Well that was a turn up for the books wasn’t it?
After me being convinced that we were going to be thrashed today (I predicted 1-5), I came out the ground about as ecstatic as I could be, bearing in mind I’d been seated with the locals.
The Liverpool fans seem a reasonable lot, but I thought it best to keep a very low profile and keep my trap shut whilst within earshot.
So why was I ecstatic, when we’d taken a two goal lead and seemingly gave it away?
Because we actually played very well, especially in the first half.
I commented in another thread that I wouldn’t mind losing, it was the performance that was more important for me.
And we certainly did perform in that first half.
The whole team harried and hassled with even the midfield doing a good job.
And trust me, we had Liverpool, who have a very good home record, totally on the back foot. So much so that we totally shut their fans up, which is generally a good indicator of things.
We totally stopped Liverpool playing.
So much so that we were winning nearly every second ball and pretty much all the ref’s calls were going our way.
Imagine my delight when I looked at the stats on the concourse and saw we had 48% possession.
Now that’s more like it!
In fact, I wouldn’t have been surprised if we’d actually edged that stat, but whatever, I was also very happy that we’d also created more chances.
The biggest single thing I noticed though, was how much more self assured we looked with Bertrand playing at Left Back. It was almost like we’d had a massive chain removed from around our necks.
I reckon that kid will prove to be a decent signing, even if we don’t get to keep him.
Mind you, we’ve all slated Lambert for not sorting the position out.
Anyway, make no mistakes, we didn’t park the bus. We actually went for it.
No counter attacking rubbish; we took it to them.
And I loved it.
But I always had a niggling feeling at half time, that things would change.
And so it proved.
Conceding the goal just before half time was a turning point for me.
Pool came out a different side and where they were previously sloppy and slow, now they had a lot more about them. The crowd were instantly buoyed.
Suarez, as much as I don’t like him looked utter class and a constant threat. Which leads me to that penalty.
All I’ll say is it looked like a penalty to me at the time and having literally just seen the highlights of it, I still think it was. Guzan touched him and that’s enough. You could say Suarez looked for it, but don’t they all? No complaints really from me.
And then we were pushed back more and the whole game totally changed, with me thinking that the home team would get the inevitable third goal to take all the points.
But it wasn’t to be and on the balance of play, I think it was a fair result.
Certainly I didn’t hear any of the locals complaining they were robbed, on the way out.
Although I did hear a few comments about us being a dirty, time-wasting side, which while they disappointed me, had me thinking “needs must”. Sadly, the thought also crossed my mind that the comments were pretty much correct.
Gabby having to come off was also a turning point, as he’d been causing Liverpool nightmares with his pace. He looked sharp to me and I hope he isn’t badly injured, as he’ll be needed.
Given that nearly all of us expected to get beaten today, you can’t be anything but happy.
I know some might say we should have held on for the win, but they have different class players up front, they really do and they’ll be thereabouts come the end of the season.
West Brom up next, isn’t it?
If we can play like we did in the first half, it’ll be easy, that one.
But we’re at home aren’t we?????
Hmm.
Comments
91 responses to “Liverpool 2 – 2 Villa; What a cracking point!”
great game
it wasn’t just a counter attacking masterclass, that first half is the best i’ve seen villa play with thier pass and moves, little triangles and total domination of liverpool.
now the question is can we keep it up ?, i hope so 🙂
Having just watched MOTD, it seems we were playing a diamond.
With me not really being an analytical type, I never noticed that, but credit where it’s due, Lambert called that one right.
Yep bloody good game mate. Even the Scouser I was with said so.
More of it and less of the turgid shite we’ve had to put up with lately, I say.
Can anyone explain the diamond to me pros and cons as never really understood formations that well
Blimey mate, now you’re asking.
It’s all about trying to pull the opposition out of shape. One mid plays higher and one plays deeper in a mid four. A decent five oppo can piss all over it, but if it works, you can overwhelm the middle of the park.
Watch MOTD and they give you a classic example of how it can work and indeed how it did today.
As I said, I didn’t see it, but just saw our mid was way better first half.
Cheers mate iv rec it il watch tomor.
Badger if I were you mate Id make love to oohah before I do. My wankfest over him is becoming habitual and beyond reason.
