Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on January 01, 2014, 04:51:35 PM
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Up and running.
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Well done Villa, won every game this year!
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100% win record in 2014 ;)
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In before eastie.
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YESSSSSSSS!!! I'll take it. So fucking wasteful, but Happy New Year everyone :)
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2014 is our year.
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Thank fuck.
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Win against a shit side
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Another nice and easy win. Won all our games and conceded no goals in all of 2014. What a team!
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What a relief. 3 points.
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Bloody hell that was stressful but a much needed result
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Happy New Year all xx Great result
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Sunderland are poor. Better overall - even strangely secure with Lowton at CB. Onwards & upwards.
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Win against a shit side
Who cares, we too are shit but it's better to win and be shit than to lose!
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We beat bottom of the league Sunderland....just! Big improvement needed, worried about the Arsenal game...tonking!?
Anyway, well done lads...needed that triangle big time.
UTV
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PPHHEEWW! Not really deserved, but a relief. Plus very late goals for Arsenal & Everton helped us in the table.
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Huge three points. A battling performance. Winning with Vlaar having to go off was important too.
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Well done lads. So important.
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The dot, the dot! Definitely man of the match.
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I love Gabby's 6 goals a season,
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We desperately need to get back to passing the ball. I just cant believe how bad we are in possession.
A needed three points
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Vital 3 points - well done to all, should have maybe finished it off in style but 1-0 will do nicely - enjoy your evening folks!
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Win against a shit side
We were far more shit than them too. Unbelievable result considering how poor we were.
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Well I never. Absolutely delighted with that, not least since we're a terrible, terrible football team. Thankfully, Sunderland are worse. Massive three points.
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Maybe it's relief at the result, but I thought we looked better.
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Buzzin. Happy new year everyone
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Good win but the performance shouldn't fool us. Hopefully, we have bought a bit of time to get Benteke fully fit, Vlaar fit again and to get some reinforcements in by the time Arsenal come to town. Sheff Utd must be rubbing their hands
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As I said on the match thread earlier, there's still areas that need work but that was a much better performance today. 3 valuable points.
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Win against a shit side
Who cares, we too are shit but it's better to win and be shit than to lose!
Agreed, but there are definitely big question marks still. Those late misses by Albrighton and Delph were just ridiculous. They can't put the ball on target from 16 yards out?? Fuck me.
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Should have been much more. They didn't really threaten (though maybe that offside against Giaccherini was harsh), but we had all the chances and when we passed the ball looked like a real football team. I just wish they'd take the hint, though - whenever they pass it, they do well, so why so much hoofing and nonsense? Very frustrating, but a big win and hopefully a bit of confidence for them.
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Dreadful game against a dreadful side. A gift of a goal. Sunderland had most of the ball, but we had a lot of chances. I'm not sure either side could say they deserved 3 points today given how dire they both were, but we really needed that win going into 2 very hard fixtures.
We now have a couple of weeks to work hard on the training field and hopefully add a couple of decent signings, because we desperately need some composure, experience and quality in the side.
Likewise, Benteke just needs to have a bit of time of and get his head straight. If he was at his best, on form he could have had 3-4 goals today.
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woefully wasteful. I fear had that been anyone but sunderland we would be rueing a 2-1 defeat now.
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We desperately need to get back to passing the ball. I just cant believe how bad we are in possession.
A needed three points
And finishing. Benteke, Alby & Delph could all have killed the game but seem to have lost any ability to shoot properly.
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Thank fuck for that
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Really pleased we dug out a win..sounds like we showed a bit a fight today!! Onwards and upwards!!
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In before eastie.
lol. Lucky win for Villa, wasted so many chances which on another would cost us points.
Weimann and Benteke were awful, Albrighton needs to start against Arsenal.
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Pos Team Played GD Points
1 Arsenal 20 21 45
2 Man City 20 34 44
3 Chelsea 20 19 43
4 Liverpool 20 23 39
5 Everton 20 13 38
6 Man Utd 19 10 34
7 Tottenham 19 -2 34
8 Newcastle 20 4 33
9 South'ton 20 3 27
10 Hull 20 -3 23
11 Aston Villa 20 -6 23
12 Stoke 20 -11 22
13 Swansea 20 -2 21
14 West Brom 20 -4 21
15 Norwich 20 -16 20
16 Fulham 20 -21 19
17 Cardiff 20 -17 18
18 Crystal P 20 -16 17
19 West Ham 20 -11 15
20 Sunderland 20 -18 14
Not brilliant, not horrendous, and hopefully with a good transfer window we can push on.
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Well I never. Absolutely delighted with that, not least since we're a terrible, terrible football team. Thankfully, Sunderland are worse. Massive three points.
Sunderland worse? Don't let the score fool you. They outplayed us and throughout but were equally wasteful, and had a perfectly good goal disallowed.
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I thought we played well to be honest, should've a lot more, Great defending from Bardsley for one, incredibly lucky save from Mannone for another and Alby and Delph both missed sitters.
I thought Benteke shows flashes of his best form, he was very good at times. Lowton did very well when he got moved into the middle, we really need cover in the centre of defence though.
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Hungovered - and then this shower of shit...but what the hell.
YESSSSSSS YOU FUCKING BEAUTIESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
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COMPOSURE is the big word for me today....something the manager, coaching staff and the players themselves need to rectify
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Huge relief and a massive 3 points. Really thought we'd concede near the end especially when 5 minutes ET became nearer 7 (and should only have been 2 mins technically for 4 subs, but Jones worried about Poyet complaining). Please Lambert start with Albrighton not Weimann in future
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Anyone know what's up with Vlaar now? Hope it's just precautionary, he's going to need his own medical wing at Bodymoor at this rate.
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Sunderland had a lot of the ball and did fuck all with it. One shot on target. Our problem remains that we keep giving the opposition too much of the ball. That simply has to change.
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3 points. Thats all that matters. :)
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Hopefully we now kick on , we need to aim for 38 points as soon as and kick on for tenth
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should have scored more goals but cant complain.
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Great 3 points, but we did not need to make so bloody hard.
Very,very poor finishing cost us a 2 or 3 goal cushion I reckon.
Still, at least it means we actually created those chances.
Let's enjoy the win, but not get carried away, we need massive improvements in that team.
Bacuna my MOM by some distance.
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Well I never. Absolutely delighted with that, not least since we're a terrible, terrible football team. Thankfully, Sunderland are worse. Massive three points.
Sunderland worse? Don't let the score fool you. They outplayed us and throughout but were equally wasteful, and had a perfectly good goal disallowed.
And are bottom of the table, nine points and nine places below us so clearly over the first twenty games of the season haven't been better than us.
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Well I never. Absolutely delighted with that, not least since we're a terrible, terrible football team. Thankfully, Sunderland are worse. Massive three points.
Sunderland worse? Don't let the score fool you. They outplayed us and throughout but were equally wasteful, and had a perfectly good goal disallowed.
we gave them all of their shots from long range. Just because they had shots doesn't make them good opportunities. They didn't outplay us at all. In terms of clear cut chances we had way more if you decide to acknowledge them. We could have won by 4 had we been a remotely efficient.
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Well I never. Absolutely delighted with that, not least since we're a terrible, terrible football team. Thankfully, Sunderland are worse. Massive three points.
Sunderland worse? Don't let the score fool you. They outplayed us and throughout but were equally wasteful, and had a perfectly good goal disallowed.
And are bottom of the table, nine points and nine places below us so clearly over the first twenty games of the season haven't been better than us.
But were today.
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Pos Team Played GD Points
1 Arsenal 20 21 45
2 Man City 20 34 44
3 Chelsea 20 19 43
4 Liverpool 20 23 39
5 Everton 20 13 38
6 Man Utd 19 10 34
7 Tottenham 19 -2 34
8 Newcastle 20 4 33
9 South'ton 20 3 27
10 Hull 20 -3 23
11 Aston Villa 20 -6 23
12 Stoke 20 -11 22
13 Swansea 20 -2 21
14 West Brom 20 -4 21
15 Norwich 20 -16 20
16 Fulham 20 -21 19
17 Cardiff 20 -17 18
18 Crystal P 20 -16 17
19 West Ham 20 -11 15
20 Sunderland 20 -18 14
Not brilliant, not horrendous, and hopefully with a good transfer window we can push on.
Last year on the same date, after a 2-2 at Swansea, Villa had played one game more & had 19 points & minus 24 goal difference in 16th position.
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Should have scored more but 3 points is massive considering Fulham won. West Ham and Sunderland looking a bit cut off, Palace look to be on a little run too.
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A massively important win in terms of confidence and putting some space between us and the relegation zone.
We didn't play well again, and we really are a poor footballing team in so many ways and seem to make a lot of bad decisions.
A low 35% possession against Sunderland, even away, is poor, and we need a midfield if we are going to improve. Look forward (with some trepidation) to seeing who we might bring in this month.
We were gifted a goal, but we could of had a couple more, Benteke's chance cleared off the line and Albrighton's glaring miss spring to mind.
Anyway, we won, and that means it's a great start to the year. Happy New Year!
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Arsenal will have no chance against our lack of ability on the ball! I think we will just put them off! They will be so aghast at how we miss short passes , they will start doing it too. 3 points no problem.
"Keep Calm and Hoof it"
seriously , we need to do something in transfer window. Glass Ron needs to have a replacement!. It was the same last year when he was out! Hope he's not bad!
Still 3 points is 3 points unbeaten in 2014! sleep easy tonight!
Happy New Year all!
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Don't get the posters who are claiming luck, saying it was tension filled, etc. I thought we played ok. Yes Sunderland had more possession but what's new? If passing the ball across the park is good football then they can keep it. Guzan has had to face 1 shot on target. The only luck involved today was a tight off side call which could have gone either way but we should have bagged a 3 goal win today and I thought the defence played really well. I also think Benteke showed signs of his old self and was much more involved. Hopefully, Vlaar is not going to miss another month. Much needed 3 points and a week off for the FA Cup.
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Well I never. Absolutely delighted with that, not least since we're a terrible, terrible football team. Thankfully, Sunderland are worse. Massive three points.
Sunderland worse? Don't let the score fool you. They outplayed us and throughout but were equally wasteful, and had a perfectly good goal disallowed.
And are bottom of the table, nine points and nine places below us so clearly over the first twenty games of the season haven't been better than us.
But were today.
That's not what you said. Jimbo said Sunderland are worse. You disagreed.
But you carry on. The obvious reaction to winning our first game for a while. A negative one.
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Got a lot of luck today having wasted chances to finish the game off, but I thought Benteke started to show good touches later in the game and but for a goal line clearance would have scored.
Albrighton might have missed his chances but he did more in the time he was on than Weimann did.
In the end despite the lack of possession we should have won this but at least we are still keeping outof the scrap at the bottom
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I think we are getting a bit hard to please.Goal given to us, but played the game well, and with a bit more quality/composure, would have won that by 4 or 5.
Benteke's hold up play/link play, was superb, needs a tap in, and Vlaar at the back marshalled the defence very well as well.We hung on in terms of possession, but Sland never looked like scoring, play like that, with a couple of quality additions, i might just have to review my opinion about PL being bloody useless.
Baker, for all his critics, played well again
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We're fortunate to be this shit and be mid-table. We're in a great position now to get some quality players in this month and really solidify our position in the table and perhaps push Southampton and Hull for top 10 placings. We've got a good position here to really ensure we remain comfortable for the remainder of the season. Its slightly fortuitous, but we need to make the most of it.
We've got 2 weeks before our next Prem game to really work hard on the training field. A couple of players need a good rest. Lets get Helenius in the side against Sheff Utd, give him a chance to stake a claim. Benteke and Weimann need a rest.
What's frustrating is we showed some lovely passing in one 30 second spell which led to Albrighton blazing over. It came purely and simply from the players remaining calm and composed, and showing a bit of movement. Simple as that. Having a calming figure, and experienced player in the middle might make periods like that come more naturally, easier and more frequently.
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I missed the first half, but in the second half I saw more moments of promising movement and passing than in the previous four games put together. I still think the basis of a decent side is there. If Lambert can bring in at least one seasoned pro during the window, we might end up looking quite good.
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3 points. Thats all that matters. :)
Not in the bigger scheme of things, it isn't
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Well I never. Absolutely delighted with that, not least since we're a terrible, terrible football team. Thankfully, Sunderland are worse. Massive three points.
Sunderland worse? Don't let the score fool you. They outplayed us and throughout but were equally wasteful, and had a perfectly good goal disallowed.
Hmmm, I ain't sure about that.
I don't recall Guzan making a save of note.
We have to be really careful with our view of what is going on.
Yes, we all know we are a poor team, and that we need a massive a improvement.
But, let's not knock absolutely everything that the team does, including the good stuff.
Let's give them credit where credit is due, and that was a massive battling performance.
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Don't get the posters who are claiming luck, saying it was tension filled, etc. I thought we played ok. Yes Sunderland had more possession but what's new? If passing the ball across the park is good football then they can keep it. Guzan has had to face 1 shot on target. The only luck involved today was a tight off side call which could have gone either way but we should have bagged a 3 goal win today and I thought the defence played really well. I also think Benteke showed signs of his old self and was much more involved. Hopefully, Vlaar is not going to miss another month. Much needed 3 points and a week off for the FA Cup.
Correct Spot on!
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Nervy, but got the result and had some good chances too. Should be a big confidence boost. We had a two minute spell of great possession that lead to a great chance for alby, so we can pass it around. I'm sure we'll see more of that when the pressure is off. You could see how badly they wanted the win. Gabby was great, Benteke look improved and Weimann was very poor. Progress.
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Pos Team Played GD Points
1 Arsenal 20 21 45
2 Man City 20 34 44
3 Chelsea 20 19 43
4 Liverpool 20 23 39
5 Everton 20 13 38
6 Man Utd 19 10 34
7 Tottenham 19 -2 34
8 Newcastle 20 4 33
9 South'ton 20 3 27
10 Hull 20 -3 23
11 Aston Villa 20 -6 23
12 Stoke 20 -11 22
13 Swansea 20 -2 21
14 West Brom 20 -4 21
15 Norwich 20 -16 20
16 Fulham 20 -21 19
17 Cardiff 20 -17 18
18 Crystal P 20 -16 17
19 West Ham 20 -11 15
20 Sunderland 20 -18 14
Not brilliant, not horrendous, and hopefully with a good transfer window we can push on.
Without checking,I am pretty sure that in the Houllier season, the McLeish year and again in Lambert's first season we were struggling to get to 30 odd points by March with 8/9 games remaining. We now, finally, have a nice base to kick on and maybe make ourselves safe in March.
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3 points. Thats all that matters. :)
Not in the bigger scheme of things, it isn't
Spot on. The problems are there for all to see. I really don't trust Lambert in the transfer window either so also doubt any improvement in player quality.
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Followed the match solely on the match thread so would appreciate people's view on who played well/badly etc.
Someone has said that Bacuna played well, was he playing on the right of the three in midfield?
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I thought when Vlaar went off the defense might have fallen apart but fair play to Baker and Lowton. They kept it very solid and really stood up well.
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I guess Southampton, who everyone has been jizzing over, (including myself) are only 4 pts above us.
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I missed the first half, but in the second half I saw more moments of promising movement and passing than in the previous four games put together. I still think the basis of a decent side is there. If Lambert can bring in at least one seasoned pro during the window, we might end up looking quite good.
The movement, ball retention and passing in the build up to Albrighton's almighty fuckup, was probably our best move of the season.
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Two poor sides slugging out a surprisingly entertaining game.
Happily went in our favour, the worry being our performance remained unconvincing.
