Aston Villa v Chelsea Post-Match Thread

[supertommykN'iba]

Counted the first team players we actually had available today, and I came to ten, which included Herd, Bannan and Albrighton. Thought we played really well and the kids did themselves so so proud. I hope that Baker, Gardner, Weimann etc get the chance to cement their place in the team ahead of wasters like Dunne....

I spoke to a nose after the match who mentioned that we are just 5 points clear of the relegation zone and started talking about the possibilities. After the news about Stan I genuinely couldn't care less if we go down as long as he gets well again. Really puts Football in perspective and it is a shame that a strong performance against a top team, like todays, had to come under those circumstances.

Well done to everyone involved with the 19th minute applause. Absolutely superb.

[Axl Rose]

First of all, you'll get through this Stan! Good luck to you my friend-I met him once and he was a gentleman. Today was a game I was strangely looking forward to, given our recent home games with Chelsea-the 3-2 on easter monday in 2004 and the 2-0 September home game in 2007 when Abramovich left early and Doug shook his hand. Chelsea played ok, but I thought we should have hassled them more, with a little more discipline. At 2-0, I just wanted us to take a chance, press a bit, make chances, but we struggled. Then Collins and Lichaij sent me running around the house in joy....how shit that we just couldn't keep our concentration....4-2 was harsh and I think for all the efforts of the kids, we deserved a draw. Just. The Cech save from Gabby was luck at its peak and the referee had a shocker-but what is fucking new there.......worrying times, but I hope we will surprise everyone next week at Anfield. Just have a go at them and make sure we stay solid, which seems hard right now.
Up the fucking Villa

I love you Stan and my thoughts are with you
I love you Villa and will support you each week, wherever you play and whoever you play

Mcleish, I do not like you at all, I hate how you are 'developing' our young players...ruining their prospects by misusing them....Gardner and Bannan MUST play central midfield if they are going to be in the starting 11. Or what is the point? It was evident when Albrighton came on how much we needed a player to be playing in the position, albeit on the left(am I correct?!). Bottom line is, play the correct players in the correct position Mcleish or you'll keep losing.

Emile Heskey-the mere sight of you must invoke a sigh amongst each Villa player, supporter and even, empty seats, when you come on. It is a horrible sight to see you playing for Villa. It makes me feel angry. Nothing personal-we are both Leicester born, and my dad, being a big Leicester(and Villa) fan introduced me numerous times to Emile in shopping centres or streets in Leicester-he was always a nice bloke, very shy. Just as a footballer, he frustrates me.

Rant over.
Up the Villa!!!!

[Villafirst]

What a shamble Mr Lerner has created in the last two seasons! We flirted with relegation to a degree last year, but with Young, Downing, Walker and a fit Darren Bent I was confident of beating the drop. Now with the squad minus the above and an horrendous injury list we're in deep trouble. But to me, the appointment of McLeish was plain stupid, and then not to spend on replacements for the outgoing players was just dumb. Lerner had the chance to spend in January but only got Robbie Keane short term and now look at the mess he's got us into! I say 'he' because it's Lerner's decisions that have got us to where we are now. The bloke is just hopeless at decisions and has proceeded tp wreck the club. Any protests should be directed at RL and as for the General.... don't get me started!

[Ian.]

It was a good game, a brilliant tribute to Stan, I wish I could have been there. It was emotional watching on the TV let alone in the ground.
Fair play to the line up, they played very well considering the conditions, expectations and lack of experience. At times they looked naive but that is to be expected. They played there hearts out against a team who is very good and who also are now on a upturn of form. Well done to them all, McLeish included.

At times this season I have been at a loss to the performance and also some of the decisions from the boss but not today. How anyone can use yesterday to have a bash it him just shows some of the views have been very single minded from the offset.

Well done to all  the who orgainised 19th minute (which I think Peter, Legion and Dave have a big part to play) the club and all the fans from both teams who gave Stan such a fitting tribute. Very emotional.

[damon loves JT]

I expect the greatest challenge of running a circus is man-management. Making sure the clowns take their medication, so they don't get depressed and start crying during the show; that the Chinese acrobats don't get into debt playing mah-jongg all night and have to run away from Triad debt collectors; and that your sexually conflicted strongman doesn't burst the lock of your caravan in the middle of the night, and rape you

That kind of stuff

[brian green]

The clowns' car that falls to bits must be a bastard to get through an MOT though.

[Somniloquism]

For all the ones stating what do you expect to get against Chelsea, it isn't about expectation, it is about need. If we hadn't wasted most of our easier games against lower opposition we would not be needing to win. Did anyone tell QPR or Wigan they shouldn't be getting points against Arsenal and Liverpool?

[barrysleftfoot]

 I'm getting a bit confused.I went to the game yday and i don't think i watched the same game as some of you.

