Well, maybe not, but it was great to hear the fans singing it, wasn’t it?
So, what to say?
Simply put, I thought this was a very competent performance against a very poor Stoke side.
I’m not taking anything away from us, as you can only perform in comparison to the team you play, but Stoke did seem to have very strange tactics, before Crouch came on.
I can only assume Mark Hughes was overly worried about our threat on the counter-attack, but whatever the reason was, the opposition didn’t attack with any numbers; something I found quite strange, given our poor defence last season.
Note the “last season” part there, as we looked way better to me in the Full Back areas.
Cissokho looked very solid, but I’m happy to say that Alan Hutton did too.
To my own astonishment, for a large part of the game, I was actually looking to give Hutton MOTM, but I feel Vlaar pinched it overall. At least you can’t say I’m biased against Hutton.
In fact, I thought it was a very good defensive performance overall, with Vlaar and Sendoros getting very good blocks in and you have to wonder if the CBs are playing a more relaxed style because they aren’t babysitting kids.
I suspect so personally.
Most of the play revolved around the midfield and I don’t think anyone was outstanding here, myself.
It was all very much functional stuff and no one stood out.
N’Zog looked bright in small glimpses, but I thought it was right that he was hooked, with Grealish to replace him.
It was a good game for the latter to come on and his start was steady, just what I wanted to see.
I suspect he’ll be getting plenty of game time this season and rightly so, as I get the feeling he has that “something” about him, which could lead to something special.
Onto the attackers then and I’m not sure there.
Gabby didn’t particularly impress me, but where it seemed he missed a sitter, I don’t believe he did and it looked to me that Shawcross stole the ball off him with a very good challenge.
As for Weimann, he didn’t get that much of a look in really, but he won the ball against some poor Stoke defending and put it in the net. You can’t ask for more than that, can you?
So all in all, an excellent win in a game where I really didn’t expect us to get anything. Happy days.
Big shout for those that were there.
There wasn’t vast amounts to sing about until we scored, but the Stoke fans were pretty subdued too.
Of course, once we scored, there was only one set of fans in it.
So much for Stoke fans being the noisiest.
I’m off to give a Stokey friend of mine some abuse.
As you do.
yeah we won, who would av thought this lol me for one. i thought villa were solid all game stoke rarely breached our defense. the full backs and center backs were stand outs, i think we will improve u had vlaar and guzan not match fit (ring rusty) hutton and nzog playing their first competitive game for villa in a long while.
magpies next and rock will make his debut and the ring rusty players will be more match fit. altogether i was fairly pleased with the result and performance. before a ball was kicked every expert had stoke in the top ten and villa relegated.
Has anyone red or heard anything regarding okore missing yesterday??? It’s still bugging me,hope all’s well.UTV
Apparently he took his kids to Drayton Maynor after feeding the ducks.
Back four looks solid Hutton,Vlaar,Senderos,Cissoko plus Sanchez infront of them looks really solid to me.I think this will stop the leaks…I think Senderos will surprise us all….UTV
Hope they stay injury free otherwise we’ll have the jokers back in the pack,as for sendeross he’s a better club player than an International I know it’s early days I hope I don’t regret saying that.
i agree jay senderos is a solid defender and has been for his career, just if sendros is asked to do things hes not good at like chasing a fast forward from half way to goal hes not gonna win the race but defending his box, hes solid sanchez sitting infront of him and vlaar will cover sendros weakness up. but okore will return and he does have speed so horses for courses
Don’t know how true but I think we have put in a bid for Holtby yey/ney?
Would love this to happen, just can’t see it however….
Reportedly made a 4m bid. Much better than the reported 10m they wanted if we can get him at that price.
They will surely reject a bid of just 4 million?
