WakefieldVillan

Yeah, Petrov was the one that first came into my head - He was absolutely class that day. Was always a big fan of Stan though I think he divided opinions, at least in the early stages of his Villa career.

Was there for Luna debut at The Emirates - Can't really remember how well he played but won't forget his goal, sealing the match and the ensuing celebrations - great day out. 

Ron Atkinson - "Ron's Return" - Sheffield Wednesday 2 vs 3 Aston Villa. Two nil down to win 3-2. One of my favourite Villa games. 6 Debutants that day - Probably my picks being Steve Staunton and Dalian Atkinson (RIP) from memory. 

I'm hoping for a MASSIVE reaction from the players after yesterday.

                   Martinez

Young    Konsa    Mings      Digne

       Sanson  Luiz   Kamara    

    Ramsey   Watkins   McGinn (if fit)

Score line could be anything, but I'll go for 3-2 Villa.

I'd go:

                         Olsen

Cash      Konsa       Mings      Augustinsson

Buendia  Dendoncker  Kamara   Bailey

                   Ings   Coutinho

We have been lucky for a change that we have a decent draw (on paper) for a change and not the annual trip to Old Trafford but we still need to play with the right attitude and treat our opponents with respect (on their big day out!).

Olsen looked to be more reassured (albeit underworked) against Spurs so I would give him a start in this (get to at least a QF place before looking at Emi returning in this competition!)

I'd play Augustinsson as he looked lively on Wednesday night, hopefully he can put more pressure on Digne in the coming weeks.

Start with both Bailey and Buendia as I think these both could do with the confidence (hopefully) this game will bring and maybe can both play themselves into a bit of better form.

Let Coutinho do his bits playing just off Ings and I think we should, should run out comfortable winners (3-0 or 4-1 - would be my prediction)

After 45-60 mins look to bring on the likes of Ramsey (if fit), Sanson (if alive),  Chambers, Archer etc..

Ratings

9/10

Luiz (MOTM), Kamara.

8.5/10

Young, Watkins.

8/10

McGinn, Mings, Konsa, Olsen,  Coutinho.

7.5/10

Buendia, Digne.

7/10 

The other subs. 

5/10 

Bailey (only disappointment).

10/10 

UNAI EMERY

7 hours ago, Rino8 said:

I posted it after the game.

 

I'm never bothered by City losses, they're essentially playing a different sport

No you didn't, it was during the first half.

25 minutes ago, bobzy said:

And his second too.  Had a decent game from what I saw of it.  The chances he missed were half-chances really.  It happens - but he'll also probably be trying to force the issue a bit too much,

One of his misses was an absolute sitter! 

He was pretty shocking first half - second half he played well, 2 nice assists.

1 hour ago, Rino8 said:

Generous. He looks out of his depth 

That aged well

To be fair, he was shocking first half!

6 hours ago, TRO said:

I don't think UE has a choice, he has to strengthen this 11

How long before we lose him....we have to do better than that, else we will lose him.

Buendia is not effective, or consistent enough.

I am not as convinced with this performance as some Fans, seem to be.....I just saw some stuff, I have been watching for some time.

I don't think we can coach our way out of some of these players......I think it needs surgery.

 

 

I wasn't convinced either. Yes we played well in parts of the game particularly 25 minutes after the interval but we were already 2-0 down and chasing the game. 

Don't get me wrong, we obviously created some chances and if we were more clinical it may have been a different outcome but they (Nunez) wasted several chances too and this wasn't the same Liverpool side as 3 years ago when they were sweeping past all and sundry, this is a team that have lost to Leeds and Forest this season! So I think this one was a chance wasted! We miss some steel and nastiness! 

2 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

We look a million miles away from Newcastle. 

God help emery with these group of players

To be fair there's a few teams looking a million miles away from Newcastle currently. 

Same old same old, give you hope then ultimately blow it.

Always say I don't mind losing if we play well, do the basics, not concede silly goals etc etc.. but that wasn't the case tonight and I really believe they were there for the taking if IF we had put in a better performance and not carried 7 or 8 players. 

Voted Kamara MOTM, Mings was going to be my choice but then he does the crap loose ball that led to the third (killer) goal. Typical of him really. Plays well for 89 minutes but you just know there's a mistake in there.

Anyway, no point ranting over Mings, he was miles better than Konsa who was given the run around by Andy Carroll, sorry Nunez. 

Digne getting megged by the 9yr old summed his game, probably the worst player on the pitch. Though Bailey might have something to say about that. 

We're a decent side WHEN THINGS ARE GOING FOR US, but we look so weak at times, too many not strong enough on the ball and when you have a BIG 6 favouring ref then you gotta do more. I'm looking at you three in particular Luiz, Digne, Buendia. 

