Season turning point?

[placeforparks]

gabby's goal versus qpr on the stroke of half-time.

they were battering us and they looked far more up for it. guzan pulled off a terrific save, bosingwa had hit the post. that goal gave us hope and we were a different team in the second half.

that result killed them as well.

[not3bad]

If we go down this thread will look a bit silly.

Us going down now is marginally more likely than Alex Mcleish getting the Yanited job.

[Broughty-Villian]

I'd go for the two 2-2 away at Swansea and the boggies. We'd had a 3-1 away at redscouse, then got hammered, then got those 2 results with some bad ones inbetween, but it kept the those 2 away draws gave them a bit of hope points ticking in and gave the team and more importantly the fans some belief. since then apart from the first half v the barcodes, we have actually played ok and got some good wins

[Original Disco]

The second half against Newcastle for me, when PL finally worked out our best formation and strike partnership and has pretty much stuck to that bar injuries. Since then the points we have accumulated have been akin to a top 6 finish. Whilst I'm not a great fan of his, Sylla has definitely given the midfield more balance and shape and stopped us being overrun.  Also, the fans have been excellent especially since February onwards, attendances at home have been up and generally more supportive of the players even when frustrated.     

[eastie]

The second half against Newcastle for me, when PL finally worked out our best formation and strike partnership and has pretty much stuck to that bar injuries. Since then the points we have accumulated have been akin to a top 6 finish. Whilst I'm not a great fan of his, Sylla has definitely given the midfield more balance and shape and stopped us being overrun.  Also, the fans have been excellent especially since February onwards, attendances at home have been up and generally more supportive of the players even when frustrated.     

Wise words indeed.

[MoetVillan]

Best football played or attempted to be played consistently for i dont know how long at VP, my guess is Brian Little.  So Lambert signing would be the turning point.  As for the season turning point.... Id go for that period between Guzan pushing Sambas header over followed by Gabbys goal.  It seemed belief started flowing.  Were unlucky not to get anything in the Pool game.  There was a period when we were 1 nil up against Fulham where we just looked fantastic and unplayable.  The win didnt come, but they sure came afterwards.  Still making mistakes, like the formation/team we put out at OT.  I think Eastie complained that we dont set ourselves up to win against the big four, that was certainly not the case that day, and in hindsight, although an early equaliser from Beteke could have happened and settled the ship, I think that game was already gone.  Cant fault application and heart though.  We have also gone from most hated team in the bottom half last year full of overpaid old timers(last years QPR) to peoples second team thanks to the youngsters and effort we see.

[not3bad]

We have also gone from most hated team in the bottom half last year full of overpaid old timers(last years QPR) to peoples second team thanks to the youngsters and effort we see.

The transformation in this regard from last year has been startling.  Perhaps the turning point leading towards this was the message put up on the OS the day Mcleish was fired.

[Chris Smith]

It's down to me. Couldn't go much last year and we were shit; as I've got better so have Villa.

[Dr Butler]

I would also say that Gabby's goal right on half-time vs QPR, He has been on fire recently.

UTV
The Doc

[Concrete John]

The QPR win and Gabby's goal in it was crucial in terms of result (win for us and defeat for a relegation rival), but for me we hard turned the corner before that. 

[ADVILLAFAN]

My brother fooking his ankle up at the end of January, seem to have been better since that.

Seriously the Gabby goal against QPR probably is it for me.

[not3bad]

Everton match for me.  It ended the post January depression when it was difficult to see where Villa's next points were coming from.  Away to Everton had already been chalked off as an inevitable defeat by many and although Villa were pegged back in the end (with the help of Everton getting some "Fergie time"), it was an indication that Villa were far stronger than people thought.

[Ger Regan]

Two turning points for me.

1. The signing of Sylla which we all took the piss out of has turned out to be an extraordinarily important signing for protecting the shambolic defence prior to that.

2. The launch of my plot an escape from relegation thread shortly after the Newcastle game when no one gave us a prayer :-).

1: Some weren't impressed with his signing. But some were.

2: And some of us did!

Interesting to look back on this thread. The "Will Sylla and Dawkins help keep us up" thread.

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=49036.0

Really is a good read that, cheers for resurrecting it. And fair play to glasses for calling it almost exactly as it transpired (albeit not particularly confidently)!

[Legion]

In all seriousness, I don't think there has been a single 'turning point', more a combination of events. The second half against Newcastle, Lowton's wonder-goal, Sylla, performances against Everton and West Brom, destroying Sunderland (*cries*), the emerging sense of self-belief from our players and the last-gasp winner against Norwich.

[OCD]

There seem to be a few perfectly viable options. Would it be worth adding a poll?