It’s another European night at Villa Park, and this time it’s loser go home. You’d like to think that’ll be Club Brugge, but as Emery said, you never know. Villa’s propensity to ship a weak goal or two could very well rear its ugly head again and make things much more interesting than we’d like.
Which means we have to hope the players are as alert to this as all of us. We’d like to sort of see a processional victory, and here’s to them actually providing that. After all, there’s a break coming, so a number of players will be getting a rest (I’d like to see the whole team withheld from international duty, but I guess you can’t really do that without upsetting people), and you’d like to think an upcoming respite from the firehose of games they’ve had to play will free them up a little.
One possible mental downside is PSG knocking Liverpool out. I’m guessing a lot of us thought a known foe would be preferred to a team that battered them in Paris. The return leg more than shaded toward Liverpool, I thought, but as PSG were left ruing Alisson and their own misfires, so too were Liverpool left wondering at their finishing and luck. They did provide a blueprint, but it involves a massive expenditure of energy. If they could’ve made the early advantage count, they’d be through. But they didn’t, and scouse fans will surely be fuming about Nunez and Jones taking spot kicks. (I’ve not had a chance to read the reaction.) But it probably shouldn’t have come to that.
At any rate, Villa will have watched both legs I’m sure, and one hopes they aren’t demoralized at the prospect. If Emery can get them to focus on the task at hand, that would be helpful. I’m sure no one thought they were winning it all anyway, and getting through this round and into the quarters would be a very significant achievement.
And while Brugge weren’t necessarily one anyone’s radar to be here either, they are a very well-coached side. They know what they’re about, good structure, discipline and quality on the ball. Let’s just say that while I think Villa are the better team overall, we haven’t necessarily played like it consistently and that I’m glad there’s a cushion to ease the nerves and encourage them to just go play without too many voices in their heads.
What I hope for (in order, though it’s all really the same thing): 1) A great night for the supporters, 2) an extra £10m for the PSR ghouls to put on the right side of the ledger, and 3) a boost to the coefficient to keep our CL hopes alive for next season.
Besides the deserved joy for supporters, I’m also hopeful a victory heading into the break (keeping alive our recent resurgence) will set us up for the run-in. I’m assuming that Emery would love to knock PSG out and progress, but failing that, I’m thinking the FA Cup’s lure of silverware is very strong given how far we’ve come and who remains. It’s attainable, and would certainly be a feather for the man who got us back into Europe. We’re getting healthier (fingers crossed) at the right time, and can probably manage the load. A strong finish and a Cup…we can dream.
So, we’re all hoping it’ll still be three fronts for a little longer and you just keep fighting until you get knocked out. Beyond the money, I’m only bothered about CL qualification in terms of recruitment. I’ve no idea whether I want Rashford to stay since I never thought he would or felt certain it would be wise money in the longer term. Asensio, given the apparent bargain price(s) we’re reading about, would be a yes for me. Probably Disasi, too. (Although I do get Coutinho tremors from Asensio’s contribution so far.) But whether it’s them or others, Champions League is definitely a big lure for the kind of talent that could see Villa pushing on to stay at this level.
In the end, it all comes down to winning the next game in front of us.
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 54
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Thanks for the write up John. . . . . but I wish you hadn’t said that Asensio gave you Coutino vibes. . . . . because the same through had crossed my mind and I’d decided to discard it!
I have waffled on about how I think we are finding the chumpions league less difficult than the prem league. The prem is faster, more intense, more physically and athletically tough. Hence we have historically been vulnerable to big tough athletic sides like Stoke, Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace etc. We have historically been dinky, pretty and soft to play against. We have only made our often better technical ability count when we have had big beefy wiry tough defenders like Nichol, Evans, McNaught, Ehiogu, Mellberg, Laursen and a fit Mings. Obviously McGrath is a one off on his own.
European sides in comparison seem slower, more cagey and technical. Hence when they come up against a prem hardened Villa they have the same problem with us that we traditionally have with other bigger prem sides. I would prefer PSG to red scouse mainly because red scouse have our number and PSG hopefully don’t.
Asensio is indeed fabulously skilled and technical but how robust will he be week in and week out in our thug league? Still a better bet than the chronically disabled PC. Already said that I get Stan Colleymore vibes about Rashford – not doubting his ability. Could Rashford really get the Villa vibe after being the poster boy for his so much more glamorous home team? Disasi has got all the nonchalent, cool, calm, athletic physicality that I wish for Villa and seems to have picked up the Villa vibe that Mings did so intensely. Twist my arm really really hard and I might consider having Disasi in my Villa squad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ha…well, I hear you both.
