Aston Villa v Swansea City Post-Match Thread

[mrastonvilla]

Holman was excellent, particularly in the first half yesterday. He seems to have a free role with the aim of breaking up play. The number of times he made a sprint and pinched the ball off of a Swansea player was remarkable, his passing was also much better.

Benteke's 20 minutes were excellent he won't remain "Belgium's best kept secret" for long if he keeps it up.

More importantly the hunger from the team was immense and the atmosphere has returned in response to this. Hopefully the attendances will improve as the season progresses.

[Top Cat]

Excellent

I been to work, then football as I arrived at Villa Park at 2.52pm and is delighted with the view as it is almost half way and in middle of trinty road lower. The game was a joy to watch and the team is completely different Villa I am used to. I love the new striker Benteke as he is very powerful. I think he will be our Dider Drogba eventually If Agbonlahor need a role model to follow watch him carefully. Think we will have a very very dangerous front pair in Bent and Benteke (The commentators will have nightmares )

I like the new Spanish Midfielder No 9 for Swansea. He impressed me.

I think we need to find a new Ashley Young/James Milner for winger role. As Charles is not suitable.

Did you get your ticket off Viagogo? I sold mine as I couldn't make the match and thats where I sit.

Yup Row 11 Trinty Road Lower about seat 165 (ish). I decided if I use Viagogo I could save money.

Right row but my seat is 151 (150 would have been empty too as that belongs to SOTC who's also away on her hols). Glad you enjoyed it anyway - my flight landed at BHX at 14.10 so wish I'd made the effort to go straight to Villa Park!

[Clampy]

The thing that i like most going by the last two games is the way we close down the opposition  whenever they have the ball. We did'nt let Swansea play their normal passing game at all yesterday. This is going to work really well away from home so it would'nt surprise me if we pick up some really good results on our travels if we keep that side of our game up.

As for yesterday, i thought they were great. I could'nt see Swansea scoring at all, it was one of those rare games where i did'nt think the 2nd goal was essential but i'm glad we got it all the same. There was plenty of plaudits for Holman but i thought Vlaar was really good and as the season goes on El Ahmadi will get better and better.

The only thing i would have done differently yesterday was maybe bringing on Gabby instead of N'Zogbia to catch them on the break but otherwise Lambert got it spot on.

[Ian.]

I wonder if he is just seeing if N'Zog fits into his plans and will try him at different times. I'm sure he will get Gabyy going and utilise him and is confident about that. I can see N'zog being surplus to requirements come next season.

[VinnieChase84]

*Holman impressed me massively yesterday. His work rate and how he closes everyone down is second to none. If he can improve his passing then he will be one hell of a player.
*Lowton keeps impressing me too, think he will compete with Kyle walker for RB spot for England in the not too distant future.
*overall I thought we were really good. So refreshing to see his hard we work and play football the right way! I enjoyed yesterday more than the last few seasons combined!
* I loved it when Vlaar ran shoulder to shoulder with a Swansea lad from our box, simply hand palmed him away and then knocked the ball around the approaching player to carry on his run! Brilliant

[nigel]

Posted this on a couple of threads, but thought I'd do the rounds and put it on this one too 

An interesting stat I heard before yesterdays game.
After 1 game Brad Guzan is number 1 in Europe (this season) for goalkeeper claiming crosses. I'm assuming that's catching the ball rather than punching.
I loved it yesterday when he came out almost to the edge of the box to claim one ball. The defenders must love that, takes a lot of pressure off them. 

[maidstonevillain]

One thing not mentioned much here: I thought Bent played well. He was dropping back to join in moves and dropping wide to provide options and stretch the opposition. He worked hard, closed down, joined in the 'hunting in packs' pressing which is the key feature of our game now, and actually a lot of his touches were very good, very assured and much more confident. For the first time in ages, when he got the ball he seemed to have his head up, looking for options. If Lambert can keep getting those performances out of Bent when he starts scoring, we've got a hell of a forward on our hands.

