Written by Damian Sunday, 27 December 2009 16:23
It was always going to be hard playing Arsenal and today it was made easier for Arsenal because we lacked the fluidity going forward that we have had the past few games. Today there was no evidence of it.
It was summed up for me in or around the 70th minute when Petrov had the ball, was taking it forward over the half way line but Carew and Gabby were 25 yards in front of him, not dropping back and there was nothing for Petrov to do other than pass back for someone to hit long.
But, it wasn´t just that and like I said, it was always going to be hard today and Arsenal were a test that we just couldn´t overcome. I think player wise it was summed up best that while it was still 0-0, Arsenal brought on Fabregas, let him him score two goals then they brought him off again. We lack that real quality in the middle who can also attack.
Still, we were going to lose eventually and results yesterday were good for us. Now we need three points against Liverpool because despite almost predicting all the results yesterday, I fancy Spurs will win tomorrow and we might find ourselves entering the New Year in fifth place, which will be one place worse off than this time last season.
So, this is just a news post. The important match is Tuesday night and I hope we do better, much better and before I forget; don´t worry about this result - how we react to it on Tuesday night is the important thing.
Also, please vote for your man of the match. I´m going for King Carlos - he was impressive again today.
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Geoff
said:
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... They got destroyed. That was terrible. This is why I talk about adding depth and talent to bolster the squad. You need a multitude of good starting players that always have to battle for their spot on the team. Keeps them hungry. |
Mike Carter
said:
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... What a terrible collapse. For 55 minutes or so we at least probably deserved a draw. Then we just crumbled, lost all composure and panicked like crazy. People will say Fabregas was the only difference but they're not really correct. Arsenal created far more than we did and in the end should have won without him. Villa did nothing. We looked like pretenders today, Arsenal taught us a lesson. Players - back 4 did a sterling job in the first half, Warnock in particular was superb. None of the midfield gave a good account of themselves, Ashley Young was(/is) terrible and deserves to be dropped, I for one am glad he'd picked up a suspension. Milner was awful, Petrov was poor. Downing, Heskey, Gabby did little. So, predictions for Liverpool?  |
kieron
said:
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... Poor display, but we can't expect to just turn up and beat anyone. Like you say Damo, it's how we react on Tuesday which will be the test now! |
hulstonnn
said:
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... We didn't get destroyed. It was just one of those days, like Damian says we lacked the fluidity going forward that we normally possess. I didn't think Arsenal were that much better, we were just our own downfall today. We'll be back, hopefully with another referee refereeing the game. UTV |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
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... We lost today through our inability to service our strikers, and when we did, their inability to hold on to it. And there lies our problem. Arsenal wer not that much better than us today. Two of their goals coming from our ability to lose it in the opposition half. I think Martin needs to re-access his decision not to strengthen. We are desperate for that Midfield schemer and scorer, but i tink we need the former more imeadiatley. When you have players such as Downing and Ashley on a Football pitch, you must surely create better than we did today. All in all, a bad day at the office, with hopefully a lesson learned. |
scott harwood
said:
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... forget about this now its gone.lets just get up for liverpool.move milner out and start delph imo hes got an eye for a pass,we could even drop heskey and have reo in to protect him.got a feeling it will be sidwell though.anyway chin up guys,aresnal wouldve done that to anyone today! |
colm tarpey
said:
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... They did to us almost excatly what we did to them last year... soundly beaten....i think it should have been a game for 4-5-1 but it was good to see Delph get a run, although he had a touch of the Boatangs' with the sideways passing! Roll on tuesday... |
luke
said:
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... How will we create anything through the middle now young is banned on tuesday,which means milner will have to go wide?? |
robb david
said:
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... Never has it been more clear than today that to push on we need some world class players. The difference today was Fabergas and Arshavin, who were by far the best two players on the pitch. We dont have any players of that quality, if we did the result could have been different today, but as it stands if we go to Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U or even liverpool and their best players perfrom they will beat us. To improve we need to add some one like Fabergas, Arshvin, Drogba, Rooney, Torres or Gerrard. Someone of that quality otherwise we will continue to go to places like Arsenal and lose. On another note i think agaist any other team in the league we would have done ok today, we lacked our fludity going forward largely because arsenal closed us down well, but if we play like that agaist liverpool on tuesday we will get a draw. Delph contiues to look far to light weight and two divisions out of his depth in the premier league. he was a good league 1 player, he would be an average championship player, and he is by all accounts a crap premiership player, he needs to improve alot if he is to get anywhere near our first team. Its important know to bounce back agaist a low confidence liverpool |
Damian
said:
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... Tuesday is the important match .. while we could go into this match with a bit of hope arsenal were always going to be tough. Liverpool on the other hand beat 10 men yesterday and are still not looking as good as they did last season or have done for a number of seasons ... Tuesday is the important match ... we are still 4th and on Tuesday we are at home .. if we lose Tuesday and go into next year worse than we came into this year .. then we really need to look at what Randy makes available in January and where O´Neill spends it as I fancy this January and next summer are the important ones. There are plenty of players we could bring in to play in that attacking midfield role that we are so desperate for ... |
legendary fabregas
said:
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... i gotta say that fabregas was not truely unbelievable he went in for 20 minz did the job and got out thats all i can say !!!!!!! |
robb david
said:
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... We dont ned an attacking midfielder we need a link forward, milner is doing fine in the centre, but hesky and carew both dont do the job next to gabby. we need someone to link the play to the front line, someone like rooney, tevez or arshavin. We wont get a player like that in january because we wont have the funds available. If we beat liverpool on tues though we could look at Kuyt, Benyoun and Babel. They could all do a job for us, especially Kuyt who works hard and plays the link forward role for holland really well. |
Samuel
said:
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... Arsenal fan here, so obviously take my comments with a pinch of salt: Don't get downhearted on this defeat. Learn from it. People often mention that Arsenal rarely score early goals but decline to notice that we score so many once we have tired out the opposition. For the first half, Villa's closing down was deadly - it killed their game. You were too scared to play on your strengths and get Gabby and Young behind our defence. The reason you beat Utd was the lack of fear, the absolute belief in your ability. Cesc came on today and Villa just decided they couldn't play him, so why bother? We aren't atypical of the teams you will play this season though, and I fully expect a team of such quality to come in the mythical top 4 if you continue to play with belief and confidence (and maybe get a proper playmaker in the window?). That Cesc Fabregas though, huh? Boys a bit special, as they say. |
luke
said:
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... I really do think mon needs to change it around on tuesday cause alot of the players looked tired toaday mainly because they were chasing the ball around for most of the game! We have to bring someone in for ashley young anyway which should be reo coker,but i would also swap carew for heskey and maybe play beye or collins! We need freshening up definately! |
MikeyK
said:
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... As an Arsenal fan I think you are being a bit harsh on your team. Arsenal's first goal was a great free kick and the second was a breakaway and good finish. Until then, you were in the game. Granted that Villa's attacking play was not so penetrative but still felt that you may score when you had the ball in our box. You were the away team. It's easy to say you need to go an get a world class midfielder like a Fabregas but that costs a lot of money and there is no certainly that the new player will fit in and solve all attacking problems. |
Mike Carter
said:
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... Luke I was thinking we might actually create something now. Young's routine in matches at the moment goes something like this: Try to take a player on, lose the ball Try to take a player on, turn back, pass it backwards Skip down the wing, turn it onto right foot, cross straight to keeper Repeat several times over and that's Ashley Young in a nutshell at the moment. Useless. |
Adey Stuttard
said:
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... "Song owned the middle"? With the ref? The guy makes at least 7 fouls and gets a yellow, Ashley Young falls over a trailing leg (not a foul admittedly) and gets a yellow, refs really do need to get a grip and not favour teams! In all Arsenal did deserve the win, we were poor, but we must take heart from the fact they are a one trick pony - Fabregas was the only difference today. Arshavin was ok, not brilliant, but if Fabregas is out longer term Arsenal will win nothing. |
Rod Bentley
said:
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... Doom mongers out in force already. Fabregas destroyed us and his hamstring in the process. We were pushing for an equaliser when Milner cocked up, and I wouldn't take other than Fabregas and Arshavin from Arsenal. Song was brutal and would have been sent off at least twice away from home. Delph - how can you make a judgement on only 15 mins  Expectations too high after a good run - the Fat Lady is still gargling. |
Drew Gooner
said:
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... you lot were actually good value for a draw till about the 55th minute. Ashley looks lost presently and very wasteful. Have a feeling you lot will do one over Liverpool. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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...We lack that real quality in the middle who can also attack. We lost today through our inability to service our strikers, and when we did, their inability to hold on to it. And there lies our problem. forget about this now its gone.lets just get up for liverpool Thought we did very well today, but in the end, didn't have the star quality they do. Would we have done better with a 4.5.1 including Reo ? Maybe. It is now essential that we put the boot in Liverpool while they are down. And if Lerner and MON are really serious about breaking the top four, now is the time to buy - we're nearly there. |
Adey Stuttard
said:
