After last week’s poor show against Newcastle, where I basically spat my dummy out and couldn’t be bothered to write anything, I determined that I’d try to look at today’s game in a more positive light.
I didn’t really need to as it turned out, because straight from the off the Villa were very good to watch.
We took the game to Hull and played with a really high tempo, something that I’ve often said is our best asset.
We were quite simply too sharp and fast for the opponents; so much so, that they looked a bit shell-shocked, in my opinion.
Just when some of us were slating Gabby and Andi Weimann for a lack of goals, so they turned around and proved us wrong.
Gabby took his goal well with a sharp turn and shot, which reminded me of Kenny Dalglish in his heyday and Weimann did well too, after a nice ball in from Richardson.
So two up at half time (it could easily have been three if Westwood’s free kick had been an inch to the right) and we were cruising towards what I thought was going to be a 4 or 5-0 job.
So what on earth happened in the second half?
You might say that Hull massively stepped up their game, but I don’t believe that was the case.
My money says we totally took our foot off the gas and let them back into it.
So much so, that they looked more dangerous than us.
Perhaps it was a case where our lads had just run themselves into the ground, in which case I’ll forgive them.
But I doubt it myself.
I reckon it was down to Lambert wanting to protect the lead; a poor tactic.
Whatever, there were quite a few positives.
The defence looks pretty solid overall.
Cissokho gives me loads more confidence about our left hand side.
And young Grealish just scares the proverbial out of the opposition.
Mr Potato head had obviously done his research and told the players to take him out.
If the kid can stand up to the “treatment”, I see a great future for him.
The biggest positive of all?
That’s 7 points out of 9.
Better than I expected, if I’m honest.
must say im more happy now than i was a few weeks ago , anyone know what the situation is with grealish’s contract. think i read it was down to its last five months and that he was reluctant to sign a new one. anyone know ?.
I read (in the BMail I think) that discussions are ongoing and Grealish (who is a Villa fan) wants to stay. It looks like all the contract negotiations are going to take place after Monday (close of the transfer window). I expect Vlaar and Delph to get new contracts. Delph has already indicated he wants to sign a new contract and we’ll just have to wait and see on Vlaar.
sweet hope your right. would hate to see him go just when he is starting to get a chance in the first team .
Good defensive work from our back four.Silly to let Hull back into the game.Midfield solid too & good going forward.Gabby & Weimann prove they can score.Good victory cracking first half but touchy cloth 2nd half IMO.Good victory UTV
Good result but the problem with gabby is you have to watch about a dozen shit performances before he puts in a good one. Why can he not be more consistent. He has been around long enough. But great start to season and good foundations and points tally to take into our tricky run of games. Feeling more optimistic now than 3 weeks ago. Couple more signings please !!!!
Good 3pts I agree we stepped off the gas second half can’t see the tactical benefit in that as you can quite easily get punished.some toughies coming up now hopefully vlaar’s injury ain’t serious the break has come at the right time where he’s concerned. Onwards & upwards hopefully. 😀
Lol I’m being moderated I must watch my foul language.
No Giddy, that’s nothing to do with it.
Here’s what we get;
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Akismet is the spam bot. It isn’t perfect, but it keeps a right load of crap off the site. Unless you want to buy some crappy shoes or sunglasses, that is.
Them very same thoughts Badger was said by comments from radio pundits, Villa took the foot off the gas, when Villa went in at 1/;2 time it was said that Bruce would demand hard line tactics and it happened, they also thought that lack of energy was seen in players in that second half, but who off the bench could maintain the first half ,not Bent, not Cole, Grealish was a good replacement but the likes of Sanchez he’s got to know the team in general, good result I’m happy for the lads well done the Villa.
No radio over here Bill, so hopefully it shows that I’m not a million miles off the mark in my thoughts.
If we’d kept the pace up, we’d have pissed that game, imo.
Lambert bottled it.
Any win is a good win and we can go into the international break with confidence high. The next 5 games are massive for us and anything we can take will be a bonus.Having said that i can see us surprising a few teams this season. Anyway at least we can all enjoy the international break without having to look at the lower end of the table.
It was vital we took points from our first 3 games. So far so good.
Well done lads, good, positive start to the season. 🙂
Bruce said first half was the worst they’ve played since he took over. Only 28,000 today yet again it was Hull
Yes, you could look at it like that Oohah, I suppose.
Hull were shite first half, simple.
But I’m looking at the points.
We needed them and we’ve got them.
The next games are scary.
True badger 3 points were crucial today with sept fixtures. Though I still think we will pick up some points in sept.
7 points in 9. Tomorrow seems a big day for us, as we still need something. Especially as our next 5 games were the top 5 last season. Although bar Chelsea, they all look suspect at times and our countering could do really well against them.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/karim-el-ahmadi-re-join-feyenoord-confirms-7696978
Confrimation of KEA exit. Personally wish him all the best; always tried and put in a shift for us.