Satisfied on that showing? Not really.
Happy as a pig in shit with a win? Fuck yeah
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Don't get the posters who are claiming luck, saying it was tension filled, etc. I thought we played ok. Yes Sunderland had more possession but what's new? If passing the ball across the park is good football then they can keep it. Guzan has had to face 1 shot on target. The only luck involved today was a tight off side call which could have gone either way but we should have bagged a 3 goal win today and I thought the defence played really well. I also think Benteke showed signs of his old self and was much more involved. Hopefully, Vlaar is not going to miss another month. Much needed 3 points and a week off for the FA Cup.
Pretty much the way I saw it.
They worked there socks off for those points and hopefully now with a bit of luck with injuries we can kick on.
I still would like a little experience brought in this window though.
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Seemed like a lot of huff and puff by a limited side who need some fresh ideas, but it's a good start to the year.
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3 points. Thats all that matters. :)
If you live in a 90 minute bubble. Bigger picture, we have many problems.
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I missed the first half, but in the second half I saw more moments of promising movement and passing than in the previous four games put together. I still think the basis of a decent side is there. If Lambert can bring in at least one seasoned pro during the window, we might end up looking quite good.
The movement, ball retention and passing in the build up to Albrighton's almighty fuckup, was probably our best move of the season.
Agreed...it was almost like we led Sunderland into a false sense of security in we're shit and can't control and pass the ball...and BAM, we miss! But it was good for those 20 seconds
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Pos Team Played GD Points
1 Arsenal 20 21 45
2 Man City 20 34 44
3 Chelsea 20 19 43
4 Liverpool 20 23 39
5 Everton 20 13 38
6 Man Utd 19 10 34
7 Tottenham 19 -2 34
8 Newcastle 20 4 33
9 South'ton 20 3 27
10 Hull 20 -3 23
11 Aston Villa 20 -6 23
12 Stoke 20 -11 22
13 Swansea 20 -2 21
14 West Brom 20 -4 21
15 Norwich 20 -16 20
16 Fulham 20 -21 19
17 Cardiff 20 -17 18
18 Crystal P 20 -16 17
19 West Ham 20 -11 15
20 Sunderland 20 -18 14
Not brilliant, not horrendous, and hopefully with a good transfer window we can push on.
Without checking,I am pretty sure that in the Houllier season, the McLeish year and again in Lambert's first season we were struggling to get to 30 odd points by March with 8/9 games remaining. We now, finally, have a nice base to kick on and maybe make ourselves safe in March.
Not in slightest bit worried of relegation. We're not poor, we're average and will finish roughly where we are now. Norwich down are the sides shitting themselves this season.
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Well I never. Absolutely delighted with that, not least since we're a terrible, terrible football team. Thankfully, Sunderland are worse. Massive three points.
Sunderland worse? Don't let the score fool you. They outplayed us and throughout but were equally wasteful, and had a perfectly good goal disallowed.
Hmmm, I ain't sure about that.
I don't recall Guzan making a save of note.
We have to be really careful with our view of what is going on.
Yes, we all know we are a poor team, and that we need a massive a improvement.
But, let's not knock absolutely everything that the team does, including the good stuff.
Let's give them credit where credit is due, and that was a massive battling performance.
At the very least we were able to do more with the ball with meagre possession than Sunderland could do with the lion's share. We battled hard in defence and had the chances to put the game beyond any doubt. We didn't take those chances because we're a poor side, but they are worse. Today's result and the current PL table would appear to back that up.
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I see we're above Real Swansea now.
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Great result,wish we could play Sunderland every week !
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Win against a shit side
Who cares, we too are shit but it's better to win and be shit than to lose!
Agreed, but there are definitely big question marks still. Those late misses by Albrighton and Delph were just ridiculous. They can't put the ball on target from 16 yards out?? Fuck me.
This is what I find incredible as well. I'd love to know what they do at Bodymoor to coach shooting, retention of possession and defence.
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We desperately need to get back to passing the ball. I just cant believe how bad we are in possession.
Get back? Bloody hell, you've got a good memory. I can believe how bad we are in possession, today in the first half we showed glimpses of improving but apart from a one minute spell in the second half, we never managed it again.
Feel sorry for Sunderland. One shot on target all game. Partly due to their shiteness up front and a Villa defence that looked like they'd deal with anything thrown at them all day. Really can't see how playing like that they can expect to stay up.
As for us, we won't get many easier games all season. Shame we made such bloody hard work of it. Still, 3 points keeps us away from the relegation zone for now which can only be a good thing.
Happy New Year all, especially those that traveled all the way up there today. They win my MOTM. Nobody else really deserves a special mention.
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A win. A win. A win.
Well done. We have lots of problems let;s worry about them tomorrow.
Rejoice!!!!
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We hoofed the ball around horribly punctuated by moments of lovely silky football. Progress.
Sunderland are a strange team, bit like us really but without the goal threat. I would love that Giacherrini(?) bloke and maybe the Ki fella.
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3 points. Thats all that matters. :)
Not in the bigger scheme of things, it isn't
Spot on. The problems are there for all to see. I really don't trust Lambert in the transfer window either so also doubt any improvement in player quality.
Another thing: you know those big headphones that Gaby often wears post-match? Well, if he crosses the road while he's wearing them, he may well get hit by a bus and then where would we be? Brad Guzan's neighbour might keep a dog. If that dog bit him, does anyone really believe that Jed Steer is ready to step up? So many things to worry about.
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Let's be honest, the quality on the ball was very poor again. A combination of no composure, lesser quality than what we were used to and little confidence means we are using the ball like a hot potato.
It does appear we lack players with footballing intelligence, hence the lack of movement and clever runs.
However we've gone to a fellow relegation rival and through grit and determination battled it out. That is the biggest quality of our current team. They do try. There aren't many shirkers and for that I am glad and I think i'm going to watch MOTD tonight and enjoy the victory.
2 players in, big upgrades on what we've got and I think like Lambert we will be just fine this season, there are a lot of poor sides. Seems the talent pool is getting more drained towards just the top.
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The move which led to Albrighton's terrible miss was the best we've passed the ball in months. It's so frustrating to see them do it that well because we can see that they can pass the ball - just so much of the time they don't.
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We're just 2-3 good signings and Benteke finding his form, from having a good push to get well clear of Norwich down and start eyeing up Southamptons spot.
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I thought when Vlaar went off the defense might have fallen apart but fair play to Baker and Lowton. They kept it very solid and really stood up well.
I'll admit I thought we'd concede once Ron went off, but the two youngsters did do well. Luna actually managed to do some defending, too and stopped a few crosses coming in for a change. Fair do's.
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Priceless win. Like finding a tenner in a jacket you have t worn for ages.
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I see we're above Real Swansea now.
Yep. Would say that the curse of the Europa League is taking a toll on them this season though. Good win for us today though and the table is looking a little better tonight.
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Thought Albrighton did well when he came on......despite the misses. give him a 5 game run instead of Andi. There is little point in only giving him the odd game, he need a run to build his confidence.
Thought Gabby did well today and was always an outlet
Defence looked comfortable, like against Swansea.
Given we will likely lose the next 2 this was a very important win
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A very welcome 3 points which should help confidence levels. Overrun first 15-20 mins but I thought we played quite well second half, restricting them mostly to long range efforts and carving out several clear chances ourselves. With more composed finishing we could have had 3 and should have had 2. We got lucky with the offside decision though, he looked just on. We look a different prospect with Vlaar and Benteke in the team, and actually had a couple of (very short) spells of possession football towards the end. Westwood worries me though, he doesn't look up to scratch technique wise.
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Win against a shit side
Who cares, we too are shit but it's better to win and be shit than to lose!
Agreed, but there are definitely big question marks still. Those late misses by Albrighton and Delph were just ridiculous. They can't put the ball on target from 16 yards out?? Fuck me.
This is what I find incredible as well. I'd love to know what they do at Bodymoor to coach shooting, retention of possession and defence.
I think its a pressure thing, those would have flown in if we didn't need the win so badly. I take comfort from the fact we're creating the chances.
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Shit performance. Like.. horrible performance. Dreadful.
Fantastic win and much needed 3 points though.
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We're just 2-3 good signings and Benteke finding his form, from having a good push to get well clear of Norwich down and start eyeing up Southamptons spot.
Agree Tom. Just hope that this result doesn't persuade Lambert that the answers lie in what he already has at the club and changes aren't needed.
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Shit performance. Like.. horrible performance. Dreadful..
There is no pleasing some. It wasnt that bad and we won. Sunderland were poor but we were better. Enjoy the win
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Does anyone need a goal more desperately than Benteke does right now? If we had the beast of last season we'd be celebrating a convincing 4-0 win today. He looks scared anytime he's in the box with a little bit of space. And his pace has gone. He's probably not 100% fit, he's definitely trying and he's certainly lacking in confidence. It's a shame, it really is. It hurts seeing your major talent in a slump like this, particularly when you desperately need him to enliven shit games like this.
I think it'll take one goal and we'll get a snowball effect.
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Well I never. Absolutely delighted with that, not least since we're a terrible, terrible football team. Thankfully, Sunderland are worse. Massive three points.
Sunderland worse? Don't let the score fool you. They outplayed us and throughout but were equally wasteful, and had a perfectly good goal disallowed.
And are bottom of the table, nine points and nine places below us so clearly over the first twenty games of the season haven't been better than us.
But were today.
If it pleases you than yes we in 11th position are obviously much worse than the team in 20th who we also beat today.
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Thank Christ for that. I don't care what the performance was like it's the 3 points that matters. Lets strengthen the squad now.
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Didn't really see that coming but nonetheless very welcome. Just couldn't see us beating anyone. Glad to be so wrong.
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Gabby was exceptional today, real character performance and when it mattered he didn't fluff his lines and that's the real difference between an established prem player and the collection of misfits we have. The times he could have been put through as well with a better pass. Top drawer Gabby.
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A very welcome 3 points which should help confidence levels. Overrun first 15-20 mins but I thought we played quite well second half, restricting them mostly to long range efforts and carving out several clear chances ourselves. With more composed finishing we could have had 3 and should have had 2. We got lucky with the offside decision though, he looked just on. We look a different prospect with Vlaar and Benteke in the team, and actually had a couple of (very short) spells of possession football towards the end. Westwood worries me though, he doesn't look up to scratch technique wise.
Westwood's technique is fine, but I think he's completely lost the composure which made him look very good last season. Agreed about the better second half, had we played like that in the first that possession statistic would be significantly less damning.
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We've now lost once on New Years Eve or New Years Day in twenty years.
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When Gabby scores they're usually big goals when they matter. That's why he'd always be in my Villa team.
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I see we're above Real Swansea now.
We should be ashamed to be two points ahead of a team that had over 70% possession against us... It's about time they did something to give points for position.
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When Gabby scores they're usually big goals when they matter. That's why he'd always be in my Villa team.
Twice in four minutes I agree with your every word. 2014 = parallel universe.
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When Gabby scores they're usually big goals when they matter. That's why he'd always be in my Villa team.
yep 100% agree.That's now two one on ones where he has taken his goals beautifully.
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Sunderland lost the game as soon as Cattermole fucked up. It killed them. They played like a side at the bottom. It was all a bit desperate and they just never really looked like scoring. Had they got the first goal they'd probably have held out and looked fairly comfortable doing it. But shit like that happens when you're at the bottom. It's hard coming back from that. The goal was very early but I said in the match thread I couldn't see them scoring after conceding like that, and they didn't.
We didn't make it easy for ourselves by allowing them so much of the ball, but they did nothing of much note with it. They never looked like they would score. Shots weren't hit clean, final deliveries rushed, no ideas, nothing.
I didn't particularly worry too much in any point after we'd scored. It just felt like we had it in the bag and Sunderland looked dead and buried. To be fair to our boys, we didn't gift them a goal back, which would have been the likeliest way for them to get into it. Kind of like Kozaks goal the other week. Besides that we never looked much like getting something off our own back.
I do feel for Poyet it must be said. He's got a gargantuan task to repair the mentality of his squad.
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Got to admire Sunderland for trying to play a passing game. It's a bit stupid though when you let Cattermole get in on the act.
Some hopeful signs today. Benteke did not have a great game but showed glimpses at least of the player he really is.
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I think that's the type of game I hate the most, where we are manifestly superior to our opponents in every department but lack the ability to kill them off and spending the last 20 minutes in fear of us coughing up a wholly undeserved equaliser.
Massively improved performance though and I thought a magnificent performance from Gabby who looked like a real leader when he took over the captaincy when Vlaar went off and played with assurance and maturity throughout.
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When Gabby scores they're usually big goals when they matter. That's why he'd always be in my Villa team.
Yes he scored important goals. Big man when needed.
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When Gabby scores they're usually big goals when they matter. That's why he'd always be in my Villa team.
yep 100% agree.That's now two one on ones where he has taken his goals beautifully.
Yep. Gabby's also very much a purple patch kind of player, even at his best he's always been that way. 10 games without a goal, then maybe a run of games where he always looks like scoring.
I fancy him to bang a few more in, in the coming weeks. And if there's anyone you'd fancy to net a goal against a couple of the bigger sides, who we're playing next, it's probably Gabby.
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Thank you Aston Villa Thank you
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I see we're above Real Swansea now.
We should be ashamed to be two points ahead of a team that had over 70% possession against us... It's about time they did something to give points for position.
but we're dreadful, horrible etc etc etc aren't we?
Some people look for the negatives at every opportunity. Nobody is claiming we have turned the corner and everything is rosy, but everyone who has doubts about today look at where they had the bulk of their possession and look at the actual opportunities they had. We had much the better chances and should have won by a hatful.
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Don't get the posters who are claiming luck, saying it was tension filled, etc. I thought we played ok. Yes Sunderland had more possession but what's new? If passing the ball across the park is good football then they can keep it. Guzan has had to face 1 shot on target. The only luck involved today was a tight off side call which could have gone either way but we should have bagged a 3 goal win today and I thought the defence played really well. I also think Benteke showed signs of his old self and was much more involved. Hopefully, Vlaar is not going to miss another month. Much needed 3 points and a week off for the FA Cup.
+1
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3 points. My precious!
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Dont care about how much possession we had or the technique of some of our players etc etc, just massively relieved that we won, even when we win there are some very negative posts on here, cheer up and a Happy New Year to all of you, Up the Villa :)
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If we'd lost at home to a side as bad as we're supposed to be and had one shot on target there'd be smoke coming out of this thread now.
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Anyone know what's up with Vlaar now? Hope it's just precautionary, he's going to need his own medical wing at Bodymoor at this rate.
He was holding his calf when he was down. We did rush him back though so always a danger of it going again.
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Don't get the posters who are claiming luck, saying it was tension filled, etc. I thought we played ok. Yes Sunderland had more possession but what's new? If passing the ball across the park is good football then they can keep it. Guzan has had to face 1 shot on target. The only luck involved today was a tight off side call which could have gone either way but we should have bagged a 3 goal win today and I thought the defence played really well. I also think Benteke showed signs of his old self and was much more involved. Hopefully, Vlaar is not going to miss another month. Much needed 3 points and a week off for the FA Cup.
+1
Agreed. And lets face it. For all their possession they had one shot on target the whole game.
One.
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Lets be realistic - compared to our performances over the last 3-4 games that was certainly an improvement. Bacuna MOM for me and agree Albrighton made more impact in 10 mins than Wiemann did in 90.
Positives
- We've started creating chances again
- We kept a clean sheet. OK they were very poor in front of goal but some of that has to be put down to good defensive pressure
Negatives
- Got to hit the target when youre in the 18 yd box
- Vlarr, same injury or not 100% (my guess is the second one).
