Aston Villa draw in UEFA Cup but go through 4-2 on aggregate
Thursday, 02 October 08, 03:48 PM · Comments (44)
There really isn't much to say about the match that the result doesn't already tell us. We didn't have that many more chances to score and while they clearly came to play football, they lacked the threat in the final third to make anything really happen.
In fact, their goal came from a penalty and apart from that I don't think Friedel was made to make a save. Our goal came from Harewood and based on the chances he has had recently he deserved it.
It was interesting to see Milner start on the left tonight and Ashley Young up front with Harewood. Salifou played from the start also and he did look good with the ball at his feet.
Everyone looked okay actually but we were playing a poor Championship standard side and they were never really put under any pressure to not do well. They just turned out a professional performance, which really was all we could have expected.
Routledge also played 90 minutes and I've got to tell you that I'm not sure he's up to it. I know O'Neill will stick with the likes of Harewood and Routledge, feeding them with confidence, but there has to come a time when you say, they're just not cut out of for it, or maybe it's a case of their performances were just so professional, that they were almost perfect.
I don't know and although they didn't do anything wrong, these are the matches where surely you want them to show some of that ability they're supposed to have. I'll let you discuss it, but I'm not convinced.
So, we're in the hat for the UEFA Cup proper, sort of. I still can't get to grips with all these group stages and mini-leagues. Why can't we just have a knock out tournament the way it used to be? When tournaments were proper tournaments.
Still, will be interesting and I hope there is a match or two that I can get to. Anyone else interested in a few beers in some far off land?
Aston Villa: Friedel; Luke Young, Shorey, Cuellar, Knight; Milner, Routledge, Salifou, Petrov, Young, Harewood. Subs: Guzan, Laursen, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Reo-Coker, Gardner, Osbourne (for Young, 84).
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44 Comments · Add yours
UTV! Happy Days. Bring on Saturday!
So for anyone who saw it. Should there have been a penalty on Cuellar or not?
Good result in the scheme of things but to analyse the game:
I don't really agree with what has been said above. I thought Salifou looked poor even to the point where Isiah looked more promising in the few minutes he was on. I thought Routledge was not bad, but he has no end product. Same applies to Milner really, looks good at beating players but can he cross? I didn't see either of them put a good ball in.
Shorey deserves a mention as I thought he looked better tonight. Got forward more. I've been impressed with L.Young since he arrived and that still applies. Cuellar decent, not a pen for sure - great tackle.
I can't fault marlene or ash. Most of the chances and Marlene's goal came from either scrappy or individual play. I don't remember a good clear chance being created for them really. So to summarise I think the midfield was below par. Bring on Barry and Reo and we would have had a lot more.
'Professional' is the word. No one really impressed, no one really looked poor.
I think Routledge could be alright if he gets his confidence back. He's got quick feet but his final ball is lacking. But his first touch has impressed me a few times- including his control from Milner's cross that led to the one shot he had in tonight's game.
Bring on the smashing of Chelsea's record!
StickyAV
You'll get into trouble for questioning Milner ... although I'm yet to see why we spent £12mn. on him ..
I didn't mention the defenders as they really didn't have much to do - this also wasn't a match report, just a popst about the result.
They'll get more serious now in this mini league and I don;t expect to see the likes of Routledge or Harewood playing in again in the tournament unless we have injuries or we are definitely through, but it was good for them to get a game.
Shorey was good though ... and I just liked how Salifou played the ball; quick and decisive and smart .. but just opinion.
To be really honest... although i didn't see the game, the result shows about it from what i heard but tonights performance didnt really matter aslong as we were good enough to not concede 3 goals. I think tonight was just a chance to see what our fringe players can do... and by the sound of things not a lot, im orry to say.
At least were through unlike some scousers i now about
Bring on th groupies
UTV!!
Damo,
Lets just thinkg for a minute that Routledge cost 10 times less than milner. That much of a difference was not on show tonight.
Milner not settled, needs run of games blah blah blah. Maybe I shouldn't be doubting him. But I did watch Routledge get more assists in pre season than Milner did last season full stop.
dont understand mon somtimes, why play milner on the left, why not keep young on the left and milner up front with marewood give the lad a bit of confidence it wasnt the lads fault we paid 12 million for him but i bet its getting to him!!
as for cuellor, i think he still needs time to adjust to the team but was it a pen? couldnt really see as the player was going nowhere anyway.