The high line looked suspect but we looked dangerous going the other way, shame we had our own Andy Carroll. 

I kinda understand the no subs as we were on top BUT ultimately we lost and it didn't pay off - and Emi and Leon were looking well off it, so fault at the manager for that. 

3 terrible goals to concede, Digne should be putting the first for a throw. Second one was a run from Ox ? I think, easily past 2 or 3 tackles, next thing, corner, deflection, of course, goal. And mistakes for the last, Mings, Konsa and Olsen (slightly harsh) but all so avoidable.

No shame in losing to Liverpool, but this one is frustrating as I've known.

5 hours ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

I wouldn't say Maradona failed but the Argentina team were politically a complete shambles during his time.There were many changes in the country during Maradona's time socially, economical and in a political sense which all had a detriment to the team. This is part of the reason why they did not take their brightest young player to the WC in '78.

At Barcelona he scored 38 goals in 58 goals. In his first season he contracted hepatitis, broke his ankle and had to deal with terrible physical abuse from other players.

How old are you? Did you ever see him play? I'd recommend the documentary and reading his book as it paints a much better picture than the one we are incorrectly accustomed to.

I think this is key, I think the majority of ones voting for Messi weren't born when Maradona was playing, and very few on here would have been born when Pele was so I can easily see why fans are swayed by this. 

I was 9 during the 86 World Cup and I was mesmerised by Maradona, shamed now to say but I wanted them to beat England back then purely down to the genius of one man.  

2 hours ago, TomC said:

These debates are always fun and never conclusive.

I agree that the bias towards today's players will always be there. We've all seen Maradona's and Pelé's highlights, but how many actually saw them throughout their careers? You'd have to be over 80 for Pelé and over 50 for Maradona. Hardly anyone alive saw Di Stefano. It's hard for most people to believe that anyone is better than what they saw week-in, week-out for years. And we all have attachments to our boyhood heroes. For Villa, the older folks around here are going to be attached to Sid Cowans or Dennis Mortimer; people a little younger are going to say Paul McGrath; the really young (if they can get over their anger) will say Jack Grealish. Only a history nerd like me is going to make the case for Billy Walker or Pongo Waring.

It's also hard to compare players from different eras because things are so different. But if you're the greatest in your era, you'd probably be the (co-)greatest in any era. If you dropped an adult Pelé into today's game, he'd probably be lost at first because of the pace and the tactical sophistication, but he would probably adapt. He'd certainly rise to the top if you dropped him into today's youth systems at 5 years old; he had talent. In reverse, if you dropped an adult Messi into Pelé's time, he'd have to adapt to leather balls and rough pitches. If you dropped him into Maradona's time, he's have to adapt to getting hacked without sanction. It would probably be an easier adjustment than the other direction, but it would still be an adjustment.

This is true in any sport. In tennis, how do you compare Rod Laver to Federer-Nadal-Djokovic when he played with wood rackets and had the amateur/pro divide? In ice hockey, how do you compare Gordie Howe to Wayne Gretzky when Gordie started with awful ice surfaces (no Zamboni yet) and flat stick blades?

Another factor in the debate is: do you compare a whole career, or do you compare peak to peak? Messi and Pelé are both ahead of Maradona if you go by the whole career because they lasted longer and didn't self destruct. Maradona is in the debate because his peak is on a level with theirs. Again, other sports have parallels. In golf, Jack Nicklaus did it for longer than Tiger Woods and racked up more titles, but Woods' peak was at least the same level or arguably higher.

How do you compare players who played different positions? Zatman already brought up Maldini. Even more extreme, how do you compare a goalkeeper like, say, Lev Yashin? Again, parallels in other sports: in ice hockey, how do you compare Bobby Orr to Gretzky or Howe when he was a defenseman? In basketball, how do you compare Wilt Chamberlain to Michael Jordan or LeBron James when he was a center?

Even more subjective things come into play. How many people prefer Messi over Ronaldo simply because Ronaldo comes across as arrogant?

In the end, you can't compare on any objective basis. That's why I disagree vehemently when people say things like, "Messi is the GOAT, the debate is over." No, the debate isn't over and never will be. All that changed yesterday is that the last excuse for excluding Messi from the debate is gone. He's in the debate without question, as Maradona and Pelé always will be.

It's all subjective. And I vote 1. Pelé 2. Messi 3. Maradona.

 

 

Summed up perfectly

6 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

No debate anymore 

In your opinion.

I'd still go Maradona as the (IMO ).

As many pundits have said, probably a generational thing people opting differently.

