Well, I’m happy to say I called this wrong and we won, simple.
Everton are classed as a middle to top tier side, but offered very little, overall.
So where does that leave us?
Wesley proved to be a consistent thorn in Everton’s side and scored a cracker after a lovely through ball by Jota.
Wesley did extremely well and directly faced up to a bit of “treatment” .
The lad has balls way bigger than mine and proved himself tonight.
The pressure on him to score was massive and he came up with the goods, simple.
He’s a massive star in the making and reminds me of Benteke.
But he also needs to chill out a little.
I can’t put my finger on anything he did wrong, but it’s just a feeling.
He’s a natural and we just have to supply him.
This was a strange game though, as I always look at the midfield and it seemed non-existent on our part.
Did Grealish, McGinn and whoever, actually play?
It didn’t seem like it, as the game mostly by-passed them until we needed to defend later on.
Which is where my MOTM has to be a wide player.
I thought Jota was excellent.
He ran his balls off, passed to Wesley for the goal and tracked back later on, when I thought we were under the cosh.
As much as I thought Wesley deserves the accolades, Jota gets the MOTM.
Get it right Badger 2- 0
Badger please get the score right 2-0 to the villa.
Well I’d give every man on the field tonight the award personally but I agree that Jota was immense.
We were a team. You can see that there’s still some gaps here and there but when we got it together we were good to watch. Honestly think we can only get better.
I have to say that the 12th man was awesome tonight. Even watching it on TV the atmosphere came across. A great night!
Ha, apologies chaps.
2-o for clarity.
I suspect I just didn’t expect it, which is what makes it feel so good.
Forgiven Badger. It was interesting to read some of the comments. I agree in principle this was a much better performance and well deserved. My only issue week after week is Smiths persistence in playing Neil Taylor as for me he isn’t a premiership player and offers no end product when he does get up the field providing support. Why doesn’t Smith play Matt Targett?? I would believe that the team would benefit and maybe some end product at left back would be provided. I would welcome your thoughts regarding the matter?
It was a team performance. Every single player put in a shift.
We are now a team with some good players.
Heaton is a match saver
Engels match saver
Mings match saver
McGinn match winner
Grealish match winner
Wesley match winner
All others contribute and can turn into savers and winners.
Well done Dean Smith. No own goals tonight meant the opposition had to break us down. Something Everton did not do, Bournemouth also did not do and Spurs (a top 3 side) could do after our gift.
We will be alright this season. There will be some great results and some shockers. I really think this is the start of our rejuvenation. Next stop bigger Villa Park and regular European action.
Wesley man of the match the bloke is a tank waz a little worried after first 2 games but having watched him this eve massive potential there Benteky Mark 2 only better 👀if that’s lossible
Just got back from the game. What an atmosphere! Absolutely magnificent and no doubt it got the boys over the line.
Here are my observations having watched the match from row C of the middle of the upper Trinity:
Heaton didn’t have a save to make BUT Everton missed 3 clear open chances.
Guilbert was superb.
Taylor was faultless defensively but the one time he got the chance to put a decent ball in, he ballooned it out for a goal kick.
Mings and Engels were colossal. Mings is motm for me, hands down.
Jota was brilliant. Showed plenty of flashes of PL quality and the all important assist
McGinn is worth more than 50 mil. Everything he did was faultless and classy. In total control and is always a step ahead in his though process.
Grealish was ok but needs to shoot quicker.
Trez battled throughout but nothing happened for him creatively
Wesley was so isolated at times and he did get deliberately roughed up throughout. He needs players closer too him. Delighted he got his goal.
I’m sure the gaffer and his staff have plenty to work on, especially the chances Everton created, but it was always going to be our night. Well done the mascot who confidently called it at 2-0 pre match!
UTV
Forgot to mention Luiz. He did his job brilliantly. Combative and determined throughout. Maybe he went under the radar when watching on TV, but he was a tremendous shield for the defence.
VP sounded phenomenal on the Radio!. I did call this one right after the doom n gloom of last Saturday. It will do all the new players a power of good to have been part of that, and increase their confidence.
I will make a bold prediction after the late goal also. BBC R5 commentators described Villa’s last substitution as being “intended to double up at full-back and see the game out”. Under the past half dozen managers thast would have been correct, and with a fair chance of us inviting the pressure and conceding. If we can get used to the idea that Fergietime is when we go up the other end and bag another goal it will herald the biggest change in our mental state. No less than a winning mentality.
