Welp, another day another big match, and in the here and now, you’d have to say it’s the biggest match of the season. Two games away from a trophy we’ve been chasing for 68 years, if I’m figuring that right. Hard to believe it could be that long, but there you go.

So yes, it is worth playing for and I’m glad to see Emery has given Ollie the start. I’d have liked to see Tyrone start as well, because really you’d say over these last several seasons, Ty, Super John and Ollie have been the backbone of the side. But, it’s Emery’s call.

Probably not a whole lot to say. Everyone knows Palace are one of our bogey teams, so it’s a tough assignment. Putting the Champions League places aside, it might be best that Villa are coming off a disappointing visit to the Etihad as far as mentality goes. I’d thought we were going to go and beat City given the PSG and Newcastle performances, but alas. So one hopes everyone’s motivated by being so close to winning something and maybe having something to say after the setback. A lot of the players have set silverware as their goal for their time at Villa. We’d all love to see it happen. The supporters deserve to see Villa go through to the final today, and it’s one that we’d have every chance of winning on our day.

Elsewhere the lineup is interesting given who we’re matching up with. SJM and Kamara holding the fort with Tielemans. Rogers up front with Asensio and Ollie despite how gassed looked coming off midweek. There’s a lot on the bench, though it’s interesting Rashford isn’t on there. Been trying to see if he picked up a knock in training or something, but no real word that I’ve found.

So, it’s here, it’s remarkable we’ve juggled so much to book our place. Let’s go and get our return ticket punched.

Over to you.

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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 130

  1. r0bb0

    This was not the ideal weekend for my wife to book us a weekend d away and then a meal out at 6.30 eh?
    Oh well. . . I should be able to watch the first half!

  6. r0bb0

    Very very disappointed in Torres.
    We’ve been playing a safety first game, even when not under pressure, the centre backs pass it back to Martinez, but when under a bit of pressure there he chose to try to be clever instead.

  10. r0bb0

    He’s a good player, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who wonders why he is tending to be selected ahead of Mings.
    We had a run of good defensive displays with Mings and Konsa together, but for some reason, that pairing has not been favoured recently

  27. Plug

    Bollocks. Bollocks. Bollocks.

    Wrong selection. Pau and Digne needed to have been Tyro and Maatsen. Set up also wrong for playing against Palace. We know how they play. It needs quick and energetic players to play against it.

    Our system of slow, careful play along the back line won’t cut it. It’s a semi final and requires EFFORT.

  28. Plug

    Haven’t read everyone’s comments yet but will. I expect they are exactly what I’m thinking. Another Wembley day out where they haven’t turned up.

    How not to play against Palace.

  29. John Clark

    Yeah, Plug, I’ll agree with you there, Ty and Maatsen would’ve been better, and I’d probably not have started Asensio. Didn’t do a lot wrong, and I’m assuming Emery wanted the quality in tight spaces, but I’d have put out quicker side.

    Emery might be the first to raise his hand, though like you say, it does require effort. You know the players wanted it, so why it’s lacking is a head-scratcher.

  30. John Clark

    The other aspect is that you can’t fall behind against sides like Palace. We’ve seen some very good strikes tilting games against us. And we haven’t answered as clinically.

  31. Plug

    Not a game for Asensio. Palace are physical. Needed Onana and Tyro. Guess Unai made the wrong choices. But the lack of energy and urgency in a semi final leaves me cold.

  32. John Clark

    Once they have a lead, they’re going to get those counters all game long.

    Will be curious to see what moves are made over the summer, and I’m wondering whether Emery has had too many to choose from. Obvs you need to rotate, etc., but it’s tempting to play with all the pieces. That said, we had two big wins just before.

    So I’m left wondering whether it’s simply a bit of weariness. Lots of games (10 more than Palace), lots of high stakes moments, and we just haven’t been sharp in these last two matches. Youri’s played a lot, Rogers, too, Digne seems to have gone off the boil.

    You look at a stretch where you’ve got PSG, Newcastle, City and then Palace all within three or four days of each other, and that’s a tough run.

  33. Plug

    What we need and what we don’t have is a fast tricky winger who can take on a FB at speed and beat him. Again and again. The nearest we have is Bailey and he blows hot and cold.

