The post will come later, hopefully.
Immediate thoughts.
Invincibles? More like untouchables, given the amount of frees they were given. How easy do they go down?
I’d suggest it’s nearly as much as Carra does on any of the top 6 clubs. What a tool he is.
Very importantly, they had two penalty shouts and they weren’t given.
Right, it’s okay, I’m back to finish my thoughts.
Generally, after a home game, the SIL, my daughter and the grandsons come round and we discuss the game. (It’s a good excuse for a drink, really) and that’s why I didn’t finish the post last night.
And there is one point that was interesting. My first comment was that I thought the crowd was a bit subdued, probably because of nerves?
He assured me that it was every bit as loud as Wednesday night and an excellent atmosphere. “Just like going back to the eighties” was his actual reply. It surprised me, but it was nice to hear. I much prefer how Amazon set their sound up, but hey ho.
The universal opinion was that the players are obviously shot, both physically and mentally and it’s why I’m putting this victory maybe on a par with the Man City one, albeit for different reasons. If you were to try and convince me that this was actually the better performance, purely because the lads managed to somehow keep going and hold on against the team that were top of the table, you wouldn’t hear any argument from me.
I was asking for fresh legs, as you could see we were struggling with the pace of the game, even though I didn’t think it was quick. But it wasn’t just that; there was a lack of zip to our passing and it was getting us into more trouble, purely because we were constantly giving the ball away at one stage.
Fortunately, the lord Emery was all over it and saw it too. Diaby came on at half time and I suspect it was because Bailey was feeling a bit of an injury, which was perhaps convenient, because he’ll have no reason to complain about being subbed.
Ramsey came on, followed by Cash, Dendoncker and Moreno and I thought it didn’t take long to show the benefits of an injection of fresh legs.
I think it was also fairly obvious that Arsenal looked jaded too. Not as much as our lads and the extra day’s rest had no doubt helped them, but even so, I didn’t think they looked fully on it. The Luton game took a fair bit out of them, I think.
Not that I’m making any excuses for them.
The penalties were correctly not given and that’s an area where I like to think I can always give a fair honest opinion, even if it goes against us. I’m not going to discuss why they weren’t given as it’s irrelevent. Not that Arsenal fans in the comments I’ve read elsewhere agree. To pretty much a man, they think every decision went against them and there’s a massive conspiracy to do the club down.
Er, tin foil hat alert lads! Every club outside the “Big 6” has been thinking the total opposite for decades!
A lot of them also think they were fouled off the park too.
Fortunately, many also agreed with me that they’re just a diving bunch of out and out cheats, in my opinion and it’s disgusting. I read a comment that Jesus said he “felt a touch on the back of my leg”. No doubt he’s using that to justify the fact that he went down and should have been given it.
Listen, my friend. A touch on the leg is not a reason for a foul to be given. Football is still supposed to be a contact sport and it’s this sort of view that is ruining the game. Grow a pair, get up and crack on with the game.
Rant over.
What was also interesting in the dozens of comments that I’ve read, was that many actually thought we were the better side, mostly because of the way we controlled the game and mostly stopped them playing.
It’s an interesting view, but I don’t think I could go that far. Arsenal had a lot more possession and while I’m a big exponent of the “possession means nothing” theory, it did mean I thought they dominated the game and looked the bigger threat, on balance.
Still, possession doesn’t win games. Goals do and ours was excellent.
The ball from Tielemens to Bailey, then his good work in supplying McGinn, who finished with great Dalglish-like aplomb.
Something came out of McGinn’s post match interview which says it all about Emery and his coaching team’s ability, I thought. McGinn said that normally he would have hit that with his right foot, but he’d been told it’s better to turn and hit it with his left, which is what he did.
I think we’re in a very good place now and it’s not just because we’re sat third in the league and two points behind the leaders, not far off the halfway mark.
We’re also equal top in the last 5 games current form table too, with our four wins and a draw only equalled by Liverpool and Bournemouth. As has been mentioned, our draw against them looks a lot better than I thought at the time.
15 games on the trot at home, a new record for the club. We’re just breaking them all the time it seems. I’m sure we broke one for Arsenal last night too, but I can’t think what it was.
Whatever, we can’t afford to dwell and it’s onto the next game (I think Emery’s even rubbing off on me too) which is Mostar on Thursday.
I wouldn’t normally encourage it, but having seen the lads so drained last night, the manager is going to have to seriously change it up.
But that’s for Thursday.
I’m still not at a stage where I fully expect us to win every game, but I’m getting there a little bit more every time.
UTV!
Oscar Gloukh Is an Israeli Bum Bum young midfielder so it’s saying , I haven’t seen us interested in him so far . I would like a left or right back first .
See UEFA have bottled it when it comes to disciplinary measures against Legia Warsaw.
