Aston Villa v Maccabi Post-Match Thread

[dorsetvillian]

Just glad it's over and done with. Got the three points and no real drama on or off the pitch. It was odd pre match getting spoken to by so many police as we walked to the game just casually saying 'good evening and enjoy the game' . The smaller crowd certainly made getting back on the M6 quicker afterwards...

[darren woolley]

I'm also glad it's over we can now move on.

[PaulWinch again]

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.

Was Pau injured? I thought it was just a change to limit his minutes.

[Halfway to Moseley]

There’s a chasm of difference between this competition and the Champions League.

There was so much furore around the club’s pricing policy for the CL last year, but this is much poorer value for fans - should be charging £30 a ticket for the group games at least.

[ChicagoLion]

Agree it’s a very much after the Lord Mayors show competition.
It feels a bit dull and irrelevant.
Plodders League.

[Meanwood Villa]

There’s a chasm of difference between this competition and the Champions League.

There was so much furore around the club’s pricing policy for the CL last year, but this is much poorer value for fans - should be charging £30 a ticket for the group games at least.

I know what you mean and I agree the prices are too high. Last night was an exceptional case but I doubt Young Boys and Salzburg will sell out either. However, I think there's only a chasm of difference between the very top end of the CL amd this comp. After all, we are playing two teams we played last season again this time around

[walsall villain]

Agree it’s a very much after the Lord Mayors show competition.
It feels a bit dull and irrelevant.
Plodders League.

Was thinking that last night, so different from the great and noisy nights of last season. Let’s qualify for latter stages, should pick up then.

[Nev]

The BBC called it laboured, I called it routine but there does seem to be a bit of saltiness from the media given the lack of rioting in Birmingham yesterday.

We did what we had to on a night that is best forgotten and it was the perfect outcome. I can't believe I'm saying it but a routine Sunday afternoon fixture against Bournemouth feels something to approach with relish. We may not prevail but any ire will be about matters on the pitch, which is how it should be.

[Ads]

There’s a chasm of difference between this competition and the Champions League.

There was so much furore around the club’s pricing policy for the CL last year, but this is much poorer value for fans - should be charging £30 a ticket for the group games at least.

I know what you mean and I agree the prices are too high. Last night was an exceptional case but I doubt Young Boys and Salzburg will sell out either. However, I think there's only a chasm of difference between the very top end of the CL amd this comp. After all, we are playing two teams we played last season again this time around

Different mindset I guess. We're one of the favourites and there's a much higher expectation in these games against Go Ahead, MTA, Young Boys etc who look really limited. Hopefully there's 35k+ on though for the next two.

[Dante Lavelli]

Bogarde looked good.

I’ve been really impressed with him this season. He looks very classy and assured in everything he does.

The next thing he needs is the aura to control the whole game and that’s hard do without minutes on the pitch. Our challenge might be finding him enough matches.

[Mister E]

It was sooo dull. YTv and SJM obviously enlivened the game but before their appearance it was pretty grim.
Guessand and Sancho have confirmed the limit of their likely influence in future games, and I think we're missing Ramsey more than we thought we would: he gave us some balance on the list, enabling SJM to play off the right and Rogers to roam. Anyway, we are where we are and I hope Emery can make a silk purse from a sow's ear.
Onwards.

[TCFKAE2]

The BBC called it laboured, I called it routine but there does seem to be a bit of saltiness from the media given the lack of rioting in Birmingham yesterday.

We did what we had to on a night that is best forgotten and it was the perfect outcome. I can't believe I'm saying it but a routine Sunday afternoon fixture against Bournemouth feels something to approach with relish. We may not prevail but any ire will be about matters on the pitch, which is how it should be.

Spot on/saved me a post. Media itching for a ruck and reverting to digs at the team/performance. Had it been Liverpool or Manure headlines would have been about sensible rotation and a sound result.

[Somniloquism]

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.

Maatsen is calling it flukey himself.