  34. jbd656

    I did watch the game live on the beeb. We weren’t playing football, we were playing foot on the ball. I don’t know what Emery thinks we can achieve playing this way I’ll be charitable and suggest that he knows the players have played too many games and we are playing keep ball to conserve energy. Tielemans and Konsa were both caught out several times posing on the ball. I saw Tielemans caught on the ball for the first goal. Was he caught on the ball for the third goal?

    Not feeling it for Asensio anymore. He made a fabulous first impression but seems to have faded away to a low energy effigy of himself. Is he doing a Coutinho? Likewise Torres. He has got the passing range of a deep lying midfielder but without the mobility. He just isn’t a premier league defender. Flog him for PSR purposes.
    Mings isn’t a long term solution at LCB as I believe time and injury are catching up on him – but he should have effing started today!

    These last 3 out of 4 games has stopped our season in it’s tracks. Just have to make sure we hold onto 7th for Europa league purposes. So pissed off that I had to take the dog on a 3 hour walk across some fields to get the game out of my system. Too tired to really care now. Crappy days are here again.

  35. jbd656

    Haven’t checked clickbait today. I presume there is going to be oodles of conspiracy theory around Rashford. Don’t buy. Grovel to Disasi to sign up and properly rotate with Konsa. Quite liked the palace french C/H. Can he play LCB?

  36. James Gill

    What a difference a week makes
    Thunder Newcastle feel top of the world, lose injury time to city and then today performance
    Yes emery probably made mistakes in team selection but them same very players played in last 10 or so matches in which we won 8 of
    Maybe no champions league next year won’t be a bad thing our 3 big January signings aren’t worth the money it would be to keep them
    Martinez konsa Bailey not been up to scratch all season a good summer rest should refocus and ollie only 1 goal in champions league, none in fa cup Maybe sand of time is catching up on him,very poor today I know service was poor but look at Palace striker that’s how you play

  38. John Clark

    Yeah, it’s been tough on the rotations, JG. I’ve shared a theory or two, getting a good look before deciding on Rashford, Asensio. I think Disasi might just be a short-term backup. Who knows.

    But, for the money, I think we can do better than Rashford. Asensio, fine player, but maybe not the PL mold overall. You have to be able to set up and get him involved in the tight spaces. And there wasn’t much space in the middle.

    So we do need that winger. Not sure what goes on with Malen, he seems quick and strong. But maybe it’s things like him stepping up to the man on the ball (CB or FB) against City instead of shading wide and backtracking to help Cash with Doku.

    Maatsen is fine on the left for those overlaps and seems to be finding his feet. Cash needs to be replaced (but I’ve been banging that drum for a while). Gets himself in trouble at the back, then loses his head more often than not when attacking. Would be okay if he shut players down, but he doesn’t do that very well, either. SJM’s days might well be numbered, too.

    I could see some turnover in the summer. But we’re also shopping for premium players: fast, strong, one-touch passers.

  41. Plug

    The morning after and I’ve had time to reflect. I did have a foreboding when I saw the team selection. We seemed to have left all the pace and strength on the bench. Not what’s required against Palace. And so it played out. Embarrassing in the extreme. Endless sideways passing across the back and playing back to the keeper even when not under pressure won’t win a knockout game in the EPL. You’ve got to attack and accept the risks. Otherwise we get what was served up yesterday. Citeh play endless sideways passing across the pitch but do it around the edge of their opponents penalty area, not in front of their own keeper.

    There’s another set of changes coming this window. John’s nailed them above, no need for me to repeat. The Laandaan based media are filling their boots this morning. Feel sick.

  42. James Gill

    Torres tielmens Rogers and loaned asenio only 4 emery players in line up,with 3 used as subs
    Yes I think emery got his lineup and even subs wrong yesterday
    Mings onana and ramsay should have started, onana didn’t even get on ,digne was taken off when possible he was our best player in my eyes yesterday,
    Emery has 4 matches to gain highest finish position
    As for players konsa has escaped criticism all season in certain quarters yet for me yesterday he was woeful worst player on pitch,he got lucky with ruled out goal minutes later Palace striker went passed him on touchline as if wasn’t there worse than dissai and doku other night,Carlos fall out with emery hasn’t worked out for us,our best defensive displays came with him in team,maybe less matches in run in will help emery too,
    didn’t think we would be facing fulham in crisis mode

  43. r0bb0

    I reckon my wife must have had a premonition that we’d be better off sitting down with our fingers in a seafood platter, than watching the second half of that Wembley semi final.