Oi!!
Illegal editing alert!
🙂 🙂
I saw what was really written BWS, don’t worry mate.
😉
Don’t worry mate, it makes for debate, which is all good to me and hopefully maintains what Ian started.
Goal highlights added.
There has to be balance but I love oohah really and agree with what he says I just don’t want to admit it to myself.
The truth is we’ve only met face to face once and although many might think we play a “good cop, bad cop” type game, we really don’t.
I see it as us having different ways of wanting us to be the best we can, which I’m sure is something all Villa fans have in common.
I’m just far more reasonable than Ooaah is 😉
But I’m better looking than badger 🙂
Ffs benteke score a couple of goals and already the mirror are linking him to spurs this time for £15m lol what a bunch of tossers http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-transfers-christian-benteke-lined-3037237?
He will probably put a transfer request in tomorrow and get a 20k a week rise by Friday
Lol, Tottenham will never get him. Pointless rumour as per usual Though reports in Italy were that Juventus sent scouts to watch him and are planning a summer move if they can’t land Mandzukic. Though I guess Benteke’s agent said he’s not looking to move in the summer and he loves it at Villa/loves the fans, etc etc.
Probably right mate but he will go in the summer no doubt about it just a question as to who and how much
I think Spurs are about to go into freefall like we did, I honestly cannot see them signing any big names until they shift that £100m crap they signed in the summer. Soldado is shocking
They will try and offload solado to us for pasty ex with CB
His agent said he won’t go so he’s not definitely off…
Load of bollocks, that rumour.
He won’t be going to Spurs and it won’t be £15 mill.
He looked better again to me today. I predict he’s going to go on another serious scoring run.
It’s strange how he’s suddenly hit form in the jan window though or am I being cynical. He has to work on his offside and his control though he has the touch and control of an elephant.
Yes, his touch is a bit poor, but he won near enough every ball, like he was doing before.
He’s also stated that he tried to play through his injury.
He’ll come very good soon mate, I’m convinced.
Then he will be off
Bloody hell it’s quiet on here tonight, barely a sign of Ian Robo and his moaning gang of shits. Just proves what most of us know, they’re only happy when we are losing and they’ve got something to bellyache about. Well done lads, stuck it up the scouse and the news and views moaning fuckers!!
didn’t get to see the game, pleased with the point but more than anything the performance. we looked more like the team who played well at the end of last season, some belief and confidence aswell as effort and passion has appeared from somewhere and it was good to see, haven’t seen it for a long time.
the tactics did look spot on so credit where its due to lambert on that one. of course people will say we should of won at 2-0 up but considering how we’ve been the last couple of months the point and the performance were a great improvement.
hope we can keep this attitude going.
p.s unfortunately I gotta say it looked like a pen to me, suarez was looking for it but guzan was a bit rash, he pulled his arms away but the damage was already done.
hope gabby isn’t out again, he looked very good again today.
one thing that was good for me was, we went toe to toe and it worked,but even at 2-0 i had a voice saying don’t get carried away,
but this was Liverpool at Anfield, so i am happy and for once looking to the next game…bring on the dingles, we are due a home win.
So true. I think we all knew wed blow it we usually do.
Bagder you know that I’d thrown out Sky after many years with them, walk round to my lads pad with a bottle of whisky to see the game, I’m over them moon they made me like you walk tall, that’s the best game yet even more than the Arsenal and City games, we had passion and created moves for once, that extra man in the middle paid off, Lads I’m moaning old git like Geof Bird saying but who cares proud of my football side Aston Villa and will stop knocking them after that performance, well done Villa.
I think the title of the article sums my feelings up.utv 😀
Badger…are you sure you went to the match. Suggest you check your headline again! 🙂
Fuck off Lerner and Red Bull, the Villa is OURS
Landford told you they are robbing gifts them scouser, the nicked our goals off us. Lol 🙂
Lol Bill…the scousers will take anything thats not nailed down 🙂
Bloody hell Langford, I’ve only just realised that!
It’s a bit late changing it now, but I will in case we ever want to read back.
