Wow, what a win that was!
I have to be honest and say that in my opinion, Utd were the better side tonight, with them looking the more aggressive and creating more chances.
And after about 80 minutes, I was saying to myself that I’d take the 0-0 draw, with me thinking that it would be a very decent point to take after generally being out-played away.
And then Snodgrass scores from a sweet left footed curler in the 89th minute and I’m jumping up and down in pure joy, as it was so unexpected on my part.
But it was exactly that, that has given me really strong belief that we have a very good chance of going up this season.
To perform so sort of averagely, yet dig out the win with a piece of class in the dying minutes is exactly the sort of thing that you need to pull off if we’re going to stay at the very top end of the table.
Johnstone was my man of the match by a mile, after making a few good saves while looking extremely confident, but I can understand how it was given to Snodgrass.
If I was a Blades fan, I’d be gutted tonight.
That win takes us up to third and if I heard correctly it was the first time we’ve won five on the trot in 20 years.
That’s some statistic.
So while I wasn’t particularly enthralled by our performance, it was still a very good game with Utd coming at us full pelt.
In fairness to us, you could probably say that while Sheffield created a lot more than us, so they never majorly threatened, apart from hitting the crossbar early on.
And even when they did, our defence looked mostly rock-solid, another sign of a confident team that’s seriously challenging.
But I still think they gave us a very tough game.
Which is what makes it such a sweet victory.
As for the title, have a listen to this. If you’re impatient type, skip to about 2:50;
And B6 has kindly sent an end of match video;
Grabban confirmed finally. He’s not deadly, he’s not great, but as a backup Championship striker, he’ll do. Hopefully no overly priced option to buy as he’s not worth buying at the end. This was his first good season in 3 years as he’s proven he isn’t Premier League quality. But the 4 seasons prior to the 14-15 season he can score. We have 4 strikers now, with Davis and Murphy as well. 17 games left, he’ll get plenty of time to score goals when Hogan doesn’t.
Be interesting to see who he puts on the bench on Saturday, surely he cant put Whelan, Jedi and Tuanzabe on there again? WIth Grabban now in the squad as well as the likes of Green and O’Hare, one of the defensive mids has to go….
Tuanzabe has to stay as he’s our back up at center back with Elphick gone. Be interesting to see if he keeps Davis on the bench with Grabban now. Or will he continue the two other defensive mid’s?
With Green coming back being like a new signing, Grabban who adds quality and depth to the squad, im feeling pretty optimistic for the run in. Problem is we know what Villa will do to you as soon as you start to feel optimistic! Fingers crossed no slip up this weekend. UTV
Well that shows us. Grabban was ours 3 weeks ago, done deal by Wyness .
The first eleven picks itself at the moment barring any injuries. My subs would be Bunn, Taylor, Tuanzebe, Jedinak, Green, Davis or Lansbury (if fit) and Grabban.
Our bench is looking really strong so not just about having depth to cover injuries but also allows Bruce to make changes throughout the team during a game with players of quality that can make a real difference.
Can’t wait for tomorrow now, win next two at home and we will probably be second – don’t think Derby will keep up the pace. Should’ve beaten Peterborough though and won the cup so it’s time to sack Bruce really. If we don’t win the Champions league next year i’m not renewing.
Now now Owen. You have been a Bruce believer all along, so looking good for you and your prediction. I simply don’t rate him. If we go up (and that’s not a given) i will be grateful to him, but I still wouldn’t want him as our manager in the Prem. He’s almost as experienced at getting relegated as promoted. just sayin!
Anyway, I’m still hoping you are right and I’m wrong.
Leed fans are gutted that they never went in for Grabban, I don’t know much about the lad but hey ho he’s got experience so they say. Yes the bench looks healthier now, will he let them loose tomorrow’s game?. Utv.
See that Hutton has not been offered a new contract because of FFP concerns but neither would it seem (according to Bruce) can any player out of contract at the end of the season be offered a new contract – goodbye Gabby!
