Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on August 14, 2010, 04:52:29 PM
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Simply brilliant. The clouds have lifted. Well done the number 12. He looks quite good.
If any mods are around, please sticky this
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Feels nice to be smiling again!
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We are the fucking kings.
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They were fantastic, all of them. Special mention Albrighton, Clark, Downing all fantastic. But everyone magnificent and fair play to Milner he was whole hearted and very good. Great flowing football, and such a breath of fresh air.
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Great start to the season.....very different from 12 months ago.
We will miss Milner.
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fantastic to see us play football again style, entertainment everything that was missing from the MON era good riddance
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Albrighton MotM for me.
Excellent game. If MON were here, I reckon we'd have had Milner at RB, and Heskey up front. Very welcome changes.
I don't read too much into a win against a dreadful WH team, but even if we finish lower in the table, I'd like MacDonald to stay on as manager for this season, we can trust him to blood the youngsters which I think will pay off.
If I had to pick a negative, which I do, because I'm a cynical bastard, it'd be that Carew was fucking shit. Should have had a hattrick.
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A club in crisis, can we be in crisis all the time playing like that I dont care.
Albrighton was outstanding and a real star in the making.
Downing and Young excellent.
Petrov very composed and scoring is a bonus.
Gutted to see Milner leaving, was an excellent goodbye to the club a real shame he is leaving.
Very happy Villa fan tonight.
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Now that, THAT, was how to play football.
No plodders, no-one out of position, everyone motivated, everyone confident, everyone very very happy.
Thank you, Albrighton.
Thank you, Ashley.
Thank you, Milner.
And a BIG Thank You, Kevin Mac!
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The ridiculous tactics of a tactically inept manager is gone. The shackles are off and everyone is playing with no weight on there shoulders.
Welldone lads.
1) martin o'neill will not be missed
2) Randy, you saw that. Don't sell milner.
3) weimann on, husky not. Lets hope husky never plays for villa again.
Up the villa
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Fucking Blackpool top of the league. Good grief. Good on Harewood who apparently was excellent.
We played with so much freedom today, and that's the key. It wasn't coaching because KM would have had most of them for a short while with the international games. It was down to a massive weight lifted at the club.
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Even Harewood had a good game.
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Albrighton (brilliant display) and Clark (assured and comfortable) showed they're ready. Downing showed he could be the player we all hoped for. A Young was sensational in the free role. Milner was, well Milner. All over the place and a great goal.
Just a joy to watch.
If we had a goal scorer in there we's be top 4.
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excellent football, good movement, good range of passing, kept attacking and looked very good for it..
we looked free from shackles... excellent stuff..
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That was just superb, every player wearing the Villa shirt played with great confidence and showed a high level of skill. Carew should have scored a few, Albrighton, Milner and Downing stood out.
We will definately miss Jimmy M when he goes.
Good to see a few of the youngsters blooded, no doubt a few will be on here moaning that the subs came on only at the end!!!
I'm bloody proud to be a Villain.
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We passed, we moved off the ball, we beat players and tackled like demons.
Yes West Ham were terrible, but I'm glowing.
Bye Jimmy. Thanks, but wish you were staying.
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I take it you liked the 'new look' Villa then?
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Great result even better performances by Alb,Clark, Miln, Downing. If we go with Kev Mac then if he keeps us playin like that then he can keep the job.
8)
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90 minutes of good, attacking football.
We made West Ham look very poor, such was the effort and style of our play.
Abrighton, Milner and Clark looked top draw, Ashley played with the team rather than an individual, best display for a long time.
I can't imagine too many moaning about the rain today.
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How did Luke Young play?
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Great start to the post-MON era, roll on Vienna.
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Some of the best football i've seen from us in a while, Albrighton was outstanding and could be something special
Flip side, West Ham were abysmal and Carew was typical Carew. How many could we have scored.
Still, the future looks a lot brighter than we may have thought.
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Is Clark the most composed noob ever?
What a top display. Well done that lad.
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Great performance today and especially by Albrighton, definitely a future star! It's been quite some time since seeing Villa play with such attacking intent.
Maybe Kevin MacDonald should be given the job full-time?
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Chuffed with the performance. West Ham aside the team played some outstanding football and the signs are very promising for the future. Albrighton & Clarke will have had a massive boost from that game. 3 goals and a clean sheet, bring on Rapid.
Milner could have let the game pass him by to avoid injury and scupper his potential move but he played his heart out and deserved the ovation when he went off.
The black clouds will have been lifted today.
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I know there were only few minutes left but it was good to see weimann reo and bannan brought on once victory was secured
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Oh, and yes, Wrist Ham were terrible. But we made them look terrible. It wasn't all about flare and style, we pushed them hard when they had the ball.
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How did Luke Young play?
Very well. Nothing to defend so he supported the wing play well.
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How did Luke Young play?
I thought he was inconsistent, took up good positions in attack and didn't dive in so much in defence, but didn't use the ball well - was our prime hoofer to the big man during the middle of the first half. An area we could improve upon still, I think.
One statistic stands out, other than the goals: possession, 59%. That is domination.
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Well done Super Kev, Marc Albrighton and the rest of the lads, even Jimmy Milner. You actually made me thoroughly enjoy watching Villa today, which is something I haven't been able to say for ages.
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Great display.
Open attacking football and great to see all the young uns getting a run out.
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Excellent. Echo all of the above about Albrighton, but Clark was very comfortable at the back. Whenever he was caught out of position he recovered quickly. Must be lovely having Dunne stood beside you though. Good reception for Milly as well, that was nice to see, shame if he does go, let's hope Ireland sticks out for that £2mill.
All in all a good day to be a Villa fan. Nice to be beating Gold and Sullivan again isn't it? Should have stuck with Zola shouldn't you?
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Some outstanding performances today.
Don't want to go overboard with Albrighton, as he was up against a debutant fullback today.
But fcuk me, he looks like he has the lot.
Slight downsides would be a struggling performance from Warnock again, who still doesn't look like the player he was for the first part of the last campaign.
And an almost Fashanu-esque performance from JC.
But the positives far outweigh the downsides today.
Milner looks like he is going to be hard to replace -but then we knew that already. The new look midfield with him in it, Ash in the hole and Albrighton out wide looks well balanced. The concern would be if Milner departs and Ireland comes in that (a) we'll need a new CM and (b) Ireland's best form for Citeh is just off the striker- where Ash played today.
But these are concerns for another time.
Newcastle next week will be a decent test. Beatable opponents on paper, but I'd wager they'll be more up for it than West Ham today.
Hope RL doesn't rush into anything re Kevin Mac either. Give him at least a run of games to see if he can replicate that impact today. If he does -great. If not, at least we'll have bought more time to source a replacement.
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For fucks sake. I worked a night shift last night so told my girlfriend to wake me up at 2pm today. She fucking forgot didn't she >:(
So pissed off.
Still sounds like a great performance, especially from the youngsters. Did Delfouneso play at all?
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From the Brazilian jury!!
I wanted to post this on the match thread - but did not dare to! This is the F...... first game i have watch Villa play in Brazil and they won!!! GET IT!
Martin who? The only Martin i know is Laursen!
Milner - thank you. Did yourself proud today - and thanks for that goal - but it only was because....
That the effin Albrighton had a say in all 3 goals....What a player - what a performance - and what fantastic applause he had going off...that has to be his finest hour ...i would have cried if Villa park did that to me.
Clark - you were great...not a foot wrong, and looked like the most composed centerback i have seen. How about that backheader to Friedel in first half....under pressure? who?
And Ash Young - never seen such a workrate from him before.
All i can say now is - no need to look for a manager. The players have today shown they want to play for Kevin...
And heres for more cachaca caipirinha e cerveza!!!!
Saude Villa - e muito obrigado.
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I'd say that display from Albrighton is one we'll look back on when he's an england regular and say how obvious it was he was going to make it. Absolutely fantastic performance.
Very good from the whole team, I say albrighton, milner, downing and ash all have a strong case for Motm as well, excellent display from all of them which led to us looking dangerous every time we went forward.
I haven't seen the stats yet but I'd say about 25 shots, at least 10 on target and it must've been 16-17 corners as well, just a shame the performance didn't get the big scoreline it deserved, I don't think anyone could've had complaints if we'd got 6 or 7.
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Oh - and to order a new Villa shirt (sometime in december ;) ) with no 12 and Albrighton!!!!!
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Couldn't ask for much more than that really, passing, movement, ball retention, creativity all much improved and there was a freedom and confidence about our play that has been missing, it was as if the shackles had been taken off. I always thought our players were better than they were being allowed to show. We didn't let West Ham play for most of the game. Well done Kevin Mac for a bold team selection and approach, even if some changes were forced by injury. For the first time in ages I thoroughly enjoyed watching us play.
If there is a minor downside it's that we wasted a lot of chances, especially Carew, and should have had at least 6. But today is not a day to dwell on that, let's enjoy the new dawn.
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Edvard liked it! :)
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WHU were awful. We should've had several hat-loads today. Carew seemed to have a stinker. And where would Ireland play when Ashley looks so comfortable playing off the striker?
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WHU were awful. We should've had several hat-loads today. Carew seemed to have a stinker. And where would Ireland play when Ashley looks so comfortable playing off the striker?
In Milner's place?
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WHU were awful. We should've had several hat-loads today. Carew seemed to have a stinker. And where would Ireland play when Ashley looks so comfortable playing off the striker?
In Milner's place?
Yes, as long as we keep possession like we did today. What we need is a better deep midfielder than NRC or, indeed, Sidwell. It's all about the squad.
The great thing about fluidity is that, at its best, all the attacking midfielders essentially play the free role.
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Would be a pretty lightweight midfield with Petrov and Ireland holding the fort in the centre.
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Listened on absolute radio - Phil Brown obsessed over Clarke so assuming he had good game and Albrighton sounded awesome at times, esp. for Milner goal.
Great to see the youngens get a game!
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Just saw this on the Beeb website.
Former Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel on Twitter: "Outstanding performance by Aston Villa! Delighted for Kevin McDonald he has done an incredible job for the Villa youngsters over the years!"
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JPA posted that 6 minutes ago, they don't waste much time do they?
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Just got in the car, well what can I say? Absolutely outstanding, the passing and movement was a joy to watch, i know its easy to get carried away but after the brand of football we've been playing for the past few years it really was a breath of fresh air today, oh and one last thing, Marc Albrighton.... We've unearthed a gem!
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Le Tissier waxing lyrical about Albrighton.
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Listened on absolute radio - Phil Brown obsessed over Clarke so assuming he had good game and Albrighton sounded awesome at times, esp. for Milner goal.
Great to see the youngens get a game!
The commentator here couldn't stop praising Albrighton and Clark - and rightly so.
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That was the sexiest football I have ever seen.
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Edvard liked it! :)
Why do you think that?
I am sooooo happy. Mother inlaw was here, and i told her not to speak, and drank shots partying during the game hehe. Wife did not like that :) but i told her, we have our priorities inorder in my family....1 Villa 2 the rest
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Listened on absolute radio - Phil Brown obsessed over Clarke so assuming he had good game and Albrighton sounded awesome at times, esp. for Milner goal.
Great to see the youngens get a game!
The commentator here couldn't stop praising Albrighton and Clark - and rightly so.
Agreed. The stand-out pair by a mile.
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I really can't wait to see the write-ups on albrighton tomorrow, I reckon the kid is going to have to buy a fair few picture frames to mount the back pages in.
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Just saw this on the Beeb website.
Former Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel on Twitter: "Outstanding performance by Aston Villa! Delighted for Kevin McDonald he has done an incredible job for the Villa youngsters over the years!"
i really love Angel! He is a villain. I specially remember my first villa game, where he missed a penalty and made an own goal. After the game i spoke to him, and had a picture with him. So strong to come out to see the fans after that - only a good person would show his face in public after a nightmare like that. (i think i will twit this to him)
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I was sure that with the likes of A. Young, Downing, Petrov ad Milner we had the potential to play an entertaining, passing, attacking football. The problem is that under MON this potential remained repressed under his defensive and long ball tactics.
And a bit of fresh air with Albrighton, who seems to be an outstanding right winger, and Clark.
Big mac deserves a chance.
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Strange weather at Villa Park today ;D
Superb performance. Downing & Young were very good and very creative.
Carew would have had a hat trick on another day.
Petrov worked his socks off and showed some very nice touches.
Albrighton was superb. MOTM IMO. Very energetic and full of tricks.
Well done McDonald. He got everything spot on today.
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with Collins and Cuellar still to come, the competition for the defence is going to be fierce.
petrov ireland midfield combo looks good but its a bit lightweight. We need another hard tackling midfielder. Reo Coker looks unfit.
With Gabby Weimann and the Fonz, maybe its best to wait till we move for a new striker. I think Heskeys days are numbered.
