It was scrappy and nervy, but Villa finally got the season’s first win under their belts in the Europa League opener against visiting Bologna. Obviously important for a number of reasons, not least because this competition may prove as important as the league this season.

The game’s lone goal was emblematic of Villa’s struggles so far. A short corner routine that sees Emi Buendia putting it on a plate for Morgan Rogers who whiffed epically. However, the ball found its way to John McGinn, who fortunately found the composure to control and tuck it low into the corner through traffic. It was about the only real moment of composure Villa would muster in front of goal and highlighted how badly Rogers is struggling to find himself.

A small spell of dominance followed, but Villa couldn’t find the second. Bologna regained their footing and from there Villa were often outplayed in the middle of the park. When Ollie Watkins won a penalty after his introduction, it looked like Villa might get that cushion, but in another emblematic moment, a shot straight down the middle found the keeper’s legs and it was nail-biting stuff til the final whistle, with Bologna rattling the crossbar and Bizot needing to make a fine save in the dying seconds.

Not really sure where Villa’s heads would be today if he hadn’t kept that out, but it wouldn’t be good.

Should We Feel Better?
Dunno. In the big picture, we know the team is better than the performances so far. We know things should improve. But everyone’s still at a loss to figure out why we’ve been so poor. Explanations have covered just about every possibility. Finally getting over the line is obviously a big step forward, so yeah, there’s that. “Relief,” if nothing else.

And naturally it should help ease mental pressure, though I imagine Fulham will be more difficult than Bologna. If Villa don’t show signs of progression the pressure will likely be right back on them.

When it comes to the performance itself, it was still that puzzling thing where the team just seem out of sync, and where it looks okay-ish then it doesn’t. Yes, the are new additions, but core players who know each other shouldn’t have so much trouble finding each other, holding onto the ball, or bringing it under control.

Villa did have the right ideas going forward, playing quickly in transition like we’ve seen in our better runs—even if they couldn’t execute. There was more fight and less lethargy, and it was heartening to hear from Konsa that the players didn’t feel Emery’s criticism was unfair. The deeper dives I’ve read relying on sources with more access to those “near the players” seem to bear this out if they’re to be believed.

And likewise, they point to a funk caused by whatever confluence of factors over the summer rather than some of the more detailed criticisms of selections and tactics. Nothing’s going to work if Rogers suddenly looks like he’s never seen a football before. The question is why does Rogers suddenly look like he’s never seen a football before.

Selections
Getting into these weeds, I didn’t have a problem with what Emery put out there. Guessand needs to play. Malen needs to play. Maatsen needs to play. That’s like £70m–£80m right there.

Should Watkins have started? Should Elliott have at least gotten a run-out if not a start? Dunno.

Ollie seems a complicated situation. From all accounts he probably had his head turned in January. All looked fine on the surface, but then Emery started playing Rashford instead, and Ollie wasn’t getting the CL starts he would’ve craved. To start this European campaign, Malen got the nod. Is it form, or is a strong message being sent? Is it simply because Villa need a second striker and they know Ollie wants to go? Ollie looked good over the summer, so I don’t think it’s form. And I think Ollie would already be gone if Arsenal weren’t continually taking the piss.

Elliott’s another £35m commitment and many were demanding he start. But McGinn and Buendia were chosen, and it was Bravearse who got the goal and brought that physical commitment. I understand the frustration some feel about Buendia, he’s always been a bit polarizing. But he did play some good balls, always looks to keep it moving, tracks back and works hard. If you want quick play, he’s the right idea, though it’s not always going to come off. For me, he’s the moneyball version of Asensio. You get a higher work-rate and about 85-90% of the quality.

Tactics
Again, lots of questions being asked here. Managers live and die by their systems and adaptability. Persistence can be necessary or foolish. One man’s stubbornness can be another’s vindication. Whether by accident or design, Emery doesn’t have the right kind of squad to play the high-pressing, fast-counter styles gaining popularity. Me, I think both the money available and Emery’s stylistic preferences are decisive here.

Like many before him, Emery prefers to play more narrow at the back and has come to rely on the double pivot to protect the CBs and deny the middle. He’ll accept crosses as the price and put his faith on the CBs dealing with them. Kamara is smart and combative but not fast. Tielemans, when available, well, he’s our best player, but not fast. McGinn, combative and a leader, but not fast (whether he’s playing well or not). Bogarde? Looks good enough one minute and lost the next, probably faster than the first three, but doesn’t matter if you’re so up and down. Onana? Long strides and physical, but only patchy availability. Barkley? Really unavailable, though he has quality. Not particularly fast, but okay.

That dictates a lot. Buendia isn’t fast either, but is usually deployed further up like Asensio would be, and he’s not fast either. So, you’re looking to Malen, Guessand, Rogers, and Maatsen for pace among the permanent players (Ollie’s fast enough, too, obviously), but none so far has shown the breakaway pace of some others who terrify on the counter. Sancho is quick, but I’m not sure he’s blazing fast in open ground. Haven’t seen enough of him.

This all dictates a certain conservative approach. Emery knows Villa are vulnerable to quick counters and for whatever reason, our offside trap hasn’t been nearly as effective as it was to start. Last night was a rare flashback. The trick for Villa, as McGinn pointed out after the game, is the quality of the balls and decisions in the forward moves, which are often through the middle. When that breaks down, as it has since the season began, Villa struggle.

What makes that so difficult to overcome is that we don’t have players with consistent long-ball quality apart from Youri. Emery wants Villa to break through and have others join in in sweeping moves. Rogers carrying is one way. Youri passing through, another. Then there’s Ollie holding up or chasing down longer (usually speculative) balls and bringing those others into play. We try to use the flanks, too, of course, but more often it’s the fullback rather than a traditional winger.

The kinds of goals Malen has scored (and Bailey, when he was here) are what Emery’s looking for. He likes an overload to one side, and for Villa to find the space that creates, or he wants quick sequences up the middle. And he wants players to be very fluid. That’s probably the hardest part of his demands. You can look at a lineup, or where players end up in shape without the ball, but you’ll often struggle to define certain players’ positions during a lot of sequences.

Obviously there’s lots more and I’m sure that’ll get brought up, but to my eye, those are the basics.

Takeaway
You’ve got patience if you’re still reading. As I’ve probably said too often, I think Emery has gotten just about the most out of the side that he can: Villa have been punching above their weight. Sustaining that is hard. Everyone has to be at or near their best almost all the time.

The frustrations we’ve heard, like Konsa talking about PSR, seem to indicate the players know this and that at least some of them wanted reinforcements, know we need more quality. And what I wonder is whether what we’re seeing is down to the players having climbed the mountain and being unsure they have it in them again. That’s what ‘feeling sorry for themselves’ really comes down to.

And naturally it leaves some like Ollie, Rogers, and Martinez probably wishing that moves had come off. Big deals, less individual pressure, more glory. Ollie and Emi it makes sense in terms of age. Rogers, well…who knows, he’s young.

Is it fixable? Again, I don’t know. They’ll just have to settle into the grind and find those gears again. Maybe Sancho and Elliott help freshen the mix. Maybe Guessand settles and becomes a factor. Getting Tielemans and Onana back obviously will help. Barkley wouldn’t hurt either, better than bringing on Bogarde to shore things up. Rogers should improve as he probably really can’t play any worse, and I’m only pointing him out so much because he’s so critical to the balance and we know he has a lot more in his locker. I for one don’t want to be pointing out anything but his quality.

Over to you.