Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Mcleish should be fired if he drops Ireland or N'Zog again.

[Goldie.7]

If this ends 0-1 Cuellar is my motm what a run! Ireland is doing all the tricks today hopefully we can finish them off and keep a clean sheet.

[Big Dick Edwards]

I know it's only half time and things could change but Blackburn have been totally inept. And we think we have problems.

[hipkiss92]

Half way there

Living on a prayer?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I've got a large bag of Nandos Peri Peri crisps in the kitchen.

I think I'll live a little and open them at half time.

Easy, boy!

Let's finish this lot off early second half. The confidence is there and thanks to Carlos, the defence looks organised and solid.

[Fergal]

Mcleish should be fired if he drops Ireland or N'Zog again.

He really should be fired anyway

[mrfuse]

Blackburn are playing like we normally play their not closing down anywhere on the pitch, its just a shame halftime has broke up our momentum

[Villanation]

So far so good and as said earlier in the week the Bent injury maybe a blessing, this side looks completely different, players not reliant on lumping the long ball in for the big fella up front, they are having to pass the ball and work hard, Ireland and Gabby are linking very well, N'Zogbia look comfortable and Albrighton is putting in a shift.

Better team, better work ethic, and Gabby is applying an awful lot of influence up front, hopefully once the game goes on and he gets back to the sharpness required up front, he'll respond even faster.

Not disguising the fact that Blackburn look awful of course.

[brontebilly]

All 11 players playing well. Only 1-0 up though which is worrying with the dominance we had.

Ireland has been outstanding.

Blackburn have been utterly abysmal.

[Olneythelonely]

I've just had 3 squares of a Milky Bar and drinking a brew.

We've played well. Blackburn are the cackest team I have ever seen. And I mean ever.

[Toronto Villa]

It really does beg the question of what role Bent has at the club? He is a valuable asset, our record signing, and a player that we've after for a long time. Yet, arguably we play a lot more complete when he's not in the team and we have Gabby leading the line. I want us to have the guns to supply Bent but I fear that would be an investment too far for us. It might just be easier to cash in, and reinvest in fortifying this strategy and players that can work within this system.

Just thinking out loud like.

[paul_e]

Much better performance but we're still too narrow and we really needed to get 2 or 3 for the amount of play we had.

Regarding the wingers it's all about horses for courses, young is great on the left wing as he can drift in and make things happen or shoot on his stronger foot, Albrighton isn't comfortable doing that and doesn't really provide anything from the left.  From the right he sticks wide and tries to get to the line, and can deliver when he gets there, it also means that the left back has to move out wider and creates gaps for Ireland to move into.

[Villanation]

It really does beg the question of what role Bent has at the club? He is a valuable asset, our record signing, and a player that we've after for a long time. Yet, arguably we play a lot more complete when he's not in the team and we have Gabby leading the line. I want us to have the guns to supply Bent but I fear that would be an investment too far for us. It might just be easier to cash in, and reinvest in fortifying this strategy and players that can work within this system.

Just thinking out loud like.

Toronto: we look a team with Gabby up front and he ties defenders up and allows the likes of Ireland and N'Zogbia more time on the ball.

[Steve R]

Pretty good so far. We look much better with three proper midfielders playing central midfield.

We are moving the ball around very well.

Our only problem is that it has been one way traffic but we only have one goal to show for it.

McLeish looked totally baffled in one camera shot. He's not the only one. Why has he not picked a balanced side like this more often?

[pauliewalnuts]

I'm a little concerned we're only one up, to be frank.

That plus the number of times this season we've seen Villa put in one really decent half, plus one utterly awful one, frightens me.