Tuesday, 29 December 2009 10:06
Morning all. We were lucky Manchester City didn't take their chances last night otherwise we would be sitting in sixth place today and the game today would have been even more important, if that was possible.
You see, after the club website give us yet another rallying call, the reality is, this match is quite important. You see, we've had a few good matches recently and it has looked as if the football was finally getting better, but against Arsenal we were shown that maybe it wasn't and with Fulham beating Manchester United 3-0, it could sort of put our 1-0 win against them, into perspective.
You see, the importance is in how our players react to getting a lesson in football by Arsenal and it isn't so much about the result, it is about how we play. Yes, the result is important - we could be going into the New Year in 6th place if we lose, against fourth place last season, but for me, it really is important to continue the footballing development and yes, I know I might be kidding myself, grasping at straws or looking for something that isn't their - but I am trying and everything is possible.
Don't get me wrong; all eleven will be determined and they will fight. We've had that since the very first game - what we need to see today and it has to be clear as day after the shocking display at Arsenal - is a vast improvement in the football.
You see, I think we started to see an improvement, I really did. Today, it needs to be confirmed because despite what you might have read in the papers, Liverpool were poor against Wolves and if we are really going to compete for a top four place, then Liverpool is the team we are competing against this season.
So, seeing as I've got that out of the way - now to the match.
Ashley Young is suspended for picking up five yellow cards for stupid tackles or going head to head with another player. This hopefully means that someone like Marc Albrighton gets a run, but he won't. Instead we will probably see Milner go to right back, Delph go to right side of midfield, Heskey slot in at centre mid and Gabby play on the left of midfield, so Carew can play.
My point is, there will be changes today and we will have the team news as soon as possible, but for now, it is impossible to predict exactly what will happen and anything could.
,p>What I can tell you is, seeing as we have not beaten Liverpool at Villa Park since February 1998 when we won 2-1 - you will get 7/4 at PaddyPower - which is quite a good price for the home team. But you will also get 6/4 for Liverpool, which is also a very good price for Liverpool.But for now, give us your predictions below. Also, drop some links below to anything interesting, because until the match, I have a feeling it is going to be a long day before the last match of 2009.
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Mark
said:
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... Damian, Your sarcastic tone suggests MON will choose a line up different to yours. Yours of course being the winning formula? What has he done so desperately wrong to date that you still feel the need to take the piss? Are you still smarting that he never plays 451? |
BobbyPark
said:
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... Shocking display at Arsenal ? Think that's a bit over the top Damian, we weren't at our best but it was an ok first half and the effort was good, I'd reserve descriptions like that for Liverpool and Man City away last season. Would like to see Albrighton get a run out tonight, though I doubt if he will, hopefully not Sidwell back in and Milner wide as we look ordinary and everything goes long. Milner wide and Delph in the middle would be preferable, we must continue to play football through midfield. |
Damian
said:
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... Mostyn what i'm saying is and i'm going to quote myself now, to make this really simple for you is: it is impossible to predict exactly what will happen i am not saying that a team of 11 players i pick would win either. but you can make that up in your head if you wish. what i am saying is and let me be specific, if putting it in bold above, wasn't specific enough - we need to see the football get better |
Damian
said:
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... BobbyPark 2 shots on target in 90 minutes (none in the second half) is shocking for me - i hope it is just a blip - we will find out today |
Viva las Villa
said:
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... I sense a bit of doom and gloom mongering here of which is evident at the beginning of this post. I would like to point out that if the Man Utd game was at VP with the 3man defence they put out, I'm sure we would have had the same outcome as Fulham. I think 1-0 at old trafford with more recognised defenders is more impressive then the Fulham result. Yes the Arsenal result was a blip in what has been a great month, but tonights game will be a test of charachter. Also you could argue that if Fabregas was not in the squad on sunday, we could have quite easily come away with a point |
cockneyvillan
said:
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... We have to make changes tonight, well at least one because young is suspended, so id like to see delph get a chance because hes a footballer and the future hopefully. I don't fancy delph in a 442 ATM so id put him in a central three in a 4-5-1 formation. I know the squad is alot stronger this year but bringing the likes of sidwell & beye into the side doesn't fill me with much confidence ,but we have to rotate at some point. ------------------------fridel-------------------------- L young-----------cuellar----collins------------warnock- milner-----------petrov------coker--------------downing -----------------------delph--------------------------- ---------------------agbonlahor------------------------ Lets see what delph can do with a bit of protection behind him, we've all seen what sidwell offers! sweet F.A. |
Damian
said:
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... Viva las Villa Yes and if maybe Torress doesn't play today, Liverpool might not score and if Gerrard doesn't play we might get a point or three. I'm in a place right now where things can only get better and I hope to hell that it was just a blip. We will find out today. |
HT Sweden
said:
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... In my own fantasy world the match tonight is predicting if Villa will end top 4 or not in May. It´s not exactly science, bit i´ve got this feeling...So a win today means top 4 in May  |
John Samuels
said:
