Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Dazvillain on February 05, 2011, 09:28:48 PM
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Is this the most we have ever had in the same squad ?
Walker, Young, Bent, Gabby and Downing.well done lads
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Is this the most we have ever had in the same squad ?
Walker, Young, Bent, Gabby and Downing.well done lads
We had 5 in Capello's 1st squad but Curties Davies had to pull out I think. Carson and Davies were on loan to us at the time though. Also, Walker is a Spurs player that we have borrowed so I can't get enthusiastic about him being selected. Still fair play to them, not that I'll be watching the pointless spectacle.
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Lets hope Capello gives Gabby a run down the middle with bent at some point and show Houillier he is wasted out wide
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Great news, especially for young Walker.
I wonder will super Marc Albrighton get a call up before the season's over?
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The twat on Sky Sports is winding me up saying Walker is a major surprise...... he obviously hasn't seen him play. Thought his energy and drive was superb today. Not the all round finished article but mates of mine down here following championship footie with Swans and Cardiff say he was by far the best defender in that league
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Has Capello watched Gabby lately? :o
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I think Gabby is in pretty decent form since his switch to the left.
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The twat on Sky Sports is winding me up saying Walker is a major surprise...... he obviously hasn't seen him play. Thought his energy and drive was superb today. Not the all round finished article but mates of mine down here following championship footie with Swans and Cardiff say he was by far the best defender in that league
Er, how come you forgot to mention his stunning goal? Is it because his colleagues at the back wasted it by chucking a corner into the net?
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Gabby is the surprise as he has been poor, He is a very limited footballer to be honest . Walker is an exciting prospect its the first time since delany that i have been confident with a right back , Young is the best British winger so its no surprise to see him called up , though i am surprised marc wonder boy albrighton has not been called up.
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The twat on Sky Sports is winding me up saying Walker is a major surprise...... he obviously hasn't seen him play. Thought his energy and drive was superb today. Not the all round finished article but mates of mine down here following championship footie with Swans and Cardiff say he was by far the best defender in that league
Er, how come you forgot to mention his stunning goal? Is it because his colleagues at the back wasted it by chucking a corner into the net?
Yes fair enough...in fact it was pretty much a similar goal to the one he scored in the fa cup against sheff utd
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And a further four in the squad previously played for Villa - Cahill, Barry, Milner and Crouch.
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Spurs will have Walker back at this rate
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I don't mind paying over the odds for Walker - I think he's great. The sort of right-back we need.
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Walker has been great so far. I can't see Spurs selling him to us.
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Well done boys.
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Dazvillain ,if such goals become an everyday blasé occurrence, we will all jump off the roof of the Trinity in delight.
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Is this the most we have ever had in the same squad ?
Walker, Young, Bent, Gabby and Downing.well done lads
Not so long ago teams having 5 players in the England squad were normally top of the table! With Collins, Dunne, Clark, Petrov, Bannan also on their national duty we are obviously under achieving :o
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Spurs will have Walker back at this rate
Yes that could be a problem. Read in programme today that we have the option to buy Bradley at the end of his loan, but not so with Walker which is a real shame on current performances
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in no time at all the London press will link Walker with a move to Spurs.
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Corluka's been touted about and Hutton isn't rated that highly despite his form this season.
No chance will we get Walker.
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I'm pleased for the lads, to get one called up is pretty good but five we must be doing something right, i just wish we could sign Walker permanently at the end of his loan.
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Is this the most we have ever had in the same squad ?
Walker, Young, Bent, Gabby and Downing.well done lads
Not sure but do we still hold the record for the club with most England Internationals ever?
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Spurs will bump a few more million on walkers fee if they do sell him , may well be part of any ash deal in the summer. Pleased for downing to be back in the squad and he deserves to be , but very surprised to see gabby there.
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The England squad is retreating to Graham taylor's England era in terms of quality evidently. Walker has shown promise certainly but is only getting in due to the complete lack of other candidates. Dont think he is anywhere near ready for international football. A Young talent wise should be the first wide man in the English first eleven but his form has been poor for a while and has gone pretty stale as a player. Bent deserves the call up certainly. Not the classiest player but a goal threat even at his worst. Gabby shouldnt be in the Villa side at present never mind the English one. Pretty shocking lack of alternatives though for Capello. Downing has got numerous chances at international level but has never really delivered either.
