Aston Villa 2 vs 1 Smethwick Post Match thread

[john2710]

What a relief, well deserved win, even if it turned out to be a tad lucky. Still a long way to go, but this could be a pivotal game. First half was everything that's been missing for a couple of years.

Couldn't really fault anyone, but special mention to Gabby, Lowton, Delph & Cleverley. When Gabby plays well, so does the team.

Saturday is a bonus game, less pressure on the result but a win would boost confidence further. But it would still be nice to beat the bastards.

UTV

[silhillvilla]

We deserved to win and Pulis the Negative got exactly what he deserved as well. I had to turn my bavk on the penalty though.

On about 80 mins one of our ball boys rolled the ball to foster to take a goal kick and he kicked it 15 yards back in the direction it had come from to waste about 30 seconds . Then the ball boy ran, got the ball and rolled it into the 6 yard box to ensure foster would take the kick. Sadly he over ran the throw a bit and it rolled out beyond the penalty spot to the 18 yard line. Foster crawled over to get it rolled it back and finally took the kick. I reckon all in all 90 seconds lost.

If that's Pulis brand then that can fuck right off.

[Rudy65]

When the ref gave that penalty I looked around and saw every human emotion imaginable etched on people's faces. Every single one. Sometimes in life there are moments that just cannot be described and that was one I'll never forget.

Yep. Everyone was celebrating when we got the pen and then my son reminded Me that we still had to score

[danno]

that is brilliant from Delph. lol

[Villa in Denmark]

We deserved to win and Pulis the Negative got exactly what he deserved as well. I had to turn my bavk on the penalty though.

On about 80 mins one of our ball boys rolled the ball to foster to take a goal kick and he kicked it 15 yards back in the direction it had come from to waste about 30 seconds . Then the ball boy ran, got the ball and rolled it into the 6 yard box to ensure foster would take the kick. Sadly he over ran the throw a bit and it rolled out beyond the penalty spot to the 18 yard line. Foster crawled over to get it rolled it back and finally took the kick. I reckon all in all 90 seconds lost.

If that's Pulis brand then that can fuck right off.

He was time wasting from about 75 minutes.

[paul_e]

My laptop, halfway through a post on here with 10 to go gave up the ghost, so I have just watched the whole after match stuff on BT sport, who seem to put a decent after game thing on these days if you win!

I thought the team selection was a bit nuts, but fair play to Sherwood, they came through for him tonight. Gabby was everything we moan about him not being for 60 minutes, I would have got Sinclair on for him and played him right up with Benteke but it didn't matter. NZogbia was good first half at finding space between the lines, and Lescott could not cope with Gabby at all. Another night we go in 3 nil up and cruise through that second half.

Sherwood afterwards interestingly said that since he got here a lot of people have told him Gabby is finished, that he has lost this, or can't do that but in training he has been and Sherwood thinks he and Benteke are the best front 2 outside the top 6, just needs to get them believing.

I thought Lowton was superb tonight at left back, couple of great crosses on his right too. We are a better team going forward with him in the side, because he is a genuinely good footballer.

Okore scared the shit out of me all night, but I thought Clarke was a monster second half especially. He is fast becoming our number 1 centre half, which is amazing really.

If Tim can get the intensity of that first 35-40 minutes out of them every home game till the end of the season we will stay up. The other interesting thing he said afterwards was that to play the way he wants to he doesn't think they are fit enough yet, and it is something he is working on.

Clark was my man of the match tonight and has been our player of the season for me, he's become the player that there were glimpses of in the past.

[pauliewalnuts]

More gems from that Bitters' Forum:

They are a massive club though at least our great little club had a go.

I am  bloody fuming   and feel sorry for the fans that went.

Been absolutely inconsolable tonight. Missus is worried. I'm fuming.

I hope Tony is in the shower tw@tting every last one of them.

tbf

ive read what you picked from there site, but theres more of there fans saying we were the better team and that basically they got what they deserved, sorry but I think Albion fans on there own site are in the main quite balanced.

There also seem to be quite a few of them who have sussed out Pulis and don't seem to happy with the playing for a draw, gamesmanship and failure to pass the ball about very much.

I was amazed at how Stoke like they are already. They dropped to the floor when a Villa player was within a yard, tackled with their studs up all night and relied completely on set plays.

Foster has spent a lot of time time-wasting in recent games, too.

That's no coincidence.

[Des Little]

Delph paying his respects to Craig Gardner after the penalty.

https://twitter.com/AhmarAVFC/status/572896102527201282

Can't see anything here...what did he do?

[Rudy65]

My laptop, halfway through a post on here with 10 to go gave up the ghost, so I have just watched the whole after match stuff on BT sport, who seem to put a decent after game thing on these days if you win!

I thought the team selection was a bit nuts, but fair play to Sherwood, they came through for him tonight. Gabby was everything we moan about him not being for 60 minutes, I would have got Sinclair on for him and played him right up with Benteke but it didn't matter. NZogbia was good first half at finding space between the lines, and Lescott could not cope with Gabby at all. Another night we go in 3 nil up and cruise through that second half.

