Super win and very promising!!! - My thoughts on the Villa game

First of all -

please log in to view this image

lololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololololollololol

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On to the review -

Well done Pards. Back to a proper ****ing formation and making use of the players we have. Allowing Anita and Sissoko to keep playing and getting Cabs back in action.

That front 3 could be fantastic.

I thought we got out tactics spot on, but we should have scored more goals.

Ratings -

Krul - 4 - Not a great day for him.

Debuchy - 7 - Stupid booking, but good game all round. Great tackles and all round good defending.

Colo - 7.5 - Composed and solid as usual. Couldn't really do much for the goal he was just overpowered by two 6ft 4 inch strikers.

Mbiwa - 8.5 - ****ing class. Reads the game well, great pace and strength.

Santon - 7 - Good defending and decent going forward.

Anita - 6.5 - Not as good as his previous games, but still good.

Sissoko - 7 - Good game, good shift.

Cabaye - 6 - Didn't create enough. Good effort though. Good runs off the ball and some decent passing.

Ben Arfa - 9 - Beast! Completely bitch slapped the Villa fullback and could have had more. That should have been a pen near the end. He's been our best player easily so far. Looks most likely to score and create a chance.

Cisse - 5 - Didn't get a real chance. He's getting too caught up in the build up play. Some good touches and passes, but just doesn't get enough opportunities at goal.

Remy - 7 - Good game. Some wastefulness at times, but he did really well to create the first goal. His dribbling ability is great and he looks suited to the left wing. I'm excited about him.

Gouff - 7- Right place, right time, right reaction. Some good creativity from the lad as well.

Tiote - 7 - He looks a lot better this season. Composed, harasses players well. Lets hope to see more of this from him. No ACoN or Europe this time.

Sammy - N/A - Good work towards the end.

MOTM - Ben Arfa, closely followed by Mbiwa. Ben Arfa was the difference today. Mbiwa was fantastic at the back.

Overall - Really promising!! I made a thread about this being similar to the 2011/12 season, lets hope I'm right! A win against Hull would have us buzzing!!

 

Thought Cabaye should be a 5, didn't influence much today, despite him being high up the field, most of our threats came down the wings.

Cisse was pony, didn't do anything to help himself. Faded offside, snatched at chances, lacked composure. Currently our weak link.

Think you may have underestimated Anita; bar HBA and Debuchy, probably our best player. Always available from the CBs to prevent any long balls, and consistently got balls out to Sissoko and HBA when needed.

 

We were very, very good first half and in the second half every single player gave everything they had whilst also making sure we remained dangerous on the break. I'm not worried about Cisse, if he continues to get chances he will score.

I thought Debuchy and MYM had their best games for us, Taylor could have a long wait on his hands.

Fair play to Pardew too, although he did only do what we've been asking him to do for months In all seriousness his subs were spot on so credit where it's due.

I'm absolutely buzzing for the first time in ages. We played well and deserved to win, I've won one footy bet and need both Chelsea and Everton to score for a further 130 sheets and to top it all of Sunderland are bottom

 

Good luck with the 130 sheets, my bet's down but I'm happy with the three points.

 

Credit where credits due great win for us today and pardew got team selection right and got his subs right some good performances and to top it off mackems bottom ! Canny weekend this

 

One of the most satisfying things today, ok two in fact:

1) Retook the lead when heads could have dropped and let Villa smash and grab all the points.

2) How we saw the game out. Threatened when we had opportunities but didn't force it, crucially keeping the ball and going back if need be to keep Villa chasing.

It didn't look nervy for a change and because the midfield didn't wastefully give away possession the defenders could focus on crowding out the array of forwards Villa threw on.

Tactically Pardew deserves credit but ultimately the players beat Villa at their own game for periods, counter-attacking with purpose on their own turf... Superb effort!

 

This, our guys were on top form and well deserved the three points.

 

It was great to hear us being described as 'a different class' and as looking 'very, very strong' on Sky Sports. I really hope that this is the springboard we all need, fans, players, manager alike.

Not sure why it all changed today after so long of us wanting it to be like this. I do wonder if it's something to do with Remy coming in, and the confidence boost that might have given the team. Before kick off, I think it was Charlie Nicholas that was talking about Fulham and wondering where their goals would come from. He said something like the central midfielders must look up the pitch and just think who is going to get the goals. Maybe that was how it was when there was only Cisse, and now Remy is here it's just given the team a bit more confidence.

Also pleased for Gouffran, as hopefully scoring this goal should give his confidence a boost.

 

You all need to learn the art of patience, I told you Pards is a genius

 

We were good today. I still maintain though that due to a terrible performance by the board, we are three injuries away from problems, players being under pressure struggling to pass the ball and Pardew described as a clown. I'm frustrated tonight more than I was before the game started. Just a smidgeon of ambition from them would be nice.

 

Totally agree with hacky sack spot on

 

While I'm delighted with the win, I believe we would be well and truly stuffed without Hatem Ben Arfa, by a country mile the best player at our club. Surprised no-one came in for him during the Summer.

 

Weren't Arsenal sniffing about?

 

Long injury lay offs and lack of fitness, probably took him off the radar to some extent. However, if he carries on in this form, stays injury free and matures a little in his decision making on the pitch, then he will be coveted by other teams, without a doubt.
Ashley may well sell any of our current crop if talent, but only if the price is right. I really thought we would lose Cabaye in this last window, but we didn't. A player of Benny,s class is always going to be vulnerable, but if he goes, it's going to be for big bucks that's for sure.

 

Wouldn't want to lose HBA or Cabs, two potential match winners.

 

Loved it today. We was going nuts out for the win. It suits us playing attacking like that. Against these teams we really should be finishing above home or away we should continue to take it to them.

 

Can't see more than a handful of teams getting 3 points there. Unexpectedly good day all round

 

Pardew deserves some praise, got tactics and substitutions spot on. Sure people will find something to criticise him on though ....

HBA was unbelievable today, could have won a pen too. Great performance from the lads.

 

Pards won't get much praise. It matters not though, the main thing is the team progresses and fans get to enjoy their post match days. He has had a fine start to the season, people will eventually come round if he keeps it up. That's football. He was great 2011-12, and rightly loved. He was poor last year and was righty criticized. People have maybe been a bit unfair so far but that is the nature of a hangover!

 

umm is our team starting to gel ..or did villa have a off day , or do we play better away from home or do we play better with no pressure on ..

yous decide .. have to stay clear of injuries.

hopefully .

had to chuckle at the sunderland suporters bus dropping people off at ashington ( I don't live in ashington mind ) just I was driving by with a giggle at the sorry faces lol ..god there is loads of mackems in ashington..shocking