Wolves - 1 Aston Villa - 0 Custard Cup Final Post Match Critique

[Clampy]

That post about us 'bottling it' was ridiculous. We may end up coming short but bottling it is way off the mark.

Maybe bottling it is strong but we do seem to have wilted  when Europe got real. There was pressure once the Media Started saying we are favourites  to secure that  and suddenly we start losing and not scoring.

They absolutely have not bottled it. It's a ridiculous way to look at it. We've had key injuries and we lack squad depth to cope with it. They are running on empty. To accuse them of bottling it is an insult to the players who have made a monumental effort to get us to where we are right now.

I don't agree with the sentiment, but the poster appeared to be saying that the club bottled the January window, not that the players have bottled these last few matches.

I dunno. He said the performance at Old Trafford was gutless.

[BC Villain]

Our depth problem is seen in the Buendia situation.

Many have pointed out he’s been poor of late but, until today with Coutinho on the bench, who do we replace him with?

Emery is doing an amazing job, out of this world, but we have a lot of work to do on the squad this summer in terms of quality of course but also numbers.

The lack of depth was clear at Christmas, yet Emery and the board did not do anywhere near enough when we had the chance in January.  A golden, if unexpected chance to reach Europe, and we look to have completly blown it.  Add to that Emery's bone-headed team selection in the two cups as well.  Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool will not be anywhere near as bad next season.  Another season bottled.

There is nothing wrong with being disappointed that we look like we could miss out on Europe. However, you have contradicted yourself with the ‘golden’ and ‘unexpected’ comment. Other than the last couple of weeks there hasn’t been a golden opportunity to make Europe. Emery and the players at his disposal and how he has coached and organised them has created the opportunity out of virtually nowhere. We haven’t blown anything, we’re the third of fourth best team in the league since October. Its just a really irrational post.

At the start of January,  we were 6 clear of the bottom 3.  Even if Europe wasn't likely,  a relegation battle was not out of the question (particularly after deciding the cups were not worth the effort).  We had the chance to strengthen,  but chose not to.  Nothing but admiration for the manager and players for what they've done in the last 2 months, but not using the window was always going to bite us no matter what.  That is on Emery and the board.

[BC Villain]

That post about us 'bottling it' was ridiculous. We may end up coming short but bottling it is way off the mark.

Maybe bottling it is strong but we do seem to have wilted  when Europe got real. There was pressure once the Media Started saying we are favourites  to secure that  and suddenly we start losing and not scoring.

They absolutely have not bottled it. It's a ridiculous way to look at it. We've had key injuries and we lack squad depth to cope with it. They are running on empty. To accuse them of bottling it is an insult to the players who have made a monumental effort to get us to where we are right now.

I don't agree with the sentiment, but the poster appeared to be saying that the club bottled the January window, not that the players have bottled these last few matches.

I dunno. He said the performance at Old Trafford was gutless.

First half was.  Better second,  but too little too late against a team with a phenomenal home record

[RamboandBruno]

Our depth problem is seen in the Buendia situation.

Many have pointed out he’s been poor of late but, until today with Coutinho on the bench, who do we replace him with?

Emery is doing an amazing job, out of this world, but we have a lot of work to do on the squad this summer in terms of quality of course but also numbers.

The lack of depth was clear at Christmas, yet Emery and the board did not do anywhere near enough when we had the chance in January.  A golden, if unexpected chance to reach Europe, and we look to have completly blown it.  Add to that Emery's bone-headed team selection in the two cups as well.  Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool will not be anywhere near as bad next season.  Another season bottled.

There is nothing wrong with being disappointed that we look like we could miss out on Europe. However, you have contradicted yourself with the ‘golden’ and ‘unexpected’ comment. Other than the last couple of weeks there hasn’t been a golden opportunity to make Europe. Emery and the players at his disposal and how he has coached and organised them has created the opportunity out of virtually nowhere. We haven’t blown anything, we’re the third of fourth best team in the league since October. Its just a really irrational post.

At the start of January,  we were 6 clear of the bottom 3.  Even if Europe wasn't likely,  a relegation battle was not out of the question (particularly after deciding the cups were not worth the effort).  We had the chance to strengthen,  but chose not to.  Nothing but admiration for the manager and players for what they've done in the last 2 months, but not using the window was always going to bite us no matter what.  That is on Emery and the board.

Emery’s cup winning record would suggest he takes them seriously. The man united away game in the league cup was his second in charge and he obviously wanted to assess his squad. The team picked for the Stevenage game should easily have been good enough to win.
Its been said in various articles and some posts on here from people more informed than me, that Emery likes a tight close nit squad, maybe that’s why he didn’t buy anyone in January other than Moreno and Duran. He also seems like he knows what he wants, so maybe the players he wanted were not available then.
Nobody is above criticism, however, it does feel after what he’s done since he came in, that Emery kind of is above it at this moment in time.

