A lacklustre performance but Villa make it through to the next round of the UEFA Cup

not much of a great game . gardener was inpressive harwood had no end product n cudnt get past the last defender

We had 12 players on the pitch and we still couldn't win. I didn't know we had 2 Salifou's and 2 Routledge's. Not sure what happened to Osbourne - maybe was had 13 after all!

LINK

But only ONE substitution made again by MON. I don't understand that tactic at all. Only one used at Stoke last weekend when fresh legs or a change in momentum might well have helped us win. Don;t get me wrong...I beelieve MON is the right man to lead us back to glory, I just don't understand his seeming lack of interest in game management.

Reply to Joevillan:

not much of a great game . gardener was inpressive harwood had no end product n cudnt get past the last defender

I agree harwood is only an impact player, good for at least 20 minutes. Routledge looked quite good, especially last twenty minutes. Gabby looked awful not for the first time already this season, looked lazy and wnet missing most of the time.
Quality right winger and a good twenty goal a season striker

Just proved what a rubbish squad we have, Harewood shocking, Salifu awfull, Oswbourne hurrendus, Coker well he'll neve make it at this level where ever he plays Wannnker, I'm so glad i never paid to watch that it was shocking & against a load of part timers.
Take Ashley Young out of the Villa team & there isn't much left.
We'll he said he'd sort out the squad but has he.... Nope. RUBBISH

villathruandthru, you're spot on. It's the worst thing you can do for a small squad.

We need to give players a rest so they stay fresh. Not every player needs to play 90 minutes of every game. If you use subs effectively you can increase the freshness of players but we're going to end up burning out a few players as we've got too few players and probably won't sign more than one before the window closes...

Our B team doesn't look too good, as for poor poor Harewood...AHHH Routledge did well, Gardener good first half but after that... still we're in the hat!

poor game but i really didnt expect much!the team was a mish-mash of reserve players and first teamers...no team plays well when you have that sort of mix...some good points tho, routledge looked good, salifu had a few glimpses of quality and we are though to the the uefa cup with no injuries!!!!...

Get a right winger in (milner) and another striker (please not doyle!) and i think we could give this season a good go!

I dont know whats up with MON and the lack of subs?...he does tend to do that sometimes!...im not going to question his tactics tho!...hes the man who has just got us into europe so he must know what hes doing!

I think comfortable was the right word for that performance. One of the few times I have seen Villa in recent times with the vast majority of possession. However, one big draw back was that Barry was truly awful, possibly the worst individual performace from a Villan that I have seen in a long time. Everyone else was ok.

Tommy Ross - You said "Barry was truly awful, possibly the worst individual performace from a Villan that I have seen in a long time. Everyone else was ok"

Have you ever seen Reo-Coker play??? Barry was world class compaired to Coker & Harewood...Are you blind.

Tommy Ross - You said "Barry was truly awful, possibly the worst individual performace from a Villan that I have seen in a long time. Everyone else was ok"

Have you ever seen Reo-Coker play??? Barry was world class compaired to Coker & Harewood...Are you blind.

Reply to Tommy Ross:

I think comfortable was the right word for that performance. One of the few times I have seen Villa in recent times with the vast majority of possession. However, one big draw back was that Barry was truly awful, possibly the worst individual performace from a Villan that I have seen in a long time....

I didnt see the game and from what I read it was poor and we played our 2nd team. On a positive this is what I have being dreaming of for years. A Villa side resting their 1st teamers for a European tie that we closed off with 5 away goals in the first leg. On that basis we are leagues ahead of the last few years when we were struggling in the early stages of the carling cup with our 1st 11.

The big worry for me is 6 goals conceded in 3 important games. After Stoke I said to myself that our all new defence only needs time to gel and I fully expected them to play tonight. What is the back 4 for Sundays game going to be and why didnt they have a practice game tonight.

MON, you appear to do 95% of the things that will keep the fans happy. Pls make it 100% and buy a few players, use your substitutes and get a defence working that we can be proud of. At the moment we look like we will leak goals against everyone!

