I wasn’t going to bother posting on this one, but how can I not write on what is a pretty historic result?
This is the first time Liverpool have conceded seven goals since around 1963, after all.
Not that I’m bothered by that.
But given that the consensus amongst a lot of Villa fans is that we’re aiming for maybe midtable, this was an outstanding result that nobody expected.
So what happened? Were Liverpool poor or were we really good?
Well, I think it was both.
I asked in the preview that we get at them and we did from the off. The whole midfield were like terriers and didn’t give Liverpool any time at all, which totally unsettled them.
This, in turn gave Watkins room to play and get a well deserved hat-trick. His workrate and movement is exactly what we missed last season and while I hadn’t seen a lot of him previously, I can now fully understand why Smith was willing to spend so much money on him.
And then add in Barkley too, whose driving runs gave him many opportunities. His aggressiveness and power also make him look a bargain too.
I think a mention for Dean Smith is warranted here, because I think he got the tactics absolutely perfect today.
Liverpool play a very high line in defence and it’s proved very successful previously as they caught a lot of other teams out for offside last season.
I’m assuming it was a deliberate tactic, but we managed to get in behind the defence a few times.
How Liverpool didn’t start to defend a little deeper, I don’t know, but I’m not complaining.
Very little went right for Liverpool, as three major deflections in our favour attested, but we weren’t lucky as such.
From memory I think it’s fair to say we could quite easily have scored a nice round dozen on a better day.
Heh, a better day.
That sounds crazy when you’ve just destroyed the champions, but it’s absolutely true.
Barkley missed a sitter and had two other very good chances along with the one he scored.
Watkins hit the bar.
That’s eleven and I’m sure there were more chances that I can’t remember.
The interesting thing was that Liverpools confidence was evidently shot to pieces, while this must have done the world of good for our lads.
We’re now second in the league on nine points while having a game in hand over the rest of the top ten.
It’s perhaps a bit fortuitous that our first two games were against teams that look like they might seriously struggle this time round, but there was no questioning todays result.
Was there any downside?
Well there’s very little off the top of my head and even less worth mentioning.
Heck, I even admitted that Matt Targett was having a good game and you won’t hear that from me very often unless he maintains that sort of standard.
I’m not at work tomorrow, but if I was, I’d be going in with a massive smile on my face.
I’m sure a few of you definitely will.
And it’ll be totally justified.
Happy days and UTV!!!
Always thought we had too many keepers on the books…..
having a brilliant week sofar at work lmao, so funny taking the pi ss of the scousers and utd lads. they have been even at each other throats, who done worse lol.
i seen loads said about the black art of defending being lost on todays game. i have too agree. pool have not let in 7 every week, but now that villa have shown the other teams, how it can be achieved loads more will try to recreate.
pool cant defend for shit. last season we exposed them with trez popping up at the back stick unopposed. they dont defend as such as they caught you offside. the deflected mcginn goal and the watkins header, they are more concerned with pushing out than marking their men.
its also not just pool other teams cant defend. villa have now got some decent players around grealish. we will be a real threat on the break,we also can push higher than we were last season, cause he have better players you can hold the ball and pass it well. but we must not forget to defend properly. push up to keep compact, but when you lose possession we need to keep our shape and pick up our men.
i keep saying this but its true iam really looking forwards to this season.
oh and i forgot almost, i wonder if southgate will now kiss grealish arse now. he has to see now what everybody else has been seeing. jack destroyed pool every time he had the ball. he made our england defenders look like cardboard cutouts, that arnold and gomez. he took the pi ss out off pool best defender van dijk.
i been saying to utd mates, look what you could have won lol they were convinced jack was off to utd this summer. don’t know if you remember bullies catchphrase
i saw a interview with one of the laudrup brothers reflecting on england last game. he said we have to be greatful england kept their best creative player benched most of the game. goes to show you how good grealish when a legend talks about you like that. yet southagte treats him like shit.
trouble is now he will have too pick grealish and grealish will end up saving southgates job.
Yes, defenders definitely can’t defend these days Nath.
I’m looking forward to the season too, mostly because I see us doing better than a relegation battle. I’d like to think we’ll do a lot better, but we’ll see.
Oops, looks like I need to put another 50p in the meter and pay the “like” button bill.
I’ll sort it shortly 🙂
I’m just watching England and my god, it’s rubbish.
Do people really actually pay to watch this crap?
England are going minutes without even touching the ball.
The forward movement is none existent and Grealish is totally wasted here.
