why not start routledge on the right? far better at that position that hokey cokey

good performance, gabby had a cracking 2nd half!hat-trick goal was great,never a pen tho!!bring on the rest of the prem!!!

never happy eh?
I agree though, if we could get a quality right winger i think we could really challenge this season!
Great result
well done boys

cheers damian why not do it again i thought it was great

Very happy today but i hope MON realises that if we sign 2 quality players in a striker and a right midfielder then we can really hope for a top 4 place and that has to be the target.

I'll look forward to the doc's reports! Excellent result for the villa.

Damian the live blog was excellent, I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to see the hat trick! And whether the penalty was rubbish or not. Bring on the Potters! :D :D :D

Better finishing and it could have been 8. Penalty was harsh but I thought we were good value for the 3pts. Thought we looked a more solid unit with young and shorey. They had good games. Freidel was solid as expected. Reo-Coker can't be enjoying himself on the right. Good win. After seeing Stoke concede 2 goalsfrom set-peices im confident of a high scoring victory. UTV

good game great result. still think we need the barry situation sorted, he was brill today.

great game
great team
great gabby

keep up the comentry i read it while watching the match
on the normal online commenrty on sky sports u dont get to know how gd the goals actually were
but with ur comentry we did

now lets win the rest of the games this season

have you seen the very first comment listed on the stats page of the game on Vitalmancity..... lol

fantastic watch the game on some dodgy foreign channel due to lack of funds but couldnt ask for more come on you villa boys

A well deserved win, IMO.
Friedel was pretty solid and for the first time in ages we have a convincing keeper.

FWIW, I thought Petrov was poor and gave the ball away too many times. He did however get stuck in. NRC looks out of his depth playing on the right and tends to come infield too much, which upsets the balance a bit. As said, we need a right sider. I'm sure the messiah is working on it.
But I'm picking flies. Man City are no mugs and will have a decent season. This was a good result with some excellent performances.

Shame about their attacker who injured himself though, hasn't he just had a long stint out through another injury?

Impressive start to the season. Was nice to have the live comments, ive watched games before with skysports´comments but its not as personal or fun as your comments Damian. Cheers for making the effort, hopefully it didnt lessen your enjoyment of the game and although i would never expect you to do that for every match, id definately like the comments to feature again

Well played Gabby that was ace.

Good old Gabby - There were a number of you who knocked him for some time so just shows what some of you know about football.

Up the Villa

did anyone see jammie rednaps comments he say hes saw nothing 2day that convinces him any one can break into thetop 4 son you played 4 crap team and you talk it to cant see pool being in top 4 that place goes to the villa this season well done boys good debuts for the new lad

what a good game, end to end and a result and a half to top it all off! i cant believe no one is mentioning Gareth Barry, i thought he had a great game. He made such intelligent runs that made space for gabby and ashley, and he was involved in all the goals. I didnt think id say this but i really hope he stays, never gunna happen though. well done lads, was a great day, the Holte end was in fine form once again and ive lost my voice which is always a good sign!

UP THE VILLA

Jimbovillain, as much as I hate GB for what he's done and have previously said I want him gone, I agree mate. He was inspired today. Absolutely class; and if the fat waiter watched the game, I bet he's fuming with the yankers at his place :D I want him to accept he's fucked up, realise he can go places with us and sign a new contract.

Great start to the season.

Friedel was excellent and was the exact opposite of Carson - thank God.

Luke Young was decent and Shorey was pretty good.

The two lads up front were unplayable - if they get the right ball Villa can beat anyone. Its about time that fans got right behind Gabby - he takes loads of abuse and I dont know why, especially considering all the suport Luke 'never done anything' Moore got.

Barry and Young were their usual selves with Petrov showing good signs. The only downside was Reo-Coker was completely out of his depth. The guy had a shocker - all Man City's attacks were down his flank - because he was never there!! Sign a RW MoN please and we are looking good.

