Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on April 25, 2015, 07:24:59 PM
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Deserved more.
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Did not deserve to win, did not deserve to lose.
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I agree with you Peter.
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Why do we always defend like this at Manchester City?
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Gutted ..City would have been lucky to get a draw they were that poor.Gave them the goals ..gutted
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Definitely. Play like that for the rest of the season and we should be OK. Gutted.
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Keep shooting ourselves in the foot.
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Moral victory.Guzan at fault for all three.We will do Arsenal.
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Gutted. Should have had a penalty before their winner. 3 poor goals but we played brilliant I though.play like that next week and we will win I'm sure of it.
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Too many mistakes, point would have been deserved, but we have to keep our heads screwed on for the next four games.
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We were the better team but cant give goals away like that, should have had a penalty and a red for Hart a minute before they got their winner but these things happen, so much fight from the boys I can't possibly be pissed off after that.
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If you're going to lose at Man City, then that is the way to do it and at least take something from the game.
We look confident going forward.
Shaky at the back, to say the least, but to only lose so narrowly having thrown one in in the first couple of minutes isn't so bad.
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Horrible first 15 mins but after that we were great. Deserved at least a draw and if we play like that for the rest of the season we will be fine. Great to see Cleverley and Sanchez off the mark. All is ask is that my Villa give the opposition a game and we did that with spades.
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Moral victory.Guzan at fault for all three.We will do Arsenal.
No, no, no, were not Albion.
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Cant really say we were robbed when all 3 goals were gifts.
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Done by a dodgy keeper and linesman. I'd give Given at least a couple of games before the final.
Victory snatched away, to get nothing is sickening.
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Positives should have won, would never have come back or played remotely like this under lambert.
Negatives: should've held on. Three catastrophic defending errors, we are still right in it.
But I think we will be safe with 36 points.
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Deserved a point. Played very well must stay playing like that on the front foot!
Guzan needs to be looked at can't afford mistakes like that.
If only lambert went earlier
Need something next week
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Mike Dean was ref. Never expect more than the shaft from him. Well done Villa for recovering. Let's take the confidence on and win the 3 home games. We will do Southampton too.
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Should have won, which says it all.
We're fucking great to watch, I'm in love again.
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I don't feel too down. Stupid errors but we really were good. Compare this to the 4-0 last season where we just went to defend defend defend and collapsed completely after the first goal. We played some lovely stuff and against a lesser team would probably have got a point but teams like City can afford to play poor and still have goals in them and win games. Slightly disappointed but then anything from this game was going to be a bonus. If Sherwood can bring in some of his own players and clear Lambert's deadwood - Mr Westwood and Mr Richardson amongst them - we will be fine. CNZ did more in ten mins than Westwood did all game.
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Deserved something out of that game but like it has been all season stupid mistakes have cost us over and over again. I'm gutted.
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Really should have got at least a point. Shoddy defending for all 3 goals.
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We should of had a pen so should of they. After today we have a worse GD and no points.
*must try harder and concentrate more.
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We are a team transformed. Excellent game. Entertaining stuff. Shame about the result.
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If you're going to lose at Man City, then that is the way to do it and at least take something from the game.
We look confident going forward.
Shaky at the back, to say the least, but to only lose so narrowly having thrown one in in the first couple of minutes isn't so bad.
Were we shaky at the back?
Not so sure
Gave them the first. Richardson had no brain or balls for the second. Third was a bit dodgy, but overall defence was good. Guzan had virtually nothing to do
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Guzan has been way off form this season. Surely Given has to be knocking at the door now. We played pretty well but I'm more than sick of conceding late goals, one of these seasons it's going to cost us dearly, I hope it's not this season.
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Fight , Villa have it now.
It's been missing for years.
One of their players probably cost more than our squad .
They were shitting it at the end though.
Unlucky lads , but well done.
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Good performance. We will be fine
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We are a team transformed. Excellent game. Entertaining stuff. Shame about the result.
How....we are still conceding late goals and losing games and points because of this.
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Christ, Villa, where would you be if you could only defend?
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Deserved a point but the first 25 minutes we were off the pace, overall we played well away against a team that cost a hell of a lot. I thought Grealish played well and although we should have had a penalty at the end, City should have had one earlier.
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I'd rather the game ended a poor 0-0
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We were really good going forward but were never going to win this game.
A coco the clown opening, the referee letting city players off yet booking ours for similar gamesmanship fouls, and to cap it all a bad offiside call robs us of a pen and a win then within seconds we lose the point we had.
I'm going to get solar panels installed. Bastards.
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Credit to the lads. Were this Lambert we'd have fallen to pieces after Guzan's error and been battered 5-0.
Mistakes cost us dearly today. Guzan was woeful today. Richardson was also poor. Sanchez was hit and miss (good goal it must be said).
Benteke wasn't at his best today. Very sloppy throughout and persistently offside. To the point that when he finally was onside, the lino flagged him off (didn't score any how).
I think we missed Gabby today too. He'd have got some joy in that second half.
If we keep this up we'll pick up 2-3 more wins in the last 4 games, and that'll be enough.
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Well played Carlos...take a bow
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Niall Quinn gave Benteke man of the match
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Christ, Villa, where would you be if you could only defend?
Worth remembering, though, that even under Lambert we weren't defending too badly.
I guess part of it is the pay off of having more attacking threat from Richardson and Bacuna at full back, in that we're shakier defensively.
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Credit to the lads. Were this Lambert we'd have fallen to pieces after Guzan's error and been battered 5-0.
Mistakes cost us dearly today. Guzan was woeful today. Richardson was also poor. Sanchez was hit and miss (good goal it must be said).
Benteke wasn't at his best today. Very sloppy throughout and persistently offside. To the point that when he finally was onside, the lino flagged him off (didn't score any how).
I think we missed Gabby today too. He'd have got some joy in that second half.
If we keep this up we'll pick up 2-3 more wins in the last 4 games, and that'll be enough.
Christian got MOM!
I agree with you, not one of his better games
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Played well enough to win. By a mile. Just pray we stay up because a new left back, one or two others and you're looking at glory.
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If it hasn't been said enough times in the last couple of weeks - there's no way this team should be in a relegation battle.
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I'd rather the game ended a poor 0-0
Misericordias
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After that I'm confident well stay up and before the Burnley game. I'll also really look forward to next season
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There's more consistent fight and desire in this Villa team now than really any time under Lambert. They will only take positives from today and they'll have a right to feel hard done by having worked so hard to get back into the game. And we might have won it at the death too. I have no doubt at all we'll be safe after today because teams that work this hard and can score goals tend not to go down.
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Sherwood is a bad loser. Good!
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And I really do hope we sign Cleverely. Works his bollocks off all game and really deserved his goal.
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Apart from the first 10 that was pretty impressive.
Was that first Viila goals for TC and CS?
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Aston Villa Tim Sherwood speaking to BBC Sport: "I thought we controlled the game and there were lots of positives, but no points to take from it.
"I could see from where I was that Christian Benteke was onside and I think it was a penalty and a red card for Joe Hart.
"After a poor start, the team continued to believe we could play through midfield. I was satisfied with the performance but I can't be satisfied with the decisions that cost us points here.
"I thought that we outplayed them. You think we can get relegated playing like that? You are having a laugh aren't you?"
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How i wish our lads could play for 90 mins instead of 85. Time after time we concede in the last few minutes.Even last week we conceded in the 87th minute and were lucky to get away with it. Not sure if it is lack of concentration or fitness but it needs to change
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We should get the points we need but continue to keep giving the Xmas gifts out and we won't.The games are running out and we NEED 3 points from our next game.Credit to some players but others should have their fuckin arises kicked.
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Apart from the first 10 that was pretty impressive.
Was that first Viila goals for TC and CS?
yep.
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Gutted, but good spirit. We really need to get a result next week. If we perform like that and cut out the mistakes we'll be ok.
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Sherwood is a bad loser. Good!
good.
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How i wish our lads could play for 90 mins instead of 85. Time after time we concede in the last few minutes.Even last week we conceded in the 87th minute and were lucky to get away with it. Not sure if it is lack of concentration or fitness but it needs to change
What game were you watching last week?
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Christ, Villa, where would you be if you could only defend?
Worth remembering, though, that even under Lambert we weren't defending too badly.
I guess part of it is the pay off of having more attacking threat from Richardson and Bacuna at full back, in that we're shakier defensively.
We need to find some balance between the two, but the same complacency keeps costing us. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather watch us now than under the idiot, but I can't wait until next season when we can look for some players who can stay awake for 90 minutes.
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On the basis of that, we can certainly expect to win our next match.
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Sherwood is a bad loser. Good!
WM wont like that. They said a while ago that Sherwoods a bad loser and thats not what villa fans want...........,
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Christ, Villa, where would you be if you could only defend?
Worth remembering, though, that even under Lambert we weren't defending too badly.
I guess part of it is the pay off of having more attacking threat from Richardson and Bacuna at full back, in that we're shakier defensively.
We need to find some balance between the two, but the same complacency keeps costing us. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather watch us now than under the idiot, but I can't wait until next season when we can look for some players who can stay awake for 90 minutes.
I'd agree with that.
Richardson, for example, strikes me as clearly not good enough. Although worth remembering we were without Clark who has had a good season.
