Saints 2 - 1 Villa - League Cup R4 - Reaction

[Daft Kerplunk]

JWP was rubbish...yet people who know infinitely more about football than anybody on here (unless you're a lurker Ronald) keep picking him. Hmmm, who's wrong I wonder. You just have to question the judgment of those experts at the football club who've won numerous major trophies, know what they want players to do during a match but who just don't know as much keyboard warriors

[captainchris]

Yoshida is my MOTM. Was brilliant start to finish. Not just his goal, he was just outstanding all evening and it's even more amazing when you consider how sh1te he is at RB usually.

 

Stek, Targett, Pelle and JWP also good.

 

Ramirez showed promise but I think it's too little too late for him.

 

Wanyama was cack.

 

Juanmi looked quite lively at first but then faded away.

 

What's happened to Martina? Is he not even our second choice RB now?

 

 

Disagree with most of that!

[saint_stevo]

JWP was rubbish...yet people who know infinitely more about football than anybody on here (unless you're a lurker Ronald) keep picking him. Hmmm, who's wrong I wonder. You just have to question the judgment of those experts at the football club who've won numerous major trophies, know what they want players to do during a match but who just don't know as much keyboard warriors

 

Shut up. The idea of a forum is to discuss stuff....and this being a football forum we will discuss players. And everyone has an opinion, but posting drivvel like your post adds absolutely nothing. And a smiley? Nice work, Kerplank

[Dark Munster]

Why doesn't RK play Tadic on the left all the time? Proves every time he plays there that this is most effective position.

JWP is poor in central midfield and particular behind the striker.... He was ok out on the right but hasn't been there since?

Ramirez on the other hand is best behind the striker but gets put out on the right????? Wtf? Little surprise that both were ineffective .....

We gave away the pen because we stand off wingers and do not engage them. This is glaring Tadic is the worst offender but the others repeat this and just allow the player to either cross or run with the ball at our pen area. We gave away the goal at Liverpool by giving the wide player acres to cross the ball in with no closing......

ENGAGE the player don't watch them....

First half we we pretty dire, Pelle was on holiday for God's sake.... Second was slightly better. Villa were very poor mind....

Who was our new right back tonight? He looked decent!!!! ;-)

The ref gave away the penalty for a perfectly good tackle. VVD wisely avoided a yellow by not remonstrating too much, knowing that there were only a few seconds left.

[Batman]

Thought the game was dull and slow in the first half. The atmosphere was poor even the PA was quiet.

 

We were better 2nd half with some very nice goals.

 

Targett was good, both CBs were good. Tadic and Davis were a level above when they came on.

 

Looked like a very dodgy decision for their penalty. Would like to see that again.

 

Lots of changes and the obvious lack of pace up top was painful to see.

 

Hey ho. We won

[shurlock]

JWP was rubbish...yet people who know infinitely more about football than anybody on here (unless you're a lurker Ronald) keep picking him. Hmmm, who's wrong I wonder. You just have to question the judgment of those experts at the football club who've won numerous major trophies, know what they want players to do during a match but who just don't know as much keyboard warriors

 

With Clasie now available, there's a good chance that JWP won't be starting as many (league) games. The liverpool line-up is as close to RK's preferred line-up as we've seen this season.

[mrfahaji]

Sounds like the "perpetually awful" Tadic played quite well when he came on. Funny that.

[Dig Dig]

Sounds like the "perpetually awful" Tadic played quite well when he came on. Funny that.

 

Agree Tadic made a big impact when he came on (as did Davis) but are there really many on here who think he's awful? He one of our most creative players.

 

The game itself was tedious first half with a flat atmosphere but two decent goals in the second half made up for it. I thought the team selection was a bit of a risk but lucky Villa are woeful.

[John Boy Saint]

I was amazed at how fast the first half whistled by despite its tedious nature and all the stop start that went on. Looking at the touch line and Ron, Erwin, Sammy getting fired up, I think the Koemans let Sammy slip his lead and use his favourite word beginning with F and ending with K possibly with ing added a few times, as we were much better, to be honest considering the amount of changes made to the team we weren't as poor as we could have been 1st half, we just lacked a bit of fire.

Shame to see a player with blistering pace like Agbonglahor becoming like an old Cheetah, in his head you can see afterburners being lit but the fuel is lumpy and the burn time is shorter, that said Virgil covers the ground deceptively quickly when he gets into his stride.

Second half was much better, very pleased for Maya to get his very well taken goal. And nice to see the Tadic Pelle partnership scoring another well made goal.

