I said that before Sherwood’s appointment, I wasn’t too bothered about this game, but after his appointment, I thought we should go for it and do everything to win the game.
We got the result, but I don’t think we did everything to win the game, particularly in the first half, which was frankly really poor.
In fact it was the same old, where we didn’t have an effort on target.
The only points of note were the penalty shout, where Vlaar could have been pulled for leaning on a Leicester player, but for me, it would have been harsh.
Then, there was a cracking shot from James, which Given did really well to save.
We played way too narrow for my liking, with a tempo that was way too slow and predictable.
A typical Lambert scaredy-cat approach, which is just awful to watch.
Marshall out, in my opinion, if that’s what he has to offer and indeed he had better be brushing up his CV, as I’ve no doubt he’ll be getting the bullet.
So, poor overall and Leicester looked better value in the first half.
Sherwood made his way to the dressing room at half time and his team talk definitely had an effect in my opinion, as we immediately looked better.
I want to mention the pundits and commentators here, as I believe they all had it spot on about where our problems lie.
It probably isn’t rocket science and I’m sure that anyone who watched the game would have seen it, but they demonstrated perfectly why Benteke seems to have been so poor lately.
It’s because he often has no support and no one to give/knock down the ball too, because the mids are too scared to get forward, for fear of not being able to support the defence.
It’s no wonder he has looked uninterested and it’s why I haven’t slated him much.
The midfield quite simply do not support the strikers, a fact backed up by a quote that the midfield has one assist between them in a stupid amount of games.
Anyway, it was obvious that Sherwood saw the problem straight away and called for a change, which resulted in players rushing forward when they had chance.
What a refreshing change from the Lambert tactics, where the mantra was safety first and nothing else.
While of course being too gung ho will see us concede, we will at the same time at least score goals, which is what the game is about.
I’m instantly upbeat over Sherwood’s appointment, just for this alone.
Back to the game then and after actually applying some pressure, we looked the better side.
Balls were going into the box and do you know what the single biggest memory from today’s game will be?
I saw Benteke smiling. Not once, but twice!
I suspect he’ll be relishing Sherwood’s appointment, as he knows he’s going to get chances. This can only bode well.
Bacuna scored a nice goal, which was just as well, as he was about to be hooked.
And then Sinclair got the second, which should have meant that we were comfortable.
Only for Leicester to pull one back via a really good header.
Which actually made it a bit of a nail-biter for the last few minutes.
Summing up then, a load of rubbish in the first half and more like a cup tie, in the second.
MOTM? Without a doubt, Given, who kept us in the game.
Ok, £56k a week for a no 2 goalie is daft.
But when you have his quality to call on, it doesn’t seem quite so bad, does it?
Would Guzan have made that save? I’m not so sure.
Anyway, we’re in the hat for the quarters draw, which can’t be bad.
I’m an extremely happy bunny today.
Here here!!
Just to repeat what I said on the previous thread.
If a half-time 10 minute chat from Sherwood can make that much difference then once he’s got his feet under the table we should see improvement. Quicker tempo, shots and more importanly, goals!!!
Just keep us up and then he can mould his own team in the summer.
Looking forward to hearing what he says at tomorrow’s press conference.
We beat Leicester 2,0 under lamberk. All Sherwood did was hit the long ball to Benteke which worked v Leicester. I just hope that’s not his only tactic.
It doesn’t matter at this stage how we win – we MUST win and make sure we get enough points to stay up.
Styles and patterns of play can wait until next season.
Ohhah, sorry mate but that statement about long ball is rubbish, we only did the long ball stuff after the first goal, we didn’t play fantastic we played better than Tuesday night, and Liecster were a better team than Hull, which is why today was an important win, some of the players stepped up compared to Tuesday
For pete’s sake OohAh give over with your inane comments. You are entitled to a differing point of view but not your childish, opiniated drivel
Oh yes and while I’m at it OohAh, we beat Leicester 2-1 after they went ahead. Did u actually see the game?
Can’t Lambert take OoAhh with him??? Same dour tripe, week after week? Or perhaps Lambert IS OoAhh???????
He doesn’t watch the games he just takes opinions from his ‘mates’ down the pub.
I’d say there are probably fans of other teams that have watched us more this season than he has, and he calls himself a fan.
Jesus oohah you’re the Lambert of the blogging world, no plan b.
Yep, agreed Gareth.
If you think things are looking up, I’m even more encouraged! 😉
Safety is looking more achievable already.
