Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on October 27, 2010, 10:39:15 AM
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Available Wednesday night.
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Could have been much easier. But still, quarter finals here we come.
Shame we're missing Albrighton on Sunday.
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Sounded like VERY hard work.
Was looking forward to watching Albrighton take the Blose defence apart.
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Made hard work of it but got there in the end.
I'm off for a stiff drink.
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I thought it was a terrible performance. First half we started very brightly but missed a proper goal striker. Fell apart from the second half and turned into an absolute comedy act.
Steve Sidwell should never wear an Aston Villa shirt again - 3 absolute sitters he missed, put the freekick out wide. Is he actually a wind up merchant? Can't pass a ball or anything. It still shocks me that people on here still jump to his defence. Wake up for crying out loud. You'd see better performances down the park watching the Sunday under 16 league.
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Feel like Ive just run a marathon .. knackered.....
G-HOU needs to sort alot out before Sunday...
COME ON VILLA....
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I guess the result is everything but that sounded very unprofesssional from us, completely lacking in composure, control or nous...
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Was never gunna be an easy game and im glad my 2-1 prediction come through. 34k is a good crowd for a game like this (no disrespect to Burnley)
As if they havent shown the Villa highlights on ssn, they put Arseholes on and they were on tv anyway!!
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Arsenal
blose
Tesco BAgs
West HAM
Manure
Ipswich
Wigan
ASTON VILLA
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when's the draw?
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when's the draw?
Saturday at 12 30, so by the time their through taking about 1
Im slightly nervous bout this cup run in all honesty
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I wouldn't particularly be nervous.
If we draw Man U or Arsenal we'll be expected to go out so in all honesty we'll have nothing to lose.
I'd be a bit more concerned if we draw Ipswich or the like, odd as it may sound. We'd be expected to go through and as we've seen tonight it's not always that easy.
I did say Burnley would be a tough draw as there isn't a huge gap between us and them- particularly when we played a fair few reserves. The theme on here was "No, we'll win easily/ it will be a piece of piss" and so on.
I'd still hope for the easiest draw on paper possible but a draw against one of the bigger sides might hope to focus minds a bit more, plus it clears the path for the latter rounds.
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We lacked everything tonight, Bannon was way too lightweight, Ireland was truely arwful, Sidwell can't pass, ash gave his usual hundred percent and Downing was again superb when he came on.
The referee was a joke
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Well, that was bloody hard work. Friedel was immense. Defence were solid. Sidwell was shite. Reo-coker forgot how to pass again. Youngsters on the wings were OK. Young was wasteful. Ireland was awful. Downing was liveley and scored a boster and I cant believe i'm saying this but Heskey had a stormer. Gods help us sunday if we turn ion a performance like that. Sidwell should not even be on the bench.
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Made hard work of it.
Ireland threw a strop when coming off, don't know how many people spotted that. Houllier held out a bottle of Lucozade, he barged past him without making eye contact, then did the same to someone else in the dug out.
Bannan looks very lightweight.
Albrighton needs to learn when to give the ball and when to keep it.
Heskey looked good when he came on.
Downing did very well, our best player this season, I reckon.
Friedel was excellent.
Clark looks more and more promising every time I see him, he looks extremely comfortable on the ball, but I do wonder if he takes a few too many risks sometimes.
NRC did ok.
Sidwell is utter rubbish.
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Playing essentially 4-6-0 was a nice idea, and ended up creating some very good openings, but the staff arent right for it atm, especially sidwell.
Beye needs shooting.
The reneissance of Emile Heskey continues.
Quarter finals here we come.
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We lacked everything tonight, Bannon was way too lightweight, Ireland was truely arwful, Sidwell can't pass, ash gave his usual hundred percent and Downing was again superb when he came on.
The referee was a joke
Just saved me having to write anything, apart to reiterate how Sidwell was. I have always been one of his supporters but tonight's performance was dreadful, particularly at a time when you would think that he would be trying to impress.
