And thankfully we got it.
If nothing else, it should stop our confidence deteriorating even more.
Straight away, I should say that this was not a good performance today and you could see why Brighton are struggling so badly. I think Martinez only had to handle the ball on one occasion after a shot from Maupey.
They threatened a lot early on and I couldn’t see them not scoring, but the stat where they have scored only 10 goals at home in 13 games says it all. It’s hard to see why too really, as they do all the right things and really should have punished us at least a couple of times. Indeed, I just couldn’t see them not scoring.
We weren’t helping ourselves by giving the ball away so stupidly with Ramsey and Mings being particularly notable.
Douglas Luiz also gave away two shockers, but they were later in the game. Fortunately Brighton didn’t make anything from the chances, but make no mistake, we’d probably have been punished on each occasion by a more incisive side.
But while I thought we were not at all good early on, I did think things got better and at times, we looked much better than of late.
Today’s puzzling decision from the manager centred on him electing to play Ings and Watkins up top again.
And it didn’t work. Again.
Ings was invisible, full stop and while Watkins looked completely devoid of confidence and desire, he did at least manage to get on the scoresheet after Mings did exactly what we’ve all been complaining about in launching another long punt for Olly to run onto.
Fortunately, after maybe a hundred attempts of trying this tired, failed tactic, they actually got it right for once and Olly was given the chance to do exactly what he is best at. Running onto the ball, as opposed to being given it.
He simply dispatched it with aplomb.
I’m happy for him because he’s been getting dog’s abuse from some fans on other sites. He has been incredibly poor of late, in my opinion, but he’s allowed that as long as he keeps scoring.
That was our second goal though and I’ve got ahead of myself.
I know John McGinn got MOTM today and I can definitely see why. He ran his guts out and looked strong, while making decent runs, passing mostly well and even defending well to at times. A very good all round game.
But I would have given the award to Matty Cash, who seemed to be involved in nearly everthing. The icing on the cake was that he also scored a very tidy goal too. He’s another one I’m happy for as he’s been getting loads of verbals via the internet too. I really don’t get it, because I think he’s possibly been our single most consistent player this season.
And then, it seemed to me that in the last few minutes we actually increased the pressing. Okay, it wasn’t as dynamic as you’d expect, but it was very late into the game. Was this down to increased fitness or just increased confidence?
I suspect the latter and this result, which is frankly all that mattered today, will have seriously helped the lads.
Certainly Matty Cash looked ecstatic as he was leaving the pitch.
I have two things left to say.
The referee was terrible. I thought the latest edict was to try and let play continue and to give the benefit of the doubt? Well, at one stage we’d commited 5 fouls and got 4 bookings. Which makes us look the dirty side, which we weren’t at all. Indeed Brighton looked to me like they wanted to try and get a Villa player a red.
That said, we didn’t help ourselves.
Cash got one for taking his shirt off. I believe that there was sort of half permission to show pro Ukraine messages on your shirt today, which is what Cash did. But he took his shirt completely off, which is an automatic yellow.
Mings got one for steaming in and opening his trap after another Brighton foul and Ramsey one for something stupid too, which I forget.
The point is we shouldn’t be conceding needless bookings as often as we do.
And the final thing is to salute the fans, some of who spent five hours getting to the game after a big pile-up on the A23. They were in fantastic voice yet again.
Let’s hope we can move forward after this result.
UTV!
Holte, that’s two league cups more that the sweet f*** all we’ve won in the 25 years since, to be fair. And consistent top 6 finishes in the league with a few flirts with the top of the league and even a few title shouts. We’d take that now, wouldn’t we?
I think some of us look back with affection and some of us with frustration of what might have been. I’m certain that it was Ellis coming in that forced Saunders to leave and also the quick break up of league champions and European cup winners to being relegated five years later when we should have been a major force. Unfortunately the constant change in management meant the break up of our greatest ever team far too quickly.
In his defence I think he cared about the club but to name a stand after him was complete arrogance.
If you’re happy with a couple of league cups and a handful of top six finishes under his regime then fair enough but for me he wasn’t a successful owner so we will have to agree to differ in our opinion.
Ellis is the ultimate ‘marmite’ Villa owner who continues to split the fans.
Holte, I agree; I think he did care about the club but I also think ego was a driving force. He never came to terms with us winning the European Cup when he was unable to take the credit for it and his treatment of Dennis Mortimer and the other players in the winning team was nothing short of scandalous.
He knew the cost of everything and the value of nothing and claimed to have left the future of the club in safe hands!
I have never supported naming a stand after him – what did he actually do to deserve that? I’ve always advocated calling it the Dennis Mortimer stand and the newly developed North End stand should be named after Sir Ron.
What a truly iconic ground that would give us – the famous Holte End, the historic Trinity Road and newly developed Mortimer and Saunders stands taking the capacity to 60,000.
Up the mighty Villa
That would be the way to go Hitch. I like the way the owners have embraced our proud history. I think it would be a tough call to remove the Doug Ellis name from the stand now he is no longer alive but as you say, there are more deserving names who WERE part of our most successful team.
It may be just a little too soon today perhaps.
However, it’s already nearly 16 years since he sold out to Lerner; by the time they finally get around to finishing what I presume will be “Phase 2” (i.e. rebuild or enlarging the Witton Lane stand) it ‘s likely to be 20 years or more.
