UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[PaulWinch again]

It’s not over yet though is it? It’s still possible.

I think we beat spurs and it's still very much game on.

Let’s hope we find our form again and end as strong as possible. I’d be gutted if we miss out, however I wouldn’t say we blew it, very harsh.

 It’s hard to be critical to anyone in this side, manager or owners. It was an incredible run which put us there, so credit to the players and especially the manager and our owners seem to be steering us to a new exciting era with good times ahead.

Yep and there’s still a chance.

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

Well we've had our bit of a wobble but some big players are coming back from injury now. I just hope we are still in with a shout and it's winner takes all come the last game of the season. We're due another celebratory pitch invasion. When was the last time something massive was riding on the last game? It's usually watching a dead rubber stroll in the sunshine. If they've got to get something Brighton wont fancy coming to Aston that's for sure.

[passport1]

I don't entirely agree with the argument that "we have been worked out". Teams have made it more difficult for us certainly and that combined with the lack of depth on the bench at a key part of the season has played into their hands. A fully fit squad for the entirety of the run in would have made an enormous difference.

[OCD]

Setting up a low block and packing the defence out isn't the same as finding someone out.

[Meanwood Villa]

When was the last time something massive was riding on the last game?

Two playoff finals and the relegation decider at West Ham?

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Setting up a low block and packing the defence out isn't the same as finding someone out.

Spot on. Add Wolves converting a set piece - which happens - and we lose a game we dominated, especially in the first half.

Second half they defended well and disrupted play with endless fouls and we couldn't get the breakthrough.

The game against Newcastle was brilliant because they attacked in possession and pressed from the front and we were exceptional in how we played through them accurately and quickly.

The wins versus Forest and Fulham were much less exciting, though arguably we were just as competent with how we overcame a different challenge. UTV

[kippaxvilla2]

We’ve blown it at the time when we had done all the hard work.  Next season you’d imagine Chelsea and Liverpool won’t be as average as they have been

[pauliewalnuts]

We’ve blown it at the time when we had done all the hard work.  Next season you’d imagine Chelsea and Liverpool won’t be as average as they have been

Although also worth bearing in mind we won't be 'sitting out' the first dozen matches of the season next time around.

[SaddVillan]

From today's Athletic - which offers some perspective on things so far.

Aston Villa have stumbled but are still standing European qualification can still be achieved.

It was possible to draw only one conclusion from the chain of events stemming from Aston Villa’s humiliating defeat at Fulham back in October. This was a club in the grip of a major crisis.

Co-owner Nassef Sawiris had stormed out of Craven Cottage, vexed by the 3-0 defeat and Steven Gerrard’s failed tenure. An emergency board meeting was called inside the stadium before, in a corridor deep in the bowels of the stadium, CEO Christian Purslow sacked the man he had hoped would take Villa forward.

Gerrard sat with the players on the team bus en route back to Birmingham telling them they were good enough to climb away from relegation bother but, at that stage, it was only words. The ex-Rangers manager had run out of ideas and inspiration. The rebuild would not be straightforward for the next man through the door.

Villa were just three points off the foot of the table and outside the drop zone only on goal difference. Tottenham Hotspur were a distant 14 points ahead in third place — so far away that it was comical to even consider Villa clambering up anywhere near them this season.

But that was then. This is now.

In the wake of Saturday’s defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Villa have three games still to play and nine points to target. One of those fixtures is a potentially season-defining match against Tottenham on Saturday. The campaign is still fully alive and kicking.

Villa have not “bottled it”. Not yet, anyway.

It is normal to feel downbeat in the aftermath of a defeat. The frustration at back-to-back losses at Manchester United and Molineux is understandable, particularly with the team’s grip on a top-seven place having been loosened. But it is still worth remembering just how far Villa have progressed, not least from those relegation concerns of the autumn.

A top-half finish is guaranteed for the first time in 12 years. Villa need a minimum of two draws to record their highest Premier League points haul for 13 years.

The fun has been restored under Unai Emery with Villa having won 16 games this season, a tally similar to the Martin O’Neill years when the team achieved three consecutive top-six finishes.

