On reflection, it’s quite easy to say that Norwich were poor in the headline score because they had so many players out and I’m sure the Canaries’ fans might well be using that as an excuse.
But it takes two sides to make a game and the simple fact is that, to my mind we annihalated Norwich, so nothing should be taken away from the lads today.
It literally seemed like they ran their socks off and the workrate just astounded me, to the point where I was thinking well before half time, that we’d never keep it up.
They mostly did though against a Norwich side that worked equally as hard, but ultimately just couldn’t compete.
Put it this way. I don’t remember ever criticising the player’s workrate in a game, but I have wondered about their fitness levels at times.
Today’s game put any of my doubts to bed and Dean Smith confirmed this earlier in the week, when he said the stats were getting better and better.
So what do I think won this game for us, fitness levels apart?
Well, I’ve said previously that I don’t do tactics and just take a general view of what I’m seeing.
But it seemed to me that we just pushed higher, with the aim to get them on the back foot from the off.
I said in the preview thread that it seemed the aim was to run them to death, where we had decent pace and energy to call on via our subs, while norwich were down to bare bones backup.
Whatever, it worked well.
There were a few great performances today and I have to say I thought El Ghazi was outstanding, causing no end of grief down Norwich’s left.
Norwich played very expansive football, probably because Farke thought it was their only option and indeed I thought they looked the most tidy side in their play overall, but it just wasn’t enough, as their midfield was no match for ours.
And while we battered Norwich, putting my critical head on, I saw a few faults too.
No doubt it was down to the sheer pace of the game, but some of our defending was downright Keystone Cops at times and we panicked far too often. The Mings nearly getting kicked in the nuts twice on the goal line farce was a typical example.
I don’t recall Norwich playing like that at the back during the game.
That said, Norwich conceded 5 and it could easily have been double that, so what do I know?
Wesley got two, which I was really happy about, but how much better would it have been if he’d got a hat-trick?
His penalty was ok, but again I found myself thinking he doesn’t have the forethought to attack the follow-up, which he should have netted easily. Still, that will come, I reckon and he’s answered a few critics today, without a doubt.
I’m not going to comment on Mings’ backpass for their goal.
Sod it, I can’t help it; it was pathetic and is typical of what gives me slight doubts about him.
That said, he was mostly excellent in putting his body behind the ball, the same as all of the defence.
I know what some of you might be thinking.
“How can you moan when we’ve won 5-1 away?”
And it would be fair comment.
But I was sat in front of a Liverpool fan today, who was watching their (main) game in the bar.
You know the sort.
Mane and Salah were totally useless and Milner was a “pensioner”, just two minutes before he scored the penalty, where he applauded him like mad.
How you can criticise like that when you’re romping the league is beyond me.
I really hope I’m not seen as that bad.
I might try to keep a more neutral head on at times, where I don’t just blindly cheer everything the club does, but please feel free to suggest that I should be put out of my misery, if I ever come across like that on here.
In the meantime, I’m taking nothing away from our lads.
It’s a 3 valuable points at a tough place to play and we’ve improved our goal average massively.
14th, the last I saw of the league table and that looks much better.
Up the Villa!
Quite simply a stonking win, just when we needed it.
Totally elated, after that, even if it might not seem like it in the article 🙂
beating norwich by the scoreline that we did, says everything to all the doubters.yes norwich had injuries and they had same problems against man city, but different result this time around so they shouldn’t use this as excuse.
villa just pressed norwich high starting with the front three, not allowing nowich to play it out comfortably, then this was back up with the midfield, villa worked hard to win the ball back high.
fully deserved win and i had a feeling we would punish somebody soon, we are a decent side and getting better with every game. ppl have to rememeber this is a new team and was always gonna take time. but this squad has ability to keep improving. we just need to be a little patient and trust in smith to get the players over the line.
Good article Badger.
What a confidence boost. That 9 goals in the last 3 premier matches and two of those games were away. I believe the players believe they belong at this level. The Grealish / McGinn partnership is is starting to be viewed as formidable. Moreover, Wesley now has 4. He will have up and down days as he is still learning to play in the premier, but he belongs in it and will only get better.
Overall well done you Villa boys.
Ps No VAR today
I thought VAR should have given a red for what was for me a blatant stamp on Konsa. At least he wasnt injured.
Wow i didnt see that coming. Smith and the team happily proved me wrong today. Smashing performance and that is exactly how we should set the team up every week.
Finally we got a performance in both halves! Well okay Mings blundered at the end for their consolation goal. It could have been seven if El Ghazi had headed below the bar and Wesley had got his hat trick from the penalty spot. Norwich had plenty of injuries but still managed to beat Citeh. As for Wesley, I’m pleased he proved me wrong when I said he should be dropped. Hopefully he will be more confident with his two goals. We started slowly before going on a roll last season, so maybe we can repeat that as we adjust to the premier league.