A fine of £100,000 and banned from selling away tickets to their fans for the next five European matches – plus they have to pay for the damage caused.
Legia have got off lightly given their history and it won’t stop their fans travelling and causing more havoc.
They should have kicked the club out of the competition.
Let’s hope AZ can knock them out of the Conference tomorrow night – that would be karma.
Apparently there are now 30,000 fans on the waiting list for a season ticket, my uncle has reliably informed me. Despite being a season ticket holder, he hasn’t been able to get me two tickets together for the Burnley match so I won’t be taking my 6 year old lad to his first game. Very disappointed and the little man will be gutted.
I’ve said it before, but going through all the rigmarole of redeveloping the North Stand for only a 15,000 increase in capacity seems mad! Go as high as you can behind the goal and wrap it with the Doug Ellis, I say! In fact, why not do it in two stages: the North Stand massive two tier development first (as big as it will go), followed by the levelling of the Doug Ellis and another two or three tier monster to join it! Leaving the iconic Holte End and Trinity Road as stand alone landmarks. A perfect balance of tradition and modern progress. St James’ Park is a very good example, with the massive redevelopment wrapping with the lower original stand. 55,000 is not enough and limits the club’s seemingly unlimited potential!!
I want some tickets! 🙁
Same here BFR Villa hasn’t been so popular since god know when, I’m wondering if a corporate launch would help? Any way just a reminder the match today is at 17.45 KO today so don’t be late lads .
Interesting line up –
Marschall, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Moreno, Luiz, Diaby, Zaniolo, Dendonker, Duran, Ramsey
Not sure what’s happened with Olsen unless he’s injured.
Pretty strong bench with McGinn, Digne, Kamara, Carlos and Watkins but also includes O’Reilly. Would be nice to see the latter getting some minutes if we’re comfortable later in the game.
Moreno and Ramsey likely to start Sunday so expect them to get about 70 minutes tonight.
Big opportunity for Zaniolo!
That’s a good rotational line up Unai has put out. Using Luiz before his enforced rest. Starts for Moreno and JJ to get good game time in. The lesser used subs making up the rest of the numbers. Cash has had a bit of a rest recently so is back in.
Good team selection tonight. Although I really struggle to see the point of Zaniolo. Already tonight fouling, giving the ball away and falling over with no one near him. I hope he proves me wrong but some how I doubt it.
Getting frustrated with the site Badger – not your fault I hasten to add.
My posts either taking ages to appear or just disappear
Hitch, twice lately, you’ve put the wrong email address in, hence it doesn’t know who you are.
Really – must be old age 🙂 or fat fingers!
Bit pedestrian.
Mostar, like at VP, employing a low block and hoping for a break away goal.
Need to move the ball quicker.
Bloody hell, I didn’t realise it was an early start. I hate these.
Yawn!
You’ve missed absolutely nothing Badger
Getting a result and resting players both on and off the field. Eliminating two qualifying games. Experience for a reserve goalie. This could be a major success.
Have to agree Gerry but with a bit quicker movement we can win this.
Train late home AGAIN. Local station pub closed down to house refugees. Next pub private party. Found a micro pub where the only member of staff is taking a dump.
Seems I’m not missing much, but I’d like to decide that for myself…
Sigh…
Just seen the re-run of tackle on Ramsey – definitely should have been a red card!
The standard of refereeing across Europe is poor – no consistency.
Just need a draw to top the group and Mostar don’t look like scoring. We are playing as if it’s a training game. Absolutely dire to watch and I might have nodded off for a while 😴
Ok, why do we not have a goalie on the bench, when we’ve previously had two?
And where is Olsen?
How can you give handball, when Cash is running back away from the ball and it hits him on the arm?
Ridiculous.
Good run out for Ramsay with these two 2-0.
Bloody hell Zaniolo scores
Put McGinn on and the rest is what it is!
Was about to say – 60 minutes for Moreno and Ramsey seems sensible
Maybe the Italian manager is right. Zaniola centre forward. Great finish.
Not the most inspiring of games – still objective achieved.
And Marschall looked promising – reckoned he’s learnt quite a lot fromMartinez!
Onwards and upwards.
Hitch, 3rd time running you haven’t got your email right 🙂
I’ll try harder next time – mea culpa
Reckon I’m hitting con rather than com!
Shame about the late goal and the shitty performance, but couldn’t give a toss to be honest. Job done! Villa win the group. Players rested. Minimal energy expended.
Big test on Sunday. Onwards…
UTV!
Well it was a boring game really. very slow and we certainly played knowing a draw was all that was needed, great to be in that position with 1 game left in all honesty. We were able to rest some players give others more game time and don’t look like we’ve had any fresh injury concerns so fingers crossed we’re refreshed and ready to tear Brentford a new one on Sunday! Chance we could be top of the league Monday morning! 😋