Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[The Situation]

We're shit. McLeish out. (and yes i would have said the same if we'd won 1-0 because we were diabolical yet again and didn't have a shot on target in open play).

What was your prediction for the score again?

I said we'd lose 2 or 3 nil or draw 1-1 by playing shit football. So i was right as always.

I also predicted the same, yet I don't feel as negative about the game as you because I thought I saw some improvement.

[pauliewalnuts]

Very annoying to concede in the last minute after defending well for most of the game. We looked solid at the back and after watching all of QPR's free kicks from the edge of the box blasted high and wide I really thought it was going to be our day zipping into 5th position.

We actually played a lot better than I thought. People can criticize for how negative McLeish can be, but today he got his tactics all but spot on.

We look like a hard team to beat at the moment, but then again we haven't exactly played a top team yet. If we can somehow start scoring more goals whilst remaining solid in defence, I have some faith restored.

P.S. Bent wasn't on the bench, when and how did he get injured?

I'm not a huge fan of his tactic that involves the team looking like a sorry collection of incompetent idiots  that can't keep hold of the ball for more than 2 passes. They must have put in savage work in training this week so look so ridiculously inept as they did in the first half today. Disgraceful. Thank Christ they actually got it together some bit in the 2nd half.

Quite.

I can't see how anyone could have tactically planned the sheer ineptitude of the first half. It was shamefully bad.

Bent has a groin injury. think it's the same one that kept him out for England.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I went today ....

Why didn't you claim for the Penalty against Gabs because according to Colin Wanker and Wilkins, because you didn't claim for it, it wasn't a penalty.

I didn't bloody see it the view was Fuckin awful, there are teams in outer Mongolia with better stadiums. It's exactly the same as it was in the 90's

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

A bunch of observations on the game today...


What the hell was that first half about?  I’m surprised they didn’t have to Shake ‘n’ Vac the pitch at half-time, we absolutely stank the place out.  Surely the lowest point in our recent misery was the sight of Shay time-wasting after half an hour.  That was desperate.

Whatever was said at half time should have been said earlier.  Like in August, for example.  Still, better late than never.  We passed the ball well and kept it, and for the first time this season I felt we were actually in control of a game.  Amazing how much better a midfielder is when the ball is played to his feet rather than blasted into a cloud.  Who’d have thought?

Has anyone been to Stephen Warnock’s house?  Is there a massive hole in the front door?  I can only imagine he comes running at it wildly and smashes through it feet first, without taking a second to think rationally and just get his keys out.

On the other hand, Warnock’s crunching bit of filth on Barton did seem to subdue the tweeting scrote for the rest of the game. 

I’m sick of seeing Petrov trudging off at half-time looking like a contestant on Total Wipeout. 

I’m struggling to remember a worse start to a Villa career than Alan Hutton’s.  He makes Luke Young look like Dani Alves.  Much more of this and Habib Beye might have to play, which would really bloody annoy him. 

The Ferdinand family are a lovely bunch aren’t they?   

Peter Grant stinks of ineptitude.  Seeing him in the dugout is like spotting half a cyanide pill in your burger. I’d be much more comfortable if McLeish had a better assistant.  Grant has a very poor track record – he could join forces with Nigel Quashie and Herman Hreidarsson and launch an aftershave called Relegation. 

I never thought I’d see the day when Gary Neville provided intelligent and insightful analysis on a game of football.  And I still don’t.

On the subject of Neville, do you think if he got in touch with Agent Ridgewell they could get together to form a reasonable attempt at a moustache?

[tarzansbrother]

1 defeat in our last 13 premier games. Our defence is looking a lot stronger. We have a world class keeper and top striker. At last the younger players are being given a chance and are always involved in the first team or on the bench.

Midfield and getting some consistent performances from players like Ireland are going to be the challenge.

Yes our performances have been patchy, especially some first halves but I can see some green shoots.

For me hearing a Villa manager talking sense after the game for the first time in years was also a good sign.

[richard moore]

A bunch of observations on the game today...


What the hell was that first half about?  I’m surprised they didn’t have to Shake ‘n’ Vac the pitch at half-time, we absolutely stank the place out.  Surely the lowest point in our recent misery was the sight of Shay time-wasting after half an hour.  That was desperate.

Whatever was said at half time should have been said earlier.  Like in August, for example.  Still, better late than never.  We passed the ball well and kept it, and for the first time this season I felt we were actually in control of a game.  Amazing how much better a midfielder is when the ball is played to his feet rather than blasted into a cloud.  Who’d have thought?

Has anyone been to Stephen Warnock’s house?  Is there a massive hole in the front door?  I can only imagine he comes running at it wildly and smashes through it feet first, without taking a second to think rationally and just get his keys out.

On the other hand, Warnock’s crunching bit of filth on Barton did seem to subdue the tweeting scrote for the rest of the game. 

I’m sick of seeing Petrov trudging off at half-time looking like a contestant on Total Wipeout. 