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We made hard work of it, but it was always gonna be hard work with a team full of kids and reserves though. Special mention to Steve Sidwell. Possibly the worst pound for pound Villa player I've ever seen.
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We made hard work of it, but it was always gonna be hard work with a team full of kids and reserves though. Special mention to Steve Sidwell. Possibly the worst pound for pound Villa player I've ever seen.
The thing about Sidwell is 99 times out of 100, he is absolutely anonymous. Tonight was the 1 match in 100 where he wasn't anonymous, and he turned out to be shite.
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Just got back. Another case of needing 5 chances to score one. Also, I think it showed that some of the fringe players *might* not be up to it. Harsh to judge them on sporadic appearances but I'm never convinced by Lichaj. Bannan looked out of his depth. Don't want to criticise them too much cause he should've been out of sight as per usual. Reo Coker's miss in the first half was absolutely outrageous and Downing squandered a one on one before his splendid goal. On Downing, he really is becoming a lot more eye catching and I thought he deserved MOTM.
The defence seemed uncharacteristically bullied by a fighting Burnley (who were helped by an overly lenient ref).
We're not scoring enough goals. It's obvious but it's also going to cost us this season. We'll still beat the Blues mind. Bring on Sunday.
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Oh, Rigadon just reminded me, I too thought Lichaj didn't have the greatest of games.
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Looking good for Sunday with Sidwell nailed on to start. Will be very interesting to see who partners Coker.
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Oh, and we missed Petrov big time. Sidwell and Reo Coker did what they do in breaking play up, asking them to make measured, creative passes is like asking Friedel to play up front.
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Fk me that was hard work, for large parts we were just hideous, good to see Downing and Emile come off the bench and get us through, not looking forward to Sunday at all
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Just back, awful game for 1st 85 mins
Playing 4- 6- 0 is a joke at home to a mid table championship team
Were was the Fonz ??? If was him I would be asking for a transfer as for some reason they do not seem to rate him at this club
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So, Guzan is no longer our cup 'keeper?
Did Albrighton deserve to be sent off?
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So, Guzan is no longer our cup 'keeper?
Did Albrighton deserve to be sent off?
Friedal was immense tonite, Guzan isnt up to it and needs shipping out
Mark deserved to go but he did stop the bloke getting any closer to Brad Snr
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it is hard work watching the game as we play with 4-5-0 formation (Don't count sidwell) then 4-3-1 formation. Bright spot Heskey, Downing and Friedel, Cuellar and Clark.
I suppose Small Heath will be licking their lips as Villa is poor form and tired after 120 minutes of action and they had none (assuming they are already out before last night or tonight as I can't be bother to look up their result/fixture)
At time I was feeling I wish I was doing Salsa instead.
I think Stuart Downing had be impressive.
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Mark was the last man back, of course he deserved to go.
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Those slating Sidwell, he is a combative midfielder. Not Michel Platini. He aint great, he aint shit. And you generally get what you "see on the tin" (sorry I'm tired). Let's stop waiting for him to be the next Frank Lampard eh?
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It's probably good that GH has now seen just about everyone in the squad perform in competitive action.
You can see them in training and it can give you some idea, but there really is no substitute for games with something riding on them.
A few of the players in and around the squad have taken the opportunity and made themselves very hard to drop. Others probably can't really complain if they don't feature from this point onwards.
Only problem is Petrov is out for a while so Sidwell -who should be in the latter category- will probably feature quite a bit over the next few months by default as much as anything else.
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Those slating Sidwell, he is a combative midfielder. Not Michel Platini. He aint great, he aint shit. And you generally get what you "see on the tin" (sorry I'm tired). Let's stop waiting for him to be the next Frank Lampard eh?
