Aston Villa v Arsenal Post-Match Thread

[Tony]

Josef Venglos, Billy McNeil, David O'Leary, Gerard Houllier...as far as I'm concerned they're all the same bloke.

Not one Liverpool supporter said anything positive about Houllier, the French hate him as he was part of the set  up
that f*cked up their World Cup - yet we welcome him with open arms. Already I'm sick at not being able to watch Match of The Day, this is like going back to the dark ages again.

Wednesday is so ominous it's untrue, never in the last 5 years has it been a better time for Small Heath to play us.

For a start, it's not true about Liverpool supporters, secondly, what exactly do they have that makes you think they're so much better? They are due a win, as are The Albion, as are The Wolves, but that's not how it works.

[dave.woodhall]

Not one Liverpool supporter said anything positive about Houllier,

One of them write two pages of positivity about him for us.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Not one Liverpool supporter said anything positive about Houllier,

One of them write two pages of positivity about him for us.

Jamie Carragher said he was a fantastic manager ?

[Dave]

I hear what you're saying TV but I'm sorry I can't warm to the guy.
I know his win rate of 50% at Liverpool beats O'Neills 42% with us, but I look down and see a schoolteacher devoid of Passion

So a bit like Arsene Wenger then?

I suppose we could always give Kevin Keegan a call? He'd probably jump up and down and punch the air in all the right places.

[Dave]

As an aside, I thought the Arsenal fans were much more vocal than I was expecting them to be.

[Salsa Party Animal]

The game is awful and we didn't play well at all. Pires can't move. John Carew is suffering from cold. He is not a Viking   I think our team suffer from lack of Viking spirit (Mellberg/Laursen)

Let hope GH can find a powerful defensive midfield and left back with Viking spirit and blood

I think we need to release we need to clear out Pires, Carew, Warnock, Dunne and Friedel.

I see Newton Heath won 7-1 today thank god we didn't play them.

It is bloody freezing as I been delivering post for 4 hours and then watch the match at Villa Park.

I noticed we don't seem to have bad performance as a team when we have King Carlos Cuellar in defence.

[brontebilly]

Really cant see where our next win will come from. There is a lack of grit and belief about the side to be fair to MON was always one thing his sides could be depended on. The ability to get the job done is badly missing. I get the feeling watching us this season that the players arent convinced by Houllier and he certainly isnt that convinced about some of the players. If only we could have got the three points against United it could have kicked off his reign. Bham by all accounts were utter pants at Fulham too so that is something. The defending from Fahey and Larsson for the Fulham goal was pathetic.

Think Bannan needs to be taken out of the firing line. People here are deluded if they thought he played well today. He was completely lost. Lets bring him on if needs be. Any chance of Reo Coker being back?

Provided Reo Coker is back and we really need him to be despite his desperate performance in the league game, here is the side I would pick midweek. Beye to come in as he will add height which will be important for the set piece marathon that the game will be, cant stand the sight of Warnock any longer though its possible that we might have to put him in midfield if Reo Coker or Collins wont make it.

Friedel
Beye, Collins, Dunne, L Young
Ireland, Reo Coker, Clark
A Young, Gabby, Downing

[Matt Collins]

Only saw the highlights and followed the game on the BBC. Pires and Carew up front was destined to fail though wasn't it?!

One of Petrov or NRC would make a big difference in my view and we need NRC back quickly. I think he may be back in training?

I thought the defence looked shocking and very porous. We definitely need more battling qualities in there.

[pauliewalnuts]

As an aside, I thought the Arsenal fans were much more vocal than I was expecting them to be.

Really? I thought they were by far the quietest full allocation this season.

[tarzansbrother]

When are our so called experienced players going to stand up? Luke Young joined them yesterday he was atrocious. For me Ireland and del fonz looked and played alot better than Carew and pires. Only positive was clarke and bannan who although were poor in first half really had a go in the 2nd.

[N'ZMAV]

What's up with the full backs lately? they've been turd.

[koreanmeatballs]

The full backs have been quite turd.

Anybody speak to Blackburn fans? Did Warnock always dive in at every given opportunity? Or is this something we have coached into him?

[Dave]

As an aside, I thought the Arsenal fans were much more vocal than I was expecting them to be.

Really? I thought they were by far the quietest full allocation this season.

Might just be that it was the first time in yonks that I'd been in the North rather than the Holte. So maybe it's just that I was closer than normal.

[JUAN PABLO]

Positives - Interpol were fantastic at the Academy, had a awesome night staying at the Rotunda and waking up to see Villa Park while lying in bed.

negatives -   Having to pay all my hard earned cash to watch John Carew doing fook all in a Villa shirt again...   

[Clampy]

First half, we were totally outplayed, outpassed and it was painful to watch at times.

Second half, GH made the sub that i suggested to my mate at half time and we looked better for it early on. Arsenal had another striker to mark, we looked to get it wide and if Clark had put the easier chance he had in, then who knows, but overall, not good enough.

Bannan tried too hard yesterday, some if his crossfield passes did'nt come off, but at least he has the confidence to try it. Downing, his 2nd poor game in a row, Carew looked a bit better when Fonz was up there with him, which was'nt difficult after his first half showing, and Ireland looked lively.

As for whoever said bring Davies back, totally agree. We're short on numbers, he's got some games under his belt now and if it means we can leave Clark in midfield if Collins is out, then i'm all for it.