I feel like a bit of a hypocrite really, because I often say that the result is all that matters and today we got it.
I also often say that I like to watch an entertaining game. We got that too, I think.
It just felt a bit lacking to me, though, in that it was like watching two teams running through treacle and achieving very little.
There was plenty of pace to the game and I can’t even say I thought we played poorly. We didn’t and I thought the game was won in the midfield.
It’s not very often I say it, but I thought Ramsay was excellent today. His runs looked really threatening and you can see he scares the opposition with his directness.
McGinn too, looked back to his powerful self.
But I often found myself wondering how we would look against a better side and that’s where my nagging doubts creep in.
Our defence was rarely challenged, yet when it was, we looked poor again in my opinion.
I’m not going to go into specifics, but it’s enough to say I don’t trust it as a unit.
My previous comments about it needing a major upgrade still applies.
I dislike our messing around at the back too, but I’ve said it before.
Fortunately a low scoring Everton didn’t have enough to take advantage, although Martinez did make a couple of good saves, along with an equally good off the line clearance by Mings.
That said, Pickford made a blinding save too, which equals things up a bit.
Did we deserve a 2-0 win?
It’s hard to say really, as I feel a draw or a 1-0 either way might have been a fair result.
But we got the three points and that’s all that matters really isn’t it?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not on a downer or anything.
It just all seems a bit meh.
A game I expected us to win.
Which we did.
I’m not really sure what else there is to be said, apart from Happy days!
UTV!
Comments
83 responses to “Everton 0 – 2 Villa; A great win, as much as it didn’t inspire me.”
Am I becoming a miserable old git?
Probably 🙂
3 points was the thing today Badger, the performance was irrelevant.
The last thing we needed was 4 losses on the bounce and all sorts of bodily parts getting twitchy.
The Captain has finally been seen again at good levels, the result is good, this time the game is latent, UP THE VILLA
An Italian fan?
Ciao amico 🙂
The win was the most important thing. A defeat would have left confidence low and looking towards a possible relegation battle. Getting past that 30 points seems to have taken an eternity but the league table suddenly looks a lot more comfortable.
The second half was a lot better than the first albeit the 10 minute spell we had early on.
McGinn and Ramsey justified their starts and Cash improved after an uneasy first half. Buendia clearly added the spark up top which we were missing.
Mings also played well although Konsa still worries me when in possession. A clean sheet is always a good thing and Martinez needed that.
We can now face Palace at VP with more enthusiasm knowing if Chelsea lose against Spurs we might break into the top 10. That has to be the aim going into next weekend.
Badger, why do I have to keep entering my email and name whenever I post? It doesn’t matter if it’s on my iPhone, iPad or using a Windows PC. I tick the save name and email every time too 🤔
I really don’t know Holte.
I’m assuming that’s only a recent thing?
Nothing has changed here, so I’m guessing you need to clear the cache and cookies, particularly so if your browser is tied in to all your devices.
Test
Nope! Didn’t work 😖
Is it a recent thing, Holte?
No, it’s always been the same
It’ll be the privacy settings on your browser. Turning off auto complete has this effect. I use DuckDuckGo and it’s the same.
Ah, good call!
“Philippe Coutinho will be out for a month after he picked up a hamstring injury in training”
Taken from the Mail.
WTF do we do to players in training?
I’d say that’s unbelievable, but it happens all the time, it seems.
Badger – all teams suffer training injuries, it’s not just Villa. But, of course we notice ours rather than others.
On the result. Results are more important than great performances and the resultant loss. It seems to me that we struggle with the balance between an attacking game (at home) and a primarily defensive game away.
Solve that and we’ll be a team to be reckoned with.
Over to you Senor Emery.
“Is it a recent thing, Holte? “….this is also the same for me for years…only on PC….not phone……it could be that cache thing but no idea what one is or what to do to do it
Blimey. If it’s gone on for years, I’m flummoxed and doubt it’s a cache issue in that case.
I was thinking of using my personal email instead of work email. Don’t know if it will work.
Test
Holte, try your old Holte66 username with your personal mail addy.
That’s still on the user list.
There are few things in life better than a sunday morning in bed with a steaming mug of coffee and MOTD knowing you’ve won the day before.
It seemed a cracking game yesterday and although the Toffees had their chances, 2 goals and clean sheet says it all. A bit weird Buendia not starting unless he had a niggle, but he’s a star in this Villa side. McGinn back to his combatitive self, Mings goal line clearance, some stunning work by Martinez once again and the runs of Ramsey. Emery’s instructions on keeping the midfield 4 tight seems to be sinking in. Who’d bet against Ollie extending the/his record breaking goals run next week. If i was him i wouldn’t be able to sleep with excitement over the next game. 6 in a row anyone?????
I take back the accusation of early flip flops. The fiery celebrations when Emi scored the second said it all for me. This is a squad that wants to win. The beach can wait…
Bum bum you missed Badgers mate Mings, a fantastic unbelievable clearance off the goal line. Wow didn’t I reach for another glass of Jack Daniels and celebrate.
I jolly well didn’t Bill! I gave Mings credit for that halfway through my waffle!!!
Holte, I’ve added you and Villaaway as subscribers to the site.
I’m not sure if it will make any difference, tbh.
If it doesn’t work, I’m thinking it’s a security thing somewhere.
Worth a try Badger.
I have to as well but only on my iPad – phone (which is Android) is fine.
Didn’t realise that we’re unbeaten against Everton (8 games) since coming back up to the Prem. Unusual for us to be another teams bogey side!
This is really really really pissing me off and for anyone out there that didn’t know football started in 1888 not f**king 1992.
And no (as the MOTD commentator quoted) Ollie Watkins is not THE ONLY Aston Villa player “EVER” to score in five consecutive games.
