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

[Ian.]

The most annoying thing about the result is that Arsenal were nothing special. It was a self inflicted defeat.

But far better than us overall

And title contenders.

[Nev]

Gutted, absolutely gutted.
But we weren't hammered. Maybe it's me but I can see something in the way the manager wants the team to play. If the keeper does what he wants, he can fuck off.

If this result happens in 12 months time I might not be so chilled.

[hilts_coolerking]

... Mings was unlucky that his clearance went straight to Saka...

That wasn't bad luck, it was a poor attempted clearance. 

[adrenachrome]

Only for the moment am I saying nothing.

[steamer]

Crap clearance, not unlucky
If he had left it Martinez would have caught it

[MalcolmP]

Nice of Mings to celebrate his new contract in his time honoured way.

what the f are you on about, he was very hood today. Look at the set piece coach for blame leaving players unmarked outside penalty area. He was telling players to get back in the box for corners,

[CT]

We certainly had our moments today against the team at the top, much better than last year when we were pathetically passive. But, we just can’t keep gifting goals like we do and expect anything against anyone.

The first two are an absolute joke. How many times did they double up and take a quick corner while we fell asleep? If only we had a set piece coach to specifically sort out these issues. I liked the look of Duran when he came on, he may be raw, but he’s willing and confident. As mentioned before, the script always seemed set, we expected they’d get a winner and so it proves.

On another note, we’ll be looking to move seats in the summer. The three new people in front of us are ruining games and I’m going to end up getting in trouble. They stand motionless all game, don’t support, sing or clap. What they do is turn round and shake their heads if they hear swearing or something they don’t agree with.

My lad has social anxiety problems and the football is one avenue where he feels comfortable and able to get involved. I swear if that turd in front turns around and looks at him one more time, he’ll wish he hadn’t.

When the ST’s increased in price, we lost the three good people in front and got Roger Neuveau and family.

[achilles]

... Mings was unlucky that his clearance went straight to Saka...

That wasn't bad luck, it was a poor attempted clearance. 

Exactly, you don't head it back into the centre of the penalty area - terrible error for an established player but he is prone to do that!

[aj2k77]

McGinn, Luiz, Cash, Buendia, Mings, Watkins and Konsa. All have been here for long enough now and we've never threatened the top half of the table.

[Ian.]

Watkins, Luiz are playing well and Buendia has been here just over a year.

[kippaxvilla2]

As well as we play I’m sick to absolutely death of this side fcuking up my weekend more times than not.

[villadelph]

Somehow we’ve stood pat in 11th given our recent string of poor results.

We have been pathetically soft holding onto results for the last dozen years and it’s so taxing. It’s a cruel game, but it always seems like we are on the wrong end of late game drama.

NSWE better invest BIG in the summer, we need talent.. now.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

No problem with Big Emi's time wasting per se, it's the delay in distributing the ball that causes us serious problems. At least 5 times today he tried to play it out to Cash/Moreno and put it straight into touch, needlessly giving the ball back to a very strong opposition.
Play it out from the back by all means, but do it with a sense of pace and urgency so that we are more likely to take advantage of the opposition being out of position, not giving them all the time in the World to hem us in....leading to giving possession away cheaply, yet again.
I thought we were great in the first half and played in a tight, compact way, but feared that we might not keep it up 2nd half...and we didn't, leading to poor closing down - a few Arse players were able to progress 50 yards up the pitch without being challenged at all...and our picking up players from short corners is non existent!
That's pretty basic stuff.
Fine margins! Bailey's shot 1 inch lower and we have a completely different outcome!
Their 3rd was a fluke, the 4th irrelevant.

[hilts_coolerking]

Buendia has been here just over a year.

He signed in June 2021.

[aj2k77]

Watkins, Luiz are playing well and Buendia has been here just over a year.

Since we last finished in the top half Newcastle, Fulham, West Brom, Everton, Swansea, West Ham, Southampton, Stoke, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Burnley, Leicester, Wolves, Sheffield Utd, Leeds Utd and Brighton have all done so. We stick rigidly by players and claim they're decent but they've not done something that the above have done. They're not as decent as we think they are. There's too many 1 in 4 players, poor performances punctuated by occasional decent ones.