Ajax v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[brontebilly]

The ref was trying to match Michael Oliver for ineptitude.

Indeed.  I thought Konsa was fouled for both his bookings.

Don't have much sympathy for him for the first one. Jumping on the ball with both hands is a high risk strategy. Poor play to get caught on the ball like that in the first place. The second was a terrible decision. That's the trick a pub league striker might come up with to grab a flailing arm and pull it into you and fall over. Refs at this level shouldn't be getting conned like that.

[olaftab]

Any news on Pau substitution?

[simon ward 50]

Any news on Pau substitution?

Planned apparently!

[tomd2103]

The ref was trying to match Michael Oliver for ineptitude.

Indeed.  I thought Konsa was fouled for both his bookings.

Don't have much sympathy for him for the first one. Jumping on the ball with both hands is a high risk strategy. Poor play to get caught on the ball like that in the first place. The second was a terrible decision. That's the trick a pub league striker might come up with to grab a flailing arm and pull it into you and fall over. Refs at this level shouldn't be getting conned like that.

He clearly wasn't at that level.  Plucked from the backwater of the Albanian league and was way out of his depth.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think we’ve played crap in all our Euro games except for the Alkmaar thrashing.

True and difficult to understand other than not wanting the players to spend too much energy. If we are to go on and win the competition we'll need to raise our game at some point but right now it's a plan that appears to be working.

Sunday is massive and a win will make last night all but forgotten. Shocking ref again which goes to show Albanian refs are just as poor as those in the PL.

[Villa Lew]

The Ajax players doing a lap of honour was a bit much. They raised their game, and was probably the best they've played all season. They're not the same club that's won the European Cup 4 times.

I think that says more about how we are now thought about in Europe, getting a draw against us, was probably the most their players expected.

[Drummond]

Job done.

Iroegbunam and Rogers getting starts in big games with big atmospheres is a positive. Both did fine in the overall context of the game.

Always accept a draw away from home. Players didn't need to exert themselves, so fit for Sunday and next Thursday.

Red card disappointing and a bit soft but Konsa is wily enough to know what he was doing there.

[Risso]

Agree with Drummond, I can't really see too many negatives, other than the fairly rotten standard of football on the night, but you get those now and again. We came through unscathed in terms of injuries, and got some minutes into Ireoegbunam and Rogers, plus Torres got some game time without hopefully exacerbating any remaining issues. I'd fully expect us to beat Ajax back at Villa Park.

[TonyD]

Does Konsa miss PL games for the red card?

[Lastfootstamper]

No

[usav]

Does Konsa miss PL games for the red card?

No and it was a second yellow not a straight red.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Our Ajax taxi driver, and a  technician at the airport were delighted with a draw! And admitted it was a massive night for them playing Aston Villa!

[Somniloquism]

Does Konsa miss PL games for the red card?

No and it was a second yellow not a straight red.

Wouldn't have mattered what way he got the red card, it wouldn't have an affect on League games. (or other domestic cup games we would have been in if we treated those seriously).

[Drummond]

Our Ajax taxi driver, and a  technician at the airport were delighted with a draw! And admitted it was a massive night for them playing Aston Villa!

You know, this is part of what's wrong with modern football. A side like Ajax being over the moon to get a 0-0 draw, at home, against an Aston Villa side that have qualified for European football for the first time in 15 years after finishing 7th in the league.

[eamonn]

I thought you were going to say that's what's wrong with modern Dutch society - a man having to hold down two jobs just to earn an Amsterdam living.