On the face of it, this was really easy.
But that’s not strictly true, as what came out of this game, from what I saw/heard is that we played very open and quite simply took our chances.
Whereas Crewe possibly had more chances, but quite simply, didn’t take them.
No doubt one of of the stat sites will back me up or tell me I’m wrong, but that’s how it seemed.
It was very much a case of Dean Smith’s “you score 3, we’ll score 4” attitude, but it made the game somewhat misleading, in my opinion.
Which is all good when you’re playing lower level opposition, such as Crewe.
The worrying part, is that Crewe created a boatload of chances and a better quality side would probably have outscored us.
The fact that their solitary goal was scored by a player running past 4 defenders is worrying.
But not quite so worrying that we need to be concerned.
We’d taken such an early 2-0 lead, that the game seemed beyond Crewe and they never proved a real test.
For them, it was more a test of their defence and for us, it was more a test of the attacking side to our game.
Which is where we came out well, having proved very clinical, while Crewe wasted chances galore.
I’m not convinced we learned much from this game, but scoring six goals will surely add to the side’s confidence.
It was nice that Hourihane got two too, but I just get the impression that we have players who can easily cut it at the sort of level played tonight.
It’s whether they can demonstrate it in the Premier league.
Don’t get me wrong.
I’m not knocking tonight’s score in any way.
We whupped Crewe and that might have been a very tricky prospect, just a couple of seasons ago.
But we need to show even more if we’re to do well in the Prem.
Dean Smith will have seen plenty to moan about tonight.
Which is exactly how a Premier league side should be thinking.
We’ll have learned from this and will improve even more.
I’m quite confident of that.
Very happy days!
But I’m not getting carried away with this result.
Well whatever the ins and outs of the game we scored six goals with five different scorers which is pleasing.As I posted earlier I think we’ve now got the makings of a very good first team and quite a decent second eleven too.
With regards to signings it looks more and more like Smith/Pitarch/Purslow are proving to be the perfect combination.
Onwards and upwards
Sad day for football Bury expelled from the football league
Muzzvill I’ve liked this not because I ‘like’ it but because I agree. There are loads of real football fans out there who are thinking ‘There but for the grace of God goes my team’.
I heard a Bury fan of many years on the radio who was nearly in tears saying ‘Who am I supposed to support now?’ Hope that they can rise from the ashes like Wimbledon.
I think Lansbury deserves a mention for his assists. The back-heel for Grealish was outrageous, while the unselfish pass for Conor in the first half was super-professional. I hope he can contribute throughout the season…
Stats 50/50 and back up we took the chances…..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49403071
Watched some of the Newport v West Ham game last night while keeping an eye on the live text for the Villa game. West Ham won 2-0 but Newport played well and had a load of chances to score. Unlucky to not at least get a draw.
On the other hand we stuck six past Crewe.
Not worried about our ‘defence’ overmuch as that particular line up will probably not get a game as a unit.
Heaton and Minns in England squad. .
Think this is more about proving the quality in depth that exists in the squad. Remember this is a team that’s never played together before so some shortfall in cohesion (particularly in defence) can be expected.
BBC had Jota as ‘impressive again’.
Crewe can also take a lot of positives from the game though.
Badger, I watched a stream and while Crewe did ok in patches we were miles the better team. They didn’t create a boatload of chances though they did create some. We mainly dominated the game as you would expect but could tighten up I reckon
TBH we seem to get turned over in these games way too often. Yes Crewe had their chances, but we played some nice stuff and you can’t knock the team when scoring six. Davis looked sharp too. It would be nice to see him make an impact in the Premiership when he comes on.
Read a report that Smith was adamant Davis stayed at Villa this season although it says the club had six loan offers for him. It seems Smith rates him highly so I reckon we’ll see more of him in the Prem as long as he can stay fit.
I still think Kodjia will ultimately be moved on but, for now, we need him in the squad.
Dean Saunders sentenced to jail! What??!
Obviously pissed and refusing to take a breath test. Sorry but my only quibble is that it’s only ten weeks in jail.
The police did him a favour. If he’d been involved in an accident it could have been many years behind bars.
