Atrocious game, outstanding result.
Is that a bit too strong? Not sure, with still only being at half mast thanks to this continuing bug, maybe it was just me feeling lethargic, but as far as I could see Everton were poor and Villa strolled it without actually excelling themselves.
No doubt we’ll get the usual line from the Everton camp that the European football left them tired but if I was a Blue scouse I’d be worried with that performance, or lack of performance as they really offered nothing and apart from a fairly quick start, offered little to no threat throughout the game.
Villa didn’t exactly excel, I think we played better against Manchester City last week but this weekend our strikers had their shooting boots on and that is what made all the difference, John Carew – who later limped off with what could be a nasty knee injury – put pay to all the talk of being tired and got his first goal of the season and in the second half Gabby Agbonlahor was quick off the mark from a Scott Carson kick and left the Everton defenders for dead finishing with aplomb. That’s a point, is the plum season over now? Moyes said that the Everton defence stopped playing as they thought Gabby was off side, oh well, how sad, never mind, he took the ball down well brilliant and didn’t flinch when it came to putting it away.
Not sure there is a great deal more to say, not many totally stand out performances and Martin Laursen really let himself down as he missed one header out of about a hundred, tut tut!!!! What a player, he really is our rock. And Gareth Barry as usual got totally stuck in. I guess the game was so scrappy with much of it being played up in the air that it was difficult of our guys to really get the game by the scruff of the neck, that said we never really looked under threat from the Toffee’s and that surprised me. If they have European hopes this season they’ll have to improve ten fold on that showing – as if I care!
So all in all, Villa did all they had to do and got all three points, who can say fairer than that?
Oh and no doubt the media will blow up the incident at the end with Marlon Harewood (I can still not believe a player of that quality is in the Villa shirt) arguing with Gabby Agbonlahor. Gabby went on a run and instead of looking up and passing to Harewood (and I think the Hokey Cokey was also in the box) he shot himself. Well, at the end of the day, he is a striker who had already scored one great goal so whether he should have passed or not is questionable. Top goalscorers in their prime, like Shearer, Owen, Henry, Fowler etc rarely look to pass when is sight of goal, so not sure Gabby should have. Whatever Harewood said, it obviously upset Gabby but I’m sure all will be sweet again tomorrow, these things happen.
3 points, job done, Leicester City up next in the cup and then onto an easy three points at the stuttering Spurs down at White Hart Lane!
Can’t see the point in player ratings today, especially as I’ve had no lunch and with the lack of a good women I’ve got to go and cook my own tea (scampi, rice and peas if you really want to know!
Manager Rating
O’Neill, here to get points not necessarily worry about entertaining. Job done.
Opponent Rating
David Moyes, I’d be worried with that performance if I was him but I’m not so phew, I’ll just worry about my bills then!
