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.
I think thats a fair summary. Terrible game for any neutrals watching as the football from both teams was horrific!
However, defensively we were excellent and although we wasted a few good chances, we did put one away. In fact, i think the scrapiness goal summed up the game!
With that back 4 (plus Okore as back up) and Sanchez sitting in front we will be good defensively, but we need to sort out the midfield and strikers. I still feel we need a creative no.10 to play in behind the striker (it should be Bent until Benteke is back). Delph will have a bit more freedom and we have a few choices out wide. I dont think Weimann should be playing out wide though when we have Nzog, Richardson, Bacuna, Grealish…
Badger…did you know that there are 2 posts running together mate?
I do now.
I looked to see if anyone was posting before I started and there wasn’t.
Just a lack of communication, but it doesn’t matter mate.
The more views the better, imo.
I’ve just texted my Stokey mate to tell him how poor they were and he didn’t bite in the slightest. He just said “fair play”.
Badger no new post alert does this mean my phones fucked again mate???
Only you Giddy, only you 🙂
Try restarting the phone, but it could be anything, such as poor signal.
It seems others are getting them.
Reset factory settings????
No! you only do that as a last resort, as you’ll lose EVERYTHING!
Just turn the phone off and back on.
I’ll give it a bash thanks MATE.
So which post is going to be shutdown…it will be chaos if the two are kept running!
Neither.
I actually watched the game, whereas Oohaah’s post is opinion about the result.
Any opinion is allowed and it just goes to show we aren’t the same person 🙂
I believe you’re set up as an author mate.
If you feel we’re overly negative, why don’t you write articles?
It is allowed and we actively encourage it 🙂
Didn’t know you posted mate I checked first but must of overlapped. Anyway mines better than yours 🙂
🙂
and mine’s bigger than yours 😉
I presume your arguing about who’s the most negative…..oohah gets my vote (just) 🙂
Not tonight though my post was positive. A rarity bit like a villa win
Ha ha that’s probably true as well 🙂
A point I should have made, is that this bodes well for the season in getting a win away on the first day.
But we had a storming win against Arse last season, so maybe it might not mean much.
Note, I believe I heard this was our first win away since new year’s day.
Simply shocking!
Let’s hope those sort of facts are behind us, eh?
You could have also mentioned that Stoke were only beaten at home 3 times last season….suppose thats a bit too positive though 🙂
I did mention that in my post that stoke only list 3 times at home last year. U obviously didn’t read it
Correct…I never take ghostwriters seriously 🙂
What’s the okore situation???? I thought he would at least be on the bench.
Giddy…I was wondering about that too. On the OS PL mentions all of the injured players but did not mention Okore at all. Can anyone shed any light on it?
Not a clue.
Very strange that and I’m wondering if he might be off already?
I hope not.
Badger what do you mean by ‘off’mate???sold???
Nothing would surprise me down the Villa now mate.
I doubt it, but you have to wonder, these days.
That would be a bolt out the blue mate,I’ve heard of no links to him.
Giddy if you’d have seen him in the friendly against Parma you’d have seen why he wasn’t even on the bench. Don’t know if he’s ring rusty after that long injury or he’s scared of doing the knee again but he did’t look to clever, heavy first touch, slow, lose passes.
Probably needs a few months to get back up to speed.
Mate I didn’t see the Parma game but if that’s how he played then dropping him was totally justified, it would be nice to see players actually fighting for their places are you listening gabby????
He will be in a couple of weeks mate with Kovak, Benteke and Cole on the mend plus throwing Grealish into the mix and it’s looking quite healthy up top.
Mate it would do him the world of good warming the bench for a bit,3 or 4 games a season turning it on ain’t good enough by far.
I like Gabby but I see where you’re coming from he is a bit hit and miss and a kick up the arse wouldn’t do him any harm.
Hey mate…I’m getting dizzy going backwards and forwards between posts…this is Badgers post so keep your nose out AND I was replying to him…….can I be your ghostwriter next week when we bead the barcodes? 🙂 they will coming to take you away if you submit 2 positive posts on the bounce 🙂
I forgot that!
It’s a fair point, which makes today’s win even better.
I don’t know though.
How do you think we would have looked if we were playing a decent side today, Langford?
That’s the question I’m asking myself and the truth is I’m not sure.
First match day syndrome and all that.
