Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on July 22, 2012, 12:55:18 AM
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Villa: Given,Herd, Lichaj, Dunne, Baker, Ireland, Gardner, Delph, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Weimann
Subs: Guzan, Marshall, Lowton, Warnock, El Ahmadi, Collins, Holman, Carruthers, Clark, Delfouneso, Bannan, Johnson
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No Bent?
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Picked up a knock apparently, interesting team,
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Picked up a knock apparently, interesting team,
Anything severe? Or just a one-match thing?
Good to see Delph playing.
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Picked up a knock apparently, interesting team,
Anything severe? Or just a one-match thing?
Good to see Delph playing.
Nothing serious. Seems more precaution than anything. Hopefully he'll be in the side to face Portland
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Facebook says slight thigh strain, not worth risking him. Mind you some utter muppets on Facebook
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Delph is captain tonight. Which is interesting. Obviously PL sees something in him...
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Stream very possibly here (http://www.chicago-fire.com/livestream)
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Or here.
http://www.csnchicago.com/live_fire
It's got the players warming up.
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would lambert have known delph as a player before with norwich vs leeds?
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What's happening?
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Dirty bastards.
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the commentators are comedy
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Can we buy Hunter Jumper?
Just for the name.
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I'm more and more impressed by the composure of Nathan Baker
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Good run by Gabby, unlucky Ireland
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Should of scored.
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Ireland should have scored there.
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Great play by Gabby, excellent cross and Ireland might have done better with the shot. Should really be 1-0. Gabby skinned the full back there
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Norwick City?
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Excellent run again down the left flank this time by Lichaj. N'Zog really hasn't found his feet at all.
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Villans at the game
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/EnglishPride2004/fans.jpg)
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Stephen Ireland really has lovely vision
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Classic Delph two footed tackle there.
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19th minute - fantastic.
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Good on the home fans.
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nice one chicago
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We really are trying to play some nicer stuff. It won't all come together this season but you can see there is a plan.
Lovely touch from Chicago fans as there is standing ovation from the whole ground for Stan on the 19th
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Respect to the Chicago fans.
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Yep, well done The Fire for the 19th minute thing
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Come on Charles. Look up and pass it. You sometimes get the impression he is trying too hard and making things worse.
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Good effort from Gabby there. Nice save from the keeper
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So he thought Gabby was Zog and then reckons Delph is Gabby?
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GABBBBBBBBYYYYYYYYY.
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Nice one Gabby
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GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL
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What a very good goal.
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Great cross from Gazza and terrific header from Gabby
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What was most pleasing about that was the lovely touches from Ireland.
Sorry, the cross was from Chris Herd, not Gazza
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I think the stadium announcer had a tricky time with Gabby's name there.
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He was probably practising saying it and then fluffed his lines completely when called on. The pressure got to him.
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Well taken by Gabby, that'll do him good.
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Due to immense tiredness I was using the pre season thread. I was saying Ive seen more pass and move football in the few preseason games than I did all last season. I'm loving it. Ball to feet, looking for space, hungry for the ball, good movement.
We look like a football team.
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Nice to see Delph so involved.
I really want to see KEA and Holman in the second half, but I've a feeling I'll fall asleep before then.
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I know its only a friendly, and I realise we are playing a team from the MLS, but we really have played some lovely stuff tonight. It is the most comfortable I have seen us with the ball at our feet in ages. It is a project and we need 3 or 4 more very good players to come in but the early signs are very positive indeed.
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Great effort from Gazza Gardner
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Zog reminds me of Curcic the amount of times he runs straight into a bunch of opposition players.
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I think the stadium announcer had a tricky time with Gabby's name there.
In US they would shorten it to something like Aboner.
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Zog reminds me of Curcic the amount of times he runs straight into a bunch of opposition players.
It's like he has no idea what to do with his feet when the ball arrives. He is the biggest concern so far of the players in the Lambert era in my opinion.
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Another good shot from Gazza
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Are the camera men pissed?
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Hi Maz!
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Playing some nice stuff and looking comfortable although from what I gather this is a fair bit away from Chicago's strongest 11.
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Not our starting XI either mind you. And we should be better than them anyway, but it's the intent to knock it about that is most pleasing. Barely a long punt in sight.
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Hi mate.
Dont forget Chicago, whatever their quality (and theyre one of the better MLS teams) are up and running in their season and we're still rusty.