There are success stories that make you smile. Ollie Watkins breaking goalscoring records. John McGinn returning to his old self. Ashley Young showing there is life in the old dog yet and Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez forging a tight-knit unit at the back.

When Toti Gomes scored the winner for Wolves on Saturday, it was only the fifth goal Villa have conceded in 12 games. Under Emery, the team has scored in 21 out of 23 games.

The reality, though, is that such numbers were always going to be difficult to sustain.

Emery’s body language in the moments after the narrow 1-0 defeat at Molineux backed up what he had already hinted at in the week — that defeat would be costly in the race for Europa League or Europa Conference League qualification.

Granted, there is now no room for error. Certainly not on Saturday against Spurs. But Emery’s words from before the game still carry significant weight.

It would be “amazing” if Villa lined up against Tottenham with the chance to overtake them, the Spaniard said, and a victory at Villa Park by three goals this weekend would still do that.

Emery also added that it would be equally “fantastic” to be within touching distance of Brighton & Hove Albion when the sides meet on the final day of the season.

It is too early to know whether that is possible, but what is certain is that it is now a four-way shoot-out between Liverpool, Brighton, Tottenham and Villa for the three European spaces behind the top four. That is some improvement on the state of play when Emery arrived and Tottenham were a dot on the horizon.

Yes, there has been a dip in results since Villa’s stunning 3-0 win over Newcastle United three weeks ago. But the performance levels have not slipped radically.

Emery even admitted Villa were better while losing the last two games than in some of the others they won.

“I won’t change my idea,” he added, stressing he is pleased with the way his team continue to control games through possession and territory. Finding the ruthless streak that served them so well in previous weeks will be crucial in the games ahead given there is still so much to play for.

Seeing a threadbare squad boosted by the return of internationals Leon Bailey and Boubacar Kamara was a positive. Having Philippe Coutinho available should also help in the final games.

Most pleasing, though, was Diego Carlos’ return after nine months out. The Brazilian centre-back will make Villa stronger and the games ahead should not be so daunting with increased numbers from whom to call.

Emery’s side have given their fans numerous moments of joy in 2023, from the way they ripped Bournemouth to shreds in the final 10 minutes of a 3-0 victory, to the last-gasp winner at Leicester City and that wonderful display against Newcastle. They have become regular winners once again.

The atmosphere at Villa Park has been flat for years, but now there is a sense of excitement. Five home wins on the bounce without conceding suggests it has become a fortress. A make-or-break game against Tottenham awaits.

“It’s our final,” Emery added. To still have that opportunity ahead, particularly when one casts the mind back to that miserable night at Fulham, is remarkable. There is still plenty with which to be pleased — even on the back of a defeat.

[eamonn]

The atmosphere at Villa Park has been flat for years

Reductive, lazy and not really true. Still like Gregg but not happy with that.

[algy]

Not sure I agree with all the "blown it" comments. To be above Spurs and Brighton now we'd need to be on League winning form. That we've fallen very slightly short of that with a group of players that a good number of folk were saying weren't good enough to compete in the top half ... I mean, "blown it" is a bit strong!

We've done incredibly well to still be in the conversation for Europe at this stage, and beat Spurs at home & we're still very much in the conversation.

[Toronto Villa]

Blown it would be if Spurs or Brighton don't get a place given they have been up there all season. It would be disappointing and huge missed opportunity if we didn't finish the job. Almost like the way we ended the season we just stayed up. How we managed that with 4 games to go is beyond miraculous.

[Pat Mustard]

Whatever else happens, if we beat Spurs on Saturday then we will go into the last game of the season still with a chance of qualifying for Europe. With Brighton losing at the moment and with the games they have left, we might well still go into that game with sixth in our own hands.

[SoccerHQ]

What a result this is for us.

Formula is pretty simple now so we better turn up v Spurs.

Beat them and Brighton and we get to 60 points. Brighton would then need to get two points out of Arsenal and Newcastle away and Man. City at home (aswell as beating Southampton).

It's there for us if we really want it and generally to finish top 6 you have to earn these things rather than it getting gift wrapped so we need one last push now and injured players are returning.

[Ads]

This isn't fucking over.