Brentford vs Aston Villa Post Match.

[Small Rodent]

No way Martinez concedes from that shot.

Olsen is truly awful and I thought his awfulness rippled out and freaked out the rest of the team

You are correct, but the team should not be as fragile as that. The manager should beat it out of them.

Their job is to not let the ball get as far as the keeper.

Modern 'keepers are essentially part of the defence though. If Mings and Konsa are confident that when they push up, their goalie is going to be on his toes ready to come out and sweep up anything played beyond them, it allows us to push up and press higher.

When Olsen's playing, they get caught in two minds because they just don't have that confidence.

That’s fair enough, I just think they should be more confident in their own abilities.

[Ads]

Felt the first half was pretty even. We struggled all game to get Brentford defenders facing their own goal as they competed physically well and managed to avoid being turned by Watkins.

Felt we managed to find space behind their press a number of times, but the final ball was lacking. Not many chances and no real control.

Emi going off changed the game. We really struggled to keep the ball, as he couldn't pass short and confidence appeared to evaporate in him. Knocking it long was frustrating, as it just kept coming back.

Brentford are a pretty horrible side to play; overly physical, big, lots of long balls, disrupting the flow of the game with feigned injuries (the lad pretending in the 2nd half was embarrassing), taking an eternity with set pieces. They really represent their manager who is a horrible little mouthy goblin.

The subs were much needed, as the goal when it came had been on the cards all half. Maybe Olsen does better, but we're too loose on the cross and Young was very poor. To find the 1 man in the box when there's so many defending is poor. They missed a sitter thereafter, but the extra height and defensive bulk helped us get back in the game.

Ramsey had a great chance, regardless of what that crank Frank's thinks. Felt there was an inevitability about our goal as they started to get exceptionally deep.

Great to come back and get a point at a place where we have an awful record and could have won it with the free header at the end. Would have been easy to be bullied. If Emi stays on, does the 1st goal happen as the momentum built with our poor distribution. The keeper knocks it long into the channel. If we are building phases through the back, it's unlikely Brentford would have had the territorial dominance they did at the start of the 2nd half, to allow their keeper to hoof it down the line from such an advanced position.

[Drummond]

I think an away point is always good.

Against a team that have lost twice at home all season, very good.

Disappointed though, after last week I was desperate for the juggernaut to continue.

[SoccerHQ]

Just on Olsen and the Brentford goal; how on earth can a goalkeeper dive while keeping his arms next to his side. Truly ridiculous.

Are people really blaming him with the goal, it was too close range to save. He should've been a bit louder shouting to Young that Toney was right behind him as Ash had no idea whatsoever and just let the cross run past him.

What sums Olsen up though is when their lad missed the open goal luckily. Was in no mans land and that weak header just squirms out of his grasp.

Add in the general nervousness from our backline trying to play out when he's in goal and hopefully Emi has a good recovery tomorrow and is 100% on Monday morning. Shows how good he is that I'd never have guessed he was feeling unwell watching him in the first half, his handling and kicking were spot on.

[KevinGage]

Said during the match I don't think another club has a disparity in quality at any position as large as we do between first team keeper and back up.

Fair.

But we do face a bit of a dilemma as to who we go for as back up. We can't realistically sell the possibility of breaking into the first team (unless we get a mental offer for Martinez).  So a keeper in his absolute prime is prob out.

Then you're looking at either a 'project' young keeper like Bazunu or similar; a player who might accept plenty of bench time but is a risk in the short term if you need him to step up for important games.  Or a veteran like Reina or Claudio Bravo etc. Well past their best, but not a total liability if called upon.

Reina with one hand is better than Olsen with two.

[Brazilian Villain]

A good point in the circumstances, we'd have been sick if the goals had gone in the other way round. It was unlikely that we were going to keep winning away from home indefinitely and at least we didn't lose. Just win the next 3 away games and all will be forgiven.

[N'ZMAV]

As soon as Martinez went off I'd have snapped anyone's hand off for a point.

We were poor. Could have been a worse result.

[Toronto Villa]

Said during the match I don't think another club has a disparity in quality at any position as large as we do between first team keeper and back up.

Fair.

But we do face a bit of a dilemma as to who we go for as back up. We can't realistically sell the possibility of breaking into the first team (unless we get a mental offer for Martinez).  So a keeper in his absolute prime is prob out.

Then you're looking at either a 'project' young keeper like Bazunu or similar; a player who might accept plenty of bench time but is a risk in the short term if you need him to step up for important games.  Or a veteran like Reina or Claudio Bravo etc. Well past their best, but not a total liability if called upon.

Reina with one hand is better than Olsen with two.

I reckon there will be plenty of good keepers across Europe who can play in the style Emery wants, who will want to be back up to Emi Martinez at PL Aston Villa. And especially if we get into Europe. Doesn't need to be that experienced either. Just competent and safe will do. A healthy Jed Steer like keeper would more than suffice

[Monty]

Surely the right guy to go for would be an older keeper, definitely good with his feet, who can be a positive thing in the dressing room.

[Toronto Villa]

Surely the right guy to go for would be an older keeper, definitely good with his feet, who can be a positive thing in the dressing room.

Villa legend Pepe Reina's Villareal contract expires in June. 40 is the new 30 as they say

[Brazilian Villain]

Villa legend Pepe Reina's Villareal contract expires in June. 40 is the new 30 as they say

Maybe, but 50 is also the new 30 as I say.

*I'm sure you'll agree.

[Toronto Villa]

Villa legend Pepe Reina's Villareal contract expires in June. 40 is the new 30 as they say

Maybe, but 50 is also the new 30 as I say.

*I'm sure you'll agree.

haha mate I'm trying my hardest to prove it. My back has other ideas

[London Villan]

Spurs lose tomorrow, then it’s a good weekend.

[pablo_picasso]

Not ideal, but, I was talking to my mate about the Arsenal game before our KO & he said to me said to my that good sides fight to the end & usually score late goals even if playing poorly. Lo & behold, we fought to the end & scored a late goal in a game where it could be argued that we were pretty poor in spells & they were pretty good in spells. Credit to both sides is due I think.

[Smirker]

Spurs lose tomorrow, then it’s a good weekend.

We giving up on 4th then?