Villa Player Ratings

[severnside gull]

No marks from me - the lads all did well

Kuipers - hard to fault as a shot stopper and took more crosses in one game than he sometimes takes in 6! IMO the best he has played for a while and one great double save had the villa fans applauding him.
Calderon - good on the ball and massive energy - well supported by Bennett defensively, he tried to cover every gap so inevitably out of position occassionally but this guy is going to be a great signing
McNulty - skinned for the first and again if it was him who was outjumped by Young (personally I thought it was Elphick but the villa crowd already on their feet blocked my view). Played some good stuff when he had the ball but was always going to struggle as Young, Milner and Downing ran at him. Dicker wandering inside instead of staying wide to cover (see Bennett/Calderon) left him exposed and Villa exploited the weakness.
Elphick - as culpable as McNulty for the first when he dived in recklessly but otherwise put in a good display. I am a Tunnicliffe fan but can't fault GP for picking Elphick ahead of him
Virgo - excellant display. He was everywhere (and hence just occassionally wasn't where he should have been) got in some great tackles and endless energy. Welcome back! Man of the match for me
Dicker - looked our most inventive/creative midfielder on the ball but wandered inside and left McNulty exposed - really is a central midfielder so inevitable that he drifted inside
Navarro - excellant game. Destructive/ broke up play and did the simple things effectively to keep the midfield moving
Crofts - form has slipped IMO. Wasn't able to get forward although he never stopped running and put in some good solid tackles
Bennett - clearly under orders to cover his full back and did that very effectively but with the quality of their midfield was never really able to use his pace forward. High ratings for Calderon show how well he did as cover (see the McNulty/Dicker combo!)
Forster - ran hard although often over-eager and his touch deserted him. Took his chance well
Murray - looked quality (and only offside once!). Good flick-ons and turning with the ball, he gave Collins a tough time which is not too shoddy a day's work

Dickinson - thought he looked good when he came on with a couple of nice touches and drew some fouls. Will get a chance soon and would back him to do well
Carole - got forward well and drew a good save from their keeper. Gives us options
Cox - lots of energy and tried to make something happen but maybe just a little too deep. Tough to push forward though against their midfield


Villa fans with me were really dissappointed in their performance (Milner/Young/Downing aside) but were happy to agree that after the early goal it was the hard work of our midfield and defence that nullified them as much as them playing poorly. At the end of the day we scored two from 3 efforts on target which isn't bad at all and they could have scored a few more but they didn't which (ask Blackburn!) also isn't bad

 

[Twinkle Toes]

I will be proved right when either a) he is sold/released or b) dropped to make way for the players we really need in such an important position.

You will be proved right if he's still our captain and playing regularly the next time we finish in (at least) the top 6.

Nothing is decided yet, I'm just very confident I'm safe on this one. I can spot a CONMAN when I see one, because that's basically what he is.

And I can spot an ARSEHOLE when I read their opinions, because that's basically what you are.

 

[trancing]

i thought they all played well, they were against some world class players out there some of who will be going to the world cup.
Loving Poyets tactics putting 3 up front when we were 3 - 1 down

 

[RottingdeanSeagull]

i thought they all played well, they were against some world class players out there some of who will be going to the world cup.
Loving Poyets tactics putting 3 up front when we were 3 - 1 down

Exactly. Although maybe not their strongest eleven, there are plenty of Prem clubs will go there and not score two. Great day out!

 

[Finchley Seagull]

As I'm proved more and more right over time, I'll make sure you're top of the list of those who owe me an apology.

Similarly, if he's ever a regular player in a promotion winning team of ours, I will hold my hands up and admit I was as wrong as it's possible to be.

I'm not holding my breath though.

You really do live in a different world to most other fans. Simple fact is you slagged off the signing of Crofts from day one and either you have deluded yourself into believing he is crap or you just won't admit it on here. The sad thing is that in the long term you will be smug and pleased with yourself if he doesn't make it when most people are gutted about any Albion player failing to make the grade. Luckily, although he wasn't at his best yesterday, he has consistently proved you wrong this season and the more you make these comments, the more sad and pointless your opinions look.

 

[foul old ron]

Kuipers 6 His kicking was attrocious and put our defence under constant pressure.
Calderon 7 Good performance but tired near the end.
Virgo 8 MOM very timely tackles and interceptions.
Elphick 6 Totally at fault for first goal as he had no need to tackle or dive in Not an inspiring performance but redeemed a little by scoring a goal.
McNulty 5 Poor game allowed Young too much room.
Bennett 5 Poor game contributed nothing ion attack or defence.
Croft 6 Completely overrun in midfield
Dicker 6 See Croft
Navarro 6 See Croft and Dicker.
Murray 7 Plenty of effort and nice touches.
Forster 5 One of his poorest games ever for us as he never got going and looked his age.