So overall happy with the 3 points and a marked improvement. Get some of the fringe players a run out on Saturday (and some game time for Donacien) and see where we go from there.
Good start to the year :D
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Important win. Pleased that Baker is getting some plaudits, I thought he looked better against Swansea and has really stood up to be counted after a poor display against Palace.
I only saw the last 10 mins so I can't comment on the performance, but I expected us to lose, especially when Vlaar went off so I'm very happy with the three points.
Time for Lambert to do the necessary work in the transfer window...
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Ohhhh the relief. I'm most happiest for our kid (Des Little) goes to every match everywhere and is probably paying £3 for a can of coke and £2 for a packet of crisps on the coach as we speak.
The reality however is that this win is merely papering over the cracks, we are still flattering to deceive and one again with only 35% of the possession we are living dangerously (living on our nerves).
15 points to get between now and May and I for one will be in a better place.
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I see we're above Real Swansea now.
We should be ashamed to be two points ahead of a team that had over 70% possession against us... It's about time they did something to give points for position.
Can't agree. We have nothing to be ashamed of! We are where we are after 20 games , not just one!. We have also had some key injuries. Keep the faith. We may be poor. But thankfully there are at the moment worse!
We won, be happy! If we were to win every game like that we would be happy! We have all seen games when we have dominated the game and couldn't score needed up losing. I don't care how much possession we have if we win! 70% possession was worth how many points exactly!???? Oh yes 1 - Why because they didn't create any chances for all that possession. So really no need to feel ashamed! By all means we can complain about the style of the football, the method etc etc, but never be ashamed of Aston Villa!
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If we'd lost at home to a side as bad as we're supposed to be and had one shot on target there'd be smoke coming out of this thread now.
Quite right too and I'm sure their forums are doing just that.
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If we'd lost at home to a side as bad as we're supposed to be and had one shot on target there'd be smoke coming out of this thread now.
Most of us are overly harsh on the team we love, for some reason. I reckon it's human nature. We're currently spending New Year with my in-laws and I've realised that I'm exceedingly harsh on my own kids, but stupidly indulgent of other people's.
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(http://i.imgur.com/oFPsmbG.png)
Keep the faith.
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Goal! (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x193seo_sunderland-0-1-aston-villa-goal-gabriel-agbonhalor_sport?start=15)
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Ohhhh the relief. I'm most happiest for our kid (Des Little) goes to every match everywhere and is probably paying £3 for a can of coke and £2 for a packet of crisps on the coach as we speak.
The reality however is that this win is merely papering over the cracks, we are still flattering to deceive and one again with only 35% of the possession we are living dangerously (living on our nerves).
15 points to get between now and May and I for one will be in a better place.
The reality is that we won. The reality is that we got 100% of the points. The reality is that no matter how good the result someone will always try to find a downside to it.
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Well deserved win, frustration being it should have been by far more which meant an unnecessarily tense end. That aside though we looked in control of the game for the majority and Vlaar's presence makes a huge difference.
Hopefully we can make two or three smart signings now and finish this season in a similar manner to last.
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I see we're above Real Swansea now.
We should be ashamed to be two points ahead of a team that had over 70% possession against us... It's about time they did something to give points for position.
Can't agree. We have nothing to be ashamed of! We are where we are after 20 games , not just one!. We have also had some key injuries. Keep the faith. We may be poor. But thankfully there are at the moment worse!
We won, be happy! If we were to win every game like that we would be happy! We have all seen games when we have dominated the game and couldn't score needed up losing. I don't care how much possession we have if we win! 70% possession was worth how many points exactly!???? Oh yes 1 - Why because they didn't create any chances for all that possession. So really no need to feel ashamed! By all means we can complain about the style of the football, the method etc etc, but never be ashamed of Aston Villa!
Whoosh!
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The Vlaar injury and possible reoccurrence of the same issue must now force our hand to get an experienced CB in the window.
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Until then onwards and upwards
Experienced defender and midfielder with no history of injuries in January please.
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We won and looked dangerous many times in attack and should have won by more - its a clean sheet with an injury hit defence and a vital win - we are now in the transfer window - we all know where we need to strengthen , lets hope we get 2 or 3 quality additions to the team in the next couple of weeks.
A good start to the year and nice to see benteke back - sad to see Vlaar get an injury on his return but overall the result is the main thing and we got it - lets enjoy the rest of New Year's Day !
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The Vlaar injury and possible reoccurrence of the same issue must now force our hand to get an experienced CB in the window.
True but I was hoping lambert would finally have a window when all he had to think about was midfielders because we sorely need some quality there.
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I see we're above Real Swansea now.
We should be ashamed to be two points ahead of a team that had over 70% possession against us... It's about time they did something to give points for position.
Can't agree. We have nothing to be ashamed of! We are where we are after 20 games , not just one!. We have also had some key injuries. Keep the faith. We may be poor. But thankfully there are at the moment worse!
We won, be happy! If we were to win every game like that we would be happy! We have all seen games when we have dominated the game and couldn't score needed up losing. I don't care how much possession we have if we win! 70% possession was worth how many points exactly!???? Oh yes 1 - Why because they didn't create any chances for all that possession. So really no need to feel ashamed! By all means we can complain about the style of the football, the method etc etc, but never be ashamed of Aston Villa!
Erm......I don't think the post you responded to was being that serious.
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
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Thought i was seeing a different Luna for the last 20 mins.Well done fella.
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The Vlaar injury and possible reoccurrence of the same issue must now force our hand to get an experienced CB in the window.
True but I was hoping lambert would finally have a window when all he had to think about was midfielders because we sorely need some quality there.
I would very much hope he is capable of thinking about filling two positions.
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
"Better than average." How do you work that out?
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Hurray!!!! Happy New Year to everybody who went, and everybody on here. What a start to 2014!
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We've now lost once on New Years Eve or New Years Day in twenty years.
Wasn't that to Sunderland ironically?
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A much needed win making the holiday return more respectable. I was looking for a minimum of 5 points from the three games so we were close except perhaps not quite in the way I expected.
The transfer window is now really important. Biggest concern is whether Randy makes funds available - I see an analysis of wallets in one of the papers at the weekend had us down for £3m. That looks like more League 1 and French Div 2 players.
Seems we go again and keep looking for that bright future. Am less fearful (bizarrely) about Arsenal at home than Liverpool away!
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We've now lost once on New Years Eve or New Years Day in twenty years.
Wasn't that to Sunderland ironically?
Chelsea.
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I see we're above Real Swansea now.
We should be ashamed to be two points ahead of a team that had over 70% possession against us... It's about time they did something to give points for position.
Can't agree. We have nothing to be ashamed of! We are where we are after 20 games , not just one!. We have also had some key injuries. Keep the faith. We may be poor. But thankfully there are at the moment worse!
We won, be happy! If we were to win every game like that we would be happy! We have all seen games when we have dominated the game and couldn't score needed up losing. I don't care how much possession we have if we win! 70% possession was worth how many points exactly!???? Oh yes 1 - Why because they didn't create any chances for all that possession. So really no need to feel ashamed! By all means we can complain about the style of the football, the method etc etc, but never be ashamed of Aston Villa!
Erm......I don't think the post you responded to was being that serious.
sorry in that case .... just seemed like a lot of people posting like we'd lost!, We won. I agree we have some deeper problems ,but today we won and this is the post Sunderland thread, Not the" What's wrong with Villa Thread?"
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We're in a great position now. Mid-table despite not playing very well, or even looking like professional footballers at times with some of the sloppy control and passing. However there's places in the top half of the table which are ripe for the taking. Southampton are struggling to maintain their early form. That place could be ours.
If we get some composure from somewhere, we can play football. We showed that today (very briefly). Better movement, more composure. Some good signings will make that come easier. And if Benteke gets a goal soon, I think the floodgates will open for him.
We should really be going for it. The quicker we separate ourselves from the toss at the bottom, the better. Look upwards from here on in, not downwards. This was a massive win going into a tough double header. A bit more quality and a little experience coming in and it'll help us no end.
Lets get some of our young talent in the 18 for the Sheff game too. Johnson, Robinson and Helenius need some game time. Benteke and Weimann need a break until the next league games (though Weimann needs dropping in truth).
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
"Better than average." How do you work that out?
I consider the bottom 8 being in trouble. Would you put money on us finishing in the top 8 or the bottom 8 as thing stands now?
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
"Better than average." How do you work that out?
Well we have looked pretty bad for quite a while. At times in the second half, though, we started to look more like the good side we know we can be, so I'm encouraged.
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I was pleased with that performance. Once we scored we had the game in the palm of our hands. A bit of luck to get the goal but we made the most of it by keeping Sunderland out.
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
"Better than average." How do you work that out?
I consider the bottom 8 being in trouble. Would you put money on us finishing in the top 8 or the bottom 8 as thing stands now?
Middle 4.
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
"Better than average." How do you work that out?
I consider the bottom 8 being in trouble. Would you put money on us finishing in the top 8 or the bottom 8 as thing stands now?
I'd put my money on us being in neither and it's a spin of Herculean proportions to call being thirteenth at the end of the season in trouble.
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We're in a great position now. Mid-table despite not playing very well, or even looking like professional footballers at times with some of the sloppy control and passing. However there's places in the top half of the table which are ripe for the taking. Southampton are struggling to maintain their early form. That place could be ours.
If we get some composure from somewhere, we can play football. We showed that today (very briefly). Better movement, more composure. Some good signings will make that come easier. And if Benteke gets a goal soon, I think the floodgates will open for him.
We should really be going for it. The quicker we separate ourselves from the toss at the bottom, the better. Look upwards from here on in, not downwards. This was a massive win going into a tough double header. A bit more quality and a little experience coming in and it'll help us no end.
Lets get some of our young talent in the 18 for the Sheff game too. Johnson, Robinson and Helenius need some game time. Benteke and Weimann need a break until the next league games (though Weimann needs dropping in truth).
Wiemann needs dropping for his own good. The lad is shot away.He looks like he doesn't really have a clue, hop sense of position, can't pass or challenge at the moment! He has gone off the boil, to keep playing him in his mental state will make him worse!. Don't be too hard on him, he works hard and I am sure that with the right mentoring could be a fantastic player!
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Ohhhh the relief. I'm most happiest for our kid (Des Little) goes to every match everywhere and is probably paying £3 for a can of coke and £2 for a packet of crisps on the coach as we speak.
The reality however is that this win is merely papering over the cracks, we are still flattering to deceive and one again with only 35% of the possession we are living dangerously (living on our nerves).
15 points to get between now and May and I for one will be in a better place.
The reality is that we won.
- Yep
The reality is that we got 100% of the points.
- Yep again
The reality is that no matter how good the result someone will always try to find a downside to it.
- Hat trick!
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
"Better than average." How do you work that out?
I consider the bottom 8 being in trouble. Would you put money on us finishing in the top 8 or the bottom 8 as thing stands now?
I'd put my money on us being in neither and it's a spin of Herculean proportions to call being thirteenth at the end of the season in trouble.
Dave, I'm not spinning anything. We are 6 points off 18th, 2 points off 13th and 10 points off 8th. I can't predict where we will be at the end of the season, I'm talking about now and what we have seen up until now.
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I thought Weimann did ok today. Can't quite understand why he's being singled out.
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
"Better than average." How do you work that out?
I consider the bottom 8 being in trouble. Would you put money on us finishing in the top 8 or the bottom 8 as thing stands now?
I'd put my money on us being in neither and it's a spin of Herculean proportions to call being thirteenth at the end of the season in trouble.
Dave, I'm not spinning anything. We are 6 points off 18th, 2 points off 13th and 10 points off 8th. I can't predict where we will be a the end of the season, I'm talking about now and what we have seen up until now.
And since when has thirteenth been in trouble?
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We've now lost once on New Years Eve or New Years Day in twenty years.
Pity is we don't do as well over Christmas! (when there are more games)
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
"Better than average." How do you work that out?
I consider the bottom 8 being in trouble. Would you put money on us finishing in the top 8 or the bottom 8 as thing stands now?
I'd put my money on us being in neither and it's a spin of Herculean proportions to call being thirteenth at the end of the season in trouble.
Dave, I'm not spinning anything. We are 6 points off 18th, 2 points off 13th and 10 points off 8th. I can't predict where we will be a the end of the season, I'm talking about now and what we have seen up until now.
Isn't a 'better than average chance of sliding into trouble' predicting what will happen in the future?
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We've now lost once on New Years Eve or New Years Day in twenty years.
Wasn't that to Sunderland ironically?
Coincidentally - not ironically.
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We won. Enjoy it. Happy New Year.
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When points are handed out for possession we should worry.
Yes, we all know that. However, you have to be able to see that lack of possession invites pressure that we are not equipped to deal with. We are a couple of players away from being a solid mid-table side. Instead, we are mid-table with a better than average chance of sliding into trouble.
"Better than average." How do you work that out?
I consider the bottom 8 being in trouble. Would you put money on us finishing in the top 8 or the bottom 8 as thing stands now?
I'd put my money on us being in neither and it's a spin of Herculean proportions to call being thirteenth at the end of the season in trouble.
Dave, I'm not spinning anything. We are 6 points off 18th, 2 points off 13th and 10 points off 8th. I can't predict where we will be a the end of the season, I'm talking about now and what we have seen up until now.
And since when has thirteenth been in trouble?
When there are 4 points separating 18th and 13th? If that is still the case with 6 games to go, I would say that would be squeaky bum time.
Anyway, I'm not one of the misery arses around here usually, but I'm not keeping the Christmas bunting up just because we beat the shittest team in the league. We have problems that need to be addressed desperately and I hope the owner and manager take care of that.
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Isn't a 'better than average chance of sliding into trouble' predicting what will happen in the future?
Based on what we have seen up until now. If we buy a few players, then who knows?
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2014 P1 W1 F1 A0 100%!
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s526x395/1530525_773037812723779_590564324_n.jpg)
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I thought we were the shittest team in the league?
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Sixth clean sheet of the season. I think that's more than the whole of last season.
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I thought we were the shittest team in the league?
On our losing run it's perfectly possible that we played the worst football in the league, although West Ham would run us close.
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I thought we were the shittest team in the league?
On our losing run it's perfectly possible that we played the worst football in the league, although West Ham would run us close.
So therefore winning, in whatever manner, is cause for celebration rather than wrist-slashing,
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We've now lost once on New Years Eve or New Years Day in twenty years.
Wasn't that to Sunderland ironically?
Coincidentally - not ironically.
I was wrong on both accounts!
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We've now lost once on New Years Eve or New Years Day in twenty We've now lost once on New Years Eve or New Years Day in twenty years.
Right, we definitely need a mid season break which runs through late December when we are consistently crap and Xmas's get wrecked. Restart season on 1st jan
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I thought Weimann did ok today. Can't quite understand why he's being singled out.
Please look at how many times he gave the ball away, didn't make a tackle, incomplete pass, broke down the attack etc etc.. I am not singling him out, I think the lad has lost any confidence he had and if he is not dropped he will get worse! I feel sorry for him at the moment.. He looked great last year. I was convinced that this year someone could take his natural enthusiasm and pace and teach him to look up a bit and use the brain he has. We really need a "number 10" Wiemann needs to just stop running around like a headless chicken, he wears himself out every game . It's as if someone has told him he mist tread on every blade of grass on the pitch regardless!
He works and tries hard, He just needs coaching.
In the short term he needs a rest and some confidence injected, let Albrighton have a run out for a bit.
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I thought we were the shittest team in the league?
On our losing run it's perfectly possible that we played the worst football in the league, although West Ham would run us close.
