I’m blown away by how good that was to watch.
I wouldn’t say we were 100% better than Fulham, as the cottagers did have a couple of spells where they dominated, but we were a good 75-80% better than them.
That’s 13 on the trot at home, I think, which equals a record and 6 wins on the trot, which is a record going back absolute donkey’s years.
Unfortunately, it’s Citeh at home next game, but who knows?
Man of the match?
Well for me it has to be John McGinn, who worked his guts out and got a goal from a great strike.
But I also thought Tielemans was a very close contender. I said before the game that I felt he just needed to get in the groove and boy, did he. He was outstanding and fed the pass for the first goal.
But McGinn edges it for me. It was a brilliant captain’s game and he won the vast majority of his battles.
In fact, the game didn’t really pan out how I expected it to at all.
It was the midfield that won this for us. As physical as Fulham are, we just bossed them and it was great to see, as we can often be out-fought in the middle.
I still feel we’re particularly susceptible to any good pacey counter attacking side and the Spurs game is making me drool at the mouth, because I feel that’s going to be a tactical masterpiece one way or the other, given both sides play a high line, but that’s for later.
There was plenty of passing back to Martinez, but it didn’t bother me today, because we mostly maintained a good pace.
It’s interesting, because it seems to me that as much as I realise the opposition will always have their good periods, so it always seems to be that if we drop the pace, it just lets the other team in and strongly dominate.
I can understand if it’s the very best teams just taking a rest, but we can look like we’re likely to concede.
Still, Fulham only scored once and I’ll take that.
A superb, well deserved win and we continue to keep the pressure on the other clubs.
UTV!
Comments
118 responses to “Villa 3 – 1 Fulham; Outstanding”
So how did Citeh get away with the sponsorship of their own stadium by a sister company of their owners for £400m???
The biggest deal at the time was Old Trafford for £80m, and that was when Fergie was still there…
Kudos to the ref tonight for booking Kane for diving for a peno! Kane’s look of astonishment was a picture. Yes you! About time! A ref with a brain! PL refs, take note. Although it’s too late now he’s left. 🙄
The panel of Lescott, Defoe, and Joe Cole admitted Kane dived yet insist the ref got it wrong! 🤷
My first thought was Kane dived.
But the replay looked slightly different to me.
I don’t believe the goalie took him out (he was trying to get out of the way, if anything) but I also don’t think Kane dived.
So Kane didn’t deserve a yellow, for me.
It was a nothing incident, to my mind.
Badger, I was gonna leave it but I can’t help myself. Kane saw the keeper coming so dangled his trailing leg, ensuring contact was made, as he always does and did to us at VP. Even Lineker called him out that night. The panel last night said he ‘bought’ the penalty. So he’s a (clever and professionl) cheat and deserved to be booked. The ref did his homework and I applaud him, not so much for the decision but for having the coconuts to book the untouchable one on his stomping ground. Kane’s look of astonishment was more “do you know who I am and where you are?” than “I didn’t dive.” Nonetheless, a shitty borefest. Roll on next weekend!
What a borefest watching England.
At least Malta have given it a real go.
Sums it up when the crowd groaned because of 6 minutes added time. The few that haven’t already left anyway! 😂
I said to the missus “thank god for that” to the missus when they flashed up 1 minute at half time :-).
I also said “aren’t you glad you haven’t paid for a ticket to watch that crap?”
Absolutely a boring game , and they celebrated at the end , that game needed a footballer in midfield every player passed it back to the defence and didn’t go forward. He’s due to pick his team next week, it will be the same old players you’ll see .
Horseface. The most boring, non-productive manager ever.
90 games and he’s still no closer to winning anything.
He was bad enough beforehand, but I’ll never forgive him for that final against Italy.
Never, I tell you! 🙂
Terrible manager, imo.
His football is a reflection of his own miserable, boring personality.
The trouble is that as far as the suits at the FA are concerned the stats overall can be made to look good – England consistently in the top 5 or 6 apparently, lose few games (except the really imprtant ones…), and generally not controversial – ‘respectable’, etc.
That the team will never actually win anything, and that much of their football is plain old boring, isn’t held against Southgate.
