Aston Villa v Palace Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithe]

The good points,
1. Despite the fears of train armageddon the longest wait for one was a few minutes at the start of the day to get to New St.
2. Leon Bailey did very well and gave us the width and pace we were crying out for. Probably summed up the day when he has our best chance of the game and Torres clears it off the line.
3. We restricted Palace to very few clear cut chances.

The bad points.
1. They scored them all.
2. Everything else.

Seemed we set up very much like the PSG away game, keep it slow, keep it tight and try and draw them on keep it level and grow into the game as it goes on. But fucking Palace aren't PSG are they, they are a two bit club well down the list of who you should be showing too much respect to. That mindset works right up until they lash a couple past you from 25 yards and you can't go up the gears to counter it. A really poor performance that offered none of the qualities you need to win a big game. I'd guess only Bailey and Ramsey will be thinking they played anywhere near what they are capable of.

I've given up hoping we'll win the FA cup, its not going to happen in my lifetime.

I may have been more dejected after a game, maybe Fulham, but it's close.

[Steve67]

Shit or bust, all out now for the Champions League. I suspect to those in charge of Villa that the FA Cup would gladly be sacrificed if it meant finishing inside the top five. Not my choice btw. Feels shit now but we have to fight back and not lose another game this season. Four games to go, let the real Aston Villa stand up.

[Villan82]

Shit or bust, all out now for the Champions League. I suspect to those in charge of Villa that the FA Cup would gladly be sacrificed if it meant finishing inside the top five. Not my choice btw. Feels shit now but we have to fight back and not lose another game this season. Four games to go, let the real Aston Villa stand up.

I couldn't care less any more.

[PeterWithe]

I'd go along with others who've recently said that this is the strongest Villa squad ever, and its not going to win anything, and will probably finish 6th or 7th. We've come a long way but seem to lack something, a killer instinct.

[wince]

Shit or bust, all out now for the Champions League. I suspect to those in charge of Villa that the FA Cup would gladly be sacrificed if it meant finishing inside the top five. Not my choice btw. Feels shit now but we have to fight back and not lose another game this season. Four games to go, let the real Aston Villa stand up.

I couldn't care less any more.

Same here.

[ChicagoLion]

I'd go along with others who've recently said that this is the strongest Villa squad ever, and its not going to win anything, and will probably finish 6th or 7th. We've come along way but seem to lack something, a killer instinct.

We are lacking utilising this incredible squad to near its potential.
That is down to selection, subs and tactics.

[PeterWithe]

Just had the nihilistic urge to watch the goals again for the first time, is it unfair to suggest that Emi might have done better for all three?

[Ian.]

Just had the nihilistic urge to watch the goals again for the first time, is it unfair to suggest that Emi might have done better for all three?

Me too, just watched the highlights. I agree, most definitely the first two.

To be honest all three goals were avoidable, all three from mistakes due to careless passing, holding onto the ball and allowing them space.

[Luffbralion]

Haven't read the whole thread but to paraphrase a memorable quote:

"We saved the worst performance of all for the biggest stage of all".

[The Edge]

We came up against a well organised team who all put in a huge shift and coupled with their youth and athleticism it did for us. They had massive belief in themselves because of their recent record against us.
We knew exactly what they'd do for the same reasons. Emery must've expected them to be hounding our midfield but did nothing to overcome it. Every time Tielemans got the ball they got tight and did not allow him to turn and dictate the play. Time after time he was dispossessed and usually by Wharton.
We needed more physicality in our team yesterday. Mings in defence and Onana plus Ramsey on the field from the off to try and match them.
It feels like they had our number from the outset and so it proved. I fear it will be a long time before we get a better chance to lift the FA cup and it really feels like a massive chance blown. I love the guy and I trust him to build us a great side in the coming years but yesterday was all on Unai Emery.

[andyh]

Now is not the time to ‘appreciate the journey’ or recognise where we have come from.
We can do that at the end of the season.

We have just been battered in the semi final of the FA cup and it stinks to fucking high heaven.

[PeterWithe]

Just had the nihilistic urge to watch the goals again for the first time, is it unfair to suggest that Emi might have done better for all three?

Me too, just watched the highlights. I agree, most definitely the first two.

He seems to go down early for the third inviting Sarr to put the ball where he did, I mean, the game seemed lost after the first one but there you go..

[Des Little]

Football is mad. Last week I was thinking how amazing our squad is, that we’d finally win the thing this year and with the right additions in the summer we could seriously compete for the title next year.

Now I think we could lose/sell half of the squad and I wouldn’t worry.

[andyh]

A bit disappointed with McGinns post match interview.

Don’t tell us we have 4 massive games coming up when you have just failed to raise your game in one of the most important matches for years.

Don’t say we can’t sulk for too long.

Read the room, feel the pain, disappointment and fury that the fans are feeling.

[PaulWinch again]

He’s talking about the team sulking and of course they can’t. It’s not going to make it any better if we don’t perform in the last 4 games. I’m still pissed off this morning, but I’m not going to feel better if we lose to Fulham, I might feel a bit better if we win.