Aston Villa v Bologna Post-Match Thread

[London Villan]

Passed to a Villa player once out of 29 attempts. That must be a record.

To clarify he lost possession 29 times and passed to a Villa player 10 times out of 24.

[ADVILLAFAN]

That was like watching Pau from 2024, he was back to his best.

Kamara was great too and the first half was good from Buendia.

Rogers continues to be a liability, although did win a few physical duels in the last 10 minutes and put a good pass through to Ollie.

Could see the nerves in Ollie's face when taking then pen, but other than that, he played okay.

[RamboandBruno]

The highlights I watched seemed to show Torres looking away as Watkins set up to take the penalty. Almost like he knew.

I was looking away until the last second, I knew and I’m no mystic meg.
Torres was excellent, Ill be really disappointed if him and Mastsen don’t start on Sunday, Kamara excellent as well.
For the second game in a row I was gutted when I saw the line up, this time Beundia, Guessand/Maeln instead of Sancho and Elliot. To be fair Beundia had a good first half and tried to make things happen in our better spells in the game, he just lacks that pace that 2023/2024 Bailey and Diaby had that turns all that energy into goals. Malen started brightly then faded pretty quickly.
Emery is trying to get Rogers to work through this spell and given some of the crowds reaction I was glad in the end he didn’t get taken off. He doesn’t hide and he’ll come up, confidence is everything.

Ive resigned myself to both Beundia and Guessand starting again on Sunday, I really would like to see Elliot and Sancho starting though, even if it means Rogers pushed wide right.

Baby steps in the right direction.

[sid1964]

Great to win last night - but we will need to play better on Sunday to beat Fulham

Pau was very good with the ball, passing into midfield made such a difference for us.

[caster troy]

On that evidence Pau, Maatsen and Sancho need to start all the home games.

Watkins needs a goal somehow. I was saying the last thing he needed was a penalty really as it’s too much time to think and too much pressure.

[N'ZMAV]

Rogers was turd.

Matsen, Torres, McGinn were good.

Malen and Guessand, although poor end product worked hard. Cash needs to chill a bit.

[Bobby Boy]

To clarify he lost possession 29 times and passed to a Villa player 10 times out of 24.
[/quote]

It feels almost cruel to be playing him at the minute. He is so off it it is painful.

Playing someone into form is laudable but this feels more like sadism.

Give the fella a bit of time on the bench. He'll be all the better for it.

[PaulWinch again]

After Sunderland, Rogers shouldn’t have been anywhere near that squad, let alone starting!?
And to avoid the hook when the 3 players subbed were 3 of our BETTER players tonight is beyond me!?
Really can’t be arsed to go on Sunday, and ruin yet another weekend. If I see Rogers’ name on the team sheet, that’ll make my mind up I think. It’s not a one off, he’s been shite for most of this calendar year, and that’s on Unai for not dropping him.

Nothing like a bit of overreaction. Also this “useless for most of this year” thing, he might have struggled a bit but he got 6 assists and a goal in the last 8 league games of last year. He missed placed lots of passes last night, but had Malen finished better his passing would have set up two goals. Also he never hid and was trying difficult passes, he wasn’t that far off. Maybe give him a break, it’s evident he was trying bloody hard.

[Percy McCarthy]

Passed to a Villa player once out of 29 attempts. That must be a record.

Is that true?  If so, that’s quite something.

I remember two, including the one that got cheered. Another one was a little lofted lay-off to Buendía.

[Ads]

Fuck me if that's the reaction after we win, get a new hobby.

Torres was good; the high line is back and operating like a the proper trap. As we remember. His passing between the  lines is incredibly helpful. Shame Rogers is so wildly out of form he wasted nigh on every opportunity to hit them in transition.

Kamara was good, as was McGinn. Thought Guessand worked really hard first half and probably should have hit the ball slightly earlier for his chance. Same With Malen.

Second half it took Sancho coming on for us to use the ball a bit better.

Not an impressive second 45 and we gave up that header at the death- a chance you knew was coming at some point after the penalty miss.

Watkins should have made it a stroll. That was probably our hardest home game, so nice to get it out the way with a win.

Hopefully it breeds more belief. Buendia does not work for me, neither does Rogers in this form.

[LeeS]

I actually enjoyed that game. There are plenty of positives.

We actually looked like we wanted to get forward and score. It was way more direct and pacey than any game we’ve played this season. It was definitely an improvement.

[PaulWinch again]

I actually enjoyed that game. There are plenty of positives.

We actually looked like we wanted to get forward and score. It was way more direct and pacey than any game we’ve played this season. It was definitely an improvement.

Yep exactly - far from perfect, but there was attacking intent there and the defensive shape was much better than it has been for a long time.

[Ian.]

Pau Torres was brilliant, such a classy player, he made a huge difference. I’m happy with Guessand’s work rate, he’s settling in well. He might not give us those really exciting highs of Bailey at his best, but as his confidence grows, he may give us a little more steel. We really need Rogers, Watkins and another playing consistently well to give us more cutting edge. We actually did create far more efforts at goal, but we’re lacking that confidence and quality in the final third.

It’s the first game I’ve enjoyed this season, albeit a bit nervy come the end.