Aston Villa v Everton Match Thread

[charlatan]

HT. Am I in earth, in heaven, or in hell?

purgatory?

[frank black]

Before they scored I thought we looked pretty good, without creating much. I thought I couldn't remember watching 2 sides in the same division look so mismatched. Then Olsen started putting his defenders under pressure and its like the whole side crumbled. Everton obviously got their tails up too and the best thing I can say is that at least we're not 2 or 3 down.

Duran, for all his potential, and I hope he bags a couple to make me eat my words, doesn't look ready to lead the line for whole games. I'm also a bit disappointed in our inability to get Diaby into recent games. Hopefully we can sort it in the second half.

I thought we were clueless and just playing it around without any meaningful plan.

[Paul.S]

Looks like Digne and Watkins at half time from the warm up.

[tomd2103]

Second best and lucky to be only 1-0 down at half-time.  Olsen poor in the lead up to the goal and then beaten at his near post.  McGinn all over the place at left-back, Bailey was desperate to get off the pitch the minute we went 1-0 down, Tielemans can't keep the ball in midfield and we just seem content stroking the ball around the back with no urgency at all.

Looks like Watkins and Digne are coming on at half-time.

[Meanwood Villa]

Emery does not give a shit about domestic cup competitions. I love the bloke but this pisses me off massively

Couldn't disagree more. Unai does all the work for this group. Tells them where they need to be, when they need to be there and what needs to be done. It's the personal skill level and effort of a couple of these donkey's that don't seem to understand that their job is on the line.

Get Tielemans off, he's making a fool of himself. So nonchalant, uninvolved and wasteful. Dendoncker not far behind - what the hell is he thinking half the time. He runs like his spine is fused together.

If he gave a shit he’d never play Olsen (not that this is all down to him, as surely we can score some goals). Anyone with eyes and a brain know  he’s a liability. But hey it’s the norm to play the backups in this competition

Exactly. I love the bloke but he's a fucking piss taker playing that prick in goal. Three domestic cup games abs he's chucked every one

[Smithy]

Well, it can't be any worse second half, can it.

Can it?

I would expect us to come out of the blocks pretty quickly second half, and a few changes on about 55 minutes if it's not had the desired effect.

[Monty]

I'll say this about Unai though - how many really good performances have there been this season? We've been abysmal in every defeat, and going through the wins, we dismissed Everton in third gear, Burnley were their own worst enemies (and very solid relegation candidates), Hibs were out of their depth, we showed spirit against Palace but didn't create much until a wondergoal and a penalty, we survived some hairy moments against a genuinely terrible Chelsea side before winning 1-0 with a man advantage...

I mean I'm not exactly complaining about winning, I promise. I just don't really remember the last time I watched us and thought 'damn, that was top drawer material'. We seem to struggle very badly to get the ball out of our own half and look outnumbered in midfield all the time, like a classic 4-4-2 problem vs. 4-3-3. You can't say it's been excellent, and when it's been bad it's been abhorrent.

[brontebilly]

I'll say this about Unai though - how many really good performances have there been this season? We've been abysmal in every defeat, and going through the wins, we dismissed Everton in third gear, Burnley were their own worst enemies (and very solid relegation candidates), Hibs were out of their depth, we showed spirit against Palace but didn't create much until a wondergoal and a penalty, we survived some hairy moments against a genuinely terrible Chelsea side before winning 1-0 with a man advantage...

I mean I'm not exactly complaining about winning, I promise. I just don't really remember the last time I watched us and thought 'damn, that was top drawer material'. We seem to struggle very badly to get the ball out of our own half and look outnumbered in midfield all the time, like a classic 4-4-2 problem vs. 4-3-3. You can't say it's been excellent, and when it's been bad it's been abhorrent.

Don't know why he just didn't drop Donk back to CB after 10-15 mins and move Torres over to the left. Leaving McGinn there was cruel.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I know it's early days but I can't help feeling we've dropped a bollock signing Tielemans.

I refuse to blame Dendonker for being poor at centre back, as how bad must Chambers and Lenglet be in training for hime to be selected in the first place.

[rob_bridge]

Well, it can't be any worse second half, can it.

Can it?

I would expect us to come out of the blocks pretty quickly second half, and a few changes on about 55 minutes if it's not had the desired effect.

We are not great coming from behind to be fair. One thing Duche does is organise his resources

[BC Villain]

I'll say this about Unai though - how many really good performances have there been this season? We've been abysmal in every defeat, and going through the wins, we dismissed Everton in third gear, Burnley were their own worst enemies (and very solid relegation candidates), Hibs were out of their depth, we showed spirit against Palace but didn't create much until a wondergoal and a penalty, we survived some hairy moments against a genuinely terrible Chelsea side before winning 1-0 with a man advantage...

I mean I'm not exactly complaining about winning, I promise. I just don't really remember the last time I watched us and thought 'damn, that was top drawer material'. We seem to struggle very badly to get the ball out of our own half and look outnumbered in midfield all the time, like a classic 4-4-2 problem vs. 4-3-3. You can't say it's been excellent, and when it's been bad it's been abhorrent.

I agree with this.  We've picked up results without looking like getting close to the performances of the end of last season.  Its a good habit to get into don't get me wrong, but when we've come unstuck, we REALLY do come unstuck.

[tomd2103]

Might have been covered earlier, but where is Moreno tonight?

[Rodders]

Obviously Unai is the greatest human ever, but what the utter fuck made him think that it might be worthwhile to see what John McGinn is like at left back?

Every why hath a wherefore.

Comedy of Errors -

- oh, and the play.

[PeterWithesShin]

Digne, Ollie and Kamara on.

Duran, SJM and Donk off.

1 sub left.

[PaulTheVillan]

Treble sub

Digne.
Kamara.
Watkins.