In fact one old time Villa legend Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring rattled 13 goals in the opening seven matches of 1930/31.
Saturday, 30 August 1930 | Manchester United | Waring 4
Monday, 1 September 1930 | Sheffield Wednesday | Waring
Saturday, 6 September 1930 | West Ham United | Waring 4
Tuesday, 9 September 1930 | Grimsby Town | Waring
Saturday, 13 September 1930 | Bolton Wanderers | Waring
Monday, 15 September 1930 | Grimsby Town | Waring
Saturday, 20 September 1930 | Liverpool | Waring
RANT OVER!
In the spirit of your rant RSS 🙂
Villa v Everton is the oldest and most played fixture in the football league – 228 games. As a result of our ascendancy over the last 8 games we have now overtaken Everton in our ‘World Series’ – to borrow an Americanism – 86 wins to their 82 and 60 drawn!
This phones going matey.
It’s back to the quill by gas lamps while quaffing an Imperial pint of porter with a hearty helping of tripe and onions.
😁
Pint of porter – haven’t heard that expression in ages. Full English breakfast and a pint of porters in an ‘Early House’ at Smithfield Market – If I remember correctly The Fox and Anchor was were we used to go.
Those were the days my friend – we thought they’d never end ……..
* where – doesn’t predictive text understand the difference between were and where 🙂
We often have a nice Porter on at my local. Try your local micro pubs Hitch!
RSS, thanks for clarifying! Maybe I’ll email MOTD and correct their 20 something idiots who run the show…
BB please do but I wouldn’t hold your breath mate.
They’ll no doubt come back with “since the formation of the premier League” or some such nonsense.
Same as they’ll probably tell Gabby with 87 is our top all time goal scorer (Do me a favour).
The 244 scored by Billy Walker or Harry Hampton’s 242 goals in 376 games have apparently been expunged from history.
Holte 66 did it work as mine the same it doesn’t Matter.
It didn’t work Bill but like you said it doesn’t matter. Will have to continue typing my email and name 🙂
Wished he still playing for us, RSS I’m not surprised as Villa have many honours that the pundits never bother to announce to sport , still thanks for bringing it up .
Cheers Bill.
Proper winds me up this 1992 bullshit.
So Liverpool have only won 2 European cups ( pre 92 obviously don’t count?)
And Forest can remove those two stars off their kit straight away.
The likes of Best, Pele, Puskás,Di Stéfano would be lucky make a Sunday morning team today.
(-:
Villa Women beat West Ham (away) in FA Cup 7-6 on penalties.
We’ll done the Women
RSS something I didn’t know Pongo’s ashes was placed in the Holte end goal mouth in 1980.
Fitting for such a Villa legend Bill.
Hitch I knew we was 1 up and was into the rugby and football forgot about the Villa ladies, good news that as my neighbour a hammer fan and the table has turned.well done our girls .
According to Canadian Pete, Paul Rideout scored 6 in 1984, and Andy Gray 6 in ’77.
Let’s hope Ollie gets to 7 or 8 or 9!!!!
In other news, Martinez has won the best Goalie award and Barce’s DOF has knocked us back, even though we offered to double his wages.
Our owners aren’t messing about, are they?
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2023/02/27/villa-hero-emi-martinez-named-the-best-goalkeeper-in-the-world/
https://barcauniversal.com/barcelona-director-rejects-huge-offer-from-premier-league-side-report/
I’m excited about which players they’re tracking in the summer window…Really looking forward to the Palace game!!! That twat Zaha is out injured apparently.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64568155
Good read although we could do with keeping Emi under the radar!
See the club have paid a former ” Custodian” of the club £10m.
A bit rich considering the following “Custodian” was close to being the last.
£10m quid for effing up. And they wonder why we get hacked off with the world…
Just to put some meat on that payment.
When Dr T (Recon) bought the club from Learner it seems there was an ‘overage’ element involved which provided for an additional payment of £10m if the club retained EPL status for three consecutive years.
In the event Recon were unable to make the payment it would fall to the club to settle the debt. That’s not an unusual term.
I’ve no doubt that (potential) liability was factored into the price paid to Recon by NSWE
Accounts for 21 / 22 showed we made a pre tax operating profit of £0.4m – not much I grant you but following years of major losses a FFP (and operational) step in the right direction.
UTV
Conveniently Zaha is 100% fit to face Villa. Typical! He is always a thorn in our side and you just know he’s going to get under our players skin I just hope we dont retaliate at all.
Blow – I thought he would probably start on the bench.
If there’s one player I detest and would never want at Villa it’s Zaha – the biggest, mouthy whinger in the EPL.
Actually his stats in terms of goals and assists aren’t that good but, as you say Adam, he seems to reserve his better performances for us!
Great pictures on the OS of JP (Angel) at BMH today meeting Duran, Ollie and Emery.
Hope he’s rubbed a bit of magic onto them for tomorrow
Re – the issue on having to re type email / name each post.
Although I still have to do that on my iPad, by ticking the save box it has resolved the frustrating delay in the post appearing that I was experiencing.
Palace today lads!!!! We seem to have our usual squad to pick from while the ‘orrible Zaha is injured for Palace.
2-0 Villa for me!!!!!
I think Zaha is fit again after a hamstring injury which is disappointing.
He’s a good player but I really do not like him.
You and me both Bum Bum. No way would I want him at Villa.
We just don’t looked geared up for this looking at how urgent we go for the ball, lucky Zaha was off side by God knows in mm. I fear the worse.
Yeah – pretty uninspiring so far Bill
And as I type this we fluke a goal
This game is bizarre and that goal just adds to the confusion.
Great pass by McGinn though who’s starting to look like he’s getting back to his best.
Kamara injured through Palace foul play. I hope it is not serious.