Following a downbeat performance and loss to Everton, Villa bounced back nicely with big away wins in Istanbul and Newcastle. The side are nicely positioned in the top two of the Europa League heading into the final league phase match tonight and remain third in the Premier League.
The latest run has come at a cost, though. First, Boubacar Kamara had his season ended in the FA Cup tie against Spurs. Then of course John McGinn and Youri Tielemans suffered injuries that will sideline them for long enough to potentially affect the trajectory of the season.
As a result, Villa have somewhat improbably engineered a reunion with Douglas Luiz. He’s had a rough spell since leaving Villa for Juventus, but obviously was a key contributor in his prior tenure at Villa Park. One hopes that slotting back into a side and environment he knows will be a boost to him and the club.
Tammy Abraham is also rejoining in a move that by now seems destined. With Donyell Malen departing to make room, we hope Abraham fits the role Emery envisions more so than he. He certainly is better suited to alternating with Ollie. Again, he’s not had the easiest time of it, but given all the constraining factors, he’s probably about the best Villa could’ve hoped to bring in.
Then I wake up to see Guessand is apparently is off to Palace. I’ve no idea what his departure heralds. We’ve obviously had to sell to buy, so I’m hopeful this means another player coming in. I’ve not been unhappy with the Harry Wilson rumors, but honestly, given the sudden holes in our midfield, I’d be happy to see almost any competent midfielder come in. Bonus points if they’re a goal threat.
The one bit of news I did read that I don’t care for at all is that Real Madrid may be more interested in Emery than Klopp if Arbeloa isn’t kept on and that they’re trying to gauge his ‘availability’. This is troubling because I could easily see Emery being tempted by a return to Spain more so than some of the basket-case clubs he gets linked to in the Prem. On the other hand, these are all high-pressure jobs with lots of meddling and difficult personalities. Emery likely wouldn’t have the same control and it’s hard to see Vinicius Jr, for example, being as willing to listen as Morgan Rogers.
But there’s nothing we can do about that.
What Villa can do is beat Salzburg and gain the home-leg advantage in the Europa knockout stages. It will certainly be Emery’s focus, and would be a significant boost to the rest of that campaign.
Villa then face a reasonably favorable run of league fixtures, but as we can all see, we’re very thin. Getting through to having Youri and SJM back without losing ground in the league will be Emery’s next challenge. It’ll be just about six weeks before the Europa knockout phase begins on March 11, so at least there’s a let up in the frequency of matches and we might be able to get both back at the most critical juncture.
Clearly we’re going to need the best of Buendia, Onana, and Bogarde in the meantime. Onana’s niggles worry me the most. Wouldn’t hurt if Sancho could finally kick on now that he’s netted. I also wouldn’t mind Ross Barkley somehow managing to at least help make up the numbers and provide some rotation.
Anyway. One match at a time and welcome back, Tammy and Doug. Here’s hoping these reunions put a smile on everyone’s faces and help us weather the storm.
Over to you.
Tammy, Dougie & Salzburg
Welcome back to the intrigue that is the Aston Villa hope that may or may not kill us all. Even if it is just the eurocrap.
Have to say I wouldn’t mind winning this. Might be second tier, but we need to learn how to get all the way through.
I dribbled this before I saw the team sheet. I’m intrigued and fully engaged now. How are all the surprises and Hemmings going to perform. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Interesting lineup for Salzburg: MARTINEZ; Bogarde, Lindelof, Mings, Digne; HEMMINGS, Onana; ELLIOTT, Buendia, Sancho; Watkins. Ones in CAPS are surprises (to me). It will be fun to watch.
Bravo for Hemmings. Elliott deserves all caps. Well and truly a surprise.
Ty doing some Konsa like fiddling, twiddling and fumbling. Bit he isn’t Konsa. Ridiculous goal for Salzberg.
SPEECHLESS – but it doesn’t rally matter. Mings off and Konsa on? Onana doing Onana things then going down in an agonised heap. Everyone else is just off.
The lack of cohesion is probably to be expected: Elliott not played in ages, Hemmings, first meaningful start. Buendia out wide, Onana not Youri when it comes to progressive passing.
Smooth goal from Rogers strolling in effortlessly.