[john e]

Just watching the Newcastle V Arsenal game and it’s fast paced
We are just too slow in everything we do especially building from the back, I know it’s all about the right players doing the right things and obviously we will get new players in the window but I hope our play is sharper and faster next season

[Toronto Villa]

Just watching the Newcastle V Arsenal game and it’s fast paced
We are just too slow in everything we do especially building from the back, I know it’s all about the right players doing the right things and obviously we will get new players in the window but I hope our play is sharper and faster next season

We are far too deliberate because the players we have collectively cannot play at that pace and tempo. I expect that to change this summer with far better technical players coming to the club.

[Percy McCarthy]

Our depth problem is seen in the Buendia situation.

Many have pointed out he’s been poor of late but, until today with Coutinho on the bench, who do we replace him with?

Emery is doing an amazing job, out of this world, but we have a lot of work to do on the squad this summer in terms of quality of course but also numbers.

The lack of depth was clear at Christmas, yet Emery and the board did not do anywhere near enough when we had the chance in January.  A golden, if unexpected chance to reach Europe, and we look to have completly blown it.  Add to that Emery's bone-headed team selection in the two cups as well.  Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool will not be anywhere near as bad next season.  Another season bottled.

There is nothing wrong with being disappointed that we look like we could miss out on Europe. However, you have contradicted yourself with the ‘golden’ and ‘unexpected’ comment. Other than the last couple of weeks there hasn’t been a golden opportunity to make Europe. Emery and the players at his disposal and how he has coached and organised them has created the opportunity out of virtually nowhere. We haven’t blown anything, we’re the third of fourth best team in the league since October. Its just a really irrational post.

At the start of January,  we were 6 clear of the bottom 3.  Even if Europe wasn't likely,  a relegation battle was not out of the question (particularly after deciding the cups were not worth the effort).  We had the chance to strengthen,  but chose not to.  Nothing but admiration for the manager and players for what they've done in the last 2 months, but not using the window was always going to bite us no matter what.  That is on Emery and the board.

Emery says it was his choice and has explained his logic. Don’t think we can blame the board.

[john e]

Just watching the Newcastle V Arsenal game and it’s fast paced
We are just too slow in everything we do especially building from the back, I know it’s all about the right players doing the right things and obviously we will get new players in the window but I hope our play is sharper and faster next season

We are far too deliberate because the players we have collectively cannot play at that pace and tempo. I expect that to change this summer with far better technical players coming to the club.

Agreed

[Goldenballs]

I'm sure he's said that funds were available. We wouldn't want the board to overrule him and chuck players at him that he didn't want, he had that at Arsenal.

It was frustrating, even more so in hindsight, but I'm struggling to get too worked up about it. I'm sure it'll be an interesting summer regardless of where we ultimately end up.

[Toronto Villa]

Emery and Alemany will have full control over transfers. Neither are going to be here to fuck around with free transfers. Emery is obsessed with playing in Europe and he has shown just what he can do with the residue of the Smith and Gerrard eras. He will want to operate in the top 6-8 next season and aiming towards top 4 by the following. And Newcastle have shown just how quickly with good players and coaching it can be done.

[Clive W]

Just watching the Newcastle V Arsenal game and it’s fast paced
We are just too slow in everything we do especially building from the back, I know it’s all about the right players doing the right things and obviously we will get new players in the window but I hope our play is sharper and faster next season

We are far too deliberate because the players we have collectively cannot play at that pace and tempo. I expect that to change this summer with far better technical players coming to the club.

Agreed

And yet it was only only a couple of weeks ago, against Newcastle, that we played the best, sharpest football, from first whistle to last, that I have ever seen.

And I’ve  been supporting us for over 60 years

[RamboandBruno]

Just watching the Newcastle V Arsenal game and it’s fast paced
We are just too slow in everything we do especially building from the back, I know it’s all about the right players doing the right things and obviously we will get new players in the window but I hope our play is sharper and faster next season

We are far too deliberate because the players we have collectively cannot play at that pace and tempo. I expect that to change this summer with far better technical players coming to the club.

Agreed

And yet it was only only a couple of weeks ago, against Newcastle, that we played the best, sharpest football, from first whistle to last, that I have ever seen.

And I’ve  been supporting us for over 60 years

Thats a great perspective Clive.

[Risso]

The level of that performance is looking increasingly like a one off though.

[RamboandBruno]

The level of that performance is looking increasingly like a one off though.

Every team has a best performance of the season, the point remains that over two thirds of the season we have been the 3rd or 4th best team in the league, in addition if some supporters are saying its the best performance in a generation, it shows these players can reach a really high level. Given that I’m not sure i agree with the assertion that this set of players aren’t good enough after two close 1-0 defeats at two teams with very good home records. That doesn’t mean I don’t think we need two or three top quality editions.

[Clive W]

The level of that performance is looking increasingly like a one off though.

You mean like the one offs at home to Brentford, Man Utd and away at Chelsea and Spurs?

So that’s 5 one offs