Ok, at first glance, it might seem that the result didn’t matter to me; It did, of course.
But given this was a game where nearly all of us fans and pundits had written us off, for me, it was more about how we performed today.
The game started pretty slowly for us. Our movement compared to Chelsea’s was always second best and I had it in my mind that we were just going to get beaten by a better class of side. Chelsea’s movement in the area that counts is worlds apart, with Willian, Torres and Hazard showing their usual quick thinking and passing.
Nothing new in that thinking then; you pay mega-money, you get generally better players.
So it was about how we dealt with it.
Which is the bit that really pleased me.
We actually looked like we could defend today, with Vlaar being outstanding for me. Baker did well too and while I had massive doubts about Bennett starting, as I generally don’t rate him at all, he also did mostly OK. Bacuna performed well too.
The midfielders did ok, with KEA working hard but I have to be honest; I thought Delph was anonymous early on, but he got better as the game went on. Weimann was also anonymous for most of the game, as was Gabby, which led to me questioning the tactics.
But just when I was expecting a second half onslaught from Chelsea, it didn’t happen.
While they looked like they always had enough to grind us down, we were very resolute and were still working very hard.
Hard enough to get the result, which is all that matters to me.
I take my hat off to Benteke today.
He looks sharp again (and no, I don’t believe he’s looking for a move to Chelsea) and dealt well with some of the best (sneakiest?) defenders in the Prem.
A cracking win then and totally bonus points, that should mean survival is pretty much sorted.
I quite like Mourinho, but he doesn’t do himself any favours, does he?
I thought bennet played really well first half. Gutted he got the yellow card. Really want him to push on now.
Fantastic and unexpected 3 points…at home! Just a shade better than 8-0, eh?! Well done to the lads for hanging on in there and grinding out a result and for well and truly ruffling Chelsea and Jose’s feathers. UTV!
MOTM Bennett. I thought the defence was great but Bennett did a great job
Vlaar motm for me but bennett had a great game. People have to remember he is still young and with our support he could really push on! I want to see him prove a lot of villa fans wrong
Let’s hope a spell on the sidelines has given him the kick up the backside needed. He did very well tonight but can he keep it up? Only time will tell. Fwiw iv not seen bertrand okay as well as bennet tonight since he came here. He can fuck back of to scummy chelski we shoukdnt be taken their players on loan anyway just helps them keep a bigger squad which widens gap even more between them and us
Taking Bertrand on loan isn’t widening anything. He came to help secure our LB spot as it was faltering, which only helps us and does nothing for Chelsea. He wasn’t playing at Chelsea. Hell their Spanish RB I can’t spell without looking up the name is playing ahead of Cole… And ahead of Bennett. Especially as most fans were expecting an 8 (obviously a dream at the moment to get 8th)-13thish place, with a few expecting (for some reason or another) lower than that.
Only 23 though, as is Luna. I guess its arguable both are young still and have 7ish years at the top of their games still and one top LB to teach them, be it Bertrand or someone else, seems positive for Villa.
What I mean is of clubs like us take sky 4 players on loan it allows them to buy more players and have a stronger squad with more quality.
And when the player goes back? They have a decision to make, get rid of that player “Bertrand” (or whoever else) and sell a different player. However taking players on loan doesn’t mean they’ll get stronger. They didn’t make their team better despite Bertrand leaving, because he didn’t mean much. Mourinho made a comment that he has a future, which the only way he has a future is if they fail to sign a new LB, and that’s unlikely to happen with Mourinho being a money spender. Us loaning a player usually means we get a chance to see how good he is and sign him in the summer from a team like Chelsea. As they typically use Vitesse for any future player they have in mind because they’ll always play them.
The only reason mourinho said he had a future is to make us want him more. He is not going to say he’s rubbish when he needs a mug team like us to pay top money for him. Mourunho is king if mind games and u fell for it. The way bennet played on sat is better than anything iv seen so far with Bertrand. Just because he plays for Chelsea dosnt automatically make him a good player
I feel for it? That’s fascinating, simply because I had a slightly different view? They want another LB, if they can’t get one, of course they’re only going to praise him. It’s not for us to pay top money. Love him or hate him, he’s going to cost around 5ish million either way.
