Let me say from the off, that I thought we were decidedly poor today.
But then again, there’s no doubt to my mind that the Cherries should have been down to ten men quite early on, after Semenyo already had a yellow and then grabbed one of our lads by the shirt, followed by a yank on the arm.
It was blatant too and right in front of the referee.
I’m usually very loathe to call referees out, because I, for one, wouldn’t want the job, but no matter how I look at it, shirt pulling is a yellow card. I’m sure it’s been written into the rules.
Yet this referee totally bottled the decision because the player was already on a yellow.
That is just plain ridiculous. Okay, I get it if it was a borderline niggly tackle. Nobody wants to see players sent off.
But when it’s as blatant as that, he has to be booked and sent off. Them’s the rules.
So, my first rant is over and now it’s onto my second.
We were awful today.
Again we totally lacked any pace and intensity to our game. The crisp passing has all but disappeared and I’m wondering now if tiredness is beginning to set in.
Yet the noticeable thing is it was their players who were suffering cramp, as opposed to ours.
Maybe we demonstrate it in slowness of thought as opposed to physically?
Talking of slowness, how poor was our defence?
I don’t think they were called into action a vast amount, but every time they were, they looked terrible.They didn’t attack the ball at all and seemed quite content in just watching and waiting to see what happened. That’s shockingly not good enough as a defender and you have to want to get on the ball before the opponent does.
It was just poor all round and if Martinez hadn’t been at the top of his game, we could easily have conceded another three goals. Against Bournemouth.
The absolute truth is if we can’t beat these sorts of teams, we have no hope of reaching the Champion’s league.
I know Emery is a god, but I think he got decisions wrong again. Why was Konsa taken off? He did nothing wrong for me and his problem was being played in a position to which he is totally unsuited, in my opinion. He’s a good CB and should stay there.
That said, Cash has been off it lately and it’s been highly noticeable. I’d suggest this is now our biggest priority to be addressed come January.
Carlos was terrible and that’s all I’m going to say about him.
Zaniolo should have been subbed before HT and now Ramsey is back, I’d expect him to be playing second fiddle, with a view to maybe using him in the Conference games and then returning him to Gala at the end of the season. I’m quite disappointed about that, but I don’t think he has the makings for the Premier league.
McGinn is another who was invisible today and while it’s hard to criticise him after what he’s done up to now, we struggle majorly when he’s not on his game.
But we lost the midfield and it allowed them to get into that area just infront of the box far too easily. That, combined with our static defence made it far too easy.
We were very lucky we didn’t lose that game, it has to be said.
And now we face Citeh and Arse at home next. Scary on the face of it yet….
Onward and upward.
Not happy.
Again.
Fair comments in the main Badger – just some observations.
I think Bum Bum called it when he said we looked tired and that reflected in our speed of movement and of thought.
I agree with you that Emery may not be totally convinced by Cash straight back – hence Konsa – but to then ask Konsa to play another full 90 minutes is too much. So both McGinn and Konsa (who was excellent again today – Southgate take note) were given 20 minute breathers.
I have some sympathy for Zaniolo as we keep playing him on the left side which is not his preferred position and I think (being uncomfortable) shows in his decision making. I agree with you that Ramsey will be first choice in this role going forward.
We (the defence and Luiz) missed Kamara today. His natural ability to drop into defensive positions isn’t a skill that comes naturally to Tielemans – although I did think he had a decent game. It just highlights how important pairs on the pitch are to the effectiveness of a team.
Plus points – we didn’t give up; Martinez outstanding again; more minutes for Moreno and Ramsey; we continue to create chances and Watkin’s goal – another strikers goal out of the top draw.
UTV
Villa away to Middlesbrough in the 3rd of the FA Cup.
Middlesbrough will fancy that given our inability to get past the 3rd round.
Yep and we’re shite away, it seems.
Badger, I know it’s controversial, but if someone offered us the ECL cup and fourth place right now, guaranteed, would you forfeit the Cup this year? I definitely would and wouldn’t even take a second to say “absolutely, YES!!!”
Rodri and Grealish both on 5 cards, so won’t be available against us.
Rodri will be a big miss for Man C.
Wasn’t this weekend the last of the five card tot up before it increases to 10? Certainly is in the Championship.
Answer my own question – no – it’s five cards within the first 19 games then a total of 10 thereafter with a two match ban
We were ‘leggy’. Ref let Bournemouth get away with too many yellow cards. We came back twice. With a stunning equaliser. I get the feeling we’re running on fumes at the moment which is entirely understandable. Has Carlos been brought in to reduce the burden on Konsa and Pau? I do like the way Pau goes forwards and Carlos and Konsa slip into a CB pairing.
Moreno and JJ need get fully match fit asap. McGinn, Diaby, Luiz all look like they desperately need a week on the beach. No football, just sun, sea and surf…(no s£x as it’ll wear them out!!). Kamara has had a week off and i hope he’s been using the downtime well.
We’re relying on adrenaline to get us through the next 2 games but I reckon we’ll beat at least one of Arse and Citeh.
We need fresh legs. Please don’t let this be another Gregory/ Ellis situation when success is so close. I know I sound like a broken record, but who’s coming in during the January window? I’d put a significant amount of money on wheels turning in Monci’s office!!!!
Wednesday’s games are all on Amazon don’t forget.
On the subject of TV games, I’d have also put money on the EPL breaking away from Sky and broadcasting themselves. It’s the only logical reason for Sky cutting back on all their decent pundits. It’s bloody amateur hour there now…Sky’s last throw of the dice perhaps?
Badger, Rodri is a massive miss for them, totally f**£ing hate the fella but he’s the cog that keeps them turning.
