Philippe Senderos

[pbavfckuwait]

Swiss Phil's treatment of Mario was straight out of the Roy Keane school of winding up your opponents, the next guy who will be treated to this will be Chelsea's Costa.
As has been stated fed up of Aston Villa nice guys, more like Aston Villa nice but dim, now we seem capable of giving a bit out, he may need to be a bit more sneaky with it, but John Terry does seem to get away with it and has done for how many years.
Go get them Swiss Phil.

[richard moore]

The bigger picture for me is not the kick itself but the message it sends. I realize it was a bit silly but for too long we've been treated like everyone else's doormat. Now we have a back line that will hand it out, even if it costs us a yellow card or two. The back four today were all strong in the air and physically dominant. It's been a good while since we have been able to say that.

Spot on, he was a niggly, nasty bugger yesterday, and that's EXACTLY what we've been missing.

Yes, agree totally and I made this point on the post-match thread. I was debating with Villa fans in the pub in Chichester how last season for example, and before that, we used to just shrug our shoulders and walk away when we didn't get a pen or had a dodgy one awarded against us. We used to just fold under the slightest pressure in most games. I know one shouldn't condone being dirty or being in the ref's face and how it might be honourable not to be like that because we are Villa etc, but I think we'd all rather see us fronting up to some of these teams as we did yesterday

[supertom]

Swiss Phil's treatment of Mario was straight out of the Roy Keane school of winding up your opponents, the next guy who will be treated to this will be Chelsea's Costa.
As has been stated fed up of Aston Villa nice guys, more like Aston Villa nice but dim, now we seem capable of giving a bit out, he may need to be a bit more sneaky with it, but John Terry does seem to get away with it and has done for how many years.
Go get them Swiss Phil.

It's a bit of nous. Everyone knows the best way to nulify Mario is to wind him up. He'll do one of two things, he'll either do something silly like get himself sent off, or he'll cut a frustrated, miserable figure. If you give him the freedom to express himself and build up a bit of confidence he can destroy you, but we needled him all game. He had to drift to the middle of the pitch or out to the left just to touch the ball, and created nothing.

That said, doing the same to Costa might not be quite as effective. He seems more level headed (which granted isn't difficult to be in comparison to Mario) and he's shit hot right now. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed he gets injured before then, or Jose decides to rest him.

[Brend'Watkins]

His experience at the back gives us that solidity we have lacked for a fair few seasons now.  I hope he keeps up the good form as he's looking like our best acquisition this season so far.

[Matt Collins]

He's doing great. It does make you wonder though. We've been crying out for an experienced defender to play alongside vlaar for two years. Even if just on a free. Surely if we'd done that the last two seasons wouldn't have been so hairy

[ACVilla]

Swiss Phil's treatment of Mario was straight out of the Roy Keane school of winding up your opponents, the next guy who will be treated to this will be Chelsea's Costa.
As has been stated fed up of Aston Villa nice guys, more like Aston Villa nice but dim, now we seem capable of giving a bit out, he may need to be a bit more sneaky with it, but John Terry does seem to get away with it and has done for how many years.
Go get them Swiss Phil.

It's a bit of nous. Everyone knows the best way to nulify Mario is to wind him up. He'll do one of two things, he'll either do something silly like get himself sent off, or he'll cut a frustrated, miserable figure. If you give him the freedom to express himself and build up a bit of confidence he can destroy you, but we needled him all game. He had to drift to the middle of the pitch or out to the left just to touch the ball, and created nothing.

That said, doing the same to Costa might not be quite as effective. He seems more level headed (which granted isn't difficult to be in comparison to Mario) and he's shit hot right now. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed he gets injured before then, or Jose decides to rest him.

Costa is anything but level headed.

[TopDeck113]

...or Jose decides to rest him.

Not in a match that is the battle of the top two he won't... 

[SoccerHQ]

He's got to be careful though, another ref would've seen that and maybe sent him off. He did similar v Newcastle didn't he, lad got away from him and he just tripped him over.

Fair to say though so far he's completely surpassed my expectations.

[Pete3206]

I'm just delighted that he's not rubbish as I was told numerous times by sniggering non villa fans all summer.

[Dave Cooper please]

Three game ban coming for violent conduct I reckon.

Why? Even if the ref had seen the trip it would have been a yellow card at most.

[Gregorys Boy]

It is true there is a time and place, and player to use that sort of tactic as long as he keeps it in check then it can work for us.   So far he has made a difference but lets wait and see til we are really tested before we start claiming that our defenisve problems are sorted out.

[Risso]

Three game ban coming for violent conduct I reckon.

Why? Even if the ref had seen the trip it would have been a yellow card at most.

Surely it was just an accidental coming together? 

[Damo70]

I totally agree that we have been too nice and naive in recent times. We didn't win the big prizes back in the early eighties without the likes of Evans, McNaught and Withe being able to both take it and dish it out.

[Mister E]

He needs to be a little subtler than the foot-flick he attempted yesterday IMO

[supertom]

Swiss Phil's treatment of Mario was straight out of the Roy Keane school of winding up your opponents, the next guy who will be treated to this will be Chelsea's Costa.
As has been stated fed up of Aston Villa nice guys, more like Aston Villa nice but dim, now we seem capable of giving a bit out, he may need to be a bit more sneaky with it, but John Terry does seem to get away with it and has done for how many years.
Go get them Swiss Phil.

It's a bit of nous. Everyone knows the best way to nulify Mario is to wind him up. He'll do one of two things, he'll either do something silly like get himself sent off, or he'll cut a frustrated, miserable figure. If you give him the freedom to express himself and build up a bit of confidence he can destroy you, but we needled him all game. He had to drift to the middle of the pitch or out to the left just to touch the ball, and created nothing.

That said, doing the same to Costa might not be quite as effective. He seems more level headed (which granted isn't difficult to be in comparison to Mario) and he's shit hot right now. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed he gets injured before then, or Jose decides to rest him.

Costa is anything but level headed.

That is true...but in comparison to Balotelli...I'd also say Costa is a player more likely to get fired up and then pelt 3 past you if you wind him up, before going on to nut someone in the tunnel probably. Mario will sit on the ground sulking at the ref, then let some fireworks off in his hotel later in the day to relieve the tension.