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... For nearly seventy minutes we were in that game and anyone who says we were thumped or thrashed or destroyed knows nothing of football. What are we to do? Go and play Arsenal off the park at the Emirates? I think not. We played the way we needed to, we stayed in it and we almost nicked a goal a couple of times, but the Arsenal defence was better than i've seen it on many occasions this season. Almunia was a bit flappy, but there was an uncharacteristically solid performance from a usually shaky Gallas and despite their injury problems at fullback they were solid. Arshavin was kept quiet all game because he had no space to turn into and they looked relatively pedestrian going forward at times. Arsenal had more of the ball which we expected, they are a better footballing side than us and showed it at times, but they still couldn't score. It took a moment of absolute genius form Fabregas to open the game up and the second we were chasing the game we were out of it. The way we play suits being at 0-0 or in front, but when we are behind against a team of Arseanl's quality we have no plan B. If Manu had got a goal at OT it would have been a different story. What we are lacking is another option, a plan B, a player of quality who can give us something different to what we have. Fabregas is world class and players of his calibre are the difference between us and the top sides. Wayne Rooney won the game against Hull all by himself, the rest of the side looked bored most of that game and Rooney carved out a win. We need a player of this quality to challenge and we should not be ashamed of the Arsenal result. 3-0 is not a fair reflection of the game and our heads had dropped after the second. We pushed for an equaliser and got hit on the break by Fabregas...oh the irony. We played well in large parts of the game and should do exactly the same against Liverpool. We lost to the better team, but were by no means trounced. We were undone by a world class player who made the difference in what was a pretty boring game up until that point. Arsenal look good at the moment and it wouldn't surprise me if they were leading the title race in a months time. They look sharp and organised but need another CF and possibly a midfielder when the excellent Song and Diaby go to the African cup of nations. I would like to see Wenger win something again as he deserves it. I think we'll win tonight, we'd better....i'm watching it with a load of pool fans |
donny villan
said:
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... Arsenal beat us for the first time at the Emirates simply because to many of are big players had a bad day at the office. Tonight we'll regroup and stick it right up rafa and his botty boys.Hope we go for 5 in the mid just because Ash is out probably go for Downing,petrov,sidwell,reo,milner.I'm going 3-1 Villa. |
Mark
said:
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... we should of been slaughterd at the emirates, all villa fans should admit to that, they should of scored 3 in the first 15 minutes. however i have seen us play the best of the rest and i must say, arsenal were the best team i have seen. what worries me more is the fact that we have beaten neither spurs or man city at villa park, which means we will probably have to win at there respective homes. not going to be easy. as for tonight, if gerrard and torres are fully fit it will be a very very hard game. liverpool wont want to lose this game though. i would say that milner will be moved bk to right mid with sidwell coming back in but i do agree with most on here that it should be albrighton in a like for like swap. |
Mikey18
said:
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... The reason why many might think we were trounced is because the only players who had a decent game was the back four and the result doesn't reflect that. You could say a moment of genius from fabregas opened up the game, but you could say a clumsy tackle from dunne on the edge of the area borne out of frustration and tiredness was the reason. You could say the second came as we were chasing the game, but that was a result of us being unable to create any meaning full forward play throughout the previous 70minutes of the game. In all honesty Downing, Ash, Milner, Petrov, Gabby all had bad games. Heskey and Carew were pedestrian. The back four were good, until its leader lost his head. Cuellar is also suspended tonight! Collins comes back in! Despite everbody praising our strength in depth we loose one player in ash and we are at odds to replace him. I dont think albrighton, delph, sidwell or gardner are apt replacements. I think all 3 would struggle to start for any prem team in the top half. If MoN thinks we don't need to buy in january he is sadly mistaken. Compare are squad to any of the top 4's, to tottenham and Man Citys and we are blown away. |
Damian
said:
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... JPA - i hop eyou are right Mikey18 - that surely is the worry - the back four were excellent. it was summed up for me when petrov had the ball and had nobody in front of him apart from gabby and carew on the shoulders of the two central defenders - we need someone else in the middle it might happen today |
Simon
said:
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... Lpool are not playing well, but they will be up for this game as its a 6-pointer. Saying that, i do belive we have more quality and will pinch it 1-0 or 2-1. I just hope we dont do the usual and go a goal down making it all that more difficult to get the 3-points  |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... we lose against arsenal and damian goes in doom and gloom mode.. arsenal played the best second half game, of the season and to be fair we didnt play! but you get days like that. we will beat the bin dippers tonight and take the fight on again.. at the beginning of the season i stated if we won a cup and finished in the top 8 i think it would still be a step forward, and maybe too many people on here have got carried away with our recent form. my suggestion to my fellow bloggers on here would be to enjoy the victories when they happen because a defeat will always be around the corner especially being a villa fan |
PaulMcGrathsGoneAWOL
said:
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... JPA That the most sensible thing Ive read on here for ages. Cant we just just have you write the posts from now on because Im sick of all the negativity. Anyone would think we were bottom of the league. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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... Tonight the result is everything. Lose, and the grey cloud of deja vue will slowly drift over our heads I don't care how we play. We just need to win |
Mike Carter
said:
