Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on March 31, 2012, 10:04:39 AM
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Available Saturday evening.
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
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At least we gave it a go. Massively inexperienced team against a team in the QF of the champions league.
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Genuine emotion at the 19th minute clap. Something I'll remember a long time even watching on the internet.
Difficult to comment past that, but as for the game, it might be petty, but the Villa need to complain about the referee this afternoon. We don't deserve much from today, but a MASSIVE turning point in the second half was that decision he called about 10 minutes ago when Terry purposely ran into Gabby. He bottled it completely.
Villa look a relegation team to me, for the first time this season I'm a bit worried we might go down. We aren't just a poor side, we have rotten luck too and that's the thing that *could* do for us.
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
Agree with all of that. Couple the news of Petrov with the enormous injury list and it was always going to be really hard. Add to that, the other results have made this a very tough weekend indeed.
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
The result was important in the season though. Chelsea looked vulnerable at the back and when back to 2-2 we got screwed by the ref and our defending.
We are going down this season. I am more sure by the week. As I predicted 2 weeks back, the bottom clubs will start fighting and win games you would not expect. We just keep losing. We are totally rudderless, and the manager has not got a clue of how to motivate the side.
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The team we had out did well to get back to 2 -2, I didn't see that coming, and kudos to them for managing that. Looks like we are getting drawn properly into the fight down the bottom, looking at other results QPR Bolton, Wigan all got wins.
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
The result was important in the season though. Chelsea looked vulnerable at the back and when back to 2-2 we got screwed by the ref and our defending.
We are going down this season. I am more sure by the week. As I predicted 2 weeks back, the bottom clubs will start fighting and win games you would not expect. We just keep losing. We are totally rudderless, and the manager has not got a clue of how to motivate the side.
Agree, we are in deep trouble. Why oh why oh why did he bring on Heskey?
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
Agree with all of that. Couple the news of Petrov with the enormous injury list and it was always going to be really hard. Add to that, the other results have made this a very tough weekend indeed.
The 19th minute was the important thing but 3 of the 5 below us winning has made this a really really bad result for us.
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Our remaining fixtures look fucking rock. Liverpool and Man U with Stoke in between as our next three. This is going to be a rough ride.
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The result was important regardless of the emotional situation(the 19th minute was brilliantly observed). However we are 5 points off the drop zone, Mcleish absolutely has to go. If our dope of a Chairman hasn't realised yet, we can very very much go down. Great to see Stan looking so positive though.
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We are going to need to find 6 points from somewhere, the results below us went the wrong way today.
With a little bit of luck we would have got a point today, but luck seems to have deserted us.
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
The result was important in the season though. Chelsea looked vulnerable at the back and when back to 2-2 we got screwed by the ref and our defending.
We are going down this season. I am more sure by the week. As I predicted 2 weeks back, the bottom clubs will start fighting and win games you would not expect. We just keep losing. We are totally rudderless, and the manager has not got a clue of how to motivate the side.
Agree, we are in deep trouble. Why oh why oh why did he bring on Heskey?
Bringing on Heskey shoudn't even be part of the conversation tonight. It has nothing to do with the result. He came on because Weimann was bagged and had picked up a knock.
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We need to get rid of Mcleish and put KMac and Sid in charge til the end of the season They know the kids, who we are now relying and this will at least give us a chance of staying up and it will give the team a boost
Well done to those kids today They did us proud
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We're in the brown stuff. Not sacking Mcleish after the Wigan game was a big mistake.
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Our chances of staying up have really deteriorated since that result against fulham. Lookin at the state of our squad it's no surprise though that we are where we are. He kids did heir best but heirs a lack of true quality and experience that may cost us.
Still, not that bothered about the football. Even more desperate for stan to win his battle after his amazingly brave display today.
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
The result was important in the season though. Chelsea looked vulnerable at the back and when back to 2-2 we got screwed by the ref and our defending.
We are going down this season. I am more sure by the week. As I predicted 2 weeks back, the bottom clubs will start fighting and win games you would not expect. We just keep losing. We are totally rudderless, and the manager has not got a clue of how to motivate the side.
Agree, we are in deep trouble. Why oh why oh why did he bring on Heskey?
Bringing on Heskey shoudn't even be part of the conversation tonight. It has nothing to do with the result. He came on because Weimann was bagged and had picked up a knock.
True the most important thing is Stan getting better.
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
The result was important in the season though. Chelsea looked vulnerable at the back and when back to 2-2 we got screwed by the ref and our defending.
We are going down this season. I am more sure by the week. As I predicted 2 weeks back, the bottom clubs will start fighting and win games you would not expect. We just keep losing. We are totally rudderless, and the manager has not got a clue of how to motivate the side.
Agree, we are in deep trouble. Why oh why oh why did he bring on Heskey?
Bringing on Heskey shoudn't even be part of the conversation tonight. It has nothing to do with the result. He came on because Weimann was bagged and had picked up a knock.
He Brought on Heskey because Guzan, Grealish, Heskey, Albrighton, Johnson, Williams, Carruthers." was the bench and Albrighton was already on.
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Daft question, what was up with Cuellar?
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Thigh strain.
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When I walked back to the car after the Fulham game we were 11 points clear of the bottom 3 and I was convinced we would be fine but now its only a 5 point gap and with injuries plus the loss of Stan I am for the first time genuinely worried.
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Got what I expected today, no real surprise so no real disappointment. It was always going to be a difficult day, but well done the club and fans for handling it so well.
The other results, however, have gone terribly for us, and that gap between us and the guff at the button which was 11 points not so long ago, then 8 is now far too small to not be extremely worried.
We now gave Liverpool, Stoke and Man United to face, and we have an injury crisis too. I can't see us getting much at all from those matches.
McLeish should have been less negative and unambitious earlier in the season when we were untroubled by injuries. Now look at the mess we are in.
The man has been a disaster and has to go.
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From thinking we were comfy we're in big trouble now. Some good signs today but that team will not deliver the 6points we need. Looks like god has had enough of villa in the prem
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Every game I had a bad feeling about the conclusion to the season - combine: inept manager, poor tactics, other clubs below picking up points (bar Wolves) and in recent weeks - injuries, we look like going down.
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Forgot to add, the re-arranged Bolton game is a must 3 points.
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A valiant effort in the end but when you are up against a biased ref (that decision with Gabby before the 3rd goal was scandalous), can't defend to save your lives and only start playing with 20 minutes left it's only going to end one way.
Only 5 points off the drop zone now and we have the toughest run in,a depleted squad and a manager who is as unlucky as he is incompetent. I thought we'd be okay but the recent wins for Bolton, Blackburn, QPR and Wigan have changed my mind. I think we're going down.
My only hope is that McFuckwit has a compensation free relegation sacking clause built in to his contract, but I doubt our equally incompetent owners thought of that.
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Didn't look too bad to me considering the experience we had to hand and a resurgent Chelsea. Not much shape, but bags of spirit. Lichaj looked decent, Baker and Warnock committed. Ireland was a stand-out for me - always in space always lookng for a decent pass.
Corner defending was pish, but what's new? Don't think we'll get relegated, but don't think McLeish is the man to take us forward.
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Can't really complain about other results not going our way. Relying on others to lose when we're only on 33 points ourselves is daft.
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It does not look good, we need 2 wins and i cant see us getting them any time soon, we are definately in the relegation battle, we have a bloke in charge who knows about these.
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Bolton and Stoke now must win games, have a shot at a win at Norwich, WBA and v Spurs and will get nothing at OT or Anfield, Mississippi
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It's not certain that we will go down but it's looking pretty likely now. Just hope that Stan pulls through which is far more important than the future of a below average football club. Very dark days indeed. Can it get any worse?
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I'm now officially panicked, and am wheeling a plasterer's bath down to Texaco as we speak.
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West Brom are only three points above us having played a game more - our game at their place is huge.
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Thought Ireland,Baker,Gabby and Lichaj played well. Asking a lot of a very young inexperienced team to get anything today. Very proud of the applause for Petrov and the fact we had so many youth team players in squad. 12 must be a prem record?
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
The result was important in the season though. Chelsea looked vulnerable at the back and when back to 2-2 we got screwed by the ref and our defending.
We are going down this season. I am more sure by the week. As I predicted 2 weeks back, the bottom clubs will start fighting and win games you would not expect. We just keep losing. We are totally rudderless, and the manager has not got a clue of how to motivate the side.
So all the stuff from 24 hours ago, how we've been shown a new perspective and how football doesn't really matter can just be forgotten then?
We narrowly lost to a Champions League team which cost approximately ten times what our side cost to put together. Exactly what you would expect to happen, did happen except we showed a good deal more character than we have done in other games this season.
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McLeish doing his best to take us down. I had hope at 2-2 and we were in the ascendancy. It can't be just coincidence that Ivanhoe comes on and minutes later we concede and ultimately lose 4-2.
edit: I will point out that I fully respect there are more important issues than football going on with Stans situation. I look forward to our games every week though and despite whats happening, I can't help but feel disappointed.
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its not looking likel
It's not certain that we will go down but it's looking pretty likely now. Just hope that Stan pulls through which is far more important than the future of a below average football club. Very dark days indeed. Can it get any worse?
It's not looking likely now. William Hill have us as the rank outsiders
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It does not look good, we need 2 wins and i cant see us getting them any time soon, we are definately in the relegation battle, we have a bloke in charge who knows about these.
Your last sentence worries me Rich given how it's always ended up under him. I'm officially shitting it now.
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Absolutely inept at the back. This with a manager who's supposed biggest asset is his defensive attributes. It ain't working and won't work and you need to fuck off now Mcleish. You can not gift anyone three goals and expect to win. Worth a tenner on us going down I think.
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Got what I expected today, no real surprise so no real disappointment.
Couldn't put it better if i tried.
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I'm no Heskey fan either but you can't blame him for that defeat.
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McLeish doing his best to take us down. I had hope at 2-2 and we were in the ascendancy. It can't be just coincidence that Ivanhoe comes on and minutes later we concede and ultimately lose 4-2.
It had nothing to do with him at all. Give any player space at the near post for an unmarked header, let alone an international, they'll hurt you. The last goal was just us pushing up and being caught.
We got fucked by the ref. we'll never know if Gabby would have scored but had he done so 3-2 would have been an entirely different Villa Park.
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Said before the game that the result wasn't the important thing today and that doesn't change just because we lost.
Really good fight by the youth. 19th minute was impeccable. Lichaj looks like he's be a very useful player.
The result was important in the season though. Chelsea looked vulnerable at the back and when back to 2-2 we got screwed by the ref and our defending.
We are going down this season. I am more sure by the week. As I predicted 2 weeks back, the bottom clubs will start fighting and win games you would not expect. We just keep losing. We are totally rudderless, and the manager has not got a clue of how to motivate the side.
So all the stuff from 24 hours ago, how we've been shown a new perspective and how football doesn't really matter can just be forgotten then?
We narrowly lost to a Champions League team which cost approximately ten times what our side cost to put together. Exactly what you would expect to happen, did happen except we showed a good deal more character than we have done in other games this season.
