Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on April 09, 2012, 09:47:11 AM
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Available Monday evening.
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Stoke really are a detestable bunch of wankers.
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Dreadful, thank God for Wiemann
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Absolute fucking garbage.
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We continue to limp towards safety. If we tried to play football we would have beaten the disgrace that are Stoke City. Brilliant goal from Weimann and that was our only bit of football. The sooner Mcleish goes the better, it was utterly predictable that they would equalise.
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Fantastic game, one point closer to safety.
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Unable to defend a lead again ..39% possession at one point ..useless
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Its hard to tell who the purveyors of anti football were then.......
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Dire.
Me and mate both ST holders, didn't go down today and glad I didn't. All too predictable.
Been offered ticket for OT next week. Absolutely no chance.
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Unable to defend a lead again ..39% possession at one point ..useless
39% possession for the second half to be precise.
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I really do fucking hate Stoke, anti football, boring time wasting wankers. And that fucking diving cheat Pennant. Really does fuck me off more than anything
Absolutely raging, fuck off Mike Dean
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Another 'win' for McDonut
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Gabby Agbonlahor, WHERE ARE YOU?
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I have multiple match sticks holding open my eyes
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That match was truly horrendous to watch.
Bar the goal, did we even have a shot on target? I hate what this man is doing to this club.
I only hope randy looks around at the 13,000 empty seats, looks at the table, and fucking well wakes up. Quickly.
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I wonder if there will ever be a classic played between Villa and Stoke?
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The refereeing across the board, Dean and the Linesman was GOD AWFUL. Cost us the game if you ask me.
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The sitting back after scoring again is just not acceptable.
AM, you are the pits.
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Never a free kick for their goal, some disgraceful decisions. Worst still it was engineered by that diving little shite Jermaine fucking Pennant. Piss poor and I'm royally fucked off.
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That match was truly horrendous to watch.
Bar the goal, did we even have a shot on target? I hate what this man is doing to this club.
I only hope randy looks around at the 13,000 empty seats, looks at the table, and fucking well wakes up. Quickly.
this x100. were are embarrasing
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Poor draw. We shoulda won it.. Weimann looks the real deal. Herd continues to impress (and thank you linesman, for causing his injury).
Fed up of Bannan/N'Zog wide right and Gardner on the left.. it's stupid.
I've heard fantastic things for a long time about Gards, and he's looked great in the NextGen and for England youth.. but I think he needs to do more when he plays. As stated earlier, sometimes he's wide left (which is stupid) so to a degree I understand.
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Well going to be absolutely ecstatic about this, we got a point....................that's a further point towards safety a point closer to the end of this crap awful season and the end of the Alex McLeish reign.
That's all I can comment to this piss awful football.
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Plenty of effort , little quality apart from a great goal by weimann, stupid free kick given away by gardners needless challenge and hutton was very poor -overall another point but another poor game to watch -lets hope mcleish goes soon.
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Hutton and Ireland were shit! Baker, Collins, Weimann excellent.
Gabby cannot play with his back to goal, I actually wanted Heskey on earlier, as Stoke is probably the only game made especially for the big cart horse. As soon as it became clear Ireland had decided to take a day off, he should have been taken off.
Overall, I hope we are last on MOTD, tell your friends to tune out before this game comes on!
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Stoke really are a detestable bunch of wankers.
They are.
We, on the other hand are shite. A brilliant finish from Wiemann aside, we created next to nothing. I don't know what I expected really, us playing them, but it still made me lose my temper.
Their goal was a dubious free kick and a clear foul in the area. A classic Pennant dive and a typical cheap suit / rash performance from Robert fucking Huth. Predicatable? Yes.
We are destined to suffer this bollocks all the way into May I fear.
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Unable to defend a lead again ..39% possession at one point ..useless
39% possession for the second half to be precise.
53% possession overall according to the BBC.
To put that into perspective, that's the second time that Stoke have had more possession in a league game since they were promoted in 2008.
We can feel very proud of ourselves.
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It will cost Randy much, more than the compensation that he'll have to pay out if he retains McLeish. I really don't give a fuck if people/media say we never gave him a chance or that it's because he was a former Birmingham manager. He's boring me into not caring and that makes me angry.
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I gave up my season ticket and now I can't even be bothered to look for a stream anymore. Watched a film instead. Just followed it via Twitter and that was more exciting than watching the game.
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It feels like we're watching a slow painful death every week. Our collective throat was slit two years ago and we've been bleeding ever since.
Randy wake up!!!!!!!!!!! We are on a one way train to the championship. Only luck and the incompetence of others will keep us up this year.
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Another glorious draw to add to the magnificent tally for the season!!
Better than being drubbed, I suppose, but sooo boring.
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Great finish by Wiemann but what a dire game. Just get this season over with and put us out of our misery.
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Good results this weekend. 2 points more than i thought we'd get, and results around us went perfectly.
Great goal from Weiman, good game from Ireland.
As often with us it wasn't that we had loads of individuals under performing, it's just that as a unit we are ineffective. Got to put that down to the manager i'm afraid.
Hope he sorts it out next year.
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That match was truly horrendous to watch.
Bar the goal, did we even have a shot on target? I hate what this man is doing to this club.
I only hope randy looks around at the 13,000 empty seats, looks at the table, and fucking well wakes up. Quickly.
When he doesn't bother to make the effort to come see VP anymore, how will he? Does he even watch the games on TV?
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World Class goal from AW.
Sunday League class game apart from that.
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95 minutes - i think we had one shot and it went in. The rest was spent watching Delap and Shotton wiping the ball on the shirt or Shawcross/Huth/Collins grappling each other.
What complete and utter dross, no wonder there was over 10,000 empty seats. There must be fuck all to do in Stoke if they get so many turn up to watch that shit every week?
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13,000 empty seats. That's about £300,000...or heskey's wages for a month.
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As supporters we must be the biggest mugs in football. Incapable of scoring more than once at home and usually away. 1-1 at home to Stoke is all we're good for. Predictable waste of time. I'm glad I spent the game gardening.
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Thank god there's some awful teams in the league as wed be fucked. So depressing,nothing changes,worse footballing side I've seen at VP for years.( us not Stoke).
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It will cost Randy much, more than the compensation that he'll have to pay out if he retains McLeish. I really don't give a fuck if people/media say we never gave him a chance or that it's because he was a former Birmingham manager. He's boring me into not caring and that makes me angry.
Bothering about what the media say would vanish instantly, once any new manager was appointed and we start winning.
The point of boring, got to say it, watching Villa has created a whole new meaning to the word boring, it beggars belief.
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Hutton and Ireland were shit! Baker, Collins, Weimann excellent.
Gabby cannot play with his back to goal, I actually wanted Heskey on earlier, as Stoke is probably the only game made especially for the big cart horse. As soon as it became clear Ireland had decided to take a day off, he should have been taken off.
Overall, I hope we are last on MOTD, tell your friends to tune out before this game comes on!
I'n glad someone else thinks Ireland is shit. He may run around but he does sweet f.a. doesn't track his marker and if he can't dominate in the midfield against Stoke one is entitled to ask 'what is the point of him?'
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the worst season ever in many respects. I can't ever remember thinking in my life as a Villa fan in the last 20 years or so and think of a worse manager, worse tactics, worse feeling inside my own body about what will happen during the ever so predictive result. 1-1 against Stoke. How rubbish. It is largely down to Mcleish, if not all down to him. I wonder if we are worse as a team to watch as Birmingham were last year....we're pretty close.
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I can't stand Stoke. Ref let them get away with it again.
No lack of effort on our part, but with the usual predictable outcome.
Very frustrating that we seem clueless as to how to attack once we take a lead.
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Thirty Thousand or so listed. But does that mean we actually had less then that in the ground due to them counting ST holders who didn't actually turn up?
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3 shots on target in 90 mins, fucking wank.
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Thank god there's some awful teams in the league as wed be fucked. So depressing,nothing changes,worse footballing side I've seen at VP for years.( us not Stoke).
Watching Villa these days and you begin to understand the concept of people throwing themselves of bridges, the top of buildings and feeding a hose from the exhaust in through the back window of the car, it truly is awful debilitating football.
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Positives.....Eric, Baker, Collins(apart from goal), Weimann.Baker MOM for me.
Nrgatives...Bannan, too weak
Gabby, not good enough,
Hutton, going foward dreadful
Given....for me should have come for the cross
I actually think when we are safe we will play some decent football, but nerves/pressure whatever means the youngsters are not quite ready.I think Wemann and Bent could be a really good partnership, Ireland is patchy, and we need N'zog to come good.Stoke are incredibly one dimensional and we coped quite well until the ref gave a very poor free kick.
We're stuck with Mcl, i don't see how he is to blame for Gabby going through and putting the ball out for a throw,Couple of good through balls by Bannan, Weimann, GG, but Gabby not looking for it.
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Hutton and Ireland were shit! Baker, Collins, Weimann excellent.
Gabby cannot play with his back to goal, I actually wanted Heskey on earlier, as Stoke is probably the only game made especially for the big cart horse. As soon as it became clear Ireland had decided to take a day off, he should have been taken off.
Overall, I hope we are last on MOTD, tell your friends to tune out before this game comes on!
I'n glad someone else thinks Ireland is shit. He may run around but he does sweet f.a. doesn't track his marker and if he can't dominate in the midfield against Stoke one is entitled to ask 'what is the point of him?'
You obviously missed the two excellent balls that created great chances for Gabby and Weimann.
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El Crapico lived up to it's expectation.
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I did blame the players earlier in the season but every time we go ahead we start the second half defending for our lives.What was with all the long balls ?? Just get it down and keep the ball FFS
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stoke really are dire to watch against any team. I knew they'd equalise, guaranteed... 1-0 just isn't safe enough and we can't hold off an ariel bombardment for like 60 mins... This season is a complete write off...
I know we've been playing loads of the younger players but half of them seem quite talented. I just don't think Eck can motivate them or provide any tactical nous at all... Time to go I think.
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I predicted a 1-1 draw, but that was based on the prediction that Stoke would fancy this and go for it, they where absolute crap and we just stayed in it.
