Aston Villa v Legia Warsaw Post Match Thread

[Smithy]

Olsen was half decent. Better than his normal performances.

Shame we couldn't get the 3rd goal.

At some points in the first half our pace of play was so slow.

Yes, very slow in the first half. Beginning to think it is part of Unai's game plan. Slow, slow. fast, slow, slow, slow, slow. Let the ball do the work, let the opposition knacker themselves out, keep some petrol in the tank for the business end of the game.

Thanks to Unai, we can change gear at the flick of a switch. Like top teams do.

I agree. It seems to happen too many times that our pace of play is slower in the early parts of a game, and then we come on strong towards the end.  It feels like it must be deliberate?

[Risso]

I don't think it is. We could easily have been 3 or 4 down against Spurs in the first half, and even Emery is going to struggle to get a team to come back from that. He likes to control games, but you have to factor in the opposition as well, they're not there to let us control things how we want all the time.

[Hookeysmith]

Missed the first goal due to the queues, was waiting for at least 30 minutes to get it.

From the other thread, it sounded like individual Legia fans were trying to sneak in so I suspect there was more individual checking at the gates. Plus half the North Stand gates were closed if you were trying there.

This was Trinity Rd. Understand the increase in security but employing a few more staff would have been helpful.

I know it might feel like it sometimes but you cannot just create match day staff overnight. People have to be vetted, trained and in certain cases CRB checked (or whatever the new standard is). There were loads of ejections last night due to Polish turnstile / gate jumpers so once what was going on outside was known security had to get tighter. I don't think any preparation could of  predicted the chaos that arose

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I don't think it is. We could easily have been 3 or 4 down against Spurs in the first half, and even Emery is going to struggle to get a team to come back from that. He likes to control games, but you have to factor in the opposition as well, they're not there to let us control things how we want all the time.

We’re quite often slow to start in the away games, like you said, fortunate not to concede a few early against Spurs, conceded early at Newcastle and Liverpool and there’s been a few more I’ve forgotten, Forest?

[Brend'Watkins]

Decent game even though we looked like we were putting in less than full effort which was the reason we screwed up for their equaliser. What these European games have shown is that our players have a sense that the opposition are inferior and seem to perform with far less intensity. We always looked comfortable without excelling. There were a few moments of real class. Dougie’s free kick that got us the winner, McPhee’s input clear to see there and then the ball for Bailey which he did really well controlling first time and was very unlucky with the attempt after. Legia were decent in build up play and at pressing but lacked a cutting edge.

[Lastfootstamper]

On rewatching, Muci was very clever in his movement leading up to their goal. He sees Kamara show, and as Kamara looks over his shoulders before the ball arrives Muci dummies as if he's going to press Konsa, and then checks to hold the space between Kamara and Cash. And then the finish. I'd bet there won't be many that score three in two games against us this season.

[pauliewalnuts]

Dougie’s free kick that got us the winner, McPhee’s input clear to see

I was thinking this last night, McPhee is very visible off the bench during the game, and frequently goes through the instructions with the players as they're about to come on (he did this with Bailey last night).

Emery clearly rates him highly to have him that tightly involved rather than, say, Ayesteran who has the job title more suited.

I was wondering if it might be in part because he's British so it's easier for him to convey without confusion instructions given in the space of a minute or so before the subs get made, but then again, most of the players aren't British so I dunno.

[Risso]

Yes fair play to MacPhee, he must be doing well to be trusted by Emery, as there aren't many coaches left who haven't been brought in by Unai.

[pauliewalnuts]

He's survived three managers now, too.

[pauliewalnuts]

However, his hair does remain entirely unacceptable.

[LukeJames]

Commentator mentioned yesterday that whenever were attacking or defending a set piece, Emery tells MacPhee to go in the technical area and take over.

[Somniloquism]

Commentator mentioned yesterday that whenever were attacking or defending a set piece, Emery tells MacPhee to go in the technical area and take over.

Although when it cut to Emery when we scored our second, MacPhee seemed to be in the dugout looking down at something rather then doing anything in the technical area.

Weird thing as well. McGinns starting position seemed to make the goal keeper stay back rather then come out to try to collect and the GK definitely was pointing to him to a defender who must have asked why he was back on the line.

[pablo_picasso]

Disappointing to concede, but the win was most important to put our top spot destiny in our own hands.

As for the disgrace outside the stadium, I have just seen some moronic Polish journalist blame Villa for Legia fans acting like criminal thugs because we didn't give them enough tickets.

Bit of backwards logic there, & completely attempts to absolve their fans for their own choice of actions.

And if I hear anybody make the distinction between "hooligans" & "ultras", when they act like last night, I will lose my shit.

There is no difference other than the name & they are the same side of the same coin...

[paul_e]

The positioning of McGinn for the free kick we scored from was very clever, there were 3-4 Legia players looking round trying to work out what he was doing and keeper seemed really agitated by it as well but then he just ran out of the area as the ball was coming on to make it absolutely clear he was never attacking the ball.

[London Villan]

The McGinn positioning was a great way of gaming the current offside rules. Didn't touch the ball, caused an element of confusion, but didn't directly interfere with the game.