Aston Villa v Forest Post-Match Party

[Brazilian Villain]

The only sour note last night was putting on Sweet Caroline straight after the final whistle. Generic slop, I'd rather have heard a drum.

[Dave]

The scale of the unbelievable job  Unai Emery has done as  Aston Villa manager was highlighted by  Ollie Watkins this week.

“The team is pretty much the same as when Dean Smith was here, apart from a few good additions,” Watkins said.

Seven of the starting XI on Thursday were indeed part of Smith’s squad at the start of the 2021/22 season. He was sacked with Villa in 16th place on ten points after 11 games. His replacement Steve Gerrard was sacked 11 games into the following season with Villa on nine points in 17th.

Since then, with a net spend of under £50m, Emery has taken Villa back into Europe, then the Champions League and now has them on the cusp of ending their 30-year trophy drought after his flawless tactics set his brilliant team up to dismantle Nottingham Forest.

Opposite number Vitor Pereira has been at least as impressive since taking over at Forest, albeit on a far smaller scale. He had won eight of his 16 games in charge coming into this game, including all of the last five, and hadn’t lost since a 1-0 defeat to Midtjylland in mid-March.

He’s taken them well clear of the relegation zone and was two games away from rewarding owner Evangelos Marinakis for sacking three managers this season with Champions League football next season.

“He’s not our goalkeeper,” Emery told the TNT Sports reporter when asked about Victor Lindelof’s rumoured start in midfield, in a surprise selection ahead of Lamare Bogarde following Amadou Onana’s injury in the first leg.

In packing the midfield with Lindelof behind John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia, and Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins playing narrowly ahead of them, Villa dominated the ball. Elliot Anderson and Nicolas Dominguez were swarmed at the base of Forest’s midfield, with Igor Jesus and Chris Wood isolated in attack.

James McAtee delivered a lovely cross-field pass for Omari Hutchinson early on as the former Chelsea and Ipswich star curled a shot just wide of the far post, but that was the extent of the danger Forest posed in a first-half to leave onlookers in little doubt as to which manager was winning the tactical battle.

The frustration for Emery will have been that his side hadn’t taken the lead in the tie after they drew level thanks to some stunning footwork from Buendia.

Watkins was very nearly played in by Emiliano Martinez but Villa kept the attack alive after Nikola Milenkovic cut it out the long ball. Post-match recriminations may feature questions as to why neither Elliot Anderson nor Jair Cunha attempted to tackle Buendia, but three quick foot-to-foot touches saw the Argentinian squeeze through the middle of them before his cleverly delayed cross found Watkins for a tap in.

Ryan Yates came on in place of McAtee at the break to add some midfield steel, but a couple of tough tackles from the club captain failed to turn the tide and Villa’s progression to the final felt inevitable after Milenkovic tugged Pau Torres’ shirt in the box and Buendia converted the resulting penalty.

There may never have been a greater disparity in performance level in the history of football than Villa vs Tottenham and this display. The same fans that booed their shameful team off on Sunday were roaring in delight at a near impeccable showing both on and off the ball.

Forest had no answer to the power and close-knit link-up play between Rogers and Watkins, Buendia’s work between the lines, McGinn’s midfield barreling or Tielemans dictating the game behind them. Forest possession was treated with disdain by a Villa team which worked quickly and tirelessly to win the ball back immediately.

“They knew what they had to do and they did it” was the basic but perfect summary from Stiliyan Petrov after the game.

The Forest defence was conspicuous in its absence as decibel levels reached implausible heights at Villa Park when McGinn swept into one corner to seal a comprehensive victory and then the other to rub salt in now weeping Forest wounds.

Forest didn’t turn up but then they weren’t really allowed to by a Villa team playing at their absolute peak under an extraordinary motivator and tactician that the club must cling on to for dear life after turning two-thirds of a Dean Smith team into Europa League finalists. The man is an absolute genius.

[OzVilla]

Last night happened, right? It wasn’t a dream?

Was trying to think of games in which we've consistently been that good, for that long in a game.

Reckon I've got the 1-0 against Man City in 2024, and that's about it. Even headline-grabbers like the 7-2 against Liverpool felt quite chaotic and uncontrolled and on another day would have turned out differently.

Jawdies at home 3 years ago springs to mind as they top 4 and flying.

I could go back to Boro at home in the title year of 81 for total domination but they weren’t in any form (until the following week) at the time.

[Nev]

I was in my seat early last night, only do it for the European games and I was taken aback by the cheer from the Holte as the last few squad members left the pitch. I thought to myself, this is going to be some night.

[Dave]

Last night happened, right? It wasn’t a dream?

Was trying to think of games in which we've consistently been that good, for that long in a game.

Reckon I've got the 1-0 against Man City in 2024, and that's about it. Even headline-grabbers like the 7-2 against Liverpool felt quite chaotic and uncontrolled and on another day would have turned out differently.

Jawdies at home 3 years ago springs to mind as they top 4 and flying.

Good shout.