But most importantly of all we are in the next round.

[SaintBobby]

At least Mane wasn't in the team tonight. He's League One at best. Basically Ali Dia Mk2.

[SaintSteve]

JWP was rubbish...yet people who know infinitely more about football than anybody on here (unless you're a lurker Ronald) keep picking him. Hmmm, who's wrong I wonder. You just have to question the judgment of those experts at the football club who've won numerous major trophies, know what they want players to do during a match but who just don't know as much keyboard warriors

Perhaps you should watch him play and provide us all with your expert opinion...hardly touches the ball, cannot run, gets brushed off the ball too easily and makes little impact on games...that's mine.

[Donatello]

Shut up. The idea of a forum is to discuss stuff....and this being a football forum we will discuss players. And everyone has an opinion, but posting drivvel like your post adds absolutely nothing. And a smiley? Nice work, Kerplank

 

[Daft Kerplunk]

Perhaps you should watch him play and provide us all with your expert opinion...hardly touches the ball, cannot run, gets brushed off the ball too easily and makes little impact on games...that's mine.

 

The expert opinion is Ronald Koeman. That's the point. Why don't you take it up with him.

[Daft Kerplunk]

Shut up. The idea of a forum is to discuss stuff....and this being a football forum we will discuss players. And everyone has an opinion, but posting drivvel like your post adds absolutely nothing. And a smiley? Nice work, Kerplank

 

Boo hoo

[Daft Kerplunk]

With Clasie now available, there's a good chance that JWP won't be starting as many (league) games. The liverpool line-up is as close to RK's preferred line-up as we've seen this season.

 

Fair point, yet RK has no problem picking him now. If he was so rubbish, he wouldn't be picked, but he must be doing something right in the manager's eyes.

[Stoozer]

Shut up. The idea of a forum is to discuss stuff....and this being a football forum we will discuss players. And everyone has an opinion, but posting drivvel like your post adds absolutely nothing. And a smiley? Nice work, Kerplank

 

Oh, the irony!

[OldNick]

Now that we've won I will express disappointment in the team selected, but we got away with it.

 

And we have the likes of Caulker on the books who we may well need some day soon, so he does need game time.

CB I think that is how I felt. RK had stated he wants to get to Wembley and fires me up thinking that he was up for it and then makes 7 changes. Not as keen as he seems to my mind as it was a risk.Had we fallen a goal behind I suspect we would not have the players to turn that around.

As you also concede , we do need our squad players to get some game time and so it is difficult.

I hope we play a strong side in the quarters, but from now on the going is touch and go if we can get through the rounds

[Daft Kerplunk]

Oh, the irony!

 

100% what I was thinking as well

[rooney]

Tadic & Davis made such a difference when they came on and congratulations to Maya for such a super goal.

[Shance]

That was never in a million years a penalty. Ref was stood right in front of it as well. Perfectly timed tackle in which he took the ball.

[angelman]

View from Brum

 

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/analysis-aston-villa-becoming-walkover-10350292

 

Can't disagree.

[Sour Mash]

The expert opinion is Ronald Koeman. That's the point. Why don't you take it up with him.

What a weird view to have a football forum. Just to clarify, you're saying fans on here cannot be critical of a single player picked by Koeman?

[Toomer]

At least Mane wasn't in the team tonight. He's League One at best. Basically Ali Dia Mk2.

There might be one or two who would agree but most of us would think you are talking out of your backside.

[Daft Kerplunk]

What a weird view to have a football forum. Just to clarify, you're saying fans on here cannot be critical of a single player picked by Koeman?

 

Why don't you read the posts. I was being asked to give my expert opinion to which I responded that RK is the expert. What is actually weird is that people on forums imply they know more than genuine football experts, which is kind of the point. Discuss all you want but for the sake of those who cannot understand, the point I'm making is that a genuine football expert like RK thinks he's a good player. Nothing more, nothing less. Have a read again.

[Saint Charlie]

View from Brum

 

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/analysis-aston-villa-becoming-walkover-10350292

 

Can't disagree.

Apart from the inaacuracies of the second paragraph:

 

For 50 minutes in this game Villa were solid and stable. They probably just edged it as the Saints were slow and laboured. But then within seconds they found themselves behind.

 

A misplaced pass left Jordan Amavi in trouble and Yoshida intercepted, played a one-two with James Ward-Prowse, then slammed past Brad Guzan, From that moment there was no way back for the away side.

 

1. It was a Davis pass, not a Villa misplaced pass.

 

2. The one two was with Ramirez.

 

Also says JWP passed to Tadic for the second goal but it was Davis.

