Aston Villa v Everton Post-Match Thread

[Paul.S]

We missed Bailey, especially in the first half.
McGinn epitomises what a captain should be as he will play anywhere for the team. I thought he did really second half attacking their left back.
We’ll miss this man so much when he’s gone.

[maidstonevillain]

3-2 win having been two down.  Possibly my favourite score-line.

When  was the last time we did this in the Prem? I know we've been on the receiving end a few times (Lesta under Sherwood, Yanit3d and Arsenal at VP no doubt).

Our last one can't be the Santa game to take us top against Arsenal in December '98, can it ?

[remy]

Jealous.

Of everyone who was at the ground and watched one of the greatest goals ever scored at VP.

Me and Junior were at my Mums birthday tea and were periodically checking the score, raging at 2-0 down inbetween mouthfuls of food. Get in the car at 2-2 and Duran is on too. I thought surely he’ll hit our 3rd.


As it hit the net I was stunned rather than excited we’d just scored as the replays of all angles, wow just wow.


Fantastic win, some shaky moments, rode our luck (crossbar) and missed some gilt edged ourselves. A new home debutant, facilities improved (from what I was told by mates in attendance) and a good way to go into the CL on Tuesday. Shirt ready!


Onwards!!!

[eye digress]

Very strange game - Everton are not as bad as their form suggests, yet we completely dominated the ball and imposed ourselves. Until they crossed the half way line, and then we didn’t…

We looked weak in the centre of defence - really wish Pau could beef up a bit - and while Bogarde played reasonably well considering his age and experience, the right side wasn’t really functioning, I felt.

Good job then that both left backs were outstanding. Putting Maatsen on with his ability to get 10 yards further forward than Digne, is one of our secret weapons.

Getting caught in possession facing goal is an occupational hazard for receiving centre mids, but Onana was pretty lame in this case. Although he partially redeemed himself with the pass for the first goal, you sensed that Everton had got his number, which assuming he was not injured, explains why he was hooked. Thought he showed signs of callowness, but it’s easy to forget how young he is.

Happily we have strength in depth these days; Barkley was superb when he came on, moving the ball much faster I felt than against Leicester. In view of the debates this summer (are we stronger or weaker in midfield without Dougie), the “depth factor” showed it’s full worth last night.

Tielemans was my MoM, pulling the strings from beginning to end. He excelled in both the basics of knitting things together and in the creation/vision department.

Rogers was slightly frustrating with the last touch, although he did everything right (bar beat Pickford) on his big chance. He will come good but is not yet a natural “finisher”.

Thought that other than his goals, Ollie was slightly below par in his general play - harsh, I know! The goals will do him the world of good though, obviously.

As the ball left his foot, my mind’s eye had Duran’s shot ballooning into row Z, so it took a few seconds to actually register that he’d scored. He has a scary degree of potential. Well done, Jhon.

Others somewhat below par - McGinn, Emi Martinez, Philogene - but you can’t have everything.

UTV!

[Goldenballs]

We saw some of those fake £50 notes with Heck's face on, raised a chuckle but that's all. Not sure what people were supposed to do with them?

Didn't see or hear any sort of protest either.

Having seen the highlights back, Bogarde played DCL onside when I thought he was off then was only jogging back when someone else bombed past him, after you could see Konsa telling him he should've been in line. I can't recall him overlapping McGinn, maybe once, but I suspect that was under instruction. We definitely missed Bailey or Cash down that side, McGinn cut back in 99% of the time, I thought Young had a very comfortable afternoon when I'd hoped we could attack him. Other than that I think Bogarde was fine.

Initially thought it was a foul on Pau when DCL went through again but looks like he was just weak as piss. He was a bit bullied most of the afternoon, but classy with the ball as usual.

[Bad English]

Start of November I'm going to start a Champions League contender thread- Premier League edition. For discussion of qualifications to Champions league Top 4 position.
No more new threads till then but that will be next one. The win today sees us 3rd in the league and come November we coud even be top!!

Well we do already have a thread called 'Champions League' in which it is possible to discuss the Champions League, our performance in the Champions League, what we think of the Champions League, future qualification for the Champions League, and, in fact anything to do with the Champions League concerning Aston Villa.

What is different about the proposed new thread?

[Proposition Joe]

Luca Digne was immense today. Have really came round to this guy.

Yes, I was was watching him today and thinking that a very significant point in our current rise was him not going to Saudi last preseason.

[Bad English]

I am just about to watch the game on TV as I was otherwise occupied yesterday. No spoilers please!

[andyh]

I am just about to watch the game on TV as I was otherwise occupied yesterday. No spoilers please!

I wouldn’t bother. It was one of those nothing games.

[PeterWithe]

I thought we dominated the game and always thought we’d come back to win after the first, we were just so superior to them. First half we didn’t move the ball quickly enough and were too narrow but that improved after Barclay came on. I thought we were crying out for some pace wide and Maatsen bought that. Don’t think I really celebrated the winner, just an awestruck ‘wow’. An incredible strike we'll be talking about in 30 years.

Not a fan of the advertising hoardings, it was like being at Walsall Illuminations. On acid.

[Clampy]

Yeah, we definatley needed a winger yesterday. A mention for Lucas Digne. He's really looking very impressive and another assist yesterday.

[VillaTim]

Just got in from the game . OMFG . That was some game , great comeback , unbelievable stuff

[The Edge]

Yeah, we definatley needed a winger yesterday. A mention for Lucas Digne. He's really looking very impressive and another assist yesterday.

And a mention for that knobhead Danny Murphy who found yet another way to pronounce his name wrong. He called him Lucass Deenyay.

[Nii Lamptey]

Brilliant stuff. Even at 0-2 down, I was never in doubt we'd turn it around. Ollie off the mark, and will get better now.... Still a little fragile as he could easily have had 4 on another day.

Thought Tielemans was excellent yesterday, and is easily our most in form player, as was Barkley when he came on. Both left backs also look top quality, but we desperately need the equivalent on the right side.

Few 'negative' thoughts.... Thought Martinez could have maybe done better for both of their goals, seemed slow to get down for the first, and I think he could have been more commanding and come out and collected/punched that lofted cross for the second (*maybe I'm being a little harsh with this one).
Pau was bullied by Calvert-Lewin all afternoon, but I think this is something we have to live with...  What he adds to the team with his intelligence and passing ability, more than makes up for a little defensive frailty. Might be that once Mings is fit, they alternate when playing against bruisers like DCL and Haaland?

That right side - McGinn was like a lost sheep out there. Every time he got the ball is was like a dead end. We need options there when Bailey is out, because McGinn is not it.

Anyway, a great comeback, 3rd in the league, just days from our first European Cup game in over 40 years... and that thunder bastard of a goal will live long in the memory! UTV!

[kippaxvilla2]

Name a better struck shot than Duran’s goal. Don’t say Savo, Jhon’s is better.

I was thinking about this; the arc of the shot reminded me of the JPA goal against Chelsea in the league cup quarter final in 03/04. Also a fabulous strike.

Matt Lowton v Stoke.