Having failed to make the most of the opportunities that came our way since the restart of the football season, Aston Villa welcomed Manchester United to Villa Park for Thursday evening’s round of football.
Four points off the two sides immediately above us, rather strangely results continue to go our way and survival remains possible. Could we finally make it count though?
We might have, had Jonathan Moss and VAR had a brain cell between them.
It was a bright start, they had more of the ball, but we were testing and pushing them and again should’ve led…but then one of their players falls over in the box (despite it seriously looking like Konsa won the ball and was stood on) and Moss couldn’t run fast enough to award the penalty.
The idea of Jonathan Moss running is the only highlight I have tonight.
0-1.
That killed us really, some/most of the spark went and we weren’t the same side that started the game. But I imagine that suited some, as when you have United fans admitting it was never a pen – well it tells you all you need to know.
It was only a matter of time before they got their second, and having ranted a little bit above, fair play to Greenwood, it was a tidy strike but we should’ve dealt with it better. Had that broken the deadlock, I doubt there would’ve been many complaints.
Second half – meh – who cares, the game was wrapped up and over.
We could’ve staged the greatest and most spirited comeback in our distinguished history in the game, but Moss would’ve got in the way of it, or VAR would’ve – but even then, we didn’t. More spirit in a bottle of water placed next to some alcohol, I imagine.
I’m not really sure, I turned off and gave up, just like we have with the PL with a misjudged signing policy last summer where we should’ve at least used the loan system better for some experience and know-how.
And I’m one of the more optimistic amongst us, so everyone else has my sympathy.
Full time 0-3 and first goal aside, we didn’t deserve a thing given our reaction.
Unused Villa Substitutes:
Lansbury, Jota, Guilbert, Nyland, Elmohamady.
Unused United Substitutes:
Bailly, Mata, Pereira, Romero.
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Villa Park
Premier League Version Fudge
9/07/2020 8:15 pm
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jonathan Moss
| Aston Villa | Manchester United | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Fernandes (pen 27 - assisted by the Officials), Greenwood (45+5), Pogba (58) |
|||||||
| Reina | de Gea | ||||||
| Konsa | Wan-Bissaka | 66 | |||||
| Hause | Lindelof | ||||||
| Mings | Maguire | ||||||
| Taylor | Shaw | ||||||
| El Ghazi | 58 | Pogba | |||||
| Douglas Luiz | 84 | Matic | 66 | ||||
| McGinn | 59 | Greenwood | 79 | ||||
| Trezeguet | Bruno Fernandes | 71 | |||||
| Grealish | Rashford | ||||||
| Samatta | 59 | Martial | 79 | ||||
Substitutes |
|||||||
| Hourihane | 58 | Williams | 66 | ||||
| Nakamba | 59 | McTominay | 66 | ||||
| Davis | 59 | Fred | 71 | ||||
| Vassilev | 84 | James | 79 | ||||
| Ighalo | 79 | ||||||
Game Statistics |
||
| 9 | Goal attempts | 14 |
| 1 | On Target | 6 |
| 3 | Corners | 5 |
| 7 | Fouls | 13 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 33 | % | 67 |
We are dropping out of the Premier League with a predictable whimper.
Quite a sad state of affairs and, more so, when we will undoubtably struggle to recoup much of the expenditure we used in a vain attempt to mount a strong promotion campaign.
Grealish – £80M? Absolutely no chance. I am not convinced demand for his talent will be anywhere near as strong as the press has suggested. Av£40M fee is probably closer to the mark, particularly given a Covid ridden season. At the very very best, a £50M bounty is the most we might negotiate, only if a couple of suitors go head to head.
There will need to be a player sale, although only half a dozen players will command any real fee. FFP may be temporarily relaxed, but Purslow and co. can’t gamble in the hope of a remedy in a year’s time. They will really need to pull their fingers out In the coming few months to clear up this mess.