I’m struggling to remember a worse start to a Villa career than Alan Hutton’s.  He makes Luke Young look like Dani Alves.  Much more of this and Habib Beye might have to play, which would really bloody annoy him. 

The Ferdinand family are a lovely bunch aren’t they?   

Peter Grant stinks of ineptitude.  Seeing him in the dugout is like spotting half a cyanide pill in your burger. I’d be much more comfortable if McLeish had a better assistant.  Grant has a very poor track record – he could join forces with Nigel Quashie and Herman Hreidarsson and launch an aftershave called Relegation. 

I never thought I’d see the day when Gary Neville provided intelligent and insightful analysis on a game of football.  And I still don’t.

On the subject of Neville, do you think if he got in touch with Agent Ridgewell they could get together to form a reasonable attempt at a moustache?

Top rant of the season to date......made me laugh, thank you!

[Ads]

Not long got back oop Narf.

Very encouraged by the second half display. Plenty of movement off the ball, with Bannan and Irleand combining well.

I heard a lot of nonsense on the radio on the way back about their brand of football etc, but thought for all our first half failings, they didn't muster a great deal and in fact I can only recall Given making one real save.

Very disappointing to throw it away at the end and I don't buy it that we were inviting them on, as I thought we looked far more like scoring than they did. A more clinical approach and we'd have done them two or three.

I believe McLeish must have dished out some tough love at half time and after bemoaning Delph as a passenger in the first 45, I thought he was much better second, with the whole midfield ten yards further up the pitch, closing down and pressing and getting in advance of Gabby.

N'Zogbia is still struggling. I think we have to keep persisting with him until he finds form.

No suprises that Barton was anonymous, the meadiocre twat.

Loftus Road is still the wanky Mercano ground its always been and as for the penalty- it was a foul. Its no excuse that "10 or 20 would be given a game". Good, give them, then maybe defenders would stop bloody doing it!

[AV82EC]

Well just got back to Manchester after a 7 hour round trip, 500+ miles of driving.  First half was utter shite though we did well for the last 5 minutes and forced 3 corners. I mention this because I don't think there was anything else to talk about.

Second half much improved with us putting it about and taking the game to them, constructive play and passing (at times) and swift on the break but lacking the execution or final ball to put QPR away.  N'Zogbia is still finding his feet and whilst some of his tracking back was much better his distribution and passing was atrocious.  Collins is looking a liability to me, fortunately he was up against another Championship standard player in Bothroyd but as soon as he had the nippy Campbell and Helguson to mark he looked lost and why he wasn't getting his head on an aimless upfield punt which led to the equaliser god only knows.  Real positives for me in the play of Petrov, Ireland, Bannan and Delph in the 2nd half.

Given - 7 - As ever a couple of good saves and a solid performance.
Hutton - 6 - Ok but nothing spectacular, seemed to get forward more second half in support.
Collins - 3 - Shit
Dunne - 6 - Ok and his usual committed self
Warnock - 6 - Solid, the usual rash challenges (we'll forgive him the Barton one) and good attacking support second half
Petrov - 7.5- Stans usual all action performance in the middle fo the park, breaking up play, winning free kicks through his experience and getting forward in support, we'll miss him when he's gone.
Delph - 6.5 - Anonymous first half, committed second, still takes the wrong option and gets caught in posession too often but some good signs
Bannan - 8 MOM - Go on the wee man, second half superb if a bit lightweight first half.  Slotted his penalty well.
Ireland - 6.5 - Keep that up and he'll win me over, good second half with running, tracking back and commitment in the tackle.
N'Zogbia - 3 - Awful and atrocious passing and final ball though finding some fitness and tracking back positional play much better.
Agbonlahor - 6.5 - Not great service but battled well with the QPR centre backs and his tireless running second half created plenty of room for others to exploit.

Subs didn't really have long enough to influence though Albrighton was tidy and didn't give away any stupid free kicks.

McLeish - 5 - Credit for getting them playing at half time but he needs to do something about them turning up for the first half as it does make me wonder just what the hell does he need to do to get £50k a week footballers "up" for kick off.  Quite happy with the formation of 4-2-3-1 we played second half but the 4-3-3 we attempted first half just ended up being 4-5-1 with no attacking intent.

Oh and Loftus Road has replaced Fratton Park at number 1 in my topflight "godforsaken shitholes" league.

[villan1975]

That was possibly the worst half I have seen for ten years.
Trully was awful on every front,tactically how can a team
get it so badly wrong?The players and the manager need to
hold their hands up and in fairness to Mcleish he didnt try to
hide it in his post match interview.He should have changed
things round before half time.
Whatever he said and did at half time did the trick as we looked a
different side in the second half.
Ireland was the big plus for me as he looked angry and interested for
the first time in a Villa shirt and is a quality footballer as we all know.
He needs a few games and to play this way a fair few times to win
me over but it is a glimpse of what he is capable of.

[AV82EC]

A bunch of observations on the game today...


