Stoke 0 – 1 Villa; We’re gonna win the league!

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.

217 Comments

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  1. LANGFORDVILLA
    LANGFORDVILLA August 18, 2014 at 4:26 pm . Reply

    Stoke u21s 1 Villa u21s 1…..Villa scorer Robinson.
    Cole and Grealish both played for 73 mins. Okore played the full 90 mins.

  2. LANGFORDVILLA
    LANGFORDVILLA August 18, 2014 at 4:33 pm . Reply

    Just seen ‘the rock’ on SSN. Cant speak a word of English. Should get on well with Lambert then! Lol
    🙂

    1. Bill Pearson
      Bill Pearson August 18, 2014 at 4:39 pm . Reply

      Hope to hell ,Lambert don’t give him lessons, could be like I thought they was excellent, magnificent, and played brilliantly that’s the only words I understand from him.

      1. LANGFORDVILLA
        LANGFORDVILLA August 18, 2014 at 5:23 pm . Reply

        Bill…i will let you into a secret. I was arseholed on Sat and understood his EVERY word for the first time. So the answer is get pissed out your head mate.
        Thats me, you, Giddy and Hitchens all booked into rehab next May 🙂 ….I love rehab. You get a great piss up at the end of your treatment 🙂

        1. Hitchens 60
          Hitchens 60 August 18, 2014 at 6:22 pm . Reply

          Looking forward to it; meantime off to practice some more LOL

        2. Bill Pearson
          Bill Pearson August 18, 2014 at 6:35 pm . Reply

          Well just been given the all clear from hospital, they said no tea no coffee, no fizzy pops, I said what about alcohol? They said that’s OK, so lads bottoms up (hic as the saying goes I’ll have a large one, don’t mind if I do.hic.

          1. Hitchens 60
            Hitchens 60 August 18, 2014 at 6:55 pm . Reply

            Good news Bill – enjoy a tipple tonight

          2. GIDDYVILLAN
            GIDDYVILLAN August 18, 2014 at 7:34 pm . Reply

            Get it down yer folks fuck it. 😀

  3. LANGFORDVILLA
    LANGFORDVILLA August 18, 2014 at 4:47 pm . Reply

    Bill lol mate.
    Reading between the lines a bit I dont think we will land Holtby. Especially jf the bookies are correct in saying that Sherwood will get the Palace job. Palace are also said to be in the hunt for him and he played for Sherwood at Spurs last season.

    1. Hitchens 60
      Hitchens 60 August 18, 2014 at 4:54 pm . Reply

      Yes but Sherwood put him on the transfer list in January when at Spurs so maybe not!

      1. Hitchens 60
        Hitchens 60 August 18, 2014 at 5:07 pm . Reply

        And then loaned him out to Fulham for the rest of last season!

      2. LANGFORDVILLA
        LANGFORDVILLA August 18, 2014 at 5:08 pm . Reply

        Hitchens…thats a good point. I never knew that. But he would still be considered good enough for Palace surely.
        Its another fingers crossed job.

        1. Hitchens 60
          Hitchens 60 August 18, 2014 at 6:24 pm . Reply

          Agreed but would he want to play for Sherwood?

  4. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson August 18, 2014 at 5:23 pm . Reply

    The thing is managers want to do their own way and Sherwood would have said I want this I want that ,hopefully he don’t want Holtby, 12 days to go yet I’d like to think he might come to us.

  5. Andrew
    Andrew August 18, 2014 at 7:19 pm . Reply

    Possible signing within 48 hours seems to be going around with Sinclair being the named mentioned. Would be one of the worst signings we could make.

    Sebastian Blanco is another reported target. I’d love for this one to be true.

    1. GIDDYVILLAN
      GIDDYVILLAN August 18, 2014 at 7:37 pm . Reply

      Fingers crossed its holtby it would be on loan unless spurs want to cash in now.

