Aston Villa v Rapid Vienna Post-Match Thread

[eamonn]

Reo-Coker did ok with through balls on certain occassions but you always feel the attack is about to lose impetus when he gets possession. He's just very cumbersome on the ball - I could have sworn at Wimbledon and West Ham he was a fearless marauder with a bit of skill. He's either been very low on confidence for a long time or he just isn't really that good.

[Nii Lamptey]

I'm starting to think that there was some ulterior motive tonight.....

As we've got this retarded premise of playing our reserves in European matches (even though we've been busting a gut the whole of the previous season to get there?!), I think Beye and Davies did their best to get us knocked out so that they don't miss their Thursday night darts matches!

Guess it would also keep Davies fresh for his Sunday football match against the Pig & Drum!

[BarryT]

Tonight was just pathetic.

The atmosphere inside the ground from start to finish was on a par with a Cliff Richard concert before a change of catheter.

From the amount of time the ball spent moving from one side to the other I thought "Butch" Wilkins had found himself a job coaching the first team.

Curtis Davies said that he felt like a pub team player following his first game for Villa a few seasons ago - I've not spotted a change since. Even before that first corner there was a very bizarre clearance in the first half which just demonstrated a complete lack of confidence. He gets rid of the ball like its a red hot poker that somebody wants to shove up his arse (form a queue here)

Beye is just Beye - not seen anything different - left or right - its completely alien to him.

Guzan had lighters thrown at him last week - think they were just being helpful - felt like throwing him a torch myself this evening as he was obviously struggling to see in the dark!

Pluses would be Ireland - thought he was excellent throughout - lovely range of passing and didn't lose the ball once. But he must have been wondering WTF!!

[adrenachrome]

When Gabby went off - and replaced by Alrighton - it would have made sense to all but the current management to put Albrighton on the right side - push Ash more to the left side and we could have put pressure on them when we were 1-0 up.

We started the 2nd half passing the ball across the back 4 with no obvious targets up front. No wonder Rapid sat and waited for their chance. If KMac is such a good coach surely he could see that?

We did seem to lose our shape after Gabby went off.

[CJ]

CJ ...Please do not offend us pub players we're nowhere near as bad as C Davies

lol! That actually cheered me up a bit!

[PeterWithesShin]

Just got back, way too fucked off to comment. Apart from, what the fuck is going at Aston Villa? And also, what exactly do they do at Bodymoor Heath?

So fucked off. Still in August and almost feel relieved I can't make the Everton game.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Why was Delfounseo brought on as right-midfield? Surely A.Young goes there, or Albrighton with Young on the left.

4-3-3 wasn't working defensively and it should've been changed.

Davies and Beye are fucking awful, Guzan is clearly not good enough and there are no words to explain just how bad a player Emile Heskey is. How embarrassing that he still gets a game.

Petrov is too slow and shit.

We scored the first goal based on NRC running forward with the ball which created space. Why don't we do that more often rather than passing it back and forth between defenders and Petrov, then Collins tries to be playmaker and hoofs it forward.

Why didn't Albrighton get given the ball much more?

How long before A.Young decides he wants out?

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Reo-Coker did ok with through balls on certain occassions but you always feel the attack is about to lose impetus when he gets possession. He's just very cumbersome on the ball - I could have sworn at Wimbledon and West Ham he was a fearless marauder with a bit of skill. He's either been very low on confidence for a long time or he just isn't really that good.

At least he runs forward with the ball, something alien to Petrov.

I think Petrov missed the penalty as it was the first time he's kicked a ball forward.

[Loxton01]

Well I am truely in a dark place right now!!!

I have followed the club for 24 of my 28 years and I have reached a complete malaise for football. I am never going to see us win the league and most likely never see us qualify for champs league.

I still had hope for the cups. But we just give up. Where the hel was warnock. Us fans want to win football matches if we won the Europa League and finshed 12th we would be delighted as we havent won anything for 12 years

To rest players tonigght was shambolic and it cost us with defensive calamaties

The board have to act either appoint mcdonald or come out and say we are looking elsewhere this club is becoming a joke!!

Its not good enough the players the staff and the board...... the fans deserve straight answers

[Guy M]

Thank god we are out, european opposition is too much for us...
 
All in all, a huge blessing in disguise...

I have to disagree completely. I wanted to watch Villa in Europe. Even if we played the kids. Even if we were crap. Even if we were pretty much dominated for 80 minutes like we were last week. I wanted that opportunity and this was the perfect time.

I've been denied that. I was disappointed when I left the pub. The rage is now growing.

[midnite]

That line up tonight showed we as a "company" see the European tournament as a low priority. I love reading what the general has to say on the other thread. He talks a lot of sense and has to put up with some harsh questions. But seeing that tonight shows that he's not telling the whole truth about European games. There is just no way u can look at that team. A back four that as far as I can remember have never played with each other at a competitive level before. Davies and beye haven't played a proper game in how long??
Maybe the board see European night as too costly. Gate receipts vs policing, electricity, staff and there's just no money in it. In which case why bother playing for a spot in the league. We might as well be just as pleased with the team finishing 10th instead of 6th because we just piss away the chance to progress when ever we get it. And probably a half decent manager too. Surely we would of been more of a pull to any potential cadidate if he can flex some European muscle. Instead we waste it and have a dull season ahead of us. The most entertaining thing about tonight was the rapid fans who didn't stop all night. I was THAT bored with what was going on on the pitch.
I'm so upset and disillusioned. Really really gutted. 9 goals in two games against us is not a nice thing to see.

[paul_e]

Just got back, way too fucked off to comment. Apart from, what the fuck is going at Aston Villa? And also, what exactly do they do at Bodymoor Heath?

So fucked off. Still in August and almost feel relieved I can't make the Everton game.

What they do at BMH at the moment is try to find the coaches, since most of them left 3 weeks ago and the ones who've stayed are only experienced at reserve and youth level.

[PaulWinch again]

I am terrified about what Everton will do to us.

[mr woo]

Tonight was just pathetic.

The atmosphere inside the ground from start to finish was on a par with a Cliff Richard concert before a change of catheter.

From the amount of time the ball spent moving from one side to the other I thought "Butch" Wilkins had found himself a job coaching the first team.

Curtis Davies said that he felt like a pub team player following his first game for Villa a few seasons ago - I've not spotted a change since. Even before that first corner there was a very bizarre clearance in the first half which just demonstrated a complete lack of confidence. He gets rid of the ball like its a red hot poker that somebody wants to shove up his arse (form a queue here)

Beye is just Beye - not seen anything different - left or right - its completely alien to him.

Guzan had lighters thrown at him last week - think they were just being helpful - felt like throwing him a torch myself this evening as he was obviously struggling to see in the dark!

Pluses would be Ireland - thought he was excellent throughout - lovely range of passing and didn't lose the ball once. But he must have been wondering WTF!!

Nice one - pretty much what I was thinking.

But with better gags.

[eamonn]

KMac is in danger of being remembered as making MON look a genius. How things have changed so much since the opening day...just as well West Ham gave us too much respect.