Newton Heath LYR v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

The answer to that is one. We won there last season ..........

[Blackcountry Villa]

Makoun is quality, him and Bradley will become our midfield pairing because Petrov is shit and has been for a while, he was buggered as soon as O'Neill left. He runs like he's in water, he can't tackle, he doesn't create or defend, he's knackered by half time and he can't pass forwards.

Bent did what he's paid to do. I seriously hope Gabby watches Bent's movement because he could learn something as he hasn't got a clue.

Young flattered to decieve like he does every game these days. He's become a 1 good game in 5 player and thats being generous. I've said for ages now he's the most overrated player i've ever seen, i'd flog him in the summer and sign N'Zogbia.

Downing is NOT a right winger.

How isn't Cuellar getting in that defence?

[glasses]

Makoun is quality, him and Bradley will become our midfield pairing because Petrov is shit and has been for a while, he was buggered as soon as O'Neill left. He runs like he's in water, he can't tackle, he doesn't create or defend, he's knackered by half time and he can't pass forwards.

Bent did what he's paid to do. I seriously hope Gabby watches Bent's movement because he could learn something as he hasn't got a clue.

Young flattered to decieve like he does every game these days. He's become a 1 good game in 5 player and thats being generous. I've said for ages now he's the most overrated player i've ever seen, i'd flog him in the summer and sign N'Zogbia.

Downing is NOT a right winger.

How isn't Cuellar getting in that defence?

Why do our fans take such delight in insulting our players? Its not constructive at all. Intead of he hasnt got a clue, perhaps consider why he isnt playing well and form a decent opinion.

[Blackcountry Villa]

Makoun is quality, him and Bradley will become our midfield pairing because Petrov is shit and has been for a while, he was buggered as soon as O'Neill left. He runs like he's in water, he can't tackle, he doesn't create or defend, he's knackered by half time and he can't pass forwards.

Bent did what he's paid to do. I seriously hope Gabby watches Bent's movement because he could learn something as he hasn't got a clue.

Young flattered to decieve like he does every game these days. He's become a 1 good game in 5 player and thats being generous. I've said for ages now he's the most overrated player i've ever seen, i'd flog him in the summer and sign N'Zogbia.

Downing is NOT a right winger.

How isn't Cuellar getting in that defence?

Why do our fans take such delight in insulting our players? Its not constructive at all. Intead of he hasnt got a clue, perhaps consider why he isnt playing well and form a decent opinion.

I'm not taking delight, but Gabby hasn't got a footballng brain and for someone so quick his movement is awful, he'd get a lot more scoring opportunities if he watched Bent's movement.

As for Ashley Young, he's poor and has been for ages now.

[Hookeysmith]

My Twopennyworth from a dodgy stream

Big Brad - excellent and kept the score down

Walker - relies a little too much on his pace to cover for the huge gaps he leaves behind him
Dunne - Goal and def penalty decision aside  - thought he was pretty good
Collins - as subtle as rabies but does the job
Clark - legs in a knot covering Nani - who is a girl but was superb last night

Albrighton - as much as i like him can be infuriating at times as always seems to choose the wrong option - should improve with experience - although why he kept turning up in the centre and on the left is beyond me

Makoun - we could just have a new hero on our hands - great touch, stamina and bloodied Fletchers face to boot

Petrov - like him but it is end of days for him and he knows it - agree with other poster he was such a cast iron 90 minuter under MON he cannot handle it now - bet he watches the press daily to see where MON will turn up next as so will he - as captain a piss poor show of temper for the youngsters

Ash Young - Am really losing patience with him - go back to what you did best - and stop being billy big bollock - would def sell for high money

Bent - 2 attempts and 1 goal - enough said - feed him and he will get plenty

Downing - just do not see what all the moaning is about - probably the best passer  / vision in a player we have - both the Bent fall over and the goal was down to him - yes he does not tackle and yes he is a bit of a girl but bloody hell he is a very good footballer and i for one are glad he plays for us

Overall i thought some of the pass and move stuff we did was great

Better defense next year and i feel we are on the verge of something big again

[WikiVilla]

Makoun whilst looking solid did look like a square ball merchant last night, then again he was up against Class A opposition. I would hope to see him being a bit more adventurous on Saturday

[DrGonzo]

And he had Petrov playing beside him, so your nearest man is always beside/behind you.

