Aston Villa vs Sheffield United Post-Match

[Ian.]

It does seem the ghost goal came back to haunt us tonight. For two VAR decisions it seems a little shove and pull does not warrant an infringement so no penalty but then this little pull warrants a goal being chalked off.

Oh well, that’s football for you.

[rob_bridge]

Obvious penalty in the first half on Watkins.  Clear and compelling.  That aside, great we didn’t lose the game.

Great comment

[Mister E]

Disappointing, kind of flopped on our big night really. Losing to a team as poor as Sheff United would have been sickening so great we got the equaliser late on.

Well, no. Wilder set up to defend deep and has history for being very good at it. It was always going to be a tough game, and anyone thinking otherwise is kidding themselves.

Zaniolo was appalling up to the header in his cameo, brave header really and a moment of quality from Luiz to create it. Duran was a joke and should have been sent off.

- err, no. Duran was freeing himself from the original foul on him and from the intervention of wind-up merchant Vini Sousaz.

We were far too slow tonight, credit to Sheff United who were really well organised defensively and were a threat late on. Of course it had to be Archer with their goal.

Slow is frustrating but it's pretty much how we've played all season.

Positives, I thought Lenglet did well on his first start until he tired a bit late on. Not much else really apart from that, Konsa was solid again. Dont think Emery got the selection right really, despite being former teammates Diaby and Bailey tend to get in each other's way. I think the Donk sitting next to Luiz with McGinn on right would have given us better balance in midfield.

Emery's selection was somewhat limited by who was available to play. Of all the players on the pitch, I'd say the only chnge I'd have made was not playing Cash who was poor for a large part of the game.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Well at least that should shut up Sheffield United morning about VAR.

Can see why Bailey's goal was disallowed, but we should have had 2 penalties.

Even Carragher thought we should have had one of them.

[Goldie.7]

As soon as Zaniolo came on I stuck 10 quid on him to get booked. Nothing was more certain 

[AlexAlexCropley]

Not good enough really. We are accustomed to better. Sort it out Emery!

Thanks for that

[SamTheMouse]

Would have been great to go top. But what really counts is where we are after 38 games.

Well said. We are not the finished article and clearly missed Torres and Kamara today.

People know We Are Here. For the first time in 25 years. We are here after half a season. Let's make sure we get 75+ points.

I thought it was Tielemans who'd have made the biggest difference. He's probably the best passer we've got. He'd have combined more effectively with either Bailey or Diaby, I reckon.

[brontebilly]

Obvious penalty in the first half on Watkins.  Clear and compelling.  That aside, great we didn’t lose the game.

Agreed, thought it was a blatant handball near end too from Baldock. They were fortunate to get away with those two decisions.

Ramsey did foul their keeper so dont think we should be whinging about that one. Thought Duran should have been sent off too, if their defender had jumped to the ground he would have been.

[Somniloquism]

I will just throw in that 31st Dec 2022, Citeh drew at home against Everton. Whilst they weren't bottom, they were down there with the result taking them a whole two points outside of the zone. Citeh had DeBruyne and Ludo playing and only managed 3 shots on target all match. They had even taken the lead in the match. So whilst it would have been nice to be top of the league, the result is not the end of the world.

I just wish we had played them before Wilder came back though.

[Proposition Joe]

Yeah, Unai's homework is now to come up with a different approach against teams that put 10 behind the ball just come for a point or smash and grab. Maybe go all out to blitz them early on.

[Astnor]

Positives:
- the quality of McGinn
- Liuz s cross for the goal
- Bailey still looks in good shape
Martinez being Martinez and Konsa being Konsa

Negatives
- Cash being Cash, looked slightly better 2. half though but sometimes I cant stop myself thinking it must be a joke that he is in the team (sorry)
- Zaniolo and Duran still appear to be too selfish - yes Zaniolo got the goal but it was much about Luiz s pass

As we Emery has said we are not title contenders - we are still building a team, our style (slightly counterattacking IMO) suits better when we are not favourites, we struggle when the other team set out just to defend. Given our table standing now I -even after todays poor showing, still have hope for fourth. Might be better for us going to OT without being top as I dont think the team have the mentality to be top by now - I had us too loose there so now might get something and Cash suspended so all in all I look more forward to that game now than I did before this game.
Sheff U was as expected, disappointing that Emery coudnt figure out how to break them down.

[Proposition Joe]

If we can get a Moreno for the right side ... those passes Konsa played to set Cash roaming down the wing were fantastic

[PaulWinch again]

Ramsey is fouling the keeper, but by that token we should have two penalties.

[Bad English]

Too many players well below par. Ramsey and Diaby the worst culprits. Our final ball was abysmal all game.

Diaby needs a goal, urgently.

Villa needed a goal urgently!

[Edvard Remberg]

As expected.. we f... fail at easiest chance