Rapid Vienna 1 - 1 Aston Villa - Post Match Thread

[Somniloquism]

It was Beye stepping out that had a big hand in their goal. If he had not done that then there was a chance he would have cut out the ball after Curtis jumped with the striker and before Lichaj and the other player ran in. Apart from that he did appear to have a better game then Davies but that is not saying much.

[hollybobble]

yeshes not in my first x1 he looked better than i have seen him. i thought guzan might have done better or the goal as well

[Chris Smith]

There was one big difference in the build-up to this game compared to Moscow (and yes Mac, it was you who said it). The manager's attitude before Moscow seemed to be "It's a hard task, we've got other things on and I'm not going to try." This time round it was "Go on lads, we can do this." And they did.

The other big difference was it was the first leg. we could take a risk and still have a chance of redeeming it, we'd already ballsed that up against Moscow.

[sfx412]

Thought the defence was all at sea for most of the game, the 2 cb's have obviously never played together before and were poor.
Both fullbacks were awful, what has happened to Warnock.
Coker and Albrighton did well, but the rest mediocre to awful after the first goal was scored. If our future depends on the likes of Guzan, Hogg, Bannan, Lichaj, Osborne there isn't one.
Sorry and all that in this time of need to be positive since the little shit walked.
OK job done, but what the sweet fck is the club doing depending on untried kids away in Europe even if the opposition looked awful until after they fluked a goal. It was wrong when we lost to them last season, wrong when we scrambled out against Moscow, just because an untried, unknown reserve team coach has the job, why is most everyone being so delicate.
Job done indeed, and a team with more of the first picks in it will do them, hopefully, but it sends me the wrong message, and you can bluster all you like had Mon picked that side, he'd need sacking.
what's very worrying is the possibility its  club policy and has always been maybe I should ask the General, but it would be a waste of time.
Randy sort it out quick please, whatever it is.

[pauliewalnuts]

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?

Hogg?

I was thinking it was one of the most anonymous performances I've seen from a Villa player for a very long time. Early days for him, and it was his debut, but I thought he was a passenger.

Warnock is starting to worry me, Davies looks deeply unconvincing still, I can't tell if Beye's languid style is about him being confident or unfit, and Guzan looked like an accident waiting to happen for long spells.

The rest did ok, I think. Albrighton just looks better and better, Bannan did well, Downing ok, Heskey I thought worked hard and did well in the build up for the goal, NRC worked his socks off.

I was a bit worried when I saw the line up, and a bit annoyed we looked to be taking it lightly again, and to be honest, Rapid created enough chances to beat us.

Play a stronger team in the second leg, and we'll be through ok, though.

[Karl Bridges]

How can you judge the future of players in their first few games. Don't be silly Malcolm, a much more experienced side went to this intimidating atmosphere last year and got a worse result. The only thing that matters in cup competitions is getting to the next round, not the performance. We should easily make it past them next week and some of our important players will be fresh for a very tough away game on Sunday. Look at the bigger picture instead of what's at the end of your nose.

[DrGonzo]

 I read the quotes that came out of the Vienna camp early in the week, saying that it would be unlikely that we went there and underestimated them.  When I saw the team sheet I nearly let a little poo out   
  I don't agree with the selection but you can't argue witht the result. They didn't show anything we should be scared of when we play at HQ, with another CM alongside NRC we'dhave seen a lot more of the ball. Hogg ran around a lot but just wasn't on the radar. And Lichaj needs a swift lesson in man marking before he sets foot anywhere near the Premier League. Against a better opposition he would have been eaten alive.
 Guzan does not inspire confidence. He flaps worse than James.
 Felt sorry for Beye and Davies, neither has see a competitive 90 minutes for too long.  You could tell M'oN's gone we had a RB at CB!! Never thought I'd see the day.
 But for homework this week I'd like to ask you to answer the following question:  "Emile Heskey.  Why?"

[richardhubbard]

Comments from certain players re Hogg, give him a chance he is a kid

[Pete3206]

I agree Richard, I can't believe what I'm reading.

I was proud of the team tonight. Very young players thrust into a bear pit of a stadium and all the hostility that came with it.

Who knows if these youngsters can go all the way. What I do know is they all put in a performance which has put the team in the box seat next week.

Well done Villa.

[Dan England]

Davies looked extremely out paced.

Hogg was anonymous.

Guzan flapped at any ball in the box over head height.

Heskey please tell me why??? He is as dangerous as a dandelion.

NRC workman like gave 100%.

Bannan good start weakened 2nd half

Albrighton was excellent again.

Downing had an indifferent game.

Don't think Warnock was quite as bad as some suggest.

Lichaj and Beye were reasonable.

[Percy McCarthy]

Davies looked extremely out paced.

Hogg was anonymous.

Guzan flapped at any ball in the box over head height.

Heskey please tell me why??? He is as dangerous as a dandelion.

NRC workman like gave 100%.

Bannan good start weakened 2nd half

Albrighton was excellent again.

Downing had an indifferent game.

Don't think Warnock was quite as bad as some suggest.

Lichaj and Beye were reasonable.

More or less agree with all that. NRC would have had a great game if only the ref had a clue.

[BannedUserIAT]

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.

From Soccernet:

"I'm very proud indeed,'' said MacDonald when asked for his feelings on his young players. "It was an education for the boys, who played in patches, but I was pleased with all of them because it's not an easy place to come. But it was gratifying to score a goal away from home, with the two of them (Bannan and Albrighton) doing very well. It was a good finish, a good goal, and I'm sure you could see the elation in their faces when we did score. There's a very strong camaraderie amongst that group of players.''

How far they go could depend on whether MacDonald is handed the reins on a full-time basis as he is clearly prepared to give them a chance, whereas a new manager may not be so generous.

"They're now getting to the age of 19, 20, 21 where they need to start picking up their education and development if they want to make it into the first team,'' added MacDonald. "There has been a lot of clubs enquiring about them going on loan, but at this moment in time, with the uncertainty, it'd probably be beneficial for them to stay around and see. How far they eventually all go depends on a little bit of luck, and also the application they put in over the next few years.''

[BannedUserIAT]

Shocking officials and those Rapid fans that threw stuff are complete scum.

Maybe they saw last weekends reports about Cackbeard and thought it was a Brummie tradition?

[Chipsticks]

Thought that Lichaj was dissapointing.

Couldn't seem to be able to keep his head, and made a lot of rash challenges. Not 100% sure if he's got the composure to play in the prem.

Oh. And he looks like Roy Keane.

[timeoutbigbar]

Wouldn't trust the defence, Beye is not a Centre Back and it seems neither is Curtis.  Can't see an issue at VP with a proper defence out.  I'm unaware of the circumstances in which Weimann left Rapid, but whatever they may be, it doesn't condone their fans behaviour tonight.  I don't think the incident will have gone unnoticed by other fans, and i think it may have a lasting effect on their reputation.  God knows they deserve it, horrible fans and by extension, horrible club