I agree yes he did some poor things but he also did some good things like tracking back, covering, tackling and at least he was in the box to miss the chances and dont forget he hasnt played a full game for ages
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Those slating Sidwell, he is a combative midfielder. Not Michel Platini. He aint great, he aint shit. And you generally get what you "see on the tin" (sorry I'm tired). Let's stop waiting for him to be the next Frank Lampard eh?
I'm not waiting for him to become the next Frank Lampard.
I am waiting for him to contribute something to the side, though. I agree he's not great. I disagree on him being not shit. I think he's a very, very poor footballer indeed.
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4-6-0 was interesting to say the least. Lots of pretty football but no end product.
Ireland was anonymous, Sidwell was useless.
Friedel was great in goal.
Cuellar was deserved MoM.
Heskey performed well as did Downing (quality falling-over moment).
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I agree on the Sidwell comments. I'd expect a premier league footballer costing £5.5m to be able to do things like pass the ball to someone on his own team or generally do anything to affect the game.
Sidwell and NRC as our only central midfield options is a concern.
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Those slating Sidwell, he is a combative midfielder. Not Michel Platini. He aint great, he aint shit. And you generally get what you "see on the tin" (sorry I'm tired). Let's stop waiting for him to be the next Frank Lampard eh?
I'm not waiting for him to become the next Frank Lampard.
I am waiting for him to contribute something to the side, though. I agree he's not great. I disagree on him being not shit. I think he's a very, very poor footballer indeed.
Fair enough pauliewalnuts. I think he's limited but gets treated more harshly because people had high hopes for him but it's only my opinion. He found his level at Reading but it took a move to Chelsea and Villa to work it out. Somebody said on another thread about Coker being a better athlete than footballer and I think the same applies to Mr Sidwell.
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Sidwell was worse than useless. I wish he'd just leave and we're really short of central midfielders. He could step up and make the position his own but he's not really interested. I dont know whats happened to him since joining us but he's terrible.
Anyway, that was stodgy fare. A bit sloppy but, hey ho. We're through.
Friedel - 8. Very good.
Beye - 5. A liability at left back. A decent right back. I'd have swapped him and...
Lichaj - 6. A steady performance.
Clark - 8. Class. MotM.
Cuellar - 8. Solid and composed.
Bannan - 5. Will have better games.
Reo Coker - 7. Thank fuck for General Nige.
Sidwell - 0. Completely and utterly inept. I am a better player than he is.
Albrighton - 5. See Bannan.
Young - 7. Typical Ash.
Ireland - 6. Early days yet. It will come. Needs more time with the players to click properly.
Heskey - 7. Exactly what we needed. He really is motivated at the moment and its good to see.
Downing - 8. Injected nous and a bit of class (apart from falling on his arse) and that goal was a cracker.
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Young needs to keep his mouth shut, can't believe game after game he keeps getting booked for gobbing off, he has to be close to a ban now also it was poor when he headed for the corner trying to time waste when there was 11 minutes left ???
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Sidwell was worse than useless. I wish he'd just leave and we're really short of central midfielders. He could step up and make the position his own but he's not really interested. I dont know whats happened to him since joining us but he's terrible.
Anyway, that was stodgy fare. A bit sloppy but, hey ho. We're through.
Friedel - 8. Very good.
Beye - 5. A liability at left back. A decent right back. I'd have swapped him and...
Lichaj - 6. A steady performance.
Clark - 8. Class. MotM.
Cuellar - 8. Solid and composed.
Bannan - 5. Will have better games.
Reo Coker - 7. Thank fuck for General Nige.
Sidwell - 0. Completely and utterly inept. I am a better player than he is.
Albrighton - 5. See Bannan.
Young - 7. Typical Ash.
Ireland - 6. Early days yet. It will come. Needs more time with the players to click properly.
Heskey - 7. Exactly what we needed. He really is motivated at the moment and its good to see.
