Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on March 22, 2026, 04:09:51 PM

Title: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: PeterWithesShin on March 22, 2026, 04:09:51 PM
Never in doubt.

Near perfect weekend to go into the break.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Somniloquism on March 22, 2026, 04:10:23 PM
Clean sheet again as well.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Chris_Jephcott on March 22, 2026, 04:10:33 PM
As good as this result is, and how much confidence it will bring to the team…

Rather immaturely, I’m laughing at Spurs.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: villadelph on March 22, 2026, 04:11:21 PM
60% poss, 23 shots, clean sheet and a routine home win.

Well done to Ollie, Ross and SJM.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: ExclDawg on March 22, 2026, 04:11:27 PM
So I guess all we needed was John McGinn?
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Halfway to Moseley on March 22, 2026, 04:11:31 PM
Best performance in a long time. We are back!
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Mellin on March 22, 2026, 04:11:40 PM
What a fucking weekend. That has made a MASSIVE difference to our chances. Huge.

Pure relief. Well done Villa.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Toronto Villa on March 22, 2026, 04:11:55 PM
Thoroughly professional job
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Toronto Villa on March 22, 2026, 04:12:18 PM
So I guess all we needed was John McGinn?

Pretty much. Man is fucking legend.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: enigma on March 22, 2026, 04:12:26 PM
Fantastic Weekend.

Onana MotM, but Ollie, Barkley and Digne were great too.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: KevinGage on March 22, 2026, 04:12:47 PM
Great performance across the board - even from the likes of Digne and Onana, who have been ropey recently.

You love to see it.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Matt C on March 22, 2026, 04:12:59 PM
Routine win, very encouraging and vastly improved performance. What a great round of results for us this weekend.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: DB on March 22, 2026, 04:13:00 PM
Get in. Looking more like our old selves.
Great weekend going into the int break.
.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: waringpongo on March 22, 2026, 04:13:17 PM
So I guess all we needed was John McGinn?
Can we clone him. Dolly McGinn
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Rigadon on March 22, 2026, 04:14:24 PM
Onana was motm by a mile, he was brilliant. Great to see Ollie Watkins back after being out injured for so long. And Tielemans.
 
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Smirker on March 22, 2026, 04:14:30 PM
McGinn MOTM.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: SaddVillan on March 22, 2026, 04:15:42 PM
McGinn back
Tielemans back

Confidence back.

Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: enigma on March 22, 2026, 04:15:52 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/qMHkpZ2R/tyg23.webp) (https://ibb.co/qMHkpZ2R)


Great to have him back.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: brontebilly on March 22, 2026, 04:15:52 PM
Best performance by a mile since at Newcastle, tempo from the first minute was spot on. They made more of a game of it after half time but we should have had the game done by then. Motm - I'll go with Barkley or Ollie. Great to have Tielemans back.

Martinez 7, Cash 7, Konsa 7, Torres 8, Digne 8, Onana 8, Barkley 9, Sancho 7, McGinn 8, Rogers 6, Ollie 9.

Emery 9, faith in the squad validated in the past week. Far less rigid set up up front helped, front four performance today v likes of Wolves or Lille away were worlds apart.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Monty on March 22, 2026, 04:16:04 PM
We looked like ourselves again. A really promising performance and result.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: paul_e on March 22, 2026, 04:16:16 PM
Fantastic Weekend.

Onana MotM, but Ollie, Barkley and Digne were great too.

I'd agree with that, I thought the whole team were good but those 4 were excellent and Onana bossed it.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Toronto Villa on March 22, 2026, 04:17:27 PM
Best performance by a mile since at Newcastle, tempo from the first minute was spot on. They made more of a game of it after half time but we should have had the game done by then. Motm - I'll go with Barkley or Ollie. Great to have Tielemans back.

Martinez 7, Cash 7, Konsa 7, Torres 8, Digne 8, Onana 8, Barkley 9, Sancho 7, McGinn 8, Rogers 6, Ollie 9.

