Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace Post-Match Thread

[supertom]

I think the abuse that reached a crescendo, coupled with Remi basically laying the law down to all and sundry has got a reaction, a positive one. I'd like to think the worst has passed now and we will give it a real go at staying up, all together and heal some of this shit we've been through.

Absolutely. Players are playing for their futures now. The much maligned Westwood and Bacuna really stepped it up today. If they keep that level up they stay next season. If not they get binned. Remi has already worked out Zogbia and Gabby. He's laid the law down to Jack and Traore and set a bar for any youngsters to adhere to. I also think he may have twigged Sinclair as someone who doesn't give enough of a toss about playing football.

Some players will react in the right manner, some won't. But from now and until the end of the season, whoever is in that starting 11, I expect nothing less than 100%. If they give everything and come off the pitch and we've lost, so be it. We can put it purely down to not being good enough. If some players leave the pitch and they've not given everything they could, then they can get fucked off.
Be an Ayew. Not a Gabby.

[avfcdale]

Whawhoooo!!

[PeterWithe]

Gana was fantastic, if you watched highlights on TV you wouldn't have noticed him but he was magnificently disruptive, was always about the ball toeing away.

[Olof's Beard]

I have tried to calm down before posting because the last 20 minutes nearly took out a few internal organs and I'm pretty sure I am displaying a few symptoms of shock. It's also tough to be reasoned when you are daydreaming about all those Champions League destinations you'll be visiting next season.

But anyway, there seemed to be a few reasons why we won:

-Firstly, Cissokho and Kozak are like new signings as the old cliche goes. They are nothing special of course, but solid, experienced pros who know what they are doing and haven't had every modicum of confidence shat out of them. And to be honest solid pros and confidence is all you need. One of the most ridiculous facets of our pathetic demise this season, is the fact that it has come in a season when the Premier League is at its worst standard in years. I mean look at Palace, on the verge of the top 6 with players like Ward, Delaney, Dann, McCarthur, Soares starting every week. All solid pros, underrated but unspectacular. Then Zaha, Puncheon etc who flatter to deceive and a stand out star in Cabaye. Chamakh and Wickham get game time for them. It doesn't take that much. Confidence, attitude and organisation are key.

-Everyone worked their bollocks off but Gana put in his best performance for months and that was absolutely key. He actually replaced what Delph once gave us today and it made all the difference. Again, fine margins.

-That is easily our best central defensive pair and if they had played together at Norwich and Sunderland, we might have more points. Okore gives Lescott confidence, and the latter looks like the defender who won the Tesco Player of the Year award last season when he plays alongside Jores.

-Ayew. He's actually just a bit good isn't he? And what a fantastic attitude he has.

It's probably the shock talking but we are now 8 points from safety and if we win the next one (I'm glad it's another home game), that could be five points. I think we would then be in a better position than Leicester were in last season. Dare we let hope seep in after just one win?

[olaftab]

Flashbacks to Weimann scoring that scrappy late goal in a 1-0 win over Fulham in front of a half-empty Holte End. That helped turn the McLeish season around, I wonder if we'll press on similarly from here.

Where have you been?

I have a habit of hiding away and pretending football doesn't exist after a bad result that annoys me, so this season I've barely touched H&V.

Haha know what you mean. Hope to see you here much more often for the rest of the season

[Olof's Beard]

Fully deserved to win it. Similar to West Ham game but Palace were even worse, incredible they have such a good record away from home as they were garbage tonight.

That might be a good thing being bottom and adrift, teams might start to underestimate us, Palace certainly looked like they did? Did they even have a corner or shot on target?!

Still a very long shot to stay up but just nice to get 3 points! If we keep showing that effort we should get another 3-4 wins although that won't be anywhere near enough.

It was very similar to the West Ham game, but we had much more luck. For once we didn't get punished for every lapse, as the strike off the post in the first 20 seconds proved.

[Chipsticks]

Flashbacks to Weimann scoring that scrappy late goal in a 1-0 win over Fulham in front of a half-empty Holte End. That helped turn the McLeish season around, I wonder if we'll press on similarly from here.

Where have you been?

I have a habit of hiding away and pretending football doesn't exist after a bad result that annoys me, so this season I've barely touched H&V.

Haha know what you mean. Hope to see you here much more often for the rest of the season

You too mate!

[PeterWithesShin]

You know it's a good day when Mr Sticks is back!

