Aston Villa v Everton Post-Match Thread

[Monty]

Oh come on Hilts. I was just trying to be calm about as yet unsubstantiated betting rumours. Do you think we're going to sell Ashley Young?

I don't know. I hope not. Beyond that, I wouldn't like to say.

From the very first time that Milner was linked with a move away, I watched the responses on here go from "It'll never happen" to "He's not for sale" to "Only if we absolutely fleece them" to "Milner's not all that" to "It's a great deal". So I wouldn't rule anything out, certainly not as categorically as you are wont to do.

This close to the end of the transfer window with one big player sold, I doubt we're about to sell Ash. I don't think even if he desperately wants to go that we'll let him.

[toplad4u]

I think alot of people are being abit hard on KMac considering the circumstances I think he's does very well. We've won the first 2/3 games of the season and I think he deserve credit for his efforts. Many of the background staff left with O'neil therefore many of the duties others may have done he's inherited and found less time to do scouting as he found out with the Newcastle game. I really belive that KMac if given a chance with a backroom staff of his choice maybe Dwight York as his assistant or coach as he seem to throw his name in to opptaining a capacity of somekind at the club postmatch. I remember last year or the year before against Everton a similar situation when MON was incharge and we won then an he didn't get as much grief. I do belive with the squad we have at second we had no one on the bench that would of been able to change the posession to our favour no matter what manager we have it wouldn't have changed anything. If KMac get the job I hope he most fast for someone in the centre of midfield and a striker maybe Keane (as he's the type of striker we lack and also he should settle in fast).

[hilts_coolerking]

This close to the end of the transfer window with one big player sold, I doubt we're about to sell Ash. I don't think even if he desperately wants to go that we'll let him.

We'll find out soon enough. One thing in our favour is that the one club who seem interested won't be able to offer us something too good to turn down.

[Fasth56]

Can't believe that people think we were lucky, we had the two best chances in the match when Albrighton slashed at the chance and then Howard saved from Young, plus that T*+% Coker clean through and he stops. Theoretically should have been 3 - 0 at least.

[PaulTheVillan]

I think Ashley Young will go.

We're out of Europe and the start of the season has hardly been outstanding.

Spurs being in the CL and MON going etc I think he's made his mind up.

I'll probably be wrong.

[JJ-AV]

Statement from the club within the hour apparently.

What? Regarding Ash?

[Monty]

Statement from the club within the hour apparently.

What? Regarding Ash?

No, the managerial situation.

[villasjf]

Well that was like watching a rerun of the alamo or Zulu, backs to the wall defending against 12 men Albrighton was very good again, according to radio WM a club statement within 30 minutes!!!!

[Legion]

Great result and a much better display/performance.

Good saves from Brad.

NRC, Young (L.), Dunne and Collins were superb. Also really pleased with Albrighton and Young (A.).

Poor referee.

Solid performances from everyone else bar one. Downing. Anonymous, inept and made an insignificant contribution. Not impressed.

[Ads]

We had to work hard, but then you have got to do that against Everton. I thought confidence played a big part in our willingness to sit deeper and deeper. Everton were crossing a lot of high balls into the box from all sorts of angles, but we stood up to it.

The two sitters we missed second half were always likely to see us having to defend as we did, but credit where its due for the way the back four stood up to it. Dunne got very tight on Saha which was good to see and Brad made a top save towards the end.

I wouldn’t be too hard on Downing. Both wide men were poor, but then we weren’t retaining possession or using it high enough up the pitch to really get them involved attacking wise. Defensively Albrighton was all over the shop, while I thought Downing coped well in covering his full back.

A good three points. Nothing worse than going into an international break brooding on a loss. NRC played well for me, my MOTM, despite his poor touch in advanced positions. He battled really well.

Also, how do Cahill and Felani get away without being booked for persistent fouling, yet Stan gets pulled up for it?

[Monty]

Good summary Ads.

[ez]

Well done Kevin for seeing us through that one. Nothing personal but i hope its his last match in charge.

[garyfouroaks]

Just back from the game. Phew a win. Dunne who I am a huge fan of looked slow today. Petrov, who I am not a fan of was dire. The sooner he goes to Bolton/Blackpool (if he is very lucky) the better. i am sick of him conning us.

Albrighton looked, err, bright. It looks like KMac is going to get the hot seat - no good will come of it.

[LeeB]

Should Cuellar get back in the team for the Stoke game?

I think Dunne should make way. He looks unfit and I just don't trust him the way I used to.

Same for me.

[pauliewalnuts]

I thought we let Everton play far too much football. Having said that, although they had plenty of possession, they didn't muster up much in terms of shots on goal. However, playing like that at home against decent sides, conceding that much possession, more often than not we won't get away with it.

On the plus side, I thought Albrighton did superbly, NRC got stuck in (although some excellent examples of his inability to pass the ball, as well), and there was no problem with lack of defensive tenacity.

On the minus side, Dunne needs to be told it is unacceptable to let yourself "go" that much over the summer, he's still carrying timber, Warnock looked out of it, Petrov really is starting to look like he's approaching the end, and Downing was really poor.

Exciting game, though, you couldn't take your eyes off it.

I'd also like to say what an incredibly important player Ashley Young is for us. OK, so his crossing seems to go through patches of being poor, but he has a, errr, mercurialness to his play that gets things moving for us. He also chases down every loose ball going.

One negative - so many empty seats and an atmosphere of things being "on the slide" - the empty seats must have been a stark reminder to Randy of how badly things could slip away, were we to make the wrong appointment.

EDIT and the referee was fucking awful.