Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Derby

[TRO]

1 hour ago, Delphinho123 said:

How do we get McGinn back in next week? 

just get him running up and down the line snarling to come on.

[Vive_La_Villa]

1 hour ago, Demitri_C said:

The taste of humble pie tonight for me and its quite delicious! 

I love it when I am wrong for the right reasons

Hopefully you’re wrong for the rest of the season. 

[roonst83]

A fantastic display by a hugely dominant Villa team. What a difference it makes having Grealish back. We passed the ball, we moved, we made space, we supported each other in attack and defence, we hunted, we pressed and we created chance after chance. 

Having Jack drop deep  and being able to hold the ball was a the real difference to me. He gives us that composure we’ve desperately lacked, as well as the natural ability to glide past players with ease and bring others into play. I’ve been having battles with a friend of mine who is a perpetual “Smith is clueless” and “Smith out” person, and continully state how I feel that when we have the right players in our team and the right balance we are an attacking force as good as anyone in the division. Today showed that. (I absolutely do feel that Smith should have picked us up more points in the last two months, by the way, but I could see how with our best team we get the best out of our manager). 

I am certain, as I was back when we were playing the likes of Derby, Boro and Baggies away, that we’d be at least in the playoffs. That hope absolutely faded the moment we lost Grealish. Now he’s back, it feels as if it’s probably all too late but whilst there’s a glimmer of a chance we have to keep going. 

So many great performances out there today, notably Grealish, Hourihane, Adomah, Elmo, Whelan, Mings etc. We played with great confidence, vigor, and belief throughout and looked solid at the back. Derby were poor and have injuries and are on a bad run of form but we looked great from the first whistle today. That early goal just set us off. And Grealish’s goal was just sublime. 

I was pleased to see us keep attacking in the second half despite our big advantage and we should’ve had more goals for sure. I was surprised we got Jack for 70mins, I’m sure adrenaline helped carry him longer but I thought Carroll filled the Grealish role quite well too. Gutted to lose Elphick and it’s just typical that we get Jack back and look great and then lose another key player who has helped sure us up at the back. Him and Mings have partnered well. Hope Hause can do a job there although I’m worried about having Taylor back at LB. 

A fantastic win today and a really great performance that shows just what we can be with the right personnel and correct balance in the team. We need some confidence going into a very tough game at the Sty next weekend. It’ll be a very different game to today but they won’t fancy playing us much either after seeing our result today. 

Well done to the boys, to Smith and the coaches and to that absolute beauty of a man called Jack. 

Edited March 3, 2019 by roonst83

[romavillan]

2 hours ago, Delphinho123 said:

How do we get McGinn back in next week? 

I'd normally just say Whelan, but he was very good today I thought, for a 35 year old ctually he was incredible,

[Demitri_C]

2 hours ago, CharlieAitken59 said:

I asked you in the DS thread where you got the info with regards to a 'disruptive' dressing room? I didn't see any evidence of that today.  I saw a performance from each and everyone of the team that suggests otherwise! 

I'm not going to name names mate. This person has told me a lot and has been right with every one so far. 

Well 'one win' doesn't prove anything. Let's see at the end of the season how many we go on to win? Next week won't be as easy as today that's for sure. 

[Demitri_C]

1 hour ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Hopefully you’re wrong for the rest of the season. 

Gladly - but I don't think I will be. 

[turvontour]

Loved every minute of it today. Amazing to see what a quality player does to a side. Everyone else was on their game because of him. Oh and clear to see that Grealish and Tammy are good pals, which can only be good going forward.

And shout out to that Scandinavian supporters group that travelled over. What a game and goal to see!

[OutByEaster?]

I think it does us a disservice to just look at that game and say oooooh Grealish. We were at it, to a man, from the opening whistle. Hourihane reacted to recent criticism with a lot more energy and some bravery in his positioning - he got into some great forward spots and they brought him goals. For me, man of the match was Hause, I thought he was superb, especially in the first half, Mings was excellent and it'd be lovely to keep both. 

