Written by Damian Saturday, 06 February 2010 19:06
I know I will annoy people with what I am about to write, but the thing is, we needed the three points today. Not because we would be relegated if we didn´t get them, but because we can no longer pretend to be pretenders.
We are a long way off top four. Disagree with me by all means, but if we finish in the top four in the next ten years, I will be surprised.
But, I accept this. You might not and you have every right to disagree with me, but unless things change, we will not be a top four club and I am actually embarrassed putting that into a post and not because we won´t be a top four club, but because we now look at finishing in the top four as success.
I accept we will not finish top four and you know what, I don´t care about that at the moment. We have a League Cup final coming up and I didn´t think this season would be anything special when it started and deep down, nothing has happened to make me think any different.
It was summed up for me in the 87th minute when we had a throw in very deep into the Spurs half and the ball was headed towards Webcam and instead of crossing it in, he let the ball go out to waste time. Probably five minutes to go and we are wasting time at 0-0 - we didn´t want to win it.
The result today, some will say, was a good one and I´ll run with that for now, just to not rock the boat, but we were ultimately lucky. In the end, we were lucky not to lose and well, I suspect O´Neill is happy with a point but I am not. You might say I am asking too much, but I think we have to demand more otherwise we won´t get better.
But, the League Cup final comes soon and we have a really good opportunity in the FA Cup and some will see that as progress. I just want silverware for my club and if I am wrong, I apologise.
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Irish_villain
said:
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... how can you set your team out to play for a draw if you are aiming for a top four finish, you cant shoot if you dont attack, you cant attack with one player, and you certainly cant play wingers who wont take on the full back and get a cross in. the one time we did that carew tries a fancy flick! |
Irish_villain
said:
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... why are we surprised anyway! didnt O'Neill say this was a must not lose game? (basically we will play for a draw) |
Badger
said:
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... It was a better point for us than it was for them. Good defensive performance, but we didn't look to win it did we? I'll take that draw. |
Pancho Villan
said:
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... MON seems to work out his plan before the match starts, but then NEVER reacts to how the game pans out. What is the point of him standing on the touchline. He doesn't do anything other than kick his water bottle. |
villatx
said:
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... i disagree as well damian... although the defense was the ONLY positive from tonight, i do think we have the quality to push on towards the top 4 it certainly didnt show tonight, however tottenham didnt win this game either.... |
heskeyshead
said:
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... I'd give spurs credit, they pressed and made it very hard for us to play the ball in behind them! palacios had a great game and crouch was on top form, did everything but score! I think a point IS a good result as 8 teams have lost at WHL and we still have a game in hand and can go level with 4th! ok we looked negative and off the pace but give credit to spurs, they are a fantastic team! |
RVilla
said:
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... This makes 4 of the last 5 games we've failed to score in. No matter how well our defence is playing or how well organised we are, our lack of firepower means we will ultimately fall short in the race for 4th. Good to see another clean sheet however. |
Irish_villain
said:
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... yeah but spurs went for it from the off, they walked all over us when on the ball and not because they are so good, but because our tactics were plain for all to see: let them play we'll sit back and clear our lines and commit only three players forward for any attack, a point is not going to 'keep us in the race for fourth'. All it has done is allow liverpool to climb the table, and slow spurs down. |
Duff
said:
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... I agree that in the end we were lucky to get the draw. You can say it was a hard fought point but I have to admit to feeling very dissappointed seeing us wasting time and bringing Sidwell on trying to hang on rather than go for it, after all isn't the whole going for it side of our game what we are supposed to be about, counter attacking, fast, young and exciting, not hanging on at the death like a minnow playing a one off at Old Trafford. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but we still seem way short of what I think we all hoped was coming. |
Pancho Villan
said:
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... If we try to defend for 90mins at Wembley, hoping to score on the break or take it to penalties, then we will get taken apart. If the long wait for trophies is ever to be ended, we have to be prepared to go out try to win games against sides like Spuds. We seem to have a Bolton mentality - except that Coyle will no doubt have Bolton playing more attractive football than Villa before the season is out. |
Fatkevs
said:
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... Great post I could not agree with you more. Lets Fail Trying. Where is the passion we thought MoN had |
ShelfLife
said:
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... MON's game plan seems to comprise of two basic priciples - 10 men behind the ball and whenever the ball falls to one of said 10 men, punt it upfield for the poor lone basts*rd 'upfront' (by which I mean the one bloke who has actually dared to venture into the opposition's half) to chase. F*ck me, even Hull showed more adventure when they turned at out Lane. |
Badger
said:
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...a point is not going to 'keep us in the race for fourth' Rubbish imo. As said, we win our game in hand and we're equal with 4th. Just because we didn't win at the team who were 4th this morning, doesn't make this a bad result. A bad result would have been a loss. And give credit where it's due, Spuds played pretty well imo. We were lucky, but so what? I'm reasonably happy  |
DanWilson82
said:
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... That was hard viewing. Spurs front line with our defence would win the league. |
kevinspur
said:
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... Spurs should have won that game, they were denied a perfectly good penalty. But what can we expect from the wee Derry man but to come and park the bus out of fear. |
Ben
said:
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... My God, What a depressing negative and narrow outlook. You post way to often on here and every time its doom and gloom. Aston Villa are a better football team than they were last year, next year they will be better again. They are a class centre forward and a class full back away from a superb squad. "unless things change" - they do, they will and they are - for god's sake - a spectator should see more of the game, as the saying goes. Thats clearly not the case here. I bet you like pork in cider bake (belfast joke there) |
johndoyle
said:
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... its time to look for a new manager martin has run his course he will not play any other players other than his pets he had the chance to put the fonze on today when sicknote went off as usual what did he do put on big john who any one can see is not fit the team never look like scoreing we are unbalanced we need to play people in there right places when you look at this team and sombody tells you he has spent 150mill the spurs fans where right boring boring villa we need a change at the top rember we finised 6th for the last 2 years any where below is going backwards martin wake up and take a chance with some other players delph should have played today and the fonze you have got us a day out but top 4 you dont want to go for it this is the most negative manager we have ever had we scored at fulham who have not won in 6 we need to change your pets now |
Headologist
said:
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... "Unless things change...." We now have the core of a very good side, a number of whom are only 23/24 and won't peak for another 3 years. We have spent approximately £40m p.a. - what will MON buy with that if it's only 2/3 players when previously we have needed 4/5? In the run in, after Wednesday, we have only 2 top 7 seven teams in 13 matches, every chance. I don't think we are good enough for CL with the current squad but see para 2 and 3 above. Damien, in literary terms you are nowt but a miserabilist  |
Villain-from-Texas
said:
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... Damo, you're right, I do disagree with you. In fact, your negativity was predictable and has right pissed me off. Did we look like winning? No, we didn't. Did we have the quality going forward that Spurs had? No, we didn't. But we have the best defense in the league---bar none---and that's just as important as a great offense. We played for the draw, I don't dispute this. But the game was way more important for Spurs than it was for us. They have a tough, tough stretch of games at the end of this season, whereas we have the much easier finish after United. |