So therefore winning, in whatever manner, is cause for celebration rather than wrist-slashing,
No question, but I don't think usav was hacking away at his wrists in misery, to be fair. We've won away at the bottom club in the league through an entirely fortunate goal. We conceded a really alarming amount of the ball again, though there is encouragement to be found in the chances we created and the solidity of the defence. It's fantastic to win, but let's not fool ourselves and now say everything's perfect and our problems have gone away, because they haven't.
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Sixth clean sheet of the season. I think that's more than the whole of last season.
That most certainly is a positive.
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3 points. A couple of half decent signings and hopefully we can push on.
Happy new year everyone.
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Happy with the performances then dave?
Play like we did today, with a couple of quality additions this transfer window, and the next, and i can see what he is trying to do, but it has been awful, for far too long.
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I thought we were the shittest team in the league?
On our losing run it's perfectly possible that we played the worst football in the league, although West Ham would run us close.
So therefore winning, in whatever manner, is cause for celebration rather than wrist-slashing,
No question, but I don't think usav was hacking away at his wrists in misery, to be fair. We've won away at the bottom club in the league through an entirely fortunate goal. We conceded a really alarming amount of the ball again, though there is encouragement to be found in the chances we created and the solidity of the defence. It's fantastic to win, but let's not fool ourselves and now say everything's perfect and our problems have gone away, because they haven't.
They may be bottom of the league but the general consensus on here from Saturday until the teams were announced was that we would lose, with 3- and 4-0 being predicted. "In form" was a common description of them. To then complain about the way in which we won seems a bit disingenious, to say the least.
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Sixth clean sheet of the season. I think that's more than the whole of last season.
That most certainly is a positive.
when you con side that the great majority of their shots were from long range I think that speaks to what Vlaar brings to the game. A bit of organization at the back that kept other players in position. I really hope that he's not out for any length of time again.
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I thought we were the shittest team in the league?
On our losing run it's perfectly possible that we played the worst football in the league, although West Ham would run us close.
So therefore winning, in whatever manner, is cause for celebration rather than wrist-slashing,
No question, but I don't think usav was hacking away at his wrists in misery, to be fair. We've won away at the bottom club in the league through an entirely fortunate goal. We conceded a really alarming amount of the ball again, though there is encouragement to be found in the chances we created and the solidity of the defence. It's fantastic to win, but let's not fool ourselves and now say everything's perfect and our problems have gone away, because they haven't.
They may be bottom of the league but the general consensus on here from Saturday until the teams were announced was that we would lose, with 3- and 4-0 being predicted. "In form" was a common description of them. To then complain about the way in which we won seems a bit disingenious, to say the least.
I don't think so. Why can you only analyse performances if you lose or draw? There is such a thing as luck. It's also true that we weren't necessarily lucky to win, but we had a bit of luck. It seems willfully simplistic just to say 'we won, shut up criticising anything.'
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Lambo's post match comments suggest that Vlaar remains fit. Seems unlikely, but fingers crossed. He said we are a really good team with everyone fit. Er, no. Really good teams are well inside the top ten. He also mentioned experienced signings again. Cannot wait to see who he has lined up.
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Happy with the performances then dave?
Play like we did today, with a couple of quality additions this transfer window, and the next, and i can see what he is trying to do, but it has been awful, for far too long.
Happy with the score then?
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Happy with the performances then dave?
Play like we did today, with a couple of quality additions this transfer window, and the next, and i can see what he is trying to do, but it has been awful, for far too long.
Nobody is suggesting that the performances are impressive, but winning whilst playing crap is great. If Manchester United got a result when out of form, everyone would say that is the mark of a good team.
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Any news on the Vlaar injury?
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Lambo's post match comments suggest that Vlaar remains fit. Seems unlikely, but fingers crossed. He said we are a really good team with everyone fit. Er, no. Really good teams are well inside the top ten. He also mentioned experienced signings again. Cannot wait to see who he has lined up.
We'd be top 10 if Vlaar, Benteke and Okore had hardly missed a game imo.
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You are insinuating we have no right to moan, i am saying that the quality of football has been unacceptably bad.
Do you think i'm happy with the score?
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From Pravda:
Paul Lambert was delighted to leave Sunderland with all three points and stressed: "We deserved that."
Lambert watched on as Gabby Agbonlahor netted the winner in the first half but also saw his team create several opportunities afterwards.
Christian Benteke had a shot cleared off the line by Phil Bardsley while Marc Albrighton blazed over in the closing stages of the Stadium of Light encounter.
Lambert felt his team should have won more comfortably but was happy with the maximum haul which ensured a very happy start to the New Year.
He said: "It was an important win, very much so. It was a very good beginning to a New Year.
"The Swansea game gave us a platform to move forward. It gave us something to build on.
"It was a very good point against a very good side.
"Today I thought we played really well and it could have been a bit more.
"Even in the first half, we had some really good chances.
"I thought Marc's was a stonewaller to go in. He had just come on and Andi did great to set it up.
"Christian did great with his chance before that where Bardsley cleared it off the line.
"So we had chances to make it more comfortable. It could have been three or four.
"When you're at 1-0, you're always on the edge.
"In the end, it was a big, big win for us. I am delighted because this is a hard place to come and they are fighting for their lives. I was delighted with the performance too."
Lambert said the return of Christian Benteke and Ron Vlaar to the starting line-up was key to the victory over the Black Cats.
He added: "We have had big players out but the lads have got on with it. They haven't moaned once. They kept going.
"But we are a club who need our big, experienced players. We have been without some key players. It's been too much for us to carry. When you lose these type of lads, it's a big chunk
"We had Christian and Ron come back and we have also had Gabby, Andi and Fabian missing at certain times too.
"We find it hard when we have those injuries. But we came back very strongly today with Christian and Ron back in big areas of the pitch for us.
"When we have everyone fit, we are a very good side.
"If we can get one or two experienced ones lads in to give the group a hand now, that's what we will try to do.
"We want to make the squad stronger and it will also give the supporters a lift, the lads in the dressing room a lift and the football club a lift. We will try and do something."
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BBC WM's Mark Regan has tweeted that Vlaar injury not too serious, won't be risked in cup but should be ok after a short rest.
Here's hoping
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BBC WM's Mark Regan has tweeted that Vlaar injury not too serious, won't be risked in cup but should be ok after a short rest.
Here's hoping
That is good news
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Happy with the performances then dave?
Play like we did today, with a couple of quality additions this transfer window, and the next, and i can see what he is trying to do, but it has been awful, for far too long.
Nobody is suggesting that the performances are impressive, but winning whilst playing crap is great. If Manchester United got a result when out of form, everyone would say that is the mark of a good team.
TBH, that was a perfect away performance. I don't care much for possession away from home. It's the 30% at home and the dreadful points return at VP that is stopping us being a comfortable top half team. I'm sure our best team with a couple of reinforcements would do us wonders.
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You are insinuating we have no right to moan, i am saying that the quality of football has been unacceptably bad.
Do you think i'm happy with the score?
I'm not saying anything like that, as well you should know. I don't know how happy you are and I don't care. Villa have won so I'm happy.
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Weimann is a striker, taught to finish with one or two touches. (Man City at home Liverpool away last season). He is NOT a left sided midfield player.
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You are insinuating we have no right to moan, i am saying that the quality of football has been unacceptably bad.
Do you think i'm happy with the score?
I'm not saying anything like that, as well you should know. I don't know how happy you are and I don't care. Villa have won so I'm happy.
Would now be a good time to ask for a pay rise?
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BBC WM's Mark Regan has tweeted that Vlaar injury not too serious, won't be risked in cup but should be ok after a short rest.
Here's hoping
Fingers crossed that with 12 days until the Arse game he will be fine.
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BBC WM's Mark Regan has tweeted that Vlaar injury not too serious, won't be risked in cup but should be ok after a short rest.
Here's hoping
That is good news
A huge relief, he is a big player for us and its good it's not serious.
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We know we're not a good team
So considering how much we needed a result, and that Sunderland are in pretty good form - especially at home - that's a really good result.
Was expects this thread to be a bit more chirpy.
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You are insinuating we have no right to moan, i am saying that the quality of football has been unacceptably bad.
Do you think i'm happy with the score?
I'm not saying anything like that, as well you should know. I don't know how happy you are and I don't care. Villa have won so I'm happy.
Would now be a good time to ask for a pay rise?
Of course it would.
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There was a distinct lack of optimism in the pre-match thread and yet here we are with the 3 points. Have a pint and enjoy.
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Gabby was my MOTM. I thought he was brilliant. I've noticed he comes quite deep to get the ball now and is quite a different player to the explosive forward we used to know and is now quite cultured with the ball and a great leader. I can see him developing into more of a 'number 10' type when he gets into his 30s as he begins to slow down.
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I agree PWS, i think a fit partnership of Okores and Vlaar, and a fully functioning CB, we would have been comortably top 10.
Don't bloody sound like you are happy dave,
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There was a distinct lack of optimism in the pre-match thread and yet here we are with the 3 points. Have a pint and enjoy.
I would love to have a pint and toast our victory tonight but im on a January Detox!!
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Lambo's post match comments suggest that Vlaar remains fit. Seems unlikely, but fingers crossed. He said we are a really good team with everyone fit. Er, no. Really good teams are well inside the top ten. He also mentioned experienced signings again. Cannot wait to see who he has lined up.
We'd be top 10 if Vlaar, Benteke and Okore had hardly missed a game imo.
We are only off top 10 on goal difference as it is - with those 3 we would be higher.
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There was a distinct lack of optimism in the pre-match thread and yet here we are with the 3 points. Have a pint and enjoy.
I would love to have a pint and toast our victory tonight but im on a January Detox!!
Good luck with the detox. Have a glass of water and enjoy!
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BBC WM's Mark Regan has tweeted that Vlaar injury not too serious, won't be risked in cup but should be ok after a short rest.
Here's hoping
That is good news
Cheers guys
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Thank fuck for that.
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Such a vital 3 points today. It eases the immediate pressure on us and with the manager hinting at one or two experienced players coming in I am more than happy.
And as for 'beating a useless team', they had improved recently and were unbeaten in four games.
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BBC WM's Mark Regan has tweeted that Vlaar injury not too serious, won't be risked in cup but should be ok after a short rest.
Here's hoping
Won't be risked in the cup ? Jesus ....this is The FA Cup >:(
However I think we should see off Sheffield utd without Vlaar.
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BBC WM's Mark Regan has tweeted that Vlaar injury not too serious, won't be risked in cup but should be ok after a short rest.
Here's hoping
Won't be risked in the cup ? Jesus ....this is The FA Cup >:(
However I think we should see off Sheffield utd without Vlaar.
Well Walsall managed it tiday
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sorry in that case .... just seemed like a lot of people posting like we'd lost!, We won. I agree we have some deeper problems ,but today we won and this is the post Sunderland thread, Not the" What's wrong with Villa Thread?"
No need to be sorry mate. Agree fully with your retort. I was having a laugh at the possession merchants. Never have been and never will be ashamed of the Villa come what may.
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@RonVlaar4: Massive win and a great start of #2014. Too bad I couldn't hold for 90min. Felt great to play again. #UTV #AVFC #AVFCLIVE
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We've now lost once on New Years Eve or New Years Day in twenty years.
Wasn't that to Sunderland ironically?
Coincidentally - not ironically.
I was wrong on both accounts!
Coincidentally! (Sorry)
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@RonVlaar4: Massive win and a great start of #2014. Too bad I couldn't hold for 90min. Felt great to play again. #UTV #AVFC #AVFCLIVE
That sounds optimistic.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
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@RonVlaar4: Massive win and a great start of #2014. Too bad I couldn't hold for 90min. Felt great to play again. #UTV #AVFC #AVFCLIVE
That sounds optimistic.
very. Give him the week off against Sheff Utd and have him ready for the next league game.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
that's the thing. The pure possession stat doesn't tell the whole story. If we read that "Southampton had 54% possession against Chelsea" you'd never expect the next sentence to read "and they lost 3-0"
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
Yeah, you see, Fasth56, Ian Dowie was actually watching the game rather than writing miserablist drivel on the match thread.
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2014 P1 W1 F1 A0 100%!
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s526x395/1530525_773037812723779_590564324_n.jpg)
Get it!! Happy days, well pleased with this. Happy New Year to all.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
Yeah, you see, Fasth56, Ian Dowie was actually watching the game rather than writing miserablist drivel on the match thread.
The Radio 5 reporter was very positive, saying we played a disciplined counter attacking match.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
Yes, that's how I followed the game and was really looking forward to watching us on Football First. Then I came on here and cancelled Sky.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
Yeah, you see, Fasth56, Ian Dowie was actually watching the game rather than writing miserablist drivel on the match thread.
The reporter on Radio 5 - the very annoying Juliet Ferrington (SP?) who manages to always shout rather than speak normally - said pretty much the same thing, pointing out that, in truth, for all Sunderlands' huff and puff, we could have won by 3 or 4 clear goals
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Despite the similar possession stats this was a long way from the smash and grab at Southampton:
Once Vlaar went off in that game we looked very wobbly at the back, but we won through extremely clinical finishing.
Today, we went ahead, never looked like losing (because our defenders generally had a good day, and Sunderland did nothing with all the ball they had) and if we had a shot conversion rate anything like we did at Southampton then we'd have won 3 or 4 nil.
Not a vintage performance by any means, but a vital 3 points. We also showed in flashes that this team can still play the kind of football we all enjoyed during the tail-end of last season - they just need to CALM DOWN and regain a bit of composure and confidence.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
Yeah, you see, Fasth56, Ian Dowie was actually watching the game rather than writing miserablist drivel on the match thread.
Excellent :)
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I was at the game today. Good turnout by the fans all things considered. In hindsight a routine win but nervy at the time. A second goal for us would have been derserved and would have probably lead to a couple more.
Baker or Clarke always look better with Vlaar and that made a difference and for me, away from home, Gabby, Benteke and Weiman always look dangerous. That said the defense and midfield have to improve, as we know, to give the attack the chance/chances to win games. Hopefully this will be addressed this window.
It's a long way home an all.
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I thought we were the shittest team in the league?
On our losing run it's perfectly possible that we played the worst football in the league, although West Ham would run us close.
So therefore winning, in whatever manner, is cause for celebration rather than wrist-slashing,
No question, but I don't think usav was hacking away at his wrists in misery, to be fair. We've won away at the bottom club in the league through an entirely fortunate goal. We conceded a really alarming amount of the ball again, though there is encouragement to be found in the chances we created and the solidity of the defence. It's fantastic to win, but let's not fool ourselves and now say everything's perfect and our problems have gone away, because they haven't.
They may be bottom of the league but the general consensus on here from Saturday until the teams were announced was that we would lose, with 3- and 4-0 being predicted. "In form" was a common description of them. To then complain about the way in which we won seems a bit disingenious, to say the least.
I thought that we might get hammered but also said we could win, as we are so unpredictable. We have won and are pleased with that but it does not reduce by one iota the need for more experienced players. Lambert seems to recognise this but I hope that he doesn't keep us waiting until the end of the window. We could also do with someone who is not cup tied.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
In fairness I think a lot people commenting on the match thread were watching the game .
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For me, the killer stat from the Southampton game wasn't the percentage possession, it was the percentage pass completion - which was lower than 50%. That was the lowest of any side in a top European league all season
Looks like it was a much healthier 75% today.
