Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester City post match thread

[eamonn]

So the two new Daddys, Maatsen and Barkley, turned the game for us. Maybe Ollie just needs to impregnate again.

[rob_bridge]

I thought Leicester fans had their moments but were overall fairly quiet compared to normal. No problem with 30 year chant - it's pretty accurate.

They aren't the team they were 4, 5, 6 , 7 years ago and thankfully neither are we.

Fair few unoccupied seats in their end which did surprise me as they have been good travellers for a long time.

Our fans were really quiet today - can't recall recent occasion as such - especially as it was more or less a 'sell out'.

Maybe the cold numbed both.

[Demitri_C]

Our fans are usually  quiet when weathers pants

[Nev]

Their fans were all over town but apart from the silly accent they didn't seem too objectionable. In fact I had to interact with one in the Troc and he was fine.

Having said that there were to many of them in there so we fucked off to the Colmore.

[Keeno]

Despite not really hitting our stride this season yet we’re 4 points off the top 4 at the halfway point. I do think with a couple of new faces in January and a few players finding form, we will get it going in the run in - so everything remains possible.

As an earlier poster has said, testament to how far we’ve come that this feels like a down/transitional year and we’re still very much in the CL mix.

What we did today is what we should have done in the games v Bournemouth and Brighton, where we had a lead heading into the last 10 minutes. Wasn’t pretty but we managed to grind it out - a few more of those would be welcome.

[RichardBatchelor]

Poor performance against relegation fodder but we needed a dirty win. Two moments of quality for our goals in fairness. I'm not a fan of Barkley but that was a cracking finish. Brilliant play from Maatsen for Bailey's winner. Their goal was scandalous defending yet again. Their only attack in the game possibly. 4 defenders v Vardy and he still gets to the cross first is ridiculous.

Martinez 7 - spectator but fine save from Vardy
Cash 8 - much maligned but my motm today. Defended well throughout and used the ball well
Konsa 3 - awful, let balls bounce regularly and let Vardy run off him for their goal. Blaming everyone but himself again
Mings 7 - use of ball average enough at times but solid defending was called for today and he delivered that
Digne 4 - ok defensively but if he's playing high on that side he has to provide a threat. So predictable.
Kamara 7 - poor enough for their goal but solid display
Barkley 6 - awful first half but much improved after the break. Great goal
McGinn/Ramsey 4 - let's hope McGinn's injury isn't too serious, Ramsey was poor I thought.
Bailey 5 - long overdue goal finally came and great shot late on smacked the bar. What came before was nearly a new low.
Tielemans 5 - a bit meh in all honesty. Would have hooked him before Barkley.
Watkins 5 - thought he should have been much sharper for the chance in first half, effort at end was unbelievable. Thought he could have worked two very average centre backs a bit more.

Maatsen 7 - quality with the ball told immediately. Carrying a bit of timber possibly? Buendia 6 could have scored a couple and was caught in possession too often. Took up good positions, mind.

Emery 6 - subs could have been made a lot earlier I felt. Faith in Bailey was rewarded with the winner. Spending ~50m on a midfielder to leave him on bench late on seems odd.

Barkley was by far our most composed player in the first half and MOM overall.
You’ve clearly got it in for him, as you hint at at the beginning.

[rob_bridge]

A bit overlooked but those 2 finishes today were top class

[VillaTim]

Ramsey's involvement in goal 2 is not to be understated

[SamTheMouse]

The winning goal demonstrated the value in getting to the byline. Something we don't do nearly often enough.

[VillaTim]

If Baileys goal can reignite his confidence he will be like a new signing if he gets his form back from last season . There is a brilliant player in there somewhere, just needs reunlocking

[ChicagoLion]

Poor performance against relegation fodder but we needed a dirty win. Two moments of quality for our goals in fairness. I'm not a fan of Barkley but that was a cracking finish. Brilliant play from Maatsen for Bailey's winner. Their goal was scandalous defending yet again. Their only attack in the game possibly. 4 defenders v Vardy and he still gets to the cross first is ridiculous.

