Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on December 26, 2020, 04:54:47 PM
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Decent display overall I suppose. Should have scored 10, only scored 3. Dean Out. Ollie Out.
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Fantastic result and performance, wouldn’t know it was Villa that spent the second half a man down.
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Exceptional. Absolutely brilliant second half. So many top performances. Just exceptional.
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Incredible. Outstanding.
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Heroes all 10 of those second half players. Well done Dean.
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Absolutely fucking fantastic in that second half. Arguably our best half of the season considering the man disadvantage. What a side, delighted with them. Not used to Villa not ruining Christmas 😁
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That was as good a display as the Liverpool game. Wonderful performance.
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Wow. How good are we?
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We're quite good aren't we.
Poor Olly can't buy a goal, mind.
Four points from the next two and I might start buying into the idea of European qualification.
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What a fucking team.
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Lovely way to spend an afternoon.
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I remember the times when we somehow got worse when facing ten men. Now we are impossible to play once we're down ourselves! Amazing.
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Seeing CS next to Dean and JT made me wonder again about the impact he has had on the team since he's come.
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Game management at its best. Palace did not look remotely like scoring.
Cash, Hause, Targett all 10/10.
Watkins MoM though, I suspect he will be dissapointed that he didn't score but he made sure it was still like 11 v 11, absolutely everywhere, hold up play was immense.
This game will be studied for decades to come for every up coming manager as what to do in a 10 v 11 situation.
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We’ve just watched the champions.
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God I love this team to bits
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Nice to do it on terrestrial television as well.
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Best performance of the season for me. We are an incredibly fit team now and it's a delight to see.
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What a wonderful performance. All ten of them are an absolute credit to the shirt!
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Magnificent display in the second half.
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Marvellous. Martinez must be chuffed he's kept another clean sheet, particularly with us a man down.
Possibly more marvellous: have caught up with my ironing. :)
Just need Ollie to start scoring again now!
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I love the footie on the Beeb =P Amazing. Props to Hause came on in really tough spot and played with icy calm. Watkins will score again one day. All of them were excellent. Ace. Zaha is an objectionable little prick, isn't he? No thanks stay well clear of Villa. Where was Benteke? No thanks there too.
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Sensational Villa. Absolutely Sensational.
Superb 2nd half performance.
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After shit day yesterday what a performance
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Brilliant. Everyone was great today bar Mings. Tyrone's been okay this season but actually you'd probably have to say he's been the defensive weak link when we've made errors, and still prone to brain farts (although he has generally improved this season too). Hause has been excellent since coming back in. Konsa came on and did well. Tyrone may not be the first name down at the back. Not to get at him but that's testament also to the improvement in Hause and Konsa this year.
Watkins must have a gypsy curse at the moment. He's playing superbly but between VAR, woodwork and goalkeepers, he's just struggling to score. He couldn't do any more at the moment. Great performance and what a player.
Martinez. Fucking brilliant. How in the hell did he spend a decade at Arsenal and not be their number 1??? He's a superb keeper. Dougy, McGinn, Cash and the two wingers all excellent today.
My man of the match and special shout out goes to Matt Targett. He took so much stick last season, but he's been brilliant for the most part this season and the last four games has been rock solid. Well played sir.
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Oh and Targett... well played lad
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So happy.
Thak you Villa.
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We actually became even more dangerous with 10 men than with 11. Our counter is frightening. And Mings is going to do very well to dislodge Hause who has looked really very good the last couple of games and very comfortable next to that Rolls Royce Konsa next to him.
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Wow, we have a seriously good team.
The togetherness and fighting for each other is there for all to see.
Tremendous performance.
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Magnificent.
That is all.
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About a year ago a chunk of us (me included) would have taken Benteke to fill a gap.
How far have we come in that time? Outstanding!!
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We’ve just watched the champions.
Yep, we’re doing a Leicester only by being a quality football side and not a pump it up front for a fast fella to run on too
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MOTM - Aston Villa
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Fan bloody tastic. Targett brilliant, Watkins brilliant, everyone.... brilliant but silly man Tyrone! Palace were awful to be fair but we were simply fantastic. Three Boxing Day wins in a row now. Bloody marvellous. Happy Christmas indeed!
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God I love this team to bits
With bells on, what a fucking team, El Ghazi, whipped and whacked. Targett unpassable, Grealish unplayable, Cash imperious, I could go on.
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We couldn’t could we?
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Hard to pick MOTM there were so many great performances out there.
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We were amazing. Pure and simple. MOTM was the team.
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Brilliant performance. Our best since the Arsenal game. Watkins was fantastic. Keep playing like that and the goals will come.
As much as I love all these goals I'm also loving all these clean sheets. What a difference Emi makes. Can't believe Arsenal couldn't see what they had. He'd been there a decade. Probably our best keeper since Friedel?
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My man of the match and special shout out goes to Matt Targett. He took so much stick last season, but he's been brilliant for the most part this season and the last four games has been rock solid. Well played sir.
Never been a fan but today was a complete performance, nothing got past him, some serious, quality defending. He should be very proud of himself. MOTM for me.
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Been waiting bloody years for a Villa team to play football like this: proper game plan, comfortable in possession, attacking in waves, excellent movement, everyone wanting the ball, rock solid 'keeper...
Not only that, but they all work their socks off right to the final whistle.
Smith is building something special here. Fuck, I'm almost tearing up.
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Everyone played well, I woudn't even be too harsh on Mings, he and the ref were conned by Zaha.
We really seem to have a team now and the football is a joy to watch. It's a million miles from the dreadful Bruceball of a couple of years go
A couple of astute additions in the window and better finishing and there's no reason why we can't be challenging for top 6 or even top 4. The only team I've seen consistently better than us is 'The Mighty Reds YNWA'.
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Brilliant performance by the lads my best Christmas present by far another clean sheet and we only needed ten men I love you Aston Villa.UTV
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Wasn't it this time about a 2 years ago we lost 3-0 to Wigan, and about a year ago we lost 3-0 to a 10 men Watford? We have come fucking miles in such a short space of time. Smith has grown so much as a manager.
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Martinez. Best villa keeper I have seen in years. He actually catches the ball.
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Weird feeling watching a Villa keeper you feel confident in. Targett outstanding. What a time to be a Villa fan. Brilliant.
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It was hard to tell which team had the ten men. Brilliant.
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That was as good a display as the Liverpool game. Wonderful performance.
Totally agree. Best performance of the season given the circumstances. When did we last have this much talent AND the never say die approach?
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Absolutely brilliant
UP THE VILLA
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Magnificent team performance in the second half.Everyone was superb,especially those we didn't consider good enough for the Prem,Hause and El Ghazi.Traore was our best player in the first half and was,probably to most people's surprise,subbed. But to Deano's credit,we had great balance and bossed the game with 10 men.
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Fitness levels are as good as anyone too. When you have players like the full backs, McGinn, Grealish and Watkins who just seem to run and run and run it makes such a difference. I thought as 10 men this would be a slog. It's testament to our performance that it wasn't and if anything we looked like we had more players. If O Neill's side were as fit as this lot, they'd have comfortably bagged top 4. This side, may just...
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So who sits when Barkley comes back?
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Game management of the highest order. Outstanding. Martinez oozes confidence which runs right through the team. 7 clean sheets is astonishing. 10/10 for the keeper and all the defenders. Mings slightly blotted the copy book bit I still maintain he was hard done by for both yellow cards. I've slagged off Targett on here more than once but recently he has been brilliant. Well done Villa you have made me very happy today. This team has the makings of something very special. The recruitment of Craig Shakespeare was a stroke of genius too.
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I've had fans of several other clubs who've not seen us this season falling over themselves today to tell me how good we are to watch - they're not wrong.
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Magnificent performance from us.
If Hause and Konsa do the job at Chelsea, there’s no way Mings should walk back in against Man U.
I was struggling to pick a man of the match, the whole lot of em were so good. At an absolute push, Targett and Watkins were a bit better than magnificent.
I’m so happy. UTV.
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Brilliant. Top performance from everyone except Mings. Zaha had the beating of him mentally and physically. Thankfully it didn’t cost us.
UTFV
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We couldn’t could we?
Do you want to bet against us?
Bravo, Villa.
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A proper football performance from front to back.
Brilliant tactics 2nd half. Jack is a great player for the outball. Close control - either draws a foul or puts a top class ball through to somebody breaking forward.
Has to be down to the work at Bodymoor Heath
Our energy and concentration levels in the last 20 minutes were a revelation. Our 9 outfield players ran their 10 men ragged.
So different to last season. There must be some serious strength and conditioning work going on in the gym.
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Second half was superb. Palace were threatening in the closing stages of the first half, but we took them apart in the second half. Pretty much everyone did their bit, but Jack Grealish just looked a level above again.
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Thanks to bbc on boxing day, the whole nation can now see, Villa are back!
Great performance, Jack and Oli have a telepathic understanding.
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Outstanding to a man.
Special mention for Zaha - we will not see a bigger cheat at Villa Park for some time...and the ref was a bag of shite too.
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Jack's run down the left for our third reminded me of Brian Little in his pomp. And Martinez reminds me of Jimmy Rimmer. As an exercise in team bonding and confidence building I doubt that today's efforts could be bettered.
We were a joke for a long long time but fuck me we're back with a vengeance.
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So so proud...
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My man of the match and special shout out goes to Matt Targett. He took so much stick last season, but he's been brilliant for the most part this season and the last four games has been rock solid. Well played sir.
Never been a fan but today was a complete performance, nothing got past him, some serious, quality defending. He should be very proud of himself. MOTM for me.
It's a fair shout but you can see why Keown chose Watkins, and there were two or three other contenders - Luiz, Emi, AEG even Traore. I'd also give a shout out to Hause for both his recent performances. We didn't really miss Konsa, and based on second half we won't miss Mings too much against Chelsea.
