Aston Villa v Hereford post match thread

[CJ]

For the first 15 minutes it looked as though we'd score early then run out easy winners. The longer it went on I kept fearing they'd nick one from a set piece then stand 10 players across the goal line. HUGE relief when the first went in and obviously the second sealed it.

Thought Ireland was OK but I'm increasingly unimpressed with Makoun and may be best if we move him on and use the money to buy someone - if not now then January. Marc Albrighton has lost form and isn't half the player he was this time last year - his crossing was poor tonight. Thought Bannan played well, was impressed with Herd, and very impressed with Weimann. Have to say Beye was excellent when he came on too.

Considering Bent and N'zogbia started we should have slaughtered a team 2nd from bottom in the entire League, but the important thing is we're in the hat for the next round. Which means another game against Blackburn.

Biggest positive of the night - getting home less than an hour after the game finished

[russon]

Has anybody got anything else to add to further confuse me?

Yes, I have. What's the difference between a duck? One of it's legs are both the same.

[django]

Just got back, thought we were pretty decent to be honest, could easily have been 5 or 6. Everyone had a decent game i thought apart from Albrighton and N'Zogbia.

Makoun went missing a bit in the second half, i can see why he might be the player McLeish might prefer to move on from the three who played tonight.

Lots of good stuff from the midfield 3 in terms of one touch passing to create space, not as effective in creating chances once in that space though.

We were under very little pressure all evening in truth, only 5 fouls from them all game (according to the dodgy ref anyway) it suggested we may need a plan b rather than just relying on getting the ball to Bent. I thought Albrightons best stuff came after Bent had gone off, maybe people are looking to get him the ball a bit too much.

Bannan was the pick of the midfield, the other two wern't bad, but i felt they were all doing a similar job, laying the ball off, making space, but none of the 3 was direct enough. Hereford couldn't cope with people running at them.

Delfouneso looked ok when he came on.

Weimann looked amazing, so direct, 2 great turns, unlucky not to score, did a lot in 15 mins, very impressed.

MOM: Lichaj for me stood out as having a great game. The defence were untroubled apart from a 3 min spell around the hour mark but i thought Lichaj was flawless defensively tonight. Was also one of the only players to try and force the issue, running forward at their defence, great long range shot early in second half and of course the key goal. Looks a useful squad player at very least.

[Clampy]

Not long got back. It was frustrating to watch at times, the longer it went on, you had a feeling the ref was going to give them a penalty, he did seem like an 'underdog ref' as my mate called him.

We played ok though, Bannan was very good again, Ireland looked lively and i thought it was brave of Eck to take Bent off at 0-0. We passed it around too much at times though and we could have done with a Petrov or Delph in the middle.

Still we're through, that's the main thing.

[Toronto Villa]

Good job django. I'm glad to hear that Lichaj had a good game. He played solidly for the US in the summer at the Gold Cup and I was hoping he could carry that forward to this season with us. I think his US experience has made him more confident in his abilities. I can see him being at Villa for a while at either full back position.

[hulkamania]

Anybody know the attendance at the game tonight?

[mj]

Anybody know the attendance at the game tonight?

21k

[CJ]

Anybody know the attendance at the game tonight?

Just over 21,000

[django]

Oh yeah forgot about Beye. Another good cameo, instrumental in the build up for the first goal (with his first touch after coming on?) and then went on a dazzling run, better than anything our wingers did all night. Why don't we like him again?

[hulkamania]

Cheers fellas

[cdbearsfan]

Que sera sera, whatever will be will be...

[K3Villa]

Bannan was MOM, Ireland played well, Makoun looked slow and poor at times. Albrighton was ok but wasted some good crossing chances. I have to give credit to the Hereford defenders as they cleared some very dangerous crosses and dealt with our "attack" well for most of the game.

Next round is the most important thing.

[BC54 VFC]

21,058. Shrewsbury Town away next, please.

[Dante Lavelli]

I'm getting increasingly excited about Bannan.  These little cameos suggest he could be quite some player.  I also think he'd instantly make Villa a great team to watch.

[Matt Collins]

Mcleish quotes on the official site saying they'd been impressed with weimann and fonz  in training. Interesting if weimann liked the more ready of the two, he did better in the championship too though fonz seems to be ahead in the pecking order so far. Does weimann have the extra something needed? Fonz has pace and trickery