Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on November 20, 2010, 04:28:04 PM
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Available Sunday afternoon.
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I'll leave the ranting to others but I will say this...why in hell can't Ashley Young settle on playing simple football? Why, when there's a logical 15 yard pass does he have to ignore it in favour of a Hail Mary 40 yard pass? Why, when there's a gathering of 3 opposition players does he feel the need to run at them?
To me, he looks like someone who's trying to make himself a January-sale youtube highlight video. Either that, or he's the old Golden Boy trying to show he's every bit as good as the new Golden Boy.
God that was painful to watch. Especially after last week.
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Well we were naive, two set pieces big suprise. We were pretty toothless. I thought Bannan was decent. I thought Friedel, Warnock and Ireland were very very poor. Pires did more than Ireland when he came on.
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Load of bollox!
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Painful, I feel like we will be in a relegation fight soon if we ain't careful.
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Even with injuries taken into account, we were disgraceful. Ireland should have a very long break and several sessions with a psychiatrist before he comes anywhere near a claret and blue shirt again. Yes, we had a bit of bad luck, but errors by senior pros let us down yet again. We shall have to get used to the idea of losing to the Blues in the LC, as well, I'm afraid.
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Thought we played some good stuff, but we don't have enough bite to play teams like Blackburn at the moment.
The Blues game is going to be similar, so I fear for that one.
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That was dreadful to watch. Pumping in balls that Samba was going to win all day long.
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I dont even feel angry, just really really dissapointed at them all. We can moan about injuries all we want, the ones playing today have let us down against teams that we should be beating. Is this the same team that played last week? That was pure spineless
Ireland is fucking dreadul, forget 'ireland is superman' more like irelands invicible
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Houillier team talk before the match, "Ok, boys, we know what Blackburn are going to do, launch it into the box at every opportunity. So whatever we do don't give away cheap free kick's and corners....."
Braindead wankers. Shite.
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....why in hell can't Ashley Young settle on playing simple football? Why, when there's a logical 15 yard pass does he have to ignore it in favour of a Hail Mary 40 yard pass? Why, when there's a gathering of 3 opposition players does he feel the need to run at them?
He's always done that. It drives me mad.
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Dire, cant really give anyone any credit...
The 37 year old looked ok , our passing was terrible. we try and do the hard things instead of the easy...
we do seem to drop to these teams level... we have needed a striker for 3 years... we need to put our chances away when we get them....
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Totally uninspiring, A. Young looks as though he's already left the club and looks as though Downing was played out of position to accommodate him, Ireland doesn't cut it for me either. Bannan impressed again, as did Hogg while Herd looked decent enough when he came on.
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Warnock and Ireland were abysmal. Warnock to the point that I now fear we need to be buying ourselves a new left back. Ireland was eclipsed embarassingly by Pires in his 20 minute shift.
Friedel looked shaky.
Gabby may be just back from injury, but he did poorly today, didn't work their defenders at all.
Hogg did ok, as did Bannan,
Our injury list is hideous, there's no getting away from that, but I thought today a few experienced players let us down, and they have no excuse for doing so.
Some promising signs, in the very good passing at times, and much improved ball retention, but certain deficiencies in our squad are painfully obvious, and they're not all deficiencies which would be fixed if we get all our injured players back tomorrow.
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....why in hell can't Ashley Young settle on playing simple football? Why, when there's a logical 15 yard pass does he have to ignore it in favour of a Hail Mary 40 yard pass? Why, when there's a gathering of 3 opposition players does he feel the need to run at them?
He's always done that. It drives me mad.
I wish someone else would take the freekicks too...
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Gabby wasn't fit and it showed. We need a front man so much, we've no outlet without Gabby.
We've alot of creativity and imagination in midfield, but we're just not clinical enough and our shape isn't holidng because there's no centre forward.
We need a holding player urgently too. Or to get Stan fit.
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Warnock = MORON.
Enough said.
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Friedel - Fucked up for the first goal and never looked comfortable 5
L.Young - Steady 6
Warnock - Turning into a liability, needless free kicks. 4
Dunne - Good covering tackle and slowly getting back to last years form 6
Clark - Other than the yellow card I can't think where he put a foot wrong 6
Downing - Our best player, looking very lively 7.5
Bannan - A couple of cracking passes, but needs to learn the simple ball too 7
Hogg - Got a bit of stick but don't think he was that bad. 6
A.Young - Set pieces are letting him down again, but looked lively 6.5
Ireland - Oxygen Thief 2
Agbonlahor - Still not fully fit and it shows. If Heskey/Carew were fit I doubt he'd have started 6
Pires - Some nice touches and did more in that time on the pitch than Ireland has all season 6
Delfouenso - Didn't get much chance to be honest 5
Herd - Not afraid to get stuck in to be honest, would like to see him start ahead of Hogg maybe 6
On another day I think we could've won this, a couple of very good saves from Robinson, and Ash was unlucky with his header on the bar (fantastic leap and strength in the head). Only annoyance for me is that we all know that Blackeye rely on the set piece, but we still gave away far too many needless fouls.
Considering our injury crisis it's the older heads that are letting us down at the moment.
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Weirdly I think we are currently much better suited to playing Arsenal next week than we were Blackburn today.
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No bite up front, our best chances were all from distance pretty much and when there was a rebound on Blackburn always had someone there to clear. Ireland not at the races, Ashley Young is a creator and not a scorer and should be put back on the wing, 2 strikers up front if we want to score goals. Bit worried about Dunney. We could have played out there until Xmas on that pitch and not have scored.
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Blooming heck here we go.
Why should we expect to beat Blackburn away with ten yes TEN players out injured including five midfielders? This is a Blackburn side with 6 defeats in 35 or so home games? Seriously, why?
We played all the football, any neutral would say we were the better side. The word "naive" gets banded around all the time and is being here because we lost a couple of goals to set pieces. It's not naivety, I'm sure we knew what was coming and were prepared for it. It's just that our only two players over 6 ft are centre halves and one of them is a kid still developing physically. They have about 6 or 7 players as tall or taller than our biggest. Sometimes it's not naivety, it's just another team being bigger than you.
If Usain Bolt beat me in a 100 metre sprint, would it be because of my naivety?
The first goal was nothing to do with them having bigger players than us. It was to do with an experienced player acting in a brainless, utterly stupid, petulant manner and gifting them a goal.
Everyone is fully aware of our injury list, and that this was always going to be a difficult game for us with so many inexperienced kids playing, and pretyt much everyone has acknowledged that, but today wasn't about them failing, it was about experienced players who should know much, much better, letting us down
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Dunne, Warnock, Petrov and Carew are first team players that need replacing beforoe we'll see the best of this system and team, I think.
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Yeah, but Gypsum, if you are aware, as presumably Villa are that Blackburn's strength is in free kicks, corners and throw ins, that it's perhaps a teensie weensie bit naive to constantly give away stupid, stupid free kicks? Is that not a trifle foolish in your view?
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Dunne, Warnock, Petrov and Carew are first team players that need replacing beforoe we'll see the best of this system and team, I think.
I suspect Houllier knows that, or that certain players need replacing, it is going to take time to do it, though.
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Very poor performance even allowing for the excuses. Again the more experienced players failed to do themselves justice.
Ireland is a disgrace.
Every time Diouf gets on the pitch Friedel shits himself, crazy.
No idea what GH can do, there's nothing left even half fit until after Xmas as alternatives.
I still reckon there ought to be an investigation into what has changed from last season to this in the fitness stakes.
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We've lost our defensive resolve from last season and can't grind out results at the moment. That's largely due to Dunne's drop in form, having been immense last season, not to mention a catalogue of injuries in the middle. Warnock is also a source of concern.
Okay we played some good stuff at times, but without any cutting edge. I think Houllier is on the right tracks, he just needs players. We're lacking an experienced head in the middle, and a shit em up sort of player. Nigel was doing the job, but even he, given how lightweight the rest of our midfield is, needed more help.
Roll on January. We need a couple of solid central midfielders and a top quality striker. Gabby's not fit, and I'm also not entirely sure he's got enough ability to play how Houllier wants us to play, if he's up front alone. He suited O Neills style well.
Can't really complain too much, because there's no way in hell under normal circumstances, with all due respect, that we should be playing the likes of Hogg, Herd, even Bannan to be honest (but thankful none-the-less he's had the chance to shine). We shouldn't be in a position where we've had to go out and sign Robert Pires at 37! Is it bad luck or is it partly the training regime as well? Something doesn't add up to be honest.
We controlled most of the game, but possession only gets you so far. I'd have preferred the O Neill days of having 40% possession and nabbing a result ugly to be honest.
Sadly we'll have more days like this. The kids and stiffs can only get us so far. Can't fault the effort or intent though, they're giving it their all.
Downing played okay, and looked like he was trying to pull strings. Ashley Young just had one of his desperate days when it wasn't going right. Headless chicken to be honest. BB played well, but I don't see him as a 90 minute player. I still think you lose something having him in the centre of midfield. He's too lightweight, and doesn't have a strong enough engine. He should be playing where Ash or Ireland have been, but he'll never get a game there, and in the long run, we would want better in any case. Sad but true. Hogg was out of his depth. Herd won't make it though fair dues, he put himself about well.
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If we had only taken our chances when on top early in each half, the game would have been so different. Taking chances is once again our big problem. Robinson made some excellent saves at crucial times of the game. We have to be dissapointed with both our goals. Can't believe people are so critical of such a young team.
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Blooming heck here we go.
Why should we expect to beat Blackburn away with ten yes TEN players out injured including five midfielders? This is a Blackburn side with 6 defeats in 35 or so home games? Seriously, why?
We played all the football, any neutral would say we were the better side. The word "naive" gets banded around all the time and is being here because we lost a couple of goals to set pieces. It's not naivety, I'm sure we knew what was coming and were prepared for it. It's just that our only two players over 6 ft are centre halves and one of them is a kid still developing physically. They have about 6 or 7 players as tall or taller than our biggest. Sometimes it's not naivety, it's just another team being bigger than you.
If Usain Bolt beat me in a 100 metre sprint, would it be because of my naivety?
We don't have to lump long balls up to gabby like we did for much of the first half do we?
Warnock doesn't have to give away a needless freekick because of his stupidity / selfishness does he?.
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And I really wish commentators would get over Bananaman's stature.
David Pleat: "...he's only 5'5'' or 5'6''. He's about the smallest player in the premiership. He's built like a schoolboy. A primary-school boy."
Wanker!
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That was pretty diabolical. Hard to even know who was our worst player! A couple of moans about the tactics why was Downing on the right? I hate when he plays there. We had noone on the left it seemed just everyone getting in each others way in the centre. Clark has a bit to learn at centre half yet, Bannan kept trying to do the right thing but forced it too much at times. Another thing, granted Gabby didn't try a leg, if he was injured he shouldn't have been playing but at 2-0 with twenty mins to go surely we should have gone with two up top and taken Warnock off?
Stephen Ireland will be gone in January- some nice touches at times but he is one coward on the pitch. Thought the two Youngs and Dunne were the only decent players we had. Hogg unfortunately is way out of his depth at this level yet he was far from our worst player today which kind if says it all.
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Very very poor.