Irish_villain
said:
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... Yeah, but 3 points against the teams around us is going to make the difference. I find it very annoying to watch a team who can attack so well, sit back and hold out for a draw Badger. Its like being happy just sitting at the bottom of mount everest, but you really want to be at the top. I just feel like set ourselves out to get this result, which for me isnt good enough |
Damian
said:
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... optajoe 33 - Tottenham had 33 shots (including blocked) against Aston Villa, the second-most by a single team in a PL match this season. Frustrated. |
frem
said:
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... well how disappointing. we sat back for 93 mins. gabi was so lazy, milner was sloppy, and downing and young were way to quiet. if we had defoe in our team we would be flying. if only oneill had paid his wages. |
kevinspur
said:
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... I cannot believe that a bunch of spoilers should be dissapointed with the point they nicked. That's four points you have nicked of Spur's this season. We will await the FA Cup for revenge on the wee Derry man. |
Cookiemonsters
said:
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... I can't understand the negativity on this blog at times. Before you can win a game you need to understand how not to lose one. We have a squad of players that understand their roles, will run through brick walls for each other and given their age will only get better with time. While other clubs sell their souls and forget what tradition they ever had we should be proud that our team are giving everything for us, our owner upholds and honours our history and our manager understands what he can achieve with the resources at his disposal. I would rather do things 'the Villa way' than prostitute our famous club in the way that Man City, Chelsea and others atre happy to do. I know we are the the finest football club in the world - I dont need some overpaid yuppy p***k on Sky TV to tell me that! UTV |
whitey09
said:
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... the same spurs front line that aint scored a goal passed us this season ??????????????????? yeah there gud but not that gud! i watched defoe against leeds in the week & as much as i think he's the bollocks it took him nearly double figure shots on target 2 get he's hatrick,wat we need is sum1 who can av 1 shot & score cos thats the way we play unfortunatly,never the less im well happy wiv a point & another clean sheet,the points keep adding up & thats all that matters even if the performance was rank,so keep the faith were doing ok utv |
bradz
said:
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... I lived abroad for 21 years and when I told my mate Villa had one the Coca Cola cup he laughed in my face...its not the FA cup, its not the Premier and its not a european title!! get real Villa fans, MON is doing a good job but it doesnt half smell like hes trying to do a Doug Ellis! He thinks we dont have a problem in front of goal...if we a top four team then we certainly do, and especially against those kind of teams can you tell that we need a more creative strikeforce...come on O'Neill wtf is going on!!! |
McParland
said:
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... An instinctive striker is urgently required after watching that game, that said i am very happy with taking a point and i imagine certainly more happier than many spurs fans. |
Badger
said:
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...I find it very annoying to watch a team who can attack so well, sit back and hold out for a draw Badger. I'll guarantee you'd have been more annoyed if we'd gone for it, been caught out and then lost the game. We'd have been 4 points behind them, whereas we're only 2 points behind with a game in hand. Either way you slice it this is a better result for us than them. We have the easiest run in of all and today's result will not cost us top 4, just no way. |
Notforthefirsttime
said:
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... Heskey going off was a real game-changer today, hope it's not serious. I don't know what's happened to Carew but he doesn't seem up for it these days. Today was a good result. After the Man Utd game there's a real 5 game winnable streak up for grabs. If we get the majority of those we could well be sitting in the top 4 when we go to Chelsea. That's the real test. Not to mention we've got a Carling Cup final to contest. |
Irish_villain
said:
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... if we had of been caught on the break, like we could have done to them, then i wouldnt be able to fault the team for having a go, therefore I wouldnt be annoyed at all, id be a bit sickened, but wouldnt complain about our desire to win the game |
Fatkevs
said:
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... If we were fighting relegation or needed a point to secure the title i could live with suggestions that a single point was the most important thing about todays game. Instead all it confirmed today was out total lack of any ambition to be a "BIG CLUB" Good to see Doug there today i wonder if our new owner even knows or cares about the result |
Kiwivillan
said:
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... We don't lack firepower. We bypass the central midfield because our captain and MON's pet does absolutely shag all except pass backwards and to the opposition |
Ian J
said:
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... Headologist......spot on!! How negative can you all be. We have a game in hand, are fighting for fourth, going to wembley, maybe even twice and have played most of the better teams twice. Please for god sake cheer up, we ain't that bad, in fact we are quite good!!!! |
johndoyle
said:
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... now i have calmed down after that performance the back 4 and keeper played the rest did not turn up if martin is not to blame then we need new coaches who can teach the team to hold onto the ball we play pub football kick it up the pitch and hope someone is there martin you need to go to specsavers quick |
mdubz
said:
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... if we win our game in hand on liverpool n spurs we got 5th and are only out of the top four on goal difference, draw at white hart lane, good result, get behind the team rather than against them |
whitey09
said:
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... picking up points from our nearest rivals away from home-that aint gona stop us progressing 2 the top 4,its the silly games @home against the likes of west ham,portsmouth & the like that will cost us yet we seem 2 of overcome that hurdle by beating those kind of teams this yr,yes i know west ham wasent but weve done wat weve had 2 do against these so-called poorer teams,even away from home weve been picking up points we really didnt expect at the start of the season ie red scouse & red manc and dare i say it fulham where weve only won once in nearly 20 yrs or sumat aint it.so yes we didnt play well but gud teams dont lose wen playing crap they keep it 2getha and imo thats wat weve done.me personally i think theres far 2 many people on here who think were 2 gud not 2 win every game & thats just pathetic,and b4 any1 rapes me im 1 of those who wants improvement yr in yr out & wont accept any thing less but im a realist & if any1 wud of given me a weekend @wembley an away win @anfield & ot neva mind still b 6/7 as we are i wud of snapped there hands off or pissed meself laughing,so lets all take a big breath & relax otherwise i'll unleash chiefy & stella on ya lol utv |
Damian
said:
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... i have no dounbt some will disagree and think i am too depressing but at the end of the day, today, we are 7th and the football doesn´t really look any different than it has for years other than we work harder we dont pass any better we dont create space any better we dont control a game any better we still play 50/50 balls too often there are so many ways our game hasn´t developed but it doesn´t matter - we are in the league cup final i will take that now. i am happy for that now. i accept that the odd cup final and the odd bit of silverware every now and then is the best we can hope for i accept that and for those that think we can get into the top four - i am happy for you .. i would love to believe that. i juust dont |
whitey09
said:
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... irish villain- so wud u prefer 2 b 5points behind the spuds instead of 2?and we still got our game in hand! |
whitey09
said:
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... damien i dont agree wiv everythink uve sed but dont u think the players shud take more responsibility 4 wat happens on the pitch,especially petrov who is captain?if the players can see that things arent happening shudnt they grow a pair & step up 2 the plate? |
Badger
said:
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...we dont pass any better Our game is way better than it was earlier in the season. We're nowhere near as bad as you make out. Have a look at this; http://www.skysports.com/footb...95,00.html Both sides were intent on attacking The difference being Spuds played bloody well and stopped us. |
Badger
said:
