Chelsea v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Witton Warrior]

Nearly a day afterwards I feel strangely calm about the whole match now. Everyone, with a few obvious exceptions, think we were hard done to - We took it to Chelsea away from home and matched them - The Beast scored a cracker. Just want AndyW to sharpen up his shooting and we will be fine!

[Chipsticks]

Slow motion replay of Ivanovic's forearm incident.

[Dr Butler]

Chipsticks I remember it being abit more ferocious than that...

[The Left Side]

Gutted that we didn't get a point but very proud of the team, the Villa have definitely turned a corner.

[ktvillan]

We didn't get good ones on Saturday, we got what was or correct. We should expect that and not accept that we will be shafted in certain games because we got fair refereeing in a previous game.
And even in the Arsenal game we had some harsh bookings and their keeper could and should have been sent off.

Concentrating on the positives is right and I agree. But to disregard corrupt and incompetent officiating isn't right either. It feels like accepting it and I can't do that.

We'll quite, and the swings and roundabouts argument of gpbarr and others is simply not backed up by the facts.
Both penalty awards at Arsenal were correct according to ALL pundits I've seen comment thereon.   Both denied goal scoring opportunities, thus by the letter of the law,  both should have resulted in straight reds for the Arsenal players involved.  Neither did.  The second yellow for Koscielny is the only decision I would say we were lucky to get - he did very little - but arguably he should not have been on the pitch by then.  And it also meant that Metersacker's two footed lunge at Benteke was missed instead.  So I'm not sure how that is supposed to balance out Ivanovic's three possible straight red offences (two elbows and a high dangerous kick), for which he didn't even get a second yellow,  a very good case for a penalty denied, and the winning goal looking offside.  I had thought people might be exaggerating the ref's influence last night, but I've just watched the re-run on SKy and I can honestly say I was quite shocked at how bad he was - I've rarely seen such a blatantly biased refereeing performance as that second half last night, Ivanovic was getting away with murder.   

[jembob]

Just watched the highlights again from both Arse and Chelsea game. We seem to be picking up a lot of yellow cards, but I like the fact that our team are now getting in the face of the opposition and the refs. It's been too long since any Villa player has actively intimidated the officials and it's well overdue. I loved seeing Brad getting a yellow card after the game last night for having a go at the useless ref.

I want to see us win, play good football and not roll over for anybody. The signs in the first few games are most promising.

You loved 'seeing Brad getting a yellow card for having a go at the useless ref'......Christ!

Yep. In previous seasons we would have just seen the team mumble to each other and dawdle off the pitch. To see Brad getting so passionate about the game and taking it to the ref is exactly what we need to see our players doing - the likes of Terry and Giggs have been doing it for years and it's no surprise that decisions go their way.

The point is that you should be happy to see our players are not going to take that short of thing without a fight. Nobody wants to see yellow cards but I definitely expect to see a reaction. Perhaps you'd rather see the players timidly going home without voicing an objection, but I want a team full of winners.

[ez]

Pleased with the performance. We were unlucky not to get a point at Chelsea who many tip to be champions.

[Colin B]

I would like to thank the person who recommended parking in Edith Grove. I duly did so and proved to be handy for the game and as reasonably priced as could be expected for that part of London at £3 per hour in a secure place

[LeeB]

Just watched the highlights again from both Arse and Chelsea game. We seem to be picking up a lot of yellow cards, but I like the fact that our team are now getting in the face of the opposition and the refs. It's been too long since any Villa player has actively intimidated the officials and it's well overdue. I loved seeing Brad getting a yellow card after the game last night for having a go at the useless ref.

I want to see us win, play good football and not roll over for anybody. The signs in the first few games are most promising.

You loved 'seeing Brad getting a yellow card for having a go at the useless ref'......Christ!

Yep. In previous seasons we would have just seen the team mumble to each other and dawdle off the pitch. To see Brad getting so passionate about the game and taking it to the ref is exactly what we need to see our players doing - the likes of Terry and Giggs have been doing it for years and it's no surprise that decisions go their way.

The point is that you should be happy to see our players are not going to take that short of thing without a fight. Nobody wants to see yellow cards but I definitely expect to see a reaction. Perhaps you'd rather see the players timidly going home without voicing an objection, but I want a team full of winners.

I'm with you all the way brother.

[villajk]

Just seen the replay of the incidents from last night's game.  Absolute disgrace.  Kevin Friend, you're not fit to referee. Chelsea has some cheating b******s in their team.

[onje_villa]

Terrific performance last night, so proud of the team.

I tell you what, Chelsea know they were in a game last night! They were delighted to get away with the 3 points. Massive change in mindset from last season. Very encouraging.

