Birmingham City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[JJ-AV]

As for the flare, well I'd have been annoyed if it came near me but tbh I thought it looked great. From what I saw it wasn't thrown and was just kept amongst the Villa and looked great tbh.

[achilles]

We don't look we have a plan, and rarely have in games under GH.

Under MON, we knew what we were about. You can see what Blues are all about, they have a plan to stop the other team. Most teams in the league have a game plan, but I fail to see what ours is supposed to be.

Bannan and Delfounseo did enough to warrant a start next week and Walker and Albrighton looked like they could make a good partnership down the right.

Not sure why he persists with Gabby down the left, seems very odd.

Downing really needs to be dropped and I didn't understand why it was NRC coming off and not Petrov.

I don't mind GH staying, but it'd be nice if we could start to see what he's actually trying to do with us as a team.

He's tryin to get us to play better football

What evidence do you have of that? The only players I've seen trying to pass the ball since he's arrived are the players who've come in from the reserves, and that, from what I can gather, is how they play in the reserves. Now, he's not playing them, and we look void of any plan, other than Collins still believing he's some sort of playmaker with sweeping 40-yard passes to nobody.

Just because the players we have aren't good at passing the ball does not mean that he's not trying to get them to pass it. Surely you can see a difference between the way we used to play and the way we play now?

Yes, we are almost pedestrian in our approach play now, allowing the opposition to get back in numbers!

[sfx412]

Looking way better, Houllier's teams starting to take shape.

None of the centre mids move the ball forward, hopefully Makoun and Adam will sort if (if he signs).

Walker was fantastic.

Walker was good going forwards but he was exposed defensively a few times

I said at the time he was doing a better job on Bentley.
I thought he moved sharp too when Dunne mis kicked his clearance for their corner and saved it. He has a decent throw too in fact both full backs do which is a nice change for Villa. Pity the midfield and especially Carew have not sussed that

[Clark W Griswold]

Aye, neither NRC or Petrov have the ability move the ball forward with any speed.

True, but i'm not sure whether you can use the words 'speed' and 'Charlie Adam' in the same sentence.

[Phil from the upper holte]

We don't look we have a plan, and rarely have in games under GH.

Under MON, we knew what we were about. You can see what Blues are all about, they have a plan to stop the other team. Most teams in the league have a game plan, but I fail to see what ours is supposed to be.

Bannan and Delfounseo did enough to warrant a start next week and Walker and Albrighton looked like they could make a good partnership down the right.

Not sure why he persists with Gabby down the left, seems very odd.

Downing really needs to be dropped and I didn't understand why it was NRC coming off and not Petrov.

I don't mind GH staying, but it'd be nice if we could start to see what he's actually trying to do with us as a team.

He's tryin to get us to play better football

What evidence do you have of that? The only players I've seen trying to pass the ball since he's arrived are the players who've come in from the reserves, and that, from what I can gather, is how they play in the reserves. Now, he's not playing them, and we look void of any plan, other than Collins still believing he's some sort of playmaker with sweeping 40-yard passes to nobody.

Just because the players we have aren't good at passing the ball does not mean that he's not trying to get them to pass it. Surely you can see a difference between the way we used to play and the way we play now?

Yes, we are almost pedestrian in our approach play now, allowing the opposition to get back in numbers!

That's not always the case, Birmingham were sitting very deep today

[Matt Collins]

We don't look we have a plan, and rarely have in games under GH.

Under MON, we knew what we were about. You can see what Blues are all about, they have a plan to stop the other team. Most teams in the league have a game plan, but I fail to see what ours is supposed to be.

I thought bannan did next to nothing. Downing has been our best player this season but less good of late

Bannan and Delfounseo did enough to warrant a start next week and Walker and Albrighton looked like they could make a good partnership down the right.

Not sure why he persists with Gabby down the left, seems very odd.

Downing really needs to be dropped and I didn't understand why it was NRC coming off and not Petrov.

I don't mind GH staying, but it'd be nice if we could start to see what he's actually trying to do with us as a team.

