Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on May 13, 2021, 07:59:02 PM
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Clean sheet for Emi and Jack is back. That's all really,
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Not much to that.
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Dear Messrs Croesus and Crassus, co-owners, please can we have an amazing attacking player who can take set pieces this summer.
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Christ alive Jack Grealish is good. That's him 3 months rusty.
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Well, I thought we were better than them..
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Clean sheet for Emi and Jack is back. That's all really,
Yep. A non-event apart from those two positives.
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Emi equals Brad's record of fifteen clean sheets.
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Clearly Traore Davis and AEG together is never going to be good enough.
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Comfortably numb.We've become a bit risk averse especially at home.Very rare that Matt Targett overlaps.Rare for a midfielder to bomb into the box.Must be tactical.
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In the context of the season I think it's an OK result but Barkley? Oh dear.
Davis didn't do enough either I'm afraid.
Never mind.
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It was great to see Jack back.
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Went very flat second half from our side.
Odd good moment from Davis but didn't show enough today to suggest he could fill in for even 5-10 starts next season if Ollie picks up two months injury.
McGinn was excellent first 60 minutes and then he started putting in random passes and our midfield started to get a bit disorganised and that gave Everton more of the play, they still really didn't create much.
If this is a team that's going to finish 7th or 8th we can be seriously challenging for those spots next season with 2-3 good signings in final third.
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I think we will smash Palace. Jack and Ollie back in. Barkley better not start. Hopefully Cash is fit
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I knew I should have had a nap instead
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Whether we like it or not Everton are one of the best sides on the road so a decent point for me.
Super Jack is back though!!!!
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Grim, fortunate enough to keep a clean sheet second half. Our attack provided no threat throughout.
Martinez 7, Cash 5 (Elmo 6), Konsa 7, Mings 8, Targett 7, Luiz 7, McGinn 7, Traore 3 (Grealish 6), Barkley 0 (Ramsey 6), AEG 6, Davis 5.
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Clean sheet, Martinez equals the Prem Villa clean sheet record and Jack is back.
I for one am happy with the point against a well organised Everton away team.
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Quite glad I thought KO was 8pm and only tuned in 20 minutes or so ago.
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Christ alive Jack Grealish is good. That's him 3 months rusty.
He instantly became the best player on the pitch. And they knew it. That one run he had 4 (FOUR) Everton players around him. He attracts Messi like attention when he is on the ball. He really needs to play with better players. I hope that it is with us, but he truly would be devastating at a top side who have great strikers and players who are experts off the ball.
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Mings and Martinez were magnificent.I've been looking forward to see Davis starting upfront,however he just seemed to freeze when he got into the box.Jack is back.
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Good to see Jack back, and pleased for Emi and the defence for another clean sheet.
The rest though -
Barkley - dear oh dear, why is that numpty Smith persisting with him?
Davis - not good enough, by a long stretch
Traore - not good enough
El Ghazi - not good enough
McGinn - decent game I thought
Luiz - so so, passing really hit and miss.
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Clearly Traore Davis and AEG together is never going to be good enough.
Those wingers are totally rubbish. Davis has no service. Barkley awful as usual. I like Ramsay but he needs to man up and be more physical. He won’t make a career at this level otherwise. Back 5 at their best. Congrats to Emi in equalling the records. M of the match was SJM, looking much better lately. Dougie improved as well
And finally Jack was back. A couple of lovely runs reminded us what we had been missing. Please pay him £200k per week and make him stay
Season petering out. 7 points from the final three please so win finish above the magician known as Bielsa
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Mings and Martinez were magnificent.I've been looking forward to see Davis starting upfront,however he just seemed to freeze when he got into the box.Jack is back.
To be fair, the service to him was pitiful.
On the plus side, I can’t express the relief at hearing all the Man U and Liverpool players are safe. I can only thank SKY for reassuring me every ten minutes.
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From the BBC: Since the Premier League returned from lockdown in June last season, Emiliano Martínez has made more saves in the competition (162) than any other goalkeeper.
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I knew I should have had a nap instead
That's what I did. Woke up in injury time.
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A dull game that summed up the league position.
Jack is back, The youngsters need more playing time and Ramsay needs to work on his strength.
Barkley just not able to do it any more.
Martinez with 15 clean sheets, here's to at least one more for the record in his own.
Defensively we were good again.
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A plethora of contenders for give the ball away needlessly award although Dougie probably just about shaded it. Abject performance overall.
