Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Dave on December 28, 2014, 04:51:06 PM
-
We zzzzzz again.
-
Sanchez MOTM outstanding performance. Lambert you clown start Grealish & Bacuna next match FFS!
-
Can we sack him yet?
-
Credit where it's due we don't cave in like before, 11 or 10 men.
Apart from that....dire for possibly 85 of the 90 minutes.
Draw a fair result.
-
Wow. Really poor.
New motto: Aston Villa - we don't concede many. We don't score any.
-
Another crock o shite by the sound of it
-
11 goals in 19 games. We are going to smash that record of lowest goals scored.
-
This red card thing is getting old.
-
Time for thickie number 1 to sack thickie number 2.
-
There's a manager out there, just waiting for an opportunity to put on this hat.
(http://www.fanshop.se/img/products/original/aston-villa-keps-mp-1.jpg)
Time to say bye bye to Lambo and bring in the Cap Wearing Messiah of shit football teams.
-
Poor. Really, really poor. And it's just more of the same old shit. Lambert's not correcting or solving any of the issues that we have week-in, week-out. Worse still, he showing no signs of even trying to. I don't want to see either Weimann or N'Zogbia anywhere near the starting XI against Palace.
-
We can't go on losing players to reds, our squad isn't that deep.
-
Lambert again displays his useless tactics, we wait for something to happen before trying anything.
How many times are we going to watch Nzog jog around the pitch adding absoloutely f@;' all.
-
Sanchez brilliant.
Too much else wasn't.
Oh and great save by Guzan.
-
I said it last week when Bacuna had his 20 minute cameo. This lad has to be starting ahead of Zog and Weimann. Another great cameo, albeit missing a really good chance. Every man and his dog knows that Grealish is our best creative force. The fact Lambert still picks Zog every week shows just what a truly terrible manager he really is.
Dire match. The starting XI has no attacking purpose whatsoever and and are lucky that Sunderland are just as dire as us. The fact we looked better playing with 10 men when Cleverley and N'Zogbia went off tells us a great deal.
-
Sanchez MOTM outstanding performance. Lambert you clown start Grealish & Bacuna next match FFS!
Agreed!
-
I am struggling to think of another winger that actually slows down play more than N'Zogbia does for us. It's incredible how poor he has become.
-
Sanhez class.Very disappointed in Benteke today, bested by O'Shea and Brown, didn't work the line half enough regardless of lack of service
-
There's a manager out there, just waiting for an opportunity to put on this hat.
(http://www.fanshop.se/img/products/original/aston-villa-keps-mp-1.jpg)
Time to say bye bye to Lambo and bring in the Cap Wearing Messiah of shit football teams.
Pullis.
It's like admittimg The Stone Roses have always been totally average and horrendously overrated.
Feel better after saying it,
-
11 goals at the halfway stage of the season. 11 goals in 1,810 minutes of football.
-
Sanchez is a quality player and the only one to come out of that with any credit.
The rest of them may as well have stopped in bed.
-
Make that 1,710.
-
11 goals at the halfway stage of the season. 11 goals in 1,810 minutes of football.
Would anyone other than Villa fans be bothered if we got relegated?
Oh wait. Opposition managers players and fans who dont leave Villa Park empty handed. Keith Millen will be thinking his belated Christmas presents are being delivered.
-
Totally agree about Sanchez, key player now.
I honestly think we are improving on the last 2 seasons this year. Too many injuries and suspensions for a squad that is short of quality in depth.
-
Sanchez is a quality player and the only one to come out of that with any credit.
The rest of them may as well have stopped in bed.
The defence did well, Grealish was excellent and Bacuna showed.
I know we are shit but we did not lose.
Benteke bottled that chance at the end.
-
I am struggling to think of another winger that actually slows down play more than N'Zogbia does for us. It's incredible how poor he has become.
He actually got beaten for pace by Cattermole!
Have to take the point having (again) gone down to 10 men early in the second half. We stopped a league rival from getting a march on us.
Sanchez looks a top signing. The closest thing we've had to Petrov since he retired.
For the love of McGrath, Grealish and Bacuna have to be starting games. They're the only one's who look like they might create something.
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
We played the whole of the first half with Nzogbia.
-
Doesn't sound too good and yet another red card. It's ridiculous.
-
11 goals at the halfway stage of the season. 11 goals in 1,810 minutes of football.
It's way past time that Lambert was sacked and Randy sold up. Between them they are killing us.
-
I defy Lambert to say 'We were excellent', but he somehow will.
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
We played the whole of the first half with Nzogbia.
Who is nowhere near as bad as you keep saying over and over again.
-
11 goals at the halfway stage of the season. 11 goals in 1,810 minutes of football.
It's way past time that Lambert was sacked and Randy sold up. Between them they are killing us.
Neither of which will happen anytime soon so get used to it, this is the dream, the project is delivering, god help us.
-
Think we need to go 442 next time, Grealish and Bacuna wide and two strikers in the box. We can't rely on the fullbacks for width and Benteke alone is not the answers to our prayers. Those two put in some good balls, especially Grealish, but no one attacked them. Overall, considering we only had ten men, thought we were ok, stupid challenge by Delpth, red a little harsh maybe, but why take the chance. 5 points dropped in the last two.
-
Villa didn't ruin my day with an utterly pathetic defeat.
That's all I ask for these days.
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
We played the whole of the first half with Nzogbia.
Who is nowhere near as bad as you keep saying over and over again.
If you want to put up his goal scoring or even key contribution record whilst playing for us I am happy to review my views.
-
And we still get clueless fucks in the media like Rambo McInally today not only defend his Scottish mucker's record but proclaim he's doing an excellent job! The biggest imposter we've had in charge since god knows when.
-
Sanchez is a quality player and the only one to come out of that with any credit.
The rest of them may as well have stopped in bed.
The defence did well, Grealish was excellent and Bacuna showed.
I know we are shit but we did not lose.
Benteke bottled that chance at the end.
Benteke has been poor for the last two games, he seems to have lost his touch and ability to bully people off the ball all of a sudden, his hold up play lately hasn't been great either.
-
I make that the 20th time we have failed to score at Villa Park since Lambert took over. You could say we now have an entire season's worth of zero goals at home spread out over 2.5 years.
How anyone can support him is beyond me.
-
Aston Villa 0 god how i hate hearing that under most of the games we play under this idiot in charge.
-
And we still get clueless fucks in the media like Rambo McInally today not only defend his Scottish mucker's record but proclaim he's doing an excellent job! The biggest imposter we've had in charge since god knows when.
We need another Pat Murphy interview - he tells it like it is.
-
Sanchez is a quality player and the only one to come out of that with any credit.
The rest of them may as well have stopped in bed.
The defence did well, Grealish was excellent and Bacuna showed.
I know we are shit but we did not lose.
Benteke bottled that chance at the end.
Benteke has been poor for the last two games, he seems to have lost his touch and ability to bully people off the ball all of a sudden, his hold up play lately hasn't been great either.
He must get pretty fed up with the sort of service he is getting with the system we are playing.
-
A perfect performance from Sanchez, game savers from Guzan and an inexcuseable performance from the rest.
After Swansea I was prepared to give Lambert a bit more time but after that performance against a shit Sunderland side where we made them look ten times better than they have been recently, I just don't see the point of us with Lambert in charge. We may as well not bother. If that's the best he can get out of his players then it's time to give somebody else a go.
-
I think Lambert has done ok. I've gone from being depressed until the season ends to being bored to death. Surely that's an upgrade and worthy of a new contract or reward of some nature for the man?
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
We played the whole of the first half with Nzogbia.
Who is nowhere near as bad as you keep saying over and over again.
If you want to put up his goal scoring or even key contribution record whilst playing for us I am happy to review my views.
The stats will not reveal what a lazy, unproductive and woeful footballer Lambert keeps sending out
-
The thing for me is there is no excitement, no spark, just an endless stream of unexciting performances.
Hats off to those that keep on turning up and watching.
-
Wonder when N'Zogbia will get his 4 year contract extension?
-
The goals will come says Lambert,only trouble is he never told us when !Half the season gone and we have the grand sum 0f 11 Anyone know what our lowest ever total in a season is?
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
We played the whole of the first half with Nzogbia.
Who is nowhere near as bad as you keep saying over and over again.
If you want to put up his goal scoring or even key contribution record whilst playing for us I am happy to review my views.
N'Zogbia needs to be sold he is a waste of space but today going forward he wasn't the worst. Weimann makes the wrong decision over and over, Cleverley just side passes and all of Cissokho's attempted crosses were rubbish.
If we could get £4-5m for Zoggy in Jan/Sum i'd be glad to see him gone tbh.
-
I've gone from being depressed until the season ends to being bored to death.
Next stage is not giving a shit. I wish today I was at that stage. I missed out on a fantastic day out with the family to stay and watch that pointless excuse for stability.
-
So for those who saw a replay should it have been a red?
First half was poor both sides, thought we did well second half as yet again we were down to 10. Jack has to start soon. Seems a different take on the game to the feeling in the ground. And no that isn't a dig just an observation.
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
We played the whole of the first half with Nzogbia.
Who is nowhere near as bad as you keep saying over and over again.
If you want to put up his goal scoring or even key contribution record whilst playing for us I am happy to review my views.
N'Zogbia needs to be sold he is a waste of space but today going forward he wasn't the worst. Weimann makes the wrong decision over and over, Cleverley just side passes and all of Cissokho's attempted crosses were rubbish.
If we could get £4-5m for Zoggy in Jan/Sum i'd be glad to see him gone tbh.
We should have no more nailed him to the old bench
-
5 weeks until we play ultimate Russian roulette with our Premiership place - 5 weeks to get rid of the biggest chancer that has ever managed this great club...5 weeks till the transfer window shuts & we are stuck with this hopeless manager & no chance to improve this aimless squad.
That was a training match for Sunderland, they came for a point with the chance of snatching it & nearly executed perfectly...
Sure some will excuse him yet again because of the red card, at the end of the day he picks the team & is ultimately responsible for the behaviour of his players...
Just in case he needs to be told, today they weren't 'excellent' & they have have barely earned that accolade in any game since he was appointed.
Randy, please put us out of our misery & give someone else a chance with a transfer window to actually try & give us a team that tries to score goals.
Sanchez & the cameo from Grealish aside the rest of the game was two dreadful teams with no vim or vigour going through the motions.
-
So for those who saw a replay should it have been a red?
First half was poor both sides, thought we did well second half as yet again we were down to 10. Jack has to start soon. Seems a different take on the game to the feeling in the ground. And no that isn't a dig just an observation.
It probably is in the modern game. I can't see it being overturned, put it that way.
-
Great to see Sanchez put his obvious potential into a perfect performance. Apart from that and the action at the end, yet another home game to mark down as ghastly and a waste of time and money spent.
-
And how I missed selling. Just before 1pm a minibus pulls up full of Sunderland chavs. Yelling abuse out the windows etc. They carried on after getting off, telling the few Villa fans around at that time to fuck off etc.
A couple of them say the same to me for some reason and then start giving it the come on hand signals. When I asked them to cross the road to say it none of them were quite so keen. To the total stranger who joined me, if you read this thanks for the backup. A day of glory for about a dozen Sunderland youth as they got fronted by two blokes. Fucking twats.
-
Let's hope we don't burn out grealish with his 15 minute cameos every third game. Robinson should have a blanket around him too, poor boys.
-
I've gone from being depressed until the season ends to being bored to death.
Next stage is not giving a shit. I wish today I was at that stage. I missed out on a fantastic day out with the family to stay and watch that pointless excuse for stability.
I dare say I'm not a million miles from that point now. For yet another season.
-
Don't know where to begin with that. I'm not buying into this new 'style' at all. It's absolutely toothless. We're basically passing the ball backwards and sidewards seemingly for the sake of passing it. It doesn't actually get us anywhere at all.
Not to mention, it does the one player we have with genuine match winning ability any favours either. What exactly is the point of it other than to get better possession stats ?
We only ever look like scoring when we get things moving quicker at the end of matches now. It's beyond tedious
Stupid foul by Delph and i can't see that one being rescinded.
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
What about the first 50 minutes that was absolute fucking footballing diarrhoea?
Even with 11 on the pitch we were totally and utterly devoid of any ideas whatsoever.
-
How on earth does Andreas Weimann keep getting picked? He is absolutely atrocious. 2 great chances, muffed them both and the rest of the time runs around where he knows the ball won't find him. Total garbage.
-
Was it a red? Who knows nowadays? I don't think anyone in the game knows what's what anymore. It was a yellow all day long. If you're going to get a red for going in with one foot, albeit missing the ball, then fuck it all. Things is, you know in the next round of games there will be several identical challenges that won't see a red card. Very harsh decision in my opinion and with it went any hopes of a win. In the end we have to be grateful a defence is the only functional part of the team.
-
The problem with this possession football is it just dosen't lead to enough clear cut changes. The only shots at goal we had in the first half were N'zogbia runs so in essence still counter attacking football rather than any pass and move creation.
Our midfield is sterile, slow and uncreative and against any team who parks the bus as Sunderland did we don't have a clue.
I think the Delph red makes this result look a little bit but we need to show more v Palace who aren't defensively as good.
Please please please start Grealish. Sanchez was good once again.
