Aston Villa - 2 Lille - 1 Post match chit chat

[Forge10]

Another not quite at it performance.
We look tired and no where near the levels of last year.

I did not think Lille were that good, high end championship level at best.

High end Championship team who could’ve easily scored three goals had Martinez not been on his game. They had more decent chances than we did….

[SamTheMouse]

Yeah but if he's man of the match, it probably means his teammates weren't doing a very good job.

I agree, but that can be said of some of the greatest keepers that played for the best sides, including Emi when his side won the WC.

Put it this way, had the opposition not created any chances would anyone have said "yeah, you won but you would've been fucked if Watkins didn't score!"

Yeah, I get where you're coming from. Keepers don't always get the credit they deserve.

I'd just prefer it if ours occasionally had a bit less to do!

[Gareth]

Another not quite at it performance.
We look tired and no where near the levels of last year.

I did not think Lille were that good, high end championship level at best.

High end Championship team who could’ve easily scored three goals had Martinez not been on his game. They had more decent chances than we did….

They are better than high end Championship, Brentford / Palace / Wolves standard…they came with a definite plan to try and exploit the high line with runners & succeeded a couple of times.

As Roy Keane would say ref Martinez it’s ‘his job’ - he made saves that we expect of a world class keeper.

Definite work to be done defensively (the midfield as well as the back four)…defend as we have last couple of games against a 48 hour more rested Arsenal and we will get smashed no doubt but we shall see come Sunday, hopefully pull one out of the hat

[Somniloquism]

Yeah but if he's man of the match, it probably means his teammates weren't doing a very good job.

I agree, but that can be said of some of the greatest keepers that played for the best sides, including Emi when his side won the WC.

Put it this way, had the opposition not created any chances would anyone have said "yeah, you won but you would've been fucked if Watkins didn't score!"

Everybody knows who was the keeper for Fergies trophy winning mob. The Kopites trophy winning mob. Everybody knows who Messi and Co needed to win the World Cup, as the flag shagging Lille fans kept reminding us. You will, even as the best, give up chances and the best sides have the best keepers.

We won yesterday, should have won by more. You wouldn't think it mind with the fear on here.

I know. For all of Sheringham and Scholes for "that night in Barcelona"(C)(TM), they wouldn't have made any difference if Schmeichel hadn't done his job for the previous 89 minutes. And he still let one in. Two of the other top five keepers in the world are Allison and Emerson. They have both earned points for their teams in the past. For example when we blitzed them in December, Emerson also faced 7 shots on target and saved 6 of them.

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

we won in 2nd gear basicly and I expect us to do the same over in France. Those saves were standard Martinez saves just his presence alone is enough to give an advancing striker the squirts. If a conf league striker goes through one on one you just think Emi do your thing. All these conf league teams are like Norwich city look nice play nice high fives in the tunnel without any real threat, even when it gets a bit nasty you think awww bless 'em. We can go there even with nothing in the tank and grind out a win. The problem is away to arsenal. Could be looking at another 4 goal tonking.

[ChicagoLion]

Another not quite at it performance.
We look tired and no where near the levels of last year.

I did not think Lille were that good, high end championship level at best.

High end Championship team who could’ve easily scored three goals had Martinez not been on his game. They had more decent chances than we did….

They are better than high end Championship, Brentford / Palace / Wolves standard…they came with a definite plan to try and exploit the high line with runners & succeeded a couple of times.

As Roy Keane would say ref Martinez it’s ‘his job’ - he made saves that we expect of a world class keeper.

Definite work to be done defensively (the midfield as well as the back four)…defend as we have last couple of games against a 48 hour more rested Arsenal and we will get smashed no doubt but we shall see come Sunday, hopefully pull one out of the hat

If they were in the PL they would be fight8ng it out with Forest Everton Luton.

[ez]

A win but another game where Ollie's comment about us not playing like a big club and not closing the game down could apply.

[Forge10]

I guess we’ll see next week as we will have played them twice. Admittedly we have had 4 extra games this season.

[Ads]

Another not quite at it performance.
We look tired and no where near the levels of last year.

I did not think Lille were that good, high end championship level at best.

High end Championship team who could’ve easily scored three goals had Martinez not been on his game. They had more decent chances than we did….