And I thought Jinksy's comments were cretinous. Tommy Ross, you sir are a clown. Anywayyyyy... tonight should hopefully have been confirmation that a quality Striker is indeed necessary. Harewood was very poor in a game in which he needed to shine. Agbonlahor looked lackadaisical, and competition for his spot is vital to get the best out of him, let alone give us enough options up front for the season. Routledge showed some qualified promise, but looks some way off being a decent Premiership winger. Reo Coker had a perfectly decent game at right back, although given he's our only tough tackling midfielder, he can't be expected to provide cover in that position over the course of a season. Barry was clearly instructed to use the game as a means to furthering his match fitness, and did a job. Finally, the thought occurred to me that Sidwell is a completely unnecessary signing given Gardner's performance.

didn't see most of the match. i understand reo-coker was at right back and barry was at left back? can't really critisise players when they're asked to play out of position. cup tied players are no longer cup tied so thats all good. i expect MON asked Barry to play at half steam an dwouldn't have played him at all if it wasn't for Shorey's injury. v. pleased gardner had a good game and a goal. looking forward to some more midfield action from him this season.

loving the site but can't get it at work anymore. gutted

We definately need more players.Reo-Coker should not be in the first team, Barry should have been far and away the best player on the pitch (wasn't even close) Harewood should go join a Bolton, Stoke, or some other longball merchants. He may even fit in well at the Sty in the lower league.
WE NEED TO BUY SOME QUALITY MARTIN!
If we don't Barry and Young will piss off at the end of the season, and we are back to square 1.
O'Neil needs to buy a top quality striker, even if it means spending 15-20 MIL Pounds (sorry don't have pound sign on my keyboard) drop Gabby for a run of games to show him he's not all that and a bag of chips, and then stick a size 10 up his ass, and tell him stop acting like Luke Moore, otherwise he'll be the next one out the door.
Not too hopeful for the season, but maybe, just maybe MON is holding 6 Jokers up his sleeve (2 for the past 2 seasons, and 2 for this)
In MON we Trust (UNTIL MIDNIGHT SEPTEMBER 1ST THAT IS!!!!!)
THEN WE WILL SEE

Judging by what everyone's written this is madness but I missed the game and I really want to see it. If you know where I can find a torrent or a stream please post it.

It wasn't a great performance or result, but at the end of the day MON got us into the next stage of the cup and that's what we went out there to do.
Routledge showed potential tonight and I've got a lot more respect for him now but we still desperately need a proven right winger so we can compete.
Great first half from gardner, hopefully more to come.

Were our new fullbacks not played because they weren't registered?

I just put £25 on for us to embarass the pool this weekend, Bring it on!!!

I thought Gardner had a really good game. I too hope he is given chances to develop in his preferred midfield... I thought barry, although not a major contribution still showed his composure as a good player.

Gabby looked totally disinterested half the time, not sure what his deal is. But when he did have the ball, he still looked strong.

I don't know why Zat knight takes all the stick he does from people. He doesn't play spectacular football or take big gambles, and despite the fact this was poor opposition, he looks solid and generally dependable.

I'm not sure we'll see much of Delfounso at top level this season, he looks too skinny to hack it in the prem.

This was awful, IMO.

By all means play the second string. I've no problem with that.

But FFS that was absolutely poor, IMO.

Why didn't we attack their absolutely rubbish defence?

OK, you could say we weren't much better, but Jeez, I'm so disappointed.

Our defence got caught out again, Zonal marking against mugs doesn't work = disaster, when it comes to the Prem.

Midfield? What midfield?

Attack? No service, IMO

Absolute waste of time, again, IMO.

Routledge looked OK, but look at what he was playing against.

I'd suggest 1-1 against part timers deserves slating.
And I'm a half full type bloke.

Mmmmmm...Just got in. Well just read what you lot above have wrote. Did we really expect any other performance tonight. MON did it as a 'run-out' to give people a game. MON is not here to please the fans. He is here to do the business. If you think that we were expecting 4-0 to The Villa going into tonights match at 4-1, then I am afraid you were being very unrealistic.

Granted it was boring as hell and the atmosphere was rubbish, but although Wayne tries to go a couple of steps too far he should be our new right winger. We need a striker, cos I tell you Gabby ain't up to it. He's a 'flash in the pan', but please, please prove me wrong Gabby and I'll eat as much humble pie as you want! He runs around like a headless chicken.

Wayne was a bit of a suprise in January, especially as he was the only one and stigmatised, because we all expected more signings and only got him. However he works hard, he's committed and he always looks up. Just lay the ball off a second or two sooner Wayne. You will be a Villa hero Wayne. Mark my words!

Sorry for the long post..Had a couple of jars and some chasers, so can't be bothered to spell check!

Can I go back into the forum yet Damian? Have you turned the lights on and given me loads of Karma back?

badger 2...I think you answred the reply I was going to give you in the last line of your post...!

