Aston Villa v Chelsea Post-Match Thread

[Pat McMahon]

Positive from tonight: I thought Dougie looked more like the player we all loved. Not perfect but a massive improvement. The less said about the lanky streak of piss next to him (copyright Chris Jameson) the better.

Once again, over to you, Unai.

With all respect to Chris Jamieson the quote I remember is “ you long streak of paralysed piss” from Bob Hoskins in The Long Good Friday

Ha! Chris was describing himself and he was spot on.
[/quote]

I defer to your superior knowledge of lanky streaks of piss!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Ollie MUST be dropped to the bench and Tammy must start. Bailey should be nowhere near the first eleven.

Watkins will start.

The Meritocracy that has often been a strength under Emery has gone. The idea that Watkins has been carrying an injury is starting to look quite hollow when there is a very good alternative in form and hungry that is not starting. Plus, most players carry injuries/niggles over a season.

I can only think he's trying to drain ever last drop of confidence out of Abraham before starting him to prove to everybody he was right and we need to play Watkins. Nothing makes sense.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Watched it on the box at home. Turning points for me wete Ollie being judged millimetres offside and Pedro being judged to be millimetres onside. Those decisions are at the behest of whoever has the power to move the mouse forward one frame or back one frame. In real time Ollie looked slightly on and Pedro looked slightly off. McManaman said the same. Thought he was excellent btw. The other turning point was Ollies golden chance to make it 2-3. Once again he fluffed his lines and they went down the other end to make it 1-4. It was alarming how easily they opened us up. Garnacho had the time of his life
Next up Man Utd. Ollie MUST be dropped to the bench and Tammy must start. Bailey should be nowhere near the first eleven.

Not much in either decision but on the replays it looked the opposite to me, Watkins offside and Pedro on, although they seemed to show the Villa one more than the Chelsea one.

[LeonW]

Ollie MUST be dropped to the bench and Tammy must start. Bailey should be nowhere near the first eleven.

Watkins will start.

The Meritocracy that has often been a strength under Emery has gone. The idea that Watkins has been carrying an injury is starting to look quite hollow when there is a very good alternative in form and hungry that is not starting. Plus, most players carry injuries/niggles over a season.

I can only think he's trying to drain ever last drop of confidence out of Abraham before starting him to prove to everybody he was right and we need to play Watkins. Nothing makes sense.

Nothing makes sense. Roll on the same thing again next game.

[brontebilly]

Unacceptable - everyone one from the manager through to every player should be embarrassed. We continue to do the same thing every week and it’s fucking obvious it’s not working.

We’ve lost three key players - that’s rough. It’s not an excuse to be as bad as we have been for weeks. Guess what if they’re integral to playing the way we wanted to play maybe try something different when they’re not available. There are teams with less talent playing much better than us.

Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.

Amen.

I've been saying for weeks we needed to re-enforce the midfield, throw an extra body in there. What happens? Nothing. Unai goes to the same theory as our poor run at the beginning of the season, the players need to adapt to his approach and eventually they'll get it right. Once they do we'll be fine. He was right but now working with inferior players, sadly it doesn't work. It never will work. He needs to stop and address the fucking elephant in the room.

Positive from tonight: I thought Dougie looked more like the player we all loved. Not perfect but a massive improvement. The less said about the lanky streak of piss next to him (copyright Chris Jameson) the better.

Once again, over to you, Unai.

Agreed on both counts. Dougie has played well in the last two games for me. Inexplicably replaced in both. He was poor v Leeds and Brighton but there's still a decent footballer in there. Still lacks half a yard at times when it comes to closing down players, similar to Tielemans early on. Stick in Bogarde in there in a three and give Luiz more scope to push forward. He nearly scored v Wolves and did tonight.

[olaftab]

Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.

If unacceptable happens you would obviously  want Unai to be sacked?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Chucking away Champions League qualification from the position we’d gotten ourselves into would be unacceptable.

If unacceptable happens you would obviously  want Unai to be sacked?

Couldn't just sell all our players and with the money get Unai to buld a really shit hot 5 a side team?

[Ads]

Mings, Buendia, Bailey and Watkins. You make it very hard for yourself with the selection.

Pedro has 3 shots, scores a hatrick, Watkins? Rounds a keeper and doesnt even get a shot off. 1 goal in 12 now. You cannot sustain that.

Midfield position is all wrong. We put not pressure on the ball and Onana/Luiz are too deep. We dont ever find Rogers in space without Yuri, we don't go knocking for the ball without McGinn or Kamara. Buendia is woefully innefectual and Bailey is worse. Mings cannot progress it at all.

We need McGinn and Yuri back.

[TheToffnar]

Generally an optimistic fan, have been most of 2026, but tonight is a bit of a step to far for me.

Signs of something, but that offside decision killed the game off and Unai completely incapable of working it out.

Feels like Europa or bust now. Cannot keep relying on those below us to underperform whilst you're not winning games. We are so, so lucky this hasn't happened sooner.

[tomd2103]

Thought we actually started the game well and although they equalised and started to get on top as the first half went on, we were still getting chances and scored the goal that was ruled out.  If that was a blow, then for them to go and score in injury time was a real knockout punch and you could just feel the deflation in the ground.  They totally dominated the second half to the point where it looked like it could have well been six or seven.

[Crown Hill]

Felt like a re run of the Wolves games. Poor selection. Worse subs. Desperately poor midfield.

Unai’s strength always seemed to be his method and structure. Currently that’s his weakness!

[ChicagoLion]

Felt like a re run of the Wolves games. Poor selection. Worse subs. Desperately poor midfield.

Unai’s strength always seemed to be his method and structure. Currently that’s his weakness!

I agree with this and can not fathom why he persists with this set up and selections.

[Brend'Watkins]

Why Bailey and Buendia are anywhere near starting is beyond me.
Tonight we looked like a bottom 6 side against a faltering Chelsea before tonight who made us look like mugs.
Rogers gave the impression he couldn’t give a fuck and I don’t think he could with his passing. He’ll be gone next window and hopefully we’ll get maximum dough.

We miss our 3 players. If Chelsea miss one they can roll on a clone. Still, the outcome is what the PL want so all’s well.