It's all very well trying to play your way out of defence but whats the point if we can't pass a ball? We simply don't keep it for more than 3 or 4 passes.
We must have the thickest defence in the league, i've never seen a defence give so many needless, stupid free kicks away around their own box. What makes it worse is we can't defend the ball when it comes in either.
Warnock needs replacing, he's a liability. Every game he gives silly free kicks away and he just isn't very good.
Friedel should have saved their first and i hope we go for Given in January.
Ireland is dire. I honestly think he doesn't want to be here playing for us.
I don't think Hogg is good enough, he's only playing because of injuries.
Dunne still looks overweight and clumsy.
Ashley Young continues to frustrate and fail to deliver. He's so overrated it's unreal.
Agbonlahor was anonymous, that may have been down to the service but he hasn't got the football brain to know when and where to run.
I'm afraid we're in a bit of a relegation fight, we're so easy to play against and beat away from home, we're so fragile and weak and get bullied and when you never win away theres only one half of the table you're going to be in. Arsenal at home and Liverpool away next aswell, nil points and we'll be right in amongst it. I've got a really bad feeling about the Blues game aswell, i think they'll bully us and our players could shit themselves in that atmosphere and pressure.
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If we had only taken our chances when on top early in each half, the game would have been so different. Taking chances is once again our big problem. Robinson made some excellent saves at crucial times of the game. We have to be dissapointed with both our goals. Can't believe people are so critical of such a young team.
More than anything we need a decent striker who can create space and provide options for those moments when we get ourselves into decent positions - and we do that very frequently.
Heskey and Carew aren't the answer, I suspect Gabby might not be either, but he's going to need some time to get fully fit in any case.
We've needed a striker for, what, three years, though?
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Warnock - Turning into a liability, needless free kicks. 4
Ireland - Oxygen Thief 2
Warnock - was playing like a player who has lost the plot.
Ireland - Not worth the shirt he disgraced today, he should fall on his sword.
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It was a good job we got those contracts signed before this woeful performance took place.
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Blooming heck here we go.
Why should we expect to beat Blackburn away with ten yes TEN players out injured including five midfielders? This is a Blackburn side with 6 defeats in 35 or so home games? Seriously, why?
We played all the football, any neutral would say we were the better side. The word "naive" gets banded around all the time and is being here because we lost a couple of goals to set pieces. It's not naivety, I'm sure we knew what was coming and were prepared for it. It's just that our only two players over 6 ft are centre halves and one of them is a kid still developing physically. They have about 6 or 7 players as tall or taller than our biggest. Sometimes it's not naivety, it's just another team being bigger than you.
If Usain Bolt beat me in a 100 metre sprint, would it be because of my naivety?
The first goal was nothing to do with them having bigger players than us. It was to do with an experienced player acting in a brainless, utterly stupid, petulant manner and gifting them a goal.
Stupidity not naivety. I agree Warnock was a complete idiot in that moment and for all I do think he is a good player, his brainless tendencies are costing us and someone should have a severe word with him.
I am just seeing a lot of predictably over the top criticism of the team. Dunne didn't do anything wrong today in truth and looks to me to be in much better shape than he did a month ago. Friedel had a thankless task - he clearly had been told (or decided) that he would have to come for every ball to compensate for the height deficit we were conceding to them and that's how he got caught out for the goal. Warnock granted was poor.
But for me, given our selection problems, was one of the most difficult fixtures we could have faced - much more difficult than last week's. Yet I think second half we played a higher line and put some decent phases of play together only to be denied yet again by the woodwork. We test their goalkeeper, they barely had a shot on target. Yes we lost. Yes it's annoying. Yes it's worrying. But I'm just not sure what people expect at the moment.
You're getting all aereated about it, but most people on here are actually agreeing with you.
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Friedal - Not good enough. We need a new keeper. He's been slipping week by week over the last 12 months
Young - Poor, worked hard but not enough quality today.
Warnock - Fuckin brainless performance AGAIN!
Clark - Ok
Dunne - For some who has been a captain before I certainly didn't see any leadership. Not making a fuck up for a change is a bonus
A Young - His decision making is poor, passes it when he should run, runs with it when he should pass and still falls over too much looking for free kicks. Not good enough.
Hogg - Ok, he's a kid and Blackburn away is very different to playing at home. Didn't really see much of him.
Bannan - This kid needs to have better players around him and quickly otherwise I can see his confidence being shot. Playing well individually but because of the limitations of the players around him we struggle.
Ireland - Some nice touches in the first half made me think we might be seeing the better of him, but again he faded. I'm not sure that we don't try and get him in the game often enough. He worries me. Does he really want to be at Villa?
Downing - I can't fault his efforts today, but we struggled as a team.
Agbonlahor - Poor today I thought agianst the big men, but in truth the service to him was shit.
Pires - more touches in 15 minutes than Ireland had in 75
Herd - got stuck in
Defouneso - I think to get the best out him he needs to play up with someone. Tried hard again.
Tactics
Houllier ultimately is responsible, and the team at the moment is picking itself pretty much so there is little he can do. The mindset of the players does worry me, after a good performance last week I hoped we would build on that today but we struggled.
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If we had only taken our chances when on top early in each half, the game would have been so different. Taking chances is once again our big problem. Robinson made some excellent saves at crucial times of the game. We have to be dissapointed with both our goals. Can't believe people are so critical of such a young team.
I think people are critical of the experienced players who are continually letting us down this season (Dunne, Warnock and Ireland for example)
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I'll leave the ranting to others but I will say this...why in hell can't Ashley Young settle on playing simple football? Why, when there's a logical 15 yard pass does he have to ignore it in favour of a Hail Mary 40 yard pass? Why, when there's a gathering of 3 opposition players does he feel the need to run at them?
To me, he looks like someone who's trying to make himself a January-sale youtube highlight video. Either
that, or he's the old Golden Boy trying to show he's every bit as good as the new Golden Boy.
Yes and he gave BB a right mouthfull for getting a pass marginally wrong to him in the first half. I'm starting to dislike Ash.
God that was painful to watch. Especially after last week.
I'll leave the ranting to others but I will say this...why in hell can't Ashley Young settle on playing simple football? Why, when there's a logical 15 yard pass does he have to ignore it in favour of a Hail Mary 40 yard pass? Why, when there's a gathering of 3 opposition players does he feel the need to run at them?
To me, he looks like someone who's trying to make himself a January-sale youtube highlight video. Either that, or he's the old Golden Boy trying to show he's every bit as good as the new Golden Boy.
God that was painful to watch. Especially after last week.
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We desperately missed Albrighton
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Friedel - Diddnt look comfortable, 1st goal was his fault 5
Warnock - Needless free kick week in week out, never learns 3
Dunne - Good challenge to prevent a 3rd, not much else to do after that 6.5
Clark - Diddnt really seem too have much to do but did what he had to do well 6.5
L Young - Diddnt have too much to do, but did it well 6.5
Hogg - Inaffective first half, came in a little more 2nd 6
Downing - Wasnt bad, couple of times he could have made a better choice when he was on the ball but looked lively 7
Bannan - Looked comfortable on the ball and pretty energetic 7.5
A Young - Unlucky with his header, set pieces were poor, diddnt really seem to be involved 6
Ireland - Im not wasting my time on him...
Agbonlahor - Never made the threatening runs and couldnt hold the ball when it came to him. Saying that he never really had the chance 6
Pires - Comfortable on the ball, not really given enough time 6.5
Delfouneso - Not enough time, got in some decent positions when he could though 6.5
Herd - Unlucky with his header, got stuck in, not enough time though 6.5
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I thought there was a pretty wide range of performances today.
Unacceptably poor: Ireland, Warnock
Poor but with a plausible excuse: Gabby, Friedel
Did well, considering lack of experience: Hogg, Bannan, Herd, Clark
Did OK: Ashley, Dunne
Did well: Pires
Did very well: Downing, Luke Young
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And I really wish commentators would get over Bananaman's stature.
David Pleat: "...he's only 5'5'' or 5'6''. He's about the smallest player in the premiership. He's built like a schoolboy. A primary-school boy."
Wanker!
Agreed, why do pundits think it is okay to be so insulting?
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Im still 50/50 If Fonz is going to make it , so If Gabby is not fit , I would have prefered him to start so I can find out....
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I thought Pires was the best player on the pitch when he came on and Delfouneso showed an impeccable timing in his runs. Other than that, pffffffffffffffff. As for Ireland, when does he leave?
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Looked for long spells that we were the only side trying to play football but you don't get bonus points for that. There has to be a happy medium between some of the dirge we last season and some of the pretty (but so far largely ineffective) stuff we play this year.
Some might be encouraged that we've played quite well again even if we've lost. I'm not. Pompey played quite well last year, plenty of plaudits for giving it a go et.c. OK, we're not as poor as them but we need to start playing effective football, creating chances and scoring goals.
Despite struggling to get the wins we should have in the three games prior to this, I felt we had turned the corner in that regard with five goals in the last two. Today was a return to our toothless worst. We just didn't look like we had a goal in us. That needs to change.
The consensus seems to be that this season is a write off anyway, so it probably doesn't matter. Personally I disagree, but even if we are saying 7th-10th is OK we'll need to put together a run of form, a run of wins and actually score a few goals to achieve even that modest target.
Oh and if I was GH, as well as looking at a decent forward this Jan I'd be keeping an eye out for any decent LB's or CB's that might become available too. A few of the regular candidates in that back four should be looking over their shoulder.
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Yeah, but Gypsum, if you are aware, as presumably Villa are that Blackburn's strength is in free kicks, corners and throw ins, that it's perhaps a teensie weensie bit naive to constantly give away stupid, stupid free kicks? Is that not a trifle foolish in your view?
As I said there is no doubt that Warnock's was stupid but football is a game with two teams and two lots of tactics. Much of their game is based on long diagonal balls designed to win corners and lumped balls designed to produce knockdowns that draw fouls. They do it every week and virtually every team that goes to Ewood ends up conceding lots of set pieces. Shove a Collins and/or a Cuellar and a Heskey in there and we might have dealt with them better. As I said, more experienced and certainly more physically powerful sides than us have been done by that bunch of cloggers and will be in future too.
It wasn't so much about the way we dealt with their tactics in that instance, though, was it? It was about the stupidity in gifting them so many free kicks around the box in the first place.
Warnock's gift for their first goal wasn't just a reflection that every team does that. He got clattered by Diouf, then a minute later, right on the stroke of half time, goes in unnecessarily hard on the same player, and look what happens.
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I am ashamed that there was player for us in our famous number 9 shirt who couldn't give a toss for his team mates or the club. F in disgrace. Apart from him we played ok just needed a bit of luck with woodwork and rebounds.
This is going to a long drive home....
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Don't know HTF i done that Troy.
However i will say this, and i said it before about the Villa.
Thank fuck for the wine induced comma that i am about to sink into.
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I'm really angry,
We kicked long ball after long ball with no success.
Ireland isn't interested, should never play for us again.
Ash is no longer a benefit to our team, he runs around alot with lots of energy but he has terrible passing and set pieces. And he refuses to make a quick simple pass instead looking to take everyone on every time.
