Villa v Man City Post-Match Thread

[Drummond]

Well done Villa, and as one of his harshest critics on here, well done Gerrard. He really dropped a bollock with the captaincy, needs to correct that so he can drop McGinn. Got everything else right today.

Agree with that.

Also, interestingly Bailey's post - match interview he said Gerrard had told them to go out and play without pressure on them; which is right as it was all on Gerrard. If that's the turning point I'll be chuffed to bits. Let's see what the next two bring.

[Flamingo Lane]

Souness and to a lesser extent Dion Dublin didn't half spout some nonsense after yesterday's game. To listen to them, one would have thought that the reason we'd not got results in previous games was that we'd been striving to play perfect expansive football, and not because we'd lacked clear purpose and organisation, and had players out of form starting games.   

[Somniloquism]

I watched the replay of the disallowed goal many times. When the pass left the players foot he was onside but as the ball travelled the defenders move out slightly leaving him looking to be offside, the linesman got it wrong but we are talking about tenths of a second.

Which is why offsides are always controversial as they can be very small distances and times, but we were told VAR would be able to take these mistakes out of the game as it is a definitive measure*. As with everything it is consistency. Assistant Refs are told not to flag as VAR can't be used if the play is stopped. I've seen them not call even when the decision is obvious and play is still down in the corner just in case. Yes Coutinho came back to pick up the ball and might have played it back (hence a new phase of play and call, but he continued holding it and turned into a dangerous position. An example of not calling one was given by the same lino when Walker was through. Certainly seemed to be offside by a foot or so, lino allowed play and if the ball had gone into the net, VAR would have called on it.

* Obviously it is not definitive as they are measuring off non-level cameras and still using "judgement" on when the ball is played and which pixel on the screen represents the body parts they want to call against.

[Percy McCarthy]

I watched the replay of the disallowed goal many times. When the pass left the players foot he was onside but as the ball travelled the defenders move out slightly leaving him looking to be offside, the linesman got it wrong but we are talking about tenths of a second.

The ball went backwards so he could have been behind the goalie and still not offside.

[Somniloquism]

I watched the replay of the disallowed goal many times. When the pass left the players foot he was onside but as the ball travelled the defenders move out slightly leaving him looking to be offside, the linesman got it wrong but we are talking about tenths of a second.

The ball went backwards so he could have been behind the goalie and still not off side.

Not one thing in the rules about the ball being played backwards though.

A player is in an offside position if:
any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents’ half (excluding the halfway line) and
any part of the head, body or feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent

A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:
interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate

[Brazilian Villain]

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.

I bet you are ready to move up t the mountains.

Not yet, I'm still waiting for the mountain to come to me.

[astonvilla82]

Was it the arsenal game last season they looked at VAR and give a penalty 1 hour later

[astonvilla82]

Well yesterday Villa you did me proud. A critic of SG I will admit. But yesterday the manager..staff..players..supporters made me proud to support the greatest club the world has ever know. A draw I know but so many of us will have got the immense pleasure out of it that Dave eluded to. That's why I can never get them out of my blood.  AVFC...Stand proud forever.

agree with every word

[KRS]

I watched the replay of the disallowed goal many times. When the pass left the players foot he was onside but as the ball travelled the defenders move out slightly leaving him looking to be offside, the linesman got it wrong but we are talking about tenths of a second.

The ball went backwards so he could have been behind the goalie and still not off side.

Not one thing in the rules about the ball being played backwards though.

A player is in an offside position if:
any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents’ half (excluding the halfway line) and
any part of the head, body or feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent

A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:
interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate

The bit about the ball being passed back is covered in the first paragraph referencing the position of the ball, so it follows that you can’t be offside if the ball is passed backwards. That’s my interpretation of it anyway.

[Lastfootstamper]

It doesn't mention the position of the ball, only the player's position comparative to that of the ball.

[pauliewalnuts]

It doesn't mention the position of the ball, only the player's position comparative to that of the ball.