Emery 9, faith in the squad validated in the past week. Far less rigid set up up front helped, front four performance today v likes of Wolves or Lille away were worlds apart.

😳

Erm…I agree with almost all of it. Someone get to Bronte’s and make sure he’s not dead and someone else hasn’t posted in his place.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: saint13 on March 22, 2026, 04:18:03 PM
Suddenly the world feels like a better place.

Excellent performance against the perfect opponents.

You could see the confidence coursing throughout the team. They suddenly remembered that they could play and exactly how to play.

The squad suddenly looks packed with quality and options.

Play anywhere like that during the run in and we will be fine.

Special mention to Onana and Olli I thught tehy we both very good.

Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: PhilVill on March 22, 2026, 04:18:08 PM
Onana and Digne were different players to the last two months.

Play with that tempo and attacking intent from now until end of May and the top 4 and Europa League is ours.

Please stay fit for next 10 days lads!
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: TaxDodger on March 22, 2026, 04:18:15 PM
We are so fucking back.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: PeterWithesShin on March 22, 2026, 04:18:28 PM
Typical negativity from Bronte. Everyone was a 10.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: paul_e on March 22, 2026, 04:18:51 PM
Harsh on rogers who was much more like his usual self but yes, they're much more normal ratings than we usually get.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Goldenballs on March 22, 2026, 04:18:58 PM
What a weekend!
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: TopDeck113 on March 22, 2026, 04:19:05 PM
Much more like it. Get our players back and hey-presto!
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: tomd2103 on March 22, 2026, 04:21:34 PM
Good performance and win.  Good weekend considering the other results as well.  Great to see Tielemans back and hopefully we can now go on another winning run.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: SamTheMouse on March 22, 2026, 04:22:35 PM
Everyone looked perkier and we moved the ball quicker. It makes such a difference. The returns of McGinn and Tielemans seem to have lifted what felt like a bit of a gloomy pall.

Ollie has also remembered how to physically bully defenders again.

Bostin' performance, bostin' weekend.

The only downside is that I have no beer in the house.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: SaddVillan on March 22, 2026, 04:22:56 PM
Finally managed to take advantage of results in other fixtures.

An important break coming up now.
Plenty of R&R for our non-internationals to get fut and ready for the run in.
Lots of time for Unai to work with Tammy, helping him to better understand, our system and get comfortable with Villa’s style of play.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: PaulWinch again on March 22, 2026, 04:24:38 PM
It was my eldest’s 5th birthday party so caught very little. Read back the match thread, sounds like a top performance. Huge result and hopefully this is Ollie on a roll.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Brazilian Villain on March 22, 2026, 04:26:31 PM
Massive win, and sets us up nicely in the race for PL. Still won't be up first on MOTD though.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Stu82 on March 22, 2026, 04:27:03 PM
Great performance, by the team.
McGinn is getting better every game, Tielemans back, and thought Barkley was excellent.
Also Ollie doing what he does best.
What a weekend.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: saint13 on March 22, 2026, 04:28:10 PM
Massive win, and sets us up nicely in the race for PL. Still won't be up first on MOTD though.

To be fair to them, Spurs humbling at home is a seismic event and will rightly take all of the headlines.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Rudy65 on March 22, 2026, 04:29:09 PM
So good to win again in the league. So good
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: PeterWithesShin on March 22, 2026, 04:29:33 PM
Spurs getting battered and a last minute away winner in a derby should be ahead of a CL chasing side routinely beating a relegation threatened side.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: adrenachrome on March 22, 2026, 04:29:35 PM
Some very positive signs that we are back on track to recapturing our earlier season form of playing liquid football.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Brazilian Villain on March 22, 2026, 04:30:47 PM
Massive win, and sets us up nicely in the race for PL. Still won't be up first on MOTD though.

To be fair to them, Spurs humbling at home is a seismic event and will rightly take all of the headlines.

