Well, what a great result that is.
I actually forgot about the game because I’ve been busy, which meant I missed the first few minutes and their goal.
What an absolute clanger by Martinez a result of us trying to play out from the back yet again.
I don’t like it because I’m not sure the players generally have the required confidence just yet, but you can see Unai Emery wants us to go down that route. I find it incredibly risky, but hey ho, what do I know? You can’t knock our first away win of the season.
I think it was because I missed the start of the game, but I really struggled to get into watching it. I often find our play uninspiring and it was particularly so for the first twenty minutes or so, but in fairness it got better as the game went on.
It was nice to see Ings score twice, as much as I’m not keen on him and although I felt he was a bit fortunate to get his second, he did all the right things in taking his chance.
The penalty was the correct decision and very nicely dispatched too. I always prefer to see a player put his boot through it, as although Sanchez got his hand to it, it had far too much pace for him to stop it.
Brighton had a penalty shout and it wouldn’t have surprised me if it had been given, but I felt Digne did nothing wrong because he’d started to swing his leg before a kick prior to the Brighton player rushing in.
Overall Brighton offered very little threat, as much as they’re in good form and had only lost at home once this season. They’re a tough side to beat and overall I felt we looked the more dangerous side, although I think a draw would have been a fair result. That’s not to say I didn’t feel we deserved the win though.
What impressed me most is the manager. How refreshing was it to see numerous changes at different times? And we used all five too, which was probably about fresh legs, as much as getting to see all the players more.
And you can see Emery has spotted where our weaknesses are in our defence. A lot of the time we played a bank of six at the back, which is a good idea because we often look disorganised. There was one Brighton corner where they had a free header and I counted three of our defenders within a meter of each other. I know we zone mark,as opposed to man marking, but that’s just poor and it needs sorting.
Emery got Young on to backup Matty Cash, who again had a torrid time. Would Gerrard have done that, I ask myself? I think we all know the answer to that one.
The point is you can see Emery has ideas and uses them, which can only be a good thing.
Given that he has seen our weakness at the back, I’m interested to see who we get in, because I’d be confident in saying that he sees a central defender as a priority. With Sawaris apparently promising the manager a big wad and a blank page, the winter window could be pretty exciting.
We also seem to have a bit more edge or even cynicism to our game too. We handed out the fouls in a way that very much matched Brighton’s rough stuff and that was good to see too.
Martinez wasted a lot of time and while I’ve previously said I saw it as a good thing when it was needed, I’m beginning to find it irritating. I certainly don’t like it being done to us, so it would be a bit hypocritical of me to keep cheering it. I felt those eight minutes added were well justified and maybe it’ll encourage him to stop it.
So I’m taking nothing away from the result, as it was excellent and just what we needed, as I think we’re now 5 points clear of the bottom three.
Even if I think the football hasn’t been great, that’s back to back wins and I can’t argue that things are not working. Long may it continue.
It just goes to show what a difference a decent manager makes.
UTV!
Blowed. ÷
That’ll suit him – be all about him, the big I am!
He can swank about and make a few more £’s for his piggy bank 🙂
I forgot about Peter Whittingham’s accident. A terrible accident. We’re playing Cardiff at his memorial in a couple of weeks.
Big John Carew’s been jailed!
Trying to make-out whether it’s actually time behind bars, or whether some/all of it is likely to be a suspended sentence?
Either way, very taxing?
John Carew Carew
He’s doing a year or two
(-:
(Sorry John)
Just read that about JC. 14 months for tax fraud. I watched MON on YouTube channel for the love of Paul McGrath and he talked about JC.
What a deal getting JC was – MON only paid €6m for him and he scored 48 goals in around 130 appearances – bargain.
We didn’t pay anything for JC. We swapped Milan Baros for him. Still a good deal but on the subject. MON paid about £30m for CBs. He only bought Harewood as a forward I think for about £3m. No comment. If we had bought a really good striker we probably would have made CL.
I can’t get over that. What does every successful club need? It ain’t Harewood. Or Agbonlahor and much as I loved him John Carew.