Glad he (& more so Emi) won though, truelly world class player and a joy to watch! 

9 points separate 9th (Fulham) to 20th so perhaps 12 teams still involved. 

Out of those 12 I really can't see Leicester or us () being involved - I think our squads are too good.

That leaves 10. 

I think Fulham and Brentford should be ok whilst they have Mitrovic and Toney up top. Palace have a decent squad and Zaha (when he's not missing pens).

So 3 from the bottom 7. But I would probably narrow that down to 3 from 4 as most likely - which is the current bottom 3 (Wolves, Soton, Forest) and Bournemouth. 

I think Leeds, West Ham & Everton will all probably have enough, but if I could pick 3 then these are the 3 I would love to see go down 

Only watched till we went 2-1 up because I was 30 minutes behind the live match (on daddy duties) - once our second goal went in I thought I would check the score because I didn't want to watch the last 30 minutes if I was going to end up disappointed - Was a wise move. Couldn't believe it when it flashed up FOUR two  Well, actually, I could.. It was typical Villa really wasn't. But TBH I did hope that the introduction of Mings, Buendia and Bailey had strengthened us but appears not.

I haven't seen the last 3 goals but by all accounts we made it very easy for them. Very disappointing, especially given Man City have drawn Liverpool and we would have had a home tie against Burnley I think it was. Hate losing to these words removed too.

I will cut Emery some slack, I see both sides to the argument of playing fringe players and going all out with a strong eleven - but he was let down by a few, especially Olsen. 

First half we looked like we had a game plan at least and although we didn't provide much threat, we also limited them to I think one half chance (header over the bar) - but in truth both teams were poor in possession. I can't really comment on the second half having only watched 15 minutes. But I think we are in good hands with Emery and I am looking forward to how he moves us forward

I had a feeling theirs would be stronger than what people were thinking. 

I'll be stunned if we get through this.

1 hour ago, Chindie said:

I don't really care about Christmas anymore.

Working in retail over Christmas for a couple of years was hell and will kill any sense of joy in the season. And then both my parents died. So Christmas became going to my sister's for most of the day to spend it with her family and then going home to sit around for the rest of the day. And last year I didn't even do that, it was just sat at home alone all day bar a couple of hours where my girlfriend can't round with a impromptu buffet in place of Christmas dinner and seeing my sister for about 10 minutes to swap presents. I haven't bothered with decorations for a few years now.

So yeah. It's not great. And **** John Lewis ads.

Sorry for your losses. Losing a parent definitely made it harder for me over Christmas the last few years, but becoming a new dad recently I am very excited for future Christmas's 

                            Martinez

     Cash        Konsa      Mings        Young

                        Luiz        Sanson 

              Buendia   Ramsey    Bailey

                              Watkins

Go strong, go for the win, look to introduce the likes of Chambers, Digne, McGinn and Ings 45-60 mins in.

Beating these twice in a week would be absolutely class - Get the feeling they will have a point to prove though so not overly confident - Suppose it all depends on who picks the stronger team.

In my lifetime, my top 5

1. Maradona.

2. Messi.

3. Ronaldo (Brazilian).

4. Ronaldo (other).

5. Zidane.

Heroes

1. Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel
2. Twisted Crème Egg
3. Twirl
4. Cadbury Dairy Milk
5. Wispa
6. Fudge
7. Dinky Decker
8. Crunchie Bits
9. Eclairs

Celebrations

1. Galaxy Caramel
2. Maltesers
3. Galaxy
4. Mars
5. Snickers
6. Twix
7. Milky Way
8. Bounty

Usually go for Celebrations over Heroes based on liking more of what's in - Would only eat the ones bolded. Milky Ways at a push. Top 5 of each in a combined tub would be 

Fantastic appointment. I voted for Poch (mainly because my mates said we had absolutely no chance of attracting him) but Emery was my second choice, so delighted, like pretty much every Villa fan right now.

It's a real signal of intent by the owners and hopefully it's the start of some exciting times, dare I say it, with a push for Europe and a cup success or two  

3 hours ago, MWARLEY2 said:

Our lot will go out with no fear . And knowing they have to perform for a watching on Emery.  Going to be a hard fought game but one i am not worrying about. Bring the mentality of Sunday and we will give ourselves a real chance.  

Guimares vs Luiz 

Trippier vs Bailey 

Almiron  vs Buendia 

Wilson vs Martinez 

Some interesting match ups there 

Hopefully if Mings plays well this will have little relevance 

Some good match ups there though - Feeling much more positive about this now and think (hope) we can come away with a point (3 would be A-mazing).

Need the first goal, silence the crowd and I can see a 1-1.