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Friedel - 82
Luke Young - 7
Warnock - 2
Dunne - 63
Downing - 23
Ashley Young - 11
Pires - 79
Agbonlahor - 3
Bradley - 50
Makoun - 54
Heskey - 62
Petrov - 98
Beye - 35
Bannan - 1
Collins - 37
Lichaj - 2
Salifou - 46
Bent - 7
Total - 562
I wonder how many squads can boast that many international caps between them (and that's not including Ireland, Carew & Guzan who technically are still Villa players).
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Just checked the Man Utd squad - 1171 caps, so maybe not that impressive after all!
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A salutory reminder of the state of English football and of our chances of ever winning anything...
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Corluka's been touted about and Hutton isn't rated that highly despite his form this season.
No chance will we get Walker.
That's the spirit.
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Makes you wonder with so may internationals why we're languishing at the wrong end of the table.
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Years ago i'd be buzzing about seeing 5 Villa players in the England Squad. Whilst i'm pleased for them all, I can't get excited by it anymore. When it comes to the qualifying games, it'll be the same old faces.
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3 Villa academy players in the squad (pfft, Barry counts!)
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Looks like Bent has got the #9 shirt
Darren Bent has been tipped to star for England this week, with Three Lions boss Fabio Capello insisting he has seen a marked improvement in the striker since his record move to Villa.
The 27-year-old hotshot has made a superb start to life in claret and blue, with two goals in four appearances following his switch from Sunderland.
Bent was an unlucky omission from last summer's World Cup squad, with Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch selected in the four forward spots.
But Capello believes Bent has made massive strides since then - and he is likely to pair the Villa striker with Rooney for Wednesday night's friendly in Denmark.
"Bent was not as good before the World Cup as he is at this moment," said the Italian. "He was not the same player.
"I went to see Aston Villa twice. It is completely different. Before he was only playing for the box. Now, he is a player who can play for the team.
"At Sunderland before, it was important for them to go straight for the goal.
"I told him he had to change. He had to work a lot, press a lot.
"He has probably changed something in his mind, not only in his style."
Bent scored his first international goal in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland in September and now Capello is keen to see whether he can form a potent partnership with Manchester United ace Rooney.
"Every time I have picked him he has always been injured," said Capello.
"But I want to see him with Rooney because everyone knows he is terrible for defenders in the box.
"He takes up good positions, he gets the ball. He scores."
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How many of them truly deserve this call up?
Bent - Yes. Downing, Young and Walker - Maybe. Gabby - Never in a million years.
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Good to see that Capello thinks the same as many on here about his overall game. I wonder if the journos knocking his 'limited' game and praising Carroll's 'all-round' style will disagree with Capello? Because they're in such a better position to know.
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Hopefully they all stay on the bench and have a nice rest instead of wasting their time playing for that shower.
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Well done to all the Villa players, let's hope they come back without any injuries.
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Makes you wonder with so may internationals why we're languishing at the wrong end of the table.
Given how crap England are, it seems entirely logical to me.
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Blackpool presumably have very few players on international duty. Could bf a game for cuellar, heskey, NRC to start, plus whoever is freshest following mid week games. Which I don't expect to include stan!
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How many of them truly deserve this call up?
Bent - Yes. Downing, Young and Walker - Maybe. Gabby - Never in a million years.
none of them,
Downing, and Young not good enough, Walker needs more time and experience,
Gabby's not good enough for the Villa team never mind England
Bent is great in the prem where the game is more about Physical strength, and getting on the end of long balls and crosses,
at international level you need to have more technical ability and ball control, and it helps if you have a decent first touch, which Bent doesnt have.
anyway i support England when they play,
but i think it does some players more harm than good, Bent i feel will be one of them, i wont be disapointed if he doesnt play for England and concentrates on Villa only
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So we have 5 on England duty, another 3 or 4 on U21 England duty plus several away with Scotland, Ireland and Bulgaria?
Great.
As pleased as I am for them all I am more concerned with how many of them come back 100% fit as all the international matches this week are merely providing an unwanted distraction before the match with Blackpool.
Apart from Adam I am sure they won't have a single first team player away on international duty this week... unless Marlon gets shock call up!
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I see Gerrard has pulled out of the friendly despite managing to play the whole game today....tosser.
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How many of them truly deserve this call up?
