Written by Damian Sunday, 14 March 2010 11:01
A point at Stoke is progress. Defensively we were superb. Stoke is a hard place to go. It was very very windy and we couldn´t play the ball on the ground.
I'm sure I have missed one or two out, but they were generally the things said about the result yesterday in favour of Aston Villa and you can't disagree with any of them really. Or can you?
What the Papers Say
Joe Lovejoy - The Guardian
March is about as popular with Martin O'Neill as it was with Julius Caesar. In 12 attempts, he has never won a Premier League match as Villa's manager in the month in question, and he was left ruing a barren scrap at the Britannia Stadium, which saw his team fall further behind in their pursuit of Champions League football next season.
Jon Culley - The Independent
Aston Villa fans may be wondering if this will be another season that promises much but, in the end, delivers little. A draw against Stoke at home, when they conceded two late goals, began the unravelling of their Champions' League ambitions last season. They gave themselves nothing to squander yesterday, yet their failure to break down an unashamedly pragmatic opponent leaves them with more ground to make up on fourth place, even with matches in hand, than they might like with the business end of the campaign looming close.
The Manager
Martin O'Neill
We would love to have won the game but it was never going to be easy. Stoke are always difficult. There weren't many chances in the game and the wind didn't help matters. I was hoping we would get the ball down, but that is easier said than done. It was a reasonable outcome. Probably a draw was a fair result.
The Players and Some Stats
Big Brad, Ricardo, King Carlos, Stephen Warnock, The Ginger One, Stewart Downing, Webcam, James Milner, Stiliyan Petrov, John Carew (Gabby Agbonlahor, 77) and Emile Heskey all played yesterday. One sub was used and it wasn't a popular one with the Aston Villa supporters. One substitute, in a two week period when we have five games to play. One substitute. When is the penny going to drop?
I've given up putting down passing numbers because the thing is, it isn't really about just ´passing more´. It's about the football and if the football gets better the passing numbers will go up. So, when I see the football getting better, we will look at the passing numbers again and guess what, I think you will see the number goes up. But until that happens, no more passing stats. We did have three shots on target in 90 minutes though.
Man of the Match
I actually forgot about this so I am going to award it this week and I have decided that the award will go to No One. He came so so close on so many occasions yesterday that had a few more crosses gone to No One, I am sure we would have scored.
Final Analysis
Is Stoke really that difficult a place to go? If you look at the home and away league table and if Hull win their game in hand, they and Burnley, both teams in the bottom three, will have the same home record as Stoke.
If the league table was based on home games, Stoke would currently be 11th and if Hull did win their game in hand, Stoke would be 12th. Is it really that hard a place to go; really?
Okay, sure, if you want it to be a hard place to go, we'll call it a hard place to go. But there are many more harder places in the real world.
The result however is progress, because we lost at Stoke last season. We also beat Wigan at home last season and lost this time round, so have we progressed or just evened things out? My point is, things change - you can't always look at individual games from last season and compare to this one. You can, but it isn´t really a true picture.
In fact, the only thing that really does matter is where we finish in the league at the end of the season. If we manage to pick up some silverware along the way, fantastic, it is a bonus.
We have eleven more games to play, all potentially three points, so say what you want today; say some are overreacting, say some just can't see what is or isn't happening, say even that the blind faith brigade are running out of positions to support O'Neill or that the real world supporters are really in cloud cuckoo land.
None of it really matters and the only thing that does matter is where we sit in the league table on May 9th. By all means, discuss, argue, fight and backup your opinion or view - but don't forget that nobody is going to be right or wrong. Until the final day of the season, it is all opinion.
Come the end of the season, we will either be standing still, moving forward or going backwards and whatever it is we end up actually getting, it´s what we get.
We can all see exactly what is happening or isn't happening according to our interpretation and fortunately for us, individual interpretations are usually always unique.
We drew at Stoke but we are still six points off fourth place with two games in hand. If we win those two games in hand and we score ten goals more than our opponents in those two games, we would go fourth, if Manchester City don't win their two games in hand, because if they do, we would be three points off fourth, probably in sixth place.
Eleven games to go. A lot can happen.