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I did blame the players earlier in the season but every time we go ahead we start the second half defending for our lives.What was with all the long balls ?? Just get it down and keep the ball FFS
At this point, even if it is the players, that comes down to a lack of confidence in their own ability which is something that proper training and tactics should be put in place to avoid.
I'm afraid there's no way to twist it to stop McLeish having to accept at least the majority of the responsibility.
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Given 5 struggled a bit
Hutton 5 been doing well of late but hopeless today
Collins 7 good apart from the goal
Baker 7 looked composed
Lichaj 4 I thought he was awful!
Bannan 5 frustrating
Ireland 6 good first half then anonymous
Herd 7 played well
Warnock 6 decent
Gabby 5 not the best
Weimann 7. Great goal, good movement. Best I've seen him by some distance
Gardner 6. Ok. Odd position.
CNZ 5 no impact. Wanted him on the left
Heskey no time
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Atrocious game of football.
Didn't really expect anything else from today.
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Ah well another point towards safety...a win would have seen us safe I reckon..1 win or 2 more draws will do.
I really can't see QPR, Wigan or Blackburn getting past 36 points with the fixtures left...
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Awful football. Great goal by Weimann, but otherwise dreadful. For the 100th time under McLeish we went 11 behind the ball again, it is dreadful, boring and embarrasing to watch. In the last two games, I can only think of two good moments of playing football.
And Gabby... he had a great chance, where he could easily have chipped it over the keeper, or at least try, instead his shot goes out for a throw in. If Heskey had done that, he would have been laughed at. Gabby does not look like scoring at the moment.
Lichai, Baker, Weimann for his brilliant goal and especially Herd gave me some optimism. But I really think we need a manager who tries to play football...
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Just got in the car, how fucking niave were we today? The only possible way they were going to score today was from a set piece and the amount of times we needlessly put the ball out of play or gave away a niggly free kick was pathetic, also why did we repeatedly hoof it long to Gabby? Everytime but once we lost the ball, Weimanns goal was immense and Ireland had a few decent touches but apart from that it was just all meh.
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Its difficult to take the moral high ground after that game, even though Stoke play a horrendous brand of football. As always we start trying to see the game out as soon as we take the lead, regardless of when this might happen. This seems to be the only strategy at play, we rarely dictate the tempo or flow of a match, or dominate the opposition. The result is that we generally draw - 14 now for the season, 4 more than anyone else.
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SHITE.
Two crap teams playing out a game to the inevitable conclusion. Can't be bothered to be too upset about it any more.
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Attendance was 30,100 according to the guardian.
I really hope that someone at the club is paying attention.
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The same phrase comes to mind watching us - death by a thousand needles.
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We had a lot of throw-ins where we opted for a long throw, when Ireland was standing close to the thrower, but not calling for the ball for some reason. Maybe it was our tactics to throw them to Huth and Co. ?
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i would like to offer utmost admiration for the following;
The 28,000 or so supporters who have had the fortitude to stick with this utter garbage week in week out.
The 8~10,000 who have stuck to their word about McLeish's appointment and stayed the fuk away from the utter turd that the Villa have become.
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A damning statistic about that game: 1 offside, and that was for Stoke. Two teams sitting back, not pressing and boofing it back and forth.
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
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Did you know that only Man Utd have lost fewer away games than us this season...bonkers.
Sorry, am clearly bored to death after that game / result / season / manager
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We had a lot of throw-ins where we opted for a long throw, when Ireland was standing close to the thrower, but not calling for the ball for some reason. Maybe it was our tactics to throw them to Huth and Co. ?
McFuck has clearly identified a potential tool in Lichaj's long throw.
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Same old same old unfortunately. No width, poor distribution, not really sure what to do with it around the penalty area, Hutton awful, Gabby lost being pulled to far wide.
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
Yes and it angered me.
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
Probably thinks we are safe now and gets his bonus...
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
When certain people were posting that we need to see what Alex can do with better players, we have now found out. He can just about avoid relegation rather then definitely getting relegated once drawn in.
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Why do you think Eric was poor MC?
I thought he defended well, is quick on the turn, and despite being isolated when Pennant came on, stopped most of his crosses.
When you play Stokem, the goalie needs to impose himself...Given did'nt, and we need to decide if hes worth the high wages he is on.
You can only play football if the CF is holding the ball up well, or making good runs to receive the ball, Gabby does neither.I'm starting to think we should get rid and make sure we keep Bent.
GG, Ireland, Bannan and even Herd, all want to play football, we have to look past blaming McL for everything and look at some other reasons.
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
I saw him clapping as he walked off, all I could think was 'you deluded cnut'.
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
Yes and it angered me.
Should be grounds for dismissal.
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their goal was not a free kick and that brute hoof was all over collins
we worked hard but there is somethings missing
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Simply dreadful.
We are edging to safety from relegation, but things have become so bad that I have found myself wondering whether a genuine relegation battle might be more interesting.
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Another point towards safety I suppose and the young boys doing well. So frustrating to keep conceding from set pieces and another 2 injurys.
Good finish from weimann and I thought Hutton done well.
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
Yes and it angered me.
Should be grounds for dismissal.
probably family you would thank them if you turned up in this environment to support you
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Some ignorant prick on 'Sunday Supplement' (yeah, I know...) yesterday said we wouldn't accept McLeish even if he won us the league. If he actually watched the rubbish we've been playing, he might understand peoples' grievances.
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Some ignorant prick on 'Sunday Supplement' (yeah, I know...) yesterday said we wouldn't accept McLeish even if he won us the league. If he actually watched the rubbish we've been playing, he might understand peoples' grievances.
that's the kind of bollocks that makes my piss boil. We are not all fucking dimwits who haven't accepted him because he managed that shower of wankers down the road. If he won us the league I'd build a statue of him in my fucking front room.
Mrs TV need not worry about any statues appearing in the front room any time in the near future.
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That was abysmal. Anti-football at its very worst.
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Some ignorant prick on 'Sunday Supplement' (yeah, I know...) yesterday said we wouldn't accept McLeish even if he won us the league. If he actually watched the rubbish we've been playing, he might understand peoples' grievances.
Yeah I heard that cock. Never going to convince the top 4 mafia that it's got something to do with the shite we have to watch week in week out.
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Some ignorant prick on 'Sunday Supplement' (yeah, I know...) yesterday said we wouldn't accept McLeish even if he won us the league. If he actually watched the rubbish we've been playing, he might understand peoples' grievances.
just soundbite superficial clap trap they should concentrate on thier superwankfest sky 4 . i would rather they didnt talk about us at all than the cack they come out with grrrrrrrrrr >:(
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Personally I think that we have gained a massive point today given our second half no-show. We are fucking dog shit awful under McPrick and so avoiding the drop would be a big bonus given his seemingly relentless pursuit of yet another relegation. Still, never mind McFuckwit, I'm absolutley certain you'll take us down NEXT seaon. WAKE UP RANDY FFFS! Dreadful.
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Their free kick was justified Gardner fouled him and Huth went in hard and scored.
I thought young Baker played very well next to Man of the Match Collins.
Lichaj was very poor at times I cant see him making a Premiership footballer but who knows.
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How many minutes of the game are lost to the ball wiping antics of Shotton and Delap? The grappling in both penalty areas, as well as the shit refereeing decisions was a bargain for the minimum of £24 a go
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How is it in the spirit of the game to allow a team to have towels stitched in to the players'shirts as Stoke do?
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Some ignorant prick on 'Sunday Supplement' (yeah, I know...) yesterday said we wouldn't accept McLeish even if he won us the league. If he actually watched the rubbish we've been playing, he might understand peoples' grievances.
that's the kind of bollocks that makes my piss boil. We are not all fucking dimwits who haven't accepted him because he managed that shower of wankers down the road. If he won us the league I'd build a statue of him in my fucking front room.
Mrs TV need not worry about any statues appearing in the front room any time in the near future.
Personally, if Small Heath Alliance had the best manager and best eleven first-team players in the world, I'd love to take them all off their stubby little webbed hands. I'd dance a jig of pure delight to rob them of their most prized possessions. The problem is that Alex McLeish was and is a shit manager. That's why we don't want him. Why is that so hard for some to understand?
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Personally I think that we have gained a massive point today given our second half no-show. We are fucking dog shit awful under McPrick and so avoiding the drop would be a big bonus given his seemingly relentless pursuit of yet another relegation. Still, never mind McFuckwit, I'm absolutley certain you'll take us down NEXT seaon. WAKE UP RANDY FFFS! Dreadful.
FFFS What is the 3 rd F for ? :o
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Had the "pleasure" of seeing that live on the box over here.
As for once it wasn't a game against the sky 4 monkeys or however many there are of them now it was interesting to hear the views of two commentators who quite clearly have no love for either side.
Com1 "When you've got ball players like Ireland and Bannan in midfield and an two novices in defence why would you sit back and let Stoke think they're a ball playing team?"
Com2 "It's what Mcleish does"
A little later.
Com1 "It's disappointing how little ball retention there is from either team"
Com2 "It doesn't look like they do any work on communication and combination play".
Previous games over here have seen several raised eyebrows about selections and formations. My favourite being for the Spurs game "that's a bit different, I'll think you'd have to say rather special selcetion."
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Positives: Weimann, Ireland and Bannan were linking up well.
Baker looks to have got over his shocker v Chelsea well. Herd and Lichaj solid enough again.
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Some ignorant prick on 'Sunday Supplement' (yeah, I know...) yesterday said we wouldn't accept McLeish even if he won us the league. If he actually watched the rubbish we've been playing, he might understand peoples' grievances.
that's the kind of bollocks that makes my piss boil. We are not all fucking dimwits who haven't accepted him because he managed that shower of wankers down the road. If he won us the league I'd build a statue of him in my fucking front room.
Mrs TV need not worry about any statues appearing in the front room any time in the near future.
Personally, if Small Heath Alliance had the best manager and best eleven first-team players in the world, I'd love to take them all off their stubby little webbed hands. I'd dance a jig of pure delight to rob them of their most prized possessions. The problem is that Alex McLeish was and is a shit manager. That's why we don't want him. Why is that so hard for some to understand?
I'd have Hughton in a heartbeat.
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A point is a point I guess. Funny old game as I thought Lichaj played well and do like his touch. Ireland is flattering to deceive, a good footballer but I am still waiting for the killer passes he never seems to make.