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Lots of positives despite the result, Cleverley and Sanchez get their first goals, lots of attacking intent and the first team in 6 1/2 years to get more possession than Man City at the Etihad.
I expect next season that our defence will look a lot different in personnel next season.
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Their first goal really, really pissed me off.
Fucking about at the back, passing backwards to the keeper when under no pressure can bite you on the arse, just like it did today.
I hoped that kind of negative shite would disappear when Lambert left!
Great fight back though, I reckon we still need 4 or 5 points though.
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We didn't deserve to lose. Benteke won everything in the air, N'Zogbia looked lively when he came on and I thought Cleverley played well.
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Today was never going to decide our fate; Everton, West Ham and Burnley will do that. Frustrating not to hold on.
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Christ, Villa, where would you be if you could only defend?
Worth remembering, though, that even under Lambert we weren't defending too badly.
I guess part of it is the pay off of having more attacking threat from Richardson and Bacuna at full back, in that we're shakier defensively.
We need to find some balance between the two, but the same complacency keeps costing us. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather watch us now than under the idiot, but I can't wait until next season when we can look for some players who can stay awake for 90 minutes.
I'd agree with that.
Richardson, for example, strikes me as clearly not good enough. Although worth remembering we were without Clark who has had a good season.
Yep, Richardson spends far too long asleep, and Bacuna is no defender, but his attacking threat makes up for it. I'd happily see Richardson make way for Cissokho next time out. I'll feel mightily relieved when Hutton is back, too. I never thought I'd say that.
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And we are no longer the sole lowest scorers in the division!
It may still be tight down there but in the last 3 games we've won away at Spurs, deservedly. Beaten Liverpool, deservedly. And should have got a at least a point today. I doubt anyone fancies playing us now.
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Bacuna should be dropped for that cowardly defending of the freekick. Pathetic!
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Richardson set the tone for his performance with his first touch which went straight out of play. Cissokho back please, Mr Sherwood.
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Why the fuck do we always make it so hard for ourselves? its nothing new we have done things the hard way for years...Why villa..Why ?
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Get ourselves safe, win that cup and next season we will have one hek of a team!!
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Bacuna should be dropped for that cowardly defending of the freekick. Pathetic!
Do you mean Richardson for their second?
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I'd still play bacuna despite his weakness defensively. We need to win games and if we play on the front foot like the last 3 games but against weaker teams we'll be alright.
I think confidence should still be pretty high after today's performance.
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Hope Hutton is back soon , he wouldn't be turning his back on a freekick to hide behind Benteke !!
Guzan ..terrible ,even if the ball had got to Okore it was the wrong option he should be lumping that up the field.
I think we missed Gabby today he would have created space for Grealish in the number 10 role and worked their fullbacks more.Richardson tries hard but he is just not good enough.Amazes me that has a winger/midfielder he seems a) so poor on the ball b) add's very little attacking threat
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One thing we've shown is that we aren't a million miles from being a decent side. Imagine this side without a neverending injury jinx, no relegation pressure and a decent chunk of confidence.
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Bacuna should be dropped for that cowardly defending of the freekick. Pathetic!
Do you mean Richardson for their second?
Richardson was shit, but the replay shows Bacuna hiding behind Benteke when the ball was struck. Had he held is position it would have hit him. Poor when we're fighting for our lives. I want to see players prepared to take one for the team not duck out. Should be dropped.
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Sherwood is all about form and attitude. It won't shock me to see Given in the side next week. Guzan today will have royally fucked him off.
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Hard to criticise when we played so well but we deserved something out of that game today.
Roll on next Saturday.
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One thing we've shown is that we aren't a million miles from being a decent side. Imagine this side without a neverending injury jinx, no relegation pressure and a decent chunk of confidence.
If we had Sherwood from the start of the season we are sitting at worst 10th or 11th and maybe even as high as 7th or 8th. No danger at all of going down.
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IMO you can debate about whether or not some of our players are good enough. The likes of Sanchez, Bacuna (not a fan as a defender), Zog (i'm no fan) etc people will disagree over. Except one man ... Richardson. He is shit. This might mean I'm a dick by being dismissive of someone who would back him but I just can't see any logical defense of his abilities. Not in a villa shirt anyway. I don't buy much of when he was a dm either, we were just generally defensive.
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Cant fault the football we played. Gave City's slowcoaches the run around at times. Was great to see the likes of Bacuna, Delph, Grealish and even Nzogbia when he came on in full flight and driving forward with the ball. But the lack of professionalism shown for 2 of their 3 goals was predictably abysmal. The last goal was probably the worst of the lot. Vlaar, Benteke and Sanchez all drawn to the ball, leaving a number of City players behind them to score. The lack of leadership at such a crucial point was sickening. Not sure why Okore was one on the front post either, surely your centre halves should be in the thick of it. As much as the late penalty decision against us was horrible, Aguero should have had a certain penalty when Bacuna pulled him back earlier in the half. For all the good stuff with the ball, the goals we conceded were a disgrace. Thought Sherwood was very slow with his changes and playing four central midfielders was unnecessary. Was very worried when I saw Lowton coming on, injuries really hurting us at the moment.
City were well and truly there for the taking today, thats the real sickener. Some of their players didnt try a leg (Toure and Lampard to mention two). An aging slow side in need of serious surgery in the summer.
Guzan 3 - shouldnt play for us again this season. Big fan of Brad but his kicking is as bad as Bosnich at his worst. Today's clanger has been coming.
Bacuna 7 - Cafu esque going forward, Tofu esque defending and blatantly fouled Aguero for a peno that wasnt given. Some super stuff going forward though including one incredible ball in with his left.
Okore 7 - One of his better games in the second half of the season. The tackle on Silva in the box was very risky though and totally unnecessary.
Vlaar 6 - Solid enough, doesnt look fully fit imo and was very uneasy with the ball on his left foot. Will be worried if Okore/Vlaar is our centre back partnership for the rest of the season.
Rico 4 - car crash opening 15 mins, improved after that until his efforts in the wall that cost us the second goal. We will be shopping for another left back in the summer for sure.
Cleverley 6 - good to see him get his goal and didnt seem as happy playing further out to the right today. Still not sure about him really. Very passive in possession today
Westwood 4 - game totally passed him by and should have gone at half time
Delph 9 - took his time to get into the game but was by a mile the best player on the pitch imo. Super energy all game and great that he will be our captain for the next few years.
Sanchez 6 - thought he was very good in the first half. Predictably tired in the second. His passing can be a bit lazy at times and needs to put more zip into them. Still has dangerous brainfart moments but his physical power was invaluable at various time today. Shocking from him at the end.
Grealish 7 - Struggled to get into the game for the first 20 mins but showed his talent after that. City were set up perfectly for him to exploit today. Only real complaint with him is his inability to shoot when in good positions. Always seems to have time on the ball which is a great sign of talent.
Benteke 6 - physically dominated City but today showed the areas he needs to improve on if he wants to get to the very top. Some very very lazy offsides from him today and missed a sitter in the first half though was surely offside for it.
Nzogbia 7 - as always lost the ball while in good positions but made the second goal with a fine delivery and super pass into Benteke for the offside that wasnt. Nearly a good player as Lee Dixon put it in commentary.
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Oh and I like fact that Sherwood is a bad loser.
We're not gonna go down if we play like that till the end of the season. Let's win all our remaining home games and end the season in style.
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Next week is massive. Everton have nothing to play for now. We simply have to beat them at VP. Get three points, I'll be stunned if all the sides below us all do the same. We'll be close to home and dry. Nothing to be nervous about. Play like that we will win more than we lose.
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Christ, Villa, where would you be if you could only defend?
Worth remembering, though, that even under Lambert we weren't defending too badly.
I guess part of it is the pay off of having more attacking threat from Richardson and Bacuna at full back, in that we're shakier defensively.
We need to find some balance between the two, but the same complacency keeps costing us. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather watch us now than under the idiot, but I can't wait until next season when we can look for some players who can stay awake for 90 minutes.
I'd agree with that.
Richardson, for example, strikes me as clearly not good enough. Although worth remembering we were without Clark who has had a good season.
Clark is probably the biggest loss of all. Very uneasy with the prospect of Vlaar finishing the season as our left sided centre back.
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Tim said when asked if we were going to be relegated, "relegated, playing like that your having a laff" we will stay up and need to buy some defenders a little less mistake prone, then we will have a top 6 team.
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What I'm gutted most about is we wasted so much of the season stuck with a dead man of a manager. If only we'd have taken the decision last summer we could have had a really exciting season. Let's hope lessons have been learned (again). Onwards and upwards hey.
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If it had ended at 2 nil I'd be ok. As it happens, I feel like I've been caught with a pug
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We know at least that if we beat Burnley they can't catch us. I'm looking at the table and I think 36 will be enough. I think QPR and Burnley are gone. Sunderland play arse and Chelsea so if we got to 36 they would have to pick up 6 points from the other three games against Leicester Southampton and Everton can anyone see that?
Then again if my auntie had bollocks shed be my uncle.
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Stay up this season and I reckon this bloke could take us top 4. I have never felt so proud in defeat
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Bacuna should be dropped for that cowardly defending of the freekick. Pathetic!
Do you mean Richardson for their second?