I was proved totally wrong yesterday, we played the game, amazing stats, the first 10 mins we had 85% possession unbelievable. It changed when Rogers realised we closed Gerrard down to quickly at the back so needed to free him up, second half he moved up with SAS
One thing we never did was drop our heads after that penalty, and we defended much better
Well done VIlla
VTID it’s nice to be proven wrong mate im chuffed anyway i didn’t expect that result whatsover.savour the fucking moment.utv
Great result, well played and deserved the result sat with two scousers and for all the mocking before the gem they said afterwards why can’t the Villa always play like that…. Really could not answer, but just shows what we are capable of….. just watched the highlights on MOTD too, and have to say its nice not being last on for a change, but Shearer is just a prize wanker..
So great result but one swallow does not make a summer, and this game does not make up for the shite we have been served up in the rest of the season !
Shearer prize wanker? Well a mate of mine used to sell programs down at the sty many moons ago and when he were just a lad, He said of all the players he ever met he was the biggest most arrogant bell end he ever did meet (allegedly).
Iv heard a lot if people say the same thing BWS complete knob end
I remember the smirk on his face after he smashed ugo’s face in, will never forget it…. disgusting excuse of a man
Does anyone know if Lowton was injured or just left out yesterday.
Norwich reportedly interested in Hutton…..swap for Hoolahan?
Lowton was late for training so punished.
I can’t help think Shearer was saying on MOTD that Suarez went down to avoid Guzan rather than because the contact took him down.
I think you are right Foxy…. Although he has hated Villa ever since he tried to boot Ugo Ehiogu’s eye socket into space the dirty, ba5tard….Linekers comment was laughable…they think Guzon should have stayed on his line scratching his arse because the turf was a bit wet and slippy, they way them too sucked up to Liverpool mad me want to puke…
‘two’
Yes Foxy strange that, I looked at Shearer face showed a bit of anger when debate was on whether he dived or not, Linaker said we agree to agree what ever that meant, I never stopped up to the vote being asked, does anyone know what that vote was ?
69% say he dived, 31% that he didn’t. Of course it could be just Villa and ‘Pool fans voting but then it might not.
Cheers Foxy, its one of them to me, could have and unlucky, to me I’m bias he never touch him ref. (sorry Geoff Bird) I’ve moaned.
Its a blokes game Bill, those tossers were saying ooh bloody villa keeper how dare him come out and go anywhere near our love Suarez, and as guzan touched him (not fouled him but brushed him) it was a penalty especially as the pitch was moist, what utter garbage…. I have never seen such biased pundits, since turning the mute button on for Trever Francis….. Mourinho has made em aware and now the vote proves him correct …. 69% saying they are a bunch of biased tossers who love liverpool, my blood pressure is rising just thinking about ti
Bacuna should have had conceded a free kick for elbowing Suarez in the face. Bacuna should also have done the job properly!
In absolute fairness, there were a lot of poor tackles from Villa players and to a lesser extent from Pool players too.
I alluded to it in the article and I can see why we’re viewed as a dirty side.
Bacuna was the main culprit, but I don’t blame him.
He’s just a poor tackler, full stop, imo.
Really good point.Im a bit disappointed we didn’t win it.Should of put that game to bed in the 1st half should of been 4 up easy.Good football all round.Suarez can fuck right off cheating goofy prick with his trailing leg and no yellow or red for Guzan why a penalty.Defended well and now 10th which will please the grumpy ol farts club no end.Consistency would be nice.UTV
Vlaar had that cheating goofy prick in his pocket Captain Vlaar UTV
Sky said Vlaar was MOTM. He’s going to get MOTM from me every time he plays for the foreseeable future. When he’s bossing the back and Benteke, Gabby and Andi are having fun up front they drag the rest of the team along with them. I’m just hoping they can continue and get some really good results.
Yes, Vlaar played well.
Even Clark, who had a shocker against Arse imo, was pretty decent.
Except Clark fucked up for their first. Vlaar is immense I take back what I said about him in the past he’s improved beyond recognition this year 🙂
All defenders fuck up mate. By your logic a defender could only have a good game if they don’t concede, which is crazy.
It’s like saying an attacker can only have a good game if he scores.
See Man U’s defence today, you’d have been doing your nut if they played for us.
As for Vidic’s second yellow tackle, poor decision making and worse execution.
But he’s still one of the best in the game (admittedly not as good as he was) imo.
