Paper view: Sidwell error costs Villa
Monday, 10 November 08, 02:34 AM · Comments (101)
One thing is going to stand out if you read all these reports. I think it important to point out that if our only complaint or concern is based around the mistakes a player makes, I'd be more than happy.
Mistakes are easily fixed. Anyway, some links and the highlights below.
Sandy Macaskill, The Telegraph: "Villa’s back line looked shaky from the start, and it was their failure to appropriately deal with danger in the box that proved their undoing. Nicky Shorey overshot his run when attempting to intercept a penetrating cross by Downing angled into the middle of the box, and the ball rebounded of his buttock into the path of Tuncay, who was left to rifle it passed a powerless Brad Friedel."
Mike Adamson, The Guardian: "This was an opportunity missed for a club with lofty ambitions. Before kick-off there was a buzz of excitement around the ground, the fans basking in the afterglow of Thursday's accomplished win at Slavia Prague that put them top of their Uefa Cup group and aware that victory here would lift them into a Champions League place."
Janine Self, The Sun: "It has been a bit busy for Villa, too, what with a UEFA Cup trip to the Czech Republic in midweek. But manager O’Neill insisted afterwards he was not going to use fatigue as an excuse."
David Instone, The Independent: "Sidwell had looked like being Villa's saviour when, having scored a beauty at Wigan two Sundays ago and seen his shot deflected in off John Carew in Prague on Thursday, he continued his impressive goals-per-games ratio."
Peter Lansley, The Times: "Twice in a week Villa have lost with a place in the top four going begging. Victory away to Slavia Prague in the Uefa Cup has been sandwiched by the loss away to Newcastle United, last Monday, and a first home league defeat of the season yesterday, when Steve Sidwell’s dream Premier League debut turned into a nightmare, the former Chelsea midfield player gifting Tunçay Sanli a winning goal two minutes from time."
When or if you click through to read the full articles, you'll find they are all pretty much the same; the mistake by Sidwell, loft ambitions, second time in a week that we've failed to capitalise.
Nobody is naming names, apart from the glaringly obvious Shorey and Sidwell, which it's fairly obvious made two crucial mistakes.
I've picked up on the comments made by O'Neill in The Sun, insisting that he's not going to blame fatigue. That's nice, seeing as it's his third season and he's had time to build his squad and he decided to rest six players for the Slavia Prague match in the week.
Martin O'Neill is once again to blame for this result in my opinion. He changed up the defence, the midfield and the strikers and while I'm all for mixing it up he simply mixed it up wrong and I actually think it's about time that Barry was dropped.
When a player says out loud that he wants to leave and that there is no going back-that is a huge signal that you've got to get the best for him you can. He doesn't want to play for us and despite what he says, which is exactly what he has to, he's never going to be the same player. £10mn. anyone?
Man of the Match
I'm giving it to Steve Sidwell - I mean, who else is there, really? If he hadn't made that mistake he'd get it for sure from most, so I'm wiping the mistake from my memory and he can go forth and score more goals and do more running and hopefully, replace Barry full time.
Overall opinion from the match
I'm a simple man and I want simple things and I often think you can over complicate things. This is two weeks on the bounce we've failed to take advantage and while I thought maybe we'd turned the corner on making these stupid mistakes this season, it looks like we haven't.
We shouldn't have lost to these teams and while someone will no doubt comment that we'd all have taken fifth at the start of the season - if you also add that you're going to lose to Stoke, the bottom of the table team and Middlesbrough at home - some would be slightly worried and maybe be demanding a little more - or at the very least some answers.
Aston Villa Blog rating
It's going to be difficult to rate this and not sound like a defeatist, but how can I be expected to rate this match positively. I guess I'm lucky I've not decided to rate players because some would be getting quite poor ratings and I'd get stick but if anyone disagrees with my four out of ten for this match, then argue below.
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101 Comments · Add yours
Having only seen the highlights, i thought the two mistakes were nothing short of embarresing i'm afraid! Brad Friedel doesn't look as solid as he knows he can be! Its bitterly disappointing, it can only be but down as pure and simple inconsistency!!!
