Aston Villa v Stoke City Post-Match Thread

[The Moose]

To cross a decent ball, you need a decent target. Too often, neither Bent or Heskey were making decent runs or creating space in the box. No point just hoofing it in, they would get as much criticism for that! It was a horrible game to watch, but a point is ok.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

To cross a decent ball, you need a decent target. Too often, neither Bent or Heskey were making decent runs or creating space in the box. No point just hoofing it in, they would get as much criticism for that! It was a horrible game to watch, but a point is ok.

We can discuss that when they start crossing and getting it past the first man. Until then I don't care how the ball gets in the box, just as long as it does. As we've seen again, get it in the box and Bent will probably score. Today we had two (2) attempts on target, one being the goal.

[olaftab]

We were garbage in the first half and just rubbish in the second but there is always Dazza.
Luke Young was MotM for me. Don't know why they chose NRC?
Richard Dunne was  abysmal and  is entirely to blame to their goal.
Albrighton looked very  off pace when he came on.

Stoke are a nightmare team but not very successful so why can't we not beat them?

[eastie]

Im not a fan of nige and stan in the same midfield, stan looked better of the two today but I'd like to have seen delph alongside one or the other, we struggle at home to break teams down and this needs to be addressed in the summer- awful game but we take the point and move onwards- I think 41 with our goal diff is enough for safety!

[adrenachrome]

And even the goal we scored came from a relatively deep cross.

If we play wingers on the wrong side, they will want to cut inside rather than go outside and cross from the byline. Factor in that every prem team sticks two players on AY when he is on the wing.

[pauliewalnuts]

I was sat in the sun, reading the latest Bernie Gunther novel this afternoon (very good), sipping an ice cold drink when I realised it was time to get up and go to the match.

I honestly wish I hadn't bothered. What a horrible snooze fest that was.

Stoke City are such a vile, horrible side to watch, with their insistence on taking a couple of minutes for every throw in or free kick, and their time wasting from half way through the first half. I know they have a few decent players, like Etherington, but I don't buy this "they've changed" bollocks - they are exactly the same niggly, tedious anti-football car crash they always were. Unfortunately, they're exactly the sort of stubborn side we struggle to break down, and the result was predictable.

The first half, we were utterly awful, just wretched. The second half I thought we were much improved and played with a bit of zip, but over 90 minutes, bar the goal, I can't remember another shot on goal from us. Having said that, I'd have taken a point before kick off, so can't grumble at the result.

Dunne and Collins reminded me why we need to move them both on in the summer.

Brad's save early on was brilliant, but then in that flurry of corners he reminded me of why we need to move him on, too, plenty of flapping and indecision from him.

Walker did very well today, I thought.

Heskey lumbered around and didn't do much.

Downing I thought was our best player, and I really didn't understand why he was taken off.

Petrov - did very well, looked composed and in control.

Darren Bent - honestly, what can you say about this guy? Barely got a sniff of the ball all day, but what a superbly taken goal that was.

[Lobsterboy]

Today was always going to be tough against the anti-football of Stoke and the off the pitch drama with Gerard was not going to help so happy with a point

Pleased to see us come back again from a goal down (even if it was a shit goal to concede) and Bent is showing exactly why we paid the big money for him

We're not safe yet  but we're a point closer and here's hoping we can confirm our safety with a win at the Baggies next week

[spangley1812]

Does anyone know the last time Ashley Young was substitued due to poor/lack of a performance

[PaulTheVillan]

Why did it take us until half time to realise that if we played with the ball on the ground we had more chance of getting anything

[olaftab]

Does anyone know the last time Ashley Young was substitued due to poor/lack of a performance

Never. Untouchable.
Need to keep  playing him ...there is £20M  coming our way at the end of the season.

[BunnySCFC]

hate to admit it, but seems that football snobbery has now reached Villa Park.

Defied belief that Stoke are seen as the villains today, when for 45 minutes only one team was really in it. This 6 days after the players flogged themselves to a standstill at Wembley.

I thought some of you were better than that to be honest.

Look at your own failings before hurling sh** at us, as honest a bunch of players as you can get. Last weekend showed the way that our team has evolved. Like yourselves, we are one of the few clubs to play 2 out and out wingers and 2 up front.

Sorry we didn't bend over for you, but we're Stoke City, we'll play as we want and are still in a relegation battle.

Some need to grow up on here, bin SKY Sports off and remember you're watching the working man's ballet.

Rant aside - hello to all Villans and have a good summer.

[Legion]

The epitomy of anti-football.

[WikiVilla]

Highlight of the day was probably the free sermon at Aston Church over the loudspeakers pre kick off - Class

Stoke are a horrid side, dreadful in every way and I'd like them gone, preferably bankrupt and never to return. I would take Huth of their hands though he played well. Good luck Ci£££eh in the cup.

For us, Friedel, not good again, he needs to come off his line, it cost us today.

NRC and Petrov both very good, Downing was my MOM, not sure why he was brought off.
Bent another class goal.
Kyle Walker played well today

[pauliewalnuts]

hate to admit it, but seems that football snobbery has now reached Villa Park.

Defied belief that Stoke are seen as the villains today, when for 45 minutes only one team was really in it. This 6 days after the players flogged themselves to a standstill at Wembley.

I thought some of you were better than that to be honest.

Look at your own failings before hurling sh** at us, as honest a bunch of players as you can get. Last weekend showed the way that our team has evolved. Like yourselves, we are one of the few clubs to play 2 out and out wingers and 2 up front.

Sorry we didn't bend over for you, but we're Stoke City, we'll play as we want and are still in a relegation battle.

Some need to grow up on here, bin SKY Sports off and remember you're watching the working man's ballet.

Rant aside - hello to all Villans and have a good summer.

What a load of utter bollocks.

Its not about bending over for anyone, it is about things like your horrible tactics of taking ages while Delap dries his hands / wipes the ball on his shirt / does whatever he does to help him lug it long.

That and the time wasting from halfway throught he first half. You truly are a dreadful dreadful excuse for a football side, and no amount of lightly patronising "I thought you were better than that" guff is going to get away from that.

As for that nonsense about Sky Sports, it takes a lot for me to want Manchester City to achieve anything in the game, but having watched your horrible gamesmanship punctuated by hoofing for 90 minutes, I now hope they turn you over good and proper.

[BunnySCFC]

no ta, just had some dinner.

Cheers for the offer though.