-
If we could just start taking our chances and stop our players getting sent off we'd probably be pretty decent, but it's bloody frustrating watching us at the moment. I would like to see Grealish start against Palace, he looks infinitely more dangerous in his few cameos than N'Zogbia ever has for us.
-
The possession football doesn't create chances, but neither did the dross we played before.
11 goals in 19 games is utterly shocking.
Weimann and N'Zogbia are awful. Keep picking them plus Cleverley and we will continue to fail to score.
Start Grealish next game and buy some creativity in January or we will probably finish 15th or so yet again.
-
Lambert just says happy with the performance all credit to the team bla bla bla.
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
Yes, of course they do, that's exactly what people think.
-
The possession football doesn't create chances, but neither did the dross we played before.
11 goals in 19 games is utterly shocking.
Guzan had a free kick that was right on the 18 yard line. He actually passed it backwards to Okore who was standing inside his own box.
The ball didn't clear our half and we were then put under pressure within seconds.
-
Guzan had a free kick that was right on the 18 yard line. He actually passed it backwards to Okore who was standing inside his own box.
The ball didn't clear our half and we were then put under pressure within seconds.
That's called footballing progress apparently
-
BTW how bad were Sunderland and yet they'll probably stay up pretty comfortably like us.
Frightening to think their frontline cost about 25m, I wonder who signed them....
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.
-
BTW how bad were Sunderland and yet they'll probably stay up pretty comfortably like us.
Frightening to think their frontline cost about 25m, I wonder who signed them....
To be fair, Wickham was Steve Bruce.
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
Yes, of course they do, that's exactly what people think.
Thanks for clarifying that. I'm not really sure who everyone thinks we can get in as manager to make that happen then?
As far as I'm concerned Lambert is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. There has been improvement, admittedly slow improvement, but without finances available to buy top players, what more can we expect?
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.
So do I, except Lambert is in charge so its 15th or 16th.
-
BTW how bad were Sunderland and yet they'll probably stay up pretty comfortably like us.
Frightening to think their frontline cost about 25m, I wonder who signed them....
To be fair, Wickham was Steve Bruce.
Yes they look similar.
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.
Agreed. West Ham are 6th and have scored almost 3 times as many goals as we have. Do they have considerably better players than us? No. Do they have a considerably better manager? Absolutely.
We could easily challenge for Europe if only our Chairman would finally appoint a decent manager instead of persisting with this clown.
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.
Yes would should be challenging for Europe regardless of who owns us.
-
Thought the atmosphere was bizarre today. 35k in the ground and all you could hear were the Sunderland. First time in ages I have sat in the U Trinity and not heard the Holte for nigh on 75 minutes even at kick off.
Cisshoko looks terrified to cross the ball and N'zogbia can't. Thought Charlieboy had three runs more than he usually does and a shot. No use singling him out really as they all looked pretty meh.
Sanchez may be good but he still gives me palpitations at times. Cleverly just kept giving up in the first half. Hutton did a job as did Vlaar and Clarke. Guzan solid. Is it me or is Benteke not really trying very hard - looks good in the midfield under no pressure but his lack of penetration for Jack's ball into the middle was criminal.
Andy, Oh Andy...
Give Grealish a start against Palace please! If he's crap I promise we will all shut up. He was 50:50 with his corners today but that is twice as good as anyone else. Great runs behind and into the penalty area and unlucky with his shot. Bacuna looks creative and his deep cross at the end deserved a goal.
At least Delph made it more interesting and gives Lambert an get-out...
-
Carlos Sanchez turned in the best cultured defensive performance in a Villa shirt since Leighton Phillips at his very best. Once again Hutton and Clark played well. We could not see why Clark was subbed (for Okore) as he did not appear to be injured. Weimann was consistently dreadful
but its not his fault that Lambert picks him. Cleverley and N'Zogbia were just awful... yet again.
Benteke could have done more for the Villa cause than he did. Not an Andy Gray that's for sure. Delph who was sloppy in the time he was on the pitch got his just desserts for an undisciplined lunge.
We deserved a point as we did at Swansea. The difference being today we got one. But we needed the three!
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Man United
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham
We're not on a level playing field with any of these. So you think we're trying to finish above the likes of Everton, Southampton, West Ham and Newcastle no problem considering our financial situation?
-
He brought Okores on because oh his pace.There was a couple of times at the start of the 2nd half when Clarks/Vlaars lack of pace was exposed.
Vlaar was a bit lucky with the tackle on Wickham imho.
Defensively/midfield was fine today, Sanchez was magnificent, a proper central midfielder, and Bacuna and Jack added something.
I thought Weimann NZog and Cleverley were awful.Get 2 players in of real quality, and we could be challenging for the top 7/8.
Don't think we will miss Vlaar or Delph tbh.
-
When we get a half decent squad then i'll think we should be challenging for Europe, as it stands, No.
We are nowhere near good enough to be playing on Thursday's and Sunday's. Would I like us to have a decent squad and be in Europe........of course.
-
Vlaar was a bit lucky with the tackle on Wickham imho.
I don't see why.
It was a good defender timing a tackle well against a mediocre striker. That's not luck, that's just defending well.
-
Playing with 10 for most of the second half will doubtless help the manager conceal what was a dreadful first half. We're having more of the ball in recent games but the build up is just too slow and narrow. Sanchez deservedly named as MoM.
-
We're not that far behind them though Gerrin, partic Spuds and Lplop.
We might not win the league, but at the same time we're not a small time club either.
-
Clark went straight down the tunnel so probably had an injury of some kind.
-
I don't think he played the ball 1st, thats why.
-
Weird atmosphere. Boring game between 2 tired and poor teams. Livened up a bit in the second half after Delph's red - haven't seen a replay yet so don't know whether it was justified or not but we didn't seem to complain too much. Worked hard to hang on for a point, but nearly blew it when they hit the post. Weimann, Cleverley and N'zogbia a waste of three places in the team - get Bacuna and Grealish in from the start, with the third shirt going automatically to Gabby, deservedly or not. Play Clark in midfield while Delph's out. All in all it was just....meh
-
We're not that far behind them though Gerrin, partic Spuds and Lplop.
We might not win the league, but at the same time we're not a small time club either.
I mean with regards to spending. We are a bigger club than Spurs, Chelsea and Man City, but financially not currently.
-
Positives:
Grealish
Sanchez
Negatives:
Everything else
-
Positives:
Grealish
Sanchez
Negatives:
Everything else
Bacuna looked good.
-
I didn't think we were terrible. Yes we looked completely short of ideas and had no real way through, but I do appreciate that we were trying to pass the ball and work it, rather than just hoof it and hope.
Up until the sending off we were in total control of the game, albeit not looking massively threatening but always around their box looking for an opening.
Delph's sending off was totally justified, he got nowhere near the ball and took their player's ankle. Straight red for me. If we would have lost I would have blamed him for it because his sending off brought them back into the game to the point where they bossed it from then on.
I think we are playing better than we had been but clearly we need to find out how to create and score goals again. Agbonlahor and Wiemann were non-existent. I'm genuinely not sure if Gabby was subbed and I missed it?
-
Red or yellow?
-
And how I missed selling. Just before 1pm a minibus pulls up full of Sunderland chavs. Yelling abuse out the windows etc. They carried on after getting off, telling the few Villa fans around at that time to fuck off etc.
A couple of them say the same to me for some reason and then start giving it the come on hand signals. When I asked them to cross the road to say it none of them were quite so keen. To the total stranger who joined me, if you read this thanks for the backup. A day of glory for about a dozen Sunderland youth as they got fronted by two blokes. Fucking twats.
Some things don't change then. I can hear em in the pub back in sunderland "We had it with Villa's firm" fkn chavs
-
First half especially amongst the worst 45 minutes of football you could ever wish to see.
Sanchez excellent particularly as he was running the midfield single-handed. Bacuna and Grealish added impetuous and what more the latter has to do to start ahead of the turgid N'Zogbia is beyond me.
Benteke needs to stop waving his arms around and complaining and start working harder.
-
"We took on their main men."
-
I wonder whether Cleverley's poor performance is down to having Weimann and N'Zogbia in the side. Both of them drop deep to pick the ball up which means that Cleverley is deeper than where he is more effective. To be honest, I am getting fed up with Weimann constantly coming back deep into midfield for the lay off which then leaves Benteke isolated.
Grealish and Gabby should be brought in for the Palace game at the expense of Weimann and N'Zogbia.
-
When Grealish sent that cross into the box have a look on the box tonight and see where Weimann was positioned.It was criminal.
-
When Grealish sent that cross into the box have a look on the box tonight and see where Weimann was positioned.It was criminal.
Not sure about Andi but Benteke was heading in the opposite direction. Shocking stuff.
-
Red or yellow?
Definite red I'm afraid. Nowhere near the ball, studs up directly onto the bloke's ankle. Almost certainly mistimed rather than intentional, but a red all the same in my view. Delph's lack of tackling ability is one thing that stops being him a top player. That and the lack of goals.
-
Red or yellow?
Definite red I'm afraid. Nowhere near the ball, studs up directly onto the bloke's ankle. Almost certainly mistimed rather than intentional, but a red all the same in my view.
Agree entirely.
-
Sanchez looked a class apart, and Grealish very exciting. The rest were absolute dross.
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.
Agreed. West Ham are 6th and have scored almost 3 times as many goals as we have. Do they have considerably better players than us? No. Do they have a considerably better manager? Absolutely.
We could easily challenge for Europe if only our Chairman would finally appoint a decent manager instead of persisting with this clown.
Is this the manager that west game fans were crying
out to be sacked last year? Good first half of tHe brought Okores on because oh his pace.There was a couple of times at the start of the 2nd half when Clarks/Vlaars lack of pace was exposed.
Vlaar was a bit lucky with the tackle on Wickham imho.
Defensively/midfield was fine today, Sanchez was magnificent, a proper central midfielder, and Bacuna and Jack added something.
I thought Weimann NZog and Cleverley were awful.Get 2 players in of real quality, and we could be challenging for the top 7/8.
Don't think we will miss Vlaar or Delph tbh.
We would miss a fit Vlaar I reckon. Sanchez was very good today, great to see someone in a Villa shirt play with that level of condfidence and control. I would love to see Grealish start next match, he deserves an opportunity. Some real negative stuff on here but I must admit I enjoyed the last 40 minutes, thought we coped well and played with spirit. I still fail to see what Cleverley is bringing to the team though, it really is time others had a start.
What's the take on the sending off? It looked harsh to me, I am a bit old school but cant see how a tackle that wasn't malicious deserves a straight red.
Cheer up folks, Lambert is getting the playing with ten sorted out, he just needs to figure what to do with eleven.
-
Whoops first part of my post wasn't complete, you can guess the rest
-
I didn't think we were terrible. Yes we looked completely short of ideas and had no real way through, but I do appreciate that we were trying to pass the ball and work it, rather than just hoof it and hope.
Up until the sending off we were in total control of the game, albeit not looking massively threatening but always around their box looking for an opening.
Delph's sending off was totally justified, he got nowhere near the ball and took their player's ankle. Straight red for me. If we would have lost I would have blamed him for it because his sending off brought them back into the game to the point where they bossed it from then on.
I think we are playing better than we had been but clearly we need to find out how to create and score goals again. Agbonlahor and Wiemann were non-existent. I'm genuinely not sure if Gabby was subbed and I missed it?
Er...he didn't play.
-
Cheer up folks, Lambert is getting the playing with ten sorted out, he just needs to figure what to do with eleven.
I'll cheer up when he stops starting with 10 (and a passenger).
-
Up until the cameo performance from when Grealish was brought on, that ranks in my top 10 worst ever Villa matches watched. Sunderland were abject and there for the taking. We were woeful and never looked like scoring until the last ten minutes or so. Sunderland took ineptitude to the highest level by failing to get a meaningful shot on target after Delph was sent off. A few pinball penalty area moments and the shot off the post aside, they were atrocious.
-
This is where we should be apparently. Trying to relearn how to play football, 11 goals in half a season, shots and corners at a premium. Who could do any better?
Pretty much anyone right now than this excuse merchant we are stuck with.
Allardyce.
Pardew.
Pullis.
All blokes who get laughed at on here, they'd be fucking shot if they played the kind of diabolical, defeatist rubbish we've played week in and week out under this charlatan. Each of them are miles better than this dreadful chump we have in charge right now.
-
Red or yellow?
Definite red I'm afraid. Nowhere near the ball, studs up directly onto the bloke's ankle. Almost certainly mistimed rather than intentional, but a red all the same in my view.
Agree entirely.
yellow for me. Watch Konchesky's challenge on Hutton that got rescinded and it is pretty much the same. Clumsy late, but one footed. Konchesky didn't deserve to go and neither did Delph.
-
Positives:
Grealish
Sanchez
Negatives:
Everything else
Sanchez looked a class apart, and Grealish very exciting. The rest were absolute dross.
What else did you expect the centre-backs and goalkeeper to do to be upgraded from negative dross?
-
Thank god you were not reffing when I was playing, the Hutton Konchelski challenge is no where near as dangerous as this.
That is why he got a red.
-
Er...he didn't play.
D'oh! That explains everything. I blame the dodgy stream.
Also when Benteke went backwards I think he expected Grealish to square it to the penalty box rather than burst to the touchline. I guess that chemistry will come the more they play together.
-
New thread set up to discuss Delph's sending-off.
-
Cheer up folks, Lambert is getting the playing with ten sorted out, he just needs to figure what to do with eleven.
