Aston Villa v Norwich City Post-Match Thread

[N'ZMAV]

I personally thought Hutton got fouled in the lead up to their second but MOTD didn't really show it clearly

I did too.

[N'ZMAV]

I just fucking hate corners against us.

[London Villan]

I personally thought Hutton got fouled in the lead up to their second but MOTD didn't really show it clearly

I did too.

He dived as he got tackled, no-one in the Trinity complained... he was back up on his feet pretty quick too.

[N'ZMAV]

I personally thought Hutton got fouled in the lead up to their second but MOTD didn't really show it clearly

I did too.

He dived as he got tackled, no-one in the Trinity complained... he was back up on his feet pretty quick too.

Ah right, fair enough. I couldn't see clearly from the Holte, it just looked like a foul, but I hadn't seen a replay.

[JUAN PABLO]

another good thing is we have two goalscorers in the top ten and high on the english scorers .  gabby is also high on assists .  keep it up lads ... 

[JUAN PABLO]

N'Zogbia was trying too hard. If he keeps things simple he will do well.

spot on , he attracts about 3 players to him sometimes and then still ends up trying to beat them all and losing it , he just needs to pass to that Villa player at the time who has no opponent near him because they are all glued to Nzog.

[Ryu]

I agree with those on here who say that N'zogbia is making steady if not spectacular improvements.

He's a much more direct, go for goal sort of of winger than AY or SD and that is something that has pros and cons. I have a feeling he's trying a bit to hard to do something special at the moment but when one finally does fly in the top corner for him we may well see a different player.
 

And on Herd...
Even after his good performance at right back against wolves and his other decent sub appearances I've never thought Herd was good enough to start. However after his recent performances I think he should be the man anchoring our midfield. He tackles strongly but cleanly, keeps it simple and screens the back four with astute defensive covering.  This also takes defensive pressure off petrov so we don't end up with our midfield camped on the edge of our own area when the other team has possession as often as when Delph and Petrov play together.  I think those two and Jenas as a 3 and we would have a premier league central midfield for the first time in a year and a bit.

[TimTheVillain]

A view from a Norwich fan

I loved Villa Park right off.

It was the first time I'd been, it's a proper ground, you can almost taste the history there. We had a good view as well, even though we were near the front. Also, the stewards seemed alright despite us standing all game, they didn't ask us to sit down once.
The only negatives for me were the lack of pints and the strangely silent Holte End.

Oh, and the result.

[pedro25]

I agree Ryu, but that would mean Heskey being benched and i think Mcleish would be reticent to do that.

[Ivo Stas]

Five things we learnt from Villa v Norwich:

1) Fabio Capello should consider replacing Rooney with Agbonlahor for Euro 2012. I can’t recall him playing this well before, even under O’Neill and he creates chances for Bent every game.

2) Maybe Alan Hutton will turn out to be a good right-back now that he has got some games under his belt. Aside from giving away the free-kick from which Norwich scored, he had a very solid game defensively (making a couple of key headers at the back post) and got forward well (with a lovely ball chipped over to an offside Bent) which is supposed to be his unique-selling-point.

3) Jermaine Jenas will quickly become a first-team regular. Ok, a cameo is not nearly enough time to base any kind of assessment upon (remember Sasa Cucic’s debut?), but he looked tall, powerful and skilful and I like players who run with upright heads-up postures.

4) I’d rather play with ten men than Stephen Ireland. He nearly cost us the win with shocking defending when covering for a stricken Alan Hutton for Norwich’s second goal and I hate watching midfielders who let players run off them. McLeish diplomatically noted that the substitutions took away the team’s impetus but I bet he said something else to Ireland.

5) American billionaires have firm handshakes. I know this because I shook Randy’s hand through the railings when we arriving 30 minutes before the game. He detoured to sign everyone’s autographs and chat to fans, I got the impression of a really nice guy.

[Chris Smith]

I agree Ryu, but that would mean Heskey being benched and i think Mcleish would be reticent to do that.

Then why did he put in all that time and effort to sign Jenas?

[Shrek]

I keep hearing this silent Holte End.

Yes we are not what we were under Oneil, but we are not silent.

Is it the open design of the stadium, because I can never hear the away fans unless we stop singing for abit?

[Legion]

I keep hearing this silent Holte End.

Yes we are not what we were under Oneil, but we are not silent.

Is it the open design of the stadium, because I can never hear the away fans unless we stop singing for abit?

It's the acoustics. The Holte End is hardly silent.

[PeterWithesShin]

I keep hearing this silent Holte End.

Yes we are not what we were under Oneil, but we are not silent.

Is it the open design of the stadium, because I can never hear the away fans unless we stop singing for abit?

I sit Upper Trinity right opposite the away fans and most matches all you can hear is them. I think it's partly the acoustics as I can only hear the Holte on the occasions that more than a few dozen people are singing.
I can often see the L1 guys going for it but can never hear what they're singing when it's just them and L2 giving it a go.

[luke25]

I sat in the Upper Holte for 12 straight years and can hardly hear the away fans, did the seat exchange last season against Wolves, sat rite next to the tunnel opposite them and they're all I could hear, it must be the way the stadium is built.