Just an apology to Gabby. I have been his biggest critic of late, but to score a hat trick against a decent side,well, good on him and i will eat my hat.

i may be a bit byass here but i really feel were the most excitinh team to watch in the prem yer neither sky or setanta show many of our games any one agrree with me

sorry bout spelling slightly tipsy

God, City's kits are hideous (watching the replay now).

Great game from the boys, judging on todays performance Carew will be top scorer for the VILLA. He's bigger than me and you, he's gonna score one or two, John Carew Carew!!! ;D

P.S. My spelling's fine as i was the designated driver >:(

Great Start to the season, a yard slow on a few occasions & hesitance/ Show boating cost us the Goals.
Hard to criticize a player scoring a Hat trick but he must put in a bit more Effort at times if want to Step up a level. But a Hat trick GREEEAT
The Mancs were noisy at least the Goals Shut them up if not the Holte

Couldn't be any happier overall... unless we won 7-0.
Im still trying to stop smiling haha.
Can't wait until MoTD tonight. By the way Damian i don't think you got in the money... United drew!!

just goes to prove we don't need another striker. gabby scored 3 and wanted more, carew was brilliant and could score 20 a season and we have harewood as back-up, so i don't see how we need another striker. especially santa cruz because he isn't even as good as harewood, he had a lucky season, will struggle this season. well done villa. i think signing sidwell has gave petrov a kick up the ---- because he played well and so did the new boys. looks like its gunna be quite a season.

I can hear some Liverpool related chants from the Villa Park crowd, but I can't quite make them out.

samvilla i couldnt agree anymore with u all we need is a right winger milner swp or even antonio valencia

utv

Petrov 1st half MOTM :D im sorry but i think you were watching a different game. very lacklustre in possesion and spent the majority of the game walking around. i could do his job for 30k a week.
On another note, i think luke young had a good solid game, not spectacular, but did his job and did it well. its nice to have a natural right back at last.

Agreed.
Petrov = weak link and will make way for Sidwell, IMO.

Shame the City fans robbed Gabby's ball, did anyone see it come back on? Not the same picking up the replacement. From where I was sitting dead in line in the Trinity the stewards didn't make much effort to try and get it back.

gabby is the premier league top goalscorer!

UTV ;D

Nothing has really changed from last season. Great going forward (down left wing) and very suspect at the back and petrov a liability being carried in the centre of the park. We made a game of a match that should have been over at ht due to our poor defending. We got lucky that city were missing all their strikers. Both FB's very poor IMO.

I will tell you this. If everything at Man City goes pear shaped and they have to start selling players, I would love to have Martin Petrov in our side. He is quality.

The penalty was pretty iffy at best. I don't think the ref had the best angle on that in his defence.

AK27,
Aren't you another one of the pessimists/tools that predicted the worst???????? ;)

Whatever, I do partly agree with you.

Shorey has looked decidedly poor in defence in the last two games IMO, but I haven't watched him at Reading so will give him the benefit of the doubt. Luke Young was OK, but will get slaughtered, if that's his usual game.
I agree Man City need strikers.

This season we will get about 75 points, which will just give us fourth, roll on champions league!

Well pleased with that but can't fail to be really!

Friedel looked the part and I thought that both new full backs (particularly Young) settled in reasonably well but will of course improve.

Pleased to say that Petrov got stuck in today, won the ball a good few times and put himself about. I was very critical of him after the Uefa game but actually said at half time today if I had to pick a man of the match at that point it would've been Petrov and I can't remember the last time I thought that. Having said that, his place will be under threat once Sidwell is fully fit.

As Maloney looks to be on his way out and the jury is still out on Routledge we really could do with a right winger before the window shuts. Here's hoping we get Milner in time.

UP THE VILLA!

