Chelsea v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[villan from luton]

Ireland was class today and always looking for the ball and the players had the confidence to play the ball to him. The midfield two did really well again, have been really impressed with Clark being so composed on the ball. Not a great fan of Warnock or Collins, but fair play to them and the other two defenders, stayed strong

[TheSandman]

I'm absolutely delighted with the result and performance today.

Today and the preceding performances against Stoke and Arsenal show to me that McLeish has finally managed to turn things around from earlier in the season. I don't know whether it's his message getting through to the players or whether he is changing his own ideas but he deserves immense credit for the much better standard of play and performance we've seen lately.

It's really encouraging to see us play like we did today with decent passing and movement. We've now came out of our shell much more against Arsenal and Chelsea than we did with Man Utd and Tottemham. Finally, it was good to see that we used the kids a bit more today as well. Hopefully, this is the first of many appearances from young Gary Gardner.

[flybo]

That makes me very happy well done you Villa boys.
Happy new year to all my Villa brothers and sisters.

[Colhint]

Someone on the match thread said Lampards on now, he'll make the winner. Dead right, fantastic pass to Ireland

[Ger Regan]

You know what's better than 3 points? The return of hope. Luckily we have both this evening.

[Charlie8182]

I recall a headline many, many years back when I think we won 3-0 down there. Platty got on the scoresheet. The headline was "Blue murder at the bridge"

Love it

You mean 3-0 on new years day 1990?  I recall another headline being "Villa's Chelsea power show"!.

Is it that long ago? I was at that game, on the big old open terrace.

So was I with a stonking hangover, probably only cost about a fiver to stand on that open sewer!

[garyshawsknee]

Just got home and saw the score and read the reports. I really hope and think the Arsenal game was a eureka moment for McCleish,no more round pegs and square holes. It seems no coincedence that since Clark has been playing weve improved,and its only taken 18 months but Ireland has finally shown what he's capable of,he needs to do the same on monday.

 A great end to a pretty shit year for the Villa, a Happy and Peaceful New Year to all the fellow H and V users. UTV

[Dante Lavelli]

No problem, Bent up front, Gabby wide for home games with NZog/Marc on the other flank. Ireland Petrov and Clark to always start with Delph Gardner Bannan as cover - Herd to cover full back.

I tend to agree. But with Bent as a lone front man, we sometimes struggle to make the ball stick, probably more so away than at home. That's why we've actually sometimes looked better with heskey in the side.

That sticking problem might not be so bad with Ireland playing.  With on up top the hardest thing is to stop the striker getting isolated.  With Ireland play he loves to burst beyond the midfield so he should give Bent an easy pass. 

Ireland did that loads today although he may have been filling the gap created by gabby drifting left. 

[PeterWithesShin]

According to the Beeb.
Attempts on target
Chelsea 5 Aston Villa 9

Who would have thought that a couple of weeks ago?

[ez]

Superb. A victory to top some improved performances. The defence looks much better with Carlos back in.

[myf]

Keep on supplying Ireland with sheesha. seems to have done him good

[Brian Taylor]

Put that in your pipe and smoke it...!!

[Macho Man Randy Savage]

Excellent result today. Well done to manager and players.

[Gerrin]

I'm absolutely delighted with the result and performance today.

Today and the preceding performances against Stoke and Arsenal show to me that McLeish has finally managed to turn things around from earlier in the season. I don't know whether it's his message getting through to the players or whether he is changing his own ideas but he deserves immense credit for the much better standard of play and performance we've seen lately.

It's really encouraging to see us play like we did today with decent passing and movement. We've now came out of our shell much more against Arsenal and Chelsea than we did with Man Utd and Tottemham. Finally, it was good to see that we used the kids a bit more today as well. Hopefully, this is the first of many appearances from young Gary Gardner.

Totally agree, something has happened the last couple of weeks, a definite improvement in quality.

[Ryu]

No problem, Bent up front, Gabby wide for home games with NZog/Marc on the other flank. Ireland Petrov and Clark to always start with Delph Gardner Bannan as cover - Herd to cover full back.

I tend to agree. But with Bent as a lone front man, we sometimes struggle to make the ball stick, probably more so away than at home. That's why we've actually sometimes looked better with heskey in the side.

If we play it on the deck like we did today we don't need a big man to hold it up, as gabby demonstrated today.