Other random observations from yesterday.

[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