Stoke City vs Aston Villa Post Match Thread

[AlexAlexCropley]

Charlie Nicholas singing our praises on GSS at the moment. I love it when they do that.

yeah but he reverted to type  by saying we won the first game last season then collapsed
Still wearing an earring at his age.tut tut

[Monty]

It's amazing what experience can do for a team, we didn't look at all panicked.

Experience and a proper defence. We looked a bit aimless going forward, even on the break there appeared to be little by way of a plan, but at the back they were really solid. Also, although we weren't necessarily brilliant with the ball in their half, we pressed their back four very well and stopped them building momentum. An encouraging start overall, and a necessary win given our upcoming fixtures.

[PeterWithesShin]

And for anyone who doesn't believe Legion is a walking disaster area. The car has been pranged twice with him in it. On the car park. Stationary.

[Olneythelonely]

Was the Hutton song sang?

[Villafirst]

What happened to Okore? Not even on the bench, and yet Baker was? Good start though.

[silhillvilla]

Well done lads. Great 3 points and a clean sheet. Onwards & upwards.

[cdbearsfan]

Surprisingly comfortable win. Should've won more easily as Bacuna missed a sitter at the end, and we missed at least two in the first half.

All the defence played well especially Hutton. N'Zogbia was the only poor player but he was taken off and Grealish looked good when he came on. We're gonna win the league!

[Ger Regan]

What happened to Okore? Not even on the bench, and yet Baker was? Good start though.

Slight knee injury

[Fin Feds Dad]

Just got in . Great day . Had a lift with my stoke mates who were very impressed with us .

Hutton, Senderos and Cissokho were excellent - as was Delph.

My stoke mates were impressed with Westwood .

Brilliant start to the season for us . UTV

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Easily the biggest plus for me (after the three points, obviously) was that defensively, we looked calm and composed, whereas over the last two years, all too often we have looked like we're winging it and hoping for the best.

Sanchez coming in might allow the other midfielders to move forward more, and Grealish looks like he could slot in at this level, but even so, I'd like us to get some creativity in during this window. It would make all the difference.

Also, the fact we should have won far more comfortable suggests the strikers can't come back soon enough.

Impressed with Hutton and Cissokho, both did extremely well, I thought.

Stoke to me looked pretty awful. I know it is also, mainly, because we played well, but I didn't really feel threatened by them much over that 90 minutes.

Agree with that. Need to improve the attack i.e. get a wide forward in. Can't wait till Benteke comes back now!

[exigo]

Absolutely solid across the back line. And we've still got Okore to throw in the mix.
Signs of the midfield moving it well, particularly Delph and Richardson. And we've still got Sanchez to throw in the mix.
If we can get Benteke and Kozak back sharpish, we'll be sorted up top. Cos frankly, Gabby needs melting down for glue.

[berneboy]

Just got in . Great day .

My stoke mates were impressed with Westwood .
 

Well, he has some competition for his spot next week!

[Jon Crofts]

Good start, more solidity to come next week.

Is it just me or is Nzonzi just a shaved chimp in a football kit?  Talentless thug.

[Toronto Villa]

I was impressed with the discipline. I wonder how much of that is down to the new assistant manager?

[Monty]

I was impressed with the discipline. I wonder how much of that is down to the new assistant manager?

Some could well be, but the average age of the back four surely has something to do with it, as well as the aggregate of international caps.