True but like I always say our defenders make loads more mistakes than utds plus utd are a spent force but will spend zillions in the summer to buy themselves out of it
Agree vlaar playing well has helped defence big time
He’s been fantastic real captains performances UTV
Jay, it looked to us like he was moving away from goal slightly, so not exactly a direct scoring chance.Hence we decided between us it definitely wasn’t a red. And Guzan definitely shouldn’t have fallen for it.
I think that’s the first time I’ve ever been to a game with the enemy of the day and I found it very interesting. Because he was pretty well balanced in his opinions we somewhat surprisingly tended to agree on many points. He made a big point in wondering why Lucas wasn’t playing at the start, one that proved correct because he was influential for them when he came on.
I forgot to mention the Villa fans.
Where we were sat was pretty ideal to gauge the performance as we were sort of in the middle (nearer to) the Villa fans and the Kop.
The Villa fans were outstanding as usual.
“We’re Aston Villa and we’re taking the Piss” really made me laugh (as much as I dare :-)).
I love that self-deprecating type of humour.
So you went in the end then mate in the Liverpool end bet you didn’t wear your Villa top
We were in the anniversary stand.
I was very tempted to wear my away shirt, but thought it might be a bit risky, so decided against.
Lol wouldn’t want to upset the tee leaves now would we
Sorry Jaydee as a linguistic have to translate, tealeaves, thieves , is what you meant, ? Then again its world known. We was robbed just like all the game when the likes of Gerrard in free kicks and diving Liverpool are masters. They now have a new man his name is Suareze, think that’s the way its spelt, he keeps tripping over his teeth, the FA are going to make him see a dentist.
Badger why didn’t you wear your shirt mate,i know their fucking tea leaves but they wouldn’t rip the shirt off back.you should wear the colours with pride fuck the scouse gits.
Giddy, I always wear the shirt when I’m amongst my own.
At home to Sunderland, I saw 2 S’land fans get ejected from the Holte.
It just isn’t a good idea mate.
It is taking the piss, I was in the trinity against Swansea when we lost a couple of seasons back and there was a rake of them (Swansea) in there, bang out of order,
Back in the day we’d have kicked the shit out of them, (happy days!).
Badger you weren’t in the kop?or am i missing something if you were with the villa faithful no probs.fuck me mate if you were in the kop how did you contain yourself lol.
I was in the anniversary stand.
Their equivalent of the Witton lane.
Interestingly, the locals were giving their side a right load of abuse at every poor touch etc.
Shows it’s not just us.
Badger mate i know iv had 10gal of stella lunchtime,but you said you didn’t wear your shirt because you weren’t amongst your own.you were in the away end so can’t work that one out mate.
I was sat in a side stand in the locals section.
The Villa fans sit in a small section of the equivalent of the North stand.
Don’t worry about it mate, but I wasn’t in the Villa section.
Mate im getting muddled up with the anfield rd stand locally known as the anni stand & the centenary rd stand i know where your on about.i should fuck off to bed before i put my foot something.
Shit, yeah, the Centenary stand mate.
My mistake.
I think I’m losing the plot.
nice 2 come on site and read very positive views for once ~ we can all go around this week doing our shit with smiles upon our faces.
look at pools at 7 home games, u can see wot a task villa faced. but not only did we contribute 2 a exciting game, we were worthy of 3 points. pool knew it as well ~ lets hope this is the new dawn and not a teaser or flash in the pan
VTID
Absolutely Nath. I was dreading getting comments expressing false sympathy, given that I’m actually working near Pool on week days.
Now I’ll be able to hold my head up and at least argue over who should have won.
One Pool fan where I’m working told me he quite likes the Villa, but told me he’d be sticking a length of pipe I was carrying the other day, right up my arse if we got a result! 🙂
You can’t beat a bit of banter.
Even my Derby mate (who watched the Arse match with me) rang me at HT to ask WTF was going on.
Happy days and let’s hope we can keep it up.
If we go back to the usual shit we’ve been playing lately, against the Albion, I won’t be happy.
Ravel Morrison anyone? Could be the creative player that we are missing?
” Morrison, who has been called up for England’s Under-21s, pleaded guilty to witness intimidation in February 2011 and was fined £600 three months later for throwing his girlfriend’s phone through an open window during an argument.