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... Interesting comment about us being a supposed long ball side too; It was perhaps just as well that Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager, had rubbished the recent suggestion of his Arsenal counterpart, Arsène Wenger, that Villa play a long-ball game. There was no doubt which side employed that tactic with more regularity here, such was the regularity with which the home side launched the ball from their own half towards Peter Crouch. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/06/tottenham-aston-villa-premier-league |
OssiesDream
said:
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... Spurs fan just got back from the game... I have to say that that was the most negative performance from an away side at WHL I've seen all season. Very frustrating to watch, and it's obvious that they are sternly drilled to not take any chances whatsoever. I was more than happy with Spurs performance, and as such I think it's a far better point for Villa. But I was expecting more though, I admire Villas attacking players Young, Agbonlahor etc, but as it was they were mostly back in the Villa half hassling and making blocks etc with everyone else. Also glad we didn't get Downing! TBH I don't think either side will make top 4, it will probably be Liverpool (yawn), then Citeh in 5th. Boring, but probably true. |
Badger
said:
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...Hey if we are lucky we might draw our game in hand too Typical response from you. Did you ever express your being happy at us getting to the cup final? I've never once heard you say a single positive thing about the Villa. Why? and man city might draw there 2 games in hand also Indeed. And they might even lose them, like they lost to a team they should have beaten today. You never know and there's still plenty to play for, imo. |
Fatkevs
said:
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... I do not care about MCity or the other 4th spot pretenders. We are not in that league We cannot find funds or the pull to get in top players for that spot with our negative manger & partime board. I am just hoping they do not spoil our trip to Wembley but i guess they are already planning a draw & penalty shoot out (perhaps i would take that how sad) |
Nanwasafan
said:
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... A strange experience for me today... I watched the game with my Liverpool supporting brother. He was shocked at my downbeat response to the draw, which he saw as an excellent result at Spurs. I, personally, was shocked by my own comments about MON's lack of subs. My brother's response? 'So are you one of these Villa fans that thinks MON has got you as far as he can?' Scary stuff. One thing we were both agreed on was that something is still missing in the decision making process in midfield. Maybe I'd had too many Stellas but I found myself agrreing that even Lucas would add some control to our middle. However, great point - surely? |
Vainn
said:
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... Big Brad for MotM Not a deserved point tonight but if results is all that matters, then we can be slightly happy. We need to see more of The Fonz, and maybe a couple others too. We're talkin of a 'big' squad this year but its still not used enough. |
Fatkevs
said:
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... Hey Badger My Wembley Ticket is in the post though, that is the joy of following your team. I have given up on the away games this season because of the Yanks new rules All i want is for the lads playing in Claret Blue to be given a chance to play the game & for the Board to work for the club |
Stan Balaban
said:
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... For all the negativity, doom and gloom we still got a point against one of our closest rivals, and we're 2 points off forth with a game in hand. And for all their supposed attacking intent, Spuds had 5 shots on target and we had 4! |
Stan Balaban
said:
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... Anyone know how badly injured Heskey is? If he's not fit for Man U would you rather Carew being on, the untried Fonz / Gabby partnership, or bring Delph into a 5 man midfield? |
McParland
said:
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... Having just spent half an hour on vital spursi can hardly stop lauging at what the spurs fans are posting, Arry aint fit to manage them , hes got no clue ,never brings on subs Crouch is crap huddleston should go to africa instead of Milner and was playing for a draw today ,Makes what some of the villa fans said about MON seem like compliments, i am realy going to enjoy my bottle of beer and steak pie after reading that reveiew LOL |
Dave J
said:
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... Not our best today. Nowhere near. Positives - defended well, another clean sheet, still in touch and still unbeaten in 2010. However that was not the performance of a side who will finish top 4. Trophy this year, invest in the summer and we will see. Sadly that is the way it is - but it's still progress. |
BostonMike
said:
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... Hello boys. Villa fan here in the States. While we were lucky to escape with a point, I expected 1-1 or being on the wrong side of 2-1. Considering Milner, Ash, and Downing were not in top form, I’ll settle for the result. Damian, you sound exactly like me before the Red Sox broke through in 2004. That championship helped settle me down across all of my teams (at least that’s what my wife says). Here’s hoping for a Carling or FA cup win this season so you can enjoy your days Today we gave possession away too easily and our midfield was slow and out of sync but I’d be more upset if I were a Spurs fan. BTW, after all the hubbub around Ash being quick to the pitch, I’d like to read the media get on Defoe for his, how shall we call it, “lightness” today (and he wasn’t the only one). Looked like he was playing in Italy. Here’s how I look at things. We’re 11W 5D 2L in our last 18 in and out of league. We’re still a player or two short of fielding a true top 4 team which I expect to be addressed in the summer, so I’m happy to challenge for fourth this season but won’t lose sleep if we don’t snag it. I think we’re better than last season and continue to grow. UTV! |
Graymo
said:
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... The problem is (as I thought we all agreed last year) that in order to attract the top players we need to be in the Champs League. But, to get in the Champs League we need some top players. That is basically our problem. The only way to get round that problem is with massive investment or damn good bargains (e.g. when Arsenal bought Henry). Can't see either of those happening. As it stands, we will be fighting for 4th for the next three years. Hope I'm wrong. UTV!! |
Badger
said:
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...Hey Badger My Wembley Ticket is in the post though, that is the joy of following your team. Good for you. I've been to finals before via my season ticket, so what? You're obviously a better fan, I salute you. It's just that in your case I wonder why you bother. I mean, you never seem happy no matter what the team does, do you. Much the same as Damian really. I said before, a draw at a top placed team is not a bad result. But of course, if we don't win every single game we're shit. Why don't you save your moaning for when we lose to a team we really should beat? (because it will happen). That's when I'll probably join you. Because it'll be justified. |
leftwingextremist
said:
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... I wouldn't like to be in a trench with much of you lot. Why can't you see it's a great point? Take a step back from it - we didn't play very well in an away match against a really good side - and we didn't lose. What are you moaning about? We've got the best defence in the league, really looked solid; there is nothing wrong with the midfield at all but didn't play great tonight. We missed Heskey - Carew is obviously not fully fit but doesn't have anything like Heskey's touch and therefore makes it hard to hold possesion and get Milner/Young past the front two. There is so much to be positive about but you insist on negative whinging. I just don't get it. |
kohoutek
said:
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... About what I would've expected, comment-wise. Spurs played very well, threw everything they had at us. definitely had their sights set on the game. Last year, that would've been a 1- or 2-0 loss, with the goals likely coming late. This year, they got SFA for their efforts. Improvement has been made. Having said that, I will say Carew was useless, and overall, I've seen us play better. Not a game for the ages, whether we set out for a draw or not. But as Badger says, a draw for us is better than for them, and I like the idea we can keep a clean sheet. The announcer was pointing out that Villa had fared far better against the Group of Seven than Spurs had. We're two players away from being very good, and I believe the progress will continue. |
ChicoHamiltonsPamts
said:
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... i will take that now. i am happy for that now. i accept that the odd cup final and the odd bit of silverware every now and then is the best we can hope for Damian I think its time you supported a new team!!!! as they would say in italy sporca miseria  |
frem
said:
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... perhaps it is a good point and perhaps its not. i dont know which one it is but what i do know is that we have to buy in the summer and good players aswell. Are defence is fine exept we need a young rkght back. on the wings we need someone else with pace and who can take on players. maybe wright philips or walcott. in center mid we need another two in with sidwell and reo going. we need someone who has real quality on the ball and who can find a killer pass. vandar vaart and wistel ? upfront we need a defoe. someone who runs the channels and just shoots when he can. vagner love ? i know these are top players i have mentioned but is it not time we bring them in or should we keep buying the sidwells, heskeys, reos, and harewood and not go anywhere? |
Villain-from-Texas
said:
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... I'm amazed that some people, especially the Spurs fans, think that we were "lucky" or "fortunate" to get a point. How are we "lucky" or "fortunate" to have the best defense in the league that concedes very few goals? Folks, we've given up just 18 goals in 24 games. Will the Spurs envy continue when we finish ahead of them this season? Because we will finish ahead of them. |
SidCowanslovechild
said:
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... A truly terrible post again and Fat Kevs agreeing with you just confirms that. Apart from the fact your writing is terrible which is of course a given you talk such nonsense, as Churchill might say, terible style and even worse substance. Sober up before you post for Christ's sake I have thought all season we will not make top 4 this season but today is most certainly not the confirmation of that and to say we won't be top 4 for 10 years is the comment of a 6 year old. I'd be suprised if you can see 10 minutes ahead never mind 10 years. We are very close to being a very good team On the down side Cuellar proved how terrible his passing is again, Centre Half fine but full back??? Milner after a very hot run has had a couple of stinkers lately but will no doubt come good again. Spurs players I would love, Defoe of course but not from todays game. Modric, but we are blessed out wide already, would begeat playmaker though. Bale, can't defend but how good is he on the ball? Tremendous. Anyone else? not really. Plus side, great defensive performance again and looked dangerous going forward on occasions. After Man U the league matches get much easier again and we have a final to look forward to and FA Cup, who knows. Am I the only one who thinks the Petrov tackle was not a pen, have watched it several times and Defoe throws himself at the knee going away from goal. While Spurs had a lot of ball the chances were not clear cut at all. Have chilled a little lately but this post has reminded me again of what it means to support your team. It's not just a case of thinking you are depressing Damian, at least make a reasoned case like some of the depressives do on this site, after posting crap to wind the opposition up before the game, are you trying to do he same to home fans afterwards? Truly, truly terrible. And to fans who think going to watch their team every week, hating it and slagging the shit out of the team at every opportunity makes you a good fan, think again you miserable mother f**kers |
SidCowanslovechild
said:
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... leftwingextremist, spot on, some really moaning mo fo's, not suprising really as a lot of more posotove posters have just given up in the face of unrelenting crap barrage. I love this site for the comments, positive and negative but....I'll leave it at that |
VillaNick
said:
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... I would rather play like we did and draw than lose. Villa teams of the past would have got beat 2-0 or 3-0 today, so for me, at the moment, its progress. Lets look at it this way, 4th place would give us joy for a minute, but no doubt we would fall at the 1st hurdle in the Champions League and look silly. We will get our opportunity soon, just looks like this season could be another 6th place. UTV |
Damian
said:
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... r0bb0 tiresome is a great word for me right now. in fact i am probably going to use it tomorrow and for weeks to come. i will also credit you, don´t worry i will use it and at the end of the season i will use it a lot if things go the way i am thinking they will go the last two seasons i predicted we wold finish 6th before the season started and i got it spot on. before this season started i said, because of optimism we would finish 4th but i also put that down to pre-season optimism and even said that it was that or 7th you can read it here: http://www.thevillablog.co.uk/...up-a-gear/ my point is, i think it is 7th this season - only because liverpool will get 4th and either man city or spurs will get 5th. i also wouldn´t be surprised to see everton come good but, i am tiresome and i think that is a great word. i think i am tiresome though because the club is becoming tiresome. sure i want to believe that all things are possible but even you must think the best we can hope for this season is 6th and 6th is standing still - for how long do you want to stand still? |
r0bb0
said:
 |
... Damian but at the end of the day, today, we are 7th and the football doesn´t really look any different than it has for years other than we work harder This is bollocks. .... and you know it is. Not only do you know it is but on a number of occasions you have actually said that it is! On some of these occasions you've even quoted the increased number of passes as a demonstration that Villa are starting to play a different style of football. We're not the finished article yet but we are moving in the right direction: We've gained more points from comparative games this year than last. We are in the Carling final We are in the 5th round of the FA cup Of course we'd have loved our attack to play better and win this game, but if you're going to have a whinge every time things don't go the way you want don't be surprised if you attract criticism. (I know you won't be and suspect that's why you do it) |
Damian
said:
|
... also r0bb0 call it tiresome - but what happens if i am right? what happens if in 5 years we are still just flirting with 6th .. doing well in the cups and maybe winning one every 4 or 5 years would you be happy with that? |
Damian
said:
|
... r0bb0 yes - i have said it has looked like it was getting better but at the same time you will probably find the words ´i am not getting carried away´ only because you will likely also find the words ´we saw this last season too´ when a teams key deliverable is effort/workrate, there will come a period of time when everything seems to work however when the key attribute to that deliverable is exhausted things drop away we are not playing football in the 80´s or 90´s anymore when this type of football worked. we are playing in a time when it isn´t all about effort and hard work, it is actually about playing football and creating space and about passing and about movement and about taking chances we are playing like arsenal under george graham and that was great back then. we need to develop our game too many times today and a lot this seaon, i saw 50/50 passes. what i mean by that is i saw a ball played when there was no clear pass to one of our players it was a pass with a chance of it going to our player. we need to keep the ball more and we need to pass back rather than pass it hoping ... by the way - i´d love to sit down and talk football with you for while - if you are going to be in london the day before the final .. please let me know if want a beer |
leftwingextremist
said:
|
... If we are sixth for the next five years that would actually be progress. In the last 5 years we have been 6th, 6th, 11th, 16th, 10th. So, statistically, that would be progress. And you know how you like statistics. A statistical maestro like yourself can probably even work out in percentage terms how much progress that would be. I'm guessing 32%. |
Damian
said:
|
... leftwingextremist look at the 10 seasons before lerner staying 6th for the next 5 seasons would just be standing still. my point is; do you just want to be standing still, treading water or do you want to be developing? |
Damian
said:
|
... SidCowanslovechild you shouldn´t talk about martin o´neill like that he isn´t boring or talentless. he comes across as very lively and under clough, he was a very decent, hard working player that scored quite a few goals |
Villain-from-Texas
said:
|
...call it tiresome - but what happens if i am right? what happens if in 5 years we are still just flirting with 6th .. doing well in the cups and maybe winning one every 4 or 5 years That's all well and good. But it isn't 5 years from now, it's now, where: (1) We're unbeaten in our last 8 in all competitions, with 5 wins; (2) We're in the finals of the Carling Cup; (3) We're in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a strong chance to advance; and (4) We'll move ahead of Spurs, the team you're so enamored of, if we win our game in hand. And yet you spout piss and vinegar. |
leftwingextremist
said:
|
... Of course, I want to develop. What I find so bizarre is you think we're not developing. Really? You really think the team now is no better than it was in 2005/6? To my mind we're miles better despite the fact that the competition is harder. |
Damian
said:
|
... Villain-from-Texas yes, if we win our game in hand but if we win, why cant man city win thier 2 games in hand and then, if we win and manc ity win, what is to say, liverpool dont win their next 3 and we lose our next three but, maybe, just maybe, we will win and everyone else will lose and maybe if that happens, just maybe, we will finish where? where do you honestly think we are going to finish this season? for the record and i´ve said this a lot longer than a lot of people that were saying top four last season over silverware - i´ll have silverware over 4th every single season so i appreciate that we are in a cup final witha good chance of winning it ... but what happens if we dont win it and get knocked out of the fa cup in the next round? it is then about the league and nothing else matters and i will then revert to my question; where do you think we will finish this season? |