He’ll be there until his contract expires, and thrn they’ll try to replace him with a clone.
Badger I could have kick the TV in seeing that game. Horse face even though the stats say different is a boring waste of being a head coach for England. He’s been the luckiest excuse of a player come manager there is . When will the FA wake up? We will not go far after qualifying that’s for sure he’s bloody useless.
Sorry Ardent villain never got to read what you had posted, you have said the same as I have Southgate is a lucky sod .
BBC ran a poll as to who should be Kane’s understudy at Euro 24.
Watkins ran away with it at 47% of the votes – I believe in an earlier poll he got 54% of the votes.
What’s the odds that Southgate will punt for players like Toney and Wilson or even Cole Palmer – who gets his first full cap after just 6 EPL games!
Southgate is not only a useless manager, he’s also disingenuous and a hypocrite to boot.
No doubt he’s telling Ollie he needs to move to a bigger club – Middlesbrough for instance 🙂
What a shower 🤦♂️
What a shower 🤦♂️
Well my prediction was at the start we will get through but humiliated playing better teams. Unfortunately even poor teams are showing us we are nobody to worry about . Watkins will be made to look inept because the team are not in tune to his style of play . Poor poor game.
The wicked witch of the west jumping around demanding dubious penalties?
Goodness the guy is so dislikeable.
Go Macedonia go.
I thought the MacGuire incident was a pen. A blatant push for me, even if he didn’t mean it.
Me and the missus were just debating the Lewis pen.
She thinks it was no way, because he didn’t mean it. My argument is intent doesn’t come into it and there was a chance their striker was robbed of a goal chance.
It just goes to show how tough it is to be a ref.
That apart, Horseface said Grealish needed to be playing regularly in the Prem before he could be picked.
Yet Lewis has only ever played 8 games in his career!
He’s doing really well, mind, but that’s not the point.
God I hate Southgate.
Oh, yes.
We’re crap.
The really unfortunate thing is he is the wrong man in the job at the right time (from his point of view).
This very talented squad just keep getting the useless plank out of jail.
It’s really frustrating and heaven forbid we actually win something and he ends with a peerage 😢
Lord Horseface of Middlesbrough methinks 🙂 🙂
Wait until the FA install Potter as his replacement when he goes after the Euros. More of the same…
Fortunately, I’m not watching the game – thank goodness.
Our position at the top of the group is, I think, more a reflection of the quality of the other teams than that of England!
Yawn! Decided to watch the game to help my insomnia.
I suppose England didn’t need to win the game or draw but it’s Southgate’s style of play. It’s absolute garbage and fortunately for him he has a few quality players, with Kane in particular who saves his sorry ass.
Roll on next year for the proper tournament and wait until we meet a half decent team before we get knocked out.
Felt sorry for Watkins who had disinterested teammates to support him. At least on Sunday he will have a structured team who know how best to get him involved.
Absolute shocking service to Watkins tonight, pathetic by England. Its Macedonia ffs. We are so slow and negative its so boring. Roll on club football thank god no internationals for a few months.
Horseface has at his disposal quick players in midfield and attack and ditto slow players. When I say slow players that isn’t a criticism, it is players who want to work the ball forward slowly, retaining possession and looking for gaps. The sort of player Jack has been forced to become to suit Pep. Saka plays the slow game for England as does Rice, Kane is suited by that style though he can speed up.
Watkins is a quick player who would be suited by playing with Rashford when England sit back for most of the game and counter attack. The slow build up is no use to him, because he will always have a muscular shadow challenging for the ball every time it is played to Watkins. Watkins and the current Grealish is a quick + slow pair which did not work.
Does Horseface set up the football writers’ choices to fail and his own choices to succeed? I am sure he does.
McGinn injured playing for Scotland eh? Well that’s just f****** brilliant. May I suggest Emery and the club take a leaf out of Fergie’s playbook and pretend key players are injured before pointless internationals? The worst time to lose the skipper with massive games coming up now. He was in the form of his life too. FFS. 😡
BFR, have you see something about it as he may have made the decision to come off himself? I watched the game and he did walk off without a limp, i maybe wrong I just wonder if he may have said enough as to be honest he was the only one going at them.
