Well, that was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.
As soon as we got the first, I knew it was all over, as Pulis doesn’t have a plan B and even if he did, I don’t think his players would be able to implement it, they’re so drilled into playing defensively.
While I think Middlesbrough offered very little, our players had to play their part and they did to such an extent that Dean Smith must have been absolutely delighted. I doubt the manager could have wished things to go any better than they did today.
I’m sure I’ll be saying for a while that I find it difficult to see that Grealish coming back has made such a difference, but the facts are undeniable. We’ve now taken 16 points from 16 since he came back, after an awful five previous games where he was missing.
I’m tempted to think it’s a confidence thing among our side, but it has to be more than that.
The work rate is excellent and we’re actually moving and looking for the ball.
Grealish and McGinn seem to be developing a really good understanding too, as they combined for quite a few one-twos during the game.
On AVTV, the comms were talking about how it was difficult to choose a man of the match.
I had exactly the same problem.
Steer, while he had little to do, was decisive and distributed the ball well.
Taylor. I still think we need to improve LB, but he was hard to fault today and did his defensive role well.
Elmohamady, I thought was excellent and the best I can recall from him for a while.
Hause, got caught out on one occasion, but was all-round solid.
Mings, An absolute powerhouse who did really well in the air. Looks very cool when playing out, too.
Whelan was outstanding, I thought. Passed quickly and accurately.
McGinn played his usual self. Excellent.
Green, a quite game, but by no means poor.
El Ghazi, was that his best game in a Villa shirt? Ran his socks off this time.
Grealish, caused all sorts of problems, as usual.
Abraham, worked his guts out and was unlucky to not score.
Heck, I didn’t see much wrong with the subs either.
If you twist my arm, I think I’m going to give it to Whelan, as the way he anchored the game and passed the ball impressed me.
Which, while I’m wondering what’s happened to Hourihane today, also leaves me wondering where he stands?
It’s hard to see Smith dropping Whelan to bring Hourihane back in.
So if you consider the whole team played really, really well, does that mean we were very good, or Boro were just plain poor?
Well, the cautious side of me always tends to think that the opposition were just poor.
But at the moment I don’t think it’s that.
We’re actually a very good side, who are going on a run at exactly the right time.
I’ve seen talk about how some of us would be worried about meeting the likes of Sheffield Utd in the play-offs.
Do you know something?
As it stands at the minute, I’d take us to beat anyone in this league.
It’s sod’s law that we now go into another international break.
But it’s Blackburn at home next and I’d expect our run to continue.
If I was our future opposition, I really wouldn’t fancy facing us.
That was easy again.
Looking really good, atm.
Badger
Just back from 360 mile round trip to Villa Park. Second tome this season I’ve managed to get up, previous time was against Brentford. I Thought as a collective unit we were good today. what really impressed me was the change and a subtle change that in the play since the last visit I had. Previously under a former manager the ball would be passed on the back line before being moved aimlessly down the flank. Today Minghs Superbly brought the ball forward you the layoff to Grealish or find someone in space .
Well done Smith for getting in two new centre backs to look quality. We looked strong without having to break into a sweat today. Glad to see Green play to build him up and show him where he needs to improve. 5 weeks ago I thought we were dead and buried in the Championship for another year. Now I have a slimmer of hope we may get up via play offs.
“Just back from 360 mile round trip to Villa Park”
I have the utmost respect for you Sid.
Totally agreed, we don’t mess about around the back anymore, which has always been a bugbear of mine.
Mings has proven to be immense for us and must surely be massively enjoying the game.
As it stands, he’d be top of my list for us to sign.
Whether we can do a deal remains to be seen, imo.
Oh, I’m sure the comms said that Boro had only conceded 14 away all season before today.
Ah, the Hourihane explanation;
“Midfielder Conor Hourihane, meanwhile, missed the game after becoming a father for the first time late on Friday night.
Smith said: “Conor’s partner had a baby last night at 11pm and I think he underestimated the first baby, how long it could take and the emotional stress that you go through.
“He was there helping his partner. Everything has gone well, which is pleasing, but he couldn’t make today.”
Congratulations, Conor (and partner).
Emotional stress?
Smith has it spot on there, imo and it shows decent empathy from him.
I’m not ashamed to say I cried my eyes out after the birth of my first and I thought I was emotionally hard as nails at the time.
Some things are bigger than a footy game.
Good luck to Conor, his wife and their new addition!
It says something about the squad that one of our better mid-fielders wasn’t missed in a game against a top six club. We now have players coming back and cover in depth for the final run in.However, the two players we need to keep fit are Jack and Tyrone Mings. For me they have between them turned out fortunes around.
Agreed.
I don’t think Abraham being out for a few weeks would worry me too much either, as daft as it sounds.
We are now scoring from all over and I’m sure Kodjia could take up the mantle, as he doesn’t like playing out wide and thrives on being the main man.
Great managership from Smith to recognise the importance and emotional impact of becoming a Dad. I was at the birth of all our kids but after the first I was an emotional wreck – well actually on a high that I just could not manage. Went to the doctors for help and he prescribed malt whisky – they just don’t make doctors like that any more!
Absolutely true – he was a brilliant Doc who understood all his patients.
Good luck to you and your new baby Conor, mine 59 this year, boy almost got arrested looking for a phone box that worked in the early hours off the morning, now that what stress was for me.
Abraham and El Ghazi, hopefully just cramp, according to the Mail.
That’s great, as it means they’ve run their plums off.