There's nothing wrong with a counter attacking game away from home whereby you have less of the ball. But you need to be effective when you do have the ball. You could argue we were v saints but to me it was one of those freak games where we got lucky.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
In fairness I think a lot people commenting on the match thread were watching the game .
the one thing that is always worth doing if you have time is to watch the game again without the natural emotion of a live event. Especially when you know we have won. It's amazing how much emotion can affect your judgement. The thing with the neutrals is that they have almost no emotion when watching a game and just call it is as they see it.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
Yeah, you see, Fasth56, Ian Dowie was actually watching the game rather than writing miserablist drivel on the match thread.
The Radio 5 reporter was very positive, saying we played a disciplined counter attacking match.
Yes as opposed to being hammered 1-1 as per Swansea
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So I'm watching Match of the Day tonight. Shplendid.
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Well I'm confused, numerous people on here are declaring that we are crap and Sunderland outplayed us with 65% possession, yet on all the updates on SSN from Iain Dowie we were the better team and Sunderland hadn't got a clue. In fact in one of the reports he said we were passing Sunderland to death and they were creating absolutely nothing. I know it's Iain Dowie but surely he couldn't have been reporting something that wasn't happening?
In fairness I think a lot people commenting on the match thread were watching the game .
the one thing that is always worth doing if you have time is to watch the game again without the natural emotion of a live event. Especially when you know we have won. It's amazing how much emotion can affect your judgement. The thing with the neutrals is that they have almost no emotion when watching a game and just call it is as they see it.
Spot on tv - we have almost all the chances, kept a clean sheet and won - the return of Vlaar and benteke is positive news and we could have won by a distance had we taken our chances .
Lets enjoy the result and hope we can add to the squad in this window with quality additions .
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I did not go to the game today but I was never nervous about the outcome which is most unusual for me. Because I am well on top of all my chores I was able to apply the Sir Dave Brailsford principle of aggregation of minor improvements to my superstition regime. I did the whole routine from Socks, colour of, socks, which foot first right through to finding out the score by logging on to the post match thread at about page 4 and I even included watering the lemon tree I have grown from a pip from a tree by the side of the bar where I had a beer with Bad English and the most powerful medicine, before I find out the score looking out of the window until a car with the letter "V" in its number goes past. Never in any doubt.
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So I'm watching Match of the Day tonight. Shplendid.
Me too. Does Des Lynham still present it?
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So I'm watching Match of the Day tonight. Shplendid.
Me too. Does Des Lynham still present it?
Jimmy Hill I think
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Certainly wasn't pretty, but its three points, plus it leaves Sunderland in the mire.
Good thing is we have a break before the next league game, so it gives some of the walking wounded a chance to recover. be interesting to see the side Lambert picks for Sheffield United.
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So I'm watching Match of the Day tonight. Shplendid.
Me too. Does Des Lynham still present it?
Jimmy Hill I think
It's midweek so Sportsnight with Coleman tonight!
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Does this mean Legion won't be doing the match thread again any time soon?
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So I'm watching Match of the Day tonight. Shplendid.
Me too. Does Des Lynham still present it?
Jimmy Hill I think
It's midweek so Sportsnight with Coleman tonight!
Harry carpenter !
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I did not go to the game today but I was never nervous about the outcome which is most unusual for me. Because I am well on top of all my chores I was able to apply the Sir Dave Brailsford principle of aggregation of minor improvements to my superstition regime. I did the whole routine from Socks, colour of, socks, which foot first right through to finding out the score by logging on to the post match thread at about page 4 and I even included watering the lemon tree I have grown from a pip from a tree by the side of the bar where I had a beer with Bad English and the most powerful medicine, before I find out the score looking out of the window until a car with the letter "V" in its number goes past. Never in any doubt.
I wish my routine was as simple as yours.....
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Does this mean Legion won't be doing the match thread again any time soon?
Dead right.
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@GaryLineker: MOTD running order: Ars/Car, Swa/ManC, Sou/Che, ManU/Tot, Liv/Hull, Ful/WHU, WBA/New, Sun/AV, Sto/Eve, CP/Nor. BBC1 10.50
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I can't believe I'm actually going to watch MOTD tonight, very happy with the 3 points, 1st half we were outplayed but the 2nd half I don't care what anyone thinks or what the possession says, we were strong and completely outplayed Sunderland, looked dangerous on the counter and the hunger back in Benteke was there to see.
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Does this mean Legion won't be doing the match thread again any time soon?
Dead right.
Ha! If only things were that simple!
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I'm definitely not starting the pre-match thread for Saturday. It's our year and I want it to stay that way.
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What pleased me most, was during the last 10 minutes, there were a few occasions where we kept the ball, passed it around and even created a glorious chance Albrighton should have scored.
The fact this was towards the end of the game, while under probably the most pressure showed that we aren't that bad and we really are just really low on confidence.
A draw, a win and signs of improvement in the last two games. Keep the faith. UTV.
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@GaryLineker: MOTD running order: Ars/Car, Swa/ManC, Sou/Che, ManU/Tot, Liv/Hull, Ful/WHU, WBA/New, Sun/AV, Sto/Eve, CP/Nor. BBC1 10.50
A bit off topic, but you know that thing in 'Homeland' where they generate interest by hanging the main character. Do you think it would work for MOTD? If they hanged Michael Owen I would swing on his legs
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Lambert said on the OS that he hopes Vlaar will be fit for the Arsenal game but calf injury has flared up again. Still think we should recruit a new CB in this window.
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I can't believe I'm actually going to watch MOTD tonight, very happy with the 3 points, 1st half we were outplayed but the 2nd half I don't care what anyone thinks or what the possession says, we were strong and completely outplayed Sunderland, looked dangerous on the counter and the hunger back in Benteke was there to see.
Spot on
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@RonVlaar4: Massive win and a great start of #2014. Too bad I couldn't hold for 90min. Felt great to play again. #UTV #AVFC #AVFCLIVE
Very happy for Our Concrete.
Who is Clive?
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Woeful defensively first 20 minutes with Lowton and Luna again making basic errors. Thought Baker did well to be fair. After that typical 'Villa away' performance. Looked relatively comfortable and always looked dangerous on the break. Their 'goal' was offside although you would be disappointed if it was against the Villa. After the Palace and Swansea games enjoy the win and points. Havin a few pints and gonna enjoy what Christmas is always about - the darts !! (I know I cant rely on the Villa)
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A massive win and one which proves yet again that, for all its manifest deficiencies, there is battling spirit aplenty in this side: you don't win that type of game unless you are up for the physical challenge.
Bacuna and Gabby were immense, and Benteke looked up for it. The defense looked solid and we kept our shape well. The move that led to Albrighton's chance was a joy to watch and reminiscent of the better games in the latter part of last season.
I think that if Sunderland had pacy wide players that could link up, then they would have been able to attack our week spot, which are the full backs when not protected. As it is, they managed only one meaningful shot.
Well done lads and well done PL.
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I'll take the win and 3 points. Were glimmers of our attacking threat again and some of the old Benteke menace which was good to see. Yes, there were still confidence issues on the ball but we haven't won a game for a while so understandable. Vlaar's experience makes a big difference at the back but after he went off credit to Lowton and Baker for holding it together. We limited Sunderland to one shot on target so the team on the pitch deserve a pat on the back for that. With improved confidence should come better football. 3/4 goals would not have flattered us. UTV
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I followed the game via the match thread (the first time I've done that in absolute ages) and from the impression I got was we were absolute shite. Then I read and listen to a few reports and I find out that actually we played quite well in stages and should have won by more.
Who cares anyway. A win is a win is a win.
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Phew, 3 points... happy new year folks ;)
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Delighted with the 3 points. Whilst the football wasn't great we showed fight today and determination to see the game out. Thought lowton did really well when he moved over to CB, also credit to Baker who has taken dogs abuse recently. We should really have out the game out of sight but this is villa. Frayed nerves and time for a beer.
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I followed the game via the match thread (the first time I've done that in absolute ages) and from the impression I got was we were absolute shite. Then I read and listen to a few reports and I find out that actually we played quite well in stages and should have won by more.
Who cares anyway. A win is a win is a win.
The match thread is a really unrepresentative barometer of the way we are playing. I've noticed that several times.
Not so much because people are overly dramatic or owt, but because frequently the posts are of five or six words in length, so it's hard to read much subtlety into what people say. It can be easy to get a more dismal view of how we are playing from that thread.
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I'm definitely not starting the pre-match thread for Saturday. It's our year and I want it to stay that way.
I note that it was I who started the match thread today.
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No mate. You did the pre-match thread. ozzjim and I did near-simultaneous match threads which he merged before I could.
Get Saturday's pre-match thread up and running.
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I followed the game via the match thread (the first time I've done that in absolute ages) and from the impression I got was we were absolute shite. Then I read and listen to a few reports and I find out that actually we played quite well in stages and should have won by more.
Who cares anyway. A win is a win is a win.
Totally agree..i followed the game on here whilst having sky and Five Live on. On here it was another shambolic performance..Ian Dowie at the game was saying we were the better team and looked like scoring at any time and the BBC reporter said we could have won by 3-4 goals. Yet despite this some people just keep on banging on about possesion stats!!
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Definitely an improvement. Gabby was a real leader today and Vlaar made a difference. Just happy to take the points but PL now realises we need some experience and composure. A LB and no 10 and another solid CH and we can finish mid table without all the pressure of last season ......
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I followed the game via the match thread (the first time I've done that in absolute ages) and from the impression I got was we were absolute shite. Then I read and listen to a few reports and I find out that actually we played quite well in stages and should have won by more.
Who cares anyway. A win is a win is a win.
The match thread is a really unrepresentative barometer of the way we are playing. I've noticed that several times.
Not so much because people are overly dramatic or owt, but because frequently the posts are of five or six words in length, so it's hard to read much subtlety into what people say. It can be easy to get a more dismal view of how we are playing from that thread.
Some of us also get carried away during a game. I admit to being something of a bedwetter during match threads. I revert to my smug, self satisfied, happy clapper demeanor after the final whistle blows.
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Much better today.
Not faultless by any means, but we looked so much calmer at the back with Vlaar returning. That gave us the platform for the win. Slumberland -for all their possession- didn't look much of a threat.
Any prospective players looking at us as an option in the transfer window will (hopefully) see us as comfortably mid-table.
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Deserved win. Good win aswell, I know Sunderland are bottom but they've become tricky to beat at SOL and I still have a feeling they'll stay up.
Gabby should really be the first name on our teamsheet away from home, just essential to how we play on the road. Great to have Vlaar back aswell, we just look so much more composed at the back with less panicky clearences for a start.
If Sunderland had scored in the last few minutes, I'd have told Albrighton to make his own way back to Birmingham. Terrible miss from what was a really good passing move from us of about I think 15 passes all around the pitch.
And what was with the 5 minutes extra at the end? There were no goals in the second half and only 3 subs made so surely it wasn't the case of a home team losing so the ref just adds on 4-5 minutes to keep the locals happy?! The mug even added an extra minute on top of the 5!
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So I'm watching Match of the Day tonight. Shplendid.
Me too. Does Des Lynham still present it?
Jimmy Hill I think
It's midweek so Sportsnight with Coleman tonight!
Are you sure Harry Carpenter hasn't got this week's slot?
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Emotions will always run high on the match thread - I would say 0-3 wouldn't have flattered us today , as benteke, Delph and albrighton all missed good chances besides others, away from home you would expect to have less possession and sunderland created little .
We didn't play particularly well but we did what we had to do and got a very important win .
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most of their shots were a mile over or either side of the bar. If we settle for giving the opposition those for the rest of the season and improve our own quality of finishing we'll be fine. Yes, once in a while those go in (see Gayle v Palace) but again the stats can be deceiving if you consider they had 18 shots, but 17 were decent to completely shit.
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Amazed at the negativity on the first few pages. Yes I know this season has turned a bit shite but today we scored a goal, didn't concede and I'm thinking of Benteke chance off the line, Albrighton's sitter and a couple of decent Mannone saves as more to add to the scoreline.
Sunderland had 1 shot on target so very much like us at home for most of this season and no one is claiming the home results have been harsh on us as they haven't.
Sunderland have been tricky to play recently at SOL. Beat Man .City a few weeks back and only lost by one goal to Spurs and Chelsea, they were leading in both games.
Any away win in the premier league is a good one even if you have to battle for it. 4 away wins now so us away from home doesn't concern me in the slightest, even the standard of football.
What concerns me is how horrid we are to watch at Villa Park and the stats of two home wins reflects that so that needs to be urgently fixed.
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Definitely the best thing from today was how almost completely unworried we were in defence. Even when Vlaar went off they had nothing.
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Vlaar was huge for us today, he adds the steel to our defence, even when he went off his influence was still showing. Hope his calf heels quickly he'll be massive against Gunners.
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For a large part of the 84th minute we played as I want to see us to play.
Forget Albrightons miss. He is doing alright.
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Definitely the best thing from today was how almost completely unworried we were in defence. Even when Vlaar went off they had nothing.
And yet they scored 3 against Chelsea a few weeks back and should've scored a few at VP. In fairness we are a bit of a bogey side for them, think we've now won on 4 of our last 6 visits to SOL so hope they stay up!
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3 very important points that's all that matters.
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Vlaar played a captain's game. He supported our players when in trouble with the ref but did it in a decent way instead of the Man Utd way. When we saw him outside Villa Park several weeks ago, all the other players had gone. Ron was last in the car park but still walked over to talk to some kids. I hope he gets through his tendency to pick up injuries and continues to play for us for a long time.
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Definitely the best thing from today was how almost completely unworried we were in defence. Even when Vlaar went off they had nothing.
And yet they scored 3 against Chelsea a few weeks back and should've scored a few at VP. In fairness we are a bit of a bogey side for them, think we've now won on 4 of our last 6 visits to SOL so hope they stay up!
Haha, indeed! And yes, they were a bit rubbish today but they have been scoring a few goals and we saw today that they can play football, but we gave them pretty much nothing.
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Vlaar played a captain's game. He supported our players when in trouble with the ref but did it in a decent way instead of the Man Utd way. When we saw him outside Villa Park several weeks ago, all the other players had gone. Ron was last in the car park but still walked over to talk to some kids. I hope he gets through his tendency to pick up injuries and continues to play for us for a long time.
A proper club captain then. That is good to hear.
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Vlaar is bedded in nicely now to the premier league . Great to have him back and good news that he should be fit to play the gunners game.
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Vlaar is bedded in nicely now to the premier league . Great to have him back and good news that he should be fit to play the gunners game.
Agreed.
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For a large part of the 84th minute we played as I want to see us to play.
Forget Albrightons miss. He is doing alright.
It was the most composed I've seen the team this season with the ball in our possession. For that 30 odd seconds we kept the ball very calmly, and with great composure. It was going so well and then Albrighton just snatched at his shot somewhat. He had more time to be a bit more considered. But certainly, he did make a positive difference when he came on. He opened the game up a bit. Alby has to start against Arsenal for me.
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Think I'd go with two upfront v Arsenal (Benteke and Gabby) and flood the midfield. Albrighton and Weimann can be options for us later in that game. Wouldn't shock me if we go back to 3-5-2 for that and maybe also Liverpool depending on result.
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Alby tried to bust the net in the top corner and wasn't that far off, it just wasn't what was needed at that moment.
Delph also tried to hit his too hard.
Bacuna was very unlucky with his deflected effort, slightly less spin and Mannone was never getting back to it, as it was he only got enough glove to push it onto his head and then got a bit of luck in it squeezing past the post.
Benteke was really unlucky with the one Bardsley cleared off the line.
I seem to recall a good chance in the first half as well from a lovely flick round the corner from Benteke then he got it back from Gabby and bottled the shot and tried to lay it for Weimann. We'd opened them up and Benteke of the spring would've buried it.
