Forest v Villa post-match

[Risso]

Whoscored had Digne as comfortably our best player, and the BBC fans' scores had him second behind McGinn, which I'd agree with. None of the team were great, but Digne wasn't the problem yesterday.

[LeeB]

No, he absolutely wasn't, but that cross in the last 10 minutes when he'd got to the byline then chipped it back out past everyone to the edge of their box drove me nuts and encapsulated the entire team performance.

[Rigadon]

Pretty good assessment, I would add Watkins touch and hold up play poor.

In fairness to Watkins, the ref was letting the centre half practice his 'nightclub bouncing' on him.

They were.  This type of team (big, strong, aggressive counter attacking) is our current achilles heel.  We've either got to sign a couple of players who are suited to these games in January, or do a much better job of letting match officials know that were being strong-armed.  If some of the challenges on Watkins yesterday were being doled out to, say, Gabriel Jesus there would be far more of that happening on the pitch and the touchline.  I'm certainly not saying I want Emery to channel his inner Arteta, but we are too passive / nice at times I think.

[ChicagoLion]

Pretty good assessment, I would add Watkins touch and hold up play poor.

In fairness to Watkins, the ref was letting the centre half practice his 'nightclub bouncing' on him.

Another ref that thinks letting the game flow means allowing players to push and shove, it started from the first minute, Zaniolo was dragged back 3 times, ref waved play on and Forest thought great.

[Chris Smith]

No, he absolutely wasn't, but that cross in the last 10 minutes when he'd got to the byline then chipped it back out past everyone to the edge of their box drove me nuts and encapsulated the entire team performance.

I thought a dodgy second half in general with a few poor crosses but you can’t fault his effort and he constantly gets into positions where he can deliver. Like most of them, just not his day.

[VILLA MOLE]

Urgh I have not felt like this on a Monday morning for a while

[Brend'Watkins]

I just wish we'd move the ball quicker when chasing the game.  20 neat passes in the middle of the park is great when you're on top but when chasing the game plays right into the opposition's hands.

[pablo_picasso]

Im calmer today.

Bad day at the office.

Hopefully we can draw a line under it & move forward...

[Risso]

I just wish we'd move the ball quicker when chasing the game.  20 neat passes in the middle of the park is great when you're on top but when chasing the game plays right into the opposition's hands.

Yes drives me mad as well. I buy fully into Emery's methods, but when you're losing and into the last 20 seconds of extra time, it's not the best time to be putting your foot on the ball for 10 seconds before then playing it back to a centre half.

[Footy-Vill]

Whoscored had Digne as comfortably our best player, and the BBC fans' scores had him second behind McGinn, which I'd agree with. None of the team were great, but Digne wasn't the problem yesterday.

No, he absolutely wasn't, but that cross in the last 10 minutes when he'd got to the byline then chipped it back out past everyone to the edge of their box drove me nuts and encapsulated the entire team performance.

Digne's only desire is to get it into the box. I know it's playing to his strengths, but those strengths were discovered to be insufficient yesterday and it enraged me.

[Risso]

Digne had an 88% pass completion, made the most key passes, had the most tackles in our team, won the most aerial duels and made the third most passes after Torres and Luiz.

[Mister E]

Your blurb

No point recreating all your text.
I disagree on your assessment of 3 players:
1. Digne - did fine, in the main. His freedom on the left was not supported by good movement from the front three.
2. Konsa - did nothing wrong and became more creative through the 2nd half.
3. Kamara - it was clearly the plan for him to play as part of a back 3; nothing wrong with that.

The problem yesterday was that we were weak in the middle of the park. Playing a back 3 is fine except that when we're light in the middle we will get exploited. Forest's plan to put the ball over the top would have been stymied if we'd been stronger in the middle. If Emery wants a back 3 when in possession, he should start with Tielemans rather than Z.
Furthermore, we conceded two piss-poor goals: Martinez gifted the 2nd goal from a speculative shot. The first was down to Z not tracking back and Martinez not seeing it early enough.
Shit happens.

[Monty]

Yeah I thought Digne was clearly one of our few bright spots.

[pauliewalnuts]

Felt a bit yesterday like I did after that period with the losses to Leicester and Arsenal last year. Look what happened after those, mind.

[pauliewalnuts]

Yeah I thought Digne was clearly one of our few bright spots.

Me too, can't remember last time he got so much of the ball, either.