It's tough for Milner, Routelidge, Harwood & co to come on for the odd game and play out of their skins. They all show touches of class and with a run would all be v. good I've no doubt. I'm glad Harewood scored tonight - against QPR he could have had 4 - lot's of great work but poor finishing. He will benefit from a couple of games under his belt and a goal.
I was sitting in the press box and it definitely was not a penalty. Fantastic tackle. I actually thought Cuellar played very well and was dominant, especially in the air.
Other than that, nothing to write home about. The main thing is that we're in the group stages and hopefully we'll give it a good go. Bring on AC Milan!!
Right, I'm off to write my article. Night!
why is there a draw for group stage i thought we knew who we got with last draw or is it home and away thing?
After last night bullshit i've no interest in commenting on this website anymore. Who the fuck are you to alienate Villa fans like you did last night. Truth hurts you cunt.
thats a bit harsh was only asking about the draw (@)(@)
Your defender didn't even touch the ball , no penalty you say
. Well we watched it at TV and there is . Great points for coefecient and confindence , no injuries or troubles . At least we were there to play football .
I still think you would have more problems withour manager like O'Neil and Petrov in team but whatever . Good Luck it will be tough after groups .
not many chances to score? last i looked at the stats it was something like 20 shots on goal...
goodbye pete f*ck off then twat !
Milner is never worth 12 million, he would have bee a good buy for 6 million at the most. I think he's another product of the indecision our transfer policy seems to always involve. Like buying Luke Young a season too late and having to pay 4 million extra, and not signing Doyle in the summer. If we sign him in January, we'll be paying 5 or 6 million over what his summer value was - especially if Reading are pushing for promotion and he keeps scoring.
Milner needs time to settle and find his place in the side. Ashley Young didn't exactly set the place alight when he first came to the club.
I was in the Holte but it looked like a penalty from where I was sat. Bit of a cumbersome challenge but Cueller had a good enough game otherwise. I was kind of expecting Knightmare to give away a penalty but I was more than happy with his wayward heading.
Shorey had a good game, but, like Damien, I'm not convinced y Routledge. He seems to have the flicks but he always does one too many. And his final ball isn't really up to scratch. Milner and Young seemed to get in each other's way, so I'm not really surprised that the former was pretty inffectual throughout.
Watched the game on TV. I thought Routledge was surprisingly good. He had some great touches, attacked the opposition and was our best attacking midfielder IMO. I was pleased for Harewood scoring an excellent goal. I don't think he deserves some of the stick he gets. He is not as good as Gabby or Carew but he was a great super sub last season.
I thought Salifou looked a bit lost and spent most of his time chasing the ball.
I am a big Milner fan from his days on loan at Villa but I agree that he is yet to show he is worth 12 million. Routledge looked much more dangerous on the other side. Lets hope he comes good with time. Agree with askPaul that MON should have played Milner up front with Young on the left.
Anyway, looking forward to more European football and Chelsea this weekend.
UTV!
Good result in the end and glad to be in the group stages!!
I was really glad that Harewood scored, and to be fair, it was a very good goal! If that was Carew, we would be goin mad about him.
I thought Shorey played well with passing and maybe getting forward but my god would someone please show him how to defend.....always 5 yards off the winger allowing him to run at him and cross!
I thought Ashley wasn't anywhere near as influencial as when he's on the wing, definitely not a CF. Probably only takin it easy last night though to be fair.
Milner seemed to be trying too hard and didn't have the best of games...bit sloppy.
Bring o Chelsea, it will definitely be a record breaking weekend!!
Oh...did anyone see that Litex player get smashed between the legs from about 4 yards?!? He went down like he had been shot! It was hilarious....poor bloke!
Whats the situation with the next group stage in the Uefa cup? Is it 5 teams with home and away matches?? I am actually a fan of this format, guaarantees us a certain amout of games in europe and hopefully we draw a few big names. Also midweek games make the workweek seem shorter!!
With regard to lastnights game - mission accomplished and decision to play in intertoto totally vindicated. Hopefully, we are still there in the january transfer window and this add to our attraction for poential players.
Cuellar looks the real deal and its great that we have 3 top class center halfs - hopefully we never have to resort back to YOU-KNOW-WHO.....
