Sorry chaps, I was going to write a preview, where I was going to predict a 3-1 win. I got that wrong, but wasn’t far off.
Anyway, the reason I didn’t do it is because I was actually researching which streams are currently okay to use and time just passed me by.
Talk about a game of two halves!
Quite simply, we destroyed Luton in that first half and the result was never in doubt.
And then, we allowed Luton back into it so much in the second half, that for a good period it looked like they were going to win the game.
I’ll never understand how that can happen, but it does.
The question is did Luton massively improve their game or did we relax?
I personally think it’s the latter and again, I think it’s a mental problem.
Overconfidence? No, I don’t think so, because I don’t think Emery would allow that. Much more like changing down a gear and taking it easier, in only giving 90%, imo.
And we all know if you want to win, you have to be at 100 or 110%, as Sir Ron used to say.
It could, of course, just be that the lads are generally not able to keep up a 100% performance over 90 minutes and it’s not an argument I would discount.
Certainly when we bought our last three subs on, they all improved us in my opinion.
I’d also point out how Liverpool seem to be blooding 19 year olds left, right and centre, all to good effect.
Is that possibly the way forward? and if so, why aren’t we doing it more?
OK, we got Tim on, but it’s hardly the same thing.
What of the game then?
Well, the first half was great.
Luton didn’t seem to care about Watkins and he was just a nightmare for them.
Bailey looked dangerous again, Martinez did what he does and McGinn ran the show again.
In fact, I couldn’t criticise anyone.
I felt Ramsey was a big miss when he went off and I’m concerned about him, as he’s beginning to look seriously injury prone. Hopefully he won’t be out for weeks again, but I’m sure he and the club will just be hoping that this is just an injury prone season and he comes back good next time.
The second half?
Hmm, I’m not sure how to describe it.
I think we sat back, personally, although whenever this happens the debate is that the opposition massively improved. I don’t accept that at all.
How can you go from totally dominating a game to being inferior?
I know it’s a funny old game, but it’s pushing it, for me.
Regardless, even if Luton were the better side for half an hour, we held out and looked better after Digne, Diaby and Zanilo came on, where we went to dominate the last 10 minutes or so.
Indeed, Diaby put the ball in for Digne to score, so you could say the subs were inspired, albeit the pretty obvious choices.
The big downside to this game was the atrocious defending again, but I don’t suppose there’s much we can do about that until Pau is fully fit and can team up with Konza to provide that previously formidable pairing again.
It’s a win, where 3 points against a struggling team was sorely needed.
Next up is Spurs at home. How big is that?
We have the chance of going 8 points above them and I think….
Ah, that’s for next week.
Well done today Villa, as much as I’d prefer you make it easier to watch!
UTV!
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