Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Post-Match Thread

[ROBBO]

The effort was brilliant the style was worse than woeful. I could not understand in the second half when we were a man up why Spurs seem to have forwards in acres of space, the players must have been playing to orders. Nzogbia is a confidence player and sadly it has all been knocked out of him under McCleish, he was wanting to get off the pitch early on. Delfounso should never play for the firsts again,he is so like the Moore brothers it's uncanny. I have the awful feeling that Randy will dig in and keep the manager, can't wait for next season to start.

[E I Adio]

I see Shearer is still peddling the "Villa fans hate McCleish because of where he came from" line.

Unbelievable. He really is an appallingly badly informed, ignorant wankspat of a numbskull.

[Dave Cooper please]

Wankspat is a marvellous word.

[E I Adio]

Wankspat is a marvellous word.

Sometimes it's the only one that will do.

[Steve67]

Wankspat is a marvellous word.

Sometimes it's the only one that will do.

Any objection if I steal it?  May I use it to describe the present Manager pleease?

[AvFc4eVeR]

Havent been to a home game since the Blackburn win.

There is a lot wrong at Villa Park.

Todays performance summed up our season and major changes are needed over the summer to avoid another season from hell. The first half was interesting in that we had an awful lot of the ball, but it was painfully obvious no one in the team had a clue what to do with it, hopeless punts forward, balls into space for Heskey to optimistically chase and Super Alan Hutton (more on him later).

The goal was a huge dollop of luck, topped with sprinkles of the ridiculous. You have to speculate to accumulate but Clark shooting from 30 yards is not my idea of attacking intent, albeit a welcome goal.

We seemed to take a bit of confidence from the goal, although no one told Super Alan Hutton as his woeful passing and clueless decision making left me at times dumbfounded. The confidence gained was soon lost as in the final third we couldnt fathom what we were doing.

I really do wonder what happens at bodymoor week in week out based on the inept set pieces I have witnessed today, poor corners, no variation, bad free kicks where we punt the ball to far post for Dunne to mis-time a header putting us under pressure allowing Spurs to break.

The second half then erupted with the Rose red and Hutton injury. As bad as it looked, it was another stroke of luck as if Hutton had stayed on the pitch much longer I may have had an annurism. Hutton is one of the poorest footballers I have had the displeasure of watching in a Villa shirt. Get rid in the summer!

Then with an extra man on the field we appeared to forget what game we were playing, let alone have designs on taking the advantage. Charles N'Zogbia, another overpaid waste of money who undoubtedly has the talent, but not the inclination or desire to use it. Looked disinterested and another who should be sold in the summer. Even at a loss.

Then the moment of madness. I didnt feel that Spurs had offered much upto this point, lots of possesion but lacking a cutting edge. A corner is thrown into a crowded box, and Mr Dunne felt it necessary to lunge in at Sandro even though there wasnt much danger as he was moving away from goal. Total Madness and not what you should expect from your captain.

The game then spiralled away from us as it did against Bolton, but luckily Spurs didnt take the advantage and strangely Arry seemed to settle for a point, when he put on Parker for Van De Vaart. No fight, No team spirit and No direction. One of the poorest games I have seen at Villa Park.

There are players in our squad who are often referred to as 'the kids' but most are into their early to mid twenties now and should be either an established premier league player or shipped out. The likes of Delfouneso, Herd, Bannan, Weimann, Gardner and Carruthers need to step up soon or fall by the wayside as many graduates of the Villa academy have done.

There are other players in our squad who wouldnt even make the bench in most premier league teams let alone start Heskey, Hutton, Collins are examples of this and shouldnt be in a Villa shirt.

Then there are those in the squad who couldnt give a monkeys about Aston Villa Football Club. N'Zogbia.

I feel the rest of the squad is salvagable, and it can be the basis of a good team, a good squad. Only if Alex McLeish is removed from his position sooner rather than later. My nightmare is that he isnt, he is then given a boatload of money to spunk on the likes of the Alan Huttons of this world and contract extensions of the Heskeys of the squad which will lead to, god forbid, an even poorer squad and surely Championship fodder next season. I pray for a Miracle, I expect nothing.

[steffo]

My son aged 14 just read this ( and i know it's late at night) and said 'I didn't know you had a twin'.

Fine words brother...........

[ROBBO]

Someone should tell Hutton to stop overlapping, he is hopeless at it.

[Chap]

Today was highly likely to be my last as a ST holder. I have had one for 26 consecutive seasons, but alas if McLeish stays there will be no more. I've always tried to keep a balanced view but it was the Man City game at home where I finally gave up the ghost and decided no more. Today was no exception, spurs down to 10 men and us leading we should have taken the game by the scruff of the neck, but no the usual negative 'don't lose' football instilled in the players by McLeish was employed.
Enough is enough, a sad day.

[VILLA MOLE]

Someone should tell Hutton to stop overlapping, he is hopeless at it.

Someone should tell Hutton to just stop

[Matt C]

I see Shearer is still peddling the "Villa fans hate McCleish because of where he came from" line.

Unbelievable. He really is an appallingly badly informed, ignorant wankspat of a numbskull.

Maybe he's still bitter from the final day at VP a couple of years ago too.

[Matt C]

Glad it's all over.  Inquest to start Monday hopefully.

Subject 1.  Movement off the ball.

This has driven me mad all season.  I can't remember a single game where has been any noticeable movement off the ball.  Grrrrrrrrr

Agreed - Ireland is the only one in the current side and because he's the only one he ends up making some fairly lonely runs and looks like the one in the wrong...

[olaftab]

Someone should tell Hutton to stop overlapping, he is hopeless at it.

Someone should tell Hutton to stop playing. He is  hopeless at it!

[Villafirst]

I've never seen a more one sided game of 10 men against 11 ever. We were awful.

Agree, that period when we had 11 against 10 summed up McLeish and his ultra negative tactics. The players were bereft of any confidence apart from Ireland and Clark. The sight at corners (Spurs had 19) in the second half where all 11 Villa players were in the 18 yard box with no outlet was nothing short of a disgrace. McLeish has crushed the life out of any ceativity or confidence in the players. For that reason alone he should be shown the door - well done Randy, you complete muppet!!

[Wiggz]

I haven't been to a game this season.  I'm at a point in my life where I support Villa, but I can think of better ways to spend an ever increasing amount of money each weekend (and need to).

However I watched a stream and yes, we were, as many people have said, pretty damn bad.

I for one however am optimistic.  Lerner is going to want us to do one of two things....Go back to the way we were under Martin O'Neill (which I doubt) which would mean McLeish gone and money pumped in, or he wants us to get rid of big wage players still and build from ground up with youth.

I believe the latter was the plan this year, but given how close we flirted with disaster, I can't see him wanting to preside over a relegation battle again next season.  So a decision has to be made doesn't it. 

If I could have 3 wishes taking all the above into account, they would be in this order:

1 - Allow us to appoint a Technical Director if McLeish stays and give funds for a quality midfielder
2 - If not the above, get rid of McLeish and look to Martinez again.  I wanted him before and I want him again.  He can motivate, he's a nice guy, and he fits in perfectly with the ethics of our great club.
3 - If McLeish is to stay, and no Technical Director, then I'd be happy for Lerner to go.

My thinking is that only 1 or 2 will happen, with 1 being Lerner's preferred choice.