Newton Heath LYR v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[eastie]

Petrov walked off shaking his head and clearly wasn't happy at going off, houllier said on  wm that ' he needs to leave his ego in the dressing room and it's the team that comes first, we were losing and had to change things'

[Nev]

Hou said the change was made to try and get something from the game and that players should leave their ego's in the dressing room, or words to that effect anyway.

[Mazrim]

He apparently carried on whinging about it afterwards.
I dont see what he has to complain about as he's mostly ineffective for us. Crap for the first two years, a very good much improved third year... and that's that.
He's lucky to be starting and once Delph is fully fit and Bradley is ready, he shouldn't be.

[eastie]

I agree maz , one good year in 4 for us really and he is a much weaker link than downing, I would very much prefer Bradley or nige in the team than petrov, it is not an age problem as Reading his book I noticed he said at Celtic his fitness was always questioned as he tired late in games.

Petrov doesn't have the level of stamina needed to last 90 mins at this level and can moan as much as he likes - houllier made clear in an interview last month players who don't it will be 'bombed out'- shape up or ship out petrov!

[Mr Diggles]

You can't put a spineless Downing in front of a right back who can't defend. Especially if Cuellar isn't there to cover.

Young needs to learn how to get a corner kick past the first man, needs to understand that every free kick he takes goes over the bar - I actually fast forwarded thru this as I knew where it was going to end up. He needs to learn that releasing the ball sooner is much much better than running at three opposition players and losing the ball.

Fuck I can't stand him!! There, I said it.
 

Thank fook I'm not the only one. This complete egomaniac drags the team down at times. He holds onto the ball too long in open play, and the vanity-flattering experiment of playing him through the middle is a folly. He's not as good as he thinks he is, and his dead ball skills have been atrocious for a while, and yes I am including hi penalty technique which, the goal aside last week, looks like he could miss the goal just as easily. As my friend says, we're now seeing the result of MON telling him he's world class for the past 2 seasons. No he isn't.

Sell him in the summer.

[Mazrim]

Friedel pulled off some great saves last night and I dont want to get on his case. But I thought he could have easily come to the edge of the box to collect that long ball. It seems most of the team were still asleep. Dunne and Friedel included.
His biggest fault is that he stays rooted to goal mouth. I suspect he's a life size subbuteo keeper!

[Chris Smith]

It's quite natural for a player to be disappointed after being taken off, it's a normal human reaction. We're in danger of turning this int a bigger issue than it is. I'm sure a few quite words at BH and it will all be smoothed over.

[Bosco81]

I would hope any player let alone the captain is pissed off at getting taken off in a match we are losing.

It's amazing how things change in football, after the Man City game Dunne was back to his best and Petrov had a cracking game, a defeat against the league leaders and Dunne is fat again and Petrov finished.

You could tell Gary Mac wasn't happy with him cos you could hear him shouting "Stilyian" at him as opposed to "Stan", he must have done something really naughty.

[Mazrim]

It's quite natural for a player to be disappointed after being taken off, it's a normal human reaction. We're in danger of turning this int a bigger issue than it is. I'm sure a few quite words at BH and it will all be smooted over.

I like to see players disappointed at being taken off. Its what should happen. But it should stop once you've left the pitch, especially when you've been playing poorly.
But you're right, it's not a big deal. I just dont want him to play for us any more because he isn't good enough.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Forgive the ignorance - but what was Petrov's reaction to getting subbed and what has GH said about it?

A lot of head shaking as soon as his number was held up which continued as he walked off the pitch but haven't heard what has been said subsequently. Not a major strop or anything like that but equally not a good example for the captain to set.

You'd sort of expect it as he's not used to it.
He was exempt from substitution under O'Neill.

[eastie]

Yes chris but houllier clearly wasn't impressed and was asked about petrov so clearly it was noticed by many the way he left the field, a player should be upset but should not show such open displeasure as that , and coming from a team captain makes it worse.

Some harsh criticism of ash on here but I do wish we would let others have a crack at free kicks more often, yes he scored some nice goals from set pieces but you can count thEm
on one hand, let's see downing or someone else have a crack at them too, so many free kicks are being wasted in dangerous positions.

[VillaZogmariner]

Sounds to me very much like a storm in a tea cup then.

[eastie]

Yes vs it's not a major problem and I'd expect GED to have a word about it, if he hasn't already, and move on.

I'd hope Bradley will replace petrov on Saturday in any case , for playing reasons.

[Irish villain]

With Makoun and Bradley coming in and Delph and Bannan knocking on the door of the first team, I think we all know Petrov's days are probably numbered at the villa.

[Chris Smith]

Yes chris but houllier clearly wasn't impressed and was asked about petrov so clearly it was noticed by many the way he left the field, a player should be upset but should not show such open displeasure as that , and coming from a team captain makes it worse.

Some harsh criticism of ash on here but I do wish we would let others have a crack at free kicks more often, yes he scored some nice goals from set pieces but you can count thEm
on one hand, let's see downing or someone else have a crack at them too, so many free kicks are being wasted in dangerous positions.

On one of the live games recently they discussed how few goals have been scored direct from free kicks this year, I can't remember the exact stat but it was a very low percentage. It's not just a Villa problem and is probably down to the ridiculously light balls they use these days.