Subs:

Carole 6 some nice touches when he came on
Cox 6 Great improvement on what had gone before him
Dickinson 5 Did nothing of note

Overall we were lucky to only lose by 1 goal and the score line flattered us. We were out played, as would be expected, out fought for 50/50 balls and a yard too slow in thought and deed again as would be expected against a Prem side. Villa were never stretched but I wouldnt hold for their chances if Freidell was injured or suspended.


None the less a great day out and the score was better than I thought as I predicted we would lose 3 - 1

And you also moaned all day about everyone standing up. You really enjoyed your day didn't you.

 

[Left Footer]

I`m glad that i`m not the only one that thought Glenn Murray was immense yesterday.
How some people only gave him six out of ten is a disgrace.His workrate,general play and awareness was second to none. And he seems to clear every single corner that we defend, Poyet is definitely bringing out the best of him. Lets hope he can start finding the net at Withdean.

 

[HseagullsH]

Kuipers 7 - Definately

Calderon 7 - First time I had seen him as didn't go to Walsall. Was impressed.

Virgo 9 - His hoofing was frustrating but still put in a quality defensively display.

Elphick 8 - Very solid today.

McNulty 5 - Wasn't a great performance but he had the hardest job of dealing with Milner first half and Young the second. Shouldn't be losing aerial battles with Young.

Bennett 5 - One good move in the second but overall wasn't good. Seems to have taken a dip in form since Slade was sacked but quite obviously a quality player at this level.

Crofts 5 - Fairly anonymous today. Not one of his better games

Navarro 8 - A much improved performance. Worry with his lack of pace in such an important position but good enough to help us stay up. We need a left midfielder though so we can have Dicker and Crofts in the centre.

Dicker 7 - Classy on the ball as always, intelligent player. Did give the ball away in dangerous areas a few times.

Murray 8 - Looked to be on a different wave length to the other players. Great touches and did not look out of his depth.

Forster 5 - Touch was awful today. Murray was frustrated at him on more than one occasion. Took his goal well though.

My MOM was Virgo.

 

[Stoaty Ferret]

Michel 7

Calderon 6
Virgo 8
Elphick 7
McNulty 4

Bennett 7
Crofts n/a (as usual I wasn't aware he was out there so cannot rate)
Navarro 8
Dicker 7

Murray 8
Forster 5

Touch harsh on Mcnulty who recovered after a shaky start and Forster who took his goal well. Your comment on Crofts aside this is pretty accurate.

 

[Rookie]

Personally Navarro was man of the match for me, Murray did well holding the ball chasing etc (if he had pace I think he would be a premiership player), Forster was shocking apart from the goal touch was bad and seemed to rush things. Well done to McNulty who had a shocking opening 5 minutes but recovered well, was never going to be easy when up against Young/Milner/Downing. All in all a good performance but can it be transferred to the league?

 

[blue'n'white]

I was very impressed with the Albion yesterday - we weren't disgraced and generally played good football on the ground. Don't forget that Villa put 6 past Blackburn in mid week and, if Kuipers hadn't been on his game today, could have put 6 past us.
I am very proud of BHA - we weren't good for the first 15 minutes but quickly looked up after that and, towards the end of the first half, were looking good. Unfortunately Villa got the goal early on in the 2nd half and we were always chasing BUT we never gave up. If we can transfer this performance into the league we will do OK. Six months ago we'd have folded after that first goal and would have conceded a hatful - we've come on leaps and bounds under Poyet.
Forster is starting to show his age though - perhaps Holroyd will be seen as a replacement for him.

 

[Lewes' best seagull]

Kuipers 8 some good saves

Calderon 8 looked good
Virgo 8.5 apart from the occasional hoof he looked up for the occasion MOM
Elphick 7.5 solid, couldn't deal with the pace of Delfounso, but tbh, i didn't expect him to.
Mcnulty 6 not great.

Bennett 7 alright
Crofts 6 pretty anonymous
Navarro 8 best game so far. not much to compete with however.
Dicker 6 gave the ball away too often

Murray 8 good
Forster 6 gets 5 for effort, 3 for the goal, but -2 for that shot in the first half

Dicko 6 nm
Cox 5
Carlole 5

crowd 9.8

ref 8