Bent - Yes. Downing, Young and Walker - Maybe. Gabby - Never in a million years.
none of them,
Downing, and Young not good enough, Walker needs more time and experience,
Gabby's not good enough for the Villa team never mind England
Bent is great in the prem where the game is more about Physical strength, and getting on the end of long balls and crosses,
at international level you need to have more technical ability and ball control, and it helps if you have a decent first touch, which Bent doesnt have.
So which of these brilliant technical strikers should Capello have picked ahead of him?
And which wide players should be taking Young and Downing's places in the squad?
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Makes you wonder with so may internationals why we're languishing at the wrong end of the table.
Given how crap England are, it seems entirely logical to me.
This man speaks the truth.
Not crazy about Walker getting a call up. Not because he doesn't deserve it, but it might make any future deal nigh on impossible. Some crazy £12-14 million valuation from Levy in the summer beckons.
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Gabby has not reported for England this evening for personal reasons.
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Gabby has not reported for England this evening for personal reasons.
Saw that on BBC teletext earlier; anyone any indication what these 'personal reasons' are? And will they prevent him turning out v Blackpool?
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May be due to him very recently becoming a father
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How many of them truly deserve this call up?
Bent - Yes. Downing, Young and Walker - Maybe. Gabby - Never in a million years.
none of them,
Downing, and Young not good enough, Walker needs more time and experience,
Gabby's not good enough for the Villa team never mind England
Bent is great in the prem where the game is more about Physical strength, and getting on the end of long balls and crosses,
at international level you need to have more technical ability and ball control, and it helps if you have a decent first touch, which Bent doesnt have.
anyway i support England when they play,
but i think it does some players more harm than good, Bent i feel will be one of them, i wont be disapointed if he doesnt play for England and concentrates on Villa only
Name me a better winger then our Ashley that is English ? , others agree how ever the amount of goals bent has got in the prem over the last 5 years he deserves to be in the squad on merit , its not his fault we have no technical central midfielders ... if only ramsey was English he would be a automatic starter ....
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May be due to him very recently becoming a father
I cant see him missing out on England duty for what is basically a weekly event.
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More likely Internationals are drug tested and with the amount of steds gabby took in the summer he cant risk it. 8)
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May be due to him very recently becoming a father
I cant see him missing out on England duty for what is basically a weekly event.
That made me smile
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Pleased for Downing, his performances this season have deserved a call up. He was the best player on the pitch on Saturday.
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How many of them truly deserve this call up?
Bent - Yes. Downing, Young and Walker - Maybe. Gabby - Never in a million years.
none of them,
Downing, and Young not good enough, Walker needs more time and experience,
Gabby's not good enough for the Villa team never mind England
Bent is great in the prem where the game is more about Physical strength, and getting on the end of long balls and crosses,
at international level you need to have more technical ability and ball control, and it helps if you have a decent first touch, which Bent doesnt have.
So which of these brilliant technical strikers should Capello have picked ahead of him?
And which wide players should be taking Young and Downing's places in the squad?
i'm talking purely as a Villa fan,
i think Bents confidence would suffer as he struggled as others have in a poor England side, i dont think he has the neccesary technical qualities for international football, but like you say there probably isnt an awful lot to choose from, but thats Englands problem not mine.
i personaly would pick Crouch and Rooney as the two strikers
as for Ashley Young, i think he is International class, i really rate him, but right now his form isnt good enough,
to many wasted balls,
getting called up to the England squad should be because of your present form not hopeing it will all come good when your there, and again it could work for the worst not the better.
Downing should be no where near a England team, hasnt been good enough in the past isnt good enough now and in my view wont ever be good enough in the future.
Albrighton would be a better option every day of the week than Downing, wallcot, lennon, Johnson take your pick
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John, your plan seems to be to pick players who are struggling to get a start at their club sides (Crouch, Johnson, Walcott). Doesn't that tell you something?
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John, your plan seems to be to pick players who are struggling to get a start at their club sides (Crouch, Johnson, Walcott). Doesn't that tell you something?
Crouch's goalscoring record for England proves he can score at international football, the same as Bents record proves he does it in the Prem.
so out of the 5 players we have in the England squad, how many would you play ?
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I'd like to see downing and walker get a game, on current form they deserve to be on team, as for ash , well if he plays on the wing he may have a decent game but he has looked like a frightened rabbit every time I've seen him so far for England and Walcott is far more of a threat.
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Easy, five. It would make a change to see hungry players that have real skill wearing an England shirt, come on you Villa boys. John e, i think you are way off the mark with Downing. cracking player. After watching Wank Lampard yesterday, Id give Downing the captaincy as well
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Of the 5 downing is the man in form and has been far more of a threat than ash in recent games , gabby quite frankly is nowhere near good enough to play for England in my opinion.