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... We weren't shocking against Arsenal. For 55 minutes or so we actually played quite well, and generally matched them in most departments. The number of shots on target is not indicative of the way we played in the first two thirds of the pitch. We all know we need help there to break down defences, but other than that we moved the ball well until we broke down. |
NigelGooner
said:
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... Ha Ha Ha... What did I tell all you Villa fans 2 weeks ago. I said we would put you firmly in your place ( which is also rans). Did you listen? No you all went on how your team was great and what you would do to us at the Emirates where you had never lost. Well, you have now boys. Good luck in your fight for 4th place while we fight for the top spot. |
Chris Harper
said:
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...we've had a few good matches recently and it has looked as if the football was finally getting better, but against Arsenal we were shown that maybe it wasn't and with Fulham beating Manchester United 3-0, it could sort of put our 1-0 win against them, into perspective. Exactly the reason I've stayed away from here over Christmas, didn't want to put a downer on it...  Its a shame we never had Scholes gifting us goals in our match too Damian, we would have won 3-0 then too!! Anyway, hope you all had a good christmas fellas. Tonight will be a difficult game, especially after only 2 days after visiting Arsenal. I'm not feeling overly confident for a win, I think it could go either way to be honest. A.Young is really dissapointing me of late and I wasn't too fussed that he was missing for tonight. I just hope his replacement can step up to the fat spanish waiters plate. UTV! |
BobbyPark
said:
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... to Mikey 18 How can you possibly say that Albrighton isn't good enough. We've seen what a talent he is (Peace Cup), surely he's the sort of player who needs to be given a chance rather than the woeful Sidwell who contributes zero. Bit early to be writing Delph off as well isn't it ? |
scott harwood
said:
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... nigel gooner,ive got no doubt u will be fighting it out at the top till ur bottle INEVITABLY goes.oh what would u do for some english bulldog spirit! |
Damian
said:
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... holteend paul where have i gone into doom and gloom mode? read this (specifically paragraph three): http://www.thevillablog.co.uk/...y-of-2009/ then read this (the second from last paragraph): http://www.thevillablog.co.uk/...er-league/ then read above again. all i am saying is we need to see the players go back to how they were playing after spurs and before arsenal. if we can do that we will go back to fourth and maybe not end up in 6th place by the end of the day it is just reality - not doom or gloom |
croni
said:
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... Arsenal were brilliant, one of their best performances of the season. Song and Diaby were immense in midfield and Arsenal's back 4 were concentrated and tight. Nasri was a nuissance. And then there was Fabregas, and one of the best 20 minutes of football I've seen from a player ever. Villa were excellent for the first 35 minutes, and by far the more dangerous team. The way we were set up meant that we were going to tire eventually, especially against a team like Arsenal, and so we did. Ashley Young once again was a huge disappointment. Milner tired and was a bit directionless. Our back 4 were brilliant especially Warnock, and Downing was composed. What does this mean for our top 4 chances? Well there is no shame in losing to a performance like that. Arsenal took us very seriously, and they were excellent. They had to be excellent to break through and had to resort to bring on Fabregas. Ive always maintained that if we were to get a top 4 place it would be at the expense of Liverpool or even Utd, and not Arsenal. I see Arsenal being runners up to Chelsea. So I wouldn't be too disappointed in the result. However if we lose to Liverpool then I'll start worrying. |
James Clift
said:
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... NigelGooner - The fact that Sunday was the first time you'd beat us at the Emirates says it all. Your claim that we are 'also rans' is very hypocritical when you haven't won a single trophy in the last few years. Lets not forget pal that we won the European Cup in the days when you had to actually win something to get in it! This is something you've never done and are still a million miles away from doing. Come May one thing is for certain, Aston Villa will be challenging for top 4 rather than the tltle, along with the 'also rans' from the Emirates. |
paul
said:
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... Damien this is a poor post. We were not shocking against Arsenal, just lacked a few cutting passes thats all. We ALWAYS allow other teams the lions share of possession away from home and even more so against the big boys. Why dont you have another look at the Liverpool away game and you'll see we weren't a whole lot worse, just that the opposition played better. Oh and "you will get 7/4 at PaddyPower - which is quite a good price for the home team. But you will also get 6/4 for Liverpool, which is also a very good price for Liverpool." Villa are now 2/1 best priced and Liverpool were 7/4 yesterday. So they are not "very good prices" at all. It is a contradiction in terms to say that both sides are have a value price. Betting is all about opinions of course, but you don't know much about betting or odds, so please don't pretend to. |
John Samuels
said:
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...Ha Ha Ha... What did I tell all you Villa fans 2 weeks ago. I said we would put you firmly in your place ( which is also rans). Did you listen? No you all went on how your team was great and what you would do to us at the Emirates where you had never lost. Well, you have now boys. Good luck in your fight for 4th place while we fight for the top spot. Good luck without Fabregas for the next month! ha ha ha ha ha ha.... |
Daniel Wilson
said:
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... I think it's pretty predictable that Mon will push Milner back to the wing and bring in Sidwell to partner Petrov in the middle. Personaly I would like to see Delph come in instead as he brings that bit of flair we could do with but starting him against Liverpool might be a bit much. I don't want him developing a soul destroying record like the one Bale had at Spuds until recently where every game he played resulted in a loss. I'm sure he will be a star once he gains some confidence. I'm going for a pretty dull 0-0 but hoping we can hammer some nails into their season and send them packing 5-0. Come on Villa!! |
