KOZAK, AFTER HE SCORED
Well, I thought that was a very decent game, where we looked a lot more disciplined and organised.
That said, I’m sure a more clinical attack would have done much better against us, but who cares?
We got that clean sheet that ended a shocking run of 26 games without conceding. A statistic that looks even worse when you consider we hadn’t kept a clean sheet in this calendar year.
The biggest talking point will no doubt be Benteke’s injury.
I thought it looked like an ankle problem, but it seems it’s more a groin strain, which figures, given the way the player slipped.
Whatever, it’ll most likely mean at least a couple of games out, something we all feared.
Will Benteke be missed?
Too right he will, in my opinion.
Moving on to more positive things though, I thought this was a good game in that it was a typical English game of graft and blood and guts. And a bit of an eye-opener for Kuzak and Tonev, who got a fair bit of “treatment”.
I’m not sure about Tonev; he needs to sharpen up, as the overall pace of the game made him look a bit slow. Early days though.
Lowton was totally dropped from the squad, which surprised me, as I thought he was one of Lambert’s favourite players (what’s gone on there, I wonder?), but Bacuna did very well against Redmond, who ended up getting subbed.
Hughton got dog’s abuse from the Norwich fans for that decision and I’m minded to agree, because he looked a bit of a threat, but hey, again, who cares? He looks a bit of a petulant little so and so and needs to wind his neck in. A real nose, by the looks of it, so fair play, I suppose.
On the other wing, Luna did a decent job against Snodgrass, who also caused problems.
Gabby looked our biggest threat and gave Norwich loads of trouble with his pace.
Weimann looked a bit sharper to me and was unlucky when he hit the post.
Benteke did what he always does, as did Delph. KEA did a decent job, although I’m sure I saw him totally bottle out of a 50-50, which was poor in my mind.
The man of the match though, was Brad Guzan.
A totally justified decision, because he was magnificent in the way he commanded the box.
What a contrast to the player who got battered in that semi against Blackburn.
A super save from a penalty that shouldn’t have been given (although I understand why it was when I put my neutral head on) and a great save late on that ultimately earned us the three points.
I’ve just heard he touched the ball more than any other Villa player.
I’m not surprised, although I didn’t get the impression he was massively tested today.
A decent overall performance, but I have to say I wasn’t very impressed with Norwich.
Their fans booed them off and I can see why.
Still, 3 points away, a change of style in that we played a 4-4-1-1 and finally a clean sheet.
Let’s hope it’s the first of many eh?
I don’t particularly care about the ins and outs.
We won and that’ll do for me.
I’m a happy bunny today.
fyi, for all the people saying Norwich are shit and so on, that was the 1st home game they’ve lost in 11 and the last time they lost was against……..yes that’s right us!
has ooah and terry managed to come up with an argument to say bentekes injury was the fault of lambert and learner yet?
its only a matter of time 😉
Lambert will more than likely be blamed for sending him back on the pitch after he’d received treatment for the original injury!!!
On another matter it’s not often I praise the club but on this occasion bravo! Puts everything into perspective. http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/girlfriend-cancer-victim-i-marc-6076235?
We need Benteke fit, playing and gone as soon as possible so Kozak can take centre stage, get scoring some goals and up to a good level of profitability so we can sell him to a Sky4 team. I reckon one profitable striker every 18 months (sell for a bit more to someone desperate in the January window) and within, oooh, about 30 or 40 years Lerner will have broken even on what he’s spent on the club so far.
I don’t think I originally thought this , but Lukaku is much better Than our Benteke– even still both players are world class. Also, I am under the belief that Lowton was very good / seen as very good because most teams targeted our left hand side (joe bennet)–still a lot of potential though. Finally I think. Delph has come of age.. He’s ready now.
I dunno whats up with lowton, we know he’s not the best defender but his display against Newcastle was really, really poor, he looked like he was a good yard off the pace, remy made mincemeat of him. baccuna done really well yesterday, I don’t think lowton would have handled Redmond that well, lowton may find it hard to get back in.