Aston Villa vs West Ham Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

Why did O'Neill never play Albrighton?

Because he was a twat?

I'm sorry but that is completely wrong. Albrighton like some other kids at Villa have come through with great patience. You simply cannot level youth development as being something MON did poorly. He has given the kids a chance and they have to be ready to step up. Albrighton played in every pre-season game, so you couldn't be more wrong with that statement.

Apart from the fact they virtually never saw league football apart from the occasional sub appearance in his time at the club?

[Toronto Villa]

Downing MOM?? He's played well, but Albrighton has been incredible

[Apyadg]

Bannan for Albrighton - what a rousing adulation is he goes off.

One star leaves (Milner) and another one is born (MarcA).

The problem being he's a winger. Who do we move into the centre, Young or Downing? Both pretty lightweight, and far from good alternatives to Milner in the centre.

[Apyadg]

Downing man of the match? Sponsors must have been too busy eating their free grub after the first goal.

[Arsey]

I thought Milner was brilliant today.

[alan_clarke]

looking forward to MOTD tonight

[pr_N'villa]

ireland would take his place

[hipkiss92]

Bannan for Albrighton - what a rousing adulation is he goes off.

One star leaves (Milner) and another one is born (MarcA).

The problem being he's a winger. Who do we move into the centre, Young or Downing? Both pretty lightweight, and far from good alternatives to Milner in the centre.

We could play 4-2-3-1, with reo-coker and petrov and then downing,young,albrigton in front of them.

[achilles]

Downing man of the match? Sponsors must have been too busy eating their free grub after the first goal.

Absolute garbage, Albrighton first, closely followed by Milner!

[Beijing Villan]

Albrighton, Clark, Bannan - three academy grown players, all 20 years old or so. To have them all playing might suggest a team in trouble having to get the kids out to play.

But clearly this is not so. Proud history, glowing bright future.

[D.boy]

Stream gone but who cares. Great performance and the youngsters look very settled. Onwards and upwards.

[Arsey]

I thought Downing was superb; got the opener hit the woodwork twice, great all round play.  Milner would have been my MOM mind.

[achilles]

Although Downing had a good game!

[Toronto Villa]

Why did O'Neill never play Albrighton?

Because he was a twat?

I'm sorry but that is completely wrong. Albrighton like some other kids at Villa have come through with great patience. You simply cannot level youth development as being something MON did poorly. He has given the kids a chance and they have to be ready to step up. Albrighton played in every pre-season game, so you couldn't be more wrong with that statement.

Apart from the fact they virtually never saw league football apart from the occasional sub appearance in his time at the club?

Because they are kids and you can't just throw them in. You have to blood them gradually and he has. Could they have been given a little more exposure? Possibly. But they are youth players just learning the game, and loan spells at lower league clubs is the way to go. Albrighton last season when he did play was nothing close to this. That's down to a good system knowing when to introduce them. MON would have taking advice from Sid, McAndrew and KM over this. The kids coming through are a testament to the whole operation.

[PaulWinch again]

Brilliant only way to describe it.