Aston Villa v Manchester United Post-Match Thread

[Tony]

What happened with the incident in the first half where a foul was awarded against Ireland when he took the ball off Scholes and laid it to Benteke who was clean through? I was in The Holte so didn't get a great view but some people in the pub last night were telling me Scholes kicked the floor and fell over.

[silhillvilla]

What happened with the incident in the first half where a foul was awarded against Ireland when he took the ball off Scholes and laid it to Benteke who was clean through? I was in The Holte so didn't get a great view but some people in the pub last night were telling me Scholes kicked the floor and fell over.

Scholes tackled himself, the ref hesitated for a second, assessed the danger, saw Benteke was clean through and blew up.

[peter w]

Obviously disappointed but  to be fair we didn't capitulate and they were exceptional for about half an hour. During that spell we still looked to get forward and create ourselves. Other dropped 3 points against this lot is usually the result  of our bottle going  and us hanging on for grim death. not last night. For that we should be proud of the belief the team had in themselves. Carry this type of performance on week in week out and we'll be challenging at the right endof the table.

[caster troy]

In three years time can they realistically be any stronger than they are today? I'd say not. But can we? Absolutely. Yesterday's game demonstrated that we aren't as far off being able to compete as many of us thought. I'm thrilled that we've found a system and selection that suits us and can't wait to see what we'll do against lesser teams than United.

In the last two weeks Weimann, Westwood, Bannan, Lowton and Benteke have really gone up in my estimations. They are potentially top quality. This year we need to survive first and foremost, anything else is a bonus. Then we can kick on from there.

[Dante Lavelli]

What happened with the incident in the first half where a foul was awarded against Ireland when he took the ball off Scholes and laid it to Benteke who was clean through? I was in The Holte so didn't get a great view but some people in the pub last night were telling me Scholes kicked the floor and fell over.

I think a few key decisions went against us.  The one above but crucially with the first goal - and I need to see this again - it appeared that the free kick was taken from the wring place whilst the ball was still moving.  Man U were effectively played on.  The ref can make mistakes of judgement but he should not have allowed Man U to do that.

[Tony]

What happened with the incident in the first half where a foul was awarded against Ireland when he took the ball off Scholes and laid it to Benteke who was clean through? I was in The Holte so didn't get a great view but some people in the pub last night were telling me Scholes kicked the floor and fell over.

I think a few key decisions went against us.  The one above but crucially with the first goal - and I need to see this again - it appeared that the free kick was taken from the wring place whilst the ball was still moving.  Man U were effectively played on.  The ref can make mistakes of judgement but he should not have allowed Man U to do that.

They took a few free kicks from the wrong place, he did finally get on top of their stealing yards on throw ins. On the free kick, I couldn't see the foul by Benteke at the time and still don't see it now I've seen the highlights on MOTD.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I hope Randy has the genuine appetite to start building once more now.  We have a window of about two years to build a team around the likes of Benteke, if we can get the players in and become a force again then who knows what could happen.   

Surely you know that won't happen?

He's lost interest and he seems to be happy for us to tread water, although we may drown unless the midfield is sorted out.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

We are same as Arsenal.

Except they are in the Champions League every season and have home gates of 60,000.

[nigel]

Right. I just watched the whole second half. The reason that we lost is simple. We stopped playing in the cautious way that earned the lead, chased more goals and the game was wide open.

At 2-0, PL should have made defensive substitutions e.g. Holman for Weimann plus KEA for Ireland and shut up shop. It was way too up tempo and open - exactly what MU thrive upon.

For how many more years will we be so infuriatingly fucking naive?

I can see your point, but, Could you imagine the comments had he done that?
Even if we'd have hung on he'd have been slated in some quarters for inviting them on. (not by me I hasten to add)
I felt they were there for the taking at 2-0, and had we had the rub of the green with their first goal, when the ball got stuck under his feet only for it to roll perfectly for him, I honestly believe we'd have won.

[peter w]

To be ultra critical Clark was at fault for the first and third goals. He didn't react at at all to Hernandez going through and didn't put his leg out to block any attempted shot, he just ran with him. Lack of defending instinct maybe?But he should have done better.

[Legion]

No bias in these highlight selections!

[Villafirst]

KEA made a mess of his control that led up to the free-kick for their third goal. He had control but he allowed it to squirm away from him; having said that, it didn't look a free-kick as they were both jostling for the ball. But that's it, Manure get these decisions every time from over generous ref's and if you work on percentages, it's no wonder they win so many games.

[Risso]

To be ultra critical Clark was at fault for the first and third goals. He didn't react at at all to Hernandez going through and didn't put his leg out to block any attempted shot, he just ran with him. Lack of defending instinct maybe?But he should have done better.

I agree Pete, he just doesn't seem to have that defender's instinct at all.  I think he'd be a better defensive midfielder to be honest, and would think about playing him there ahead of KEA and Delph, neither of whom are very good.

[Risso]

Obviously disappointed but  to be fair we didn't capitulate and they were exceptional for about half an hour. During that spell we still looked to get forward and create ourselves. Other dropped 3 points against this lot is usually the result  of our bottle going  and us hanging on for grim death. not last night. For that we should be proud of the belief the team had in themselves. Carry this type of performance on week in week out and we'll be challenging at the right endof the table.

Southampton "had a go" at them at home, with the same result, and are still in the bottom three. 

[silhillvilla]

The defending for goal 3 was abysmal but by then the die was cast.