Plucky little AFC Bournemouth vs nasty Aston Villa bullies post match thread

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

[Legion]

Well done Villa, we will be the most hated team by the press for the next few weeks

Especially if we beat their favourite team next Friday.

[pauliewalnuts]

First half we struggled. Second half much, much better.

Positives - Amavi and Gueye to me looked the best players on the pitch. I thought Sinclair did well, too. Veretout did pretty well. Gestede, what a fantastic header, and only a bit over 10 mins after coming on. Three points. Nice to get a good start. Richards and Clark also looked like a decent partnership.

Negatives - It looked much too soon for Ayew, the match seemed to totally pass him by. Guzan unconvincing at times, poor distribution.

Generally, I think today was always going to be a tough game for us. For a start, Bournemouth's first top flight game ever, they were going to be up for it, and whoever had played there today would have had a tough time of it.

We are also a "new" team, and will be for a bit. Need to bear that in mind.

I know it's not like we thrashed them or anything, but I think Bournemouth are going to struggle this year. I was surprised by how "agricultural" their play was, I thought they were a possession team?

[brontebilly]

Good result. We were better in the second half. The first half was very poor. Seemed to be a little too early for Ayew and Veretout. Both struggled I felt. Ayew in particular barely got a touch and when he did he gave it away, aside from one good ball to release Gabby.

Gueye had a solid debut I felt. Put himself about well and was composed on the ball.
Amavi was very good at times, but a little sloppy in others positionally. But, what he did show was how threatening he could potentially be on the break.

Richards was MOTM for me. One error aside he was very good. His pace proved useful in covering the gaps Bacuna was leaving. He won almost everything in the air too. Clark did well. Together they look a potentially good pairing.

Gabby was pretty typical. The odd good surge in among a lot of nothing. Sinclair was anonymous. Sanchez made a difference when he came on.

Gestede looked good when he came on. Not just the goal but he picked out a couple of good passes to set Gabby on runs, so it seems he'll be more than just a lump. What is clear though, is that he'll have a lot of joy if we give him the right service. It won't be remotely subtle when Gestede is up top, but he'll probably get goals. Defenders can't handle strikers like that these days.


So what is clear today? 2-3 signings still required, and a little more (quality) experience.
Westwood isn't a starter. He just doesn't offer enough. I'd put Carlos in ahead of him.
Gabby's time has passed.

Very harsh on Gabby, him moving to the right along with Gestede coming on was the winning of the game. He was woeful in the first half mind but credit to him for his performance in the second half. Would have been one of the all time great Villa goals if he had slid that left foot shot past Boruc in the second half, some run from him. Sums up his career maybe, threatens to be a very good player occasionally.

[andyh]

Gana/Gueye was superb.
Looks like he has been playing in the Orem for years, we are going to be very,very happy with him.

Snake?? Who the fuck is he?

[dekko]

As good as the defence was at times I agree with the poster above me who said we'll get sliced up playing against the better teams.

However:

Good performances from all but one of the new signings (and Clark in particular), and overall a very good result from a difficult fixture.

[OCD]

I didn't see the BBC thing that people are referring to - what was said?

[dekko]

I didn't see the BBC thing that people are referring to - what was said?

I don't think it was anything specific, just that they've been banging on about Bournemouth and bigging up this game for some time now.

I don't really mind because if I wasn't Villa I'd have wanted Bournemouth to win, along with the rest of the country.

[onje_villa]

I think Ayew was OK, didn't get involved a great deal but thought he started quite well. You can see he has the attributes, quick strong, good technique. Early days yet.

[Matt C]

A fine win given the circumstances and deserved in the end too.

No great surprises that the new players who joined earlier in the summer - Richards, Gueye, Amavi - all looked more comfortable than those who joined later. We'll need time - and a couple more additions.

[CJ]

Definition of a frustrating afternoon. Had just settled down to look for a decent stream 10 minutes before kick off and we had a power cut. It's just come back on. So had to sit in the car/sauna all afternoon listening to it on WM.  Sounded like we were a bit shit in the first half with Bournemouth missing some chances, but we picked up well in the second, and a great goal by Gestede. Did Gueye have Gana on his shirt? Three very good points in spite of Clattenburg finding 5 minutes Eddie Howe time. Think it will be a long season for Bournemouth

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The most pleasing thing is that we had to compete physically, and we did it with the new guys.

Good point. I was surprised to seem them rather than us running on empty after 80 minutes.

[brontebilly]

A fine win given the circumstances and deserved in the end too.

No great surprises that the new players who joined earlier in the summer - Richards, Gueye, Amavi - all looked more comfortable than those who joined later. We'll need time - and a couple more additions.

dont know about that, Gestede only joined 9 days ago 

[Stu]

Is it only me that thought Bournemouth looked a bit 'long ball'? Granted I only saw the first half as the stream I was watching went to bits. They put the pressure on in the last 15-20 mins of the first half but they weren't exactly flying at us, and from what I picked up on here we bossed the second half.

[SoccerHQ]

Always good to get 3 points opening day although hasn't helped us last two seasons!

Half time came at a good point as Bournemouth were well on top at that point and missing chances.

No idea how good this win will be, Bournemouth could be whipping boys or they could become very difficult to beat on their turf as sometimes happens with newly promoted teams.

Gueye looks fantastic, think he'll be my new favourite player particularly as he's replaced you know who.