I never said he was a good player simply for playing for Chelsea though.
he is an ok player but no better than luna or bennett imo if he was that great chelsea will keep him. bottom line is this is the type of average dross we will ever get. we will never compete for top 4 or even 6 ever again under lerner. sat result as great as it was just papers over the cracks. Even though we are tenth we are still 9-10 points away from the teams above us plus their gd is better. I think it appalling teams like saints and newcastle are that far ahead of us tbh
“If he was that great he would be at Chelsea still”… NO REALLY? So we can’t compete with a team who can spend 40m on players, sell their last seasons and previous seasons best player and have an already made replacement who replaced him because of the style? Oh poor us, isn’t it? We have it really hard don’t we? But you’re right, Newcastle and Saints being ahead of us can be seen as appalling, despite everything Villa’s gone through, sackings/multiple signings/managers trying to show players who’s boss. Poor tactics is the reason why Villa are so far behind but that’s besides the point. As for Bertrand, he’s decent, you’re right, not near good enough for Chelsea. But then again at any time can offer teams 50-60m for a new LB while we can offer, what? 10m? They can offer 200k wages? We can offer, what, 50k? 60k if pushing it? Pushing for a top 6 spot doesn’t mean just spending, but getting intelligence in management and behind the scenes.
As for your continued papering over the cracks. It doesn’t again paper over any cracks. I know you were here before the season started, and been around for a while, Villa fans aren’t clueless. Villa fans didn’t expect any higher than 8th, probably 10th now. Few expected us to be relegated, and we look comfortable at the moment as the small teams despite this rumour any team can beat anyone, can’t beat bigger teams, unless of course they play like Villa did which is rare and we’re one of the better of the weaker clubs. WE ALL KNOW we need IMPROVEMENT this coming summer. 2 wins over Norwich and Chelsea will never change that. Yes it makes Villa fans happy, yes it relieves the “Stress” fans have and makes them more comfortable, but in no way changes opinions that quickly. Not the fickle garbage you think Villa fans are who can’t see past a couple results.
The question is why can’t we offer £200 k a week for the right player? With the amount of money Lerner has saved in the last 3 years he could easily afford that if he wanted to. I’m not saying we should give one player that amount but surely we could get 3 or 4 players on say £60-70k per week. It’s a myth that we can’t afford it this summer with the last of the bomb squad going we will be saving circa £450k per week. Don’t forget the £90m sky money for this season to. Are you seriously telling me with all that money saved and sky money that we can’t spend £50m on 3-4 decent players and pay them £60k a week. Don’t forget we will also make £20m plus from the imminent sale of Benteke as well.
Oh this is what I mean by poor tactically.
https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/1970466_816446675049559_956356854_n.png
Meaning we’ve gotten 24 points from teams around us which is terrible.
While yes we’ve gotten rid of a fair bit of the bomb squad, we’ve still signed a hell of a lot of players and they’re not these 500 pound a week players we supposedly only sign. So the wages aren’t all that far down.
Because signing 1 player on 200k means every player we sign wants a hell of a lot more than we’d ever off. It’s mainly how United are only going to kill themselves with the Rooney deal. We could never afford that.
However I can see us going for better players that we originally have. No reason why we can’t, and I’m still not sold Benteke will be sold.
Only time will tell but I can’t see us getting anything better than we have it will be more of the same. We maybe will have one marquee signing if Benteke goes simply to appease the fans but that won’t count for much as all that will be doing is replacing our best player. I think Benteke wants to leave no doubt about it and will only stay if someone disnt come in for him. As a replacement I’d love lukaka who I think is just as good even though he’s a few yrs younger. It looks like he is not wanted at Chelsea which is amazing as they are not exactly blessed with decent strikers
Lukaku’s a dream. He said he wouldn’t even stay at Everton unless they got CL football. I see him leaving Chelsea but to one of the bigger teams in Spain, Italy or Germany. Batshuayi should be his replacement.
And does Benteke wanna leave? It’s questionable if he does or not, I don’t know him personally so it’s all guess work.
I think reading between the lines he wants to go esp to a London club. I can’t see him wasting another year with us unless no one comes in for him.
