Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on September 30, 2011, 08:08:12 PM
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Available Saturday evening.
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One thing to say - Amazing Gabby. We would not have scored goals without his workeffort.
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Great performance Gabby. Well done, good to win.
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Great result ! Maybe now we can start to believe in ourselves a bit more
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Gabby and Given are going to make a huge difference this season. Much better performance and result, in a game we should always win.
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Just need to maintain form now. get away from the lower end and stay away. Stiffer tests coming along though.
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Finally we beat Wigan at home.
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Just had a text from Villadawg, apparently we're unbeaten, 6th in the league and fighting it out for the Champions League places.
Good result but still plenty to work on.
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Missed Ireland when he went off.
Played some good football at times, as did Wigan to be fair.We need to find a system that will accomodate Bannan and Ireland imho, whether that includes Petrov and/or Delph, we will have to see.
Did'nt think Hutton was as bad as some people on here were suggesting.
Gabby was dangerous because Bannan and Ireland played, they both look to release him sooner than previous midfielders.
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Gabby amazing
Bannan quality
Defence solid bar Hutton who is shit!
Ireland useless
Overall a good win but a few too many long balls.
UTV!
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Boooo...bring back Heskey, he's a better scapegoat than Hutton. He isn't great, but I thought he was steady today. Nevermind what the commentators said, never a penalty, and he made some good tackles. Good performance overall for the team, a lot more imagination and looked like everyone to a man was working their socks off. Good result, and puts a smile on my face for the rest of the weekend. Job done.
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More like it. If we can get Jenas' experience alongside Stan in CM, then it should free up Ireland and Bannan more. Delph's just a bit out of his depth at the moment. But certainly, there's signs that Ireland could be a success here after all.
Once again though, Given and Gabby were excellent. Bent needed a goal too. Getting service helps of course and he could have had 1-2 more today with a little more luck.
I'm still torn as to whether we're heading in the right direction, or we're gonna show our true mediocrity when up against decent opposition. Wigan are poor, as were Blackburn. I'd like to think that we'll up our game against better sides, and that also, playing more as a counter attacking side will suit us, as it did for O Neill.
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good showings from Collins and Dunne....Given and Gabby both outstanding, the rest apart from Bannon and Bent, mediocre. Good win and another 3 points, cant see us getting anything from Citeh, in fact i fear a good thumping.Enjoy being 6th whilst we can.
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Great effort today, very proud of the boys. A clean sheet, no cards, and an attacking formation! I never thought I'd see the day. Gabby and Bannan were the two difference makers for me, they can both of motm honors from me. To see Gabby link up with Bent was great, and it's about time. Also glad to see Bent finally get one in front of the Holte.
up the villa.
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Pleased. Given looks excellent. I can't believe some thought it was a bad signing!
Not sure about the formation but it was encouraging to see Ireland and Bannan in midfield for reasons of creativity.
I thought Bannan looked really good. Composed, inventive, confident, played some really good balls: Bent's headed chance, Gabby's goal, Bent's missed opportunity on his left foot.
Gabby has to be MOTM though. He really looks a menace again, but I really think he's worked on his quality on the ball. I won't overdo it, but he looks really good.
Delph had a poor game though didn't he. Some good moments, but rather than poor technique it was continued atrocious decision making that frustrated.
Hutton looks ropey.
Bent was a danger, but his touch can be shit can't it?
And let's not get too excited. We've won 2 games, against teams who will be there or there abouts in the relegation shake up.
I thought Wigan were really crap.
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Delph had a poor game though didn't he. Some good moments, but rather than poor technique it was continued atrocious decision making that frustrated.
Agree with this about his decision making, although he seems to have a decent footballing brain - covers well and good anticipation. What really lights my fuse is the way he goes to the deck in the tackle so much.
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Decent performance, although we lost our way a little bit when Ireland went off in terms of creativity. Delph is naive at times but he'll only get better by playing more games.
Defence looked mostly solid and Given was there when called upon.
Gabby was absolutely awesome, excellent play down the flanks, some dribbling, great goal and great work for the second.
Bent scored at the Holte End and we beat Wigan at home, both rare events!
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A win is a win, on the stream we looked very attack minded until the 2nd goal went in, then in time honoured fashion he looked to shore things up and took off any creativity we had. It's a good win as any is at this level I just wish he would stop being so cautious when we are on the up. No way they would have got back into the game whatever formation he went with after the 2nd goal.
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Decent performance, although we lost our way a little bit when Ireland went off in terms of creativity. Delph is naive at times but he'll only get better by playing more games.
Defence looked mostly solid and Given was there when called upon.
Gabby was absolutely awesome, excellent play down the flanks, some dribbling, great goal and great work for the second.
Bent scored at the Holte End and we beat Wigan at home, both rare events!
Rare? thats a first on both counts :)
Given really looks so much better in defence than Friedel. I think that is one main reason why last years defence looks so much better now. (though have my doubts about Hutton)
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I enjoyed the game today, so that's a bit of an improvement in itself. And it's down to the fact that we played a much more creative game today, and passed the ball around nicely. No coincidence that we can manage that with Bannan and Ireland in the team, so I hope that we can keep that going (at home, anyway).
No real disasters in the team today, Delph looked a bit ropey and Hutton was careless in the first half, but overall a good performance.
And a special mention for Agbonlahor, who looks like he is thoroughly enjoying his football at the moment. He is right in form, and when that's the case, he is an excellent player. Brilliant stuff from him today.
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On a rare Wigan breakaway - Moses was looking a danger....
... but having parted the Red Sea many years ago ....
he failed to get past Dunne and Heskey!
I thought it was funny.....
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Faultless display from Given. I think his outstanding form gives the whole defence so much more confidence.
Gabby was the other stand-out performance for me. Could it be that the departure of Young and Downing has encouraged him to step up a gear.
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A good result and a good performance.
Ireland played well I thought. I'm not having any of this useless crap. He gets well in advance of the forward and keeps the ball moving, a few poor iffy decisions, when he was caught in two minds, but he’s certainly looking more likely.
Bannan is impressive as ever, the defence solid and Gabby, just class.
I’m struggling to think of a game that I’ve been hotter at too, crazy weather.
Good stuff Villa.
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Very happy with the result and overall performance. Bannan aside, still concerned about the midfield. Delph makes too many mistakes and as much as he is still learning his craft, his errors today against a better team would have been very costly. Especially the give away in the first half leading to a Di Santo shot. Ireland was good until his injury forced him off, but he's still not anything close to his best. Hopefully Jenas will be available next week, but we do need a solid midfielder to shore up the middle. No issues with the two star lads up front or the best keeper in the PL.
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Ireland useless
Don't know what game you were watching, Ireland played pretty well I thought, easily his best performance in a Villa shirt.
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Gabby was the other stand-out performance for me. Could it be that the departure of Young and Downing has encouraged him to step up a gear.
Whatever it is, he has matured considerably and we have a very valuable asset on our hands. Let us hope that this improvement continues and we can retain him.
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Ireland useless
Don't know what game you were watching, Ireland played pretty well I thought, easily his best performance in a Villa shirt.
..as demonstrated by the ovation that he got when he went off.
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Faultless display from Given. I think his outstanding form gives the whole defence so much more confidence.
Gabby was the other stand-out performance for me. Could it be that the departure of Young and Downing has encouraged him to step up a gear.
Maybe he fancies a move away too .
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Ireland useless
Don't know what game you were watching, Ireland played pretty well I thought, easily his best performance in a Villa shirt.
not really difficult though.
I thought Ireland was just slight less shit than normal.
Gabby was unplayable.
Probably the best performance I have ever seen from him.
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Ireland was good today. He is clever and plays very intelligent balls/chips etc. Our front two learn to play with him and that will make us more dangerous attacking team.
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Hutton and Delph are awful. If McLeish is meant to pick on current form then he should drop them 2 in the next game.
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Ireland useless
Don't know what game you were watching, Ireland played pretty well I thought, easily his best performance in a Villa shirt.
..as demonstrated by the ovation that he got when he went off.
Might be my imagination, but I thought Ireland looked genuinely surprised and really chuffed when he got that applause! Hope it spurs him on, he played well today, he and Bannan were on the same wavelength throughout.
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Ireland was good today. He is clever and plays very intelligent balls/chips etc. Our front two learn to play with him and that will make us more dangerous attacking team.
Yup, did Ireland play the ball through for Bent's lob that was offside? He does like to keep the ball moving, some nice one touch play.
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Faultless display from Given. I think his outstanding form gives the whole defence so much more confidence.
Gabby was the other stand-out performance for me. Could it be that the departure of Young and Downing has encouraged him to step up a gear.
Maybe he fancies a move away too .
He's Villa for life.
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Ireland was good today. He is clever and plays very intelligent balls/chips etc. Our front two learn to play with him and that will make us more dangerous attacking team.