I think Asensio would probably be used the way he is now…he might feature a little bit more, but with Onana and Kamara, Tielemans, etc., I don’t see him as a nailed-on starter, more part of a rotation. Starting some, coming off the bench for others. Would all come down to his wages, you’d think.
We’re told Emery really rates him, and he’ll know what his real condition is. But who knows what the player wants. He might enjoy this spell and shop window, decide he’d rather be in Spain or some such.
Apart from easing him in and not overloading him, I think Emery has enjoyed being able to call on Asensio when teams are tired, have been run at all day, and then he changes everything up, whole new puzzle to solve.
Rashford I think is here for the numbers, rotation, and maybe he hits form and electrifies us. But I’m guessing it’s more that he’s dangerous, didn’t cost much overall, is fresh, all that.
Normally when the opposition goes down to ten men, we struggle to break them down. At least this time, they can sit back as much as they like. Just have to make sure we don’t give the ref a chance to send one of us off.
Am I the only one who is still just as tense, even though they’ve gone down to 10 men?
A foul for pulling a shirt. . . Who heard of such a thing?
Hmmmmm. . .there are some soft fouls going their way just now
Not sure it’s working with Rogers out on the right. . . He doesn’t look comfortable to me
We know the logic. The ref will subconsciensely feel impelled to redress the balance.
Presumably, that was to try and find a way of including McGinn?
And Mings plays the best cross of the night
Tonight isn’t a night for entertaining, it’s only the result that counts. Emery clearly playing the percentages
We know that Watkins got a knock but I wasn’t aware of Kamara having a problem. Do we need to start a pre-emptive slag of Bailey?
And the suspect crock scores a monster goal.
How did Asensio miss that 1 on 1. . .get rid!
Then he goes and does an Ollie.
Jbd, I assume the kamara substitution was to make us more attacking rather than because of an injury.
I hope Ollie’s injury isn’t too bad. . . But ‘just’ enough to help him decide he can’t be called up foe England duty.
Steady on! Can’t go taking risks. We only got one man advantage.
Fair play to Rashford. Set up crock goal number 2.
Mings has played some super passes tonight. . . . Emery is bringing out a whole new facet of his game
Seems churlish to co.plain on a night like this, but that’s three shots that Mignolet has parried away and nobody has been there to follow up to score.
Just not happening for Bailey even on a night like today.
Think Disasi has done more than Bailey. Hope Malen is here next season.
Ok, the pressure has been off, but Maatsen has looked more the part tonight
Thank heaven. 2 weeks break from real football. Can’t imagine how the players feel.
Just noticed Lenglet playing for Athletico Madrid. Could we possibly get them in the final and Lenglet locks us out?
Wow what a club we have from owners to management, players unbelievable, what a time to be a fan
April going to be busy
ASENIO what a player, possibly one of our best ever signings,making me forget about big bad john
JG. . . .that’s just what the ticketing agent that called me today said; “what a time to be a Villa fan!”
Mings not going to give up his place too handy another brilliant display ,even his attacking skills were sublime
Martinez his pass to rashford, shut the commentators up about pools keeper
Tielmens the look on his face when ollie miscontrolled his superb pass,had another good game
Bailey getting stick ,but his assist for opening goal magic
Still watching after match interviews, watching onana digne bogarde warming down add malen garcia and barclay we have an amazing group of players
Robbo
It was hardly villa ticket office,,be some demand for psg match
Athletic Madrid out on penalty ,ex city player slipped hitting his penalty came off both feet,bizarre
Late to the comments, but that all went very well. Not much effort required, was fairly easy going once they were down to 10. Then the first made it academic.
Asensio has obviously been incredible…Just finds the perfect spots, so calm on the ball. Don’t care if it’s the best run of his life, comes at a great time for us. Really interesting how he seems to be on the exact same wavelength as Rashford.
Only thing missing was Rashford getting a goal. I think that would do us all a lot of good.
JC, yes we’re all appreciating what Asensio can bring, and surprisingly, to me at least, is the fact that he’ll have the chance to bring it against PSG, even though they’ve lent him to us.
JG, I saw a few replays of the ‘double kick’ penalty, and I couldn’t clearly spot it. It felt very wrong to me.
JG mentioned Ming’s attacking skills, which certainly did come as a revelation. When a gap opens in front of them, our centre backs seem to be given more license to surge forward with the ball at their feet, than they used to be. . . . or is that my imagination?
I’m probably reading too much into it, but when Emery said: “Today we competed against one team and performed very well. I’m very happy with how we are in the way and we’re going to play a quarter-final against PSG”, I wonder if he was hinting that our first half display was a practice run.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINALS VILLA. How good does that sound? Juve gone, Citeh gone, Atletico Madrid gone, AC Milan gone, Red Scouse gone, just the elite heavyweights left and we’re with them dining at the top table. Don’t pinch me.