    I’ve read through the comments and between them they’ve pretty much summed up how I felt about the first half that I saw, and my feelings about the end result

  44. James Gill

    Cash has really reached his limitations, where once he could attack with an odd goal, assist to his name his defensive work was a mess giving away stupid penalty free kicks,now he can’t attack stopping and turning back is his trait,one good thing he stopped giving away frees and penalty’s
    Still fuming at performance from players last night,should be used to it tho

  45. r0bb0

    We were all so buoyed up, almost cocky, after the PSG and Newcastle performances that we maybe forgot that only a couple of week’s earlier, we’d been worrying that the intensity of 7 games less than 3 weeks was bound to take its toll.
    Others have already said it, but key players, such as Teilemans and Rogers have been permanent fixtures over recent weeks, and even if they’re physically up to the challenge, it’s so hard to maintain the mental intensity needed at the highest level, for that number of games.

  46. r0bb0

    The number of games reduces now, but as Pep said about our game against them, each one is a cup final now.
    It’s a huge ask, but if the players can raise themselves 4 more times and bring home 12 points, that ‘should’ be enough, even if the table right now looks as if it may not be.

  47. r0bb0

    JG, I’m probably lucky that I wasn’t able to watch the whole game, and that’s left me in a different frame of mind from the rest of you who endured it.
    I’m feeling more philosophical than “fuming” and recognising, that this dip in form was ‘almost’ inevitable, even though we’d been kidding ourselves that we now had the squad depth to avoid it.
    Yes, we have deeper, quality squad than for many a year, but it was still a huge ask to play that number of ‘cup finals’ in quick succession.
    Everyone will.inevitably start looking forward to the shape of next year’s squad now, but there’s still so much to play for.
    It’s going to be hard to qualify for the Champion’s league, but if we fall short, I’m sure we’d all prefer Europa to the Conference again.

  48. James Gill

    Looks like city in final can’t see forest coming from 2 down
    Hopefully emery has couple days off and he’s revitalised himself and his squad and we beat Fulham quite comfortable

  51. Plug

    We’re 2 months away from the next transfer window. What might happen? Heck has said he expects turnover for this season to come in at £370 million. Assuming it does, Wages need to be a maximum 70% of that (£259 million) to meet UEFA regs on PSR. We must assume they will will meet this ceiling even with the salaries of Rashford, Asensio and Disasi included, otherwise we would not have been able to hire them.

    Monchi has said that selling players is part of any club’s revenue stream. Will we have to sell? If so, who? and before 30th June in a fire sale or later for proper market value? I believe only Hause’s wages expire on 30th June. Those of Dendoncks and Coutinho are with us for a further year and offloading them will be more problematic. Maybe Buendia, Moreno, Ned, Illing Junior, Dobbin, Bailey, Barrenechea would raise some useful capital. Have I missed anyone? Then the expiring wages of Rashford, Asensio and Disasi will also help.

    All of this will make room for any new incomings. I think we need a CB, RB, Winger, CMF, CF. All capable of pace and strength and the winger needs to be able to take on his man and get beyond him. But as always, Unai will know exactly what he wants. Monchi is going to be a busy man.

  52. Plug

    And having mentioned Heck above, Villa have now reported he’s leaving at the end of this season “to be nearer his family in USA”. According to the Torygraph, he’s accepted a similar role with LIV Golf. Off to Saudi then!

  53. John Clark

    Don’t think you missed much there, Plug.

    I’ve read that we’ve been in talks, will probably have to pay a fine. Nothing huge in NSWE’s world, and they’ll have been expecting it. Don’t know what that means going forward.

    I wouldn’t rule out a surprise or two, though. Ramsey equals pure profit, and I’d think Ollie’s fee has been paid off by now. If clubs really are interested in Bailey, could see us cashing in there, as well.

    With Rashford doing his hamstring, seems to throw a lot up into the air. Maybe Emery’s seen enough to make a decision, and unlike us, they’ve had a chance to talk with him and understand where his head is. Right now, I don’t know that I’d sign either him or Asensio.

    I’ve enjoyed what they’ve contributed, but I’d think we could find better value elsewhere. But who knows what Emery’s thinking and how he sees us evolving.

  55. Plug

    Hi James, I’ve never done a VP tour. Guess it’s because I live relatively close and such never taken up the option. Same goes for Cadbury World. Wonderful experiences by all accounts but too close to home.

