Bolton 1 Aston Villa 4 Post Match Thread.

[lovejoy]

We won.

What amazes me to this day is Emile Heskey somehow managed to play 110 games for us.

And 14 goals I think the caption said. For an international striker.

[Louzie0]

We won.

What amazes me to this day is Emile Heskey somehow managed to play 110 games for us.

And 14 goals I think the caption said. For an international striker.

Those were the days.

[Toronto Villa]

Doug and Sanson should start next match.   

Doug, yes.

If we really want Doug to stay surely he has to start some games soon. Sunday would be good

[Toronto Villa]

https://twitter.com/avfcofficial/status/1562195521141633025?s=21&t=rXtNXaSyeUNLL0mwh88_4Q

Practice clearly works

[LeonW]

We can’t play or see how effective Gerrard’s system is with McGinn in the team and without a forward who can more effectively hold the ball up, both in the ground and the air. We’re most at danger of conceding a goal when McGinn has possession...which makes the decision to make him captain absolutely baffling. So either he buys more and more players and we take the risk of it being a waste or he changes up.

[Axl Rose]

Nice to wake up to a win. I thought we'd struggle, but 4-1 against a potential banana skin team is a good result.

Looking at the lineup, I thought more of our youngsters would get a game, but a win was the most important thing!

Up the Villa

[Sexual Ealing]

I'm glad we won. It was important to win. I hope we win again.

[charleeco7]

Job done, Young was the pick of the bunch with Watkins working hard and others at times doing ok. They pressed us well first half and we just kept giving the ball away. I’ve excused McGinn for a while now as felt playing him on the right has hampered him but no excuses tonight he was really poor and kept giving the ball away.

I enjoyed the visit up there though as it’s been a while. Thought their fans were pretty noisy but drums should be banned.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

First half I dreamed we could play football like Bolton; they moved the ball around at speed, good control and always looking to bring the ball forward. I'd take Almeida Santos at 6 foot 6 off their hands, looks a strong solid centre half.

A few of our players look way off speed, McGinn and Watkins being the biggest waste of space. As much as SJM has been a hero for us on so many occasions over the years, he looks shot. Sometimes a change is as good as a rest. I'd cash in now whilst he still has some value. Every team needs a fighting midfielder but right now his biggest fight is with the ball. The same with Watkins; cash in, it's embarrassing watching him chasing around the ball like a puppy chasing a beach ball. Both technically are poor, if they don't have it by their age they never will. Watkins is like a poor man's Patrick Bamford and he dreams of going to the World Cup. I hope somebody can get him tickets.

[RamboandBruno]

Just home with the M6 closed at junction 16-15.
First half too passive and lost the physical battle but also were caught standing staring at the 2nd ball far too often, equaliser came at perfect time. 2nd half far more aggressive and Coutinhio had a 15 minute spell where everything went through him and we pulled them apart and broke their resolve. It might only be Bolton but we have to play Coutinhio centrally and give him the ball much further upfield.
I thought young and mings played well and chambers grew into the game.
With McGinn theres obviously doubts about his ability but his confidence is also completely shot. The captaincy is killing him as well, it doesnt come naturally too him and is too much responsibility.only a little thing but at the end it was Martinez, Mings and Young who were right up to the away end, McGinn was holding back, a shame.

For those who can’t enjoy the win, what is the point in you watching really?

[Gareth]

Enjoyed a nice away day, worked out that have been to Wembley 3 times since last one :-)

Pretty professional performance and good to see response to going behind.

Positives;
- Watkins I thought was very lively and good to see he was pissed at being subbed when there were goals to be had
- Other than that odd header for a corner Young did well
- Thought Coutinho looked more up for it than recent performances
- Douglas did well, would play him on Sunday
- All the subs got into the action, shame the keeper saved Archers effort

Negatives;
- Still don’t like all the passing (or fannying about) across the back line, not sure we have good enough ball players to keep that up
- McGinn, I actually didn’t think he was anything like as bad as some have said, for me he is trying to hard, he got about the pitch well and got involved in the interplay but his final ball was invariably too heavy

Was funny being near the Bolton fans, loads of their ‘vocal’ ones were probably too young to even have seen them on PL and with the likes of JayJay Okocha!!

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Not long back after delays on M6, first away game since the league cup final.
Poor first half but played our way back into it in the second.
Mings n Chambers were quite solid although their number 10 got the better of them on a few occasions.
Young was good all game apart from a stray header giving away a corner in first half but was full of running till the end.
Digne, poor first half but improved
Kamara was tidy
McGinn not his best game so true to form
Doug was best player for me and needs to start next game.
Coutinho some nice touches and through balls but doesn’t get the ball enough in dangerous positions.
Watkins worked hard as usual but showed some poor touches and should have scored in first half.
Ings was on the periphery but did come alive on occasions around the box and should have had a few more.

System is still poor for me and we’ll get turned over again by better teams. Centre mids pushing wide, forwards on opposite wings not working together, looked more solid with Doug  who did well but McGinn was poor again.

What the hell was the keeper doing for Digne’s goal although he did make up for it with decent saves from Archer and McGinn.

Nice to see Alisha Lehmann sitting a few seats away, sure she would have been pleased with Dougs performance.

[eamonn]

We won.

What amazes me to this day is Emile Heskey somehow managed to play 110 games for us.

And 14 goals I think the caption said. For an international striker.

Those were the days.

Heskey - the original false number nine.

[PaulTheVillan]

Too passive in the first half, but much improved with more intensity second and the quality told pretty quickly.

It ought to have been 7, but happy with some of the things I saw second half.

Worried about McGinn, he looks a pub player right now. He cannot retain possession at all. Ashley Young played well, Luiz looks miles better as an 8. Would like to have seen Archer get more game time, but still, pleasing win that was comfortable in the end. Less said about the first half the better and on we go.

Nicely summed up. Better finishing in the 2nd half and it would have easily been 7.

Kamara would have never have got through the game without a booking.

Thought Luiz was much better, 2nd half he was looking for Coutinho more, who was much better when we actually give him the ball in some space. I do worry that Ramsey and Coutinho almost try and take up the same space in that left channel.

McGinn, awful. Headless chicken.

Mings, solid. Composed. Good performnace, considering I was worried it might be one of those tricky games where he drops a clanger.

I’d like to see Luiz & Kamara in the middle next game.

Bailey showing again he has the ability, can he do it more often?

[Goldenballs]

We won.

What amazes me to this day is Emile Heskey somehow managed to play 110 games for us.

And 14 goals I think the caption said. For an international striker.

Those were the days.

Heskey - the original false number nine.

We were flying before we signed him, playing 4-5-1 with Carew up top. Switched to 4-4-2 and went to shit. That's my recollection of it anyway.