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If we get anything out of Arsenal or Liverpool it goes down as a bonus. Arsenal didn't exactly demolish Cardiff today , it's just a case of giving it a go and not rolling over.
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Vlaar played a captain's game. He supported our players when in trouble with the ref but did it in a decent way instead of the Man Utd way. When we saw him outside Villa Park several weeks ago, all the other players had gone. Ron was last in the car park but still walked over to talk to some kids. I hope he gets through his tendency to pick up injuries and continues to play for us for a long time.
stick him next to another solid CB and all of a sudden we look a very different side in terms of leadership and defensive stability. Clark has certainly come on and improved because of playing next to Vlaar. He's a proper leader on and off the pitch.
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I think Benteke could have plugged away all night and not scored. He could really do scoring off his arse, or off the back of his bonce, any way, just as long as it ends up in the old onion bag. But he does look like he's a goal away from igniting (hopefully).
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Well as per usual the Sunderland forum (Love Supreme) says we were the worst team that have played at the SOL this season, our fans are crap...😃
Then the realists give us credit. I love football forums...
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Vlaar played a captain's game. He supported our players when in trouble with the ref but did it in a decent way instead of the Man Utd way. When we saw him outside Villa Park several weeks ago, all the other players had gone. Ron was last in the car park but still walked over to talk to some kids. I hope he gets through his tendency to pick up injuries and continues to play for us for a long time.
stick him next to another solid CB and all of a sudden we look a very different side in terms of leadership and defensive stability. Clark has certainly come on and improved because of playing next to Vlaar. He's a proper leader on and off the pitch.
Get in another quality CB who's been around the block to partner Vlaar. Then stick Clarky at left back. Job done.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
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I think Benteke could have plugged away all not and not scored. He could really do scoring off his arse, or off the back of his bonce, any way, just as long as it ends up in the old onion bag. But he does look like he's a goal away from igniting (hopefully).
I expect Benteke and Weimann to click at the same time. That will be a good game to be at. Probably Liverpool again.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
Indeed, trains were non existent I think.
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yes, I have nothing but respect for those who take time to attend our away games and especially those during the holidays when money is most scarce.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
Indeed, trains were non existent I think.
There were no trains or metros between Newcastle and Sunderland. We joined up with the Edinburgh Lions in a minibus for that trip. Nice little bunch.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
Indeed, trains were non existent I think.
Trains to and from Newcastle have been fine. *
However, there were no trains or metro from Newcastle to Sunderland. Thanks to the Edinburgh Lions for laying on a mini bus.
* The wretched train we're on back has encountered several problems. Running rather late. Too tired to be amused.
Bloody railways.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
I was coming down the A1 at lunchtime and counted nine Villa coaches heading the other way in convoy. Made my heart thump a bit.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
I was coming down the A1 at lunchtime and counted nine Villa coaches heading the other way in convoy. Made my heart thump a bit.
I think the Travellers Club took nine. Others from different groups were safely tucked in a pub car park by then.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
Indeed, trains were non existent I think.
Trains to and from Newcastle have been fine. *
However, there were no trains or metro from Newcastle to Sunderland. Thanks to the Edinburgh Lions for laying on a mini bus.
* The wretched train we're on back has encountered several problems. Running rather late. Too tired to be amused.
Bloody railways.
Blimey ! Sounds like you might miss MOTD ? We are on second last so you might just make it.
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Vlaar played a captain's game. He supported our players when in trouble with the ref but did it in a decent way instead of the Man Utd way. When we saw him outside Villa Park several weeks ago, all the other players had gone. Ron was last in the car park but still walked over to talk to some kids. I hope he gets through his tendency to pick up injuries and continues to play for us for a long time.
stick him next to another solid CB and all of a sudden we look a very different side in terms of leadership and defensive stability. Clark has certainly come on and improved because of playing next to Vlaar. He's a proper leader on and off the pitch.
Get in another quality CB who's been around the block to partner Vlaar. Then stick Clarky at left back. Job done.
Agree with that, apart from putting Clark at left-back. Not sure he's got the pace to play there
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Any one know when Bennet is due back. In flashes last year he looked promising.
Probably deserves a run of games before we buy another LB.
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I've got no problem with Clark partnering Vlaar. Next season we should have Okore added into the equation too. The issue for me is having a solid, composed individual player who can fill in when Vlaar's not available because our defensive capabilities differ too much when we don't have him. A loan signing might be sufficient for the rest of the year. Until he got into the Newcastle side earlier in the season, I would have said Mike Williamson because he was very under-rated and they look very different with and without him. That's the type I'm talking about though. That type of signing would hardly be huge news and probably wouldn't have huge wage demands but they would be very useful.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
I was coming down the A1 at lunchtime and counted nine Villa coaches heading the other way in convoy. Made my heart thump a bit.
I think the Travellers Club took nine. Others from different groups were safely tucked in a pub car park by then.
Long, long day...but worth it. Let's hope the fixture list is kinder to us next season. Whatever happened to local derbies on Boxing & New Year's Day? I'll have jet lag tomorrow!
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
Indeed, trains were non existent I think.
Trains to and from Newcastle have been fine. *
However, there were no trains or metro from Newcastle to Sunderland. Thanks to the Edinburgh Lions for laying on a mini bus.
* The wretched train we're on back has encountered several problems. Running rather late. Too tired to be amused.
Bloody railways.
Blimey ! Sounds like you might miss MOTD ? We are on second last so you might just make it.
Waiting for the 1039 to leave New Street to International then 10-15 minute taxi home.
I need wine.
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There's plenty of whine on here!
Baddum-tish
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
I was coming down the A1 at lunchtime and counted nine Villa coaches heading the other way in convoy. Made my heart thump a bit.
I think the Travellers Club took nine. Others from different groups were safely tucked in a pub car park by then.
Long, long day...but worth it. Let's hope the fixture list is kinder to us next season. Whatever happened to local derbies on Boxing & New Year's Day? I'll have jet lag tomorrow!
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I know how you feel. We've had two horrible to get to games on consecutive New Year's Day. Conversely, Boxing Day fixtures have been kind.
This train is now delayed.
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It's madness having folks travel long distances on bank holidays though, utter nonsense. Almost makes you pity the Penzance Reds. Actually, ignore me - I've got coach fever..fcuk em!
Happy New Year all
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It's madness having folks travel long distances on bank holidays though, utter nonsense. Almost makes you pity the Penzance Reds. Actually, ignore me - I've got coach fever..fcuk em!
Happy New Year all
Must think about doing a coach to Cardiff, Des.
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Did we fill the away end today ? Top marks to all that went.
I think we sold 1300 out of 1900. Fair play to those that went - not the easiest journey on New Years Day.
I was coming down the A1 at lunchtime and counted nine Villa coaches heading the other way in convoy. Made my heart thump a bit.
Damon, may have been mentioned but saw you on the news reporting from Edinburgh yesterday. Made me feel sort of proud.
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Well we needed that.
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The Conference still tries to make all matches local. How dare they think of the fans!
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Now we need to pick up performance, good to see Vlaar back.
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Hopefully he isn't too badly injured, doesn't sound like he is. He makes an enormous impact to our side.
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I even included watering the lemon tree I have grown from a pip from a tree by the side of the bar where I had a beer with Bad English
I am glad to know that that tree is doing well Brian.
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Well as per usual the Sunderland forum (Love Supreme) says we were the worst team that have played at the SOL this season, our fans are crap...😃
Then the realists give us credit. I love football forums...
They see a worst team every other week play at SOL. The team is called Sunderland.
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It's madness having folks travel long distances on bank holidays though, utter nonsense. Almost makes you pity the Penzance Reds. Actually, ignore me - I've got coach fever..fcuk em!
Happy New Year all
I feel the same.
And yes, Happy New Year everyone.
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Well as per usual the Sunderland forum (Love Supreme) says we were the worst team that have played at the SOL this season, our fans are crap...😃
Then the realists give us credit. I love football forums...
They see a worst team every other week play at SOL. The team is called Sunderland.
Who cares what they think? I think we won? Enough said
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Just watched MOTD. Well, it seems that but for Sunderland's keeper, we could have had 2 or 3 which is really encouraging.
I was a bit concerned with Benteke moping after he missed his chance instead of trying to get involved in the play again. It's disappointing.
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MOTD did not show a third of our chances.
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In the aftermath of Benteke's shot that was cleared off line I noticed that Benteke just stood around as Gabby desperately tried to get hold of the ball. Not sure if he did that because he would have been offside or it's another cause of his lack of involvement just now?
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I thought that about Benteke, very disappointing. As I didn't watch the game was interested in seeing the Delph and Albrighton chances folks have mentioned.
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MOTD did not show a third of our chances.
I suppose it goes without saying that MOTD is awful.
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The MOTD panel seemed quite upset that we'd won the game.
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Where was the wonderful move where Albrighton had a one on one? It was the only bit I really missed watching it live and thought for sure we would have seen it again ???
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Thought MOTD quite dismissive.
We won, though!
Bollux to them. UTV and Happy New Year!
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Didn't show that great run and shot by Bacuna in the first half either
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In the aftermath of Benteke's shot that was cleared off line I noticed that Benteke just stood around as Gabby desperately tried to get hold of the ball. Not sure if he did that because he would have been offside or it's another cause of his lack of involvement just now?
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he thought he might have been in an offside position.
As for the Sunderland offside decision, the striker was leaning forward so his head was ahead of the Vlaar and the rules are any part of the body a goal can be scored from. It even showed it on the graphic yet Hamann said he was level. And they wonder why they get beaten time and again in punditry stakes by Sky.
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Didn't show that great run and shot by Bacuna in the first half either
I haven't seen MOTD but am watching the Sky Sports rerun at the moment - up to just about half time - and I think we've played pretty well. We're sitting back more than I'd like, but we've certainly had the best chances.
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The MOTD panel seemed quite upset that we'd won the game.
F**k 'em.
F**k G. Lineker - he's a twat.
F**k Sunderland fans' sites.
We won fair and square and could've had 5 if we had shown a bit of composure and not panic every time we see those white post things with the net things on the back.
C**king pants during 2nd half but loved the day, especially the warm glow on the coach coming home with the heating on full blast and all of us texting our loved ones with the good news and how we felt about it.
Happy New Year, including all you grumpy f**kers!
UTV!
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Didn't show that great run and shot by Bacuna in the first half either
I haven't seen MOTD but am watching the Sky Sports rerun at the moment - up to just about half time - and I think we've played pretty well. We're sitting back more than I'd like, but we've certainly had the best chances.
We had all the good chances paulie and should have wrapped it up easily by about 60 minutes. So frustrating that we didn't come away with a resounding 3 or 4 nil win.
MOTD didn't show that at all. Yes, S'land had more posssession, but like Swansea, did f**k all with it. That's not our fault Lineker & co - it's theirs'!
Hope I haven't spoilt the 2nd half for you.
I've had beer to celebrate since I got home so if you don't want to know the result, look away now...
psssshhhhtttt....glug glug glug, ahhhhh! *a fab 3 points - big smile - fall asleep on settee *
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A long day! I got up before 5 and have travelled on 4 trains, 2 rail replacement buses, the tube, 2 taxis and the Edinburgh Lions' minibus. I should get home by 3 this morning. But it's been an enjoyable day out, part of it spent in the agreeable company of the Edinburgh and K&D Lions.
I thought Sunderland were the worst of several poor teams I've seen this season (that includes Villa). We weren't great, but better and certainly more determined than in the last 2 games. For once I agree with PL's post-match comment when he said we could easily have had 2 or 3 more. Vlaar made a difference and I hope he'll be back soon. Weimann was again very poor - he seems to have completely lost his confidence. Benteke was no better than in recent weeks - sluggish and uninvolved. Gabby was my man of the match.
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F'kin hell that was a hard read.
We haven't won in 5. Sunderland (who are s%*t) haven't lost in 5. We went to there ground and won 1-0 but it should have been more.
We have some key players who have been injured and are now coming back. We can buy some new players and strengthen now that the transfer window is open. We are also 11th in the league, so even though we are s&*t, there are currently at least 9 teams sh%&tier than us.
I was happy before I came on here.
Well done Villa, great win.
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You guys worry far to much about MOTD, nobody gives a shit about them (particularly outside the uk). Ignore them and move on.
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I missed the first half hour but caught the last 15 minutes of the first half and it was mainly all them. Second half, I thought we were great on the counter attack and should have won it by more.
Let's hope this gives the lads a bit of confidence and hopefully by the time the Arsenal game comes round, we'll have one or two new faces in the squad.
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Firstly massive 3 points and great battling defensive performance.
However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough. Same goes for Wieman who I thought was poor for the umpteenth time this season.
On the plus side I think our right hand-side of Lowton and Bacuna is continuing to look good, and also thought that was Westwood's best game for a while, although his set-pieces are still dreadful.
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I think we have a real weak link in the attacking midfield/ wide forward roles.
Weimann clearly has not been good enough for a long time now, I would have dropped him, and said so at the time, back before the home game with Sunderland last season due to doing very little. I just don't think he is as good as he now believes, and he gives the ball away so much, but even worse just goes missing.
His finishing has been really poor too this season.
But when you add in the lack of a real attacking threat from midfield we are struggling to break things down.
However, we looked like we had goals in us yesterday, Benteke changes the whole attitude going forward. Gabby and he looked good, much more like themselves, and amazingly with a bit of movement in front of him Westwood was able to pass the ball forward. He has taken loads of stick on here, but Westwood is a much better player if he actually has people to pass to!
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Only followed the game via Sky Soccer Saturday. According to Ian Dowie Sunderland didn't look threatening second-half and we were always dangerous on the break. Also, after our goal we just sat deep and waited for them. Sounded like we fully deserved it.
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I have to admit that Bacuna is starting to be a favorite for me in Villa this year.
He made maybe 3-4 massive mistakes this season that infuriated some people but look at his positives.
He scored twice (how many have done that this season?) in 18 appearances. Important goals too. (Cardiff and Man C).
He has really great workrate and never gives up. There was a sequence against Swansea where he and Lowton is going forward and gets countered.
Lowton gives up the chase despite being the defender while Bacuna runs almost the length of the entire pitch flat out to make the critical challenge at the last moment.
Lambert been moving him all over the pitch to cover for injuries and when players fail to handle their role (Luna, Lowton, Weimann mostly.) He is obviously very versatile though I think he is at his best as a right midfielder.
Yesterday he and Delph literately babysat Luna who early showed that he was heading for another horrendous performance. (Did you see him misjudge that high loose dropball and letting it bounce behind him in the penalty area? 5-10 min into the game). Thanks to Delph, Bacuna and honestly also to Sunderlands ineffectiveness, Luna managed to get through a game without costing us points. But he HAS to get out of the first team for Villa to improve.
Covering for Luna was holding both Bancuna and Delph back some in the 2nd half but he still managed some great forward runs in the 1st often linking up with Gabby. This in turn seemed to inspire both Benteke and Weimann who both actually put in an effort for once.
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Commendation to Clampy and Ozzjim for correct use of 'should have' and 'would have'
Personally I'd stipulate a day's temporary ban for those who, after sufficient warning, use 'should of' or 'would of'
Just a pet bug bear of mine.
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I think 'bugbear' is all one word mate...
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Marton - I agree on Bacuna, I thought he looked really good yesterday, I said in the summer that he'd be the one of the new signings who'd have the biggest impact so I'm pretty happy with how it's going for him so far, there's something really likeable about the guy in general, and his attitude on the pitch just adds to it. I love that he plays with a smile on his face so often.
