Aston Villa v Newcastle United Post-Match Thread

[danno]

I saw a few people in the Trinity standing and clapping them off.
and a few more nearer the tunnel.
But I always thought that was just  par for the course.
Most of us just headed straight for the exits.

[Greg N'Ash]

well thats the thing with standing ovations - its normally the majority doing it. otherwise its just some nutters. Mebbe he was looking at the away end.

[richtheholtender]

It must have seemed like one, compared to what he usually gets.

[Chris Stares]

I saw a few people in the Trinity standing and clapping them off.
and a few more nearer the tunnel.
But I always thought that was just  par for the course.
Most of us just headed straight for the exits.

There were a lot of people in the Holte who stood and applauded the players off.  Admittedly they were standing because they were heading for the exits but from what I could see most of the congregation was applauding.  Lambert came over and applauded the Holte back.

[tomd2103]

I saw a few people in the Trinity standing and clapping them off.
and a few more nearer the tunnel.
But I always thought that was just  par for the course.
Most of us just headed straight for the exits.

There were a lot of people in the Holte who stood and applauded the players off.  Admittedly they were standing because they were heading for the exits but from what I could see most of the congregation was applauding.  Lambert came over and applauded the Holte back.

Same in North Stand Lower, though Lambert didn't applaud us!!

[danno]

I saw a few people in the Trinity standing and clapping them off.
and a few more nearer the tunnel.
But I always thought that was just  par for the course.
Most of us just headed straight for the exits.

There were a lot of people in the Holte who stood and applauded the players off.  Admittedly they were standing because they were heading for the exits but from what I could see most of the congregation was applauding.  Lambert came over and applauded the Holte back.

Same in North Stand Lower, though Lambert didn't applaud us!!

Puts me and the other folks around me in the upper north stand to shame, I was more concerned
with getting to the stairs and out as quick as I could!

[Zakk Fatt]

I heard Newcastle cheer the final whistle from outside the ground.  I think we should just stop now.  I am finding the embarrasment and shame hard to bear.  Can we just sack it and agree now to go directly into the Championship without having the sheer misery of having to play any more games.  Let's just give all our opponents the 3 points they would have got anyway had the game been played and let all the players go out on loan from now to Championship sides so they keep fit for the start of the new season.  The manager could then go to every Norwich game and try and remember what the fuck he used to do before he came to Birmingham.

Just put the cover on the pitch and last man out flick off the lights, cheers, see you in August.

[Matt C]

First half amongst the worst if not the worst I've ever seen from a Villa side. The lack of quality is one thing but the utter defeatism was something else entirely to behold. Awful.

Second half was improved, we at least got in their faces and gave it a good go and you could construct a legitimate argument that we deserved to take something from the game. Admittedly it wasn't full of quality but there was commitment, tempo and a fairly basic but semi-effective way of using the players at our disposal. It might not be pretty but if we're to stand any chance of getting out of this its the way we need to go - and Lambert needs to stick to one formation too. Weimann has to play.

The infinitely frustrating thing remains that if you added a commanding centre half and midfielder to that team I'm sure we'd be OK. But that's hardly a revelation to anyone and I'm bloody sick of talking about it.

[pooligan]

Standing ovation ? We did lose to a shit team who had not won away all season did'nt we or did i miss something .

[bones.]

Standing ovation ? We did lose to a shit team who had not won away all season did'nt we or did i miss something .

Hes trying to keep the fans onside which makes sense for someone in his position. It dosent matter what really happened, all that counts is what people believe and announcing Villa recieved a standing ovation in the national press will result in most people thinking that we did. If he starts to complain about fans giving him or the team stick he will lose support very quickly. When managers start complaining about the clubs supporters they are usually on their way out.

[adam#1]

Standing ovation ? We did lose to a shit team who had not won away all season did'nt we or did i miss something .

Hes trying to keep the fans onside which makes sense for someone in his position. It dosent matter what really happened, all that counts is what people believe and announcing Villa recieved a standing ovation in the national press will result in most people thinking that we did. If he starts to complain about fans giving him or the team stick he will lose support very quickly. When managers start complaining about the clubs supporters they are usually on their way out.