Yup, did Ireland play the ball through for Bent's lob that was offside? He does like to keep the ball moving, some nice one touch play.
Him and Bannan are two schemers. We actually look likely going through the middle now.
I heard people on the radio having a bit of a gripe for how we were happy to settle at 2-0. I'd venture it had more to do with it being 84 degrees out there. I was knackered in the second hal just watching it.
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The most important thing is we needed a win and we got one, and if Al Habsi hadn't been as outstanding it could easily have been 3 or 4 nil - the save from Petrov's shot was absolutely top drawer.
Gabby was absolutely outstanding today. Great goal, set up Bent's, should have had one in the first half, and hit the bar (probably meant as a cross tbf) in the second half. Looks to be really enjoying his football again under McLeish. Thought the defence was solid although still not convinced by Hutton. Given continues to prove we got the bargain of the century getting one of the best GK's in the PL for a pittance. Thought Bannan and Ireland were good, Petrov solid, and Delph showed some nice touches (though poor decision making a couple of times) and I still think he'll be a really good player in a year or so.
Not impressed with N'Zogbia or Heskey when they came on. Weimann should have scored but scuffed his shot at the keeper. Was a bit baffled by the substitutions at the time but I heard McLeish on WM the way back and apparently Gabby had a back strain, and Ireland had a knock. Didn't say why he took Bent off - maybe to prevent risk to further groin strain? He also said Jenas is out for another 4 weeks with an achilles injury - has he come here just to use our outstanding medical facilities?
On the downside - disappointing to concede so much possession and also concerned by the lack of width, but we've lost our best wide players, N'Zogbia hasn't delivered, and I think we're very much a work in progress this season. Crowd (30,700-odd) very disappointing especially given the special offers and a sunny day. And talking of sunny days I confirmed today that the official melting point of CJ's fat head is 29 degrees C
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I think the report done by the BBC tonight on there match report summed it up beautifully, the comment being " Now Villa know what they where missing all last season", got it in one, yes we lost to of our better players in the transfer window, but no way did we lose our best player at the club, Gabriel Agbonlahor, awesome.
Stunning goal, absolute perfection.
On another occasion showed his close ball skills ripping apart 3 Wigan defenders in 1 hit and only just narrowly missed the right side of the Wigan goal.
On another occasion, forced out wide right he looks up and has the foresight to test the keeper from way out wide and he hit the bar, had the keeper not got his hand to it another goal.
Most of all to me, Gabby at his supreme best, he's around the half way line loses possession, but as the ball runs lose to a Wigan player, Gabby with incredible speed and presence, is right back at the Wigan player taking back possession, and what we see then you can only sympathise with the Wigan defender that has to try and track Gabby back a full half the pitch, lost the battle and Gabby put a cross in that a blind dog could have scored from.
Ashley Young, Stuart Downing, get in front the box and give yourselves a lesson in pure wing play......
Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
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Much better.
Gabby and Bannan excellent, Ireland very good. Cannot believe that some can slate him today. Their obviously not big fans of keeping the ball and finding space.
I will definitely warm to Mcleish if he continues to play Bannan and Ireland in the same team.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
Toronto, to early, If you'd have taken Gabby out of that team i dread to think how it would have turned out, Gabby has been here since day 1, McLiesh just got of the bus, what I will give McLiesh credit for is that he's not as stupid as Houllier is.
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McLeish is getting the best out of Gabby. He deserves a lot of credit for that.
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Gabby was outstanding today - like a likeable Drogba. Brilliant.
Bannan is going to be a very, very good player.
Enjoyed the game on the whole.
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Faultless display from Given. I think his outstanding form gives the whole defence so much more confidence.
Gabby was the other stand-out performance for me. Could it be that the departure of Young and Downing has encouraged him to step up a gear.
Maybe he fancies a move away too .
He's Villa for life.
I can comfortably say that Agbonlahor will never leave Villa.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
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Oh and Delph, there's definitely a cracking player in there. Give him time.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
Toronto, to early, If you'd have taken Gabby out of that team i dread to think how it would have turned out, Gabby has been here since day 1, McLiesh just got of the bus, what I will give McLiesh credit for is that he's not as stupid as Houllier is.
Just to add to this performance of gabby's today and to get this into context.
This season alone, v QPR he earns us the penalty to give us the draw, fantastic performance v Blackburn, got us the point v Newcastle, you could go on and on but one things for sure, just how much credit is due to Gabby the fact we are in 6th place tonight.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
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McLeish is getting the best out of Gabby. He deserves a lot of credit for that.
Gabby has been fantastic for seasons, he's just developing, it was only Houllier that put a hold on it.
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I think the report done by the BBC tonight on there match report summed it up beautifully, the comment being " Now Villa know what they where missing all last season", got it in one, yes we lost to of our better players in the transfer window, but no way did we lose our best player at the club, Gabriel Agbonlahor, awesome.
Stunning goal, absolute perfection.
On another occasion showed his close ball skills ripping apart 3 Wigan defenders in 1 hit and only just narrowly missed the right side of the Wigan goal.
On another occasion, forced out wide right he looks up and has the foresight to test the keeper from way out wide and he hit the bar, had the keeper not got his hand to it another goal.
Most of all to me, Gabby at his supreme best, he's around the half way line loses possession, but as the ball runs lose to a Wigan player, Gabby with incredible speed and presence, is right back at the Wigan player taking back possession, and what we see then you can only sympathise with the Wigan defender that has to try and track Gabby back a full half the pitch, lost the battle and Gabby put a cross in that a blind dog could have scored from.
Ashley Young, Stuart Downing, get in front the box and give yourselves a lesson in pure wing play......
Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
You're either his agent or Charisma.
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Gabby looked a bit sullen when McL patted on head at end of game. No response whatsoever just waked on as if McL not there!
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A very good day. More of those please, Villa. Well done, Gabby. Every club needs a stalwart local lad.
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McLeish is getting the best out of Gabby. He deserves a lot of credit for that.
Gabby has been fantastic for seasons, he's just developing, it was only Houllier that put a hold on it.
Gabby is always learning and adding to his game, but only O'Neill got anything from him and now McLeish is. Good management is getting the best out of players.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
Both.........
Gabby Agbonlahor was the solitary difference today, outside of him i thought we where average, we shared possession and in fact Wigan looked far more comfortable on the ball, and I would have said attacked with some fluidity, take Gabby out of that Aston Villa side today and you had to very even sides, which IMO is worrying, wait till we play quality like the Mancs
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I like 2-0. 2-0 is my favourite result. In an ideal world 2-0 with the opposition not getting a touch for the last ten minutes, with Villa playing the ball round their own half and everyone in the Holte end gossiping and telling jokes.
That is my perfect matchday experience.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
When Gabby comes out and says he owes it all to Mcleish, thn fair enough. But until then don't give Mcleish credit for something he may not have done.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
Both.........
Gabby Agbonlahor was the solitary difference today, outside of him i thought we where average, we shared possession and in fact Wigan looked far more comfortable on the ball, and I would have said attacked with some fluidity, take Gabby out of that Aston Villa side today and you had to very even sides, which IMO is worrying, wait till we play quality like the Mancs
Gabby was excellent, but I cannot agree with the rest. We easily dominated them and should have won by 3 or 4.
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Gabby was brilliant. Ireland, Bent and Given also played well. The rest were solid, with the exception of Delph, who did not impress. All in all a great 3 points.
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I like 2-0. 2-0 is my favourite result. In an ideal world 2-0 with the opposition not getting a touch for the last ten minutes, with Villa playing the ball round their own half and everyone in the Holte end gossiping and telling jokes.
That is my perfect matchday experience.
Absolutely agree.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
When Gabby comes out and says he owes it all to Mcleish, thn fair enough. But until then don't give Mcleish credit for something he may not have done.
Of course he doesn't owe it to McLiesh, Gabby has been at this for ages, the thing i love most about Gabby is you just don't know what the next flavour in the chocolate box is, such as his ball control today, his touch on the ball his awareness out wide, when he's not suppose to have a football brain, have a terrible first touch, and the biggest laugh of all, don't know if anybody heard this, but he's not a natural footballer......the reason he can do this is because he's always had it in his locker, if he was playing for Utd or Arsenal or Cheslea he'd be covering the tabloids front and back with Roooooooney!!!!!!
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I think the report done by the BBC tonight on there match report summed it up beautifully, the comment being " Now Villa know what they where missing all last season", got it in one, yes we lost to of our better players in the transfer window, but no way did we lose our best player at the club, Gabriel Agbonlahor, awesome.
Stunning goal, absolute perfection.
On another occasion showed his close ball skills ripping apart 3 Wigan defenders in 1 hit and only just narrowly missed the right side of the Wigan goal.
