Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on November 06, 2010, 09:28:57 AM
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Available Saturday evening.
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That's a real sickener. If ever there was a game we should have won, this was it. But one silly free-kick from a player who did nothing else wrong all game and there we have it, two points dropped. That's horrible.
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I have had enough of watching this team. 5 or 6 chances to score one fucking goal. It's really not good enough.
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For fuck's sake. Why couldn't we just bloody score again and we would have won that comfortably.
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I give up.
Fucking useless.
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If you don't take your chances that's what happens, and it happens to us again and again and again.
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Last bloody kick of the game again. We have become very mediocre.
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If only Ash Young could score... we shpuld have been out of sight
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Bottleless.
Albrighton is idiotic.
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BUY A FUCKING GOAL SCORER. ARGGGGHHHHHHH.
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There seems to be something very wrong with the mentality of these players this season. Fundamental errors cost us time and time again. Learn the fucking basics you clueless twats. Fucking sick of it. Wankers.
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Fuck them all!
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I give up.
Fucking useless.
This.
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Pissflaps. Weplayed very well considering the team we had out and losing the captain in the first half. Take it on the chin and move on. We have no choice. We played some bloody good football and I do feel sorry for Marc - from hero to Villain but he will learn. Wednesday is massive.
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If we don't buy a striker in January, we're going to finish in the bottom half, I reckon.
You can not afford a 6-1 chances to goals ratio.
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I would have taken a nervy 3 points. The big thing is what GH already knows. Yes, we have a problem up front, but the midfield players, namely Ash today, are not smart. They don't take advantage of opportunities. He had numerous chances today to make something happen, and for our "best" player, it isn't good enough. Maybe he isn't cut out to be the focal point of this team, because you cannot rely on him to be somthing we build around.
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Pile of shit fcuk a point, we had our chances and blew it
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It's only surprising because it's not surprising. Seriously if you did a comparison of late goals conceded and scored there can't be many sets of fans who suffer as much misery as us. Bollocks to bad luck though, if you can't concentrate for the whole game you're liable to get punished.
Thank fuck we have a game in 3 or 4 days, I wouldn't want them going into the ManUre game feeling sorry for themselves.
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I haven't felt so much frustration watching villa in years.
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Played well, passed the ball well, Bazza was great. Shame about the last minute goal. I think the kids will do very well for us this season. The Fonz will come good.
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It looked like a dive for that free kick, I would like to see a replay of Albrightons challenge.
Gutted.
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A lot of sweary angst on here. I hope when we've all got over the disappointment we can see the positives of deserving to win an away game in the Premier League with basically our youth team.
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shocking, we had the chances to have had the game won A Young was awful
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Pissflaps. Weplayed very well considering the team we had out and losing the captain in the first half. Take it on the chin and move on. We have no choice. We played some bloody good football and I do feel sorry for Marc - from hero to Villain but he will learn. Wednesday is massive.
Problem is if you fuck it all up at the end it doesn't really matter. We cannot continue missing multiple chances and making shocking errors.
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thought we were a good 3 goals better than Fulham. Unbelievably stupid freekick to give away, wouldnt mind knowing what Warnock was doing, didnt even jump. Super free kick from Murphy but that was sick. So many good performances but an absolute sickener
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If we don't buy a striker in January, we're going to finish in the bottom half, I reckon.
You can not afford a 6-1 chances to goals ratio.
if we don't start scoring we probably will be relegated.
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5th bottom now.
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I shit myself...The BBC website was showing Fulham 2-1 :'(
If you dont put your chances away...You will get punished !
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So fucking annoyed. How haven't we won that game comfortably?
Really can't believe it, I should, but I can't.
Plenty of good points, but I'm too worked up to even contemplate it at the moment.
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If you don't take your chances that's what happens, and it happens to us again and again and again.
And again... Typical villa i knew it was it before he even took the free-kick, we all knew?
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It's only surprising because it's not surprising. Seriously if you did a comparison of late goals conceded and scored there can't be many sets of fans who suffer as much misery as us. Bollocks to bad luck though, if you can't concentrate for the whole game you're liable to get punished.
Thank fuck we have a game in 3 or 4 days, I wouldn't want them going into the ManUre game feeling sorry for themselves.
And you expect us to beat Blackpool?
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A lot of sweary angst on here. I hope when we've all got over the disappointment we can see the positives of deserving to win an away game in the Premier League with basically our youth team.
Agreed.
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Bottleless.
Albrighton is idiotic.
yeah right thats why he scored a brilliant goal FFS duff threw himself down with barely any contact we were just unlucky with the injuries we had i thught we played well apart from Ashley young and warnock
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5th bottom now.
They've got the points wrong, actually. We have 13, not 12, and are actually 13th.
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5th bottom now.
the tables means little when 3 points more puts you in 5th. The concern is not converting chances. Eventually the gap will widen if we don't.
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A lot of sweary angst on here. I hope when we've all got over the disappointment we can see the positives of deserving to win an away game in the Premier League with basically our youth team.
Of course to a point, you are right. However, bollocks to that, they are a bunch of useless twats who do it time and time again.
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It's easy (and probably right) to point the finger at Albrighton - stupid free kick to give away and we all knew what would happen. But it was the only thing he did wrong nearly all game and he took his goal brilliantly. For me Ash has to bear some of the blame and the chances missed by him and Fonz are what really cost us - we had enough chances to put this game out of sight well before added time. We desperately need a quality striker - even when our others are fit we don't score anywhere near enough goals- and I think Houllier will address that in January
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I refuse to watch the last 10 mins of a game for the rest of the season. Fed up of seeing us fall at the death.
What makes it worse is we can all see it coming.
The kids did ok.
Downing/A.Young need to buck up. If we had a full squad available I'd drop them to give em a kick up the backside.
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Thats it, i am done with football, why should we care so fucking much when the players will now drive their Ferrari's back to their mansion feeling nowhere near as depressed about the game as us.
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I would have taken a nervy 3 points. The big thing is what GH already knows. Yes, we have a problem up front, but the midfield players, namely Ash today, are not smart. They don't take advantage of opportunities. He had numerous chances today to make something happen, and for our "best" player, it isn't good enough. Maybe he isn't cut out to be the focal point of this team, because you cannot rely on him to be somthing we build around.
My thoughts exactly Tonto, he was petulant and berating his team mates and when he had the chances to step up to the plate he failed miserably, he looks like he is playing for himself not the team
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A lot of sweary angst on here. I hope when we've all got over the disappointment we can see the positives of deserving to win an away game in the Premier League with basically our youth team.
This.
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I'm really fed up with Ashley Young. Too often he makes the wrong decisions.
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We played brilliant today... why the fuck couldn't we be brilliant for 10 more seconds? Spineless conceding something as pathetic as that in the last few seconds. My evening which would of been great and saying how amazing everyone played has been ruined.
The defending for that freekick was woeful but there was no need to give a stupid freekick like that.
After playing so great why do we let ourselves down? We should of won easily and taken the 3 points... dropping 2 points in such a stupid way in the last few seconds is going to annoy me for a while.
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Bottleless.
Albrighton is idiotic.
yeah right thats why he scored a brilliant goal FFS duff threw himself down with barely any contact we were just unlucky with the injuries we had i thught we played well apart from Ashley young and warnock
He was waiting for the challenge. There was no need for Albrighton to go in on him at that point.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
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Pissflaps. Weplayed very well considering the team we had out and losing the captain in the first half. Take it on the chin and move on. We have no choice. We played some bloody good football and I do feel sorry for Marc - from hero to Villain but he will learn. Wednesday is massive.
Nice to see a bit of balance in the response.
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Yes, it's a sickener but we played very well and there were some good performances in there, especially Bannan and Albrighton. It wasn't a free-kick, Duff dived. Inexperience from Marc to get that close to him is all.
Our only problem was taking chances, but I don't see how that turns a decent team performance into one by a bunch of wankers.
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Played well, passed the ball well, Bazza was great. Shame about the last minute goal. I think the kids will do very well for us this season. The Fonz will come good.
Fonz. It's early and I don't want to be too harsh but he had a couple of chances today that a 'natural' goal scorer would've buried. He doesn't appear to have any positional awareness or anything outstanding to his game. Maybe that's why it takes every single other one of our players for him to get a game.
He's 19 though so what I said will come across as being a bit nasty. I hope I'm wrong.
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Bottleless.
Albrighton is idiotic.
yeah right thats why he scored a brilliant goal FFS duff threw himself down with barely any contact we were just unlucky with the injuries we had i thught we played well apart from Ashley young and warnock
Much like Stoke. As professional footballers they should either learn from their mistakes, or ideally, already know not to put in a challenge that gives the ref the decision of a free kick. Very unprofessional.
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Time after time this happens. Season after season, different players, different managers, different fucking millenium, same fucking hurt and disappointment.
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5th bottom now.
the tables means little when 3 points more puts you in 5th. The concern is not converting chances. Eventually the gap will widen if we don't.
The reality is though that we are currently in that position(or possibly not) and we won't be getting 3 points unless we become a lot more clinical and stop making stupid mistakes.
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whilst being enormously dissapointed I'm also very pleased with the performance considering we had 4 kids on the pitch. We created more chances than we have for ages. I know that you have to put them away, but hopefully Gabby back and a new striker will put that right. Bannan Clark and Albrighton had great games. The fonz did ok.
Overall the quality of the play was good
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Last bloody kick of the game again. We have become very mediocre.
What total rubbish.
We had no strikers, our best midfield player gets crocked early on, we lead at a team no one but Spurs have beaten on their own pitch, with the youngest side in history and we just lose a goal in the last second of play.
