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

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

of which two are the top two

And in the 93rd minute today, we were taking a point off Arsenal until a shot went in via the crossbar and the back of our goalkeeper's head.

That's a fine margin.

…which should have been ruled out judging by precedent.

why would it be ruled out, haven't seen any highlights

A couple of Arsenal players in an offside position, potentially obstructing Martinez’ line of sight.

[Clampy]

I thought we played quite well overall. Their first three goals were very good strikes, maybe unavoidable but they still flew in. We seem to have a soft underbelly at the moment but when he brings his own players in, that hopefully will change.

[Nev]

As I said in midweek, the games are referred utterly differently depending on which teams are involved.

Brighton last minute winner like that? VAR'd to fuck.

[Skerra]

Looks like other teams give the same respect to these top teams like we do though. Forest.. check, Arsenal 1 point from 9 before today. I don’t care who the opposition are, we need to go toe to toe irrespective of who they are.

[wince]

Knew we would oblige with gifting points today

[ChicagoLion]

The second half was one way traffic except for a couple of breaks we made.
They had many chances to win the game.
Our subs did nothing to help deal with Saka who was the major threat.
No idea why he took Watkins and Luiz off.
Mings went from sublime to ridiculous and gave away yet another goal.
We are such a soft touch.
Kamara was fantastic.

[Clark W Griswold]

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.

The Fulham game was one match, where it looked pretty certain that the players had downed tools as far as Gerrard was concerned. These last three games were supposed to see us try to get into the top half and have a go for the European spots, but we've been a disorganised rabble, handing out goals on a plate to every team we've played.

Handing out goals. Disorganised rabble. Really? For crying out loud we’ve just narrowly lost to the team top of the table, and to the team who won the league last season. Perspective please.

True re the opposition last 2 games but it’s hardly surprising people will be pissed off after 11 goals conceded in 3 matches. Leicester was a fucking disaster, Man City was the usual predictable meek shite until it was game over and although we played quite well today once the 6 min injury time went up you just knew there was no chance we’d get one but every chance they would. Same old Villa, very predictable.
Yes, Emery could well turn us into a good side but here and now it’s frustrating again.

[Ads]

Oh for crying out loud there's 2 stood right in front of Emi for their winner. Jamie Smith on Twitter has the picture.

[pauliewalnuts]

Yes, Emery could well turn us into a good side but here and now it’s frustrating again.

Yes, exactly that, it IS frustrating and it will continue to be so for the remainder of this season.

You just have to accept that (especially having not having strengthened in January).

[brontebilly]

Only saw first half and we played brilliant football. Martinez failing to release the ball and the Mings error the only negative. Mesmeric football for our second. Only seeing second half highlights but their winner in stoppage time was as flukey a winner as you could get. Holding on for a point would have been a significant moment I think in the teams development under Emery. Anyway, we go again!

[Risso]

Yes, Emery could well turn us into a good side but here and now it’s frustrating again.

Yes, exactly that, it IS frustrating and it will continue to be so for the remainder of this season.

You just have to accept that (especially having not having strengthened in January).

We've never any choice but to accept it. I'm just utterly sick of the same old shit. I did say that the players and not the previous managers were the main problem, but I did think that Emery would get more of a tune out of them than this. He's properly pissed off with them though, his interview on BBC radio is basically 6 minutes of him saying that they're not doing what he asks them to do, which is suspiciously similar to what the previous manager used to say. I'm only guessing, but I think he's toeing the party line regarding the lack of spending in January, but if he's not backed in the summer I think he'll be off. He's not going to risk his reputation trying to play possession based football with a rabble who can't string two passes together.

[Goldie.7]

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.

These players are quality! They're so good newly promoted Fulham have 10 more points than us and are one win from being in the top 4. No doubts Willian was too old, on big wages and past it for us. Oh well...

[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.

Emery is a fantastic manager and will win us something before he leaves - he could even be the long awaited messiah to get us back onto the top table.  But we've lost badly in the last few games and people are pissed off.  With a game against a battling Everton next, it's a bit twitchy.  Emery isn't under any pressure whatsoever and rightly so.   

Martinez.   I've read a few comments about his probable departure in the summer and more recently his time wasting , but none questioning his ability - he's obviously a fantastic keeper.  But his time wasting seems to have gone into overdrive the last 6 months or so.  Today I thought it was counterproductive. 

Some people are 100% questioning his ability. They are also suggesting he’s easily replaced - it’s utter nonsense.

[pauliewalnuts]

Everton weren't very battling against Liverpool, they looked every bit as bad as under Fwank.

[SoccerHQ]

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.

These players are quality! They're so good newly promoted Fulham have 10 more points than us and are one win from being in the top 4. No doubts Willian was too old, on big wages and past it for us. Oh well...

Joao Paulinha is exactly the type of player we still lack in central midfield imo. Him alongside Kamara and we'd be a very difficult team to break down off the ball.

One of the signings of the season there. Think they signed him for similar fee to what we got Dendoncker for.