Post-match thread - Newcastle v Aston Villa

[5ft811st2 Durham]

Now, you tell me, in what way is it Lerner's fault for selling James Milner?

As for hearing from Lerner, you might want to look at his comments earlier in the week about the Man City / Milner situation.

I'd have thought that someone who had invested that much money in the club, who had done so much to build up our trust in us over four years might have a bit more credit in the goodwill bank - accusing him of going out and selling players like he's some kind of profiteering, self interested shyster suggests otherwise.

Without question Lerner is entirely responsible for the sale of Milner, because since the club is managerless  it's clearly his decision and his decision alone.

As for his words last week they were empty. Where was the fighting talk in May when City first leaked their interest through the press?

The truth is that City have made mugs of Aston Villa all summer because Randy was not willing to let MON give City a deadline sometime in July to meet our valuation. I imagine that's because the principles at stake were not more important than the possibility of jeopardizing the deal.

Randy has earned credit in the goodwill bank, but things are now going badly wrong and his brief statement following MON's departure was wholly inadaquate in explaining what the hell is going on and certainly Doug would never have been allowed to get away with that.

[Phil from the upper holte]

You can't blame Learner for selling Milner, he didn't want to be here and I don't want to force anyone to wear the shirt.

[mjlions]

"Oh well from the highs of West Ham to the lows of a drubbing. Who knows what we will get next week."

But isn't that one of the joys of supporting the Villa life is never predictable or boring !!!

[Breezeblock]

well, that was shit wasn't it!

[Toronto Villa]

Now, you tell me, in what way is it Lerner's fault for selling James Milner?

As for hearing from Lerner, you might want to look at his comments earlier in the week about the Man City / Milner situation.

I'd have thought that someone who had invested that much money in the club, who had done so much to build up our trust in us over four years might have a bit more credit in the goodwill bank - accusing him of going out and selling players like he's some kind of profiteering, self interested shyster suggests otherwise.

Without question Lerner is entirely responsible for the sale of Milner, because since the club is managerless  it's clearly his decision and his decision alone.

As for his words last week they were empty. Where was the fighting talk in May when City first leaked their interest through the press?

The truth is that City have made mugs of Aston Villa all summer because Randy was not willing to let MON give City a deadline sometime in July to meet our valuation. I imagine that's because the principles at stake were not more important than the possibility of jeopardizing the deal.

Randy has earned credit in the goodwill bank, but things are now going badly wrong and his brief statement following MON's departure was wholly inadaquate in explaining what the hell is going on and certainly Doug would never have been allowed to get away with that.

Rubbish. So you would have rather our owner standing firm, creating a difficult situation at the club with the player, turning down a ridiculous amount of money the player, and in turn getting a top player in return? Nobody was ever going to offer what Man City were offering for Milner because as good as he is he isn't worth what Man City paid for him. Additionally, Milner's absence had nothing to do with today. Were the rest of the "professionals" (and I'm giving Ireland a pass) that gutted with Milner being sold that they threw in the towel today? No, they just played very badly. They all knew he was going so it would have made little difference. Of all the people that's not to blame in the Milner transfer it is Randy Lerner. In fact, I'd have wanted to know why he didn't accept such an outrageous bid had we turned it down.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Just watched the first half again and there was not much in it. Newcastle tried to bully us all over the pitch but no way in the world did they deserve a three-nil lead. Everything seemed to go their way, Carew's penalty, all three goals, even when Downing tried to knock the ball out it hit the corner flag and landed at the feet of one of their players.

[PaulWinch again]

I have no problem with selling Milner, he wanted to go. Once a player wants to leave you just have to get the best deal for the club and we got a lot of money and Ireland who will be quality. Randy still has plenty of credit in the bank for me.

[not3bad]

Carew......I really think he's 'gone'.

This came through to me as well.  He was critisised for missing chances against West Ham but I thought he'd be OK, just an off day, on another day he'd get a hatful etc.

But today, particularly in the second half there was a certain tiredness about him, like he'd really given up.

[alan_clarke]

it was painful watching how slow he looked when running to chase down a ball.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

It just occurred to me we lost 6-0 to a team containing Wayne Routledge, Alan Smith, and Joey Barton. Ye Gods.

Yep, the same team that got relegated essentially. What a steaming pile of horse shit.

[john e]

the daft thing is at half time, i was still thinking that the Newcastle players were not very good, and if we got a goal back early into the second half we might still make a game of it.

how wrong can you get it,
 that 2nd half was probably the worst performance i've ever seen from a Villla side,
it was a new benchmark that was set for the future, a bit like Englands Algeria game, was to England fans

in the years to come, someone will say Villa played crap today, and someone else will say ' ah yes, but was it as bad as Newcastle 2010'

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think too many are doing Newcastle a diservice. They're not half as bad as most are making out. I certainly don't think they'll be fighting relegation.

One thing that's just struck me watching the game again is the lack of communication on the pitch. Maybe there was certain method in MON's madness when he stood throughout the whole game screaming and shouting, it got the players communicating with each other. There was certainly no urgency in their play, it was more like a pre-season friendly, second half they were just going through the motions.

[Monty]

Just watched the first half again and there was not much in it. Newcastle tried to bully us all over the pitch but no way in the world did they deserve a three-nil lead. Everything seemed to go their way, Carew's penalty, all three goals, even when Downing tried to knock the ball out it hit the corner flag and landed at the feet of one of their players.

Exactly what I think. We actually had the better of the play in the first half but found ourselves 3-0 down somehow. That situation will only happen once every two or three years, and it happened today. If Carew scores the penalty we win today, because they're not the best side and we'd have been more able to sit back and counter at pace. As it was, some ridiculous mistakes and English refereeing (mainly ridiculous mistakes, but the reffing was frustrating) and we're three down. That was game over really, the rest, painful as it was, was just academic. In boxing terms, it was TKO in the 5th or 6th.

Also completely agree about the lack of communication, it really was disturbing to see sometimes.

[Ger Regan]

speaking of which I wouldn't mind seeing Ashley Young get the captaincy of Villa down the road. Say what you want about him, but he does throw himself about in games. You can rarely ever accuse him of not putting in the effort, even if he sometimes falls short on end product.

A major no no for me. I think he's way to selfish for the role. Dunne should be captain for me.

[London Villan]

We may have started well, but with how we defended corners and failed to close people down then we'd have conceded goals whatever...