Yes players like Young and Albrighton failed to nail it when they should have, yes we should have scored more, yes we should not have lost, yes Houllier needs to keep on sorting their defeatist mentality out, but for such a young and experienced side a decent performance for me, just the wrong result.
Very, very disappointing, but a decent performance from most of the kids, I think the Fonz has shown he's not yet got what it takes, but the others did a job and well enough. The same certainly can't be said for some of the more experienced players who failed again to step up and be counted.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
That's just a pisstake surely.
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Stoke game freekick that weren't they scored
Burnley game freekick that weren't they scored
Fulham game freekick that weren't they scored
What the hell is going on?
I'm gutted, it's my bloody birthday and I don't wanna go out now!
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It could be worse the beeb have us down as losing 2-1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/9154634.stm
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Time after time this happens. Season after season, different players, different managers, different fucking millenium, same fucking hurt and disappointment.
Exactly....I'm not blaming individuals, rather the entity that is Aston Villa.
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I would have taken a nervy 3 points. The big thing is what GH already knows. Yes, we have a problem up front, but the midfield players, namely Ash today, are not smart. They don't take advantage of opportunities. He had numerous chances today to make something happen, and for our "best" player, it isn't good enough. Maybe he isn't cut out to be the focal point of this team, because you cannot rely on him to be somthing we build around.
My thoughts exactly Tonto, he was petulant and berating his team mates and when he had the chances to step up to the plate he failed miserably, he looks like he is playing for himself not the team
Given the chance I'd take the money on him in January - I think he's overrated and disengaged.
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Who cares if we played well i'd rather we played piss poor and got a lucky win.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
That's the kind of logic that will make Sarah Palin president of America.
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A lot more positives today than negatives.
When we got the ball, we looked a very good passing team, a bit naive sometimes, but played some lovely football.
I must say, until the last minute, Dunne and Collins were back to their best, Bannan looks a lovely footballer, what a pass for the goal by the way.And i must hold my hands up about Clark, he has a lovely 1st touch, and always looks for a pass, looks a very good prospect.
Delfunso is 19, so i will give him the benefit of the doubt, but he should have had a hat trick today.
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At this moment we are lucky the league is so close this season and a couple of wins will move you up to the top 5.
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Another game where we pay the price for missed chances...or not having a fit proven goalscorer at the club. January cant come soon enough to fix this problem, so I hope GH has some plans to bring someone in.
5th bottom now.
We're 13th...not that it really matters. The only positive I can take from the result is theres only 3pts between 5th and 16th place (cant see Newcastle, Liverpool or Baggies gettin 3pts tomorrow).
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
That's the kind of logic that will make Sarah Palin president of America.
Agreed. We may well go down under GH but we were certainly going down under KM. I hope I'm wrong but I cannot see us getting 40 points to stay up this season. Delfouneso is fuckin useless and if he is our hope up front then we might as well give up.
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Ash is not the villain i blame the defence for not holding out, why didn't Cuellar come on in stoppage time?
GH must of realised this when we kept missing easy chances it's time to sure up the win.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
Shut up
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We will hockey some team soon.
Friedel 7
Young 6
Dunne 8
Collins 6
Warnock 6
Albrighton 8
Bannan 7
Reo Coker 6, Clark 8
Downing 6
Young 4
Fonz 5
Ireland also showed some lovely touches and a decent workrate. Looking back I suppose we didnt play it on the floor as much as we should in the second half. One shitty offside trap apart, Fulham created zilch. I thought we were resolute until Albrighton's brain fart. But the Fonz missed 3 glorious chances, his heart wasnt in the last one. Young's header was a decent effort but he should have nailed the one after. Downing at the start and Albrighton aswell. 5 or 6 great chances missed isnt good enough. Fulham are shocking too. Dunne made an absolute fool out of Dembele. Dont know how he lasted the 94 mins.
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Isn't it a bit daft to be talking of going down? Or not getting 40 points?
Yes, we have to start scoring goals. Yes, we need to buy a striker in January. No, not getting the points our play deserve isn't good.
Had we hung on 10 more seconds today, we'd have been one of a clutch of teams in joint fifth place.
Somewhat premature to be talking of relegation.
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I would have taken a nervy 3 points. The big thing is what GH already knows. Yes, we have a problem up front, but the midfield players, namely Ash today, are not smart. They don't take advantage of opportunities. He had numerous chances today to make something happen, and for our "best" player, it isn't good enough. Maybe he isn't cut out to be the focal point of this team, because you cannot rely on him to be somthing we build around.
I completely agree with this. Ash, for all his good points, is more of a "cherry on top" player rather than the guy you build your team around.
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The MOST predictable thing in football. I should have put my life's fucking savings and anything else I could beg, borrow and pilfer on that happening. Just complete shit.
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Ashley Young is shit.
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Played well, passed the ball well, Bazza was great. Shame about the last minute goal. I think the kids will do very well for us this season. The Fonz will come good.
Fonz. It's early and I don't want to be too harsh but he had a couple of chances today that a 'natural' goal scorer would've buried. He doesn't appear to have any positional awareness or anything outstanding to his game. Maybe that's why it takes every single other one of our players for him to get a game.
He's 19 though so what I said will come across as being a bit nasty. I hope I'm wrong.
No positional awareness yet he was on the end of the chances you are talking about. Yeah right.
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Right now I've calmed down, on the plus side our goal was brilliant and Ireland was sharp when he came on. However we have got to start taking our chances and stop conceding late goals.
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Disapointing, but when you do not put you chances away that is what happens.
Thought Bannan, Albrighton, Clarke and Dunne all played very well today. A Young didn't have the best of games but when you look at the lack of options around him whenever he had the ball it was a tough game for him.
A real kick in the teeth but it is how we bounce back on Wednesday night that will show the character of this team.
Big respect to the Villa fans today they sang loud and proud.
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Clark looked very good again. Does anyone know how much football he has played in CM?
Can we consider him a genuine midfielder?
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
That's the kind of logic that will make Sarah Palin president of America.
Agreed. We may well go down under GH but we were certainly going down under KM. I hope I'm wrong but I cannot see us getting 40 points to stay up this season. Delfouneso is fuckin useless and if he is our hope up front then we might as well give up.
He has started his first Villa league game and got into the position to have several chances, Yes they never went in but at 19 on his own up front he had a good go. Carew is 31 and missed even easier sitters including penalties this season, yet his name is sang by Villa fans.
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Don't think we will go down either, i just want to kick something and not get hurt,
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
Yes, European elimination and the 6-0 battering at Newcastle must have been the icing on the cake for you. I'm glad you weren't doing the hiring.
Get a grip.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
That's the kind of logic that will make Sarah Palin president of America.
Agreed. We may well go down under GH but we were certainly going down under KM. I hope I'm wrong but I cannot see us getting 40 points to stay up this season. Delfouneso is fuckin useless and if he is our hope up front then we might as well give up.
Err...not quite what I had in mind, I must say.
Guys, I know we're all disappointed and annoyed and all the rest of it, but some of the overreaction on here is unworthy of us. My God, people talking about RELEGATION! I can't believe it. We've had a bad run putting chances away, but I said before the Spurs game that we'd be on a tough run of matches and so it has proved! This is very much a transitional year, about bringing the young players through and seeing where we can improve so as to mount a proper challenge next season - when, by the way, Man City won't have been able to spend billions again owing to their own restrictions on spending trying to meet the Platini regs. We are not far behind them, we have a youth system that must be the envy of most of Europe, we have a modern, enlightened manager and owner who I would say generally know what they're doing. I can't say we're reacting in a particularly British way. Where's the stiff upper lip?
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
Yes, European elimination and the 6-0 battering at Newcastle must have been the icing on the cake for you. I'm glad you weren't doing the hiring.
Get a grip.
agreed.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
I presume you're either being ironic or a troll. That would be the same Kevin Mac with a 25% win percentage including an outstanding performance against Newcastle.
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Why was Blobby Dunne on his knees when Hangeland headed the ball?
Yes Albrighton was stupid giving away the free kick but it should have been defended better. The thing that pisses me off most about today is the likes of Albrighton, Bannon, & Clark where excellent, the experienced Internationals; Downing, A. Young, Dunne and Warnock where cunty bollocks.
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Time after time this happens. Season after season, different players, different managers, different fucking millenium, same fucking hurt and disappointment.
Exactly....I'm not blaming individuals, rather the entity that is Aston Villa.
Sounds like you are both interested in the wrong sport if you can't handle disappointment.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
That's the kind of logic that will make Sarah Palin president of America.
Agreed. We may well go down under GH but we were certainly going down under KM. I hope I'm wrong but I cannot see us getting 40 points to stay up this season. Delfouneso is fuckin useless and if he is our hope up front then we might as well give up.
The kid is 19 in his first league start of the season. Blame the more experienced players around him if you want. Quite frankly Friedel should have commanded the area better for the goal, but don't blame 19 and 20 year olds especially one playing his first full game.
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In fairness Downing put a few chances on a plate for team mates and they gashed them, it's not his fault.
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Relegation certs now ?
Incredible.
Everyone's disappointed and GH, does need to get a grip on things, he's not the most dynamic of motivators in the managers stakes, but relegation. Heaven help us on this site after the Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool games.
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Isn't it a bit daft to be talking of going down? Or not getting 40 points?
Yes, we have to start scoring goals. Yes, we need to buy a striker in January. No, not getting the points our play deserve isn't good.
Had we hung on 10 more seconds today, we'd have been one of a clutch of teams in joint fifth place.
Somewhat premature to be talking of relegation.
We draw way to many games though so this season you never know, when the barcodes went down none of us saw that coming!!
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C'mon guys, always lousy to concede in stoppage but there are a lot of great positives. In the last year we have seen the development of home grown talent Like Albrighton, now Bannon and Clark.