Never read between the lines, especially when he never says a word, nor has his agent (last thing his agents said about his future was he could even stay past this season), so unless you’re going to try to go off how he plays, which is true, he arguably showed no care, but then neither does Weimann half the time, does he wanna leave too? My thing is, someone has to match what Lerner wants. While a fair few fans dislike Lerner, thinks all he does is sell our best players, he gets a lot of money for them, arguably more than what they’re worth (and if put back in correctly, we should’ve been better, but miss-spending from our last 2 managers has failed) and Benteke’s going to cost 25m+ imo to Lerner. If not more than that, because Lerner can put any price he wants as he has no clause.
But that’s the point if he sold Benteke and bought hypothetically lukaka then fair enough. But let’s face it young Milner Barry downing were never replaced like for like. They were replaced by young cheap lower league players for a fraction of the price. The same will happen when CB goes. You seem to forget he did put in a request last season hoping spurs would buy him. He had no choice to stay after that esp in World Cup year. No team will ever prosper if they sell their best players. Let’s say hypothetically that all of lamberts signings become outstanding players next season. By jan they will all be linked with bigger clubs and in the summer a few at least would go. How does a club ever go forward like this. This is why we will never be anything more than a mid table team with the odd cup run thrown in. For me that’s not good enough. For a lot of people it is good enough which is why Lerner will get away with it. please don’t give me the arguement that we can’t compete with the top four that is bollocks. If we kept Benteke and signed 3-4 decent players we would at least be able to be where spurs and Everton are.
You keep claiming he was hoping Tottenham would sign him, yet nothing about him even wanting to join them came out which it no doubt would’ve as he would have openly pushed for the move. Still to me a made up story that he ever wanted a move there. Was more than likely making a push for a CL team, Tottenham aren’t that.
No one has ever said its good enough for Villa to sell everyone and buy lesser players. Another made up comment.
Even if we don’t keep Benteke, 1 striker to replace Benteke, Kozak, probably Robinson would be good enough for now. Get 1 AM, a DM and possibly a fullback and we’d be good. Especially a RB, so Bacuna can make the move to midfield/back on the wing where he belongs. Selling Benteke, spending 40-50m and we’re passing Newcastle and Southampton, and with the right tactics, are facing Tottenham and Everton. But tactics have a lot to do with why we’re so far behind Newcastle and Southampton, not just the players.
How can u say Robinson is good enough he hasn’t played yet lol. All I’m saying is is someone was going to move for him or he was desperate to move as he wouldn’t have put in a request
Obviously a bit more depth could go a long way, sell the likes of Sylla and Tonev who while I like (especially Sylla), aren’t being played and weren’t played correctly when played. Loan Helenius, maybe get 2 strikers, maybe 1 more CB as Baker, Okore and Vlaar are good enough, Clark’s questionable. And then a LB if it’s true Luna’s not been able to get situated in England and wants a move back to a Sevilla-based club.
Don’t forget the AM
Never forget the AM.
I also did mention Robinson as 3rd choice. Playing 1 up front, it’ll give him time to learn. Of course i don’t know if he’ll make it at the senior level, but he seems too good for the reserve level.
I believe he (Betrand) is on about £35k a week at Chelsea that + the £5.5m to sign him I well I just can’t see it happening and not when you also have Bennett now looking the part.
We still need cover and bennet has only had one good game. Bertrand will be bk for stoke I guess as that’s probably in his contract so we are not going to be able to judge
I wonder if there’s something up with Luna though, he started fine but it looked like there was something wrong with his health.
Yep he’s got a disease called imalamberkcheapshitsigniningalitus. Very common in lambert players apparantly and no cure either!
So what you’re saying is he wants out to a Sky4 team in the summer so is playing shit on purpose?
Luna’s reportedly unsettled, wants a move back home. Guessing a bit of homesickness which is kind of sad as he looked pretty good, only just turned 23 and as a bright future still.
He will be a great loss to the club….not
Bennett MOTM?
Eh??
I want him to prove me wrong too, but that’s a step too far.
He’s still better going forward, where I prefer defence first from the FBs.
I think Chelsea looked a bit tired today, especially at the back, but still expect them to win the league. Which is what makes this such a great win today.
They shoukdnt be tired with the luxury of 30 odd world class players to rotate. I don’t believe this tired hype MON fucked us over with this excuse. Bennet was up v hazard and held his own and tge biggest compliment to him was hazard started playing in the middle. Today was the first complete home performance this season for first time ever we played well in both halves. This us now tge standard home or away no more excuses
They looked tired to me mate.
Good point about a 2 half performance today from us though.
