Aston Villa vs Juventus post-match thread.

[Smithy]

Their little right winger was good -wasn't he?

Yes, their stand out player. Who are they?

Conceicao. He was superb.It may have felt like there was more than one of him at times but definitely just the one.

He was brilliant last night. Best player on the pitch (*alongside Kamara).

€30m release clause apparently (he's on loan at Juve from Ajax), though Juve have first dibs on him.  Would be an excellent squad addition next summer, and we can afford him, but might not be able to get him as the competition will be fierce.

[The Edge]

Their little right WHINGER was good -wasn't he?

Corrected

After an initial foray out and about he quickly popped back into Luca’s pocket.

I don't think Conceicao was ever in Dignes pocket. Whenever they attacked he was a massive threat. He skated past half our defence several times in the second half. He was a whinger I'll give you that but Italian teams always contest every refereeing decision as if their life depends on it. It's in their blood.

[coreyfeldman]

Emi's save was amazing, but how does the smallest player on the pitch get a free header from a corner...

Because Rogers stood and watched the ball and had no idea he was 2 yards behind him

[LeeB]

In what we are told is the supreme competition in club football, why are the officials so consistently fucking useless? Naturally, most attention is focused on the disallowed goal but twice quick free kicks were prevented with the ball being booted 30/40 yards away on one occasion, a kick taken and blocked by an opponent standing a couple of yards away just waived away with a shrug.

That free kick block was ridiculous, it didn't just hit him he stuck his leg out, and they were kicking the ball away from throw ins and free kicks all night with impunity, safe in the knowledge they'd get no punishment for it.

[Somniloquism]

Emi's save was amazing, but how does the smallest player on the pitch get a free header from a corner...

Because Rogers stood and watched the ball and had no idea he was 2 yards behind him

Yep, Rogers seemed surprised it got to him and wasn't remotely ready for it, but at least he reacted first after the save.

[Allan C]

In what we are told is the supreme competition in club football, why are the officials so consistently fucking useless? Naturally, most attention is focused on the disallowed goal but twice quick free kicks were prevented with the ball being booted 30/40 yards away on one occasion, a kick taken and blocked by an opponent standing a couple of yards away just waived away with a shrug.

That free kick block was ridiculous, it didn't just hit him he stuck his leg out, and they were kicking the ball away from throw ins and free kicks all night with impunity, safe in the knowledge they'd get no punishment for it.

I have to say people moan about our referees but you don’t have to stray too far to find some absolute shockingly poor officials. He is probably the best his country has to offer. One of the few downsides of a European campaign

[AV82EC]

Having been at the game, I seemingly enjoyed it more than a lot of those who watched on TV, which maybe is due to the tension that was in the air at the ground, I dunno? But I thought we did well. Kamara was ace, automatic first choice when fit. The defence was good and I really appreciated Cash having a good game. I’m not his biggest fan but if he could stay fit that really helps with our squad strength and options. Four clean sheets that could have been five out of five were it not for that freak occurrence in Brugge.

Going forward we would have fared much better had lots of attacks not broken down at the feet of Morgz, but Ollie looked sharp first half and Bailey is improving gradually.

All that left me feeling optimistic as I left the ground.

Very much this, we were well in the game, created the best chances, kept a clean sheet and looked well at home against a very good if slightly understrength Juventus team.

I hate using this expression but we’re going to give someone a twatting soon.

[Somniloquism]

I had a look at the ref blog this morning. They seemed surprised the ref had been given an Italian team again, but most of the discussions seemed to be on the Plp-RMA performance.

However they seem to think it was a good decision after the initial post about it.

Gozie Joe27 November 2024 at 22:59
Manzano was never going to give it against an Italian team, was he? But wouldn't he have if places were swapped? Same old story.

Mikael W27 November 2024 at 23:02
It’s a clear foul: Carlos plays the goalkeeper. I can’t comment on the rest of the performance though.

Chefren27 November 2024 at 23:09
Loooks indeed a clear foul on keeper. He would have done the same in the other penalty area, these are not difficult situations to read.

Reply

[tomd2103]

Juve were tidy, I can't remember a stray pass. But they didn't really trouble Villa except when Emi was called into action. Villa on the other hand were sloppy with their passing  which cost us chances but still had a few great opportunities to score. Tidy up the passing and we'll come good.

One thing that stood put watching them last night and other top teams, is the pace they have in their side.  It just means they can break and cover the ground so quickly. 

That top end speed is one thing we're missing a bit really.

[Risso]

I hate using this expression but we’re going to give someone a twatting soon.

Aargh, my absolute least favouite expression ever, just ahead of "if we play like that we'll win more than we lose". It never, ever works out like that.

[AV82EC]

I hate using this expression but we’re going to give someone a twatting soon.

Aargh, my absolute least favouite expression ever, just ahead of "if we play like that we'll win more than we lose". It never, ever works out like that.

Ha ha yep I hated having to use it but I’d actually take a comfortable 1-0 against Brentford as a sign we’re on the up again. Anything better than defeat at Chelsea will be good as well.

[brontebilly]

Emi's save was amazing, but how does the smallest player on the pitch get a free header from a corner...

Rogers caught ball watching at back post I think.

[Ads]

I hate using this expression but we’re going to give someone a twatting soon.

Aargh, my absolute least favouite expression ever, just ahead of "if we play like that we'll win more than we lose". It never, ever works out like that.

Ha ha yep I hated having to use it but I’d actually take a comfortable 1-0 against Brentford as a sign we’re on the up again. Anything better than defeat at Chelsea will be good as well.

I always think the opposite way that sword cuts is true enough. I struggle to recall times where we're absolutely shite and the opponent loses two of its best players in the game, gifts us incredibly silly goals with individual errors, misses a load and we spawn our way to a win. Happens to us plenty mind.

[The Edge]

In what we are told is the supreme competition in club football, why are the officials so consistently fucking useless? Naturally, most attention is focused on the disallowed goal but twice quick free kicks were prevented with the ball being booted 30/40 yards away on one occasion, a kick taken and blocked by an opponent standing a couple of yards away just waived away with a shrug.

That free kick block was ridiculous, it didn't just hit him he stuck his leg out, and they were kicking the ball away from throw ins and free kicks all night with impunity, safe in the knowledge they'd get no punishment for it.

Yes that was bloody annoying but we have to accept that they interpret the rules differently across the continent. Kicking the ball away here is an instant red. Elsewhere not so much. Any contact with the keeper while the ball is in flight is a foul but here it's hit and miss depending on who you're playing. It is what it is and we're just used to our refs and var cocking up different things to theirs. I was enraged by the officials last night but I'm trying to look at it calmly and objectively discussing it with fellow Villans this morning. Speaking of which kudos again to whoever came up with those displays being hoisted from the Holte End roof. They've been brilliant this season.

[paul_e]

Martinez 8, Cash 8, Carlos 7, Torres 6, Digne 6, Kamara 8, Tielemans 6, Bailey 7, Rogers 4, McGinn 6, Watkins 6.

Lord help me I agree with Bronte's player ratings (though perhaps I'd give Cash a 7 - meaning I'm the misery-arse here!).

I don't know if I was 'disgusted' by that display exactly, but then I am moderately sane.

Me too, I actually agree with the rating for Cash, who I thought had a great game, and I'd up Rogers to a 5 because he kept going and did put the ball in the net, as well as working back a lot to help Digne.

I thought we played well defensively and it was only really that 1 corner where they created a real chance. Going forward we're nearly good, we're the final pass or a better finish away from putting 4-5 past someone and getting back on track but in the meantime we're just butchering chances after lots of very good build-up work.