My frustration is the sheer lack of chances we make. Keepers must love playing us.
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Personally I think that we have gained a massive point today given our second half no-show. We are fucking dog shit awful under McPrick and so avoiding the drop would be a big bonus given his seemingly relentless pursuit of yet another relegation. Still, never mind McFuckwit, I'm absolutley certain you'll take us down NEXT seaon. WAKE UP RANDY FFFS! Dreadful.
FFFS What is the 3 rd F for ? :o
Either For Fuckity Fucks Sake or he is a giant and saying Fi Fo Fumbs sake.
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
that's exactly wot i was thinking when i noticed his fist in the air like we'd just got a great result! ....FFS
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Personally I think that we have gained a massive point today given our second half no-show. We are fucking dog shit awful under McPrick and so avoiding the drop would be a big bonus given his seemingly relentless pursuit of yet another relegation. Still, never mind McFuckwit, I'm absolutley certain you'll take us down NEXT seaon. WAKE UP RANDY FFFS! Dreadful.
FFFS What is the 3 rd F for ? :o
I was being kind to McTwat. There arent enough F's in the World to accurately describe my view of him. Please Alex (or Alec as you are apparently affectionately known by the media) just F off!
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Also interesting that a number if the bars in the Upper Holte including Ramsey's didn't open today? Austerity measures?
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Shows how bad things have become, I now just expect us to turn out that sort of performance every week and have begun to accept it. The one thing I will say is that the youngsters stood up well to Stokes usual bully boy tactics and that will do them the world of good in the future...if there is one.
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Personally I think that we have gained a massive point today given our second half no-show. We are fucking dog shit awful under McPrick and so avoiding the drop would be a big bonus given his seemingly relentless pursuit of yet another relegation. Still, never mind McFuckwit, I'm absolutley certain you'll take us down NEXT seaon. WAKE UP RANDY FFFS! Dreadful.
FFFS What is the 3 rd F for ? :o
Either For Fuckity Fucks Sake or he is a giant and saying Fi Fo Fumbs sake.
I just put it down to a speech impediment.
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Ireland is flattering to deceive, a good footballer but I am still waiting for the killer passes he never seems to make.
But he did two fantastic passes for Weimann today!
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If the presence of 13,000 empty seats could be explained pictorially, it would be by that image of McFuck celebrating his big point at home to Stoke.
That says it all.
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Plenty of positives from the youngsters and a great goal from Weimann. Overall I don't think we were woeful, just - in the absence of any sort of sustained attacking threat - pretty ordinary. Roll on the summer.
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Just home. I really am not enjoying going much these days. I will be celebrating the day AM is sacked.
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
that's exactly wot i was thinking when i noticed his fist in the air like we'd just got a great result! ....FFS
I thought he was signalling to his misses and saying, cracked it darlin, anther 1 point, it don't get better than this, wait till i get yer home me beauty, of course that only leaves it to your imagination to wonder what the woman must be anticipating should Alex ever pull of a win, then again that's probably something she'll never have to worry about.
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Hutton and Ireland were shit! Baker, Collins, Weimann excellent.
Gabby cannot play with his back to goal, I actually wanted Heskey on earlier, as Stoke is probably the only game made especially for the big cart horse. As soon as it became clear Ireland had decided to take a day off, he should have been taken off.
Overall, I hope we are last on MOTD, tell your friends to tune out before this game comes on!
I'n glad someone else thinks Ireland is shit. He may run around but he does sweet f.a. doesn't track his marker and if he can't dominate in the midfield against Stoke one is entitled to ask 'what is the point of him?'
You obviously missed the two excellent balls that created great chances for Gabby and Weimann.
It's unbelievable how some people can misread a game so much. Ireland was excellent, he makes us tick. Every player when they get the ball look for Ireland and thank god he is willing to get it off them. He may misplace a few but without him we would be getting relegated, of that I have no doubt. Everything goes through him
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I reckon two more draws and we are safe. I am fully confident our manager is capable of setting up teams to meet this challenge.
The only other things I want to say was the Ref was a clueless jerk, and why did Huth bother holding and fouling Gabby all day ? I know he got away with it but Gabs is totally out of form and wouldnt have done anything anyway.
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Well done to everyone who went along and supported the team today.
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Anyone remember the scene from Kevin and Perry Go Large where Kevin is imagining his mum and dad being sick at thought of conceiving. I liken that to McLeish at the thought of trying to win a game.
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one moment of quality in 95 minutes of total shite.
I'm not sure whose version of anti football is worse, McLeish or Pulis, although on reflection, at least Stoke prodded and probed and tried to make things happen. We may not like how, but at least they try to win the game.
Mcleish has well and truly sucked the life out of the club and the sooner he fucks off the better.
Oh, and 30K attendance, Lerner will dream of 30k gates if things carry on the way they are going.
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I was waiting to see a Lichaj long throw into the stoke penalty area. Can't remember him doing it.
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Beside the point we gained the only one positive thing is Weimann. He is gifted in front of goal with his natural instinct. Darren Bent even mentioned how Wemann is a natural finisher. We are in need of at least five players of high quality to get us anywhere near to where we need to be ...........
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Well thank god for Weimann's excellent goal, because other than that it was utter utter dirge!
We defended well but some of the times we put it out for a throw under little or no pressure was utterly brainless, it's what Stoke want you to do... So for FUCKS sake don't do it!
Special mention to Hutton's efforts going forward. I never thought i'd see such ineptness, defensively he was better thank god.
Regarding Ireland I thought he started well but was very much off the pace 2nd half.
Oh and the linesman giving that throw when it blatantly hit that odious piece of dog egg Peanut, well done for keeping up with the Jones's this weekend and being utter wank.
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Unable to defend a lead again ..39% possession at one point ..useless
39% possession for the second half to be precise.
It felt like around 70% in the first half.
Once again undone by a crap refereeing decision.
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one moment of quality in 95 minutes of total shite.
I'm not sure whose version of anti football is worse, McLeish or Pulis, although on reflection, at least Stoke prodded and probed and tried to make things happen. We may not like how, but at least they try to win the game.
Mcleish has well and truly sucked the life out of the club and the sooner he fucks off the better.
Oh, and 30K attendance, Lerner will dream of 30k gates if things carry on the way they are going.
That depends on your point of view. You could argue that as Pulis obviously has a game plan that is moderately succesful then Mcleish has the worst version as I don't see anything other than get as many bodies behind the ball as possible as Mcleishs' tactics.
However for anyone that enjoys football as spectacle then Pulis is obviously worse as he shows no signs of getting relegated into oblivion. ( No I don't think we'll go down this year, but am already worried about May 2013.)
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I know we've been playing loads of the younger players but half of them seem quite talented. I just don't think Eck can motivate them or provide any tactical nous at all... Time to go I think.
This for me, McLeish can point to injury's being a problem just like he did at Birmingham. We really have talented youngsters but they are being stifled by him and his negative approach.
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It was utter gash to watch but why are so many of us surprised, we have been like this the majority of the season, as predicted yet another draw as we slide snail like to safety, prepare for proper misery next season when Mctwat takes us down.
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Lichaj was toss. Warnock on right midfield for periods? WTF? He's shit at left back, so why put him there?
THought Ireland was good, always in space, but often over looked.
Gabby? Getting tired and bored of him.
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
Don't worry, at least there are another 6 points this season to play for.
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Bannan is not a wide player. Gardner is not a wide player. Lichaj is not a left-back.
Too often he's wasting the talent we have by not playing them in their correct positions. Clark was not played as a centre-back when fit enough times either.
We do not have a plan. Nobody is sure what to do. At Birmingham, you knew what his plan was, here, we just don't have one at all. We really do need to get rid of him because they guy is an idiot.
As for Stoke, imagine having to watch them week in/week out? Talk about boring. I've never known a team play to win throw-ins before. Why would you pay to watch that???
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Lichaj was toss. Warnock on right midfield for periods? WTF? He's shit at left back, so why put him there?
THought Ireland was good, always in space, but often over looked.
Gabby? Getting tired and bored of him.
Lichaj was toss?! Oh please, the kid was everywhere today. Went hard on every tackle and hardly lost the ball at the rate at which Bannan and Gabby were turning it over. He can stay.
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I know we've been playing loads of the younger players but half of them seem quite talented. I just don't think Eck can motivate them or provide any tactical nous at all... Time to go I think.
This for me, McLeish can point to injury's being a problem just like he did at Birmingham. We really have talented youngsters but they are being stifled by him and his negative approach.
I couldn't get my head round when Gardner came on why Bannan didn't go left and him right. It made sense surely? Bannan didn't really look comfortable on the right. To me it smacks of defensiveness as he wants those two to make sure the oppo full backs don't get down the outside (which the Stoke full backs had little or no intention of doing!) but doesn't really care what that loses us going forwards.
Also amusingly when the two teams lined up at the very start I thought I was in Lilliput!
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Lichaj was toss. Warnock on right midfield for periods? WTF? He's shit at left back, so why put him there?
THought Ireland was good, always in space, but often over looked.
Gabby? Getting tired and bored of him.
Thought Lichaj played well myself.
As for everyone banging on about players being played out of posistion, need must at times, A lot of injurys to deal with at the minute and if bannan can't do a job out wide then maybe he ain't the player we all think he is.
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It feels like we're watching a slow painful death every week. Our collective throat was slit two years ago and we've been bleeding ever since.
Randy wake up!!!!!!!!!!! We are on a one way train to the championship. Only luck and the incompetence of others will keep us up this year.
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What makes steam come out of my ears is that the one and only time we got it on the ground, passed and moved and strung 3 passes together at a decent pace we scored. We can do it when we try!!! So why do we not fucking try?!?! Aarrrghh!
We have the foundations of a fantastic team, some great youth, a couple of shrewd signings and a couple of seasons to bed it all in, and we could be great team. Under this tit, no chance.
I'm fed up of heading towards VP with a sinking feeling. Fuck off McLeish, just please, fuck off
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Anyone else notice at the end McLeish grinning, clenching fist and saluting someone in the Trinity in a gesture of victory?
Well done Alex. You grabbed a point at home to Stoke.
Don't worry, at least there are another 6 points this season to play for.