The good thing about it all is that with the improvements in Trez, AEG and Traore, and the additions of Barkley and Watkins we are less and less dependent on Jack for creating something.
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So who sits when Barkley comes back?
He does. On the bench initially
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Fantastic performance. We’ve got our Villa back.
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fantastic! Did you see how El Ghazi was lining that shot up while he was waiting for the ball to come back to him from Ollie? He must have glanced up at that far post 3 times just checking his bearings
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That's the best Targett has ever played for us, he was brilliant today. Not much going forward, understandably, but perfectly timed tackle after perfectly timed tackle. Would have been my MOTM, but glad Ollie got it as reward for his efforts in doing everything but score.
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Fantastic performance all round. Well deserved and hard fought win.
I feel the need to point out that the Olbyun went down to 10 men against these and got thumped by 5. Just saying ...
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Stunning performance.
Every one of them were man of the match.
We battered them with 10. God knows what we’d have done with 11.
Still hunting and searching for goals with only 10 men after 85 mins!!! Brilliant.
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That was ace.
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We couldn’t could we?
No not a chance
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We really are on the verge of something. Some of Jack’s through balls are just from another planet. Every single player was immense again today. Special mention for Hause who sometimes gets a bit of flak but is a much better player than he’s given credit for and the look on his face when he scored was just great. Only downside was the sending off.
Great times to be a Villa fan, shame we can’t actually be there.
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Jack's run down the left for our third reminded me of Brian Little in his pomp. And Martinez reminds me of Jimmy Rimmer. As an exercise in team bonding and confidence building I doubt that today's efforts could be bettered.
We were a joke for a long long time but fuck me we're back with a vengeance.
I said exactly the same to my lad about Martinez/Rimmer.
His awareness of all around him and his positional sense is excellent.
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Good to see us win at home again; been a while
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Brilliant win. For me, Mings deserves a good bit of stick for being a fucking liability. It's professional football: players con and refs get conned or are twats. Hopefully he will learn from this.
That said, it is fantastic to watch a Villa team in total control against the odds. Marvellous stuff! UTV!
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Outstanding to a man.
Special mention for Zaha - we will not see a bigger cheat at Villa Park for some time...and the ref was a bag of shite too.
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I didn't think the ref was that bad to be honest. He could have easily buckled and give that penalty in the first half, some would have. Mings didn't really give him much choice with the second booking.
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Everton friend just texted “Brazil 1970 v Alan Brazil 2020”
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All the pundits go on about the recruitment being much better this summer, but really? Much better? I’ve mentioned it before but Konsa, Hausa, Target, Luiz, Trezeguet, Mings and AEG is not looking too shabby is it?
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Before the Wolves game I looked at the fixture list and thought we had two groups of four fixtures. An easier four and then a more difficult four. First set the base and then really push on and involve ourselves. Well, the base is set Villa. Let's get on with it.
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Great work rate from the lads. Special mention for Martinez and Target. Neither put a foot wrong.
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All the pundits go on about the recruitment being much better this summer, but really? Much better? I’ve mentioned it before but Konsa, Hausa, Target, Luiz, Trezeguet, Mings and AEG is not looking too shabby is it?
Yes poor knowledge there , but suits a narrative
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Targett PotM for me as pleased as I am for Watkins.
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Every player that has come in has stepped up a level, or two.
Hause comes in for Konsa and deserves his place.
AEG comes in for Trez and deserves his place
No need to rush Barclay back as Traore has found something
Mings might struggle to come straight back, as a Konsa/Hause pairing isn’t that bad at all
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Jack's run down the left for our third reminded me of Brian Little in his pomp. And Martinez reminds me of Jimmy Rimmer. As an exercise in team bonding and confidence building I doubt that today's efforts could be bettered.
We were a joke for a long long time but fuck me we're back with a vengeance.
I definitely think that's Jack's best position, playing in off the left. He hardly got a touch in the first half in the middle.
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Magnificent indeed, Villa boys, well done, a thoroughly professional performance, and great to watch too.
What a time to be a Villa fan , best since early MON and Johnny Gregory.
UTV !!
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Every player that has come in has stepped up a level, or two.
Hause comes in for Konsa and deserves his place.
AEG comes in for Trez and deserves his place
No need to rush Barclay back as Traore has found something
Mings might struggle to come straight back, as a Konsa/Hause pairing isn’t that bad at all
This. Traore, AEG and Hause were on the outside looking in. Now they’re playing well and keeping the team performance.
Again, for me, Tyrone doesn’t just walk back in against Man U.
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Reassuring to see the “Villa Thread” goes straight in at number 2 on Small Time Alliance top 10. Marvellous!
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12172923/10-man-villa-score-three-past-palace
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Mings was conned by Zaha but so was the referee. That said, with Konsa and Hause, we have two players who seem to enjoy defending. Hause was superb, as was Targett and Cash. Difficult to pick anyone who didn't play really well today. Luiz was excellent too. What cracking team performance. So much enjoying the season so far. Next two are tough but I am looking forward to them rather than dreading them.
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If it carries on like this, I’ll soon be able to start worrying about results of teams above us, rather than below us. Some habits are hard to break.
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Reassuring to see the “Villa Thread” goes straight in at number 2 on Small Time Alliance top 10. Marvellous!
They played the same time as us, that cad nt be right 😂😂😂
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So proud, just couldn't believe how controlled and dangerous we looked. Shearer and Richards and Mowbray and Keown all predicting a second half onslaught from Palace that never came.
Easy to say it suited us playing on the break but we dominated most of that game with 10 or 11. Chuffed to buggery as Partridge would say. Can't wait til Ollie starts scoring again. That's all that was missing from today.
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Absolutely fantastic performance today. To a man fantastic (apart from Mings' foolishness).
As a side note, I suspect our reaction to Zaha is how other teams' fans react to jack.
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Just a brilliant performance, from everyone. Felt really gutted for Ollie that he didn’t get his goal, but pleased Keown gave him MoTM. He never ever stops running, defenders in any game never get a break, superb.
But everyone was superb, as has been said. Glad this was on BBC for everyone to see us. And what a goal from El Ghazi.
Thought the ref reffed well.
Toughest test of the season so far coming up on Monday, whatever happens, I am so impressed and hugely proud of these players and the management team.
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Just going to say that about Zaha. He unsettled Mings, drew fouls and won the battle. Zaha must have gone off at half time though!
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I would sign Zaha in a flash if he became available. People hate him for the same reason as they dislike Jack so much - because he’s so bloody good.
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Brilliant. Top performance from everyone except Mings. Zaha had the beating of him mentally and physically. Thankfully it didn’t cost us.
UTFV
That's slightly unfair. If Zaha had a longer reach than Mings, he would have lamped Mings and been sent off.
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Apologies Ger, just read your comment. You beat me to it !
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I thought that too about Zaha, he’s clever and very similar to Jack with how he wins free kicks. Nowhere near as good as him though. But I can see why other teams fans hate our Jack.
Can’t believe how when we attack now I think we might score. I can’t believe I also feel a little disappointed we haven’t scored five or six.
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I would sign Zaha in a flash if he became available. People hate him for the same reason as they dislike Jack so much - because he’s so bloody good.
I dont see a single thing in him to compare him to Jack.
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We couldn’t could we?
No not a chance
I agree, no chance we'll get relegated.
Bad news for the bitters out there, the Big Team's back!!
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Nice to see the likes of targett and Watkins getting the plaudits. Both had fantastic games
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Brilliant win, thought it was going to be a serious test in the second half after Mings idiocy but we completely outplayed them. Watkins bullied their centre backs, on another day he bags a hat trick. Finishing has gone a bit cold for him lately but will come again. Mings aside, there wasn't a weak link in the team.
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Brilliant win, thought it was going to be a serious test in the second half after Mings idiocy but we completely outplayed them. Watkins bullied their centre backs, on another day he bags a hat trick. Finishing has gone a bit cold for him lately but will come again. Mings aside, there wasn't a weak link in the team.
Unless he had prevented Palace scoring? One for the team?
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Very professional performance,especially in the second half - looked stronger without Mings
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67 shots in 3 games. Fucking hell.
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How good was that.I think I'm in danger of starting to get some dust in my eyes.
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Excellent performance even with a red card. I think Targett deserves special praise today; Palace couldn’t get the better of him at all. Luiz, Watkins and El Ghazi also excellent, and Traore can count himself unfortunate to get hooked following the red card. Excellent game management; something we’ve been sorely lacking under other recent management. Hopefully Mings will use his time on the sidelines sharpening his game. UTV!
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Yep, Saha would have had a clear run at goal.
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What a great second half that was today, I trusted Dean to set us up well with ten men given the benefit of half time and so it proved. Couple of tough games on paper up next but with our away form, would you bet against us? (To coin a phrase)
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Brilliant win, thought it was going to be a serious test in the second half after Mings idiocy but we completely outplayed them. Watkins bullied their centre backs, on another day he bags a hat trick. Finishing has gone a bit cold for him lately but will come again. Mings aside, there wasn't a weak link in the team.
My thoughts too. It was an excellent display and if anything we were even more dominant with 10 men. We seem to be better playing with 10 than we ever are playing against 10. I remember a turnaround at Rotherham when Mings also got sent off.
Mings was an accident waiting to happen today. We were shouting to get him off after the yellow.
However I can’t fault any of the others today. They played really well.
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I would sign Zaha in a flash if he became available. People hate him for the same reason as they dislike Jack so much - because he’s so bloody good.
I dont see a single thing in him to compare him to Jack.
same here, Zaha throws himself to the floor at the slightest touch then goes running after the ref.
Keown got that spot on.
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Did Jack get booked?
BBC match report line up page shows a yellow against him.
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The work rate is so much better this season. Everybody works hard. Not always been the case. Will this cost Hodgson his job. Maybe soon.
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I’m not going to pile in on Mings because I’m far too happy tonight.
