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Everton away preview: Three points or have The Toffees woken up

One thing you can be fairly sure of with Everton is it will start to work for Moyes sooner than later, so the big question is; will it be this weekend in front of their desperate home fans?

I say desperate because they have only won three games all season, two at home and they have taken a beating recently. They also only picked up points against Wolves and Stoke at home, so their loyal fans are going to be desperate for all three on Saturday.

They will be desperate and while you know I'm going to say away win, I see draw written all over this fixture and I suspect it will be a tough game. One thing is for sure however; it doesn't matter who wins as it won't be an upset. Everton are possibly the team in the league that we will be fighting with for that extra place come the end of the season.

Everton don't have the new billionaire owner but they got the right manager at the right time who has been supported when he really needed it and has truly brought players through the ranks and they are actually the best of the rest and also better than some with the new owners and new hype.

You have to wonder where Everton could go with some proper money and while I have my doubts about managers like Moyes and O'Neill, we'll never know until they get some proper money. Any manager, look at Mark Hughes, will be considered a threat given so much money, but Moyes has something about him and he tries to play good football too.

They had Joseph Yobo, Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Diniyar Bilyaltedinov, Victor Anichebe, Leon Osman and Leighton Baines all missing for the Spurs game this week and while they expect a couple of them to be back for Saturday, could you imagine what would happen if we lost nine players that were considered first team players?

But, we seem to like playing Everton regardless of who is playing. Anyone remember this game?

It's going to be a tough game and Moyes will know how to approach this game but our team is going to work and work and run and run and while I fancy if there was a favourite it will be us, like I've said above, I see a draw even if three points would be fantastic, especially with our game in hand coming up next Wednesday. Win them both and we could, in all reality, be sitting comfortably in the top four.

But it is Everton we have to worry about first and well, this is just my preview and mostly to point out that both teams will be tired, both teams will be making changes from the Carling Cup and both teams will want to win but will accept that a point is better than nothing.

My prediction; Guzan to be rested and Sidwell to start. I'd love it if Reo-Coker started too but I can't see it. I'd also love it if O'Neill played 451 or 433 or 4231 or something that really isn't 442, but we will find out on Saturday with the live post I'll be starting about two hours before the game.

That is it for now, no rumours today and nothing of any substance coming from the club and our new head of media, but surely that has to come soon?

Comments (224)add comment

Andy Rock said:

0
...
Did anyone read Mark Hughes' comments about Man City having the the second best defensive record in the Premiership bar Chelsea. What table is he reading, Villa have the best defence. Have I misunderstood or gone mad?
Comment 1, made on October 29, 2009 at 11.47 am

Damian said:

Damian
...
It is better for Hughes to associate his team with the club sitting top of the table than the club sitting 7th even if the club sitting top and the club sitting 7th have let in the same amount of goals especially as the team sitting top have scored 24 while the team sitting 7th have only scored 13 ...
Comment 2, made on October 29, 2009 at 11.51 am

Christian1983 said:

Christian1983
...
It'll be a battle of quite poor quality. I have a nasty feeling that Everton will steal it. Saha I feel.

But that's not the end of the world, despite their poor form and injuries, they're a good side and plenty more will be felled at Goodison after us.

I'd be delighted with a point though.
Comment 3, made on October 29, 2009 at 11.52 am

Richard Dunne my lord, Richard Dunne!! said:

0
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No better time to play Everton or the worst possible time?!?! That is the question!

They have some big name players out, so I'm fairly happy with this but they have to start performing soon I suppose.

However, I think the first goal on Saturday is massive and if we get it, I can see a comfortable win. There heads will drop and the ground may turn on them and make it easier for us.

I'm going to this game and the West Ham game as well, so looking forward to 2 great games and 6 points!!
Comment 4, made on October 29, 2009 at 11.52 am

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
I'm making the trip and hope for a repeat of last year.

I do fear a draw or narrow defeat though. Need and early goal.

Heskey...
Comment 5, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.01 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
Nan -- give up Heskey or EMULE as i like to call him will never score again, ahem

Everton game i think we are going to take this one, i think the players and the manager, apart from guzan, no sunderland was pants and i fancy them to put out a performance. Gabby goal and Young goal i reckon 0-2 cant see Everton doing much really collins and dunne will keep saha and Co out, lets just hope Gabby and Carew start firing
Comment 6, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.10 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
I read some comments from Everton fans on another site and they're even more pessimistic than us! One even slagged Moyes and said he was too negative. Really surprised me.
Anyway, I'd like to think it should be an easy win given the players they have out, but I don't see where the goals are going to come from. I see a game similar to the Wolves one, draw or an odd goal either way.
To think how the football has changed from the corresponding fixture last season smilies/cry.gif
Comment 7, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.16 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
we could potentially go third if we beat Everton with a game in hand !!! smilies/wink.gif I really think we will do them
Comment 8, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.22 pm

vivavilla said:

vivavilla
...
Everton aren't playing well this year. Sunderland will finish ahead of them in the league, mark my words.

Score draw.
Comment 9, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.24 pm

StickyAV said:

0
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Looking back on that performance last year I'd say it'd be a pretty good bet that Young is going to quite fancy this game. He probably thinks it's a good stadium for him. Maybe this could be the kickstart to his season?

Hughes prob doesn't want to admit that the defender he sold, is performing for a defence stronger than his own! ha!
Comment 10, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.25 pm

mheaven said:

0
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Everton’s current injury woes will do us some favours at the weekend but Goodison is never an easy place to go. You have to feel for Moyes, pummelled by Benfica away, injury time loss to Bolton and losing at Spurs in the cup is a dreadful run for his side.

What I think will work in our favour is that we have the depth. Moyes can’t rotate his side due to his injury list. Players even included won’t be 100% and to me, looked tired at White Hart Lane. Cahill hasn’t been fit for a long time and Everton lack creativity without Arteta – a player who I hope will recover from that horrific injury but I fear he won’t come back the same. Pienaar and Feleini carry their play forward but even they aren’t 100% fit – worrying times for Moyes

Everton will be throwing everything at us at the weekend. Moyes and his side cannot afford to drop points against us – it is a game that we should win. Carew was dreadful against Wolves and how can gabby be touted for S.A when he can’t finish a 1 on 1 and score a penalty against Sunderland?! He has to be more clinical in front of goal.

I hope Warnock recovers in time, he’s been outstanding this season. Collins and Dunne are just fantastic to watch and I think we will see a few envious fans at Goodison on Saturday – Distin or Collins?????

NRC was our best player on the park at Anfield against Liverpool. I think MON would have ripped SS for his lunge against Wolves and could even leave him out. If he starts NRC against Everton, he’ll cover every blade of grass on the pitch.
Comment 11, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.25 pm

CSM said:

CSM
...
I think it will be a war of attrition on Saturday. Everton will sit back as they will not want to let in sloppy goals at home where the fans will get on their backs. Villa usually only play well when teams come at them. It will be won in midfield if you ask me and I think O'Neil should put Reo in to win spoil any creative stuff they try.

I will worry if Sidwell is in as he has a tendency to go missing, especially against strong physical teams.

They miss Phil Neville as he broke things up for Everton. I am not sure they will cope with Gabby up front and if Collins and Dunne have another solid game I see us sneaking it.

I predict a win, ugly but a win!
Comment 12, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.26 pm

Wes said:

0
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I think this will no doubt be o tough game, but one we are more than capable of winning, especially if Mon starts with 4-5-1! I'm gutted that Reo has dropped down the pecking order again and am disappointed to see Fab sat on the bench week in week out. We need to be playing the following team in my opinion:

Freidel
Cueller,Collins,Dunne,Warnock
Milner,Reo Coker,Delph,Petrov,Young
Agbonglahor

I feel this team would offer us a good defence but with great attacking options and Fab would offer us the creativity we are so desperately missing??

Also, has anyone else noticed that Fergies son Darren looks like something off the League of Gentlemen??
Comment 13, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.27 pm

keefvilla said:

keefvilla
...
This is very similar to the game at Goodison last season. Everton were on a bad run, we were winning away from home without playing brilliantly and then Ashley Young became a genius.

I think Everton away is the type of game that suits us, especially as they are playing so bad with a lot of injuries. They will want to attack us to get the fans behind them and we should be able to counter-attack.

I will be interested to see the team and formation we play. I have a sneaking of 4-5-1 as both Carew and Heskey are playing crap and MO may want to strengthen our midfield with NRC.

Prediction is Everton 1 Villa 2.
Comment 14, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.35 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
this game has SALIFOU's name all over it smilies/cheesy.gif
Comment 15, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.36 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Also, has anyone else noticed that Fergies son Darren looks like something off the League of Gentlemen??


Ha ha brilliant!

I'm going for a 3-1 to Villa. We need a comprehensive victory over someone, sometime soon....surely?!?
Comment 16, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.38 pm

eoin1981 said:

eoin1981
...
With everyone dropping points left right and center - if we could win 3/4 games in a row - we'd probably be top of the league!

I cant see anything other than the standard villa match. Everton will dominate and we will have 2-3 half chances. If we sneak one we could win 1-0 with a rear guard action. Everton are a strong side but they always seem to have about 10 players out injured - I fancy them to win this weekend 2-1.

As for the team - it will be the same 11 that started against Wolves.
Comment 17, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.47 pm

ak_27 said:

ak_27
...
mheaven we might have depth now but what use is it if it is not utilised? He will recall Friedal, Sidwell and possibly Carew and the rest will be those who played 120 mins of football on tuesday night. And those that will start will play the entire 90mins bar inj or the usual Heskey for Carew subsitution.

This game really does not appeal to me one bit. It will be a hard battle in the centre of the park with very little skill or creativity on show manily due to Everton missing many key creative players.

One goal will win it, probably from a set piece. Could go either way.

Comment 18, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.51 pm

keefvilla said:

keefvilla
...
Chiefy

Did you know SALIFOU is an anagram of IS A FOUL ?

