Aston Villa left Switzerland worthy 3-0 winners over Young Boys in their first appearance in the Champions League, such as it’s become. Was quite a momentous night, when you think about it, and it seemed to me that last season’s Conference League adventure helped the side. They took it all in stride, played their game, and walked out with the points. Emery made the increasingly familiar changes to both keep players fresh and ease them in.
And just like that it’s back to the league and an opponent in Wolves who’ll likely give us more trouble than Young Boys, especially given they’re still looking for their first win of the season; no matter how they’re going, it’s always a difficult fixture.
You’d like to think Villa will come in feeling good about themselves after erasing an 0-2 deficit against Everton and then dispatching Young Boys with a clean sheet. And you’d like to think last season’s experience will go a ways toward the side shifting focus and being mentally prepared. This initial run shouldn’t be too taxing this early in the season (it’s the back half where it all starts to add up), so I think this is has more to do with that next step, which is where the CL sides manage their European business while ruthlessly attending to business in the league. Villa managed that pretty well last year until the lack of depth caught up to them.
In team news, still no Matty Cash, so Emery’s opted for the Konsa-Carlos-Torres set-up. Nedeljkovic is available, as is Bogarde, and I’d like to think the game plays out in such a way that Kosta gets some needed minutes. I’ve liked the look of him. I think the only downside is youth. And while Bogarde has worked hard, seems to me that Nedeljkovic might have a bigger upside. Lamar struggled defensively in the first half midweek, and I think Kosta has a bit more pace. Bogarde also has struggled with turnovers, and doesn’t seem to be particularly trusted going forward. It only goes out wide right to him occasionally, and this seems to limit McGinn’s influence a bit. Villa will seemingly always tilt a bit left under Emery given the personnel, making the right side a preferred avenue for long counterattacking balls, but also an area where Villa can find space. Whoever it’s been, we haven’t quite gotten the mix down on that side, though.
Everyone else seems to be doing just fine, with Tielemans in particular standing out for me as a very heady and dangerous pivot man. Combined with Onana, that’s a pairing I feel good about. Ollie’s starting to find the back of the net, and Rogers probably just needs to relax a touch. Seems like he might be forcing the issue a little too often. That said, it is a big part of his game. Ramsey looks to be finding his form again.
So, not a whole lot else to say at the moment. Villa will want to keep pace in the league, have a bit of a break against Wycombe (I know), and be in a good place to welcome Bayern Munich to Villa Park. But it all happens one match at a time.
Over to you.
The Author
John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.Comments 115
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Costly Diego cock-up AGAIN!
Yeah, that was costly, jbd. Really changed the course of the game.
Just a bit off it in final third…besides Diego’s error, can’t fault a lot.
Finally. Whew.
Good scrapping by Rogers and Duran.
Get in
jbd…hasn’t been pretty, middle is so clogged, but yeah, good scrapping.
Ball from Youri was sublime.
Absolutely fabulous.
villa i love ya
Superb from emery again,poor 1st half but turned it completely around
My wishes no clean sheet,defender did score
2 more relatively easy matches to come this week so plenty game time for all
Thought it was a scratchy game. Lots of stops and starts which the ref contributed towards (where do the EPL find these guys?). First half we looked leggy and not surprising really with mainly the same personnel as midweek. The 2nd half subs worked producing more energy. Bailey provided more threat than SJM, and Maatsen is more mobile. It made a difference. I clocked our first attempt on target at 62 minutes. First half couldn’t see where a goal was coming from but then Carlos obliged FFS.
Ollie’s goal was major relief for the fans. After that, expectations grew for a winner. Ezri duly obliged and Big Jhon was there again. Pandemonium in the North Stand.
Fans of the Dogheads were not happy. O’Neill copping some pelters from them. Don’t think he’ll last long. His team stayed compact but carried little threat once half time had passed. As John says, it’s a difficult fixture and I can’t believe after just 5 games we are 11 points clear of them.
It makes such a difference having a quality bench. To be able to bring on players that can step things up is massive.
I don’t wish to get carried away, but we’re going to take some shifting from the top 4 places. And tonight’s glass or two of ale tastes like elixir. Another weekend of happiness.
Pau got booked for discussions with the ref. It seemed very civilised but the ref still produced a yellow. Meanwhile Cunha kicked anything that moved and didn’t collect a card until the death.
So we move on. One game at a time. Wycombe next. Surely some personnel changes for that game.
