Norwich City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Tuscans]

Bit of a smash and grab effort this one. Thought Norwich played pretty well with Howson the stand out player in midfield. But they were pretty toothless up front, Holt was crashing into all and sundry but he has looked lost at this level this season. Pilkington only coming back from injury faded too. We started with the wrong attitude, touch of billy big bollocks after the Sunderland result on Monday I suspect. Norwich ultimately didnt have the quality to make it count but we were indebted to a freakishly outstanding second half performance from Gabby and the ref failing to send off two of our players for the three points. Ref thankfully for us seem to bottle both red card decisions, Benteke's one was a no brainer.

With the players we have up front, we will always create chances out of nothing. Gabby's first goal was a cracker too, took it up on the half way line, broke forward and curled it in nicely. He was on fire in the second half, creating a sitter of a chance for Weimann with a brilliant counter attack and cross. Very unlucky to see a left footed effort creep past the post after a lovely one two with Benteke. Then the brilliant finish for the winner and likely keeping us in the league for another year.

For my sins back in January, I suggested we trade Gabby for Craig Gardner as it was clear only MON might get his career back on track......

If we look back, I think that home game against Newcastle when Gabby and Weimann came on at half time and we played the 3 up front, was the start of our revival. 18 points from 36 since and have beaten the sides around us in that time.

Better sides than Norwich would have made us pay for such of the efforts at defending today. Baker for me is nowhere near good enough. Spends half his time on his arse and the other half hoofing the ball. Yet he is still looking better than Vlaar. His efforts to defend a standard hoof midway through the second half were excruciating. Captain my arse.

Guzan hadnt much to do today but nearly handed them a point at the end. He really needs to work on his kicking over the summer. Bennett's first yellow card was utter stupidity, he followed this up with a brain freeze foul on Snodgrass on the edge of the box just after. Then just when Norwich really started to look out of ideas, he fucked up spectacularly for the penalty. I'm not buying the whole its just a young player being naive excuse either, Bennett has done this consistently over the season and even during the game today. For me he abdicates responsibility. Today that should have cost us a red card and potentially the game. Lichaj might have played his last game for the club but fair play to him today. His first appearance in a long while and was very solid defensively I thought. Doesnt have much ability on the ball but kept it nice and tidy.

Last minute assist aside, Westwood to me showed how far he still has to go to be a top midfielder. His lack of presence without the ball really hurts us at times. His passing and play were very passive too until late on. This was in contrast with Delph who was excellent today again. Won tackles, ran with the ball well, passed well. He is well able to get away from players, just a pity he gets a brain fart when in good positions near goal. Sylla looked a little lost in midfield. Not sure what to make of him as a player. Benteke was very poor today and like Bennett could have cost us big time with his hand in the neck of Bassong who thankfully didnt overreact. Second half against Sunderland aside, his form hasnt been great for a while. His touch and movement today were very poor. Weimann wasnt in the game much. At least he got in the position for that counterattack. Not sure how he missed, might have been better advised diving with his head for it. The fuck up at the end was terrible. Gabby's second half as mentioned previously was outstanding. Holman........ oh dear.

I think I agree with every word...apart from the trade off

[Olof's Beard]

Gabby I love you, and I want to have your babies.

this

Join the queue with half the ladies of Birmingham.

Today was one of the first occasions I have missed a game but I was watching for the winner and my word, what massive relief.  The Wigan result makes that goal absolutely huge.  It could easily still go down to us needing something from Wigan but we have done unbelievably well to put 5 teams between us and the relegation zone.  You have to hope that one of them will fail to win either of their last two games which should be enough to keep us up, even if Wigan continue with their mental escape act again.  It would be great if we did it by beating Chelsea and I don't see why we can't.  It was a close game last time.

[eamonn]

Lulz.

And Gabby is a proven baby-maker so don't worry, there's plenty to go round. You might have to metamorpohose into seahorses to give birth as males though.

[SamTheMouse]

I'm out varnishing the arbour in my front garden with my headphones on, we go in front and I nearly fall off my ladder celebrating. I come inside to celebrate on here and they equalise. I return to my varnishing and we score a late winner. It is clear where I need to spend the rest of the season...