Horseface says it’s an experimental line-up.
He needs to get the experimental drugs out and see if he can keep the spectators awake.
To think we’re stopping the proper footy so this can happen 🙁
And as soon as he actually gets on the ball, Grealish assists.
Same complaint from me as usual: who the f..k is coaching defenders these days to keep passing back to the keeper and telling keepers to play as outfielders?
Why can’t they find a midfielder to pass-forwards to?
Don’t understand this modern habit, and it’s certainly not fun to watch.
Mings assist for the 3rd.
Wales’ defence is abysmal, which goes back to what’s been said.
Eager to hear the comments now, thought the Villa lads did well but to tell the truth the game lack something? .
It was like watching Grealish at Villa last season: he was having to come back deep to find the ball because England’s defence were too busy passing it between themselves and the keeper..
Eventually he managed to show what he could do when he had the ball.
Grealish MoM – now what does Southgate do when all the naughty boys are back?
First 15 minutes he stood on the left wing and watched the game pass him by as everything went down the right side to no effect. So he forced himself into the game and immediately made a difference. Say what you want about Calvert-Lewin but Redknap’s granny could have scored from Jack’s peach of a cross having completely outwitted the Welsh defenders.
After that Jack ran the show.
Stopped watching when he was substituted 🙂
Don’t forget our Jack can be a naughty boy too! 😁
That little cameo on the right – cross – goal…reminded me of a certain Mr Little in 75….took him years to get in the team as well. Lets hope Jack stay clear of injuries.
I also hate the modern pass it around getting nowhere but as long as you keep possession “style” of footie……and most times they end up getting pressed up and the goalie has to hoof it up and they loose possession in the end.
Had to watch it for years at the Villa and it was just torture. I cant afford to visit VP now for years but we had a family present thing at Xmas for a few years and a party of us went to the Sunderland match ….89 mins of passing all over the place getting nowhere and then we suddenly passed forwards and hit the woodwork…….one hell of a price to pay for one attack.
Before the 7-2 on Sunday I watched the 6-1 and Spurs could and should have got a 10 or 12 like us….but the difference was they started playing silly buggers passing along the defenders and goalie from about 70 mins…I was shouting for them to get it forward. Dont know if Jose told them to back off or they were just Dumbos…..
I’m starting to think this mentality must be being drilled into them from about the age of 11 now- not sure whether it’s actually down to the club senior coaches any more.
It’s become the ‘natural’/’default’ setting for most of the current generation of players.
Whoever is responsible should be ashamed of themselves!
The papers all full of praise for Grealish today. It’s a shame Gareth Southgate can be a bit of a fool at times, but should our shining star get a starring role in the England team, we’ll all be capping ourselves every time there’s an international on in case he gets injured. As much as the Villa is in my blood despite the Lerner inspired transfusions, to see England win the World Cup would make me explode. Imagine Jack scoring the winner!!!!
You can’t bloody win can you!!!!
The Leeds game will now be on the Friday night.
The Premier league have come up with a new scheme for October where the fans will be able to watch any games that aren’t being scheduled to be shown on the Sky and BT box office platforms.
Only £15 a throw and this will be on top of any subscriptions!
Isn’t that good of them?
So if you want to watch the Villa’s 3 games this month, it’ll cost you £45.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12099870/premier-league-announces-pay-per-view-fixtures-in-october
What an absolute disgrace and the greed knows no bounds.
I won’t be participating.
The £10 on NowTv is bad enough, although hands up, I have coughed up for that more than a few times.
I would support it if the money is being returned to the clubs over and above the financial deal in place. I suspect, however, that it will remain in the pockets of the broadcasters.
Lots of fans will find it hard to resist and, I suppose, £15 represents a cheap ticket.
Apologies – I withdraw my last comments having read more. If clubs can afford to spend £1bn on transfers then why a £15 (sur)charge when many fans have already purchased season tickets?
I support the idea of making games available but not at £15 a game and there should be a refund for season ticket holders. Villa fans particularly hard hit with no games scheduled for ‘free’ viewing over the next month or so.
Notwithstanding, I do think many fans will pay because it’s the only way they can watch their team.
“If clubs can afford to spend £1bn on transfers”
Exactly right.
As far as I can see only Villa & Fulham have no matches scheduled for viewing (without the £15 charge) over the next month. Of course the usual subjects get more than one match!
I hope Villa have the decency to refund season ticket holders – but I’m not holding my breath!