      1. Andrew
        Andrew August 18, 2014 at 8:26 pm . Reply

        Be happy with Holtby or Blanco. Doubt we’ll see Holtby on loan though.

    2. LANGFORDVILLA
      LANGFORDVILLA August 18, 2014 at 8:15 pm . Reply

      Wheres the link?

      1. Andrew
        Andrew August 18, 2014 at 8:25 pm . Reply

        Which link? I have a link to the Blanco rumour, nothing on the Sinclair rumour bar a few Facebook pages claiming other Villa forums have we’re set to sign someone within 48 hours and it being Sinclair. Blanco would be so much better if it was him.

  6. LANGFORDVILLA
    LANGFORDVILLA August 18, 2014 at 8:27 pm . Reply

    Yes Bianco link has been in the Daily Mail all day. Seen nothing on Sinclair though!

    1. Andrew
      Andrew August 18, 2014 at 8:30 pm . Reply

      We’ve been linked a couple times this summer, dunno. Just hope it’s not true. Would prefer someone like Gnabry on loan.

      1. Hitchens 60
        Hitchens 60 August 18, 2014 at 8:38 pm . Reply

        There was a short piece on Ladbrook News earlier linking us to Holtby. Pretty sure Gnabry is sidelined with a knee injury and may not be loaned out

        1. Hitchens 60
          Hitchens 60 August 18, 2014 at 8:42 pm . Reply

          No link to Sinclair that I’ve seen but a piece on Sky Transfer News having Sinclair as one of four players likely to be surplus to requirements at MCity. It’s widely reported that PL is looking for a wide man (LOL) so I suppose 2+2 might equal Sinclair!!!

          1. Andrew
            Andrew August 18, 2014 at 8:57 pm . Reply

            Maybe, dunno. I just know they mentioned Sinclair being the guy on the facebook page so decided to post it here.

            Blanco or Holtby would be real quality, but Holtby’s an AM and isn’t exactly a winger. Blanco is also more of an AM but can play on the wing. According to transfrmarket hasn’t even been in the squad for their 3 games so far in the league and the mention when they’re out due to injury. Maybe?

  7. ifiruledtheworld
    ifiruledtheworld August 18, 2014 at 9:07 pm . Reply

    Could anyone post links to these transfers so we can all get a read? Be interesting to see where all this goes, still can’t imagine it being Holtby though..

  8. Lionheart
    Lionheart August 19, 2014 at 11:31 am . Reply

    Holtby and Gnarby and i would be very very happy with this summers activity..

    1. Jay Dee
      Jay Dee August 19, 2014 at 11:40 am . Reply

      We enquired about Holtby & Gnarby may have even placed bids.This Blanco chap fits Lamberts transfer activity like a glove doesn’t it a good player in a lower league…utv

      1. Lionheart
        Lionheart August 19, 2014 at 11:46 am . Reply

        Jay Dee.. he seems a bit light weight IMO..

        Holtby on loan or permanent plus Gnarby on loan would be perfect..

        Play the right team and we would be well clear of a relegation battle IMO..

        1. Bill Pearson
          Bill Pearson August 19, 2014 at 12:02 pm . Reply

          Lionheart yes he’s only 5-6” tall and seeing that video you can see its a PR job by the agent. That’s not saying he’s not up to standard could be a little dynamo to the team, my thinking is played twice for his country been loaned out to eastern block team and won’t go back because of the problems in that country, is as you say Lionheart light wait. ?

          1. Bill Pearson
            Bill Pearson August 19, 2014 at 12:03 pm . Reply

            Weight even. 🙂

        2. Jay Dee
          Jay Dee August 19, 2014 at 1:51 pm . Reply

          I’m not signing the player am i

          1. Lionheart
            Lionheart August 19, 2014 at 2:19 pm . Reply

            Easy tiger lol.. no one is saying you are.. just throwing ideas out there and i think Holtby and Gnarby as a duo a better bet if we can pull it off 😀

  9. LANGFORDVILLA
    LANGFORDVILLA August 19, 2014 at 12:00 pm . Reply

    Itn rumoured that Randy is in Brum…hope thats a good sign!

