TRO

Sadly, Nothing surprised me.

So many elements of the game reminiscent of the Chelsea game.

3 minutes ago, villan-scott said:

I haven’t been this excited about a Euro Semi since watching Eurotrash in my earlier years! 

Fearing we’re running on fumes but hoping we have enough to get the job done!

The no excuse mantra will see us through....Unai is right, its an opportunity for the peripherals, to show their worth and state their case.

Like " you've knocked my door, now show me"

They don't lose many games.....It will be tough.

However, It was a really tough journey in 1982....but the resilience, saw us through.

This Semi final, will be all about, a will to win, and a mental approach to seeing it through.

I am on the same page as Xristos Farrow.....if we play passively, like we did against Chelsea, we could struggle.

I don't see us, tying the game up at Villa Park....I think the big performance is needed in Greece.

I don't see a scenario, where we score enough goals, to make it comfortable.....Game management will be key IMO.

20 hours ago, RicRic said:

Its more the fact we could be in the biggest competition in football next season so upgrades are needed for sure.. Bailey is the only winger who looks capable of starting against lets say a barcelona, diaby,rogers and JJ are certainly not ( possibly a fit JJ *undecided*).

We are not starting with another player similar to Kamara because we only need him and Luiz who drives further forward, then we have Tielemans and Mcginn who can play multiple roles in the central midfield area, but we do need a backup to Kamara as Tim isn’t ready yet. If Duran leaves we then need to look at signing a forward again… 

So B**locks to FFP we will need to spend at least £100M on 3/4 positions its not fair we cannot.

*RB*
*LW*
*CDM/CM*
*ST*

In a game, where there is a need to win the ball back, often........It can be too much work, for one, and to go after opponents, 2 is better than 1.

In most games, where we are in control, I agree 1 CDM is fine......but I am thinking squad as opposed to team. An additional quality CDM gives Unai options, and some opponents is hard to get the ball off them.

Anyway, in the cold light of day, I trust Unai to get it right.

On 01/05/2024 at 09:44, duke313 said:

A quality DM and RB for me, if we only signed those and nothing more i'd be happy enough.

Me Too.

Dougie will be fine, played in his right position No 8.....I thought the idea was for Tielemans to compete with him for that shirt.

Having one dedicated CDM leaves us vulnerable.....we need an additional quality one who can pass the ball, and stay on it, to help us control games.....to play alongside, Kamara

Wingers.....we currently have Bailey and Diaby, and possibly Philogene coming back, not to mention Kaden Young in the academy, looking for his chance.

I don't really understand the need, here.....unless we are actually saying, they are not good enough.

i think there are positions in the squad that clearly need strengthening.....other area's are just cosmetic choices.

14 hours ago, sheepyvillian said:

The fact that Chelsea looked a lot more dangerous in the 2nd half than they did in the first, I think, adds weight to my opinion. 

You're right, they are just opinions. 

I can't deny that.

14 hours ago, lexicon said:

You just asked and answered your own question there 

No I didn't.

I have my opinion, but respect yours.

4 hours ago, sheepyvillian said:

But for all their possession in that first - half, aside from hitting the post, they never really looked like scoring. We were disciplined in our defensive organisation. Not so in the second  - half. The confidence had evaporated and we lost our structure. I honestly don't believe that would have been the case has Emi not departed. 

I respect your opinion, Sheepy.....but I think it's a stretch to suggest, that Emi could influence, what was wrong with us in that second half....you could be right, after all....but I didn't see it that way.

Jackson had a close offside too, first half.....I thought Olsen saved a worldie, from Palmer too. He is never going to give us the assurance Emi does, but their goals came from passive play, from us.

I'm not suggesting you are wrong about Emi, we will always miss him....but I think the midfield, was a central culprit in our poor night.

just opinions.

On 29/04/2024 at 17:20, Villatillidie95 said:

i think we should be able to score a couple past olympiacos without him in the first leg, brighton we seem to do really well against for whatever reason, really glad its only a couple of weeks he misses because the guy has really stepped up for his since he started becoming a regular in the team

just 2..... we don't like 2

7 hours ago, lexicon said:

I know you're not going to like this @TRO but for me it's about wages again . He's pretty much fine as a backup CB, but for the money he's supposedly on, I think we need to offload him in the summer and replace him with someone on a more reasonable, sustainable wage. 

why wasn't I going to like it ?.....I respect folks opinions.

I just don't want to busy myself, with other folks wages.

4 minutes ago, sheepyvillian said:

But there have been countless games where we have surrendered possession and still managed the game to our advantage. Spurs away, Arsenal at home and away, in the first - half. 

