor
Post by: brontebilly on May 04, 2026, 09:26:09 PM
.I remember almost smashing my tv at that first set piece corner when sancho stupidly got himself offside.
It was like watching a under 12 team
That was completely Tielemans’ fault. As shite as Sancho is.
Tielemans was on another planet last night.
Post by: OzVilla on May 04, 2026, 11:52:23 PM
Post by: TaxDodger on May 08, 2026, 09:45:51 AM
Post by: VILLA MOLE on May 08, 2026, 09:47:21 AM