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... vivavilla, I agree, this ban might actually beneift us - the guy is not a given in the team, and if Delph gets a chance, and takes it (although I think not) against Liverplop he may well need to fight for his place back - poor crosses, poor free kicks, poor corners, he nneds a wake up call. |
robb david
said:
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... Arsenal have three players that make the difference for them, fabregas, Arshavin, and Van persie, only one of those players needs to play well and they win comfortably. Liverpool have two players like that, Torres and Gerrard. We dont have any of those players and thats the difference at the moment, we have as good a team as anyone, we just dont have the difference makers that the top 4 have. |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
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... Gooner Until Fabregas scored with that wonderful freekick, i dont think you were better than us. What could we do with a player like that? We just lack that someone that can deliver that killer ball. Be nice if you could give us one of yours |
Rod Bentley
said:
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... VivaVilla and who crossed for Agbonlahor at OT and Carew at VP? Oh yes, Ashley Young |
Fatkevs
said:
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... How we could do with a One trick Pony, we huff & puff to get our points This is defended when we grab the points but when we create FA we should be critiqued when we do not show up, just full of xmas pudin I hate MONs football it is so negative but today we gave up that shocks me |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
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...We dont ned an attacking midfielder we need a link forward Bellamey for me. If it goes tits up, then it goes tits up, but we will never know unless we try it. And i would like us to just go out and try it  |
robb david
said:
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... I dont think the majority are doom mongering, im certainly not, i actually dont think we are that far behind, and if we play like that agaist liverpool we will most likely win. The difference was individual qualiy of 1 person in particular today, if fabregas had came off the bench for us today at 0-0 we would have won the game. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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...Arsenal have three players that make the difference for them, fabregas, Arshavin, and Van persie, only one of those players needs to play well and they win comfortably. Agree totally. Thought we played well today, but they had the real quality. Still, well done to the lads. They bust a gut for us out there today, and could do no more |
Ooh to be a Gooner
said:
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... "but we must take heart from the fact they are a one trick pony - Fabregas was the only difference today." Jealous much mate? If I were you, I'd be focusing mn the fact that a 22yr old in the form of Abou Diaby waltzed through your midfield and back four to roll it past Friedel with consummate ease. |
Paul Theiss
said:
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... ronrabbit: That's pretty harsh on Delph. I thought he looked decent there. He looked more composed and calm on the ball than any of our other midfielders. I would move Milner to the right and start Delph in the middle on Tuesday. Arsenal outplayed us--simple as that. When you play a team like that, you can't afford to give up cheap fouls (first goal) and give up possession with daft passing (secoond goal). That said, this isn't exactly a catastrophe. This was always going to be a tough game. Arsenal are a top side, and so are we; they simply bettered us today. |
Mike Carter
said:
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... Headologist I don't care. I really don't. I accept that Young will put in 1 good cross in every 20, some may even turn out to be match winners. But for 89 minutes of the rest of the match he's doing bugger all. Oh wait, he tracks back and defends well. Forgot about that. Of the whole team nobody has put in more poor performances this season than Young, who must be well into double figures now. Bench him. |
robb david
said:
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... Delph is too light weight and he always wants to much time on the ball. he is not a premiership player and will be horribly exposed if he plays agaisnt liverpool like he was agaisnt wigan and blackburn earlier in the year. He might become a fabulous player at some point but as far as im concerned i have seen absolutly nothing to suggest he will ever be anything more than an average player in a team battling relegation. |
Dagoon(er)
said:
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... Are you guys serious "Arsenal didn't deserve to win." Bullsh*t we bosssed the game from beginning to end. I remember a lot of Villa fans saying they have a better squad than we do, that definitely didn't show. |
piken79
said:
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... I am an Arsenal fan, I also like Villa v. much, if O'neil can add 2 quality players I think you guys can finish 2nd or 3rd...hope you have a great season and i will be cheering for you every time you don't play Arsenal. |
Nasei
said:
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... villa are pretenders! Arsenal have REAL WORLDCLASS players! We clearly don't! Time and Time again we get EXPOSED! Our midfield is very one dimensional and workman like, Arsenal have real zest in midfield as it showed when Fabregas came on for 21 minutes and changed the game! We don't have that, wenger brought on cesc to change the game and we brought on Delph, it says everything about the gap in class! Arsenal didn't even play that well, they also did it without V.persie, bendtner and a half fit Cesc. Let's face it, We are just a team who are hot and cold! And we will NEVER break into the top 4, EVER! We are mentally weak just like our manager! |
Nasei
said:
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... villa are pretenders! Arsenal have REAL WORLDCLASS players! We clearly don't! Time and Time again we get EXPOSED! Our midfield is very one dimensional and workman like, Arsenal have real zest in midfield as it showed when Fabregas came on for 21 minutes and changed the game! We don't have that, wenger brought on cesc to change the game and we brought on Delph, it says everything about the gap in class! Arsenal didn't even play that well, they also did it without V.persie, bendtner and a half fit Cesc. Let's face it, We are just a team who are hot and cold! And we will NEVER break into the top 4, EVER! We are mentally weak just like our manager! |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
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... On the subject of Fabian Delph. Why did the gaffer bring him on, because it puzzled me for a few minutes. I thought Milner was doing ok on the middle, so maybe Luke has picked up a knock? |
Glyn
said:
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... Ashley young misses the liverpool game now due to a stupid booking. He looks like he needs a rest anyway but this isn't the game i would have chose to rest him for. Hopefully we don't miss him too much against liverpool |
garygooner
said:
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... Who said at 55 mins you deserved a draw,Almunia had 1 shot to save the entire match.We the Arsenal had 20 attempts(10 on target),we controlled the game because once again a team has come to fortress Emirates and are frightened to play their own game.I do think your defence is very good but if you give us that amount of possession we will eventually tire you out and break you down.I do think O'neill has done a great job and hope you get into the top 4 for europe as you pushed us last season. |
robb david
said:
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... i still maintain young has the best dead ball delivery in the league when he gets it right. The flat whipped in cross is compltly undefendable, the problem is we dont see it often enough. I agree that a break from first team action could do him good, we will start sidwell on tuesday in the middle, dj on the left and milner on the right. We can look forward to some turgid long ball football, for hesky to head out of play as we have no one to create anything in the centre of the pitch. |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
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... Fatkev said Randy wi;; not spent to make us winners only to maintain And hes told you that as he? |
marty
said:
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... disagree ronrabbit delphs balance reminds me alot of benayoun and will be a great player within the next 4 months |
Fatkevs
said:
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... £20 on Delph & Downing should have been put towards a top striker, we have plenty of promising talent in the stiffs |
robb david
said:
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... I agree with the bellamy shout cant see him figuring in man city team under mancini, and if hughes can control him i see no reason why o'neill wouldnt be abe to. For the price likely to be about 8million he would be a great buy, and like it was said if he starts dicking about sell him on in the summer. |
Daniel Wilson
said:
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...Dagoon(er) - Are you guys serious "Arsenal didn't deserve to win." Bullsh*t we bosssed the game from beginning to end. I remember a lot of Villa fans saying they have a better squad than we do, that definitely didn't show. What are you spouting off about? The general concensus is that Arsenal were great today and we were beaten by a better team? Talk about a bad winner, jog on. |
Paul Theiss
said:
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... ronrabbit: Delph wants too much time on the ball? We must be watching a different player because I don't think he needs much time at all. He is brillaint in tight spaces, keeps possession, and distributes well. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... MON got it wrong tactically at the start and then compounded it later on in the game. WE have done well here before with a 5 man midfield with Sidwell. Now i don't rate him but he has always done very well againest his former team. He should have started with 3 in the centre. We were destroyed in midfield but MON once again showed his tactical weakness by not appemting to counter this by bring on an extra CM in time. Once you go one down its too late. Also what the hell is this thing about Milner to RB to go and chase a game. Has that ever worked? No. As for Ashey he once again showed why he is to me the most over rated player in the English league. He did nothng once again in this game. Nothing. Im glad he is out for the Liverpool game. |
robb david
said:
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... martygra808 said: ... disagree ronrabbit delphs balance reminds me alot of benayoun and will be a great player within the next 4 months seriosly of all the peole to compare him to, benayoun? Who isnt that great anyway, but he can dribble past people, plays on the wing, and is not that great at passing. If all we can look forward to from him is a poor mans benayoun then ship him out right know. |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
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...Ashley young misses the liverpool game now due to a stupid booking. He looks like he needs a rest anyway but this isn't the game i would have chose to rest him for. Hopefully we don't miss him too much against liverpoo The time has come for Albrighton... His crossing will destroy Liverpool. |
Fatkevs
said:
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... Jockstrap As Good as MoN aswell The Yank is never here not even a part time chairman |
Adey Stuttard
said:
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..."but we must take heart from the fact they are a one trick pony - Fabregas was the only difference today." Yes, I am jealous! Would love to have Fabregas in our team Why focus on a 22 year old who waltzed through in the 93rd minute when you had already won the game....? Had he done that in the 5th mimute I may have been more concerned, now clear off back to your own blog (if there is such a thing!) |
