Stoke City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[luke25]

£6 million ( plus add ons) and snap there hands off!

If we get our money back on him I'd snap there hands off!

[ozzjim]

Clark in midfield is his best position for me, and it is no coincidence we keep the ball better with him in the side, as he is so composed. I thought Ireland or Bannan should have been in for Heskey at half time, the Fonz had a real tough ask against the sheer physicality of the stoke back 4, whereas Gabby is a physical match for anyone. I think he needs 12 months regular football up front to toughen up.

Petrov, Dunne, Clark, Cuellar, Gabby and Guzan were all terrific, the latter is impressing me every game at the moment, and could be unlucky to get ousted straight away when Given is fit.

[tarzansbrother]

Clark in midfield is his best position for me, and it is no coincidence we keep the ball better with him in the side, as he is so composed. I thought Ireland or Bannan should have been in for Heskey at half time, the Fonz had a real tough ask against the sheer physicality of the stoke back 4, whereas Gabby is a physical match for anyone. I think he needs 12 months regular football up front to toughen up.

Petrov, Dunne, Clark, Cuellar, Gabby and Guzan were all terrific, the latter is impressing me every game at the moment, and could be unlucky to get ousted straight away when Given is fit.

With you about Guzan. He impressed me how positive he was yesterday, he made a big difference attacking the high balls thrown into the box. Clarke really does look a classy player, no wonder Manure have been reported as possible bidders.

[Mister E]

.. Clarke really does look a classy player, no wonder Manure have been reported as possible bidders.

Well, they were before they bought Phil Jones; are they still being touted?

[mal]

N'Zog really is working hard now.

He's still crap though.  Half a season and no goals, that really is dreadful from a winger.

Couldn't agree more. The move last night when the Delfouneso held it up brilliantly worked it to the right and it was then worked back across to the left was crying out for N'Zogbia to have the composure to find a pass as the were backpedalling and under pressure and yet you just knew he was going to blaze it into row Z again.

[KevinGage]

Clark in midfield is his best position for me, and it is no coincidence we keep the ball better with him in the side, as he is so composed. I thought Ireland or Bannan should have been in for Heskey at half time, the Fonz had a real tough ask against the sheer physicality of the stoke back 4, whereas Gabby is a physical match for anyone. I think he needs 12 months regular football up front to toughen up.

Petrov, Dunne, Clark, Cuellar, Gabby and Guzan were all terrific, the latter is impressing me every game at the moment, and could be unlucky to get ousted straight away when Given is fit.

With you about Guzan. He impressed me how positive he was yesterday, he made a big difference attacking the high balls thrown into the box. Clarke really does look a classy player, no wonder Manure have been reported as possible bidders.

I think for the money spent on him and his wages, Given has to come straight back in. He has also been one of our best players this season.

But Guzan is now a definite option, rather than merely a last resort in a crisis.  If Given has a dip in form at any time, Guzan has done enough to suggest we shouldn't just stick with the former and hope he rides it out. Given will need to be at his best to keep his place in the side. Genuine competition.  How it should be.

I do wonder whether Given would have been so commanding coming for those Delap throw in's yesterday mind.  And he does have a girly shriek.

[Dave Clark Five]

Fonz seemed to be his usual lightweight self until he realised that, for once, he was in a team of hard workers. I would give him a few more chances, not as a starter, but will be surprised if he ever rekindles the great form he showed for one season in the youth team.

[tarzansbrother]

.. Clarke really does look a classy player, no wonder Manure have been reported as possible bidders.

Well, they were before they bought Phil Jones; are they still being touted?

They have always been linked with him. I am sure before he signed a new deal last season the rumours got stronger. To be fair Clarke and Jones look similar to me, worth £20m then.

[barrysleftfoot]

  Happy with the point last night, never thought we looked under pressure tbh.

  For me Clark makes a big difference as he always tries to play a pass, and not give the ball away.I thought N'Zog was our MOM tbh, always a good outlet ball, always kept it, and always tried to link up with our other fowards.

 Cuellar showed why he is a CH, great defensively, poor in his distribution.

  For me Petrov was the reason why we nevver won last night.Yes he worked hard, yes he put a shift in, but he needs to be more creative and offer a defence splitting pass/shot.

  In the 2nd half we broke away on numerous occasions, but failed to create enough chances.Imho we missed Ireland last night.

[pav]

Harsh on petrov

[Mister E]

  Happy with the point last night, never thought we looked under pressure tbh.

  For me Clark makes a big difference as he always tries to play a pass, and not give the ball away.I thought N'Zog was our MOM tbh, always a good outlet ball, always kept it, and always tried to link up with our other fowards.

 Cuellar showed why he is a CH, great defensively, poor in his distribution.

  For me Petrov was the reason why we nevver won last night.Yes he worked hard, yes he put a shift in, but he needs to be more creative and offer a defence splitting pass/shot.

  In the 2nd half we broke away on numerous occasions, but failed to create enough chances.Imho we missed Ireland last night.

You and Ireland!!
But I agree, actually Ireland should have come on for Heskey since we lacked the movement to benefit from a "defence splitting pass/shot". Ireland would have given us the movement from deep.

[old man villa fan]

I didn't see the game as I was out with friends.  Caught the MOTD highlights, what there were of them.  When a home manager says after the game that a fair result was a draw, it usually means the away side had the better of the match and this backs up most of the comments on here.

Somebody commented about Albrighton not having such a good game as he had Cuellar behind him rather than Hutton.  Many have said that we looked solid defensively.  Where we are now is that when we play effectively 4 central defenders in the team we look solid, when we play two we get taken apart.  Also, playing so many defenders impacts on our ability to score goals.  Unless we have a world class central midfield player to play in the team as it is at the moment we are not going to be a top ten side

So, where do we go from here.  IMO, we need to rebuild the defence so that we do not have to stack it full of central defenders and we get the balance right in midfield.  Albrighton and N'Zogbia are not good enough to have them both in the side together as we lose too much in the centre of the park and are committed in trying to attack down the flanks as they both seem to lack that incisive inside ball from half way that can play in Bent or Gabby.

Plus points from the last two games are that we have played a bit more football and looked more composed.  Negative points are that we are not scoring and it is still only 5 points from the last 7 games.

[Ian.]

Isn't it quite depressing that if we follow the above action this will be our third rebuild of our defence in three years.

[Percy McCarthy]

Hasn't our defence been largely the same for about three years?

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Hasn't our defence been largely the same for about three years?

Two and a half, give or take Luke Young and Kyle Walker.