Of the big wage earners i reckon Davies, one of Sidwell/Reo Coker, Heskey should be released.
Luke Young has to stay, specially since we need backup for warnock as well.
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Luke Young did well today, made some good runs forward. We've missed that.
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Just back from the game. In haste.A cracking game, performance and result. Even Stan woke up now that he realises he might have to earn his place.
Albrighton was superb, Clark played well, and I was delighted for Milner to get the goal.
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Greetings from Cumbre Del Sol!
Followed it on Sky in the bar here out on the Costa Blanca with a few other Villa fans - my Villa beach towel was flying proudly by the pool afterwards
Great day, looking forward to seeing it later as our apartment tele has Sky and BBC
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with Collins and Cuellar still to come, the competition for the defence is going to be fierce.
petrov ireland midfield combo looks good but its a bit lightweight. We need another hard tackling midfielder. Reo Coker looks unfit.
With Gabby Weimann and the Fonz, maybe its best to wait till we move for a new striker. I think Heskeys days are numbered.
Of the big wage earners i reckon Davies, one of Sidwell/Reo Coker, Heskey should be released.
Luke Young has to stay, specially since we need backup for warnock as well.
I think Curtis Davies is another player who was short changed by MON. I think he deserves another chance to see what he could do. Otherwise I agree with you.
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It was great to see movement from players that didn't have the ball. It makes it so much easier to play a flowing type of football and take weaker teams apart.
Although Luke Young is not the best fullback in the world, he does understand how to create space by moving off the ball.
Some very good performances and there was plenty of energy all over the pitch.
We did lapse into some of our bad habits at times but that is for another day.
Great to see Kevin Mac taking off 3 players who had played well to receive standing ovations. He had the presence of mind to do that in the heat of the match so that the players could take the plaudits rather than him. Would MON have done the same.
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Oh and another good thing - Weimann came on, and not Heskey. Which i from now on will call hesgo
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I bet Randy enjoyed that today too
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The only doubt I have after today is whether or not we should let Legion start a Match Thread again?
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I bet Randy enjoyed that today too
I bet he had to change shorts after. I would have.
I say KM for boss
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We are Game of the day on Sky Sports for anyone interested in seeing the whole 90 mins.
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I haven't enjoyed a league game and felt as positive about the Villa like this since the Sheffield United game in 2006.
Caveat - West Ham were shite, BUT it was great to see the movement the Villa players had, loads of invention and skill. The performance of them all was good (except for Carew who should have had a hattrick), but as others have mentioned, the team seemed to be played with a freedom and joy completely absent from MON teams. Petrov was fantastic, Milner was great (fair play to him for a performance like that - classy guy), Ash excelled, it was great to see L Young do things Cuellar can't even dream of at RB, Downing looked good, Warnock back to good form.
But Albrighton and Clarke stood out for me, especially Albrighton. Not only does he look 'ready' for this level, he looks like he is going to be a future England international. If he is this good now, he must have been ready most of last season - did MON even watch the reserves?
It also feels so good to think we've got Gabby, Delph, Collins and Cuellar to come back into the squad too, and maybe the addition of Ireland (allbeit at Milner's expense).
I'd feel quite confident letting Kevin Mac have the rest of the season as manager, if he wanted it, even though I know there will be far tougher games ahead, and then the Villa directors looking at the situation next summer when some of those more famous and better managers may be more available than they appear to be right now. At least in a KM team we'll show a tactical fluidity that MON did not possess, and see some of the youngsters get some experience and hopefully progress a little.
It also backs up the claims by some of us who claimed that the squad was far more technically gifted than MON's tactics allowed them to show. Without those shackles and tactics based on fear and kick-and-rush the lads demonstrated today a possible vision of the future.
It should have been 5 or 6 - 0.
MON is a footballing neanderthal.
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Never!
The only doubt I have after today is whether or not we should let Legion start a Match Thread again?
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Absolutely fantastic game. The best one I've been to since the Blackburn 6-4. What an inspired decision by me to get a season ticket for the first time this year!! ha ha
Seriously, it was like a cloud had been lifted from the players. It was so refreshing to see some free-flowing slick football for once. Albrighton was immense, the lad is going to have a great season I reckon. Nice to see a player take people on, and the majority of the time, skin them. Clark did a great job at the back, and Milner played very well. Very professional performance by him. Will be a shame to see him go, but if we get someone of the ilk of Ireland, I suspect they can fill his shoes.
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Wow. Performance and a half from Villa.
Stand outs for me.
Luke Young - got forward well and helped Albrighton have such a good game.
James Milner - felt quite sad as he went off to his deserved ovation. Industry was superb, passing range was a notch above the rest of the side, spotted and played Albrighton in early a number of times, and he took his goal brilliantly. Ireland certainly won't replace his workrate, tenacity and ability to cover behind Petrov. Showed exctly why we wil mis him so much, and having seen City earlier, he will walk into their team.
Ash - Great game and refreshing - played well there a couple of years ago and looks very effective now.
Star - Albrighton. Crossing great, workrate good, control superb and his technique for the volley to create the first was exceptional.
Clarke - struggled in the mad rainstorm, but otherwise looked great.
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Let’s not go mad about beating a very poor West Ham side.
But let’s celebrate the fact that we didn’t just beat them, we really beat them. We’re in a different league to them and boy could you tell today! Passing, movement off the ball, width, Young floating everywhere, full backs bombing on, Petrov not being knackered, Big John completing the 90 and looking like a beast. How didn’t he get a hat-trick?! Clacker at the back looking as steady as a veteran. Superb.
I was entertained today.
Viva Albrighton!
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Let’s not go mad about beating a very poor West Ham side.
I was entertained today.
True but we also made them look poor.
You should have read my warning in the pre-match thread Ads - "Be prepared to be entertained". (winky)
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Most convincing win at Villa Park for a good few years. No panic at the end, no stupid goals conceded, great attractive football.
Onwards and upwards!
UTV
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We have to be careful not to get carried away after one game, and West Ham may have been woeful but that was the best passing and moving I've seen from a Villa team since the days of Ron Atkinson. The football was scintillating at times. Without exageration it could have been double figures. We hit the woodwork four times and Green made several good saves. Well done to Kevin MacDonald for being so tactically brave, and to every player for justifying his decisions. I've not felt so upbeat about a Villa performance for a long, long time.
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Clacker at the back ....
I know its a typo, but that's a great name for someone.
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Very good indeed! Really enjoyed watching that - and it's been a while since I could say that!
It's daft to go too over the top on one game, but it certainly showed that we have a good set of players here that I think any new manager will be very pleased to have. Really promising.
The downside? Well, Milner showed just what he does offer to a team; we will have to work hard to replace him.
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Milner has only played 23 minutes (England mid-week) since the World Cup, that guy is immense, I will miss him! :'(
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Brilliant stuff. Nice, flowing football. Bright, confident, movement. We had players looking like they wanted to play good stuff. Seriously, that was the best display I've seen at Villa park against bottom 14 opposition for years. Those games when we can't play counter attack football under O Neill, we struggled so much. But we kept the ball nicely today, worked it, and Ash's movement tore them apart.
Had Carew brought his shooting boots (and forehead) he'd have scored 3-4.
Give Kevin the job. He's got the right idea about blooding the youth and playing football.
Friedel- 7: Tidy. Nothing much to worry him except his shirt.
Luke Young- 8: Back to his best. Excellent. Looks confident. Doubt he was an O Neill fan to be honest (understatement).
Clark-8: Brilliantly assured. The lad looks composed but most impressive, is his reading of the game. What a prospect.
Dunne- 7: The organiser. Solid game, little to worry him.
Warnock- 8: Tireless, industrious and adventurous.
Albrighton- 10: MOM- Just quality. Really looks a prospect. Not only for us, but potentially for England. Look equally good on either flank.
Petrov- 8: Love him. He sat back and orchestrated proceedings wonderfully. And he didn't have to run himself into the ground either, thanks to a neat formation and a more tactically astute style than last season.
Milner- 9: You know what? Class, class act. If this was Jimmy's last game, what a sign off. He's managed to wipe away the negativity out of my brain with this. Showed what a great attitude he has. I don't think he's joining City for the money now. Genuinely don't. He probably feels he'll push for the title there I guess. But if the deal falls flat, do we need to worry about his effort? No chance. Top lad, and cracking player. I hope he stays, but otherwise, I wish him well and no hard feelings. Barry certainly didn't maintain his levels in his final season that's for sure.
Downing- 8: Welcome to Villa park Stewie! Methinks you may have arrived. Excellent display.
Young- 8: Menace. Moving to a free role behind a forward will be the making of him.
Carew- 7: Did everything right except the finishing, which is normally a strong point for Big John. But importantly, he's the knack of getting into the right positions. Still so key for us. Love the guy and fully expect him to easily surpass double figures as usual.
Kevin Mac- Aston Brazilla! I'd love him to get the gig for half a season to test him. But we played without pressure, and were given license to express ourselves. Our reserves have always excelled, as have our youth, and Macca's a big reason for that. The also-rans have played plenty for him and so have many of the youngsters. I think of our current squad, he could get the best out of a lot of forgotton and emerging players.
Plus we had the game won, and he brought a couple of youngster on for game time, something O Neill just didn't often seem willing to do. Good to see 3 subs being made today. I don't think he'll shirk changes when needed.
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Was Carew on drugs today ?
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I haven't done one of these in a while:
FRIEDEL - Very little to do, but when called upon was solid - 7
LUKE YOUNG - Defended adequately and supported the attack when he could. He can be caught out of position a little, but he doesn give us options going forward - 7
WARNOCK - I thought he was excellent. Completely revived, partly because West Ham had nothing down the right. He did almost everything well - 8
DUNNE/CLARK - I'm going to rate these two together because you couldn't tell who was the older wiser head. They worked well together and neither looked that troubled. Only once did they pulled out of position when Faubert should have scored - 7 each
PETROV - As competent as I've seen Stan. He was given licence to get forward and it closed the gaps in our midfield. Having a more compact midfield meant West Ham had very little space to work in. He also looked a little more like the player he saw at Celtic arriving late in the box and scoring a cracking goal - 8
ASH - Involved in everything, everywhere. He is our best player is marked man for good reason. We need him massively and he makes us tick. Had he got a goal he'd score higher and he came close to doing that - 8
ALBRIGHTON - What can I say? He was so very impressive. Worked so hard, chased everything and gave the full back a torrid time. Wanted the ball, very, very confident and deserved a goal. Excellent display - 9
DOWNING - There's more to come from Downing. I think we all know that because he's been a shadow of himself since joining the club. Took his goal very well, and could have scored again with a sublime bit of skill that hit the bar. He played very well, but there is more to come - 8
MILNER - Fair fucking play. He was the James Milner that we all know and love, and he'll be big loss. Ireland is an excellent replacement mid you and he'll have big boots to fill - 8
CAREW - His sights weren't aligned today. On another day he'd have scored 5. He bullied the West Ham defenders and was at times unplayable. REally deserved a goal, and he'll be having the piss taken out of him for that header. PLayed very well indeed - 8
Subs didn't play long enough to rate
Kevin Mac, Sid and Tony McAndrew - it's been a very tough week, and they did a top job in getting the boys ready. Well done!! - 10
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Last sentence of the BBC report sums it up for me.
"There was plenty here to suggest that if the midfielder (Milner) does leave, Villa have the talent to thrive without him. "
Great performance all round. Yes WHam were shit but we've drawn with and even lost to teams just as bad in the past when we haven't played to our strengths.
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One thing I would like to say is full credit to the players today, they just showed exactly how most of them feel and made it relatively easy for Kevin McDonald.
They obviously need to carry this passion and commitment onto the next game!
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The way they played has made me think a little harder about MON and what was going on behind the scenes. Probably for another day.
Would agree with Supertom and Toronto's ratings
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Clacker at the back ....
I know its a typo, but that's a great name for someone.
Its not a typo! I was calling him Clacker all game.
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One thing I would like to say is full credit to the players today, they just showed exactly how most of them feel and made it relatively easy for Kevin McDonald.
They obviously need to carry this passion and commitment onto the next game!
I'd say it's a two-way thing, Achilles. You're spot on with your last line.
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Haven't seen any of the game today, but looking forward to seeing it on Sky later, sounds like a brilliant display. I know it's "only" West Ham, but we're stuggled against teams like them at home in the past, so to play them off the park today bodes well for the future. Particularly looking forward to seeing Albrighton's performance.
One thing, I see Davies wasn't in the squad, was he injured? If not that must mean his Villa career is over.
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I wonder if Heskey had missed all the chances and played like Carew today, would he be given 7 or 8 out of 10?
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Haven't seen any of the game today, but looking forward to seeing it on Sky later, sounds like a brilliant display. I know it's "only" West Ham, but we're stuggled against teams like them at home in the past, so to play them off the park today bodes well for the future. Particularly looking forward to seeing Albrighton's performance.
