Lerner's Driver

Fairly predictable, sadly. The occasion was too much. Timid, uncertain play throughout.

Have they announced the team?

34 minutes ago, AVTuco said:

I'm too anxious. I hate football.

I hear you. I'm a bit nervous, but not anxious because my hard-bitten instinct is that Villa down the years have often choked when the games are genuinely big, as this one is. Obviously, that is more true pre-Emery and genuinely a lot less so these days, but the hope only contributes to the anxiety! 

We have very decent recent form, but only beaten or drawn against teams we "should" be getting those results against and we've not hit the heights of our pre-Xmas imperiousness since. There are good reasons for that obviously and it is testament to Emery and the lads that he has kept us going, but this is a match of a different order.

We absolutely can win, score first and we have a very good chance, but if they do, well a draw could be a good result. No meltdown from me if we lose because I am half expecting it.

C'mon lads, prove me wrong!   

3 hours ago, Made In Aston said:

I'd say he is more like Jimmy Saville then!

Because children have... (Yeah, you probably don't think you're really that funny anymore either, do you?)...

On 06/03/2024 at 09:58, Mr_Dogg said:

It's a mad forum, he has 60 minutes playing time...

And people are sharing their initial impressions, is that surprising?

5 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

Really poor - the wrong attitude to the game right from the off - we looked like we wanted to keep a clean sheet and win it 1-0, like we were playing Milan or something - we then carried out that plan poorly, we were sloppy and we played some awful stuff in possession. A terrible ref didn't help us either. 

We should have gone for these from the opening whistle and looked to score three or four - we've shown them far, far too much respect and ended up creating a second leg where we have to turn up, pick a strong side and work hard if we want to win it.

Spurs is a big game, and we did the right thing in weakening for this game, but losing Konsa makes it more difficult for us to do that in the second leg and West Ham is a game that's very, very difficult. Torres doesn't seem to have 90 minutes in him, let alone twice in a week, so if he plays against Spurs it'll be Lenglet/Carlos or Lenglet/Chambers for the second leg of this one - we really could have done with a cushion here.

Lose at West Ham and drop out of Champions league qualification and you can pin it on this performance, the approach and the attitude tonight - I'm really disappointed with it.

 

 

Yeah, to summarize your post, half arsed.

Fine. Ref wank, disappointing that we couldn't assert ourselves properly.

Just now, sidcow said:

Will you lot stop moaning about the ref. It's dull, we've got to look to ourselves etc. etc, etc, etc. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Nope, he's shiiiiitttttt.

That was coming. Load of shite.

Going to plan, I suppose. It's no surprise we are not very fluent with the b team representatives in situ - we've seen it before, but even with that said, we've offered nothing going forward. Nonetheless, score first and we can smash them, but we just need to up the tempo now and bring some of the big guns on.

What do you know, the ref is wank.

Just now, Sulberto21 said:

I was referring to how they play specifically. They’ve given all the top teams a tough game. 

Good for them. 

1 hour ago, Sulberto21 said:

Maybe watch how they play. They’ve pushed all the top teams this season.

I watched the game. They are third bottom for a reason. It would have been criminal to have thrown that away after the first half showing. We let them back into it.

1 minute ago, Sulberto21 said:

Luton are a better side than most give them credit for. 

We showed huge bollocks to win this. 

Third bottom ain't that great.

Excellent first half, dreadful second half - far too casual - but we dug out a winner and that is massive credit to Unai and the boys. A vital win. Can enjoy Utd losing tomorrow now.

This second half performance is woeful.

Absolutely **** idiotic.

**** stupid.

Just now, Villa87 said:

This second half is really concerning. We came out too relaxed after a very good first half. You just can’t do that in this league against anybody. 

It happens a lot.

Fannying about.

Again.

Luton are tripe.

C'mon you Villa boys!

Massive shame that. Blackburn the better team and Newcastle are Newcastle. Really wanted them to lose. Hope they get City in the next round.

Per Mr Tanswell's match report...

Torres’ ball progression ranks in the top two per cent of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues and is essential to Emery’s desire for Villa to build through the thirds with changes of pace and incisive passes. Another spell on the sidelines could be damaging to Villa’s top four hopes, despite victory on Saturday afternoon.

On 17/02/2024 at 10:03, Jas10 said:

 

Not even damning with faint praise.