On another occasion, forced out wide right he looks up and has the foresight to test the keeper from way out wide and he hit the bar, had the keeper not got his hand to it another goal.
Most of all to me, Gabby at his supreme best, he's around the half way line loses possession, but as the ball runs lose to a Wigan player, Gabby with incredible speed and presence, is right back at the Wigan player taking back possession, and what we see then you can only sympathise with the Wigan defender that has to try and track Gabby back a full half the pitch, lost the battle and Gabby put a cross in that a blind dog could have scored from.
Ashley Young, Stuart Downing, get in front the box and give yourselves a lesson in pure wing play......
Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
You're either his agent or Charisma.
Agent incognito
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Still unbeaten in the league! Yay!
Was working today so had to make do with the BBC Sport website; seemed a comfortable win and some good performances from Bannan, Ireland and Bent to go with an outstanding performance from Gabby.
Well done you Villa boys and well done Big Eck!
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
When Gabby comes out and says he owes it all to Mcleish, thn fair enough. But until then don't give Mcleish credit for something he may not have done.
are you for real? its a two way thing. If the player is doing well, credit is due to the manager. Because he is the one installing the confidence in the player, training the player and giving him advice on a daily basis. he is the one playing him, putting him in a formation that plays to his strengths and using a style of fottball that does the same. On a good day for our club why be negative? the bucks stops with the manager so if the club does well the manager deserves praise
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A nice comfortable 2-0 win, still unbeaten in the league, boiling hot weather, and a 10p lolly from the corner shop on the way back to the car after the game. Job done. I've had worse days.
UTV
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I've just realised we don't play again for 2 weeks...
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
When Gabby comes out and says he owes it all to Mcleish, thn fair enough. But until then don't give Mcleish credit for something he may not have done.
are you for real? its a two way thing. If the player is doing well, credit is due to the manager. Because he is the one installing the confidence in the player, training the player and giving him advice on a daily basis. he is the one playing him, putting him in a formation that plays to his strengths and using a style of fottball that does the same. On a good day for our club why be negative? the bucks stops with the manager so if the club does well the manager deserves praise
Don't waste your breath. Some are so dead set against the manager, short on him bringing home the World Cup everything he does will be eyed with complete cyncism. Nobody said that Gabby's form is all down to McLeish. But to dismiss that the manager might have had any positive influence on the player is because they have their own anti-McLeish agenda.
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Just a shame we sat back for the last 20 mins instead of putting a turgid wigan to the sword,or is that a bit fantasy football ?
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
Both.........
Gabby Agbonlahor was the solitary difference today, outside of him i thought we where average, we shared possession and in fact Wigan looked far more comfortable on the ball, and I would have said attacked with some fluidity, take Gabby out of that Aston Villa side today and you had to very even sides, which IMO is worrying, wait till we play quality like the Mancs
Mate, before being worried maybe think about this: football is a team game and a season is very long. Maybe Gabby was the difference today but that is not saying that next week Given wont be the difference and the week after that Darren Bent or the defence having a great game as a unit. Tbh, as long as someone is stepping up and making the difference we will do well. its when nobody is stepping up and making a difference that you need to start worrying
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Faultless display from Given. I think his outstanding form gives the whole defence so much more confidence.
Gabby was the other stand-out performance for me. Could it be that the departure of Young and Downing has encouraged him to step up a gear.
Maybe he fancies a move away too .
He's Villa for life.
I can comfortably say that Agbonlahor will never leave Villa.
I hope ye are both right.
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Some people seem to be taking a very peculiar line of argument here. A significant number of people on this forum felt that following his form last season Gabby did not deserve to be in the team and it is not entirely unlikely that a new manager coming in would have felt the same way. Last season Gabby looked shorn of confidence and fitness but this season he looks like a different player. Surely the manager deserves some praise for doing that as much as Houllier deserved criticism for how bad he was last year? Much like Ireland, Warnock and Dunne all seem to be better players under him.
I'd go as far as to say that Gabby looks better than ever this season. His all round play looks much better (not that it was bad before) and he is on a good run in front of goal (he has done before but the question is whether he can sustain this). Some of the credit should be with the player but some definitely should be given to the manager for unlocking the form and confidence. If managers did not do that then there would be no point having one.
People are very quick to criticise McLeish for things that he has done badly such as a pair of signings that have as of yet failed to fire and some negative tactics but refuse to acknowledge the improvement he has engineered in some of the players as well as making an excellent signing in Given. I also note that one or two posters who were making a lot of negative noises on the match thread disappeared very quickly after the first goal and haven't been heard from since.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
When Gabby comes out and says he owes it all to Mcleish, thn fair enough. But until then don't give Mcleish credit for something he may not have done.
are you for real? its a two way thing. If the player is doing well, credit is due to the manager. Because he is the one installing the confidence in the player, training the player and giving him advice on a daily basis. he is the one playing him, putting him in a formation that plays to his strengths and using a style of fottball that does the same. On a good day for our club why be negative? the bucks stops with the manager so if the club does well the manager deserves praise
Don't waste your breath. Some are so dead set against the manager, short on him bringing home the World Cup everything he does will be eyed with complete cyncism. Nobody said that Gabby's form is all down to McLeish. But to dismiss that the manager might have had any positive influence on the player is because they have their own anti-McLeish agenda.
It just amazes me. The last 2 games i have been to were bolton and newcastle - neither of which were pleasurable games (I will always love going to the match as a whole, there are not many better ways to spend a day out in my opinion) but...I have also seen the wolves and QPR games on tv and if i take all of them together I can see things going in the right direction. FFS, look at the league position, look at the players who are now back on track that were previously road kill and look at the parameters he is being asked to work within. I just wish the anti mcleish b**shit would stop now...
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
Both.........
Gabby Agbonlahor was the solitary difference today, outside of him i thought we where average, we shared possession and in fact Wigan looked far more comfortable on the ball, and I would have said attacked with some fluidity, take Gabby out of that Aston Villa side today and you had to very even sides, which IMO is worrying, wait till we play quality like the Mancs
Mate, before being worried maybe think about this: football is a team game and a season is very long. Maybe Gabby was the difference today but that is not saying that next week Given wont be the difference and the week after that Darren Bent or the defence having a great game as a unit. Tbh, as long as someone is stepping up and making the difference we will do well. its when nobody is stepping up and making a difference that you need to start worrying
Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
So the players play badly, its McLeish's fault. They play well and its just a coincidence.
And you have the nads to suggest others are talking bollocks?
Both.........
Gabby Agbonlahor was the solitary difference today, outside of him i thought we where average, we shared possession and in fact Wigan looked far more comfortable on the ball, and I would have said attacked with some fluidity, take Gabby out of that Aston Villa side today and you had to very even sides, which IMO is worrying, wait till we play quality like the Mancs
Mate, before being worried maybe think about this: football is a team game and a season is very long. Maybe Gabby was the difference today but that is not saying that next week Given wont be the difference and the week after that Darren Bent or the defence having a great game as a unit. Tbh, as long as someone is stepping up and making the difference we will do well. its when nobody is stepping up and making a difference that you need to start worrying
Worth listening to both managers reports, both are singing from the same hymn sheet, McLiesh is saying Wigan got control of the game in parts and had lots of possession, Martinez is saying they made silly mistakes, and he felt should have done better and could have done better, when i say worrying, concern would be a better word, because when we come up against quality sides then is where we will be tested.
The stats confirm just how close it actually was in spite of the 2 goals which is the point i was making.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/15045618.stm
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Not sure about the stats but I thought we were comfortably the better team, made all the best chances and on another day would've won 4 or 5 nil. They never once looked like scoring.
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Not sure about the stats but I thought we were comfortably the better team, made all the best chances and on another day would've won 4 or 5 nil. They never once looked like scoring.
They where dire in front of goal, worse than I thought they would be, they are without doubt relegation fodder IMO, simply because they can't get anywhere near the opposition goal, get something like 10 corners and how many free kicks?????and never really threaten once.......
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We scored twice, hit the crossbar and Al-Habsi made 2 or 3 high quality saves. We could easily have had 4 or 5.
I can only remember Given having to make one notable save, late on with a deflected shot.
Not exactly what i'd call close.
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"when i say worrying, concern would be a better word, because when we come up against quality sides then is where we will be tested."
Villanation,
So you're basically saying that Villa will find it harder against better teams?
I don't think many will disagree with you.
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Not sure about the stats but I thought we were comfortably the better team, made all the best chances and on another day would've won 4 or 5 nil. They never once looked like scoring.
They where dire in front of goal, worse than I thought they would be, they are without doubt relegation fodder IMO, simply because they can't get anywhere near the opposition goal, get something like 10 corners and how many free kicks?????and never really threaten once.......
We will have stronger tests (none more so than the next game) no doubt, but as PeterwithesShin said, many chances for us, none of any note for them. Comfortable win. Enjoy it!