One thing, I see Davies wasn't in the squad, was he injured? If not that must mean his Villa career is over.
Risso after last seasons, turgid, uninspiring, unadventureous and panicked performances, you're in for a REAL treat. I know it's easy to get carried away and im convinced some of it was down to West ham being poor and sheer adrenalian from the events of the week, however make no mistake this was some 90 mins. Best I have seen in a long long time. I kept looking at the clock willing it not to be over.
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Haven't seen any of the game today, but looking forward to seeing it on Sky later, sounds like a brilliant display. I know it's "only" West Ham, but we're stuggled against teams like them at home in the past, so to play them off the park today bodes well for the future. Particularly looking forward to seeing Albrighton's performance.
One thing, I see Davies wasn't in the squad, was he injured? If not that must mean his Villa career is over.
Davies was injured Risso. We were magnificent.
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I wonder if Heskey had missed all the chances and played like Carew today, would he be given 7 or 8 out of 10?
To be fair, he'd not have been in half the positions JC got himself into, nor fashioned as many chances for himself.
I could see JC spanking a few in against Vienna after a frustrating day today. He was brilliant, finishing aside.
To be fair to Heskey, playing today, the way we were playing football, might have suited him more. I think he'd hve done okay.
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Had a very enjoyable afternoon watching it on Setanta despite that over-weight eejit Pat Dolan sticking-up for his pal MON a bit too much during the analysis of the game.
Great, controlled display. We were maybe a bit fortunate that West Ham showed us too much respect at the outset - they are a half-decent team but they need Parker to be arsed which he wasn't for much of today.
Albrighton's confidence grew enormously as the game went on. Lovely sleight of foot and dinking the ball back to beat his marker - he's also I feel more reliable with the quick whipped ball than Young or Downing. Is he a bit too right-footed or does it matter? Milner took his goal brilliantly but the ingenuity to make the chance was all down to the young Tamworth lad.
Ciaran Clarke was composed and I would be prett happy if he and Dunne were given a run of games together. A real shame that the centre of defence is an area where we have huge competition for places, it would be unfair if he disappears from the first team for the rest of the season like after he played against Fulham last season.
Carew had a bit of a mare but should have got a penalty the time he hit both posts. Was being pulled and pushed all over the place.
Petrov showed what he's capable of in an attacking sense. Our midfield and forward formation was spot-on today. A shame in a way that Gabby has to return and Milner is off.
Interesting that Bananaman and Weeman both came on. Allied to Clarke and Albrighton's displays it almost felt as if Kevin Mac was making a point to MON. Speaking of O'Neill, I couldn't help feel a bit sorry for him. Watching that performance, I think the regrets will start. As some have alluded to, it was our most vibrant, dominant display at home probably since the last home game of 2006/07 against Sheffield United.
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Had a very enjoyable afternoon watching it on Setanta despite that over-weight eejit Pat Dolan sticking-up for his pal MON a bit too much during the analysis of the game.
Great, controlled display. We were maybe a bit fortunate that West Ham showed us too much respect at the outset - they are a half-decent team but they need Parker to be arsed which he wasn't for much of today.
Albrighton's confidence grew enormously as the game went on. Lovely sleight of foot and dinking the ball back to beat his marker - he's also I feel more reliable with the quick whipped ball than Young or Downing. Is he a bit too right-footed or does it matter? Milner took his goal brilliantly but the ingenuity to make the chance was all down to the young Tamworth lad.
Ciaran Clarke was composed and I would be prett happy if he and Dunne were given a run of games together. A real shame that the centre of defence is an area where we have huge competition for places, it would be unfair if he disappears from the first team for the rest of the season like after he played against Fulham last season.
Carew had a bit of a mare but should have got a penalty the time he hit both posts. Was being pulled and pushed all over the place.
Petrov showed what he's capable of in an attacking sense. Our midfield and forward formation was spot-on today. A shame in a way that Gabby has to return and Milner is off.
Interesting that Bananaman and Weeman both came on. Allied to Clarke and Albrighton's displays it almost felt as if Kevin Mac was making a point to MON. Speaking of O'Neill, I couldn't help feel a bit sorry for him. Watching that performance, I think the regrets will start. As some have alluded to, it was our most vibrant, dominant display at home probably since the last home game of 2006/07 against Sheffield United.
Thing is Eamonn I can almost guarantee we wouldn't have seen that display had M'ON been in charge.
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It almost seemed Milner was embarrassed to still be on the pitch for us. He kept quiet and had his head down the whole game. Even when he scored he was subdued.
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I really hope O Neill is regretting walking away. I'll be most interested to see where he turns up next too.
As for ourselves, the future looks bright. We've got the players capable of playing decent football, and we showed it today. Downing was a different player today.
I'm in such a good mood now, and I wasn't expecting to be this morning, that's for sure. Cheers Kev, and cheers boys!
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Not long got back and haven't read all the comments on here.
What a thoroughly enjoyable game that was.
It feels like a cloud has been lifted (except during that horrible thunder storm). The players seemed to be enjoying their game.
I'm back in love with football again.
Oh, and well done Albrighton - my Man of the Match.
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Anyone know what's game of the day on SKY tonight?
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We are, someone said it earlier in the thread.
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Haven't seen any of the game today, but looking forward to seeing it on Sky later, sounds like a brilliant display. I know it's "only" West Ham, but we're stuggled against teams like them at home in the past, so to play them off the park today bodes well for the future. Particularly looking forward to seeing Albrighton's performance.
One thing, I see Davies wasn't in the squad, was he injured? If not that must mean his Villa career is over.
Risso, be prepared to have a very wide smile on your mug at the end of the game.
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Anyone know what's game of the day on SKY tonight?
Villa v West Ham
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Would be a pretty lightweight midfield with Petrov and Ireland holding the fort in the centre.
That's why they either need to play NRC as a midfield three or get a new midfield enforcer ... could be Delph when fit.
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Really enjoyed that. If Carew was on fire that could have been 6-0 or more. Just what we all needed... an excellent win, youngsters involved, a right back at right back and the weirdest weather!
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Im off out, im n a rush so I'll say this quickly
Absolutely excellent, Im delighted also annoyed that I said 3-0 and didnt have a bet :(
I'll take that though cos I had the best day down VP i've had in 3 years
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Allbrighton looks like the new Beckham; except with pace.
The challenge: with his ability to whip the ball into the 6-yard box we need a decent striker who can get there. Carew's ambling-around style doesn't do it. He was crap today.
I do think that it will suit Delfouneso and Gabby when fit, though.
Good all-round perofrmance today against an abject WHU.
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Haven't seen any of the game today, but looking forward to seeing it on Sky later, sounds like a brilliant display. I know it's "only" West Ham, but we're stuggled against teams like them at home in the past, so to play them off the park today bodes well for the future. Particularly looking forward to seeing Albrighton's performance.
One thing, I see Davies wasn't in the squad, was he injured? If not that must mean his Villa career is over.
Risso, be prepared to have a very wide smile on your mug at the end of the game.
and have a very large glass of something to celebrate the end of dross and the start of a new era.
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Not long back but what a really enjoyable game to watch.
We had a much better balance to the side playing full backs at full back. Also we left 2 up for West ham corners which forced them to leave 3 back.
Never understood why MON wanted everybody back at corners as there was never an out ball.
Real shame Milner is going because with the inclusion of the youngsters and a change in tactics we would be a better team than last year.
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Bit of a delayed return from VP. All I can say is that it was a real pleasure watching them today. I have not felt so good about us since the football palyed by BFR's team.West Ham were rubbish but may be they couldn't keep up with us. Green made some fantastic saves.
I can not find anything wrong with performance from any of our players except may be big John could and should have scored a hatrick.
Marc Albrighton superb and it was good the way Milner went up to him at kick off to encourage him.
Milner himself had a very good match. I was even pleased with Downing. At times the way crosses came into WH penalty area it was pure relentless bombardment.
Clark made a couple od positional errors in the first quarter but hardly put a foot wrong after that.
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We had a much better balance to the side playing full backs at full back. Also we left 2 up for West ham corners which forced them to leave 3 back.
Never understood why defending teams pull all 10 back to defend corners. Leaving 2 or 3 up means their defenders had to stay back.
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What's the betting Man City come calling for Marc Albrighton in 12 months time? Great display today - really surprised me. What really stood out was our retention of the ball. Cuellar cannot return at RB - he's a centre back! I'm glad that Luke Young has a chance again - MON would've sold him and we'd be watching Cuellar again out of position at RB. Shame Jimmy will be gone next week - he's a true professional. But, Ireland will be good - I'd ask for Bellamy as well plus £10M!
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From the Brazilian jury!!
And heres for more cachaca caipirinha e cerveza!!!!
Saude Villa - e muito obrigado.
Oh YES! ;D ;D
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Best Villa display in ages ..... Albrighton was 'George Best like' - and Downing, ffs, how good was he ? - can we have that every week please ?
Fantastique.
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We've got our club back. We're no longer Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa.
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Best start of season match since Sheff Wed away 3-2 under BFR.Probably better.Felt a tingle every time Albrighton got the ball and well done the crowd for the fantastic ovation for Milner when he went off.I hope he is feeling small and churlish for going to Citeh,but then he didn`t when he left his beloved Leeds.
Fanfuckingtastic football.
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the MON fans who would say "you don't know what you've got til it's gone" when I previously complained about his management have proved themselves right. However not in the way they'd have thought. We looked like a different team today playing with more freedom and enjoyment. MON lost my confidence for what it was worth around Feb 2009. However even though I hadn't fully supported him and questioned a number of decisions he made, I didn't think the way he managed the club was an inept as it seems to have been. Of course, one result proves nothing. WHU were poor. However the performance from the players seems to represent the feelings of the fans too. Excitement and happy that the dictator has left. Long may the feel good factor continue.
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We've got our club back. We're no longer Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa.
It was wonderfully refreshing.
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We've got our club back. We're no longer Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa.
Oh how true is that? I felt so different when I arrived at the ground, when I was in the Holte Suite and then sat in my seat. I didn't feel as though I was intruding. Long may this continue.
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We haven't even got a manager and it's already better than it was before.
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That was what I imagined it was like for people who managed to escape East Germany in the 1970s. Melodramatic, I know, but what a difference.
We looked confident in possession, our movement off the ball was excellent, some of our passing was truly top drawer, we had imagination, inventiveness and, but for a little more composure from Carew, and luck with the woodwork, we really should have won 6-0 at the very least.
I know West Ham were shite, but how refreshing to see us play like that again.
I thought Clark looked composed alongside Dunne. Albrighton will be giving that full back nightmares for weeks to come. Downing I thought did excellently, and Milner was all over the pitch.
Other nice thing to see: the lack of Sidwell on 75 minutes, players taking tactical advice on the touchline, and no Heskey anywhere to be seen
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We've got our club back. We're no longer Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa.
Oh how true is that? I felt so different when I arrived at the ground, when I was in the Holte Suite and then sat in my seat. I didn't feel as though I was intruding. Long may this continue.
I enjoyed it again. I wasn't predictable. It was fun.
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I bet Man City's Representatives were at the game today and will now push the deal through after a super display by Jimmy. I bet they noted Marc Albrighton's performance as well - I just hope it doesn't become an annual thing with them poaching our best players! Would now like the Fonz to be given a chance like Marc has. Don't forget Fabian Delph will be ready in about 7 or 8 weeks - we may as well play these youngsters - they are indeed a like breath of fresh air.
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(http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy191/villan2010/downing.jpg)
That`s what scoring a goal feels like!
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Good picture, that. I thought Downing was excellent this afternoon, the most complete performance from him by a stretch, from what I saw. Such a promising afternoon all round.
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Unpredictable too.
For example, corners, not all of them were pumped into the box aimed at Dunnie, they were varied.
Wets Ham were shyte,but we made them shyte, and to see the team playing like they enjoyed it is great to see.
Like most Villa fans, it's hard to get carried away, but Martin is the past, we have a future and I am thinking tonight that it is a bright one.
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Don't forget Fabian Delph will be ready in about 7 or 8 weeks
I think it's going to be longer than that. In an interview in June he said "I’m going to get back towards the end of the season and then it should take a couple of months before I get the sharpness back."
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Oh, and I also think Robert Green looks like he has "gone", lost the confidence entirely. Worse than Carson after Croatia.
Thought it was harsh (if predictable) that he got all that booing today, too.
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Intriguing that Delf wasn't on the bench. I read a McAndrew quote before the game saying how Albrighton and Clark had done really well, and Delf too 'up to a point'.
Was this a kick up the backside? A lack of faith? Or just a coincidence with Delf being unfit?
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Just back.
Can't remember that last time we played as well as that on opening day.
If Downing and Albrighton keep that up then we'll be fending off £30m bids for them from Man City next summer.
