Villa 3-0 West Ham: Post Match Thread

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?

KMac? On loan? I can't imagine many potential managers complaining if we had him. I'm sure we have a file on him so it's not just a knee-jerk reaction, especially if the rumours about us no longer being interested in Robbie Keane are true. It would also push Heskey to the exit door.
I'

[Villa'Zawg]

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

The report in the Italian media a week or two ago seemed marginally more substantial than the usual. They said we'd bid €16m for him.

[Toronto Villa]

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?

Shame that Mourinho's left Milan

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?

Here's a 2+2 = 156377 scenario. Villa have intial contact with Ajax over Jol. Ajax say yes, and Jol says "I'd be delighted" Nothing's made official, but then Jol says, why don't you go that Dutch bloke Huntelaar from Milan. He'd be a brilliant first signing. Jol and Huntelaar are announced next week, along with Ireland who joins to confirm Milner's departure. KM and Sid are then appointed new Assistant Manager and First Team coach.

[hipkiss92]

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?

Shame that Mourinho's left Milan

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

Perfectly possible, but on whose say-so would we be signing him?

Here's a 2+2 = 156377 scenario. Villa have intial contact with Ajax over Jol. Ajax say yes, and Jol says "I'd be delighted" Nothing's made official, but then Jol says, why don't you go that Dutch bloke Huntelaar from Milan. He'd be a brilliant first signing. Jol and Huntelaar are announced next week, along with Ireland who joins to confirm Milner's departure. KM and Sid are then appointed new Assistant Manager and First Team coach.

No you leave Sid and KM in charge of the youth and reserves so that they can mould tha foundations of the team which Jol builds upon using his extensive knowledge of european football.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

The report in the Italian media a week or two ago seemed marginally more substantial than the usual. They said we'd bid €16m for him.

Haven't seen that but in the Dutch press earlier this month it was reported we were in for him but only when we'd sold Milner. The only doubt was that he was looking to join one of the top European clubs and Villa may not fit into that category.

[hipkiss92]

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

The report in the Italian media a week or two ago seemed marginally more substantial than the usual. They said we'd bid €16m for him.

Haven't seen that but in the Dutch press earlier this month it was reported we were in for him but only when we'd sold Milner. The only doubt was that he was looking to join one of the top European clubs and Villa may not fit into that category.

But we've won the European Cup!

[Chris Smith]

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

It would surprise me, in fact I'd be fucking gobsmaked.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Aston Villa news and views reporting Lerner flew to Milan this am. Who and why not known  

Huntelaar.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. It looks like Ibrahimovic is leaving Barca for Milan, so Huntelaar could be available.

It would surprise me, in fact I'd be fucking gobsmaked.

Gobsmacked you say? Where's my Villa prayer mat? (winky)

[Monty]

No you leave Sid and KM in charge of the youth and reserves so that they can mould tha foundations of the team which Jol builds upon using his extensive knowledge of european football.

I agree with this, but would also say we have a more team-based approach to coaching, whoever takes over, so K Mac has an advisory influence in first team affairs (as in, if he says Bannan, Clark, Weimann and Albrighton are ready, that advice isn't ignored), Sid gets more of influence in reserve team affairs (maybe young Gary Gardner or Samir Carruthers, if they're ready for the step-up, get a chance) and so on, as opposed to there just being top-down occasions.

As for the game, there was still a little bit too much cross-as-first-option and hit-towards-big man in the game. Downing and Warnock were most guilty of the former, Friedel and Luke Young of the latter. If we play with our best team, which has Gabby in it, surely both of these problems will need to be looked at further. Hopefully K Mac can do that during the week.

[olaftab]

Here's a 2+2 = 156377 scenario. Villa have intial contact with Ajax over Jol. Ajax say yes, and Jol says "I'd be delighted" Nothing's made official, but then Jol says, why don't you go that Dutch bloke Huntelaar from Milan. He'd be a brilliant first signing. Jol and Huntelaar are announced next week, along with Ireland who joins to confirm Milner's departure. KM and Sid are then appointed new Assistant Manager and First Team coach.

