I cheered when I saw that too. Lennon knew what he wanted to do even with half the width of the pitch to travel. Let's hope he doesn't see red in the future, in both senses of the phrase. Nothing really to complain out with the game. Villa had their ten minutes when Benteke came on and that was about it. I think his introduction made us up our game and we won as a result of that. Onwards and upwards.
I remember Zokora doing that when Azza took a bad challenge in a game. Good to see....kind of. The team seems to have a great team spirit when celebrating goals, they all seem genuinly happy together. In reference to us upping our game when Benteke came on, I think it was as a result of Villa opening up to get at us that spaces became available. This is why AVB constantly mentions the first goal being so vital, as it means we can pick open teams when they come at us. However, we do still need to work on our fluidity - Holtby had a poor game by and large, but then was involved in 2 goals. Seeing as Erikson has had alot of credit for a not disimilar return, I think Lewis should keep his place. Great to see Lennon back though. Him and Townsend switching will be vital for opening up stubborn defenses, and hopefully running teams ragid, for us to then have Defoe, Lamela, Chadli or Gylfi to bring on. good times.
Holtby should definitely be given the chance to play back to back games, especially as Holtby isn't the finished article, nor is Eriksen so it's unlike other teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal, man City, these teams have players that are at a level where you know what you're going to get. With Holtby and Eriksen, it's a case of '' we're hoping '' and that's why a constant change from game to game isn't ideal, players need to be given a chance to build momentum or a chance to impress again quickly after a game. And yeah it's great to see Lennon return, such a superb team player and a superb pro.
Odd first half, I felt the movement of Sig and Holtby wasn't great as an outball, which led to the dithering build-up. Townsend did provide that, and did well to get to grips with the double-up attention Lambert would obviously have planned for him, but having said that we were pressed all over the pitch. For those reasons I disagree with the Soldado critics. 2nd half was better, though Benteke's arrival was always going to give the crowd and team a boost. Alarming he got 4/5 early touches in our box, one a free header, but we weathered it and Bobbys goal was perfectly timed to see off any more of that...and it did. 2 goals away, clean sheet, despite Villa's attempts Lloris had little on target to actually save, Bobby off the mark in open play, Vlad did all you can expect from a debut, Sandro looks lean and sharp again, all positives. We're not going to sweep aside teams every game, so for a first time these 11 players have played together and get a result where a lot of teams won't deserves due credit. Yes there are issues still, but 3points was the most important thing after W.Ham debacle and we got them. Glad that AVB has finally sat a few players down that may have thought themselves regulars.
That free header was completely un-acceptable though. WTF was Dawson thinking? As they say, space doesn't score goals. That big lump of a forward will when he wraps his head around the cross, and he just let him go. Not that he could have done alot, he's about half his size.
This is a great point. Such awareness from Lewis to realise it was going in and knowing if he was ready to touch it, the keeper can't move and then to duck under it at the last moment was superb. An assist (morally) even though he never touched it. Good job Soldado didn't get the touch he was attempting!
It worries me that Benteke will be available for a transfer in January. He could really give someone the edge. Can't see Villa holding onto him.
MOTD2 Higlits: [video=dailymotion;x167pd5]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x167pd5_aston-villa-v-tottenham-hotspur_sport[/video]
Youtube got around Adblock a month or so ago - for about three days, before they suddenly weren't once more.
PNP you've just become my favourite person of the day. Can't believe I never knew about this beauty, for bloody years I've suffered all these annoying ads!
My first reaction to the goal was, "What the **** was that?" Then I saw how brilliant a dummy it was. Holtby made the keeper sure he was going to head it, then ducked at the last moment. Holtby loves sending people the wrong way. My memory is Soldado didn't get a touch because Holtby plowed into him while ducking, though that may have been after the ball went over his head.
On the downside we'll never know the 7 easy steps to getting ripped that the gyms don't want you to know about and we'll never again be able to enter a competition to win and iPhone 5 only to win a virus.