The game itself made me a bag of nerves. It felt the same around the ground. The game plan was cautious and safety first in the first half. Trouble is, I don’t feel we’re that capable of doing it and some of our play at the back scares the shit out of me. For example, Cash played a square ball across the face of our area that nearly got snagged. Suicidal. Then on 15 minutes, the situation changed when Emi hit a long ball over the top. Rashford outpaced his marker and was hauled down before he reached the area. The North Stand was up in arms. The red card followed. Unlike the ref against Bayern who chickened out of a similar situation with Watkins, this one did his duty. But nothing else changed. I was still damned nervous.
The HT substitutions by Unai bringing on Asensio and Bailey changed everything. Within 5 minutes, Bailey passed a sublime ball to Asensio who first timed it past the keeper. Tielemans then picked out the same man with another great pass. Asensio brought it under control instantly and then hit the post. Villa Park was now rocking. Next, Rogers played in Maatsen who hammered in the 2nd. Followed by a Rashford assist for Asensio and the 3rd. Nerves now gone. Sheer delight and enjoyment for the remaining half hour.
So who stood out? Maatsen had an excellent game, mobile and quick. Against a speedy winger, is this why he was selected? Tyro had a commanding game. Rashford contributed and for me, an assist is as good as a goal. Asensio did some real damage and was my pick of the bunch.
We’re in heady company. All 3 of JC’s requirements in the header above was realised. It was always about the money and this competition has delivered it. Or at least the players and coaches have. It’s now just a question of whether we can knock over an exceptional PSG side.
2 week break then the madness returns, hopefully nobody picks up knocks on international duty
Preston up 1st another great chance for some players get good minutes torres onana, and with how players are stepping up mings matasen no reason why emery can’t chop and change every match and have a very decent side on pitch
Honestly think Alvarez and Co were jobbed on that peno. Heard something about ‘technology’ on the post-game, is that a chip in the ball? At any rate, look at it over and over and you can’t come to a conclusion. You can see how it could’ve happened, but you don’t see any change in the movement of the ball. Far too tight to be taken away, imo.
r0bb0,
Think we’ve seen it before, though maybe not so much as Tyro in the box, combining deep. Used to see him pop up there occasionally under Deano.
That might drive Emery a bit crazy. Or not. But it was better distribution from Mings, and if it does open up and you can carry it, might as well. Long as you don’t turn it over and get caught out.
I’d read somewhere that teams were happy to let Mings have it, poorer distribution than Torres. But I think they were missing that Villa virtually always send it left to go forward no matter who’s playing there.
Interesting, r0bb0…I wouldn’t have read it that way, but it was the perfect opportunity. Gives him some coaching film at least. And it did look like they were sitting and looking to break. Wasn’t terribly pretty, but it seemed deliberate. Like Plug, made me nervous.
I always say this, our managers never listen to me, but PSG’s greatest threat seems to be on the counter, so I would want to be compact and look to break ourselves. They look very fast at the back, so you can’t dither. That ball to Rashford would be exactly the right kind of approach.
Maatsen does offer a lot going forward, Plug. Fast and quick, very good with the ball at his feet.
And yeah, Rashford is a good presence, his pace and directness draw a lot of attention as does his name, I’m sure. The assists have been perfect, just what we need. I want him to score himself so that he gets that ‘star man’ feeling and maybe gets hungrier. But he is tracking back, isn’t trying too hard, seems to get the system, lays it off instead of forcing things.
I can see why Asensio might not fit PSG’s blueprint, better suited to a possession game in the attacking half/third. I’m sure he’ll be motivated.
Cash’s pass infield was schoolboy insanity. If I remember anything from those mist-shrouded days: Don’t play it across your goal, and keep your man in front of you. That’s the rash part of his game I don’t like. It’s great that players look to do something, but he gets himself in trouble looking to do something.
Robbo
Priced tickets for psg game today,travel company ,365 euro including 1 night in ibis hotel,you have to buy 2 bit steep,heck will be rubbing his hands
Konsa rogers and rashford in tunnel 1st squad no watkins
No be a big crowd for dubai trip
James, looking at Tuchel’s first squad with Henderson, Walker and Burn in it……as you say, no Ollie….I’ve looked into my crystal ball and seen…….paper aeroplanes flying onto the pitch.
After the current round of European matches, I calculate that England have 1 of the 2 additional places in next season’s Champions League. Our coefficient stands at 24.250 and only Italy and Spain can mathematically beat it (just) but would need the most unbelievable combination of results to achieve it. There’s more chance of winning the Euro Lottery. Time to forget the coefficient numbers as far as 5th place this season is concerned, it’s done. But who will get it from the English pack?