Reflections on Conference League

[Mellin]

Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough

We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.

God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily

The squad size is fine:

Martinez/Olsen

Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno

Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn

Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby

Watkins/Duran

The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.

[Percy McCarthy]

Injuries don't explain why Diaby is playing like a drain or why Emery keeps playing Konsa at right back.

This ‘oh no, Konsa at right back’ theme. He was right back in both wins over Arsenal and the home game v Man City. How many better performances have there been when he’s played Cash there?

[Steve kirk]

Which twat put this up on the BBC Website?

Am I the only one who thinks Emery has underachieved with this Villa squad? Not a bad season but should be winning this competition."

Yes you’re the only one.

[Demitri_C]

Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough

We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.

God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily

The squad size is fine:

Martinez/Olsen

Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno

Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn

Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby

Watkins/Duran

The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.

Thats the issue though merlin you got to expect injuries and when we have 2 or 3 we look thin. I think we need to add another 3 to the numbers we already have

[itbrvilla]

Incredibly frustrating, we dictated play until a ragged last half hour when we had clearly lost heart.

We continue to concede really poor goals, I don't know if Emery can fix that without taking away from our attacking threat.
It can be hard to watch us chase a game because we're committed to the gradual build-up and at times there is a need for mixing things up a bit more. I feel McGinn is the only one who brings impetus with his arse-beating press and through balls.

We need more players who are comfortable on the ball in the middle of the park and can speed things up on a more frequent basis. An in-form Ramsey, even Buendia's bursts of acceleration are sorely missed. Kamara's absence has been sorely felt by Luiz and the late-season emergence of Rogers has thankfully been the difference in us hanging onto 4th and in danger of being caught by Chelsea and Newcastle, let alone Spurs.

We dictated nothing. They had a 3 goal advantage. Why would they waste their energy pressing us as we kept trying to get them to do? They didn't need the ball. We did and did nothing with it for mall but a handful.of attempts over 180 minutes.

[Villa Lew]

Obviously bitterly disappointing tonight, but hopefully the players can somehow pick themselves up for Monday night and finish on a high note. The players and Unai can feel very proud of what they've achieved this season.

[Ads]

Disappointing. If we ever get to a European semi again then we won't play a side as shite as them. Might make beating somebody really decent in the Champions League extra sweet I suppose.

Lost in the first leg more than likely. Couldn't land a glove in the final third.

Can't help but be a bit thoughtful sat on coach 7 getting back ro Athens, stuck in traffic. What a brilliant run we've had. Some absolutely amazing away games, meeting some top Villa on the way. So it ends here, but I've had a blast. As I'm sure everyone who has followed us has. I desperately want a trophy and this manager will deliver it one way or the other at some point. But I want to have fun with this hobby and there is absolutely no doubt, I've enjoyed this European campaign  .ore than any other.

Here's to next year and Champions League football. May we draw shit teams at home and some crackers away!

[Dave]

Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough

We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.

God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily

The squad size is fine:

Martinez/Olsen

Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno

Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn

Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby

Watkins/Duran

The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.

Thats the issue though merlin you got to expect injuries and when we have 2 or 3 we look thin. I think we need to add another 3 to the numbers we already have

We haven't got two or three though, we're missing eight of those twenty two.

[curiousorange]

I don't think it's Konsa that's a problem in and of itself, it's that Torres probably isn't fit to be starting so many games, and Carlos blows hotter and colder than a fucked air conditioner, and Cash is so far below the Emery curve that he's only of interest to the Royal College of Statisticians.

[Stu]

We won’t win a trophy in my lifetime.

We’ve won five in mine and I can even remember two

[Mellin]

Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough

We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.

God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily

The squad size is fine:

Martinez/Olsen

Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno

Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn

Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby

Watkins/Duran

The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.

Thats the issue though merlin you got to expect injuries and when we have 2 or 3 we look thin. I think we need to add another 3 to the numbers we already have

We haven't got two or three though, we're missing eight of those twenty two.

Indeed. One thing I will say is it has turned out to be a mistake loaning the Donk out. He'd have done a job in there. Obviously that was pre-Kamara ACL, but would have been good to have him around at the moment.

[PeterWithe]

They played against us how we played for lots of Unais reign, they let us have the ball, kept their shape and discipline and watched us get frustrated and then rush things.

We looked well short of ideas in the final third and their keeper had little to do, despite us dominating possession, just looked again like we were running on fumes. First goal was disappointing as it came again against the run of play at the worst possible time, and was preventable. Second goal was a shocker, Sunday League stuff.

So disappointed that we won’t get so good a chance of silverware, they eased through without really looking that good. That we couldn’t raise ourselves to make a game of that is really worrying, even accounting for injuries we should have had too much but didnt really lay a glove on them.

[pauliewalnuts]

Let’s be honest, it’s basically just the Intertoto.

A sort of European Watney’s Cup.

[levico]

I thought he’d take us all the way. Very disappointing.  Will keep one foot on the floor next season.

[eamonn]

Squad size- i think tonight demonstrated our squad isnt big enough

We need to add host of players to the squad in summer with CL or europa football which is a much superior tournament than this.

God of all teams to go out to i cant believe it was olympiakos and we lost both games so easily

The squad size is fine:

Martinez/Olsen

Cash/Konsa
Lenglet/Carlos
Mings/Torres
Digne/Moreno

Kamara/Luiz
Tielemans/McGinn

Ramsey/Rodgers
Zaniolo/Buendia
Bailey/Diaby

Watkins/Duran

The problem is we've had a disproportionate number of injuries, hence we're fucked. You can argue for upgrades if you like, but for sheer numbers we have more than enough.

Thats the issue though merlin you got to expect injuries and when we have 2 or 3 we look thin. I think we need to add another 3 to the numbers we already have

We haven't got two or three though, we're missing eight of those twenty two.

Plus, you can only have a squad of what, 25, with a certain amount having to be home-grown.