Rapid Vienna 1 - 1 Aston Villa - Post Match Thread

[Perry Barr Pet]

1-1 was a decent result all things considered.  Not the best we've played, but you got the feeling that, if necessary, changes would have been made.

[Rigadon]

Albrighton seems to have a bit of everything required.  Has vision to pick out a pass, can beat a man with pace and trick and is very hard working.  He reminds me a bit of A Young and a bit of Milner.  Can't be bad.  I guess we'll find out about him when defenders know a bit more about him but he's a very exciting prospect.

Dave, I think the difference between the games you mentioned might have as much to do with our expectations and feelings towards the club and team / manager than anything else but I know what you mean.  Indeed, the 'vibe' for want of a better word can come down form from the team and management as much as it can from the fans.  There's definitely a bit of solidarity which feels very good after the past few months.

It doesn't sit well with me that we send out a weakened side but I guess that's the modern game.  It was harsh on Davies (rabbit in the headlights)  and Beye (did OK) and maybe we could've had another couple of seniors in there.  Difficult to argue with the result.

 

[evalast1910]

Guzan - 5 won't make it at this level at all.
Lee-high - 6 thought he did okay.
Warnock - 4 worse performance in a villa shirt for him
Davies - 3 Pub player
Beye - 4 very poor looked un fit.
Hogg - 8 my man of the match did the simple things right.
NRC - 7 broke up play well.
Albrighton - 8 played will but faded second half
Downing - 6 looks off the pace for me
Bannananana - 7 well taken goal and worked his socks off
He's key - 6 okay just can't shoot!
Fonz - 6 how fast is he really!
Wiemen?
Ozzy?

[Mazrim]

Shocking officials and those Rapid fans that threw stuff are complete scum.
I just hope our lot dont retaliate at VP but it wouldnt suprise me.

As for our team.
Firstly the positives: Valuable experience for some of the youngsters, reslilience despite a makeshift team, NRC playing really well, Guzan doing well, wee Barry grabbing a goal. We'll slaughter them at Villa Park (with neutral officials).

The negatives: shaky defending at times but a third choice centre half pairing, Weimann being injured, stevenjos still has internet access.


Overall a good job from a reserve side and we have more strength in depth than we sometimes think perhaps.

[PaulWinch again]

Guzan - 5 won't make it at this level at all.
Lee-high - 6 thought he did okay.
Warnock - 4 worse performance in a villa shit for him
Davies - 3 Pub player
Beye - 4 very poor looked un fit.
Hogg - 8 my man of the match did the simple things right.
NRC - 7 broke up play well.
Albrighton - 8 played will but faded second half
Downing - 6 looks off the pace for me
Bannananana - 7 well taken goal and worked his socks off
He's key - 6 okay just can't shoot!
Fonz - 6 how fast is he really!
Wiemen?
Ozzy?

I can only assume I don't know who Hogg is, because he did nothing at all.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Very pleasing outcome. We have got a good result to bring them back to VP and now we can look forward to Newcastle with a fairly fresh set of players turning out up there.
Lots of positives with Albrighton again outstanding along with Bannan, Hogg and Lichaj looked more than comfortable. Good to see NRC putting in a solid performance.
Obviously a few defensive problems, but this was down the difficulty of operating as a unit which hasnt really played together rather than individual problems. In fact they were getting to grips with things more in the 2nd half.
My biggest worry was Guzan, as he has shown before hes a great shot stopper but judgement isnt always spot on with what he  should and shouldnt come for.
Overall Im really pleased, onward and upward and hopefully looking forward to six european group games .

[hawkeye]

the most important thing is that we have completely changed our style of play, i thought a decent result and a good work out for the squad.

[Matt Collins]

Don't mean to knock Hogg, but you've got to be kidding if you think he was one of our better players. Similar with Lichaj.

Albrighton was head and shoulders above other players. Still not sure quite how good he is - sometimes direct young wingers like Luke Chadwick fade away after an initial impact - but potentially a great talent.

[hilts_coolerking]

sometimes direct young wingers like Luke Chadwick fade away after an initial impact

Luke Chadwick's initial impact, and lasting impression, was revulsion.

[jembob]

Pleasing result in a pretty intimidating atmosphere which should give some of the youngsters valuable experience.

NRC again showing that he's got plenty to offer us still and even managed to pass the ball to players on his own side.

Curtis Davies - oh dear. He always seems to have plenty to say for himself but tonight's showing was third rate. Even managed to get the basics wrong and he could do with going to the Championship for a year and start learning his job again from scratch. In the meantime shut the feck up.

Guzan ain't going to be good enough ever I'm sorry to say. He is far too vulnerable at set pieces and everybody know it.

Overall, well done evrybody.

[Summers]

Hogg was a passenger and Reo was having to play both centre positions alone. I wont knock the lad, as he's young and it was a huge occasion but I'm confused as to some of the praise he's got.

Anyway, good result. Took a far weaker team than O'Neill did and did far better. Albrighton is going to be a star. Milner will be City's right winger this year - if Albrighton is set to be ours, we'll have the better one.

Let's finish the job now.

[Pants]

I know he's been discussed endlessly but has there ever been a more frustrating player than Emile Heskey? Hope his appearances this season are few and far between.

Any news on the Weimann injury?

[j66acd]

Worst part of the game was Iain Dowie's commentry, worse than the ref's and Curtis Davies' performance put together. Made me laugh when he started to say how good osbourne's brother was at Coventry! Who gives a shit potato head mk2.

Just about did enough though, confident that with a full team we will spank them next week.

[Perry Barr Pet]

Ruptured ligaments apparently.

[hollybobble]

i have to say beye looks a better centre half than right back ,today he looked composed. trying not too get too excited about albrighton but its hard and bazza is the new strachan