6 points easy from the next two games!!!
End of season prediction:
MoN finally sectioned under the mental health act after playing ReoMedioker in goal, Cuellar at centre forward, January signing Steve Claridge at left back, and dropping a rejuvinated John Robertson. Randy appoints David Pleat as caretaker manager, primarily as a mentor for Carew who is spending more and more time on Broad St.
Mr Southgate seems to know how to get his teams playing good stuff, think I might take a trip to the bookies !
aston villa are dead to me now
Ok that was very disapointing. Some of the players didn't have the confident and positive attitude required. This was proably because of the number of changes in the last few games. The players however should be able to cope with that.
The next game is against Arsenal next Saturday and the team should be thinking what a great chance to bounce back. At this stage its between us and Arsenal for 4th place. We should go there and beat them and then watch them go into back into crisis mode.
I agree that we should drop Barry. Not just becasue I no longer see him as 'Mr Villa', but because he's simply not performing either. He really gets to me because we know he is a class act (as we saw in previous seasons). The heart and effort isn't good enough anymore!
That goes for any player- They don't perform, they don't play. Simple.
O'Neill really has to stop and think about his Subsitutions and tactics. They aren't working.
Play players in their correct positions and make subs based on logic (RB for RB, or at least another defender, instead of putting a Midfielder there,who isn't any good anyway!) not on accomidating players that he doesn't want to take off. Once again, simple!
I think everybody has got the hump this morning!!!
Now now fellas, lets not say anything we might regret!!! Lets debate it!
Fella's and chris i meant to say
Reply to philbob88:
I think if you would of put aside 5 hours of your valuable weekend time yesterday, in the freezing wet weather and watched that rubbish yesterday, you would have the hump...trust me!
Reply to philbob88:
ha ha
THE END OF THE WORLD HAS COME!!
ITS THE END!!
THATS IT, VILLA ARE RUINED!!
PUT YOUR MORTGAGE ON THEM GETTIN RELEGATED...
I'M A CHELESA SUPPORTER THROUGH AND THROUGH... HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS!!
Okay, bak to reality.
We've lost two games, most, if not all the people on this site would have expected us to win. But thats football. There are always two teams on the field, and I think some of our boys, forgot that.
We've failed to take the opportunities presented to us by other teams. This may come back to haunt us, but as far as I'm concerned, 3pts off Arsenal at this stage into the league put us in a healthy position to challenge, maybe not 3rd and 4th.
But the Season is still young!! Teams are still going to drop points, and there is every chance that by the end of the year we could still be challenging for ''Top 4'' honours - a bump on the road doesnt signal the end.
From the highlights I saw, Sidwell, bar the mistake, played very well - People make mistakes, we are human after all.
I agree tho, I love MON to bits but I can't justify playing Cuellar at RB then LB when he is a CentreBack.
MON has got to address the Barry issue - either drop him or make him captain - and I can't see the latter happening so drop him!!
I don't mind people voicing their concerns, but I'm gettin sick of saying this result means we can't challenge for ''Top 4'' and that Villa are out of their league and that MON is a fool, etc etc. A series of results will determine our end of season position and as far as I'm concerned, we are on the right track!! We may well look back at this game, and say the points dropped here cost us in the end, but that's football.. You win some, yu lose some.
Well written post Damo considering the circumstances and I'm not angry at yu - I think you're one of the few that talk sense in a rational manner but I'm just sick that everytime we lose people are saying ''HUH TOLD YU SO - WE CAN'T CHALLENGE TOP 4.''
Have Faith!
Sorry rambled on
Gutted about Monday and Yesterday, but role on our next two games.
If we can unexpectedly lose two, we can unexpectedly win two right?
Oh, maybe not.
I thought the performance wasn't all that bad, and enjoyed the vast majority of the match, however, when you lose in such a fashion, it is hard to take positives.
Any improvement on last season is good, and as of yet, we are doing that, so...
Daily Mail: Steve Sidwell's first Premier League start ended for Aston Villa ended in disaster to leave Gareth Southgate celebrating the 'best result' of his managerial career.
