thunderball

1 hour ago, R.Bear said:

That was the best performance by Aston Villa in the Premier League era, easily. They have just completely outplayed, to the extreme, one of the best club sides of all-time.

I am stunned by what I've just watched. Wow.

Late to this as I was out and watched it as live at 9.30, and this is what I was going to post. We were absolutely outstanding to a man, best performance I can ever recall, especially due to the opposition. It didn’t matter they were depleted, we destroyed them.

So many great performances, but Bailey was fabulous, never played as well as that for us before. 

So many heroes tonight.

Wow….!

2 hours ago, TRO said:

We have clearly lost a huge attribute to the team that Mings Brings.

maybe with Mings 30 and Carlos 30....its time to be looking for a dominant " Alpha Male" at the back.

I agree, Pau, brings so much to the offensive side of the game.....but we have to look at the defensive side for compensation and balance.

I have a sense we have regressed defensively this term at the expense of our offensive game. However it is working out given where we are in the table. We have a new psychology of defending as a team and attacking as a team, we no longer just have a defence who defend, we need to get used to that. On balance the gains outweigh the losses and that will provide plenty of ammo for haters, but as has been pointed out, if Pau defended to the same standard as his progressive side, we couldn't afford him.

2 hours ago, HKP90 said:

You really have a Working BBC B? That was the computer my primary school had.  

I do some where, in my Dad's attic gathering dust, it was mine from the 80's, probably with Action Man and Astro Wars. No longer have a tape deck to load the games though! Only wish I'd kept my Chopper....

Big game. More important for us than them, the narrative will be about them whatever the result and however we play, and TBH its better that way. A win will put a spring in tired legs for the weekend, Arsenal had a long, mentally draining game too.

28 minutes ago, Zero7 said:

Not sure I’d play him tonight. Wonder if Carlos would be a better match up against halland 

Pau is key to how we now play. If we give up and just approach it as backs to the wall defending then maybe, but we play as a team, in a system and he is a big part of that. Haaland is clearly the big threat and Mings has managed him well in previous encounters, and Carlos is on a good run but if he plays I dont see it being at the expense of Torres.

With Ramsey (then Buendia) returning its do or die. We still need squad numbers but he needs to dig in and find himself, he clearly has talent. 

18 hours ago, HKP90 said:

I programmed a Zaniolo simulator for the ZX Spectrum:

10 Print 'Player Confidence=High'

20 Print 'Shows some promising attributes' 

30 Print 'Has spell of bad form'

40 Print 'Gets battered for it by supporters'

50 Print 'Player confidence reduces'

60 IF Player confidence = 'Abysmal' goto 80

70 Goto 30

80 Goto Galatasaray

90 Print 'Player broken'

Cool, I have a BBC B, I might fire it up and try your programme after I finish Elite  

We are doing very well, even better considering we have bedded in new players and lost 4 of last seasons starting 11 that finished so strongly. This league is harder than ever, the coaching quality and strength in depth of teams is at new levels, the old top three is now a top 6 or 7, in fact the top 10 is a difficult place to attain. Other than Sheffield (who we have yet to meet!), all other teams have some thing on their day and Bournmouth are on a very good run and you can see why.

We were out of sorts yesterday, but hung on to salvage something, thats the positive. We are finding the two games a week a challenge and December could break us, we already look a bit tired so the fact we are still getting points is a very good trait. This is why you see the same old sides at the top: champion's league money allows them bigger, better quality squads to compete on all fronts with rotation of quality players.

Newcastle are built on a good defensive structure and they have a bigger, more physical team, and they have busy front men - Gordon is playing very well at present. I think they are better than us, and possibly Spurs too, but we are doing alright, we are certainly in the mix and likely to be all season with Spurs, Newcastle and Man Utd. A lot of football still to play.

2 hours ago, est1874 said:

The best season in living memory? What are you, 10 years old?

We've finished top 2 in my lifetime. Top 4 more recently. We've won cups. Mounted (albeit abortive and unlikely) title challenges until January time under Gregory and O'Neill.

Unai is undoubtedly a fantastic manager that we're lucky to have, and there is plenty to be positive about. But telling people who are disappointed with today's performance that it's the best season in living memory, on the 3rd of December after 14 matches, the day of a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, is pathetic.

I think the truth of this is somewhere in between, I understand both view points, however suggest expectation informs the response. Bournemouth are a very decent outfit, especially at home, and getting their form and game together at the wrong moment for us, we are surely not so entitled that we expect to steam roller anyone, we all know the PL isn’t like that, it’s why it’s the best league in the world.

Quality goals from us today, and another point away from home having come from behind, that’s my take away.

4 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

I think he has worked with emery as well before so it could be a good move

They shared a warm embrace and intimate conversation after the Spurs game…..

First game Ive missed watching live for years, looks like it was a good one to miss.

Saw the highlights, the Watkins goal was tremendous, he is on fire at the moment, and Duran’s turn and shot was terrific, shame it didn’t go in. Couldn’t see much wrong with Carlos’s goal they must have really looked very hard to find something in that, and the unpunished pull back is an absolute disgrace, there should be repercussions for that, it’s embarrassing.

