Aston Villa - Nottingham Forest

[wassy04]

Vitor has done a brilliant job for us getting us to the semi final and hopefully avoiding relegation but that performance looked like an early season Wolves effort and probably why Mr Maranakis should look elsewhere in the summer. i know we had key men injured but it was never a contest.

I think that is really harsh. We had lost our talisman to a completely unlucky clash of heads. We were without the majority of our starting midfield and no effective full back due to losing aina and then Abbott in successive games. It was fighting an uphill battle against a team that had been rotated since the last game and played a day before. Imagine if they had lost mcginn in their last game and had to rely on Jadon Sancho and Tyrone mings. We would be talking about a completely different game.

100%, we saw what that version of Villa looked like on Sunday.

[Plymouth red]

I hope we've learnt some lessons from this season as a club and that next season we can have a bit more stability (two managers max). I would really like us to develop a clear identity and look to stick with that. At the end of the day being in the premier league is crucial for this club and ensuring we have our fifth successive season is far more important than the Europa league win - are we really ready to compete in the champions league anyway - look what it has done to clubs like newcastle and spurs this year while those without Europe have prospered (Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, man u)

At the end of the day, we've seen what falling out of the premier league can do to a club of our size and stature. You only have to look down the road to Leicester to know the dangers it brings. We must get the job done on Sunday and then hopefully relax and reflect on those final two games with a degree of comfort.

[Plymouth red]

We had injuries to key players yes but I don’t think that excuses what we saw tonight. If you have a talent deficit, you can out work the better team. And we didn’t do that for whatever reason. To me it was either a lack of energy or lack of belief or both. It was almost as though we didn’t think we could win. We had the same look in the first half at Wembley last year.
I can accept losing but to do so like that is difficult to take

The problem is that villa - who had been criticised by their own fa base for their recent form - particularly last week- were also working hard with a huge point to prove. They outworked us. I don't think it was a lack of effort. I do perhaps share your view that they had mentally lost the game before they got on the pitch and I think that just highlights how important mgw has been. He has become such a fighter and a leader. We simply don't have a player who can replace him right now. And going into that atmosphere without their leader in a game of this size... I think a lot of them struggled.

[Paplane]

Just a game too far our our squad with all the injuries. Lets be honest, we never had a chance in hell with just the players we had available tonight. The tie was lost before we even started the game.

[Paplane]

To be honest, Im not as gutted as I thought Id be. No distractions now, all we have to do is get a couple of points and scrape through ahead of West Ham

[ozzyten10]

We could have played a different system but playing Monday really f****d us up- as most of them had to play twice in 3 days. Vitor sounded gutted and I am a bit worried about Sunday - Arsenal need to win!

[DR Forest]

I don’t know if it’s been said earlier but I suspect Sangare MGW and Ndoye weren’t fit and only on the bench for show.

and even Murillo too not properly fit

Bare bare bones

Yep
Confirmed by Vitor.
Plus Abbott and aina and Callum remember

[pennhillred]

I’m FAR more gutted than I thought I’d be.

Probably because of the impressive/brilliant recent performances vs what we got tonight.

I’d dared to dream and just didn’t see that coming.

[wassy04]

I’m FAR more gutted than I thought I’d be.

Probably because of the impressive/brilliant recent performances vs what we got tonight.

I’d dared to dream and just didn’t see that coming.

Yep same, those last few wins had given me too much hope.

Although after seeing the team sheet, a lot of it was extinguished before we even kicked off.

[ozzyten10]

Jesus and wood won nothing all match - his change at half time was poor - and actually Anderson in the left midfield spot was changed so quickly because mcatee was more effective. The change should have been to a 541 or 352.

[Plymouth red]

I’m FAR more gutted than I thought I’d be.

Probably because of the impressive/brilliant recent performances vs what we got tonight.

I’d dared to dream and just didn’t see that coming.

Yep same, those last few wins had given me too much hope.

Although after seeing the team sheet, a lot of it was extinguished before we even kicked off.

It hurts but not as much as relegation would. I do think that Europe has not helped us in terms of league form and you look at other clubs who have struggled - Newcastle, spurs, palace - things like PSR have really prevented clubs of our size competing on multiple fronts. In some ways not being in Europe might help us in the same way that teams like Brighton and Bournemouth who could get in Europe will probably struggle... Which opens up opportunities for us to have a better season and get into Europe.

I don't know... Maybe I'm clutching at straws and trying to comfort myself. I just hope whatever this club chooses to do in terms of personnel and manager is done early and for the right reason

[ozzyten10]

Wood scores and it would have stood - miles onside. Sitter really - needed height.