Aston Villa v Swansea City Post-Match Thread

[cdward]

Our problem is trying to break teams when they set up to put 10 men behind the ball.
I thought we were definitely worth a goal in the first half, that second goal knocked all the energy out of us, and gave them enough belief that they could actually win an away game. Watching them play keep ball was extremely frustrating, and the belief from the players and fans just dissolved as the minutes ticked by.
Fair play to Brendan Rogers, the better team won.
We need to cut out the mistakes first, and take our chances when we can.
Not a good day, but not the end of the world either.

[andrew08]

I haven't read the thread, I went into footy hibernation after yesterday. I was so angry on the way home I thought I'd better just watch telly and say nothing to anyone at home.

My thoughts on the game now are that we let so much bloody good will and momentum go. I don't know how low  the expected gate was before the Chelsea win but there were queues at the ticket booths right up to kick off and there was a genuine atmosphere of expectation around. Even after kick off we had all the play and were almost laying seige to the Swansea goal, Ireland was getting the ball and was being applauded, Gabby looked sharp as did Bent. Then Warnock happened.

Even for the rest of the half we controlled the game I thought, Ok Swansea knocked the ball around their defenders differently to most sides but I thought we were harrying them into mistakes at times. After half time the next goal was always going to be important but I genuinely thought it would be a goal for us. The second goal killed the game from one of the worst players ever to play for us ,typically, and one who wouldn't get close to our current side.

The player who frustrated me the most, not including Warnock, was N'zogbia. He has no positional discipline. He actually played ok in patches, but he doesn't hold the wing like he should. We are set up when Bent plays for wingers to cross the ball to give him the chances his movement creates. Sadly any combination of Gabby, Albrighton and N'zogbia doesn't come upto the standards of Downing and Young.

We would have won the game if Warnock hadn't have messed up, which is why it is so annoying.

[MarkM]

We would have won the game if Warnock hadn't have messed up, which is why it is so annoying.

I dont agree, I think we would have lost anyway. Swansea played us off the park for large parts of the game, and no matter what Warnock did we didnt look like scoring a goal had the game continued until now!

[andrew08]

We would have won the game if Warnock hadn't have messed up, which is why it is so annoying.

I dont agree, I think we would have lost anyway. Swansea played us off the park for large parts of the game, and no matter what Warnock did we didnt look like scoring a goal had the game continued until now!

For sure after the second goal went in we were absolutely 100% dead, and they did keep the ball well after that.

[SamTheMouse]

It's also been pointed out that they pmayets a very fluid passing style as though that s what we should be doing. The point is though they didn't just turn up fully formed playing that way it's a result of continuity of approach from successive managers and them acquiring the players to do it.

Very good point. I'd imagine yesterday's performance was the accumulation of almost five years progressive football coaching at Swansea, from the young Martinez to Paulo Sousa and now to the experienced, Mourinho trained, Brendan Rodgers.

That's a vision the Swansea board should be congratulated for and ours should take note.

It looked like Randy had opted to go down that route by appointing Houllier, and then targeting Martinez last summer. So that being the case, what on earth led him to do a U-turn and plump for McLeish? I never could fathom the logic of that...

[Mister E]

Agree with Risso his name is McLeish.. Not a massive fan but he is owed respect. Also its Clark not Clarke!!!

You're both right - it is childish and I think I'm the main protaganist. So, I apologise and will try to desist in future.
Now, about Pubehead, Fat Arse and others - perhaps we should clean up the whole site while we're at it.

[Rick_avfc]

We would have won the game if Warnock hadn't have messed up, which is why it is so annoying.

I dont agree, I think we would have lost anyway. Swansea played us off the park for large parts of the game, and no matter what Warnock did we didnt look like scoring a goal had the game continued until now!

I agree with Mark.  The game against the swans was always going to be difficult IMO so to say we would have won had warnock not messed up is showing a lack of respect to the opponents who have been playing generally well recently.(put it this way, they play more attractive football than villa).  about 3/4 years ago, I had a believe that if we went 0-1 down, we would still crawl back and get a draw or even go on to win the game.  now i have no real hope if we conceed first.  Ok, chelsea scored against us first and we went on to win but I straight away thought we would lose.

[Concrete John]

We would have won the game if Warnock hadn't have messed up, which is why it is so annoying.

I dont agree, I think we would have lost anyway. Swansea played us off the park for large parts of the game, and no matter what Warnock did we didnt look like scoring a goal had the game continued until now!