I'll cheer up when he stops starting with 10 (and a passenger).
I feared he would start with the passenger, not exactly a risk taker is he?
-
Grealish and Gabby should be brought in for the Palace game at the expense of Weimann and N'Zogbia.
Agree with giving Grealish a start, but Agbonlahor is just as bad as both of them.
-
I didn't think we were terrible. Yes we looked completely short of ideas and had no real way through, but I do appreciate that we were trying to pass the ball and work it, rather than just hoof it and hope.
Up until the sending off we were in total control of the game, albeit not looking massively threatening but always around their box looking for an opening.
Delph's sending off was totally justified, he got nowhere near the ball and took their player's ankle. Straight red for me. If we would have lost I would have blamed him for it because his sending off brought them back into the game to the point where they bossed it from then on.
I think we are playing better than we had been but clearly we need to find out how to create and score goals again. Agbonlahor and Wiemann were non-existent. I'm genuinely not sure if Gabby was subbed and I missed it?
Er...he didn't play.
So he had a pretty decent game considering. ;)
-
Thank god you were not reffing when I was playing, the Hutton Konchelski challenge is no where near as dangerous as this.
That is why he got a red.
So why did Konchesky get a red then? Both players jumped in one footed and both players landed on the ankle of the player on the receiving end.
-
Positives:
Grealish
Sanchez
Negatives:
Everything else
Sanchez looked a class apart, and Grealish very exciting. The rest were absolute dross.
What else did you expect the centre-backs and goalkeeper to do to be upgraded from negative dross?
I'm sorry I couldn't be bothered to name them all individually, I've got sprouts to cook.
-
One thing is pretty clear, regardless of whether you think we should be challenging for Europe or just grateful not to be in the relegation places, we need to start to score goals, and we need to start doing it pretty quickly.
The new emphasis on keeping the ball is admirable (and it begs the question why the fuck we left it till now to start trying rather than spending month after month witlessly hoofing it at Benteke, or the space where Benteke would have been were he not injured).
It will all be for nothing if we don't start to score, though. 11 goals in 19 games is just incredibly poor.
Whether it comes through buying players or using ones from the bench, or via witchcraft, I don't really care, but Lambert has got to make it happen.
-
I must have been watching a different game. I thought we acquitted ourselves well after the red card, and had the better chances to win it. I've certainly seen us play a lot worse than that second half. Take the point.
-
And how I missed selling. Just before 1pm a minibus pulls up full of Sunderland chavs. Yelling abuse out the windows etc. They carried on after getting off, telling the few Villa fans around at that time to fuck off etc.
A couple of them say the same to me for some reason and then start giving it the come on hand signals. When I asked them to cross the road to say it none of them were quite so keen. To the total stranger who joined me, if you read this thanks for the backup. A day of glory for about a dozen Sunderland youth as they got fronted by two blokes. Fucking twats.
Some things don't change then. I can hear em in the pub back in sunderland "We had it with Villa's firm" fkn chavs
I think they got even more deflated when me and the other bloke started laughing at them. But when you are still saying "come on then" with obligatory arm movements while walking backwards to get away, it is very funny. Problem is though, they are the kind of rats who will batter someone they catch on their own. Really were your typical chav wankers.
-
Thank god you were not reffing when I was playing, the Hutton Konchelski challenge is no where near as dangerous as this.
That is why he got a red.
So why did Konchesky get a red then? Both players jumped in one footed and both players landed on the ankle of the player on the receiving end.
Lets see if it gets rescinded.
-
Thank god you were not reffing when I was playing, the Hutton Konchelski challenge is no where near as dangerous as this.
That is why he got a red.
So why did Konchesky get a red then? Both players jumped in one footed and both players landed on the ankle of the player on the receiving end.
Lets see if it gets rescinded.
that's neither here nor there as it will be after the fact by an independent panel and not Villa fans discussing it. The argument is whether you thought it was a red or not. Look at the two challenges and if you still feel that way fair enough. I've seen both and I don't see why either deserved a red.
-
11 goals 21 points - half way through season
My guess is 10 goals for 19 more points and Lambert will be claiming manager of the year.
-
11 goals 21 points - half way through season
My guess is 10 goals for 19 more points and Lambert will be claiming manager of the year.
Excellent!
-
11 goals 21 points - half way through season
My guess is 10 goals for 19 more points and Lambert will be claiming manager of the year.
Excellent!
+ new 12 year contract.
-
11 goals 21 points - half way through season
My guess is 10 goals for 19 more points and Lambert will be claiming manager of the year.
Excellent!
[/
+ new 12 year contract.
+a guaranteed knighthood.
-
Positives:
Grealish
Sanchez
Negatives:
Everything else
Sanchez looked a class apart, and Grealish very exciting. The rest were absolute dross.
What else did you expect the centre-backs and goalkeeper to do to be upgraded from negative dross?
I'm sorry I couldn't be bothered to name them all individually, I've got sprouts to cook.
I don't think it's really necessary to apologise, but it's bit unfair on a defence that looked pretty comfortable to reduce them to the same level of performance as N'Zogbia and Weimann when they (Vlaar's dodgy backpass aside) looked very solid and did everything that could really have been expected of them.
-
Hopefully, this will mean Grealish gets his chance. He's got to be a starter, in the Blackpool game at the very least.
-
They weren't all dross, that is pretty obvious.
We didn't concede, and played 40 mins with ten men, so clearly, had they all been dross we'd have got zero points.
The problem isn't that it was a case of "he was dross" or "he was dross", it was that players who are supposed to either create or convert chances but have repeatedly shown an inability to do it this season (the likes of Cleverley, CNZ, Weimann) continued to do it today, against a truly abysmal side.
-
I had a chat with Pat McMahon (the H&V poster not our famous number 8 ) at halftime and we agreed on several things. We were truly terrible so far. Sunderland were marginally more incompetent than us. Very quiet Villa park, even Sunderland fans. Why does N'Zobia keeps obliging the fullback by being forced inside and eventually losing the ball with no end product? Why doesn't he go for the line now and than if only to put some doubt in defenders mind? Why is Weimann positionally clueless and has very poor anticipation? Sanchez was our best player so far. Benteke is very ineffective. Delph has eliminated stupid reckless lunging tackles out of his game and fast becoming an efficient midfielder...ahaa how wrong were we 4 mins into the second half!
After the game we agreed on Sanchez being MotM and applauded the effort team put in to preserve a point and admired Grealish's honest go for goal attitude rather than N'Zogs dithering. Wondered why he is still not starting? Agreed that we can't play to dictate a game and only perform when in desperate mode. Wished each other a happy new year and parted in different directions.
By the way Delph's red card and regular yellow cards will keep him at Villa Park as sort of teams he is looking to join will not touch him with a barge pole!
-
Hopefully, this will mean Grealish gets his chance. He's got to be a starter, in the Blackpool game at the very least.
Totally agree. When he came on we looked like we were capable of producing something decent.
-
In the last 4 games - Benteke has had chances to score in the dying seconds of each game. Had he scored them we would be 6 points better off and up to 8th place. 3 of those games we had only 10 men for large parts of the games.
So despite playing absolutely awful football we are not far from a comfortable position. Just shows how awful the other teams are.
-
Positives:
Grealish
Sanchez
Negatives:
Everything else
Sanchez looked a class apart, and Grealish very exciting. The rest were absolute dross.
What else did you expect the centre-backs and goalkeeper to do to be upgraded from negative dross?
I'm sorry I couldn't be bothered to name them all individually, I've got sprouts to cook.
I don't think it's really necessary to apologise, but it's bit unfair on a defence that looked pretty comfortable to reduce them to the same level of performance as N'Zogbia and Weimann when they (Vlaar's dodgy backpass aside) looked very solid and did everything that could really have been expected of them.
Fair enough.
-
Just back from a cold and quiet villa park , £140 richer having backed the most predictable , dour 0-0 ever , but I'm far from happy.
This new brand of possession football is total bollocks. Knocking it about across the back line going nowhere and Guzan passing goal kicks backwards is NOT progress.
As for cleverly , absolute dross as is Weimann and CNZ .
The only bright spot today was Grealish who actually moves with the ball in a forward direction.
Benteke was piss awful today . Not that he had much to feed off.
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Man United
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham
We're not on a level playing field with any of these. So you think we're trying to finish above the likes of Everton, Southampton, West Ham and Newcastle no problem considering our financial situation?
I never said we would 'finish above them no problem', that's not what challenging means. But I think the current squad has potential to if they can get playing right, I think it's very pessimistic (no, not realistic) to say that we shouldn't be near those clubs.
-
Oh and it's not 11 goals in 19 games , it's worse.
It's 11 in the last 22 competitive games - add in leyton orient and spurs and man city games 37 and 38 from last term.
Lambert really should be sacked.
-
Talked to a Sunderland lad afterwards who was really annoyed about how negative THEY were!
Thought Weimann and NZog were awful, as was Cleverley. Benteke barely moved at times so it was fairly obvious that we wouldn't score yet again.
I was so hoping we'd play really well without Gabby, now he'll be straight back in against Palace.
On the plus, Sanchez was excellent as was Jack when he came on. How lovely it was to see a Villa player actually try and commit a defender and make something fucking exciting happen.
-
Another mind numbingly shite afternoon in B6.
I don't buy this 'new style' bull that Lambert keeps coming out with. We had a perfectly good 'style' of play at the end of 2012/13 season - whats happended to that ?
The new goal kick routine is laughable - as the ball is played to either full back , usually under pressure , then return the ball to Guzan - whose kicking is bozzyesque at best.
There seems to be huge spaces between all our players - very little support play - which makes almost all of our rare forward passes very easy to defend against.
Another stupid red card - which came about because he didn't complete a routine pass down the line seconds earlier.
The possession / passed completed stats may be improving - but the end product isn't.
Best league in the world ? My arse.
-
Just back from a cold and quiet villa park , £140 richer having backed the most predictable , dour 0-0 ever , but I'm far from happy.
This new brand of possession football is total bollocks. Knocking it about across the back line going nowhere and Guzan passing goal kicks backwards is NOT progress.
As for cleverly , absolute dross as is Weimann and CNZ .
The only bright spot today was Grealish who actually moves with the ball in a forward direction.
Benteke was piss awful today . Not that he had much to feed off.
Enjoy it, you were definitely adamant on a 0-0 I'll give you that!
-
Villa didn't ruin my day with an utterly pathetic defeat.
That's all I ask for these days.
Percy that sums up so well how I felt when the final whistle blew.
-
Completely fed up. Weimann is just a shit Brett Holman.
-
In his defence , Weimann is a striker who has been played out of position for 2years by the clueless one.
-
I was so hoping we'd play really well without Gabby, now he'll be straight back in against Palace.
Watching the match I kept thinking how much we missed Gabby to run at their defence, using his speed to go past their aging centre backs and stop them doubling up on Benteke. Then I reminded myself that Lambert prefers to play him deep, back to goal, trying to link up play.
You can take a horse to water..
-
Lambert and Lerner totally useless. No sign of club being sold. Lerner can't even get that right! Fucking idiot 'rewarded' Lambert with a 4 year contract. The people running this great club are a disgrace.
-
Just home through the horrors of the M6 and the A14. My diamond of a son still has two hours on the road before he gets to see his wife and baby.
To me the path we are following to make some sort of a proper Aston Villa team is like when you have a combination lock but you don't know the number to open it. So you start with 0000, no that's not it, then 0001, no that's not it, then 0002 and so forth until you hope to open the lock by process of elimination.
We know young and hungry does not work, so we go old and past it and that does not work. We know hoofball does not work so we try goalkeeper kicking the ball backwards and that does not work. We try to be a poor man's Chelsea and play down the middle and that does not work so we put on Dead End Charlie and that does not work.
Why can we see blindingly obvious moves like bringing in Jores Okore or starting Jack Grealish or Callum Robinson and our manager can't?
Because he is both stupid and stubborn and wants to stick to unlocking the lock by finding the combination by process of elimination instead of using his eyes and his brain. Once on the pitch Jack Grealish immediately put us in with a real shout at winning the game by taking on players and forcing them onto the back foot.
Sanchez is finally blossoming into one hell of a player. Delph on the other hand is a stupid prat.
-
By the way Delph's red card and regular yellow cards will keep him at Villa Park as sort of teams he is looking to join will not touch him with a barge pole!
Sadly, I think football scouts are clever enough to look up Delph's stats re bookings before making such inaccurate assumptions about their regularity, unlike posters on the internet.
-
Oh and Guzans latest trick, if he can't pass short and backwards from a GK to a FB is too dink one chest high to a FB midway inside our half who has to bring the ball down of his chest to pass it back to him usually with two opposing players closing in.
Some of the nonsense going on today was bizarre.
-
Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.
I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Man United
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham
We're not on a level playing field with any of these. So you think we're trying to finish above the likes of Everton, Southampton, West Ham and Newcastle no problem considering our financial situation?
I never said we would 'finish above them no problem', that's not what challenging means. But I think the current squad has potential to if they can get playing right, I think it's very pessimistic (no, not realistic) to say that we shouldn't be near those clubs.
We should be competing with Newcastle. They don't have a better squad/first 11 than we do, no way.
Stoke are an intreresting example. Mark Hughes has had less to spend than Lambert yet has come up with Diouf, Bojan and Arnautovic for about 3m which creates a forward line of pace, power and creativity when it's on song.
