Well, I thought we totally deserved that.
The first half, we looked like a real top, competing for the title side, in the way we controlled the game.
We played a very high defensive line that made me a bit nervous, but proved to be totally the correct way to go.
Spurs were reduced to trying to get the ball in behind us, which invariably failed, or long shots.
Emery got his tactics spot on and once they took Richarlison off, I knew it wasn’t working for them.
The referee was a disgrace today and if it wasn’t a libellous statement, I’d suggest he’d been bunged. Hence I can’t suggest that at all (ahem).
It seemed to me that he was just itching to give any 50-50 to Spurs and it was interesting to see so many Villa fans thinking that Kane would be given an iffy penalty.
The fact that he was, was no surprise then.
Was it iffy? In truth, I think we’d have wanted it if it was the other way round.
But then, I wanted lots of fouls given to us when they weren’t.
Which reminds me. Since when have Spurs resorted to just pushing players over if they can’t win the ball fairly?
They did this a lot today and it does them a disservice, for a team that has a rep for playing decent footy, imo.
Still there dubious tactics didn’t work and we went on to get a thoroughly deserved win.
We worked harder and wanted it more.
After my criticism of Bailey and my being undecided about Ramsey, it was probably fitting that they combined for the first. What do I know? (yes, I know. Nothing, along with the rest of us)
And Luiz took a great free.
But it was McGinn who again caught the eye. He worked his guts out and looked back to his old self.
Kane was mostly in his pocket and he actually seems to have improved the way he rolls players.
He does it in such a fashion, it makes me laugh.
A great win then, with surprisingly lots of energy on display.
Happy days!
I’d rather be in the Conference than out of it too, Sid.
It gives your players experience and I’d expect they’d want it too.
I get that it drains your squad, but say we get 5th next year, won’t it drain the squad after that?
I’m not sure I get this wanting to put it off.
Not entirely in favour of the Conference mainly because all the games are played on a Thursday. That’s my main concern.
I think it’s had quite a negative effect on West Ham’s league performance this season.
You’re right Badger, we will need a significantly larger squad to manage the games built over one transfer window rather than three. Some of those players earmarked for the door, would probably have to stay.
But if we do get 7th, which I reckon is the only realistic aim, then of course I’ll be happy and hope my concerns are unfounded.
Toney banned for 8 months for illegal betting with immediate effect which means he can’t play again until January next year.
Also fined £50k.
One does wonder why players break these clear rules – does he have a betting problem (no requirement to seek help) or is it just arrogance that they won’t get caught?
£50k? That’s laughable.
It should have been a million.
I’d guess it’s boredom more than anything.
Mateu Alemany has decided to stay at Barcelona. Should we be disappointed or relieved? If he can’t make up his mind on his own future then probably not a big miss. Maybe he found out that Villa isn’t in London or by the coast.
He probably saw what a dump Brum is and actually felt our rubbish weather when he came to talk!
Seriously, that is odd.
Apparently on the same contract terms too, after we were going to give him a big pay rise.
Something major must have happened.
I don’t see it as anything to worry about.
I can only think he wanted too much power which was unacceptable to Villa.
Oddly, in one report it said – ‘he didn’t think the project was as good as originally he had thought it to be’ (Villa not a big enough club?) it was a translation from Spanish though which can throw up some oddities.
It didn’t work so move on,
Never a serious move. The man has an agent himself who was tasked with getting him a pay rise at Blona, so Villa come in with a bigger salary and he uses that to twist Blona’s arm. I smelled a rat when he said he would complete the summer biz for Blona before moving. Unheard of! Once he announced he was off he would have been asked to leave the car keys and get himself a taxi.
We don’t need this arsehole. Move on.
P.s. Blona sounds like a name Roald Dahl would give to a plus sized hooker addicted to cream cakes.
Nice, honest article about John McGinn which, I think, demonstrates some of his captaincy skills.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/23530137.feegie-park-gravesen-humble-mcginn-details-moments-made/
It’s being suggested that he backed out because the spend isn’t going to be as big as he thought.
That’s a bit worrying if true, as I think now is exactly the time when we need to go big in our thinking.
I don’t think for one minute that Emery will be with us for ever (but if he is it’ll mean he’s been a raving sucess), but I’m fairly sure he’s the man that will at least set us in good stead.
I suppose it depends on how much he wanted to spend as compared to our owners – which doesn’t mean that they’re not going to invest a considerable amount over the summer – even more now they don’t have to pay Alemany’s inflated salary!
Anyway, I’m sure NSWE / Emery will have a plan B
He probably wanted us to spend and manage our finances like Barcelona have done over the last few years, jog on mate! Financially crippled club in a dire situation. That’s not a great endorsement for Alemany in all seriousness. Our owners are too savvy and wise to go all gung ho like that. He is not needed at our club. I think it’s working as it is currently in all honesty. If the Moreno signing is an indication of future signings then happy days. I want Emery to find the players he wants not some jobsworth like Alemany.
Exactly, Adam.
Klipperty has been given a touchline ban for our game because he slated Paul Tierney during their win over Tottenham Hotspur last month.
Lol, I shouldn’t think he’ll be too worried.
And bad performances need calling out, imo.
Sheff Weds, 4-0 down and still go though?
That’s just nuts.
Chris Sutton is giving us a great chance v Liverpool. Forecast – We will be overwhelmed and go down 3-1 – Great news.
We will lose, Gerry, but we won’t be overwhelmed. Liverpool will have plenty of assistance from their ‘friends.’
West Ham and Fiorentina get 5000 tickets each for their fans and the ECL final will be played in a 20,000 capacity stadium. Joke competition. No thanks.
Huge game tomorrow. Brighton losing again still gives us a chance of 6th. Brighton will probably beat Southampton taking them to 61 points then they have City and us so they could likely finish on 61 points. Spurs have Brentford and Leeds, I would say probably a win and a draw for them taking them to 61 points (behind Brighton on GD). Meaning if we want 6th we must win tomorrow and beat Brighton final game to see us finish on 63 points. If we draw tomorrow and beat Brighton we can only get to 61 points but we wouldn’t get 6th due to goal difference. So our only hope of Europa League proper is 2 wins. Lets go for it tomorrow, really nothing to lose now, imagine Villa Park final game with us needing to beat Brighton to secure 6th… Wow gives me Goosebumps. Other news I see Coutinho injured in training again!! and misses the last 2 games. Doesn’t seem right to me I think he’s definitely gone in the summer.
Good summary Adam. But whatever happens its just effin mighty to be seriously involed. After the years of nothingness I grasp every opportunity to be proud of this team and always will.
I’m dreading playing Liverpool plus the referee tomorrow. Always guaranteed to make the blood boil…
A test of Emery’s plan B.
The high offside line may be undone by a biased VAR as it was for Kane’s goal. Kane was offside when he began his run but the VAR ignored that and concentrated on the Martinez trip. We would be better off not playing the high line at Anfield where they will have been working all week on beating it in practice.
Give the bin-dippers something they were not expecting.
A bonus would be Milner coming on late for his-send off and gifting Villa a goal.