Cliche time - goals don't just win games, they also change them!

It's pretty accademic anyway, as Warnock did fuck up and we did also give away a silly 2nd. 

[jembob]

Agree with Risso his name is McLeish.. Not a massive fan but he is owed respect. Also its Clark not Clarke!!!

You're both right - it is childish and I think I'm the main protaganist. So, I apologise and will try to desist in future.
Now, about Pubehead, Fat Arse and others - perhaps we should clean up the whole site while we're at it.

On a similar theme, I've been working on a way to merge the words 'Mcleish' and 'malaise'. They have a similar sound and both mean the same thing.

[andyh]

I haven't read the thread, I went into footy hibernation after yesterday. I was so angry on the way home I thought I'd better just watch telly and say nothing to anyone at home.

My thoughts on the game now are that we let so much bloody good will and momentum go. I don't know how low  the expected gate was before the Chelsea win but there were queues at the ticket booths right up to kick off and there was a genuine atmosphere of expectation around. Even after kick off we had all the play and were almost laying seige to the Swansea goal, Ireland was getting the ball and was being applauded, Gabby looked sharp as did Bent. Then Warnock happened.

Even for the rest of the half we controlled the game I thought, Ok Swansea knocked the ball around their defenders differently to most sides but I thought we were harrying them into mistakes at times. After half time the next goal was always going to be important but I genuinely thought it would be a goal for us. The second goal killed the game from one of the worst players ever to play for us ,typically, and one who wouldn't get close to our current side.

The player who frustrated me the most, not including Warnock, was N'zogbia. He has no positional discipline. He actually played ok in patches, but he doesn't hold the wing like he should. We are set up when Bent plays for wingers to cross the ball to give him the chances his movement creates. Sadly any combination of Gabby, Albrighton and N'zogbia doesn't come upto the standards of Downing and Young.

We would have won the game if Warnock hadn't have messed up, which is why it is so annoying.

I aint so sure about a lot of this mate.
'Warnock' happened after 4 minutes, so our dictating of the play was not for that long.

Between their first goal and half time, they could have had 4 more, easily.
In that time, we managed 1 feeble header from Collins which constituted an effort on goal.
We then conceded within seconds of the second half starting, so any half time team talk was out of the window.
So, where was plan B ?
We still had virtually all of the second half to get something out of the game, but, there were no changes
made to try an get back into the game until it was too late.

Yes, there were individual mistakes, but to me, there was poor management from start to finish.     

[andrew08]

I'm only going on how  the atmosphere 'felt' at the ground before the first goal. Undoubtedly there was no plan B and Swansea fully deserved the win I agree. But my opinion is if Warnock hadn't had gifted the first goal we would have won the game. I have no idea how Swansea had been playing prior to yesterday only that they hadn't won away and we'd just come off the back of a good performance.

The fact remains, of course, that we lost and I'm sure there are a whole host of Chelsea fans bemoaning the fact that if Lampard hadn't had passed to Ireland on Saturday they would probably have gone on and drawn !

I understand the issues about the managers tactics and again he didn't react promptly enough to being two down, but what can he do when a member of England's last World Cup Final squad makes that kind of mistake.

[hawkeye]

The first goal decided the game, they were able to just sit back and pass the ball around, they did not have to do anything just keep passing the ball.

[andrew08]

The first goal decided the game, they were able to just sit back and pass the ball around, they did not have to do anything just keep passing the ball.

That's what I meant to say !

[deero83]

I'm only going on how  the atmosphere 'felt' at the ground before the first goal. Undoubtedly there was no plan B and Swansea fully deserved the win I agree. But my opinion is if Warnock hadn't had gifted the first goal we would have won the game. I have no idea how Swansea had been playing prior to yesterday only that they hadn't won away and we'd just come off the back of a good performance.

The fact remains, of course, that we lost and I'm sure there are a whole host of Chelsea fans bemoaning the fact that if Lampard hadn't had passed to Ireland on Saturday they would probably have gone on and drawn !

I understand the issues about the managers tactics and again he didn't react promptly enough to being two down, but what can he do when a member of England's last World Cup Final squad makes that kind of mistake.

How do you think we would win the game? It would have been a draw at best. We were awful. Again. Think we had one shot on target?

[andrew08]

Yes of course it would have been 0-0  if they didn't score at all and the game had carried on exactly the same. But I'm trying to say is that if we hadn't had duffed em the first goal we would have won. Comfortably as well.