EMILE HESKEY is an anagram of FALLS FLAT ON HIS FACE ?
Comment 19, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.53 pm

MerryMan said:

MerryMan
...
Everton are weak at the moment, we should beat them, but we probably won't. Need to win if we have any ambition of breaking the top 4 this season.

At lot will depend on key players re-discovering form. Webcam has been average this season. But he likes playing against everton so maybe he'll play a blinder put a good run together.

Hard to call but as an optimist i'll bet on our big players having a big game and winning it for us.
Comment 20, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.53 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
EMULE will score. Trust me, I'm a doctor.
Comment 21, made on October 29, 2009 at 12.54 pm

jonnycarew said:

jonnycarew
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"No Villa midfielder has scored a league goal not from the penalty spot since May" add in Carew hasnt scored this yr in the league and you got to wonder what could happen once we find some form!
Comment 22, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.09 pm

keefvilla said:

keefvilla
...
"EMULE will score. Trust me, I'm a doctor"

No you're not, you're a grandmother!
Comment 23, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.09 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Right,
Everton eh? To expect something like the two brilliant matches last season would be a little foolhardy considering the way both sides have been playing recently but the nature of the game will be similar. Tough, hard fought and will probably be a draw or a tight win. As a Villa fan I wouldn't be too unhappy if we lose this as there really wouldn't be any shame in it.

It's possible to draw plenty of similarities between ourselves and Everton in the way the manager operates, the level of success achieved over the last couple of seasons and the quality of players both sides posess. Not to mention the Man City connection.

I think in a game of this type, when the difference between teams is so narrow it's not going to come down to formation or team selection (within reason) it's going to come down to application, hard work and who wants it more. The same side that beat Chelsea drew with Wolves and this an application and concentration issue.

Hopefully the standard of opposition will inspire determination in our players and we can nick a win, however a defeat away to Everton isn't the end of the world and I would be more concerned if we don't win on wednesday. Now i've said that we'll probably beat the Toffees and lose to the Hammers as that seems to be the way of it for us at the minute. Two wins and we're quietly into the top four, two losses and it's starting to look ominous approaching xmas. I think we'll take four points from the next two games and i'd be very happy with that thank you very much.
Comment 24, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.10 pm

frosty said:

frosty
...
I fancy a score draw.

Off the subject but can anyone explain how Spurs can afford a new stadium during the recession???

Comment 25, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.11 pm

Richard Dunne my lord, Richard Dunne!! said:

0
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I have just received the below mail from my mate who's an Everton fan and I'm sorry but if all these players don't make it, we HAVE to go and win this game.

There is no better time to play our closest rivals for 5th place.

If we were missing that many first teamers they would come to Villa Park and stuff us, so we have to go and do the same.

We have to show what we are capable off.

We have major doubts still over Yobo, Baines, Osman and Billy the Russian but they aren't that hopeful on any of them, Jags, Arteta, Pienaar and Neville are still definitely out.
Comment 26, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.12 pm

keefvilla said:

keefvilla
...
Frosty

"Off the subject but can anyone explain how Spurs can afford a new stadium during the recession???"

Redknapp is doing the book keeping.
Comment 27, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.17 pm

ak_27 said:

ak_27
...
JPA i think we really should be expectant of beating an Everton side without so many first team players and playing so poorly if we are to really count ourselves as top 4 contenders. This game should be seen as a very winnable game and unless we end up having a very unlucky day in front of goal i think a defeat (maybe even a draw depending on Evertons team ) should be seen as a dissapointing result all things considered.
Comment 28, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.20 pm

ak_27 said:

ak_27
...
Frosy Spurs somehow dispite all their spending over the years bring in huge money and i guess they can afford to do this. They make far more money then we do. Someone had a link during the summer to some stats and i couldn't understand how they they had so much more revenue(i think it was something like 50/60m more per year then us) then us with a smaller stadium but they do.
Comment 29, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.24 pm

vivavilla said:

vivavilla
...
They can have as many injuries as they want, their midfield is still probably better than ours.
Comment 30, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.29 pm

Parkend Blue said:

0
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Some respectful things said about Everton in the piece (although not sure about Moyes and O'Neill having similar money to spend- it must be reaching 100m net spent for Villa over last 4 years?). You Villa fans seem as pessimistic as us tho im not sure why. Youve scored a lot of goals from setpieces this year and we concede at least one every match. I think this will be the difference come Saturday evening.
Comment 31, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.30 pm

mheaven said:

0
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AK_27 - I agree with you. It seems inevitable that he will recall the players mentioned and the chances of us seeing Delph or NRC starting are slim to none. For me, Sidwell shouldn’t start.
If MON turned round to NRC and said here’s 90 minutes against Everton away, your starting in the middle, we would have the upper hand against a dilapidated Everton midfield. NRC has a point to prove, is fit and would tackle a lamp post. Sidwell is a great passer of the ball and gives us options but NRC needs a chance.

Also, this is a hug game for A.Young. If Hibbert starts it is a boost for Ash because he is dog s**t. He needs to run at this guy and turn him inside out – he put in one of the best performances of last season and he needs to recreate that same time around because he’s having a poor season by his standards.
Comment 32, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.33 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
If we were missing that many first teamers they would come to Villa Park and stuff us, so we have to go and do the same.


I totally agree.
I'd agree with JPA's assessment if they were full strength, but they're playing kids and have academy players on the bench, judging from what I read.

If that's true, we really should be looking to win this one.
Comment 33, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.35 pm

keefvilla said:

keefvilla
...
ak_27 & Frosty

Hotspuds are in London, they charge London prices, much higher than we do. They attract higher sponsorship (plus we have Acorns on the shirts) and more corporate business as they are in the capital. There ground is also in prime development area.

Tottenham Hotspur plc has two segments: football and property. The Company's subsidiaries include Tottenham Hotspur Football & Athletic Co. Ltd, White Hart Lane Stadium Limited, which is engaged in the provision of football entertainment; Tottenham Hotspur Finance Company Limited, which is an issuer of loan notes; Paxton Road Limited, which holds certain properties on behalf of the Company, Stardare Limited, which also holds certain properties on behalf of the Company; Star Furnishing Company Limited; Ambergate Estates Limited; Canvax Limited and Greenbay Property Limited.

They are a PLC and they are run how we should have been under the last chairman, but we had Herbert.
Comment 34, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.35 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
ak, idon't want to get my hopes up. Sure they have a few injuries, but they didn't have a striker for so long last season and still finished above us (I admit we threw it away).
Everton (possible)
--------Howard---------
Neill-Distin-Heitinga-One of the Kids
------Rodwell--Goslin--
Cahill---Fellaini---Jo
----------Saha-------

Not a terible side is it and one that can definitely cause us problems. We need to focus on the fact it could be a slightly shakey back line, but they have more than enough up top to give us a really rough ride.

Anyone who thinks this has to be three points is a mug. A point away to Everton is a good result and while it may be a decent time to play them they will have hungry fringe players looking to cement their place in the side and we all know the quality that players like Rodwell and Goslin have.

They finished sixth las year with no Saha, no Yak, no Arteta, Jagielka was out for a period, Cahill was playing up top on his own, yet they put a brilliant run together when the chips were down.

Do not write them off.

If we lose it is not the end of the world.

Also if we fail to beat West Ham on wednesday remember that they took points off Arsenal at the weekend.

I hate the way it's always a must win game on here, the season will fall apart if we don't win! BOOHOO!.

Two losses would be a pain in the a*se but I think we'll get four points from both games.
Comment 35, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.38 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Don't take my formation and selection literally people, it's just to prove a point.
Comment 36, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.42 pm

ronrabbit said:

ronrabbit
...
This is something that annoys me, we will settle for a point? would arsenal, chelsea, man u or liverpool settle for a point? would man city or spurs settle for a point?
Where has the ambition gone, if we want to think seriously about getting a top 4 finish, we have to look to win every game, and be disappointed with any game that is not a win. We beat chelsea, and liverpool this year, we know we are good enough to win these games, so why are some people happy with a draw against a pretty poor everton side?

Joseph Yobo, Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Diniyar Bilyaltedinov, Victor Anichebe, Leon Osman and Leighton Baines, s the list of players put up at the top, how many of those players would get in our side? 1 Arteta, that is it, we have better players than them, we are on a better run of form, we are a better side, anything less than 3 points is not a good result.
Comment 37, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.45 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
"EMULE will score. Trust me, I'm a doctor"

No you're not, you're a grandmother!


Yeah right. And Heskey is an International Strike Threat.
Comment 38, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.48 pm

Rios.Jockstrap said:

0
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Everton under Moyes will be hard to beat, whether they have nine players out or not. Lets hope that some of us dont get so confident as they were before the Wolves gamesmilies/wink.gif

Theres only one outcome if we play as we have been over the last two games, and thats a narrow defeat in a dour game.

Fortunately, i cant see us playing poorly for three games on the trot. Oneils teams are not set out like that, and effort will sooner or later be met with a bit more of cutting edge.

Carew and Young are playing shite, theres no dobt in that, but they are big performers whom on their day will tear anyone apart. I predict that we will proberly see something approacing their best form Saturday, because we are going to need them to show it.

2-0 for me, with a much better performance.
Comment 39, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.51 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Nine injuries to first team players at Villa, say:
Warnock, Davies, Bouma, L. Young, Friedel, Dunne, Sidwell, Milner, Heskey.

------------Guzan--------------
Beye---Collins--Cuellar---Shorey
--------Petrov----NRC-----------
Albrighton---Delph------A. Young
---------Agbonlahor-------------

Or take out nine of our current first team, say:
Friedel, Warnock, Dunne, A. Young, Gabby, Petrov, Sidwell, A. Young, Cuellar.

