Aston Villa 2 vs 1 Smethwick Post Match thread

[Phil from the upper holte]

For the first goal as the ball was rolled back to Guzan my son was moaning about it being a waste as he can't kick straight. Seconds later it was in the back of the net. I actually thought we mixed it up quite well last night, some of the time trying to build from the back, other times getting it forward early.

bloody hell Chris, Mr Positive has a negative son?

[Des Little]

Our mate Lescott just loves conceding injury time winners to us doesn't he? Brilliant

[Percy McCarthy]

Am I right it thinking Legion couldn't go last night?

Yep. Its Sunderland redux

He is however going on Saturday 

We should club together and send him on the Eurostar to Paris with his better half for the day.

Just to be on the safe side

One of those Megabuses would be cheaper.

Yes, we wouldn't want him breaking the Orient Express.

[cheltenhamlion]

I was genuinely taken aback at how much they resembled the Pulis Stoke team. Time wasting as soon as they equalised. Fouling people off the ball. Only discernable plan of attack being set pieces. I expect them to sign a throw in expert in the summer.

[PeterWithesShin]

I was genuinely taken aback at how much they resembled the Pulis Stoke team. Time wasting as soon as they equalised. Fouling people off the ball. Only discernable plan of attack being set pieces. I expect them to sign a throw in expert in the summer.

I said the same last night. The natives won't like that, it's not the Albion way.

Amazing how quickly West Brazil have become Stoke. Shit football, well organised, time wasting, constant hoofs, dirty and snide, reliant on set pieces.

[DeKuip]

The Holte End was rocking last night. It's all we've asked for just give us something Villa. They did.
They go on about atmospheres at grounds. 49000 Geordies Sat on their hands on Saturday, we showed how's it's done.
Special mention to the Lower North , superb baiting.. it will be twice as loud Saturday.

It was at times although the "F**k the Albion" got on my tits. I knew from the away game what was being sung but from the Trinity last night it just sounded like more support for the visitors.  There was a time just as they were getting into the game during the second half when their fans were singing their version of it and both the Holte and the North Stand our version at the same time and it was like the whole ground was getting behind them because the emphasis in it is on the word Albion and that all you could hear. I've no doubt it gave their team a lift and the equaliser came not too long after.

[PeterWithesShin]

The Holte End was rocking last night. It's all we've asked for just give us something Villa. They did.
They go on about atmospheres at grounds. 49000 Geordies Sat on their hands on Saturday, we showed how's it's done.
Special mention to the Lower North , superb baiting.. it will be twice as loud Saturday.

It was at times although the "F**k the Albion" got on my tits. I knew from the away game what was being sung but from the Trinity last night it just sounded like more support for the visitors.  There was a time just as they were getting into the game during the second half when their fans were singing their version of it and both the Holte and the North Stand our version at the same time and it was like the whole ground was getting behind them because the emphasis in it is on the word Albion and that all you could hear. I've no doubt it gave their team a lift and the equaliser came not too long after.

Didn't give them much of a lift in the first half when it was being sung.

[PeterWithesShin]

Hutton plays the ball.

https://vine.co/v/O0gaWI0nXqq

[DeKuip]

The Holte End was rocking last night. It's all we've asked for just give us something Villa. They did.
They go on about atmospheres at grounds. 49000 Geordies Sat on their hands on Saturday, we showed how's it's done.
Special mention to the Lower North , superb baiting.. it will be twice as loud Saturday.

It was at times although the "F**k the Albion" got on my tits. I knew from the away game what was being sung but from the Trinity last night it just sounded like more support for the visitors.  There was a time just as they were getting into the game during the second half when their fans were singing their version of it and both the Holte and the North Stand our version at the same time and it was like the whole ground was getting behind them because the emphasis in it is on the word Albion and that all you could hear. I've no doubt it gave their team a lift and the equaliser came not too long after.

Didn't give them much of a lift in the first half when it was being sung.

No I know - and if footballers were lifted by every chant we'd have seen a few more goals this season - but it was that one moment in the second half, might have been just after Dawson's header, and from my side of the ground you could see the lower north, the away section and the Holte all singing and the only clear word was "Albion" coming across loud and in unison.

[rob_bridge]

The Holte End was rocking last night. It's all we've asked for just give us something Villa. They did.
They go on about atmospheres at grounds. 49000 Geordies Sat on their hands on Saturday, we showed how's it's done.
Special mention to the Lower North , superb baiting.. it will be twice as loud Saturday.

It was at times although the "F**k the Albion" got on my tits. I knew from the away game what was being sung but from the Trinity last night it just sounded like more support for the visitors.  There was a time just as they were getting into the game during the second half when their fans were singing their version of it and both the Holte and the North Stand our version at the same time and it was like the whole ground was getting behind them because the emphasis in it is on the word Albion and that all you could hear. I've no doubt it gave their team a lift and the equaliser came not too long after.

Singing songs explicitly referencing opponents / rivals is really not good.

[papa lazarou]

Hutton plays the ball.

https://vine.co/v/O0gaWI0nXqq

That's one of the things I don't like about the modern game - players going down as soon as they feel the slightest contact.

[john e]

Hutton plays the ball.

https://vine.co/v/O0gaWI0nXqq

Hutton plays the ball.

https://vine.co/v/O0gaWI0nXqq

He certainly got the balls

[PeterWithesShin]

Look at his face, just look at his face.

[dekko]

In the second half I noticed that our players have a complete fear of crossing the ball (particularly on the right side closest to me). I hope that this is addressed in the summer as Benteke should thrive on decent crosses being put in.

I think this was a deliberate decision from Sherwood - he said on BT after the game that Pulis sides want you to cross, so the thing to do is try and play through them instead.

[paul_e]

I was genuinely taken aback at how much they resembled the Pulis Stoke team. Time wasting as soon as they equalised. Fouling people off the ball. Only discernable plan of attack being set pieces. I expect them to sign a throw in expert in the summer.

I said the same last night. The natives won't like that, it's not the Albion way.

Amazing how quickly West Brazil have become Stoke. Shit football, well organised, time wasting, constant hoofs, dirty and snide, reliant on set pieces.

The one they've quickly adopted which has always pissed me off with Pulis teams is jumping for headers arse first, you watch how many times their players turn their back on the villa player and jump with their arse out to take out the villa player mid jump.  It drives me insane, it should be a clear foul but for some reason refs generally ignore it (he blew for it once yesterday after they'd got away with 6-7 of them already).