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S
said:
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... I thought we needed a win today but i guess a draw will do, as long as we dont lose another game this month and draw to Chelsea. I think MON should give Carew another go against Wigan and start him with Gabby this time to see if that makes a difference. Then sub one of them off for the Fonz once we have a lead to give them a rest and give the Fonz some experience. Who knows he might score a goal and would also rest a forward and also let MON see that his subs can be put on and can play. |
Mike Carter
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... I don't think we'll finish 4th. I'm not saying it's out of our reach, but I think it's fairly obvious this team is not ready for Champions League football. I think the goal becomes a top 6 finish now. |
kkoychev
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... I am sorry about this offtopic but I just can't ignore what I saw on MOTD. As you already know Craig Gardner scored for The clowns to level them against Everton. My bigger concern is how did he celebrated his goal - he KISSED Birmingham's badge on his shirt  |
dominic elmer
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... I thought it would be a score draw but a draw would be the outcome. Only Man U Arsenal and Chelsea have walked away with 3 points from there this season so a point is a good result. Wigan will be there for the taking on Tuesday and we need to make sure we win this game as Spurs are going to be dropping points with there run in. |
frem
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... This is are best chance to get 4th spot. If we dont then unless we get quality in the summer in what we buy ( Which with MON we probably wont)then we dont stand a chance of getting it again for donkeys years. We must buy real quality starting with Stephen Ireland. But i bet we just get O'hra and doyle and once again take a step backwords. It has to be sorted out. |
frem
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... I watched deportivo and the mexican winger is good. No better but good. Someone else caught my eye though. Hes 20 years old, about 6ft tall and his a good old fation box to box center mid. Hes good on the ball, hes stong. Hes just like barry. |
Mike Carter
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...This is are best chance to get 4th spot. I strongly disagree, last season was a far greater chance. |
Jason Turner
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... who was this 20 year old box to box midfielder, as far as i was aware the majority of deportivo's midfielders were 27+ and quite short. i would be extremely happy with todays rumours especiall guardado he is a lot better than downing, majewski is a player o'neill tried to signe twice in previous seasons and Dani Guiza could be our goalscorer. That for me would be a successfull summer |
frem
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... Id be happy Ireland. Hes a must. Reo is coming back and i hope he stays. Then Guardodo, mathews, Altndore and eduardo. |
Geoffrey Littleton
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... Totally agree on S. Ireland. If I could build a team, he'd be one of my first picks (along with Bellamy and Rooney). |
FatKevs
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... I think the sooner we forget about a top 6 finish the better it will be for everyone. We do not have the squad the manager confirms that by sticking with his starting 11. Lets hope we get rid of Sidwell & Downing in the summer & replace them with players that have some heart The Englsh cup games force MoN to at least think about winning instead of defending. |
Jason Turner
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... just seen the ticket information for semi final on official site and it is season ticket holders only. This is ridiculous, i go to villa park at every opportunity but a season ticket is not feasible for me, once again i am not going to get to wembley.you would have thought that seeing as the season ticket holders went to the final and will go to the fa cup final if we win they would have done something for us loyal fans who cannot get season tickets for the semi |
Carl Main
said:
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... 33 points from the last 11 games and I will do a streak at the last game of the season at full time. |
Carl Main
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... Also, ive given up on 4th now anyway and not really that fussed about it anyway! Give me a couple of good domestic cup runs anyday over the 'Not Really Champions League' featuring FC Cracktown from Russia and Grasshoppers FC from Denmark! |
paul mclafferty
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... jae86''' Jae86 if you have booking history of more than 6 games this season you will have no problem getting a ticket as i think we will get 40k+ allocated tickets. remember this is only a semi so the corperates arent that interested, so more tickets for the fans... at least thats what i remember against bolton in 2000. |
scott harwood
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... reflecting on yesterdays game i think its only the final ball that let us down really.we did look flat but had enough possession to do something in the game.the amount of times cuellar got the ball in a decent position i was begging for l.young to be there!the crossing was the worst its been all season imo but at least we never lost.a win against wigan and all will be forgiven i think |
Craig Elliot
