Aston Villa v Liverpool Post-Match Thread

[eastie]

Sylla is decent enough , no complaints about him but its demoralising to see people like bannan and kea on the pitch - i not sure they are good enough even for the championship.

[PaulWinch again]

What's strange is that it's the players who have come through our youth system who seem to be prone to absolutely horrendous and often fatal errors.

[PeterWithesShin]

Disappointed. Liverpool aren't all that. Still, I think we've shown in last few games that we've got enough to stay up.

And being on holiday & watching the game in Lyne Regis (Dorset), at least you didn't have to watch the game with Liverpool fans from Yorkshire and local residents. No idea at all. "Why the booing Downing? Did he play for them?".

Can't have been any worse than it was for me selling by the away end. Reminded me of why since I was a kid i've hated their support. Mostly Welsh or Scandanavian, with the ones that are scousers living up to most stereotypes. Including selling dodgy Scouse merchandise out of a shopping trolley.

And most of the older Scousers think they are Jimmy Tarbuck. Two stood near me taking the piss while I was selling.

"Not selling many there la" And whenever I sold one "that's a result there kid" etc

After 5 minutes of it one said to the other (deliberately loud enough so i'd hear) "At least Big Issue sellers keep 80p from every sale"
Me "It's good that you sell enough to afford away games"

Funnily enough they left about 30 seconds later. Does that count as a Villa victory?

[PeterWithesShin]

What's strange is that it's the players who have come through our youth system who seem to be prone to absolutely horrendous and often fatal errors.

What about Bennett, Lowton and even Benteke? It's got less to do with our academy and more that they are young IMO.

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah I suppose, but it just does my head in that our team seems intent on committing suicide.

[neo_Villan]

Just seen the Baker challenge...what an absolute cock of the highest order! What on earth was he thinking making a challenge like that for?!

The Scottish translation of that is 'He is a young lad and will learn from that mistake.' Then again, I saw him make his full debut and he was sent off for a balls height challenge.

Ah yes. The FA Cup game against Blackburn. I was the other side (DE stand) from the challenge, but that one looked a certain red. Another needless one as well, as we were 3-1 up and cruising at the time IIRC. Don't think it was his full debut though. That was against Wigan in the league.

[SoccerHQ]

Our central midfield is so poor that Delph starting next week will improve it. And I'm no fan of him.

[eastie]

Disappointed. Liverpool aren't all that. Still, I think we've shown in last few games that we've got enough to stay up.

And being on holiday & watching the game in Lyne Regis (Dorset), at least you didn't have to watch the game with Liverpool fans from Yorkshire and local residents. No idea at all. "Why the booing Downing? Did he play for them?".

Can't have been any worse than it was for me selling by the away end. Reminded me of why since I was a kid i've hated their support. Mostly Welsh or Scandanavian, with the ones that are scousers living up to most stereotypes. Including selling dodgy Scouse merchandise out of a shopping trolley.

And most of the older Scousers think they are Jimmy Tarbuck. Two stood near me taking the piss while I was selling.

"Not selling many there la" And whenever I sold one "that's a result there kid" etc

After 5 minutes of it one said to the other (deliberately loud enough so i'd hear) "At least Big Issue sellers keep 80p from every sale"
Me "It's good that you sell enough to afford away games"

Funnily enough they left about 30 seconds later. Does that count as a Villa victory?

What dodgy merchandise were they selling ?

[PeterWithesShin]

Just the usual, scarves, hats, gloves, car stereos, hubcaps.

Okay, I may have made the last two up. Still can't believe though they were in the middle of Witton Lane selling out of a shopping trolley though.

[Pat McMahon]

I agree with a lot of what RudybLambert said on page 5. Having calmed down a bit, I can now add my own tuppence worth:

Positives
Generally a bright and positive first half performance, with decent movement and a few chances that were convertible
We opened them up a fair bit down the left flank, and Bennett had one of his better games for us. Lowton too looked positive in the first half.
Baker made some decent first half interceptions, one top drawer against Suarez (however  I think he is making last ditch tackles through poor positioning and absence of speed)
Periods of good possession
Bannan's willingness to take the ball, even though not playing well
We actually created a fair few chances - Gabby's point blank miss, the first half header off the line(Weimann?), the Bennett cross that 2 forwards missed, Lowton's attempted chip of Reina ( assuming it wasn't a shit cross) Benteke's header off the line and that miss by Weimann.

Negatives
An utterly woeful second half- God only knows what Lambert said to them at half time
The absence of leadership on the pitch - we looked beaten at 1-2 with 30 minutes to go
The absence of belief and fight in the second half, both on and off the pitch. You could have heard a pin drop for the last 35 minutes - I felt we were as defeated in the stands as the players were on the pitch
Poor substitutions - KEA was awful and Zog was roaming around too centrally. With Gabby moving inside this meant we had no width at all. It was almost, but not quite, as bad as Bradford at home and seemed utterly clueless
Too many "coward's passes" - playing a pointless ball sideways or backwards to another player hoping that they will take responsibility. This frequently leads to a pointless Guzan or Baker hoof, leading me to reminisce fondly of Southgate's 60 yard cross field passes to the advertising hoardings
The forwards too often being caught on their heels and being beaten to the ball
The realisation that we have no subs of any impact

I thought the ref had a good game and was even handed (Lee Mason?)

And fair play to theLiverpool fans. From where i was sat they stood and applauded to a man in the 19 minute. If Rodgers did so too, then fair play to him as well.

[PeterWithesShin]

Rodgers definitely applauded for about 30-40 seconds. And as you say, fair play to the Liverpool fans as well.

[neo_Villan]

Just seen the Baker challenge...what an absolute cock of the highest order! What on earth was he thinking making a challenge like that for?!

He didn't expect Bucktooth to cut inside (which he should of as that is a typical Suarez move) and thought he was therefore going to get ball and man. Had he legally clattered Suarez, we would probably all be still wanking over it now to be fair. Baker is a pretty rash player though. As we have seen in the past, his actions precede his thought-process. Which is why he got concussion against QPR.

Which is why he'll never be a top player.

Sadly I am starting to agree with your opinion. Hate writing any player off and especially one of our academy lads. But looks like he may join the others from that great reserve side -Fonz, Albrighton, Clark, Bannan (really thought he was going to be something special)- who aren't quite good enough.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Putting KEA anywhere near the pitch is about as useful as playing an oversized, threadbare, clockwork Teddy Bear.

[neo_Villan]

Rodgers definitely applauded for about 30-40 seconds. And as you say, fair play to the Liverpool fans as well.

Their fans responded well at Anfield too. I therefore assume that the Liverpool fans who actually go to the games are a more likeable bunch than the twunts you get on RAWK, Twitter and in in the media.

[PaulWinch again]

Just seen the Baker challenge...what an absolute cock of the highest order! What on earth was he thinking making a challenge like that for?!

He didn't expect Bucktooth to cut inside (which he should of as that is a typical Suarez move) and thought he was therefore going to get ball and man. Had he legally clattered Suarez, we would probably all be still wanking over it now to be fair. Baker is a pretty rash player though. As we have seen in the past, his actions precede his thought-process. Which is why he got concussion against QPR.

Which is why he'll never be a top player.

Sadly I am starting to agree with your opinion. Hate writing any player off and especially one of our academy lads. But looks like he may join the others from that great reserve side -Fonz, Albrighton, Clark, Bannan (really thought he was going to be something special)- who aren't quite good enough.

His lunging in is a symptom of his lack of positional awareness sadly.