Aston Villa v Manchester United Post-Match Thread

[Legion]

[pauliewalnuts]

Read this on the Guardian coverage of the match.

That was possibly the worst game of football ever played. No blame attached to United, who did what they had to do, away from home. Villa, however, were nothing short of an ambition-free disgrace. Premier League football isn't cheap, and their fans deserve better entertainment than that. The home fans - the ones who could be bothered to stay until the end - boo their team off. To repeat a question from the first half: I wonder how long this Alex McLeish business will last?

[PaulWinch again]

Read this on the Guardian coverage of the match.

That was possibly the worst game of football ever played. No blame attached to United, who did what they had to do, away from home. Villa, however, were nothing short of an ambition-free disgrace. Premier League football isn't cheap, and their fans deserve better entertainment than that. The home fans - the ones who could be bothered to stay until the end - boo their team off. To repeat a question from the first half: I wonder how long this Alex McLeish business will last?

Sums it up for me.

[luke25]

Read this on the Guardian coverage of the match.

That was possibly the worst game of football ever played. No blame attached to United, who did what they had to do, away from home. Villa, however, were nothing short of an ambition-free disgrace. Premier League football isn't cheap, and their fans deserve better entertainment than that. The home fans - the ones who could be bothered to stay until the end - boo their team off. To repeat a question from the first half: I wonder how long this Alex McLeish business will last?

How embarrasing and how true, sad times.

[Lowendbehold]

Look, we've sold our best 3 players in the last 2 years.  Not one of our players last night would have got into the Man U team with perhaps the exception of Given. Young on the night looked an average Man U player.

None of that is AMs fault. The difference between Man U, City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and the rest of the PL is massive.  We were totally outplayed in midfield by a much better team. The defence did a reasonable job keeping it to 1 - 0. That is to AMs credit.

To those of you who want to blame AM for everything and in particular for losing 1 - 0 to Man U, I say get a life and get real.


What? Are you real?

Take this time last year. We had Young and Downing v Man U at home they have been replaced by N'Zogiba and Bent.

Yes, N'Zogiba didn't play - ask the manager why. Also on the subject of the 'manager' I had the pleasure of talking to the former, Sunderland, Villa, Albion, Blues and current Blackpool striker recently. - to quote.. "he is defensive and likes to keep it narrow, you are in a for a long hard season".

No shit.

N'Zogbia apparently didn't play because of a 'breach of discipline', according to the club.

We played with two wide players. Last season no player in the PL. put in more crosses than Downing. N'Zogbia is hardly an adequate replacement for either of them.

I agree we are in a mess but to suggest the players we have are as good as last year or that it's all AMs fault just isn't right.

[GJH]

The players don't want to play for Mcleish!

I'm getting sick of excuses from him, one week he says we can't defend and we give sloppy goals away, then he says we can't pass and keep the ball, what will he say next?

Hello! Mcleish YOU are the manager so if we can't pass and defend that's down to you!

Its as bad now as under O'leary! shockingly bad!

[Lizz]

May have missed it, but is there any news on Shay Given's injury?

[PeterWithesShin]

May have missed it, but is there any news on Shay Given's injury?

This is all i've seen so far.

Villa wait an anxious check on the fitness of keeper Shay Given (suspected hamstring) and midfielder Jermaine Jenas (Achilles) who were both stretchered off.
McLeish said: 'With Shay, it may be a grade one hamstring injury, which is the smallest tear.
'It can be three or four weeks. A hamstring at any stage is never an overnight job. Let's hope it's not too severe.
'It might even be Monday before we can scan Jermaine's Achilles and then the doctor will have to give us his assessment. Injuries are putting pressure on the squad.'

[Lizz]

My mom's addicted to Strictly Come Dancing and has called me tonight to let me know Robbie Savage is no longer in the competition. Which has reminded me that my highlight of yesterday's game was receiving a text from a friend updating me on his view that Robbie Savage was a prat on SCD.

