TRO

what's changed?

Sounds like, similar teams. Our Monchi, had an indifferent time at Roma too. I guess all teams, base their style on some other team at some point...so it comes down to who wants it on the day. Our manager is top drawer, but he can't stop individual errors, I guess your guy is the same. I think it's who applies their individualism in to a collective force, on the day.

Villa Park, has changed dramatically over the years, so the nostalgia, is just the site.....The stands are recent, not much history there, sure its traditional looking, but that can be replicated elsewhere. We are all faced with extending our properties, with changing circumstances, and quite often the decision is better to move.....I have no hard and fast opinion on it, other than what ever the most practical solution is, for the majority. The area where Villa Park is, has changed so much demographically over the years, and it's debatable if it is still a practical site....is it a asset for the local community? or a hinderance?,.....there is so much to consider.

I don't know if we have ever, been like that....are they like that all the time, or just playing Barcelona? Newcastle fans do seem to be noisy, but they do play with high intensity too. I think how a team plays, has a lot to do with it......Arsenal fans do see to have found their voice too, and Liverpool have always been high intensity traditionally. I am not sure props will work....I think it has to be natural....but hey ho, just my opinion.

....................it's a joke....you've spoiled it, now.

He would at least have had them organised.

Quality.

where did you learn spanish?

It's never been the same, since Didier Six, left.

Precisely.....I think its linked to how we play.

wouldn't be the first time he cocked up, would it....bless him.

You should have seen his face and our reaction, when he walked in to the lounge, pink suit and all.....we said "what was you thinking".....that's when he told us. To be fair, Dave was a villa fan, so he knew what reaction from the crowd, was coming, but had hobsons choice.

Me too. I knew the guy well, at the time, He told me in the Aston Social after the game, he was under orders from HDE.....His red face lasted hours, poor soul. He was told to do it, and when he told him/them it would go down like a lead balloon....He was reminded, he was being employed...do as your told. Ps his pink suit, didn't help either.

it seems to me, the reaction of the crowd, is linked to the events on the field of play. Personally, I think the atmosphere is good, from my vantage point, in the Doug Ellis....The Holte end is usually in full voice, particularly, when we are on the front foot, scoring or in transition. When we are in containing mode, which is necessary at times, their can be a relative dip in noise...and a kinda pensive silence.....or when we have a brain fart, like Saturday, that tends to dampen the enthusiasm. It does tend to be a synergy, thing , between crowd, and the events of play. I think the Etihad seems a bit quiet at times, too, maybe it's linked to the way they play, despite how good they are. It could be the same for us.

That is all well and good....but it doesn't address the issue...That 9 minutes was unacceptable. and you have failed to acknowledge it.

For the Liverpool game...........We need Dave Chance to sing "You'll never walk alone".. at half time. That gets the Holte End going.

We was playing Brentford, not Real Madrid. The standard of player we had out....should not collapse like that, and that is the issue. No excuse culture.....The managers words, not mine.

I think it will be 2 very interesting games, with 2 evenly matched teams. I see our Arsenal game as a plus not a minus...its an opportunity for us to sharpen our minds to a top class opponent, they will bring the best out in us....We have already, beaten them once this season, that in itself could be useful, if we use it, to our advantage. It was after a tough win over Man City too....so we seem to play better, against better opposition. I think, when you play at home, the pressure will be on you, and we can be very dangerous in transition...and our centre forward is in the form of his career...so not sure the second leg, would necessarily be to your advantage. I respect your team, but I think the inquest after our Last Premier league game, could be something that might work against you. Our bounce back ability is our forte. look forward to 2 good games. Chin Chin..

The world we move in ( football) will never be ideal.....you have to fight for it....everything we get, has to be fought for. I will be amongst the first to accept we are WIP.....and that is the perspective, I will apply. I will also accept the reasons derived from injuries....but the manager is quick to dispel excuses, too. I acknowledge the fabulous return of our attack, but I refuse to accept its a trade off, for the future.....it has effectively masked over the defensive frailties. it needs to be said, that game we fielded an experienced and well renowned back line, with an international midfield to boot. I am all for goal scoring and the entertainment it brings, but to progress, our defensive work needs to improve....It does not go unnoticed the improvement Arsenal have made, and it is primarily in defence, and I am not comparing us with them....just using a template to aim at. I want to make this clear, I am not opposed to the way we play, or the way the manager sets us up.....for large periods in this game, everything was Hunky Dory....I have no issue with the high-line or playing out from the back....but I do despise, capitulation, and poor defensive organisation.....and I am not suggesting, we should be as good as the top 3.....but if we cannot learn from them, and work in the future to emulate them....we are playing lip service to ambition.....and I don't think the manager. Mark, I am not debating Offense against Defence.....we need both, and game management when we are 2-0 up is paramount.....the traits in this game, was not a one off, and it's disingenuous to present it as such....Ollie would not have said what he said, if it was just an isolated situation, he was clearly miffed.....and Brave too, to say so. It's much easier to stop goals, than score them.....so it would follow, to get that right, as a good place to work on. We have gained many friends this season, with fabulous displays, i.e Man City and Arsenal.....where we showed just how good we can be, so some of the mitigation, being rolled out, in this game....is excuses or euphemisms imo. anyway.....I am leaving this game behind, with the 9 minutes of dispiriting defending.....and look forward to a resolute and upbeat response against Lille. UTV

That might seem a bit harsh....and I am not going to agree with it. but I must confess, this team at times, is playing in to the hands of those who think we are. Thank god, Ollie showed the necessary aggression and talent, to bail us out, from an embarrassing result.

