Wow. I find myself stunned after watching that utter, utter load of rubbish.
It was that bad that I honestly can’t find a single redeeming feature.
Looking at that, combined with last week’s non-showing, we have serious problems.
I’ll start at the back. Pau. He is never a defender as long as he has a hole in his proverbial. I reckon I’m probably faster than him and I’m old enough to be his grandad.
We pushed up far too much against a side that has oodles of pace, where we have none.
It was all quite simple and incredibly basic. Sit back, wait for us to give the ball away again and then batter us with pace. I’m sorry, but how Emery allowed this is totally beyond me.
Then Komara gets injured so we put Buendia on. Again, I’m sorry, but I don’t see that as the right move at all. I’d agree that we needed creativity, but it was more on the wings. He can go for me. He’s just not productive enough and never has been for the Villa. Don’t agree? Look at his stats.
Watkins never had a look in, Rogers didn’t look anything like getting into the game and McGinn did nothing.
It was so obvious there was something seriously wrong and Emery did nothing to change it until it was far too late.
So what was going on? I believe Emery likes to give players every chance to hit form. It’s how it works. Players just cannot be at the top of their game all the time. I get that.
But we have too many who look frankly awful and need changing out.
But then, you have to question the tactics too. We played the first half so slowly I nearly fell asleep. Yet we upped the pace in the second half, which is something I’ve noticed is a regular thing. Why is that? Why do we let teams get in first, then have to try to haul things back?
It’s poor, in my opinion.
And even though we picked up the pace, it still looked to me like we wouldn’t score in a month of Sundays.
We look totally toothless and I find that seriously concerning.
We had how many corners? And didn’t get close to scoring.
Brentford must have thought all their birthdays had come at once, while I thought it was that bad, I didn’t even watch the last 10 minutes.
I don’t remember the last time I finished watching a game on the telly early.
I can see it happening more and more too, because what was on show today was nothing like entertaining.
I have copied and pasted an article on BBC website as below:-
Do you really think Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Uefa wage ratios are solely responsible for Aston Villa’s sluggish start to the season?
Bar Emi Martinez’s suspension for Newcastle United and Ezri Konsa’s for Brentford, the only change to the side in the opening two games to the one that beat Paris St-Germain in last season’s Champions League quarter-final second leg, was Ollie Watkins starting instead of Marcus Rashford. This is a strong team – and should be playing like one.
Yes, there are big-picture concerns regarding PSR and Uefa wage caps limiting clubs challenging the top six. But let’s be honest, they also exist to protect clubs from themselves.
Since Unai Emery arrived, Villa have had six transfer windows. Of all the arrivals, only Morgan Rogers (£8m initial fee) and Youri Tielemans (free transfer) have been unqualified successes. The jury is still out on £50m record signing Amadou Onana.
Meanwhile, close to £100m has gone on Ian Maatsen, Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand – all benchwarmers so far. Malen and Guessand were brought in to potentially play on the right side, yet this season Emery has persisted with left-footed John McGinn there, disrupting the team’s balance and fluidity.
For a side now with reportedly the 12th-highest wage bill in Europe (10th last season) – above both Newcastle and Tottenham – the toothless display against a Brentford team mid-transition, having lost their manager and key players, wasn’t about PSR. It was about a team being too predictable, and lacking cohesion and quality.
Supporters had to accept higher prices in the name of PSR compliance, but after seeing how money has been spent, naturally patience thins.
Fans don’t want spin. They want a return on their hard-earned cash and at least decent performances.
At the moment, Villa’s issues aren’t down to regulations – they’re down to decisions.
Was that article by David Michaels?
Yep, a MOMS article.
Thought so – has his style all over it.
He’s particularly critical of the prices being charged to fans and the upselling such as The Terrace View but if fans are prepared to pay and it increases the revenue streams then what is the club supposed to do.
I think one of the main issues was the rather offhand way the club communicated (or more accurately – failed to communicate) with fans exasperated by the very poor decision making around celebration of the 150th anniversary.
I hope the new commercial director is an improvement on the last one who, despite his claims, really didn’t achieve much more than alienating the fan base.
Borussia Dortmund have signed England youth international Carney Chukwuemeka from Chelsea on a five-year contract. Dortmund have paid 24m.
He’s only 21 and very talented. What odds he’ll be in the England squad within 5 years? Maybe not in Bellingham’s class, but if Dortmund do what they do with him, we may yet rue letting him go. Oh, and it looks like Chelsea made a small profit, too, which is both ridiculous and impressive (through gritted teeth).
Interesting article, Holte.
And to make the doom and gloom even worse for those who want him, Jackson’s agent is saying the player is on the move in 48 hours.
And it doesn’t look like it’s going to be to the Villa. It’s looking like Bayern.
Not bothered. Too many injuries.
Agreed.
I’m not convinced by Jackson Badger. Overpriced and injury prone. One thing is certain and that is we are another day gone with the smallest squad in the premier league. I read an article that we have a 21 man squad with Sunderland having the most at 35! Considering we have experienced our most successful period since the O’Neill days, It’s a disgrace that we have ended up this way. As long as the Premier League are happy that their favourites can still spend whatever they like, who cares?