Edited 29 October, 2015 by Saint Charlie

[Sour Mash]

JWP was rubbish...yet people who know infinitely more about football than anybody on here (unless you're a lurker Ronald) keep picking him. Hmmm, who's wrong I wonder. You just have to question the judgment of those experts at the football club who've won numerous major trophies, know what they want players to do during a match but who just don't know as much keyboard warriors

 

Why don't you read the posts. I was being asked to give my expert opinion to which I responded that RK is the expert. What is actually weird is that people on forums imply they know more than genuine football experts, which is kind of the point. Discuss all you want but for the sake of those who cannot understand, the point I'm making is that a genuine football expert like RK thinks he's a good player. Nothing more, nothing less. Have a read again.

I know what your point was, you posted the above before anyone asked for your "expert opinion" (they were taking the p**s by the way). 99% of all things that happen around a football club are done by people better qualified than those on here, why is the situation with Ward-Prowse any different to anything else?

[Wes Tender]

Seeing the team selection, I was wary of the strong possibility that Villa could have produced an upset. Having only one of our first choice defenders playing didn't fill me with any confidence and thankfully on the couple of occasions when Villa had shots on target, Stekenlenberg made good saves. I could see that Koeman had strengthened the midfield in front of the defence by pairing Wanyama with Romeu, but then had gone lightweight ahead of them with Ward-Prowse, Juanmi and Ramirez. This meant that the advanced midfield was not a threat and that Pelle was isolated and starved of service. The lack of bite in midfield and some very slack passing, meant that a better team than Villa could have made us pay for it. However, the one player who had the pace to punish us normally, Agbonlahor, had recently turned into a fat lump and his former blistering pace was therefore much diminished.

 

Koeman had gambled on giving some fringe players some match time and thankfully we had got away with it during the first half. Had somebody like Long or indeed Mane been available, their pace, endeavour and trickery might have made a significant difference, but Koeman's substitutions early in the second half were just what was needed. With Davis he added some urgency to the midfield and with Tadic the guile and trickery to unlock the Villa defence. Almost immediately we had upped our game and looked more like our usual selves, moving the ball well and getting it into the final third and behind Villa's defence, and Pelle looked much more effective.

 

It is telling that three of our last goals were scored by defenders and it was wonderful to see Yoshida score a cracker to get in on the act. Tadic produced a great assist for Pelle, whose strike on the volley was unstoppable. For the second match in succession though, we failed to close out the game in the final minutes and thankfully there wasn't enough time for Villa to score again and take it into extra time, even had they been capable of scoring if we were concentrating fully. If this was a league match, losing the clean sheet and goal difference would have been important, but as it was a cup match, it didn't matter. We dodged a potential banana skin to progress into the last eight for the second year in succession.

 

Liverpool at home? Definitely winnable if we play our strongest team and I reckon that we have the advantage psychologically having held them to a draw at Anfield so recently.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Thought the first half was absolutely awful and a better team would have taken us apart, thankfully we were facing Aston Villa who are dire. Don't think anyone coming into the team stepped up and made a case for themselves other than Targett (who has no chance when Bertrand is fit).

 

Other thoughts:

1. I am really glad Caulker is fourth choice - he is very average and somehow can't shake off the ballwatching when crosses come into the box. Gestede really should have got his header on target in the first half.

2. JWP had another nothing game - not using this to have a go at him but he really needs to start influencing games when he plays in the centre behind Pelle. Davis made more impact in his 20mins than JWP did in his 90.

3. Encouraged by Juanmi's touches but unless he hits the gym his influence on the pitch is going to be minimal. Appreciate he was playing out on the left though (and Gaston likewise on the right) which is not a preferred position.

4. A little surprised Vic had the Captains armband given his contractual situation. Didn't think he did has bad as some made out - some sloppy passes (taking us back to his first season) but overall his work was diligent.

5. VvD is great and love the way he seems to be on cruise control in games

[Wes Tender]

There might be one or two who would agree but most of us would think you are talking out of your backside.

 

I'm pretty sure it was a sarcastic/satirical jibe at one or two idiots who had labelled him as useless when he had first arrived and who now have egg all over their faces.

[Saint Garrett]

What a shocker of an atmosphere....and that first half I was actually bored.

 

Two good goals though and through to the next round. Have to be better if we're going to beat Liverpool.

[david in sweden]

Great result! I'm mid-Atlantic at the moment so here's hoping for a home draw next round

 

you got your wish , Whitey ....