Its not the end of the world to play a shite game when we have already won the tie. Most good teams do
What is really really worrying is that we cant keep a clean sheet. We dont even look like keeping a clean sheet. in 3 games: Home & away against part timers and away to Stoke who are effectively in a league below us and we concede 4 goals. I hope Cuellar is as good as he is made out to be

we'll get to see cueller sunday and decide

got to praise zat knight though (and im not a fan) but he just played the simple dependable game and davis tried to play back to keeper to often which led to keeper under pressure instead of hoofing it into the crowd

Bob...You 'Fan Point Whore' you... You just put the last post in to get a 'fan point' I know your game!

yep post filling fan point whore me.... i have to wean myself of the k somehow

Look..Chill out. we'll probably get drawn against poxy Man City in the next round and lose out to a Shaun Wright Phillips goal in added time..?! So all this moaning will have been in vein!

Back to the subject of the post...MON was resting most of the main players and others were cup tied or not registered. MON had limited options really if you look at it more closely.

UTV

Just got back from the game

The first half was good. We had most the play and played the better football throughout. Unlucky to go in at 1 1
Second half was below average but its all that could be expected. We played a b team which lets face it we havent been able to do for a while.

Wayne Routledge was fantastic all night. Always in space.. Always looking for a pass n played with alot of confidence. The downside was that no one was picking him out much which is a worry because I feel that weve been too reliant on the left hand side recently and I fear that certain teams will suss us out. Hopefully with the addition of milner plus a fit confident routledge will give us alot more variety and will stretch defences alot more...

Delfouneso looked bright when he came on and I can see him developing much in the same way as gabby the futures lookin good for him and villa as a whole. Hopefully the draw tommorow will favour us well and after that we can think about smashing the scousers which I think we can if we go with the right mindset

UTV

Bob.......BIG LOL ..Has the forum now moved to the 'Front Page' or am I still in that 'Philadelphia Experiment Parallel Universe' sort of place? I think I'll have to get a script of that Kethadone if the Karma is not restored by the morning. Does that other Villa forum have K, because I may be a K whore and go there for a quick K fix?

Of course no one was interested in the game. Liverpool on Sunday, why would any of the starters be doing anything but going through the motions?

Aaron..To put my serious head back on, I totally agree with what you say. Although I did say that above anyway, just to prove I'm no 'sheep' just agreeing with you for the sake of it! Wayne was class and should be our starting RM for every game. Get Milner in OK, but as back-up to Wayne.

first of all I would like to say, Im prob one of the most optomistic villa fans around.

Ive not long got home from the game and to be honest, i wish i hadn't gone....long time waitin for the train etc etc after such a boring game. I took my girlfriend (wolves supporter) and sis, and to be honest, felt sorry for them.

The only good players were Routledge and Gardner, maybe Osbourne too. All of these had a good work rate, looked up and tried to make things happen in attack. As for Gabby, he doesn't even know what a work rate is. He's so bone idle, but yet when he tries hard, he can be sublime so I just cant understand why he seems to play with 20% effort sometimes!! He really annoys me!

That said, it was a mix of players and tonight was never going to be a hard, fast paced game so maybe I expected too much. One thing springs to mind, thank god for Ashley Young! Rant over sorry chaps

Oh....one more thing, Harewood is definately an impact player. Im a big fan of his but I cant think of one game where he's started in a competitve game and caught the eye.

Last season he started for the reserves and scored a great hatrick.... but must have been a one off.

villa to win on sunday 2-1.

andyanarchist:

Soz I didnt read much coz I ent long got back n I was just itching to put my view across lol my bad Im glad other people think the same thing tho. Routledge is like a young in the making really n I believe O neil can get more out of him as the season progresses.

Milner will be a great signing in my view. We lost out with wright phillips but if we get milner it wont matter so much as he can offer something completley different. He can pick a good pass and he can strike from range. With any luck we can get him in for the liverpool game

Would you believe I totally forgot about this match? Quite grateful now, it doesn't seem like it was much for the spectator!

And did anyone else think that barry just werent bothered tonight???

Reply to Aaron:

And did anyone else think that barry just werent bothered tonight???

someone made a good comment earlier that MON prob just told him to coast through the game to get some match fitness and not over do it for the big game Sunday. Probably wouldn't of even played if Shorey was fit. Thank god he doesn't play left back, tonight showed he is needed for play making in midfield.

Anyway just on a more important issue...Just watched the recorded match on TV....What about the Icelandic babes watching and also the physio (I know the physio was mentioned after the 1st game, but I was in France then) They were all angels. Made our ladies look like beats. Sorry if you are offended Villa ladies!

am i the only Villa fan who likes reo-coker???? i thought there was three players which really stood out tonight....routledge, gardner and salifou...i thought these three played bril

Anyway just on a more important issue...Just watched the recorded match on TV....What about the Icelandic babes watching and also the physio (I know the physio was mentioned after the 1st game, but I was in France then) They were all angels. Made our ladies look like beats. Sorry if you are offended Villa ladies!