Plus a 30 month driving ban and fine!
He had to support himself on his car, from what I’ve read.
That’s an absolutely disgraceful state to get in, while driving.
Hands up, I’ve been in a bad state myself when I was younger and this sort of thing was way more acceptable than it is now.
But I’ve never driven where I’ve had to support myself to stand up.
The point is, I’ve learned that it’s not ok and he bloody well should have too, at his age.
His arrogance, trying to obfuscate things and then having the cheek to plead not guilty, first time round are what’s done him and it serves him right.
No doubt he’ll lose his punditry jobs too.
What a mug.
In other news, RIP Bury 🙁
Whereas Bolton have come to some sort of buy out deal.
Why do I suspect they’re still doomed and their death has only been put off, while the new outfit try to extract even a few more quid for themselves?
Badger It might not be so bad. I believe that the people who are buying Bolton have been after a deal for some time. The owner was a block as he wanted too much money. Thankfully for Bolton fans he popped his clogs and his estate have been a bit more flexible.
There is hope.
I agree Pat that the new owners seem more akin to trying to save Bolton than asset strip the club although there’s a long hard road ahead but precedent exists – Portsmouth for instance.
I think actually the estate of the former owner (Eddie Davies?) has, throughout, been a major factor in getting this deal over the line and (according to reports) it’s the current owner Ken Anderson, who’s a secured creditor, who has caused all the problems.
We’re away to Brighton in the next round of the cup.
That’s a winnable game to me, if we want to try.
Heaton and Minns in England squad.
BBC – Of Mings, who has never represented England at any level but moved to Villa in the summer on a permanent deal from Bournemouth, Southagte said: “I really like his leadership qualities – he is an outstanding athlete and I see a lot of room for improvement.”
Looks good for him then Pat 57, I’m little surprised no Grealish after all he’s creator in setting up chances , still early days.
I think that Jack will get his chance if he keeps playing the way he is. Nice that Southgate is far-sighted enough to select Mings. He’ll give a lot more to the team that just his superb defending, he’ll be a real leader.
Also think that Mings and Maguire would be a fantastic pairing at the back for England.
One problem for Jack is that there appears to be an abundance of quality mid fielders available with international experience. He needs time in the Prem to prove he’s good enough, better then those ahead of him.
Great for Heaton and Mings – also McGinn – but I worry about our key players getting injured. I think Engels is in the Belgian squad as well.
Hate the international bore breaks.
For anyone who doubted that Dean Saunders was pissed as a rat watch this –
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-merseyside-49522293/dean-saunders-ex-liverpool-striker-could-not-even-stand-up
A sad sight. I’d guess that his career as a pundit is well and truly over too. A taxi would have worked out a lot cheaper in the long run
Very sad to see. I’m not sure it’s right that videos like this are broadcasted, though. Clearly, he screwed up majorly. But who can say they haven’t? Doesn’t make it right for an individual’s transgressions to be broadcasted.
I also think if would be wrong for this to be the end of him, so to speak. If he does his time, why should he be punished again permanently? Something similar happened to Ron Atkinson. His unique commentary skills are missed. Mel Gibson’s another one, in a different domain. His brilliant acting skills are missed.
Yes, mistakes are made, but why do we as a society feel it’s OK to discard a person after they’ve made a mistake? The important thing is that the individual shows remorse and learns from their error. Casting them aside for the rest of their days only breeds resentment and bad feelings.
Agreed BFR but society (in particular social media) has decided (for good or ill) that everyone in the public eye should be sentenced twice – once as set out in law and once to have their livelihood removed.
Ched Evans is a prime example. If he’d been a carpenter would anyone have been remotely interested once he’d served his sentence? It’s for a future potential employer to decide not the court of social media.
Fair point Hitch. But by the same token, why wasn’t Rio Ferdinand’s career ended when he mysteriously failed to proving a sample for a random drugs test? He served his ban and was then back in business. Likewise, a certain mercurial Frenchman.
It appears that it depends on the crime and how ‘valuable’ the individual is perceived to be by society.
You are not suggesting a degree of hypocrisy are you? Shame on you BFR 🙂
☺
Jamie Carragher’s another example. Still happily working for Sky despite spitting at a fan.