Add a creative midfielder to replace Petrov, a holding midfielder to replace Sidwell, a 7/8 Million pound striker and we will be a hell of a YOUNG force to be reckoned with. I think in a season or two we will be talking Silverware and regular top six. The future is looking much better than the one dimensional style of MON. A long way to go sure but we have a great defence (!) a quality mid, great youngsters coming through, just need a couple of regular goal scorers a la Shaw and Withe and we are capable of anything.
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In fairness Downing put a few chances on a plate for team mates and they gashed them, it's not his fault.
I'll go along with that, Downing hasn't done an awful lot wrong for many games now.
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Clark looked very good again. Does anyone know how much football he has played in CM?
Can we consider him a genuine midfielder?
Not played there since he was 14.
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Clark looked very good again. Does anyone know how much football he has played in CM?
Can we consider him a genuine midfielder?
Don't know how much he's played in midfield but he's so composed in possession I can see him making the transition from defence to midfield in the same way Barry did
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I thought we played very well today with some very promising performances.
I am especially impressed with Clark. I'm sure he will become a regular and this could even be in midfield.
Bannan has real potential and Albrighton is nearly there.
It was his inexperience that gave away the free kick which led to the equaliser. He won't do that in a year's time.
Pressure or lack of confidence meant Fonz could have done much better but he did work hard - and Carew doesn't.
Ash disappointed and didn't look like he knew what his role was. He's missing his chum.
We will be building this year and I hope we can get a decent striker in asap. Having Gabby back would have helped enormously today.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
That's the kind of logic that will make Sarah Palin president of America.
Agreed. We may well go down under GH but we were certainly going down under KM. I hope I'm wrong but I cannot see us getting 40 points to stay up this season. Delfouneso is fuckin useless and if he is our hope up front then we might as well give up.
The kid is 19 in his first league start of the season. Blame the more experienced players around him if you want. Quite frankly Friedel should have commanded the area better for the goal, but don't blame 19 and 20 year olds especially one playing his first full game.
Nonsense. The guy gets paid enough and is not exactly new to the game. He is not good enough and that is that. Rooney was 16 when he broke through and although he is a special case you cannot say a 20 year old is not to blame for missing a HATFUL of chances. You can blame the older players all you like (and I do) but it was he who fucked up time and time again.
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Isn't it a bit daft to be talking of going down? Or not getting 40 points?
Yes, we have to start scoring goals. Yes, we need to buy a striker in January. No, not getting the points our play deserve isn't good.
Had we hung on 10 more seconds today, we'd have been one of a clutch of teams in joint fifth place.
Somewhat premature to be talking of relegation.
If we don't fix those then it doesn't matter if a win today puts us into fifth or not. Look at the fixtures upto January and tell me where three points will come from with our current problems. The plus point is Gabby should be back very soon but so far this season he has been injury prone and could be turning into a lesser Owen to go with the other two "main" strikers.
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I do think we look a poor team. Keeper past it and on his last legs, defence containing an overweight Dunne and Warnock who can't pass a ball ten yards and can't clear a ball in the 94th minute just like at Stoke, midfield who don't score enough and containing Downing who goes missing and shits himself every tackle and Ashley Young who is the most overrated player in the league, then theres our strikers who are all injured and when they're fit they're all shit anyway.
We can't hold on to a lead, theres no creativity, our ball retention is still dreadful, and we haven't got a fit, good striker, it's not looking good.
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Slightly calmer now...we played well enough to win that match. Bannan looks good, as does Albrighton (except for stupid, unneccesary fouls) and Clark as well.
We looked fairly comfortable until the last 20 seconds. Only remember Friedel having to be on his toes the once prior to that.
For fucks sake though...(the anger is coming back)
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Nonsense. The guy gets paid enough and is not exactly new to the game. He is not good enough and that is that. Rooney was 16 when he broke through and although he is a special case you cannot say a 20 year old is not to blame for missing a HATFUL of chances. You can blame the older players all you like (and I do) but it was he who fucked up time and time again.
Ok, so your points seem to be that getting paid 'enough' means that he should automatically finish off all known chances (by that logic, why don't you just put me on Messi's salary and see how many Balon d'Ors I win), and that he's not Rooney.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
Do fuck off old lad.
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I do think we look a poor team. Keeper past it and on his last legs, defence containing an overweight Dunne and Warnock who can't pass a ball ten yards and can't clear a ball in the 94th minute just like at Stoke, midfield who don't score enough and containing Downing who goes missing and shits himself every tackle and Ashley Young who is the most overrated player in the league, then theres our strikers who are all injured and when they're fit they're all shit anyway.
We can't hold on to a lead, theres no creativity, our ball retention is still dreadful, and we haven't got a fit, good striker, it's not looking good.
What a fucking ridiculous over-reaction. Are people really allowed to post this sort of stuff?
I'm going before I say something that results in me being removed from the site.
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And can people stop being fickle and dramatic talking about stupid things like relegation. We played Clark and Bannan in midfield today with Delfouneso playing as a lone striker... if we'd won today everyone would be happy and I can assure you that there no silly posts talking about relegation. We've been on the end of some bad luck recently, but despite that we've playing well. Just give the managers and players some time. Just watch if we beat Blackpool how there will be complete opposite reactions on here.
Are we going to finish below teams like Wolves, Wigan, Blackpool, Newcastle, West Ham, Stoke, Fulham, West Brom etc...? That's 8 teams who are going to finish above us? Sure...
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A frustrating end to the game, i really thought we were going to hang on and get the three points then. All Duff seemed to do when he was on is fall over and push Young over, by the looks of him he must fall on his face a lot.
All in all though considering all of our injuries we played well today, in fact at times we played better football than we do with some of the senior players on the pitch. If only we'd had Gabby up front, i'm sure we would have converted one of our opportunities.
Friedel - 8 - two or three great stops that kept us in the game.
Warnock - 7 - Played pretty well today, always looks slightly industrial though.
Dunne - 7 - Has had a harsh time of it this season but thought he was pretty solid and made some great blocks again.
Colins - 7 - Solid, solid as a rock.
Young - 7 - Played ok but we did seem to be a bit exposed down that flank.
Albrighton - 7 - Great goal, worked hard for the team, shame about the end but Duff would have dived whether he had touched him or not
Clark - 8 - Very assured performance again and some great crunching tackles. Could he be the answer to an assured defensive midfielder that has good passing ability as well.
Bannan - 8 - Some brilliant creative play and really controlled the game at times.
Young - 6 - Looked like a spare part today, just didn't seem to fit in and link up well with the younger players, but he did put a good shift in effort wise.
Downing - 7 - A typical performance from him this season, some great play but also some very annoying errors.
Delfouneso - 7 - Had two or three chances he could have perhaps done better with, certainly the last one when he was set free on the edge of the box. He's definately a prospect though, but needs another year or so of experience.
Ireland - Showed some real touches of class in the few minutes he was on and think perhaps his style of play would fit in better with some of the younger players.
Ref: Thought he did ok today, kept the game flowing and was fairly consistent to both sides.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
I know last minute goals are hard to take but this is the most ridiculous comment I've read in a long while.
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Nonsense. The guy gets paid enough and is not exactly new to the game. He is not good enough and that is that. Rooney was 16 when he broke through and although he is a special case you cannot say a 20 year old is not to blame for missing a HATFUL of chances. You can blame the older players all you like (and I do) but it was he who fucked up time and time again.
I think the first word of that sums up the rest of it quite nicely.
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
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some of the posts on here defy belief. We are all gutted, but literally 10 more seconds of resistance and we're discussing a different world. We'd be lying 8th and heralding the new kids that are making their name for us. 10 bloody seconds...
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I do think we look a poor team. Keeper past it and on his last legs, defence containing an overweight Dunne and Warnock who can't pass a ball ten yards and can't clear a ball in the 94th minute just like at Stoke, midfield who don't score enough and containing Downing who goes missing and shits himself every tackle and Ashley Young who is the most overrated player in the league, then theres our strikers who are all injured and when they're fit they're all shit anyway.
We can't hold on to a lead, theres no creativity, our ball retention is still dreadful, and we haven't got a fit, good striker, it's not looking good.
I assume you didn't see the game then?
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Relegation certs now ?
Incredible.
Everyone's disappointed and GH, does need to get a grip on things, he's not the most dynamic of motivators in the managers stakes, but relegation. Heaven help us on this site after the Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool games.
We could get smashed by all three and we still won't be as miserable as you were after we beat them on their own grounds in the last two seasons.
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And can people stop being fickle and dramatic talking about stupid things like relegation. We played Clark and Bannan in midfield today with Delfouneso playing as a lone striker... if we'd won today everyone would be happy and I can assure you that there no silly posts talking about relegation. We've been on the end of some bad luck recently, but despite that we've playing well. Just give the managers and players some time. Just watch if we beat Blackpool how there will be complete opposite reactions on here.
Are we going to finish below teams like Wolves, Wigan, Blackpool, Newcastle, West Ham, Stoke, Fulham, West Brom etc...? That's 8 teams who are going to finish above us? Sure...
No such thing as bad luck.
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What bad luck did we have today? We could have sealed it but Young's final ball or finish was shit as always, and others missed chances, we then gave a stupid free kick away in the last seconds, we then failed to deal with it like at Stoke and they scored. Not bad luck, all our own fault.
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Clark looked very good again. Does anyone know how much football he has played in CM?
Can we consider him a genuine midfielder?
Not played there since he was 14.
He must be a very talented footballer then. I'd worry about his mobility playing central midfield for a long period however it bodes well if he can maintain his excellent passing if/when he returns to centre back.