Fatkevs
said:
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... We have Marc Albrighton etc to come through that is why i question squandering our budget on a player that needs prem games to learn his trade or a player that would be out for 6 months |
Fatkevs
said:
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... I this game will be springboard for Arsenal to push on from lets hope we do not resurrect the liverpools season |
Dagoon(er)
said:
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... sour villa fans. There is only one word that can be used to describe what happened to villa today. OUTCLASSED! |
arsene wenger
said:
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... unlucky guys,good game, villa lack a creative player bigtime, i dont know why start with heskey, carew is a monster, true cesc changed the game but we were all over you anyway |
Hathavfc
said:
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... I cant wait to see someone else on the wing tuesday. Ashley Young is just a waste of time. Hes looking more and more like an average midfielder. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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... Now too we know who are rivals are: Liverpool, Spuds, City, are our rivals until we can compete for some real quality. But 4th is still all to play for, starting on Tuesday. |
Steve Badger
said:
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... I'm still positive. Arse played well today, as they needed to, imo. We are a threat, no doubt about it. I'm gutted and expected better, but as has been said we were away. The game plan was working, until they scored and then we had no answer whatsoever. Nice to see Delph get a run out, imo. We really need to beat pool to keep things going and like Damian says, this is the true test of how good we are. We can beat them and I fully expect the win. As for the Arse fans, well, you were the better team today and fair play. But you ain't winning the league, imo. Your defence isn't good enough and that's where Wenger needs to concentrate his efforts, imo. We'll do you at VP  |
Guner
said:
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... Hello everybody I definitely agree with vivavilla as i've been saying the same thing for a and half a year, but the problem is that we don't have an attacking threat instead, only if Delph doesn't come good. After Downing and -as most people don't agree- Heskey's arriving, we seem a much more better team with better passing and open play. Again, Young plays as a forward as he takes the ball that area (I don't mean today's match, the previous ones, makes less silly mistakes and has more free space, just like the Barry's times. That's how we upgraded the system after the latest changes, Barry's departure and Downing's arriving. Today, we couldn't overcome Arsenal, because they were the better side, because they are a top side as the others said, they only need a star to break the deadlock while Dunne, King Carlos and Warnock they all were fighting. I like this side, with Downing and Heskey but still we lack some quality to be a Top 4 side. It's not about today's loss, I would say the same thing last week if I weren't very tired and lazy, after Stoke clash. We seemed incapable of doing some good open play things when Carew's on, and if Downing were out, probably we would see the same. We won but we weren't that impressive. Heskey's not a striker, he's never been, but he offers a passing game, he helps other people scoring (watch Dunne's goal, it's all about Milner's quick-thinking, but also see Heskey's run which destroys the defense. That's how he stays in the Premiership without scoring goals) and he drops deep and he presses as Carew doesn't. If Kenwyne Jones will do the half he does, then buy him! Because he is also a scorer, he's a striker. But if he won't, if he'll be another lazy donkey, don't waste money and more important than that don't lose a player which makes the team difference. Gabby has a poor technique while he's also bad at shooting, we don't have really a star player, it's about the pieces which are working really good. Petrov tackles with amazing timing, and passes (pinpoint one!), Young crosses and Gabby who had a good run scores. Milner would be that man, as he shows an amazing improvement in 6 months, nor Young and Gabby can't in 2-3 years. As i said Kenywne Jones is good to take if he'll come good, if not, an different type of forward, sort of Jovanovic as he's very popular, is the second option. Midfield should wait, at least a year, to see if Delph will come good, or he'll be another Gardner. It wasn't about today's match, I just have something to say inside. Hoping to win the game against Liverpool. |
john
said:
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... Why is it more "Villa fans" appear from the cracks in the wood work only when we get beat? Fair enough we didn't turn up today, but let's keep things in perspective. Anyone with half a brain can see that ONE game doesn't make a season, yet so many muppets are so quick to come on here and start spouting absolute drivel about we'll "NEVER" break into the top 4 now. Absolutely ridiculous. I tell you what makes me ashamed to be a villa fan more than seeing my team lose against Arsenal, is a bunch of the most fickle fans who exist in football. Guys, football is like a marriage. You support your team through thick and thin and that means remaining upbeat as best possible, but we're so quick to drop to negativity. I feel like slitting my wrists reading this blog half the time, and it's barely even better after a win. |
Villa Sparton
said:
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... This loss will give us a boost for Liverpool, i reckon 3-1 to Villa on Tuesday. However more importantly this showed we are in need of depth in the squad, Arsenal knew our game today and killed it dead, especially when CalorGas came on. Tactics were our down fall today, i reckon O'Neil was going for a draw and it back fired. Hopefully he can see we need a Striker and perhaps an experienced Midfielder, yes we have Downing who is getting better and better, but just someone who has that ability to read the game, perhaps a super sub giving grit and determination. |
Andy Pepper
said:
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... So with Young suspended i can see Milner going back to wing and Sidwell playing CM unless he goes with Delph which i doubt |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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...Why is it more "Villa fans" appear from the cracks in the wood work only when we get beat? I think the oposite is true more often than not we're bigging ourselves up to be better than we are. Well played to all our players today - they bust a gut for the cause, but there was a gulf in class there for all to see. |
garygooner
said:
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... Badger,Our defence not good enough to win the league,good enough to shut out your attack all day long,Heskey Young Agbon & Carew how many attempts at goal (1) yeah our defence is real bad.What you need to worry about is how ineffective your atack was ! |
Steve Badger
said:
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...lol badger, our defence ispoor but whose aint lately Ours, strangely enough  It wasn't the defence that lost us the game today though. I think the oposite is true Bollocks, Pancho, imo (it's not often I disagree with you). We never turned up, that's all. Arse did and that was the difference. |
McParland
said:
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... To be honest i never expected anything from the guners today possibly a point at most so am not totaly dissapointed. But i was dissapointed at the lack of shots on goal we managed. after all you do not require goals for a 00 draw but you do require goals for a 22 draw or a 2..1 win ,so i am hoping MON gets a decent natural striker in ASP preferably for the L pool game tuesday .LOL |
Steve Badger
said:
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...so i am hoping MON gets a decent natural striker in ASP preferably for the L pool game tuesday .LOL You have to give them service mate and we didn't today. Young suspended will be interesting, imo. |
Lew Chatterley's Lover
said:
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... I don't think we were bad today, the effort was certainly there, we'd nullified them before Fabregas came on,in truth though we didn't look like scoring and should have settled for a point. This could have been done by taking Ash off, bringing Collins on, and pushing Cuellar up to man mark Fabregas. A bit negative true, but might have got us a draw. Against Liverpool how about leaving everything as it except for bringing Albrighton in to replace Ash. Why spoil the balance ? |
skins
said:
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... Arsenal fan says that Villa are not too far from being a top four club. However, the person who destroyed you today was Diaby, his link play was superb. Also, Arshavin probably had his worst Arsenal game today. |
Steve Badger
said:
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... garygooner, What you need to worry about is how ineffective your atack was ! We know that's our weak point mate. |
McParland
said:
|
... Yes badger you do indeed have to receive the service thats a fact. And of late ash has not done that sufficiently imo i know hes provided crosses for some of the goals but when you listen to those who once said he was world class in the making. i can see it now when we played everton last season at goodison their fans were celebrating a draw while ash was on his way to secure us a win at the other end with a great goal.No doubt about the lad having immense talent and is still very yong so has time to aspire to the predictions of some .However of late he seems off the pace andout of ideas ,so him missing the game against Lpool might just give him the rest he requires to come back and do what he does best on his day.That is to run at defences or cross menicing balls for others to capitalise on and hopefully when fully fit Stu Downing will do likewise still 18 games to go yet so plenty of time to break that top 4 strangle hold. |
King VOGRA
said:
 |
... Pretty much expected this, as soon as the papers start talking up our chances we implode. Not going to have a moan, been very please with the season so far and if somebody would have told me at the start of the season we'd be 4th or 5th i would have snatched there hands off. Fabregas was truly superb and showed his class and changed the game, what a great player to watch (obviously didnt enjoy his 28min contribution though) I would have started with Carew instead of Heskey, and would have brought on Reo-Cocker as soon as it was apparent Fabregas was pulling the strings in the midfield.. All on to Tuesday, and i have a horrible feeling the scousers will get something, and i think it may be 3 points....lets hope not hey Merry Xmas to all the board members and guests.. |
arsene wenger
said:
|
... i would like us to sign agbonlahor,top quality player, he could score 25 goals a season if he had a creative midfielder supplyin him |
Chrisodon
said:
 |
... We had to lose at some point, the important thing was it wasn't to a team chasing us for 4th. Roll on tuesday and hope the boys play better. |
Topvillafan
said:
 |
... I was there and we played our game. Fabregas made the difference. Arsenal are a great team and no disgrace today but 3-0 was harsh. We will lose games - the good teams are those that bounce back quickly. Lets see how we respond. Roll on Tuesdays game. We love you Villa boys! |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
...Bollocks, Pancho, imo (it's not often I disagree with you). I do not believe we have outplayed any of the top four or Spurs, despite beating 3 and drawing one. We may get top four in the same way true enough, but when players like Fabregas, Torres, Drogba, Rooney etc turn it on, barring a fair bit of luck, we will get beat. Some extra class needed in my view. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...I do not believe we have outplayed any of the top four or Spurs, despite beating 3 and drawing one Sums up what it's about imo. For some mad reason, it's not about how you play. It's if you win or not (this is where me and Damian disagree, big time). Although we got spanked today, on our day we can beat anyone. I'd defy you to name a single team that has played consistently well this season and looks fave to win the league. Man U look poor to me, Chelsea haven't won in how many?, Pool look just awful etc etc. Arse are easily capable of being beaten too. It's all very interesting this year and long may it reign, imo. |
