Villa - Fulham post match thread

[Risso]

I'd love to know how much of our second-half performance was deliberate, or to instruction - i.e. completely taking our foot off the gas? Was it a case of "They're not looking like scoring, so let them come at us and we'll pick them off"?  I mean, we were clearly much worse second half, but it's not like Fulham were much "better" - I don't think they had a shot on target all game?

Although we were far from brilliant, I expect the players conserved quite a lot of energy in that game compared to a typical blood-and-thunder premier league fixture, which might be helpful come Sunday.

No, I don't think so, Emery was doing his nut on the sidelines.

[dave shelley]

I did hear them them singing about us crying at Wembley in the play off final .  Can we let our Fulham friend on here know that it was the best thing to happen to us in a decade.

London Franky I think you mean, a decent sort and I can pretty much guarantee he's sharp enough to know that them beating us in that play-off final was to our benefit as much as Fulham's.  I like Fulham btw, never seem to be up their own arses.

[VILLA MOLE]

I did hear them them singing about us crying at Wembley in the play off final .  Can we let our Fulham friend on here know that it was the best thing to happen to us in a decade.

London Franky I think you mean, a decent sort and I can pretty much guarantee he's sharp enough to know that them beating us in that play-off final was to our benefit as much as Fulham's.  I like Fulham btw, never seem to be up their own arses.

Yes that is the fella , it wasn’t a criticism really , it amused me that they would bring it up .  I felt like clapping 😃

[Rory]

I did hear them them singing about us crying at Wembley in the play off final .  Can we let our Fulham friend on here know that it was the best thing to happen to us in a decade.

London Franky I think you mean, a decent sort and I can pretty much guarantee he's sharp enough to know that them beating us in that play-off final was to our benefit as much as Fulham's.  I like Fulham btw, never seem to be up their own arses.

Yeah, he's a good bloke.

[tomd2103]

If we continue our good form going forward, I think last night was a sign of things to come in terms of teams sitting off us  at VP and putting everyone behind the ball. 

Just thought we slowed right down and then lost momentum in the second half.  Think we have got to try and keep a high tempo in those circumstances and keep moving the ball quickly.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

What I did find interesting last night, particularly in the second half was the amount of supporters around me (Witton Upper) who haven’t grasped how Emery wants us to play…sure it can be a bit boring when the ball is going between Emi, Mings and Konsa but just yelling ‘forward’ when no player has space is not his way :-)

We didn’t have as many of those pass, pass, pass accelerate type transitions last night as recent games but when we did we looked good. 

Yes, and we did a lot more punting it forward last second half, to mostly not very good effect. Which just highlights that Emery's way is the right way.

Agree, thought Ollie did ok with those too, didn’t win many but challenged every one…perhaps big leggy in midfield that we didn’t manage to get Buendia and Ramsey once he had that knock onto the second balls

There was a real lack of movement from our advanced midfielders, nobody seemed to want the ball other than SJM who led by example. I'd forgotten Ramsey was playing for the first 30 minutes and thereafter he seemed to be playing Statues. Buendia was demanding the ball but in very tight situations where he was unlikely to do anything with it.

Playing it out to Moreno is great but we do need to find alternative ways to attack. It became a bit predictable, not to mention frustrating.

[Lastfootstamper]

What I did find interesting last night, particularly in the second half was the amount of supporters around me (Witton Upper) who haven’t grasped how Emery wants us to play…sure it can be a bit boring when the ball is going between Emi, Mings and Konsa but just yelling ‘forward’ when no player has space is not his way :-)

We didn’t have as many of those pass, pass, pass accelerate type transitions last night as recent games but when we did we looked good.

It's not too bad by me in the UT. There's one bloke somewhere behind me that's still a "get rid of it!” disciple, but everyone else seems a full convert. At one point we had a backpass to  Martinez that brought a smattering of applause. Strange but welcome times.

[Towser]

What I did find interesting last night, particularly in the second half was the amount of supporters around me (Witton Upper) who haven’t grasped how Emery wants us to play…sure it can be a bit boring when the ball is going between Emi, Mings and Konsa but just yelling ‘forward’ when no player has space is not his way :-)

We didn’t have as many of those pass, pass, pass accelerate type transitions last night as recent games but when we did we looked good.

It's not too bad by me in the UT. There's one bloke somewhere behind me that's still a "get rid of it!” disciple, but everyone else seems a full convert. At one point we had a backpass to  Martinez that brought a smattering of applause. Strange but welcome times.

I am in upper Trinity as well and people around me seem more acceptable to the playing out from the back than say 10 games ago, apart from the guy who sits next to me (who I have never spoken to as he is an absolute nuicance) he sits shaking his head and shouting in a high pitched voice "NOOOOOO" every time we go back, even that applause last night was met by him with a shake of the head and him saying to his mate " I dont know whey we do that, we will never win anything playing like that" to be fair, I really hope he doesnt renew and I get a neighbour who isnt elbowing me or standing on my foot all game even though he never stands, even when we score.

He was also condemming of the taking a knee, he always used to say to his mate "I dont know why they applaud that rubbish" whilst his mate was applauding.