-------------
I am so fuckin pissed off couldn't even read the blog last night.
Barry was poor but so were a lot of others. But anybody who has questioned Milner's ability to create chances and put in some good crosses must be convinced he can do it now.
Has anyone noticed that Ramonicus and Chris have their photos next to the same cardboard cutout to try to convince everyone that they can pull the ladies? Sorry but when I'm down it always makes me feel better to give Chris some stick.
Reply to SpuddyBoy:
I would seriously consider starting with Carew and Harewood up front against Arse. Having watched them recently their defence and keeper are shit at dealing with crosses. So bang some into the penalty area at every opportunity.
I hate losing to teams like boro, but its been coming for a while, even before Newcastle. I thought we were poor in the second half against Slavia too. I'm not going to go completely mental by saying get rid of MON, were gonna get relegated etc, ets but there are a few things really annoying me at the mo...We all know that despite the summer additions we are still desperately short on numbers. O'neill spent most of last season complaining about a thin squad. One year on and in my opinion we arent much stronger - ok we have more players but we almost might aswell not have if they dont get a look in eh? Against slavia MON made changes, the players looked knackered in the second half but at the same time those fringe players rarely get more than 3 minutes of playing time in the PL to increase their fitness. Our defense is really struggling, we hardly ever keep clean sheets and although I've always thought Brad Friedel is a great keeper, even he is looking shaky. I'm not sure exactly whats going wrong, maybe the players just arent quite good enough, maybe theyre playing out of position, tiredness?? I just think we need to start doing the simple things better, work hard, keep the passes simple and just keep the ball better. Unfortunately we have a few players who seem incapable of that. Annoying. Oh well, only ars and Man U next, whoop...
keefvilla, I didn't think Milner was that good yesterday, to many stray passes, poor corners, the only good thing was the cutback and the cross for the goal. Agree with Carew and Harewood, but keep the back 4 of Young, Laursen, Cuellar and Shorey, with (if fit) Petrov, Young, Sidwell and RC. That leaves Milner, Barry and Gabby on the bench if needed. Heard a lot of groans around me when Harewood had that chance, but fair play he has had no match practice and had only just come on. I really think he wants to stay at Villa so give him a bash at Arsenal.
i feel like the donkey in winne the pooh
we are at the top of the hill now looking over the edge.
in two weeks we will be on the back of a 4 game losing streak staring at mid table with only the uefa cup to look forward to.
Reply to keefvilla:
Good point that man!!!
Do you really think MON will drop his bum-chum Agbonlahor though? That young man is really starting to get up my nose!!!
Reply to Villa_Chris:
I stayed in bed and watch the chelsea game instead! Had a major hangover all day! Self-inflicted obviously, but sinking 10 pints in a pub satdy afternoon is all there is to do when Villa aint playing!!!
Would anybody like to give their view as to what the fuck Nicky Shorey was playing at???
Reply to keefvilla:
Thanks Keef!
Anyway, Im glad that I can cheer you up, even if it means you takin the piss outta me
Im worried.
I agree with james_villa. Definitely six points dropped & the chance to put a bit of distance between ourselves and the rest of the pack gone.
Very worried i am.
Reply to james_villa:
Chin-up! You could have had a hangover!!!
Reply to philbob88:
Looked like he was trying to impress the directors of Strictly come dancing so he can appear on the next series....thats my bet Phil...
OMG!Some of you need to get back to the real world, we have had a gerat start to the seasson and yeswe havemissedout on 2 chances to break into the top 4, but have you not all realised if we playedlike we have inprevious seassons then we wouldnt have had these chances, Yeah we havent capitalised on these "chances" but least we have been in a position to have them, were not a top 4 club yet , are relaistic target should be 5 (target not expectation) and lets face it, we are on track. So Stop crying and moaning , Look at Man shity for godsake, We are doing well in Uefa, Our squad was allways going to strugle to do well in both, yet in my opinion we are doing well in both maybe not perfect but well.
UTV!
Reply to HectorFullone :
Haha!!! It's even funnier because it MIGHT just happen with our Martin in charge...