It's a friendly so capello needs to look at different players and walker should get at least 45mins as should bent. Ashley young has not delivered in an England shirt and needs to start doing so.
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John, your plan seems to be to pick players who are struggling to get a start at their club sides (Crouch, Johnson, Walcott). Doesn't that tell you something?
Crouch's goalscoring record for England proves he can score at international football, the same as Bents record proves he does it in the Prem.
so out of the 5 players we have in the England squad, how many would you play ?
Crouch scores against poor teams but can't cut it against the better sides, Redknapp knows this so does Capello.
I think our 5 all deserve a place in the squad and the opportunity to see if they can fit into how he wants to play. They might not all stay there as certain players suit different methods but to suggest that they shouldn't at least be given a chance seems very short sighted to me.
I've just read Houlliers comments on Downing, "Since I've been here he's been phenomenal, in terms of intelligence, he reads the game well and he plays the position well" and I agree with him entirely.
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I don't think either Bent or Gabby are truely international class, but then in what is effectively a struggling England side how many players are? I think Capello rates Ash and wants to see some of his (admittedly sporadic) Villa form for England. Very pleased for Downing and think his forms warrants it, but feel it's too soon for Walker.
In relation to the question on the first page, I also wonder the last time a side in our league position had 5 players called up??
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If Gabby had pulled out more often he wouldn't have to withdraw from the England squad. I hope he's got a good sick note, it could be his last chance.
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Of the original squad named, I counted 9 who were either current or former Villa players.
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Any idea how many little Agbonlahours there are running around the streets of Sutton Coldfield ?
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Downing should be no where near a England team, hasnt been good enough in the past isnt good enough now and in my view wont ever be good enough in the future.
I just don't understand why Downing gets so much stick from our fans, he's been consistently very good for us this season.
I also don't get the "he bottles tackles" line, either, as if flying into tackles is amongst the key requisites of a winger.
Marc Albrighton, on the other hand, who I think is also a fine player, seems more prepared to get stuck in - and once or twice as a result we've been punished from free kicks he's given away by doing so.
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Agreed paulie, downing has been a totally different player this season and would get my vote as our best player of the season so far.
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dare I say it, but I would put Albrighton and Downing's name on the team sheet before Young's! Albrighton just seems to create so many chances and crosses the ball really well, he's a better version of Froggat. Downing has been in excellent form as well. I actually think GH is doing his best to accommodate Young but to the team's detriment.
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Downing should be no where near a England team, hasnt been good enough in the past isnt good enough now and in my view wont ever be good enough in the future.
I just don't understand why Downing gets so much stick from our fans, he's been consistently very good for us this season.
I also don't get the "he bottles tackles" line, either, as if flying into tackles is amongst the key requisites of a winger.
Marc Albrighton, on the other hand, who I think is also a fine player, seems more prepared to get stuck in - and once or twice as a result we've been punished from free kicks he's given away by doing so.
Totally agree.
I think some people who were critical of Downing last season don;t want to admit they were wrong.
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dare I say it, but I would put Albrighton and Downing's name on the team sheet before Young's! Albrighton just seems to create so many chances and crosses the ball really well, he's a better version of Froggat. Downing has been in excellent form as well. I actually think GH is doing his best to accommodate Young but to the team's detriment.
Albrighton is still in the "good prospect" category for me. He does a lot of good things but also a lot not so good and has looked off the pace in recent weeks and I think Houllier has done well by giving him a break.
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dare I say it, but I would put Albrighton and Downing's name on the team sheet before Young's! Albrighton just seems to create so many chances and crosses the ball really well, he's a better version of Froggat. Downing has been in excellent form as well. I actually think GH is doing his best to accommodate Young but to the team's detriment.
Actually, I would argue that Ash's form is suffering as he's the one being moved to try and play all three, so he's out of position and therefore underperforming.
If we're going to continue with this formation, which i think we are, then by a specialist for that role and let the three of them fight it out for the wide positions.
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dare I say it, but I would put Albrighton and Downing's name on the team sheet before Young's! Albrighton just seems to create so many chances and crosses the ball really well, he's a better version of Froggat. Downing has been in excellent form as well. I actually think GH is doing his best to accommodate Young but to the team's detriment.
