Fulham vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Shrek]

To put it plainly, Heskey, Gabby and bent does NOT work.

If we need abit of height play heskey up top with Bent.

There is no point having a goal poacher if there is nothing to poach, if AM wants Heskey in the side then we can only play 442 because Bent will always play. If he doesn't want to play 442, we cannot play Heskey or we will be no threat what so ever.

[villa `cross the mersey]

Was it me or did I hear some booing towards the end of the game?

Happy with the point, had a great weekend with VCTM jnr.

Was the match the highlight of said weekend ?

Sadly not - it came behind, A Jack the Ripper Tour, two curries, and plane spotting whilst sitting alongside the Thames !!!!


PS Dave - You were too desperate trying to extract my £2 ! - you will have to wait now until the Everton game as we are off on our jollies next week.


 

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I heard no booing.

I also had a superb curry after - a Jalfrezi at Monty's Nepalese on the Fulham Road.

[Ads]

Yeah people were booing at the end because... we were keeping the ball.

[Ads]

Sorry TV, I'm afraid I can't agree that N'Zogbia has already shown he is a step up on A Young. He'll have to do considerably better than that for a sustained period of time.

That's not what I said though is it? My comment was specifically about the crosses he put in today. One thing we were all frustrated about with Ash was his crosses, be they open play or set pieces. I think N'Zogbia will prove to be a better crosser than Ash and better in dead ball situations. He'll have to do much, much more than that to be a better all around player than him, and I'd be mental to suggest that his is.

...

You said;
" N'Zogbia is going to be a big asset for us this season. His crossing is already a step up from Ash."

It was 30 minutes into the first game of the season and it was a silly thing to say. He had an indifferent performance with a couple of half-decent crosses, none of it was "a step up from Ash". Hopefully he will get better, I think he will.

Our best chance of the game from Collins was off the back of a fantastic N'Zogbia cross.

[Clampy]

A good point overall i thought. Plus points, i thought the defence did well, Delph had a really good first half, Given was in the right places at the right time and decent subs made by Eck.

Down sides for me was N'Zogbia not playing out wide enough. He needed to be hugging the touchline and giving their full back problems, which is exactly what Albrighton did when he came on. I did'nt like Gabby out wide either, their centre halves did'nt really have any pace to contend with.

Another good day out down there though, it always is, apart from a very strange Villa Fan in the Whistle and Flute accusing a couple of my mates of going through his pockets at the bar and another mate getting £2 change of out £10 for 2 pints of Fosters in The Bricklayers. Good old London.

[Chris Smith]

Whoever has to view the anti Putney Sewage Tower petition will be surprised at how many Brummies feel strongly about the issue.

[Chris Smith]

Oh, and it looks like the police have put and end to The 8 Bells stupidity, bouncers on the door when we walked past and boards up saying nobody allowed outside.

[Clampy]

Oh, and it looks like the police have put and end to The 8 Bells stupidity, bouncers on the door when we walked past and boards up saying nobody allowed outside.

There were bouncers on the door last season as well, in fact there were people on the door of all the pubs we went into, apart from The Bricklayers.

[dave.woodhall]

You'd be a bit daft not having door staff at a pub in that location but it was the first time they've not allowed anyone outside.

[stubbsyandy]

I think we should be pleased with the point and clean sheet, its more than I expected given the 12 months we have had. Fulham are a decent side, and were bound to be match fitter than us, which proved to be the case in the second half.
I think we were all nervous before the game, but none more so than Alex McLeish...glad most of us gave him a bit of a welcome. He must have been desperate to not lose because of the abuse he would have got.
Lets give the guy a chance. By all means criticize the board but Alex has agreed to take on the job under their financial restrictions so needs the help of everyone. I think it will be a barren couple of years while we learn to live with the financial state we are in, but we may just do better than we think.
As for the game, it was not a thriller (sorry no Michael Jackson pun intended) but as it was my first visit to Craven Cottage I really ebjoyed the ground and their fans. Given was immense, and will be a hero in my opinion. N'Zogbia wil need time to get to know the players as well as upping his match fitness so be patient. Good to see Delph playing, and Gabby putting more in. As good as Petrov has been, we needsomeone to be more adventurous and get us moving forward.
Lets see how we get on against Blackburn;looking at them on MOTD they looked there for the taking....

[Chris Smith]

Oh, and it looks like the police have put and end to The 8 Bells stupidity, bouncers on the door when we walked past and boards up saying nobody allowed outside.

There were bouncers on the door last season as well, in fact there were people on the door of all the pubs we went into, apart from The Bricklayers.

I didn't see them before but that's probably down to me learning my lesson a few years ago and now just walking straight past.

No bouncers at the Dukes Head either, hats off to the bar staff - it was really busy with dozens outside by the river but no problems getting served. We had intended to go to the Bricklayer's later but we got too comfortable.

[fredm]

How can you start with four forward players and still look that toothless?

There were so many times when Bent was in the box with the ball on his own, that's not how we want him. We need Gabby and N'Zogbia getting beyond Bent.

Same shape, Bannan in for Heskey and a reshuffle for me.

Stan - Delph
Bannan
N'Zogbia - Bent - Gabby

The problem is I am no sure whether Gabby has the intelligence to play the wider attacker role.  He is ok as the main outlet up front but that role is occupied by Bent, Gabby needs to learn how to play alongside Bent - when to go out wide, when to come in close etc. The big conundrum is "can he do it?"  Unfortunately if he cannot then AM needs to bring in someone who can - whether that is Albrighton again I am not sure at this stage of his learning curve.  I do not doubt that N'Zogbia can play this role and just needs matches to get fit and build an understanding with Bent.

[andyaston]

Whoever has to view the anti Putney Sewage Tower petition will be surprised at how many Brummies feel strongly about the issue.

I signed it, got to love middle class ladies.

[Toronto Villa]

Sorry TV, I'm afraid I can't agree that N'Zogbia has already shown he is a step up on A Young. He'll have to do considerably better than that for a sustained period of time.

That's not what I said though is it? My comment was specifically about the crosses he put in today. One thing we were all frustrated about with Ash was his crosses, be they open play or set pieces. I think N'Zogbia will prove to be a better crosser than Ash and better in dead ball situations. He'll have to do much, much more than that to be a better all around player than him, and I'd be mental to suggest that his is.

...

You said;
" N'Zogbia is going to be a big asset for us this season. His crossing is already a step up from Ash."

It was 30 minutes into the first game of the season and it was a silly thing to say. He had an indifferent performance with a couple of half-decent crosses, none of it was "a step up from Ash". Hopefully he will get better, I think he will.

It's not a silly statement as I said it also considering his play at Wigan. Look at some of his crosses and free kick goals at Wigan as an example. Ash, given the opportunities he got with us didn't deliver the same quality. He put in some very good crosses to Heskey and Collins, both of which we should have done better on.