Lille vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Crown Hill]

Really easy that. Lots of time and space and we managed it well without ever being threatened. Should have been two nil and put to bed.

Small hold back after, but treated to McGinn doing sprints with a coach. Absolutely brilliant to have his big arse back.

Some grief with the police before the game for the right hand side of the away end, with stewards blocking off a small gate at the top of the stairs. Unnecessary given your tickets had been checked outside twice. French police waded in with batons and gas.

(I said left, I meant right.)

I didnt see the trouble but they blocked those gates at the top of the stairs to make sure people go in the right section. So they let me through one of those gates to get to 21. The stairs led to two sections.

There was no need for those gates to exist.

They were to separate the sections. Hence the ticket check.

A few of ours seemed to be struggling with the stronger beer. I don’t know if that contributed. By the end of the game things were a lot more sober with no alcohol on sale. 

[Ads]

I know, but it was Villa both sides. They created a needless bottle neck at the top of the stairs as they were so concerned about getting you on the left or right, but not apparently standing in the gangways or the stairs. Obviously they needed to he CS gassed though.

[TheToffnar]

Thought it was a classic Emery performance. Sharp in defense, pretty clean midfield game and tactically astute overall. Forward players let us down a bit, but it was a real comfort to see that level of composure from the team in general given how pathetic some of our efforts have been the last few weeks.

I'd have been relatively happy with a 0-0, so pretty ecstatic with a win.

[PaulWinch again]

I’ve said it on here already, but worth reiterating, Pau is so important to the structure of the side. We weren’t perfect by any means, and we don’t always perform when he does play, but our chances of putting in a coherent display go up a lot with him there. The defensive line is stronger, and the ability to play out of the back improves across all the players at the back.

[tomd2103]

I’ve said it on here already, but worth reiterating, Pau is so important to the structure of the side. We weren’t perfect by any means, and we don’t always perform when he does play, but our chances of putting in a coherent display go up a lot with him there. The defensive line is stronger, and the ability to play out of the back improves across all the players at the back.

The much discussed injuries to Kamara, Tielemans and McGinn have been a major part in our recent decline in form, but Torres has also been missing and not in form during that period as well.  He was a regular and playing well in the run of wins we had earlier in the season. 

I've only picked up on it recently, but it is quite noticeable how much more of the ball our LCBs seem to have than Konsa does.

[cdward]

Pau is more positive and decisive on the ball than Mings.
Mings tends to slow the play and passes sideways and backwards more.
Pau is more dynamic and is better at finding the progressive pass from defence to attack.

[Dave]

Pau is more positive and decisive on the ball than Mings.
Mings tends to slow the play and passes sideways and backwards more.
Pau is more dynamic and is better at finding the progressive pass from defence to attack.

It also means that the pass from defence tends to happen about twenty yards further up the pitch when it's Pau doing it, which in turn pushes the midfield into the middle of the pitch and the fowards are then receiving the ball thirty yards out.

When it's Mings and Konsa, DL / Onana tend to drop back to thirty yards from our own goal to collect the ball, it means that everything we do is happening further back and it's much harder for things for the game to happen in our attacking third.

[paul_e]

More important than any of that, Pau is better at playing the offside trap, and given how high a line we play that is a huge part of how we defend.

[Rigadon]

We were shite for the first 15 mins, but pretty solid after that.  Something seemed to change tactically but I'm not clever enough to be able to articulate what that was.  We were also a bit more aggressive in midfield.  Added to that, I though that was the best ref I've seen is a long time.

Amazing to have SJM back as others have said.  Thank fuck!

[LeeB]

More important than any of that, Pau is better at playing the offside trap, and given how high a line we play that is a huge part of how we defend.

Spot on. The feel of games are entirely different when that's working, it gives us control and just increases frustration and mistakes in the opposition.

[TheToffnar]

We were shite for the first 15 mins, but pretty solid after that.  Something seemed to change tactically but I'm not clever enough to be able to articulate what that was.  We were also a bit more aggressive in midfield.  Added to that, I though that was the best ref I've seen is a long time.

Amazing to have SJM back as others have said.  Thank fuck!

Honestly think it was Onana switching on. Looked more progressive, owned his patch defensively and gave Luiz the confidence to move forward. He was also very good at moving out wide to provide cover for Bogarde at times. It's the most lively I;ve seen him for some time.

[brontebilly]

Pau is more positive and decisive on the ball than Mings.
Mings tends to slow the play and passes sideways and backwards more.
Pau is more dynamic and is better at finding the progressive pass from defence to attack.

It also means that the pass from defence tends to happen about twenty yards further up the pitch when it's Pau doing it, which in turn pushes the midfield into the middle of the pitch and the fowards are then receiving the ball thirty yards out.

When it's Mings and Konsa, DL / Onana tend to drop back to thirty yards from our own goal to collect the ball, it means that everything we do is happening further back and it's much harder for things for the game to happen in our attacking third.

Thought Luiz still dropped back a lot last night. He combines well with Torres so I don't mind that. Maatsen out there would give them a much better wide option on that side too. Onana is a liability getting ball off the back so best he stays out of it. McGinn will give us an extra man in there to play through.

When the ball bounces off Ollie/Buendia/Rogers nearly every time they get it - makes distribution from back very difficult.

[Dave]

When the ball bounces off Ollie/Buendia/Rogers nearly every time they get it - makes distribution from back very difficult.

That is the whole "being further back" issue though.

The quintessential Emery / Villa goal in my mind is Pau picking the ball up from Emi, bringing it / passing it through their pressing attacker to Tielemans, him bringing it / passing it through their midfield to Rogers, Rogers running twenty yards with the ball at their retreating centre-backs and slipping it to Watkins who has peeled off the defender.

But it needs those passes through the pressing opposition attack / midfield. The current version of that is Buendia / Rogers getting the ball in and around the opposition midfield, rather than in the gap between the midfield and defence, meaning they're more likely to just go and lose it.

[PeterWithesShin]

Fair few vids of the treatment of fans including this one

https://x.com/bikesswest/status/2032221030362857572

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

We were shite for the first 15 mins, but pretty solid after that.  Something seemed to change tactically but I'm not clever enough to be able to articulate what that was.  We were also a bit more aggressive in midfield.  Added to that, I though that was the best ref I've seen is a long time.

Amazing to have SJM back as others have said.  Thank fuck!

Honestly think it was Onana switching on. Looked more progressive, owned his patch defensively and gave Luiz the confidence to move forward. He was also very good at moving out wide to provide cover for Bogarde at times. It's the most lively I;ve seen him for some time.

These!
Absolutely spot on!


Good trip...great journey (in difficult conditions) and a win!