[doddisalegend]

When I saw the team selection I was pretty gutted. From Koeman's pre match stuff I was expecting a couple of changes but seven was a big risk.

 

 

 

 

 

Thing is our squad players are all right if its one or two in our strongest 11 but put a team made up of mostly squad players (several not even playing their prefered position) and you get the first half from last night.

 

 

 

 

 

I think both Gaston and Juanmi would be more effective in behind Pelle so sticking them out wide did them no favours. JWP really shouldn't play the number 10. Yoshida while scoring a great goal isn't a full back except in a dire emergency.

 

 

 

 

 

Still Tadic and Davis made the difference and in the end it looked comfortable.

 

 

 

 

 

But please can we have a full strength side for Liverpool.

[The9]

Crap game, crap atmosphere, job done.

 

Why play Wanyama and Romeu against Villa at home?

 

And did Pellè and Wanyama really need to play the full 90?

 

In order to be able to pick Yoshida, Caulker and Targett behind them. It was the one option I didn't think we'd take because Villa have offered no attacking threat this season and as you allude to, that's a very defensive formation.

 

Romeu was my MotM, solid first half and worked his balls off trying to get some uptempo passing in the second half. Got to say I didn't notice Wanyama being particularly bad, he got clattered at one point and was playing through that.

 

Yoshida's goal was just what we needed at that time, and he and Targett were competent defensively against a side which were happy to whack crosses from deep at Gestede. I thought Caulker looked well off the pace, Gestede is good in the air but Caulker was getting outjumped even with a run at it, and on the floor he just doesn't look confident.

 

Juanmi did something in the first half that put me in mind of an old Neil McCann and he's going to have to sort that out - but he's still got plenty of potential.

 

I note no-one is talking about Gaston again any more.

 

As for squad depth - we finished the match with a better side than we started it - Steven Davis showed precisely why he's a regular starter when he came on, straight into in, everything done at pace and high tempo, makes us so much more difficult to defend against. Tadic also gave us an attacking option that we missed from the defensive full-backs.

 

Koeman was spot on to go uber-defensive and assume we were going to score, but Stekelenburg got us out of jail TWICE in the first half.

[The9]

There might be one or two who would agree but most of us would think you are talking out of your backside.

 

WHOOSH!

[doddisalegend]

I see in one the papers poch was in the stands last night scouting Villa. I'm sure he left worried about the weekend?

[The9]

That was never in a million years a penalty. Ref was stood right in front of it as well. Perfectly timed tackle in which he took the ball.

 

I thought that at the time from the Northam, haven't seen it back on tv yet. But it looked like he poked the ball off Ayew's right foot across his body, and then Ayew went over his outstretched leg. Still surprised Sinclair scored it, tbh.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

I see in one the papers poch was in the stands last night scouting Villa. I'm sure he left worried about the weekend

 

They played Gestede up front and put their two best crossers of the ball on the wings and then forgot they'd need to be able to get the ball to those players in the first place for that plan to work

[Shance]

I thought that at the time from the Northam, haven't seen it back on tv yet. But it looked like he poked the ball off Ayew's right foot across his body, and then Ayew went over his outstretched leg. Still surprised Sinclair scored it, tbh.

 

Yeah i've seen the replay from several different angles and not for one second did I think it was a pen. It was a pretty decent tackle.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Yeah i've seen the replay from several different angles and not for one second did I think it was a pen. It was a pretty decent tackle.

 

The whole lead-up to the decision was very peculiar. Ayew cut inside and it was a really heavy touch but instead of anyone going to meet him everyone backed off and VvD showed him inside as well which seemed a strange decision to me.

[Daft Kerplunk]

I know what your point was, you posted the above before anyone asked for your "expert opinion" (they were taking the p**s by the way). 99% of all things that happen around a football club are done by people better qualified than those on here, why is the situation with Ward-Prowse any different to anything else?

 

Seeing as you like just to pick one element out of a post, I'll do it with you, at which point do I say that I am offering my 'expert opinion'. And anyway, I've made my point and essentially, in your final sentence, you've validated it. Gracias

[david in sweden]

Hmmm......seem to be more people upset about the team selection than there were about celebrating the win.

 

Playing a cup game against the bottom of the table side is not such a big challenge, although the Villa players were trying to impress their "next" manager, I suppose.

Admittedly, the first half was a bit flat for Saints, but that's because they don't all play competitive football alongside each other every week.

 

Romeu has only been a bit part player up until now. He didn't have so much to do, but came through OK - without his regulation yellow card.