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Faultless display from Given. I think his outstanding form gives the whole defence so much more confidence.
Gabby was the other stand-out performance for me. Could it be that the departure of Young and Downing has encouraged him to step up a gear.
Maybe he fancies a move away too .
He's Villa for life.
I can comfortably say that Agbonlahor will never leave Villa.
If he does, I will.
(Only joking).
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Some people seem to be taking a very peculiar line of argument here. A significant number of people on this forum felt that following his form last season Gabby did not deserve to be in the team and it is not entirely unlikely that a new manager coming in would have felt the same way. Last season Gabby looked shorn of confidence and fitness but this season he looks like a different player. Surely the manager deserves some praise for doing that as much as Houllier deserved criticism for how bad he was last year? Much like Ireland, Warnock and Dunne all seem to be better players under him.
I'd go as far as to say that Gabby looks better than ever this season. His all round play looks much better (not that it was bad before) and he is on a good run in front of goal (he has done before but the question is whether he can sustain this). Some of the credit should be with the player but some definitely should be given to the manager for unlocking the form and confidence. If managers did not do that then there would be no point having one.
People are very quick to criticise McLeish for things that he has done badly such as a pair of signings that have as of yet failed to fire and some negative tactics but refuse to acknowledge the improvement he has engineered in some of the players as well as making an excellent signing in Given. I also note that one or two posters who were making a lot of negative noises on the match thread disappeared very quickly after the first goal and haven't been heard from since.
Houllier was weird, simple as, he frooze players out, he outed players publicly, he did frightening things like at the Liverpool game, the tunnel incident which would have had a profound effect on the squad, Gabby spent a good part of last season either injured or coming back from and even then spent time on the bench, Dunne was out of sync, players couldn't wait to get away from the club.
I'm not rubbishing McLiesh but I'm certainly not saying he's getting this right at this point because as sure as night follows day we will come up against a team like Man City and the teams real flaws will stand out like a sore thumb and rather than make rash statements now only to revisit them 2 weeks from now when we may be looking at a different scenario and everybody will be saying what a tosser he is, I won't be, more a reality check.
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I love Gabby. All he has ever needed is a manager prepared to believe in him and play to his strengths.
He also finally has a strike partner who understands how partnership works. I hope he totally eclipses pisshead Carroll this season.
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Yes, Damon me too although that would result in a media rush for Gabby to join the army of darkness in the league of almost champions.
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I love Gabby. All he has ever needed is a manager prepared to believe in him and play to his strengths.
He also finally has a strike partner who understands how partnership works. I hope he totally eclipses pisshead Carroll this season.
Well said Damon. I too am a big admirer of Gabby's, and I always thought that both he and Bent could perform extremely well playing up front together. I mean, you've got two excellent strikers, so why WOULDN'T you play them together? I haven't seen any of the match by the way, and am now patiently awaiting the game on both Sky and Match of the Day.
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When Gabby comes out and says he owes it all to Mcleish, thn fair enough. But until then don't give Mcleish credit for something he may not have done.
Whatever has happened, Gabby was out of sorts last season and looked a shadow of his former self. This season he has sharpened up, looks fitter and quicker than ever and is playing with an assurance that I have not seen before.
I put this down to (i) poor management last season, (ii) the departure of two billy-big-bollox players, and perhaps (iii) an empathic management that is working with him and seeking to make him feel good about things.
I'd suggest we not disparage McGinge whilst the team is still developing on his watch.
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Whilst this result - and performance - was welcome, I can't help feeling that we'd better get a whole lot tighter through the middle against the better teams: whether this means forfeiting SI or BB in favour of a more tenacious player or wehther it measn Del;ph gives way, I'm not sure. But Petrov will not do it on his own.
Mentioning Petrov, I do think he's been very good so far this season; not just the quality of his shooting but his general play has been excellent.
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I love Gabby. All he has ever needed is a manager prepared to believe in him and play to his strengths.
He also finally has a strike partner who understands how partnership works. I hope he totally eclipses pisshead Carroll this season.
Well said Damon. I too am a big admirer of Gabby's, and I always thought that both he and Bent could perform extremely well playing up front together. I mean, you've got two excellent strikers, so why WOULDN'T you play them together? I haven't seen any of the match by the way, and am now patiently awaiting the game on both Sky and Match of the Day.
I missed it too. Did they play as a traditional two?
I must admit that I did not think it would work, but I'm delighted to be proved wrong if that is the case.
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I love Gabby. All he has ever needed is a manager prepared to believe in him and play to his strengths.
He also finally has a strike partner who understands how partnership works. I hope he totally eclipses pisshead Carroll this season.
Well said Damon. I too am a big admirer of Gabby's, and I always thought that both he and Bent could perform extremely well playing up front together. I mean, you've got two excellent strikers, so why WOULDN'T you play them together? I haven't seen any of the match by the way, and am now patiently awaiting the game on both Sky and Match of the Day.
I missed it too. Did they play as a traditional two?
I must admit that I did not think it would work, but I'm delighted to be proved wrong if that is the case.
You see, I don't think so. Gabby drifted much more, especially wide left, whereas Bent moved around the penalty box area more. In that way I think it's more that we had one striker and one support striker.
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Maybe if Gabby had scored against France under 18's and under 16's as much as he did against SHA then Houllier would have had the clues that AM had that he's not a bad player if you actually select him. I seem to remember an interview shortly after McLeish took over and he was being asked about individual players. With a wry smile, he admitted he was aware of what Gabby could do. As for Shay Given, I always thought that was as close to a guaranteed good signing as they come.
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As an aside, from where I was sat it seemed the police and stewards were being rather forceful in making people sit down in the Lower North today. Did anyone else notice?
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I am a bit myopic when it comes to tactics, all I would say is that Bent seems a very generous player for a goalscorer. If he likes Gabby, and I think he does, he will do his best by him.
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Just a shame we sat back for the last 20 mins instead of putting a turgid wigan to the sword,or is that a bit fantasy football ?
I agree with you about the last 20 minutes. I really wanted us to push on, even with the three points already in the bag, a little exercise in ball retention wouldn't have gone amiss; practice makes perfect.
As for Wigan, despite losing their best two players, Martinez still has a very well drilled side, even if they are a bit toothless up front. They move the ball around very well, they just lack a decent striker. Man United made very hard work today beating Norwich and could easily have been on the end of an embarrassing result. The point is there are very few poor teams in the Premier League and unless you've a squad like Man City, there's always the chance of an upset against so-called lesser teams.
Wigan 'turgid'? I wish we could pass the ball around like them at times.
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I think the report done by the BBC tonight on there match report summed it up beautifully, the comment being " Now Villa know what they where missing all last season", got it in one, yes..
..a defence.
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Villanation - What's all this crap that we're going to get found out against good sides. Is this just logical? I mean, even when we peaked under MON we got tonked 3-0 by Arsenal, hammered at Chelsea, and we've managed 1 win against Utd in about 15 years or more. Therefore, I don't see how your argument makes sense. Most fans accept we're playing for a top half finish and anything else is a bonus. To achieve that is not going to hinge on how we fare against the 'big boys' and I'm sure there will be some horrible days this season but that's football. Who'd have thought Utd would put 8 past Arsenal?
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I think the departure of Young has given Gabby a new lease of life, he seems a different player. Hungry, speedy and strong. His cross for the 2nd goal was just brilliant, win it, lose it, win it again, burst down the wing and fire it it for the reliable Bent to net. More of that please.
However, we don't look anything like the finished article, the midfield needs sorting, even though we are showing more positivity.... but the main thing is, although we are not firing on all cylinders we're still unbeaten.
Great day.
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Gabby for England?
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Whilst this result - and performance - was welcome, I can't help feeling that we'd better get a whole lot tighter through the middle against the better teams: whether this means forfeiting SI or BB in favour of a more tenacious player or wehther it measn Del;ph gives way, I'm not sure. But Petrov will not do it on his own.
Mentioning Petrov, I do think he's been very good so far this season; not just the quality of his shooting but his general play has been excellent.
Petrov, in my opinion, is one of the reasons for us not being as attack minded as we could be. He slows the play down far too much. Many times Bannan and Ireland moved into a great position in between Wigan players, but he misses it and goes backwards/sidewards, which then results in a hoof up front.
If we are to improve, Petrov needs to be moved aside, for Bannan to start in his position in the middle.
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Well, at least we look hard to beat which is already an improvement on last season. It's not going to happen overnight.
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Whilst this result - and performance - was welcome, I can't help feeling that we'd better get a whole lot tighter through the middle against the better teams: whether this means forfeiting SI or BB in favour of a more tenacious player or wehther it measn Del;ph gives way, I'm not sure. But Petrov will not do it on his own.