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Positives:
Jack came through unscathed
The defence withstood a bit of a battering towards the end, but stood firm.
Another clean sheet.
Barkley's appeared in his last game for us at Villa Park
Smith was more decisive than past games in hooking Barkley after 65 mins
Negatives:
Cash getting imjured
Although he probably didn't get top class service, Davis's limited ability was apparent.
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Two very evenly matched sides and they have spent a shed more than we have. The next phase of recruitment is crucial we could so kick on if we get it right.
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Gutted Tom Heaton was missing from the Bench , looks like he is on his way out and a excellent back up shot stopper is leaving the Football Club .
The Midfield looked empty and at times it feels like we are playing with 9 men. Davis worked his socks off but like Watkins looks isolated.
Nice to see Jack coming on from the Bench and made some fantastic runs but also some passes that were not spectacular. Hopefully he starts against Crystal Palace.
Was not impressed with the Referee
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McGinn was my MOTM
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Clean sheet for Emi and Jack is back. That's all really,
Pretty much. SJM is returning to form. The pitch looked great.
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From the BBC: Since the Premier League returned from lockdown in June last season, Emiliano Martínez has made more saves in the competition (162) than any other goalkeeper.
That’s great but does it also show we are not a good team?
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McGinn was my MOTM
100%. Must be galling doing the work he does and seeing Barclay trotting around. Thought Luiz looked better too.
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Sat down to watch the game at 8, only to realise it had already happened.
Sounds like a lucky escape.
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Hard earned point which we just about deserved. We need more quality in the summer that’s plainly obvious. Great to see Jack back that’s the best thing about tonight.
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Davis did his best operating as a lone striker . I thought he worked his socks off like Ollie does with absolutely no support ,guile or creativity from those around him. In fact aside of Jack we only looked dangerous when Davis ran with the ball. He may not be good enough for a top six team to start regularly I agree , but he is a bloody good sub and has shown that. Of course we need another top class striker but a few of you need to get off his back. Three weeks ago he was hero for his contributions against Fulham and Albion. What short memories you have
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Sat down to watch the game at 8, only to realise it had already happened.
Sounds like a lucky escape.
Well at least you missed the traffic.
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Sat down to watch the game at 8, only to realise it had already happened.
Sounds like a lucky escape.
No I wouldn’t say that. It was a messy, scrappy game. There wasn’t a whole lot in terms of actual quality. They had some chances, we had the best one with Mings I think. Nothing in it and given how much Everton have spent to be not much better than us they should be more concerned. We were just ok. They were pretty much the same.
Edit: fuck I read again... I see what you meant about lucky escape. Flew right over my head. Yes you were lucky not to see it
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Nice to see a clean sheet again. Well played defence and Emi. Shame there wasn't much going forward.
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McGinn was my MOTM
Thought he ran out of gas a bit second half and his passing as ever a bit iffy. But had a very good first 70 mins or so. The Luiz/McGinn partnership was in the main dominant tonight. Luiz though was nowhere to be seen for Gomez two chances, still doesn't sense danger enough for me. Can't imagine McGinn was too happy with Luis near the end when he bombed forward out of position in the last few minutes and forced McGinn to take a yellow.
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McGinn was my MOTM
He was great.
Upsides. Jack being back, Martinez getting his record and not losing. Downside. We didn't really create anything other than Mings' header which he should have buried. A fair result all round really.
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If that game showed anything it is that AEG and Traore are not good enough for where we want to be. AEG in particular is playing well above his level and his one goal every 50 or so shots dosnt cover that up.
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Sat down to watch the game at 8, only to realise it had already happened.
Sounds like a lucky escape.
Well at least you missed the traffic.
And the three hour build up to the game on now.
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2 shots on target in 97 minutes. At home. Pathetic.
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Nothing game really.
Think you have your answer to why Everton are above us. They've spent half their games being tediously solid and when asked to open up at home, they lack the ability to do so.
Not impressed with Davis, was though with McGinn.
Draw a fair result and delighted Jack is back.
One game closer to never having to watch us on the box again and listen to absolute drivel from the commentators.
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Looking at Everton's away record after tonight's game
P 18, W 11, D 4, L 3, F 23, A 15
So looking at that, and taking into account experience of Ancelotti and the money they've spent; for me a draw isn't necessarily that bad a result, notwithstanding the performance.
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1st half better team
Overall, without Watkins not sure who we expect to score goals
I want to be kind to Davis as he try's very hard, but I do not think his team mates know he is on the pitch as they certainly do not play to him.
