Luton vs Aston Villa post-match thread

[Meanwood Villa]

Went unnoticed as they ended up scoring anyway but that goaline clearance from Cash directly before their first was a great effort.

[lovejoy]

Some of the comments on the match thread are hysterical. We go from world beaters massaging our goal difference to Emery doesn’t know hat he’s doing, in 20 minutes. Embarrassing posts a lot of them.

[Mister E]

Martinez was fouled in the build-up to their first goal (in the same way we were penalised in the home game vs  SheffU, but without the second phase having started).
One or two people mentioned Tim's physicality: I note that he wasn't one of those players booked.
Z - just Why?!

A horrible second half to watch but what a great result - we got what other teams in the top 6 got, a 1-goal win (other than Liverpool).

[ChicagoLion]

I’m not saying it didn’t play a part, but I think our drop off in performance played a greater part, and I don’t think he has an agenda against us.

If every time there was any contest between opposing layers, the ref decides to give Luton the ball then it’s pretty difficult to get any momentum in the game.
I think his persistent poor or biased decisions got to our players.
It was an astonishingly awful display by the ref and the fact that so many have commented on here bares this out.

[Demitri_C]

Some of the commen5 on the match thread are hysterical. We go from world beaters massaging our goal difference to Emery doesn’t know hat he’s doing, in 20 minutes. Embarrassing posts a lot of them.

Well obviously footballs a emotional game and people get upset when you let a two goal slip. No ones gonna be like yay luton equalised  🙂

[ez]

I'm pleased we won of course but my enjoyment of it is tempered by that second half performance. That was another big warning. The fact that Emery let it happen carry on without acting was also worrying. I can only assume we are low on options with all the injuries.

[PaulWinch again]

I’m not saying it didn’t play a part, but I think our drop off in performance played a greater part, and I don’t think he has an agenda against us.

If every time there was any contest between opposing layers, the ref decides to give Luton the ball then it’s pretty difficult to get any momentum in the game.
I think his persistent poor or biased decisions got to our players.
It was an astonishingly awful display by the ref and the fact that so many have commented on here bares this out.

I just don’t think it was every time. I’m not saying he had a good game, or that he got some decisions wrong, I just think some of the reaction is overblown and the reality is we massively dropped off and allowed Luton back in. I don’t think the referee was a significant factor in that, could have been better yes, but we were the main problem in that phase.

[Somniloquism]

Some of the comments on the match thread are hysterical. We go from world beaters massaging our goal difference to Emery doesn’t know hat he’s doing, in 20 minutes. Embarrassing posts a lot of them.

The two goals didn't come out of nowhere. We could all see they had changed their formation and were getting attacks in and more freekicks and corners (which had been our weak points recently). We all see momentum was lost and something needed to be done about 60 minutes in at the latest. So why not criticise the manager when he does nothing and we let in two goals before the obvious changes our made?

[Demitri_C]

Some of the comments on the match thread are hysterical. We go from world beaters massaging our goal difference to Emery doesn’t know hat he’s doing, in 20 minutes. Embarrassing posts a lot of them.

The two goals didn't come out of nowhere. We could all see they had changed their formation and were getting attacks in and more freekicks and corners (which had been our weak points recently). We all see momentum was lost and something needed to be done about 60 minutes in at the latest. So why not criticise the manager when he does nothing and we let in two goals before the obvious changes our made?

I agree. I personally was saying in match thread the changes should have been done at 2-1 as we were losing the battle and luton were well on top.

I can only think that unai wanted to keep these players fresh for ajax as they will all be starting. I can see digne diabs and maybe timmy starting.

Id be suprised if zaniolo starts after he offers so little

[Astnor]

I also agree. Their pressure started in last minutes of first half and did mount and continue second half. I bit like Forest game. I did say then in the match thread in the break that this is not over, they have a fight in them. It was painful when they second half had continious pressure on us and you could "feel" their goals coming and Emery did nothing. Even he is the best coach ever ish must be possible to be critical sometimes. That said his possibilities to change things are a bit limited with all our injuries and limited squad in regard to first team players.

[Richard E]

Luton = 1980s Wimbledon but with better PR.

[brontebilly]

Only watched it back this morning and to be honest I didn't think their surge was imminent. Sure we were sitting off a bit but any time we got them turned they looked very vulnerable. I think the game turned on moments and Konsa was involved in our worst ones. Maybe not match sharp after his injury but he was bullied for the first goal. For the second he gets done terrbly for the free kick by Ogbene. For their big chance to win it he lost Morris completely, Cash did well to get any kind of challenge in.
Luton's tactical switch soon after half time did cause us problems as Watkins was bullying them before then. With the extra centre back they picked up a lot more breaks off Watkins. Ogbene is much better on the right too. Tielemans unfortunately offered us very little and I thought Luton exposed McGinn's limitations playing deep. Rogers wasn't as bad as I expected but he's not much of an athlete either, still I think Emery was more keen to move McGinn further forward than anything especially badly Rogers was doing.
It was a great winner, Diaby after a very tough time with his form played the perfect ball and Digne for once gambled going forward and finished superbly.

We go again!
Martinez 7, Cash 7, Konsa 4, Lenglet 7, Moreno 6, Luiz 7, McGinn 6, Ramsey 6 (Rogers 5), Bailey 6, Tielemans 5, Watkins 8.

[KevinGage]

Some of the comments on the match thread are hysterical. We go from world beaters massaging our goal difference to Emery doesn’t know hat he’s doing, in 20 minutes. Embarrassing posts a lot of them.

Don't think the match thread has ever served as the place for reasoned, well thought out debate.

It's not that kind of party.

[Martyn Smith]

Some of the comments on the match thread are hysterical. We go from world beaters massaging our goal difference to Emery doesn’t know hat he’s doing, in 20 minutes. Embarrassing posts a lot of them.

The two goals didn't come out of nowhere. We could all see they had changed their formation and were getting attacks in and more freekicks and corners (which had been our weak points recently). We all see momentum was lost and something needed to be done about 60 minutes in at the latest. So why not criticise the manager when he does nothing and we let in two goals before the obvious changes our made?

I agree. I personally was saying in match thread the changes should have been done at 2-1 as we were losing the battle and luton were well on top.

I can only think that unai wanted to keep these players fresh for ajax as they will all be starting. I can see digne diabs and maybe timmy starting.

Id be suprised if zaniolo starts after he offers so little

For a big guy he is too easy bundled off the ball. I just don't think he's quite up to the required standard

[LeeB]

I'm pleased we won of course but my enjoyment of it is tempered by that second half performance. That was another big warning. The fact that Emery let it happen carry on without acting was also worrying. I can only assume we are low on options with all the injuries.

I'm quite the opposite, I'm glad in hindsight the game went the way it did because I really enjoyed that late winner and sticking it right up those throwback twats, the ref and the commentator.