"Has anyone noticed that Ramonicus and Chris have their photos next to the same cardboard cutout to try to convince everyone that they can pull the ladies? Sorry but when I'm down it always makes me feel better to give Chris some stick."
Ha ha ha! Yo chris, is it available cheap on e-bay? Or is it premium quality cardboard from the Molineux Megastore?
Reply to Villa_Chris:
But the ball hit him square in the wedding vegtables!!
More like Bambi on ice shot dead lying in the road!
Look we are a team full of pace and no technical ability. That might have worked ten years ago when leicestor were going well but the premiership has moved on a lot since then but has MON?Also the inability to pass surely reflects on MON and his training regieme? Its all good talking about him fixing it in Jan but have you all forgotten the last 3 transfer windows. Just sit back ad wait until the last day of the window to be upon us and 2 or 3 Spurs or West Ham subs to arrive at VP.
Reply to philbob88:
Cheekey bastard... Can't believe you think shes cardboard!!.... She was really expensive, the real thing...made of silicone, bought her for a right hefty price of $1,126 from America!
Reply to 1874AVFC:
I thought a couple of good crosses in second half. One were he turned the defender inside out. I just think he is getting better each game. Wouldn't play NRC against Arse if Petrov fit.
I'd go with Milner, Sidwell, Petrov and Young. Hope Luke Young fit too as Cuellar is no right back.
I totally agree Ak_27, it's simply not good enoough in the Prem to 'get the best' out of average players- this is NOT the SPL!!
I'm just tearing my hair out at the moment.
Reply to keefvilla:
Yes, the turning of the defender inside out was the highlight, but too too many easy passes went astray (stuff that us old boys can do!) and that isn't good enough. Like the sound of the midfield for Arsenal, give him anoher go, with RC and Barry chomping at the bit(!) on the bench.
Was to angry to come onto the site last night so i waited to cool off abit!
hasnt really helped!
cant belive sidwell and shoreys mistakes! even tho i fort sidwell had a good game!
well anyway.. we could always brush arsenal and man u aside!cant we?...
Villa have loft ambitions? Does this mean we're getting a retractable roof at Villa Park?
Reply to 1874AVFC:
Who you calling old?
I think the only chomping Barry doing is on his pillow when he's with Gerrard.
mondays are shit but when weve lost the day before i choose to have the day off and go to the pub and drink with the monday club boys
it does the job cus when i sober up its tuesday and i start to look forward to the next game
Reply to ak_27:
I could not agree more with this statement.
Why do we only seem to buy castoffs from other mediocre teams? Where is our scouting network?? Surely we have people who do more than watch Match of the Day??
I am afraid that our policy of buying young english players is fundamentally flawed. I know i'll open the proverbial can of worms here - but the vast majority of english players technically are not up to it. Thats a fact and international performances and results over the past 40 years prove this. If you look at the top four - all the guile, vision and creativity comes from non-british players. Unfortunately, a 'hard working' young english footballer costs 12m. Can you imagine Reo-Coker in any decent footballing side?
MoN has done a very good job taking us from where we were to where we are now, and his passion and enthusiasm are infectious, however, I am getting more and more worried that he has taken us a far as he can.
Getting the best out of average players is a great trait to have - but why do we still have average players after spending 50M in the summer?? Thats the responsibility of the manager and my chief point of annoyance (second only to the substitution fiasco).
I think we should have two default threads for this AVFCBlog. One for when we win and one for when we lose. Damian can just copy paste everything according to the result. Would save us all the time writing the same stuff depending on the result...!
I'm bored senseless...!
the reason why i am really de moralised today is that we have been lucky with results at the start of the season
most of the games have been 50-50 possession and chances wise but somehow we came away with wins. even against spurs where everyone was saying how good we were we only won through a fluke of a shot.
the fact is especially of late our players just follow the ball from player to player when the opposition gets it. there is some pressing of the ball but no emphesis on closing down the options for the player on the ball.
the amount of times i see an opposition player fun into space and not get picked up and is an easy outlet pass really does my head in.
