I’m blown away by how good that was to watch.
I wouldn’t say we were 100% better than Fulham, as the cottagers did have a couple of spells where they dominated, but we were a good 75-80% better than them.
That’s 13 on the trot at home, I think, which equals a record and 6 wins on the trot, which is a record going back absolute donkey’s years.
Unfortunately, it’s Citeh at home next game, but who knows?
Man of the match?
Well for me it has to be John McGinn, who worked his guts out and got a goal from a great strike.
But I also thought Tielemans was a very close contender. I said before the game that I felt he just needed to get in the groove and boy, did he. He was outstanding and fed the pass for the first goal.
But McGinn edges it for me. It was a brilliant captain’s game and he won the vast majority of his battles.
In fact, the game didn’t really pan out how I expected it to at all.
It was the midfield that won this for us. As physical as Fulham are, we just bossed them and it was great to see, as we can often be out-fought in the middle.
I still feel we’re particularly susceptible to any good pacey counter attacking side and the Spurs game is making me drool at the mouth, because I feel that’s going to be a tactical masterpiece one way or the other, given both sides play a high line, but that’s for later.
There was plenty of passing back to Martinez, but it didn’t bother me today, because we mostly maintained a good pace.
It’s interesting, because it seems to me that as much as I realise the opposition will always have their good periods, so it always seems to be that if we drop the pace, it just lets the other team in and strongly dominate.
I can understand if it’s the very best teams just taking a rest, but we can look like we’re likely to concede.
Still, Fulham only scored once and I’ll take that.
A superb, well deserved win and we continue to keep the pressure on the other clubs.
UTV!
I’m a happy bunny!
Badger, I don’t know why you like Fulham! If I list the London clubs in order starting with my most disliked, Fulham come 3rd behind Millwall and Crystal Palace. The current team and manager deserve the ranking. I said in a previous post Fulham are a dirty side and today they hit what I think is the premier league record for fouls at Villa Park, with 17 and 5 yellow cards. I am just thankful no Villans were injured. It is their deliberate policy if an opponent is breaking away with the ball to trip, block or grab hold of him.
OLL, I totally agree.
Tbh, I don’t like any London club, just because it’s London.
But I do appreciate that they’ve done better than they ought.
Fortunately, they were seen for what they are: a dirty side and got bookings to reflect that.
The really pleasing thing is that they gave McGinn loads of “treatment” but he outfought them. Brilliant performance.
Tielemans didn’t back out much either.
As it happens, I also admire Palace.
It’s just not for footballing reasons, although I don’t think they’re a bad side either.
What about Leyton Orient or Forest Green? Remember when Tony Daley joined FG saying is was ‘a dream come true’? Lol!!!!
I havebad news for you Bum Bum, you might want to sit down on an atlas. Forest Green is not in London. It is in a village near Slad in Gloucestershire. As for the Orient, its is a pleasant small but old fashioned ground with visitors welcome in the main bar.
Teams and their supporters do change character over time, For years the Fulham supporters were the nicest in London while Chelsea Skinheads and West Ham’s ICF joined the Millwall guttersnipes as being threatening. Something has changed at Fulham recently, their younger fans are unpleasant.
Forest Green is in Gloucestershire??? No way! Lol!!!
I must be thinking of somewhere else!!!
Forest Hill!!!! That’s the confusion!!!!
OLL – spot on. Their main tactic was to break up play by utilising a physical and unfair approach – that’s me being diplomatic!
Robinson was extremely lucky not to have received a second yellow.
Overall a good win – be nice to get a clean sheet but I suspect that’s not Emery’s way – beat the opposition into submission seems to be the plan. However, this approach isn’t really working away from VP – yet!
Not happy stick and optus went down after 11min didn’t come back till 2nd half start.
Not good watch 2nd half as Fulham took control.
First half sounded brilliant though maybe got tired 2nd half
There were other choices Roy. I had similar problems, but maybe missed 5 mins of the game. There is always more than 1 stream.
Star Hub springs to mind today, but I ended up watching on another channel.
You should always look around.
Not just TV, I was listening to Radio WM for this game, and they had endless problems with the audio; actually 3-4 occassions when the feed was so bad that they cut to station promo’s – in both halves.
Sounds like there were some all-round problems with the data-feed at VP today.
My Optus stream was really good today.
