Aston Villa 1 Knuckledraggers crawl back under their stones 0 Post match thread.

[Rudy65]

Re Gabby, I do wonder how much the Sun garbage has affected him. He is human.

He has been 'affected' since 2011

[cdbearsfan]

It's little monents like that which make it all worthwhile. Me and my mate, lifelong Villa fan Savospit, going crazy in the Holte.

Superb.

Even better is that my Bluenose friend's favourite song is Rudi Can't Fail by The Clash. I've texted him the Youtube link and ruined the song for him.

All in a night's work.

[Chris Jameson]

Does anybody believe Sherwood when he says he was only ever going to give Lescott 45 minutes?

I'm not for one minute suggesting Jack is anywhere near the level of Iniesta but I've always thought he looks like he glides along with the ball and looks so comfortable, get the same feeling with our Jack, he was a joy to watch. Delighted for Ayew, he grew in confidence as the game went on and will have done him the world of good. We are a far better team without Agbonlahor in it.

Edit. Another thing, I like Alex McCleish, felt sorry for him tonight being in the studio with Dwight Yorke who makes Chris Waddle sound eloquent.

[silhillvilla]

Some credit too for Westwood. Didn't do a lot wrong tonight, and his passing was accurate, even in that shite first half.

Disagree , eased off the ball time after time first half, crap corners and literally adds nothing and slows us down
He's the type of player you'd love lining up against you

[PeterWithesShin]

Maybe it was just me but I thought Gabby was ok first half. Not great but not as bad as he has been or some of the others were first half. I think of a combination of the yellow and the knock he took are the main reasons he was subbed.

[Loxton01]

Well first half we were awful second half much improved and deserved the win!

I am very disappointed with sherwoods comments after the game to defend that first half is ridiculous. To say that was the plan to stretch them by going direct is mystifying coming out saying we were poor would go down much better

As for the game thought Guzan looked solid bacuna indifferent for me! Thought amavi did ok and Richards was very impressive second half

Lescott was slow and ponderous and deserved to get the hook! Clark was a much better defender than midfielder

Veretout did ok but him and Westwood I'm not sure! Too similar?

Grealish was the class act on the pitch second half! Ayew gave me hope much better display than previous displays

Gestede for me is a player we have to cross the ball to as a hold up player he looks very poor! We have to play to his strengths otherwise he will be very ineffective

Gabby and Sinclair poor not enough movement or runs have to improve

Sherwoods had to make the change and it's the first time we were better for his subs

Let's hope gana is fit soon and traore

Feel it will be a long long season

[Dante Lavelli]

Westwood is a weak link, slow weak play, and crap corners. Let amavi take the corners

I agree. Long term I'd go with Sanchez.....Gana....Veretout as first choice midfield.

Is that based on today's performance or a more general view? 

I thought Westwood was good today, constantly showing for the ball and typically selecting the right option.  Hopefully Vertout will have his Ayew match soon as, from what I have read, his potential exceeds Westwood, but I don't think he has matched him yet.

[silhillvilla]

Maybe it was just me but I thought Gabby was ok first half. Not great but not as bad as he has been or some of the others were first half. I think of a combination of the yellow and the knock he took are the main reasons he was subbed.

Gabby did ok, he got flattened at one point, had a rag rolling about on top of him and still managed to get a pass away lying down

[silhillvilla]

Westwood is a weak link, slow weak play, and crap corners. Let amavi take the corners

I agree. Long term I'd go with Sanchez.....Gana....Veretout as first choice midfield.

Is that based on today's performance or a more general view? 

I thought Westwood was good today, constantly showing for the ball and typically selecting the right option.  Hopefully Vertout will have his Ayew match soon as, from what I have read, his potential exceeds Westwood, but I don't think he has matched him yet.

Vertout was better than westwood tonight IMHO .

[walsall villain]

Veretout was disappointing. A bit one paced and always seems to opt for the backward pass, even if there are better options going forward.

Might be better for getting the game under his belt, but he didn't look head and shoulders above a championship team.


Most of our lot didn't in fact, save for Grealish. Who looked like just about the only footballer out there.

Credit to TS for not facking about at halftime when it clearly wasn't working. It looked all set up for another horrorshow.

I thought Veretout played well, mind you I was only 6 rows up in the lower Holte so it's not the best spot to judge from.

[hipkiss92]

Does anybody believe Sherwood when he says he was only ever going to give Lescott 45 minutes?

I'm not for one minute suggesting Jack is anywhere near the level of Iniesta but I've always thought he looks like he glides along with the ball and looks so comfortable, get the same feeling with our Jack, he was a joy to watch. Delighted for Ayew, he grew in confidence as the game went on and will have done him the world of good. We are a far better team without Agbonlahor in it.

Edit. Another thing, I like Alex McCleish, felt sorry for him tonight being in the studio with Dwight Yorke who makes Chris Waddle sound eloquent.

I've always remarked how similar Grealish appears to Iniesta, might not always be the one scoring or getting assists, but has a remarkable ability to keep the ball, glide past players and keep possession ticking over in the final 3rd.

[cdbearsfan]

(Brief) Highlights...

http://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-birmham/351308

[Dante Lavelli]

I am very disappointed with sherwoods comments after the game to defend that first half is ridiculous. To say that was the plan to stretch them by going direct is mystifying coming out saying we were poor would go down much better

I'm pretty certain the direct balls were the designated tactics in the first half as he should should have been going ballistic at the players if they were not under instructions for playing such awful punts.

[Fasth56]

The first half is what happens when you get dragged down to their level. Second half started playing football and they couldn't live with us. We're Aston Villa and we're taking the piss.

[Matt Collins]

All I really care about is that we won and that I have a massive man crush on grealish. Either he isn't as good as we think or he is and he leaves soonish, which i don't think I can bear. It would blow yorke and benteke and young and platt out of the water.

We can say sherwood's tactics worked. But I thought we looked like a shit championship team in the first half. Jack and ayew changed everything and Westwood and veretout started passing it forwards to feet

Clark in midfield? No. No no no no no.