Aston Villa v Rapid Vienna Post-Match Thread

[UK Redsox]

Most worrying for me was the way that Petrov and Ireland kept getting in each others way. If Villa are going to do any good this season, those two have to play well together.

I was also confused by Albrighton not starting and when he did come on, why was he not "hugging the touchline" ?

[Le Lapin]

Have to agree with a lot of what has been said already.
It reminded me of being at school when the teacher went out of the classroom, the players are just doing what they want, with nobody giving them clear direction.
K Mac the student teacher is not experienced enough, some of the older pupils (Heskey) are sensible enough to carry on with their work, but some of the others are getting ideas above themselves NRC, Beye, Collins, Petrov all thinking they can score, playing out of position, thinking they can try and play fancy football.
The new kid (Ireland) doesn't know where to sit, some of the younger kids are trying to be good but are being swept along with the rest.
If this continues on Sunday, some of the pushy parents will show their feelings from the sidelines
We need a new permanent teacher in to take control and own the class again, or the headteacher to come in for the short term and give everyone extra lines until they start performing like we know they can.
If this continues on Sunday, the pushy parents on the sidelines will start to show their feelings, and it may turn ugly.

Well said that gentleman.

[Rotterdam]

We were extremely juvenille with our approach after taking the lead; we have enough experienced players to have realised that we should have kept the ball and taken the sting out them. Instead we panicked.
Beye was poor as was Davies and Cuellar is not a full back (were LY SW rested?), Ireland player well in the first half and then disappeared. Ash really pissed me off with the shoulder barge at the end, why do it?

We are in trouble if RL does not appoint in the next week. It also is obvious that we have no players coming in. A massive disappointment and I'm starting feel I couldn't careless.

[stevenjos]

right, calmed down enough to type.....
Issues with the game
a) playing a CB at RB is stupid.
b) Playing a RB at LB is stupid
c) Resting a LB because hes played 3 games is stupid.
d) playing one winger on both wings, is......... Stupid
e) playing Emile Heskey is madness
f) Bringing on a winger and putting him in the middle is madness
g) Ireland playing so deep.... Madness
h) We are losing so we send Collins up front.....idiotic.......
i).....when we have a sub left and could bring on Bannan..........
j) who could play out wide where..............
k)Delfouneso was playing for some reason. which is stupid because hes a forward!
l) Put people on the bench who can change the game. Dont totally send them home.
m) and finally.......... resting players for last week cost us the game the most. We should have got more at their ground.

Overall at Villa Park
a) get a manager in tomorrow at the latest if no Interviews have happened then Randy is really, really, stupid.
b) give this person a 12 month contract and then see who is available next year if they arent play acceptable good looking football. As a team who wont break the top 4 this season, we should at least enjoy things.
c) can we all agree Kevin Macdonald is not good enough? can we? Can someone tell ITV4? Cool.
d) Give Heskey away. Pay up his contract. whatever.
e) sign a back up LB now please. Dont let Beye anywhere near LB EVER AGAIN. Maybe ask Bouma back? has he signed for PSV yet?
f) We all need to admit that we are a Feeder/Selling club and start relishing the days out we do get i think. I just feel Milner might have produced a bit more out there, giving us an option on the wing.

[Chris Smith]

It's too depressing to try to go through the entire thread.

MaCdonald picked the wrong team (again) and our defending (Beye in particular) was pathetic. We had enough of the ball and made enough chances to have won comfortably but unfortunately looked likely to concede every time they attacked.

[Guy M]

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!

As WWE-like as it sounds, I've actually started to consider this as a real possibility. I just can't find any other reason as to why Davies would put that ball out for a corner.

No man on the near post seems to be down to KMac as it was the same against Newcastle.

[jonzy85]

After Gabby's goal there was no way I could see us not being in today's draw. Really pisses me off we arent, because I think it was a competition we really could have given a lash.

Guzan- at fault for the 2nd goal, perhaps should have done better for the 3rd. I dont think he will fulfill the promise he showed.

Cuellar- first game back, maybe cut him a little slack.

Collins- probably one fo our better performers.

Davies- do you now see why MON didn't pick you last year? What was doing giving that corner away for the 2nd goal. Still given time I still have a small amount of faith he could become a top defender.

Beye- felt a little sorry for him being at fault for 2 of the goals. Doesn't help playing on the left side, but he is a professional. I like Beye, if he could cut out those mistakes I think he is a good full back.

Petrov, NRC + Ireland- I'm lumping these in together because as it stands these are going to be our 'middle 3'. It was clear last night they hadnt played together before, however at times it looked promising. Under the right manager could be an effective trio.

