Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace Post-Match Thread

[LukeJames]

Its the smugness and choreographed celebrations, hes a good manager and talks alot of sense.

[paul_e]

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.

I was sitting in the Lower Witton by the Holte so from my angle it looked like it had gone across the goal rather than off the post. I'm struggling to think of the shot on target they had, maybe one of the free kicks drifted towards Bunn, they were that bad. Hopefully a few more opposition will play like that against us in the run in.

Not going to add any more as I think your summary of the game is spot on.

I think you're right with the shot on target, there was 1 freekick from about 30y where he saw Bunn to the left of his goal and tried to put one to the other side but sort of chipped it into the middle for catching practice.

[footyskillz]

Just yes!
The right fight and pressing in midfield was shown today. Had our luck to some extent but a mixed performance vs a weak palace performance. The players were committed and hungrier . from what i saw westy put in a good shift today tigerish in tackle and Bacuna was decent too . Switched on . Ayew  did an outrageous bit of skill to fashion his chance which he needed composure but liked the shots of him cheering on and clapping the players to perform. There were a lot of blocked deflected shots for corners for villa so would like to see more efforts quicker away at goal. Lescott did well to get pressure for the goal and the luck desreved win!!
Tbh not sure on bunn as rarely used and tested but kicking isn't great
Good stuff and can see Richard s coming in right back and Bacuna being pushed into midfield for sat eve.
One thing constant concern is Gil and his lack of physicality. He gets shrugged off ball and also another frustration how he turns inside alot or stops his runs.
Would like more forward momentum from him and the rest.
Well done Kozak back playing again even if his touch was rusty
Well done to those that went today was really good to hear the villa till I die chants great support!

[KevinGage]

Felt like we were way too deep at the end and inviting pressure, but a well deserved win.

The goal might have been fortunate, but the win wasn't.  One of the few games we have dominated this season -even Bournemouth away felt like it was a win against the run of play.

True, Palace weren't at the races. But plenty of other sides haven't played well and still won at our place.

Barring a ridiculous 4-5 run winning streak, survival will still be a tall order.

But we can at least try to make sure that if sides come to our place we actually lay a glove on them.  They need to earn the victory, not just turn up and take the piss.

[David_Nab]

Just yes!
The right fight and pressing in midfield was shown today. Had our luck to some extent but a mixed performance vs a weak palace performance. The players were committed and hungrier . from what i saw westy put in a good shift today tigerish in tackle and Bacuna was decent too . Switched on . Ayew  did an outrageous bit of skill to fashion his chance which he needed composure but liked the shots of him cheering on and clapping the players to perform. There were a lot of blocked deflected shots for corners for villa so would like to see more efforts quicker away at goal. Lescott did well to get pressure for the goal and the luck desreved win!!
Tbh not sure on bunn as rarely used and tested but kicking isn't great
Good stuff and can see Richard s coming in right back and Bacuna being pushed into midfield for sat eve.
One thing constant concern is Gil and his lack of physicality. He gets shrugged off ball and also another frustration how he turns inside alot or stops his runs.
Would like more forward momentum from him and the rest.
Well done Kozak back playing again even if his touch was rusty
Well done to those that went today was really good to hear the villa till I die chants great support!

Your point is spot on regarding Gil he does often get the ball nicked off him when he dwells too long on it.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I told you that win at Ludlow by GARDE LA VICTOIRE was an omen. AND I was one of the 20% to vote for a Villa win on the pre match. Ye of little faith.

Told my carload about the horse...and about Palace never having won when Clattenberg was in charge...and I put us down for a win too!


Omens!

I'd forgotten what a lovely feeling it is to win!

[tomd2103]

Just yes!
The right fight and pressing in midfield was shown today. Had our luck to some extent but a mixed performance vs a weak palace performance. The players were committed and hungrier . from what i saw westy put in a good shift today tigerish in tackle and Bacuna was decent too . Switched on . Ayew  did an outrageous bit of skill to fashion his chance which he needed composure but liked the shots of him cheering on and clapping the players to perform. There were a lot of blocked deflected shots for corners for villa so would like to see more efforts quicker away at goal. Lescott did well to get pressure for the goal and the luck desreved win!!
Tbh not sure on bunn as rarely used and tested but kicking isn't great
Good stuff and can see Richard s coming in right back and Bacuna being pushed into midfield for sat eve.
One thing constant concern is Gil and his lack of physicality. He gets shrugged off ball and also another frustration how he turns inside alot or stops his runs.
Would like more forward momentum from him and the rest.
Well done Kozak back playing again even if his touch was rusty
Well done to those that went today was really good to hear the villa till I die chants great support!

Your point is spot on regarding Gil he does often get the ball nicked off him when he dwells too long on it.

I like Gil and some of his little touches are sublime, but I think tonight highlighted a problem with him.  I was pleased to see him start at the top of the diamond, as I he normally is used wide and I don't think that is his best position.  Seeing him there tonight though, he lacks the pace and drive to get away from players in that role.  Quite a few times we broke on Palace, but had to turn back because he couldn't get away from defenders.  Although they made little of their opportunities, I thought it was noticeable just how quickly Palace broke at times with the pace of the likes of Puncheon and Zaha.  I thought in the first half in particular we were a bit slow breaking forward when we had the chance to and Gil was a part of the reason why.

