Aston Villa v West Ham - Sat 9th May - 15:00

[Whitechapel]

Match day chat.

 

[Jackinky]

I have a feeling we will sneak a win but I have no idea why, 0-1.

 

[JimJams]

Sherwood to keep grinning, smugly. 2-0 Villa.

 

[claret50]

We could win this......if Nolan isn't selected.

 

[claret50]

Possible starting eleven? (assuming BS doesn't pick his love child)

Adrian

Jenkinson Burke Collins Cresswell

Kouyate Noble Song

Downing Amalfitano

Valencia.

 

[Humongous Fungus]

Do Hammers fans really dislike Big Sam?

 

[claret50]

Do Hammers fans really dislike Big Sam?

Only about 95%

 

[JaseTheVillain]

That Amalfitano is a bit of a wanker, isn't he?

 

[JaseTheVillain]

First half, dominated, second half, rubbish. Didn't really deserve that on the back of the second half but I'll take it. Sees us pretty much safe.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Bit harsh I think Jase.

Villa dominated the first half, far more than anything West Ham did in the second. West Ham were always going to react after about as anonymous first half from a reasonable premier league side as you are ever going to see. It can't always be gung ho, as I'm sure you understand. If Villa go for it in the second half and lose 1-2, everybody screams and shouts 'no discipline' or 'just see the game out' - if anything, Villa showed a more all round side to their game today that I wasn't sure they were capable of. West Ham had more of the game second half, but that's not saying much and they didn't muster a proper chance in 90 minutes.

Good bit of management at half time from Big Sam to change it up and bring Song on. I thought Grealish was poor after his run for the goal. He has a lack/very little pace so he constantly wants to cut back, skin a man by not actually beating him, but wrong footing him to get a cross in. The only problem is, he ends up doing it so much, he slows the game down, allowing oppositions to set themselves up defensively and then either passes it backwards as he has no pace, or gives it away. If he can work on that side of his game, he could be a good premier league player, as he is, I expect he will be cast out in the Championship much like Albrighton within 18 months - 2 years as Villa move on and rebuild. Unless he progresses that is. Pace will always hold him back.

Okore was very good I thought, as was Cleverely (never thought I'd say that). Villa left Benteke quite isolated, quite a few crosses didn't get passed Collins or young Burke. Song made an impact when he came on, even if all he did was get booked for shithousing in the midfield constantly. Every team needs one of them IMO.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Yeah, ours is Sanchez.. In terms of being harsh, I know we can't be all gung ho, but it was the complete drop in the second half, we're lucky West Ham's strike force couldn't finish their dinners... Not to mention that offside call which we got very lucky from. I just think that second half was utterly disastrous compared to the first half.

I agree on Grealish, he is very talented, but need to work on his decisions (should come with age), and pace. Must say that Gabby was useless when he came on too, gave away the ball every time he had it, he could have done better with his chance to wrap it up for 2-0 too. Still, despite all of the negatives, we got 3 points, so I don't give a fuck in the long run.

EDIT: Albrighton's at Leicester, would still be at Villa if he didn't want a ridiculous wage apparently. He's on more at Leicester than we'd have paid him.

 

[JimJams]

Most likely. I suppose that comes with him being a free agent though.

 

[claret50]

Congrats on your win lads, I haven't seen the game yet as it was a 2am ko down here, but I'll watch motd in just over an hour and then the full game.

 

[JJH]

Jack Grealish really is turning out to be one fine player.

Seen him last year for Notts County at the Gate, and he looked technically superb.

Good to see a young, academy player getting a chance at a club like Villa - and their academy is really producing some good players recently.

Callum Robinson of PNE looks like he has a bright future, and Daniel Johnson also of PNE who they bought from Villa really is one fine player, and is hands down one of L1's best midfielders.

There are probably many, many others I'm forgetting - but that's just off the top of my head.

Well done Jack Grealish and Tim Sherwood - you're a joy to watch at the moment.

 

[Blitzballer]

Jack Grealish really is turning out to be one fine player.

Seen him last year for Notts County at the Gate, and he looked technically superb.

Good to see a young, academy player getting a chance at a club like Villa - and their academy is really producing some good players recently.

Callum Robinson of PNE looks like he has a bright future, and Daniel Johnson also of PNE who they bought from Villa really is one fine player, and is hands down one of L1's best midfielders.

There are probably many, many others I'm forgetting - but that's just off the top of my head.

Well done Jack Grealish and Tim Sherwood - you're a joy to watch at the moment.

Ones of top of my head. Pretty sure there's more Clarke, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Cahill, Baker, C Robinson, Grealish, Gary & Craig Gardner, Albrighton, Barry, Hitzlsperger, Vassell.
I think even Daniel Sturridge came through????

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Ones of top of my head. Pretty sure there's more Clarke, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Cahill, Baker, C Robinson, Grealish, Gary & Craig Gardner, Albrighton, Barry, Hitzlsperger, Vassell.
I think even Daniel Sturridge came through????

Yeah, Sturridge passed through, some others to have gone through our academy:

Graham Burke (Loan - Notts County)
Samir Carruthers (Milton Keynes)
Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield)
Harry Forrester (Doncaster)
Eric Lichaj (Notts Forest)
James Collins (Shrewsbury)
Shane Lowry (Millwall)
Barry Bannan (Crystal Palace)
Nathan Delfouneso (Blackpool)
Steve Davis (Southampton)
Liam Ridgewell (WBA)
Boaz Myhill (WBA)

I feel the need to mention Darren Byfield too for some reason.

But yeah, the top 3 tiers of English football are littered with our ex-academy players.

 

[silkyman]

Macc had Boaz (Or Glynn to use his real name) on loan and when they tried to sign him, offered £30k but Villa wanted £50k and it fell through. Funny how a PL club would dig their heels in over a week's wages for a sub these days!

The big question, of course, is who did David Cameron support?

 

[Blitzballer]

Macc had Boaz (Or Glynn to use his real name) on loan and when they tried to sign him, offered £30k but Villa wanted £50k and it fell through. Funny how a PL club would dig their heels in over a week's wages for a sub these days!

The big question, of course, is who did David Cameron support?

West Villa

 

[claret50]

......or Aston Ham.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Darren Byfield....was a roll back!

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Darren Byfield....was a roll back!

Two spells at your lot I believe?

 

[Saddlerrad]

Two spells at your lot I believe?

Yep, didn't see the first. But enjoyed most of the second spell, even though he was definetely an egotistical pig, he did well for us. Until his legs completely went anyway. Always had a spark about him I thought.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

I saw him a few times in his second spell too, cheaper to follow Walsall in general and my best mate supports them and goes to most every game so it's easy enough to get down to the Walsall games.