Ha, I was somewhat over-confident that we’d win this at first glance, if you read the previous post.
But it seems my confidence was justified, as we actually played very well and nullified everything Forest had to offer.
Our defence was outstanding, but more importantly, to me, our midfield quickly took control of the game through some massive work-rate.
Quite simply, Forest were over powered in the middle and we just killed them, even though they got a somewhat flukey goal.
Wow, that surely sends a message to the rest of the league and I know this is a really short post.
But all I want to do now is take the mutt for a walk around Witton lakes, where I’ll just be thinking about how if we can keep this form up, we’ll easily get a play-off place.
Ah, man, maybe I shouldn’t really be saying that.
I loved that tonight 🙂
Well done Villa.
Glad to have you back, you miserable sod!
Sid, even if I’m not always positive, I at least look to be.
I just try to tell it as I see it, no more, no less.
Very, very solid win and lots to be optimistic about.
McGinn – what can you say? The man has got to be the best buy from Scotland since Villa snapped up Andy Gray for a 110k. What a player!
We looked so in control of this game. Even when we were one nil down to a jammy lob ball I knew we were going to win.
It’s odd but now we’re actually in for a shout at the play-offs, I think we could go all the way and even have a team worth its salt in the premier league. Early days but the signs look very good.
UTV
Had a score in mind most of the day as the 2 numbers kept coming up at work and it was also the date….didn’t mention it to anyone in case I ruined it…..so when they scored I though O.K. plenty of time.
At 1-3 though I was willing hem to get the 4th as Forest were pushing a lot at one stage…and that 7 mins went on forever.
Just like when we had the earlier run against these teams I cant believe things are going so well….
With some more injured players coming back to hopefully improve things even more I just hope we can at least keep this “playing football” form up and not retreat to the messing around across the pitch lark.
Although Forest huffed and puffed at times I was pleasantly surprised at how well our defence coped tonight.
Before, every time the other team attacked, we always looked like we were likely to fall apart but tonight I felt our defence was quite robust. Mings especially was immense and we must hang onto him at all costs.
We know we have the attack and, with McGinn the mid-field, to get promotion but, if the defence can play like they did tonight, we might just stand a chance.
I can’t help it, I’ve started believing again!
Well done lads. Keep it up. On a side note the Millwall fans where chanting “There’s only One Jack Grealish” tonight.
Mings & Hause: We either got awfully lucky or the actions of our hiring staff need to be emphatically applauded.
These two seem to get better every game and they’re looking like excellent candidates for permanent signing. Furthermore, they seem to click and, touch wood, seldom make big mistakes.
Hause has a deceptively strong and accurate pass in him; it looks almost effortless. Mings pushes forwards and delivers some tidy long balls. He’s intelligent and doesn’t seem to take chances in an around the area. They look a solid pair, so what happens when Chester and Tuanzenbe are finally fit again?
Things are indeed suddenly looking up again. 🙂
Indeed Bill.
It means we don’t have to rush Chester back but also we have the option of moving Hause to LB and either Tuanzebe / Chester playing right sided CB (Both Mings and Hause are left footed) Tuanzebe can also play RB. It gives us some real defensive depth for the run in and for the first time this season.
Maybe we can still do it but this is the Villa 🙂
I won us that game, I never predicted the score, told you I was bad luck. What a match, only one draw back Abraham, I could see things wasn’t going his way in the match, Still we all have them days and I’d never hold it against him, Mings outstanding again and as Bill Evans saying what are we going to do when our injuries come back. We defiantly have to sign Mings its a must., Grealish had them nibbling at his legs again , where is Southgate not giving him a booster for selection? Ho I forgot we are from the Midlands they don’t pick us. Well done the lads we have a chance again, shit if we had only won one of them 16 draws we would be happy as Larry .
Not predicting or wishing for Deano to fail, but was just reading up on Melberg. Seems he won 2 successive promotions in Sweden and then chose not to renew his contract for the third year for some reason. One for the future????
I fucking love that guy! Would tickle me pink if he returned. What happy days those were… (little did we know what crap we’d face afterwards).
Great win, especially after Sunday, and whisper it quietly, those play offs are again in sight!!! Might have to go to the Boro game and let off some steam after a shit 2 weeks at work…don’t worry lads, I won’t be running onto the pitch and punching the opposition! I could handled the ban and fine, but not the bad press or 14 weeks in chokey!!!!
Now is it just me but what are the FA, doing? Rather than dealing with the spectator running on the pitch and recognising the restraint showed by all players have decided to charge both teams with failing to control their players- unbelievable
What? Are they fkg mental???? They need a medal, even the Scum players deserve half a packet of stale crisps each. Madness!