The reason im pessimistic is because i can see the potential this team has but also the glaring faults which MON has not really addressed this summer (so far hopefully anyway). The keeping situation has been well sorted out but we have been crying out for 2 good attacking fb's (Young and Shorey are only average)as well as a rw plus a good player maker yet these have not been purchased. Can you imangine the damage we would do if had a playmaker that could switch the play from left to right quickly instead of accomadating petrov which is why we are playing NRC out of postion. Whilst today was great for our attacking play (again all down one wing) there were obvious flaws which need to be addressed. If they are sorted out then we might even sneak into 4th. Would love to see SWP on the right maybe backed up by Nelson. Their is huge potential in this team but is is being held back by some very average players also.

It makes a difference when the season starts properly. We looked hungry and that we wanted to play full on for the most part of the match. I also feel that there are a few more gears for us to go up as well. WATCH OUT!

75 points very ambitious i feel

Just got in.. had a my first pint in the Holte today, nice but no atmosphere..! Great game, will have to watch MOTD 2 tonight to see Gabby's goals as i was in the North stand..!

UTV.

fitzy - start of the season, time to be positive!

Petrov was class today! More of the same please... keep shuvving my slaggings back down my throat and I'll be a happy chappy!

I also thought Petrov was very good today.
His best game in a Villa shirt for a long time. My Man of match! He broke up their play all afternoon, and he kept his distribution very simple. Look out NRC when Sidwell is fit.

im a very positive person and also very ambitious all i want to know is what have u been smoking lol

Fitzy - I looked through the fixture list with my claret and blue tinted glasses and predicted results. its five more wins that last year, which is entirely possible with the improved back line we have. also anticipating a winger and a striker. ;D

Did anyone else hear Steve McManaman say Liverpool have the best squad in the premier league on Setanta yesterday? Incredible, even Angus Scott (or whatever his name is) couldn't believe what he had said!

Great start. Defence will settle.

All the BIG threats to our Top 4 Chase made great starts didn't they?
Lots of people felt City, Portsmouth and Spurs were showing their ambition with their clever transfer policies. I know which team I'd rather be following this season.

fair point nikko we def need a proper winger though and to be honest i wouldnt be to fussed if we didnt get another striker although it would be a bonus

utv

nikko what right sided player would u like us to sign i think 10m is too much 4 milner and id much rather swp or antonio valencia

Just back from watching the replay with some very disconsolate City fans. Just what I needed!

If Gabby can just keep taking his chances like he did today...Been waiting for that. Like a new signing. And overall, I didn't even think Villa played particularly well. Good enough, obviously, and never looked bothered, but still seemed a bit casual, seemingly half-speed at times.

There's so much potential in this team going forward. If we do stay tighter at the back, it's all there to play for.

who was captain 2day

great game boys, thought our defence was solid, midfield completly dominated and the 2 up front did what heir supposed to do.

i think personally we should go for SWP because after seeing the newcastle vs manu game milner was out of it completley, he didnt have a good game.

Just got back from the game,quite funny how i was just saying how crap Gabby was playing and then he smashed in a hat trick! Petrov was brilliant and Barry's passing shone again. Hope Shorey and Luke Young settle better next match looked a little shakey at the back.

Who's slagging Petrov? I thought he was great. Thought Young was OK, Shorey less so, but they'll get there - home debuts and all; give them a few games.

Well done lads.

Seriously annoys me looking at the England side.

Premiership 07/08

Ashley Young
Played(37) Goals(8) Assists(17)

Stewart Downing
Played(38) Goals(9) Assists(6)

How does that lad get in everytime and Ashley has to struggle to get a shot - same with Gabby and Heskey - it showed again today. I dont agree that Gabby is of International class just yet but with Owen out surely he'd do more of a job than Heskey!!!

Oh well, rant over - great result today lads!

great match just loved the look at the city fans faces. agbonlahor was class. stylian petrow was good on the ball but off it he was lazy.
UP THE VILLA!!!