Downing - 8. Injected nous and a bit of class (apart from falling on his arse) and that goal was a cracker.
i am amazed at your ratings for sidwell and ireland. At least sidders gave a bit of effort, the fastest ireland ran was when he was substituted and ran off for an early bath! He looks totally uninterested. I want him to do well also, but his effort is sadly lacking! Looks like another curcic at the moment!
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I guess we got to know more about the young players tonight - Lichaj, Bannan, Albrighton, Clark. It seems like they all struggled a bit.
However the decision to start without a striker is ridiculous. A championship side coming to Villa Park should at least expect to see a striker up against them. Playing Beye at left back was ridiculous too. Fair enough giving Lichaj a chance but against poor sides at home we need to have players comfortable on the ball at full back. It should have been Beye and Clark. Reo Coker and Sidwell are destructive athletic players, I wouldnt be so down on them for missing sitters. They will go in eventually. Downing continues a very good goal scoring season, he only got one I think the year Boro went down and probably 3 last season. He is on a good streak already. Heskey scoring will boost his confidence after the howler at Sunderland. GH must have zero confidence in Delfouneso. If he cant trust him tonight then he never will. When Carew is back fit then he should send Delfouneso out on loan. Maybe he needs to learn what playing at adult level is all about. Ireland continues an awful run of form and another late goal conceded.
Anyway we are through. Birmingham will have had a day extra to recover too. We havent much options given Albrighton's suspension, injuries, Ireland's ineptitude and Bannan failing to make an impression tonight. Think we will have to give Ireland another chance though - this time on the right of midfield.
Friedel
Beye, Collins, Dunne, Warnock
-----, Reo Coker, Sidwell----------
Ireland------Young---------Downing
--------------Ivanhoe----------------
With Bannan and Delfouneso as the only options from defence up. Bare bones this is it.
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Ireland, I thought looked quite dangerous for spells.
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Been back half an hour. Needed a drink before I could do anything.
Like most have said, we made extremely hard work of that.
What was the point with playing with no striker?
Didn't think much of the officials, having said that there have been some pretty poor officials this season and not just for the Villa.
Thought it was a very good crowd.
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Ireland, I thought looked quite dangerous for spells.
Yes, it was quite a scary place to be a few years ago what with... oh, hang on...
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Ultimately, all that matters is we won, but by God it was awful to watch at times. Not surprising when you start without a striker on the pitch at home to a mediocre Championship side.
Ireland was wank, Sidwell for all his faults at least got stuck in. Ashley moaned at everyone and everything it seemed, especially those who dared not play the ball he wanted, despite him constantly giving it away himself.
Heskey impressed yet again, as did Downing, although how he managed to bury his goal so well and yet miss a much better chance is quite bizarre. Friedel was perhaps the difference between being out the cup and being in the QF.
The referee was perhaps the only person on the pitch worse than Ireland.
Thank feck it didn't go to penalties!
I did however get to say hello to Legion before the game, so overall, a decent night.
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Got there five minutes late after flogging a few fanzines, glanced up at the big screen, and wondered if they had made some sort of mistake. No strikers? At home against a Championship side that had been stuffed at the weekend?
I reckon that might be the smallest average starting line-up ever.
The game itself was absolute bollocks, barely a moment of quality throughout the match, it got better from the 80th minute and through extra-time, but overall it was awful, not going to worry too much though, we can win this thing.
Sidwell was fucking rubbish. NRC wasn't much better. Beye played like he was smoking something exotic, Bannan was fairly poor but gains a bonus for clearing one off the line.
Positives? Friedel was immense, one double save in the second half was top notch, Clark continues to impress, Cuellar did himself no harm given Dunne's pie issues, Downing was excellent (I have to hold my hand up to writing him off after last season), and Heskey did the business again, he's one we all wrote off!
My son sold more fanzines than me.
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Ireland was involved in a lot of our earlier attacks, but as he always seems to do he became absolutely silent in the second half. I don't think I heard him even be mentioned, other than when he went off.
