I thought Bellamy was very good, and I always feel confident he'll be involved when he plays.
Suarez was anonymous in the first half, then sparked up a little after the break - and it's a luxury for us to have scored a couple without him playing well.
Downing was - and this is probably against the grain for most - a step behind where he left off at QPR - too often he refused to get at Warnock when presented with a 1v1, opting instead to turn back inside and play the safe option. He kept possession well, but when a winger is presented with space to run at a full-back, simply keeping possession is the fifth option he should be taking. The slightly preferable option is to wait for the overlap, which Johnson provided a few times, without having any end product himself.
I want to see Downing driving in and shooting (if on the right), crossing the ball, or looking to play a striker in behind. They are the three options that should be going through his head every single time he gets the ball, yet he always seems to bypass them and go for the two safe choices. He's scared to take risks and make mistakes, which you can't allow yourself to be if you want to make a difference in a Premier League game.
The major plus side for me was the fact we had three ball-players in the midfield. Today showed that we can afford to go into games against average opposition (and average is being kind to this Villa side, they were absolute bobbins for most of the game) without a specialist holding player. Henderson has found his role in the team now, and should be played in that position every single time he's fit and available. He keeps the ball almost like Lucas does, but further up the pitch. It's a Godsend watching that, instead of seeing the ball bounce off our players as we play around in the final third.
Jonjo looked good for me, if a little nervous with his shooting. He's clearly eager to make an impression, and he always wanted the ball. Very positive indeed.
The defence was, well, pretty much as our defence has been since Agger and Skrtel settled down. I'm no big fan of Skrtel, but Agger brings the best out of him and they compliment each other tremendously. I hope they both stay fit and on form.
The one big elephant in the room is still Andy Carroll. Dress it up however you like, he's a lolloping, lazy bastard. I spent a fair chunk of the game laughing at Emile Heskey's apparent inability to move, dribble, pass, or do anything even vaguely useful with the ball. I stopped laughing when Andy Carroll came on, and looked like a Christmas re-release.
Twenty minutes at the end of a game might not be enough time to imprint yourself on it in terms of showing your true quality, but to not chase people down and not burst a gut to get into the box when we're breaking is inexcusable.
One look at Edin Dzeko for City today shows you how to play the substitute striker's role if your team's ahead - he ran his bollocks off chasing down anything and everything. Carroll stands and watches the centre backs pass square balls to each other.
I really rate him, I think he's got a bagful of ability and potential, but until he sorts his atrocious attitude out I couldn't care less if he never played for us again. When he was at Newcastle, I was praying United wouldn't sign him, because he'd have turned into Alan Shearer. There days, we might as well give a shirt to Allan Carr. I'm just hoping Kenny can turn him around, and hasn't made one huge, huge mistake in signing this boy.
Overall it's been a good weekend, with our victory and Arsenal, Newcastle, and Chelsea all dropping points.
Wigan away on Wednesday - a big one, but we should piss it.
