Now I don’t know about you, but I thought that was a much better game than the tedium that it seems I’ve been moaning about for weeks.
It had a bit of everything, from chances at both ends to plenty of incidents and what I thought was going to be imminent fisticuffs.
All good stuff, that actually made me feel entertained for once.
As for our actual performance, I think I might be a bit contrary here, but I thought we did better than of late.
Not that I thought we were great, just better.
Mind you, I’m not sure how much of that was down to us and how much was down to Sunderland being really poor. One of the commentators said that Sunderland weren’t the worse side and I’m minded to agree. But they do look totally toothless up front.
They were also apparently without three central defenders today and it showed.
Gabby took his goal well after some terrible defending from Cattermole, who got subbed at half time. We seemed to at least be creating chances and Gabby’s pace caused them plenty of problems. For me he was man of the match, but I found it a bit strange that he was getting involved in many of the incidents, as that’s not normally like him.
Then again, I blame the referee for that.
I don’t often mention the ref, but on this occasion I thought he was poor in that he didn’t take a tight enough grip of the players.
I thought the defence looked a bit more solid too. Vlaar seems to make a big difference and it was bit annoying that he had to go off, with what looks like a recurrence of his previous injury.
It was always a risk rushing him back, but I don’t really see what else Lambert could do.
This time I’m not blaming him.
And just to give a bit of credit where it’s due, while at the time I thought bringing Albrighton on to replace Vlaar was crazy, it did seem to work. It stopped Sunderland upping the pressure and allowed us to take it to them a bit more.
Which we did.
For once, I would agree with Lambert if he said we went for it.
Mind you it’s no more than we should have done.
There was a string of play halfway through the second half where we looked like Barcelona.
How nice was that to see?
Not that we were that good. It just demonstrated how poor Sunderland were, in my opinion.
Two final points.
The commentators accused us of timewasting as early as an hour into the game and it was mentioned later on. While I wasn’t convinced that we were much worse than we normally are at being slow, it did cross my mind that they might be right.
If so and it’s being used as a tactic, I’ll come straight out and say that’s a disgrace and I don’t want our club to be involved in any of that. It’s akin to cheating or at least not playing the game in the spirit it’s meant to be.
The commentator also mentioned that Bolton have posted accounts that show they have debts of £160 million, due to them not being in the Premier league for two successive seasons. And Lerner thinks we’re in trouble?
Take note Randy. How can you afford not to invest?
Comments
110 responses to “Sunderland 0 – 1 Villa; Better and a win!”
Why can’t we enjoy a win without being labelled anything? I don’t think anyone is claiming we are world beaters or that all is rosy.
Yes oohah is one of the few consistent commenters but so what? it’s not a competition as far as I am aware, unless I’m missing the point.
We only beat Sunderland for fuck sakes and only because of a mistake on there part we have the big boys next brown trousers time I cant relax or enjoy anything at villa atm even yesterday win was like meh thats how bad it is give the team and lambert praise when we play a team off the park and win 5 in a row not just because we beat the worst team in the prem by a mistake so fickle some fans
Don’t forget they had a decent goal disallowed
yes we only beat Sunderland. Then again I wasn’t on here saying we were fantastic when we beat City or Arsenal. Nether did I say that this time. How is that fickle?
Bottom line is we narrowly beat a truly awful team who will go down without their 2 best defenders. If we get 17 more points then lambert has hit his target again and it means him being here next season with the same restrictions imposed on him by Lerner. It will be the same next season and every season until Lerner makes his money and goes. It took years for browns to get rid and their team is much better for it.
Whoopeeeeeee, we narrowly beat the bottom of the league side with a gifted goal, were battered possession wise and were fortunate – 1.They couldn’t hit a barn door 2.They had a makeshift defence.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Baggies & Everton next 4 league games – I’d take a point out of 12, against Baggies, thats it though!!!