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If we'd won 6-0 with a Brazil '70 display of attacking brilliance we'd currently be in the draw for the quarter-finals.
We also know we won't get drawn against either Small Heath or Ipswich. Ladbrokes have stopped taking bets they'll play each other.
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Imagine if Bale scored a goal like Downing did tonight...
Only got to see a bit of highlights but what I can gather from watching very briefly was that Sidwell is up to his old tricks again of giving the ball away too easily and not showing enough 'bite'. We defended well again with last ditch blocks and Heskey scored again which is great... would be even better if he scored against that shower on Sunday. Downing, Coker and Ash played well again, just a shame Albrighton got a red... there was no need for that silly push, the Burnley player over hit his second touch. Oh well, we're through to the QF's and a win gives us some momentum into Sunday.
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I also noticed Houllier couldn't resist mentioning Liverpool again in his post-match interview.
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Just got back. We were lucky but we're through and that's all that matters really. Great performance from Friedel. Why must the Holte sing "shit suppot ma'lord" after being outsung for the first 20 minutes of the match? I know we do every game but it never ceases to irritate me. Surely the people singing it must realise how silly it sounds?
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Ireland, I thought looked quite dangerous for spells.
I agree, and I think Ireland is more disappointed in himself than anything else. We've all seen the evidence of how good he can be. He's barely played competitively in the last year so it's no surprise he's not up to speed. Those people who were slamming Downing for pretty much the same thing last year are now seeing the excellent player that he really is. Before people start slating him, give him a chance to get fit and get in tune with the changes in his career. He'll come good.
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Ireland, I thought looked quite dangerous for spells.
Absolutely I am convinced he will be a fantastic player for us.We've seen glimpses already he just needs time
I agree, and I think Ireland is more disappointed in himself than anything else. We've all seen the evidence of how good he can be. He's barely played competitively in the last year so it's no surprise he's not up to speed. Those people who were slamming Downing for pretty much the same thing last year are now seeing the excellent player that he really is. Before people start slating him, give him a chance to get fit and get in tune with the changes in his career. He'll come good.
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Teams aren't going to lie down in a one off cup match. Burnley played beyond themselves and ultimately we had a bit of quality to win the game. How often have the top sides had games like this?
That said, Sidwell was appalling.
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Friedel - 8. Very good.
Beye - 5. A liability at left back. A decent right back. I'd have swapped him and...
Lichaj - 6. A steady performance.
Clark - 8. Class. MotM.
Cuellar - 8. Solid and composed.
Bannan - 5. Will have better games.
Reo Coker - 7. Thank fuck for General Nige.
Sidwell - 0. Completely and utterly inept. I am a better player than he is.
Albrighton - 5. See Bannan.
Young - 7. Typical Ash.
Ireland - 6. Early days yet. It will come. Needs more time with the players to click properly.
Heskey - 7. Exactly what we needed. He really is motivated at the moment and its good to see.
Downing - 8. Injected nous and a bit of class (apart from falling on his arse) and that goal was a cracker.
Completely agree with Clark as MOM, he was the best player on the pitch in claret and blue by some distance, and on that performance ought to be on the teamsheet ahead of Dunne every week. Excellent defending and not one to just 'get rid'. A defender with a footballing brain is a beautiful thing.
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Clark was my MoTM and could be a fixture in the Prem for years to come (but maybe not for Villa. See Cahill, G.). However, after the in stadium announcement that Cuellar got the nod, his clearance more than justified his vote.
As for the rest
Brad Sr..... very good
Lee High & Happy days ...... Both did OK, especially as Habib was out of position
Bannan.... sorry, but he's too lightweight
Nige.... lots of effort, destructive to the opposition. Poor passing at times and the last guy you want in front of goal apart from..........