Ramirez playing for his future. Unlikely to still be here after next summer, but he's out to impress anyone watching (Everton did I read?). Did OK and showed skill.

Juanmi's first real game, and looked good at times, but there are Prem. clubs who've made dearer purchases than him who look a lot worse. He'll improve in time.

Targett and Caulker are second-choice players who came in and DAJFU - as they were expected to do.

 

Yoshida (some people's MoM)...looked very good. Koeman says openly that he is a good player and a good professional, and his goal was a bit special.

He is undoubtedly a better left-sided player, but like several (historical) players before him ..is/were willing to play anywhere the manager asks him to, and suffers the anger of fans when they don't turn in a MoM performance every time. Last night, he proved a lot of people wrong.

Koeman says we have a stronger squad now (true) and everyone must get action at some time or other to keep them fresh ....and the incumbent on their mettle.

 

As for the rest ...(of the regulars). Look at back at the match replays and see why Steven Davis splits the fans support. He upped the tempo after coming on, and his 40 yard crossfield ball onto Tadic's foot, set up Dusan for the centre and Pelle's exquisite goal. Nicely played by all three from start to finish.

 

Wanyama and JWP both had games they'll want to forget. Few people deny JWP has talent, but he still can't find a proper role in the side - who does he replace?

 

I hadn't forgotten Stekelenburg who made a couple of vital saves by punching balls clear, when there should have been one of our defenders there first.

No chance with the penalty, which wasn't a penalty at all - (if you watch the replay from the camera behind the goal) but if you're a striker - and get tackled inside the box - of course you go down.

 

Onto the next round - and Liverpool. Let's do it right next time.

Edited 29 October, 2015 by david in sweden

[The9]

The ref gave away the penalty for a perfectly good tackle. VVD wisely avoided a yellow by not remonstrating too much, knowing that there were only a few seconds left.

 

I was expecting him to get sent off, if it was a foul it was also clearly a goalscoring opportunity. Then again the ref had already ballsed up giving a corner for a Gestede scissors kick with Wanyama next to him which was overturned by a nothing foul at the corner which he clearly indicated he was going to give before the corner was even taken, so he was probably trying not to draw more attention to himself having already given the pen.

[sadoldgit]

Like others I was disappointed on the team selection. Ron said he was going for it so fine, but play your strongest team. Having said that it was job done and fair play to Yoshi. I always worry when I see his name on the team sheet but he took his goal very well. Liverpool! Yay, bring it on.

[Sour Mash]

Seeing as you like just to pick one element out of a post, I'll do it with you, at which point do I say that I am offering my 'expert opinion'. And anyway, I've made my point and essentially, in your final sentence, you've validated it. Gracias

I didn't state you were offering your "expert opinion". Your point seems to be that we shouldn't question or disagree with any decisions made by people better qualified than us; which kills 90% of posts on here, a weird attitude to a football forum.

[The9]

Hmmm......seem to be more people upset about the team selection than there were about winning the game.

 

Playing a cup game against the bottom of the table side is not such a big challenge, although the Villa players were trying to impress their " next " manager, I suppose.

Admittedly, the first half was a bit flat, but that's because they don't all play competitive football alongside each other every week.

 

Not sure Villa were particularly interesting in impressing anyone, they still looked rank. We were "flat" because with that team out we were doing the last season thing, making sure we didn't concede and assuming we'd make enough chances to score one.

 

Romeu has only been a bit part player up until now. He didn't have so much to do, but came through OK - without his regulation yellow card.

Ramirez is playing for his future. Unlikely to still be here after next summer, but he's out to impress anyone watching (Everton did I read?). Did OK and showed skill.

Juanmi's first real game, and he looked good at times, but there are Prem. clubs who've made dearer purchases than him who look a lot worse. He'll improve in time.

Targett and Caulker are second-choice players who came in and DAJFU - as they should do.

 

As I said earlier, Romeu was my MotM, he was working hard and linking everything, the only one trying to put pace on everything he did and lift the tempo ( until Davis came on). You can add Yoshida to your list of second choice players who DAJ, but Caulker only did himself harm last night, he just doesn't fit what we need from a CB.

 

Yoshida (some people's MoM)...looked very good. Koeman says openly that he is a good player and a good professional, and his goal was a bit special.

He is undoubtedly a better left-sided player, but like several (historical) players before him ..is/were willing to play anywhere the manager asks him to, and suffer the anger of fans when they don't turn in a MoM performance every time. Last night, he proved a lot of people wrong.