Expect a couple of loaners in, Holte.
Cheap ones, at that.
I’m personally not sure we can afford Jackson, because of the wage requirement.
The way we’ve loaned players out for practically nothing, tells me wages is the issue, not necessarily the fee.
We have 21 at the moment including Iling Jr. who will probably be loaned out. We are allowed 23 in UEFA comps so a couple of loanees very likely. But our Juniors can be played but do not count to the tally so expect to see Jimol-Aloba and George Hemmings appear. Also for away Europa matches Bizot in goal and Proctor on the bench.
I have to admire how some of you know and remember things, I’m at a age where at 87 remembering people names , interesting Holte and bloody right I will be interested if he’s learned a lesson from management that’s gone wrong, as I’ve seen from his past a stubborn man , surely player’s have a say in the games why things go wrong, yes McGinn midfielder not right wing , Watkins not getting balls in from crosses. All in all what’s the coaches doing for the money they get . I predicted Grealish would prove you need a ball player, two assists in his first game , Pep you are an idiot as shown in your last match. I now fear we will be struggling this season over lack of understanding the wants at Villa .
It will be interesting Bill if Emery has learned from his mistakes against Palace in previous games. Torres against Mateta, a definite NO! Mings and Konsa MUST play! We need to start the game with high intensity and not wait for the opposition to score before we react. There’s no Kamara for a few weeks so we need to play Tielemans and either McGinn or Onana with McGinn or Rogers behind Watkins. Why not try Maatsen and Guessand on the left with Cash and Malen on the right. That way we have width and a lot more pace. I’m not holding my breath however!
Had a really c**p week.
Villa lose, Phoenix lose out in the Hundred and Warwickshire collapse to Sussex and fail to make the One Day Cup knockout stage.
To top it all my FFT drop from first to fifth in my league after I drop Paqueta from my team.
B****cks 🙂
Anyone notice the width on display at the Everton game? The opposition was soooo stretched. Tons of space.
Still quite amazed at fans calling for Emery’s head considering the leap we’ve made in a very short time under him. It really deas seem as though we’ve been screwed by PSR. Normal service resumed, eh lads?
Asencio back at Villa according to reports! Announced tomorrow???
Asensio, meh! Nearly 30 on high wages. Wants to play number 10 which is Rogers best position. We need quick wide players and a CB.
We have two quick wide players in Malen and Guessand plus Maatson could play as a wing back but it seems Emery doesn’t like playing with them in the team.
It’s becoming very predictable and if, we the fans can see it then it’s a doddle for other EPL managers to set up against us.
We’ll have to see whether the same applies in Europe.
But I agree on the need for a right sided CB.
If reports can be believed Buendia is likely to go to VB Stuttgart either a loan and option to buy or a straight sale. The problem with the loan / buy option is that Stuttgart don’t buy and his value drops even further!
If Buendia is going then it’s probable that Asensio is coming in.
All they need to do is change ‘option’ to ‘obligation.’
Absolutely depressing window getting a bit fed up with football to be honest
Yes it an utter joke and I’d estimate at least 1 player in everyone’s starting 11 besides the top 4 or 6 has head their head turned and waiting for a move to come off before window shuts, leaving morale and motivation all over the place. Newcastle should have beaten us and Liverpool comfortably with Isak playing. I can’t imagine how many are tapped up at palace.
Tbf Emery has tried to damp down transfer speculation with his comments – ‘we must make the most of the players we have’ – ‘we are alert in the market but we have to respect the rules’.
Of course the issue is as fans we want to see exciting new players coming in and the click bait media feed off this. It seems that every club in the Prem is strengthening and can bring in new players whilst the Prem and EUFA seem to have colluded and ganged up on us financially?
And I’m as bad as any fan in this regard! 🙂
You know the saying Hitch, if you stand still you go backwards! I would argue we have ended up worse than stand still so heaven help us. I’m guessing Monchi has gone on a world cruise seeing as he hasn’t got a job to do.
Wost transfer window ever gonna be a tough season
I agree on the tough season, Little8. Hpw tough remains to be seen.
A question for all: would we take a bottom half PL finish with a Europa League win and CL qualification? In others, would we be happy if we did a Spurs?
Notwithstanding what I said earlier, I believe Emery knows he has to make changes but – and this is the rub – he has to sell another major player to fund any acquisitions.
As has been suggested this knowledge must exist within the dressing room causing uncertainty and unrest and, until we get past Monday so it will remain (maybe even after Monday).
My view has been that Rogers will go; he has enough suitors and the income would be predominantly profit. The other principal candidate is probably Watkins at 29 and, again, with no cost now remains on the books it’s all profit.
I could be miles off but ………
Rogers should have been sold instead of Ramsey. We would have made more profit based on the £80m speculated. With a 21 man squad, we are down to bare bones given all the Europa and domestic cup competitions. IMO, to let anyone else go now would be complete stupidity. Are we really in such a shambolic situation that we still need to offload before we can buy? WTF is going on behind the scenes to allow this to happen? If we are offloading pretty much every member of our first team squad to try and achieve the 70% SCR to qualify for Europe without being kicked out, then what’s the point? We are currently with a squad of players who will do well to achieve mid table this season, so European football isn’t a likelihood next season.
