Aston Villa v Wolves post-match thread

[TheSandman]

As much as I wouldn't pick him myself I have to say Heskey has been pretty good for us in the last few games. He does his job without complaining, works very hard for the team and you even get a feeling that unlike many of our players he seems to care as he always fights hard for the team.

He also gets a lot of stick from a lot of people and everything he does wrong is exaggerated. If Bent or Gabby did many of things Heskey gets hammered for doing it would barely be mentioned and they do make poor misses and stupid decisions like Heskey sometimes does. Bent had a very poor game today and was certainly poorer than Heskey yet it is Heskey who gets more stick.

[Matt Collins]

I'm definitely not a fan of 4-4-2. But I don't think the current personnel is the long term answer.

I think we should transition - probably - into a 4-3-3 with the current wide players playing wide. And then a more creative player in the middle - either Bannan or Ireland. The risk in doing that now is that it ends up looking more 4-5-1, that Bent gets isolated, even more so. Gabby would have to keep playing quite high up the pitch to add a physical presence close to Bent. And N'Zogbia needs to improve.

[pauliewalnuts]

It is far too early to judge AM on the team, he's only had us for three league games, after all. Not long enough for him to get us playing as he wants us to, and not a large enough sample of games to make any kind of judgment.

I am more concerned by the degree to which the stuffing seems to have been knocked out of the club over the summer. Just over 30k against Wolves, 8k less than last season, is utterly dreadful, and pretty embarassing.

Having said that, the way we've moved players on and not replaced them, maybe we shouldn't be surprised. It is pretty hard to get excited about the club at the moment.

I remember talking to a Liverpool fan at the start of the summer about Downing, and I said - and was utterly convinced in what I was saying - that as we were selling Young, there was absolutely no way Lerner would even consider selling Downing in the same window, so forget about it.

I was wrong on that front, though, clearly underestimating the degree to which Lerner wanted to cut back the spending, and to which he had lost enthusiasm.

Having spent five years carefully growing and nurturing the club, and getting attendances decent again, the speed with which the retrenchment has happened - too much, too fast - has undone a great deal of that work.

[PaulWinch again]

It is far too early to judge AM on the team, he's only had us for three league games, after all. Not long enough for him to get us playing as he wants us to, and not a large enough sample of games to make any kind of judgment.

I am more concerned by the degree to which the stuffing seems to have been knocked out of the club over the summer. Just over 30k against Wolves, 8k less than last season, is utterly dreadful, and pretty embarassing.

Having said that, the way we've moved players on and not replaced them, maybe we shouldn't be surprised. It is pretty hard to get excited about the club at the moment.

I remember talking to a Liverpool fan at the start of the summer about Downing, and I said - and was utterly convinced in what I was saying - that as we were selling Young, there was absolutely no way Lerner would even consider selling Downing in the same window, so forget about it.

I was wrong on that front, though, clearly underestimating the degree to which Lerner wanted to cut back the spending, and to which he had lost enthusiasm.

Having spent five years carefully growing and nurturing the club, and getting attendances decent again, the speed with which the retrenchment has happened - too much, too fast - has undone a great deal of that work.

Pretty much bang on, although I think the kick off time probably had an impact.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

30,000 against Wulfs?

What will be getting against Wig-on, Bolton, Norwich and QPR? 25,000?

If they're wanting to get some decent crowds in at Villa Park then they have to have a hell of a busy few days, they've somehow go to convince Heskey, Beye, Ireland and any other high earners to fuck off and get off our wage bill and then bring in players on a lower wage who actually see playing for Aston Villa as a privilege and then charge fans Bundesliga match day prices.

A whole new re-think is needed at this club to turn it around, which must include McLeish playing players who can actually play skilful enjoyable attractive football (like Bannan) and not useless fucking oxygen thieves like Emule Heskey

[PaulWinch again]

I don't blame Bent for being frustrated we need to give him some chances.

[tarzansbrother]

Defence and keeper sound apart fro Warnock who was terrible. Need 2 up front and more craft in the middle of the park. I thought Heskey had a good game and Gabby looked slot sharper. Can't play Bent,Heskey,Agbonlahor all at once IMO.  I was dreading a last minute goal for them, would have been a very different final whistle response and post match verdict o the season so far.

[TimTheVillain]

Re Bannan, bringing him on in replace of N'Zog with only minutes left was not a good move, he's never going to change a game.

I like Bannan but he isn't going to be a top Prem player I'm afraid, FAR too lightweight.

Delph looks the part, Benty needs better service, full backs needed, N'Zog needs games, Petrov needs not to shoot AT ALL, EVER AGAIN, Heskey is Heskey, Gabby = excellent game, Given = zip to do.

Needed - some more options, more accurate crossing, a decent partner for Benty.

Potless at VP, Chairman seemingly run out of money.

I'm normally positive about things, but my £520 is looking very poor value at the moment.

[Shrek]

Heskey is our problem.

Yes he is playing ok, but because he is in the team Bannan/Ireland are not, because he is in the team we cannot keep posession because his touch is shit and because he is playing Bent is getting no service.