I know, it was tongue-in-cheek.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Chip Butty 111 on March 22, 2026, 04:30:53 PM
2 very important wins before the break. Great to have options in midfield again. Forest, Sunderland and Fulham next, 6 points from those games would be great. Much better today all over the park.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on March 22, 2026, 04:32:23 PM
Our 200th clean sheet in the PL.  The 8th team to achieve this.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: saint13 on March 22, 2026, 04:32:28 PM
Massive win, and sets us up nicely in the race for PL. Still won't be up first on MOTD though.

To be fair to them, Spurs humbling at home is a seismic event and will rightly take all of the headlines.

I know, it was tongue-in-cheek.
Ah...apologies that went right over my head!
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Brazilian Villain on March 22, 2026, 04:35:43 PM
I know, it was tongue-in-cheek.

Ah...apologies that went right over my head!

👍
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Holy Trinity on March 22, 2026, 04:37:46 PM
Best we've played in a while, let's catch fire now lads!
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Percy McCarthy on March 22, 2026, 04:39:40 PM
Great performance against a team in form (until today) and fighting for their lives. We gave them no encouragement whatsoever, playing the perfect game. Well done Villa.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on March 22, 2026, 04:42:45 PM
Best performance by a mile since at Newcastle, tempo from the first minute was spot on. They made more of a game of it after half time but we should have had the game done by then. Motm - I'll go with Barkley or Ollie. Great to have Tielemans back.

Martinez 7, Cash 7, Konsa 7, Torres 8, Digne 8, Onana 8, Barkley 9, Sancho 7, McGinn 8, Rogers 6, Ollie 9.

Emery 9, faith in the squad validated in the past week. Far less rigid set up up front helped, front four performance today v likes of Wolves or Lille away were worlds apart.

😳

Erm…I agree with almost all of it. Someone get to Bronte’s and make sure he’s not dead and someone else hasn’t posted in his place.

Rogers 6 and Watkins 9, did he only watch the goal highlights? I'd give them both a 7. Too many chances wasted especially first half when we could on a more clinical day have been 4 or 5 up.

Defence and midfield had a good day, up front West Ham with their 3 at the back gave us so much space and allowed the tactics Watkins loves - loads of space to run at the defence. Sadly some of our finishing was extremely poor or over thought. Thankfully SJM was there to lead the way. A very welcome 3 points and a big improvement on some/most of the games this year.

Next..
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Toronto Villa on March 22, 2026, 04:45:01 PM
Best performance by a mile since at Newcastle, tempo from the first minute was spot on. They made more of a game of it after half time but we should have had the game done by then. Motm - I'll go with Barkley or Ollie. Great to have Tielemans back.

Martinez 7, Cash 7, Konsa 7, Torres 8, Digne 8, Onana 8, Barkley 9, Sancho 7, McGinn 8, Rogers 6, Ollie 9.

Emery 9, faith in the squad validated in the past week. Far less rigid set up up front helped, front four performance today v likes of Wolves or Lille away were worlds apart.

😳

Erm…I agree with almost all of it. Someone get to Bronte’s and make sure he’s not dead and someone else hasn’t posted in his place.

Rogers 6 and Watkins 9, did he only watch the goal highlights? I'd give them both a 7. Too many chances wasted especially first half when we could on a more clinical day have been 4 or 5 up.

Defence and midfield had a good day, up front West Ham with their 3 at the back gave us so much space and allowed the tactics Watkins loves - loads of space to run at the defence. Sadly some of our finishing was extremely poor or over thought. Thankfully SJM was there to lead the way. A very welcome 3 points and a big improvement on some/most of the games this year.

Next..


Yep. Why I said I agreed with almost all of it. Ollie an 8 for me as his movement caused them problems and gave us room in the middle. He looked much more himself today.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Nev on March 22, 2026, 04:49:02 PM
Marvellous.

And to all those moaners who wanted us to bust a gut against a side we were already a goal up on, who said we were fucking shit, and it was awful on Thursday, perhaps you'll see what the manager was doing?