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Oh, and I also think Robert Green looks like he has "gone", lost the confidence entirely. Worse than Carson after Croatia.
Thought it was harsh (if predictable) that he got all that booing today, too.
Barry got the same at WHL.
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Not read any of the thread.
A pleasure to attend VP today, we played some fantastic football and if we scored 6 or 7 it would have been deserved.
Good that 3 midfielders scored the goals and the future looks promising in the form of Albrighton, who rightly so will get a lot of plaudits and Clark, who i thought showed composure on the ball and he wasn't affraid to boss the other defenders around despite his tender years.
I felt quite sad as Milner went off to a standing ovation, its a shame that he no longer wants to be part of the setup as we will miss his energy and all round contribution, as usual he was everywhere today and capped a fine performance with a deserved goal. Lets hope Ireland can bring something similar to the party.
West Ham were poor but you can only beat what is infront of you and the signs were very encouraging.
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Just got back home....smiled all the way, even when we passed the Cardiff supporters coaches giving em the appropriate gestures
WELL DONE LADS
COME ON !!!
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(http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy191/villan2010/green.jpg)
Raining on Robert Green`s parade.
BOOOOOOOOO!
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Excellent performance. If JC had had his eye in and if Stewie had had some luck, Villa might have matched Chelsea's 6 goals
Albrighton was MoTM for me, just edging Stewie.
Good ovation for James has he went off. He'll be missed. It'll be interesting to see how he takes to playing one game in every two/three at Man City rather than being a guaranteed starter
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Just got back into London Bridge, having been surrounded by Cockneys the whole way back. They were giving it the full barra boys on a jolly this morning at Euston, but they were unbelievably subdued the whole way back.
They knew they weren't just beaten, they were utterly taken apart.
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Intriguing that Delf wasn't on the bench. I read a McAndrew quote before the game saying how Albrighton and Clark had done really well, and Delf too 'up to a point'.
Was this a kick up the backside? A lack of faith? Or just a coincidence with Delf being unfit?
The post match comments from MacDonald stated that Weimann was the man on form after bagging a few goals in pre-season and that Delf is a confidence player. Sidwell was left out with an injury.
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Delighted with the performance and result today. Exactly what we needed. Also glad the media can't pile more doom and gloom onto us. They would have loved us to lose.
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We've got our club back. We're no longer Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa.
Dad said something similar - how nice it was to see a calm manager on the touchline, instead of a frenetic nutjob.
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Misery that I am, I expected us to get outplayed and stuff by West Ham. How wrong I was, absolutely awesome - more of the same please, haven't seen us play that well for a while.
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This is a beautiful match I have really enjoyed it. I love it. Good riddance to a dinosaur called MON.
I want beautiful and entertaining football play properly. That is it. Now let hope JM decided to stay after the strong standing ovation. I think John Carew will score a hat trick against Newcastle United at St James Park :)
Marc is Tamworth version of Lionel Messi :)
I had a flat battery after the game and still is smiling :)
I predict a 90 millions pound bid from the small rich club for him in 2 years time.
Let go for the title :)
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It actually showed today how much M'ON was weighing down on everyone at that club. Now I appreciate he did some good things for a while at Villa, but we clearly needed him gone.
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Even the neutral pundits are bigging us up as much as you lot on here, so we must have been good.
Glad that Albrighton played well, and Downing too. How significant was the formation shift? I have to say I hate a bog standard 4-4-2 but don't want to read too much into that without seeing the game.
West Ham sounded awful, so let's see how the next few games treat us. On the face of it, I do think Ireland could slot into that Milner position. Gabby can play in Carew's position too.
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We've got our club back. We're no longer Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa.
Sums everything up for me. Well said.
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Us playing at such a high-tempo with lots of energy and passion today consistently throghout the match... it's been a long time since we've played like that from the off. I'm enjoying our new 'style' of football already... even if it's just after 1 game. More of the same plz! :)
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Even the neutral pundits are bigging us up as much as you lot on here, so we must have been good.
Glad that Albrighton played well, and Downing too. How significant was the formation shift? I have to say I hate a bog standard 4-4-2 but don't want to read too much into that without seeing the game.
West Ham sounded awful, so let's see how the next few games treat us. On the face of it, I do think Ireland could slot into that Milner position. Gabby can play in Carew's position too.
I think we need to get out of this mindset that we can only play one way and only certain players will fit in with our style. A decent coach can get us to adapt our game plan each game, when required. We've been living in the dark ages for far too long.
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Thoroughly enjoyed the match. Villa were very positive from the off and some of the stuff we played in the second half in particular was a joy to watch.
Only negative for me was that Wet Spam didn't pull one back as I had a couple of quid on 3-1.
Keep up the form lads! Bring on Rapid!!
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it was good to see the new signings in shirts 19 (the attacking midfielder making runs into the box) and 6 (the set piece and delivery expert) putting in such a good show on their first day ;D
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i think this shows how devisive MON was, the attitude of the players and on here today, i agree entirely with the sentiment of Mr Woodhall.
I would much rather watch a team with enthusiasm and youth rather than results at all costs one dimensional attritional football MON served up
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Just back after the celebratory balti with VCTM jnr.
What can I say ? - Fan fucking Tastic
I kept saying that they played without shackles today and note that several other posters have said much the same.
Ithought Milner was fantastic - pity it may be his last in a Villa shirt - however if he does go , thanks James for all the effort you have put in for our club.
Everyone deserves a win bonus today - seriously it could have been eight .
Lets take the game to those Geordies next week.
Martin who ???????????
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I have had a smile on my face from the time downing scored.
Simply brilliant!
I only hope we can build on this and maintain that kind of mentality, even if results don't always go that way.
Albrighton was amazing, but it was nice to see Downing looking like a 12 million pound player.
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West Ham were terrible - why? Because we made them that way with our passing, spirit and team-work.
Speaking of which, for me that was the best all-round team performance since Ipswich at home 1993 - it had the lot, including Ciaran Clark's bulging Carlton Cole-filled pocket.
What a HAPPY team that bunch of lads looked today.
The Spammers were rank lucky to get away with 3-0.
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From the Brazilian jury!!
And heres for more cachaca caipirinha e cerveza!!!!
Saude Villa - e muito obrigado.
Oh YES! ;D ;D
Can you believe! I went to buy one more litr of cachaca (3£), and found an english pub - with only chelsea flags inside. Had my drink, and ran out. Going later for my first Brazilian game. America Natal vs some other team in seria B
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seeing milner play like that today, you wouldnt have thought he is involved in a transfer from the club!!!
for me, downing played well, as did the rest of the team, but Super Marc deserved MOTM - what we needed at times last season
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Martin who?
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What an enjoyable game that was. I really was wondering why I'd renewed my season ticket after the Valencia friendly. I was thinking it was going to be same old same old today but how wrong I was. I want to see us play with freedom like that at home. Even if it means finishing lower that we did last season, it is just nice to see some flowing football. It was the movement off the ball, the passing. We were so one dimensional under O'Neill. The fans knew what was coming and so did the opposition managers. MON has brought the club on, no doubt, but it was definately time for him to go. He was suffocating us. Happy days.
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Albrighton was superb today - you could tell in that second half he was really enjoying himself - I thought we looked a free team today - it was as thought MacDonald just told them to go out and enjoy themselves, cause that's what they did!
Well done boys.
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Randy'n'Paul have taken some stick in certain quarters this week. They deserve to have big smiles tonight.
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The applause that Milner got at the end, and the "There's only one Randy Lerner" chant, made me proud to be Villa.
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It looked as if West Ham had just lost their manager. Well done Villa!
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I really enjoyed today. I'm not sure I agree with everyone who says Carew was crap. I thought he caused problems.
The lads did great!
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just watched MOTD highlights, we looked pretty hot and Albrighton a very very exciting prospect. Great opening day and always nice to smash the kit stealers.
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After that I can't wait to see them at Newcastle next week - unfortunately though I can't go so if anyone wants a couple of tickets (£30 each) please PM me.
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Well that was a bit fucking good wasnt it?
Friedel - 6. The shirt said he was on safari or playing drums for Stryper and in truth he could have done both and still kept a clean sheet.
Young - 8. It's good to see him back where he belongs. Defended well and supported attacks. He was everywhere. Love him.
Dunne - 7. Typical performance from the big man.
Clark - 8. Told you so. :P
Warnock - 7. A little shakey at times but plenty of effort and some nice play.
Albrighton - 9. Told you so. :P
Petrov - 8. Outstanding all action display. Nice to see him breathing through his mouth after 70 minutes rather than his anus too.
Milner - 8. I know there probably isnt much chance of it but I cant help but hope he stays. He is genuinely loved at Villa, why throw all that away for some filthy lucre? Ireland would fit well in this team though so it wont be a disaster.
Downing - 8. All the better for having a full pre season... hahaha! Fuck off!
Young - 8. Ace in the free role.
Carew - 6. A willing outlet and a great target man but had he brought his shooting boots and head, he could have had a hattrick of hattricks.
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
That's what Heskey was supposed to be for. Carew's supposed to be the one who sticks them away.
To be fair, he was unlucky with a couple of chances but those two headers he should have buried, first game of the season or not.
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Carew worked hard throughout the game. He missed some chances but another time at least one of those will result in a goal.
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You're right there Maz
I said Milner would score onthe pre match thread-if only I was a gambling man!
We were very positive today and played with no fear
If we keep playing like that we can beat anyone
at times it was like we had 4 wingers-and Ive never seen petrov play so well and not just the amazing run for his goal,he was more positive
success is infectious
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Wonderful, just fucking wonderful.
With about 20 minutes to go I looked at the big screen which had the match stats on it, we had had 25 shots on goal at that point, fair to say that we had at least another five after that (at least). 30 attempts on goal is an attempt every three minutes (eat yer heart out Villadawg!), and that is entertainment in spades.
Clark - composed, pacey, willing to throw his body in the way of anything. That's a future £25m footballer we have there, what a prospect.
Albrighton - He'll come up against much better full backs, but I bet he won't care. Marvellous.
Milner - Thoroughly and utterly professional. I was amongst his critics over the Citeh stuff, but he put in a display that shows that above all, he is a footballer. I don't begrudge him his big money move now to be honest.
I had one of the best days today I have ever had, Villa won superbly, Tamworth won and are top of the league, the company in The Bartons was top notch, I got soaked but enjoyed my first time selling fanzines.
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We've got our club back. We're no longer Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa.
Dad said something similar - how nice it was to see a calm manager on the touchline, instead of a frenetic nutjob.
When O'Leary sat there calm, he got criticised. Some of the O'Neill bashing on here is ludicrous, do people really think that in five days we've completely changed our style of play?
Good performance today, Albrighton was awesome, he terrorised them.
With the lack of attractive available managers out there, I'd give Kevin Macdonald time to prove whether he's up to it, he certainly coaches teams with a winning mentality.
All round enjoyable day, even the crazy thunderstorm was entertaining.
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Some of the O'Neill bashing on here is ludicrous, do people really think that in five days we've completely changed our style of play?
That's exactly what I think.
Today was totally different, we held the ball, passed it superbly, and moved off the ball.
We looked to build things other than whacking the ball into the box hopefully, played with cohesion and shape, and played the opposition off the park.
It was entirely different to our home performances of the last two years (at least).
What was it at the end, 28 shots on goal?
I doubt we managed that many in our last five home games under MON.
I find it hard to believe that anyone could not have noticed the difference between the way we played today and the way we used to play at home under O'Neill, it was that different.
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I find it hard to believe that anyone could not have noticed the difference between the way we played today and the way we used to play at home under O'Neill, it was that different.
It was one game, we had some good home performances under O'Neill, we had more superb away performances admittedly, but we've had great home games too, 5-1 v Blues, Sheff Utd and even the 2-2 v The Arsenal when we absolutely battered them.
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I would love to see the stats of the number of passes we made today compared to against Blackburn on the final day.
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Some of the O'Neill bashing on here is ludicrous, do people really think that in five days we've completely changed our style of play?
Completely agree, it was completely different. It showed all of our players can play the passing and building game.
That's exactly what I think.
Today was totally different, we held the ball, passed it superbly, and moved off the ball.
We looked to build things other than whacking the ball into the box hopefully, played with cohesion and shape, and played the opposition off the park.
It was entirely different to our home performances of the last two years (at least).
What was it at the end, 28 shots on goal?
I doubt we managed that many in our last five home games under MON.
I find it hard to believe that anyone could not have noticed the difference between the way we played today and the way we used to play at home under O'Neill, it was that different.
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Some of the O'Neill bashing on here is ludicrous, do people really think that in five days we've completely changed our style of play?
That's exactly what I think.
Today was totally different, we held the ball, passed it superbly, and moved off the ball.
We looked to build things other than whacking the ball into the box hopefully, played with cohesion and shape, and played the opposition off the park.
