Aston Villa v Sunderland Post-Match Thread

[Olneythelonely]

I applauded him, due to the fact he was the only one to show any skill, bottle, fight and passion. I'd imagine that's what the "idiots" were clapping rather than his idiotic sending off.

[alanclare]

I am by nature one of life's optimists and I was fairly sure that M. Houllier would do a sound professional job in managing our football club. After last night's dreadful display my confidence is more than shaken, it is close to being destroyed. It is invidious to single out one player for criticism, but Stewart Downing, above all, was so disappointing. He was totally abject. He wasn't helped by being placed on the right wing (along with an equally inexplicable positioning of Gabby on the opposite side), but he was totally ineffectual. But then - so were they all.

Midland teams occupy four of the bottom six places in the Division - and the lowest of them all is Aston Villa. Where will it all end?

[midnite]

When was the last time we actually kept a clean sheet?

[Chris Smith]

In a rush so haven't time to read the thread but my thoughts.

I can understand why he started with the team that he did but after half time he should have changed things to get Gabby further forward but he dithered and seemed to have settled for a nil nil. Then, after Heskey went they became more confident and, again, he didn't react.

I haven't seen the sending off again but one of my real dislikes in football these days is the over reaction of players to minor injuries. There was nothing wrong with the twat lying on the floor but they reacted as though by not kicking the ball out we were risking his career. Tossers.

[*shellac*]

When was the last time we actually kept a clean sheet?

0-0 at home against Blose.

[midnite]

I think we're all missing the bigger picture here... There are forces more powerful at work. This situation we're in is nothing to do with MON or Houllier. There was some ancient hoodoo attached to that big screen on the north stand. Now it's gone the balance has been altered.

Rebuild it and they will come.

[midnite]

When was the last time we actually kept a clean sheet?

0-0 at home against Blose.

Ah yes. Those were the days. Clean sheets. Ahhhhhhhh

[Risso]

I haven't seen the sending off again but one of my real dislikes in football these days is the over reaction of players to minor injuries. There was nothing wrong with the twat lying on the floor but they reacted as though by not kicking the ball out we were risking his career. Tossers.

I agree with that Chris, their player was being really cynical and the TV cameras showed him having little looks up to see what was going on.  It doesn't excuse Heskey's stupid reaction though, it was our free kick, but we ended up with a player sent off instead.  Madness.  Plus he'll be banned for three matches now.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Is Cummings elidgible to play

[London Villan]

I can understand why he started with the team that worked and performed at Chelsea. When it was clear it wasn't working then he should have changed it, half-time maybe...

As for Heskey, this business of playing on when a player is down should be down to the ref. He should make it clear whether the game carries on or stops, then it will stop the fun and games that followed... Zenden was very lucky no to get booked for the challenge that actually stopped play. But Emile... our most experienced (and best attacking player on the night) should have really known better... by the time he's back in the team we could be three or four points adrift.

[pablopicasso_10]

awful, just awful...

heskey is a disgrace... missing that easy chance and then getting deservedly sent off...

i hope he follows that boggle eyed cheese eating surrender monkey out of the club...

[Waghorn]

I applauded him, due to the fact he was the only one to show any skill, bottle, fight and passion. I'd imagine that's what the "idiots" were clapping rather than his idiotic sending off.

And that's what makes clapping him off even worse. He was our best player last night, we were set up for everything to be played through him, and bar his finishing, it was working. Sunderland had very few chances, and if he hadn't have been so stupid to get sent off, I'm confident we would have nicked a goal and won it.

While I acknowledge that Houllier was at fault regarding the substitutions coming too late and regarding the desperate shambles of the end with Dunne and Collins leading the attack, I believe that Heskey was primarily to blame for last night's result, not Houllier. 

[JUAN PABLO]

Heskey should be fined two weeks wages for that slap, idiot. But that's a minor point within the massive problems we have.

Was Randy at the game last night/

and 3 weeks wages for the miss

[Olneythelonely]

I applauded him, due to the fact he was the only one to show any skill, bottle, fight and passion. I'd imagine that's what the "idiots" were clapping rather than his idiotic sending off.

And that's what makes clapping him off even worse. He was our best player last night, we were set up for everything to be played through him, and bar his finishing, it was working. Sunderland had very few chances, and if he hadn't have been so stupid to get sent off, I'm confident we would have nicked a goal and won it.

While I acknowledge that Houllier was at fault regarding the substitutions coming too late and regarding the desperate shambles of the end with Dunne and Collins leading the attack, I believe that Heskey was primarily to blame for last night's result, not Houllier. 

Well I completely disagree.

Playing our best centre forward on the left wing and our best left winger up front was the reason for last night's result. That was bad enough, but then not bothering to change it when it was obviously not working was a disgrace.

We ended up with Downing, Bannan and Ashley Young at centre half hitting the ball into their box, what a great Plan B.

[PeterWithe]

We ended up with Downing, Bannan and Ashley Young at centre half hitting the ball into their box, what a great Plan B.

I must admit that this wasn't the kind of tactical innovation I expected when GH was appointed.