Read the post Dave. The result wasn't important in the moment, but at 2-2 at the end of the season can be looked at as a lost point when the dust settles, and as I said due in large part to a ref who was very biased. My second comment was what we appear as a team, and we look increasingly likely to drop.
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Wigans next game is away to Chelsea, Qpr visit Man Utd next so in theory we shouldent be any worse off after the Liverpool game (I am assuming defeat in that one), up next after that will be a Home game against Stoke which then becomes massive.
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Likely contrary to popular belief, I thought Heskey did bloody well when he came on.
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While I appreciate the sentiments of "The result doesn't matter because Petrov is ill" it's.. bullshit.
Yes, it's horrible and I'm one of the many who were rocked by the announcement.. but there are millions of people ill.. if Petrov was 100% healthy.. there's still people who have life threatening horrible illnesses.. and a defeat today would have mattered then - and it matters now.
The result matters. AND Petrov matters. We're complex creatures and we can care about Stan and our club at the same time.
Those worried about relegation and the result have every right to, you can't take that away from us because someone has a severe illness. It doesn't mean we don't care about Stan as much as the rest of you - it means that we're also well aware our club is in a very, very, shit situation. Relegation is indeed a very real possibility. Our squad is thread bare, our manager is clueless and the teams below us are battling and picking up results.
We, Aston Villa, are in trouble.
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Lerner, Mcleish has to go or all your genius efforts at money saving will evaporate into the black hole of relegation.
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Our result didnt matter but the resuts of the other strugglers did, we all want Stan to get well but at the same time we are also allowed to shit ourselves.
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Thought Ireland,Baker,Gabby and Lichaj played well. Asking a lot of a very young inexperienced team to get anything today. Very proud of the applause for Petrov and the fact we had so many youth team players in squad. 12 must be a prem record?
baker played well. eh?
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100% agree Summers..
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Myf- only my opinion,but I thought considering who he was up against he did well. He will make mistakes and we need to except that. But he was committed and at the moment its what we need.
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Respect to absolutely everyone for the 19th minute.
Absolute shite for all but 10 mins. Chelsea will never get an easier 3 points away from home.
Considering the circumstances, there was little or no fight or passion until about 75 mins. Then we played for 10 mins, then their quality took over.
The twat should have sent them out so fired up they would have run though brick walls, instead we were totally powderpuff.
It was the perfect storm in terms of results today, we are in the shit.
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Predictable result i guess and like others i'm starting to get worried we may not survive. I hope Lerner or any of those other idiots running our club took a good look at our bench today. Would shame a Championship side in strength and they really need to decide whether they want to run a Premiership club or Walsall with a big ground
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100% agree Summers..
Seconded. The two sentiments are not mutually exclusive as some seem to be suggesting. Many of us had what is happening to us in perspective due to other equally sad things going on in our lives before poor old Stan became ill
At least we have some excitement at last, if not the sort we craved. I frequently have days now where I wonder if I wouldn't prefer a season in the Championship (as long as it was only one!) even though all the logic makes that an utterly stupid idea. At least it would guarantee things happening for better or for worse
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Just home from the game, we were not really in it for long periods and had it not been for some last ditch defending we could have lost by allot more.
The comeback was great if not a bit unexpected, but our defending is poor, Gabby is well off the pace and is not the player he was a few seasons ago.
I am concerned about our PL status as I am not sure we have the fight in us to keep out of trouble.
And I can't see next season being any different even if we do stay up
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Here's an audio clip the club released on their Facebook page of the 19th minute applause. We really did Stan, and ourselves proud with this.
http://audioboo.fm/boos/736613
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Thought Ireland,Baker,Gabby and Lichaj played well. Asking a lot of a very young inexperienced team to get anything today. Very proud of the applause for Petrov and the fact we had so many youth team players in squad. 12 must be a prem record?
baker played well. eh?
I don't think Gabby played particularly well. Stephen Ireland on the other hand is our only player that has a developed/Prem quality touch on the ball. Hard luck today but good fight in the boys. They'll do well in the championship either way. I'm not happy with our current situation by any means, I realize today was to appreciate Stan but damn we were so close. In three weeks I could see us in the drop zone, but we'll scrap out of it. I can't believe it's even come to this. Misguided misfortune.. but you make your own luck Randy.
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A win or a couple of draws from the next three should see us OK.
However, if we go into that Sunderland game on the back of nothing it'd be very difficult.
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Why oh why can't we defend corners? Seriously whichever back 4 combination we put out it's cost us all season.
The two goals Chelsea scored were identical, Torres makes a near post run and flicks it on and Ivanovic is standing in the middle of the 6 yard box with wind marking him.
I thought Mcleish throwing on Heskey at 2-2 would stop this as we normally put him on the near post so he can flick away any corners but he ended up at the back post?
Disappointed we didn't get anything, it was a bit like Arsenal at home last season. Chelsea were well on top for an hour, we suddenly got a goal and they retreated but I never felt we'd hold the 2-2.
I still maintain the teams will stay up on 35 points this season so hopefully we can scramble two draws from somewhere and end this miserable season.
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Our remaining fixtures look fucking rock. Liverpool and Man U with Stoke in between as our next three. This is going to be a rough ride.
The crucial week is going to be Sunderland and Bolton at home and West Brom away (who themselves are slowly getting drawn into this battle). We need to scramble 5 points from that and we can rest easy.
Probably best to get at least a point off Stoke otherwise we'll be going into that group of games on 5 straight defeats.
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Myf- only my opinion,but I thought considering who he was up against he did well. He will make mistakes and we need to except that. But he was committed and at the moment its what we need.
he wasn't committed for first two goals. he was missing. i know it wad a big ask for him but he didn't play well today
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A win or a couple of draws from the next three should see us OK.
From where though? Which team can we actually beat..?
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If we had got a point it would have been daylight robbery, although Chelsea would have had only themselves to blame for squandering chances and then not defending well, fortunately for them they met a team who can't defend set pieces and haven't been able to all season, this is beyond a joke now.
The ref was clearly biased, this started early on when one of our players was being fouled in their half, he stayed on his feet, stumbled after the ball and the ref let it go, then there was a handball by Terry I think, on the halfway line that everyone saw except for the lineswoman and ref. Their second goal came right after a clear foul throw and what on earth Gabby was supposed to have done when he was clean through I'll have to see later, I couldn't see any foul but maybe he handled it or something.
However our inability to defend set pieces has yet again cost us, we would have been fortunate to get a point but it was there and then we switch off again, it doesn't seem to matter who the players are, they can't defend set pieces.
Our general play in the middle of the park wasn't bad, but there was little end product, our passing has improved, our defending hasn't. I'm not sure why we had Gardner on the left wing, but he looks quite a player and he's not too bad in the air either, Ireland had an outstanding match.
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Apparently on BBC WM McLeish said he expected a relegation scrap when he took over. ?!?!??!
Can anyone confirm this?
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Myf- only my opinion,but I thought considering who he was up against he did well. He will make mistakes and we need to except that. But he was committed and at the moment its what we need.
he wasn't committed for first two goals. he was missing
For the first he was prostrate having been kicked in the head.
Not really sure what more you could really expect him to do.
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A win or a couple of draws from the next three should see us OK.
From where though? Which team can we actually beat..?
Would you say Fulham are a better team than some of the ones we're going to play in the run in?
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Myf- only my opinion,but I thought considering who he was up against he did well. He will make mistakes and we need to except that. But he was committed and at the moment its what we need.
he wasn't committed for first two goals. he was missing
For the first he was prostrate having been kicked in the head.
Stay on his feet and clear the ball with his feet. the second was a shambles
Not really sure what more you could really expect him to do.
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we'll scrap out of it.
That's the bit I just don't see in our game: whereas the clubs below us (wiith the exception of the Dogheads) appear to have some fire in their belly, we don't.
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I don't think you can fault any of the kids today, they made a decent fist of it against aa champions league side. Why we didn't start with Albrighton I don't know. We lacked width and often had nowhere to go when we had the ball. We are in trouble though and without a big change in form/luck we are hoping teams below us drop points. Thought the 19th minute for Stan was superb and showed what he means to the fans.
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A win or a couple of draws from the next three should see us OK.
From where though? Which team can we actually beat..?
Would you say Fulham are a better team than some of the ones we're going to play in the run in?
I think the Liverplehh and United games will be difficult to get a result, and then Bolton threw a wrench in our easier games putting a three day break on either side of the West Brom and Sunderland games, respectively. Stoke is never easy for us, especially with their set-piece prowess. We couldn't beat Wigan or QPR fully fit.. how can we raise our expectations with a depleted squad and McLeish's expertise in the area.
I honestly have no idea where these 6 points of reassurance are going to come from, if they come at all..
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Given the lengthy injury list I was pleased he chose to start with youth/inexperience and leave Heskey on the bench. Conceding an early goal meant it was always going to be an uphill struggle for an inexperienced team against a CL team, but at least we saw plenty of passion and fight, and some decent football for a change. Ireland was everywhere and linked up play superbly. Yeah they could have scored more but Gabby should have scored in the first half but Cech got lucky. When we got to 2-2 I thought we'd earned a point but yet another appallingly biased referee decision robbed us of a point. Not too bothered by their 4th - always a risk when we were going all out for another equaliser.
Excellent support from both sets of fans for Stan, and the 19th minute applause will stay with me for a long time. Great that Stan was in the crowd to share it first-hand
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A win or a couple of draws from the next three should see us OK.
Only Bolton are worse and the significance of that game makes anything possible.
From where though? Which team can we actually beat..?
Would you say Fulham are a better team than some of the ones we're going to play in the run in?
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Not a great game but there are still some positives
1) the 19th minute
2) from nowhere we got ourselves back in the game
3) Lichaj looks a useful full back and a definite upgrade on Hutton
4) We actually scored from a set piece
5) The Albion are still in it too
I thought Baker played well, he made a few mistakes, sure, but it was his first start in the centre and against likely EC semi finalists, ffs.
As someone said in the match thread, defeat to Chelsea isn't going to relegate us.
I can understand McLeish saying that he expected a relegation scrap when he was appointed. As soon as I heard of the appointment, so did I.
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I think we'll scramble 4 points from the Bolton, Sunderland and Stoke home games and get 1 point from either west brom or norwich away.
38 points will be enough, I still think 35 will be.
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Most importantly, the 19th minute applause for Stan was magnificent, and hopefully it can help him to fight the illness and get well. Also a very nice gesture by Bolton's Martin Petrov when he scored today.
I won't worry too much about the gap between us and the relegation spots. We were always unlikely two beat Chelsea twice in one season, and the teams below us were always likely to start picking up points when the scrap starts. If we survive (and we should), it will be because we get enough points against WBA, Bolton, Norwich, Stoke and maybe even an out-of-sorts Liverpool. If we can't do that, we'll probably get what we deserve.
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Agree, we are in deep trouble. Why oh why oh why did he bring on Heskey?
To shore up the first line of defence. That lasted a whole 60 seconds!
We're in big, big trouble. We'll get nil points from the next three and with the teams below us all winning we'll be right in the shit. The Bolton game is looking absolutely massive.
I just don't see what McLeish brings to the team for his £2m a year. He's tactically inept, can't motivate the players, is indecisive and when he finally makes a decision it's often the wrong one, and appears to be a shite coach given the same flaws within the team have persisted throughout the season. In what other industry could you get paid £2m a year for absolutely nothing?
