Reflections on Conference League

[WRVilla]

Having had time to take it all in now I think we can be really proud of the team, but at the same time it’s hard to take when you bow out with a whimper like we did. We’ve had so much bad luck and nothing has gone our way.

I’m not going to dwell on it though as we’ve got two games left with our Champions League place in our own hands. We just need one more big performance to get it over the line and despite everything I think we’ll get it.

[VillaTim]

Thought Cash and Bailey played ok last night and left it all out there . There was a lack of composure generally about our play .

[Axl Rose]

I thought we were rubbish last night, but did so well to get to this stage.

Up the fucking Villa.

[john e]

I’m not keen on a back 3/5 whatever you want to call it, it don’t work
After 10 minutes they scored in front of an open goal, I know the reasons for it gives license to the full backs to get forward, It also means that no one knows where to be in their positions and they get caught out

I would rather drop Carlos and go with Duran upfront and be a bit more direct try and cause danger in their penalty box and shoot at every opportunity, we had a lot of the ball last night but not very many chances especially in the first half

We’ve done well this year, but it’s fizzling out badly at the moment due to tiredness and injuries obviously but we also don’t help ourselves sometimes

[Demitri_C]

Never want to see cash in midfield again. Honestly he is so bad there. He tries hard so i cant be too critical on him but man he just is not good there.

Good luck to ny greek brothers olympiakos. I will be cheering for you in the final!

[Monty]

Doesn't work apart from all the teams who've won championships, Champions Leagues, World Cups etc?

It can work. It's also not what we were playing. Konsa was at right back, Cash further forward. The trouble with the first goal - the trouble with our entire game in recent weeks - is that our midfield is basically non-existent.

[RamboandBruno]

I thought we had little chance pre match given being 2-4 down, but then first 10 mins we started well and I got drawn into believing we could do something. Their goal was soft from our point of view and a sucker punch. Second half they just managed the game well and we ran out of legs and ideas.
Feel flat today but felt much worse last Friday, with the realisation that we’d royally f***ed the semi final up.

Its a weird feeling now as the season draws to an end. This time last year we had all the momentum and charged towards 7th and it kind of felt euphoric. This season, if Spurs beat Burnley, it kind of feels like we’re clinging onto 4th by our finger tips and hoping man city do us a favour. It feels kind of sickly, strange really but reminds me football is a lot about momentum and timing. I’ll be glad now when this season is over, hope is a lot more stressful than mediocrity.

Whatever happens now in the next two weeks its been a remarkably good season, in particular with the huge challenges the team has faced. One more push.

[Stu]

You either hate Villa for not winning a trophy or love them because they have before and might again.

I’ve come to terms with the idea that we won’t win anything again during my lifetime. As a mate put it: I’ve reached the Paulie Gualtieri stage of Villa winning nothing:

Chrissy: “you ever feel like nothing good is gonna happen to you?”

Paulie: “Yeah, and nothing did. So what?”

[DB]

I've gone back to...ahh, it's only the conf league, Europe's 3 competition.

[john e]

Doesn't work apart from all the teams who've won championships, Champions Leagues, World Cups etc?

It can work. It's also not what we were playing. Konsa was at right back, Cash further forward. The trouble with the first goal - the trouble with our entire game in recent weeks - is that our midfield is basically non-existent.

Yeah, I think we’ve gone down this Wilton Path before so there’s no point going over again

I suppose all systems and formations can work as long as you’ve got the right players playing in them

[PeterWithe]

Something I now remember pissing me off during the game that I mentioned to my brother, the amount of times we were all set to break and the pass went to the players feet rather than into a stride in front of him so we could continue to build momentum. As Cruyff used to say, 'dont pass to where he is, pass to where he's going to be'

[Demitri_C]

I thought we were rubbish last night, but did so well to get to this stage.

Up the fucking Villa.

Yep thats where im at. Disappointed but happy we at least got to semis and didnt embarrass ourselves in the tournament

CL gonna be a lot tougher so hoping the experience will help alot of them next year if we get there

[London Villan]

When Cash did pass forward we created stuff, but so many times he stopped the attacked and passed back.

At a minimum this squad needs a first choice right back, first choice defensive midfielder and a back-up keeper…

We do have a first choice defensive midfielder but he's  injured. Agree about the other two though.

But he is out until January. Add in suspensions and injuries, then we need two. It’s a vital role in our team and without him we don’t control games and it blunts SJM and Luiz.

[Monty]

Doesn't work apart from all the teams who've won championships, Champions Leagues, World Cups etc?

It can work. It's also not what we were playing. Konsa was at right back, Cash further forward. The trouble with the first goal - the trouble with our entire game in recent weeks - is that our midfield is basically non-existent.

Yeah, I think we’ve gone down this Wilton Path before so there’s no point going over again

I suppose all systems and formations can work as long as you’ve got the right players playing in them

All about the balance I think. Strikes me that this Villa team is very finely tuned - meaning if something goes wrong anywhere in the structure the whole thing starts to creak and wobble.

[tomd2103]

I've gone back to...ahh, it's only the conf league, Europe's 3 competition.

Nah, I still think it was a great chance to win some silverware, but it just wasn't to be for a number of reasons.  Can't linger on it now though, we've still got something big to play for.