Wesley proved me wrong as well, I watch him closely today to get my point over but for his penalty kick he did nothing wrong, looking back to last 3-4 years what a difference the club and team are, although I don’t make predictions I really thought we would win today, I’ve said it before I see Aston Villa being in the media mind alongside the likes of Them top teams from North and south of the Midlands. I’ve had a great day today Villa and England both flying the colours. U t v.
Just think, we’d be sitting pretty in the top 4 if it wasn’t for 4 stolen points at Palace and Arsenal and the 2 thrown away last week!
just watched the motd highlights. they were very complimentary, they also praised our press and how we set traps for norwich. pressing is very hard skill to achieve. especially with a new team. so that makes this even more satisfying. scary thing we have more room for improvements, which would make us even more competitive in this league.
two more weeks to gel even further and this was our problem sofar this season, we just needed time to get the new players settled nothing wrong with the quality of the individuals.
watching prince George celebrate brought me back to my first time watching the villa and i can remember losing my self in the moment. great to see our royals enjoy the game without worrying, how they should be acting in public. let them enjoy the villa in peace 🙂
Fantastic win yesterday. I was following on BBC at Malaga airport and couldn’t relax until 4-0! There are signs that the team is coming together. Just playing one winger gives us a more solid platform with Hourihane in the side instead of Trez or Jota. Smith can rotate these when necessary, or bring them on if he needs to so I’m sure they will play their part, but El Ghazi looked to be hitting a bit of form.
Can’t get carried away as that was a really open game and we will face much tougher teams. I take heart from the fact that we do have quality in the team, and most of them are good enough at this level.
Seen the brief AVTV highlights on Facebook so can only comment on what they showed – 5 great goals, a penalty miss and a Mings blooper (please don’t do that when we’re only a goal up 🙂 )
I’ve always been an advocate of Hourihane – he does his work quietly, arrives in the box well and scores goals – but his biggest asset imho is that he releases Grealish to play higher up the pitch. I also like El Ghazi as a player and reckon he could become something really special.
Anyway, as others have said, the key seems to be to get Grealish and El Ghazi playing closer to Wesley.
Really pleased for Wesley and what another cracking goal from Luiz!
So, I’m trying really hard not to get too excited but, as others have said, there is real quality in this squad backed by a good coaching team and a great fan base.
Now we have to continue the improvement and make it consecutive wins by beating Brighton – that’s the next objective.
UTV
“he does his work quietly”
Sums him up for me.
I still think sometimes he’s invisible and doesn’t show enough at times.
He does score nice goals though, which reminds me;
Anyone else agree that Hourihane or McGinn should be our nominated penalty takers?
I fully understand why Wesley got the chance, given he was on for a hat trick, but he seems a confidence type player and doesn’t quite have that just yet.
Given that I think McGinn is the new Milner and Milner’s record is something like 16 or 17 out of 19 pens scored, it just makes sense to me. I’m confident he’d have buried that pen, putting his whole body through the ball.
I also forgot to mention in the article, that I saw a player who I thought was also outstanding, but given the lack of commentary added to the fact that I’m still not totally famiar with all the players when they’re on the pitch, didn’t realise who it was.
I now realise it was Nakamba.
He looks like a great find, to me.
penalties are for those who have some steal about them, not all the players like taking them. not sure mcginn wants to take them. hourihane would i seen him take them before. wesley shouldn’t be written off for the one miss. he hit it true and it was more save than miss. he slightly opened up his body to early maybe, presenting the goalie with signs of which side he was going.
another note iam sure they have a good idea who are the best pen takers at the club, they will have practiced them along with the free kicks etc
Conor then, but he doesn’t feature in every game.
Yes, I’m sure it’s about who has the balls.
McGinn does. He shoots hard or can place it, it seems to me.
I’ve no problem with Wes taking them; it’s more about taking the pressure off him
those that want to take them, wont be put off,by missing them occasionally. iam sure they have a list of penalty takers. just as they know who takes which free kicks. that Douglas Luiz has certainly got a mean free kick, his goal against norwich was carbon copy of his first goal. he placed the ball exactly in the same spot as he placed the other. in the posted stamp area. so hourihane has some competition on the freekicks.
competition is good 🙂
5 excellent and different goals. It should give us massive confidence. More, the fact that 4 players scored them sets opponents a bigger problem, no doubling up on the main striker. Hourihane surely has to start matches now.
As for Wesley – his style is now apparent and belies his physique. He is a goal poacher in the Greaves or Fowler mould and should get the ball to feet not at his head.
Just watched highlights. Hourihane looked great on his return. A lot of team spirit in there!!!!
This would be amazing;
https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/premier-league/league-table/predicted
I don’t know what is crazier! Villa 6th or Burnley 5th!
Don’t believe these ‘super computer’ predictions but even more unbelievable would be Everton’s relegation from the top flight of football for the first time in their history!
🙂
and Spurs and Man U don’t win an away game all season!