Fenian Villain
said:
 |
... Damien, i see that r0bb0 irritated you, but don't irritate the rest of us by rifing the word 'tiresome' until your cock is sore. Please! |
Damian
said:
|
... leftwingextremist it is easy to pick that season but for every season before that with david o´leary i was shouting from the roof tops that all o´leary would do is take us backwards. but if you are going to pick that season - why not pick his first? in his first he got us to 6th - exactly where o´neill has taken us that is why i think we are not developing but if you want to get specific - go watch a game from 1995 or 2000 or 2005 and watch the football forget the result, win or lose, watch the football. forget all the words and PR and forget everything you think you remember from 10 or 15 years back and just look at the football it hasn´t developed. |
Fenian Villain
said:
|
... Also Damien, what is it with your obsession with 'standing still'? Are you saying if we finish 7th O'Neill should get the sack? Does that apply if we win the Carling cup and get another round or 2 in the FA cup?? |
Fatkevs
said:
|
... Missing the point Badger, I would be happy without the meaningless point if we had just given it a go. This game was not a decider, a season of football decides the outcome. I know throwing away points will not win titles but not trying to win a game does not win them either. |
AVFC 4 LIFE UTV
said:
 |
... can we stop all the talk of not getting into the top 4. Everyone was writing liverpool off 1 month ago and look at them now, man city screwed up today and forget about tottenham because as soon as april comes they wont get a single point because they have sunderland,chelsea, man utd, and arsenal. Lets be positive ok we drew but man city lost and a point gained today on man city is more than what we expected. |
r0bb0
said:
|
... Damian, Would love to sit down and have a Villa natter before the final....I'm sure it wouldn't be at all tiresome! |
r0bb0
said:
|
... I didn't have the benefit of seeing the game today and only managed to catch the last bit on the radio. The first away game I took my wife to was at Old Trafford..what a result. Her first semi final was Blackburn...what an amazing game and result. Today I took her to her first International rugby match which England won! |
Badger
said:
|
...forget the result, win or lose, watch the football. forget all the words and PR and forget everything you think you remember from 10 or 15 years back and just look at the football Damian, I really fail to see your point. Go back to the 70s when Liverpool were winning everything put before them. Their football is miles better now than the negative, constant backpassing shite that they used to play. How does their record in the last 10 years compare? Arsenal went a season unbeaten with the "unbeatables" and played the best football I've seen in my 40 years of watching the game. Have they gone backwards, even though they're still the best footballing side in the prem by a mile? They must have, by your logic. Is their football progressing? What have they won lately? I bloody despair Damian, I really do. But fair play, you don't half know how to get a reaction. |
Damian
said:
|
... Fenian Villain i think everyone will know what you meant, but i didn´t start with the word, although i think it is a fantastic word as for my ¨obsession¨ with standing still, well, are we not playing a game to win? if all we are going to do is stand still - surely that isn´t good enough i am also not saying anything about o´neill getting the sack but i suspect winning silverware this season would secure him a job for next season |
Damian
said:
|
... Badger yes - the football liverpool played was boring and negative back then. horrible football, but htey won. much like arsenal did under george graham but liverpool have developed. hell in 2005, not so long ago, they won the chumps league and they have also since then lost in the final of one, but to answer your question and not including the champions league that they won, they have won 2 fa cups, 2 league cups, 2 charity shields, the uefa cup and 2 uefa super cups so, in the ten years you talk about they have won 10 pieces of silveware. not bad that is it? you despair and use liverpool in your argument but look what they have won in the 10 years you asked about. what would you give for that? |
Simeon
said:
 |
... Damian is right on the one hand, and wrong on the other. As things are (ie. with O'Neill at the helm) the best we can hope for is European appearances and runs in the league cup. For anyone who wants to believe otherwise, good luck to you. I won't judge you. I think it's important to adopt a perspective that gets you through. However, where you are wrong Damian is accepting a league cup success as good enough (and for what it's worth, I think there's every chance we will beat the Manc Filth, because they are a mediocre side, and, if last season is anything to go by, will put out a reserve side). The league cup has been a joke competition for over a decade. Every so often, a big club takes it seriously for their own reasons, but otherwise, you're waiting until the quarter finals before a Premiership side will give it a second glance. Any manager who takes the competition seriously from the get go needs their head looking at, because it merely serves as a distraction from the league. Objectively speaking, the game on the 28th is only of very limited, localised significance. Any time Man Utd lose it's a reason to celebrate in the world of football, but further than that, what's the point? Winning a trophy that is now on a par with the old Simod cup? Securing a place in the europa league, which is itself just another exercise in futility? Going down to Wembley for the final, slagging of the plastic Reds, and tearing it up with your mates is all well and good, but there is no foundation to it. But as I said, feel free to adopt whatever perspective gets you through, because football is bankrupt, and it's depressing to acknowledge this if football is the be all and end all. |
Fenian Villain
said:
|
... Damien, yes obviously we're playing to win, and we'd all love it if we won these games. I think its part of being a villa fan to be incredulous and frustrated at times when we've had a chance to really achieve something, like when we had an outside shot of finishing 4th 2 seasons ago but f**ked it up losing to wigan. That's what Villa do. Having said that, I genuinely believe that as a team we have improved, and are continuing to improving each season since Learner/MON. I dont think we'll finish 4th this season (although the foolishly optimist side of me believes its still possible to get 4th and do the cup double). I would vastly prefer finishing 6/7th for the next three seasons rather than remember the dreading fear of my school days that we would actually get relegated. I also have confidence that, as he did with the defence last summer, MON can work some magic and sign some class either in midfield and/or attack this summer. That's optimism again, but I reckon its wasting less energy being positive and optimistic than constantly moaning and being depressed. I wonder if Villa has anything to do with the Brummy's international reputation of being a drab/dull moaning bastard?? |
AV4EVER
said:
 |
... I said before the game it was going to be a tough one and again Spurs played the more positive football and deserved to win it. I haven't been to see the Villa as much as would have wanted this season but the only time I can say that I was really impressed with the Villa was for 15mins in the second half against Blackburn in the cup at villa park. When we win it's not pretty football and I can understand that with the players we have got and the type of football MON likes to play. I hate sounding negative but we are going to be the whipping boyz if we played champions league football next season. We looked way off the top three today. |
Badger
said:
|
...what would you give for that? I'd give up the nice stuff. And take their shit football and the stuff they won earlier that got them a big chunk of the best or second best record of winning stuff in the English game. One super cup, 2 Uefa cups, 2 European cups, 4 charity shields, 1 FA cup, 5 league championships I make that 15 pieces of silverware while playing shit football. Shit, but extremely effective. The point is, yes nice football is all well and good, but it's not the be all and end all. Man U have looked gash to me for a lot of the season, but they're still top of the league. |
ak_27
said:
 |
...I, personally, was shocked by my own comments about MON's lack of subs. My brother's response? 'So are you one of these Villa fans that thinks MON has got you as far as he can?' Its a flaw in the man. I just don't think he can do anything other then jump and shout on the sideline to change how a game is going. Tactically he is weak. This is something too many are too quick to gloss over. Its a huge part of being a manager. Saying that the result was good if you take how outplayed we were but we were shown how far away from the top 4 we really are. |
Badger
said:
|
... ak, They've outplayed us twice. But couldn't beat us. Enough said. Yes, he should sub more. But it doesn't make him a crap manager. we were shown how far away from the top 4 we really are. Yep, 3 points with a game in hand. Of course Skysports could be wrong; http://www.skysports.com/footb...60,00.html |
