MOTM -v- Villa

[Ted Hughes]

I thought de Jong and Barry were superb in terms of anticipating problems, tactically spot on. Agbonlahor had little or no impact, Bent was anonymous and a lot of that was down to the two in midfield preventing their creative rhythm. The back four were all solid, with Clichy as the stand-out for his endeavours on both ends. Balotelli is improving week-on-week, not just in performances, but in his attitude. Johnson was a little inconsistent, but played a part in every single goal.

Milner was the stand out player though. So many players would make a Hollywood pass the nature of his, and stand there admiring it. Did he? Did he fuck. First instinct was to follow it up, and then the finish! He'll emerge as one of the first names on the teamsheet as opposed to a squad player with performances like that.

People used to liken Michael Johnson to Colin Bell but that pass, run & goal of Milner's was closer. That move was world class.

DeJong seemed to win as many loose balls yesterday as the whole midfield have done since he last played.

I agree with Bob's comments on AJ. He was involved in most of the best things but he can still go up another level. His link up play with Silva late on showed how he can operate on that level if he uses his brain. He should be doing that even if Silva isn't there & taking the initiative; doing what Silva does & getting others playing or at least trying to.

[lets all have a disco]

BARRY=EVERY FUCKING WHERE.

Haha you serious mate?

Damn straight,go on give MOTM to the fancy dan.
He has started the season in fantastic fashion,I like work horses me.

[brite blu sky]

I thought de Jong and Barry were superb in terms of anticipating problems, tactically spot on. Agbonlahor had little or no impact, Bent was anonymous and a lot of that was down to the two in midfield preventing their creative rhythm. The back four were all solid, with Clichy as the stand-out for his endeavours on both ends. Balotelli is improving week-on-week, not just in performances, but in his attitude. Johnson was a little inconsistent, but played a part in every single goal.

Milner was the stand out player though. So many players would make a Hollywood pass the nature of his, and stand there admiring it. Did he? Did he fuck. First instinct was to follow it up, and then the finish! He'll emerge as one of the first names on the teamsheet as opposed to a squad player with performances like that.

People used to liken Michael Johnson to Colin Bell but that pass, run & goal of Milner's was closer. That move was world class.

DeJong seemed to win as many loose balls yesterday as the whole midfield have done since he last played.

I agree with Bob's comments on AJ. He was involved in most of the best things but he can still go up another level. His link up play with Silva late on showed how he can operate on that level if he uses his brain. He should be doing that even if Silva isn't there & taking the initiative; doing what Silva does & getting others playing or at least trying to.

good points all. and on the AJ point, consider what sort of team we would have with AJ taking that initiative in every/any game.

As regards Silva, at the moment he obviously gives the rest of the players the confidence to play more in that way, but they are getting better and yesterday showed it imo.. after the initial waiting for Silva to orchestrate things and then realising he wasn't on the pitch they started to get on with it.