Villa 3-0 West Ham: Post Match Thread

[Mr Diggles]

Clacker at the back ....

I know its a typo, but that's a great name for someone.

[citizenDJ]

Very good indeed! Really enjoyed watching that - and it's been a while since I could say that!

It's daft to go too over the top on one game, but it certainly showed that we have a good set of players here that I think any new manager will be very pleased to have. Really promising.

The downside? Well, Milner showed just what he does offer to a team; we will have to work hard to replace him.

[achilles]

Milner has only played 23 minutes (England mid-week) since the World Cup, that guy is immense, I will miss him! 

[supertom]

Brilliant stuff. Nice, flowing football. Bright, confident, movement. We had players looking like they wanted to play good stuff. Seriously, that was the best display I've seen at Villa park against bottom 14 opposition for years. Those games when we can't play counter attack football under O Neill, we struggled so much. But we kept the ball nicely today, worked it, and Ash's movement tore them apart.

Had Carew brought his shooting boots (and forehead) he'd have scored 3-4.

Give Kevin the job. He's got the right idea about blooding the youth and playing football.

Friedel- 7: Tidy. Nothing much to worry him except his shirt.
Luke Young- 8: Back to his best. Excellent. Looks confident. Doubt he was an O Neill fan to be honest (understatement).
Clark-8: Brilliantly assured. The lad looks composed but most impressive, is his reading of the game. What a prospect.
Dunne- 7: The organiser. Solid game, little to worry him.
Warnock- 8: Tireless, industrious and adventurous.
Albrighton- 10: MOM- Just quality. Really looks a prospect. Not only for us, but potentially for England. Look equally good on either flank.
Petrov- 8: Love him. He sat back and orchestrated proceedings wonderfully. And he didn't have to run himself into the ground either, thanks to a neat formation and a more tactically astute style than last season.
Milner- 9: You know what? Class, class act. If this was Jimmy's last game, what a sign off. He's managed to wipe away the negativity out of my brain with this. Showed what a great attitude he has. I don't think he's joining City for the money now. Genuinely don't. He probably feels he'll push for the title there I guess. But if the deal falls flat, do we need to worry about his effort? No chance. Top lad, and cracking player. I hope he stays, but otherwise, I wish him well and no hard feelings. Barry certainly didn't maintain his levels in his final season that's for sure.
Downing- 8: Welcome to Villa park Stewie! Methinks you may have arrived. Excellent display.
Young- 8: Menace. Moving to a free role behind a forward will be the making of him.
Carew- 7: Did everything right except the finishing, which is normally a strong point for Big John. But importantly, he's the knack of getting into the right positions. Still so key for us. Love the guy and fully expect him to easily surpass double figures as usual.

Kevin Mac- Aston Brazilla! I'd love him to get the gig for half a season to test him. But we played without pressure, and were given license to express ourselves. Our reserves have always excelled, as have our youth, and Macca's a big reason for that. The also-rans have played plenty for him and so have many of the youngsters. I think of our current squad, he could get the best out of a lot of forgotton and emerging players.
Plus we had the game won, and he brought a couple of youngster on for game time, something O Neill just didn't often seem willing to do. Good to see 3 subs being made today. I don't think he'll shirk changes when needed.

[andyh]

Was Carew on drugs today ?

[Toronto Villa]

I haven't done one of these in a while:

