Other random observations from yesterday.

[Pat Vegas]

I thought the ref was crap in regards to the time wasting. the linesman were quick to put their flags up for offsides but I thought they were to let them play on.

Also I don't know if it was just me but half time seemed shorter than usual. all of a sudden they were back on the pitch and half the stadium wasn't back yet it was a bit strange.

atmosphere was flat most of the game.

[Peter]

I thought the ref was crap in regards to the time wasting. the linesman were quick to put their flags up for offsides but I thought they were to let them play on.

Also I don't know if it was just me but half time seemed shorter than usual. all of a sudden they were back on the pitch and half the stadium wasn't back yet it was a bit strange.

atmosphere was flat most of the game.

For me, everything changed when Liverpool lost. I suddenly got nervous and it felt as though the picture had changed.

I think that, and our failure to get ahead in the opening half hour, really got to the players. The rest of the day had a glaring inevitability about it.

I still can't really believe the Trossard one didn't go in.

[PSRB]

For me, everything changed when Liverpool lost. I suddenly got nervous and it felt as though the picture had changed.

I think that, and our failure to get ahead in the opening half hour, really got to the players. The rest of the day had a glaring inevitability about it.

I still can't really believe the Trossard one didn't go in.

As soon as Odegaard didn't play that play to put Martinelli through, I thought it was going to be one of those days.

[Peter]

As soon as Odegaard didn't play that play to put Martinelli through, I thought it was going to be one of those days.

I was worried when I saw the team. Not really sure why Zinchenko has come back in fashion. We were fine with Kiwior there.

I understood playing Havertz deeper but by early in the second half it was obvious it was no longer working and Villa had sussed out to cover the run and utliise the extra man in midfield. I still cannot believe Arteta didnt change it until the 83rd minute, by which time it was far too late to change the game.

[IUFG]

I was worried when I saw the team. Not really sure why Zinchenko has come back in fashion. We were fine with Kiwior there.

I understood playing Havertz deeper but by early in the second half it was obvious it was no longer working and Villa had sussed out to cover the run and utliise the extra man in midfield. I still cannot believe Arteta didnt change it until the 83rd minute, by which time it was far too late to change the game.

Everyone with any sort of vision could see that Villa were squeezing us to be narrow and our midfield couldn't cope.

Arteta not changing things as soon as he realised that Villa had upped the press and the tempo after half-time was the start of the decline.

We made Tielemans and McGinn look like Petit and Vieira.

[Peter]

Everyone with any sort of vision could see that Villa were squeezing us to be narrow and our midfield couldn't cope.

Arteta not changing things as soon as he realised that Villa had upped the press and the tempo after half-time was the start of the decline.

We made Tielemans and McGinn look like Petit and Vieira.

And they played through our press with ease. We were constantly leaving the guy in the left back position free on the ball. I assumed we were forcing them to play out through that flank but I couldn't really see why. Can't remember us winning the ball once in their third.

[pjlincs]

Raya flapped at the ball with his left arm and missed before their first goal.

What is it with these highly paid managers and their inability to react to changing circumstances on the pitch? No matter how much you shout at them on the tv! Southgate in the Euros final versus Italy a classic example. Everyone watching can see what's unfolding and where it's heading, but not the one person with the capacity to effect change. Mikey's assistants need to man up in these circumstances or are they only there to be deferential? Like tv "interviewers".

[WES]

Mikey's assistants need to man up in these circumstances or are they only there to be deferential? Like tv "interviewers".

Or put differently, it's Pat Rice's fault. :-)

[Peter]

Or put differently, it's Pat Rice's fault. :-)

I think these decisions are far easier to make from an armchair at home.

I'm sure Arteta had his reasons for doing what he did and I am sure he saw much that I didn't, and understood it a lot better.

We still ****ing lost though :-(

[WES]

I think these decisions are far easier to make from an armchair at home.

I'm sure Arteta had his reasons for doing what he did and I am sure he saw much that I didn't, and understood it a lot better.

We still ****ing lost though :-(

Yes, and I'm sure Arteta will dissect the video of the match and understand what went wrong, meanwhile the rest of us just moan and offer dubious opinions. :-)

But I'm not having that the first half was competitive a la Jason Burt. We controlled the game completely and they barely had a sniff other than one chance from a (another) Gabriel moment of madness. We should have been at least 2 up at half time or even 1 up if Trossard doesn't f*ck up with one of the misses of the season.

Fair enough we lost, but teams that choke or feel the pressure do not dominate the first half the way we did.

We're getting gubbed Wed night, of course :-(

[PSRB]

Yes, and I'm sure Arteta will dissect the video of the match and understand what went wrong, meanwhile the rest of us just moan and offer dubious opinions. :-)

But I'm not having that the first half was competitive a la Jason Burt. We controlled the game completely and they barely had a sniff other than one chance from a (another) Gabriel moment of madness. We should have been at least 2 up at half time or even 1 up if Trossard doesn't f*ck up with one of the misses of the season.

Fair enough we lost, but teams that choke or feel the pressure do not dominate the first half the way we did.

We're getting gubbed Wed night, of course :-(

Pretty much my view on the game.......and Wednesday :-\

[Peter]

Yes, and I'm sure Arteta will dissect the video of the match and understand what went wrong, meanwhile the rest of us just moan and offer dubious opinions. :-)

But I'm not having that the first half was competitive a la Jason Burt. We controlled the game completely and they barely had a sniff other than one chance from a (another) Gabriel moment of madness. We should have been at least 2 up at half time or even 1 up if Trossard doesn't f*ck up with one of the misses of the season.

Fair enough we lost, but teams that choke or feel the pressure do not dominate the first half the way we did.

We're getting gubbed Wed night, of course :-(

There were 3 or 4 occasions in the first half where they were very close to catching us on the counter attack. A bad pass a shirt pull and the inside of the post helped us out. That is tolerable, given that it is a product of his decision to use Havertz where he did, which to be fair did work in the first half.

Most of what we created came from balls inside the full back to runs from deeper positions. Villa reacted to that in the second half by defending narrower and using the spare man in midfield. Second half, I think I can remember us having one shot on goal.

I wouldn't say we choked. I would say we weren't at our precise best in the box in the first half and were then pretty much outplayed in the second. I bet we were knackered, and I would also bet that Arteta didn't want to give Jorginho too many minutes as he is planning to use him in Munich.

Whatever.... it didn't work and now we are ****ed :-)

[PSRB]

I know Trossard 'deserved' a start but I still don't think he should start ahead of Martinelli. I much prefer him as an impact sub.

Also, yet again, how many kicks did Saka take without any yellow cards, it's very ****ing annoying.

[WES]

I know Trossard 'deserved' a start but I still don't think he should start ahead of Martinelli. I much prefer him as an impact sub.

Also, yet again, how many kicks did Saka take without any yellow cards, it's very ****ing annoying.

Their no. 3 was rather good, I'd have him at The Arsenal in a second. Built like a brick sh1thouse as well.

#steroidjunkie