Az Alkmaar 1- 4 Villa; Spanked. Who are ya?

What was I worried about?
Is it unfair of me to say that AZ played like a bunch of total amateurs?
Truthfully, I don’t think it is and my over-riding thought was that they need to learn how to play the offside rule. How can a professional team get that so wrong, so many times?
Anyway, that’s their problem and I quite frankly loved watching this game.

Make no mistake about this.
We made AZ look like a bunch of total amateurs. I’d say Stevenage, but we all know how that went.
Seriously though, we basically abused the opposition here.
How on earth was it so easy? is what I keep asking myself.
I don’t believe for one second that we’re the best team on earth, hence totally invincible, but wow, AK offered no resistance and we embarrassed them, in my opinion.
I’d say if we keep putting a proper team out, instead of messing about with the second string, we have a decent chance of a bit of silverware here.
Will Unai and more impotrantly, the owners see it like that though?
I do hope so.

74 Comments

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  1. Badger123
    Badger123 October 29, 2023 at 1:27 pm . Reply

    Sorry lads I slept in after getting back late and just haven’t had time to think about the game.
    I’m very wary in predicting a 2-0 win.

    Subs: Olsen, Chambers, Lenglet, Carlos, Iroegbunam, Dendoncker, Tielemans, Traore, Bailey. Notice no Duran.
    Hmm.

    1. Ardent Villain
      Ardent Villain October 29, 2023 at 1:44 pm . Reply

      I’m a bit of a believer in the ‘law of averages’ – every brilliant run comes to an end sometime, etc., – so if we get that 2-0 I’ll be more than happy.

  2. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum October 29, 2023 at 2:17 pm . Reply

    Emery said Duran has a slight injury. No details though…

    1. Bill Pearson
      Bill Pearson October 29, 2023 at 2:30 pm . Reply

      Have faith Ardent Villain , it’s Zinolio I’m worried about .He’s missing great chances and now giving yellow cards away .

  3. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum October 29, 2023 at 2:24 pm . Reply

    Nice one Meatball!!!!

  4. Badger123
    Badger123 October 29, 2023 at 2:50 pm . Reply

    Going well and looked like we could have had a boatload for a while.
    We’ve got to be careful though, they have enough about them to catch us on the counter.
    Just a bit more clinical and we should be okay.

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 October 29, 2023 at 3:00 pm . Reply

      Welcome back Badger.

      I agree with you – Luton have reorganised and playing a low block hoping to catch us over extended so rather spoiling the flow of the game.

      I would substitute Zaniolo with Bailey at half time and look to overload the flanks rather than trying to play through the lines.

      1. Hitchens60
        Hitchens60 October 29, 2023 at 3:05 pm . Reply

        Should I apply for a managers job – probably not – go for a pundit role instead 🙂 🙂

        1. OLL again
          OLL again October 29, 2023 at 6:57 pm . Reply

          Manager or Special Teams Hitchens. Do you look like Southgate in a wig? If so you could replace McPhee. But not a pundit please: the presence of Mikah Richards proves you need to be a clown to qualify.

  5. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson October 29, 2023 at 3:06 pm . Reply

    You got your wish Hitch

  6. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum October 29, 2023 at 3:20 pm . Reply

    Please take the insufferable Linekar’s seat asap, Hitch!

  7. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum October 29, 2023 at 3:22 pm . Reply

    3-0!!!!

    This could now turn into a route!

    1. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand October 29, 2023 at 3:25 pm . Reply

      Good God all this scoring lots of goals and constantly winning is just sooo boring 😁

      1. Bum Bum
        Bum Bum October 29, 2023 at 3:26 pm . Reply

        It is Ron. I can’t take much more of this dross…😇

        1. The Ron Saunders Stand
          The Ron Saunders Stand October 29, 2023 at 3:29 pm . Reply

          🤣🤣

  8. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum October 29, 2023 at 3:46 pm . Reply

    Oops! Bit of a mix up there…

    1. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand October 29, 2023 at 3:54 pm . Reply

      Pau Torres my Man of the match, superb display.

  9. Ardent Villain
    Ardent Villain October 29, 2023 at 3:59 pm . Reply

    I’ve only heard the radio commentary, but it didn’t sound as if we were on top form today?

    1. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand October 29, 2023 at 4:03 pm . Reply

      Luton didn’t come to play Ardent, just not to concede too many.

      1. Ardent Villain
        Ardent Villain October 29, 2023 at 4:17 pm . Reply

        I see that B’ham Mail /Live have made McGinn MOM, the Radio WM commentary suggested it was Digne…

    2. Holte
      Holte October 29, 2023 at 5:06 pm . Reply

      It was a comfortable win that probably should have been 4 or 5! Konsa upset Martinez with a misguided header robbing him of what should have been a clean sheet. We got a bit sloppy after that and Dendoncker nearly gifted them a second.
      Thankfully another 3 points and a gap has opened up between us and 6th!
      We have a full week now before Forest game so a chance for players to get a rest.
      UTMV!