But I think this gives him the opportunity to reflect on how sloppy he has been for a few games this season. I think he might believe he is so good he can cruise through games, whereas he still needs to work just as hard as everyone else does.
He come back fine though, and hopefully better.
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That, for me, was the best performance of the Dean Smith era so far. Every single player was superb but I reserve special praise for Ollie Watkins and his industry, the man is a total machine. UTV
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Some of those players are starting to look world class and some players I thought not good enough like AEG, Hause and Targett have also gone up two levels.
Some of our play , our passing , at times is sublime . SJM is back , Dougie is the bollocks and Bertie is just so exciting and mad at the same time , another great signing . Our fitness has improved no end and our keeper is the best in league , what a muppet arteta , you need the sack for letting him go .
Watkins was excelent , the goals will come . Just Mings was te only let down but at least in Hause and Konsa , two good defenders who are looking good .
That AEG skil late in second half , I need to see that again ,.Ronaldo-esque and the goal Van BAsten style ..
What a great Villamas so far ....... Could never be so poroud of DS and our boys ...Love u Villa..
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We've come a long way in a short time. There's still going to be bumps in th be road, possibly in the next two games. But when we're good, we're bloody good.
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I’m not going to pile in on Mings because I’m far too happy tonight.
But I think this gives him the opportunity to reflect on how sloppy he has been for a few games this season. I think he might believe he is so good he can cruise through games, whereas he still needs to work just as hard as everyone else does.
He come back fine though, and hopefully better.
The way that El Ghazi and Hause have performed since coming back has shown what players need to do when their chance arrives. Mings might well have to wait for his chance again now, and if he plays how he mostly has this season, he won't be getting in back, simple as that.
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That’s arguably out best half in years. Outstanding.
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What a team! Super and pro performance. Xelent from everyone, no one xcept Mings where troubeled as far as I could see.
CP gave up but you could see that they could give us a match somewhere middle of first half, so wont put this down to a underperforming Palace.
I give MOTM to Watkins; three assist, a lot of good running and taking care of the ball as good as anyone when long ball coming IMO. I like him a lot and think he s a big part of our free floating attack. Important that his "misses" dont get to his head as a thing, Dean and compay must get the messages over so to behold his confidence. 9
Martinez a lot of impressvie saves 8
Back four untroubled ish (2 half) 7,5, Mings 5
Mc ginn at his best 7.5
Grealish 8 his usual impressive self, fantastic really that he can hold that performance level game in and out
The rest seven then
What a thunderstroke from El Ghazi as "in the corner" it gets :)
And some Classy stuff and early rest from Traore 7,25
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Don’t know if it’s been said already but we are becoming far more (and I apologise for using the word) streetwise in how we manage games. There was Jack taking the team into the corner at the Wolves game after the penalty and today I don’t know if anyone noticed near the end of the game Benteke shoots and hits the side netting. Martinez then slaps the ball well away to waste a bit more time.
Nice to see us being a bit more professional. There seems to be a great team spirit. Long may it continue.
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All the pundits go on about the recruitment being much better this summer, but really? Much better? I’ve mentioned it before but Konsa, Hausa, Target, Luiz, Trezeguet, Mings and AEG is not looking too shabby is it?
I think it's been better in that the players bought have been more accomplished. Without wishing to sound a bit wolves, they're next level. 4 of them have gone straight into the team and improved it almost immeasurably, with the 5th not taking too many playing minutes to get right up to speed, and then some.
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What's even better about today's performance is that Jack played a role, but it didn't need to be about him. That for me is the greatest compliment I can pay this lot. That last season if you stopped Jack you stopped us. Now you can stop Jack or slow him down (I don't think anyone actually stops him), but you still have to account for every other player. And it starts by having the best keeper in the league all the way through the squad.
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All the pundits go on about the recruitment being much better this summer, but really? Much better? I’ve mentioned it before but Konsa, Hausa, Target, Luiz, Trezeguet, Mings and AEG is not looking too shabby is it?
I think it's been better in that the players bought have been more accomplished. Without wishing to sound a bit wolves, they're next level. 4 of them have gone straight into the team and improved it almost immeasurably, with the 5th not taking too many playing minutes to get right up to speed, and then some.
What the pundits do not say though is we had to rebuild and start somewhere in that first season, survival was crucial in adding the quality to what we had started to build.
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Well said TV especially the bit about Martinez. Everything builds on the confidence the team gets from its goalkeeper.
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Keep these performances up and we'll have quite a few agents calling us on behalf of their players.
Wonder if Milot Rashica's opinion of us has changed?
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Well said TV especially the bit about Martinez. Everything builds on the confidence the team gets from its goalkeeper.
He is just incredible Brian. 8 clean sheets. Just superb. And some of the goals that have beaten him have had to be outrageous shots.
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Really suited us getting the early goal as palace were forced to push on exposing their back line to our pace and quick breaks. Stuck in the habit of always thinking the worse as I expected a palace equaliser although Martinez never had a save worthy of the name to make, though his handling of everything was impeccable.
Hard to pick a M.O.M as, to a man, they were all fantastic. Solid at the back, grafted and covered in midfield, and penetrated and exposed their defence up front. Thought McGinn, who appears to be gaining some form and Doug quietly had great games and gave us a good platform, as well as those who were a bit more obvious.
Nice to see that we had a great performance that wasn’t solely all through Jack, although, like in most games he was again superb.
A joy to watch.
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Absolutely fantastic performance today. To a man fantastic (apart from Mings' foolishness).
As a side note, I suspect our reaction to Zaha is how other teams' fans react to jack.
Absolutely, he played the game. We fell for it.
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Did Jack get booked?
BBC match report line up page shows a yellow against him.
Got a notification from the Villa app to say he'd been booked on 44 about an hour after the game finished.
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Up to 5th at the moment.
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Imagine most watched Premier League game ever as well (apologies if this has been posted before).
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Martinez is in danger of becoming my favourite Villa keeper ever, having been a fan since the Bosnich era. He commands his area and makes good, clean saves and catches. The team plays with confidence when he’s between the sticks.
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Imagine most watched Premier League game ever as well (apologies if this has been posted before).
Really?
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Magnificent but only what we’ve come to expect
if I’m honest I’m still feeling pretty pissed off with Brighton, West Ham and Burnley where we were the better side in all of those games and they were just jammy cheaters
by rights we should have at least a fistful more points on the score boards
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I was thinking BBC on Boxing Day?
Imagine most watched Premier League game ever as well (apologies if this has been posted before).
Really?
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That, for me, was the best performance of the Dean Smith era so far. Every single player was superb but I reserve special praise for Ollie Watkins and his industry, the man is a total machine. UTV
Definitely up there with the early wins at Derby and Tiny Penis (Middlesboro). We do love our 3-0s!
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I remember watching other teams working their nuts off chasing down every ball ,and wishing we had a team with that team ethos to run through brick walls for each other. Well it seems we have that now in spades and a whole lot more, a team that works that hard and sticks together is a difficult proposition with eleven or ten men, I honestly don't think this team fears anyone UTV
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I was thinking BBC on Boxing Day?
Imagine most watched Premier League game ever as well (apologies if this has been posted before).
Really?
Stands a chance - a decent match on Sky will get 1million or so viewers. A BBC cup match easily 2-3m. A premier league, 3pm, lockdown Boxing Day - 4 or 5 million probably.
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I was thinking BBC on Boxing Day?
Imagine most watched Premier League game ever as well (apologies if this has been posted before).
Really?
Stands a chance - a decent match on Sky will get 1million or so viewers. A BBC cup match easily 2-3m. A premier league, 3pm, lockdown Boxing Day - 4 or 5 million probably.
It'll be mostly Blues fans
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I would imagine that their team spirit must be almost off the scale. You could have a team full of world class players but if they aren't in it for each other then you have nothing. Well done Villa you are a joy to watch.
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Who would have thought we would be 6th on Boxing day? The whole team was excellent with special mentions for Ollie, Targett, Luiz, and Hause.
Also, wtf was Arsenal thinking when they let Martinez go? The best keeper I have seen at the club for a long, long while.
As for Mings...I don't see him walking straight back into the team if both Hause and Konsa keep a clean sheet at Chelsea.
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Who would have thought we would be 6th on Boxing day?
Unless Chelsea score again, we're fifth. Until Man City stick four past Newcastle of course.
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What's even better about today's performance is that Jack played a role, but it didn't need to be about him. That for me is the greatest compliment I can pay this lot. That last season if you stopped Jack you stopped us. Now you can stop Jack or slow him down (I don't think anyone actually stops him), but you still have to account for every other player. And it starts by having the best keeper in the league all the way through the squad.
Jack was still brilliant in the second half. Worked like a trooper. Carried the ball majestically. Set up a series of chances with perfectly weighted passes. Drew yellow cards and time wasting free kicks. Great leadership.
Would like to see him shoot a bit more first time, like that chance in the first half, sometimes he can feint a bit too much.
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Can't remember the last time we played like that having been down to 10 men for the whole of the 2nd half. Traore MOM in 1st half, everything he did oozed class, the way he's playing, he's going to turn out to be one of the bargains of the Premier League. Felt for Ollie, work rate was immense, no question the goals will come, as for Targett superb today our most improved player of season.
Chelsea next bring it on
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We have a chance to do something special this year. We have the best keeper and forward in the league and a supporting cast who are all improving every game and now playing at a level above where they were a few months ago. We attack from multiple angles and there is a solidity to our defence w haven’t seen in years. We aren’t clinical enough but that will come (and saying that after beating another team 3-0 makes that even more brilliant).
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According to whoscored.com, currently the best performing team in Europe according to the stats. Might even not be counting today.
https://www.whoscored.com/Statistics
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Targett was immense. Not been proven that wrong about anyone since Jos Buttler's innings against Pakistan in the summer.
