Aston Villa v Norwich City Match Thread

[Mister E]

Herd's covering has been excellent.

[citizenDJ]

Whatever his faults might be, McLeish seems to be the first manager for ages who seems to have cottoned on to the fact that Gabby is really quite speedy and that this can be turned to our advantage. Fair play to him.

Anyway, dismal, dismal first fifteen minutes aside we've been decent here, and I'd say we could (probably should) be in front.

Not bad.

[Dante Lavelli]

I would hate to be in one of those running races with Gabby.  Freakishly fast and with a good degree of control too.

[beness]

From what iv'e seen so far we are far from a poor team. they do need a kick up the rear now and again though.

[villa_cads]

Gabby and Herd both standing out. Bent could've and really should've had a hatrick in that half. Clark on for Heskey?

[Phil from the upper holte]

Herd's done well.. Agbonlahor the talisman again

[supertom]

Not bad so far. We're giving away silly free kicks again and the chief culprits are our fullbacks as usual.

N'Zogbias playing okay. Gabby's been excellent and Bent looks dangerous.

Heskey's a passenger and we could benefit from Jenas legs and ability in midfield.

Herd I like the more I see him. He's a good sweeper in midfield. He's probably the best we have for the job right now and he's decent enough on the ball to get us moving forward. We're passing it around reasonably well today, but more so because of the space and time Norwich are leaving us, than any change tactically. We still need some extra legs and quality in the middle to help out Stan and Herd.

[Phil from the upper holte]

These are here for the beating

[toplad4u]

For me Hutton, Bent and Heskey have been poor! To be fair to Bent his positioning has been great but finish awful for 24 million pounds!

[kippaxvilla2]

Heskey in midfield at home to Norwich.

[achilles]

Gabby must be close to the england squad with this display today.

Thats the kiss of death... (automatically sold in the summer)!

[brontebilly]

Gabby has been our best player by a mile and dragged us back into the game. Herd has settled nicely too. Nzogbia isn't tracking back that much but is far more confident on the ball after a decent display last weekend.

Heskey hasnt been that bad but it makes no sense to play him. Especially in midfield.

Some awful indiscipline on show by a number of our players, well all our defenders, Petrov and Gabby. Just mindless stupid fouling. It was there last season and again this season. It might only seem a small thing but it's indicative of our club at the moment.

[Dante Lavelli]

Gabby, Bent and Nzogbia playing at even 90% should be a pretty formidable attacking three, especially when supported from the bench by Albrighton and dare I say it Heskey.

We just need to find a decent three behind them that have the right blend of industry and creativity.

[villa for life]

toplad4U,
Criticism of Bent is treacherous in my book. He kept us in the premiership last season and has scored 4 already this season. He was driven out of Spurs...let's love him whilst he's at the villa, please!

[john e]

Were not Man City but no way was that negative defensive football, Gabby and Herd playing really well again,
I also don't care what people say about spanking Norwich, they are a good side who gave Man Utd a run not so long back
We could still do with some quality ball play from out of defense instead of the big hopefull hoof