Aston Villa v Manchester City Post-Match Thread

[D.boy]

Wait for it, in 2 weeks time its gonna be.."We can't compete with the Wigan's of this world".
Embarrassing lack of ambition today. I'm sure it's not the last time I'll say that this season.

Embarrassing lack of ambition today? Did you miss who the opposition was? Man U attacked these a few months back and got smashed 6-1.

We accept that we would probably have been beaten but at least we would have gone down fighting. If you are going to lose, at least have a go as the crowd would get behind the team if we could see they are trying. The negative tactics we are seeing again and again when we can all see the obvious outcome will be the straw that breaks the camels back. Mclueless hasn't learnt anything from his mistakes and keeps repeating them which is why he will inevitably have the crowd on his back.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Marc Albrighton tweeting how we didn't deserve to lose.

Crikey.

Well, he should have as good a judgment as us considering he spent most his time watching the game go by.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Think people need to remember a few things before calling for the managers head after todays performance.

Firstly look at who we we're playing. Do you really think if went out attacked them we would of recieved anything other then a 4-0 roasting?

We actually nulified there attack very well, if it wasnt for another piece of poor defending from a set piece (no McLeish's fault) we would of earnt a decent point. Yes it may be 'boring' but when you have Aguero, Silva, Milner & Johnson running at you i would be inclined to play it safe!

Everton and Sunderland who both got a win against City played the same as we did today they managed to nick a goal and went onto win.

If we sit back like this against Wigan/Blackburn/Fulham/Bolton then i will have to agree with you however i will not moan if we do it against a team who's net spend is over £500 million on 5 years.

I can see why he set us up like he did and Heskey really put a shift in but after the encouraging signs over the last few weeks, I was hoping we'd play to our strengths rather than trying to nullify Man City's. Looking at Man City's record, if you can shut the up for the first 25 minutes, you're in with a chance. Today, despite a couple of near scares, I thought the defence looked the best it's looked for a long time, although it could be argued with Petrov and Gardner playing so deep, we had 6 across the back line.

Where we failed today, apart from Dunne going missing for the goal, was any real threat up front. As a few mentioned on the Match thread, we really should have introduced Ireland and N'Zogbia immediately after they scored and played to OUR strengths. In the end we were unlucky not to equalise, Carlos really should have buried that header and Bent his shot. Hart did very well but in a game with so few opportunities, he really needs to be more clinical.

Hopefully in the next four games we'll get back to playing to our strengths and if the players show the same level of commitment as they showed today and they'll need to, I really can see us picking up a few, long overdue wins.

[pauliewalnuts]

Wait for it, in 2 weeks time its gonna be.."We can't compete with the Wigan's of this world".
Embarrassing lack of ambition today. I'm sure it's not the last time I'll say that this season.

Embarrassing lack of ambition today? Did you miss who the opposition was? Man U attacked these a few months back and got smashed 6-1.

Oh. that's okay then. We did the right thing then by passing the ball sideways and backwards until we lost it. Thankfully we only lost 1-0. How I must have misjudged that master tactician AMcL.

0-1 and 0-5 are the same result for us at the moment.

We didn't even try to score.

At no point did we try to win that game today.

The club woud benefit more from having a go and losing four or five than meekly surrendering and losing one nil.

Sorry, but anyone who thinks this is really about losing is totally missing the point.

[andyh]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17006352
Here is the BBC post match interview, not the sky one.
He thinks we have stuttered at home this season.

Fuck me, it makes you want to punch the screen

[Irish villain]

Marc Albrighton tweeting how we didn't deserve to lose.

Crikey.

McLeish must have them brainwashed. When Bent almost got an equaliser I was saying to my housemate it would be daylight robbery for us to get away with a point.

[ormskirkvillan]

If we continue like this then I really fear McLeish could be on the end of another hammering when he faces MON at Villa Park again.

[PeterWithesShin]

Despite not being impressed with the lineup or large portions of the performance performance, it could be argued that what ultimately settled the result is that their defender scored their chance from a corner and ours put it over the bar. Change any 1 of those scenarios and the result could have been different.

Simplistic view I know, but also true. Maybe that's what Alby and AM are focusing on?

[olaftab]

Exactly the same as the Manure home game....

Just defended and defended until Man. City scored...then had a little go at the end with a bit more luck would've brought an undeserved equaliser.

Tbf the boo boys weren't too bad today... I actually thought Heskey was o.k and the defence aswell until the usual disaster of a corner marking.

Ireland has to start though for me. The build up and movement of the ball in central midfield is far too slow without him.

Listen Paul thanks. Hoping to meet you at Bodymoor Heath tomorrow morning. Apparently you are welcoming us. I am taking my two juniors. It's good of you to spend  some time with us here as your CEO schedule must be hectic.

[villadelph]

Dunne out for a month?

[SamTheMouse]

This is what the Telegraph journo said before the match:
 
"I would contend that supporting Villa is about as bad as it gets as a fan of English football. Huge club, decorated history, excellent ground, but year after year of relentless mid-table tedium. Not even a relegation scrap to get excited about. Just regulation wins against teams they're expected to beat and the odd brave draw against the top clubs.

Under Alex McLeish they've even lost the slight impression that they might cause the odd upset. You know it's going to be defend, defend, defend today, and you feel that all that's going to mean is a low-scoring City win.

How thrilling."

Pretty much spot on...although McLeish may be about to invalidate the bit about the relegation scrap...

[Mister E]

I think that McLeish played into the hands of those people who want to protest: the dubious selection, sterile tactics, the apparent absence of passion, energy and forward-thinking ... all of these were disappointing today.
Given that this is a transitional season, why not give it a go? Why not pick players for the future rather than Emile and Cuellar (the latter of whom is obviously going to be gone in the summer)? Why not try and win over the doubting fans by trying to play attractive football?

Whatever happens on the pitch, I think that the Villa future for McL is rapidly shortening. and, as was said on the match thread, the teams below us are demonstrating a bit of fight and energy; which we didn't really today.

[olaftab]

Despite not being impressed with the lineup or large portions of the performance performance, it could be argued that what ultimately settled the result is that their defender scored their chance from a corner and ours put it over the bar. Change any 1 of those scenarios and the result could have been different.

Simplistic view I know, but also true.

Agree PWS. We successfully nullified Silva, Aguerro and Co. Milner and Barry were kept quiet and Adam was made to look totally ineffective.  If only Collins had put that header away.....if only.

[PeterWithesShin]

This is what the Telegraph journo said before the match:
 
"I would contend that supporting Villa is about as bad as it gets as a fan of English football. Huge club, decorated history, excellent ground, but year after year of relentless mid-table tedium. Not even a relegation scrap to get excited about. Just regulation wins against teams they're expected to beat and the odd brave draw against the top clubs.

Under Alex McLeish they've even lost the slight impression that they might cause the odd upset. You know it's going to be defend, defend, defend today, and you feel that all that's going to mean is a low-scoring City win.

How thrilling."

Pretty much spot on...

Well apart from the pretty frequent non mid table finishes, regular wins against all the top sides (apart from Manure), it is spot on.

[bertlambshank]

I am just waiting for DC5 and Chris Smith to try and defend the prick after today.
McLeash has dug is own hole and the only way out of it is to go!