Reflections on Conference League

[Monty]

I didn't find it funny. That's not champions league level. It's lower league

Yes.  The first thought that came into my head was we need better than that, much better if we have any delusions of competing against superior opposition.

"And if I laugh at any mortal thing,
     'T is that I may not weep; and if I weep,
'T is that our nature cannot always bring
     Itself to apathy..."

Ed: written by a guy who also fell in Greece.

[Chris Smith]

I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.

You just need to look at the Goals A column to see there are some issues .

So the goals against issue is down to him alone even when he’s not playing?

Our biggest issues are in midfield where multiple injuries have meant we are constantly having to make do and mend. The patched up formation means that we do not have the controlled possession of the first part of the season m resulting in us losing the ball in dangerous areas before we can regain our shape and then do not have the reassurance of Kamara providing that extra line of protection.

[ChicagoLion]

I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.

The first goal is a case in point,
The eventual scorer is behind Pau, frantically waving his arms, to say I am here free give me the ball, Pau is ball watching and moves to close the space, at no point does he even check to see what is behind him, the ball gets played across, the space doesn't score but the bloke who Pau has been oblivious to does. Game over.
School boy stuff.

[olaftab]

Interesting that in the quarter final and semi final, both Lille and Olympiacos had no competitive fixtures on the weekend before both games. I think that helped massively, and when you take into the fatigue that the players undoubtedly were feeling and the limited squad options that we had it is hardly surprising that we struggled so much over all four legs. Food for thought for the Premier League? Nah, don't think so!

Agreed that it’s a disadvantage when opposition are a little fresher but don’t agree that teams competing in Europe should be “facilitated”.  That impinges on the integrity of domestic league. And it’s not just PL, Bundesliga, Italian and Spanish Leagues teams also played on both weekends.

[olaftab]

I'm with Tim on that one, Torres is brilliant with the ball at his feet, and in a confident team with the likes of Kamara fit, he looks world class. The actual defending part of his game is much less strong and when we're up against it, he usually looks ropey as anything.

You just need to look at the Goals A column to see there are some issues .

OK whilst  you’re doing that don’t forget to look at goals for column and Pau contribution to that.

[Ads]

Coopers Injury for you.

[London Villan]

It’s why i think Torres and Mings would work well or maybe Torres in the 6 role - but not sure he is mobile enough for that.

[RamboandBruno]

Defence is a real issue . The goals A column tells its own story, Carlos / Lenglet need moving on . Konsa isn't a RB . Torres is good on the ball but a weak CB.
Next season we can hopefully go back to Konsa / Mings in the middle .

Pau is world class.

We have had an injury crisis.

We are 7 points clear in 4th.

He really isn't at defending .

It depends what you class as defending. Stopping goals going in, emanates across the whole pitch. Pau is champions league quality, you are wrong in your assessment

[Stu]

Coopers Injury for you.

That’s who it is! I was worried Dave Cooper had gone mental.

[Paul.S]

Defence is a real issue . The goals A column tells its own story, Carlos / Lenglet need moving on . Konsa isn't a RB . Torres is good on the ball but a weak CB.
Next season we can hopefully go back to Konsa / Mings in the middle .

Pau is world class.

We have had an injury crisis.

We are 7 points clear in 4th.

He really isn't at defending .

He definitely is.

Defending isn’t just for the defenders. A lot of goals we’ve been conceding lately stem from the midfield allowing easy balls through or runners. Torres is a top central defender who can play a bit as well. He’s fundamental to the way we play.

At this rate we’ll need a whole new squad because I’ve read Diaby isn’t good enough, we should sell Luiz to Arsenal, Konsa isn’t fast enough, Cash needs to go and now this.

He’s also playing with an injury.

[PeterWithesShin]

I wonder how many times this season Emery has been able to name what he considers our strongest starting 11.

[Matt C]

I wonder how times this season Emery has been able to name what he considers our strongest starting 11.

Pre-season!

[TonyD]

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.

I’m pretty much thinking the same as you PW, though I actually think they do look good, round pegs in round holes with a clear game plan. Not stellar, but certainly effective, and they were the better team over 180 minutes.

A lot of Villa fans thought we would win the tournament easy. But teams like Lille and Olympiacos have played much more European football than we have over the past 15 years.

We basically spent ten years in the wilderness. I had a sinking feeling when the quarter-final/semi-final draw was made and we drew two tough teams with the first leg of both away.

We will have learned a lot. But as a club we have to stick together and focus on the future.

Emery has shit loads of experience.
I get the fatigue issues.
But expected more tactically from Emery. 
For me he didn’t do enough to try and shake it up. 
Playing Cash in front of Konza was clearly not working. 
Diaby should have been hooked after 15 mins.  Anyone on the bench would have been better. 
So he needs to get creative to get something out of the last 2 games.
You watch we will go and batter Liverpool. 

[pablo_picasso]

It's all good experience, but I cant shake the feeling that to get so close & not win it makes the whole thing a bit pointless & distracting, considering how knackered & injury hit the squad is now.

I suppose if we qualify for Champions League, then I will probably drop that feeling because I do know that it's irrational & wrong, but I cant shake it atm.

If we don't qualify for Champs League, then I wont be able to shake the feeling that the Conference League participation will have contributed to wearing us out at the last hurdle.

And that disappointing feeling will become even stronger.

Apologies if thats a bit negative, but I think the whole semi final blow out is still a bit raw...

[edgysatsuma89]

This Conference League experience will be invaluable come next year when we are in a better competition. It's definitely not a wasted effort.