Still sinking in that we not only got our first points but played quite well against a team expected to be aiming for the top six.
After the game Dean talked about the ‘togetherness’ of the team and the fans.That ‘togetherness’ will go a long way to ensuring we’ll stay in this division. Well done the twelfth man.
So Palace next up and am I being overly optimistic in thinking that we can (and even should) come away with something? You can still see the joins here and there but I think we’ve improved massively since the Spurs game and Dean is getting quite close to his best eleven.
BTW love the differing opinions about the man of the match, it just shows how well they all played.
COYL
brilliant night of football, great night to be a villa fan.we went toe to toe with a decent top ten team and won. just hope this result shuts up these so called experts, who persistently compare us to fulham or jacks losing premiership games. both of these things have no barring on villa today.
of the game, thought we did well to contain a very good side, they didn’t create loads of chances, which they will against many sides. everton look a very decent offensive side. now the experts turned on them, saying they struggle scoring goals. but the truth be known everton were unlucky hitting the post, blocks on goal bound shots and wallcott brilliant skied volley. i thought we limited them to handful chances and on another night everton would have scored.
villa should take from the night game. a belief we belong in the premiership. we contained everton and in the end countered the countering team. wesley was so strong leading the line. he scored one and his hold up play helped lead to the el ghazi goal. he was again surrounded by defenders. frustrated with his team mates for consistently delaying forward passes. he will only get better and better, he links up so well with back to goal and indeed running on goal. his team mates need to learn what he whats when he wants it. and vice versa. then we will be a lethal countering team
so happy i just need to say upthevilla have a great weekend. i will
Well said Nath though to be honest most of the experts I’ve been listening to have been saying the opposite and that we shouldn’t be compared to Fulham. TBH we already look better than Fulham did in any game that I saw them play last season.
For an overview –
Defence – Brilliant. Heaton/Guilbert/Engels/Mings/Taylor make a really good unit. I wonder if Dean will swap Targett for Taylor depending on how attacking he wants the left back to be? Defence used to be our weakness but is now our strength. JT probably deserves some thanks too for that.
Mid-field – WIP but not far off. Luiz is starting to look good in the DM role and I like his calmness on the ball. All of our mid-fielders can provide the creativity we need but Jota stands out as someone who can make those line breaking passes. John’s slide rule pass for the second goal was spot on and Jack’s ability to hang onto the ball in tight situations is a real asset. Once they really get to know each other’s game at this level I think they’ll be blinding.
Attack – Getting there. Wesley has improved with every game but this one was his breakthrough. He got himself into a wonderful position for the goal and took it well. He’s now using his physicality to push around and intimidate defenders (witness Yerri Mina having a tantrum because he’s used to being the big guy but he looked like a weed compared to the barn-door like Wesley). We also have real pace and goals in El Ghazi and Trezeguet (hopefully).
We also have players like Targett, Hourihane, Konsa, Lansbury, Davis, Elmo and Steer on the bench. These will be key to how well we do in the Prem. We will need to rotate players and I feel that we’ve now got a bench that is good enough to enable that to happen.
I can’t remember when I last felt so optimistic about my team. COYL
.
BTW now watching Derby v the Baggies.I quite like watching some of these lower division teams (radiating smugness)
Naughty, naughty 🙂
Watching another lower division game now Swansea 2-0 Noses.
Enjoyng this one even more 🙂
The sun’s shining, I’ve got a fridge full of beer, it’s a bank holiday tomorrow and the Noses lose 3-0.
Good to be alive.
Slight aside.
I went to Twickenham yesterday for the England-Ireland game.
First time at a rubgy match, as I’ve never wanted to go, but it was something the missus had on her wish-list.
I can’t say I’m keen, but what a fantastic stadium to watch a game. The views anywhere seem outstanding and embarrass most football grounds, imo.
Not much atmosphere though.
Badger you can’t beat football…unless you were at Headingly today that is.
Yep, Cricket over Rugby all day long.
But neither do it for me.
Yes I have to admit that I’d probably sooner watch a game of park football than most other sports.
Love cricket and what a match, what a result and what a player in Ben Stokes. Who said cricket was boring!
Me and the missus celebrated our joint 70th birthdays today with a great party, Villa win Friday, England win the cricket, Blues lose and the weather was fantastic.
Perfect weekend.
Congratulations Both Hitch, I’m not a cricket fan but boy that game was a game too remember. Absolutely nail bite time and I was glued to my seat.
Thanks Bill – sore heads all round this morning!