Aston Villa v Fulham Post-Match Thread

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Frustrating as it was, it's inevitable that whilst GH tries to get us to play a passing game, we're going to draw and lose a few matches that maybe we should be winning. But, if we want to progress, in the short-term we're going to have to accept it. It's a complete change in the way we play compared to MON, so let's be patient.

Positives: We always look to pass the ball, I don't ever recall a Villa team trying to do this. Makoun looks a really good player.

Negatives: GH persistence with playing Gabby out left. Gabby either plays up front or he doesn't play at all. I really don't understand why Gabby plays over Albrighton when it's in a wide position. Petrov is, as we all know, far too slow, which didn't help.

However, it'll take time to change our game, so let's accept that things like this will happen. Personally, I think it's a given we won't go down and it's all about preparing the players for next season.

[Holtenderinthesky]

Remaining games

Winable
Blackpool (A)
Blackburn (H)
Bolton (A)
Wolves (H)
Newcastle (H)
West Ham (A)
Stoke (H)
West Brom (A)
Wigan (H)

Difficult
Everton (A)
Arsenal (A)
Liverpool (H)

Worst case I hope is we 5/9 winnable games and loose all of the difficult games. Gives us 44 points = safe!

Sorry to have a go, I don't mean to,  but that list means nothing, absolutely nothing.  Where would you have put Fulham?  I suspect in the "winnable" category.   

Also, since when were winnable and difficult mutually exclusive?

[Blackcountry Villa]

Blackpool seem to score at least 2 every game and our defence and keeper are shit. Gulp. Lose that and we're even more in the mix.

[lovejoy]

Not that we will, but on balance we deserve to go down. Every time we've had a chance to put some daylight between us and the arse end of the table we have bottled it. Bent will get us a few wins, three teams will be shitter than us and we'll be safe till next season, but it won't feel very good.

How can we deserve to go down if three teams are sh!tter than us? Have some perspective man.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Your next project Mr.Houllier is to fix the defence. It isn't good enough. Very disappointing not to take 3 points today.

It doesn't help having Mr.Slow in front of them not doing much.

[TheSandman]

Blackpool seem to score at least 2 every game and our defence and keeper are shit. Gulp. Lose that and we're even more in the mix.

They conceded 4 goals to Saha who has had a season even our strikers can poke fun at. Bent could conceivably score 10 against them.

[mr woo]

GRRRRR !!!   Utterly frustrating.

How long before the management wakes up once and for all and realise Ashley Young is wasted in the middle like that, because they work it out in EVERY game after 75 bloody minutes, then forget again by the time the next match comes round.

Friedal must surely be up there with the best in the 'assists' league table ..... for the sodding opposition that is.  Why does he parry so many shots back into the danger area instead of pushing things away to the corner flag / tipping them round the post.

Sidwell touched the ball more often today than in his entire Villa career.....and why? Because we back too far off the opposition in EVERY game.

We have no creativity...... because our two central midfielders are still sat in front of our back four in nearly EVERY attack.

Still, positives are - Makoun looks a very good footballer - can't wait to see him play with a proper explosive box-to-box man (Bradley?)

Stunning goal by Walker.

I know he has his detractors on here but Downing also played well I thought.

[Somniloquism]

Blackpool seem to score at least 2 every game and our defence and keeper are shit. Gulp. Lose that and we're even more in the mix.

They also let in about 2 a game as well. So the attack need to create and finish the chances when offered them.

[eastie]

Now makoun is here we do not need to start petrov with him, bradley must start at Blackpool and at least see bannan on the bench, gabby and ash are both under performing , whether it's because they are not in their best positions is debatable but ash for all his effort is not producing and gabby looks low on confidence.

 If friedals contract situation is to be decided this month as reported then today it should be he has made up geds mind for him- woeful keeping and it's happened too often this season.
We have a huge game at Blackpool next week and really need to win, I was hugely impressed with downing today especially in the first half and surely albrighton needs to replace gabby with Bradley replacing petrov next weekend.

[nuninho]

Problem with Ashley Young is that he has forgotten how to do the basics.  Each time he gets the ball its 10 step overs then a flicked pass.  When was the last time he had a game consistently running at the full back? 

Petrov looks fooked.   Time to drop him.

Bent looked good and was playing off the last defender.  Oh for a decent through ball!!

[JJ-AV]

Not read the thread but will catch up later. Not a disaster but dissappointing, many positives to take.

I imagine my thinking will echo others, a commanding centre half is needed and a Petrov replacement.

[Monty]

Not read the thread but will catch up later. Not a disaster but dissappointing, many positives to take.

I imagine my thinking will echo others, a commanding centre half is needed and a Petrov replacement.

I think we have both of them on the books. In the case of a Petrov replacement, we have multiple AND one or two players who can make the difference in the final third against packed defences. We need to play what we have.

[eamonn]

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier: "We just have to blame ourselves for not keeping that result [from 1-0 and 2-1 up] but there were more positives from the game for us. I can take pride from the football and effort we put in at times."

[damon loves JT]

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier: "We just have to blame ourselves for not keeping that result [from 1-0 and 2-1 up] but there were more positives from the game for us. I can take pride from the football and effort we put in at times."

yes Gerard but where's my tea? and what's this big pile of socks doing on the bed?

[TonyD]

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier: "We just have to blame ourselves for not keeping that result [from 1-0 and 2-1 up] but there were more positives from the game for us. I can take pride from the football and effort we put in at times."

yes Gerard but where's my tea? and what's this big pile of socks doing on the bed?

lol