Well, maybe not, but it was great to hear the fans singing it, wasn’t it?
So, what to say?
Simply put, I thought this was a very competent performance against a very poor Stoke side.
I’m not taking anything away from us, as you can only perform in comparison to the team you play, but Stoke did seem to have very strange tactics, before Crouch came on.
I can only assume Mark Hughes was overly worried about our threat on the counter-attack, but whatever the reason was, the opposition didn’t attack with any numbers; something I found quite strange, given our poor defence last season.
Note the “last season” part there, as we looked way better to me in the Full Back areas.
Cissokho looked very solid, but I’m happy to say that Alan Hutton did too.
To my own astonishment, for a large part of the game, I was actually looking to give Hutton MOTM, but I feel Vlaar pinched it overall. At least you can’t say I’m biased against Hutton.
In fact, I thought it was a very good defensive performance overall, with Vlaar and Sendoros getting very good blocks in and you have to wonder if the CBs are playing a more relaxed style because they aren’t babysitting kids.
I suspect so personally.
Most of the play revolved around the midfield and I don’t think anyone was outstanding here, myself.
It was all very much functional stuff and no one stood out.
N’Zog looked bright in small glimpses, but I thought it was right that he was hooked, with Grealish to replace him.
It was a good game for the latter to come on and his start was steady, just what I wanted to see.
I suspect he’ll be getting plenty of game time this season and rightly so, as I get the feeling he has that “something” about him, which could lead to something special.
Onto the attackers then and I’m not sure there.
Gabby didn’t particularly impress me, but where it seemed he missed a sitter, I don’t believe he did and it looked to me that Shawcross stole the ball off him with a very good challenge.
As for Weimann, he didn’t get that much of a look in really, but he won the ball against some poor Stoke defending and put it in the net. You can’t ask for more than that, can you?
So all in all, an excellent win in a game where I really didn’t expect us to get anything. Happy days.
Big shout for those that were there.
There wasn’t vast amounts to sing about until we scored, but the Stoke fans were pretty subdued too.
Of course, once we scored, there was only one set of fans in it.
So much for Stoke fans being the noisiest.
I’m off to give a Stokey friend of mine some abuse.
As you do.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2727953/TRANSFER-NEWS-COLUMN-Liverpool-remain-keen-Monaco-striker-Falcao-Tottenham-resume-talks-Morgan-Schneiderlin-Memphis-Depay.html
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/aston-villa-pushing-sign-metalist-kharkiv-attacker-sebastian-blanco-4036292
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/aston-villa/transfer-talk/news/report-villa-want-blanco_171988.html
Blanco blanco blanco?utv
Jay Dee – good work; keep ’em coming! Note he’s only played twice for Argentina not sure when. Could there be a work permit issue?
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sebastian-blanco/profil/spieler/54576
According to John Arne Riise we’re interested in signing him and have made contact. I hope that’s not true!
Why?
Hitchens…lol mate. Yet another left back! Lambert seems to collect them 🙂 So could be true….fucking hope not. its about 10 years too late.
Do you mean Riise has said we have made contact about Seb Blanco or enquired about Riise?
OK see what you mean! About signing Riise! Could be old news perhaps PL had a number of irons before signing Cissokho?.
I see we’ve enquired about him to sign him
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/9429882/transfer-news-john-arne-riise-claims-interest-from-aston-villa
Blanco yes riise a big fat no.keep up the good work JD.
Hitchens in the mix to he likes the searching for the story to lol
Your right get in there Hitchens!!!!!
http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/football/premier-league/dalessandro-comparison-implies-villa-target-safe_208189.html
Another piece on Blanco
They are coming thick & fast now just like the Sanchez stories this is a goer IMO
Could be right Jay Dee. Any thoughts on work permit issues?
Can’t see it being a problem
I read somewhere he has a Spanish passport so work permit not required.
In other news http://mobile.avfc.co.uk/default.aspx?s=news-display&aid=4082515
Once one sight mentions it they all follow lead.. so wouldn’t read too much into various sites reporting it..
Look at the Riise story.. four different links to it now on newsnow.. and we know it’s rubbish..
Look at the Sanchez story which I followed from rumour to signing
Jay Dee you did but I also think Lionheart has a point; metro has now picked it up. That’s not to say that the Blanco link doesn’t have substance. It will be interesting to see whether the story develops over the next 24 hours rather than different media outlets basically running the same piece.
That’s the Riise link not Blanco
Riise one would be a pointless signing
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2014/08/19/transfer-rumours-aug-19/
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/08/19/five-facts-about-aston-villa-target-sebastian-blanco/
Sorry Jay Dee I’ve completely bo**oxed what I was trying to say – must be the large martinis or maybe it was the wine!! Metro picked up the Riise story to bear out Lionheart’s point. I was then referring to development of the Blanco links over the next 24 hours! At least I knew what I meant LOL
Drink both Hitchens it’ll sort the old bonce out get it down yer.
Giddy; I did, I have but it hasn’t worked! Any suggestions?
You’ve got to go top shelf mate I recommend port & brandy mixed lovely jubbly. 😀
Sounds good to me. Went for another martini but the missus intercepted and I’m now under observation lol!
LOL mate that’s why I’m single. 😀
Riise would be a terrible signing. Blanco is the type of player we need, but there may be work permit issues as he only has 2 caps for Argentina. Although he plays in Ukraine already, so maybe it wouldnt be an issue, not sure how that works. The Holtby link is interesting too. At least he knows that we need someone in that position. I just hop it doesnt end up being liek the kiyotake chase last year when we ended up with nobody!
Dual nationality so work permit not required.
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/leicester-chasing-metalist-kharkiv-midfielder-sebastian-blanco-4020005
Thanks Tekkers; clears that point up
Have besiktas hired the services of the SCUMs head groundsmen?????
Whoever said Lerner was here to check out a CEO was spot on.
And specifically another bean counter;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11044183/Arsenals-Tom-Fox-close-to-being-appointed-Aston-Villa-chief-executive.html
New chief executive on way. Tom Fox from Arsenal!!!
Just read this must mean he’s not selling. Why would fox leave arsenal if he’s highly regarded there. At least he understands football