Yes, Stoke were poor but we made them look crap with outstanding fight and pressure. Extremely impressed with both FBs. They actually concentrated on defending first and attacking second. Thats the way it should be IMO. Hutton and Cissokho are both tough cookies…..many a wideman will be fearful of them this season….as they used to say ‘they dont take any prisoners’. Guzan is looking a bit complacent to me. His kicking today was awful. I actually think that any side would have found us difficult to break down today.
I am a little concerned that Manure might come looking for Vlaar this week after the way they defended today……FFS dont sell!
……….funniest moment today……referee in Arsenal match spraying the vanishing foam straight into Casorla’s face….priceless!!
I am too pissed to type anymore!
UTV….. Top 10 finish P and P….positivity and patience
We are exactly the same as last year but with a stronger looking defence. we have little possesion and only a couple of shots, but we will stay up again and in a way you cant knock lambert if he achieves that again with the money we have to spend. Another same old same old season making up the numbers though
Very minded to agree CB.
It’s going to be a tough season, imo.
But at least we have Okore as backup/starting and more experienced players to come in.
“Extremely impressed with both FBs. They actually concentrated on defending first and attacking second. Thats the way it should be IMO.”
Amen brother.
We’re definitely singing from the same sheet there, Langford.
It’s a simple game, in that if you defend properly, you don’t concede many.
Just the same as Clough or Shanks said; “put the ball in the net and it’s a goal.” or whatever 🙂
Cissokho got forward plenty, but Delph had him covered mostly, imo.
Agree about Guzan, he’d have got a serious bollicking if I was in charge.
As would Hutton for a foul throw, which should be a hanging offence for a pro player!
Bloody hell your on here, thought you all gone out to celebrate, 🙂 it seems we now have a sound defence but lack Penetration in putting ball in the net, still the player for that will be on the pitch next week ,I note, from reading other peoples comments they still think we will struggle, I don’t, give the team time to jell, today’s game will be a boost to the players for this comming Saturday, remember some now have to fight for places like Abonglahor who lacks vision in today’s game, missing goals again, his job is to put them away, I’m awaiting to see tonights replay and see if my feelings are right. I now feel that the tide has turned.:-)
Clean sheet,win 3 points,good start utv
Pissed as a fart – who cares we won and that is what the record books will show! Nothing more to say – bring on the bar codes!!!
Improvements: Both full backs (I am pleased that included Hutton who seems to have got over his thuggish play which cost him the berth); Second centre-back: There will be sterner tests, possibly all the other teams, of the Vlaar and Senderos pairing, but they looked very sound today; Winger(s) Nzog back and he isn’t afraid to run at people – he just isn’t better than average when he does so – still that is better than anything we put out last season barring Albrighton on a good day.
Same old: 36% possession: sure when Sanchez joins the midfield we hope this will improve, but it continues to be the reason why Westwood or Delph should make way, possibly both if Cole is fit; Blunt forwards – after the OS comments pre match I was surprised Bent did not start, but pleased, because I cannot see even Keane improving Bent’s work-rate at his age. Gabby similarly must be facing life as an impact sub once Benteke returns. Weimann looked better than his last season’s form, but not as good as the year before.
Worse: Guzan’s distribution! WTF has he been doing close season – I guess he profited from the tour of his homeland to visit the Disneyland sports shop and buy a pair of Goofy’s boots. His kicking was terrible.
Only 3 visitors won a league match at the Britannia last season – this was a very good 3 points for us. As other have commented Stoke’s formation was odd. So bad that if Lambert had been given the chance to choose how Stoke would line up he could not have picked a formation that would have suited us better.
For f**ks sake stop over analysing our performance. We won – we got some things right and some wrong – pretty typical of most teams. Just enjoy.
Although I agree about enjoying the win…………Monday morning in training we need to do all the good stuff again but quicker and pass more accurate and cut all the bad stuff out which we didn’t do so well. I think Roy Keane has been a big influence and I’m glad the bomb squad are back in – we can’t sell them so may as well play them – they have something to prove and Hutton played well!!! (three words I never thought I would ever say!)
We had a lot of lucky wins last season which could have dragged us down EASY if things had not gone our way. Can’t do this again.