Sid.... Oh dear. He doesn't get many opportunities to play and I'm beginning to see why. Gets in some great attacking positions but is then consistently awful. The inability to pass doesn't help either
Marky Marc.... has more potential than Bannan due to shear pace. He just needs to learn how to use it. Probably saved a goal when he got sent off.
Ash.... Played very well, considering he go next to no help from..............
Eire.... I've been very disappointed so far. Nowhere near the player my Man City supporting mate said we were getting
Ivanhoe & Stewie.... Changed the game around. Excellent cameos
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Last night was my first match of the season ... and I kind of don't want to go back if they keep pulling performances like that.
The first half was about 60:40 Villa ... second half was about 30:70 Burnley.
They were sloppy, uninterested and very, very irritable. It's only when Downing came on that the team started to show a bit of class, a bit of talent. I think starting Bannan was a good idea; he needs the experience; but I think they should have taken him off a lot sooner. He clearly isn't cut out for first-team football, regardless of the opponent.
Sidwell was very, very poor. Although, saying that he did make a few fantastic tackles. I think if NRC is going to be captain while Petrov is out then I think he needs to have some captaincy training. As much as I love him as a player, he doesn't bark enough from what I saw.
Our defense was pretty good, I felt. Cuellar played fantastically, Clark was making some really, really strong defensive headers, and Lichaj played fairly well, too. I thought Beye was a complete liability on the left. He also needs to stop being complacent, because last night I think he thought he was playing a team of school kids. He needs to remember that Burnley have got Premier League experience now ... they know what to expect.
Ireland looks like he wanted to go to bed, and Young needs some anger management. He acts like a spoilt kid who isn't get his way around 70% of the time on pitch. I'm amazed he didn't get sent off.
Ivanhoe was fantastic ... It's lovely to see the reception he gets when he comes on the pitch, because he deserves it. Under GH he's been a promising forward.
Downing - as said - was fantastic. He's been my player of the season so far. And that goal ... well ... talk about the right time to pull one out of the bag! Calm. Composed. Powerful. Smart.
Since he had the full summers training at BH he's turned into the player that he should be ... the player that MON showed so much promise in.
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Hard work. Good stuff from Heskey, Downing, Clark, Cuellar, great stuff from big Brad. Think we would have bitten the dust if little Brad had played. If Sidwell's performance doesn't make people appreciate Petrov a bit more, nothing will.
Sat/stood with the ultras, good fun.
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Sidwell worked his ass off, strong tackling, pressure on the ball, and could keep it up for the whole game. I was frustrated in his misses, but to be honest he got into positions that Coker and Petrov wouldnt do, and they cant score either. Far to much complaints about someone who tried for the whole game on these pages for me.
Well done Heskey and Downing. Last years biggest fall guys on these pages, yet looked class right from the moment they took the pitch.
Friedel, inspired
Clark and Cuellar give us so much confidence in our CB situation. Burnley are a good aggressive, tall team, and they did a pretty good job up to their goal, which the referee gifted them anyway.
I thought Lichai, Young and Coker played ok, not their best games, and Coker visibly tired at the end, some of the loose passing in the middle tended to start from his intervention.
Ireland has a lot of work to do for me. Very poor. At least try and look interested, even Downing did that when things werent going well. As does Beye. Note to you, if you leave a pacy winger half the pitch to run into, you will tend to struggle to get back to cut it out. I think there are two things that bring on a stomach ulcer for me at the moment, Coker breaking through on goal, and Beye trying to play the ball away by running back towards your own goal. They both have an air of inevitability about them
Bannan, a long way to go yet, and that tackle by Albrighton, may have screwed his night, but won us the game.
Referee. Is he Phil Dowd in disguise?
Any highlight show could pick about two good moves until the 85th minute. After that, it was edge of the seat, exhilerating stuff.
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I can't help thinking we need to let Ireland bed in as a central midfielder, rather than using him as some sort of second striker, where he gets isolated easily. Yes, he's great going forward but he's always done it from a midfield role, not this floating position - he's not the same sort of player as Ashley Young.
