Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Norwich

[briny_ear]

End of season games are always a bit weird but full credit to Norwich for finishing the job with a win. They could so easily have been mentally on their hols.

Slightly downbeat way to end it at VP but we have a couple of chances to pick things up in the next few days .

The main plus for me from this is the apparent recovery in form for Kodjia. Good to see he is back in goal scoring form and seems a bit more of a team player these days.

Bring on the Baggies!

[Brumstopdogs]

 

 

[OutByEaster?]

Congratulations to Norwich, they play good football, work the ball well and try to get at you down the flanks, it's not revolutionary but they've got good players and they're clearly very well drilled. It's no surprise they score late goals, they spread defences out and then take advantage of the holes left by tired midfielders late on. Their support is always good at Villa Park and they certainly looked like they enjoyed themselves today. We came down together, let's hope we're going back up together.

I thought we did well and our second string were a match for the Champions. I thought a draw would have been a fair result on the day and if anything felt we were more likely to snatch it. It's hard to be too disappointed by a defeat in a game where four of the best players in the division were sat in a box behind me rather than playing on the pitch in front of me and, whilst I don't think any of the stand-ins had an audition so good they'll force their way in, they all gave a decent account of themselves.

The rest for our big names will do us good, Hutton was suitably celebrated, some players got some game time, we cheered Whelan's kid, the Norwich fans can enjoy the evening, we can look forward to next weekend and have a little chuckle at just how desperate Leeds were to lose against Ipswich and avoid us. We've lost a game for the first time in a long time, but I can't say as I'm anything but content.

Bring on the Baggies.

 

 

 

[sne]

[sir_gary_cahill]

I thought it was a good game of football, Norwich are a good footballing side, Farke is an astute manager at this level. Vrancic, Aarons, Lewis and Godfrey impressed me for them. We need to dust ourselves down and hope this defeat doesn’t affect our play off charge. In my opinion, they were the best team that we have faced all season and deservedly go up as champions. For us, I thought Whelan was steady in the middle of the park. Lansbury showed flashes of quality too. I expect a lot of players to leave in the Summer regardless of what division we’re in. Most of our squad is quite old and needs to be shipped out, we need an influx of youth I think. We have already started that with the purchase of Guilbert. I think we have the right  man in charge, he just needs time. 

[screwdriver]

I think Norwich were distinctly average. and a fully motivated Villa should have steam rollered them. We looked like we couldn't be arsed from the off. norwich came out with determination and Villa looked like they were in marbs. When we woke up we looked very dangerous.

Thought Admomah grafted hard, Lansbury played really well he should of got the whole 90mins. Green had loads of ball but did nothing but look for the easy ball square. Jimmy Danger was quality again jinking past about 3 men.

I wish I hadn't have bothered going today I could have painted my nans shed.  watching norwich giving it the big un with that trophy has pissed me off for the day.

[sidcow]

[The Fun Factory]

It was a decent open ended game. We had a reserve team out and went toe-to-toe with the best team in the division.  I thought Taylor had a good game, Hutton not so good. We certainly missed the drive of McGinn, the organisation of Mings, and the genius of Grealish. No injuries and lets move on to next week. 

Congrats to Norwich. I don't want to sound churlish but I think they may struggle next season unless they invest significantly. Not even close to Wolves last year, or even Newcastle the year before. 

[sidcow]

40 minutes ago, Brumstopdogs said:

 

 

Man alive, if they ever make. Joe 90 movie, Glen Whelans son should be a shoe in. 

[terrytini]

Good game, good sing song.

Whelan still operating at peak bodes well, and I thought CH had one of his best games, he was a foot in all over the pitch and som3 great passing.

After a poor ten minutes what I really loved was that with all those changes we still played “ our” way....it was so good to see players coming in to a SYSTEM and being comfortable in it. 

Its been a long long time since we’ve had that - practically every game I can remember when we’ve rested players has been awful -  and it gives me hope that IF we don’t go up the way Smith has gone about setting a blueprint will stand us in good stead.

We will absolutely destroy the Baggies next week at VP.

[Keener window-cleaner]

I was very happy with the line up, exactly like I had wanted it. Rested the key players but didn't disrupt the system to much.

I think we played well and deserved at least a draw. It's so good to see that we now have a functioning system, a style of play that new players slot into.

I dont like loosing of course, but this feels like an ok soft landing after our increadible winning streak. It had to end sometime and better that is now. Now we can regroup with rested players, take encouragement from the performance and go into the play offs.

[romavillan]

3 hours ago, osmark86 said:

If anything it's less stressful.

I dunno the few seconds of Schrodinger's Villa promotion or not will be emotional!

[Herman22]

Disappointed to lose. Only because it would have been nice to stay invested going into the playoffs. 

But the most important thing was giving Grealish, McGinn and Mings the afternoon off so all are fit for next week. And hopefully Abraham will be back for the first leg. 

[Xela]

Result today?

 

All about ensuring our best players are fit and ready for the play-offs

[ciggiesnbeer]

2 hours ago, Brumstopdogs said:

 

 

I have no idea how John Terry has gone from being someone I loathed to see at Villa park to a beloved one. But I just like the guy now. Funny old game.  

[rodders0223]

3 hours ago, Brumstopdogs said:

 

 

Got to see Glenn Whelan two foot his son in the centre circle and JT's daughter absolutely floor her brother (I presume) in a 50-50.
It was a good day today, I really enjoyed it.

Seeing the players with their kids, just reminds you they are human beings like the rest of us. Football isn't everything.

[TRO]

Congrats to Norwich, deserved champions.

In general I think they have the opposite to us.....good flank men, full backs and Wingers.....Where we are weaker in those area's, but stronger centrally....fix that and we would go up AUTO.

[KenjiOgiwara]

Had the pleasure of taking the steps up the Holte today. 

Not gonna make an essay out of it. But three things stood out. 

1) Hause is ridiculously one-footed. 

2) We would have won that with a full strength team. I don't fear anyone atm. 

3) Whelan does a lot of positional instructions you don't pick up on TV. 

Oh and Norwich fans are shite. If that was Villa guaranteed promoted away it would be non-stop singing. 

[rjw63]

3 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

Congratulations to Norwich

**** 'em, bumpkin rocket polishers

[hippo]

good that we kept the system going despite a host of changes. Wide play is a worry for me though - El Ghazi is probably the best, but he blows very hot and cold. Next is albert - he has been poor for a while - but does have the odd goal in him - Green I thought took up lots of promising positions today, but mostly made the wrong choice, or got caught in possession - El Ghazi and albert start v wba for me.