It's been a bad run, not unexpected and we're not home and dry yet but I I'll put my money on Emery every day.

UTFV.

Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: brontebilly on March 22, 2026, 04:50:52 PM
Thought West Ham looked every inch a team destined for relegation. Fernandes is highly rated but hardly had a kick in midfield today. Diouf at left back has a mean cross on him. Bowen was poor too, Onana took ball off him very easily for our second. Wilson, Wan Bissaka, Soucek, Disasi, that keeper - they will do very well to stay out of it.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on March 22, 2026, 04:59:28 PM
Thought West Ham looked every inch a team destined for relegation. Fernandes is highly rated but hardly had a kick in midfield today. Diouf at left back has a mean cross on him. Bowen was poor too, Onana took ball off him very easily for our second. Wilson, Wan Bissaka, Soucek, Disasi, that keeper - they will do very well to stay out of it.

I was shocked at the lack of fight from West Ham, I really expected them to sweat blood like Leeds did here but they were so deflated and tactically got it so so wrong. They played to our strengths. Bowen will be off in the summer, not only is he knackered propping them up every week, his father in-law hinted at it the other day.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: JUAN PABLO on March 22, 2026, 05:09:10 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/qMHkpZ2R/tyg23.webp) (https://ibb.co/qMHkpZ2R)


Great to have him back.




FFS  dont let him back on ref
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: cdbearsfan on March 22, 2026, 05:09:36 PM
Pretty excellent all round. Two-nil massively flattered them.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: DrGonzo on March 22, 2026, 05:12:27 PM
What a lovely day out.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: RamboandBruno on March 22, 2026, 05:23:28 PM
Was an archetypal Emery Villa peformance. We bossed them from start to finish. Everyone had a blinder including the subs, bit Torres, although not motm, just makes such a difference, we play 20 yards higher up the pitch with him in the side.

With McGinnand Youri back, feeling really confident about the end of the season… top 4, Europa league snd spurs going down anyone!!
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Steve67 on March 22, 2026, 05:24:19 PM
Good win, two nicely taken goals and a clean sheet.  No-one performed badly, even Bailey worked hard.  I thought Onana was excellent but most of them were.  Good to have a bit of a gap between 4th and 5th/6th.  Played some lovely stuff and deserved more goals.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: wince on March 22, 2026, 05:24:22 PM
Meatball made the difference. Nice weekend let’s push on
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: andyh on March 22, 2026, 05:28:41 PM
Going into April we are strongly positioned in 4th and looking up in the league and in the quarter finals of a major European competition.

It all looks so so much rosier.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Toronto Villa on March 22, 2026, 05:35:21 PM
A solid weekend, and just saw our young lasses also won at Leicester. All coming up Aston Villa.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Nii Lamptey on March 22, 2026, 05:37:11 PM
Team play with a bit more purpose, more haste..... and surprise, surprise, Villa Park creates an atmosphere! It's not rocket science.
MUCH better today. From someone that's feeling a bit disenchanted with football in general, I really enjoyed that this afternoon.

7 games plus Europe to go, with both McGinn and Tielemans back in action, and Watkins starting to look like he could be playing himself into some sort of form. Please God let this be the season we finally get something over the line!

 UTV.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: aj2k77 on March 22, 2026, 05:39:40 PM
Absolutely dominated them today. I've not given Meatball his dues enough down the years, he's absolutely pivotal to us these days and I would Kevin Keegan love it if he held the Europa Cup aloft in May.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: andyh on March 22, 2026, 05:43:53 PM
Oh, and Traore.
He always was a circus act rather than a footballer, but now he’s like a pantomime horse.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Steve67 on March 22, 2026, 05:59:55 PM
Oh, and Traore.
He always was a circus act rather than a footballer, but now he’s like a pantomime horse.