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... Stoke is a hard place to go. 2 of our challengers for fourth have been there this season and both got draws, Stoke 1 - 1 Man City Stoke 1 - 1 Liverpool They raise there game against better teams at home, also bet arsenal in the cup and were unlucky to lose to them in the league. Dont think its that bad a result. |
Brian Kavanagh
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... Frem I wouldn't take ireland if we were paid to take him, he's a trouble maker and would end up being a waste of money as O'Neill would sell him 12 months on. As for yesterday, Gabby came on and managed 2 left footed crosses to the near post (something Young/Downing couldn't do all game, but of course Emule was not even in the box. For the Life of me I can't see why Carew was taken off instead of Heskey. Carew makes more runs, might have been in the box for those two crosses! I reckon if we are to play to our strengths MON needs to leave his wingers on the training pitch all week swinging balls in from all angles because right now they just aren't cutting it. |
Damian
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... Craigy1874 its not that bad a result but the thing is, for many, it was 3 points and for a long time now the talk has been about our 'easy' run in to have aspirations of playing in the chumps league - then you have to be able to go to these places and win - as witnessed by the three teams that have pretty much confirmed they will be playing in that league next season we are not ready for top four yet and many knew that at the start of the season before we kicked a ball. many suspect it already for next season it wasn't a bad result when you put it into context. it would have been a bad result for sir alex, ancelotti or wenger (in the league) had they only got a point and the managers of liverpool, man city and spurs all probably thought they could have done better too but there is always next season |
Brian Kavanagh
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... also, 12 players for this 5 game period so far.......... O'Neill said he was going to utilize the squad, time will tell |
Nigel
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... £15m and Reo or Sidwell for Arteta and £20-£30m for a world class striker would solve a great deal. |
john doyle
said:
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... i have had enough of this crap went yesterday and thats enough for me have given away my season card i cannot watch this crap any longer i am sure we would be better starting with 10 men than heskey he just slowes the game down and is a waste of space these lot cannot pass the ball to each other the team has no balance and Oneail is a joke he is the one of worst manager we have ever had he has spent twice as much as any other manager has ever had on this load of crap he hasent got a clue he plays the lump every week when he plays we win 20% of our games we he dont we win 70% why is he ever played why dont he play the fonz who is our best forward but has to sit and watch the 3 clowns we need a new manager now i have stuck and paid to watch this crap to long this team are not allowed to play football its just pack the defence and kick it up field this guy i have now after 3 years come to see has not got a clue even odreary could do better than this with 130 mill as i said before i wont go agai while heskey is at the club because i support the team and would feel that i would have to shout at oneail and tell him what clown he realy is |
Dan Price
said:
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... Match Commentary... Play it to the wings, whip in a shit cross, lose possession Play it to the wings, whip in a shit cross, lose possession Mix it up a bit, Long ball hoofed up, lose possession Play it to the wings, whip in a shit cross, lose possession Play it to the wings, whip in a shit cross, lose possession Copy and paste 50 times for full match commentary We have no imagination, no ability to play it through the middle. We rely on the wings yet our crossing is awful, we need someone with a paul scholes mentality to coach us, give us a new aspect to our game, we are far too one dimensional! |
oscars arse
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... I find it hard to grasp that a player who played under Brian Clough uses the long ball so frequently. Ol big head once quoted if God meant us to play football in the air he would have given us wings (or words to that effect.) Perhaps Martin misunderstood and that's why he has become so reliant on pumping crosses in from the flanks. I have calmed down since yesterday as I genuinely believed we would win at Stoke if we were serious contenders for moving up a gear. I love Aston Villa have done since I was taken down by my father aged 5 in 1963 (do the maths). I have seen terrible times at VP endless runs of defeats culminating into relegation into the third. Away trips to grounds that were literally tips. All this heartache and tears blown away by league cup wins in 74 and 79 and of course the league title followed by the European Cup (which was for league champions not a money making circus) I was there and I was proud. Modern times and its all about money and despite his somewhat strange transfer dealings i believe Matin O'Neill is still the man to take us onwards. I've thought long and hard what it must be like to manage a football club not just Villa but any football club , surely all fans have high expectations. For us what I see as a solution and that he's in it for the long term is Randy, sell the Browns and throw all your eggs in one basket, get some real quality in and not just get in the top four, win the league. I know I've rambled on and probably will get slagged but hey make some allowances for an old geezer. |
