Ajax v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[brontebilly]

Ref lost all control in the second half. Mad 5 or 10 minutes, three crazy decisions went against us. Zaniolo yellow for nothing, their guy not getting a second yellow for a forearm smash on Watkins and Konsa getting a second yellow for the forward pulling him down. At least their idiot right back got a second yellow nearly straight away to even it up. McGinn finishing at RCB was interesting and not in a good way. Ajax were spirited but very limited. Their LCB looks a fine player but that aside they had nothing.

For us, obviously the team selection showed where the priorities are and no surprise it was reflected in a performance that lacked intensity and ambition. Worse for us really, is bar Lenglet to a degree, none of the fringe players made any kind of impression. Rogers and Iroegbunam were lost and neither Diaby or Tielemans made any kind of impact. Konsa was awful at right back but much better in centre. Martinez played sweeper keeper role well too.

With the subs, Moreno looked like he was in the coffee shops earlier in the afternoon. Rest were fine.

Martinez 7, Konsa 5, Lenglet 6, Torres 6 (Cash 6), Digne 6 (Moreno 4), Luiz 6, Iroegbunam 4 (Zaniolo 6), Diaby 5 (Bailey 6), Rogers 4 (McGinn 6), Tielemans 5, Watkins 5.

[Stu82]

Worst ref since Celta Vigo.

Exactly what I thought, the Swiss lunatic.

[mrfuse]

Not sure why some think that going back to VP 0-0 is OK.

Because we put out a weakened team. A clean sheet and a draw in an away leg at this stage in Europe is a good result.

[Baldy]

Never had to get out of 2nd gear and kept a clean sheet.

Just what Unai ordered before Spuds and the second leg.

Boring but professional.

Onwards and upwards.

[Brazilian Villain]

God that was boring and I’m absolutely OK with it. Lets see it out next week.

Same here, you know it's a dull game when the accountancy notes discussion is the highlight of the match thread.

Now that away goals don't count, 0-0 is fine.

[Rigadon]

It was a classic European away performance really, only lacking a sneaky away goal.  It's difficult to compare to domestic games, so I won't try.  We will beat them at Villa Park I'm sure. 

Now, about that Torres substitution...  He IS ok isn't he?

[Stu]

Albanian referees can shit off.

Norman Wisdom would have done better.

Niche

[charlatan]

Thought the ref was OK except for the Zaniolo booking. At least he wasn't a bottler trying to find reasons not to send people off like most referees.

[andyh]

Decent result.
Shit performance.

[PaulWinch again]

Ref aside we have a strange approach in these away European ties. We’ve consistently looked stodgy and one paced, which is very different to how we are domestically. Still 0-0 away isn’t the worst, as long as Pau isn’t injured.

[JUAN PABLO]

SUE never moans about the refs . The presenter was trying but SUE ' everyone makes mistakes'

Class.

[Risso]

Who is this fucking moron interviewing Unai? He's absolutely dismal.

[Bad English]

Not sure why some think that going back to VP 0-0 is OK.

The stats show that most teams that draw 0-0 away end up progressing.

[Gareth]

Torres was planned not injured :-)

[Demitri_C]

Pau not injured what a relief