    Understand you’ll be there on Sat for the Fulham game. I will be there too and hope we get the much needed victory.

  58. jbd656

    Easy going mellow first half. Almost on the beach stuff. Villa on autocruise but starting to go into lumbering dozy possession back pass mode towards end of first half.

  66. jbd656

    Tired shambling win. Tielemans POTM. While he and everyone else was knackered, his class shone through. Honourable mention for Maatsen for a sharp punchy performance until he was rotated off.

  68. r0bb0

    You’re right jbd, it did seem ‘tired’.
    Yes it’s been a long season, but this is the point of the season that most matters, and you’d hope the players would be able to lift themselves.
    Hopefully they now have the disappointment of exiting the cups out of their system, and will bring razor sharp focus to our last 3 games.

  69. r0bb0

    You could feel the tension out there, but hopefully, the teams we’re fighting with for the 4th and 5th spots are also going to feel it, and there’ll be some slip ups that leave the door open for us.

  70. jbd656

    Don’t know why I was dribbling on about chelsky-forest. They are not playing each other this weekend and both have eminently losable games. Come on red scouse. Come on palace.

  71. Plug

    Not the most enthralling game of the season. I was a little dismayed to see the starting line up. Thought it was basically more of the same as last week. A tired, laboured performance. Some hospital balls from our lads didn’t help. Maatsen was lively and pacey and we improved once the subs came on. But why don’t we play the ball to them when they have fresh legs?

  72. Plug

    It was a tight win. As r0Bbo says, at this stage the result is everything. And we did bank 3 points. But if we give 3 more performances as laboured as today/last week then it’ll be P7 at best for me.

    Cottagers were really dirty. So many fouls from them. Referee Rob Jones was hopeless. He let them foul continuously without action so they did it all the more. He eventually started handing out yellows when it was way too late. He also gave a couple of clear Villa corners as goal kicks.

  73. Plug

    Nice goal from Tielemans. But Ollie missed his chances. Can’t remember seeing one long ball from Pau. He seemed happy to play short balls to men who were marked. I was dumbfounded. Think we got lucky with their goal that was ruled out for hand ball but Fulham did not deserve a draw. Traore these days looks as wide as he is high. Obviously been busy in the gym.

  74. Plug

    Overall, our constant play across the back 4 nearly cost us dearly. Don’t know why we didn’t attack them more and play around the edge of their area. But despite the underwhelming performance, I’m going to help myself to a glass or two of wine to celebrate the 60 point marker.

  75. James Gill

    Finally seen a win at villa Park
    Tielmens and mcginn both excellent
    Watkins for me was woeful, konsa another shaky game,in 2nd half emery was going g ballistic at him for losing ball in centre circle there half,
    Martinez never worried,Watkins missed a sitter,malen hit the bar,torres almost had goal at his mercy
    3 more wins needed

  76. James Gill

    Watching the officials live they are even worse,fulham made foul one after another,tielmens shot looked like keeper got a touch which big screen showed,linesman on dugout side gave us corner then changed his mind,there fullback shaking refs hand after making 2 fouls without booking

  77. Plug

    James, pleased you enjoyed your trip to VP today and saw a win. It was nervy for me in the end as a 1 goal lead keeps the opposition in the game. And they were down to 10 men after using all of their subs but they kept coming. Shame Malen couldn’t kill them off at the death. Fulham committed 17 fouls to our 6 and I think the ref let quite a few more of their fouls go.

  78. Plug

    Referee Pawson awarded 3 penalties to the Wai Ayes who continually get in the face of the ref and scream for everything. It’s their MO. Only the last one was correct.

  79. James Gill

    Plug
    Thought we were reasonably comfortable yesterday, need 3 more of them,emery has his blind spots like most of us,but christ 2 men sitting behind me kept saying not coming back next season if we keep playing like this,that after beating Newcastle psg and forest in last 3 games
    Thought crowd went flat yesterday

  80. James Gill

    Going to crazy last 3 games for 4 sides including us in race for last 2 spots,think city might even catch gunners for runners up,we must keep winning

  81. Plug

    James, I’ve had some good days down VP and I’ve had some bad ones. I’ve also had some great ones. It’s sport and therefore unpredictable. Selections, formations, dark arts are all deployed by some of the best coaches in the world. In the days of PSR it takes time to compile a fabulous team like Barca or PSG when the starting point is mid Championship under Dr. Skint. Some folks have short memories. Success raises the bar and with it fans expectations. Me? I think we need the Champions League again for the revenue. And the more regular exposure we get at that level will help attract more lucrative sponsors. It’s a development path set out by our wonderful owners. And yes, Unai can have his blind spots but under him, these are heady days.

