Aston Villa v Norwich- Post Match Thread

[manic-road]

A decent 20 minute spell in the first half where we had lots of attacking intent, and a professional second half performance where we actually looked composed for a change.

KEA had one of his best games for us today, and just delighted with the three points.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

When you know the result the match thread is a great read to help pass the bus journey to town. It's pissing it down now and I don't care.

Ha! A 45 minute emotional roller coaster followed by 45 minutes on the carousel.

[Dave]

I think the result often colours peoples opinion about a performance.

KEA was average at best.

Or, people's preconceptions about a player prejudice their view on what they're actually doing in a match.

[Louzie0]

Fantastic, set me up for next week!
There's a Liverpool fan at work getting rather confident about winning the league this year, so it will be nice to have some goals to celebrate!

Can we keep Dan on the match threads for the desperate must win moments? ...can we call him, Desperate Dan?
Well done, sir!

Listened on the radio and covered miles of kitchen floor.  Stuart Pearce commented that the midfield trio were extremely effective as a unit keeping the ball from leaking through to Norwich's defence on the wings; a key component of Villa's win and dominance after the initial 18 minutes.

If he's impressed, with his experience, I say well done, chaps.

It's a very well done all round, as well. He gave MOTM to Benteke, who sounded unbeatable.

I am so, so relieved. And happy.

[Billy Walker]

3 positives.

- A win in an all important 6-point game.
- Benteke scoring again. Flashed both technical prowess and "The Beast".
- A rare home win.

Still a few lingering clouds though.

- Not going to get anything against Man C.
- Haven't won back to back at home since like forever...doubt Chelski going to allow us to change that.
- Strange picks by Lambert. KEA again starts ahead of Albrigthton.
- Lamberts 4-3-3 must be PLs most predictable, stale counterattack formation

Always dangerous to say it but I think we at a minimum will keep Norwich, Fulham, Swansea and Cardiff behind us.
Norwich is in big trouble considering their performance today and who they got left to play...

Not that we should right off games like City and Chelsea, but I do think todays win should give us the impetus to really attack and try and dominate the teams in and around us, especially at Villa park. If we get at them we have more than enough attacking talent to win. We should have been beating sides like Palace, Sunderland, West Ham etc at home. Today we did what was and should be expected of us, to win at home to a side that we're better than. For me we've got enough ability to be up with the Toon and Southampton. I think we're a better side than most of the bottom 10 around us.

Likewise picking up away points against our rivals is also key. Keep up the performance levels of Liverpool, West Brom and today, and we'll finish comfortably. These performances shouldn't be the exception, they should be the rule for us. We were by no means brilliant either, but we did our job well and were effective in attack.

When you've got a young squad, supertom, it is very hard to make performances like today the rule - we are a transfer window or two away from that, I reckon.

Even with our current group I think we've got the quality to be winning the majority of our home games against the bottom 10. I'm hoping that more of these "winnable" home matches do actually result in wins.

But yeah, this summer we could definitely do with a bit more quality. If we lose Benteke for example, we'll struggle. The bench today was largely poor.

I agree we've got the quality but there's still that bit of greenness within the ranks that means we make many unforced errors that ultimately cost us points.  For example, I think Delph is quality but his inexperience and rawness still lets him down on occasions.  Hopefully time and patience will fix these things.  This was always going to be a season of ups and downs and that is what we are getting, we are world beaters one week and wretched the next.  Like I say, time and a transfer window or two will, hopefully, sort this out.

[berneboy]

- Strange picks by Lambert. KEA again starts ahead of Albrigthton.

And was one of our best performers.

Albrighton gave the ball away a couple of times when he came on - he looked a little boy and gave Norwich their only real chance in the second half.

[pauliewalnuts]

Yeah Baker certainly deserves credit too.

He also deserves credit for his beard. Magnificent work, young Baker.

[dave.woodhall]

Dear Paul,

That's what happens when you attack.

Regards,
David.

[garyshawsknee]

Us in a nut shell today. Really poor early on summed up by their goal. Then 15 minutes of great football, Bacunas goal summing this up, the confidence flowing through the team after the second goal. 

[Louzie0]

Yeah Baker certainly deserves credit too.

He also deserves credit for his beard. Magnificent work, young Baker.

Could he be inspired by Mellberg, I wonder.

[pauliewalnuts]

I thought for 20 mins we were abysmal. For 25 we were very good, and then for 45 we just killed the game off.

I am actually as pleased with the final 45 as I am the middle 25.

I know it is easier to do when you are winning 4-1, but even so, it was nice to see.

[WarszaVillan]

We kept the ball very well today, I thought Westwood was the pick of an excellent midfield. The fall backs were both very comfortable on the ball and pushed forward well.

[PeterWithesShin]

Very professional in the second half, which is how it should be. May not have been pretty but it's how it's done. That 25 minute spell also shows what a totally different side we are when we are confident.

[Richard E]

Particularly enjoyed Delia looking so glum, because I never have any joy with her recipes.

[Toronto Villa]

Some people need to compartmentalise their criticism. KEA has deserved it during the season. Today he was very good indeed and the player we saw in that video when we bought him. He was everywhere today.