Chelsea v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[LeeB]

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

I've been saying this for some time.

I look forward to Chelsea shoring it up by buying Gary Cahill.

[Percy McCarthy]

Fantastic performance and result that will hopefully work wonders on our confidence and willingness to play attacking and aesthetically pleasing football. Delighted for AM, and thought Ireland, Warnock and Petrov were outstanding. More promise in the performance of CNZ as well, which bodes well for the future. It would be great if the likes of Clark, Herd, Gardner, Bannan, Delph can come in and out of a side where the senior players are playing good and winning football until they are fully-fledged Premiership players. This austerity approach may yet work for us.

[Clampy]

Fantastic result and a top performance. Fair play to McCleish for not putting Hutton straight back in. Also throwing Bent and Gardner on at 1-1 was very brave so i'm pleased for him that it paid off. Another mention for Ireland who was great and for the usually dreadful Warnock, who's been very good in the past few games.

Our main problem all along this season so far has been lack of goals and in some games not even creating much. If we can put that right, we'll be fine.

[batucada]

Yes Ireland was great yesterday but the question that needs to be asked is;

Why the change from being a total waste of space to becoming a match winner and MOM?

This wasn't just someone having a better game it was like a totally different player.

Has he got a twin?

[ozzjim]

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.

His movement is top drawer, and while he may not hold it brilliantly, I think he is better than given credit for at it. If we play like yesterday, in 20 minutes he showed why he is vital to us, finishing off a chance, should have been given a penalty and drew Terry from Petrov to leave space. Gabby is wonderful, and works like a dog, but his effectiveness in the final 3rd is not close to Bent.

[citizenDJ]

If we play like yesterday, in 20 minutes he showed why he is vital to us, finishing off a chance, should have been given a penalty and drew Terry from Petrov to leave space. Gabby is wonderful, and works like a dog, but his effectiveness in the final 3rd is not close to Bent.

This is exactly what I was thinking. That twenty minutes was a real snapshot of why Bent is such a valuable player, and why selling him would be madness.

I think it also shows why an on-song Ireland is exactly the type of player to play in the number 10 spot; he has the eye, and the skill, to make the passes that Bent's movement deserves.

[richard moore]

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

I've been saying this for some time.

I look forward to Chelsea shoring it up by buying Gary Cahill.

If anything shows up the paucity of talent available to teams like Chelsea even though they may have limitless funds, then this is it. It also shows us all how quickly things can change in football and that the status quo never ever remains just that...

[Matt Collins]

His movement is excellent in terms of losing his man and creating the opportunity for through balls. Perhaps I should have said that Gabby's hold up play and ability to run the channels is much better.

I'm not turning against Bent and it's probably good if he looks at the team yday and thinks he's at risk of not playing if he doesn't put a shift in and score some goals.

Gabby can do a great job wide left, but N'Zogbia has been looking threatening there. Nice to have these problems though

[Irish villain]

After say, the Spurs game, who'd have thought we'd have a selection headache because so many of our attacking  players were in such good form?

I also think, Petrov is probably having his best season for us. He has the freedom now to go forward and get into goal scoring positions. I don't think he was comfortable as the main defensive midfielder back in the old days.

[frank]

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.

Another aspect of his play, one that the TV highlights didn't show, was how much work he did off the ball, including covering at right back on one occasion.

[brontebilly]

Great win. Well done to all. Our best result probably since Anfield away a couple of years back?

[midnite]

Saw the extended highlights this morning. Ireland was fantastic. We really do need him on form and we hve such a different set up as a team.

I know this day in age i shouldn't read too much into things but when bent scored and went up to the villa crowd he was banging his chest and the villa badge in a reassuring manner. So hopefully all the speculation is just that and Mr Bent is going nowhere.

Great performance yesterday and lets hope it continues through 2012!!

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[Kingthing]

Gastric band my lord!
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I thought it was a bloke until I saw HER jumping around.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Yes Ireland was great yesterday but the question that needs to be asked is;

Why the change from being a total waste of space to becoming a match winner and MOM?

This wasn't just someone having a better game it was like a totally different player.

Has he got a twin?

Probably something to do the man management skills and day to day work at Bodymoor Heath of the ginger haired bluenose we appointed.
Apply the same reasoning for the improved performance levels this season of Dunne, Petrov, Gabby etc.

The assured and steady improvements being achieved by Mcleish are scandalous, he really needs to be removed before he starts achieving real success.