Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic Post-Match Thread

[olaftab]

Good weekend all around and a nice way to face the International break. The  only looming cloud is it's back to work tomorrow.

[gervilla]

Good weekend all around and a nice way to face the International break. The  only looming cloud is it's back to work tomorrow.

Ah the old Sunday night blues. I'm treating mine with a bottle of red wine.

[Lizz]

Good weekend all around and a nice way to face the International break. The  only looming cloud is it's back to work tomorrow.

Ah the old Sunday night blues. I'm treating mine with a bottle of red wine.

Man after my own heart.

[Legion]

Beck's for me. Then a bottle of white for a change.

[mozza]

Improved team performance yesterday ..........Wigan were dreadful - Shay had one decent save to make whilst
we could/should have scored a couple more -

Really pleased for Gabby, his workrate was rewarded with a goal and assist -

Disappointed & confused by formation / tactics that resulted in lack of width to our play which
relied on Hutton/Warnock getting forward -

Ireland is still a puzzle - he was limping after 30 mins but I can't recall a tackle or lung bursting run
that might have caused an injury -

Pity it's an international break ........would have preferred to play at Citeh next week 

[Matt Collins]

Christ, could you really get in for a fiver and we still only got 30k? Depressing stuff.

I think I'd play Clark and petrov as a shield in front of the back 4 at citeh. Gabby and bannan wide, and Ireland in the more advanced central role or if not fit, delph.

Couldn't see us playing the same side again up there

[Matt Collins]

On the formation, I too am not a huge fan of the diamond. But if you're going to play gabby and bent up top it makes sense to have gabby running the channels a lot. you thus need wingers a little less and playing a tighter midfield means we had more control of the ball.

More tricky if you're playing against a team that defends deeper so there are reduced channels to run down. I could see is getting very congested with players tripping over themselves in a game like that.

Still reckon 433 is the ultimate answer

[martyn ellis]

Ireland is still a puzzle - he was limping after 30 mins but I can't recall a tackle or lung bursting run
that might have caused an injury -

Ireland got crocked by a hospital pass right on half time and came back out hobbling. Obviously couldn't run it off and so was subbed. Hope he's OK soon as I think we are seeing glimpses of how he can really contribute to our season, especially if Jenas keeps getting crocked.

[Hookeysmith]

I reckon we will get at least a draw at City. Just a gut instinct.

I feel the same - whatever critisisms we have of our team the back line is hard to breach and with Dunne / Ireland and Given going back there you just never know

[avwebby]

How will Man City tell us a lot? They are almost certainly going to finish 1st or 2nd, so unless we take an absolute trouncing it will just show that they are currently better than us having spent a few hundred million quid. Which I figure everyone in football already knows.

Man City seem to be dicking most teams at the moment and other good teams too. Someone said earlier that we are a top half team and we have drawn with those around us and beaten those that are going to scrap for relegation.

All I'd say is that we are unbeaten, and playing well.

And also when Gabby was on MOTD forum he said AMC was a strange appointment but the players respect him.

[Simon Ward]

The most encouraging thing from Saturday appeared to be us playing to our strikers strengths. Benty is only ever going to stand near the penalty spot waiting for the ball but Gabby has always run the channels throughout his career for every Villa team because he doesn't like tro stand still, likes to cut in from wide positions and has got the pace to do this!

[Concrete John]

A few thoughts:-

Delph looks better when further forward as he simply isn't a holding player.

We do lack width and need either N'Zogbia or Albrighton to up their form and make a starting place their own.

Still not impressed with Ireland.

Bannan has made himself undroppable for me.

Bent looked like he was lacking in confidence a bit, so I reckon that goal would have helped him a lot.

If we're not getting too excited by that winm, lets not get too despondent if/when we lose at Man City!   

[Risso]

I think we'll actually give City a game, and wouldn't be too surprised if we come out of it wth a draw.

[Mazrim]

It wouldn't be shock of the century but I'm not expecting to get anything.
If we turn up and get right in their face they're the sort of team that wouldn't fancy it.
It will mean being brave and sticking with Gabby and Bent up front and trusting the midfield to cope.

[not3bad]

Enjoyed Saturday but was shocked at the negativity in the crowd.  I heard one or two booes at half time when we were 1-0 up!  I heard one guy scream "sort it out Mcleish!" when we were 2-0 up.  What's that all about?!