I didn't agree with the Moscow decision. However, we were in with a chance of fourth place. While I don't subscribe to the theory that finishing fourth is better than winning a trophy, I do believe that finishing fourth (with the associated cash windfall) would've boosted our chances of winning a trophy or a number of trophies in the short to medium term future. I believe we could've put out a strong team there and still beaten Stoke the following week-end. However, I understand the decision. It was only the last-32 of the competition anyway... we were hardly certainties top lift the trophy if we'd won.Tonight though... we were on our best form under the current manager. We play a team we have just beaten. whose manager is arguably under more pressure than Houllier. A team with a reputation for bottling it, whose fans would've been quick to get restless had we put up a decent fight. Victory would've given us a home tie against a Second Division team, in the Quarter-Final of a competition many Villa fans want to win more than any other. Manchester is only up the road (at least compared to Manchester). There is no chance of jet-lag on a coach......and we gave up. Before a ball had been kicked.Having finally got a majority of Villa fans onside... Gerard has now potentially lost them forever. I am sick of defending him now. Somebody else can have a go. Any takers?
We only have TWO other games in the whole of March.Why were we having to rest players?
Moscow was far worse for the hardy souls that travelled (I didn't). That cost four figures and they (Moscow) were not as good as Man City. It also took a very good season to get there in the first place. That said tonight was an mistake aswell. We played the first team last time at Eastlands and they were worse. This time Gh used the FA Cup to rest certain players and give others their chance. This was not the game to do that and to do it that much. We would have probably lost tonight if we did start with the first 11 that played against Blackburn last weekend, and that is the bigger issue for me. Right now we cannot compete with the top 5-6 sides because the squad just does not have 11 players collectively that good. GH is changing alot of things and I believe it is for the next 10 years not the next game. And while that next game always feel the most important I feel that GH and Randy are planning a blueprint to compete in the years to come. Tonight it was a mistake. We lost. It was very unlikely that we would win with that line up. But all this talk of 'fuck, bollocks, sack im', worst thing ever, blues won a cup, shit, I hate him (hate???), DOL II' and so on just seems a little over the top for me. I am probably in a minority of one but I do think like what GH is trying to do, what he is trying to change. The starting 11 was a mistake yes, but the end of the world, no.
Quote from: atomicjam on March 03, 2011, 12:11:37 AMMoscow was far worse for the hardy souls that travelled (I didn't). That cost four figures and they (Moscow) were not as good as Man City. It also took a very good season to get there in the first place. That said tonight was an mistake aswell. We played the first team last time at Eastlands and they were worse. This time Gh used the FA Cup to rest certain players and give others their chance. This was not the game to do that and to do it that much. We would have probably lost tonight if we did start with the first 11 that played against Blackburn last weekend, and that is the bigger issue for me. Right now we cannot compete with the top 5-6 sides because the squad just does not have 11 players collectively that good. GH is changing alot of things and I believe it is for the next 10 years not the next game. And while that next game always feel the most important I feel that GH and Randy are planning a blueprint to compete in the years to come. Tonight it was a mistake. We lost. It was very unlikely that we would win with that line up. But all this talk of 'fuck, bollocks, sack im', worst thing ever, blues won a cup, shit, I hate him (hate???), DOL II' and so on just seems a little over the top for me. I am probably in a minority of one but I do think like what GH is trying to do, what he is trying to change. The starting 11 was a mistake yes, but the end of the world, no. No but it is a true sign of a manager that gives up without a fight. Not the sort of manager who is likely to "win" trophies. I don't think any right minded Villa (or proper football fan) can defend the fact that we lost this FA Cup 5th Round match because the manager decided to pick such an unsuitable team AND formation.
Quote from: TonyD on March 03, 2011, 12:19:40 AMQuote from: atomicjam on March 03, 2011, 12:11:37 AMMoscow was far worse for the hardy souls that travelled (I didn't). That cost four figures and they (Moscow) were not as good as Man City. It also took a very good season to get there in the first place. That said tonight was an mistake aswell. We played the first team last time at Eastlands and they were worse. This time Gh used the FA Cup to rest certain players and give others their chance. This was not the game to do that and to do it that much. We would have probably lost tonight if we did start with the first 11 that played against Blackburn last weekend, and that is the bigger issue for me. Right now we cannot compete with the top 5-6 sides because the squad just does not have 11 players collectively that good. GH is changing alot of things and I believe it is for the next 10 years not the next game. And while that next game always feel the most important I feel that GH and Randy are planning a blueprint to compete in the years to come. Tonight it was a mistake. We lost. It was very unlikely that we would win with that line up. But all this talk of 'fuck, bollocks, sack im', worst thing ever, blues won a cup, shit, I hate him (hate???), DOL II' and so on just seems a little over the top for me. I am probably in a minority of one but I do think like what GH is trying to do, what he is trying to change. The starting 11 was a mistake yes, but the end of the world, no. No but it is a true sign of a manager that gives up without a fight. Not the sort of manager who is likely to "win" trophies. I don't think any right minded Villa (or proper football fan) can defend the fact that we lost this FA Cup 5th Round match because the manager decided to pick such an unsuitable team AND formation.I wasnt defending it, clearly, if you read what I said. Are you saying I am not a Villa fan?
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Topic: Moscow or Manchester? (Read 14076 times)