Fatkevs
said:
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... Perhaps MoN should play his comeback formulae from the start by dropping Heskey & Milner into defence from the start LOL |
Damian
said:
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... PMR two shots on target in the first 45 minutes and not one in the second half, is, for me, shocking. if it isn't for you, that is fine but we were ultimately outclassed and the decent football that we had seen the previous few games had gone. i hope it comes back today and all will be good as for the prices at paddypower - i think, if you are a villa fan to get nearly 2/1 at home is a good price. i also think, if you are a liverpool fan, that 6/4 is also a good price. i apologise if i've made you think i am a betting expert, i was merely saying that whichever team you support - the price is actually quite good if you are going to have a bet |
amar Sunar
said:
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... damien. read your last post again. 'after spurs and before arsenal'. the point is, spurs and arsenal are better footballing sides than us, period. they have the players to play one way, we have players for another way and thats the path MON has chosen, and to be fair to him, its worked very well. those of u who think 3-0 wasnt a fair scoreline need to watch the match again. it was, they tore us apart time and time again, and we were saved by our defenders. no gloom though, in fact im optimistic about this season. we;ve been brilliant and if ashley young wakes up, we have a great chance of top 4 |
Daniel Wilson
said:
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... Damian - I don't think we as a team were shocking, I think it's more a case of we were made to look shocking at times by just how good Arsenal were. Like you say, we'll see tonight, let's hope the way we have been playing prior to the Arse hiccup wasn't luck and that we continue to improve. |
Mike Carter
said:
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...It is a contradiction in terms to say that both sides are have a value price. No it isn't, the bookies wouldn't set that price if they didn't think it appealed to the punters. The whole point is to attract bets on both sides. |
John Samuels
said:
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... I think it's testament to how far we've come in three seasons that we are disheartened by losing away at Arsenal. This used to be a game I wrote off because we couldn't realistacally expect to get anything there. Now we can expect and tbh we almost did get a point. It was a brilliant free kick from Fabregas and it took one of their better performances and possibly their most 'complete' performance front to back this season. Chins up please gents. Liverpool is a tough one, but we are at home and we are pretty good at home this season. It should be a good turnout being new year/xmas etc despite being a midweek evenig ko. We must play 4-4-2 and take it to them. Heskey to start and i'd start Albrighton on the right and see how he goes. We need someone beating the fullbacks and whipping in crosses and he is the best option we have besides Downing. Bringing in another CM is too negative and we need to come flying out of the blocks and prove Arsenal was a blip. Delph can play on the left and is also two footed so don't underestimate how useful he could be there he played there at times for Leeds. Chucking him on at the end when we knew Ash would be unavailable could be a sign that MoN might use him tonight. I wouldn't move Milner from the centre as he is too influential there. Sidwell and NRC don't compare and Delph is too inexperinced and would be better in a wider position in a 4-4-2 to begin with. In a 4-5-1 he'll be ok, but we shouldn't play that way tonight. Otherwise the same team that played Arsenal. |
Vijay Daryanani
said:
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... The Arsenal game was really strange, we did the usual in the first half but Fabregas changed everthing in 30 minutes, if had not come on we dont know what would have happened, we do not have a player of Fabregas quality, but we really NEED a player of his quality, we also NEED a top striker, otherwise we wont get into the top 4 this season, its going to be very difficult, i dont think itll happen, and with the way spurs and man city are playing even less chance, tonight we NEED to win, i dont think itll happen either!! |
scott harwood
said:
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... i know some fans have touched on it before but we do really seem to be a 1 half team.could it be fitness levels?,could it be tactics?ok fabregas was the match winner but we were a lot worse 2nd half,same against spurs same against man city.we were 1 up so maybe mon trusted our defence to hold out but to me it just reeks of english mentality.how many times did the national team do the same. |
Jake Gardner
said:
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...Jimbo Daventry Villa said: Owned |
Greg Hill
said:
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... PMR We ALWAYS allow other teams the lions share of possession away from home Allow? I think we have no choice as we can’t hold onto the ball. The simple solution against the better teams, until we find another top drawer midfield player, is to play just Gabs up front on his own and add another central midfield player. Without this there is always a chance of Wigan revisited. Midfield players have the ability to support a lone striker while strikers invariably make poor accomplices in midfield. MON just can’t get the ‘core’ of our midfield right. And if Milner is the answer in the middle then please, at least, let’s leave him there. Getting Delph in as a creative cog of a five-man midfield is the screamingly obvious thing to try. We’ve only seen him in an outnumbered context thus far. We’ll miss Ash tonight. How many points has he won for us against the best opposition? comonulions |
James
said:
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... If someone said at the start of the month: "Up to the Liverpool game you'll beat everyone but Arsenal who will take advantage of your tiring team in the last half hour.", then I would have quite happily taken that. Today's match is interesting on a number of levels, but I still think it's more of a must-win game for Liverpool than for us, even though it's very important both ways. Anything can happen this season and the most important thing is we're still in the mix. |
Forest Hill Villan.