If I was an Everton fan I would be pissed off, they have consistently spent money over the last few years but had no creative Midfield.
I texted my Everton mate and offered to let him have Barkley and play 10 VS 12 he told me to F off
But at the end, Richarlson, Calvert Lewis and Gomes looked more likely to score than we did
Was Wes on the bench ?
If he was he should have had a 10 min run
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1st half better team
Overall, without Watkins not sure who we expect to score goals
I want to be kind to Davis as he try's very hard, but I do not think his team mates know he is on the pitch as they certainly do not play to him.
If I was an Everton fan I would be pissed off, they have consistently spent money over the last few years but had no creative Midfield.
I texted my Everton mate and offered to let him have Barkley and play 10 VS 12 he told me to F off
But at the end, Richarlson, Calvert Lewis and Gomes looked more likely to score than we did
Was Wes on the bench ?
If he was he should have had a 10 min run
Used our subs though
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Traore is such a frustrating player to watch. He went through a spell in the first half where he either gave it away, lost it feebly or kicked it straight out. He then topped it off with a pathetic dive when he still had the ball. He really does turn in many more poor performances than not.
I thought Davis did ok with little service. Difficult to tell on the TV whether he was showing for the ball enough because he held it up pretty well when they passed to his feet. He also has that little turn of pace that takes him past defenders. He does, however, strike me as someone who generally lacks self confidence which is not good in a striker.
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Villa v Everton games are usually very good. This one reminded me of 1977 Wembley final.
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Looking at Everton's away record after tonight's game
P 18, W 11, D 4, L 3, F 23, A 15
So looking at that, and taking into account experience of Ancelotti and the money they've spent; for me a draw isn't necessarily that bad a result, notwithstanding the performance.
That’s a very fine away record.
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Villa v Everton games are usually very good. This one reminded me of 1977 Wembley final.
Fortunately I was pissed and slept through that one
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A game none of us will remember by Saturday.
8 out of 12 against Everton since we came back.
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Villa v Everton games are usually very good. This one reminded me of 1977 Wembley final.
Good call.
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Everton felt like they were there for the taking. Then again if I was an Everton fan, I would think we were there for taking. Even stevens really. Mings and Martinez were magnificent tonight, McGinns best game of the season until last 10 when he faded, but then he was covering more ground for Barkley so no wonder he tired. Nothing against Davis who worked hard, but you realise how good Ollie is in that lone striker role when he’s not there.
4 points against Everton in the last 12 days is not bad at all. Hopefully with Jack back we can get one more win this season, above 50 points will be a good season.
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Apart form Mings's misdirected header in the first half, we didn't really threaten to score, and as the game wore on they looked the more likely to win, but the defence did well again.
McGinn did better and was using his backside to greater effect tonight.
However we looked pedestrian again at times in midfield. I've heard 'tidy' mentioned in reference to several players but that is usually a synonym for underwhelming.
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First game I've been able to watch live for awhile.
Emi: 8. Anyone who says this is a one-player club is doing a disservice to Martinez.
Cash: 5. Nothing of real note and then got hurt.
Elmo: 6. Was serviceable as a sub and made a key block on what should of been a goal.
Konsa: 7. His usual solid self.
Mings: 6. Good for his usual one screw up or two per game, but then solid for the rest.
Luiz: 6. I saw him breaking up a lot of attacks, but also couldn't make a pass to anyone.
McGinn: 7. Worked hard throughout.
Traore: 4. Occasionally shows some skill, but then quickly disappears or flops down in the goal area when he still has the ball.
Grealish: 6. You can tell he has months of rust still on him, but was still pulling 4 Everton defenders with him whenever he made a run. If only he had other players around him that could get into proper position when he makes those runs.
Barkley: 2. I feel for the guy. He looks like he genuinely cares and is trying, but he looked like he was playing with cement shoes today. His first touches were always heavy and he made several back passes straight to Everton players.
Ramsey: 6. Played with some pace, and things seemed to open up a bit when he came on, but nothing much came of it.
AEG 5. Offered more than Traore, but he wasn't even close to goal with his shots today from what I remember.
Davis: 5. Didn't get a whole lot of service, but almost made something happen at the end there.
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Villa v Everton games are usually very good. This one reminded me of 1977 Wembley final.
Good call.
The highlight at Wembley being the post half time 10 minutes of hunting the bandsman’s lost spur from his boot.
