Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers Post-Match Thread

[AV82EC]

Just got back.  Well that was fun.

Like a previous poster, I have a zen like calmness about me that means I've accepted that we can go down and if it happens, it happens, there isn't a fat lot I can do about it.

[usav]

Can you really blame season ticket holders for venting their frustration at this man 5 minutes from the end of match number 18 ? Four home wins all season, four !

Assuming we do not beat Spurs, where I sit its worked out at something like £135 per win !

£135 to beat Blackburn, £135 to beat Wigan, £135 to beat Norwich, £135 to beat Fulham !

Put like that, nobody will argue with you.

[ozzjim]

Warnock did ok in the centre of midfield to be fair, but I couldn't understand why he left Clark and Gardner on the bench, taking Herd off and leaving our left back on, in the centre of midfield?  Why not move Warnock to the left, take the utterly useless N'Zogbia off and bring Gardner and/or Clark on?  Heskey was at least getting the better of their defenders in the air too, then we change our tactics and go punt ball.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  This is the worst Villa side I have ever seen and McLeish is worse than Billy McBingo ever was.

The utterly useless NZogbia created the goal.


For me I thought Warnock did really well, and I would go with him and Herd again at the weekend but with Ireland in for Albrighton, Give NZogbia a free role and put Gabby in for Weimann if fully fit alongside Emile. Praise Emile to the fucking hilt for the next 4 days, make him feel like a bloody king, and tell him to go and do what he did first half at Albion.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

To be in the position we are in, with the players we have is truly awful.

I blame senior players who didn't have the bottle to finish off a good season under O'Neil (yes he played them into the ground, but there was still a lack of back bone at crunch times), who then went on to throw their toys out of the pram when Houllier tried to change things.  And then when we think about now - They could at least play for their Careers the work shy fops, how many of them do you think will get premier league gigs next season on the money they've spunged off us? (Probably too many in truth, when not a one of them deserves it).  Kids like Lichaj, Baker and particularly Herd have put them to shame, simply in terms of effort let alone skill.

All that said, there is no hiding from what a terrible appointment McLeish has been.  Utterly tactically inept.

Can we stay up? of course we can, if we fight.  I hope we do, I'll be at the Hawthorns shouting and praying for it, but I've little confidence to be honest, unless of course the players can pull together despite the manager, because he just doesn't have it in him to sort this out (Please prove me wrong........please).  I'm not going to go on a swear fest against him or the owner, what's the point? but he just isn't good enough and this need never have happened.   

This ticks an awful lot of boxes for me!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Can you really blame season ticket holders for venting their frustration at this man 5 minutes from the end of match number 18 ? Four home wins all season, four !

Assuming we do not beat Spurs, where I sit its worked out at something like £135 per win !

£135 to beat Blackburn, £135 to beat Wigan, £135 to beat Norwich, £135 to beat Fulham !

Put like that, nobody will argue with you.

I'd have gladly paid £135 for 3 points tonight!

[asgpaul]

I think that was the longest drive back home to Bristol from Villa Park I've had in a very long time!  I honestly can't see us getting another point from the last three games!

[atomicjam]

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish insisted he received positive support from club owner Randy Learner following a 2-1 home defeat by Bolton.

McLeish admitted Villa are now in a relegation battle after the Trotters recovered from trailing to a Stephen Warnock goal through a Martin Petrov penalty and a David Ngog close range finish.
 
Fans chanted 'f*** off McLeish, the Villa is ours' and 'sack McLeish my lord' but the Villa boss understands why they did it.
 
He said: "I can understand the fans' reaction. We went into a deserved lead and to see the game turn like it did was horrible.
 
"The reaction was a first for me. But, like I said, it was understandable because we had the three points in our grasp.
 
"I spoke with Randy (Lerner) and Paul Faulkner (chief executive) after the game and they were supportive and said to keep your head up.
 
"They said everyone has to stay together and battle through this fight."
 
McLeish admitted: "We are in a relegation fight but we have got to rally the troops for the next game.
 
"There are still nine points to play for, our destiny is still in our own hands.
 
"I believe in the players and believe we will still be in this division next season."

http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item792013/McLeish:-I-have-Villa-owner's-support/

[Steve67]

Warnock did ok in the centre of midfield to be fair, but I couldn't understand why he left Clark and Gardner on the bench, taking Herd off and leaving our left back on, in the centre of midfield?  Why not move Warnock to the left, take the utterly useless N'Zogbia off and bring Gardner and/or Clark on?  Heskey was at least getting the better of their defenders in the air too, then we change our tactics and go punt ball.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  This is the worst Villa side I have ever seen and McLeish is worse than Billy McBingo ever was.

The utterly useless NZogbia created the goal.


For me I thought Warnock did really well, and I would go with him and Herd again at the weekend but with Ireland in for Albrighton, Give NZogbia a free role and put Gabby in for Weimann if fully fit alongside Emile. Praise Emile to the fucking hilt for the next 4 days, make him feel like a bloody king, and tell him to go and do what he did first half at Albion.

You're right about the goal but I thought he was crap tonight other than that. Opinions eh?  I presume Ireland was injured?  Wouldn't disagree with the Warnock/Herd partnership, I'd want a third player in there for extra support though. Gabby in for Wiemann too I agree with. 4-3-3 with Gabby, Heskey and Charlie on either side.  Warnock, Herd and Ireland in the centre.