As much as it would've been seen as negative at the time, Hughes to us in 2011 would've probably been a good move as he's shown frequently he can build decent competitive premier league teams for virtually peanuts.
I don't expect to see us in the top 8 but surely it's not asking for a miracle to at least look to get 45-50 points in a season and maybe just sneak into the top 10?
-
Enjoyed my mate's observation: Lambert's finishing "selections" usually end up playing better than his starting selections. The sending off forced his hand and as result we played better - not difficult I know, but definitely better. Speaks volumes!
Largely down to having Grealish on the pitch who offers loads more than Zog/Cleverley (who we MUST NOT spend £7m on ffs!)
Thought that Sanchez was the best player on the park by a country mile - he must wonder what the f**k all the other blokes in claret and blue use for brains once they get on the pitch.
His English is improving apparently. WTF must he make of Lambert's tactics/team talks?
I consider the game at Swansea a point dropped and today 2 more gone begging.
We must beat Palace at home and Leic away!
-
I was so hoping we'd play really well without Gabby, now he'll be straight back in against Palace.
Watching the match I kept thinking how much we missed Gabby to run at their defence, using his speed to go past their aging centre backs and stop them doubling up on Benteke. Then I reminded myself that Lambert prefers to play him deep, back to goal, trying to link up play.
You can take a horse to water..
Was hoping to see Gabby do exactly this v Swansea against chubby Williams - I think Gabby had one run at their defence. He plays too central and too narrow - playing him wide gives a much greater threat to the oppo - like Grealish was today.
Whether that's Lambert's tactics or Gabby's I don't know.
-
2 points from the last 12.
We're on one of our runs again.
-
Gabby never does anything in home games, really don't think he'd have made a huge difference today.
By default he'll be straight back in v Palace.
-
I suspect that Lambert thinks he can convert both Gabby and Weimann into midfield players.
-
Gabby plays too deep.He seems to think hes a creative midfielder rather than playing on the shoulder of the last defender, where he should be.
-
We have a handful of players who aren't good enough and are holding us back. Weimann is probably top of the list. He's feisty and a willing runner, but he just doesn't have the technique or composure needed at this level. And it's not as if he hasn't had a fair crack of the whip. We badly need someone with more quality in his position.
N'Zogbia is another one who's had plenty of chances to prove his worth and wasted them all. Then there's Gabby, who trundles along contributing very little for weeks and then suddenly produces a good performance to secure his spot in the team.
Swap those three for some more intelligent players with better technique, and we'd instantly look a different prospect. ANd funnily enough, I might trust Lambert to bring in the right players, provided he has some funds. Mind you, if he pays 7 million for Cleverley, then he's a mug. I don't even think he's as good as Westwood, who supposedly only cost 2m.
-
First trip up since the Hull game and a chance to see the "New Improved Villa" in action. OK it wasn't Barcelona but at least we're trying to keep the ball which in itself stopped the opposition. I know its basic and at times we tried too hard (sometimes you just need to clear it) but it makes a change from hoof it then try and defend.
Its still looks work in progress and it does need better players in midfield but at least were not losing. Weimann and N'Zogbia shouldnt even be on the bench for the palace game. I'm prepared to give Cleverly a few more games if he's played further forward where I think he might do more damage with the final ball we so desperately need.
Greaslish needs to start and give Robinson 20+ mins in the second half as a replacement for Gabby (inevitable change).
Overall I can see some improvement and, dare I say it, something someone (not Lambert or Pulis) can build on.
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
We played the whole of the first half with Nzogbia.
Who is nowhere near as bad as you keep saying over and over again.
If you want to put up his goal scoring or even key contribution record whilst playing for us I am happy to review my views.
The standard view of the heroes and villains sheep of the moment, let's rip into nzogbia
Because everyone else is. Nzog was our most creative and attack minded player today, far better than Weimann or benteke.
-
Didn't see the game but a point after 45 mins with 10 men is a decent result in the circumstances. Nzogbia is finished at this level and shouldn't start another game for the club. Did Clark pick up an injury?
Running out of midfielders again but at least Richardson is back for the next one. Good to hear that Sanchez played well again and another clean sheet.
-
I suspect that Lambert thinks he can convert both Gabby and Weimann into midfield players.
Wait until he decides to convert Benteke into Ron Vlaar's replacement, Brian. Tactical genius, I tell you..
-
Gabby plays too deep.He seems to think hes a creative midfielder rather than playing on the shoulder of the last defender, where he should be.
You think it's Gabby's decision to play there. If you were his manager wouldn't you have a word in his ear or scream down his throut to get back in bloody position?
I think you just might, BLF ;)
-
Agree the CNZ bashing is a bit OTT . He was the only one to shoot on target first half. Benteke was appalling today, surly, off the pace, ineffective.
-
. Benteke was appalling today, surly, off the pace, ineffective.
Agree 100%. Maybe he just filled that role for Gabby until he's back for Palace.
-
TSOV if Lambert ever discovers what a great central defender we made of hot shot centre forward Allan Evans, Benteke is as good as nailed into a Lambert back four
-
The only reason we have Charles N'Zogbia is because TSM got knocked back for him at Small Heath and was determined to spend some of Randy's money to prove a point. He has certainly proved it to me. Whelan saw him coming.
-
I always said that 10 years ago i would have made Gabby wear an earpiece so he could be told where to be, when to run, where to go.
I sometimes wonder whether he has ever been coached.
-
I would have made him wear a codpiece.
-
N'Zog has always been gash. I won't be moved on that regardless of any future surprises.
Weimann is a better player than you'd believe currently. He is a finisher and has played well working off Benteke. Currently He seems to be playing in weird roles, to instructions that don't seem to make sense.
However, I can appreciate that he is stretching our patience right now.
-
I suspect that Lambert thinks he can convert both Gabby and Weimann into midfield players.
In the Lambert-future they will all be midfield players!
Even Guzan!
-
Benteke was appalling today, surly, off the pace, ineffective.
He wasn't really helped by having two sometimes three defenders marking him. His worst crime today was for the Grealish cross where he tried his usual trick of bropping back to the penalty spot to receive the ball in space. This time there was no space, just lots of defenders.
As for Zog bashing, I can think of a really simple solution to stop it. I just wish Lambert could too.
-
Top performance from Sanchez, defence was OK, plus Grealish & Baccuna offer something rarely seen at Villa Park these days a goal threat.
N'Zogbia is a complete waste & Weimann is not much better. Weimann never looks to be in control or ready to receive the ball, does plenty of running but little else.
Without Benteke there is zero goal threat. Whilst there's much wrong with us under Lambert's tenure the fact that he went into the season knowing that Benteke / Kozak were injured & that Gabby / Weimann offer little or no threat whatsoever, is criminal. Yet he did nothing to rectify this situation or was his answer Joe Cole? I'd love to know who Lambert thinks will score the goals to get us to a comfortable position?
Delph's red card was borderline, at the time it looked like he deliberately stamped or left his foot in an act of petulance. It won't be rescinded anyway.
-
I have to say CNZ was appalling as he usually is. Looks like he is playing football for the first time. Offers absolutely nothing and is a complete waste of space. Both Bacuna and Grealish did more more in their cameos than CNZ has for the past few years.
Very impressed with Sanchez but Benteke was easily marshalled by an experienced pair of centre halves.
-
Zog has been given more than enough opportunities, I think.
He's consistently poor, gives possession away too easily and runs up blind alleys...so many promising moves break down because he somehow loses the ball.
Was there anything he did today that Grealish couldn't do?
I'd start Grealish v Palace with a view to replacing him in the last 30 mins if he's f**ked.
Bring a revitalised Gabby on - BOOM!
imho that's two big problems for the opposition to have to deal with and that's what we need to do - make it difficult for the opposition from trying to stop us from scoring goals!
-
Gabby plays too deep.He seems to think hes a creative midfielder rather than playing on the shoulder of the last defender, where he should be.
Yep, that another thing I don't understand, when he plays Gabby and Benteke up front he does it he wrong way, Benteke is much more suited to playing in the hole and Gabby as you say off the shoulder and to run the channels.
-
Well I was just glad we got a point, another defeat would have destroyed me, first game for me since Hull, the three weak links imo were Nzogbia Weimann and Cleverley, the Wigan Charlie has long gone, his pace and power has deserted him maybe due to that injury, Weimann is not premiership quality and Cleverley offers very little and is very weak in the tackle, lovely cameos from Jack and Bacuna, 14th or 15th will be our final position, another draw looming against Palace, exciting times.
-
I suspect we will draw v palace and win at Leicester which won't be too bad. Hoping we beat Blackpool and have a little cup run.
Weimann is being played out of position so I want to defend him.
He's a goal poacher and should be played up top.
-
Guzan had a free kick that was right on the 18 yard line. He actually passed it backwards to Okore who was standing inside his own box.
The ball didn't clear our half and we were then put under pressure within seconds.
That's called footballing progress apparently
This happened once or twice but overall I like the possession play. It has to be better than inviting pressure
The main problem continues to be that we lack creative players to speed the game up in the final third. WEIMANN wasawful today and nzogbia pretty bad. Cleverley too though I feel a bit sorry for him marooned on the left
GREALISH was a real threat and bacuna did well too. I'd definitely put them in for any of the three I mention above, though gabby and richardson are back too
V depressing atmosphere too.
-
I suspect we will draw v palace and win at Leicester which won't be too bad. Hoping we beat Blackpool and have a little cup run.
Weimann is being played out of position so I want to defend him.
He's a goal poacher and should be played up top.
of Ben Nevis!
-
Just got in from yet another 350 mile round trip and after 349 miles I stil can't fathom why we have to try and play the ball about at the back the way we did in the first half.
Yet again we go down to 10 men and we start to play the way we should do from the start.
What bacuna has to do to get a start is beyond me and grealish and benteke should be our starting two up front.
Thought Clark and Sanchez improve with every game
-
What's the latest with the assistant hunt ? He needs another pair of eyes to show him lack of attacking threat. Yes things at the back are far better, but lack of chances will soon catch us up and bite us on the ass.
-
He's said he's fine without an assistant for now .
-
What's the latest with the assistant hunt ? He needs another pair of eyes to show him lack of attacking threat. Yes things at the back are far better, but lack of chances will soon catch us up and bite us on the ass.
If we get someone like a modern day Ossie Ardiles in we might strike a balance between the safe and boring and the Gung Ho all out attack.
-
Just got in from yet another 350 mile round trip and after 349 miles I stil can't fathom why we have to try and play the ball about at the back the way we did in the first half.
Yet again we go down to 10 men and we start to play the way we should do from the start.
What bacuna has to do to get a start is beyond me and grealish and benteke should be our starting two up front.
Thought Clark and Sanchez improve with every game
Agree 100% with all of this, except mine was only a mere 300 mile round trip. I won't be bothering for a while after watching that.
Clark was excellent, again.
-
What's the latest with the assistant hunt ?
Paul Lambert Brings Rod Hulls Emu out of retirement
Paul Lambert was quoted as saying, "we go back a long way, we are good friends, Emu has been absolutely brilliant in training working with the lads, the players love him. He has been working with Tom on free kicks and Charles on running with the ball, he is just what we need at the minute"
-
What's the latest with the assistant hunt ?
Paul Lambert Brings Rod Hulls Emu out of retirement
Paul Lambert was quoted as saying, "we go back a long way, we are good friends, Emu has been absolutely brilliant in training working with the lads, the players love him. He has been working with Tom on free kicks and Charles on running with the ball, he is just what we need at the minute"
Convincing quote CL!
UTV!
-
Rod Hull was a Man U fan until he fell off his roof. I think we should assume his bird is of a similar persuasion. The last time we let anybody of that ilk influence our management we got the the letter which Randy Lerner had framed and has sugar and rose water thown at. Muffin The Mule would be a better choice for coaching Tom's free kicks and Charlie's mazy runs. (yes he does run like he is in a maze doesn't he?)
-
Not absolutely certain but I believe our worst goals for record was in Div 2 in 1969/70 when we got 36 in 42 games.
I guess that's about 33/4 in a 38 match season.
Somehow with this idiot still at the helm I can't see us getting a goal a game in the second half of the season in order to at least equal that :(
-
Nzogbia didn't hide i'll give him that but his pace has gone so his ability to run at defenders has gone, Weimann has no close control likewise Gabby both are being played out of position which is a nonsense, square pegs and all that. I hate how Lambert sets us week after week but i will give him credit in that he seems to be able to spot a decent player when given the money, our defence is far far better this season
what he needs to do is do the same with the midfield and forward line. Cole showed what a difference a classy player can make a few weeks ago, a younger version please.
-
How can we have gone from that team in the latter half if his first season so carefree and full of attacking intent to this absolutely embarrassing dross being served week in week out.
-
I'm finding it hard to find fault in the players or manager considering we were playing for nearly the whole of the second half with one player fewer than the opposition. Carlos Sanchez, what a footballer.
We played the whole of the first half with Nzogbia.
Who is nowhere near as bad as you keep saying over and over again.
If you want to put up his goal scoring or even key contribution record whilst playing for us I am happy to review my views.
The standard view of the heroes and villains sheep of the moment, let's rip into nzogbia
Because everyone else is. Nzog was our most creative and attack minded player today, far better than Weimann or benteke.