There was a pass Bannan tried with the outside of his boot, it just went out of play and Ash was moaning and pulling faces at Bannan. I really don't like this.
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We kicked long ball after long ball with no success.
I have no idea how you could possibly think that.
There was only one side hitting long balls today - Blackburn, and they were usually directly at Friedel with someone assaulting him in the meantime.
If Villa ever resorted to the gash "football" Allardyce has his teams "play", I think I'd stop bothering with the sport. I see he's also picked up Pulis's trick and started trying to turn Pederson into a Delap, with all that fucking towelling the ball every throw in.
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I am ashamed that there was player for us in our famous number 9 shirt who couldn't give a toss for his team mates or the club. F in disgrace. Apart from him we played ok just needed a bit of luck with woodwork and rebounds.
This is going to a long drive home....
Ireland played a lovely through ball for Downing in the first couple of minutes. I then stupidly thought this would be the game he turned it around.
I have consistently defended Ireland this season, but his performance today was a disgrace.
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I thought Stew Downing always looked positive.
Warnock changed the game with his pathetic foul for the free-kick that led to their goal. I'm afraid Stephen Ireland was an utter joke IMO. Not a very funny one either.
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Friedel 3 - really really poor. Was it windy in Ewood today a load of his kicks went nowhere.
L Young 7 - did pretty well. At least he attacked unlike our other full back.
Warnock 3- actually started alright, always down injured and went to pieces after incident with Diouf. Hardly pushed forward in second half either.
Clark 5 - got too tight to Roberts on occasions. Still think midfield is his best position
Dunne 7 - probably our best player today
Downing 5 - started on fire but was poor in second half. No real guile to him today. I really hate when he plays on the right.
Hogg 4 - did his best but not up to it at this level. Can't remember him playing a positive pass
Bannan 5 - tried too much in first half, better in second
Young 7 - great effort with header. Took too much out of the ball at times but the movement up front was non existent
Gabby 2 - just shades the worst player in the park award for me
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Friedel kept pumping balls forward without us winning any headers, then we kept kicking diagonal balls all game.
When hardly looked like scoring.
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Don't know HTF i done that Troy.
However i will say this, and i said it before about the Villa.
Thank fuck for the wine induced comma that i am about to sink into.
white or red?
i personally like a refreshing glass of rose.
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Nothing to be too ashamed about, they just had more nous and physicality than us and they didn't deserve to win 2-0, We played some really nice football at times but were too wasteful with the final pass. They played almost no football, as ever, but managed to do a Wimbledon (of whom they remind me so much) on us
One of those days that reminded me of a few years ago when we'd turn up away from home, play some lovely football for 20 minutes and not score and then fall to two sucker punches, never looking like we would get back into it. We sorely needed a physical centre forward today to hold the ball up and bring others into play
Positives:
Bannan - again looked very good
Pires - thought he knocked the ball around well when he came on
Clark - for the most part, looked very composed again, you can tell there is a really good player there
Negatives:
Ireland - looks as if he has already left to me
Hogg - don't think he will be good enough at this level
Warnock - brainless, time and time and time again he dives in. Also, I remembered today that we bought him as an attacking left back but how often does he ever do anything in that respect these days
Ashley - far too much 'look at me' and almost nothing productive
Gabby - looked a yard off it to me though he didn't really get any decent service
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We kicked long ball after long ball with no success.
Have you mixed the Blackburn strip up with ours ?
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We were Allardyce'd. Very disappointed in the first half defensive performance and our most experienced players let us down by playing into Blackburn's normal tactics. If one of our players know how they go about playing it is Warnock and he was the worst of the lost. His petty revenge foul on Diouf was a trap he should have been aware about and the resulting free kick gave them the lead.
I am very frustrated by the whole game really and some players are trying too hard to be clever when the simple would suffice. Ash thinks that he has to take on the whole world on his own while Downing mostly forgot how to pass to one of his team mates. Bannan good again but we need much better movement than we had if we are to take advantage of our much improved passing game.
Today's result owed as much to falling into the Blackburn game plan as it did lacking of a focal point up front.
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Very very poor.
It's all very well trying to play your way out of defence but whats the point if we can't pass a ball? We simply don't keep it for more than 3 or 4 passes.
We must have the thickest defence in the league, i've never seen a defence give so many needless, stupid free kicks away around their own box. What makes it worse is we can't defend the ball when it comes in either.
Warnock needs replacing, he's a liability. Every game he gives silly free kicks away and he just isn't very good.
Friedel should have saved their first and i hope we go for Given in January.
Ireland is dire. I honestly think he doesn't want to be here playing for us.
I don't think Hogg is good enough, he's only playing because of injuries.
Dunne still looks overweight and clumsy.
Ashley Young continues to frustrate and fail to deliver. He's so overrated it's unreal.
Agbonlahor was anonymous, that may have been down to the service but he hasn't got the football brain to know when and where to run.
I'm afraid we're in a bit of a relegation fight, we're so easy to play against and beat away from home, we're so fragile and weak and get bullied and when you never win away theres only one half of the table you're going to be in. Arsenal at home and Liverpool away next aswell, nil points and we'll be right in amongst it. I've got a really bad feeling about the Blues game aswell, i think they'll bully us and our players could shit themselves in that atmosphere and pressure.
I am at one with you BCV, very close to my thoughts indeed...
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Re: Injuries. The worst players were Friedel, Dunne, Warnock, Agbonlahor, A.Young, Ireland, all first teamers. Granted Collins would have strengthened the defence and Albrighton would have been better than Ireland but Carew doesn't want to be here, Sidwell is shit, Cuellar doesn't play, Heskey has had 5 good games in about 50, Petrov is a snail who slows everything down and offers zero going forward or in defence, NRC would have battled well.
It's all very well saying we've got lots of injuries but the fact is a lot of those out injured are shit and wouldn't have done any better, don't forget we had almost everyone fit at the start of the season and we still couldn't win away and got dicked 6-0 by an average Newcastle side.
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You can stick me in the happy with the way we played camp apart from 2-3 players. Warnock, we have all said for weeks is a liability, but you can't take him out the side.
Dunne, looks slow, ponderous and shaky.
Friedel, kamikaze stuff in nets today and no clue what for.
Ireland... hmmmm..... has he broken sweat yet.
But, Bannan looked excellent again, Pires can clearly pick a pass or two, Young tried and tried (I agree re the faces to Bannan) Herd looked better than Hogg for his 10 minutes and Clark on the large did well. Luke Young looked to be trying to make something happen, Gabby has another 75 minutes in the bank and the Fonz looked very dangerous movement wise.
Alll in all, give it till Jan, see what GH brings in as re-enforcements and re group.
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Someone mentioned it on the match thread, but it was very weird that Downing played on the right today after playing brilliantly on the left against Manure.
Every time Young and Downing got the ball they had to cut inside which killed the momentum of attacks and allowed Blackburn to get back in numbers.
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Toothless up front, porous in defense, but plenty of quality attacking midfielders (With the exception of Ireland). We need Viera and Shearer clones in that team, and need to work on the defending in training. There is plenty of talent there and a good team waiting to break out.
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The most worrying thing is, these performances were happening when everyone was fit, it's nothing new.
We seem to have lost our shape and composure away from home this season.
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Dunne really did have a decent game today. I was a big critic of the way he came back from preseason with his big gut and double Ds but I think people are now looking for mistakes that he isn't making. It was a tough game for him todayy but he gave a decent performance - nothing colossal but decent all the same. Collins was sorely missed.
The thing is that with the young players around him, Dunne needs to be colossal in games like this.
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I am very disappointed i thought we would get something from this game, i think we need at least three players in january and what is going on with Ireland?.
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Friedel 3 - really really poor. Was it windy in Ewood today a load of his kicks went nowhere.
L Young 7 - did pretty well. At least he attacked unlike our other full back.
Warnock 3- actually started alright, always down injured and went to pieces after incident with Diouf. Hardly pushed forward in second half either.
Clark 5 - got too tight to Roberts on occasions. Still think midfield is his best position
Dunne 7 - probably our best player today
Downing 5 - started on fire but was poor in second half. No real guile to him today. I really hate when he plays on the right.
Hogg 4 - did his best but not up to it at this level. Can't remember him playing a positive pass
Bannan 5 - tried too much in first half, better in second
Young 7 - great effort with header. Took too much out of the ball at times but the movement up front was non existent
Gabby 2 - just shades the worst player in the park award for me
I think the ratings are a little harsh - especially with Gabby, he never had a chance. Bannan made every effort and looked comfy on the ball. Downing was lively and made the effort. Clark is without a doubt a defender and i dont think he did anything wrong other than the booking
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funny how attitudes change.
When we got Ireland, people, most on here were saying how not only had we got a wad load of cash but also a better player than Milner....err....
Also, when we were looking for a manger, almost everyone on here said how shite Allardyce was/is - well he's got a team of less talented individuals higher than us...so that must say something.
Keep repeating the mantra "it's a season of transition" and it becomes easier to gloss over things...
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The late goals were conceeding at the end of the halves are really fucking pissing me off now, its so unprofessional, from a young age your taught if you can't win the game then make sure you don't lose it, its just so simple and these brain dead fucking idiots continuously make pathetic late mistakes to give away goals, they need to sort their heads out because its just not good enough
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its going to be a long hard winter, we could easily slip into a relegation battle, its the form of some of our senior players that is the most worrying, and the efect this will have on the morale of the younsters, Gabby is not fit, Downing wasted on the Right, Ireland a luxury we cant afford, Friedel looked shaky, Hogg not ready and A Youngs decision making awful.
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We kicked long ball after long ball with no success.
I have no idea how you could possibly think that.
There was only one side hitting long balls today - Blackburn, and they were usually directly at Friedel with someone assaulting him in the meantime.
If Villa ever resorted to the gash "football" Allardyce has his teams "play", I think I'd stop bothering with the sport. I see he's also picked up Pulis's trick and started trying to turn Pederson into a Delap, with all that fucking towelling the ball every throw in.
Agree with most of what you've said. I pity the Blackburn fans having to watch that 'football'. They are the worst team in the premier league. Bar none.
We were again lacking when it counts, in front of goal and defending. The midfield looks half as competent without young Albrighton.
We've gone from being able to win ugly to being likely to lose pretty.
Houllier needs a centre forward who at least who can be in the right place at the right time, a left back who isn't prone to making a mistake every single time he plays and goalkeeper (harsh on Brad but he can't go on for ever) in January or we could end up looking over our shoulder.
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First, you can't 'expect' to get anything from anywhere in the Premier League, least of all a place like Blackburn.
Second, I know it's said after every match but you have to take into account the number of injuries we have. To ctriticise because only five of them would have been playing today is ridiculous - take five first teamers out of any side and they'd struggle. This is the one time more than any other in the past decade where we need to get behind the team and stop finding every tiny fault.
Third, and most double-standardly, fuck off Ireland. If he was ever going to do anything for us, today would have been the day. Many things can be excused but not being disinterested in a game where your talent is desperately needed.
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funny how attitudes change.
When we got Ireland, people, most on here were saying how not only had we got a wad load of cash but also a better player than Milner....err....
Also, when we were looking for a manger, almost everyone on here said how shite Allardyce was/is - well he's got a team of less talented individuals higher than us...so that must say something.