In that first - half against Chelsea, every time we hit them on the counter we looked like we would score. However, that dangerous weapon was almost non - existent in the second  - half. We became fixated on trying not to concede, to the point where we forgot about trying to get a third goal. We allowed ourselves to become overwhelmed and Chelsea sensed the fear and panic that consumed our players. Like I said, even the crowd sensed the change in our approach, and sadly, the inevitable happened. Without confidence there's no cohesion, instead of asserting ourselves, we kind of crossed our fingers and just hoped we didn't concede. I really don't think that would have happened had Emi not been replaced. He's the captain for a reason, he brings that assured presence, that sadly, Olsen doesn't. 

The top 3 have only averaged just over 2 goals per game this season......with all their fire power....Arsenal and Man city 2.4 and Liverpool with 2.2

I don't think it's reasonable to assume, we can keep scoring so freely.

I can't offer an explanation, as to why, we let them back in, but if we couldn't secure the ball, maybe it's one answer.

I ask the question, did we go defensive? by design or by necessity or did we just retreat, because we couldn't get the ball?

I think we tried not to concede, because we couldn't get the ball, to launch an attack, we effectively lost the midfield.....I do get your point, our strength is attack, and the "goals for" column supports that.....but when we couldn't get the ball, the only alternative is to keep what you already have.....but sadly, Chelsea had different ideas.

4 hours ago, MaVilla said:

we are really stacking up the absentees at the moment.

Missing..... Martinez, Moreno, Mings, Kamara, Buendia, Tielemans, Ramsey & Zaniolo.

 

It's the new Spire Little Aston -Hospital team...They are waiting for 3 more to arrive.

On 28/04/2024 at 00:57, VillaChris said:

They're not as good as Lille.

Looking at their squad and plenty of experience. Vicente Iborra as DM in midfield is 36. El Arabi their main CF is 37 and Jovetic comes in at a youthful 34. Their main danger will be Podence on loan from Wolves who caused us issues at VP last season.

I think we can take a 2 goal lead to Greece and that should be enough.

Mendilibar is their coach so it will be a very very low block for this leg so we'll have to be patient. Really hope Unai just dosen't treat it like a chess match due to facing a compatriot as he overthought the Wolves games last season facing Lopetegui and that played into their hands more than ours.

Can see us winning this 3-1.

We can't defend them at home

.....I'll get my coat.

13 minutes ago, nick76 said:

Sorry mate I never understand people posing this question.  

We play constantly against some of the best teams in Europe in the Premier League and have a very good record against them.  

Newcastle only missed out on going through group stages because of a last minute incident.  

Emery has great European pedigree.  

We have many top level international players like Martinez, Torres etc.  

The best way to learn imo is by experience of doing it.  

We aren’t expecting to win it but given the strength of the PL which we have played well in compared to many clubs from countries in much poorer leagues.  

Then having the mastery of Emery and a summer of further squad adjustments then with 8 games we have a great chance of getting through to the next round in the new format.

it's a question Nick, not an answer.

The reason, I have asked it Nick.....is to get eloquent views like yours.

see.......I get the best out, in you.

2 minutes ago, viivvaa66 said:

A chicken and egg question. Unless you have Champions League and the income that comes with it, you wouldn’t be able to attract and pay for the players to build the squad required for Champions League. If we qualify for Champions League this season, the next and the one after that, I think by then we would be ready for Champions League.

good answer imo

13 minutes ago, foreveryoung said:

I want it too, but no way are we ready, I doubt we get out the group.

It'll be a killer too next season with our small squad.

well, I think with players back and strengthening, it will make a big difference.

2 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

We could still make it over the line without winning any of our games.

 

there's a thought.

I think we will get 1 more win....but I don't know against who.

Are we ready for Champions league?.....missing out on the Europa, is a huge step up.

Don't get me wrong, I want to achieve it, but I wonder, if we are actually ready for it.

3 minutes ago, sheepyvillian said:

As you know, "Stats" can be very misleading . I posted a comment at half  - time with the opinion that, Chelsea showing that possession for possession sake means nothing. In that first - half, imo, we looked like the team more likely to score. I had no sense of panic although that half. And a lot of that confidence was down to Martinez and his calmness when making decisions and that was also evident in the defence. Yet when Olsen entered the contest, that sense of calmness seemed to evaporate, even before he had touched the ball, that loss of assurance and confidence was almost palpable, hence the quietness of the crowd. I'm in no way claiming Olsen was at fault for the goals conceded, my point is, in the second half   we never had the same calmness and defensive discipline that we had in the first, and I don't believe it's just a coincidence that we lost our self  - belief when Emi went off. 