So where I said we shouldn’t worry too much about trying to win the CL and go all out for CL qually last season, it’s similar again.
Sack the Europa off and go all out for CL qually again.
We have to be in the top tier year in, year out, even if we don’t do too well in it for a while. You have to be there for the sponsorship etc.
Won’t happen though, of course.
Come on Grimsby!!!!
Brentford away in the Carabao Cup!
I thought with Man Ure getting slaughtered by the mighty Grimsby that we might be in with a chance.
Oh well…
Can’t help but laugh at ManUre again. If only we could learn from Grimsby how to contain Utd!!!!!
Just read an interesting piece which does have a ring of truth to it – so with all the normal caveats about media inaccuracies.
The piece suggested that Villa’s transfer strategy WAS to sell Martinez and Watkins (both high earners approaching 30) and protect their young assets specifically Ramsey and Rogers.
It goes on to say that Villa made it known both were available but have been surprised at the lack of interest particularly in Watkins. (Although it doesn’t say this – it suggests, possibly, that the interest wasn’t at the values Villa set?)
Villa have been forced to change their strategy (Ramsey) and now consider selling Rogers as not so unacceptable in order to fund late moves in the market.
As I say this may or may not be accurate but it’s certainly a distinct possibility and, if so, would also explain why the team aren’t playing well particularly Rogers if he’s unsettled.
Finally, if true, then I can’t see any truth in Villa being interested in bring Asensio – it would be counter intuitive.
Perhaps I should ask the old exam question – discuss! 🙂
If you look at the transfer window as a whole this summer, it has been a very usual one. The regular high spenders have again overpaid for what looks like average talent. You have the whole Isaak situation, Chelsea’s ins and outs are just bizarre, ManU having a fire sale, Amorin falling out with Rash and Sanchez, Spuds being outbid and struggling to bring talent in despite CL qualification. Frank is a good manager but Spuds have a habit of destroying great managers. Arsenal fans are still far from happy about the players brought in. BarCodes having an odd one…Liverpool will also have high expectations on last year.
Weird times…Not just us.
That’s seems very possible. We had plenty of opportunities to move Watkins but chose otherwise. It may also be possible that we have had the best of Martinez. Letting Ramsay go was a mistake. Two years ago I said that Watkins was not a premier CF and was surviving only because of the amount of chances he was being given. During those two years I have doubted many times if that was fair and it probably wasn’t. We are keeping interesting company in the depths so it won’t take long to achieve better.
North Stand expansion will add 6,000 to take capacity to nearly 49,000. I thought it was supposed to make it nearer 52,000! Seems a lot of cost for such a small increase to me.
Talk of Illing Jr and Cash possibly going out by Monday. Also talk that Spurs and Chelsea might battle it out for Rogers.
Chelsea will offer £175m. Levy £10m.
Leaving us no time to get replacements in and relying on Buendia and Garcia who’s injured but with lots of money. 🙂
Garcia’s got lots of money? 🙂
Ah – could have put that better BFR 🙂
Seems Chelsea have given up on Morgan. We need to keep him and more hope now that Chelsea and their bottomless money bag has gone.
I still think we should sell either him or Watkins to fund new players coming in.
Do u think all this could’ve been avoided if that shit ref wouldn’t have screwed up and disallowed Chesty’s perfectly good at Old Trafford?
I don’t think qualifying for the Champions League would have made much difference to the UEFA SCR rules. We have to reduce from over 90% to 70% in the next couple of years. Depending on qualification for Champions League is like putting all your eggs in one basket which is really poor management. A couple of years ago, if we were told we would have one season in the CL followed by Europa League, we all would have been amazed. Part of the problem is that now we have reached this level, the players expect wages to match or they look elsewhere. Our revenue is a mile off the big 6 which compounds the issue. It will need 10 years probably to make up the difference, and the likelihood is we will eventually drop out, and become a mid table club as is our recent history suggests.
Would he have disallowed it if United had scored it? No.
Would he have given Villa the same penalty he gave them? No.
Would he have sent off United’s keeper in an identical situation? No.
Draw your own conclusions.
Aston Villa will play Salzburg, Feyenoord, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Fenerbahce, Young Boys, Basel, Bologna and Go Ahead Eagles.
‘Aston Villa fans face trips to Feyenoord, Fenerbahce, Basel and Go Ahead Eagles.’
So not too much travelling then. Two trips to the Netherlands, then Switzerland and Turkey.
Jhon Duran goals against us incoming 😩
Are we away in Turkiye? Not ideal if yes; Trabzonspor in ’94 was particularly unpleasant.
That wwf conspiracy theory again. Trent v pool too. But I’m sure if you work it out even if a country can’t play a team from the same country or neighbouring country or any country that begins with the same letter ,it’s all fair game and impossible to fix. ….