Chris Atkins
said:
 |
... We lost, had to happen at some point. Even the best teams in the league are losing games this year. Let's give the boys some real support now to back em in the next game! |
Sevn
said:
 |
... Villa is not a bad team among the top four pretenders so to say I would rate villa over city or spurs I just think today they were outshone by a very good side especially at home and they did deserve to win even without cesc like the other guy said. But there's time to catch up and if villa don't drop much points from now they might find them selves not only in the top four buy possible title contenders but the later wount happen only if Chelsea and arsenal or even Manu slip up. Looking forward to see how villa react. From a neutral EPL fan |
George Templeton
said:
 |
... It's no disgrace when a great player tips the scales against you and that's what Fabregas did in my opinion. I do wish MON had gone to 4-5-1 because of how successful it was against Arsenal last year, but bouncing back against Liverpool would be the perfect tonic. Off topic, Damien I was going to e-mail you but I can't find a place to send you a message. |
BOOZY
said:
 |
... I chose initially to taunt you villains, for some of your pre game bragging - but i kind of like villa, you've got style. but some few problems. 1. carew / heskey = not it ( get someone as young as agbolahor, e.g carlton cole ) 2. Reo- coker - how he doesn't get to start all villa games, is still baffling - i hope wenger signs him up, this January to cover for song - that said, when you play a midfield comprising song, denilson, diaby - you'll need your most physical players, coker comes to mind- who is clearly villa's most versatile player. 3. believe in delph with time, you could be seeing another fabregas. |
dave210
said:
 |
... First half we didn't play too badly thought we defended well and created a few half chances, Cuellar's effort on the edge of the box anyone else hitting that I reckon we'd have been 1 up. Their were two things I think changed the game, one obviously being Fabregas coming on, but also I think that we shouldn't have brought Carew on, I think we should have brought Heskey off which we did but he should have been replaced with someone like Reo-Coker who would sit and protect the defence, something Petrov doesn't really do so well away from home. I reckon this was probably our biggest mistake in the game. I don't think 3-0 was a true reflection to be honest maybe 1 or 2-0, because we actually defended fairly well. Still think we need a striker in, someone like a Defoe or Bent. Big game on Tuesday let's hope that we bounce back and get a win!! Up The Villa!!! |
pete
said:
 |
... dont forget this season is not a open and closed case. all top clubs have dropped more points than usual who would of though fulham man utd result and not forgetting chelsea lose drogba and friends to the african cup its all to play for we are still in it VFL |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...Off topic, Damien I was going to e-mail you but I can't find a place to send you a message. George, it's Damian(remove this)@thevillablog.co.uk, I think. |
Matthew Smith
said:
 |
... Everyone has a bad day at the office, and today was our turn. Lets not forget Utd losing at fulham a couple of weeks ago. What's important is how quickly we bounce back and we need to get right behind the lads against Liverpool. UTV. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
...I'd defy you to name a single team that has played consistently well this season and looks fave to win the league. Badger: You are right. I don't know what came over me. Yes, of course, it's all about the bounce back on Tuesday, and beating the other contenders for 4th spot. Onwards and upwards, and let's get into them. Guess it's Delph against Liverpool with Milno back out wide. thought Milner was trying a little too hard today by the way. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
... Pancho Villan's Points Gap Table - 27/12/09 Pts – Team – (Played) 42 Chelsea(19 ) 41 40 Man Utd(19 ) 39 38 Arsenal(18 ) 37 36 35, Villa(19 ) 34 Spurs(19 ) 33 32 Man City(18 ) 31 30 Liverpool(19 ) 29 Birmingham(19 ) 28 27, Fulham(18 ) 26 25 24 23 22 Sunderland(19 ) 21 Stoke(18 ) 20 Blackburn(19 ) , Burnley(19 ) 19 Wolves(19 ) , Everton(18 ), Wigan(18 ), 18 West Ham(19 ) 17 Hull(19 ) , Bolton(17 ) 16 15 14 Portsmouth(19 ) |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...Badger: You are right. I don't know what came over me. Good man Pancho. We WILL beat pool. I hope. |
Guy
said:
 |
... Bizarre.....The same team which beat Man Utd and everybody said was world beaters is now being slaughtered ..... get a grip we are either a good team or a poor team !!!! The results over the season suggest we are a good team. We have already beaten 3 of the supposed big 4. Its just one result. As for the people that are criticisng Delph get real, how many games has he played ??? |
Leroy
said:
 |
...... Ill set up the Lemonade stand outside VP and then we can have a " Kiss Nigel Reo Coker for one pound" table so we can fund that big money bid for Kaka. |
robb david
said:
|
... LEROY im not suggesting we buy someone like Kaka, although on the flip side we could have brought Arshavin last year before the arse got their and he is exactally the sort of player we need. |
John R
said:
 |
... Disappointed to get beaten but i agree that it had to happpen at some stage. I wouldn say that arsenal are the team in form at the moment. however one game doesn't make a season our record against the top 4 this season is good. Agree with Damien when he says we need to put this result behind us and win the next one against the Pool. UTV |
Lee morris
said:
 |
... totally disagree with the criticism of delph! cant remember who it was though. the kid looks very good on the ball, gets stuck in and i think he'll make an impact sooner than people expect! no way i would have changed our formation today also as 4-4-2 has been working almost perfectly recently. it was a 20 minute masterclass from fabregas that won the game! not taking anything away from them but agree with others that if we had brought him off the bench we would have won comfortably! if i were an arse fan i would think myself very lucky fabregas returned from injury so soon. any way if we beat the pool its all forgotten. oh!! good luck to arsenal lets hope they beat spuds, shit mancs and liverscum as well! |
Paul Theiss
said:
|
... For any doom mongers out there, here's ESPN Soccernet's objective verdict on Villa's performance today: O'Neill's men were worthy challengers to Arsenal for long periods and they will be firmly in the mix for a Champions League place this season. How they react to this setback will be crucial to their hopes. |
beh
said:
 |
... I like arsenal, admire wenger`s principals, but effective and arsenal don`t go together. They `re like a hybrid of pure genius and homer simpson, sure to thrill and amaze quickly followed by a duh! We`re a work in progress, not pretty at times but we`ve already had a taste of how effective mon can be, arsenal can`t get much better, we can and we will. A note for the over -emotional types : wenger has been building his team for 3 years, the foundations: champs league runners up. MON building his team for 3 years, foundations: relegation cand- didates. I like where we`re going, even if i don`t always enjoy the view. Arsenal always enjoy a nice view but cul de sacs can get a bit pointless after a while. |
Aston Martin
said:
 |
... I thought we were very poor today and I don't think Fabregas was the only difference, that's being too easy on ourselves. They looked like scoring before he came on and we never threatened at all. Their squad is way, way better than ours - even with half their team out. If there's one thing we learned from last season it was that our squad is way too thin - yet we didn't really strengthen. Arsenal play in the Champions League, are clearly worse hit by injuries than us and still beat us comfortably. We have an OK squad, but it lacks real star players and depth. I don't worry too much about Tottenham but if Man City gel under Mancini we are truly f**ked. If we let them get the fourth spot this season they can attract even more stars and we will be further away from the Champions League. This is the season and we better get some players in January! |
david
said:
 |
... vivavilla at 3.30 pm: What a terrible collapse.........Villa did nothing.......We looked like pretenders today, Arsenal taught us a lesson. vivavilla at 9.55 pm: We better beat Liverpool, or this place will be unbearable. Can I suggest Viva, that if we do lose you wait for a few hours....let your disappointment subside and thensay what you want to say. If you, and some others do that then it won't be so unbearable after all. Up to half time I thought we'd done fine and although they had most of the posession you felt that we just might catch them out. The second half was uncomfortable to watch though after Fabregas came on. Was Delph brought on after Ash's booking? If so, presumably MoN was trying to give him a bit of exposure as he will be playing him on Tuesday? |
david
said:
|
... Tuesday is going to be difficult. The players had to work hard today and L'pool have had an extra day to recover from a game against a much weaker 10 man team. If we win then we should be abe to push on. If we lose, it will be hard to take for a while, but is not the end of the world. Let's not start the doom and gloom again just yet eh? I'd like to see Albrighton given a go, but then I'd like to see a bit more of Delph too as I do believe he has it in him to provide that creative spark we still lack on a consistent basis. I was irritated by the way he talked himself into a booking though. If Song had the same attitude as Delph he'd have been off well before half time (probably should have been anyway). I know Delph is only young, but he needs to grow up fast if he's going to make it in a MoN team. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... I'm sorry r0bb0 but I can't see anything from my original post that I'd take back. It's all true. Just because I talk about us playing poorly doesn't mean to say I'm a doom-monger. I just calls 'em as I sees 'em. |
le shava
said:
 |
... Glad to see my ashley young verdict of 12 months ago finally becoming more widely accepted. He has been found out and isn't a patch on the truly dangerous. Wingers e.g Aaron lennon. I said it 12 months ago and. I will say it again, your squad just isn't good enough. This was made clear as day when spurs outplayed you on your own patch. That said, I retract my hasty criticism of Richard dunne, he was indeed a good buy |
gareth the gooner
said:
 |
... I wouldn't worry too much Villa fans. 4 wins out of 5 is a cracking December by anyone's standards. Besides, Arsenal have been on a great run since Chelsea beat us 3-0. And our turnaround came against Liverpool  I really hope you guys break into the top 4. Your club is well run within your means just like the Arsenal, which is not only respectable, but the way it should be. Unlike Liverpool, who are £300+ million the shit, Man City, who have a big fat Arabian sugar daddy or Sp*rs, who just seem to magic money out of thin air when they want to. How do they spend so much on sh*t players and not go bankrupt? And all this while their manager is being investigated for tax fraud. I'll be cheering you on in all your matches (except when you play us of course  ). Oh and Pancho, that's an interesting table. I've never looked at it like that before. Great work |
cockneyvillan
said:
 |
... Very disappointed with that performance today, we are alot better than that and id say the gooners in fact i know the gooners were expecting a much tougher game than that. Arsenal played very well today because we let them, we sat back to much , gave them space and when we had the ball we looked nervous, we made them look like world beaters today. When we did get forward and got balls into ther box they looked shaky but we just didnt do it enough , i think as someone stated earlier when expectations rise we seem to falter and maybe thats what happened!! If a bullish, aggressive & positive villa had turned up today, instead of a nervous & negative one it might have been much, much different!! |