------------Guzan-------------
Beye---Collins--Clarke---Bouma
----------NRC--Delph----------
Albrighton---Gardner----Milner
--------Heskey/Delfouneso-----

Still not a terrible side, this is what depth is about. If Everton had a full strength side out and we played this team I would expect the lads to make an effort and put themselves about. They would be more than capable of nicking something. DO NOT DELUDE YOURSELVES INTO THINKING THIS IS AN EASY MUST WIN GAME!!! We may lose, they are still a big threat. If we win I will be over the moon, but we will have to make as much effort on the pitch as we did against Chelsea.
Comment 40, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.54 pm

ronrabbit said:

ronrabbit
...
JPA they are must win games if we want a chance of finishing in the top 4, we have already dropped points agaist wolves, blackburn and wigan, we will contiune to do so, the league is much stronger this year than ever before, it really annoys me this complete lack of ambition from fans. If we dont get atleast 4 points from the next two games then that is poor. We are already below 2 points a game, which is pretty much what we need to get a top 4 spot. We are not good enough to go on a long winning streak, like arsenal did at the end of last year, and as such if we fall behind that 2 points per game average, we wont be able to make it back up.
Oh and a draw against west ham is decent? is a draw ok against the other 18 teams in the league then? oh sorry we can beat pompy, but then its draws agaist everyone else? seriously if you are happy with a draw against the 2nd bottom side there is a real then what hope is there? if we are lucky we might stave off relegation?
I really don't understand the mentality of some people, These are games we should win. West ham is a game we should win at a canter.
Comment 41, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.56 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
ronrabbit, the reason I'll settle for a point is because I think that's what we'll get. |I'm not going to lie to myself all week that we are streets ahead of them when thewy will still be able tu put out a dangerous side and if we play like we did against Wolves, Wigan and Rovers we will probably lose or draw. If we play like we did against Pool and Chelsea we will probably win, but we have to play pretty well. Grow up.
Comment 42, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.57 pm

ronrabbit said:

ronrabbit
...
Rios.Jockstrap said:


...
Everton under Moyes will be hard to beat, whether they have nine players out or not. Lets hope that some of us dont get so confident as they were before the Wolves game


the wolves result was terrible! i dont really get your point, because if a top 6, challenging the top four side is not confident going to play against a team that would happily take 4th from bottom, when do you get a chance to be confident?
Comment 43, made on October 29, 2009 at 1.59 pm

croni said:

croni
...
Villa to win, easy
either with 4-5-1, 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or even a pellgrini 4-2-2-2
why? because we have class players, a class manager, great team spirit, awesome defense, milner in the form of his life, brilliant set play ,and going forward we're just going to get better and better as the season goes
Comment 44, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.02 pm

ronrabbit said:

ronrabbit
...
JPA:
but we will have to make as much effort on the pitch as we did against Chelsea.

We should be making that much effort every game, this in essence is my point. If the players dont put that much effort in, should questions not be asked, should we not be disappointed that the players couldn't be arsed, or the manager didn't prepare them properly. We should be beating everton, a point is not a disaster, but less than 4 points from the everton and west ham match will be pretty detrimental to our top4 hopes this year.
Comment 45, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.03 pm

ronrabbit said:

ronrabbit
...
IM not saying we are going to get three points, that its 100% certain, im saying that it will be a dissapointing result if we get anything less than 3 points. Which it will. IF your reasoning is that you dont want to be dissapointed, why not hope for a draw every game, or settle for a 1-0 loss, just as long as we dont get spanked. The aim should be to win the game, and anything less should be called into question. Arsenal or liverpool, who are the sides we are looking to leap frog would not settle for a draw, the fans would not be happy with that, if we want to challenge at their level we should have the same expectations as them.
Comment 46, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.08 pm

ronrabbit said:

ronrabbit
...
Juan Pablo Angel said:


...
ronrabbit, the reason I'll settle for a point is because I think that's what we'll get. |I'm not going to lie to myself all week that we are streets ahead of them when thewy will still be able tu put out a dangerous side and if we play like we did against Wolves, Wigan and Rovers we will probably lose or draw. If we play like we did against Pool and Chelsea we will probably win, but we have to play pretty well. Grow up.

Moving to petty insults to deflect from your poor argument and obvious lack of ambition for our club.
Comment 47, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.09 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Anyone know whether the game is on Villa Streams this weekend? Doesn't seem to be updated
Comment 48, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.11 pm

Rios.Jockstrap said:

0
...
Ron Rabbit

I do understand the point your making. However, we were Wolves biggest game of the season, we are the team they have been waiting for, and the one they relish beating the most. They were up for it, and Macarthy would have had them gnawing through concrete before the game!

It was a derby, and form in derbies go out of the window.

My point was that whilst reading the predictions before that game, many of us were still letting the euphoria of the chelsea victory get the better of them.

Wolves was always going to be difficult, as will Everton tomorrow. Should we be expected to beat teams like this?

Yes, at the stage of where we are and the money that has been made available, definately.

But we cant take that as a right.

Incidently, i thought our teams performance last week mirrored our fans expectations before the game. And how many times have we seen that with the Villa?

Ok, we got a point (should of been three), but i think Martin will have been using that performance this week as a wake up call to the players.



Comment 49, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.14 pm

phil h said:

0
...
Heskey is in the press again on about the world cup squad. I'm sick of hearing how important it is for him. We pay his wages and i go to every game and he has done nothing for us to warrant a place. The only reason he gets a sniff at villa is we are now playing 442 and have limited other options. Club should always come before country. It certainly does for me. Prove us wrong Emule.
Comment 50, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.28 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
Got to agree with you Ronrabbit.
According to this;

http://www.evertonresults.com/

they've only beaten us once in the last 7 meetings.

If we can't beat a massively weakened side, we can kiss the top 4 goodbye.
Anything less than 3 points will be a disappointment to me and more points dropped.
Same goes for Wet spam, 3 points and nothing less, imo.

Not that I'm expecting it though. Don't get me wrong, I think we're capable of losing to anyone atm.

Comment 51, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.29 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
Parkend Blue,

Welcome to the forums mate smilies/smiley.gif

We're worried because er, let's just say we've not been on fire as of late smilies/sad.gif
Comment 52, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.33 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Interesting enough, our average goal ratio is slightly higher than last season, yet our defence is loads better.....and that is with only Gabby really scoring. Just think, when we add some goals from Midfield and Carew starts firing on all cylinders, top 4 is possible.

The only way is up! smilies/wink.gif
Comment 53, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.36 pm

Villa_Man said:

0
...
I think Moyes is starting to lose the plot personally. He has been moaning about fixtures and "a lack of respect shown towards his club". Do you hear MON moaning about all our away games on the trot? I think it all stems from Lescotts departure. He fought long and hard to keep him and he eventually went and I dont think Moyes has got over it. Every now and then Everton have an awful season. The year after they came 4th they nearly got relegated. I dont think they are going to be anywhere near us come the end of the season. They certainly wont qualify for Europe. They have no strikers and a big Lescott sized hole in there defence. Sure, they brought in Distin and Heitinga, but Heitinga doesnt look like settling and Distin is, well, Distin. This is a game we should be winning all day long. Everton will ne lucky to finish in the top half in my opinion. I dont think there players are up for the fight. UTV
Comment 54, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.37 pm

Tony_Daley said:

Tony_Daley
...
Lets just hope Ashley remembers how he played last season!
UTV
Comment 55, made on October 29, 2009 at 2.47 pm

Villa_Man said:

0
...
I dont know why people are bashing Heskey so much. He would start for half of the clubs in the prem. Even teams like Liverpool would love to have him on the bench. He's a good back up striker which is exactly what we need. We are lucky to have a player like that on our bench. UTV
Comment 56, made on October 29, 2009 at 3.04 pm

Spaniard said:

Spaniard
...
Hey guys when is the draw for the next round of the cup??smilies/smiley.gif
Comment 57, made on October 29, 2009 at 3.26 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Saturday afternoon I believe Spaniard
Comment 58, made on October 29, 2009 at 3.28 pm

Spaniard said:

Spaniard
...
thanks Villa_Chris ,
Comment 59, made on October 29, 2009 at 3.34 pm

Fenian Villain said:

Fenian Villain
...
You have to wonder where Everton could go with some proper money and while I have my doubts about managers like Moyes and O'Neill, we'll never know until they get some proper money

For God's sake! When will the facts about Villa's net spend be acknowledged as meaning Villa are attempting to compete at the highest level, given that Randy Lerner is not an oil trillionaire??
As for you being unsure about O'Neill and Moyes, what the hell do they have to do to prove themselves?

Damien, sometimes I swear you are completely deluded
Comment 60, made on October 29, 2009 at 3.37 pm

Fenian Villain said:

Fenian Villain
...
Incidently, a draw wouldn't be an awful result but I do predict a win. As has been mentioned Everton are weakened by injury and poor form so we have the upper hand I think. Games of this type are important to win if we are to challenge Man City and Spurs. Don't want to state the obvious but it would be better if we could win these matches to keep the pressure up
Comment 61, made on October 29, 2009 at 3.43 pm

vivavilla said:

vivavilla
...
Over the last 5 years our net spend is the 4th most in the league.

How can you ask for much more than that?
Comment 62, made on October 29, 2009 at 3.46 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
Over the last 5 years our net spend is the 4th most in the league.

And I don't remember Ellis spending much in his last couple of years (?).

This makes me laugh when you consider Mr lerner has been called a skinflint, miser and tight-fisted, on here.

I'm sure some people are just blind to the facts sometimes.
Comment 63, made on October 29, 2009 at 3.57 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Agree Badger....
Comment 64, made on October 29, 2009 at 4.08 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
Looks like Saha could be out too;

http://www.clubcall.com/everto...67601.html

God they have some injuries don't they?
Comment 65, made on October 29, 2009 at 4.32 pm

Richard Dunne my lord, Richard Dunne!! said:

0
...
Anyone got any news on Warnock? Hope he's fit for Saturday.
Comment 66, made on October 29, 2009 at 4.49 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Beat me to it Badger!