[leylandalbion]

For the first time in along time I didn't want to make the 100 miles trip tonight...would have much rather played in my Pool league.  Kids dragged me. Glad they did....but why after scoring did we not hold the ball like we controlled it for the 61 mins prior (until the last 10 which I thought we showed good game management).  Veretout and gana showed a lot of energy and you have to love ayew. Heart and soul in the game.  Libor needs to learn the offside rule (if memory serves that was always a problem with him).  Bunn won't need to get his shorts washed for Saturday. ..he will need a new top though. And my Pool team won

[Olof's Beard]

Gil is the sort of player who will look great in a forward thinking team that has a lot of the ball and pushes the opposition back. If he can link up with good forwards ten yards further forward, he can be a great player. That's not where we are at the moment, though, so he does struggle at times, but he never hides and always looks to make something happen. I like him, but I can almost understand why Tim didn't use him much last season when we were properly in a scrap.

[LukeJames]

For the first time in along time I didn't want to make the 100 miles trip tonight...would have much rather played in my Pool league.  Kids dragged me. Glad they did....but why after scoring did we not hold the ball like we controlled it for the 61 mins prior (until the last 10 which I thought we showed good game management).  Veretout and gana showed a lot of energy and you have to love ayew. Heart and soul in the game.  Libor needs to learn the offside rule (if memory serves that was always a problem with him).  Bunn won't need to get his shorts washed for Saturday. ..he will need a new top though. And my Pool team won

I think its a confidence thing, we visibly dropped deeper after scoring.

[brontebilly]

Gil is the sort of player who will look great in a forward thinking team that has a lot of the ball and pushes the opposition back. If he can link up with good forwards ten yards further forward, he can be a great player. That's not where we are at the moment, though, so he does struggle at times, but he never hides and always looks to make something happen. I like him, but I can almost understand why Tim didn't use him much last season when we were properly in a scrap.

He needs a quicker forward up front to slide passes through to. To be honest I think he takes far too much out of the ball in areas of the pitch that dont matter. If Grealish gets over the funk he has been in for six months he has a lot more going for him, able to get past players for one.

[Sexual Ealing]

Just yes!
The right fight and pressing in midfield was shown today. Had our luck to some extent but a mixed performance vs a weak palace performance. The players were committed and hungrier . from what i saw westy put in a good shift today tigerish in tackle and Bacuna was decent too . Switched on . Ayew  did an outrageous bit of skill to fashion his chance which he needed composure but liked the shots of him cheering on and clapping the players to perform. There were a lot of blocked deflected shots for corners for villa so would like to see more efforts quicker away at goal. Lescott did well to get pressure for the goal and the luck desreved win!!
Tbh not sure on bunn as rarely used and tested but kicking isn't great
Good stuff and can see Richard s coming in right back and Bacuna being pushed into midfield for sat eve.
One thing constant concern is Gil and his lack of physicality. He gets shrugged off ball and also another frustration how he turns inside alot or stops his runs.
Would like more forward momentum from him and the rest.
Well done Kozak back playing again even if his touch was rusty
Well done to those that went today was really good to hear the villa till I die chants great support!

Your point is spot on regarding Gil he does often get the ball nicked off him when he dwells too long on it.

I like Gil and some of his little touches are sublime, but I think tonight highlighted a problem with him.  I was pleased to see him start at the top of the diamond, as I he normally is used wide and I don't think that is his best position.  Seeing him there tonight though, he lacks the pace and drive to get away from players in that role.  Quite a few times we broke on Palace, but had to turn back because he couldn't get away from defenders.  Although they made little of their opportunities, I thought it was noticeable just how quickly Palace broke at times with the pace of the likes of Puncheon and Zaha.  I thought in the first half in particular we were a bit slow breaking forward when we had the chance to and Gil was a part of the reason why.

We'll always have that problem in our position with 'that type' of player. One with Gil's talent who also had pace and strength wouldn't be seen dead at VP.

Still, it's a problem I like us to have. Give me skill over athleticism any day.

[ROBBO]

There was a ten minute spell after we scored that the tackling dropped off, whether it was intentional to be more defensive I don't know but I was getting very edgy.

[Risso]

Fair play to Alan Pardew tonight, some really positive comments about us. 

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Only home an hour ago - M5 roadworks - and just finished reading whole thread...which has been wonderful because of the uplifting comments after such an uplifting performance. Well done Villa and H&V posters!

Thought the team as a whole was excellent...every player put a shift in (impressed with Bacuna and Westwood who I have criticised in the past) and we won the game. Hopefully they can see this and make it happen more often. (A bit of luck with the goal, but most teams seem to have more than their share when they play us!)

In defence I thought Lescott was outstanding - calm, forceful and a leader.
In midfield Veretout was immense, though Gana ran him pretty close and really got at the Palace mf.
Up front Ayew was simply wonderful...a real handful for them - quick, sharp, unpredictable and worked his bollocks off, chasing down and tackling back. What a pity he couldn't finish that solo effort off! A Villa hero!
Special mention for Kozak....he's a favourite of mine, but I thought he showed guile, graft and a positional awareness that Gestede will never have. Libor makes the oppo defenders work and has a presence that suggests he's always on the hunt for the ball/a goal.

Great to hear the Villa faithful singing their socks off at the end...a million miles away from Saturday's debacle.

Same again on Saturday would be very nice thank you, Monsieur Garde. (Good selection mate!)