Aston Villa v Manchester United Post-Match Thread

[Richard E]

Rooney might have been out of position but a couple of the passes he found Valencia with in the first half were outstanding.

[paulcomben]

Gabby's red card will be rescinded. Even BBC pundits agree.

[Tayls_7]

Well done lads. A great effort today and we got the very least we deserved. Every player put a shift in and I can see us building from this. The play wasn't slowed down by Westy or Cleverley. The three centre halves looked formidable. I am thrilled that the much maligned Clark is in form. Sanchez looks a great addition. The best performers were wearing Claret and Blue. Gabby didn't deserve a yellow.

[villan from luton]

Cannot believe the moans about trying to play football from the back, how long have people been moaning about Brad kicking it long?

It's all about using the tactic in the right circumstances and with some variety. At the moment Brad is under orders from Lambert (who made it very clear with his verbal and gestured instructions today) to pass it short/wide every time.

Mixing in some longer throws would keep the opposition honest and not allow them to defend such a high line.

Also, using this tactic when playing three at the back means that Carlos has to drop deep alongside Vlaar, thus leaving one less player in midfield for the player receiving the short/wide pass to look for.

Totally disagree, I saw Brad kicking long when needed. I like the way we have been trying to play, and we have mixed it up

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Gabby's red card will be rescinded. Even BBC pundits agree.

Said so to my mate Winston within seconds of the far too hasty, incorrect decision by the one-eyed ref from Greater Manchester.

[pauliewalnuts]

Seriously? Did he?

Yeah he got subbed off at half time.  I actually feel a bit sorry for him because he had that illness and it's completely broken him as a player.

A friend of mine had ulcerative colitis, which is the condition Fletcher has, and it is truly horrific. If mismanaged it can lead to you living with a colostomy bag, and the rules for living with it are pretty all-encompassing.

I feel very sorry for Fletcher, too.

[Nastylee]

For those claiming there were no tactics - are you for real? The opposition were on the back of six straight wins where their attacking talent has carried them all the way. Lambert changed the whole system to largely nullify the likes of Mata, RVP, etc. The fact they had so few clear cut chances is testament to the formation and style of play. When Gabby went, he again made subs to change the formation which wrestled their spell of dominance back into an evenly fought contest during the last 15 mins (which we could've scored in) when most would have feared the inevitable. You may not like the manager but don't ignore the facts.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I continue to be delighted, amazed and somehow smugly satisfied at the way in which Okore has played with such poise and flair, and Clark with real strength and maturity.
I really hope we can keep them, and keep them together.

[Matt C]

Watching the Villa today was an enjoyable experience.

Progress.

[Rudy65]

Rooney might have been out of position but a couple of the passes he found Valencia with in the first half were outstanding.

Yep, but we stood off him and allowed him to make those passes. That said, it was almost a side ways pass and didnt get them very far.

Rooney wasted in that position.....but who cares

[supertom]

For those claiming there were no tactics - are you for real? The opposition were on the back of six straight wins where their attacking talent has carried them all the way. Lambert changed the whole system to largely nullify the likes of Mata, RVP, etc. The fact they had so few clear cut chances is testament to the formation and style of play. When Gabby went, he again made subs to change the formation which wrestled their spell of dominance back into an evenly fought contest during the last 15 mins (which we could've scored in) when most would have feared the inevitable. You may not like the manager but don't ignore the facts.

I'm no fan of Lambert and he gets it wrong more than he gets it right, but today, full credit. It almost seemed inevitable we'd capitulate when Gabby went. We didn't.
He earned his cheque this week.

[Fin Feds Dad]

Hopefully Gabby's red card won't get rescinded. I think we'll play much better in the next 3 games without him as displayed in the 25 minutes he wasn't on for.

Spot on - he's a waste of a shirt . He hides .

[LeeB]

It's days like this that make our prolonged poor spells so frustrating.

Lambert has got it in him. At times he pulls some absolute blinders, he's got Brendan Rogers in his pocket, and yet we see long spells when he can't see the bloody wood for the trees.

Fingers crossed he's learned enough from his mistakes, getting it right more often with what now looks a half decent team could make a big difference in this league.

[john2710]

Well deserved point & we had the better chances.

Lowton showed why he's not a premiership defender, he never laid a finger on Young all afternoon. Hutton would never have been beaten that easily nor that often. I was glad when they moved Young to the right.

On the sending off, Mason saw what he wanted to see, nearly tore his hamstring as he raced over the issue the red card. At best he guessed, he couldn't have seen a sending off offence because there wasn't one.

Okore was hugely impressive, again.

 

[Rudy65]

Seriously? Did he?

Yeah he got subbed off at half time.  I actually feel a bit sorry for him because he had that illness and it's completely broken him as a player.

Shows how weak the Man Utd midfield is when it consists of an out of position Rooney and the remains of a once decent player in Fletcher.

Even the presence of the man, the legend, THE Michael Carrick in midfield for the second half didn't help them much.

Fletcher was no worse than any of the other Utd midfield. Too many square passes. He had a great chance to shoot after about 30 mins and chose to cross to the back post which went put for a goal kick. He is, and always was, an average midfield player