So it’s a bit late. Sorry, but there probably won’t be much to debate over the next few days anyway.
I suggested that this might not be the sort of game where we’d win and sadly, I was proved right.
I’m still minded to think that we really ought to be beating this sort of team if we are really looking to challenge, but going back to my previous post where I said that I really need to lower my expectations, I’m seeing this game as a typical indicator of what I meant.
The first half was totally unforgettable and as much as it got better in the second, I didn’t think much of that either.
Was the ref poor? I think I’m going to be in a big minority in saying, no, not particularly. I do think I have some special ability in staying neutral though. Or perhaps I’m just totally misguided. I just tend to think decisions balance out in the longer term.
I don’t think Unai got much wrong and his subs were spot on too, in my opinion, but ultimately, we couldn’t out-muscle them, as I thought we might need to do.
I’m not going to pick any individual player out, but we just didn’t do enough in the middle to upset them.
That said, I thought we were the better team for most of the game.
Just not good enough on this occasion.
I find myself wondering how much not getting the points against lesser teams is going to cost us at the end of the season though.
Comments
60 responses to “Everton 0 – 0 Villa; Not sure what to think”
I should have added that the fact we play Konsa in the position says it all.
I’m a better RB than he will ever be and I’ve got 30 years on him.
Ivan Toney landed a gamble today. He would – wouldn’t he?
That the ref and VAR would not notice his clever cheating at a free kick, from which he scored Brentford’s second. The ref put the usual semi circle of foam where the ball should be and Toney placed the ball in it while Forest set their wall. Once the wall was set, Toney moved the foam! Watch on MOTD him pick up some of the foam and move it 1 foot to the right, then move the ball the same. He then strikes a good shot past the right edge of the wall and scores.
Hope we can get our hands on Morgan Rogers. UTV :).
Thanks for that flag, Alfie. It looks as though there may be legs in this story.
I wonder if he’ll sign and start talking about being at a ‘bigger club’ just to put Gareth Southgate in his place? 🙂
Steven Gerrard’s bumper deal at Al-Ettifaq sees him paid the same as Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – despite his Saudi side going nearly THREE MONTHS without a win! A 2 year extension to his contract as a reward!
So when I’m feeling a bit down if Villa lose then I shall thank my lucky stars our owners didn’t keep faith in him.
Thankfully it isn’t too long now before our next game. I’m hoping Chelsea have a tough game tomorrow night. Also it will be good to get Torres and Digne back. I don’t know what the situation is with Ramsey but the silence is not good I think.
A huge game against the barcodes in a week. They’ve lost four on the bounce. Surely, percentages would suggest they can’t go 5 in a row? But the Villa need the win. For me, next Tuesday marks the beginning of the season; that’s how the manager and squad need to look at it. They finished joint second in ‘last season.’ Repeat the trick and it’s CL football next season. Incidentally, I’d take getting knocked out of the cup on Friday if it guaranteed CL football next season. I know that’s controversial, which is why I’ve said it…
I’d pop your tin hat on if I were you, Ron!!! It’s Silverware v Raised profile and extra income. That old 🌰.
I do hope this rest period has paid off for our crocked stars. It doesn’t look like we’ll be getting that January boost after all unless Monci has something up his sleeve… Any news on Buendia? He seemed to be making good progress. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the bench this month.
It’s quite strange, that.
I’ve always said that I’d take Silverware any day.
But now a CL place is actually getting closer, so it’s beginning to appeal more.
But my constant stance has been that raised profile/CL doesn’t get your name on anything whereas winning a cup does. Even second placed or losing finalists are rapidly forgotten.
I think much depends if you believe the club is being set up to consistently pile the required 100s of millions in that you need, or not. I’m honestly hopeful, but not convinced.
It all stems back to that “we ain’t that lucky” Villa thinking.
Yep, if we can’t beat Newcastle, you have to wonder if we’ve burnt out already or not.
Agreed, it’s majorly important but I think Emery will be particularly targetting this game, just as revenge for making him look like a mug.
As for Buendia, I think his recuperation will be really slow, so I really wouldn’t expect much on that front, personally.
I see Middlesbrough got well and truly thrashed not looking good for Friday seems they’ve found their scoring boot
Only consolidation Rogers scored great goal if we really interested in him I’m not convinced of him in premier league though
Man City let him go and we should be targeting players they are after.
Is Rogers better than Philogene Bidace?
To paraphrase a Tiswas era Lenny Henry, ‘Oooookkaaaaayyyyyyy’, I heard an interesting tidbit of intel about our Villa today. Apparently we are investing a frightening amount on the Bodymoor Heath training ground set up with multiple planning applications being presented to the council. Villa it seems are happy to celebrate these upgrades and it’s far from top secret, but perhaps we are taking a different approach than the usual one.
