Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers Post-Match Thread

[hawkeye]

No criticism of Ash diving today, then?

not sure he dived that much, but managed to do nothing with free kicks as usual

[Monty]

I still think Ash isn't really the trequartista GH seems to have in mind. When he's playing from the left and has license to drift central it's fine, but he lacks a certain calmness for the fully fledged free role. His strengths include dribbling directly at the defence, linking up quickly on the counter-attack and shooting or crossing from around the left angle of the penalty area. His weaknesses include being patient in choosing options, constructing attacks rather than always looking to finish them, weighting throughballs properly (more overhit throughballs than you'd believe) and knowing when to dribble or pass when faced with options right and left. The only conclusion you can draw from that is that he should play as a wide forward, not in the hole.

[Mac]

I was the other side of the ground, did Nelson deserve that second yellow? he seemed to play the ball to me.

Nope. He only got Ash.

[Holtenderinthesky]

I still think Ash isn't really the trequartista GH seems to have in mind. When he's playing from the left and has license to drift central it's fine, but he lacks a certain calmness for the fully fledged free role. His strengths include dribbling directly at the defence, linking up quickly on the counter-attack and shooting or crossing from around the left angle of the penalty area. His weaknesses include being patient in choosing options, constructing attacks rather than always looking to finish them, weighting throughballs properly (more overhit throughballs than you'd believe) and knowing when to dribble or pass when faced with options right and left. The only conclusion you can draw from that is that he should play as a wide forward, not in the hole.

I still believe he is our most important player and one that is likely to leave in the summer for nothing. Trying to replace him will not be easy.

[Tony]

Great Second Half performance, poor Nathan Baker though, he must hate Blackburn! Pires is a yard off the pace, that wasn't much of an issue today as Blackburn were so negative and he really did use the ball well, Kyle Walker is a superb full back, I'm not sure what Spurs are playing at letting him go out on loan, it's a shame we'll have no chance of signing him permanently.

Ashley Young had his best game for ages, Downing took his goal really well and along with Albrighton ripped their full backs a new backside. Darren Bent was quiet but when he gets a chance of goal he generally isn't far away, his shots on target per chance must be pretty high. Richard Dunne looked extremely healthy again, he showed a lot of energy today, Ciaran Clark is cool and composed on the ball, he did struggle a bit in the air today but the defence weren't troubled that much.

Reo-Coker tidied up nicely and I was very impressed with Delph, he has a good turn of pace I hope he gets an injury free run from now until the end of the season, there's some great potential there.

[Legion]

trequartista?

[Brend'Watkins]

I still think Ash isn't really the trequartista GH seems to have in mind. When he's playing from the left and has license to drift central it's fine, but he lacks a certain calmness for the fully fledged free role. His strengths include dribbling directly at the defence, linking up quickly on the counter-attack and shooting or crossing from around the left angle of the penalty area. His weaknesses include being patient in choosing options, constructing attacks rather than always looking to finish them, weighting throughballs properly (more overhit throughballs than you'd believe) and knowing when to dribble or pass when faced with options right and left. The only conclusion you can draw from that is that he should play as a wide forward, not in the hole.

First half his free role consisted of free to do a sweet fuck all role.  2nd half he was very good even though his through balls to Bent were over hit in the main, some were very close.  One in particular we'd have been eulogising about tonight had it been just a little less heavy as Bent's run and Ash's delivery over the defence was near perfect for Bent being one on one with the keeper.

[PeterWithe]

trequartista?

Its Italian for Show Off.

No Barry Bannan again which was surprising, particularly as I'd bet on him scoring. Amused my brother in law though.

[The Moose]

trequartista?

[The Situation]

Trequartista = playmaker, number 10 etc...

[Shrek]

Tony, totally agree.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

trequartista?

It's a word you get free with part one of your "John Blackwell Guide To Amazing Your Internet Chums". There are 1,039 further parts to collect (only £4.99  each). When you have them all you can build a 1/42nd model of the San Siro with the words you've collected.

[The Moose]

Thanks, that's sorted then!

[Tony]

No criticism of Ash diving today, then?

Can't say I noticed much, he went down a couple of times waving his hands in the air and the ref waving play on but he seemed to go down naturally rather than throwing himself to the floor rather roughly.

[KevinGage]

trequartista?

Latin for treacle tart.