Richardson was shit, but the replay shows Bacuna hiding behind Benteke when the ball was struck. Had he held is position it would have hit him. Poor when we're fighting for our lives. I want to see players prepared to take one for the team not duck out. Should be dropped.
He was hiding behind the rest of the wall by the time the free was taken. Pathetic and gutless defending.
Sanchez fell asleep and lost his man for their winner and I won't even go there on their first goal.
So disappointed we got nothing from the game after such a great performance going forward.
Out attack has the balls to keep us up but not sure if our defence has.
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Great performance. Not Brads best day. Still we can and should take confidence from the way we played.
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It amazes me how we are passing the ball as a team better and our possession stats against Man City are really good when half the side seem to have no control of the ball at times,
Bacuna, Richardson, Sanchez, Nzogbia, Okore are all bloody frustrating when controlling and distributing the ball, yet as a team we are moving the ball around quite nicely, confusing or what
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Didn't expect to win before the game but gutted to lose at the death. But for gifting them goals we would have taken all three points. Sherwood has got us playing with belief and energy, and regardless of how the season pans out, and whether we're sold or not, I hope he's here next season (as a minimum). We're not out of the woods yet, but if we stay up Sherwood with that group of players would be at least top half of the table. With a couple of shrewd signings we would be even better. Just need to get over the line and then we can start looking forward to the future with expectation rather than just hope.
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Not too downhearted with that, game went as I expected apart from us not scoring first.
A good effort on a ground we routinely get hammered on. We will surely get at least 4 points at home from West Ham and an already relegated Burnley to stay up.
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What I'm gutted most about is we wasted so much of the season stuck with a dead man of a manager. If only we'd have taken the decision last summer we could have had a really exciting season. Let's hope lessons have been learned (again). Onwards and upwards hey.
What like getting to an fa cup final ? :P
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What I'm gutted most about is we wasted so much of the season stuck with a dead man of a manager. If only we'd have taken the decision last summer we could have had a really exciting season. Let's hope lessons have been learned (again). Onwards and upwards hey.
If we had got rid of Lambert earlier we would have ended up with that twat Pulis,
I know many on here wanted him, but it's a big no thanks from me
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All three goals were eminently avoidable - not mentioned above I think but Sanchez' stupid, stupid lunge for their free kick added to the other mistakes already listed. We really have a problem defending corners and it needs rapid attention - last week I can recall 3 free headers where Liverpool should have done better.
Benteke won a lot in the air but he really needs to remind himself of the offside rule. After persistent offending I can see why the late decision went against him, exactly the same as Baoltelli last week.
We passed and moved really well but I think at times we weren't bold enough, and fluffed some decent attacking positions whilst not putting in enough shots too. Miles better than what we saw under Lambert but it is points that count, not performance.
Just seen Ger's summary and agree with your final comment.
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We played really well but those errors were simply dreadful.Guzan has shown all season that the short pass doesn't work and he often passes behind the player putting pressure on just inviting another back pass. True their defending wasn't great for our goals either but our mistakes were worse. Unlucky with the offside\ penalty at the end but I guess we had a decision last week though it doesn't make it right.
Let's hope Hull and Leicester don't go above us in midweek as the pressure will ratchet up.
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Disappointed not to get anything today says how well we are playing at the minute. Think we'll get the necessary points in the next 2 home games.
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Good job we got 3 points at spurs then eh
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I'm more pissed off with our gifting of goals than with the Benteke offside decision. We got away with a similar one last week with Balotelli.
They could also have had two penalties so I don't think we can grumble too much about the decision.
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I really enjoyed watching us play and dictate the game. If only we could rule
Out the school boy errors we'd be a very good team.
Fair play again to Sherwood for shaping the team and getting us playing really good possession, exciting football.
Other than the result a game where I feel very proud of our team.
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At least we are going to win the test match (England fans obvs)
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Hope Hutton is back soon , he wouldn't be turning his back on a freekick to hide behind Benteke !!
Guzan ..terrible ,even if the ball had got to Okore it was the wrong option he should be lumping that up the field.
I think we missed Gabby today he would have created space for Grealish in the number 10 role and worked their fullbacks more.Richardson tries hard but he is just not good enough.Amazes me that has a winger/midfielder he seems a) so poor on the ball b) add's very little attacking threat
Not a chance did we miss Gabby. Prefer charlie
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All three goals were eminently avoidable - not mentioned above I think but Sanchez' stupid, stupid lunge for their free kick added to the other mistakes already listed. We really have a problem defending corners and it needs rapid attention - last week I can recall 3 free headers where Liverpool should have done better.
Benteke won a lot in the air but he really needs to remind himself of the offside rule. After persistent offending I can see why the late decision went against him, exactly the same as Baoltelli last week.
We passed and moved really well but I think at times we weren't bold enough, and fluffed some decent attacking positions whilst not putting in enough shots too. Miles better than what we saw under Lambert but it is points that count, not performance.
Just seen Ger's summary and agree with your final comment.
Watched my daughter play this morning and she was getting caught offside. Just about forgive a teenaged amateur but not a pro. Unforgiveable
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We should get the points we need but continue to keep giving the Xmas gifts out and we won't.The games are running out and we NEED 3 points from our next game.Credit to some players but others should have their fuckin arises kicked.
Absolutely spot on. We can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot.
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Guzan shouldn't play again this season.
Someone teach Sanchez how to pass the ball.
Someone teach Benteke to stay onside, shame the time he was the lino fucked it up.
Grealish was excellent, thought Delph was great.
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I read on Blue moon forum, we were the first team in 6 years to have more possession than them at the Etihad in 6 years, obviously premier league only
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Guzan shouldn't play again this season.
Someone teach Sanchez how to pass the ball.
Someone teach Benteke to stay onside, shame the time he was the lino fucked it up.
Grealish was excellent, thought Delph was great.
For real. I think Sanchez misplaced 2-3 passes. He constantly broke up play was always available.
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Am loving the direction we're heading in but can't think I'm alone in not thinking we're out of this yet. Everton is a bloody big game, we obviously really need a good result as we're one of 4 teams who could take that last spot.
If there were 10 games to go, not a chance of us going down but with just the three, I'm nervous still. Conversely, I'm really excited about the summer and next season if we stay up.
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Am loving the direction we're heading in but can't think I'm alone in not thinking we're out of this yet. Everton is a bloody big game, we obviously really need a good result as we're one of 4 teams who could take that last spot.
If there were 10 games to go, not a chance of us going down but with just the three, I'm nervous still. Conversely, I'm really excited about the summer and next season if we stay up.
4 league games to go for us.
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Guzan shouldn't play again this season.
Someone teach Sanchez how to pass the ball.
Someone teach Benteke to stay onside, shame the time he was the lino fucked it up.
Grealish was excellent, thought Delph was great.
For real. I think Sanchez misplaced 2-3 passes. He constantly broke up play was always available.
Maybe his successful passes just go under the radar. It just always seems he's giving the ball away
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At least we are going to win the test match (England fans obvs)
Wrong thread/site/sport
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At least we are going to win the test match (England fans obvs)
Wrong thread/site/sport
I was going to say who gives a fvck about the cricket but that would seem a bit harsh
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Tim Sherwood was frustrated with the late loss at Man City - but proud of the positive performance at the home of the champions.
Villa went 2-0 down but clawed their way back through goals from Tom Cleverley and Carlos Sanchez - only to be stung by a last-gasp winner for the home side.
That followed a moment of controversy - with Christian Benteke fouled by Joe Hart as he closed in on goal.
Rather than awarding a spot-kick for the visitors, the referee blew for offside.
Sherwood was unhappy with that decision but heartened overall by the courageous display.
He said: "I thought we controlled the football match to be perfectly honest.
"I thought we played very, very well.
"There were a lot of positives to take out of the game but unfortunately no points. I am encouraged. I am not encouraged to go on the bus with no points though.
"I have no issue with the desire or commitment. The boys have been fantastic.
"The quality they showed today was great.
"We were a little bit edgy in the first 10 minutes. But once they continued to believe that they could play through the midfield and get our wide men on the ball and create chances, we controlled the football match.
"I think anyone who has come to the game or watched it on TV will know we were unfortunate, certainly to lose the game. We should have won the game.
"At least a draw would have been satisfying. I can be satisfied with the performance but I can't be satisfied with the decisions that have gone against us there - and no points."
Sherwood pointed to poor defending for all three of his team's conceded goals.
He continued: "When you come to the home of the champions, you have to defend better than that.
"They were sloppy goals that we gave away.
"It was a devastating start. It wasn't the ideal start.
"The goals we gave away weren't good enough. You need to be able to defend properly.
"The free-kick was a big disappointment, turning your back on the ball and coming off the edge of the wall.
"Even the defending for the corner wasn't good enough. The guy chests it up in the air. We need to be getting to him."
On the offside decision, he continued: "I could see he was onside from where I was standing and I am not even in line.
"It was blatant. It's a red card and a penalty. Unfortunately it has gone against us."
Despite the setback, Sherwood is confident of survival.
He added: "We played well - and if we play like that we should be okay shouldn't we.
"If we play like we did there, worry about performances and tighten up defensively, then it will be a relegation battle we won't be part of."
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At least we are going to win the test match (England fans obvs)
Wrong thread/site/sport
I was going to say who gives a fvck about the cricket but that would seem a bit harsh
Not really. After all, who does?
