Aston Villa v Newcastle United Post-Match Thread

[Clark W Griswold]

That'll do. We'll play better and lose, but no complaints here.

Good: Downing, Gabby, Ash, Petrov, Friedel, Young, Collins
Average: Bent, Dunne
Not really at the races: Walker, Makoun.

Good: Downing, Gabby, Ash, Freidel, Young, Bent
Average: Dunne, Collins, Petrov, Makoun
Below Par: Walker

For me anyway. I don't think there was a lot to pick between Petrov and Makoun myself, Makoun was lively and more involved but made more errors, Petrov was laboured and not involved enough. Petrov did look better when NRC came on, but Makoun possibly would have too. NRC should start next time with one dropping out. Makoun is obviously with us for the longer term though.
Walker definately looks like he would be better as a right midfielder (not winger), because he's a good footballer but suspect defensively.
Fair play to Collins with the goal. Bent's should have stood too.

[TopDeck113]

At this stage of the season - and in our predicament - all you want is 3 points.   I'll take another 3 home games like that, thank you very much, if they all end 1-0 to us. 

[Deano's Mullet]

Result is everything but the 2nd half was torture. Beat West Ham - and its a big if - and i reckon we're safe.

[TheSandman]

I'm still concerned more than ever about Makoun. He will be a good player for us but in our current predicament we cannot have a midfielder who is learning on the job.

Also I really hope that Houllier realises that whilst the 4-4-2 has worked well in the last few games it will not be a good idea in next weeks match against West Ham as they typically play three busy hardworking players in Hitz, Parker and Noble who will outnumber and outplay our two. I'd think about playing NRC, Stan and Delph against them with Makoun or Bradley replacing Petrov late on.

I'm glad I won't have to sit through the West Ham game (I will be somewhere else happily) and have to put up with another hour and a half of mental torture but I hope that it will give us three points that will all but secure our top flight status.

[The Situation]

At this stage of the season - and in our predicament - all you want is 3 points.   I'll take another 3 home games like that, thank you very much, if they all end 1-0 to us. 

Pretty much.

We missed a few chances, we should of had a penalty... but the main thing is getting the 3 points at this important stage of the season. A really big positive is keeping a clean sheet (yea, I know we were playing Newcastle today) and not conceding a silly goal in the last ten minutes.

A win today was massive. A draw would have been bad as loss, it's always a cliche when people say this, but it the definition of "must win" really applied today.

I'm happy so everybody to the Dougie!

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Wanted to see Delph replace Makoun. Pires was a joke. Also think Albrghton needs to be on the pitch more .....

[richard moore]

Result is everything but the 2nd half was torture. Beat West Ham - and its a big if - and i reckon we're safe.

I think we will lose that one, will be like a cup final for them and they will think it one of their winnable games

I am still not at all sure we have 'a we are in trouble and need to fight our way out of it' mentality based on what I saw today

Agree though that a central midfield three is absolutely crucial against West Ham

[The Moose]

Good result, lucky that the best midfielder in England didn't turn it on, but hey-ho, you can't have it all.
Up yours, Barton, you useless, self-promoting waste of space!

[Wilfred the Hairy]

Anyone know why Newcastle played in white?
As far as I know, "claret and blue" versus "black and white" isn't a colour clash.

[WikiVilla]

Petrov was excellent

Makoun Poor

Great 3 pts

[Blackcountry Villa]

Good result but we are diabolical. What a terrible game of football that was.

Win next week and we're almost safe but i think we'll lose, and we never beat Wigan at home and i think Albion will beat us. Anyone who thinks we're safe now is getting ahead of themselves, we're still crap.

[PaulWinch again]

Good result but we are diabolical. What a terrible game of football that was.

Win next week and we're almost safe but i think we'll lose, and we never beat Wigan at home and i think Albion will beat us. Anyone who thinks we're safe now is getting ahead of themselves, we're still crap.

Diabolical is massively over the top. In the second half we were along way from diabolical.

[richard moore]

Good result but we are diabolical. What a terrible game of football that was.

Win next week and we're almost safe but i think we'll lose, and we never beat Wigan at home and i think Albion will beat us. Anyone who thinks we're safe now is getting ahead of themselves, we're still crap.

Bit over the top but still nearer the truth for me than saying so and so was excellent today etc, etc

We are not out of this by a long chalk as you say, not based on what I saw today...

[SO Villa]

Good result but we are diabolical. What a terrible game of football that was.

What exactly did you expect? Do you accept that, sometimes, the result is the only thing that matters?

[The Moose]

Crap or not, 3 points are added to our total, and now 5 clear of the bottom three. A point at WHam and I'll be chuffed.

We'll win at the boggies...