Stoke City vs Aston Villa Post Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

I think on the evidence of yesterday we have a better chance this season and principally because we have experience in the side now.

[London Villan]

Experience is the one thing most fans have been asked for over the last 18 months...

[London Villan]

Experience is the one thing most fans have been asking for over the last 18 months...

[Chipsticks]

Waking up with a massive a Villa hard-on.

Me and you the same, hoping we control the game against the Geordies on Saturday and give them a bit of a battering. Hate that lot.

In that case good job that you two were not sharing a bed!

[N'ZMAV]

I hate the claret shorts.

[SamTheMouse]

I've got my reservations about Roy Keane, but there's no denying that when you saw him storm off the bench to lay into the officials - on several occasions - there was something inspiring about it. He certainly has presence, and I think when the players look across and see there's a very scary man fighting in their corner, it must have some effect.

[aj2k77]

I've got my reservations about Roy Keane, but there's no denying that when you saw him storm off the bench to lay into the officials - on several occasions - there was something inspiring about it. He certainly has presence, and I think when the players look across and see there's a very scary man fighting in their corner, it must have some effect.

His winning mentality can't do a team who appeared to accept defeat any harm at all. I know it's the first game but the signs are positive and I've missed having something to be positive about.

[clash city rocker]

For all his faults Keane ' s a winner at all costs..If the players can have the same mentality on the pitch that he had  then there is no reason why we should go into any game expecting to get beaten. He for one , I'm sure, would never allow players to go out thinking that loosing was an option.

[David_Nab]

Keane might have helped but just having a defence that was physically strong helped..

I suspect Lambert like us has had enough of 2 years watching our defence being pushed around.Lowton ,Bennet and Clark have all been so weak.Clark made Anichabe look like Drogba every time he played against us.

Only one game but important to get a win and clean sheet, hopefully adding Sanchez as well will now make us more solid and stop giving  away poor goals.

[Mellin]

When was the last time we won two opening games on the bounce? We've always seemed to struggle in them.

[dekko]

Keane might have helped but just having a defence that was physically strong helped..

I suspect Lambert like us has had enough of 2 years watching our defence being pushed around.Lowton ,Bennet and Clark have all been so weak.Clark made Anichabe look like Drogba every time he played against us.

Only one game but important to get a win and clean sheet, hopefully adding Sanchez as well will now make us more solid and stop giving  away poor goals.

Can't understate how important this is.  For instance there was a moment early on yesterday when a Stoke player got into a 1 on 1 with sisoko Sissokho Aly and Aly just took the ball off him and bounced him off.  Bennett would've snapped in two attempting a challenge like that.

[john e]

I hope you guys have paid up to H&V with that little bet we had on who will be owner and manager at the first game of the season

[dave.woodhall]

I hope you guys have paid up to H&V with that little bet we had on who will be owner and manager at the first game of the season

I'll put my hand up and admit that at the time I thought we would have been taken over by now.

[olaftab]

I hate the claret shorts.

That's Lambert for you. Totally useless can't even select the right colour shorts!

[Monty]

The difference between last season and yesterday is that our style, however limited it may be in the wider picture, was at least recognisable as a style. It is limited to rely on strong defence and counterattacking, but at least yesterday we had the defence to actually pursue that game-plan with some focus and concentration.