Not only rusty but adapting to a new management team and philosophy.
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I like the look of the ground, looks like a proper football ground. Not keen on the drum from their fans but at least they seem to have a group of fans trying to 'drum' up some noise.
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I'm sorry but N'Zog looks terrible. I want him to do well but he is struggling.
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Happy with that, played some nice stuff. Apart from Zog who looked pretty crap.
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I like the look of the ground, looks like a proper football ground. Not keen on the drum from their fans but at least they seem to have a group of fans trying to 'drum' up some noise.
In fairness, MLS has come a long way. Every team needs to have their own ground and all of them look like proper grounds. The supporters are really involved in that, at least they were in Toronto, but I believe they are also elsewhere. The fans make a lot of noise and again speaking for Toronto they are very passionate despite the team being utterly gash.
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Zog rubbish. Ireland and Gardner playing well though.
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Right, I'm off to bed. God damn time zones.
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Be nice to see Carruthers get a run.
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Right, I'm off to bed. God damn time zones.
You're becoming soft Maz
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Just wondering how this plays with their fans, after all, if some Argentinian or Brazilian club came over and wanted to play us in January in a friendly would we be so forthcoming?
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We look pretty comfortable. Good shape and we are keeping and using the ball well. Ireland stood out, fullbacks getting forward more as the half wore on and great finish from Gabby.
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Right, I'm off to bed. God damn time zones.
You're becoming soft Maz
Kitten soft. Its been a long hard week.
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Fans here are used to it. They get to see players and teams that they wouldn't normally get to see and the league gets exposure. The club makes a bit of cash too.
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I've not seen anything of pre-season so far, having seen what I've seen so far, it's like I have my old team back.
We're passing the ball to each, we're moving off the ball and looking lively. The only disappointment so far is N'Zogbia, who seem that when he has a decision to make, it is invariably the wrong one. I like the pattern to our play in particular.
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Right, I'm off to bed. God damn time zones.
You're becoming soft Maz
Kitten soft. Its been a long hard week.
Have a good night mate
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Jesus, we're playing some lovely stuff. Delph and Gardner have absolutely bossed things. Baker, Lichaj, Gabby and Ireland very good too.
Not a single long ball in sight. Optimism increased.
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I'm sorry but N'Zog looks terrible. I want him to do well but he is struggling.
Completely agree, he looks like he's playing his own game, totally different to the instructions ALL the other guys are playing to. Have a feeling he might be a casualty of PL's early reign. Not been overly impressed with Delph either, still giving the ball away too easily, again, only my gut feeling, but I think he might end up a make-weight in a deal for someone like Snodgrass. Similarly if we can ship N'Zogbia back to France and exchange him for someone else I'd be happy, maybe Toulouse for Capoue?!
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First-half stats: 2 shots, none on goal, for the Fire, 6 fouls. For Villa: 10 shots, 3 on goal, 7 fouls.
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Well James Collins is in so I'm guessing he hasn't been sold after all.
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The big bald fella is on. So is Lowton.
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Apparently Al Bonglahor scored our goal.
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Did I just hear the commentator call Villa 'The Claret and Cobalt'?
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Paul Lambert's claret and cobalt army.
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Superb tackle by Baker of the Ruby and Cobalts
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I've only seen two players even attempt a long ball; Collins & Dunne. Now there's a surprise, hey?
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Midfield starting to look gassed. Warnock coming in for Lichaj. Clark in also for Baker
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Warnock and Clark on.
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We're Aston and we play in purple.
Fire Game Day: Aston leads 1-0 at halftime
For enthusiastic fans of Aston Villa, Saturday's international friendly with the Fire was a good excuse to make a road trip.
The game drew dozens of purple-clad fans to Chicago, some making the 3,800-mile flight from Birmingham, England while expatriates living in the United States opted for a drive.
Wherever their home, fans of the Birmingham-based team were delighted as Aston Villa opened a 1-0 halftime lead over the Fire before an estimated 11,000 fans at Toyota Park.
Aston broke a scoreless tie in the 29th minute when striker Gabriel Agbonlahor alertly headed a six-yard shot past Fire goalie Jay Nolly following a feed from teammate Chris Herd.
