Ratings & Reactions: Villa v AZ Alkmaar

[Demitri_C]

Just now, Alakagom said:

Win against Legia by 2 goals and we can send under 9s to Bosnia in busy December 

Thata gotta be the aim

[Lerner's Driver]

Scraped it.

Thank you Dougie.

We need more urgency AND to be more accurate in our final third passing.

 

[Mark Albrighton]

Was literally messaging my mate to say that a point wouldn’t have been the end of the world as the winner went in. 

It wouldn’t have been the end of the world, but am very happy with the three points.

Hard fought win, well done fellas.
 

Edited November 9, 2023 by Mark Albrighton

[TomC]

For the first 70 minutes or so, I thought that Emi, Lenglet, Digne, Kamara, McGinn, and Diaby played reasonably well. We were just frustrated by good defending.

It's no coincidence that we got the winner after Doug came on. Other then Buendia, nobody in the team can unlock a defence like he can. I normally wouldn't give MOTM to someone who didn't play for most of the match, but he made the difference.

 

 

Edited November 9, 2023 by TomC
Thought Zrinjski was the next game but it's Legia.

[sharkyvilla]

Job done.  Only need one more point to qualify so may ease the workload for some players.  Diego MOTM.

[The_Steve]

Not sure how they can call offside for Lenglet but award AZ their goal.

[JoshVilla]

Job done. Would have liked for it to be a bit more comfortable, but it was never going to be a repeat of the reverse fixture. I thought Tielemans played well, which is great to see. His last few appearances have been much better, so hopefully he's finding his feet now.

[tomav84]

that legia game is absolutely huge. to win the group with a game to spare and be able to take the reserves to bosnia would be amazing

[foreveryoung]

19 fouls and no yellows, I doubt they would get away with that many in the Prem.

[BleedClaretAndBlue]

Their goal looked offside. We got a non corner. Diego MOTM. Ollie needed that goal. Lets get those points on Sunday and sit back for 2 weeks and admire our start to the season.

[KillieVillain]

Emery the European Master .

[CVByrne]

We've essentially qualified now which is good

[striker]

Not a great performance by any means but Luiz’s pass to Watkins for the goal was sublime as was Watkin’s finish.

Also liked the way Villa controlled the last ten minutes.

[Wurzel]

3 points, but a struggle. It doesn't matter and the game will be forgotten, 3 points is all that matters. 

[Demitri_C]

Just now, CVByrne said:

We've essentially qualified now which is good

Definitely but really we need to go all put and  beat legia. Its vital we get top and then can play a crap team vs mostar

[JAMAICAN-VILLAN]

Job done

Fair play to AZ, they actually played really well

 

[andym]

2 minutes ago, Lerner's Driver said:

Scraped it.

Thank you Dougie.

We need more urgency AND to be more accurate in our final third passing.

 

Its not just accuracy, its making the right pass.

There were multiple times where a free player was ignored to try and play a pass through 2 defenders, or where someone tried to dribble through when there was the chance to play in a team mate. It was the same against Forest.

Teams are going to sit back against us, so we need to sharpen up in and around the box and not basically do the defenses job for them.

Its why the top teams are so good - they make the right decisions at the right times, and can execute the pass.

[villa89]

2 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

We've essentially qualified now which is good

Yeah but we need to top the group to avoid the playoff. 

[mottaloo]

Spawny vile 

Off for a drink in town to celebrate !

[AvfcRigo82]

Not sure what game @troon_villan was watching to rate Emery's performance as Very Poor and the Ref's as Very good.

Someone's had a few stiff ones tonight!