Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Eigentor]

Delph took the wrong option a couple of times but I thought that in the second half his industry was a large part of our improvement. There's plenty of room for improvement but I've been surprised at how much criticism he's received.

Delph isn't as shite as some claim. The problem is that he isn't good enough tactically/defensively to be part of a central midfield pairing, at least if the other player isn't a definite holding midfielder, and Petrov isn't that. Anyway, this is one of numerous problems that will be solved once Jenas is fit. :-)

[Greg N'Ash]

QPR are not a bad side at all, I'm not sure what the evidence is for them being poor. Since the transfer window they've outplayed Newcastle and Wolves and us for 45 minutes. I think you're being a little condescending to call them poor.

fair comment. I'd say none of the promoted sides look particularly out of place, which doesn't say much for the standard of the premiership currently. not much difference from 6th downwards i'd say.

[LeeB]

QPR are not a bad side at all, I'm not sure what the evidence is for them being poor. Since the transfer window they've outplayed Newcastle and Wolves and us for 45 minutes. I think you're being a little condescending to call them poor.

fair comment. I'd say none of the promoted sides look particularly out of place, which doesn't say much for the standard of the premiership currently. not much difference from 6th downwards i'd say.

That's about it greg, and the reality is if we keep it tight and improve a couple of things going forward then we'll have as much a chance as anybody of finishing top of that pile.

[Percy McCarthy]

The most blatant penalty in the game was their keeper, whoever he was, on Delph. Also, looked like a bad decision to give them a goal-kick instead of awarding us a corner right near the end. I wish these TV interviewers had the balls and the job description to point these things out to wankers like Warnock.

flipin eck Percy, we cant complain at the ref for this one,
 it was one of the most one sided displays i've ever seen, i was laughing my head of at times in the second half, the man virtually gave every decision he could our way,
we should just put our heads down and accept this one went our way

Disagree. Our penalty - correct decision. The two hand-balls - correct. Blatant foul on Delph, stonewall penalty - missed it. Corner to us at the end - missed it and gave goal-kick from which they scored.

[Percy McCarthy]

I just hope AM puts delph out to pasture. Does nothing IMO. Another transfer masterclass from MON - 6m on a guy not much more effective than osbourne.

It just isn't a thread without a Greg Nash dig at Martin O'Neill.

Well he's awful. 600k maybe but 6m?!

Depth is good player.  By the end of this season we will regard him as our future.  Except N'ash of course.

I hope you're right but i can't help feeling its the price tag that sparing him from criticism. I used to get all sorts of stick for pointing out Davies was bobbins, and he was. But because he cost us a fortune a lot of people didn't want to face the obvious.

But greg, you also thought Milner, Downing, Gabby and Ash Young were 'overpaid deadwood', so I'm not going to put too much store in your opinion on this one.

[Greg N'Ash]

I just hope AM puts delph out to pasture. Does nothing IMO. Another transfer masterclass from MON - 6m on a guy not much more effective than osbourne.

It just isn't a thread without a Greg Nash dig at Martin O'Neill.

Well he's awful. 600k maybe but 6m?!

Depth is good player.  By the end of this season we will regard him as our future.  Except N'ash of course.

I hope you're right but i can't help feeling its the price tag that sparing him from criticism. I used to get all sorts of stick for pointing out Davies was bobbins, and he was. But because he cost us a fortune a lot of people didn't want to face the obvious.

But greg, you also thought Milner, Downing, Gabby and Ash Young were 'overpaid deadwood', so I'm not going to put too much store in your opinion on this one.

Did i percy? Still as delusional as ever i see

[ktvillan]

Add me to the list of those who think Delph is getting some unfair stick.  He's been inconsistent and has struggled at times, but I thought he showed some good touches Sunday and there is definitely a very good player in there somewhere.  Looked good when he started to get forward in the second half.

One small criticism of Bannan, who has generally been very good,  is I think he tries to play the killer ball or do something clever every time, and sometimes the simple ball is the best option.

I saw Dermot Gallagher saying our pen was technically a foul but should not have been given otherwise there'd be 50 penalties in every game.  Well maybe that's because shite bottler refs like him have let players get away with it for the last 20 years so now they think it's allowed as long as it's not too blatant.  And to all those saying Hutton committed one or two handballs, you don't know the rules.  It has to be a deliberate act, which means a movement of hand to ball, and neither of them were.  Saying "I've seen them given"  simply means you've seen more bottler refs applying the rules incorrectly when it suits.

[john e]

i accept that Delph will make some mistakes, he's young and leaning his craft, he plays in an important position in the side where he will be under pressure and will learn and improve as time goes on.
the question is,
 do you think Delph is going to be good enough long term to become the player we all want in the Villa side, i do at the moment, and am prepared to watch his development and overlook his mistakes as long as he improves and learns from them.
if you dont think he will ever be good enough, then you have a problem in having to put up with him, with no real long term value.

you could make the same call about all the young players,
 the manager has to make his decision which ones will break though to be first teamers and which ones will fall lower down the pecking order and leave for lower league clubs, but either way, if they are to make it into established first team players we will have to be patient and support them while they make a few mistakes on the way

[fredm]

One small criticism of Bannan, who has generally been very good,  is I think he tries to play the killer ball or do something clever every time, and sometimes the simple ball is the best option.

