Blackpool v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[CJ]

So have we now got two weeks off seeing as we're not playing next week for some reason?

The reason is probably that we've played more games than anyone else.

It's the FA Cup next weekend and in line with the long tradition of this historic competition they're holding some 4th round replays after some teams have played their 5th round games, with other teams having to delay their 5th round games accordingly.  In other words - Mancs play Notts next Sunday and we play the winner about 10 days later. Fuck knows when we'll replay if there's no winner on the day - don't know what Notts County's fixtures look like

[Chris Smith]

We've clearly improved, the only game we've lost in the last 8 was away at Old Trafford. I think we've got 3 significant issues to sort out though.

1) Defending set pieces, we concede far too many.
2) We don't make the most of our periods of dominance, we score too few goals.
3) I don't think the central midfield balance has been right all season. We've got plenty of options but so far no pairing har really gelled.

[WikiVilla]

Incidentally, Charlie Adam looked superb for them.

If he had been in our midfield rather than theirs then we would have walked all over them today.

eh ? did u watch the game ?

[Fergal]

We've clearly improved, the only game we've lost in the last 8 was away at Old Trafford. I think we've got 3 significant issues to sort out though.

1) Defending set pieces, we concede far too many.
2) We don't make the most of our periods of dominance, we score too few goals.
3) I don't think the central midfield balance has been right all season. We've got plenty of options but so far no pairing har really gelled.

4) Don't get relegated, because that's what will happen if we don't sort it out.   We have the players so what's missing?

[The Situation]

Anyone who attacks Ashley's effort and determination is moronic.

Take him out the team and we'd be in even more shit.

[KevinGage]

We've clearly improved, the only game we've lost in the last 8 was away at Old Trafford. I think we've got 3 significant issues to sort out though.

1) Defending set pieces, we concede far too many.
2) We don't make the most of our periods of dominance, we score too few goals.
3) I don't think the central midfield balance has been right all season. We've got plenty of options but so far no pairing har really gelled.

A fair summary.

You could have posted that in October and it would have been accurate, and it's still accurate now in Feb.

Have you seen anything to date this season to suggest any of that will be rectified between now and the end of the campaign?

[Dave]

Incidentally, Charlie Adam looked superb for them.

If he had been in our midfield rather than theirs then we would have walked all over them today.

eh ? did u watch the game ?

Pray tell me what I have said that is wrong.

[oodman]

gabby should be up front with bent. Downing on left Ashley on left. It isn't rocket science   Ashley was ineffective through the middle but looked his great old self when he went on wing.

[damon loves JT]

This season has been like a long journey with a flat tyre. When we get to the end it will be a bloody relief.

[Ian.]

We've clearly improved, the only game we've lost in the last 8 was away at Old Trafford. I think we've got 3 significant issues to sort out though.

1) Defending set pieces, we concede far too many.
2) We don't make the most of our periods of dominance, we score too few goals.
3) I don't think the central midfield balance has been right all season. We've got plenty of options but so far no pairing har really gelled.

A fair summary.

You could have posted that in October and it would have been accurate, and it's still accurate now in Feb.

Have you seen anything to date this season to suggest any of that will be rectified between now and the end of the campaign?

I'd say well summed up too.
I'm sure the centre midfield will improve and I'm sure the goals will come this season any game now but I'm also sure I don't think the defence will improve at the back until GH gets in his own players to play how he wants it played.

[The Situation]

We've clearly improved, the only game we've lost in the last 8 was away at Old Trafford. I think we've got 3 significant issues to sort out though.

1) Defending set pieces, we concede far too many.
2) We don't make the most of our periods of dominance, we score too few goals.
3) I don't think the central midfield balance has been right all season. We've got plenty of options but so far no pairing har really gelled.

Have you seen anything to date this season to suggest any of that will be rectified between now and the end of the campaign?

Still lots of 'winnable' games left Kevin.

There's still time to improve, how much we'll improve now till teh end is the question. If we can even manage 18 points out of a possible 33 then it'll be viewed as improvement.

Main thing is to start beating easy opposition, be well clear of the bottom 3 in April and hopefully manage to squeeze in a top 10 finish. Once this eventful season is over we can really start to plan for the summer and the next season.

[TheSandman]

We've clearly improved, the only game we've lost in the last 8 was away at Old Trafford. I think we've got 3 significant issues to sort out though.

1) Defending set pieces, we concede far too many.
2) We don't make the most of our periods of dominance, we score too few goals.
3) I don't think the central midfield balance has been right all season. We've got plenty of options but so far no pairing har really gelled.

On the money as ever.

[WikiVilla]

Incidentally, Charlie Adam looked superb for them.

If he had been in our midfield rather than theirs then we would have walked all over them today.

eh ? did u watch the game ?

Pray tell me what I have said that is wrong.

adam did not look "superb" far from it,  he looks like a Div 2 player yes we made him look good

[Chris Smith]

Kevin, I'd say there are signs or hints of better things to come but nothing to hang your hat on.

[Ads]

We've clearly improved, the only game we've lost in the last 8 was away at Old Trafford. I think we've got 3 significant issues to sort out though.

1) Defending set pieces, we concede far too many.
2) We don't make the most of our periods of dominance, we score too few goals.
3) I don't think the central midfield balance has been right all season. We've got plenty of options but so far no pairing har really gelled.

We've become hard to beat again, but I think you're right about the midfield.

I know there's a lot of wailing going on from some, but honestly, we should have smashed them over the Irish Sea in the first half. We squandered far too many golden chances.

Interestingly enough, the seats are padded in the away end and we won the half-time massive plastic ball roller thingy.