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The nice thing is we've finally followed up a really good performance and victory with an even better one.
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3-0 is a very impressive scoreline in any league. It shows total governance on the pitch by one team. We have done that several times now this season. If we go back to our most recent successful era of regular 6th place finishes I don't remember so many 3-0 wins as we have already had this season. This is the gold standard of a very very good performance and hallmark of a competent team. Yes the team now arriving at platform success is Aston Villa.
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Magnificent but only what we’ve come to expect
if I’m honest I’m still feeling pretty pissed off with Brighton, West Ham and Burnley where we were the better side in all of those games and they were just jammy cheaters
by rights we should have at least a fistful more points on the score boards
Yep but you could say we nicked it against Leicester and wolves so it makes me feel better
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Brilliant win, thought it was going to be a serious test in the second half after Mings idiocy but we completely outplayed them. Watkins bullied their centre backs, on another day he bags a hat trick. Finishing has gone a bit cold for him lately but will come again. Mings aside, there wasn't a weak link in the team.
Unless he had prevented Palace scoring? One for the team?
Hause was in a decent covering position but if he had any doubts he should have knocked that ball for a throw in. But of course he had to try playing it past Zaha on the half way line
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About a year ago a chunk of us (me included) would have taken Benteke to fill a gap.
How far have we come in that time? Outstanding!!
And another half were ready to swap Dean for BFS.
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Fitness levels are as good as anyone too. When you have players like the full backs, McGinn, Grealish and Watkins who just seem to run and run and run it makes such a difference. I thought as 10 men this would be a slog. It's testament to our performance that it wasn't and if anything we looked like we had more players. If O Neill's side were as fit as this lot, they'd have comfortably bagged top 4. This side, may just...
Think one of the best calls of last summer when signing 4-5 new players was to go for much more athleticism as you simply need that to finish top end premier league these days.
All the new guys can run for days and conditioning of likes of Luiz and Targett is way better than 12 months ago.
Certainly odd to see a Villa team finish the game so much stronger than the opposition on a regular basis this season. We've done it to teams at the top and at the bottom.
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I cited a stat in the match thread that we are top for pressuring teams. Which fuck knows how how they actually calculate it but when you watch us now you just nod and say yeh, I see that. We are tenacious in closing opponents down and getting the ball back. An essential trait of all top teams.
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We’ve been the least fit team for so long too, it’s been a thorn in our side for years. Now though like you’ve just mentioned we are so fit and strong and full of energy.
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Did Jack get booked?
BBC match report line up page shows a yellow against him.
Got a notification from the Villa app to say he'd been booked on 44 about an hour after the game finished.
Just checked the Prem League official site.
The match report shows a yellow for Jack in the 45th minute immediately after Mings got his 2nd yellow.
We've got quite a few players heading towards a 5th yellow and a one match ban. 5 yellows in the first 19 games = 1 match ban.
Expect we'll cop a few suspensions soon.
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According to whoscored.com, currently the best performing team in Europe according to the stats. Might even not be counting today.
https://www.whoscored.com/Statistics
I don’t think it does include today as I heard that about us a few days ago. Liverpool were 7th apparently.
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So ahead of Spurs, Chelsea and Man City and with games in hand on the former two. That's not a fantastic position after a third of the season.
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For me in the Jack v Zaha debate...Jack embellishes actual fouls to ensure he gets the call. Often Zaha just plain dives to con the officials, and unfortunately it seems to work, big difference - not to mention that the gulf between their technical abilities is enormous. Plus Zaha always looks like he's about to cry.
Mings was still dumb for falling for the sending-off incident.
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The improvement in Trez, and especially AEG this season is quite something. The signings of Traore and Watkins seemed to make Trez realise he needed to up his game, and then the improvement in Trez seems to have had a galvanising effect on AEG. The last three games he's been in the game way more, shown the skills he has and has defenders thinking about stopping him as much as Jack. I still think his finishing needs work because although he's bagged four goals he could and should have had a lot more. You cpoudl say the same of JAck and Ollie though.
As for Zaha I'll readily admit Jack goes down a little too easily at times but at least he waits until he is pushed or kicked. Zaha was initiating contact and then throwing himself down (McGinn first half) and on one occasion I think he was barely touched on the chest and went down like a shot badger. I can't believe refs still fall for that old trick. Apart from the VAR penalty decision I thought the ref was atrocious.
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So ahead of Spurs, Chelsea and Man City and with games in hand on the former two. That's not a fantastic position after a third of the season.
I disagree. I think it’s a fantastic position.
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So ahead of Spurs, Chelsea and Man City and with games in hand on the former two. That's not a fantastic position after a third of the season.
I disagree. I think it’s a fantastic position.
Lol not sure where the NOT game from
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3-0 is a very impressive scoreline in any league. It shows total governance on the pitch by one team. We have done that several times now this season. If we go back to our most recent successful era of regular 6th place finishes I don't remember so many 3-0 wins as we have already had this season.
I think that’s a really good point. We were functional under MON. It feels like there is more potential to do something special under this regime.
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I had my heart in my mouth during the VAR review for the non-penalty, particularly as the ref went to the touchline, and they showed backwards and forwards whether Cash had touched the ball, or not. I thought he did, but it wasn't clear - and then the ref gave a goal kick, which indicates he thought he Cash didn't touch the ball, and STILL didn't give a penalty? I thought we were very lucky there... I don't mean lucky in that it was a pen, I don't think it was, I just though the decision came down to whether cash got the ball or not.
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One of these days we're going to be able to moan about 'giving someone a hammering one of these days'
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It was refreshing to have a VAR decision go for us for a change!
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I had my heart in my mouth during the VAR review for the non-penalty, particularly as the ref went to the touchline, and they showed backwards and forwards whether Cash had touched the ball, or not. I thought he did, but it wasn't clear - and then the ref gave a goal kick, which indicates he thought he Cash didn't touch the ball, and STILL didn't give a penalty? I thought we were very lucky there... I don't mean lucky in that it was a pen, I don't think it was, I just though the decision came down to whether cash got the ball or not.
Felt pretty much the same, but it's very similar to the Fernandes/Konsa incident...the only contact occurs because the attacking player "falls" on to the defender. The PL eventually confessed that the Fernandes penalty was WRONG, whereas Taylor used what he saw/happened and didn't try to make a fucking scientific experiment and near physical impossibility out of it! Correct decision! UTV!
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I don't know how much love it got in the match-thread, given it was right at the death, but that reverse pass from Grealish when Ollie hit the post is one of the best passes I've ever seen.
I don't think I've EVER seen a 15-yard pass take out 5 defenders before.
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I had my heart in my mouth during the VAR review for the non-penalty, particularly as the ref went to the touchline, and they showed backwards and forwards whether Cash had touched the ball, or not. I thought he did, but it wasn't clear - and then the ref gave a goal kick, which indicates he thought he Cash didn't touch the ball, and STILL didn't give a penalty? I thought we were very lucky there... I don't mean lucky in that it was a pen, I don't think it was, I just though the decision came down to whether cash got the ball or not.
Good point. I was so relieved that none of that even occurred to me.
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I thought Cash made contact with the ball so it should have been a corner.
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Frankly though, and this supports the theory that "luck" evens itself out, but we were due a call in our favour. And especially against this lot. Does anyone still recall the goal that never was from living Villa legend Henri Lansbury?
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Outstanding to a man.
Special mention for Zaha - we will not see a bigger cheat at Villa Park for some time...and the ref was a bag of shite too.
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I didn't think the ref was that bad to be honest. He could have easily buckled and give that penalty in the first half, some would have. Mings didn't really give him much choice with the second booking.
Agree with you, I didn't think the ref was that bad either.
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Frankly though, and this supports the theory that "luck" evens itself out, but we were due a call in our favour. And especially against this lot. Does anyone still recall the goal that never was from living Villa legend Henri Lansbury?
We're still plenty of goals behind. I don't think the Cash incident was evening anything out.
I read earlier that were something like 1.5 points down on incorrect decisions that have gone against us, which is more than any other team in the league.
So we're still due our luck evening out.
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Even the usually none-more-salty Uncle Roy looks and sounds like a man who knows they were soundly beaten today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55373752
I'd be jacking it in if I was him, surely he doesn't need the grief or the money any more.
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Even the usually none-more-salty Uncle Roy looks and sounds like a man who knows they were soundly beaten today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55373752
I'd be jacking it in if I was him, surely he doesn't need the grief or the money any more.
I was thinking the same thing.
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Superb performance today. If you want extra entertainment go on the Molineux Mix forum....some grudging bitter comments about us on there.
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Brilliant and magnificent performance. Another clean sheet as well.
I love this team.
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At half team most managers with 10 men would have told his team would have been saying keep things tight, instead we go out and take the game to them and score another 2. Love this team.
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Some clever scamp on Twitter has suggested a headline for tomorrow's papers as 'Flying Without Mings'.
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Even the usually none-more-salty Uncle Roy looks and sounds like a man who knows they were soundly beaten today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55373752
I'd be jacking it in if I was him, surely he doesn't need the grief or the money any more.
I was thinking the same thing.
He’s managed some great teams and West Brom.
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I would sign Zaha in a flash if he became available. People hate him for the same reason as they dislike Jack so much - because he’s so bloody good.
Not for me.
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I would sign Zaha in a flash if he became available. People hate him for the same reason as they dislike Jack so much - because he’s so bloody good.
Not for me.
Goes down quicker than a pound shop lilo. No ta.
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What a thoroughly enjoyable win and performance.
Seriously other than Mings did anyone not play well?
The most pleasing was how Hause, Targett and AEG now look like PRemier League players and not everything is on Jack's shoulders.
One day Watkins is going to get 5 in one game to make up for only being man of the match today
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I was thinking BBC on Boxing Day?
Imagine most watched Premier League game ever as well (apologies if this has been posted before).
Really?
