Aston Villa v West Brom Post-Match Thread

[JJ-AV]

Classic call on WM after the game.  Caller came on bemoaning (amongst other things) the fact that there were only 34,400 for a local derby game.
Mark Regan (?) " Were you at the game today?"
Caller: " I went to the Tranmere and Swansea games but I listened to this one on the radio"

*sigh*

It's weird this season, the Lower Holte has been full for every game, but our attendances have been pretty poor. It's almost like there's been a mass migration from the side stands into the Holte or something.

I was looking around the ground just after half time and thought to myself this must be a 37-38k attendance, was surprised it was only 34,500.

I think they've been more tactical in terms of the seats that have been made available cheaper. Seems the Upper Trinity and Upper North had loads of empties but the Holte was full. Made for a better atmosphere. Looks better on the telly too.

Also, empty claret seats are a lot less noticeable than empty blue seats.

[not3bad]

Tweets on yesterday's match nicked from Vital Villa:

James Nursey ‏@JamesNursey
...my #AVFC player ratings: Guz 7, Low 6, Vla 6, Clark 6, Ben 6, Alb 6 (N'Zog 6), El Ah 7, Del 6 (Ban 7), Hol 8, Ben 6 (Bent 7), Agb 6.

James Nursey ‏@JamesNursey
#AVFC 1-1 #WBA Mirror report http://bit.ly/Sx7L8Y 'Hell Bent On Making Point' says our headline in paper

James Nursey ‏@JamesNursey
Bent clearly cheesed off being dropped. If Lambert was trying to fire him up it has DEFINITELY succeeded!!

James Nursey ‏@JamesNursey
#AVFC 1-1 #WBA think fair result after chances for both sides. Albion & Morrison were quality but Villa, epitomised by Holman, battled back

Timothy Abraham ‏@TimothyAbraham
FT #AVFC 1 #WBA 1 - Pulsating game at Villa Park but expect all the headlines to be about Darren Bent.

Ian Taylor ‏@IanTaylor7
#Luvit Bennnnnnnnntyyyy!!!! 1-1!!!! Come on!!!! #avfc

brad guzan ‏@bguzan
good point today,thought we were going to get all 3! great support at Villa Park, have too keep pushing forward! now to some Ryder Cup#USA!

And later on the Ryder Cup:

brad guzan ‏@bguzan
shocked at what I just saw! #europe deserved it after the day they had, but #USA didn't help the cause! #rydercup

Mat Kendrick ‏@MatKendrick
Villa score from a Premier League corner for the first time since November 2010 #avfc

Tom Ross ‏@thegoalzone
Well done to Baggies fans for joining in with Villa fans on 19mins for applause for Petrov

[supertom]

Watched yesterday, now to vent my spleen. Actually it's not all that bad, but just concerned how difficult we're finding it to break this terrible form from last season. 1 win in 6 league games isn't good enough. Yesterday we had enough of the ball to win, but didn't get enough clear chances.

Benteke was a bit nervy, rough around the edges. Bent's reaction to being dropped was excellent and precisely what Lambert probably wanted. He's had a rocket in him now and he just seemed more determined and buzzing. Could have had a couple.
Gabby held the ball up very well. Good stuff. Actually Bent would have relished the work Gab put in last night.
Albrighton had his best game for us I can remember since the Houllier days. Great delivery throughout and finally we were getting good set piece delivery in. We need to capatalise better though.

Holman was excellent. Really like him. CNZ looked better than normal. Seems more confident and was pro-active. Good to see.
Everyone else was okay.

Positives, negatives, probably in equal proportions. The game was good in parts. Very open. In others, your typical 100mph, not very attractive derby game. WBA look a solid side in fairness. Not spectacular, but they'll probably finish mid-table, and seems they've got themselves a decent young manager.

Now we've got to pick up for a hard run of games. Unfortunately this was a match where we really needed 3 points.

[VillaAlways]

Had a quick on some other teams Other Games,the general consensus was that we were absolutely dire!! I was quite shocked because I thought we played some nice football especially in the first half,we're not kidding ourselves are we.Practically every forum said the same.

[Simba]

Attendance: I was in the upper Trinity A3( first time ever in the 'new' stand!) and although I struggled to find two seats together on the website when buying- it was almost empty high up.

Is this because of season ticket holders not attending? If so we include those ST held seats in the attendance figures so actual attendance could be worse than stated.

BTW fantastic views up there, not as far away as I feared but can hardly hear the Holte unless in FULL voice and the Tannoy is absolutely useless.

[MoetVillan]

Albrighton was tut yesterday, final ball is just not good enough.  Thought Delph had a pretty good game, although he does play himself into trouble sometimes.  Undecided on his yellow, looked like a really good tackle from my seat.  Lowton and Bennett show real promise, and Clark and Vlaar are starting to work well together, great late tackle on when Lukapoo looked like he was through on goal.  Pleased to see us work back to a point, coming from a losing position its a step forward (in my head) from taking a lead and then blowing it.  I think WBA are a useful team, a win would have taken them second, so a draw is no shame.... that said, we are, as the song goes "The greatest team the world has ever seen" so hoped for more.

[dave.woodhall]

Had a quick on some other teams Other Games,the general consensus was that we were absolutely dire!! I was quite shocked because I thought we played some nice football especially in the first half,we're not kidding ourselves are we.Practically every forum said the same.

It's the image we've got from the past few years. And as has been said many times before, we're too big to be patronised and not big enough to be respected.

[not3bad]

Thought Delph had a pretty good game, although he does play himself into trouble sometimes.  Undecided on his yellow, looked like a really good tackle from my seat.

Was hoping they'd show this on MOTD.

[MoetVillan]

im guessing its not on then.  He looked like he was in control (unlike a tackle about 5 mins earlier), i get frustrated with card happy refs.

[not3bad]

It looked good to me as well, and all the people sitting around me.

[kippaxvilla2]

It looked good to me as well, and all the people sitting around me.

He did get the ball but it was his follow through as to why he was booked.  The modern game really does suck in this regard.  How he was supposed to halt his momentum is anyone's guess.

[dave.woodhall]

That it has come down to us being pleased with a point at home to the Throstles shows how far as a club we have regressed in recent years.

Welcome back. I see you were quiet on Tuesday night. 

I am disappointed in you for that remark. 

What do you expect me to say - three cheers for the miseryarses?

[VILLA MOLE]

That it has come down to us being pleased with a point at home to the Throstles shows how far as a club we have regressed in recent years.

Welcome back. I see you were quiet on Tuesday night. 

I am disappointed in you for that remark. 

What do you expect me to say - three cheers for the miseryarses?

HIP HIP ...

[JingleJangle]

Did any one else think Fosters antics were annoying and the fact the referee was reluctant to book him annoyed the f*ck out of me aswell!

[Richard Richard]

Did any one else think Fosters antics were annoying and the fact the referee was reluctant to book him annoyed the f*ck out of me aswell!

He was only doing it to play to the crowd, the ref should've just booked him the 1st time and told him to stop being a twat.