Reply to james_villa:
Exactly James. We haven't played well at all this season IMO. Even the wigan game if Fredal wasn't in such great form that day the result would have been far different. What really annoys me is the pundits on tv who are obviuosly only looking at our results and not how we are playing and are saying what a great job MON is doing. Also MON is not giving up and coming young players a chance either. Who has he brought into our team from the reserves since he toke over (Gaby was already playing so he doesn't count). By all accounts Barry Bannan is a good player then why isnt he getting a few mins to show what he can do the way Wenger does with his young players? Same can be said for a few others and i believe its because MON has no interest in players with skill but just palyers with size and physique (Osborne being the only young player given a chance who is big but useless). This is my main problem with MON which untimately will stop our progress is his belief in strenth over skill which is completely out dated. Just look at the top 4 teams as an example of this.
the players i believe are capable they are strong yes but they also have skill. young, gabby, barry, milner, petrov is probably the most skillful
its just they are not putting in 100%. yes they are tired but put in 100% for two games and then have a rest for a game not put in 80% for 3 games.
I totally agree that we have managed to get some good results so far this season without actually playing that well (bar a few games). Pundits usually say its a sign of a great team, one that can play badly and still win. Unfortunately over recent weeks we havent gotten away with it like we did at the beginning and our performances are becoming more and more frustrating.
Christ that sounds depressing, but being a typical villa fan, its ups and downs as usual...
Its called luck when you give your all and remain positive even though things are going against you. With a football team it is more complicated because the team as a group must maintain a positive attitude throughout the game as well as giving their all. That is why football throws up suprise results. What happened yesterday was that some of the players were below par and the attitude of the team wasn't right. Of course tactics, organisation, skill level and fitness are also factors but for me if the attitude is'nt right the chances are you will loose.
Calling it lucky or unlucky is a mistake because that means you are not in control. It makes you think you cannot do anything to change your situation.
MON knows that the team needs to be worked on before the Arsenal game and I am sure that he will.
i meant lucky in the sense that gomez jumped over ball when ashley shot, lucky that carew was n't looking at the ball when sidwell shot.
we have been lucky!
Reply to ejw6979:
yes pundits do say a good team wins even when they are playing bad but you have to be a bit worried when we havnt played well in 4-5 games in the league!
i belive the players seem to think by giving 70/80% that they are good enough to win games! BIG SHOCK! there not!
also very worried on MON use of subs!!! i trust him totally with the club that i love but lately he has baffled many fans with his decisions!
Bag of shite from the villa last night. 2 games we should not have lost and, looking at the next 2 we have, we could go four without a win. Based on the last 2 I could see us missing fifth (we've already lost to Chelsea this season, a team who haven't beaten us in 2 years). I think we'll struggle for fifth now, and really we've only been there because Everton and Pompy have been so poor of late - looks like we're heading to mid table for a few weeks at least, and that could be dangerous if Man City get their act together. Do you ever notice that when Barry has a bad game so do the Villa? Wonder what'll happen when he goes.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret.
Like the rest of you I went to bed last night feeling like the sky was falling in.
Here's what I told myself for several hours before falling asleep. Try it, it may help.
I'd rather Villa lose than my kids be ill.
I'd rather Villa lose than my wife play away.
I'd rather Villa lose than fail to pay my mortgage.
I'd rather Villa lose than have to stop drinking.
I'd rather Villa lose than live in Liverpool.
I'd rather Villa lose than be Taglor.
I cannot believe that MON will not cash in on Barry
I know that arsenal will come in for him in jan
Liverpool have to sell so they are a no show again
Chelsea also have to sell i hear
Cash in Mon anywhere around 15m will do
Pack reo and marlene off and buy good quality young blood
Bale to replace barry
Del la Red in for reo
Defoe or owen
owen hargreaves as holding midfield
alonso would also be better than barry
build midfield around sidwell
You know things are bad when your workmate the Spud starts taking the piss. But, being a Villan I'm used to it and can take it on the chin, just like i gave it to Spuddy. He he he.
We were unfortunate, just like after Toon I am more mystified than angry/sad. If we do bounce back and beat Arse how frustrated will we be? Can't beat Boro or Toon but trounce Arse!
