Aston Villa v West Ham - Post Match Thread

[Monty]

Another good win. It was one of those games where I felt pretty confident that the opposition wouldn't score. It was nice that Grealish got man of the match but I thought Cleverley was better.

Agreed. The goal wasn't just a tap-in, it was a really great break from midfield of the kind that's been totally absent for a few years now, and the rest of his performance was dynamic to say the least. Who knew he could be such a good all-round midfielder?

[thick_mike]

Burnley may be heading to be sold out

You'd like to think so, it will be a chance to give the lads a rousing send off before FA Cup Final and to hopefully celebrate in the sun premier league survival and maintain our ever present record, all this capped off with a positive summer and next campaign to look forward to with possible European football too.

I booked a couple of tickets last week (first game this season...glory hunting I know), and there was one seat left in the Holte End and very limited availability in the upper Trinity and Witton Lane. Should be a rousing send off for the boys!

By the way...do you think I can get an FA Cup Final ticket now I've bought a ticket for a game? Plus I watched all of those crap games on dodgy streams for the last four seasons and hardly switched off early at all. It was like the torture scene from Clockwork Orange. Surely I deserve a ticket?! 

[PeterWithe]

I thought Song was very good for them, exactly the kind of performance that Sanchez is capable of if he concentrates and the kind of player we need on occasions.

[Brend'Watkins]

Song was the best player on the park 2nd half.  Still, our Jack made a mug of him with his weekly 'who am I going to make a mug of show'.

A grafted win, not that pretty in the last 20 mins but we did the job and deserved it.

[tom jennings III]

Awesome, important win.
We've got our Villa back, and after missing last week's game due to a suspected stroke, I couldn't have been happier to be back at Villa Park.
I love Aston Vlla.

Wishing you a swift and full recovery from any illness mate.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Awesome, important win.
We've got our Villa back, and after missing last week's game due to a suspected stroke, I couldn't have been happier to be back at Villa Park.
I love Aston Vlla.

I hope you are feeling well OA, all the best.

[exigo]

Caption competition waiting to happen.

[curiousorange]

I think there was still a bit of naivety about us yesterday, mainly in the way the ball seemed to spend a lot of time in the air, which is exactly how Allardyce wants things. I said to the bloke next to me that we weren't going to get any joy until someone tried to dribble it into the box. Lo and behold, thirty seconds later, Grealish did just that. As an aside, it was thrilling to see how brilliant he is on the ball from anout ten feet away. If I was ten again, obsessed with and able to play football, Grealish would be the player I would want to be in the playground.

I really hope Cleverley wants to sign. Easily the man of the match for me; I reckon the sponsors wanted to meet Grealish as he's a more celebrated player at the mo. But everything ace about us yesterday had Cleverley's influence. I don't like reading too much into players on the pitch, but the way he celebrated again and the pile-on the squad indulged in right in front of us seemed to show a group that adore playing in this team. It would be really disappointing to lose anyone from that starting eleven over the summer.

My dream scenario for next week is a win against a very poor Southampton (and they were, again), a Hull win and a Newcastle loss. Not a Hull fan, just enjoying a bit of schadenfreude. The fact that we could still drop is maddening, but then again, why would you rotate now?

Bit of a shout for the West Ham fans. Pretty impressed with their noise, tbh, considering their side was so functional and gritty. Singing 'you've only got one song' was a bit ironic, considering they didn't even roll out that bubbles thing.

And that lion graphic with the ominous growl? Superb. They've finally got it right.

[Percy McCarthy]

I was still very nervous despite being in control of the game. Very pleased with how we are playing. Hopefully we can get the 3 points nice an early next week at  at Saints, but it's never that easy is it. Like a few have said, it was great to see H&V being sold around the ground. I spoke with Percy before the game and gladly gave him my £2.

Always a pleasure to see you and your son mate.

[Ron Manager]

A score of 5 is correct for Given. I know Guzan had a mare against Coty but time for his return is nigh.

Absolutely 100% agree.

[passport1]

"They're playing like Barcelona mate,they're popping the ball about"  Kris Camra reporting for Sky yesterday.

[AlexAlexCropley]

I think there was still a bit of naivety about us yesterday, mainly in the way the ball seemed to spend a lot of time in the air, which is exactly how Allardyce wants things. I said to the bloke next to me that we weren't going to get any joy until someone tried to dribble it into the box. Lo and behold, thirty seconds later, Grealish did just that. As an aside, it was thrilling to see how brilliant he is on the ball from anout ten feet away. If I was ten again, obsessed with and able to play football, Grealish would be the player I would want to be in the playground.

I really hope Cleverley wants to sign. Easily the man of the match for me; I reckon the sponsors wanted to meet Grealish as he's a more celebrated player at the mo. But everything ace about us yesterday had Cleverley's influence. I don't like reading too much into players on the pitch, but the way he celebrated again and the pile-on the squad indulged in right in front of us seemed to show a group that adore playing in this team. It would be really disappointing to lose anyone from that starting eleven over the summer.

My dream scenario for next week is a win against a very poor Southampton (and they were, again), a Hull win and a Newcastle loss. Not a Hull fan, just enjoying a bit of schadenfreude. The fact that we could still drop is maddening, but then again, why would you rotate now?

Bit of a shout for the West Ham fans. Pretty impressed with their noise, tbh, considering their side was so functional and gritty. Singing 'you've only got one song' was a bit ironic, considering they didn't even roll out that bubbles thing.

And that lion graphic with the ominous growl? Superb. They've finally got it right.

Hardly heard the hammers, and I was upper north.Think they rolled out bubbles twice.

[curiousorange]

I think their noise surprised me cos I'm generally a Holte End chap. Maybe it was just proximity.

[peter w]

Funny comment on KUMB

"Allardyce chewing like an enormous headed Jersey cow".

[Pat McMahon]

[quote author=curiousorange link=topic=54103.msg2834818#msg2834818 date=


Bit of a shout for the West Ham fans. Pretty impressed with their noise, tbh, considering their side was so functional and gritty. Singing 'you've only got one song' was a bit ironic, considering they didn't even roll out that bubbles thing.

[/quote]

The acoustics of Villa Park eh? I was in the lower Holte and couldn't hear them at all. I could see they were singing but heard absolutely nothing.

One point I had forgotten: given the tension at the end of the game I was amazed at how many people were leaving even before injury time. Looking at the Witton Lane stand for example, it was visible how few West Ham fans were leaving early compared to Villa fans.

Oh and another thing, there was an upturned car on the M40 near Warwick services, blocking 2 lanes. I hope nobody was seriously injured. I must have got through just before the police closed off the road as I stopped for a pee and a coffee and when I headed off I didn't see another car for about 10 miles. It was like the motorway scene in 28 Days Later.