Zonal Marking

[hawkeye]

Chris if you think it is OK for The Villa to give up on the FA Cup because our manger has put us in such a perilous position then fine. So why put 2 of our first team on when the game was lost? You think his decisions were pragmatic and some think it was cowardice. It looks like his decision was the last straw for many supporters who have said that they wont renew season tickets and dont feel that they can trust the manager. So we can disagree on the merits of this arguement but GH has managed to disenfranchise a lot of supporters by his actions and comments. This is not goood for our Club.

[fredm]

Was it pragmatic to put young and downing on when the game was effectively over and risk losing them to injury?

The problem was they were both warming up for about 10 minutes and were ready to come on just when Man City scored.  If they had come on 3-4 minutes earlier they might (I say might) have been able to make an effect on the game.  Who knows, one goal for us and it might have been a different story. 

So, if GH did do it wrong, it was not getting them on sooner. (Personally I would have done it at half time).

[Chris Smith]

Chris if you think it is OK for The Villa to give up on the FA Cup because our manger has put us in such a perilous position then fine. So why put 2 of our first team on when the game was lost? You think his decisions were pragmatic and some think it was cowardice. It looks like his decision was the last straw for many supporters who have said that they wont renew season tickets and dont feel that they can trust the manager. So we can disagree on the merits of this arguement but GH has managed to disenfranchise a lot of supporters by his actions and comments. This is not goood for our Club.

Supporters often say that things are the last straw, they rarely mean it.

[Risso]

Chris if you think it is OK for The Villa to give up on the FA Cup because our manger has put us in such a perilous position then fine. So why put 2 of our first team on when the game was lost? You think his decisions were pragmatic and some think it was cowardice. It looks like his decision was the last straw for many supporters who have said that they wont renew season tickets and dont feel that they can trust the manager. So we can disagree on the merits of this arguement but GH has managed to disenfranchise a lot of supporters by his actions and comments. This is not goood for our Club.

Supporters often say that things are the last straw, they rarely mean it.

Given our poor attendances this season, I'd say that several thousand of them very much mean it, and even more will do so next year.

[Chris Smith]

Chris if you think it is OK for The Villa to give up on the FA Cup because our manger has put us in such a perilous position then fine. So why put 2 of our first team on when the game was lost? You think his decisions were pragmatic and some think it was cowardice. It looks like his decision was the last straw for many supporters who have said that they wont renew season tickets and dont feel that they can trust the manager. So we can disagree on the merits of this arguement but GH has managed to disenfranchise a lot of supporters by his actions and comments. This is not goood for our Club.

Supporters often say that things are the last straw, they rarely mean it.

Given our poor attendances this season, I'd say that several thousand of them very much mean it, and even more will do so next year.

Poor? Compared to the crowds we got under our last manager they've gone down but in historical terms they're not too bad at all, but that's down to league position and the economic climate, surely. If we do better next season then crowds will go back up.

There is a lot less less wrong with the team that some of you suggest. Take away the major issue of defending sermon pieeces and we're a top 8 side at least. Our manager is an experienced man with a proven track record, do you really think it is beyond him to address that in the summer.

[Risso]

So you're saying that if we conceded less goals, we'd win more games and be higher up the table?  Well, can't argue with that kind of insight.

[Chris Smith]

So you're saying that if we conceded less goals, we'd win more games and be higher up the table?  Well, can't argue with that kind of insight.

No, I'm saying that in a transition season, badly hampered by injuries, that the manager has now got the team playing a lot of good football as shown by the number of chances created in our last 2 league games where we've scored 6 and could have had double that. There is an issue with defending set pieces but injuries have been a large part of it, things had tightened up recently but the latest batch has caused us further problems. That's an issue to be sorted in the summer and, given his record, I am confident it will be addressed.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I accepted this season as a transitional one, by that I thought 10th - 12th, not fighting fucking relegation.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I'm wondering what excuse will be used next year for our defensive frailties. My money is on leaves on the line or the wrong kind of snow.

[Concrete John]

I hope we're better next season, but unfortunately that's all it is - hope!

I can see where he adds value thus far (good transfer dealings and improved style of play) but what he seems to lack is that competitive edge and motivational skill needed.  I look forward to more of his signings and more good football next season, but I think we'll get that and be using the word 'underachieved' a lot. 

[Risso]

A lot of people on here make the mistake of thinking that when we have a perceived weakness, the manager will sort it out, and other areas of the team will stay at the same level and everyhting will fall into place.  Under O'Neill we started off by scoring lots of goals, but with a shit defence.  Then when he tightened the defence up last year, we scored far fewer goals.  Houllier may well shore up the defence next year, but if say, Ashley Young and Agbonlahor move on, then we'll need a big spend on new attacking players as well.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

The first new face I'd like to see next year is a decent keeper. Whoever is in charge then can build the defence around him.

[Chris Smith]

I accepted this season as a transitional one, by that I thought 10th - 12th, not fighting fucking relegation.

I think but for the horrendous run of injuries we would have another 6-10 points and be comfortably top half, as it is we are 13th.

[fredm]

I accepted this season as a transitional one, by that I thought 10th - 12th, not fighting fucking relegation.

I don't think the teams in those positions can be completely happy that they are safe from the drop.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I accepted this season as a transitional one, by that I thought 10th - 12th, not fighting fucking relegation.

I think but for the horrendous run of injuries we would have another 6-10 points and be comfortably top half, as it is we are 13th.

If's and but's are of no help Chris.

If we'd turned four of draws into wins, we'd be 8 points better half.

But it's meaningless, what's the point in saying it?