I had the same so I turned off VPN and got it back, lost 5 minutes
There’s a particular site on the internet that really should be ignored., in my opinion.
I won’t name it, but it has a similar name to this one and shouldn’t be confused;
“Matty Cash – 6/10
There’s a reason why Cash constantly gets picked even when not at his best and that’s because when he flows forward he is a joy to watch, registering an impressive two shots on target and should really have scored with one of them, recorded a 94% pass accuracy, and completed 100% of his long balls.”
Maybe if he’d managed 100% pass accuracy, Cash would have warranted a 7/10?
I don’t recall such a difference in the description, as opposed to the actual mark.
Defensively I thought Cash was outstanding today – OK, maybe he made a couple of poor decisions in front of goal, shooting where a pass might have been a better option but that’s a very subjective point of view given the positivity of his forward runs.
Definitely (at least) a 7/10 for me.
I only frequent this site and Canadian Pete’s blog. Sod the rest. Cash gets an 8 from me.
Hey, Bum bum, I honestly feel privileged when I hear that sort of comment.
I suspect much of that sentiment is down to us being a very similar age.
Funny to see Pep’s multi millions CIteh thinking they had snatched victory to concede a penalty in added time. Even funnier that Palmer who they sold to Chelsea converted it.
One thing that constantly annoys me is the constant assumptions on Sky that we are going to be raided for our best players. Today on Sky sports news the idiot presenter commented that the big boys will come after Emery soon. How can little old Villa cope when this happens? Shame on Villa for trying to spoil the party. Get back down to mid table obscurity where we should be. 🤬
Sky are bad enough, but I sometimes check football pages from the likes of the Mirrror and Daily Mail website; they’re even more pathetic, with almost everything on their main ‘football’ pages being about ManUre – as if they were still relevant to anything today.
Go past the first 10-15 articles and you’ll see stuff about L’pool and Arsenal, occasionally Newcastle. We don’t exist as far as they’re concerned.
I totally agree. Luiz has it all at the Villa and we’ve just re-signed him.
He’s just been called back up to Brazil too, so that “little club is holding him back” doesn’t apply either.
Likewise, Emery. He’s building another project, with probably better prospects than he had at Seville, where he did incredibly well..
And then why the hell would anyone want to go to Man U now?
I suspect they daren’t sack Ten Hag, because they know nobody won’t want to take on that poisoned chalice.
Meanwhile the site I mentioned earlier stil keeps spouting it’s shite;
https://www.astonvillanews.co.uk/2023/11/12/aston-villa-attacker-nicolo-zaniolo-receives-international-call-up-for-italy-luciano-spalletti-has-surely-lost-the-plot/
Now, there’s debate and downright bollocks.
This falls into the latter and it seems it’s purely an AI type site, as they’ve consistently slated him for weeks.
You’re right Badger. It is a bit shite…
Don’t read the papers; don’t watch the news.
Follow transfer rumours because I’m a sad addict but the rest – waste of time.
With you Hitch .
Konsa called up to England squad for Euro 24 qualifiers in IB.
Really pleased for him and believe he thoroughly deserves is – back to his absolute best. However, at. Villa level we could do without all our players being involved in internationals!
Here’s hoping there are no injuries.
About time Konsa got a call from Southgate.
Even if he was only 3rd or 4th choice and gets just half a game, it should do his confidence a world of good.
Now let’s just hope none of our players on international duty pick up any injuries…
Carragher: “Aston Villa should cherish Unai Emery while they can. It is only a matter of time…” You know the rest. Would anyone like to respond to Mr Carragher? As Christmas is fast approaching, I’m trying to feed my swear box…
*NOT to feed my swear box!
There could possibly be some substance to that IF…
(a) He hadn’t got burned at Arsenal
and
(b) He hadn’t already done the old “Elite” thing with PSG.
So our phlegm flinging friend could be a little wide of the mark?
From Villareal to the real Villa was a massive step up anyway. From average 18,000 gates to 42,000 and from a shoestring to a hefty budget, Villa are giving Emery the chance to prove himself at the highest levels. If he makes Villa into what Carragher and the rest call ‘a top club’ I’d be wondering why he’d want to go anywhere else anyway.
Don’t you just love the press.
It’s all about Arsenal are going to take Douglas Luiz. £50m and Villa will sell. Or even better they will swap Smith Rowe for him, because Arsenal have a divine right!!!
