Consider this.
If we win against Brighton next week, we are guaranteed Europe, whether it’s the Europa or the Conference. Even if we lose, we still stand a chance.
How nuts is that?
Consider where we were when we sacked the scouser and it’s been an amazing turnaround.
But we all know this.
So what did I think today?
Well, the headline says most of it.
Mings was outstanding, let’s get that out of the way. I know I’m quick to slate him, but I also like to think I’m equally as quick to praise him.
Out of what seemed like a hundred touches, he got 95 right. That’s impressive.
I made a mental note to myself that I forgot Konsa was playing. Given that if a central defender can hide like that, it usually suggests to me that he did nothing wrong, one stray clearance apart.
Going back to Mings, I thought that was probably a deserved booking, but nowhere near a red. He got the ball pretty cleanly and the follow-through was just unfortunate.
The prick ex footballer co-commentating was practically begging for a red and I thought that would have been a terrible decision.
Which brings me to the ref. It seemed that he was letting McGinn basically get assaulted every five minutes.
But on reflection, I actually think if you take your Villa hat off, he was reasonable in just letting play flow, as per the instruction from the powers that be.
I actually thought he did a very reasonable job.
So Unai set us up with a very fluid back line, that didn’t quite go as high as it has done at times. What was noticeable was the way it varied from 4 to 6, as was needed.
And it’s this discipline that’s being real time conducted by the manager on the touchline that catches my eye.
Let’s get something clear here.
I tend to be pessimistic.
It stems from over 50 years of seeing us never achieving our potential, flashes apart.
And that pessimism is hard to lose.
The Saunders years were amazing, but I was only a kid, as much as I remember them like yesterday. I didn’t know any better and I suspect many are in a similar position, a few apart.
But I remember being full of hope and belief.
I’d love to be that same kid again, meeting up on the Holte at 1pm so I could get my regular spot with my mates.
But those days are gone.
The point is I am once again beginning to truly believe.
I didn’t think much of our chances today, yet we proved massively resilient against a Liverpool team that have been on a real roll.
They’ve only lost 2 or 3 in their last 30 home games.
So to go 1 up and hold them for so long was outstanding in itself.
Consider it should have been 2, if Ollie had got that pen and I think we’d have broken them completely.
McGinn was excellent again today and it was pretty obvious that one of Pool’s aims was to take him out. He went a bit over the top in the way he constantly called for some protection, but he was basically right.
Let the game flow, yes, but persistent targeting of a player shouldn’t be allowed.
What else?
Ah, for once VAR got it right.
Their disallowed goal was a mile off. If they hadn’t gone back that far, I’d have gone ballistic.
So a great result and a game where it showed that players 100% know what they’re doing and where the other players around them will be. Some of our one touch triangle type football was fantastic and at times had Pool looking clueless.
Yes, that’s how good I thought we were.
Pool came on strong in the last 20 minutes or more and it was expected. That’s where we struggle; the back up.
I’d expect this to be seriously improved, quickly.
How different do we look compared to when we’d just sacked the scouser?
It’s just unbelievable that this is basically the same squad.
That’s the difference between top quality and well, someone who hasn’t learned anything yet.
Villa-Brighton?
How tasty does that game look?
Comments
63 responses to “Liverpool 1-1 Villa; A defensive tactical masterpiece.”
And a nice sunny day too.
I’m a happy bunny with a San Miguel in my mitt 🙂
Great article Badger!
It is time to believe! At long last we have the combination of outstanding owners and a world class manager. He knew how to set up at Liverpool and each player followed the plan.
Roll on Brighton. European football next year is now in our hands. If we qualify and I would take the Conference League. Players will start to take note of Villa and become more likely to sign. Even better, the number of games means a larger squad. I feel this gives a better chance for our younger players to break into the first team.
One thing bothers me, Brighton Man City game with Forest winning will City play their youngsters and that game goes against us? It’s been a brilliant year for us beyond doubt. Well done our lads. Mings when things wasn’t going right for you I always said you had the skills to shine and today you did along with McGinn. Well done
Good write up Badger – I think Liverpool have only lost three games in their last 60 home games which is ridiculous!
That just reinforces how well Villa played today – they gave Liverpool a serious scare!
It’s now between Villa, Spuds and Brentford (assuming Brighton don’t collapse in a heap) for the Europa Conference spot (7th).
Looking back we’ll probably see that the loss to Wolves was the decider.
Having said that the team were exceptional today – as a fan we can’t ask for any more.
The BBC MoM voted for by viewers is a farce.
How can Firmano (on the pitch for all of 15 minutes) be man of the match?
