Wow.
After that I’m sure $ky will be showing more of our games, because they’re guaranteed to be all action, aren’t they?
So while my immediate reaction is euphoria, so if you read through my inter-game comments on the previous thread, you’ll see that this was by no means straightforward.
I have to give massive credit to Brighton here, who even though they were a man down after Mooy went through Grealish from behind, kept attacking us all the way. And if it wasn’t for the fact that they don’t score many, it would have been to good effect.
I don’t know what it is, but as soon as the opposition go down to 10 men, it seems we don’t know what to do and the plan goes out of the window.
I just don’t understand how 10 men can find more space, look the more attacking threat and even pen us in our own half when they’re playing 11.
I wouldn’t mind if it was a one-off, but that’s three times running, which concerns me.
Never mind, the fact is we won this game and I am happy, although I’d have been fuming if we’d have drawn.
Onto the positives.
Well, the first one is that Gareth Southgate was there for the game and you have to think he’d wanted to take a look at Grealish, amongst others.
Quite simply, he couldn’t have failed to be impressed as Jack had a great game today.
He was the one who got scythed for the sending-off, he got our first goal and was the stand out player, showing good vision, spraying the ball all over the place, making decent runs with the ball and even getting back for the odd bit of effective defending at times.
And then we got a goal in the fourth minute of extra time, after I’d been thinking for the previous twenty that it wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t alone either, as you could hear the frustration amongst the crowd.
This, for me, is probably more important, because it demonstrates that like any successful team, the lads don’t give up until the final whistle. Smith will have been happy about that, although I’m sure that game gave him much to think about.
I have concerns about the way our defence seems massively panicky at times, even when we’re a man up, but it’s hard to be too critical when we’ve got what it’s all about, which is the result.
Although in fairness, we should be beating teams at home, in a similar position to us.
The fact is we did, even if we left it to literally the last minute.
And that’ll do for me.
UTV!
I’ve the ability to see the game, believe me it was entertaining, both teams had passions to win this game. Southgate was at the game and if you ask me Grealish has worked himself into the England side. Minns was at fault with the first goal and yes we was robbed by VAR
Blimey, quick reply Bill.
I’m not even sure what the goal was disallowed for, tbh.
I was listening to the Arabic commentary at the time.
Bloody hell, I thought I was going to burst a blood vessel at times.
We have to get a grip of how to play 10 men.
3 sendings off in our favour in 4 games, is that?
Shows the opposition stuggle to contain us. Another positive.
I think it’s bigger than the playing 10 men. we are struggling with midfield possession at times. Brighton were pretty much in charge until the sending off. They are a good team, and probably about our target level this season (realistically speaking).
These are very much the kind of home games we should win, and we did so happy with that, and the fact that we went right to the end.
Sorry Badger😊, I was at my sons bed side watching the match, I really did enjoy the game, yes mistakes was being made and some players were not on form today, Wesley I just don’t know what to think about him, he looks lazy to me and no passion in the game, Elgarzi why ho why he got the call today beyond me. he was poor, but hey we won and Grealish was on form credits go to him for getting us the 3 points.
Just a thought. I think Hourihane McGinn and Marvelous is too lightweight. What about Luiz, McGinn and Marvellous?
I reckon that would tighten the midfield and not lose the goals scoring strength. What do others think?
I think the same.
Hourihane definitely offers us something, but as I pointed out at HT, his passing accuracy was 41%. That’s abysmal.
When he’s off, he’s useless and that’s my criticism of him.
He is good when he’s on form and things are going his way though.
I also keep thinking Taylor at LB and Targett as left winger.
Seems you make the best of both of them to me and it allows Grealish to sit behind Wesley, roaming.
Hourihane again loses out.
Grealish was outstanding today. I think Southgate has to pick him now.
Brighton played well today, but we were off our game. EL Ghazi and Wesley were both poor. I imagine Trez start next week, although I doubt he will start Davis just yet. For me, our best team would have Luiz and Trez starting. I like Hourihane, but I think Luiz adds more steel in there.
All in all though, we have played better and not won this season. Lets just take the 3 points and move on!
Wesley needs to start showing more and fast.
I agree.
But he’s in a tricky situation, because where I’d normally say we need to ease him in, we don’t have that choice.
He’s been brought in as our record signing and the pressure on him is massive.
Smith must have very strong faith in him and he’ll surely come good.
Or else the manager has made a big misjudgement and is expecting too much from Wesley.
Tbh, I thought Wesley looked lightweight again today, but I’m hoping he comes through what seems to me a massive learning curve for him.
If our striker is going to be pulled for a VAR offence, I’d rather it was because he was bullying the goalie (even with an elbow) than none at all.
He needs to start “putting it about”, imo.
