Aston Villa vs West Ham Match Thread

[hipkiss92]

Two players who got most of the stick last season putting us two up, all we need is Heskey to come on and get a third and the day would be complete.

[Arsey]

they are having a right go at the ref saying Downing was offside but as the ball was struck he was behind the goalie, surely that means he is onside... or does it??

[Monty]

Clouds well and truly lifted.

That is some of the best football we''ve seen at VP in a long time. I said in the pre-match thread I expect Petrov to play a little further up, and he is. Because he has it in him. I thought the two young kids looked very assured indeed. West Ham don't like us running at them and the nice thing is when we scored we didn't just sit back. We went looking again.

ps. Very happy for Marlon Harewood. I thought the criticism at him was unfair during his time here. He didn't come in to save us, he came to be part of things. I hope he helps Blackpool this season. Great start by him.

Echo all of that, except a slight point - Petrov's not further forward, our huge amount of possession means he's more able to make late runs while basically playing most of the time as a holding player. And what a late run.

[DrGonzo]

Well, I can feel my pre season blues lifting already. Some superb performances from the boys.  Watching on sopcast channel 98534.  Excellent picture, no english commentary but heh? 

More of the same in 2nd half and it's back to mocking the porno dwarf...lol

[TheTimVilla]

Bloody brilliant! I know West Ham traditionally play a similar, open style to us but we're all over them. Who makes way when gabby is fit? None of them deserve to be dropped. In particular, Clark & Young (L) look great at the back, and Albrighton is very fast. Ace!

[Beijing Villan]

Agreed Toronto, Marlon is a trier and seemed to put in a shift when he was here. Hope he does well at Blackpool.

[Jimbo]

Just joining this thread now, after watching the first half near the beach in Sri Lanka. Well, what can I say? I don't want to get carried away or anything, but under the circumstances we've started very well indeed. Don't the players look like they've had a massive weight lifted from their shoulders? Doesn't the football lack a certain huff/puff, replacing it with verve, drive and - dare I say it - freedom? Those players look like they've been liberated from some kind of tyranny, and long may it continue.

[johny]

Great 1st half. Who the fcuk needs Martin "toys out the pram" O'Neil?

[Arsey]

Harewood got the assist for the first goal as well

[Rudy Can't Fail]

match thread seems much slower than those last season

I think we're all too interested watching the match now.

[Monty]

Just joining this thread now, after watching the first half near the beach in Sri Lanka.

Well your day seems ok.

[Edvard Remberg]

Match thread is slow because everybody is at Villa park!!!

Fucking ell...What a half! I am here in Brazil, 11am kickoff, cachaca to wash breakfast down with, on a low bandwith internet, that was dead 24 hours prior to the game, but got backup 5 mins before kickoff. (I go write later, what i want to say here - as I dont want to jinx the game)

Sitting on the veranda with 30 degrees, beer cachaca, and wife serving me anything i shout for...2 great goals...And Albrighton involved in both...that shot for the first goal was fantastic. I think it would have sverved into the post, and maybe into goal...the workrate from Ashley Young...never ever seen him do so much all over the pitch...what a star!...And even Milner...(happy that crowd is aplauding him...)

COME ON YOU VILLA!!!

[ktvillan]

they are having a right go at the ref saying Downing was offside but as the ball was struck he was behind the goalie, surely that means he is onside... or does it??

No he was miles offside.

Just seen Sunderland's goal against Blues, penalty given for a challenge that not only won the ball but looked outside the box.  Most unfair.


Bwa hah hah hah

[Arsey]

match thread seems much slower than those last season

I think we're all too interested watching the match now.

quite

[Toronto Villa]

Clouds well and truly lifted.

That is some of the best football we''ve seen at VP in a long time. I said in the pre-match thread I expect Petrov to play a little further up, and he is. Because he has it in him. I thought the two young kids looked very assured indeed. West Ham don't like us running at them and the nice thing is when we scored we didn't just sit back. We went looking again.

ps. Very happy for Marlon Harewood. I thought the criticism at him was unfair during his time here. He didn't come in to save us, he came to be part of things. I hope he helps Blackpool this season. Great start by him.

Echo all of that, except a slight point - Petrov's not further forward, our huge amount of possession means he's more able to make late runs while basically playing most of the time as a holding player. And what a late run.

He is being given licence to come further forward which you rarely saw in the past few years. He was told to sit back and allow the likes of Barry or Milner to move forward. It created a big gap in our midfield which the better teams exploited. What I mean by further up is that the midefield is playing a lot more tighter and so it keeps the pressure up.

And as for our best display, it may not be our best, but West Ham being crap is down to us making them look that way.