Stoke City vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

I watched the first half, and then just couldn't face the second. Though I saw the goals!

Fantastic result. Asbolutely crucial.

There's always a risk of letting the result dictate too much about the view of the performance, but from what I saw we were absolutely fantastic. Created buckets of chances. Stoke we just awful. I mean unbelievably awful.

Westwood (in particular) and Delph controlled the game in the first half. Benteke a bit quiet. Bowery did well apart from his miss.

Just a fantastic, fantastic 5 minutes. I'd given up when they equalised. It's happened too many times.

I thought we looked like we had the makings of a good side. And whether we go down or not - which I don't think we will know - surely the most anti-Lambert people would agree that we're starting to have some identity as a side and are passing the ball (at times) better than a Villa side has managed for quite some time. This time last year none of those things were teh case.

[JUAN PABLO]

wish I didnt know the score now . Could have enjoyed this on game of the day on sky round my mates in HD..



get in there     getting drunk , I am so happy

[rob_bridge]

Fully expect QPR to do some damage to Wigan's GD

and Chelsea have to do something for us for once

I think that'll be a draw.

[Michel Sibble]

Just checking the table, we no longer have the worst GD.

Reading -27
Villa -25
QPR -23

[barrysleftfoot]

 Bit more composure in front of goal, we could have had 5 or 6 today.

 Big result today, i was not confident at all today, and feared that if we lost today then we would go down.When they equalized i thought, although they were shit, they would snatch it, but a wonder goal, and a wonder player, and we got what we deserved.

 Thought Baker and Vlaaar were quite solid today, Guzan excellant again, Bennett good solid game, kept the ball well, defended well, Lowton, wonder goal, Delph , nice and steady, as was Westwood, Bowery i thought played quite well, keeps the ball well, has a bit of pace, tired towards the end.Gabby, should have had a hat trick today, not over convinced about him, but as usual scores in bursts, lets hope he carries on.Weimann needs  a rest.

 Overall we deserved that today, play some good football, a bit more confidence next season, with a couple of quality players, we would be top half.Need a destroyer in the middle of the park though, and not N'Zonzi.

[eastie]

If we beat Fulham we will be well on our way to survival - confidence is high , eastie is very happy and special thanks for the help given at kick off

[danlanza]

Leeg can stay off starting the threads !!   only joking Lee

Vote for Dave. He will keep us up.

[sonlyme]

God I wish we would attack more and not shit ourselves so much in defence.  It was like watching kids in the playground.  Scuffed clearance after scuffed clearance.  With every second ball being picked up by a Stokie thug.

But when we attack we are a different team.  And I am still in shock and awe at Matt Lowton's stunning volley.  I have not seen a better Villa strike since my old mate Chris Nicholl's cracker against Everton.  It really was that good.  Dying to get back and watch match of the day.  Gonna tape it.

Get in!  Another winning performance against Fulham and I can stop wearing these adult diapers - the chafing is horrendous.

Stoke is an awful place full of awful people.

Come on Villa.

[mal]

Is it fair to say that Lowton goal could be the difference between survival and relegation? Don't think we would've got over throwing this one away. And I love Benteke!!! Never in doubt once he was clean through.

Ratings:
Guzan - Commanded area well, couldn't have done much for goal...7
Lowton - Thank fuck!!!!!!!!!!!...9
Vlaar and Baker - Didn't do much wrong until that shocking 5 minutes around when they scored when the whole team went to shit...7 for both
Bennett - Hardly noticed him, which is good. Did his job efficiently. Fair play to him...7
Westwood - Did his job for most of the game. Gave away a couple of stupid balls later...7
Delph - Didn't get booked. Enough said...7
Bowery - Can't fault him really. Looked a little leggy late on, but fair play to him. Good feet too...7
Weimann - not his best ever game IMO. Could have done better with chance...6
Gabby - Brilliant first half. Don't really get why he was taken off as he was the best of the attackers...8
Benteke - They doubled up on him all game. He still scored. Job done...7

MoTM - Lowton just for that strike alone.

May I add that Stoke were absolutely abysmal until Adam came on. Completely devoid of any quality in midfield and attack. I thought MON wasted money but Pulis has taken it to a different level. Wouldn't be surprised to see them go down although they might be able to draw their way to safety.

Can't disagree with much of that - Would love to see Adam at Villa Park next year he's just what we need in the middle sly dirty and capable of controlling the play.

[peter w]

Not sure how I feel. Nervous to peed off to ecstatic to absolutely shattered.

sort that defence out and there's a decent team there.

[Rancid custard]

there was me thinking it'd be our capitulation special, but no we finally unfucked ourselves in the last 5 minutes.

[JUAN PABLO]

Most important result we'll have all season. When Stoke levelled we looked like we'd thrown another 3 points away. If anything they looked more likely to grab the winner. Thank christ for Matty. Love him.

I think that's the result which will keep us up. No points or even just 1 from this game and we'd really be feeling the pressure now.
We've got 3 and helped our GD in the process.

Lambert got away with this one big time. Stoke were bloody wretched. Not winning today would have been inexcusable. His starting line up was baffling. Taking Gabby off for Sylla was also baffling, as was leaving CNZ till so late. If he was as arrogant as MON he'd claim tactical brilliance from this, but make no mistake, Lambert got away with murder today.

Now we put pressure on Wigan and Sunderland. We've dragged Stoke into it too. Can you see Stoke getting 6 more points for that safety line? I seriously can't. They were horrific today. They've even lost the ability to play their A game effectively. It was hopeless. They're gonna struggle. A very decent bet for them to go down actually. Di Canio may prove inspirational. We'll see, but it's unlikely.

I was impressed with Bennett today. I think he's improving. Bowery worked hard but shouldn't have been playing. Stoke were very weak in fullback positions so Lambert should have got Chaz in the game sooner.
Lowton was very good and the goal was probably for more than one reason, goal of the season.

Time to unclench. This should have been about 5-0 though. It should have been easy. I really hope, FINALLY, we'll learn from these errors.

agree with most of that , think Gabby was injured thou but Charlie made alot of difference when he was on , attacking them and  stretching them and should have been on in the 60th minute.

but Im happy

[Summers]

[Matt Collins]

I think people are underestimating quite how good Westwood was (at least in that first half). He was absolutely fantastic. He ran the game. He was playing in division 2 last year for God's sake. Very promising player indeed and an excellent signing.

[Michel Sibble]

Stoke is an awful place full of awful people.

Quoted for truth.