Lerner's Driver

Can't pass, too slow.

We don't like it up us. It's our weakness.

Too passive so far.

Are we absolutely certain there won't be any more possible FFP points deductions thrown into the pot, just to spice things up?

Couple of games to go, Spurs still in fifth, Villa looking increasingly likely to secure fourth.

Then, pif, paf, poof... Would you look at that, Jeff. Seemingly, out of nowhere, the Premier League have stepped in to ensure justice is done and this season ends fairly!

Here we go.

1 hour ago, RicRic said:

No because BOTH matches are extremely important as of now, I wouldn’t be ignorant to it but if you think this is going to be less as important than fair enough 

Thanks for acknowledging the potential, I appreciate it.

31 minutes ago, RicRic said:

I dont think they’ll be looking at spurs fixture regardless of it being a derby, its a prem fixture so just like ours tomorrow it will be full on.

 I’d assume everyone on here are aware they are very much in a hot battle for the title so every prem game will be full squad and no resting… i dont understand why anyone thinks there gonna take their foot off the brakes and rest key players no chance! wishful thinking though

No acknowledgement from you of the return match vs Bayern being in their thinking?

1 minute ago, Zatman said:

Our form isnt poor, its average but its not poor

12th currently. Not poor as such, but a big drop off.

3 minutes ago, smg said:

Not a chance

They discussed the prospect of Arteta resting 2-3 players against us on the Athletic weekend podcast because our game comes before the return leg of their Champions League game vs Bayern.

I guess a big match against Spurs will also be in their thinking re: player selection. It surprised me, but there was some genuine openness among the contributors on the pod to Villa causing an upset.

6 minutes ago, imavillan said:

i get it all....the injuries to the squad....the grit of the team...digging in....not having a settled back four...the experiences or lack of...Martinez playing a blinder and keeping us in the game....etc

what i don't get is a team going 2 up in the 2nd half and well on top and then......all of a sudden, 2nd best.....

why didn't we carry not on and try to get the 3rd which would have effectively settled the tie?

that's what i don't get

we won.....but it feels as shit as it did on Saturday.....

 

Agreed. To me it feels like we are doing the age old Villa thing of not being quite good enough. Obviously, I hope we get over the line, but we are limping, let's be honest about it, it's stopped being convincing and we are hoping what are doing is good enough now rather than feeling confident throughout. 

Just now, imavillan said:

yeah, but come on, i hear you...

Martinez motm

a wafer thin off side

why am i so disappointed, and i mean really disappointed,  with a home win?

 

We are limping. The stats show that we nearly always concede making it all the harder to control and win games as we were doing earlier in the season. We are now into a clear phase of  random unpredictability, so very hard to know what you will get from us. Still capable of some very good attacking play, but it's not at all consistent and the defensive mistakes always leave us vulnerable to disappointing results.

Meh

You can tell Emi thinks I am too exposed here. We all know we have injuries, but the defence is hugely diminished. Emery always talks about control, but I don't think we had much tonight. They were better on the ball.

Just now, Delphinho123 said:

Martinez MOTM says it all. Lucky to come away with a win there in all honesty. It’ll do.

Going to be tough in the return leg. 

Yup. We'd be **** without him. We are very lucky to have him.

Martinez man of the match. Shit Lille goal. Let's hope it's enough. We aren't playing with much belief. Set pieces and our goalkeeper are all we have got at the moment.

Just now, AvonVillain said:

That's the spirit, man!

Reality 

Don't be surprised if it goes 2-2.

They deserve that goal. Better footballing team tonight. Too many changes from Emery.

14 minutes ago, delboy54 said:

At the end of the season if we dont qualify for CL next season (either in 4th or 5th position), we are not good enough "the league table doesn't lie".

However if we don't qualify my fear is that some of our players will be looking to join a club that has qualified for CL....

There's no doubt about it, they will be off. Here's another part of the Watkins quote from yesterday...

"We've got a point but it should have been three. These are the games we need to be winning. That's what the top teams do. They finish it off, kill it off. They are smart. Maybe we just don't have that maturity yet or game intelligence."

We have to seize this moment between now and the end of the season, or it could quite easily be mid table next year.

4 hours ago, brendanvillatalk said:

This remark about the experience of the players at this level I think is key. Lots of focus on the injuries but even with everyone fit, we have a squad that was primarily built for consolidating our Premiership status-not trying to break into the top 6. It wasn't a squad that has been coached by elite coaches either on the whole. Teams in our position are usually well off clubs who have attracted expensive players with the likelihood of CL football-teams that have competed for these top 6 positions for years. Emery inherited a squad that needed work and that work is still going on (developing what he has and adding to it) but I think it's worth noting that he is at a real disadvantage compared to those around us. But he has us competing at this level.

I agree with a lot of what you and Emery are saying here. The problem is we probably aren't going to get another chance like this anytime soon, so we will be trying to compete next year with the same level of players because FFP says we can't add enough quality, in fact, we might have to sell.

Could easily be disappointed with the result here. Not entirely sure we cope with pressure very well.

Just now, rjw63 said:

 

So no one can have a moan on a football forum, just got to all be happy clappers.

I see.

You can moan and should. If they don't like it, **** em.