Liverpool v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[villaparkb6]

i know we've got some good kids coming through, but god our overall squad is weak, i think that was the weakest bench i've ever seen at the villa in the top flight, randy's gotta do something about the squad depth or do one, a few injuries shouldn't leave a team in this position, that said thought the kids were triers today and collins was MOM brian

[ez]

I predicted a draw and I'm content with a draw. Probably more than we deserved. A nice little unbeaten run of 3 or 4 games would be nice.

[Olof's Beard]

McLeish was clearly seen to be urging the players to sit ten yards further forward towards the end in fairness and he moved Ireland back to the central role with instructions to keep the ball.  We should not forget how inexperienced our team that finished the game, it was natural that they would retreat.

Special mention to two senior players who have been rightly maligned at times this season but stood up to be counted for the youth around them today - Warnock who worked his bollocks off and Collins who put in his best performance since MO'N left.  Collins has looked so much better without Dunne alongside him and he seems to relish being the senior centre half alongside Baker who also stood firm.  Gabby led the line brilliantly as well I thought, Ireland didn't have his best day on the ball but he ran further than any one else by some distance according to the stats.  Given was great.

[Trinitymiddle]

Will 37 points see us safe? I think we can get three more points from the remaining games.

Think it will be enough this season. Beating Bolton will see us safe, and I think we'll get something off Sunderland before then

The three points comment is my worst case scenario. I think we can beat Stoke and Bolton, draw Sunderland and go to Carrow Road and win on the final day. That would give us 44 points. I'd still want Mcleish out though. look at how crap Liverpool are? Only nine points ahead of us. If we used our squad properly earlier in the season, supplied Bent the way at £20m striker should be supplied we'd have challenged top 8.

Our goal difference is an extra point

[barrysleftfoot]

  Looked lively Carruthers when he came on, nice trick to beat Gerard, and he was clipped, but no more than Suarez in the 1st half if i'm honest.

  Yes Lplop were/are poor, but at the moment, with the lack of choices, so are we.Ball tretention was not good enough, but Baker looks a star in the making to me, as does GG.Weimann looks as if he has a future, as does Eric.We would'nt have learned that under MON or probably GH.

  The good thing about this season, is we will learn if some of the youngsters have "it".The signs are looking good.I would rather watch Baker/Clark play instead of Dunne/Carlos, GG instead of Stan, and Weimann instead of Heskey.We need to have a look to see if they are going to be any good.Going to Anfield and getting a result is agood experience for the kids, and they stood up to it.

 Heskey put in a shift as well.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I'm starting to wonder if Warnock might be better employed left midfield till we fuck him off at the end of the season, his judgement is terrible on the defensive side.

[johncvilla88]

Will 37 points see us safe? I think we can get three more points from the remaining games.

I recon we will get 37 points by monday evening! Stoke have only scored 10 away from home but conceded 28!

[MonsXI]

I'm happy with the draw, the kids battled well.

[brontebilly]

Considering the lack of quality in our side at the moment, a point is a decent return from Anfield. We started pretty well and scored a good goal. Lacked the courage to get on the ball though and take the game to an equally poor Liverpool side. Ireland in particular disappointed me in this regard. Can't fault the effort shown though. Hutton wasn't fully fit. Herd or Heskey obviously not either. So in the circumstances a point is very welcome.

 Collins was best I thought and Gabby held it up well. Baker was solid in the main. Much improved from the Chelsea game. Lichaj gave it his best but is much better at
right back. I don't like the guy but Warnock put in a fair effort today.

Hopefully a couple of the older players can make it back for next week. We need them.

[Steve R]

....

Regardless of the team we put out if he thinks defending deep and punting it clear for 80minutes is is any way going to bring success in this league then he's deluded and a long way out of his depth.

Thank christ someone else thinks that, I was beginning to think I was watching a different game.

Glad for the point, but it should have been all three against a piss poor Liverpool team.

Yet again we get the first advantage and do sod all with it but invite the other side back in.

yeah because we always do that every year dont we???

Take an early lead and then sit back until the inevitable late goal arrives? Yup, we certainly do.

I couldn't give a monkeys who the opposition are or what pre-match expectations were reasonable.

After 10 minutes there were three points for the taking and we chose the most likely way of saying 'no thanks'.

We probably won't pay the big price for the two points we spurned, but that excuses nothing.

[johncvilla88]

I'm starting to wonder if Warnock might be better employed left midfield till we fuck him off at the end of the season, his judgement is terrible on the defensive side.

The season he came from blackburn he played there an in the center of middle field. Prefer him there than at the back

[Summers]

The replay showed it. Definitely more contact than Suarez. And if the case is they're the same then WHY is Suarez not booked for that? Then, of course, booked for the second one - and not on the pitch to score the winner?

Winner? Am I alone in this parallel universe where we got a point?

My bad. Replace the word with goal and my point stands.

[PeterWithesShin]

Well I predicted 1-1 in the pre-match thread, so i'm in shock I actually got one right!

All that matters between now and the end of the season is results.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Collins was outstanding today. Also Baker and Given. Ball retention is terrible. How come Swansea recently a championship side can retain the ball against anyone in the premiership. Surely the coaching staff should be working on this. Great result ........

[Ian.]

We didn't deserve more than what we got but even so there was some solid shifts out there. Given and back four, Warnock, Herd and Gabby did very well. Some nice touches from Ireland and Bannan at times.

If only we could get the best out of Gabby again. He works so hard and is so committed to us and holds it up so well but his confidence has gone in front of goal. He has played so many times out of position for us it is quite understandable.