Well, well, what on earth has happened since the Reading game?
It’s no exaggeration to say we looked a totally different side to what we’ve seen up to now, this season.
I’m totally flummoxed as to what the answer to that is, but it doesn’t matter, as that’s the first time since I can remember, where I actually enjoyed watching a game.
If I didn’t know better, I’d have sworn we were just giving the rest of the league a head-start, just to make a fair competition of it, as we proceed to smash all of them asunder and romp the league by 20 points.
Seriously though, let’s get this straight.
All of the things we’ve been moaning about just disappeared.
We passed crisply and the ball found the right man.
We played with pace and urgency.
We pressed and harried and didn’t look like we were playing a practice match.
We looked to go forward, quickly.
We created a boat-load of chances.
And most importantly, we scored a good few goals.
In short, we played in the sort of manner that our squad on paper has long made us think we should play.
So, has it all just suddenly clicked?
I suspect not, personally and the one thing that co-incides with this pretty emphatic victory is that Gabby was nowhere near it.
Surely Bruce has seen it for himself now and Mr Aston Villa will not get another look in as long as we have a 13 year old kid who can play before him?
Maybe I’m being unfair on Gabby there, but I just feel his time is over and he adds little to our game.
Whereas young Kienan-Davies was a revelation.
He drove this game and was everywhere, always looking for the slightest chance; making himself available and working his socks off. It’s a shame he never got on the score-sheet, but he can go out on the lash tonight knowing he earned his wages and more this week. And more power to him, if that’s his bag.
Green too, was excellent and was involved in left wing play that Norwich just couldn’t live with. An extra couple of drinks for you too, kid, no worries.
Of course, it wasn’t perfect and our defending was ropey for both of Norwich’s goals. Terry nearly gave a goal away too, with a sloppy back-pass.
But with me being the fickle sort, I can overlook these things as long as we win.
And even then, if we play higher up, that increases the risk of conceding.
Now I love a good theory and my latest is, I wonder if the squad are seeing the likes of Davies performing well in training, but not getting a look in and their discontent shows in the football?
Hence the best performers have been picked today and everyone’s happy, where it manifests itself in that sort of performance?
I don’t know. It’s a bit of a daft theory, but about the only explanation I have.
Whatever, something’s changed, if only it’s a case of Steve Bruce having a lightbulb turned on in his head saying that we cannot keep sitting back. That or he’s under instruction from above to change the play.
At this moment, I don’t particularly care.
We scored more than we have for ages and we won without Jedinak.
What’s not to like?
If we keep playing like that, we will steamroll most teams in this league, in my opinion.
We’re the Villa though.
And it’s a big IF.
I’m absolutely chuffed after that!
And what a refreshing change it was to enjoy a game.
Let’s hope that’s the real start to our season, eh?
It was our best performance under Bruce. I hope we can do it away from home as well.
24 little hours….sorry, I thought it was karaoke!
Strangely enough, that’s what I’d got in mind.
I could always give you a link to “What a difference a day makes” and you can change the one word as you sing along 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6CAeDN9er8
I recon Cardiff would have still mugged us today…BUT…don’t give a s***.A good starting point to build on….changes coming in midweek and few tweets from today’s team for Friday night.Only about another 120 points to try for…..
You might be right, Villaaway, but no team is going to beat everyone.
Wins breed confidence though and I’ll take us to beat them at home, if we continue to do well.
Again,that’s IF.
126!
I should also say that I’m happy for Steve Bruce too.
The pressure he’s been under must be immense, given that he apparently doesn’t sleep well during the season anyway.
Unfortunately Steve, you have to keep it going mate.
Nice one Badger…..great track, great win 🙂
Very pleased with performance and application today. Fight, passion determination to win the ball….all missing in the last 2 games IMO.
Its like I’ve often said…..win the ball, pass quickly to your more creative players and you pretty much guarantee goals from midfield. Its all been too slow and predictable until today…..lets hope that the lesson has been learnt. There’s no doubt in my mind that we can outscore most teams in this division! 4-2 every week will do for me!
p.s. I hope Davis does not play against Wigan on Tuesday because we need his pace and power for the Bristol City game on Friday!