Fitzy - I think it would be a mistake to sign someone like SWP as he clearly doesn't have the right mentality, anyone who is happy to sit on the bench week in week out just to collect £80k is not welcome at Villa. Milner would definitely fit our young and hungry criteria, however i am with you in thinking someone like valencia would be perfect. I think we need a more 'creative' right midfielder, as we have routledge already who is the pacy and direct option. Either that or we make a statement with a marquee signing such as joaquin.

With regard to striker i would like an all round player, one who will be good for a while and not come out of no where. id like to see someone like ashton (if he is fit).

What do you think?

great result

Well done Petrov, keep it up!

id be more than happy with milner/valencia out on the wing yes swp may not have the right mentality but you cant dispute the quality the boy possess'es

as for a striker although i wouldnt be that fussed if we didnt sign one i would really like a fit dean ashton even sant cruz would be decent but seems overpriced

i still think we need cover for luke young im not convinced with craig in that position and lets get de la red too just to top it all off

utv exciting times my villa friends exciting times.......

Ben Richards - to be fair fella, I do know a lot about football yet I am one of the many yet to be convinced by Gabby. Another Vassell in the making was my opinion over the last two years and the hatrick today improves my thoughts of him but still not sure he will ever make the next level. I'm happy to be proved wrong if he carries on like that.

Not one villa player had a bad game today. There were some eye catching displays but lets not forget two much maligned players who had good games.

Petrov was outstanding and Reo Cocker deserves a lot more credit. What he does is so effective but seemingly unnoticed by many. To put it simply he is a great ball winner and today, as always, turned over a lot of Man City attacks into Villa possession. Without this ability in our midfleld we would be so much more on the defensive, conceding goals rather than attacking - please lets start to take notice of this attribute and value it properly!!!

Why do so many contributions on this site talk about the right wing. We are not playing 4-4-2. We play 4-1-3-2 with Petrov in front of the back 4 and Young roaming wherever he wants to. If we had a right winger it would upset this balance. When we played 4-4-2 we were worked out by visiting teams who put two players on Young & nullified all our threat. When the system changed we were much less obvious and Petrov really started to play well

Oh no, I'm back from my hols today!!! Great result. Wait to see what the next month or so brings before I pass judgement. Still need a couple of signings, which is obvious.

Damian I have just voted on the latest poll. Yes I voted for GB to be captain! It's easy to force the results, by asking the right questions. Are you a labout party spin-doctor in your spare time? How about simply asking 'which one of the listed Villa players should be captain?' State the obvious candidates (only three usual suspects spring to mind!) I think GB will come out top. Give it a try and lets see?

nothin to do with villa, but did anyone watch the Man U game on MOTD??
Did you see Baptista in the stands, when the camera turned to Ronaldo?? :o
Oooh Toon will start thinking their brilliant now signing a Madrid reject.

P.s Gabby will be our 20goal player this season, so hush your Jibba Jabba Fool's. ;D

xx ;D

lets hope VIlla can maintain this winning form!

Anyone see Johnson he just tripped over his own foot and got the penalty cheats . Don't understand why so many reports got it wrong it was pretty obvious on video. Gabby was great petrov too Barry should have scored 3.great start to the season and the Motd pundits didn't even mentionthe criminal capello leaving gabby and ash y call heskey and beckham to a friendly give the youth a run ash had the most assist for abrit and 2nd only to fabragas

Fitzy - watched some old clips of SWP the other day, he was immense! But i'd go with young and hungry, how about Milner and Kightly. Add to that De la Red and Santa Cruz or Ashton plus maybe Miguel, and we can have fourth.

Thought we played well today, we created the most chances in the first half and should have scored, City only had 1 effort that was any danger which was the effort etuhu lashed across the 6 yard box, anyone on the end of that it would have gone in. Second half we were clearly the better side, the penalty didnt look like a penalty at the time and on the replay i saw later on still didnt look like a penalty. At the end of the game i think we just eased of which allowed the 2nd city goal.

