I would also like to say that I thought Lamare Bogarde was consistently superb at right back. Not as a threat, but as a defender. Stuck to his brief like a champ. utv

Villa playing in a Dean Smith Villa way. Sit in, be compact, look to counter. I guess this is what happens when a side has no other way, and right now, Villa have no other way. I'll take it ...

We hold the ball better with McGinn, and I hope we hold and move it better when Youri returns too. Not over by a long shot yet. Up the Spurs!

There is a lot of get rid behaviour occurring as well as poor and panicky decision making. That comes down to a lack of confidence in close control under a press. That confidence costs many millions and we tend to sell it.

The only argument in favour of your suggestion is the security of supply argument. Outside that the "British gas for British people" narrative is false, we have declining output, global market pricing reality, and the economics only stack up under sustained high gas prices. Yet supply is growing.

Gifts Jacob.
Villa continue to offer up gifts when in great attacking positions.

I usually like to summarise my analysis of games but I have said everything about this display a hundred times before. Probably more.
So, Villa need to stop giving the ball away with stupid decisions when attacking is my only point today.
I'm sick to death of it.

As an immigrant myself I understand immigrant families changing their names to fit in with their new surroundings but the Retardio family would surely be proud of Matt having this take?

This might be the greatest split-screen ever broadcast.

They’ll play this in museums in future.

(🎥 LCI 🇫🇷)

He is relentless, and works best when provided service, he would be an asset to any top six side. His skillset may not be what Unai wants moving forward, but his heart is exactly what any Villa team needs.
Made something precious out of nothing tonight.
And that too is a talent. utv

He is the very essence of a self made man. He has grafted his way to the top, past other with more natural talent but less commitment to being the best they can be. This season has seen a style change and Villa are simply not creating enough chances for him to thrive ...

What he is good at is impacting games when given service, and he has done that consistently for us. I recall the great Ings v Watkins wars, I was always clear, Watkins is the superior striker. Not because of technique or class, but because of determination ...

#AVFC
Ollie Watkins can deeply frustrate me, and it is clear he frustrates a lot of Villa folk. His first touch and close control can have me retiring to the bar instead of watching the game, however, having said that ....

Sales and making CL football is the quickest path.

Yes, success now tends to demand experience. I think he can still get that by using the Bosman market and paying higher wages as a result, but it is the identifying and securing of talent yet to reach its peak which is key here 👍

But if like me, you want more, it is time to move on from Dean Smith's squad, and try to build Unai Emery's, and most probably on a budget. Things may get worse before they get better, but I do know that winning that Europa League would make everyone's job a lot easier.
utv

I moan a lot about levels but I appreciate what the players who have come to Villa have given us. We were wallowing in the pit of the Championship, hours away from liquidation, and these players lifted us back up into the light. They are Villa legends. >

What is clear to me is that going down a money route won't work because we simply don't make enough money. The other path is talent and experience on frees and high wages, and unproven promise on low wages. That is the task that lies ahead of Villa. It is massive. >

We've nicked games all season, often with wonder goals, and that simply can't continue because it is asking for small chances to keep paying off. Now this may sound defeatist, but it is not. Villa are where they are, and it may take realism to move them up from that >

Reality is hard, and it has smashed through our bubble, and this goes beyond missing three key players, it goes to the quality and depth of personnel available. We have risen because we have been well coached yet I have not seen us smash anyone like Chelsea smashed us tonight. >

#AVFC We can all look up at the stars and dream, but rockets are always fighting gravity, and in pro football money = gravity.
Chelsea have full backs that are more expensive than our record signings. They have top talent in depth, and that talent if coached well, tells ... >

Surely this will break Reinaldo's little heart?

Kick off 18.45 for those with the foresight to sub to Villa TV 👍

P.S: I think the inclusion of Barkley and Sancho ahead of Buendia and Bailey in the starting 11 may change this. They are both stronger under the press, and both men can beat a man, find a pass or cross, or take a shot. It may also help the others to come on against tired legs.

Sure, we kept going, we always do, and to salvage a draw from an inept loss is something, but it is not the thing to keep us in the Champions League places. Leeds had won only one away game all season. These are concerning times for Emery, who has yet to find a way to cope. utv

I know we lack physicality, but today we also lacked energy. We are too often lackadaisical in possession, and I don't understand it. I also don't understand lumping balls up to Watkins whose game doesn't suit back to goal target man >

Conversely, look at the acres of space when teams counter us. We often look wide open, and we have done since the days of Deano to be honest. It is almost like we have to overload attack because too many lack the close control to keep the ball without that extra body as option>

There is a pattern, where Villa delay attacks, allowing opponents to get back goalside, and while this is clearly Emery's way, it requires players able to deliver pinpoint balls into the box, because there is no space. We were shocking on delivery today. That has to change >

That we only started playing with anything like aggression and attacking intent after subs tells its own tale. Villa have been over-performing given their roster of talent, and they have been doing that because they have a handful of players of top class.
More are needed >

Let's be honest. The loss of key players has exposed many of those we have been hailing as unable to perform or impact games without those key players. There is no point in making a list, we all have eyes. Our first half today was inept and anaemic >