True they had brown and o Shea out and would of got at least a draw with those two
So what? Swansea are second best in possession in the Premiership. Last time I looked they weren’t second in the league. Sunderland are so shit they beat Chelsea and were unbeaten in 5. Fortunate? Your opinion. Let’s see you defend us when we lose because we are without Vlaar and Okore, and Benteke is injured.
The team won a game. They showed some improvement. Why not take some pleasure in that? doesn’t make it a wankfest. That’s my point.
So the goal weren’t fortunate? Don’t get me wrong, I’m ecstatic we won and that we strung more than 2 passes together once they were knackered, but I’m also realistic…..
To say that we played well get on my tits, we didn’t, we were better than we have been recently against a team who yes, undefeated in 5, are the worst team in this league by a mile!!
They beat Chelsea yes, hell we beat City and Arsenal – Sometimes you get lucky, us more than most!!!!!
I didn’t say we played well. the goal was the result of a mistake, like a lot of the ones we have conceded this season were. I’m not sure Sunderland are the worst team by a mile BTW, but they are one of them. I just can’t really see that as a lucky victory really, I can see that we are one of the worst teams at the moment, certainly in terms of our playing style. I’m hoping that that will improve. I would love us to put in some decent performances in the games coming up. I’m not confident we will but will continue to hope until they let me down again!
Even we beat arsenal and flucked a win v city. Means fuck all. Even Cardiff beat city they have been awful away this season. Sunderland are bottom 3 team that we played at the right time they are shit and will more than likely go down. We are a bottom 6-8 team going nowhere fast. Even though Swansea arnt in the top 4 they at least play entertaining football and will still finish above us.
3 points means 3 points however you get it so it means a lot more than fuck all. Swansea may finish above us, and I like their style of football. Time will tell on that one but I’m hopeful we might be there or thereabouts (with Swansea that is). Going nowhere fast? I prefer to think we will get somewhere slowly but that’s just a point of view thing.
Not exactly Villa related anymore and maybe it has already been mentioned, but OGS was appointed manager of Cardiff City. I for one am eager to see how he does and hopefully it puts the ‘what if’ questions we’ve had to rest.
Kozak has broken his leg so those that thought he was a crap player can relax safe in the knowledge he’s out for a while.
Didn’t no he broke leg. Tbf he played as if if he had one leg anyway so prob couldn’t tell the difference 🙂
Thought he took his chances well.
Sad news when any Villa player suffers a serious injury.
Terrible news! A bit frustrating too, because this means Lambert will now be forced to allocate even more funds to finding proper coverage up front. Funds that should be used for experienced replacements at LB and AMC.
With Benteke nursing injuries and Weimann still out of form – finishing form – I really do worry about our options now. Gabby is pretty much our only alternative. Both Bowery and Helenius haven’t had a proper run in so far this season and I can only imagine the expectations will do them no favors if either Benteke or Gabby fall to serious injury.
Dont worry lads…the Fonz is back 🙂
Haha – oh lord that is frightful. Then again, I think Carew has a better chance of starting a game than Fonz.
Vaze…where did you get the Kozak news? There’s nothing on the OS
That’s bad news about Kozak, but wasn’t he on the bench yesterday?
Gutted to hear about Kozac I honestly think he is a good player and his goals scored already just proves he can score plenty if given time and games to prove it. He is miles better than bowery and weimann so were quite fucked up front unless tekkers starts scoring again.
I ask again! Where has the Kozak news come from? I cant find anything on the net!
Some sick rumour then?
Langford it ain’t some more bollox from that twat ITK mate?sounds just like it.
Hi Giddy…dont know mate, but I have trawled the net and cant find anything. Surely it would have been on the OS if true. Why would they conceal that?
I see Heitinga has turned down West Ham, could he be Villa bound?
I thought the very same this morning mate,ive heard the barcodes may have poached him but you never know.we could certainly do with at the back with vlaar dodgy.fingers crossed eh.
Yeah… He has got loads of experience plus he is Dutch like Vlaar…time will tell mate
I really hope Heitinga is villa bound would be a secure, solid center back.
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3601737,00.html
Sorry for late reply, play football on a Thursday night and just came on here at lunch in the Ashes.