I saw Grealish create 10 times more in half the time. Your summation is laughable.
-
How can we have gone from that team in the latter half if his first season so carefree and full of attacking intent to this absolutely embarrassing dross being served week in week out.
I think it's just the pressure, it becomes more important not to lose than it does to try to win. I could get it when our defence was piss poor because we were so vulnerable at the back but we have a pretty good defence now but his tactics havn't changed.
-
I'm surprised we got a point after reading some of the comments on here. Apparently Nzogbia did nothing Andi W and Cleverley were crap and also having Delph sent off we did ok to get a point with so few players.
-
Hold on let's see the positives from this ( and please add on ) .
Clean sheet .
Spirited performance with ten outfield players.
Endeavour
Continued improvement in football style.
Possession based game carried out well.
Recycling of ball and passes made were good.
A number of players were solid and continued effort after tough away match on boxing day.
The substitutes were effective.
A point earned .
It's always good to look at what worked and the plkus sides of things.
No one can doubt the absolute effort 10 players put in.
Its a match that Aston Villa may have lost in season past and in fact ( like man utd match) villa looked more likely to score a winner in the last minutes.
That really says something about this set of players and the character.
Players just need to add goals. :-)
Any other positives please add its great to encourage positive comment !
Keep the faith !
-
N'Zogbia was invisible early on but did improve towards half time then disappeared before being subbed. Weimann worked very hard and tracked back well and Cleverley was ineffective and just played it safe, his tackling is very weak. We need to hurt our opponents more if we actually want to win home games, not sure any of these three can do that. Okore came in to the team because Lambert was left with no choice, can't see him starting with Grealish unless all the usual suspects aren't available. I feel confident that if he played Bacuna and Grealish from the off and all 11 stay on the pitch we would beat Palace.
-
Weimann certainly wasn't crap. He lacks composure that's for sure. He's infuriating a lot of the time. But he ran and ran and ran today. He played his part in making sure we didn't lose the game today. He also played his part in making sure we didn't win too. But crap he certainly wasn't.
It wasn't until the sending off (the last time we see Delph in a villa shirt?) and the introduction of grealish we actually looked like getting something from the game.
Rubbish game from two rubbish teams.
-
Hold on let's see the positives from this ( and please add on ) .
Clean sheet .
Spirited performance with ten outfield players.
Endeavour
Continued improvement in football style.
Possession based game carried out well.
Recycling of ball and passes made were good.
A number of players were solid and continued effort after tough away match on boxing day.
The substitutes were effective.
A point earned .
It's always good to look at what worked and the plkus sides of things.
No one can doubt the absolute effort 10 players put in.
Its a match that Aston Villa may have lost in season past and in fact ( like man utd match) villa looked more likely to score a winner in the last minutes.
That really says something about this set of players and the character.
Players just need to add goals. :-)
Any other positives please add its great to encourage positive comment !
Keep the faith !
You are VillaKicks I assume.I
-
Endeavour ? Are you taking the p**s ?
The only positive I can add is Jack Grealish. That lad is going to be a massive star in the game.
-
Players just need to add goals. :-)
That's a pretty big "just", though.
Like saying "they're a good band, they just need to add tunes."
-
Our match belongs so firmly at the back of the running order for MOTD, it's like we're aiming to be third up in the Football League Show.
-
N'Zogbia did plenty but unfortunately none of it was effective. Weimann works hard under the burden of being played as a makeshift defender. Benteke had the pox about something all the game and bottled out of what should have been the winning goal right at the death. Cleverley seems to have caught the Ireland can't be arsed bug. Delph went back to his old red mist ways. Ron Vlaar threw away a very promising attack by bladdering the ball into the Holte from thirty yards, Grealish came on and put on the mantle of Ashley Young in his prime and Sanchez was MOTM by several miles. Weather was cold. The traffic was horrendous.
-
Our match belongs so firmly at the back of the running order for MOTD, it's like we're aiming to be third up in the Football League Show.
Three 0-0's today so you never know ? QPR may be last ?
-
Endeavour ? Are you taking the p**s ?
The only positive I can add is Jack Grealish. That lad is going to be a massive star in the game.
Guzan's saves. Clark and Okore when he came on. Sanchez.
Its not all bad.
-
Our match belongs so firmly at the back of the running order for MOTD, it's like we're aiming to be third up in the Football League Show.
Three 0-0's today so you never know ? QPR may be last ?
We're last.
-
Weimann did put a good shift in when we were down to 10 tbf. We did improve after being down to 10 and CNZ being replaced. I do think there is a player there in Cleverley but doubt Lambert is the man to find it. I also thought Sissoko improved dramatically with Jack in front of him.
-
Lastly, Sunderland were the poorest side I have seen this season.
-
Another point towards the magical 40 point barrier!
Avoiding relegation is the new qualifying for Europe.
In Lambert We Trust.
SWALK.
-
Hold on let's see the positives from this ( and please add on ) .
Clean sheet .
Spirited performance with ten outfield players.
Endeavour
Continued improvement in football style.
Possession based game carried out well.
Recycling of ball and passes made were good.
A number of players were solid and continued effort after tough away match on boxing day.
The substitutes were effective.
A point earned .
It's always good to look at what worked and the plkus sides of things.
No one can doubt the absolute effort 10 players put in.
Its a match that Aston Villa may have lost in season past and in fact ( like man utd match) villa looked more likely to score a winner in the last minutes.
That really says something about this set of players and the character.
Players just need to add goals. :-)
Any other positives please add its great to encourage positive comment !
Keep the faith !
GTF
-
Lastly, Sunderland were the poorest side I have seen this season.
I'd agree, other than us.
And Leicester are quite bad .
-
Hold on let's see the positives from this ( and please add on ) .
Clean sheet .
Spirited performance with ten outfield players.
Endeavour
Continued improvement in football style.
Possession based game carried out well.
Recycling of ball and passes made were good.
A number of players were solid and continued effort after tough away match on boxing day.
The substitutes were effective.
A point earned .
It's always good to look at what worked and the plkus sides of things.
No one can doubt the absolute effort 10 players put in.
Its a match that Aston Villa may have lost in season past and in fact ( like man utd match) villa looked more likely to score a winner in the last minutes.
That really says something about this set of players and the character.
Players just need to add goals. :-)
Any other positives please add its great to encourage positive comment !
Keep the faith !
GTF
That was uncalled for.
-
Hold on let's see the positives from this ( and please add on ) .
Clean sheet .
Spirited performance with ten outfield players.
Endeavour
Continued improvement in football style.
Possession based game carried out well.
Recycling of ball and passes made were good.
A number of players were solid and continued effort after tough away match on boxing day.
The substitutes were effective.
A point earned .
It's always good to look at what worked and the plkus sides of things.
No one can doubt the absolute effort 10 players put in.
Its a match that Aston Villa may have lost in season past and in fact ( like man utd match) villa looked more likely to score a winner in the last minutes.
That really says something about this set of players and the character.
Players just need to add goals. :-)
Any other positives please add its great to encourage positive comment !
Keep the faith !
GTF
That was uncalled for.
Acidic yet succinct.
-
Hold on let's see the positives from this ( and please add on ) .
Clean sheet .
Spirited performance with ten outfield players.
Endeavour
Continued improvement in football style.
Possession based game carried out well.
Recycling of ball and passes made were good.
A number of players were solid and continued effort after tough away match on boxing day.
The substitutes were effective.
A point earned .
It's always good to look at what worked and the plkus sides of things.
No one can doubt the absolute effort 10 players put in.
Its a match that Aston Villa may have lost in season past and in fact ( like man utd match) villa looked more likely to score a winner in the last minutes.
That really says something about this set of players and the character.
Players just need to add goals. :-)
Any other positives please add its great to encourage positive comment !
Keep the faith !
GTF
That was uncalled for.
Acidic yet succinct.
Abusive, I'd call it.
-
If I was being abusive I'd call him a complete twat without an ounce of football knowledge, as illustrated by his username and just about every toadying post he's ever made here. But I didn't say that.
As it is, GTF was just intended as a friendly rebuke.
-
To be fair when I read GTF I only ever see it in a comedy scottish 'get tae fuck' way.
i originally typed 'Glaswegian' instead of Scottish but realised it would totally change what i said.
-
Half a season gone and just 11 goals scored. Have we ever been this shit in front of goal in all our history?
-
Half a season gone and just 11 goals scored. Have we ever been this shit in front of goal in all our history?
That stat isn't even the worst thing.
The worst thing is that the clueless chairman thinks he's doing a great job. That this is acceptable.
-
Only 2 positives I took out of today - one was the fact we didn't lose and the other was Jack Grealish. He was a breath of fresh air when he came on, and it's the first time he's ever really impressed me in a first team game.
The rest of the match was the usual Lambert/Lerner rubbish.
-
Only 2 positives I took out of today - one was the fact we didn't lose and the other was Jack Grealish. He was a breath of fresh air when he came on, and it's the first time he's ever really impressed me in a first team game.
The rest of the match was the usual Lambert/Lerner rubbish.
Totally agree re: Grealish. He seemed more mature in his play today.
Also...Sanchez was outstanding.
-
Only 2 positives I took out of today - one was the fact we didn't lose and the other was Jack Grealish. He was a breath of fresh air when he came on, and it's the first time he's ever really impressed me in a first team game.
The rest of the match was the usual Lambert/Lerner rubbish.
Totally agree re: Grealish. He seemed more mature in his play today.
Also...Sanchez was outstanding.
I bet you what you like Grealish starts the next game on the bench and N'Zogbia on the pitch, though.
-
Half a season gone and just 11 goals scored. Have we ever been this shit in front of goal in all our history?
That stat isn't even the worst thing.
The worst thing is that the clueless chairman thinks he's doing a great job. That this is acceptable.
The only ambition at Villa these days is for us to stay in the Premier League. Just imagine the grief Ellis would be getting now if he was still our chairman.
-
I can understand the logic in easing Grealish in. But continuing to pick CNZ is mystifying.
-
If I was being abusive I'd call him a complete twat without an ounce of football knowledge, as illustrated by his username and just about every toadying post he's ever made here. But I didn't say that.
As it is, GTF was just intended as a friendly rebuke.
And if you were to do similar again it'd be the last post you made on here for along time.
-
Some good players in the squad at present but set up all wrong eg why were Delph and Cleverley the opposite side of Sanchez to where they should have been, where exactly is Weimann supposed to be playing etc. And even worse is the continual poor delivery from crosses including Grealish where we can't beat the first defender. Add in the still shit free kicks throw ins and corners and it points to some terrible coaching down Bodymoor.
-
You're probably right paulie, but imho I just can't see how ANY manager could pick Zog over Grealish any day of the week.
As I said earlier on this thread, Grealish has got to start v Palace.
Hasn't he?
-
If I was being abusive I'd call him a complete twat without an ounce of football knowledge, as illustrated by his username and just about every toadying post he's ever made here. But I didn't say that.
As it is, GTF was just intended as a friendly rebuke.
And if you were to do similar again it'd be the last post you made on here for along time.
All along the watchtower. We're all friends here.
Take it in the spirit it was intended. Or don't.
-
Is there to be an Acronym Police? What fun!
-
Is there to be an Acronym Police? What fun!
The acronym wasn't so bad, it's what he said afterwards I think.
-
It has been dealt with, so it is probably best if we just move on now.
-
Is there to be an Acronym Police? What fun!
The acronym wasn't so bad, it's what he said afterwards I think.
Could have been worse he could have said troll
-
Again, can we move on now please.
-
It has been dealt with, so it is probably best if we just move on now.
Oops, aye
-
If I was being abusive I'd call him a complete twat without an ounce of football knowledge, as illustrated by his username and just about every toadying post he's ever made here. But I didn't say that.
As it is, GTF was just intended as a friendly rebuke.
And if you were to do similar again it'd be the last post you made on here for along time.
Haters gonna hate. I all just ignore . BTW Dave I got your Aston villa miscellany book. Its fantastic !
Cheers
-
Getting back to the football - was it just me that was fuming with the ref for not booking two intentional handballs, one of which was Johnson & would have seen him doing the early bath walk too when he got his 'other' yellow later in the game.
It is one of my hugest bug bears with the game when refs don't book players for bookable offences and essentially give the players a free pass to commit another offence with no sanction.
-
Averaging 1 goal in every 155 minutes on the pitch. How this translates into 'excellent' week in week out would probably stump Stephen Hawking. Even less fathomable is how grealish doesn't get a start given these stats are written in red ink with a red hand pointing to them in terms of pointing out a lack of creativity.
-
Benteke really pissed me off today, Grealish on two or three occassions got to the byline and crossed with Benteke hanging back on the edge of the box when he shouid have been close in. He's complaining far too often about everything and didn't run the lines today, he may be frustrated but he can do something about it the supporters on the terraces just have to put up with it.
-
Getting back to the football - was it just me that was fuming with the ref for not booking two intentional handballs, one of which was Johnson & would have seen him doing the early bath walk too when he got his 'other' yellow later in the game.
It is one of my hugest bug bears with the game when refs don't book players for bookable offences and essentially give the players a free pass to commit another offence with no sanction.
Had to look up bug bears. I 100% agree intentional hand balls are deliberate attempts at cheating and breaking the rules . it's also perhaps the biggest crime as its football not handball!
I also dislike further when a player protesters and claims handling by a defender or opponent when it hits a chest or head ! That's even worse !