There were any number of players who deserved it – from Villa Mings or Konsa for instance?
Romanticism, Hitch.
I did ask what odds him coming on and scoring.
It just backs up the top 6 narrative more and more.
I honestly don’t think genuine football fans will take much notice of that.
It is what it is.
There’s also the fact that as much as I love the Beeb as an institution, it’s undercover aims in massively over-representing minorities disgust me. But that’s another story.
Basically I think a lot of what comes from the Beeb is bollox.
I see Phillip Schofield is going on a free
Do you think he’d be good at the back?
Haha
Jurgen Klopp said after the match today. “For me, Villa is a massive threat next season for the top four, that’s how it is. The way they play, the way they defend, a lot of really good stuff, I respect that a lot…”
High praise indeed. Maybe his comments will help us secure the targets we have!
Are Spurs deliberately trying to evade Europa or conference league? I’m still not certain whether it would be a good or bad thing. The pros are we become more attractive to players we want to sign and an opportunity to blood more youngsters. The cons are the weekend hangover for playing on a Thursday and a lot less Saturday games which have proven difficult for clubs participating up till now. It would offer hope to players who might have been discarded like Digne, Bailey and Traore plus a few others who would be needed to boost our squad size. Two goalkeepers on the bench is proof we lack depth.
Changing the subject slightly, can someone let me know why the referee had to go to the pitch side monitor to what proved a disallowed Liverpool goal for what I thought was miles offside!
Yeah – that was a strange one.
There was also, though, a possible hand ball by van Dyke, I think, in the build up.
Thought why that required the ref to go to the monitor is a mystery!
Overall though I thought the officials had a decent game.
You can just hear the Liverpool fans, in all their glorious smugness suddenly claiming that they had already accepted the fact they couldn’t qualify for the Champions League, even though they have been bragging about possibly beating Manure Utd to the last spot.
Instead they will divert all the attention from their ‘failure’, because that’s what it is, to the ‘sentimental’ scoring by Firmino in his last home game.
Whilst it feels like a defeat, I have great satisfaction knowing that it has, more or less, ended their Champions League entry next season.
Now I realise that I’m just a biased fan of a smalltime team called Aston Villa but the BBC’s report on the Liverpool game makes it clear there was only one team on the pitch!
Villa are not even mentioned until the last sentence when there is an unapologetic comment that Liverpool, after playing teams at the bottom of the table came up against an in form Villa.
That comment must be the ultimate insult to a team that out played Liverpool for most of the game but, hey Ho, if you’re not one of the chosen few …….
I’ve just had a look at those BBC ratings and they are just ridiculous.
Firmino scores 7.75 and the next highest Liverpool player (Allison) scores 5.82.
Every single Villa player scored higher than 5.82, with the lowest (Duran) 5.94
I obviously missed the part where Firmino was a one man team when he came on.
Badger, if you read the BBC report on the game it confirms that only Firmano was on the pitch although Milner does get a bit part. 🙂
At least The Times this morning has written a reasonably balanced article.
BFR not for me on Bowen a player that turned us down, I agree he’s quality in playing the game but why should we help him now in the game. The amount of footballers moving on now I’m sure we have the same quality in youngsters in our camp. BFR it’s only my thoughts on Bowen because there was a need at the time we wanted him but chose a London club.
“I’d love to be that same kid again, meeting up on the Holte at 1pm so I could get my regular spot with my mates.”
Half way up the middle of the Holte where the drop in the terracing was?
Hurricane Smith – Theme From An Unmade Silent Movie.
Happy days indeed mate.
We need Saints to stop Brighton getting 3 points later on. Think it’ll happen? Then it truly comes down to the last game of the season. If Bobby Bloody Firminho would have kept his feet ti himself yesterday it would already be in our hands as it’s highly unlikely Citeh will drop points.
Don’t you just love it how Pool fans are so deluded and think that the football world revolves around them. Conspiracy against Klopp, conspiracy with VAR, time wasting moans blah blah blah. Yet they fail to recognise they didn’t even have a shot on target in the first half, (we frustrated them they say) no we just bossed the first half and they had to hang on for most of it. Also, they were very lucky to have 11 players on the pitch. Fabinho should have seen yellow for his Mcginn foul in the first half leading to a red in the 2nd half. So we could easily have been 10 men each. Its all because they fully expected to just walkover us, but we shocked them and their tiny brains couldn’t handle it. Well done Villa, a top away performance against a very good team. A journey across Europe is in our hands lets do it! Would be a fitting end to a top season, thank you Mr Emery.