Totally fab strong foot pass from Cash ON THE LEFT to Mings in the CF position. The cross was so good that it just bounced off Mings head into the goal.
The yoofs get the 3rd goal. Kaden-Young right wing cross to Mr Alobaloba with a low volley into the net. Easy peasy!
Unreal. I get a call I have to take, Roger’s had just scored, then I see 3-2.
Well done the kids and Emery’s substitution magic shines again.
As a note, I’d gotten the feeling with Hemmings and Elliott starting that Emery was willing to sacrifice this result for experience given the injuries and financial constraints.
No idea whether we’ll see Elliott again, but one wonders whether Emery will have to bite the bullet and play him.
That was easy. Just wait to the 60th minute, take off Mr Hyde and put on Dr Jekyll.
Dissapointing first start for Hemmings. Sadly out of his depth. Great debut for Jimoh-Aloba scoring a calmly taken goal. Looked very competant. Elliott did as much as anyone could who has been screwed over for 6 months.
It was a startling game in the end. Martinez my POTM just for being consistent from start to finish.
Yeah, he did struggle, Hemmings. But there’s only one way to learn. Largely just didn’t seem ready for the pace.
Froze my conkers off at VP last night. Only to witness a first half non event. Elliott almost scored in the first minute but that was it from the team. Tyro’s brain fart cost us a goal and at HT I thought 0-1 flattered us, they might have been further ahead.
We had the kick off for the 2nd half. Decided immediately to ignore any moves forward and instead played it backwards, eventually to the keeper and then wide to players on the goal line. They duly lost the ball, the cross came in and it was 0-2. FFS, I was full tonto at this point.
Watkins got injured before HT attempting to pull a through ball down on the stretch. Looked like he pulled a groin to me but soldiered on into the second half before giving way to Rogers. It was Rogers who interchanged with Buendia to haul us back into the game. Then Cash somehow appeared out wide on the left but put a beauty onto Tyro’s head who made up for his first half blunder. Now we had a game. More subs, more kids but Jimoh pops up with the winner.
So it was job done. Elliott’s name received a huge roar from the crowd when it was announced before KO. Hemmings struggled. Jimoh did good work and Young got an assist. It was a case of needs must with the kids.
That we were still in the game by the time Rogers scored was down to Emi. Looking at the final table this morning, I think the draw has been exceptionally kind to us. Six of our eight opponents finished in the elimination places.
So it will be Tammy for Ollie on Sunday who joins the list of walking wounded. Another big game coming up against the Bees.
Salzburg only brought about 200 supporters, if that. But their players fizzed around the pitch with energy. And as far as Real Madrid’s sounding out of Unai goes, we can’t do anything about it. However, I don’t fancy his chances of dealing with the likes of Mbappe, Vinicius Jnr and Bellingham when it comes to his coaching methods. But in football. you never know. Hope we keep him for years, there’s a title to be won in the EPL.
That begs a sacrilegious thought. I wonder if our very ambitious, capable and savvy owners have a backup plan if Emery is tempted away.
Didn’t clickbait link Amorim to us before Emery?
So, here’s what I wonder: V Sports have invested in Real Union, kept Monchi on somewhere, given Emery complete control. There’s a degree of mutual investment/commitment that’s pretty rare, and Emery has a point to prove. So I don’t see him necessarily seeking out change, but as we’ve all said, the revenue constraint has to be so frustrating.
And I don’t know how that gets fixed in the short term. All this buying and selling…maybe he enjoys the wheeling and dealing.
It would just help immeasurably if some of the kids could step through into first-team setup and hitting gold with speculating on players like Alysson.
Yep, young, full of running and well organized. You can see why they ended up with a poor record, but at the same time, have to give them credit for being committed. Just about turned us over.
It’s the Bees up next. They’ve already beaten us this season and knocked us out of the Carabao. Revenge is in the air. One startling fact: Brentford have been awarded 7 penalties this season., Villa awarded 0. Referee is Tim Robinson, VAR Paul Tierney. We owe this team one.
Don’t normally comment on the team sheet BUT just seen that Tammy (big Kev) and Dougie are starting today and it just seems weirdly normal and so what!
Now we are in trouble. They are down to ten men due to a petty little kick back by their player.
