Aston Villa v Ajax - Match Thread

[ChicagoLion]

We look tired and now Watkins injured.
FFS.

[LeonW]

I think we are playing well and controlling the game - aside the last minute scramble, they haven’t tested Emi at all where we have had 3 or 4 opportunities.

Given our injury list, the makeshift side on display, and Sundays debacle, I’m pleased with that 45 mins.

Calm heads now needed - keep controlling the game, they will have to open up, and then we pick them off.

Agree with all of this.

[Villafirst]

Ollie didn't look too bad when he walked off. Most likely an impact injury more than any twist to his knee. Probably a doubt for Sunday at  West Ham. The international break is well timed for once....!

[pablo_picasso]

Very bitty first half. Broken up by lots of fouls, cards, playing injured, time wasting by Ajax, another shit ref & a few injuries.

Watkins goal was nice. He has a lovely timed jump & 'hang time'. Gutted he is injured. Hopefully just a knock & a precaution.

Diaby has looked better. Looks like he has had a bit more space to use his pace with Bailey taking away a defender or two.

Pau Torres is an absolute Rolls Royce of a defender. So comfortable on the ball.

Rogers has shown some nice attacking moments. A few sloppy tackles though, so he has to be careful.

Blimey, these commentators couldn't be more unenthusiastic about us.

Lucy Ward hasn't been too bad, but that Ian Darke twat has mentioned the Tottenham game more than he has spoken about this one. I thought him making jokes about the injuries was in poor taste too. Especially as Lucy Ward has mentioned more than once how many we actually have & the effect it has had on our season.

[Demitri_C]

Olympiakos who looked dead and buried first leg after losing 4-1 are 3-0 up.

Fenebache,  vitoria plazen PAOK and fiorentina all through

[ChicagoLion]

Honestly we look nowhere near the levels of the first half of the season

Not sure if fatigues playing a part but we gonna have to be bettee than thia against the better sides. Very slow with the ball too slow

Yes it’s very concerning.

[PaulWinch again]

Famous last words but I think Ollie’s injury is a painful impact injury but not serious.

[Le Lapin]

Watkins is an idiot. Shit game, shit atmosphere, but we are ahead until the 50th minute anyway. Meh!

Fair play to you, it would be so easy to be negative about this in fairness.

[Brazilian Villain]

We look good without being amazing.

Bar that last minute thing, Ajax have created absolutely nothing.

We could do with getting the ball into dangerous situations a bit quicker than we are (and have done of late in general) but we are much the better side.

Of course, we know that we are now about to go into the shoot-self-in-face-at-least-once 45-55 minute period so anything could happen.

Sums it nicely.

A second goal for us early in the half would be most welcome.

[taylorsworkrate]

Famous last words but I think Ollie’s injury is a painful impact injury but not serious.

Just out till mid september then. Not too bad....

[SoccerHQ]

Rogers done o.k. You can tell he's terrified of making any sort of challenge with the Yellow. That Ajax player made a massive meal of that challenge but the first leg ref would've probably sent him off.

If Ramsey or Zaniolo were available we'd probably sub him at half time as don't really want another match where we go down to 10 men and had to cover more ground than necessary.

[Edvard Remberg]

Famous last words but I think Ollie’s injury is a painful impact injury but not serious.

Just out till mid september then. Not too bad....

We are jinxed... going back to Luc Nilis

[Brazilian Villain]

Famous last words but I think Ollie’s injury is a painful impact injury but not serious.

Just out till mid september then. Not too bad....

We are jinxed... going back to Luc Nilis Keith Leonard.

Oh much longer than that.

[Brazilian Villain]

Tielemans on for Rogers. Sensible move.

[Villa Lew]

Rogers off, makes sense.