With Petrov now out for the foreseeable, and given Sidwell's shortcomings, I think we should pair Ireland and NRC together; Nigel plays the anchor role, Ireland has a bit more freedom. He'll get involved more, in the heart of the action, and I think that help to get the best out of him.
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I can't help thinking we need to let Ireland bed in as a central midfielder, rather than using him as some sort of second striker, where he gets isolated easily. Yes, he's great going forward but he's always done it from a midfield role, not this floating position - he's not the same sort of player as Ashley Young.
With Petrov now out for the foreseeable, and given Sidwell's shortcomings, I think we should pair Ireland and NRC together; Nigel plays the anchor role, Ireland has a bit more freedom. He'll get involved more, in the heart of the action, and I think that help to get the best out of him.
Perfect chance now, especially as it's either him, Osbourne or Salifou for the next game ;-)
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Id go with Ireland ,bannan or literally anybody ahead of sidwell- hope we get man u at home next round as we have more chance of beating them here than in the semi or final.
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Friedel MOTM, good performances from Clark, Cuellar, Reo Coker, Downing and Heskey.
Bannan will never make the grade at Premiership level and Sidwell was beyond terrible.
Can't moan at Beye too much as he isn't a left back.
A laboured performance, but we're through and that's the main thing.
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I'm worried about Sunday now. Last night showed why we need Petrov and with Albrighton now out our options aren't great.
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I'm worried about Sunday now. Last night showed why we need Petrov and with Albrighton now out our options aren't great.
I know what you mean.
Sidwell or Ireland to partner Reo Coker is a frightening thought.
I think we should just go for it in a 4-4-2 formation
Friedel
Beye
Collins
Cuellar
Warnock
Young
Ireland/Sidwell
Reo Coker
Downing
Heskey
Carew
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http://www.footytube.com/video/aston-villa-v-burnley-61788
BBC highlights
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I know this has probably been said before but here goes.............
FRIEDEL-FRIEDEL-FRIEDEL
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We are very short for Sunday now, looks like we must play 5 in midfield to include Sidwell and Ireland who are both woefully out of form. If only two of Albrighton, Delph and Petrov were fit/ available.
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Is a professional foul a 1 match or a 3 match ban?
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We are very short for Sunday now, looks like we must play 5 in midfield to include Sidwell and Ireland who are both woefully out of form. If only two of Albrighton, Delph and Petrov were fit/ available.
Right now I'd take one of them!
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Is a professional foul a 1 match or a 3 match ban?
He's only out against SHA
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Frustrating for most parts but the jobs done. I had the pleasure of listening to three teenage lads comparing every players' performance to that they experience on Fifa and Football Manager. One of them then stated it was the year 2053 in his game, which amazed his mates. He replied, "It's addictive, addictive like Ethiopia!" There was a short pause, when it turns out Ethiopia should have been opium. Made me chuckle anyway.
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Got there five minutes late after flogging a few fanzines, glanced up at the big screen, and wondered if they had made some sort of mistake. No strikers? At home against a Championship side that had been stuffed at the weekend?
I reckon that might be the smallest average starting line-up ever.
The game itself was absolute bollocks, barely a moment of quality throughout the match, it got better from the 80th minute and through extra-time, but overall it was awful, not going to worry too much though, we can win this thing.
Sidwell was fucking rubbish. NRC wasn't much better. Beye played like he was smoking something exotic, Bannan was fairly poor but gains a bonus for clearing one off the line.
Positives? Friedel was immense, one double save in the second half was top notch, Clark continues to impress, Cuellar did himself no harm given Dunne's pie issues, Downing was excellent (I have to hold my hand up to writing him off after last season), and Heskey did the business again, he's one we all wrote off!
My son sold more fanzines than me.
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That was you selling by the church then? I normally dont come that way nowadays 'cos I catch the Villa Special but i'm sure that used to be Percy's pitch. Has the ginger one gone into retirement?
