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

[Beard82]

Thought we did ok first half and probabaky deserved to be in front but second half we just didn’t get at Jorginho enough and he ran the game  really. It’s fine margins though, Baileys shot hits the bar and comes out Jorginhos bounces in off Emi. We’re better than we were a couple of seasons ago but still too brittle. Onwards….

I agree with this

[Rudy65]

We just don’t retain the ball well enough. Been the same for years. Quality, or lack of it, of players is the issue.

[BC54 VFC]

3 on the bounce, 11 conceded, role on the summer and get the defence sorted

*roll

[boozey182]

I felt we really went at them first half. There's something a bit sub-Man City about the way Arsenal play, for want of a better term. They look to force you to peel space between your centre half and full back, as they consistently tried and failed to overload Cash.

They do move the ball nicely and it's interesting the O'Neillism of a centre half at full back too.

Pressed them well though, lovely finish from Ollie on his weaker foot, the 2nd goal was brilliant back to front and we deserved that half time lead.

Mings at fault for the 1st with a poor header. You don't play a ball inside your own 18 yard area like that. Pop it anywhere else and don't take the risk.

On the plus, he seems to be finding an extra passing gear into the attacking midfielder and quickening up that movement, which is good and was largely solid. But it is still another mistake and another goal.

2nd half they obviously upped it. We lost our concentration for their 2nd, let them in 1 on 1 thereafter and Konsa almost played them in for an hilarious miss.

Where we seem to struggle is taking the sting out of games when there is an inevitable momentum shift. We go through spells of giving it away too cheaply and it allows pressure to build and territory to be lost. Anybody not expecting that at times today though would be an extremely harsh critic.

That said, the games turned on a crossbar. Our effort from Bailey rattles the underside, could go anywhere. Their effort naturally hits the back of our keeper. On such margins events do turn.

If we want to be critical then Bailey ought to have been onside to press the initial ball and stop Arsenal with the quick transition.

Duran looks a handful. Unlucky with his effort and id very much like to see him start off Watkins with Phil at Goodison, given his height and pace.

Disappointing to lose, it always is. But there's been improvement and you sense the direction of travel. It just won't include a few of the current squad on the journey.

Absolutely spot on. A much more eloquent and insightful summary than I could have come up with.

[Risso]

Improvement? When was the last time we’ve been this bad defensively? If Nketiah and Odegaard could finish they’d have had 6 or 7.

[astonvilla82]

Improvement? When was the last time we’ve been this bad defensively? If Nketiah and Odegaard could finish they’d have had 6 or 7.

but they couldn't

[Risso]

Improvement? When was the last time we’ve been this bad defensively? If Nketiah and Odegaard could finish they’d have had 6 or 7.

but they couldn't

No thanks to our defence. So, just the four then.

[steamer]

Agree with Risso
We have air washed the Stevenage result from memory, also crap defending
Everton on a roll at home, Ehmm

[AlexAlexCropley]

Agree with Risso
We have air washed the Stevenage result from memory, also crap defending
Everton on a roll at home, Ehmm

Everton are bluff and bluster atm.Confident we'll do them

[aj2k77]

Agree with Risso
We have air washed the Stevenage result from memory, also crap defending
Everton on a roll at home, Ehmm

Everton are bluff and bluster atm.Confident we'll do them

I'd expect us to concede from a set piece or two against them. I think we'll need to score 3 to win that game.

[steamer]

Hope you are right
But with their Dyche ball they have beaten Arsenal and Leeds, call me pessimistic but not brimming with confidence for this 

[PaulWinch again]

There are two absolutely bonkers positions appearing post this game today:

- Those losing patience with Emery (not those criticising issues in the game that clearly need to be addressed, but actually implying he should be under pressure)

- Those stating we could easily replace Martinez and thinking he’s a significant problem.

[ChicagoLion]

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

They penned us in our own half for all the2ndhalf except from a couple of breakaways.
They were hugely superior to us.

[Sexual Ealing]

There are two absolutely bonkers positions appearing post this game today:

- Those losing patience with Emery (not those criticising issues in the game that clearly need to be addressed, but actually implying he should be under pressure)

- Those stating we could easily replace Martinez and thinking he’s a significant problem.

Agreed.

[SoccerHQ]

Improvement? When was the last time we’ve been this bad defensively? If Nketiah and Odegaard could finish they’d have had 6 or 7.

Fulham 3-0 was pretty grim.

Think we need to get back to basics on the training pitch this week and stop asking players to do things they can't.

Watched Everton-Leeds after which was a very poor game but Everton made it a scrap and scrambled a goal out of very little so that's the template for them next week.

Most of their set pieces were finding Tarkowski at the back post so we need to be aware of that (aswell as obviously practising running out a bit quicker to someone on the edge of the box rather than just jogging constantly).

I'm expecting three wins before the next international break so we need to get back on it at Goodison as we do have goals in us at least.