Aston Villa v Chelsea Post-Match Thread

[The Edge]

The space Garnacho had all night was terrifying. We did absolutely nothing about it from minute one to minute ninety. Serious questions need to be asked. Buendia can never start in midfield again. He's far too lightweight. He's a no10 and nothing else. Ollie is done. He's a workaholic and that's great but his finishing is awful and has cost us lots of points this season. He had a brilliant chance to make it 2-3 and completely fucked it up and the offside goal he scored was just daft. I know Rogers delayed the pass a bit too much but Ollie was looking along the line and had absolutely no reason to go early. It was four on two. Those are the pivotal moments that swing games one way or another.

[Stu]

Gutless and clueless, it's not a great combination. Theres not many I'd be sorry to see the back of in the summer.

It’s so strange seeing the arse fall out of a good team so quickly though.

The arse didn't fall out, the entire midfield did.  Unless you meant SJM?

We are simply a very different side when we don't have Kamara, Youri and SJM in midfield.  With those three fit and playing, we look like Champions League contenders.  Without them, we look mid-table, at best.

The worrying thing is, I think by the time Youri and SJM are back, we'll be playing catch-up against teams right in form, rather than defending a points lead ahead of them.

I don’t agree that we shouldn’t be competitive though and we’re just not.

[DB]

Gutless and clueless, it's not a great combination. Theres not many I'd be sorry to see the back of in the summer.

It’s so strange seeing the arse fall out of a good team so quickly though.

The arse didn't fall out, the entire midfield did.  Unless you meant SJM?

We are simply a very different side when we don't have Kamara, Youri and SJM in midfield.  With those three fit and playing, we look like Champions League contenders.  Without them, we look mid-table, at best.

The worrying thing is, I think by the time Youri and SJM are back, we'll be playing catch-up against teams right in form, rather than defending a points lead ahead of them.

I wouldn’t say Liverpool are right in form.

[TopDeck113]

Abysmal yet so predictable.

The missing midfield three has been done to death: there's much more to this than that.

- A non-scoring striker that is forever first pick
- An international-class player in Rogers whose decided to go through the motions
- A world class goalkeeper who is now not as good as he was
- Smith and Gerrard era players who are past their sell-by date
- A manager who looks increasingly obdurate and tactically inflexible

Aston Villa: failing to deliver since 1920

[BoVillan esq]

That was absolute crap after the first 15 mins. It pains me to say it but smirker is right - Watkins is finished. The only players that come out of that shit with any credit are Luiz and Barkley - and McGrath only knows why Emery decided to sub Luiz. Rogers and Buendia were woeful. The reffing was also so biased it invites suggestions of corruption. Unai has been tremendous for us, and yes we do have key players missing, but we have shown nothing over the past couple of months to convince that we are Champion's League pedigree. Emery can definitely turn it around but right now his stubbornness and predictability are killing us.

I definitely think we can turn this around and I think Man Utd are going to be on the sharp end of this up turn, wait and see.

We go to Old Trafford and we win.

[pauliewalnuts]

That was absolute crap after the first 15 mins. It pains me to say it but smirker is right - Watkins is finished. The only players that come out of that shit with any credit are Luiz and Barkley - and McGrath only knows why Emery decided to sub Luiz. Rogers and Buendia were woeful. The reffing was also so biased it invites suggestions of corruption. Unai has been tremendous for us, and yes we do have key players missing, but we have shown nothing over the past couple of months to convince that we are Champion's League pedigree. Emery can definitely turn it around but right now his stubbornness and predictability are killing us.

I definitely think we can turn this around and I think Man Utd are going to be on the sharp end of this up turn, wait and see.

We go to Old Trafford and we win.

Ha ha ha.

[Stu]

Confused performance, coaching and plan which was once so strong seems off. Wonder what is happening in the background because I think something has changed since Jan and not just the injuries have fucked us.

We were winning games by the odd goal with an emphasis on quick turnovers in midfield. McGinn, Kamara and Tielemans are the best at that. It's not that surprising really. Our lack of battle and fucking organisation is really disappointing though.

We were playing much better football than snagging the odd goal.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Schooled. Men against boys.

Bailey set the goal up and Watkins played a part as well but even the most one eyed fan would have found issue with the starting line up.

Once again I thought Barkley and Sancho, who showed a bit of previously unseen pace, were tidy as was Alyson. 

I can’t see the point of signing Tammy if you’re not going to start him when he’s clearly showing a hell of a lot more than Watkins, who was much better tonight, but if you were him you’d be a bit pissed off.

Defence was woeful and it’s the worse game I’ve seen Konsa have in years.

All I would say is that we’re not out of it yet, yes we may lose in Manchester but they’ll lose games as will Chelsea and Liverpool. We just need to turn around this wretched form and hope that UE can clear his mind a bit.

[Steve67]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them.  Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting.  Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement.  Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice.  If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start.  We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16.  A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.

[taylorsworkrate]

I suspect a number of these players are hiding behind the injury problems the squad has.

Not one of the players out there tonight has anything remotely resembling leadership qualities

[PhilVill]

The team selection was pathetic and the loss is on Emery 100%. Buendia, Bailey and Watkins are shite and have been for some time.

By mid March we'll have 8 games left and a mini league for 2 CL places with 3,maybe 4 teams in for them. With any luck McGinn and Tileman's will return fresh and ready to go. Hopefully we get through Lille so still have the Europa to have a go at too.

The seasons on life support for sure bit it's not dead just yet.

[Beard82]

I thought if we could get 4 points out of the Wolves and Chelsea we would be pretty much qualified. 

To have lost it 6-1, and for the most part to have been completely spineless has been really disapointing.

Unai's worst 2 games for us.  He got the line up, tatics and subs wrong.  The mentality of these players is shocking - when ever there is real pressure on we go to pot.  Its the playing wages that are killing us financial and they just arent earning it.  Ollie has been poor all season - and had 4 clear chances today and missed 3 and strayed offside for the other.

Onana just goes missing when he is needed most.  Konsa seems to have gone to pot.  The problem is with the money, and rules To blow CL football for a second season in a row could be a real sliding doors moment.

[Stu]

That was absolute crap after the first 15 mins. It pains me to say it but smirker is right - Watkins is finished. The only players that come out of that shit with any credit are Luiz and Barkley - and McGrath only knows why Emery decided to sub Luiz. Rogers and Buendia were woeful. The reffing was also so biased it invites suggestions of corruption. Unai has been tremendous for us, and yes we do have key players missing, but we have shown nothing over the past couple of months to convince that we are Champion's League pedigree. Emery can definitely turn it around but right now his stubbornness and predictability are killing us.

I definitely think we can turn this around and I think Man Utd are going to be on the sharp end of this up turn, wait and see.

We go to Old Trafford and we win.

Hope work isn’t early tomorrow.

That’s going to be a 6/7/8-0 shellacking

[kippaxvilla2]

Manchester United could be in the isthmian league and still beat us.

[TonyD]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the side selected was not the right one, we were schooled by Chelsea this evening and failed to lay a glove on them.  Weird choices as subs, unless Cash and Luiz are carrying knocks and needed protecting.  Poor passing, poor finishing, poor movement.  Chelsea were superior in every department, we gave the ball away twice in their half and they cut through us really well to score twice.  If you start with Bailey and Buendia, as they are inferior players, we are likely to fall behind eventually, despite our positive start.  We seem to lack bottle and I hope Emery can get this lot into some sort of shape for the Lille game or we will be going out in the round of 16.  A real 1 out of 10 performance tonight.

Hindsight.  Really?