Stands a chance - a decent match on Sky will get 1million or so viewers. A BBC cup match easily 2-3m. A premier league, 3pm, lockdown Boxing Day - 4 or 5 million probably.
It'll be mostly Blues fans
That suggests they've more than 20000.
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I don't know how much love it got in the match-thread, given it was right at the death, but that reverse pass from Grealish when Ollie hit the post is one of the best passes I've ever seen.
I don't think I've EVER seen a 15-yard pass take out 5 defenders before.
That was some vision and pass, yes! Some of all the price our forwards get are down to the xelent vison and passes from Grealish.
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Frankly though, and this supports the theory that "luck" evens itself out, but we were due a call in our favour. And especially against this lot. Does anyone still recall the goal that never was from living Villa legend Henri Lansbury?
We're still plenty of goals behind. I don't think the Cash incident was evening anything out.
I read earlier that were something like 1.5 points down on incorrect decisions that have gone against us, which is more than any other team in the league.
So we're still due our luck evening out.
No doubt. So today I hope was just the start of the catching up process. And if there is any truth to it it means we are top 6 despite it with some “luck evening out” yet to come.
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A fantastic well deserved result. It could easily have been 6 or 7 goals. Imo Mings was unlucky on both occasions with zaha. That said the whole team were magnificent. Emi is a leader and such an assured presence. Targett was motm for me because of how far he's come to perform like that. Watkins was absolutely magnificent and deserved a goal. Traore was also brilliant and was unlucky not to have 2 goals before his unfortunate substitution. I felt their right back should have had a second yellow for his late tackle on Targett in the last 10 mins. As for zaha, at 28 his career is going nowhere. He's at palace for a reason. He had his big move and couldn't handle it. He's nothing more than a mediocre fish in a tiny pond.
Great work Villa boys so proud of you!
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Fantastic again. Its an absolute pleasure watching this Villa team. Just wish we could be there.
Feel a bit for Watkins. He's been so unlucky, but the goals will come.
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Fantastic again. Its an absolute pleasure watching this Villa team. Just wish we could be there.
Feel a bit for Watkins. He's been so unlucky, but the goals will come.
Some strikers when they don’t score just turn into selfish assholes (won’t mention a former number 11). But with Watkins I feel he will just work even harder. He’s a managers dream.
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Even the usually none-more-salty Uncle Roy looks and sounds like a man who knows they were soundly beaten today:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55373752
I'd be jacking it in if I was him, surely he doesn't need the grief or the money any more.
I was thinking the same thing.
He loves his job though, what would he do otherwise? Vegetate and wither? Nah, Roy is best keeling active until the doc says otherwise or he drops.
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Definately the best thing on telly this Christmas.
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The most pleasing was how Hause, Targett and AEG now look like Premier League players
I was always sceptical about the idea that we needed to bring in ‘Premier League experience’ last summer, as if anyone who has played in the EPL previously is inherently better than anyone who hasn’t. We, like everyone else, just need good players. Hause, Targett and El Ghazi are all relatively young players, who haven’t had a linear route into first team football, but are now developing within a settled set-up.
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Brilliant performance by the lads my best Christmas present by far another clean sheet and we only needed ten men I love you Aston Villa.UTV
That’s how I feel, thanks, darren.
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Some clever scamp on Twitter has suggested a headline for tomorrow's papers as 'Flying Without Mings'.
😁
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If you watched our first 13 games last season, and our first 13 games this season, the biggest difference would be the game management. Perhaps the absence of a crowd, and of a palpable sense of collective impatience or frustration, has helped this. We completely bossed today’s game despite being a man down. There was a discernible game plan, and the players demonstrated great football intelligence. It obviously helps to have more weapons; Ollie’s hold-up play, Jack’s use of the ball, and the ability to get men forward, mean that we seem to be able to reliably keep most defences occupied.
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Definately the best thing on telly this Christmas.
Definately.
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Definately the best thing on telly this Christmas.
Definately.
Definitely.
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I always like it when they interview players and they come across as really intelligent and articulate. Ollie is definitely in that category. He's bright as a button. Combine that with superlative fitness levels and a high workrate, and you've got a player who's worth every penny of his transfer fee.
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Even if Bruce could have got him for £500k.
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Even if Bruce could have got him for £500k.
Was it you Brian who recommended Watkins to Villa scouts when he was at Exeter? (Was some poster on here)
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Even if Bruce could have got him for £500k.
To be fair Bruce got McGinn and ElGhazi in which cost us about 6m and we would probably get in excess of 50m for the pair currently
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He'd make a great scout.
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I really can’t remember seeing a better performance by a team reduced to 10 men playing against 11 for half a game than that. Not just Villa, but any team. So it may have ‘only been against Palace’, but they played some decent stuff in the first half and I wasn’t feeling too confident about our chances when we came back from the break.
How wrong can you be. That was such a magnificent effort by everyone, players and coaches alike. We truly made it look like we were the side with the man advantage. It maybe wasn’t as jaw-dropping as sticking 7 past L’pool or as complete a performance as at Arsenal, but it was another remarkable display in a season which is turning out to be something special - and so welcome after all those seasons of shit and misery we’ve had to endure.
Long may it continue, and let this just be the start of a great new era for AVFC!
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Definately the best thing on telly this Christmas.
Definately.
Definitely.
I’m out of teacher mode for the holidays, Legion. 🤸♂️
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Garth brooks was convinced palace would have got something out of the game if they hadn't gone down to ten men
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He really hates us.
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Excellent. That is all.
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Garth brooks was convinced palace would have got something out of the game if they hadn't gone down to ten men
Really? We could have had two or three in that first half and why wouldn’t we have just carried on as we did. From start to finish there was only one team in that match.
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Garth brooks was convinced palace would have got something out of the game if they hadn't gone down to ten men
I'm convinced Pingu the penguin makes more sense that Garth Crooks.
And is a better singer than Garth Brooks.
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A joy to watch. Again. The progress is staggering, I can’t believe this is the same side we were watching nine months ago.
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Garth brooks was convinced palace would have got something out of the game if they hadn't gone down to ten men
Bloody country singers should stick to banjos and songs about cowboys if you ask me.
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The rate of progress is so staggering that we must be getting set up for some massive let down.
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I'm so fecking pleased with the Villa that for the 1st time in awhile instead of recording MOTD I am actually staying up to watch it :)
UTV
The Doc
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Ive not been this impressed with the villa in years!
I was firmly in the Dean out camp this time last year. Thinking he had 1 tactic and couldn't turn a game around. He's now learning and improving week by week. I'm very excited to see where we finish this season and if we splash the cash in barkley in Jan.
Great job to all the backroom team involved with villa too
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I'm convinced Pingu the penguin makes more sense that Garth Crooks.
And is a better singer than Garth Brooks.
Agree on the first bit and as you're clearly a fan you'll be delighted to know that Garth Brooks has sold more albums in the US than Elvis (and is second all-time only to The Beatles). :) Anyway after today I doubt we'll have to worry about being in low places this season.
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Garth brooks was convinced palace would have got something out of the game if they hadn't gone down to ten men
Really? We could have had two or three in that first half and why wouldn’t we have just carried on as we did. From start to finish there was only one team in that match.
We scored 3 conceded 0. We hit the woodwork 3 times. It was a superb performance from the boys. Garth Crooks is a complete idiot who consistently talks total bollocks. How he gets the gig on tv I have no idea.
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I think we are the best team in the league. It sounds crazy to say that and I’m probably way off, but at the moment I think it’s true. We’ve had 1.5 bad games against Leeds and Southampton and should have won all of the others relatively comfortably had we taken the chances. I used to watch bits of other teams like Liverpool and think they play a totally different sport to us, but now I often think ‘they’re not as good as the Villa’. The transformation has been quite remarkable, so remarkable that it’s hard to comprehend really. They dominate, they counter attack at pace, and there is always somebody running at the opposition. If it’s not Grealish, it’s Watkins, or El Ghazi, and Traore has started to play well. And we haven’t seen Barkley, Grealish and Traore together yet. Of course, as a Villa fan you always expect the worst and I’m sure we will lose the next two now I’ve said the above. But in my 30 years of going I’m not sure we’ve had a team that plays as well as this one.
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That was a total team performance.
Hard to pick a Motm.
But I think Luiz for me just pips it.
Do we HAVE to sell him back to Citeh if they want him?
Even if he wants to stay?
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Mings looked like a guy trying to sweat out a heavy night before.
Palace played into our hands by going a bit gung-ho when they were a man up and leaving the space for us to counter attack. And we are very good at counter attacking.
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Garth brooks was convinced palace would have got something out of the game if they hadn't gone down to ten men
Really? We could have had two or three in that first half and why wouldn’t we have just carried on as we did. From start to finish there was only one team in that match.
We scored 3 conceded 0. We hit the woodwork 3 times. It was a superb performance from the boys. Garth Crooks is a complete idiot who consistently talks total bollocks. How he gets the gig on tv I have no idea.
I agree with all above , it was a tongue in cheek post regarding Garth's comments post the baggies game. In which he said if Albion had kept 11 men on the pitch , he was convinced they would have got something out of the game against us.
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That was a total team performance.
Hard to pick a Motm.
But I think Luiz for me just pips it.
Do we HAVE to sell him back to Citeh if they want him?
Even if he wants to stay?
We are working on a new contract for him and Konsa apparently
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That was a total team performance.
Hard to pick a Motm.
But I think Luiz for me just pips it.
Do we HAVE to sell him back to Citeh if they want him?
Even if he wants to stay?
Yes. Unless we value him more than they do, and are willing to pay what they would ask to remove their option on him.
But given he's now what, a £40-50m player and they are pretty shoddy in the position he plays, I expect they'll value him just as highly as we do.