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Nonsense. The guy gets paid enough and is not exactly new to the game. He is not good enough and that is that. Rooney was 16 when he broke through and although he is a special case you cannot say a 20 year old is not to blame for missing a HATFUL of chances. You can blame the older players all you like (and I do) but it was he who fucked up time and time again.
It was his first ever start in the prem. His other league experience has been 10 or 15 minutes here or there. If you compare him with a contemporary striker of similar age, Gabby was 19 and Andy Carroll played his first League game at 20. Both played with main strikers and weren't expected to lead the line on their own.
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It's worrying right now...we desperately need a win and look at out fixtures...
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After some of the comments,maybe we should start the post match topic about 4 hours later when people have calmed down. A keeper past his best? This is the same guy who kept us in the league cup a week or two ago.
We need to take the positives,and the performance seemed good,its just the killing off of teams we struggle with. But im proud that we had 4 guys from the same youth team putting in a good shift today,which will benfit the club in the future.
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Nonsense. The guy gets paid enough and is not exactly new to the game. He is not good enough and that is that. Rooney was 16 when he broke through and although he is a special case you cannot say a 20 year old is not to blame for missing a HATFUL of chances. You can blame the older players all you like (and I do) but it was he who fucked up time and time again.
Ok, so your points seem to be that getting paid 'enough' means that he should automatically finish off all known chances (by that logic, why don't you just put me on Messi's salary and see how many Balon d'Ors I win), and that he's not Rooney.
Now that is silly. I never said he should have finished all known chances did I. One would have been enough.
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
Why are we a laughing stock?
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
A change of name may be required. Is it the end of the season already?
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
Why are we a laughing stock?
Because some of our fans react to this with calls to sack the manager before he relegates us, perhaps? That's about the only reason I can think of. As far as I can see, we have a youth system which must be the envy of the country, maybe even the continent, if we can throw in as many youngsters as that today and get that performance. Far from a laughing stock.
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
A change of name may be required. Is it the end of the season already?
Of course. How many points do we have?
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
Sorry but what do these two 'sentences' mean?
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Some of the performances on here have been shocking. Sidwellesque in their ineptitude. There's even been a few Didier Agathesque outbursts.
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
Sorry but what do these two 'sentences' mean?
It's the 'work it lads' that sounds a little bizarre there.
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Same people called for Martins head. Yep he did the dirty one but still we are in fucking free for all.
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
That's the spirit - if only we hadn't sacked MON eh?
And as far as I'm aware it's where we are in May not November, and when the new manager has had an opportunity to bring some players in.
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
Sorry but what do these two 'sentences' mean?
It's the 'work it lads' that sounds a little bizarre there.
I think it means "work it out"
Although, most people would recognise that finding yourselves without manager as the season kicks off, spending five weeks under a caretaker who struggles, having very little up front, and then finding yourself with all three of your first choice strikers injured, with other injuries through the team, is not the ideal situation to be in, and temper their anger appropriately.
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totally gutted, its my fault i was watching sky soccer saturday and stupidly turned to radio wm for the last 30 seconds. I feel sick, oh god!!!
ps Kammy on sky said we were playing some brilliant stuff.
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Same people called for Martins head. Yep he did the dirty one but still we are in fucking free for all.
So, we're in trouble because Martin has gone, yet the salient point is that some people didn't like him, when actually, he fucked off of his own accord?
Right.
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Terrible. I mean, it's not as though we have more casualties than the Somme, our top three strikers out, influential players going off injured and got a point at a ground where our record isn't great...
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Same people called for Martins head. Yep he did the dirty one but still we are in fucking free for all.
So, we're in trouble because Martin has gone, yet the salient point is that some people didn't like him, when actually, he fucked off of his own accord?
Right.
Certainly.
Houllier will lead the Villa to the Champions League spot. Fucking stands there at home to the scum.
Keep dreaming lads I know I am.
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Keep dreaming lads I know I am.
I thought your name was Reality?
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Sounds like your pissed mate not dreaming
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
A change of name may be required. Is it the end of the season already?
Of course. How many points do we have?
Not as many as we will have at the end of the season. Which is how you were calling it.
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Same people called for Martins head. Yep he did the dirty one but still we are in fucking free for all.
So, we're in trouble because Martin has gone, yet the salient point is that some people didn't like him, when actually, he fucked off of his own accord?
Right.
Certainly.
Houllier will lead the Villa to the Champions League spot. Fucking stands there at home to the scum.
Keep dreaming lads I know I am.
What are you talking about?
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Sounds like your pissed mate not dreaming
Lol, of course would be better than watching that tripe. 11 games 13 points. :-X
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Is this the same MON that had 4 years to sign us a quality striker and left us with bloody Heskey, Carew and Agbonlahor who are all crap?
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Same people called for Martins head. Yep he did the dirty one but still we are in fucking free for all.
Is English your first language?
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How many points did we have this time last season?
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what does 'Fucking stands there at home to the scum' mean?
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
Someones started early...how many have you had ?
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Lol, aye have had a few too many but still. ;D ;D
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Back to thread we had 4 U21 youngsters playing today. The futures bright but its going to take time, oh and lets hope we learn to play to the whistle. These late goals aint good.
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How many points did we have this time last season?
22, if i've worked it out right.
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Certainly.
Houllier will lead the Villa to the Champions League spot. Fucking stands there at home to the scum.
Keep dreaming lads I know I am.
Remind me how many times did O'Neill lead us to the blessed CL spot?
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Reality, please go away. Thanks
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There are some extremely childish responses tonight.
Of course it's gutting to concede such a late equaliser but the performance was good considering how many players we had out. I thought all the youngsters did well and even Ireland impressed in the few minutes he had on the pitch. Albrighton was mugged by Duff for the free kick at the end but he'll learn from it and after the goal he scored I'm not going to hold it against him.
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Reality, please go away. Thanks
Do you want the whole universe to end?
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An hour on and the initial bitter disappointment is now a dull ache. The positives do, on balance, out-weigh the initial anger.
It also proves that the nature of how you draw colours your judgement. We're f*cking livid because we concede a last-minute equalizer; Blues are no doubt cock-a-hoop having come back from 2-0 down. However, when the dust settles, both have gleaned a point - and ours considering that we were away and who we were playing is marginally the better.
Anyway, we move on. The missus and I are off out later with our friends who are Blackpool season ticket holders. They can't hold a lead, we concede in the final seconds. Should have some good banter about the likely outcome mid-week...
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How many points did we have this time last season?
22, if i've worked it out right.
Nah, apprarently it was 18 points which means we're only 5 points from what we had this stage this time last season. Get a grip ppl.
Just to put in into perspective, check out this link which shows the table after 11 games played last season http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2009-2010/table/2009-11-04
Can we pls stop over reacting now? Look at spurs, look at liverpool, look at Everton... even look at small heath. As you can see Everton only had 12 points this time last season and look where they finished. Look at how many points both spurs and liverpool had and now look at how many points they have so far this season. small heath only had 11 points this time last season and finished 9th.
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
A change of name may be required. Is it the end of the season already?
Of course. How many points do we have?
More than Birmingham, Liverpool, Stoke, Wigan, Wolves and West Ham.
It is a mindfuck to see someone called 'Reality' so detached from it.
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Talk about over reacting, some of the comments on here are laughable.
I'm gutted and could so see their goal coming but if you look at the game as a whole, given the injuries, there are a lot of positives.
I think Houllier will come good. He won't take any shit and has given the young lads a chance. I know a lot of the changes have been forced on him but he could quited easily have picked more experienced players in the squad but he obviously recognises talent. He has shown that he's not afraid to give players a kick up the arse, Carew being the latest, but I think it's needed as I think some players had got too comfotable. I was dissappointed with the way he set up against SHA but I'm hoping that was a one off.
Now, if we lose to Blackpool maybe I won't be as optimistic, but today is a decent point. It should have been 3 but shit happens. Very disappoining outcome but the performance was promising.
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How many points did we have this time last season?
22, if i've worked it out right.
Nah, apprarently it was 18 points which means we're only 5 points from what we had this stage this time last season. Get a grip ppl.
Just to put in into perspective, check out this link which shows the table after 11 games played last season http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2009-2010/table/2009-11-04
Can we pls stop over reacting now? Look at spurs, look at liverpool, look at Everton... even look at small heath. As you can see Everton only had 12 points this time last season and look where they finished. Look at how many points both spurs and liverpool had and now look at how many points they have so far this season. small heath only had 11 points this time last season and finished 9th.
You're right, I counted the first 13 games, not 11. Think I got our games and points mixed up. Senility is really kicking in today!
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Thought we played very well and if we could be more clinical would have sewn it up well before the end. Margins going against us at the moment - Clark's header last week, Fonzs this week. Another day and they would (hopefully) go in.
Just one thing worries me though - I would say that Collins is probably our best defender of a set ball, everybody knew it would be aimed at Hangeland so why was Collins at the front of the line and Dunne and Warnock at the back marking him? I am sure Collins would have prevented him getting a clean header in and maybe we could have cleared it and then game over.
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Some lovely football played at times today, it just needed a bit more composure when the opportunities to score were there.
We don't have enough experienced players but every one of the kids put in a decent effort and showed very promising touches, which is all you can expect from them at this stage.
A draw at Fulham isn't a terrible result, giving away the win with the last touch is feckin annoying though.
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After punching the wall, and screaming the house down i have calmed down now and think we were very very unlucky today. Yes we sat back a bit for 25 mins in the 2nd half but we didnt look threatened and to be fair, we were the away side. Last 10 we could have scored at least 2 but for poor finishing and the youngsters did brilliantly. We are not having the rub of the green at the moment, it'll come...