Fabgooner
said:
 |
... Anyone who thinks that Fabregas was the only difference b/w Villa and Arsenal is deluding themselves. We dominated for the entire match. 9 shots to 2 shots on target says everything. Villa didn't even have 1 clear chance. That said, IMO what Villa really lack is attacking threat, and some ball retainers. Everyone in our team can retain the ball very well, even our defenders. And some creative spark. Diaby was huge today, and 1874AVFC said : "Why focus on a 22 year old who waltzed through in the 93rd minute when you had already won the game....? Had he done that in the 5th mimute I may have been more concerned, now clear off back to your own blog (if there is such a thing!)" He did waltz through in the 5th minute to set up Eduardo's chance. But Villa worked really hard, but it started to show in the second half. Also, you lack the really world class players like Cesc, RvP, Arshavin etc. You guys are a good team, IMO will finish 4th, but some of the afore-mentioned things will really make it secure. And Young was rightly booked for diving. See it again, very carefully, it was a dive. Very good spot by the ref, who was very good yesterday. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
... Milner was trying too hard - he needed to be world class on the day and wasn't. I'm supporting West Ham and Wolves today. And a win tomorrow is essential now. We can't afford to give Liverpool a sniff. |
paul
said:
 |
... Typical moaning villa fans. I dunno why you run this blog sometimes Damien. We have more pts at this stage of the season than I can ever remember. Arsenal qualified for the CL with 72 pts last season. We have 35 at the half way stage. We have beaten Liverpool, Chelsea AND Manchester Utd, we lose a close game at the Emirates with one of the best midfielders on THE PLANET doing the damage, and some idiots suggest that we are lacking something in midfield. Get a life. I dont think there is a football team in the WORLD that wouldn't like Cesc Fabregas in the middle of the park, the fact that we dont have a comparable player simply puts us in the same bracket as 99.99% of teams. If we lose to Liverpool we still mustn't lose faith, although Liverpool gaining 3 pts rather than us dropping 3 would be more damaging, its kinda a 6 pointer. We are having an amazing season thus far. |
Damian
said:
|
... PMR i run it becasue actually you get a very broad range of opinion but just to respond to your: We have more pts at this stage of the season than I can ever remember - it isn't actually about points - it is about position but last season at this stage we had exactly the same amount of points but we are one place higher this season however. the only way to be doing 'as good as last season' in terms of points and position, going into the new year would be for us to beat liverpool tomorrow night. if we do not beat liverpool tomorrow night then we will quite possibly be in a worse position that last season (if spurs win) and we will definitely have less points than this time last season my point is that everyone says this is the best opportunity, becasue the top four are losing more points, but we actually, haven't moved on from last season and in fact, the best we can hope for at the turn of the year is to be exactly the same that is the reality. forget about hope and optimism. these are the facts and the real world. i hope it turns out different and believe there is a chance it will but there is more of a chance that we won't |
fatkevs
said:
|
... It is because of the way we play that i & many others get pissed off. We have spent a lot of money yet cannot pass the ball around like say fulham if we get in front it is all backs to the wall Our style of football will not win in the long run yes we will pick up points but i cannot be proud of being spoilers |
fatkevs
said:
|
... ViVa you have to be all flowers & butterflys to keep Robbo happy. It is unthinkable to think we had too much Xmas pudding in there bellys & ran out of steam. Arsenal are the type of team we could catch out on the break but we did not want it enough |
david
said:
|
... Damian, The points and the position don't tell the whole story though do they? If you ran a poll on here asking whether the squad and performances are better than last year I'd expect the majority to say that they are, even in the wake of defeat. I think even you have seen glimpses of more promising play recently. The key is of course how we do in the second half of the season but at this point I don't agree that we actually, haven't moved on from last season |
FatKevs
said:
|
... We have not had an amazing season, perhaps a better season as we are still in a cup competition. The football has not improved, our defense is again on par when we had ML The SCUM have had an amazing season Will MoN win a game in March I live in fear of another 9 game run withouth a win because we can never dictate/control a game just hoping for that lucky break |
Damian
said:
|
... r0bb0 if you read the original post you'll see that i'm not that bothered by yesterday. yes i am bothered that we lost but even before the match i was sort of preparing for it, as you can read here: http://www.thevillablog.co.uk/...y-of-2009/ however, if i were to run that poll, i could tell you the response now - because we have had four or five games where the football has looked better. however, if we lose tomorrow night and drop points at wigan and i run the poll again, it will be completely different but it is so easy to forget that all we are actually seeing is exactly what we saw last season in glimpses and all i am doing by putting up points and position at this stage last season is trying to keep peoples expectations in check. we are on target for doing exactly what we did last season - nothing more nothing less okay - it might be different and we might do better but you only have to go back to spurs at villa park at the end of november to see how things can change from embarrassing to decent to quite shocking again to see that things can change quickly however, you can take just a few words from what i've written and take it out of context (i was referring to points and position, not football) today, because fundamentally it doesn't matter until the end of the season. it isn't about how we play football or how many players we have in the squad, although those two things are important (the quality of football i'd say is very important) - it is actually about where we finish in the table and we won't know that until may and if we are 5th or higher, i will be happy as we will have moved on - but we just hae to wait and see |
keith
said:
 |
... r0bb0 i have said all along that we will finish top 4 but i disagree with your statement. i think we played much better to this point last season but i feel more confident with our defense this year even with the odd injury OR 2. fatkev so you would rather be a wba and get relegated trying to play attractive football |
FatKevs
said:
|
... Have Fulham been relegated why choose the worst case. Yes I would prefer to play attractive football not throw away our chances in europe for a game against stoke. Arsenal set the template for me its a shame they lack English players |
david
said:
|
... Damian, I'm totally with you in keeping expectations in check and also agree that it could still go wrong. Maybe it's my natural optimism that thinks it will be different this time round though. Our back up players are better this year but the key will be how these players fit in when called upon. The Peace cup was only a friendly competition, but the squad players did gel and hopefully this will happen when it really matters. keith, our defence IS a key part of our team though and a large part of the reason I think we're playing better this year. In recent weeks the midfield has shown signs of being capable of really good football that is also better than last year...in my opinion. |
keith
said:
|
... r0bb0 spot on. we are capable of being a lot better than last year. but for me the exciting thing is we have not played as well as last year YET but are still in a good position because we have a far better defense |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
... It's neither flowers & butterflies, nor doom and gloom. Yesterday was a bit of a reality check, and then again, not many expect us to implode like we did last year. People get a bit frustrated when we lose, and this is natural. It's because most can see that we are close; very close, but not quite there yet. |
keith
said:
|
... pancho it is flowers and butterflies unless someone moved the goalposts and expect us to win the league. our target is to break the top 4 and we are on course for that |
Damian
said:
|
... r0bb0 i hope it gets better and for me, january is a very important month - not just in terms of the matches, but who we bring in. i think we need one more player and a player to make the other players believe it is possible if we bring in a real quality player - known by all and it makes people sit up and take notice. i think, if said player makes the impact that we all hope he can, it will propel us to the top four. the thing is, that type of player is going to cost money and is going to take balls and ambition. real balls and real ambition |
keith
said:
|
... damian which quality player will have the balls and ambition to join villa and CHANCE a cl spot |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
...keithj said: It's not that straight forward. We were on course for top four last season. But neither is it doom & gloom either. if we bring in a real quality player - known by all and it makes people sit up and take notice. i think, if said player makes the impact that we all hope he can, it will propel us to the top four. the thing is, that type of player is going to cost money and is going to take balls and ambition. real balls and real ambitionI can't help but think you're right. And that's not to say we won't achieve top 4 without such a player. I think this blog is in a state of psychosis actually. Come on West Ham Come on Wolves. And come on the Villa tomorrow. |
frem
said:
 |
... just reading what O'neill said about by the end of January it will be clear to see who has a better chance getting top four. He mentiones about city and spurs surley adding in january. I was thinking he might say something about the transfer as i got further through. But he did not say anything, not a hint about villa even keen on trying to add. Now I really think that there will be no new players and at the end of the season we will look back and say that if we brought in January we would of done this and that. WE NEED A STRIKER. On super supliment and another show i watched they all said villa should buy in January. Even petrov said adding to the squad will help villa. |
david
said:
|
... Damian, I'm not convinced we need a marque signing, but I do see your point. It's the lift it could give to the side's confidence that may make a difference. Having said that, I imagine that MoN manages to lift whatever players he has around him. It's probably more about the lift that it would give to Villa supporters and other followers of the game....hey, you never know, it may even make us the most talked about team on MoTD! |
oldvillan
said:
 |
... arsenal as we all know are the best passing side in the prem so we were always going to be chasing the ball,they trained more than us over xmas and it showed they were quicker out of the blocks and we never realy got into the game enough to trouble them.i think we are always better when we are playing lots of games and never look sharp after a break. |
keith
said:
|
... r0bb0 give side confidence...........possible lift fans and players..........maybe talked about on motd........... priceless |
david
said:
|
... So with Ash out, how should the team be changed tomorrow? I'd go for a straight swap with Albrighton but that's without the benefit of knowing how he's been doing in training recently. |
Mark
said:
 |
