Chelsea v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Mazrim]

I'm not so concerned about a specific XI more the renewed confidence and espirit de corps. The likes of Bent, Given, Herd, Delph, Lichaj, Gardner, Bannan and so on will compliment that starting XI and we can be flexible with formations and have horses for courses.

[Steve R]

I'm not quite sure where his Damascus Moment came from, but well done to McLeish for changing the way we play. We thoroughly deserved the handsome win we got today.

I hope that when the inevitable bad day or two comes along, he sticks with trying to play football.

[JD]

Decided against getting up early to watch the game live as I was Sky Plussing it. Got up to find that, possibly for the first time in history, Sky NZ showed three live Prem games at once and the Villa game was the one that the box opted to miss. Only just got to see the extended highlights and it was made to look like a real smash and grab for us which goes against the three match reports I've read and pretty much all the opinions on here.

N'zogbia looked a lot closer to the pace of the game than he has so far this season and his pace for our first goal took me by surprise.

The dissenting voices on here about Ireland passing for the third instead of scoring himself are a little disappointing. Bent needs goals and I'm hoping that Ireland may have helped Bent's confidence hugely by giving him that chance.

It was live on Sky Sports at 3:45 this morning. I recorded it and watched the whole game this morning when I got up. I was very happy with the performance and woke everyone up when Petrov scored.   

[JD]

I'm not so concerned about a specific XI more the renewed confidence and espirit de corps. The likes of Bent, Given, Herd, Delph, Lichaj, Gardner, Bannan and so on will compliment that starting XI and we can be flexible with formations and have horses for courses.

Don't forget Emile...

[Steve R]

I'm not so concerned about a specific XI more the renewed confidence and espirit de corps. The likes of Bent, Given, Herd, Delph, Lichaj, Gardner, Bannan and so on will compliment that starting XI and we can be flexible with formations and have horses for courses.

Don't forget Emile...

.. an esprit de corpse if ever there were one

[JD]

  Good response Steve.

[supertommykN'iba]

Absolutely fantastic. So proud of each and every single one of them. Two 'noses' with us who have now each come to 2 away games, and they've both seen us win twice away. Think they're half turning!!

I have always backed Stephen Ireland but today was even better than I thought he could be. To turn up at a New Years Party and have everyone come up to me saying how well he played... even that doesn't do it justice.

What a fantastic player we have on our hands there, him behind Gabz or Bent can only mean good things for Aston Villa. Can quite safely say that is one of the most amazing performances (especially considering his tackling limitations) I have seen from a Villa player. Ran the show.

Made my new year!! Alex McLeish's Claret and Blue Army!!!!!

[VillaSpen]

Decided against getting up early to watch the game live as I was Sky Plussing it. Got up to find that, possibly for the first time in history, Sky NZ showed three live Prem games at once and the Villa game was the one that the box opted to miss. Only just got to see the extended highlights and it was made to look like a real smash and grab for us which goes against the three match reports I've read and pretty much all the opinions on here.

N'zogbia looked a lot closer to the pace of the game than he has so far this season and his pace for our first goal took me by surprise.

The dissenting voices on here about Ireland passing for the third instead of scoring himself are a little disappointing. Bent needs goals and I'm hoping that Ireland may have helped Bent's confidence hugely by giving him that chance.

It was live on Sky Sports at 3:45 this morning. I recorded it and watched the whole game this morning when I got up. I was very happy with the performance and woke everyone up when Petrov scored.

Yeah, I've got the Prem games series linked but it'll only record two programmes at a time. Furious that the only time it fails me is when we produce a showing like that!

Whereabouts are you in NZ, Mate?

[JD]

Decided against getting up early to watch the game live as I was Sky Plussing it. Got up to find that, possibly for the first time in history, Sky NZ showed three live Prem games at once and the Villa game was the one that the box opted to miss. Only just got to see the extended highlights and it was made to look like a real smash and grab for us which goes against the three match reports I've read and pretty much all the opinions on here.

N'zogbia looked a lot closer to the pace of the game than he has so far this season and his pace for our first goal took me by surprise.

The dissenting voices on here about Ireland passing for the third instead of scoring himself are a little disappointing. Bent needs goals and I'm hoping that Ireland may have helped Bent's confidence hugely by giving him that chance.

It was live on Sky Sports at 3:45 this morning. I recorded it and watched the whole game this morning when I got up. I was very happy with the performance and woke everyone up when Petrov scored.

Yeah, I've got the Prem games series linked but it'll only record two programmes at a time. Furious that the only time it fails me is when we produce a showing like that!

Whereabouts are you in NZ, Mate?

I'm down in Shakeytown (or Christchurch as it used to be called). Been here 19 years after moving from the UK.

How long you been in New Plymouth? 

[VillaSpen]

Decided against getting up early to watch the game live as I was Sky Plussing it. Got up to find that, possibly for the first time in history, Sky NZ showed three live Prem games at once and the Villa game was the one that the box opted to miss. Only just got to see the extended highlights and it was made to look like a real smash and grab for us which goes against the three match reports I've read and pretty much all the opinions on here.

N'zogbia looked a lot closer to the pace of the game than he has so far this season and his pace for our first goal took me by surprise.

The dissenting voices on here about Ireland passing for the third instead of scoring himself are a little disappointing. Bent needs goals and I'm hoping that Ireland may have helped Bent's confidence hugely by giving him that chance.

It was live on Sky Sports at 3:45 this morning. I recorded it and watched the whole game this morning when I got up. I was very happy with the performance and woke everyone up when Petrov scored.

Yeah, I've got the Prem games series linked but it'll only record two programmes at a time. Furious that the only time it fails me is when we produce a showing like that!

Whereabouts are you in NZ, Mate?

I'm down in Shakeytown (or Christchurch as it used to be called). Been here 19 years after moving from the UK.

How long you been in New Plymouth?

You had another 4.8 the other day, didn't you?! Bloody hell.
I PM'd you, JD.

[damon loves JT]

John Terry's game has completely gone. I look forward to watching him play for Yeading, or Kingstonians

[Matt Collins]

John Terry's game has completely gone. I look forward to watching him play for Yeading, or Kingstonians

But not for England at the euros. Ditto Ashley cole.

[pooligan]

His next club should be Wormwood Scrubs.

[charlie]

Reports this morning that Terry is wanted in China, not quite sure whether in the footie sense or the usual JT wanted sense. Plays like a lamp-post whichever. As far as the game is concerned, it was good to see enthusiasm and a will to attack, and even pass well, still not an Eck fan but that was better. [def better than the Mon drubbing!!!].

[Matt Collins]

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.

No. We do however need a forward with good movement, touch and ability to bring others into the game. Bent doesn't always do that very well.