It was entirely different to our home performances of the last two years (at least).
What was it at the end, 28 shots on goal?
I doubt we managed that many in our last five home games under MON.
I find it hard to believe that anyone could not have noticed the difference between the way we played today and the way we used to play at home under O'Neill, it was that different.
Completely agree, it was completely different. It showed all of our players can play the passing and building game.
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What a breath of fresh air, thats how I want to see AVFC play..
The curse of o'neill is lifted....
Yes , people have said Wham were poor but they were poor last year and we still couldnt score...
what would have happened under him -
Luke Young not at RB
Heskey on the pitch
albrighton not playing- why he didnt get more games last season ??
Milner probably not playing
Carew and Petrov not lasting 90 mins
Petrov scoring
youngsters not coming on
Young and Downing looking good players
and Villa playing some fantastic football and really looking the part ......
Its ashame Milner is leaving that side but get us a goal scorer and we will be ha great team...
well done KM
even Harewood scores when he aint playing for the media god ... we wont get a better manager than MON people tell me, fook off , we are AVFC.......
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see you later jimmy, you were just another number today.you played good. There were no indiviiduals that really stood out today, they all stood out as a team.if you want to be an individual then ta'ra. were going on an adventure now, the mighty AV.
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I find it hard to believe that anyone could not have noticed the difference between the way we played today and the way we used to play at home under O'Neill, it was that different.
It was one game, we had some good home performances under O'Neill, we had more superb away performances admittedly, but we've had great home games too, 5-1 v Blues, Sheff Utd and even the 2-2 v The Arsenal when we absolutely battered them.
We've had good performances at home under MON, of course, but I haven't seen one when we passed the ball like that for a very long time
Sheffield United is a good example, but that was 3 years ago.
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The change was pretty staggering IMO.
Players with smiles on their faces - i seriously hadn't missed that until i saw it. Smiling. At each other. Weird.
The first XI not carved in stone for every game, barring injuries.
A right-back playing.
Passing. To each other.
Nah, no change at all.
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The change was pretty staggering IMO.
Players with smiles on their faces - i seriously hadn't missed that until i saw it. Smiling. At each other. Weird.
The first XI not carved in stone for every game, barring injuries.
A right-back playing.
Passing. To each other.
Nah, no change at all.
Until we see the team in the next game you can't say that has changed, especially as the playing team was pretty much the same as the last few friendlies barring injuries.
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I think one of the big things is the smiles on the players faces. They played with real joy today and that is a massive change.
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oh
The change was pretty staggering IMO.
Players with smiles on their faces - i seriously hadn't missed that until i saw it. Smiling. At each other. Weird.
The first XI not carved in stone for every game, barring injuries.
A right-back playing.
Passing. To each other.
Nah, no change at all.
Until we see the team in the next game you can't say that has changed, especially as the playing team was pretty much the same as the last few friendlies barring injuries.
well i think luke young will start next game, but i take your point. You get the feeling team selection is now based on performance and not whether you've upset the manager or your agent has
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Watching the match for the third time now on a recorded MOTD. What do you reckon Petrov was saying to Milner when they were celebrating after the goal? Anyone notice Martins son was wearing some retro gear with the old round badge and not something with daddies design on? And finally, who was the girl with a Villa flag draped around her sitting next to Randy? His daughter, his sons GF or the reason he is getting a divorce?
And finally, I still do not know what Carew was doing with the header. He didn't even attempt to divert the header but just caught it flush on the front of the head.
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hope its not his GF. Don't want him dying on us.
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If we want to improve the wages to turn over ratio, then we need to play like that every week. Villa Park will be packed out to watch that sort of quality entertainent. I was a MON fan, but we have not played as well as that and with such control since the days of Little.
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I've been at my sister's wedding today and am very drunk but I called 3-0 in the pre match thread and I am so excited to see the way we played. Onwards and upwards and bring on the next game. Kev Mac big respect, if it keeps going this way the job should be yours no matter how big your name is. Reading this thread makes me gutted I didn't get to see it.UTV. Can't wait to watch the highlights.
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That game was a joy to watch (apart from Big John's finishing) and it was great to see Albrighton & Clark look so assured and confident. All of them played their part today and if Big John had his scoring boots on, we could have won 5 or 6 nil.
Brilliant start to the season and if you do go this week, thank you Jimmy M for the effort you put in today.
I'm very happy today :)
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Isn't that exactly what Heskey gets hammered for doing?
Can you imagine if Heskey had muffed that 1 on 1, or missed those headers, esp the last one? He would have been absolutely slaughtered on here. But because it was Carew, he's praised.
Still fuggin smiling like the Cheshire cat over the result and team performance though!
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Thing is you know on any other day Carew's scoring 3 of those. You couldn't the same it if was Heskey with any degree of confidence.
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This would be one time I would love to sit down with one of the senior players under 'chatham house rules' and find out just how the players feel about the performance yesterday and why it was so markedly different ...... amazing transformation in just 4 or 5 days
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Oh, and I also think Robert Green looks like he has "gone", lost the confidence entirely. Worse than Carson after Croatia.
Thought it was harsh (if predictable) that he got all that booing today, too.
Yes, it's about time football fans stopped being partizan all that trying to unsettle the opposition it's just not cricket.
Great performance from every single one of them yesterday. Yes, West Ham were shit (really, really shit), but that shouldn't detract from how well we played. I had my doubts about Ashley in the free role when he started in pre-season but it worked today. With him, Albrighton, Milner and Downing all having strong games and with Carew in one of his bullying moods that he normally reserves for Gary Cahill the defenders just had no time to settle. It could and should have been 6.
We have played like this before and more recently that some of you remember. Bolton, Burnley and Hull last season were all poor sides that we beat well. Now we need to see if we can do the same against a side who defend a little more resolutely. I'm really looking forward ro seeing us try.
Just seems a shame that we'll never see that 11 again.
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I was at the match today and i agree in what everyone has said, but one player that was their today was the biggest breath of fresh air to come back into any villa side, and that was the hugely impresive Luke Young, how much better did we look with a great really really great right back in his fave poss. for the first time in 2 years we no longer need a right back at Villa with Young and the impressive Lichaj to come in also. happy days!
i hope its not just because Carlos was out, but on that preformance i can see him at right back for every game, did anyone see youngs sliding tackle in 1st half pure magic
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Nice to see wingers cutting inside and trying to beat people instead of hoofing the ball into the box all day. Touch of Steve Froggatt about Albrighton.......
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I thought Luke Young was very good yesterday, getting forward and creating space for others and seeing a RB pass to a Villa player , That will save us a few quid now. I was amazed how happy Petrov looked.... randy get us a goal scorer and we have a great future... Mind, Gabby will also have a spring in his step as well when hes back... Ireland will be excited too.
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Brilliant day yesterday.
I didn't agree with Downing as MOM, but there were several candidates for me. Petrov, Milner, Albrighton, Clark.....fook it, all of 'em.
No Heskey either - bonus!
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I, like practically everyone around me yesterday, was mystified as to how Stewart Downing walked off with MOTM. Yeah, he had a great game, but although in normal circumstances there were three or four players who put in a MOTM shift, the only choice yesterday, surely, was Marc Albrighton? Nice to see the lad get an interview on MOTD as well, I just wish they could have focussed more on his performance and not just had Motty saying 'He's a real prospect, this lad'.
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Isn't that exactly what Heskey gets hammered for doing?
Can you imagine if Heskey had muffed that 1 on 1, or missed those headers, esp the last one? He would have been absolutely slaughtered on here. But because it was Carew, he's praised.
Still fuggin smiling like the Cheshire cat over the result and team performance though!
Does anyone really care that Carfew missed some decent chances. He is normally a clinical finisher and simply looked a bit rusty on the first day of the season. We won 3-0 for Christ's sake, after a shite of a week. Lets concentrate on the positives.
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What a superb performnce. Great in defence, inventive in midfield, and Carew bullied them up front and looked a threat all day. Probably the best home display I've seen in god knows how long.
Hopefully Luke Young has decided to stay now, because he was fantastic yesterday. Honestly, what sort of prize fuckwit would ignore him at right back for half a season?
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I'm still smiling now!
Even through a nagging bugger of a hangover.
I swear I saw Clark telling Friedel what to do at one point, he was so good yesterday and so glad Albrighton got to have his standing ovation - richly deserved.
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Article in the Sunday Telegraph starts off with similar theme to Dave Woodhall comment:
"For the past four years, Aston Villa has been a spin-off of the Martin O’Neill show. On Saturday balance was restored, primacy given back to the players."
Read the rest:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7945734/Aston-Villa-3-West-Ham-United-0-match-report.html
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Isn't that exactly what Heskey gets hammered for doing?
Can you imagine if Heskey had muffed that 1 on 1, or missed those headers, esp the last one? He would have been absolutely slaughtered on here. But because it was Carew, he's praised.
Still fuggin smiling like the Cheshire cat over the result and team performance though!
Does anyone really care that Carfew missed some decent chances. He is normally a clinical finisher and simply looked a bit rusty on the first day of the season. We won 3-0 for Christ's sake, after a shite of a week. Lets concentrate on the positives.
Yes, I do. If had been nil nil when he missed that header he'd be getting slaughtered now. It didn't matter yesterday as the midfield scored the goals but we're not always going to be playing sides as obliging as West Ham. Hopefully you're right and he was just a bit rusty but goal scoring was our problem last season and as it looks unlikely that we'll be buying a new strikers we have to rely on those here to be more clinical.
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Isn't that exactly what Heskey gets hammered for doing?
Can you imagine if Heskey had muffed that 1 on 1, or missed those headers, esp the last one? He would have been absolutely slaughtered on here. But because it was Carew, he's praised.
Still fuggin smiling like the Cheshire cat over the result and team performance though!
Does anyone really care that Carfew missed some decent chances. He is normally a clinical finisher and simply looked a bit rusty on the first day of the season. We won 3-0 for Christ's sake, after a shite of a week. Lets concentrate on the positives.
Yes, I do. If had been nil nil when he missed that header he'd be getting slaughtered now. It didn't matter yesterday as the midfield scored the goals but we're not always going to be playing sides as obliging as West Ham. Hopefully you're right and he was just a bit rusty but goal scoring was our problem last season and as it looks unlikely that we'll be buying a new strikers we have to rely on those here to be more clinical.
I did say that to somebody on the bus home - it's easy to cheer sarcastically when you're cruising to victory, ditto when Petrov and Downing played their' no, after you' game with the ball begging to be leathered into the net. Of course, it doesn't matter now but on another day that sort of thing is going to get right on your tits.
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Fantastic display from everyone yesterday, i honestly can't remember the last time we played as well as that, it was a pleasure to watch.
As for Carew, he just had an off day in front of goal, but other than that, he lead the line well and played his part. After the week we've had, let's just enjoy the result eh?
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I thought the way our fans gave Jimmy his send off shows what great fans we have. He has been fantastic for us and deserved his ovation.
Wish he was staying, but time to move on, we are Aston Villa and when someone leaves, no matter how good they are, we are, and always will be the mighty Villa.
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Intriguing that Delf wasn't on the bench. I read a McAndrew quote before the game saying how Albrighton and Clark had done really well, and Delf too 'up to a point'.
Was this a kick up the backside? A lack of faith? Or just a coincidence with Delf being unfit?
He was talking about the Fonz, Delph is out for months
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Like many others I questioned KMc decision to include James but the lad silenced the boo boys
with a typical Milner performance despite lack of match practice. Witnessed him sign 80 odd
autographs in carpark after the match - certain other players (we know who they are) should
take note-
Can't recall the last time I waited till final whistle of first half AND took up my seat before a ball was
kicked in the second -
There was a feel good factor yesterday - obviously the comfortable 3-0 win helped but it was
the way the team to a man played, movement and quick short passes made a change to the
predictable long ball that we have witnessed previously -
'Granted' the opposition were extremely poor until Avram made his two subs which resulted
in more possession and a couple of decent chances to get back into the match, but we were
worthy winners and the scoreline could/should have put us sitting pretty on top of the Prem-
Those who have watched Albrighton & Clark regularly in youth/reserves will know that their
performamces yesterday were no fluke. Couldn't understand why Marc didn't get motm-
All in all a great day down out at VP (haven't said that in a while) lots of smiling faces going home
despite the atrocious weather -
Well done Kevin Mc - whatever you said to the players worked a trick (or perhaps it was the action
of your predecessor ?)
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Intriguing that Delf wasn't on the bench. I read a McAndrew quote before the game saying how Albrighton and Clark had done really well, and Delf too 'up to a point'.
Was this a kick up the backside? A lack of faith? Or just a coincidence with Delf being unfit?
He was talking about the Fonz, Delph is out for months
Delf=Delfounso
Delph=Delph
Matt was asking why the Fonz wasn't on the bench as no injuries were reported for him yesterday.
