Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[not3bad]

Didn't watch the game but I'm guessing we played better at Stoke and lost? 5 live said we were much the better side, but they seem to be in a minority of one!

My Wolves suporting mate told me the best side won.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I really don't get the negative comments on here about the performance. Wolves at home is a tough place. We were by far the better team in the first half. Yes they came at us in the second but other than the freak goal can some one point to any chances they created, any close calls we had? None is the answer.

Not that it matters but the first half was fairly even, very good game. Second half, they were on top for the first 25 minutes, Brad made a couple of great saves, as did their keeper from a delightful shot from Ashley that was heading into the top corner. The remaining 20 minutes saw us come back into it a bit. It was a tough derby game that had 1-1 written all over it but was decided by that extra bit of class.

I agree, no need for any negative comments because Wolves were no pushover and probably deserved a point but we have all three, so tough shit Dingles.

[kippaxvilla2]

Ashley Young should be our captain.  He was immense today and whatever else you say about him, he cares and he is also quite intelligent for a footballer.  I just love his attitude and he clearly loves the club.

[dave.woodhall]

Can't we just celebrate three hard-won points when most of us would have settled for one?

[tsvet]

I am amazed to read some comments that we saw today the signs of good passing football.

Certainly did for the second goal.  Flowing move from defense to attack.

I would include both goals into that category, but my point was not about certain situations but the general approach of the game and the way we were taking the ball out of defence, or what we did when we were winning the ball - in most cases we kicked it straight back towards their penalty area. I stand corrected as thinking back about the game it was more a case of us reacting to Wolves style of play rather than our own choice, but still I found it odd that the majority of our passing looked long distanced to me, even during the first half when we were better. A lot of 50/50 passes rather than accurate, to the feet of your teammate deliveries.

[TimTheVillain]

Sky were absolutely desperate for a Wolves winner too, must have mentioned the Stoke game a dozen times. Have that y'bastards.

Is that Dudley born Rob Hawthorne ?

[Irish villain]

Ashley as our captain is beginning to grow on me....he has been immense this season so far and always gives the effort to match his undoubted ability.

[pauliewalnuts]

Ashley Young should be our captain.  He was immense today and whatever else you say about him, he cares and he is also quite intelligent for a footballer.  I just love his attitude and he clearly loves the club.

I agree.

He's not without his flaws, but I really, really like him a lot. His attitude is also absolutely spot on.

[TaxDodger]

Ashley Young should be our captain.  He was immense today and whatever else you say about him, he cares and he is also quite intelligent for a footballer.  I just love his attitude and he clearly loves the club.

I agree he'd be a decent captain. Might help persuade him to sign a new contract as well. Would be a bit mean on Petrov to strip him of the captaincy though, even if he isn't very vocal and looks as though his best days are behind him. Perhaps he wouldn't mind.

[BannedUserIAT]

One thing I did notice (watching on TV) on several occasions, and that was some players (especially Heskey and Young but not limited to them) having a right go at some of our other players. It seemed to me at the time that Houllier had very specific instructions as to how he wanted this game played (Friedel throwing the ball out rather than hoofing up-field seems to back this up a little) and when those instructions weren't followed, bollockings were given out.

Very early days yet but I suspect we'll be playing the ball on the deck and offering some very attractive football. At the moment though, we still have the habit of running away from the ball meaning that a Hail-Mary pass has to come off. Contrast to Wolves knocking the ball 10 yards here, 15 there.

It'll all come good though. Of this I'm sure.

Friedel - Not sure what to make of the goal. I suppose he has to cover the player most likely to nod it in but it didn't half make him (and Collins) look like monkeys. That aside, a top drawer performance. Some excellent saves.

Cueller - MotM. Simply brilliant. When wolves put a ball through or floated into one the box, when I saw Carlos there, I settle back into my seat.

Collins - A bit rash in parts. Rushing into challenges in places he shouldn't be. Almost like he's rusty. Still, very happy his overall perfomance.

L.Young - Can't understand some of the comments on here. He was fantastic. Especially in the first half. Too exposed by a tiring Albrighton in the second though. And Gabby was never going to do anything to change that.

Warnock. Some fantastic tackles but when the ball comes down his side at the moment, I'm back on the edge of my seat as I just never know what's going to happen next! There's an absolutely fantastic left back in there somewhere.

Albrighton - an excellent first half. Tired in the second. I thought he was going to dance around that big fella that came on given he was the size of a gorilla but he just got bullied out of the game. The gorilla got forward a lot too once Albrighton tired which caused Young a fair bit of grief.

NRC - fantastic. Milner-esque energy and some very good passing (!!!). No complaints about Nigel's performance at all.

Petrov - I'm a fan. Have been for a long while. But it's now time to move on. He may as well have had ginger hair today he was that invisible. Made NRC have to work twice as hard.

Downing - Not a fan. But I have to say that he's starting to look very good, isn't he? Not much to complain about with his efforts and a well taken goal! I'm happy to eat my words.

Ashley - getting back to his best. One shitty shitty overhit freekick aside, it was a very good show.

Heskey - Is it that MoN simply didn't know how to set the team up around him? How can someone go from being so utterly poor (verging on incompetent) to being one of the first names on the team sheet? The only thing I can put it down to is MoN simply not being able to use him. Maybe, just maybe, all those other managers weren't wrong after all!

Gabby - I hope Sid and Macca can get the most out of him because he looks lost at the moment. Ashley had the ball close to the edge of their box late in the 2nd half with acres of space to run into just beyond him. It should have been very easy to spot and I thought it was going to be the killer ball we'd been looking for all night. Gabby ran straight toward goal and into two defenders. W.T.F?

Sidwell - Took one of their lads out...let's hope it's nothing too serious. And, er, that's about it really. He must have put himself about a bit though as it seemed to stem the tide for a while.

Houllier - seems to see the game as we see it. How refreshing! Somehow I can't see any dire performances followed by an interview claiming we were "T'rific". I think once we get some depth back into our squad, we'll see our options and our formation/tactics being used very cleverly.

Fans - our lot (from my spot on the couch) seemed very vocal and gave the lads good backing. Well done.

[wozwebs]

Anyone else notice Gabby not celebrating when Heskey scored? Usually he goes mad. Just sort of did a small clap to himself and didn't run over to celebrate with the fans. Doesn't like Emile or in a mood because he was only on the bench?

Also, where was Carew? Not even on the bench.

Great win

[VillaAlways]

Ashley Young should be our captain.  He was immense today and whatever else you say about him, he cares and he is also quite intelligent for a footballer.  I just love his attitude and he clearly loves the club.

I agree.

He's not without his flaws, but I really, really like him a lot. His attitude is also absolutely spot on.
[/quot

[SoccerHQ]

Ginola looks like a tanned Ronnie Moore.

[VillaAlways]

Ashley Young should be our captain.  He was immense today and whatever else you say about him, he cares and he is also quite intelligent for a footballer.  I just love his attitude and he clearly loves the club.

I agree.

He's not without his flaws, but I really, really like him a lot. His attitude is also absolutely spot on.
[/quot
[/quote

Absolutely when Heskey scored he showed pure emotion.He works like a trojan love him

[PaulWinch again]

Ginola just said he hopes we finish in top 4, good lad.