said:
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... JPA, Super post, number 9. I just wish you were in the dressing room this evening to lift spirits and to inspire the team to a victory, which they are perfectly capable of achieving. Best wishes to all for the new year. |
Fatkevs
said:
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... I think we have had some wins bringing joy but as for the football it has been horrible to watch in the main. We have no excuse for not playing the game the same way as fulham & we have a better budget I do not think that is asking too much |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
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... Damian Ashley Young is suspended for picking up five yellow cards for stupid tackles or going head to head with another player. This hopefully means that someone like Marc Albrighton gets a run, but he won't. Instead we will probably see Milner go to right back, Delph go to right side of midfield, Heskey slot in at centre mid and Gabby play on the left of midfield, so Carew can play. This made me chuckle. I can only see one change tonight since i think the Arsenal result will make Martin slightly more cautious. That means we can forget about the likes of Albrighton or Delph. He simply wont take the risk, however good we think they are. Sidwell will come in, with either Milner going wide, or Gabby rightside in a fluid 4-5-1. Would prefer coker in place of Sidders since he will get up Gerrerds nose, but in Martin we trust, and he aint done to bad up to now.... However frustrating he can be at times! |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
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...We have no excuse for not playing the game the same way as fulham & we have a better budget I There you go again Kev. This budget stuff really has to stop because our net spend under Randy can only be applauded in my eyes, whether its his own cash or not!! Remmember Ebonizer Ellis???????? I think you will find that many of us are now at the conclusion that our next Two signings HAVE to be the cream. We wont do that in January since cream players play for cream teams, and cream teams are heavilly involved in trying to win things within their respective leagues and europe. So, if we have not done this during the summer, or seem to have not even attempted to do this, then that will be the time for this fixation with Money quotes you make... Hell, i and a few others might even agree with you  |
Greg Hill
said:
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...I think we have had some wins bringing joy but as for the football it has been horrible to watch in the main. Kev - I agree with this overview. For the calendar year 2009 we’ve seen some poor stuff. And this is reflected by the gates. Our home gates are really poor. I think quite a few of the totally positive posters can’t actually be going to the games. I can’t remember a calendar year when we’ve been so dominated by the opposition - regardless of the result. Certainly there are signs of improvement, which one expects for the money spent. But playing ‘on the break' football will only take us so far. |
keith
said:
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... rios to add to your comment as for teams promoted from fizzy they can only hope to sign the lower end of the prem players, it will be the same for villa when we finish top 4 when we will sign the lower end of the cl players |
stevievilla
said:
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... Damien, i understand were you are coming from the performance in 2nd half v arsenal was poor,very poor but iv seen us play that bad and nick the game 1-0. Then we may of been saying how good we are...it is a fine line between winning and losing in the premier league,especailly against the big sides!!! Damien i think you need to realise that you have a responsability with your posts to not make people feel overly negative towards the team and performances,one poor display does not mean our season is over and i would just like to point that "no" you have not said our season is over but im getting a very negative vibe from this post. At the same time i dont expect u to gloss over our shortcomings as a side but lets look at the bigger picture,we all remember the o'leary days,the end of the gregory days, the f**king mid table,just avoiding the drop and absolute heart breaking days when you have to look deep inside yourself and question how long u can go on feeling like u want to divorce ur wife,with ur wife in this instance being the club you'v supported since u wer no hight. i for one am pleased with the direction our club is going cause lets be honest before mon had taken over we would have given our right arms to be in contention of CL football,beating the pool at anfield,United at OT and dismantling chelsea on our patch. Lets put our shoulders to the wheel here lads,anything is possible this season...its all about belief. Maybe not 2day, maybe not tomorrow but soon. |
Charlie Littlejohns
said:
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... This site is so f*cking boring now... we win and all of a sudden we're brilliant... we lose and MON should be sacked.. we just play long ball football. You're all Villa fans so just get behind the lads for fcuks sake.. win tonight and we are 4th in the table! what more do some of you want?! |
frem
said:
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... people stop saying play reo instesd of sidwell. The only thing reo can to is get stuck in. He cant pass or shoot. At least sidwell gets forwards aswell and is athreat with his shots. He can move the ball around as well. REO IS SHIT. |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