However I do recall a moment of comedy gold yet dam shameful when Steven Taylor for Newcastle pretended he had been hit in chest when he deliberate hand balled it .
And finally henry as the new sky pundit should be asked about all handballs in the match as he knows about that.
-
Averaging 1 goal in every 155 minutes on the pitch. How this translates into 'excellent' week in week out would probably stump Stephen Hawking. Even less fathomable is how grealish doesn't get a start given these stats are written in red ink with a red hand pointing to them in terms of pointing out a lack of creativity.
There's more goals in Stephen Hawking
-
By the way Delph's red card and regular yellow cards will keep him at Villa Park as sort of teams he is looking to join will not touch him with a barge pole!
Sadly, I think football scouts are clever enough to look up Delph's stats re bookings before making such inaccurate assumptions about their regularity, unlike posters on the internet.
I would have thought 9 in 36 matches season 2013/14 and 11 in 32 matches 2012/13 is equal to about 2 bans and adverse effect on performance in concerned matches.
-
By the way Delph's red card and regular yellow cards will keep him at Villa Park as sort of teams he is looking to join will not touch him with a barge pole!
Sadly, I think football scouts are clever enough to look up Delph's stats re bookings before making such inaccurate assumptions about their regularity, unlike posters on the internet.
I would have thought 9 in 36 matches season 2013/14 and 11 in 32 matches 2012/13 is equal to about 2 bans and adverse effect on performance in concerned matches.
That was his first card of the season for us. He had 1 yellow in the last 17 games of last season. I doubt many midfielders in the country can better two cards in about 30 games.
-
To be fair when I read GTF I only ever see it in a comedy scottish 'get tae fuck' way.
i originally typed 'Glaswegian' instead of Scottish but realised it would totally change what i said.
Thanks Peter w. I instantly read that in a Scottish voice but for the life of me couldn't remember what it stood for.
-
Benteke really pissed me off today, Grealish on two or three occassions got to the byline and crossed with Benteke hanging back on the edge of the box when he shouid have been close in. He's complaining far too often about everything and didn't run the lines today, he may be frustrated but he can do something about it the supporters on the terraces just have to put up with it
He must of scratched his head in shock that a player under Lambert has the ability to go the byline and cross the ball.
-
To be fair when I read GTF I only ever see it in a comedy scottish 'get tae fuck' way.
i originally typed 'Glaswegian' instead of Scottish but realised it would totally change what i said.
Thanks Peter w. I instantly read that in a Scottish voice but for the life of me couldn't remember what it stood for.
Frankie Boyle said that the Scottish electorate were so out of the loop that they thought NATO referred to diabetic amputees.
(NATO = Nae Toe).
-
By the way Delph's red card and regular yellow cards will keep him at Villa Park as sort of teams he is looking to join will not touch him with a barge pole!
Sadly, I think football scouts are clever enough to look up Delph's stats re bookings before making such inaccurate assumptions about their regularity, unlike posters on the internet.
I would have thought 9 in 36 matches season 2013/14 and 11 in 32 matches 2012/13 is equal to about 2 bans and adverse effect on performance in concerned matches.
That was his first card of the season for us. He had 1 yellow in the last 17 games of last season. I doubt many midfielders in the country can better two cards in about 30 games.
Thanks PWS. Although I didn't look it up, I was aware it was an issue he had overcome recently.
Any stats on our terrible habit of throwing away leads late in games under MON that someone referred to earlier?
-
I had a chat with Pat McMahon (the H&V poster not our famous number 8 ) at halftime and we agreed on several things. We were truly terrible so far. Sunderland were marginally more incompetent than us. Very quiet Villa park, even Sunderland fans. Why does N'Zobia keeps obliging the fullback by being forced inside and eventually losing the ball with no end product? Why doesn't he go for the line now and than if only to put some doubt in defenders mind? Why is Weimann positionally clueless and has very poor anticipation? Sanchez was our best player so far. Benteke is very ineffective. Delph has eliminated stupid reckless lunging tackles out of his game and fast becoming an efficient midfielder...ahaa how wrong were we 4 mins into the second half!
After the game we agreed on Sanchez being MotM and applauded the effort team put in to preserve a point and admired Grealish's honest go for goal attitude rather than N'Zogs dithering. Wondered why he is still not starting? Agreed that we can't play to dictate a game and only perform when in desperate mode. Wished each other a happy new year and parted in different directions.
By the way Delph's red card and regular yellow cards will keep him at Villa Park as sort of teams he is looking to join will not touch him with a barge pole!
Great to see you today Aftab. Shit journey back to London as I forgot some stuff at my sister's in Cannock so had to drive up there after the game then back to London. It was a motorway version of our goal kick routine between Guzan and our full backs.
You have summed up my thoughts on the game. I must add that Weimann seems better without the ball than with it (worrying for a striker), but he is perfect for a 10 man performance. I have seen Cleverly a few times now and I sill can't tell what type of player he is ( ball player / enforcer / dynamo etc). We looked much better after he went off.
I take responsibility for Delph's card given my half time comments that those silly lunges were behind him. Apologies.
First time Grealish has really impressed me. More of the same please.
Worryingly, as Witton Warrior said, Villa Park was a mausoleum until the last 15.
-
Yes as I mentioned in my original post we thought it was all behind him and then he goes and ruins it.
-
Stoke are an intreresting example. Mark Hughes has had less to spend than Lambert yet has come up with Diouf, Bojan and Arnautovic for about 3m which creates a forward line of pace, power and creativity when it's on song.
As much as it would've been seen as negative at the time, Hughes to us in 2011 would've probably been a good move as he's shown frequently he can build decent competitive premier league teams for virtually peanuts.
Fulham and QPR competitive? Man City team for peanuts! (and QPR). He broke the British transfer record at Man City!
-
Stoke are an intreresting example. Mark Hughes has had less to spend than Lambert yet has come up with Diouf, Bojan and Arnautovic for about 3m which creates a forward line of pace, power and creativity when it's on song.
As much as it would've been seen as negative at the time, Hughes to us in 2011 would've probably been a good move as he's shown frequently he can build decent competitive premier league teams for virtually peanuts.
Fulham and QPR competitive? Man City team for peanuts! (and QPR). He broke the British transfer record at Man City!
He is one of those managers who seems to do well on a small to medium budget, and fucks it up if he has to go large. Brendan Rogers is the latest in a long line of these chaps.
My theory is that the PL financial bonanza came relatively late in the scheme of things and so managers/coaches from leagues that had mega millionaire players before the Preemyership TV megadeals kicked in had a head start.
-
The more we moan about CNZ ,which by the way is fully deserved, the more the most stubborn manager i have ever seen in over fifty years following the club will continue to pick him
-
After his last two cameos (which improved the balance of our attack in both), Grealish surely has to start. He's got more of a footballing brain than most of our squad combined. He's the only player we've got who can drift between midfield and attack and make something happen. He's got a bit of nous.
Get him in there. Sanchez will feed him and Grealish in turn will make things happen.
11 goals in 19 games. We're long fucking overdue shaking things up. Likewise I think Bacuna has earned a start next game.
-
Hughes had an awful time at QPR and wasn't good enough for citeh but he's otherwise had a good managerial career and did well at fulham for nothing. There's also an incorrect feeling that he just builds thuggish sides. His Blackburn team was that to begin with but soon became very easy on the eye
Villa's defence and central midfield is now much much better than it was in lambert's first season.
It's the players in the final third who are the problem. As evidenced very well yesterday. Our signings in those positions behind the striker haven't worked out at all since Young and Downing left. We need to sign two players to play in those positions asap, even if GREALISH does come through
-
I agree on Benteke. Disappointing again today. He's not being helped by piss poor service at all, but he needs to offer more too. He's got to go back to basics a little more too. He's always looking for the first touch pass or flick, when he'd be better just getting a hold of the ball and encouraging runners around him. He's one of the best hold up players in the league but he's not really using that part of his game enough for me.
We've got to give him more service and encourage him to be attacking the six yard line more. I've noticed him hanging back a lot more in the rare times we get close to the byline. He's got to be ghosting CH's a bit more.
He's a bloody good player but when all is said an done, he's got 2 goals in 10 games this season. Even accounting for fitness/sharpness initially, that's poor. He's looked fit as a fiddle and very sharp of late, he's just not playing well enough, consistently enough. It's a little too nonchalant at times.
-
Stoke are an intreresting example. Mark Hughes has had less to spend than Lambert yet has come up with Diouf, Bojan and Arnautovic for about 3m which creates a forward line of pace, power and creativity when it's on song.
As much as it would've been seen as negative at the time, Hughes to us in 2011 would've probably been a good move as he's shown frequently he can build decent competitive premier league teams for virtually peanuts.
Fulham and QPR competitive? Man City team for peanuts! (and QPR). He broke the British transfer record at Man City!
He is one of those managers who seems to do well on a small to medium budget, and fucks it up if he has to go large. Brendan Rogers is the latest in a long line of these chaps.
My theory is that the PL financial bonanza came relatively late in the scheme of things and so managers/coaches from leagues that had mega millionaire players before the Preemyership TV megadeals kicked in had a head start.
Bruce is the same. He did very well on a budget at Blues then messed up when given funds to take to next level. Very good at Wigan with limited resources.
Sunderland he splurged money and fucked up and Hull he did a great job for 2 years but now started to sign 'name' players the wheels have come off.
-
After his last two cameos (which improved the balance of our attack in both), Grealish surely has to start. He's got more of a footballing brain than most of our squad combined. He's the only player we've got who can drift between midfield and attack and make something happen. He's got a bit of nous.
Get him in there. Sanchez will feed him and Grealish in turn will make things happen.
11 goals in 19 games. We're long fucking overdue shaking things up. Likewise I think Bacuna has earned a start next game.
It's 11 in 22 games
-
I can guarantee that everybody who watched the game either in person had a better time of it than me, who missed the game, because it took 3.5 hours to go 20 miles down the M6. I abandoned my attempts to make it for the second half, when at half three and approaching J18 at 10mph, I was told that there were long delays around Stafford.
I was quite the angry man.
-
Both sides still seemed to be suffering from the Boxing Day game in the first half, they put 10 behind the ball and we didn't have the wit to do much about it. Livened up in the second, I think the sending off coaxed them out and gave us room to play.
I have now given up totally on N'Zogbia. He has had plenty of opportunities and just offers so little. Weimann works very hard but just isn't good enough, sadly. Hope never to see either start for us again.
Benteke is puzzlimg me, seems to spend half his time berating team mates which would be fine if his own form was up to scratch.
Two games to play this week, Grealish surely has to start at least one of them and hopefully both.
-
Very much agree with the people pointing out Benteke's moaning and complaining.
Are we seeing the start of 'billy big bollox' syndrome with him being too good for everyone around him ? Much like I think we are starting to see with Delph.
-
Hold on let's see the positives from this ( and please add on ) .
Clean sheet .
Spirited performance with ten outfield players.
Endeavour
Continued improvement in football style.
Possession based game carried out well.
Recycling of ball and passes made were good.
A number of players were solid and continued effort after tough away match on boxing day.
The substitutes were effective.
A point earned .
It's always good to look at what worked and the plkus sides of things.
No one can doubt the absolute effort 10 players put in.
Its a match that Aston Villa may have lost in season past and in fact ( like man utd match) villa looked more likely to score a winner in the last minutes.
That really says something about this set of players and the character.
Players just need to add goals. :-)
Any other positives please add its great to encourage positive comment !
Keep the faith !
You are VillaKicks I assume.I
Are you watching villa or Burnley
-
Ads - same traffic for me - 4 hours to get from Leyland, 3 restless boys in the car and arrived at 3:35. The catering staff took sympathy, didn't want to charge me for 3 balti pies and a carlsberg ;)
-
Benteke could have had a hat trick of tap ins from Jack Grealish crosses, four if Porcelain Ron had given Grealish the ball instead of trying to knock my glasses off in Holte Lower. The most telling chance for a bad tempered Benteke was his bottling out of the very late chance one on one with their keeper. He seemed to hold back from the impact which is totally unlike him.
Perhaps it is Billy Big Bollocks creeping in or perhaps it is Milan Baros syndrome, that he wants to showcase himself and not sustain another injury.
-
The sooner we replace ngz , cleverly and Weiman with better players to go straight in the first team the better and gabby isn't
Much better , he should be an impact sub.
We go on about Weiman out of position but when he gets in front of goal he has the brain and shot of Susan Boyle. He would be better to get him back on the bench before he loses all that potential
He once had and should not ever be starting.
Grealish was very good ,but nobody in the box for most of his balls in there.
Again Lambert picks the wrong team , pick grealish to start and even bacuna for weiman and nzg and decide either cleverly or gabby to start ,thou both are not good enough .
Sánchez was excellent. Clark and guzan did their jobs .
-
A decent point overall I suppose considering that we played with 10 men for virtually the whole of the second half. He got the subs right as well although at the time I thought he'd brought on Grealish a bit too early. I'd start him for the next three games now though and see how he gets on. As for Sanchez, he was great again and you could say that he's held the midfield together in recent games.
-
The sooner we replace ngz , cleverly and Weiman with better players to go straight in the first team the better and gabby isn't
Much better , he should be an impact sub.
We go on about Weiman out of position but when he gets in front of goal he has the brain and shot of Susan Boyle. He would be better to get him back on the bench before he loses all that potential
He once had and should not ever be starting.
