Three points against West Ham move us into third place in the Premier League

Second half we were hanging on, but being in the top four, sorry, top three, is all about getting spawny results.

Anyone hear Mark Bright call Ugly Betty Carlos Cellular?

Hmmmmm, good result but very lucky!

Very even game we got lucky and took all the points, now we are third, gteat

A fully deserved win, couldnt see West Ham scoring, very very happy with that preformance, 3rd place, i just hope we can kick on in the transfer window and sign another 3 quality players, then who knows!!

Great result, although we played poor tonight but these are the results we need. To be fair to Milner nobody really played that great. We need a left back so L Young can play on the right and bring more balance. Also we really need a striker, Podolski? UTV!

Man of the match = big hand Friedel...

Yeah we did enough for the points in my opinion. Agree Friedel was Man of the Match. Anything is possible from here on in. Also looking good for January signings. You don't turn down offers from Top 4 teams.

friedel was good and definately kept us in it,

*Three fine saves that could have been goals, had we had Thomas Sorensen in goal

They would be definate goals if we had calamity carson in goal

Will the luck run out on boxing day i doubt it

Reply to vogra:

A fully deserved win, couldnt see West Ham scoring, very very happy with that preformance, 3rd place, i just hope we can kick on in the transfer window and sign another 3 quality players, then who knows!!

Man, I felt certain that West Ham would score. This game had 1-0 to West Ham written all over it. We didn't play well in the second half, but we got what matters--3 points. Let's hope that Liverpoop can beat Arsenal tomorrow. If they do, then we'll have a chance at Villa Park to go 6 points up on Arsenal.

Great result today, we had first half they had second, could have been a draw but we did well to snatch it up in to third.

Really makes you think about the 6 points lost against Newcastle and Middlesborough. We would be on 40 points by now and... be on top of the league, shame.

I don't get a chance to watch many games here in the US, but today's was certainly a treat. 3rd place! what a dream. finally, milner does something that even damian can enjoy.

speaking of not watching, does anyone have any websites to recommend where I can watch live games?

It's the result that matters, look at the way that Liverpool have played so far this season. let's hope that Liverpool kick the Arse up in the air tomorrow and help us out for Boxing Day. Gotta say I don't know what result suits us the best. Let's get rid of this breaking the top four mentality and try to finish as high as possible. Still need a striker as i'm not sure where Gabby was today, come to mention it was Barry playing? Man of the match - Luke Young, best game so far in a Villa shirt.

What a result, 3 pts and 3rd!!!

Thought we missed a chance to be 2 or 3 up in the first half and lucky in the 2nd half to come away with all the points. On balance think we might have been lucky with all the points.... but hey. HAVE IT!

Come on Gunners for next week!

UPTV

im delighted with this win, not posted a comment on this blog for a while. i think that if we keep scrapping out results like this, we will be top four for sure. there is never a dull moment with the villa lately, i have to say. c'mon you lions! now for the future of the villa, i leave it for my stepson to say; what a game we was a bit dodgy at the start of the second half. i am glad to be third, ahead of man united, and arsenal, i hope it can stay that way. my motm was brad freidal, he played excellento. up the villa, what do you think about the game?

Didn't see the game but was listening to Mark Bright tutting at Villa's play? He doesn't like us! - aparently we didn't play well but last season we would have got beat by not playing well. Agree with skeester73 lets get rid of this top 4 mentality! 3rd in the league at Christmas above Man U. Thanks Santa!!!

Ace, Try MyP2P.eu, you can get as many games as you would like, and keep an eye on the live feed from this site. Guys are always suggesting new sites to try durring the matches.

Definitely lucky to get all 3 points if you look at the 2nd half.. BUT we should have been 2 up at half time! Young nipping in and hitting post, Gaby falling over the ball when played through nicely > Barry's great shot then saved. Sidwell should have at least hit the target when pulled back for him too! And we had two DECENT penalty claims, inc one which was a red card offence. Over the FULL 90mins I think we deserved it!

Mark Bright is a fool too, us grinding out a result like this makes us not worthy of the top3! Liverpool early in the season where outplayed by every team and hung on in there game after game.. which was a sign they are title contenders this year!

Great result, hopefully we can enter the New Year in the top4 and use that as an incentive and lure a couple of players a notch above what we have!

Why are you all calling for a Liverpool win tomorrow. Surely a draw is the right result for us. We can finish above Arse and Pool no trouble.

Yeah Bright sounded like a right twat.

Friedel was absolute class today, if anyone earned the 3 points today, some will say we were lucky but for me we earned those points.

Milner didn't have the greatest game but he got the goal but I really think he will become an asset to the team.

I now support a top 3 side and bring back Bouma and a quality striker (that even includes Heskey and who thought I'd have ever said that) and maybe a few extra player and who says we can't stay there.