Fenian Villain
said:
|
... That said, I am still really annoyed by the failure to get atleast a draw at home to Liverpool. They didnt deserve to win and that really did cost us. Liverpool remain the biggest threat to anyone getting top 4, and I would rather ANYONE else get top 4 than them! |
Terrible tactics
said:
 |
... Damian I couldn't disagree more with you mate! What is your ultimate goal for villa? Mines to win the premier league and be a major force in Europe. Now for some reason you don't seem to be able to rap your head round the idea that the only way to do it is to finish in the top 4, it's a stepping stone to greater things, not my overall goal! So finishing in the top 4 would be massive. You seem to think that winning the league cup is more of an achievement and more important to the club. Obviously it's always great to win trophies but in reality it means jack! If you have any ambition top 4 is the only thing to concentrate on. UTV |
Sasa
said:
 |
... Watching that game was horrible, embarrassing that MON has spent £50m on a midfield and front line to produce that. Thank f**k the £25m he spent on the backline and Spurs poor finishing came in handy today. |
Rapscallion
said:
 |
... I personally think O'neil is going to leave it until after the manure game before we start seeing free flowing football again in the league. I'll put my house on it Villa will play for a draw against manure...Why you might say...?? O'Neil is gambling on other teams fixtures to go for us. Look at our remaining fixtures after the Manure game...There all winnable apart from the Chelsea game... [http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/...2009-2010/ The Toffees have to play 3 of the top 4 in a row in the month of April. Arsenal, chelsea and Manure...Not to mention Man City and Everton the month before...All hard games. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/...2009-2010/ Man City have a tough gig coming up. Stoke, Liverpoo,Chelsea, tofees....Not to mention Arsenal and Manure towards the end of the season. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/...2009-2010/ Liverpoo have a slightly easier run home than the above shite. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/...2009-2010/ Hopefully the gambling pays off!!! |
Mostyn
said:
 |
... Damian, Does your wife never compliment you? Is this the reason why you like to back slap yourself so often for predictable predictions. The EPL is like the SPL in so much as that the top 2/3 clubs are guaranteed. We are not Man.U and we are not Chelsea, or even Arsenal. I'm chuffed to bits that we are even managing to close the gap. We have improved considerably under MON and he may have taken us as far as he can. If he has, thank you MON you have produced a team I'm proud of. Funnily enough, I believe he will take us further with supreme (yes, better than yours) footballing knowledge, passion and desire to succeed. I love the people on here saying things like, "If only MON had paid DEFOE'S wages." Get real. You don't know what goes on behind the scenes. He, like BENTLEY wanted the bright lights and glamour of London. Sad, but true. One of the best attacking teams on the planet at this time, played arguably one of the best defensive teams. It would have been suicide to have gone all guns blazing. Had we used a bit more craft in midfield, and players been on top form, we may well have sneaked it. I don't think there's many teams that don't concede at WHL. It's not about settling for fourth or sixth, it's about real expectations. We were 300/1 at the start of the season. Interestingly, we were installed as favourites against Liverpool at home this season, even though we lost. Damian, find out how many times in the past 20yrs we've been expected to beat them at VP. Man. City have the finance to buy any player on the planet they desire, and have spent 10 fold what we have, yet they miserably lost to HULL - That's right, HULL. Surely they should be ejected from the League for such woeful embarrassment. My belief is Damian, that you actually know far less about football than my neice. You pull stats from games to suit your theories. It's pathetic. I'm fine with Top 6 this season. If MON can stomach staying at the helm for another couple of seasons I can only see more improvement after the success he has already brought. We've beaten Man.U and Liverpool away from home, final of the League cup, 3rd favourites for FA cup and still haven't even put SALIFOU on the pitch! |
symbas
said:
 |
... How many times in past seasons have Villa conceded a last minute goal. Yesterday for me was an indication just how far we have come. In fact the sports commentator here in theMiddle East actually said Man City ang ony other team wnnting to progress in the Premiership should wach the Villa Deffence for 90-minutes to see how it should be done. Damian sometimes a draw is good enough. |
RockSteady
said:
 |
... Mosytn, with regards your overall outlook, I agree. Yesterday was not as bad as we are all making out. Yes, I was disgusted with the way some played (Carew was actually a disgrace) and was not happy with the lack of pressure going forward but there are positives. Defensively we were outstanding. We've been on a poor run. Nobody can deny that but look at the bigger picture. Depite this quite poor run, we are still in with a chance of sitting in 4th come wednesday night. If MC win their game in hand then that will be 5th. 5th after such a bad run which was full of difficult games is not something to be depressed about. I believe that we will return to form soon and, given our easier run in to the end of the season, will finshed 5th. This coupled with the CC final and a possible second trip to Wembley, is not something to be crying about. The word for the day is - RELAX |
Damian
said:
|
... Badger but, do you see my point. you say liverpool play poorly and ask what they´ve won in the last 10 years but it is 10 pieces of silverware then you look at manchester united and say they have been playing poorly also - but i just think it hasn´t clicked for them - you can go back to any game you think they have played poorly in and if you look at the stats you will just see that it didn´t work - the stats will show that they tried to play football, they tried to keep the ball that is my point. we dont. every season we have a little blip - but every season it gets back to normal. Terrible tactics a byproduct of us finishing in the top for on a regular basis would be silverware. the thing is, i don´t think we are very close to finishing in the top four. you might think we are and for you, great. i thought maybe two years ago we were going to. then i thought last year we were definitely going to and this season, well, i just see the same football my point is, as you say, football is about winning things but i cant see us getting top four for a long time so i will take whatever silverware i can get. and even if we were lucky and did an everton - i am convinced lerner wont spend the money necessary to keep us in the top four its not that i cant get my head around it, its that i have - just earlier than you. Mostyn i dont think you will find anyone that doesn´t agree with you that we have improved under o´neill. hell, it would have been difficult not to wouldn´t it? but your suggestion that maybe o´neill has taken us as far as we can is probably spot on because i dont think we have improved this season, especially when you look at where we were at this stage last season and nothing has really changed - our players will get tired again and we will not get the results - and we will get lots of draws and people will be saying draws are good results when actually, the real top four teams accept draws but it is always the other teams that say a draw is not a bad result what o´neill has done is make the team stable and you could argue that that is the first thing he has to do before kicking on but you can also argue that the football we are playing is the football o´neill has played since his leicester days and during his time at celtic - so it isn´t going to change and we have to accept also that lerner isn´t going to spend the money to bring in the type of players that we need as for defoe; his agent asked for a sum, we baulked, pompey didn´t. he ended up at pompey. dhose to believe it or not. doesn´t matter you basically believe it will happen under o´neill. i hope it does, but cant see it. as for my knowledge of football - we are all allowed opinions - my opinion of you is that you are easily sold and probably more gullible than my neice. |
nik986
said:
 |
... Lets see where we are in a month or so, this next month will define things not a decent point against the spuds at WHL. City PL 23 PTS 41 play Bolton at home, stoke away then liverpool, chelsea and spurs. Will they get more than 4-5 points from those? Liverpool PL25 PTS 44 play Arsenal, City and Blackburn aswell as two chumps league ties against another team that fell out. Spuds PLD 25 PTS 43 play Wolves, Wigan, Everton & City. Us PLD 24 PTS 41 play Utd, Burnley, Sunderland and Stoke. So after 28 games each it should look like.... US PLD 28 PTS 50 Liverpool PLD 28 PTS 49 Spuds PLD 28 PTS 47 City PLD 28 PTS 46. Its gonna be tight but with UTD out of the way we have 9 very winnable games, if we can hold our nerve. Maybe even finish around 70 points, which should be enough for top 4. Then maybe we cann attract a big name player who will be able to pass the ball...so we wont be standing still..... |
cyprusvilla
said:
 |
... dont put carew on the pitch again what a load of cr3p surprise manure with 2 quick attackers in gabby and fonz sir alex wont know what hit him and his weak defence as for yesterdays match i dont think rooney will get alook in never mind agoal great keeper great defending up the villa |
