Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Post-Match Thread

[john e]

no one could complain today about the support,

Villa fans got behind the team even though it was tough going in the second half, i didnt hear one protest or Mcleish out chant untill the final whistle,
i reckon that was pretty good and what was needed

[Mac]

The manager hailed his players for showing determination and desire to earn the point against the Champions League-chasing aristocrats from the capital.

The above is taken from OUR official website. We have to change our attitude, we're Aston Villa and we're describing that lot as aristocrats on our official website?

Fuck right off.

Wow, that is infuriating. Why is our official site sucking Spurs off?!

The official site seems to be aimed at teenagers. In fact it seems to be written by teenagers.
Be like me and refer to it only for official announcements and ticket info.
If you want to know what's really going on, stick to websites which have the honest rantings of a bunch of proud albeit grumpy old buggers who have seen it all before. Such websites for Villa supporters do exist I understand

@pdbrown77 is no teenager.  I recently unfollwed him becasue he kept banging on about Bomber Brown.  A relation I guess.

[Eigentor]

It's difficult to put a positive spin on a home draw against ten men unless you big up the opposition.

[clogger]

Today was just indicative of the whole season - some decent passing in the wrong third, some players putting in a good effort, a flukey goal (but well done Ciaran for actually having a shot at goal) followed by the ridiculous tactics of putting the whole team behind the ball.

I am no expert but even I can see if you sit deep and put everyone in the box, then all that is going to happen is the ball pings back out to the opposition and they get another go, and another, and another.........until they score

We desperately lack leadership, confidence and spirit - and although the players have to take some of the flack for that, it is the manager who needs to motivate and inspire. It's not going to happen with McLeish.

Incidentally, although Heskey clearly can't score- he should be applauded for his play for the last few games - not his fault that when he goes off the manager has no other tactic or way of playing

[UK Redsox]

N'zgobia would be good under Martinez but it's hard to defend him as I've tried to for most of this season when he peforms as poorly as he did today.

Zog has got worse as the season's progressed. Today he was dreadful, with awful control and a complete absence of pace.

[The Situation]

N'zgobia would be good under Martinez but it's hard to defend him as I've tried to for most of this season when he peforms as poorly as he did today.

Understandable... I acknowledge N'Zogbia hasn't played well at times this season (even though I think McLeish has had a negative effect on his game) but we all know how good N'Zogbia potentially could be for this team so it'd be dumb to give up in him as I feel with the right manager in charge we could get the best out of him and be a big player for us, he has still got a lot to offer... Unlike McLeish on the other hand whos ceiling is at Blues and thats the furthest he will ever get. Who is more likely to turn it around at Villa, N'Zogbia or McLeish?

[LeeB]

N'zgobia would be good under Martinez but it's hard to defend him as I've tried to for most of this season when he peforms as poorly as he did today.

Zog has got worse as the season's progressed. Today he was dreadful, with awful control and a complete absence of pace.

Agreed, he reminded me of a poor man's Paul Mortimer today.

[Dribbler]

Ok guys, if we fired McLeish and got a manager who wants us to play attacking football and plays to win games rather than draw games do you not think we would see a difference in how N'Zogbia plays?

How McLeish sets up the team doesn't allow N'Zogbia to play to his strengths.

Even the noses complained how McLeish hated creative players and wouldn't let them play to their strengths.

Unless McLeish has told N'Zogbia that as soon as he gets the ball he has to close his eyes and run as fast as he can into the biggest group of opposition players he can find, ignoring prime opportunities to pass to his team mates, and then to lose the ball as quickly as possible, i'm not sure how McLeish can be blamed for most of his performances.

I don't doubt that McLeish can stifle a creative talent, but i do doubt that he can give a player the equivalent of a footballing lobotomy that negates any iota of footballing intelligence in a player.

[caster troy]

I remember the old days when whoever we were playing we'd have a good go kicking towards the Holte, now all I get is eye strain trying to see what's happening down the other end.

How many games this season have we managed less than 3 shots on target I wonder? You'd think we had nine men against their eleven the way we surrendered today.

McLeish's Villa have no endeavour, no cohesion and no leadership, I don't blame anyone that stays away now, I certainly will be.

[Hoppo]

He is 'Bomber'Browns son.

[Mac]

That would explain the

He is 'Bomber'Browns son.

That would explain the very effusive:

Paul Brown ‏ @pdbrown77

Three cheers for the Baggies. Hip Hip...#WBA #AVFC

Paul Brown Paul Brown ‏ @pdbrown77

I love the Baggies. Thanks Albion. Saved your mates from Villa. Bomber you're getting a kiss tonight. #AVFC #WBA

[Mac]

He (Tony Brown) returned to the UK after the 1981 NASL season, playing once for the West Bromwich Albion reserve side in September 1981.

What are the odds that the Reserve match he played in was v Villa?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

N'zgobia would be good under Martinez but it's hard to defend him as I've tried to for most of this season when he peforms as poorly as he did today.

Understandable... I acknowledge N'Zogbia hasn't played well at times this season (even though I think McLeish has had a negative effect on his game) but we all know how good N'Zogbia potentially could be for this team so it'd be dumb to give up in him as I feel with the right manager in charge we could get the best out of him and be a big player for us, he has still got a lot to offer... Unlike McLeish on the other hand whos ceiling is at Blues and thats the furthest he will ever get. Who is more likely to turn it around at Villa, N'Zogbia or McLeish?

Like Robbie Keane never happened. Compare and constrast.

[BC54 VFC]

That is simply not good enough; the campaign to get rid of AM must build in earnest now that we are, barring a mathematical miracle or rather a monumental cock-up, safe.

A previous poster has mentioned that Cuellar has announced that that was his last match at Villa Park; can I please ask that Dunne, Collins, Hutton and N'Zogbia, and of course AM, make similar announcements before the evening is out.

It is a good job that the season is four games shorter than it used to be, otherwise we would have been certs for relegation based on present form; just look at the formbook, based upon points gained, over the past nine matches:-

Wigan 17
QPR 15
Bolton 12
Blackburn 9
Villa 5
Wolves 3

[olaftab]

We are not safe yet, but you'd think QPR wouldn't get anything at City, so hopefully. Let the inquest into this abomination of a season begin.

We are all but safe; Bolton will have to score about 15 without reply to outstrip us.

Steady on  we could lose 5-0 against Norwich and Bolton playing their usual carefree Brazil like football whack Stoke 13-0  and QPR  beat a very nervous Man City we are down!