Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Liverpool

[OutByEaster?]

I thought we were brilliant - this is one of the best two sides in the world and we came off at half time having just about edged them as the better team on the pitch.

I thought our attitude and application was fantastic, every player gave everything they had and we were really unlucky not to come away with a point.

We looked okay at the back, Konsa had a better game, Mings was very good in his very good patches, and whilst there were a couple of errors, they weren't the worst, he was unlucky for their goal with the ball getting stuck under his foot, that happens sometimes.

I thought both full backs were excellent - Digne in particular who I thought had his best game for us, Cash never stopped running and threatened all night down the right too.

Our starting midfield was very good; the balance was there, Nakamba was really good in nipping the ball away from people and getting tackles in, even if he can't pass for toffee, McGinn was good too, when we're balanced, McGinn gets to the things he does well and he did those things well, I thought Luiz was the best player on the park in the first half, when he's further forward and more involved, his quality on the ball and passing ability really stand out and he works hard enough as an eight to make a difference defensively - when he was moved back to six, the balance was affected and he didn't quite reach the heights of the first hour, but when he's on song and in the middle of the park, he's a massive asset to the club.

Coutinho was good too I thought, he was a threat with the ball and got into some lovely positions where he created the spaces he then encouraged the fullbacks to get into.

Watkins and Ings worked very hard - and Ings could have been going home with the match ball tonight - you'd put your house on him burying the header in the first half or at least one of the two second half chances - but his running to get into those spots was exemplary and if he keeps playing like this, there will be goals.

I thought the manager set us up the right way, had a plan and didn't allow Liverpool space, nor show them any undue respect, we were at them, on the front foot and played as the home team - it was good to see - there's a lot of promise in this team.

I'm not sure about his subs tonight though - the Buendia/Coutinho one is fine, I like that whichever of them starts gets to give 70 minutes of absolutely everything and then the other comes on and enjoys the tiredness they've run into defences. The last sub I think they were looking to take Ings off, he looked shattered, but Ollie's knock changed the plan - again, I've got nothing against that one, when you need a goal, sometimes adding the madness of Traore into a game isn't a bad idea, he can make things happen.The Chukwuemeka for Nakamba one though I thought he got wrong - I've long said that Luiz is our best DM and I get that moving him there shouldn't make us weaker - the problem is that he's our best number eight too, and when we move him from there, we lose something. I think with Chambers and Iroegbunam on the bench we had the opportunity to go like for like with Nakamba (who had tired) without affecting the balance of the midfield.

Then there's the elephant in the room, a big, black shirted wazzock of an elephant, Mr Jon Moss.

In the first few minutes I noticed a couple of decisions where I thought "That was a foul" and he didn't give it, then a third when a Liverpool player went down and I thought "That's never a foul" and the having got to three, I found I kept counting.

I made it eighteen decisions he got wrong in the first half. 

Now it's possible I suppose that a referee with a whiff of incompetence and a fitness problem might be capable on a very bad night of having eighteen mistakes in a single half of football, that would make him horrendously incompetent and probably someone who shouldn't be refereeing, but it would be just that - incompetence.

All eighteen of those mistakes were in the favour of a single team - all of them, not one went in our favour. I'm not a statistician, but I would imagine the odds of incompetence resulting in eighteen decisions all going one way is a phenomenally large number. It's tossing a coin eighteen times and getting eighteen heads.  I find it very, very difficult to believe that performance was honest.

Villa Park on a warm evening under lights, with a terrible referee and a loud away section makes for a great atmosphere, I thought it was fabulous tonight, the old place sounded fantastic when there was the to and fro between both sets of fans - rumours of the death of atmosphere at Villa Park are premature on this showing.

It's two in a row against good sides where I don't think we got the results our performances deserved - against Spurs I thought we should have got something and tonight I thought we deserved a point and were often the better of the two sides. I'm not quite sure which of a number of suspects is responsible for turning those performances into results - I think ultimately it might simply be that we're lacking a little of the belief our opponents have had, or a little bit of the clinical-ness (that's a word), but I am starting to think we're not far off being a very good side - strengthen a little in the summer and we'll be well on our way to becoming a proper nuisance to these teams.

