Aston Villa v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar Post-Match Thread

[Axl Rose]

Nice to wake up to a win. Get in!

[paul_e]

If you take Watkins, Luiz, Kamara and Diaby out of the team, we look like a lower table side.

Those players are so important for us. And they're not the only ones.

Given we already have 3/4 starters missing with injury already you're effectively saying that our team isn't very good without 7 of it's best players, could probably swap those 4 for Cash, McGinn, Konsa and Martinez and it'd be true as well but I doubt many teams in the country would look great with 7 of their best 11 missing.

[Aldridge Villa]

Hopefully Bailey played himself out of contention for a start on Sunday.

[Small Rodent]

Great to win at the end, but we're a million miles off going for in this. Paying the price fior not strengthening properly in the Summer

When the transfer window “slammed shut”, Mings and Buendia were still healthy.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Made hard work of it but in fairness, they defended very well. An early goal and it would have been a lot more comfortable but sadly, it's not always like that. Got the points though and that was the main thing.

Yup, I thought they were very well organised and had a plan. As I mentioned elsewhere it was straight out of the MON text book of nicking something away from home. Their keeper impressed me. Maybe worth a swap for Olsen in January?

[Villan82]

We are a work in progress, our first choice 11 are a very good team, our rotated 11 are bang average. As we grow and become more successful then our rotated 11 will improve with better squad signings plus youth team players.

Agree. We forget we have come a long way in a short time. We are superb in the league over the past 32-33 games, becoming a force that can challenge in a few competitions at a time is the next leap. We are getting used to Europe after a gap of 13 seasons

[Rigadon]

If you take Watkins, Luiz, Kamara and Diaby out of the team, we look like a lower table side.

Those players are so important for us. And they're not the only ones.

+ JJ

[Clampy]

Made hard work of it but in fairness, they defended very well. An early goal and it would have been a lot more comfortable but sadly, it's not always like that. Got the points though and that was the main thing.

Yup, I thought they were very well organised and had a plan. As I mentioned elsewhere it was straight out of the MON text book of nicking something away from home. Their keeper impressed me. Maybe worth a swap for Olsen in January?

I said the same thing about the keeper. He looked alright.

[paul_e]

Hopefully Bailey played himself out of contention for a start on Sunday.

He was poor in the first half other than a couple of little dribbles into the box where they couldn't get near him but there was no end product. He swapped to the left in the 2nd half and was much better, got a few decent balls in and played his part in us pinning them into their box for most  of the half. In general everyone did well in the 2nd half when we upped the tempo, about as 1sided a half of football as you'll ever see, even if the result makes it look like we sneaked a win in injury time.

[AV84]

Weirdly our group is not just all level on points, everyone has a +/- of 0. It is like the first two rounds never happened.

[Lsvilla]

Made hard work of it but in fairness, they defended very well. An early goal and it would have been a lot more comfortable but sadly, it's not always like that. Got the points though and that was the main thing.

Yup, I thought they were very well organised and had a plan. As I mentioned elsewhere it was straight out of the MON text book of nicking something away from home. Their keeper impressed me. Maybe worth a swap for Olsen in January?

I said the same thing about the keeper. He looked alright.

Reminded me of Jan Tomazsewski (one for the old ones).

[paul_e]

Made hard work of it but in fairness, they defended very well. An early goal and it would have been a lot more comfortable but sadly, it's not always like that. Got the points though and that was the main thing.

Yup, I thought they were very well organised and had a plan. As I mentioned elsewhere it was straight out of the MON text book of nicking something away from home. Their keeper impressed me. Maybe worth a swap for Olsen in January?

I said the same thing about the keeper. He looked alright.

Reminded me of Jan Tomazsewski (one for the old ones).

I posted in the match thread that he looks like someone who'll be at a much bigger club before long. Had a look and he's bounced around a lot of clubs already though so maybe he's a bit of a dick? No idea but he looked like a very decent shot stopper.

[pauliewalnuts]

Made hard work of it but in fairness, they defended very well. An early goal and it would have been a lot more comfortable but sadly, it's not always like that. Got the points though and that was the main thing.

Yup, I thought they were very well organised and had a plan. As I mentioned elsewhere it was straight out of the MON text book of nicking something away from home. Their keeper impressed me. Maybe worth a swap for Olsen in January?

I said the same thing about the keeper. He looked alright.

Reminded me of Jan Tomazsewski (one for the old ones).

I thought exactly the same earlier during the match.

[DrGonzo]

Tielemans looked lacking in concentration, most of his mistakes were made when he had a moment to look up and make a decision, not a great display from somebody bemoaning lack of minutes, but minutes may be what he needs.  Dendoncker might as well retire from Villa he looks a mile away from a footballer that will have a chance at Villa.  If Tim Iro were fit he'd get in the squad ahead of Dendo every day of the week.
Bailey looked much better out on the left, and that's not the first time I've said that. 
Zaniolo has a lot more he needs to do, his first touch is embarrasing on occasion.
Duran looks a handful, really good strength but his decision making is lacking.

Obviously we looked better with Dougie pulling the strings and it allowed Tielemans to have more free rein in the 2nd half that led to him playing with more freedom.

The first half wasn't pretty and the second is what you should would expect from teams at this level.  They were solid at the back and their keeper was good when called upon even if the quality of finishing was lacking from Villa.

Luckily this can be shelved on the "learning curve" shelf.  3 points were required and we got them, not in the way any of us wanted, admittedly, but we got the result.

[Brazilian Villain]

Reminded me of Jan Tomazsewski (one for the old ones).

I thought exactly the same earlier during the match.

Who played the role of pre-match Clough?