That would be great for us if he's out, I think he's class.
Comment 67, made on October 29, 2009 at 4.51 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
However, the whole Villa team are playing well at the moment

Who's Hansen been watching?

http://community.footballpools...on-villa/


Anyone got any news on Warnock?

Last I heard it was 50-50 I think.
That would be great for us if he's out, I think he's class.

Yeah, good player.
He's on his best prem start too.

Comment 68, made on October 29, 2009 at 4.58 pm

Richard Dunne my lord, Richard Dunne!! said:

0
...
Looks like we have no new injury concerns for Sat, so full squad bar Bouma and Downing.

http://www.avfc.co.uk/article/injury-update-20091029_2235195_1841218

I'd go with 5 in midfield and stop Cahill, Affro and Rodwell playing.

Freidel
Cueller Dunney Monster Ginger Nugget Warnock
Milner Sidwell Reo Petrov Young
Gabby

Guzan
L Young
Shorey
Gardner
Delph
Carew
Heskey
Comment 69, made on October 29, 2009 at 5.36 pm

Damian said:

Damian
...
shoudl be fixed now hopefully
Comment 70, made on October 29, 2009 at 5.40 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
-Blimey Marlon King has been jailed for 18 months.

Serves him right, the nob.
Comment 71, made on October 29, 2009 at 5.40 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Anyone who hits a woman deserves jail....maybe even to be castrated too!
Comment 72, made on October 29, 2009 at 5.50 pm

ak_27 said:

ak_27
...
Good enough for the scum bag.

Is it right that he will be allowed to come back and earn a living from Football after he gets out?

Im sure most of us here would struggle to find employment if we did what he did.
Comment 73, made on October 29, 2009 at 5.50 pm

VillaNick said:

0
...
Reading the comments today, it's funny to see most would-be teams for Saturady are 4-5-1.

I agree too, it's just it will be 4-4-2, no surprises, MON is very predictable.

Guzan will be back on the bench, despite a world class performance against Sunderland.

I don't think Heskey or Carew have done enough to start either, but one of them will.

If we do, Everton could undo us and there will be an uproar, as usual.

O'Neill needs to gamble, mix it up, otherwise we will fade, get snuffed out and out-done like tail end of last season.

Comment 74, made on October 29, 2009 at 5.55 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Bloody hell, just read about it. Its disgusting how they think fame makes them special and above others....he was cheating on his wife by doing that too!
Comment 75, made on October 29, 2009 at 5.57 pm

ak_27 said:

ak_27
...
Chris he was out to celebrate the birth of his 3rd child the night he did it. Says everything about the guy really.
Comment 76, made on October 29, 2009 at 5.59 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Exactly, and these are the same people people look up to (us fans) and praise for their ability. Makes you sick. People like him don't deserve to be paid to play again.

Some role model for kids too!!
Comment 77, made on October 29, 2009 at 6.00 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
I may be being naive, but given our signing policy I couldn't see one of our lot doing that. Well maybe the lad Osbourne. smilies/grin.gif He would have robbed her too.smilies/grin.gif
Comment 78, made on October 29, 2009 at 6.01 pm

VDV said:

0
...
i can see villa winning by three or four goals. everton have injurys and cahill by far evertons most influential player is burnt out. distin will get ripped to threads by gabi and young and milner will have a stroll in the park with counter attacks and wipping crosses in. delph should start, i went to the training at villa park today and he was great. ashley young was there but did not train and luke young looked good two. dunne and collins do not leave each others side.
Comment 79, made on October 29, 2009 at 6.14 pm

VillaNick said:

0
...
I thought Marlon King was a wrong 'un.smilies/cry.gif
Comment 80, made on October 29, 2009 at 6.15 pm

VillaNick said:

0
...
dunne and collins do not leave each others side


must be love smilies/grin.gif
Comment 81, made on October 29, 2009 at 6.19 pm

vivavilla said:

vivavilla
...
dunne and collins do not leave each others side.


I'm telling you, you can't underestimate the importance of having two centre backs who understand each other. It sounds silly, but I bet you when Davies and Cuellar played alongside each other the language barrier was a massive reason for the shaky defence.
Comment 82, made on October 29, 2009 at 6.20 pm

neil57 said:

0
...
Only have read half the post.
JPA is right, we have a very strong squad.
Everton and Villa are very similar; history, expectation, disappointment to name but a few. Well liked by others.
I stated before, last week was weird. City drew with Fulham, WHU Arsenal and Liverpool Man U. So it wasn't a total disaster.
We probably should win, we will not lose.
If we had Torres and Gerrard we would be flying.
Who would you rather support?
You have been invited to the Liverpool end of season bash.
Are you free on sunday?
Comment 83, made on October 29, 2009 at 6.20 pm

neil57 said:

0
...
I was so glad we took Dunne and not Distin.
Had never heard of Collins as dont follow Wales smilies/smiley.gif
How do you work the yellow smiley above? Dopey!
Comment 84, made on October 29, 2009 at 6.29 pm

neil57 said:

0
...
Still on BST I see smilies/smiley.gif
Comment 85, made on October 29, 2009 at 6.31 pm

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
If we had Torres and Gerrard we would be flying.


You are right about that.
Take those two out and I don't think their squad is any better than ours.

I think we are all a little frustrated because we can see we are not that far off
Comment 86, made on October 29, 2009 at 7.31 pm

r0bb0 said:

r0bb0
...
Villa_man said
...
I dont know why people are bashing Heskey so much. He would start for half of the clubs in the prem. Even teams like Liverpool would love to have him on the bench. He's a good back up striker which is exactly what we need. We are lucky to have a player like that on our bench. UTV
You may not find many agreeing with you (except Nan who expects a Heskey goal glut any day soon!)but for what it's worth I'm with you on this one. He has not been given a fair go by the fans from day one, probably because of who he previously played for. Carew seems to get off almost scot free despite his lack of work ethic and commitment. Right now I'd go for Heskey ahead of Carew.
Comment 87, made on October 29, 2009 at 7.32 pm

churchill said:

churchill
...
EMULE will score. Trust me, I'm a doctor.


Heskey will NOT score. Trust me, I'm a gynaecologist.

Comment 88, made on October 29, 2009 at 7.34 pm

Joel villan said:

0
...
I can't beleive how negative some fans seem to be. All this we will be lucky to draw, ang going on about everton. If we want to be up there at the end of the season then we need to win and that's what I expect. I think damien sets a really negative glass half empty attitude on here. We have never had it so good in so long. We have a good team who are doing well. Damien name a better boss we could have instead of oneill.
Comment 89, made on October 29, 2009 at 7.58 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
On the 6th day,
God created Heskey.
On the 7th day God rested.
He looked upon all that he had made and he said,
'Have I stuck his feet on wrong? Why does he keep falling over?'
Comment 90, made on October 29, 2009 at 8.07 pm

Damian said:

Damian
...
Joel villan
pay me £50k and i´ll do better that that, i´ll give you a list of three
Comment 91, made on October 29, 2009 at 8.15 pm

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
(except Nan who expects a Heskey goal glut any day soon!)


2009 - Year of The Great Heskey Goal Glut
Comment 92, made on October 29, 2009 at 8.20 pm

neil57 said:

0
...
Pancho, every year is the year of the Heskey goal glut smilies/smiley.gif
I agree, they are no better than us, in fact nothing like as good,without Torres and Gerrard.
I always thought Nan was one of the more sensible ones on the Blog until the Heskey ramblings.
Joel, my son's best friend, a Man U fan, called us in America to tell us MON was our new manager. He was apoplectic. Most M U and Liverpool fans think he will be their next manager. In fact, FTW was to be sacked last week smilies/smiley.gif
Other club's fans believe MON and Moyes are right up there.
If we were Everton, we would be calling for Moyes' head. Not mesmilies/smiley.gif
Get real, MON is moving us forward. He made the best signings this summer, even the unlucky Beye, Newcastle's player of the year.
I would play Young and Gab as front two. Anyone agree? Especially this weekend.
UTV
Comment 93, made on October 29, 2009 at 8.45 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
2009 - Year of The Great Heskey Goal Glut

smilies/cheesy.gif
Comment 94, made on October 29, 2009 at 8.45 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
neil57

You haven't been reading this blog for long, have you?smilies/smiley.gif
Comment 95, made on October 29, 2009 at 8.53 pm

Maindog said:

Maindog
...
Damien. Im pretty sure whatever formation we start with usually gets shuffled around. For instance, Carew drops deep into midfield which makes our formation 4-5-1 and Gabby sometimes switches to the right leaving Carew up top on his own equaling a 4-5-1, 4-3-3 type.

I really dont think it matters how the line up looks on paper and weather it is a supposed 4-5-1 or 4-3-3, its all about who is playing.
Comment 96, made on October 29, 2009 at 8.53 pm

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
Nanwasafan said:
...
neil57

You haven't been reading this blog for long, have you?


The man used the word "apoplectic" in his post.
Comment 97, made on October 29, 2009 at 9.28 pm

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
I would play Young and Gab as front two. Anyone agree? Especially this weekend.


Believe this will happen, with Ash in the hole, once Downing fit.
But not on Saturday. Either Lump or Lazyman will play whether they deserve to or not
Comment 98, made on October 29, 2009 at 9.31 pm

TheGreatDane said:

0
...
The way this game is to be played, screams for Reo Coker to be brought back in.

My word, if Sidwell starts.....!
Comment 99, made on October 29, 2009 at 10.03 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
My word, if Sidwell starts.....!


I'll be amazed if he doesn't smilies/sad.gif
Comment 100, made on October 29, 2009 at 10.17 pm

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
I think we can guess the team if everyone's fit.
MON can hardly be labelled 'The Tinkerman' can he.
Comment 101, made on October 29, 2009 at 10.26 pm

VillaNick said:

0
...
I reckon Sidwell must have mucky pics of MON, up to no good!
Why else would he have him in the team !smilies/tongue.gif
Comment 102, made on October 29, 2009 at 10.26 pm

Matty said:

Matty
...
We will win if we go there treating it as a big game and give Everton the respect they deserve. If we go in at 98% they will do us over.
Comment 103, made on October 29, 2009 at 10.33 pm

mon 4-5-1 said:

mon 4-5-1
...
Believe this will happen, with Ash in the hole, once Downing fit.
But not on Saturday. Either Lump or Lazyman will play whether they deserve to or not


We can only hope Ash needs to play in the middle to give use that creativity we really crave for...