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Guzan made a mistake which I can forgive. Richardson and Bacuna were cowards which is unforgivable
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All three goals were eminently avoidable - not mentioned above I think but Sanchez' stupid, stupid lunge for their free kick added to the other mistakes already listed. We really have a problem defending corners and it needs rapid attention - last week I can recall 3 free headers where Liverpool should have done better.
Benteke won a lot in the air but he really needs to remind himself of the offside rule. After persistent offending I can see why the late decision went against him, exactly the same as Baoltelli last week.
We passed and moved really well but I think at times we weren't bold enough, and fluffed some decent attacking positions whilst not putting in enough shots too. Miles better than what we saw under Lambert but it is points that count, not performance.
Just seen Ger's summary and agree with your final comment.
Watched my daughter play this morning and she was getting caught offside. Just about forgive a teenaged amateur but not a pro. Unforgiveable
Hope you sent her to bed early for being offside so often!
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Frustrating sums it up. We played very well as will be shown on the TV.
But it was'nt. In fact our goals were not even shown as the pundits were summing up. Disgraceful from the Beeb!
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Hardly surprising as women don't understand the offside law!
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All three goals were eminently avoidable - not mentioned above I think but Sanchez' stupid, stupid lunge for their free kick added to the other mistakes already listed. We really have a problem defending corners and it needs rapid attention - last week I can recall 3 free headers where Liverpool should have done better.
Benteke won a lot in the air but he really needs to remind himself of the offside rule. After persistent offending I can see why the late decision went against him, exactly the same as Baoltelli last week.
We passed and moved really well but I think at times we weren't bold enough, and fluffed some decent attacking positions whilst not putting in enough shots too. Miles better than what we saw under Lambert but it is points that count, not performance.
Just seen Ger's summary and agree with your final comment.
Watched my daughter play this morning and she was getting caught offside. Just about forgive a teenaged amateur but not a pro. Unforgiveable
Hope you sent her to bed early for being offside so often!
Ha ha. I did but she is still watching BGT
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Am loving the direction we're heading in but can't think I'm alone in not thinking we're out of this yet. Everton is a bloody big game, we obviously really need a good result as we're one of 4 teams who could take that last spot.
If there were 10 games to go, not a chance of us going down but with just the three, I'm nervous still. Conversely, I'm really excited about the summer and next season if we stay up.
OK so I just took another look at the fixture result and feel a bit better about things. 4 games nor 3! And Sunderland look in a right heap of trouble. 3 home games left, we should hope for at least 6 points from our remaining games.
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Hardly surprising as women don't understand the offside law!
Can't argue with that when it applies to me.
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I was very impressed with Delph and Cleverley, and I thought Grealish had his best game so far. There's much to feel positive about and Sherwood deserves a lot of credit.
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Heartening and frustrating in equal measure.
Desperately disappointed not to have gotten anything today but actually looking forward to the next one.
Wouldn't have predicted that a few weeks ago.
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Was Weimann an unused sub again? Hope so, while I don't agree with Sherwood 's apparent freezing out of Gill I am positively cock-a-hoop at Weimann's veritable eskimo status.
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I'd drop Guzan after that.
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Robbed. After 25 minutes of sloppiness and madness, we dominated the game. Benteke should have been putting us 3-2 up against their reserve keeper.
Rank bad defending too. So bloody frustrating.
Why didn't we sack Lambert in November?
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The most pleasing aspect about us since Sherwood came in is how he gets the midfield too move off the ball, Its pissed me off for years at Villa how static our midfield is but now the likes of Delph, Grealish and Cleverly will take a few strides from their position too recieve the ball and it really does make us alot easier on the eye and varied in attack.
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I'd drop Guzan after that.
Yep, that was unforgivable. Awful
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Bacuna hiding behind Benteke in the wall was equally as unforgivable as Guzans cock-up.
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In the interest of balance and fairness, i've seen it mentioned more than once that they should/could have had a couple of pens and that there was on offside in the build up to our first. As I only listened on the radio I can't say either way.
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In the interest of balance and fairness, i've seen it mentioned more than once that they should/could have had a couple of pens and that there was on offside in the build up to our first. As I only listened on the radio I can't say either way.
They should have definately had one, not sure were the other claim is coming from, I remember Okore making a brilliant tackle on Silva in our area but thats about it.
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Too many positives to take from tonight's performance to get too downhearted over the result.
3-2 down with a few minutes left against QPR and a tough three weeks ahead us we'd all have taken what's happened since.
Five exciting weeks ahead so as we used to chant (for different reasons)... "All the Villa, stick together".
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Just home from the match. Absolutely Gutted. We were the better side which in one way is very pleasing and another way concerning, Ci£y were there for the taking today, no Komoany, Toure not on song and off injured. Very disappointing we got nothing.
Again going forward we were superb to watch, Ci£y fans we were sat amongst were murmuring to one another how good we looked.
I think Guzan may need to be dropped for his own good.
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Hearing of a coach bricked.Anyone know?
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To those that went; dunno if this got mentioned during the match thread or since, but, and I shit ye not, at half time a Cit£h supporter asked SVC if he could keep the noise during his commentaries. I was wondering how the atmosphere was. Our lot were all I could hear. Even when they banged in their second, it registered as barely louder than when we netted. The modern "fan", eh!!
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Hearing of a coach bricked.Anyone know?
Heard something about the Villa coach being attacked?
Today was a heartbreaker but god damn we took it to them. Jackie Boy was the best player on the pitch for me. He made a yard of space look like ten.
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Just back from the game. I'm sure everything has been said regarding how both teams played and the dodgy decisions...they didn't create many (if any) chances so gifting them the first and 2 poorly defended set pieces have cost us and a draw would have been a fair result.
With regards to atmosphere...that place is like a sanitised corporate morgue for families and day trippers. Apart from a couple of blocks either side of the away section with some half hearted chants there is no singing from the home fans. I'd say there was only about 1400 Villa fans there and were a bit quiet for my liking...it was a strange atmosphere today.
Not sure if there is a typo in your post Lastfootstamper but can't really work out what you're trying to say about the caller...did you mean hear the noise?
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Hardly surprising as women don't understand the offside law!
Neither does Benteke
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Grealish, Delph and CNZ could have something good going down the left, with the reverse pass.
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Good old deadly was there today, does not look in a good way at present.
Oh and I saw Joe Corrigan, works as a glorified steward there.
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Just back from the game. I'm sure everything has been said regarding how both teams played and the dodgy decisions...they didn't create many (if any) chances so gifting them the first and 2 poorly defended set pieces have cost us and a draw would have been a fair result.
With regards to atmosphere...that place is like a sanitised corporate morgue for families and day trippers. Apart from a couple of blocks either side of the away section with some half hearted chants there is no singing from the home fans. I'd say there was only about 1400 Villa fans there and were a bit quiet for my liking...it was a strange atmosphere today.
Not sure if there is a typo in your post Lastfootstamper but can't really work out what you're trying to say about the caller...did you mean hear the noise?
The fans make the atmosphere, not the stadium. In my humble opinion
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Just back from the game. I'm sure everything has been said regarding how both teams played and the dodgy decisions...they didn't create many (if any) chances so gifting them the first and 2 poorly defended set pieces have cost us and a draw would have been a fair result.
With regards to atmosphere...that place is like a sanitised corporate morgue for families and day trippers. Apart from a couple of blocks either side of the away section with some half hearted chants there is no singing from the home fans. I'd say there was only about 1400 Villa fans there and were a bit quiet for my liking...it was a strange atmosphere today.
Not sure if there is a typo in your post Lastfootstamper but can't really work out what you're trying to say about the caller...did you mean hear the noise?
Only just a touch over a thousand Villa fans according to the WMP Twitter, still made all the noise on the box.
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At £44 a quid a pop a week after Wembley and the cost of a cup final coming up i'm not surprised we didn't sell out.
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£46 really with BF.
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Bacuna should be dropped for that cowardly defending of the freekick. Pathetic!
Do you mean Richardson for their second?
Both.
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It's a ground where we have a dreadful record on aswell.
I can fully understand why for 40 + quid a ticket more of our fans are giving the two Manchester away games a swerve.
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Bacuna should be dropped for that cowardly defending of the freekick. Pathetic!
Do you mean Richardson for their second?
Both.
Both were abysmal at the free kick. Not good watching.
Having said that, though, there was much to be positive about. I just read we're the first team in six years to have more possession than them at the Etihad in a league match. We played very well, if you overlook the defensive fuckups, and were very unlucky to not win, let alone lose.
We just need to play like that for the rest of the season and we will be fine. Certainly, if we play like we've played in the last three matches, we'll win our next two matches.
Which is just as well, as we absolutely have to, because things at the bottom are unpleasantly tight at the moment.
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Hardly surprising as women don't understand the offside law!
Neither does Benteke
I'm not sure anyone really understands the off-side law anymore.
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Just watched the "highlights" on MOTD. What would have been good, rather than the pundits saying at the end that we were the better side and played really well, is if they'd actually showed us being the better side and playing really well.
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Just watched the "highlights" on MOTD. What would have been good, rather than the pundits saying at the end that we were the better side and played really well, is if they'd actually showed us being the better side and playing really well.
agreed
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Just watched the "highlights" on MOTD. What would have been good, rather than the pundits saying at the end that we were the better side and played really well, is if they'd actually showed us being the better side and playing really well.
