kiltorken

Entertaining game so far, River look the better side. Boca's defence is a shambles. 

2-2

2 minutes ago, Brumstopdogs said:

Was thinking the same. 

Yes, December looks tough but if we're on it we can give anyone a game.

Nice to see us approach away games not to just nick a point but to boss the game and go for all three!

Makes such a nice change from going into any tough game(s) with the arse cheeks clenched. 

It's weird but I'm actually looking forward to the tough run of fixtures ahead of us.

19 minutes ago, PompeyVillan said:

Yes Deano. Early days, but I'm feeling smug about picking him out a good while a go as a manager I admire. 

That second half was exceptional. I can't quite unpick on one viewing what went right from a tactical sense. I think it helps that Smith is an attack minded coach, he's thinking about how to win, not how not to lose. We kept going at them and they couldn't manage us. 

Bolasie probably changed the game with his amazing cross, but McGinn was exceptional all game. Hourihane continues his stat habit, Tammy isn't clinical just yet, but he is a fine player at this level. 

My message to Tuenzebe, "Don't let it bounce!", Otherwise he'll be fine, he's good on the ball. 

Hutton was getting some stick this week in the Hutton thread, that thread will be quiet for another week or so. Pretends to work hard, hasn't any quality? How many one-on-one a does he win, how many succesful dribbles? 

Elmo also gets some stick, but his delivery and build up play when he came on was a nightmare to defend against. 

I'm a bit giddy, but that's because we've just beaten one of the form teams in the league and the darlings of the pundits.

Let's enjoy tonight. 

Great great post agree with all of that, especially regarding tuanzebes letting the ball bounce, but I'm sure Management will have that flaw ironed out of him soon and also the point on Hutton who it seems like some people are actively watching him for every slight mistake just to reinforce they negative view they have of him. 

So many positives from today, ya put up with an awful lot of shite being a villa fan but days like today make that all irrelevant. 

John Mcginn is a hero and an honorable mention to Nyland who put in a great performance and kept us from going behind with that world class stop. 

Wait till Smith gets a few pre seasons under his belt 

This is a remarkably good result, what a second half performance. 

Get in! 

Oh lord, Kodjia ffs. 

25 minutes ago, Davkaus said:

Another example that laying in to people on Sky Sports with the benefit of hindsight, a bunch of stats analysers in the back room, and a fancy touchscreen doesn't mean that they're cut out for management.

He was an awful pundit, one of the more uninsightful ones on sky and that's a fairly low bar. 

7 hours ago, John said:

After our first 15 games of this season we have 18 points. After the first 16 games of last season Fulham had 19 points and they would have finished the season second had they won at rather than slipped to an embarrassing last day of the season at Small Heath.

If we win this game we will have 2 more points than they did at that stage of the season, draw and we will have the same. Automatic promotion is not therefore quite beyond us yet assuming that we can put together something like the sort of impressive run that Fulham did last season. Can we? As Ron Saunders once put it "Do you want to bet against us?" 

We beat The Trotters at Villa Park last year 1-0 and they are currently one of the few teams that are below us in the league table. They last won at Villa Park 6 years ago and we have 61 wins to their 56 in the 154 league meetings between the two clubs to date. We are both founder members of the Football League and did the double over them in that first (1888-89) season, winning 6-2 at home.

Having won the first and last league meetings between the two teams we really need to win this next one. Do it Villa and make it the start of a late run for the top six or even the top two!      

Genuinely love your optimism but Fulhams run from November last year was outrageous and I don't think the team has developed enough to go on such a run yet. 

However, there was really only one automatic place up for grabs last season considering wolves dominance so the openness at the top this season is in our favour. Playoffs are a realistic aim this season but you never know. 

He was very solid in the playoff home leg against Middlesborough I thought in one of the few games he got a chance. 

@Villain4Life

We're extremely wealthy...

2 minutes ago, Villan4Life said:

If we had some players Dean actually wants here maybe likes of (Watkins, Maupay) we might have won tonight and Tuesday!

I hope we raid Brentford for Canos and Watkins , I think they'd be ideal

The scale of the task at hand completely changing style of play as we're doing is going to take some time to get right, I'd be pleasantly amazed if if we manage to put a good run in before the new year. 

I only hope we can pick up enough points in this transitional period to keep us in touching distance of a playoff spot. 

I'm more convinced than ever we're going in the right direction after tonight despite the loss. 

Just now, Davkaus said:

Every time I hear the Holte chant about "the Scottish cafu", I view our fanbase with slightly more contempt.

If we had the real cafu in his prime I don't think we'd be much better at the moment 

I wanted him to turn it around and get a bit of confidence in his game but as people are pointing out he's just a good shot stopper, not much other goalkeeping attributes by the looks of it. 

That attempt at trying to clear the corner for the first goal was pathetic. 

We lost a scrappy game after conceding two soft goals against the form team in the championship . Lost two players to injury in the second half which didn't help. 

I don't think many conclusions can be drawn from tonight unless of course you'd thought Dean Smith was going to turn us into world beaters overnight, he won't is the only conclusion I suppose. 

Tuanzebe was the only bright point. 

Also I didn't realise how big a chap El Gahzi was, not sure that's a bright point but I'll take it anyway. 

Hogan is pointless 

3 hours ago, villa4europe said:

but then the decision to start elmo and adomah is the question (which elmo has done well to be fair to him, covers hutton and gets forward well, not hoofed anything) 

i would have bolasie starting, this guy on the bench and adomah in the stands personally

 

I actually thought Adomah was good today, awful shot aside. 

Very good movement off the ball for attacks in the first half and pressed well. 

Nyland is having a stormer

Jesus that was way too close for comfort. 

Grealish seems to just panic when he gets into decent scoring positions. 

Nyland is having a good game.