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Looking at the fixtures, I reckon if we're still in the mire after the bolton game then we're going down
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Baker was thrown in the deep end for sure but how can anyone can say he played well after being at fault for the first two goals?
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The 19th minute did us proud, and the Chelsea fans joined in as well, which I thought was a good gesture
What scared me more than anything was the apathy when they scored their second. Immediately round where I sit, in the Upper Holte, there was nothing, no fuck off Chelsea, no fuck off ref, no fuck off McLeish even, just silence, resignation and the sense it was inevitable. Whether or not we stay up, this season has ripped the soul out of us, and that is absolutely criminal. We are Aston Villa, one of the oldest, most successful and proudest clubs in the world, and it just makes me sad to see us now
Get well soon Stan
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Wasn't expecting much, maybe a draw at best. Good comeback, but it wasn't enough unfortunately.
It made things even worse with 3 teams below us winning, that very comfortable 11 point gap between us and the bottom 3 from three weeks ago isn't looking so comfortable now. Urgh...
However, that being said thoughts and prayers go out to Stan. Was quite shocked when I heard the news, its awful for him but I hope he gets better and can recover from this. We are missing a great leader and player in our team :(
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I didn't expect us to get anything at the start of the week and in light of the Petrov news and the starting line up I was fearing the worst.
Conceding 4 at home never going to look good but at least the players showed some fight to pull back the two goal deficit and given Gabby's barren run (which shows no sign of ending) it was great to see a couple of the defence on the scoresheet.
No idea what the next few games will bring us results wise but with no Bent, Clark, Cuellar, Delph, Hutton, N'Zogbia and Petrov we are in big, big trouble and need to find some inspiration and 5-6 points from somewhere.
All in all a pretty shitty week for Villa fans everywhere and the other results at the bottom today a real kick in the balls
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I've read this site for years and I know Villa fans are negative but this is getting out of hand. WE ARE NOT GOING DOWN. Things aren't great, can't see many wins or points in the last 8 games, BUT the teams below us are not Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Sporting Index think Wigan and QPR will get 6-7 points each between now and the end of the season, that is 34-35 points. Do some of you think we cannot get 3 points. Seriously? Sporting Index have us finishing on 40-41 points, 6 points clear of 18th place.
If anyone seriously believes we are going down can I suggest they go to a betting shop or bet online immediately as they will make a killing.
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The 19th minute did us proud, and the Chelsea fans joined in as well, which I thought was a good gesture
What scared me more than anything was the apathy when they scored their second. Immediately round where I sit, in the Upper Holte, there was nothing, no fuck off Chelsea, no fuck off ref, no fuck off McLeish even, just silence, resignation and the sense it was inevitable. Whether or not we stay up, this season has ripped the soul out of us, and that is absolutely criminal. We are Aston Villa, one of the oldest, most successful and proudest clubs in the world, and it just makes me sad to see us now
Get well soon Stan
I think the air of resignation you mention was a symptom of the awful twist of fate that has blighted Stan Petrov and his family. It somehow felt a bit wrong to be moaning during the game watching on the net. But then, the game was played, the result counted. An odd, inspiring, awful day.
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We'll get nil points from the next three and with the teams below us all winning we'll be right in the shit. The Bolton game is looking absolutely massive.
Huh?
We're writing off a home match against Stoke now are we? Who lost today to Wigan.
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The stats look horrendous.
We've got 6 points from our last 8 games. We've won 2 of our last 11 games. Gabby hasn't scored in 15 matches.
How depressing.
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Villa were plucky enough to take the game to Yelsea, and get back level pegging as they start to really wobble.
Pictures of Di Matteo showed him looking dumbfounded. He must have been worried as he'd used all his subs so can't change anything, and given their recent poor away record thought his team might possibly lose the game. He then desperately looks around and sees Heskey emerging from the Villa bench, turned to his own and said 'Don't worry lads, they've just thrown it away.'
And they did.
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The 19th minute did us proud, and the Chelsea fans joined in as well, which I thought was a good gesture
What scared me more than anything was the apathy when they scored their second. Immediately round where I sit, in the Upper Holte, there was nothing, no fuck off Chelsea, no fuck off ref, no fuck off McLeish even, just silence, resignation and the sense it was inevitable. Whether or not we stay up, this season has ripped the soul out of us, and that is absolutely criminal. We are Aston Villa, one of the oldest, most successful and proudest clubs in the world, and it just makes me sad to see us now
Get well soon Stan
I think the air of resignation you mention was a symptom of the awful twist of fate that has blighted Stan Petrov and his family. It somehow felt a bit wrong to be moaning during the game watching on the net. But then, the game was played, the result counted. An odd, inspiring, awful day.
You're right, it's hard to separate the causes and we all got a lump in our throat, especially when Stan spoke before the game. Can't help but think though that in recent seasons that would galvanised us, pushed us to make some noise and get behind a struggling inexperienced team. I just found it odd. Probably just fed up of watching shit football....!
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Villa were plucky enough to take the game to Yelsea, and get back level pegging as they start to really wobble.
Pictures of Di Matteo showed him looking dumbfounded. He must have been worried as he'd used all his subs so can't change anything, and given their recent poor away record thought his team might possibly lose the game. He then desperately looks around and sees Heskey emerging from the Villa bench, turned to his own and said 'Don't worry lads, they've just thrown it away.'
And they did.
Heskey coming on had fuck all to do with anything.
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I think today's team deserve enormous credit for going out today and playing. They will have to do it another 7 times this season and hopefully it will get easier.
It would have easy to have called the game off - but it would not have made things any easier. Better to stand up and be counted. Aston Villa can be proud today that they went out and got on with it.
Chelsea were cynical and clinical. They knew what they had to do. Get a goal or two in front and save themselves for their next game. The ref helped them out at every opportunity. They didn't need to try any dirty tricks but they did and they were allowed to get away with it.
If Terry goes to the Euros I doubt I'll bother to watch it. He knobbled Weimann from behind, somehow was given a decision when Gabby challenged him which led to their 3rd goal. Utter tosser.
Collins, Ireland, Warnock and Gabby all led by example, it was the youngsters who seemed to be overawed. But they will learn and get better.
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We'll get nil points from the next three and with the teams below us all winning we'll be right in the shit. The Bolton game is looking absolutely massive.
Huh?
We're writing off a home match against Stoke now are we? Who lost today to Wigan.
We've beat them once in seven attempts since they came up. They've beat us twice. In our current form I can see us losing to them again.
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I've come to the conclusion at corners we should fill the box, then when the taker puts his arm up, we should all run back to the kick off positions, then the taker just taps it out for a goal kick. Well that will startle the other team and at least we wont be caught out on the break, cause sure as shit we wont score from one
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The stats look horrendous.
We've got 6 points from our last 8 games. We've won 2 of our last 11 games. Gabby hasn't scored in 15 matches.
How depressing.
Lies, damn lies and statistics. I hope
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If anyone seriously believes we are going down can I suggest they go to a betting shop or bet online immediately as they will make a killing.
Not quite. The best odds you'll find on us going down is 14-1 now. We were 40-1 before the Arsenal game.
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I've come to the conclusion at corners we should fill the box, then when the taker puts his arm up, we should all run back to the kick off positions, then the taker just taps it out for a goal kick. Well that will startle the other team and at least we wont be caught out on the break, cause sure as shit we wont score from one
I hope McLeish didn't see that, we'll see that next week
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We'll get nil points from the next three and with the teams below us all winning we'll be right in the shit. The Bolton game is looking absolutely massive.
Huh?
We're writing off a home match against Stoke now are we? Who lost today to Wigan.
We've beat them once in seven attempts since they came up. They've beat us twice. In our current form I can see us losing to them again.
I can see us losing.
I can also see us winning. Utterly cowardly to write off a game like Stoke at home.
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We need to get rid of Mcleish and put KMac and Sid in charge til the end of the season They know the kids, who we are now relying and this will at least give us a chance of staying up and it will give the team a boost
Well done to those kids today They did us proud
Too late to make the change now , we have to hope we somehow pick up wins at home to bolton, stoke and sunderland or at least get 6 points from somewhere- depressing times indeed and lerner should hang his head in shame at the shambles he presides over!
Nice to see stan there today and the warmth between him and the fans, the 19 th minute was a fitting tribute.
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Can we please leave Heskey alone today?
He had absolutely nothing to do with us losing this football match.
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We'll get nil points from the next three and with the teams below us all winning we'll be right in the shit. The Bolton game is looking absolutely massive.
Huh?
We're writing off a home match against Stoke now are we? Who lost today to Wigan.
We've beat them once in seven attempts since they came up. They've beat us twice. In our current form I can see us losing to them again.
I can see us losing.
I can also see us winning. Extremely cowardly to completely write off a game like that.
Cowardly?! So being a mod makes it acceptable for you to be offensive?
I don't think we'll get a single point from our next three games. It's my opinion. This is a forum for opinions. I thought a mod would appreciate that.
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Can we please leave Heskey alone today?
He had absolutely nothing to do with us losing this football match.
Agreed, we didn't have many options today and he did what he had to do
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A win or a couple of draws from the next three should see us OK.
From where though? Which team can we actually beat..?
I'd fancy us to get something from Stoke, and half decent chance of getting something at Anfield.
We've still got the Bolton game to fall back on too. Sunderland is going to be difficult.
But we're on 33 now. 38 should be enough. Even if we lost all of those we'd have Baggies away and Spurs and Norwich at home to try and stay up.
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Can we please leave Heskey alone today?
He had absolutely nothing to do with us losing this football match.
Agreed, we didn't have many options today and he did what he had to do
The fact Heskey was our only option goes some way to explaining why we are fucked.
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We'll get nil points from the next three and with the teams below us all winning we'll be right in the shit. The Bolton game is looking absolutely massive.
Huh?
We're writing off a home match against Stoke now are we? Who lost today to Wigan.
We've beat them once in seven attempts since they came up. They've beat us twice. In our current form I can see us losing to them again.
I can see us losing.
I can also see us winning. Extremely cowardly to completely write off a game like that.
Cowardly?! So being a mod makes it acceptable for you to be offensive?
I don't think we'll get a single point from our next three games. It's my opinion. This is a forum for opinions. I thought a mod would appreciate that.
Cowardly. Offensive? Bit sensitive if that bothers you.
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Villa were plucky enough to take the game to Yelsea, and get back level pegging as they start to really wobble.
Pictures of Di Matteo showed him looking dumbfounded. He must have been worried as he'd used all his subs so can't change anything, and given their recent poor away record thought his team might possibly lose the game. He then desperately looks around and sees Heskey emerging from the Villa bench, turned to his own and said 'Don't worry lads, they've just thrown it away.'
And they did.
Heskey coming on had fuck all to do with anything.
I think remove the words 'coming on' and you would be about right.
On 80 mins we equalised. The only change of personnel by both teams after that was Heskey coming for Villa on 82 mins, when Chelsea were wobbling. They then scored two goals.
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Going down.
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Villa were plucky enough to take the game to Yelsea, and get back level pegging as they start to really wobble.