I thought that.
The highlights basically were just anything of interest to those watching City, and no more.
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Just back from the game. I'm sure everything has been said regarding how both teams played and the dodgy decisions...they didn't create many (if any) chances so gifting them the first and 2 poorly defended set pieces have cost us and a draw would have been a fair result.
With regards to atmosphere...that place is like a sanitised corporate morgue for families and day trippers. Apart from a couple of blocks either side of the away section with some half hearted chants there is no singing from the home fans. I'd say there was only about 1400 Villa fans there and were a bit quiet for my liking...it was a strange atmosphere today.
Not sure if there is a typo in your post Lastfootstamper but can't really work out what you're trying to say about the caller...did you mean hear the noise?
Not a caller, Collymore was doing the TalkSport commentary at the ground, and a bloke came over to him to ask him to keep it down. He was not impressed with the request, likened it to being at the opera. Fits in well with your sanitised corporate morgue analogy.
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Man City were dreadful. Had our defending been better we would have been deserved winners. I was really pissed off not to be on 35 points after that.
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Just back from the game. I'm sure everything has been said regarding how both teams played and the dodgy decisions...they didn't create many (if any) chances so gifting them the first and 2 poorly defended set pieces have cost us and a draw would have been a fair result.
With regards to atmosphere...that place is like a sanitised corporate morgue for families and day trippers. Apart from a couple of blocks either side of the away section with some half hearted chants there is no singing from the home fans. I'd say there was only about 1400 Villa fans there and were a bit quiet for my liking...it was a strange atmosphere today.
Not sure if there is a typo in your post Lastfootstamper but can't really work out what you're trying to say about the caller...did you mean hear the noise?
The fans make the atmosphere, not the stadium. In my humble opinion
Exactly and I completely agree Rudy. There was no atmosphere created by their fans.
With regards to the stadium and facilities at the Etihad...absolutely fantastic. I'm not a fan of the stadium itself but the whole complex is pretty impressive...even if it is clearly designed to be a money making machine.
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There's quite a big extension underway to the stand that houses the away fans. It's an odd ground, I don't like it, or the area its in.
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Grealish, Delph and CNZ could have something good going down the left, with the reverse pass.
Not sure Cameron is going to be happy about that😏
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Just watched the "highlights" on MOTD. What would have been good, rather than the pundits saying at the end that we were the better side and played really well, is if they'd actually showed us being the better side and playing really well.
I thought that.
The highlights basically were just anything of interest to those watching City, and no more.
Based on those highlights, your casual MOTD viewer won't even know that Delph played today, even though he was the best player on the pitch - he was everywhere in the second half. I expect big club bias on MOTD, but that was a ludicrous version of the match I watched this afternoon.
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Man City were dreadful. Had our defending been better we would have been deserved winners. I was really pissed off not to be on 35 points after that.
I was pissed off not being on 35 points in January😌
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Just watched the "highlights" on MOTD. What would have been good, rather than the pundits saying at the end that we were the better side and played really well, is if they'd actually showed us being the better side and playing really well.
Exactly what I thought too. They gave the game a few minutes but didn't reflect the game as I saw it at that horrible fu**ing shithole they call a stadium - part of the "Etihad Campus" I noticed when the coach pulled into the car park.
Wish I'd got home a bit later and missed MOTFD!
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There's quite a big extension underway to the stand that houses the away fans. It's an odd ground, I don't like it, or the area its in.
The North-West?
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Just watched the "highlights" on MOTD. What would have been good, rather than the pundits saying at the end that we were the better side and played really well, is if they'd actually showed us being the better side and playing really well.
I thought that.
The highlights basically were just anything of interest to those watching City, and no more.
Based on those highlights, your casual MOTD viewer won't even know that Delph played today, even though he was the best player on the pitch - he was everywhere in the second half. I expect big club bias on MOTD, but that was a ludicrous version of the match I watched this afternoon.
Agreed.
Delph was immense - again!
Also, I've never been a Zog fan but he was excellent when he came on today - caused them all sorts of problems. In the highlights he passed to the ONSIDE Benteke. That's all!
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Man City were dreadful. Had our defending been better we would have been deserved winners. I was really pissed off not to be on 35 points after that.
I was pissed off not being on 35 points in January😌
With the way we were playing I was delighted with the points we had and pissed off that Lambert was still around.
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Hearing of a coach bricked.Anyone know?
Brick thrown at the window of official club coach 1 as we approached traffic lights not far from the ground.
Couple of guys on board saw exactly who did it and we had to alert the motorcycle cops in front of us who I thought were giving us an escort. One set off in pursuit. The driver seemed satisfied that the inner screen was intact and the passengers ok.
We had to stop twice on the way back so the driver could knock the shattered fragments out as they were breaking off and a potential danger to other vehicles behind us.
Thought all of that brick-throwing shite was done with years ago.
Sort of sums ManCi£y up for me.
Back home by 11.
We woz robbed!
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It's th worst away game of the season. Terrible soulless athletics stadium masquerading as a football ground, devoid of any character or atmosphere, with no decent pubs around.
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It's th worst away game of the season. Terrible soulless athletics stadium masquerading as a football ground, devoid of any character or atmosphere, with no decent pubs around.
100% correct!
I hate the fu**ing place.
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Maine Road was much better I used to love those long benches we stood on.
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Ci£y forums seem pleased they have played so poorly yet got the 3 points.
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Ci£y forums seem pleased they have played so poorly yet got the 3 points.
And repeat ad nauseum
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What I'm gutted most about is we wasted so much of the season stuck with a dead man of a manager. If only we'd have taken the decision last summer we could have had a really exciting season. Let's hope lessons have been learned (again). Onwards and upwards hey.
true. But we might not have been in a position to appoint Sherwood last summer. I'm fairly happy with the way things have panned out. Confident we'll stay up now and we have a good chance of actually winning the FA cup. Next season promises a lot if we can add a bit more quality in the summer transfer window.
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Most been said, you can not give Man Shitty that sort of gift to start with, then two further gifts later on. Benteke has to keep his eye on the line, as highlighted, bit like Batshit last week, linesman thought well he has been all day so I will flag him up for this one. Balanced by Bacunnas pull back earlier in the game, that may have seen us down to ten men.
Delph good after the first 20 minutes, is it just me or is this becoming a pattern for him, he seems to need 20 mins just to get up to his playing maximum. Young Jack good game, but Tim has to get into his head to give him the confidence to shoot more often when in an ideal position.
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Once he rattles one in, there will be no stopping the lad.
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Just watched it again on motd. Shouldn't have, as I now feel gutted all over again.
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Such a shame to come away with nothing when our attacking play had been so good but we only have ourselves to blame for the goals conceded. That said, correct decisions from the officials might have seen a different result.
There is something really refreshing about the way we approach games now, trying to take the game to the opposition regardless of reputation. I doubt anyone is looking forward to facing us.
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Last week we benefitted from a wrong decision (Balotelli) this week it hurts us that's how it goes over a season. We did very well after having gone two down from some horrific errors. It's a shame Brad did what he did but some of that passing around the box goes back to how players were training and playing earlier in the season. I like Sanchez but he is prone to making big errors in the last 10. (More fitness?) he has done did several times including the free kick at home to Spuds when Kane scored. Overall deserved something from this game but....
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After 10 mins I thought we were going to be on the end of the annual hiding, very disappointed to have lost which is great credit to Sherwood.
One point about Guzans mistake was that even if the pass had gone where he wanted it to it was a bad choice, the defender it was aimed at was running back toward his own goal with a city player closing in.
Still mighty nervous about our position, we are playing well but others around us are getting jammy points.
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Sanchez does seem to tire on 65 mins but Sherwood obviously sees him as the cover player in front of the defence. The foul for the free kick was a tired tackle imo. Having said that he did ok and the technique for his goal was world class.
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We wuz robbed.
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The defending for their 3rd goal is not good at all, it's a mis-hit corner FFS.
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Disappointed because I had written the game off, to play as we did and lose is horrible but i'll take the positives, still looking at that bottom 3 with a good deal of dread, yes I think we'll be safe but 2 points isn't much, please beat Everton
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Sanchez does seem to tire on 65 mins but Sherwood obviously sees him as the cover player in front of the defence. The foul for the free kick was a tired tackle imo. Having said that he did ok and the technique for his goal was world class.
Sanchez has good and bad parts to his game, sadly he seems to show both in every game, bad pass to Cleverly when the counter was on then a bad tackle trying to recover. Good goal though
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Whatever positives Sanchez brings they always seem to get cancelled out by silly errors in crucial areas or phases of play.
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Oh well. I thought it would be a high-scoring draw, and I was half-right. Upwards and onwards.
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A totally undeserved win for Man City. I thought we were better yesterday than we were last week. If we keep that kind of performance up, we'll be ok.
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Missed Clark yesterday I thought.
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A totally undeserved win for Man City. I thought we were better yesterday than we were last week. If we keep that kind of performance up, we'll be ok.
Which makes the continual late fuck ups all the more frustrating.
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A totally undeserved win for Man City. I thought we were better yesterday than we were last week. If we keep that kind of performance up, we'll be ok.
Which makes the continual late fuck ups all the more frustrating.