Grealish was very good ,but nobody in the box for most of his balls in there.
Again Lambert picks the wrong team , pick grealish to start and even bacuna for weiman and nzg and decide either cleverly or gabby to start ,thou both are not good enough .
Sánchez was excellent. Clark and guzan did their jobs .
Have to agree - though Weiman worked his arse off when we went down to 10 men.
Bacuna and Grealish to start on Thursday please.
We need better players on the bench than Richardson, Herd and Lowton.
Well done to Clark for turning it around - he has had a very good 6 weeks all told and I hope it continues.
-
Off topic but relevant. Great sympathy for you both, Ads and Leyland regarding the traffic. We did our standard crawl from the east and the A14 and M6 were worse than ever. I don't know what caused the M6 southbound blockages but the northbound was a series of totally minor fender benders with drivers shouting and raging. The usual driving too close and too fast on inadequately gritted and salted roads of winter holiday Britain. Peace on earth goodwill to me? My arse.
-
I can guarantee that everybody who watched the game either in person had a better time of it than me, who missed the game, because it took 3.5 hours to go 20 miles down the M6. I abandoned my attempts to make it for the second half, when at half three and approaching J18 at 10mph, I was told that there were long delays around Stafford.
I was quite the angry man.
The were a couple of times during the match that I think being stuck in traffic would have been preferable to watching it.
-
Not that bothered about Benteke's moaning to be honest. When Gabby misses a sitter he laughs it off, and consequently gets abuse on the match thread. I guess it's just down to different personalities, and the way they play the game.
The easiest way to cheer Benteke up is give him the ball in the right place so he can put in the bleedin' net!
-
And for Mr Benteke to be in the right place to receive the ball.
-
Hughes had an awful time at QPR and wasn't good enough for citeh but he's otherwise had a good managerial career and did well at fulham for nothing. There's also an incorrect feeling that he just builds thuggish sides. His Blackburn team was that to begin with but soon became very easy on the eye
Villa's defence and central midfield is now much much better than it was in lambert's first season.
It's the players in the final third who are the problem. As evidenced very well yesterday. Our signings in those positions behind the striker haven't worked out at all since Young and Downing left. We need to sign two players to play in those positions asap, even if GREALISH does come through
Totally agree Matt. It has been blindingly obvious for a couple of seasons now that we need that player in the final third who can link things up and create. To be fair Lambert probably thought Joe Cole could do that for us, but with all due respect, that looked like a flawed signing from the outset.
-
Benteke didnt go in with 100% conviction on that late chance. Not sure most of us would. But great Villa centre forwards such as Andy Gray and Tony Hateley would have taken on the goalie with full force despite the prospect of getting clattered.
-
One thing I did notice yesterday with our 'new' style is that when our players receive the ball they are always facing our goal and thus the natural instinct is to pass back or sideways. Benteke, Weimann and Gabby are better running onto a ball, as such they probably aren't the right players for the system.
-
I do have some sympathy for Benteke in terms of his moaning. He doesn't always make the runs a CF should be making, but there have been occasions that we've got into positions and the delivery has been utterly wretched, or Weimann has taken on a shot that just isn't on.
Likewise Benteke's role seems to be all encompassing. He plays right up top, he plays out wide, he drops off and plays as a 10. It might be confusing him in as much as the runs he should be making to receive the ball. He's making a few late runs to the edge of the box that a 10 might, rather than making those runs along the 6 yard box trying to blindside one of the CH's.
It's all on him at the moment. Even for a player that good it's too much pressure. Take out Sanchez and no one bar the back line is even close to doing their job well enough. That can't be helping Benteke.
-
One thing I did notice yesterday with our 'new' style is that when our players receive the ball they are always facing our goal and thus the natural instinct is to pass back or sideways. Benteke, Weimann and Gabby are better running onto a ball, as such they probably aren't the right players for the system.
I agree. I think part of the problem with that is the non-descript role of Cleverley. He does nothing. He's the one who should be picking the killer passes. Sanchez holds, Delph does the running. TC is offering nothing though. His instinct is always to go sideways or backwards.
Jack Grealish in fairness to him has made a positive impact in the last two games. He could be the player to send the likes of Gabby running onto the ball in space.
-
And for Mr Benteke to be in the right place to receive the ball.
Benteke's biggest drawback is that he doesn't really attack the ball or ever look to get across the front of a defender and attack the near post. He will always wait at the back post or pull back out of the danger area to find a yard of space. That's fine if you have someone alongside him who will do that but teams rarely play with twin strikers nowadays and there is a dearth of top quality attacking midfielders.
If he wants to play top level he needs to add that to his game. Compare him to the likes of Costa and Drogba who make themselves much more difficult to defend against by being less predictable inside the box.
-
I do have some sympathy for Benteke in terms of his moaning. He doesn't always make the runs a CF should be making, but there have been occasions that we've got into positions and the delivery has been utterly wretched, or Weimann has taken on a shot that just isn't on.
Likewise Benteke's role seems to be all encompassing. He plays right up top, he plays out wide, he drops off and plays as a 10. It might be confusing him in as much as the runs he should be making to receive the ball. He's making a few late runs to the edge of the box that a 10 might, rather than making those runs along the 6 yard box trying to blindside one of the CH's.
It's all on him at the moment. Even for a player that good it's too much pressure. Take out Sanchez and no one bar the back line is even close to doing their job well enough. That can't be helping Benteke.
I agree with your comments.
Benteke cannot take up every position in the penalty area to make runs into the near post, far post or just drop off when he (like most of us) hasn't got a clue where the cross is going to end up. Grealish looked so much better at putting in decent crosses yesterday than the usual culprits.
The answer isn't Benteke should be everywhere, it is getting more players into the box. Weimann or one of the midfield players should be going near post if Benteke is going far post and vice versa. In the time it takes somebody like Grealish to get to the line with the ball, there is ample time for other players to get into the box. That is if they are not just standing there admiring the pass they have just made around the centre circle.
-
Benteke also looks like scoring in each game - even if he doesn't see much of the ball.
Very harsh to blame him for getting frustrated.
-
Benteke also looks like scoring in each game - even if he doesn't see much of the ball.
Very harsh to blame him for getting frustrated.
I think we all bang our heads on the wall when Cissokho tries crossing the ball to be fair. Or Weimann takes on a difficult shot instead of an easy pass.
-
I was Holte lower row D yesterday , in Bentekes defence on the late chance, Pantilimon must be the worlds biggest keeper - a man mountain.
Benteke spent most of the game surly, berating anyone who would listen, pulling faces and gesticulating. I think we will see the better side of him on Thursday .
-
I was Holte lower row D yesterday , in Bentekes defence on the late chance, Pantilimon must be the worlds biggest keeper - a man mountain.
Benteke spent most of the game surly, berating anyone who would listen, pulling faces and gesticulating. I think we will see the better side of him on Thursday .
(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2013/9/9/1378729709301/Christian-Benteke-008.jpg)
This three times would be nice. I'd love us to take advantage of Palace's situation.
-
Benteke is complaining like we are complaining. He is getting frustrated. The two goals he has scored this season are practically is own work. The first at Palace certainly was. Not saying he is entirely blameless but look at the dearth of quality opportunities we carve out per game. Also, it probably has annoyed him that in three instances where he has had outstanding headers, the keepers have all turned into Gordon Banks and saved them.
-
Benteke is complaining like we are complaining. He is getting frustrated. The two goals he has scored this season are practically is own work. The first at Palace certainly was. Not saying he is entirely blameless but look at the dearth of quality opportunities we carve out per game. Also, it probably has annoyed him that in three instances where he has had outstanding headers, the keepers have all turned into Gordon Banks and saved them.
While I agree with what you said, some of Benteke's hold up play has been terrible and he needs to improve that aspect of his game in order to improve the team as a whole.
-
Benteke is complaining like we are complaining. He is getting frustrated.
However he has been rubbish in doing his job of holding on to the ball against West Brom, Swansea and Sunderland. He is also not getting in where it matters and I don't know why? There have been many examples of that in the recent games and having watched that late chance yesterday again he shut his eyes and bottled it. I think despite what you say he needs to play his full part rather than shouting at his team mates.
-
I do have some sympathy for Benteke in terms of his moaning. He doesn't always make the runs a CF should be making, but there have been occasions that we've got into positions and the delivery has been utterly wretched, or Weimann has taken on a shot that just isn't on.
Likewise Benteke's role seems to be all encompassing. He plays right up top, he plays out wide, he drops off and plays as a 10. It might be confusing him in as much as the runs he should be making to receive the ball. He's making a few late runs to the edge of the box that a 10 might, rather than making those runs along the 6 yard box trying to blindside one of the CH's.
It's all on him at the moment. Even for a player that good it's too much pressure. Take out Sanchez and no one bar the back line is even close to doing their job well enough. That can't be helping Benteke.
I agree with your comments.
Benteke cannot take up every position in the penalty area to make runs into the near post, far post or just drop off when he (like most of us) hasn't got a clue where the cross is going to end up. Grealish looked so much better at putting in decent crosses yesterday than the usual culprits.
The answer isn't Benteke should be everywhere, it is getting more players into the box. Weimann or one of the midfield players should be going near post if Benteke is going far post and vice versa. In the time it takes somebody like Grealish to get to the line with the ball, there is ample time for other players to get into the box. That is if they are not just standing there admiring the pass they have just made around the centre circle.
To be fair when Grealish came on we had sacrificed a striker to fill the gap left by Delph going off so it was always going to be a problem getting enough men in the box. Doesn't excuse earlier in the game or at Swansea when none of them seemed to want to go to the front post.
-
We don't attack in the box in numbers because our numbers are not confident cross will arrive and with the way N'Zogbia plays they are right. This will carry on until we can fix that problem.
-
If Grealish had picked his head up with that cross he made he'd have seen Benteke had stepped back and got himself into acres of space to receive the ball.
But being inexperienced he didn't bother and just stuck it into an area that was well defended. He'll learn. Hopefully
-
There were at least two defenders blocking his view. Benteke should have been attacking the six yard box.
-
There were at least two defenders blocking his view. Benteke should have been attacking the six yard box.
That is how I saw it aswell.
-
Benteke should have hit the 6 yd box when Jack was busy getting past a man and to the line . Overall I was quite disappointed with benteke yesterday, his hold up play was poor , don't recall him having a shot .
-
First half, just over the bar.
-
First half, just over the bar.
I'd probably nodded off .
-
There were at least two defenders blocking his view. Benteke should have been attacking the six yard box.
That is how I saw it aswell.
Surely this is how they should be coached as well? Cross always driven in hard in the six yard box and attacked by forwards running toward the goal.
-
Benteke should have hit the 6 yd box when Jack was busy getting past a man and to the line . Overall I was quite disappointed with benteke yesterday, his hold up play was poor , don't recall him having a shot .
To be fair, he hasn't really ever been that type of player and seems to position himself more on the edge of the box waiting for the ball to be cut back. Since Bent went out of the side, we haven't really had anyone in the box on the seemingly rare occasions when decent balls have been fired across.
-
There were at least two defenders blocking his view. Benteke should have been attacking the six yard box.
That is how I saw it aswell.
Surely this is how they should be coached as well? Cross always driven in hard in the six yard box and attacked by forwards running toward the goal.
Bacuna hit a fairly decent cross along the six yard line toward the end of (I think) the Swansea game. Again, Benteke hadn't made the run and I think was coming from the flank and hanging back in the box (not open), but he went absolutely mental at Bacuna. This was shortly before the final whistle and continued after. Leandro made the right choice the to be honest. Sometimes you have to play the cross to an area and then it's down to your attackers to make the runs and get there.
-
Manure game. The one thing Benteke doesn't seem good at is simple goal poaching. He'll rarely make the runs into the six yard box to anticipate a cross.
-
There were at least two defenders blocking his view. Benteke should have been attacking the six yard box.
That is how I saw it aswell.
Surely this is how they should be coached as well? Cross always driven in hard in the six yard box and attacked by forwards running toward the goal.
Bacuna hit a fairly decent cross along the six yard line toward the end of (I think) the Swansea game. Again, Benteke hadn't made the run and I think was coming from the flank and hanging back in the box (not open), but he went absolutely mental at Bacuna. This was shortly before the final whistle and continued after. Leandro made the right choice the to be honest. Sometimes you have to play the cross to an area and then it's down to your attackers to make the runs and get there.
Cissokho whipped two great balls across the face of the goal in the first half against Leicester, yet noone got near either. The movement of our forwards in general is really poor.
-
To me the path we are following to make some sort of a proper Aston Villa team is like when you have a combination lock but you don't know the number to open it. So you start with 0000, no that's not it, then 0001, no that's not it, then 0002 and so forth until you hope to open the lock
A brilliant comparison.
-
To me the path we are following to make some sort of a proper Aston Villa team is like when you have a combination lock but you don't know the number to open it. So you start with 0000, no that's not it, then 0001, no that's not it, then 0002 and so forth until you hope to open the lock
A brilliant comparison.
Both 0000 and 0001 would be highly unlikely though ;)
-
To me the path we are following to make some sort of a proper Aston Villa team is like when you have a combination lock but you don't know the number to open it. So you start with 0000, no that's not it, then 0001, no that's not it, then 0002 and so forth until you hope to open the lock
A brilliant comparison.
