I missed the whole first half of the Fulham game because I thought it was a 3pm kick off. Well, it was for me here in Spain, but I thought it meant UK time. Hence I didn’t start watching until a couple of minutes after the first half started. So I can’t comment on any of that.
We did though concede early on (again!) but Ollie took a great chance to equalise after lobbing a lofted ball over the goalie’s head. Let’s hope that starts him on a run again. We all know he has these dry spells, but the plus point is that he generally bags a few afterwards. I’m glad he scored, as I really do like him and typically it was just after I’d called for us to drop him. He has been awful though lately.
And then just as I started to watch the game, John McGinn hit another cracker for the second. I love this bloke. Always works his guts out and gives everything. I think he makes an excellent captain too. I forgot to mention when the twins watched the players get on the coach after the Villareal friendly, they told me he took loads of time for selfies and chats with the fans. He’s an excellent ambassador for the club who’ll probably go down as a bit of a club legend. I reckon there’s a good chance that if he doesn’t go into presenting/analysis on telly, he’ll possibly end up representing the club at events and take over from some of the old guard European Cup winners.
And then Emi Buendia scored too, with a nicely taken goal, again typically as I’d just been saying that I don’t rate him. I’m eqally glad he got one too. All he needs to do is do it more often, imo.
So while it wasn’t a stunning performance, it was a lot better. It seemed to me that Emery’s comments about the players being lazy must have hit home. That’s a plus, in my mind, not just because it seemed to have had a fair effect, but more because it indicates that it’s not something Emery does very often, if indeed he’s ever done it before behind closed doors. And it indicates that he hasn’t lost the players either.
Anyway, there was no doubting the effort and just like Ollie, let’s hope the team goes on a roll, eh? It was a great result and we actually look like Fulham’s bogey club now.
Feyenoord up next and the twins are going to that too (!) Blimey. To be 18yos following the Villa around Europe. How good would that be?
I know nothing about them, except I’ve just read that defender Malcolm Jeng, who joined them on deadline day and made his first appearance on Sunday has had to have surgery on his right leg.
Not good for them, but defintely a plus for us.
It’s early days, but the team has made a very bright start in the Eredivisie. They’re top of the table, having won 6 and drawn 1 in 7 games. So although the Dutch league isn’t any great shakes, it suggests we might have a pretty tough proposition on our hands. My stance on this competition remains unchanged. I still don’t care much for it at all if it in any way causes us to suffer in the Premier league, where survival comes head and shoulders before anything else. That said, while the odds are stacked against us winning it, as much as I think we’re favourites, I would like to think that we have enough to get us the right result here.
And if we settle down in the Premier league, with better form I’ll happily take any victories in the Europa league. Fickle? No, not all. If the circumstances change, any sensible person’s stance should change too.
I’m going to be bold and say a 2-1 win to Villa. Please don’t prove me wrong lads.
UTV!
Not particularly Andrew but I did attend (with my kids) a Tampa Bay game a few (maybe many š ) years ago! My son is more the fan though I do watch it occasionally.
I’m a big nfl fan hitch..it just made me think when u said u was currently in florida i was watching the team i follow on Monday night /Tuesday morning UK time that was being played not far from there i think in miami..(miami dolphins v. New York jets) we was playing in tampa Bay last week. Lol
There are few things in life than make me happier than reading through the comments made during a game when you know we’ve won! š How that atmosphere changes!!! It sounds like we weathered the storm in the first half, keeping it tight, and Emery’s changes or team talk at half time did the trick. I’ve heard he was on the touchline screaming, channelling his inner Trump, “FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT” Brilliant!
I’ve started listening to these games on the TalkShite app, just like listening to the transistor radio decades ago.
3 wins on the trot and the chance to make it 4 on Sunday! Then we have nearly 2 weeks to get a few players out of the treatment room!
UTV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of talk about Emery’s “rope a dope” tactics. Certainly seems apt for this game, as at one stage I thought we were going to be well beaten.
Brilliant last night so happy for the fans who made the nostalgic trip back there
Buzzing today we’re looking better now UTV
Just got back home from Rotterdam, great city and I will publish an article very soon featuring some photos that I took from the game. Best thing I’ve done all day is get in the shower and wash the beer out of my hair from when we scored haha! Can’t say I really watched much of the game but you never do when you’re there drinking from 10.30am without dinner haha. Heard their goal should’ve stood and that they should’ve had a red, I remember both incidents but don’t really remember it in depth.
My seat, well I say my seat, had a decent view. I was standing on the stairs! Not very safe at all but there was an hour hold back and the bar was running for all of it, the staff were fantastic and the police were too I thought. Fair play to Rotterdam and Feynoord. Great win!
UTV!
You make us proud, young Alfred!!!!!
Alfie , good to hear the hospitality was good , I can remember many years ago Villa fans being attacked inside the ground the pens was high metal mesh . We had seats being thrown at us and their Police came into our pens with raised battens. I had introduced high visibility jackets and got our stewards to shield our fans from their Police. Glad to say it worked.
4 wins in a row today lads? Seems it’s Liverpool in crisis now and not us! š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£
Looks like the Villa finance side of the business is still trying to to mug us off. Just arrived at the ground and have my march programme. I wanted to check the attendance against Bologna it just has TBA! All other attendances home and away are there. Looks like egg on the faces over stupid ticket prices. Will they act and reduce the prices?
In the meantime Iām expecting a convincing win today.
Maybe Villa have to realise that prices are only so elastic. Villa must have fewer corporate prawn sandwich eating freeloaders as fans, unlike the Sky 6.