Ratings & Reactions: Sheff Utd v Villa

[terrytini]

Thought we played well, not in terms of free flowing football but, as that wasn’t happening, instead in fight, chasing, tackling, blocking, working. And on occasion we manufactured a few threats.

Just exactly the type of performance I used to hate seeing from table topping clubs like Man U in the past.

[Dodgyknees]

30 minutes ago, VillanousOne said:

Awful game, but great goal and grinding out a win is always satisfying, as well as shutting up their gobshite fans.

Indeed, but it has happened to us a lot, we are due something back!

[TRO]

28 minutes ago, sheepyvillian said:

If we get promoted, then IMO, we must get rid of Bruce. That kind of football won't help us in the premier, it's primitive at best, and we can't rely on luck, it has a tendency to dry up .

It was frustrating, because many players were not "at it" tonight, but dug in.... but a great result against a very decent Sheff Utd who worked very hard.

We have conceded 1 goal in 5 games and won them all....so,so primitive.

You cannot blow every team away and yes a containing game like that is frustrating.

We will have better players in the Premier League and possibly a new manager, but not so sure about that, so it is highly likely that the football style will change.

but just remember, Chris wilder plays a more attacking game in general than Steve......but he lost tonight and was disappointed.....so lets just get a bit of perspective.

there may have been many things at large tonight.....but luck wasn't one of them.

[terrytini]

Don’t agree the performance was poor or aimless football.

Weve seen that in the past but this wasn’t at all like that, this was a gritty, dug in effort against a side who knocked it aboutvwell on the night.  Ther3 was quality on our part on occasion going forward but it was our resilience that was properly on show tonight.

[TRO]

Its winning games like that, that spell promotion.

when you can win, when playing not so well, is actually a telling sign.

[sidcow]

Well that was all rather jolly. 

[terrytini]

Just now, TRO said:

Its winning games like that, that spell promotion.

when you can win, when playing not so well, is actually a telling sign.

I actually think we did play well in aspects all bar the attacking/ fluidity department.

And fully agree performances like that in games like that are genuine reasons to hope for Promotion.

[AvfcRigo82]

5 minutes ago, TRO said:

It was frustrating, because many players were not "at it" tonight, but dug in.... but a great result against a very decent Sheff Utd who worked very hard.

We have conceded 1 goal in 5 games and won them all....so,so primitive.

You cannot blow every team away and yes a containing game like that is frustrating.

We will have better players in the Premier League and possibly a new manager, but not so sure about that, so it is highly likely that the football style will change.

but just remember, Chris wilder plays a more attacking game in general than Steve......but he lost tonight and was disappointed.....so lets just get a bit of perspective.

there may have been many things at large tonight.....but luck wasn't one of them.

 

We had to dig very deep tonight and we where on the back foot from the word go pretty much most of the game, they where relentless in their attack and their overall play, they seemed first to every ball on most occasions and without our keeper being top class form tonight we could so very easily have came away with nothing.

We held on, dug deep and ugly but a moment of brilliance from Snodgrass turned the game on it's head. 

Sheff Utd will definately be wondering how they have not came aeay from that game with something. A fantastic 3 points for us however obtained.

[Hornso]

Great to grind out a result and steal it at the death. Got to take advantage of the low hanging fruit on the weekend.

[GrassyNoel]

First time we’ve won five league games on the spin for 20 years. Feels good to do, almost better having had to dig deep and nick it. Dead chuffed. 

[Kingman]

49 minutes ago, Dick said:

I loved that because the match was so stressful, then we scored and I just lept up off my seat, moments like that!!!

Same here, My cat jumped on top of the wardrobe and only just got down 

[Dodgyknees]

1 minute ago, Kingman said:

Same here, My cat jumped on top of the wardrobe and only just got down 

Mine jumped and then sat looking at me with evil eyes 

[villa4europe]

10 minutes ago, terrytini said:

Don’t agree the performance was poor or aimless football.

