Oh my god !!! - What a performance, what a great day - where the hell did that come from ?
So much to say, just don't really know where to start.
Grealish had a dream return, and was outstanding first half (tiring 2nd half obviously) but it wasn't just that, it was like the entire team had been given some big home truths over the past week.
Seems a shame to single out players yesterday, as they all contributed but I feel I must highlight a couple.
1. Grealish - now I am his biggest critic, but yesterday was Grealish as we have seen him on those occasions where the very best wouldn't be able to touch him. He was outstanding, and that goal was truly remarkable - Roy of the Rovers stuff, I don't quite think it touches McGinn (or Scholes) but that is up there with the best goals ever sored at Villa Park. Play like that every week and you may just win me over - however, and this just goes to show about yesterday - I wouldn't even put him in the top 3 for MotM ! - 8
2. Hourihane - the abuse he gets on here is truly disgusting. Granted, he has not played well the last few weeks, but as I and a few others have said, since Grealish's injury, he has been forced to play a role he is not suited to, and has coped generally. He is on something like 6 goals and 10 assists this season - and you think he is crap ? - he is our only midfielder that can do that and is needed - it just needs Grealish, or a Grealish type (like O'Hare - to free him up to do what he does best. (which is why I was annoyed we loaned O'Hare) - 9
3. Mings - now you have to take into consideration the level we are playing at, but, he just totally oozes class, and is miles and that is hundreds of miles better than this league. At this level it is like watching Paul McGrath - 9
4. Hause - Bloody hell where did we find him ? - yep, dodgy start the other week, but since then the guy has been utterly outstanding. If we can keep him and Mings in that centre defence in August, we will walk this league. He reminds me of Ugo (again, you have to take into consideration the level we are at though). - 9
5. my MotM - Whelan - he was utterly, utterly superb yesterday, winning everything, driving us forward, playing passes Beckham would have been proud of, and to top it all, pinging that corner so Grealish had an easy finish !. Fair play to the bloke, I thought he was useless earlier this season, but since Xmas, has been consistently our best player and deserves the shirt.
They are the standouts, but they were all superb - bar Taylor, who was given the run around for the 5 mins, until Smith switched Albert to cover him, and then we were fine - but that is the big thing to fix - Rico Henry I would have thought.
A wonderful day yesterday full stop. Can we ? - 6 points, OK, they all have a game in hand, but we play them all , and most of them, at home - if we play like that - we certainly will !
Never thought I would ever say this, but McGinn needs to sit on the bench next week, there is no way any of that midfield deserves to be dropped after that.
Outstanding !