You think theres a point to play for at Old Trafford ? Lets call it 5 eh ?
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Beautiful goal, just like the one we scored on Saturday. How sad that we can't build around these young talents.
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We can.
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A lot of effort today, they all worked very hard. The kids are willing and give their all but we do lack a certain belief and we are certainly lacking that quality on the ball. Some of our passing is so wayward, it's worse than my Sunday side.
In fairness to AM we do try and pass the ball at times but we just aint that good at it.
Great goal though.
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You can't knock the work ethic and determination at the moment but we look nowhere near like winning a game. We simply do not shoot enough to score more than one goal in a game and unfotuantely our defence cannot keep clean sheets. We are lacking width and penetration and we're utterly predictable. Would have liked to have seen N'Zogbia come on instead of Gardner, was a negative substitution and playing Gardner out of position was of no benefit to team or player. Still don't think we'll go down but we do need a few players to get back fit and a return to form to some of our attacking players if our misery is to be prolonged.
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What makes steam come out of my ears is that the one and only time we got it on the ground, passed and moved and strung 3 passes together at a decent pace we scored. We can do it when we try!!! So why do we not fucking try?!?! Aarrrghh!
We have the foundations of a fantastic team, some great youth, a couple of shrewd signings and a couple of seasons to bed it all in, and we could be great team. Under this tit, no chance.
I'm fed up of heading towards VP with a sinking feeling. Fuck off McLeish, just please, fuck off
Its the apparently not trying that is so infuriating. Even allowing for all the injuries we've got kids playing who look like they're all reasonable from a technical viewpoint and have been brought through an academy / reserve system playing decent football. Surely they'd be more comfortable trying to play the game that way than this negative (as opposed to defensive) tripe.
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just got back very frustrated with the refereeing why are those henchmen who parade in that horrible club's kit get away with common assault every few minutes while we get 2 bookings for getting a bit to close to them ? I thought Ireland was our best player, Lichaj was really good and so was Baker and Collins.Hutton is awful!
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We definitely defended 10 yards deeper from the start of the second half and therefore by the law of averages all Stoke's corners, throw ins, free kicks would eventually get them back in the game. They were there for the taking today but we just handed over the initiative.
I'm no fan of Heskey but he should have been on after an hour - to help the ball stick given the long ball crap we were playing, and to defend their set pieces.
And Ireland was pure class. The only player moving when he didn't have the ball.he will play those killer balls if there is movement around him but it's non existent.
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Stoke. Horrible place, horrible people, horrible football team, horrible manager, horrible fans. Anti football at its most extreme. A point nearer safety with the downside that survival means we have to suffer that shit twice again next season. That's on top of the turgid dross that McLeish serves up - no width at all.
Crap officiating again - one foul by us = 1 yellow card, 90 minutes of physical abuse from them = fine by Mr Dean
Weimann took his goal well, but should have done better with his chance in the second half. Nathan Baker did well. Lichaj and Herd continue to impress. Gardner a bit naive to concede the free kick leading to their goal. Gabby's form worries me. Am I in a minority of 1 who thinks Ireland was MOTM?
Official attendance 30,100. Nowhere near that many in the ground and a sign of the times for next season.
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I thought Collins and Ireland were excellent. Weimann's goal was quality. Officiating was poor. Getting a bit fed up of conceding from set-pieces. If our manager and coaching staff can see this is an issue then they need to sort it out.
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Did I hear the Stoke fans singing "40 quid your having a laugh ? ".
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Well that was a turgid affair in the rain. Well played Andreas. Fantastic goal to light up a gloomy day. After that I waited for an equaliser and it came as expected!
McLeish just about gets it wrong every time! Today was the day to play Heskey for muscle in both attack and defence.
Gabby was very disappointing especially with his chance.
Weimann, Herd, Lichaj, Bannan, Baker and than Gardner well done to you all and I have no complains here.
Hutton, Warnock, N' Zogbia absolute waste of space. I am alarmed that Hutton is playing at this level. He is the worst RB IMO I have ever seen play for us.
Not sure about Given now. He is very indecisive and useless at crosses. He just does not dominate and I think he is one of the main reasons we have conceded 15 goals from set pieces this season.
With our kids I think we have a possibly a good team hiding in there somewhere however I doubt if McLeish is the man to bring that out.
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We just seem incapable of getting that second goal which would see us through games. How many one nil leads have we lost points from this season?
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Lichaj was toss. Warnock on right midfield for periods? WTF? He's shit at left back, so why put him there?
THought Ireland was good, always in space, but often over looked.
Gabby? Getting tired and bored of him.
Lichaj was toss?! Oh please, the kid was everywhere today. Went hard on every tackle and hardly lost the ball at the rate at which Bannan and Gabby were turning it over. He can stay.
I thought lichaj was very poor. Lots of bad touches, ponderous at the wrong time. I think Valencia might rip him a new one on Sunday!
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I thought Lichaj played well overall, but his distribution left a lot to be desired at times.
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Did I hear the Stoke fans singing "40 quid your having a laugh ? ".
I thought I heard that too. Fair point, really
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the last few comments were all exactly what we were saying as we left the ground, it is now unbearable to have this twat misusing our youth and playing the likes of Hutton who I agree IS the worst right back I have ever seen in a Villa shirt please sack him and put Sid in charge for the last few games , and there is no way that there were 30,100 in the ground.
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Lichaj was toss. Warnock on right midfield for periods? WTF? He's shit at left back, so why put him there?
THought Ireland was good, always in space, but often over looked.
Gabby? Getting tired and bored of him.
Lichaj was toss?! Oh please, the kid was everywhere today. Went hard on every tackle and hardly lost the ball at the rate at which Bannan and Gabby were turning it over. He can stay.
I thought lichaj was very poor. Lots of bad touches, ponderous at the wrong time. I think Valencia might rip him a new one on Sunday!
Not a chance, he's too athletic. He doesn't look like a clumsy bum, like some of our 'choice' backs. He's a young, confident player that won't lose his head. A hard worker and a promising youngster.
He gets the nod for me every week.
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I would move Baker LB and move Lichaj back to RB with Carlos back to CB.
AMC needs to fucking expect we are not Arsenal from the George Graham era and trying to win 1-0 is just plain dumb
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Gabby has been toss for months. He should have been dropped, not handed the captaincy.
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Gabby has been toss for months. He should have been dropped, not handed the captaincy.
I tend to agree after today. How many legitimate touches did he get today. No work ethic to get the ball and couldn't be called a leader by any means. He can't create chances for himself any more and its pathetic that he didn't scorch that slow Stoke back line.
He's forgotten how to be a striker.
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the last few comments were all exactly what we were saying as we left the ground, it is now unbearable to have this twat misusing our youth and playing the likes of Hutton who I agree IS the worst right back I have ever seen in a Villa shirt please sack him and put Sid in charge for the last few games , and there is no way that there were 30,100 in the ground.
The 30,100 figure includes those that had purchased tickets but did not attend.
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and there is no way that there were 30,100 in the ground.
I raised the point earlier that I think it includes ST holders, whether they turn up or not. So I would guess you could extrapolate the 10 or so ST holders who stayed away out of the 100 or so regulars on here and say we might have been another 2000 down on people in the stadium.
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and there is no way that there were 30,100 in the ground.
I raised the point earlier that I think it includes ST holders, whether they turn up or not. So I would guess you could extrapolate the 10 or so ST holders who stayed away out of the 100 or so regulars on here and say we might have been another 2000 down on people in the stadium.
What was Stoke's allocation?
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Gabby has been toss for months. He should have been dropped, not handed the captaincy.
It is interesting in the clip of the goal posted by Leej that he seemed to amble across slowly to congratulate his team mate compared to how fast and how far away most of the others came from. Especially as he is supposed to be the captain now.
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Gabby has been toss for months. He should have been dropped, not handed the captaincy.
Zamora has been much better than him this season and even he's not had a particularly noticeable season.
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and there is no way that there were 30,100 in the ground.
I raised the point earlier that I think it includes ST holders, whether they turn up or not. So I would guess you could extrapolate the 10 or so ST holders who stayed away out of the 100 or so regulars on here and say we might have been another 2000 down on people in the stadium.
What was Stoke's allocation?
Fuck knows, although they used to fill it a few years ago. I will also acknowledge a shit time, shit weather and also a school holiday as reasons we probably had about 25,000 villa fans actually down there. (Although shit football probably accounts for most of it).
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I wasn't able to watch the game but a great goal by Weimann seems to have been the highlight of a pretty turgid 90 minutes
Another point closer to safety and we've had much worse results v Stoke in recent years so not all doom and gloom
It was good to see Cuellar and N'Zogbia back on the bench too so hopefully we'll be able to put a stronger team out at Man Ure on Sunday
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Gabby has been toss for months. He should have been dropped, not handed the captaincy.
I can see our captain starting on the bench when Bent returns.
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Thirty Thousand or so listed. But does that mean we actually had less then that in the ground due to them counting ST holders who didn't actually turn up?
When we were discussing the attendance before the game I said that they'd not announce less that 30000 and guessed 30,027. No way were there over 30k there
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and there is no way that there were 30,100 in the ground.
I raised the point earlier that I think it includes ST holders, whether they turn up or not. So I would guess you could extrapolate the 10 or so ST holders who stayed away out of the 100 or so regulars on here and say we might have been another 2000 down on people in the stadium.
What was Stoke's allocation?
Fuck knows, although they used to fill it a few years ago. I will also acknowledge a shit time, shit weather and also a school holiday as reasons we probably had about 25,000 villa fans actually down there. (Although shit football probably accounts for most of it).
Stoke fans had to pay £40 for their seats.
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Lichaj was toss. Warnock on right midfield for periods? WTF? He's shit at left back, so why put him there?
THought Ireland was good, always in space, but often over looked.
Gabby? Getting tired and bored of him.
Lichaj was toss?! Oh please, the kid was everywhere today. Went hard on every tackle and hardly lost the ball at the rate at which Bannan and Gabby were turning it over. He can stay.
I thought lichaj was very poor. Lots of bad touches, ponderous at the wrong time. I think Valencia might rip him a new one on Sunday!
Not a chance, he's too athletic. He doesn't look like a clumsy bum, like some of our 'choice' backs. He's a young, confident player that won't lose his head. A hard worker and a promising youngster.