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I fully agee Fredm. You think between Fridal,Collins and Dunne they would have sorted that last kick of the game. Still as with the Stoke late goal we need to use our head and not give away free kicks when the game has 30 secs to go.
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So much anger and frustration on here, only read the first few pages and gave up. Lets take the positives out of this, youth team forced to play because of injuries and sounded like we played very well. I have to admit i was very nervous about today and i thought we'd lose which isnt something i feel alot..
How did the Fonz play? I diddnt get to watch or listen. Is he as overrated as thought? What was the positives out of this?
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Whatever the positives of today's game - and there were a few, including performances from wee Barry, Albrighton, Clark, etc. - there's something fundamentally wrong with us conceding so many late goals. It's a state of mind, and we seem utterly powerless to do anything to change it, whereas Man Utd showed again that they have quite the opposite psychological make up. Sadly, it's one of the great constants in football, but there has to be a way to disrupt it.
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Fonz had chances but missed them- looks low on confidence and badly in need of a goal at this level- wasn't impressed by him but hopefully he will come good in midweek!
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We are a laughing stock once again - 6th, 6th, 6th work it lads. And now fucking look at is.
People who weren't born within sight of the AV floodlights know not of what they speak. They must not comment on any matters Villa.
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I dont think we played too bad we should have taken our chances when we had them we have really got start finishing moves
off by scoring when we get the chance.
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So much anger and frustration on here, only read the first few pages and gave up. Lets take the positives out of this, youth team forced to play because of injuries and sounded like we played very well. I have to admit i was very nervous about today and i thought we'd lose which isnt something i feel alot..
How did the Fonz play? I diddnt get to watch or listen. Is he as overrated as thought? What was the positives out of this?
Some positives in his play, but also negatives. For a big lad I don't think he competes well enough in the air, and should have done better with a few chances. Hopefully experience and coaching will improve him. The jury's out for me though
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How did the Fonz play? I diddnt get to watch or listen. Is he as overrated as thought? What was the positives out of this?
I give Nathan a grade B. If he would of been able to convert 1 of his chances he would of got a grade A.
He was playing as a lone striker and he's only 19 years old, but he played better than I expected and did well considering.
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Re Delfouneso, today was his first league start. Not just of the season, but ever. The way people have been writing him off you'd swear he has a rack of full appearances to his name. Up to now he's had fleeting substitute appearances where he's generally impressed. His goals per mins record holds up pretty well.
None of the chances he missed today were sitters. And I don't think I'd have put money on either of our three more senior strikers scoring any of them. The boy has good movement, great feet and despite today is actually a very good finisher which I'm sure he'll prove over the next few games.
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How many points did we have this time last season?
22, if i've worked it out right.
Nah, apprarently it was 18 points which means we're only 5 points from what we had this stage this time last season. Get a grip ppl.
Just to put in into perspective, check out this link which shows the table after 11 games played last season http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2009-2010/table/2009-11-04
Can we pls stop over reacting now? Look at spurs, look at liverpool, look at Everton... even look at small heath. As you can see Everton only had 12 points this time last season and look where they finished. Look at how many points both spurs and liverpool had and now look at how many points they have so far this season. small heath only had 11 points this time last season and finished 9th.
All worth bearing in mind.
But we've become very adept at not winning. With the injuries we have we really need to pick up points where we can. Fulham weren't at the races today but we let them back in it -as we have at various other times v different opposition this season.
This is part of the problem when you settle though, as in fans saying this season is a write off and even GH saying to his mind we are a team that finishes 7th-12th. Eventually that seeps through to the players. Are we really performing below expectations? No, it's alright. We can afford to throw a few wins away - this season is a write off and it's OK to finish 7th-12th.
It really isn't. For one thing it makes it that much harder to keep our best players and attract others to push us on.
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We're 13th in the league. 3 points away from relegation and 3 points away from a European place. We'll be fine.
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Re Delfouneso, today was his first league start. Not just of the season, but ever. The way people have been writing him off you'd swear he has a rack of full appearances to his name. Up to now he's had fleeting substitute appearances where he's generally impressed. His goals per mins record holds up pretty well.
None of the chances he missed today were sitters. And I don't think I'd have put money on either of our three more senior strikers scoring any of them. The boy has good movement, great feet and despite today is actually a very good finisher which I'm sure he'll prove over the next few games.
I wholeheartedly agree. The other three from the all-conquering reserve team looked real quality again - I think Fonz will benefit from a few games in the same way they have.
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I think we've all calmed down enough to appreciate the positives, especially for me a real coming-of-age type performance from wee Barry. So good and calm on the ball, seems to think two steps ahead of everyone else, willing to try things, technically very sound and, for all the worries about his size, probably won the ball in tackles and interceptions as much as any other player on the pitch today. Really very promising indeed.
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We're 13th in the league. 3 points away from relegation and 3 points away from a European place. We'll be fine.
This is by far the best post iv read all day, too many people getting overly worried, Fulham arent an easy team to beat especially at the cottage. A win over Blackpool and we go up the league and get a good confidence in for the Man United game, They themselves havent started well by their standards and this is a good chance for us, not the best chance we've had but lets stay positive eh?
As for Delfouneso, i just realised he's only 19 i thought he was older, i do think he's been overhyped and being martin's pet project wouldnt have helped too much. Lets hope he gets a goal in at Blackpool and gets some confidence, this is where he shows us wether he's going to make it in a Villa shirt. Good luck Fonz you have my full backing..
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I blame MON
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So much anger and frustration on here, only read the first few pages and gave up. Lets take the positives out of this, youth team forced to play because of injuries and sounded like we played very well. I have to admit i was very nervous about today and i thought we'd lose which isnt something i feel alot..
How did the Fonz play? I diddnt get to watch or listen. Is he as overrated as thought? What was the positives out of this?
Some positives in his play, but also negatives. For a big lad I don't think he competes well enough in the air, and should have done better with a few chances. Hopefully experience and coaching will improve him. The jury's out for me though
He was up against a giant today though. Hangeland was winning pretty much everything in the air. Much to our cost.
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He was up against a giant today though. Hangeland was winning pretty much everything in the air. Much to our cost.
I agree he would be second best against Hangeland, but there was quite a few times he seemed to jump away from the ball, even when he should have won it.....
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We'll be ok. The late goal was a kick in the tads but we'll get that back on another day.
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I shit myself...The BBC website was showing Fulham 2-1 :'(
If you dont put your chances away...You will get punished !
Me too - I thought they'd scored twice in the last minute.
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How many points did we have this time last season?
22, if i've worked it out right.
Nah, apprarently it was 18 points which means we're only 5 points from what we had this stage this time last season. Get a grip ppl.
Just to put in into perspective, check out this link which shows the table after 11 games played last season http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2009-2010/table/2009-11-04
Can we pls stop over reacting now? Look at spurs, look at liverpool, look at Everton... even look at small heath. As you can see Everton only had 12 points this time last season and look where they finished. Look at how many points both spurs and liverpool had and now look at how many points they have so far this season. small heath only had 11 points this time last season and finished 9th.
All worth bearing in mind.
But we've become very adept at not winning. With the injuries we have we really need to pick up points where we can. Fulham weren't at the races today but we let them back in it -as we have at various other times v different opposition this season.
This is part of the problem when you settle though, as in fans saying this season is a write off and even GH saying to his mind we are a team that finishes 7th-12th. Eventually that seeps through to the players. Are we really performing below expectations? No, it's alright. We can afford to throw a few wins away - this season is a write off and it's OK to finish 7th-12th.
It really isn't. For one thing it makes it that much harder to keep our best players and attract others to push us on.
I agree with most of that.
I think the future is fairly bright with the display today - Clarke, Bannan and Albrighton were all brilliant. But unless we start scoring some goals we are going to finish lower than mid table (no chance of relegation). That needs sorting out now and not next summer. Finishing lower mid table will mean opening ourselves up to that wanker in north London and similar types. We have to lose this 'well we lost Martin O Neill 5 days before the season' bollocks. The fact he fucked off when he did does not excuse our players needing 6 or 7 chance to score a goal.
On a positive note, Albrighton's goal today was brilliant and his first touch was (cliche alert) worth the admission fee.
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Can someone even sadder than me please work out the least number of players we've had missing in any game since Ged took over?
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A lot of sweary angst on here. I hope when we've all got over the disappointment we can see the positives of deserving to win an away game in the Premier League with basically our youth team.
Agreed.
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It's at least 25. If you remember, at one stage, all our players were injured and we had to field 11 sacks of builders' sand against Newcastle.
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Agree with those who said the positives outweighted the negatives. And some lovely football was played.
We were much better when Clark came on for NRC to partner Bannon who I thought was excellent.
But we need strikers.
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Whatever the positives of today's game - and there were a few, including performances from wee Barry, Albrighton, Clark, etc. - there's something fundamentally wrong with us conceding so many late goals. It's a state of mind, and we seem utterly powerless to do anything to change it, whereas Man Utd showed again that they have quite the opposite psychological make up. Sadly, it's one of the great constants in football, but there has to be a way to disrupt it.
That would be the Manu that let a 3-1 lead slip in injury time the other week.
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Whatever the positives of today's game - and there were a few, including performances from wee Barry, Albrighton, Clark, etc. - there's something fundamentally wrong with us conceding so many late goals. It's a state of mind, and we seem utterly powerless to do anything to change it, whereas Man Utd showed again that they have quite the opposite psychological make up. Sadly, it's one of the great constants in football, but there has to be a way to disrupt it.
That would be the Manu that let a 3-1 lead slip in injury time the other week.
No, a different one.
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And the same man u team that conceded late at fulham
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Sickening to concede 2 points so late in the game, but there was much to admire in that performance.