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apparently, he went with weimann because he scored 2 against walsall and delfouneso hadnt scored for a while...
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Fonz will get his chance. No doubt about that.
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I would love to see the stats of the number of passes we made today compared to against Blackburn on the final day.
Not a massive difference. 323 yesterday, 304 against Blackburn.
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Absolutely superb performance.
As others have said, the team played with a freedom and expansiveness that we haven’t seen very often. I was tremendously impressed.
Albrighton was nothing short of stunning, I’m struggling to remember a more accomplished full debut performance. Clark was calm and assured on the ball and real pleasure to watch, although he will face much, much sterner tests than this game.
Ashley Young was superb (his superb chip deserved a goal) but there wasn’t a bad performance anywhere. Every player was good to excellent. One thing on Carew, he seemed to be clearly fouled on both occasions where we hit the post. He could and should have been awarded two penalties.
The atmosphere in the ground was much improved. It was nice to have all the supporters behind the team from start to finish. Long may it continue.
Crazy weather. We’ll need to be more coordinated in putting on/taking off coats - “sit down for fcuks sake”
I was sat 2 rows from the hammers fans yesterday and they were completely shell-shocked by the end. I know it’s mean of me but one of the funniest things all day was seeing a couple of cheeky little Cockney tykes (8-10ish). At the beginning of the game they were only interested in foul-mouthed, gesturing towards the Villa fans. They were being carried out red-eyed and bewildered at the end by their Neanderthal guardians. Harsh but necessary lesson learnt there I think.
It was great (and funny) to see the crowd reaction to Milner. A hearty boo/hiss when his name was read out and a standing ovation when he left the field. It felt like exactly the right reaction both times.
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Just a quick note to any Man City fans reading this thread:
Keep your greasy, scummy fuckin hands away from Marc Albrighton.
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One thing on Carew, he seemed to be clearly fouled on both occasions where we hit the post. He could and should have been awarded two penalties.
/quote]
One Pen, the second. The first one, Green gets a toe to the ball and if it wasn't for their defender it was going well away from Carew.
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If the guy I sat by yesterday come's on here, Im sorry. I talked his head off for 90 mins I was like a little excited child..
Im still happy today :P
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Thought we were fantastic. It did help that West Ham are really shit but nevertheless, we made them look shit.
Milner, Albrighton, Clark and Young were stand outs for me in a game where everybody played very, very well. Nice to see us passing.
I really hope Milner stays, we'll be a much lesser team without him. It's going to be tough replacing him.
Very happy.
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Wonderful, just fucking wonderful.
With about 20 minutes to go I looked at the big screen which had the match stats on it, we had had 25 shots on goal at that point, fair to say that we had at least another five after that (at least). 30 attempts on goal is an attempt every three minutes (eat yer heart out Villadawg!), and that is entertainment in spades.
Clark - composed, pacey, willing to throw his body in the way of anything. That's a future £25m footballer we have there, what a prospect.
Albrighton - He'll come up against much better full backs, but I bet he won't care. Marvellous.
Milner - Thoroughly and utterly professional. I was amongst his critics over the Citeh stuff, but he put in a display that shows that above all, he is a footballer. I don't begrudge him his big money move now to be honest.
I had one of the best days today I have ever had, Villa won superbly, Tamworth won and are top of the league, the company in The Bartons was top notch, I got soaked but enjoyed my first time selling fanzines
Totally agree with you. Was one of my best ever days down Villa park. I am still buzzing from a totally brilliant performance (even though they were shit) but we played with adventure and Albrighton had us all out of our seats every time he got the ball. Luke Young was superb and same for Clarke. Thank you Mac you have made my week ............................
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What can you say about yesterday. I haven't stopped smiling since the final whistle blew. I'm not going to pick anyone out for praise. Its the best free flowing team performance I've seen in many a year. Footballs a team game and when all of them hit the sweet spot like they did yesterday its just wonderful.
We have our club back.
A big well done to Kevin Mc and his team for steadying the ship this week, lets keep it up.
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Clacker at the back ....
I know its a typo, but that's a great name for someone.
Its not a typo! I was calling him Clacker all game.
You not a Brummie Mr Diggles? Clarke = Clacker, Taylor = Spud, Jones or Tony = Bone.
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
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Brilliant performance, we were fantastic from start to finish
The players needed a change from Martin, that's becoming clear.
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Well I'm on me jollies in Florida but am so grateful the game was live on Fox. Have to agree with all the statements made - me and my boys were dancing around the 'villa' with delight. Well done Kevin Mac and I love his mannerisms and calmness after the dizzy MoN experience. The whole team played well and fair play to Milner, I was angry with him and how his pantomime has overshadowed the Summer but he played like a true pro and I'm glad for him and us that if we part the ways, we do on good terms.
Villa playing true footie....marvellous.
Shame about the Baggies ;D
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Delf=Delfounso
Delph=Delph
We need to nip this use of Delf in the bud. Nathan should only be referred to as the Fonz. It is too confusing otherwise
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Probably gone shopping for some coats, those kids say by him yesterday looked freezing.
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Carew worked hard throughout the game. He missed some chances but another time at least one of those will result in a goal.
Y'see, I thought he was poor; not for the missed cahnces and the poor first touch in his one-on-one in the first half. No, the reason is that when you've got a player like MA who whips the ball in from the wing the front man has to be there. Unfortunately, Big John - more often than not - was ambling into the penalty area rather than actually in the 6 yard box. He's actually not the player we need with Downing and MA out wide; we need a Gabby or Delfouneso who will anticipate and have the pace to get there.
Sorry to be critical, just my view.
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
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I find it hard to believe that anyone could not have noticed the difference between the way we played today and the way we used to play at home under O'Neill, it was that different.
It was one game, we had some good home performances under O'Neill, we had more superb away performances admittedly, but we've had great home games too, 5-1 v Blues, Sheff Utd and even the 2-2 v The Arsenal when we absolutely battered them.
We've had good performances at home under MON, of course, but I haven't seen one when we passed the ball like that for a very long time
Sheffield United is a good example, but that was 3 years ago.
Agreed - I said to a mate at the game: how is it that we seem to be retaining possession so much more than the games last season. There seemed to be better movement and player-support all around the pitch ... but that may just have been the Wet Spammers being so poor.
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?
KMac? On loan? I can't imagine many potential managers complaining if we had him. I'm sure we have a file on him so it's not just a knee-jerk reaction, especially if the rumours about us no longer being interested in Robbie Keane are true. It would also push Heskey to the exit door.
I'
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
The report in the Italian media a week or two ago seemed marginally more substantial than the usual. They said we'd bid €16m for him.
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?
Shame that Mourinho's left MilanAston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?
Here's a 2+2 = 156377 scenario. Villa have intial contact with Ajax over Jol. Ajax say yes, and Jol says "I'd be delighted" Nothing's made official, but then Jol says, why don't you go that Dutch bloke Huntelaar from Milan. He'd be a brilliant first signing. Jol and Huntelaar are announced next week, along with Ireland who joins to confirm Milner's departure. KM and Sid are then appointed new Assistant Manager and First Team coach.
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?
Shame that Mourinho's left MilanAston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?
Here's a 2+2 = 156377 scenario. Villa have intial contact with Ajax over Jol. Ajax say yes, and Jol says "I'd be delighted" Nothing's made official, but then Jol says, why don't you go that Dutch bloke Huntelaar from Milan. He'd be a brilliant first signing. Jol and Huntelaar are announced next week, along with Ireland who joins to confirm Milner's departure. KM and Sid are then appointed new Assistant Manager and First Team coach.
No you leave Sid and KM in charge of the youth and reserves so that they can mould tha foundations of the team which Jol builds upon using his extensive knowledge of european football.
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
The report in the Italian media a week or two ago seemed marginally more substantial than the usual. They said we'd bid €16m for him.
Haven't seen that but in the Dutch press earlier this month it was reported we were in for him but only when we'd sold Milner. The only doubt was that he was looking to join one of the top European clubs and Villa may not fit into that category.
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
The report in the Italian media a week or two ago seemed marginally more substantial than the usual. They said we'd bid €16m for him.
Haven't seen that but in the Dutch press earlier this month it was reported we were in for him but only when we'd sold Milner. The only doubt was that he was looking to join one of the top European clubs and Villa may not fit into that category.
But we've won the European Cup!
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
It would surprise me, in fact I'd be fucking gobsmaked.
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Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known ??????
Huntelaar.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.
It would surprise me, in fact I'd be fucking gobsmaked.
Gobsmacked you say? Where's my Villa prayer mat? (winky)
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No you leave Sid and KM in charge of the youth and reserves so that they can mould tha foundations of the team which Jol builds upon using his extensive knowledge of european football.
I agree with this, but would also say we have a more team-based approach to coaching, whoever takes over, so K Mac has an advisory influence in first team affairs (as in, if he says Bannan, Clark, Weimann and Albrighton are ready, that advice isn't ignored), Sid gets more of influence in reserve team affairs (maybe young Gary Gardner or Samir Carruthers, if they're ready for the step-up, get a chance) and so on, as opposed to there just being top-down occasions.
As for the game, there was still a little bit too much cross-as-first-option and hit-towards-big man in the game. Downing and Warnock were most guilty of the former, Friedel and Luke Young of the latter. If we play with our best team, which has Gabby in it, surely both of these problems will need to be looked at further. Hopefully K Mac can do that during the week.
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Here's a 2+2 = 156377 scenario. Villa have intial contact with Ajax over Jol. Ajax say yes, and Jol says "I'd be delighted" Nothing's made official, but then Jol says, why don't you go that Dutch bloke Huntelaar from Milan. He'd be a brilliant first signing. Jol and Huntelaar are announced next week, along with Ireland who joins to confirm Milner's departure. KM and Sid are then appointed new Assistant Manager and First Team coach.
Now wouldn't that be nice....however as us fans live in hope I am there with you.
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Carew worked hard throughout the game. He missed some chances but another time at least one of those will result in a goal.
Y'see, I thought he was poor; not for the missed cahnces and the poor first touch in his one-on-one in the first half. No, the reason is that when you've got a player like MA who whips the ball in from the wing the front man has to be there. Unfortunately, Big John - more often than not - was ambling into the penalty area rather than actually in the 6 yard box. He's actually not the player we need with Downing and MA out wide; we need a Gabby or Delfouneso who will anticipate and have the pace to get there.
Sorry to be critical, just my view.
You're view is wrong. Carew played very well. Held the ball up very well and had to deal with a lot of crap from the ref giving fouls against him for simply being stronger than his opponent. You moan he's not in the box, but he's usually had a part to play in the build up if he's not in the box. Not everyone can be as quick as a lot of the players we have. When he was not involved in the build up, he was in the box, hence he could (and should) have scored a couple of goals from being in the box.
How you can say he was poor is beyond me. You must've been watching a totally different game.
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Here's a 2+2 = 156377 scenario. Villa have intial contact with Ajax over Jol. Ajax say yes, and Jol says "I'd be delighted" Nothing's made official, but then Jol says, why don't you go that Dutch bloke Huntelaar from Milan. He'd be a brilliant first signing. Jol and Huntelaar are announced next week, along with Ireland who joins to confirm Milner's departure. KM and Sid are then appointed new Assistant Manager and First Team coach.
Now wouldn't that be nice....however as us fans live in hope I am there with you.
Not sure Jol would be my choice but the general idea is good. Get Kmac to combine the reserve role with being assistant manager (should be the same job anyway so that the reserves are all part of the bigger 'senior squad') but I'd leave Sid where he is for now, so long as he's happy there. Since he started the job the technique of the kids coming through has increased massively. Clark yesterday being the perfect example, great defensive performance made much better by how comfortable he was bringing the ball under control and passing it about. The training received at that level is defining in what the players will become and in Sid we've got one of the few english coaches about who's putting more stock in technical attributes than pace and power.
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Carew worked hard throughout the game. He missed some chances but another time at least one of those will result in a goal.
Y'see, I thought he was poor; not for the missed cahnces and the poor first touch in his one-on-one in the first half. No, the reason is that when you've got a player like MA who whips the ball in from the wing the front man has to be there. Unfortunately, Big John - more often than not - was ambling into the penalty area rather than actually in the 6 yard box. He's actually not the player we need with Downing and MA out wide; we need a Gabby or Delfouneso who will anticipate and have the pace to get there.
Sorry to be critical, just my view.
You're view is wrong. Carew played very well. Held the ball up very well and had to deal with a lot of crap from the ref giving fouls against him for simply being stronger than his opponent. You moan he's not in the box, but he's usually had a part to play in the build up if he's not in the box. Not everyone can be as quick as a lot of the players we have. When he was not involved in the build up, he was in the box, hence he could (and should) have scored a couple of goals from being in the box.
How you can say he was poor is beyond me. You must've been watching a totally different game.
