Aston Villa (H) - Post-Match Thread

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Wouldn't have counted anyway, Alvarez was offside in the build up i think

That's made me feel so much better :)

 

[LongsightM13]

Akanji really is the £16m defender he is.

Doesn't get touch tight, Pep screaming at him repeatedly to do so.

Can't win shit in the air and positionally weak.

The drop off is huge which is a shame, because he looked composed on the ball when he first arrived.

Walker has defo peaked and, dare I say it, losing a bit of pace.

De Bruyne continues to frustrate and be careless, while Mahrez played for himself.

Decent first half from Bernie, Gundo and Rodders, and job done by then.

A second half to forget, such was the boredom.

Walker has definitely lost a yard this season, some players are getting by him now who he would have burned off even last year. Still a great player but may need to think about replacing him sooner rather than later. And with a proper defensive, pacy, recovery full back, not a teenager who can play in CM

 

[youngbob]

Keep seeing people saying that Villa's attempt at the end that hit the bar would have been a world class goal.

No it wouldn't have been, because Duran was about a yard offside when the ball came through. Our defenders did their job.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

Not applicable?
I’d play Bernardo there again, his energy and ability to keep the ball will really help us with the midfield battle

I wouldn’t play him there on Wednesday night as he would have a torrid time against Saka. Ake did a good job on him the other week so think he will get the nod. I’d put Bernardo there when we are playing against teams where they want to stay in their own half.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Not applicable?
I’d play Bernardo there again, his energy and ability to keep the ball will really help us with the midfield battle

Yep, I think we need to show balls and be brave. Our inverted full back is there primarily to allow us to build up better, which in turn gets us higher up the pitch, which in turn allows us to deal with counters better and defend better. So there’s an argument we could actually give up fewer chances with Bernardo there instead of Ake. Build up is the most important part of the game for the way we play, so I say we play the players that maximise how well we do that. And this game was the perfect glimpse into what we can be like without Ake, Akanji and even Lewis (nothing against him, but we’re better with experienced midfielders playing midfield right now). Let’s be brave.

 

[Cotton Weave Blue]

Keep seeing people saying that Villa's attempt at the end that hit the bar would have been a world class goal.

No it wouldn't have been, because Duran was about a yard offside when the ball came through. Our defenders did their job.

View attachment 68987

Looks onside to PGMOL

 

[TheThirdDeano]

Keep seeing people saying that Villa's attempt at the end that hit the bar would have been a world class goal.

No it wouldn't have been, because Duran was about a yard offside when the ball came through. Our defenders did their job.

View attachment 68987

You know that doesn’t stop them giving it mate!

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Disgusting treatment of Jack from cheap Villa fans. HE gave his all for that club & they boo him. Shit club shit fans. So glad he got the penalty

City, on the other hand have class fan’s who always treat ex players with respect- unless, of course, they diss us after they’ve left. Are you listening James?

If someone could make this point on the Villa website???

He oozes class and was our only player to come down to the SS/110 corner to clap fans of both teams, he did clap what was left of the villa ones nut they just boo'd again. Fucking peasants.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Do you mean like the one he saved from coutinho

And that vicious cross along the ground that he had to cut out, otherwise it was a certain goal. That also came from a brilliant through ball by Coutinho. Irritates me how that guy saves his best performances for us.

 

[Maine Rd]

Just my opinion. We all have one.

I wouldn't start Mahrez at Arsenal.

Bernie to come into the middle with Rodri and Gundo.

Foden wide right for Mahrez. Walker, Dias, Laporte and Ake in a traditional four.

I’d be ok with this even if it meant KDB left out.

Mahrez rarely picked for the big games in the PL away from home over the last few seasons. I don’t trust him away from the Etihad. Grealish / Mahrez in those wide areas aren’t enough of a goal threat compared to what we’ve had there in recent seasons with Jesus/Sterling/Sane/Foden.

I just wonder if Pep might use the Haaland knock to bench him & go with the false 9 (also leaving Alvarez out). That will enable him to get all his midfielders in & say Foden up top with KDB a bit wide right.

Our away form is a little worrying for me, just doesn’t seem as fluid & lack of goal threat in recent games away from home, especially against better opposition.

We need a 1-0, stuff of champions performance.