Aston Villa v Fulham Post-Match Thread

[Pat McMahon]

Haven’t read the thread or seen any highlights as I’m on the train back to London but I think Torres coming in changed our game for the better. Prior to Mings going off we were slow and laboured and playing in front of Fulham.

The timing of Ollie’s goal was massive as it meant we could plan for the second half level terms. I think that was more important than most of us realise. He was a tireless runner second half and the long balls looked dangerous.

. Buendia was busy and more impactful than Elliott  and did some hard grunt work too. Special shout out to McGinn who was a leader today, but honorable mentions to Cash and Guessand for their work down the right.

Hope the players can rest now and prepare for a tough trip to Rotterdam.

[Holte132]

A league game after a European game - and we won!!

[cdbearsfan]

A league game after a European game - and we won!!

Four in a row.

[PaulWinch again]

They all looked happy to be Villa players again.

Yes which I think suggests a huge part of this is confidence, rather than bad attitude.

[RamboandBruno]

Well done to getting your first win of the season, say thanks for giving Watkins his goal in nearly 8 hours, we fell asleep at the start of the second half but you definitely deserved it, didn’t help Jiminez. Getting injured and having Traroe as false 9 lol, it was only a matter of time that you turned it around,  I thought King was unlucky to get booked despite what Jamie Rednapp and Les Ferdinand said on sky, I didn’t think it was a penalty but I also didn’t think it was a dive, I would have been disappointed if we had  conceded a penalty like that

Fair play Franky, as fair as ever

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah hard lucky Franky. Agreed that Jimenez was a big loss for you, hopefully he’s ok soon.

[Demitri_C]

Much improved  performance.  1st half wasnt great but 2nd half was more like us.

Shocking stat of the day: We didn't win a single tackle first half. Second half we were all over them, really pressing all over the pitch. Great energy from all.

Interesting stat that. Its good we actually improved after a dire first half. The work rate was much improved. Subbing elliot for buendia made a massive difference

[Ads]

The second half felt quite reminiscent of the past few seasons at home. A dash and a bang of quality, co trol the game, one minor scare, but by and large very comfortable and the result not under pressure.

I didn't think we were that bad in the first half, albeit caught cold by a set piece.

They then had a couple of chances, but King is a cheating little rat and was rightly booked for folding like a deckchair before he'd even got to Martinez. Wilson should have gone too, diving after no contact with Bogarde and then waving your arms about sufficiently to be booked. Total gobshite.

Felt a few today showed they're potentially past it a bit and the injury to Mings helped somewhat. He's just too limited on the ball and he isn't good enough to pick that pass through the lines. Conversely Pau dealt with things very well, albeit it helped them having a circus act up top after Jiminez went off.

Digne was really poor too; missing tackles, wayward passes, miles too deep for a lot of the first half.

Pleased that Ollie got his goal, Guessand works very hard and is slowly adding little touches and flicks going forwards. Buendia suprised me, especially after giving the ball away 3 times in 2 minutes of being on. Rogers worked hard and slowly started to find Villa shirts.

Decent enough comfortable win. About time.

[PaulWinch again]

I do think Ty has lost a step. Still a useful squad player, and a modern day legend of the club, but I don’t think he should be starting now. He is too ponderous on the ball and for a team that relies on distribution quality from the defence it just doesn’t work.

[adrenachrome]

The second half felt quite reminiscent of the past few seasons at home. A dash and a bang of quality, co trol the game, one minor scare, but by and large very comfortable and the result not under pressure.

I didn't think we were that bad in the first half, albeit caught cold by a set piece.

They then had a couple of chances, but King is a cheating little rat and was rightly booked for folding like a deckchair before he'd even got to Martinez. Wilson should have gone too, diving after no contact with Bogarde and then waving your arms about sufficiently to be booked. Total gobshite.

Felt a few today showed they're potentially past it a bit and the injury to Mings helped somewhat. He's just too limited on the ball and he isn't good enough to pick that pass through the lines. Conversely Pau dealt with things very well, albeit it helped them having a circus act up top after Jiminez went off.

Digne was really poor too; missing tackles, wayward passes, miles too deep for a lot of the first half.

Pleased that Ollie got his goal, Guessand works very hard and is slowly adding little touches and flicks going forwards. Buendia suprised me, especially after giving the ball away 3 times in 2 minutes of being on. Rogers worked hard and slowly started to find Villa shirts.

Decent enough comfortable win. About time.

I agree.

Emery had planned for more replacements, which were not forthcoming.

"Cut your cloth according to your means" was a saying from the old days.

It is a little concerning that so few academy players are breaking into the first team.

[Halfway to Moseley]

Did Mings go off injured? I thought it might be Emery deciding early on the game needed Pau, and being less concerned about throwing him in with Jimenez gone.

In any case it worked and we looked a lot better after that change.

[Ads]

Yeah he was injured; sat in a squat on a number of ocassions.

[Matt C]

Green shoots.

Great to just get the win of course but it was so good to see glimpses of our old selves for what feels like the first time in ages.

[Beard82]

Green shoots.

Great to just get the win of course but it was so good to see glimpses of our old selves for what feels like the first time in ages.

Agree - I thought Watkins and Rogers grew into the game.  Thought SJM gave a real captains performance.  I also think we need to be starting Pau more - I love Mings - but we looked better with Pau. 

[RamboandBruno]

McGinn after all these years, drives this team on. He is  a Villa legend.