Aston Villa v Manchester United Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

Of course Baker isn't good enough to start week in week out. It's why he's 4th choice CB, how many clubs have a 4th choice who is good enough?

Right but we know Vlaar's injury record. You'd hope he could be competent if he's 4th choice and he just isn't.

He can do an ok job short term, but virtually no 4th choice CB in the league can do the job week in week out. It's why they are 4th choice in the first place.

[supertom]

are grealish , carruthers and that robinson lad any worse than this lot.

Nope. I honestly don't get why we'd buy so many kids and play them in place of our own. We have one of the best academy's around. Obviously it doesn't always work out, but I'd rather take a punt on players like Grealish, Carruthers, Robinson, Johnson etc, who are also brought up trying to play decent football.
Our side is young so it makes no difference if more of the nippers we play happen to be from our academy. Bakers had his shot and isn't up to it, so lets see what Donacien can do for example.
We're so sorely lacking in a bit of quality and guile in midfield that I think players like those mentioned above could actually offer us at least 10% more spark in attack.

[Jon Crofts]

Just one point - do you think sacking Clarke is suddenly going to transform the Stripeyfilth?

Depends entirely on who they replace him with doesn't it?  If it's someone better, then it's possible.

Anyone out there, likely to come, who will do it for us?

Steve Clarke! He'll get us playing like Barcelona.

He might be able to get the players passing the ball. That would be a massive improvement.

Passing it to each other rather than the opposition as well please.

[itbrvilla]

I don't care what anyone else says ,this clueless idiot in charge has got to go.Since he has been our manager every other premier manager with the same kind of record has been sacked

We'll be joining them soon.

Might be why most of those teams are either a few places or even a division below us.

[PaulWinch again]

Of course Baker isn't good enough to start week in week out. It's why he's 4th choice CB, how many clubs have a 4th choice who is good enough?

Right but we know Vlaar's injury record. You'd hope he could be competent if he's 4th choice and he just isn't.

He can do an ok job short term, but virtually no 4th choice CB in the league can do the job week in week out. It's why they are 4th choice in the first place.

See I'm not sure he can do an ok job, whenever he plays centre half we concede goals. You want your 4th choice to be a player at the end of the career who has experience.

[Matt Collins]

Criticism of Clark harsh I think. Can't say I remember any chances coming down his side. I think he's much much better this season than last

[PaulWinch again]

It's not Clark that's the issue, it's the other 3.

[Dave Cooper please]

I don't care what anyone else says ,this clueless idiot in charge has got to go.Since he has been our manager every other premier manager with the same kind of record has been sacked

We'll be joining them soon.

Might be why most of those teams are either a few places or even a division below us.

You probably said that last season, and the season before and the......

[JUAN PABLO]

wank header

[Morten]

I actually got the line-up I wanted more or less. But only because we have no one better than Luna and Clark. I am afraid he will stick with Luna for a long time, as he has just bought him. "needs to adapt", "only just got here", "learning a new language", "dont forget, he is just 22" etc. bla, bla, bla. Strange to want Bennett back from injury so much.

[aj2k77]

Of course Baker isn't good enough to start week in week out. It's why he's 4th choice CB, how many clubs have a 4th choice who is good enough?

Right but we know Vlaar's injury record. You'd hope he could be competent if he's 4th choice and he just isn't.

There shouldn't be a single player in the squad who isn't of the level which you play at, the quality drops no doubt when you get to 4th choice but being honest Baker is probably a 1st Division defender. To go with Luna who would have been playing in the Spanish 2nd, Sylla from the French 2nd, Westwood and Lowton from our 1st Division, Bowery from the 2nd. Too many players being asked to play waaaaaay above their means.

[Tuscans]

It's not Clark that's the issue, it's the other 3.

Yea...Clarks not great but the other 3 are by far a lot worse.

[oldham_villa]

Is this our worst midfield since David Hunt and Mark Lillis?

[eastie]

Just one point - do you think sacking Clarke is suddenly going to transform the Stripeyfilth?

Depends entirely on who they replace him with doesn't it?  If it's someone better, then it's possible.

Didn't do southampton any harm - the key is getting the right man - I'm not convinced lambert should stay but would give him a bit longer .

[Jon Crofts]

Criticism of Clark harsh I think. Can't say I remember any chances coming down his side. I think he's much much better this season than last

Clark has improved but hard not to from where he was at some points last season, Baker on the other hand is a spectator, positionally inept and technically inadequate.