drewdat

I think that was the best chance from a Bannan cross yet, unfortunately at the wrong end.

Can't believe Genting didn't have the heart to stick with a diamond of a club. Could have paid off in spades.

He only works when you're in the bottom 3?

22/26 1 was a total last name only guess, so more like 21.

Guzan - 8 Did everything right, distribution was pretty good other than one straight out to touch from a pressured back pass. Couple of vital saves. Lichaj - 5 Not very involved that I can recall. Nice throw-ins though. Clark - 8 (MOTM)Well done on the goal and remaining in position after the initial clearance. Also seemed to do a better job in the back than in recent games, with no rash fouls and at least a couple clearances. Vlaar - 7 Also defended well, good on the ball. Lowton - 6 Solid performance and looks to be getting more comfortable. Odd moment toward the end when Holman had to push him out wide with both marking the ball (at least I think that's what happened, a bit hard to pin down watching on PC). El Ahmadi - 7 Good performance. I thought the yellow was a bit harsh. Hopefully the injury is minor. Bannan - 6 Had some nice crosses including the assist, pretty good with the corners as well. Not good enough in possession, even though the clear example of getting caught from behind wasn't entirely his fault since no one alerted him to the trailing defender, he still took a bit too long. Having him in to defend for the point was regrettable, but necessary due to the unusual bench circumstances. Holman - 6 More accurately 3 for attacking and 8 for energy/tracking back. Would seem more useful as a second half sub to help hang on to leads unless he can tidy up the passing. Crucial mistake in forcing Ben Arfa inside and not following up with any pressure at all on the tying goal (though I think the goal was taken with Ben Arfa's weaker foot - mistake was more the lack of follow-up). Ireland - 7 Need this level from Ireland every time out. Created some nice chances, shame he wasted the one set up from Gabby's left wing cross. Weimann - 6 His best chance came from a brilliant turn in the box, just not quite enough room near post to beat Krul. Otherwise, he showed pretty good energy and some decent attacking play. Bent - 6 Debated a 5. Seemed to be a bit more involved and linked OK at times. In general a one-trick pony and the trick today was somewhat pedestrian. Didn't do enough with his chances. Strikers should be selfish... inside the box. I thought there were a couple times went Bent took no-hope chances or failed to play in others, wasting possession and/or better opportunities. Gabby - (7) Impressed by the brief appearance. Great cross to the back of the box to set up Ireland's chance. Think we've missed him in the first two games. N'Zogbia - (6) One of his better Villa performances, which doesn't say much. Probably a fool's errand to ask, but we don't really need him to be a matchwinner (although it would be nice). If he could just get down the wing and play a decent ball in, it would fill a void. Not holding my breath. Lambert - 8 Vastly improved performance from largely the same available players as the first two games, in what was on paper the toughest matchup of the season (in its infancy). Communication - 4 Bannan getting dispossessed from behind, Guzan and Lichaj colliding, Holman and Lowton both ending up on the same player and releasing an overlapping run (which Newcastle failed to notice as well). None of it hurt this time, but needs to improve. Some is down to a new GK and inexperience, though. Probert - 4 Gave numerous 50/50 calls to Newcastle and roughly zero to Villa. At least he didn't give any penalties. Couldn't have done much more for Newcastle otherwise. Fans - Not sure what ratio of fouls they would have found equitable. Don't think you'll do much better than 6-to-1 in a game in which neither side was dominant overall. Also, welcome back jangling nerves. Missed you.

Honestly don't think Newcastle could have bought a better ref, with money the ref would at least try to make it believable to avoid suspicion.

Probert is getting as close as he can to reaching his boyhood dream of pulling on the Barcodes' shirt. Good for him.

50/50 Gutierrez. SMD.

What kind of a call is that?

N'zogbia getting booed away, must be an odd feeling for him.

Fouls 14 - 3, ref having a laugh?

Nothing in Bowery's stat record that recommends him so I'm going to take a wild guess here and say that Lambert & co. see some undeveloped potential in him. It isn't as if he's a hyped player with a poor goal scoring record, which could rightly be a warning flag as the hype could be the impetus for the deal. No hype here; it's all about Lambert and/or scouts' opinion of the player. Not sure my point is coming across; I'll try again. If Lambert is picking a relative unknown, there has to be some compelling reason or why bother? With Bowery, the reason is certainly not media or fan pressure, nor does it seem to be competition from other PL teams for his services or squad depth requirements (assuming we sign another forward). Why Bowery and not one of a host of lower league strikers with low strike rates? Surely he sees something that has not borne itself out in the numbers or media coverage.

That article says that it was announced on Tuesday, July 23... which it wasn't, since Tuesday was the 24th; and if it had been announced then it would be available at multiple outlets instead of one random one. Plus anyone can write for Bleacher Report. Not buying it.

Two from corners? LOL

Yeah, every time they score the guy cuts a disc of wood (is that the technical term?) with the chainsaw.

LOL corner kicks.

Maybe the stream is also displayed at the stadium? Otherwise it was a bit odd. Still a nice gesture.

Well worked, shame it was offside.

That's the same thing, just at Youtube. Should work if you can use Youtube? Unless it's region restricted.

Hunter Gatherer would have been better. Unfortunate.

Guessing it isn't on TV anywhere, just being produced for the internet.

No TV listed in the US either. Just Chelsea - Seattle Sounders.

Juan Agudelo and Brek Shea have already made some noise in US friendlies and the like. Other than that, I don't think anyone's especially distinguished themselves. I don't pay a ton of attention to MLS, though, so there could be some others who just haven't gotten games with the national team where I would notice. It does seem to be a bit of a lull as far as domestically produced young players coming through the pipeline and forcing themselves into the picture internationally. Don't see any Clint Dempseys or Landon Donovans just yet, which could be a problem after this World Cup cycle. Probably the biggest revelation in terms of new US players has been the German mother/American military father group (Fabian Johnson and Jermaine Jones in particular). Both will likely feature in Brazil. That has helped to a degree in pushing the roster forward in terms of quality and youth, but 3/4 of the first choice back line are already on the wrong side of 30, let alone at Brazil 14. With MLS, there are a couple factors in play. There have been several young US players that have just skipped MLS and gone straight into youth setups - Lichaj for example, but also TSG Hoffenheim has had at least two, plus German-Americans Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams (probably the most Americans for a team outside of MLS/USL). MLS has also turned to Central and South America for talent, so several of the top players in the league are not eligible for the national team. It's definitely improving the quality of the league, but perhaps it gives national team prospects less opportunity to develop.

The man quoted in the articles is Bryan Doogan. Villa's PR officer is Brian Doogan. The plot thickens?

Lerner and Faulkner running a hiring campaign smoothly? Oh. Back to the regularly-scheduled Britain's Next Top McLeish.