As for Liverpool, I don't like them, tonight hasn't changed that, I hope Chelsea win the FA Cup, Real Madrid win the Champions League, City win the title and Everton stay up.

We're a decent side, and we're not far away from being a good side - on a night like tonight where we've matched one of the two best sides in the world at a loud and beautiful Villa Park, with the promise of a strong summer and a bright future, it's hard not to come away, even from a defeat with a very positive feeling for the future.

Bring it on.

 

[srsmithusa]

John moss was not bent or criminal.  Merely incompetent.  

[Lochheads twin]

A good game, good atmosphere and almost a great night. Plenty of positives to build on.

At the start of the night I was just looking for a good performance and for us to be competitive. We certainly fulfilled that brief.

Silly mistakes, wasted opportunities and missed chances cost us dear. It shows the very fine margins at this level.

I thought Marvellous did well tonight breaking up play. If only he could be more productive with the ball, he would be a hell of a player. It shows what we do need in midfield. Luiz & SJM are much better further up the pitch and I especially like McGinn on the left side of the pitch.

John Moss .............. nuff said. Enjoy your retirement, you will not be missed at Villa Park

Same again in the next three games and we can end a mixed season on a positive note!.

UTV.

[danceoftheshamen]

The ref was (As is always the case against the scummy 6) biased beyond belief. One rule for them, another for us for identical challenges all the way through the game.

Thought we applied ourselves well but the usual issues reared their heads again, as in giving the ball away far too often, defensive awkward moments and rubbish finishing.

[ciggiesnbeer]

43 minutes ago, leighavfc said:

It's also amazing seeing a woman in the disabled section with a walking stick being used to prop her up and then going wild flailing it around in the air whilst dancing when they scored 

Cant trust them old uns mate. Give em have a chance and they will be dancing.


 

 

 

[david-avfc]

Marvelous off for Carney. What on earth was the manager thinking? Certainly not how can we keep hold of the draw that’s for sure. Taking off the defensive midfielder for an 18 year old lazy attacking midfielder, yes fine 3-0 up vs Burnley, at 1-1 vs a top class side like Liverpool… nonsensical 

Overall decent performance though

[JAMAICAN-VILLAN]

48 minutes ago, rodders0223 said:

I did think he got schooled by Klopp tbh. Both times he twisted and then Klopp did in turn. Second Chuk came on then 1 minute later Klopp brought Thiago I thought that's bad news.

Got to admit, I think Klopp was trying to prove a point as well, slight hints of Billy big bollox ( As is his right to do )

As i said, i'm sure i heard him say in his post match that he " Saw the weakness in the diamond we play " or something like that.

Then obviously went on to moan about the decisions.

Let's be real though, Klopp is Klopp, and Liverpool are Liverpool they can bring on a Thiago and a Salah etc.

Gerrard is a learning Manager, but I like his attitude.

[The Fun Factory]

Plenty of pluck but ultimately another defeat at home to one of the top sides.  We have only beaten Brighton at home of the teams in the top half, with Palace coming up next.

On another day maybe could have got a point. Liverpool rested a few players but still a top side. Hardly heard a squeek from the Liverpool fans all evening. 

I thought Nakamba made everything more solid (sorry Ramsey) and Luiz had a good game. Gerrard has to start Buendia on Sunday surely. We should aim to get 2 wins in our final 2 home games which will get us to 6 points from last season total which I think given all the  problems  faced a decent season.

Oh the ref was a f**kin disgrace. Night all.

Edited May 10, 2022 by The Fun Factory

[TheMelvillan]

Before we make konsa enemy no.1 let's just remember he has been excellent for 90% of his time with us and that this is his first real bad patch

[Marka Ragnos]

58 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

 Villa Park on a warm evening under lights, with a terrible referee and a loud away section makes for a great atmosphere, I thought it was fabulous tonight, the old place sounded fantastic when there was the to and fro between both sets of fans - rumours of the death of atmosphere at Villa Park are premature on this showing. 

I feel so jealous of you all. Sounds like a dream. I need to figure out a way to get there in this fall. 

