It's not Sherwood!

[SoccerHQ]

First half is what I want to see from us at VP all the time, not just in local derbies where the tempo and feel is different. On the front foot and creating stuff.

If we lose a few games that way so be it but I want to see that from the first home game next season as I do feel Sherwood could be a rare Villa Manager that makes us fairly strong and winning regularly at Villa Park.

[ozzjim]

I think Sherwood loves his adoring public (or what he thinks is) and will do all he can to pump them up to the heavens at home. Tonight was a brilliant example of picking a team that no one really expected and getting the best out of them. Hell even NZogbia was running into tackles and closing down, and Cleverley was fighting for every ball. Massively different to the fight under Lambert, and interesting that when the penalty hit the net Delph ran to Sherwood, which considering he had such a good relationship with Lambert was very interesting. Also nice to see that the captains armband is not with Gabby when Vlaar is out any more.

[OCD]

I'm not going to backtrack - I don't like it when someone from the club belittles a team that we're about to play.

That was the only criticism that I've offered of Sherwood so far though. I like how passionate he is (it's a refreshing change), I'm liking the changes that I'm hearing about and tonight went some way to dispelling the talk that he's not good with tactics. It's rather early to be making judgements about him either way though. If he keeps us up I would be surprised if anyone suggested we should change managers again.

[pauliewalnuts]

I am not a Sherwood fan, but so long as he gets results between now and the end of the season, he can belittle who he likes as far as I'm concerned.

In fact, he can belittle Albion whenever he likes, the ridiculous, deluded rat-eating twats.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I think Sherwood loves his adoring public (or what he thinks is) and will do all he can to pump them up to the heavens at home. Tonight was a brilliant example of picking a team that no one really expected and getting the best out of them. Hell even NZogbia was running into tackles and closing down, and Cleverley was fighting for every ball. Massively different to the fight under Lambert, and interesting that when the penalty hit the net Delph ran to Sherwood, which considering he had such a good relationship with Lambert was very interesting. Also nice to see that the captains armband is not with Gabby when Vlaar is out any more.

I noticed that as well. Good for him. A player on loan doesn't need to give his all like he did today. Nice to see.

[Villa in Denmark]

I am not a Sherwood fan, but so long as he gets results between now and the end of the season, he can belittle who he likes as far as I'm concerned.

In fact, he can belittle Albion whenever he likes, the ridiculous, deluded rat-eating twats.

^^^^^^^^^
This.  100% this.

[supertom]

I think Sherwood loves his adoring public (or what he thinks is) and will do all he can to pump them up to the heavens at home. Tonight was a brilliant example of picking a team that no one really expected and getting the best out of them. Hell even NZogbia was running into tackles and closing down, and Cleverley was fighting for every ball. Massively different to the fight under Lambert, and interesting that when the penalty hit the net Delph ran to Sherwood, which considering he had such a good relationship with Lambert was very interesting. Also nice to see that the captains armband is not with Gabby when Vlaar is out any more.

I noticed that as well. Good for him. A player on loan doesn't need to give his all like he did today. Nice to see.

Today he looked a player worth keeping. Our three absolutely ran midfield and looked very classy compared to West Broms plodders.

[not3bad]

Really hope we can build on this.

[Villa in Denmark]

I think Sherwood loves his adoring public (or what he thinks is) and will do all he can to pump them up to the heavens at home. Tonight was a brilliant example of picking a team that no one really expected and getting the best out of them. Hell even NZogbia was running into tackles and closing down, and Cleverley was fighting for every ball. Massively different to the fight under Lambert, and interesting that when the penalty hit the net Delph ran to Sherwood, which considering he had such a good relationship with Lambert was very interesting. Also nice to see that the captains armband is not with Gabby when Vlaar is out any more.

I noticed that as well. Good for him. A player on loan doesn't need to give his all like he did today. Nice to see.

Today he looked a player worth keeping. Our three absolutely ran midfield and looked very classy compared to West Broms plodders.

Let's see what happens when we're not playing the stripeys at home. Pulis isn't exactly renowned for using midfielders as anything other spectators, especially away from home.

But if they can keep that sort of performance up I might just have to eat a double helping if humble pie. One for Cleverly, one for Sherwood.

I hope so.

[ozzjim]

I will join you at the Cleverely table. I thought Westwood played well too tonight, and was at times the calmest head in the midfield for us, just wish he was taken off set pieces!

[Toronto Villa]

Cleverley looks reborn. He looked 10 times the player under Lambert, the man who sucked life out of this club. if he can maintain this level of industry then he'd be a really good addition on a free.

[ROBBO]

Hold on it's one game, a very important one granted but i want to see us playing with that kind of committment  until the end of the season.Who would have thought Zog could still play like that?

[Toronto Villa]

Off course it is one game, but he and a few others looked a lot better than they have for a good while.

I want to judge these players on working with Sherwood and his staff as opposed to having our impression of their ability clouded by the Lambert era. For me, in the three games, and even though we lost two of those games, there has been overall more energy, enthusiasm and ability shown, than at any time this season with maybe the exception of the open matches where we picked up 10 points. We shouldn't have lost to Stoke, we were unlucky vs Newcastle, and finally got the win tonight. In each game the performance of all of the players has improved, so hopefully that is something they can all build on; including much maligned players such as Cleverley, Gabby or N'Zogbia.

In a number of ways tonight was merely one big step in the right direction.

[OzVilla]

Over the last couple of years, the one thing that this group of players have been consistent on is their consistent inability to build on a good result.

I'm absolutely delighted we won last night but I'm not heralding a great revival just yet in the same way that I wasn't saying 'we're gone' after losing to the Barcodes.

I'm afraid I still don't trust these players.

[ROBBO]

Do you think that proffessional footballers earning squillions need motivating? thats not having a go but i am puzzled that these guys need motivation after all it is their living. You and i would pay the club to play just for the honour. The Baggies are the same, terrible results a new manager and suddenly they go unbeaten, until of course they ran into a much superior clu.