We no longer had that threat on the counter and at times Olsen was going long. That's how I saw the game. Who does the fault lie with? That's for the manager to work out. I'm not hating on Olsen, I just think he doesn't inspire confidence in the way Emi does, and, for me, that was clearly evident against Chelsea. 

 

I can't argue Sheepy, with all that.

I can tell you, at 2-0 up, I was still nervy.

I accept the magnitude that Emi exudes in every aspect of his play, but I thought it was coming, like another Brentford.

You are right, possession is only one aspect of a game, and sometimes it is for possessions sake, but when you haven't got the ball, you can't affect the game and the frustration builds.....and it's like boxing, the body punches, rarely knock you out, but they wear you down.....and they wore us down.

1 hour ago, ThunderPower_14 said:

If Pep gets it over Unai for winning less than he did last year with a squad that is probably double ours in value, i'm not even sure what the point is of having the award.

we would need to know the criteria for winning it.....is it a points system? 

23 hours ago, MaVilla said:

Seriously, someone needs to make a list of all the records Emery has broken at Villa, i think i have lost count, but that aside, it would be nice to keep track for posterity.

I've got one.....we are in line to conceding more goals since, the 2019/20 season, where we finished 17th.

shut up!!!!!!!!!!! just kidding..................................i think.

On 27/04/2024 at 21:57, daggy_333 said:

Not really one to criticise Emery, however I feel he set us up far too defensively tonight.

I am not saying you are wrong, but just offering an alternative view.

When a team can't get the ball, for a numbers of reasons, there is a tendency to retreat.......whether its by design or not, it's a natural instinct.

I am unsure, where the blame lies.....other than the eye test and the stats tell us, we had 28-30% possession....that's unusual at home.....why I don't know.....but we didn't engage with them and stood off....some say maintaining our shape, ok I get that too.

but If you allow teams to dictate play, by not challenging them, or not going after them, you surrender the initiative and subsequently, their confidence grows......and if you do go after them, you have to win your share of duels.

In many cases,they then, overwhelm you with, pressure, until you crack.

I don't believe, Unai Emery was expecting that.....happy to criticise him, if it's warranted.....not sure its is.

I saw too many players off it.....and dining out on the 2 goal lead and Chelsea was having none of it......why? not sure.

In this league, you have to do many things, and competing is one......if you don't, and coast, or play in a passive manner, you are liable to get dumped on your rear.

All the teams, even the bottom ones......are willing to fight and scrap, and they can easily overcome a team, that don't fancy it......We have even seen it in domestic cup competitions.....superior talent, does not always bail you out, on its own.

5 minutes ago, est1874 said:

Well, you're not correct unfortunately if you're trying to claim that Unai's stylistic approach with us is purely pragmatic. It is his style of play. Clean sheets have never been his goal as a manager, his intention is always to outscore the opposition, which of course creates risk, but he likes that and is confident in his abilities and his team's abilities to "score one more".

His stats in La Liga before coming to us cost this out: despite winning a lot more games than he lost, his goals for to goals against were 654 : 488. Broken down as far as it can go, that's only a tiny fraction better than 4 : 3.

As I've said, Unai's style is always a risk reward calculation, and it's mostly been working for us (with a great goalkeeper between the posts, hence my original point).

Either way, if you're hoping for a scenario where we don't ship many goals, you'll be a long while hoping.

I simply think you are wrong.

What he has done in the past, with other clubs, is probably what he has had to do, the same as with us. He has been with us no time, so WIP is well and truly on.....I can almost Guarantee, he will have one eye on how many goals we have conceded and another on how we let teams back in from winning positions.....these will be on his agenda.

I can categorically tell you, we won't win the big prizes, having scant regard, for defending and I don't believe unai needs me to tell him......Unai is playing a way, right now, that gives him the best chance of winning, with the personnel he has......that's all he can do, so our style as you call it, will be borne out of that.

If you think we have to change our style, to concede less goals, I think you are wrong again...becoming more resilient, does not necessarily mean, compromising the scoring of goals.....That is not so.

If you trawl back through recent seasons, all the top 4 teams have a dedicated focus, on conceding few goals.....whilst scoring freely.

It's a fallacy to suggest, we can reach the heights Unai wants to reach, conceding heavily or in excess of 50 goals.....

I have every confidence he will be looking at shoring up our defence,( whole team) next season, without compromising, goals scored or our style of play.....The top 3 have proved this season alone, that attractive football can go hand in hand, with a tight defence....check out previous seasons.

What did Fergie say?....."Goals fill stadiums, Defences win trophies"

There is no compromise to be had....we just have to defend better, to achieve the top places.