I really dont think it matters how the line up looks on paper and weather it is a supposed 4-5-1 or 4-3-3, its all about who is playing.


Sadly i suspect same 11 that played against Wolves..
Comment 104, made on October 29, 2009 at 10.33 pm

Matty said:

Matty
...
Sadly i suspect same 11 that played against Wolves..

I tend to agree
Comment 105, made on October 29, 2009 at 10.35 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
I reckon Sidwell must have mucky pics of MON, up to no good!


If he has, Emule must have given them to him.
Comment 106, made on October 29, 2009 at 11.00 pm

andy5759 said:

andy5759
...
It's always interesting reading what you people have to say about forthcoming games. This is no exception.

Nan expects Emile to score, so do I. No one expects MoN to change the team or formation, nor do I. Almost everyone seems to fear Everton and anticipate a draw at best, I am confident that this is the game where we open up and score shed loads of goals. My prediction; Villa to win by three clear goals with Emile on the score sheet. If I keep on predicting this it will happen one day and everyone will say "What a clever man that Andy is."
Comment 107, made on October 29, 2009 at 11.27 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
Nan expects Emile to score, so do I


I think you'll find Nan is taking the proverbial.

As much as I admire your optimism, I very much doubt Heskey will score in 90 hours of football, let alone 90 mins. You have to shoot, for a start.

Get the fonz in.
You might as well have a kid who's learning to play, not score as opposed to an experienced, on the way out donkey not score, imo.

Hopefully I'll be proved wrong and he'll get one.
If his glass ankles last the pace.
Comment 108, made on October 29, 2009 at 11.43 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
andy is right.

I'm not taking the piss.

Based on probability, Heskey MUST score soon.

More persuasive is my earlier point about AVFC Blog agreement. This blog thrives on discord. A Heskey goal and more significantly a good Heskey 90 minutes will bring more discord than a primary school violin ensemble. (Trust me I've heard a few)

Give me 90 minutes of joy Emile and then let us all bask in the banter. Place your bets folks.
Comment 109, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.39 am

Badger said:

Badger
...
Heskey MUST score soon.


Really?

If he does, I'll still say he's sh.. , sorry, I don't see it.

This blog thrives on discord.


I see what you're saying smilies/wink.gif
Comment 110, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.18 am

Badger said:

Badger
...
DAMIAN,

correct the time mate smilies/wink.gif
Comment 111, made on October 30, 2009 at 4.02 am

Badger said:

Badger
...
Ah pooh, you have smilies/grin.gif

Sorry smilies/cry.gif
Comment 112, made on October 30, 2009 at 4.03 am

neil57 said:

0
...
Badger,do you live in USA or are you on nightshift?
GMT now, you think.
Only sad people like us are awake now.
Nan, I thought you were one of the more eloquent bloggers, but you support Heskey. He has a bet on that he won't score this season. Guzan is more likely to score.
Because of his record last season,would love to see Ash as a striker tomorrow.
Agree about the Fonz. SAF would have given him a game by now. MON must start the tinkering.
UTV
Comment 113, made on October 30, 2009 at 6.21 am

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
As much as I admire your optimism, I very much doubt Heskey will score in 90 hours of football, let alone 90 mins. You have to shoot, for a start.


He does have the occasional lash at the ball while in the process of falling over. As Nan says, on the balance of probabilities..........
Comment 114, made on October 30, 2009 at 7.48 am

StickyAV said:

0
...
I hope he doesn't play Sidwell.

I was with Damian when we signed him. We thought he was going to be a class attacking midfielder for us. Based on reading and then playing alongside some quality players at arsenal and chelsea it was easy to think.

But he's been sh*t. I try to think he might do a petrov on us. But I don't think he has the skill. Worst of all, as highlighted at Wolves, but evident in all his games, he dives in, gives away dangerous free kicks or even pens, and gets carded regularly.

Drop him.
Comment 115, made on October 30, 2009 at 9.42 am

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
neil 57

I'm really worrying you with this Heskey thing aren't I? I'll stop it now. Sorry.

Mind you, you never know....
Comment 116, made on October 30, 2009 at 10.34 am

StickyAV said:

0
...
Who's the heaviest player in the villa team? Heskey???? Not by a long shot...

Dunne - 6' 2, 15st
collins - 6' 4, 14 st 12lbs
Friedel - 6'2 - 14st 5lbs
Carew - 6' 4 - 13st 12lbs
heskey - 6' 2 - 13st 12lbs
cuellar - 6' 3 - 13st 3lbs

No wonder Dunne is so strong in the air. With most strikers like Torres weighing 11 or 12 stone, that's quite an advantage!
Comment 117, made on October 30, 2009 at 10.46 am

the pensioner said:

the pensioner
...
JPA

Of the 38.000+ fans that go regularly to the home matches,How many do you think go there expecting there team to draw or loose?...They go with the "expectation that the team will win!!....You pessimists are in a minority!!
Comment 118, made on October 30, 2009 at 10.48 am

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Nan

2 things are surely going to happen soon....

1)Heskey will score at least 1 in a game.
2)Villa will beat someone easily, by a healthy scoreline

Sit tight and fasten your belts, we are on the up!
Comment 119, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.02 am

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
Dunne must have a 12 stone arse
Comment 120, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.03 am

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
Young slides the ball in to......Heeeeeeessssssskkkeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyy and it's 5 for Villa.
Comment 121, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.04 am

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Nan.....

Now thats what I'm talking about!! smilies/cheesy.gif
Comment 122, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.05 am

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Nan you missed a bit.....

"Young slides the ball into Heskey, ohhhhhhhhhh! He lashes the ball home after falling over a blade of grass! This man is a genius!"
Comment 123, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.12 am

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
Now, I also reckon when he does score, it'll be a wonder goal. I'm thinking Liam Brady style, outside of the left boot on the half volley from about 35 yards.
Comment 124, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.15 am

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
I am gone for one minute and already your refering to him as Heskey and NOT EMULE, not only that you are even talking about him scoring !!!
Comment 125, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.19 am

Richard Dunne my lord, Richard Dunne!! said:

0
...
I unfortunately think MON will stick with the team that played Chelsea/Wolves.

Sidwell and Carew have to be dropped and replaced by Reo and Heskey.

Friedel
Cueller Dunne Collins Warnock
Petrov Reo
Gabby Milner Young
Heskey
Comment 126, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.22 am

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Its called supporting your players Chiefy, should try it sometime...smilies/wink.gif
Comment 127, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.23 am

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
I support my players every home game but there are just some players that are beyond support ... you know i recently commented on how well he had done, I have been banging the SALIFOU drum for a while now and every one laughs
Comment 128, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.34 am

vivavilla said:

vivavilla
...
That one he scored on his debut against Pompy I thought was a corker of a goal. Hit on the bounce, with enough power, right into the side of the goal.

Obviously a fluke, mind.
Comment 129, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.40 am

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
I have been banging the SALIFOU drum for a while now and every one laughs


Ha ha funny! smilies/cheesy.gif
Comment 130, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.48 am

holteend paul said:

holteend paul
...
damian...i think you will find everton have billionare ownaers who have more money than our own mr lerner, the only thing is, moyes has had a couple of years on o'neil in building his squad up so only buys a couple of class players a season to fit into his squad.
i dont like to carp on about it but i wish we could have been a bit more stronger in the transfer market when going for heavily linked players instead of them ending up at everton such as lescott,jagielka,cahill,feliani and now they are being linked with a january bid for defour.
anyway a 3-1 for the villa as there alaws seems to be goals in this fixture.
Comment 131, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.59 am

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Pensioner, I'm not a pessimist, I'm just getting tired of Thursday coming round each week, everyone on here saying how Saturday is a 'must win' game no matter who we're playing and then people either banging on about how we're brilliant if we SCRAPE a win or jumping out of the office window if we lose or draw saying 'Mon out' and 'it's our season over'.

People forget the slow start Everton had last year and the fact they have been THE most consistent performer outside the top four the last four seasons.

They are dangerous, injuries or not and at the beginning of the season looking at the fixture list you look at Everton away and think 'tough game, worst comes to the worst I'll take a point there'.

Now, we CAN win this and I think we might nick it given we are the form side and they have a few key injuries, but it is not an easy game and it is definitely not the case that we will roll them over or we can't make the top four if we don't win this game.

I'd take a point if it means we keep the unbeaten run going and to be honest i'd just like to see the team I have followed religiously for my whole life put a PERFORMANCE in. We haven't played that scintillating football we saw at times last season and i'd just like to see us really take it to Everton.

Deep inside my gut I feel we can do really well this year and like you I begin watching every game full of optimism and belief in this great team and our brilliant little manager. What I don't appreciate is the fickle mood that frequents this blogsite at times and the lack of a lttle realism and footballing knowledge.

A man of your senior years must have seen a lot of football and I imagine you are incredibly knowledgable about the game and about Villa.

I wish there were more like you on here as I always appreciate your comments.

Lets keep our feet on the ground though.

This should be a great match, i'm really looking forward to it, but let's remember they're a good side and our season hasn't reached make or break time yet.

Ronrabbit calls himself an optimist, but I argue otherwise, what if we do lose, is it then our season over?

No. It isn't, but that's what he is saying. Lose this and no chance of top four this season. What absolute drivel.

If we lose this it then makes the West Ham game more important, but it's not the season over and it's also disrespectful to Everton who have had a rough start but are more than capable of finishing very high this year too.

