JohnCresswell Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 18 points in the bank, 1 defeat in 11, I think we will take that. Well Blackburn may as well have played us at 3pm on Saturday for all the difference an extra day seemed to make to their performance. This was a relatively easy win. We did not really get out of second gear but Sparky’s side never looked like making us need to do so. This was a professional performance that was not a joy to watch but one that gave us the 3 points we needed to keep the bandwagon rolling along. My player ratings from a day on which we returned to the top 6 are: Thomas Sorensen - 6 – Rarely tested. Did well to tip over an effort at the end of the first half but less well when a cross escaped him early in the second. Aaron Hughes - 5 – His place will clearly come under threat when Delaney is fit to challenge and then again when the January transfer window opens. Did little to show Martin that this is not one of the first areas he will need to look at. Martin Laursen - 9 – MOTM – No nonsense defending at its very best. Won everything and the one ball he did not block on 74 minutes left Jeffers so shocked that the one opportunity he had went begging. His performance must have left Liam feeling even worse! Olof Mellberg - 8 – Worked well alongside Martin as he does with Liam and will with Gary now he has returned from injury. This is a position of strength for us and one that MO’N will not need to divert funds towards in January. Wilfred Bouma – 7 – Looked competent enough to allow Gareth to stay in the midfield from now on. Some good work throughout. Gabriel Agbonlahor - 8 – His speed was a constant threat to Blackburn. Hit a fierce cross that just needed a touch on 45 minutes and was a constant thorn in the opposition side. Gavin McCann - 6 – A welcome return. Not quite himself or quite up to pace following his injury, but our midfield is not the same without him. Stiliyan Petrov - 6 – Can and will play better. Stayed busy and played his part in this win. Gareth Barry – 7 – Hit a rasping penalty into the back of the net on 41 minutes to cap another solid performance. If he does not find himself in the England squad this week then he never will do. Chris Sutton – 7 – Looked the quality player that he has been in the past at times yesterday, if only he was 10 years younger. Juan Pablo Angel - 8 – Enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside Chris Sutton and looked back to something approaching his best. Deserved his goal on 50 minutes when he put the game beyond doubt by winning a challenge on the edge of the box and going on to place the ball between post and keeper. A good finish and an encouraging performance by these two strikers. Substitutes: Milan Baros – Replaced Sutton on 90 minutes but not on long enough to show MO’N he should have started, to merit a marking or to dirty his shiny boots. Up the Villa! John Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coleshill_Villa24 Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Gavin McCann - 6 – A welcome return. Not quite himself or quite up to pace following his injury, but our midfield is not the same without him. Stiliyan Petrov - 6 – Can and will play better. Stayed busy and played his part in this win. I personally think McCann and Petrov deserved more than 6/10. McCann showed just what we have been missing and Petrov does a number of things off the ball that some people do not notice. I think they really gel well together and form a great partnership. Hopefully they'll both be fit for Wednesday night! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinity-Tom Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 From where I was sitting I thought Sutton deserved an 8, Hughes a 7 and McCann a 7. Otherwise I completely agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darryl Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Savage wasn't playing? I'd never have guessed it from sitting in the Holte End. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrobo1 Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 I thought Hughes had his best game all season, kept the dangerous Pedersen quiet and provide good atacking support to Gabby, which is importnat as teams are double marking him now leaving gaps for Hughes. And noticed how much higher the press rated Petrov's perfomance than us ??? McCann only a 6 ?? he made a major difference to us he gives us the cover we need and it showed how much we missed him in previous matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted November 7, 2006 Moderator Share Posted November 7, 2006 It was Pedersen's first game back from injury Ian. Can you tell I'm an MGP fan and not a Hughes one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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