Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic Post-Match Thread

[villa for life]

even if blackpool lose today, they can still go above us, as can wigan.

[Muscle-Dolphin]

I can't understand why we don't have more men up in front of the net when we are attacking (especially when the ball is crossed in from the wing).  Most of the time it is just Bent up there by himself with about four opposing players covering him!

[Nev]

Jesus, it was bad today. Anything other than a change in management, and a subsequent change of personel will suffice.

The stink of apathy at Aston Villa is worse than it has been for some years, there are no positives to take from this season, only it's end.

[Percy McCarthy]

Villa 42 points

Blackburn 39 points - Man Utd (h) & Wolves (a)
Blose 39 points - Fulham (h) & Spurs (a)
Wigan 36 points - West Ham (h) & Stoke (a)
Blackpool 35 points - Spurs (a) & Bolton (h) & Man Utd (a)
Wolves 34 points - West Brom (h) & Sunderland (a) & Blackburn (h)
West Ham 33 points - cant catch us.

Too many permitations ! But Wolves and Blackburn play each other so they can't both take max points. Blackburn have Man Utd next week as well. All but safe, Blackburn loss at Man Utd would probably seal it? If looking for a likely loss.

Wolves to beat West Brom and Sunderrland, lose to/draw with Blackburn.
Wigan to beat West Ham, draw with Stoke.
small heath to lose to Fulham and Spurs.

small heath back down to three divisions above where they belong.

[avfcpg]

even if blackpool lose today, they can still go above us, as can wigan.

Blackpool can but it would take at least a 10 goal swing...and they have Man Utd last game. Can't see it.

Least it keeps the season interesting for us in to next week !!

Edit...no they can't of they lose..they can if they draw...as they are at the moment

[VillaAlways]

even if blackpool lose today, they can still go above us, as can wigan.

If Blackpool lose they'll be 7 points between us with 2 games left

[Summers]

The fact we're discussing "well... can we go down?" says it all. Fuck off Hou, fuck off McAl.

[Nev]

Villa 42 points

Blackburn 39 points - Man Utd (h) & Wolves (a)
Blose 39 points - Fulham (h) & Spurs (a)
Wigan 36 points - West Ham (h) & Stoke (a)
Blackpool 35 points - Spurs (a) & Bolton (h) & Man Utd (a)
Wolves 34 points - West Brom (h) & Sunderland (a) & Blackburn (h)
West Ham 33 points - cant catch us.

Too many permitations ! But Wolves and Blackburn play each other so they can't both take max points. Blackburn have Man Utd next week as well. All but safe, Blackburn loss at Man Utd would probably seal it? If looking for a likely loss.

Wolves to beat West Brom and Sunderrland, lose to/draw with Blackburn.
Wigan to beat West Ham, draw with Stoke.
small heath to lose to Fulham and Spurs.

small heath back down to three divisions above where they belong.

That'll do for me Percy.

[Percy McCarthy]

New manager, new ideas, new style of discipline and motivation and no need for major sort out

Agreed. This season has been just like GT mark2, good players led astray by an out of touch manager (sorry Sir Graham, still love you). All DOL did was buy Sorensen and McCann and picked as near as possible Gregory's team that was 6th when GT took over. Unsurprisingly, we finished 6th.

There's some truth in this but it wasn't quite this straightforward. We were in the bottom 4 in December I remember.

True, but it was looking much better. When we were linked with Solano and Izzet in January, I predicted that if we got them we'd qualify for the Champions League. We only signed Nobby and missed out by four points I think.

 I bet it you went back to H&V at that time you'd find a hefty proportion of people thought the world was about to end

No doubt, but I take no notice of any of those clowns. *wink*

[brontebilly]

We need to put Gary Cahill at the top of a long list to buy on the summer.

the long list of players that will cost 5m more just because they are English you mean? Dont get me wrong I like Cahill but he isnt worth the 15m-20m Bolton will sell him for in the summer.

Today has convinced me Collins has to go. I used to think it was just a bad run of form but now I reckon last season was just a blip. He is actually shite. If Dunne behaved like a professional should he would only have 2 years left anyway so if we get a bid he should go. Cuellar should be kept for continuity if anything else. Samba probably is a good call and gettable.

Not even sure L Young has a year left to be honest. Keep as cover possibly but if he got a 2 year offer from QPR we couldnt hold him back. Warnock had a lot of injuries as a young player so unlikely he will last at the top level for much longer. Beye should just be paid off. Friedel is hopeless too and I dont believe on his wages should be kept as back up. Guzan will never be good enough. The back four that got us the lowest goals conceded tally in years last season will have to go regardless of who the new (please god surely) manager is. Will be a huge change of personnel. Baker and Lichaj might not even be good enough for cover either. Clark too has a bit to go to be a regular centre half for a top 8 side but I reckon he will come good.

[villa for life]

anyway, on a brighter note, have our results against the top teams been much worse than the mid to lower table ones? I seem to remember a couple of ok results this season against the bigger teams, so we might make ourselves safe without relying on others..

[VillaZogmariner]

New manager, new ideas, new style of discipline and motivation and no need for major sort out

Really? Even if we bring in a new manager we still need to get rid of Friedel, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Beye, Heskey, Petrov. Add to that that both the Young's and Reo-Coker are likely to leave, that's a lot of players to replace.

What if it's Hughes? Don't think he'd be in a rush to get rid of Friedel, Warnock or Dunne.

He may not be, but do you really think them 3 players are good enough? I certainly don't.

[ez]

even if blackpool lose today, they can still go above us, as can wigan.

[VillaAlways]

Blackpool will only be on 35 points if they lose.They won't be able to catch us

[sid1964]

i can sum up todays performance in one word gutless