Sorry for the replicated posts above, this new system is not working 100%. Also I meant to say the Icelandic ladies made the Villa ladies look like beasts (not beats, whatever they are!)

andyanarchist- beats are what amerians call beetroot. I've been trying to get my American wife to say beetroot for years,but she won't UTV

Ehh, up three goals with Liverpool this weekend, we were never going to play that hard. I'm glad we've moved on, not going to take nothing from this game but Gardner and Routledge playing well.

It was always gonna be a foregone conclusion but what a load of old toss, as the players earned their grand or 5 last night, they just didn't seem that bothered.

Harewood was embarassing and many others were very pedestrian and average - so much for fringe players wanting to make an impression, I've seen more passion from a piece of wood.

We need back-ups, there's no way we can challenge for 4th spot with what we have now - a couple of injuries and we're back to square one.

Anyone think Lawro is out to jinx us? Check this first out:

SUNDAY

Aston Villa v Liverpool
(Kick-off 1600 BST)

Liverpool have not played and they have won three games, it's amazing. It's a good sign, but it can't go on forever and somebody is going to turn them over. Steven Gerrard is also out.

Villa have started pretty well, despite that defeat to Stoke last week, where they should have won. Without Gerrard in the Liverpool team it changes the complexion of things.

Match preview
Verdict: 2-1

Reply to Jinksy:

Just proved what a rubbish squad we have, Harewood shocking, Salifu awfull, Oswbourne hurrendus, Coker well he'll neve make it at this level where ever he plays Wannnker, I'm so glad i never paid to watch that it was shocking & against a load of part timers.
Take Ashley Young out of the Villa...

MMMMMM Just proves what a rubbish supporter you are then Jinksy
Didnt come to the game tonight dont bother coming again to VP.
Your not wanted.......

anyone know a link to see those icelandic women or physio?? I couldn't see them from the Holte end!

Chin up lads. This was always going to be this sort of game, the only disappointing thing was that the reserves just aint good enough on their own.
damian, you reckon Osbourne had a good game? Not from where I was sat. The only players who could lift their heads up after that would me (IMHO) Gardener, knight, Davies and Delfoneso. Barry was out of position, so we'll give him a break, but the rest just either aren't good enough or just weren't up for it.
Yes the squad neds strengthening, yes we need a quality striker (I'm not convinced by Carew as an out and out goal scorer and Gabby is too inconsistent)and yes we need a decent right winger. I'm sure we'll see one or 2 before Monday and we're a much better squad than last season, let alone the season before last.

Keep the faith, (even though it's easy to loose it at times!)

do people really think the first team players are gonna go fullly into it and risk injury like Freddie?
The fact is, we were 4-1 up, they didnt need to play all out attacking football, we looked comfortable on the ball and never looked threatened. They did the job.

Couple of decent performances from Gardener, Routledge and Salifou eased through to the next round.

Sorted.

I thought Marlon had a bad game! He cant finish! He showed in the first leg and he showed it last night! We need a striker!

Did anybody hear on talksport last night? There was an interview with Bill Howell who reckons there is big money going on a striker of some sort! He didn't divulge into whom! But we all know Mr Howell has a reputation!

I watched the game at VP and then on the telly at home. I thought it was much easier to see the overall contributions at the game itself. The positives for me were very good contributions from Osbourne, (the best game I've seen him have), Gardner had a good 1st half, very commanding, Routledge taking on defenders and beating them, Salifou's control & range of passing was v. impressive.

Salifou was meant to be L.Mid but kept wandering into the centre leaving GB exposed at left back. GB didn't have a good game in that position and frankly looks out of sorts generally, in fact I think he looks depressed.

Group 5: Seeded Unseeded
FC Schalke 04 (GER) PFC Litex Lovech (BUL)
RC Deportivo La Coruña (ESP) Vitória FC (POR)
SC Heerenveen (NED) SK Brann (NOR)
FK Austria Wien (AUT) KKS Lech Poznań (POL)
Aston Villa FC (ENG) APOEL FC (CYP)


SO we will be going to Portugal , Norway, Poland OR Cyprus...I reckon it'll be SK Brann

you cant read anything into last nights performance, it was basically a reserve team out and rightfully so. We didnt need to go out and thrash them we had already done that,it was just a chance for mon to take a look at the younger guys in the team, i thought they all did well to be fair.

