Newton Heath LYR v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Villafirst]

It's no disgrace to lose at OT. Just silly mistakes can cost you so much. We'll play worse and win. Great by Bent tonight - he will score the goals we need for safety (yes, we're not out the wood yet with such a tight league). Bent is a snip compared to Torres and Carroll!

[brontebilly]

Downing 3

Ridiculous. If you gave Bent a 6 for presumably scoring, then Downing's assist for it should have him on a similar score.

Downing was a disgrace to the shirt tonight. I lost count of the amount of tackles he jumped out of, how many balls he conveniently let over his head so there was a 2 v 1 against an inexperienced full back each time. Everything about him tonight was half hearted and cowardly. Almost every pass was the conservative one too - the player who took on Wes Brown repeatedly at Villa Park has been replaced with a man with the spine of a jellyfish. The assist can only make up for so much.

Bent was dangerous enough in the second half I felt including getting in the position for his goal. You just know Heskey or Gabby would have been 10 yards behind the play.

[eastie]

Can't see why downing is being singled out for criticism- he played well and is a far better and much improved player than last season- get off his back!

[pauliewalnuts]

Can't see why downing is being singled out for criticism- he played well and is acfar better and much improved player than last season- get off his back!

Neither can I.

"Disgrace to the shirt"? What a load of pointless hyperbole.

[hawkeye]

The Downing debate continues, a great cross for our goal, ran with the ball welll but no end product, just to happy to give the ball up with a poor cross or shot, jumping out of inocuos chalenges as usual, if he plays it should be on the left, but Young is better there. Downing plays like he dosent give a fuck.

[Ger Regan]

Can't see why downing is being singled out for criticism- he played well and is acfar better and much improved player than last season- get off his back!

Neither can I.

"Disgrace to the shirt"? What a load of pointless hyperbole.

Couldn't agree more.

[pauliewalnuts]

"All he did was set up the goal"

That sounds a bit "what have the Romans done for us?" to me.

[ozzjim]

I thought Downing was just awful against Man City, but thought he was one of our better players tonight.

[Shrek]

Petrov needs to realise he is past it, I'd drop him for his petulance.

Makoun looks real quality.

Bent is actually shit, but he will score goals and always draw 2 defenders, so is worth it.

Ash looked twice tge player when he was playing out wide.

Man U are class, any talk of 'they aren't playing well' is bollocks. The stats show how good they are with goals scored, conceded and wins etc.

[Dave Cooper please]

Would anyone have preferred us to play as we would have done against Man Utd under O'Neill?

No.
Once Hotlips gets all the players he wants and gels them into the team he wants we will get results in games like these while playing good football.

[martyn ellis]

There are some very odd comments on here tonight. It's clear that Utd are finding their second-half-of-the-season style like they always seem to do. When you think that Vidic and Ferdinand were back, Rooney back to his near best (yes it was poor defending for the first goal but what a touch and finish), Giggs playing like a spring chicken and Nani almost unplayable on the left, then I'm not surprised we lost (with three new guys still finding their feet) - but to say we were rubbish is a tad over the top. Downing wasn't anything like as bad as people make out, his cross for the goal was as good as any you'll see. We lost goals at key moments, which would have knocked the stuffing out of many teams but we kept trying to play some football. No doubt who's going to win the league in my mind. They would have beaten anybody tonight, and probably by more.
Anyway, for all you whingers about Downing, it looks like he has picked up a knock, so you may get your wish on Saturday.
And did anyone notice, looks like Petrov has bought himself a one-way ticket out of Villa Park with his reaction at being subbed. The most disappointing moment of the game for me and unbecoming of a captain. I suspect our Gerard will be having a word.
Oh and Trevor Francis was nice about us in commentary.

[Somniloquism]

Didn't Downing play the ball through for Bent for the move that could have been a Pen against Bent just after half time?

[lordmcgrath5]

Can't see why downing is being singled out for criticism- he played well and is acfar better and much improved player than last season- get off his back!

Neither can I.

"Disgrace to the shirt"? What a load of pointless hyperbole.

Agree, get off his back for goodness sake. Didn't see the game tonight but thought some of the criticism he was getting at Wigan last week was bang out of order. Yes, he did bottle a couple of challenges. But he was involved throughout and made some excellent runs and passes. If he keeps that up I can live with him not diving in for every 50-50 challenge. Don't know why he's being singled out by so many people.

[Villafirst]

Petrov needs to realise he is past it, I'd drop him for his petulance.

Makoun looks real quality.

Bent is actually shit, but he will score goals and always draw 2 defenders, so is worth it.

Ash looked twice tge player when he was playing out wide.

Man U are class, any talk of 'they aren't playing well' is bollocks. The stats show how good they are with goals scored, conceded and wins etc.

'Bent is actually shit' What a stupid dumb comment!!

[Phil from the upper holte]

It's my fault lads I left without my lucky jumper.

Seriously though its my fault!