Quite simply, we controlled the game for the first half, but for some reason that I really don’t understand, we played a low block through the second until they got the equaliser.
And so that approach remained even though Chelsea were overwhelming us and we’re proven to be poor defensively this season anyway. The really annoying part is you could see it wasn’t working for at least half an hour, so why stick with it?
The best form of defence was attack, by a mile today, yet Unai decided against.
I’d like to know why.
Colour me well bloody annoyed and it’s not the first time I’ve thought his tactics have been a joke.
Don’t worry, he’s still the man.
I just wonder what he sees at times.
Correct badger, at times for someone whose supposed to be tactical astute he does some stupid things like to late with subs and what does it say to diaby taking him off after subbing him on.
And what is wrong with this 2 goal lead they keep giving away
Should Luis have come straight back in? To me the team played well without him he should then have been left on the bench.
Bringing him straight back ma,especially him think his place in the team is automatic, whereas he should force his way back in not just come straight back,make him wait because I think he’s gone lazy now.
He should have put ironbaum in otherwise we’ll never know if he’s good enough.
A.. in all the tactics completely wrong.
And emi would have saved the first goal no bother
Looks like we’re depending on other’s to help us again terrible
Lads I’ll play nice but you are both chatting absolute bubbles.
We go 2 up, we let them have the ball, they ain’t hurting us, they never look like scoring. Martinez goes off, we can’t play our normal game, the plan goes to shite but we come away with a point, happy f””king days!
So if we’d have drawed at arsenal and beat Chelsea, would you have been happy?
I bet you would.
Gentlemen kindly get a grip.
Ron, how can you say “they aint hurting us”?
They looked likely for a good while, but maybe you were watching a different game.
This was 100% predictable and I said so at the time, as can be seen in the comments on the previous thread.
We let them have the ball and they pissed all over us for most of the second half.
Badger you and I obviously see the game through very different eyes I have to wonder if you have ever played the game?
Martinez in goal, yes they had a lot of possession but never looked like hurting us. Martinez off the whole game plan changes, you can’t play out from the back because you can’t trust Olson.
You don’t need to dominate possession, let the opposition dominate the ball but hit them on the break.
I really don’t know what you expect, total dominance every game? Football doesn’t work like that.
Rotterdam 82, Bayern pissed all over us, we hit them on the break and the rest is history.
That was Saunders way, what was drilled into the team.
Cut your cloth to suit, be pragmatic.
In Anai we trust.
RSS, I was gonna make exactly the same point about the points at Arsenal and last night. If we got 2-2 at the Emirates and won 2-0 last night, I think we would be quite pleased. Excellent point. Totally agree.
Been following villa for 67 years now and every time we seem to be getting somewhere we bugger it up.
Apart from 81/82 and then doug did it by forcing Saunders out.
I’m really pissed off tonight I don’t mind if we lose or draw by having a go but tonight was abysmal to watch
I know we’ve done well but I want villa to control a game as I thought emery did but tonight was not the way I want to see villa play
I agree emi going off didn’t help at all plus tilemans, but where is the fight
And emery said he was happy what game did he watch I don’t know
We ain’t blown anything yet Roy, the Spud’s have to win their games mate, better points on the board.
“Would you bet against us?”
Been following villa for 67 years now and every time we seem to be getting somewhere we bugger it up.
Apart from 81/82 and then doug did it by forcing Saunders out.
I’m really pissed off tonight I don’t mind if we lose or draw by having a go but tonight was abysmal to watch
I know we’ve done well but I want villa to control a game as I thought emery did but tonight was not the way I want to see villa play
I agree emi going off didn’t help at all plus tilemans, but where is the fight
And emery said he was happy what game did he watch I don’t know
I’m very passionate I know but we must take our chances get Into cl
Otherwise why bother
Wow! Are we getting a little bit OTT here. If Spurs lose to Arsenal, as I predict they will, then it’s still in our hands. Spurs still have to play Man City so we’re still favourites to finish fourth. We will make CL. Believe.
I thought the game changed when we lost Tielemans and losing Martinez clearly didn’t help matters.
Tbh I’m more concerned about what sort of team we can put out on Thursday and games thereafter particularly if we’ve now lost those two players – groin and hamstring – possibly to the end of the season.
Spurs still can’t afford to drop any points but injuries could finally scupper our season.
The first half was going pretty much as Emery expected. Chelsea are predominantly a counter attacking team. This season they have struggled to open up teams with a low block. Emery’s plan in the first half in essence saw Chelsea shooting from way out and we were 3-0 up. Plan working.
What Emery could not foresee was:
* Very poor passing
* An inability to retain the ball
* Key players injured and a lack of quality replacements
I am starting to have doubts about Dougie’s mentality. I forget which game it was when he scored 2 and Emery had to bollock him for switching off. If Arsenal want to offer a £100m for him and Monchi thinks he can buy a couple of better players, then that’s fine by me. Dougiee really needs to step up in the remaining games.
