It's not Sherwood!

[aev]

But the same might be said of Grealish. In every instance, the same might be said of Grealish. Now, I'm pleased to see Jack getting a chance (and incidentally, I think the more central role he played in yesterday will be his position long-term, not the wing position in which Lambert gave him his cameos), but I'd much rather see Gil come on, as he's got more experience as a professional footballer in general and has been in good form for us.

I think Gil is the better player from the limited stuff I have seen but maybe he isn't fully fit. And to be truthful, even if he is Sherwood's choices worked yesterday.

Maybe, maybe. If he's not fit, though, why have him on the bench? That's what confuses me. Yes Sherwood's choices worked, but in the last minute from a penalty (though yes, we were unlucky not to have scored more by then). No reason it can't work better.

In fact, I give Sherwood a lot of credit for dropping Sinclair yesterday. Sinclair's been one of our better players, but Sherwood wanted numbers in the centre of midfield and a number 10 to help link with the strikers, and Sinclair couldn't have done that. I disagree about the exact selection, but I can see the logic and the system worked well.

And ultimately it is all about he result. I remember after the Palace game away saying I thought we were lucky to get 3 points, but it was pointed out the result was the important thing.

Hell, it is the only thing.

[Monty]

Yes it's about the result, but fluke results aren't sustainable in a league campaign - e.g., see Crystal Palace result under Lambert. I thought last night's result wasn't just great because we won, and wasn't just great because we beat the Bitters with a hilarious penalty in the last minute, but because we absolutely deserved to win. That's a platform for more results - and boy do we need more results.

[Mister E]

Yes it's about the result, but fluke results aren't sustainable in a league campaign - e.g., see Crystal Palace result under Lambert. I thought last night's result wasn't just great because we won, and wasn't just great because we beat the Bitters with a hilarious penalty in the last minute, but because we absolutely deserved to win. That's a platform for more results - and boy do we need more results.

bang on, we fully deserved the result last night - it should have injected an enormous quantity of confidence into the players as well; that is why the result was so important to us last night.

[aev]

To me they almost look, for want of a better expression, institutionalized.

When the equalizer went in, they kind of lost impetus but maybe I am just being over critical.

[Rodders]

Just watched highlights and Timmy's interview. I have to say that I am developing a real soft spot for this twinkly-eyed, passionate, erudite man. He's also clearly stark staring bonkers, which actually endears him to me that little bit more.

I was one of those who weren't convinced his appointment was wise, but if last night's game was an indication of what we can expect in times to come then I shan't be complaining. More than a bit of John Gregory about him; I don't think that we'll ever be bored...

Where did you watch that?

On AVTV, which is always awkward, i.e. trying to block out our Jack's irritating drone whilst remaining interested in the game.

[Monty]

To me they almost look, for want of a better expression, institutionalized.

When the equalizer went in, they kind of lost impetus but maybe I am just being over critical.

I agree - under Lambert, 'we go again' turned into 'here we go again' every time the opposition scored, and there was a bit of that last night. However, unusually, we actually stuck at it and got a reward, which should be beneficial for morale. We CAN actually win games!

[Damo70]

Just watched highlights and Timmy's interview. I have to say that I am developing a real soft spot for this twinkly-eyed, passionate, erudite man. He's also clearly stark staring bonkers, which actually endears him to me that little bit more.

I was one of those who weren't convinced his appointment was wise, but if last night's game was an indication of what we can expect in times to come then I shan't be complaining. More than a bit of John Gregory about him; I don't think that we'll ever be bored...

Where did you watch that?

He went up to the BT Bunco Booth for a chat with Fletch, Sav and Hargo. And managed to keep a straight face (just about) when defending Hutton. "It was a shame their player couldn't get out of the way".

[Boz]

A positive  new record for Villa from last night, most shots on target ( in Premiership game  since May 2014. Also our first penalty since January 2014 and should have had two.

[aev]

Barney Ronay in the Guardian on Sherwood....

Sherwood has some very clear tactics. He played a certain way at Spurs, straight lines, width and speed in midifeld, big striker, close down aggressively, get it forward quickly, shout a lot on the touchline. It's just people don't like those kind of tactics, or see them as basic or retrograde or not "funky" enough. Plus possibly it becomes easy to counter them over time. Having said that I thought Nzogbia playing at the tip of a diamond was quite innovative. Perhaps Sherwood is dismissed too easily by some. Probably it's a bit of snobbery because he's a bold, loud, straight up English bloke.

[PeterWithe]

Barney Ronay in the Guardian on Sherwood....

Sherwood has some very clear tactics. He played a certain way at Spurs, straight lines, width and speed in midifeld, big striker, close down aggressively, get it forward quickly, shout a lot on the touchline. It's just people don't like those kind of tactics, or see them as basic or retrograde or not "funky" enough. Plus possibly it becomes easy to counter them over time. Having said that I thought Nzogbia playing at the tip of a diamond was quite innovative. Perhaps Sherwood is dismissed too easily by some. Probably it's a bit of snobbery because he's a bold, loud, straight up English bloke.

I think there is an element of that, he wasn't foreign enough for Spurs.

[QBVILLA]

Or for some of our fans judging by some of the early comments on this thread. That was the first Villa game I have actually enjoyed in a long time. Not just the result but the actual performance. The ball going sideways then forward rather than sideways, sideways, back. It's also shut those gobshites from Smethwick up for a few days. God bless ya Tim.

[supertom]

Or for some of our fans judging by some of the early comments on this thread. That was the first Villa game I have actually enjoyed in a long time. Not just the result but the actual performance. The ball going sideways then forward rather than sideways, sideways, back. It's also shut those gobshites from Smethwick up for a few days. God bless ya Tim.

I enjoyed the high pressing too. Not giving them any time. We rarely did that under Lambert, even though on the few occasions we did, we got joy, but it never seemed to twig with Lamberk that we should keep that going. We merely sat back and invited pressure.

[villan from luton]

It was good to see a manager and his staff (that Tony Parks was going mad) actually showing some passion and feeling for the club. It aint rocket science to play to your strengths and Benteke hopefully will have more confidence after the penalty. Liked Delph running to the manager after the penalty as well. As he said in the interview after, there will be highs and lows, but at least we know the team will be going out trying to win a game now. Brave decision to start with N'Zogbia and even braver to bring Grealish on, fair play to him.   

[ozzjim]

It is really easy to see that the first movement on the ball of all the players pretty much is to carry it forward a few yards. Hutton and Lowton in particular, but all of them, straight away were looking to go forward.

[Monty]

Barney Ronay in the Guardian on Sherwood....

Sherwood has some very clear tactics. He played a certain way at Spurs, straight lines, width and speed in midifeld, big striker, close down aggressively, get it forward quickly, shout a lot on the touchline. It's just people don't like those kind of tactics, or see them as basic or retrograde or not "funky" enough. Plus possibly it becomes easy to counter them over time. Having said that I thought Nzogbia playing at the tip of a diamond was quite innovative. Perhaps Sherwood is dismissed too easily by some. Probably it's a bit of snobbery because he's a bold, loud, straight up English bloke.

Trust me Barney, it's because the straight lines tactics are really old-fashioned and don't work against most Premier League teams unless you have exceptional players to make up for them. Nothing to do with 'fashion' - it's because they don't work. It's 1D against 2D. A big reason for last night's performance was the change of shape, because our midfield always had options on the ball and always had numbers to spare. It was a big improvement and it made me very happy.