I’d expect them too, was a sub for their game so I can’t see them actively looking to sell.
i think Pinocchio will keep holtby no doubt, hes his type of player chances to sign holtby have gone thanxs lerner should av bid for him before when sherwood was boss
Like all of us, I’m not going to get over excited, but it was not “a very poor Stoke side”.. and totally wrong to write that..it was a good win against a side done 3 times at home last season..another 6 points this month and a league cup win would be fantastic..and with Kozak, Cole, Benteke and Bent yet to come in goals will keep coming UTV.
It was a poor Stoke side.
Or more correctly, they played poorly, which is what was meant.
They might be a decent side normally, but they were rubbish yesterday.
I’d have thought that was obvious, Sasa, tbh.
I prefer to say Lamberts tactics and a good alround performance from us made Stoke look poor…..but then, I would, wouldn’t I?
no langford don’t praise the pressing of stoke players rushing um into going long to quick, so they only had one forward no back up from midfield, stoke could av pressed villa had they not been terrified of villa breaking and scoring more, lets say stoke were bad team or just bad on the day infact wouldn’t surprise me if all our points are collected when the opposition play bad this year
And I would say the same m8 half full as they say P&P we will not be relegated utv
“It was a poor Stoke side”
I aint having that Badger it’s doing Villa and in particular Lambert an injustice, we went with game plan and executed it perfectly. The midfield sat deep not giving stoke ant room to play and hit them on the counter and came away with 3 points, happy days.
Come on we are quick enough to criticise on the back of bad results so when we have a good one then a bit of credit where it’s due.
If stoke had poor game then why were our back 4 men of the match???? Surely they would of had fuck all to do & wouldn’t of really been tested soz don’t make sense that assumption.villa played really well stoke came a close second imo.UTV
Hi Giddy ,BWS, reading between the lines in a sence both right, Stoke had sold its midfield and had 3 new players, Villa had changed its defence with 3 new and old heads, truth be known a draw would not have been a disaster for both teams, bloody glad luck was with Villa with the goal, but think how we have missed chances, Think its Newcastle’s game to hold judgment on our progress, but no doubt now I feel better of our team than last season ,we have two men looking at what players are doing,don’t be surprised if Abonglahor is benched next game.
Yea Bill Newcastle will be a better yard stick and thank f**k Pardew’s fell out with Ben Arfa so he can’t score his usual screamer against us.
I suppose it depends how you look at things.
I was speaking about the game to a neutral today and I did actually say that Lambert went with a gameplan and stuck to it.
Whereas Hughes got it totally wrong, imo, because, as has been said, he took our counter too seriously.
I asked the question to Langford on here about how we would have looked against a side that played better. I’m not convinced either way, fwiw but yes, Newcastle will definitely be a good indicator.
I’m starting my small tour of the US on Friday, so am already thinking about how I’m going to get to watch the game.
Badger are you in a band mate???US tour eh??
And if my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle! You can only beat what is put in front of you and why would I possible care what Langford thinks?
BWS…why the fuck are you having a go at me. Did you even read my comments?
Mate how I read it just banter?as you both agree certain comments regarding the win wasn’t down to how we played but how stoke did.could be wrong
Yes that’s how I read it, You can only beat what’s on the pitch, and not going what was said by our next in charge while Badgers away Langford, Oohah just pops in now and again so I’ve sacked him. 🙂
I suppose that came across all wrong Langford, I aint going to find a horses head in my bed am I? Come on LV don’t go all Rambo on me.
same thing happened to swansea both me and bill watched this premier opener and swansea deserved their win, but wot followed this result was excuses, not by utd but so called impartial broadcasters or so called experts.swansea were robbed of any praise basically wrote of as a error by the manager , new 2 the job, lack of players or defensive players wot about well done swansea u out thought and played a so called top team on their own patch .
langford was saying, tactics lambs employed made stoke look shit. i totally agree stoke were caught off guard, they expected a easier game and were never in it move on magpies. win at vp and experts and moaners alike will av no excuses
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2727189/Hilarious-moment-Ashley-Young-Manchester-United-gets-unexpected-delivery-passing-bird.html
holtby would be a great signing, lets see what happens here.
The AM we need, be first choice over Cole. Although I feel we’d play him on the wing despite him mainly being an AM.