Milner - i think he is decent but never in a million years in a 12m player - hopefully the price tag doesn't ruin him.
Routhledge and Salifou will never be good enough to be first team regulars, NEVER.
eoin... the draw is on tuesday, and we get put in a group with 4 other teams, you play 2 away games and 2 home games making a grand total of 4 games that we'l play, with the top 3 teams of the group going through, then thats where the 3rd placed teams of champs league join everyone in the knock outs and i belive there should be 32 teams left in the comp by then.
Well done lads, a professional job done... Bring on AC Milan...
Oh, may i pass my sincere apologies to a certain Mr Marlon Harewood, i was wrong (sort of) and he did well to finish that goal last night, i still maintain he's no more than an impact player! But Sorry Marlon....
oh and if anyones interested, the whole format is changing next yr, it will be more like the champs league, with groups of 4 and playing home and away ties, and there chaning the name to, to the eufa europa league.
Milner has yet to start a match in his best position, right side of midfield. Too early to judge yet. It's the same with Gardner, will he ever get a game in central midfield?
Marlon had at least 4 good chances and scored 1, you won't get that many chances against a top side in europe. Sorry but a useful sub is the best he is.
We need to sign 2 forwards in January.
Can anyone tell me what upset pete2222 so much?
I thinke Pete's mum has banned him from using his computer as much until he tidies his bedroom up and stops masturbating in bed!!
Despite the changes, job done, not a great performance but we are through, Comfortably.
Come on the Villa
Keef, i think petes real name is aron
The qualification was the main thing, but feels like there was a good chance to give a few fringe players a game yesterday that was wasted.
When leading and comfortable at half-time, can't see why Delf didn't replace Ash and either Osbourne or Gardner didn't come on for Stan.
We were assured of going through and we don't need those players injured, while it would have been good for some of the others to get some football into their legs.
But I am no O'Neill doubter I'm sure he knows what he is doing and will get the right result at the weekend.
Well thanks for clearing that up about pete!
odysseynumberfive.....are you the phantom raspberry blower of old London town?
More interested in what was said to Pete! In answer to your earlier Q Damian, definitely interested in an away tie or two. Hopefully somewhere within an hour's drive of the French Alps.
You will see why Milner cost so much. It's easy to forget how bloody young he is because he's been playing for so long, and while he's got the experience of 5-6 years in the prem, I don't think he's played for any settled sides or great managers - Christ, he had two spells under O Dreary! Ashley Young was about the same age when he came to Villa, now look at him.
Yeah so,
Does Salifou look like he could handle the premiership anybody?
Milner will come good, give him a few games and just try to forget about how much was paid for him (although its hard, £12million quid!!!!)
Cuellar needs games, from what i heard on BBCWM last night, he looked shaky, sounded like a bit of a daft tackle for the penalty!!!
Looking forward to the draw now, hope we miss the major big guns, but won't mind if we get one...
Weren't people saying we paid too much for Young? It took him six months to settle properly and now he was a steal. Milner has not had a run in the side and not yet played a full 90 mins at right side of midfield. Its impossible to judge him yet.
Trust in MON.
just registered hi everyone.
milner looks like he has good control he put a good cross in at one stage and is quicker than i remember but his movement wern't that good i can't see mon dropping reo coker for a bit.
salifooo looked good i thought i loved it when he body checked the litex player to the ground. he looked more mobile than in previous games.
on last night i still think marewood is not good enough,
fright played ok but not under any pressure though,
salifou no way,
milner out of position,
cueller needs more games,
routledge needs to be more direct and improve his final ball.
if we have injuries then these lads will come in and need to perform..
harewood was better last night because he didn't try to work the channels or come deep to get the ball he is only good if you give him the ball in or around the box and we did that last night.
james he still needed 4-5 chances...too many
come on the bycicle kick ones weren't chances.
i know its hard to just look at one night after all the rubbish performances hes put in but i thought he did ok 6 / 10.
Anyone seen this?
LINK
I just wished we got SWP instead of Milner!!!!
12 mill for a good ave player seems a little too high.
Sidwell will help me get over that though.
HAHA Crap
I travelled 80 miles ( 160 miles round trip) to see the game and i don't regret it. we did the job we set out to do. I thought the hare was everwhere really gd proformance.
fuck off taglor you twat