Pictures of Di Matteo showed him looking dumbfounded. He must have been worried as he'd used all his subs so can't change anything, and given their recent poor away record thought his team might possibly lose the game. He then desperately looks around and sees Heskey emerging from the Villa bench, turned to his own and said 'Don't worry lads, they've just thrown it away.'
And they did.
Heskey coming on had fuck all to do with anything.
I think remove the words 'coming on' and you would be about right.
On 80 mins we equalised. The only change of personnel by both teams after that was Heskey coming for Villa on 82 mins, when Chelsea were wobbling. They then scored two goals.
You're evident dislike of Heskey is affecting your rationality.
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Cowardly?! So being a mod makes it acceptable for you to be offensive?
I don't think we'll get a single point from our next three games. It's my opinion. This is a forum for opinions. I thought a mod would appreciate that.
I'd say it's absolutely fine to think that we might lose to Stoke. It's quite possible.
What is ridiculous though is to suggest that there's no chance of us getting anything which your original post did. And I don't think it's particularly offensive to suggest that writing it off as impossible to even draw at home to Stoke is flouncy in the extreme.
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Cowardly?! So being a mod makes it acceptable for you to be offensive?
I don't think we'll get a single point from our next three games. It's my opinion. This is a forum for opinions. I thought a mod would appreciate that.
I'd say it's absolutely fine to think that we might lose to Stoke. It's quite possible.
What is ridiculous though is to suggest that there's no chance of us getting anything which your original post did. And I don't think it's particularly offensive to suggest that writing it off as impossible to even draw at home to Stoke is flouncy in the extreme.
It's not so much whether or not we write off winning against Stoke, it's more about how confident we are that we'll get something. I don't really blame anyone for lacking confidence in that.
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Can we please leave Heskey alone today?
He had absolutely nothing to do with us losing this football match.
Agreed, we didn't have many options today and he did what he had to do
The fact Heskey was our only option goes some way to explaining why we are fucked.
Now that's an entirely different discussion Fergal. I don't think we are fucked but not having options on the bench might lead to us getting there
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Villa were plucky enough to take the game to Yelsea, and get back level pegging as they start to really wobble.
Pictures of Di Matteo showed him looking dumbfounded. He must have been worried as he'd used all his subs so can't change anything, and given their recent poor away record thought his team might possibly lose the game. He then desperately looks around and sees Heskey emerging from the Villa bench, turned to his own and said 'Don't worry lads, they've just thrown it away.'
And they did.
Heskey coming on had fuck all to do with anything.
I think remove the words 'coming on' and you would be about right.
On 80 mins we equalised. The only change of personnel by both teams after that was Heskey coming for Villa on 82 mins, when Chelsea were wobbling. They then scored two goals.
You're evident dislike of Heskey is affecting your rationality.
Don't dislike him, just thought bringing him on punctured our momentum of taking the game to them. It was a message that we are going to play for the draw, which proved defeatist both metaphorically and in the end, literally.
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The team were so shaky, completely understandable considering how many youngsters were playing. Heskey was on to sure things up. The only experienced option we had to try and be a calmer head.
It was the logical substitution.
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Villa were plucky enough to take the game to Yelsea, and get back level pegging as they start to really wobble.
Pictures of Di Matteo showed him looking dumbfounded. He must have been worried as he'd used all his subs so can't change anything, and given their recent poor away record thought his team might possibly lose the game. He then desperately looks around and sees Heskey emerging from the Villa bench, turned to his own and said 'Don't worry lads, they've just thrown it away.'
And they did.
Heskey coming on had fuck all to do with anything.
I think remove the words 'coming on' and you would be about right.
On 80 mins we equalised. The only change of personnel by both teams after that was Heskey coming for Villa on 82 mins, when Chelsea were wobbling. They then scored two goals.
You're evident dislike of Heskey is affecting your rationality.
Don't dislike him, just thought bringing him on punctured our momentum of taking the game to them. It was a message that we are going to play for the draw, which proved defeatist both metaphorically and in the end, literally.
It wasn't in the least bit defeatist or evidence we were playing for a draw. He brought him on to replace a tired young forward. I really don't see the issue.
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Heskey didnt have anything to do with the Chelsea goal granted. But I don't understand why McLeish decided to tinker with the team so quickly after we scored the second goal. The team was buzzing and working well. Why mess with it? They've just bagged two goals in a few mins and pulled us back level.
It was the timing for me that seemed silly.
It probably woudnt of changed the outcome. Chelsea were by far the better team. Apart from the 10 min period I thought we offered very little. But if we can play how we did during that 10 min period throughout the remaining fixtures then we won't go down. Trouble is, that passion we saw during that fleeting moment seems to be few and far between.
We're hanging in there. It's not quite panic stations but equally I'm not siding with those on here thinking we won't go down. There's no way we're home and dry. Stoke, Sunderland and Bolton are going to be tricky games. Spurs, Liverpool and Norwich are not exactly a walk in the park either. I think we'll pick up 5 points in our remaining games. It's touch and go but I think we'll only just do it.
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We started with 7 academy players against a side full of multi million pound mercenaries. We caused them a lot of problems, we'd have caused them even more if our final ball, the ref and our defending had been better.
Must admit, the 19th minute left me with a tear in my eye.
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The team were so shaky, completely understandable considering how many youngsters were playing. Heskey was on to sure things up. The only experienced option we had to try and be a calmer head.
It was the logical substitution.
Drawing against wobbly opponents with a poor recent away record. Bring on Heskey and lose. I assume it was to hold the ball up, but did he even touch the ball more than once?.
'That's illogical Captain.'
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Talking of Stoke - taking long throw-ins for a big centre half to head in. Pfft - wouldn't see the Villa playing like that. ;)
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Villa were plucky enough to take the game to Yelsea, and get back level pegging as they start to really wobble.
Pictures of Di Matteo showed him looking dumbfounded. He must have been worried as he'd used all his subs so can't change anything, and given their recent poor away record thought his team might possibly lose the game. He then desperately looks around and sees Heskey emerging from the Villa bench, turned to his own and said 'Don't worry lads, they've just thrown it away.'
And they did.
Heskey coming on had fuck all to do with anything.
I think remove the words 'coming on' and you would be about right.
On 80 mins we equalised. The only change of personnel by both teams after that was Heskey coming for Villa on 82 mins, when Chelsea were wobbling. They then scored two goals.
You're evident dislike of Heskey is affecting your rationality.
Don't dislike him, just thought bringing him on punctured our momentum of taking the game to them. It was a message that we are going to play for the draw, which proved defeatist both metaphorically and in the end, literally.
It wasn't in the least bit defeatist or evidence we were playing for a draw. He brought him on to replace a tired young forward. I really don't see the issue.
I disagree TV, and I actually think he was on in part to defend set pieces etc. The fact we conceded from a corner with 2 non challenged headers was criminal. Heskey should be right there at the front post battering the ball away.
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If we stay up it will be because the clubs below us couldn't get another 5/6 points, cos I really can't see where a point will come from now that Petrov is gone. The midfield is not fit for purpose, its literally men against boys, and the boys are plainly not ready.
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I'm sure he would have had defensive responsibilities Ozz but you simply cannot blame him for us conceding that goal. We have full backs on the posts and a goalkeeper that should have done a lot better.
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Heskey did ok when he came on.
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It wasn't in the least bit defeatist or evidence we were playing for a draw. He brought him on to replace a tired young forward. I really don't see the issue.
The manager hauled him off after 60 odd minutes against Arsenal last week because he was useless. What could he have done in the last 10 minutes today?
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It wasn't in the least bit defeatist or evidence we were playing for a draw. He brought him on to replace a tired young forward. I really don't see the issue.
The manager hauled him off after 60 odd minutes against Arsenal last week because he was useless. What could he have done in the last 10 minutes today?
Help set up a few attacks, win headers and help keep possession? Which is exactly what he did today.
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For the majority of the game we were woeful.
There were a number of kids in today - which is a factor - however, Chelsea didnt have to get out of first gear for most of the game.
Until the 75th minute we created very little , the play was ponderous and pedestrian at times. We scored a goal from a long throw (something we have been very sniffy about when Stoke do it) and Lichajs goal was on the back of an all too rare decent cross from Albrighton.
Positives
- 19th minute (impeccable from all sides of the ground)
- lichaj
- warnock
- albrighton (when he came on)
Negatives
- set piece defending again
- the referee
- Gardner on the left (right footed) Bannan on the right (left footed ) go figure ?
- Gabby - not at the races at the minute . watched his movement compared to Torres (absolutely non existent)
We are bang in trouble.
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McLeish doing his best to take us down. I had hope at 2-2 and we were in the ascendancy. It can't be just coincidence that Ivanhoe comes on and minutes later we concede and ultimately lose 4-2.
It had nothing to do with him at all. Give any player space at the near post for an unmarked header, let alone an international, they'll hurt you. The last goal was just us pushing up and being caught.
We got fucked by the ref. we'll never know if Gabby would have scored but had he done so 3-2 would have been an entirely different Villa Park.
I sort of agree TV.
But even if we had gone to 3-2, Chelsea only needed another corner to get back into the game.
Corners against us are almost like penalties, and have been for a while.
I don't think we'll go down, in Stoke, Slumberland the Olbiyun and Norwich we should have enough opportunities to get the points we need. Maybe with the Redscouses dodgy form that's one we can target for at least a point too.
But we are involved, no question about it. If we do go down, McDounghnut will blame injuries, luck and McGrath knows what else. But for his approach to so many of our games this year, he'll have brought it all on himself.
I think back to the times when we were competing at the upper end of the table and I don't recall too many sides giving us freebies - 'Villa have spent x amount so we can't be expected to compete with them.' No, Stoke, Burnley, Boro, Reading, West Ham and the rest didn't think that way at all. They still went out to beat us. Have a go and you might get lucky or catch the stronger/ more favoured opposition on an off day.
Unfortunately, there are many games this season we can instantly recall when we haven't even given it a go. And that may do for us in the end. What was it that bloke in the Guardian said "If there is any justice Aston Villa will go down?" If I supported another side I'd probably feel exactly the same.
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I thought credit to ol' McGinge when he played 4-4-2 and didn't start Heskey. But i couldn't get my head round Gardener (right footed) playing on the left and Bannan (right footed) playing on the left, I thought it was worth a swap as it wasn't really until Alrbighton came on (yes I know he played on the left) we started to get any crosses in which really seemed to get up Chelsea's noses. If it had stayed 2-0 to Chelsea, I may have shrugged off that. But getting back into it and then losing it is so disappointing.
AMC did look so clueless stood on the touch line hands in pockets round the 60 min mark, it was a bit out nothing that Collins scored that goal. I don't trust the guy to instill the motivation, fight or tactical nous to get us many more points. In my mind the possibility of relegation lies more with the fates of those below us than with us, and that is a bad place to be.
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Just home from the game. I thought the youngsters did not let us down today but the whole game hinged on the way Chelsea had their confidence boosted by a string of decisions being given their way by a referee determined to take Route 1 to the top namely be on first name terms with all the celebrity players and not upset any of the London/Lancashire top team godfathers. The pinnacle of this refereeing debacle was when our lads had forced their way back into the game and we had the momentum, to haul Gabby back for a "foul" on Terry when he had a straight run on goal. Chelsea's composure returned because the official had reassured them that they were always going to be given the edge and it was game over.
