Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[TimTheVillain]

Let's be clear, ash scoring the pen would have won the game. But he didnt lose the game, it was shit marking that did that.

Disagree.
I still think they'd have got it back to 3-3.
The utterly shit defending is going to cost us our Premier League place.

Unless Houllier can somehow fix it.

Can't see Houllier at the back myself.

Seriously, we had 3 central defenders out, so it was very much a makeshift defence, and man, did it look it.


 

But even with our first choice defenders we've defended like amateurs.

True, but yesterday was as bad as it gets.

Mind you, this is a team that puts Barry Bannan on the goal line at corners !!

[JUAN PABLO]

I used to keep my eyes closed to keep the goalie guessing.

Yeah, I do that on Fifa 11

[ozzjim]

Most sides have the little men on the posts Tim - they are useless marking in the middle so it is the most effective place for them.

[JUAN PABLO]

Back from the Reebok and even though we lost, agreed with Owen Coyle's interview, thoroughly enjoyed the game.  Can't honestly believe some of the over reaction on here as I truly thought we were outstanding going forward.  Bent missed two sitters, hit the post, Downing a sitter, Ashley Youngs pen?, on another day we would have scored 6.

I agree with Ads earlier quote, ridiculous league this year and if MON hadn't have left us in the shit 5 days before the kick off, we would have been comfortably top 6.

I also agree with other quotes about next season.  We have the base of an excellent team here with a few tweeks here and there in the summer.   I can't believe the amount of stick Ashley Young gets, especially today, because apart from the penalty miss he was outstanding. His partnership with Bent is really beginning to click.  I hope we can, but fear we won't, keep him next season.  Maybe he likes being a big fish in a small pond?.

I honestly believe the defensive weakness we have seen this season stems mainly from the goalkeeper.  Been a great servant to the game, but he probably has to move on now.  I don't think that having three centre backs missing helps either.

I will never understand or forgive Houllier for Wednesday, but I do like a lot of things he has done at the club since he has been here and certainly our play is much more pleasing on the eye than previously.   I wouldn't be that upset if he went, but I believe the board see him for the long term and he will be here next season.

Chin up all, the future could well be bright !!

UTV !!

I agree with this post , but I would like to see Ashley Young taking alot less freekicks and corners, he is so frustrating. If he scores that penalty the game is won , continuing the recent good form ( form guide 4th before the game ).  I thought NRC and Albrighton were very good and like the look of Delph , his build up for the second goal was great.  Still can't believe the Downing miss , I thought that was the worse.     . 

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Most sides have the little men on the posts Tim - they are useless marking in the middle so it is the most effective place for them.

You're right.
I recall Alan Wright doing that job for us.

[WikiVilla]

Alan Wright was like a giant compared to bannan

[Ian.]

Let's be clear, ash scoring the pen would have won the game. But he didnt lose the game, it was shit marking that did that.

Disagree.
I still think they'd have got it back to 3-3.
The utterly shit defending is going to cost us our Premier League place.

Unless Houllier can somehow fix it.

Can't see Houllier at the back myself.

Seriously, we had 3 central defenders out, so it was very much a makeshift defence, and man, did it look it.


 

But even with our first choice defenders we've defended like amateurs.

True, but yesterday was as bad as it gets.

Mind you, this is a team that puts Barry Bannan on the goal line at corners !!

Being 5'3 I was always stuck on the post defending a corner, I thought this was the norm?

[brian green]

On seeing Houllier in his post match MOTD interview I was given the clear impression that the Villa penny has finally dropped.

Apart from looking very tired, his body language, tone of voice and general attitude was of a man who has finally taken stock of his situation.   He has finally admitted to himself that he is making a total fuck up of things.

French men of my acquaintance are never lacking in the self regard department and right up to the binning of the FA Cup his self regard - supercharged by nights like the Anfield love in - was totally intact.   Now the cracks are starting to show and reality is setting in.

If he does not take us down we will only escape by the skin of our teeth and like another poster said, I will get no satisfaction whatsoever that Aston Villa are not one of the worst three teams in the Premiership.   In many ways the slithering under the wire to safety is more humiliating than straight relegation.

[WikiVilla]

Strange thing was, corners aside, the defence looked solid yesterday. Sturridge didn't have a sniff

[lordmcgrath5]

Shades of Stoke, two years ago (near enough to the very day). A game we had the best of and had the perfect chance of sewing up but threw it away.

After Wednesday, this is what I said I feared before the game. And so it came to pass. Felt strangely numb and not that surprised when their second and third went in. Ended up thinking I'd had a pretty reasonable day out, which says something about my expectations at the minute.

There were some plus points - Walker's cross to Bent and the way that Downing and Albrighton combined. And perhaps the fact that we did create chances for Bent, and if we keep doing that he will keep putting the odd one away, despite some very poor finishing yesterday.  But our attacking and defending set pieces - oh dear.

[JUAN PABLO]

we would probably top of the league If we didnt concede one corner   through the season ..

[WikiVilla]

Would also like to mention, great positive support yesterday, not one anti Houllier song, we did leave when the 3 rd went in though, not sure if it got ugly after that ?

[Mazrim]

This may sound strange but there isnt actually a lot wrong. Its just that what is wrong is fundamental.
It wouldnt take much to tweak this team into very good one that's maybe 20-25 points better off than is the case at the moment. Which I think is encouraging.

In the meantime, the same mistakes are costing us and will continue to do so.
A really frustrating season but once a couple of problems are addressed in the summer, I think we'll be up the right end of the table, with THIS manager.

- New keeper.
- New left back.
- Walker situation???
- One top class centre half.
- Fuck the last of the dead wood off.

[fredm]

Would also like to mention, great positive support yesterday, not one anti Houllier song, we did leave when the 3 rd went in though, not sure if it got ugly after that ?

Well you missed the "you're getting sacked in the morning" routine then from some of our so called "supporters".

[Clampy]

I was there yesterday and i still can't believe how we did'nt win that game at a canter. On another day we would have scored 6.  Going forward we carved them open time and time again.

Bent was in the right place at the right time for the first, he could'nt miss, but he needs stop worrying about whether he's offside or not and just concentrate on finishing. Twice yesterday, he looked across to the linesman before he shot at goal. Downing's miss was equally as bad. Could'nt help thinking that Fonz would have helped himself to a couple had he been playing yesterday.

Carry on playing like that and we should be ok.