Albrighton is still in the "good prospect" category for me. He does a lot of good things but also a lot not so good and has looked off the pace in recent weeks and I think Houllier has done well by giving him a break.
Also needs to cut out conceding daft fouls in our half of the pitch.
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I think ash will leave in the summer and downing and albrighton will be the supply force out wide for bent, I'm struggling to see where gabby will find a place in the team to be honest and would like a midfield three of makoun, Bradley and either bannan or delph.
Would expect defence and keeper to be the priority to a degree in the summer as houllier likes attacking full backs and central defenders who are comfortable bringing the ball out rather than hoofing it - the team is gradually taking shape but there is still a lot to do.
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Gabby has withdrawn from the squad for personal reason ......
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On a slight tangent,i remember when England played in Dublin under Sir Graham,there were 3 Villa players in the England team,and 3 in the irish team,all on the pitch at the same time.
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On a slight tangent,i remember when England played in Dublin under Sir Graham,there were 3 Villa players in the England team,and 3 in the irish team,all on the pitch at the same time.
That was when Sid got called up and Gazza got dropped for "refuelling concerns" that GT had, the press went mad about it, hindsight suggests GT knew what he was talking about.
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Agree on Downing, and so does GH it seems:
"Since I've been here he's been phenomenal," Houllier said of a player who looks fitter and stronger than in previous seasons. "In terms of intelligence, he reads the game well, he plays the position well. Fabio Capello has been to see a lot of our games so he must know him well."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/07/aston-villa-fulham-premier-league
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Any idea how many little Agbonlahours there are running around the streets of Sutton Coldfield ?
Not sure but I bet they run quickly!
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Downing should be no where near a England team, hasnt been good enough in the past isnt good enough now and in my view wont ever be good enough in the future.
I just don't understand why Downing gets so much stick from our fans, he's been consistently very good for us this season.
I also don't get the "he bottles tackles" line, either, as if flying into tackles is amongst the key requisites of a winger.
Marc Albrighton, on the other hand, who I think is also a fine player, seems more prepared to get stuck in - and once or twice as a result we've been punished from free kicks he's given away by doing so.
Downing whinces before getting to the tackle.Since his broken foot he has the back bone of a Frenchman.
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lets see what Downing does then if he gets on the pitch,
if i'm right he will run around a bit doing very little of any great note, get subbed at half time,
everyone on here will say he was played in the wrong posision, with the wrong players, in the wrong formation or any other excuse people can think up,
when all along he just isnt good enough to play at that level,
but lets wait and see, time will tell, although i'm at the theatre on wed night so you'l all have to fill me in
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I wouldn't expect a winger such as Downing to go flying into tackles. I also wouldn't expect him to actively avoid any sort of physical encounter either though. He's generally a very good player and I'm certainly glad we've got him. He is a big soft ponce though.
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He is a big soft ponce though.
Can't deny this.
It's his job to be creative and not get stuck in, but bloody hell, he doesn't half shirk the physical stuff.
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He is a big soft ponce though.
Can't deny this.
It's his job to be creative and not get stuck in, but bloody hell, he doesn't half shirk the physical stuff.
He bottled Vidic's goal at old trafford last week, I think he could have made more of an effort but I suppose we didn't buy him for that.
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Aston Villa International bossing Denmark. Goals from Bent & A Young. Support from Cahill, Downing, Milner and Barry. Walker poised to outdo Johnson from the bench. (At 18 mins to go.)
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Where was ex Villa Crouch & Carlton Cole?
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I usually give up on friendlies after about 20 minutes but really enjoyed that. Obviously having Villa players helped but it just looked far better all round, more energy and drive but more comfortable on the ball too.
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He is a big soft ponce though.
Can't deny this.
It's his job to be creative and not get stuck in, but bloody hell, he doesn't half shirk the physical stuff.
Has he always been a wee bit soft? How did he break his leg before playing for us?
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He is a big soft ponce though.
Can't deny this.
It's his job to be creative and not get stuck in, but bloody hell, he doesn't half shirk the physical stuff.
He bottled Vidic's goal at old trafford last week, I think he could have made more of an effort but I suppose we didn't buy him for that.
It was Petrov who "bottled" the Vidic shot. But he is lightweight in tackles and challenges though .........
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I usually give up on friendlies after about 20 minutes but really enjoyed that. Obviously having Villa players helped but it just looked far better all round, more energy and drive but more comfortable on the ball too.