Young- have to give it to him, he puts it in right til the end. Even if i cant stand some of his petulance. Inconsistent final balls yet again, needs to sort that out.

Heskey- actually one of his better games for Villa, which I know doesnt say much. The miss after the penalty was shocking. Why K-Mac didnt bring on the Fonz for im way earlier on is beyond me.

Gabby- get fit soon!

Albrighton- really have to admit I have been pleasantly surprised by how good he has been. I know there were posters raving about him but I had a feeling that there was an element of romanticism in having a local lad thrust into the first team and taking on the PL. He looks the real deal and hopefully the new manager can bring out the best in him.

All in all, a truely disappointing, humiliating night. Villa are fast becoming the laughing stock of English football.
We need a permanent manager and we need him soon.
Petrov said in his post match interview that the uncertainty is affecting the players.
Randy let's get it sorted.

[Lambert and Payne]

stevenjos - spot on, think im gunna pigyy back heskey to leicester if i have to, might even go as far as plymouth

[Guy M]

m) and finally.......... resting players for last week cost us the game the most. We should have got more at their ground.

Only thing that cost us was last night's shambolic performance. As someone who travelled to Vienna, I'll attest that the atmosphere was intimidating and the team put out that evening did incredibly well, especially having taken the lead so early on and done the traditional Villa thing of retreating into defence. The kids did us proud. Some of the so-called professionals that played last night let us down.

[stevenjos]

m) and finally.......... resting players for last week cost us the game the most. We should have got more at their ground.

Only thing that cost us was last night's shambolic performance. As someone who travelled to Vienna, I'll attest that the atmosphere was intimidating and the team put out that evening did incredibly well, especially having taken the lead so early on and done the traditional Villa thing of retreating into defence. The kids did us proud. Some of the so-called professionals that played last night let us down.

orrrr we could have played people that were rested and maybe nicked one more goal and then gone to extra time last night...

[ktvillan]

From the OS "...Heskey got a decisive touch with his chest to steer home..."

Surely they mean "Heskey had the ball whacked as hard as possible at him to deflect it in as this was the only way he was going to score"

He actually adjusted his body to deflect it home, he did his job tonight, he scored, he won a penalty, he does not deserve to be the scapegoat.

Sadly for Heskey no matter how much good work he does - and he does do a fair bit - people will always remember the bad things.  Last night was a classic - scored (cleverly I thought) , won a penalty, put in at least one excellent cross that almost brought a goal for NRC, and generally held the ball up and linked play well at times.  Yet the penalty rebound miss is what everyone will remember.  Mind you it was a howler and a half and I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing.  When you are missing sitters like the pen and the rebound at one end and gifting goals at the other, you are in a bit of Pooh I'd say, but to scapegoat the "usual suspects" isn't really fair. There were substandard performance all over last night from the keepr to the "manager".

[SteveN]

"Cuellar- first game back, maybe cut him a little slack." -He should never never be picked at right back when we are not playing a wide player  He should never be picked at right back when we do.

A really good central defender, but unfortunately he must have been away from the Spanish Acxademy on the day they did passing.  He must be the only Spaniard who can't pass.

And Beye?  Just why did we sign him?  Him and Davies were a complete shambles last night.

[Somniloquism]

m) and finally.......... resting players for last week cost us the game the most. We should have got more at their ground.

Only thing that cost us was last night's shambolic performance. As someone who travelled to Vienna, I'll attest that the atmosphere was intimidating and the team put out that evening did incredibly well, especially having taken the lead so early on and done the traditional Villa thing of retreating into defence. The kids did us proud. Some of the so-called professionals that played last night let us down.

orrrr we could have played people that were rested and maybe nicked one more goal and then gone to extra time last night...

Why would a "stronger" team last week faired any better then the "Stronger" team this week. If we had played the without the kids then you have to discount the goal we actually scored as at least one of the players involved wouldn't have been playing. As  i have stated before, hindsight is 20-20 and very subjective. If Albrighton hadn't have been greedy during his bursting run and played Ash in we might have had an earlier goal. If the cross from Heskey had hit NRC slightly differently it could have been a goal or deflected in to Ash's path for an open goal 2 yards out. If Curtis hadn't have played we would have been through. All subjective and only clear in hindsight.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I am terrified about what Everton will do to us.

I'm terrified to think what The Blues will do to us.  Seriously.

And every other team.

It has crossed my mind about the Blues & if it were next week i'd be booking my flight to a faraway place but as its in October Im preying that someone will be in place by then

[Lucky Eddie]