[Brend'Watkins]

It was reminiscent of the Forest game where they tried to negate our style so didn't make for a great spectacle. I'm so glad Mings got the winner as he's deserved a goal for some sterling displays this season. He was my MoM too.  Thought the Donk was good first half. Normally I'd be having kittens with only a 1-0 lead going into the last 10 minutes but we're a different team under Emery.  He hasn't just transformed us he's metamorphosed us. 

[AV82EC]

What I did find interesting last night, particularly in the second half was the amount of supporters around me (Witton Upper) who haven’t grasped how Emery wants us to play…sure it can be a bit boring when the ball is going between Emi, Mings and Konsa but just yelling ‘forward’ when no player has space is not his way :-)

We didn’t have as many of those pass, pass, pass accelerate type transitions last night as recent games but when we did we looked good.

It's not too bad by me in the UT. There's one bloke somewhere behind me that's still a "get rid of it!” disciple, but everyone else seems a full convert. At one point we had a backpass to  Martinez that brought a smattering of applause. Strange but welcome times.

I am in upper Trinity as well and people around me seem more acceptable to the playing out from the back than say 10 games ago, apart from the guy who sits next to me (who I have never spoken to as he is an absolute nuicance) he sits shaking his head and shouting in a high pitched voice "NOOOOOO" every time we go back, even that applause last night was met by him with a shake of the head and him saying to his mate " I dont know whey we do that, we will never win anything playing like that" to be fair, I really hope he doesnt renew and I get a neighbour who isnt elbowing me or standing on my foot all game even though he never stands, even when we score.

He was also condemming of the taking a knee, he always used to say to his mate "I dont know why they applaud that rubbish" whilst his mate was applauding.

Some of the older ones near me in the UT do like sucking through their teeth when we’re playing around at the back but I’m putting that down to a generational thing as much as anything but the two old codgers who sit behind me have said it’s a breath of fresh air to see the team treating the ball and possession with respect and they love it! I suppose some people are just not patient and want everything to be done at 100mph. Plus it is a bit of a British cultural thing, the up and at em style and it’ll take a while for these fancy foreign ways to become embedded.

[Drummond]

It was reminiscent of the Forest game where they tried to negate our style so didn't make for a great spectacle. I'm so glad Mings got the winner as he's deserved a goal for some sterling displays this season. He was my MoM too.  Thought the Donk was good first half. Normally I'd be having kittens with only a 1-0 lead going into the last 10 minutes but we're a different team under Emery.  He hasn't just transformed us he's metamorphosed us.

Absolutely agree.

It's just so nice to watch us being calm and controlled and confident on the ball.

[rob_bridge]

What I did find interesting last night, particularly in the second half was the amount of supporters around me (Witton Upper) who haven’t grasped how Emery wants us to play…sure it can be a bit boring when the ball is going between Emi, Mings and Konsa but just yelling ‘forward’ when no player has space is not his way :-)

We didn’t have as many of those pass, pass, pass accelerate type transitions last night as recent games but when we did we looked good.

It's not too bad by me in the UT. There's one bloke somewhere behind me that's still a "get rid of it!” disciple, but everyone else seems a full convert. At one point we had a backpass to  Martinez that brought a smattering of applause. Strange but welcome times.

I am in upper Trinity as well and people around me seem more acceptable to the playing out from the back than say 10 games ago, apart from the guy who sits next to me (who I have never spoken to as he is an absolute nuicance) he sits shaking his head and shouting in a high pitched voice "NOOOOOO" every time we go back, even that applause last night was met by him with a shake of the head and him saying to his mate " I dont know whey we do that, we will never win anything playing like that" to be fair, I really hope he doesnt renew and I get a neighbour who isnt elbowing me or standing on my foot all game even though he never stands, even when we score.

He was also condemming of the taking a knee, he always used to say to his mate "I dont know why they applaud that rubbish" whilst his mate was applauding.

When I went v Forest I was slightly bemoaning Ollie wasn't making more runs wider and dragging the centre halves out of position. Transpires if he does that we score less goals. WTF do I know after 45 years watching them 

[garyellis]

Forgot to mention I thought the ref was a real lightweight certainly not premier league standard

[boozey182]

Some of the older ones near me in the UT do like sucking through their teeth when we’re playing around at the back but I’m putting that down to a generational thing as much as anything but the two old codgers who sit behind me have said it’s a breath of fresh air to see the team treating the ball and possession with respect and they love it! I suppose some people are just not patient and want everything to be done at 100mph. Plus it is a bit of a British cultural thing, the up and at em style and it’ll take a while for these fancy foreign ways to become embedded.

I think it is a seen by some as almost an arrogant way to play. There's nothing we like more in this country than saying "who does he think he is?". I think some people see it as "Oh, so you think lumping it forward to the big man is beneath you, do you? Well go on then, try your little passes, see where that gets you".

I heard someone say the other night "The problem with Emery is - he hates losing possession of the ball".

But the crowd in general has really taken to the new style, which is great. I guess if 5 wins at home on the bounce, without conceding a goal, doesn't convince you that this might work, you may be a lost cause!

[Flamingo Lane]

I'm not sure if this has been commented on already, but watching again the goal, Buendia could easily have applied a simple finishing touch to Mings's header, but had the awareness and presence of mind not to do so, since he would have been offside.