I think you're a touch harsh on Luna, I thought he started poorly for the first 20minutes but after that I think he was fine. I think he'll be ok for us, he's clearly struggled with the pacey guys but I think he's learning, he's also been on his own on the left a bit too often for a guy new to league, Bennett had the same problem last year and it took him 20 odd games learn how to play in our system. Luna's issues seem very similar to Bennett's for me and there are 2:
1. He gets caught 2 on 1 and does nothing, he needs to learn to make a decision early in that situation and do the best he can. Once he's more decisive the other players around him will get used to what he's going to do and can help him better.
2. He gets drawn infield and leaves himself vulnerable to crossfield passes, this is a common one for fullbacks, it's very easy to take a couple of extra steps inside to give yourself a bit of time and end up out of position, this will improve with experience.
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I think you're a touch harsh on Luna, I thought he started poorly for the first 20minutes but after that I think he was fine. I think he'll be ok for us, he's clearly struggled with the pacey guys but I think he's learning, he's also been on his own on the left a bit too often for a guy new to league, Bennett had the same problem last year and it took him 20 odd games learn how to play in our system. Luna's issues seem very similar to Bennett's for me and there are 2:
1. He gets caught 2 on 1 and does nothing, he needs to learn to make a decision early in that situation and do the best he can. Once he's more decisive the other players around him will get used to what he's going to do and can help him better.
2. He gets drawn infield and leaves himself vulnerable to crossfield passes, this is a common one for fullbacks, it's very easy to take a couple of extra steps inside to give yourself a bit of time and end up out of position, this will improve with experience.
You can analyse things as much as you like but only one there's only one conclusion - he's absolutely useless and by far the worst player in a very poor team.
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Luna has been hopeless. I would gladly see Joe Bennett or Enda Stevens there instead. Don't know why we jettisoned players like Eric Lichaj, then brought in players like Luna, who are no better.
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This time last year Bennett was getting the same stick as Luna is getting now and people were knocking Vlaar as well. When are we going to give players time instead of slagging them off after half a season.
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He hasn't been useless - Luna- started okay and then has struggled after injury. Easy to forget he's still young, too. He'll grow into it. Like Vlaar. Also both the incorrect offside line on MOTD showed the Sunderland players feet being ahead of Vlaar's never mind his head and body. It was offside so doesn't matter about hamann or whomever.
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However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.
He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.
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That Albrighton is getting more minutes on the pitch recently shows that under Lambert he's far from being nailed into any coffin.
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However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.
He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.
Plus he did far more in those 15-20 minutes than Weimann managed all game, so whatever his long term future is, he's gotta be a starter for the forseeable future
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I think 'bugbear' is all one word mate...
and it should be "It is just a pet bugbear of mine".
Anyway RB where and how did use of "of" rather than "have" came about in Birmingham?
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Luna has been hopeless. I would gladly see Joe Bennett or Enda Stevens there instead. Don't know why we jettisoned players like Eric Lichaj, then brought in players like Luna, who are no better.
For a start Luna can use his left-foot. Which is generally considered to be a plus for a left-back.
Luna has looked brilliant at time, and struggled at others, but the amount of times he's left 2-on-1 is frightening. I'm still confident that he'll adapt and prove to be a decent signing. As much as I liked Lichaj, I think he's very much a Championship player at best.
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However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.
He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.
That's what I thought, slightly over the top.
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However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.
He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.
I only ever see highlights but he looks the one player capable of putting decent crosses in, I like Albrighton and reckon if he's given a run he'll regain his confidence.
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This time last year Bennett was getting the same stick as Luna is getting now and people were knocking Vlaar as well. When are we going to give players time instead of slagging them off after half a season.
Spot on.
While everyone has their opinions that should be respected, there is often not enough tolerance with some players, who get a lot more stick then others who are just as guilty of similar errors.
It's Lambert's job to improve these players as a part of their training when they are new to this league.
You only have to look at the posts on the match thread to see a wide divergence among fans about various players during the game. We are all frustrated at times but how easy it is to play the game as a spectator.
I thought there was a slight improvement over the Swansea game and if Vlaar and Benteke can keep fit we should see a move up rather than a move down, but Lambert needs to improve his part in Villa progressing.
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However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.
He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.
I'm not sure how he could have been inside the box and "25-yards out" at the same time?!
The fact is he was clean through on two occasions. On the first occasion he decided to put his head down and put his foot through the ball. The keeper saved the shot. On the second occasion, he could quite easily have taken another touch and side-footed the ball past the keeper, or at the very least brought a save from him, won a penalty,corner,etc. Instead he attempted the exact same thing again and blazed the ball into the stand.
When a player with 72 Premiership appearances lacks both the composure and decision-making skills in those situations, it makes them not good enough to play at that standard in my opinion.
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Luna has been hopeless. I would gladly see Joe Bennett or Enda Stevens there instead. Don't know why we jettisoned players like Eric Lichaj, then brought in players like Luna, who are no better.
For a start Luna can use his left-foot. Which is generally considered to be a plus for a left-back.
Luna has looked brilliant at time, and struggled at others, but the amount of times he's left 2-on-1 is frightening. I'm still confident that he'll adapt and prove to be a decent signing. As much as I liked Lichaj, I think he's very much a Championship player at best.
When has Luna been brilliant?
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Emirates. Around the 85th minute.
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He also coped with Navas better than any other left back when he has come on.
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With regards to Luna and Bennett last season, they are/were both poor game after game. Bennett, getting bullied by 4th division players and Luna giving wingers as much time and space as they like.
Firstly it's up to the management to address these problems, but if the player doesn't adapt or change then they should be out of the first team because they cost too many goal etc...
We can't afford to give players 10 games when they get murdered week in and week out... It will cost too many points or a cup final appearance.
There is not reason why these players can't come back better and stronger once they have worked at the fundamental problems with their game, as players like Delph has done and Petrov before him.
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In the aftermath of Benteke's shot that was cleared off line I noticed that Benteke just stood around as Gabby desperately tried to get hold of the ball. Not sure if he did that because he would have been offside or it's another cause of his lack of involvement just now?
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he thought he might have been in an offside position.
As for the Sunderland offside decision, the striker was leaning forward so his head was ahead of the Vlaar and the rules are any part of the body a goal can be scored from. It even showed it on the graphic yet Hamann said he was level. And they wonder why they get beaten time and again in punditry stakes by Sky.
Absolutely right The graphics showed the decision was correct Im surprised Lineker didnt correct Hamann.....no im not!
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However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.
He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.
On the second occasion, he could quite easily have taken another touch and side-footed the ball past the keeper,
Side footed the keeper, are you sure? He wasn't that close to him. I'd watch it again if I were you.
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I think you're a touch harsh on Luna, I thought he started poorly for the first 20minutes but after that I think he was fine. I think he'll be ok for us, he's clearly struggled with the pacey guys but I think he's learning, he's also been on his own on the left a bit too often for a guy new to league, Bennett had the same problem last year and it took him 20 odd games learn how to play in our system. Luna's issues seem very similar to Bennett's for me and there are 2:
1. He gets caught 2 on 1 and does nothing, he needs to learn to make a decision early in that situation and do the best he can. Once he's more decisive the other players around him will get used to what he's going to do and can help him better.
2. He gets drawn infield and leaves himself vulnerable to crossfield passes, this is a common one for fullbacks, it's very easy to take a couple of extra steps inside to give yourself a bit of time and end up out of position, this will improve with experience.
You can analyse things as much as you like but only one there's only one conclusion - he's absolutely useless and by far the worst player in a very poor team.
That's far from the only conclusion that can be made about a 22year old after 15 games in a league very different to his previous one. the sensible conclusion is that he's struggled in the same way Bennett did (Lowton and Bacuna as well to an extent, but they've made up for it with 2 wonder goals and natural athleticism), and, like Bennett, there have been signs that he has enough ability to make it but he needs to keep fit and keep learning. People on here (and everywhere really) are far to eager to label a player as 'useless' without really giving them any time to settle in to a new club/league/country, it's almost as if the concept of improving with experience is lost on people.
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MotD (http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/sunderland-0-aston-villa-1-motd-3/)
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In the aftermath of Benteke's shot that was cleared off line I noticed that Benteke just stood around as Gabby desperately tried to get hold of the ball. Not sure if he did that because he would have been offside or it's another cause of his lack of involvement just now?
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he thought he might have been in an offside position.
As for the Sunderland offside decision, the striker was leaning forward so his head was ahead of the Vlaar and the rules are any part of the body a goal can be scored from. It even showed it on the graphic yet Hamann said he was level. And they wonder why they get beaten time and again in punditry stakes by Sky.
Absolutely right The graphics showed the decision was correct Im surprised Lineker didnt correct Hamann.....no im not!
If it was the other way around we would have been saying he was onside, that's the difficulty with an offside that is so close, it could have gone either way I'm just glad it went our way.
Happy with the result
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However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.
He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.
On the second occasion, he could quite easily have taken another touch and side-footed the ball past the keeper,
Side footed the keeper, are you sure? He wasn't that close to him. I'd watch it again if I were you.
I'll make sure I do, although unless I see a huge bobble in the pitch I doubt anything will change my mind that it was either a poor decision, dreadful execution or both.
My comment about it signalling the beginning of the end of Albrighton's career is based on a few things. Firstly Lambert's reluctance to play with out-and-out wingers very often. Secondly the fact that I think he'll look to buy a player who can play there and behind the striker. Thirdly, I honestly think Jack Grealish will be in the first-team squad next season and will be aheard of MA. Fourthly I saw Lambert's reaction to Albrighton's miss.
I really like Albrighton, and would love him to prove me wrong, but I just genuinely don't think he's good enough.
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Nothing the matter with Albrighton. The first the goalie did his job. The second he should have done better . But hes a breath of fresh air when he attacks his defender.
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Happy New Year anyway!
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Nothing the matter with Albrighton. The first the goalie did his job. The second he should have done better . But hes a breath of fresh air when he attacks his defender.
I think he's been very good since he's come back. He offers us something a little bit different to what Weimann does on the right hand side and the way we play on the break away from home will suit him, especially coming off the bench like he did yesterday.
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Luna has been hopeless. I would gladly see Joe Bennett or Enda Stevens there instead. Don't know why we jettisoned players like Eric Lichaj, then brought in players like Luna, who are no better.
I never understood us releasing Lichaj. If Tony Moon had a normal name, he would not have instantly risen to cult status before kicking a ball. He needs to sharpen his game up but a regular back four would help all concerned.
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Nothing the matter with Albrighton. The first the goalie did his job. The second he should have done better . But hes a breath of fresh air when he attacks his defender.
I think he's been very good since he's come back. He offers us something a little bit different to what Weimann does on the right hand side and the way we play on the break away from home will suit him, especially coming off the bench like he did yesterday.
Albrighton has come back into the side and is taking his chance well, unlike others that have had the same opportunity.
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Luna has been hopeless. I would gladly see Joe Bennett or Enda Stevens there instead. Don't know why we jettisoned players like Eric Lichaj, then brought in players like Luna, who are no better.
I never understood us releasing Lichaj. If Tony Moon had a normal name, he would not have instantly risen to cult status before kicking a ball. He needs to sharpen his game up but a regular back four would help all concerned.
I do think Joe Bennett is fast joining the list of 'if only he was fit, we'd be fine' players we've had over the past few seasons. There were signs of improvement last season but I still think he's as much a liability as Luna.
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He also coped with Navas better than any other left back when he has come on.
In Luna's defence, he has to do a lot of work given the ineffectiveness of the players he's had in front of him down the left hand side. The goal and performance at Arsenal made me think we had a player. As for Navas, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we play 5 at the back against Man City, with Luna playing a bit further forward? Perhaps he's better suited to that formation. I also seemed to remember him being a bit fortunate in the Man City game not to give away a penalty.
His showing lately have been not so much disappointing as alarming. He's always out of position and seems to be easily 'skinned' by attacking players. 'hopeless' (my own description) is perhaps harsh, but he does seem to be struggling terribly at the moment.
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I reckon Marc should get an extended run now as his cameos have been pretty good since he came back off loan.
To really benefit we need him getting 90 minute run outs, and i can't see anyone more deserving of the chop than Weimann. So it sorts itself out really
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Nothing the matter with Albrighton. The first the goalie did his job. The second he should have done better . But hes a breath of fresh air when he attacks his defender.
I think he's been very good since he's come back. He offers us something a little bit different to what Weimann does on the right hand side and the way we play on the break away from home will suit him, especially coming off the bench like he did yesterday.
I think there's a certain amount of sentimentality that goes with Albrighton because he's "one of us", and he shows the effort and enthusiasm on the pitch that we all love to see. I can't fault him for that.
However, I genuinely can't think of anything that he's done since he came back from Wigan that would lead you to conclude that he's been "very good." He's an attacking player that offers very little else, and I can't remember his last goal or assist.
The fact that he won the MOTM award against United was, IMHO, a sad indictment of how bad the rest of the team were that day.
Effort and enthusiasm are brilliant, but Premiership wingers need genuine quality. Look at the teams in-and-around us- Assaidi at Stoke, Elmohamady at Hull, Amalfitano at West Brom. They're all much better players than Albrighton, and I'd even go as far as to say the likes of Bolasie at Palace and Noone at Cardiff have more end product.
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I would agree with no-one at Cardiff having more end product.
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When considering Albrighton's performance you have to balance the miss (which was poor) with his work for Delph's chance at the death where he did excellently to completely skin Bardsley (I can imagine the reaction on here if someone did that to Luna) and then had the composure to take his time and find the right pass. I think Albrighton looked very good when he came on, and was probably our best player in the last 20 as he gave us an outlet when we had the ball and he gave Bacuna a lot of support in defence.
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Nothing the matter with Albrighton. The first the goalie did his job. The second he should have done better . But hes a breath of fresh air when he attacks his defender.
I think he's been very good since he's come back. He offers us something a little bit different to what Weimann does on the right hand side and the way we play on the break away from home will suit him, especially coming off the bench like he did yesterday.
However, I genuinely can't think of anything that he's done since he came back from Wigan that would lead you to conclude that he's been "very good." He's an attacking player that offers very little else, and I can't remember his last goal or assist.
Like I said he's offered us something different and yes I think he's been 'very good' and a lot of other people on here seem to think he's made a difference since he's been back as well. You're in a minority by the look of it and we're not going to agree so I'll leave it at that.
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Nothing the matter with Albrighton. The first the goalie did his job. The second he should have done better . But hes a breath of fresh air when he attacks his defender.
I think he's been very good since he's come back. He offers us something a little bit different to what Weimann does on the right hand side and the way we play on the break away from home will suit him, especially coming off the bench like he did yesterday.
I think there's a certain amount of sentimentality that goes with Albrighton because he's "one of us", and he shows the effort and enthusiasm on the pitch that we all love to see. I can't fault him for that.
However, I genuinely can't think of anything that he's done since he came back from Wigan that would lead you to conclude that he's been "very good." He's an attacking player that offers very little else, and I can't remember his last goal or assist.
The fact that he won the MOTM award against United was, IMHO, a sad indictment of how bad the rest of the team were that day.
Effort and enthusiasm are brilliant, but Premiership wingers need genuine quality. Look at the teams in-and-around us- Assaidi at Stoke, Elmohamady at Hull, Amalfitano at West Brom. They're all much better players than Albrighton, and I'd even go as far as to say the likes of Bolasie at Palace and Noone at Cardiff have more end product.
Sentimentality utter rubbish! Couldnt care less if he was born on the pitch. He's starting to play well. I would assume thats why Lambert is playing him.