FRIEDEL - Very little to do, but when called upon was solid - 7
LUKE YOUNG - Defended adequately and supported the attack when he could. He can be caught out of position a little, but he doesn give us options going forward - 7
WARNOCK - I thought he was excellent. Completely revived, partly because West Ham had nothing down the right. He did almost everything well - 8
DUNNE/CLARK - I'm going to rate these two together because you couldn't tell who was the older wiser head. They worked well together and neither looked that troubled. Only once did they pulled out of position when Faubert should have scored - 7 each
PETROV - As competent as I've seen Stan. He was given licence to get forward and it closed the gaps in our midfield. Having a more compact midfield meant West Ham had very little space to work in. He also looked a little more like the player he saw at Celtic arriving late in the box and scoring a cracking goal - 8
ASH - Involved in everything, everywhere. He is our best player is marked man for good reason. We need him massively and he makes us tick. Had he got a goal he'd score higher and he came close to doing that - 8
ALBRIGHTON - What can I say? He was so very impressive. Worked so hard, chased everything and gave the full back a torrid time. Wanted the ball, very, very confident and deserved a goal. Excellent display - 9
DOWNING - There's more to come from Downing. I think we all know that because he's been a shadow of himself since joining the club. Took his goal very well, and could have scored again with a sublime bit of skill that hit the bar. He played very well, but there is more to come - 8
MILNER - Fair fucking play. He was the James Milner that we all know and love, and he'll be big loss. Ireland is an excellent replacement mid you and he'll have big boots to fill - 8
CAREW - His sights weren't aligned today. On another day he'd have scored 5. He bullied the West Ham defenders and was at times unplayable. REally deserved a goal, and he'll be having the piss taken out of him for that header. PLayed very well indeed - 8

Subs didn't play long enough to rate

Kevin Mac, Sid and Tony McAndrew -  it's been a very tough week, and they did a top job in getting the boys ready. Well done!! - 10

[Rob Gee]

Last sentence of the BBC report sums it up for me.

"There was plenty here to suggest that if the midfielder (Milner) does leave, Villa have the talent to thrive without him. "

Great performance all round. Yes WHam were shit but we've drawn with and even lost to teams just as bad in the past when we haven't played to our strengths.

[achilles]

One thing I would like to say is full credit to the players today, they just showed exactly how most of them feel and made it relatively easy for Kevin McDonald.

They obviously need to carry this passion and commitment onto the next game!

[Rigadon]

The way they played has made me think a little harder about MON and what was going on behind the scenes. Probably for another day.

Would agree with Supertom and Toronto's ratings

[Ads]

Clacker at the back ....

I know its a typo, but that's a great name for someone.

Its not a typo! I was calling him Clacker all game.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

One thing I would like to say is full credit to the players today, they just showed exactly how most of them feel and made it relatively easy for Kevin McDonald.

They obviously need to carry this passion and commitment onto the next game!

I'd say it's a two-way thing, Achilles. You're spot on with your last line.

[Risso]

Haven't seen any of the game today, but looking forward to seeing it on Sky later, sounds like a brilliant display.  I know it's "only" West Ham, but we're stuggled against teams like them at home in the past, so to play them off the park today bodes well for the future.  Particularly looking forward to seeing Albrighton's performance.

One thing, I see Davies wasn't in the squad, was he injured?  If not that must mean his Villa career is over.

[PeterWithesShin]

I wonder if Heskey had missed all the chances and played like Carew today, would he be given 7 or 8 out of 10?

[TheEgo]

Haven't seen any of the game today, but looking forward to seeing it on Sky later, sounds like a brilliant display.  I know it's "only" West Ham, but we're stuggled against teams like them at home in the past, so to play them off the park today bodes well for the future.  Particularly looking forward to seeing Albrighton's performance.

One thing, I see Davies wasn't in the squad, was he injured?  If not that must mean his Villa career is over.

Risso after last seasons, turgid, uninspiring, unadventureous and panicked performances, you're in for a REAL treat. I know it's easy to get carried away and im convinced some of it was down to West ham being poor and sheer adrenalian from the events of the week, however make no mistake this was some 90 mins. Best I have seen in a long long time. I kept looking at the clock willing it not to be over.

[PaulWinch again]

Haven't seen any of the game today, but looking forward to seeing it on Sky later, sounds like a brilliant display.  I know it's "only" West Ham, but we're stuggled against teams like them at home in the past, so to play them off the park today bodes well for the future.  Particularly looking forward to seeing Albrighton's performance.


One thing, I see Davies wasn't in the squad, was he injured?  If not that must mean his Villa career is over.

Davies was injured Risso. We were magnificent.