DeGough
said:
 |
... I am broadly in agreement with Damian's comments on the style of play O'Neill has us playing. I don't agree that a fourth place finish is all but over. It will take another few points dropped for me to think that. It is possible that the team will fade over the next few fixtures like last year. I am thinking that it will not happen though because our back four are better this year. I prefer to be optimistic about our chances. I think that Liverpool and city will fail, so that it will be between us and Spurs. Thats why it was so important not to lose yesterday. |
RockSteady
said:
|
... Damian, I really think Carew should be mentioned in your post-mortem. Not in a Carew vs Heskey debate as that has been exhausted, but in the manner in which he is conducting himself. I know I've been harping on about this since yesterday but I think we, as Villa fans, need to stop advocating his actions by singing 'John Carew, Carew...'. Imagine being a Villa player hearing the faithful singing in admiration of a player that just doesn't want to try when you are busting a gut. It goes against everything our team is about (work rate, togetherness etc). I know I'm not the only who thinks like this... |
nik986
said:
|
... Oh and Damian to say we have stood still.... it takes investment to stand still within this league. Finishing 6th two seasons in a row is good, it is improvement. And we have to look at how many of DOL's squad now cut it in the Premier league. We are much better than we have been for a long time and while at times the football is, to put it nicely, direct, this plays to our strengths - notably pace and power. I'd take the wimbledon style if it meant we won cups and got into the chumps league. As far as I am concerned the style can come once we can sign the players, and we arent going to be able to do with a milk cup and a place in the ldv euro vans trophy. UTV |
DeGough
said:
|
... nik986 Arsenal's result today Chelsea away then Liverpool home will be interesting. They might have a problem if they lose both. |
VillaNick
said:
|
...look at the 10 seasons before lerner The Premiership has changed. Top 4 now: next season Top 8 probably. More money and more competition means if we finish 6th or 7th its not really standing still, the game has changed since DOL's days. |
nik986
said:
|
... Exactly DeGough. We go a decent point away at a very good side (who incidentially play more long ball than us) and this will not affect out chase for fourth (or third). A loss would have done. A lot of the season left to play and there will be many twists and turns. |
VillaNick
said:
|
... Next week, the cup. Lets hope Fonz & Delph will give MON food for thought and give us a chance of changing things during games more frequently. He is obviously nervious about giving these guys a run out in case it backfires (like Wigan) and then gets a load of grief. |
vivavilla
said:
 |
... You make me laugh Damian. We come away from one of our best results of the season and you say something negative about it. Incidentally - 33 shots? BBC said only 14. |
Trezzy
said:
 |
... lads ive said it before and ill say it again, our balance is totally wrong, yes we are keeping clean sheets and look good at the back but going forward we are shocking, and to sum my point up you only have to go back to the west ham game, didnt score and basically didnt look like it either. its a lot easier to keep clean sheets when you have every1 behind the ball, and you rely on gabbys pace to shut defenders down way up the field so we can shift the whole unit up field where we can base an attack, im sorry lads but the facts dont lie, no goals in 5 out the last 6 games is it? 31 goals in 24 games? sumit like that. i think i prefer the last coule of seasons where the opposition my score 2 but we will aswell lol. |
John C
said:
 |
... How old are you Damian, you talk like a grumpy old man already! Its well worn saying, but take football one match at a time.The result was better than the performance yesterday, but we will take it and move on.To make a statemant that we will not finish in the top 4 in the next 10 years is ridiculous. After the MAN U game on wednesday we have a reasonably easy run of games til the end of the season. Lets be patient and see what happens. |
tubbydunne
said:
 |
... Rocksteady You are spot on with your Carew comments, he has been a disgrace this season and the fans should let him know. The money he is on and he makes no effort, it makes my blood boil. Get rid of the lazy fu**er |
Vainn
said:
|
... Trezzy: i disagree, a rock solid defence is harder to build than havin an easy scorin front line. Defence is the basis of a good team these years. Scorin issues can be solved with two quality additions, one to provide goals and one to put them away. A good defence requires a great keeper, who commands the back four, and a whole backline that co-ordinates together as a unit to stop opposition attacks. If we have managed that this season, and seems like we have, im happy. Whats left to do is a couple real quality signings and we can click one step further! We should be usin the squad more as well. Not Sidwell, but Delph, Albrighton, The Fonz, even Beye and Bouma now. |
Damian
said:
|
... vivavilla i can see why the post annoyed a few but i dont see it necessarily as negative, just one of acceptance others will wait until it is mathematically impossible to give up on fourth, whereas, i see it now. i would love to be wrong and i would love to finish in the top four, i just dont see it and it isn't just based on yesterday as for those stats - they are from opta and it includes blocked shots. take away our excellent defence and we would have maybe conceded yesterday but our midfield gave it away too much and we didn't create enough chances basiaclly, i dont see the football developing but i have said this now for a year, it isn't a response just based on yesterday and while our fixtures might be eaier coming up our results against the perceived easier teams haven''t been as good as our results against he perceived harder teams this season but, we will see at the end of the season where we finish John C hands up. i am a grumpy old man and i am an old 35 |
rocky5
said:
 |
... a point at spurs is a good point i just wonder why we`re looking so sterile in attack.you would think we would be scoring for fun with the players we have.we would be better imo playing gabby up top on his own and five in midfield with a decent holding midfielder to compliment our world class defence leaving ash milner downing and gabby to attack rather than constantly track back and defend.  .don`t think we`ll play the same on wednesday night,its gonna be interesting,can`t wait. |
Shemmanz
said:
 |
... We have a great defense and OK midfield we desperate to get natural goal scorer Gabby cant do all the work on his own we have the midfield making chances but no striker to manage to put it in the net. I think my self that Martin O'Neil made a great decision not buying any players so we can save up for a great striker in the summer transfer window. I agree with Damian we wont make the top four this year but in ten years time that's a bit over the top. |
rocky5
said:
|
... also don`t agree with the `after the man u game we have an easy run` rubbish.you would of thought we`d beat wolves wigan west ham etc. |
r0bb0
said:
|
... damian look at the 10 seasons before lerner So..I have looked, and for the ten seasons before Lerner Villa's average league position was 8th. You could say we're over-achieving under O'Neil and I suppose you'd be right. Really though, as the premier side in the midlands the facts are a reflection of our long term under achievement. I'm sure that both Lerner and O'Neill have recognised this and that's why they came to the club. They have made huge strides in addressing the situation and our steady improvement is a testament to that but I'm also sure that they want more. The facts however are that we have advanced...we have not stood still and if we were 7th this year, it would still be an improvement on what we had before. |
rocky5
said:
|
... if we finish 7th we`ve gone backwards,hang on let me check, err 6th 6th 7th err yeah looks backwards to me  |
villarobin
said:
 |
... Damian i think the point you are missing is that if we can gring these draws out at spurs and arsenal , and then win the games against people like Fulham, then we definitely are top 4 contenders. We also have the best record against the current top 4 out of any of the 'contenders'. A point at Spurs , who are also pushing like mad for the top 4 IS a good point. Yes we need more firepower , which im sure Oneil will address in the summer, but remember we won 2 nil at Fulham only last week ! At the end of the day you can either dwell on the negatives or the positives, and i for one have felt very positive all season so far , and i never usually feel like this. |
villarobin
said:
|
... Also Damian by 'Accepting' what you believe to be the situation at Villa you are helping us to stand still. Support / Positivity / Calls for action - this equals change, not accepting or assuming that Villa will never be a force again ! Are you blind ???? Cant you see how the team / club has changed over the last few years. Did you miss the wins at Anfield and Man U ?? Did you miss the England call ups for our players ? Did you miss the fact that its now February and we are still in the mix for top 4 and winning 2 cups ? Proposed Villa Park expansion. Decent Kit makers (Nike) Fantastic manager The list goes on .... |
jc_villa
said:
 |