I hope you made the most of it, it'll be the same tired old faces back for the next qualifier.
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Where was ex Villa Crouch & Carlton Cole?
Sssshh we all agreed never to mention those embarrassing incidents again.
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Paul Merson "Milner looked superb, like his old self when he was in the U21's and at Villa"
Come back jimmy.
7 current or previous Villa players tonight.
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Did they have to play bent for 90 mins?
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It's ok, it doesn't run around too much so can't be knackered.
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Ian j it was petrov that injured Downing
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Paul Merson "Milner looked superb, like his old self when he was in the U21's and at Villa"
Come back jimmy.
7 current or previous Villa players tonight.
8 if you include Tommy Sorensen ;)
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lets see what Downing does then if he gets on the pitch,
if i'm right he will run around a bit doing very little of any great note, get subbed at half time,
everyone on here will say he was played in the wrong posision, with the wrong players, in the wrong formation or any other excuse people can think up,
when all along he just isnt good enough to play at that level,
but lets wait and see, time will tell, although i'm at the theatre on wed night so you'l all have to fill me in
so how did the boy wonder do ?
like i said i couldnt watch the game last night, but believe he came on in the second half,
so did he play like i said, or are we bracing ourselves for a massive transfer bid from Man city in the summer ?
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He played pretty well in a lively England second half. However, there's little point trying to tell you why as your blind prejudice will not allow you to aknowledge it.
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He played pretty well in a lively England second half. However, there's little point trying to tell you why as your blind prejudice will not allow you to aknowledge it.
only asking,
if he played well then thats fine by me, we all have are favourites and he's not one of mine admittedly, but would still rather him play well than not.
taped the highlights will watch them later
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I thought our lads past and present had a pretty good showing last night. Maybe the media will start to talk about us in such glowing references as they continually do for West Ham.
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Ash played much better in the free role yesterday than he has for us all season. He didn't just blindly run beyond Benty, he waited for his moments instead of looking for the killer ball every time, he knew when to go forwards, when to go back and when to go wide. Why play so well for England and not for Villa when he was surrounded by practically the same players is beyond me.
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That's the best Ash has ever played for England and certainly a lot better than he's played for us most of this season. Hope it bodes well for the rest of the season.
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Ash played much better in the free role yesterday than he has for us all season. He didn't just blindly run beyond Benty, he waited for his moments instead of looking for the killer ball every time, he knew when to go forwards, when to go back and when to go wide. Why play so well for England and not for Villa when he was surrounded by practically the same players is beyond me.
He looked like he had a bit more time on the ball to me.
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Ash played much better in the free role yesterday than he has for us all season. He didn't just blindly run beyond Benty, he waited for his moments instead of looking for the killer ball every time, he knew when to go forwards, when to go back and when to go wide. Why play so well for England and not for Villa when he was surrounded by practically the same players is beyond me.
He looked like he had a bit more time on the ball to me.
Actually that's true. And this would aid his decision making, which hasn't looked quick enough for the position in the Premier League.
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I thought our lads past and present had a pretty good showing last night. Maybe the media will start to talk about us in such glowing references as they continually do for West Ham.
They are
The evening mail said... Denmark 1 Aston Villa 2 :) Does it get any better?
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Ash played much better in the free role yesterday than he has for us all season. He didn't just blindly run beyond Benty, he waited for his moments instead of looking for the killer ball every time, he knew when to go forwards, when to go back and when to go wide. Why play so well for England and not for Villa when he was surrounded by practically the same players is beyond me.
He looked like he had a bit more time on the ball to me.
Actually that's true. And this would aid his decision making, which hasn't looked quick enough for the position in the Premier League.
I think his snood is on too tight and it prevents messages getting from his brain to his feet. No such issues last night and not surprisingly he played well.
Actually, I just think he's still learning the position, and he played well last night which can only bode well for us. Couple that with him developing a better relationship with Benty, then we can hope it transfers to their league play.
Now to get Gabby more involved...
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Headline in one paper today was "Aston Thrillers"
I thought Young looked v good - his cross-field pass to Walcott was particularly good, as was the way he took his goal.
Bent did okay but had three other good chances to score and failed to net them ... shame.
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The evening mail said... Denmark 1 Aston Villa 2 Does it get any better?
Yes. Blackpool 1 Aston Villa 2 would.
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Blackpool 0 Villa 4 would be even better. Hope Ash & DB can build on that understanding in the PL.