... Wenger has had many years assembling a team which represents the style of football which he, and football supporters should be proud of. It took a sublime free kick to undo us, and we never really recovered. We were rank outsiders, the ref appeared bias, away from home against arguably the best footballing side in Europe. We hit the panic button by trying to restore parity immediately after they'd scored. Before the goal, we looked fairly comfortable soaking up pressure, countering ourselves and allowing Arsenal to keep possession in midfield. I agree with a previous poster that maybe we should have reverted to 451, as Arsenal are clearly no slouches on the counter. We have played the big 4 in previous seasons and looked out of our depth. We have beaten 3 of them already, but were tactically naiive against a very accomplished Arsenal team. We belong in the top 4. I was not surprised we were beaten by Arsenal for the factors above. Not many teams will turn them over at the Emirates. I and the bookies will be surprised if we don't beat the Bin dippers tomorrow though. This will be a real test of our mettle. Come on Villa, show your bottle! |
frem
said:
|
... fridal Beye collins cullar warnock Gabi Petrov sidwell downing carew Heskwy Team to start on tuesday. |
frem
said:
|
... there will be no quality player. We will be disapointed at the end of January because we would of brought knowone or we will get a championship player that will make know differnce. Spurs and city ganrenteed they will buy and it will be quality. Spurs will get a top player or two and move on and we will get shit and go no were. Oneill is awfall in transfer windows. There will never ever be a top player coming to us because oneill does not spend the cash which is there from the storys i have herd. It is oneill that does not want to spend the cash. im not just saying all this because of the defeat, im saying it because i have always hated Oneill and i dont rate him as much as other people. He put are best creative player and goal threat at right back when we were a goal down. Oneill will not get a top player in January. We will be lucky if we get anyone. Robbie Keane is more avalible than he will ever be but Oneill does not see it or wont spend money on a very good goalscorer that we need. |
paul mclafferty
said:
 |
... we got beta by two bits of brilliance from a brilliant player other than that i could only see one result and that was 0-0. bring on the bin dippers tomorrow and we will beat this bag of shite and cement 4th for the new year... coyl |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
...we got beta by two bits of brilliance from a brilliant player other than that i could only see one result and that was 0-0.We didn't create any clear chances - sooner or later they were going to score, whether by act of brilliance, or by our getting tired and making a mistake. Let us truly hope we beat Liverpool tomorrow. We are 4th at the moment because they've had a catasrophic start to the season - and they're still only 5 points behind us. |
Lew Chatterley's Lover
said:
|
... Now would be a great time to add to the squad, the way Marlon is playing for Newcastle we could probably get 3 million, the same for Gardner (shame !), Salifou and Osbourne might net another million, and Shorey perhaps 2 to 3 million from Forest.I'd also cash in on Siwell as we have Reo and Delph as cover. There's 13 to 14 million to spend without really affecting the strength in depth to much. Ken Jones, Bellamy, or Keane - take yer pick. I'd also really like to piss The Scousers off if we beat them tomorrow with a bid for Gerard, pay back time don't you think ? |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... I'm over yesterday now. Some good points on here today. Contrary to some people's views, I actually think we're in a beeter position than last year. Seeing as we're pretty much on the same points as last season, it's all going to be down to what happens from now on. And there is no way I can see us having such a poor run as we did last season, which means we should amass more points than last season. We've only got Chelsea to play away now out of the sky 4, so that should be another plus. As robbo said, that we've played pretty poorly overall and are still thereabouts is a sign for encouragement to me. It'd just be really nice to get the points tomorrow and go on another decent run. |
Greg Hill
said:
 |
... Fatkev It is because of the way we play that i & many others get pissed off. Yep and triple yep. I went yesterday. We were played off the park - again. As we were when we beat Liverpool, Chelsea, Man Utd and Man City. It might be that a lot of you only watch these game on TV. I saw 4 of these matches and without luck we would have lost all of them. And luck will change. For the 57th time: we need to hold on to the ball; and we need find more creativity in (central) midfield OR play more midfield players (and not just pulling strikers back MON!). With NRC or Sidwell in midfield yesterday and just Gabs up front we would have done much, much better. Once again steamrollered not just by class in the centre but also by sheer volume. Another game with effectively 10 men and a hole in the middle. I love MON but you have to smile. |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... I agree Damian if we were to sign a player like JPA it would show real intent but our board do not want the pressure of CL as they did not want the extra load of the europa We need a board that works every day for Aston Villa to compete with the Arabs etc |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... It used to be the last 20mins of the game that concerned me, it now appears to be the whole second half. It we continue to play this way Mon Must use his subs earlier |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... Greg I agree our midfield is not good enough to have only 2 & the swapping of Ashley gimmick is just that, the Statisticians may be able to confirm he delivered more often from the Left I think Gabby has lost his pace so that is of concern he has added to his game but lost his best asset. Heskey in fairness has looked better but our game is to catch teams out & I do not think Gabby has the Footballing brain to work off his flicks etc I still think the Moscow decision & the signing of Heskey Showed our real intent so bearing that in mind everything is rosey |
david
said:
|
... Fatkev, I agree with you about using subs more frequently and earlier in games in order to minimise the risk of burn out and to improve the chances of the squad players quickly fitting in when called on. What on earth is the point of the comment about the board not wanting CL football though? |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...We need a board that works every day for Aston Villa to compete with the Arabs etc I assume you're talking about the arabs that have taken over Man City? If so, even Abramovich can't compete with them, so we've got no chance. Iirc, they're worth £47 billion! |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... Badger if you do not have an open cheque book you have to work that bit harder looking for investment opportunities (that does not mean kicking fans out of there seats to make a few K) we need to have scouting system that will open up MoNs eyes to possibilities not just paying £8m for 3rd div players or crocked players. I hope Delph comes good but I hoped our own youth would do that aswel |
Car Frost
said:
 |
... I knew the blog would cheer me up  That was the first game I've seen this season where the opposition wanted it more than us, game us no space or time which is normally our trick & fair play to them. In a strange way I was glad to see the 3rd go in.. we now have a point to prove against Liverpool and just maybe a draw would of been a worse result in the bigger picture. Delph - I still think he's got something special hidden away... MON didn't just hear about him and buy blind at that price, he looked hungry yesterday & I hope he starts eating soon. |
Sasa
said:
 |
... I went yesterday. We were played off the park - again. As we were when we beat Liverpool, Chelsea, Man Utd and Man City. It might be that a lot of you only watch these game on TV. I saw 4 of these matches and without luck we would have lost all of them. And luck will change. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Spot on Greg. To beat the top 4, they have to have an off day and we need to be at the top of our game. I'm enjoying the ride but I know our style of play probably means we fall short. I've come to terms with MON's style, but if you don't keep the ball it results in pressure and against the top 4 it just means a lot more pressure. |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... I hope Franko has some good luck he was such a great footballer. WH Fans scum & deserve FA oh hes just had it |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... I agree frosty Delph has promise & hunger but so does some of our own youth with limited funds i would have preferred the £20m + wages for real talent at the start of the season |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... Martin O'Neill bottled it, Fabregas gave him what he deserved By Myles Palmer sadly worth a read on news now sums my feelings up |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... MON Talks up Liverpool chances I Agree CL is off our radar. We Must concentrate on the cups we must do the impossible over Blackburn & win them all |
scott harwood
said:
|
... ffs guys its only 1 game.lets look at arsenal at home 4 against pompey,3 against celtic,4 against wigan,6 against blackburn,3 against the shit,3 against spurs.arsenal can do that 2 anyone.for the first half we did live them,we closed down well and we broke quickly.without any real chances at either end,apart from eduardo,it was a real end to end game.i think we tired quickly though and they passed us off the park in the 2nd half.even without cesc i think they wouldve nicked it. i agree about making subs earlier but its not mons style so we have to get used to it.id love 2 see a 451 tuesday with delph and reo coming in to protect him with heskey making way.delph looked sharp yesterday he came deep fort the ball and was always looking for a pass.the trouble is that late in the game everyones f*cked,especially after chasing an awesome pass and move team like arsenal.i think hes got the vision to cause problems as long as hes got some protection.its not gonna happen though,expect sidders to come in in a 442. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...I agree frosty Delph has promise & hunger but so does some of our own youth with limited funds i would have preferred the £20m + wages for real talent at the start of the season Are you including Downing in that £20 mill? And if so, do you think he has no talent? |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Just read that article you referred to, Fatkevs. And Arsenal played their best second half of this season. I really think some of us underestimate how well arse played. |
keith
said:
|
... badger it was a lesson for us, but i would prefer us to get these types of lessons in the prem than wining every week as we did in the old 3rd division. personally i would like arse to win the prem as i think they play the best fotball |
heskeyshead
said:
 |
... team for tuesday -----------------Friedel----------------- L Young----Collins-------Cuellar-----Warnock Milner-----Sidwell-------Petrov------Downing ------------Carew----Agbonlahor---------- SUBS Guzan Beye Dunne Delph Reo-Coker Sidwell Heskey |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... I know what you mean Keithj. Agree about arse too. It's just a shame the team is so full of foreigners, much like their support. Not that I've got anything against foreigners of course, but it's nice to have so many English players in our side. If we ever do achieve CL, I guess that would probably have to change a bit. |
heskeyshead
said:
|
... lol, i thought there was a fair few midfielders on that bench. i think if we play 4-5-1 we are telling liverpool we want to contain them. i think 4-4-2 is the most adaptive for this game. liverpool wont control the possession as well as arsenal so we should have more chances to get on the ball. you must remember that arsenal dominated possession against chelsea. they lost. tottenham matched arsenal for possession and movement. they lost. there is no shame losing to arsenal. the result or scoreline was not disappointing, the disappointment will come from a poor performance against liverpool. all we can ask is they get out there and try their hardest. what else can you ask? |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
