Aston Villa v Maccabi Post-Match Thread

[eamonn]

Don't think they were poor opposition. We certainly let them run in behind a few times and Emi made a couple of fine saves.

[SamTheMouse]

A routine win. We even let them have a few decent chances, just to show we're not *total* anti-semites.

[Louzie0]

Great cameo from Tielemans when he came on. 

I’m so pleased he’s back.

[brontebilly]

The record books will show we won the game 2-0 on a night that was overshadowed by events outside of the clubs control. Another three points on the board and looking strong for progression to the next round. Maybe that's all we should focus on.

In terms of positive performances, Konsa was very strong again, Rogers showed his class at times and Tielemans had an outstanding cameo. Pretty much everything else ranked from average to rotten. They were maybe on a par with Hibs as the weakest team we have played at European level in recent years. Yet, 2-0 flattered us with a joke penalty putting the game beyond them.

Team selection was poor. Enough to be too strong for these fair enough. But our right side was tragically poor again, Onana not trying a leg in midfield and Malen stinking it out leading the line. The amount of clearcut chances we conceded to such a poor team was ridiculous. Already serious question marks have to be raised about our summer transfer business. Billy Elliot has a better chance of getting minutes for us than Harvey it looks like.

Martinez 6 - couple of decent saves but half arsed like a lot of them. Repeated his Liverpool pass in the second half.
Lindelof 3 - not his fault to be picked there but worse than Disasi at right back.
Konsa 8 - a cruise, in a strong run of form
Torres 6 - hesitant in his passing tonight which didn't help
Maatsen 7 - scored a fine goal when we were really struggling. Good shot from distance in second. Good bit of cruising too in between
Onana 3 - rotten, replica of his second half performance v the Eagles. The difference when we put a footballer in there was ridiculous
Bogarde 5 - didn't agree with the praise he was getting from the commentator. Regularly caught ahead of the ball and limited with it. Don't want to see him partnered with Onana again if we can help it.
Guessand 3 - to say he struggled to make an impact would be an understatement. Didn't need to see him tonight, that's on Emery. Let's hope Monchi made the decision to spend 30m on him!
Sancho 5 - few nice touches, sharp cross and involved in the first goal but on a night he needed to make a strong impression he really didn't
Rogers 7 - got us going I thought, nice play to put Maatsen through and used his strength well at times
Malen 4 - penalty aside, rubbish yet again leading the line. His lack of gumption dealing with the rebound off the keeper was awful.

Subs, Tielemans outstanding. Rest were ok, lovely pass by McGinn to put Ollie through for a confidence boosting goal at end, the rest of that play was hard to watch.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Don't think they were poor opposition. We certainly let them run in behind a few times and Emi made a couple of fine saves.

They made a big deal of the Emi save in the first half on the commentary. Awful miss and I think it was going wide if he hadn’t got in the way. The one in the second half was better.

[UK Redsox]

Dullest game for a long while.

Hopefully Pau isn’t too badly injured. There was some doubt about him starting the second half, but he looked to be doing ok.

Never seen so many players having a lie down as MTA did.

Couple of good saves by Emi, fluky goal from Maat and a crafty stumble by Ezri.

Bogie did well and great to have YT back.


Only agro saw was Villa fans having a moan at some coppers because they weren’t allowed to walk up Trinity Road from the Holte after the game. I’d just walked the opposite way and saw no reason for stopping people. The protesters had gone.

[walsall villain]

The record books will show we won the game 2-0 on a night that was overshadowed by events outside of the clubs control. Another three points on the board and looking strong for progression to the next round. Maybe that's all we should focus on.

In terms of positive performances, Konsa was very strong again, Rogers showed his class at times and Tielemans had an outstanding cameo. Pretty much everything else ranked from average to rotten. They were maybe on a par with Hibs as the weakest team we have played at European level in recent years. Yet, 2-0 flattered us with a joke penalty putting the game beyond them.

Team selection was poor. Enough to be too strong for these fair enough. But our right side was tragically poor again, Onana not trying a leg in midfield and Malen stinking it out leading the line. The amount of clearcut chances we conceded to such a poor team was ridiculous. Already serious question marks have to be raised about our summer transfer business. Billy Elliot has a better chance of getting minutes for us than Harvey it looks like.