All we need to do now is try and convince Oohah 🙂
No, our problems haven’t instantly been sorted, but at least I can see some light.
Agree with the write up Badger, but would like to point out one extra thing, I have slated Cleverly since his first game for us, today he was all over the pitch and made lots of space for himself and Bacuna to run into, Westwood was poor today and I have not seen him like that for a long time.
Bring on the next round, and welcome Sherwood, I watched the passion in his face, that was great to see.
I forgot that VTID and did mean to say it;
Cleverley was better today.
And so he should be, as he’ll be the first one out, imo.
Apologies if I missed the answer to this somewhere, but is Agbonlahor injured? – only just realised he wasn’t even on the bench…
Yep injured apparently, same as Gil, who I think would have loved it today.
I think we missed him, especially in the first half.
Thanks Badger.
Which one…? [Think I know the answer!]
Better performance, Hutton Man of Match for me. Villa always looked in control. Better things to come under Sherwood, should not judge him on his first game.
A week ago I thought there was a zero probability that I’d actually be looking forward to the next game.
But if that’s what Timbo can do in fifteen minutes think about what can he do in a whole week!
But seriously I just want to see a Villa team that plays with some passion and purpose and, if Timbo can give them that, there’s no way we’re going down.
UTV
Agree on Cleverley, particularly second half. Westwood, neat as ever and two good feet but not ambitious enough. I think there’s a really good player in there. Lambert failed lamentably to bring on some undoubted talent so really interested to see if Sherwood can do what our late and unlamented ‘manager’ couldn’t.
Interesting that now Lambert has gone the pundits are really focusing on the safety first, scared of making a mistake approach and also encouraging a return to counter attacking longer ball game. Weren’t they criticising us for that not so long ago?
Said it on the previous thread, but really didn’t recognise Cleverley today; the pointless back-passing and not knowing what to do with the ball when he had possession seem to have left his head, and he actually looked like a more creative player.
Delph needs to learn how to ‘think’, rather than just ‘react’ – but he’s not 18 anymore & I do wonder whether he’s still able to learn anything…
Bradford City in the QF any one?
Payback me thinks
Yes revenge!!!!!
At our place though, they’re pretty useful at Valley Parade and the pitch is a quagmire.
Given should still be our number one in my opinion. Clark needs to get in front of his man on crosses – could have prevented the header. Guzan and Clark are a bad combination – both flap around far too much. Okore and Vlaar at the back for me. Cissokho and Hutton generally solid enough at the back, but I think we need to play with wingers – maybe Grealish and Gil out wide – and then Benteke up top with SInclair playing off him and making runs into the box. Central midfield two I’m undecided on, as I’m not convinced any of them are the finished article. It would be either Sanchez and Delph or Westwood for me. Let’s see who Sherwood can get the best out of. He might even be able to help Cleverly reach his potential, who knows. Good to have a bit of a cup run to give us some hope of winning something!
Interesting call, that, Bencey.
You forgot N’zog, who I suspect might get another go, if Sherwood can gee him up.
The point being that we do have the players/options if we get away from Lambert’s diablical safety first tactics, imo.
If Sherwood can gee up the mids, Westwood loses out for me. Far too average, imo, in that he’s not defensive or attacking.
Bollocks to Insomnia. The guy’s had too many chances and blown them all…
While he has had a lot of chances, playing under McLeish and Lambert compared to Sherwood should be a lot different, and Sherwood could be someone to get the best out of him.
Sherwood was a CM in his playing career wasn’t he? Midfield has arguably been our worst position so far, that and having no one playing wide, but he definitely should be able to fix the problems.
Wasn’t Lambert a midfield player? 🙂
Never seen the game delighted with the result recorded the game , reading the comments think I.LL skip first half lol
I really would skip it, as the Given save apart, there’s nowt worth watching.
Would Friedel have made that save?
You mean Guzan?
Oops, yes, of course.
We’re packing for our hols, so please forgive me if my mind isn’t 100%
Friendel might have saved it but I reckon it’d flew into the top corner with Guzan.
Have a good holiday badger, Canary islands or further a field?
I’d recommend watching it all. You can see the change after half time.
First half same old same old but the second (one Sherwood had had a word) the midfield stopped admiring from afar and got involved instead of needing an oxygen mask to go over the halfway line. When was the last time we won with two goals from midfield? I can’t recall it.
Think Guzan is going to struggle to retain his position on Givens showing today, simply top draw.