I don't know what game you were watching? Bent did the occasional run down the channel, but was lazy when it came to closing down, Holman chased down 3 players from our own half back to their keeper, he ran passed Bent in the process.??
Another occasion we lost possession and Weimann ran back and closed down while bent just casually strolled back from an offside position.

He was better in some instances, like aerial he won a lot of balls and he when he did run the channel was more composed than usual.

But he has a lot of work to do to improve or he will be dropped by Lambert.

The main thing though, is I can see improvement in everyone and I think it's only a matter of time before Bent gets back into form, because if we keep up performances like that and get Bent scoring, we will finish top 10 no problem.

So what's the problem with that. If you have one of the best forwards in the League, whos main forte is beating defenders and running on to through balls, he is not going to be particularly effective if he is totally knackered fron chasing balls all day. There are other players who can do that.

[Mike Jeffries]

Sunday..........kicking back doing nothing in particular, very happy with how the Villa played.........Hmmm it's nice isn't it!

Though I am half expecting to look out the front window and see Brett Holman, charging past having not stopped running since yesterday!   

[stubbsyandy]

 Holman= Des Bremner???

[villan from luton]

stubbsyandy, Holman certainly has the same appetite for running and chasing the ball down like Des Bremner did.

[andyh]

Did anyone else notice how, after Holman went off, KEA became more prominent in midfield? It seemed to me that rather tahn being a holding palyer, KEA started pressing and intercepting higher up the pitch, just like Holman had been. It shows to me that the players are working for each other, know what their jobs are, and are adaptable to changes. Very impressive.

As someone else said, for the first time in what seems an age, I was totally absorbed in the game, and celebrated the goals like a mad man.

The times they are a changing.  I like it!

[VILLA MOLE]

Sunday..........kicking back doing nothing in particular, very happy with how the Villa played.........Hmmm it's nice isn't it!

Though I am half expecting to look out the front window and see Brett Holman, charging past having not stopped running since yesterday!   

it is bloody lovely , new game have you seen Brett Holman chasing down your street ?

[Matt Collins]

My ratings:

Guzan 8. Very assured, two great saves
Lowton 8. Looks a really good player. Needs to improve defensively
Vlaar 8. Dominant.
Clark 7. Good I thought. A threat too.
Lichaj 7. Better on the ball than I thought he'd be.
KEA 6. Not the best. A bit ponderous I thought and not sure he protected the defence very well.
Holman 8. Would love to see his mileage! Hopefully passing will improve as he adjusts to pace.
Ireland 6. Bit disappointing though some moments of quality. Surprised he didn't pass it better.
Bannan 8. Mediocre first half but excellent in the second I thought
Bent 7. Hit and miss but worked hard when we had the ball and created a few chances
Weimann 7. Unlucky not to score

Benteke  8. One embarrassing miss aside he was a massive handful
Westwood. Couldn't tell you to be honest. Probably a good sign in that position
N'zogbia 6. As ever looks like he's going to be a threat but his decision making is poor. I've not given up on him yet though

[Matt Collins]

Did anyone else notice how, after Holman went off, KEA became more prominent in midfield? It seemed to me that rather tahn being a holding palyer, KEA started pressing and intercepting higher up the pitch, just like Holman had been. It shows to me that the players are working for each other, know what their jobs are, and are adaptable to changes. Very impressive.

As someone else said, for the first time in what seems an age, I was totally absorbed in the game, and celebrated the goals like a mad man.

The times they are a changing.  I like it!

Surely this was because Westwood was holding and kea playing further advanced?

[Stu]

Aston Villa have had a good win today, but they haven't beaten an Arsenal, a Manchester United or a Chelsea. I'm still not convinced, though I like Paul Lambert as a manager. I tipped them to go down and I stick by that, because of the players that they've got.

I love it. Because we haven't beaten by far and away the best teams in the league, we're going down. By that logic, you could tip Liverpool to go down as well. Or Spurs. Or Newcastle. Or pretty much anyone outside the top four.

Well done, Robbie Savage.