I’m one very happy and positive Villan tonight! 🙂
I’ve got to say this OK still a fairly short time after the game & certain posters awol, not even I’m pleased with the win which I’m sure there not for a certain managers reason. Maybe I’m on my own but it fucking stands out a mile to me. Lose or draw straight on win nah fuckall UTV
I’d certainly say there are Villa fans who won’t have Bruce at any price, Giddy.
Purely because he managed at the Sty.
I don’t understand that myself, but it takes all sorts.
All I know is, if he’s doing well for us, I’ll rave about him.
And if he’s doing poorly, I’ll slate him.
That’s the name of the game for me.
we win so its all bruce magic.like amazing gabby didnt appear we score 4 yes 4 goals,davies had a stormer but if bruce had got gallagheror whoever he would got a look in,hutton still getting picked still getting taken to cleaners,shocking 2 goals conceded and no i dont hate bruce or care where he managed just a poor manager
We all agree….Steve Bruce is magic, is magic, is magic!
No mention of the hat trick then, or Green’s goal?
funny you mention hat trick 4 goals in 2 games for the midfielder that i wrote was bruce best buy,but didnt pick him for first 2 matches,green fantastic and he never stopped working as in previous matches in which bruce moaned about his misses,never once critiicised his pet gabby who only for his bad back wood have started according to press conference
There were far more positives than negatives just stick to those negatives whatever rocks yer boat
Lol….thats so weird! Its YOU that didn’t mention the hat trick…..are you getting confused? 🙂
I agree there’s always peaks & troughs being a football fan I can’t understand why some fans enjoy living in a trough. Some fan actually said on Facebook ‘I hoped we would lose today so that would of been a step nearer the door for Bruce’ unbelievable & can’t see it myself anyway chuffed to fuck for the lads UTV
And you’ve every right to be, Langford.
We need to make the most of it.
You probably know well that I’m not a fan of resting players, especially young kids, but suspect you’re right.
He ran his proverbials off today and probably needs it.
We should be able to beat wigan even if Gabby plays (all due respect, of course).
Not heard any post match interviews but did anyone notice we missed “a sitter ” again in the opening minutes….funny though we didn’t cry about it today.
Cue the nagative peeps…..we were lucky, Norwich were awful and we conceded 2 goals!
1. Norwich were NOT awful
2. We scored 4, which by my limited maths means we scored 2 more than the opposition = we WON, we WON
3. Even if we were lucky, being lucky is NOT a negative, I’d like to be lucky in every game! Lucky is a very POSITIVE concept….long may it continue!
UTV
Bruce = In
Gabby + out
Off to Germany 🇩🇪 Monday for the oktoberfest yes I know it’s early getting my liver acclimatised to their beer, shit reception over there so I’ll post when I can some on here will be happy for a break from me 😁 auf weidersen all
Giddy…have a great time mate. How much do I miss and crave German beer….after 12 years of supping it though, my liver is so relieved. Send us a post from rehab! 🙂
Lol 😂 that’s why I’ve cut down for a week or so mate recharge the liver, I’m owed 7 weeks holiday & must use before Nov so I thought fuck it UTV 💩 OTC
I was happy with the game performance and result. but most of all with green, hourihane, elmo but most of all Davis he was brilliant. why some ppl think playing a target man, equals long ball. narrow minded opinions. Davis held up the ball and allowed midfielders to run past him, hourihane benefitted today. lastly on the target man davis, most the balls were played along the floor to him from short distances.
I don’t think its fair to ask Davis sorry make Davis play too much too soon. he made his debut today its too much to ask of him. Hogan seems to have a injury niggle. kodjia is still weeks away. gabby is well gabby. we need another target man to play 146 games this season. the soton guy Gallagher is perfect fit for us. gabby cant hold the ball up at all. even simple lay offs under no pressure he messes up. davis held off two season german pros defenders. he was bumped pushed kicked and pulled and he was awesome. finding runner with ease.
if we could sign Gallagher and Snodgrass on loan, we will really have a squad to get promotion. p/s great finishing from hourihane.
Jvillan, you’re right.
There has been something going on re Gabby.
