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.
I tempted fate Hitch….almost. Fortunately Arsenal bagged 3 goals before the capitulation!
I’m cheering on Forest next!
Hoorah!!!!!
Great result for us with Arsenal beating Spurs. I view that point we obtained last night as a positive after this result. Even better goal difference now +6 in our favour. Another match gone.
You guys noticed how Managers are gettting increasingly tetchy in interviews with the end of the season getting closer? Emery was very, very obviously hacked off after our game. Never seen him like that before, but it illustrates his passion for our club.
Cracking Arsenal result and as I anticipated. We need one more win. That’s all. Breath deeply….In…Out…..In……Out….
See u back here Thursday night lada!!!!!
I tried the breathing bit Bum Bum but quickly went back to ‘the bottle’ 🙂
Couple of nice glasses of wine – just sample the aroma! Bu**er that bit – just get it down yer!
A nice glass of post real chardonnay would ho down well right now. It’s the 4am waking up I can’t take!!! Lol!!!
Maybe when I’m retired!
Still relieved at the Arsenal/Spuds result!
My ‘results on paper’ still in the plus column!!! Just that one more win…one more win…one more win…one more win…
I get the feeling Brighton will be tough.
Praying the 2 off yesterday recover asap…
Bum Bum, is one more win mathematically accurate, or a hunch? Mathematically, as it stands, we need two more, don’t we?
Mathematical hunch. Spuds have horrible games to come and we have the points onbthe board.
I reckon the Spuds will pick up 9 points absolute max meaning we need 3 from 3 games (and don’t forget our superior goal difference)
Taking into account Unai has averaged 2 points a game, if that form holds it’s game over for the Spuds 🤞
Brighton away next should be a win for us. We have a good record recently against them and their last 6 league games are W0 D2 L4 scoring 2 and conceding 13!
The Olympiacos game beforehand is a bit of a leveller. With luck we will have enough players fit for the game.
I will take a draw at Brighton. Thursday will drain the squad, without doubt.
Just goes to show what games at end of season are like.
Arsenal nearly threw it away we only draw and Nottingham forest gave good account against city.
Liverpool also struggling.
Shows points on the table are better than games in hand if only villa had won.
I thought emery was strange in interview too although said he was happy but behind scenes I think he was livid
Brighton not playing well at the moment so if we get our game plan right I’m feeling OK about the match maybe Liverpool too if we get at them. Let’s hope we have enough players for next few matches
Maybe time to trust the youngsters if not what’s the point of the academy
Just found this on the UEFA site, don’t mean to count any chickens but you never know.
https://www.winwithenterpriserent-a-car.com/
Good luck people (-;
Emi is out for a couple of weeks which is frustrating. I know he was suspended for Olympiakos game but now he’s missing for Brighton and possibly 2nd leg!
Has anyone heard what is happening with Tielemans?
Not heard a dicky bird. Yuri has been great and Emi, it goes without saying… I really hoped Ramsey and Buendia would be available for the last few games but alas it’s not to be.
Might get a tattoo tomorrow that says ‘One More Win’!!!
Emi missing the semi means it can’t go to penalties. Need to get it done! Massive game on Thursday. Dare I say even a two goal cushion may not be enough going into the second leg. One certainly won’t be. We look incapable of keeping a clean sheet, Arsenal aside, which was near miraculous. Have they got enough left to play a high tempo in enough bursts to put Olympiakos away? I’m hoping the visitors will be overawed by the occasion but I doubt it. If anything, that’s more a possibility for Villa at VP. Getting nervous already!
UTV!
There are conflicting reports about when Martinez will be back.
Most appear to suggest he’ll be back for the second leg but may well miss the Brighton game.
The Belgian press have reported that Tielemans injury is ‘not serious’ but that may be in regard to his availability for the Euros!
Who would be an Everton supporter? Just days after securing promotion they call in the insolvency experts – https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/apr/30/everton-call-in-insolvency-restructuring-advisers-777-takeover-doubt
Am I right in saying that they could get deducted 9 points if they do go insolvent? I know that some here have a good grasp of the financial implications so what do you think?
Think it’s nine or ten points but not sure whether it would apply to this season or next – may well depend on the timing of the appointment. Everton may well feel they’ve got enough points on the board to get it out of the way this season rather than starting next on -10.
Having said that, under company law, the directors have no choice but to declare insolvency if they can’t meet their debts.
One thing for sure, the end of the EPL season is going to be chaotic and possibly subject to a number of legal challenges.
Having read the article, Everton are in a financial mess.
It looks like 777 are currently ‘men of straw’ which is possibly why they haven’t been approved as right and proper owners.
If other creditors take over Everton (given their loans are secured against the new stadium) I’m unclear as to whether the FA would have any say on the matter. If they do, they may either seek a ‘pre-pack’ administration to find buyers in order to clear the debt or asset strip by selling the stadium.
I refer you to the plight of Worcester Warriors.
As a final word, just demonstrates once again that FFP is not fit for purpose – the only worthwhile measure of sustainability is liquidity not debt!
*If they do take control of the club
Sorry guys –
*is liquidity not losses or debt.
Surprised BBC aren’t running with the story.
