Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers Post-Match Thread/Ratings

[Clampy]

None of the Villa bookings were any worse than the Blackburn challenges, it was ridiculous. As for the pen, if it was'nt a pen, then it definatley was'nt a free kick.

The F.A like to fast-track ref's like Attwell thinking they're decent officials, when in reality, he should still be reffing in League One.

[Risso]

Also, maybe McLeish is testing to see if Gabby can play there as we need more cover in wide positions & he'll find it hard to oust Bent as the number 9.

Yes, it pays to have players who are versatile, especially if you happen to be trimming the wage bill.

Gabby just looked happier out there though, as though he'd had the shackles taken off him.

I bet Gabby's just happy to be a first choicer again.  As he bloody well should be.  None of our other strikers could have scored that yesterday.

[brian green]

Quite right Riss.   If that had been Rooney or Van Perspex it would have been hailed goal of the season.   Gabby has become one of those players the Holte Endl likes to slag off.   The usual insult he has to live with is "pace is not enough".  That goal was proof that given the chance he can be one of the best finishers in the Premiership.

[Shrek]

Ive just got signal at last (I went straight to whitby after game).

I am happy yet abit worries about the game yesterday.

I think we have the right formation but need to play Bannan instead of heskey whose first touch was woeful, But on the other hand Heskey was quite involved in alot of things we did and had a good game even with his terrible touch.

I think we lost all our presence in the last 3rd without Gabby, who was playing like his old self.
I'd also give Eric Lichaj a go at RB.

I'm worried that Mcleish will stick with Heskey and the lack of creativity will cost us against decent opposition, because let's face it Blackburn are nailed on relegation.

[TimTheVillain]

Quite right Riss.   If that had been Rooney or Van Perspex it would have been hailed goal of the season.   Gabby has become one of those players the Holte Endl likes to slag off.   The usual insult he has to live with is "pace is not enough".  That goal was proof that given the chance he can be one of the best finishers in the Premiership.

Agree.

Delph played like a top class footballer yesterday; vision, creativity, an eye for the right pass....

[Clampy]

That goal was proof that given the chance he can be one of the best finishers in the Premiership.

I would'nt go that far personally. He's missed his fair share of one-on-ones in the past. Yesterday's goal was superb though and it did look like the confident Gabby of old.

[Chris Smith]

Very pleasing performance and it should have gone a long way towards answering those who were worried about a negative approach from McLeish. I was particularly impressed with the way he countered their brief period of threat by bringing on an attack minded midfield player who helped us regain the dominance of possession that we'd had for most of the first half. Bannan s going to be a star.

N'Zogbia seemed to grow in confidence as the game went on and I think there is a lot more to come from him. Delph looks the part and he and Petrov seem to have a good understanding.

Great to see Gabby looking like he's enjoying it again, hope he's not out for too long.

[john e]

One goal and he's proved people wrong ? Don't think so, he's got to put together some consistently good performances like yesterday to do that, he's been pretty much rubbish for long parts of the last couple of seasons and one 'wonder goal' and a good performance is not enough,
He was good yesterday, better than he's been in a long time, but he's still got a lot of probing to do for me, let's hope he doesn't now go on a 8/9 game run without scoring now,

I know I'm going against the grain here, but we have carried Gabby in to many games in the past, and although yesterday was great for him and us, it's not enough, he needs to keep on doing it which in the past he has been incapable of doing

[Clampy]

I was particularly impressed with the way he countered their brief period of threat by bringing on an attack minded midfield player who helped us regain the dominance of possession that we'd had for most of the first half. Bannan s going to be a star.

I said the same to my mate yesterday. Delph and Petrov were'nt as effective in the second half as they were in the first and they lost their way slighty, which helped Blackburn get a foothold back in the game. I thought at first he made that last sub about 10 mins too early, but it was a spot on decision. As for Bannan, we could have something very special on our hands.

[Monty]

Very pleasing performance and it should have gone a long way towards answering those who were worried about a negative approach from McLeish. I was particularly impressed with the way he countered their brief period of threat by bringing on an attack minded midfield player who helped us regain the dominance of possession that we'd had for most of the first half. Bannan s going to be a star.

N'Zogbia seemed to grow in confidence as the game went on and I think there is a lot more to come from him. Delph looks the part and he and Petrov seem to have a good understanding.

Great to see Gabby looking like he's enjoying it again, hope he's not out for too long.

Agree with all of this, but I really think Bannan has to play ahead of Heskey. Emile scored yesterday, but his first touch was consistently found wanting, and I don't think we can really rely on his goalscoring ability to compensate for this over the season. Also, Zog played better with Bannan on the pitch, and they seem to be on the same wavelength.

[PaulTheVillan]

The only change I would make from yesterday for the Wolves game is Bannan in for Heskey.

[garyshawsknee]

Hopefully he'll start wee Barry on Tuesday,he'll play well and push for a start on Saturday. Jean the second and Ireland will need a run out as well.

[Simba]

It all makes sense now. From the Guardian match report:

That said, BirminghamVilla's opening Premier League goal of the season came from a more familiar source, Gabriel Agbonlahor gathering Bent's pass before cutting inside Míchel Salgado to curl an angled right-footed shot into the top far corner of the net.

Birmingham Villa?  So....... the decision to NOT re-model the North Stand, hire the Ex Blues Manager, Blues going under, our lack of trading ( I mean who needs TWO squads), the cry of poverty from the Chair - it all makes sense. Anything else I missed?

The Bells are ringing to the end of the road?   

[martin o`who??]

I`ll take it, no problem, everybody looked up for it, Gabby was a revelation, shame about the crap gate though.

[CJ]

Agree about the crap gate - only 33,000-odd. If Blackburn had bought a normal away allocation of 2-3,000 rather than their traditional taxi load it would have been more respectable. But a lot were on holiday (at least 6 who sit by me) and not an attractive fixture contributed to the poor numbers IMO