But then again, they then say Arsenal have FFP.
My letter to the press
Dear Press
Stop! You clearly do not understand the dynamics at play. Every industrial sector has a disrupter that comes along and changes the established order.
Villa are the disruptor. get used to it.
Yours faithfully
Sidforever
There must be a typo there, Sid. There should be a 1 before the 50.
I see that Howard Webb, not satisfied by VAR’s unwelcome intrusion into football, is now saying ‘VAR must challenge more on field decisions ….. but not re referee games’
Is that not an oxymoron?
With the threat of semi automatic offside being introduced and VAR looking for more ‘power’ we can start saying good bye to football as we know it.
What next, as TV takes a firmer hold as well, time outs for advertising breaks as happens in the NFL?
Hitch, remeber the USA World Cup where they wanted to cut the game into 4 quarters for advertising means…?
Yep, Webb is definitely a moron, Hitch!
Hitch, might be a good thing if every club from its fans a letter expressing concern over VAR . It’s our game not VAR and enough is enough it’s not required and not fit for purpose. Every match now problems and mistakes by VAR it’s slowly killing the love of football.
Moreno played 60 minutes for Young Lions in Premier League Cup Tie last night – Villa winning 3-4 away from home.
Good to see him back playing
Citeh have just posted revenue of £714 million.
Unbelieveable.
Literally.
Umm..yes. Quite.
And the Gruniad this morning were running another story about how “Roman’s Empire” at Chelski was allegedly being funded for years by dozens of ‘odd’ deals from offshore companies which were linked to him, but the transactions (allegedly) went via 3rd parties and never appeared in the club’s books.
Does that suprise you Ardent???? Or more the fact it’s just come to light?
Only surprise is that they’ve apparently found the documents to back the story!
Yep.
Bosko Balaban has been sentenced to a year in prison for not paying his ex wife 70k maintenance.
He should have got that for being a crap footballer.
Only joking. Ahem.
One of Gregory’s dodgy deals?
…the next Davor Suker, my a***!
Yep, the brown paper bag came free allegedly.
I did like JG though.
What a side we had then.
Up there with Ron, Taylor, Atkinson and Brian, imo.
I liked him too, Badger, but he didn’t know when to park his gob, which is what cost him. He’s on record as saying he regrets walking out on the Villa – all down hill after that! To be fair to Doug, he had every right to fire him after Greg stupidly fed a tabloid hack stories about him ‘in confidence’. How naive and stupid can you get? Anyway…
According to reports, Jhon Duran has upset Emery and is on his way out. On loan in January and possibly all the way out if he doesn’t improve his attitude.
https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-aston-villa-plan-to-let-jhon-duran-go-in-january-after-upsetting-unai-emery/
If true, I wouldn’t blame Emery. We’ve had too many players in the past causing a stink in the dressing room so, vaya con dios Jhon and good luck. After messing up such a great chance, you’ll need it.
Yes, I read that story, but wasn’t sure how to take it.
Was he out because he’d upset Emery or was it because of the toe injury?
I actually think it probably was the former.
If he’s a “handful”, yep, he needs to go. I detest spoilt kids.
I’m not so sure about the “vaya con dios” part though, 1874.
More like ” largarse” 😉
But then again it is football insider!
Young players can be a little ‘aggressive’ and maybe have an over expectation but if that’s the case and Emery rates him then I back Emery to help him get through this phase.
I hope so because I think Duran has a real future in the game – but if all else fails the club is bigger than any player.
And if you haven’t read it then I commend the AVFC article with Freddie Bouma. What a left back he was and so unfortunate with injuries in his last three years with us. Love his comments about Ashley Young. In reality it took us years to find another decent LB.
I remember being so disappointed when he returned to PSV where he played another three years at the highest level.
It’s clear he still has a passion for Villa and there’s a very nice aside which shows a completely different side of O’Niell; although O’Dreary comes in for some criticsm!
Just read that Hitch and yes, the MON part was what stood out for me too.
It’s a nice read.
And, yes, a good player.
Nice to Tielemans had a good game for Belgium;
https://insidefutbol.com/2023/11/16/he-played-fantastic-aston-villa-man-pleases-national-team-boss/626504/
So said Tedesco the Belgium manager whose name means German in Italian. It must be International week!
