Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Brentford

[VillaLion63]

Actually looking forward to match of the day for once !

[Shirtman]

Like a cloud was lifted. Billy Big Boots made this group of players feel inadequate. Today they showed that they are not.

A real sense of joy at the end of the game.

Perhaps we had a bit of luck, but well done Mr Danks.

[Villatillidie95]

What a fantastic contrasting performance to anything that has gone before so far this season! I don't think anyone was expecting to see us go 3-0 up within 15 minutes. I thought the formation and setup was so much more positive, we played with a really high line and were pressuring and harrying their midfield and defence into making a lot of mistakes. Credit to Mings especially and the backline who kept Toney and Mbeumo, 2 decent forwards, very quiet.

It's my 27th Birthday today so this was a fantastic present from the villa. hopefully onwards and upwards here for the rest of the season!

[sheepyvillian]

Danks spoke really well in his post - match interview. Seems like he's big on the mentality side of things and I think that showed today.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Great work. From the sounds of Leon Bailey,  Danks set them up sensibly and gave them freedom to express themselves. 

Lovely!

[wedge]

Safety-first Gerrard really did have the shackles on them didn't he?!

[Shirtman]

1 hour ago, AntrimBlack said:

5 subs - who'd have thought! Smart move in many ways.

Interesting too.

Coutinho was awful. could be a millstone round our neck for the next 2 years.

McGinn is just not good enough.

But we don't need either of them.

Not much went right for Coutinho, I agree, but McGinn came on and did the simple things well. Both have still got a future under positive leadership. 

[Tom13]

5 minutes ago, ciggiesnbeer said:

Great work. From the sounds of Leon Bailey,  Danks set them up sensibly and gave them freedom to express themselves. 

Lovely!

Got the Bailey interview?

[Hanky]

Night and day in terms of a performance compared to Thursday. It was noticeable how wide Bailey and Watkins were to start with. It gives our midfield so much more space to work in.

So many players had great games but I thought Luiz was absolutely fantastic in midfield. Him and Dendoncker seemed to win every second ball in the first half. The pressing from the front was fantastic too. Bailey looks so much more comfortable on the left wing. 

[MaVilla]

great noise.

 

 

[ciggiesnbeer]

2 minutes ago, Tom13 said:

Got the Bailey interview?

Also in the Bailey thread. Cheers!

[Tom13]

2 minutes ago, ciggiesnbeer said:

Also in the Bailey thread. Cheers!

No reactions but thank you sir!

[nick76]

7 minutes ago, wedge said:

Safety-first Gerrard really did have the shackles on them didn't he?!

Yep such a difference in the way we played, from the press and playing in triangles which we didn’t do under Gerrard.  We played with more width and freedom as well.  

This just showed Gerrard up.  

It was only one game but these players can play well, Gerrard just got it all wrong.  

If we get the right manager this team/squad can be so much better because they have showed it.  

Yes we have problems with the squad but they are so much better than what Gerrard game us.

Gerrard’s media buddies will try to say this is because of Gerrard and shows he should’ve had more time but this showed what we can do when not shackled by Gerrard.  This was an embarrassment for Gerrard imo.  Thank god he’s gone.

Get the right manager and we hopefully can see more of today more often.

[OutByEaster?]

It was dark this morning when I was getting ready to set out for Villa Park, pissing down with rain, roads flooded, standing water everywhere, an uncomfortable drive with the wipers on and the kind of miserable wet day that no one likes to be outdoors in.

When I got there, a clever man did a simple thing and picked football players in a team where they were each positioned so that they could do more of the things that they were good at. Bailey attacked down the wings, Watkins hustled on the other side and Ings made the most of the space down the middle. Buendia was bustling, industrious and creative behind him - secure in the knowledge that Dendoncker and Luiz had his back; that they would win the ball, make sure we kept it and get it back into the feet of that attacking talent. Mings and Konsa defended, occasionally allowing Dendoncker or Luiz between them when they had the ball for an extra option and the evergreen Ashley Young patrolled one flank while the energetic Matty Cash patrolled the other.

Everyone doing the things they are good at, no one having to think more than they had to play.

Fourteen minutes in, we were three nil up and playing with smiles, freedom and confidence - looking like a team full of quality.

Simple plans that take advantage of the strengths of individuals within an organised team shape - football management. It was nice to see that back at Villa Park, and impressive to see it delivered after just a couple of days at Bodymoor Heath - Bravo Mr Danks!

I thought Douglas Luiz was superb, Buendia not far behind and Bailey electric at the start - but the whole team played well - no one looked uncomfortable or restrained by either a lack of confidence or a surfeit of thought.

On the drive back from Villa Park, I had to have the window open and the visor down in the car, the warmth of the last of the sun was pleasant to the skin and the world had that golden hue of early evening, the kind of evening no one wants to miss, one that you hope will last.

And that my friends is the day and the football club in a nutshell.

Shine on.

 

 

 

[sidcow]

10 minutes ago, ciggiesnbeer said:

Also in the Bailey thread. Cheers!

Oh dear. 110%? What has he gone and done? 

Just keep it calm VT. Go to your happy places. 

[El Zen]

41 minutes ago, adam67 said:

Rushed back through Saudi Traffic to watch the game so glad I Did! Absolute masterclass all over the pitch, gave Motm to Bailey I had a feeling this season we've not seen the best of him...more to come I hope.

The midfield of Doug and Donk worked well and Tyrone Mings didn't miss a beat today, he headed every ball like he was smashing an asteroid back outta earth's atmosphere!!!

Happy as, just wish I could get a drink now

Honorable mentions to Ashley young. Proper pro, clever football brain, Cash and Konsa and Emi B all ran their socks off.

 

 

What are you doing in Newcastle?

[nick76]

 

[CLARETANDBLUEFOXY]

I’d love to be in Gerrard’s head right now. 

[nick76]

 

[nick76]

1 minute ago, CLARETANDBLUEFOXY said:

I’d love to be in Gerrard’s head right now. 

His ego would that he thinks today was because of him whereas it wasn’t.