Liverpool v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[dave.woodhall]

I couldn't care less what McLeish says. He's just put out one of the most inexperienced Villa teams ever and got a point at a ground where better managers than he have been turned over.

[mr-villa]

 Samir Carruthers shoulda had a penalty.

Thought so too.

Agreed.

Knowing MOTD, they won't even show it.

To be fair, I thought that it was almost identical to the Suarez incident in the first half. Contact, but nowhere near enough to warrant going down like he did.

Your wrong mate, watched the game online and had the advantage of a close up replay of both incidents.  The Suarez one was not a penalty he kicked Huttons calf then went down.  Samir was clearly tripped just inside the box admittedly whilst trying to bring the ball out of the box but even so it was a clear foul and should have beena penalty technically.  To book him for being tripped was absurd.

[Ian.]

 Samir Carruthers shoulda had a penalty.

Thought so too.

Agreed.

Knowing MOTD, they won't even show it.

To be fair, I thought that it was almost identical to the Suarez incident in the first half. Contact, but nowhere near enough to warrant going down like he did.

Your wrong mate, watched the game online and had the advantage of a close up replay of both incidents.  The Suarez one was not a penalty he kicked Huttons calf then went down.  Samir was clearly tripped just inside the box admittedly whilst trying to bring the ball out of the box but even so it was a clear foul and should have beena penalty technically.  To book him for being tripped was absurd.

It was a foul, he should have had a penalty.

[Ian.]

I couldn't care less what McLeish says. He's just put out one of the most inexperienced Villa teams ever and got a point at a ground where better managers than he have been turned over.

Quite right, he made some brave substitutions too.

[Percy McCarthy]

I think Ireland was excellent and showed today that he can play in a two in midfield, which is good news in terms of us becoming a better footballing side.

And these kids are proving to be valued and worthy members of the first team squad.

Spending this summer should be well-targeted, no need for a scattergun approach aimed at getting lots of bodies in.

Didn't think AM had any motivational skills at all, but there was evidence of it amongst the seniors today.

[Brian Taylor]

I was so nervous about the game I had to pretend it wasn't happening.

A big defeat - which many were predicting - would have had an awful effect. A point is a point.

Next

What? That is another 'win' in McL world. Away at a big venue, against a big team and get a draw!..definitely worth a win in McL's book!  Roll on the end of season tension. Survival will merit an open top bin lorry round the TH and down New St, up Corporation st and enter the ground bathed in sh.....  stoppp!

[Toronto Villa]

I couldn't care less what McLeish says. He's just put out one of the most inexperienced Villa teams ever and got a point at a ground where better managers than he have been turned over.

Correct Dave. I'm a GH supporter, but he had a much better side last year and went there and got murdered. Say what you want about McLeish but this lot played hard for pretty much 90 minutes.

[Aston Manor]

Ps Chelsea first goal is the worst offside you'll see. We'll take it!

I think the second was also.

Anyway, Liverpool had all the possession, the vast majority of the chances, missed a few sitters, and for most of the game were well on top. But, they could only do the important thing as many times we could. With the stats they will probably think they should have won but poro finishing good defending meant the score was what it was.

So credit to everyone - even him - for getting us set-up well defensively. Ball retention was poor but I'll take the point.

[pauliewalnuts]

Decided this morning that I was going to act as if the match wasn't taking place. So when we were out this afternoon, turned phone off, avoided radio etc, just came on here at 5 to see how it went.

I see Herd scored, which is pleasing, and that we got a point. I have no idea what else went on, and to be honest, don't care.

All I care about at this point is that we got a point more than I thought we would, and other results went well for us, and not the tonking I thought we would, which would have set things up for Stoke abysmally.

[SamTheMouse]

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 ........

This - multiplied by a million. Today probably wasn't a good example, as the squad is down to the bare bones and the kids did ok, but it happens in every game. We gift the opposition so much possession, they're bound to score sooner or later. We make every game all about the opposition - are they good enough to break us down? It's like watching a plucky League 1 team playing at Old Trafford in the FA Cup 3rd round every week...

[paul_e]

If the post match from AM includes:

Unlucky
Excellent Game Plan
Inexperienced

Or any of a number of other similar things he shouldn't be our manager by the morning.

We had an excellent opportunity to win at Anfield today and have ended up clinging on to a draw.

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.

Give it a rest.

Sorry, I'm disappointed that we had a great chance to win against a team that has lost 7 in 8 and who we don't get many chances to beat and we decided to sit deep instead.  For me it sums up the problems at the club.  For me, for all that we played well in defence and looked willing to fight, we played like a lower league team in the cup, got a good goal early on and then didn't have the guts to carry on playing.

We've been like this all season today it worked ok and we got a point but I think we could've got more with better ball retention and bit more willingness to test them.

At least I'm consistent, I hate the football we're playing and don't see any long term success from it.

I'd have taken a point today before kick off but it's another case of dropping points from a winning position which we've done far far too often in the last couple of years.

[picicata]

A good point that I certainly didn't expect us to gain. Our ball retention was again poor but didn't expect any different and we hugely rode our luck but I will certainly take it. On a positive note it was good to see the players fighting for the point and the team and closing down the opposition.

Another point on our road to safety and I think we will just about manage to draw ourselves to above the watermark. Once that has happened hopefully we can concentrate on purging our club of McLeish.

[ktvillan]

We started brightly, scored a cracking goal, and then basically stopped playing.  I had to skip the second half as I couldn't face watching another 49 minutes of last ditch defending , with Liverpool players throwing themselves down in the  box every 5 minutes accompanied by much baying and ref baiting from the crowd, and waiting for the inevitable equaliser (which duly arrived) and winner (which thankfully  didn't).  I know it was an inexperienced team and they battled and defended really well by all accounts, but can't help thinking with Liverpool's fragile state it would have made more sense to carry on taking the game to them.


Ball retention still a major issue, but I'd have taken a point before the game, and at least we showed we may have some stomach for the fight, which I wasn't sure about before today.   

[Damo70]

I'm happy and relieved because I thought we might get a hiding that would shatter any confidence we have for the remaining games. I totally agree with the concerns about ball retention and taking the game to the opposition more but let's be honest, it's all about just staying up now. As Damon said - a point is point, next.

[Monty]

I still think this was a far from convincing performance. We must be careful not to get carried away by the setting: Liverpool are not what they were, and in particularly rocky form. Also, these juniors have more fight and natural instinct for football, in my view, than many of the seniors keeping them out of the team this season. The fight was good to see, but it's a point which could easily have been naught at a side really struggling for form and a cutting edge. I'll take the point, but we treated them with a reverence they did not deserve and did not display any evidence of training ground work towards keeping possession.