We would look a whole different prospect if Bannan were to start in place of Heskey IMO.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Disappointed not to get the three points against a much improved Wolves side who certainly know how to keep the ball moving, at least at the back and midfield. Our defence led by Dunne kept their attack at bay and Herd should be delighted with today's performance. It's a shame that AM looks like he's going to bring in a new right back as Herd had Jarvis in his pocket.

Whilst we look solid in defence, we really are not looking too threatening up front but that's to be expected when the team is carrying N'Zogbia. So far he's looked lost and despite a better showing today, his performances don't warrant a starting place. AM is obviously trying to give him game time to get up to speed but it comes with a price. Not wishing to bash Heskey but at least at home, we should be looking to be more creative and Villa Park should be the place to give Bannan 90 minutes. We also have Ireland, so it's not as if we don't have options. Our problem is more about team selection than anything else.

Wolves are full of confidence and are a better team than previous seasons but I still see today as 2 points dropped. We only have ourselves to blame and AM needs to be more adventurous at Villa Park and set the team up to play to Bent's strengths. We're looking a lot more solid, trying to pass it around patiently but we have to stop trying to accomodate players in the side.

[Shrek]

Re Bannan, bringing him on in replace of N'Zog with only minutes left was not a good move, he's never going to change a game.

I like Bannan but he isn't going to be a top Prem player I'm afraid, FAR too lightweight.

Delph looks the part, Benty needs better service, full backs needed, N'Zog needs games, Petrov needs not to shoot AT ALL, EVER AGAIN, Heskey is Heskey, Gabby = excellent game, Given = zip to do.

Needed - some more options, more accurate crossing, a decent partner for Benty.

Potless at VP, Chairman seemingly run out of money.

I'm normally positive about things, but my £520 is looking very poor value at the moment.

Totally disagree, Bannan for NZogbia was wrong because it didn't change the tactics, it should of been Bannan for Heskey which would then bring more out of NZogbia.

I think Bannan is going to be a top top player, but he needs the right team/formation to get the best out of him.

One thing Xavi always says is that he is able to do his job because of the job Busquets does. I know Bannan is not Xavi, but he is the best player bar non at villa when on the ball, surely he is a better option than Heskey in the hole. Especially with 2 midfielders behind him.

[Villan For Life]

I'm taking it from the comments on here Sky were showing a re-run of our game against Wolves last season?

No, Sky were showing a very dull game between two ordinary sides, as the comments reflect.

That's what I don't understand. The game I saw from the Lower Holte was completely different to the one being described on here.

I agree Bazz. At times, particularly in the opening 20/25 minutes of the 2nd half we looked good. Our movement and passing was excellent and at times the Dingles looked rattled.

We have a solid base from which to build. Herd played well, Petrov and Delph were industrious and Heskey had one of his better games before he tired. On any other day we'd have got a couple in the second half when we were on top.

Wolves will be happy with a point but in no way should the doom and gloom merchants be believed in the descriptions on here.

[Greg N'Ash]

Probably would have settled for a draw really, which shows you how my expectations have plummented and probably explains the missing thousands. The problem AM has is he's not got the players to play the way he wants and no funds to change it. whether his way is ever going to produce entertainment is debatable but its still a major handicap. The big question though is how this team will fare when we play someone good - 1 decent result against a blackburn side who are already looking nailed on relegation candidates doesn't tell us anything - From today's showing i'll think struggle to get anything unless we go into AM's Blose-era turbo-defensive mode.

[Lobsterboy]

After the dog shit that was served up for most of last season and with the financial constraints McLeish seems to be working under it really isn't all doom and gloom is it?

Still unbeaten and a decent draw in the next round of the Cup, 3 clean sheets in 4 matches and 5th in the Premier League and most importantly the defence actually look like they know how to defend set pieces/have cut out a lot of the silly mistakes.

A 0-0 draw at home to Wolves is not likely to set the pulses racing or have the hordes returning to the Villa but I dread to think what the atmosphere on here would be like had we repeated last seasons scoreline...

Hoping to see a couple of fresh faces brought in this week and on to Everton to keep the unbeaten run going

[TimTheVillain]

Re Bannan, bringing him on in replace of N'Zog with only minutes left was not a good move, he's never going to change a game.

I like Bannan but he isn't going to be a top Prem player I'm afraid, FAR too lightweight.

Delph looks the part, Benty needs better service, full backs needed, N'Zog needs games, Petrov needs not to shoot AT ALL, EVER AGAIN, Heskey is Heskey, Gabby = excellent game, Given = zip to do.

Needed - some more options, more accurate crossing, a decent partner for Benty.

Potless at VP, Chairman seemingly run out of money.

I'm normally positive about things, but my £520 is looking very poor value at the moment.

Totally disagree, Bannan for NZogbia was wrong because it didn't change the tactics, it should of been Bannan for Heskey which would then bring more out of NZogbia.

I think Bannan is going to be a top top player, but he needs the right team/formation to get the best out of him.

One thing Xavi always says is that he is able to do his job because of the job Busquets does. I know Bannan is not Xavi, but he is the best player bar non at villa when on the ball, surely he is a better option than Heskey in the hole. Especially with 2 midfielders behind him.

Bannan is NEVER going to be a top top player, sorry, I wish he was - I hope I eat my words.

Ditto Fonz and Albrighton.