Bristol Rovers v Aston Villa (F.A. Cup 3rd round): Post-Match Thread

[DB]

Well we won, which is all that matters in a game like that.  Ireland and Albrighton did well, Warnock's slide continues at an astonishing rate.  He really is a train wreck at the moment.

Do you think he has a sauce problem?  Because I cannot explain his demise any other way.

I thought we did well, poor pitch, tricky match. We are through! Just don't play Heskey.

[Edvard Remberg]

Must say that the goals were cool finishes. Gabby showed such cool composure, thinking that he hasn't scored for a while. He is 10 times more valuable than Bent.

But i LOVED the Clark goal.

Love anything good that is from the academy...

[JJ-AV]

Gabby, Ciaran, Marc and Gardner were all celebrating together after Ciaran's goal. Any idea if there's a photo of it uploaded yet?

[Tony]

Bent linked play fine a few times in the second half, got down the wing and put the ball in etc, but he is never going to be like Gabby. I think the stick he gets is harsh, but we have to be more savy to how he moves off a defender. The only player I have seen pick out his runs is Bannan this season.

There was a moment in the second half where there was the opportunity for a bit of a break.  Albrighton I think had the ball but was a bit isolated.  You could see Bent sprinting towards the six yard box, whereas Albrighton needed a player to show for a simple one-two to release him. 

It was typical Bent, his first instinct is to get into the danger area, whereas I'd guess Heskey and Gabby would have shown/dropped deep for the pass.

It's not a criticism as Bent is a natural predator but he does make it difficult for the other players to keep possession. 

I'm not sure it's a conundrum we will ever solve.  Hopefully Ireland and Bent can get on the same wave length as Ireland seems to have rediscovered the knack of finding space between the midfield and the attack. 

Bent is supposed to go there, in the second half he went wide and whipped in a half decent cross, the only problem was that nobody had gone into the position Bent would have been in had someone else whipped in the cross. If other players were seeing Bent go wide and then filling in for him, then I think it may be fair to suggest at times he should come deeper, but they don't, it is as you say a bit of a conundrum.

[Tony]

Decent performance, pretty much controlled the game. I don't mind Collins or Dunne hoofing it when they need to, there again I've never been a fan of pretty boy centre halves. On the other hand, I was bloody furious with Dunne gifting them that goal, a clean sheet would have done the team good but yet again we switch off and do something idiotic.

When we actually get the ball down and don't treat it like a hot potato we play some good stuff, Gabby's goal came after some good play and then there's Clark's goal, which was absolutely superb.

Good to see three guys we've brought through the ranks doing the business.

[CJ]

Tnx but i was thinking about the whole round (Hatem Ben Arfa goal also..i need to see "the worlds greatest goal")

ITV have got the highlights of all today's games at 11.30

[Tony]

Tnx but i was thinking about the whole round (Hatem Ben Arfa goal also..i need to see "the worlds greatest goal")

ITV have got the highlights of all today's games at 11.30

Which is absurdly late, this is another reason why ITV shouldn't be allowed to get their hands on football.

[Nev]

Listed as 23:30 in the papers. Listed as 22:45 after the news on my on screen TV guide.

The bloke reading the news said it would be on at 23:30.

It's just started.

I blame Damon Green.

[CJ]

Tnx but i was thinking about the whole round (Hatem Ben Arfa goal also..i need to see "the worlds greatest goal")

ITV have got the highlights of all today's games at 11.30

Which is absurdly late, this is another reason why ITV shouldn't be allowed to get their hands on football.

Absolutely - programme doesn't finish til 1.00 a.m. - yet tomorrow they show the highlights at 10.45, with only 4 games being played, 2 of which are live on ITV earlier in the day anyway. Amateurs

[CJ]

Listed as 23:30 in the papers. Listed as 22:45 after the news on my on screen TV guide.

The bloke reading the news said it would be on at 23:30.

It's just started.

I blame Damon Green.

Good job you said that - I've just turned it on. I'd have missed it otherwise - yet more reasons why ITV shouldn't have it

[deanl123]

Good result on a tricky pitch..

Positives - Brad Guzan - New Aston Villa number 1
The Villa kids - getting better every game
Marc Albrighton - seems to get better every game

Negatives - Bent and Warnock - What is going on?! Two good players who all of sudden don't look good enough for the Midland Combination League - Absolutely shocking displays!

[Tony]

Listed as 23:30 in the papers. Listed as 22:45 after the news on my on screen TV guide.

The bloke reading the news said it would be on at 23:30.

It's just started.

I blame Damon Green.

Good job you said that - I've just turned it on. I'd have missed it otherwise - yet more reasons why ITV shouldn't have it

Indeed, I thought it was 11.30, next up Liverpool, why on earth are they showing this so early in the show?

[Nev]

Listed as 23:30 in the papers. Listed as 22:45 after the news on my on screen TV guide.

The bloke reading the news said it would be on at 23:30.

It's just started.

I blame Damon Green.

Good job you said that - I've just turned it on. I'd have missed it otherwise - yet more reasons why ITV shouldn't have it

Indeed, I thought it was 11.30, next up Liverpool, why on earth are they showing this so early in the show?

Breathtaking. But we shouldn't be surprised.

ITV, shitter than Warnock.

[Shrek]

Today highlighted 3 things for me,

First Ireland is not a winger, a tottally different animal when playing centrally.

Second Bent should be dropped for our next game and we should play the team that beat Chelsea.

Third Guzan should keep his place. He is an example of what can happen when given a real chance. Fonz, Weimann and Lichaj all need that chance now, whether that's here or out on loan where they will actually play.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Well we won, which is all that matters in a game like that.  Ireland and Albrighton did well, Warnock's slide continues at an astonishing rate.  He really is a train wreck at the moment.

Do you think he has a sauce problem?  Because I cannot explain his demise any other way.

I thought we did well, poor pitch, tricky match. We are through! Just don't play Heskey.

Warnock simply not good enough. His "shot" should have just been hit hard and low into the danger area.

Heskey - he surely has it written into his contract that he must play whether fit or not. He's carrying an injury yet AM keeps playing him. And he's shit!