Downers Grove native Eric Lichaj started for Aston Villa while the Fire presented a mix of reserves and regulars. Nolly was in the nets for his first start with the Fire first team. Orr Barouch also also got a rare start at forward.
Based in Birmingham, England, Aston Villa was founded in 1874 and has won 19 major domestic titles, including seven in the English League and seven FA Cup crowns.
One of the English Premier League's founding members, Aston went 7-14 with 17 draws during the 2011-12 season and narrowly avoided relegation to the Football League Championship level.
But a new manager in Paul Lambert had some Aston Villa fans at Toyota Park feeling optimistic that better days are ahead in the 2012-13 Premier League season.
The tour got off to a good start with last Thursday's 1-0 victory at Philadelphia on a goal by striker Nathan DelFouneso just before half. Aston Villa closes its three-city U.S. tour on Tuesday at Portland.
It's the second straight year an EPL team has visited Chicago. Last July, Manchester United beat the Fire 3-1 at Soldier Field.
In 2008, the Fire beat Everton 2-0 at Toyota Park.
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Gabby down, looks a tad worrying.
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Gabby looks injured here. Bit concerning
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Abongalore down :(.
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Being stretchered off. Doesn't look good. Hope it isn't bad as he has looked very sharp tonight? Fonz on.
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Gabby off on a stretcher, Fonz on. Also Bannan for Delph. Hope Al Bonglahor is ok.
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Surprised Lambert hasn't let Guzan make an appearance in front of his home crowd.
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I see Lambert is reading then.
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Guzan, Johnson, Carruthers & Holman for Given, Ireland, N'Zogbia & Weimann
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Game had faded out now. Little worried that our top two forwards have been injured on this tour.
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Cobalt and purple huh? A Yank friend of mine called us "the dudes who play in those natty burgundy and aqua-marine uniforms" ???
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1-0 again. Never really troubled. We played some lovely stuff at times and another effective work out. Hope Gabby's injury isn't serious. Have a good night everyone (whoever is left on here)
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Villa win the pennant. Villa win the pennant.
Good first half, average second. Hope Gabby is ok. Been up 20 hours so off to catch some sleep.
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"Not enough mustard on that hot dog to beat Guzan there"
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Played well and could have won by more. A great way to spend the early hours!
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Comfortable win without being troubled at the back; passed it well from the back into midfield...but breaks down up front. Good to PL making us play a passing game with very few long balls.
Collins, Warnock and N'Zogbia look like misfits in this team now...Collins and Warnock in particular with misplaced passes and mistimed challenges. I just dont see it happening for N'Zogbia so sell all 3 of them and bring in more better quality signings.
Overall we're starting to shape up well but we're still lacking ideas in the final 3rd.
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Tuned in just in time to see Guzan make a save and then...full time whistle! Go Aston!!!!!
Anyway, the Stream is still up with me and telling me to stay tuned for post-game comments. So I will.
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First of all their coach and captain both mentioned the speed with which we were able to move the ball was particularly impressive. after them Lambert spoke and he said that although he hasn't had time to speak with gabby he's been told that he just turned awkwardly and it'll only be a couple of weeks and isn't a bad injury.
and that's that.
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I was impressed with the villa's speed and (mostly) accuracy in passing and it was amazing seeing the amount of possession in the second half.
Johnson and Carruthers made a real impact when they came on as subs.
Gabby was excellent and I hope this is the beginning of a terrific season for him, when he recovers.
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First of all their coach and captain both mentioned the speed with which we were able to move the ball was particularly impressive. after them Lambert spoke and he said that although he hasn't had time to speak with gabby he's been told that he just turned awkwardly and it'll only be a couple of weeks and isn't a bad injury.
and that's that.
Yes, that was relieving to hear
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And then he said that messi and ronaldo will be coming in for a combined fee of £12m +Hutton to Barcelona (=add ons).
I may have nodded off to be honest.
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Good news about Gabby if its not as bad as it looked.
Another good workout with some promising signs and another win.
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That's it with injuries though. Sometimes you have one that looks and feels excruciating at the time but clears up quickly (Platt V Port Vale after Aspin's foul). Then you have minor niggles that just don't clear up for ages. (A lot of Michael Owen's problems)
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Purple and Cobalt....two nations divided by a common language
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Just watched the highlights on AVTV and we played some nice stuff. Good to hear Delph being so positive in his post match interview and particulalry his quote saying that the team are set up to pass the ball and to play it out of defence.
