I have to say from the off that I think Cardiff will be down there in the relegation mix come the end of the season.
Why?
Because they’re poor and in my opinion should never be classed in the same league as us.
I don’t dislike them and indeed have nothing against them, but they just shouldn’t be anywhere near on a par with us.
They shouldn’t even be in the English league, but that makes me sound a bit racist, which I’m really not.
I do dislike their owner though and my best estimation of him is that he’s a tool of the highest order.
But that’s by the by.
I’m not here to talk about the opposition.
That said, I feel that it sets a background to what I was expecting today.
For me, nothing other than a win would have been good enough.
The simple fact is we got that win, which makes our position in the table look quite a bit better.
It was a poor first half though, wasn’t it?
Benteke looked sharp and we seemed to be playing a bit wider than we have done of late, which had me thinking that Lambert had done his homework about Cardiff’s wing play.
Tonev did well on the left and dare I say it? Kozak looked better too.
I got the impression that if you give him the proper sort of service, he might actually have something about him, which is contrary to what I’ve seen up to now.
I thought we looked quite bright from the off, but the first half got worse as it went on for me and both sides were very, very average.
The half time possession stats of Villa 40% and Cardiff 60% disappointed me, but didn’t surprise me.
Anyway, I thought we looked a bit better in the second half, but already had another “no goals” type headline in my head for this article.
But then Nedel took out El Ahmedi and conceded a free kick.
What a stormer it was from Bacuna.
Marshall never had a clue and in it went.
Did we deserve it?
On balance, yes, just about, I suppose.
Cardiff then went on the offensive, bringing on another striker and it proved to be at their cost as Kozak scored a somewhat scrappy header to make it 2-0.
The defence looked decent, although not totally convincing, but light years above what we saw last season.
As for Frazer Campbell being pacey, did anyone else notice how Bacuna murdered him when tracking back a couple of minutes before the end?
The final possession statistics were Villa 44% and Cardiff 56%.
That’s disappointing against such poor opposition at home in my opinion.
Still, I’m not taking anything away from anyone.
We play to win and that’s exactly what we did.
So happy days, I guess.
Next up?
A poxy international break.
The only question for me is why do we have to do these friendlies?
I meant to say that the fans were brilliant today.
They certainly don’t seem to have lost the faith.
Me personally, I think most just want to see a team of players trying their hardest.
And we definitely get that.
Ay they were booed of at half time !
There is no way you can say they don’t try.
And the booing was somewhat muted, same as usual.
Yes, it’s there, but not mainstream, imo.
El Ahmadi was off the pitch for Lowton when Bacuna himself was fouled and went on to score the resulting freekick. Lowton’s introduction freed up Bacuna to make that run through the middle and really helped us push on and get the win, not to mention his late assist to Kozak. Nice to see Lambert using his substitutions in a proactive manner, something that he hasn’t really shown too much of in the past. Lowton and Bacuna have the potential to form a good understanding when they start together and i’m sure Lambert will give it some thought for the future.
i do feel Lambert’s finally… Finally understanding how to use Kozak. You play for him, not directly to him and he’ll score you goals. Lambert and Lowton looked good, and I believe Tonev and Luna could make a good partnership, this does prove for the first time in a long time, we have depth, and the depth is coming together. West Bromich will be full of confidence after the International break as they out played and should have beaten Chelsea without Ramires’s pathetic dive. However a fair few winnable games coming up that should definitely be wins.
As too “The only question for me is why do we have to do these friendlies?”
Because the world cup is next year… International Manager’s need their players more than they already get so the few times they do get them, they have to have such friendlies.
Really fucked with international futball breaking up the season it’s a joke
absolute joke mate, World Cup year though, they’ll be a few more than usual. Typical we get a win just before.
Eh, nothing wrong with international football.
We’ll turn the baggies over mate they have an inferiority complex to us (and rightly so). They’ll try and take it to us and we’ll get behind them on the counter and do em 3-1 ( you heard it here first!).
Ah, fair enough Angel. I couldn’t see 🙂
No surprise with my crap eyes, these days.