I read that the Government are not best pleased with the EPL over this decision – with clubs having taken season ticket monies, furloughed staff, taken advantage of business loans as well as making staff redundant (not to mention having £1bn to spare) – and may put pressure on them to reduce the charge.
Don’t think many would complain if it were a nominal £5.
sky screw the punters over again and in a time where real fans can not get to matches and forced to pay to watch their clubs. government implement no social gathers and sky impose a massive extra fee to watch footy. whats going to happen? i wonder. fans are gonna chuck in and buy games, lots of beer and social gathering in smaller venues(homes) up and down the country and covid will be the only winner from the situation. i cant see anybody paying this extortionate price i would rather go back to watching ceefax and the vidiprinter
p/s lots of love for grealish 🙂 its almost as worse as none. i think real villa fans have appreciated jack ever since he burst on the scenes, media and other club fans where not impressed but they have slowly start to see what we villa fans saw at the beginning. manure fans are totally in love with him and angry there club did not capture him. england fans are now seeing his worth now. i saw one utd fan write we could have bought him for 60 70 million next season that will be double for sure.
Nath – you make a good point that a charge of £15 will encourage fans to collect together in homes to watch matches – will they observe the ‘rule of six’. The Government keep telling us that the main location for the spread of virus is in people’s homes.
Yet another reason why this is a poor decision by the EPL.
another good point some lower league clubs have removed seats from their stadiums to spread out the fans, making it safer for their fans to return and support the club. far more safer than indoor events such as pub showing the games, or fans chucking in for these games and watching um in their homes together. i noticed these games are also second rate games except ours off course. most of the sky wanking teams are on sky but the rest are on this box office events. probably cause the fans of not the top 6 sky darlings are better more loyal fans, sky think they can exploit them and they are wrong.
what a joke england played wales in a 100k stadium and no supporters, they could have spread them out and stayed much safer than travelling on a train near a unmasked mp. government need to address this issue cause lots of lower clubs will be burst before this current season ends. if they think they can socially distance on public transport, then iam sure they can socially distance in a outside stadium and save jobs/clubs doing so
Nath, I have this theory that Governments are now scared of making any decision that seems to challenge the scientists (or risk the wrath of the omniscient press). I describe it as Governments all being on hamster wheels with not one knowing how to get off!
Without wishing to dismiss Covid, it seems to me that once you give scientists power they become very controlling – and lets be honest science is all about theory, modelling and what ifs!
To the normal, rational thinking individual, a lot of what is happening in terms of social restrictions, doesn’t seem to follow any logical pattern – and that’s not just in the UK.
If pubs and restaurants are not Covid secure, why are work places any more so? As you say, if a stadium can hold 100,000 people why can’t there be – say 5,000 (or more) accommodated – without anymore risk than eating out or meeting in groups of 6 at home?
There are calls for everyone to wear masks all the time wherever they are – but team sports can carry on. So I walk down a road with no one else around – even if there are I practise social distancing – why do I need to wear a mask?
All seems completely illogical to me although perhaps we’re seeing a move towards being dictated to by those who desire power – scary.k
I see Grealish is being compared to Gascoigne. All i know is as a villa fan he is one of the few players after going for 45 years that i absolutely love to watch week in week out. As was Gascoigne. I think all of england should be able to see what i do for our national team.
The main difference between the 2 is that gascoigne had england managers that backed him and let him express himself which i’m sad to say grealish doesn’t.
If southgate picks mount ahead of grealish tonight it will be such a shame for us all.
we have covered grealish with england loads on this site. imo he is the only england midfielder / attacker that can open up defences with ease. his game is based on taking on his marker and the way he draws more defenders around him, can only help the other players who will have more space cause of him. simply grealish is a diamond, southgate doesn’t like him, cause he wants his team to pass and move and he hates players holding onto the ball for more than 1 or 2 touches. he wants the ball to move and that creates his spaces, if the players only have one or two touches plus a good old switch when the defenders filtered to the right they switch to the left lmao
secretly i wished grealish would not be overly played for england, cause i am villa supporter and i want him to be fit all season and playing for england / international is a risk iam not prepared to risk. but thats selfish and i do want him to fulfil his dreams and england will be up there in his dreams. also international footy they will target grealish like they do when he plays for villa, but international he will not be protected as much. south americans will kick him all over the field knowing it will just be a yellow
gazza and grealish are a good likeness, just hope grealish doesn’t do a gazza off field. but if he can replicate on field what a career he will have
The box office screening of premier league games is another kick in the balls for fans of clubs who don’t support the Sky 6.