[James]

Am I to assume that Friend will be reffing Yeovil verses Derby this weekend?

A good point.  Aren't they supposed to be independently assessed after every game?

Whatever the case, his performance should not go unpunished.   He missed the two biggest decisions of the game.

I'm not sure that he missed them exactly, he just didn't do what the laws of the game required him to do.

When refs went professional, wasn't it so that they could be made more accountable? Well, how did that go then? Who exactly are they accountable to? When did the last incompetent one get sacked? What will happen to Kevin 'Jose's' Friend? Yup! Nothing. Accountable? Yeah, right!

[Percy McCarthy]

We didn't get good ones on Saturday, we got what was or correct. We should expect that and not accept that we will be shafted in certain games because we got fair refereeing in a previous game.
And even in the Arsenal game we had some harsh bookings and their keeper could and should have been sent off.

Concentrating on the positives is right and I agree. But to disregard corrupt and incompetent officiating isn't right either. It feels like accepting it and I can't do that.

We'll quite, and the swings and roundabouts argument of gpbarr and others is simply not backed up by the facts.
Both penalty awards at Arsenal were correct according to ALL pundits I've seen comment thereon.   Both denied goal scoring opportunities, thus by the letter of the law,  both should have resulted in straight reds for the Arsenal players involved.  Neither did.  The second yellow for Koscielny is the only decision I would say we were lucky to get - he did very little - but arguably he should not have been on the pitch by then.  And it also meant that Metersacker's two footed lunge at Benteke was missed instead.  So I'm not sure how that is supposed to balance out Ivanovic's three possible straight red offences (two elbows and a high dangerous kick), for which he didn't even get a second yellow,  a very good case for a penalty denied, and the winning goal looking offside.  I had thought people might be exaggerating the ref's influence last night, but I've just watched the re-run on SKy and I can honestly say I was quite shocked at how bad he was - I've rarely seen such a blatantly biased refereeing performance as that second half last night, Ivanovic was getting away with murder.   

Excellent, well-argued articulate post kt. And dead right as well.

[adrenachrome]

Just watched the highlights again from both Arse and Chelsea game. We seem to be picking up a lot of yellow cards, but I like the fact that our team are now getting in the face of the opposition and the refs. It's been too long since any Villa player has actively intimidated the officials and it's well overdue. I loved seeing Brad getting a yellow card after the game last night for having a go at the useless ref.

I want to see us win, play good football and not roll over for anybody. The signs in the first few games are most promising.

You loved 'seeing Brad getting a yellow card for having a go at the useless ref'......Christ!

Yep. In previous seasons we would have just seen the team mumble to each other and dawdle off the pitch. To see Brad getting so passionate about the game and taking it to the ref is exactly what we need to see our players doing - the likes of Terry and Giggs have been doing it for years and it's no surprise that decisions go their way.

The point is that you should be happy to see our players are not going to take that short of thing without a fight. Nobody wants to see yellow cards but I definitely expect to see a reaction. Perhaps you'd rather see the players timidly going home without voicing an objection, but I want a team full of winners.

Well said, Jembob.

Or in the vernacular of a bygone era:

Get into them
Fuck them up

[danlanza]

Just watched the highlights again from both Arse and Chelsea game. We seem to be picking up a lot of yellow cards, but I like the fact that our team are now getting in the face of the opposition and the refs. It's been too long since any Villa player has actively intimidated the officials and it's well overdue. I loved seeing Brad getting a yellow card after the game last night for having a go at the useless ref.

I want to see us win, play good football and not roll over for anybody. The signs in the first few games are most promising.

You loved 'seeing Brad getting a yellow card for having a go at the useless ref'......Christ!

Yep. In previous seasons we would have just seen the team mumble to each other and dawdle off the pitch. To see Brad getting so passionate about the game and taking it to the ref is exactly what we need to see our players doing - the likes of Terry and Giggs have been doing it for years and it's no surprise that decisions go their way.

The point is that you should be happy to see our players are not going to take that short of thing without a fight. Nobody wants to see yellow cards but I definitely expect to see a reaction. Perhaps you'd rather see the players timidly going home without voicing an objection, but I want a team full of winners.

Well said, Jembob.

Or in the vernacular of a bygone era:

Get into them
Fuck them up

Agreed. We have been walked over for years by the so called top four. Fuck them. We have a right to argue about any decision, same as they do.
Mr Lambert seems to be doing a Fergie in his younger years. Oh how i hope he stays with us and we get close to our potential. It is about time that Villa stuck up for themselves and Lambert is doing exactly that, arguing with Jose last night was superb and well overdue. This will be the difference between us last season and us this season. We don't take anybody's shit anymore. We are Villa and Lambert is Villa.