Villa 3-0 West Ham: Post Match Thread

[Mike Jeffries]

I'm still smiling now!

Even through a nagging bugger of a hangover.

I swear I saw Clark telling Friedel what to do at one point, he was so good yesterday and so glad Albrighton got to have his standing ovation - richly deserved.

   

[olaftab]

Article in the Sunday Telegraph starts off with similar theme to  Dave Woodhall comment:

"For the past four years, Aston Villa has been a spin-off of the Martin O’Neill show. On Saturday balance was restored, primacy given back to the players."

Read the rest:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7945734/Aston-Villa-3-West-Ham-United-0-match-report.html

[Chris Smith]

I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.

Isn't that exactly what Heskey gets hammered for doing?

Can you imagine if Heskey had muffed that 1 on 1, or missed those headers, esp the last one? He would have been absolutely slaughtered on here. But because it was Carew, he's praised.

Still fuggin smiling like the Cheshire cat over the result and team performance though!

Does anyone really care that Carfew missed some decent chances.  He is normally a clinical finisher and simply looked a bit rusty on the first day of the season.  We won 3-0 for Christ's sake, after a shite of a week.  Lets concentrate on the positives.

Yes, I do. If had been nil nil when he missed that header he'd be getting slaughtered now. It didn't matter yesterday as the midfield scored the goals but we're not always going to be playing sides as obliging as West Ham. Hopefully you're right and he was just a bit rusty but goal scoring was our problem last season and as it looks unlikely that we'll be buying a new strikers we have to rely on those here to be more clinical.

[curiousorange]

I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.

Isn't that exactly what Heskey gets hammered for doing?

Can you imagine if Heskey had muffed that 1 on 1, or missed those headers, esp the last one? He would have been absolutely slaughtered on here. But because it was Carew, he's praised.

Still fuggin smiling like the Cheshire cat over the result and team performance though!

Does anyone really care that Carfew missed some decent chances.  He is normally a clinical finisher and simply looked a bit rusty on the first day of the season.  We won 3-0 for Christ's sake, after a shite of a week.  Lets concentrate on the positives.

Yes, I do. If had been nil nil when he missed that header he'd be getting slaughtered now. It didn't matter yesterday as the midfield scored the goals but we're not always going to be playing sides as obliging as West Ham. Hopefully you're right and he was just a bit rusty but goal scoring was our problem last season and as it looks unlikely that we'll be buying a new strikers we have to rely on those here to be more clinical.

I did say that to somebody on the bus home - it's easy to cheer sarcastically when you're cruising to victory, ditto when Petrov and Downing played their' no, after you' game with the ball begging to be leathered into the net. Of course, it doesn't matter now but on another day that sort of thing is going to get right on your tits.

[Clampy]

Fantastic display from everyone yesterday, i honestly can't remember the last time we played as well as that, it was a pleasure to watch.

As for Carew, he just had an off day in front of goal, but other than that, he lead the line well and played his part. After the week we've had, let's just enjoy the result eh?

[Ian.]

I thought the way our fans gave Jimmy his send off shows what great fans we have. He has been fantastic for us and deserved his ovation.
Wish he was staying, but time to move on, we are Aston Villa and when someone leaves, no matter how good they are, we are, and always will be the mighty Villa.

[villasjf]

Intriguing that Delf wasn't on the bench. I read a McAndrew quote before the game saying how Albrighton and Clark had done really well, and Delf too 'up to a point'.

Was this a kick up the backside? A lack of faith? Or just a coincidence with Delf being unfit?

He was talking about the Fonz, Delph is out for months

[mozza]

Like many others I questioned KMc decision to include James but the lad silenced the boo boys
with a typical Milner performance despite lack of match practice. Witnessed him sign 80 odd
autographs in carpark after the match - certain other players (we know who they are) should
take note-

Can't recall the last time I waited till final whistle of first half AND took up my seat before a ball was
kicked in the second -

There was a feel good factor yesterday - obviously the comfortable 3-0 win helped but it was
the way the team to a man played, movement and quick short passes made a change to the
predictable long ball that we have witnessed previously -

'Granted' the opposition were extremely poor until Avram made his two subs which resulted
in more possession and a couple of decent chances to get back into the match, but we were
worthy winners and the scoreline could/should have put us sitting pretty on top of the Prem-

Those who have watched Albrighton & Clark regularly in youth/reserves will know that their
performamces yesterday were no fluke. Couldn't understand why Marc didn't get motm-

All in all a great day down out at VP (haven't said that in a while) lots of smiling faces going home
despite the atrocious weather -

Well done Kevin Mc - whatever you said to the players worked a trick (or perhaps it was the action
of your predecessor ?)       

[Somniloquism]

Intriguing that Delf wasn't on the bench. I read a McAndrew quote before the game saying how Albrighton and Clark had done really well, and Delf too 'up to a point'.

Was this a kick up the backside? A lack of faith? Or just a coincidence with Delf being unfit?

He was talking about the Fonz, Delph is out for months

Delf=Delfounso
Delph=Delph

Matt was asking why the Fonz wasn't on the bench as no injuries were reported for him yesterday.

[pablopicasso_10]

apparently, he went with weimann because he scored 2 against walsall and delfouneso hadnt scored for a while...

[Mazrim]

Fonz will get his chance. No doubt about that.

[Dave]

I would love to see the stats of the number of passes we made today compared to against Blackburn on the final day.

Not a massive difference. 323 yesterday, 304 against Blackburn.

[Villa'Zawg]

Absolutely superb performance.

As others have said, the team played with a freedom and expansiveness that we haven’t seen very often. I was tremendously impressed.

Albrighton was nothing short of stunning, I’m struggling to remember a more accomplished full debut performance. Clark was calm and assured on the ball and real pleasure to watch, although he will face much, much sterner tests than this game.

Ashley Young was superb (his superb chip deserved a goal) but there wasn’t a bad performance anywhere. Every player was good to excellent. One thing on Carew, he seemed to be clearly fouled on both occasions where we hit the post. He could and should have been awarded two penalties.

The atmosphere in the ground was much improved. It was nice to have all the supporters behind the team from start to finish. Long may it continue.

Crazy weather. We’ll need to be more coordinated in putting on/taking off coats - “sit down for fcuks sake”

I was sat 2 rows from the hammers fans yesterday and they were completely shell-shocked by the end. I know it’s mean of me but one of the funniest things all day was seeing a couple of cheeky little Cockney tykes (8-10ish). At the beginning of the game they were only interested in foul-mouthed, gesturing towards the Villa fans. They were being carried out red-eyed and bewildered at the end by their Neanderthal guardians. Harsh but necessary lesson learnt there I think.

It was great (and funny) to see the crowd reaction to Milner. A hearty boo/hiss when his name was read out and a standing ovation when he left the field. It felt like exactly the right reaction both times.

[taylorsworkrate]

Just a quick note to any Man City fans reading this thread:

Keep your greasy, scummy fuckin hands away from Marc Albrighton.

[Somniloquism]

One thing on Carew, he seemed to be clearly fouled on both occasions where we hit the post. He could and should have been awarded two penalties.

/quote]

One Pen, the second. The first one, Green gets a toe to the ball and if it wasn't for their defender it was going well away from Carew.