I love the way Bannan injects tempo into our forward play; Albrighton, Clark and Delf all did very well.
Villa fans in good voice.
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It would be interesting to see what we will be like if we had Alan Shearer or Ruud Van Nisteelrooy in their prime upfront.
Shame about result, can't comment on game as I didn't see it. I wonder will we still play 4-5-1 formation if we had all 4 strikers fit and ready and on form.
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Not long got back. Terrible traffic on the Fulham Palace Road.
One thing is certain, if Gabby was fit and playing, then we'd have won that game 4 or 5. The Fonz missed a hat-trick of sitters. NRC going off made no difference, as Clacker was excellent and wee Barry superb, along with Beaky on the wings.
Gabby not being fit has cost us so many points this season.
Disappointment aside, I’ve actually being nursing a semi the entire drive back thinking about how bloody good the three young midfielders were. All comfortable on the ball, Clacker times his tackles to perfection, Bannan is like a wasp with better vision than Superman and Albrighton is what we all know and expect.
The goal was brilliant. The pass and Marc’s first touch- sublime. If they were wearing red and white, then you wouldn’t be able to move for the wall to wall “Golden Generation” headlines and chit-chat.
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Always said that Gérard Houllier was the wrong man for Villa he should resign 30% win percentage just isn't good enough! Should of had Kevin Mac!
I love this comment!
That's the kind of logic that will make Sarah Palin president of America.
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Given that Houliier has today said that he will not be signing a striker in January (in fact he intimates that no transfer money is available) I think we can expect a long hard season.
I go further - not blaming anyone, but - can't see where our next win will come from and I'm pretty certain we will be in a bottom 3 place at Christmas. I think we will ultimately survive but I think we need to come to terms with this season being a write-off.
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Given that Houliier has today said that he will not be signing a striker in January (in fact he intimates that no transfer money is available) I think we can expect a long hard season.
I go further - not blaming anyone, but - can't see where our next win will come from and I'm pretty certain we will be in a bottom 3 place at Christmas. I think we will ultimately survive but I think we need to come to terms with this season being a write-off.
Drastic much? 3 points off a european place and its not been easy fixtures. Chin up eh?
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If Sidwell ever pulls on a shirt in front of a fit Bannan, it will be a disgrace.
I watch a performance like that from him, alongside Albrighton and Clark, and it makes me angry to think that of the plodders we've had playing that will never have their ability.
Fuck the result today and in recent weeks, we're getting a chance we'd never had if we'd still been desperately trying to cling on to the tails of the top four. We're having to play these kids through necessity, and it's quickly becoming clear they're more than good enough.
Onwards and upwards.
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Just got back home. Thought we were so unlucky not to walk with all 3 points today. Thought our approach play at times was superb but it was allied to a good defensive shape and solidity in midfield. If we can just get more clinical then we'll give someone a stuffing soon. Oh and some new songs and even a chorus of the bells are ringing!!
Who needs Barry when you've got barry bannan
Who needs barry when you've got barry bannan
Who needs barry when you've got barry bannan
Whoa barry bannan
and whoever tried to get Depeche Mode "I just can't get enough" going, good effort, try again at blackburn please.
Great day out as ever at Fulham, last kick of the game equalisers aside. :)
Oh almost forgot, Ashley Young is woefully out of form at the moment, he can't make decent decision to save his life.
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Back from the match after a 340 mile round trip and, yes, Ads the traffic was bad; I tried driving east before heading north but still took 80 mins to get to the 'Wembley' part of the A40. I've spent the past half-hour reading this thread and must say I'm appalled at the majority of (negative) comments.
Personally, I had a good day. Lunch with the wife sitting in the sun outside a cafe on Fulham Palace Road opposite Bishops Park. Then a stroll south to Putney Bridge, across the river on the east side, over the road and back on the west side then a stroll through the park including another bask in the sun by the Thames. Quick chat with DW outside the away entrance and then into the ground. Great to be able to mingle inside the ground with the Fulham fans with a good atmosphere and absolutely no hint of any trouble - a far cry from just six days prior; oh for every away game to be like this!
Onto the game. Having been to every game bar Vienna away this season I thought this was the best performance since the opening day, particularly taking account of the enforced changes, including Clark once NRC had to go off injured.
Albrighton's goal will struggle to be bettered this season - brilliant crossfield pass from Bannan and MA's first touch was sublime; it gave him the time he needed to be ahead of the defender in order to score. I can't wait to see it again on MOTD.
Bannan was absolutely brilliant all game; what a performance - he has got to play in central midfield henceforth - he did everything, long passes (as for the goal) interceptions, short passes, plenty of energy and controlled aggression. He looked like he'd been playing there for years.
Who needs Barry when we've got Barry Bannan?
Who needs Barry when we've got Barry Bannan?
Who needs Barry when we've got Barry Bannan?
Ohhhhhhh, Barry Bannan.
Ciaran Clark had an excellent game. As one previous poster has commented, and as I and others commented at the game, he has the potential to make the transition from defence to midfield as GB did, and he's quicker!
Marc Albrighton had another good game; plenty of energy like BB and did some great tackes, and winning back of the ball several times after being dispossessed. It is churlish to blame him for the equaliser. He is the future of this Club.
Whilst Nathan Delfouneso was not quite so commanding in his performance as these three, then 'give him time'. His positioning got better the longer the game went on - I felt he was drifting out to the wings in the first half - and he just needs more confidence in front of goal.
Other sundry comments: Downing did some great passes into the box. Warnock / Dunne are 'getting there' and were much improved on their respective first half performances at Sunderland. Yes, I am a bit worried as to whether Ashley Young is playing for himself or the team.
Finally, the away support was fantastic today. Constant and loud throughout the game - easily the best away this season and I felt sorry for the players that the last minute goal meant they did not get the applause at the end that they deserved.
Yes, we do need the points, and a clinical finisher would help in this, but I'd rather dwell this evening on the players who have come through the ranks and who have done the Club proud this afternoon.
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Can't agree with the doom mongers, we will be alright, and I think GH is doing a good job.
We played well today, best football I have seen from a Villa team for a bit. Just very disappointing to concede so late.
Plus points:
Bannan, Clark, and Albrighton played well.
Superb take by Albrighton for goal.
Fulham fans around me in Neutral were drooling over Bannans pass out to wing in the second half that led to to Delfounesu chance.
Defence more solid than in recent weeks.
Minus points.
A Young very mediocre for much of the game.
Do not think Delfouneso has what it takes. Somehow I just felt he was only half-hearted in getting to balls because he did not want the responsibility.
Silly goal to concede at end, but could see it coming.
Plus point I think.
Sent son to DW with Ł2 for an H&V. Came back with no change and 2 H&V's. Still trying to work out whether I got a good deal.
Once the disappointment subsided, still had a good day out at Craven Cottage as per usual.
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Interesting quirk: Brede Hangeland failed a medical at Villa in August 2007...if only he could have been scoring an important last-gasp goal for us today.
John Carew failed a medical at Fulham in January 2002...if only he played for them whenever he's not arsed/injured.
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My first trip to Fulham and a superb day out until the 93rd minute then everything went tits up ,train had no driver back from paddington then fighting on the train at reading ??? meaning got back over an hour late and a sore head to boot,UTV !!! cant comment on the game really to pissed lol...
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Late to the thread and i've not yet read it so sorry if I'm repeating what's already been said.
Fonz is no premiership striker in my opinion. His lack of finishing cost us dear today .
Ashle Young is a complete waste of space now. He offers nothing but overhit crosses and poor shots. He's a petulant, arm-waving, shin-grabbing lazy little oik. Sell him and get someone with useable talent.
What really cost up today though was a lack of experienced leadership on the pitch. From the start, we simply tried to match Fulham's game. Why?
Why not just play our own game? Things changed for the better for a short while when Clark came on as if put his foot on the ball and thought about it but we soon went back to a game plan that just didn't suit us.
Still, we did more than enough to win and I can't help but feel that even Sidwell on instead of Ash and we'd have won at a canter.
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Haven't see the game yet but met a Fulham fan on the tube on my way to the airport and he was delighted with the point. Said if we'd had a decent striker on the pitch, we'd have beaten them 4 or 5-1.
Whatever happens, we need a few new faces in January.
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Nathan is no Premier League striker? Based on what? He's 19, it was his first ever game starting for us in the league playing as a lone striker. He did well, just didn't convert his chances althoug not all his chances were sitters like some were making out.
"I can't help but feel that even Sidwell on instead of Ash and we'd have won at a canter." What?! Sidwell is awful.
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Time after time this happens. Season after season, different players, different managers, different fucking millenium, same fucking hurt and disappointment.
Exactly....I'm not blaming individuals, rather the entity that is Aston Villa.
Sounds like you are both interested in the wrong sport if you can't handle disappointment.
No i think we know only too well what sport we are interested in. It's just that last few second equalisers or defeat's never stop hurting, and we have seen so many of them.
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I blame MON
Yes, the little shit.
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Sarah Palin rules OK. And she can rule me any time.
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Gutted about the result but I am encouraged by the performance of Albrighton, Clark and especially Bannan. Thought The Fonz did ok, but a goal will boost his confidence.
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No i think we know only too well what sport we are interested in. It's just that last few second equalisers or defeat's never stop hurting, and we have seen so many of them.
And no other club gets them.
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I just watched the game on Football First, and I thought we were excellent.
There were a few issues which need to be sorted, but there was easily more to be happy with than worried by. Even Ireland's cameo was cause for optimism.
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Anyone discovered any highlights online which are available outside the UK?
It could be completely unjustified but I have a good feeling about these youngsters. They've played a lot at youth and reserve levels and through-out they've had a winning mentality. The fact that they're all "graduating" at the same time could be a really good thing. No doubt we'll have a bad result - or two - along the way but collectively they could become the core of our team.