With the £100m for Jack, who in my eyes will always be one of us, and Ramsey, investment can pay off.
Hmmmm… Thoughts?????
Thinking about tomorrow.
Emery has indicated that the Cup is important but we still have too many injuries to crucial players.
Duran, Torres, Digne and Ramsey are all out (plus, of course Mings and Buendia) and unlikely to be available for Tuesday and Dendonker is on his way out so how does Emery play it in the Cup? Lack of squad depth is now starting to show.
I think he’ll concentrate on the EPL so we’ll see some fringe players in tomorrow.
Chelsea to win comfortably for me.
Will we have any players for the substitutes bench tomorrow? There are some outgoings but no incomings.
I hear Heck waffling on about how important this year is in celebration of our 150th anniversary but nothing has happened to make me feel we are going places.
Thank goodness for Emery who has converted average players to proven performers. If I’m honest, I think we have overachieved so far and I’m expecting a downturn in results. I would be amazed if we can get anywhere close to our first half of the season results. The last 4 or 5 games have been a slog and we haven’t been convincing. why? Because our squad is threadbare and injuries cause us big problems.
As for tomorrow, I can see Chelsea winning quite easily. They are definitely on the up and they have players returning. Maybe it is one competition too many for us based on our current squad size anyway.
Just want to change direction and throw an outlandish thought out there.
Many of us watch Canadian Pete on The Holy Trinity. The last episode discussed Heck. It seems many want to vilify him, yet I believe as does Pete that our owners who are successful are backing him to revolutionise about commercial income.
Heck decision
North Stand stopped £100m not to be spent due to 1,000 seats not being sold each match. Yes, but I have tried to buy two seat together for me and my son- can’t get them, so don’t buy, as I want my son and I to share the experience.
Outlandish thought
Villa to move to a new ground.
Would I like it no way
Would I support it – yes
Why?
Look at the revenues being generated by Utd, City, Arse, Pool and Spurs. Add in the changes to FFP – we have to increase our revenue.
Now the reality. We have the best owners in my life time (nearing 60). I just can’t see it getting better in. Terms of owners and manager.
Yes up until 1968 we were the most successful English team, but that is the past. Football in this country has moved on. We either cling to the last and hope for the best, but it can’t get any better than what we now have in place. Therefore, if Heck, who has NSWE full backing says move Villa e.g. near to NEC, then yes, go for it.
It means the capacity can be increased and transportation sorted – motorway, main rail line and airport! Build a hotel into the stadium for Tom Hanks and his friends for foreign visitors. This would be our best chance to catapult ourselves into the large revenues.
I value your thoughts!
You make compelling commercial points which is a sad indictment of the game we all love – or should that be – used to love.
Villa Park is the heart of Aston Villa football club – move and we rip out its heart.
In its place we create a plastic reproduction of all the clubs you list.
It’s a terrible price to pay for success – however you define it.
Now in my mid 70’s I look around the World and see we’ve learnt nothing!
Hitch
I totally agree with you and my view is a sad indictment of how football has developed.
If Aston Villa move out of Aston then we might as well call ourselves NEC Dons because we will lose our identity. Everything I love is Villa, Villa Park and it’s history. Absolutely no way should we move to keep up with the Joneses!
I watch Canadian Pete and I’m sure he loves Villa but you can’t tell me he’s as emotionally attached to Villa Park as ourselves who have lived our entire lives with the best stadium in the world…IMO. And I heard his comments about millennials being most important and wouldn’t care as much as us oldies but screw their thoughts frankly.
We CAN increase capacity to 60,000 with a North Stand rebuild and Doug Ellis stand added tier.
Something doesn’t sit right with me regarding Heck. He knows that the expenditure won’t pay itself back straight away. He wants us to be global because that’s where the revenue is. The 25-30k waiting list for season tickets isn’t important to him and he is saying that there are a few hundred unsold tickets every home game as a weak excuse when he knows the reason for that.
Andy Street said the Witton Station is the biggest issue and that can be resolved with added trains after matches. You hear about Arsenal fans at the Emirates leaving as quickly as possible because it’s a nightmare area to get out of so moving grounds isn’t necessarily the right way.
Personally I would rather watch Villa at Villa Park in the Championship than a soulless new bowl somewhere near the NEC.
This is just my thoughts and opinion. I can understand that I might be in the minority regarding this.
Klopp leaving the Bin Dippers!!!
And his last (EPL) home game in charge …….. against Villa!
Oh dear!