Ratings and Reactions: West Brom 2-2 Villa

[Mantis]

In the context of the game it was a bad result but that wasn't the original point.

Most of us would have all taken a point before the game.

So what was the original point then?

[Liam_Baggies]

Disgusted with our first half performance, arguably our worst performance of the season, it was just defied any fight and the way we allowed you to turn us over was nothing short of embarrassing. Fabian Delph impressed me, he controlled the middle of the park, hunting in packs and giving us no time on the ball whereas we were the complete opposite. I also cannot believe how many shots were ballooned into the stand, there must have been at least four or five in the first half which got closer to Villa Park than it did the goal.

Much better second half with the ball being moved much quicker. You parked the bus and once we got the first it was a matter of time before we got the second, unfortunately it took us to long and left us with a lack of time to go and get a winner. You defended doggedly but ultimately we got what we deserved, although we can be thankful to Ben Foster who made two or three good saves which has kept us for a point.

[BleedClaretAndBlue]

Surely Lerner can see we're a couple of defenders and midfielders away from being a decent side. Just go out and get them already, and in the process save our PL status, get to the final and beat Newcastle next weekend and things will be a whole lot rosier!!

*Do it. Just do it*

[sonic_bouma]

Negatives:

Yet more injuries to deal with

Another game where our mental fragility is evident

Desperate defending in 2nd half

We are unable to let a goal in and not let it affect us mentally

Should have seen the game out and climb above Newcastle

Positives:

Would have taken a point before

Out of the bottom 3

Vlaar back and looked solid but he needs help from Dunne in there

Zogbia looked very lively

Benteke stopped the rot of his run of shit games

As an attacking force we looked more cohesive and decisive

The Newcastle game is huge huge huge. Lets hope we go into it on the back of 2 great performances against Bradders and Millwall

[CI]

Was lovely to see those 2 goals sail past Foster after he'd been running his mouth off in the week

[ClaretFondu]

Westwood was insane, never placed a pass wrong

Bennett played very well, finally defended half decently

Delph played well, closing down and defended his back 4

N'zogbia was a tad selfish but a very good threat nonetheless

Gabby, had a pretty good game, but maybe should have scored that chance in the second half

Lichaj, should have scored at the end of the 1st and generally played like he couldnt be bothered.

Holman did nothing.

Delph should NEVER have been subbed off, i would prefer an injured delph than Bannan, omg, Delph is good at closing down

Guzan had an epileptic fit when Luckaku ran at him and should never be giving a corner

Corner defended horribly, we had 6 players around Odemwingay and we still couldnt clear it

[sutherland]

Did we actually sing that? Because we really should.

Yeah... And i havn't laughed so much since the pigs eat my sister!..

Obsessed fcukers didnt know if it was night or day!

[chappy]

Positives:

Vlaar

Bennett

N'ZOGBIA!!!

Gabby

Benteke

Westwood

Delph

Great first half performance but you knew what was coming at half time. Would have taken a point before kick off it's just gutting that we can't hold on to a lead.

http://i.minus.com/ibiWFjuH26BuJR.gif

[Liam_Baggies]

rocket polishers did the 8th minute thing

In memory of Jeff Astle. From 8:01 which is the 9th minute of the game which was Astle's squad number at the club.

We honoured their pre kick off minutes respect for derek kevan superbly

They then went on to do the 8th minute crass thing and then all totally disrespect the 19th min Petrov tribute

Not only did they show no respect they went out of their way to make their feelings known

rocket polishers Small time scum club

Then all? It was a small minority.

The irony in the scum comment is hilarious considering Villa supporters have previously sang about Tracy Andrews being their friend. And their is proof of that in this video:

Your same supporters also chanted "let him die" to a person receiving CPR in the East Stand last season and you want to chuck around the scum comment? It's laughable, it really is. Blues fans often make references to chants and taunts aimed towards Aliou Cisse so obviously it seems to be a problem running through sections of your support.

Also. I wish Petrov a speedy recovery, but it wasn't long ago when he was the subject of your boo-boys and endless criticism. Just a shame you couldn't support him as well as you do now back then - Take a look at the following link for example.

http://www.astonvill...le.asp?a=504862

You want to have a pop at our fans, then fine, but make sure your own house is in order first.

Edited January 20, 2013 by Liam_Baggies

[rjw63]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[sutherland]

An Obsessed man... Do one!..

[coda]

He done the same thing on here last time we played them.

[ChrisVillan]

Do **** off.

[Mantis]

Piss off small-time boggie scum. Petrov may not have received brilliant praise all the time before his injury but he was well supported.

Edited January 20, 2013 by Mantis

[Liam_Baggies]

Quick enough to slag us off but don't like to hear it back.

Does not surprise me.

Out of respect to the site runners I shall leave now and leave you lot to continue.

Good luck with the remainder of the season.

[sutherland]

Quick enough to slag us off but don't like to hear it back.

Does not surprise me.

Out of respect to the site runners I shall leave now and leave you lot to continue.

Good luck with the remainder of the season.

Another obsessed bites the dust!..

[limpid]

Enough with baiting the baggy.

[VillaAndLoyal]

West Bromwich Albion and their fans were an absolute disgrace on Saturday, as were West Midlands Police.