We have 2 x very winnable home games now so we should analyse yesterday and build on it. Drop Guzan in training from Monday to make him work at his game. He is a professional and he will get stuck in and make him determined to be in the 11 on Saturday. Just let him know he’s not an automatic choice.
No negativity – Saturday let’s get behind the team and lets just flipping build on this and show dickheads like Robbie Savage that we are mid-table fodder and we are not going down.
COME ON YOU VILLA BOYS
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of Guzan. Yes, he’s a good shot stopper, but I’m not sure he commands his box particularly well. Also, his kicking is poor at times.
With regards to Okore – he’s only just come back from a serious injury. I have a feeling Lambert is just airing on the side of caution and not rushing him back in.
Really pleased to see our back four had a solid game. Happy to see Hutton is playing well, as he was abysmal under McLeish.
Had my reservations about Senderos, but if he can develop a solid partnership with Vlaar, I will be very happy. About time we had a couple of centre halves playing at centre half!
Don’t know why Lambert is so determined to persist with Weimann – he was terrible in most games last season, but never seemed to get dropped. He’s definitely not a wide player, so I’d rather see him played through the middle if at all.
I think Gabby is past his best now and should be played as an impact player, rather than a first team starter.
Was surprised Bent didn’t get a start. I imagine he was a bit gutted not to get any game time.
Midfield is still lacking, but hopefully Sanchez will help in that department.
Guzan was utter crap today, if you look at it from a goalie pov, imo.
But he saved when it was needed, which is was counts.
Agreed though, he needs his arse kicking, as he looks far too complacent.
On today’s evidence if Guzan tried to kick his own arse – he’d miss.
His kicking was shite today and I don’t remember it being that great any particular stage of his carreer but I disagree with the notion that he does not command his Area, he does very under corners, and is pretty vocal most games, So he is an excellent shot stopper, good under a high ball, commands his area good positioning but kick outs are poor .. I will take that all day long Guzan is one are where don’t need to be concerned about. there are a thousand bigger problems with Villa
As for Bent, no.
As much as I like him, he’ll only be an impact player/sub under Lambert, imo.
Far to lucky/opportunistic for the likes of Lambert.
Yeah, I have no idea what Guzan was doing with his kicking today. This was a real problem because we kept passing it back to him. He cant do that next week.
I thought both fullbacks were excellent today. When they beat us 4-1 at VP, Arnautovic took the piss out of Bacuna, he didnt get past Hutton once. And on the other side, Cissokho looked like he had been playing for us for a long time. Very pleased with the back 4. Be interesting to know how much influence Keane has had on this.
Creativity is still our main issue, but lots of positives today…none more than the 3 points!
There’s definitely a them and us when it comes to Villa, almost last on BBC a lack of time given in video,quick discussions and onto the next, what is it with Midland clubs its all Manchester, London, why a dutch commentator we short of English people, no its about Manchester again, the match looked solid defence you can see that Vlaar happy now got his defenders as for Gabby put him on the bench, he has that uninterested play again in his attitude to the game, think Keane will see that, all in all good result, now for Shearers lot let’s see if he’s got better thinking time about the Villa.
Bill I was saying this yesterday what’s the fucking BBC got against us it’s not just this weekend but happened slot over prior season’s aswell.what the fuck have we done????fucking wankers.
I’m sending them an email mate there going to get it both Barrels & fuck the consequences.
Well looking at lastnight and again now on Albion’s game now its standing out a mile that they are one eyed commentator’s.
Ps just to note before kick off yesterday on final score they went around all the grounds bar the fucking Britannia stadium I would like answers.
Seems to me MOTD add up the league positions [or last season’s ditto] of the two teams and start with the lowest total working down to the highest. Gullit – maybe to translate anything LVG shouts at the ref.? Otherwise the best replacement for Hansen is Martin Keown: not exactly handsome, but a shrewd commentator on matters defensive.
I’ll go along with that about Gulit, but not what your saying on sliding tables, my thinking is south east west midlands north, that’s what fans would like to see, why Man utd, why Arsenal, Why Tottenham, fans are all over, let’s say ground attendance’s Villa should fit into that along with Swansea Stoke not having 30,000 plus, I think we are hard done by with media coverage. Could be footballers don’t want wage cuts, and its ex footballers doing media coverage. IMO.
Good win, clean sheet, impressive debutants, happy days.
Which two players will Lambert bring in before the deadline then ?