I see Matt Kendrick says we played a 4-1-2-1.
I’d agree, if he meant a 4-1-3-2 originally 🙂
Cardiff were absolutely terrible and we made them pay for it. I felt sorry for Benteke, he makes some beautiful runs into the box but we failed to supply him time and again. Other sides would have had 6 or 7 against them today, but the way we have been of late, today was good.
Cannot believe Bowery gets on instead of Helenius, the latter is head and shoulders above!
Bacuna and Clarke were decent today and another clean sheet, in fact the closest they came to a chance was calamity Kozaks “clearance”.
I may sound negative, Im actually quite happy, 3 points in the bag but I cant help think it was more a reflection of how poor Cardiff were.
Agreed, Helenius is far above Bowery, though I think Lambert really, really wants Bowery to actually come good, I just don’t see it.
Also agree, Cardiff were quite poor, but so are many teams in the EPL which is why it’s so up for grabs for spots compared to the usual domination of few.
Andrew, nothing’s up for grabs, imo.
It’s CL or nothing and this stupidly overly-priced deal that BT have just done (which doubles the money paid) will only lead to the gap being expanded.
At least the Europa is part of that deal, so it MIGHT be worth being involved in from now on.
Eh, it is though. While it’s clear that we’re not getting CL, a shot at even a top 7 position is clearly there for the taking, but then so is dropping to 15th. Unless you’re Liverpool, Arsenal or Southamtpon at the moment, then games have been proven to be very up in the air between the other teams. I don’t see much changing either, other than maybe City getting a great run of form.
Europa has always been worthy of being involved in. Much rather we be involved in playing in Europe, even against the likes of Rubin and Malmo than playing a round earlier in the domestic cups.
Andrew, fwiw, I’d rather be in Europa than out of it, by a long chalk.
But up to now, if you actually win it, it’s only worth a couple of mill and costs you loads of games that apparently takes too much out of the lightweight players we have these days.
I believe the shit down the road actually lost money in taking part, for example.
That’s the argument, anyway.
I’d go back to the old format of knockouts for both the Europa and CL, but a Beeb article summed it up quite nicely today, in that the big clubs might get knocked out by a little team, which doesn’t suit the books.
Disgraceful, imo, but that’s what happens when you make it a money orientated game.
Bastards, all of them who run the game, imo..
But it’s a different discussion, I guess.
True, but then lets say Villa drew Sheriff, who we’re clearly better than, though they look very dangerous on the counter and can make chances, we have one lapse, 30 shots and draw 1-1, and lose on penalties, while that could be what makes football fun to watch, it’d still be a terrible way to go out, no? Seems a bit more real, be it because English clubs will always be bigger than Moldova clubs, that even if they have one lapse, it doesn’t kill em.
Plus, it gives new clubs a chance to say, we played 6 games in the CL, or 8 if they had to quality, like Sociedad. Will they get another chance? Not for a long time with the way they’re going. They get to play 3 regulars in United, Schalke and Shakhtar and that’s gotta make their fans, despite knowing they now have no chance of going through, excited every game. Even teams like Viktoria who probably tend to win their league/make it into Europe at least, their fans get to see teams like City, Bayern and CSKA live, for at least 3 games, unless they’re traveling and make it 4-5-6. Think changing it to a strict knockout competition could ruin it for millions of fans. Plus of course it would ruin it for the giant clubs for monetary reasons.
I must admit, I was thinking Helenius too.
I think Lambert really rates Bowery though and he did have a decent attempt, fwiw.
Favourites, imo, but we’ll no doubt see, long term.
I cant see Helenius waiting long term though, seems a guy who wants to play, especially as he was cream of the crop in his previous season. Hope not but It may be a case of use him or lose him.
Agree mate Cardiff were awful if we had lost or drew today it would have been a new low even for lambert
But we won.. So why mention the obvious!?
Pleased with the 3 points, the result was imperative over everything else today. Still, the performance was pretty poor and tbh it looked like a match between 2 struggling sides low on quality.
As for the “poxy international break”, I think you’ll find WC play offs are taking place so those countries that have already qualified have to play friendlies to prepare for the WC.
