Fucking cheats vs Aston Villa post match thread - we won the 2nd half 1-0

[Axl Rose]

I was disappointed with how the first half went. And that things went against us like never being a nailed on pen and seemed soft but I guess Our Jack won a few our way.
In an attacking sense Villa seemed not go as planned in alot of the match till later on at 3-0 but it's all part of the learning process. Given our recent form and Villa's ability to play in possession, I was expecting a bit more competitive 90-minute performance.
The second half provided glimpses. Coutinho, in particular, impressed me when he came on.
My working theory of unexpected outcomes was only half correct as we won 45 minutes of football!

It will be interesting to see who is chosen for Arsenal, and there is a chance for things to turn in their favour because Emery will have a plan.
At the moment, there is a lack of consistency, but there are many encouraging signs in Duran and Coutinho, so thats good to see.

He's not out Jack

[eamonn]

For the first goal Ashley Young's positioning is not right at the corner and for the second one he is ball-watching again instead of marking Gundogan.

I thought Young was more Old today. Grealish gave him the run-around at times and should have done so a lot more. There was a close-up of both players' reaction after Young fouled Grealish at one point. Young, angry and pissed-off as ever at a decision going against him. Jack with a wry smile, seemed to show respect to his former (briefly) teammate. It made me sad for a moment as here were two former Villa heroes - Young in his original incarnation and Grealish until he got his big move.

[eamonn]

We were so passive first half , barely making up the numbers.  We have to believe in what we are doing. They are a good team but by jove they let you have attacking opportunities if you have a go

Not for the first time have we completely failed to turn up first half. I'd go so far as to say it's becoming a bit of a pattern.

What about all them early goals we score?

[Rory]

I was disappointed with how the first half went. And that things went against us like never being a nailed on pen and seemed soft but I guess Our Jack won a few our way.
In an attacking sense Villa seemed not go as planned in alot of the match till later on at 3-0 but it's all part of the learning process. Given our recent form and Villa's ability to play in possession, I was expecting a bit more competitive 90-minute performance.
The second half provided glimpses. Coutinho, in particular, impressed me when he came on.
My working theory of unexpected outcomes was only half correct as we won 45 minutes of football!

It will be interesting to see who is chosen for Arsenal, and there is a chance for things to turn in their favour because Emery will have a plan.
At the moment, there is a lack of consistency, but there are many encouraging signs in Duran and Coutinho, so thats good to see.

He's not out Jack

He certainly is not.

[Axl Rose]

I'm still fuming. What a fucker he is.

'nice to see some old faces', or something like that, he wrote. Fuck off. It was awful to see your headband wearing head, you scruffy, cheating little ******.

[LeonW]

I'm still fuming. What a fucker he is.

'nice to see some old faces', or something like that, he wrote. Fuck off. It was awful to see your headband wearing head you scruffy cheating little ******.

It strikes me as someone (still) trying to convince themselves of a reality that just doesn’t exist.

[steamer]

We were so passive first half , barely making up the numbers.  We have to believe in what we are doing. They are a good team but by jove they let you have attacking opportunities if you have a go

probably attacking the wrong half first

Not for the first time have we completely failed to turn up first half. I'd go so far as to say it's becoming a bit of a pattern.

What about all them early goals we score?

[sid1964]

first half we played like Aston Villa always do against the top sides, frightened to put them under any pressure when they had the ball, there Midfield were getting around the back of our midfield too easily, and De Bruyne ran the game.

2nd half was better, but that could be due to City knowing they had won the game and they did not need to get out of the proverbial 2nd gear

Grealish gave Young a tough time, Buendia was non existent as was the rest of the midfield

Hopefully next weekend Cash will start as we will need pace to cope with the Arsenal wingers.

[boozey182]

I guess if you're going to lose 3-1, that's the way to do it. It was always going to be difficult without Mings. He has his faults, but without him we're never as organised at the back, and no one else wins headers from set pieces. We need Tyrone in the team.

We just didn't get at them enough in the first half. We didn't have the bite and fight that we needed to get ourselves into the game, but having gone a goal down in the first few minutes it was so hard to get back into it. The second goal looked worse than it was, I think. It should have been dealt with better by Chambers, but they made the most of half a chance. That's what the best teams do, I guess.

It was a dive for their penalty - no one will be able to convince me otherwise, there is no evidence that he was touched at all. The only time I remember him doing that for us was at home to Palace. VAR looked at it and overturned it. Imagine being a club that has cheated on a historic level, and still feeling the need to dive in the box.

Bailey and Ramsey are a big worry. Bailey looks shot of all confidence, which seems to happen far too regularly. There was one point where the ball bounced off his shin and he seemed to intentionally let it go out, expecting a throw in... It was odd. There's is something not right there. Ramsey is going through a dip in form, which happens at his age. I would be surprised to see him in the starting team next week, but he'll be back.

The real positive was the impact the subs made. Coutinho, Durán, McGinn, Moreno - they all made a difference. Coutinho and Durán in particular, and they both got within a whisker of scoring. Great to see Watkins get another goal as well, and his brutally honest interview afterwards where he seemed to take responsibility for their second - not something I had noticed at all to be honest.