[cdbearsfan]

I've been on all the forums. Just taking in as much as I can. I've discovered that Sunderland really hate Forest and Brighton really hate us. Everyone saying how loud Villa Park was.

I think it's that the north-east really hate Nottingham, as Nottingham had a reputation for providing scab workers during the miners' strikers in the '80s.

Yeah, that came up a lot. But they also seem to think Forest like Newcastle for reasons I have missed.

[rob_bridge]

Still smiling this morning. Like after beating Tranmere all those years ago.

Woke up my soon to be 7 year old and told him the score. Elated. Even allowed him a pre school YouTube TNT highlights at breakfast time. He will be allowed to watch the final - have to buy an effing TNT sub.

[Dave]

I've been on all the forums. Just taking in as much as I can. I've discovered that Sunderland really hate Forest and Brighton really hate us. Everyone saying how loud Villa Park was.

I think it's that the north-east really hate Nottingham, as Nottingham had a reputation for providing scab workers during the miners' strikers in the '80s.

Yeah, that came up a lot. But they also seem to think Forest like Newcastle for reasons I have missed.

Maybe I've got it wrong, but I reckon those are "Maggie loving" rather than "Magpie loving".

[that_lovin_feelin]

Forest fan here - as a fan who travels up and down the country with Forest, there comes a point where you just have to say... the best team won on the day. Outclassed and outperformed in every single department - you didn't even give us a sniff.

A lot of debate about the celebrations from some Forest fans after the first leg; I wasn't a fan of it tbh, we were 1-0 at half time, that's all it was. At the same time, I'm not going to begrudge people who get swept up in the moment.

Villa are years ahead of where we want to be, but if you'd told me 4 years ago as we entered the Championship Playoffs, that we'd reach the semi-final of the Europa League, I would have thought you were mad.

See you in the Premier League next year - there was a time this season when I didn't even think I'd be saying that!

[rob_bridge]

The only sour note last night was putting on Sweet Caroline straight after the final whistle. Generic slop, I'd rather have heard a drum.

A great song that now been done to death. And beyond.

[cdbearsfan]

I've been on all the forums. Just taking in as much as I can. I've discovered that Sunderland really hate Forest and Brighton really hate us. Everyone saying how loud Villa Park was.

I think it's that the north-east really hate Nottingham, as Nottingham had a reputation for providing scab workers during the miners' strikers in the '80s.

Yeah, that came up a lot. But they also seem to think Forest like Newcastle for reasons I have missed.

Maybe I've got it wrong, but I reckon those are "Maggie loving" rather than "Magpie loving".

Oh FFS. Of course they are.

Seem to like us and hate Thatcher. Good club.

[Monty]

Forest fan here - as a fan who travels up and down the country with Forest, there comes a point where you just have to say... the best team won on the day. Outclassed and outperformed in every single department - you didn't even give us a sniff.

A lot of debate about the celebrations from some Forest fans after the first leg; I wasn't a fan of it tbh, we were 1-0 at half time, that's all it was. At the same time, I'm not going to begrudge people who get swept up in the moment.

Villa are years ahead of where we want to be, but if you'd told me 4 years ago as we entered the Championship Playoffs, that we'd reach the semi-final of the Europa League, I would have thought you were mad.

See you in the Premier League next year - there was a time this season when I didn't even think I'd be saying that!

Honour to you fella, two proper clubs in a European semifinal made a nice change from the usual procession of the Super League scabs. See you next season.

[Martin Carruthers]

Still smiling this morning. Like after beating Tranmere all those years ago.

Woke up my soon to be 7 year old and told him the score. Elated. Even allowed him a pre school YouTube TNT highlights at breakfast time. He will be allowed to watch the final - have to buy an effing TNT sub.

Pretty sure the final's free on YouTube

[cdbearsfan]

Still smiling this morning. Like after beating Tranmere all those years ago.

Woke up my soon to be 7 year old and told him the score. Elated. Even allowed him a pre school YouTube TNT highlights at breakfast time. He will be allowed to watch the final - have to buy an effing TNT sub.

I think the final is usually free to air on YouTube or some such?

[cdbearsfan]

Forest fan here - as a fan who travels up and down the country with Forest, there comes a point where you just have to say... the best team won on the day. Outclassed and outperformed in every single department - you didn't even give us a sniff.

A lot of debate about the celebrations from some Forest fans after the first leg; I wasn't a fan of it tbh, we were 1-0 at half time, that's all it was. At the same time, I'm not going to begrudge people who get swept up in the moment.

Villa are years ahead of where we want to be, but if you'd told me 4 years ago as we entered the Championship Playoffs, that we'd reach the semi-final of the Europa League, I would have thought you were mad.

See you in the Premier League next year - there was a time this season when I didn't even think I'd be saying that!

You were only just behind us last season. If the owner sticks with the manager rather than throwing his toys out of the pram again, and you can carrry your end of season league form on, no reason why you can't challenge for Europe again next year or in the coming seasons. Take care mate.