Oh it is, hence the stupid stories linking anyone who is any good at Villa – nowadays most of them, manager and first XI – with a cut-price move to a fading ‘entitlement’ team.
There’s still talk about Luiz to Arsenal for £50 million.
I wish they’d give it a rest, because there’s no way that’s happening at that price. It’s nowhere near an offer we can’t refuse, which is what it would take, imo.
It just proves that someone comes out with a load of rubbish and the others just print variations on a theme.
Click bait to attract the Arse fans – pure and simple. I’ve stopped reading all this media muppetry!
Arse probably could have got him for £30m last January but they wouldn’t increase their offer. Luiz, by all accounts didn’t make a fuss and it appears he’s happy at Villa having recently signed a five year contract.
Arse spent £208m in the summer and only recouped £60m so they have to watch FFP not having a sovereign fund or dodgy Russian to fall back on. They spent £100m on Rice so (a) no way are they going to offer the sort of fee Villa would even consider – more like £80m as an opening bid and (b) Villa don’t have to sell.
Suggestions are that Villa might offer a Luiz another new contract – probably as they bring their top players in line wage wise. Don’t be surprised to see McGinn and Martinez get new contracts as well.
Villa are out to mix it with the big boys and they’ve got the manager backed by extremely wealthy owners to achieve it.
Luiz is a far better player than Rice so they’d have to obliterate the fee we received for Grealish. Even then, the answer would be ‘do one.’
I see Azerbaijan beat Sweden 3-0, with one being a 40 yarder.
Azer had a man sent off too, before the hour was out.
Shocking result for the Swedes.
I wonder how Olsen performed?
Everton deducted 10 points under the sustainability rules.
I wonder if they’ll win an appeal?
That’s a massive blow.
And their statement includes a non to veiled threat to the EPL that Everton will be closely watching the outcome of other cases -that will be the 100 charges against ManC and the latest (alleged) Chelsea financial improprieties.
This could all get rather unpleasant.
Paddy Power: “Everton’s biggest mistake was limiting themselves to a single FFP breach. 114 additional ones and they would’ve got away scot-free.”
Surely, surely, this is beyond ridiculous? Is there a (non-swear) word for when an organisation charging another organisation with corruption/fraud etc is actually more corrupt than the organisation it’s just charged?
How can City not be deducted points then? And Chelsea? How much have they spent on transfers and contracts? Their books are less balanced than Wesley’s legs, bless him…
Having read the story, it seems a lot of the losses are due to building the new stadium.
I thought infrastructure wasn’t included in FFP stuff?
My understanding as well Badger – unless Everton have been overstating the allocation of costs to the stadium to avoid the FFP rules. If you recall Derby got ‘done’ on a sale and leaseback of the stadium where it was deemed the deal wasn’t at ‘arms length’ and the value of the stadium over stated.
There were noises at the time over Villa doing a similar financial transaction but I can only assume it passed the financial tests or Villa were cute and completed the deal in their last financial year in the EPL so no sanctions could be applied – that was rumoured at the time!
Thank you, Mr Purslow!
🙂
Watching England and bored silly. Scrolling through the “clickbate”. I’ve just come across the ultimate arrogant Arsenal comment. Justarsenal.com says of Douglas Luiz “ But he will not come cheap if we force Aston Villa to cash in on him”. No wonder I can’t stand Arsenal.
Badger, one of the issues – it’s claimed by Everton – is the treatment of interest on the loan to build the stadium.
They acknowledge it’s an accounting error but claim the penalty is disproportionate!
The Commission were clearly not convinced by Everton’s arguments.
It looks to me that the Everton result (which I suspect may be reduced slightly on appeal) was to set the ground for what they’re going to hit Mancs & Chelsea with in a short time.
Good point Hitch.
The reason we didn’t get charged with anything was because we probably valued it too cheaply at £56.7 mill, whereas from memory Derby sold for £80 mill.
For a very average, same all the way round bowl!
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-villa-park-ffp-16504236
If you’re interested Badger here’s the BBC article
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67448714
It seems the independent commission took the view that Everton ‘knowingly’ brought the problem upon themselves through ‘mismanagement’ in the transfer market and budgeting.
Reckon this is going to rumble on for some time; if ManC get exonerated then a whole ton of sh*t is going to hit a very large fan!
Start the fans and launch the shit, I say! At the Etihad Stadium, preferably!