Aston Villa v Manchester City Post-Match Thread

[richard moore]

I'm with Mr Smith on this one, I can't believe anyone would describe Downing's performance as 'woeful'! I thought he was absolutely superb yesterday, a vital part of our win.

I'm with these two.  It was a very mature performance from Downing.

Downing wasn't 'great' and certainly not 'absolutely superb'....hyperbole gone mad yet again

However, neither was he 'woeful'

[sfx412]

I thought Petrov was brilliant. I have been, at times, in both pro and anti-Petrov camps, but his attitude this season has been exemplary, especially when you'd think he'd be the one senior pro to be most affected by MON's departure.

Agree.
I'm far from being a Petrov fan but last night he led superbly, not only with his football, but the way he controlled the younger lads around him offering words of wisdom especially when they did the odd dodgy tackle. His chat kept some players on the pitch.

If they can now get enough confidence to hold he ball more, rather than give it away we will climb up the table without too much of a problem, if they don't, it will be harder.

A word of praise for Houllier too. Not many of us appreciated that team pick against such a strong City midfield but it worked for once and our shots on target did his tactics proud. Now lets see if they can do the same against a more mundane side. Seems to me against the big sides, Chelsea, Utd, now City they turn a performance on, but against the weaker sides, its not so good. Time for the knife sharpening to be put on the back burner for a while.

Again an all round great team performance, everyone did well, especially Petrov, Young, Downing and those magnificent men in defence, out first clean sheet since October.

Villa Park was back at nearly its best, well done all, pity Randy wasn't there to see it, seemingly.

[sfx412]

Gabby doesnt seem to be able to get to grips with it out wide and doesnt like the amount of defending he has been told to do so i think he will drop to bench, Downing out wide and Makoun with Stan in the middle for Tues night

Rubbish, he did his job manfully as he always does

[PeterWithe]

What is it with Mancs and the Bham accent? I must have heard half a dozen cod brummie accents from City fans who were hardly Brian fucking Sewell themselves. 

Second city resentment I reckon.

[citizenDJ]

I'm with Mr Smith on this one, I can't believe anyone would describe Downing's performance as 'woeful'! I thought he was absolutely superb yesterday, a vital part of our win.

I'm with these two.  It was a very mature performance from Downing.

Downing wasn't 'great' and certainly not 'absolutely superb'....hyperbole gone mad yet again

However, neither was he 'woeful'

Nope, I'm sticking with it. I thought he was superb, and I don't consider that to be overly hyperbolic, really. It was, in my view, a terrific, disciplined and consistent midfield performance from a player I didn't honestly expect it of. I don't think he's a 'superb' player, nor a 'woeful' one, but yesterday, for me, Downing's was an outstanding performance.

[VillaAlways]

I'm still waiting for the City supporter to post on the thread to give his considered opinion of the match like on the last post match thread at their place.Somehow I think I'm in for a long wait

[olaftab]

Collins was like a different player and thoroughly deserved his man-of-the-match award.

Collins has made a habit of putting in last ditch tackles and blocks this season. Most of these were due to his own/team mates mistakes a few seconds earlier. Yesterday he also did that when required however he and  Dunne did not put a foot wrong in crucial decisions. Ball was in row z before a city forward could get a sniff of it. That is how they need to be  for the rest of the season.

[JUAN PABLO]

I thought Petrov was brilliant. I have been, at times, in both pro and anti-Petrov camps, but his attitude this season has been exemplary, especially when you'd think he'd be the one senior pro to be most affected by MON's departure.

Agree.
I'm far from being a Petrov fan but last night he led superbly, not only with his football, but the way he controlled the younger lads around him offering words of wisdom especially when they did the odd dodgy tackle. His chat kept some players on the pitch.

If they can now get enough confidence to hold he ball more, rather than give it away we will climb up the table without too much of a problem, if they don't, it will be harder.

A word of praise for Houllier too. Not many of us appreciated that team pick against such a strong City midfield but it worked for once and our shots on target did his tactics proud. Now lets see if they can do the same against a more mundane side. Seems to me against the big sides, Chelsea, Utd, now City they turn a performance on, but against the weaker sides, its not so good. Time for the knife sharpening to be put on the back burner for a while.

Again an all round great team performance, everyone did well, especially Petrov, Young, Downing and those magnificent men in defence, out first clean sheet since October.

Villa Park was back at nearly its best, well done all, pity Randy wasn't there to see it, seemingly.

With Petrov , maybe its now got something to do with not being guaranteed  your place however out of form you are , as in the past and this goes to other players too...     If you add quality to the team , the players in the team  have to go up a level or they will be shipped out to the like of Stoke...  and Im liking this....

[damon loves JT]

I'd say to him what he said to us. That there are at least three worse teams in the league, and I'd be surprised if they went down.

[Tony]

I thought Downing had a fine game, he covered a lot of ground, got forward and did make some tackles, tackling will never be his strong point.

[Chris Smith]

I'm with Mr Smith on this one, I can't believe anyone would describe Downing's performance as 'woeful'! I thought he was absolutely superb yesterday, a vital part of our win.

I'm with these two.  It was a very mature performance from Downing.

Downing wasn't 'great' and certainly not 'absolutely superb'....hyperbole gone mad yet again
However, neither was he 'woeful'

Nope, not hyperbole Richard, just a different opinion to yours. That is allowed you know.

[olaftab]

I'm still waiting for the City supporter to post on the thread to give his considered opinion of the match like on the last post match thread at their place.Somehow I think I'm in for a long wait

The world is full of patronising twats. I wander he  and some others would like to hear us say:
"Oh there is no way  you deserverd to lose. If you carry on playing like this you will win more games than you would lose this season. I am sure you are good enough for top 4.  There is no way Dzeko will struggle like he did yesterday and Tevez will not be as clueless as he was Best of luck for the rest of the season you are club we  have always liked"

*snigger snigger*

[citizenDJ]

Although 'hyperbole gone mad yet again' is wonderfully subtle! 

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I'm with Mr Smith on this one, I can't believe anyone would describe Downing's performance as 'woeful'! I thought he was absolutely superb yesterday, a vital part of our win.

I'm with these two.  It was a very mature performance from Downing.

Downing wasn't 'great' and certainly not 'absolutely superb'....hyperbole gone mad yet again
However, neither was he 'woeful'

Nope, not hyperbole Richard, just a different opinion to yours. That is allowed you know.

Downing's energy was superb last night, worked as hard as anybody and he's the sort of creative player we need to hang on to.

I don't understand why people have got such a downer on him.

[Clark W Griswold]

We have gone from a complete crumbling mess of a team that teams could score against virtually every time they attack, to a fantastic solid unit from top to bottom. Major transformation. Collins and Dunne have gone from Laurel and Hardy to (not far off) McGrath and Teale within the space of 2 months. Bent was superb when involved, in games where we are on the front foot he should bag a hatfull. Young looked more up for it than he has for a while, maybe he's taking us seriously again?