To Nan, several hours? Blimey mate, that result must have hurt, and was the wife not disturbed by your mutterings?
Pretty simple really, we just need some talent on the team....We have a shitload of squad players, just need quality......Spend 30 mil on two or three blokes......
Who am i kidding?
I'd rather Villa lose than my kids be ill.
I'd rather Villa lose than my wife play away.
I'd rather Villa lose than fail to pay my mortgage.
I'd rather Villa lose than have to stop drinking.
I'd rather Villa lose than live in Liverpool.
I'd rather Villa lose than be Taglor.
To Andy,
She wasn't disturbed no.
One of the kids was vomming.
She doesn't sleep in a bed with me anymore anyway.
Not since we defaulted on the bloody mortgage and the doctor told me if I continued to numb my feelings with whisky I'd be dead.
But hey we've got a flat lined up in Toxteth.
Hope we beat Arsenal.
any villa fan who believes we are capable of breaking into the top four is dreaming!
im losing faith in MON, he makes shocking substitutions, reo-cocker to right back and takes a real right back off, just so he does not take one of his golden boys off!
gabby could go sit in the corner all day and still get rave reviews
barry is shit!
and zone marking, f..... crap! we dont push the opposition in their own half and against good passing team you can drive a bus through us! next 2 games we will be f...ed!!
finally, he buys british shit, all average and overpriced. he has gone as far as he can
the only good thing about yesterday was i drowned my sorrows and missed work today so i also joined me muckers for the monday club,i think the tinker man (not ranieri)has to take the blame.he should get back down from cloud 9 and have a reality check,stop putting square pegs in round holes,play right backs at right back and left backs at left back.we have gone downhill since he has started messing around with the team
Year 1 - have faith
Year 2 - have faith
Year 3 - have faith
Year, oh just shut up you dreamers. MON get rid and send him packing to leicester and his long ball game and cut price boring workhorse players. I want excitement from my team and passion, then losing would be justified.
I'd rather Villa lose than be Taglor.
I'd rather lose than be Taglor.
I'd rather lose Taglor.
I'd lose Taglor. In a field. Full of exploding dildos.
Reply to eoin1981:
COMPLETELY AGREE WITH BOTH, eoin1981:
AND ak_27:,
VILLA HAVE PACE AND ENERGY AT THE BEST OF TIMES, BUT ARE ABSOLUTELY CRYING OUT FOR GUILE, CREATIVITY AND STEEL, THE FACT THAT THEY SEEM (AT THE MOMENT) NOT TO BE ABLE TO PLAY A PASSING GAME IS MOST HEARTBREAKING, REO-COKER AS SOMEONE SAID WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE WESTSPAM BECOZ HE HAD GOTTEN TO HIS HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT WITH HELPING TEAMS LIKE THEM AVOID RELEGATION WITH SOME SERIOUS HARD GRAFT, BUT WILL NEVER REPLACE ESSIEN/LAMPARD AT CHELSEA OR GERARD AT LIVERPLOP, JUST NOT CUTTING EDGE ENUFF? AND STYLIAN PETROV IS AS FAR AS AM CONCERENED A COMPLETE WASTE OF SPACE AND I WOULD PLAY SALIFOU AHEAD OF HIM EVERYTIME, SALIFOU DOES WHAT HE TRIES TO DO, BUT DOES IT BETTER AND ALSO DOES WHAT PETROV IS SUPPOSSED TO DO BUT NEVER DOES, CARRY THE BALL FORWARD AND PENETRATE THE OPPONENTS DEFENCE BEFORE DELIVERING A PIERCING PASS OR LETTING OFF A POWERFUL SHOT HIMSELF, WHAT AMAZES ME IS DAT NOT A LOT ON HERE SEEM TO KNOW THAT, AND PEOPLE STILL TRY AND PLAY PETROV?... WHY EVER IN THE WORLD WOULD U PLAY PETROV WHEN U HAVE SALIFOU?... WITH REGULAR GAMES UNDER HIS BELT TO BOOST HIS FITNESS AND MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY HIS CONFIDENCE, VILLA WOULD ALREADY BE A MUCH BETTER TEAM WITH THE LIKES OF CAREW, SHOREY, MILNER, CUELLER, DAVIES, BARRY, THE TWO YOUNGS,SIDWELL AND EVERYONE ELSE NOT MENTIONED AROUND HIM. FINI
Reply to taglor:
i wish gary glitter would stop using taglor as a alias,you dont even go to the games you come out with more crap than o dreary used to.go to halfords get yourself a satnav and plug in villa park it will make a change from hamstead heath or brighton beach where you normally go on the weekend!!!