Last season fans of both clubs frequented the Royal Oak before the game, with Villa taking up two thirds and Albion the final part of the pub. It was a surreal scene, admittedly, for a derby but actually there was no trouble and just lots of singing and banter with the police waiting outside just in case. A perfectly fine and rational situation. THIS season (Saturday) up to 20 police decided to enter the pub well over an hour before kick-off and stood in between the two sets of fans and also in a line leading to the toilets, blocking everybody's way. They proceeded then to tell the landlord to stop selling beer and by 45 minutes before kick-off had kicked practically every Villa fan out into the freezing cold. They spoke to our fans with disdain and threatened to take pints off people unless they downed them (surely that is making people more drunk, not less) and then 'WMP football unit' has the bare faced CHEEK on Twitter to claim 1.) that the licensee had decided to close the pub and 2.) that people with drinks had been allowed to finish them. Both statements not true at all. The landlord was, actually, slumped against the bar arms folded looking mightily pissed off at the massive amount of lost trade the police had caused.

Then, when something kicked off in the Villa end at the end of the game, I saw a female copper thump an innocent middle-aged man from point blank range with a truncheon in the face, knocking his glasses off in the process. This guy, ironically, turned out to be a solicitor himself and was certainly not causing any trouble and was understandably hurt by the incident. It was disgraceful behaviour and just highlights how football fans in general are just treated like animals, whereas a large section of the police seem intent just to have a ruckus to make their shift go quicker. A lot of them seem power mad and many situations are definitely inflamed, rather than squashed, by the police's input.

Despite a fiery atmosphere at the start of the game, the whole Villa end put rivalries to one side to pay tribute to Albion's former player and the minute of applause (which actually lasted a lot longer than a minute) was impeccably observed by our away support. Not eight minutes later and Albion are starting to show their true colours by taking part in the truly horrendous 8th minute applause mocking our 8-0 defeat at Chelsea. This is the same small time gesture their own official Twitter account was proudly highlighting a few weeks back and it really does show you how bitter and obsessed they are by us. Despite what a certain Villa hater on here claims, I was right next to the segregation and I was left in no doubt why they were standing and 'applauding'. Then, in the 19th/20th minute, they embarrassed themselves as a football club again by mocking our Petrov gesture and the hate in their eyes was palpable. Our fans were able to put football to one side and be the bigger men by joining in with their tribute, but could they do the same or at least just let us get on with it? Could they hell, they just cannot control their deep rooted bitterness towards our club. And franky, it stinks.

Throughout the game all they sung about was Aston Villa. I'd say 60 per cent of their songs either had our name in or were exclusively about us. Us, on the other hand, sung 'SOTB' twice if I remember correctly.

The chant of the day went up in the away end - 'you're obsessed with the Villa, we know what you are' - and the poor Albion fans only knew how to respond with yet another verse of 'SOTV'. The poor buggers really do hate us, almost as much as Blues, and they so desperately want us to hate them back but I really do just pity them. I've never encountered such a bitter club in all my time.

At the final whistle I saw coins chucked into our end and a lad of about 10, in a White hoody, spit into the Villa end. And yet, when we had an argument with a group of Albion fans on the way back to our car, one of them claimed they were a 'family club' and that their main derby was with Wolves - oh give me a break, is the word 'deluded' another word you want me to associate with your club? By this point, coupled with the second-half capitulation, I was pretty pissed off and asked one of the Baggies fans (a man of about 60) what it was like forever living under our shadow? To which he laughed and I asked him why he found it so hilarious and informed him that we were, of course, the Midlands biggest club. He laughed again. So I asked him who on earth was the biggest Midlands club if it wasn't us? I must have asked him about 20 times before he stopped chuckling and finally let out a quiet 'the Albion' before laughing again. Yes, I definitely can add 'deluded' to that list but at least they have a sense of humour.

Horrible, horrible little small time club with bitter and twisted supporters but thankfully they only enter our minds twice a season. Whereas most Albion fans clearly have a Villa dartboard in their homes with our European Cup placed in the middle. Oh, did I just mention our history again?

[parisvilla]

West Bromwich Albion and their fans were an absolute disgrace on Saturday, as were West Midlands Police.

Last season fans of both clubs frequented the Royal Oak before the game, with Villa taking up two thirds and Albion the final part of the pub. It was a surreal scene, admittedly, for a derby but actually there was no trouble and just lots of singing and banter with the police waiting outside just in case. A perfectly fine and rational situation. THIS season (Saturday) up to 20 police decided to enter the pub well over an hour before kick-off and stood in between the two sets of fans and also in a line leading to the toilets, blocking everybody's way. They proceeded then to tell the landlord to stop selling beer and by 45 minutes before kick-off had kicked practically every Villa fan out into the freezing cold. They spoke to our fans with disdain and threatened to take pints off people unless they downed them (surely that is making people more drunk, not less) and then 'WMP football unit' has the bare faced CHEEK on Twitter to claim 1.) that the licensee had decided to close the pub and 2.) that people with drinks had been allowed to finish them. Both statements not true at all. The landlord was, actually, slumped against the bar arms folded looking mightily pissed off at the massive amount of lost trade the police had caused.

Very similar scenario up at Bradford the other week. Police burst in and demanded the place be shut down an hour before kick off and then put out via twitter that there had been fights inside. (It was exclusively Villa).

[CI]

WBA are just another coventry city move on lads.

It is something we just have to live with being the biggest club in the area and the 4th most successful club in English history.