Remember that?
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Pleased for Emi and the defence equalling the record of 15 clean sheets. I'm hoping they make it 16. It would be nice also to break the 50 point barrier.
McGinn probs motm, though Targett played well also.
We lacked urgency and confidence going forwards especially without Ollie as the focal point of our attacks.
4 points vs Everton within the space of 2 weeks is a good return. UTV!
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12305703/villa-dent-evertons-european-hopes
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Anyone else think Mings was a bit fortunate to escape a red? Seems to be a bit of payback for DLC stamping on his heel earlier in the game. Made a great tackle at end to clear with his right foot!
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Anyone else think Mings was a bit fortunate to escape a red? Seems to be a bit of payback for DLC stamping on his heel earlier in the game. Made a great tackle at end to clear with his right foot!
Yes, I think he was very fortunate. Other way, I would have been asking for a red.
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I thought there was an element of payback to the tackle. I think most of the time you'll get away with it but it could have gone against him. No need to take the risk with a tackle like that on the halfway line. Still, no harm done, and other than that he was fantastic.
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A red for that challenge would've been very harsh.
I thought Mings was very good tonight, played like a real leader. Yes he makes the odd mistake but he makes us a better team and his partnership with Konsa in front of Martinez is the best defensive unit we've had for years.
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Villa v Everton games are usually very good. This one reminded me of 1977 Wembley final.
It was bad, but wasn't that bad.
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It's absolutely clear that we have to go out this summer and bring in at least two players who can take the pressure of Jack. That certainly isn't Berkley. AEG, Traore and Davis isn't a match made in heaven. Pleased for Emi, be fantastic to break the record.
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Nice to see Jack coming on from the Bench and made some fantastic runs but also some passes that were not spectacular. Hopefully he starts against Crystal Palace.
Here is your answer!
"On Grealish:"The medical staff said [bring him on at minute] 75 but I twisted their arm to get a few more minutes out of him. I felt we were flat in the final third and needed a spark. He won't be ready to start at Crystal Palace."
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Imagine getting up at 3am to watch that.......... yep (sighs and pours another coffee at his work desk)
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Nice to see Jack coming on from the Bench and made some fantastic runs but also some passes that were not spectacular. Hopefully he starts against Crystal Palace.
Here is your answer!
"On Grealish:"The medical staff said [bring him on at minute] 75 but I twisted their arm to get a few more minutes out of him. I felt we were flat in the final third and needed a spark. He won't be ready to start at Crystal Palace."
To be honest I can live with that. Have pretty much written off the rest of the season but want more nice win against a scummy team to send us into the summer in a good mood.
Don't have any particular issue with Palace.
Get Jack fit for when we play those twats Tottenham and Chelsea and let's turn, at least one of, them over.
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Imagine getting up at 3am to watch that.......... yep (sighs and pours another coffee at his work desk)
Friendly question. Which way does the water spin when you flush the bog?
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Davis did his best operating as a lone striker . I thought he worked his socks off like Ollie does with absolutely no support ,guile or creativity from those around him. In fact aside of Jack we only looked dangerous when Davis ran with the ball. He may not be good enough for a top six team to start regularly I agree , but he is a bloody good sub and has shown that. Of course we need another top class striker but a few of you need to get off his back. Three weeks ago he was hero for his contributions against Fulham and Albion. What short memories you have
Agree with this totally. I certainly would not give up on him just yet.
The club need to somehow work on his self-belief and confidence. Get him to be more selfish when the half-chances open-up, those that he mainly creates for himself with his physicality and turn-of-speed.
Get some coaching from a single-minded, selfish f**ker, someone like Ian Wright.
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I thought Davis did OK. Lone striker role isn’t his bag and we didn’t exactly do him many favours in the support he got from elsewhere.
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Mings does have an edge to how he plays and he oversteps the mark on occasions, certainly not popular amongst opposition fans but we've all longed to have players opps can't stand and he's one of them.
Thought it was a great clearance at the end. We know he's got the odd mistake in him but I think generally he's played much better from xmas than he did first half of the season even if defensively it hasn't quite reflected in the stats.
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We should have been two-up in the first half alone. I'm still wondering how Mings has missed that free header?
If Watkins had played we probably would have been a touch more clinical and nicked it 1-0. Oh well, if you can't win, don't lose!
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I thought Davis did OK. Lone striker role isn’t his bag and we didn’t exactly do him many favours in the support he got from elsewhere.