Not sure I follow you.

"any part of the head, body or feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent"

The position of the ball is clearly implied, if not spelled out.

[paul_e]

It doesn't mention the position of the ball, only the player's position comparative to that of the ball.

Not sure I follow you.

"any part of the head, body or feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent"

The position of the ball is clearly implied, if not spelled out.

Position, not direction of travel. If you're behind the ball you can't be offside but if you're infront of the ball then it being passed backwards doesn't stop the laws being applied. It's slightly confusing because it's pretty rare for a pass to be played backwards to a player who started in front of you.

[Rory]

Its quite remarkable to see the change in attitude due to one game.

Iv been saying, give Gerrard time..he is class, and look what happens, he pulls out a plum against a side who were going to annihilate us if you were to believe all the naysayers.

Hopefully some of the idiots might get off his back now and let him do the job he was paid to do.

Ahh....Bless!

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.

Another holier than thou. Was a good performance but why has it taken Gerrard so long to pull out his plums.


And yes, I know that sounds dodgy!

Yesterday was much better and apart from the one chap saying it was luck, everyone has rightly given Gerrard credit. I hope it's the beginning of something great, but equally, lose the next two and it's 4 points from 8 games and he should be gone, for me.

As I say, hopefully Gerrard now has it sussed and we'll go from strength to strength, but a good performance and 1 point doesn't undo everything poor that came before it.

[KevinGage]

No offense to the 13,000 or so souls I'm about to offend, but all Holte Enders are a bit yampy. The North Stand is the home of cool, reasoned debate.

Having a stadium with four distinct stands, it's this inter stand factionalism and lack of fan solidarity that has resulted in our clubs decades long underperformance. The sooner we fill in the corners or move to a purpose built lego stadium the better.
Having said that, I do miss the old Upper Trinity where one could mix with those of your own class away from the masses.

Holte End clap your hands, upper Trinity just rattle your jewellery.

[Astnor]

I did arrive at the telly-football-pub 30min in and then to my pleasure I did recognize A young at RB and it did fill me with some hope/joy after that had gone flat since last games; No cashing around and young showed his capabillities there at Bolton . I did see a Villa that grew into something better during the match away from the low intensity and lack of creativity of late - and more of what we where over a year ago when the one not good enough for the match sitting on the citybench where in our team, and after our goal it was really enjoyable for a Villafan. My ratings:
Martinez - i think he s very good keeper for us with presence and confidence but some minor accidents lately and shold he have been else placed when they scored can be a question; 6,5
Young 9
Konsa - I m a fan of his playingstyle - one the best stopper-stoppers in PL 8
Mings - I m also a fan of Tyrone (or Danny as a commentator was called him ....) He s unbeatable man to man running for the ball and superb in the air but do hinder us playing out from the back IMO cause his not able enough under pressure and hoof it also a bit slow to turn under pressure in our box. I think the injuried one are brought to replace him. 6.5
Digne 7,5 been very good since joined us IMO
Kamara 8 Commentators praised his playing again and again , keep the ball, calm things down, find a pass and  makes it look easy.
Luiz 7,5 has its critics - whats not to like?
Mc Ginn 6 - I like mc ginn but he does see a bit to slow these days, he s not taken off weight since last I dont think. He give his all, I think he was booed a little bit when taken off - no need for that
Ramsey - did seem tired in second half and did come second to the ball repeatedly then and lost confidence one to one with their keeper just before he set up Bailey to score nad things changed to the better 6.5
Bailey 7
Watkins 7
Couthino did make a good sub, when he plays from the start do Gerrard and the team expect to much that creativity in the team mostly should come from him?
Villa Park - I have never been there. You could hear the villa fan very loud through the tv when we did take the ball and did something with it (silence ish when city did something); the atmosphere seemed very good and I kind og got lifted of this warm ish loud noise and this energize our players I have no doubt about that; havent really heard something like that before from any arena as I can remember - very impressed; 9.5