That is something I have heard said quite often and was said specifically by Andy Blair who was commentating on AVTV for the Bolton match.  He said that Ireland was in space calling for it but Barry tried a 30 yarder which was cut out, went on to say that he must cut out trying to play the killer ball everytime and concentrate on keeping possession and then playing the killer ball when it was suitable and that would come with experience.

[Brend'Watkins]

One small criticism of Bannan, who has generally been very good,  is I think he tries to play the killer ball or do something clever every time, and sometimes the simple ball is the best option.

That is something I have heard said quite often and was said specifically by Andy Blair who was commentating on AVTV for the Bolton match.  He said that Ireland was in space calling for it but Barry tried a 30 yarder which was cut out, went on to say that he must cut out trying to play the killer ball everytime and concentrate on keeping possession and then playing the killer ball when it was suitable and that would come with experience.

I agree with that to an extent.  It will come with experience and maturity but at the same time we shouldn't discourage him too much his attempts to make such passes.  Bannan has undoubted skill and is I feel our most exciting prospect.  He does something telling in every game he plays and will be our play maker for years to come I hope.

Delph can also be accused of not making the simple pass when it's on.  He has a good engine and does get involved so he's showing good ambition.  There are big question marks over his technical ability though.  For such a short stature of a player he doesn't half look awkward with the ball.

[Percy McCarthy]

I just hope AM puts delph out to pasture. Does nothing IMO. Another transfer masterclass from MON - 6m on a guy not much more effective than osbourne.

It just isn't a thread without a Greg Nash dig at Martin O'Neill.

Well he's awful. 600k maybe but 6m?!

Depth is good player.  By the end of this season we will regard him as our future.  Except N'ash of course.

I hope you're right but i can't help feeling its the price tag that sparing him from criticism. I used to get all sorts of stick for pointing out Davies was bobbins, and he was. But because he cost us a fortune a lot of people didn't want to face the obvious.

But greg, you also thought Milner, Downing, Gabby and Ash Young were 'overpaid deadwood', so I'm not going to put too much store in your opinion on this one.

Did i percy? Still as delusional as ever i see

Yes, you said MON left us with 'a squad full of over-paid deadwood'. Allowing for your dreadful English, however, I'm prepared to accept that maybe you just don't know the meaning of the word 'full'.

[Caiphus]

Delph can also be accused of not making the simple pass when it's on.  He has a good engine and does get involved so he's showing good ambition.  There are big question marks over his technical ability though.  For such a short stature of a player he doesn't half look awkward with the ball.

Delph looks awkward on the ball because he has long legs, high hips and a short torso.  He tucks his shirt in with his pants pulled up to his armpits which makes me laugh when I hear that he thinks of himself as a bit of a hard-nut.

I think technically he is very competent, just a little overzealous in the challenge.  Most of his training is in the weights room at the moment from what I read a few weeks ago, because McLeish wants him to get his strength up.  We've seen that he has a good shot a nice pass, pace and a decent first touch. 

A large part of why he gets caught on the ball is because quite frequently no-one is moving to create an option and he doesn't just want to hit and hope, he wants to pick the right pass and thinks he has more time than what he actually does before getting closed down.  He telegraphs his ball movement slightly when he shifts it around while looking for a pass and he needs to use his right foot more playing in centre mid at this level.

He has had less than 20 appearances for Aston Villa and I believe he has shown enough quality so far to say that he is going to be a very good player.  He is by no means the finished article but has so much upside it is worth persevering.  I also believe McLeish is trying to get him to learn the holding role so he can be a more complete box-to-box player when he lets the shackles off.

[Percy McCarthy]

Caiphus: insightful summation of Delph's abilities and intelligent speculation on his future role at the end there IMO.

[pauliewalnuts]

He has had less than 20 appearances for Aston Villa and I believe he has shown enough quality so far to say that he is going to be a very good player.  He is by no means the finished article but has so much upside it is worth persevering.

Indeed.

This is a young player who joined from a lower league, and was then out injured for, what, over a year?

I thought Delph was poor on Sunday, but that's one game. What's the rush to write players off recently? We are having the same thing with N'Zogbia - why would anyone want to write off a 10m signing after FIVE league games? Were they writing Downing off in his first half season, too?

With our wafer thin squad, we're not really in a position to be writing anyone off in too much of a hurry, either.

[Greg N'Ash]

I just hope AM puts delph out to pasture. Does nothing IMO. Another transfer masterclass from MON - 6m on a guy not much more effective than osbourne.

It just isn't a thread without a Greg Nash dig at Martin O'Neill.

Well he's awful. 600k maybe but 6m?!

Depth is good player.  By the end of this season we will regard him as our future.  Except N'ash of course.

I hope you're right but i can't help feeling its the price tag that sparing him from criticism. I used to get all sorts of stick for pointing out Davies was bobbins, and he was. But because he cost us a fortune a lot of people didn't want to face the obvious.

But greg, you also thought Milner, Downing, Gabby and Ash Young were 'overpaid deadwood', so I'm not going to put too much store in your opinion on this one.

Did i percy? Still as delusional as ever i see

Yes, you said MON left us with 'a squad full of over-paid deadwood'. Allowing for your dreadful English, however, I'm prepared to accept that maybe you just don't know the meaning of the word 'full'.

heh. i think i'll skip the tiresome "meanings of words" arguement you had lined up for tonight. But by all means try again, even if your attempts at starting an arguement are as usual unimaginative, lack substance and are almost always ripped off from other people. A sort of Paul Weller Troll almost.