He gets the nod for me every week.
I think a couple of times Lichaj was made to look bad by Warnock tracking his man back fairly deep and then just leaving them. Happened with a pass from Bannan at one point as well. Warnock started coming to meet the pass and then just stopped and it went between them.
When we have this many kids in the team the senior players all need to step up and be a much more positive influence, as it stands that isn't happening at all.
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This time last year we had about the same amount of points with Walker, Young, Downing and Bent in the team.Now blame McL when its his fault, but to blame him at the moment, with the lack of choice, lack of players and lack of quality at his disposal is pathetic.We have no fit wide players atm, Bannan and Warnock offer nothing going foward, and neither do the FBs.That is why we are so narrow, and Ireland is ineffective.We desperately need N'Zog fit asap, and Gabby playing wide....he certainly can't play down the middle.
I'm not bothered if McL stays or goes tbh, but i do think manty of us on here are getting into a herd like mentality of blaming McL for everything.Gabby through on goal when we are 1-0 up, and scores we win the game.The ref not conned into giving a free kick, we win the game, with 5 kids in the starting line up.We have the wekest team in the Prem atm in terms of options, so lets be a bit realistic.
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A few thoughts from a mind numbed by 90 minutes of dire football.
Alan Hutton was the third best Right Back in the starting eleven and the fourth best in the squad. Horrendous in attack and in defence.
Chris Herd took a battering in midfield but did very well.
Gabby needs to be dropped but there's no one else to use.
When Zog came on, it was clear why he doesn't play much, He's just not very good.
Baker continues to impress me.
Bannan is still just a headless-chicken. Runs around madly and then fires an over-ambitious pass with a success rate that makes Collins look like Beckham.
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Terrible weather, terrible football, terrible opposition, terrible manager. Hutton not only terrible but one of the worst footballers I have ever witnessed. Renew my season ticket? You must be fukin joking. Hang your head in shame Mr Lerner where ever you are.
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Well wonderful. Got there 20 minutes late after forgetting it was Bank Hols and the M6 would be a nightmare. Must admit I nearly turned around at Stafford. However we arrived to watch a fairly turgid 1st half enlivened by the Weimann goal. Second half was just an exercise in how to raise your blood pressure and I thought I did alright to last until the 76th minute before losing it entirely. A combination of Stoke, Tiny Penis, Mike Dean and our complete and utter inability to pass the ball to one another and the utter cluelessness of McLeish not knowing how to chnage the game and get more impetus into our attack meant I spent the last 15 minutes swearing loudly at everything.
Given - Shotstopper, yes. All round Goalkeeper, no. - 6
Hutton - and I thought Cuellars distribution was bad, why is Lichaj moved to make way for this clown - 4
Collins - gave everything but for a bloke his size still getting outmuscled and not winning headers - 6.5
Baker - showed his inexperience several times in the 2nd half but manning up - 6.5
Lichaj - played well if a bit impetuous - 6.5
Bannan - ran around to good effect but out of position, was doing OK until he got subbed - 6.5
Herd - gave everything for the cause, but has the subtlety of a charging rhino - 6.5
Ireland - i felt he ran the game first half, never overly hurried and a lovely weighted ball for Weimanns opener, got stuck in second half - 7
Warnock - seemed to me to be filling a space rather than contributing anything majorly worthwhile - 6
Weimann - MOM - ran his balls off and an exquisite goal - 7
Agbonlahor - oh dear, out of sorts, out of form, not awake, reactive not proactive, not a captains performance - 4
Gardner - out of position until moved central when he looked more comfortable - 5
NZogbia - Not enough time
Heskey - not enough time
McLeish - 1 - clueless. I realise he's got some injury issues currently but to continue playing players out of position and expecting anything other than what we got today is utter clueless negativity. It was crying out to change it to 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 in the second half and go for the jugular and 3 points but natural caution and handing the impetus to the opposition took over again and we end up with a point. I've given him a chance but he's got to go at the end of the season.
I can't quite imagine what another season of what I've witnessed in this one is going to do to my sanity but I suppose thats what its all about.
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Terrible weather, terrible football, terrible opposition, terrible manager. Hutton not only terrible but one of the worst footballers I have ever witnessed. Renew my season ticket? You must be fukin joking. Hang your head in shame Mr Lerner where ever you are.
So, whose fault was the weather ? Lerner, Mcleish or Hutton ?
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O'Neill.
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SHITE.
Two crap teams playing out a game to the inevitable conclusion. Can't be bothered to be too upset about it any more.
Same for me.
And I completely expected that to be the standard of the game today.
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Utter garbage, what was it, one shot on target all game? There are undiscovered pygmys in the amazon who clould tell you that we needed a few to block Huths run on the ball but defensive guru McLeish didn't see it.
Just go Alex you boring, sterile, clueless ******.
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Terrible weather, terrible football, terrible opposition, terrible manager. Hutton not only terrible but one of the worst footballers I have ever witnessed. Renew my season ticket? You must be fukin joking. Hang your head in shame Mr Lerner where ever you are.
So, whose fault was the weather ? Lerner, Mcleish or Hutton ?
Watching the rain fall was more exciting than that pile of shite.
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We just seem incapable of getting that second goal which would see us through games. How many one nil leads have we lost points from this season?
I wouldn't say incapable, more not wanting to. The silliness is when we have scored this season, it is usually during a spell of actually playing football rather then hoofing it. We just seem to settle back after that though as if the job is done. The players might be to blame but it has happened pretty much in every match we have took the lead in this season and should have been nipped in the bud by the management team early on if they were any good and wanted to be proofed right about not being negative.
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I'd just like to mention the 19th minute again at this evening's snooze-fest. Well done to all concerned.
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I'd just like to mention the 19th minute again at this evening's snooze-fest. Well done to all concerned.
Woke me up with all that clapping. I was having a nice snooze in the lower Trinity
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And a thank you to the Stoke fans who joined in the applause and clapped our injured players off the field.
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Herd, Baker and Weimann were great today and for the first half we played well, we just lacked confidence and conviction in the last third. We needed the second goal but we have needed it all season, you could see the stoke goal coming. Given struggled but hutton is very poor, Ireland needed help in the second half as our crossing options faltered, roll on next season.
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just got back very frustrated with the refereeing why are those henchmen who parade in that horrible club's kit get away with common assault every few minutes while we get 2 bookings for getting a bit to close to them ? I thought Ireland was our best player, Lichaj was really good and so was Baker and Collins.Hutton is awful!
Try to include some punctuations and maybe the odd capital letter, then we might have a clue what you're on about!!
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Just got back from a joyless and soul less Villa Park, evidence that the blood is slowly being drained out of the Club. The only bright spots were the efforts of the youngsters Weiman (his Goal), Baker, Lichaj and Herd, surprised about some of the criticisms on here.
Hutton, Gabby and Bannan were awful, at least Bannan was trying, Hutton just a pooor player playing badly and Gabby looked like he didnt give a toss, he is so out of sorts he should be dropped.
1 point nearer safety,
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I'd just like to mention the 19th minute again at this evening's snooze-fest. Well done to all concerned.
This
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I'd just like to mention the 19th minute again at this evening's snooze-fest. Well done to all concerned.
Indeed,well done all of us.
As to the game:
If only there were any officials that could wake up at any point in 90 minutes and spot the well practised thuggery (Sorry tactics) of Stoke City, as ever the officials could have been abducted by Aliens in the 50's and barely missed as much as they did tonight.
Clearly we're basically poor, but for Christs Sake given the kids we had out there they stood up to it pretty well. How anyone can crictise Lichaj is beyond me, we need guts more than anything right now and he has enough of it to share round Saint Martins's ((C) BBC) over priced, over paid, gutless wonders that have failed to be able to defend a corner under at least three managers now.
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I thought Lichaj played well overall, but his distribution left a lot to be desired at times.
I t would have helped if some players gave him the odd option.
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When some are slating the opposition or the referee, let's not forget that its not their fault that we are incapable of playing decent football.
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I do hope you're proud of that performance McSpunkstain.
Please get this negative piece of shit out of our club.
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When some are slating the opposition or the referee, let's not forget that its not their fault that we are incapable of playing decent football.
Nope, just the incompetence of officals (Mainly because they just can't keep up with the level of cheating that is common place in every game, of the so called best leauge in the world - chortle) and the horrible none footbal tactics of Stoke in my mind when I have a go at both tonight.
I'm perfectly capable of seperating out our own lack of ability ta very much.
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Teams like stoke and Wimbledon back in the day nullify the officials by the volume of offences. The ball comes across and there are so many simultaneous fouls, on both sides, they can't call all of them. So they end up not blowing the whistle at all.
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I thought Lichaj played well overall, but his distribution left a lot to be desired at times.
This.
Time and time again he just hoofed the ball at the earliest opportunity instead of putting his foot on it and looking up. I know he was playing on the opposite side to where he's used to, but it's something he's going to have to work on.
I was'nt disapointed at the draw, although the amount we've had this season maybe i've just become immune to it. Stoke were bloody awful, the officials were even worse and we did'nt create enough chances again.
Let's hope the teams below us all flop again this week, we need them too.
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Teams like stoke and Wimbledon back in the day nullify the officials by the volume of offences. The ball comes across and there are so many simultaneous fouls, on both sides, they can't call all of them. So they end up not blowing the whistle at all.
Yep, and we all beat it eventually and got those wankers from Wimbledon relgated by not rising to it and continually playing football. People think they've got to stand up to Stoke, to win the war, to fight for every ball. Well several ball playing teams from across Europe have shown that keeping it and not letting them have it is very effective for completing nullyfying the bunch of cloggers they've got and in addition showing them up.
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Great match. English football at it's best. I love watching games against Stoke.
Or in reality that was wank. I fucking hate Stoke and the way that tosser Pulis leaps and jumps around if someone so much as breathes on one his thugs while sending out a team that plays like that lot do. No wonder so few Stoke fans bothered making the short journey if it was to watch that shit. They make us look like Brazil 70. Maybe one day they will find themselves in a game officiated by a competent referee and get what they deserve.
