Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Post-Match

[AV84]

Duran's a young lad who's just scored a brilliant goal out of little so I'd excuse him getting carried away and running towards the Holte.

If he'd just tapped in from a yard then I think he'd have just got the ball out of the net and ran back quickly to halfway line as the game was still to be won.

Of course the excessive injury time we're getting currently means not too much time is wasted with the celebrations.

I know, I acknowledged that in my first post. Just hearing Emery constantly say he's young, we need to keep working with him, etc. etc. makes you wonder if it's more than just physical stuff. Which really wouldn't be surprising either, for someone that age who didn't come through the English academy system, to require some development in that respect too.

[Lucky Eddie]

The ref was absolutely awful and I hope those Palace 'ultras' dressed in black are still only half way home to their sh it hole that always feels three junctions past Calais.

God Bless you my Aston Villa.

[RamboandBruno]

I know one thing, I'm glad it's Luiz on pens. So much more relaxing.

Were you relaxed 😂 there wasnt a person in the holte that was relaxed.

[Mister E]

The first half was good, but I don't see how anyone can argue we were anything other than cack for about 40 minutes in the second. Our passing and movement were poor and inaccurate, and we coughed up possession cheaply time and again. Emery looked furious for most of it. I bet if he'd been commenting on the match thread, he'd have felt like using a few *****s himself.

Duran saved our arses (and well done to the lad, delighted for him), although for me it was Bailey who made the biggest difference. As someone else has said - RCF I think - Cash could perhaps be upgraded, at least in terms of his attacking play (and notwithstanding his recent goals). He was in great positions so many times in the first half, basically facing up a defender more or less one on one, and always had to turn back. I kept thinking that if Moreno was in those positions, he'd have produced something. That right-hand side was our main attacking outlet, but didn't really deliver.

Also, Torres scares the shit out of me. It looks to me like he needs to hit the gym and start lifting some weights, but maybe I've been spoiled watching the man mountain that is Mings in that role for so long.

Anyway, we won, and all is well in the world for at least a few more days.

Agree with alost all of that, other than the '40 minutes of cack': maybe 25 minutes!

[paul_e]

I know some people on here hate stats but xG was 2.3 to 1.1 (which I think is a fair reflection of the game) and all the momentum ratings on sites have us as having been on top for 65-70minutes, which I think is a fair summary.

[caster troy]

I remember the old days when our only ‘change the game’ sub was to swap between El Ghazi and Trezeguet. If you’d said to me back then that one day we’d be swapping Zaniolo and Kamara for Bailey and Tielemans I wouldn’t have believed you.

[SoccerHQ]

Side note, probably said many times but games going on this long is ridiculous. Obviously, they just needed enough for us to spank in the third...obviously. But that was enough.
VAR should never take as long as it has at times this season. Clear and obvious should make these decisions relatively simple. If they can't be done within a couple of minutes either it's not clear and obvious or (like today) the officials don't have a clear understanding of the laws.

In fairness Palace had an injury start of second half (when foul was given against Ollie when two Palace defenders collided into each other) and then as mentioned Johnstone went down after the shot hit him and he was down for 3 minutes so 7-8 minutes would've been added on this time last season imo.

Then the VAR review took 2-3 minutes.

What on earth happened in the Spurs game? Was there injuries in that as the injury time given there was 12 minutes. Annoying Spurs turned that around as we could do with them starting to drop points given they're only playing oncr a week.

[Tayls_7]

I remember the old days when our only ‘change the game’ sub was to swap between El Ghazi and Trezeguet. If you’d said to me back then that one day we’d be swapping Zaniolo and Kamara for Bailey and Tielemans I wouldn’t have believed you.

I know but don't worry. It's a work in progress.

[Legion]

Loads of time wasting by Sheffield United.

[LeonW]

Good first half but a lack of clinical edge was there.
The goal against the run of play knocked us and I thought it was going to be one of those days.
Step forward Duran. That was a blockbuster of a goal. Wow. One to really enjoy.
Definite penalty but VAR; what is going on. The ref awards the penalty and if it takes 5 minutes of VAR and the ref to review and decide, then it wasn’t a clear and obvious error...which begs the question as to why VAR got involved in the first place.
Great final phase of the game after a largely disjointed second half.
Zaniola needs to learn what passing is although I think this is just how he plays.

[Villa Lew]

Knowing the Beeb, I reckon we'll probably be 5th on MOTD, the 3, 1-3s, Spurs and then us.

[Richard E]

Torres is great on the ball, without it then as Sam has said above he needs to toughen up. Got the impression Zaniolo doesn’t trust Watkins! Perhaps they need time to develop an understanding.

[Legion]

Watkins is very hit and miss.

[AV84]

Loads of time wasting by Sheffield United.

Different game but I think Luton's keeper was booked for time wasting after 38 minutes.

[Richard E]

Watkins is very hit and miss.

He is. It’s a shame because there’s a lot to like about him. Nowt wrong with his attitude and he always works his knackers off. But he can be very frustrating at times. Should have done better with his chance today.