When they brought Traore and Wilson on at half time, I was a bit worried because you never know what you're going to get with Traore.  I needn't have worried as he was appalling. 
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: AV82EC on March 22, 2026, 06:02:07 PM
Well that was all rather lovely. Excellent performance from start to finish. Totally in control and West Ham will be happy it was only 2-0, could have had a hatful. The seeds of playing ourselves back into form have been there since Lille away and this was just what we needed pre international break. Everyone played well so I’m not doing scores today.

See you all in Bologna.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: ChicagoLion on March 22, 2026, 06:04:17 PM
Huge result.
Watched in a bar in Amsterdam ( last half hour) I asked the bloke behind the bar if he could put the Villa game on, it was wall to wall Spurs Forest, he did and then poured me a Guinness with AV in the foam. Nice touch.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Mellin on March 22, 2026, 06:07:14 PM
Absolutely dominated them today. I've not given Meatball his dues enough down the years, he's absolutely pivotal to us these days and I would Kevin Keegan love it if he held the Europa Cup aloft in May.

I'm guilty of this sometimes. He's been around for so long now that it's easy to take for granted what he brings. Never again.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Somniloquism on March 22, 2026, 06:12:07 PM
Huge result.
Watched in a bar in Amsterdam ( last half hour) I asked the bloke behind the bar if he could put the Villa game on, it was wall to wall Spurs Forest, he did and then poured me a Guinness with AV in the foam. Nice touch.

Which bar as I will be over there when we play Bologna at home.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Legion on March 22, 2026, 06:16:02 PM
All good. Normal service resumed.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Meanwood Villa on March 22, 2026, 06:19:48 PM
First half was best we've played in the league since Newvastle. Should have been further in front. Second half a bit of a drop off but the goal killed it completely. Hopefully clicking into gear for a stong finish in league and cup.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Luffbralion on March 22, 2026, 06:22:02 PM
I really thought West Ham would be hard to break down but the quality of our passing and movement cut then apart throughout the game. A thoroughly enjoyable watch.

Traore looks like he's ready to take up sumo wrestling.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Clampy on March 22, 2026, 06:22:13 PM
Really good today, can't remember the last time we controlled it as much as we did today, it
was a stroll. Only gripe is that it should have been more than two.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: London Villan on March 22, 2026, 06:23:47 PM
As comfortable as it gets. Good to see Rogers on the left too.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Skipper_The_Eyechild on March 22, 2026, 06:40:43 PM
Oh, and Traore.
He always was a circus act rather than a footballer, but now he’s like a pantomime horse.

When they brought Traore and Wilson on at half time, I was a bit worried because you never know what you're going to get with Traore.  I needn't have worried as he was appalling.

I'm not sure I agree. You know what you are going to get with Traore, a shit footballer.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Tony Daleys Shorts on March 22, 2026, 06:43:11 PM
Yeah Traore was very predictable in his appalling output.

Has been utterly dreadful other than a 6 month spell at Wolves, which he’s somehow still stealing a living off.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: KevinGage on March 22, 2026, 06:47:41 PM
Team play with a bit more purpose, more haste..... and surprise, surprise, Villa Park creates an atmosphere! It's not rocket science.

 UTV.

Yes.

None of the slowly slowly, working our way into the game we've seen too much of late.

Good tempo and rhythm from us from the outset.

There's still a place for the former. But it helps to mix it up.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: rob_bridge on March 22, 2026, 06:48:14 PM
12 games to win.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: KevinGage on March 22, 2026, 06:48:37 PM
Yeah Traore was very predictable in his appallingly output.

Has been utterly dreadful other than a 6 month spell at Wolves, which he’s somehow still stealing a living off.

Roided up beefcake with zero football brain.
Title: Re: Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread
Post by: Somniloquism on March 22, 2026, 06:54:29 PM
Very similar start to the match as last season visit from Nuno with Forest. Only difference was he had better attackers with them so they got a goal back but if it had been 4 goals to Villa at HT in either match, there could be no complaint.
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