Ratings & Reactions: UECL: Villa v Zrinjski Mostar

[TomC]

To quote myself from halftime in the match thread...

Quote

We're not as bad as some are saying. (Not to say that we've been brilliant.) It's just how these matches go. I remember watching lower Serie A teams stifle the great AC Milan teams like this. Be patient and wait for a breakthrough; we'll win 1-0. We're absolutely dominating possession and Zrinjski is not as talented as Legia to play on the break. We'll be fine.

Like I said.

We did everything right in the second half but finish. Zrinjski were heroic in their defending and Maric was outstanding for them in goal. Credit to them. We were patient and did not relent. Credit to us.

We should have had a breakthrough earlier with a penalty for that blatant series of three back-to-back shirt pulls on Zaniolo.

 

[Jareth]

Thought Lenglet had a good game

[Robtaylor200]

4 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

The B team need to be banned. Game changed when we brough the proper players on

Yep, we have to spend more money

[JPJCB]

4 minutes ago, Wurzel said:

How hard was that? Emery not learning from the first game. He needs to know the B team is not upto this. Didn't think it would happen but well done SJM.

It’s all well and good to say this but we can’t rely on only 11 players all season. You’ve got to give others a go in the hope that they build confidence over time which hopefully tonight will do. The alternative is that we burn out in both the league and cups around march.

Fwiw, I thought lenglet, Carlos, tielemans, bailey were all ok today 

[KevinRichardsonsMoustache]

3 minutes ago, osmark86 said:

That game was the equivalent of finally getting to shit out an absolute mountain of a steamer after having had to hold it in because you were commuting for about 45min

This is oddly specific. 

[Sulberto21]

I’ve sent the missus on her way to Bodymoor Heath with a ribbon on and a thank you card addressed to SJM. 

[GingerCollins29]

Can we please start the next game with strongest 11 and make subs later on ffs

[Ouchmefoot]

1 minute ago, Jas10 said:

Thanks John, now go n enjoy some…

...and a deep fried Mars bar

[tomav84]

3 minutes ago, Khizzy said:

I think today was less about us being poor but the opposition defending as if their lives depended on the game. Fortunately for us we did manage to breach their defence and get the goal just in the nick of time. 

no, first half we were poor. no endevour whatsoever. 2nd half, totally agree with you.

[CVByrne]

5 minutes ago, ender4 said:

McGinn - 10/10

Tielemans - 0/10 - I’d drive him back to Leicester myself and throw him in the Walkers canal.

First half - 0/10

Second half - 7/10

Bertie 10/10 played in Cash for our winning goal. 

[StefanAVFC]

1 minute ago, HKP90 said:

Honourable mention to the ref who I thought was easily the best I've seen in ages.

He was right about the pen, and never really put a foot wrong.

I thought he was bizarre. Not bad, just bizarre. Their play acting played into his hands. He gives us a pen that's never a pen, then we don't get the ball back. Then doesn't give a pen for the most blatant shirt pull I've ever seen.

[Jas10]

Just now, Ouchmefoot said:

...and a deep fried Mars bar

And a can of Irn Bru!!

[LondonLax]

3 minutes ago, ender4 said:

Oh that game is a loss without Martinez in goal.

Weren’t most of them offside?

[MWARLEY2]

Shit first half. Couldnt complain at all about the second half with the players at our disposal. Reminded me of the old school attack the holte end second half and get it in the box and shoot on sight from 20 years ago. We won

 All that matters

 And everyone on 3 points so its a 2 game mini tournament now 

[choffer]

3 minutes ago, tomav84 said:

flippin eck that was hard work...i actually feel for their back 9. the rest of the team were poor but that defence didn't deserve to lose that game. they'll be heartbroken

oh well

FTFY 

[Vive_La_Villa]

I honestly think just switching Luiz with Donk would have made us look much better. It was with 10 men first half. 

Cash obviously made a big difference too as Konsa’s no full back. 

[HKP90]

1 minute ago, Jas10 said:

And a can of Irn Bru!!

I f***ing love Irn Bru

[KentVillan]

Hard to judge Unai on this because he has to rotate to keep our Premier League run going, and ultimately got the 3 pts while resting some key players.

The real issue here was our squad depth. Some fine performances, but I don't think Duran or Bailey are actually very well suited to this kind of game, as they both need space in behind, and I think we would have benefited from Pau's passing from defence.

McGinn colossal although worrying we've needed 96 mins from him to achieve it when he'll be needed again on the weekend.

Tielemans the big disappointment for me because I thought this game was set up for him, and although he had some good moments, he just doesn't seem to be on it ... I worry about his body language. He looks like he's pissed off at not getting starts and trying to prove too much.

If we want to compete on several fronts in future we'll need to keep adding talent to this squad.

Referee was very good btw - don't think he made any major mistakes bar the penalty, which he (correctly) fixed on the VAR check.

[AvonVillain]

1 minute ago, TomC said:

We did everything right in the second half but finish. Zrinjski were heroic in their defending and Maric was outstanding for them in goal. Credit to them. We were patient and did not relent. Credit to us.

We should have had a breakthrough earlier with a penalty for that blatant series of three back-to-back shirt pulls on Zaniolo.

I know nothing about how the game went, so thanks for this, TomC. It's worth scrolling past the ridiculous, scathing hyperbole for something measured and informative.

[GingerCollins29]

27 shots to their 3

15 corners to their 0