Weimann looks quality, should be one of the first names on the sheet at the moment. Gabby shouldn't. Runs around a lot but fuck me he's out of form, how bad was that shot that went for a throw in? There would be lynch mobs if it had been Heskey.
Ireland makes us tick, but I really wish he'd get forward more. Too often he looked more like a holding midfielder with where he was on the pitch.
Bannan, for someone whose biggest asset is his supposed passing ability, he doesn't half give the ball away a lot. It was yet another shit pass from him that broke up our attack and ultimately led to their freekick.
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Andi Weimann could be this season's Marcus Allbäck.
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On the plus side, it was nice to grab a quick pint in the Bartons after the game.
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Desperate match devoid of quality from both sides.
Seemed to have most of the possession first half but did nothing with it. 2nd half we were under the cosh and although Stoke didn't appear to be threatening you just knew they would score from one of their set pieces.
Given ok. He's not great off his line but rarely makes mistakes.
Hutton dreadful. Thought he had picked up recently but back to his worst.
Collins and Baker solid but I'm assuming Colllins lost Huth for the goal and he also lost him for Stoke's disallowed goal.
Lichaj -solid but distrubution poor. Not helped as he has no left foor playing at left back. Why ?
Warnock - anonymous
Bannan- no movement off the ball except backwards. For a perceived good passer of the ball he gives possession away ffar too much. Poor game.
Ireland- Obvoiusly splits oponion on here. I thought he was poor again. Not sure what his assets are. Gave possession away too much first half and anonymous second half. No he didn't create Weinmann's goal he played a simple 1 2 with a 2 yard pass.
Herd - got stuck in but no quality.
Weinmann - Great goal out of almost nothing. Always puts himself about. Not a lot else.
Gabby - anonymous (and very disappointing as we have seen Gabby do it)
Heskey had the best 5 minutes I've seen him have in a Villa shirt. Honestly !
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Ireland makes us tick, but I really wish he'd get forward more. Too often he looked more like a holding midfielder with where he was on the pitch.
Thats what happens when you try to play 4-4-2 with no natural wide players.
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Damage limitation from the manager perhaps?
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One question....
Why doesn't the senior professional take the harder option. i.e. Hutton play left back and Lichaj and right back?
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I thought that we played too deep for most of the game and invited Stoke on to us. They are a dreadful outfit and the team we put out today (under proper management) should have had enough to beat them comfortably. As it turned out we made hard work of it and predictably conceded from a set piece - clearly the management team don't bother watching MOTD or they may know about Huth's runs into the box at corners and free kicks.
I thought Ireland worked hard to be available and in my view he makes us tick. Weimann is a class apart at the moment - his work rate is great, movement excellent and today produced a finish of the highest standard. It's a shame that they didn't try more of the passing-to-each-other stuff as it worked for the goal. What really gets me though is just how brainless some of the play is - I know that Stoke worked hard to close us down quickly today, but drilling the ball at Gabby's head while he's being marked by some of the biggest defenders in the division is never going to yield much.
Most people seem to think that the game was turgid - surely Hutton's comedy moments are worth the entry fee alone. Referee Mike Dean is pushing the boundaries of ineptitude and today we witnessed officiating of the most dire standard. The icing on the case of course is to watch the buffoon of a manager celebrate a 1-1 draw at home.
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Goals galore! (http://www.101greatgoals.com/goals/england/villa-1-stoke-1/)
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One question....
Why doesn't the senior professional take the harder option. i.e. Hutton play left back and Lichaj and right back? Because he is shocking in his rightfull position, he could be even worse at LB. The bloke is useless.
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I think today my frustration with things has reaching boiling point.
I've missed two home PL games all season - Norwich and Fulham - so I've not seen us win in the flesh since the start of October. I've been a VP regular for 28 years and I've never known anything like this in all that time.
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Damage limitation from the manager perhaps?
Maybe but if he'd set the team up differently rather than 4-4-2 and shoehorning players into roles they don't like then it might have been different. Without a doubt what little decent football we have played this season has been played in a 4-2-3-1. Solid in the middle but with a creative player in the role behind the forward. In ensuring that Hutton plays at right back and we have two strikers, we've moved Lichaj across to the left, Warnock forwards to left midfield, Bannan at Right midfield and Ireland has to ensure we have a midfield two so is limited in how much he can support the attack. Gabby has been worse than usless with his back to goal this season so we'd be as well to play Heskey up there if we're laying 4-4-2(!!). And as I've just postulated the view that heskey should potentially be in the team currently, its obviously time for bed.
On a final point todays team should have been
Given
Lichaj Collins Baker Warnock
Herd Gardner
Bannan Ireland Agbonlahor
Weimann
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Chris, even those pandas from Edinburgh Zoo get their rocks off once a year.
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Chris, even those pandas from Edinburgh Zoo get their rocks off once a year.
That's not what I heard.
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Yes, but when it happens you can't get the smile off their stupid faces
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Useless endangered raccoon twats.
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Just back from the game. Dropped Damon's boy off after we had a long talk about refereeing. His basic question to me and his uncle was the very topical one - Why do referees make so many bad decisions? I tried to answer him as honestly as I could. I said it was all about referees making preconceptions about games and tailoring their decisions to fit those preconceptions.
We listened to R5L on the way home talking about officials mistakes and they had Dermot Gallagher (sp?) voicing the officials line. He said before a game the referee would meet with the other officials and the referee would set out what the approach to the game would be. This is what I call preconception. A game is a game. The rules of football are precisely the same whether it is cup tie, a local derby or opposing catholics and protestants.
A classic case of preconception was Howard Webb in the WC final. He wanted to showcase himself so he accepted the blatantly obvious intention of Holland to kick Spain into submission. If Webb had had the balls to send off De Jong a ten man Holland against Spain would have been a better and more honourable game.
In my opinion today the referee had decided that it would be a physical game because it was Stoke and because we are scrapping for points. That was his preconception and every decision he made was coloured by it.
A referee should have no more latitude for personal interpretation of the rules than a speed camera has for the highway code. You grab a player round the neck and hip throw him to the ground it is a foul. The fact that it is Stoke and it is the way they play has no bearing on the matter. Time wasting and yards stealing up the touchline are offences regardless of whether it is Stoke and that that is the way they have become allowed to play. Cheating is cheating and fouls are fouls.
The fact that officials have pre match meeting to decide how the game is going to be officiated tells you why there is no consistency whatsoever in present day refereeing.
As to the match itself, Gabby seems to have something wrong in his head. In his prime he would chase down a back pass to the goal keeper to the very toe of the goalie's boot, today he would give up his charge ten yards short of the keeper. Given has morphed into a shot stopper. He was being knocked from pillar to post in set pieces by the Stoke bully boys when a simple jump in the air which landed on a Stoke instep or a set of studs up the calf of a red and white sock would get him a bit of respect. We need a bigger more dominant keeper urgently.
Pretty dull fare and I saw nothing to make me change my mind that next season will start where this one leaves off and he will be gone by Christmas.
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I think today my frustration with things has reaching boiling point.
I've missed two home PL games all season - Norwich and Fulham - so I've not seen us win in the flesh since the start of October. I've been a VP regular for 28 years and I've never known anything like this in all that time.
One of our number has been a season ticket holder for over 30 years but has stopped going since Christmas. We were season ticket holders together in the Third division, the McNeill season and all between but this has been one too far. I can't say I can blame him but it takes something special to put an end to three decades of commitment. Also the two longe term season ticket holders who sit behind us in the Upper Trinity haven't turned up recently either.
Well done Messrs Lerner, Faulkner and Mcleish
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Panda FC, I wonder if we could beat them?
(http://img.ezinemark.com/imagemanager2/files/30011306/2011/12/2011-12-29-23-18-40-2-giant-panda-cubs-take-a-nap-at-the-research-base.jpeg)
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Ireland was the only one on the pitch that could be classed as a skilled footballer to say he was rubbish is ridiculous. The young kids gave their all but really need time to develope not be thrust into a relegation battle. It's really hard to judge them because they are playing along really poor senior players who they should be learning off. I was puzzled that McCeish didn't bring Cuellar on at the same time that Stoke brought Crouch on it was a bit much expecting Collins to take them all on. We really are a crap side with a crap manager.
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No, because we are hopeless at set pieces and they invented the Panda Crossing.
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Like Brian, I heard Dermot Gallagher's comments on R5. I thought it sounded like Dermot was in a pub, based on the background noise. Regardless, it was telling that he spoke about deciding how to referee a game.
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Just saw their goal again on MOTD - Huth held Collins down with both hands. Even Hansen said it was a foul. Incompetent officials yet again
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Just saw their goal again on MOTD - Huth held Collins down with both hands. Even Hansen said it was a foul. Incompetent officials yet again
Completely agree.
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Well said, Brian.
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What was their second disallowed for? I didn't have sound on the stream and MOTD didn't even cover it even though there wasn't much to show in the match.
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The ball went out of play from the corner-kick.
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I think today my frustration with things has reaching boiling point.
I've missed two home PL games all season - Norwich and Fulham - so I've not seen us win in the flesh since the start of October. I've been a VP regular for 28 years and I've never known anything like this in all that time.
One of our number has been a season ticket holder for over 30 years but has stopped going since Christmas. We were season ticket holders together in the Third division, the McNeill season and all between but this has been one too far. I can't say I can blame him but it takes something special to put an end to three decades of commitment. Also the two longe term season ticket holders who sit behind us in the Upper Trinity haven't turned up recently either.
Well done Messrs Lerner, Faulkner and Mcleish
Not Surprised by this Jembob but saddened. These comments are becoming more frequent. Unfortunately our leaders seem oblivious to the effect they are having on our club. UTV
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Ahh, the stream seemed to be showing the replays in the box as if there was a foul.
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Just saw their goal again on MOTD - Huth held Collins down with both hands. Even Hansen said it was a foul. Incompetent officials yet again
Completely agree.
Yep we had the arrogant could not give a fuck one today.
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Just saw their goal again on MOTD - Huth held Collins down with both hands. Even Hansen said it was a foul. Incompetent officials yet again
He said it was a foul, but then seemed to indicate you know what you will get from Stoke so should be up for the battle which I think he meant Collins was letting himself be dominated by them.
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Phil Dowd made the worst decision in the history of the game in the cup final a couple of years ago, but Mike Dean is the worst referee who ever drew breath.
