WakefieldVillan

Stupid by Luiz. Should know better.

Diabolical wall. 

Well when we beat them at VP it was a back 5 of

                   Emi

Konsa Carlos Pau Digne 

So absolutely no need to change that really, given Diego and Lucas both had very decent performances last time out and Moreno had a bit of a stinker. Bringing Lenglet in and going to a back 5 would give out the wrong message to the players and give all impetus to the cheats so I can't see that happening, thankfully.

We have a decent base there, the issue is further forward, and how we can nullify City whilst also causing them a few issues at the same time.

At VP we had Kamara and McGinn whilst they had no Rodri and De Bruyne so it will be a whole new ball game in this one. I can see why Tim would be an option centrally as we will probably be out of possession for large spells but Tielemans is playing well and I can't see anything other than him and Luiz centrally. 

Bailey on the right. Duran up top as we need a focal point, I think then it's 2 from 3 - Diaby/Zaniolo/Rogers.

On paper you would choose Diaby, but the game may be more suited to Rogers ball carrying / hustling style?!

Also Zaniolo brings that kind of play, but Diaby offers real pace on the counter, so..  who knows. Trust in Emery whatever team he picks.

Hopefully don't concede early, and play ourselves into it, no silly mistakes. If they beat us because they are better I can live with that, but I'm hopeful we can give them a real good game. UTV 

Seen a lot of comments from Wolves fans re their missing players but seems like most are completely missing the fact we were without real key players in 

McGinn, Kamara, Ramsey and Watkins (for 45) add in Buendia and Mings and that's probably 6 of our best eleven.

Ran out pretty comfortable winners, the subs were key to that. Zaniolo in particular. 

Changed the game. Best I've seen him, promising for the upcoming games.

1 hour ago, jim said:

Much better second half! Nick MOTM as I’ve bagged on him all season and he was the difference for me sh.

Moreno needs dropping and Rogers out on loan next season, I’ll gladly eat crow if he makes it but I doubt he will.

Shows how fans see things differently, I thought he showed real signs of promise tonight. Strong running, skilful play, little touches, sure, not everything came off, but there is a player in there for sure. 

Thought first 15 looked comfortable, without creating a great deal, but better in possession. 

Then we shoot ourselves in the foot, gift them a goal and it's given them the ascendancy, and confidence to take over.

We're still in this, but as ever the term "next goal is crucial" ever been more apt.

Come on Villa, a win here would be absolutely MASSIVE! 

@foreveryoung would you take a point now? 

13 minutes ago, foreveryoung said:

It'll be easier against these than Wolves and Chelsea.

You may be right, but I'm usually more confident at home. 

Not many easy games in the league. 

13 minutes ago, foreveryoung said:

Cannot believe people are still thinking like this. We are nearing the end of the season, we need wins from these teams, West Ham have been mostly pants, Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool I could understand.

We have home games against Wolves, Brentford, Bournemouth and Chelsea - I would like and hope for 3 points in each of those games.

I don't think a point is the worst result today after Spurs result yesterday and I just think we will miss the likes of McGinn and Kamara.

Hope I'm wrong.

I'd take a point all day long today  (though not if we're two up or anything daft).

I think they will be buoyed by their midweek victory and with key players missing for us, I fear the worst.

Head says 3-1, Bowen at least one.

Heart obviously says we bring home 3 points. 

IMO, it was a red.

But I've seen plenty of yellow cards given for challenges like that, so I wouldn't have been surprised to just see a booking. 

Inconsistent referees do not help in situations like this.

We move on. 

1 hour ago, chips'ngravy said:

Whilst it wasn't a great ball from Konsa, if that had been Luiz then I don't think we'd be talking about having conceded from the incident. Tielemans is static whenever he receives the ball rather than playing on the half turn. Not pinning it entirely on him but he certainly could've done better.

I think he could have done better, but the large proportion of the blame is on Konsa.

Re; Luiz, he conceded possession just as easy twice in dangerous positions in the second half which could have easily resulted in goals. 

6 minutes ago, Herman22 said:

Is Konsa suspended? 

Oh yeah, completely forgot after today's horror result

Carlos or Lenglet then

                      Martinez

Cash.     Konsa.   Torres.   Moreno 

Bailey.   McGinn.   Luiz.    Ramsey.

             Diaby.     

                             Watkins. 

Big reaction required, get it done early.

Think about resting some players around 60 mins. 

Worry about West Ham after.

4-1 

Can't believe the tackle has divided so many people to be honest.

It's a red all day long for me.

*Though, refs are so inconsistent that I wouldn't have been that surprised to see a yellow.

Is it the 3 league games he misses? Ok for Thursday?  

2 minutes ago, TheMightyVillans said:

a setup that limits spurs to just 1 shot and 0 shots on target at half time isn't that bad. We had a few moments in the first half to score on the counter but bailey and watkins were very poor with their touches.

Spurs first goal was a great cross and then the 2nd goal was a gift. Then mcginn puts the nail in the coffin with a stupid tackle.

I can take losing to spurs but losing mcginn for the 3 games at this time in the season when we have already lost kamara for rest of season is really depressing... He has really stuffed us up just like that kamara red did previously.

I agree .

Ultimately we lost (convincingly) so fans will all blame the tactics, but first half we were still the more likely side and they created nothing.

