Indigo

Absolutely blessed to get through there, Lille over the two legs were much the better side.

The ref played his part by being totally and utterly unable to control that game, and just contributed to how ridiculous a scene it became. A special kind of useless for both teams. In a weird way though it probably helped because it felt like the only way we were getting through was via a backs-to-the-wally shithousery job that is the world in which Martinez thrives, and that he did.

We're on our last legs though, people in the match thread were talking about bottling etc but they just looked totally wrecked to me. Not ideal for them to struggle through another 30 minutes but hopefully they can ride the wave of positivity that winning brings through the back end of the season.

This has been an unbelievably poor performance. Constantly thinking there's time for them to wake up and come into the game and it's only getting worse.

All this grief for the ref is...interesting. If anything we've gotten away with one as McGinn had a similar shirt pull tp White's only he wasn't booked when the ball eventually went out of play.

Arsenal are a brilliant side. Villa have done well to stay in it and just need some luck to go our way with it, Watkins was desperately unfortunate with that chance. 

Carlos has been absolutely imperious so far. 

A game like this makes the Spurs 4-0 even more frustrating in hindsight. They're clearly a very good side, but are still there to be got at and certainly didn't deserve the level of respect and/or fear we played them with at home.

I think we'll be fine for 5th because it'll take some unbelievable turnaround from United to catch us, which I don't think they're capable of.

Cannot see 4th happening at all though. Villa willingly let the City game go during the week, and playing as we have the Arsenal game will probably follow a similar script, whereas I can see Spurs really putting it up to these sides in their games and even nicking the odd point which could prove important. Stumbling over the line into 5th and coming out of it in the Champions League would be an incredible season all the same.

That's an old school Villa shambles.

Is the season still over?

Martinez out through illness so not the end of the world.

Teams are resting players all over the place for this round, particularly the sides in Europe. City and Arsenal are in the title race and have benched the likes of Haaland, KDB, Rice etc, so I don't think it's that much of a shock Emery has done similar. It's also worth noting that we could feasibly still be in the game with, say, an hour gone, in which case bringing on Bailey and Tielemans could be real game-changers.

Speaks to how ridiculous their squad is that even with the absentees they'll likely be starting the likes of Foden, Rodri, Silva, Alvarez, Grealish, Dias, Gvardiol, Akanji, Kovacic...

Still though, better opportunity than it usually is at that rate.

6 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

Historically 70 points is usually enough. I think there's only one occasion in the last 10 seasons where 70 points wouldn't have got you 4th

Funnily enough that was Emery's Arsenal that it happened to. Hopefully not a bad omen!

If Ipswich don't go up and Villa see fit to look to get another left back through the door in the event of Digne/Moreno leaving then Davis could be a great signing. He's been excellent playing a similar type of role and would be another homegrown player which by a couple of accounts they're wary of keeping on top of numbers-wise. Don't think there's a huge amount of time left on his contract either.

Enjoyable foreshadowing. 

Some of the positives to his game are things that can't really be taught, whilst the negatives can be, and he's with the right coach to improve them. We're not going to see the best of him this season but there looks a real player there for when we do.

A point is more than United deserve but thank god they didn't get out with all three here. It would have been heartbreaking all round.

The lad is a nutter but I can't help but love him, and when it starts clicking for him you can see why there's a lot of faith in what he could become. Scared Doyle stiff when he went in for the tackle and the second goal came right from it, and made a good nuisance of himself thereafter. Just can't really trust him to lead the line going into such part of the season given his temperament, so fingers crossed Watkins is alright.

BIG.

Really felt like a (relatively) comfortable winning performance was needed after the recent unconvincing run of performances and with City next up.

Diaby obviously will take the bulk of the credit hut thought Tielemans was great, as was the impact of the subs.

One or two links again to Mario Hermoso in the Spanish press earlier, who could be a useful addition. Who knows how true they are but it ticks some boxes that would lead you to believe there could be something in it. 

If a player off another team does that against Villa they're Ben Mee MK2. It was a ridiculous "tackle", he's ran at Udogie, zero intention of playing the ball and kicked straight through him, it's as reckless as it gets. Deserved what he got.

4 minutes ago, LondonVillian said:

Nope zero stud contact with any part of his body. Foot not over the ball and not from behind. 

zero definitions of a straight red card.

tackles like that are made every game yellow at most. 

laughable to say otherwise

None of those are definitions of a red card. What you've done here is describe other ways of getting sent off and say that McGinn shouldn't have received a red because these arbitrary examples don't apply, unfortunately that's not how it works.

Lads he's completely barrelled at Udogie and intentionally booted him with absolutely no attempt at winning the ball. It's an almost dictionary definition red card, no excuses he's let the side down by totally losing his head.

Completely deserved. Pathetically stupid tackle to put in.

Poor performance and game overall that the ref somehow made himself the story of. Wasn't a dirty game but you'd think otherwise looking at how the cards were handed out, utterly bizarre stuff.

Need much better at the weekend and next week.

Quite an interesting line-up, whenever we have a few return from injury and you look at the bench it puts in perspective how strong the squad is. Really hopeful for Tim to have a strong performance and prove his worth at this level.