What a joke FFP is – like regulating a ‘widget’ manufacturer and saying that although you comply with all aspects of Company Law under our special rules you cannot reinvest next year – but it’s OK just give away some of your widget making machines and you’re sorted.
What FIFA should be doing is regulating these obscene transfer fees and wages and regulating the distribution of TV money on a fairer basis rather than protecting the wealthy clubs.
Rant over.
Just to clarify – I should have said EUFA not FIFA – can’t even blame predictive text!
Is that right in saying we cannot build if we get promotion? I was under the the impression clubs get money for that? To me that’s ludicrous rule as teams like Man city, Man Utd, and the other shower of shite get away in breaking the bank.
Bill – if we get promotion it seems there is less of a problem. Because we don’t know then we can’t commit as (interpreting Bruce’s comments) we will have to cut back expenditure if we are still in the Championship.
Basically, it seems that we have to hope for the best but plan for the worst – well known saying of Jack Reacher – author Lee Childs – massive Villa fan (Lee Childs not Reacher) who uses Villa players names in his books.
My point is that FFP is ridiculous because it only looks at one factor – losses over a rolling three year period and ignores matters such as investment and cash flow. It assumes that, at any given point in time, a rich owner will pull out and abandon the club – so much for their vaunted ‘right and proper person test’.
Take our poor buys – Tshibola and McCormack. First off we give them long contracts because we can write the purchase price off over a longer period (the length of their contract) hence less costs per annum. They flop – we can’t afford to sell them at a knock down price because all the the losses then accrue immediately and worsen the rolling three year loss. So we have to loan them out for a fee (hopefully) and to offset wages. Micah Richards – can’t loan him or sell him apparantly but neither can we terminate his contract because, again, the total cost of paying up his contract immediately, accrues to the bottom line again worsening he rolling loss.
It’s a joke and prevents clubs from making rational business decisions – even Wenger has now come out and criticised it as protecting the wealthiest of clubs.
Ffp is over a 3 year period accumulated loss allowance . 1 year premership is 35m,2 years championship (2×13=26) =£61m. Last tears accounts (2 yrs prem 1 year championship) are due Feb! We will be just under £83m loss allowed. In April 2017 needs to be 60m. Whilst not due to be published till next Feb 2019 Fifa can audit in April and if they think it will exceed 60m loss can deduct points or fine. Following year it is £40m loss. So if we dont go up we need to make 20m profit in April to stop penaltues and £20m more next season
Do we have £40m of players to sell. So we cut ALL WAGES or do a Leeds
I’ve been reading this Hitch, does it make sense. …
Exactly my point Bill – it completely disregards investment of an ambitious owner so the longer any club stays in the Championship the more it has to cut costs or sell its assets. Then clubs like Chelsea are free to come in and buy up the younger talent offering them ridiculous wages to stop any other club buying them, only to loan them out again – how many players have Chelsea out on loan?
I’m not defending Villa’s profligacy when first relegated but the system actually encourages relegated clubs to take enormous financial risks to get promoted straight away. Look at Sunderland and Hull for instance.
If we don’t get promoted then our loan players (Snodgrass / Johnstone) will go as I suspect will our more valuable assets and you can include some of our younger players in that list and, yes, we will have to rebuild completely – look at Leeds, Bolton, Wolves, Reading, Notts Forest etc, etc. – all premier league sides not that long ago. Will Dr T have the stomach for that?
Or maybe I’ve got it completely wrong?
Bill – should have added – we don’t have to make ‘profits’ as such but we have to reduce our losses – hence, as you say, cut cost (e.g. wage bill) and increase income (e.g. dispose of assets – our most valuable players)
If Gabby was a widget making machine he would be of more use than as a footballer
Read that last time we won 6 in a row was 1990. Good fun winding up Man Ure and Liverpool fans I work with that we are the form team in 2018. Long may it continue.