And Cardiff’s owner might be a bit wacky, but since taking over there is no doubt Cardiff have improved, 7 years down the line with Lerner and we’re as bad as we were when he took over. So who’s the real “tool” then?
Well…. A win AND a clean sheet at home. That in itself is as rare as rocking horse sperm. Got to say that Cardiff are the worst PL side I have seen in a long time. I was worried that even if they showed a tad ambition they may have taken all 3 points bearing in mind our home form. Great strike by Bacuna. For me, Bacuna and Lowton would make a good right side partnership. Fans were good today and should be saluted for their loyalty during the period that our home form as been shite!
Bring on the Baggies
We will NOT be relegated, but that is NOWHERE NEAR good enough for our great club
Fuck off Lerner, the Villa is OURS
Langford were you in the Trinity today row AA?
BWS…NO, didnt go today. I wont be going again whilst Lerner keeps a padlock on his wallet. Watched a really good stream from the comfort of my settee. And your right Tonev will be excellent with another 8 to 10 games under his belt IMO
Mate had some lads from your neck of the woods in front of me today (with their West Country dialect) Soo I Just wunderred?
Armchair wankers like Langford who are fucking experts. Straight out of the ianrobo school of wankers.
Andrew, we’ve run out of debating space.
“Plus of course it would ruin it for the giant clubs for monetary reasons.”
My point exactly.
We’ll do it another time pal, I’ve no doubt.
Let’s concentrate on today’s game please.
Absolutely dire for 70 minutes. Didnt even look like scoring. Game changed when Lowton came on and Bacuna pushed out wide. Why on earth didnt we start with that formation…thats what we have all been saying for weeks.
Great free-kick by Bacuna, then nice assist by Lowton for number 2.
Still not convinced by the likes of Tonev, Kozak, KEA, etc, but we didnt have much choice today. For me, its more of a 4-4-2 formation- Delph + 1 in the middle, Bacuna and Tonev/Gabby wide left and give Benteke/Weimann a decent run of games together. No more of this 4-3-3 or 5-3-2 stuff.
Although Cardiff were poor, the back 4 defended well again. Very impressed with Vlaar this season.
Agreed, Vlaar seems to have got his head around things now.
He looks a lot more solid and seems to understand more about the pace of our game.
Not quite a Paul McGrath and not even on a par with many Villa defenders I could name, but he’s getting there.
We still look very average overall, but we beat the shit that is Cardiff, which is all you can ask.
I’m nowhere near convinced that we’re even approaching “good”, but there you go.
Badger I have to disagree Benteke was miles off the pace today and Kojak was /is/ allways will be a bag of shit (even though he scored), got the first touch of a rapist and for a fell 6ft 6 (or whatever) is worse in the air than Crouchie but that’s doing Crouchie an injustice because at least he’s half decent on the deck.
El Ahmedi imo had a good game breaking things up in the middle of the park and Tonev, well that kids going to be a star, small flashes of brilliance today something we have been unaccustomed to at VP for a good while.
Not the best (or worse) performance I’ve ever seen at VP but as you say a wins a win.
Fair comment BWS and we’ll just have to disagree on that one.
I wouldn’t say Benteke was stunning in his performance, but he was our biggest threat by a mile, for most of the game, although he did drop off, same as the team overall until we got that first goal.
The point was he looks sharp again, imo.
The truth is, if you watch him, he reminds me of Carlton Cole when we had him.
A lumbering giant who ambles.
But waaaaaay better in that he actually scores.
As for Kozak, I’m more encouraged by what I saw today.
That is, I saw something about him, which I haven’t before.
That’s a positive.
What you reckon to Tonev? Honest for for first time in years I thought I was watching a player worth the entrance fee just for the privilege, not there yet but potentially something very special, plus for the first time in ages we had width.
I liked the look of Tonev today mate.
He has the makings, imo, but I’m not convinced in the way Lambert plays players.
We seem to have players that can play a system, but we’re just not playing any particular system, if you see what I mean.
I don’t have a clue as to what Lambert is trying to do, in all honesty.