 

Very good was pushing it, he was basically Targett with one good shot - but of course that's enough for a lot of people, there's a daft bias towards goalscoring defenders. He made a far Agbonlahor look good a couple of times. He's also not "undoubtedly a better left-sided player", he's been not quite good enough in 3 different positions, but last night he scored and he didn't balls up for once, so that's to be commended.

 

As for the rest ...(of the regulars). Look at back at the match replays and see why Steven Davis splits the fans support. He upped the tempo after coming on, and his 40 yard crossfield ball onto Tadic's foot, set up Dusan for the centre and Pelle's exquisite goal. Nicely played by all three from start to finish.

 

Davis was excellent when he came on.

 

Wanyama and JWP both had games they'll want to forget. Few people deny that JWP has talent, but he still can't find a proper role in the side - who does he replace?

 

Still not sure what Wanyama was meant to do any different, we basically kept a clean sheet and he and Romeu prevented the ball getting to their strikers all but 3 times. Villa had about 15 shots according to the stats and about 12 of those were from miles out and dribbled towards Stekelenburg. Not got much to say about JWP, he's still being shoehorned in all over the place and has only really impressed shuttling from DM alongside Wanyama.

 

I hadn't forgotten Stekelenburg who made a couple of vital saves by punching balls clear, when there should have been a defender there first.

No chance with the penalty, which wasn't a penalty at all - (if you watch the replay from the camera behind the goal) but if you're a striker - and get tackled inside the box - of course you go down.

 

Stek was excellent, especially his kicking and the two first half saves. Ayew couldn't have stayed up with the leg across him if he'd tried, it still wasn't a penalty.

Edited 29 October, 2015 by The9

[david in sweden]

Not sure Villa were particularly interesting in impressing anyone, they still looked rank. We were "flat" because with that team out we were doing the last season thing, making sure we didn't concede and assuming we'd make enough chances to score one.

 

 

 

As I said earlier, Romeu was my MotM, he was working hard and linking everything, the only one trying to put pace on everything he did and lift the tempo *****il Davis came on). You can add Yoshida to your list of second choice players who DAJ, but Caulker only did himself harm last night, he just doesn't fit what we need from a CB.

 

 

 

Very good was pushing it, he was basically Targett with one good shot - but of course that's enough for a lot of people, there's a daft bias towards goalscoring defenders. He made a far Agbonlahor look good a couple of times. He's also not "undoubtedly a better left-sided player", he's been not quite good enough in 3 different positions, but last night he scored and he didn't balls up for once, so that's to be commended.

 

 

 

Davis was excellent when he came on.

 

 

 

Still not sure what Wanyama was meant to do any different, we basically kept a clean sheet and he and Romeu prevented the ball getting to their strikers all but 3 times. Villa had about 15 shots according to the stats and about 12 of those were from miles out and dribbled towards Stekelenburg. Not got much to say about JWP, he's still being shoehorned in all over the place and has only really impressed shuttling from DM alongside Wanyama.

 

 

 

Stek was excellent, especially his kicking and the two first half saves. Ayew couldn't have stayed up with the leg across him if he'd tried, it still wasn't a penalty.

 

Mmm...maybe we saw the game from another perspective. You were lucky enough to go to the game I expect, whereas I watched a streamed link with 6 following replays.

I have noticed that we don't always share the same opinion " 9 " - you and CB Fry are my favourite critics. Would be a boring world if we all thought the same though.

[Shance]

I was expecting him to get sent off, if it was a foul it was also clearly a goalscoring opportunity. Then again the ref had already ballsed up giving a corner for a Gestede scissors kick with Wanyama next to him which was overturned by a nothing foul at the corner which he clearly indicated he was going to give before the corner was even taken, so he was probably trying not to draw more attention to himself having already given the pen.

 

Naa there were plenty of covering players all around him. A red would've 100% been rescinded anyway.

[VectisSaint]

 

1. It was a Davis pass, not a Villa misplaced pass.

 

Are you sure? I was only listening last night but my understanding was that Davis and Ramirez were never on the pitch together. It was a great pass from Davis to Tadic for our second though.

My goals app on my phone said our first was a JWP assist, clearly it wasn't from the highlights on Sky.

[DT]

I see in one the papers poch was in the stands last night scouting Villa. I'm sure he left worried about the weekend

 

he was probably there to watch VVD in preparation for a bid...

[Mr X]

good job we were playing villa that performance wouldn't have been anywhere near good enough against more attacking teams, will certainly need to be better against the cherries