Let's take all three points, but don't start sharpening the knives if we don't lads, it's going to be a long season.
Comment 132, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.05 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Who's the heaviest player in the villa team? Heskey???? Not by a long shot...


heskey - 6' 2 - 13st 12lbs

Did you take into account the lead in his boots?
Comment 133, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.10 pm

limerick villain said:

limerick villain
...
curtis davies was just on ssn and said that king should be allowed play when he gets out of jail..what kind of a dope is he!!
Comment 134, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.10 pm

limerick villain said:

limerick villain
...
Fall out
Comment 135, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.11 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
LImerick,
Don't worry mate he'll be done as a footballer when he gets out. Remember Lee Hughes? Hell be championship or league one at best and he'll have to play for paenuts to get a contract somewhere.

Davies is starting to p*ss me off tho, first the contract and now this. Sort it out Curtis, I used to respect you.
Comment 136, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.14 pm

holteend paul said:

holteend paul
...
limerick villain..
marlon king has a worse past record than joey barton he is a proven woman beater and derserves all he gets. davies should have kept his mouth firmly shut as i wonder how he would have felt if it was one of his sisters the dirty letch had abbused.
Comment 137, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.15 pm

Villa_Chris said:

Villa_Chris
...
Davies: He is very opinionated and doesn't care to hide it....re:comments made about Barry during Barrygate.

He does my head in too. All talk.

Comment 138, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.18 pm

limerick villain said:

limerick villain
...
I think mon being his boss and the man that he is should give him a rollicking for that and at the least fine him.

Comment 139, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.20 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
You can't really fine someone for having an opinion. However Mon should definitely have a word with him behind closed doors.

You don't really want a high profile player who is always in the Villa press and doing interviews making comments like this.

He is a role model to some young Villains after all.
Comment 140, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.23 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
Curtis Davies how big a whole do you want to dig yourself ?
Comment 141, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.24 pm

holteend paul said:

holteend paul
...
i think because of the event davies was attending he thought he had to put some backing behind a black player.
Comment 142, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.29 pm

StickyAV said:

0
...
JPA,

There are positives to be blindly optimistic. It's possible to do that without thinking you have to sack the manager after every loss.

With the prem in it's current state I think it's possible to look at every team and think it's got a draw or even loss written all over it. Sunderland beat some top teams. Spurs have good players. Everton are consistent performers. West Ham even, bottom of league nearly, play some good footy and can be dangerous. I think these days there is no loss that you need to be ashamed off, esp not away. OK we aspire to more and are dissapointed when it doesn't happen, but my point is no game is easy.

On our day we will beat anyone. Anyone. It's not so much a case for me of looking at who we are playing, but wondering which Villa will show up. Which villa will show up is dependent on the players mindset. Against Chelsea, we are underdogs but have a decent record, no pressure, go out and play and see if we can do it again. We do. Wolves, players know we have a record of doing badly against lesser teams, they fear teams will sit back and we will struggle to break them down. They know that this is the type of fixture we get nothing out of.....guess what happens. it's like everytime we creep in to the top 4, we loose the next few games and drop back out again. Most fans secretly think that is going to happen. In that case the players probably do too, and so it happens. Everton fans/players always prob think they are going to nick 5th place of us end of season. We probably do too. It happens.

If we constantly think, as fans, we are going to win every game, then that sort of mentality might creep in to the atmosphere at villa park and then in to the players, breeding the sort of confidence in to a team that produces consistency and gives players the belief to bring the ball down and pass it. It breeds results and those performances you are talking about.

Being realistic without pesimistic is admirable. However, being blindly optimistic can only have a postive effect, unless you are likely to get dissapointed and boo when your optimism is not rewarded, or bleet on about the manager not being right for the job (no names needed).
Comment 143, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.33 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
holteend,
fair enough mate, that makes me see it a little differently. Still not a very bright thing to do though. Black or not, the guy is still a cheating woman beater.
Comment 144, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.34 pm

StickyAV said:

0
...
By the way, I'm not saying you think differently...just discussing
Comment 145, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.35 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
Sell him ! we will make a loss but he is more trouble than he is worth and he is only going to get worse when he doesnt play every week and we dont need that
Comment 146, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.36 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
Maybe he's got a case coming up
Comment 147, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.44 pm

holteend paul said:

holteend paul
...
mind you how can anyone try to back a person who has 14 convictions against him pisses me off, has anyone seen ssn?
Comment 148, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.46 pm

holteend paul said:

holteend paul
...
oh i get why he is talking such bollox he is kings agent!!!
Comment 149, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.48 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Sticky,
Thank god! Someone with a brain.

I comletely agree and when I first started posting on here I was blindly optimistic and at home and at work I still am, even to the point of being ridiculous. What I am trying to avoid is the unreasonable expectation that if we don't win it's the end of the world.

I fully expect to sit down and watch us play Everton off the park and drill nine goals past Tim Howard while NRC is on the sidelines wrestling David Moyes in a paddling pool full of Branston Pickle,.

But, if it doesn't happen then i'm not going to declare the season over and lock myself in a dark room like some on here would have you believe of them.

I like being optimistic, but I'm also philosophical and realistic. I think we'll nick a 3-2 win for what it's worth, just for old times sake.

Ashley Young to get the winner and kick start his season.
Comment 150, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.51 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
JPA

That's one of the best posts I've seen on here.
Comment 151, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.54 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
StickyAV -- "If we constantly think, as fans, we are going to win every game, then that sort of mentality might creep in to the atmosphere at villa park and then in to the players, breeding the sort of confidence in to a team that produces consistency and gives players the belief to bring the ball down and pass it. It breeds results and those performances you are talking about."

Have been saying it for ages but unfortunatly some fans just love a good old fashioned moan, i can name one (but wont) who after reading his posts it has you questioning if life is worth living anymore as a Villa fan
Comment 152, made on October 30, 2009 at 12.54 pm

Rios.Jockstrap said:

0
...
Nan

2 things are surely going to happen soon....

1)Heskey will score at least 1 in a game.
2)Villa will beat someone easily, by a healthy scoreline

Sit tight and fasten your belts, we are on the up!




Lets hope we dont have to wait as long for the second to match the firstsmilies/wink.gif

I wonder what odds the bookies will give us for both the lumpy mule and Sidders to score in a two-nil victory?

Proberly knowing its Heskey, they will proberly set the odds at a trillion to one
Comment 153, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.00 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Chiefy, we should all be like you. Blindly optimistic and we lose to relegation fodder you just come on here say 'oh well that was a bit s**t', rip the p*ss out of Emule and crack on with the next game.

None of this my life is over, Villa will never make the top four unless Kofi Annan becomes manager and deploys the entire UN peacekeeping force on the pitch to keep the goals out.

Nan.. Thankyou, it means a lot coming from you.
Comment 154, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.01 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
i am not blindly optimistic but where does it get you moaning about stuff ??? we cant change nothing apart from the support for the next game we have to beleive or whats the point and if we dont beleive why should the players ??? anything is possible
Comment 155, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.07 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
I am personally think i am a realist, becausse i am aware that the only thing giving a negative opinion does is lower everyone elses outlook and expectations by doing this creates not only a negative vibe on here but for those of us that go to the games some how it sneeks in down Villa Park which then inturn gets to the players, the away team get wind then they get on at us and our players and things go from bad to worse. I try to lighten the mood somewhat, i still have my moans and issues but my complaints wont change anything for the better but for the worse so whats the point to make me feel better ? to bring everyone down ?
Comment 156, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.17 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
To follow up on this 'atmosphere' discussion.

I often wonder whether the reason we are better away than at home (I know there are other factors) is because we see a win away as a GREAT result, whereas we see a win at home as the expected norm. We are not yet in a position where we can expect a victory at home. Hope for one, cheer for one, encourage one, but not EXPECT one.
Comment 157, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.28 pm

holteend paul said:

holteend paul
...

i keep thinkin i will win the lottery and keep thinkin i will live forever and keep thinkin i will be happy every day in my life, but as i have to live with the fact that none of these will happen i also live with the fact players have there limits and no matter how much i support them they have evolved as much as their football credentials will take them.
so i will support aston villa for as long as i breath but for being optimistic about everthing claret and blue all the time then no, as life wont allow it so accept we will lose now and then and rejoice when we win.
i will argue my point to where i think we went wrong and lambast the manager for tactics etc but i also like to show my peacock feathers when we win because its how they make me feel at the time.

which catergory does this put me in here?
or am i the same as every other villa fan on this blog?
Comment 158, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.31 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
Holteend - i dont think any are the same but i think some are worse than others at the negative thing and some like me might be over the top with the positive thing, for me it is a question of which one does more good not only for the club but for us as fans ?
Comment 159, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.37 pm

StickyAV said:

0
...
Nan, absolutely.

But also...BELIEVE we can get one. smilies/smiley.gif

I've said it before and i'll say it again. Booing players at half time is nothing short of shooting yourself in the foot. MON was right, liverpool were 2-0 down against villa at half time but they didn't get booed.

So why did they not boo? Because they BELIEVE they can and probably will come back? Most villa fans probably believe they will too...
Comment 160, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.39 pm

StickyAV said:

0
...
Paul, it puts you in the right category in my opinion. Sidwell is sh*t. I'm still optimistic. I think MON should play more of young Mark, and try Milner in the middle. I still think he is the right man for the job, he's got us where we are.

Critisism is good.
Comment 161, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.43 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
StickyAV - EMULE is pants, Sidwell is pants, Coker is borderline, Gabby needs to be putting away the chances like at Wolves if he wants to go WC, A.Young needs to start playing, Carew needs to start firing but when it all falls into place damn we are going to be good and MON just needs to get Gabby's feet back on the ground Young got dropped to wake him up
Comment 162, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.53 pm

StickyAV said:

0
...
Chiefy - And even with all those problems we can still beat ANY team on our day. smilies/smiley.gif Just like we are going to do over Everton this weekend.