... Anyone remember the score of this match last year and see where we are on a game-point basis? |
r0bb0
said:
|
... Before the games at Fulham and Spurs (both away remember) how many points would any of us been happy with? I'd have been content with 2, happy with 3, very pleased with 4 and delighted with 6. Remind me...how have we done in London games in the past? |
villarobin
said:
|
... London Games Hoodoo broken, thats another i could have added to the list of positives |
villarobin
said:
|
... all we need is a run of 3 -4 wins in a row after the Man U game and 4th is ours. our run in is much easier than Spurs / Liverpool + Man City |
Greg1981
said:
 |
... Excellent post Damian Most fans replies are good evidence why we haven’t been a force for more than 80 years. They are happy with the ‘ok’. We play so many games where we are second best and with the least possession. Yes we are better as a team but the game in England has moved on and keeps doing so. It’s a relative game. The table as it stands is a pretty good reflection of the play I’ve seen this season. We still need a striker. We still need another top midfield player. And tactically, using what he’s got, MON is always short. Why he doesn’t play Delph to strengthen our centre midfield instead of persisting with Heskey and Carew is beyond many of us. This team is crying out for just Gabs up front and another body in the center mid. Mon’s doing ok but we have such a long way to go. I’ll be there, as usual, on Wednesday night. The increased quality of our players always gives us a chance. But cohesion and tactics? Mon remains clueless. |
Vital_Loans
said:
 |
... I used give you credit for understanding what is happening at VP but this blog makes it look like you haven't clue. I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you are just trying to create traffic on your web site by writing something that you know most people will disagree with |
Smallville
said:
 |
... That was pathetic. Why is it that every 3rd match or so, they look asleep? I think Ash has had maybe 8 good crosses all season. I don't care what anyone says, Downing is a piece of crap who plays like a scared little girl. As much as I love Carew, I cringed when he was brought on so early; he wasn't ready for that much action and you could tell... Why not the Fonz for 30 minutes or so before big John? Once again, a draw by the grace of lady luck. I still can't believe Jermaine missed that shot. |
r0bb0
said:
|
... Greg Most fans replies are good evidence why we haven’t been a force for more than 80 years. They are happy with the ‘ok’. Greg, I doubt you could find a single fan who is 'happy with the 'ok'. It's within the nature of being a fan to want your team to do better than they have before. Recognising when progress is being made but asking for more of it is being supportive. Denying progress, denigrating performances and unreasonably criticising individuals and the team can be useful in the very short term but medium to long term is destructive. Different fans will have different views of whether progress is being made and that is what drives this blog. I am firmly of the view that we are progressing, and if you believe in statistics, then they clearly show it too. That doesn't however mean that I'd be happy for us to accept where we've reached as being the pinnacle and I challenge you to find anyone on here who is. |
johndoyle
said:
|
... villa robin and co i have just watched small heath did you see how the man in charge used subs it is so easy and gardner was better in 10 mins than all our mid field was i wonder if you lot do watch the games who go onabout how good we are this team cost 150 mill we cannot put 4 passes together the team is un balanced we never look like scoring sicknote and big john need binning now why have we got the best 2nd team in england why dont he drop his pets wake up u lot a day out at wembley where we will play for pens from the start aint good enough for 150 mill we need to get the ball down and play but our players do no have the basics of how to pass to each other to feet delph and the fonz need playing now and players need to be put in the right placesyou will all say look at the improvement we have finished 6th 2 years running doubt if we will be that high this year sure randy is the best thing that has happend to the club look at acorns brill look at the ground and the holt but it is on the pitch we need to see it rember randy never employed martin doug did how long will he put up with not going forward on the pitch we have the players who can play they are being told to play the way they do by martin martin you need to get to specsavers if what you said aginst spurs we played well wake up and you fans and say what you see on the pitch |
JohnnyB
said:
 |
... Afternoon gents. How disappointed am I? Very...but I'm a Spurs fan. I'm surprised there's not a few more disappointed Villa fans on here. I appreciate the point earned is considered more valuable to you but does no-one lament the fact you made no attempt to beat us? Honestly, if Villa want to be one of the top4 you need to be able to beat teams like us (conversely, if want to achieve the same we should be beating you). But the very fact you set out to defend the game away, I feel is poor showing. You've assembled a good squad of players and have plenty of attacking talent...yet MON just doesn't set you up to go and win. You only need a couple more quality players to make you into serious contenders but even if you do manage to get these players MON's tactics will still hold you back. |
Vainn
said:
|
... johndoyle, u might wanna start usin some commas and full stops. Btw, while we are tryin to break into top4, obviously more teams are tryin to do the same. U have to take that into consideration, and this season there are more candidates for that 4th place arent there? |
john doyle
said:
|
... that spurs fan is right thats why martin has won only one game againt harry in 17 played harry and all the other managers in the leage know martins kick and hope style |
r0bb0
said:
|
... john doyle.....wasn't he a celtic player? I would also like to see more substitutions and it's a fair point to make, but you take it too far. It's not that MoN has 'pets', it's just that he knows in his own mind what his best team is and believes our best chance of getting a good result is with our best players on the pitch. It's not the way you'd manage the team and it's not the way I'd manage the team, but I don't mind betting that if you or I were managing the team we'd be more likely to be fighting to stay out of the relgation zone than to get into the top 4. |
r0bb0
said:
|
... Johnny B MON just doesn't set you up to go and win. But somehow we beat Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea....wierd aint it? Villa against the 'top 4': played 6 won 3 drawn 1 lost 2 Spurs against the 'top 4': played 4 won 1 lost 3 |
villarobin
said:
|
... Spurs fans / Damian's view takers - you can come on here all you want and say that we only played for a draw / we are 1 trick ponies etc. Its all rubbish. There is a great article in the Times today on the Villa / Spurs game, which for once is written from a pro villa perspective. It basically states that we are most likely to break the top 4 because of the way that we play and our fantastic record against the bigger teams. It says that the reason people moan about Villas style is because its so effective. We defend well and we play fast effective counter attack football, and people dont like it. We had plenty of chances in the first half yesterday and could have won the game. Spurs were at home and went hell for leather to win, and we held them. This does not mean that we went there and parked the bus, as some have suggested, thats garbage, we matched Spurs for 45mins and held on and cancelled them out as they got more desperate to score at home. A good point gained for villa. |
r0bb0
said:
|
... villarobin, there are some interesting points made in the Daily Mail too. It states the obvious that we are very good defensively but have clearly been struggling to score goals over recent games. It also points out that Tottenham are one-dimensional in their use of Peter Crouch's height, Our Martin would have been rightfully offended if a similar accusation had been levelled at Villa! We should remember that we have had a particularly difficult series of premiership games recently but against weaker opposition we've scored plenty of goals. In fact, in our last 10 games against teams outside the top 5 we've scored at an average of 2.5 goals per game. Let's hope that this sort of strike rate returns once some easier (on paper) fixtures come along soon. |
churchill
said:
 |
...villa robin and co i have just watched small heath did you see how the man in charge used subs it is so easy and gardner was better in 10 mins than all our mid field was i wonder if you lot do watch the games who go onabout how good we are this team cost 150 mill we cannot put 4 passes together the team is un balanced This has to be the longest sentence since Peter Sutcliffe |
Lufbra
said:
 |
... Churchill This has to be the longest sentence since Peter Sutcliffe. LOL! I hated watching that game but was ultimately pleased with the result. A point away to a main rival, and a very decent team, is not bad. We are very nearly there as a team. MON has brought us forward and I really cant understand the view that he hasn't. Even if he is tactically unimaginative we are a better team AND the football IS better. I'd quite like to see a league table of just the top seven teams results against each other. |
Smallville
said:
|
...SidCowanslovechild no way. Just a play on words of my surname. |
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