We've got some talent in that squad and I'm really looking foward to seeing what PL is going to do with it.
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We're Aston and we play in purple.
Fire Game Day: Aston leads 1-0 at halftime
For enthusiastic fans of Aston Villa, Saturday's international friendly with the Fire was a good excuse to make a road trip.
The game drew dozens of purple-clad fans to Chicago, some making the 3,800-mile flight from Birmingham, England while expatriates living in the United States opted for a drive.
Wherever their home, fans of the Birmingham-based team were delighted as Aston Villa opened a 1-0 halftime lead over the Fire before an estimated 11,000 fans at Toyota Park.
Aston broke a scoreless tie in the 29th minute when striker Gabriel Agbonlahor alertly headed a six-yard shot past Fire goalie Jay Nolly following a feed from teammate Chris Herd.
Downers Grove native Eric Lichaj started for Aston Villa while the Fire presented a mix of reserves and regulars. Nolly was in the nets for his first start with the Fire first team. Orr Barouch also also got a rare start at forward.
Based in Birmingham, England, Aston Villa was founded in 1874 and has won 19 major domestic titles, including seven in the English League and seven FA Cup crowns.
One of the English Premier League's founding members, Aston went 7-14 with 17 draws during the 2011-12 season and narrowly avoided relegation to the Football League Championship level.
But a new manager in Paul Lambert had some Aston Villa fans at Toyota Park feeling optimistic that better days are ahead in the 2012-13 Premier League season.
The tour got off to a good start with last Thursday's 1-0 victory at Philadelphia on a goal by striker Nathan DelFouneso just before half. Aston Villa closes its three-city U.S. tour on Tuesday at Portland.
It's the second straight year an EPL team has visited Chicago. Last July, Manchester United beat the Fire 3-1 at Soldier Field.
In 2008, the Fire beat Everton 2-0 at Toyota Park.
Hi, I'm Troy McClure and this is my match report.
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Cheers Troy-what was the final score after the fourth quarter?
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We're Aston and we play in purple.
Fire Game Day: Aston leads 1-0 at halftime
For enthusiastic fans of Aston Villa, Saturday's international friendly with the Fire was a good excuse to make a road trip.
The game drew dozens of purple-clad fans to Chicago, some making the 3,800-mile flight from Birmingham, England while expatriates living in the United States opted for a drive.
Wherever their home, fans of the Birmingham-based team were delighted as Aston Villa opened a 1-0 halftime lead over the Fire before an estimated 11,000 fans at Toyota Park.
Aston broke a scoreless tie in the 29th minute when striker Gabriel Agbonlahor alertly headed a six-yard shot past Fire goalie Jay Nolly following a feed from teammate Chris Herd.
Downers Grove native Eric Lichaj started for Aston Villa while the Fire presented a mix of reserves and regulars. Nolly was in the nets for his first start with the Fire first team. Orr Barouch also also got a rare start at forward.
Based in Birmingham, England, Aston Villa was founded in 1874 and has won 19 major domestic titles, including seven in the English League and seven FA Cup crowns.
One of the English Premier League's founding members, Aston went 7-14 with 17 draws during the 2011-12 season and narrowly avoided relegation to the Football League Championship level.
But a new manager in Paul Lambert had some Aston Villa fans at Toyota Park feeling optimistic that better days are ahead in the 2012-13 Premier League season.
The tour got off to a good start with last Thursday's 1-0 victory at Philadelphia on a goal by striker Nathan DelFouneso just before half. Aston Villa closes its three-city U.S. tour on Tuesday at Portland.
It's the second straight year an EPL team has visited Chicago. Last July, Manchester United beat the Fire 3-1 at Soldier Field.
In 2008, the Fire beat Everton 2-0 at Toyota Park.
Hi, I'm Troy McClure and this is my match report.
what else have I seen you in Troy?
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:)
(http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/83/cf/0,,10265~11063171,00.jpg)
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We're Aston and we play in purple.
Fire Game Day: Aston leads 1-0 at halftime
For enthusiastic fans of Aston Villa, Saturday's international friendly with the Fire was a good excuse to make a road trip.
The game drew dozens of purple-clad fans to Chicago, some making the 3,800-mile flight from Birmingham, England while expatriates living in the United States opted for a drive.