He would have been clean through if AEG just slots him the ball around the 20th minute. Instead he blasts it into the top of the North Stand.
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Imagine getting up at 3am to watch that.......... yep (sighs and pours another coffee at his work desk)
Haha. Feel for you mate. A similar situation, time-wise here in Japan. Though I didn't bother getting up to watch this one, hundreds of occasions over the years have I felt like you do today.
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Villa v Everton games are usually very good. This one reminded me of 1977 Wembley final.
It was bad, but wasn't that bad.
Depends on who we were playing. If had been against Man utd it would have been red you can guarantee.
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Imagine getting up at 3am to watch that.......... yep (sighs and pours another coffee at his work desk)
youre more committed than me mate. Woke up at 6 checked the score and thought fk it can’t be arsed to watch. At least the palace game is at a decent hour. 9pm Sunday.
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Imagine getting up at 3am to watch that.......... yep (sighs and pours another coffee at his work desk)
Friendly question. Which way does the water spin when you flush the bog?
The same as everywhere, Coriolis effect does not apply to sinks & toilets, only weather causes spin in the other direction - see tropical cyclones, always spin counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, and spin in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere
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Poor game from 2 teams that looked as though they just want the end of the season
Looking at the performances last night if we get an offer for AEG and Davis this summer I would take it, neither are good enough
Davis reminded me of me when i was a child chasing a balloon around the garden, he has had enough chances to impress but at this level he is not going to make it - hopefully a championship club make an offer for him in the summer, and then we can give another of our youth a chance next season.
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If that game showed anything it is that AEG and Traore are not good enough for where we want to be. AEG in particular is playing well above his level and his one goal every 50 or so shots dosnt cover that up.
Agreed. Until we replace those two we are going nowhere fast
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I couldn't help thinking that Keinan Davis is too 'nice' when challenging for the ball. For a player of his size and pace his first thought seems to be not injuring his opponent rather than winning the ball. He's not in the Peter Withe, Cyrille Regis or Dion Dublin mould in that respect.
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If that game showed anything it is that AEG and Traore are not good enough for where we want to be. AEG in particular is playing well above his level and his one goal every 50 or so shots dosnt cover that up.
Similar with Traore. One piece of sublime skill every other game that will look good on a Youtube highlights video in no way makes up for his all round substandard play. He rarely beats a man and most of the time he loses possession weakly, or looks to pass back 30 yards thus negating any sort of forward momentum.
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0-0 against a team with Everton's away record this season could be regarded as a decent result when being without 2 of this season's stand-out players. But that doesn't assuage my irritation about the way we set up and played.
We are not dynamic enough and we pay insufficient attention to retaining the ball from midfield: Barkley's passing was f***ing woeful, Luiz was good but still gave away the ball too much and Traore seems to run into traffic whenever he attempts a dribble.
- The back 5 played okay, although - with Atkinson as ref - Mings got away with a couple, for me.
- McGinn played with the swagger of a man who has re-found his arse: almost back to his best, I thought.
- Luiz was okay but still gave some poor passes and got outrun by Allan in midfield.
- Barkley was utter gash throughout: yes, his early pressing was a pleasant surprise but his passing and set pieces were shite.
- Traore: what to say?! He is such a clever player at times, but his decision-making is dreadful and he needs to cut out this bloody diving.
- AEG: he needs to play in front of a stronger midfield if we are to see the best he has ... or, are we seeing it anyway?!
- Davis: unless Deano moves to a different set-up - away from one where a sole striker is expected to carve his own furrow - or we substantially strengthen the midfield (so that we have more dynamic box-to-box playing) our Keinan is not going to work. His limitations were exposed yesterday, and I think that his role will - at best - an impact sub (one who has only scored once in that role in the top flight).
Big summer ahead, as others have said.
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The big man up front on his own doesn't work unless the wingers and attacking midfielders can pick the right moments to get close to him.
Nobody did last night.
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I've seen comments about Luiz giving the ball away a few times and I'm not sure how that became 'fact' from the game. He had the highest pass completion of anyone who started for either team.
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Thought AEG did ok to be honest. Worked hard and used the ball well. Ran at them and caused free kicks and corners. Unfortunately didn't have his shooting boots on though. The assist stats for this season don't lie I guess. Traore was appalling yet again. He's a liability on the right wing to be honest. Has no pace or strength either, so many times he half heartedly runs into the full back. A classy touch every now and again is nowhere near enough. AEG at least put a shift in when he moved over there and the difference was noticeable.
