Aston Villa vs Sunderland Post-Match Thread

[Hillbilly]

The alarm had gone off. I was lying in bed with a sinking feeling that we'd lost 1-3. Got up and checked the final score. Thought "that's nice". Had a shower. Looked over at the tablet and the missus assured me I hadn't hallucinated. Whooped like an American! Been walking on sunshine all morning. Zip! A! Dee! Doo! Daaaaah!

[cdbearsfan]

So did anyone put a bet on 6-1 Villa, Vlaar to score first?

If so, which island are you planning to buy with your winnings?

[1_Pablo_Angel]

I told a bloke in the concourse at HT that we would win 6-1.

Of course, I wasn't being serious.

[eastie]

Sleepless night , replayed the game in my head all night and just couldn't switch off - what a great game for us and so pleased that the whole team played well last night - Lowton was exceptional, the forwards superb and the defence fairly solid - loved the way our midfield three performed and i thought sylla had a really good game .

Along with the clinical finishing of the strikers it really was a night to live long in the memory.
We are not safe yet but I feel we will go to Norwich and win, they are in a bad run and lambert knows their weaknesses- many reasons to be positive!

[Olof's Beard]

Well, I'm still erect.  What a feeling after a season spent pacing around like a mad man every weekend.  First time the missus has watched the game with me, she is not missing another until we lose again (which will be never of course).

So much to be positive about and I am still refusing to count any poultry until maths has us safe but so much of the doubt was put to bed tonight.  The much lamented left back was absolutely fantastic against a side with genuine width.  Nullified them, drove us forward.  Lowton has one or two faults in his defensive play to iron out but my word it was like watching Cafu going forward - immense performance.  The midfield three were unbelievable and completely repaid their manager's faith.  Sylla had comfortably his best game so far.  Westwood gave his usual performance.  We just need him to produce it against the really top sides, then we have quite a player on our hands.  Delph deserves special mention because for me he is a massive reason for our big improvement over the second half of the season.  It all started at Albion away, before then I would never have wanted him near the side, he is now one of the first names on the team sheet.  I think he'll add some goals to his game next year as well.

As for the front three - they have been exactly the same for two or three months, the balance of their attributes is too much for the vast majority of Premier League defences.  I really want to cuddle Benteke.

[frank black]

Well done to everyone that went last night. Been having a rubber neck at the Sunderland sites, they said it was a great atmosphere....see below

 think its more to do with the acoustics of Villa Park to be honest. The sound seemed to travel well between stands and to be stuck in a corner surrounded by it was deafening. Fair play to them, they got behind their side and it worked - much like it did for us against Everton last week
Yep sound definitely travels better in there than it does the sol like.

If the noise from the south and swc travelled like that the sol would be rocking
But fair play that atmosphere was immense like, one of the best ive witnessed at an away ground

Read more: http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=778639#ixzz2RvW9armV

[Mortimer's Bear]

Has anyone come down yet? I couldn't sleep last night and I can't stop smiling this morning!

[nigel]

Has anyone checked Newcastle and Wigan forums? I think they got the fear tonight.

Newcastle lost a 12 goal cushion over the weekend. Incredible

[nigel]

No matter where people stand on what's happening at Villa at the moment, I think we can all agree that was above and beyond our wildest dreams

The negative for me is the only thing I could think of when Benteke scored that header was he's just signed his ticket out of VP,
it was a stunning header, a 22 year old Drogba on his prime, I know he's scored some crackers this season, but when the money clubs in the prem and Europe see that sort of power in the box they will be fighting to get there cheque books out

Agreed. Any time Benteke scores now the instant joy is slightly tempered a few seconds later as I see him take in the applause and wonder how the fuck we're going to hold on to him even if we do stay up. Daniel Levy will have AVB in his ear all summer about stumping up the cash for him. Can you imagine ending-up getting something derisory like Adebayor and £10m for him?! Anyway...there'll be plenty of time to lament his leaving when it happens. For now, thank Christ(ian) we have him.

I see it this way.
Every time he scores means another club won't be able to afford him.
I've said previously if clubs come calling, bidding starts at £40m

[martin o`who??]

No matter where people stand on what's happening at Villa at the moment, I think we can all agree that was above and beyond our wildest dreams

The negative for me is the only thing I could think of when Benteke scored that header was he's just signed his ticket out of VP,
it was a stunning header, a 22 year old Drogba on his prime, I know he's scored some crackers this season, but when the money clubs in the prem and Europe see that sort of power in the box they will be fighting to get there cheque books out

Agreed. Any time Benteke scores now the instant joy is slightly tempered a few seconds later as I see him take in the applause and wonder how the fuck we're going to hold on to him even if we do stay up. Daniel Levy will have AVB in his ear all summer about stumping up the cash for him. Can you imagine ending-up getting something derisory like Adebayor and £10m for him?! Anyway...there'll be plenty of time to lament his leaving when it happens. For now, thank Christ(ian) we have him.

I see it this way.
Every time he scores means another club won't be able to afford him.
I've said previously if clubs come calling, bidding starts at £40m

What about the other leg??!!........

[PaulTheVillan]

Very fucking happy.

[martin o`who??]

Well thats screwed it, `cos i`ve been giving it the "no way am i havin a season ticket again after this lot" shite for weeks, - Bollox .

[nigel]

No matter where people stand on what's happening at Villa at the moment, I think we can all agree that was above and beyond our wildest dreams

The negative for me is the only thing I could think of when Benteke scored that header was he's just signed his ticket out of VP,
it was a stunning header, a 22 year old Drogba on his prime, I know he's scored some crackers this season, but when the money clubs in the prem and Europe see that sort of power in the box they will be fighting to get there cheque books out

Agreed. Any time Benteke scores now the instant joy is slightly tempered a few seconds later as I see him take in the applause and wonder how the fuck we're going to hold on to him even if we do stay up. Daniel Levy will have AVB in his ear all summer about stumping up the cash for him. Can you imagine ending-up getting something derisory like Adebayor and £10m for him?! Anyway...there'll be plenty of time to lament his leaving when it happens. For now, thank Christ(ian) we have him.

I see it this way.
Every time he scores means another club won't be able to afford him.
I've said previously if clubs come calling, bidding starts at £40m

What about the other leg??!!........

Thought I'd start low for a quick sale 

He'll be still in a Villa shirt next season, I've no doubt about it

[richard moore]

Anyone having trouble sleeping?

Yep, up every night about 3am with my broken arm keeping me awake. Tonight I have the pleasure of an excellent write up on the Villa to keep me company :-)

I was up too in the night with wisdom tooth pain. Was absolutely washed out when I went to bed. I'm even listening to Talkshite this morning. A man transformed. Football is suddenly the greatest game in the world again!

[Dave]

As an aside, I thought their goal was really, really good.