Congratulations to Connor and his partner. A really good day all round. Pity we have an international break although every game should be treated as a cup final now. Derby and Bristol City have games in hand but that will make their run in more congested and will have an affect. The teams that worry me most are Preston and Sheffield Wednesday.
Agree Holte – just like Villa to have Bruce pip us to the play offs and then win the sodding thing 🙂
That will NOT happen, Hitch.
Although I’m sure I predicted them to win most of their remaining games!
Was that our best eleven on Saturday? On paper I wouldn’t have thought so but they certainly played like it.
With Tuanzebe and others coming back Smith will have a selection headache. For me I wouldn’t muck about with the defence for now, they’re just playing too well.
I’m certainly a believer in not changing a winning team, but I wonder if moving Hause to LB, with Mings and Tuanzebe in the middle might strengthen us even more?
Or maybe even just the 3 at the back against the “lesser” teams?
You’re right, it’s going to be a headache for Smith and I agree, I don’t think I’d mess with it.
Yes I could certainly understand Hause replacing Taylor. We’d then have two CBs who can both pass the ball forward.
Considering how ramshackle the defence was earlier on in the season it’s a nice situation to be in.
It’s been confirmed that Jordan Lyden will be released at the end of the season.
Unlucky.
I’m with you Badger, changing team ? I’m not so sure as Taylor played his part over that last 3 games, even though we have two likely player in Chester,and Tuanzebe it might throw that back five. Big head ache for Smith and he would know what’s what on the day. I’m more worried about holding on to our loan players after 8 more matches to go.
the conundrum of which defenders will play when all fit is a nice problem for the manager. he knows who he prefers now. if i was to second guess him i think chester may not be first choice anymore. this might make me more unpopular lol like i care. to me smith likes a centre back to be able to play out and chester needs help in that department and that means a midfielder dropping back to help him out, chester is the best out and out defender, he still has this going for him.
tuanzebe certainly has a better chance off claiming the right side of the central pair. that means breaking up hause and mings which will be controversial. taylor also has been very good in this mini revival. he and elmo both seem to have finally got their roles sorted, both have been solid defensively and added to our attacking play aswell
these problems are great problems to have, but that said who would want to make them and hand out the bad news of who misses out
Bill, we have the option to match any fee for Mings.
Of course, we’d struggle to match any Prem club for wages, but let’s see.
As for Tammy, that’s all about the money too, but I suspect a lot depends on how happy he is at the club.
Same with Tuanzebe, I reckon.
As it stands, we MIGHT reach the Prem and we’d then push the boat out for wages, no problem.
Nath, I think Smith likes to stick with players until they give him a reason to drop them, which is the right way, imo.
Agreed that Tuanzebe is the natural choice for the right side though.
But you’d have to be pretty ruthless to drop anyone atm.
It’s interesting to think that Hourihane probably would have played instead of Whelan yesterday if he was available.
It’s all in the lap of god then Badger, with luck we might get that chance to be back in the premiership and keep our loans, and your right Smith would stick with the winning team, he’ll have the knowledge to use as he see fit imo,
With 8 games to go having Tuanzebe, Chester and Lansbury back to full fitness gives Smith options and cover for key positions. It also increases competition for places which, we’ve already seen has improved Villa’s team play. Smith has highlighted this particular point and, irrespective of who he selects, I think we’ll see Villa’s intensity on the pitch and all round performance improve even more.
For instance can anyone see Whelan being dropped for the Blackburn game and who would have thought that a few weeks ago?
Going to be an exciting few weeks and, given our position in the table, would rather be chasing, on the shoulder of the pack, than nervously looking over our shoulder (like Middlesbrough) at this point in the season,
Agree Hitch with what you said about rather be chasing the pack. I saw a couple of Boro vlogs (I was looking for a Villa one) and watched them out of curiosity. Boro fans seem to be quite fearful of dropping out of the top six altogether.
With eight games to go momentum is everything and we’ve got it in shedloads. I’m hoping that the break will help, especially with Tammy, and we come back with plenty of fire in our bellies.
BTW with regard to the defence I can’t help thinking that JT might be the key to our success there. If you were a young defender like Mings or Hause wouldn’t it be your dream to work with one of the best CBs in English football?
Seems like our fears for Tammy were unfounded. In fact he might even make the U-21s for their game against Poland.
Really looking forward to the Blackburn game.
BTW Villa and the noses both fined £5000 for failing to control their players in the derby game. Not even a slap on the wrist, is it?
The FA got that totally wrong; in the context of the assault on JG, charging the clubs for something that didn’t even amount to handbags at 50 paces said more about their behaviour than that of the clubs.
Just watching Scotland playing like headless chickens against Kazakhstan. They’re 3-0 down and McGinn is trying to play them on his own.
Just hope he doesn’t get himself injured.
McTominay on for McGinn. Thanks Alex
Does anyone else think it’s a disgrace that Hudson Odoi walks into the England squad after doing next to nothing, while Jack doesn’t get a sniff? Please don’t give me the PL vs Championship excuse; I’m allergic to bullshit…
Like you BFR I’m puzzled at all the hype around Hudson Odoi. Anyone would think he was a young Leo Messi or something. I’ve seen him come on as a sub in a couple of games and can’t see what all the fuss is about.
Looks like Southgate holding a grudge against the Villa some swine upset him.
Talksport sources say bluenoses scum to be immediately deducted 9 points, not 12!
Only nine points David? Got out of it cheaply then .£5000 and that deduction, means nothing in my eyes.
The points deduction is for FFP apparently
Off…bloody pre text again.
So we’re now 16 points above the noses! Sounds just about right to me.
Although being in a different division would be even better 🙂