Dirty horrible player, breaks things up with snidy blocks and fouls ( he constantly gets away with) and keeps the globe trotters ticking over .
Great news he’s out 😁
Excellent news, indeed. I wonder if the FA would be so kind as to hurry through a ban for Haaland after he completely lost it and has since gone on to criticise the ref’ on social media?
What is sure is that Villa will have to take the game to them IF we want to get a win. Having said that, I would take a draw, even a 0-0 right now. Not because we should fear them, but pragmatically, it keeps us within touching distance – the same with Arsenal. It puts the breaks on them and keeps us in touch. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if Emery went ‘Mourinho’ and ‘parked the bus.’ I want the Villa to stay in the top 4 and still be within touching distance of the summit come the new year. And I don’t care how we do it!
UTV!
Mings and Konsa played consistently together last season as CB’s and we were excellent defensively when Emery came in. This is why I don’t understand swapping Konsa out to RB when Cash is available and didn’t play too many minutes on Thursday. Konsa struggled against Semenyo in the first half and Carlos looked like a player who has hardly figured this season. I agree with Badger that we need another RB because we never replaced Young who I think we should have kept.
We also missed Kamara who allows the likes of Luiz and McGinn to get further forward.
We were lucky overall to get a point although if the referee hadn’t bottled it, we would have played against 10 men for most of the game. The disallowed goal thanks to VAR is another gripe I have because it took an eternity to make the decision. Does the clear and obvious not apply to offsides? Whatever the rules, VAR is destroying the game and it’s taking away what makes football the standout sport in that we can’t celebrate goals anymore without thinking is VAR going to get involved.
The plus points are Moreno and Ramsey getting more minutes and the fact we are at Villa Park for the next two games. Rodrigo being out is a big plus too. Grealish being out isn’t a big deal as far as I’m concerned unless Doku is out too.
Overall we need to be delighted that we are where we are. I don’t think we are good enough for top 5 if I’m being honest. I would be happy with 6th and winning the Europa Conference.
Lots of fair comments. Here’s my take:
Excellent away point after a tough game on Thursday against an in form and dangerous team. Personally, I can’t ask for more.
Delighted with the resilience coming back twice, especially late in the game.
I believe Cash was being protected for the two massive games in the next six days. A back up is needed in January as Konsa is not a RB but Cash is not a machine and can be prone to injury.
Confirmed that Zaniolo is poor. To be honest, I couldn’t see where the enthusiasm was coming from earlier in the season. An upgrade needed in January and Buendia is missed. Badly.
I would take two draws this week with the aim staying in touch in the top 4 then smashing Sheffield and Burnley later in the month…
All in all, this is where it gets tougher and we’re in pretty good shape. The sooner Ramsey sparks the better. If it’s this week, we might get an early Christmas gift. If not, it will happen, and when it does, we’ll go up a gear.
Keep it real. We’re not title contenders this season.
UTV!
P.s. I believe we are good enough for top 4 or 5. Just need to get through a very tough month and get reinforcements in January…
In total agreement BFR, not our finest 90 minutes but they showed grit and character to come back twice against robust opposition.
Considering the workload on the players due to our European adventures I don’t think we should be over critical.
The title?
Now wouldn’t that be something?
But a bridge too far given the quality and depth of the current squad?
Badger you seen as I did in every department, just don’t know what to think with the two main games coming up, we needed that game today it was important to us but I didn’t see one player make the effort too win the game ,
I did notice that it was from Bournemouth win the ball at all cost , that ref did bottle it and yes sending off was justified. Still carry on regardless and hope they wake up by Wednesday.
Tbh, I was expecting someone to complain and say I’m being unfair and we can’t be expected to win every game etc.
Which would have been very fair comment.
But my retort would have been that if you want to achieve the ultimate, you have to think top level, where you’re never happy to say “we did well, but we can’t be expected to win ’em all”.
While I might come across as constantly moaning, I am appreciative of where we are 🙂
Anyway, in other news, Amazon have lost their package for the next 3 year stint and Sky have increased their grip;
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/amazon-prime-miss-premier-league-191410681.html
Oh well Amazon are a thorn in SKY’s side in other ways? 😃
Very clever 🙂
And long may it last, the thieving gets.
Stick it to the man? 😁
BBC
“Kurt Zouma: West Ham offer £25,000 for information after defender’s house burgled”
Cat burglar maybe?
Very good RSS 🙂
Fascinating interview with Dougie:
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13018760/luiz-transfer-links-flattering-but-i-love-aston-villa
Bournemouth are a better side than their current league position. it took their new manager a few months to get his ideas across so they collected few points at the start. They are quick in many positions, and have a genuine two-sided attack. Villa were below par with Kamara out, and McGinn doing his invisible man act 10 yards deeper than usual. I share the concern that the ref bottled the Semenyo decision. A shirt-pull is so easy to decide, nobody would have criticised the ref if he had given the second yellow. The reason it is difficult to win away is because the home crowd has an influence, not on the players so much as on the referee.
Canadian Pete jibs about the Cherries little pitch. Wrong – little stadium yes, but the pitch is the standard EPL size 105 metres by 68 metres. Same as Villa Park and over half the other grounds. The small pitches are Fulham, Palace and Chelsea.
I think our 100% home record cannot survive Citeh and Arsenal in the same week. Particularly Arsenal with their skipper and Rice capable of scoring with shots from the edge of the area, where we usually leave a hole.
Arsenal with a last 10 second winner last night. Jammy gits. I’d love to take the smug smile of Artetas face on the weekend. I hope we give it our all and stick it to Pep tonight too who is fully expecting to just cruise to their 4th title in a row. At this point I’d rather Klopp’s Liverpool win the league than Pep or Arteta and thats saying something!