I think its more to do with the players....play poorly like in the first half and you get booed off, play well and you receive standing ovations. A little bit of psychology....

[baddowvillans]

A few thoughts.

1.  The second half WAS improved but unlike so many on here I have no confidence based on recent experience that the manager or the pkayers can/will recreate this in oyr nect game.
2.  Although improved it still for me owed to much to some passion (not enough if thst of late) and hopeful long ball for Benteke's strength or Gabby' s psce. After the first couple of instances even Newcastle sussed thus and dealt with it
3.  Bent. The wrong choice not because I havent seen him look remotely interested in aVilla shirt in the last 18 months but because the set up just didnt favour his style and Lambert - in tjus game or any other - doesnt look inclined to plsy a formation thst does. He should have been sold on Jan 1 to fund tge well documented desperate needs 
4. Despite everything I have always believed we would not go down and thst how ever bad we were there were three worse teans who would bail us out. After the last three home games I no longer have these delusions.  Whats worse is I now fear we will go down bottom. How did our chairmen and a succession of managers dismantle our club so completely
5.  Steven Taylor. No Villa player should have needed to take action.   This is ungentlemany conduc/unsporting behaviour and a clesr yelliw card. The fact that neither Mike Dean or his linesman thought so suggests that even they think nothing can save us

I live in hope and wil be back for West Ham but since Wigan have felt that unless we change the manager ir the players we would go down.  We look like doing neither so.........

[brontebilly]

Disappointing result, thought on the balance of the game we deserved a point but no doubt we were thoroughly outplayed both on the pitch and on the sideline in the first half. Brian Little was co-commentator and he kept saying from early on that Bannan and Westwood were getting thoroughly outplayed in the midfield. There was no need to go with 3 centre halves and the weakest area of the team by far (centre midfield) was left like lambs to the slaughter as a result. I think just before the second goal he moved Baker to left back but it was crucial. Did our best in the second half but with Weimann limping and Gabby fizzling out I never felt confident we would get a second. At least playing with 3 up top kept their previously dominant full backs occupied but despite the best efforts of Clark in particular who drove the ball forward into midfield continuously, the lack of a full back who could cross the ball left Gabby and Weimann a bit more isolated as the half wore on. Lowton really needs to improve on this aspect of his game. Thought Clark, Nzogbia and Benteke did well as did the 2 subs. Baker's lack of footballing skills were exposed continuously at full back though he tried his best. The 2 in midfield improved naturally as Newcastle retreated but Bannan just ain't good enough and Westwood ideally wouldn't be starting either but 3rd choice. As the chopping and changing at left back has indicated none of the 4 options are good enough. With Dunne injured again and Vlaar not exactly back to his best, a centre back on loan is desperately required. Midfield we need one decent player with steel and grit. Unless Bent can be traded (thought he was lively enough to be fair) it isn't likely we will be bringing in some decent players. 14 games to go mean all isn't lost and a group of teams above us all sinking. Getting a couple of players in would give us a great chance of staying up and give the players a big lift. Failing that we are f*cked

[peter w]

Sitting watching the first half all i could think was that if that team was playing in the Championship now you'd give them no chance of being in the promotion fight. And that's been our problem for the majority of the season. Too often we've looked like a team barely good enough for the Championship.

[Meanwood Villa]

I heard Newcastle cheer the final whistle from outside the ground.  I think we should just stop now.  I am finding the embarrasment and shame hard to bear.  Can we just sack it and agree now to go directly into the Championship without having the sheer misery of having to play any more games.  Let's just give all our opponents the 3 points they would have got anyway had the game been played and let all the players go out on loan from now to Championship sides so they keep fit for the start of the new season.  The manager could then go to every Norwich game and try and remember what the fuck he used to do before he came to Birmingham.

Just put the cover on the pitch and last man out flick off the lights, cheers, see you in August.

Can we do this please?