Maybe a bit harsh but there was one moment that summed up what you're saying about the shit he gets. Carew running down the right with Upson, they go shoulder to shoulder and carew wins it easily, so Upson just held onto his arm. After a couple of seconds hte linesman gave the free kick to Upson. I absolutely couldn't believe it, truly shocking decision. Another good example was when John hit the post in the second half, he was being pulled all over the place but you can guarantee there was never any chance of him getting the pen that he should've because he just used his strength and won the challenge despite being fouled.
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Carew certainly kept their centre backs on their toes.
Kevin Mac still has plenty of work to do with the squad, despite the joyous display yesterday. We had something like 18 corners and absolutely nothing to show for it. Hopefully he'll introduce some practice and ideas on set pieces and corners, something according to Ricard Dunne, we never bothered with in the past.
On a more positive note, despite the kids coming off the bench yesterday, I was pleased to see NRC get some time on the pitch. He may not be first choice but unless we bring in somebody better, he'll have a role to play this season. It appears the same can not be said for Sidwell and Heskey.
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Petrov has made some interesting comments on Sporting Life. Considering he was captain under MON, he seems very much behind Kevin MacDonald.
Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has urged the club's American owner Randy Lerner to appoint Kevin MacDonald as the full-time replacement for Martin O'Neill.
MacDonald took over as caretaker manager after O'Neill's shock resignation and he made the perfect start with a 3-0 destruction of West Ham.
The Scot, who briefly held the caretaker role at Leicester in 1994 before following Brian Little to Villa, has said he is not a big enough name for the job.
But Lerner suggested MacDonald is in the running, having given him the green light to stay in charge for Thursday's Europa League clash with Rapid Vienna.
And Petrov, who scored Villa's second goal in a commanding opening-day performance against the hapless Hammers, revealed the players are right behind him.
"The way he prepared us for the game showed us that he wants to hold onto that job - and I hope we can help him take that job," said Petrov.
"We are behind him. He has been at the club a long time, done a great job with the youth and he has the opportunity to do it now.
"I said to him before the game, 'you try and hold onto that job'.
"He knows it's hard. Expectations are high and people want success and they talk about big names - but he has the opportunity and he is really determined to stay there.
"We played really well, we showed what we can do and if it keeps going that way there is no reason why he cannot make his own name."
Lerner revealed he will wait to be guided on the managerial decision by MacDonald's own view of the situation.
"There are those managers who like the show and the attention - and then there are those such as Kevin," he said.
"I'm not going to say it is in Kevin's hands now but much will depend on how Kevin feels, whether he thinks this might be right for him, if he is comfortable with the idea of being Villa's manager.
"He is such a cool guy, he is popular with the players who really played for him and with the fans and the press. We will see how he feels when he wakes up from this and then we will look at the situation from there."
MacDonald has held a number of posts at Villa, most recently as reserve-team coach. He awarded a first Premier League start to Marc Albrighton, the newly-capped England Under-21 winger, and it proved to be an inspired selection.
Albrighton had a major hand in all three Villa goals. Downing finished the first from close range, Petrov headed in the second and James Milner wrapped up the victory in style in what could be his final game for the club.
West Ham could not live with Ashley Young's pace and movement, while Albrighton led Herita Ilunga a merry dance down the right wing all afternoon. On the other flank, Downing was in a different league to West Ham's Kiwi debutant Winston Reid.
Petrov continued: "Every manager has a different style and Kev has a different vision on how we can play and we showed today we can be faster and play with more freedom.
"He always believes that the young players coming in are the future of the club and he's been working with these kids for a long time.
"He (Albrighton) played like it was his 100th Premier League game. He was quick and confident and he tried to beat people and create chances for us. He did really well."
Milner's name was jeered before kick-off but he left the field to a standing ovation, although MacDonald was not confident the England international would still be around for the Vienna trip.
Manchester City are in negotiations over a deal for Milner which could see Stephen Ireland move in the opposite direction.
"The latest I heard, there was still a stalemate with Man City but that could change within hours," MacDonald said after the game.
Just as Villa put the managerial upheaval to one side, so Milner refused to be fazed by all the transfer speculation swirling around his head.
Petrov said: "When you are a good player and teams want to pay £20million, £30million for you then you can do nothing about it.
"He is giving everything for he club like he always does. He's a great pro and people should learn from him.
"He deserves the standing ovation because you don't see many more honest players in the world coming out and playing like that with such heart.
"He was flattered by the reaction - and when you make the fans happy and see them behind you, it makes it even harder to leave.
"After today he may even decide to stay."
While Villa launched into a new era in style, West Ham's new manager Avram Grant admitted his side had been comprehensively outplayed.
"They were better than us. Villa played sharp and quick like we planned to do. It was not so good," said Grant.
"I spoke with the players when we started and I said I wanted to see how they players react when we win and when we lose."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/10/08/15/SOCCER_Villa_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=soccer
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Really enjoyed yesterday and one comment from Petrov above about playing with freedom summed up the whole afternoon for me - and not just on the pitch.
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I had one of the best days today I have ever had, Villa won superbly, Tamworth won and are top of the league, the company in The Bartons was top notch, I got soaked but enjoyed my first time selling fanzines.
Were you selling over the road from Dave Woodhall? That was where I bought my copy, and thought I hadn't seen the seller before.
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I had one of the best days today I have ever had, Villa won superbly, Tamworth won and are top of the league, the company in The Bartons was top notch, I got soaked but enjoyed my first time selling fanzines.
Were you selling over the road from Dave Woodhall? That was where I bought my copy, and thought I hadn't seen the seller before.
Yes that was me, drafted in as a late replacement!
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You must be proud of MA Dave, being a Tamworth lad ;-)
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Carew worked hard throughout the game. He missed some chances but another time at least one of those will result in a goal.
Y'see, I thought he was poor; not for the missed cahnces and the poor first touch in his one-on-one in the first half. No, the reason is that when you've got a player like MA who whips the ball in from the wing the front man has to be there. Unfortunately, Big John - more often than not - was ambling into the penalty area rather than actually in the 6 yard box. He's actually not the player we need with Downing and MA out wide; we need a Gabby or Delfouneso who will anticipate and have the pace to get there.
Sorry to be critical, just my view.
You're view is wrong. Carew played very well. Held the ball up very well and had to deal with a lot of crap from the ref giving fouls against him for simply being stronger than his opponent. You moan he's not in the box, but he's usually had a part to play in the build up if he's not in the box. Not everyone can be as quick as a lot of the players we have. When he was not involved in the build up, he was in the box, hence he could (and should) have scored a couple of goals from being in the box.
How you can say he was poor is beyond me. You must've been watching a totally different game.
Maybe a bit harsh but there was one moment that summed up what you're saying about the shit he gets. Carew running down the right with Upson, they go shoulder to shoulder and carew wins it easily, so Upson just held onto his arm. After a couple of seconds hte linesman gave the free kick to Upson. I absolutely couldn't believe it, truly shocking decision. Another good example was when John hit the post in the second half, he was being pulled all over the place but you can guarantee there was never any chance of him getting the pen that he should've because he just used his strength and won the challenge despite being fouled.
All of the above is correct...........but the main fact is that JC, yesterday, was playing as our main striker. He had 3 clear cut chances and failed each time.
If he is to continue as the main striker then he must convert those chances or else be replaced by someone who does.
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You must be proud of MA Dave, being a Tamworth lad ;-)
Most of Tamworth is. (The one's that aren't will be the Blues fans!).
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as soon as he opened his mouth on MOTD my heart swelled with pride. He also has a big nose, which is a sign of divine favour
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I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.
Carew worked hard throughout the game. He missed some chances but another time at least one of those will result in a goal.
Y'see, I thought he was poor; not for the missed cahnces and the poor first touch in his one-on-one in the first half. No, the reason is that when you've got a player like MA who whips the ball in from the wing the front man has to be there. Unfortunately, Big John - more often than not - was ambling into the penalty area rather than actually in the 6 yard box. He's actually not the player we need with Downing and MA out wide; we need a Gabby or Delfouneso who will anticipate and have the pace to get there.
Sorry to be critical, just my view.
You're view is wrong. Carew played very well. Held the ball up very well and had to deal with a lot of crap from the ref giving fouls against him for simply being stronger than his opponent. You moan he's not in the box, but he's usually had a part to play in the build up if he's not in the box. Not everyone can be as quick as a lot of the players we have. When he was not involved in the build up, he was in the box, hence he could (and should) have scored a couple of goals from being in the box.
How you can say he was poor is beyond me. You must've been watching a totally different game.
Maybe a bit harsh but there was one moment that summed up what you're saying about the shit he gets. Carew running down the right with Upson, they go shoulder to shoulder and carew wins it easily, so Upson just held onto his arm. After a couple of seconds hte linesman gave the free kick to Upson. I absolutely couldn't believe it, truly shocking decision. Another good example was when John hit the post in the second half, he was being pulled all over the place but you can guarantee there was never any chance of him getting the pen that he should've because he just used his strength and won the challenge despite being fouled.
All of the above is correct...........but the main fact is that JC, yesterday, was playing as our main striker. He had 3 clear cut chances and failed each time.
If he is to continue as the main striker then he must convert those chances or else be replaced by someone who does.
I too thought he was poor. His one on one when he didn't even get a shot in, two simple headers that sailed well wide, and getting a shot away that should have been in the back of the net but scuffed to hit the post. Was on the wrong end of some refereeing decisions but at the start of the second half he was awful. On one occasion he was running with someone who had a slight tug at him and Carew just stopped wanting a free-kick. At that point I was making excuses for him to my dad who was pointing out the obvious that he was lacking desire. He stayed on but didn't get much better. Did well in holding it up and did get better as the game wore on but overall he was poor.
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My initial comment wasn't so much intended as criticism of Carew, but to highlight the difference in attitude towards him and Heskey from a number of fans. Everything Carew is being praised for is what Heskey does. Does anyone believe Heskey would be receiving the same praise, even if we had won 8-0?
However, had Heskey muffed that 1 on 1 so spectacularly, or missed those headers, he would have been absolutely slaughtered. Can you imagine the reaction if he'd missed that unmarked header? There were even a few digs at the fella and he didn't even play yesterday.
Equality, it's a nice thing sometimes.
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My initial comment wasn't so much intended as criticism of Carew, but to highlight the difference in attitude towards him and Heskey from a number of fans. Everything Carew is being praised for is what Heskey does. Does anyone believe Heskey would be receiving the same praise, even if we had won 8-0?
However, had Heskey muffed that 1 on 1 so spectacularly, or missed those headers, he would have been absolutely slaughtered. Can you imagine the reaction if he'd missed that unmarked header? There were even a few digs at the fella and he didn't even play yesterday.
Equality, it's a nice thing sometimes.
Why not compare Heskeys scoring rate for us with Carews.
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Carew is paid to score , which he does most of the time..... Heskey is paid to score, which he doesnt.. Yes, Carew frustrates me at times but Heskey frustrates me just being in our great colours......
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My initial comment wasn't so much intended as criticism of Carew, but to highlight the difference in attitude towards him and Heskey from a number of fans. Everything Carew is being praised for is what Heskey does. Does anyone believe Heskey would be receiving the same praise, even if we had won 8-0?
However, had Heskey muffed that 1 on 1 so spectacularly, or missed those headers, he would have been absolutely slaughtered. Can you imagine the reaction if he'd missed that unmarked header? There were even a few digs at the fella and he didn't even play yesterday.
Equality, it's a nice thing sometimes.
Carew has regularly scored goals for us since joining, so has a bit in the credit bank.
Heskey has a pathetic scoring record, so has absolutely nothing in the credit bank.
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So no equality for 2 Villa players is what you're all saying then. Nice.
My initial comment wasn't so much intended as criticism of Carew, but to highlight the difference in attitude towards him and Heskey from a number of fans. Everything Carew is being praised for is what Heskey does. Does anyone believe Heskey would be receiving the same praise, even if we had won 8-0?
However, had Heskey muffed that 1 on 1 so spectacularly, or missed those headers, he would have been absolutely slaughtered. Can you imagine the reaction if he'd missed that unmarked header? There were even a few digs at the fella and he didn't even play yesterday.
Equality, it's a nice thing sometimes.
Why not compare Heskeys scoring rate for us with Carews.
Because that wasn't my point.
However, all the points I did make, no one really answered.
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So no equality for 2 Villa players then is the consensus. Nice.
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So no equality for 2 Villa players then is the consensus. Nice.
That's exactly it. But, it's just as it should be.
If Sidwell plays the next game and is fairly rubbish then it will be pounced on because he is always rubbish.
If Petrov plays the next game and is fairly rubbish then it be excused because he is usually very good.
Dunne screwing up in the Carling Cup Final last year was excused because it was an anomaly rather than a regular thing.
As Paulie says, credit in the bank.