Amazingly, both of them give the impression that they think they're fucking ace.
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Just saw their goal again on MOTD - Huth held Collins down with both hands. Even Hansen said it was a foul. Incompetent officials yet again
He said it was a foul, but then seemed to indicate you know what you will get from Stoke so should be up for the battle which I think he meant Collins was letting himself be dominated by them.
Strikes me it's more a case of, because it's Stoke it's not a foul as it's what they do. Although if it was anyone else it would be a foul.
The laws of the game always seem to be altered when it comes to Stoke.
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There is no spoon
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Just saw their goal again on MOTD - Huth held Collins down with both hands. Even Hansen said it was a foul. Incompetent officials yet again
He said it was a foul, but then seemed to indicate you know what you will get from Stoke so should be up for the battle which I think he meant Collins was letting himself be dominated by them.
Strikes me it's more a case of, because it's Stoke it's not a foul as it's what they do. Although if it was anyone else it would be a foul.
The laws of the game always seem to be altered when it comes to Stoke.
As we said last year, they're allowed to turn throw ins into theatrical productions because it's Stoke.
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There is no spoon
That's a lie, he is the assistant at Man Citeh.
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I've seen a lot of people complaining about the attendance today, which is fair enough, though I think its worth considering that Stoke brought an unexpectedly small following with them, would've expected another 2,000 or so of them really, which I suppose would've looked better.
My biggest concern is that a lot of people are only going now because they brought their season tickets before Big 'Eck came in and feel obliged to come down. We could be seeing horrendous attendances next season, we're starting to head back into 2005.
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Defence today should've been:
Lichaj - Cuellar - Collins - Baker. Just don't rate Hutton. That defence would've had additional height and experience, plus Baker has played LB before and has a decent left foot. Lichaj isn't comfortable on the left - more a natural right-footed player. Eck seems intent on playing an unbalanced line-up. Worrying to see the crowd down to 30,000 - well done Mr Lerner, Mr Faulkner and Mr McLeish. I still think we're not safe yet.
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Just got back. A positive advert for Premiership football that was not. We were bloody shite. Lichaj was good.
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Once again, i trudged away from a game against Stoke hoping next season is the one where their thug approach is ineffectual and they go back from whence they came. Okay, watching Villa is not like watching Barcelona but God, Stoke are tedious, unwatchable and seem to get away with anything they damn well please.
At Witton, i heard some Stoke fans talking about how they'd overheard Villa fans complaining about their style of play. They got indignant about how just because they didn't play 'proper' football, it didn't mean they weren't a top flight team. Listen lads, whatever gets you through the night but don't pretend like that's what you like to watch out of choice. It's crap and boring and if you were playing that way at the bottom of the table you would want Pulis gone. My only hope is that next year i get to see my theory put into action.
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I've seen a lot of people complaining about the attendance today, which is fair enough, though I think its worth considering that Stoke brought an unexpectedly small following with them, would've expected another 2,000 or so of them really, which I suppose would've looked better.
My biggest concern is that a lot of people are only going now because they brought their season tickets before Big 'Eck came in and feel obliged to come down. We could be seeing horrendous attendances next season, we're starting to head back into 2005.
2,000 extra Stoke fans wouldn't have filled the rows of empty seats in the Holte End not to mention the numerous non-attending season-ticket holders like myself who have simply had enough of this regime - if you think 30,000 is bad this season, just wait until next season when the crowds are less than 25,000
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When Rory DeLap is old and grey with his grandkids on his knees and they ask. "what did you do when you were younger Grandad"?
He will tell them.."I threw a football for a living, I was very good at it as I could throw it far from anywhere beyond the half way line. My boss loved me, he loved me so much he had a towel sewn into my shirt. He paid me thousands and thousands of old English pounds to throw the ball week in week out. We had a plan you see. The plan was to run the ball into the other team's half and to get a throw in, I wasn't involved in this but the throw in was where I came in.. I was the main focus of the team and very important to the team. I would throw it high and fast to allow the other players to pull and push and barge an knock the opposition without the useless officials noticing anything because the ball was so high in the air you see, aye, we were a canny lot in those days"
"Grandad, why do you keep saying your shoulders are fucked".
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The quicker Stoke get relegated out of the Prem the better , all that Shawcross ever does is puts his arms around the opponents body and gets away with him. But villa will be relegated before stoke .
People saying Ireland was rubbish again , well If he gets injured in the remaining games we will be in the shit . I thought he was the only one that looks like creating something with his passes , did they miss the through ball to weimann before he fell over .
Weimann reminded me of Rooney when he scored his first goal against Aresnal for Everton , lets hope he becomes half the player.
Hutton is the laziest player I have ever seen , is he bothered . what a waste of money , we could have got someone like Pettier from Leicester for quarter of the price , dire signing. Even when they had the disallowed goal , he just chested it back to the player to score , no conviction at all , hes a joke.
so how many wins is that now Mr.McLeish and how many wins at Villa Park.
I will say to you politely please f**k off before you do any more damage.
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Well wonderful. Got there 20 minutes late after forgetting it was Bank Hols and the M6 would be a nightmare. Must admit I nearly turned around at Stafford. However we arrived to watch a fairly turgid 1st half enlivened by the Weimann goal. Second half was just an exercise in how to raise your blood pressure and I thought I did alright to last until the 76th minute before losing it entirely. A combination of Stoke, Tiny Penis, Mike Dean and our complete and utter inability to pass the ball to one another and the utter cluelessness of McLeish not knowing how to chnage the game and get more impetus into our attack meant I spent the last 15 minutes swearing loudly at everything.
Given - Shotstopper, yes. All round Goalkeeper, no. - 6
Hutton - and I thought Cuellars distribution was bad, why is Lichaj moved to make way for this clown - 4
Collins - gave everything but for a bloke his size still getting outmuscled and not winning headers - 6.5
Baker - showed his inexperience several times in the 2nd half but manning up - 6.5
Lichaj - played well if a bit impetuous - 6.5
Bannan - ran around to good effect but out of position, was doing OK until he got subbed - 6.5
Herd - gave everything for the cause, but has the subtlety of a charging rhino - 6.5
Ireland - i felt he ran the game first half, never overly hurried and a lovely weighted ball for Weimanns opener, got stuck in second half - 7
Warnock - seemed to me to be filling a space rather than contributing anything majorly worthwhile - 6
Weimann - MOM - ran his balls off and an exquisite goal - 7
Agbonlahor - oh dear, out of sorts, out of form, not awake, reactive not proactive, not a captains performance - 4
Gardner - out of position until moved central when he looked more comfortable - 5
NZogbia - Not enough time
Heskey - not enough time
McLeish - 1 - clueless. I realise he's got some injury issues currently but to continue playing players out of position and expecting anything other than what we got today is utter clueless negativity. It was crying out to change it to 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 in the second half and go for the jugular and 3 points but natural caution and handing the impetus to the opposition took over again and we end up with a point. I've given him a chance but he's got to go at the end of the season.
I can't quite imagine what another season of what I've witnessed in this one is going to do to my sanity but I suppose thats what its all about.
Shouting, swearing and indeed primal screaming are all justified in these most dismal of times for the psyche of the addicted Villa fan and should be assiduously practiced to avoid psychosomatic disorders.
I am reminded of the plangent wail of Roland Orzabal of the late unlamented Tears for Fears:
Shout! Shout!
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
McSheesh, I'm talking to you
Fuck off!
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It's so frustrating when you look at all these draws from winning positions: QPR away, Sunderland away, Everton home, Blackburn away, Liverpool away and now Stoke at home. That's 12 points given away to late goals in particular, even half that amount would put us on 41 points and safe from the drop. It's the old McLeish negative sitting back tactics that have prevailed. Get rid of him now and put Sid and Kevin Mac in charge for the last 6 games - I still think we're in deep trouble: there will be some surprise results where teams in danger of the drop will pull off shock results against teams with nothing to play for.
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Phil Dowd made the worst decision in the history of the game in the cup final a couple of years ago
the worst ever??!
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IMO yes, because he quite clearly based his decision on how long had gone in the game.
In fact, he actually made up a rule so as not to antagonise Fergie, and therefore blight his own career because he didn't want to spoil his chances of reffing future Man Utd games.
Absolutely sickening to see Aston Villa used in this way, and I'm still not over it, as you can tell. :-(
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Phil Dowd made the worst decision in the history of the game in the cup final a couple of years ago, but Mike Dean is the worst referee who ever drew breath.
Amazingly, both of them give the impression that they think they're fucking ace.
Officials are heavily influenced by players and managers who have a go at them. Fergie is the master and some manure players and Terry etc have done this regularly.
Yesterday Huth spent the entire match mouthing off Dean and the Linesmen. I have no doubt Dean was not prepared to suffer his wrath by calling a foul as he should have done.
By the way where was he when the free kick came over. He is not in the camera shot. Obviously stood in the centre circle and left Stoke to do their tricks!
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The kids did alright, but they'd be so much better under a proper manager. Ireland is our only creative spark and Weimann's goal was magnificent. Other than that though we were terribly poor against a horrible Stoke side.
Lerner needs to realise if he wants to increase the club's revenue he needs to get rid of the manager. Fans are not turning up because we are terrible to watch, not because the manager came from Blose. Nothing will change under Mcleish and the longer we continue with him, it just compounds the disaster.
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It's not just match-going fans, which actually (unfortunately) make little difference in revenue terms when compared to TV and sponsorship money, but interest in Villa in general will fall which will hit commercial revenue hard. From the half million people who buy Villa merchandise to the next sponsorship deals we will be looking for.
If Villa are considered dull and irrelevant then no major companies will invest in us and fans are less inclined to spend money on/at the club.
They must know the feelshit factor at the club at the moment. They have to do something about it.
As for Stoke, they make me fucking sick. I hate them. More than any other team in this league I hate them.
They waste 15 minutes a game wiping a ball and taking throw ins. It's like they've found some cheat code to football. They're trolls. We're no entertainers at the moment I know but the day those cheating, playacting, dirty bastards and their aged chav twat manager fuck off out of this league the better.
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Nothing sums up our club more at the moment than a quiet half empty Holte End.
