Aston Villa v Arsenal Post-Match Thread

[Blackcountry Villa]

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Does anybody feel remotely confident about Wednesday?

I'm dreading it to be honest, i just can't see us winning at all. Usually i'd say quality would overcome their battling qualities and fighting spirit they'll no doubt show but i don't think we've got very much quality in our team or squad at all. I can only see us getting outfought and our defence crumbling under their pressure. Right at this moment i wish i wasn't going but i'm sure that will change as the week goes on.

[Percy McCarthy]

Three of four players  from Lyon (who you got on with and were mostly fit) please Gez. Including two full-backs and a right bastard who can also play football in centre-midfield. In the meantime, any chance of recalling Curtis?

I never thought I'd post that.

[charleeco7]

We didn't turn up first half and got totally over run in the midfield. Thought game changed when we stuck two upfront and eventually took Carew off. The most frustraighting thing was we gave so many balls away with sloppy five/ten yard passes.

I thought Banann struggled if I'm honest but was impressed with Clarke in the second half.

On a side not I'm sure I saw a brass monkey sitting in the holte end crying. It was bloody freezing.

[eastie]

brass monkey i saw was asking for a welder!

[olaftab]

I am always or  I try to be  balanced about  any Villa performance and  try not to be too critical of individuals. However:
John Carew and Robert Pires were an embarrassment. Pires understanably so but Carew for  fuck sake  go.

Ashley Young in turning into a laughable  numpty. Can't cross can't pass can't make space can't take up any  good positions never could tackle. I do hope someone comes in for him in January.

It is  a poor state of affairs when   a  kid  , normally centre half,  looked  our best midfielder.

Having said again imressed with Bannan and I thought Fonz wa brilliant when he came on. A centre forward with energy, movement  and aggression finally on the pitch.

[The Situation]

Pathetic, dismal first-half performance from us... just couldn't keep the ball, were looking lost and Arsenal eventually took advantage of that. Second-half we came out much better looking like we wanted to compete in the match, got a great first goal early on - great, then we let ourselves down again by letting them score a third.

First-half ruined it for ourselves, although we did have a good go at a comeback, it wasn't good enough in the end.

Game on Wednesday... don't play Pires or Carew, neither are fully fit so they won't be performing their best. Play Ireland and Gabby... hopefully Gabby will feel well enough to play, if not just play Delfouneso.

P.S. Just remember guys, although we all know this we've got loads of injuries and when we get our players back we'll do much better, playing youngsters all the time isn't gonna always pay off.

[Fin Feds Dad]

Ged got it wrong today - should have started with Nathan .

Carew should never put a villa shirt on again - I notice he could'nt get off the pitch quick enough when he finally was substituted , no waving or clapping the fans today was there , wanker.

[myf]

4 nil would have flattered us today.  That was painful.  Some shambolic defending. 

Lets not forget they were without Fabregas and they had 3 goals stuck them last week and by WBA a few weeks ago.

We could find ourselves in tricky position if HT results stay as they are.

And another thing, I'm sick of Houlliers "love-ins" with the opposition.

[London Villan]

Carew came off and complained he was cold. Pathetic.

[gervilla]

That first half was pathetic. I lost count of the passes left short and the occasions when our players just seemed totally asleep and  Arsenal getting to the loose balls. If we cant do the baisic skills of the game then we are f****d.
Carew was his normal self and Ashley Young was also absolute crap.
At least there was some positives in the 2nd half but I am really starting to fear where we will finish this season.
The Carling Cup game is going to be embarrasing.

[myf]

Pathetic, dismal first-half performance from us... just couldn't keep the ball, were looking lost and Arsenal eventually took advantage of that. Second-half we came out much better looking like we wanted to compete in the match, got a great first goal early on - great, then we let ourselves down again by letting them score a third.

First-half ruined it for ourselves, although we did have a good go at a comeback, it wasn't good enough in the end.

Game on Wednesday... don't play Pires or Carew, neither are fully fit so they won't be performing their best. Play Ireland and Gabby... hopefully Gabby will feel well enough to play, if not just play Delfouneso.

P.S. Just remember guys, although we all know this we've got loads of injuries and when we get our players back we'll do much better, playing youngsters all the time isn't gonna always pay off.

The youngsters weren't the problem today.  It was the seniors, and its becoming a regular occurance.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I agree with the others it was men against boys, especially the first half we could have been 4 or 5 down! second half we were a bit better but jesus wept we let them run rings around us we were chasing shadows most of the time. 

Friedel was poor could have done better on a couple of the goals, he's so slow to react at times,  Warnock was poor as was Luke Young, Downing didn't have the best of games but he shouldn't be on the right, Bannan  wasn't at his best but he's only 20 he can't be expected to play every game and be brilliant every game! Carew man you need to pull your finger out, you can't even pass the ball 5 fucking yards, you can't control it and you always go for the wrong option!! Never thought I'd say this but fuck off somewhere else you lazy fucking shit

Our injury list is shocking but we can't keep using it as an excuse. Can't wait for jan to come hopefully we can bring in some better players! Most of this team are NOT up to standard

[The Situation]

Pathetic, dismal first-half performance from us... just couldn't keep the ball, were looking lost and Arsenal eventually took advantage of that. Second-half we came out much better looking like we wanted to compete in the match, got a great first goal early on - great, then we let ourselves down again by letting them score a third.

First-half ruined it for ourselves, although we did have a good go at a comeback, it wasn't good enough in the end.

Game on Wednesday... don't play Pires or Carew, neither are fully fit so they won't be performing their best. Play Ireland and Gabby... hopefully Gabby will feel well enough to play, if not just play Delfouneso.

P.S. Just remember guys, although we all know this we've got loads of injuries and when we get our players back we'll do much better, playing youngsters all the time isn't gonna always pay off.

The youngsters weren't the problem today.  It was the seniors, and its becoming a regular occurance.

Yep, that's my point... you can't rely on youngsters like that when it should be the senior players showing how it's done with the kids following them. Too much pressure on Clarke, Bannan and Delfouneso just isn't fair... once our senior players step up our younger players will feel more comfortable and confident.

[jembob]

The youngsters weren't the problem today.  It was the seniors, and its becoming a regular occurance.

Warnock and Dunne were inept in the first half and we were lucky not to be down in the first minute. Everybody knows that if you let Arse play you get hammered. Everybody knows that most of Arshavin's goals come when he cuts in from the wing. They are two points which we chose to ignore today for some reason.

Quite a good attempt at a comeback but it was never going to happen with Carew in that sort of mood - the Fonz showed him up today big time.

Hopefully our juniors will have learned a couple of things today. Clarke was impressive, composed and took his goals very well. This was always going to be a difficult game but you don't really need to gift opportunities to teams as good as Arse.

[olaftab]

edited