Which means for me news about a television show that I don't watch was more interesting than what was on offer at Villa Park.

[hawkeye]

Only saw the 'highlights' on MOTD but i'm beyond laughing at Heskey these days. His pathetic attempt that went for a throw in made me quite angry, how the fuck he has played 500 top flight games as well as however many Internationals is an absolute mystery.

Just makes you wonder how bad the rest were.

Look, we've sold our best 3 players in the last 2 years.  Not one of our players last night would have got into the Man U team with perhaps the exception of Given. Young on the night looked an average Man U player.

None of that is AMs fault. The difference between Man U, City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and the rest of the PL is massive.  We were totally outplayed in midfield by a much better team. The defence did a reasonable job keeping it to 1 - 0. That is to AMs credit.

To those of you who want to blame AM for everything and in particular for losing 1 - 0 to Man U, I say get a life and get real.

The problem is that I think we have had enough time to see how this manager sets the team up and his tactical incompetence. Stand back on the edge of the penalty area, dont press the ball or close space and when we do get the ball boot it up the pitch. I dont blame Mcliesh for the lack of players that are available, but his approach and the seeming lack of any direction or passion is surely down to him.

[Lowendbehold]

I think it might be more complex than that.

Individually the Man U players were technically superior to any of our lot, which is why they play for Man U. They put every 1st ball to one of theirs. Our back 4 just tried to head the ball as far away as possible. Then they pinged it round the midfield and had Bannan Herd and Jenas running every which way.

Heskey and Petrov came on, brought some experience and fresh legs and we started to get into the game.  Our starting midfield 3 didn't stand a chance really.

[midnite]

It was one of the dullest games of football. What annoyed me nearly as much as the diabolical performance on the pitch was the mindless booing of Ashley young. What does a player have to do at villa park to earn respect of its fans. I was embarrassed by the booing.

The other thing that got me worried is that Americans never normally get British sarcastic humour. So I'm scared that when Heskey came on to massive applause and chanting of his name like a villa hero, randy is going to take it seriously and sanction a contract extention thinking it'll be one move to help get the fans back onside. And maybe think that idiotic attempt on goal that resulted in a throw is was just a one off.

Chants of shit support m'lord I found quite funny too since in essence united brought and extra 7000 fans to the ground compared to what we normally have down at VP this season.

[Dave Clark Five]

The players don't want to play for McLeish.

Seemingly true. It's a pity they don't have a look at their contracts. Piss poor players thrive in situations like this. Where is their pride?

[Hookeysmith]

The players do not want to play this way or for the manager, the amount of times he was shouting at senior pro's for them to look confused by him was unreal. At least 2 times Dunne came over for instructions and left shaking his head

I too wanted AM to do well but all i get is my Blues mates telling em change the kit and its like watching them for the last 3 years - and to think we used to take the piss out of them for their style of play

I am never one to ask for the axe to fall but if we dont then we are in big trouble. My mates tell me that whilst every week they complained about his anti football and lack of bottle they slowly picked up a point here and narrow defeat (by scoreline rather than unlucky defeat as they were outplayed in most games) there but the slide was set and he could not stop it. His insistance to play the way he does ulitmately meant they went down.

MON was accused quite rightly of having no plan B - this guy does not have a plan A

He has got to go now and we need to eat some humbe pie and go get Mark Hughes

[ktvillan]

Read this on the Guardian coverage of the match.

That was possibly the worst game of football ever played. No blame attached to United, who did what they had to do, away from home. Villa, however, were nothing short of an ambition-free disgrace. Premier League football isn't cheap, and their fans deserve better entertainment than that. The home fans - the ones who could be bothered to stay until the end - boo their team off. To repeat a question from the first half: I wonder how long this Alex McLeish business will last?

That's one of the comments I had in mind when I expressed the hope that RL was reading some of the media comments a couple of pages ago.  It's as damning as it is true, and it's far from being an isolated case.  Hopefully the penny will drop with Lerner eventually.