Keep repeating the mantra "it's a season of transition" and it becomes easier to gloss over things...
I think there was alot more expected of Ireland than what he's shown and his performance today was an utter disgrace. Allardyce's football's fucking boring and as of yet he's won nothing has he? And i disagree with season of transition, we should still have been pushing on..
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I thought there was a pretty wide range of performances today.
Unacceptably poor: Ireland, Warnock
Poor but with a plausible excuse: Gabby, Friedel
Did well, considering lack of experience: Hogg, Bannan, Herd, Clark
Did OK: Ashley, Dunne
Did well: Pires
Did very well: Downing, Luke Young
Nail on head for me.
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I thought save called for an amnesty on the most gratuitous moaning. Fairly predictable game and outcome I thought. Downing was excellent 1st half but faded. I thought bannan was really good. Ireland some nice touches but overall hopeless. Gabby pretty crap and that meant we lacked punch. I thought Clark was disappointing. Warnock was fine apart from that stupid mistake. There'll be more games like that this season. There don't look to be enough goals in that team
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Ireland is not performing- the mistake of signing him when managerless was poor- wm saying he missed man u with a virus and was out clubbing with Ashley young that same night, some virus- the guy and dunne as well need to buck up their ideas of they will be out in my opinion.
Very poor free kicks given away again and poor goalkeeping by brad which is rare, I think cuellar and Collins when fit should be the centre defence, very impressed with bannan today, but overall a poor team performance , if Liverpool are serious about Ashley young at £18m I'd snatch their hands off- albrighton will turn out a better option.
I fully believe houllier will take us onwards as a club and upwards but he will need a year to sort things to his liking!
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I think there was alot more expected of Ireland than what he's shown and his performance today was an utter disgrace. Allardyce's football's fucking boring and as of yet he's won nothing has he? And i disagree with season of transition, we should still have been pushing on..
The League of Ireland in 1992. And there's a reason or 14 why we're not pushing as quickly as we might like.
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The problem with that loss is that it is all too predictable with us at the moment. And we are a very soft touch quite honestly.
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That was a typical Villa performance,seem to be in control and playing some good stuff,then poor defending lets us down. A dodgy spell towards the end of the first half cost us. Warnock should know not to give away cheap fouls against Blackburn. Second half was better,passed it around well. When Gab gets a bit sharper I think we'll improve. With a young team out,were gonna have a good few results like this.
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I'd still rather play like us and be inconsistent than watch Blackburn every week. Watching too much of that would make me fall out of love with football
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Dunne really did have a decent game today. I was a big critic of the way he came back from preseason with his big gut and double Ds but I think people are now looking for mistakes that he isn't making. It was a tough game for him todayy but he gave a decent performance - nothing colossal but decent all the same. Collins was sorely missed.
The thing is that with the young players around him, Dunne needs to be colossal in games like this.
Probably easier to say than it is to do, especially when he's the only player we had out there with any sort of aerial prowess and we were playing that lot.
Agreed, but our experienced players have to be at the top of their game whilst the youngsters find their feet. We need more than decent performances from them. One thing that was noticeable though was that Clark was up against Roberts for much of the match whilst Dunne had to deal with Diouf. Dunne should have made sure that was the other way around.
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Friedel 3 - really really poor. Was it windy in Ewood today a load of his kicks went nowhere.
L Young 7 - did pretty well. At least he attacked unlike our other full back.
Warnock 3- actually started alright, always down injured and went to pieces after incident with Diouf. Hardly pushed forward in second half either.
Clark 5 - got too tight to Roberts on occasions. Still think midfield is his best position
Dunne 7 - probably our best player today
Downing 5 - started on fire but was poor in second half. No real guile to him today. I really hate when he plays on the right.
Hogg 4 - did his best but not up to it at this level. Can't remember him playing a positive pass
Bannan 5 - tried too much in first half, better in second
Young 7 - great effort with header. Took too much out of the ball at times but the movement up front was non existent
Gabby 2 - just shades the worst player in the park award for me
Have you deleted Ireland's performance altogether?
;D
I tried to. He actually started alright but quickly didnt want to know. I have given up on him. 2.5. I thought he would be a great signing too but looks like he has given up football. No heart, desire, strength etc - luka modric is a small guy too but look at his superb performance yesterday and compare it to the gutless wonder today. sickening.
gabby was worse, marginally. He was utterly utterly dreadful today with a diabolical attitude. Maybe his injury badly affected him. Clark got turned by Roberts on a few occasions. Bit naive at times but he will learn from it.
Downing was pants lads in the second half. Took far too much of out the ball, lost it repeatedly and didnt compete in the physical exchanges.
blaming dunne today ::)
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First, you can't 'expect' to get anything from anywhere in the Premier League, least of all a place like Blackburn.
Second, I know it's said after every match but you have to take into account the number of injuries we have. To ctriticise because only five of them would have been playing today is ridiculous - take five first teamers out of any side and they'd struggle. This is the one time more than any other in the past decade where we need to get behind the team and stop finding every tiny fault.
Third, and most double-standardly, fuck off Ireland. If he was ever going to do anything for us, today would have been the day. Many things can be excused but not being disinterested in a game where your talent is desperately needed.
Agree 100% on Ireland. It's about as obvious as it gets that he has absolutely no desire to play for Aston Villa. As talented as he is, I wouldn't care a fuck if he never played for us again.
As for getting behind the team, I've no doubt most will. We play some really nice stuff. We just have to get some point son teh board before a season of transition becomes a season of nervously looking below.
Houllier will sort it I'm sure.
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I think there was alot more expected of Ireland than what he's shown and his performance today was an utter disgrace. Allardyce's football's fucking boring and as of yet he's won nothing has he? And i disagree with season of transition, we should still have been pushing on..
The League of Ireland in 1992. And there's a reason or 14 why we're not pushing as quickly as we might like.
I know theres reasons, but it sounds more like excuses. We lost today cus we werent at our best, simple as that
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There Areca few things to criticize today, but I don't see how dunne, downing and being long ball are amongst them
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Re: Injuries. The worst players were Friedel, Dunne, Warnock, Agbonlahor, A.Young, Ireland, all first teamers. Granted Collins would have strengthened the defence and Albrighton would have been better than Ireland but Carew doesn't want to be here, Sidwell is shit, Cuellar doesn't play, Heskey has had 5 good games in about 50, Petrov is a snail who slows everything down and offers zero going forward or in defence, NRC would have battled well.
It's all very well saying we've got lots of injuries but the fact is a lot of those out injured are shit and wouldn't have done any better, don't forget we had almost everyone fit at the start of the season and we still couldn't win away and got dicked 6-0 by an average Newcastle side.
Absolutely spot on. Agree with everything you said. Im GLAD most of those players are injured.....giving Albrighton,Bannon,Clark and now others extended runs in preference to those tired looking injuries on the bench.....bring it on!
Thought there were positives today too,Downing has proved myself and others wrong, looks like a natural leader. Pires looked class and full of ideas when he came on, Bannon looked great. Blackburn away is no easy fixture for anyone, we dominated most of the game and virtually all the second half.
Houlier is no fool, he will look at the performances of Warnock,Ireland and Ash today and start making major decisions. A defender and centre forward have got to be priorities. Sell the deadwood...Sidwell, Petrov, Ireland, Davies and Ash if neccesary. We have the nucleus of a great, young, exciting team here. Give Houlier a year and we will start contesting for major honours, possibly Champions league spot.
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i thought we passed the ball nicely today at times, and our ball retention was improving. Ireland did better, but still not good enough, although watching with a mate, the amount of times he was bypassed when showing for the ball in space, and asking for the ball, was getting stupid.
Warnock giving away needless free kicks, was a major irritation, when he gave the free kick away for the goal said to my mate, this will be a goal, villa can never see out halfs or game always last minute fuck ups, thought friedel could of done a lot better with it tho.
So many simple passes today were ignored, along with a cuttind edge cost us AGAIN today, thought gabby was poor, downing not one of his better games, thought ash worked hard all game although a little frustrating with some of his choice of passing.
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Just back.
Dire.
If the team were praised for their inability to hold on to a two-goal lead this week, then they should be rightly castigated for this afternoon's display.
Blackburn are not great, but you know with a Big Sam team they are going to be big and strong and hold the line. Tippy-tappy football is not going to break that down once they're back in position.
To give away the free kick from which they scored the first goal on the stroke of half time was naive. Oh, and Stephen Ireland is a complete waste of a place. You may as well have given it to me. I'd be just as shit, but at least I wouldn't ask for £70K for being so.
Pluses? Downing was positive, albeit without much end product, I thought Clark had a reasonable game and Pires showed some good intent, although we'd just gone two down when he came on.
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I am very disappointed i thought we would get something from this game, i think we need at least three players in january and what is going on with Ireland?.
Nothing going on with ireland absolutelty nothing he didnt want to come to us and he was forced on us as part of the deal. Dross
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I just find it amazing that some people think everything will be rosy when the injured players are back. The fact is Warnock and Dunne will still be playing and they're liabilities, Young will still be playing who is massively overrated and predictable and a whingeing little shit, Friedel will still be playing who looks suspect under any pressure, and we still won't have a striker who is any good. We've got Arsenal and Liverpool coming up with Spurs, Man City and Chelsea over christmas, injuries or not we're going to be in trouble come january.
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I think there was alot more expected of Ireland than what he's shown and his performance today was an utter disgrace. Allardyce's football's fucking boring and as of yet he's won nothing has he? And i disagree with season of transition, we should still have been pushing on..
The League of Ireland in 1992. And there's a reason or 14 why we're not pushing as quickly as we might like.
I know theres reasons, but it sounds more like excuses. We lost today cus we werent at our best, simple as that
And the main reason we weren't at our best was??????
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So we need
1 new goalkeeper to take over aging Brad.
2 Left Back - Sell Warnock
1 right back to replace Young or Beye
1 powerful defensive midfielder
1 winger to replace Ashley Young if he don't shape up.
3 stirkers to replace Heskey, Carew
Sell Ireland, Davies
Stuart Downing is only player make me happy today. Not good enough.
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Just back.
Dire.
If the team were praised for their inability to hold on to a two-goal lead this week, then they should be rightly castigated for this afternoon's display.
Blackburn are not great, but you know with a Big Sam team they are going to be big and strong and hold the line. Tippy-tappy football is not going to break that down once they're back in position.
To give away the free kick from which they scored the first goal on the stroke of half time was naive. Oh, and Stephen Ireland is a complete waste of a place. You may as well have given it to me. I'd be just as shit, but at least I wouldn't ask for £70K for being so.
Pluses? Downing was positive, albeit without much end product, I thought Clark had a reasonable game and Pires showed some good intent, although we'd just gone two down when he came on.
It wasn't naive, it was stupid and selfish on behalf of Warnock. His petulance at getting back at Diouf cost us.
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I just find it amazing that some people think everything will be rosy when the injured players are back. The fact is Warnock and Dunne will still be playing and they're liabilities, Young will still be playing who is massively overrated and predictable and a whingeing little shit, Friedel will still be playing who looks suspect under any pressure, and we still won't have a striker who is any good. We've got Arsenal and Liverpool coming up with Spurs, Man City and Chelsea over christmas, injuries or not we're going to be in trouble come january.