A Villa fan on 606 tried to make the refereeing point but Fletcher did the usual let's slag off the Villa put down to such an extent at one point I thought he was going to use the Aston Vanilla cheap shot and claim it as original.
It is close to heresy to say it but I am beginning to think that Given must take his share of blame for the ease with which we concede goals from corners and set pieces.
I don't think Heskey played too badly when he came on but by God is that man a bad luck charm.
And I thought our poorest players- Gabby included - were the highest paid ones.
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What was it that bloke in the Guardian said "If there is any justice Aston Villa will go down?" If I supported another side I'd probably feel exactly the same.
And that is the most embarassing thing of all.
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He brought Heskey on as he panicked. He thought we might carry on and score a third goal. Imagine the horror of winning.
Get well Stan.
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I think these youngsters show a lot of promise but that will be wasted with a poor manager like McLeish. Gardner left wing, Bannan right wing? We should have rested Albrighton back when we had a full strength squad, now he is our only fit winger he has to start.
Credit to Ireland today, I don't recall him giving the ball away once.
On the corners issue, it struck me that Given doesn't really dominate the 6 yard box, I wonder if that is part of the problem.
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He brings Heskey on when we are on for a draw. Then we lose.
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- Gabby - not at the races at the minute . watched his movement compared to Torres (absolutely non existent)
Try comparing his movement to Weimann?. Gabby was captain of his boyhood club today and needed to show leadership and desire and try to get us something out of the game. I thought Weimann worked his nuts off today and tried to make things happen, his hold up play, link up play was first class and I think we have found one for the future for sure. I'm a big fan of Gabby, but so disappointed with him today and indeed since he has had his injury this season. He just didn't appear up for it at all, which I am struggling to comprehend to be honest.
What I would say today is that I felt a little more connected with the team. Quite frankly I have had enough of the likes of Dunne, Hutton, Heskey, N'Zogbia, Warnock et al, just collecting their wages each week and not giving a shit for the club. I think we have some excellent youngsters who just need some experience now to see what they are made of. And for people saying we need experience at this tricky time, look at where experience has got us?. Lets see a little of Johnson, Carruthers and more of Gardner ( in the right position) Weimann, Lichaj etc.
The 19th minute was superb today, really made the hair on the back of the neck stand up. Made me proud to be a Villa fan and hopefully Stan realises the love and affection in which he is held by everyone concerned. I'm sure that he will battle his way through this and come out the other side to lead a fulfilling life.
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I'm just gobsmacked that fucking Torres scored. That shows you how bad things really are at B6.
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I think the effect of the ref needs to be fully appreciated when we appraise the game. Their 2nd shouldn't have stood (looked a clear handball live and nothing in the highlights I saw have changed my mind about it) and then that decision against gabby are the 2 standout terrible decisions but there were a number of others. As I said on the match thread, aside from 2-3 which were totally wrong he also never gave us a single 50-50 all game.
Aside from that I thought we actually played ok. In the first hour or so the thing that seemed to be causing us the most problems was the fact that it appeared that we'd been told to hold in 2 banks of 4 which meant Gardner and Bannan were struggling to be involved whilst they had 3 in the middle who were finding loads of space.
Looking at the players we had McLeish set the team up wrong.
Herd should've been deeper and holding just in front of the back 4 defensively he'd have been able to pick up Mata who had too much space. More importantly it'd have freed lichaj and warnock to drift forward with him filling the space if we lost the ball.
Gardner and Bannan were too wide and were on the wrong sides of the pitch. both of them were having to drift in with the ball rather than picking it up and drifting wide (and getting an overlap from the fullback).
I'd also have asked Weimann to play 5 yards deeper to try to pull Luiz out of defence leaving Gabby 1-1 with Terry.
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- Gabby - not at the races at the minute . watched his movement compared to Torres (absolutely non existent)
Try comparing his movement to Weimann?. Gabby was captain of his boyhood club today and needed to show leadership and desire and try to get us something out of the game. I thought Weimann worked his nuts off today and tried to make things happen, his hold up play, link up play was first class and I think we have found one for the future for sure. I'm a big fan of Gabby, but so disappointed with him today and indeed since he has had his injury this season. He just didn't appear up for it at all, which I am struggling to comprehend to be honest.
I disagree entirely. I thought that Gabby was excellent today, and very much worked his absolute cock off. Maybe by expectations have just gotten really low, but he very much impressed me.
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Any manager that can be quoted as saying "The gods are conspiring against us a little bit." may as well have a sandwich board saying they're out of their depth.
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I'm just gobsmacked that fucking Torres scored. That shows you how bad things really are at B6.
Walking past the Chelski fans after the game - how can they sing "He scores when he wants"? Not very often I told a few as I passed by. Should have reminded them - once in 6 months.
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Sorry but I don't agree Chipsticks. My Villa shirt which I wear to games has Gabby's name and number on the back but I thought he was only a shadow of his true self in effectivenes today. Effectiveness not effort or endeavor, efectiveness.
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We lacked the confidence / belief to have a go until the 2nd half.
Ref gave us nothing, most of his bias was subtle but the Gabby 'free kick' was outrageous.
Given the team we had available & who we were playing we can't complain about the result or our performance.
Are we in danger, yes, but I can guarantee that all 5 teams below us would swap places with us in a second. We need to show some real fight over the next few weeks, get a few players fit, cut out the bitching and pull together to get us over the line. UTV
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- Gabby - not at the races at the minute . watched his movement compared to Torres (absolutely non existent)
Try comparing his movement to Weimann?. Gabby was captain of his boyhood club today and needed to show leadership and desire and try to get us something out of the game. I thought Weimann worked his nuts off today and tried to make things happen, his hold up play, link up play was first class and I think we have found one for the future for sure. I'm a big fan of Gabby, but so disappointed with him today and indeed since he has had his injury this season. He just didn't appear up for it at all, which I am struggling to comprehend to be honest.
I disagree entirely. I thought that Gabby was excellent today, and very much worked his absolute cock off. Maybe by expectations have just gotten really low, but he very much impressed me.
I'm kind of in between. I think running very fast but ultimately into dead ends might look impressive but it never amounts to much. Yes, he chased down their defenders when they have the ball, but his job is to get into effective positions to score. He only did that once that I can recall. He had a great chance in the first half, that while it was a good save, had he been a better forward he might have done a lot better.
Gabby gets a lot of love because he is one of us. But he is limited in what he really offers as a forward and needs to have a good forward to play off to be most effective. His time with Carew and Ash/Barry was the best we will ever see of him.
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- Gabby - not at the races at the minute . watched his movement compared to Torres (absolutely non existent)
Try comparing his movement to Weimann?. Gabby was captain of his boyhood club today and needed to show leadership and desire and try to get us something out of the game. I thought Weimann worked his nuts off today and tried to make things happen, his hold up play, link up play was first class and I think we have found one for the future for sure. I'm a big fan of Gabby, but so disappointed with him today and indeed since he has had his injury this season. He just didn't appear up for it at all, which I am struggling to comprehend to be honest.
I disagree entirely. I thought that Gabby was excellent today, and very much worked his absolute cock off. Maybe by expectations have just gotten really low, but he very much impressed me.
Well as always he didnt impress me. As far as Im concerned he's not good enough to be a top flight centre forward.Doesnt score goals and if MON took him to Sunderland I would be very happy indeed!
Lets have some new blood even if its on free transfers!
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Had Gabby been on his game like he was earlier this season we may well have gotten something out of today. Not that i'm blaming, more highlighting the difference an on form and firing Gabby can make to us. I also thought Weimann was good today, although he faded after that knock he took. If fit i'd definitely start him more.
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Torres scoring was a non event. We were chasing an equaliser it didn't really count.
Our failure to defend from set pieces/corners is our undoing, time and time again. How many this year is it FFS? Even so, we had 7 academy players out there giving their all today, I'm proud of them. We should stick with them too.
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I think the effect of the ref needs to be fully appreciated when we appraise the game. Their 2nd shouldn't have stood (looked a clear handball live and nothing in the highlights I saw have changed my mind about it) and then that decision against gabby are the 2 standout terrible decisions but there were a number of others. As I said on the match thread, aside from 2-3 which were totally wrong he also never gave us a single 50-50 all game.
Aside from that I thought we actually played ok. In the first hour or so the thing that seemed to be causing us the most problems was the fact that it appeared that we'd been told to hold in 2 banks of 4 which meant Gardner and Bannan were struggling to be involved whilst they had 3 in the middle who were finding loads of space.
Looking at the players we had McLeish set the team up wrong.
Herd should've been deeper and holding just in front of the back 4 defensively he'd have been able to pick up Mata who had too much space. More importantly it'd have freed lichaj and warnock to drift forward with him filling the space if we lost the ball.
Gardner and Bannan were too wide and were on the wrong sides of the pitch. both of them were having to drift in with the ball rather than picking it up and drifting wide (and getting an overlap from the fullback).
I'd also have asked Weimann to play 5 yards deeper to try to pull Luiz out of defence leaving Gabby 1-1 with Terry.
Agree with your tactical analisys, 4-4-2 was the wrong set up today and he played players in the wrong positions to accomadae it. but what do you expect with this numpty in charge?
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Most surprising part of the afternoon was scoring twice in three minnutes, least surprising was conceding from a corner almost straight away.
I do like the look of Gardner, I think we have a player there. And Lichaj looks a better bet than Hutton.
Mention to Ireland swell. He was quality throughout - always prepared to take the ball off the young lads and support them. The one bright light amongst the overall gloom.
I just hope we can find the six points I think we need by the end of the season. Otherwise the side we saw today is likely to similar on the first day of next season in the championship.
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Beaten by the better side - The End
Going down? No way, not on your life.
Those kids were a credit to the shirt today and they will keep us up.
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I was disappointed today. When I saw the team I thought at least we would have a go at them with youthful impetus even if we got picked off by a far better technical team. A bit like the Man U game last season. Unfortunately I got the impression that they were frightened of Chelsea and scared of committing themselves forward - now I wonder why that may have been? Have we seen this timidity elsewhere this season?
Then there was the playing of Bannan and Gardner. Ok if you are going to start them out wide on their "wrong" foot but surely you mix it up a bit and swap them over at times during the game? But no, there was no technical changes made until Albrighton came on for Herd and even then he went on his "wrong" side and Bannan stayed out wide right.
I was also disappointed with Bannan. I think he needs to have a look at himself. Ok, maybe he shouldn't be asked to play in that position but he was and it was up to him to put the effort in and try and get a grip on things. Instead he appeared to be happy to stay on the periphery and when he did get the ball often attempted the ambitious balls which were generally gobbled up by the defence. Also if you are the wide man when the ball/player goes down the opposite wing you make a run into the box at the far post just in case the cross does come in e.g. Lichaz's goal a perfect example. Barry doesn't do this preferring to hang back on the edge of the box. On two occasions in the first half he may well have had success with crosses that went across the face of the goal to the far post if he had only made the effort to get in there.
