As expected, Villa racked up another home win against Derby and another big attendance, over 40,000, was particularly pleasing. How long before Villa Park is too small for us? writes Villa blogger Gregg Williams.
That would be a terrific problem to have next season, and it could happen if we continue to progress as we have done over the last 18 months.
As for the game, well the first half fizzled out as we became frustrated at not breaking the deadlock, but in the second half we got the balance right and our class players proved to be too much for our newly promoted opposition.
It was the usual suspects, Laursen, Barry and Young who impressed the most, but praise must also be given to Reo-Coker and Petrov, who did excellent work in the second half.
I may have taken some stick for suggesting Petrov deserves a chance, but I felt that on Saturday the tide of bad feeling towards him started to fade away, with many around me in the Holte End praising some intelligent passing, along with plenty of graft from Reo-Coker.
Up next, the derby. It’s the biggest game of the season for Birmingham, with some fans regarding a victory over us to be a greater achievement than Premiership survival.
While that seems over the top to me, I can’t deny the importance of the fixture to Villa fans.
It may not be our cup final, but it’s a game we don’t want to lose.
Apart from anything else we need to pick up more points away from home, and with Blues struggling to establish themselves so far this season, it is perhaps a game we should be looking to win.
At the same time, it’s a derby game and form goes out of the window.
Hopefully we’ll know by the weekend who will be available, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that John Carew, a big game player throughout his career, will be fully fit for the match on Sunday.
Villa fans, what do you think? Have your say below
3 Comments
Well, first and foremost, the blues game!
I can’t wait for it to be honest. The progress the mighty villa have made in the last 18 months, its a game to look forward to!
I hope some of the newer players can step up to the plate, although i have no doubts that the likes of NRC will be fine, having performed in plenty of derby’s in his time at WHUFC.
The blues have scored on average, a goal a game, but conceded 18 in the premier league this season. Its true that form goes out of the window with games of this magnitude, as has already been said, this is the Blues’ Cup final and yes, it is indeed more important to them than survival, but despite that, looking at the form, this is the sort of game we should expect 3 points from. With the heart of team dominated by ‘STAR’ players this season, Barry and Laursen, should provide the basis for an exciting game. I have my spot on the sofa, my beer in the fridge chilling, I can’t wait. As for those who would shake their heads at me not going, travelling from Belfast every week is hard, and I wouldn’t hand money over to the dirty blues in a month of sundays.
But on the subject of putting bums on seats, and if Villa park is too small or likely to become so, I think we need 3 established seasons of success, which includes a cup or two, and european football each of those seasons. We need to get that, to garuntee the season tickets every year, its not so long ago we struggled with 30k, I know its a new era, and things are on the up, and will hopefully stay in that direction, but fans, even villa fans, can be fickle!!! The fans want success, Randy and Martin want success, together we will be successful, but until its something we see on a regular basis, and fans are screaming out for season tickets, expansion is the last thing on my mind. It would be great to see 50-60k every week, I dream of days like that. The Holte bouncing, the away fans in the corner, hiding away from the noise and atmosphere.
But for that we need success, for success we need investment in the team, we have world class quality through the heart of defence and midlfield(Barry and Laursen) we need that up front, someone to bang 20-25 goals a season. I know its something thats said every week, or everytime the transfer window opens, but I believe it to be true.
Keeping the faith as always!
Up the Villa!!!!
On Saturday many fans around me were saying that our usual 4-4-2 would have seen us beat Derby earlier in the game and at half time that seemed fair comment. But I disagree with some Villa fans who were moaning that the compact formation that we played was in place just to accommodate Petrov.
In my opinion MON played this formation with the Blues match in mind. He knew that in the end it would be good enough to beat Derby and it also gave it a test run ready for next week.
Petrov actually did OK again which in all honesty was no surprise as he always seems much more comfortable playing in this safe team-shape but when we revert to 4-4-2 it just has to be Barry and Reo-Coker in centre midfield.
Chris (Villa fan): i agree entirely, great post.