I’ve often alluded to it and it’s plain wrong.
The only hope is Bruce has now seen the light.
And if he hasn’t, we’ll go back to the same old.
Where Bruce will remain on borrowed time, imo.
badger
hutton must have same agent/deal as gabby ,as for terry seen a clip on fb norwich should had a pen in first half,showed other clips of terrys mistakes,caught out of position whether or not its because of 2 full backs been caught out of position,or simply he terry is past it
JV – I really do think you are ‘nit picking’ – so from the opposite point of view 19 shots on goal – 9 on target and we hit the bar and we had two shots in the last few minutes of the game! Those are the stats that are encouraging.
Everyone makes errors in a game so why not put a few clips together to prove what? We’ve seen the opposite with forwards looking like Messi and Ronaldo combined by using the same approach.
Just chill and enjoy the win mate.
And the pies were cold 🙂
Agree with the above comments.
So call me crazy, but out of the list of injuries keeping players out of the squad right now a “twinge” in the back does seems a bit minor. There just has to be more to the Gabby story than what has been reported. Especially when compared to Hogan who was on the bench today and recently sprained/twisted his ankle.
So, either Gabby just wasn’t selected and Bruce is trying not destroy his morale or Gabby has a more serious injury that continues to be managed – which wouldn’t surprise me given his history. I know he was only out one game and it’s still early in the season, maybe it’s just bad timing, but when Bruce mentioned players shying away from the challenge this kinda stands out, given the performances before today.
Excellent result, players playing for the good of the team at last – lets hope this is something we build on !!
And if i never see Flabby in a Villa shirt again it will be too soon, he represents everything that has gone wrong at the Villa.
I really can’t see after the injection of the youngster’s yesterday gabby will ever get another sniff at action possibly the early stages of a cup competition or coming on as a lucky charm against the scum. Enjoy your day folks UTV
It was refreshing to see a Villa team actually keep pushing forward and attacking, rather than sitting back and failing to hold on as per usual.
Maybe the message and the pressure has finally gotten through to the management team. Albeit Bruce’s comments to the media after the game were pathetic.
Davis had a great full debut, strength, movement, harried their defence and held the ball up brilliantly. When you see that, it makes it even more bizarre that Gabby gets in the matchday squad, never mind the first 11.
Nevertheless the acid test is Bristol City on Friday, we have to play with the same mentality there, our strength is in attack and any more negative tactics and cagey line ups will not be accepted. My fear and expectation is Bruce will revert to type and the abuse will start again. I think the majority of fans now realise that we need an attacking manager to compliment the players we have.
SNN saying Brighton are interested in hourihane, amazing what a hat trick does.
I think Lansbury is lazy he hhardly ever gets stuck in and seems to be on the edge of play. If we drop Lansbury and Hutton i think our team is half decent. As yesterday shown.
Davis was outstanding, Hourihanes off ball movement was why he scored three. Terry does control the backline really well. Onomah was enterprising and challenged foe the ball endlessly and the laying it off for Davis or Green.
Even though we scored 4 we could have had more had it not been for Norwich Gk who was also outstanding
Where’s ANDREW?
What happened to the 2 ‘foreign managers’ your always waxing lyrical about, De Boer and Benitez?
Lets run this throughout the season!
So far: De Boer and Benitez = 4 games…..0 points!
Pulis and Hughes = 4 games…..9 points
Feel free to change any of the British managers i.e For Howe or Dyche. I dont really mind. But lets see how they compare to your ‘brilliant’ foreign managers….De Boer and Benitez.
Bring it on!…I will post after every game. Just let me know which 2 British managers you want me to run with!
I’m not the only one who’s noticed UTV
How about you run with Harry Kewell and John Mcgreal.
I guess If Harry Kewell was British that’d help.
?????
On a serious note yesterday was an excellent performance.
For the first time in a long time we looked like a team.
The most positive thing of the game for me was how every time Norwich came back into the game we raised ours and scored again.
We could and maybe should of had 6 or 7 but hey, if the lads show that commitment, passion and pride week in and week out you’ll get no complaints at all, well maybe jv being an exception.
THE BELIEF IS BACK.
UTV