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The last 3 gamees we've completely dominated from start to finish. We'll see what the next couple of games bring, but we'll give the likes of Chelsea and Man U a game and they won't be looking forward to them. And Watkins is due a goal
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I'll watch for it again now, but I'm sure El Ghazi pointed to the exact blade of grass he wanted the ball on for his strike, and Watkins delivered precisely.
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The timing of the sending off was ideal. Just before half time which gave us chance to get in and re-group. It didn't seem to disrupt us at all.
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That was a total team performance.
Hard to pick a Motm.
But I think Luiz for me just pips it.
Do we HAVE to sell him back to Citeh if they want him?
Even if he wants to stay?
Yes. Unless we value him more than they do, and are willing to pay what they would ask to remove their option on him.
But given he's now what, a £40-50m player and they are pretty shoddy in the position he plays, I expect they'll value him just as highly as we do.
Sorry not sure I totally understand. Are you saying we could keep him but it would be too expensive?
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The timing of the sending off was ideal. Just before half time which gave us chance to get in and re-group. It didn't seem to disrupt us at all.
Quite, we looked even better with 10 men.
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The difference in Traore the last two games is amazing, i thought he was our best player first half. We finally have a squad where players can't have an off couple of weeks and still keep their spot how refreshing is that. Not sure how or why but they look really well coached now.
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That was a total team performance.
Hard to pick a Motm.
But I think Luiz for me just pips it.
Do we HAVE to sell him back to Citeh if they want him?
Even if he wants to stay?
Yes. Unless we value him more than they do, and are willing to pay what they would ask to remove their option on him.
But given he's now what, a £40-50m player and they are pretty shoddy in the position he plays, I expect they'll value him just as highly as we do.
Sorry not sure I totally understand. Are you saying we could keep him but it would be too expensive?
We paid £15 million and his value is far closer to £40 million now so - to remove that option they have - we'd need to pony up the difference.
But as Citeh are short in quality in that department (a clear case of neglect, with their resources) they are more likely to want him back with a view to playing him.
Is how I read it.
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Great result---even more so after going down to 10 men for more than half the game---excellent team performance
all playing for each other and for Deano---just wish we could share it with them,Sweet Caroline would really have echoed around the grand old place---and the noise especially on a Boxing Day would be something to blinking behold,
well done all-------------VTID
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I think we are the best team in the league. It sounds crazy to say that and I’m probably way off, but at the moment I think it’s true. We’ve had 1.5 bad games against Leeds and Southampton and should have won all of the others relatively comfortably had we taken the chances. I used to watch bits of other teams like Liverpool and think they play a totally different sport to us, but now I often think ‘they’re not as good as the Villa’. The transformation has been quite remarkable, so remarkable that it’s hard to comprehend really. They dominate, they counter attack at pace, and there is always somebody running at the opposition. If it’s not Grealish, it’s Watkins, or El Ghazi, and Traore has started to play well. And we haven’t seen Barkley, Grealish and Traore together yet. Of course, as a Villa fan you always expect the worst and I’m sure we will lose the next two now I’ve said the above. But in my 30 years of going I’m not sure we’ve had a team that plays as well as this one.
I agree, I said to my brother after the game I don't think I've seen a better Villa team in my just over 35 years, and they've got it all in front of them with the structure of the club in place to capitalise.
It may be misplaced optimism and sky high expectation, but on what I'm seeing I'll be disappointed in we don't get into Europe this season.
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The difference in Traore the last two games is amazing, i thought he was our best player first half. We finally have a squad where players can't have an off couple of weeks and still keep their spot how refreshing is that. Not sure how or why but they look really well coached now.
Not only is the team looking well balanced, I also think the management and coaching staff that Deano has pulled together are part of the success, especially Craig Shakespeare.
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I think we are the best team in the league. It sounds crazy to say that and I’m probably way off, but at the moment I think it’s true. We’ve had 1.5 bad games against Leeds and Southampton and should have won all of the others relatively comfortably had we taken the chances. I used to watch bits of other teams like Liverpool and think they play a totally different sport to us, but now I often think ‘they’re not as good as the Villa’. The transformation has been quite remarkable, so remarkable that it’s hard to comprehend really. They dominate, they counter attack at pace, and there is always somebody running at the opposition. If it’s not Grealish, it’s Watkins, or El Ghazi, and Traore has started to play well. And we haven’t seen Barkley, Grealish and Traore together yet. Of course, as a Villa fan you always expect the worst and I’m sure we will lose the next two now I’ve said the above. But in my 30 years of going I’m not sure we’ve had a team that plays as well as this one.
I agree, I said to my brother after the game I don't think I've seen a better Villa team in my just over 35 years, and they've got it all in front of them with the structure of the club in place to capitalise.
It may be misplaced optimism and sky high expectation, but on what I'm seeing I'll be disappointed in we don't get into Europe this season.
We're a third of the way through the season, and the only game we deserved to lose was the Leeds game. We've beaten two of the top three, and battered several other teams. I think the only way we're going to nosedive is with a couple of key injuries like say, Jack and Ollie.
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I think we are the best team in the league. It sounds crazy to say that and I’m probably way off, but at the moment I think it’s true. We’ve had 1.5 bad games against Leeds and Southampton and should have won all of the others relatively comfortably had we taken the chances. I used to watch bits of other teams like Liverpool and think they play a totally different sport to us, but now I often think ‘they’re not as good as the Villa’. The transformation has been quite remarkable, so remarkable that it’s hard to comprehend really. They dominate, they counter attack at pace, and there is always somebody running at the opposition. If it’s not Grealish, it’s Watkins, or El Ghazi, and Traore has started to play well. And we haven’t seen Barkley, Grealish and Traore together yet. Of course, as a Villa fan you always expect the worst and I’m sure we will lose the next two now I’ve said the above. But in my 30 years of going I’m not sure we’ve had a team that plays as well as this one.
I agree, I said to my brother after the game I don't think I've seen a better Villa team in my just over 35 years, and they've got it all in front of them with the structure of the club in place to capitalise.
It may be misplaced optimism and sky high expectation, but on what I'm seeing I'll be disappointed in we don't get into Europe this season.
We're a third of the way through the season, and the only game we deserved to lose was the Leeds game. We've beaten two of the top three, and battered several other teams. I think the only way we're going to nosedive is with a couple of key injuries like say, Jack and Ollie.
Yes, but we even look more resiliant to injuries now, the team is purring and the next man just slots in, unless it's Nakamba who still plays like the ball is a grenade without a pin.
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Normally, if we were headed into the next fives games that looked like this we’d all be fucking bricking it.
Chelsea A
Man U A
Liverpool H (FA cup)
Tottenham H
Everton H
But at the moment we are arriving at a point of expecting a certain level of performance. That we have a good chance of picking up points in each of those league games. We might not win all of them but we have a chance to and we won’t fear anyone at all. I can’t recall the last time we had a team that gave us that level of confidence.
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6-8 points from those 4 league games and we'd be able to start thinking about challenging for Europe in my opinion. Any more and you start looking at Leicester's win.
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Just seen the reverse pass by Jack to Ollie and it does indeed take out 4 or 5 Palace players in one go. Incredible vision.
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the only game we deserved to lose was the Leeds game. We've beaten two of the top three, and battered several other teams. I think the only way we're going to nosedive is with a couple of key injuries like say, Jack and Ollie.
I don't actually think we deserved to lose to Leeds, it was very much falling apart after the first goal. They were on top first 30 mintues, we were getting on top second 30 minutes. Grealish had a shot cleared off the line by Ayling and then that incredible run where we should have scored. Either of those go in I reckon we'd have won. Plus Bamford will never have a game like that ever again.
Southampton however, we deserved to lose due to our shite defending.
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That was a total team performance.
Hard to pick a Motm.
But I think Luiz for me just pips it.
Do we HAVE to sell him back to Citeh if they want him?
Even if he wants to stay?
Yes. Unless we value him more than they do, and are willing to pay what they would ask to remove their option on him.
But given he's now what, a £40-50m player and they are pretty shoddy in the position he plays, I expect they'll value him just as highly as we do.
Sorry not sure I totally understand. Are you saying we could keep him but it would be too expensive?
We paid £15 million and his value is far closer to £40 million now so - to remove that option they have - we'd need to pony up the difference.
But as Citeh are short in quality in that department (a clear case of neglect, with their resources) they are more likely to want him back with a view to playing him.
Is how I read it.
Quite. I've said before, I'm sure they will want him back and he will be a first team player for them next season. Rubbish, but we still come out of the deal well.
And if that is the case, if we wanted to pay to have the clause removed they'd probably be quoting a price in line with what it would cost to buy one of their first-team players.
If they wanted to buy him to sell him at a profit, I see no reason why we wouldn't just pay what they would get from another team. But I can't see why they would not just play him, given he's 22, better than anything else they have in that position and will probably be one of the best midfielders in the world in a couple of years.
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Just seen the reverse pass by Jack to Ollie and it does indeed take out 4 or 5 Palace players in one go. Incredible vision.
I've watched it back a few more times now, and another thing that I find brilliant about that move, and extremely encouraging for our longer-term prospects, is the run that Ollie makes. He makes the run seemingly confident Jack could find him even though he's going n the opposite direction, and behind Jack. If you've got forwards making runs into places you don't think they could receive the ball, AND they're getting it, it bodes extremely well for your chances of scoring goals!
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That was a total team performance.
Hard to pick a Motm.
But I think Luiz for me just pips it.
Do we HAVE to sell him back to Citeh if they want him?
Even if he wants to stay?
Yes. Unless we value him more than they do, and are willing to pay what they would ask to remove their option on him.
But given he's now what, a £40-50m player and they are pretty shoddy in the position he plays, I expect they'll value him just as highly as we do.
Sorry not sure I totally understand. Are you saying we could keep him but it would be too expensive?
We paid £15 million and his value is far closer to £40 million now so - to remove that option they have - we'd need to pony up the difference.