I hope you’re right, Bill!
Tyrone Mings has deleted all Villa and football related things from his Instagram account. He said we will have an update later today on his injury. It doesn’t sound promising. I hope I’m wrong but I wouldn’t be surprised if he has to retire.
Just seen B’ham Live report saying that he’ll issue an update . Have to agree that this doesn’t look good at the moment.
That would be a crying shame if he’s finished. Him deleting his Villa stuff sounds ominous.
Fingers crossed for the bloke, just as he was turning into a damned good player under Emery.
Will monitor the McGinn news too… I’m sort of glad Ollie had a bad night (not down to him but to the formation)…
Oh no! Really? That would be devastating for him. I’d be gutted for him, gutted.
On a positive note though:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-aston-villa-steered-clear-28142349?int_source=nba
Well done the Villa!!!
Mings has squashed any rumours that he’s retiring – quite the opposite.
He’s thanked fans for their support and posted photographs of his recovery (and knee scars which are truly awful). He’s promised to chart his recovery.
Wishing Mings a full recovery so he can join us in our European adventures.
He’s ok;
https://www.itv.com/news/central/2023-11-21/aston-villa-defender-tyrone-mings-denies-retirement-rumour-and-promises-comeback
Why did he delete all his stuff?
Could it possibly be that he wanted to feel like he was still relevant?
Apart from his ability to pacily chase back when he’s messed up or someone lobs one over the top, have we missed him?
Meanwhile Konsa sits on the England bench when McGuire is still playing.
Starting a new chapter Badger?
The EPL is becoming one large joke.
Now Newcastle can sign Neves on loan from a club owned by their owners – no doubt at stupidly beneficial terms! Clubs which voted against the temporary ban included ManC, Chelsea, Wolves and Everton – I wonder why 🙂
Meanwhile Everton are docked 10 points and questions are raised in Parliament and, no doubt, ManC will get away scot free on their 110 charges.
Who’d have thought “There is a circus in the town, in the town.” 🎶 Would turn out to be prophetic?😢
Don’t wind me up, Hitch!
Apologies BFR – not my intention having already wound myself up 🙂
Playing devil’s advocate, Hitch 😉
You’re right. The Prem is just becoming more and more of a circus.
In other news, Martinez does his usual type of thing;
https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/emi-martinez-clashes-with-brazilian-policeman-to-protect-argentina-fans-during-world-cup-qualifier-in-maracana-101700631622779.html
He needs to be careful, else I can see him getting into serious trouble.
Is this a regular read of yours Badger??? Imagine if the Police would have broken a bone of Emi’s??? We’d have been right in the doo-doo.
Good news about Mings though. Maybe his clear out was just that! A bit of a tidy up of his social media. we read so much into all this nowadays.
That vote was a farce last night. All the Middle Eastern clubs voting to protect their own interests. What next? Games abroad? Games of 4 quarters? No relegation? Super League? It’s just a matter of time.
And in other news, if Citeh are docked points that means no CL for them. Bet they get away with it though…
Both Citeh & Chelsea can afford the most expensive lawyers in England; Everton couldn’t. That’s why I can’t see either of those cases being resolved very soon – it’ll all be dragged-out until the end of the season, IMO.
Bum bum, I just like to spread it around. Shows how I read stuff from all over.
Seriously, I just opened the page, read it and deemed it ok, so linked it.
It is a bit of an odd one though, I agree.
Philogene’s buy back clause set at £15m if Hull and Villa in same division.
It appears that Villa have first refusal on buying him back (not sure how that works if Hull still in the Championship) but if Hull receive a bigger offer (than £15m) then there is a discussion to be had with Villa. I assume that means we still have first refusal but would have to (at least) match the higher offer.
To me it seems a more sensible deal than a loan where, I suspect, the loan fee would have been minimal and would involve a discussion on wages. This deal is FFP beneficial, Philogene gets playing time and we still have a large degree of control over his future.
I assume the Archer deal will be similar.
Interestingly, Hull believe we will see more deals structured like this in the future.
Did Villa take a leaf out of the ManC (Luiz) ‘rule’ book?