Without them we probably take points from Stoke, Toon and Swansea, and at least a point against City. We'd be home and dry. It's sloppiness and individual errors too. It's something we should be able to cut out. It's annoying too as we looked very solid and focused against Spurs and Liverpool.
I do think against West Ham and Everton though, we could have the job done enough that any late giveaway won't cost us too much. I'm expecting us to twat Camerons side 10-0.
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(https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/10641188_808594722522749_5126072714302689504_n.jpg?oh=6e36b7e520a388bcc353df27a51b3343&oe=55A21093)
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(https://scontent-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11193335_808594735856081_5676338956835916472_n.jpg?oh=1a534edad426f756601aa2305673cda6&oe=55CD37F3)
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Where was that Legion?
Look like bloody hillbillies
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That was one of our coaches in Manchester, yesterday.
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That's what you get for messing with the big boys I guess. Probably Sky executives.
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I see Blues and Albion fans have reemerged on social media, after being invisible for the last fortnight. And why do they never mention their own club's results, even when they win? Sad.
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I think last seasons match up there was a particular low point for me, it was my first visit to the Etihad and one to forget
It was like men v boys, we just went to hold out for as long as we could, it didn't even feel fair as a competition,
Lambert football had ground us down to just making up the numbers
Yesterday was totally different, we were actually the better team
that's what I love about Sherwood, he believes in the players, some arnt that good in honesty, but we are giving everyone we play a game
Dare I say if we go down I'm 100% certain we will come straight back up with him in charge
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That was one of our coaches in Manchester, yesterday.
All the traffic was stopped for a about 15 mins by the academy ground .
You could see the OB ahead had stopped everything . Then the convoy of villa coaches appeared , I assume just after the bricking and inevitable caffufle and delay to traffic
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Whoops
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For me the biggest positive from yesterday wasn't just the performance, but that it answered the media question of whether we'd raised our game for last weekend.
That's 3 games on the bounce where we've turned up as massive underdogs and come bloody close to winning all 3, including giving the reigning champions a 2 goal start.
Even the "top 4" loving commentators over here have started noticing not just the results but the performances, with the most common refrain "why on earth did they persist with Lambert for so long".
"That detective is the right question"
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Disappointed with the result but not the performance. There has been an almost unbelievable turnaround in the way we play, particularly in the last three games. Confidence has a big part to play but I believe it is no coincidence that the more intelligent (football-wise) players are starting to form the first XI. Grealish has been a big part of this with his desire to not stand still. He is always going looking for the ball and making himself available for the pass.
Lambert was very loyal to the 'triers' and I think that this was one of his major weaknesses. To some extent, fans are the same but to be successful these days in football, there is no room for sentiment. I think it will be easier for Sherwood to take a colder look at the squad at the end of the season and move on some of the players that have been around for the last few years. Guzan is a great shot stopper and has improved tremendously with the high ball but his composure with ball at his feet and his actual distribution is terrible. He looks as though he is panicking whenever he has the ball and when he kicks from the ground his balance looks all wrong. A good coach needs to work with him through the summer to improve this part of his game or, I am sorry, we need to look for better. The goalkeeper in modern football is like another defender and distribution is so important.
I did not think Mike Dean did us any favours yesterday and was very lenient with some of the Man City fouls which deserved yellow cards. I have read comments about the Bacuna pull back on Aguero should have been a penalty. Was this because it was so clear to see it. We see players being pulled back all of the time from corners but nothing given, even when the ball is going straight to the player. With the Bacuna incident the ball was played 5 yards behind Aguero, so should it have been a penalty. Bacuna should never have given the referee an opportunity to give a penalty. This is not the first time he has done this and must get out of the habit, even though most of the time it is not interfering with play. To the opposite end of the pitch and Benteke was clearly onside. Again comments saying that we got away with one last week but last week defenders and goalkeeper stopped well before Balotelli put the ball in the net.
I think Sherwood has hit on a system with just Benteke up front and two players playing just behind him. It seems to suit N'Zogbia and Grealish perfectly. Starting with four across the middle was not working and Westwood never got into the game. The change opened up the game for us. I am not sure that Gabby can play this type of role.
Richardson took a lot of stick, as has Bacuna for their defending. Neither of them are defenders and they are playing because of necessity. The difference to the team would be tremendous, if we had two 'proper' good attacking fullbacks.
I just hope the recent good performances can be sustained for the next four games.
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One thing that was noticeable yesterday is that TS has got Jack doing Bentekes running for him...closing down defenders, pressurising the keeper, chasing down dead balls...this keeps the big man fresh and full of energy in the areas that we need him at his most effective. TS has alluded to this in his interviews but you can actually see it now being enforced on the pitch...the players are working for each other and we are seeing the benefits in better performances and the results will hopefully start to become more consistent.
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Unlucky and deserved better. I love the way we play under Sherwood, but it's results that count, and we need to defend a whole lot better. He does seem to be a bit Keegan-esque in his approach but I suppose that is no bad thing, especiallly if he can make us as exciting as Keegan made the Jawdees in the 90s. It's bummer that Hull and Leicester both won and Sunderland drew so we are right back in the mix. I know we have three home games left but Sherwood's home record in the league hasn't been great so far. We need a win next week.
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As soon as we scored the equaliser I turned to my brother and said "we just need to hold out for 5 minutes"...famous last words being a Villa fan. TS needs to get them to close out games in the last few minutes and take the points on the table especially in our current predicament. In 9 games, we've dropped 3 points in the last 5 minutes by conceding late goals turning draws into defeats (Stoke, Swansea and Man City)...I hope our failure to see out those games doesn't bite us on the arse come the end of the season.
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The demotion of weimann and the promotion of grealish is the perfect microcosm of the difference between the managers
I was a late convert to the lambert out camp and I was just wrong.
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Keep conceding soft goals like those 3 yesterday and there's a very good chance we are down ,
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Keep conceding soft goals like those 3 yesterday and there's a very good chance we are down ,
But then the two games before that we didn't concede soft goals and only one against two sides that cost over £200m to put together. Yesterday was bad but hardly something common for us. There is no reason to think we will keep doing that.
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True but the last 4 goals we conceded since Clark has been out have been calamitous
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True but the last 4 goals we conceded since Clark has been out have been calamitous
3 of those 4 can be attributed to bad goalkeeping and defensive communication. Having Clark for sure offered us greater balance but I don't see what difference having him for two of those goals yesterday or maybe even the winner would have made.
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Another encouraging performance. I'm sure we'll be alright but the uncertainty is killing me! Shouldn't have had offside given against Benteke but then again Ballotelli was onside on Sunday so swings and roundabouts. I knew we were going to concede that third however, it was just gutting after the fight-back. I thought once we went 2 down we were finished.
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Keep conceding soft goals like those 3 yesterday and there's a very good chance we are down ,
That's the spirit.
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Felt like we dominated Man City and deserved to at least get a point. Gutted we didnt :(
This is the worst I seen Guzan play for us...in like ...ever. Looked like he had put money on City.
Even with the first goal apart, he looked like a débutante every time he came off the line and failed to save the few times they hit the target.
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Bad day at the office. I hope he is given the opportunity to put things right against Everton.
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Keep conceding soft goals like those 3 yesterday and there's a very good chance we are down ,
No chance
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Keep scoring great goals like the two at eastlands yesterday and we comfortably stay up and win the cup.
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Keep conceding soft goals like those 3 yesterday and there's a very good chance we are down ,
But then the two games before that we didn't concede soft goals and only one against two sides that cost over £200m to put together. Yesterday was bad but hardly something common for us. There is no reason to think we will keep doing that.
It's just sillyvilla being his normal pessimistic self.
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Keep conceding soft goals like those 3 yesterday and there's a very good chance we are down ,
But then the two games before that we didn't concede soft goals and only one against two sides that cost over £200m to put together. Yesterday was bad but hardly something common for us. There is no reason to think we will keep doing that.
It's just sillyvilla being his normal pessimistic self.
Yeh I know. Like a fool I was trying to offer a reasoned riposte. I appreciate it was completely wasted.
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Spurs game aside I think we've been worryingly bad defensively in 3 of the last 4 league games, particularly v qpr and yesterday, and Utd, not much we could of done about Shreks goal but their 1st was badly defended .
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Spurs game aside I think we've been worryingly bad defensively in 3 of the last 4 league games, particularly v qpr and yesterday, and Utd, not much we could of done about Shreks goal but their 1st was badly defended .
Bearing in mind we've had defenders out from time to time and two players in Richardson and Bacuna who are not full backs, i've think we've done ok. We're scoring goals again, which is the main thing.
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Spurs game aside I think we've been worryingly bad defensively in 3 of the last 4 league games, particularly v qpr and yesterday, and Utd, not much we could of done about Shreks goal but their 1st was badly defended .
Bearing in mind we've had defenders out from time to time and two players in Richardson and Bacuna who are not full backs, i've think we've done ok. We're scoring goals again, which is the main thing.
We are playing attractive football as well which bodes well for the future.
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In his interview afterwards, Sherwood said if we play like that every game we'll be alright. My response was not if we defend like that or start games like that. In trying to become more attacking we've become a little loose at the back. If we can keep playing like that but tighten up a bit and defend like we did away to Spurs and for most of the semi final, we can get safe.
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Spot on OCD. The attacking play of late has been up their with the best in the league. However if we defend like school kids it all goes to waste. Hopefully with Cissoko and Hutton? Back now we can get some solid work done at BH pre Everton.