Seems to me that Rogers has completely eclipsed Ramsey. Would anyone sacrifice Ramsay for that world class right back ( I think Cash is perfectly serviceable but not world class) à la recent clickbait involving Denzel Dumfries?
Think I can see Captain Chaos being a good foil for Ollie. Should create lots of chaos and confusion for Ollie to pick up the bits and take advantage – and we do love a good old school beat em up REAL CENTRE FORWARD.
The morning after ditching the dingles. There’s a spring in my step. 656, I’d like to see more of Ned before going all in for a RB. At LB, Maatsen is my choice. Up front, Big Jhon is a real handful. It was his battling that set Rogers away for an assist with the first goal. Then he was there to bury the third and the dingles. My type of centre forward. But we must keep Ollie on the pitch. It’s Unai’s problem to solve.
jbd…I’d let Ramsey go, yes, if it weren’t for depth. Agree that Rogers has eclipsed him. He’s got all the attributes and I think he’s pretty much the player we all hoped JJ would become. Not that Ramsey can’t get there, but he’s had so many unfortunate setbacks to overcome.
I’m with Plug a bit on seeing what Ned has to offer this season. Maybe January’s an inflection point. But a real shutdown defender back there would make us a much tougher side to break down.
It’s interesting that Emery tried Bogarde twice before going to Konsa-Carlos and didn’t give Ned a shot. Can’t say I’ve been keeping up the way I should. Did he have a knock?
I think I’d only sacrifice Ramsey, if we really ‘have’ to sell another academy player to comply with PSR etc rules. Ramsey doesn’t seem to be quite back to his best, but he’s showing signs of getting there.
The squad depth is certainly better than it was last year, as a result of some additions: Maatsen, Onana, Barkley; some players returning from injury: Buendia, Ramsey and soon Mings and Kamara; some improving: Rogers, Tielemans, Duran; and some ‘coming of age’: Philogene, Kosta, Lemar.
There should always be questions about which positions could be improved upon and which players are not performing, but It is disappointing how some posters on other forums feel that they know enough about the game to attach individual players.
Right now, the bogey players are Cash and Carlos and to a lesser extent Bogarde, but people seem to forget all the good things they’ve done to get us here, and will probably continue to do for the rest of the season.
Anyone watch the City Arsenal game?
How unimaginative were City??
Robbo
So much for pep being a genius, taking off flair wide players and leaving dias kovavic akangi and guardoli trying to find opportunities in clogged up centre
But the equaliser was great especially old legs head face
JG, Pep has clearly achieved great things at City, but every now and then his lack of imagination let’s him down.
City just kept doing the same thing for nearly the whole of the second half even when it clearly wasn’t working.
You have Haaland in the centre who can jump above any Arsenal player, but they just did t try getting to the byline and cross the ball for him.
When Arsenal were drawn forward, they never tried a fast break, or a ball over the top or through the middle.
They kept passing backwards and forwards I’m front of the defenders, but no players were making runs to try and open up spaces.
Why not bring Jack on and get him to draw a foul on the edge of the box, or to try and force his way into the box and get a cross in from behind the defence?
That is exactly what finally opened up the Arsenal defence, but Pep left it so late to even let him have the chance, and even then you felt Jack was restrained in the way he was trying to play.
Pep has a wonderful squad who are tivhtly coached into the way they play. . . It usually works. . . But when it doesn’t, it seems there’s no Plan B
Picking up on a topic from the other blog. The gate on Saturday was just below 40K compared to a sell out against Wolves last season. I did notice swathes of unsold premium seats in the Witton Lane and Trinity Rd stands. Did Heck over supply those seats given the increased costs involved not to mention the increased general admission prices for the ordinary seats?
It’s not a great sight seeing empty seating. The prices have just about maxed me out. I fully understand Heck wanting to maximize revenue but affordable admission prices will fill a stadium and the opportunity for increased revenue then comes from the food and beverages service inside the stadium which I must say has been neglected with massive room for improvement.
Yeah, I was getting really frustrated watching City-Arsenal. Like you say, r0bb0, the same thing over and over, and I was thinking the exact same thing: Why not play it long whenever Arsenal did get up the pitch a bit?
I get Pep thinking that against 90% of opponents someone will switch off or whatever, but I know Villans would’ve been fuming had that been our approach for 45 minutes.
And indeed, it took Jack to make the shape collapse and create the opening. I really do feel for him. Not like we didn’t know, but to see him given such a limited, constrained role is such a waste of his talents.
