Aston ‘Barnstorming’ Villa vs Barnsley Post Match Thread.

[mr underhill]

left slightly early yesterday as i was very cold- what was the attendance  as it looked pretty busy?

[saunders_heroes]

By the age of 21 Gascoigne was world class. Jack has not progressed as well but let’s see.

Don’t think he was world class at 21, but it’s all about opinions I suppose.

[saunders_heroes]

left slightly early yesterday as i was very cold- what was the attendance  as it looked pretty busy?

31k I think.

[CJ]

I love his laugh at the ref going on his arse.

Fair play to the ref - he didn't go all Paul Alcock about it but laughed himself and shook Jack's hand

[exigo]

It's really rather nice to be coming up from London these days without much concern for whether we'll win or not.

Few random thoughts from the day.

You'd think by now that away teams would understand that there's really no point in making us attack the Holte first half. It won't change anything.

That 4-1-4-1 is really working for us. Barney has really found a spot in the team where he can excel. Other than one give away from a Terry pass, he did the simple things really well, and kept the energy levels up all the way through.

You can really see the Agnew effect in the pre-match routines. No more casual, half-arsed shooting. Full-on, pressing drills. The six-on-six two-ball drill getting players moving the ball through a crowd really showed in the game itself – Jack's set up for Conor's goal being one case in point.

Our crossing has improved massively of late. Every ball in from Snoddy, Albert and Elmo caused them problems. I don't remember a single aimless cross.

A full Holte in full voice is a wonderful thing. It properly felt like the 12th man at times. Their number 19 getting subbed 10 minutes after he'd blazed into the Holte, with 'you're f***ing sh**' still ringing in his ears was a thing of great joy and beauty.

I was sitting next to a lad of about eight, face painted claret and blue, massive smile on his face throughout and singing his heart out with his Dad. Made me think of all the times my Dad took me at that age, and even though he died 20 years ago, it's the place I feel closest to him. Nice to think that there's a whole generation of kids who actually want to go to games again after the dross of the last few years.

In short, all good. Already looking forward to Burton next.

[curiousorange]

A full Holte in full voice is a wonderful thing. It properly felt like the 12th man at times. Their number 19 getting subbed 10 minutes after he'd blazed into the Holte, with 'you're f***ing sh**' still ringing in his ears was a thing of great joy and beauty.

The kid to our left shouting the PG version, "you're flipping bad" was a highlight of the day.

[PeterWithe]

My daughter enquired, ‘why are they being so mean to that man?’

The innocence of children.

[clash city rocker]

It's really rather nice to be coming up from London these days without much concern for whether we'll win or not.

Few random thoughts from the day.

You'd think by now that away teams would understand that there's really no point in making us attack the Holte first half. It won't change anything.

That 4-1-4-1 is really working for us. Barney has really found a spot in the team where he can excel. Other than one give away from a Terry pass, he did the simple things really well, and kept the energy levels up all the way through.

You can really see the Agnew effect in the pre-match routines. No more casual, half-arsed shooting. Full-on, pressing drills. The six-on-six two-ball drill getting players moving the ball through a crowd really showed in the game itself – Jack's set up for Conor's goal being one case in point.

Our crossing has improved massively of late. Every ball in from Snoddy, Albert and Elmo caused them problems. I don't remember a single aimless cross.

A full Holte in full voice is a wonderful thing. It properly felt like the 12th man at times. Their number 19 getting subbed 10 minutes after he'd blazed into the Holte, with 'you're f***ing sh**' still ringing in his ears was a thing of great joy and beauty.

I was sitting next to a lad of about eight, face painted claret and blue, massive smile on his face throughout and singing his heart out with his Dad. Made me think of all the times my Dad took me at that age, and even though he died 20 years ago, it's the place I feel closest to him. Nice to think that there's a whole generation of kids who actually want to go to games again after the dross of the last few years.

In short, all good. Already looking forward to Burton next.

My father is till in good health at the age of 88 but if he does go before me the place I will remember him most is at villa park. His constant saying of " he ain't as good as Nat Lofthouse " will live with me forever.

[olaftab]

By the age of 21 Gascoigne was world class. Jack has not progressed as well but let’s see.

Don’t think he was world class at 21, but it’s all about opinions I suppose.

Well if not exactly 21 soon after. Gascoigne lit up the 1990 WC at just about 23 years old. Jack will be 23 in September. Jack is doing fine at the moment but must stay focussed, perform consistently and be more clinical to deliver the promise of his natural talent

[frank black]

I love his laugh at the ref going on his arse.

Fair play to the ref - he didn't go all Paul Alcock about it but laughed himself and shook Jack's hand

If it was in France, the ref would’ve kicked him and sent him off.

https://youtu.be/QjM827E4_k0

[saunders_heroes]

By the age of 21 Gascoigne was world class. Jack has not progressed as well but let’s see.

Don’t think he was world class at 21, but it’s all about opinions I suppose.

Well if not exactly 21 soon after. Gascoigne lit up the 1990 WC at just about 23 years old. Jack will be 23 in September. Jack is doing fine at the moment but must stay focussed, perform consistently and be more clinical to deliver the promise of his natural talent

Gascoigne was a fine player but I always thought he was a tad overrated but that’s just my opinion. Grealish is the most gifted player we’ve had in years and years but has never really had a prolonged run in the first team for one reason or another. For me he’d be the first name on the team sheet and we should build the team around him. I just hope there’s no niggling injuries just around the corner for him because that’s what’s held him back at Villa. Oh and having a a decent team with better players around him also helps his game. Let’s face it in his time here he’s played in mostly woeful football teams. The best of Grealish is yet to come.

[tomd2103]

left slightly early yesterday as i was very cold- what was the attendance  as it looked pretty busy?

31k I think.

Yep. Nearly 32,00. 

[olaftab]

Been a big fan of Jack since he was 16. First time I saw him come on as a sub in Next gen game I thought we have a future Brian Little here. So  good to see some of that potential coming through now but he has let himself down in the recent past but let's hope that is all behind him.

[The Edge]

It's really rather nice to be coming up from London these days without much concern for whether we'll win or not.

Few random thoughts from the day.

You'd think by now that away teams would understand that there's really no point in making us attack the Holte first half. It won't change anything.

That 4-1-4-1 is really working for us. Barney has really found a spot in the team where he can excel. Other than one give away from a Terry pass, he did the simple things really well, and kept the energy levels up all the way through.

You can really see the Agnew effect in the pre-match routines. No more casual, half-arsed shooting. Full-on, pressing drills. The six-on-six two-ball drill getting players moving the ball through a crowd really showed in the game itself – Jack's set up for Conor's goal being one case in point.

Our crossing has improved massively of late. Every ball in from Snoddy, Albert and Elmo caused them problems. I don't remember a single aimless cross.

A full Holte in full voice is a wonderful thing. It properly felt like the 12th man at times. Their number 19 getting subbed 10 minutes after he'd blazed into the Holte, with 'you're f***ing sh**' still ringing in his ears was a thing of great joy and beauty.

I was sitting next to a lad of about eight, face painted claret and blue, massive smile on his face throughout and singing his heart out with his Dad. Made me think of all the times my Dad took me at that age, and even though he died 20 years ago, it's the place I feel closest to him. Nice to think that there's a whole generation of kids who actually want to go to games again after the dross of the last few years.

In short, all good. Already looking forward to Burton next.

Great post mate 👍

[Pete3206]

Loved Jack's Cowansesque performance.