Aston Villa 2 The Arse 4 Post Match ah well what could have been thread

[aj2k77]

Another season where we are going to end up with a shit home record.

[hilts_coolerking]

Martinez time wasting doesn't concede three goals.

It doesn't seem to achieve anything beyond extending the match which makes me wonder why he's so keen on doing it.

[ez]

Their second goal looked too much like the Stevenage goal for me.

[villadelph]

How can you blame two wide open shots at the top of the box on the keeper..?!

We need better talent on the pitch, simple as that.

[PaulWinch again]

Six minutes would've been added on anyway as Cash and Saka were down for a combined four minutes at start of second half.

Bemused by people having a go at him going up for the corner, they were 30 seconds left at that point!

It’s because people have to blame someone, and it’s just nonsense. Martinez is one of our best players, there are many issues that need to be addressed before you start blaming him.

[SoccerHQ]

Martinez time wasting doesn't concede three goals.

It doesn't seem to achieve anything beyond extending the match which makes me wonder why he's so keen on doing it.

I think it's just done to break rhythm of opposition if they're getting plenty of corners etc. Then before you know it it's injury time and the other team will just be lumping balls into the box. Arsenal however got the quality and mentality just to keep playing the same way.

[Nelly]

I like that he had the courage and felt the need to make amends for their third goal by going up for the corner. Most other keepers would have meekly accepted it, laughed about it afterwards, etc. Martinez is the only world class player we have.

He timewastes because we're mostly shite in the other areas.

[Le Lapin]

This team annoys me so much. So frustrating. Constantly gifting shit goals. No spine in the team.

[Nunkin1965]

Think I watched a different game. Thought first half we were excellent, went toe to toe with the best team in the league and maybe even shaded it. Second half they inevitably stepped up a gear but we defended really well for the majority. Odegaard’ sitter was basically their only real major chance in the second half. They get one huge slice of luck and win it.
Yes, there are things to improve on. Ball retention, concentration from short corners to name two but this was a good performance by and large. The hyperbole on here is utterly ridiculous

I'm in agreement with you.
I thought we did well against the best side in the league so far.
But it is just post game and there are some big knee jerk reactions as usual.

[Paul.S]

We’ve had a core of these players here since we came up and have always finished bottom half. They simply aren’t good enough to go anywhere higher. The defending, well Sunday league level at best yet again.

[Percy McCarthy]

Think I watched a different game. Thought first half we were excellent, went toe to toe with the best team in the league and maybe even shaded it. Second half they inevitably stepped up a gear but we defended really well for the majority. Odegaard’ sitter was basically their only real major chance in the second half. They get one huge slice of luck and win it.
Yes, there are things to improve on. Ball retention, concentration from short corners to name two but this was a good performance by and large. The hyperbole on here is utterly ridiculous

I’m with you mate. I’m old enough to get pissed off with needless, season-wasting ocup exits, but I think we’ll be in great shape by the time the season starts in August.

[Olof's Beard]

Emery had tightened us up - his biggest achievement - but it has gone to shit at our own end recently. The video analysis is great but doesn't seem to be achieving much. I don't like the 4-4-2, it leaves too many gaps in too many places, which is one of the reasons hardly anyone uses it these days.

There were positives and I always try to be balanced. But right now I am too pissed off to mention the good stuff so all I have to say is that I hate Arteta and his tarmac hair.

[eamonn]

SoccerHQ is right about it being far too easy in the second half for Arsenal to get to the edge of our box. We didn't press from their restarts at all suggesting a lack of ability, fitness or desire. We played far too deep against a team that should have been knackered.

[hilts_coolerking]

... but we defended really well for the majority.

If today is an example of us defending well for most of the game then I don't want to be around when the wheels come off.  Villa's defending is less about reading the game, being one step ahead, spotting danger; it's more about desperate firefighting, often due to our own mistakes.

[PaulWinch again]

SoccerHQ is right about it being far too easy in the second half for Arsenal to get to the edge of our box. We didn't press from their restarts at all suggesting a lack of ability, fitness or desire. We played far too deep against a team that should have been knackered.

That is 100% the main problem, and two of the goals were directly linked to that. We’ve got to much better than that.