Mentioning Petrov, I do think he's been very good so far this season; not just the quality of his shooting but his general play has been excellent.
Petrov, in my opinion, is one of the reasons for us not being as attack minded as we could be. He slows the play down far too much. Many times Bannan and Ireland moved into a great position in between Wigan players, but he misses it and goes backwards/sidewards, which then results in a hoof up front.
If we are to improve, Petrov needs to be moved aside, for Bannan to start in his position in the middle.
I think Delph needs to move aside before Petrov is ousted.
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As easy as it's been for us this season (excluding Blackburn, obviously).
We played some good stuff, we played some bad stuff, but always looked, reasonably, in control.
Gabby played really well. Bannan also played well.
Delph on the left? Think again please Alex.
Good to see Bent get his Holte End goal (finally).
Ireland - please put the effort in, you could actually be a really good player if you tried...
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Whilst this result - and performance - was welcome, I can't help feeling that we'd better get a whole lot tighter through the middle against the better teams: whether this means forfeiting SI or BB in favour of a more tenacious player or wehther it measn Del;ph gives way, I'm not sure. But Petrov will not do it on his own.
Mentioning Petrov, I do think he's been very good so far this season; not just the quality of his shooting but his general play has been excellent.
Petrov, in my opinion, is one of the reasons for us not being as attack minded as we could be. He slows the play down far too much. Many times Bannan and Ireland moved into a great position in between Wigan players, but he misses it and goes backwards/sidewards, which then results in a hoof up front.
If we are to improve, Petrov needs to be moved aside, for Bannan to start in his position in the middle.
IMO Bannan cant start in the middle of a midfield four it would make the middle very lightweight and teams would run through us, I can see him in the middle of a five definately
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Whilst this result - and performance - was welcome, I can't help feeling that we'd better get a whole lot tighter through the middle against the better teams: whether this means forfeiting SI or BB in favour of a more tenacious player or wehther it measn Del;ph gives way, I'm not sure. But Petrov will not do it on his own.
Mentioning Petrov, I do think he's been very good so far this season; not just the quality of his shooting but his general play has been excellent.
Petrov, in my opinion, is one of the reasons for us not being as attack minded as we could be. He slows the play down far too much. Many times Bannan and Ireland moved into a great position in between Wigan players, but he misses it and goes backwards/sidewards, which then results in a hoof up front.
If we are to improve, Petrov needs to be moved aside, for Bannan to start in his position in the middle.
I think Delph needs to move aside before Petrov is ousted.
Whilst Delph does not have the passing ability of Petrov, he does have the ability to run for 90 minutes, not 5, which is why, I think, AM likes him and constantly plays him.
Delph either does something really good or really bad. Hopefully he'll cut a lot of the bad out, but I don't think it'll all go. It's all or nothing with him.
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Whilst this result - and performance - was welcome, I can't help feeling that we'd better get a whole lot tighter through the middle against the better teams: whether this means forfeiting SI or BB in favour of a more tenacious player or wehther it measn Del;ph gives way, I'm not sure. But Petrov will not do it on his own.
Mentioning Petrov, I do think he's been very good so far this season; not just the quality of his shooting but his general play has been excellent.
Petrov, in my opinion, is one of the reasons for us not being as attack minded as we could be. He slows the play down far too much. Many times Bannan and Ireland moved into a great position in between Wigan players, but he misses it and goes backwards/sidewards, which then results in a hoof up front.
If we are to improve, Petrov needs to be moved aside, for Bannan to start in his position in the middle.
IMO Bannan cant start in the middle of a midfield four it would make the middle very lightweight and teams would run through us, I can see him in the middle of a five definately
You say that, but, as Bannan proved today, so long as you get in the way of another player and attempt at tackle, you put them off. You don't always need to put in a crunching tackle. Just being in their way is enough to make them think, stop and turn back, thus stopping the flow of the team. Bannan did this a lot of times today.
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Positives - Gabby for a great game and he looks full of confidence, let's hope he stays fit all season. Bent back in the goals, Bannan again and his link up play with Ireland who looked like he didn't want to come off but was injured. Given and the the centre backs looks good.
Negatives - Not really too much to grumble about, you could say Delph and Hutton didn't have their best games, nice to get a win and look comfy just before an international break, UTV!
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We played really well at times today, although Wigan are a poor side.
Have to take your hat off to AM though as he's getting good performances off players who were terrible last season (Dunne, Collins and Gabby). I also thought Ireland had his best game for us and when he came off we lost a bit of our attacking edge.
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Gabby for England?
No. We always lose our best players once they get settled in the England set up.
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In a weird way I never fancied Gabby as in International. Not that I discredit his abilities, I just can't picture him in the England starting 11.
I'd rather it be that way anyway; less chance of injuries and other teams snooping around.
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Gabby for England?
No. We always lose our best players once they get settled in the England set up.
Ya, the head gets turned when they are away with England.
I've just seen our goals on the Irish version of MOTD (Villa on last and for a good 25 seconds so same rules apply over here obviously). Well done Gabby, could this be the season we get 20 league goals from one of our forwards ?
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I like 2-0. 2-0 is my favourite result. In an ideal world 2-0 with the opposition not getting a touch for the last ten minutes, with Villa playing the ball round their own half and everyone in the Holte end gossiping and telling jokes.
That is my perfect matchday experience.
I agree, that sounds brilliant. About to watch MOTD and looking forward to it! We won - Yaaay! And we're 6th! Good weekend so far. Well done to the team and AMc.
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A nice comfortable 2-0 win, still unbeaten in the league, boiling hot weather, and a 10p lolly from the corner shop on the way back to the car after the game. Job done. I've had worse days.
UTV1.
Normally I'd rather be thirsty than pay double the normal price for a soft drink. At half time today, I was so hot and thirsty, I'd have willingly paid £10 for a soft drink.
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Whilst this result - and performance - was welcome, I can't help feeling that we'd better get a whole lot tighter through the middle against the better teams: whether this means forfeiting SI or BB in favour of a more tenacious player or wehther it measn Del;ph gives way, I'm not sure. But Petrov will not do it on his own.
Mentioning Petrov, I do think he's been very good so far this season; not just the quality of his shooting but his general play has been excellent.
Petrov, in my opinion, is one of the reasons for us not being as attack minded as we could be. He slows the play down far too much. Many times Bannan and Ireland moved into a great position in between Wigan players, but he misses it and goes backwards/sidewards, which then results in a hoof up front.
If we are to improve, Petrov needs to be moved aside, for Bannan to start in his position in the middle.
We'd get creamed through the middle! we have to have a balance between lil' Bazz and mercurial Ireland on the one hand and players like Petrov who does so much 'unseen' work in the tackling / interception / general disruption department.
And - in case you remember - I used to refer to Petrov as "the 60 minute man" but this season his legs seem to be holdin out; may be because Delph and BB and others are doing more water-carrying for him.
Credit it where it's due.
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I will never doubt Legion's score predicting powers again.
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Delph either does something really good or really bad. Hopefully he'll cut a lot of the bad out, but I don't think it'll all go. It's all or nothing with him.
This is what I was thinking during the match. Hopefully the coaching staff are working on the bad bits and he will improve game by game. I thought today was his best game for us so far this season.
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I was sat behind the Oompah Loompahs and Willy Wonka
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Lovely weather; 3 points; clean sheet; both our strikers scoring; 6th in the league and unbeaten.
Good day indeed.
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It had passed me by until today that Shaun Maloney was a Wigan player.
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@ nodge Ha! Ha! We saw those! Just below the big screen!!
2-0 great result. Happy as can be with the win and 3 points. But it was a boring game to watch. So light weight in midfield. We have too many potentials as far as I'm concerned. Bannan, Delph and Ireland are all full of potential and can deliver but also very prone to slipping up (bannan being the most consistant of the three mentioned mind). Delph is struggling so far this season. I'm not saying he's rubbish by any means. I'm just worried we're too lightweight and a lot goes through Petrov at the moment. He doesn't have the legs anymore. Petrov is playing brilliant at the moment but come Christmas will he be burnt out and making mistakes too??
Gabby had an amazing man of the match performance today. Scored one and assisted the other through sheer tinastity (hope that's Spelt right). Says it all when bent scores his first goal at the holte end but it's gabbys name that being chanted straight after the goal. Given equally brilliant today with some fine saves that otherwise could of brought Wigan back into the game.
This isn't ment to be a negative review. 3 points is 3 points and I'm chuffed to bits. But with Manchester city next week I'm also worried our frailties in midfield are going to be exploited and we could come a cropper.
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It had passed me by until today that Shaun Maloney was a Wigan player.
he was well received by Villa fans when he came on and that was nice. Equally I thought Wigan fans generously applauded N'Zogbia when he took to the pitch.
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It had passed me by until today that Shaun Maloney was a Wigan player.
