Aston Villa v Stoke City Post-Match Thread

[Dave Summers]

Don't think I've "enjoyed" a game less than that all season.  Stoke are truly awful to watch and you can see why they don't always sell out the Brittania, if that's what they see every other week?.

Friedel made some tremendous saves in the first half, but he just doesn't command his box enough for me.  I am wondering whether part of the reason for Dunne and Collins form this season, is that they don't know if Friedel is coming or going at times?.  I personally thought Dunne had a reasonable game today, especially like the bringing the ball out of the back.  Collins looks like an accident waiting to happen at times and at other times is superb, can't work him out this season.

Midfield :  For me Petrov and Reo weren't good enough as a pair two years ago and nothing has changed.  Petrov had a reasonable game that said, but I'm not sure you can play him as part of a pair in that heat.  I would have had, in an ideal world, Delph in with them and left out Heskey.  That way we would have hopefully dominated the midfield area and kept the ball and also got more people in and around Bent.

Attack :  Downing and especially Young were disappointing today no question.  I also thought you could see Albrighton has lost a bit of confidence when he came on as well.   As someone else said, can see why Heskey was picked to combat the ariel threat, but he offered little or nothing in an attacking sense.    Bent was superb for his goal, his movement was outstanding and I think he was outnumbered something like 4 or 5 to one in their area, for his goal.   If we use him correctly and get the right service, he could be the 20 goal as season striker we have all been waiting for.

Anyway, a point is a point and we are definitely safe now.  Roll on the end of the season and then we can move forward.

UTV !!
 

[The Moose]

Boring. Now let's stuff the baggies, finish the season, and then the really interesting stuff begins...

[The Moose]

Why bring Albrighton on, and then within five minutes, stick him left wing?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Why bring Albrighton on, and then within five minutes, stick him left wing?

That confused me too. I can only think Ashley wanted to go 'walkabout'.

[VillaZogmariner]

Another thing that annoys me is that we have 3/4 of our wide players on the wrong wings. Ok, Luke Young you can understand, but Young should be on the right and Downing on the left. As it stands they are always having to cut inside before crossing.

[TimTheVillain]

Why bring Albrighton on, and then within five minutes, stick him left wing?

True, Gabby for Heskey was a no-brainer.

Is Downing knackered ? He looks our most threatening midfielder all day long, so why take him off ?

[Legion]

What was the deal with the players being asked to move back from the touchline when Delap was taking throw-ins?

[Ads]

Well we weren't going to win four in a row.

[CJ]

Why bring Albrighton on, and then within five minutes, stick him left wing?

True, Gabby for Heskey was a no-brainer.

Is Downing knackered ? He looks our most threatening midfielder all day long, so why take him off ?

Downing wasn't too happy to be taken off either - barely acknowledged MacAllister when he went to the dugout

[Ger Regan]

sorry toronto

last week was a far better result

it was

this week - the manager went to hospital

NOT LAST WEEK

this week he went to hospital

then we HAD ALL THE NEWSPAPER SHITE ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO FOR THE MANAGER

TORONTO

do you need it spelt out?


JESUS FUCKIN WEPT

I have to ask, are you capable of posting in a style other than a really really shit poet?

[The Moose]

Mac who now?

[Exeter 77]

What was the deal with the players being asked to move back from the touchline when Delap was taking throw-ins?

I didn't understand that either. An opposing player can be a minimum of two yards away but Foy was pulling them back further than that.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Why bring Albrighton on, and then within five minutes, stick him left wing?

True, Gabby for Heskey was a no-brainer.

Is Downing knackered ? He looks our most threatening midfielder all day long, so why take him off ?

Downing always looks threatening but very rarely is. Ashley deserved to go off, too busy playing for himself and allowing time for the Stoke players to get back. He'd never piss about like that for England so why is he allowed to do it for Villa?

Saying that, neither of them can cross a ball.

[olaftab]

What was the deal with the players being asked to move back from the touchline when Delap was taking throw-ins?

I didn't understand that either. An opposing player can be a minimum of two yards away but Foy was pulling them back further than that.

Yes that was strange when Downing  did that  however what was the point of Ash just standing still and not jumping when they scored from the throw in?

[olaftab]

Well we weren't going to win four in a row.

4?