And I find it amazing that you never stop whinging. So that's two of us who are amazed.
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if only villa would amaze us all
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Before all the injuries were we performing better? No nothing has changed with our injuries apart from abit more excitement from our young lads.
The facts are that it is going to take time and money for Gerrard to improve us.
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My review for what it's worth;
We started passing it around well, however we began to mirror Blackburn's style in the first half, and there is no way we are going to win any headers against that lot, either up front, or in midfield. The second half reverted back to our passing game, which (with a bit of luck), could have given us something. If you have BB in the team, you have to use him, as he has such vision.
I was a bit bemused as to why Downing was stationed on our right for all of the match - they normally swap a few times during a match, but not today. Could this have been for them to come in more and shoot, rather than cross it (food and drink to Samba and Nelson) ?!? Shame really, as I think Givet was the weak link in that back four. Albrighton would have been in his element there today.
Warnock's performance is always going to be tainted by that challenge. You cannot continually give any team successive free kicks and get away with it.
Hogg: Not sure why some people are saying he isn't good enough after today's performance. I thought today was the best he has played for the first team. From the first game i saw him play, I wasn't convinced. I quite liked what I saw of Herd, though that was the first i had seen him.
Gabby on his own was out bullied today. Blackburn sat deep, preventing us from getting behind them. The only way of beating this is with good movement, good shooting (and a bit of lady luck). Our team is gradually getting better at pass and move but there is clearly a long way to go. Delfouneso showed more movement in 10mins, than Gabby did all game. Pires will only come into his own with passing and moving, so it's something that needs working on.
Ireland.....hmmmm What on earth do you do with him?!?! Here is a bloke who is clearly very talented, is used to working with good movement, i.e. Robinho. He won't get that in our team for some time yet, sadly. He looks like he has withdrawn into his shell, which isn't good when you need him to show more application and desire. Can't really trust him in a midfield 2, wouldn't get the best out of him wide, very lacking in that "hole" position.......I can only see him being moved on.
Ashley Young looked like he'd had a bollocking at half time, as he was a lot brighter second half. There was a period in the first half, when he twisted and turned on the left hand side, and then went down the left and shot, which Robinson parried. If only he would look up when he began his twisting. If he had of done, he'd have spotted BB free and in yards of space on the edge of the area. If AY has aspirations of playing for a club in the Champions League, he had better begin to learn to look up and spot players in space.
All in all, it just wasn't our day. Blackburn are very good at home, and we encouraged them with poor decision making. It will be great to get our injured back, and giving GH more options.
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I just find it amazing that some people think everything will be rosy when the injured players are back. The fact is Warnock and Dunne will still be playing and they're liabilities, Young will still be playing who is massively overrated and predictable and a whingeing little shit, Friedel will still be playing who looks suspect under any pressure, and we still won't have a striker who is any good. We've got Arsenal and Liverpool coming up with Spurs, Man City and Chelsea over christmas, injuries or not we're going to be in trouble come january.
So these are the same players - bar Milner - who have finished in the top six for three seasons running? They can't be that bad, particularly when supplemented by a few excellent youngsters and an in form Downing who is twice the player he was last year.
Thats in the past, we're on about this season when we weren't very good at the start of the season with a fully fit squad. The fact is even when everyone is fit we still haven't got a half decent striker.
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Bloody annoying. BR are currently a survival team and yet above us.
But for Christ's sake. The mood on here is up and down like a bridegrooms bum.
Are we moving forward or not? I thought the intelligent insight was that we are running light of players and yet beginning to play good football. Look at their home record. I expected this. A lot of posters did.
Yes I watched the game and I am pissed off but I still think we are "work in progress". And positive.
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For those moaning about wingers, there's never anyone in the box to cross it to anyway, which is why we keep passing it across the edge of the box with no end product. Gabby rarely got in threatening positions and everyone else showed for the easy pass rather than gambling in the box. We need to accept they'll be no top 6 this season, that results will remain inconsistent until January and we need players back and signings to see an improvement in the second half of the season. We all know what's wrong but GH is powerless at the moment so we just need to stay as close to the top6 as is possible and hope we can have a good run in.
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I just find it amazing that some people think everything will be rosy when the injured players are back. The fact is Warnock and Dunne will still be playing and they're liabilities, Young will still be playing who is massively overrated and predictable and a whingeing little shit, Friedel will still be playing who looks suspect under any pressure, and we still won't have a striker who is any good. We've got Arsenal and Liverpool coming up with Spurs, Man City and Chelsea over christmas, injuries or not we're going to be in trouble come january.
So these are the same players - bar Milner - who have finished in the top six for three seasons running? They can't be that bad, particularly when supplemented by a few excellent youngsters and an in form Downing who is twice the player he was last year.
Thats in the past, we're on about this season when we weren't very good at the start of the season with a fully fit squad. The fact is even when everyone is fit we still haven't got a half decent striker.
Gabby has been out injured all season so straight away the area you are highlighting as being our biggest problem has been weakened from the outset by being short of its first choice player. Heskey was clearly bang in form before he got injured. Yes, Carew was poor but who know he might have played himself in to form if he had stayed fit, it wouldn't be the first time. We now have four central midfielders out, one of which is our Captain and another of which is our Vice Captain and crucial to the way we have been trying to play.
The only three matches where Houllier has had anything like a full strength team to pick from were Wolves, Spurs and Chelsea and yes I think we were pretty good in all three of them.
But thats the whole point, Gabby is our first choice striker and he isn't very good. He hasn't got the football brain to know when and where to run to exploit his pace, and he has zero technical ability.
Our captain is rubbish aswell, Petrov slows everything down and offers nothing going backwards or forwards. I wouldn't even have him in the first 11.
Oh and i thought we were dire at Wolves and were very lucky to win.
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so Blackcountry Villa, do you think we are going to go down? I think we are good enough to stay up, do you?
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I really fukin hate allardyce. Shove your fukin towell drying long ball tactics up your arse. I like Houllier and will accept inconsistent performances as he is giving our youth a chance and trying to play football the right way. Gabbys fitness will be key to us getting some decent results over the next month.
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so Blackcountry Villa, do you think we are going to go down? I think we are good enough to stay up, do you?
No i don't think we will go down, but we definitely need to become a tougher nut to crack on the road. Whenever the opposition get a free kick around our box i think they're going to score, and whenever the game enters injury time i think they're going to score. Do i believe we could get into a relegation battle though? Yes. Arsenal and Liverpool coming up with Spurs, Man City and Chelsea over christmas, realistically we could be right down there by january.
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well, chill then...
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I know this might be old news to some... but does anyone know what happened to Albrighton? Plz don't tell me he's another one who's joined our injury list.
About the game... disappointing to lose to a shit team like Blackburn. The stats speak for themselves - we were the better team but a stupid mistake right before half-time and a lucky deflected goal won it for them. It's annoying to lose to such a poor side who were poor but yet still manage to win. We got some important games coming up so we've really got to keep some consistency going and get some points on the board... Arsenal at home next.
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So we're supposed to be happy now because we're going to stay up?
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yeah, I reckon that's pretty good in our season of transition, don't you think? I'm sure we'll be bottom six for a while, but I reckon the latter few months, we should get mid table.
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Richard Dunne. He's basically rubbish isn't he?
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yes, but is he recyclable?
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We are not going to finish any lower than mid-table so talk of relegation is unhelpful (if almost understandable). As previously mentioned by others, it's time to keep our nerve and get behind the team.
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He laughed at the final whistle
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Albrighton was ill with a bug along with a few others evidently.
I can see why people are knocking Dunne but smiling as he came off the pitch is nothing like as bad as the piss taking of Villa Ireland did simply by turning out.
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The most comfortably dominated 2-0 defeat i've seen. A very strange game that we didn't deserve to lose. The defence needs sorting out..
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Dunne needs to go on a diet. Overweight, clumsy and error-prone. Him and Warnock are liabilities.
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Richard Dunne. He's basically rubbish isn't he?
What did he actually do wrong today? He was one of our better players.
I agree. No problems with Dunne today.
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Warnock would want a good kick up the hole for giving away that stupid free kick for the first goal. Ridiculous.
Pires got on the ball nore than Ireland did while he was on. He really was a waste of space. I cant see him geting another start for a while.
What a waste of a Sunday afternoon watching that crap.
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I had it on the radio in the car. Sounded awful. Truly, truly awful.
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Like most I thought Ireland was a disgrace today. I've defended him in the past believing he just needed someone ahead of him to move more for him to pass to. But he just doesn't look that bothered. All very well to say ship him out in January - but the question is who to? Based on his performances at Villa who would want him? Maybe we can persuade Citeh to have him back in exchange for Given.
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From Auntie (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9196436.stm):
Blackburn 2 - 0 Aston Villa
By Paul Fletcher
Morten Gamst Pedersen scored twice as Blackburn defeated Aston Villa at Ewood Park in front of the club's new owners Venkateshwara and Balaji Rao.
Pedersen struck with a free-kick from a tight angle that Brad Friedel should have saved and later diverted a low strike from Ryan Nelsen into the net.
Paul Robinson made good stops from Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, who also headed against the crossbar.
Robert Pires made his debut for Villa as a second-half substitute.
But Rovers led 2-0 by that stage as Villa's five-match unbeaten run came to an end.
Sam Allardyce's Rovers had started the day in 16th but such is the congested nature of the table that their victory lifted them above their opponents and up to 11th.
Rovers rode their luck at times during what was in many ways a poor and forgettable game, but the home team undoubtedly made the most of their physical superiority, with both their goals coming from set-pieces.
Villa often flattered to deceive - occasionally catching the eye with an attractive phase of play but without a cutting edge in the final third.
Having said that, the largely ineffective Stephen Ireland played a beautifully weighted ball in behind Gael Givet in the third minute to set Downing through on goal but the winger's low strike from a tight angle was saved by Robinson.
Ashley Young was later played in down the left and, after feinting one way then the other, created a yard of space before forcing an excellent one-handed stop with a fierce strike across goal.
Rovers wasted an early opportunity when Chris Samba skewed his strike horribly wide after the ball was rolled into his path from a free-kick. It set the tone for some terrible finishing from the home team as both Givet and David Hoilett contrived to shoot well wide from promising positions.
Givet had a particularly poor opening half and, in addition to being regularly caught out of position, he suffered the misfortune of being accidentally knocked to the floor by referee Michael Oliver and was substituted at the break.
Villa keeper Friedel seemed to spend a large chunk of the contest on the floor as one Blackburn player after another challenged him for aerial balls.
And the physical nature of the match might have been playing on Friedel's mind as he failed to save Pedersen's free-kick on the stroke of the interval.
It had been a sloppy and needless foul for Villa to concede as Stephen Warnock lunged in on El-Hadji Diouf, but Pedersen's strike was from an extremely wide angle and, even allowing for the swerve on the ball, Friedel should not have been beaten.
The goal was the last significant action of the half but Villa responded by upping the tempo after the restart and creating two quick-fire chances.
Ashley Young cut in from the left and forced a good save with a 20-yard strike that swerved through the air and, seconds later, headed a Downing cross against the woodwork.