That’s what’s needed now some healthy competition for places,about time fuck this walking into the starting line up.gabby fucking watch out.
Should make a record of today’s line up and see who’s there in 12 months, I’d imagine it’ll look very different.
Totally agree, Giddy.
Anyone who’s not performing will be dropped and that is exactly how it should be.
A lot of pundits who know Sherwood say he pulls no punches when it comes down to man to man management I think there will be a few players receiving a justifiable wake up call.
I think it’s as I said Giddy.
Players who don’t perform will be dropped.
And that’s why there have been a few who hate Sherwood and have made it plain in their comments.
Bring it on.
I expect some of our lazy bastards to come out in a similar fashion too.
I’m all for it, fwiw.
Bastards?? fucking hell badger that don’t sound like you but also fairplay mate
Ps have a good un badger lucky sod,take plenty of cream for your head mate 😀
We definitely have some, Giddy, imo
Or at least players who aren’t as wound up as they should be.
Gabby tops the list and I suspect he’ll be the first to complain when he’s outed for what he is;
A one trick pony, who only has pace as an attribute,
And that’s a shame, as I really like him.
The fact is though (imo), if we don’t play the counter, he’s useless.
Crap first touch, crap footballing brain and quite simply doesn’t score enough.
As for the “bastards” part, I have been known to swear in replies.
I won’t do it in the headline posts though.
BWS, you know me too well.
Gran Canaria, mate.
I can’t be doing with this cold.
I’ll be watching developments though and responding when necessary, no worries 🙂
Have a good time kid, don’t get to pissed!
UTV!
Good win today Sherwood looked happy didn’t he.Enjoy your hols badger utv
Not a great performance, but a win and at least some passion shown second half. Nice goal by Bacuna, who had a decent game considering it was his first start for a while.
We definitely look more assured with Vlaar back in the team. Hopefully he can stay injury free now. Benteke was a little better too, just needs to get his confidence back. Westwood gave the ball away too many times, but at least he was trying to make positive passes. I agree that Cleverley had a better game today, but for me he just lacks any real quality.
I personally think Sherwood will clear house with the backroom staff, bar maybe keeping Given as goalkeeping coach. Judging by the first half today, that may be a good thing!!
On another note, I hear Ings is having talks with Sociedad. Would love to see us get him as a partner for Benteke.
Benteke, well listening to talkshite the day they had the sports editor from the people or somewhere, the fella was obviously a brummie and when Villa signed him he phoned his colleagues in Belgium to get the low down on him.
Their reply was he’s ok, scores about 1in 4, now the first season everything the bloke hit ended up in the back of the net so is it a case of normal service has been resumed?
His last full season at Genk he had 1 in 2, with 16 in 32 appearances, 22 being starts. Now this is only in the league, but not sure who they were talking too. Season before that at Mechelen he had 6 in 18 with 12 being starts, so 1 in 3. 14 in 34 the season before that. There were a few games for Standard Liege in there at times but 444 minutes of playing time before going on loan over 2 seasons isn’t much to really talk about.
All of those being league stats.
Cool mate I bow to you’re superior knowledge.
You have to take into account he was just a kid at the time therefore those stats make some reading.
From an AVFC point on view… Happy days!
I actually just looked it up on Soccerway.
Have a good hols. Badger. Let’s hope Villa results mean the vino is in celebration!
And don’t worry, I’ll look after Oohah. Have a good un .
A total change of midfield tactics after Sherwood’s half time hair-drier as most posters have said.
All the players have to play their way in with the new Gaffer and I wonder if Given has just done that. Given’s main weakness is he does not command his box under aerial challenge, but Guzan has not been good at that either in recent times, and I don’t think Guzan would have got anywhere near the shot Given saved high to his left.
I don’t think Delph and Westwood can play together, they are too similar in the roles they want to play, so hopefully we will see them alternating on the pitch as the long- passer.
Given makes one really good save and all of a sudden there are people on here saying that Guzan wouldn’t have saved that and he should now be dropped. I’m not saying that Guzan is perfect but remember some of the stunning saves he’s made for us, the one he made in the second half at Carrow road a couple of seasons back, twisting in mid air to tip a shot over the bar was one of the finest reaction saves I’ve ever seen, and the 8-0 Stamford Bridge debacle would’ve been 12 or 13 if not for Guzan. Also, don’t forget how truly dreadful Given was in his last run in the team, resulting in Brad being given the regular starting slot. Good luck to Shay if he becomes the no.1 again, but short memories by some on here methinks!