We played Hull off the park first half that’s why they looked dire so why can’t Bruce give credit where it’s due? At least Hull got more yellow cards than us – first time this season we didn’t get the lot! LOL
Wonder who will be a Villa player tomorrow then!
You tell us.
I’m hearing Gabby Agbonlahor will definitely be a Villa player tomorrow.
Good summing up Badger, see Oohah’s a bit quiet about our back four this season but no doubt he’ll find a new whipping boy soon enough.
At the moment I think it would be hard to criticise the back four – all seem pretty solid so far. Only slight worry may be a slight lack of pace at the back but its been a long time since we had four big defenders who can all put in a decent header and throw themselves in front of the ball. Combined with Guzan and with Okore coming back, we look pretty good defensively.
With the return of the beast and perhaps someone new in to supply some decent crosses, maybe we could be turning a corner?
Back four done better this season but let’s see how they do in sept when they play against world class strikers. Stoke, Newcastle and hull have nothing up front tbh. Can’t see us keeping a clean sheet v Liverpool think we will get blitzed. Hope bentekes bk as he always does well at anfield.
Well at least we seem competitive now.. wasn’t that what we were worrid about.. Stoke Newcastle Hull are similar to about 12 other clubs.. so things look a lot better then when we kicked of against Stoke..
We didn’t get blitzed last season by Liverpool when we had a worse defence and midfield. Nothing like positivity though.
BWS, agreed.
I hate the saying “he always has a mistake in him”.
Show me a player that doesn’t, is what I think.
In the history of football as any player ever had a flawless 90 minutes?
For me the to stand out players so far this season have been Senderos and Hutton. Senderos as been well, outstanding and he seems to have a great never say die, give all for the shirt ethos about him (a Villa legend in the making?).
Hutton – training with the kids for the past few seasons well just what was that all about?
Vlaar at fault for their goal if you watch it on motd. Awful defending left their player a free header towards our goal no challange nothing. Watch all the errors of vlaar and senderos unfold when we play pool etc they will run riot
No he wasn’t Sanchez was, gave away a needless free kick, regardless of what happened from from set piece (Vlaar at fault blah blah blah) Hull should have never been gifted the opportunity.
Yes but vlaar was marking the guy who headed it goal wards or supposed to be. Hopefully he will be off to arsenal today
Ok fair enough but it was still a stupid and totally unnecessary free kick to give away (that sort of thing really annoys me) and it needs to be ironed out of Sanchez’s game pretty sharpish.
Any transfer rumours.. is it Cleverely or bust..?
Midland Agent on twitter claims there’s a 6m offer on the table for Milner from Villa.
Andrew.. is there any substance to that rumour??
No idea. Have no idea how good they are as a source. Haven’t really followed them on our other signings.
The milner rumour is wishful thinking . We won’t go down but I’d say about 13 14 after watching us today
I would also say which may not be that well received .Grealish wear some shinepads and you won’t be constantly on the floor .
Don’t think Midland Agent (not sure who he supports) would make the claim for wishful thinking.
Daily Mail saying Cleverley move to Villa likely tomorrow. Personally I think this will be good for us. Like many I would like to see Milner but it just ain’t going to happen UTV
First on Sky Goals this evening and (guess what) last on MOTD – some things never change!
Would absolutely love it if we could get Salah on loan.. long shot but would be awesome..!!
The kind of signing that we need, be brilliant. Not sure how long of a shot it is bar we don’t play in Europe, but I do think Chelsea would loan him.
If we could get Milner back it would be brilliant – for us and for him: he needs to play 90 minutes every week if he wants to stay in the England set-up. I’m pretty sure Citeh would let him go for the sort of fee mentioned; the big question is whether he’d take the pay cut to come back…
For Sale: this week only! EPL club in Champions League spot for only £200M. Unrepeatable offer.
We looked good in the first half, the sun was shining and it is odd how often that improves Villa. Too quick and too slick for Hull. I agree Lambert was prepared to sit back on what he had in the second half, the whole twin lines dropped back about 20 yards so it was no accident. Fortunately he won’t have the choice in the next five games – we will be pushed back and trying to counter attack.
A stupid foul from Sanchez on a player heading towards the corner flag was the stand out blunder in a remarkably error free show.
I was pleased to see a ref acting straight away on a systematic team assault where players take turns to whack the same man – Grealish. But a player not wearing shin pads shall be sent from the field and not allowed back until he is wearing a pair. Extraordinary to see that in a professional game.
The Ref should have offered a little more protection and as Badger says Potato head had done his homework on Grealish, what was 4 -5 five times he was kicked up in the air? What a cynical b*****d PH is.
