Stoke City v Aston Villa Match Thread

[mrfuse]

I think Reo has been a big difference here in all honesty.  Very good, understated first half, but solid and allowed the rest of the midfield to wander a bit and get involved.  Also hasn't played a bad pass. 

yep agreed hes fine when he just does the simple stuff get the ball and lay it offbeen impressed with him and downing

[pauliewalnuts]

I think the goal gave us the confidence that we were lacking.

Our bench might look a bit lightweight, but we have got some very capable footballers. Having got twatted 6-0 in your last away league game, i can't really think of many worse places to go than Stoke City.

We looked nervy to start with - and you can understand why - but once we got some confidence, we looked much, much happier, passing it, keeping possession, making the ball do the work.

I just hope those missed chances don't come back to haunt us.

[Small Rodent]

Some great delivery.

I may be blind but one of the first relevant pieces of action I saw from Gabby was his cross for A Young.

Missed his cross for the first goal then. The two best crosses from us were from Gabby. The third was Albrighton for Downings chance that unfortunately did not have the pace to beat Sorryson at the back post.

I most certainly did miss it for the first goal. Some fluid positional swapping up front. Good stuff.

[JJ-AV]

I just hope those missed chances don't come back to haunt us.

They will, we'll lose this still I reckon.

[myf]

got to say i dont agree with posters who complain of lack of passing and movement and hoofing, tonight ive seen more movement and passing than i ever did under O'Neill, this game could/should of been won by half time, some fantastic stuff played last 20 mins imo

The passing and movement was shit up until we scored the goal. I don't think anybody complained since the goal went in, because they had no need to.

I think in patches in the first 20 mins we looked to pass it, some of it came off some didnt, but I felt u could see the desire to try and pass it was there while under MON it would of been constant HOOF! imo

Stoke were clearly the better team for the first half hour but there was certainly some decent movement from us before we scored, particularly Albrighton's shot from the edge of the box.  That was a very promising first half IMO against the type of side we normally struggle against.  Just need to be more clinical.

[mrfuse]

Dwight must be the worst pundit ever.  There was one priceless moment in the first half when he said:

"Villa were very inv..., inv..., er, in front of goal there."

yep i laughed at that, fantastic player but not such a great pundit

[JUAN PABLO]

pullis arrives..

[supertom]

Dwight must be the worst pundit ever.  There was one priceless moment in the first half when he said:

"Villa were very inv..., inv..., er, in front of goal there."

yep i laughed at that, fantastic player but not such a great pundit

If he umms and errs anymore he'll turn into Hugh Grant!

[monkeyboy]

O'Neil football first 20 - goal - then we look amazing, best 25 mins in a villa shirt for SD.

how good does Albrighton look, and Gabby as a winger fantastic.

hopefully no more hoof ball (thanks for everything MoN (apart from dropping is in the shit like a selfish little bitch) - but your football sucked) - when we play it and move we look great - just imagine if we had a poacher in there - but for now if we keep creating the chances we'll get at least one more - Stoke don't know how to deal with us in this mood, one more will do it

Got to put these to bed now - COY Lions

[KevinGage]

The last move with AY whizzing the ball across deserved a goal.  Brilliant stuff.  Love the balance that Albrighton gives us.  A more natural wide player than Milner ever will be and he's as industrious. If he develops at this pace for a year he'll be an England regular.  We still need a clinical goal scorer - I hope that doesn't leave us short in this match as we've had 3 good untaken chances to Stokes 1 (BF's cracking save from Jones).

I'd like to see us hold onto him for a while, so hopefully he gives England the swerve.

Maybe he can dig out an Irish granny.  Or declare for his fathers country.
Barry Manilow is from the States, isn't he?

[Dave Cooper please]

Evening all.

Alright this innit?

[Somniloquism]

pullis arrives..

That could be the lift they need. It definitely lifted the fans anyway which means they won't be on the players back as much.

[Rigadon]

Kevin Gage - indeed, was thinking the same as I typed. 

[supertom]

The last move with AY whizzing the ball across deserved a goal.  Brilliant stuff.  Love the balance that Albrighton gives us.  A more natural wide player than Milner ever will be and he's as industrious. If he develops at this pace for a year he'll be an England regular.  We still need a clinical goal scorer - I hope that doesn't leave us short in this match as we've had 3 good untaken chances to Stokes 1 (BF's cracking save from Jones).

I'd like to see us hold onto him for a while, so hopefully he gives England the swerve.

Maybe he can dig out an Irish granny.  Or declare for his fathers country.
Barry Manilow is from the States, isn't he?

Very good sir! 

[Risso]

One question about Downing's goal - how the fuck do you bend the ball in from a header?!