Fulham vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Heskey cannot play the role he did today.

Neither can Gabby and I dont see anyone giving him and stick.........

Well Heskey played more behind Bent for a lot of the game. It was kind of a different role, but Gabby didn't suit the wing either.

[Brian Taylor]

defence will keep us in PL..but forwards need service to keep us above mid-table

[dorsetvilla]

First season opener I've misssed live since 1979. Watched on internet and must say it was one of the most uninspiring games (from both teams) that I can remember for along time. At least we didn't get beat. Diffficult to see where the goals are going to come from. I get the feeling that a draw away is always what AM is after, a win being a massive bonus. Followig the Villa away might prove very frustrating  this season.

[Gazza1982]

Lets hope the Adam Johnson loan comes off, Bent needs better service from midfield.Petrov and Heskey are well past it IMO.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I actually enjoyed that, especially the first half, where if N'Zogbia hadn't been so ineffective, we'd have been on top. Good pressing, showed ambition to try and dominate play and everybody looked for the pass.

Second half, Fulham came back into it as you'd expect and we started to look more disjointed but not as bad as we have been over the years. The big problem, apart from N'Zogbia, is the lack of creativity up front. We're relying on Luke Young getting forward on the right which leaves us vunerable in defence, Heskey can't plat effectively for 90 minutes, ditto Petrov. Gabby, despite his solid first half is playing far too wide and giving Bent no or little support. Stat of the game was 1 (one) shot on target.

MOTM without a doubt was Delph. Looked very comfortable and looks to pass forward with every ball.

I just hope the morons give McLeish a chance without referring to him as "ginger prick" before he's even finished managing us for 90 minutes. There's plenty of work to be done but on today's performance, the changes are quite obvious and if he can get the team organised with more creativity and supply to Bent, the season could be a lot more interesting than we've imagined.

[Witton Warrior]

I think we need to get used to this.

A win next week will lift the spirits ;-)

AM got applauded at the end?

[citizenDJ]

Heskey cannot play the role he did today.

Neither can Gabby and I dont see anyone giving him and stick.........

Well Heskey played more behind Bent for a lot of the game. It was kind of a different role, but Gabby didn't suit the wing either.

He's not a winger as such, but Gabby on the wing isn;t so bad as he has the pace to get up and down the wing, and also to chase down any long balls from our defenders. He can also cut inside as an inside forward, and keep the opposition full back in his own half because of his pace. Heskey doesn't really offer any of that, so if he must play I'd rather see him doing what he is effective at; being a target man, playing with his back to goal and holding the ball up to bring others into play.

[pauliewalnuts]

Dull match.

We are going to struggle this season, as we did today, to get the ball to Bent. We don't have many chance creators and a few we do have were on the bench.

Still, a point isn't too bad a return.

I sense an emphasis more on not conceding than scoring away from home this season.

[PaulWinch again]

I actually enjoyed that, especially the first half, where if N'Zogbia hadn't been so ineffective, we'd have been on top. Good pressing, showed ambition to try and dominate play and everybody looked for the pass.

Second half, Fulham came back into it as you'd expect and we started to look more disjointed but not as bad as we have been over the years. The big problem, apart from N'Zogbia, is the lack of creativity up front. We're relying on Luke Young getting forward on the right which leaves us vunerable in defence, Heskey can't plat effectively for 90 minutes, ditto Petrov. Gabby, despite his solid first half is playing far too wide and giving Bent no or little support. Stat of the game was 1 (one) shot on target.

MOTM without a doubt was Delph. Looked very comfortable and looks to pass forward with every ball.

I just hope the morons give McLeish a chance without referring to him as "ginger prick" before he's even finished managing us for 90 minutes. There's plenty of work to be done but on today's performance, the changes are quite obvious and if he can get the team organised with more creativity and supply to Bent, the season could be a lot more interesting than we've imagined.

I'm sure it isn't what you mean Mark, but it does sound like you're throwing N'Zog under the bus!

[Tuscans]

Worried that players find it hard to pass to feet and move into space quickly. No creativity at all and watching Bent as a lonely, frustrated figure was frightening.

Very much like watching a MON game without the crosses!  Stoke might actually play better football than us now if he continues to pump it up to Heskey from the back.

Given was fab and I see why all the Geordies raved about him now. N'Zogbia was very poor but I'll let him off considering it was his debut in a very dull and tedious game. 4-4-2 with Petrov and Delph in the middle and Gabby out wide left simply doesnt work.

[Holtenderinthesky]

From the not anti Villa beeb regarding MOTD.

 "With Newc v Arse to come, running order looks like 1. QPR v BW 2. Liv v Sun 3. B'burn v Wolves 4. Wigan v Norwich 5. The 0-0 at Fulham."

Now I understand why we are last but no haven't they missed out one teams name? 

[pauliewalnuts]

Very much like watching a MON game without the crosses!

That's exactly what I thought.

[robbyfvillain]

Thought McLeish went with the most experienced side he could put out.

Uninspiring game but thought we looked reasonably solid.

Shaky start to the second half with Given showing why he is a good buy.

Felt we were not going to let a late goal in as well. Overall very good point against a team who have been playing since the end of June.

I felt more positives than negatives overall

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I actually enjoyed that, especially the first half, where if N'Zogbia hadn't been so ineffective, we'd have been on top. Good pressing, showed ambition to try and dominate play and everybody looked for the pass.

Second half, Fulham came back into it as you'd expect and we started to look more disjointed but not as bad as we have been over the years. The big problem, apart from N'Zogbia, is the lack of creativity up front. We're relying on Luke Young getting forward on the right which leaves us vunerable in defence, Heskey can't plat effectively for 90 minutes, ditto Petrov. Gabby, despite his solid first half is playing far too wide and giving Bent no or little support. Stat of the game was 1 (one) shot on target.

MOTM without a doubt was Delph. Looked very comfortable and looks to pass forward with every ball.

I just hope the morons give McLeish a chance without referring to him as "ginger prick" before he's even finished managing us for 90 minutes. There's plenty of work to be done but on today's performance, the changes are quite obvious and if he can get the team organised with more creativity and supply to Bent, the season could be a lot more interesting than we've imagined.

I'm sure it isn't what you mean Mark, but it does sound like you're throwing N'Zog under the bus!

Not at all. He needs time to settle in, he put a great cross in with pace for Heskey, who should have scored. Chaz will find his role at the Villa but today he looked lost, especially with the speed of the game but give him time, I'm sure he'll find his form. Today he was shocking.

[The Situation]

People complaining about lack of creativity... if we played the right team, right formation and players playing in their positions I hope we would be more creative making more chances. McLeish didn't play the right team, neither did he play the right formation and also played players out of position... so we weren't really going to look that good going forward.

N'Zogbia in the middle and Heskey on the left wing is just baffling i'm afriad.