11-05-2019, 23:05
(This post was last modified: 11-05-2019, 23:07 by Slick_Footwork.)
After hearing all the Villa fans at work waxing lyrical about how great are and knowing how lousy Shan's tactics are, I did fear we might lose by 3 or 4 goals. Despite the fact I think we have a better squad of players.
However, in actual fact, Villa didn't impress me at all. In my opinion, it was 2 average sides going at it, with different game plans.
Considering Shan set up incorrectly again, conceding a man in midfield the same way he did against Derby, Villa didn't look good enough to beat us.
And in my mind, they didn't beat us, the referee did.
I've looked at the penalty replay and there isn't any contact. There was far more down the other end when Abraham climbed on Holgate. Now I think that would've been a soft penalty if given, but it was more of a pen than the Villa penalty was any day of the week.
That wasn't the first time the referee's discrepancies favoured Villa either. Hourihane slaps Gayle in the face and no free kick. Gibbs does the same down the other end to hold off Green and they get a free kick which leads to the penalty.
A draw would've been a fair result really, considering how we played with such a negative game plan. But we didn't deserve to lose today.
Shan giving up a man in central midfield was the deciding factor, ultimately, as it was the spare man gifted 15 yards of space to lash in the equaliser. But credit to him, he took it well.
As for the contentious issues...
Gayle got banned for diving against Forest and winning a pen, so maybe the league should show some consistency? I'm certain Grealish dived for there penalty and Sky awarded him man of the match for it.
Gayle's sending off could be viewed either way. I would've expected a Premier League ref to apply common sense at that stage of the game, given there is no malice in the challenge. But at the same time, I can see why the 2nd yellow was given. To be honest, it was stupid from Gayle because I don't think the ball was winnable, but still there was little more than momentum involved.
The 2nd leg will be tough without Gayle and being a goal behind, but I certainly don't think it's a full gone conclusion. Murphy can come in and offer more balance and although he blows hot and cold, we can hope he's hot in this big game. If we play with 3 at the back again, which I don't agree with but is expected, we will get more free kicks and set plays at home and I do think we can boss them in the air.
Overall today, it was another poor game plan IMO, but it was worthy of a draw.
One positive I would say is that I thought despite the fact we played in a restrictive formation that doesn't suit us, every player really tried today. The defence didn't really put a foot wrong and Hegazi and Bartley were as good as I've seen them. Even Tyrone Mears who is 36 and come in completely out of the cold was excellent. I thought Johansen and Brunt would get overran with Villa having the spare, but for most of the game they did all they can and Johansen really did a job on Grealish. If the players are that up for it on Tuesday and we have a go, there is still a chance.
However, in actual fact, Villa didn't impress me at all. In my opinion, it was 2 average sides going at it, with different game plans.
Considering Shan set up incorrectly again, conceding a man in midfield the same way he did against Derby, Villa didn't look good enough to beat us.
And in my mind, they didn't beat us, the referee did.
I've looked at the penalty replay and there isn't any contact. There was far more down the other end when Abraham climbed on Holgate. Now I think that would've been a soft penalty if given, but it was more of a pen than the Villa penalty was any day of the week.
That wasn't the first time the referee's discrepancies favoured Villa either. Hourihane slaps Gayle in the face and no free kick. Gibbs does the same down the other end to hold off Green and they get a free kick which leads to the penalty.
A draw would've been a fair result really, considering how we played with such a negative game plan. But we didn't deserve to lose today.
Shan giving up a man in central midfield was the deciding factor, ultimately, as it was the spare man gifted 15 yards of space to lash in the equaliser. But credit to him, he took it well.
As for the contentious issues...
Gayle got banned for diving against Forest and winning a pen, so maybe the league should show some consistency? I'm certain Grealish dived for there penalty and Sky awarded him man of the match for it.
Gayle's sending off could be viewed either way. I would've expected a Premier League ref to apply common sense at that stage of the game, given there is no malice in the challenge. But at the same time, I can see why the 2nd yellow was given. To be honest, it was stupid from Gayle because I don't think the ball was winnable, but still there was little more than momentum involved.
The 2nd leg will be tough without Gayle and being a goal behind, but I certainly don't think it's a full gone conclusion. Murphy can come in and offer more balance and although he blows hot and cold, we can hope he's hot in this big game. If we play with 3 at the back again, which I don't agree with but is expected, we will get more free kicks and set plays at home and I do think we can boss them in the air.
Overall today, it was another poor game plan IMO, but it was worthy of a draw.
One positive I would say is that I thought despite the fact we played in a restrictive formation that doesn't suit us, every player really tried today. The defence didn't really put a foot wrong and Hegazi and Bartley were as good as I've seen them. Even Tyrone Mears who is 36 and come in completely out of the cold was excellent. I thought Johansen and Brunt would get overran with Villa having the spare, but for most of the game they did all they can and Johansen really did a job on Grealish. If the players are that up for it on Tuesday and we have a go, there is still a chance.