striker

Very decent point and could have been more.

However Luiz was poor again today so I expect Villa to sign at least one and probably two quality starting midfielders in January plus a forward than can really push Watkins. Prowse was a real miss at 30m.

Villa also need additions at FB.

Present 1st team players are going to be out on their feet by January.

Said it at the start of the season. Villa didn’t do enough in the summer transfer market.

Surprised this isn’t being covered by Sky or TNT. 

Deserved to win on second half performance.

I sincerely hope that is the last we’ll see of Dendoncker.

I thought Emery had learned enough from the first performance in Europe but seemingly not. 

2 minutes ago, smg said:

Support from the stands is shit. All mouth beforehand nothing on the night. 

Would you cheer that first half performance  

1 minute ago, punkiller1981 said:

Tielamens and donk in the middle is so slow on moving the ball and moving around the pitch 

Pretty much this.

If Villa are still alive in Europe by January then both Donck and Tielemans need moved on and replaced with much better. Plus one or two FBs.

Villa aren’t doing anything in Europe with this second string.

Been bloody awful first half.

Bee

Just now, MrBlack said:

Bit different playing a team you've never heard of and PSG... but to be fair the atmosphere is terrible still. 

Fans don’t have anything to excite them apart from the overhead kick.

Tielemans been poor again so far.

Thought Emery got it all wrong again today.

3 minutes ago, est1874 said:

Go to bed.

Happily!

1 hour ago, jim said:

Emery will learn from this

Will he?

I’ve had my doubts about his appointment. His selection tonight didn’t help but I think if you go back to the transfer window many on here including myself were concerned that Villa hadn’t signed enough quality to add more depth to the squad. Moreover, selling younger players who were better than those selected tonight didn’t help either.

Really flies in the face against Emery’s statement that he wanted Villa to do better in cup games.

Everton deserved to win tonight as they played like the competition meant something to them.

5 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

I'm not sure I agree - I think Konsa is better in both positions (and I think you'd agree) - but he's a better CB than right back by a distance and I think we gain more overall by having him in his natural position even it means we're slightly weaker at right back.

I also think Chambers is a better right back than CB (and I think you'd disagree), he's not really been a CB for years, if anything here he's played mostly right back and a little bit of midfield for us. I don't know if he was predominantly a centre back for Arsenal, but I don't think he has been here.

 

We can both rest easy as Chambers not playing.

13 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

I get that, I think we might well though, Emery tends to persist. 

I think he had a bad game against Warsaw, I don't think he'll ever be a great right back, but I think he's a bit better than that showing.

I think the game will be decided by what sort of team Everton play - I think if Dyche goes full strength to try to kick start the season, then we'll be in trouble.

 

Konsa is better at RB and Chambers is better in the centre so I really don’t get the selection if he wants to play Chambers.

3 hours ago, oishiiniku_uk said:

If we are going to compete on all fronts this season then the fringe players have to get more minutes. An evening game at home is a much more favourable atmosphere than away in Poland which should help settle any nerves. Everton played OK at the weekend but Brentford were SO. BAD. Dyche will do a fair bit of rotating because the game against Luton is a must win for them. I reckon we will go:

                        Olsen

Chambers Konsa Lenglet Digne

Bailey Donk Tielemans Ramsey

                    Kellyman

                       Duran

Wouldn’t wanna see Chambers at FB again. 

Expected a defeat and 100% glad I got it very wrong.

Great result!!

High line with a soft centre against Chelsea is a concern. 
 

Sterling must be licking his lips in anticipation.

9 hours ago, duke313 said:

Well, what have we come up with?

The general consensus here is that we shouldn't have made any changes at all to the starting XI.  The 5 changes made, on paper, were the correct decision IMO.

I haven’t seen anyone saying that Villa shouldn’t have rotated. It’s where those changes were placed considering it was an away game. Chambers isn’t a RB. It was also a tad ambitious asking Lenglet to debut in an away European game alongside Konsa who needs a stronger CB beside him.

It would have been much more sensible to pair Chambers with Konsa and play Cash from the start. Or, Konsa at RB and play Carlos with Chambers in the centre.

Neither, Tills, nor McGinn are DMs while Kamara is struggling for form and isn’t a physical DM so there was little or no protection for the back four. For me Dendoncker should have started with Luiz. Kamara could have given Luiz a rest later in the second half.

For an away game I just think there could have been a better balance to the side.

1 minute ago, Herman22 said:

I still can’t get my head around how poor Chambers was last night. Stands 5 yards off and lets the cross come on for the first. Running in treacle for the second and stands off for the third and doesn’t get the block. 

He wasn’t the only one who was poor but he was directly involved for all goals conceded. 

We need to be lining up a Moreno type right back for the January window now! 

Should have signed one in the summer.

4 hours ago, Pinebro said:

We were resting players for Chelsea.

The league is clearly a priority for both the owners and Emery.

If we can get off to a good run in the league and are in a good position to finish 5th I'd be more than happy to ditch conference.

The best conference can give us is if we win it is Europa league.

Not too sure about that.

Emery made it very clear in pre-season that Villa would place more focus on the cup competitions to try and win a trophy! The squad was strengthened to do exactly that to be able to rotate without a drop in quality with a manager who has an exemplary record in Europe.

8 minutes ago, TRO said:

I don't think we are arrogant, we just don't appreciate the art of defending....This team in its current guise, can't defend.....and my worry is, I don't see it changing any time soon.

many only focus on the offensive work we do.....without the ball, we are not very good.

We are not only shipping goals for fun, they are shockingly basic errors....me and you, would score some of them.

Pre season was a wake up call and we ignored it as well...."as its just pre season"......These breaches will bring us down, and what bit of confidence we still have will evaporate.

He has to stop the Haemoragging of conceded goals.

Anyone analysing the make up of these conceded goals, would be rocked by the sheer simplicity, and ease with which they are executed......We need a world class forward line, to negate this.

Tyrone and Carlos are dedicated defenders......we need a few more in the squad......not offensive minded players, trying to defend.

 

High back line is the problem Tro. Like many others, I stated in pre-season it would bite Villa in the arse and it has. 

If you are going to play a weakened back line then you must make sure it gets plenty of protection particularly away against the direct competitor in the group stage.

Unfortunately Villa’s midfield was non existent as a defensive force. Tielemans and McGinn are not defensive midfielders. Kamara’s form has dropped off significantly since he first arrived at the club and needs to be benched.

Chambers isn’t a RB and got the run around while the central defensive partnership of Konsa and Lenglet were weak positionally and physically.

I actually felt a bit sorry for Chambers as he is a CB all day who can fill in as a DM. Played in either position tonight would have given Villa a more stable physical edge. That was down to selection!

Positives were few but I liked Zaniolo and Duran who have more than a bit about them to maybe push for a Premiership start.

Other than that it was a rank poor performance from a team who thought just turning up would be enough to win the game. 

Both teams poor defensively but great going forward so 2-2 is about right so far.

However, I’d like to see Villa hold onto the ball more particularly the two in front of the defence. Tielemans & Kamara have given Villa’s defence no protection at all.