Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers Post-Match Thread

[tarzansbrother]

Very poor first half which shows what a team can do if they park the bus against us. Thought Clark looked assured at the back and was delighted to see Delph complete the game and gave us an option even as a full back. He played one ball down the wing with the outside of his foot which had england class written all over it.

[Lizz]

I had a quick drink with an inspector who runs the police operations at VP. He told me there'd be about 34k there & only 300 Blackburn fans.

They had 438.

However many there were, they didn't make much noise. My eyesight's not brilliant minus glasses, didn't immediately realise they'd scored.

[olaftab]

No criticism of Ash diving today, then?

No no criticism because every now and than we win a penalty for that!

Yes he had a good game however it could have been much better if his attempted through balls to Bent have been a little more effective. He is doing the right thing in picking him but  too much weight and over hit. He made 5 attempts today and 4 were not good only 1 where Bent should have done better.

[Archie]

Trequartista (enganche in South America) means "in the hole" between the midfield and the attacking line.

[Dave]

Trequartista (enganche in South America) means "in the hole" between the midfield and the attacking line.

Or, in true Alan Shearer/Mark Lawrenson style - a tactical word that we don't understand and should laugh at because it's one of those funny foreign things, innit.

[Summers]

Just watched MOTD, we looked very good. Pires seemed to play very, very well. Whole team did. Young & Bent link up well I feel, and Downing again doing the business. Great performance. Must win game, and we won. Time to push on up the table.

[paulcomben]

All in accord on this thread. The first 35 mins was dreadful, but the reason turned out to be that Blackburn bus station was the unknown Kean's tactical inspiration and that Villa were rehearsing being Arsenal for the 2nd half. Loads of passes were within inches of brilliance ie keep practising.

[Dave Cooper please]

At half time I sat there thinking "fuck me this is shit", but on reflection it wasn't, we had dominated but just couldn't find that little bit of something to get a goal, it's just that it was such a vital game that 0-0 seemed like just another one of those days.
Second half, Dunne's clanger just before the penalty aside, we were excellent.
Special mentions to:

Ciaran Clarke, the best young centre-half in the Premier League, assured, strong, brilliant.
Pires - that's more like it.
Ash and Downing, way to stuff the critics words down their collective throats.
Delph's pass down the line to Albrighton gave me a semi.

[pauliewalnuts]

Delph's pass down the line to Albrighton gave me a semi.

I'm surprised more people haven't mentioned it.

The best ball I've seen played at our place this year.

[PaulWinch again]

Delph will be a fantastic player for us, you can see his class even at left back. Pires was top class today, hopefully he's up to fitness now. He's shown his class.

[sfx412]

thought Cokers thro ball early on special had a good game.
pirez was majestic at times, if only he could that for 20 odd games.
Pity they scored so no clean sheet, but overall a very promising performance to ease the relegation doomsayers nerves.
Pity Bent didn't score would have been the icing on a nicely baked cake.

[Archie]

Second half, Dunne's clanger just before the penalty aside, we were excellent.

The problem is that even when we're excellent (and it doesn't happen very often) it's almost always Dunne aside. Today he has conceded their goal as usual, I don't refer to  the own-goal that was quite unlucky, but leaving the opponent substantially unmarked.

Special mentions to:
Ciaran Clarke, the best young centre-half in the Premier League, assured, strong, brilliant.

Agree. Finally even GH found out that he's a CB not a LB. I haven't lose the hopes that before or later he will notice  that Albrighton is a right winger, Downing a left winger and Gabby Agbonlahor a striker .

Ash and Downing, way to stuff the critics words down their collective throats.
Delph's pass down the line to Albrighton gave me a semi.

Agree.

[Archie]

I have always heard to say "in the hole" to describe that role,  but obviously correct me if i'm wrong, and sorry for my poor English.

[Tony]

I have always heard to say "in the hole" to describe that role,  but obviously correct me if i'm wrong, and sorry for my poor English.

Your're correct, the role is called in the hole and there's nowt wrong with your English, I'd be proud of myself if I could speak a second language half as well as you do.

[KevinGage]

 He is doing the right thing in picking him but  too much weight and over hit. He made 5 attempts today and 4 were not good only 1 where Bent should have done better.

Totally agree.

You can't always get it right, but his success ratio playing that particular ball must be pretty dire since he's been in that position.

Not completely sold on Adam, but him (or similar) in that spot, with Ash perhaps starting wide but being given license to roam might be better for us long term. If he remains with us, that is.