Aston Villa vs Brentford Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

It was more to show how few points we drop compared to everyone else. I want Liverpool to win, and if they do we'll be second in that particular league.

[AV84]

For me it's more the manner in which we drop points, from any position, that rankles.

An evenly matched 3-2 loss isn't as bad as when we just seem to switch off entirely and concede a bunch of terrible goals. Yesterday's was particularly bad, 3 in 9 minutes.

[oldhill_avfc]

I’m not A Carlos fan either. And I know I am in a tiny minority, but haven’t been that convinced by Torres either.
I don’t think he’s a particularly good defender, is poor in the air and has no pace.
It’s widely reported how wonderful his distribution is, but I’m convinced he gives the ball away as many times as he is successful.
It’s almost like we have to believe he is the second coming of McGrath, just because everyone wants him to be.

Our best CH pairing, when fit, is Mings and Konsa.
By a country mile.

Absolutely spot on.

Just shows how well we’ve done this season.

But to progress then I don’t see how Carlos and Torres add anything.

I assume they’re on big wages and with FFP in mind then something might have to give.

[PaulWinch again]

See I think Pau is a good defender, he showed it in our good run. But for whatever reason he’s struggling since his injury.

[Ads]

He has a pass success rate of 87% in the league and 91% in Europe. He does not give the ball away as much as he is successful. He's a fantastic player and part of the reason we're doing so well. It's mind blowing that there's an alternative opinion to that.

[eamonn]

He can be got at physically and is a little slow on the ball. So his Hollywood passes need to be maintained.

[RamboandBruno]

In the near 12 months since the bonkers home game against Arsenal our record in league games we've led in is

W28 D3 L1.

It doesn't strike me as a massive issue.

Right but the issue isn’t primarily surrendering leads. It’s more that when teams put pressure on us we fold really easily. On a few occasions that’s resulted in surrendering a lead, where sometimes we’ve managed to recover, but it’s also resulted it some very comfortable wins for the opposition. It’s that weakness under stress that’s the problem.

Paul, the only comfortable wins for the opposition in the entirety of Emerys 18 months, are both Man City away games, with this weeks impacted by the fact we had more than half the first team out, Newcastle away and Spurs at home.  Even the Newcastle home game, Watkins was a very marginal offside from making it 2-3 and without knowing for definite, it felt like we would come back then.

We are conceding some soft goals, we miss Mings and we miss a settled defence because of all the injuries, but I think that is very different to folding. The States PWS shared, show we just don’t fold.

[Ads]

Torres has lost 0.1 headers per game more than Mings did last season. 0.7 v 0.8 for Torres. Torres doesn't win as many, but that would suggest we've faced less aerial threats or he's attacked fewer. Either way, with lose less than 1 header a game.

I'm absolutely mind blown that people watch games and don't rate Torres. Bizarre doesn't cut it.

[Skerra]

As fans we should listen to what players and manager say. Ollie, we need to get a big boys winning mentality. Unai, I got the tactics wrong.
As for me, I don’t think we’ve played particularly well since the new year. 5th still seems quite realistic but, to be honest, I’m back to thinking, where is our next league win going to come from?
As regards the next 3 fixtures, I suspect Emery will play an under strength side again v Arsenal for what good that will ultimately do us. Will go as near full strength as possible for the Lille matches.

[taylorsworkrate]

Torres has lost 0.1 headers per game more than Mings did last season. 0.7 v 0.8 for Torres. Torres doesn't win as many, but that would suggest we've faced less aerial threats or he's attacked fewer. Either way, with lose less than 1 header a game.

I'm absolutely mind blown that people watch games and don't rate Torres. Bizarre doesn't cut it.

The second goal yesterday, for some bizarre reason Torres allowed it to drop without attempting to head it.

I think Torres is a very good player, but on the defensive side of his role isn't close to Mings or Konsa

[RamboandBruno]

Torres has lost 0.1 headers per game more than Mings did last season. 0.7 v 0.8 for Torres. Torres doesn't win as many, but that would suggest we've faced less aerial threats or he's attacked fewer. Either way, with lose less than 1 header a game.

I'm absolutely mind blown that people watch games and don't rate Torres. Bizarre doesn't cut it.

I think Torres is one of the best defenders Ive seen play for Villa, if not anyone. I would of loved to see how him and Mings would of played together.

[Brend'Watkins]

Tores is great Carlos isn’t. I’d much prefer Lenglet there instead and he’s no great shakes either.

[Ads]

Barely anything in it stats wise for tackles or interceptions; they have the same stats, they're just the opposite. Torres makes more tackles per game, Mings makes more interceptions. Torres is a CL level player who allows us to progress the ball so well and is a strong part of why we have 60+ goals. I like Mings and would have him over Carlos, who would be the sacrifice for me (assuming Mings is OK next season).

If we could sign a few more players of Torres level, we'll progress again, which means a title challenge.

[PeterWithesShin]

We've gained something like 17 points this season after the 70th minute. While it does include Luton and yesterday, it shows we actually seem to have a good mentality. Especially as 70+ mins has seen us, I think, drop only 3 points, both annonyingly were Man U. Rarely dropping points when you lead, and winning late points, strikes me as a good thing to do.

[RamboandBruno]

As fans we should listen to what players and manager say. Ollie, we need to get a big boys winning mentality. Unai, I got the tactics wrong.
As for me, I don’t think we’ve played particularly well since the new year. 5th still seems quite realistic but, to be honest, I’m back to thinking, where is our next league win going to come from?
As regards the next 3 fixtures, I suspect Emery will play an under strength side again v Arsenal for what good that will ultimately do us. Will go as near full strength as possible for the Lille matches.

We beat Wolves comfortably 8 days ago, why would you be wondering where are next league win will come from. Arsenal will of course be tough, but do you really not see us have a chance against Bournemouth and Chelsea at home.
And 5th place ‘seems quite realistic’. We are 11 points ahead of man utd who are 6th. 5th at the very minimum is nailed on.