  10. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum October 29, 2023 at 4:29 pm . Reply

    Ardent, we never had to leave 2nd gear. Considering all the extra matches we’re playing with a depleted squad, not breaking our backs with 3 points in the bag was a wise move in my eyes.
    Digne, Luiz, Pau, Cash, Konsa, McGinn, Emi, Diaby, anyone could have had MOTM.
    Forest away next?

    1. Ardent Villain
      Ardent Villain October 29, 2023 at 4:34 pm . Reply

      It does make sense, although it sounded as if reather than ‘managing’ the last 15 minutes and 3-up, we switched-off?

      Again, I’m only going by what I heard on the radio today

      1. Bum Bum
        Bum Bum October 29, 2023 at 5:04 pm . Reply

        We did switch off or it could have been a bit of fatigue…We didn’t play to the whistle that’s for sure. I’ll forgive them though!!! 🙂

      2. Hitchens60
        Hitchens60 October 29, 2023 at 6:18 pm . Reply

        Yeah, we got a bit sloppy last 15 minutes and Luton finally decided to try and play football!

        Overall we were in total control; almost too easy – Luton’s first shot came in 61st minute – from outside the box launched into the stands.

        1. BFR
          BFR October 29, 2023 at 7:20 pm . Reply

          To be honest, they looked a tad tired, which is understandable. Forest and Fulham before the international break. Then an extremely busy December including City and Arsenal at VP over the space of 3 days, preceded by Spurs away at the end of November. I would suggest a big effort for maximum points needed in the next 2 games because points will be dropped in December. Very busy and tough schedule on the horizon. I hope the board have their shopping list for January ready! Give King Unai the tools he needs to get the job done! Onwards!

          1. The Ron Saunders Stand
            The Ron Saunders Stand October 29, 2023 at 9:12 pm . Reply

            Sad news Charlie Aitken has passed away.
            Rip Charlie.
            https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/october/29/tribute-to-charlie-aitken/

  11. little8
    little8 October 29, 2023 at 5:45 pm . Reply

    Ahhh brilliant being a villa fan at the moment I think we will get better as well as the new,newish boys are starting to really show their quality as well Woo hoooo

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum October 29, 2023 at 5:52 pm . Reply

      Funny isn’t it how suddenly the 4 star players who are out aren’t being missed simply because those who have come in are performing better than we could ever have expected.
      Just wait until they’re all back!!!!
      UTMV!!!!! (Raises tumbler of single malt…).

  12. Mark
    Mark October 29, 2023 at 6:59 pm . Reply

    So sad to hear about the passing of Charlie Aitken today. All time record appearances for the club, which will surely never be beaten. Rest in Peace.

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 October 29, 2023 at 9:06 pm . Reply

      That is sad news – what a great servant of the club (660 games) and a super attacking left back.

      No better sight than seeing Aitken marauding forward.

      Thank you for the memories RIP Charlie.

  13. OLL again
    OLL again October 29, 2023 at 7:06 pm . Reply

    It came over on the box as a bit flat. It takes two teams to make a game of it, and Luton accepted their fate when they conceded first. Villa achieved their targets: 3 points and joint top league goals for early enough – after which not getting injured must have been the priority.

  14. Holte
    Holte October 29, 2023 at 10:51 pm . Reply

    Sad to hear of the passing of Charlie Aitken, our record appearance holder. RIP club legend!

  15. OLL again
    OLL again October 30, 2023 at 5:10 pm . Reply

    CHARLIE AITKEN
    I was already a Villa fan when fate determined in Junior School that I should be a left-back – so Charlie Aitken was my role model. His style was old-fashioned even then. When a winger ran at Charlie with the ball, Charlie would run at the winger! There would be a crack, a thud and occasionally a scream – then Charlie would continue up-field with the ball. I watched carefully and noticed that Charlie would block the ball with his foot and ensure the inevitable impact of limbs had Charlie’s kneecap hitting his opponent below the kneecap. The winger’s forward momentum would pivot him about that point of impact head-first into the ground, his feet would come off the ball and Charlie would come away with it. It looked painful, I was fearful of trying it, but it did work and to my surprise the bangs on my kneecap did not hurt.
    Charlie perfected the technique without injuring himself – hence his record appearances for Villa. When I last saw him – he was a hospitality host in the Trinity Road Dining Room, always cheerful.

  16. Badger123
    Badger123 October 30, 2023 at 5:51 pm . Reply

    I remember Charlie Aitken and he was one of my favourite players because of his consistency.
    One of the things I read about him was the fact that he played five seasons as an ever-present. That’s just amazing especially with the state of the pitches and his style, which was combative, to say the least.
    I don’t remember him being a particularly big bloke either.
    Amazing player and such a good pro.
    There’s no chance his record will get anywhere near being broken, imo.

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