Sunderland v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Ads]

The tactic all game with the crosses was to hit them deep/back stick for Benteke to square up.

[Monty]

The tactic all game with the crosses was to hit them deep/back stick for Benteke to square up.

To be fair it did work, but from open play when there's more likely to be space in the box for the player following in. From corners you want a bit of variety, and I can't help but feel Bannan would do better with more surprise in his delivery.

[Pete3206]

Yes, it's just a shame that all the crosses from Bannan were shit. Floating in the ball into the box like that makes it easier for opposition defences. A decent centre from Lowton and the Benteke tactic works perfectly. Bannan should have that pointed out to him.

[tomd2103]

A lot of positives today.  3 points, a clean sheet and a well worked goal.  Just watching the Sky coverage of the game and we look a lot more comfortable in the formation we played today. 

[bertlambshank]

Step forward little Barry,you were a giant of a man in midfield today.

Lets not get carried away. He was neat and tidy in possession, nothing more. His delivery from corners was terrible.

Did you miss the help he gave the defence then?

[ozzjim]

Step forward little Barry,you were a giant of a man in midfield today.

Lets not get carried away. He was neat and tidy in possession, nothing more. His delivery from corners was terrible.

Sorry Pete I think you are doing him a big disservice there. He tracked back and intercepted in our box 4-5 times in the game, which is something I was not expecting at all. It was the most disciplined performance I have seen from him by a distance, and the joy of him and Westwood was their constant availability for the ball, and then most often keeping it with their next pass and being in space to take it back if needed. Both were excellent. They really were today.

[ozzjim]

Yes, it's just a shame that all the crosses from Bannan were shit. Floating in the ball into the box like that makes it easier for opposition defences. A decent centre from Lowton and the Benteke tactic works perfectly. Bannan should have that pointed out to him.

Again, Bannan was usually having to deliver on the angle, not the straight ball like Lowton, and hit Benteke time and time again. They were good passes that found their target.

[Pete3206]

Step forward little Barry,you were a giant of a man in midfield today.

Lets not get carried away. He was neat and tidy in possession, nothing more. His delivery from corners was terrible.

Sorry Pete I think you are doing him a big disservice there. He tracked back and intercepted in our box 4-5 times in the game, which is something I was not expecting at all. It was the most disciplined performance I have seen from him by a distance, and the joy of him and Westwood was their constant availability for the ball, and then most often keeping it with their next pass and being in space to take it back if needed. Both were excellent. They really were today.

Fair do's

[villan from luton]

Have to say I am not a massive Bannan fan, but from the extended highlights I saw, he was excellent, but Weswood alongside him is my type of player. Keeps the ball most of the time when he passes it, seems good in the tackle and seems to be an organiser

[not3bad]

Slip that one in your case file, you big speccy, tracksuit wearing, merkin-headed, spiteful, dummy-spitting, back-stabbing, money-wasting, club-wrecking fucking bastard son-of-a-turd fraud.

Nicked.

Likewise. Thanks, Jimbo!

How good was it to see us play well today?

Very good. Very good indeed.

Thanks for the status!  Nice One Gabby!  Up the Villa!! :-))

[Monty]

Just a thought from the game: in football, any physique can be useful in its own way if you can work out how to use it to your advantage. Big muscles don't change George Elokobi into Patrick Vieira, just as being small won't work in Nathan Ellington's favour like it does Xavi's. Against Sunderland, in their own ways, I thought Bannan and Benteke showed how to do this - Bannan by using his low centre of gravity to shield the ball and change direction quickly, and Benteke with his obviously massive frame bullying his way almost through opponents (but fairly!), and also stretching his legs and neck to be first to every ball on the ground and in the air.

It's great to see, because a big part of a young player's development is when he starts to work out what he's been left with after he stops growing. For Bannan in particular this has been a problem, so it's good to see him learning, but it's not to be underestimated for Benteke either: Crouch, for example, never fully seemed to learn how to use his huge frame and ended up conceding free kicks and not scoring enough headers. It's a very good sign, I think, regarding these players' maturity.

[Yossarian]

Bananana man was our best player today.

[Brian Taylor]

..

[Brian Taylor]

We won! Gabby scored. Benteke cud've. Eff off to QPR Darren. No offence mate, but we have the players who can do it now.
Darren sold, double quick, and we got money to replace the rest of the journeymen.
Randy, just take the money and retire to the shores of Lake Erie like you always meant to.
We am frum round here mite, and yow amn't, and we luv the Villa!

[Steve R]

It's taken a lot longer than usual for this thread to go from final whistle reaction to considered debate.

Wonderful.

Fuck you pubey.