Aston Villa v Burnley Post-Match Thread

[Reality]

Ireland was involved in a lot of our earlier attacks, but as he always seems to do he became absolutely silent in the second half. I don't think I heard him even be mentioned, other than when he went off.

[dave.woodhall]

If we'd won 6-0 with a Brazil '70 display of attacking brilliance we'd currently be in the draw for the quarter-finals.

We also know we won't get drawn against either Small Heath or Ipswich. Ladbrokes have stopped taking bets they'll play each other.

[The Situation]

Imagine if Bale scored a goal like Downing did tonight...

Only got to see a bit of highlights but what I can gather from watching very briefly was that Sidwell is up to his old tricks again of giving the ball away too easily and not showing enough 'bite'. We defended well again with last ditch blocks and Heskey scored again which is great... would be even better if he scored against that shower on Sunday. Downing, Coker and Ash played well again, just a shame Albrighton got a red... there was no need for that silly push, the Burnley player over hit his second touch. Oh well, we're through to the QF's and a win gives us some momentum into Sunday.

[Reality]

I also noticed Houllier couldn't resist mentioning Liverpool again in his post-match interview.

[TaxDodger]

Just got back. We were lucky but we're through and that's all that matters really. Great performance from Friedel. Why must the Holte sing "shit suppot ma'lord" after being outsung for the first 20 minutes of the match? I know we do every game but it never ceases to irritate me. Surely the people singing it must realise how silly it sounds?

[Toronto Villa]

Ireland, I thought looked quite dangerous for spells.

I agree, and I think Ireland is more disappointed in himself than anything else. We've all seen the evidence of how good he can be. He's barely played competitively in the last year so it's no surprise he's not up to speed. Those people who were slamming Downing for pretty much the same thing last year are now seeing the excellent player that he really is. Before people start slating him, give him a chance to get fit and get in tune with the changes in his career. He'll come good.

[VillaAlways]

Ireland, I thought looked quite dangerous for spells.

Absolutely I am convinced he will be a fantastic player for us.We've seen glimpses already he just needs time

I agree, and I think Ireland is more disappointed in himself than anything else. We've all seen the evidence of how good he can be. He's barely played competitively in the last year so it's no surprise he's not up to speed. Those people who were slamming Downing for pretty much the same thing last year are now seeing the excellent player that he really is. Before people start slating him, give him a chance to get fit and get in tune with the changes in his career. He'll come good.

[Pete3206]

Teams aren't going to lie down in a one off cup match. Burnley played beyond themselves and ultimately we had a bit of quality to win the game. How often have the top sides had games like this?

That said, Sidwell was appalling.

[bones.]

Friedel - 8. Very good.
Beye - 5. A liability at left back. A decent right back. I'd have swapped him and...
Lichaj - 6. A steady performance.
Clark - 8. Class. MotM.
Cuellar - 8. Solid and composed.
Bannan - 5. Will have better games.
Reo Coker - 7. Thank fuck for General Nige.
Sidwell - 0. Completely and utterly inept. I am a better player than he is.
Albrighton - 5. See Bannan.
Young - 7. Typical Ash.
Ireland - 6. Early days yet. It will come. Needs more time with the players to click properly.

Heskey - 7. Exactly what we needed. He really is motivated at the moment and its good to see.
Downing - 8. Injected nous and a bit of class (apart from falling on his arse) and that goal was a cracker.

Completely agree with Clark as MOM, he was the best player on the pitch in claret and blue by some distance, and on that performance ought to be on the teamsheet ahead of Dunne every week. Excellent defending and not one to just 'get rid'. A defender with a footballing brain is a beautiful thing.

[UK Redsox]

Clark was my MoTM and could be a fixture in the Prem for years to come (but maybe not for Villa. See Cahill, G.). However, after the in stadium announcement that Cuellar got the nod, his clearance more than justified his vote.

As for the rest

Brad Sr..... very good

Lee High & Happy days ...... Both did OK, especially as Habib was out of position

Bannan.... sorry, but he's too lightweight

Nige.... lots of effort, destructive to the opposition. Poor passing at times and the last guy you want in front of goal apart from..........

Sid.... Oh dear. He doesn't get many opportunities to play and I'm beginning to see why. Gets in some great attacking positions but is then consistently awful. The inability to pass doesn't help either

Marky Marc.... has more potential than Bannan due to shear pace. He just needs to learn how to use it. Probably saved a goal when he got sent off.

Ash.... Played very well, considering he go next to no help from..............