I hope they're given the chance to sink or swim over the next 2-ish months. We know what Carew, Sidwell and to an extent Dunne can do, but none of us truly know how good Bannan, The Fonz and Clark can become. Let's blood them now, it could save us a fortune in January and over the next few years.
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Three o clock in the morning and I am up to watch a recording of the game.
Last week half this forum agreed that a draw would be ok, or at least expected given Fulham's home record.
Then we all felt a meltdown because of our injuries.
FGS Albrighton, through lack of experience or whatever, blundered. A youth team player missed chances. The team, however dominated and should have won easily. Yes, I am pissed off about giving away the points but the future looks good to me.
The Villa need a bloody striker and playmaker of qualityand expense. As we have done for many years. History says we only succeed when we have a proper centre forward.
That much hasn't changed. The quality of our youth/reserve teams has - for the better. I think our football has too.
Calm down. Some of the comments on here ..... well - no comment.
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I've spent the past half-hour reading this thread and must say I'm appalled at the majority of (negative) comments.
Yes, we do need the points, and a clinical finisher would help in this, but I'd rather dwell this evening on the players who have come through the ranks and who have done the Club proud this afternoon.
Spot on with this, thought the experienced players esp AY and SW were the ones who looked like novices.
Get behind these young ones and it will come good......maybe even very good
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Conceding such a late goal after we'd played so well felt like a defeat, but there's quite a lot to feel optimistic about. Ciaran Clark had another fine game. With his confidence and vision he reminds me of a young (but slimmer) Gareth Barry. Barry Bannan shows great promise. Sooner or later he's going to score stunning goals and, like Clark, has a real footballing brain. Marc Albrighton scored an excellent goal and with a bit more experience and stamina is going to terrorise defences. Of the young players Nathan Delfouneso was the one who disappointed. He showed a few neat touches but was never an imposing presence. He certainly doesn't have Gabby's or Heskey's ability to hold the ball, and Friedel's long clearances to him rarely came to anything. In the short term we need strengthening in one or two positions, but the young players offer a good deal of hope for the future. And let's not forget our oldest player, who at 39 is having his best season for us.
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I was angry at another last minute goal.
Almost as angry as I am at some of the completely moronic slating of 19 year old players on this thread. This site didn't used to have such a high proportion of complete bullshit.
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always a good thread this.....you get the internet streamers who contribute naff all to the club coffers (but want us to spend spend spend of course) kneejerk moaning from about 10 seconds after the whistle goes then as the night continues you get the more considered view from the people actually at the game.
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Of the young players Nathan Delfouneso was the one who disappointed. He showed a few neat touches but was never an imposing presence. He certainly doesn't have Gabby's or Heskey's ability to hold the ball
Still very early for that. Gabby didn't play as a lone striker until he was a fair bit older and more experienced and played a lot on the wing when he first started. His hold up play has only really developed strongly since he bulked up. As for Heskey, he was a brutish size at 19 but again didn't impose himself on defenders and was more about pace.
I thought first half Nathan held the ball very well when it was played into feet and was laying the ball off nicely. As we started to play the ball longer, he was muscled out by Hangeland who is 6'4ish and an international CB. He started to drift out of the game in the second half and should have been taken off 10-15 minutes earlier, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
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Havn't seen the game so can't coment on it, but i will comment on the fortunately few who are slagging GH off. If we can get through the next few games without losing too many points he will have done a good job, we were short of quality when he arrived now with all the injuries it makes it all that much harder.
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Of the young players Nathan Delfouneso was the one who disappointed. He showed a few neat touches but was never an imposing presence. He certainly doesn't have Gabby's or Heskey's ability to hold the ball, and Friedel's long clearances to him rarely came to anything.
Gabby had to bulk up before he became effective holding the ball upfront on his own. Heskey has spent 11 years getting experience of being a front man. This was the first time he has played upfront on his own so I didn't expect him to be able to outjump one of the tallest defenders in the league.
Edit: Beaten to it by Karl. That'll teach me to refresh the page before posting.
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Pleased we went a bit more positive today but then Albrighton does gives us a new dimension going forward.
I have still got great faith in Delfouneso as he is only 19 and he gets in some very good positions, it was a shame he couldn't direct a couple of those headers the other side of the woodwork.
We are going to miss NRC, I hope Ciaran Clark doesn't get type cast as a midfielder as having a centre half with his composure on the ball is going to be a real asset in time, and he gives us that left sided balance.
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We are going to miss NRC, I hope Ciaran Clark doesn't get type cast as a midfielder as having a centre half with his composure on the ball is going to be a real asset in time, and he gives us that left sided balance.
Barry and Gerrard both graduated from Defence to midfield and became considerably better players. Whilst I agree a player in that mould in defence is an asset our pressing need is currently in midfield for the next three games at least. I'm just wondering when Clark will start coaching Warnock on passing and composure on the ball.
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We certainly need him in midfield for the next month or so, he just looks more like a defender to me.
Barry only ever played in a back 3 so was protected a bit by Southgate and Ugo.
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Anyone discovered any highlights online which are available outside the UK?
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/fulham-aston-villa-motd-7464247/
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We certainly need him in midfield for the next month or so, he just looks more like a defender to me.
Barry only ever played in a back 3 so was protected a bit by Southgate and Ugo.
He also played LB. (and LM) before moving to CM and having his best games.
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second half excellent, first half we looked average.
bannan will be some player, albrighton and downing did well.
"shoes off if you love villa..........."
As an aside, anyone else want to shout at MoTD when Tony Pulis was moaning about refereeing decisions and the words "Jermaine pennant....dive...free kick....wrong place" came popping into your head?
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We certainly need him in midfield for the next month or so, he just looks more like a defender to me.
Barry only ever played in a back 3 so was protected a bit by Southgate and Ugo.
He also played LB. (and LM) before moving to CM and having his best games.
I appreciate that, I always thought left back would be his position.
Barry was never going to be a centre half in a back 4, whereas Clark can be.
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second half excellent, first half we looked average.
bannan will be some player, albrighton and downing did well.
"shoes off if you love villa..........."
As an aside, anyone else want to shout at MoTD when Tony Pulis was moaning about refereeing decisions and the words "Jermaine pennant....dive...free kick....wrong place" came popping into your head?
But most of those words came into my head from the nature of the goal we gave away and not because of Pullis moaning. Although how did the ref in the stoke game believe the ball was cleared. Did he think Catermole had trapped it between the post and his head rather then in the crook of his arm for 3 seconds.
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Very poor first half, very ponderous and we always seemed to choose the wrong pass. Much better in the second half and I was very impressed with Clark and Albrighton, Bannan was good when we had the ball but I'm really not sure about him long term.
I hope I'm not being too harsh but I was very disappointed with Fonz, not so much with the chances he missed and some of the 'unusual' positions he took up but more with the way he seemed to play with the weight of the world on his shoulders and his continued looking to the heavens with his hands on his hips when things didn't go his way. There seemed to be many occasions when he had to be bollocked by team matres to get back into the game rather than stand there feeling sorry for himself. On the day of his big chance I didn't think he showed enough hunger to grab it. Too much pressure on him? You'd hope not for a nineteen year old.
Hopefully he'll have a decent run in the team but he has got to want success a lot more than he showed yesterday.
As a direct opposite to that I thought Ashley turned in a captains perfromance for us, he didn't do particularly well with the ball but he never stopped running, tackinlg and encouraging the young lads. Good on him, shame about his bleeding shooting.
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Word to Sidders; if you're going to chat with the opposition subs as you all wander out before the game i) don't make it so obvious, ii) don't act so cheerful and iii) don't make it Andy Johnson that you're talking to !!
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after calming down after being frustrated yesterday, i have to declare myself pleased with a point against a very good side at their home, especially with 4 academy graduates in the team, and all playing very well...
yes, delfouneso was nowhere near his premium, but he showed signs of what he can do, in what is an unfamiliar role to him, playing up top on his own... he is not, nor is he ever going to be, a lone striker... its a shame that the chance he gets is trying to perform that role... i thought he did reasonably well considering... and at 19, he has time to grow into different roles, and being thrown into the deep end will help his development and give him experience of a different role to what he is used to... (for the record, he is the classic number 10 striker, if ever i saw one)... have to say though, his hold up play at one point where he used his quick feet, rather than bulk, was superb, and while his overall performance was not fantastico, he certainly showed promise and got into some good positions for his chances... (and again, for the record, his heading, is certainly not his strongest area of shooting, as he will readily admit himself)... so i am enthused, without going overboard over his performance, he was certainly a plus point for me from the game...
bannon, clark and albrighton (mistake for the goal aside), were all fantastic... such maturity and freedom from all 3, while at the same time, clark showed good discipline... all 3 look like they have taken to first team football like a duck to water... most impressed with bannon tbh, as while i always knew he has talent and a fantastic attitude, i always worry about his size, but fair play to him, he is proving me wrong, and performing excellently, and looking a real player... long may he continue to prove me wrong, and i for one, could not be more delighted about him ramming my words back down my throat, as no ones attitude and desire, deserves the accolaides more than bannon... really chuffed for the lad... albrighton is showing his continued progression, and its a shame that he made the mistake, but again, he is only just about to turn 21, and only recently gaining the experience needed to help him develop in this area (i wish some people would remember that when slating 19 year old delfouneso), so i have no doubt that he will improve in that area and progress even further... clark is also looking fantastic.. always composed on the ball, very cultured for a centre back, and is playing excellent in a position he is not used to... really chuffed for all of the young lads, and it shows that despite all the injury problems, we do have young players who can be the future of this club....
so for me, it was a good day at the office, despite the frustration of the late goal... when we are integrating so many youngsters into the team in a transitional season, things like that are bound to happen, and i for one, am prepared to accept that to give the youngsters their chance... the season was always going to be difficult anyway, so why not look to the longer term to the detriment of the short term?
