Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic Post-Match Thread

[Compass]

Hutton and Delph are awful. If McLeish is meant to pick on current form then he should drop them 2 in the next game.

[citizenDJ]

Ireland useless

Don't know what game you were watching, Ireland played pretty well I thought, easily his best performance in a Villa shirt.

..as demonstrated by the ovation that he got when he went off.

Might be my imagination, but I thought Ireland looked genuinely surprised and really chuffed when he got that applause! Hope it spurs him on, he played well today, he and Bannan were on the same wavelength throughout.

[Tony]

Ireland was good today. He is clever and plays very intelligent balls/chips etc. Our front two learn to play with him and that will make us more dangerous attacking team.

Yup, did Ireland play the ball through for Bent's lob that was offside? He does like to keep the ball moving, some nice one touch play.

[Percy McCarthy]

Faultless display from Given. I think his outstanding form gives the whole defence so much more confidence.

Gabby was the other stand-out performance for me. Could it be that the departure of Young and Downing has encouraged him to step up a gear.

Maybe he fancies a move away too .

He's Villa for life.

[Ads]

Ireland was good today. He is clever and plays very intelligent balls/chips etc. Our front two learn to play with him and that will make us more dangerous attacking team.

Yup, did Ireland play the ball through for Bent's lob that was offside? He does like to keep the ball moving, some nice one touch play.

Him and Bannan are two schemers. We actually look likely going through the middle now.

I heard people on the radio having a bit of a gripe for how we were happy to settle at 2-0. I'd venture it had more to do with it being 84 degrees out there. I was knackered in the second hal just watching it.

[CJ]

The most important thing is we needed a win and we got one, and if Al Habsi hadn't been as outstanding it could easily have been 3 or 4 nil - the save from Petrov's shot was absolutely top drawer.

Gabby was absolutely outstanding today. Great goal, set up Bent's, should have had one in the first half, and hit the bar (probably meant as a cross tbf) in the second half. Looks to be really enjoying his football again under McLeish. Thought the defence was solid although still not convinced by Hutton. Given continues to prove we got the bargain of the century getting one of the best GK's in the PL for a pittance. Thought Bannan and Ireland were good, Petrov solid, and Delph showed some nice touches (though poor decision making a couple of times) and I still think he'll be a really good player in a year or so. 

Not impressed with N'Zogbia or Heskey when they came on. Weimann should have scored but scuffed his shot at the keeper. Was a bit baffled by the substitutions at the time but I heard McLeish on WM the way back and apparently Gabby had a back strain, and Ireland had a knock. Didn't say why he took Bent off - maybe to prevent risk to further groin strain? He also said Jenas is out for another 4 weeks with an achilles injury - has he come here just to use our outstanding medical facilities?

On the downside - disappointing to concede so much possession and also concerned by the lack of width, but we've lost our best wide players, N'Zogbia hasn't delivered, and I think we're very much a work in progress this season. Crowd (30,700-odd) very disappointing especially given the special offers and a sunny day. And talking of sunny days I confirmed today that the official melting point of CJ's fat head is 29 degrees C

[Villanation]

I think the report done by the BBC tonight on there match report summed it up beautifully, the comment being " Now Villa know what they where missing all last season", got it in one, yes we lost to of our better players in the transfer window, but no way did we lose our best player at the club, Gabriel Agbonlahor, awesome.

Stunning goal, absolute perfection.

On another occasion showed his close ball skills ripping apart 3 Wigan defenders in 1 hit and only just narrowly missed the right side of the Wigan goal.

On another occasion, forced out wide right he looks up and has the foresight to test the keeper from way out wide and he hit the bar, had the keeper not got his hand to it another goal.

Most of all to me, Gabby at his supreme best, he's around the half way line loses possession, but as the ball runs lose to a Wigan player, Gabby with incredible speed and presence, is right back at the Wigan player taking back possession, and what we see then you can only sympathise with the Wigan defender that has to try and track Gabby back a full half the pitch, lost the battle and Gabby put a cross in that a blind dog could have scored from.

Ashley Young, Stuart Downing, get in front the box and give yourselves a lesson in pure wing play......

Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.   

[Toronto Villa]

Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.   

how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?

[taylorsworkrate]

Much better.

Gabby and Bannan excellent, Ireland very good.  Cannot believe that some can slate him today.  Their obviously not big fans of keeping the ball and finding space.

I will definitely warm to Mcleish if he continues to play Bannan and Ireland in the same team.

[Villanation]

Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.   

how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?

Toronto, to early, If you'd have taken Gabby out of that team i dread to think how it would have turned out, Gabby has been here since day 1, McLiesh just got of the bus, what I will give McLiesh credit for is that he's not as stupid as Houllier is.

[Ads]

McLeish is getting the best out of Gabby. He deserves a lot of credit for that.

[Rigadon]

Gabby was outstanding today - like a likeable Drogba.  Brilliant.

Bannan is going to be a very, very good player. 

Enjoyed the game on the whole.

[Chipsticks]

Faultless display from Given. I think his outstanding form gives the whole defence so much more confidence.

Gabby was the other stand-out performance for me. Could it be that the departure of Young and Downing has encouraged him to step up a gear.

Maybe he fancies a move away too .

He's Villa for life.

I can comfortably say that Agbonlahor will never leave Villa.

[andyh]

Alex McLiesh should worship the ground Gabby walks on, he's making his job safe.   

how about some credit for McLeish for believing in Gabby and having a significant role in him playing as well as he is?

what a load of bollox.
Gabby has been here a long time and has proved he can do it.
Mcleish has played Gabby out wide before now, I do't think he is suddenly instumental in Gabby hiitng some good form.

[Rigadon]

Oh and Delph, there's definitely a cracking player in there. Give him time.