I think it passed Wigan by too
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It had passed me by until today that Shaun Maloney was a Wigan player.
I think it passed Wigan by too
I actually thought they looked much more dangerous when he came on.
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Just watched MOTD - thought it looked like a penalty at the time and the highlights showed we got lucky. Well played Mr Clattenburg
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It had passed me by until today that Shaun Maloney was a Wigan player.
I think it passed Wigan by too
I actually thought they looked much more dangerous when he came on.
What, even though they couldn't string two passes together?
(wink)
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From Villanation:
I'm not rubbishing McLiesh but I'm certainly not saying he's getting this right at this point because as sure as night follows day we will come up against a team like Man City and the teams real flaws will stand out like a sore thumb and rather than make rash statements now only to revisit them 2 weeks from now when we may be looking at a different scenario and everybody will be saying what a tosser he is, I won't be, more a reality check.
Congratulations, Sir, on the most impressive stream of unpunctuated bollocks I have read in quite a while. If my translation is correct (forgive me, it's years since I did GCSE Drivel), I think what you are saying is that you're refusing to give McLeish any credit now because eventually we'll lose to a very good team, which will prove once and for all that he is rubbish.
Is that right? That can't be right, I must have made a mistake. That would be a ridiculous thing to say, people would think you were a right berk.
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I was sat behind the Oompah Loompahs and Willy Wonka
I saw them wandering down Trinity Road before the game. I'm betting they were really happy that the day they chose to dress up like that was so hot.
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Sure it's three points anyway. Clean sheet and both our strikers scoring so not too bad. The two sides we have beaten this season are heading for the drop I feel so home victories over them are a must. 11 points out of 21 still isn't great considering who we have played. Man City will tell a lot.
Fair play to Gabby, regardless of the clown in charge last season he was in awful form and condition. Right from early on this season he seems a far different player. Big season for him and he has started great. Pity he can't score more than one a game, I think the Man City hat trick was the last time? Bent needed that goal too.
McLeish has been a little unlucky with his signings. Aside from Given, the other three have been shit. Big part of that imo is that they aren't fit. Maybe take them out until they actually are? A number of the squad have improved under him too in fairness. But City will be the acid test. I'd bring Clark in for Delph for that one. We don't have many other options though so it's likely the sane formation will remain.
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Man City will tell a lot.
I'm not sure it will.
We'll lose and be outclassed. All it means is that they have paid far more money for far better players than we have.
It won't be a reason for us to slit our wrists and it won't be a reason for us to decide that the team/board/manager need to be sacked.
It's just what happens.
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But City will be the acid test.
Acid bath more like.
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How will Man City tell us a lot? They are almost certainly going to finish 1st or 2nd, so unless we take an absolute trouncing it will just show that they are currently better than us having spent a few hundred million quid. Which I figure everyone in football already knows.
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The idea that Man City will tell us a lot is just bizarre, they have far better players, are a far better team, if we get anything out of that game it will be a freak result.
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McLeish has been a little unlucky with his signings. Aside from Given, the other three have been shit. Big part of that imo is that they aren't fit. Maybe take them out until they actually are?
Blimey , Jenas hasn't even kicked a ball yet ... I wasnt happy with the signing but at least give him a chance .
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Out for another month with a groin problem
We did well today and Ireland and Bannan were a big reason for that. Heskey should never have come on and took the sting out of us going forward IMO, NZog or Albrighton should have got a run at that stage.
All in satisfying though, and Bannan is a supreme passer of a football, and usually forwards.
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Incidentally, if this:
26 Al Habsi
05 Caldwell
17 Boyce
22 Van Aanholt
23 Stam (McArthur 56)
31 Figueroa
04 McCarthy (Sammon 85)
08 Watson
11 Moses
21 Diame (Maloney 71)
09 Di Santo
Isn't a team designed for the Championship then I don't know what is.
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Out for another month with a groin problem
We did well today and Ireland and Bannan were a big reason for that. Heskey should never have come on and took the sting out of us going forward IMO, NZog or Albrighton should have got a run at that stage.
All in satisfying though, and Bannan is a supreme passer of a football, and usually forwards.
Maybe he brought Heskey on as it was only 1-0 at the time so he wanted a more defensive player on?
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I do think Delph will be a good player, give him a chance. He's shown enough to warrant that.
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I was surprised when I saw the stats at the end of the game that Bannan covered the most ground. Shows he isn't just clever he is a really hard worker too. Delph was second, which didn't surprise me.
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Ireland useless
Don't know what game you were watching, Ireland played pretty well I thought, easily his best performance in a Villa shirt.
not really difficult though.
I thought Ireland was just slight less shit than normal.
Gabby was unplayable.
Probably the best performance I have ever seen from him.
Dumb post - some people will criticise Ireland even if he scored a hat-trick. I watched him closely on Football First and he did a lot of simple, accurate and effective passing. He will only improve with more games which brings confidence. Still think Hutton is still getting match fit after a long spell on the sidelines under 'Arry.
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Ireland useless
Don't know what game you were watching, Ireland played pretty well I thought, easily his best performance in a Villa shirt.
not really difficult though.
I thought Ireland was just slight less shit than normal.
Gabby was unplayable.
Probably the best performance I have ever seen from him.
Dumb post - some people will criticise Ireland even if he scored a hat-trick. I watched him closely on Football First and he did a lot of simple, accurate and effective passing. He will only improve with more games which brings confidence. Still think Hutton is still getting match fit after a long spell on the sidelines under 'Arry.
It's not dumb at all. I think some people are getting carried away with a few green shoots of recovery from Ireland which is understandable, but misplaced, he's got a long way to go yet.
Really enjoyed yesterday, Gabby was worth the ticket price alone, and seeing as that was only £5 it made it all the more satisfying. There was a lovely jovial atmosphere down in the corner, just by Wonka and the Oompah Lumpahs, no screaming constant abuse at designated scapegoats, no howling derision when someone misplaced a pass, just lots of people enjoying going down the match. Lovely.
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Well I've only watched the game on Football First on Sky, but it seemed to me that Ireland had a good game, Bannan was absolutely excellent, and Gabby looked like a complete striker, with a superb finish for his goal.
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Their keeper was their best player, saves from Bent, Bannan and Petrov is all that kept the result respectable. We're sold at the back, have two top class strikers and the midfield is starting to find a bit of rhythm. Still some way to go but the signs are very encouraging.
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So was our formation roughly this?
------------------Given-------------------
hutton---Collins----Dunne---Warnock
Ireland---Bannan---Petrov---Delph---
-------------------Gabby------------------
--------------------Bent------------------
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So was our formation roughly this?
------------------Given-------------------
hutton---Collins----Dunne---Warnock
Ireland---Bannan---Petrov---Delph---
-------------------Gabby------------------
--------------------Bent------------------
Personally I thought the Midfield 4 played more of a diamond with bent and gabby playing up top.
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Gabby flitted between the centre and wide positions brilliantly. We played without a natural wide man but Gab offered us enough width and was always an outlet.
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I was sat behind the Oompah Loompahs and Willy Wonka
I saw them wandering down Trinity Road before the game. I'm betting they were really happy that the day they chose to dress up like that was so hot.
I thought that after a very encouraging performance in the first half from Willy Wonka, it was a bit poor that he didn't turn up for the second half.
P.S. One of the blokes in front of us, suggested he was "doing" an Ooompah Lumpa in the toilets, a haunting and perhaps truly terrifying image, which no amount of Alcohol post game was able to shift from my head.
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So was our formation roughly this?
------------------Given-------------------
hutton---Collins----Dunne---Warnock
Bannan--Ireland------Petrov---Delph
----------------------- Gabby----------
------------Bent------------------
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How will Man City tell us a lot? They are almost certainly going to finish 1st or 2nd, so unless we take an absolute trouncing it will just show that they are currently better than us having spent a few hundred million quid. Which I figure everyone in football already knows.
The Man City game won't tell me anything I don't already know....and that is that football is completely ruled by money and money alone and that you don't win the Premier League anymore, you just buy it. I am just grateful to have been around in the days when excellent managers could win trophies for less fashionable and less well off clubs without the all eroding cancer within the game that money is these days
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I think it will tell us something about Mancity, can they decimate the team with the best defensive record so far this sean, and it will tell us whilst we can not beat them can we stand up and be counted?
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How will Man City tell us a lot? They are almost certainly going to finish 1st or 2nd, so unless we take an absolute trouncing it will just show that they are currently better than us having spent a few hundred million quid. Which I figure everyone in football already knows.
The Man City game won't tell me anything I don't already know....and that is that football is completely ruled by money and money alone and that you don't win the Premier League anymore, you just buy it. I am just grateful to have been around in the days when excellent managers could win trophies for less fashionable and less well off clubs without the all eroding cancer within the game that money is these days
Agreed.