Villa looked good value for an equaliser but Rovers continued to threaten and it took a precise last-ditch sliding tackle from Richard Dunne to take the sting out of a shot from Diouf.
And Villa were punished when they failed to clear a corner, with Pedersen showing good reactions to score his second.
Diouf should have scored a third with a far-post header but missed, while luckless Villa could only look on as a rebound fell to a Rovers player after Robinson palmed clear a shot from Downing.
Former Arsenal favourite Pires had little chance to impress after his 67th-minute introduction but another substitute, Chris Herd, forced a goal-line clearance from Michel Salgado.
Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier:
"To concede with the last kick of the first half is hard to take. It could have been avoided.
"In the first half we were not that good, in the second we were much better although we did not take our chances.
"We have got to be more clinical and put the ball in the net - that is our problem. We have to blame ourselves for a performance that was not very good."
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Missed the whole game, thank God.
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Ashley's shot and brilliant header, which had Robinson beaten just shows how fine the line is between success and failure. I knew that not going in would be costly. We seem to have used up all our luck early on with the wins against Everton and Wolves.
3 years ago, to the day more or less, we tore Blackburn a new arsehole, 4-0 (while some 'villans'' tore the toilets at Ewood to pieces). I remember on Sky Sports News that evening, Tony Gale was covering the game and saying despite the result he thought Rovers would still finish ahead of us. They didn't but you could see what he was getting at. We were building a reputation as a counter-attacking team at the time. Flattering to deceive in general play but ruthless on the break and from dead balls.
At the moment, we're trying to balance that with a control and passing game which after being so used to MON's primitive ways, is going to take a while for us to get to grips with. Moreso when we can't field a settled, first choice side. Mainly because of injuries and G-Dawg hasn't been here long enough to pick eleven players he's happy to start with.
*Sorry, the shift and tab keys are fooked.
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Warnock is a liability - that 'challenge' was unforgivable , just like Albrightons at Fulham.
These blokes are paid thousands of pounds a week for their job - the 7 year olds I train have more nous.
I won't comment on Stephen Ireland - as I am sure that he wasnt on the pitch - was he ?!
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Everyone is focussing on Ireland - big mistake.
He was insignificant, but then look at Dunne, Warnock, Gabby, Young L -- look at the way Fridel lost the flight of the ball for their 1st.
We were shit.
You can't blame one player.
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View snippets here (http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/blackburn-aston-villa-7619233/).
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Ireland & Pires both made 17 successful passes in the game.
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Ireland was poor today, but, all in all the whole performance was poor. Even when we had a bit of posession and we pinned them back at no point did I think we would score.
There was no service to Gabby.
Ireland and Dunne were very poor, as was Friedel, but that doesn't happen too often.
Looking forward to Jan.
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Did I mention Ireland was poor :S
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I didn't think that we actually played all that badly, but we were on a hiding to nothing giving away silly free kicks against a team of behemoths like Blackburn.
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I think we have a problem as supporters psychologically when we lose to the likes of Blackburn or Wigan. Of course we should be better than them, we have had good results against them over recent times and last year showed our true class in relation to Blackburn. But the semi performances came when the focus was on those games- they were our season - not when they were sandwiched between Man Ure and Arse at home. The players are human - there must have been some come down from last Saturday. If we were knocking out comfy away wins at places like this we would be on course to win 10 away games a year which would put us top two.
Reading through seems the same as since Houllier got here- it hasn't quite gone for us, some players have done alright (although views are mixed on whom), a few breaks of the ball and would have been a different game.
One of two things is going to happen - the results will come, in which case we'll all bask in the light of an inspired managerial choice or the performances will tail badly and the moaning will increase.
On a slight side issue I can't believe all these posters who are talking about major changes in January transfer window. Do you support a different club? We'll be with this lot (with one or at most two) exceptions til May. And it's not that bad. Deal with it.
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I suspect Monsieur Houllier is getting a tad pissed off with one or two players right now. He has a reputation for cleaning house, and I expect he'll be meeting with Randy and Faulkner in the not too distant future, if he hasn't done so already with an execution list. I suspect Villa now and Villa this time next season will look very different indeed.
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I think we have a problem as supporters psychologically when we lose to the likes of Blackburn or Wigan. Of course we should be better than them, we have had good results against them over recent times and last year showed our true class in relation to Blackburn. But the semi performances came when the focus was on those games- they were our season - not when they were sandwiched between Man Ure and Arse at home. The players are human - there must have been some come down from last Saturday. If we were knocking out comfy away wins at places like this we would be on course to win 10 away games a year which would put us top two.
Reading through seems the same as since Houllier got here- it hasn't quite gone for us, some players have done alright (although views are mixed on whom), a few breaks of the ball and would have been a different game.
One of two things is going to happen - the results will come, in which case we'll all bask in the light of an inspired managerial choice or the performances will tail badly and the moaning will increase.
On a slight side issue I can't believe all these posters who are talking about major changes in January transfer window. Do you support a different club? We'll be with this lot (with one or at most two) exceptions til May. And it's not that bad. Deal with it.
No, the vast majority of us are Villa fans.
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Goy back from lunch having recorded the game, not knowing the score. After watching the first 40 minutes I decided to find out the final score, as it was so painful on the eyes. Having stopped and restarted and stopped again, I should get to see the full 90 minutes sometime on Thursday.
Yes, I know we have the kids in but bloody hell, this is poor, from both sides. We're lacking some leadership on the pitch.
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So based on Villa's normal fulsome and extensive use of the January transfer window how many players do you think will be coming in January?
I think we have a problem as supporters psychologically when we lose to the likes of Blackburn or Wigan. Of course we should be better than them, we have had good results against them over recent times and last year showed our true class in relation to Blackburn. But the semi performances came when the focus was on those games- they were our season - not when they were sandwiched between Man Ure and Arse at home. The players are human - there must have been some come down from last Saturday. If we were knocking out comfy away wins at places like this we would be on course to win 10 away games a year which would put us top two.
Reading through seems the same as since Houllier got here- it hasn't quite gone for us, some players have done alright (although views are mixed on whom), a few breaks of the ball and would have been a different game.
One of two things is going to happen - the results will come, in which case we'll all bask in the light of an inspired managerial choice or the performances will tail badly and the moaning will increase.
On a slight side issue I can't believe all these posters who are talking about major changes in January transfer window. Do you support a different club? We'll be with this lot (with one or at most two) exceptions til May. And it's not that bad. Deal with it.
No, the vast majority of us are Villa fans.
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Some of my personal ratings...
Ashley Young - Start being a team player and drop that fucking attitude
Barry Bannan - Well done, tried hard.
Stuart Downing - Stick to the left wing.
Stephen Warnock - Ever since MON rushed you back for the Carling Cup final you've looked very lightweight and too eagar to dive in.
Brad Friedel - For the 2nd goal it might have been easier if you was actually near the goal.
Johnathan Hogg - I think you are the weakest of our new youngsters. Thanks for the effort.
Gabby Abonlahor - I felt sorry for you today, you're not fit, but the service was piss poor.
Stephen Ireland - I really wanted to give you a chance as I've always rated you, but you are too soft, a luxury we can't afford to have in the team. Please shape up or fuck off.
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i thought we passed the ball nicely today at times, and our ball retention was improving. Ireland did better, but still not good enough, although watching with a mate, the amount of times he was bypassed when showing for the ball in space, and asking for the ball, was getting stupid.
Warnock giving away needless free kicks, was a major irritation, when he gave the free kick away for the goal said to my mate, this will be a goal, villa can never see out halfs or game always last minute fuck ups, thought friedel could of done a lot better with it tho.
So many simple passes today were ignored, along with a cuttind edge cost us AGAIN today, thought gabby was poor, downing not one of his better games, thought ash worked hard all game although a little frustrating with some of his choice of passing.
Whilst I agree that Ireland did not appear to put much into the game there were times when I too was looking at him, in space asking for the ball, and being ignored. He started off ok with the ball to Downing but gradually dropped off and I am beginning to wonder if the lack of times he receives the ball is part of the reason. I also am beginning to think that we are getting some "cliques" within the team as regards who we pass to - several times today there was easy balls on but we ignored the person and tried to do something a lot more difficult, ending up giving it away. Ash is one of the worst for this and I think he is beginning to think that he thinks only he can control the game, not Bannan, and certainly not Ireland. It would be very interesting to see how many passes Ash made to Ireland today.
With regard to our passing, at times it looked ok but we didn't do it enough and we didn't do it quickly enough nor did we move enough off the ball so that we pulled them around the park.
And, why oh why did Downing only play on the right when he had ripped Man U to shreds down the left last week?
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So based on Villa's normal fulsome and extensive use of the January transfer window how many players do you think will be coming in January?
I think we have a problem as supporters psychologically when we lose to the likes of Blackburn or Wigan. Of course we should be better than them, we have had good results against them over recent times and last year showed our true class in relation to Blackburn. But the semi performances came when the focus was on those games- they were our season - not when they were sandwiched between Man Ure and Arse at home. The players are human - there must have been some come down from last Saturday. If we were knocking out comfy away wins at places like this we would be on course to win 10 away games a year which would put us top two.
Reading through seems the same as since Houllier got here- it hasn't quite gone for us, some players have done alright (although views are mixed on whom), a few breaks of the ball and would have been a different game.
One of two things is going to happen - the results will come, in which case we'll all bask in the light of an inspired managerial choice or the performances will tail badly and the moaning will increase.
On a slight side issue I can't believe all these posters who are talking about major changes in January transfer window. Do you support a different club? We'll be with this lot (with one or at most two) exceptions til May. And it's not that bad. Deal with it.
No, the vast majority of us are Villa fans.
Probably not many, but let's see what Houllier can do.
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We missed Collins
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OK, I know it isn't big, clever, or remotely productive buuuuuuuut: that was a 'bag of wank'.
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And, why oh why did Downing only play on the right when he had ripped Man U to shreds down the left last week?
Why oh why do managers insist on playing wingers on their opposite side? does me fucking head in.
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I think houllier will have a good idea who he wants to keep and who he can ship out and I expect a lot of changes over the summer , we have to be realistic , yes we have finished top 6 in the last 3 years but if you stand still teams will overtake you.
We can still finish 6 th to 8th but it will need a quality finisher to achieve that , o neill failed to sign a top striker in his 4 yrs as manager- I expect houllier will address this quickly-gabby is a decent striker but no way would he get into any of the top 5 sides and in all honesty how many of our players would?
We have the basics of a decent team but we need quality additions and toclear out a lot of players who are not up to it, davies, sidwell, Carew, heskey, Ireland, dunne, and Ashley young may all go and would generate cash to add to the kitty , giving houllier decent money to get quality players in- he is the man for the job , of that I have no doubt!
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Hopefully collins and NRC are back for next week? Emile would be good at bullying their centre backs too.
I really hate it that teams can be successful in England playing the kind of anti football rovers played today. It's horrible to watch
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I would have thought our management / coaching staff might have highlighted
pre-match that Rovers thrive on set ball situations ?
If so why on earth did we give them so many opportunities, especially first
half ?
