Keener window-cleaner

I rest my case and walk out - hand in hand with Gary G.

Eagle-eye IN!

Didn't want to repeat what I wrote in the match thread, but here goes :-) In that particular situation, I thought the fault for the goal was as much the other player who didn't meet his pass, at least it was both players fault, Westwood was far to easily bullied over and should have taken a free kick/yellow card when the player got passed him. The two central defenders was as much at fault to let their player have a free shot at goal, and one could as well fault Bunn. Apart from this bad pass just outside their penalty area, I thought he hardly put a foot wrong. He made several key blocks and headers just outside our area, showed good strength and won almost every duel in our half. Looking at his attacking play he contributed more than I have seen him do before, and considering he played such a big part in the defence, I was impressed by the number of forward bursts he made. He had at least two good shots at goal, of which one went very close. One of the bursts resulted in a free kick just outside their area, he also took good positions in their penalty area at many occations. Appart from this, he did the regular job of making himself available in the middle, making simple passes. I thought he contributed strongly to us dominating the game. He did, as Westwood gets praise for, make it ticking over, and on top of that, he was solid in defence and at the same time good in attack. We do see different thing in games, but for me he was one of our best players (stil prefer Tshibola and Jedinak though).

I thought his passing was a contributing factor to us dominating the game, I noticed that especially Elphick often gave the ball to him to start our attacks. Very comfortable going forward and a very good passer. That said, the main task of a defender is to defend, haven't seen the replays of the goals but I got the impression when I saw the goals that he was at least as much at fault as anyone else.

If their keep didn't have the game of his life, then they have made a real coup in that signing, what a player!

Athletic, fast, strong, good technique, hard working, good on the head - this was one of the most promising debuts I've seen, he so deserved to score. Perhaps off topic, but is that goal decision system, eagle eye or what it's called, in use in the Championship? Re his header that their freakish game of his life-keeper saved on the line, it looked like it didn't cross the line on the replay, but was a hard call.

I thought Gardner was one of our best players today.

In what way was Gardner piss poor? He made one bad pass at the edge of their penalty area before their first goal, but you can as well blame the player who didn't meet the ball, Westwood who then was too easily bullied, the defenders that let the greek have a shot at goal and perhaps even Bunn. Except that pass and one strike that cruised quite high over the bar, Gardner hardly put a foot wrong, moreover he was solid defensively and made several key blocks, he won quite many headers and tackles just in front of our penalty area. Attacing wise he made quite many bursts forward that resulted in free kicks outside their penalty area and got in to good positions to score. One of his shots got came very close. Appart from this, he did the routine midfield job to recieve the ball from the defence, passing it safe. I thought Gardner contributed to us completely dominating the game.

Come on! We totally dominated the game, hit the post, hit the crossbar, one cleared off the line, Kodjia having two headers very close to going in. Ayew going very close a couple of times. For parts of the game it was Ice Hockey-style power play against their goal. They had two chances, scored two. We were as unlucky as it gets. There was no second half meltdown, we kept going the whole game. I'm as disappointed as anyone, but can't blame the manager or any of the players. It was a very good game where the margins were not on our side. Keep playing like this and keep creating chances like this and we will be title contenders without a doubt. I'd rather that we are unlucky now than towards the end of the season.

Kodjia looks very promising! Very active and runs a lot, seems to have good technique and looks to turn and run at goal when he can, looks like a good target player as well. Unlucky not to score with that header. We are dominating them completely and creating chanses. No second half meltdown now please!!

I go for 3-1, Gardner one and a brace for McScoremack!

Come on now Villa, go out and goopoo them!!

That's a nice pic! Elphick looks tall, Ayew looks happy and Clarke looks...um...

Arsenal away October 1995, we lost 2-0. I was there with my dad sitting in the Arsenal section with a Villa scarf. I remember a steward advising us to hide the scarf and not to cheer too loud if Villa would score. I was a bit afraid of what would happen if Villa scored and embarrassingly a part of me was actually relieved that we didn't win :-)

Can you please hurry up and start a couple of new threads, greedy wants more!!

Too cheesy music for big AA.

Could it be "never for us", like it was never meant to be?

Kod, as in cod? Is this an attempt to start fish puns?

I haven't seen him play, but based on the videos on You Tube he seems to be fast and it looks like he makes a lot of sprints and directs runs at goal - this is exactly what we need IMO! I love that he looks so happy when he scores, sprinting towards the fans and doing his small dances and gestures!! More of that now please!!

Did we just buy a striker for £15m?

He scores when he wants.

I dislike not being able to follow the VT threads during working hours... tips on how to produce as expected and follow VT at the same time anyone? On Xia, I don't think I have fully grasped how extraordinary it is to get so much info on what's going on at the club. Even though I think he has gone too far a couple of times and some tweets have sent chills down my spine, it's just so darn interesting to get this info. It's not just the message in the short tweets, but it gives such an unusual insight in the role and the work of the owner, the relation to the players and the manager, how transfer dealings are conducted etc. I think one thing that confuses me a bit is that the tweets on the one hand can be seen as official press releases from the club, and on the other hand as just emotional expressions from the person Tony Xia. It's a difficult equation and I guess it requires the reader to distinguish between the two roles when you read the tweets. It makes the nickname Tony two phones even more suitable though! All in all at the moment I enjoy getting so much info!

Is he English or is he Wellsh?

Makes me a bit sad. I saw an interview with him just before he joined and he seemed to be such a calm, friendly and down to earth person, I just wanted to give him a big hug. I thought he was brilliant in his first games for us before he got injured. Not sure if he has ever really recovered from that injury. Obviously he hasn't been able to perfom for us in the last years so perhaps best for all if he leaves. Such a pity

So he is Italian and his name is O-kaka!?! We must sign him! Goopooo him!!