  83. vivavilla

    R.I.P. the great Peter McParland, the last of our 1957 FA Cup-winning side. He was my hero from that day on – the first Villa match I ever saw – and, thanks to the involvement of my brother and Neil Rioch, I was lucky enough to receive a card and handwritten letter from the great man on my 60th birthday, nearly 20 years ago, something I still treasure. Just over a week ago, on Peter’s 91st birthday, I sent him a card wishing him well and hoping that this year Villa might finally win the Cup again. Sadly, we had the huge disappointment of the Palace game and now, within a few days, Peter has gone too. I hope Villa mark his passing with the dignity and affection he deserves.

  85. James Gill

    Got a tour of stadium,what stood out was a mini safe above every seat in home dressing room,the guide was excellent kept highlighting all the hospitality suites,and the need to raise money from it,the new statue of lion was set up Friday in an area which resembles a major building site,,guide said following spurs game the shop end will be closed down for summer to start major work on north stand ,the future is exciting looking

  86. Plug

    Congratulations Villa boys on beating the holders Citeh in the FA Youth Cup Final. It’s the 5th time for us and a 3-1 win in front of over 20,000 at VP.

  89. James Gill

    With them,mcginn was there too,
    The team had emery’s game plan all over it,from Keepers couple imaginary injuries to the movement in transseion along with mcphees setpieces, some which we scored 2 great goals,not to mention last goal superb turn and shot from lad who played a few minutes for 1st in cups,special mention to Broomfield who only came on in 70min but cleared everything in his way,really enjoyable watch the oil giants getting beat,heskey son playing for them

  91. James Gill

    Our game v spurs moved to suit spurs,typical of FA not worth getting riled up over,but something has to be done to help clubs in later stages of Europe but iyhas to be agreed before start of season
    Feel sorry for fans travelling to game plans have to be changed

  92. James Gill

    With forest dropping more points last night the pressure is on,for me we need 9 points 3 boring 1 0 will do,emery going to have his work cut out,Saturday was nervy affair but in real time ollie missed 2 very scorable chances as did malen we have to be more clinical, and tight at back

  93. Plug

    Fuck the EPL. Agreeing to switch dates of our home game against Spurs once again demonstrates there is one law for Laandaan and one for the rest of us. Fucking disgraceful. Never mind the screw up of my and thousands of others planned Sunday. Get stuffed Villa fans, we’re going to help Spurs. I’m livid.

  94. r0bb0

    JG, you say, the FA decision is t worth getting riled about, but like a plug, I’m totally sickened by it.
    They are so in thrall to the top 6, that they don’t even care about trying to hide it.
    It’s absolutely disgraceful.

  95. James Gill

    Robbo
    The Fa have gave us nothing all season,so at this stage I do t care,saying that maybe it’s time to get our most famous fan to use his influence

  97. John Clark

    That was an insane match, JG. Watched a replay.

    PSG-Arsenal was interesting. I took some joy from the fact we put 4 past them to Arsenal’s 1.

  99. Plug

    So the day’s big question is………how will Villa fare against Bournemouth on the south coast? Most people agree that we are in with a great shout at reaching the UCL again. But most people also think that will need 3 wins from the remaining 3 games. If we fail to win today, it’s looking like the Europa League or even the Conference League again should Palace beat Citeh. With £££ millions at stake and team development dependent on results obtained, we simply MUST win.

    And Tielemans will be missing. Regardless, we have a squad to select from. If we play to our capacity, we’ll win. Should the performance come up short, we’ll drop points. Go for it Villa.

  100. John Clark

    Yep, we do have to win out, Plug. Tielemans is a big miss, curious to see how Emery adapts. This little run will be very telling for a lot of reasons.

  102. John Clark

    I love a goal just before halftime.

    Started showing more threat, couple good saves from Kepa.

    A very annoying opponent, we break, they foul.

  103. John Clark

    Yeah, was good to see City drop points, JG.

    Going to be a very interesting end to the season. I’m exhausted, wonder how the players feel mentally.