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Draws and worse are not the stuff to put bums on seats..not that a true Villa fan will sit through a game.
Come on Randy stop playing us for mugs!
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When Rory DeLap is old and grey with his grandkids on his knees and they ask. "what did you do when you were younger Grandad"?
He will tell them.."I threw a football for a living, I was very good at it as I could throw it far from anywhere beyond the half way line. My boss loved me, he loved me so much he had a towel sewn into my shirt. He paid me thousands and thousands of old English pounds to throw the ball week in week out. We had a plan you see. The plan was to run the ball into the other team's half and to get a throw in, I wasn't involved in this but the throw in was where I came in.. I was the main focus of the team and very important to the team. I would throw it high and fast to allow the other players to pull and push and barge an knock the opposition without the useless officials noticing anything because the ball was so high in the air you see, aye, we were a canny lot in those days"
"Grandad, why do you keep saying your shoulders are fucked".
If there was a Like button i would press it now.
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I'm depressed. What a miserable afternoon that was.
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I thought we tried to pass it, but lacked any penetration, although Weimann's goal was obviosuly class. 2nd half was harder, which many will put down to McLeish tactics, and the ineviatable happened after a build up of set pieces. People will blame the manager for this, yet if things were going better we'd be blaming the ref for that fact it wasn't a free kick and Collins was fouled by Huth.
It was a good test for the kids, especially Lichaj and Baker, who need to get uesd to teams like Stoke if they are to have a good Premier League career.
Gabby was poor and I felt sorry for Gardner as he looked lost at left midfield. Hutton had a decent first half and awful 2nd. Also thought Bannan did little for us, but again he was out of position on the right.
1-1 was predictable, but it's another point towards safety and a good bit of progression for the kids.
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Kendrick in the Mail:
"Stoke’s style is not pretty – but neither is Villa’s much of the time – and at least Pulis’ men have a clear and effective plan.
For Villa it was a top-flight worst 21st concession from a setpiece this season and the former defender in the dugout must take ultimate responsibility for such a damning statistic, as well as a record of just one home win in five months, pre-dating the current injury crisis."
I don't know if that's the first time I've seen the manager criticised, even as mildly as that, by a journalist (other than the Guardian pod just sighing with sadness when Villa are brought up). Could it be that even the goodwill towards McLeish the man from the press is turning in acknowledgement of poor results and football?
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Kendrick in the Mail:
"Stoke’s style is not pretty – but neither is Villa’s much of the time – and at least Pulis’ men have a clear and effective plan.
For Villa it was a top-flight worst 21st concession from a setpiece this season and the former defender in the dugout must take ultimate responsibility for such a damning statistic, as well as a record of just one home win in five months, pre-dating the current injury crisis."
I don't know if that's the first time I've seen the manager criticised, even as mildly as that, by a journalist (other than the Guardian pod just sighing with sadness when Villa are brought up). Could it be that even the goodwill towards McLeish the man from the press is turning in acknowledgement of poor results and football?
If only, but the only people that matter on that front are Lerner and the board.
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The game that broke my spirit.
I am an eternal optimist and few can match me for a genuine belief that we’ll be alright and that “we’ll smash these [insert one of the other 19 clubs] twats”, but I despair of our club and the direction in which we’ve sunk and continue to sink.
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Hutton and Ireland were shit! Baker, Collins, Weimann excellent.
Gabby cannot play with his back to goal, I actually wanted Heskey on earlier, as Stoke is probably the only game made especially for the big cart horse. As soon as it became clear Ireland had decided to take a day off, he should have been taken off.
Overall, I hope we are last on MOTD, tell your friends to tune out before this game comes on!
I'n glad someone else thinks Ireland is shit. He may run around but he does sweet f.a. doesn't track his marker and if he can't dominate in the midfield against Stoke one is entitled to ask 'what is the point of him?'
You obviously missed the two excellent balls that created great chances for Gabby and Weimann.
Does that include the 1-2 he played with Weimann for the goal?
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Ireland is the player we need to get the ball to and play through as much as possible.
Weimann seems to read him as vice versa which is promising. If only Gabby could as well and anticipate sooner, he'd be lethal.
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I'd like to see Ireland ping a few more shots off, 1 goal in 2 years is poor given his quality. What is it with us signing goalscoring midfielders and turning them into non scoring midfielders, Petrov, Sidwell, Delph, Ireland, N'Zogbia etc.
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Fairly dire game. To be fair the only way a half arsed Stoke were going to get something from the game was with a set piece. Gardner helped them on the way. Bit like Anfield though all we deserved was a point.
Ireland was very good I thought. Far better without the ball these days but he was the best midfielder on view and used the ball very well. Pity we had nothing on the wings and little enough up front to benefit from his clever play. Like others I'd like to see him show more self belief and get some shots in, break into the opposition box like he used do at City.
Baker was very composed at centre half. Justified his inclusion ahead of Cuellar. Wiemann scored a cracking goal and provided a touch of quality on a day we were desperately lacking it. Lichaj also proved he is more than capable of being a backup full back in our side. Bit to learn yet but strong and fast anyway.
Aside from that Collins and Gabby were maybe struggling after strong performances at Liverpool. Collins was beaten to a few set pieces including the goal . Gabby was awful. Zero goal threat yet again.
Others like Herd, Bannan and Warnock tried hard but offered very little on the ball. Don't think Bannan is up to it at this level. Reminds me a bit of Peter Whittingham at that age. Plenty of ability but very lightweight. Given had little to do but his tendency to not move off his line doesn't help our midget side at set pieces.
Hutton was ok defensively but utterly abysmal on the ball. Playing 442 at home you need your full backs comfortable on the ball. Hutton in past years always seemed to be at his best going forward yet he has been utterly shite at it this season. Thinking surely Herd and Lichaj are better options right back than him.
Gary Gardner seems to be struggling with the step up to adult level. Playing him on the left is beyond idiotic but he seems a passenger without the ball and isn't anything above tidy with the ball at present. Nzogbia looked totally off the pace.
Goes without saying that the board, coaching staff and playing staff need a complete overhaul in the summer. Not out of the relegation battle yet but only a Devon loch collapse now will see us go down.
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I would be glad if Ireland were even half as good as he is. A season and a half ago I wrote him off as a dead loss. He has proved me wrong.
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You could argue that we got two hard eared points from the last two games. However in both games we took the lead and sat right back trying to absorb the pressure.
Is this the team being tactically naive, a sign of the desperate predicament we are in or just the shape of Villa's football to come?
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Is this the team being tactically naive, a sign of the desperate predicament we are in or just the shape of Villa's football to come?
A little bit of (1) and (3), I'd say. We're not good enough to take a lead and defend it, Mourinho-stylee. It's a strategy we saw a lot when AM was at the other lot, and they got their share of 1-0 wins and 1-1 draws.
But we're not in a desperate predicament, so I'm baffled why we should adopt the tactic. We should be aiming to win games 2-0 or 3-1.
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Is this the team being tactically naive, a sign of the desperate predicament we are in or just the shape of Villa's football to come?
A little bit of (1) and (3), I'd say. We're not good enough to take a lead and defend it, Mourinho-stylee. It's a strategy we saw a lot when AM was at the other lot, and they got their share of 1-0 wins and 1-1 draws.
But we're not in a desperate predicament, so I'm baffled why we should adopt the tactic. We should be aiming to win games 2-0 or 3-1.
Any team you would think would want to build on their ascendency and take advantage of your opponents. But with Villa you do get the feeling that as soon as we go ahead, regardless of at what point of the game it is, a signal comes form the bench to (as Tom Ross is fond of saying) 'tuck in the wingers and try and take the points'
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Identical result to last season, apart from last year we had a fully fit squad Reasonable results over Easter given the amount of kids on the pitch I'm sure most other teams would be getting hammered with that amount of kids in the side They are a credit to the club
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Identical result to last season, apart from last year we had a fully fit squad last yearReasonable results over Easter given the amount of kids on the pitch I'm sure most other teams would be getting hammered with that amount of kids in the side They are a credit to the club
I second that, they are a credit to the club, and regardless of what we may think about the manager, lets get right behind the boys on the pitch.
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Ireland is the player we need to get the ball to and play through as much as possible.
Weimann seems to read him as vice versa which is promising. If only Gabby could as well and anticipate sooner, he'd be lethal.
i think Weimann and Ireland look good working together , they bring each other into the play . Its got to be better than Ireland and Heskey .
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Weimann would play well with Bent as well.Both him and Ireland look for those runs inside the FBs, Gabby does'nt make them, Bent does.
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At least all those people that said we were a better team without Bent have been proved correct. Gabby is pointless, one effort on goal in about 3 games and it went for a throw in. Given the lack of options we might as well play one up front (either Weimann or Heskey) and put some midfield runners around them and look for knock downs. Not going to be pretty but we've had about 4 efforts on goal in the last 3 matches so we can't go on hoping to win games when we're lucky if we score one.
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Personally speaking I said we'd get more points with Gabby. Not sure if that's been proved incorrect yet.
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It would be fucking difficult to get less points, Perce.
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Personally speaking I said we'd get more points with Gabby. Not sure if that's been proved incorrect yet.
I make it we've scraped 6 points since the Wigan game that Bent went off in. Feel free to compare that with what went before although I couldn't be arsed either.
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Kendrick in the Mail:
"Stoke’s style is not pretty – but neither is Villa’s much of the time – and at least Pulis’ men have a clear and effective plan.
For Villa it was a top-flight worst 21st concession from a setpiece this season and the former defender in the dugout must take ultimate responsibility for such a damning statistic, as well as a record of just one home win in five months, pre-dating the current injury crisis."
I don't know if that's the first time I've seen the manager criticised, even as mildly as that, by a journalist (other than the Guardian pod just sighing with sadness when Villa are brought up). Could it be that even the goodwill towards McLeish the man from the press is turning in acknowledgement of poor results and football?
Who exactly does the coaching is it Grant? Under Steve Walford the defence knew exactly what to do in any situation.
Grant is a huge liability to this club but hes a mate of McDuffs. As McDuff hasnt got the bottle to dispense with his services
perhaps the club owner (who doesnt attend games) should!
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Andi Weimann could be this season's Marcus Allbäck.
How very true......or David Geddis!