Friedel played well and looks like he will be good for us, i just felt more confident with him in net when they attacked. The new fall back's, young i think he played quite well, did what he had to do made some good tackle's and good interceptions to stop some attacks, going forward didnt look the best but could pass the ball and cross it, his only down side i could see was his pace, he didnt look like he had much at all and against quick teams could be caught out. Shorey who i must admit i rate very highly actually dissappointed me, he was alright going forward, better at crossing than L.young, however in defense he stood of quite a bit, now i understand why a defender would stand of in some occasions not to over commit, however sometimes a defender needs to get stuck in and apply the pressure on the player so an attack breaks down, but he just didnt seem to do this when city were creating a dangerous attack, Time will tell.

In the first half A.young looked a little short of practise, touch wasnt there and didnt really get that involved but when he did you could see he was our main creative outlet, but second half when we got going city couldnt handle him. However i just feel like everyone else does that we need a right winger to give us another option in case A.young is not totally on song or is totally marked out the game which im sure will happen more this season than it did last season.

As for the centre of the pitch we looked good, except we had a tendency to spend to long holding onto the ball, (especially Petrov and Reo-coker) I think if we get a right winger, then put sidwell in the middle with barry we will be very solid.

Overall i was very happy with the performance though, gabby was great so was carew when he got going. Looks good for the season just hope the defence gels quick so we dont concede as many as last season.

Good support, best chant by the villa fans to city fans "Your going down with your chairman" lol

Also heard some guy behind me talking about this blog saying "We've been linked with some player, erm Yella Red" lol

UTV

Anyone remember that comical moment that Okey-Cokey had in the second half??

Firstly, he stamped on the ball to cut it out really quick, then spun around like lightening then ran off??? Had me laughin for ages!! so funny! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Fantastic start, 4 goals and 3 points. I must admit I was a little nervous before the game. Anyway, MON's target this year, apart from cups, must be to consolodate a 5th / 6th place finish combined with a push for 4th. The competition for 5th is between Spurs, Pompey and Everton. All of these teams lost today and the scousers looked very poor. If we could just go that extra bit and sign SWP, DLR and a top striker (Ashton my 1st choice) I think we could have a real chance of nicking 4th spot. Imagine Villa in the group stage of Champions League :D :D :D :D :D

its hard to knock someone who scores 3 goals but 'gobbys' game was very poor, goals apart. i know that some people will say thats good enough, but it isn't, he won't score 3 goals every week. his 1st touch is very poor, his awareness is awful, his positional play is poor and he hasn't go a clue how to beat players. if he hadn't got 3 yesterday people would be saying how crap he was. well he was crap apart from the goals.
we need a quality striker who can play & score us 20 a season.

bye the way, here's a shout for a midfield playmaker...michael johnson, man city, i thought he was great for them yesterday, apart when he threw himself to the floor for the pen. but if barry goes i wouldn't mind having him.

finally, we have to get rid of 'reo joker', i know he was out of position, but lets face it where can you put someone who can't control the ball or pass the ball & always gets caught in possession, basic requirement for a footballer....get rid martin, milner or swp would be great. i wonder if thats why he wasn't given the armband, it would be more embarressing to get rid of your captain.

any thoughts on barry's performance?
i thought he did o.k but there was somthing missing, that extra 10-20% commitment maybe.

anyway, a great win by the lads, another bogey team put to bed, bring on liverfool, lets give them bashing, we owe them!!!!

Im glad Petrov has finally come up with the goods, he looked miles ahead of hokey cokey in terms of ability on saturday and I hope he keeps it up.

Personally I think Reo Coker will continue to develop and he'll be great in a couple of years.

I'm sure some of you have heard this before but apparently Roberto Mancini is now hot favourite to become next Liverpool manager after some big bets were placed. Maybe this will be the final nail in the coffin of the Barry transfer. Roll on Gareth's redemption.

GABBY RULES!!!!!!