Arsenal back to being more like the first half version. Conservative with random sloppy errors.
2020/21 UEFA Europa League: Galloping to Gdansk
- Thread starter Kliq
- Start date
I'm willing to concede that Arsenal's substandard execution of this tactic may be coloring my opinion of it.
We have now achieved peak Arsenal: getting eliminated from this crucial tournament by Unai Emery.
Valencia's shenanigans ==> Villareal's windfall. Very pleased that we have at least one other nation represented in these European finals.
Utd haven't turned up. they're just not on it - yet.
I love how well organised and hard working Villarreal are defensively. Not much space to work with for Utd in the final third.
I love how well organised and hard working Villarreal are defensively. Not much space to work with for Utd in the final third.
I think Utd have figured out there's joy on the right for a player who can beat a man and cross the ball. That's not AWB though...his attacking limitations are something of a burden in a match like this.
I freeze-framed the moment at which the ball ricocheted off of that United player in the box to Cavani for their equalizer...and man, if Cavani was onside, it was by a wafer-thin margin.
Was just coming here to say this. He's been tough to watch.
Is it at all possible that there was no good shot of Cavani possibly being offside, so that's why we never saw it? That'd be a bit controversial.
For a man who made his name as a substitute, Ole really hates to make substitutions. Meanwhile, Emery has made five.
I managed to watch about 10 minutes and Villarreal looked very defensive, almost to the point of sacrificing offense. Have they shown any offensive creativity or initiative?
The first half was fairly even in terms of chances. Emery basically started playing for 1-0 at the 46th minute and then has been playing for penalties since United equalized.
A somewhat frustrated Emery just did a version of the Crouch Robot Dance, but at ten times the speed. The man has moves.
Oh Moreno...but he shoots like he's wearing slippers. Villarreal have a decent spell. Another shot goes awry.
Villarreal started getting forward once United stopped pressing. WTF is Ole doing--make some subs man! The lads are exhausted.
Its amazing that United paid 40m for VDB, a guy who has played well in massive CL knockout matches against the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus, but Ole has crushed him to the extent that he can't even bring him on here with his team exhausted.
If Rashford is hurt and cant continue, will Ole actually make a sub or just continue with 10 men?
Fred's on for Greenwood.
Villarreal having the best of it at the moment.
I'd like to see some gamesmanship. A little bit of shit housing. Cos i dont fancy him to save one.
I thought that there was some lucky involved, but this stat plus the current match suggest De Gea is just bad at stopping penalties.
How did Villareal get to shoot first and have the shootout take place at their end of the pitch?
Think you just got it. Long delay from De Gea.
Doesn't matter. These are some damn good penalties (mostly).
Congratualtions to Villarreal. A great win for them.
de Gea really didn't fancy that penalty. He should have put his laces through it.
de Gea really didn't fancy that penalty. He should have put his laces through it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villarreal_CF
Under "Honours", it currently reads:
Under "Honours", it currently reads:
- UEFA Europa League
- Winners:David De Gea 2020–21
Ole bottled it IMO.
United had absolutely nothing during extra time because he refused to make any subs, which is partly because he spent all year killing the confidence of players he would need. They spent like 90m on VDB, Diallo, and Telles last summer, as well as another 15m or something on James the previous summer, and none were good enough to bring on the pitch even when the team was exhausted and just hanging on (until right before penalties in the case of Telles and James). Then De Gea hasn't saved a penalty in literally five years but you don't have the balls to make the ruthless GK sub.
Emery is the Europa League GOAT. He was a diabolical manager for Arsenal but credit where its due.
It won't happen but I think if United was dead serious about catching their big rivals at any cost they would sack Ole and bring in Conte.
United had absolutely nothing during extra time because he refused to make any subs, which is partly because he spent all year killing the confidence of players he would need. They spent like 90m on VDB, Diallo, and Telles last summer, as well as another 15m or something on James the previous summer, and none were good enough to bring on the pitch even when the team was exhausted and just hanging on (until right before penalties in the case of Telles and James). Then De Gea hasn't saved a penalty in literally five years but you don't have the balls to make the ruthless GK sub.
Emery is the Europa League GOAT. He was a diabolical manager for Arsenal but credit where its due.
It won't happen but I think if United was dead serious about catching their big rivals at any cost they would sack Ole and bring in Conte.