Bologna v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[kippaxvilla2]

For how ‘poor’ Watkins has been this season he still has 12 in all competitions.

[Matt C]

Like pretty much every European game this season, felt like we did just enough to get the result without overly exerting ourselves.

[Legion]

I've said it before but it's emphasized every time we play, we are the definition of a 'crack European outfit' now

We're the modern day version of how Manchester United used to be. Win ugly.

[PeterWithesShin]

Feels like a bit of a defeat really, who wants to win playing like Arsenal?

[Toronto Villa]

Rope a doped them. We didn't play well but we were decisive. We need to get Rowe. When did he get that good?

[Baldy]

Ollie fantastic second half, Buendia much improved, Konsa imperious, Onana and Tielemans impressed throughout, Torres solid.

Rode our luck a bit but always felt we could step up a gear if we had to.

Bologna 21 home matches in Europa League. 10 wins, 10 draws, ONE LOSS.

Well done lads.

[PeterWithesShin]

[Toronto Villa]

Unai not thrilled with our performance. Certainly not in the first half. Good to hear we have things to work on.

[steamer]

I guess at 0-2 up we were rampant really and had a series of half chances to finish them. When we play at that tempo then no team in this competition will touch us. We dropped off that pace and weren't helped by a mess of substitutions, both in the timing and personnel. They are a mess at set pieces and we got two very soft goals. A mixed performance, some brilliant stuff, some brutal. But 1-3 first leg win is superb. They have taken a lot of grief on here lately but Buendia and Watkins turned the game for us tonight and deserve the plaudits.

Martinez 9 - one outstanding save and was solid throughout when many struggled. Their goal got a little flick off Cash which did him.
Cash 4 - struggled with Rowe's power but left isolated far too often.
Konsa 6 - awful first half but much better after half time
Torres 7 - best of our defence, decent in possession and no calamities out of it
Digne 6 - mixed at best, a bit too safe but maybe that's what Emery wanted tonight
McGinn 5 - not often I'll criticise him but thought he was off the pace tonight. Got nowhere near Rowe for Emi's brilliant save.
Onana 5 - utterly anonymous in first half, more involved after half time but still doesn't not cover the right side anywhere near what Kamara does
Tielemans 7 - took a good while to get going, nothing wrong with footwork but surprised he played 90+
Buendia 8 - struggled like most in first half but his turnover made second for Ollie and was excellent in second half. Not everything came off, one through ball to Rogers stands out, but lots more did.
Rogers 3 - shocking unfortunately. Pathetic in first half, bar one good shot did little right in second half either. His form is a real worry.
Watkins 8 - like Buendia transformed after break. Bullied their centre backs like the Ollie of old. Loved his first and deserved the second.

Subs - Bogarde was shite for their goal, as was Bailey. Maatsen on very late.

Harsh on Onana

[Steve67]

Those are the match marks for a team that lost.

Bailey apart, wanker.

We stepped it up second half and Bologna didn’t have an answer for us. Far better side and the score line is about right. Watkins was excellent.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

King Ollie to the rescue.

Thankfully no McDonalds in Italy.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We were total shit first half but miles better than them second half.

Rogers worst player, Watkins the best.

We still offer little up front, MOTM was Emi Martinez. Without him we'd have lost the game.
Delighted for Watkins, who has really struggled in Europe but Tuchel can't ignore two goals plus it will drive up his value this summer.
Rogers? Love his talent but he's got to raise his game; he's a shadow of the player we know he can be.

[AGRIPPA]

Far better 2nd half, Onana stepped up as did Buendia and Rogers to a certain extent. Chuffed for Ollie.

Great result.

Very kind to Rogers, thought he was poor throughout.

Same, wasteful and poor decision making.

Not played well since the brace against Man Utd for me

[Villa Lew]

An excellent 2nd choice and in the end a deserved win, delighted for Ollie, if he does find his top form for the rest of the season, then that will go a long way helping us to qualify for the CL and of course possibly winning a trophy at the end of the seadon.

[Clampy]

Good win. Thought we'd thrown away the 2 goal lead but we kept going. Could have stepped up another gear if we wanted to as well.

Rowe was excellent. Worth keeping an eye on.