Now wouldn't that be nice....however as us  fans live in hope I am there with you.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.

Carew worked hard throughout the game. He missed some chances but another time at least one of those will result in a goal.

Y'see, I thought he was poor; not for the missed cahnces and the poor first touch in his one-on-one in the first half. No, the reason is that when you've got a player like MA who whips the ball in from the wing the front man has to be there. Unfortunately, Big John - more often than not - was ambling into the penalty area rather than actually in the 6 yard box. He's actually not the player we need with Downing and MA out wide; we need a Gabby or Delfouneso who will anticipate and have the pace to get there.

Sorry to be critical, just my view.

You're view is wrong. Carew played very well. Held the ball up very well and had to deal with a lot of crap from the ref giving fouls against him for simply being stronger than his opponent. You moan he's not in the box, but he's usually had a part to play in the build up if he's not in the box. Not everyone can be as quick as a lot of the players we have. When he was not involved in the build up, he was in the box, hence he could (and should) have scored a couple of goals from being in the box.

How you can say he was poor is beyond me. You must've been watching a totally different game.

[paul_e]

Here's a 2+2 = 156377 scenario. Villa have intial contact with Ajax over Jol. Ajax say yes, and Jol says "I'd be delighted" Nothing's made official, but then Jol says, why don't you go that Dutch bloke Huntelaar from Milan. He'd be a brilliant first signing. Jol and Huntelaar are announced next week, along with Ireland who joins to confirm Milner's departure. KM and Sid are then appointed new Assistant Manager and First Team coach.

Now wouldn't that be nice....however as us  fans live in hope I am there with you.

Not sure Jol would be my choice but the general idea is good.  Get Kmac to combine the reserve role with being assistant manager (should be the same job anyway so that the reserves are all part of the bigger 'senior squad') but I'd leave Sid where he is for now, so long as he's happy there.  Since he started the job the technique of the kids coming through has increased massively.  Clark yesterday being the perfect example, great defensive performance made much better by how comfortable he was bringing the ball under control and passing it about.  The training received at that level is defining in what the players will become and in Sid we've got one of the few english coaches about who's putting more stock in technical attributes than pace and power.

[paul_e]

I actually thought that, other than the chances he missed, Carew did pretty well. Put himself about, and caused a lot of trouble for them.

Carew worked hard throughout the game. He missed some chances but another time at least one of those will result in a goal.

Y'see, I thought he was poor; not for the missed cahnces and the poor first touch in his one-on-one in the first half. No, the reason is that when you've got a player like MA who whips the ball in from the wing the front man has to be there. Unfortunately, Big John - more often than not - was ambling into the penalty area rather than actually in the 6 yard box. He's actually not the player we need with Downing and MA out wide; we need a Gabby or Delfouneso who will anticipate and have the pace to get there.

Sorry to be critical, just my view.

You're view is wrong. Carew played very well. Held the ball up very well and had to deal with a lot of crap from the ref giving fouls against him for simply being stronger than his opponent. You moan he's not in the box, but he's usually had a part to play in the build up if he's not in the box. Not everyone can be as quick as a lot of the players we have. When he was not involved in the build up, he was in the box, hence he could (and should) have scored a couple of goals from being in the box.

How you can say he was poor is beyond me. You must've been watching a totally different game.

Maybe a bit harsh but there was one moment that summed up what you're saying about the shit he gets.  Carew running down the right with Upson, they go shoulder to shoulder and carew wins it easily, so Upson just held onto his arm.  After a couple of seconds hte linesman gave the free kick to Upson.  I absolutely couldn't believe it, truly shocking decision.  Another good example was when John hit the post in the second half, he was being pulled all over the place but you can guarantee there was never any chance of him getting the pen that he should've because he just used his strength and won the challenge despite being fouled.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Carew certainly kept their centre backs on their toes.

Kevin Mac still has plenty of work to do with the squad, despite the joyous display yesterday. We had something like 18 corners and absolutely nothing to show for it. Hopefully he'll introduce some practice and ideas on set pieces and corners, something according to Ricard Dunne, we never bothered with in the past.