It's quite interesting that Mr Taylor of the NHS gets more mention on some threads than any Aston Villa player does. Does that tell you something about how sensitive some of you are..?
This morning I'm still angry about sunday. I looked at the table and I think that if we lose to Arsenal then 4th place will more than likely be gone.
Reply to Monkeywrench:
Haha thats funny man!
Reply to DeGough:
4th place was hardly ever there for the taking and it was definitely gone 4-5 games ago...
Paddy Power has us at 6-1 to beat Arsenal so I suppose its very unlikely.
I might put a cheeky bet on for a win, you never know....
4th place hasn't gone yet it will still be there next year a win or a draw against asrenal and you will be taking back all you have said
Villa to win 2-1 at 22-1 looks like the cheeky bet
Reply to james_villa:
I agree if we win or draw, but I think it is gone if we loose to Arsenal
no way arsenal loose regularly to physical opposition they will slip up.
i wish sotc were in the league
I thought that Man U would beat them by being physical. As it turned out Berbatov was bullied. Can't see anyone bulling our big John. Hope he's fit.
Arsenal are strong at home, its only away they struggle.
Yes bu they lost to Hull and drew with Fenerbahce at home
True...
But then again, Hull have got a player that can ping a shot from nowhere and score in Geovanni....we haven't.
Was the last player we had that could do that Hitzlsperger?
Thanks nan, you put things into perspective.
A mate at work is a member of the same golf club near Tamworth as Gareth Barry. Barry has said that MON hasn't spoken to him since the newspaper article and Barry is to be sold in January. Probably to either Arsenal or Spurs. Villa turned down a bid of £13 million from Arsenal in August but will accept it now. Why Barry thinks Spurs will give him champions league football is beyond me
Reply to Villa_Chris:
Petrov vs Derby.
I'm telling you play Carew and Harewood up front v Arse and put crosses into box at every opportunity. The centrehalfs and keeper are crap and our lads will bully them.
Reply to Villa_Chris:
maybe solano
Reply to keefvilla:
Good call, I would like to see the Hare and Carew bully them like they did Newcastle last year. Gallas was class last weekend though...
How much do you trust this mate of urs at work? I actually hope he's right and MON drops Barry now!
Playing Hare would be a gamble as strikers usually need a couple of games to get sharp. They tend to snatch at shots.
Reply to philbob88:
Sidwell I think will be that man with a few games under his belt, Wigan was an example of his firepower. Carew and Hare up front v Arsenal, Gabby for last 25 when they have been battered.
Reply to Villa_Chris:
He's not the type to make things up and he's a Villa fan as well. Barry looks like a player who knows he will be sold in January. Can't wait to be at the first match he comes back to Villa Park!
With Petrov out till Nov 22 Barry has to play. Hopefully thoughts of playing for England V Germany will make him show up.
Reply to DeGough:
Midfield against Arse:
Milner NRC Sidwell Young
NRC as the defensive midfielder and Sidders bombing forward. Arse also lack a defensive midfielder so hopefully Sidders will get plenty of space.
What about
Milner NRC Sidwell Barry Young
and Carew up front alone
Sidwell and Barry to support NRC to hold back
Reply to DeGough:
Why dont we just fob barry off for 2 wks and play the legend that is SALIFOU!
I heard that each of his toenails produces enough petrol to run his cars for a year!
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
i woould rather villa win than all of them except the kids being ill!maybe taglor aswell!haha
wot id give for juan pablo back!LIVING LEGEND!