 Given......does'nt help his defence by not dominating his 6 yard box, does'nt come to collect the ball.What is he on £60k per week, not sure we need to spend that kind of money on other positions.

 Eric.....i like him.Committed , quick, likes to play football, supports the attack, looks a good prospect.Play him until the end of the season.

 Collins....same as ever, committed, gives the ball away cheapley, not sure he should'nt have done better for both of the corners.Prefer Cuellar.

  Baker.......for me looks a better player than Cahill did at that age.Plays the ball out well, always tries to keep possession, is quick, don't remember Torres, who is still a good player by the way, getting past him once, in fact i was quite confident that Baker could cope with him.He is 19, and for me looks a very good prospect, because of his pace, probably a better prospect than Clark.

 Warnock.....same old, but has lost a lot of pace tbh, Torres just went past him so easily in the 2nd half, and he was too slow to close Torres shot down for the 4th.Needs replacing asap.

  Herd......i like Herd, but i think he has been off the pace since injury.Did'nt close down quick enough yday, allowed them too much time on the ball.If he plays like he did earlier in the season, then should be a 1st teamer next year.

  Ireland....probably my MOM.Not his best game, but keeps trying , and keeps working.Always tries to be positive.Was'nt sure if he could play in a 4 man midfield, but he can.

 GG.............not his position, keeps the ball well, good attitude, will be a good player for Villa.Not on the left though.


 Bannan......started off poorly, got better.Nice footballer, always looks for a pass, worked hard at closing Cole down.Did'nt have a bad game overall.

 Weimann.......great movement off the ball, good 1st time layoffs, always enthusiastic, good potential.Not alongside Gabby though.

  Gabby.......someone said to me after the game that if Bent had started instead of Gabby then we would have won.I'm not sure that would have been the case but i know what he means.Gabby is at a crossroads, he needs to supplement his burning pace by improving his all round game.He does'nt hold the ball up good enough, his movement off the ball is non-existant, he reacts rather than anticipates, he's not the best finisher.Put it this way, is MON offered £10m and we could get Scott Sinclair then i might be tempted.

 Albrighton....glad to say he played better yday.I do prefer him on the left tbh, and thought we should have used him more when he came on.Still needs to toughen up though.

  Super Emile......you got what you always get.Worked hard, held the ball up ok, does'nt look like scoring.A good professional, just not a good player.


  Overall, with Weimann , GG, Bannan and Ireland in midfield i thought the movement and passing was much better on occassions yday.Weimanns movement and lay offs in partic were opening up spaces, that with a bit more confidence/belief, Ireland and GG would be able to take advantage of better, with better running off the ball than Gabby did.I did'nt fancy our chances yday, but was pleasantly surprised by the performance.We need some of our more experienced players back to get us out of the shit that they put us in, but i thought all the kids played well.

 The 19th minute support for Stylian , and before the match as well, was very touching, and dignified, and the Chelsk fans were very good with it as well.

[malckennedy]

Brilliant, spot-on post by barrysleftfoot in every respect.

Also, clearly we need to avoid the dreaded drop but I'm confident about next season if we do! Despite yesterday's admirable support for Petrov, I thought the lack odf support for a very inexperienced team who played really well was shocking. A bit more noise from the crowd to support a team in a very challenging situation might have produced even more from them.

[Steve kirk]

I know this stats stuff doesent mean much but after 31 games last season we were 16th on 34 points with West Ham in 18th on 32 so only 2 points clear of the bottom 3, the strugglers were quite a few points better off last term , the big difference is the squad was a lot stronger last year but even so after a good nights sleep I once again think we will do enough to survive but it will be a scarey ride.             

[David_Nab]

Agree Barrysleftfoot , Given is a great shot stopper but he doesn't dominate his area..there's a reason Hart displaced him at City.

[Dave Cooper please]

Can I do my "Is Stefan Postma the Ringmaster" joke now?

[Tony Boucher]

Don't wish to be churlish, but why is it being reported that Chelsea fans were singing "One Stilyan Petrov"?  They retorted with "One DiMatteo"

[levico]

Reading the performance review of the young players actually makes me quite optimistic for the future. Not that I think we can avoid relegation, I think that's where we are now headed, but because we might have the makings of a good Championship side. Perhaps not enough to get us back into the PL but at least win more games than we lose. That would be a nice change.

[The Laughing Policeman]

What I saw yesterday has given me a lot of faith in the future of our team.
What was probably the most inexperienced Villa team seen at Villa Park for many a year gave the Champs League quarter finalists a good game, yes a little naive at times but they will have learned from yesterday and I honestly believe that the same starting eleven could give Liverpool a doing over. But I'll save that for the prematch thread.