Aston Villa v Newcastle United Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

I was just about to ask, was the 17th minute applause for the two Newcastle fans respected?

Very much so. Pretty much everyone joined in.

[PeterWithesShin]

Satisfied with the point. We showed we can pass it, we also showed we can be toothless up front. Hope Sisko is ok, he has looked very good so far. As has Hutton. A week ago i'd have taken 4 points and 2 clean sheets so no real complaints from me. Apart from the shit attendance. And the monsoon at the final whistle.

[dave shelley]

I was just about to ask, was the 17th minute applause for the two Newcastle fans respected?

Very much so. Pretty much everyone joined in.

Great, delighted to hear that.

[CT]

Yes it was respected , extremely well.

As for us, defensively looked very solid. It's good to have strength all the way along the back line. Really pleased with Alan Hutton and Aly Cissokho.

Carlos looked like he will be a really good addition, happy with Delph and Westwood but not overly impressed with Richardson.

As for up front, Weimann really isn't good enough for me, and Gabby, well, I watched him closely today. Trotted from side to side, hardly ever closed down their centre backs, I think he actually ran about five times. The rest was at walking pace - we can't afford passengers and he's our biggest passenger IMO.

[Smirker]

Now that we've seemingly tightened up a bit at the back and are yet to get our best strikers back, plus one or two more signings to come in (hopefully) and Vlaar not leaving, I am hopeful that we can give the FA Cup a good go this season.

[PeterWithesShin]

Boss Paul Lambert watched Villa earn a creditable point against Newcastle and hailed his side's "terrific start" to the season.

Villa added a resolute 0-0 draw with the Magpies to the 1-0 victory over Stoke from the previous weekend.

Lambert felt his side deserved the point after a performance full of desire and determination.

He said the only thing missing was that "finishing touch."

Overall, he's thrilled with the early signs from 2014-15.

He said: "To pick up four points from six is a terrific start for us. The start we have been made has been really good.

"We've certainly taken the challenge on this season.

"Today, I thought we were excellent - in the first half we were excellent, all we needed was a finishing touch.

"Newcastle came down here last season and did a job on us. I don't think anyone could begrudge us getting something out of that game.

"We had chances. I couldn't ask for any more effort.

"Tactically in the first two games I think we've been spot on. The only thing missing was a goal. Fair play to them, they've been excellent.

"I couldn't fault the way we played. We were resolute, it's another clean sheet and there were some really big performances there.

"Today all we needed was a finishing touch."

Lambert may have been craving that necessary touch in the final third but he certainly couldn't grumble with the defensive display of his team, who clocked up their second successive clean sheet.

He added: "We have been tougher. That's a great testament not only to the back five but also the midfield lads who are putting one hell of a shift in.

"I thought Aly Cissokho was outstanding. Philippe Senderos has been brilliant and Alan Hutton has been outstanding.

"Alan was excellent today. I thought him and Aly were outstanding.

"Aly was that good they had to put their own Sissoko on the right side to try and stop him because he was that powerful.

"Alan was excellent the whole game. It's great for ourselves, Alan himself and Scotland too, who have a game coming up against Germany. He is in excellent form."

[LTA]

Never happy to drop points at (should be used to it now though), but more good than bad really.  Better discipline and a lot more organised.  Need Benteke back and firing quickly.

[Rudy65]

What was the applause for in 17th minute? We arrived smack on kick off so if there was an announcement we missed it. Joined in tho.

Two Newcastle fans died on 17th July on the MH17 air crash, and yes it was universally respected

Is it me, or is this applause thing getting a bit OTT.

Terrible circumstances in which to die, but applause for the rest of The season?

Are we supposed to do this for every supporter that dies?

[Chipsticks]

Brilliant performance from the whole back 5, particularly the full-backs. Sanchez looked solid on his debut and was nice to see a big midfielder who can win headers for a change. I honestly thought Joe Cole should have come on to help us hold the ball and play in their half a bit more.

Bad that we're still playing counter attack at home, but I think this team has a lot more to come as they blend together and the two big guys come back.

Top 10 and a cup run needs to be our ambition this season and this squad is more than capable.

[ciggiesnbeer]

What was the applause for in 17th minute? We arrived smack on kick off so if there was an announcement we missed it. Joined in tho.

Two Newcastle fans died on 17th July on the MH17 air crash, and yes it was universally respected

Is it me, or is this applause thing getting a bit OTT.

Terrible circumstances in which to die, but applause for the rest of The season?

Are we supposed to do this for every supporter that dies?

Possibly, but we kept at it for over a season with Petrov. I think Newcastle fans can mourn the victims in any way they wish.

For me I like to see fans rally for each other and for other clubs fans no matter what. It is a nice gesture and something that unifies us.

I do understand what you mean though. I think anyone who has lost someone close can feel a tinge of bitterness that the world didn't care when your loved one died. It is a hard thing either way

[lindenlad]

Thought we did ok today. Looked much better at the back. Cissokho was great. Yep, up front we need to get Kozak and Benteke back asap. Sanchez looked great . Vlaar didn't need to look great `cos he had some good people around him. Mostly positives for me from today.
Regarding that applause on 17 mins, I think fair enough, we did it for Stan and fully deserved, these lads were just doing what we have all done for years but were unlucky enough to be involved in this. I am happy to stand and applaud for them, just like I hope they would/did for us.
Onwards and upwards for me from today UTV

[silhillvilla]

Don't get the zog bashing, he was easily better than gabby and Weimann who both offered sweet fa again. I'd be inclined to play Grealish v hull and drop Weimann. Bent for gabby ? Not sure on that as bent is a stone overweight .

[john2710]

Happy with the point & a clean sheet. Two toothless teams that never looked like scoring, I think the emphasis this season will be on being solid & difficult to beat. However, we've played 4-3-3 for 2 seasons at home & struggled to score & that won't change unless we get better players to replace Gabby or Weimann.

Plus points, Cissokho, Delph & Hutton.
Minus points, Weimann's first touch, Westwood's lightweight defending & N'Zogbia running down blind alleys.

I doubt we'll get 10 goals between Gabby, N'Zogbia or Weimann. Though limited in what he brings to the team I think Gabby gets a hard deal most of the time.

[silhillvilla]

What was the applause for in 17th minute? We arrived smack on kick off so if there was an announcement we missed it. Joined in tho.

Two Newcastle fans died on 17th July on the MH17 air crash, and yes it was universally respected

Is it me, or is this applause thing getting a bit OTT.

Terrible circumstances in which to die, but applause for the rest of The season?

Are we supposed to do this for every supporter that dies?

Chill out man. Minutes applause aren't exclusive to Petrov. It's vogue to do it now and if it helps the suffering friends and relatives then let's support it.

[citizenDJ]

A solid defence is always a good starting point for improvement, so it's difficult to be upset with our start to the season. We still look so poor from a creative point of view though, and I was very surprised to see Bent coming on rather than Joe Cole - why bother with him at all if not to make the difference in games like this? But perhaps he is not fit enough to play.

Our three best players today, in my opinion, were Cissokho, Hutton and Richardson, which does reflect rather well on Lambert. Our worst players today were Weimann and Agbonlahor and I would be over the moon, Clive, if they were replaced as soon as possible.

Credit to Vlaar and Senderos, too, who I thought might struggle against the guile of some of Newcastle's players. I was wrong about that, they looked very comfortable indeed. I honestly can't remember Reveille (sp?) doing anything of note at all.

Overall, not too bad at all.