Martinez 6 - couple of decent saves but half arsed like a lot of them. Repeated his Liverpool pass in the second half.
Lindelof 3 - not his fault to be picked there but worse than Disasi at right back.
Konsa 8 - a cruise, in a strong run of form
Torres 6 - hesitant in his passing tonight which didn't help
Maatsen 7 - scored a fine goal when we were really struggling. Good shot from distance in second. Good bit of cruising too in between
Onana 3 - rotten, replica of his second half performance v the Eagles. The difference when we put a footballer in there was ridiculous
Bogarde 5 - didn't agree with the praise he was getting from the commentator. Regularly caught ahead of the ball and limited with it. Don't want to see him partnered with Onana again if we can help it.
Guessand 3 - to say he struggled to make an impact would be an understatement. Didn't need to see him tonight, that's on Emery. Let's hope Monchi made the decision to spend 30m on him!
Sancho 5 - few nice touches, sharp cross and involved in the first goal but on a night he needed to make a strong impression he really didn't
Rogers 7 - got us going I thought, nice play to put Maatsen through and used his strength well at times
Malen 4 - penalty aside, rubbish yet again leading the line. His lack of gumption dealing with the rebound off the keeper was awful.

Subs, Tielemans outstanding. Rest were ok, lovely pass by McGinn to put Ollie through for a confidence boosting goal at end, the rest of that play was hard to watch.

Your ratings have given me a good laugh. Thanks for that, it’s been a dull evening and I needed a lighter moment.

[tomd2103]

Don't think they were poor opposition. We certainly let them run in behind a few times and Emi made a couple of fine saves.

Mate, they were awful.  Lower Championship / League One standard at best. 

[andyh]

Considering we risked our lives attending a football match tonight, the least they could have done was win by 5 or 6.

Mentions for Konsa who was imperious.
Martinez who made a couple of decent saves before nearly ‘doing a Liverpool’.
Bogarde looked assured.
Tielemans did more in his cameo than some of the starters.

I thought Guessand was atrocious, again.
Onana was lazy.
Everyone else did ok against a team that were as good as the best teams in the Coronation league.

[eamonn]

Don't think they were poor opposition. We certainly let them run in behind a few times and Emi made a couple of fine saves.

Mate, they were awful.  Lower Championship / League One standard at best. 

Fair enough. Just going off the highlights and the odd glance across in the second half when The Traitors was on.

[SaddVillan]

Like the way Malen "softened" the keeper up when they "collided" a few minutes before the pen.

He took the pen really well.

[AV82EC]

Job done, minimum of fuss, couple of silly moments when they got behind us but Martinez showing why he’s still the worlds no 1. We didn’t need to get out of 1st or 2nd gear and have saved some energy for Sunday. An oozing class little cameo from Youri as well. Cash and Digne got the whole night off as well so will be nice and fresh for  Bournemouth’s wing wizards on Sunday.

[The Edge]

Dullest game for a long while.

Hopefully Pau isn’t too badly injured. There was some doubt about him starting the second half, but he looked to be doing ok.

Never seen so many players having a lie down as MTA did.

Couple of good saves by Emi, fluky goal from Maat and a crafty stumble by Ezri.

Bogie did well and great to have YT back.


Only agro saw was Villa fans having a moan at some coppers because they weren’t allowed to walk up Trinity Road from the Holte after the game. I’d just walked the opposite way and saw no reason for stopping people. The protesters had gone.

I'm sorry whaaat? Flukey goal? A great run by Maatsen. A super little through ball by Rogers and a sublime finish by "Maat" That what I saw and that's what the studio commentators and live commentary saw. If you were joking I apologise profusely as it went straight over my head.

[Brend'Watkins]

They were shit but not quite as shit as I thought they would be. We, as is our way made it look far more difficult than it should have been. What it wasn’t was an advert for the Young Boys game. Had I not bought the game package I’d have given that one a miss. £40 for something that resembles a preseason friendly is steep.
Still, we won so I don’t feel that short changed.