I haven’t forgotten any of that Dave C. Guzan is a great athlete, therefore some of his saves are really spectacular. What isn’t so obvious about him is his relatively (for a PL goalie) poor anticipation. Almost any game against Everton would do as an example. When an attacker has a defender on his shoulder half a stride behind, the cross shot to the far post is nearly impossible, it will hit the defender’s leg. Therefore moving to cover the near post shot is the correct response. Guzan does not do this. In the league stats the goals conceded column is a proxy for the goalies’ merit table.
He lets in 8 and you sing his praises? I think maybe you might have found a better example DC. Penalty – Arsenal – what was that all about?
As Bill says we’ll see who Sherwood picks between the sticks.
Morning BWS, have to say you’ve a better memory than me, what’s your take of our game yesterday? Me lots to sort out in that midfield and panic in defence, plus striker’s, lack of fire power to me.
Morning Bill, Not to clever in the first half , still had the stench of Lambert about it.
Much improved in the second when the midfield thought it might be a good idea to get over the halfway line (thanks to Mr Sherwood’s half time intervention).
Bill it’ll be interesting to see how many of those that played yesterday will be still be at VP in 12 months time.
Dave C, I think over the last few months of dreadful football from Villa people do tend to find faults, yes Cuzan as well could be accountable with faults on occasions, and yet some wonderful saves from him, Given did go through a bad patch after being a fine keeper and was dropped, his chances to get back was down to Lambert, that was over wages and trying to get him out of Villa Park, I like Given, and I like Cuzan, now its down to Sherwood to find that keeper every week, don’t envy his job let’s see if a new broom comes along.
Bill one player I think may be on borrowed time his Westwood, just watched the game again on I player and I’m at a loss as to what he does. He stands in the middle of the park pointing a lot and, well that’s about it.
Sorry mate you replied, yes agree Westwood and Delph are oil and water to me both doing same job.
Interview with Sherwood during his time at the Spuds, quite like what he has to say.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t3RXdAzgk0
He talks a lot of sense and doesn’t just say the same thing every week! Let’s hope he’s as good a coach and motivator as I’ve heard he is.
The word is Randy Lerner’s funding
He’s had to pay out two goal bonuses
Fuming even. Bloody phone
Fudning works too!
He’s had a phone call form the bank… Unusual activity on his account.
I am looking forward to going this Saturday.
I haven’t said that for a long time
First half we played like we have under Lambert of this season……Second half we played like we did under Lambert the previous yrs. Pacey counters and an abundance of hoofball.
Hey, whatever gets wins, I’m all for it.
Just read TS media conference sounds like he’s just going to go for it and he said we’ve got 13 cup finals sound familiar.
This question was put to Sherwood – Paul Lambert said that the remaining fixtures are like 13 cup finals – to which Sherwood said Paul is right but 14 including the cup. He is going to try and win as many as he can. Lambert has been trying not to lose (badly).
When Lambert first cane he went for it which is why we had to score 3 goals to win. From what iv heard of from Spurs mate he did same at Spurs didn’t have a clue how to close a game.
After a few Tottenham fans embarrassed themselves on twitter going out of their way to insult Sherwood for 1. being in the stands (when it was well known he wasn’t taking over the reigns), and 2. the camera being on him more than either Marshall when the goals were scored (because he controls the camera’s and the entire last few days haven’t mainly been about him in the media)… I’d take anything they said, and I mean ANYTHING, with a grain of salt.
As for seeing out games, His first two games weren’t exactly “close them out games”, as he won 3-2 and drew 11, but then really didn’t have much trouble doing that, in the next 10 games, he won 7 of them, 5 being clean sheet wins. If that’s not closing out games, I don’t know what is. He did lose big to City, United almost made a comeback and Spurs were 3-0 ahead before Bony got their consolation, but I can’t quite see how he didn’t close out games. Then the last 10 games, he did lose the first of those two to Chelsea and Arsenal, and did have to make big comebacks after being scored on first against Southampton and West Bromich, and demolished Sunderland after being scored on 1st, which he closed out 5-1. Closed out the Fulham game 3-1, Stoke 1-0 and then the final demolishing of Villa 3-0.
I’d just watch out for a couple demolishing’s, conceded 31 goals in his 22 games, but 16 came in 4 of those games against the big boys of Pool, Chelsea and City and a 3-3 draw against West Bromich. But I wouldn’t worry about him closing out games.