Plug, that’s sad if the hospitality seats aren’t selling out. It may not be simply that the prices are too high, but also, the stipulation for many games that you can’t attend just the one game but have to buy the same number of tickets for a second game.
I can understand that it will tend to deter away fans from games, which is a good thing, but hospitality seats are often bought as gifts, or special treats, and forcing fans to do this twice, doubles the cost of the ‘gift’ so will be a big deterent for many.
Imagine youre viaiting the UK and want to make a visit to Villa Park a highlight of your trip. . . Youre not going to be ablw to do that twice. They also stipulate that you must buy the same number of tickets for both games so if, for example, I wanted to arrange for my kids to come to birmingham on the same weekend (not always easy to organise) and all go to the game, we’ll then have to buy the same number of tickets for another game and as I may not be able to get the kids together for a second weekend, I’ll have to find so.eone else to treat.
As you say. . . Heck may have made some missteps here.
JC. . . I’d thought the same thing, some Villa fans would have lived having a chance for a good old whinge if we’d performed how Man City did yesterday.
They must be finding it so tough, having to bottle up their bile with things going so well.
If Unai thought the 1st half against Wolves was shit, the 1st half tonight is much worse. Moving the ball is way too slow, Barks struggling, Onana struggling, the centre backs look flaky and Big Jhon hasn’t got his bearings right. Emi also struggling.
The 2nd half needs a BIG improvement otherwise we’ll be out. We’d already be out if they could shoot. Highly disappointing.
The team looks like 11 strangers. Which I guess will be the case with 10 changes.
Yes Plug, not our most inspiring performance but we’re through, and there’ve been plenty of occasions in recent years when we haven’t.
Great experience for some of the youngsters and a chance for a bit of match fitness for a few other players.
Not convinced at all about the penalty decision. It seemed to me that Big Jhon tripped himself up. But it was a well taken spot pick. The chairboys eventually got a goal which our centre backs had been trying to give them all game. Relieved it came in the last minute of play.
Was waiting all night for Young to take his FB on. When he finally did and got a cross in, we scored. Think that was Unai’s sentiment as well.
But you are right r0bBo, a knock out game only needs a win. No prizes for scoring 5.
We are through, players got 90 mins,gauci looking decent, raft of debuts,as usual certain players get blasted on other sites and others Scott free,as for penalty it was harsh on them but their goal was offside from there clearance
As long as we miss big 6/7 sides tomorrow, November is hectic enough
Really don’t know what we should expect from Bogarde and Swinkels but I don’t think our academy has been very good at bringing through cenral defenders. Everyone seems to want to be a tippy tappy midfielder – BORING! I can see that Kaden Young is very fast but he seemed to freeze tonight.
Horrible shambling, scrambling scrappy performance by everyone except Buendia. This was supposed to be a chance for someone to show they were worth a first team call – all failed except for Buendia. I don’t care about the cups but I want to see promise for the future of the league team.
Plug, yes, Young showed that he had it in his locker to take the defender on. . . Would have been nice to see him do more of that.
The experienced players looked a bit casual, and lacking sharpness to me, but I guess it’s not surprising if they stuggle to feel as motivated for a game like tonight as they would in a Premier league or Champion’s league game.
JG, yes I’ve seen some players coming in for stick on othwr sites, but it all looked to be based on sentiment rather than thoughtful analysis.
Glad we’re not watching extra time or penalties, which we might well have been if the referee hadn’t incorrectly called the penalty.
Twinkles and bogarde came from the Dutch league,are scouts have improved, interesting young Wilson wasn’t involved tonight is it because he won’t sign a new contract
Quite correct James. Their goal was offside and it wasn’t even close. Don’t feel so bad about the penalty now.
Young lad from celtic looked like he should have been at home doing his homework
Other lad that came on right at end went up front looked decent, his name will be awkward for some,me included
Is carlos that fragile, it’s worrying especially with 2 fixtures next week,Ipswich really any of our panel of 20 should be good enough to start
Jaden is another seems a bit injury prone
JC, you commented about “fuming” Villa fans if we u derperformed like Man City at the weekend and thank goodness that ‘type’ of fan had a chance to let off steam after last night’s game.
We really should show some sympathy for the poor dears as life must be so tough for them when things are going well.
Finally they saw an opportunity to release their inner Frem last night and again this morning . . . They must be feeling so much better now. . . Bless them.
. . . . and that’s despite us winning!!