Weve seen that in the past but this wasn’t at all like that, this was a gritty, dug in effort against a side who knocked it aboutvwell on the night.  Ther3 was quality on our part on occasion going forward but it was our resilience that was properly on show tonight.

I thought it was both personally...

very good and organised off the ball, especially at the back, we worked really hard, snodgrass really puts himself about, but then on the ball we were poor, we played horrifically out of the back, Elmo hoofed it constantly, Johnstone kicked it aimlessly, terry and Chester both guilty of long balls for hogan to chase, just about everyone had a sloppy pass in them tonight, we never looked comfortable at any point 

[terrytini]

4 minutes ago, Kingman said:

Same here, My cat jumped on top of the wardrobe and only just got down 

Same here, and I don’t even have a cat.

 

Or a wardrobe.

[AJ]

45 minutes ago, Nigel said:

Er...that corner was turned a while back!

WDFAFC

[briny_ear]

I thought we played well too. Just need to be a bit more calm & focused in our approach play in front of goal and we would be dead good. We have a number of players coming into form including Grealish, Snoddy and Bjarnason - I think he should be getting more praise for how he played tonight. And then there is Terry.

We gave Sheffield as good as we got and scored an inspirational goal.

Din’t see why people are saying we were poor! 

[roonst83]

Massive massive win tonight. We were second best for the first half but defended resolutely. Second half we did better in that we pressed and hurried the opposition and retained the ball better. The most frustrating thing about the first half was our awful ball retention, we simply kept hoofing it down the channels, towards Hogan or simply out of play. Felt quite lucky to be goalless at the break. Then Bruce told us to up the pace when we had the ball and press them higher up the pitch and when they have the ball and it's amazing how such a simple tactic can have a positive effect. Whilst we didn't really ever look a huge threat going forwards, save for Grealish's persistence in driving forwards at Sheff Utd and his curling shot that went inches wide., we did however take much more control over the ball in the second period. The game, as it wore on, became more stretched and we found more pockets of space, with Grealish and also down our right hand side. Terry commanded our whole back line so well and typically swept up any attack so from Sheffiled Utd before they became a threat. I didn't see a goal in us and was accepting that this would be a solid point until Snodgrass, who until then, I felt had been sluggish and not as effective as he has shown he can be, stole the game with an absolute stunner. Only one goal was every going to win this game on the balance of play and it took something special from us to take home three points. Cue absolute scenes in the away end from a packed lower tier of Villans. It was quite a sight. 

Johnstone was clearly our MOTM with some vital saves and a very commanding performance but Grealish once again demonstrated just how much he's come on this season through his continual positive play, his integrating play from defence to attack and how, despite getting kicked the life out of all game, kept picking himself up and carrying on. He is our most influential outlet and it's so pleasing to see him leading our attack in the way he does; finding pockets of space, twisting and turning on both feet and driving us forward at all times. He's absolutely crucial to us. 

Really really really  pleased with that win and it showed a very determined attitude amongst our team as well as a true team spirit, which is something we've not had for years. Yes we rode our luck at times today but if we're solid at the back and can keep clean sheets or very low concession of goals then we always have a chance to score and win a game to he,p us march on.

Big win this was, in difficult circumstances. 

Edited January 31, 2018 by roonst83

[TRO]

28 minutes ago, terrytini said:

I actually think we did play well in aspects all bar the attacking/ fluidity department.

And fully agree performances like that in games like that are genuine reasons to hope for Promotion.

Terry...I think you make a good point.

of course the spectacle is in the eye of the beholder....and there is an argument to support that we did play well....just not freeflowing.

In defensive terms ,we were competent.

Edited January 30, 2018 by TRO

[BigAl]

Massive win the spirit we showed was immense fought for each other that’s what it’s all about ,that’s what we have been missing for last 5 years lads playing for the badge ,Bruce has turned us around we are starting to look like the villa I fell in love with and started supporting fantastic result .

[darrenm]

1 hour ago, Demitri_C said:

Villa steel it

I so hope that was an accident