What the hell was that first half about?  I’m surprised they didn’t have to Shake ‘n’ Vac the pitch at half-time, we absolutely stank the place out.  Surely the lowest point in our recent misery was the sight of Shay time-wasting after half an hour.  That was desperate.

Whatever was said at half time should have been said earlier.  Like in August, for example.  Still, better late than never.  We passed the ball well and kept it, and for the first time this season I felt we were actually in control of a game.  Amazing how much better a midfielder is when the ball is played to his feet rather than blasted into a cloud.  Who’d have thought?

Has anyone been to Stephen Warnock’s house?  Is there a massive hole in the front door?  I can only imagine he comes running at it wildly and smashes through it feet first, without taking a second to think rationally and just get his keys out.

On the other hand, Warnock’s crunching bit of filth on Barton did seem to subdue the tweeting scrote for the rest of the game. 

I’m sick of seeing Petrov trudging off at half-time looking like a contestant on Total Wipeout. 

I’m struggling to remember a worse start to a Villa career than Alan Hutton’s.  He makes Luke Young look like Dani Alves.  Much more of this and Habib Beye might have to play, which would really bloody annoy him. 

The Ferdinand family are a lovely bunch aren’t they?   

Peter Grant stinks of ineptitude.  Seeing him in the dugout is like spotting half a cyanide pill in your burger. I’d be much more comfortable if McLeish had a better assistant.  Grant has a very poor track record – he could join forces with Nigel Quashie and Herman Hreidarsson and launch an aftershave called Relegation. 

I never thought I’d see the day when Gary Neville provided intelligent and insightful analysis on a game of football.  And I still don’t.

On the subject of Neville, do you think if he got in touch with Agent Ridgewell they could get together to form a reasonable attempt at a moustache?

Have you considered a career in stand up comedy.  Post of the Day for me, and the moustache joke nicked for Facebook.

[pauliewalnuts]

A bunch of observations on the game today...


What the hell was that first half about?  I’m surprised they didn’t have to Shake ‘n’ Vac the pitch at half-time, we absolutely stank the place out.  Surely the lowest point in our recent misery was the sight of Shay time-wasting after half an hour.  That was desperate.

Whatever was said at half time should have been said earlier.  Like in August, for example.  Still, better late than never.  We passed the ball well and kept it, and for the first time this season I felt we were actually in control of a game.  Amazing how much better a midfielder is when the ball is played to his feet rather than blasted into a cloud.  Who’d have thought?

Has anyone been to Stephen Warnock’s house?  Is there a massive hole in the front door?  I can only imagine he comes running at it wildly and smashes through it feet first, without taking a second to think rationally and just get his keys out.

On the other hand, Warnock’s crunching bit of filth on Barton did seem to subdue the tweeting scrote for the rest of the game. 

I’m sick of seeing Petrov trudging off at half-time looking like a contestant on Total Wipeout. 

I’m struggling to remember a worse start to a Villa career than Alan Hutton’s.  He makes Luke Young look like Dani Alves.  Much more of this and Habib Beye might have to play, which would really bloody annoy him. 

The Ferdinand family are a lovely bunch aren’t they?   

Peter Grant stinks of ineptitude.  Seeing him in the dugout is like spotting half a cyanide pill in your burger. I’d be much more comfortable if McLeish had a better assistant.  Grant has a very poor track record – he could join forces with Nigel Quashie and Herman Hreidarsson and launch an aftershave called Relegation. 

I never thought I’d see the day when Gary Neville provided intelligent and insightful analysis on a game of football.  And I still don’t.

On the subject of Neville, do you think if he got in touch with Agent Ridgewell they could get together to form a reasonable attempt at a moustache?

Have you considered a career in stand up comedy.  Post of the Day for me, and the moustache joke nicked for Facebook.

I too thought it was very funny.

[pauliewalnuts]

Oh and Loftus Road has replaced Fratton Park at number 1 in my topflight "godforsaken shitholes" league.

The last time I was there - and they had David Seaman in goal, so it was a fair while ago - i seem to remember we were in the lower tier behind the goal, and most of the view was obscured by the top tier overhang.

[Lowendbehold]

We're shit. McLeish out. (and yes i would have said the same if we'd won 1-0 because we were diabolical yet again and didn't have a shot on target in open play).

Get a grip mate we were 2 mins from being 5th

[pauliewalnuts]

We're shit. McLeish out. (and yes i would have said the same if we'd won 1-0 because we were diabolical yet again and didn't have a shot on target in open play).

Get a grip mate we were 2 mins from being 5th

I think that says quite a lot about the standard of the Premier League.

[pauliewalnuts]

Collins - 3 - Shit

I thought he did OK, by and large. In fact, i think he and Dunne have done very well this season, they actually instil some confidence in me.

Our problem is going to be the full backs.

Warnock showed us at times today how he tends to drop clangers, go charging in both feet up, and give away free kicks needlessly in dangerous areas.

Hutton has looked absolutely shit since we signed him. Like the manager let one of the players bring a mate to fill in at right back.