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Villa v Everton games are usually very good. This one reminded me of 1977 Wembley final.
Good call.
The highlight at Wembley being the post half time 10 minutes of hunting the bandsman’s lost spur from his boot.
Remember that?
If memory serves, John Gidman found it.
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McGinn was my MOTM
Either SJM or Martinez. That save at the near post was something else. It's great having a real top keeper and he must be right up there for our Player of the Season.
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Emi - as assured as always - deserves to get the record before season ends
Cash - hope its not the last we see of him this year - he does bring a dimension to our game
Mings - one of his better games although how many great opportunities has he missed this season from free headers?
Konsa - I like that he takes no shit and stands up to all comers
Targett - Mr 8/10 every week - real pity he has Chilwell and fatty Shaw in front of him
Luiz - one of his better games but still annoyingly gives the ball away with ease
McGinn - see Luiz - our ball retention and then giving it away was painful last night - i hope Sansom brings something better to either of these positions next season
El Ghazi - without the goals he is anon most of the time and in some cases pretty weak in challenges
Traore - carbon copy of El Ghazi - we cannot support 2 in the same team
Barclay - I actually feel for him as his form and fitness has just drained away - he will go back to Chelsea then drift down the leagues until no one remembers him - such a waste but not unique really
Davis = Oh dear - everyone of us wants him to turn into a great player for us but the sorry facts are he makes Heskey look like Pele. Will slip down the leagues regrettably but just not good enough at this or even championship level.
Subs:
Elmo - Adequate
Ramsey - Still learning but decent energy
Jack - a microcosm of his play was when he went on a mazy run across the box and 4 of their players were shitting it - we are not a one man team but boy is he the heartbest
welcome back
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Thought it was Luiz's best game in a while. Cut out the silly errors, and tried to quickly get us going forward with neat passes. He still at times has a tendency to over-play/try a clever pass in a tight situation and we lose the ball in dangerous areas as a result. Only happened a couple of times yesterday, thankfully.
I feel bad for Keinan. That was his first start in a year and he's completely isolated most of the time, feeding off scraps. There's been plenty of games where Watkins has been just as anonymous.
As part of our evolution, playing an average of five-ten yards further up the pitch will help bring our strikers more into games and get the best out of them.
I'd like Davis to start with Watkins for the rest of the season just to give us a Plan B to think about for next season but the way Dean spoke about 4-4-2 in the pre-match presser suggests that he is not a fan of it unless we're chasing a game.
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Thought it was Luiz's best game in a while. Cut out the silly errors, and tried to quickly get us going forward with neat passes. He still at times has a tendency to over-play/try a clever pass in a tight situation and we lose the ball in dangerous areas as a result. Only happened a couple of times yesterday, thankfully.
I feel bad for Keinan. That was his first start in a year and he's completely isolated most of the time, feeding off scraps. There's been plenty of games where Watkins has been just as anonymous.
As part of our evolution, playing an average of five-ten yards further up the pitch will help bring our strikers more into games and get the best out of them.
I'd like Davis to start with Watkins for the rest of the season just to give us a Plan B to think about for next season but the way Dean spoke about 4-4-2 in the pre-match presser suggests that he is not a fan of it unless we're chasing a game.
The drawback with 442 is that the midfield have less freedom and can get overrun by teams with a 5. That means Jack, for example, gets pushed back and the front 2 can get be as isolated as KD was last night.
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I put on the transfer's thread - Luiz had most touches of any player on the pitch last night (84) and a pass completion rate of 92.7% so a lot of misconception that he kept giving the ball away!
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Thought it was Luiz's best game in a while. Cut out the silly errors, and tried to quickly get us going forward with neat passes. He still at times has a tendency to over-play/try a clever pass in a tight situation and we lose the ball in dangerous areas as a result. Only happened a couple of times yesterday, thankfully.
I feel bad for Keinan. That was his first start in a year and he's completely isolated most of the time, feeding off scraps. There's been plenty of games where Watkins has been just as anonymous.
As part of our evolution, playing an average of five-ten yards further up the pitch will help bring our strikers more into games and get the best out of them.
I'd like Davis to start with Watkins for the rest of the season just to give us a Plan B to think about for next season but the way Dean spoke about 4-4-2 in the pre-match presser suggests that he is not a fan of it unless we're chasing a game.
The drawback with 442 is that the midfield have less freedom and can get overrun by teams with a 5. That means Jack, for example, gets pushed back and the front 2 can get be as isolated as KD was last night.