Plenty to be confident about, despite the away form, we’ve dug in in our last two away games rather than crumble and if given a chance, we would likely have taken 4 points from the last two fixtures.

If we make one signing it’s Frimpong for me, he would defo add quality competition. Had a great understanding with Diaby too. Him on the RHS and Moreno on the LHS has a good feel to me.

1 hour ago, CVByrne said:

I think Philogene needs to come back in the summer. Buyback price will look cheap given we sold him for 5m, buyback would be what 8-10m?

It’s £15m apparently. If he’s good enough to come back it’s still cheap

If we have a good December and stay fit, with very good players coming back I would be confident of a strong season finish.

It would be waste to beat Spurs away then lose to Bournemouth, we need to win if we are backing ourselves. I think their recent confidence could be their undoing, but definite banana skin.

I just don’t see us having the legs to go the distance this season, but get results this month and who knows, especially with players coming back - poor Digne needs a rest! I think we already are the surprise package this season, but unlike the crazy Leicester season, there are plenty of contenders this, but maybe they are all taking points off each other?

1 hour ago, TheMelvillan said:

Just to complicate matters I thought I noticed Carlos having two backheel clearance efforts during the Spurs game which totally reminded me of McGrath

Yes, he had a very promising outing

14 hours ago, wilko154 said:

Genuinally think Torres is the closest we've come to a centre back on the level of Paul McGrath.

Every game he's adapting to English football and stepping up a gear; he reads the game ahead of everyone else and is so confident on the ball. He's also one of the best passers of the ball on the pitch. Superb.

I dont want to take any gloss off Pau, but I think Konsa is a closer match for McGrath - his timing and reading of the game is excellent, and still improving.

3 hours ago, Adman said:

They literally couldn't have played better in the first half whoever they'd have played.  It ended 1-1.

Second half they had ran themselves into the ground and yes without injuries could have brought some better options on - but I'm not sure it would have made that much difference.  I guess we'll see if / when they get their injured players back - if they top the table again, or if Ange Bielsaball doesn't keep the injury list full for the season

The Spurs view has got me riled TBH, its a self pity weighted view that avoids the bigger questions about their ability and form. Some of their recall of events is shocking, my take is wholly different to the popular narrative peddled (mainly by them):

1. Emery was surprised by Ange's formation and selection; we expected more space and their pressing and directness in attack was as impressive as our rusty back 5's inablity to get to grips with it, the lack of midfield link up mainly due to having 5 at the back at the expense of a conventional midfielder.

2. Cash is great at running the channels but badly struggled with coming inside and isnt as instinctive there as our usual suspects, he got caught out positionally and also his decision making was poor. 

3. For all our first half ineffectiveness and the brightness of Spurs, we weathered the first half storm and whilst they trumpeted Kulusevski's hitting the wood work and Son's offside goal, they score a deflected goal that was otherwise heading into Martinez's hand. We should have scored with Pau's header which was easier to hit the target than put narrowly wide; had a disallowed goal for at best a micro marginal/technical offside, at worst a bad call; and importantly scored an excellent goal through sheer determination and force of character.

4. Second half in the battle of the Manager's Emery prevailed - astute analysis, immediate action and transformed the game. Once we got ahead we controlled the game. We actually looked like we might have scored more but Bailey and Watkins both held back when the break was on, in the interest of playing the percentages and keeping possession amongst numbers:

5. Watkins could have added another if he hadnt stumbled in the box when clear and Bailey hit the post. 

6. Off side is part of our game strategy, its not their bad luck, you only have to look at our stats to see it is defensive excellence where our defence is better drilled than their offence. Its how we play, and frankly if off-side flags went up like they used to, they would even get the shot away, but VAR insists linemen keep their flags down which gives a false impression.

This intends no disrespect to Spur who are clearly well coached and look a very useful unit, they gave us one of our toughest games this season. Its early in their project and they do look very dangerous - good recruitment and further settling in will ensure they are an excellent proposition. However I think they have had easier games to date, timely matches when opposition was off colour and a flukey win against Liverpool which was VAR mistake assisted, so this down turn was always due. Like us they have a tough run to the end of December lets see where we all stand in January.

Just dipped back in here after the dust has settled, and WOW, how salty, entitled and unlikable are the Spurs fan base?? And further, if you ever need to evidence of main stream media’s predisposition toward their top 6, and unashamed bias you have now.

Apparently this result was only about injuries to Spurs, it’s that simple, that is the only narrative in evidence. Spurs firmly on my “dislike list” now, I will look back with interest to see where they are at the end of December…..

I would add that some of the more cerebral outlets are generally notice/beginning to credit Villa, and specifically Emery, with doing something here at the moment.

Wow. Big second half, great character, just enough. Didn’t enjoy that though. Need to be on our game to beat Bournemouth then we come home again. Happy days, exciting times with players coming back. 

Such an uncomfortable watch this. Please be over

Enjoy it while it lasts….

Don’t remember such an end to end game as the 5-5 Forrest v Villa game. It’s uncomfortable viewing 

Defo going to see a sending off today