Holtby rumour gathering a bit of speed app AVFC shown interest and I don’t know maybe have placed a bid of 4million
Sanchez ball winner.. Delph.. box to box energy.. Holtby playmaker..
I like that as a trio in the middle of the park.. think it would be a very decent middle three..
N Zog.. Richardson.. Grealish and maybe another on loan.. providing the width..
If we could somehow push the boat out and get two more players in.. i think we could surprise a lot of people.. gosh one win and it’s got to me already 😀
Good shout Lionheart. That would be an excellent midfield IMO. What, with a more solid defence and plenty of ammo up front I am thinking that we could have a relatively good season
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/vine-this-cant-be-lucky-bird-poops-in-ashley-youngs-mouth-30513065.html
Scroll down to actual video LMFAO
That was posted on here last night JD by Tom. Seems you’re addicted to copying other stuff that you come across and then try to make out it’s all your work.
And who are you using my user name?
Apparantly (according to the morning papers) Holtby is available with Crystal Palace and QPR both said to be interested. No mention of Villa. I don’t think Holtby cost Spurs a lot (£1.5m?)so a £4m bid sounds pretty realistic.
Thought we played really well Saturday and don’t buy ‘Stoke were poor’. We just didn’t allow them to play. Thought we looked like a proper football team and when could we last say that – but ‘one swallow doesn’t make a summer’ and we’ve been here before so hoping Saturday reinforces the new found optimism.!
See that Donacien has joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until January. I think that’s an excellent move. Grealish’ time at Notts County last year certainly helped him develop as a player.
Joe Cole playing for the U21’s against Stoke. Gralish also playing – interesting?
Lol..Joe Cole…under 21s?……wished we had signed him then. Unfortunately he’s now nearer 41 🙂
He can’t it’s against the regulations you must be under 21.
No – you can play overage players. Okores played as well
What’s the point of calling it under 21’s then???these players should be playing in the reserves don’t make sense to me.
So it should be the underover 21’s
‘Grealish’ even
Giddy, holiday mate, NYC, LV, HL and SF.
I don’t work dog’s hours, only to have nothing for it 🙂
U-21s drew 1-1 against Stoke and Grealish was at the centre of things;
http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/potters-u21s-open-with-a-draw-1837372.aspx
Badger have a great time mate US not my cup of tea too gun hoe if you get my drift hope you’ll have better luck with the network there than I will I’m sure mobiles don’t work in Germany
Badger…happy hols mate. Lets hope we are still near the top when you get back. Have a good one mate 🙂
Ta lads 🙂
I’ll still be reading or even posting if anything interesting happens.
The missus has got loads of my Villa shirts ready, as I always try and promote the club whenever I go away.
The Barcodes game is definitely on NBC, so shouldn’t be a problem in New York.
The Hull game is a maybe on NBC, but not sure on the availability in Hawaii.
Badger…Villa v Hull also on NBC. Its on Sun 31 August. If you go to livesoccertv.com you will see it listed. Thats where I get all my links from.
Badger. Villa v Hull on Sun 31 Aug is also on NBC. Check out livesoccertv.com for availability of all games and in which countries and what channels are broadcasting it.
They don’t get NBC as such in Hawaii, but a different version. There, the games down as a maybe.
I’ll probably be able to get it via a stream, but a bit worried about the distances involved and stream reliability. Not seeing any footy bars either.
NY will be no problem and I’ve found the ideal pub in “The Football factory” right opposite the Empire State building.
I can see it now. We’ll go to see the building and I’ll say “we should nip in for a drink”, all innocently 🙂
Double bonus is the NY Villa supporters club are based there too!
Why aremy comments being blocked lads?
Reboot your handset mate.
Giddy…done that mate. Still didnt work but my last post did. And I am sober before you say anything 🙂
Mine as well Langford, when giddy said was he on tour I said no he’s going to never Neverland. Nerve got through., wonder why it was only a joke. 🙂