    1. Bill Pearson
      Bill Pearson August 19, 2014 at 12:10 pm . Reply

      He’s come for his money 🙂 got a reset ion in the states, someone said that he’s cleared his house out over here, don’t know if its true or not. Still banners up Saturday Lerner out, the Villas ours. 🙂

  10. Hitchens 60
    Hitchens 60 August 19, 2014 at 12:16 pm . Reply

    Guys, pretty sure Gnabry has an injured knee (did it in April) with no clear recovery time. Ar*e said it’s unlikely he will go on loan in this window.

  11. nath
    nath August 19, 2014 at 1:48 pm . Reply

    hello ALL holtby while i like, i just can’t see this happening, if spurs want 2 offload him, which i don’t think they will. he won’t be loaned again. he spent 12minths at fulham, so would lerner free up more funds ??? i was shocked he coughed up the sanchez dosh which i appreciate of him.

    as for Serge Gnabry i can’t see this as well, he does need games and i feel grealish is better. both lack games both are raw, but i would develop our own just my thoughts
    addios 🙂

  12. Jay Dee
    Jay Dee August 19, 2014 at 2:08 pm . Reply

    I hear Lerners in town to sanction the funding for a transfer no doubt UTV

    1. GIDDYVILLAN
      GIDDYVILLAN August 19, 2014 at 2:11 pm . Reply

      Couldn’t he do that over the phone or email????

      1. Jay Dee
        Jay Dee August 19, 2014 at 4:11 pm . Reply

        Could do I spose but I thought he said he was going to be more hands on.Could be the sale of the club?

    2. nath
      nath August 19, 2014 at 2:15 pm . Reply

      i just red langford say same 🙂 well keep digging around for us 🙂 seems like sumat is about 2 happen 🙂 i can’t believe lerner but iam not gonna complain. he needed 2 spend and seems like the penny has dropped in his head 🙂

      post when u hear anything jay 🙂
      gracias

      1. GIDDYVILLAN
        GIDDYVILLAN August 19, 2014 at 2:18 pm . Reply

        Nath what’s with the Spanish endings????are you over there mate????

        1. nath
          nath August 19, 2014 at 2:29 pm . Reply

          no at work 🙁

          i just like adding a spanish word in the mix like del boy threw in a wrong french word at the wrong time lmao

  13. GIDDYVILLAN
    GIDDYVILLAN August 19, 2014 at 2:20 pm . Reply

    Ps JD get burrowing into the net mate I’m sure you will. 😉

    1. GIDDYVILLAN
      GIDDYVILLAN August 19, 2014 at 2:38 pm . Reply

      Ous etes-vous JD???

      1. nath
        nath August 19, 2014 at 4:27 pm . Reply

        langue anglaise s’il vous plait
        lmao 😛

        1. GIDDYVILLAN
          GIDDYVILLAN August 19, 2014 at 5:36 pm . Reply

          Non comprende

      2. Jay Dee
        Jay Dee August 19, 2014 at 4:29 pm . Reply

        I’m here lol

  14. Lionheart
    Lionheart August 19, 2014 at 2:20 pm . Reply

    Maybe appoint a new CEO..

  15. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson August 19, 2014 at 2:38 pm . Reply

    That makes more sence Lionheart, he would have to do that now wouldn’t he,

  16. Hitchens 60
    Hitchens 60 August 19, 2014 at 2:45 pm . Reply

    Contract talks with Vlaar and Delph?

    1. Jay Dee
      Jay Dee August 19, 2014 at 4:27 pm . Reply

      Good one Hitchens hope it’s that aswell

  17. ifiruledtheworld
    ifiruledtheworld August 19, 2014 at 2:54 pm . Reply

    Reading Everton are also taking a look at Holtby, apparently.

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