One of the lads who came on, Borland I think, didn’t do himself any harm. He seemed keen to get on the ball, and I don’t remember him giving it away, even if it did feel as if it was past his bedtime (yeah. . . policemen are all looking young these days too)
Robbo
Merson gave out on sky sports saying players should have kept giving the ball to borland
I thought last night was really good interesting watching mainly young boys playing against hardened championship players,matasen was after barclay our most experienced player and only a lad,no one in keeper back 4 had started more than a couple games for us
Whoops, a bit dated. Thought I posted this and I didn’t:
Not a vintage performance, but everyone’s pointed out the flaws.
For me, sides like Villa don’t want the game, and certainly not a full-tilt affair. Wycombe were working much harder, ganging up, the old cup final cliché. Of the Villa regulars, only Buendia really had anything he wanted to prove.
Guess maybe Duran did, as well, but he kind of proved that he probs isn’t taking Ollie’s starting job anytime soon. And I guess Bogarde would’ve wanted to make his case again. Not sure he showed us much, but he is also trying to play probably the most difficult position on the pitch these days, imo. That said, Ned seems more assured, less like he’s scrambling.
So it’s Palace at home in the next round of the Carabao.
Plug
Usually one of our bogey sides,and then the last game of last season
Hopefully our injuries will have cleared up a bit by time next round comes up,plus likes ramsay and beundi are match fit
So mings and kamara are both going to play for under 21 next week,great news,jaden and cash training, only mcginn out
Big week coming it will be like back in early 80,s Ipswich, European nights and then man u who were a bogey side for us last season
Anyone see the lescott story today blaming jack for his infamous tweet about car the season we were relegated, bit I enjoyed most was he lost out on a move to la galaxy because villa wanted a transfer fee,galaxy wouldn’t pay it signed someone else and joleen didn’t get his dream retirement
Just seen an advert for bologna game 150 on champions travel irish based company, if it comes up for celtic game I will be 1st in queue
As I see it, we’ve gained a couple of small benefits from some adverse moments. FIFA banning Emi for Argentina’s next 2 world cup qualifiers due to rude gestures will keep him here and avoid any possibility of international injury.
Similarly, SJM’s hamstring saves him from Scotland’s next 2 matches. Playing 2 games less will help him retain strength and stamina for the Villa cause. Each international break is a real problem for clubs stacked with international players.
Tractor Boys tomorrow. Win this one and we’ll be set fair for sure. COYVB.
Team news.
Aston Villa team to face Ipswich: Martinez, Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau, Digne, Tielemans, Onana, Ramsey, Rogers, Bailey, Watkins.
Take beundi and barclay out , bench is very youthful
Villa comfortably in control. But it feels like our back line are capable of shipping another goal at any moment. Couple of great saves from Emi.
Thought Konsa may have been at fault for their opening goal. But then Ipswich had 2 chances to clear the ball before Rogers shot smartly into the net. Then Ollie’s goal was very straightforward and well taken but again their centre backs and keeper gave him a free header.
Defences are not shining
Would like to see us move the ball a bit faster. Maatsen for Ramsey anybody?
Bit worried about Bailey yes lovely assist for Watkins but should be doing likewise ramsay
Think we need a 3rd goal to win this.
Little what if feeling seeing Tuanzebe playing for Ipswich. What if he had stayed at Villa after playing in the winning play off team. He was a good pairing with Mings and was easily keeping Konsa out of the team. Seeing “hard man” Carlos on the pitch just makes me yearn for James Collins, Richard Dunne or even Nathan Baker (!).
Oh yes, we seem to be reasonably easily doing well.
Talk about being complacent FFS!
Poor poor 2nd half,nobody looks good
Our defence is on life support. For me, Konsa has had a stinker. As he moved towards their area he had Bidace wide open to his right and he ignored him, played it inside instead and lost the ball which was immediately shipped into the empty space he’d vacated and they scored their 2nd.
Think Emery got things wrong with the subs (but Buendia looked bright and sparkly). Very noticeable seeing Konsa getting caught out of position upfield several times – that’s where their 2nd goal came from.
Suppose I should be (ungraciously) thankful for an away point but such a dissapointingly lost chance to go joint top when it was in the bag at half time.
Two points dropped to an inferior team. Paid the price for refusing to do any attacking whatsoever in the 2nd half. Their keeper made his first save after half time in the last minute.
We have always shipped a goal for some time now. But we’re now shipping 2 goals regularly. It’s OK controlling the midfield for minutes on end, that part is good. But we need 3 gaols to win games these days. Very disappointing.
