Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers Post-Match Thread

[atomicjam]

The first half was dire. The second great. The best thing tonight for me was that in most games so far this season we have faded or just seemingly given up in the second half. Tonight we got better as the second half went on. Yes, MON did often replace JC with EH but not with so long to go. And players seemed to shift around more and get motivated in the second half. There was alot of changes from our last game and a lot of youngsters out there. Blackburn had more experience and were a bigger side, yet the strengths we had, passing, playing out wide and attacking at speed were brought out. Nice.

[Toronto Villa]

Inter Milan manager Sam Allardyce:


"We've gone in front in six games out of seven and haven't been able to hold onto things.
"A game lasts 90 minutes, not 45 and it's frustrating for us. We couldn't cope with Villa's change in shape.
"We must be more resilient defensively and just keep working away at things."

The bit in bold is nice to read

[vilan461]

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.

Totally agree 101%-----also thought this was Emile,s finest 35 mins in The Claret & Blue, Good to see Lichaj, Bannan  Clark & The Fonz  get some actual playing time--all did their bit---a shame the gate was only 18000+

[atomicjam]

Inter Milan manager Sam Allardyce:


"We've gone in front in six games out of seven and haven't been able to hold onto things.
"A game lasts 90 minutes, not 45 and it's frustrating for us. We couldn't cope with Villa's change in shape.
"We must be more resilient defensively and just keep working away at things."

The bit in bold is nice to read

Wow, that is not a sentence used often in recent times about us. The omens are good even if it is after just one game.

[PeterWithesShin]

A truly awful first half, then Heskey appears and as the the first chorus of "Heskey's Shit My Lord" echoes from the 300 or so Blackburn fans, he's won us the game.

And how much did I love those Northern monkeys having another night journey home after losing a cup game at VP. All that "Won fuck all My Lord" (we've won trophies than you can dream of, wankers) "Shit Support My Lord" and "Empty seats My Lord" (how many did you bring tonight, 300? How many for the semi last season? And how many would there have been if the tie had been played at Ewood? wankers!)

And the high point of the night?
Heskey justifying my constant defence of him? No
The sight of the Blackburn fans sloping off into the night, My Lord? Nope
The prospect of another cup run? Not even that
Spending a few minutes chatting to Dave as he relieved me and my sister of £1.50 each? You bet!

[BannedUserIAT]

Spending a few minutes chatting to Dave as he relieved me...

My interweb crashed, sadly and this is all I can see.

[eamonn]

More info on Lichaj and Del-phon-eso's performances please.

[eamonn]

They kept West Ham - Millwall as a midweek evening game last season.

Hmm...and look how that turned out.

[VillaZogmariner]

Any online links to see the goals?

[Bad English]

Real Madrid Triple winner, manager Sam Allardyce:


"We've gone in front in six games out of seven and haven't been able to hold onto things.
"A game lasts 90 minutes, not 45 and it's frustrating for us. We couldn't cope with Villa's change in shape.
 

That Fat Sam ought to keep trying. His tenure at Real Madrid will set him up for the big one, the one he really wants: The manager who brings the title and the UEFA Wankers League to the Toon. What?

[UK Redsox]

Any online links to see the goals?

Beeb website, but I doubt that's any good for you

[richard moore]

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.

For which read almost every Reading player from that season Paulie as we have oft said on here. I am puzzled by your superfluous use of the word 'tonight' in your analysis of Sidwell though ;-)

[UK Redsox]

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.....

I thought Warnock put in some good defensive headers from their goalkicks and general down field humps.

I thought Carew was OK but had no one within yards of him to take advantage of his "hold-up" play and flick ons.

Agree with your comments about Sid and NRC. Ozzy and the bullet-proof one wouldn't have been any worse

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Fat Sam's twitter remarks on meeting Houllier.

He goes: "But we should have ze chat." I reply: "Listen Clouseau, I've got my DS on the bus & i've nearly completed 'WordJong' so BACK OFF."
about 7 hours ago via web .

So I go to his office out of curiosity, and it turns out he did actually have wine and some Scampi Fries. Made my excuses and left.
about 8 hours ago via web

Houllier comes up to me after the game and offers me "some wine and nibbles" in his office. Then winks. Fucking French fruit. I was furious.
about 8 hours ago via web

[Irish villain]

I was impressed with Lichaj in pre season and was delighted to see him get his run last night.

GH showed his tactical prowess last night and I hope it continues. Under the previous manager there was always the sense that things had to go our way in the first hour or so and that to win we'd be hanging on for dear life near the end. We also knew that if things hadn't gone our way in the first hour there was damn all chance they would in the final half hour because we'd just keep trying what clearly wasn't working.

I feel more comfortable now that I know we have a manager who can turn a poor performance on its head by showing a bit of imagination with subs and formation!