Rating and Reactions: Villa 0-0 Stoke

[ozvillafan]

Many positives despite the 0-0 outline.

- Another clean sheet

- Kept discipline against an aggressive, physical team (except for Lichaj's retribution lunge)

- Patient in attack (well... at least in the first half)

An early goal from us would have seen us win comfortably, IMO. Unfortunately, Stoke's answer to our first half display was to get even more physical.

Special mention to Bannan, who I thought did rather well in the land of bruiser giants that makes up Stoke's midfield.

[CI]

I like Gabby but there comes a point where you may have to start reviewing options .

[Pelle]

A decent display but as others have already said, we lack that finally bit of creativity. And players that moves without the ball. Sometimes we do and then we create something.

Clark motm for me. In the centre of the defence he commanded it well. Westwood a very close runners up for that prize.

Thought Bannan was good. Didn't miss nearly that many passes as some claim here and was more often than not there to pick up the clearings from our defence or was in a good position to get a pass from the defenders so they didn't have to just hoof it. Westwood did that too. Both of them could try to take shot every now and then, I think.

Holman runs and runs but doesn't create that much.

Benteke and Gabby weren't bad, but both can do better. It was rather frustrating when Gabby put in a very good cross but no one was there. Benteke really should've been there.

Ah well, a point against one the most in form sides and one of the hardest teams to beat isn't awfull. And we were closest to a win.

[Jarpie]

A decent display but as others have already said, we lack that finally bit of creativity. And players that moves without the ball. Sometimes we do and then we create something.

Clark motm for me. In the centre of the defence he commanded it well. Westwood a very close runners up for that prize.

Thought Bannan was good. Didn't miss nearly that many passes as some claim here and was more often than not there to pick up the clearings from our defence or was in a good position to get a pass from the defenders so they didn't have to just hoof it. Westwood did that too. Both of them could try to take shot every now and then, I think.

Holman runs and runs but doesn't create that much.

Benteke and Gabby weren't bad, but both can do better. It was rather frustrating when Gabby put in a very good cross but no one was there. Benteke really should've been there.

Ah well, a point against one the most in form sides and one of the hardest teams to beat isn't awfull. And we were closest to a win.

I expected Ireland to start because he tends to link up game very well but against Stoke it was probably a good decision to play Herd in midfield. Bannan should've played higher and should've pressed on more upwards in attacks but he and Westwood were probably careful not to get caught up by counter attacks.

We played very well again in some phases but players are still gelling together and more adventurous playing comes with time as they get used to play together and learn where others like to run and where receive the ball. Those couple misses and mis-poitioning from Benteke looked like what young and learning player tends to do; first opportunity he smashed the ball and Stoke got block in and in second chance he tried to pass it to the goal from bouncing ball when more experienced striker probably would've again smashed to second chance for goal but he's gonna learn from that do better in future.

The mis-positioning from Benteke for Gabby's crosses looked exactly like when players haven't completely gelled and haven't learned where they like to get the ball/where to cross the ball.

Villa should've won this but Stoke is very very tough to crack so draw is decent result though.

[TRO]

when you are a young work in progress team and missing a few experienced players and face a team as tough as old boots like Stoke isn't the time to start playing swashbuckling football.

As difficult as it is to take, it was a good point.

we do need to start winning .... no question.

but that wasn't the game to start practicing, it could have undone us, big time.

[TRO]

when you are a young work in progress team and missing a few experienced players and face a team as tough as old boots like Stoke isn't the time to start playing swashbuckling football.

As difficult as it is to take, it was a good point.

we do need to strat winning .... no question.

but that wasn't the game to start practicing, it could have undone us, big time.

[8pints]

So that's four games unbeaten, three clean sheets, scored two conceded one but three of those games were draws.

This may prove to be an interesting time to look back on in a few months when we know whether this was us improving or plateauing.

But for know, ever the optimist, this was a good sign from our inexperienced side, standing up to the bullies and, when a spark is added, these will become the games we win comfortably.