  104. James Gill

    Expected nervy half ,but we are ahead should be 2 kamara really poor miss,if he could add goals he would be up there with best
    Onana really good half,our front 4 springing to life
    Referee is awful blowing for nothing most of time,martinez is captain so allowed to come up the field but nevertheless foul on ramsay has woke him up

  115. jbd656

    WOW! Look what a fully rested Villa can do. Think Mings would have cleared that ball before Cash made that miraculous clearance. That was worth player of my match.

  117. John Clark

    Yeah, one of Cash’s better games, Onana massive, Kamara.

    Nice to see us barely bothered, even down to 10.

    Solid win. If we’d been able to play, who knows, but that’s all we needed.

  118. Plug

    At this stage of proceedings it’s all about the 3 points. Job done. Heaps pressure on the others. We might have won by more had the team gone for it. But it was another clean sheet. Didn’t like the dismissal of JJ. Atwell is below par. Didn’t like the subbing of Tyro. Did like the result.

  119. Plug

    Congrats to Ollie. Place assured in the Villa hall of fame. His selfless running and assists must also be remembered.

  120. Plug

    Thought the Cherries were just a bunch of foulers. If the opposition gets past them, haul them down. But Atwell decided to red card one of ours. Mindless.

  121. Plug

    The Vitality has been one of our more difficult venues to accumulate points. Fantastic to rectify that issue. So happy for the away support who will journey home satisfied. Thought Bournemouth performed below their earlier standards from a few months back. But they did beat the Arse last week in Laandaan which makes our result on the money.

  123. Plug

    I see Iraola has stoked the media into wanting Tyro hung, drawn and quartered for putting his arm out the protect the ball. He says Scott has a fractured jaw bone. Well that was down entirely to Iraola’s MO of hitting the opposition hard from behind. They were doing it all match. Scott hit Tyro with such force from behind, he fractured his own fucking jaw.

    And referee Attwell was a waste of space. He pinged Bournemouth for 19 fouls and let them get away with many more. He pinged Villa for 12 fouls yet managed to hand us 5 yellow cards plus a red to their 4 yellow cards. Villa should appeal Ramsey’s red, it was completely unintentional so only a foul, never a 2nd yellow.

  124. Plug

    Reading through the Cherries fans comments this morning and they overwhelmingly feel Villa were never tested and always in control. They also think we are a HUGE team with their players dwarfed by comparison so were never going to score from a corner. Yes, it helps when Tyro and Onana are there eh? Bournemouth had their purple patch some weeks back but are now running out of steam. Unlike the mighty Villa who have collected 21 points from their last 8 league games.

  125. r0bb0

    Having read through comments on here, it’s clear everyone else had a similar view of Bournemouth to the one i felt whe watching the game. A nasty ‘anti football’ team who were facilitated by an inconsistent referee.
    We did really well to come through that game on top.

  126. r0bb0

    As Plug said, well done Ollie. . . our best ever Premier league striker.
    It’s bizarre that some Villa fans are still determined to try and find fault with him.

  127. Plug

    It looks like Heck’s replacement is going to be Francesco Calvo from Juventus. He will no doubt be charged with increasing revenues at AVFC. Our main sponsor is Betano whose contract with us runs out after completion of next season 25/26 when betting advertisements will be banned. He will need to find a lucrative alternative.

    Seems like Monchi has been involved with this probable appointment as he has worked with him previously. Hope Calvo is more accessible and more open with the fans than Heck was.

  128. John Clark

    Sorry, been away, but have to agree with all said. I really didn’t like how Bournemouth played…It wasn’t like there were a lot of dirty fouls, but like Plug said, anytime a player was beaten they grabbed hold, that kind of thing.

    Ramsey, you can understand the anger. After all the foot and ankle issues, he’s away and once again subject to re-injury because he skinned his man.

    One pull-back? Okay. Second? Yellow. Job done.

  129. John Clark

    r0bb0,

    I really do think Ollie is a case of familiarity breeds contempt. No Villa fan sees anywhere near as much of every other striker and their misses.

    But he did say it in his post-match, that he probably does do better when he doesn’t have time to think. And I’ve seen any number of strikers clean in on Emi who ends up looming large in their heads and in front of goal.

    So yeah, conversion rates, etc., are fairer than just what you see, but ‘big chances’, all of it, is subjective.

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