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...This site is so f*cking boring now... we win and all of a sudden we're brilliant... we lose and MON should be sacked.. we just play long ball football. You're all Villa fans so just get behind the lads for fcuks sake.. win tonight and we are 4th in the table! what more do some of you want?! It does make you wonder some times, thats for sure. I think people should take the view that we are in no way the finished article, but work in progress. It might put results into perspective and lesson the gloom.... But then we will get peeps complaining that we are all wearing Claret and Blue specs... I think Damian writes his stuff in such a way to stimulate debate. We have to remmember that this is a blog. |
Paul Theiss
said:
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... vijay Can someone explain how the scum are only 3 points behind us?? They're the in-form team at the moment. They've not lost in 7 or 8 games, including 5 wins in a row. Give respect where it's due--they're playing really well. |
Damian
said:
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... Chaz Villa who said we were brilliant? who said the manager should be sacked? who said we just play long ball football? as for winning tonight. we would all take that. what happens if we lose 2-0 we would be 6th. is that what you want? |
Paul Theiss
said:
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... Actually, the Scum haven't lost in 11 games. That includes games against Liverpool, Chelsea, and City. |
Vijay Daryanani
said:
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... birmingham are too close for comfort, its scary! so are they on for the top 4 too?? |
Gavin Merriman
said:
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... I'm with BobbyPark, Viva las Villa, JPA, and many others. Losing thanks to the brilliance of a world class player is not reason to drop our heads! We should take points from tonight’s game and I believe we will. But if we don't we can't give up hope and start all the miserable negativity again. What matters is that we put a good run together after that. Beating blackburn, wigan, and west ham. Giving us the confidence needed make difficult visits to craven cottage and white hart lane whilst playing host to arsenal & man utd. After the utd game (10th feb), the run in gets alot easier. We are still in the hunt regardless of tonights result. |
Mike Carter
said:
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... The wheels will fall off the Blues cart soon. They really aren't that good a team, they're playing well but it won't last. |
Hairdo
said:
 |
... I think 2 changes from Sunday. Big John for Heskey and Reo for Ashley. Really looking forward to seeing us play without Young in the team, i think he's been a big dissappointmnet this season and we could be better without him (in the short term obviously!) |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Birmingham are an organised side with plenty of experience and a really good manager. They work hard for each other and are difficult to score against. They don't have the squad for a real tilt at the top of the table, but they might nick a european spot if they can keep it going. I fancy they'll die off a little towards the end and finish top half. |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
|
...jockstrap how does that not read we have a better budget than Fulham We have had a better budget than everyone accept Man City and Spurs. I may have taken your post the wrong way Kev, since it looked like you were having a dig at our expenditure. If so, i apologise. Should our Football be better? I think it could be, and i think we are seeing an improvement ss the season progresses. Milner moving into the centre to accomodate Downing has made us pass it better. I thought Downing looked a little jaded at times against the Arse, which is only to be expected. Hence our service into Gabby was so poor on the day. Would still like to see Ashley inside though. I think the role suits him to the ground, and will make us a lot more dangerous. And who knows, Martin may well try it soon? |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
|
... Why are we all talking about a circus act from Small Heath? I couldent give a tarts nipple what that pile of shite do. Back to Gods chosen, Please!!!! |
tubbydunne
said:
 |
... I think this has been a great season for us so far we are hovering around fourth position like we all hoped we would be we are in a cup semi final and we have taken the scalps of three of the sky four. I would suggest so far this season we have over achieved. Why? Because our rivals now are the sky four and we are trading blow for blow with them even though they all have world class attacking players which we don't because we simply can't attract them. Mon can't attract world class so he has gone at it differently. He has brought in lion hearts at the back, hard working big engines with little flashes of flair in the middle and speedsters and size up front. We have no Gerrard or Torres, Lampard, Drogba or Anelka, no Rooney or Berbatov and definitely no Fabergas but we are giving it a good lash with what we have got and what we can attract and I am proud of them. As for tonight I think the Arsenal game will have taken a big toll mentally especially on Milner who had been on the crest of a wave recently and was given a reality check at the Emirates. He and the likes of Gabby and Downing could be a bit shell shocked and its a big ask to take on Liverpool two days after getting a spanking from Arsenal and I can see the Pool taking three points tonight. I hope I am wrong but whatever happens I am delighted the direction this team is going in and I think we will put in a stronger challenge for the top four this season, we mightn't make it but you have to be realistic. |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... villa to win 3-1 or 3-0 tonight i really think we will hammer them, the only 3 points liverpool will get tonight is if the coach gets caught speeding.. THE BELLS ARE RINGING,FOR CLARET AND BLUE... come on ya bunch of downtrods, get behind the boys tonight and tomorrow damian will be posting a thread on how the o'neil invincibles done the double over the bin dippers  |