It seems that attitude is not atypical amongst the fans of the ‘chosen few’ who think they have some exclusive right to be treated differently and expect visiting teams to pay homage, stand back, admire and applaud their team 🙂
Time wasting – there is no doubt we are becoming masters of that black art – Martinez having picked up 7 yellow cards (only one off the record in a season for a GK). It’s not something I particularly like but the rest of the EPL teams / coaches are hardly angels!
Having said that the officials added around 20 minutes of time so I can’t really see time wasting as a significant factor.
What probably upset them most is that the officials were, by and large pretty good (including for a change VAR) so they didn’t get their usual ref wearing his red scarf!
Although Klopp had his usual rant it was nice to hear him say that he respected Emery and our football and could see us challenging the top four next season.
One more win and Europe it is then – nice that it’s our own hands.
Bring it on.
That’s a bit rich coming from the Scousers who, if memory serves me right, were responsible (due to their time wasting antics) for the ban on back passes to the keeper?
Correct, RSS. Effective, but one of the most boring sides I ever saw, as I suggested in the preview.
Badger did you ever play footy down witton lakes in the 70’s?
No, but we used to do cross country there with the school.
It always seemed to be snowing too 🙁
It would be classed as child cruelty nowadays lol.
Why? Did you?
Meanwhile, anyone got any thoughts on this comment?
“As per SofaScore, Bailey only managed 15 touches all game, recorded only just three passes, failed to register a single key pass, had no shots on goal, failed to complete any of his two crosses and lost possession of the ball seven times”.
On the face of it rubbish stats.
All day and every day mate, by the old prefabs on the Perry common road.
I take it you were a Perry common comp lad?
As for Bailey, I thought there was a player in there but those stats say otherwise.
“I take it you were a Perry common comp lad?”
The cheek of it!
Heh, no. Eleven plusser, so Marsh Hill Grammar-tech.
Unfortunately, I was too much of a rebel and a punk, to really make the most of it.
Anyway, twice round the lakes, running your nuts off and then the yomp back up Bleak Hill, just to finish you off.
Ron would have loved it, I’m sure.
So if you were there every night, you probably were Perry Common?
I used to play my footy at the “Gas” club off Holly lane (not the “Delta”). If we weren’t getting chased by the groundsman. I lived right next to it.
Lmao 🤣
You and your la-di-da 11 plus.
Yes Badger, Perry Common born and bred.
Witton lakes or the wreck over the road were our stomping grounds, spending hours kicking a wembley trophy about.
Happy days mate.
I now live on the edge of that wreck.
Small world.
And yes, happy days mate.
Bailey just doesn’t have the physicality to cope in the premier league. Against Spuds he had that one moment when he went to the byline and crossed with his right foot to Ramsey for the first goal. More often than not though he tries to cut in on his left. He loses possession far too easily though and offers little going forward or defensively. Traore isn’t much better although he is a bit stronger. We definitely need an upgrade in this position plus another striker who can get near 20 goals a season. Ollie can still be involved as possibly a wide role he played for Brentford.
If we do qualify for the conference, we will need an additional 5-6 players on our current squad IMO.
Agreed Holte. As I’ve previously said, I think Emery’s giving him rope to hang himself.
That said, he may be needed if we do get Europe and tbf, he’s a decent sub to bring on if you have nothing else. Certainly a better option than another goalkeeper(!)
We definitely need an upgrade and I’m sure it’s an area the manager will be looking closely at.
Yes we need a right-footed right winger. Strange they are far less common now than left-footed left wingers. We don’t need one of those because we have Moreno, which is why Harvey Barnes won’t do.
Bowen at Wet Spam? Looks a super player whenever I see him.
Good call BFR I like Bowen too, a top player never goes missing and always puts a shift.
Being English might have a impact on his value, commanding a silly money fee?
So maybe better value elsewhere?
And Only 4 caps?
Wonder how many he’d have got if he had a red shirt on his back?
Declan Rice too.
I think he’s a great player.
Oops, sorry. I see what you meant.
Re Bailey. I was probably a bit cruel when I said he should not be on a professional football pitch. But certainly as he is playing he should not be on a Premier League pitch. There was a moment when we were defending like hell and we got a good clearence down the left, Straight to Bailey and he fell over with no one near him. Pool picked it up and sent us straight back to defending. You could feel the pain of the rest of the team. On reminiscing I was from Aston Lane. Went to Cardinal Wiseman and played the local leagues. I had a few games for Highgate and 3 games for Aston Villa Boys in the Cabot Cup. Best was probably in the Wiltshire League for Warminster Town when I was in Service. Had a trial for the Baggies but not good enough, for which I am eternally grateful.
“Had a trial for the Baggies but not good enough, for which I am eternally grateful.”