It was a fair challenge on the GK which indirectly led to the goal – the fact it was disallowed demonstrates everything that is wrong with VAR – not that Wesley isn’t being ‘strong enough’.
Is it that the nature of South American players is to be mercurial rather than having a lack of attitude? This can, and often does, lead to disparate levels of performance and it’s where we as fans and Smith as manager need to adapt our thinking. If Wesley is having an ‘off day’ then Smith needs to be confident enough to change things bringing on Davis or AN Other – whoever that might be – and Wesley needs to be confident enough to accept it.
That’s the problem Hitch.
Davis isn’t there yet and we don’t have A.N. Other.
Kodjia is the only alternative and I firmly believe he wants out and isn’t interested in playing for us in the slightest.
I’d even go so far to say that his “injury” is just a mask and he might even have refused, after the offer that supposedly came in for him.
Hah, see what I did there again?
Hence why we’re open to offers, for him, imo.
I can understand to a certain degree Badger but we are 9 games in, Wesley should be showing some worth by now, the game where he netted 2 goals is the only time I would say he was beginning to shine. I watched him closely today and he didn’t do enough for me. I’m not writing him off as yet just saying he’s got to drop whatsoever holding him back and start working harder like the rest of the team. Today we had 2 players under achieving Elgazi , Wesley, being noticeable, I know we played 10 men for a large part of the match and it took us time to work for spaces but Grealish found his skills today and Southgate must be blind if he don’t pencil him in. We won and its getting us noticed.
Here’s one of those stats – Villa winning today ended a run of 50 games in the PL where they’ve failed to win after falling behind at any stage in the game!
Let’s hope it’s not another 50!
That’s a poor record so nice to end it.
Gentleman
Please get off Weasley’s back. games in and 4 goals. That’s a 44.44% return per match. What are you after on our return to the Premiership?
Those of you who are too young to remember, go back to Simon Stainrod 6/29 and we were relegated. Jordan Ayew 6/30 we were relegated. Weasley 4/9 – get real. Get into reality. We’ve not signed Ronaldo and demand a goal a game
The last time we were promoted under Graham Taylor it went to the wire for us to retain our status in the top league. We are so much better than then.
Weasley is learning his trade. If he were the finished article he would cost £100m. If we spend £25m we get a player, who is near 1 in 2 matches.
Now I am getting old. The problem with society is we want it now and are not prepared to wait. Learn patience.
Now I’ve vented my spleen I will get off my high horse.
couldnt agree more with sidforever post
wesley needs time to show his worth. he is contributing right now, but its in patches and he is struggling to affect the games as he knows he can. yesterday games he wasn’t that bad. he wasn’t alone, a few players struggled yesterday. but they don’t receive the same spot light. mings struggled particular in early stages, the guy who scored the goal targett didn’t have a great game defensively, el ghazi went missing and missed another sitter.
i don’t like to rate the individuals i much prefer to look at the teams performances. i thought we came up against a very good side and i know most of you , thought they are pants and we should win these games . but probably how brighton saw us as a must win game. they came to win and still tried this a man down.
we won two now on the bounce and that is really good. yet still some of us are unhappy. we have to give these guys time to gel, 9 games is still way to soon to start being over critical. takes different times for different individuals. can take game to seasons.nobody can tell. i think wesley will come good he out muscled the brighton defenders lots and got penalised wrongly by referee.
I remain undecided on Wesley at the moment. It would be harsh to judge him on the back of nine games. He has had a few games where he has shone and others when you wouldn’t know he was playing. Over time hopefully he will become more consistent. I do think however that we have missed an alternative striker. Someone who offers something different when plan A doesn’t work. We need to address this in January, especially if Kodja is going to be offloaded. In the meantime I think Smith needs to give Davis more game time. He is getting 5 – 10 minutes here and there when we are in need of a goal. That’s nowhere near enough for him to prove his worth
On a different note, how refreshing to be on first on Match of the day! Grealish got most of the acclaim for his performance so stands a good chance of getting an England call up.
I bet Liverpool fans are hating VAR at the moment. The foul on Origi was worse than the one at VP yesterday but the goal was allowed. No consistency, only shockingly poor decisions being the consistent factor.
having watched pool utd where another var intervention ended with wrong decision. VAR was supposed to correct wrong decisions. if the ref or lines men fooked up. var could correct the wrongs and everybody would be happy.
but nobody is happy var is a joke. referee and linemen are not making decisions anymore. they allow play to continue and then consult var to see if they can sort out the mess.
the utd goal was a clear foul in utd own half on pool. but utd then had a good half a minute to score,where the lansbury goal was stopped second after grealish dived in the referee eyes only. double standards or cheating fookers
var needs to be address now. it should only be used to correct a obvious mistake only and not be making the referees decisions and linemen