Both 0000 and 0001 would be highly unlikely though ;)
The problem with Lambert is someone could tell him the first two numbers and he would just keep going until he got there anyway - a bit like needing a No 10 and playing somebody wide who can actually cross a ball or take on a defender. Y'know like we all have been since he came here.
-
To me the path we are following to make some sort of a proper Aston Villa team is like when you have a combination lock but you don't know the number to open it. So you start with 0000, no that's not it, then 0001, no that's not it, then 0002 and so forth until you hope to open the lock
A brilliant comparison.
Both 0000 and 0001 would be highly unlikely though ;)
1122
-
Au contraire Goldie. I am something of an expert on combination locks because so many wannabe Stephen Hawkins graduate and leave their bikes chained to our premises while they go on to make large working for Bill Gates in California. The commonest combination is 0000 because that is what the lock is set at by the manufacturer and Cambridge students being as idle as students everywhere never can be arsed to change the number. Next most common is 0001 (minimum effort, one click clockwise) and 0009 (one click anticlockwise). Anybody want a free bike?
-
Stat pack
Carlos Sanchez and Ron Vlaar were the standout players against Sunderland when the post-match figures were analysed.
Sanchez and Vlaar came out on top in a range of categories.
Special mentions also to Tom Cleverley and Alan Hutton, who enjoyed good stats.
Sanchez was No.1 for passes with 85 successful from 89 in total. Delph was No.2 with 55 successful from 61 in total.
Delph was No.2 for attacking third passes with 19 successful from 23 in total. Sanchez was No.5 with 15 successful from 16 in total.
Sanchez was No.1 for chances created with two, alongside Cleverley and Christian Benteke.
Delph was No.2 for take-ons with two successful from four attempted. Benteke was No.3 with two successful from two attempted.
Sanchez was No.2 for ball recoveries with nine. Vlaar was No.3 with seven.
Cleverley was No.1 for tackles with six successful from nine attempted. Sanchez was No.2 with four successful from four attempted. Hutton was No.3 with three successful from three attempted. Aly Cissokho was No.5 with two successful from three in total.
Vlaar was No.1 for interceptions with seven. Ciaran Clark was No.5 with three.
Vlaar was No.1 for blocks with two. Hutton and Clark were No.2 with one.
Vlaar was No.1 for clearances with 12 successful from 12 in total. Hutton was No.2 with six successful from six in total. Cissokho was No.4 with five successful from five in total.
Charles N'Zogbia was No.2 for shots - alongside Benteke - with three in total and one on target. Leandro Bacuna was No.4 with one in total and one on target.
Hutton was No.3 for aerial duels with one successful from one attempted.
Cleverley and Cissokho were joint No.1 for fouls suffered with two.
Sanchez to Cleverley was No.1 pass combination in the match with 18.
-
Skipper Ron Vlaar was happy with the commitment and effort on show from Villa in the draw with Sunderland on Sunday.
Villa picked up the point against the Black Cats after having Fabian Delph sent off in the second half.
Vlaar was happy with the haul in the circumstances - and, as a proud defender, he was also delighted with the clean sheet.
Asked whether it was a point gained rather than two points lost, he said: "Yes I think so.
"After going down to 10 men again we worked incredibly hard and I think we definitely earned a point.
"We even have chances to win it, so did they, of course, but we were a man down.
"Seeing the work ethic we've shown I'm pleased with a point and the no goals conceded.
"Of course you want to win and you want wins at home.
"But with what happened three minutes into the second half and having a game three days ago, we worked our socks off and I think we take a point."
Vlaar insists Villa are relishing 2015.
Asked whether there was optimism for the New Year, he added: "Of course.
"I think we've started to play better football.
"We have more patience on the ball and I think we try to play football more and more and that needs time.
"But I think if we develop and work hard the results will come."
-
Au contraire Goldie. I am something of an expert on combination locks because so many wannabe Stephen Hawkins graduate and leave their bikes chained to our premises while they go on to make large working for Bill Gates in California. The commonest combination is 0000 because that is what the lock is set at by the manufacturer and Cambridge students being as idle as students everywhere never can be arsed to change the number. Next most common is 0001 (minimum effort, one click clockwise) and 0009 (one click anticlockwise). Anybody want a free bike?
You'd have made a good phone hacker back in the day, Brian.
-
From Aston Villa Worldwide: "Emily May Jones went to the Sunderland game with her father, Brian Jones. Sadly after the game Brian had a heart attack and passed away.
Emily said "Aston Villa is his life and I just wondered if their is anything you can do to make fans aware and hold a minutes silence maybe not at the next game but whenever possible, your help would be much appreciated.
If you could give a small mention to the man who helped me whilst I tried my utmost to save his life, just to say Thank you for being so supportive and standing by me throughout, my dad would have been so grateful.
Suffering such a traumatic experience at 16 years old is hard but I want my dad to know how much the villa fans love him eternally"
Our thoughts are with you and your family Emily.
RIP Brian."
-
A horrible thing to happen to you, it must have been awful for her.
However, a minute's silence? Hmmm.
-
A horrible thing to happen to you, it must have been awful for her.
However, a minute's silence? Hmmm.
We're pretty good at lots of minutes of silence at the moment. She just needs to pick one.
-
A horrible thing to happen to you, it must have been awful for her.
However, a minute's silence? Hmmm.
The club are normally very good at putting a respectful note in the programme.
-
A horrible thing to happen to you, it must have been awful for her.
However, a minute's silence? Hmmm.
The club are normally very good at putting a respectful note in the programme.
Yep, that'd be the right response, really.
-
A horrible thing to happen to you, it must have been awful for her.
However, a minute's silence? Hmmm.
Something on the big screens or in the programme would be more suitable.
-
The minutes applause thing has got out of hand. Newcastle are still doing it for the two supporters who died in the plane crash and then did another in the 33rd minute against Sunderland which was baffling. Turns out it was because Sunderland supporters raised £33,000 in their memories.
-
The minutes applause thing has got out of hand. Newcastle are still doing it for the two supporters who died in the plane crash and then did another in the 33rd minute against Sunderland which was baffling. Turns out it was because Sunderland supporters raised £33,000 in their memories.
Just so you know, Chris, I am going to set my watch to count down to 12965 seconds, at which point I will give you a minute's applause in honour of this, your 12965th post.
-
I'm touched paulie, can I ask that it continues throughout the season to raise awareness and for charity or something like that?
-
His daughter has told me off on Facebook for not being in favour of a minute's silence. Oops.
-
Stoke are an intreresting example. Mark Hughes has had less to spend than Lambert yet has come up with Diouf, Bojan and Arnautovic for about 3m which creates a forward line of pace, power and creativity when it's on song.
As much as it would've been seen as negative at the time, Hughes to us in 2011 would've probably been a good move as he's shown frequently he can build decent competitive premier league teams for virtually peanuts.
Fulham and QPR competitive? Man City team for peanuts! (and QPR). He broke the British transfer record at Man City!
Fulham finished 8th in his one season there, I'd call that a bloody good job.
Yeah QPR was a disaster, no spinning it around from me there. I think he was unlucky at Man. City in so much has there ever been a club where expectations have changed so much in 24 hours? He did sign Kompany and Zabaleta for them.
-
Stoke are an intreresting example. Mark Hughes has had less to spend than Lambert yet has come up with Diouf, Bojan and Arnautovic for about 3m which creates a forward line of pace, power and creativity when it's on song.
As much as it would've been seen as negative at the time, Hughes to us in 2011 would've probably been a good move as he's shown frequently he can build decent competitive premier league teams for virtually peanuts.
Fulham and QPR competitive? Man City team for peanuts! (and QPR). He broke the British transfer record at Man City!
He is one of those managers who seems to do well on a small to medium budget, and fucks it up if he has to go large. Brendan Rogers is the latest in a long line of these chaps.
My theory is that the PL financial bonanza came relatively late in the scheme of things and so managers/coaches from leagues that had mega millionaire players before the Preemyership TV megadeals kicked in had a head start.
Steve Bruce is the big one for me. The more money he spends, the worse his teams get. That happened at SHA and Hull are getting poorer results than last year despite seemingly having a better squad.
-
His daughter has told me off on Facebook for not being in favour of a minute's silence. Oops.
I think your post was perfectly valid, but her head must be all over the place at the moment and I feel so sorry for her.
-
I wouldn't have been so crass as to put something like that on her personal page but it was on H and V and wasn't actually written with any particular thought that she would read it. I'm not going to take it personally, I'd hate to imagine how she must be feeling at the moment.
-
Players just need to add goals. :-)
That's a pretty big "just", though.
Like saying "they're a good band, they just need to add tunes."
You can't pass, you can't shoot, you look awful... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcsXtiN8-UY)
-
Stoke are an intreresting example. Mark Hughes has had less to spend than Lambert yet has come up with Diouf, Bojan and Arnautovic for about 3m which creates a forward line of pace, power and creativity when it's on song.
As much as it would've been seen as negative at the time, Hughes to us in 2011 would've probably been a good move as he's shown frequently he can build decent competitive premier league teams for virtually peanuts.
Fulham and QPR competitive? Man City team for peanuts! (and QPR). He broke the British transfer record at Man City!
He is one of those managers who seems to do well on a small to medium budget, and fucks it up if he has to go large. Brendan Rogers is the latest in a long line of these chaps.
My theory is that the PL financial bonanza came relatively late in the scheme of things and so managers/coaches from leagues that had mega millionaire players before the Preemyership TV megadeals kicked in had a head start.
Steve Bruce is the big one for me. The more money he spends, the worse his teams get. That happened at SHA and Hull are getting poorer results than last year despite seemingly having a better squad.
My brother in law is a Hull fan
On boxing day we watched them beat Sunderland. He was saying that, in his opinion, this current side is worse than that of the final days of Phil Brown, expensive signings contributing next to nothing.
He also mentioned the fact that they have a megalomaniac owner who can't handle people disagreeing with him and casts a shadow of general nervousness over the club.
I think they'll go down this year.
-
His daughter has told me off on Facebook for not being in favour of a minute's silence. Oops.
Think it's better to keep quiet tbh, she is grieving after all.
R.I.P to him anyway, not a great game to go out on to say the least.
Edit; Just seen your other post Richard, thought you'd personally commented on her FB but seems not.
-
His daughter has told me off on Facebook for not being in favour of a minute's silence. Oops.
Think it's better to keep quiet tbh, she is grieving after all.
R.I.P to him anyway, not a great game to go out on to say the least.
Edit; Just seen your other post Richard, thought you'd personally commented on her FB but seems not.
It was on our FB Page.
-
Emotions will be running high after such a death. When one of my family died last year the club were brilliant putting a lovely note in the programme and we are going to get a cobblestone done outside the Trinity as a final memento and something we can look at from time to time.
-
I think that the way we do it now, with a mention in the programme and then the scoreboard thing at the end of the season for everyone we've lost that year is spot on. Once you start having minute's silences for individual supporters you will end up really upsetting someone when their loved one isn't honoured in that way. I don't expect her to see it that way, of course, she's 16 and she's just watched her dad pass away in front of her eyes. But the club has to see the bigger picture.
-
Really feel for the young lady. Terrible trauma of seeing your father pass away in front of you is bad enough but just now she has no idea about the magnitude of this loss. This is going to keep coming back to her. I hope she finds comfort within her family and friends.
-
I feel for the girl. My heart breaks for her. The human condition requires us to suffer these things. I wrote a piece for the mag about the Villa fan who died under our feet in the park as we went home from that awful defeat by Small Heath. He gasped his last dying breaths half buried in litter and rubbish surrounded by strangers doing the best we could to comfort him. Life is a bastard and so is death. Poor girl.
The club will do the right thing by him you can be sure.
-
I feel for the girl. My heart breaks for her. The human condition requires us to suffer these things. I wrote a piece for the mag about the Villa fan who died under our feet in the park as we went home from that awful defeat by Small Heath. He gasped his last dying breaths half buried in litter and rubbish surrounded by strangers doing the best we could to comfort him. Life is a bastard and so is death. Poor girl.
The club will do the right thing by him you can be sure.
Blimey I remember reading that article in H&V Brian. That was the horrible 03/03/03 night wasn't it.
-
A horrible thing to happen to you, it must have been awful for her.
However, a minute's silence? Hmmm.
We're pretty good at lots of minutes of silence at the moment. She just needs to pick one.
This isn't really the place.
-
Not absolutely certain but I believe our worst goals for record was in Div 2 in 1969/70 when we got 36 in 42 games.
I guess that's about 33/4 in a 38 match season.
Somehow with this idiot still at the helm I can't see us getting a goal a game in the second half of the season in order to at least equal that :(
Another record to add to the collection of the Mr Dire himself
-
Very much agree with the people pointing out Benteke's moaning and complaining.
Are we seeing the start of 'billy big bollox' syndrome with him being too good for everyone around him ? Much like I think we are starting to see with Delph.
The Last second chance against man u was the case in point. He blamed Bacuna when if he had ran faster we may have won 2 one
-
Very much agree with the people pointing out Benteke's moaning and complaining.
Are we seeing the start of 'billy big bollox' syndrome with him being too good for everyone around him ? Much like I think we are starting to see with Delph.
The Last second chance against man u was the case in point. He blamed Bacuna when if he had ran faster we may have won 2 one
I think he should have been in the mix attacking the ball and their defenders too