- Oct 21, 2003
- 3,503
- 1,767
Good today, very good. Yes Villa are poor but we started well with excellent intent and pinned them back in their own half - the passing was good, the pressing was good, first half the finishing didn't quite come.
Playing away makes such a difference - At WHL, Villa would've been reasonably happy at HT - at home in front of their own fans a performance like that isn't acceptable and so (thankfully) they came out and had a go 2nd half. They played more offensively, pressed higher, brought on Ireland and Albrighton and left themselves vulnerable to the counter attack - we were ruthless and a bang and a wallop later the game was pretty much done. Naughton's ball for Defoe was excellent and he finished well (did he mean the nuts?). Bale took his goals very well also and we could've had more. The pressing was good (and noticeable) and we looked like a proper team - more of the same please AVB, Freund (why do they never celebrate goals together?) and the squad. Bring on the dour Mackems - sadly they'll happily park the bus for 90 minutes...
Ratings:
Hugo - 7 - Feck all to do apart from the offside save but did it well - a proper keeper in every way.
Walker - 7 - A great ball for Sig for the 4th, some good running and some decent defending - still has wtf moments but not a big deal today against a poor side.
Verts - 7 - Comfortable.
Gallas - 7 - Ditto.
Naughton - 7 - A nice footballer playing out of position. Like Walker not really stretched today. Nice ball for the first goal.
Lennon - 6 - Worked hard but little impact offensively - needs to get himself into games more.
Dembele - 7 - Better today, saw more ball and used it more effectively generally - composed and strong he's one of our most important players without doubt.
Sandro - 7 - Good game, does what he does and generally did it well.
Bale - 8.5 (MOTM) - Still makes the wrong decisions at times but he's a genuine threat and match winner as he showed today in both halves - corners were a breath of fresh air after Walkers as well.
Ade - 7 - Some very good some not so good. First touch let him down at times but he worked hard on and off the ball and as always created space for his mates. Needs a goal.
Defoe - 7 - A decent shift, saw some ball, retained possession well in tight areas and even laid it off a couple of times around the box. Also made some bad passes from team mates good ones. Took his goal well (if he meant it).
Parker - 7 - The game was done but he did well and it's good to see him back. Uses the ball well and works hard as always.
Sig - 7 - Another example of a player beginning to grow in our colours. Excellent intelligent movement for the last goal, moved towards the ball, sucked the defender in and then sharp movement into space made the ball for Walker possible. Nice lay off for Bale also.
That was one of our best performances, probably our best over 90 minutes this season. Villa were piss poor and Sunderland won't be so hospitable but we're moving in the right direction without doubt - let's hope DL sees it the same and is able to back his man in the window...
Playing away makes such a difference - At WHL, Villa would've been reasonably happy at HT - at home in front of their own fans a performance like that isn't acceptable and so (thankfully) they came out and had a go 2nd half. They played more offensively, pressed higher, brought on Ireland and Albrighton and left themselves vulnerable to the counter attack - we were ruthless and a bang and a wallop later the game was pretty much done. Naughton's ball for Defoe was excellent and he finished well (did he mean the nuts?). Bale took his goals very well also and we could've had more. The pressing was good (and noticeable) and we looked like a proper team - more of the same please AVB, Freund (why do they never celebrate goals together?) and the squad. Bring on the dour Mackems - sadly they'll happily park the bus for 90 minutes...
Ratings:
Hugo - 7 - Feck all to do apart from the offside save but did it well - a proper keeper in every way.
Walker - 7 - A great ball for Sig for the 4th, some good running and some decent defending - still has wtf moments but not a big deal today against a poor side.
Verts - 7 - Comfortable.
Gallas - 7 - Ditto.
Naughton - 7 - A nice footballer playing out of position. Like Walker not really stretched today. Nice ball for the first goal.
Lennon - 6 - Worked hard but little impact offensively - needs to get himself into games more.
Dembele - 7 - Better today, saw more ball and used it more effectively generally - composed and strong he's one of our most important players without doubt.
Sandro - 7 - Good game, does what he does and generally did it well.
Bale - 8.5 (MOTM) - Still makes the wrong decisions at times but he's a genuine threat and match winner as he showed today in both halves - corners were a breath of fresh air after Walkers as well.
Ade - 7 - Some very good some not so good. First touch let him down at times but he worked hard on and off the ball and as always created space for his mates. Needs a goal.
Defoe - 7 - A decent shift, saw some ball, retained possession well in tight areas and even laid it off a couple of times around the box. Also made some bad passes from team mates good ones. Took his goal well (if he meant it).
Parker - 7 - The game was done but he did well and it's good to see him back. Uses the ball well and works hard as always.
Sig - 7 - Another example of a player beginning to grow in our colours. Excellent intelligent movement for the last goal, moved towards the ball, sucked the defender in and then sharp movement into space made the ball for Walker possible. Nice lay off for Bale also.
That was one of our best performances, probably our best over 90 minutes this season. Villa were piss poor and Sunderland won't be so hospitable but we're moving in the right direction without doubt - let's hope DL sees it the same and is able to back his man in the window...