The injuries have undoubtedly played a huge part in our dip in form....and No One is contesting that, so it's a moot point. Back to the topic.....The game. We have one of the best Goalkeepers in the World, We can still call on one of the best strikers in the league......We have and International back four, and an International midfield.....We have one who plays for Brazil, and another who shone against England Recently, and the fresh return of an established Scotland International....We have a winger, who is having a great season, and has caught the eye of many fans in the League......That is what we had available, on the day. We started brightly, and soon took control, showing the true worth of our league position. We soon compiled a huge possession stat, once again Commensurate with our league standing, and overall seasonal form, ( not recent form)....In short, we was cruising, with absolutely no danger whatsoever.....What happened in the mad 9 minutes, was clear to see from the stills, that some podcasters produced....and it was alien, to the reputation of our defenders...totally, unexpected, from International class players. To endorse those comments....The manager and the No 9, made references to it....one taking responsibility, like the man he is.....and the other, refusing to accept it, as it happens, on the contrary, Ollie was clearly irked by the collapse....suffice to say, rescued a point away from complete embarrassment. We cannot dwell on it, we have to move on, I am accepting of that....but to deny it, in the first place, is wide of the mark imo.

Surprised you have fell for it Brin.....but I respect, it's your opinion. We have conceded 49 goals this season in the league....3 more than last season with 6 games to go....surrendering leads, even when we have won, is a concern, and it questions the very notion, that we are convincing. The whole season has been built around, a very competent offensive style, and the current league position is astonishing, overall....but that is not the debate, conceding soft, sloppy goals when we are cruising, is the crux of the debate. Even though, it may not seem as bad as its painted, we have many fans with short and well bitten finger nails....its unnecessary.....We all acknowledge key players like Kamara and Mings, are a contributing factor to all that...but never the less an International back four should not react to 3 attacks like that.....in Unais own words....There's no excuse, endorsed by his centre forward, who equally questions the competency behind the collapse. There is undoubtedly a view that can paint a bright picture, of what we have achieved this season, and I would accept the overall picture is bright.....but if anyone questions, validity of some fans, noticing a few flaws, they are simply in denial. Oh and by the way....I am not miffed at my expectation for the season ,being challenged as I predicted we would finish 6th, so my judgment could be trumped. The case of not having a Rodri or a Rice, is once again disappointingly misinterpreted......It's not an expectation, more of a target, to what we can aim for in the future.....We already have a pretty good CDM, who is sadly suffering from a long term Injury, and his absence has affected other members of the teams performances.....but to have only one in a squad of 25, is imo a area for improvement. Personally, I would not insult the intelligence of discerning fans, to suggest, that the mad 9 minutes, was condoned by the manager, or our centre Forward....they too, was a angry as we are.

None of that can be contested.....but you are barking up the wrong tree. The goals we conceded in that mad 9 minutes, and moreover the manner in which they were conceded, was a poor showing for an International class back four.....Those 4 defenders are no slouches, so don't make out we are second class citizens in the transfer market... and the aforementioned clubs hold the advantage.....We have already seen off, Arsenal and Man city at home.....with clean sheets, so don't spill the bile, about a case for low expectation.... we was playing Brentford by the way, dominating possession and cruising. Your argument is valid, for some other kind of debate....but not this one. Ollie Watkins himself, came out (Brave Lad) and spelled out, what he was miffed by.....Unai Emery, was honest enough to claim responsibility.....but it was a collective calamity, and not for the first time either. You can talk about the big picture, all you like, and it's great solace to do so....but some of us are concerned we don't throw away, all that good stuff you mention. Some say Brentford fought back, because they are in a relegation fight...oh bully for them......what about our incentive of a Champions league place. You talk about confidence, we was cruising in that game, all the confidence in the world was there.....what happened was, we stopped competing. and by doing that invited them back in. For sure. we can't dwell on it....but don't try to make out, those that are irked by that collapse, are being harsh.....even the ex Pro's like Gabby endorse Ollies undoubted Ire.

or not go to the euro's....now that would take some explaining. That 3rd, showed all the aggression, I have doubted him for.....showing that in front of Southgate, might have booked his passage.

Never in a million years....we haven't got it in us.....so something is amiss.