As I said previously. My tip is for this game to kickstart Ash's season. UTV
Comment 163, made on October 30, 2009 at 1.55 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
Bloody hell, consensus of opinion.
Where are all the nutters?
Comment 164, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.04 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
I miss Taglor. Roll on the next transfer window.
Comment 165, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.06 pm

StickyAV said:

0
...
OK just to throw a spanner in the works, did you place that bet nan??
Is Heskey actually recovered from that niggle he had that saw him sit out on open training? I thought he was doubtful?
Comment 166, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.09 pm

edvilla said:

edvilla
...
Davies is on Question of Sport tonight........ what a dope!
Comment 167, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.14 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
Sell Davies he makes me nervous infront of reporters and its only going to get worse when he realises he is fourth choice CB
Comment 168, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.20 pm

the pensioner said:

the pensioner
...
JPA

Nice comments,and I totally agree with what you eloquently wrote!...As a supporter of Villa for over 60 years,I realy get pissed of with the continual pessimism voiced by some individuals on this site...
A supporter should get behind his team at every game,and not critisise,and abuse players when they have a bad match!

"Look at the possitive elements".

I accept that certain players are not deserving of a first team place,and we all know who they are,as no doubt does MON,and I'm sure that as the season progresses,he will sort it out to our satisfaction.







Comment 169, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.24 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Pensioner,
Cheers, spot on. UTV!
Comment 170, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.36 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
JPA -- I also liked your post further up if there was a button near you at the time of writing it i bet you hit it
Comment 171, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.40 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
No. The 20 from the Carling Cup pained me.

I know he's going to score now that I haven't placed the bet.
Comment 172, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.56 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
If Heskey scores I vote for a change of Nickname. Perhaps a return to his Leicester nickname of 'Bruno' will help him find his scoring boots.

He needs to stop being such a pansy and start throwing his weight around up front, imagine that lump running at you full pelt in the 18 yard box, if only he could stay on his feet...just once...imagine the applause Emile, Wayne and Fabio would be so proud of you Emile, so proud.

Cheers Chiefy. I have an article in mind but I haven't had the time to write it up yet, maybe next week.
Comment 173, made on October 30, 2009 at 2.59 pm

Headologyst said:

0
...
"We should be getting more from midfield. That is something we haven't really had here"

MON on the problems of managing in Sporting Life.

The only scoring midfielder we have is Delph, and he's not really ready yet.

Sidwell used too, but we aren't seeing that now.

The last piece in the jigsaw?

The danger is that Everton have Cahill and Felliani, someone/two like that and we would be seriously dangerous.
Comment 174, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.01 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
If EMULE scores in the next 3 games i will front a campagin to light the BRUNO candle and see if a song, being nice about him, doesnt turn him into the goal scoring machine we know he is and release the torres inside of him
Comment 175, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.14 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
We're all behind you Bruno. Come on, you're an England International. You're going to be the proud owner of a World Cup winners medal. All we need is a goal. A tap in. A deflection off your grassed arse. Just a goal. You'll be able to do your DJ celee. There'll be a pitch invasion. You'll get love letters from elderly brunnie spinsters. Just do it.

Sod it, I'mm off down the bookies.
Comment 176, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.15 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
Nan - quality smilies/cheesy.gifsmilies/cheesy.gifsmilies/cheesy.gif
Comment 177, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.18 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
Cancel that. Have you seen the odds?

Milner's 10-1
Young is 10-1
Dunne is 25-1
Collins is 33-1

So, you may well cry, what is EMULE?


7-1
Comment 178, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.18 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Go nan! Come on Bruno!

Headologist,
I agree, I don't think it's a goal scoring midfielder we need as we not exactly spurning chances willy nilly, it's creating them that is the problem at the moment. I'd argue that we need someone to play the likes of Milner, Ash and Sidders into more dangerous positions around the 18 yard box where thay can get a shot off. What do you say?
Comment 179, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.19 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
But wait... How about £10 Heskey 1st goal, Villa win 4-0.

Take home.....over £3000.

Comment 180, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.20 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
Nan - 7-1 on Emule, I mean Bruno to score do the bookies know there will be a keeper and defenders ?
Comment 181, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.22 pm

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
Chiefy, my kids are giving me funny looks beacuse I'm laughing at the computer. Good work.
Comment 182, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.23 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
What are the odds on Collins with a Bruno assist?
Comment 183, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.25 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
Nan - I reckon 2-1 Heskey second goal if anything at all remotley in the shape of a Heskey contribution
Comment 184, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.27 pm

Chiefy said:

Chiefy
...
Collins with a Heskey assist now we are clutching at straws Collins with a MON assist and you got some odds smilies/wink.gif
Comment 185, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.31 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
Where are all the nutters?


I'm here smilies/grin.gif

At the end of the day I want and expect us to get top 4 this season. Why?
Because it's possible imo.
Very difficult, but possible.
We have a much better squad than last season and putting Citeh and Spuds to one side, we have gained on the $ky 4.
To achieve it means we can afford to drop very few points and if we do, they ought to be against the teams we expect to be above us at the end of the season. Which means we should expect to beat any team that we think will finish below us.
You simply have to think like that.
Of course, I'm not so naive as to think it's actually going to happen smilies/smiley.gif

But (and I think this is Ronrabbit's angle too) I will be annoyed if we can't beat a side with 11 players out.
We nearly did Man U at OT last season, don't forget and I'd certainly expect us to have too much for their second string.
So why shouldn't we expect to beat Everton's second string?

We have to get 3 points and I fully expect them. So it is a "must win" game to me, because if we don't, I see the dream slowly slipping away.

The trouble is as we all agree, we're not playing very well, so anything is likely.

Typical Villa rollercoaster, I suppose smilies/smiley.gif
Comment 186, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.31 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
Dunne is 25-1


That's tasty given that we're most likely to score from a set piece.
Comment 187, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.35 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Badger, I agree it's a game we can win, in fact every game we play this season is a game we can win imo. It's the ridiculous desperation of people like Ron that gets me. The dream is not slipping away yet, but four points from the next six will see us in a good position at the right end of the table. Putting a weak Everton to the sword and then going on to win at West Ham however will obviously put us in a great position. What got me is the 'we aren't capable of going on a streak like Arsenal did last year' when in fact we are, very much so. If we're capable of winning despite playing as poorly as we have been going forward then if we start playing well then we could go on a run like we did this time last season.
Comment 188, made on October 30, 2009 at 3.52 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
JPA,
Putting a weak Everton to the sword and then going on to win at West Ham however will obviously put us in a great position.

Now you're talking smilies/smiley.gif
If we're capable of winning despite playing as poorly as we have been going forward then if we start playing well then we could go on a run like we did this time last season.

Yes, that's a good point. It just needs us to "click".
If we stick with the fact that the squad is better than last season, we have to be capable of going on a run.
I don't think we'd be having this discussion if we'd been playing reasonably well, but poor performances have left us all with a bit of doubt I think. As you say though, 2 wins and a draw from the last 3 isn't too bad really.

I hate predicting, but I'm going for 2-1 to us.
And while I'm at it 1-0 against wet spam.

There you go, I've geed myself up smilies/grin.gif

On second thoughts, I've probably just doomed us

Comment 189, made on October 30, 2009 at 4.23 pm

holteend paul said:

holteend paul
...
nan...
how much on dunne and villa 3-1 i fancy dunne getting one against his former club as he has already scored against one this season.smilies/wink.gif
Comment 190, made on October 30, 2009 at 4.35 pm

holteend paul said:

holteend paul
...
i meant dunne scoring, doesnt have to be the first just score.
Comment 191, made on October 30, 2009 at 4.36 pm

Juan Pablo Angel said:

Juan Pablo Angel
...
Badger,
Fair enough mate. It's so much easier to be positive when the over-reaction brigade isn't on here. Six points will stick us in the top four, maybe even the top three. Wouldn't that be magic!

Bruno for a hat trick.
Comment 192, made on October 30, 2009 at 4.57 pm

Badger said:

Badger
...
Bruno for a hat trick.


Ahem.

I'm not that positive! smilies/cheesy.gif
Comment 193, made on October 30, 2009 at 5.01 pm

Mc Parland said:

0
...
Must be a good time for us to play everton with their current injuries and form; So come on lads go in for the the kil from the off to secure all 3 points and leaving the villa sitting pretty .
Comment 194, made on October 30, 2009 at 6.04 pm

keithj said:

keithj
...
the top four is this seasons target, i am still optomistic because even though our standard of play is below par there are still the odd little moments where we rip opposition to pieces with speed and slick passing. if we could increase these odd moments every game and someone would finish off the chances we will be top three.
the reason i am so optomistic is because the way we are playing would mean that we should be in the bottom three, and dont the "experts" say the sign of a good side is when they pick up points even when playing badly.
eternal optomist
Comment 195, made on October 30, 2009 at 6.07 pm

parisianrobsooncomingbackuk said:

0
...
Last time heskey looked good was pre season
He had Albrighton who ran down the wing and crossed on the run and managed to look up and put the ball just where it was needed for heskey to score

We have two wingers
young on the left always has to stop pull back on the right foot and cross too late defenses arez setup to defend and heskey's run to the near post has been and gone

Milner

never looks up but just crosses and hopes for the best


both wingers can be match winners on their day but albrighton is more out of the old fashioned wingers beats his man and knows where the forwards will be when he gets to the byline

give the kid a run in the team

UTV

Comment 196, made on October 30, 2009 at 6.59 pm

parisianrobsooncomingbackuk said:

0
...
We will beat everton comfortably tomorrow np the arkles pub will be shaking with the claret and blue tomorrow

rob
Comment 197, made on October 30, 2009 at 7.00 pm

afvcbob said:

0
...
0 - 2 (Gabby 2)
Comment 198, made on October 30, 2009 at 7.23 pm

FatKevs said:

0
...
Tommorrow for me will be a true indicator of how we will fair this season. Everton may be off par but then again we do not play well.
We cannot really measure ourselves against the challenging teams just one of the hopefuls like everton.
we are a 1 trick team
Comment 199, made on October 30, 2009 at 7.45 pm

afvcbob said:

0
...
MON has commented in tonight mail that he is concerned with the lack of goals coming from our midfield and also that they are not getting into forward positions to support the front 2

imo we haven't got the player to do this type of role unless Delph turns out to be the answer to all our preys or Downing comes in and shows the potential he has - Otherwise it looks like our Martin will have to spend some money in January

UTV
Comment 200, made on October 30, 2009 at 7.57 pm

west coast villan said:

west coast villan
...
I completely agree Parisianrob. I think we are really missing a natural winger who consistently gets the ball into the box early. In the last few games it seems like Agbonlahor has been the one making the dangerous crosses. Remember the pass that just missed Sidwell in the Chelsea game? We need more of those. And we need Agbonlahor on the other end of them.
Comment 201, made on October 30, 2009 at 7.57 pm

FatKevs said:

0
...
We need someone in the box to attack recieve the ball. We are shy when it comes to the penalty area
Comment 202, made on October 30, 2009 at 8.04 pm

west coast villan said:

west coast villan
...
I'd also love to see Delph get a game at the front of a five man midfield. He only seems to get played in a 4-4-2. Perhaps MON could change his predictable switch Carew for Heskey at the end of a game and give Delph a run.
Comment 203, made on October 30, 2009 at 8.05 pm

andy5759 said:

andy5759
...
I suspect that there is quite a bit of kidology in football, not just the "dropping of a shoulder" to wrong foot a defender, but also allowing opponents to believe that you are frail in a given area. It is possible that MoN has asked midfielders to limit their forays into the enemy's penalty area, only to unleash them when least expected. You could say that I am a conspiracy theorist, you would be mistaken in that assumption, Jim Morrison doesn't think I am.

Apropos the earlier discussion about "must win games" and the ensuing devastation when we fail to do so convincingly; whenever we lose I am gutted, inconsolable indeed almost suicidal - for at least five minutes after the game. To make a Taglorism; there are people starving out there, what's a game of football got to do with it?
Comment 204, made on October 30, 2009 at 9.41 pm

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
west coast villan said:
...
I'd also love to see Delph get a game at the front of a five man midfield. He only seems to get played in a 4-4-2. Perhaps MON could change his predictable switch Carew for Heskey at the end of a game and give Delph a run.


Me to !

At this stage in his career, give Delph the protection of someone like The Coker behind him.

Delph could then play with the freedom he perhaps needs to be able to hurt the oposition in more ways than just with his crunching tackles.
Comment 205, made on October 30, 2009 at 10.27 pm

vivavilla said:

vivavilla
...
I really do think all these people saying Villa will win comfortabley are kidding themselves.

What's the golden rule we've observed over the last few years? Villa have the uncanny ability to take their opposition, and drag them to their level. Whether that be Man United or Doncaster Rovers. No matter who we play, it'll be a tight game with neither side really outplaying the other most of the time.

Everton will be no different.
Comment 206, made on October 30, 2009 at 10.42 pm

churchill said:

churchill
...
We're all behind you Bruno. Come on, you're an England International. You're going to be the proud owner of a World Cup winners medal


Jimmy, to see you guys trying to be positive is nice to see so what I’m about to say pains me. Heskey was in front of reporters again this week bemoaning that his lack of first team starts was jeopardising his world cup chances.

The truth or otherwise of this is immaterial. Everytime Heskey says something like this any right thinking England manager would realise immediately that these comments come from a player who didn’t have his priorities right. If Heskey had said something along the lines of, “I’m determined to improve so that I can regain my place in the starting line up at Villa” you’d be impressed because it shows a man that understands where his wages come from and which set of fans is entitled to his commitment.

But that’s not what we hear. The interview went on to say what a wonderful thing it would be to go to S.A.. How wonderful it would be to win a medal. How such an opportunity so rarely comes round. In short, “All I’m thinking about is the world cup.” Nowhere in the entire piece did I once read anything about what he should be doing for O’Neill and the Villa.

Conclusion. Brace yourself.

Heskey does not deserve to be included in the squad for Villa or the W.C. He is a James Blunt. The only songs that you should be thinking of singing for Heskey should include the words ‘traitor’, ‘scum’, ‘useless fcuker’ and ‘bluenose tosser’. Be as creative as you like. I hope he falls down and breaks a leg.

I was surprised, and disappointed that O’Neill did not discipline Heskey for his last transgression. Part of the disappointment was that O’Neill seemed to be applying a double standard.

I hope O’neill sells the big useless lump A.S.A.P.
Comment 207, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.09 pm

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
churchill:

crikey !

I bet he's in the team tomorrow ahead of Carew anyroad.

Blimey ! He's only a lump - not the anti-christ
Comment 208, made on October 30, 2009 at 11.59 pm

churchill said:

churchill
...
Blimey ! He's only a lump - not the anti-christ


Pancho,

When I wrote that an hour ago that's how I felt. And I haven't had a drink yet. If the phrase had occured to me I'd have used it. Yes, the Anti-Christ.

Loathing him has several elements; one of which is that he has lowered my opinion of O'Neill. There's a double standard at work here - Reo Coker gets the treatment and Heskey gets a pass. Heskey! Of all the people to let off the hook! He actually thinks he's entitled to a starting berth.

He cannot play football. There isn't one fraction of a particle of the merest sliver of the minutest portion of an atomic nucleus in his body that can be described as a 'footballer. Fans at the Man city match waved fifty pound notes with his picture on at Barry. Could someone at the match throw Heskey thirty pieces of silver.
Comment 209, made on October 31, 2009 at 12.29 am

Badger said:

Badger
...
smilies/cheesy.gif

I agree with you to some extent Churchill.

I don't care about his England career.
I really couldn't give a flying f*ck, even though it is nice to have Villa players playing for England.

The bloke has to start performing for us first and he simply hasn't.
You can see players who will never do the business and he's one, simple as. Kevin Philips was one, Baros was another.

I think I said I'd try my best to lay off him, but it's difficult.

He's dogshit for the Villa and we should get rid ASAP, imo.

Blimey ! He's only a lump - not the anti-christ


He's the anti-Villa and will never work for us in the way we want, imo.
Comment 210, made on October 31, 2009 at 12.46 am

Badger said:

Badger
...
I hope he falls down and breaks a leg.

I missed that line and have to say I wouldn't go that far.

His glass ankles will make sure that's not a problem smilies/cry.gif
Comment 211, made on October 31, 2009 at 12.55 am

churchill said:

churchill
...
I missed that line and have to say I wouldn't go that far.


That's because you're a gentleman, Badge.

I, on the other hand, believe that sedition is a serious offence and is punishable with horsewhipping.
Comment 212, made on October 31, 2009 at 2.35 am

tonky said:

0
...
on a lighter note smilies/cheesy.gif you can get dunne to score anytime and us to win by 2 goals at 171 at paddy power. Fancy a win today what with all evertons injury problems. Come on you villa boys!!!!!!
Comment 213, made on October 31, 2009 at 8.08 am

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
Emile 'The Hat-Trick' Heskey

Has a nice ring to it. Perhaps today is the day.
Comment 214, made on October 31, 2009 at 8.58 am

Badger said:

Badger
...
punishable with horsewhipping.


smilies/cheesy.gif

COYL!!
Comment 215, made on October 31, 2009 at 9.30 am

Super Villain said:

0
...
Come on the Villa lets put on a show and stuff Everton today smilies/cheesy.gif
Comment 216, made on October 31, 2009 at 9.34 am

neil57 said:

0
...
Just up. Good morning.
I have no feelings for Heskey. He was bought by a misguided former manager and unfortunately led us all up the garden path by scoring and being MOTM v Portsmouth.He simply does not play the suitable game for Aston Villa. He is loved by the England team because he suits the way they play.I would love him to score, however, it changes nothing. We need Defoe, Keane, Torres, dream on! I stated before, fit Torres and Gerrard would transform us, in fact any team!
I agree, Cahill and Fellaini are super, include Arteta and you have some midfield. Fortunately for us, they are not playing.
So, big win today. If EH fails to score, boot him out. He will go to SA. Done and dusted. Roo and co love him.
Barry is missed only for his goals, which were quite useful.
Last thing, only 2 teams seem capable of winning the cup, AV and Citeh. Nan, forget about EH and get your money on!
UTV
Comment 217, made on October 31, 2009 at 9.37 am

Nanwasafan said:

Nanwasafan
...
Right, I'm off to the game.

I'm watching Bruno.
Comment 218, made on October 31, 2009 at 9.38 am

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
Give dem toffees hell Nan
Comment 219, made on October 31, 2009 at 9.54 am

r0bb0 said:

r0bb0
...
Churchill, I was with you all the way when you pointed out that Heskey should be focussing on doing well for Villa rather than talking about his England place. I felt decidedly uncomfortable with your closing paragraphs however. I've not seen anything like this from you against any underperforming or over-pontificating player so where does that Heskey hatred come from?
Comment 220, made on October 31, 2009 at 10.00 am

neil57 said:

0
...
Damo, what happened to my last post?
Did the administrator not like it?
Is he a secret Heskey fan?
Comment 221, made on October 31, 2009 at 10.41 am

vivavilla said:

vivavilla
...
I had such a bizarre dream last night. Villa won this game 6-0 and Heskey scored a hat trick.

I'm scared.
Comment 222, made on October 31, 2009 at 10.51 am

limerick villain said:

limerick villain
...
Damon whats the story dude me needs me daily fix of a blog like.come on stop slacking this is my truman show.villa to win 2-0..UTV
Comment 223, made on October 31, 2009 at 10.58 am

Pancho Villan said:

Pancho Villan
...
vivavilla said:
...
I had such a bizarre dream last night. Villa won this game 6-0 and Heskey scored a hat trick.

I'm scared.


Emile 'The Hat-Trick' Heskey

You heard it here first
Comment 224, made on October 31, 2009 at 11.01 am

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