2 mins later, Villa 0 brentford 1. It was always going to happen!
Energy conservation mode, as per usual in the first halves. A completely half hearted performance. Second to all of the loose balls. Topped off by a ridiculous goal by Outtara from a hoof over the top – sound familiar.
I’d expect “2nd half Villa” to turn up and actually show some interest in attacking the opponent. Sancho doing a great Guessand impression so far. Not sure what the plan is with Rogers and the 10s, they’re all jogging round like it’s a training run-through
That brentford goal was one of those that I get the feeling wouldn’t have happened with Mings playing.
Dougie playing like he had never been away. Already being main playmaker. Excellent comeback. Tammy looking like a natural fit. Shame about Pau not being the natural defender that Mings is.
Lets hope that the more evolved Villa can sort themselves – at the moment, the physically superior brentford are duffing us over.
Can’t quite believe that. Dreadful performance, never looked like scoring. Fair play, again, to Brentford. Torres should never play against them, there was sod all movement in front of him to benefit his passing anyway.
If nothing else it’s (more) proof that we don’t have the quality to half-arse it against anyone. The intensity has to be right at all times and the first half was a mile off.
I thought that we looked a team of strangers from the start. The usually narrow 10s had both migrated to the wings. Seeing Elliott and Bailey trying to predict each others next touch was a rare source of entertainment in a dull 2nd half. We just looked lost as soon as our goal was ruled out.
Long range shooting completely off today.
Konsa continously in shooting position on the edge of their box but keeps passing sideways. TAKE A FUCKING SHOT!
That stings,Thursday was costly losing watkins and onana,but maybe not keep the young lad to tomorrow wouldn’t hurt,emery needs to have a change of heart mings should have been used as a battering ram near the end
Utterly ridiculous defeat. Brentford physically outmatched us and swatted aside our hesitant, slow, ponderous school of science football. Ballet dancers against sumo wrestlers! Flashback to our crystal palace weakness. Think we’ve lost a bit of ground today.
Honourable mention for Rogers who flogged himself into the ground. Great return for Dougie. Very tidy and competant. Possibly our most composed player but he is obviously not a T’mans.
SULK!
In a nutshell, they duffed us over in the first half and spent the second half going nahna nahna na nah.
VAR they are making it up as they go along. “Factually out of play” that made me laugh. I didn’t see one angle that made the ball look definitely out of play.
Fully agree. The centre backs were criminal today, so slow in moving the ball up the pitch. Konsa especially ambling up the pitch with the ball, instead of just passing it forwards. Buendia and Sancho, very disappointing, Bailey was more decisive when he came on but befuddled by an in-cohesive team performance
That was very hard to wake up to.
Var certainly owes in remainder of season, yes the goal today if it was against I would be fuming, but there is no rule saying that if it wasn’t a corner they rule out goal,today was like the game coutinho made his debut they went back ages to disallow goal
Since wolves game think there was 3 clear red cards not shown to opposition, which fa apologies days later,cup match v spurskamara was injured yet no card one 2 bad tackles in opening mins no carded,then when ollie was celebrating paulhino caused ruckus which we got fined same as spur,last week v Newcastle another shocking referee
We need a break from inept refs var and fa
Fucking robbed. No other description fits. Premier League…Corrupt as fuck rang out around the stadium. Paul Tierney was an unsuitable VAR choice given he comes from Greater Manchester and we’re competing with the Mancs for Champions League. The disallowed goal was plain cheating. Had no real idea inside the ground until Robinson announced his decision.
I’ve looked at several replays since getting home and the facts are, the lino didn’t flag, the ref didn’t whistle, so they play on and the ball moved down the entire length of the pitch before the goal was ruled out ON A FUCKING GUESS. There is no clear evidence the ball was out. It might have been out, but it might have been just kept in. Nobody knows. And as JVilla mentions above, corners are wrongly awarded and goals happen from them. So we get met with words of explanation like “in the same movement”. Just bollocks. The credibility of this league is in the gutter.
We can’t play against 10 men. We lack the nous to winkle out the openings. Proved it time and again. As mentioned above, the ball movement needs to be rapid to prise open such defences. We were way too slow and ponderous with our passing.
In the end we ran out of ideas. Don’t think we’d have scored if the game finished at midnight. Really gutted though by the stench left by the officials.
