Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Petrov again has done very little, which is disappointing.

[hilts_coolerking]

Bears have pulled back a bit against Somerset who are 72 for 2 off 13.2 overs.

[ronshirt]

Somebody recently posted that it could be a confidence thing and I think they were right. When we're flying we're flying but as soon as something goes wrong all the confidence seems to drain away.

[Scott Nielsen]

Was late into the game but have now caught up on Tivo. We're not all that good, are we. Our defending, across the pitch, is really rather terribly poor.

[eastie]

somerset 73-2 in 14th over of final against warwicks at lords, beat me to it hilts

[Monty]

Petrov again has done very little, which is disappointing.

I don't see that. He's made several interceptions, tackled reasonably though completely isolated, passed the ball fine and is our only player moving in the centre of midfield. The formation just leaves him totally without support, though.

[Dante Lavelli]

This formation is also counter productive from an attacking point of view as it means Ireland cannot play his preferred role of floating between the midfield and attack.

I just don't get how managers can make such rookie errors.

Because he is a Rookie manager.

He's probably managed more football matches than all of us added together.

Anyway, now we need to attack I cannot see him putting NRC on as it'd be seen as a defensive substitution (i.e. losing downing/albrighton or young) however without possession of the ball we're doomed.

Not happy.  Tut and sigh.

[PaulWinch again]

Dunne needs to sort him fucking self out. It is unacceptable to be in that sort of shape in his profession, it's the equivalent of me turning up drunk to do my job.

[PhilGibson]

The problem at the moment is trying to shoe horn, Ash, Ireland, Downing and Albrighton in the same team, each of these players in the right formation is effective, but if you play all at the same time its effectively playing a 4 - 1 - 4 (push very far forward) - 1. Which does not work because Petrov does not have the legs to play the holding role with 5 very forward thinking players in front of him. Dunne, Warnock and Young have not been great again defensively but put more protection in front of them then we may get more joy.

We could always try;

Albrighton - Reo Coker - Petrov - A Young
                              Ireland
                               Gabby
I understand this a shame for Downing and he has done well in recent games, but Young played his best football for us on the left wing and ever since Downing arrived we have moved Ash all over the place. Albrighton looks good when he is on the ball. Ireland cannot get into the game because all of the normal positions he would take up are being used by Ash, tactically its very naive.

[eastie]

wonder if ged will show his face in the dressing room and give kmac a tip or two, doubtful i guess - at least gary mac being there suggests hes coming to us as boro are at home today and we must have sorted out a deal for him.

[berneboy]

Cuellar on for Dunne

[Edvard Remberg]

Fucking ell...he subbed Dunne!!

[sfx412]

Cuellar for Dunne, why no Coker for Petrov

[PaulWinch again]

good he deserved to go.

[Monty]

Cuellar IS on for Dunne. About bloody right.

Phil, I agree with that analysis. Harsh on Downing, but we should also remember that this is a squad game and having players like Downing to bring off the bench is a good thing.