Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic Pre-Match Thread

[cheltenhamlion]

We had better bloody win today. Not enough points so far considering who we have played.

[Edvard Remberg]

According to OPTA stats, we were the only team in the league to play more than 20% of passes long - whatever the definition of long is. Great !

Thats because we always pass the ball back to James Collins, who then punts.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

You should also learn the difference between Gypsies and Irish Travellers you daft racist.

And when he does, he can explain it to the Irish Travellers as they also refer to themselves as 'gypsies'.

Back on topic, N'Zogbia says his poor form is because he's been played on the left rather than the right. Maybe his poor form is down to him putting his boots on the wrong feet as he obviously doesn't know his left from right.

[PeterWithesShin]

Time to head off to the game, come on you Villa boys!!!

UTV

[olaftab]

Just came back from a walk and it's hot really hot out there. Going to be a tough afternoon but we must win. No ifs buts or may be's.

[Monty]

Just came back from a walk and it's hot really hot out there. Going to be a tough afternoon but we must win. No ifs buts or may be's.

Yep, especially if we attempt to play kick-and-rush today. The defenders have to support the goalkeeper on the ball.

[TheSandman]

Good insight from Lawro

"Aston Villa might not be playing particularly well yet this season but you can't argue with six matches unbeaten - and once you're on a run like that, the confidence starts flowing and the performances can improve.

The supporters seem to be accepting manager Alex McLeish following his arrival from city rivals Birmingham and they are really getting behind the team. So they should, too, after the start they've had."

Hmm...

Do our players really look that confident? I think a lack of confidence seems to be behind some of the problem with a lot of our players.

[Monty]

Good insight from Lawro

"Aston Villa might not be playing particularly well yet this season but you can't argue with six matches unbeaten - and once you're on a run like that, the confidence starts flowing and the performances can improve.

The supporters seem to be accepting manager Alex McLeish following his arrival from city rivals Birmingham and they are really getting behind the team. So they should, too, after the start they've had."

Hmm...

Do our players really look that confident? I think a lack of confidence seems to be behind some of the problem with a lot of our players.

That and the assumption that the only reason for scepticism about Eck being the Blues connection have conspired to make those couple of sentences annoying even by Lawro's standards.

[citizenDJ]

Given, Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Bannan, Petrov, Delph, Ireland, Agbonlahor, Bent

Subs: N’Zogbia, Guzan, Clark, Herd, Albrighton, Weimann, Heskey

No arguments from me, N'Zogbia has been very poor, unfortunately. I'm pretty pleased with that line-up. Very attack-minded with Ireland and Bannan starting, and based on the second half against QPR I'd say it's worth a shot.

Hope it pays off.

[pooligan]

1-0 home win

[Chris Smith]

0-2

Arguably the most un-industrious and porous central midfield in the history of top flight English football is no match for the might of Wigan's central midfield duo. This proves to be the undoing of Villa in this remarkably dire match. Charles N'Zogbia looks the most enthusiastic since he joined the club in the tunnel before the game meeting and greeting his former team mates, before giving the least enthusiastic Villa performance on the pitch since Carlton Cole, not actually getting above a gentle trot all afternoon. During the second half and at the final whistle, several thousand season tickets are flung in the direction of Alex McLeish, before the rest of the crowd gather at the ticket office after the match demanding a refund.

You were saying.