The shin pads thing,the lads got to be crazy. Back in the day played with a lad had the same thing about wearing them till in whent one on one with the keeper and the keeprs knee caught him on the shin, the crack sounded like a gun shot.
Well plates, bolts, 3 operations and 18 months later he was back playing but guess what? Wearing 2 pair of shin pads!
No not wearing pads is not the best idea in the world and you’d have thought it’d have an effect on his insurance.
Who’s PH? Agree about the shin pads. It’s crazy to risk such talent. He should be ordered by Lambert and co to wear them. I recall last season Notts County claiming he had been targeted there and asking for more protection from the refs. I love the fact that he just waltzes past other players as if he is having a kick about with his mates.
What a difference to a weekend when we win. Very good start to the season. Hope we can get through the next five games in reasonable shape and that today brings a nice surprise.
Potato Head DS.
Ah that makes sense now. I even looked at their team sheet at the players’ initials!!
Potato Head.
Wearing shin pads is mandatory. Referees are supposed to check players studs, absence of jewellery, and presence of shin pads before every game. If they see a player with/without offending items they should send them off until they are correctly equipped.
And from my experience rightly so.
The telegraph says there’s a problem with cleveleys wage demands could be a stumbling block.
Thank God for that!!!!
I believe he’s on around £40k a week and lets face it we aint going to match that but there again do we want to?
We sign him on a 4 year deal on top dollar and have potential Stephen Ireland mark II on our hands? No thanks.
Why BWS? – does he smoke funny pipes and keep sharks as well 🙂
You heard this one? According to the SKY Transfer centre the noses are trying to sign Ben Arfa???? Is today April 1st ?
Can’t believe anyone watches sky transfer day it’s complete bollocks how they’ve made that into an event to sell even more ads ffs. 99% of rumours on there are complete bollox where the other 1% we all know about anyway. Can hear it now Ronaldo and Messi have been spotted at BMH according to our super dooper bullshitting journalist who got it of twitter!!!!
You really are one boring fecker aren’t you oho aah..
Bet you would prefer the French league where fooook all happens..
Transfer deadline is a great day.. Yes there rumours.. But it’s good to see what’s happening.. Who’s linked with who..
You need to get laid mate
😉
Get laid most nights lionheart. I bet you watch X factor as well
SKY – Ronaldo and Messi to Villa manager Paul Lambert said “Pure lookin’ forward tae workin’ wi’ christian an’ lionel, aam sure th’ wee jimmies will gie 110 percent.”
Lol good one BWS
LoL… ooh ahh no i don’t.. hate reality tv.. everything wrong wth society.. making kids think that fame is the way to make money rather then working hard..
As for you getting laid last night.. think more chance of us spending 30M today 😉
welcome back badger a very fair assessment of the game i watched 2 🙂 . second half hull made changes, reverting from 3 at the backto a flat back four and this stiffened up their midfield. which we had dictated 1st half.
i was very very impressed with grealish the boy really does have the talent, but we av had so many talented youngsters fail after a promising start 🙁 like fonz and moore brothers i hope this kid doesn’t believe the hype, which will come his way. your rite the opposition signaled him out 4 special attention, but he reveled in this spotlight, he sucked them in and bought us free kick after free kick, just wot the doctored order when u need 2 see out time
2 nil is always a dangerous score and its so true lambert didn’t order um 2 defend second half it was fact hull improved and villa were too cautious, went forward but with caution and failed to get number 3, had good opportunities, delph shot wide, when grealish was better placed 2 shoot or square, hull scoring made a edgy end but the added experience and better quality lerner had allowed us 2 use saw us home
please please stay badger don’t allow urself to fall into the dark side again stay positive
Nath, good post mate.
I’ll stay positive as long as there’s something to be positive about.
If we’re total gash, I’ll say so too 🙂
Southampton look like they are going to sign Centre half Toby Alderweireld from Atlético Madrid so hopefully that should see an end in their interest in Vlaar, happy days.
Arsenal being linked with Vlaar!
Great. CL football, last big pay day, if true he’s hardly likely to say no is he?
Hang about I thought Wenger didn’t do players over thirty? So although they might offer more per week we could we offer him a longer contract. Perhaps there is hope.
Vlaar will hopefully go to arsenal if rumours are true
We have a really tight back 4 why you so keen on seeing it undermined? Who’s going to replace him Baker, Clarke?? Deary me no.
Why do you want Vlaar to go.. and who is going to come in to replace him..
You dont have talk some shite at time mate..
Its comments like this that make everyone think you’re either a troll or genuinely have no idea what you’re on about…..
I’m hearing from my sources that we’re on the verge of signing Defoe.
Can’t see it but all the same would be very nice.
More like you have been on the ‘sauce’
only thing i have been on today is your daughter
I don’t have a daughter.. but anything that gets you a little tickle in ur pants.. pillock..