Steve Badger
said:
 |
...people stop saying play reo instesd of sidwell. The only thing reo can to is get stuck in. He cant pass or shoot. At least sidwell gets forwards aswell and is athreat with his shots. He can move the ball around as well. REO IS SHIT. He might be shit, but he ran clean through Pool at Anfield, imo. He should play tonight, as he knows he can compete against their midfield. It won't happen though, as NRC will be off very early in the window, imo. How many sitters has Sidwell had and missed? And do you really think NRC's any worse than the non-entity that Sidwell has been for us? Was your previous username Jinksy, by any chance? |
david
said:
 |
... Damian...it was one bloody loss for goodness sake! Prior to the loss to Arsenal (yes, the only top 4 team we haven't beaten this year) we'd won the previous 5 games in an unbeaten run of 8. The style of play had improved (you'd said so yourself) we'd had 4 clean sheets in a row and for the first half of the season we've genuinely challenged for top 4 and are in the semi final of the Carling cup. We have the 3rd best points tally of any team from their last 6 games and if we were to win tonight we'd have the best. We all know it can go wrong, but your attitude and negativism is just plain wrong headed at this stage, in this particular season. Why do you do it? Is it nervousness of getting too carried away? Whatever the reason I fail to see how it can help, but I do believe that it can harm both the atmosphere at the ground and the confidence of the players to go out and express themselves. |
tubbydunne
said:
|
... r0bb0 Come on you can't really believe that negativity on here affects atmosphere at the ground or the players confidence. I can't believe I am writing this. Seriously your having a laugh aren't you. This gives supporters a chance to blow off steam or catch up on a bit of gossip but I don't think opinions expressed on hear carry much respect or weight |
Damian
said:
|
... r0bb0 yes, it was one bloody loss but i think you are getting a little over excited at my negativism where exactly is this negativity? i've just quickly scanned what i have written above and if anything, i am saying that the match against arsenal was a blip and that tonight we will be shown that it was a blip. or actually, what i am saying is i hope we are shown tonight it was just a blip i really dont think it is negativity. i think some want to see negativity like someone further up making up words and phrases but it isn't. tonight, for me, is mostly about seeing what we get. i wont be surprised if we go out and win 3-0, i'll actually be very happy because it was clearly just a blip. but i also wont be surprised if we are beaten. i will be disappointed but either way - not surprised. if all that happens between now and the end of the season is we stay around 4th or 5th - then i'll be happy. if we falter and drop down to 6th and stay around there, i'll be unhappy - but it all does depend on where we end up at the end and i've been quite clear on what i think is needed this season if that is negative, then i apologise. to me, it is just what i expect although if i were to put money on this game, i think i'd go for the draw |
kieron
said:
 |
... Damian, I've never heard such a ridiculous probable line-up from you. All he will do is move Milner out right and bring either Sidwell or Coker in! Delph was only brought on for experience at the weekend, we had already lost the game by then. |
Damian
said:
|
... ronvilla the line up was put like that to demonstrate, with forced changes, we have no idea what side martin o'neill is going to put out. we could all take guesses but i fancy most of us will be wrong. you might be right though |
dave69
said:
 |
... were just a samll team in birmingham unfortunatley, cant cope with the power of The Arsenal, we'll never see CL Football Oh Well, off to make a kipper tie |
tubbydunne
said:
|
... My guess is -----------------Friedel------------------- Beye Collins Dunne Warnock L.Young Petrov Milner Downing Gabby Heskey |
Chris Platt
said:
 |
... One defeat, and everyone gets fidgety. You have to admit, Arsenal would probably have beaten any team the way they played when Fabregas came on. A little perspective needed, we have lost 3 games in the last 21. yes we think we should have maybe picked up all the points against teams like Wolves, Burnley, west ham etc, but the reality is no-one wins every game. A win today would make everyone feel better, but if the unthinkable happens, and we lose it's not the end of the world, and MON should not be sacked, Randy sell the club etc etc As far as the Scum are concerned, the wheel nuts are already starting to come loose as I type. Man Utd, Chelsea, and Spuds in January. How many points do you think they'll get from those games?  |
bob avfc
said:
 |
... Vijay - Don't you concern yourself. The scum are playing well at present, but lets just wait for injuries/suspensions to kick in and they will be back where they are normally are. They are so up them selves that they are predicting there final points tally will be better than ours We've heard it all before but they will not disappoint us in the end and always remember "Form is temporary - Class is permanent UTV |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... For me worst nightmare would be to put Sidwell back in he is always 5 yards away from the ball offers nothing. It is going to be bloody cold down VP tonight lads so let wrap up & keep the lads warm with some noise tonight we have been quiet for too long |
