Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers Post-Match Thread

[oldtimernow]

well impressed with NRC and Delph could be very useful as an allround Left Back.

Liked when he broke through to edge of penalty area and was just robbed and went down, he was up straight away and told Marc A to get back and cover for him. Didn't hunch is shoulders and complain.....very mature.

[ozzjim]

Thought Pires was brilliant today, I really did, and thought he was the difference in our attacking play - coming deep then getting us on the front foot. Bents movement was very good, and he pulled their back 4 about without the ball allowing our men coming from deep to get into the positions to score second half, but it was always an inch away for him.

I actually thought we played really well first half too, almost error free, and created enough opportunities to be 3-4 up by half time.

The other big difference for me was Clark and Delph in the back 4. Clark especially, as we clearly played football from the back continuously, picking balls through the midfield.

Biggest change though from first to second was Albrighton, and I was suprised GH gave him the second half as I thought he looked sulky, uninterested etc.... first half, then second looked confident, direct etc... very interesting to see what was said at half time.

Fair play though, great display, team selection spot on and very impressive. Hopefully 3-4 more of those and the season can end comfortably with a bit of breathing space to look forward to next

[mrfuse]

just back from the match thought Downing was excellent always seems to get some stick from fans around me but iv always thought hes played well for us.
 Clark always looks solid and walker and delph played well.

[ktvillan]

Good point about Bent's movement Ozzjim, even though he looked a bit not quite with it today he does move well and pull the defenders around.  Gabby could learn a lot from him on that score.

[Mac]

Wasn't really that cold today to wear a snood tbf.

It's never cold enough tbf

[ozzjim]

Wasn't really that cold today to wear a snood tbf.

It's never cold enough tbf

I would don a snood in anything under minus 5.

[Mac]

That's cos you're a wuss

[pauliewalnuts]

Most important thing by far - three points.

First half we were a little disorganised and shapeless to start with, but began to get into it more as we got nearer half time. Second half, infinitely better. I thought Pires was superb, and would probably give him man of the match.

Good stuff from Young, Downing and Albrighton. Delph also looked the part, and played one of the best balls I've seen all season, lovely ball down the wing.

Great result, and a massive confidence boost after a good performance.

Have to say, I thought Blackburn were absolutely terrible, by far the worst team I've seen us play at Villa Park - worse than West Ham on the first day, even. Their defending was shocking. They're worth a flutter as an outside bet to go down.

[Dan England]

They really do play anti football. Thought we were good in both halves. The game was also going to open up if we could get a goal as they no longer had the chance to put all eleven men behind the ball.

Too many good performances to mention them all and some great passing football. Squad rotation, 3 pts at home against a team we should beat, attractive football can't be bad! It's been way too long since we last put in as good a performance as that.

[Legion]

We were great in the second half against an admittedly poor Blackburn Rovers. We dominated territory and possession throughout but only made it pay in the second half.

On walking back to the car, I overheard a young lady telling her partner that Pires was utterly useless and Albrighton scored a great goal. She was adamant about it.

[CJ]

Have to admit when I got to the ground and heard that Pires was on the team sheet (with Bannan not even in the squad - not sure why?) my heart sank.  How wrong could I be.  Thought we were quality all over the pitch today, especially in the second half. The quality of the close passing and movement was something I haven't seen at VP for a while, and some of the longer passing - especially that ball out of defence by Delph for Albrighton on the wing - was superb.  Unfair to single any one player out - just a shame Bent didn't score.

It was great to see Delph back, even though he had to fill in at left back.  Heard Houllier on the way back saying that he put Delph there rather than Herd (a more natural defender) because Blackburn were only playing one up front so he could afford to use Delph as a more advanced LB. Substitutions tailored to fit the circumstances - makes a change from 4 years of Heskey time on 70 minutes!  Not sure how Delph and Makoun will fit together - for me Delph is Makoun plus ball retention and getting stuck in.  Time will tell but  I'm well pleased today - not just for the result against a poor Blackburn, but also for the type of football we're starting to see at VP

[Chatters]

Great result today. Been waiting all season for us to actually take a team apart and not have to hang on to a one goal lead for the last 20 minutes.

Very frustrated first half as any sniff of a chance we did have we always seemed to make the wrong choice. Bent's chance from the dodgy back pass a case in point.

Second half much better. Ran at their defence and caused them countless problems. Downing, Albrighton, Walker, Pires and Young all excellent. Reo-Coker did brilliant job winning the ball and then passing it on to the more creative players.

Felt sorry for Bent as every time anyone tried to play him through they put too much weight on the pass and he couldn't get on the end of it.

Defence was excelllent (other than the mix up at start of 2nd half). Friedel may as well have had the day off he had so little to do. Nothing he could've done about the goal either, with that deflection. Annoying not to have got a clean sheet, but if thats all there is to complain about for today I'm happy.

Blackburn were truly woeful though. As someone else mentioned they seemed to be playing without anyone up front for most of the match. Lets hope we come up against a few other teams on a bad day too, and who knows we could sneak into Europe this season after all!

[littlevillain]

good win, 3 pts is the most important thing but it has to be said blackburn are absolutely
shit. In my opinion we would have lost to better teams today with that formation.

[The Situation]

Wasn't really that cold today to wear a snood tbf.

It's never cold enough tbf

December was pretty damn cold tbf.

And yea, Pires was great to today. Nice little passes that made space and created flowing football.

Where are the Ashley Young haters tonight?

[pauliewalnuts]

Also, a special mention for the smallest away support I can remember seeing at Villa Park for a very long time indeed.