Ace, these are ones I have used in the past:

LINK

Best thing is to come onto the blog during a game, people always have links on the day!

Well played Villa, as most have said its about battling for results and that is a good sign, hope Liverpool-Arsenal is a draw to keep us within touching distant of the top, that is what we need, whilst trying to widen the gap on 6th

Reply to Texas_Villain:

Man, I felt certain that West Ham would score. This game had 1-0 to West Ham written all over it. We didn't play well in the second half, but we got what matters--3 points. Let's hope that Liverpoop can beat Arsenal tomorrow. If they do, then we'll have a chance at Villa Park to go 6 points up...

I think if liverpool beat arsenal and then we beat them we would
go 7 points clear of arsenal

I thought every player was excellent today although Carlos was once again exposed too often at right back. I would be far more confident going into the Arsenal match if I thought we were improving defensively but today unfortunately we again made too many mistakes. We were lucky in the sense that they had Carlton Cole (surely the biggest under-achiever in the premiership) and we had Big Brad.

How can it be a lucky win when we could have easily gone in 3-0 up at half time. The home team will always have periods of sustained pressure but West Ham couldn't really muster a clear cut chance because of superb defending. We played exactly how we should do away from home and we desrved the win!

Brad was top today but my MOM goes to Davies. Looked like a young laursen today. Great signing MON.

Think best result for us tomorrow is a Shiterpool win (As much as i hate to say it), 7 points clear of Arse at new year best Crimbo pressie ever!


UTV

AceVilla god knows how you do not see most games, I live in the US as well and with setanta and fox soccer channel as well as justin.tv you should be able to see every game. We were shocking today, big Brad was the difference, although both Young and Gabby should have done much better with the chances they had. I just don't understand what Sidwell does, I am baffled… That all being said, the good teams grind out the results and that's what we did today, Liverpool have done that for the majority of games they have played this season. 6 wins away from home and 2 3 losses is a great record, hopefully pool and Arsenal draw tomorrow and we'll do them at Villa park on boxing day, I have my ticket for that game and can't bloody wait!!

great 3 points
we were a bit lucky, but luck is a part of football somtimes

milner will get better, he just needs to get back on form, i dont think he's playing badly he just isnt playing to his full ability and his crossing needs to improve, u cant go slaging him off all the time certainly not after this match his misplaced cross won us the game.

Im glad we got friedel and not robinson who we were also linked with, im also glad we didnt sign carson.

if we had robinson i recon we would be 6th or 7th
if we had carson i recon we would be 9th or 10th
we would of lost this game by 3 goals if we had carson
so im glad we got a desent keeper

Up the villa

lets have a late christmas present when we play arsenal
and then secure a top 4 finish

Great result. I watched the game on norwegian Canal plus and they said that they had talked to John Carew and according too him Laursen had big big pain in his bad knee after every game. In my book he is up there with good old McGrath. Stay fit Laursen, we need you next year in Champions League

Great result,not a great performance but 3 points is very good for us right now.
As this the season of goodwill to all men can we all give James Milner a break,he wears claret and blue and he tries and with a bit of fortune he got us two extra points today for which we are all thankful.
Have to agree with Stocky Curtis Davies MOM.
Don't know how that can be called an OG?
Third in the table,last 32 in the UEFA cup everybody loves watching us,we are at last getting talked about!!.Happy Christmas to all you fellow Villa fans and a great new year!!

UTV

I couldn't give a monkeys how we got there, we're 3rd goddammit. I dunno who said it earlier, but Liverpool have played some bloody average football and won stuff. They key difference is that I think we, if we have to, can galvanise without one of our top guys (see lately without Carew) I can't help but think that if the Scouse lost Gerrard now they'd be in deep shit?

I'm glad someone finally pointed out the Carlos Cuellar/Ugly Betty link, I was beginning to think I was the only one. Bring on boxing Day.

Reply to wicklow_villa:

I think if liverpool beat arsenal and then we beat them we would
go 7 points clear of arsenal

Surely being so close to Liverpool and already above the Arse, we should start thinking that a 0-0 draw would be the best result? Call me premature, but hey - the BBC talked about Villa's "Title Rivals" earlier - I know, I know.

Norvilla did you see McGrath play? Doubt it.

Quick question does anyone know how many offsides there were today?

Reply to Ugly_Betty:

I couldn't give a monkeys how we got there, we're 3rd goddammit. I dunno who said it earlier, but Liverpool have played some bloody average football and won stuff. They key difference is that I think we, if we have to, can galvanise without one of our top guys (see lately without Carew) I can't...

I assumed everyone knew that one,i think it came from Celtic originally,hope he's not badly hurt,great defender was a rock for Rangers last season

Reply to AVMark:

Norvilla did you see McGrath play? Doubt it.