George Templeton
said:
 |
... Bring in Nigel Reo-Coker, go to 4-5-1 and Villa can win 3-1 like they did at Anfield. Please do this Martin O'Neill! |
James
said:
 |
... I don't thinbk this game will tell us much, just as the Arse didn't really. Let's say we'd beat Arse, would we all be saying we were making progress? But what if we lost the next two? If we beat 'Pool are we back on course. What if we lose the next match? I think we're all struggling to cope with the change in emphasis, where we are now (thanks to Randy and MON) mean that every game is a game we need to win. No one game is more important than another. Beating Portsmouth at home 1-0 is as important as beating Chelsea 2-0 away. So in a confused conclusion to this ramble. If we win it will be great. If we lose it will be bad, but once over it will mean nothing, only the next game will count. Look at the end of the season for an overall picture. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...the wheel nuts are already starting to come loose as I type. You mean the red scouse are having our wheels away already? I thought they'd still be travelling down here  |
kieron
said:
|
... Can anyone tell me if its snowing down in Brum? Im heading down from stoke area in abit and its just turning to snow up here! |
scott harwood
said:
|
... ronvilla not yet.it was supposed to start 3 oclock this morning.there were several weather warnings but so far so good,maybe its following u down |
cockneyvillan
said:
|
... BOB AVFC; Just rotating purposes, but someone said cuellar is suspended so collins for cuellar then |
cockneyvillan
said:
|
... another good option for tongiht.. ---------------------friedel-------------------- L young----------collins---dunne---------warnock -----------------petrov----delph---------------- gabby-----------------miner--------------downing -----------------------hesky-------------------- Not to shabby!! |
Sean
said:
 |
... Really looking forward to the match. Feeling optimistic about it too. Heres hoping for a full crowd and a great atmosphere. No Sidwell please!! Come on Villa!!! |
david
said:
|
... Tubbydunne: Come on you can't really believe that negativity on here affects atmosphere at the ground or the players confidence.I'm not suggesting that one negative posting on this specific blog today creates a negative feeling at Villa park. I do believe that pre-season blog chatter DID create an air of nervousness around the ground for the first game against Wigan and I think it stayed that way for the first 4 or 5 home games. Yes, you can see blogs as a good place for fans to let off steam but you only have to read this one for the last month or so to realise that a number of fans have avoided this (and other) blogs for a while because rather than finding it (them) cathartic it (they) leaves them feeling miserable. Pre-season there was so much negative chat about signings on all teh blogs (not just this one) that you;d have had to be a hermit not to have caught any of it. I think it's unreasonable to imagine that had no affect at all on the mood of the fans in Villa park for that opening game. |
david
said:
|
... What's the weather like in Birmingham.....coming down from 25 miles north and want to know whether to fit the snow chains or not. |
WinsforVilla
said:
 |
... I like that team cockneyvillan, but Delph does seem to like collecting yellow cards! Maybe Gardner in for him I think. The timing of Wenger's use of Fabregas as a sub was perfect. Just as Petrov begins to tire and MON substitutes a forward for a forward instead of shoring up midfield. |
boumavilla
said:
 |
... Line up: ...................friedel....................... l.young.......cuellar.......dunne.......warnock milner........petrov........reo-coker....downing ............agbonlahor...carew.................. Prediction: aston villa 1-1 liverpool UTV feelin confident for the win tho!!! |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
 |
... WE played right into Arsenals hands the last day thats why we lost. We lost because MON got it wrong tactically(at the start and then by not being able to see the needed changes during the game) by not opting for a 5 man midfield with Sidwell coming in againest a team he always does very well. Its horses for courses but MON is tactically suspect to say the least. We have done well againest Arsenal lately because we packed the midfield and stoped them playing. You let then play you lose and we did that and got what we deserved over the 90 mins. Tonight is a night for NRC not Sidwell as he can snuff out Steve G as what else do they have to cause us trouble in the middle? Play Downing on the left, Milner on the right and Heskey and Gabby up front. Chances are we will see Sidwell 2nite ,on a day too late and he really isn't what is required in the centre tonight. NRC was man of the match at Anfield earlier and he has to start tonight. |
Damian
said:
|
... Team News: Friedel, Young, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock, Milner, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Downing, Carew and Gabby Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Delph, Beye, Collins. |
scott harwood
said:
|
... pleasantly surprised.rc was awesome at anfield.it shows our intent.cmon the boys!!!! |
paris rob
said:
 |
... Backed villa to be leading halftime/full time backed villa to win both halfs 500 sods if both win UTV |
Damian
said:
|
... i'm actually thinking about having a proper match post - as this was stared too early and is quite long.... |
scott harwood
said:
|
... damian isnt that heskeys strengths,end of contract or national tournament coming up |
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