True...but last night Everton played with Ricarlison (sp?) and DCL up-front. Had Watkins been fit, that might have been a game for both him and Davis (and no effing Barkley). There must be other teams who play with two strikers?
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I put on the transfer's thread - Luiz had most touches of any player on the pitch last night (84) and a pass completion rate of 92.7% so a lot of misconception that he kept giving the ball away!
I thought he was very good. The role of he plays is very under-appreciated and he seems to be developing into an excellent player (with some bumps along the road of course.)
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Thought it was Luiz's best game in a while. Cut out the silly errors, and tried to quickly get us going forward with neat passes. He still at times has a tendency to over-play/try a clever pass in a tight situation and we lose the ball in dangerous areas as a result. Only happened a couple of times yesterday, thankfully.
I feel bad for Keinan. That was his first start in a year and he's completely isolated most of the time, feeding off scraps. There's been plenty of games where Watkins has been just as anonymous.
As part of our evolution, playing an average of five-ten yards further up the pitch will help bring our strikers more into games and get the best out of them.
I'd like Davis to start with Watkins for the rest of the season just to give us a Plan B to think about for next season but the way Dean spoke about 4-4-2 in the pre-match presser suggests that he is not a fan of it unless we're chasing a game.
Could always try Watkins on the left wing, Davis in middle and Jack or Ramsey at 10. Davis was isolated last night for sure but he did look very limited to me. Difficult up against three centre backs but his passing was very poor at times and never looked a threat.
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Thought it was Luiz's best game in a while. Cut out the silly errors, and tried to quickly get us going forward with neat passes. He still at times has a tendency to over-play/try a clever pass in a tight situation and we lose the ball in dangerous areas as a result. Only happened a couple of times yesterday, thankfully.
I feel bad for Keinan. That was his first start in a year and he's completely isolated most of the time, feeding off scraps. There's been plenty of games where Watkins has been just as anonymous.
As part of our evolution, playing an average of five-ten yards further up the pitch will help bring our strikers more into games and get the best out of them.
I'd like Davis to start with Watkins for the rest of the season just to give us a Plan B to think about for next season but the way Dean spoke about 4-4-2 in the pre-match presser suggests that he is not a fan of it unless we're chasing a game.
The drawback with 442 is that the midfield have less freedom and can get overrun by teams with a 5. That means Jack, for example, gets pushed back and the front 2 can get be as isolated as KD was last night.
True...but last night Everton played with Ricarlison (sp?) and DCL up-front. Had Watkins been fit, that might have been a game for both him and Davis (and no effing Barkley). There must be other teams who play with two strikers?
Yes but whatever their team was on paper they were actually playing a 5 2 1 2 With Coleman and Digne as wing backs and Doucoure and Allan sitting in front. the 3 attacking players stayed higher up the pitch mainly because their plan in attack was quick counter-attacks and crosses. Given who their manager is I thought their approach was fucking awful.
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Yes but whatever their team was on paper they were actually playing a 5 2 1 2 With Coleman and Digne as wing backs and Doucoure and Allan sitting in front. the 3 attacking players stayed higher up the pitch mainly because their plan in attack was quick counter-attacks and crosses. Given who their manager is I thought their approach was fucking awful.
They had a lot more attacking intent than we did second half, and spent more time in our ⅓ than we did in theirs.
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I put on the transfer's thread - Luiz had most touches of any player on the pitch last night (84) and a pass completion rate of 92.7% so a lot of misconception that he kept giving the ball away!
I thought he was very good. The role of he plays is very under-appreciated and he seems to be developing into an excellent player (with some bumps along the road of course.)
I thought he improved as the game went on and the shackles were removed in the last 20 minutes as he drove forward joining the attack. I'd still like to see him have a shot or two. If he can bring that back to his game we'll have some player.
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Luiz reminds me of Petrov.
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Yes but whatever their team was on paper they were actually playing a 5 2 1 2 With Coleman and Digne as wing backs and Doucoure and Allan sitting in front. the 3 attacking players stayed higher up the pitch mainly because their plan in attack was quick counter-attacks and crosses. Given who their manager is I thought their approach was fucking awful.
They had a lot more attacking intent than we did second half, and spent more time in our ⅓ than we did in theirs.
They attacked more but it was still 99% getting the ball to Digne and Coleman/Iwobi and trying to give DCL chances with his head.
