Player Match Ratings: The fans are back and so are Villa!

[John]

10,000 Villa fans made a long-awaited return to Villa Park yesterday afternoon and proceeded to create the sort of atmosphere, that the game has been missing this season. This was our first win at Villa Park against our visitors since 2014 and we certainly were not at the beach for this one, much to the moaning Thomas Tuchel’s obvious chagrin!

This game brought an end to a season that started incredibly brightly, then stuttered, but was re-ignited by our last two games, producing fine back-to-back wins. This was a season of progress after our narrow escape on the final day of the previous season. We finished four wins off the top four and 27 points clear of the relegation zone. We also accumulated 20 more points this season than we did last, if we do the same next year, we will be playing in the CL the following season!

This will be my final player match ratings. I would take this opportunity to thank my VT readers for taking the time to look at them over the years. I have been doing these ratings for many seasons now and have posted player ratings on over 400 games at Villa Park. There have been highs (10s) and lows (the odd 0), I have rated players on their debuts and on their farewells, but the time has now come for me to call it a day and to hang up my mouse.  

Turning back to yesterday’s game, Chelsea arrived at B6 needing a win to guarantee Champions League qualification via the PL this season. They had the better of the first half, but we had the goal at the end of it. They dominated possession in this game and made numerous chances and half chances, but they could only put one of those away. Villa encouraged by a 25% full ground, that sounded like a full house (particularly when singing Tammy’s name and “Sweet Caroline” after the final whistle, even giving the other Blues a name check in the process!), defended resolutely and took the opportunities that came their way.

Chelsea may have started the game as favourites (they were one of the six short lived European Super League members after all), but we demonstrated the integrity of the PL by not gifting them the win they needed. In doing so, we gave Leicester the chance to claim the CL place that in the end and only thanks to their local neighbours Spurs, our visitors kept, despite losing to us on the last day.  

We end this season back in our rightful place as the top team in the West Midlands and have left a sans Nuno Wolves with a 10-point gap to be increasingly anxious about. We ended the season on 55 points, which is our highest points tally since season 2009/10, when we finished sixth with 9 more points. We have also taken 16 points from 4 of the 6 clubs that would have potentially made up the ESL this season, to show that beating these teams is no longer a bridge to far for us.       

My player ratings from a game during which our visitors huffed and puffed, but were not able to blow our house down are:

Emiliano Martinez – 8 – Saved a Chilwell shot hit from the right side of the area, from a Werner cross at the near post on 15 minutes. Mount hit an 18th minute shot from the edge of the box, that Emi clutched above his head. Werner then tried his luck with a 20th minute shot from outside of the box that Emi held at his right-hand post. He then comfortably gathered an ambitious 22nd minute overhead kick from the left of the penalty spot from Pulisic.

Got a hand to the ball for their goal, having received treatment following a collision with an opponent shortly before, but the ball had already gone over the line before he had been able to get a hand to it. Dived to his left to gather the ball, after Havertz had tried to turn in a 75th minute Mount cross and the ball had taken a deflection off Mings, with Konsa providing cover behind Emi, just in case. Ziyech picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and ran to the left of the 6-yard box, before flicking the ball to Chilwell on the opposite edge of the box. Emi did so well to keep out Chilwell’s 87th minute shot, with his legs at his right-hand post.      

Ezri Konsa – 7 – We will need to address the question of who should fill in for Matty on any occasions that he is unavailable during the summer, because we do not want to be switching Ez from the middle of the defence, where he has been so effective too often. Pulisic’s 70th minute cross from the right, flew past him to the unmarked Chilwell on the left-edge of the 6-yard box, for their consolation goal,   

Kourtney Hause – 7 – Filled in very well due to Ez having been asked to cover for Matty. Kourtney really is a reliable PL central defender, I bet Wolves regret selling him to us now!  