Yeah lets do it bring back Juan!!! And how come Brad Guzan didnt get a game on sunday after how well he played against prague???
Juan Pablo Angel is a LEG END!
very clever striker!unreal in the air and a coolness in the box!!
JUAN IS A TOTAL GENIUS!!!
Elano anyone? Hughes wants to sell him. He would certainly bring some attacking options. Get rid of Barry for 15mil (although he certainly is not worth now or ever) and then get Elano for 8 - 10mil, use the rest and kick in a little to bring in Zaki or lets try for Zarate from Lazio. Lets get some excitement back. I would rather JPA than Harewood. Atleast the guy had some ability....
LOL well said andyanarchist, how are you mate?
Hey taglor, not doing too bad. Thanks for asking.
I revolt of two has started in the forum and I ain't going back until things get back to normal. How dare it be changed and K removed. Do these techies not realise how hard it is to do K cold turkey...!
Can I give some friendly advice taglor. I think being less anarchistic (here's me giving such advice hey!!!) and removing that abrasive edge you have, you could actually be quite endearing to everyone.
Look at it like this analagy....Boy bands do OK to start with, but then they are yesterdays news. To stay with today they have to adapt, mature, recognise what the people want or expect and deliver the reborn version of themselves. Am I making myself clear?
I'm not saying come over to the dark side or start bleeting, I just mean package yourself for the here and now...
Good luck...Give it a try...Feel the love
A revolt of two, not I revolt of two...Doh...!
Stop panicking everyone MON and RL have a 5 year plan, he has bought sensibly and with the economic climate we are in a good financial position. We still have the cups to play for and 2 losses does not make a season over. MON made those substitutions because he knows the players well and obviously has faith in them just as he did with Petrov who is now world class. We all need to have faith and anyone who doesn't is a bluenose, in MON we trust. UTV
Andy am I doing this right or not?
I knew you had it in you....You sheep...!
No..Really though you do have potential to be one of the most respected members on here. I am not pissing about. I really do have my sensible head on....I believe in you.
Ok, so your ridiculing me with your last post, but stop it there. I have faith in you to be the 'voice of reason' but at the moment 99% think your a twat. I want you to change that perception. You may not care about what others think, but let's just take a second and look at the alternative to your current method of posting.
Upto 6 months or so ago, you kinda had a bit of a following, but attitudes have changed and new faces are on the block etc. Your posting have now become futile. So why not try the alternative and put your points of view over in a more constructive way. I may not always agree with you (some stuff I do) but at least you would be respected for your constructive opinion.
To be honest Andy I don't care at all about what people think, if I did I would pander to that and be more subjective but I got pushed past breaking point by both Villa and the premiership and now I just can't stand hoping again after 2 pointless decades of football. Again tonight that player for Sheff Wed nearly very seriously hurt someone and they won't sack him like the twat for Ipswich with his gesture for his child killer mate in jail, there's too much money involved, all of this makes me sick and until footbal gets it's morals back I can't debate on a rational level as football isn't on a rational level. But thanks for the sentiments mate.
Sorry i meant Sheffield United.
PS The ironic thing is all the people that slate me and praise MON et al have got absolutely big fat zero to show for their loyalty, so who's the bigger mug?
I get where you are coming from taglor (do you have a first name (other than Mr!
)) and I understand your points. I used to fight the wankers in the plod that just wanted to piss about with the way they run a police service, but then you realise to make yourself heard and have change made your way, you have to speak the same language, but still have your own point of view. You may not agree with them, but there's certainly more than one way to skin a cat.
In fact, look at how far you have come already. Above, we have had reasoned discussion about how shit football in general is these days. But no bugger is going to listen if you just piss people off. It may make you feel good in the short term, but it will change blot all.
Anyway, thanks for the late night chat tags.
Reply to taglor:
King Kev's yer man then Taglor, bring him to villa park and we'll wipe the floor with the likes of Blackpool but at least when blues beat us 5-3 we'll be happy.
Hearing about the troubles Elano is having at Man City, isn't he the creative midfield presence that many on this blog have said that Villa need. What does everyone else think?