Aston Villa v Tesco Bags Post-Match Thread

[CT]

In all my years at Villa Park I saw a "first" today.

A bloke fast asleep - leant on his mates shoulder. This was in the first half too! He was out for at least 20 minutes!

[taylorsworkrate]

I thought we looked ok until the sending off, but no better than that. 

The two goals we conceded weren't down to the 10 men factor, they were down to the inability to adequately defend set pieces.

I don't think the players and coaching staff should be immune to criticism because of the sending off.  The second half was woeful.

[taylorsworkrate]

We play no passing football whatsoever. Hit and hope - and that was before we went down to 10 men. We will be in the bottom six by Xmas playing the way we do.

We show absolutey no movement off the ball either. It was never great under MON but it's even worse now.

One final point -no-one will convince me that Makoun couldn't have played a significant part in this squad. We are crying out for someone who can help us keep the ball.

sorry nick, were you watching the same game? bannons shot, bents effort over the bar and only a shot over the bar from 30 yards from the albion. who cares what anyone thinks about the game after the sending off, we were fucked and if you think any team plays a tight passing game with ten men for 63 minutes you are on different planet!

Tottenham seemed to cope quite well when outplaying us for an hour with 10 men last season.

Obviously its difficult, and I in no way expected us to win the game.  However, the performance in the second half was far worse than it should have been, even with 10 men.

[Greg N'Ash]

I thought we looked ok until the sending off, but no better than that. 

The two goals we conceded weren't down to the 10 men factor, they were down to the inability to adequately defend set pieces.

I don't think the players and coaching staff should be immune to criticism because of the sending off.  The second half was woeful.

yep. for someone who's supposed to be that much better at the defensive side than Houllier, its not exactly a staggering improvement is it? As i said at the time, should have got rid of the rotten players not the manager.

[Villanation]

We play no passing football whatsoever. Hit and hope - and that was before we went down to 10 men. We will be in the bottom six by Xmas playing the way we do.

We show absolutey no movement off the ball either. It was never great under MON but it's even worse now.

One final point -no-one will convince me that Makoun couldn't have played a significant part in this squad. We are crying out for someone who can help us keep the ball.

sorry nick, were you watching the same game? bannons shot, bents effort over the bar and only a shot over the bar from 30 yards from the albion. who cares what anyone thinks about the game after the sending off, we were fucked and if you think any team plays a tight passing game with ten men for 63 minutes you are on different planet!

That's the point, its part and parcel of any teams training programme to learn how to retain possession and how to reorganize in such an event, if we can't hold onto a point against a team like WBA then something is badly wrong.

[ktvillan]

I must admit from that still photo posted by goodie it does look as though herd may not be as innocent as first appeared.

Herd's boot definitely landed on Olssen's body.  However it looked to me as if Herd trod on Ollsen ofter Ollsen fell over and under Herd's feet.  If you look at it Herd is looking away from Ollsen, and probably didn't know where Ollsen was.   From the long distance shot it looked as if Herd lashed out at Ollsen while he was down.  The closer up version it looked as if Herd's foot got caught up by Olssen after he accidentally trod on him, and he just yanked it free.  Which to the linesman could have looked as if he lashed out.  Olssen didn't appeal, which should tell the linesman something. 

[myf]

I was surprised by the way we lined up with Herd in front of the defence and Bent on his todd up front.  Very defensive for a game in which we should be looking to win.

Saying that, Herd played well up until the sending off - proper tenacious.

Albion denied a pen when Collins handballed early on.  Surpised the lino missed that.

Once we conceded the first goal on the stroke of half time the writing was on the wall.  Midfield is shite.

Nzog is the new Ireland - he can't be arsed for some reason.

[Dave]

Albion denied a pen when Collins handballed early on.  Surpised the lino missed that.

Huh?

Are you talking about the time when the ball was hit into his midriff from six yards while his arms were by his sides?

You do know that handball has to be deliberate for it to be an offence?

[GJH]

A mix of championship players and merceneries along with a championship manager! This side and management team will  not keep us in the league.

Bent will be sold in January and Bannan and Clark will go in the summer. Ireland and Nzogbia are just mercenaries and if they were any good they wouldn't be at the Villa.

Most annoying thing is that all of this could have been avoided. Everyone knew Mcleish would play this type of football, but the blame lies with the board for appointing him.

I honestly think we will be fighting for our lives by May. averaging a point per game will send you down.

[eastie]

Agreed dave, just watching the rerun on football first and the ball never touched Collins arm at all.

[Matt C]

Sending off changed the game as we looked in control up until then but thereafter it was woeful, woeful stuff. Still reeling from the decision to take Bannan off, remarkable. We look bottom six.

[Villanation]

I must admit from that still photo posted by goodie it does look as though herd may not be as innocent as first appeared.

Got to say just had a good long hard look at this from 1.10 onwards and if that was an opposing defender doing that on a Villa player i would be screaming blue murder, well done the poster for sticking that up, because it certainly looks the right decision, not only does Herd put his foot in the first time you can see he glances down at Olson the 2nd time, with his boot left in, so its difficult to explain that he couldn't have seen what he was doing.

who knows......

[rutski]

We play no passing football whatsoever. Hit and hope - and that was before we went down to 10 men. We will be in the bottom six by Xmas playing the way we do.

We show absolutey no movement off the ball either. It was never great under MON but it's even worse now.

One final point -no-one will convince me that Makoun couldn't have played a significant part in this squad. We are crying out for someone who can help us keep the ball.

sorry nick, were you watching the same game? bannons shot, bents effort over the bar and only a shot over the bar from 30 yards from the albion. who cares what anyone thinks about the game after the sending off, we were fucked and if you think any team plays a tight passing game with ten men for 63 minutes you are on different planet!

That's the point, its part and parcel of any teams training programme to learn how to retain possession and how to reorganize in such an event, if we can't hold onto a point against a team like WBA then something is badly wrong.

load of arse! when you play 10 v 11 for over 2/3rds of the match you usually come unstuck! there is only so much of leaving the extra man and shuffling over when play gets there you can do!
The ref is a wanker and his linesman a bigger one. plus the linesman was watching all this 'stamping through olsens back as he wasnt even the right side of the incident. The reason the players went mental was because herd was sent off for fuck all!

[rutski]

I'm not convinced Foster shouldn't have gone. Watch the slow mo on this and I reckon Gabby would have had the chance of a shot as their player was basically stood still when Gabby nicked it.
Also has the Herd challenge on.

Looks like a stamp at 1:12 to me?

look at it closer, where is his foot? what you think you can see is the stripe on olsens shirt! his foot is on the floor!he has white tape round his ankles and unless his rightshin and foot equates to 9 inches his foot must be out of picture!

[brian green]

Just got home.   Nightmare journey missed most of the first half thanks to the entire M11 being closed for roadworks.   Came in just in time not to see whatever it was Dowd and the linesman thought they saw justified a penalty and the sending off of Herd.


The myth that McLeish tightens defences is exposed for what it is - a myth.   No team spirit, no leadership, N'Zogbia showing once again that he was the worst premiership purchase of the summer, Petrov's idea of a killer pass is to a man ten yards behind him and Emile Heskey supposed to be playing as a holding left midfielder but looking like half a pantomime horse charging round looking for his front end.

Eight hours driving and sixtyfive quidsworth of petrol to see that.