Tyrone Mings – 8 – Was so solid at the heart of our defence again yesterday. This may not have been yet another clean sheet, but it felt like one. Orchestrated our terrific defensive performance and cannot have done his international chances any harm, with Southgate occupying his usual seat at Villa Park yesterday (does he have a season ticket now?).   

Matt Targett – 8 – Did well to dive low to head a dangerous Mount cross to safety from within the 6-yard box, with Azpilicueta closely behind him. Had another excellent game.

Bertrand Traore – 8 – Watkins headed on an Emi kick from the edge of the box, that Bert picked up and ran to the left edge of the box with, before aiming a 16th minute shot towards the far post that Mendy dived low to his left to save. Hit a shot wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the box on 28 minutes. Targett’s 43rd minute corner was precisely hit to Bert, who in turn hit the ball first time from the left of the penalty spot, it might not have been as truly hit as he may have liked, but the ball went into the top left-hand corner of the net, off the underside of the bar to give us the half time lead. Earned our penalty when Jack switched the ball back to him inside the left of the box and he nutmegged Jorginho, who then made contact, as he moved to go past him. Like Anwar, he does need to learn to track back, but Bert wins games for us, with performances like this one.

Marvelous Nakamba – 8 – MOTM - He was simply marvellous yesterday!  Worked tirelessly and gave a solid defensive display in our midfield, popping up regularly at the most crucial times to avert the danger. This was the player we hoped he would be and the one that has now shown that he has it in him to live up to his name.

John McGinn – 7 – Tenaciously claimed the ball just inside their half and then ran purposefully to the edge of the box, before hitting a 29th minute shot just wide of the left-hand post. Scotland’s best current player by a country mile, is limbering up nicely for the Euros.   

Jack Grealish – 7 -. Captain Jack is still easing his way back to full match fitness following his lengthy injury break, but his presence makes such a difference to us. Made a run into the right-edge of the penalty area and hit a 50th minute shot, that was deflected into the side netting for a corner. Jack played the ball back to Traore, which led to the penalty that gave us a two-goal cushion. Involved in both of our goals yesterday.         

Anwar El Ghazi – 7 – Put us two ahead when he sent Arrizabalaga the wrong way from the spot on 52 minutes, cooly hitting the ball to the right, with their costly substitute keeper, wrongly choosing to go left. He really is some penalty taker, and he has looked increasingly comfortable playing in the PL this season.                                      

Ollie Watkins – 7 – Ran tirelessly and harassed defenders throughout once again.  

Substitutes:

Carney Chukwuemeka – Came on for Traore on 73 minutes. Dean has shown real confidence in this lad by introducing him in the last two games, Carney in turn, has took to PL football like a duck to water and he will be eager for more game time next season. Not on long enough to gather a rating on this occasion.

Jacob Ramsey – Replaced El Ghazi on 79 minutes and he was also not on long enough to get a rating.  

Up the Villa!

John Lewis

[blandy]

As ever, pretty spot on John. I've enjoyed reading your reports since you started them.

I'd have given Kortney Hause an 8 as well, he was as excellent as his defensive colleagues, but other than that, no arguments at all.

Thanks for all the reports - you lasted a lot longer than my away report efforts, which stopped when the board changed format (much to my relief and probably everyone else's)

[meregreen]

Seem to have been reading your reports for ever John. Remember years back when the group of friends we have been going to matches with for so long would gather in the pub for drinks, and you would ask us for our scores for players. More often than not we would agree with your ratings. Didn’t realise you were hanging up your quil. Thanks for all the great reports. See you next season mate.

Edited May 24, 2021 by meregreen

[Nigel]

Thanks John. Enjoy retirement

[TRO]

as ever eloquent reports, will be sadly missed....big thanks for your hard work John.

[AntrimBlack]

Many thanks for your reports, John. I will miss them.

[It's Your Round]

Sad to see you’re giving up the game, I’ve enjoyed reading your reports each week. 
 

Thanks and good luck!

[gwi1890]

Great  report again John, will miss them  thanks for the hard work.