19 Mar 2026 21:51:38
Not a great performance, bit got the job done. Need to play so much better. Our style of play is slow and boring. We also need to play with pace as well.

1.) 20 Mar 2026
19 Mar 2026 22:24:15
Jonny, unfortunately, Emery doesn't see it.

2.) 20 Mar 2026
19 Mar 2026 23:20:31
I genuinely can't understand where this 'slow play' and 'Emery doesn't get it' criticism comes from. It is literally no different tactically from how we've played when we've been doing well in the Champions League, doing well in the league, and turning over some of the league's best and going on long winning streaks.
The difference is that the game breaks down far more frequently in the final third recently because literally none of our attacking players are on form... The quality in midfield has dropped for obvious reasons. This constant need to create overly dramatic narratives just sounds like a low-grade podcast script.
It's perfectly reasonable to be frustrated at the lack of form, or to debate whether Emery should play someone else, but anyone who understands football can see (even pundits are starting to finally pick up on it) that whoever Villa play in attacking positions is currently causing the team to suffer. It's tough to watch, but this is real-world sport, not Football Manager.

Emery has shown in the past that he knows the game well enough to coach them back into form and manage that transition. It's frustrating that so many players are off it at once, but that's what you get when you essentially have a squad that should/would be realistically aiming for top 8 without our manager. We're lightyears ahead of where we were when he took over, and if you offered most top 4 and a European quarter-final at this stage before the start of the season they'd have taken that. Let's get some perspective. Bring on the quarter-final and let's hope for a bit of a turnaround in the league soon.
Good solid result tonight without setting the world on fire. We'll need to raise our game to progress (Bologna are a better team than they showed against us last time), but we've got a few more gears we can go through, if a few players get themselves into some sort of form.

Rant over. I'm off for another celebratory beer.