But as Citeh are short in quality in that department (a clear case of neglect, with their resources) they are more likely to want him back with a view to playing him.
Is how I read it.
Quite. I've said before, I'm sure they will want him back and he will be a first team player for them next season. Rubbish, but we still come out of the deal well.
And if that is the case, if we wanted to pay to have the clause removed they'd probably be quoting a price in line with what it would cost to buy one of their first-team players.
If they wanted to buy him to sell him at a profit, I see no reason why we wouldn't just pay what they would get from another team. But I can't see why they would not just play him, given he's 22, better than anything else they have in that position and will probably be one of the best midfielders in the world in a couple of years.
That, unfortunately, is my view too. I suspect we'll try and buy out that clause at some point, but I just don't see City accepting an offer to do so. Why would they? They don't need the money, and they could really do with a player like Luiz (who couldn't?), especially now he has proven himself to be a force at premier league level.
Perhaps the only thing in our favour is what the player himself thinks. If he's enjoying his football here, and can see us progressing again next year, he already has his place in the Brazil squad, so he might be happier with a place in our 11, than in City's squad. I'm clutching at straws I guess.
He'd be almost impossible to replace without spending £50m+.
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Just a thought, we may be contractually obliged to accept the offer of they activate the clause; Douglas, however, is under no such obligation.
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I really hope there is a way of snapping up Doug. Even if we have to break the bank and show our reveal our true wealth and ambition to the nation.
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Just a thought, we may be contractually obliged to accept the offer of they activate the clause; Douglas, however, is under no such obligation.
Yes he is. In a deal of this type, his potential future Man City terms are agreed and signed at the time of his transfer to us.
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the only game we deserved to lose was the Leeds game. We've beaten two of the top three, and battered several other teams. I think the only way we're going to nosedive is with a couple of key injuries like say, Jack and Ollie.
I don't actually think we deserved to lose to Leeds, it was very much falling apart after the first goal. They were on top first 30 mintues, we were getting on top second 30 minutes. Grealish had a shot cleared off the line by Ayling and then that incredible run where we should have scored. Either of those go in I reckon we'd have won. Plus Bamford will never have a game like that ever again.
Southampton however, we deserved to lose due to our shite defending.
I agree with a lot of this but the Southampton game was not just down to poor defending. 3 out of their 4 goals were worldies. We could definitely have taken something out of that game but in the end it was just their day.
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Just seen the reverse pass by Jack to Ollie and it does indeed take out 4 or 5 Palace players in one go. Incredible vision.
It was utter filth, wasn't it?! It's reminding me of Platt/Cowans, almost like they're having their own little games with each other to see what's the most outrageous run & pass combo they can do. Like the one for El Ghazi's goal, Watkins almost teasing Grealish, "Go on, I'm two yards from the defender, bet you can't slide it onto my toe... ahhh bollocks, miscontrolled it".
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I really hope there is a way of snapping up Doug. Even if we have to break the bank and show our reveal our true wealth and ambition to the nation.
My, probably futile, hope is that they think their need is more urgent and buy a similar player in January.
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Ive not been this impressed with the villa in years!
I was firmly in the Dean out camp this time last year. Thinking he had 1 tactic and couldn't turn a game around. He's now learning and improving week by week. I'm very excited to see where we finish this season and if we splash the cash in barkley in Jan.
Great job to all the backroom team involved with villa too
Yes I must admit I was in the same camp but the combination of experience, better players to do what he’s asking and the players already there settling down has shown me that sticking with Smith was the right way to go. Just brilliant watching us play with a smile on my face again
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Nice writeup from F365 (https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-early-winner-aston-villa-premier-league-most-improved-defence)
“Few teams attack with that Villa verve… there might not be a more varied front line in the country.”
That was Matt Stead’s conclusion from Aston Villa’s 3-0 win six days ago. Such flair was evident again in another three-goal victory, though this latest triumph against Crystal Palace showcased more the incredible defensive resilience that Dean Smith has installed in the Premier League’s most-improved unit of 2020.
Villa achieved their fourth consecutive clean sheet, their eighth in 13 games of this campaign surpassing their tally from the whole of last season, to leave them only a single concession behind the Premier League’s stingiest defence, Manchester City.
In five months, Smith and his staff have transformed Villa from the second-leakiest rearguard to the second best. There is plenty of credence in the theory that it was achieved by moving Villa from the back foot to the front by surrounding Jack Grealish with the level of talent he deserves around him, but their latest shutout was testament as much to their new-found solidity at the back.
And it was achieved in the most part without the individual in the back four who most often catches the eye.
For a centre-back like Tyrone Mings, that should not be taken as a compliment. The England defender was in the spotlight yet again when he took Wilfried Zaha’s bait twice in six minutes just prior to the break. ‘F***ing embarrassing’ was Grealish’s immediate reaction, though his criticism for referee Anthony Taylor would be more apt if it was aimed at his dismissed team-mate.
Few defenders in Premier League split opinion like Mings. The 27-year-old, who has earned four England caps since his debut just over a year ago, has all the physical attributes to be one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team-sheet and Mings has emerged as one of the leaders of this Villa squad. He has been an ever-present in Smith’s side this season, but for all his speed and strength, Mings cannot seem to outrun the air of calamity that too often descends upon him.
It didn’t matter today. Given Ezri Konsa’s form, you might put forward the former Brentford defender as Villa’s best centre-back and it was he who replaced Mings in the back four, at the expense of the first-half’s best player, Bertrand Traore, who opened the scoring, hit the post and carried the biggest threat.
For that, the credit should be spread further than the five at the back. Ollie Watkins sets the tone from the front and despite failing to score with 10 efforts on goal, his sixth goalless game in succession, the Villa centre-forward was a deserving recipient of the Man of the Match award. Grealish chases in tandem with Watkins, evidenced in the fact that he recorded a game-high seven blocks, while Villa’s defensive screen, John McGinn and Douglas Luiz, possesses a perfect blend of fight and flair.
Villa will need all their new-found solidity in the coming weeks. Their next five games see Smith’s side go up against Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Everton in the Premier League, with an FA Cup tie against revenge-seeking Liverpool sandwiched in the middle. But not for many a year have they looked better equipped to take on the big boys, which is a quite astonishing transformation.
Smith has received huge credit for making Villa’s attack one of the most exciting around and deservedly so. Even a man short, they were more adventurous and penetrative in their play than Palace. But the improvement at the back is worthy of even greater commendation.
Ian Watson
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Just watched Match of the Day again this morning. Terrific performance all around and its difficult to pick out a man of the match. Tempted to give it to Grealish for that pass to Watkins alone.
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Just seen the reverse pass by Jack to Ollie and it does indeed take out 4 or 5 Palace players in one go. Incredible vision.
I've watched it back a few more times now, and another thing that I find brilliant about that move, and extremely encouraging for our longer-term prospects, is the run that Ollie makes. He makes the run seemingly confident Jack could find him even though he's going n the opposite direction, and behind Jack. If you've got forwards making runs into places you don't think they could receive the ball, AND they're getting it, it bodes extremely well for your chances of scoring goals!
Was talking after the match with my brother-in-law, who's a Man Utd supporter on paper, but generally just likes watching football without being too partizan in any direction. He's sort of been following the Villa this season, partially because I'm a Villa supporter and partially because of the way we've been playing.
Anyway, he couldn't stop talking about that pass for about 10 minutes or more. It was absolutely wonderful, as you'd said both the pass itself and the run from Watkins.
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3-0 is a very impressive scoreline in any league. It shows total governance on the pitch by one team. We have done that several times now this season. If we go back to our most recent successful era of regular 6th place finishes I don't remember so many 3-0 wins as we have already had this season.
I think that’s a really good point. We were functional under MON. It feels like there is more potential to do something special under this regime.
It’s one of the things I love about Deano. Pretty much all managers change the shape and sit deeper after going up a goal. We just keep playing the same way, and probably more effectively, as the game becomes more open.
Always wondered why managers didn’t take advantage of momentum/dominance in a game and keep pressing the advantage, instead of sitting back trying to defend a lead. I get you might concede a few more, but you also put games out of reach by pressing home the advantage.
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I really hope there is a way of snapping up Doug. Even if we have to break the bank and show our reveal our true wealth and ambition to the nation.
My, probably futile, hope is that they think their need is more urgent and buy a similar player in January.
If he is happy with us and how we are progressing. Then we should pay them what’s required even if it’s another £35m. He is worth it. Still struggling with the fact he is only 22.
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
My thoughts would be that the contract containing the buy back clause would be separate from Duggies playing contract.
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
Why would they agree to that? We have a contract with him, and we can pay him more if we want to. We have a contract with Man City. He has a prospective, future contract with Man City.
If us giving him a pay-rise negated the Man City arrangement, why wouldn't we have just increased his salary by £1 on the day he signed?
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
Why would they agree to that? We have a contract with him, and we can pay him more if we want to. We have a contract with Man City. He has a prospective, future contract with Man City.
If us giving him a pay-rise negated the Man City arrangement, why wouldn't we have just increased his salary by £1 on the day he signed?
I’m sure i read it somewhere. Maybe it was a dream.
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Stay off the cheese before bed!
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I've never enjoyed eating humble pie so much.
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3-0 is a very impressive scoreline in any league. It shows total governance on the pitch by one team. We have done that several times now this season. If we go back to our most recent successful era of regular 6th place finishes I don't remember so many 3-0 wins as we have already had this season.
I think that’s a really good point. We were functional under MON. It feels like there is more potential to do something special under this regime.
It’s one of the things I love about Deano. Pretty much all managers change the shape and sit deeper after going up a goal. We just keep playing the same way, and probably more effectively, as the game becomes more open.
Always wondered why managers didn’t take advantage of momentum/dominance in a game and keep pressing the advantage, instead of sitting back trying to defend a lead. I get you might concede a few more, but you also put games out of reach by pressing home the advantage.