On a more positive note, despite the kids coming off the bench yesterday, I was pleased to see NRC get some time on the pitch. He may not be first choice but unless we bring in somebody better, he'll have a role to play this season. It appears the same can not be said for Sidwell and Heskey.

[ozzjim]

Petrov has made some interesting comments on Sporting Life. Considering he was captain under MON, he seems very much behind Kevin MacDonald.

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has urged the club's American owner Randy Lerner to appoint Kevin MacDonald as the full-time replacement for Martin O'Neill.

MacDonald took over as caretaker manager after O'Neill's shock resignation and he made the perfect start with a 3-0 destruction of West Ham.

The Scot, who briefly held the caretaker role at Leicester in 1994 before following Brian Little to Villa, has said he is not a big enough name for the job.

But Lerner suggested MacDonald is in the running, having given him the green light to stay in charge for Thursday's Europa League clash with Rapid Vienna.

And Petrov, who scored Villa's second goal in a commanding opening-day performance against the hapless Hammers, revealed the players are right behind him.

"The way he prepared us for the game showed us that he wants to hold onto that job - and I hope we can help him take that job," said Petrov.

"We are behind him. He has been at the club a long time, done a great job with the youth and he has the opportunity to do it now.

"I said to him before the game, 'you try and hold onto that job'.

"He knows it's hard. Expectations are high and people want success and they talk about big names - but he has the opportunity and he is really determined to stay there.

"We played really well, we showed what we can do and if it keeps going that way there is no reason why he cannot make his own name."

Lerner revealed he will wait to be guided on the managerial decision by MacDonald's own view of the situation.

"There are those managers who like the show and the attention - and then there are those such as Kevin," he said.

"I'm not going to say it is in Kevin's hands now but much will depend on how Kevin feels, whether he thinks this might be right for him, if he is comfortable with the idea of being Villa's manager.

"He is such a cool guy, he is popular with the players who really played for him and with the fans and the press. We will see how he feels when he wakes up from this and then we will look at the situation from there."

MacDonald has held a number of posts at Villa, most recently as reserve-team coach. He awarded a first Premier League start to Marc Albrighton, the newly-capped England Under-21 winger, and it proved to be an inspired selection.

Albrighton had a major hand in all three Villa goals. Downing finished the first from close range, Petrov headed in the second and James Milner wrapped up the victory in style in what could be his final game for the club.

West Ham could not live with Ashley Young's pace and movement, while Albrighton led Herita Ilunga a merry dance down the right wing all afternoon. On the other flank, Downing was in a different league to West Ham's Kiwi debutant Winston Reid.

Petrov continued: "Every manager has a different style and Kev has a different vision on how we can play and we showed today we can be faster and play with more freedom.

"He always believes that the young players coming in are the future of the club and he's been working with these kids for a long time.

"He (Albrighton) played like it was his 100th Premier League game. He was quick and confident and he tried to beat people and create chances for us. He did really well."

Milner's name was jeered before kick-off but he left the field to a standing ovation, although MacDonald was not confident the England international would still be around for the Vienna trip.

Manchester City are in negotiations over a deal for Milner which could see Stephen Ireland move in the opposite direction.

"The latest I heard, there was still a stalemate with Man City but that could change within hours," MacDonald said after the game.

Just as Villa put the managerial upheaval to one side, so Milner refused to be fazed by all the transfer speculation swirling around his head.

Petrov said: "When you are a good player and teams want to pay £20million, £30million for you then you can do nothing about it.

"He is giving everything for he club like he always does. He's a great pro and people should learn from him.

"He deserves the standing ovation because you don't see many more honest players in the world coming out and playing like that with such heart.

"He was flattered by the reaction - and when you make the fans happy and see them behind you, it makes it even harder to leave.

"After today he may even decide to stay."

While Villa launched into a new era in style, West Ham's new manager Avram Grant admitted his side had been comprehensively outplayed.

"They were better than us. Villa played sharp and quick like we planned to do. It was not so good," said Grant.

"I spoke with the players when we started and I said I wanted to see how they players react when we win and when we lose."



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