Damaging weekend for Aston Villa.
The day after and I’m still raging. Paul Tierney has done us like a kipper and he joins Thomas Bramall on the list of officials we never want to see involved again with a Villa match. Unai has been very diplomatic and called it unfair but that we must accept it. Sure, it must be accepted but it wasn’t unfair, it was scandalous, outrageous. The incident wasn’t even in the same attacking phase of play as the odd platitude has claimed. When Bailey was fighting for possession by his own corner flag it was a defensive phase that never turned to an attacking phase until after the ball was played forward. By every metric, the goal should have stood.
It’s the EPL’s fault for making the flawed appointment of Tierney in the first place given he’s from Greater Manchester and who sits either side of us in the league table. A clear conflict of interest. Unless of course it’s part of a wider scheme to ensure that the Arse win the title. And an EPL agenda definitely exists. Examples are everywhere. Fixture arrangements after European nights are often favourable for the few, selection of certain officials for specific games, PSR and SCR regs to keep the playing field uneven, silence about Citeh’s 115 charges to name just a few.
Dermot Gallagher on Sky says he’s “astonished” that people think Tammy’s disallowed goal is controversial. He says the ball was “100% out of play” and “Brentford didn’t have a chance to recover the ball”. Well I’m astonished how he fails to address a goal awarded from a corner that was a goal kick. Or a goal awarded from a goal kick that was a corner. I’m even more astonished that Sky pay this bloke a commission for making such useless comments without addressing the issues involved. Like a different phase of play, it was Bailey’s own goal line he was defending and the attacking phase commenced once the ball moved forward. Like the ball was 100% out of play, nothing available to the VAR was 100% out of play, VAR guessed it.
Sport and Media is largely for clicks. So they are just more focused on entertainment and ad revenue than truth and information. It’s laughable that anyone could say that the ball was “definitely” out of play. It should be the end of their credibility…but they just get to make more bad judgements.
And having had time to sleep on it, I’m even more incensed about how far back they went. We were on our goal line DEFENDING. How on earth that constitutes “they didn’t have an opportunity to set defensively” is well beyond me.
I’m still reeling a bit from this one, particularly by how our margin was narrowed. Between the vital points that decisions cost, injuries, rejuvenating changes at chasing clubs…Just a really deflating result. I hate that we could be looking back at this and Everton costing us a top-four/five finish at the end of it all.
I hope I can quickly regain optimism, but I guess it’s down to the players and Emery. It really is a battle of attrition.
I’m bitterly disheartened that Emery’s sofisticated school of football science is routinely undone by old school football ie fast wingers, brawny tough centre forward and a back line of big no nonsense physical centre halves. The Everton game showed how easily we are beaten by just one big lump up the field completely by passing any midfield of any technical ability. I’ve seen this dismissed as “dinosaur football” elsewhere (you football snob prat) but it kicks our arse every time. It’s all very well keeping the ball, weaving pretty patterns and running rings around the opposition but sooner or later the ball will be in the goalkeepers hand, one big lump and Villa panic stations.
The thing that frustrated me most was Konsa parked almost full time on the centre of the Brentford penalty area line and endlessly passing left and right and never even contemplating a shot. Couldn’t we have engineered a more capable player there? Can Konsa shoot?
Seems that Emery can beat the best but comes up short against the more limited but physically superior and tougher sides.
Don’t so quickly dismiss KISS. Slow burnt rant temporarily suspended.
Keep It Simple Stupid
A time-honored approach, to be sure. Scoring more is probs the answer for teams that play like us.
Glad it’s not just me still smarting from the Tierney cheat sheet. We need to reset. Bournemouth are not an easy fixture at their place. But getting something from the game is a must.
We definitely have to learn the lessons from Everton and Brentford, but there were mitigating factors. Integrating Dougie and Tammy (two key positions) in one training session wasn’t going to be a sure bet. There was also something strange going on with the 10s, starting wide instead of narrow.
I assume that they’ve used the full week to nail down exactly how they want to play.