Martinez 7 - spectator but fine save from Vardy
Cash 8 - much maligned but my motm today. Defended well throughout and used the ball well
Konsa 3 - awful, let balls bounce regularly and let Vardy run off him for their goal. Blaming everyone but himself again
Mings 7 - use of ball average enough at times but solid defending was called for today and he delivered that
Digne 4 - ok defensively but if he's playing high on that side he has to provide a threat. So predictable.
Kamara 7 - poor enough for their goal but solid display
Barkley 6 - awful first half but much improved after the break. Great goal
McGinn/Ramsey 4 - let's hope McGinn's injury isn't too serious, Ramsey was poor I thought.
Bailey 5 - long overdue goal finally came and great shot late on smacked the bar. What came before was nearly a new low.
Tielemans 5 - a bit meh in all honesty. Would have hooked him before Barkley.
Watkins 5 - thought he should have been much sharper for the chance in first half, effort at end was unbelievable. Thought he could have worked two very average centre backs a bit more.

Maatsen 7 - quality with the ball told immediately. Carrying a bit of timber possibly? Buendia 6 could have scored a couple and was caught in possession too often. Took up good positions, mind.

Emery 6 - subs could have been made a lot earlier I felt. Faith in Bailey was rewarded with the winner. Spending ~50m on a midfielder to leave him on bench late on seems odd.

Barkley was by far our most composed player in the first half and MOM overall.
You’ve clearly got it in for him, as you hint at at the beginning.

The Digne 4 is a joke. Cash 8? You watched a different game to me.

[VillaTim]

Cash is Cash . Receive the ball. Control it . Look backwards . Play it backwards. Repeat .
He's a solid pro , he's done us well . Do we need better to progress . Yes .

[brontebilly]

Poor performance against relegation fodder but we needed a dirty win. Two moments of quality for our goals in fairness. I'm not a fan of Barkley but that was a cracking finish. Brilliant play from Maatsen for Bailey's winner. Their goal was scandalous defending yet again. Their only attack in the game possibly. 4 defenders v Vardy and he still gets to the cross first is ridiculous.

Martinez 7 - spectator but fine save from Vardy
Cash 8 - much maligned but my motm today. Defended well throughout and used the ball well
Konsa 3 - awful, let balls bounce regularly and let Vardy run off him for their goal. Blaming everyone but himself again
Mings 7 - use of ball average enough at times but solid defending was called for today and he delivered that
Digne 4 - ok defensively but if he's playing high on that side he has to provide a threat. So predictable.
Kamara 7 - poor enough for their goal but solid display
Barkley 6 - awful first half but much improved after the break. Great goal
McGinn/Ramsey 4 - let's hope McGinn's injury isn't too serious, Ramsey was poor I thought.
Bailey 5 - long overdue goal finally came and great shot late on smacked the bar. What came before was nearly a new low.
Tielemans 5 - a bit meh in all honesty. Would have hooked him before Barkley.
Watkins 5 - thought he should have been much sharper for the chance in first half, effort at end was unbelievable. Thought he could have worked two very average centre backs a bit more.

Maatsen 7 - quality with the ball told immediately. Carrying a bit of timber possibly? Buendia 6 could have scored a couple and was caught in possession too often. Took up good positions, mind.

Emery 6 - subs could have been made a lot earlier I felt. Faith in Bailey was rewarded with the winner. Spending ~50m on a midfielder to leave him on bench late on seems odd.

Barkley was by far our most composed player in the first half and MOM overall.
You’ve clearly got it in for him, as you hint at at the beginning.

The Digne 4 is a joke. Cash 8? You watched a different game to me.

Digne contributed zero going forward today I thought. With loads of space at times too. He doesn't want to get in behind a defence as he hasn't the pace to get back if we are turned over, see their goal. That changed within a couple of minutes once Maatsen came on. I thought that change should have been made at half time, we were crying out for an injection of pace out wide.

[Meanwood Villa]

I agree re Digne, he was supposed to be our main attacking outlet and he never attacked enough. Tbf, Maatsen looked pretty woeful after his initial positive impact so I don't know what's for the best.

[brontebilly]

Cash is Cash . Receive the ball. Control it . Look backwards . Play it backwards. Repeat .
He's a solid pro , he's done us well . Do we need better to progress . Yes .

His first touch isn't sure enough I think. Hence turns back inside too often as the ball isn't where he expects it to be. But he laid one on a plate for Watkins in the first half, made some good runs that Bailey failed to find him. A lot better going forward today that he has been lately. Defended very well throughout against their most dangerous player. maybe could have got out a bit faster for the goal. He's solid most games defensively these days, less Matty Rash.
Considering the disaster class at RB in the last game it was a huge improvement.