Aston Villa v Cardiff City Post-Match Thread

[Deano's Mullet]

   todays goals

[rob_bridge]

   todays goals

Nice one. Geat free kick and good finish from the big lad.

[supertom]

I only watched the first half before having to leave for Lahndan. It was friggin woeful. Very poor. It looked like the only way either side was going to win it was from a moment of quality or a scrappy goal. Looks like we did just that.
Have to say I really like Bacuna. He's got some quality about him and he's all action, very adaptable, and becoming a reliable player.

Benteke still seems off the pace to me.

Still a win is a win. We've still obviously got major issues, but this helps us going into the next game, which will be tough.

[supertom]

A big problem Tonev has, and a lot of our players in attacking positions to be honest, is he doesn't get his head up enough. He was hitting a few crosses into the box at times without really looking where our attackers were. The keeper mopped them up in the first half.

[Caiphus]

Tonev is showing signs of adjusting to the pace of the game physically now, he just needs to work on his composure. It's understandable that he is still rushing himself a bit because he would have so much extra time and space after beating a player in Poland. The good thing is he is still beating players and he should be able to compensate.

I think it bodes well that he is trying to make quick decisions rather than slow down and get tackled because defenders recover much quicker than he is used to.

KEA is more a symptom of our midfield dysfunction rather than the cause. I think he was recruited to be a leader and mature head in the centre of the park but he just doesn't have the strength of personality. Delph is the only mid we have with leadership qualities, so with him out we are a bit too passionless through the centre.

[Louzie0]

Having just seen us on MOTD, I add my admiration for Bacuna's goal to the tons of praise he has had, today.
I realise the editing is a factor but I thought the lads looked as if they were bashing Cardiff all over the park, this afternoon.
Looking good for a top ten finish.

[damon loves JT]

MOTD made the game look much better than it was. The first half seemed to last about 35 years, and the atmosphere wasn't great. It may be a disloyal thing to say, but the crowd seemed very anxious. I know I was. Even at 2-0 up and in the final seconds of injury time, I just wanted it to be all over.

[Louzie0]

I was getting that impression from the match thread, but, that's how I usually feel when I watch the Villa anyway.
Even at 2 - 0 up, I expect disaster to strike, especially during the last 10 minutes. It feels as if I have personally carried them through to the final whistle.

A bit like when you are convinced you have lifted / landed the plane you're on, or is that just me?

[Toronto Villa]

I would like to know what words of sympathy Kozak offered to Marshall just after Bacuna free kick ?

pick.that.out

[Ads]

Probably asked him if intended to keep wasting time.

Didn't see any aggro that others have mentioned. I read on a Cardiff forum that "one positive today is that there were no arrests" which I suppose is a positive, even if it is an odd one to take!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I would like to know what words of sympathy Kozak offered to Marshall just after Bacuna free kick ?

"When I snap my fingers, you will awaken and become a goalkeeper again".

[Goldie.7]

We won because I had a pint of lager before the game.  I don't normally drink at home games but before the Man City game I had a lager to ease the pain.  Decided it was my duty to do so again.  Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have to keep this ritual up until we fail to win again at home.  Needs must and all that.

It would be greatly appreciated if could begin to drink frequently before all games from this point on. Please also establish a correlation between units of alcohol consumed and goals scored. It will help down the road in two legged cup games.

Actually i believe i'm the curse of our poor home form.

Liverpool - Went - Lost
Rotherham United - DIDN'T GO - Won
Newcastle United - Went - Lost
Spurs cup - Went - Lost
Man City - DIDN'T GO - Won
Spurs - Had a ticket but my daughter was ill so mate had it - Lost
Everton - Went - Lost
Cardiff - DIDN'T GO - Won
Sunderland - Going - Hmmm

[timeoutbigbar]

Great result.  I have now seen enough of Tonev.  The lad is useless.  The chance at the end of the first half when he could of played Benteke in for a 1 on 1 and decided to shoot from 25 yards says enough for me.

I like the look of him.

Direct, pacy and we need midfielders who actually want to shoot.  When (not if) he scores, I'm pretty certain it will be spectacular.   

He's raw, and wasn't outstanding today.  But there's enough to work with there longterm.

It isn't as if he's 18 though, he is 23/24, only a year or two from his prime.  You'd think after about 6 years if senior football he'd have developed better instincts.

Hitzlsperger scored great long range goals, and I'd guess he hit the target more too.  That didn't make him a good player, he was distinctly average.

Is that the hits that won a number of caps for Germany

The very same.  He managed a fair few caps when they went through their restructuring process, allowing for a few years of poor performance and average players to bring through a better quality of youth.

[brontebilly]

A 2-0 win is more than welcome but the performance was poor again. After the first goal we looked comfortable but the worrying thing was the Cardiff probably shaded it before then and they are cack. Thought we were indebted to some of the worst goalkeeping seen at Villa Park in some years. Maybe he thought the first was going wide but he didnt move at all. The second reminded me of the first goal Shay Given let in against Croatia at the Euros. A slow motion dive when the ball was gone past him. Bizarre but we will take it.

Credit to Lambert for the substitution. Ive been very critical of his substitutions or lack of them but bringing in Lowton improved matters.

I thought Bacuna was very good at right back, he is a much better defender than Lowton really. Even when he made mistakes in the first half he has the pace and strength to get back easily. He has been a real find and the key reason behind our improvement at the back this season. Clark too had a good game on the other side, can be good on the ball when he wants to be. Ridiculous tackle at the end from him though.  Thought Cardiff erred badly by not moving Bellamy to their right side as Clark wasnt tested at all. Vlaar was very solid at centre half again. Westwood was a bit better, Sylla improved last 15 mins. Tonev has a bit of talent about him but was guilty of trying too hard if anything today again. taking the wrong option a lot but never hid anyway.

Thought Benteke and Kozak were both poor to be honest. Benteke needs a goal badly, being very selfish at the moment and really gave it to a few of his teammates today. Kozak scored and forced a decent save but we need more movement from the forwards. They had little service in truth but needed to hold it up better at times.

Cardiff were tidy in possession but had no ambition in their play nor threat up front. We were there for the taking but they seemed content with playing for a point. Was disappointed with Whittingham on his return, poor set pieces and didnt impose himself on the game. Their manager spent the whole game roaring at his players and constant hand gestures. Reminded me of Phil Brown a bit as it seemed more for the benefit of the camera than his players.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I would like to know what words of sympathy Kozak offered to Marshall just after Bacuna free kick ?

"When I snap my fingers, you will awaken and become a goalkeeper again".

Excellent.