[Villatillidie25]

My Twopennyworth from a dodgy stream

Big Brad - excellent and kept the score down

Walker - relies a little too much on his pace to cover for the huge gaps he leaves behind him
Dunne - Goal and def penalty decision aside  - thought he was pretty good
Collins - as subtle as rabies but does the job
Clark - legs in a knot covering Nani - who is a girl but was superb last night

Albrighton - as much as i like him can be infuriating at times as always seems to choose the wrong option - should improve with experience - although why he kept turning up in the centre and on the left is beyond me

Makoun - we could just have a new hero on our hands - great touch, stamina and bloodied Fletchers face to boot

Petrov - like him but it is end of days for him and he knows it - agree with other poster he was such a cast iron 90 minuter under MON he cannot handle it now - bet he watches the press daily to see where MON will turn up next as so will he - as captain a piss poor show of temper for the youngsters

Ash Young - Am really losing patience with him - go back to what you did best - and stop being billy big bollock - would def sell for high money

Bent - 2 attempts and 1 goal - enough said - feed him and he will get plenty

Downing - just do not see what all the moaning is about - probably the best passer  / vision in a player we have - both the Bent fall over and the goal was down to him - yes he does not tackle and yes he is a bit of a girl but bloody hell he is a very good footballer and i for one are glad he plays for us

Overall i thought some of the pass and move stuff we did was great

Better defense next year and i feel we are on the verge of something big again

Agree almost entirely. Definitely would try to keep hold of Young though as he still creates a lot for us but we need to get him out of that stupid in the hole position and back on the wing. Give him licence to come in by all means (ala Giggs and Nani last night) and some support from fullback and he will be pouring the chances in for Bent. MA needs a break and Downing should stick to left wing. He is a pansy but rarely gives the ball away and has a footballing brain.
Makoun is already my hero. Class act and am excited to see what he and Bradley will look like although I must admit I'm probably more excited about Delph.

[WikiVilla]

In defence of Downing, one of his biggest assets is his ability to carry the ball a long way very quickly when we break, those were at the centre of our best moments last night and a great assist for Bent too

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Makoun is quality, him and Bradley will become our midfield pairing because Petrov is shit and has been for a while, he was buggered as soon as O'Neill left. He runs like he's in water, he can't tackle, he doesn't create or defend, he's knackered by half time and he can't pass forwards.

Bent did what he's paid to do. I seriously hope Gabby watches Bent's movement because he could learn something as he hasn't got a clue.

Young flattered to decieve like he does every game these days. He's become a 1 good game in 5 player and thats being generous. I've said for ages now he's the most overrated player i've ever seen, i'd flog him in the summer and sign N'Zogbia.

Downing is NOT a right winger.

How isn't Cuellar getting in that defence?

Agree with Bradley next to Makoun we will have real energy and become more of an attacking threat. Like Petrov but his legs have gone ......

[alanclare]

I thought that there was a lot that was positive about this match. OK we gave away a goal which we shouldn't have but from then on we weren't totally overwhelmed. If you look at the balance of talent and experience which was all on their side, we were a lot better than a few weeks ago. If GH can keep this rate of improvement up I reckon that we'll finish about mid-table,

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Dunne got banned from driving today. He might lose a few pounds now he has got to walk more .....

[Steve R]

Dunne/Collins - Very adept at heading out long crosses, and they do look good when that is all they have to face. Distinctly limited when it comes to pace and movement. They didn't exactly look watertight against Wigan. United seemed to base their game on playing the ball into space behind them. It worked a treat, we need better.
 
Walker - If we do not have 'option to  buy' I would rather not play him, as much as I like him and think he's a great prospect.

Clark - not  a great game, but judging by the ease with which Nani skinned other players that's hardly a surprise. I hope he learned something.

Albrighton - I hope he learned something too.

Young - played well at times against Wigan, but has dined out for an awful long time on the 2 goals he got against Everton. The money we could get is probably worth more than the player.

Downing - Whatever Houllier said about Ireland needing be to a better all round player equally applies to Downing. He did well early season with goals, largely by cleaning up at the far post. That was never going to last. He has played his part on occasions with good breaks and crosses, but not often enough. For the money he cost there ought to be more added value from him. I don't see him as part of the future either.

Makoun - totally impressive. Not fazed by having opponents snapping at his heels, always seemed to know what he wanted to do. His first touch was excellent. If he carries on like this £5 mill will be daylight robbery.

Bent - Not much of an all round player either, but from memory he's had three reasonable chances on goal in three games and put two of them away. A striker who do that is worth his weight. He needs players around him and better service. Of the current squad I'd be tempted to try Heskey in the Young role, or failing that maybe Barrington Bannan. Either may work better.

Agbonlahor - The way we play doesn't suit him at all. His biggest contribution seems to be tracking back and covering the full back. Other than that he has offered very little. If we have to have a striker on the left, Delfouneso may be a better choice.

Overall, in a few short weeks we have gone from a dysfunctional bunch of hoofers to a team that can actually play a bit. Last night demonstrated that there may still be a lot to do, but we have already come a long way.

The odd thing to me is that last year's victory was probably one of our worst performances at OT in recent years. We played much better in the 2-3 the previous season, and did so last night too.

For stats freaks, the last 5 years at OT :

2010-11 L 3-1, 23-12 (shots at goal)
2009-10 W 1-0, 19-8
2008-09 L 3-2, 18-9
2007-08 L 4-0. 15-14
2006-07 L 3-1, 26-6

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Great summary, Uncle Steve. Hard to argue with any of it.

[The Left Side]

Despite losing 3-1 I am quite optimistic for the rest of the season, we gave some soft goals but Rooney was playing on top of his game last night, it was great to see Bent get another goal and it would have been interesting if Ashley's shot had gone in and not hit the bar.