The Throstles v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm of the opinion that Houllier should get next season at least to try to sort us out properly, but then something like this just reminds me of all the problems that have been allowed to persist all season.

A wretched season in which the management team and players have done very little to make us think they're worthy of being associated with Aston Villa.

It's also not over yet, worryingly. Three games left, Wigan, Arsenal and Liverpool, none of which will be easy.

Today was the day reality finally came home to roost.

Albion were poor and there for the taking but we have a shit defence, as we've had all season. The problem has never been addressed, instead we have our best centre half sitting on the bloody bench.

In central midfield we have a tidy but defensive NRC playing along side Petrov, who despite his natural technique contributes nothing positive unless you count square and backward passes as positive. When we had our injury crisis, Clark, Bannan and Delph all contributed more creatively up and down the pitch.

We have supposedly 'creative' players in Ashley and Downing but they're both all fart - no shit. Remind me what service they've given Bent in the last two games? I think the answer is sweet fuck all. We really solely on Walker and Luke Young to deliver the ball into the box. Remind me again who is Marc Albrighton?

As Chris Smith used to say during the final seasons of DOL and MON, "at least we're still creating chances". Well where are the chances this season? We've got a £24m striker that scores for fun if you give him the chance, we have Gabby, a natural goalscorer that's been played out of position all season. What a bloody waste of talent.

For me, the season is over, I really can't be bothered to waste my Saturdays watching this shit. I just hope Randy is making plans for the summer. For the money he's poured into the Villa he deserves a lot better than this crap.

[spangley1812]

and here's the other thing. Why does Sid get none of the blame. I'm guessing he and McAllister speak about tactics and what to do in certain situations. If people are going to throw mud at McAllister then throw it at Sid as well.

Personally, I don't think we have the weapons "right now" to play the way that Houllier wants us to, and put in a situation of having to press on and win a game we just can't do it very well.

We cant when you dont pick any strikers on the bench to come on and change things

[BannedUserIAT]

  And why did Friedel go down so quick for their 2nd goal.He did'nt need to.

Cos he's shit !

Friedel

Walker
Collins
Dunne
Young

Downing
Petrov (c)
NRC
Young

Heskey
Bent

There's your team, set up to win a gritty derby

[Steve R]

What manner of idiot tries to play 4-4-2 with Pires as one of the central midfielders?

I thought Coker played quite well today, and Petrov didn't. If bringing Pires on was not bad enough,  choosing Coker as the one to make way made it downright surreal.

McAllister really does seem to have the Platt touch when it comes to management.

I would have liked to have seen Houllier given a season with his own players. If the price of retaining him in some capacity is having McAllister running the shop then both have to go.

On a positive note, in addition to Coker, Ciaran Clark looked a class above the Swiss Roll he replaced and Luke Young had a good game.

I want to go to sleep until after the Liverpool game.

[barrysleftfoot]

  How did LYoung play well when he was partly responsible for both their goals, offered no support for AYoung.

  Compare and contrast our left side to our right.Everything comes down our right.

  Gabby and Petrov, where we the runs of Bent.How many times do Walker/Downing get free, and fail to pick a pass out?Is that their fault, or the lack of runs.

  A midfield of Petrov and NRC is too pedestrian......Makoun every time for me, where ws he.

 Albion were shit, and even with 10 men we lost......embarassing

[Toronto Villa]

and here's the other thing. Why does Sid get none of the blame. I'm guessing he and McAllister speak about tactics and what to do in certain situations. If people are going to throw mud at McAllister then throw it at Sid as well.

Personally, I don't think we have the weapons "right now" to play the way that Houllier wants us to, and put in a situation of having to press on and win a game we just can't do it very well.

We cant when you dont pick any strikers on the bench to come on and change things

We had enough attacking talent on the pitch to win the game. The only other forward would have been having Heskey available. Would it have made that much of a difference? We couldn't get the ball into the box for ages. Apparently that's a key piece to scoring goals.

[Shrek]

We are safe already, so no need for panic.

We should have been 2 or 3 up by the time they equalised, but We kept getting caught offside.

I must admit Mark Hughes results have caught my eye recently, but hopefully Houllier returns.

[Goldie.7]

I wish Houllier the best of health but i'll be glad if we don't see him at VP again. What a terrible appointment he was.

This.

[Toronto Villa]

I'm of the opinion that Houllier should get next season at least to try to sort us out properly

I disagree Paulie, it just hasn't worked.
The other minus point is that when you get Houllier, you get McAllister as part of the package.

A fresh approach needed for next season.

Yep, there are enough managers around who'd want the job, we proved in January there's money there and there'll be plenty of highly-paid deadwood departing over the summer.

If Houllier's got any sense he'll step down, I wouldn't fancy another 12 stressful months managing this shower of utter shit if I had a dodgy ticker.

I don't think Houllier will be here due to his health. I expect that will also mean the end of McAllister because whoever comes in will bring his own staff.

[Irish villain]

What a nightmare we've had since we lost away to Chelsea 7-1 last season. We then lost the FA cup semi, stupid loss on the last day of the season to Blackburn, the Milner saga, the problems from August.

There clearly are underlying problems at villa that need to be addressed this summer. Radical surgery needed and that includes staff unless we can get Thompson in to assist GH.

[Holtenderinthesky]

I really can't get my head around people blaming Houllier for today's result.

Agreed.

Yeah poor Gerard.  Having that clueless twat Gary Mac forced on him like that.  If only Gerard could have brought in his own number 2, then we wouldn't have had that useless prat in charge of us today.  Oh wait........

so McAllister was his initial choice as assistant? I think you might find that you incorrect on that and he wanted Thompson instead.

I think you might find that I am not incorrect because I didn't say anything about him being his first choice did I?  Read peoples posts properly before you make such statements. Oh, and by the way, Houllier appointed G Mac whether he was 1st choice, 2nd choice or 26th choice.  It's Houllier's fault that McAllister is at our club.

[TopDeck113]

I really can't get my head around people blaming Houllier for today's result.

Today's result is symptomatic of what's happened far too many times this season.  That is because the culture that Houllier has engendered at Villa Park is completely wrong.

I reckon that at least half the clubs in the division were their manager to be in hospital there would be a spirit of "Let's do it for the boss" and we'd have six points from the last two games.  That we have one point tells you everything about a lack of fight and esprit de corps. That's Houllier's fault.

[Edvard Remberg]

This game was G Macs fault! Not Houlliers.

[The Situation]

Urgh, our defence is pathetic once again being. mentally frail. It was 11 v 10 wtf?!

We can never truly push forward and progress, just when things are looking good and we have the opportunity to go top 10 we go two steps back yet again.

We have to beat Wigan next week but we probably won't with mcallister in charge.

[Muscle-Dolphin]

Ashley Young has morphed into a prima donna.