Aston Villa v Liverpool Post-Match Thread

[villalion]

If you'd of given me three points out of these first three games I'd have took your money, but still improvements needed. Utv

[Keeno]

God, some of the negativity in this thread is unbelievable. Comparing it to the MON years! This match deserved to be a draw - on another day Mignolet wouldn't have pulled off two worldie saves of Benteke, and Gabby might've put away that volley in the box. Both teams were fairly evenly matched, and we lost the game on the first 20 minutes, in which we were set up wrongly by Lambert. Going with a 4-4-2 against Pool was always going to be a bad idea - Gerrard, Henderson and Lucas passed through Westy/Delph in the first 20 minutes and we hardly got a kick. He then moved Bacuna slightly more central to form a midfield three after half an hour - and we controlled the majority of the game from that point. The change from the first 25 minutes to the rest of the match was visible within seconds - the two workmen in front of Westwood helped him to keep us ticking over better, and although he still didn't look 100% it certainly helped things, hopefully he'll get back to full pace soon.

But by then it was too late because Sturridge had his only chance of the game, and like all good strikers put it away (very nicely, mind). Second half was all us, which was why it deserved to be a 1-1. If we'd gone with that 4-3-3 from the beginning the result would probably have been a little different; Lambert underestimated the quality of this Liverpool team a little, I think (Coutinho ran things first half, hardly had a kick second). If we play how we did in the second half we'll have no trouble against a lot of teams in the league, particularly in the bottom half of the table... It was an ok performance, not our best by any means, playing three in a week probably didn't help us, while they had had a full week to recover from a fairly easy start at home to Stewk.

Okore MOTM - he gave the defence a confidence and calmness that we don't get with Clark/Baker, and it transferred to the rest of the back four... we looked pretty solid throughout. All in all it was a decent performance, and we certainly didn't deserve to lose 1-0. The Rotherham game will be a perfect way to keep confidence high after these three games, hopefully we can stick a hatful past them and blood some of the new boys.

[Witton Warrior]

The comment about scousers in the Holte - as I came through the turnstile in the U Holte a guy wearing a 'Pool was stopped by stewards, he had a 9-year old girl with him trying to cover up her red strip, she looked terrified. What a fucking idiot bringing a child into that area _ I doubt anyone would cause her harm but it was ridiculous. The blokes in the Lower were stupid although I was told one of them had been wearing a Villa top before the silliness started...

[Toronto Villa]

Today's game makes it obvious why Lambert inquired about the Japanese lad. I'd not be surprised if someone similar does not find his way to B6 by the end end of the window.

[mr woo]

Vlaar           5 don't like him and he didn't do anything today to make me change my mind. Got easily dummied for their goal.
Okore          7 has the making of a real class defender.

So... Okore gets pulled out of position chasing a lost cause, leaving a huge hole in central defence that Vlaar struggles to fill....but he himself is at fault? Bizarre.

I struggle to see this dislike of Vlaar sometimes. He's a good footballer from what I see, if we stopped asking him to be a babysitter he'd be able to get on with his own job and we'd be better off for it.

[paulcomben]

Hey, one week gone, 3 points, level goal difference, 3 of the top teams played already, positive signs of a new team gelling, three weeks to train and conduct transfers. It is good, people.

[olaftab]

The comment about scousers in the Holte - as I came through the turnstile in the U Holte a guy wearing a 'Pool was stopped by stewards, he had a 9-year old girl with him trying to cover up her red strip, she looked terrified. What a fucking idiot bringing a child into that area _ I doubt anyone would cause her harm but it was ridiculous. The blokes in the Lower were stupid although I was told one of them had been wearing a Villa top before the silliness started...

This chap was probably a "tourist". I doubt it if he knew the slightest bit about football in this country that he would have been going into the fanatical home end with a 9 year old girl  in opposition kit. 

[Keeno]

Hey, one week gone, 3 points, level goal difference, 3 of the top teams played already, positive signs of a new team gelling, three weeks to train and conduct transfers. It is good, people.

This.

[Vegas]

God, some of the negativity in this thread is unbelievable. Comparing it to the MON years! This match deserved to be a draw - on another day Mignolet wouldn't have pulled off two worldie saves of Benteke, and Gabby might've put away that volley in the box. Both teams were fairly evenly matched, and we lost the game on the first 20 minutes, in which we were set up wrongly by Lambert. Going with a 4-4-2 against Pool was always going to be a bad idea - Gerrard, Henderson and Lucas passed through Westy/Delph in the first 20 minutes and we hardly got a kick. He then moved Bacuna slightly more central to form a midfield three after half an hour - and we controlled the majority of the game from that point. The change from the first 25 minutes to the rest of the match was visible within seconds - the two workmen in front of Westwood helped him to keep us ticking over better, and although he still didn't look 100% it certainly helped things, hopefully he'll get back to full pace soon.

But by then it was too late because Sturridge had his only chance of the game, and like all good strikers put it away (very nicely, mind). Second half was all us, which was why it deserved to be a 1-1. If we'd gone with that 4-3-3 from the beginning the result would probably have been a little different; Lambert underestimated the quality of this Liverpool team a little, I think (Coutinho ran things first half, hardly had a kick second). If we play how we did in the second half we'll have no trouble against a lot of teams in the league, particularly in the bottom half of the table... It was an ok performance, not our best by any means, playing three in a week probably didn't help us, while they had had a full week to recover from a fairly easy start at home to Stewk.

Okore MOTM - he gave the defence a confidence and calmness that we don't get with Clark/Baker, and it transferred to the rest of the back four... we looked pretty solid throughout. All in all it was a decent performance, and we certainly didn't deserve to lose 1-0. The Rotherham game will be a perfect way to keep confidence high after these three games, hopefully we can stick a hatful past them and blood some of the new boys.

Absolutely spot on from first to last

[silhillvilla]

Why the fuck is Harry Redknapp on MOTD ?

[Somniloquism]

Highlights seem a fair reflection from the sounds of it. One piece of skill from them and then all us.  BBC showed we had as much possession second half as they had the first half.

[Billy Walker]

The big positive is we are still to have some players hit form, both Weimann and Westwood are way behind the standards they set last season for example, and yet after 3 matches where most pundits, and a fair few Villa fans, thought we'd struggle to get a point and keep the -GD in single numbers we have 3 points and it could easily be at least 5. And more importantly we as a club are disappointed it is only 3.

Onwards and upwards.

Yep, I agree.

Liverpool were fresh as daisies whilst we've just had two incredibly tough away games inside six days.  I'm not surprised we were a little off our game today.  There are plenty of positives to take from the opening week's fixtures. 

[Ads]

There were some punches thrown in the Holte. The stewards got the Norwegians out of their seats and stood there while a few blokes kept running down the stairs throwing punches.

[Somniloquism]

Why the fuck is Harry Redknapp on MOTD ?

He lost his Monaco retirement fund recently so needs more moolah. Although his comment that Liverpool deserved the 3 points as they dominated so much in the first half a minute after discussing Liverpool created no chances bar one seems very contradictory.

[olaftab]

So  ss Tax and  BBC Licence payers are we are paying Harry twice now.