Aston Villa v PSG Post-Match Thread

[Legion]

It's a real shame that our substitutions had the reverse effect intended. Ramsey and Watkins barely touched the ball. As for Asensio's one moment....he telegraphed where he was going to shoot but Donnarumma had already committed to attempting a point-blank save. Easy to say but Asensio has it in his locker to feint on the shot, pull it wide to his right and run through on goal to slot the ball into an empty net.

We just couldn't build-up a head of steam for the last 10 minutes. PSG deserve credit for not allowing that to happen and they continued to look dangerous on the break. But unless Rashford was physically phucked, I would have left him on as he was beginning to purr.

Hard to be too despondent though, we gave our all and showed battle and quality. Just hope the players can pick themselves up for the weekend as if we replicate that, we'll funeral the Toon.

The way I saw it too, Eamonn. Thought Maatsen was awful too. The subs didn't work at all and Rogers struggling badly again on the right was the most obvious change.

For maybe 25 mins after half time we humiliated one of the best teams in Europe. We had the chances too and brought three great saves. They eventually fought back off the ropes and held us off. From where we have been, the transformation has been remarkable. McGinn was peak Roy Keane tonight, he single handedly drove us back in the game. I thought Cash, Torres and Tielemans were excellent in that period too and Rashford finally came alive.

To where things went wrong in the first half. To be fair the likes of Rooney called it correctly. We were tactically indisciplined really. Two terrible goals conceded, Kamara, who struggled surprisingly in both legs, and Konsa selling themselves for the goals. These are just things we have to learn. You can't really legislate for Martinez error but we were all over the place anyway. To turn it around so quickly after the break was remarkable.

Martinez 6 - poor mistake for goal but some big saves late on
Cash 7 - tough first half but battled incredibly well in second against a top player
Konsa 6 - awful first half but fine finish for goal. Not sure how he completely missed that header
Torres 7 - thought his distribution at times tonight was back to his best.
Digne 6 - cautious enough performance, bit flat in first half but solid second. Missed his defensive nous when replaced, mind
Kamara 5 - not sure if it was the occasion or what but he made errors in this tie that he hasn't made all season. Just off it really with a lot of poor decisions and distribution
Onana 6 - big call to start him. Fortunate to see the second half I thought, did improve to be fair
McGinn 9 - a Villa legend, nothing else to say. Unless he was carrying an injury, that was a crazy decision to replace him before the 70th min
Rogers 5 - lively start in first 20 mins or so, one shot with left just went wide but I don't get the logic playing him in that position.
Tielemans 8 - took a long time to get into the game, fortunate goal perhaps but outstanding when we were at our best
Rashford 7 - very fortunate he saw the second half after a poor first 45 but nearly an iconic Villa Park goal only for an outstanding save. Wouldn't have taken him off either. Cracking assist.

Asensio had the big chance, look it's a great save but I'm expecting him to try to go around the keeper. Ramsey had no impact at all. Watkins couldn't get into it either but PSG had regained control by then. Maatsen was very poor defensively, late shot could have made him a hero. Barkley didn't get enough time.

They all get a 10 from me.

[Small Rodent]

I didn't like the white scarves on TV. I kept thinking it was opposition fans and not Villa.

Was the effect better in the stadium?

They were only white on one side. The squad was on the other. I think they were chosen because they would stand out!

Has anyone come up with a half and half scarf that has Aston on one half and Villa on the other?

[olaftab]

Rashford had them terrified , I think he should have stayed on.

I think it was him and Rogers to be subbed but Morgan has become one of Unai's untouchables.

[Legion]

I didn't like the white scarves on TV. I kept thinking it was opposition fans and not Villa.

Was the effect better in the stadium?

They were only white on one side. The squad was on the other. I think they were chosen because they would stand out!

Has anyone come up with a half and half scarf that has Aston on one half and Villa on the other?

It'll never catch on.

[Nii Lamptey]

Disappointed to go out, but at least we made them work for it.

Also a huge shoutout to the fans - Easily the best atmosphere at Villa Park since Athletico. I'm in the Trinity Road and we were even starting songs going?!  What alternate reality IS this!

Was talking to the taxi driver about PSGs/European teams' manufactured atmospheres when heading back to airport from Paris, and he said English football is a different beast. Highlighted that we 'react' more to the action rather than sing in unison despite what is going on on the pitch. Never really thought about it till I watched the highlights back from last night. We were pretty much sucking that ball into the net.

Hopefully get to experience more of this CL stuff next season. Now lets win that bloody FA Cup!

UTV

[Somniloquism]

Good example of the fans from VoT

[cdbearsfan]

Great performance.
Would have won if McGinn stayed on.

That twat was aching for an excuse to send him off. We had no choice. See also: Cash, Matty... in the first leg.

[sonyhill]

What a night. The noise when Konsa scored was like nothing else I'd experienced at VP.  Shame we couldn't get over the line but very proud and it was a real privilege to have been there.

[Drummond]

That was an utterly brilliant performance across the board. No criticism should be given to anyone because the effort was total.

Disappointed but proud was how my 10 year-old put it. He was gutted at 0-2 and I told him to have faith. He looked at me as our 2nd and 3rd went in and realised he trusted me.

There's no one moment to blame, no single goal conceded, chance missed, tackle or foul, the ref could have been better, but that's the same in every game. Overall they were clinical, they scored fabulous goals and we just didn't have enough.

That's PSG's 9th European Semi-Final, 5th in the Champions League. We beat them, and could have beaten them by more.

We are back at the top table, and on this showing we belong there. On Saturday this team needs the same level of support to help them to lift their levels, let's get back, let's be feared and respected across Europe.

[trinityoap]

We are no longer plucky little Villa.

[TonyD]

Do you think McGinn should have had a pen in the first half?

[PaulWinch again]

Great performance.
Would have won if McGinn stayed on.

That twat was aching for an excuse to send him off. We had no choice. See also: Cash, Matty... in the first leg.

Yes although I don’t blame the ref for the Cash one. I thought the ref in the first leg was decent, this one was poor.

[Sexual Ealing]

Do you think McGinn should have had a pen in the first half?

No chance. He fouled the defender (who would've got a red in the PL for the kick out at McGinn).

[The Edge]

Do you think McGinn should have had a pen in the first half?

Nah.

[cdbearsfan]

We should have had a penalty a minute or so before our first goal, IMO. Haven't seen a replay and I don't think it every went out of play so was no need for VAR to check.