Oo-er missus.

[Mazrim]

The maths say otherwise but I reckon that's us safe. There are some teams below us now with absolutely no form or momentum, all of whom will be very nervous indeed.

[old man villa fan]

A pressure game when the only thing that mattered was the result.  The team fought collectively to win that match.

Norwich had a lot of possession but did nothing with it.  They continually over hit crosses and did Brad have a save to make, other than the penalty.

[Olof's Beard]

Lulz.

And Gabby is a proven baby-maker so don't worry, there's plenty to go round. You might have to metamorpohose into seahorses to give birth as males though.

I'm happy to give it a go.

[ozzjim]

The maths say otherwise but I reckon that's us safe. There are some teams below us now with absolutely no form or momentum, all of whom will be very nervous indeed.

All of whom have a bit of a banker game to come.

We are in just as big trouble as we were at 3.

[Mortimer's Bear]

The maths say otherwise but I reckon that's us safe. There are some teams below us now with absolutely no form or momentum, all of whom will be very nervous indeed.

All of whom have a bit of a banker game to come.

We are in just as big trouble as we were at 3.

That's the spirit.

[ozzjim]

Lulz.

And Gabby is a proven baby-maker so don't worry, there's plenty to go round. You might have to metamorpohose into seahorses to give birth as males though.

I'm happy to give it a go.

Let me get this right Gibbon man... you want to transform into a seahorse, and be inseminated by Gabby, followed by giving birth to his freaky, sea horse, gibbon, gabby children?!

Wow. Just... erm.... wow.

[mr woo]

Last minute assist aside, Westwood to me showed how far he still has to go to be a top midfielder. His lack of presence without the ball really hurts us at times. His passing and play were very passive too until late on. This was in contrast with Delph who was excellent today again. Won tackles, ran with the ball well, passed well. He is well able to get away from players, just a pity he gets a brain fart when in good positions near goal.

Quite right. Never quite understood the plaudits aimed at Westwood while Delph seems to attract crititism.

Surprisingly, there's not a lot to separate them, experience wise.
They are both 23 years old. Westwood has 29 appearances while Delph has 48 (taken fron Wiki).

For me Fabian would be first choice of the two all day long.

[mrastonvilla]

The maths say otherwise but I reckon that's us safe. There are some teams below us now with absolutely no form or momentum, all of whom will be very nervous indeed.

If I was a Norwich fan I would be very worried

[avfcpg]

The maths say otherwise but I reckon that's us safe. There are some teams below us now with absolutely no form or momentum, all of whom will be very nervous indeed.

All of whom have a bit of a banker game to come.

We are in just as big trouble as we were at 3.

Really? Even though we have just gained points on Norwich, Fulham, Saints, Newcastle and one of either Stoke or Sunderland..and kept the gap the same with Wigan the same with one game chalked off.

There are no banker games right now, just ask Fulham....

[Mazrim]

The maths say otherwise but I reckon that's us safe. There are some teams below us now with absolutely no form or momentum, all of whom will be very nervous indeed.

All of whom have a bit of a banker game to come.

We are in just as big trouble as we were at 3.

No such thing as a banker game in this league. People are also assuming we'll get nothing fron Chelsea. I'm not so sure. They play Man Utd and Spurs before meeting us. Two very tough games  before they play a rested Villa, all in 6 days. Tough ask for any team.

I like our odds.

[eamonn]

Fair comment? Didn't see the game but I find Hughton (NOT Houghton!) one of the more dignified managers, perhaps he has a point:

Norwich City manager Chris Hughton:
"I'm annoyed and frustrated because there was no way we should have lost or deserved to lose. We were the better side over 90 minutes but Villa have pace on the counter-attack and we have conceded two poor goals today.
"Joe Bennett shouldn't have been on the park - he was on a yellow card when he conceded the penalty and had two or three fouls after that. I find it incredible that he was still on the park.
"Next week's game against West Brom becomes a bigger game. We will need a better performance but we can't concede the goals we conceded today and expect to win football matches.