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Do we all agree that their equaliser was an own goal?
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On the day of his big chance I didn't think he showed enough hunger to grab it. Too much pressure on him? You'd hope not for a nineteen year old.
Too much pressure, I would say so after reading many of the comments on yesterdays game and previous to this. The lad made his 1st team debut yesterday and is 19. He is not a seasoned pro being asked to come into the side and play upfront on his own.
Things he had to cope with yesterday were; inexperience, lack of match fitness, expectations of the supporters on his shoulders, lack of real experience around him etc.
No pressure!
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He didn't seem to enjoy the game, a marked contrast from the other young lads.
I'm mostly disappointed because we need a 15 goal a season striker and I hope its him, I didn't think he worked hard enough and that is something that he can do something about, all the other things you mention he can't.
I dont want to dwell on it too much, hopefully we'll still be having disagreements about his performances for Villa at the weekend in ten years time.
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i dont think he enjoys that role... whenever he has been forced to do it for the u19s, he has looked uncomfortable and frustrated...
his natural game is behind a target man, (like james collins jnr), where he can drop off the play, run with the ball, run the channels, arrive late in the box, playing others in, etc... the classic number 10 role...
when he is up top on his own, his natural game is sacrificed, and he doesnt cope well with longer balls up to him, and having to hold up the ball for too long...
i think yesterday, he mixed up his game with the lone role, and thats why he sometimes drifted out to the left or deeper in the first half, but when others coaxed him a little, he went more central... its just inexperience of that particular role...
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I would have taken a point before the match but as usual a last minute or late late goal denies us. To be fair for the last twenty minutes i kept saying to my missus we're going to give them an equalizer at the death, it was inevitable and sure enough......
The goals will come provided we buy a striker, i dont think theres too much else wrong at the minute and we have a decent crop of youngsters, a decent boss and some real deadwood left over from MON's regime. I think its better GH comes in and starts off slowly, building his own team rather than winning his first five or six in the usual management honeymoon process before realization sets in. But a bit of money on some forward options definitely needs to be spent in January.
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I would have taken a point before the match but as usual a last minute or late late goal denies us. To be fair for the last twenty minutes i kept saying to my missus we're going to give them an equalizer at the death, it was inevitable and sure enough......
The goals will come provided we buy a striker, i dont think theres too much else wrong at the minute and we have a decent crop of youngsters, a decent boss and some real deadwood left over from MON's regime. I think its better GH comes in and starts off slowly, building his own team rather than winning his first five or six in the usual management honeymoon process before realization sets in. But a bit of money on some forward options definitely needs to be spent in January.
[/quote
Agree on the striker thing, he needs to do a swap of Carew for err err, haven't a clue but I'm sure GH will think of something.
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yes, delfouneso was nowhere near his premium, but he showed signs of what he can do, in what is an unfamiliar role to him, playing up top on his own... he is not, nor is he ever going to be, a lone striker... its a shame that the chance he gets is trying to perform that role... i thought he did reasonably well considering... and at 19, he has time to grow into different roles, and being thrown into the deep end will help his development and give him experience of a different role to what he is used to... (for the record, he is the classic number 10 striker, if ever i saw one)... have to say though, his hold up play at one point where he used his quick feet, rather than bulk, was superb, and while his overall performance was not fantastico, he certainly showed promise and got into some good positions for his chances... (and again, for the record, his heading, is certainly not his strongest area of shooting, as he will readily admit himself)... so i am enthused, without going overboard over his performance, he was certainly a plus point for me from the game...
I said in an earlier post that I was disappointed in his performance, but I think the basic problem, as you suggest, was the role he was given. Far too often Friedel booted the ball in his direction, and against Hangeland in the air he had no chance. If we don't have a strong target man in the team that tactic is just a waste. If Defouneso had had someone like Heskey to play off he could have been much more effective. If, however, Gabby isn't available against Blackpool and Delfouneso keeps his place it would make much more sense to play the ball out wide or on the ground through the centre rather than booting it up towards the centre circle.
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absolutely frank, but the experience will have done him good... wont get much more difficult than competing with hangelaand for headers, and he does need to add that to his game, so while he didnt look too comfortable, the more he does it, the better he will get, and that will be another feather to his cap...
the one thing i think houllier has mentioned is that he thinks delfouneso is a year or so away from really challenging for a regular first team spot, which will still make him younger than albrighton when he got his real regular chance... so i think he has a future here, which was the concern i had when houllier ignored him a while back.. and while i really do believe he can more than do a job given the right circumstance, even now, it may be an idea to send him out on loan to a club like derby county or leeds united in january (providing we bring someone in)... get him used to playing in front of big crowds, get some form up and a bit of confidence, and then come back pre season chomping at the bit, like bannon did...
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Not Leeds! We don't want to be helping them back to the PL!
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I said in an earlier post that I was disappointed in his performance, but I think the basic problem, as you suggest, was the role he was given. Far too often Friedel booted the ball in his direction, and against Hangeland in the air he had no chance. If we don't have a strong target man in the team that tactic is just a waste. If Defouneso had had someone like Heskey to play off he could have been much more effective. If, however, Gabby isn't available against Blackpool and Delfouneso keeps his place it would make much more sense to play the ball out wide or on the ground through the centre rather than booting it up towards the centre circle.
Strange you should say that when 3 of his misses were from clear headers ?
It was very annoying that no one took responsibility in the last second to take out Hangelaand when the cross came in. Considering the experience in the defence its pathetic no one stood up to do it or designate someone too.
Had Coker been there I'm sure he would have.
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Once we get everyone fit and a someone who can finish the chances, I think we'll be a very good side. Some of our football yesterday was an absolute joy to watch.
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Have to admit Bannan was a different class yesterday, perhaps someone suggested the way Ireland is playing he could snatch a long term place. In previous games he looks to have concentrated more on defence than attack but yesterday he displayed a tremendous array of passing skills and a vision I've not seen in a Villa player for some time.
What was obvious on reflection after the huge disappointment was that GH has got them far more organised and considering they are without several of the more influential and experienced players they did very well to lead a side who had only lost once at home all season. What was also obvious is that we do not have anyone capable of scoring goals amongst the providers on the pitch, be it Downing, Albrighton, or Young, which considering the number of chances created, far more than Fulham, we ended up struggling to a last minute conceded goal.
With the Fonz the only alternative seemingly Houlliers decision to play without a designated striker was tactically correct, if not tactically effective.
If you don't score goals, you get relegated. Fact not panic, luckily with 27 games left and January's window there's still time.
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I said in an earlier post that I was disappointed in his performance, but I think the basic problem, as you suggest, was the role he was given. Far too often Friedel booted the ball in his direction, and against Hangeland in the air he had no chance. If we don't have a strong target man in the team that tactic is just a waste. If Defouneso had had someone like Heskey to play off he could have been much more effective. If, however, Gabby isn't available against Blackpool and Delfouneso keeps his place it would make much more sense to play the ball out wide or on the ground through the centre rather than booting it up towards the centre circle.
Strange you should say that when 3 of his misses were from clear headers ?
True, but we were having no success with the long ball from Friedel up to Delfouneso
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I think Delfouneso had a decent game, the only thing he did wrong really was not hit the target with those headers.
Bannon looked superb, but I am worried about Ash not being able too score.
Our set piece goals has dried up because Ashley is absolutely terrible with a dead ball, we need to get albrighton on set pieces from now on.
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Just watched thehighlights again. Bannan really was influential wasn't he?!
I'm not sure whether we should stick with the same side v Blackpool? Will our younger players have the energy to play again? I'd be tempted to use Ireland's ability to open up a defence, but that would probably mean dropping Fonz and playing Ash up front, which would be a risk.
Could Ireland play alongside Clark in the same way Bannan did? I'm guessing he could with a bit of discipline.
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The problem yesterday was A Youngs performance, supposed to be our best most influential player, flatters to decieve.
I will be glad when he has gone
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Haven't read whole thread but majority of what others have posted would agree-
Marc Barry Ciaran did us proud and Nathan cud/shud have nailed a hat-trick
It was clear during the match or on motd but it appeared that a Villa player
fell in the box before Hangerland connected with his header...........
Still photo in Mail on Sunday confirm that Richie Dunne is on his knees-
the bloke is either struggling with injury or form (or both) - MUST be dropped
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I was angry at another last minute goal.
Almost as angry as I am at some of the completely moronic slating of 19 year old players on this thread. This site didn't used to have such a high proportion of complete bullshit.
Spot on. The equaliser looked on as we kept missing chances but we have seen the emergence of players who can pass and take opponents on. These players put people like Ashley Young to shame. He will probably get no better while a Villa player but Clark, Albrighton and the superb Bannan are absolute gems. They are already brilliant players and we have to trust that they will develop into world beaters. I am convinced that the presence in the team of these youngsters and their performance will inspire Delfouneso to pick his game up.
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And let's not forget our oldest player, who at 39 is having his best season for us.
Well said Frank.
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I checked the BBC Sport website 5 minutes before full-time and we were winning 1-0. At fulltime we had lost 2-1. Twenty minutes later it was 1-1.
I am probably the only Villa supporter pleased with a point
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I wasn't able to watch the match, but had it on the radio as I was running around and saw the highlights.
I was quite encouraged by what I saw with the younsters playing well and us probably deserving the win. Albrighton gave away a stupid free kick when the player was going nowhere and there were seconds left - inexperience and he'll learn from it.
Bring on Blackpool!
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