Eire.... I've been very disappointed so far. Nowhere near the player my Man City supporting mate said we were getting

Ivanhoe & Stewie.... Changed the game around. Excellent cameos

[mshurst]

Last night was my first match of the season ... and I kind of don't want to go back if they keep pulling performances like that.

The first half was about 60:40 Villa ... second half was about 30:70 Burnley.

They were sloppy, uninterested and very, very irritable. It's only when Downing came on that the team started to show a bit of class, a bit of talent. I think starting Bannan was a good idea; he needs the experience; but I think they should have taken him off a lot sooner. He clearly isn't cut out for first-team football, regardless of the opponent.

Sidwell was very, very poor. Although, saying that he did make a few fantastic tackles. I think if NRC is going to be captain while Petrov is out then I think he needs to have some captaincy training. As much as I love him as a player, he doesn't bark enough from what I saw.

Our defense was pretty good, I felt. Cuellar played fantastically, Clark was making some really, really strong defensive headers, and Lichaj played fairly well, too. I thought Beye was a complete liability on the left. He also needs to stop being complacent, because last night I think he thought he was playing a team of school kids. He needs to remember that Burnley have got Premier League experience now ... they know what to expect.

Ireland looks like he wanted to go to bed, and Young needs some anger management. He acts like a spoilt kid who isn't get his way around 70% of the time on pitch. I'm amazed he didn't get sent off.

Ivanhoe was fantastic ... It's lovely to see the reception he gets when he comes on the pitch, because he deserves it. Under GH he's been a promising forward.

Downing - as said - was fantastic. He's been my player of the season so far. And that goal ... well ... talk about the right time to pull one out of the bag! Calm. Composed. Powerful. Smart.

Since he had the full summers training at BH he's turned into the player that he should be ... the player that MON showed so much promise in.

[Percy McCarthy]

Hard work. Good stuff from Heskey, Downing, Clark, Cuellar, great stuff from big Brad. Think we would have bitten the dust if little Brad had played. If Sidwell's performance doesn't make people appreciate Petrov a bit more, nothing will.

Sat/stood with the ultras, good fun.

[MoetVillan]

Sidwell worked his ass off, strong tackling, pressure on the ball, and could keep it up for the whole game.  I was frustrated in his misses, but to be honest he got into positions that Coker and Petrov wouldnt do, and they cant score either.  Far to much complaints about someone who tried for the whole game on these pages for me.

Well done Heskey and Downing.  Last years biggest fall guys on these pages, yet looked class right from the moment they took the pitch.

Friedel, inspired

Clark and Cuellar give us so much confidence in our CB situation.  Burnley are a good aggressive, tall team, and they did a pretty good job up to their goal, which the referee gifted them anyway.

I thought Lichai, Young and Coker played ok, not their best games, and Coker visibly tired at the end, some of the loose passing in the middle tended to start from his intervention.

Ireland has a lot of work to do for me.  Very poor.  At least try and look interested, even Downing did that when things werent going well.  As does Beye.  Note to you, if you leave a pacy winger half the pitch to run into, you will tend to struggle to get back to cut it out.  I think there are two things that bring on a stomach ulcer for me at the moment, Coker breaking through on goal, and Beye trying to play the ball away by running back towards your own goal.  They both have an air of inevitability about them

Bannan, a long way to go yet, and that tackle by Albrighton, may have screwed his night, but won us the game.

Referee.  Is he Phil Dowd in disguise?

Any highlight show could pick about two good moves until the 85th minute.  After that, it was edge of the seat, exhilerating stuff. 

[Merv]

I can't help thinking we need to let Ireland bed in as a central midfielder, rather than using him as some sort of second striker, where he gets isolated easily. Yes, he's great going forward but he's always done it from a midfield role, not this floating position - he's not the same sort of player as Ashley Young.
With Petrov now out for the foreseeable, and given Sidwell's shortcomings, I think we should pair Ireland and NRC together; Nigel plays the anchor role, Ireland has a bit more freedom. He'll get involved more, in the heart of the action, and I think that help to get the best out of him.

[N'ZMAV]

I can't help thinking we need to let Ireland bed in as a central midfielder, rather than using him as some sort of second striker, where he gets isolated easily. Yes, he's great going forward but he's always done it from a midfield role, not this floating position - he's not the same sort of player as Ashley Young.
With Petrov now out for the foreseeable, and given Sidwell's shortcomings, I think we should pair Ireland and NRC together; Nigel plays the anchor role, Ireland has a bit more freedom. He'll get involved more, in the heart of the action, and I think that help to get the best out of him.

Perfect chance now, especially as it's either him, Osbourne or Salifou for the next game ;-)