Ratings & Reactions: West Brom v Villa

[Kiwivillan]

Been slating Traore lately saying was awful buy but class tonight and easily MOTM

[tomav84]

loved the link up between traore and cash. el ghazi was lively again and did well. the CBs continued their good partnership. watkins was more up for it too i thought. mcginn was really good too i thought

[hippo]

Not been a fan so far - but Traroe Motm for me.

Work to do on finishing - which might sound odd considering the score line - but we dithered in the final 3rd.

Probably the most optimistic at villa at Christmas for many a year though.

[OutByEaster?]

Watching Grealish in the ninetieth minute run the legs off Robinson who'd just come on over fifty yards, you do get a sense of just how extraordinary he is.

We're good at the back, we're great to watch, we have a very good midfield and we create an enormous amount of chances and an enormous amount of almost chances - jeez we could do with a bit more consistency in putting them away though.

Another 19 efforts on goal tonight with a hatful of poor crosses to add to that - I reckon par for our last two performances would be 8 goals and we've got three. If we can get that bit right, we're a very decent side.

 

[TheAuthority]

1 minute ago, Michelsen said:

We’re really rather good. A joy to watch. 
 

Erm excuse me? Don't you know Leeds play the most attractive football ever and are the most joyous football team to watch ever?

Didn't you see the 6-2 loss Bielsa masterminded today? Shame on you.

[MrBlack]

Great result and performance. Only gave Smith good as he should definitely have made changes when we were 3 up. Watkins probably kept on to see if he could get a goal for some confidence, but with the number of games coming up...why the f*ck would you not make a single sub

 

Edit: too negative given the position we're in, maybe I'm just too used to things going wrong for us that I can't accept good things...

Edited December 20, 2020 by MrBlack

[Robtaylor200]

Keep chalking up the clean sheets. 

Hated watching us last season, now a top ten finish is on the cards

[The_Steve]

Priceless

 

 

[vreitti]

We were a tad too complacent for my liking, for long periods. Then again, this comfortable approach paid off in the end, so don't want be too critical. Smith ought to use the subs better though. 

Traore MotM for me. Still early days, but he is certainly improving. 

[KentVillan]

That Traore finish was the sort of thing Messi does. Short back lift, stroke it into the net around a defender, keeper has no chance to react.

I thought a lot of our players were outstanding tonight.

I also thought Watkins's workrate, movement and hold up play were superb, and he was very, very unlucky not to add to his goal tally. Getting very frustrated with people singling him out for criticism.

Tbh it's hard to pick out a bad performance tonight. Every single player looked very good indeed. Can see why Smith didn't sub anyone off, although personally I'd prefer if he'd give someone like Ramsey a run out at 2-0 or 3-0.

[TheAuthority]

Quote

Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi: "Amazing night for me and Aston Villa, another derby we have won. I am proud and happy.

"Against Burnley we were unlucky and I was a bit upset and played a good game against them and should have scored two. I could have done something against West Brom and I did.

"We had space in the second half and it could have been faster but it is a good result.

"Before the red card it was easier and after they sat back, playing on the counter so it was harder.

"Bertrand Traore scored an amazing goal and we have learnt from last season. Aston Villa were afraid and shaky but we have to keep working hard and looking forward to what the season brings us."

 

[rbcuk]

Easier than I thought it would be, now onto palace 

[villan-scott]

Good win. Comfortable throughout. Didn’t get out of second gear really. Just a shame Watkins never got his goal, I think he needs it. He looked downtrodden with his goal being chalked off again! 

Traore and El Ghazi looked good. The finish from Traore was great, sold SJ with the Watkins run and rolled it in. Great stuff. 

Grealish was good, but not at his best. Bring on Boxing Day!

[villalad21]

Gave Grealish my MOTM

As good as AEG and Traore were, Grealish is just on another level.

[JAMAICAN-VILLAN]

Starting to believe when Traore gets up to 100 percent he will be a bit of a monster.

Job done, but we won't be allowed to faf about and be so wasteful against many teams.

Poor Ollie can't catch a break.

Edited December 20, 2020 by JAMAICAN-VILLAN

[TheAuthority]

Wow - a better start than Saint O'Neil had.

[Sulberto21]

Much improved stat - 10 shots on goal. Last few games we've been on around 4/5 .

[romavillan]

Just now, OutByEaster? said:

Watching Grealish in the ninetieth minute run the legs of Robinson who'd just come on over fifty yards, you do get a sense of just how extraordinary he is.

Watched the Burnley game with a lad from Rome who has watched Roma all his life (he's old like me btw) and whilst I have compared him to Totti in terms of my hopes that he'll be our captain and be a one club player, he was pointing out just how similar they are as players. These last two games he's started as a proper 10 he has looked every inch a Totti, he'll have to score  more for the comparison to be fully right but they do look very very similar players.

[John]

This Christmas I will mostly be eating stuffed throstles!  

[StefanAVFC]

Gave the officiating team a poor. Missed red on Hause and the Ollie disallowed goal really tarnished it