Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Witton Warrior]

Benteke's goal on Dailymotion

Great rob, great run, great precision shot - Great!

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A crash on the M40 left me at a standstill for well over an hour and twenty minutes, so it meant I didn’t get back to the frozen north until 3am, which means I am a little tired this morning. I don’t care though when you’ve won.

We made heavy weather of it again though. It’s as if Lambert is a particularly aggressive Australian cricket captain who gets a low second innings lead with only a couple of sessions left and then declares, as we routinely come out at the moment in the second half and say that is that. Well last night it worked at least.

Palace are another Championship side and they looked it. They had won means of attack, scoop it into the channels and see what happens, the answer being not a lot. If we weren’t so keen on sitting deep and recycling the ball, we could have pressed them and stopped it, giving ourselves a much easier ride. But that wouldn’t be our style would it?

Palace had a good two minute spell of chances just after we had scored where Guzan actually made a few saves, but never really created an actual goal threat beyond that in retrospect. In fact, Andi was the closest to scoring again and should have buried his chance in the second half.

Hutton was immense and had Bolasie in his pocket. He more than deserved the chant he got towards the end when he showed a cool head and ran the ball forty yards up the pitch. Okore showed some real composure too and used his strength to nullify Palace, while Clark did very well. In fact, from a defensive point of view, the whole back four played well.

The midfield seemed to get bypassed and we hurried the ball on unnecessarily and then at times, slowed up the peed with which we moved it. I guess when you haven’t won in 9 matches and you’ve conceded late chances in three of your last four games, the natural instinct is to retreat and in the end it didn’t matter.

I thought we would win before hand. I know some were fearful of Palace, but looking at their team, its garbage and despite the absolutely record breakingly (almost) horrendous run we had been on… they were still level on points with us. Well now they’re not and its important we build on that when we play another Championship side on Sunday, before another soon to be second division outfit the weekend after that.

Benteke is back and he has a touch of class about him that nobody else in the bottom half has. If we could marry that up with some of the more incisive play seen for the majority against Burnley then we may become a little more entertaining.
   

[Ron Manager]

Interesting reading this thread. I was impressed that Sanchez lasted the 90mins but as others have pointed out he is the most creative midfielder we have. Perhaps Cleverley, who does put in a most impressive shift, would be better up front with Benteke as he scored goals for Wigan. I have always seen Clark as a defensive midfielder and still reckon that is his true position but he has bulked up and is playing well at the back.In fact all our centre backs have played well at various times this season. Hutton, as we have come to expect, coped well
against a speedy winger. Okore again looked good without being totally convincing. Westwood doesnt offer much apart from hard work and
both Agbonlahor and Weimann should be rested. Guzan rode his luck a bit.

Expect much of the same fare against Leicester. You would think we could win this one but dont be surprised if we dont!

[simon ward 50]

Tweeted this last night!

At last #avfc

[simon ward 50]

The hard facts are with Benteke on the pitch we always have a chance, without him we struggle!

[Phil from the upper holte]

Anyone seen the video's of all the lads singing the Benteke song ?

[WestleyArmsAV]

Our away following were amazing last night. Proud to be a villa fan.

Got behind team.

[simon ward 50]

 Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
1 Kings 1:15
So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
1 Kings 2:17
So he continued, ‘Please ask King Solomon – he will not refuse you – to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.’
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
1 Kings 2:21
So she said, ‘Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.’
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
1 Kings 2:22
King Solomon answered his mother, ‘Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him – after all, he is my older brother – yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!’
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
2 Kings 4:8
[ The Shunammite’s son restored to life ] One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
2 Kings 4:12
He said to his servant Gehazi, ‘Call the Shunammite.’ So he called her, and she stood before him.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
2 Kings 4:25
So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, ‘Look! There’s the Shunammite!
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
2 Kings 4:36
Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, ‘Call the Shunammite.’ And he did. When she came, he said, ‘Take your son.’
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
2 Kings 8:1
[ The Shunammite’s land restored ] Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, ‘Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years.’

All Shunammite references I could find in celebration of our great victory last night!

[itbrvilla]

Anyone seen the video's of all the lads singing the Benteke song ?

Which one?

[Clampy]

Our away following were amazing last night. Proud to be a villa fan.

Got behind team.

The away fans always do  get behind the team so i'm not sure why you're making the point again.

[WestleyArmsAV]

Is it not worth making an extra mention that on a cold Tuesday night before Xmas, we were outstanding?

Utv

[Clampy]

Is it not worth making an extra mention that on a cold Tuesday night before Xmas, we were outstanding?

Utv

Of course it is. It's just that your 'got behind team' line implied that we normally don't, and we do.

[OzVilla]

Is it not worth making an extra mention that on a cold Tuesday night before Xmas, we were outstanding?

Utv

I you think that was 'outstanding' you've obviously not been watching the Villa for many years.
 
Sorry just realized you were talking about the support, yes it was very good again.

[WestleyArmsAV]

It implied nothing other than its literal meaning. Enjoy your day.

[brontebilly]

Interesting reading this thread. I was impressed that Sanchez lasted the 90mins but as others have pointed out he is the most creative midfielder we have. Perhaps Cleverley, who does put in a most impressive shift, would be better up front with Benteke as he scored goals for Wigan. I have always seen Clark as a defensive midfielder and still reckon that is his true position but he has bulked up and is playing well at the back.In fact all our centre backs have played well at various times this season. Hutton, as we have come to expect, coped well
against a speedy winger. Okore again looked good without being totally convincing. Westwood doesnt offer much apart from hard work and
both Agbonlahor and Weimann should be rested. Guzan rode his luck a bit.

Expect much of the same fare against Leicester. You would think we could win this one but dont be surprised if we dont!

To be fair Lamber tried him in that role in the second half at QPR and he didnt have any impact.

Have been disappointed in Cleverley so far. Cant fault his workrate and he is tidy in possession. But he isnt very dynamic, dont recall him getting into the opposition box in a Villa shirt, gets knocked off the ball easily and his passing is very passive. Maybe patience is needed with him.

Sanchez seems more incisive is his passing than Westwood or Cleverley. Nice reverse ball from him to Benteke for our first chance last night.