A word on Attwell. He was not the reason for our below par performance. But there was just no way on this earth he was going to give Morsy a 2nd yellow card which was warranted on at least 2 occaisions.
One of few bad days under emery,konsa had a nightmare ,Carlos looks so disinterested, few bright sparks duran really has grown up over summer
On subs emery should have let digne take free kick,don’t recall beundi scoring any before
Clean sheets we need to start getting them,
Hope cash is fit shortly
Looks like ref at old Trafford has finally sent off the weasel, Bruno
Our ref was shocking today but we should be used to it
That reminds me – I think we are in line for a SNAFU next Sunday at VP.
Funny injury time today was 5 mins our last 3 subs must took 3mins on its own
Trust utd to be woeful today den haig is on borrowed time
Been trying to work out my reaction to this game for the last few hours.
We looked like a bunch of big time charlies who thought that they only had to turn up to win the game. Historically, Villa have been a generous team who like to help out a team on a bad run who need a break…………….like manure?
656, SNAFU will indeed be evident next Sunday, with or without the weasel. Assuming his sending off is not repealed (he did tackle Maddison just below the knee) but Manure do get different treatment to us.
Reflecting on the 2nd half today, we stopped hunting the third goal. What needed to have happened was an increase in tempo, more attacking intent and to test their keeper more. The problem with slow pace from the back is it allows time for the opposition to regroup their formation behind the ball and we’re faced with a parked bus for most of the match, at least against the lesser teams. Bayern will be far more dangerous.
Ollie says the plan was to avoid a basketball game. Guess we achieved that but not the victory.
Hi, all. Didn’t get to watch this one, was visiting the kids and second grandchild, this time a boy. Did follow along via the play-by-play, but that only told me we’d dropped two points.
From what I’m reading here, my guess is that they thought they had it won and wanted to expend as little energy as possible ahead of Bayern. Maybe not the case, but would make sense. There’s also injuries, etc., that are in the back of the mind.
We’re deeper, but not quite at the stage where we have two squads. The starters seem to be largely nailed on with the idea that we’ll not ask more than 60-70mins from the key players.
But Bayern are a side that will loom large in their minds and I can see that all playing into a ‘complacent’ or perhaps ‘disinterested’ performance against a side with no such claims on their legs or minds.
I’ll try to sneak the replay in, but not sure if I’m really going to learn anything.
To a point further up, yes, the style Villa want to play often means sides are tucked in and we get stuck in the City trap of trying to break down compact sides.
There are times when we do move it quickly through the middle, also down the left, but teams seem dead set on denying us the middle (which is to be expected). I’d like to see us try to hit the longer pass more often, you’d think a quick turn and punt from Youri or even Ross would have good odds, the kind of transition we see deployed against us all too often.
But, if the other side isn’t keeping as high a line, it’s a lower-percentage tactic, and we don’t seem to deliver all that many accurate long balls. Might be the case we just don’t work on it enough (the timing, starting points, runs the attacker(s) will make, the string of passes).
Also saw someone mentioning Konsa being reluctant to play to Jaden. I noticed that with Bogarde, too, and it does limit width and variety. I’d really like a RB who can defend and attack, not so keen on Konsa out there with Carlos in the middle. Emery doesn’t seem convinced by Kosta yet, Bogarde has largely squandered his chances. So, as imperfect as he may be, we probably do need Cash back in asap. And even if they aren’t tasked the same as Digne and Maatsen, the RB does need to at least be assured in possession and able to link up with the winger, etc., and not turn it over.
Congratulations on the new family addition John. Some sleepless nights ahead for the parents. Over here, we’re fully focused on Bayern. I’d take a draw right now but that’s not part of our MO. The German media have been criticising Kane. He’s only scored a boatload of goals for them but hey, there’s no pleasing some people.
Less than 24 hours to biggest match in years,probably performance at weekend wasn’t what we needed or maybe a kick in ass to realise what’s ahead
On Ipswich Delap is a name that Mon team couldn’t cope with either,stoke long throws
Wow
Jaden in for Bailey,emery has belief faith in the lad otherwise same as Ipswich, cash makes bench
Really jealous of everyone at villa Park tonight
6 years ago tonight the cabbage made his debut at villa park
Ref bottles 1st big decision, definitely foul on watkins
Well the key thing to take from that half is that we are able to at least compete at this level.