A couple of further thoughts about our youngsters - thought Herd's passing was not very good today, often got the ball and then gave it away which makes life awfully difficult at this level, and am a bit concerned about Gary Gardner's apparent lack of pace. The times I have seen him he does not appear to be very quick in relation to opponents, am not saying he should be a Gabby but the opposition seem to be able to cut him out fairly comfortably. Hope I am wrong but he should be getting up to speed of the league now and I thought he would find space for himself a lot better than he does.
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I thought it looked like Gabby was playing the deeper role behind Anders at times which is just odd, surely you want Gabby playing up against Terry to use his pace on the turn. Having said that after a terrible drive home I still think we will stay just say up. But we really need an overhaul of the senior members of the squad to support the kids some of whom have great promise. Oh and can someone please explain how a manager who used to be a defender cant stop his team conceding almost everytime we face a corner - we might as well just give the opponents a goal and kick off straight away to save time!
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Credit where its due - the kids gave it a real go today!
have not got a clue why we brought the sack of spuds on with 10 mins to go - I assume it was some daft attempt to save a 2-2 draw??
anyway I didn`t expect to win but was pleased we scored and even more so that we made a decent fist of it - up until the 80 minute mark when it looked as though we was playing with a "fuck you AM" attitude
Play like that from know until the end of the season we may stay up!!!
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I was also disappointed with Bannan. I think he needs to have a look at himself. Ok, maybe he shouldn't be asked to play in that position but he was and it was up to him to put the effort in and try and get a grip on things. Instead he appeared to be happy to stay on the periphery and when he did get the ball often attempted the ambitious balls which were generally gobbled up by the defence. Also if you are the wide man when the ball/player goes down the opposite wing you make a run into the box at the far post just in case the cross does come in e.g. Lichaz's goal a perfect example. Barry doesn't do this preferring to hang back on the edge of the box. On two occasions in the first half he may well have had success with crosses that went across the face of the goal to the far post if he had only made the effort to get in there.
See I saw the whole staying on the periphery as a tactical thing more than anything. He looked happy to collect the ball but looked like someone had tied him to the touchline for most of the game, having seen him play under GH and in the reserves I'd say that was actually him trying to ensure he played to the role he was given rather than him naturally not staying there.
As for not following in on the backpost but going to the edge of the box instead... that's exactly why he was out of position, his natural game as a central midfielder is to drift into that gap at the edge and try to pick up the 2nd ball. This is why I think we should've been encouraging the fullbacks to be much higher up the pitch. Lichaj scored when he was given the freedom to get up and support the attack so it clearly is worth looking at.
I genuinely think our players are being asked to play a style which they're not comfortable with and because of that some of them are playing well within themselves. I think Delph suffered massively from that at the start of the season as well.
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It was men against boys today but the boys did well. Chelsea have been in good form since AVB was sacked so it was always a tough ask, made even harder when Baker was drafted in. Where was Cuellar?
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Thigh strain, should be back for the next match.
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Strange game.
Each of Chelsea's first two goals we conceeded it felt like "so what" - almost no reaction from the Villa support.
At 70 minutes, it felt like we'd given up. If the guy I was sat with had suggested going to the pub I'd have gone there and then.
Within ten minutes we were level, sparked by the introduction of Albrighton.
Then the incident with Terry and Agbonlahor seemed to turn the game. Chelsea went on to score (a soft goal) from the corner just afterwards, then that fifty-million quid's worth of shit got a forth for them.
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Really missed Cuellar today, Baker looked out of his depth.
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Really missed Cuellar today, Baker looked out of his depth.
I disagree. I thought that Baker generally looked fairly assured and comfortable.
One thing I did notice though is how our kids seem to all have a 'thing'. Like their own personal trademark. Baker's is the unneccessary diving header (one of which led to their first goal) and Weimann's is the unneccessary sliding tackle (he spent half the game sliding around).
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Though we lost and are getting closer to the drop zone,I get a feeling of real pride from todays game,which we haven't had for a while,the crowd were great and having so many products of our youth system never giving up was a real source of pride.
I'm gonna watch our game on Motd,then for the second night in a row watch The Big Match Villa dvd I've just bought(a fiver from the club shop),and watch heroes from our past who played before I was born. All the best Stan,and UTV.
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Really missed Cuellar today, Baker looked out of his depth.
I'm not convinced by Baker at all, the Bolton away game last season he was at fault for both Cahills goals.
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Trouble is, Baker is it.
there is no one else.
at all
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Great effort from the young players, and I thought Lichaj and Weimann played particularly well.
I have to agree with the poster who expressed dismay at how quickly the crowd were deflated so quickly after the positive energy of tribute to Petrov, and I have to confess that I was unable to celebrate our equalizer with my usual gusto, because I was sure that they would go up a gear and score gain.
At least I had a very large wager on Shagnasty Cuntybollox scoring against us.
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Trouble is, Baker is it.
there is no one else.
at all
Well they reckon CC will be fit for next week, fingers crossed
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The number of posts I've read over the years that say: 'I don't mind losing so long as we give it a go' or 'he should play the kids, they couldn't do any worse, and at least they want to play for the Villa.'
Well, the kids gave it a go, and we still got caned by those wankers.
Next please
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Trouble is, Baker is it.
there is no one else.
at all
Well they reckon CC will be fit for next week, fingers crossed
And to think Cuellar was almost sold to Rangers earlier this season. If they had had the proverbial pot to piss in and had stumped up the cash we would now be in serious trouble defensively.
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Trouble is, Baker is it.
there is no one else.
at all
Well they reckon CC will be fit for next week, fingers crossed
Hope so. For all the luck we had with injuries under MON its certainly deserted us under the last two managers. Now we just need to find some out of contract old git midfielder to cover for Stan.
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Thought the kids did ok - but only ok.
They will improve with experience but a few at a time, not 7 or 8 of them making up the team!
Bannan still baffles me - looks great until he knocks balls randomly in the general direction of someone wearing boots and crosses balls that seem to be meant for the keeper to practise his catching skills.
I am now seriously worried.
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Thought the kids did ok - but only ok.
They will improve with experience but a few at a time, not 7 or 8 of them making up the team!
Bannan still baffles me - looks great until he knocks balls randomly in the general direction of someone wearing boots and crosses balls that seem to be meant for the keeper to practise his catching skills.
I am now seriously worried.
Bannan has something but he is always looking for the killer pass, regardless of where he is on the field. He needs to learn quickly that sometimes the easy pass is more effective.
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Trouble is, Baker is it.
there is no one else.
at all
Well they reckon CC will be fit for next week, fingers crossed
Hope so. For all the luck we had with injuries under MON its certainly deserted us under the last two managers. Now we just need to find some out of contract old git midfielder to cover for Stan.
Bring back Ian Taylor - he might not be fit but he'd raise the spirits.
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Thought the kids did ok - but only ok.
They will improve with experience but a few at a time, not 7 or 8 of them making up the team!
Bannan still baffles me - looks great until he knocks balls randomly in the general direction of someone wearing boots and crosses balls that seem to be meant for the keeper to practise his catching skills.
I am now seriously worried.
Bannan has something but he is always looking for the killer pass, regardless of where he is on the field. He needs to learn quickly that sometimes the easy pass is more effective.
Like a few of the kids have shown, they do better with more experienced players around them: Clarke, Herd, Lichaj etc have fitted in well and played some good stuff.
Bannan clearly has talent but he does tend to scurry around a lot not doing much. Linking play with the easy pass would be a big improvement.
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Villa were plucky enough to take the game to Yelsea, and get back level pegging as they start to really wobble.
Pictures of Di Matteo showed him looking dumbfounded. He must have been worried as he'd used all his subs so can't change anything, and given their recent poor away record thought his team might possibly lose the game. He then desperately looks around and sees Heskey emerging from the Villa bench, turned to his own and said 'Don't worry lads, they've just thrown it away.'
And they did.
Heskey coming on had fuck all to do with anything.
I think remove the words 'coming on' and you would be about right.
On 80 mins we equalised. The only change of personnel by both teams after that was Heskey coming for Villa on 82 mins, when Chelsea were wobbling. They then scored two goals.
You're evident dislike of Heskey is affecting your rationality.
Don't dislike him, just thought bringing him on punctured our momentum of taking the game to them. It was a message that we are going to play for the draw, which proved defeatist both metaphorically and in the end, literally.
It wasn't in the least bit defeatist or evidence we were playing for a draw. He brought him on to replace a tired young forward. I really don't see the issue.
I disagree TV, and I actually think he was on in part to defend set pieces etc. The fact we conceded from a corner with 2 non challenged headers was criminal. Heskey should be right there at the front post battering the ball away.
Exactly ozz.
And when Chelsea got the corner, Heskey ended up somewhere near the back post. Couldn't understand it.
Under MON we always used to put Carew at the front post to head corners away and we went a long time without conceding from one.
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That still doean't make it his fault though. If he's defending at the back post and they score at the near post that becomes the responsibility of the goalkeeper and the defenders that should have been picking up Ivanovich.
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Corners FFS, probably the most frustrating aspect of our play all season as it's been a solvable problem all season that's not exactly rocket science.
Our defending of corners this season has been absolutley dreadful.
We just look totally disorganised, like we are making it up as we go. What the heck do they do at BH every week???
Bigman to clear up the front, two men on the posts and pick up the runners. We never do it.
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Under MON we always used to put Carew at the front post to head corners away and we went a long time without conceding from one.
I think it might have had something to do with Laursen and Mellberg too!
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Corners FFS, probably the most frustrating aspect of our play all season as it's been a solvable problem all season that's not exactly rocket science.
Our defending of corners this season has been absolutley dreadful.
We just look totally disorganised, like we are making it up as we go. What the heck do they do at BH every week???
Bigman to clear up the front, two men on the posts and pick up the runners. We never do it.
And when McLeish sends Heskey on, surely his last words are get front post and win the ball at corners!
Baker lost Ivanovic twice for the goals, he looked fine in general play but his set piece defending is not great at all from what we have seen so far. Cuellar being back next week is a must. Trouble is in midfield this is it now. Herd is struggling a bit in fairness, and needs a hand, Gardner does not look comfortable playing deep alongside him, he should be further up the pitch. Bannan played some lovely balls through today in fairness, and hit some poor ones, but at least he looks for the ball in behind that Gabby might do something from. Ireland put himself about which was pleasing. I would give a couple of teeth for a win at Anfield next week now though.
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We lacked the confidence / belief to have a go until the 2nd half.
Ref gave us nothing, most of his bias was subtle but the Gabby 'free kick' was outrageous.
Given the team we had available & who we were playing we can't complain about the result or our performance.
Are we in danger, yes, but I can guarantee that all 5 teams below us would swap places with us in a second. We need to show some real fight over the next few weeks, get a few players fit, cut out the bitching and pull together to get us over the line. UTV
Spot on. No campaigning to get rid of the manager and all the negative stuff. We've got to stick together, get behind the team and get the wins. The young lads today put in a sterling shift and they will learn a huge amount from today's game. If we all stick together I've no doubt we will stay up.
