Aston Villa v WBA Post-Match Thread

[lordmcgrath5]

[/quote

Downing has been easily our best player this season, rivalled only by Heskey and Albrighton.

Other than an honourable mention for some very encouraging signs from Ashley Young, what he said.

Downing has been easily our best player this season, rivalled only by Heskey and Albrighton. Emile hasn't played enough games, but if he can actually score goals he's well suited to the lone frontman role.

[lordmcgrath5]

Downing has been easily our best player this season, rivalled only by Heskey and Albrighton.

Other than an honourable mention for some very encouraging signs from Ashley Young, what he said.

[darren woolley]

I'm just glad we got the win i think we were much better in the second half and Downing played really well again so did Carlos, Heskey, Albrighton and Collins who redeemed himself and looks better with Carlos alongside him keep Dunne on the bench GH and i am an happy Villa fan for a change.

[flybo]

This win was so sweet i told you lot i HATE the TESCO-BAGS 

[sfx412]

great result bearable performance, well done Heskey, lichja, Albrighton , Cuellar and Downing, still our man of the season for me. Young did well if he could be as direct and as effective a crosser of the ball as Albrighton he'd be some player.
Thought the Baggies looked really good so was pleased Brad only conceded 1 late on. The midfield kids looked tired they surrendered possession with too many bad passes. Still with options returning daily now, here's hoping the corner has nearly been turned.
The Xmas fixtures might change that but then a good win areal good win in one of them could change the whole season.

[Chris Smith]

We defended so much better as a team, not just the back 4 but we harried and closed down and made them work hard for everything all over the pitch. Heskey made a big difference and it was noticeable that they came back into the game when he went off. Hogg really looked the part today as did Lichaj. Young was probably the right choice for motm but Cuellar, Downing and Albrighton all ran him close.

[TopDeck113]

A win, by hook or by crook, was what we needed, although a clean sheet would have been nice as well.

To be fair, I thought the Baggies were the better team going forward and I can see why they've done well on their travels.     

Having said that, there were some positives to take out of the match, not least Heskey and NRC coming back: we just now need to follow it up with a win next week...

One final thing.  Was it me, or was the atmosphere really flat for large parts of the game? From the crowd noise alone, I'd never have known it was a local derby.

[AV82EC]

Really pleased wiht the win.

Friedel - 7 - Not much to do but solid in what he did.  Seemed to be more decisive with through balls into the box.
Lichaj - 7 - Was up against a tricky fucker of a winger and coped very well, really grew in the second half.
Cuellar - 7 - Solid and all the usual things from carlos, keep him in we've missed having a row Z defender
Collins - 7 - shaky first half but grew into the game and was back to the collins of old by the end
Warnock - 6 - ropey first half when Tchoyi (he's a fucking beast) ripped him a new one but second half he had him in his pocket!
Bannan - 5 - Game seemed to pass Barry by today I felt but he never gave up
Hogg - 7 - Terrier today and despite being outgunned his ground coverage and in your face attitude more than made up for other shortcomings
Albrighton - 7 - Good performance, 2 assists, still not quite fit either so more to come
Young - 8 - Slow start in the first half but second half showed why we will miss him if he goes, top quality premiership play
Downing - 8 - Superb, mr Consistency this season, fits superbly into our style of play
Heskey - 7 - the Football genius that is Mr Em returns and he worked his bollocks off for the team, a goal to round a of a super display

NRC - 7 - shored things up in midfield and a nice little cameo
Delfo - not on long enough but seemed to work hard

Houllier - 8 - made the big decisions in this game at the right time i.e before the match dropping Dunne

Fans - 3 - We're becoming a joke.  Has the Lower Holte become the upper Trinity?

[JJ-AV]

Heskey, Downing and Ashley were brilliant.

Cuellar was assured and solid, dealt with everything.

Collins and Warnock were poor, although I suspect Collins' performance was down to getting dragged out to LB by the ever-calamatous Warnock.

Lichaj did well, but his sliding tackles were often due to poor positioning. Didn't realise he was so tall though. Think he can be an asset... His throw is quality too.

Does make you wonder what on earth we're doing paying Habib Beye 40k a week for when a reserve debutant can offer that.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

We defended so much better as a team, not just the back 4 but we harried and closed down and made them work hard for everything all over the pitch. Heskey made a big difference and it was noticeable that they came back into the game when he went off. Hogg really looked the part today as did Lichaj. Young was probably the right choice for motm but Cuellar, Downing and Albrighton all ran him close.

That saving block from Collins towards the end summed it up, haven't seen that effort for some time, Cuellar must have filled Collins with so much confidence.

I'm guessing that we won't see Dunne in a Villa shirt again.

[JJ-AV]

Hogg doesn't look the most gifted technically, but in terms of offering something to the team I think he's ahead of Delfouneso.

His work rate is excellent and he harrasses other players, a bit like Fletcher at Man Yanighted.

If he keeps that level up, he can definitely be a squad player here. As a third man in midfield getting about the pitch and getting stuck in I think he's perfect.

[Clampy]

I've not been a fan of Hogg to be honest, but yesterday was his best game for us by a mile, he was very good. Also very impressed with Lichaj. Stuck to his position well unlike Warnock, who seems to be going downhill a bit. Heskey made a difference for us as well, it's good to have him back.

Overall a much needed win, but we need to follow it up against Wigan next week before we think we've turned the corner.

[Desi]

Sweet win.

Dean Sturridge is annoying.

Oh good, I thought that it was just me!

[sfx412]

Collins and Warnock were poor,

Warnock did well enough, some of his clearances were superb and his distribution from defence better than all but Lichja. He was up against their most in form player and only when Downing covered back properly and Hogg started to get some grip in midfield their threat through Tchoyi ceased.
Our midfield was the weak spot their majority over all possession stats proved
Why continually making Warnock an escape goat rocks your boat I've no idea.
When we learn to take control of the midfield something we rarely did even under Mon, all the defenders will get better.
To do that of course we need real midfield players, not inexperienced kids or overpriced, overpaid dilettantes and cry babies

[olaftab]

Fans - 3 - We're becoming a joke.  Has the Lower Holte become the upper Trinity?

Scheeeeeeeeeee.. y-o-u  b-e  c-a-r-e-f-u-l  n-o-w....n-o  n-e-e-d  t-o w-a-k-e   e-m   u-p