Just as with having to tell youngsters who Mortimer and Saunders were, in a couple of years they’ll have to explain who Deadly was.
I think you really have to be 60+ already to remember the times around our last league title & the EC win – so I ‘d imagine in another few years they’d have no big problem with changing the name of the stand.
Ouch! I’m 55 and remember those days really well. I never thought back then that we would never win the league again 40 years later ☹️
Well done!
I’m 63 and while I do remember a lot of good games from the 1970’s, and early 80’s, it is all beginning to feel like a very long time ago!!
My two sons are in their early 30’s and late 20’s: been taking them to VP since they were six or seven; used to have to spend ages explaining to them when they were young who all these people were that they kept hearing other fans talking about: Sir Ron, Tony Barton, Peter Withe, Dennis Mortimer, Nigel Spink (although they had heard of Nigel, as my late Dad used to know him…).
Well they now know the history – nut that’s just what it is to them, I guess – history. Waiting for us to make some more for their generation!
Yep, I totally agree with that sentiment re stand names.
Unfortunately, it won’t be long until the vast majority of Villa fans say “who?” when the names Mortimer and Saunders come up, same as we regard some of our older greats now.
It seems nuts, but there would probably need to be a major PR thing to explain why the names, imo.
Which reminds me, at Stamford Bridge earlier this season there were 3 cracking Asian girls in the away end next to me and another 3 in front. All in jeans and jackets, not a veil anywhere, nor an Asian man. After they joined in the My old Man song and got the names right of Spinksy and Birchy and Alan Macnally – I asked them if they knew who those players were. Not a fair question – they were not born at the time – and they hadn’t a clue. Asked to why Paul Birch was immortalised – I hadn’t a clue either, how he got included with the other two Icons. So never mind the PR all you need is a song.
Tell us more about the cute Asian chicks…😁
🙂 🙂
Good to see we have an international following amongst the beautiful people – Ladywood Road rocks 🙂
Haha, that’s great OLL.
There’s something massively perverse in the thought of Asian girls singing “bollocks, you’re a c*** ”
It just doesn’t seem right.
I’m not sure why Birch was involved either, but no doubt it just works.
Just yesterday I saw a clip on Twitter of Villa 2 Inter 0 at VP in 1990 (a great night). Somebody commented that Birch gave Lothar Matthaus a torrid time that evening – maybe that’s the reason? 🙂
Maybe slightly easier to call it the “Brian Little” or “Gordon Cowans” in that case,
Just a thought…
I assume AEG is cup tied as he hasn’t made the Everton bench for tonight’s game?
If that’s not the case then his loan move to Everton is going to be a personal disaster. I’d be sad about that.
He made a start for us as a sub, as far as I can see Hitch.
I can’t be bothered to look, tbh, as he won’t be our player for long.
He did ok for where we were, but we’ve moved on.
He was no doubt handsomely rewarded for his efforts.
Deadly Doug love the limelight, I have many memories and arguments with him over the years he was at Villa.if photos was being taken he would get on them. We have to thank him in bringing in corporate dinning as he was the first at Villa to get it off the ground useing his own money. But he was the man that spit the team up after we won the European cup .Doug did interfere with team selection and that was why Ron Saunders left.
Interesting insight Bill – always best to get the inside story.
I know this site is about football but I’m absolutely devastated by the untimely death of Shane Warne. Although he regularly ‘ripped a new one’ in the English batting line up he became just as well moved here as in Australia.
It does put a real perspective on life.
RIP Shane Warne – probably the greatest leg spinner the World will ever see.
*as well loved here
Absolutely agree.
And on the same day as another Aussie legend – Rod Marsh.
Last night watched Keenan Davis playing for Forest and have to say he was pretty impressive. Powerful, quick feet and held the ball up well. Caused United all sorts of problems.
OK, I accept it was the Championship but he’s certainly adding a few £’s to his transfer value if that’s the direction Gerrard decides to go.
He just needs to continue to stay injury free.
Why do we play that Luiz, he’s constantly giving the ball away.
Playing soo well today come on the boys
The rhythm of passing first class. Need a clean sheet and another goal for us.
Blinkity flip!!!! 4-0!!!!
Cripes!!!!!!!!
Firstly, is Badger ok, checked for thread today. Really missed his insightful comments and our linked views.
Secondly, great win today. Our record against Southampton is poor. Coupled to the win at Brighton last week that’s 6 points, where normally it would have been zero. All credit to SG for the changes he has made. If we beat Leeds in midweek then I will believe we have turned a corner and our DNA is improving.
Suspect he had to work today Sid but I’ll check he’s OK
He’s fine Sid – as suspected he had to work today and is gutted he missed the game.
Thanks Hutch
This is brrrillliant woo hoo
I have to say our defence has been up till now first class, we are now under the cost but holding it well .Roemau just been booked
Sanson on inns off .
Out to lunch so only started watching from about 35 minutes – great performance. Coutinho unlucky not to get a hat trick.
4 really good goals and a clean sheet – now we have to power on.
Up the mighty Villa
Archer on score sheet again for PNE. He has to be given a squad number next season.
Great performance today. Our passing was excellent. Coutinho- what a player.