Aston Villa v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar Post-Match Thread

[Ian.]

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.

I thought second half he played well and helped lift the crowd. He was trying to make things happen.

I also didn’t think Tielemans was that bad, he was much better when Dougie came on.

[pauliewalnuts]

Yet more proof that Douglas Luiz is a very, very good player indeed.

[paul_e]

Yet more proof that Douglas Luiz is a very, very good player indeed.

I've said a few times recently but I'll repeat it here, I reckon Dougie is one of the best central midfielders in the league right now, there isn't a team in the country where he wouldn't be a regular starter and improve them, there's probably not many teams in the world where that isn't true.

[Somniloquism]

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.

Were they?

Edit: I looked at Lenglet as cover for Mings and Zaniola for Buendia. Which at the short notice of the injuries were probably the best we could do.

[Ian.]

No I don’t think so. Both injured in the first week. Buendia right before the opener and Mings during that match.

[Somniloquism]

Luiz can play the ball every bit as well as Ward-Prowse. So why has the latter got multiple assists for corners and we barely even get a sniff at them, with one of our closest efforts coming from a direct try. Is it the delivery? the runners in the box? shit heading ability?

[brontebilly]

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.

Cash...we have no backup at all at RB. McGinn, Ramsey...no backup at all. Centre mid I thought we had decent cover but after the way the Donk performed in last two games it's clear Emery doesnt. Tielemans obviously a big disappointment so far but thought he was much better second half. Any sign of Iroegbunam getting back involved?

[paul_e]

Luiz can play the ball every bit as well as Ward-Prowse. So why has the latter got multiple assists for corners and we barely even get a sniff at them, with one of our closest efforts coming from a direct try. Is it the delivery? the runners in the box? shit heading ability?

It's either of those, he's put some fantastic balls in that we should've done much better with.

[brontebilly]

Luiz can play the ball every bit as well as Ward-Prowse. So why has the latter got multiple assists for corners and we barely even get a sniff at them, with one of our closest efforts coming from a direct try. Is it the delivery? the runners in the box? shit heading ability?

Our two centre backs missed sitters tonight in the air. We don't have too much height in the team either really.

[DrGonzo]

Considering we had already spent a wedge before that point direct replacements would have probably costs us at least £80m+, so I think it would be unrealistic at that stage of the window

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.

Were they?

Edit: I looked at Lenglet as cover for Mings and Zaniola for Buendia. Which at the short notice of the injuries were probably the best we could do.

[RamboandBruno]

Brilliant goal by McGinn. He was a long way down Emery's list but I thought Traore had a very lively cameo when he came on. Very good second half performance I thought, Zrinjski defended brilliantly and looked like the goal wasn't going to come. Excellent tactical switch by Emery at half time. Didn't think Tielemans was anywhere near as bad as made out in the match thread, not everything worked out but he kept going anyway.

Martinez 7 - one smart save in first half but could have brought a chair that aside
Konsa 6 - not a RB by any stretch of the imagination, happier in back 3
Carlos 6 - rusty enough first half, missed a shocker of a chance with header
Lenglet 7 - slow start but was much better than in Warsaw, abysmal miss from header
Digne 6 - very good first half, hope not injured
Bailey 6 - better on left, kept at it but lack of self belief is apparent
Donk 4 - not an Emery player, two games in a row hooked at half time doesn't suggest much of a future
Tielemans 6 - poor first half but definitely was better in second, still some unforced mistakes but one cracking ball and kept going
Zaniolo 5 - started well but drifted out of the game quickly enough
Duran 4 - poor again, Emery far from impressed obviously
McGinn 7 - brilliant goal, much prefer him on the right where he can cut in

Both Cash and Luiz stood out a mile when they came in, if either of them get injured we will be in serious trouble. Great assist from Cash. Traore I thought was lively on the right when he came in. Watkins struggles when a defence sits in, quiet enough. Put in one great ball.

Agree with virtually all of this, especially regarding Tielemans. I thought Zaniolo was ok though.

[RamboandBruno]

Good win, got stronger and pleased.

I can imagine the match thread, but I'd agree with Paul, Tielemans grew stringer as the game went on and there were some good signs there. I think he needs a run of games to get his eye in fully.

I love the team ethic, I love that they never give in.

Yeah with Tielemans there were two very nearly brilliant passes. Clearly there was still some ropey play in there too, but you could see what he was and could be again. He just needs to get his confidence up.

I reckon if that interview when he was with Belgium hadn't happened everyone would be talking about how tonight was his best performance for us and hoping he can keep it up but now some people have got it in their heads that he's upset about not playing more they're hyper-critical of everything he does wrong.

Oh, Paul, with all due respect, what rubbish.

I don't give a fuck what he said in Belgium, but he's had multiple chances to show what he can do and, 90 percent of the time, has shown pretty much nothing, including tonight.

I thought he was ok tonight, possibly trying too hard at times, but not half as bad as being made out on here.

[paul_e]

Brilliant goal by McGinn. He was a long way down Emery's list but I thought Traore had a very lively cameo when he came on. Very good second half performance I thought, Zrinjski defended brilliantly and looked like the goal wasn't going to come. Excellent tactical switch by Emery at half time. Didn't think Tielemans was anywhere near as bad as made out in the match thread, not everything worked out but he kept going anyway.

Martinez 7 - one smart save in first half but could have brought a chair that aside
Konsa 6 - not a RB by any stretch of the imagination, happier in back 3
Carlos 6 - rusty enough first half, missed a shocker of a chance with header
Lenglet 7 - slow start but was much better than in Warsaw, abysmal miss from header
Digne 6 - very good first half, hope not injured
Bailey 6 - better on left, kept at it but lack of self belief is apparent
Donk 4 - not an Emery player, two games in a row hooked at half time doesn't suggest much of a future
Tielemans 6 - poor first half but definitely was better in second, still some unforced mistakes but one cracking ball and kept going
Zaniolo 5 - started well but drifted out of the game quickly enough
Duran 4 - poor again, Emery far from impressed obviously
McGinn 7 - brilliant goal, much prefer him on the right where he can cut in

Both Cash and Luiz stood out a mile when they came in, if either of them get injured we will be in serious trouble. Great assist from Cash. Traore I thought was lively on the right when he came in. Watkins struggles when a defence sits in, quiet enough. Put in one great ball.

Agree with virtually all of this, especially regarding Tielemans. I thought Zaniolo was ok though.

Yeah same, I'd have added an extra point or 2 for Zaniolo, he was our best player for the first 15minutes then went quiet for the rest of the first half before having a decent 2nd half where he did a lot of unselfish work off the ball to open gaps.

The split between first half and 2nd half in general was huge though, I'd give 7s and 8 to everyone for the 2nd half after 4s and 5s for most in the first. Even then in the first it just felt like 1 less touch or a bit more weight on the passes and we'd have been well on top. It was the sort of frustrating performance that we've seen a few times where it just looked like the team needed a kick up the arse and Emery gave them one with the 3 subs.

[PeterWithe]

Dire first half, too pedestrian with the ball and lacked zip. Don’t think any of the second string did themselves any favours. Again.

Second half much much better and it was just a question of when.

Duggie pushed us further up the park and them back, Cash, Bailey and Traore stretched them and the goal was always coming.

Fair play to them, they were limited but very well organised and executed their game plan brilliantly with EMI still having to make two fine saves to keep them out with the only shots they had.

Can’t be doing with that choreographed fan shit mind, fair dos for coming though.

[olaftab]

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

I thought the keeper was a total clown.