The West Ham Manager Looked Be-Moyse-d!

Yes, David, you perhaps have a right to be rueful-looking watching how Villa broke away to score the third and fourth goals. At that time, West Ham, having come back to 2-1 following their fortuitous goal, were striving to make a break-through and a Villa of old might just have caved in.

But the Villa showed clearly that they have a superior quality stemming from confidence when on the ball, and that appeared to be the difference. Those third and fourth goals were super-confidently taken. But it wasn't just Villa's quality in scoring those goals; in the first half Villa largely controlled the match and, indeed, should have gone in at the interval two or three goals ahead, not just the single well-taken goal.

In the first-half Villa's play was patient and sometimes very piercing as they 'transitioned' the ball through. How Watkins didn't score from his one big chance, and how their keeper saved Douglas Luiz's top-corner-bound shot, are two big questions. For the rest of Villa's shots, they were mostly wastefully wide of the mark when they should have done better.

But those third and fourth goals made up for all that.

So, four home league games and 17 goals scored in the process. This is a Villa Park performance that is way overdue and I believe there's a good chance Villa will score 50 or more goals at VP this season. If we can improve the away play and the results, that would be something.

Performances from all the team were good today, but McGinn was not much in it apart from flashes and particularly an excellent ball to send Watkins away for the third goal. Zaniolo played a better team game today, but I think a fit Ramsey would get the nod over him.

UTV!

The Wolves Were The Real Villains

A mostly awful match to watch, but then it was a derby and derbies have often brought up such situations. Wolves with 19 fouls against them, and a red card to boot, demonstrated they are a team of spoiling tactics, with a couple of their players falling over like flies because of a knock or two.

The Villa, though, should have had the game wrapped up in the first 15 minutes. Initially, Wolves looked a bit nervous facing their local rivals who had scored six last time out, and McGinn really should have scored his 20th Villa goal today with two shots that were good but inaccurate. 

So Wolves, having got through that period, must have thought they had a chance of winning, and very occasionally that workmanlike but scrappy team looked as though they could do that while spoiling Villa's chances of making progress with niggly fouls. That trip from behind just as Watkins was about to shoot near the end should have produced a penalty, but the referee wasn't interested. And there were other fouls that went unpenalised.

We should have won, but I'm grateful that Villa didn't lose this difficult match, unlike Man City last week.

The team looked a bit tired I thought, and now for a break for those not in international squads, and extra time for Ramsey and others to recover from their injuries. Then we go again.

Considering that we're without Ramsey, Buendia, Moreno and Mings, and Tielemans not yet coming up to scratch, we are not doing badly at all.

UTV!

6-1! How Did It Happen?

I am still perplexed. Nine attempts on target and six scored with only 39% possession. Actually, perhaps it says a lot about Brighton, who spend so much time passing the ball (though quickly) but against a defence like Villa's it did not help them much. Their one goal was through a freakish passback from Digne instead of whacking it out for a corner if that was his only real option, but at that stage there seemed to be a possibility that the Seagulls might claw their way back (so to speak!).

The replacement of Zaniolo with Ramsey was key I think. As Pete the Canadian directly put it in his analysis after the Everton fiasco, Zaniolo just now looks full of promise from time to time, but it is so little that comes from him to help the team in the entire period he's on the field. Ramsey made that needed difference to keep us looking purposeful.

So, an impressive scoreline to keep the fans happy. After Wednesday's match there were a lot who were far from happy, in particular the season ticket holders who no longer get a gratis cup match ticket and have to pay the full whack to attend a cup match. Quite a few were also complaining about what is being done to the Holte End to provide fresh 'experiences' - and at what cost to their pockets! Also the constant display of ads around the pitch. For me, watching on the box, I just find the pre-match flag waving and flame blowing all a bit too much ucky and almost a turnoff. Add to all that business about the sweaty shirts and the decision to review the Club's crest yet again (etc) I sometimes wonder when the backroom boys at Villa are going to get it right.

After all, what is the 'experience' that the fans really want? None of the commercial and glossy stuff but to watch a team that entertains with commitment ... and is successful.

As to success, I am pleased that Ollie has regained his scoring instincts. A tad lucky with one or two of them today, but he was there working his socks off and he got his rewards. His four goals in two league games must surely be giving him the boost he needs.

As for Tielemans I am almost shocked he's not producing more by now. He's had plenty of opportunity.

Well, away to Wolves next match. We have come unstuck against them before but perhaps this time we will put out a team that will hold things together.

UTV!