Is anyone else getting worried that it is now Friday and we still dont have a winger or striker? 4 days to go including today, i can see us all watching sky spors new until 11.59pm on Monday just hoping it flashes up in yellow villa have signed arshavin or ashton or any other striker that is available.

Reply to DutchLion:

Group 5: Seeded Unseeded
FC Schalke 04 (GER) PFC Litex Lovech (BUL)
RC Deportivo La Coruña (ESP) Vitória FC (POR)
SC Heerenveen (NED) SK Brann (NOR)
FK Austria Wien (AUT) KKS Lech Poznań (POL)
Aston Villa FC (ENG) APOEL FC (CYP)


SO we...

how does it actually work then? in terms of why could it only be on eof those teams?

Milner is reported to be having a medical this mornin with Villa!!

LINK

Reply to Simeon:

And I thought Jinksy's comments were cretinous. Tommy Ross, you sir are a clown. Anywayyyyy... tonight should hopefully have been confirmation that a quality Striker is indeed necessary. Harewood was very poor in a game in which he needed to shine. Agbonlahor looked lackadaisical, and competition...

So what part of my post was CRETINOUS???? Again we say our point & fools like you have to send out personal attacks.

Please list 1 game Coker has played well in? I suppose a perfectly decent game to you is giving the ball away & passing back to the keeper. Sorry that's not my idea of a perfectly decent game.

Reo-Coker is an half decent player. I say that because: 1) He is a great tackler 2) He has great ambition and work rate to get up and down the pitch 3)Great engine

Now the drawbacks.... He hasn't got a clue what to do next when hes on a run, dwells on the ball too much instead of finding a quick pass to release Young or Gabby etc

I would honestly drop Coker and give Gardner a chance in CM as we all know he has got the abilty. He proved this last night. He's a lot more attack minded and just like Coker, has a great work rate.

surely sidwell deserves a crack?

Milner's on his way.
Nice.
We'll take that lanky fella from Standard Liege too thanks.

When sidwell is fit it's a no brainer for me. He is class. Andy, wise words today! Jinksy, there is a different between making a point and publibly berating a team your supposed to support, without looking at any of the positives. Blue fan in disguise?

I thought Routledge looked good and I already said the other day I thought he has had a v.good pre-season. Better when he actually attacked the defense at speed. Reo had a good game today, usually not a fan. Salifou looked class. Range of passing excellent. Spreading it to routledge with a long ball worked everytime from the first move to the last pass. Barry looked rubbish at left back. I'm a huge fan of his but not at left back.

This leads me on to my next point, is Shorey OK for sunday?

Does anybody else think Salifou looked half decent last night?

I thought he was ok! Good engine, good range of passing! SHould get more appearances!

cmon milner sign up

Ooooohhhh. Any dreams of Saha at Villa can be dropped...He's just gone to Everton!

no-one has mentioned the geriatric in goal yet another basic mistake,anyone wondered why blackburn didnt try too hard to keep him,nrc is a quality player if mon plays him in the holding role in front of the back four,the game showed we have the numbers but no real quality.get cowans and mortimer back to show the midfield how its done...

Reply to Villa_Chris:

Milner is reported to be having a medical this mornin with Villa!!

LINK

LINK

In the Times as well. Done deal me thinks

Reply to oldvillan:

no-one has mentioned the geriatric in goal yet another basic mistake,anyone wondered why blackburn didnt try too hard to keep him,nrc is a quality player if mon plays him in the holding role in front of the back four,the game showed we have the numbers but no real quality.get cowans and mortimer...

I'm hoping it's just the change of scenery. Same team for so long, the change has him unsettled. Worrying though.

It will be great having Milner back, he was a class act for us on loan and that was 2 seasons ago now. He will of only improved and matured in that time!

Going back to Reo-Coker, he's no doubt better as a holding midfielder infront of the back 4 as it compliments his style... good tackler and breaking up of play. Def not an attacking midfielder.

Damian, your quiet today?? Any news on the Milner news? Your the man!

another striker gone....saha to Everton


are we going to get someone?

James Milner has arrived for a medical at Vlla Park!

This is true, he checked into the Hyatt on Broad Street this morning!

Hope this is true

LINK

Nice one Jay!

My mate who works on the door at the Hyatt text me this morning to say Milner had checked in. So hopefully this means he's at Villa now sorting out the deal.

Nice one Jay!

thes blogs are annoyin me. There is problems with the submit button and you never know when your comment has gone. Doesn't refresh properly

villanjay.....when the manager of the Hyatt reads this thread you mate 'did' work on the door at the Hyatt....!

Reply to __AA__:

villanjay.....when the manager of the Hyatt reads this thread you mate 'did' work on the door at the Hyatt....!