The second goal was a stupid mistake by Konsa, then McGinn has a moment of madness and the games gone. All tactics after that are thrown out of the window and we gradually got worse and worse.

It hurts, really hurts, but it's just 3 points at the end of the day and it's all about how we react now moving forward.

Missing McGinn for 3 games is the worst part of all this, and how people can vote him our MOTM for showing "fight" is ridiculous - it was plain stupidity.

They've had more of the ball obviously, aided how we've set up, but we've had the only chances and they've not had a single shot on goal.

That first half at their place they could & should've been 5 up,  I actually like what Unai has done here. 

If we go behind, I do hope he has plan B to get back into it. I'm sure he has.

All to play for...

1 hour ago, Leeroy said:

Think that’s misguided. Diaby has been disappointing for a while I agree, but he still produces absolutely huge moments of quality like his cross against Luton. Rogers did fine against Luton, albeit got substituted on and off because tactically he wasn’t on it, but they are a Championship side, Spurs is a totally different proposition. No way can he be trusted to start in such a big game IMO. This is a season defining game and Rogers looked lost against Ajax in all honesty. We can’t afford passengers against Spurs who will be at almost full strength.

 

We have to hope Ramsey is fit to start, but if he isn’t Diaby comes in for me and Bailey goes over to the left where they’ll be lots of gaps given Porro loves to get forward. 

The bit in bold is exactly what I am hoping. I don't particularly want Rogers starting, but I don't think it's such a gimme that Diaby should start over him if it came to a choice of the two.

Rogers was also a whisker a way of scoring against Luton, but for a great save.

Anyway, I really hope Diaby finds some real form, think we're gonna need it to finish top 4/win Europa.

1 hour ago, TRO said:

We need to find the intensity we showed against City and Arsenal....and only then, will we have a chance of winning.

We are capable of winning and losing against teams like Spurs.

Tbh I don't think we showed that much intensity against Arsenal that day, we played well for 5 mins got the goal and basically hung on.

Naturally tired though from the City game so understandable, and the determination not to concede was great to see.

Can see this being very open, a great game for the neutral and I expect to see plenty of chances / goals, hopefully we come up on top.

29 minutes ago, Villa87 said:

He should start Diaby over Rogers for me. 

If it was the Diaby from the start of the seaon I would agree, but let's be honest, he's been pretty woeful for a long time now (assist v Luton aside).

I think there's definitely more of an argument for not starting him and Rogers would give us a more 'solid' look.

Having said that, I hope that they are both (good) options off the bench and Ramsey is 100% raring to go.

3 minutes ago, omariqy said:

West Ham losing

I'd be astounded if they didn't turn this around in the second leg. 

It could work in our favour, they have to go strong next Thursday (too).

So after tonight, I'd go;

                              Emi

Cash.       Konsa.       Torres.    Moreno.

 Bailey.      McGinn.    Luiz.     Ramsey.

             Tielemans 

                                 Watkins. 

I'd be happy enough though with Konsa RB and Lenglet CB and also Digne/Moreno is 50/50. 

I think the midfield/forward (if all fit) is a cert. Youri needs a performance! 

31 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

We're more than capable of losing to West Ham and Wolves and being locked into a really tight battle with Spurs and United for 4th-6th at the end of this month even if we beat Spurs at the weekend - eight of our eleven remaining games are against teams with an eye on Europe or the title - it's going to be incredibly tough, regardless of a good result this weekend.

I think we have to treat that West Ham game after the second leg the same way we're treating the Spurs game after tonight. It's going to be a massive three games in a week before we get a little breather ahead of Wolves.

 

We're capable of losing to West Ham and Wolves regardless of tonight, we're also more than capable of beating both if we play to our peak. Both those games will be completely different to tonight though, these European games have all been a much slower tempo, with the league games in mind. 

Also, West Ham will be playing next Thursday too, and they've hardly made any changes for tonight's Europa game, their squad isn't brilliant, so that will work in our favour.

40 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

Really poor - the wrong attitude to the game right from the off - we looked like we wanted to keep a clean sheet and win it 1-0, like we were playing Milan or something - we then carried out that plan poorly, we were sloppy and we played some awful stuff in possession. A terrible ref didn't help us either. 

We should have gone for these from the opening whistle and looked to score three or four - we've shown them far, far too much respect and ended up creating a second leg where we have to turn up, pick a strong side and work hard if we want to win it.

Spurs is a big game, and we did the right thing in weakening for this game, but losing Konsa makes it more difficult for us to do that in the second leg and West Ham is a game that's very, very difficult. Torres doesn't seem to have 90 minutes in him, let alone twice in a week, so if he plays against Spurs it'll be Lenglet/Carlos or Lenglet/Chambers for the second leg of this one - we really could have done with a cushion here.

Lose at West Ham and drop out of Champions league qualification and you can pin it on this performance, the approach and the attitude tonight - I'm really disappointed with it.

 

 

I agree it was awful to watch, we were sloppy in possession, didn't play well overall, but I don't think we were ever going to come here and finish the tie in ONE match. 

So not conceding, slowing the game when we could, conserving energy when we could and rotating players whilst coming away all level to VP, I think it's not been the worst night, especially given the news on Torres.

Konsa's red aint ideal, and wouldn't it be nice to have the likes of Kamara, Ramsey, Duran and Carlos available for that extra bit of squad depth, but hopefully all back soon and can help us in the crucial games coming up.