 |
... I think the common consensus on here is that we lack that link player to make us genuine contenders. Think is, if we can see it, and Arsenal fans can see it, then im sure Martin must see it. Hopefully then, Martins recent comments about not going out and doing something in January is just smoke and mirrors. OK, January is never easy in getting the right quality, but it seems now to be an essential if we are to keep up the momentum. If we cant do it, then we must find the answer from within, and i think that answer is to move Ashley Young inside instead of Heskey. Not knocking Heskey, but its creativity thats needed, and Ashley is proberly the most natural footballer we have at the club. I think he would be massive in that role.... |
Damian
said:
|
... Okay - so we are down to fifth. Mathematically, if Man City win by not such a large number, we could also be sixth today ... or, we could even move to sixth tomorrow. Three points is very important tomorrow.... |
mjasghar
said:
 |
... heh cheer up lads and lassies go on the chavski boards and have a laugh! Those who wanted Joe Cole for the Villa where are you now ? |
Paul Theiss
said:
|
... Yesterday, we got beat by a world-class player having a simply world-class day. I'm not going to get too bothered by it. We didn't play badly, and I actually felt that we looked likely to score until Milner coughed up the ball that led to Arsenal's second. As for Keane, why does everyone still want him? He hasn't been good for two seasons. I've been rather happy with Heskey for the last month. He has played well, and we've looked strong with him in the lineup. I love the way he links up and drops into the midfield--he already is the link up player that everyone seems to think we need. I hope that he starts tomorrow. I would also like to see Delph start tomorrow (though we'll probably see Reo-Coker). MON made the right call bringing him on yesterday; we needed his composure and ability in the middle of the park. Sure, because of Milner's blunder, it didn't work out. But Delph looked very, very composed to me. He is brilliant with the ball in tight spaces. |
Paul Theiss
said:
|
... Great line by MON: [A]ny side can go to Arsenal and get beaten, so I wouldn't start to think the result was a major shock all over Europe. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
... Pancho Villan's Points Gap Table – 28/12/09 Pts – Team – (Played) 45 Chelsea(20 ) 44 43 42 41 40 Man Utd(19 ) 39 38 Arsenal(18 ) 37 Spurs(20 ) 36 35 Villa(19 ) 34 33 32 Man City(18 ), Birmingham(20 ) 31 30 Liverpool(19 ) 29 28 27 Fulham(19 ) 26 25 24 23 Sunderland(20 ) 22 Everton(19) 21 Stoke(19 ), Blackburn(20 ) 20 Burnley(20 ) 19 Wolves(19 ) , Wigan(18 ) 18 West Ham(20 ) 17 Hull(19 ) , Bolton(17 ) 16 15 14 Portsmouth(19 ) |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... Depressingly we're only 3 points ahead of Blues now. Very nervous about tomorrow's game now. More worried than I was for the Arsenal game. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
... vivavilla: It goes both ways. Win and we're flying Lose, and we're dying |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... I do not think delph or downing are bad players far from it but we should of bought in a player or real quality for Day 1 of the season. Vital it would be great to do the pool |
Paul Theiss
said:
|
... vivavilla: Fear not. Liverpool's fans are as worried about the game as you are. |
Daniel Wilson
said:
|
... Liverpool don't play like Arsenal. If Arsenal played like they did yesterday 38 matches a season they would be the first to finnish with a points tally equaling 114. The pool have got where they are due to having massive balls, guts and determination, plus ofcourse the odd superstar here and there. They don't have the balls anymore, infact i'd have a guess that Milners right ball is bigger than the whole Liverpool teams pairs combined. Even if we lost tomorrow it still wouldn't be the end of the world, so lets get behind the team. As Rob Schneider would undoubtedly say - 'YOU CAN DO IT!' |
david
said:
|
... vivavilla...the half empty glasses say that we're only 3 points ahead of Birmingham. The half full glasses say that over the past 6 games we've gained the third most points in the premiership, and if we were to win tomorrow we'd have done better than b]anyother team over the last 6 games. Strange that it doesn't feel like that on here today eh?[ |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...i'd have a guess that Milners right ball is bigger than the whole Liverpool teams pairs combined. Like it Dan I do not think delph or downing are bad players far from it but we should of bought in a player or real quality for Day 1 of the season. Kevs, I reckon MON just thinks it's too much of a risk to spend that money on one player. What if he were to get injured? You're moaning about Downing being a waste of money having missed what, 3 month and a half months? You'd be one of the first to moan if we spent £20 mill on a player, only for him to be crocked for the season. You can't have it both ways. But maybe you're right and we could have done what the arabs have done and bought that defence, which is utter tripe. Remind me what it cost again? We bought Warnock, Dunne and Collins for not much more than we got for Barry. If that wasn't a masterstroke, then I've never seen one. Whilst I too feel that a marquee signing would be nice to show some intent, I'll trust MON's judgement, if we don't get one. I feel you do him a major disservice sometimes. Well most of the time actually. |
VDV
said:
 |
... Oneill wants Adien Mgeady for 8mil in Jan. I hope Keane is on his wish list and diamanti from west ham would sort out are issue in midfield. |
scott harwood
said:
|
... badger agree about the defence.even though we just conceded i think weve got the best in the league along with chelski plus we can afford to lose 1 cb and still have the best lads just remember the start of the season with the wigan and europe debacle.we played shit football,we looked shit at the back and we couldnt string 2 passes together.now we actually look good to watch.the defence is awesome,milners found his real position,heskey is trying! and downing was worth the wait.lets get behind the lads and give liverfool a good hiding 2morrow!!! |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... r0bb0 Yes, it is strange. I guess it's become a sign of the times that Villa fans have very high expectations at the moment. |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
|
...Yes, it is strange. I guess it's become a sign of the times that Villa fans have very high expectations at the moment. We ARE a big club, and with that does come high expectations. Without them, we would still be in the Third Division |
david
said:
|
... vivavilla....you're spot on there. I suppose it's not a bad thing...provided...the fans don't get downhearted when things don't go our way and we still get right behind the team when it matters. |
Car Frost
said:
|
... Andy Townsend seems to agree with the majority of us... Times are looking up and there is a Carling Cup semi-final to come, but they're not ready to muscle into the Champions League yet. They need more match-winners first Adien Mgeady - lazy journalism imo .. you can ask him questions here ... http://www.aidenmcgeadyofficialwebsite.com/ |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... Bagdger I agree after already spending milions on our defence we got it right in the end. I still think we did not need downing. As someone said defences tin you titles Strikers win you games. We desperately need a striker up for it every week, i would like a midfield but that aint MONs Game. By the Way, hopefully this is not Downing at his best, we are having to carry him till he is match fit, so its not just 3.5 months we are halfway through the season. Oh just to have a couple of targets for Ashley & James/Downing to aim for. If you do not have shots on you do not score |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... It would be great to get to wembley in the Carling Lets not get above our stature like last season & throw it all away. If we do make it i hope MoN does not do a Gregory he surrendered in Moscow not again please |
bob avfc
said:
 |
... Fat Kev - Get a grip on f**king reality mater - If MON football is so negative then why have we acheived so much against the top 4 clubs You have no passion and should put your brain in to gear before making such a glib statement as that What team would want to play us after that result yesterday when for 2 thirds of the game we were the equal to the Arse the red scouse will get the backlash for this |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... One thing I remember thinking yesterday was "why didn't we push up?" when we'd cleared the ball on one occasion. I might have said it on the match thread, I don't know. Anyway, it got me thinking about how many times we'd caught the opposition offside this season. Of the 19 games we've had up to now I've got the stats for 17 of them (couldn't find both Manc stats). It's 23 offsides in 17 games. Now I'm not one for stats really, but that strikes me as really low and says to me that maybe we defend too deep, too often, which is why we always seem to be under the cosh so much. Maybe now, given our steadier defence, we need to start pushing up more? Or is this really how we need to play to maximise what we have? Sorry if I'm stating the bleeding obvious, in which case just look at it as a possible talking point |
scott harwood
said:
|
... good point badger.i bet if u researched even further id say the average of any epl striker being caught offside is 2/3 times per game without othe teammates.thats seems really low,u might have hit upon something there.u could call it siege mentality we havnt been under the cosh that much surely |
BOOZY
said:
|
... can we goonerz have reo-coker while u r at each others throats? AS FOR THE DELUSIONAL VILLAIN NAMED BEH WITH HIS POST - 'We`re a work in progress, not pretty at times but we`ve already had a taste of how effective mon can be, arsenal can`t get much better, we can and we will. Arsenal cant get much better- sorry to break it to you- the guy who absolutely destroyed you yesterday is just 23 nasri 22, song 22, denilson 21, walcott 20, vermalean 23, eduardo 25, diaby 22, traore 21. I shouldnt even start with some absolutely insane players we have in our reserve set-up. YOU BETTER TAKE THAT STATEMENT BACK |
david
said:
|
... Badger, I don't know how many offsides you'd expect to see in a game but 23 in 17 games does feel low. When other teams defend a high line against us I always feel we'll score because of our pace up front. Our central defenders have done a fantastic job but aren't necessarily the quickest so maybe we need to defend quite deep. As long as it's working for us I'm happy to see us carry on that way. Presumably it also makes the rest of the pitch bigger which helps our nippy midfield and forward line? |
david
said:
|
... Boozy..the trouble is, you won't see the best years of these players as they'll be off to other clubs that pay higher wages. It's the Arsenal way. |
pete
said:
|
... i think we play deep . so we can stretch the opposition. pull them up into are half and play the long ball over the top. or for heskey or carew to knock down for the runners by doing this it leaves them exposed at the back ( in theory)IMO |
scott harwood
said:
|
... boozy who keeps mentioning kids every season without winning owt.can you please tell me how old these kids are gonna be when they actually peak so i can put some bets on |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...Badger, I don't know how many offsides you'd expect to see in a game but 23 in 17 games does feel low. I've never really analysed it before, but off the top of my head, I'd expect 3/4 a game. JPA used to double that on his own some games, which used to really piss me off (does that make him crap?). Boozy..the trouble is, you won't see the best years of these players as they'll be off to other clubs that pay higher wages. It's the Arsenal way. That's a great reply and made me laugh, but you would have to question some of our players if we do reach the ultimate shop window that is the CL. |