I have just checked the schedule for the next 3 games and this is what we have in store:-
Liverpool one game on box office.
Man City no games on box office.
Man Utd one game on box office.
Chelsea two games on box office.
Spurs one game on box office.
Arsenal one game on box office.
All the other games for Sky 6 are being shown on Sky sports or BT!
So if like me you have these in your package, apart from Chelsea their fans will be paying an additional £15 or in City’s fans case nothing more. Villa fans on the other hand will have to fork out £45 for the next 3 games which is totally unfair.
The £15 charge is going to force fans to congregate, most likely round a mates house to save money. This like already mentioned by Nath is going to increase risk of Covid infection.
Sky and BT continually piss off all fans outside their beloved 6 clubs.
Do we all resist the temptation to watch our games in protest or will we cave in because of the emotional pull of watching our team?
i only hope that fans stay strong and do not purchase these games on box office. its a rip off and if ppl pay, then the money grabbers who pull the strings will only dream up more ripoff schemes. also if you are a sky customer or bt then they have just taken games from you. pay more and you can watch more.
ppv tv takes off in football then subscribers will see their standard games reduced and more ppv will happen. so you will end up paying for individual matches but you still will need a subscription but less games and if ppl buy these ppv games that will take the better games all top wanking side will end up there. bit like boxing first only the best fights were ppv now even tea ladies disputes end up on ppv box office
#
ripoff britian
Liverpool and Manchester United are leading radical proposals for the reform of English football.
The plans would see the Premier League hand over the £250m bailout required by the Football League to stave off a financial disaster among its 72 clubs.
Under the proposals, the Premier League would be cut to 18 teams, the EFL Cup in its present form would be abolished and the Community Shield scrapped.
In addition, the top-flight’s 14-club majority voting system would change.
It is thought English Football League (EFL) chairman Rick Parry is in favour of the plans, first reported by the Daily Telegraph.
It is understood Liverpool’s owners, the Fenway Sports Group, came forward with the initial plan, which has been worked on by United co-chairman Joel Glazer. It is anticipated it will receive the backing of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur – the other members of England’s ‘big six’.
The idea is to address long-standing EFL concerns about the huge gap in funding between its divisions and the Premier League by handing over 25% of the annual income, though the current parachute payment system would be scrapped.
There would be a £250m up-front payment to address the existing crisis created by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the Football Association would receive what is being described as a £100m “gift”.
Paul Pogba (right) is congratulated after scoring
Manchester United are among the clubs driving the change
No date has been set for the proposed new-style league to be in operation but sources have suggested 2022-23 is not out of the question.
In order to get down from 20 to 18, it is anticipated four clubs would be relegated directly, with two promoted from the Championship. In addition, there would be play-offs involving the team to finish 16th in the Premier League and those in third, fourth and fifth in the second tier.
It is also planned that, as well as the ‘big six’, ever-present league member Everton, West Ham United and Southampton – ninth and 11th respectively in the list of clubs who have featured in the most Premier League seasons – would be granted special status.
If six of those nine clubs vote in favour of a proposal, it would be enough to get it passed.
There is no mention of Aston Villa and Newcastle United, both of whom have featured in more Premier League campaigns than Manchester City.
Oh man, it’s so easy to bribe these greedy sods and if Parry is in favour of this, he’s crazy.
The top 6 are only in it for themselves and are not doing anyone any favours.
And no clubs should be given special status.
I’m beginning to get totally sick of football.
See Grealish has been relegated to the subs bench whilst Calvert – Lewin (who only scored because Grealish presented the ball on a plate’ gets another start.
Southgate has his live child Mount back in the side.
Nath, I feel for Grealish – exactly what is he supposed to do – but like you England’s loss is Villa’s gain.
No enthusiasm for England’s game tonight – my patriotism has worn exceptionally thin when it comes to Southgate’s sides.
What is going on with the game when clubs can decide how English football is structured!
I wish the Sky 6 along with the top teams from the rest of Europe would all f**k off and form the European super league which is what they REALLY want, as it seems inevitable sooner or later anyway.
Money is destroying the game, with fans almost irrelevant as long as TV and sponsorship revenue funds their fat egos.
Maybe we should all go and support our local non league teams and leave the greedy tossers to rot in their corporate boxes.
Rant over.
Going to be a long night for England – no attacking flair and a woeful defence.
Not sure I have any sympathy.