[sheepyvillian]

1 hour ago, hippo said:

Ok I stand corrected. Allison made one save.

Thoughts Liverpool were streets ahead tbh.

You sure they just weren't lucky?

[sheepyvillian]

1 hour ago, rjw63 said:

Still doing that??? I remember that from the 80's if not before

I know. How cringeworthy is that ?

[sheepyvillian]

1 hour ago, leighavfc said:

It's also amazing seeing a woman in the disabled section with a walking stick being used to prop her up and then going wild flailing it around in the air whilst dancing when they scored 

Before you phone the social, remember, it's amazing what a bit of adrenaline can do.

[Villatillidie95]

solid performance tonight and managed to make the last train at 22:22 from New street back home which was good, and I don't leave early either so was happy about this we play like that against palace on sunday and we win, simple as. Thought Liverpool were way below their best tonight but their second goal kind of came out of nowhere, at least it seemed like that at the ground. Looking at it on tv it was a great cross though. Mcginn put another great ball in with his left foot, we seem to be creating chances a lot more regularly now.

Looking forward to the next 2 home games and hoping we can get a minimum of 2 wins out of 3 to have a nice finish to the season. Perhaps we can play kingmaker on the final game of the season away!?

[TomC]

3 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Klopp saying something like he saw the weakness is the Diamond that we play.

Was that a dig? lol

Also moaning about the offside.

I can see him wanting to give us tactical advice so we beat City for him.

 

[FLVillan]

5 hours ago, flashingqwerty said:

Mings has so many lapses though.

Even tonight loads of his "clearances" never found touch, he tripped over his own feet multiple times, hospital passes to his teammates, was often 10 yards deeper than the rest of the team, etc.

Hes supposed to be the leader marshalling that defence but half the time it's in disarray.

Glad I'm not the only one who sees it.  Couple of people actually said Konsa was poor tonight, which couldn't be further from the truth.  I thought he had a good game.  But Mings was culpable on both their goals.  The first, who knows what he was trying to do as it fell to his feet.  Control it?  The ball should have gone fifty yards up the pitch or into Row Z of the Trinity.  On the second, Luiz gave it away but then, as usual, Mings didn't close down the attacker properly and gave him the extra yard of space he needed to look up and pick a cross.  No attempt to block it either.  He's just not got a proper defender's instinct.  Time and time again he gives opponents too much time and space.  And this habit of dropping 5-10 yards behind everyone else is suicidal.  I get the fact that he's "vocal" but he's only any good as a defender when the game is in front of him and there's no 1v1 pressure.  

[FLVillan]

3 hours ago, TheMelvillan said:

Before we make konsa enemy no.1 let's just remember he has been excellent for 90% of his time with us and that this is his first real bad patch

He had a decent game tonight.  But apparently there are some who have just decided he's crap now..... I don't understand how he could be singled out for criticism tonight after the defensive display from Mings..... 

[Tommo_b]

Part of me feels bringing Chuk on was more for the bigger picture of the football club then trying to stop Liverpool play.

Give the kid minutes and trust against one of the best teams in the World… it’s going to make him consider staying, also imagine that’s why they signed Caleb too. 

[Don_Simon]

8 hours ago, UpTheVilla26 said:

Lost that game due to the first sub and the fact Martinez, Konsa & Mings, time and again, slow down any chance of a counter attack. 

As for the ref, blow me, 

Does this mean you enjoyed the refs performance and would like a celebration?

[punkiller1981]

8 hours ago, penguin said:

Why are the “top teams” reffed on a different scale to everyone else? So bored of it.

Any kind of shoulder or physical challenge against them and it’s a foul but they can get away with borderline ones all day. Obviously they have more quality on the pitch but your playing against this constantly also.

Look forward to big tie Champions League games often as the refs, on the whole, seem to let the game flow equally and you also have the quality.

Anyway rant as old as time over, certainly held our own and deserved a point.

Simple answer to that. the world is corrupt at almost every level and sport is no different. Big clubs or maybe all clubs lobby the refs association about things that happen but the big clubs are the ones with the power so get listened too. 

political point here but remember without corruption the wouldn’t be many conservatives wanting to be MP’s