I think there was enough to take from that game to be positive about. Durán has earned a start, I think, and I want to see McGinn back in the team - I don't think we've played as well since he got injured. Having Mings and Carlos at CB would make a huge difference to that team - but I think if any side was missing it's first choice paring they would struggle.

I want to see more fight next week. I think that's they way we can get at Arsenal.

[Drummond]

They were absolutely on it for that first half and would have run rings round anyone. The difference was, yet again, individual errors leading to goals.

[Ian.]

Excellent summary Boozey. I agree about Ramsey at his age form can dip quickly and I’m not too worried about him and playing under Emery. He’ll be ok.

I wonder if Bailey will be left out now, he’s been given a really decent run which he’s never had and it’s just not happening at all, so maybe a rethink is needed.

[Monty]

Honestly the gall of the idiot to applaud the fans after that. Starting to think it should be a VARable thing - you are, from a point of view, kicking someone else to trip yourself up. I'm not convinced that should be a foul, not at all.

The perfect encapsulation of a club that didn't need him but bought him anyway, using money they pretended to have, to destroy an old-fashioned football story and assimilate it into their joyless, frictionless, ersatz, uncanny-valley football-type virtual reality entertainment project - and still cheating to win when they didn't even need to. I hope they're forcibly liquidated.

[RamboandBruno]

I guess if you're going to lose 3-1, that's the way to do it. It was always going to be difficult without Mings. He has his faults, but without him we're never as organised at the back, and no one else wins headers from set pieces. We need Tyrone in the team.

We just didn't get at them enough in the first half. We didn't have the bite and fight that we needed to get ourselves into the game, but having gone a goal down in the first few minutes it was so hard to get back into it. The second goal looked worse than it was, I think. It should have been dealt with better by Chambers, but they made the most of half a chance. That's what the best teams do, I guess.

It was a dive for their penalty - no one will be able to convince me otherwise, there is no evidence that he was touched at all. The only time I remember him doing that for us was at home to Palace. VAR looked at it and overturned it. Imagine being a club that has cheated on a historic level, and still feeling the need to dive in the box.

Bailey and Ramsey are a big worry. Bailey looks shot of all confidence, which seems to happen far too regularly. There was one point where the ball bounced off his shin and he seemed to intentionally let it go out, expecting a throw in... It was odd. There's is something not right there. Ramsey is going through a dip in form, which happens at his age. I would be surprised to see him in the starting team next week, but he'll be back.

The real positive was the impact the subs made. Coutinho, Durán, McGinn, Moreno - they all made a difference. Coutinho and Durán in particular, and they both got within a whisker of scoring. Great to see Watkins get another goal as well, and his brutally honest interview afterwards where he seemed to take responsibility for their second - not something I had noticed at all to be honest.

I think there was enough to take from that game to be positive about. Durán has earned a start, I think, and I want to see McGinn back in the team - I don't think we've played as well since he got injured. Having Mings and Carlos at CB would make a huge difference to that team - but I think if any side was missing it's first choice paring they would struggle.

I want to see more fight next week. I think that's they way we can get at Arsenal.

Excellent summary, agree with all of this.

[The Edge]

Wouldnt it be funny if they get all their honours written off, poor jack.

It would be hilarious but it's not going to happen. I would think/expect that deals are already being done behind the scenes. It stinks but we can't do anything about it. I feel like vomiting just for typing that but unfortunately it's true.

[AV82EC]

I guess if you're going to lose 3-1, that's the way to do it. It was always going to be difficult without Mings. He has his faults, but without him we're never as organised at the back, and no one else wins headers from set pieces. We need Tyrone in the team.

We just didn't get at them enough in the first half. We didn't have the bite and fight that we needed to get ourselves into the game, but having gone a goal down in the first few minutes it was so hard to get back into it. The second goal looked worse than it was, I think. It should have been dealt with better by Chambers, but they made the most of half a chance. That's what the best teams do, I guess.

It was a dive for their penalty - no one will be able to convince me otherwise, there is no evidence that he was touched at all. The only time I remember him doing that for us was at home to Palace. VAR looked at it and overturned it. Imagine being a club that has cheated on a historic level, and still feeling the need to dive in the box.

Bailey and Ramsey are a big worry. Bailey looks shot of all confidence, which seems to happen far too regularly. There was one point where the ball bounced off his shin and he seemed to intentionally let it go out, expecting a throw in... It was odd. There's is something not right there. Ramsey is going through a dip in form, which happens at his age. I would be surprised to see him in the starting team next week, but he'll be back.

The real positive was the impact the subs made. Coutinho, Durán, McGinn, Moreno - they all made a difference. Coutinho and Durán in particular, and they both got within a whisker of scoring. Great to see Watkins get another goal as well, and his brutally honest interview afterwards where he seemed to take responsibility for their second - not something I had noticed at all to be honest.

I think there was enough to take from that game to be positive about. Durán has earned a start, I think, and I want to see McGinn back in the team - I don't think we've played as well since he got injured. Having Mings and Carlos at CB would make a huge difference to that team - but I think if any side was missing it's first choice paring they would struggle.

I want to see more fight next week. I think that's they way we can get at Arsenal.

Superb review, considered and balanced, thank you Boozey.