I only wish the referee had been as competent
Very good half bar the injury to ramsay and it looks like onana is in trouble
Ref absolute shocking
Injuries are mounting cash jaden Bailey mcginn and now ramsay
And the atmosphere seems unreal
Royalty in the stands too
I fear it’s still going to feel like a long second half mind you!
Watching half time highlights, how Munich lad got away with 1st challenge
Munich play like spurs defensive poor
I do t know how much the officials discuss at half time, but you’d hope that the referee now knows that he’s fucked up several times in the first half. Hes lacking experience at this level so you hope that subconsciouly, he over compensates in our favour in the second half.
Munich centre half first tackle on watkins
Kane s challenge after whistle had went
Korean lad jumping o ver jaden getting a free clear
all clear and obvious mistakes
MOM Martinez – SIMPLES
Hail emery
Jbd
Everyone of them are mom
Wasn’t that fabulous.
Teary tonight
Martinez what a man thank you Dean Smith,his interview was brilliant then gave his shirt to small lad
Rogers interview class
On emery straight in dressing room and focus on Sunday
Jaden rogers ramsay onana matasen and Duran all under 23 emery is building some squad
Got to love duran,young said he said hello grandad
We just beat Bayern Munich and kept a clean sheet didn’t we
Good point JG about us now having 6 top players, all under 23.
Emery has managed to craft a good balance of youth and experience in the squad.
Let’s hope Onana and Ramsey aren’t too badly hurt.
Kamara returning soon would be helpful
Robbo
It wasn’t a dream
And kept kane goalless
You have to admire Emery’s substitutions and game management tonight. Also big credit to Philogene in particular for adapting his role several times during the game, and looking like he belonged, in each of them.
Of course Duran, will rightfully take many of the plaudits, for yet another stunning goal, but what a game Martinez had.
Bailey is clearly struggling just now, but let’s not forget that we’ve been here before. I trust Emery to find the way to bring his confidence back. Players naturally drop in and out of form, so at some point, he’ll step back to the front again. . . and the great thing is that we have a deeper squad which isn’t knocked off course by one or two players going through a dip in form.
42 years in the making but what a feeling. i was only 2 when we won in 82, but now I can understand a little of what it felt like. so proud to be a villan UTV!!!
Indeed, Korea.
Hard to believe we’ve gotten to the place where we can go into a match like that and expect a result.
Never mind just being in the CL to begin with.
WHAT….A…..NIGHT. This one will live long in the memory. Astounding noise and nuclear atmosphere. Emi was magnificent but every man jack of them stood and delivered. Carlos immense. Konsa massive. Pau huge. Digne exceptional.
We rolled out the welcome mat for our German neighbours and then proceeded to show them what Birmingham is all about.
When Pau scored his goal, the stadium detonated. Limbs everywhere. Bedlam. Wild. Pandemonium. Riotous. And then VAR stepped in. Football can be that cruel.
But General Unai marshalled his troops like the expert that he is. A defence that was on life support a few days ago was now the enigma machine. It repelled all boarders. The midfield never stopped and Ollie ran his nuts off.
Then it happened. Pau launched a perfect long ball forward. Big Jhon held off Upamecano and first timed it over Neuer and into the unguarded onion bag. The atom split and the ground blew. Cue a repeat of Pau’s goal. Only this time it stood.
Bailey is clearly carrying an injury which is restricting his movement. He battled manfully. The referee bottled the foul on Ollie when he was running on goal. He knew that if he gave a free kick it was also a red card so he ducked the issue and Bayern got away with one.
As I left VP last night I wasn’t just a happy bunny. I was ecstatic and dripping in glory. Don’t pinch me. We now have a great chance of finishing in the top 8. At the quarter stage mark, we’ve cleared a Pot 1 and Pot 3 opponent. When the draw was made I’m sure Bayern wanted to draw anyone from Pot 4 except AVFC. Meeting us away was their worst nightmare. Oh dude.
Harry fucking Kane. Emi fucking Martinez took care of him. Discovered when I got home that HRH had been in attendance. He witnessed a right royal performance. So did those of us lucky enough to be there. I’m still floating.
Final thought. We have the Indian sign on Bayern Munich. They have still never scored against us.
Was thinking of you Plug, hoping (assuming) you were there…Looked and sounded magnificent. As you say, had to be a truly memorable night for everyone in attendance. The shots round Villa Park were great.
Emery has brought us so much. Just remarkable.
I love Emi in big games. Always shows up. Duran, well, he’s not only scoring big goals, but doing it in style.