There's alot of flak aimed at Ireland in this thread and quite rightly so but
Young7 was no better today, diving again and not very good at it either
and his delivery at set pieces was poor - why doesn't Bannan get an
opportunity to deliver into the box ?
No body has been critical of the younger players today, quite rightly so,
the more senior players need to take more responsibility whilst supposed
first choice guys are sidelined.
I expect Rovers to be struggling this season, they are extremely poor
but on today's performance we could be no better off ourselves
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Showed some good passing at times but it was all in front of them and we didn't look too threatening.
Positives - Dunne looked a lot better than in recent weeks, Hogg looked more comfortable on the ball than last week, Clarke looked decent again, Herd outjumped Samba for a header when he came on 8)
Gave away some stupid free kicks though and Ireland didn't seem to try much. I think we just need to remember that we have a load of injuries to key players and Blackburn is a hard enough place to go with a full strength squad, let alone the one we currently have so to expect a win is ridiculous. Lets face it, we're not going to get into the Champions league this season so we may as well use it to give some of the younger players an extended chance, and in doing that we need to accept that along the way we will lose some games as they learn.
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As soon as I heard Albrighton was out I knew we'd lose. We can't cope with sides like this, especially away from home. Recent performances remind me of DOL's reign - OK going forward but totally useless at retaining the ball and regularly overrun in midfield.
The game against the noses couldn't have come at a worse time. Roll on January...
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Ireland & Pires both made 17 successful passes in the game.
And Pires played for less than half the time Ireland did. Say's it all.
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We're just not ruthless enough.
Look back at all our games this season even Newcastle away when Carew misses the early penalty and we've missed chances at key times that have cost us dearly. Chelsea and Man. United at home, Styoke at 1-0 up and Fulham away, all points that have disappeared.
Downing should have buried that chance at 0-0 no questions asked (played through by a ball from Ireland may I add). We need to get a clincal menality amongst our forward players as we miss too many simple chances.
That and some brain dead play from Stephen Warnock. We've conceded goals at the end of each half regularly in recent weeks, we struggle to defend crosses into the box and Brad had his poorest game for the club today (as bad as Guzan had in the cup game) so what does Warnock decide to do when the clock strikes 46 mins, yep I'll stick a leg out for Diouf to go over. A completely needless free kick we could've done without defending. I'd seriously consider trying to fine players who do these things to try and get the message across as Albrighton was guilty of this at Fulham.
Could've done without this result seeing as we have Arsenal and Liverpool next. As I've said before, I expect us to be bobbling around this sort of position until the new year when hopefully with a few fresh faces and players coming back from injury, we can have a strong second half to the season and get back into the top 8.
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On a slight side issue I can't believe all these posters who are talking about major changes in January transfer window. Do you support a different club? We'll be with this lot (with one or at most two) exceptions til May. And it's not that bad. Deal with it.
If we don't do much business in January, it has nothing to do with this being Aston Villa, it is to do with the fact that it is difficult for any club to do much business in that window.
We don't need wholesale changes, we need to improve the quality of the squad in one or two areas, and bring in cover in others. The cover would be nice to get in January, but the quality players are far more important.
A midfielder and a striker. That'd be a very good return in January and would make all the difference. It'll be difficult but even O'Neill managed to sign that combination in a January window once, so let's not accept it as impossible.
The difference now is that I would bet you a penny to a pound that Houllier is already looking at players to make a move for in January. I bet MON wouldn't even have given it a second thought yet.
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Ireland & Pires both made 17 successful passes in the game.
And Pires played for less than half the time Ireland did. Say's it all.
To be fair, I didn't notice much of Pires. But I only noticed Ireland because he was shit at everything he did.
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All I can say is it was utter crap.
Forget it now and look to Arsenal next week
UTV
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Knowing how Blackburn play if fit i would have played Carlos alongside Dunne to give us better aerial strength. The criticism on here is well over the top, Dunne didn't do anything wrong, Gabby is not a hold up player and is just back from injury, as for Ireland i will remind many on here who wanted Downing sold last year that you can't expect a player to come into a side and adapt straight away its psychological as well as physical. There are players like Hogg who are being given a chance and we will see more of them this season,GH will then move on the players he thinks won't make it. We will need a new left back, I would play Clarke there, Warnock was unproffessional in the way he gave away that freekick he made it personal and it cost us.
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Carlos is injured...
Must say though even though I wasn't a fan of him at RB we are certainly weaker defending high balls at the backpost with him not somewhere in defence.
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Got back ages ago but thought I'd calm down before posting. We were fucking useless IMO and whilst I hate Blackburn for their Hoof and Press game that for me, Newcastle aside, was about our worst performance of the season.
Friedel - 5 - Whoops!
Young (L) - 6 - Solid without really causing any major problems and looked solid defensively.
Dunne - 6 - Thought he was Ok to be honest
Clarke - 6 - Again solid but I think he lacks pace.
Warnock - 6 - He's been better the last few weeks having been absolutely shocking earlier in the season. Stupid stupid challenge on Diuof.
Downing - 6 - Good start but faded from the game. Why he didn't swap to the left god only knows.
Bannan - 7 - MOTM for me. Always wanted the ball, battled gamely and was never out of the game despite being surrounded by normally 4 blue and white orcs.
Hogg - 4 - Sorry but he's not going to make it. He tries but what is he bringing to the side.
Young (A) - 6 - Another frustrating day for Ash as he got fouled constantly and got nothing from the Ref. He needs to find some form just nothing is going for him at the moment.
Ireland - 3 - A fucking disgrace. Minimal applause when he was subbed and quite rightly.
Agbonlahor - 5 - Got muscled out of it by Nelson/Samba after giving Ferdinand/Vidic the runaround last week! Another few examples of not being "aware" for rebounds etc. Not match sharp yet.
Pires/Delf/Herd - Not really on long enough to make a huge difference but all looked at least they were trying.
Subs
Houllier - 6 - Blackburns Hoof and press game is well known and whilst we succeeded in getting the ball down and playing we were at times a bit tippy tappy and lacking in penetration. Persisting with Downing on the right when Salgado was there for the taking was very strange. We looked lightweight and got beaten by an experienced Premier League mid table team. I know the injuries are bad but we needed more "fighters" today.
Forget it, part of the learning curve, move on.
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Three basic observations on the game. Stephen Ireland was abysmal, disinterested and unprofessional as per every performance he's given since he joined, the way I'm feeling now, I never want to see him in a Villa shirt again. Hindsight, but poor decision to sanction the deal with no manager.
Can't see Hogg making it at this level unfortunately and Warnock has been distinctly average now for 18 months. But I feel sorry for Houllier, this is the toughest period I've ever known for injuries at the Villa and we need to tough it out.
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Today's performance really didn't surprise me oddly enough. It's been the same all season really. We play some good stuff at times but the lack of attacking options upfront is really starting to show now as we are just missing that little bit of quality in the final third.
It's going to be a fustrating one this season as we'll show potential to be a great side like Man U last week and utter shite the following week. The january transfer window couldn't come soon enough.
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i didnt think the performance was as bad as some are making out,
but we have absolutley no threat in front of goal, finding players and a killer ball in the final third is a massive problem,
Gabby's first touch was non existant today, that and the service to him was pretty poor,
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I If we were knocking out comfy away wins at places like this we would be on course to win 10 away games a year which would put us top two.
********************************************************************************************Didn't we win 10 away games (or not far off) last season? Actually, I think we've already lost more away games this season than in probably MON's last season and a half here. Pity he was clueless at home. ******************************************************************************************Thanks for tidying-up Legion, I won't post again until this thing is fixed.
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The game may be wasn't the best, but crikey don't we take some idiots to games like Blackburn?
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So depressing and so frustrating. Like Alex, I'm past angry. I just don't understand where this team is at mentally or physically. Someone please help them before I need help.
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The game may be wasn't the best, but crikey don't we take some idiots to games like Blackburn?
Yep, Ireland and Warnock for starters.
*wink*
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The game may be wasn't the best, but crikey don't we take some idiots to games like Blackburn?
Yep, Ireland and Warnock for starters.
I know what you mean paulie, and it's enough to put up with them, without the idiotic suppoters today.
*wink*
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Lets start with the positives and the general case for the defence.
First, we made chances but didn't put them away. We were a bit unlucky too. I mean, how many matches would Brad make an error like that in? Anyone who who is giving him stick for that frankly doesn't have a clue. Even the best drop clangers (Howard, Reina, Cech and Van Der Saar have made worse this season) and he has been excellent this season.
Second, we are suffering a large number of injuries and very few teams could hope to go to Blackburn and win with 10+ senior players out. Even amongst those that made the pitch there wasn't full fitness. Gabby was anonymous because he is not 100% yet.
Third, I've been giving big Dunney a lot of stick the last few weeks but today he was much improved and defended well. Probably our best player today. Downing, Bannan and Luke Young also deserve some praise. Oh and Pires looked okay.
Now some of the bad.
Every fucking week he makes stupid costly fouls like that. It is beyond a joke. I bet as a kid he kept on touching the pan when it was on the hob and burning his hand. He is nowhere near good enough and I hope Houllier knows a good left back. I just cannot believe he is so stupid.
Ash looked bright, but come on the same old petulance, shit attitude and diabolical decision making was in evidence today.
And Ireland... Christ almighty that was just about the second worst performance I've ever seen from the Villa player. He at least made a good pass to Stewie early on to avoid the number one spot. No one can defend that pish today. Ireland post City is a bit like Blanche Dubois towards the end of A Streetcar Named Desire.
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Lets start with the positives and the general case for the defence.
First, we made chances but didn't put them away. We were a bit unlucky too. I mean, how many matches would Brad make an error like that in? Anyone who who is giving him stick for that frankly doesn't have a clue. Even the best drop clangers (Howard, Reina, Cech and Van Der Saar have made worse this season) and he has been excellent this season.
Second, we are suffering a large number of injuries and very few teams could hope to go to Blackburn and win with 10+ senior players out. Even amongst those that made the pitch there wasn't full fitness. Gabby was anonymous because he is not 100% yet.
Third, I've been giving big Dunney a lot of stick the last few weeks but today he was much improved and defended well. Probably our best player today. Downing, Bannan and Luke Young also deserve some praise. Oh and Pires looked okay.
Now some of the bad.
Every fucking week he makes stupid costly fouls like that. It is beyond a joke. I bet as a kid he kept on touching the pan when it was on the hob and burning his hand. He is nowhere near good enough and I hope Houllier knows a good left back. I just cannot believe he is so stupid.
Ash looked bright, but come on the same old petulance, shit attitude and diabolical decision making was in evidence today.
And Ireland... Christ almighty that was just about the second worst performance I've ever seen from the Villa player. He at least made a good pass to Stewie early on to avoid the number one spot. No one can defend that pish today. Ireland post City is a bit like Blanche Dubois towards the end of A Streetcar Named Desire.
I think thats a good summing up. Get over our injuries and we will get there.
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The only thing likely to be more frustrating than the match itself is going to be over emotional wailing on this thread!
Don't bloody read it then. Done.
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I too can't see Hogg making it, tho I didn't think he was as bad as some say. I was a bit concerned that Clark looked composed etc, but also slow and tooeasily turned and outmuscled. Looked better as a holding midfielder which is where I'd play him for now.