Sherwood afterwards interestingly said that since he got here a lot of people have told him Gabby is finished, that he has lost this, or can't do that but in training he has been and Sherwood thinks he and Benteke are the best front 2 outside the top 6, just needs to get them believing.

I thought Lowton was superb tonight at left back, couple of great crosses on his right too. We are a better team going forward with him in the side, because he is a genuinely good footballer.

Okore scared the shit out of me all night, but I thought Clarke was a monster second half especially. He is fast becoming our number 1 centre half, which is amazing really.

If Tim can get the intensity of that first 35-40 minutes out of them every home game till the end of the season we will stay up. The other interesting thing he said afterwards was that to play the way he wants to he doesn't think they are fit enough yet, and it is something he is working on.

Clark was my man of the match tonight and has been our player of the season for me, he's become the player that there were glimpses of in the past.

He is the new Concrete

[Villa in Denmark]

My laptop, halfway through a post on here with 10 to go gave up the ghost, so I have just watched the whole after match stuff on BT sport, who seem to put a decent after game thing on these days if you win!

I thought the team selection was a bit nuts, but fair play to Sherwood, they came through for him tonight. Gabby was everything we moan about him not being for 60 minutes, I would have got Sinclair on for him and played him right up with Benteke but it didn't matter. NZogbia was good first half at finding space between the lines, and Lescott could not cope with Gabby at all. Another night we go in 3 nil up and cruise through that second half.

Sherwood afterwards interestingly said that since he got here a lot of people have told him Gabby is finished, that he has lost this, or can't do that but in training he has been and Sherwood thinks he and Benteke are the best front 2 outside the top 6, just needs to get them believing.

I thought Lowton was superb tonight at left back, couple of great crosses on his right too. We are a better team going forward with him in the side, because he is a genuinely good footballer.

Okore scared the shit out of me all night, but I thought Clarke was a monster second half especially. He is fast becoming our number 1 centre half, which is amazing really.

If Tim can get the intensity of that first 35-40 minutes out of them every home game till the end of the season we will stay up. The other interesting thing he said afterwards was that to play the way he wants to he doesn't think they are fit enough yet, and it is something he is working on.

Clark was my man of the match tonight and has been our player of the season for me, he's become the player that there were glimpses of in the past.

He is the new Concrete

But his concrete has set properly.

The other one was more plaster of Paris.

[kippaxvilla2]

When the ref gave that penalty I looked around and saw every human emotion imaginable etched on people's faces. Every single one. Sometimes in life there are moments that just cannot be described and that was one I'll never forget.

Fair play to you Des you deserved that after all the shite you've endured this season.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Delph paying his respects to Craig Gardner after the penalty.

https://twitter.com/AhmarAVFC/status/572896102527201282

Can't see anything here...what did he do?

Shouted in his face.

Not very needed imho, but I imagine Gardner did it to him in the past or something.

[supertom]

My laptop, halfway through a post on here with 10 to go gave up the ghost, so I have just watched the whole after match stuff on BT sport, who seem to put a decent after game thing on these days if you win!

I thought the team selection was a bit nuts, but fair play to Sherwood, they came through for him tonight. Gabby was everything we moan about him not being for 60 minutes, I would have got Sinclair on for him and played him right up with Benteke but it didn't matter. NZogbia was good first half at finding space between the lines, and Lescott could not cope with Gabby at all. Another night we go in 3 nil up and cruise through that second half.

Sherwood afterwards interestingly said that since he got here a lot of people have told him Gabby is finished, that he has lost this, or can't do that but in training he has been and Sherwood thinks he and Benteke are the best front 2 outside the top 6, just needs to get them believing.

I thought Lowton was superb tonight at left back, couple of great crosses on his right too. We are a better team going forward with him in the side, because he is a genuinely good footballer.

Okore scared the shit out of me all night, but I thought Clarke was a monster second half especially. He is fast becoming our number 1 centre half, which is amazing really.

If Tim can get the intensity of that first 35-40 minutes out of them every home game till the end of the season we will stay up. The other interesting thing he said afterwards was that to play the way he wants to he doesn't think they are fit enough yet, and it is something he is working on.

Clark was my man of the match tonight and has been our player of the season for me, he's become the player that there were glimpses of in the past.

Definitely. He's barely put a foot wrong all season and has finally lived up to the potential of becoming the next Cahill. We expected a lot when he was just coming through under O Neill. Finally the consistency is here and more importantly he's playing like an experienced defender. He doesn't appear to need a babysitter now.

Okore makes mistakes still, but in fairness to him he's still in his first full season at this level, and he's got great attributes. His pace is a blessing in getting back, as he showed with one great interception. I think Okore will be rock solid by next season. He just needs to improve his decision making and iron out the errors.

[pauliewalnuts]

Delph paying his respects to Craig Gardner after the penalty.

https://twitter.com/AhmarAVFC/status/572896102527201282

Can't see anything here...what did he do?

Shouted in his face.

Not very needed imho, but I imagine Gardner did it to him in the past or something.

Gardner deserves everything he gets, the loud mouthed arse.

[berneboy]

Ciaran has become a very good centre back.
He must have something special to come back so well.