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Senderos aswell.
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Yes the defending wasn't great yesterday but neither was Man City's very expensively assembled side. It was an open game which is why it was so exciting, but you have to expect them to create chances. Also, when was the last time we started a game just like that. It's a complete anomaly. In fact I would say over the past few weeks we have been much the better side to start games with the exception of Man U away. I'm not dismissing the flaws from yesterday but I'd hardly make it something to be overly concerned about for a number of different reasons.
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Yes the defending wasn't great yesterday but neither was Man City's very expensively assembled side. It was an open game which is why it was so exciting, but you have to expect them to create chances. Also, when was the last time we started a game just like that. It's a complete anomaly. In fact I would say over the past few weeks we have been much the better side to start games with the exception of Man U away. I'm not dismissing the flaws from yesterday but I'd hardly make it something to be overly concerned about for a number of different reasons.
Under normal circumstances yes but with just 4 games left, the margin for error becomes finite.
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In his interview afterwards, Sherwood said if we play like that every game we'll be alright. My response was not if we defend like that or start games like that. In trying to become more attacking we've become a little loose at the back. If we can keep playing like that but tighten up a bit and defend like we did away to Spurs and for most of the semi final, we can get safe.
Were any of the three goals due to committing too many players forward though. The first was Guzan's error, the second a dead ball situation and the third poor marking from a corner. The three goals yesterday were no different to the type of goals we have conceded for the past 2 or 3 years.
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Goal 2 was Sanchez who I think lost the ball and then got wreckless in challenge. The 3rd goal was diabolical defending of a dreadful corner
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Goal 2 was Sanchez who I think lost the ball and then got wreckless in challenge. The 3rd goal was diabolical defending of a dreadful corner
Quite so but nothing to do with becoming more attacking. Individual errors were the causes of the goals.
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Goal 2 was Sanchez who I think lost the ball and then got wreckless in challenge. The 3rd goal was diabolical defending of a dreadful corner
Quite so but nothing to do with becoming more attacking. Individual errors were the causes of the goals.
Agree, I'm not advocating we stop the quality offensive play. Just tighten up the basics at the back. As others have posted having hutton cissoko and senderos back should help.
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We were the better team.
We was robbed by the referee.
The goals were all avoidable but not surprising the defence looked shaky with Guzan doing an impersonation of a rabbit in headlights.
No time for sentiment Given to start next week please.
UTV
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Well we were robbed by the Ref it should have been a Pen a red and another goal for the big man.
Think Ci£y had one legible pen appeal not given too when Bacuna man handled agueeerrrrrrrrooo.
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There was a similar one today in the Chelsea-Arse game, again not given. I think referees have had instruction to wave play on when players simply throw themselves to the ground regardless of the degree of contact. There was certainly a 'laying on of hands' by Bacuna, but that did not make it a penalty.
Hart, on the other hand, was the lumberjack to Benteke's Giant Redwood. We wuz robbed.
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Robbed by the linesman rather than the ref
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Where was that Legion?
Look like bloody hillbillies
Window broken by brick thrown a short way from the ground after the game. Hundreds of people, cars, coaches and police about. In the pic coach has stopped at services to knock broken glass out which was coming loose and a hazard to vehicles behind it.
Fun times!
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Goal 2 was Sanchez who I think lost the ball and then got wreckless in challenge. The 3rd goal was diabolical defending of a dreadful corner
Quite so but nothing to do with becoming more attacking. Individual errors were the causes of the goals.
Agree, I'm not advocating we stop the quality offensive play. Just tighten up the basics at the back. As others have posted having hutton cissoko and senderos back should help.
Someone should be giving Bacuna and Richardson the mother of all bollockings tomorrow for that pathetic attempt at forming a wall.
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Well we were robbed by the Ref it should have been a Pen a red and another goal for the big man.
Think Ci£y had one legible pen appeal not given too when Bacuna man handled agueeerrrrrrrrooo.
Interesting to note aswell that City had made their final sub just before so with Hart sent off they'd have had to put an outfield player in goal (Toure).
So yes we were an incorrect linesman call from pretty much premier league safety and arguably the best comeback in the league this season.
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It was a bad decision, but we got one in our favour last week with Balotelli, and also yesterday with the penalty Citeh should have had.
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Well we were robbed by the Ref it should have been a Pen a red and another goal for the big man.
Think Ci£y had one legible pen appeal not given too when Bacuna man handled agueeerrrrrrrrooo.
Interesting to note aswell that City had made their final sub just before so with Hart sent off they'd have had to put an outfield player in goal (Toure).
So yes we were an incorrect linesman call from pretty much premier league safety and arguably the best comeback in the league this season.
Toure had gone off by then
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It was a bad decision, but we got one in our favour last week with Balotelli, and also yesterday with the penalty Citeh should have had.
Exactly what I thought at the time. In both cases, Balotelli and Benteke had been caught offside numerous times throughout the games so it is in some way understandable why the decisions went against them. Still no consolation though.
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It was a bad decision, but we got one in our favour last week with Balotelli, and also yesterday with the penalty Citeh should have had.
Indeed. These things balance out over a season. Chances are we will get a favourable call vs Everton or West Ham that will see us safe, we can then sit back, laugh, swirl the brandy glass re-light the Monte Cristo and regale with humour the injustices of Hart chopping down the giant Redwood tree.
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An incorrect decision is an incorrect decision whether we got away with one the week before or not.
There were no other valid penalty claims for Man City...unless you count a perfectly timed tackle on Silva or the very strong and athletic Aguero flinging himself to the floor when he had his shoulder slightly tapped and the ball nowhere near him.
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It was a bad decision, but we got one in our favour last week with Balotelli, and also yesterday with the penalty Citeh should have had.
Exactly what I thought at the time. In both cases, Balotelli and Benteke had been caught offside numerous times throughout the games so it is in some way understandable why the decisions went against them. Still no consolation though.
With Balotelli, would he have still scored if our players hadn't all stopped. With Benteke, Hart didn't stop and brought Big Ben down.
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An incorrect decision is an incorrect decision whether we got away with one the week before or not.
There were no other valid penalty claims for Man City...unless you count a perfectly timed tackle on Silva or the very strong and athletic Aguero flinging himself to the floor when he had his shoulder slightly tapped and the ball nowhere near him.
Bacuna had 2 hands on him I think
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We'll never know with the Balotelli one, but i'm glad we didn't have to find out.
And the vast majority of us would have been pissed if we hadn't got a penalty for a similar challenge that Bacuna made.
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Goal 2 was Sanchez who I think lost the ball and then got wreckless in challenge. The 3rd goal was diabolical defending of a dreadful corner
Quite so but nothing to do with becoming more attacking. Individual errors were the causes of the goals.
Agree, I'm not advocating we stop the quality offensive play. Just tighten up the basics at the back. As others have posted having hutton cissoko and senderos back should help.
Someone should be giving Bacuna and Richardson the mother of all bollockings tomorrow for that pathetic attempt at forming a wall.
I couldn't agree more Paulie. Pathetic, spineless defending. I hope they have both played their last full games this season. I can't see Sherwood putting up with that sort of shit if and when other players get fit. I'm still gutted, but full of optimism for the last four games of the league season.
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Goal 2 was Sanchez who I think lost the ball and then got wreckless in challenge. The 3rd goal was diabolical defending of a dreadful corner
Quite so but nothing to do with becoming more attacking. Individual errors were the causes of the goals.
Agree, I'm not advocating we stop the quality offensive play. Just tighten up the basics at the back. As others have posted having hutton cissoko and senderos back should help.
Someone should be giving Bacuna and Richardson the mother of all bollockings tomorrow for that pathetic attempt at forming a wall.
I couldn't agree more Paulie. Pathetic, spineless defending. I hope they have both played their last full games this season. I can't see Sherwood putting up with that sort of shit if and when other players get fit. I'm still gutted, but full of optimism for the last four games of the league season.
I wouldn't go that far. We're hardly spoiled for choice. Richardson played well against Spurs and Liverpool and Bacuna's good going forward and needs to improve defensively. Bollockings are well deserved and more work on the training ground required.
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I'd make them stand as a two man wall in training, wearing blindfolds, and let everyone fire in free kicks. The big pair of tarts.
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I'd make them stand as a two man wall in training, wearing blindfolds, and let everyone fire in free kicks. The big pair of tarts.
I like your style. I think bullseyes painted on the blindfolds and genital area would be a good addition.
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We would actually hit them these days too. Had Lambert tried that the shots would have been all over the place.
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An incorrect decision is an incorrect decision whether we got away with one the week before or not.
There were no other valid penalty claims for Man City...unless you count a perfectly timed tackle on Silva or the very strong and athletic Aguero flinging himself to the floor when he had his shoulder slightly tapped and the ball nowhere near him.
Bacuna had 2 hands on him I think
The ball was nowhere near him. You see players being pulled down in the area all the time when corners or free kicks come in and nothing is given, even when it is where the ball is directed to. Bacuna was stupid but did he stop Aguero getting to the ball.
I also do not go along with Liverpool being denied a goal last week with the offside decision. The Villa players clearly stopped well before Balotelli put the ball in the net.
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Ball doesn't have to be near a player to be a foul. I think we got away with it.
