Bruges v Aston Villa PMT.

[Villafirst]

For once, the upcoming international break might be a good thing. Perhaps a chance to reset?

[Villatillidie25]

That was truly awful, only matched by the performance of the referee who on top of the bizarre penalty decision made countless poor calls.
Maatsen seems to be getting the better ratings but I thought he was truly abject and I actually thought Bailey was a little better than he has been, certainly didn’t give it away as much. Kamara was just about the best player but tired badly. Everyone's was shocking, particularly Watkins, Maatsen and Rogers

It was a stonewall oenalty. Mings picked up the ball when clearly in play

It really wasn’t. I get why it was given obviously but how else was Martinez meant to give Mings the ball to take the goal kick, head it to him? You see players pass the ball to their team mate to take a free kick and that player then pick it up up place it where they want the free kick to be taken numerous times per match. This is no different.

[andyh]

Something seems off

Without going all FV I wonder of some of the staff (and maybe Emery himself) have been affected by what's happened in Valencia.

Quite a few have strong ties there.

Something seems off

Without going all FV I wonder of some of the staff (and maybe Emery himself) have been affected by what's happened in Valencia.

Quite a few have strong ties there.

I think there might be some straw clutching there KG.

[RamboandBruno]

If I park all the arguments over decisions to one side.

The biggest thing I don’t understand tonight is why we didn’t just have a go.

Even if that exposed us at the back surely we had more quality and would have out scored them?

Why were Konsa and Mings telling the others to slow it down?

It doesn’t seem logical approach to a match in which we had the more highly paid side.

Maybe we missed Onana’s drive?

[VillaTim]

For once, the upcoming international break might be a good thing. Perhaps a chance to reset?

we said that 3 weeks ago at the last international break

[Skerra]

If you want some really strange player rating numbers, have a look at John Townley’s. 6’s and 7’s all over the place. Not sure if he paid by Villa to big up the players as he’s done this for other matches too!

[Bobby Boy]

Something seems off

Without going all FV I wonder of some of the staff (and maybe Emery himself) have been affected by what's happened in Valencia.

Quite a few have strong ties there.

No, he's too single-minded and professional for that as awful as it has been.

To have so many players perceived to be out of form at one time is curious. I wonder whether there might be some unease at how they are being asked to play?

The nature of our uber-conservative, restrained style of play of late maybe doesn't fit with some of our player's instincts?

Who knows? Whatever it is we have been poor for some time now.

[VillaTim]

If you want some really strange player rating numbers, have a look at John Townley’s. 6’s and 7’s all over the place. Not sure if he paid by Villa to big up the players as he’s done this for other matches too!

he'll have been on the Trappist beers all afternoon so i'd take his ratings with a pinch of Belgian sea salt

[Richard]

We've become too slow, methodical and predictable in our play. Looking at other teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs  Forest, Bournemouth, Fulham they have really dynamic forward play - where the hell has ours disappeared to!!!?

[Demitri_C]

Brugges havent beaten a english team since the 90s. That tells you all you need ti know

[Villatillidie25]

That was truly awful, only matched by the performance of the referee who on top of the bizarre penalty decision made countless poor calls.
Maatsen seems to be getting the better ratings but I thought he was truly abject and I actually thought Bailey was a little better than he has been, certainly didn’t give it away as much. Kamara was just about the best player but tired badly. Everyone's was shocking, particularly Watkins, Maatsen and Rogers

What bizarre decision was that exactly? Clear handball and just lucky not to be sent off.
As regards Bailey, most players would be able to play a 5 yard backwards pass.

It really wasn’t, it was a poor pass/lay off from Martinez to give to Mings to restart the goal kick that meant Mings had to reach for it. Yes, you could argue he was silly reaching for it with his hands as it gave the ref the opportunity to make a blunder. You see players pass/give the ball to their team mates before free kicks and then the taker pick it up and replace the ball numerous times per match - this is no different so, in my opinion, was never a penalty. As for sending off, what goal scoring chance did Mings prevent?
I never said Bailey was good, just that he looked more composed on the ball today and didn’t give it away as much. Maybe it’s splitting hairs a little as it’s not like he was good or anything.

[PhilVill]

This slow, unambitous style of play is not working and it seems to be creeping in more and more. The players don't seem comfortable with it and we are much better moving it quickly up the pitch. This was pretty poor side we were playing tonight and a swift tempo would have seen them off. Anyway, we can recover from this, both in the league and the CL, but it needs fixing pretty quickly. We fuck around like that against Liverpool and they will shit all over us.

[Flamingo Lane]

For once, the upcoming international break might be a good thing. Perhaps a chance to reset?

That's what we said before the previous one.

[Risso]

What on earth are you talking about? The ball was in play, Martinez passed it to Mings, who bent down and picked it up. Handball, penalty. And Bailey was absolutely dire, didn't do a single thing right all game. Summed up by his attempt at a free kick, which bounced four foot before the first defender.

[Chip Butty 111]

That was truly awful, only matched by the performance of the referee who on top of the bizarre penalty decision made countless poor calls.
Maatsen seems to be getting the better ratings but I thought he was truly abject and I actually thought Bailey was a little better than he has been, certainly didn’t give it away as much. Kamara was just about the best player but tired badly. Everyone's was shocking, particularly Watkins, Maatsen and Rogers

It was a stonewall oenalty. Mings picked up the ball when clearly in play

It really wasn’t. I get why it was given obviously but how else was Martinez meant to give Mings the ball to take the goal kick, head it to him? You see players pass the ball to their team mate to take a free kick and that player then pick it up up place it where they want the free kick to be taken numerous times per match. This is no different.

Martinez places the ball on the 6 yd line and passes to Mings, the ball is in play as soon as it left his boot. It was taken in the correct position , no need for a retake. It was an unthinkable mistake that got punished.