I suppose if you look for a reason to get rid of someone you can normally find it!
BFR He’s done it to himself though, hasn’t he? if he’d have just taken the test and put his hands up to being drunk as a skunk and then showed some real remorse then we wouldn’t be talking about this now.
Well he’ll have plenty of time to think about where he went wrong and what the consequences might have been if his drunkenness had caused an accident. I just hope he learns.
His career is over for now but perhaps not permanently. That depends very much on what he does from here on in. His performance in court really didn’t help matters though.
I agree Pat that if he doesn’t learn from it, he deserves everything he gets. And yes, he should’ve fessed up immediately. Obviously, he was aware of the consequences and was desperate to avoid the inevitable. But he’s been sentenced for failing to provide the breath test, so after the sentence is served, why shouldn’t he work again?
BFR – another question is why have the police released this footage – surely it contravenes Saunders rights as an individual and prejudices his position?
I’m not, in any way, condoning drink driving but this growing tendency for this type of footage or involvement of the media (Sir Cliff Richards comes to mind) when it’s not necessary or required to help the police surely can’t be right?
My point exactly, Hitch. Ditto what you said about finding a reason to get rid. See Andy Gray. It would seem that the older and less fashionable you are, the less chance of coming back from a misdemeanor.
Anyway, as Pat said, 3 points tomorrow is what we care about!
Yep Pat57, a naughty lad drink driving, its something that gone on over the past year’s to a lot of drivers, I’ve had all licences from bike to Artic, but always conscious that i don’t take any chances having that one for the road. Thing is Pat its no good trying to act not drunk because you are and the law knows it. Hard lines Dean you’ve been caught now you suffer.
Anyway enough about Saunders, we have a match on tomorrow.
I watched the Man U v Palace highlights and expected Palace to have been the better team having won away 2-1. From what I saw they were lucky to win and nothing special but Man U really were Man Ure. They had loads of chances and fluffed them all and then De Gea lets one in at his near post in the last minute.
I’m permanently out of the prediction game but I have the feeling that we’ll come away from Selhurst Park with something.
Pat, Palace have a significantly better away record than home one, long may it continue – well until Sunday that is 🙂
Villa have gone 19 away games in the Prem without a win (3D, 16L) – I suppose we are due a win at some point but we have a poor record against Palace and an even poorer record against a London teams.
Not predicting anything but it would seem the consensus of the ‘experts’ is a 1-1 draw!
Hitch this is a brand new team and a brand new manager so all those previous stats mean exactly nothing. When I said that we can come away with something I didn’t mean a single point.
i went with us villa to beat palace on the coupon. but i was humming and RRRRing whether to put a draw which would be a good result. i will go for a 2 1 win villa
great performance in midweek beating crewe,you have to understand the team fielded by us doesn’t get games week in and out since the preseason rotations. thats were previous managers of ours failed. but smiths a genius somehow he keeps his backup players all hungry. all playing into his system.
that result by the backup players, will also spur on the first teamers to keep up their high standards or face losing the starting shirt.
i thought davis and lansbury should have a mention. davis has really come on under smith. he was always a good holder of the ball and bringing others into play. but smith has enhanced this and also worked on his movement, his goal proves he can finish and he can find the strikers poachers space in the box. lansbury i always said this guy can play and thou he will struggle to get in the team, he put down a massive marker to show, if he gets in he wont let you down message. three assists and he was everywhere, i think smith prefers team players over individual brilliance’s so with that lansbury has made a massive statement
My prediction is the heat is on Heaton. If he commits no howlers, eg rushing outside his area or tripping Zaha inside it, then Villa to win and by more than one goal.
Watching Bristol City v Boro. Nice to see a couple of ex-Villans playing well – Nathan Baker and Andi Weimann. Bristol playing some nice football, sort of hope they make it this season.
Just got in.
Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Taylor; Douglas Luiz, Grealish, McGinn; Jota, Wesley, Trezeguet.
SUBS: Steer, Konsa, Elmohamady, Hourihane, Lansbury, El Ghazi, Davis.
COYL!