Aston Villa vs Spurs post match embarrassment

[itmustbe_it is!]

I did say that if we went high press, we would win the match. However, if we went for our slow, slow and even slower style, we would get beaten. Unfortunately, it was Spurs that went for the high press.
I just can’t accept this thing about us being tired because we played on Thursday. We hardly broke a sweat v Ajax and, continued in the same vein today. Also, if we think we can’t handle playing in the conference league, how the hell are we going to cope if we go into the champions league. Teams will be much stronger than the conf league ones and, we really can’t afford to rotate players so much in the ECL.

It's not the 90s mins played in Europe so much as the time to travel there and back. Sitting on a bus, sitting on a plane, hanging around having to prepare for that game etc rather than being at home doing the usual prep for a big league game.

Lots of teams struggle with it and it is new to us this year

Its a massive cop out

In 1982 we finished 11th, while doing what we all know we did.

[Risso]

I did say that if we went high press, we would win the match. However, if we went for our slow, slow and even slower style, we would get beaten. Unfortunately, it was Spurs that went for the high press.
I just can’t accept this thing about us being tired because we played on Thursday. We hardly broke a sweat v Ajax and, continued in the same vein today. Also, if we think we can’t handle playing in the conference league, how the hell are we going to cope if we go into the champions league. Teams will be much stronger than the conf league ones and, we really can’t afford to rotate players so much in the ECL.

It's not the 90s mins played in Europe so much as the time to travel there and back. Sitting on a bus, sitting on a plane, hanging around having to prepare for that game etc rather than being at home doing the usual prep for a big league game.

Lots of teams struggle with it and it is new to us this year

It’s an hour on a private jet, they’re not flying Easyjet. It’s probably a more tiring journey getting to Manchester on the M6.

[Skerra]

That’s just my point. If we can’t cope with midweek going on planes, sitting on buses etc., what is the point of even trying to qualify for a much tougher competition like the ECL?? Those matches will still be played in midweek. With the way it’s shaping up regarding FFP or whatever it’s called now, I can’t see us strengthening the squad much in the summer.
Only positive I can come up with is that Fulham will probably get something out of Spurs next week but, on the minus side, after today, West Ham could do with a good performance and result next week….take a bow Aston Villa!

[Olof's Beard]

Bailey played like he's back on the laughing balloons.

Of all the players who shouldn’t get stick it’s him. One bad day from him, in what has been a sensational season for him. Give it a rest.

Bailey and Watkins both looked knackered, which was part of the problem.

[Nunkin1965]

Well that was hugely disappointing.
I didn't get to have a pre match pint today for the first time in god knows how many years so it's on me guys!
I'll be back in the pub before the Ajax kick off so we'll be back to winning ways by Thursday.

[astonvilla82]

One of the problems I have is when we have the ball in our area, opposition teams intend to press us aggressively, but when they have it in the same area we don't.

[Exeter 77]

We were poor today but to bearing in mind 5 years ago today we were playing Small Heath in what at the time looked like a mid-table derby we have come a long way in a relatively short time. I would rather be pkaying for a place in the Champions League and having this, admittedly significant, blip.

[john e]

I love Unai but I think he bottled it today
5 at the back sends out the message that we’re shitting ourselves, We think you’re better than us so we’ll take a player out of midfield and stick him in the back row

3 defensive centre halves play better as a 2 than as a 3 it’s a simple as that, because it’s what they used to
Konsa didn’t have a great game, and considering we shored up the back line where the fuck were they for the first goal
We gave them the second, then completely made sure we weren’t getting anything out of the game with the sending off

We should not be going defensive at home to a Spurs side who aren’t that great
I’m sorry but they’re not that great. They’re not Liverpool or Man City they’re Spurs 5 points behind us with an inferior goal difference before today. Why were we scared of them

This was a big game a big chance, and we blew it

[JUAN PABLO]

According to Percy in the DT, 35% of our goals conceded have come in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

we seem to concede straight after half time too.   

[brontebilly]

Emery set us up to counter attack, the problem was that Watkins was back to his first touch of a terrier chasing a balloon  and Bailey was staggeringly shit.

Agreed, the front two had a terrible first half. Luiz in particular put a load of good passes over the top but Watkins messed up most of them. He looked tired today. Bailey can't have that excuse, thought he hid a bit if I'm honest. Change of position today but he lost and got knocked off the ball far too easily.
Konsa was awful for the first two goals. Spurs werent at much up to then.

[Nev]

None of our lot had a pint today, and many others will have followed suit, probably contributed to the poor atmosphere. That and being fucking soaked.

[andyh]

Emery set us up to counter attack, the problem was that Watkins was back to his first touch of a terrier chasing a balloon  and Bailey was staggeringly shit.

Watkins was excellent, first half.
He worked  his bollocks off. Both he and (half arsed) Bailey were completely isolated in the first half because 5 at the back meant 3 in midfield and they barely got advanced enough to support the front two.

5 at the back was absolutely ridiculous, whichever way you cut it.

[KevinGage]

The five at the back on its own wasn't the issue.

The idea may have been to have Konsa and Lenglet as the more defensive CBs with Torres dictating play from deep, pulling their big unit midfielders out of position when the counter was on.

Individual errors and our usual half soaked start to the second half did for us today.

[London Villan]

That said, with a bit more composure up front we could gave scored in the first half.
The players and the fans both need to start acting and believing we are a top 4 team.

[ChicagoLion]

Emery set us up to counter attack, the problem was that Watkins was back to his first touch of a terrier chasing a balloon  and Bailey was staggeringly shit.

Watkins was excellent, first half.

If excellent is mis controlling the ball, then yeah.