Newcastle United v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[eric woolban woolban]

Whether we play well or not, we seem to lose / draw games.

This spells trouble. Just hope there are three worse teams that us.

Not sure when I'll next set foot in Villa Park.

[Chris Smith]

For the first twenty of the second half we hardly had any possession at all. The substitution was made in order for Heskey to help get hold of the ball and get the team passing again. This actually worked, but then they got their second. Gardner looks good and it'd be good to see him get a run of games now.

Exactly, because it's Heskey the facts get ignored but we improved when he came on.

[dave.woodhall]

Whether we play well or not, we seem to lose / draw games.

This spells trouble. Just hope there are three worse teams that us.

Not sure when I'll next set foot in Villa Park.

How about next Sunday?

[villadelph]

unreliable twitter source.. "McLeish furious with Ireland for not cutting out a cross. Told him so then Ireland shouted back F-off to his manager. #avfc"

But doesn't say that was why he was taken off. Things like that happen all the time.

Uhh.. 

considering he was one of our better players in the first half, I would consider that the catalyst for his removal from the game.

[Stu]

I'm sure I've just seen Villa play some good football in that match and create some good chances, but you'd never know it from the reaction most people.

Why can't you point out the good bits as much as you do the bad bits???

Because the bad bits cost us the game. They outweigh the good and the result is all that matters.

Exactly. The results at the end of the season don't read: Newcastle 2 Aston Villa 1 (but Villa had some good bits).

So because there were a few more bad moments than good then you deem the good not worthy of mentioning? Almost as bizarre as Heskey coming on that is.

But you said that folk weren't pointing out the good bits as much as the bad bits. I'd say that's because the bad bits cost us. Your Heskey point proves it, that was a crap sub and a lot of people think it may have cost us.

[Goldie.7]

We won't even need to play well against Wigan or Blackburn by that time we'll be due a win.

[taylorsworkrate]

Don't believe for one second that Ireland told McCleish to "Fuck off".
The dressing room would have been reasonably happy after just equalising and playing well in the 1st half (comedy goal conceded aside).

Ireland must have picked up an injury, must have. There is no way any sane manager would take of our most creative player otherwise.

The first 25 minutes of the second half were an absolute joke. Apart from that we played well enough and didn't deserve to lose. Although with our all too predictable defending and the odd to say the least substitutions, we brought it on ourselves.

[nick harper]

Nothing in the game at all. Newcastle were  no great shakes but they have momentum and the ball is running their way. Krull made some good saves, Given had to make none and a left foot swinger finds the top corner.

We do go through very poor patches though and although the defence is fragile, we do lack presence in midfield when teams crank up the pressure. Was impressed with Gardner but someone needs to tell Bannan that Hollywood type passes invariably give the ball away.

[Stu]

Whether we play well or not, we seem to lose / draw games.

This spells trouble. Just hope there are three worse teams that us.

Not sure when I'll next set foot in Villa Park.

How about next Sunday?

Fuck it, I'm game.

[Matt Collins]

I'm sure I've just seen Villa play some good football in that match and create some good chances, but you'd never know it from the reaction most people.

Why can't you point out the good bits as much as you do the bad bits???

I agree. Keane was the major plus point. The problem is he's leaving. I thought Petrov was good too, and actually I thought our full backs were ok, it's just that Warnock occasionally commits a real howler

Was encouraged by 90% of Gardner's display, including his running off the ball. I really thought he'd score that chance.

[villadelph]

For the first twenty of the second half we hardly had any possession at all. The substitution was made in order for Heskey to help get hold of the ball and get the team passing again. This actually worked, but then they got their second. Gardner looks good and it'd be good to see him get a run of games now.

Exactly, because it's Heskey the facts get ignored but we improved when he came on.

We were playing absolutely awful at the time. Any stoppage to let us regain ourselves would've brought improvement. The inclusion of Heksey was a terrible idea. He doesn't create, he can barely defend without fouling, he has no idea where the goal is and he can't stay on his feet. At least N'Zogbia can beat his man and get to the end line. Our improvement had nothing to do with Heskey.

[PaulWinch again]

Gardner needs to be given more time, he was far more positive than our other two central midfielders. He was desperately unlucky with the header as well, if it hadn't deflected off the defender it would have gone in.

[Fergal]

unreliable twitter source.. "McLeish furious with Ireland for not cutting out a cross. Told him so then Ireland shouted back F-off to his manager. #avfc"

But doesn't say that was why he was taken off. Things like that happen all the time.

If thats not why he took him off that makes it even more bizarre.

[villadelph]

Collymore via Twitter: "Couldn't believe how many Villa players were back chatting to McLeish through the game. Can't be very healthy.."

They're confidence in the manager seems to be dropping.

[Percy McCarthy]

Played some good stuff, Bent a bit wasteful.

WarsawVillan82 is right about the substitution.

Gardner did well to find good positions but should have equalised with both of those chances, although obviously if he'd scored the first, the second wouldn't have happened.

Hope it's bollocks about Ireland, we'll need him when Keane leaves.