Put Collins and NRC in that team and we'd have done much better. Need to stop making stupid mistakes at the back though.
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I too can't see Hogg making it, tho I didn't think he was as bad as some say. I was a bit concerned that Clark looked composed etc, but also slow and tooeasily turned and outmuscled. Looked better as a holding midfielder which is where I'd play him for now.
Put Collins and NRC in that team and we'd have done much better. Need to stop making stupid mistakes at the back though.
Not going to happen with Warnock in the team.
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I think some of the criticism of Ashley Young's performance yesterday has been way over the top. He had three good efforts on goal, including a truly excellent header - there weren't really that many more in the game from us, were there? Overall, I think he's improved over the past few games, with not so many misplaced passes and not so much falling over and moaning. I just hope it's for our benefit and not because he's putting himself in the shop window for Spuds or whoever.
Overall, though, a very poor game indeed yesterday that Blackburn fully deserved to win. Clearly, the injury situation means we've got to use players like Hogg and Ireland, who wouldn't otherwise be in the team at the moment, and I hope that Gabby's performance yesterday was down to simply not being fit.
What particularly worries me is thinking about a week Wednesday. Blackburn were physical, bossed us around in midfield, made the most of the mistakes we made and were very well organised, simply not letting us into their penalty area (with one or two exceptions) in the second half. That all sounds right up Mr McLeish's street for his game plan at the Sty.
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Although we were missing a number of players I would probably have only put Albrighton, Collins and Petrov in if fit, so we should be able to cope better when only missing 3 guys from the 1st 11.
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I agree with The Sandman's summary on page 12
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i really feel for blackburn fans.. having to pay to watch that week in week out... "hoof it upfield, back in, fall over and try an win as many free kicks, corners and throw ins as possible, while standing on the keepers foot.."
its not pretty, and its not subtle, but fair play to them, yesterday it did the business... unfortunately, we got sucked into the same thing for about 25 mins of the first half, and we really dont play that game very well...
our team really misses albrighton... having downing on the right wing is pretty pointless for me, as he keeps cutting in and it slows down any momentum... ireland was awful, and really didnt look interested at all... friedel was abysmal, albeit probaby shaken from the physicality he had to endure all afternoon... agbonlahor did all he could with the very limited service he had, ashley young flattered to decieve more often than not which pretty much seems to be his game these days, warnock and dunne are liabilities, etc etc... barry bannon played well, but needs to cut down some of the hollywood balls... clark did ok, but struggled a little with the physicality of the battle... delfouneso did well when he came on, and showed good alert movement... i think he is starting to look sharper with the more game time he is getting... would like to see him and a fit agbonlahor play as partners...
overall, we simply werent good enough... we improved second half as we passed it along the deck more, and created a few chances, but we didnt supply or support the front man enough, and it was just one of those days where we just wasnt ever going to score...
but, having said that, it is difficult at the moment with the injuries.. o'neill picking his moment to leave when he did to ruin our season and get his media mates to claim he got us playing above ourselves, has caused huge damage to our season... we need more bodies and we need more experience to help the youngsters... i have written off this season and just want to use it as an opportunity to give the kids experience... the game time will help their development no end, and that can only bode well for the future... once houllier has had time to bring in his own players, then we will start to see improvements... we just have to be a little patient...
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Cuellar NRC and Albrighton should all be back next week, add those 3 to the team and it will make a big difference
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Completely missed the game yesterday. Suprised we lost, I expected a minimum of a draw. Sounds like Ireland had a 'mare. What did he do that was so bad.
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Completely missed the game yesterday. Suprised we lost, I expected a minimum of a draw. Sounds like Ireland had a 'mare. What did he do that was so bad.
He actually started off reasonably and made one very decent pass, but seemed to lose confidence as the game went on, opting for safe, square passes rather than taking the ball on himself. Became more and more anonymous and should have been taken off before he actually got substituted. Overall no more than a passenger yesterday, and it showed, as Blackburn totally outmuscled us in midfield.
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My worry is the Christmas period. I think everyone can see what Gerard's working towards and the change in style and shape that has occurred already... But with the current injury list we've too many players who are not capable of playing in the system.
The next 8 league games are a massive worry to me:
Arsenal - H
Liverpool - A
West Brom - H
Wigan - A
Spurs - H
Citeh - A
Chelsea - A
That takes us into the January window.
IMO, Clark, Dunne, Warnock, Hogg, Ireland, Gabby, Delfouneso - are either not ready/good enough/fit enough to be playing for our first team at the moment.
We're fortunate SHA play Fulham and Everton play West Brom next weekend, otherwise we could have found ourselves in the bottom four come next Sunday.
We threw away 3 points against Man Utd and Fulham, I think we'll come to regret that over the next 6 weeks.
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Completely missed the game yesterday. Suprised we lost, I expected a minimum of a draw. Sounds like Ireland had a 'mare. What did he do that was so bad.
He actually started off reasonably and made one very decent pass, but seemed to lose confidence as the game went on, opting for safe, square passes rather than taking the ball on himself. Became more and more anonymous and should have been taken off before he actually got substituted. Overall no more than a passenger yesterday, and it showed, as Blackburn totally outmuscled us in midfield.
I wonder why GH started him? We played so well without him against ManU!!
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Completely missed the game yesterday. Suprised we lost, I expected a minimum of a draw. Sounds like Ireland had a 'mare. What did he do that was so bad.
He actually started off reasonably and made one very decent pass, but seemed to lose confidence as the game went on, opting for safe, square passes rather than taking the ball on himself. Became more and more anonymous and should have been taken off before he actually got substituted. Overall no more than a passenger yesterday, and it showed, as Blackburn totally outmuscled us in midfield.
I wonder why GH started him? We played so well without him against ManU!!
probably to give the lad some game time and a bit of confidence. sounds like it backfired spectacularly
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Injuries, in all honesty. Had Albrighton been fit, I'm sure Houllier would have started him, used Downing wide left and Young just behind Gabby, and Ireland would have been on the bench.
But, given the comments Houllier has made about Ireland against Sunderland: ie, giving the ball away too easily, not playing particularly for the team, it didn't surprise me at all to see Ireland playing safe passes, keeping possession, etc.
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Collins height was missed at the back, would be useful to have him back next week.
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We've struggled all season against sides with a direct approach. We're a soft touch at the moment to sides who throw it into the box. Last season we had the 2 centre backs, Cuellar and either Heskey or Carew to deal with corners etc. We play some decent football going forward but until we sort out the basics we will continue to lose games we should win.
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We played pretty well in periods of that game. The lack of height came back to haunt as I thought it might however.
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We played pretty well in periods of that game. The lack of height came back to haunt as I thought it might however.
The seven dwarves would have had an average height greater than ours yesterday!
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I think you are being a bit harsh on Hogg, i thought he played OK, yday.Granted i don't think he will play when everyone is fit, but he certainly was'nt the worst.
Positives..Dunne had a good game, played football, and defended well, got Ireland off the hook with a superb covering tackle.
Clark.....does lack pace, but seem to get caught out by it.Had a tough opponent in Roberts, but won most of the aeriel battles, and tackles as well.Got caught out once when he got booked.Jones played for them, and apparently is the next England C/H, but he did'nt outshine Clark for me, and Clark is, what ,19?
Bannan....always wanted the ball, always looking for a pass.The best thing about Bannan yday was , even when Pires came on, he still wanted to dictate the game, and not pass the buck.Almost put 2 great balls through.
Downing......probably our most effective attacking player.
Delf.......showed more movement in 10 mins than Gabby did in 80 mins.Gabbys syarting to worry me.
Negatives......Ireland......I really hope he is not fully fit, because his lack of awareness, sharpness, was embaressing tbh.Has a nice little pass, a la Downing, but was far too sluggish.Shape up, or ship out.
Warnock.....grow up, and stop being such a petty little prat.Much better , 2nd half, should show a lot more responsibility.
Gabby....starting to worry me, never had an attempt yday, never looked dangerous, never in a position to follow up shots.Again hope he's not match fit, as i expect a lot more.
AYoung........not sure he's performing to his high standards tbh.The 4 of Gabby, Ireland, Downing and Ash should be more than enough to rip teams like Bburn to shreds, but we did'nt do it enough.
We missed Heskey/Carew, and NRC yday, more than any other game this year.6 away games, 5 defeats.
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For all the negative comments about playing Cuellar at right back, we don't half miss his presence during away games like yesterday.
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I thought Blackburn played their game perfectly. Diof wound up Warnock just enough times, and Warnock duly played into his hands and gave away the free kick. Diouf must have been laughing to himself when that free kick went in. They also roughed up Friedel just enough times, so that when it mattered he was waiting for the shoulder charge, and wasn't concentrating on the flight of the ball.
We need to wise up when it comes to playing against the likes of Blackburn, Stoke, etc, and realise these teams will play these tactics, whether they are successful depends if you let it effect your concentration levels and get sucked in by it all.
The Blouse cup game is going to be more of the same in a more intense atmosphere, we need to learn from this experience.
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For all the negative comments about playing Cuellar at right back, we don't half miss his presence during away games like yesterday.
I'm not sure Cuellar would have improved on anything Young did at RB. Maybe he might have been a bigger presence in the middle alongside Dunne.
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i really feel for blackburn fans.. having to pay to watch that week in week out... "hoof it upfield, back in, fall over and try an win as many free kicks, corners and throw ins as possible, while standing on the keepers foot.."
I don't feel sorry for them, we had our fair share of dull football under O'Neill to contend with.
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Diof wound up Warnock just enough times, and Warnock duly played into his hands and gave away the free kick. Diouf must have been laughing to himself when that free kick went in. They also roughed up Friedel just enough times, so that when it mattered he was waiting for the shoulder charge, and wasn't concentrating on the flight of the ball.
Agree with this, but it says a lot about Allardyce's anti-football tactics where the main aim seems to be 'never mind the ball, let's get onwith the game'. Diouf charges into the keeper every game and almost always seems to get away with it.
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I've finally thawed out from yesterday. Firstly, Ireland. I'm going to give him the slight benefit of the doubt here because he did'nt seem to have a clue where he was supposed to be playing. I can only presume him and Gabby were meant to be joining in with the attack and other than Ashley hitting the bar, it did'nt really happen. What should have happennd is Ashley playing out wide and Ireland behind Gabby.
The other problem we had was having two forward thinking midfielders in Ireland and Bannan which only left Hogg to do the untidy work and at the moment, he's too lightweight a player for that, especially against the likes of Blackburn. Besides, it seems to take him a good 45 minutes to get into the game. Yesterday i think Herd (who looked baulkier) or even Osbourne may have been a better choice in the middle.
A game to forget but as poor as we were, it would'nt surprise me if we payed a blinder against Arsenal this weekend.
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For all the negative comments about playing Cuellar at right back, we don't half miss his presence during away games like yesterday.
I'd sooner see him at right back than Warnock at left back. Sadly, more a comment on Warnock than Carlos as fullbacks.
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As I said earlier in the thread, I think we'll actually do much better against Arsenal than Blackburn. It's a shame that our more experienced players let us down.
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What were the claret shorts all about? Isn't that why we have an away kit?!