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That was you selling by the church then? I normally dont come that way nowadays 'cos I catch the Villa Special but i'm sure that used to be Percy's pitch. Has the ginger one gone into retirement?
Yep.
Percy was over the road. I was only standing in for Mac, I'm just a part-time contractor in the Woodhall empire.
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Was very disappointed with the first hour last night, Cuellar and Clark looked solid, I'm lovin the way Clark is bringing the ball out of defence, just need the midfield to make the runs off him. Having said that they played one up front and packed the midfield which we struggled to break down at times. Bannan looks to lightweight, Reo-Coker was playing on his own in midfield, Sidwell as usual did nothing but aimless running about, except for getting on the end of Albrighton's cross which he should have at least forced a save from the keeper. Heskey and Downing made a hugh difference when they came on.
As for Ireland, I can see this being similar to Downing's first season taking time to adjust and get back playing again. He still looks rusty but I'm still backing him to come good for us.
Watched the highlights on the beeb last night and they said at the start Carew was in the starting line up until an hour before kick off when he pulled out through illness, don't want to see us do a Scotland again and play a pathetic 4-6-0 formation every again though.
West Ham at home in the next round please. Don't want Arsenal, or SHA or oilbyun as they'll just do their usual and kick fcuk out of us.
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Percy said he stood with the 'ultras'. I remember a recent thread introducing them. What do they do then? Have they got red hand-held flares, are they bare-chested with everyone facing the crowd and not watching the game?
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We made hard work for ourselves but we got the result in the end i thought Friedel, Downing, Heskey, and NRC played well although when is NRC going to score in a one on one with the keeper, Downing's goal was a good goal player of the season so far for us Friedel is usual steady self with some blinding saves thrown in, Heskey and NRC have had a change of fortune since GH took over i would like West Ham or Ipswich at home in the quater final.
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Percy said he stood with the 'ultras'. I remember a recent thread introducing them. What do they do then? Have they got red hand-held flares, are they bare-chested with everyone facing the crowd and not watching the game?
I read on another thread that the Ultras often use a Capo, so I did a search on google images, and it appears to be some form of knuckle duster or vile instrument of torture.
(http://elderly.com/images/accessories/ACC/GA85-BLK.jpg)
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Yeah, death to those guitars and their unfeasibly long fretboards!
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Young ...... it was poor when he headed for the corner trying to time waste when there was 11 minutes left ???
With 10 men versus 11 after 110 minutes of football, I thought it was a perfectly reasonable thing to do.
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What has happened with Delfouneso? He isn't getting a look in this season. He should have started last night after Carews injury?
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Percy said he stood with the 'ultras'. I remember a recent thread introducing them. What do they do then? Have they got red hand-held flares, are they bare-chested with everyone facing the crowd and not watching the game?
I read on another thread that the Ultras often use a Capo, so I did a search on google images, and it appears to be some form of knuckle duster or vile instrument of torture.
(http://elderly.com/images/accessories/ACC/GA85-BLK.jpg)
They go on guitars.
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Did anyone notice the man sitting next to Randy? I thought it was Lofty from Eastenders..
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Ireland, I thought looked quite dangerous for spells.
Really! When ?
Not a great performance from the secondish string but about par for a new Villa manager in the Cups, although at least we did come away with a victory, thanks to him being clever enough not to play Guzan, and for two more match saving subs, which few have mentioned, did the business, just.
Cannot fathom why no striker to start, even Heskey, what's up with wonder boy, no look in for the Fonz it seems.
Not impressed with any of the 'youth' except Clark, but for me Cuellar would make me look good, why the fck is he not number 1 pick.
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Sounded painful, but we won and that's the main thing.
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Did anyone notice the man sitting next to Randy? I thought it was Lofty from Eastenders..
It was him, Tom Watt is a journo now.