What we learnt as Aston Villa fans after Liverpool defeat and Mourinho’s mind-games

Brad Guzan, Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, in action during the game against Liverpool this past Saturday (Getty Images)

What an intense week for Lambert’s boys! Frustrating, rewarding, encouraging? It’s hard to fault the effort of the team in the opening week after three immense performances. Villa’s away game at Chelsea last season was a grizzly old jaunt for Villa fans, but in this year’s fixture, Villans were able to leave Stamford Bridge with their heads held high. Lambert and his men had every right to feel robbed by Kevin Friend as he failed to show Branislav Ivanovic a red card and failed to award a penalty against John Terry. Villa then lost 1 – 0 to Liverpool as the visitors nicked a goal and then shut up shop. Here’s what we learnt this week:

Jose Mourinho tells lies

The ‘Special One’ admitted this week that he tells lies – “Even when we say we are happy with our squad, we lie.” You lie, Jose? Who knew? Eyebrows were raised as Mourinho reverted to spin and hyperbole after Chelsea’s win, but here are some of Jose’s claims that simply don’t stand up to scrutiny:

a. Villa are a long ball team: 51 long balls by Chelsea, 46 long balls from Paul Lambert’s men.
b. Villa don’t play very much: Chelsea had 3 shots on target , Villa had 3 shots on target.
c. Paul Lambert needs to “learn maturity” on the touch-line; in Jose’s last game as Real Madrid manager he was sent to the stands for abusing the referee against Atletico Madrid.

Part of Jose’s genius has always been his manipulation of the media, but I’m starting to wonder whether he’s losing his touch.

Jores Okore is really rather good

The young Danish defender is 21-years-old. Its really hard to believe. You expect youngsters to be rash, enthusiastic, and full of mistakes, but Okore is every inch as composed as his hero Marcel Desailly. Villa fans had demanded a centre-back in the January transfer window, but I am really glad that we waited and got this kid instead. His passing, his speed, his competitiveness and his desire to get forward are a joy to see. Okore has set the bar high and Clark and Baker now need to step up a level.

Barry Bannan is leaving (again)

The ITK’s are doing a really terrible job this year. They failed to predict any Villa signings so far and now their ‘source‘ for Barry Bannan’s proposed move to Blackpool is…..drum roll….his instagram account. Great work guys!

Paul Lambert will take on all-comers

When Sir Alex Ferguson was Manchester United manager it bugged me to see other managers suck up to him and hand over three points without much of a fight. Those with the worst record at Old Trafford were often ex-United players who appeared to be intimidated by their old manager.

Sir Alex Ferguson seemed to cultivate a schmoozy relationship with other Premier League managers through his wine, his advice, and his pat-on-the-head compliments after the game.