CBGB

You’d assume he’d be good attacking set plays

12 minutes ago, HKP90 said:

Well I thought he had a point.

I think it’s more of a Reflex.

Probably a shock to the system playing Leeds in your first Premiership game, but did some great things. 

After the Stevenage game, then two players going off early in the first half with injuries, then a brand new player coming in with barely a training session under his belt, this was a really decent win. Nervy -yep. But very satisfying!

Undroppable

7 minutes ago, Spoony said:

If we are around the relegation places by the end of the season everyone will be calling for his head. 

That’s my point. He should be given a lot of time because of his record. He’s worth giving leeway to.
 

Honestly, with his record, I’d give 3 years no matter what (even relegation). 

Is he really only 23? Is that normal or am I just old?!

1 hour ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

I don't get this.

How is it that prior to this, the claims were that we had a better squad than Newcastle et al, but just the Manager was poor.

Now the Manager is gone, we are off the back of a scintillating performance,and some are now saying we should still fear Newcastle.

Seems a bit hypocritical or moving goalpost - ish IMO.

Unless some are finally prepared to admit that maybe our squad actually isn't as good as they were making it out to be?

My thinking is, I’ve no idea how good our squad is. We routinely do poorly at St James Park even with our best teams (e.g. the 4-3 loss in the Yorke/Milosevic era). Plus we’re in a transition. So I don’t think we learn that much tomorrow.

Also I wasn’t part of any “claims” so no hypocrisy/goalpost moving on my part.

Emery is coming anyway, so either the squad will be upbeat on 1 November  (if we win or draw) or more chastened (if we lose). For the moment the pressure is off, so hopefully another good result with Danks. 
 

Realistically: 2-0 or 2-1 to Newcastle, though.

Still pinching myself, can’t believe we’ve actually got a manager of Emery’s calibre.

I have no major expectations for this season. It’s basically on the players now: either they can handle the way he does things, or they can’t/won’t. In the latter case, it probably won’t be til next season til he has more like “his team” - whether mostly the same players or big differences.

I mean, he’s no Tim Sherwood but I suppose he’ll do.

Welcome Unai Emery!

Hopefully you’ll do better than the last bloke (i.e., 5-0 wins every week).

I’m going old school 442:

                 Martinez

Cash Chambers Mings Young

Watkins Dendoncker Luiz Bailey

              Archer  Ings

in my defence, I haven’t posted for about 15 years….

Ugly win, but we needed it. We looked like a Championship side tonight, with the exception maybe of two or three: Benteke, Ireland and Guzan.

Why the psychoanalysis about enjoying a good performance? Jeeezuhs.

I'm with terrythevillan, think people are overly critical of Ireland.

An encouraging performance which was a big relief after the first two games. There's a long way to go, we didn't win despite having the better chances, and we've only 1 point after 3 games. But finally there were passages of decent football, the first time we got to see what Lambert's Villa might start to look like (in a positive sense).

I'd pack the midfield, hope for a draw, then avoid VT for a couple of days after we lose.

Lineup as follows:

---------------Given-----------------

Lowton--Vlaar-----Baker-----Bennett

Holman----KEA-----Herd----Delph

-----------------Ireland---------------

-------------Bent-----------------------

Interesting signings. This is a rebuilding job and we're taking a risk by investing in youth. You sense that if the relentless negativity of some posters becomes the majority view, things could go south. Premiership fans are hardly renowned for their patience.

I thought he was one of the best players on Saturday, and probably the only one capable of making a forward pass of any distance and accuracy.

Nice write up. I recorded the game and saw it after reading the storm on negativity here! I agree with a lot of what you said. But I'd say Nzog and Holman were poor and, as a result, there was just no service to Bent. That said, Ireland really looked sharp and is capable of passing accurately forwards (wow, a Villa midfielder who doesn't just pass sideways) and the passing was impressive. There's absolutely no way it was 51% possession to Villa over the whole game, no chance!

If we can just work on the final third, and if the astonishing impatience of some fans doesn't become overwhelming, then we could have something special happening. But, it won't happen overnight.

Wish we could have that 12million back... what a waste.