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Thought it was Luiz's best game in a while. Cut out the silly errors, and tried to quickly get us going forward with neat passes. He still at times has a tendency to over-play/try a clever pass in a tight situation and we lose the ball in dangerous areas as a result. Only happened a couple of times yesterday, thankfully.
I feel bad for Keinan. That was his first start in a year and he's completely isolated most of the time, feeding off scraps. There's been plenty of games where Watkins has been just as anonymous.
As part of our evolution, playing an average of five-ten yards further up the pitch will help bring our strikers more into games and get the best out of them.
I'd like Davis to start with Watkins for the rest of the season just to give us a Plan B to think about for next season but the way Dean spoke about 4-4-2 in the pre-match presser suggests that he is not a fan of it unless we're chasing a game.
The drawback with 442 is that the midfield have less freedom and can get overrun by teams with a 5. That means Jack, for example, gets pushed back and the front 2 can get be as isolated as KD was last night.
True...but last night Everton played with Ricarlison (sp?) and DCL up-front. Had Watkins been fit, that might have been a game for both him and Davis (and no effing Barkley). There must be other teams who play with two strikers?
Leicester been doing it last few months.
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Yes but whatever their team was on paper they were actually playing a 5 2 1 2 With Coleman and Digne as wing backs and Doucoure and Allan sitting in front. the 3 attacking players stayed higher up the pitch mainly because their plan in attack was quick counter-attacks and crosses. Given who their manager is I thought their approach was fucking awful.
They had a lot more attacking intent than we did second half, and spent more time in our ⅓ than we did in theirs.
They had a bit of pressure in last 20 minutes but even then Emi only made two serious saves, rest was Gomes just constantly firing over the bar.
I've watched Everton about 10 times this season and to me they're nothing but a bang average team for what they've spent and who manages them. No one can type with a straight face we have no chance of finishing abovee them next season if we sign well.
It's incredible they're still pretty clear of us and have a chance of still finishing top 6. Seems whenever we've got really close to them this season they've won away to an Arsenal or Liverpool for first time in 20 odd years so that's the unlucky element to things.
Last night's point meant we're now a point clear of what we got in 10/11. We finished 9th on 48 points, this season we could get 55 points and only be good enough for 11th!
In 16/17 Southampton finished 8th on 46 points. That's where losing to Sheffield United really really hurt us.
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Yes but whatever their team was on paper they were actually playing a 5 2 1 2 With Coleman and Digne as wing backs and Doucoure and Allan sitting in front. the 3 attacking players stayed higher up the pitch mainly because their plan in attack was quick counter-attacks and crosses. Given who their manager is I thought their approach was fucking awful.
They had a lot more attacking intent than we did second half, and spent more time in our ⅓ than we did in theirs.
That stat would look a lot different if two of our best and most attacking players were playing. With Jack in the last 15 or so we looked far more dangerous and we finished the game stronger. And let’s not forget, Everton are pretty good team and especially away from Goodison, so I expected them to have more possession against us. But we’ve taken 4 points off them so we’ve done well.
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I am quite a fan of Traore. I would also prefer to keep El Ghazi around as a squad player.
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I feel for Davis, he seems to be in the wrong era. Flick ons to no-one, gets to the byline and crosses to no-one. The one decent cross we got to him he headed it down nicely for Ramsey, but apart from that the service to him was dire.If he played with a Michael Owen type he would probably look more effective, but Deano says he doesn't like playing with two strikers unless we are chasing and going direct.
El Ghazi and Traore need to learn that the odd worldie doesn't mean that you should shoot every single time the ball comes to you. Traore needs to cut the diving out too, it's embarrassing.
On the positive side, I can't remember the last time I was so happy with our back 5 unit. We'd have more clean sheets too if it wasn't for us carrying Barkley for 10 games or so, who quite often is the most likely start of the opposition attacks.
And it goes without saying, Jack being back is huge for us.
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Taking 4 points from 6 against a decent team is good progress. We are still a work in progress. Grealish is no more than 60/70% fit but still lit up the game when he came on. All in all not much to choose between the teams. A game that will live short in the memory.
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Davis ran around a bit - but he looked fucked after an hour.
Probably hasn't played an hours football since he was 13
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I expect we'll bring in a wide-ish player in the summer, so Bert and AEG will have to up their games (in fairness, AEG has done this already this season) if they are to keep their places.
TMWWOW was on the co-commentary with Jack Woodward -always good to hear the Great Man's voice.