Our biggest problem is the injury list as this disrupts the fluidity of our play. By half time yesterday we were without Martinez, Tilesman, Moreno, Zaniola, Ramsey, Kamara, Mings and Buendia. However and good on Emery, there is a no excuse culture.
Emery might have said he was happy after the game but his demeanour suggested otherwise. His answers to questions were usually short responses. We were terrible with our passing and Chelsea continually pressed particularly second half and we couldn’t retain the ball.
I don’t blame Olsen for either of the goals. The first one was purely on Luiz for being sloppy on the ball and the second was a brilliant goal.
We were very lucky to get a point which might prove very important at the end of the season.
The only consolation was Olsen got some minutes which is useful with Martinez suspended on Thursday. I would be surprised if Tielemans is available but Luiz will be and although he has been poor the last couple of games, he hasn’t suddenly become a poor player. We need to support the team and players when things don’t go our way. All players have periods of poor form in a season. Even Haaland has been described as a league 2 player! I guess as fans we can never be satisfied 🤔
Holte, I noticed Emery’s demeanour too. Very curt and I thought he was actually secretly livid.
Sid, you make some good points too. Hold on in there lads!!!!
Roy, are you suggesting Unai has lost it on one second half performance? Come on!!! I’ve seen that type of game from us before and none of us like what we see. We were bloody unlucky with Tielmanns and Emi going off. That totally disrupted our game and all we had to bring on were kids.
It’s a point, and from the Citeh game to this we’ve got some cracking points and it’s a marathon to the end of the season. We need one more win in my view and I’ll be cheering Saka and co on today.
We look exhausted and it will catch up with us because of the squad size and all these effing injuries. Who knows why we played the low block? Ollie could be nursing a secret injury for all we know.
I’d be on cloud 9 this morning if we’d have got the 3 points yesterday but we’ll have to settle for cloud 7. For now!!! 😁
UTMFV!!!!
Look at the players last night. Not the boss. Chelsea were very very intense second half and the Villa couldn’t cope. They didn’t give Villa a second in time or space. Basics. In that situation, you’ve got to match them in intensity, which gets the crowd going. Didn’t happen. As always, I don’t think there’s enough fuel in the tank, to be honest. Just be happy with the point and move on.
Really good article by John Townley. Just helps us with a perspective when we have results like last night.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-man-utd-emery-28964831
Can we ask Prince William to get the royal physios to help out with Emi and Yuri?
I can’t believe we’re gonna lose these guys now. Absolute nightmare, especially with gow well they’ve both been playing recently. Gutted.
We really do need back up in the summer for Ollie, Cash and maybe a couple of others.
Incredible save by Olsen to deny Palmer the winner. Hats off to the lad. Mathematically we’ve qualified for the Europa League too so that’s an unmentioned step up! Now I can’t wait for the Spuds game later. Not missing that one.
Keep The Faith!
It’s the day after and I’m still pissed off
But maybe a Saturday night game threw the players off their normal routine as well
Definitely think we’d have won if emi had been playing 2nd half.
Don’t think defense trusts olsen.
But he’s also a different type of player more of a shot stopper whereas emi is a sweeper keeper
He comes out like an extra defender when ball gets passed back line,also he’s confident on the ball unflappable really.
The way he plays he’s always involved in the game olsen is basically a goalkeeper of old style
Emi is integral to the way unai sets team up to play.
Also Luis is off his game since kamara injury he’s not a defense midfielder he operates better as the player who progresses the ball kamara wins knowing that kamara covers his back
If people notice since kamara came in that’s when Luis has played his best.
That is why arsenal want him alongside Rice for.
Also I think Watkins was tired after amount of work he did against Bournemouth.
Come on arsenal
I honestly think that, if Emi had stayed on the field, we would have won the match. Emi is not just a goalie but a leader at the back and I honestly don’t think that our defence trusts Olsen. Emi would definitely have saved the second and we might have gotten away with a narrow win. However, we aren’t the only team with injury problems so I guess that we just need to suck it up and move on.
Watching the game I wondered if we were in power saving mode or something. Such a low block at home isn’t like us but perhaps Emery’s tactics also had Thursday’s game in mind.
Anyway, come on the Gunners!
We struggled against lille and Chelsea really think the season is taking its toll now but we are together and resilient so hope we get champions league we so deserve it
Watching Spuds / Arsenal.
Arsenal 2-0 up; Spuds get VAR’d on an offside goal.
Spuds have actually been the better side but I’m not complaining
3 Hitch keep going Arsenal we’re all watching.
Pile on some more goals to help our GD advantage
Thanks Arsenal!!!
Watching Spurs and Arsenal reminds me of our game yesterday. Spurs with a goal disallowed and hitting the woodwork while Arsenal score pretty much with their few chances. I hope the second half doesn’t follow suit.
Arsenal throwing this away!
As you say Holte – like watching the Villa!
Phew.
Now over to Chelsea
That was so nervy but thank heavens those Gunners got it over the line (it’s not just us Badger)
Back in our hands.
FT Arsenal win 3-2. Yipeeee