Wherever their home, fans of the Birmingham-based team were delighted as Aston Villa opened a 1-0 halftime lead over the Fire before an estimated 11,000 fans at Toyota Park.
Aston broke a scoreless tie in the 29th minute when striker Gabriel Agbonlahor alertly headed a six-yard shot past Fire goalie Jay Nolly following a feed from teammate Chris Herd.
Downers Grove native Eric Lichaj started for Aston Villa while the Fire presented a mix of reserves and regulars. Nolly was in the nets for his first start with the Fire first team. Orr Barouch also also got a rare start at forward.
Based in Birmingham, England, Aston Villa was founded in 1874 and has won 19 major domestic titles, including seven in the English League and seven FA Cup crowns.
One of the English Premier League's founding members, Aston went 7-14 with 17 draws during the 2011-12 season and narrowly avoided relegation to the Football League Championship level.
But a new manager in Paul Lambert had some Aston Villa fans at Toyota Park feeling optimistic that better days are ahead in the 2012-13 Premier League season.
The tour got off to a good start with last Thursday's 1-0 victory at Philadelphia on a goal by striker Nathan DelFouneso just before half. Aston Villa closes its three-city U.S. tour on Tuesday at Portland.
It's the second straight year an EPL team has visited Chicago. Last July, Manchester United beat the Fire 3-1 at Soldier Field.
In 2008, the Fire beat Everton 2-0 at Toyota Park.
Hi, I'm Troy McClure and this is my match report.
You may have seen me in such films as..............
what else have I seen you in Troy?
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Just watched the highlights on AVTV. EVen in those few minutes you could see there was some great passages of play between the Villa players. This is going to be a good season I think!
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How did Carruthers look in his limited action?
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How did Carruthers look in his limited action?
The game had gone into a bit of a lull as there were some many substitutes made in a short spell but when Carruthers & Johnson came on they certainly lifted us and looked promising in the brief spell they had.
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Images of Chicago game
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/165863_3896232976736_491897377_n.jpg)
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/558328_3896206856083_716997814_n.jpg)
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/487294_3896236616827_211805078_n.jpg)
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Caption competition opportunity!
"And I thought the car park Chelsea used to have behind the goal was a strange place for one."
"Proof American women can't park either"
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/487294_3896236616827_211805078_n.jpg)
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Caption competition opportunity!
"And I thought the car park Chelsea used to have behind the goal was a strange place for one."
"Proof American women can't park either"
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/487294_3896236616827_211805078_n.jpg)
"Despite much hard work on the training ground, McLeish's 'park the bus' tactic is still embedded in the player's minds, yet Lambert has managed to at least reduce it to a car."
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Just watching the first half of this game. Having read the comments I thought I'd post the following:
- a typical pre season friendly and loath to read too much into it. Fairly slow paced game against a poor side.
- I didn't find it to be the free flowing passing game some comments had led me to believe. But am going to watch the Philly game next.
- tactically, very noticeable that cnz and ireland in particular had a lot of freedom to cut in from their wide positions. At times it was 4231 with gabby left.
- ireland some touches of class but looked a bit rusty
- cnz was better than I'd expected, given the comments. Still frustrating, but also looked dangerous
- I thought delph looked pretty decent actually, although still gets caught when he shouldn't. But he manipulates the ball with adegree of class, opening his body up and playing some good forward passes
- whereas I'm still not really convinced by Gardner. Yes he's young, and he has a great shot on him. But he looks pretty slow to me, with slow feet too. A couple of excellent shots apart, I thought delph was a fair bit better than him.
- gabby was very good, Weimann did little.
- defence untroubled
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Now into the second half of this one. Just quickly:
- karim looks very good after coming on. Not sure he's a defensive midfielder though? Could imagine someone like herd playing in there with him. I sometimes think Gardner might be more of a defensive midfielder than an attacking midfielder? He is big and composed, but not sure he has quick enough feet to play further forward
- Collins looks slow!
- I think this is the best of the two us games in terms of our midfield play. Bannan looks very involved, as does karim. Holman looks a clever player and carruthers looks good to me too.
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We still winning?
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Probably screw it in the last five mins as per..
are we there yet??
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Are there no goals highlights anywhere for Chicago or Phillie games?
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There is the Phillie game.
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Highlights of the Portland game.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151303117799447