Quick question does anyone know how many offsides there were today?

Can only think of one against west ham???

apparently not. Also, the song he had at Rangers was the Dogs.

Oh Carlos Cuellar
You are the Love of my life
Oh Carlos Cuellar
I'd let you shag my wife
Oh Carlos Cuellar, we want curly hair too.

(to the tune of I love you baby)

I dont care about the result tomorrow to be honest.

If Liverpool win then we consolidate our lead against Arsenal, if Arsenal win then we gain points on our charge the for the title.. (4 points behind the leaders)

Either way, its a win win situation.. all we have to do is keep winning our games. let everyone around us mess up!

We're Into 3rd place... lets enjoy it!

Reply to AceVilla:

I don't get a chance to watch many games here in the US, but today's was certainly a treat. 3rd place! what a dream. finally, milner does something that even damian can enjoy.

speaking of not watching, does anyone have any websites to recommend where I can watch live games?

FWIW, Milner was poor today mate.

i've no doubt he'll come good, but atm he doesn't beat the man or cross properly, IMO.

MOM was Bellamy, different class.

Reply to Ugly_Betty:

apparently not. Also, the song he had at Rangers was the Dogs.

Oh Carlos Cuellar
You are the Love of my life
Oh Carlos Cuellar
I'd let you shag my wife
Oh Carlos Cuellar, we want curly hair too.

(to the tune of I love you baby)

Great song,My boss is a big Rangers fan and they are stiil hurting over losing King Carlos,blaming the board for it!!.
Have a look at follow follow!!

Are we going to start talking about Ooh-Ahh? I was so dumbstruct when i was fortunate to meet him I asked him for his autograph but didn't have a pen!!!LOL!!! On another note if Liverpool lost Gerard they would be a different team, on another note Graham Taylor said that we had a top four Premiership team but not squad which I think will be our downfall this season but something we can learn for next season. on another note I'm feeling a bit merry.. but it is the season

Reply to AVMark:

I thought every player was excellent today although Carlos was once again exposed too often at right back. I would be far more confident going into the Arsenal match if I thought we were improving defensively but today unfortunately we again made too many mistakes. We were lucky in the sense that...

Surely Vassell is the biggest under-achiever?

Reply to Badger:

FWIW, Milner was poor today mate.

i've no doubt he'll come good, but atm he doesn't beat the man or cross properly, IMO.

MOM was Bellamy, different class.

Leave James Milner alone he plays for us and it's the season of goodwill to all men,i'm feeling that festive i'll even include Zat Knight,OH hang on i'm not pissed yet!!!so forget fright!!!

Heard a rumor today folks that might cheer us up.
I havea friend who's friend own's a pun in Knowle where quite a few of the villa fans drink and the news on the grapevine is that Micheal owen is coming in Jan. Would be nice!!!!!!

I think the one person we should sign now as he has made clear his wish to move to a club in europe and also at the top is Roque Santa Cruise What a signing that would be. Please santa owe please!!!!!!

Just seen MONs interview with the BBC - Jonathan Pierce asked him if Villa could win the title, MON responded by asking him if he'd been drinking! Legend.

The game had nil nil written all over it after we didnt take our chances in the first half, but it shows we've definitely become better at pulling three points out from nowhere.

On a seperate note I though NRC looked sharp in front of his olf club when he came on. UTV

Sorry Villa players drink not fans.

I havea friend who's friend own's a pun in Knowle where quite a few of the villa fans drink and the news on the grapevine is that Micheal owen is coming in Jan. Would be nice!!!!!!

Santa Cruz yes,Owen no he is so injury prone

No pun intended.

Matt do you mean a pub in Knowle !!!!

Reply to Jingle Bells:

Just seen MONs interview with the BBC - Jonathan Pierce asked him if Villa could win the title, MON responded by asking him if he'd been drinking! Legend.

The game had nil nil written all over it after we didnt take our chances in the first half, but it shows we've definitely become...

Have to agree thought hokey cokey did look good,though he is never going to be a right back,thankfully they had Carlton Cole up front and he makes Marlene look good

WHOOPS sorry tis the season to be be jolly and goodwill to all men,including James Milner and Marlon,so sorry for last comment

Not a great performance but a great result. Curtis Davies looks class (better than Laursen today) but you gotta give MOM to the big bald Brad he was the difference today.Kept us in the game till the end then we go and nick it-CLASS

Luke Young is a fantastic asset, he build up play and throws a ball like Delap. He's better on the left because he works for it.

Brad was defs man of the match, some fantastic saves today that really kept us in the game!

More importantly so glad we came away with 3 pts cus it felt like it might have been one of those days!

it could be argued that we are making the step up, as for points of this game we were second best, but we still won it! and thats what top teams need to do!