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TERRIBLE BORING SHIT. NO PASSION, NO TEAM PLAN, THE MANAGER IS A USELESS TWAT. A COMPLETE FUKIN SHAMBLES
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Oh my word, what an absolute bollocks decision by the ref that was, Gabbys always had the beating of 'England stalwart John Terry', simply shit decision that was'nt even questionable.
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So MOTD didn't mention the potential handball for their second or the Gabby decision. Anyone else surprised?
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
What do you think?
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I really hope Eck finds something to keep us up this season, but I also hope he goes at the end of the season. I think we'll stay up, simply because Wolves are doomed, QPR won today but I don't think they'll win another of their tougher games in the run-in (and their run-in is mostly tougher games), and SURELY Wigan are finally going down this year - but I think, given Bolton and Blackburn's form, it may well be between Wigan and Villa late in the season.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
To be honest I don't think many of us could lead a circus. Looks a tough job.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Their time is limited, I thought they would have showed Gabby's first half chance that Cech saved with his foot, but in context showing Collins header was probably more sensible for analysis, only they didn't discuss it!
The ref had a shocker, the linesman's reaction to the Gabby incident tells everyone there was no foul, Chelsea were the better team, deserved their win but they did not need the ref's help.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
To be honest I don't think many of us could lead a circus. Looks a tough job.
Plenty of managers available. Lerner has Shit in his eyes. I'd even take Warnock over our current clown of a manager.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
No we weren't. Shit or fukin (sic) shocking is losing 7-1 against Chelsea with pretty much your strongest 11. Losing 4-2 the day after your captain is diagnosed with leukaemia and 12 academy players are in your 18 man squad is slightly different.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Their time is limited, I thought they would have showed Gabby's first half chance that Cech saved with his foot, but in context showing Collins header was probably more sensible for analysis, only they didn't discuss it!
The ref had a shocker, the linesman's reaction to the Gabby incident tells everyone there was no foul, Chelsea were the better team, deserved their win but they did not need the ref's help.
Anyone want to bet if it had been a Torres shot that the keeper had jammed onto the bar it would have been shown?
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Apparently on BBC WM McLeish said he expected a relegation scrap when he took over. ?!?!??!
Can anyone confirm this?
Well he is making sure his expectations are met.
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I've seen highlights of the game and I think that John Terry business is a bit of a fucking disgrace. I'm not a horrible person in real life but it's difficult to not want something bad to happen to him every hour of every day, forever.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
To be honest I don't think many of us could lead a circus. Looks a tough job.
:)
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
To be honest I don't think many of us could lead a circus. Looks a tough job.
Plenty of managers available. Lerner has Shit in his eyes. I'd even take Warnock over our current clown of a manager.
Are you suggesting the clowns run the circus?
Sorry, I'm trolling. I happen to agree with you, but we can only hope we stay up and THEN get rid of the manager to give us better hiring options in the summer. Probably a vain hope.
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But the fact that were in this position, with such a thin squad is inexcusable Whatever way you look at if
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
To be honest I don't think many of us could lead a circus. Looks a tough job.
It must be a logistical nightmare, getting from place to place with all those animals to transport and keep fed.
Hats off to the Gerry Cottles of the world.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
To be honest I don't think many of us could lead a circus. Looks a tough job.
It must be a logistical nightmare, getting from place to place with all those animals to transport and keep fed.
Hats off to the Gerry Cottles of the world.
I mean the organisational skills involved. You have such a varied group of performers with very different needs and potential problems, including the animals, so you have to know the ins and outs of all of them to be able to help. Tightrope walkers, trapeze artists, lion tamers, clowns - all sorts really. Here's to circus runners.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
No we weren't. Shit or fukin (sic) shocking is losing 7-1 against Chelsea with pretty much your strongest 11. Losing 4-2 the day after your captain is diagnosed with leukaemia and 12 academy players are in your 18 man squad is slightly different.
So 70 minutes and a scuffed Gabby shot on target is good? Add to that a full 90 mins against Arsenal were we didn't have a shot on target. One thing is certain our defending is fukin shit.
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I am proud of our kids who played today. Bad result but I am not going to criticise the team. As for McLeish no point in poking more sticks in to a dead body.
I shudder to think how he has brought us to this juncture.
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
To be honest I don't think many of us could lead a circus. Looks a tough job.
It must be a logistical nightmare, getting from place to place with all those animals to transport and keep fed.
Hats off to the Gerry Cottles of the world.
I mean the organisational skills involved. You have such a varied group of performers with very different needs and potential problems, including the animals, so you have to know the ins and outs of all of them to be able to help. Tightrope walkers, trapeze artists, lion tamers, clowns - all sorts really. Here's to circus runners.
Well, McLeish obviously struggles to handle the clowns
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
No we weren't. Shit or fukin (sic) shocking is losing 7-1 against Chelsea with pretty much your strongest 11. Losing 4-2 the day after your captain is diagnosed with leukaemia and 12 academy players are in your 18 man squad is slightly different.
So 70 minutes and a scuffed Gabby shot on target is good? Add to that a full 90 mins against Arsenal were we didn't have a shot on target. One thing is certain our defending is fukin shit.
Arsenal has nothing to do wether whether we were or weren't shit today. We were shit there, same as were at home to Liverpool and away to Spurs. Surely you can spot the difference between us being shit in those games and what went on today?
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
No we weren't. Shit or fukin (sic) shocking is losing 7-1 against Chelsea with pretty much your strongest 11. Losing 4-2 the day after your captain is diagnosed with leukaemia and 12 academy players are in your 18 man squad is slightly different.
So 70 minutes and a scuffed Gabby shot on target is good? Add to that a full 90 mins against Arsenal were we didn't have a shot on target. One thing is certain our defending is fukin shit.
Yes, obviously the likes of Weimann, Herd and Lichaj should have easily outplayed the likes of Terry, Mata and Lampard.
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Aren't animals banned in circuses now ?
Where's Burt Lancaster when you need him ?
PS sorry I'm pissed
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Did they mention villa were shit?
No. Because by any stretch of the imagination, we weren't shit.
Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
No we weren't. Shit or fukin (sic) shocking is losing 7-1 against Chelsea with pretty much your strongest 11. Losing 4-2 the day after your captain is diagnosed with leukaemia and 12 academy players are in your 18 man squad is slightly different.
So 70 minutes and a scuffed Gabby shot on target is good? Add to that a full 90 mins against Arsenal were we didn't have a shot on target. One thing is certain our defending is fukin shit.
Yes, obviously the likes of Weimann, Herd and Lichaj should have easily outplayed the likes of Terry, Mata and Lampard.
A Swansea team of unknowns outplayed Villa for 90 minutes a few games ago. Might be a fluke season but just shows how inept our current chairman is of appointing football managers. I see the Villa spin machine has got you in its grip
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Well the commentator mentioned the Agbonlahor incident but the pundits saw fit not to.
And, no, I'm not surprised.
Their time is limited, I thought they would have showed Gabby's first half chance that Cech saved with his foot, but in context showing Collins header was probably more sensible for analysis, only they didn't discuss it!
The ref had a shocker, the linesman's reaction to the Gabby incident tells everyone there was no foul, Chelsea were the better team, deserved their win but they did not need the ref's help.
Ref's performance was truly inept. I expected MOTD to feature it!
Not a mention of any of the incidents where ref Mason gave everything that Terry appealed for, including the obvious Gabby one. And Baker getting his head kicked off for their first goal. Or holding up the game while Cahill retrieved his boot and sat down to put it on. A fine example to young players and budding referees everywhere!
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Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
Surely leading a circus is quite challenging and difficult ?
Firstly there are all those animals to look after, the vet bills must be enormous, the animals might escape, or not do what they have been trained to do. The acrobats might slip and fall. The clowns might not be funny. The female ringmaster might fall pregnant.Then there is all that putting the tent up and down, and selling tickets in different towns. And you have the animal rights campaigners to deal with, and the different legislation in different local authority areas. If the weather is bad it might affect audiences, and a muddy site wouldn't be very nice, and be difficult to keep clean. The generators might also be vulnerable if there was a shortage of fuel during a fuel delivery crisis.
Just thought that I would mention it...........
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Rubbish. We were fukin shocking. Young team yes but led by a complete twat of a manager that couldnt lead a circus.
Surely leading a circus is quite challengingand difficult ?
Firstly there are all those animals to look after, the vet bills must be enormous, the animals might escape, or not do what they have been trained to do. The acrobats might slip and fall. The clowns might not be funny. The female ringmaster might fall pregnant.Then there is all that putting the tent up and down, and selling tickets in different towns. And you have the animal rights campaigners to deal with, and the different legislation in different local authority areas. If the weather is bad it might affect audiences, and a muddy site wouldn't be very nice, and be difficult to keep clean. The generators might also be vulnerable if there was a shortage of fuel during a fuel delivery crisis.
Just thought that I would mention it...........
Like me you must of thought the game was shit. To be fair what you just wrote was more interesting than the game
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A Swansea team of unknowns outplayed Villa for 90 minutes a few games ago. Might be a fluke season but just shows how inept our current chairman is of appointing football managers. I see the Villa spin machine has got you in its grip
We got exactly what I expected we would get out of the game today. You on the other hand seem to think that a team missing eight first-choice players should have just turned up and walked all over one of the best teams in Europe. And apparently I'm the one that doesn't get it.
Looking at the time, is it a fairly safe bet that you're just back from the pub?
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A Swansea team of unknowns outplayed Villa for 90 minutes a few games ago. Might be a fluke season but just shows how inept our current chairman is of appointing football managers. I see the Villa spin machine has got you in its grip
We got exactly what I expected we would get out of the game today. You on the other hand seem to think that a team missing eight first-choice players should have just turned up and walked all over one of the best teams in Europe. And apparently I'm the one that doesn't get it.
Best teams in Europe? I'm with you about expecting anything result wise but the football today was dire. Add to that an inept manager itching to bring on Heskey to beef up our attack. The place is a shambles
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Or holding up the game while Cahill retrieved his boot and sat down to put it on. A fine example to young players and budding referees everywhere!
I forgot about that one, even a Sunday league ref knows you can't do that. Really, Chelsea did not need the ref's assistance, they were by far the better side.
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How about the fact that Mata was offside for their first goal which also should have been called? Not understanding so me of the decisions today, but if we cannot defend corners more regularly, we do not deserve to win!!!!!
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How about the fact that Mata was offside for their first goal which also should have been called? Not understanding so me of the decisions today, but if we cannot defend corners more regularly, we do not deserve to win!!!!!
Its been the same all season and the manager hasn't been able to do anything about it. You'd think they'd have a system in place by now.
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Soz if I've missed some previous points as I've been out but as mentioned previously we did apparently have eight first team players missing - I haven't counted them. However as we all know, injury pile ups happen from time to time. Indeed it happened to us last season in the run up to Christmas. Maybe the board thought it couldn't happen for 2 seasons running but it has. The decision to consistently sell our best players and hope that the kids would come through and then sell all and sundry so that we have a squad so bereft of depth that when injuries strike like they have recently, we're calling youths up is down to policy. Yes it was probably mad to think we could beat Chelsea today with the team we put out but it wasn't a bit of bad luck, it was down to the policy of the club since MON left. I know I'm going over old ground but we haven't arrived here because of a bit of misfortune, we are just about where we deserve to be.