My point today is that I saw signs of us actually improving.
You have to hold your hands up for the defence today, imo.
They did bloody well against a very dangerous attack.
Agree Badger though they didn’t play in midweek so y would they be tired. Even if they were tired man for man they are far superior than us but today..and I never thought I’d say this…lambert out thought mourinho tactically. Brilliant decision to bring on MA for gabby. Mourinho looked a beaten man in the end
Hazard was on the left in the first half, until they realised Bacuna had him in his pocket….. Switched sides……similar result……Then moved more central…… Speaks volumes of our defence today
Yep what was a huge down fall last season has come on a treat and defence is now our strength. Next season we have to take it one step further getting a good balance between attack and def especially at home and an AM is crucial to this
Proud of you Ohhahh see lads he doesn’t moan all the time his right standard has been set play like that we would not moan
Thanks villa 1996 I only moan when I feel I have good reason too which usually I do. But today I’m ecstatic not because of the result but the way we applied ourselves for the whole game. And unlike city game felt we deserved it. And let’s not forget lambert making the telling sub putting on MA for gabby. If that was mourinho he would be hailed a genius tactician. Credit where credit is due
Badger – I thought Bennett made some cracking clearances and his positioning was much better than before. Everyone played well but he’s not played in a long time and is arguably our third choice LB, he did a bloody good job.
Thought Vlaar and Bacuna were excellent. Delph did ok although scares me to death. El ahmadi did well and for a man marked by 2 all game, Benteke was decent. Credit to Bennett too, he could have let the occasion get to him but probably had his best game in a Villa shirt. I know at times its difficult but I fucking love being a Villa fan!!!
Amen mate!
Vlaar was outstanding today – great performance and leading by example to 3 inexperienced defenders. Delph got stronger as the game went on and Weimann was everywhere – certainly not anonymous, but doing loads of chasing down. Also about time Westwood got a word – always overlooked but consistent at doing the simple things – keeps the ball, hardly ever misplaces a pass and keeps things moving – very underrated imo.
As for Moanrinho – what a turd – said on Sky he wanted to ask the ref why gabby had been allowed back off the bench to grab Ramieres round the neck with 2 hands and not sent off for it. Sky promptly showed the pictures of Gabby giving Ramieres the slightest shove in the back! Jose you might be a good manager but your are a fraud and a bore.
Mourinho is an overhyped media darling who is up his own arse IMO. Yes good manager but if lambert had the amount of money he had we wouldn’t be far behind them. Amazing how he didn’t moan about the ref that cheated us out if a draw at the bridge
Ohhahh give me a high five mate so happy for once my marriage has fallen apart but villa in the last 2 games have help me up the villa
Sorry to hear mate but at least a bit of cheer tonight. High fives all round
Oh My! I am not going to forget about the result! Frank Lampard Senior lives opposite me and two current Chelsea players about 5 minutes walk away. That will do very nicely UTV.
So Mourinho still has not won at Villa Park and Frank Lampard Jnr who always scores against Villa was not selected. So much for the “told you so” bit.
The revelations were Bennett who had the game of his life and Delph who for once managed to avoid giving away a goal when ball watching in his own box. Then Delph turns on the performance of his Villa career – not only scoring with great skill but giving a fabulously hard working performance.
Fork and Spoon ready, where’s that Humble Pie?
Lol great finish from Delph bet they won’t even mention it on motd. If it was Suarez they’d be wanking over that finish forever
Absolutely fantastic win defended really well and attacked well in parts to.Great goal to win it.My only critique is that we sat back to much and soaked up too much.Great win….UTV
Bennett played well as did Delph whose performances have improved again. For me though the MOTM was El Ahmadhi he was everywhere he broke up play for the whole 90 minutes. I personally believe if he was not on the pitch Chelsea would not have become so frustrated and would have probably beaten us.
Great game great result 2 wins at home on the trot
Agree kae is a bit like des Bremer an unsung hero. No ability whatsoever but has big nuisance value
Yep, no ability whatsoever. Just making challenges in both halves of the field, passing, blocking, controlling the midfield, covering for players, making runs forward, keeping Delph and Westwood under control but you’re right. None of that takes any ability… Anything to put a player down I guess.