We were one poor decision away from having a proper run at 3 points…
Team news v Cherries:
Tyro starts as does Ollie and Onana. COYVB.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Digne, Konsa, Mings, Cash, Onana, Luiz, Buendia, Sancho, Rogers, Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Proctor, Lindelof, Torres, Barkley, Maatsen, Bogarde, Abraham, Bailey
Bournemouth: Petrovic, Truffert, Cook, Hill, Senesi, Scott, Jimenez, Adli, Kroupi, Rayan, Evanilson.
Subs: Mandas, Milosavljevic, Dacosta, Smith, Diakite, Unal, Toth, Brooks, Christie.
Excellent double save from the world’s number one.
MAGNIFICENT MORGAN
Excellent set up work and final pass from Sancho on the right to give Rogers a canonball shot and goal.
That was a cracker. Sancho like a new signing there.
No idea what a penalty is. But I do know hat would’ve been given against us.
It’s Anthony Taylor, John. The one who sent off Big Jhon at the Wai Ayes. For being tackled.
Yeah…I’m a bit naive at times.
Impressed with Sancho hard work and ability. Seems fitter, stronger and more committed. Onano size and long limbs blocking a lot of bornemouth midfield moves. Luiz ticking away quietly in midfield. Another worldy piece of work by Martinez just to save a corner. Good punchy game to watch just so long as we are in the lead
Haha…that last bit, yes.
Oh Digne. You let him run right past you FFS.
An annoying simple walk through our left flank and Martinez slow getting down to a low mishit shot inside the left post. Sleepy bobbos lads.
Worldy tipover from number one.
Another worldy!
Well, two points dropped, but lucky to get out with one in the end.
A hard fought draw. Thought all the energy came from the home team. We never really threatened them. The world’s No 1 kept us in the game.
Well that was an incredibly unenjoyable point. The team seemed to lack energy, Digne seemed to literally give up, and it’s another poor performance after a full week of training.
Cracking goal from Morgan, Bailey terrible, Buendia infuriating…I said I’d take a point before the game😀 so happy days.
Very worthy point gained. Bournemouth pummeled us in the 2nd half and we had to channel our inner brentford to hang on. Think Iralo won the battle of the subs today, wasn’t sure if Bailey was a worthwhile sub.We became a bit wimpy with him on the pitch.
Rogers won us the point but Martinez saved us the point multiple times (even though he was slow gettingdown for their goal). Martinez my POTM.
We have 13 EPL games left, 7 home, 6 away. One third of a season to go. Don’t think we are quite ready for a title punt due to squad depth quality but we are still progressing towards that goal. To make sure we stay on course, Champions League is required this season. Firstly, to increase revenue, secondly to help keep our better squad players and thirdly to help attract better quality players. It’s a reasonable assumption that 7 more wins will reach the target and put us on 68 points without worrying what the others are getting. Doable.
Home matches: Brighton, Leeds, Chelsea, West ‘Aamm, Sunderland, Spurs, Liverpool.
Away matches: Wolves, Manure, Forest, Fulham, Burnley, Citeh.
The last 4 away games on that list are in April and May. Hopefully Youri and SJM will be back by then. It’s all to play for.
Fingers crossed that the Onana / Dougie axis can stay intact for several more games. Everytime Onana streches out a long leg for one of those impossible tackles, I worry that he will do himself another mischief. Perhaps he should concentrate on those driving runs and avoid those tackles.
Very hopeful for Dougie, he has been ticking over quietly keeping the ball calmly and moving it along neatly. He played a blinder as a makeshift CDM in the last few games of the covid season. It’s arguable that he saved our season and grew up as a player. He was instrumental in getting us 4th in 2024 even though his (and everyone elses) form crashed in the last 6 matches. He doesn’t get injured very often and usually scores those penalties – if we ever get them. I reckon Dougie could be our talisman. NO PRESSURE THEN DOUGIE, YOU ARE HOME NOW!
I’m expecting Onana to be on the bench against Brighton. Believe Unai doesn’t think he can manage 3 games in a week so he’s being carefully managed. The opposition have Dunk who is 6’15” tall so need some height to negate him. Makes Tyro a necessity if Onana is absent.
Roma have won 2-0 this evening. Malen scored both goals. They’re going to want to buy him after his loan period aren’t they?
Well…I’m back, sort of, and there’s a new page up. I am a bit glum, but nothing raises spirits like three points.
COYVB