According to the BBC the FA charges relate to – “A melee involving players from both teams occurred in the fifth minute after Blues midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld fouled Jack Grealish.”
I guess that they’re dealing with the easier charges first and that we’ll be hearing about the charges for the assault on Jack in due course.
Frankly though Pat – that wasn’t even handbags at 50 paces. In all the circumstances, I think a quiet warning to both clubs would have sufficed. Imho it just demonstrates what a load of jobsworths run the FA – reminds me of Will Carlings description of the RFU 🙂
What happens Hitchens is they have a rulebook written by wise men, a fat tome by now, which is for “The guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools”. A fool then decides the wise men can be dispensed with. Therefore you are left with a collection of fools rigidly applying a rulebook which they did not write and dare not amend.
PS: this applies to any more organisations than the FA.
Nicely put OLL
I bet its Southgates fault, he’s asked for a rise and they need the money. I’d love to know what’s the function of the FA is in football.it could be to help Man it’d, and city to fly the flag.shower of shite
If anyone wants to pass a few minutes, try this prediction tool;
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leeds-united-aston-villa-championship-15785808
Interestingly, my prediction means we finish 6th on 73 points, just ahead of Derby. I’d absolutely love that, as I’d really be able to give my Derby mate some stick.
I predicted us to lose to Leeds and Norwich too!
Had Villa 6th, one point ahead of Preston and two ahead of Derby but I’m not sure that we can afford to lose more than one game in the run in. We would have to play Sheff Utd in the play off semi – so that’s not good. WBA and Borough in top 6.
Notwithstanding the predictor – I think I’m sticking with my view that we’ll just miss out on the play offs this season – but then anything can happen and probably will.
I had us in 5th with 75 points! Just hope that this is better than most of my predictions.
However we’ve had some crazy results in this league so I’m not sure how close I’ll be.
From the BBC –
“Birmingham City have been charged by the Football Association with failing to control their spectators after a fan attacked Jack Grealish during the Second City derby against Aston Villa.
Blues have until 22 March to respond.”
Interesting to see what happens.
FA are clueless. OLL has summed them up brilliantly
I’ve just been looking at some stats on
http://www.soccerstats.com/team.asp?league=england2&stats=24-aston-villa
(scroll down to the last set of tables)
And I think we have to be very wary of Preston.
They’re on a real roll.
Fascinating reading, as much as I’m not into stats.
Of course, it shows that we’ve conceded way too many goals.
We’ve been okay at scoring goals (we’ve actually scored 2 more than Leeds) but as you say we’ve leaked far too many at the other end.
However, I thought the defence looked fairly solid against Forest and i never felt as if they were going to let one in. The one Forrest did score early on was a absolute fluke.
The defence is the key to us having any chance at all of promotion. For me Mings has to stay fit for the rest of the season.
Badger, I think there are quite a number of teams in real contention for two play off places. As well as us (amazingly) are Middlesbrough, Derby, Bristol City, Forest, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday who are also on a role. I reckon we can only afford one loss between now and the end of the season to be sure of a place. Going to be both nerve racking and exciting at the same time. Even if we do get there, the prospect of facing Sheffield United does not fill me with confidence!
Yes, even if you take out the 5-5 against Forest, it still hasn’t been good enough.
Ideally Mings will stay fit, as I agree, he’s been great for us.
But don’t forget we have Tuanzebe, Chester and Elphick all due to be back at some time, so as long as he doesn’t suffer an injury soon, we should be ok.
When all our defenders are fit it now looks a strong unit as against what SB opened up the season with. As Smith said, at one stage our defence consisted of four right backs and a revolving door of GK’s. OK he didn’t say that about the GK’s – but it’s true nonetheless 🙂
I know there were problems through the summer (both personal and at the Club) that Bruce had to cope with (and, lest us not forget, he did sign McGinn and get Abraham in on loan) but what Smith has demonstrated is that sending Steer, Elphick and Green out on loan were three poor decisions that may ultimately have cost him his job.
Sorry, Hitch, I missed your reply.
Well, one or two of those teams currently in the top six could begin to falter.
I’m sure I predicted us to lose the last two and draw with someone else.
Norwich and Leeds may have their holiday heads on by the time we play them too.
Agree though, we definitely need to try and win every game. Draws, which as Bill pointed out have cost us big time, won’t be good enough.
No probs Badger. I suppose there is a balance in that lose one or two and draws become unaffordable whereas avoiding any losses means one or two draws can be afforded.
It’s a strange league though this year and just about any team can beat any other.