Yes the game management by the boys was spot on yesterday. Compare that to last season and the one before when I can recall at least two occasions when the opposition went down to ten men and we looked clueless.
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
My thoughts would be that the contract containing the buy back clause would be separate from Duggies playing contract.
It all sounds very complicated. I wish someone would put in a bid just so's I can get a handle on where we actually stand.
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It was a pleasure to watch us yesterday, so much skill desire and energy, we looked a class act, definite similarities to the 76/77 Villa side.
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I cited a stat in the match thread that we are top for pressuring teams. Which fuck knows how how they actually calculate it but when you watch us now you just nod and say yeh, I see that. We are tenacious in closing opponents down and getting the ball back. An essential trait of all top teams.
For the first time in years we actually pass and move as well. Simple stuff that the Best teams do religiously
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I don't know how much love it got in the match-thread, given it was right at the death, but that reverse pass from Grealish when Ollie hit the post is one of the best passes I've ever seen.
I don't think I've EVER seen a 15-yard pass take out 5 defenders before.
I noticed that but the run from Ollie begged for the pass from Jack. Telepathic between the two of them. Brill
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
My thoughts would be that the contract containing the buy back clause would be separate from Duggies playing contract.
It all sounds very complicated. I wish someone would put in a bid just so's I can get a handle on where we actually stand.
its not complicated. Based on what we know, Man City have an option to buy the player. Anyone putting in a bid would have to get Man Citeh to forgoe their option as Man citys option takes precedent.
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WE only need 10 men we only need 10 men. Every man was a star mom for me was Matty Target never put a foot wrong and i think he is getting better every game
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
My thoughts would be that the contract containing the buy back clause would be separate from Duggies playing contract.
It all sounds very complicated. I wish someone would put in a bid just so's I can get a handle on where we actually stand.
its not complicated. Based on what we know, Man City have an option to buy the player. Anyone putting in a bid would have to get Man Citeh to forgoe their option as Man citys option takes precedent.
But what is their option? That's what I'd like to know, because I feel I'm six months away from one or two metaphoric sleepless nights about this. I need details. Is it in perpetuity? Is there a fixed fee, or is it scaled or performance linked in some way? Would he automatically fulfil work permit criteria at his new club? Why are we bothering with a new contract? And such forth.
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Nice writeup from F365 (https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-early-winner-aston-villa-premier-league-most-improved-defence)
Very good write-up! Villa Verve has a nice ring to it.
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Proud, just so proud. :)
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
My thoughts would be that the contract containing the buy back clause would be separate from Duggies playing contract.
It all sounds very complicated. I wish someone would put in a bid just so's I can get a handle on where we actually stand.
its not complicated. Based on what we know, Man City have an option to buy the player. Anyone putting in a bid would have to get Man Citeh to forgoe their option as Man citys option takes precedent.
But what is their option? That's what I'd like to know, because I feel I'm six months away from one or two metaphoric sleepless nights about this. I need details. Is it in perpetuity? (1) Is there a fixed fee, or is it scaled or performance linked in some way (2)? Would he automatically fulfil work permit criteria at his new club (3)? Why are we bothering with a new contract (4)? And such forth.
Based on what was reported and not denied and how transfers of this nature work:
1 - it was for the first two years and expires this summer. So they take him back this summer, or it expires and he's just another player / transfer like any other.
2 - it was more in year two. Rumours at the time were £25m last summer, then £35m this summer. But that easily could be wrong. And it's lower. Or higher.
3 - maybe, maybe not. But he probably would. He's now first-choice for the Brazilian national team, so it would be a huge surprise if he weren't granted one.
4 - because they might not sign him. Until they do, we need to assume that he's our player. And if I were him and saw all my teammates get big pay-rises and I didn't because the club thought I might leave, then I'd probably feel a bit put out.
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
My thoughts would be that the contract containing the buy back clause would be separate from Duggies playing contract.
It all sounds very complicated. I wish someone would put in a bid just so's I can get a handle on where we actually stand.
its not complicated. Based on what we know, Man City have an option to buy the player. Anyone putting in a bid would have to get Man Citeh to forgoe their option as Man citys option takes precedent.
But what is their option? That's what I'd like to know, because I feel I'm six months away from one or two metaphoric sleepless nights about this. I need details. Is it in perpetuity? Is there a fixed fee, or is it scaled or performance linked in some way? Would he automatically fulfil work permit criteria at his new club? Why are we bothering with a new contract? And such forth.
Without reading the Contract impossible to tell. But the likelyhood is that the option would have a start and end date and the fee to buy him would have been pre-determined and written into the contract.
We know his contract expires 30th June 2023 so the option is likely to start a lot sooner than that.
For Villa to extend or provide a new contract, they would need citys agreement.
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A couple of points came to mind after reflection.
I do feel that it some ways, Mings getting sent off actually worked in our favour. He made too many unforced errors for my liking, and always looked way off the pace which Zaha was bound to exploit further. Our enforced change of formation and tactics meant we were more solid at the back (Mings is prone to wonder) and then suited our fast counter attack.
Secondly, although Grealish is clearly top class, we are now looking far more than just a ‘one man’ team, with options all over the pitch. We have been over reliant on Jack to just do something in previous seasons, where as some players have gained in confidence plus we’ve added some real talent. Teams are now unsure how to contain us.
Still a long way to go, but well done Deano for building a squad we can all believe in.
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Jack's lung bursting runs reminded me a lot of a former captain Dennis Mortimer who made his debut for Villa on Boxing Day 1975 in 4-1 victory over the Hammers.
We know how well that ended
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We couldn’t could we?
Do you want to bet against us?
Bravo, Villa.
That's true Christmas spirit
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I'm convinced Pingu the penguin makes more sense that Garth Crooks.
And is a better singer than Garth Brooks.
Agree on the first bit and as you're clearly a fan you'll be delighted to know that Garth Brooks has sold more albums in the US than Elvis (and is second all-time only to The Beatles). :) Anyway after today I doubt we'll have to worry about being in low places this season.
Emi has a ring of fire around him too
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Jack's lung bursting runs reminded me a lot of a former captain Dennis Mortimer who made his debut for Villa on Boxing Day 1975 in 4-1 victory over the Hammers.
We know how well that ended
There are some bits of Dennis in Jack but they are completely different types of players. I would still like one of the other midfielders to be like Dennis.
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Ive not been this impressed with the villa in years!
I was firmly in the Dean out camp this time last year. Thinking he had 1 tactic and couldn't turn a game around. He's now learning and improving week by week. I'm very excited to see where we finish this season and if we splash the cash in barkley in Jan.
Great job to all the backroom team involved with villa too
I think he just wanted consistency of the system and getting it embedded so it was second nature to the players. That seems to have worked and then they are able to change around when needed.
Plus we've got a number of players who are performing really well too and most of them are cutting out the serious errors.
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I thought that if he signs a new contract at Villa (which is apparently being negotiated) it negates the buy back clause with Man City?
My thoughts would be that the contract containing the buy back clause would be separate from Duggies playing contract.
It all sounds very complicated. I wish someone would put in a bid just so's I can get a handle on where we actually stand.
its not complicated. Based on what we know, Man City have an option to buy the player. Anyone putting in a bid would have to get Man Citeh to forgoe their option as Man citys option takes precedent.
But what is their option? That's what I'd like to know, because I feel I'm six months away from one or two metaphoric sleepless nights about this. I need details. Is it in perpetuity? Is there a fixed fee, or is it scaled or performance linked in some way? Would he automatically fulfil work permit criteria at his new club? Why are we bothering with a new contract? And such forth.
Without reading the Contract impossible to tell. But the likelyhood is that the option would have a start and end date and the fee to buy him would have been pre-determined and written into the contract.
We know his contract expires 30th June 2023 so the option is likely to start a lot sooner than that.
For Villa to extend or provide a new contract, they would need citys agreement.
We need concrete answers now! Thumps fist on table.
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Jack's lung bursting runs reminded me a lot of a former captain Dennis Mortimer who made his debut for Villa on Boxing Day 1975 in 4-1 victory over the Hammers.
We know how well that ended
There are some bits of Dennis in Jack but they are completely different types of players. I would still like one of the other midfielders to be like Dennis.
Douglas Luiz gait and running style reminds me of Morty back in the day
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Ive not been this impressed with the villa in years!
I was firmly in the Dean out camp this time last year. Thinking he had 1 tactic and couldn't turn a game around. He's now learning and improving week by week. I'm very excited to see where we finish this season and if we splash the cash in barkley in Jan.
Great job to all the backroom team involved with villa too
I think he just wanted consistency of the system and getting it embedded so it was second nature to the players. That seems to have worked and then they are able to change around when needed.
Plus we've got a number of players who are performing really well too and most of them are cutting out the serious errors.
Could agree more mate, belief and consistency were the missing ingredients
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Nearly 24 hours on and I’ve still got a smile on my face
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Jack's lung bursting runs reminded me a lot of a former captain Dennis Mortimer who made his debut for Villa on Boxing Day 1975 in 4-1 victory over the Hammers.
We know how well that ended
There are some bits of Dennis in Jack but they are completely different types of players. I would still like one of the other midfielders to be like Dennis.
Douglas Luiz gait and running style reminds me of Morty back in the day
Reckon you've got something there, WDV.....knew he reminded me of someone familiar!
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Jack's lung bursting runs reminded me a lot of a former captain Dennis Mortimer who made his debut for Villa on Boxing Day 1975 in 4-1 victory over the Hammers.
We know how well that ended
Remember that game well. We used to call him hover boots as it just seemed to float over the poor pitches in his day.
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Jack's lung bursting runs reminded me a lot of a former captain Dennis Mortimer who made his debut for Villa on Boxing Day 1975 in 4-1 victory over the Hammers.
We know how well that ended
£175k. What a bargain although a shed load of cash at the time