Love the three points on the board which i my opinion we earned after first half display where i thought there was a definite pen on Barry from L.Neil. Brad MOM Freidel is the key to what we have been missing for years! Had a feeling Millner would score today so put £4 on him being first goal scorer Happy Days! big match on boxing day get a result then a bolster up the squad in Jan! The future looks bright the future looks claret and blue!

It was a great result (you can't get better than three points), but it was, again, fortuitous - although had we gone in 2-0 up at half time no-one could have complained. We're badly missing Big JC at the moment - although given his fitness record, it's hardly surprised that he's missing games. Gabby is already a classy player, and getting better all the time, but this 4-5-1 formation is hit and miss, and alot of the time he's not in danger areas; we're not seeing the best of him.

Credit again to the spirit of the players (which is actually more important than the quality of the performances), but we have to get that extra striker in come January, someone to play as a proper target man. Should we get someone in - and surely we will because the need is obvious - then I think we'll finish top 4 at least. If I was MoN, I'd be aiming to finish above Man Utd and Liverpool, and take advantage of a potential Chelsea stall. Can we win the title? If we sign that striker, and stay relatively injury free, it's possible. There's no-one to fear! We may not be the finished article by a long stretch, but no-one else is either.

UTV!

I'm analyze it later too. I'm just happy with the result. A clean sheet and a HUGE win for us in a tough game.

Absolutely agree with MOTM. Brad Friedal for me too.

Boy am i happy! Not about the peformance but about where we are in the league. Not only are we 3rd with 4 points above Arsenal but were only 4 points away from top.Good Times. I have a dilemma though. Hoping for a draw tommorow so we can not only extend the gap on Arsenal but close the gap on Top. GOD if that goes to plan ill be very very happy!!!! Im proud to be a Villa Fan!

Only saw first half. Found out result an hour ago.
I'm a f**in' sound man!!
Extatic to be honest.
I don't care about the silly inns and outs, what ifs etc.
We're 3rd and unless we start believing we can win the f**ker, what's the point? You don't finish 4th by trying to finish a lovely planned delicate 4th.
3rd's a proper start eh!!!!
Come on the Villa.
They're ours for the taking...

lets take the positives from this game,we are third with this team we have grinded out results,all top teams do.g.barry is a class act the team are playing as a team,hard to drop anyone.i would like us to go 4-4-2 at home,4-5-1 is working for us away from home.fringe players not upto the task of replacing anyone at moment,so please be careful in fa-cup...

On the morning after the Hamburg game I was sitting in my hotel reception moaning to a certain Graham Taylor about O'neill putting out a reserve side and his answer to me was "if we beat west ham it will be fully justified"

Good answer Mr Taylor!

"if we beat west ham it will be fully justified"

Is what I said in the aftermath of the starting line up too. I stand by that as well. This win was massive for us. CL!!!!!!!!!!

We def deserved the points on the balance of our first half chances and penalty that should've been.

Freidel was immense, our defence was solid throughout and even though we didn't play as well in the second half we still looked a threat (all be it not as much as in the second half).

One thing i thought we could done better though was to play through the mid field more and hoof it less. Had we done this more (esp in the 2nd half) we would've seen more of GB and SS and the link up play would've given Gabby more chances to make more impact, instead of chasing balls he was never going to win.

Anyhow bring on the Arse!! Got my ticket and looking forward to the game more than Christmas.

UTV

This was definitely a game we would have lost last season. I thought some of our players looked fatigued towards the end, despite being rested. I'm glad GABBY wasn't playing for them, cos I think they would have bagged a view. Thought BELLAMY was different gravy.

I don't give a toss what the result between Liverpool and Arsenal is, whatever it is, one or either of them are going to concede points. Would love Everton to do a number Chelski on Monday. MON in pole position for manager of the month if we get a result against Arsenal. Agree that we could do with JC coming back soon, so at least when we fire up the long ball when we're tired, we have half a chance of him holding it up

Reply to AceVilla:

I don't get a chance to watch many games here in the US, but today's was certainly a treat. 3rd place! what a dream. finally, milner does something that even damian can enjoy.

speaking of not watching, does anyone have any websites to recommend where I can watch live games?

Log onto justin.tv they normally show most of the villa games

myp2p.eu

oooo west ham i dont think they are good well inter milan is lol

Reply to Ugly_Betty:

Surely being so close to Liverpool and already above the Arse, we should start thinking that a 0-0 draw would be the best result? Call me premature, but hey - the BBC talked about Villa's "Title Rivals" earlier - I know, I know.

I agree entirely, a draw was perfect for us, not because we should be thinking of challenging for the title but because Liverpool are more likely to drop off than ManU or Chelsea. Ideally we catch Liverpool and then have a better chance of finishing top four. That must be the target, anything more than that being sensational.

No Adebayor or Fabregas on Boxing Day. Massive chance here!