Kae is a headless chicken who had nuisance value and little else. Can’t shoot, can’t pass, can’t control the ball. He has got good work rate and will give it his all but players like that only take u so far
He can control a ball though. He’s not a great passer which is exactly why he doesn’t try what Delph tries. He’s your pressing CM that can make runs, can make perfectly timed challenges, knows when and if he has to make that one bad challenge and get booked. These are all skills, not “little else”. It takes ability to be an incredible nuisance that he is.
Fair point but I still don’t rate him he is not a player that can take us to the next level get again no one is
Those are all things he’s good at and those all take far more ability than you give him credit for. Again, an attempt to put a player down for absolutely no reason.
And the same could have been said about Des Bremner, some players simply do a job and don’t have to be the greatest players in the world they simply perform a function, no frills, no spills just efficient.
Agreed but kae has been a liability most of the season he can only pass sideways and gives the ball away to easily plus is error prone. But I agree he played well on Sat
I seem to remember Makelele not offering much else also. Didn’t stop him being one of the best defensive midfielders in the game.
Difference was makelele was physically stringer and not knocked of the ball easily plus he could pass over 2 yards which our midfielders can’t seem to do. Hence why we never keep possession
And i gave terry loads of stcik as i remembered what a cheating two faced racist he really is and i had a hangover
i’m pissed up vtid, fuckin new we’d do them today
To all Villa family enjoy what’s left of the evening 2nd on MOTD and a glorious win at home.Im still buzzing with that warm big victory feeling and I think we are now safe as we should do Stoke.I bid you all goodnight as MOTD approaches even though I watched the game I want to bask in the glory again.Happy day VTID
Def safe mate we can relax and play without fear now
Be good seeing some youth get game time. Robinson has been on the bench last 2 games now. Good time to bed some of them in ready to kick on next year.
Yes mate I think so see how high up the table we can get bet Randy Pandys rubbing his hands together UTV PS Tivo is great I recorded the skewering of Mourihno lol
Motm Delph by a country mile . Bennett played well but for the first 15 mins of the second half when he thought he was centre half . Gabby if only !!! Idle could do more can do more . He needs to watch how Rooney works before he thinks he is in his class . But take nothing away what a win deserved as well . Onwards and Upwards UTV ,
Great result today and some decent football to go with it. Vlaar, delph and Benteke all excellent. Thought everyone did their part though in closing down and harassing Chelsea. Decisions went our way but we deserved a bit of luck.
Still not sure i like the 4-3-3 formation, but if our core players play well it can work. Would still rather see Benteke up front with either Gabby or Weimann and have 2 wide players.
Be nice if we can get ourselves safe and then let some of the younger players get some time out there. Looking ahead to next season, would be nice if we can get Bertrand, then we could have a back 4 of Bacuna, Vlaar, Okore and Bertrand- thats pretty solid. Then we just need to figure out the midfield, although I have been impressed with Westwood in the last couple of matches, definitely picked his game up.
Aaaghhhh just got in from a grueling 12 hour shift ,what was delphs goal all about one of the best finishes villa park has ever seen . How the fuck did he do that backheeler ,well behind him ,at pace.off the ground curled into the corner .Yeeeessss luv it when we win.
Great back heel if that was Ronaldo the media would be wanking over it for decades
lol, very true oohah
Lol… comment of the weekend 🙂
Morning lads, just getting over a hangover, what do I know about the game of football, fuck all by all accounts, as for the chosen one, well he’s lost a few mates now, moan moan moan, Lambert for give me mate that team ways good, very good to me, great to see the Holte in full voice again, games like that will put arse’s on seats, motm was Vlaar for me, close second was Kea , but again the team at last was a team after the first 20 minutes, now Im glad to be a Villa fan but again always will be a Villa fan.
Was good.
My mate can only get to the odd game, he’s managed Citeh, WBA, Norwich & Chelsea this season.
Thinking of giving him my ticket for Stoke lol !
Enjoy the sunshine, smile through the day, and live safe in the knowledge that the haters won’t be on ’til tomorrow at least lol !
Oh, and that’s why I’ll be renewing lads. You can’t bottle that feeling last night.
Forget links to Messi, Ronaldo and Smith from Chipping Norton FC, bouncing on the Holte having beaten the champions elect is priceless.
We do ok v good teams as they play right into our hands. But occasions like last night are few and far between and I can’t justify spending a st just for one or 2 decent home wins when we have been clueless v so called lesser teams