Probably those days are gone forever and so it is likely Villa will never win the league again.
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The games against Stoke will be more telling than the ones against city and Utd
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All this bollocks about Man City telling us something.
They beat us up there whether they're shite or top class.
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All this bollocks about Man City telling us something.
They beat us up there whether they're shite or top class.
I'm just hoping we only lose by 3 at most and have no injuries/sendings off. But I have hoped that for the last 5 years.
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What a game from start to finish we were awesome it could have 4 or 5 nil Gabby and Banann played brilliant and the rest were very good more performances like that please Villa.
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Plus, apart from Gabby being back to his best, what a delight to see Benty score at the Holte End.
Bannanman, excellent.
Delph, he'll be a good player over the next few seasons
Hutton, not sure, he can tackle but I wouldn't allow him to go forward very often - his passing is dreadful as a right 'winger'
Decent management by AM to drop N'Zog, shows him he has to earn a place
Petrov was actually shooting on goal yesterday, more of that too please Stan
It was Wigan, but we showed some great passing and fast attacking - bring on the Baggies !
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All this bollocks about Man City telling us something.
They beat us up there whether they're shite or top class.
And Wigan always beat us at home, whether we are flying or failing.
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Who would have thought, our only defeat in the last 15 league games was against 10 man Albion.
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All I want us to do against Man City is have belief that we can win, and go up there and work our bollocks off to that end. Just because a team is that much better doesn't mean they are mailed 3 points by the league. I've watched too much football where I've seen upsets of every type. Games aren't played on paper, and points aren't awarded based on reputation. We cannot go there and lie down. We have to give everything we have and if we lose doing that then so be it.
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Well we won, scored two goals, kept a clean sheet. Did think this would have been the ideal opportunity to inspire N'zogbia, but couldn't do much from the bench.
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I reckon we will get at least a draw at City. Just a gut instinct.
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Is threre any chance you blokes in the Holte can get a chant going for Darren Bent?
I know Gabby was fantastic but when he laid it on a plate for Darren, we did not need to be singing for Gab surely!
We keep expecting imagination from our team, how about a bit from the terraces..
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After that goal the Holte sang for Gabby and then they sang for Bent as well.
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Is threre any chance you blokes in the Holte can get a chant going for Darren Bent?
I know Gabby was fantastic but when he laid it on a plate for Darren, we did not need to be singing for Gab surely!
We keep expecting imagination from our team, how about a bit from the terraces..
How about other parts of the ground doing it? That would show real imagination.
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Is threre any chance you blokes in the Holte can get a chant going for Darren Bent?
I know Gabby was fantastic but when he laid it on a plate for Darren, we did not need to be singing for Gab surely!
We keep expecting imagination from our team, how about a bit from the terraces..
We sang for Gabby, then sang the Darren Bent song (to the tune of "Baby Give It Up") straight afterwards. Both were clearly audible on the Sky highlights too.
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Far far better, many attempts on target and creativity, gabby and bannan were excellent as were many others-bannans vision and passing really impressed me and gabby is a revelation this season -solid defence and an excellent keeper , if we can just get the midfield right then it could be a decent enough season .
Ireland showed some nice touches and is improving and once jenas and nzogbia get fit and to their best form we will have some interesting options-well done to all!
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Ok guys, sorry but I dont remember it, must have been too busy srcreaming my head off at such a good goal.
In all seriousness tho, I am in the upper witton and there does seem a lack of songs these days, certainly ones that enough people know to join in.
It was good on Saturday that we had a much more enjoyable atmosphere, lets keep it up and continue to lift the gloom thats hung over Villa Park for 18 months.
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How will Man City tell us a lot? They are almost certainly going to finish 1st or 2nd, so unless we take an absolute trouncing it will just show that they are currently better than us having spent a few hundred million quid. Which I figure everyone in football already knows.
The Man City game won't tell me anything I don't already know....and that is that football is completely ruled by money and money alone and that you don't win the Premier League anymore, you just buy it. I am just grateful to have been around in the days when excellent managers could win trophies for less fashionable and less well off clubs without the all eroding cancer within the game that money is these days
Totally agree with this.
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Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.
how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?
what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.
Gabby Agbonlahor - October 1st 2011
"The manager (Alex McLeish) knows what I am capable of and has given all the players the confidence to go out and do their best."
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Is threre any chance you blokes in the Holte can get a chant going for Darren Bent?
I know Gabby was fantastic but when he laid it on a plate for Darren, we did not need to be singing for Gab surely!
We keep expecting imagination from our team, how about a bit from the terraces..
Is there any chance you blokes in the Holte can get a chant going?
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Why the reliance on the Holte End?
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That's the job for HE. Boys down below in the WE do their bit but HE is where it should all start.
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Good weekend all around and a nice way to face the International break. The only looming cloud is it's back to work tomorrow.
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Good weekend all around and a nice way to face the International break. The only looming cloud is it's back to work tomorrow.
Ah the old Sunday night blues. I'm treating mine with a bottle of red wine.
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Good weekend all around and a nice way to face the International break. The only looming cloud is it's back to work tomorrow.
Ah the old Sunday night blues. I'm treating mine with a bottle of red wine.
Man after my own heart.
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Beck's for me. Then a bottle of white for a change.
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Improved team performance yesterday ..........Wigan were dreadful - Shay had one decent save to make whilst
we could/should have scored a couple more -
Really pleased for Gabby, his workrate was rewarded with a goal and assist -
Disappointed & confused by formation / tactics that resulted in lack of width to our play which
relied on Hutton/Warnock getting forward -
Ireland is still a puzzle - he was limping after 30 mins but I can't recall a tackle or lung bursting run
that might have caused an injury -
Pity it's an international break ........would have preferred to play at Citeh next week
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Christ, could you really get in for a fiver and we still only got 30k? Depressing stuff.
I think I'd play Clark and petrov as a shield in front of the back 4 at citeh. Gabby and bannan wide, and Ireland in the more advanced central role or if not fit, delph.
Couldn't see us playing the same side again up there
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On the formation, I too am not a huge fan of the diamond. But if you're going to play gabby and bent up top it makes sense to have gabby running the channels a lot. you thus need wingers a little less and playing a tighter midfield means we had more control of the ball.
More tricky if you're playing against a team that defends deeper so there are reduced channels to run down. I could see is getting very congested with players tripping over themselves in a game like that.
Still reckon 433 is the ultimate answer
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Ireland is still a puzzle - he was limping after 30 mins but I can't recall a tackle or lung bursting run
that might have caused an injury -
Ireland got crocked by a hospital pass right on half time and came back out hobbling. Obviously couldn't run it off and so was subbed. Hope he's OK soon as I think we are seeing glimpses of how he can really contribute to our season, especially if Jenas keeps getting crocked.
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I reckon we will get at least a draw at City. Just a gut instinct.
I feel the same - whatever critisisms we have of our team the back line is hard to breach and with Dunne / Ireland and Given going back there you just never know
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How will Man City tell us a lot? They are almost certainly going to finish 1st or 2nd, so unless we take an absolute trouncing it will just show that they are currently better than us having spent a few hundred million quid. Which I figure everyone in football already knows.
Man City seem to be dicking most teams at the moment and other good teams too. Someone said earlier that we are a top half team and we have drawn with those around us and beaten those that are going to scrap for relegation.
All I'd say is that we are unbeaten, and playing well.
And also when Gabby was on MOTD forum he said AMC was a strange appointment but the players respect him.
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The most encouraging thing from Saturday appeared to be us playing to our strikers strengths. Benty is only ever going to stand near the penalty spot waiting for the ball but Gabby has always run the channels throughout his career for every Villa team because he doesn't like tro stand still, likes to cut in from wide positions and has got the pace to do this!
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A few thoughts:-
Delph looks better when further forward as he simply isn't a holding player.
We do lack width and need either N'Zogbia or Albrighton to up their form and make a starting place their own.
Still not impressed with Ireland.
Bannan has made himself undroppable for me.
Bent looked like he was lacking in confidence a bit, so I reckon that goal would have helped him a lot.
If we're not getting too excited by that winm, lets not get too despondent if/when we lose at Man City!
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I think we'll actually give City a game, and wouldn't be too surprised if we come out of it wth a draw.
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It wouldn't be shock of the century but I'm not expecting to get anything.
If we turn up and get right in their face they're the sort of team that wouldn't fancy it.
It will mean being brave and sticking with Gabby and Bent up front and trusting the midfield to cope.
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Enjoyed Saturday but was shocked at the negativity in the crowd. I heard one or two booes at half time when we were 1-0 up! I heard one guy scream "sort it out Mcleish!" when we were 2-0 up. What's that all about?!
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I think we'll actually give City a game, and wouldn't be too surprised if we come out of it wth a draw.