pete
said:
|
... I bumped into a man crying in the street the other day he sais he hates this time of year putting on a ridiculous red outfit and embarrasing himself in front of thousands of people. i said Mr Gerrard you choose to play for Liverpool. |
david
said:
|
... Badger, I'd like to think that a lot of our players would show loyalty to the manager and club if he takes them to the Champion's League. Having said that, you'd have hoped that Barry would have wanted to return some of the favours that he owed to MoN but history tells us otherwise. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...i bet if u researched even further id say the average of any epl striker being caught offside is 2/3 times per game without othe teammates.thats seems really low I'd go along with that and that's per striker. Bob playin so deep, leaving no one up for corners is negative to me i am afraid So we don't put anyone up for corners? How has Dunne scored then? How did the mighty ML get so many goals? Can I have some of that Bob you must be smoking? i said Mr Gerrard you choose to play for Liverpool. Nice one VB does anyone else think Gabby has lost half a yard or 2 I think you might have got something right for once |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... Do one Boozy. If you were so confident you'd be posting on your own blogs instead of coming over to a Villa one, where you obviously feel threatened enough to engage in petty arguments. And for the record... Diaby, Song, Traore and Denilson are bang average, Theo Walcott is nothing more than a new age Kieron Dyer, and you'll be playing kids and still winning nothing until Wenger quits anyway. Have fun. |
Stan Balaban
said:
 |
... I'm intrigued what MON will do in terms of changing the team around for tomorrow. I think we should keep Milner in his central role at all costs, not just simply move him out to the right. In fact I'd rather see Gabby on the wing playing both Carew and Heskey up front than move Milner away from the middle. |
beh
said:
|
... Boozy - can`t get much better than you played yesterday !! Although i can understand you being touchy, another few trophy-less seasons and you`ll be throwing yourselves out of the executive boxes in blind despair. When glenn hoddle found god, wenger was heard muttering: zis is ze type of pass we want here also. I bet the god botherer is having a quiet chuckle to himself now. Take that statement back ? I will happily, when god stops recieving inch perfect passes and you actually win something !! |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... Sorry Badger for confusion i mean when we defend corners we pull gabby back 1 dink & he would be on a run |
keith
said:
|
... viva show some respect, we were given a lesson be big enough to accept it. take the piss next week when thet are on another blog |
BOOZY
said:
|
... VIVAVILLA- with the exception of michael essien and and Jon obi mikel who coincidentally play for the same club, can you honestly name a better holding midfielder in the EPL today than SIR ALEX SONG. And talking about winning things, you villains, should really knock your selves in the head, and ask why a team that spends less than 10 mil on transfers most transfer window, ends up ahead of the team that spends upwards of 30mil most season, and still has nothing to show for it. honestly if you guys want to make your money count this season y'all better swallow your pride and come take some our boys on loan- i bet Gabby could do with some carlos vela, playing along side him,right now, than that lazy notasingleskill striker - heskey.. |
BOOZY
said:
|
... A team spends below 15 mil a season on players, and still manages to finish ahead of tothms, man city, and offcourse villa who spend tens of millions on new recruit and are still scrapping for top 4 spots.I can see why y'all expect us to win trophies - CUZ WE ARE THE ARSENAL |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... BOOZY why bother we know you have a great stadium & manager play lovely football but oh yes you have not won a major European cup |
Eamon McElwee
said:
 |
... lets not get too downbeat lads, we have chance to drive another nail in l'pool's champions league coffin at VP 2mro...so we got beat by Arsenal, our first loss to a top 10 team this season, we have a league cup semi final and blackburn in the fa cup comin up...if we had to lose sumwher along the way id happily lose the arsenal game and beat lpool, blackburn in the more important games - |
Eamon McElwee
said:
|
... Boozy - didnt see you on here last year mate after we tanked you's...sing when your winning mate, classy...difference is my friend we'll be singing louder come May when we finish the season in 4th with a cup thrown in...oh yeah btw how many European Cups??? count 'em ya creep |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...can you honestly name a better holding midfielder in the EPL today than SIR ALEX SONG. I have to hold my hands up here and say I thought he was immense for them. But the dirty bastard should have been sent off. He made so many niggly tackles it was embarrassing, but got away with it. Petrov made a couple similar and got booked. This is where I think Dowd was a disgrace. In contrast, Delph got booked for trapping off? (I went for a piss then,I think.) I can live with that, as I hate dissent. I'd send players off for trap, myself. All that said, it took their best second half display this season to beat us. I'm not in the slighest bit downhearted. If we lose to pool though, it will be a different story because imo they are crap. I know they're going to be up there at the end of the season etc (yawn), but what chance they beat us and go on a roll after losing to Pompey? An absolute must win, this one, imo. |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
|
...An absolute must win, this one, imo. I disagree. Although a win would be very welcome, i think its the games that follow that are far more important. Winning at places like Wigan will be the thing that makes all the difference at the end of the season. The top four are only 4 clubs that equate to eight games. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... Boozy Yeah, great example of spending there. An established top 4 team versus a team aspiring to get there? Of course we're going to spend more, not least of all because you don't have the money anyway. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... keithj Wake up mate, it's the Arsenal fan coming onto our blog calling our fans dellusional and spouting shit. It's not a question of accepting defeat or who the better team was, it's the principal. There have been a good few decent Arsenal fans who have come on here and been very pleasant, very realistic, and wish us the best. Then you get a dick like boozy running his mouth where it's doesn't belong and isn't necessary. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... Rios.Jockstrap Badger isn't saying it's a must win because it's just 3 more points, it's a test Villa need to pass. Liverpool are playing piss poor football at the moment. If Villa have made the progress we all expect them to have made, then we absolutely have to beat this team. At no other time do you get the opportunity to face a "big 4 " team who have fallen so far from grace. If we lose that game, it'll be a massive failure. I agree with Badger, it's a must win. |
BOOZY
said:
|
... What exactly is this world turning into - villa now see a game against LIVERPOOL as a must win game. SOMEBODY PLEASE PINCH ME. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...
Sums it up Viva |
BOOZY
said:
|
... all right guys, time to zoom off. accept my apologies if i got under some skins. that said if there is any team, we goonerz would like to see break the top 4. amongst TOTHOT SCUMS MANCHESTER SHITTY AND VILLA. I can tell you 100% of goonerz would chose, villa, so we aint actually enemies.. see ya'll at the end of the season |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
|
... I know what your saying Badger and Viva, but our progress can only be judged on what our final league placing is, and not on one game. Everybody seems to be beating everyone this season. Weve already beat Chelsea and Manure, aswell as the scouse so you could argue that those three results show our progress already? If we fail to win tomorrow, i wont be pressing the panic button just yet, since December was always going to be hard. The Arsenal performance showed signs of just how hard this month has been on the players. |
Stan Balaban
said:
|
... Harewood's back at Villa after 5 goals for Newcastle. Any place for him in the squad do you think, otherwise surely he would've been allowed to stay at the Toon? |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...it's a test Villa need to pass. Liverpool are playing piss poor football at the moment. If Villa have made the progress we all expect them to have made, then we absolutely have to beat this team. At no other time do you get the opportunity to face a "big 4 " team who have fallen so far from grace. If we lose that game, it'll be a massive failure. I thought that sounded familiar I've only just realised you've qoted me Viva We can do these, no problem. I hope |
Dan-Price
said:
 |
... Ok, so today we face Liverpool, and by that I mean one of the worlds best strikers in Fernando Torres and for me, with consistency and all round ability, the best player for the last 5 years, Steven Gerrard. Until our trip to london, we had the best defence in the league on paper and I would like to hope that was nothing more than a blip. I will put my utmost confidence in Dunne to to show Torres nothing more than the silky lining of a claret and blue pocket leaving the only other real threat of Gerrard. Now, whilst I was mourning the loss of our beloved Ashley Young through suspension I have come to realise that it may well be in fact a blessing in disguise. Without Young on the pitch we are almost certainly going to add a central midfielder into the mix and as long as that isn't Sidwell it may just work out. You see the most effective defence I have ever seen against Steven Gerrard was when Essien given one task and one task alone, do not let Gerrard get the ball. This in my opinion is the best way to limit his effectiveness, and whilst Nigel Reo-Coker is no Michael Essien I am sure he can do the job, after all he did it well enough to Ronaldo! If we can limit their attacking threats as I have mentioned I would hope our five man midfield would have enough desire to control the game releasing Carew and Agbonlahor who are far too strong and fast respectively for the likes of Jamie Carragher to deal with - On that note I fancy him to give away a penalty in a desperate last ditch man handling. I am no O'Neill but my team would be as follows possibly expecting or hoping that a midfielder would need to sub towards teh end of the game through sheer exhaustion! Friedel Young Dunne Cuellar Warnock Reo-coker Agbonlahor Petrov Downing Milner Carew Subs Sidwell Delph Collins Heskey Guzan |
John Clark
said:
 |
... I've not commented yet, as I couldn't see the match. Read through the thread, about what I'd expect. Personally, I thought we'd get a result. We didn't. But we're 3-1 vs. the Big4 so far this season. I'll take that. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
... The trouble is that on current form we should beat Liverpool. However, if Gerrard & Torres turn up and do a Fabregas, they could easily beat us too. As many have said above, we must stick the boot in while they're on the floor. If they win this match they will be back on their feet and I don't see us winning a nutting contest with the scousemen. UTV ! ! |
John Samuels
said:
 |
... 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 |
Astonmilan
said:
 |
... Lots of teams go to Arsenal and get beat, the scoreline looked harsh, Fabregas is a world class player who punishes the best teams in Europe, we had took 17 points from a possible 21 going into this game, we lost, and we can rectify it tonight against Liverpool at home with hard work and a positive approach. We dropped off last year because we had a bad defence, this year its different. UTV ...... lets not start all the doom and gloom ! |
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