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So no equality for 2 Villa players then is the consensus. Nice.
That's exactly it. But, it's just as it should be.
If Sidwell plays the next game and is fairly rubbish then it will be pounced on because he is always rubbish.
If Petrov plays the next game and is fairly rubbish then it be excused because he is usually very good.
Dunne screwing up in the Carling Cup Final last year was excused because it was an anomaly rather than a regular thing.
As Paulie says, credit in the bank.
I agree about credit in the bank when a player has a poor game, but my point is Carew is being praised for doing what Heskey does pretty much every game he plays for us, but he receives no praise. Rather than saying Carew should be slated for his performance.
Maybe i'm just shite at getting my point across.
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I see your point and kind of agree but the reality is Heskey wouldn't even have been in the position to miss the 4 chances John had, so with Carew it's like he failed at his primary job but he did his backup role very well. If heskey plays he's doing the hold up donkey work as his primary job and scoring goals as his secondary job, so he's less likely to be praised for doing what he's put there for, a heskey hat trick (I know flying pigs, etc) would draw a lot of praise, but holding play up, etc doesn't as that's the only thing any expects him to bring.
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So no equality for 2 Villa players then is the consensus. Nice.
That's exactly it. But, it's just as it should be.
If Sidwell plays the next game and is fairly rubbish then it will be pounced on because he is always rubbish.
If Petrov plays the next game and is fairly rubbish then it be excused because he is usually very good.
Dunne screwing up in the Carling Cup Final last year was excused because it was an anomaly rather than a regular thing.
As Paulie says, credit in the bank.
I agree about credit in the bank when a player has a poor game, but my point is Carew is being praised for doing what Heskey does pretty much every game he plays for us, but he receives no praise. Rather than saying Carew should be slated for his performance.
Maybe i'm just shite at getting my point across.
It's not just about credit, but it's the fact that in 4 years of being at the club, Carew has (injuries aside) been pretty solid in front of goal. Yesterday was one of those days, and he'd bag 2 or 3 of those chances any other time. We just know from experience that Heskey probably wouldn't have yesterday or any other day.
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It's true, Carew's chance/goal ratio is usually very good. Personally I don't see him as first choice, but much like England have Defoe and Man Utd Owen to bring off the bench and start on the odd game, we have Carew. He's an extremely useful substitute, as he not only gives us that extra aerial threat but is also a very good finisher.
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And yet, Carew was our top scorer last season.
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Terrible start to the season for us. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the highlights yet so I don't know whether we were that bad or Villa were that good, although you got to wonder why are we playing 4-3-3 and why is Grant playing the same players that did so bad last season?
Disappointed to hear Green getting roundly booed by the home fans aswell. Then it doesn't take a lot to get booed at a football match these days.
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Well I thought Saturday's performance was about as good as it gets from the Villa. We hammered them. There were positive performances all over the pitch and a great result.
The players seemed to have the shackles released and although the opposition was rubbish, we were way too good.
There were players playing in their natural positions and they all really wanted it (barring a tackle that Milner pulled out of) which was a joy to see.
Clark and Albrighton were really good and didn't look at all out of place, Carew's touch wasn't the best but you can bet that they really didn't enjoy playing against him. Petrov got forward and did what he was always good at for his previous teams, Young got all over the place and Downing was positive.
In general, you can forgive the mistakes across the pitch because of the way we went about it; if some of those errors had happened under MON, we'd have moaned, not because it was a different person in charge but because the rest of the performance was so poor and unimaginative that a mistake could be pounced on as a way of fans venting their frustration, rather than being a little error in an otherwise positive performance.
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A few things stood out for me
The attitude and "togetherness" the players showed in the tunnel prior to come out to train.
at 70 mins when the sub board went up - JC looked over and smiled when he realised it was not him coming off
Petrov - superb driving run into the box for his goal - He did it on his forst game against WH 4 years ago and never got into the box since - long may it continue
The confidence in the youngsters was superb
Some of the one touch football in periods was a total joy to watch
Yes WH were shit but my god we would have done most teams today
and finally David "midget" Golds face at the end of the game was a picture
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Good result and excellent performance. I think Young playing in that free role gave us more passing options, which isn't a big difference to what we've seen in the past when playing with a five. What was different was a greater impetus about it, which might be from having a player like Young in the central area and slightly ahead of where Petrov/NRC/Sidwell would ususally play.
Biggest plus was Albrighton. Some will probably say that Martin wouldn't have played him or that he should have been given more time last season. I'd disagree on both accounts as he looked a LOT better Saturday than he did last season - I think his time has come and it's now up to him.
You usually expect a reaction after a manager goes and Kevin Mac certainly got that. But in the same way I was arguing we shouldn't be overly despondent after Wigan this time last year, I won't get carried away with an easy home victory over a poor west Ham side as there will be much more difficult tests for us as the season progresses. As I said in another thread if he goes and beats Vienna and then Newcastle, the job's his as far as I'm concerned!
On the minus side, Carew didn't have one of his better games and it once again highlights our need for a striker. Also, I thought for a game we dominated and were so good in, West Ham did get through us once or twice, so a slight worry about the defence despite the clean sheet. We have players to come back in there, but it does need to be noticed that there is room for improvement.
Still, a solid 8/10 for me overall!
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Terrible start to the season for us. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the highlights yet so I don't know whether we were that bad or Villa were that good, although you got to wonder why are we playing 4-3-3 and why is Grant playing the same players that did so bad last season?
Disappointed to hear Green getting roundly booed by the home fans aswell. Then it doesn't take a lot to get booed at a football match these days.
Sorry Sendo but when people say it could have been 10 - 0 its not an exagreration.
John Carew could have had 6 0r 7 and was unusually wasteful in front of goal.
The booing of Green was silly but without venom. Just pantomime stuff really.
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Have we not put the post-match pictures up on the OS yet?
I love looking at them...
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Disappointed to hear Green getting roundly booed by the home fans aswell. Then it doesn't take a lot to get booed at a football match these days.
We had the same with Carson, sendô. He was booed wherever he went for the rest of the season after his mistake against Croatia - probably at Upton Park too.
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was it the west ham fans who were burning an effigy of beckham after his sending off?
all fans will boo opposition england fans, conveniently ignoring their own fuck ups... nature of the beast...
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I've got to say I felt sorry for the lad.He looked broken
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Must say I wasn't happy with the booing and didn't join in with it. He's a decent keeper who made one mistake in a game that England didn't lose. Will those players who did a lot more to damage their country's chance in the World Cup, by being crap and not caring, recieve a similar reception?
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anyone got a link to any of the highlights? tried bbc i player but they have not put MOTD2 on it yet.
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Must say I wasn't happy with the booing and didn't join in with it. He's a decent keeper who made one mistake in a game that England didn't lose. Will those players who did a lot more to damage their country's chance in the World Cup, by being crap and not caring, recieve a similar reception?
Totally agree with this
The venom should be saved for
Ashley Cole
Gerrard
Lampard
Rooney
Terry
these are the biggest wankers from all the WC debacle
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Ashley Cole played well I thought.
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I thought the way our fans gave Jimmy his send off shows what great fans we have. He has been fantastic for us and deserved his ovation.
Yep. The fans showed that they can rise above pettiness on Saturday. Well done.
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On the flipside of the cracking performance on Saturday, did anyone think that Dunney's put a bit of weight on?
He also seemed alot slower, there was a time in the first half when he pulled out of the tackle on Carlton Cole in our box and was lucky we weren't punished...
Also, Warnock's form is worrying, he's been mostly toss since his whiplash at Old Trafford and I thought he had another poor game.
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I haven't had time to read what others have said but I had a great day on Saturday. My thoughts:
I thought the team were superb. Albrighton had a fantastic full league debut, Carew caused them bother all afternoon, Young looked he did two years ago.
We played with a freedom we have seen precious little of in recent years. We passed it well, we had great movement off the ball and we did stick with tactics of lump it long or fire the ball in quickly from the wings.
Clark was interesting to watch. To see a kid of that age start telling others around him where they ought to be was a very pleasant surprise for me.
It was nice to see the ovation Milner got and what a good reflection that is on our much derided fans.
It was like we had our club back. No more "Martin O' Neills Aston Villa" but plain old Aston Villa. The one where you didn't have to shit yourself about saying what you thought for fear of upsetting the manager and his arch defenders.
It was the first time that I had been to a game in a long while where I didn't know what the starting line up or formation was likely to be.
We pummelled them. It could have been ten. The team played like they had been set free from some kind of shackles that had been holding down. I can't remember a more comprehensive opening day win in a long, long time.
Then it was back to The Bartons. The company was great, it was nice to catch up with people and the beer was as good as usual.
So many faces I hadn't seen in some time and all of us happy. I can't recall the last time I saw Mike Jeffries skip into the pub let's put it that way.
I got home suitably pissed and enjoyed reading the fanzine yesterday afternoon.
If it is a case that we cannot win things, and sixth is about as good as it gets, then I don't mind so much if we do it trying to play football like that. We won't win every game but it will keep me coming back.
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I haven't had time to read what others have said but I had a great day on Saturday. My thoughts:
I thought the team were superb. Albrighton had a fantastic full league debut, Carew caused them bother all afternoon, Young looked he did two years ago.
We played with a freedom we have seen precious little of in recent years. We passed it well, we had great movement off the ball and we did stick with tactics of lump it long or fire the ball in quickly from the wings.
Clark was interesting to watch. To see a kid of that age start telling others around him where they ought to be was a very pleasant surprise for me.
It was nice to see the ovation Milner got and what a good reflection that is on our much derided fans.
It was like we had our club back. No more "Martin O' Neills Aston Villa" but plain old Aston Villa. The one where you didn't have to shit yourself about saying what you thought for fear of upsetting the manager and his arch defenders.
It was the first time that I had been to a game in a long while where I didn't know what the starting line up or formation was likely to be.
We pummelled them. It could have been ten. The team played like they had been set free from some kind of shackles that had been holding down. I can't remember a more comprehensive opening day win in a long, long time.
Then it was back to The Bartons. The company was great, it was nice to catch up with people and the beer was as good as usual.
So many faces I hadn't seen in some time and all of us happy. I can't recall the last time I saw Mike Jeffries skip into the pub let's put it that way.
I got home suitably pissed and enjoyed reading the fanzine yesterday afternoon.
If it is a case that we cannot win things, and sixth is about as good as it gets, then I don't mind so much if we do it trying to play football like that. We won't win every game but it will keep me coming back.
Perfect summary
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Like watching different players:
Savo Carew.
Ashley Messi
Olaf Clark
Georgie Albrighton
Stevy Petrov
James (hand of God) Maradona
Oh and: Tony ( I should be advertising Frosted cornflakes) Friedel.
Any more?
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On the flipside of the cracking performance on Saturday, did anyone think that Dunney's put a bit of weight on?
Definitely, I thought it was very noticeable.
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Everyone around me noticed it too, hopefully it'll drop off after a few more games.
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On the flipside of the cracking performance on Saturday, did anyone think that Dunney's put a bit of weight on?
Definitely, I thought it was very noticeable.
It's something he's been accused of in the past and one of the reason's I was aginst signing him last summer. Lets hope it's not an issue and he sheds in as the matches/training carries on.
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And yet, Carew was our top scorer last season.
And was injured for much of it!
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And yet, Carew was our top scorer last season.
And was injured for much of it!
Ring rust. Thats all it was. He often has a knack of converting rare chances for us. He's always been reliable in nicking us a goal.
I can seeing him banging a couple in against Vienna and Newcastle now. His overall play on saturday, finishing aside, was superb.
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anyone got a link to any of the highlights? tried bbc i player but they have not put MOTD2 on it yet.
LINK (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xeg6bn_ast-vs-whu-3-0_sport#from=embed)
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I had one of the best days today I have ever had, Villa won superbly, Tamworth won and are top of the league, the company in The Bartons was top notch, I got soaked but enjoyed my first time selling fanzines.
Were you selling over the road from Dave Woodhall? That was where I bought my copy, and thought I hadn't seen the seller before.
Yes that was me, drafted in as a late replacement!
SOTC & I bought our copy from you then!
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And yet, Carew was our top scorer last season.
And was injured for much of it!
Ring rust. Thats all it was. He often has a knack of converting rare chances for us. He's always been reliable in nicking us a goal.
I can seeing him banging a couple in against Vienna and Newcastle now. His overall play on saturday, finishing aside, was superb.
Agreed. However, I think he needs to add a string to his bow, as the old casual side-heel flick at the ball across the face of goal is getting a little old.
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Been at a wedding all weekend but that cheered me up and managed to catch the first half on football first.
Breath of fresh air to seeing a bit of variety in our play and keeping it mostly on the ground. Great to see Albrighton do so well, most exicted by Clark who I think is potentially outstanding.
Gabby still the best forward for the lone role imo.