[atomicjam]

I just want AM out of our football club. I have witnessed some poor seasons at Villa Park but this is the worst I can remember.

[Chipsticks]

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish insisted he received positive support from club owner Randy Learner following a 2-1 home defeat by Bolton.

McLeish admitted Villa are now in a relegation battle after the Trotters recovered from trailing to a Stephen Warnock goal through a Martin Petrov penalty and a David Ngog close range finish.
 
Fans chanted 'f*** off McLeish, the Villa is ours' and 'sack McLeish my lord' but the Villa boss understands why they did it.
 
He said: "I can understand the fans' reaction. We went into a deserved lead and to see the game turn like it did was horrible.
 
"The reaction was a first for me. But, like I said, it was understandable because we had the three points in our grasp.
 
"I spoke with Randy (Lerner) and Paul Faulkner (chief executive) after the game and they were supportive and said to keep your head up.
 
"They said everyone has to stay together and battle through this fight."
 
McLeish admitted: "We are in a relegation fight but we have got to rally the troops for the next game.
 
"There are still nine points to play for, our destiny is still in our own hands.
 
"I believe in the players and believe we will still be in this division next season."

http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item792013/McLeish:-I-have-Villa-owner's-support/

Was hoping that we'd sack him. Crumbs.

[littlevillain]

I think 90% of us was against the hiring of Mcleish, not because of the blose connection but because we thought he was shit. It was a mistake of epic proportions by Lerner and I still can't fathom how they came to the conclusion that he was the man to lead our great club forward??
They are not footballing people so they were obviously advised by others.
For me I hope Lerner fcks off back to cleveland. Oh thanks for the Holte pub and the free travel to chelsea. cheers

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish insisted he received positive support from club owner Randy Learner following a 2-1 home defeat by Bolton.

McLeish admitted Villa are now in a relegation battle after the Trotters recovered from trailing to a Stephen Warnock goal through a Martin Petrov penalty and a David Ngog close range finish.
 
Fans chanted 'f*** off McLeish, the Villa is ours' and 'sack McLeish my lord' but the Villa boss understands why they did it.
 
He said: "I can understand the fans' reaction. We went into a deserved lead and to see the game turn like it did was horrible.
 
"The reaction was a first for me. But, like I said, it was understandable because we had the three points in our grasp.
 
"I spoke with Randy (Lerner) and Paul Faulkner (chief executive) after the game and they were supportive and said to keep your head up.
 
"They said everyone has to stay together and battle through this fight."
 
McLeish admitted: "We are in a relegation fight but we have got to rally the troops for the next game.
 
"There are still nine points to play for, our destiny is still in our own hands.
 
"I believe in the players and believe we will still be in this division next season."

http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item792013/McLeish:-I-have-Villa-owner's-support/

And I don't believe a fu**in word you say Alex.
Everything you say smacks of self-preservation and f**k all for the club, its players or its supporters.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish insisted he received positive support from club owner Randy Learner following a 2-1 home defeat by Bolton.

McLeish admitted Villa are now in a relegation battle after the Trotters recovered from trailing to a Stephen Warnock goal through a Martin Petrov penalty and a David Ngog close range finish.
 
Fans chanted 'f*** off McLeish, the Villa is ours' and 'sack McLeish my lord' but the Villa boss understands why they did it.
 
He said: "I can understand the fans' reaction. We went into a deserved lead and to see the game turn like it did was horrible.
 
"The reaction was a first for me. But, like I said, it was understandable because we had the three points in our grasp.
 
"I spoke with Randy (Lerner) and Paul Faulkner (chief executive) after the game and they were supportive and said to keep your head up.
 
"They said everyone has to stay together and battle through this fight."
 
McLeish admitted: "We are in a relegation fight but we have got to rally the troops for the next game.
 
"There are still nine points to play for, our destiny is still in our own hands.
 
"I believe in the players and believe we will still be in this division next season."

http://www.espnstar.com/football/premier-league/news/detail/item792013/McLeish:-I-have-Villa-owner's-support/

We dont believe in you Mr Mcleish.
More importantly at this moment we know the players don't believe in you either.
GO...GO NOW FROM OUR BELOVED ASTON VILLA  AND AT LEAST GIVE US A FIGHTING CHANCE.

[Stu]

"I spoke with Randy (Lerner) and Paul Faulkner (chief executive) after the game and they were supportive and said to keep your head up.
 
"They said everyone has to stay together and battle through this fight."
 
"There are still nine points to play for, our destiny is still in our own hands.
 
"I believe in the players and believe we will still be in this division next season."

He's spoken to our owner? So he does know how shit things are then. I think Faulkner at least should be coming out and saying something. Tonight's result was pretty fucking disastrous and it is clear that the supporters are deeply unhappy. Coupled with a team that just cannot win, it makes for a poisonous cocktail. Why can't someone at boardroom level come out and say something positive? I dunno, that they have a plan in place or something. Anything. We need some direction, the manager cannot keep on being used as a buffer for the flak - its unfair.

[JUAN PABLO]

I am lost for words . Please sack him in the morning .