😂😂 Quality mate.
God knows why your posts are always out of place bill???
But talking of young players, Ramsey won this year’s Premier league academy graduate of the year.
Congratulations Jacob 🙂
Heavy fingers Badger, I always know after the bloody replies are in the wrong place.
Reading Birmingham Live it seems there might be a sickness bug at VP – add to that our injuries and small squad and I am keeping fingers crossed we can put out a decent side on Sunday.
A recent Football Insider piece – with all the caveats that go with that rag – suggested Alemany decided not to join Villa because the owners told him that after this summer they would have to rein back transfer spending to comply with FFP viz there isn’t a £150m kitty each season! Now that has a ring of truth to it.
But what’s more interesting is the implied point that NSWE are concentrating on increasing Villa’s revenue stream which explains the second substantial increase in season ticket prices and the proposed ‘up selling’ in the Holte End with the introduction of ‘executive style areas’ for the masses! It also explains the appointment of Chris Heck to lead the commercial side of the business.
Further itvbrings into focus the value of Sunday’s game against Brighton – yes, playing in Europe (Conference League) may prove helpful in recruiting players (?) but I think NSWE, at this stage, are far more interested in the additional revenue which positively impacts on FFP.
Whilst Sunday will not be as critical as losing to Fulham was in the play off final, the additional revenue would be mighty useful.
UTMV
Good point Hitch.
It also makes ground expansion more important.
Although if you’re just buying more equity in the club, does that really affect FFP?
I’m asking because they’ve done it numerous times.
I wonder if we made a big mistake in paying such a small amount for the club?
I’m sure I heard Everton are being sold for £600 million and I’d say they’re about on a par with us, their threat of relegation aside.
I know inflation is high but…..
You know more about the money side than me, but I feel sure we missed a sneaky trick there.
I don’t think so Badger – the club was basically bust when Dr Tony sold it so it was tbh at a fire sale price. They also had to factor in picking up Xia’s obligation to Lerner in the event of his (guaranteed ?) default for the overage payable following promotion to the EPL.
Where we have benefited is that NSWE’s further investment has been in the form of equity rather than loans which strengthens the clubs balance sheet and means Villa have no debt which is a repayable liability and also accrues interest payments.
FFP is pretty complex and I don’t profess to fully understand it but essentially it deals with revenue and operational costs which includes cost of transfers. So the two overriding major costs are wages and transfers. Clubs are limited to the amount of losses they can accrue over a three year rolling period – the amount varies between divisions. Villa’s big helping hand was the sale of Grealish with £100m going straight to the bottom line.
There was some talk of introducing a wage cap calculated as a % of turnover but this makes clubs like Citeh even more powerful.
My understanding is that all the costs of developing the stadium are excluded from FFP – I’m assuming NSWE will look to fund the work through debt, and if so, the stronger balance sheet will be a big plus. However it wouldn’t surprise me if they decided to sell naming rights for the new North Stand. As fans we might like to see something like ‘The Mortimer Saunders Stand’ but harsh economic reality doesn’t recognise sentimental values.
Unless KFC come in with a stunning offer and hey presto…
The Colonel Sa(u)nders Stand.
🙄
I see naming rights as a bit of an inevitablity, unfortunately.
We can’t expect lots of investment and then not let the owners use ways of achieving it, imo.
Rename the Doug Ellis at the same time, for me. Either back to Witton lane or get some money from it.
The Holte end can’t be touched and I don’t think I’d like to see the trinty renamed either.
The club seem very keen to involve fans with the rebranding such as the club crest plus the questionnaire sent out regarding the rebuild of the North stand and Villa live. I wonder if fans will be asked about the renaming of the new stand or whether it will be sold off to get revenue. Is it a massive amount for selling off the name of a stand to the biggest bidder? If its only a few million every season, I can’t see NWSE being lured by that option. I do think they love the history of the club and I hope they are influenced to go down that route. The Ron Saunders stand and a statue of the great man directly in front would be my choice.
Holte – tbf to Villla they are ahead of most EPL clubs when it comes to fan consultation. They now have a Fan Consultation Board (which meets fairly regularly with Purslow et al) – rather than just a fan review group which has been in place for a couple of years – and consists of representatives from the club and various fan groups such as David Michaels from MOMS.
The cynical will point to clubs rushing to demonstrate high levels of fan consultation to try and head of the appointment of an Independent regulator.
I’d go for naming rights but only if we get £400m for them like Citeh. How the hell did they get away with that?
I bet it’s the scum sending them germs over Hitch? I’m in Cornwall Sunday probably organising the club house in Watching the game.
Have a good holiday Bill – weather looks set fair