Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers Post-Match Thread

[KevinGage]

Usually takes me a good hour and a half to get back after the game - tonight just 40 minutes, a reflection on a very low turnout (18,500?). 

18500 - was this league or Simod cup?

Only 22577 at Anfield - not much better than us from 'the best supporters in the world'. And at least our 18500 saw us win!

I'd say Northampton probably took more for their big night out too than Blackburn.

Still a shocker though.

[JJ-AV]

Northampton took 4,500 I think I read.

I'd be suprised if Blackburn brought 300.

[pauliewalnuts]

Northampton took 4,500 I think I read.

I'd be suprised if Blackburn brought 300.

Looked a few more than that to me, to be honest.

Reckon they had a little less than half of the top level. Probably a third, so, say 600 ish?

[villajk]

I was actually quite surprised with the amount of fans that Blackburn brought to be honest.  Twice as many as I expected.

Disappointed with the overall crowd.  18.000+ - very poor.

As far as the game was concerned, poor first half, much improved in the second.  Players are playing for their places and rightly so.

I'm not a Heskey fan but he did well tonight.

[UK Redsox]

I'm no Petrov fan but he'll probably not be rested again. Sid and NRC were awful at times.

Bannan and Ash were superb in the second half.

Was also impressed by Lihaj and Clark

[Ads]

Has a Carling Cup tie (other than the final) ever been on a weekend?

Our second leg tie against Tranmere was on a Sunday.

[Ads]

Bannan gotta be in contention for Dowings place unless he steps his game up ........

Downing has been one of our best performers this season.

[Legion]

I disagree, but it is not really the thread for this discussion.

[luke25]

We were simply woeful for an hour, as soon as we equalised it seemed to settle us down, credit to Emile for changing the game, never joined in with The Sidwell bashing before but he really was attrocious

[Ads]

The firsdt half was one of the worst i’d ever seen. I can never remember being so bored at a Villa game in all my years.

I was pleased with the tactical shake up by Ged for the second half, having Ash go more central and the impressive wee Bannan go out wide. The kid could go either way then and I thought he found himself in a lot more room when he did come inside. Heskey turned the game with his mobility up top. He scored a really good goal, set up another, looked dangerous and competed with Samba too. You can’t knock him when he plays like that.

[armra1972]

In response to my earlier post where I made a sarcastic reference to the likely 30 seconds of coverage we'd receive on the BBC, I apologise and thank them for the comprehensive 56 seconds we actually got. Cheers.

Thanks to all who posted on the match thread, gave a much better idea of the game.

[D.boy]

3 very well taken goals there.

[Gareth]

Guzan - the complete opposite of his performance against these in the semi - very assured, couple of excellent stops
Lichaj - did nowt wrong, love the long throw :-)
Warnock - quiet
Cuellar - in proper position, played well
Clark - very solid
Young - good last half hour, plenty of effort before that
Bannan - same as Ash
Sidwell - truly dreadful, still does that runs round 2 yards behind the ball rubbish.
NRC - same as Sidwell largely
Gabby - quiet before injury
Carew - Garbage - at least he tried I guess

Fonz - quiet introduction, as with Ash / Bannan came alive after Heskey came on
Heskey - I was there when Heskey turned a game!! :-) looks lean and put himself about.
Curtis - did fine

Sure GH will have been perturbed at the amount of players we have who appear to lack basic ball control and ability to pass.....in particular the two in the centre.  Cant help but think the term 'holding midfielder' roughly translates to one who is of limited footballing ability


59 minutes of durge.....Que Sera Sera.....

[olaftab]

The game tonight changed  after half time. I really felt all the way through first half and  into  2nd that we were going to lose. There had been good  passing football played but  no threat and  no chances.  Introduction of Heskey, shifting Young to centre and Bannan to the left  changed every thing.

I am  and always been anti Emile. Tonight was an eye opener. The guy  was amazing not only  in scoring  and setting up the 3rd goal but  just competent play all around.

NRC must play in all games  till we find a  better alternative.

[pauliewalnuts]

The game tonight changed  after half time. I really felt all the way through first half and  into  2nd that we were going to lose. There had been good  passing football played but  no threat and  no chances.  Introduction of Heskey, shifting Young to centre and Bannan to the left  changed every thing.

I am  and always been anti Emile. Tonight was an eye opener. The guy  was amazing not only  in scoring  and setting up the 3rd goal but  just competent play all around.

NRC must play in all games  till we find a  better alternative.

I agree.

We really could use some steel in the middle. NRC isn't really it, but he's "more it" than any of our other players.

Sidwell was terrible tonight, I thought. I honestly can't believe he's the same player who was so excellent for Reading that season, even allowing for the fact it was four years ago, and that he might have had a one off good season, I still struggle to believe that he can have become quite so bad as he seems to have been with us.