[saunders_heroes]

Just back from the game thought a 1pt each was fair enough.....

Straight up Sheldon; why is your support so pathetic? 22k in the sty (including Villa fans) and why do you play 4-5-1 against a team below you in the league who come to the sty playing 4-4-2 without any fear - why is your manager so scared of losing? Serious questions wants  serious answers.

P.S. I wouldn't wear that thong next time

i imagine the last game didnt do any favours to make people attend did it,plus just after xmas and people are skint,plus bigger game with west ham coming up and poss wembley so people saving there money and also on the box and a 12 o clock kick off....as for formations i also cant work mcleish out....

Yeah I'll keep an eye out for the attendance at the West Ham game. I mean it's bound to be a sell out.
Meanwhile back on planet Earth.....

[TonyD]

I thought fonz looked like he should be due some starts soon. His best position is clearly second striker, but that does mean dropping one of the three wingers.

Out of the three I would play Albrighton and Young, with Downing coming off the bench.    When Macoun comes I would play him with Bannan or Delph.    Gabby and the Fonz in the middle. 

[Chris Jameson]

Just back from the game thought a 1pt each was fair enough.....

Straight up Sheldon; why is your support so pathetic? 22k in the sty (including Villa fans) and why do you play 4-5-1 against a team below you in the league who come to the sty playing 4-4-2 without any fear - why is your manager so scared of losing? Serious questions wants  serious answers.

P.S. I wouldn't wear that thong next time

i imagine the last game didnt do any favours to make people attend did it,plus just after xmas and people are skint,plus bigger game with west ham coming up and poss wembley so people saving there money and also on the box and a 12 o clock kick off....as for formations i also cant work mcleish out....

Coupled with the free tickets and the fact it looked like it might rain and there is something on the Discovery Channel that might be worth watching I can't say i'm too surprised it was so empty unless everybody came in fancy dress and were dressed as blue plastic seats.

[JJ-AV]

We dominate the ball, if we get a centre mid with a bit of creativity and a forward with a bit of movement and we'll be ok.

I tell you what, if we get Adam and a Bent type forward I bet we finish top 8 atleast.

[JJ-AV]

Also to add, don't know about anyone else but absolutely no bother leaving the ground. First time I've ever been and not had any trouble (think it's my fifth trip).

Just walked along side the noses, was joking with a couple of 'em on the way into town (they probably didn't realise I was Villa tbf).

Much better atmosphere and enjoyable day because of it.

[JJ-AV]

Right, I've gotta go back to Nottingham now anyway. Up the Villa!

[Lambert and Payne]

Also to add, don't know about anyone else but absolutely no bother leaving the ground. First time I've ever been and not had any trouble (think it's my fifth trip).

Just walked along side the noses, was joking with a couple of 'em on the way into town (they probably didn't realise I was Villa tbf).

Much better atmosphere and enjoyable day because of it.

When i left they was shouting zulu chucking coins, glass. Think the atmosphere was poor by there fans until they scored. I think it was aa good day out. Made it on TV, was well happy :-)

I think we were unlucky not to sneak it, Carew was awful, midfield was good, then bad, then good, then bad. We looked alot better today than we have. And collins goal looked tidy from my view. Barely any police outside

[Chris Smith]

Also to add, don't know about anyone else but absolutely no bother leaving the ground. First time I've ever been and not had any trouble (think it's my fifth trip).

Just walked along side the noses, was joking with a couple of 'em on the way into town (they probably didn't realise I was Villa tbf).

Much better atmosphere and enjoyable day because of it.

That's because with such a small crowd the police can do a man to man marking job.

[phantom limb]

That's not always the case, Birmingham were sitting very deep today

Just today?

I thought that was their entire gameplan for every single game that McCleish has taken charge of. 4-5-1, sit deep, try not to concede and tell the media in the post match interview that you should have had a penalty/free kick/opposition player sent off while mentioning how great your goalkeeper is. No wonder no-one goes to watch them.