That was a period in our history though when crosses from out wide I just wasn’t concerned about as we had that covered. If only we had got that last piece in place.
BREAKING NEWS: Ex-Aston Villa and Norway striker John Carew is jailed for 14 MONTHS for tax evasion after unintentionally failing to disclose income and assets abroad to Norwegian authorities John Carew Carew he’s bigger than me or you. It was only £48,000 into days wage its only a week’s money for some . Bit stiff that me thinks.
Very harsh. Especially when Amazon, Facebook, Google etc get away with billions.
They don’t. They are offered ways to do that in return for providing jobs. Government policy and not just ours.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11444603/Inside-Unai-Emerys-flying-start-Aston-Villa.html
Interesting.
That definintely is, Bum bum.
Part way through reading that, I asked myself how long videos will hold the players’ attention and the article also asks it.
I like the “keep your distance” approach, or probably more accurately, an aloof approach which is countered by the coaches being friendly. It encourages feedback, but not direct complaint to the manager, hence he retains unquestioned authority.
Also love the fact that he knew the players strengths and weaknesses in one on ones chats after just coming in.
That sort of detail can’t fail to impress anyone.
I’m not so sure they’ll be so keen on not having days off, but hey ho, if they want to improve, it would seem we’ve got the right man.
Meanwhile, Zaha, anyone?
I think he’s a great player, but I think we have enough of his sort in Coutinho, Buendia and Bailey.
I know it’s total conjecture, but I could live with him coming, definitely;
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-emery-zaha-25557220
No thanks
Maybe a few years ago.
I do think there must be a reason why despite all the rumours about him going to ‘big clubs’ at every transfer window in the last 3-4 years, nobody has actually come in for him.
And anyway, personally I don’t believe that we should be looking at 30-year-old players coming in (goalkeepers excepted).
Zaha apparently has baggage. That’s why he didn’t last at ManU. Good player but no thanks.
I thought the article was a bit defeatist and negative to be honest. Bottom line: If we’re winning they’ll buy into it. I like the professional distance thing too. Your boss shouldn’t try to be your best mate.
If players don’t toe the line, they’ll be out quick sharp.
P.s. the WC looks effing farcical. Seen the £185 a night accommodation???!!!! And no beer!!!!!
Well, the price of the digs is no surprise, but the lack of beer definitely is. I would have thought they would have grounds for special dispensation, similar to hotels?
Budweiser, as a sponsor must be fuming, but I guess it’s more about the actual advertising than beer consumed.
Me, I thought about the WC weeks ago and have just arrived in Gran Canaria for a fortnight 😁
Having thought about it, I very much doubt Emery could have got so clued up in a really short time and it must have taken a lot of work before he came.
Which suggests we’d sounded him out earlier than was let on, imo.
Yes, agreed. All this ‘spur of the moment’ stuff about the appointment doesn’t seem to add up.
The owners may have been waiting for the right time to pull the trigger on SG, but the gun was loaded much earlier IMO; pretty sure they already had a very short list of replacements well before the Fulham game…
I don’t think you’re far wrong with assumption AV.
Towards the end SG had that look of a man who knew his fate was sealed.
It seemed like only his mates amongst the ex-player pundits were the only ones who didn’t see it coming.
Enjoy your holiday dude! Yr missing some crap autumnal weather here…
Here’s to the Liverpool game!!!
Hopefully Badger won’t be paying £12 a pint for that “Bud” dish-water in Gran Canaria!!
There’s a deal on a 50cl can of Stella. 99 cents, bargain!
My favoured tipple, San Miguel, is dearer than at home at 1.40 euro.
I haven’t been down the town yet, but will tomorrow and expect to pay around 3 euro a pint.
Warm weather, cheap beer and a WC. You can’t beat it.
I’d have done the month, if it wasn’t for work.
It’s not much dearer than being at home, with the fuel bills 🙁
Just put the BBC on expecting to watch the opening ceremony but no, a party political broadcast on behalf of the Whineker party.
OMG disalowed VAR offside?
WTF?
This is World Cup is going to be a complete farce.