Aston Villa v Sunderland Post-Match Thread

[Californian Villain]

Unfortunately the reality is we tested their goalie once or maybe twice. They had a goal incorrectly disallowed and had one cleared off the line, we did get away with it.

Is the correct answer. But it was about time we had a bit of good luck to compensate for losing Gabby and Collins (!)

[Californian Villain]

The kids, as promising as they are, are going to get us relegated.

I'd bring in Heskey for Gabby, Clark for Albrighton and Warnock for Baker.

It's such a big game. Gabby is woefully out of form, Clark is calm and Baker and Albrighton are too erratic.

Given
Lichaj - Cuellar - Collins - Warnock
Herd - Clark
Ireland
N'Zogbia - Heskey - Weimann

It's a physically strong, tall side.

If it's not going well it leaves us with Gabby, Albrighton and Bannan as impact substitutes too.

Too often are we left with nothing on the bench to change it.

I think this is more likely - with not much left on the bench to choose from.

Given
Hutton - Cuellar - Baker - Lichaj
Herd - Clark
Ireland
N'Zogbia - Heskey - Weimann

[luke25]

Having just finished watching the game (brave are'nt I?) the major plus for me is Weimann, the lads movement off the ball is fantastic and every game he's played so far for us he's managed to get himself into good scoring positions with his clever runs, granted his finishing is'nt the best but as long as he keeps doing what he's doing then I genuinly believe we could have a gem on our hands as he matures.

[Monty]

It's a sad indictment of our season that some are accepting that as an allowable, even understandable, display.

We were awful, an embarrassment to Aston Villa. There was a moment in the second half which summed it up for me: the ball drops near Lichaj, in our half, under a touch of pressure. What does he do? He smacks it skywards, and the ball goes out of play pretty much laterally with him on the right hand side. It was miserable.

Every time the ball falls to our players, when not under pressure anywhere, they head the ball blindly forwards. Perhaps that's the talents of the players, and its certainly understandable to think that their talent level is low enough to say that that football comes naturally to them. However, the level of brazen disregard for possession they show has to reflect a lack of work on the training pitch, and a lack of regard for such tactics in general. We lost the possession battle, at home, to a MON team going through customary burnout. We were a shadow, a pathetic caricature of Aston Villa, and however much the players may be to blame, there is no doubt that the manager must shoulder an untenable amount of responsibility for such underperformance.

[ROBBO]

What struck me Monty was how defenders with the ball at their feet and the opposition nowhere near them still look uncomfortable. I could give AM some leeway with all the injuries we've got but he has failed badly all season to put any cohesion into the side, the brand of football we are playing is the worst i've seen from a Villa side in many a year, Heskey whan he came on looked accomplished thats how bad the rest were, and Albrighton who when he first came into the senior side looked as if he could become a player is plainly like many of our youngsters not good enough for the premiership.

[Monty]

Agreed there Robbo. No player who has made it to the top of the game cannot be trained to be less terrified by the sight of the ball. Our players seem to hate the round thing, smacking it as far as possible and letting someone have it as much as possible, and it's not entirely their fault (though they must take their fair share of the blame).

[ROBBO]

From the little i've seen of him Carruthers appears to have superior skills and is always looking to get involved.

[tomd2103]

What struck me Monty was how defenders with the ball at their feet and the opposition nowhere near them still look uncomfortable. I could give AM some leeway with all the injuries we've got but he has failed badly all season to put any cohesion into the side, the brand of football we are playing is the worst i've seen from a Villa side in many a year, Heskey whan he came on looked accomplished thats how bad the rest were, and Albrighton who when he first came into the senior side looked as if he could become a player is plainly like many of our youngsters not good enough for the premiership.

Would agree with that mate.  It is also shocking to the see the lack of any movement when we are in possession, especially when we have the ball at the back.  Noone moving off the ball and making themselves available and noone in central midfield dropping off to get the ball.  It often ends up that the player in possesion has no real options so just has to hit an aimless ball up front.  Same off dead ball situations.  We never look to take quick throw ins or free kicks and pretty much always end up losing possession from them.

[eastie]

Neither bannan or albrighton have convinced me they are good enough to make it at this level- i would however like to see carruthers get a start on tuesday.

[ACVilla]

It could be a lot worse guys....spare a thought for Coventry city supporters tonight.

I just did and I'm still laughing!!

Us in three years time?

[Matt Collins]

Didn't watch the game, which I'm very happy about. Strangely, feel I pretty much know how it went - though it did sound like we started off with some vigour, just like the Fulham game, it also sounded like we struggled to make much in the way of clear chances.

I really think that Gabby's injury could be a blessing. Mcleish's 'style' is definitely better with a big man - and I think that will be his priority signing in the summer - and I think Heskey and Weimman could be a threat against a weak Bolton defence on Tuesday.

I'd stick with CNZ  on THE LEFT PLEASE and then it's a bit of an unsatisfactory choice between Albrighton, Bannan and Gardner for the other wing.

[PeterWithe]

I may be in a minority of one but I enjoyed that more than most of the other drab home draws, I picked 0-0 as it seemed the obvious result but it was far more open than I envisaged. That was more like how I expected a McLeish team to perform, not an awful lot of quality but no faulting the effort.

A mention for Heskey, I thought he was superb when he came on and really gave Herd a run for his money for the MOM. I also thought Hutton was maybe finding his feet at last but his performance was atrocious, he was always either too close or too far away from McLean.

[Mister E]

I'd stick with CNZ  on THE LEFT PLEASE and then it's a bit of an unsatisfactory choice between Albrighton, Bannan and Gardner for the other wing.

Why would you play either BB or GG on the wing? - they are central MF! Don't get seduced into making the same mistakes as McL makes: if you want a right winger, play either Albie or Carruthers.

[PeterWithe]

Its vital we don't lose on Tuesday, I'd stiffen the midfield with either Gardner or Clarke and play either Marc or N'Zog but not both.

[Clampy]

Watching MOTD, Bolton looked woeful especially at the back, Swansea should have scored 4 or 5. I'd start both N'Zog and Marc or maybe Carruthers.