Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Post-Match Thread

[Sexual Ealing]

MOTD didn't even mention our special anniversary.

This might count as sacrilege, and it's probably because, though alive at the time, I don't remember it, but I'm thoroughly sick of hearing about 1982. I'm glad that the lads involved got their plaudits, well-deserved as they are, and it was the ultimate achievement and must never be forgotten.

I can't help but feel, though, that the constant looking back impairs our future.

My apologies for any offence caused.

Can understand that viewpoint but it's not like we celebrate it every year (last time was in May 2007) and as I said in above post sadly many of them might not be alive to be on the pitch one more time in May 2032 so today was probably the last time we'll see them as a group gracing the hallowed VP turf.

Yeah, you're probably right there.

[ROBBO]

Ings just as the Liverpool game should have been a match winner, he is not the player of a couple of years ago and should have been replaced after half time. Why Gerrard like Smith continues to fit square pegs in to round holes is totally senseless. After half time Ings was a total passenger. We are under sized across the park and I will be looking for some bigger bodies to come in, thought Buendia made a big difference and why he is only given cameo's is worrying.

[sid1964]

The only things missing from the Villa players 1st half performance was them wearing sun glasses, sombrero's and flip flops

2nd half was better and maybe should of won the game at the end with the Watkins chance

Will need a big improvement if we are to beat Burnley on Thursday

[Drummond]

The only things missing from the Villa players 1st half performance was them wearing sun glasses, sombrero's and flip flops

2nd half was better and maybe should of won the game at the end with the Watkins chance

Will need a big improvement if we are to beat Burnley on Thursday

True, we've not beaten them since last week.

[Nunkin1965]

MOTD didn't even mention our special anniversary.

This might count as sacrilege, and it's probably because, though alive at the time, I don't remember it, but I'm thoroughly sick of hearing about 1982. I'm glad that the lads involved got their plaudits, well-deserved as they are, and it was the ultimate achievement and must never be forgotten.

I can't help but feel, though, that the constant looking back impairs our future.

My apologies for any offence caused.

Can understand that viewpoint but it's not like we celebrate it every year (last time was in May 2007) and as I said in above post sadly many of them might not be alive to be on the pitch one more time in May 2032 so today was probably the last time we'll see them as a group gracing the hallowed VP turf.

Yeah, you're probably right there.

It was great to celebrate the teams achievements yesterday.
Am I right in saying that these players have been largely ignored by previous owners?

[PeterWithe]

Was it Colin Gibson who was wearing the Panama hat?

[Exeter 77]

Was it Colin Gibson who was wearing the Panama hat?

Brendan Ormsby I think.

[Scratchins]

MOTD didn't even mention our special anniversary.

This might count as sacrilege, and it's probably because, though alive at the time, I don't remember it, but I'm thoroughly sick of hearing about 1982. I'm glad that the lads involved got their plaudits, well-deserved as they are, and it was the ultimate achievement and must never be forgotten.

I can't help but feel, though, that the constant looking back impairs our future.

My apologies for any offence caused.

Can understand that viewpoint but it's not like we celebrate it every year (last time was in May 2007) and as I said in above post sadly many of them might not be alive to be on the pitch one more time in May 2032 so today was probably the last time we'll see them as a group gracing the hallowed VP turf.

Yeah, you're probably right there.

It was great to celebrate the teams achievements yesterday.
Am I right in saying that these players have been largely ignored by previous owners?

Steven Gerrard showed more respect to them than a certain previous owner.

[Clampy]

It was a typical end of season game. Petty poor in the first half but better in the second, especially when Ramsey came on who I thought at the time was the wrong sub. We should have won it near the end though.

The pre-match celebrations were fantastic and well put together. It looked great from the Upper Holte. It was absolutley the right thing to do. A few of them may not be around for the next one. It really was wonderful.

[Drummond]

Our shape changed when Ramsey and Buendia came on. We started to move; prior to that our front two felt static and it was as if everyone was waiting on Coutinho to place the ball at their feet, rather than moving for it.

[Drummond]

I was quite emotional before kick off. Hadn't realised how much it meant, and also how sad it made me that we have to make such a big deal of something that happened 40 years ago. That's a lot of time to pass with only winning the League Cup to show for it.

[brian green]

Keep the faith Drum. The longer you follow them the better it gets.  Not the results.  The highs when they happen and they will.

[Risso]

The only things missing from the Villa players 1st half performance was them wearing sun glasses, sombrero's and flip flops

2nd half was better and maybe should of won the game at the end with the Watkins chance

Will need a big improvement if we are to beat Burnley on Thursday

True, we've not beaten them since last week.

Disgrace!

[Drummond]

Keep the faith Drum. The longer you follow them the better it gets.  Not the results.  The highs when they happen and they will.

Always Brian.

I really enjoyed the celebrations, and getting my photo taken with those legends was amazing, gives you hope it will happen again one day. It feels like we do things the right way these days too, all through the club.

My lad really enjoyed it yesterday, being complimented on his shirt (my original Umbro one), the stewards being great, Peter Withe almost begging him to have his photo taken with him. The flags which will go up in his room.

He's looking forward to telling all his mates he took the photos I posted, how many 7 year olds get to do that?!

The future is looking better than it has for a long time, it's just a shame we didn't capitalise on our position when we could have done...

[boozey182]

The '82 celebrations were great - it was genuinely moving, a lot more so than I expected.

The match was turgid. I was hoping for a Sheffield United 'Proud History Bright Future' sort of atmosphere and performance - the shackles off, a few decent performances leading up to it, Coutinho signed, beatable opposition who have little to play for. I thought we could have some fun, but we never really got going.

Gerrard has to work out a way that we can control games, particularly at home. We are, generally, so passive with and without the ball - it feels like we only make an impression on the game if the opposition let us. The build-up play was so slow yesterday, and we didn't press them at all. A typical end-of-season game perhaps, but still very disappointing and, quite frankly, boring.

It will be interesting to see what he does on Thursday - we played so well against Burnley last week with Buendia in the team so will he go for the same again? It will probably be a different type of game, as Burnley will be that little bit more desperate. It will be a proper fight I would have thought.

We have turned a bit of a corner, I think, from the run of losses. If we end up only losing to Liverpool and Man City for the last 6 matches of the season, there's no disgrace in that. But at the same time, we have only beaten teams in the relegation zone in that time. It sort of sums up Gerrard's tenure up to now - there are positives there if you are looking for them, but they are not overwhelming. 'Just about good enough' is probably the most accurate assessment. Not particularly inspiring, but it could be worse.