Reflections on Conference League

[curiousorange]

Gutted to have lost, probably our one and only appearance in the competition too.

I did think this too. If we never play in this competition again it's because things have gone very right, or very wrong.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think I did my mourning last week,

Yeah, me too, that's why I am not distraught tonight. It was always almost certainly going to end up like this, the minute we missed that penalty.

[Pat McMahon]

It’s been great for us - some amazing away trips seeing the same faces in different locations, night time games at Villa Park, European experience for the squad and great opportunity for all of us to dream. The win at Lille was one of my best memories travelling with the Villa in years, and I’d probably never have gone to Mostar if it weren’t for us playing there.

That we’ve managed to stay around the top 4 in the same season has been an incredible achievement. Fingers crossed we hold on to 4th and then have more great European trips next season.

But tonight hurts.

[brontebilly]

I didn't see it as Konsa playing right back. To me it was a back three with Digne and Cash playing wide of a very depleted midfield which would have suited Moreno rather than Digne had he been fit.

Digne clearly is not suited to that position. Options were incredibly limited tonight but playing five defenders didn't seem the best bet of clawing back a two goal deficit.

[VillaTim]

I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .

[Monty]

I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .

The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.

What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.

[Footy-Vill]

Emery no excuses culture is far more forgiving and accepting than Gerrards was.

[SaddVillan]

There will, no doubt be some comments about us coming up short and comparing us to West  Ham's win last season.

Here are the current league positions of the teams we've played this season
Mostar - 5th
Legia Warsaw 6th
AZ Alkmaar- 4th
Ajax - 5th
Lille - 4th
Olympiacos - 4th

And these are the end of season positins of the teams West Ham played last season all  the way through to the final

Anderlecht 11th
Silkeborg Denmrk 7th
Red Star Bucharest 2nd
AEK Larnaka Cyprus 3rd
Ghent 5th
AZ Alkmaar 4th
Fiorentina 8th

Would it be fair to say that we've had a tougher set of fixtures than they did last season?

[Monty]

Emery no excuses culture is far more forgiving and accepting than Gerrards was.

This is actually a really good point. 'No excuses' doesn't mean 'so FUCK YOU for screwing up'; it just means you can always learn something, always try to improve. Gerrard was just looking to blame someone other than himself, which is a very different game.

[pauliewalnuts]

There will, no doubt be some comments about us coming up short and comparing us to West  Ham's win last season.

Here are the current league positions of the teams we've played this season
Mostar - 5th
Legia Warsaw 6th
AZ Alkmaar- 4th
Ajax - 5th
Lille - 4th
Olympiacos - 4th

And these are the end of season positins of the teams West Ham played last season all  the way through to the final

Anderlecht 11th
Silkeborg Denmrk 7th
Red Star Bucharest 2nd
AEK Larnaka Cyprus 3rd
Ghent 5th
AZ Alkmaar 4th
Fiorentina 8th

Would it be fair to say that we've had a tougher set of fixtures than they did last season?

Yes, definitely.

[VillaTim]

I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .

The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.

What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.

Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .

[Monty]

I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .

The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.

What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.

Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .

Sigh.

[pauliewalnuts]

Emery no excuses culture is far more forgiving and accepting than Gerrards was.

This is actually a really good point. 'No excuses' doesn't mean 'so FUCK YOU for screwing up'; it just means you can always learn something, always try to improve. Gerrard was just looking to blame someone other than himself, which is a very different game.

Gerrard was Haig. Emery is Montgomery.

[Villan82]

I see the injury card is being played . Don't . We had enough to beat these with the players we had , it's a poor excuse . We bottled it massively and it's a huge disappointment. Even tonight 9-0 on corners and we frittered away all of them . Was a pathetic no show .

The injuries mean they've played too much. Which means fatigue. Even De Zerbi said it on the weekend: 'this was not Villa'.

What will it take some people? I'm glad the squad have this no excuses culture but - and I hate to break this news but here we are - we are not in the squad. We are the fans. And no excuses for them doesn't mean we have to be unforgiving arseholes.

Nah , not buying it . They were shite played like headless chickens no composure poor defending etc . Well beaten fair and square no excuses .

Maybe football isn't for you if you can't grasp this basic point.

[Ads]

Bore off Coopers Injury, you Beckford loving troll.