And nobody has said Balotelli would score, but i'm more than a tad happy we never had to find out if he would have or not.
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Ball doesn't have to be near a player to be a foul. I think we got away with it.
And nobody has said Balotelli would score, but i'm more than a tad happy we never had to find out if he would have or not.
The ball was 5 yards behind him. So why do referees not give a penalty for defenders clearly pulling back opposition players at corners.
People have said that Liverpool were denied a goal.
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It was a clear as day foul and they should of had a penalty!
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Ball doesn't have to be near a player to be a foul. I think we got away with it.
And nobody has said Balotelli would score, but i'm more than a tad happy we never had to find out if he would have or not.
The ball was 5 yards behind him. So why do referees not give a penalty for defenders clearly pulling back opposition players at corners.
People have said that Liverpool were denied a goal.
I have no idea why they don't always give a foul when a foul is committed. A foul is a foul regardless of how close the ball is to the incident.
People have said the same about us, the penalty would still have had to have been scored. Same as Balotelli would still have had to have scored.
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Ball doesn't have to be near a player to be a foul. I think we got away with it.
And nobody has said Balotelli would score, but i'm more than a tad happy we never had to find out if he would have or not.
The ball was 5 yards behind him. So why do referees not give a penalty for defenders clearly pulling back opposition players at corners.
People have said that Liverpool were denied a goal.
I have no idea why they don't always give a foul when a foul is committed. A foul is a foul regardless of how close the ball is to the incident.
People have said the same about us, the penalty would still have had to have been scored. Same as Balotelli would still have had to have scored.
Balotelli did score and hence the disallowed goal. The only similarity between the two is that they were both onside, what happened next was different in each case.
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I also do not go along with Liverpool being denied a goal last week with the offside decision. The Villa players clearly stopped well before Balotelli put the ball in the net.
People have said that Liverpool were denied a goal.
Balotelli did score and hence the disallowed goal.
I'm totally lost now.
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I also do not go along with Liverpool being denied a goal last week with the offside decision. The Villa players clearly stopped well before Balotelli put the ball in the net.
People have said that Liverpool were denied a goal.
Balotelli did score and hence the disallowed goal.
I'm totally lost now.
Mario Balotelli puts the ball into the Villa net, but the flag was long up for offside. The replay shows he was a yard or two onside. Uh oh. To be fair, Villa had heard the whistle by the time Balotelli shot.
?
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I agreed with that a few posts ago, I even said I'm glad we never had to find out if he would have scored if the flag had correctly stayed down.
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Re Balotelli. The whistle had be blown so long before I was half expecting him to be booked for carrying on (or did they change that some time ago?)
Re Guzan's fuck-up. It's not absolving him of the blame, but watching it back Vlaar passes it back to his right foot. Rule no1 was always put in on the side the goalkeeper kicks with.
Still a stupid decision be Guzan, even without the cock-up- Even if he'd made a decent contact, he'd still have been playing Okore into all kinds of trouble. That ball should have been launched towards the half-way line. Only way out from there.
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I also do not go along with Liverpool being denied a goal last week with the offside decision. The Villa players clearly stopped well before Balotelli put the ball in the net.
People have said that Liverpool were denied a goal.
Balotelli did score and hence the disallowed goal.
I'm totally lost now.
Mario Balotelli puts the ball into the Villa net, but the flag was long up for offside. The replay shows he was a yard or two onside. Uh oh. To be fair, Villa had heard the whistle by the time Balotelli shot.
?
Surely that's not just a sort of after thought in considering the incident, though, but is pretty crucial?
Balotelli was flagged offside, our players stopped playing, Balotelli "scored", as you originally said. There's far from any guarantee that had the linesman not flagged till after the shot, he'd have scored.
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Re Balotelli. The whistle had be blown so long before I was half expecting him to be booked for carrying on (or did they change that some time ago?)
Re Guzan's fuck-up. It's not absolving him of the blame, but watching it back Vlaar passes it back to his right foot. Rule no1 was always put in on the side the goalkeeper kicks with.
Still a stupid decision be Guzan, even without the cock-up- Even if he'd made a decent contact, he'd still have been playing Okore into all kinds of trouble. That ball should have been launched towards the half-way line. Only way out from there.
I'm more concerned with the breach of the "don't pass the ball to an unmarked opposition player in the 6 yard area" rule to be honest.
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The offside rules are now nicely left open to allow the ref some flex when making calls that suit the agenda of the FA and sky etc.
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The offside rules are now nicely left open to allow the ref some flex when making calls that suit the agenda of the FA and sky etc.
so wouldn't they have allowed the Balotelli goal to stand if that was really the agenda? How about it was just a really bad call by the linesman as opposed to some nonsense conspiracy theory?
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The offside rules are now nicely left open to allow the ref some flex when making calls that suit the agenda of the FA and sky etc.
That's must be why they wear earpieces so they can be advised by their masters as to when to blow the whistle.
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
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Why would we expect Sherwood to get the best out of Balotelli when several highly rated managers in two top leagues have so far failed to do that with any consistency?
I think it'd be a dreadful waste of money. I also suspect that after "a wild boar", "Mario Balotelli" is the best answer to the question "what, were you to release it into the Villa changing room, would cause the most havoc, the quickest?"
It's a shame because he is undoubtedly talented, he's just nuts too. Bad nuts, as well.
You also have to wonder what his attitude would be, given his club trajectory so far, to end up at perennial relegation strugglers
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
It had crossed my mind too, although the Lambert era has probably embedded a masochistic tendency within me and I'm suffering withdrawl symptoms.
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
File under "avoid at all costs".
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
Er no, mad as a box of frogs, Balotelli is a complete fruit cake, Ronaldo`s attitude without the effort/application/ability/end product.
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For the price we'd have to pay for the mental one, you could have Austin, Ings or Rhodes...give or take a few million. With a bit of luck they'll all be playing Championship football next season so shouldn't be much more than £10-12m (but could quite easily be closer to £20m given how ridiculous the transfer market is for overpricing British players).
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For the price we'd have to pay for the mental one, you could have Austin, Ings or Rhodes...give or take a few million. With a bit of luck they'll all be playing Championship football next season so shouldn't be much more than £10-12m (but could quite easily be closer to £20m given how ridiculous the transfer market is for overpricing British players).
That argument just backs up taking a chance on Balotelli, as the three you list are absolute meat-and-potatoes and will probably end up costing you just as much.
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
That would be a dreadful, dreadful signing almost equal to the Fashanu one. Balotelli is no more than a self obsessed circus act. The Italians don't wa
nt him back and Rodgers is finding it difficult getting him off the payroll.
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He'd be a gamble all right. Maybe a five million fee and pay as you play and he'd be worth it? It's a shame because there's clearly a great player in there.
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No way would signing Crazy Mario be a good idea. Apart from anything else he's that arrogant he'd think he was well above us.
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He'd be a gamble all right. Maybe a five million fee and pay as you play and he'd be worth it? It's a shame because there's clearly a great player in there.
Well not to me there isn't. More interested in his lap top than playing football!
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The offside rules are now nicely left open to allow the ref some flex when making calls that suit the agenda of the FA and sky etc.
That's must be why they wear earpieces so they can be advised by their masters as to when to blow the whistle.
More or less yes.
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
File under "avoid at all costs".
I'd prefer that gestede at Blackburn
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
File under "avoid at all costs".
I'd prefer that gestede at Blackburn
He looks a very good player indeed. Its a yes from me Simon!
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
Yes you are
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
Yes you are
He's not, I stand firm with him.
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For the price we'd have to pay for the mental one, you could have Austin, Ings or Rhodes...give or take a few million. With a bit of luck they'll all be playing Championship football next season so shouldn't be much more than £10-12m (but could quite easily be closer to £20m given how ridiculous the transfer market is for overpricing British players).
That argument just backs up taking a chance on Balotelli, as the three you list are absolute meat-and-potatoes and will probably end up costing you just as much.
No it doesn't. I'd much rather have meat-and-potatoes than meat balls-and-pasta.
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For the price we'd have to pay for the mental one, you could have Austin, Ings or Rhodes...give or take a few million. With a bit of luck they'll all be playing Championship football next season so shouldn't be much more than £10-12m (but could quite easily be closer to £20m given how ridiculous the transfer market is for overpricing British players).
That argument just backs up taking a chance on Balotelli, as the three you list are absolute meat-and-potatoes and will probably end up costing you just as much.
No it doesn't. I'd much rather have meat-and-potatoes than meat balls-and-pasta.
You're are my dad, and I claim my £5. And await a clip round the earhole.
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Go to your room you little s**t! ;)
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He'd be a gamble all right. Maybe a five million fee and pay as you play and he'd be worth it? It's a shame because there's clearly a great player in there.
Is there? This article (http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2014/08/mario-balotelli-at-ac-milan-hype-vs-reality/) points out the real Ballotelli. True, someone who pretty much scores every penalty is great, but I would prefer someone who works for the team and can score and create for the team.
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Am I the only one who thinks a five-eight million bid for Balotelli could be a good bit of Villa business? I could see Sherwood firing him up and getting the best out of him. Having him as an option alongside Benteke (yes, he's going nowhere) Grealish, Gabby and so on could be very good.
Yes you are
He's not, I stand firm with him.
oo
And me, I'm standing firm with Leeb