[tomd2103]

Gana was fantastic, if you watched highlights on TV you wouldn't have noticed him but he was magnificently disruptive, was always about the ball toeing away.

He's been off the pace recently, but I thought he was much better tonight in the more defensive role.  Thought they all had decent games, but Ayew and Veretout were the standout performers.  I thought the defence looked more assured with Bunn behind them and although they are not world beaters, I thought Kozak and Cissokho were better than anything we have seen in their respective positions all season.  Special mention to the fans - really got behind the team when they needed it most.

Couple of quibbles about tactics, but they can wait!!

[olaftab]

Fuck me it was cold. But ace. May only have 28K there tonight but at times the atmosphere in the Holte was right up there with the great games. Fucking get in!       

Thanks PWS

I understand the attendance tonight was 27341;)

[glasses]

Brilliant feeling. Whole team played well. Still think Kozak is a donkey, but seems to get into scoring positions!

Westwood, who I can't stand, had his best game in a villa shirt I thought.

Well done all

I don't think you can call Kozak a donkey when Gestede is at the club. Kozak was excellent in the second half.

I don't know what it is with Kozak. He did well, and had more impact than Gestede. I just think he looks so awkward, and everything he does seems to be by accident! It's a feeling I've always got from him. He just has this habit of bagging a goal, or moving into positions to score. I'd stick with him, dont get me wrong

[CJ]

Just back. I'd forgotten how good a win felt! And at last a performance with passion,fight, commitment and belief - that's all we ask for. Yes, it was a scabby goal, and Ayew should have made it more comfortable having done all the hard work to then blast it over, but it says it all that Bunn didn't have a save to make. All 10 outfield players gave their all. Fantastic performance rewarded with a great atmosphere and 3 precious points. Still buzzing

[castlefields_villan]

I said earlier this afternoon, I'll never accept relegation until it's mathematical - we've got that elusive win at last - gone 2 games without conceding from open play - Yes we still probably do need to win at least 9 more games, and I'm not in cuckoo land (as a famous local presenter used to say us Villa supporters are). It's a lot to still make up - but confidence in football can be everything - but whoever plays from now on - that's the kind of fight and commitment we need - Leicester ?  - bring it on !

[olaftab]

I have tried to calm down before posting because the last 20 minutes nearly took out a few internal organs and I'm pretty sure I am displaying a few symptoms of shock. It's also tough to be reasoned when you are daydreaming about all those Champions League destinations you'll be visiting next season.

But anyway, there seemed to be a few reasons why we won:

-Firstly, Cissokho and Kozak are like new signings as the old cliche goes. They are nothing special of course, but solid, experienced pros who know what they are doing and haven't had every modicum of confidence shat out of them. And to be honest solid pros and confidence is all you need. One of the most ridiculous facets of our pathetic demise this season, is the fact that it has come in a season when the Premier League is at its worst standard in years. I mean look at Palace, on the verge of the top 6 with players like Ward, Delaney, Dann, McCarthur, Soares starting every week. All solid pros, underrated but unspectacular. Then Zaha, Puncheon etc who flatter to deceive and a stand out star in Cabaye. Chamakh and Wickham get game time for them. It doesn't take that much. Confidence, attitude and organisation are key.

-Everyone worked their bollocks off but Gana put in his best performance for months and that was absolutely key. He actually replaced what Delph once gave us today and it made all the difference. Again, fine margins.

-That is easily our best central defensive pair and if they had played together at Norwich and Sunderland, we might have more points. Okore gives Lescott confidence, and the latter looks like the defender who won the Tesco Player of the Year award last season when he plays alongside Jores.

-Ayew. He's actually just a bit good isn't he? And what a fantastic attitude he has.

It's probably the shock talking but we are now 8 points from safety and if we win the next one (I'm glad it's another home game), that could be five points. I think we would then be in a better position than Leicester were in last season. Dare we let hope seep in after just one win?

Excellent summary. For me MotM a split between Lescott and Veretout with Joleon slightly edging it.

[Chris Harte]

Well, well, well!

Never imagined that'd happen, but it did. It's so much nicer to be walking away from Villa Park with a win. Our midfield were as sharp as I've seen them for a long time, Ayew and Bacuna both had excellent games while Cissokho looked dangerous while not convincing me he has much of a first touch. Meanwhile Lescott actually had a decent game and got the lucky break with the goal (about time we had some luck this season). And Kozak? Maybe, just maybe, he's the attacking option we've been crying out for.