"I thought those days were behind us."

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I would be very happy winning the 3rd tier euro thing.

Me too but I want league progression too. We have to be in the Europa League next season. Final is in Bilbao, Unai's turf, a home return, it's what dreams and Aston Villa are made of. It will be Rotterdam all over again, ever local will welcome us with open arms and want us to win. And we will.

[SoccerHQ]

I would be very happy winning the 3rd tier euro thing.

Me too but I want league progression too. We have to be in the Europa League next season. Final is in Bilbao, Unai's turf, a home return, it's what dreams and Aston Villa are made of. It will be Rotterdam all over again, ever local will welcome us with open arms and want us to win. And we will.

You qualify for europa by winning the Europa conference.

But I think 6th is also very realistic this season and won't be defined by losing at Anfield four games into the season.

Unai's a Real Sociedad man isn't he so don't think they'd be too keen on him winning at San Mames!

[ozzjim]

The difference is that this season he's set us up in a more attacking way to try and impose ourselves on Newcastle and Liverpool, and it has failed because we are not there yet, and we have made some shit mistakes.

Emery needs to learn from these 2 games and move us forward with a bit more flexibility and pragmatism in certain games.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Summed up perfectly, Ozz.

[Pete3206]

Barely 3 months after being a minute away from a win at Anfield, putting in a gutsy and determined performance, we put in a diabolical showing like that. We're lucky that we didn't suffer a similar score line like Newton Heath or even Bournemouth last season.

It was absolute shite and I think fans have every right to ask 'What the fuck was that?' Losing is one thing, not turning up is unacceptable.

As for the OP's initial point which was very well made, match and post match threads are full of emotion and a lot of us have written a few choice words in the heat of the moment.

[LeonW]

There's a lot of panicking going on here.

I'd obviously rather we didn't lose 3-0, but a bit of perspective here - Liverpool will likely be challenging for the title.  They're none too shabby a side, and they've hit form.   We're in the middle of an injury crisis, and with all the will in the world are not going to be pushing Manchester City just yet.

I'd still rather us go to Anfield trying to win, than going with our tail between our legs hoping for a draw.

It’s that saying about respect the point which I think applies here. We have more than enough quality on the counter attack to hurt teams. We’re very effective dominating lesser teams but we’re not ready to go to anfield and do it. You take a point, you keep the run going, pin a side we were in contention with for European football last season back, disrupt their momentum and they’ve still to come to your place. It doesn’t mean putting 10 men behind the ball. Look how good we were away at Spurs and Brighton last season.

[rooboy316]

It was a reality check for me. Was getting used to the fact that the aggregate in last 4 matches had us at 15-1. Turns out we can't extrapolate that for the rest of the season!

[Paul.S]

That was as bad as anything Gerrard served up. As was Newcastle. The manager and team need to wake up now and get off easy street . Just winning a 3rd tier euro thing isn't good enough.

Winning that 3rd tier trophy takes you into the second tier tournament.
Winning breads winners and the club moves on if that happens. We’ve not been in Europe for years and yet already it sounds like it’s not worth being in.
I don’t know what’s expected this season but it won’t be finishing in the top 4. Emery is a top coach who will get it right like he has done for the majority of his time here. A few bad days doesn’t make us a bad team.

[olaftab]

It's not easy to lose Mings, Buendia, Moreno and Ramsey and caary on regardless.

[VillaTim]

No shame losing at Anfield or indeed Newcastle but come on at least make a game of it.

[kippaxvilla2]

It's not easy to lose Mings, Buendia, Moreno and Ramsey and caary on regardless.

Just on that. Moreno did his hamstring didn’t he.  Which again as we all predicted means 5 months out.

[Hillbilly]

It was the timidity, the lack of fight and urgency, the seeming inability to block out all the Anfield bullshit. We really miss Mings for his bearing and Ramsey and Buendia for their energy.

If we want to play at the top end we will have to offset the occasional loss to the Wolves and Brentfords with the odd win over ManU, Liverpool and the like. But it doesn’t look like happening.

[Axl Rose]

Watched a rerun of the match this morning when I woke up early.

Jesus Christ. How poor were Kamara, Mcginn, Torres, and Bailey, but to name a few. Mcginn is supposed to be our captain, but where was his fight? His leadership? Fucking crap

Bailey irritates the fuck out of me, but I've always thought (hoped) he'd click and it'd all work out. Atrocious yesterday. I'm glad Unai subbed the lazy, jogging around fucker.

I expect more from Ollie. Lead the line with a bit more gusto you lazy swine.

A rubbish result.

[Rory]

Watched a rerun of the match this morning when I woke up early.

Jesus Christ. How poor were Kamara, Mcginn, Torres, and Bailey, but to name a few. Mcginn is supposed to be our captain, but where was his fight? His leadership? Fucking crap

Bailey irritates the fuck out of me, but I've always thought (hoped) he'd click and it'd all work out. Atrocious yesterday. I'm glad Unai subbed the lazy, jogging around fucker.

I expect more from Ollie. Lead the line with a bit more gusto you lazy swine.

A rubbish result.

A 'rerun'?

You've been in Japan too long, mate.

[Axl Rose]

Watched a rerun of the match this morning when I woke up early.

Jesus Christ. How poor were Kamara, Mcginn, Torres, and Bailey, but to name a few. Mcginn is supposed to be our captain, but where was his fight? His leadership? Fucking crap

Bailey irritates the fuck out of me, but I've always thought (hoped) he'd click and it'd all work out. Atrocious yesterday. I'm glad Unai subbed the lazy, jogging around fucker.

I expect more from Ollie. Lead the line with a bit more gusto you lazy swine.

A rubbish result.

A 'rerun'?

You've been in Japan too long, mate.

I don't understand your point, mate 😂

Have I used incorrect English, or do you think I was watching the game for a second time? I chose to follow the game on here, yesterday, rather than the stress of watching it on the telly