He was also cautioned for common assault in 2008. ”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24444674
Is that really the sort of player we want, given the amount of stick Bannan got from some of us?
“It is understood that Fulham offered £7.5million for Morrison and midfield partner Mo Diame, which was dismissed by West Ham, who value Morrison alone at £10m.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2540407/Ravel-Morrison-NOT-strike-Fulham-transfer-squabble-insist-West-Ham.html#ixzz2qrxiCZ9H
I think that answers that one.
Two hopes.
And he isn’t worth anywhere near that anyway, for me.
We all are young, reckless and make mistakes but isn’t it worth take on-board what fergy said about him being the best young player he’d ever seen.?
I don’t have a problem with kids making mistakes when young, BWS.
I was thinking more that some of us seemed to really hold Bannan’s faux pas against him, so much so that it blinkered their real opinion of him as a player, imo.
Morrison’s attitude has supposed to have improved, so yeah maybe.
But then, if you read the above links, one of the reasons Morrison left Man U was because of his unrealistic wage demands.
Couple that with the fact that we won’t even consider paying half of that £10 mill, let alone the going rate in wages, means it’s just a non-starter.
As for Fergy, he said AM was a decent manager, the lying prick.
The fact that Fulham will probably match his wage demands pisses me right off.
I mean Fulham, FFS, are a better bet than us, if you’re a player.
Yesterday’s performance cheered me up no end, but there’s still loads wrong down the Villa mate.
He also said Stevie G wasn’t a top player so ok I concede he’s full of shit.
Bannan’s a tosser and when did he suddenly become a loss to us? Let me know because I completely missed that. Fulham FFS? You envy them because you think they might buy Morrison? Really? You might get more money at Fulham so they are a better bet? Seriously, read what you write before posting because that is insane.
No offence 😉
Agree badger don’t want anyone with that history playing for us. Bit like Joey Barton he never really got his behaviour in check to this day. Yes he’s young but no excuse for criminal behaviour
Ermm, Tekkers -car jacking ring any bells?
True I forgot about that
Never quite got to grips with that story but did seem that Benteke was kind of on the edge of that. Not charged as far as I recall. Morrison looks a talent but it begs the question really. Where do we draw the line? In my opinion Suarez is low life. What would we say if he was a a villa player? Ashley Young was fine for most fans until he went to Man U and suddenly he was diving instead of being so nimble and light that he was fouled.
Hard to be objective on all this stuff really. Feel positive this weekend though so that’s a nice change
Be an interesting week or so to come lets hope we get our AM creative player UTV.
Pirlo.
Foxy, just seen your submission. Good point and it’ll be up tomorrow morning mate.
Tut tut, DSVilla, I never take offence over an opinion, as long as it doesn’t get personal. You should know that mate.
My point about Bannan was more that I think some fans opinions of him were more ruled by his off the pitch action more than on it.
I’m not mad keen on him myself, but he at least gave us an option.
And no, I’m not I’m not jealous of Fulham overall; they’re a quaint little club, who are surviving at a level higher than they ought to be.
The fact that they can outbid/outpay us is what pisses me off.
Go and check out their turnover/ground/ capacity/ trophys/ titles/ anything you like over any period of history compared to us.
We really shouldn’t forget how big a club we really are mate.
Top 20 in Europe just a couple of years back, remember.
We’re just being run by a total cheapskate atm and the fact that they’re pretty much on a par is what’s insane!
No argument from me about that Badger. They are probably a really good illustration of the pulling power of London. To get a player like Berbatov for example. Can you imagine him pulling the strings at Villa?
How many strings has he really pulled at Fulham this season though?
How much have they improved since his arrival ?
Not sure its London that lured him.
I think it was wages and Jol – the manager who brought him to spurs
I think Berbatov isn’t Fulham’s problem. Certainly he controlled the game against us. Would you really not want him at Villa? Even if it’s not Berbatov, when was the last time we saw his sort of creativity at Villa Park (playing for us I mean!)?
The only reason for mentioning Berbatov was the Fulham point really. It’s just that, poor though they are as a team, they have just what we need right now to make all the difference. I can’t see where we are going on that issue but let’s hope we get the answer in the next 10 days or so.