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In the last few games Albrighton has delivered some great balls in to the box that any decent/in form CF would absolutely dream of getting on the end of, but then no ones attacked them. I mean Benteke for example just seems a little fearful of the penalty area right now. There was one great ball yesterday (from Lowton I think) which Bacuna went for at the far post. He couldn't quite reach it though, but honestly, last season he wouldn't have had a chance because Benteke would have been in his place on the end of it, instead of standing dead just inside the box.
But in the last few games Albrighton has tossed in a few good balls in that area along the 6 yard line which thriving strikers love to attack. The trouble is we've not seen enough of our players really getting into these areas when Albrightons delivering. We've got to get players in the box, attacking these areas better. That in part comes with confidence.
He's not a brilliant player but he's good and he's getting into good positions too. At the very least the effort and determination is always there.
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I think you're a touch harsh on Luna, I thought he started poorly for the first 20minutes but after that I think he was fine. I think he'll be ok for us, he's clearly struggled with the pacey guys but I think he's learning, he's also been on his own on the left a bit too often for a guy new to league, Bennett had the same problem last year and it took him 20 odd games learn how to play in our system. Luna's issues seem very similar to Bennett's for me and there are 2:
1. He gets caught 2 on 1 and does nothing, he needs to learn to make a decision early in that situation and do the best he can. Once he's more decisive the other players around him will get used to what he's going to do and can help him better.
2. He gets drawn infield and leaves himself vulnerable to crossfield passes, this is a common one for fullbacks, it's very easy to take a couple of extra steps inside to give yourself a bit of time and end up out of position, this will improve with experience.
You can analyse things as much as you like but only one there's only one conclusion - he's absolutely useless and by far the worst player in a very poor team.
That's far from the only conclusion that can be made about a 22year old after 15 games in a league very different to his previous one. the sensible conclusion is that he's struggled in the same way Bennett did (Lowton and Bacuna as well to an extent, but they've made up for it with 2 wonder goals and natural athleticism), and, like Bennett, there have been signs that he has enough ability to make it but he needs to keep fit and keep learning. People on here (and everywhere really) are far to eager to label a player as 'useless' without really giving them any time to settle in to a new club/league/country, it's almost as if the concept of improving with experience is lost on people.
Ok then - I'll clarify - he's useless at the moment.
I don't think the premiership is the place to be learning the basics of the game. Both Bennett and Luna fall far short of the standard required and need to learn their trade elsewhere - in the reserves, on loan or permanently at another club.
I don't mind the current policy of buying hopeful prospects with a view to seeing how they cope or developing them. We shouldn't however be relying on them. That is the only aspect on which I feel a certain degree of sympathy.
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Nothing the matter with Albrighton. The first the goalie did his job. The second he should have done better . But hes a breath of fresh air when he attacks his defender.
I think he's been very good since he's come back. He offers us something a little bit different to what Weimann does on the right hand side and the way we play on the break away from home will suit him, especially coming off the bench like he did yesterday.
However, I genuinely can't think of anything that he's done since he came back from Wigan that would lead you to conclude that he's been "very good." He's an attacking player that offers very little else, and I can't remember his last goal or assist.
Like I said he's offered us something different and yes I think he's been 'very good' and a lot of other people on here seem to think he's made a difference since he's been back as well. You're in a minority by the look of it and we're not going to agree so I'll leave it at that.
Fair enough, I'm not looking to pick an argument and am well aware that MA's highly thought of by lots of Villa fans. I think we both agree that he's currently a better option that Wiemann on our right handside so we'll see what the next few games bring.
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Football's a team game, and there's only so much that Albrighton can actually do on his own without the help of his teammates. When he's played he's taken on and beaten defenders, passed accurately and crossed dangerously. Unfortunately for him, nobody else was doing anything competent and all his work was wasted - until his cameo against Sunderland the other day. Then Westwood was passing it properly and Benteke's touch seemed to be coming back (we've all said how all he needed was a goal - maybe all he needed was a strong bursting run and shot heroically cleared off the line, because he must have felt back to something like normal there) and even Weimann really improved in the last twenty minutes of the game. Then, after all that, Albrighton shanked up the big chance he's deserved for a while. Funny sport, this.
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In the last few games Albrighton has delivered some great balls in to the box that any decent/in form CF would absolutely dream of getting on the end of, but then no ones attacked them. I mean Benteke for example just seems a little fearful of the penalty area right now. There was one great ball yesterday (from Lowton I think) which Bacuna went for at the far post. He couldn't quite reach it though, but honestly, last season he wouldn't have had a chance because Benteke would have been in his place on the end of it, instead of standing dead just inside the box.
But in the last few games Albrighton has tossed in a few good balls in that area along the 6 yard line which thriving strikers love to attack. The trouble is we've not seen enough of our players really getting into these areas when Albrightons delivering. We've got to get players in the box, attacking these areas better. That in part comes with confidence.
He's not a brilliant player but he's good and he's getting into good positions too. At the very least the effort and determination is always there.
Agree with these comments. On Benteke,however, I thought he was showing considerable signs that he is coming into form on yesterdays performance.
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In the last few games Albrighton has delivered some great balls in to the box that any decent/in form CF would absolutely dream of getting on the end of, but then no ones attacked them. I mean Benteke for example just seems a little fearful of the penalty area right now. There was one great ball yesterday (from Lowton I think) which Bacuna went for at the far post. He couldn't quite reach it though, but honestly, last season he wouldn't have had a chance because Benteke would have been in his place on the end of it, instead of standing dead just inside the box.
But in the last few games Albrighton has tossed in a few good balls in that area along the 6 yard line which thriving strikers love to attack. The trouble is we've not seen enough of our players really getting into these areas when Albrightons delivering. We've got to get players in the box, attacking these areas better. That in part comes with confidence.
He's not a brilliant player but he's good and he's getting into good positions too. At the very least the effort and determination is always there.
Agree with these comments. On Benteke,however, I though he was showing considerable signs that he is coming into form on yesterdays performance.
He was a lot brighter but he's still getting struck with a certain amount of fear it seems once it comes to taking a chance. There were a few times too when he looked for a pass when last season he'd have been rocketing a shot goalwards.
He's getting there though. When he gets that goal he desperately needs I think he'll hit a purple patch.
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There was a moment where Benteke tried a little backheel down the line to Weimann. It looked good because he would only do that when confident, but it also looked as though it was going to be cut short, until Weimann neatly flicked the ball over the slide challenge and passed the ball safely away. That moment alone seemed to suggest a resurgence of confidence in both of them which, along with Westwood remembering that he knew how to pass, is cause for optimism.
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I think 'bugbear' is all one word mate...
and it should be "It is just a pet bugbear of mine".
Anyway RB where and how did use of "of" rather than "have" came about in Birmingham?
I have no idea. I doubt it is exclusive to Birmingham. I have lived in Nottingham for nearly 15 years and the 'yoofs' say and write 'of' incorrectly.
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Great composure from Gabby yesterday.
(http://i1.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article144039.ece/BINARY/gabby-agbonlahor-56004090.jpg)
Really nice goal.
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I think 'bugbear' is all one word mate...
and it should be "It is just a pet bugbear of mine".
Anyway RB where and how did use of "of" rather than "have" came about in Birmingham?
I have no idea. I doubt it is exclusive to Birmingham. I have lived in Nottingham for nearly 15 years and the 'yoofs' say and write 'of' incorrectly.
Yep, it's not an exclusively Brummie thing. I grew up in North Staffordshire and people I went to school with who I'm friends with on Facebook get it wrong too.
It makes them sound like morons and in my line of work, where how you come across in both written and verbal communication is critical, seeing something like that in a CV, whilst not necessarily stopping them getting an interview, would be a serious black mark against them.
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Whats the word on Vlaar? As he walked off the pitch he said something to Lambert and made a troubling gesture.
How much we need him was evident by the way he managed to stabilize Baker.
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You guys worry far to much about MOTD, nobody gives a shit about them (particularly outside the uk). Ignore them and move on.
Too right !
UTV
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Great composure from Gabby yesterday.
(http://i1.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article144039.ece/BINARY/gabby-agbonlahor-56004090.jpg)
Really nice goal.
nice desktop photo there for you Smirker ;)
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I'm just glad with the win I'm hoping we can go on run now start getting a few more points on the table.
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Great composure from Gabby yesterday.
(http://i1.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article144039.ece/BINARY/gabby-agbonlahor-56004090.jpg)
Really nice goal.
Didn't see him taking his shirt off yesterday so is this a gratuitous recirc for the benefit of those forum members who may like it?
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Are you pregnant Smirker?
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Did anyone else get up early to watch the MOTD re-run ;D what a difference a win makes.
Anyhow I noticed when lineker summed up by saying "still it's a good result for the 2 West Midlands clubs" he said it with all the enthusiasm as if he'd just seen his cat run over.
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Great composure from Gabby yesterday.
(http://i1.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article144039.ece/BINARY/gabby-agbonlahor-56004090.jpg)
Really nice goal.
Goodness me in the match thread you were commenting on his muscular body and now you are posting topless pics of him ;)
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Did anyone else get up early to watch the MOTD re-run ;D what a difference a win makes.
Anyhow I noticed when lineker summed up by saying "still it's a good result for the 2 West Midlands clubs" he said it with all the enthusiasm as if he'd just seen his cat run over.
Get up early?? It wasn't on this morning until 9.00! Sadly, I got up a lot earlier than that - to go to work :-(
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Whats the word on Vlaar? As he walked off the pitch he said something to Lambert and made a troubling gesture.
How much we need him was evident by the way he managed to stabilize Baker.
Not too bad , I think he will target the arsenal game for a return - seemed in reasonable spirits in his tweet after the game so nothing serious.
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With regards to Luna (and Lowton to a lesser extent), is there any tactical logic in them positioning themselves so narrow.
Watching the match against Swansea all of the defence seemed to drift across so they were bunched on the side where the ball was. Furthermore you could see Baker instructing Luna to come in narrow (so he was almost the CB) even when there was a man over. Indeed the headed goal was arguably from a deep cross exploiting the fact that Luna had drifted in.
It happened too many times for it to be positional/communication errors, so I was wondering whether any of the football hipsters were aware of this being a recognised tactic? Maybe the school of thought being that the time taken for the ball to switch wings the full back could have corrected their position?
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Did anyone else get up early to watch the MOTD re-run ;D what a difference a win makes.
Anyhow I noticed when lineker summed up by saying "still it's a good result for the 2 West Midlands clubs" he said it with all the enthusiasm as if he'd just seen his cat run over.
Get up early?? It wasn't on this morning until 9.00! Sadly, I got up a lot earlier than that - to go to work :-(
Apols not back in work mode yet.
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With regards to Luna (and Lowton to a lesser extent), is there any tactical logic in them positioning themselves so narrow.
Watching the match against Swansea all of the defence seemed to drift across so they were bunched on the side where the ball was. Furthermore you could see Baker instructing Luna to come in narrow (so he was almost the CB) even when there was a man over. Indeed the headed goal was arguably from a deep cross exploiting the fact that Luna had drifted in.
It happened too many times for it to be positional/communication errors, so I was wondering whether any of the football hipsters were aware of this being a recognised tactic? Maybe the school of thought being that the time taken for the ball to switch wings the full back could have corrected their position?
I don't know if it's a legitimate tactic but as I pointed out it's something has happened to every fullback we've had under Lambert and is also common with younger fullbacks in general. I guess it would be fine if you're between the 6yard and 18yard lines (sideways rather than forward if that makes sense) but once you get closer in than that the very best players are capable of scoring from the area where you're leaving them unchallenged.
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I'm not sure it is a tactic with the amount of grief Luna was getting off Culverhouse...
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I really like Albrighton and always have done. He's a tryer, and I'm a fan of Weimann for the same reason.
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I'm not sure it is a tactic with the amount of grief Luna was getting off Culverhouse...
Was he calling him a fucking moron as well?
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With regards to Luna (and Lowton to a lesser extent), is there any tactical logic in them positioning themselves so narrow.
Watching the match against Swansea all of the defence seemed to drift across so they were bunched on the side where the ball was. Furthermore you could see Baker instructing Luna to come in narrow (so he was almost the CB) even when there was a man over. Indeed the headed goal was arguably from a deep cross exploiting the fact that Luna had drifted in.
It happened too many times for it to be positional/communication errors, so I was wondering whether any of the football hipsters were aware of this being a recognised tactic? Maybe the school of thought being that the time taken for the ball to switch wings the full back could have corrected their position?
This has annoyed me since PL has been here and, IMO, part of the reason the defence was so bad last season. At times Lowton, last season, was stood in the centre of the penalty area when the play was on our left flank. All the opposition did then was make a couple of quick passes and their winger/wide man was free on their left flank with acres of room in front of him to make ground and then get a decent cross in by the time Lowton had got back out in an attempt to cover him.
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It has to be a flaw because every team seems to target our left to attack...
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I'm not sure it is a tactic with the amount of grief Luna was getting off Culverhouse...
Was he calling him a fucking moron as well?
Nice one, Des.
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In the aftermath of Benteke's shot that was cleared off line I noticed that Benteke just stood around as Gabby desperately tried to get hold of the ball. Not sure if he did that because he would have been offside or it's another cause of his lack of involvement just now?
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he thought he might have been in an offside position.
As for the Sunderland offside decision, the striker was leaning forward so his head was ahead of the Vlaar and the rules are any part of the body a goal can be scored from. It even showed it on the graphic yet Hamann said he was level. And they wonder why they get beaten time and again in punditry stakes by Sky.
Absolutely right The graphics showed the decision was correct Im surprised Lineker didnt correct Hamann.....no im not!
If it was the other way around we would have been saying he was onside, that's the difficulty with an offside that is so close, it could have gone either way I'm just glad it went our way.
I wouldn't, especially with that graphic. It shows there is no doubt really if you know the goal scoring part of the body rule. Obviously that was the benefit of the replay but if the linesman had called it the other way, I could have seen why in a split second decision.
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Some you win...some you don't. It's tough shit!
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It was technically offside, so the right decision.
But I can't imagine it's possible to tell the difference to that degree of accuracy, that quickly. So the guidance (rather than the rules) is that you should give the attacker the benefit of the doubt. So I do think we got a bit lucky.
I just watched the highlights on AVTV. Looks like we had a lot more chances than shown on MOTD. But Lowton and in particular Luna looked awful defensively.
On narrow full backs, I think it's a legitimate tactic if you fancy your chances of defending crosses. Let's say you're playing a team like Liverpool with no real height in attack. You can let them have it wide, and crowd your own box, and back yourself to head away any crosses you are letting come in.
It's a bad idea against Shearer and Ferdinand I imagine. But can we point to many goals we've conceded this season that result from having our full backs too narrow?
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"Benefit of the doubt" is if you are not sure, then don't raise the flag. So yesterday he was sure he was offside and it turned out it was right. The Bony decision showed Benefit of the Doubt as the linesman was not sure he was offside and he turned out to be considerably wrong.
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Narrow fullbacks is a legitimate tactic if you have a well drilled midfield tracking deep runners to cut out the short ball inside. You have to defend perfectly otherwise you have given the opposition nice neat triangles in the 18 yard box which is the last thing you ever want.
It's not a safe way to play, because you are banking on the opposition to fuck up themselves so you can set up a counter with an extra man. It's not practical with a developing team because we are just as likely to make a mistake.
It would be working much better if we had the cutting edge of the end of last season, but we aren't putting together enough dangerous counters as it is, let alone finishing them.
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Only Villa fans argue about a goal that was scored against us being disallowed.
Only Villa players roll the ball further away from its correct position when taking a free kick.