I actually think he’s pissing in the wind myself, but what do I know?
I know where your coming from Badger, at one point Benteke and Kojak challenged each other for a header from a forward pass and when Guzan hit it long for Tonev (something straight off the training ground) but then no one got into the box when it was obviously pre-planned so they should have been piling into the box for the cross left me thinking wtf what was the point?
Ron Vlaar is looking the business.. No coincidence he’s improved and we have kept four clean cheers this season.
Bacuna looks like a top player in the making..
Does look quality mate and that free kick was top draw but ( I’m assuming you were down there today) and I know I’m going on but how good was Tonev in flashes today?
Cheers = sheets 🙂
Great win wins a win.As for tools I’m sure a few will be picking holes in our win.I don’t care how we get em as long as we do.2-0 is a win and a clean sheet.Well done AVFC,Lambert and the players.If anyone is picking any holes god you must be sad.UTV
JD behave, ok we won and there were some positives but over all as a performance it weren’t great so calm down son.
Sorry dad
OK don’t let it happen again or it’ll be straight to bed for you me lad with no tea!.
Mate had some lads from your neck of the woods in front of me today (with their West Country dialect) Soo I Just wundered?
Just hope we buy a play maker in Jan as a min..
A bit smug Badger saying how poor Cardiff are and that they don’t belong in the Prem. That’s normally the sort of elitist shit spouted by Sky4 clubs. If a team has been promoted, then they deserve to be in the mix. They actually had more possession than us, so do we deserve to lose our place in the top flight?
Good win today, we’re still shit, we got lucky.
Not a Perfect Day.
Cardiff were a Neighbourhood Threat.
Fans are tramps. It costs £20k to get that WMP helicopter out per hour and we had to pay it today as their knuckle dragging fans wanted a piece of the English. Talk about being racist them fuckers.
Hope Cardiff City Dragons get relegated back to the Welsh Premier League where them scumbags belong.
“We got lucky” Garbage…
They had… Despite 14% more possession, 2 shots on target, compared to Villa’s 6 and 8 shots total compared to Villa’s 17. Villa weren’t lucky, Villa were hardly even troubled.
We shouldn’t be troubled by a team as shit as they were to be fair
We weren’t!
Nice to see the Cardiff fans singing anti-English songs. Quite hart-warming I thought considering we let their clubs represent us in Europe.
Who was the geeza on the lower North Stand with a mini-blow-up-sheep!!!???? We saw you son!!!!
We won today and tonight we are in the top half of the table. No slagging the team off please boys!!!
Bacuna was MOTM. We need to play him in Central Midfield as he is the attacking creative player we are crying out for. Trust me!
VTID
yeah, baccuna what an exciting player he is looking to be, versatile, 100% solid going forward and back and wicked free kick, as well as the Cardiff keeper I was sure he was going for the other side of the goal, he just seemed to shape up at the last second to send it right side and if that feint was intentional which I think it was that is incredible technique.
another one of lamberts crappy signings eh? 😉
very important and great result for us, another clean sheet(and at home too)against a team who came for the point all day long much like west ham did last week this time we got in the lead and as soon as we did and Cardiff had to come try and play we finished it.
and some of you guys give kozack a break, the guy goes and scores, again and he’s still getting slagged after only a handful of games.
heard tekkers yell like fuck at bowery for not returning the ball right at the end there? 2 nil up and the game won, he was still furious, believe he’s still got the passion for sure.
agreed 100% NM – I saw the passion in tekkers as well. Him and Sylla clearly get on well together
Kozak – he got a lot of the ball and was in the right place at the right time in the game. Yes he fucked up a bit at times but remember Rodney Trotter up front for us? And Crouch didn’t turn out too bad did he? Patience
Our next four home games are Sunderland (Win), Man U (Lose), Crystal Palace (Win) then Swansea (Win)
I will make a judgement on Lambert/Lerner at 1st Feb when I sober up and that transfer window opens. At the moment with Villa we are really sky high with pride or down in the gutter. What a fucking rollercoaster being a villa fan!!!!