Aston Villa under-10's vs Arsenal -FA Cup Final Post-Match Thread

[Clampy]

Ref was very poor - not that it affected the result - but truly very poor.  Blowing up for free kicks against us for fuck all and giving us nothing when Gabby gets hacked down.  Card happy very early on too. Looked starstruck.

Got to agree on the ref, he seemed to give Arsenal a free kick whenever one of their players went down under the slightest of challenges. He booked 5 of our players yesterday and other than Hutton's, there wasn't really a bad challenge in the game, although Gabby's was for dissent I think.

[Duncan Shaw]

Had Sinclair, Bakuna and Guzan started, it might have been a different story.  Given made a couple of decent saves but you would have thought he made saves of the century according to the bbc commentary.  He then was poor for 3 goals,  why was nobody on the post for the 3rd.

Not so sure about Guzan as Given wasn't that bad but I think Bacuna and either Sinclair or Gabby might have given us a bit more of threat going forward.

I think it's easy to say that in hindsight, but 80-90% of us probably wanted him to play the same front 6 as the semi.  Why he didn't bring Sinclair on was wired though.  I think he went for damage limitation with Sanchez.

[taylorsworkrate]

Thankfully I started drinking at 11am yesterday, so was pretty drunk by the time the game started.

I really don't think i'd have been able to watch that sober

[nick harper]

I know it's immaterial but how did the referee not give a penalty for either of those incidents? He was sharp to pull up any pull backs throughout the game yet Grealish was practically wrenched to the ground.

3-1 might have flattered us but looks better than the score this morning.

[Jimbo]

How can we end the culture of failure at the club? Are we too big to feel like plucky have-a-go underdogs, but too small to feel like winners? I'm sure Sherwood knows we have far too many characterless, dimwitted, overpaid coasters on the books, but it's going to take a genius to work out just how to change the pervasive complacency and lack of fight at Villa.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's as if the players who come here think "it's only Villa" and play accordingly, while picking up their massive pay cheques.

[Five Villa Tattoos]

Had hours to mull over yesterday's pathetic display.
My brother and me cannot for the life of us work out how we still managed to not get relegated with that squad of players.
Me and our kid will be back next season, as we always are. Just hope some of the current squad aren't.

[AV82EC]

How can we end the culture of failure at the club? Are we too big to feel like plucky have-a-go underdogs, but too small to feel like winners? I'm sure Sherwood knows we have far too many characterless, dimwitted, overpaid coasters on the books, but it's going to take a genius to work out just how to change the pervasive complacency and lack of fight at Villa.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's as if the players who come here think "it's only Villa" and play accordingly, while picking up their massive pay cheques.

Let's be honest it's been like that for years down at VP as Sir GT so famously put it " there's a good living to be made at VP". Don't know if that was it exactly but along those lines.

[Rudy65]

Thankfully I started drinking at 11am yesterday, so was pretty drunk by the time the game started.

I really don't think i'd have been able to watch that sober

Never understood why anyone would do that

[OzVilla]

I know it's immaterial but how did the referee not give a penalty for either of those incidents? He was sharp to pull up any pull backs throughout the game yet Grealish was practically wrenched to the ground.

The way he ref'd the game like it was a basketball match then the Grealish incident should have been a penalty.  Lets face it, he gave Arsenal far more for far less throughout the match.

As for Gabby's, well if those aren't being given then we'll never see a penalty given ever again quite frankly - absolute as stonewall as you can get.

[ez]

There's something badly wrong about yesterday. Even poor sides manage a few shots on target.

[CT]

Compared to yesterday, John Gregory's 2000 team played like Barcelona at their attacking best.

[passitsideways]

How can we end the culture of failure at the club? Are we too big to feel like plucky have-a-go underdogs, but too small to feel like winners? I'm sure Sherwood knows we have far too many characterless, dimwitted, overpaid coasters on the books, but it's going to take a genius to work out just how to change the pervasive complacency and lack of fight at Villa.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's as if the players who come here think "it's only Villa" and play accordingly, while picking up their massive pay cheques.

Didn't Keane accuse players of basically not being willing to improve because they apparently weren't getting paid enough to do so? I know he's a massive twat who probably can't be believed, but you seem to hear these things every now and then with some clubs - it's like when the Adam Johnson thing broke out, there were a bunch of stories talking about the drinking culture at Sunderland and all the lazy tossers over there.

[Jimbo]

How can we end the culture of failure at the club? Are we too big to feel like plucky have-a-go underdogs, but too small to feel like winners? I'm sure Sherwood knows we have far too many characterless, dimwitted, overpaid coasters on the books, but it's going to take a genius to work out just how to change the pervasive complacency and lack of fight at Villa.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's as if the players who come here think "it's only Villa" and play accordingly, while picking up their massive pay cheques.

Let's be honest it's been like that for years down at VP as Sir GT so famously put it " there's a good living to be made at VP". Don't know if that was it exactly but along those lines.

I agree, it's been like it for as long as I can recall, apart from when Ron Saunders was here. It's the same syndrome that affects us every time we play Man Utd. It's as if we feel like the script has already been written, and we're nothing but well-paid extras.

[walsall villain]

Sister just asked how my two events went this week, Paul McCartney in Brum and Villa. Well one was a joy to be surprised at the level of performance, quality and energy and was a real pleasure which I shall remember for a long time. Unfortunately I shall be remembering the other one for a long time too. I know We were pathetic but I reckon Arsenal in current form would have beaten any English team yesterday. Just hope it's a catalyst for the big changes we know we need to make.

[JJ-AV]

Ah bugger.

That fourth goal was just cruel.