Aston Villa v Burnley Post Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

In amongst Man U’s numerous title wins under Alex Ferguson, and some of the excellent football they played, often at our expense, it’s forgotten just how many games they needed to fight through to the bitter end. The whole “Fergie time” didn’t come about because they were winning 4-0 heading into the 90th minute. It’s because they went to the very end. You can always argue they got a little help from refs but it’s a mentality that in the point we earned vs Sheff Utd or today vs Burnley, even a few games ago vs Palace, that we need to have to be successful. Not every game is going to be Brighton at home. The last three games have tested us in very different ways. It’s good to end the year with a win.

[PaulWinch again]

Really impressed by Foster for Burnley - thought he led the line brilliantly and took his goal well. I think he’s the guy who’s struggled with mental health issues, so good to see him enjoying playing.

[LeeB]

Thought that if I'd been a Burnley fan I'd have come away livid from that.

[Ian.]

No luck involved. We were the better side, and we won.

This all day long.

Oh and Bailey is the dogs bollocks. I could watch him all day long.

[eamonn]

Got lucky with the penalty. Even if there was minimal contact, its at the edge of the box and I don't think we win that without the gimme of a pen.

Not at all, Duran got in ahead of him and got kicked in the foot. He exaggerated going down but refs have made that a requirement by not giving penalties if players try to stay up.

I'm not sure where in the box it happened matters much but it wasn't at the edge, it was about in line with the penalty spot and just outside the width of the posts.

I just know if we'd have been on the receiving end I'd be spitting feathers at the softness of the type of penalties awarded. I still think Cascarino is onto something with his idea of there being different types of pen - ie where they're soft/harsh, they should be taken from 18 yards out or with a goalie and a defender on the line.

[Mellin]

Got lucky with the penalty. Even if there was minimal contact, its at the edge of the box and I don't think we win that without the gimme of a pen.

Not at all, Duran got in ahead of him and got kicked in the foot. He exaggerated going down but refs have made that a requirement by not giving penalties if players try to stay up.

I'm not sure where in the box it happened matters much but it wasn't at the edge, it was about in line with the penalty spot and just outside the width of the posts.

I just know if we'd have been on the receiving end I'd be spitting feathers at the softness of the type of penalties awarded. I still think Cascarino is onto something with his idea of there being different types of pen - ie where they're soft/harsh, they should be taken from 18 yards out or with a goalie and a defender on the line.

Fuck me. Can hear the cries of THAT SHOULD BE A PROPER PEN and THAT'S ONLY A FUCKING 18 YARD PEN REF YOU TWAT from here.

[VillaTim]

It's a bit of a soft pen but it's a pen and credit Duran for going down like he'd broken something in his foot, it swayed the refs mind I feel.

[Beard82]

I think Duran could be a quality player.  he is very raw - and needs to grow up mentally - but I think there is some serious talent there

[Beard82]

Amazing - on Radio 5 they just did "and now to Villa Park and we can hear from Burnley manager Sean Dyche" and it was (obviously) a whole interview about Everton

[Paul.S]

We dug in, worked hard and won and that’s all that matters. This squad don’t stop working and they stick to Emerys plan.
What is frustrating are the ironic cheers aimed at Diego when he passed it wide and getting on the  players back lad when they won’t hoof it long or player the pass that they want. Very poor from a few today.

[AV82EC]

Well we made hard work of it but were much the better team. Scores on the doors

Martinez - 6 could have done better with the 2nd.
Konsa - 6 nothing too shoddy
Carlos - 5 still a bit slow in thought I think
Lenglet - 5 got done several times for pace/strength
Moreno - 6 not the flowing man of last year but you can tell it’s starting to come back
Luiz - 7 extra point for the penalty but not as influential as he has been
McGinn - 6 no major issues but a bit heavy with his passing/crossing at times
Bailey - 8 lovely play today and constant thorn in their side
Diaby - 8 much much better creative, got a goal and looked dangerous. Bit wasteful with his chances.
Ramsey - 6 better today and starting to get some match sharpness.
Watkins - 8 absolutely worked his nads off and 2 assists which is the most in the PL.

Dhuran -7 nice cameo for once
Torres- 6 settled things a bit and really good distribution
Donk - not on long enough

Happy New Year all and UTV!

[Villafirst]

Fucking hell that was hard work. Not just us and not taking our chances but my stream was jumping forwards and backwards through time. I felt like I was in an episode of Lost and Desmond was about to turn up for tea.

UTV and Happy New Year!

So, you weren't at VP?

[RamboandBruno]

Got lucky with the penalty. Even if there was minimal contact, its at the edge of the box and I don't think we win that without the gimme of a pen.

Not at all, Duran got in ahead of him and got kicked in the foot. He exaggerated going down but refs have made that a requirement by not giving penalties if players try to stay up.

I'm not sure where in the box it happened matters much but it wasn't at the edge, it was about in line with the penalty spot and just outside the width of the posts.

I just know if we'd have been on the receiving end I'd be spitting feathers at the softness of the type of penalties awarded. I still think Cascarino is onto something with his idea of there being different types of pen - ie where they're soft/harsh, they should be taken from 18 yards out or with a goalie and a defender on the line.

Its soft but its a pen Eamon. Football fabs aren’t subjective so Im sure if I could be arsed looking at the Burnley forum they would be spitting feathers, it is what it is. The penalty we got against Palace a few months ago was more debatable and the Sheffield United player did an excellent volleyball move a week ago. Swings and roundabouts.

We’re not as fluid or good without Kamara, Tielemans or Torres, everything is a little predictable. But and these are huge buts, more than any Villa side I’ve seen we never ever let it lie, there is always hope with this lot.

The reality is, it should of been 5-1 by the time they equalised with Diaby (2) and Ramsey missing relative sitters.

Carlos struggled today and looked a bit short of confidence. Although he had a couple of passes out of play, you can see how Torres changes the whole shape of our team, he’s essentially the creative fulcrum.

Anyway, we’re flying.

[Tayls_7]

Well we made hard work of it but were much the better team. Scores on the doors

Martinez - 6 could have done better with the 2nd.
Konsa - 6 nothing too shoddy
Carlos - 5 still a bit slow in thought I think
Lenglet - 5 got done several times for pace/strength
Moreno - 6 not the flowing man of last year but you can tell it’s starting to come back
Luiz - 7 extra point for the penalty but not as influential as he has been
McGinn - 6 no major issues but a bit heavy with his passing/crossing at times
Bailey - 8 lovely play today and constant thorn in their side
Diaby - 8 much much better creative, got a goal and looked dangerous. Bit wasteful with his chances.
Ramsey - 6 better today and starting to get some match sharpness.
Watkins - 8 absolutely worked his nads off and 2 assists which is the most in the PL.

Dhuran -7 nice cameo for once
Torres- 6 settled things a bit and really good distribution
Donk - not on long enough

Happy New Year all and UTV!

He was.

[AV84]

Really impressed by Foster for Burnley - thought he led the line brilliantly and took his goal well. I think he’s the guy who’s struggled with mental health issues, so good to see him enjoying playing.

Yeah, he had some kind of reoccurrence or whatever you call it quite recently. He's been left out of the South Africa squad for AFCON because of it, or so I was reading earlier. Although I assume that's in a "look after yourself" kind of way rather than a being ostracised kind of way.