Just reading that Wolves’ Podence is on loan at Olympiakos and pulling the strings for them. Danger man, for sure. I hope he’s not the twist in the tale…
BFR – Podence has been a thorn in our side on more than one occasion. He seems to delight in scoring against us.
BBC have now covered the Everton situation and it appears that matters are not as bleak as The Guardian article suggests although nothing has been fully resolved abd Everton remain in a financial vortex.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cqqnkgv0k19o
Interesting article on Villa gaining financial strength and the future.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rebuilding-aston-villa-four-people-29052175.amp
I would not bet against a new stadium at some point in the future!
Sadly, dare I say tragically, I think Heck has decided Villa Park is not the future home of Aston Villa. I will never ever be ok with that, and I’m not particularly old in comparison with Villa’s fan base. I hope I’m wrong and Villa play at VP for the next hundred years, assuming civilisation continues!
Good article Sid and for those critical of Saturdays performance I’d refer them to this quote – ” The Spaniard has performed a minor miracle in keeping Villa competitive in the top four this season while juggling a European campaign too, given the injuries his key players have suffered.”
As for the future and any new stadium you have to wonder if this is the reason behind the partnership with Atairos?
Ron
I absolutely believe the tie up with Atarois is for a new stadium. I looked through their website and they are able to put in place a stadium and infrastructure that would rival Spurs new stadium.
I think the question would be about ownership of the ground. Currently Villa Park was sold off to NSWE (not sure which one of their holding companies it is under). Does that mean a new stadium would be owned by the NSWE / Atarois arrangement? Would it be owned by Artarois? Would NSWE buy it outright?
If I were a betting man the NEC area would be ideal to invest and create a stadium that would be multi purpose. I would anticipate it including a hotel. With Villa having tourist fans landing at Birmingham Airport, staying in the Villa hotel, watching the match and then going to a concert at the NEC. Suddenly this will add value and drive up revenue. Perhaps a capacity of 65,000. Who knows?
As much as I loathe the idea of Aston Villa ever leaving Villa Park I don’t believe you are to far wide of the mark Sid.
And moving forward I believe ‘ V Sports’ is going to be about more than just football?
Another thought on the Chelsea set up:
During the Arsenal game, we were complimented for ‘being brave’ by leaving 4 or so players up field to receive the ball and spearhead an attack. This decision also meant Arsenal couldn’t commit as many players forward as they had to leave half their squad protecting their back line.
You could ask yourself, did Emery think Chelsea had better players than Arsenal so didn’t commit as many men forward? I don’t think so, especially considering how disfunctional Chelsea currently are. Therefore, the only conclusion I can come to is that our front players weren’t quite 100% and weren’t sure they had the legs to do the same to Chelsea that we did to Arsenal. Are we keeping niggles and tiredness quiet during the run in? Emery certainly won’t be doing a Pep and claiming exhaustion. Maybe Emery didn’t want a Villa front 4 risking hamstring injuries doing their Bolt impressions speeding towards the oppositions 18 yard box when we have nobody to come off the bench???…Especially with our remaining games coming up both in Europe and at home.
Thoughts? It’s the only conclusion I can come to…
Maybe it’s simply the loss of Tielemans and Emi in the first half forced Emery’s hand given, as you say, not much on the bench.
No one could say it was our finest 90 minutes but considering where we were, and how far we’ve come (in such a short time), injuries sustained along the way and amount of games played, a point was a respectable result imo.
I’ve already said this but with Olsen between the sticks we can’t play our normal game and that is no disrespect to Olsen but he just isn’t Matinez but then again who is?
“Commit as many men forward?”
Who knows?
Fatigue?
Poor service to the front men?
Just a bad day at the office?
In Unai we trust.
Only a rubbish 2nd half. We were fantastic in the 1st.
In Emery’s press conference (for tonight’s game), he’s made a point of praising Olsen and emphasising that he has the full support and confidence of the team.
Whether it’s Emery himself or one of the management team it seems likely they’ve picked up on the fan’s concerns about him.
So now Emery is managing the fans psychology as well as the team’s – pretty clever.
The guy’s got over 70 international caps and played PL football. We can’t expect him to be Martinez; he can only be himself. The nature of goalkeeping means any errors will be severely punished during the match, and consequently highlighted by the media. I would suggests the crowd don’t make him nervous with their negative vibes. Let’s be honest, some of the things Emi does with regards to inviting the opposition make us all extremely nervous at times. All that said, regardless of who’s in goal, the onus is on the 10 outfield players to protect it, ideally by attacking and minimising the opposition’s attacks, especially at home. I think Olsen has psychologically been tarred with the ‘Scouse brush.’ And because of his position, he hasn’t had the chance to prove that he’s a decent player.
UTV
*Played CL football
I think that Olsen is in rather an ‘odd’ place: he isn’t Martinez, but I suspect that most of the PL teams in the lower half of the table would be quite happy to have an international ‘keeper with his experience as their 1st choice.
Unfortunately (for him), he doesn’t get the number of games that I think he would need in order to fit comfortably with our back-4; they need to adjust their game to recognise the difference between him and Martinez – and often that doesn’t happen quickly enough.
At the very least, the fans should get behind him when he’s playing…