They are better than high end Championship, Brentford / Palace / Wolves standard…they came with a definite plan to try and exploit the high line with runners & succeeded a couple of times.

As Roy Keane would say ref Martinez it’s ‘his job’ - he made saves that we expect of a world class keeper.

Definite work to be done defensively (the midfield as well as the back four)…defend as we have last couple of games against a 48 hour more rested Arsenal and we will get smashed no doubt but we shall see come Sunday, hopefully pull one out of the hat

If they were in the PL they would be fight8ng it out with Forest Everton Luton.

Exactly. It doesn't mean they won't have chances, try hard or score goals. Wood should have put Forest 2-1 up on the weekend, but he didn't and they lost. Luton took Spurs deep the weekend before, but lost. Luton had a go at us 2nd half, but they lost.

[Gareth]

Another not quite at it performance.
We look tired and no where near the levels of last year.

I did not think Lille were that good, high end championship level at best.

High end Championship team who could’ve easily scored three goals had Martinez not been on his game. They had more decent chances than we did….

They are better than high end Championship, Brentford / Palace / Wolves standard…they came with a definite plan to try and exploit the high line with runners & succeeded a couple of times.

As Roy Keane would say ref Martinez it’s ‘his job’ - he made saves that we expect of a world class keeper.

Definite work to be done defensively (the midfield as well as the back four)…defend as we have last couple of games against a 48 hour more rested Arsenal and we will get smashed no doubt but we shall see come Sunday, hopefully pull one out of the hat

If they were in the PL they would be fight8ng it out with Forest Everton Luton.

I think they are better than those 3, particularly Jonathan David & the blonde number 7…certainly by miles the best opponent we’ve had in this competition

[pauliewalnuts]

Quite surprised at some of the opinions on Lille. High end Championship? Really?

They had 60% of the ball and 7 shots on target compared to our 4. It's not like they're a Dyche side rolling up to huff and puff a bit and get beaten, they looked tidy on the ball, and seemed to be much better at keeping it than we were.

They didn't take their chances, but it took the best goalkeeper in the world to stop them, on several occasions.

They were easily the best side we have played in this competition so far, and put up a much better showing than most PL sides have done at Villa Park.

[Nunkin1965]

Another not quite at it performance.
We look tired and no where near the levels of last year.

I did not think Lille were that good, high end championship level at best.

High end Championship team who could’ve easily scored three goals had Martinez not been on his game. They had more decent chances than we did….

They are better than high end Championship, Brentford / Palace / Wolves standard…they came with a definite plan to try and exploit the high line with runners & succeeded a couple of times.

As Roy Keane would say ref Martinez it’s ‘his job’ - he made saves that we expect of a world class keeper.

Definite work to be done defensively (the midfield as well as the back four)…defend as we have last couple of games against a 48 hour more rested Arsenal and we will get smashed no doubt but we shall see come Sunday, hopefully pull one out of the hat

If they were in the PL they would be fight8ng it out with Forest Everton Luton.

I think they are better than those 3, particularly Jonathan David & the blonde number 7…certainly by miles the best opponent we’ve had in this competition

I was quite impressed by them tbh.
But I think we'll get our chances next week and I fancy us to get through.

[Nunkin1965]

Quite surprised at some of the opinions on Lille. High end Championship? Really?

They had 60% of the ball and 7 shots on target compared to our 4. It's not like they're a Dyche side rolling up to huff and puff a bit and get beaten, they looked tidy on the ball, and seemed to be much better at keeping it than we were.

They didn't take their chances, but it took the best goalkeeper in the world to stop them, on several occasions.

They were easily the best side we have played in this competition so far, and put up a much better showing than most PL sides have done at Villa Park.

I'd agree and I don't think any Championship side could live with the passing and movement.
Lets face it, at the moment the top three sides in Division 2 are falling over themselves not to get promoted!

[steamer]

Agree, They were/are a very competent unit.
Next week will be tough. 

[Risso]

They've very strong at home, and have lost one game there all season. They're going to be backed by nearly 50,000 fans next week, anybody thinking they're a Championship standard side or that the away leg is going to be easy is in for a shock I reckon. I'm sure Unai isn't having daft thoughts like that.