Aston Villa v Brugge Post-Match Thread

[manic-road]

Nice scarves on the seats last night, one to pin up in my office.

[London Villan]

I don't think we were flat - we just controlled the game. There was no need to go all headless chicken like Liverpool did.

There was clearly a plan to go for it at the start of the second half - Emery was barking at everyone straight after kickoff to do things quickly - we then blew them away in 15 mins and took our foot off the gas.

Interesting was the reaction of Real getting to the quarters, compared to ours... we looked like we just expected it and Real looked like it was a massive deal.

[tomd2103]

Morgan Rogers really doesn’t look comfortable on the right wing, we looked much more balanced second half with him centrally and Bailey out wide.

Remarkable times really. Routine home wins with World class players banging goals in for fun at The Holte End to reach a Champions League Quarter Final.

We’ve endured some shit, so let’s soak it up, just what a brilliant season this is becoming.

I agree about Rogers on the right.  Looks a bit lost out there.

[itbrvilla]

I don't think we were flat - we just controlled the game. There was no need to go all headless chicken like Liverpool did.

There was clearly a plan to go for it at the start of the second half - Emery was barking at everyone straight after kickoff to do things quickly - we then blew them away in 15 mins and took our foot off the gas.

Interesting was the reaction of Real getting to the quarters, compared to ours... we looked like we just expected it and Real looked like it was a massive deal.

Hard disagree with the first point. Nobody is controlling any game by giving the ball away to the opposition constantly and letting them get the ball in our box again and again.

[Somniloquism]

I don't think we were flat - we just controlled the game. There was no need to go all headless chicken like Liverpool did.

There was clearly a plan to go for it at the start of the second half - Emery was barking at everyone straight after kickoff to do things quickly - we then blew them away in 15 mins and took our foot off the gas.

Interesting was the reaction of Real getting to the quarters, compared to ours... we looked like we just expected it and Real looked like it was a massive deal.

Real had just beaten their rivals though. I'm sure our players reactions would be similar when we knock Blues out in R16 of the Champions League in 5 years time...............

[London Villan]

I just thought it was odd to see the difference in reaction. I know we always get to Champions League Quarter Finals, but even so...

[Baldy]

Were we playing with no recognised striker last night when we stuffed them? Rashford likes being LW/AM, and both Rogers and Asensio like being AM /10. I'm assuming Rogers was the central target man out of the four.

I think so. Rashford hates being a conventional target man but loves floating around the forward line when we attack. Same with Asensio and Rogers. A nightmare for any defence.
[/quote

It felt like a bit of a vision of the future, this is not to kick Watkins but I turned to my brother after the third and said I'm not sure we need him anymore.

Emery keeps banging on about the versatility of players which is not one of Ollie's strengths, we look to be moving towards a front line that can seamlessly interchange with each other making it even harder for the defenders.

To stretch their defence, Unai wants Bailey to hang out on the right and when appropriate, run for the back post to poach a goal.

[LeeB]

I don't think we were flat - we just controlled the game. There was no need to go all headless chicken like Liverpool did.

There was clearly a plan to go for it at the start of the second half - Emery was barking at everyone straight after kickoff to do things quickly - we then blew them away in 15 mins and took our foot off the gas.

Interesting was the reaction of Real getting to the quarters, compared to ours... we looked like we just expected it and Real looked like it was a massive deal.

Hard disagree with the first point. Nobody is controlling any game by giving the ball away to the opposition constantly and letting them get the ball in our box again and again.

I honestly thought much the same at the time, then looking back again I think they started to get some encouragement and pushed forward and bang, Martinez with a ball over the top and they're down to 10 men and the tie is done before 20 minutes are on the clock.

This is why Unai Emery is still in this competition and the thumb headed babysitter at Liverpool isn't.

[Smithy]

Morgan Rogers really doesn’t look comfortable on the right wing, we looked much more balanced second half with him centrally and Bailey out wide.

Remarkable times really. Routine home wins with World class players banging goals in for fun at The Holte End to reach a Champions League Quarter Final.

We’ve endured some shit, so let’s soak it up, just what a brilliant season this is becoming.

I agree about Rogers on the right.  Looks a bit lost out there.

I do think part of that was having Cash behind him, who is a very risk-averse full-back when it comes to feeding the ball quickly to the player ahead of him.  I lose count of the number of times he looks like he's going to burst forward but then cuts back and recycles the ball with a centre-half in each game.  Now, I'm SURE that's partly due to his instructions from Unai, but Rogers (and Bailey) thrive on getting the ball quickly so they can attack players around them, and Cash rarely gives them that.

[RamboandBruno]

Were we playing with no recognised striker last night when we stuffed them? Rashford likes being LW/AM, and both Rogers and Asensio like being AM /10. I'm assuming Rogers was the central target man out of the four.

I think so. Rashford hates being a conventional target man but loves floating around the forward line when we attack. Same with Asensio and Rogers. A nightmare for any defence.

It felt like a bit of a vision of the future, this is not to kick Watkins but I turned to my brother after the third and said I'm not sure we need him anymore.

Emery keeps banging on about the versatility of players which is not one of Ollie's strengths, we look to be moving towards a front line that can seamlessly interchange with each other making it even harder for the defenders.

I agree Lee. I love Ollie, but my son turned to me part way through the second half and said this is so much better without Watkins. Granted there were circumstances to consider, they were down to 10 men and like a streetwise boxer, we’d let them jab us to exhaustion before laying the big blows. It was just all so fluid, no one up front but actually every fucker up front.

QFs of the champions league, some days these that Emery has brought us!

[Nev]

Nice scarves on the seats last night, one to pin up in my office.

Mine and two more by me were gone by the time I took my seat. I'm not fussed at all but what if some kid was sitting there and didn't get one? There are some right wankers about.

[dorsetvillian]

I thought the initial set up of the team and formation made us very disjointed. Not one player looked comfortable with or without the ball. Ollie going off with injury forced a change at half time and suddenly we were the dominant team and went on to win without any drama.  Rashford looked very good down the middle. His runs created space for those around him. Just needs a goal now.

[Dinas_Caerdydd]

thought i'd pop in and say congrats

good luck in the quarters

[Villa Lew]

Great 2nd half, Maatsen's best match for us, Rashford superb, but MOTM was Asensio, just class, should not only start every match, he should be Unai's number one pick. Refs get a lot of stick, but thought the ref last night was very good, sensibly blew up bang on 90 mins.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Bit of a flat atmosphere, understandable as the sending off and first leg result pretty much ended any chance of a close game. We were in the Trinity for the first time in years ( couldn’t get my usual pair in the Holte) and it was silent for most of the game. Good on the Bruges fans for being very noisy and for being polite enough to insult us in perfect English. “Your support is effing shit”, “Is this a library”.

M25 shut again so had to drive through central London to get home. Think of the Griswolds trying to get off the island/roundabout in their Austin Maxi and that was me at 1.30am this morning.