Ty Bracey moots Nicolo Zaniolo controversy after Aston Villa dark arts v West Ham
We’re delighted to welcome Aston Villa podcaster Ty Bracey as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Ty Bracey has mooted Nicolo Zaniolo’s suspected feigning of an injury when Aston Villa beat West Ham 4-1 on Sunday (24 October), claiming “that’s modern football”.
West Ham fans were highly critical of the Italian after he stayed down seemingly unnecessarily after a challenge from Hammers defender Nayef Aguerd in the second half after losing the ball under pressure.
Jaime Carragher, as quoted by the Daily Mail (22 October) accused the 24-year-old of “milking” the incident for his team’s benefit with added anger due to the seriousness of head injuries in the game.
Bracey, while offering Zaniolo some leniency, claims that he would hate the club to become a “dirty club” and rely on the so-called dark arts of the game, but suggested that such antics come part in parcel with the modern game.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bracey said: “The game is the game, it happens to us all the time.
“If Zaniolo wanted to get the momentum of the game slowed down and the game pulled back, that’s modern football, unfortunately.
“I’m not saying it’s okay to fake a head injury, but I wouldn’t like for us to become one of those dirty clubs who start doing stuff to time waste or kill momentum.
“Obviously, there’s a way to go about it, but feigning head injuries probably isn’t it.”
In other Aston Villa news, Emery has created a double-figure “monster” at Villa Park, the player now leads the way in one area in Europe.