I said to a mate of mine last week I could see us getting a result there and still being unbeaten when we play his lot (Albion). At the same time, I wouldn't be shocked if we got a 3 or 4 goal tonking either.
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Enjoyed Saturday but was shocked at the negativity in the crowd. I heard one or two booes at half time when we were 1-0 up! I heard one guy scream "sort it out Mcleish!" when we were 2-0 up. What's that all about?!
I'd say it's a case of half a dozen morons out of a crowd of 30K.
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I think we'll actually give City a game, and wouldn't be too surprised if we come out of it wth a draw.
I said to a mate of mine last week I could see us getting a result there and still being unbeaten when we play his lot (Albion). At the same time, I wouldn't be shocked if we got a 3 or 4 goal tonking either.
Maybe I'm just expecting the worse so I don't get disappointed, but they are is such great goal scoring form I think we'll be hard pressed to cope.
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I 'watched' the match on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday. Chris Kamara was their man at VP and he simply could not make himself say Al-Habsi instead of Elmohamady. Prat.
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Well they won't have Aguero or Tevez to play against us, they've got loads of internationals away as well. I think we will raise our game and make it hard for them.
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I might be in a small minority but having watched the most of the game again I'm not overly impressed with our performance.
1) Wigan were awful. We have got our 2 wins against the worst sides in the league.
2) they still should have had a penalty.
3) Hutton was dire. Out of position regularly and his crossing was dire.
4) the biggest moan - why do we keep hoofing the ball? Please instruct the midfielders to demand the ball from the back and Given. We literally handed the ball back to Wigan regularly by hoofing, can we not be patient and try and keep the ball for a few minutes.
5) our attacking set pieces are shocking. Poor deliveries, poor movement in the box - why are we compounding this by hoofing every free kick from the half way line forward? What about quick free kicks and valuing possession?
6) Gabby was class. If like QPR when he struggled we will struggle to score. The goals were all his doing.
7) Warnock had his best game in a long time.
8) praise for Ireland and even Bannan is over stated. We were playing one of the worst teams in the league but they need to demand the ball more. Force Given, Collins, Dunne (the long ball offenders) to play it short to them. They do have tidy touches but get involved more.
9) Petrov was a lot more disciplined than against Newcastle and we were better for it.
10) Shay needs to be braver from crosses. Wigan nearly scored direct from a corner but thankfully Bannan was on the post.
Please though keep the ball on the floor, practice patience and possession. Even small targets - Bannan and Ireland given a target of 5 times per half taking the ball from the centre half and turning on it. Hoofing it is just giving away possession.
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I watched the game again this morning and generally agree with you, Bronte. It was a poor game, Wigan are a long way from where they where last season and certainly the worst team I've seen in years. They're going down.
Disagree with you on Hutton, not as bad as first thought. Still looks like a centre half covering at right back though.
What surprised me was Bannan, I kept waiting to see something special. I still am. He worked hard and had a decent shot. Tidy but not half as good as some made out. I still rate him, I just thought that Saturday wasn't his best game.
Maybe the heat played a major part in the performance at the weekend. It's the only excuse I can find for them, Gabby excluded, obviously.
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I think we'll actually give City a game, and wouldn't be too surprised if we come out of it wth a draw.
I said to a mate of mine last week I could see us getting a result there and still being unbeaten when we play his lot (Albion). At the same time, I wouldn't be shocked if we got a 3 or 4 goal tonking either.
One thing I will say is we seem to be pretty tight defensively.
We don't look like a team who will let four in against anyone, really, so while I expect us to leave Eastlands with zero points, I don't think our goal difference is going to take much of a battering.
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Our last two results against two very poor sides indicates when we play the top six teams, we are likely to be in trouble.
We just don't have proven goal scorers except Bent, and if he retains his current form Gabby, but even against the poor sides we can only score three goals.
We've had an easy start to the season and should have at least four more points, and we might rue not getting them in March/April next year.
Being unbeaten looks better than it is considering who we've played.
Hutton isn't looking too good IMO and could have cost us a penalty, AM needs to put him under pressure with bringing Herd in to the squad.
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Herd was on the bench, he's been injured since he played last time.
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So we don't have any proven goal scorers except for our strikers? Is that a problem?
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Our last two results against two very poor sides indicates when we play the top six teams, we are likely to be in trouble.
We just don't have proven goal scorers except Bent, and if he retains his current form Gabby, but even against the poor sides we can only score three goals.
We've had an easy start to the season and should have at least four more points, and we might rue not getting them in March/April next year.
Being unbeaten looks better than it is considering who we've played.
Hutton isn't looking too good IMO and could have cost us a penalty, AM needs to put him under pressure with bringing Herd in to the squad.
So we don't have any proven goal scorers except for our strikers? Is that a problem?
We've only got two proven goalscorers, which is about two more than two thirds of the division.
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Exactly, Lee N'B. I wouldn't swap bent and gabby for most teams forwards in the league.
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Where was Delfouneso? Injured?
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I might be in a small minority but having watched the most of the game again I'm not overly impressed with our performance.
You need help. I suggest you pop into Aston Church before our next home game and you never know bells might ring!
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I might be in a small minority but having watched the most of the game again I'm not overly impressed with our performance.
1) Wigan were awful. We have got our 2 wins against the worst sides in the league.
2) they still should have had a penalty.
3) Hutton was dire. Out of position regularly and his crossing was dire.
4) the biggest moan - why do we keep hoofing the ball? Please instruct the midfielders to demand the ball from the back and Given. We literally handed the ball back to Wigan regularly by hoofing, can we not be patient and try and keep the ball for a few minutes.
5) our attacking set pieces are shocking. Poor deliveries, poor movement in the box - why are we compounding this by hoofing every free kick from the half way line forward? What about quick free kicks and valuing possession?
6) Gabby was class. If like QPR when he struggled we will struggle to score. The goals were all his doing.
7) Warnock had his best game in a long time.
8) praise for Ireland and even Bannan is over stated. We were playing one of the worst teams in the league but they need to demand the ball more. Force Given, Collins, Dunne (the long ball offenders) to play it short to them. They do have tidy touches but get involved more.
9) Petrov was a lot more disciplined than against Newcastle and we were better for it.
10) Shay needs to be braver from crosses. Wigan nearly scored direct from a corner but thankfully Bannan was on the post.
Please though keep the ball on the floor, practice patience and possession. Even small targets - Bannan and Ireland given a target of 5 times per half taking the ball from the centre half and turning on it. Hoofing it is just giving away possession.
Said during and after the game, our problem was and is the midfield area's as with QPR, Wigan alike, the minute the opposition are in possession they are down our throat, Newcastle the same as was Everton, I wouldn't agree about Bannan, he is still learning his game and other should step in and help out, its a team game.
The difference between us and everybody we have played thus far is Gabby, have to be honest I don't think Benty has counted for a lot this far, but if he works hard with Gabby and can learn to catch up with his play then you only had to look at Gabby cross into the box to see that Gabby isn't just about scoring, that's the cream, so all being well that should work out.
I think we are weak down the right in defence, Johnson will cause havoc, IMO, all Man City have to do is cut of Gabby and we are 75% depleted, that's what Mancini will look to do, stick 2 men on Gabby with one in a sweeper type role, that'll do it.
1 Glimmer of hope, Gabby is coming out with all kinds of twixt & turns in every game that most of us never realised he had, i did I'm his trainer, i digress, cough, perhaps he can be the difference that could shock even a Man City.
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Just stick this back up, its worth it, but can you imagine what Wigan's Boyce was thinking when he was trying to catch Gabby before the cross.. (left footed job as well)
" Why me".....
http://www.timesoccer.com/video/08/15-aston-villa-vs-wigan-live-match-highlights.html
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I watched the game again this morning and generally agree with you, Bronte. It was a poor game, Wigan are a long way from where they where last season and certainly the worst team I've seen in years. They're going down.
Disagree with you on Hutton, not as bad as first thought. Still looks like a centre half covering at right back though.
What surprised me was Bannan, I kept waiting to see something special. I still am. He worked hard and had a decent shot. Tidy but not half as good as some made out. I still rate him, I just thought that Saturday wasn't his best game.
Maybe the heat played a major part in the performance at the weekend. It's the only excuse I can find for them, Gabby excluded, obviously.
Most of this!
Opposition poor, and we almost let them back into it in the last 25 minutes.
A mate keeps telling me what a brilliant player Bannan is , but I'm struggling to see it. Willing and hard-working but nothing special - yet!
Hutton pretty poor -so far!
Gabby was truly amazing - the goal and set up for Bent couldn't be bettered!
We should have scored 4/5 easily.
We don't keep possession enough, give opposition too much time/room on the ball, esp in midfield, to run at us.
We give possession away too easily.
Brilliant to get the win, progress being made, but a long way to go!
Come on you Villa boys!