Whelan was immense at times he had a great game, Adomah played well in patches and worked hard and El Ghazi was a constant threat, I thought he had a really good fame and it was god to see him working hard defensively too. Abraham worked his socks off holding the ball up and deserved a goal and they all looked comfortable in what they were being asked to do and in their desire to get it done. The first half was an absolute pleasure - dominant and attractive; like that girl in Hamburg in 1992. 

A special shout out to all those people that insist on leaving their seats on 42 minutes so they can be first in the queue for a pint, you missed a goal that's almost indescribably good. Oooooh Grealish! It's great to have him back - he's the icing on the cake, but there was plenty of cake today too.

 

[Nigel]

4 hours ago, StefanAVFC said:

Who took the armband when jack went off?

Whelan

[villalad21]

Hilarious and satisfying that we pick up form literally right  before we play scum

[IwishIwasalivein1982]

8 hours ago, thunderball said:

Wow, how do you drop any of that midfield vs Blues next week?

3 at the back.

[thunderball]

Hourihane was everywhere, making himself available and making forward attacking runs. What a difference that makes too - Jack gives him his freedom

[Kiwivillan]

12 hours ago, romavillan said:

I'd normally just say Whelan, but he was very good today I thought, for a 35 year old ctually he was incredible,

He's been our best player last few regardless the result and that's why I'm a big fan

Actually would go as far as to say player of the season worthy so far

Edited March 3, 2019 by Kiwivillan

[SuperTed]

It’s scary how much one player lifts us - I honestly cannot believe that was the same team who have produced some real drivel over the past few months. I pray he stays with us for another year but honestly can’t see it, the boy should be playing in the Champions League.

Also, I’m not sure if I saw Villa Derby yesterday or the battle of the Chelsea legends? That’s what Sky has billed it as. They also keep showing that Scholes volley against us saying have we finally seen a goal to beat this at Villa Park? F**k offfffff! 

[CharlieAitken59]

12 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

I'm not going to name names mate. This person has told me a lot and has been right with every one so far. 

Well 'one win' doesn't prove anything. Let's see at the end of the season how many we go on to win? Next week won't be as easy as today that's for sure. 

If you're not certain then you will be better off saying nothing... wouldn't you agree?

And who said one win 'proves anytthing'? Not me!

[OutByEaster?]

8 hours ago, IwishIwasalivein1982 said:

3 at the back.

How would you work that? 

I'm not sure how three at the back would allow for an extra central midfielder.

[Pelle]

I knew Jack was important to us, but not that important. The whole team was at another level today. Brilliant, even though derby were poor. We made them look poor.

Whelan motm for me. Hourihane close second, Hausse 3rd, Jack 4th, Tammy 5th, and then the rest of the team on a close 6th.

And that goal. Wow! I just stood up screaming and couldn't believe my eyes. 2nd to McGinn.

[Pelle]

12 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

A special shout out to all those people that insist on leaving their seats on 42 minutes so they can be first in the queue for a pint, you missed a goal that's almost indescribably good. Oooooh Grealish! It's great to have him back - he's the icing on the cake, but there was plenty of cake today too.

I did the opposite away to fulham two seasons ago. I went after the final whistle of the first half to get my half time beer and obviously was the last in line. Took some time and the 2nd half started before I got my beer. Missed Jack's wonder goal in that game thanks to not leaving in the 42nd minute. So had I been there yesterday I'd probably missed his goal again. I can't catch a break. Time to drop the half time beer.

[OutByEaster?]

Incidentally, we now have 61 league goals this season - we got 72 last season and we've got 11 games to go - it's been another very good season of goalscoring.

[Stevo985]

2 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

He's been our best player last few regardless the result and that's why I'm a big fan

Actually would go as far as to say player of the season worthy so far

I’ve said it so many times it’s actually boring. 

Our most underrated player. He has the odd shocker, but 9 times out of 10 he puts in a good performance. 

Yet most people hate him.