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The problem today is that McLeish has got no brownie points with which to take a defeat like the one we just saw. we are in a lot of trouble and may not get out of it. I also have to say that I thought Ireland was rank rotten today.
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The problem today is that McLeish has got no brownie points with which to take a defeat like the one we just saw. we are in a lot of trouble and may not get out of it. I also have to say that I thought Ireland was rank rotten today.
Funny, I thought Ireland was one of our best today! Oh well, different perspectives...
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Counted the first team players we actually had available today, and I came to ten, which included Herd, Bannan and Albrighton. Thought we played really well and the kids did themselves so so proud. I hope that Baker, Gardner, Weimann etc get the chance to cement their place in the team ahead of wasters like Dunne....
I spoke to a nose after the match who mentioned that we are just 5 points clear of the relegation zone and started talking about the possibilities. After the news about Stan I genuinely couldn't care less if we go down as long as he gets well again. Really puts Football in perspective and it is a shame that a strong performance against a top team, like todays, had to come under those circumstances.
Well done to everyone involved with the 19th minute applause. Absolutely superb.
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First of all, you'll get through this Stan! Good luck to you my friend-I met him once and he was a gentleman. Today was a game I was strangely looking forward to, given our recent home games with Chelsea-the 3-2 on easter monday in 2004 and the 2-0 September home game in 2007 when Abramovich left early and Doug shook his hand. Chelsea played ok, but I thought we should have hassled them more, with a little more discipline. At 2-0, I just wanted us to take a chance, press a bit, make chances, but we struggled. Then Collins and Lichaij sent me running around the house in joy....how shit that we just couldn't keep our concentration....4-2 was harsh and I think for all the efforts of the kids, we deserved a draw. Just. The Cech save from Gabby was luck at its peak and the referee had a shocker-but what is fucking new there.......worrying times, but I hope we will surprise everyone next week at Anfield. Just have a go at them and make sure we stay solid, which seems hard right now.
Up the fucking Villa
I love you Stan and my thoughts are with you
I love you Villa and will support you each week, wherever you play and whoever you play
Mcleish, I do not like you at all, I hate how you are 'developing' our young players...ruining their prospects by misusing them....Gardner and Bannan MUST play central midfield if they are going to be in the starting 11. Or what is the point? It was evident when Albrighton came on how much we needed a player to be playing in the position, albeit on the left(am I correct?!). Bottom line is, play the correct players in the correct position Mcleish or you'll keep losing.
Emile Heskey-the mere sight of you must invoke a sigh amongst each Villa player, supporter and even, empty seats, when you come on. It is a horrible sight to see you playing for Villa. It makes me feel angry. Nothing personal-we are both Leicester born, and my dad, being a big Leicester(and Villa) fan introduced me numerous times to Emile in shopping centres or streets in Leicester-he was always a nice bloke, very shy. Just as a footballer, he frustrates me.
Rant over.
Up the Villa!!!!
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What a shamble Mr Lerner has created in the last two seasons! We flirted with relegation to a degree last year, but with Young, Downing, Walker and a fit Darren Bent I was confident of beating the drop. Now with the squad minus the above and an horrendous injury list we're in deep trouble. But to me, the appointment of McLeish was plain stupid, and then not to spend on replacements for the outgoing players was just dumb. Lerner had the chance to spend in January but only got Robbie Keane short term and now look at the mess he's got us into! I say 'he' because it's Lerner's decisions that have got us to where we are now. The bloke is just hopeless at decisions and has proceeded tp wreck the club. Any protests should be directed at RL and as for the General.... don't get me started!
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It was a good game, a brilliant tribute to Stan, I wish I could have been there. It was emotional watching on the TV let alone in the ground.
Fair play to the line up, they played very well considering the conditions, expectations and lack of experience. At times they looked naive but that is to be expected. They played there hearts out against a team who is very good and who also are now on a upturn of form. Well done to them all, McLeish included.
At times this season I have been at a loss to the performance and also some of the decisions from the boss but not today. How anyone can use yesterday to have a bash it him just shows some of the views have been very single minded from the offset.
Well done to all the who orgainised 19th minute (which I think Peter, Legion and Dave have a big part to play) the club and all the fans from both teams who gave Stan such a fitting tribute. Very emotional.
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I expect the greatest challenge of running a circus is man-management. Making sure the clowns take their medication, so they don't get depressed and start crying during the show; that the Chinese acrobats don't get into debt playing mah-jongg all night and have to run away from Triad debt collectors; and that your sexually conflicted strongman doesn't burst the lock of your caravan in the middle of the night, and rape you
That kind of stuff
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The clowns' car that falls to bits must be a bastard to get through an MOT though.
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For all the ones stating what do you expect to get against Chelsea, it isn't about expectation, it is about need. If we hadn't wasted most of our easier games against lower opposition we would not be needing to win. Did anyone tell QPR or Wigan they shouldn't be getting points against Arsenal and Liverpool?
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I'm getting a bit confused.I went to the game yday and i don't think i watched the same game as some of you.
Given......does'nt help his defence by not dominating his 6 yard box, does'nt come to collect the ball.What is he on £60k per week, not sure we need to spend that kind of money on other positions.
Eric.....i like him.Committed , quick, likes to play football, supports the attack, looks a good prospect.Play him until the end of the season.
Collins....same as ever, committed, gives the ball away cheapley, not sure he should'nt have done better for both of the corners.Prefer Cuellar.
Baker.......for me looks a better player than Cahill did at that age.Plays the ball out well, always tries to keep possession, is quick, don't remember Torres, who is still a good player by the way, getting past him once, in fact i was quite confident that Baker could cope with him.He is 19, and for me looks a very good prospect, because of his pace, probably a better prospect than Clark.
Warnock.....same old, but has lost a lot of pace tbh, Torres just went past him so easily in the 2nd half, and he was too slow to close Torres shot down for the 4th.Needs replacing asap.
Herd......i like Herd, but i think he has been off the pace since injury.Did'nt close down quick enough yday, allowed them too much time on the ball.If he plays like he did earlier in the season, then should be a 1st teamer next year.
Ireland....probably my MOM.Not his best game, but keeps trying , and keeps working.Always tries to be positive.Was'nt sure if he could play in a 4 man midfield, but he can.
GG.............not his position, keeps the ball well, good attitude, will be a good player for Villa.Not on the left though.
Bannan......started off poorly, got better.Nice footballer, always looks for a pass, worked hard at closing Cole down.Did'nt have a bad game overall.
Weimann.......great movement off the ball, good 1st time layoffs, always enthusiastic, good potential.Not alongside Gabby though.
Gabby.......someone said to me after the game that if Bent had started instead of Gabby then we would have won.I'm not sure that would have been the case but i know what he means.Gabby is at a crossroads, he needs to supplement his burning pace by improving his all round game.He does'nt hold the ball up good enough, his movement off the ball is non-existant, he reacts rather than anticipates, he's not the best finisher.Put it this way, is MON offered £10m and we could get Scott Sinclair then i might be tempted.
Albrighton....glad to say he played better yday.I do prefer him on the left tbh, and thought we should have used him more when he came on.Still needs to toughen up though.
Super Emile......you got what you always get.Worked hard, held the ball up ok, does'nt look like scoring.A good professional, just not a good player.
Overall, with Weimann , GG, Bannan and Ireland in midfield i thought the movement and passing was much better on occassions yday.Weimanns movement and lay offs in partic were opening up spaces, that with a bit more confidence/belief, Ireland and GG would be able to take advantage of better, with better running off the ball than Gabby did.I did'nt fancy our chances yday, but was pleasantly surprised by the performance.We need some of our more experienced players back to get us out of the shit that they put us in, but i thought all the kids played well.
The 19th minute support for Stylian , and before the match as well, was very touching, and dignified, and the Chelsk fans were very good with it as well.
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Brilliant, spot-on post by barrysleftfoot in every respect.
Also, clearly we need to avoid the dreaded drop but I'm confident about next season if we do! Despite yesterday's admirable support for Petrov, I thought the lack odf support for a very inexperienced team who played really well was shocking. A bit more noise from the crowd to support a team in a very challenging situation might have produced even more from them.
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I know this stats stuff doesent mean much but after 31 games last season we were 16th on 34 points with West Ham in 18th on 32 so only 2 points clear of the bottom 3, the strugglers were quite a few points better off last term , the big difference is the squad was a lot stronger last year but even so after a good nights sleep I once again think we will do enough to survive but it will be a scarey ride.
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Agree Barrysleftfoot , Given is a great shot stopper but he doesn't dominate his area..there's a reason Hart displaced him at City.
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Can I do my "Is Stefan Postma the Ringmaster" joke now?
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Don't wish to be churlish, but why is it being reported that Chelsea fans were singing "One Stilyan Petrov"? They retorted with "One DiMatteo"
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Reading the performance review of the young players actually makes me quite optimistic for the future. Not that I think we can avoid relegation, I think that's where we are now headed, but because we might have the makings of a good Championship side. Perhaps not enough to get us back into the PL but at least win more games than we lose. That would be a nice change.
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What I saw yesterday has given me a lot of faith in the future of our team.
What was probably the most inexperienced Villa team seen at Villa Park for many a year gave the Champs League quarter finalists a good game, yes a little naive at times but they will have learned from yesterday and I honestly believe that the same starting eleven could give Liverpool a doing over. But I'll save that for the prematch thread.
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I was proud of our youngsters putting a shift in against Chelsea I was emotional when the 19th minute came well observed with a bit more luck we could of got a draw.
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I was proud of our youngsters putting a shift in against Chelsea I was emotional when the 19th minute came well observed with a bit more luck we could of got a draw.
Why do Villa have to ruin everything by again writing fairytales for other people/teams?
For some reason letting Torres score his first goal in 10,000 years (which is what he is paid to do) gets precedence in some quarters of the media over Stan's attendance and ovation at the game.
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I went out after the game yesterday to a family event, and ended up watching MOTD with the benefit of beer goggles. Given how good [for wont of a better word] the 19th minute was, felt Gary Lineker et al discussed Stan in a moving way too. As for the game itself, it was a strange one imo. Gobsmacked that we managed, briefly to equalise. Thought the ref was awful. Overall it just felt weird to me.
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Fair play to the kids for playing the way they did against a top european team, we weren't in it for three quarters of the game but with a bit more luck we could have got a point. We are in trouble and the support we had yesterday is the only thing that can get us out of it.
Well done to the fans and best of luck Stan.
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Proud of the kids, gutted with the result, dismayed by the ref, understand why so many women (supposedly) have slept with Terry, easily the biggest cock in the premier league. Most of all moved by the Petrov stuff. Have to admit I have not been his biggest fan on the pitch over the past two years, but off it, a true gentleman, and I wish him all the best
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Thought the youngsters done really well against a full strength Chelski. Albrighton done well when he came on, was surprised he did not start and Baker done really well. The ref was awful for the whole game though.
The 19th min applause for Stan was fantastic.
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Baker lost his man at corners but it must have been difficult for the kid coming in at the last minute, so no blame from me!
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Goals, etc... (http://www.101greatgoals.com/category/goals/england/)