Is Mount actually playing – sorry 🙂
Is Dier better than Coady? I think Mount is a good player but Declan Rice! If Henderson is playing then why play him? Southgate is a negative manager who will win nothing as an international manager.
Just having a go at Southgate because of his response to the question about Grealish’ performance against Wales!
So first substitution – another defensive mid fielder!
“Just as importantly, the financial gap between the bottom of the Premier League and the top of the Championship will be substantially reduced. This will create a much softer landing for relegated clubs. The elimination of Parachute Payments will create fairer competition and discourage irrational behaviour.”
Someone had better explain to me how this can possibly be correct.
Talk about a careful use of words!
Yes, it might well reduce the difference between relegated clubs and the Championship, but it will massively increase the gap between the two leagues overall.
It’s bad enough for teams who have been relegated to challenge when they bounce straight back even with the parachute money.
I know it’s unfair for the other Championship clubs who are trying to compete with the parachute money clubs, but I fail to see how taking the money away altogether helps, even if the league’s money is increased/spread more generally.
And as for Southampton, no disrespect to them, but size-wise, they’re not even a Premier league club to my mind and are achieving above their level. Why should they have some special position?
I wonder how much of this is revenge for the last voting that took place, where Villa wouldn’t play ball with the big boys?
West Ham have come out today and said they want nothing to do with it.
I’ve been reading up on this and it effectively give ManU and Liverpool the role of defining the top tier of English football as they, and only they see fit.
Villa have also come out against these absurd, greed proposals.
The whole idea is absurd.
Apart from the financial side of it, reducing the number of PL clubs is simply a way of the “Fat 6” playing fewer domestic games so that they can concentrate on the Champions League.
However some of them (particularly Arsenal, ManUre, etc.,) could be shooting themselves in the foot – they are little better than ‘mid-table’ sides who have struggled to qualify regulalry for the Champions League in recent years, and could well miss out on qualifying again this season!
I can understand why Citeh, Liverpool, or Chelski might currently feel comfortable with the idea – but the sheer arrogance of the others wanting this is unbelievable.
I admit to not having studied the proposals but, from afar, it seems to be an arrangement specifically designed to benefit those clubs playing in Europe and particularly in the Champions League – and the broadcasters!
So, having been unable to create an elite European league these few (Sky 6) clubs want the rest of English football to pay them homage?
It’s simple; if clubs want to reduce the number of games so they can concentrate on money spinning in Europe, then don’t enter any of the English Cup competitions. It will produce more exciting games without the ‘Sky 6’ dominating but moaning about fixture congestion – you won’t be missed.
My final point – so a couple of clubs will be offered ‘exemption’ from relegation when reducing the EPL to 18. Or put another away, a list of preferred clubs will be identified to go down. Nothing short of buying votes – outrageous – and Rick Parry is a ……. for supporting these proposals.
If these proposals are accepted, we’re basically giving a few clubs the right to dictate the future of football in England.
Good to see clubs like West Ham & Villa saying no.
Rant over
I was raving at Parry for backing this, but having thought about it, he’s got the other leagues as his interest and it seems giving them 25% of the rights money would be a good thing for the game.
The rest of it is rubbish though and the offer of £100 million to the FA seems nothing more than an out and out bribe!
The thought of Fenway and the Glaziers calling the shots for the British game scares me and I’d guess most other people will think the same.
Hence I don’t see this happening.
But now the idea has been put forward, you can bet something similar down the line will be passed.
We all know how it works in politics and this is the same.
Offer something crap, the masses go ballistic and then swallow something a bit better, thinking they’ve got off lightly.
I’ll bet there’s some nice fat brown envelopes being discussed as part of this.
Taking your point, Parry had the opportunity to work with this and improve the position of EFL clubs without bowing down to clubs (owners) who think they have the right to dictate to others in pursuit of their own financial ends.
And, yes, we really have sunk to a new low if we allow American money men to tell us how to structure our game.
What next – advertising time outs every few minutes!
This provoked a blistering half page denunciation of Joel Glazer in the Times.
IMO Glazer is panicking because he fears Manure will drop out of the top 6 on points at the season end. Glazer bought the club with the club’s own money not his own, and in fact his family have taken millions out of it. Thus if Manure seem a less attractive proposition for a talented player to join than they once were – he need look no further than a mirror for the culprit.
I thought the Glazers (or double glazing salesmen as they’re also known) bought it on 100% debt and used ManU’s profits to pay off that debt? Totally immoral obviously.