Carl Main
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... Wow! Anybody would think we havnt played a cup final, have a semi final coming up and are 7th in the league with 2 games in hand? A bunch of depressing morons most of you! |
john doyle
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... we have the players at the club to get 4th place but we dont have the manager to play them in the right places thats all thats wrong at villa give sid owans the job some who knows how the game should be played and was ten times the player martin was also some who cares for the fans and would give the kids the chance they deserve and would give heskky a one way ticket |
Michael
said:
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... agreed Maindog - some fans think weve got a god given right to be classed as a top club cus we won the european cup 28 years ago and nothing other than winning ever game is good enough. man city and liverpool have both drew at stoke in the league and arsenal and cheslea have only won because of 93rd minute goals. so im happy with 0-0. |
Dave Lynch
said:
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... Play it to the wings, whip in a shit cross,straight to keeper Play it to the wings, whip in a shit cross,straight to keeper Agree |
desert_villain
said:
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... I don't see what all the fuss is about. As long as we keep ourselves within touching distance till the last 5 games, then anything can happen. Thats how I see it. This season is harder to break into 4th than last with all the competition around. 3 points would have been brilliant, draw wasn't a disaster. I am really impressed with our defence and so is the rest of the premeir league, give o'neil a break, or you'll end up chasing him off to liverpool and we end up with Mcleish ! |
Keith
said:
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... Maindog you are a beacon of light in a dark depressing blog. We drew a game away from Villa Park and so that means the players are shit, our manager is shit, the owner is shit and our ground is probably shit too. What a bunch of f**king idiots some so called fans on this site are. We reached the League Cup final, we are in the FA Cup semi finals and we have a great chance of improving our league position and qualifying for the Champions League. Anyone would think we were in a relegation battle. |
john doyle
said:
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... so main dog and co are you happy with the way we play and that the lump starts every game or are you brainwashed into every think that the great martin does is right i have been a fan for 50 years and seen all the ups and downs and this team are not a patch on the europen cup side or big fat rons side and as for the football rons side would have played them off the park as would all the teams in which sid cowans played |
Keith
said:
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... Damian "to have aspirations of playing in the chumps league - then you have to be able to go to these places and win" So that means that nobody will be finishing 4th this season as Man City and Liverpool have both only drawn at Stoke and Spurs, who haven't played there yet, lost at home to Stoke. |
john doyle
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... keef villa for 130 mill we should expet more are you another villa fan that is happy with this crap foot ball and the lump playing every week if you are then good luck to you i have supported villa a little longer and went to rotterdam and this is what i want again i am not happy with the crap we play if you are then thats up to you we are 2 points above small heath is that what you want from a team that cost 5 time as much as the shit well ? |
Aaron Wilson
said:
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... i really wish we had lost. Them idiots need a kick up the arse! Why is it they only perform when we're behind? They take easy matches granted and dont bother their arses! Its not the actual side, and tactics MoN has to change. I the whole mentality of the team. INSTEAD of these inspiring half time speeches when we're LOSING. SHOUT YOUR BLOODY BO**OX off at them at the start of matches. Its the only way they'll learn. THEY NEED TO LEARN THEY ARE NOT SUPER-STARS, AND RESULTS ARENT GOING TO JUST FALL INTO THEIR HANDS! Sort your sh*t out lads... if want to get a op four place. On a lighter note. Our next few games are against lower opposition so if they get their heads right, we should have a great performance and some great results! UTV! |
john doyle
said:
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... desert villan yes please here is a man who is 2 points behind us (games in hand are f**k all as we never win them how many times could we have done this and that and never do ) and spent 100 mill less wake up to that fact who is the best manager ? |
Damian
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... keefvilla No it doesn't mean that. All it means is our chances are ad good as everyone else's We have11 games to see what happens but had we ended yesterday 2 points better off after a convincing three nil win things would have been a lot more positive today As it is we played fairly average football for a team with aspirations of finishing fourth |
john doyle
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... to every body who thinks i am anti martin when you look that he has spent more than double the money than wenger and look at the way the teams play who would you like to watch every week wouls any top 10 side play hesky or 3 center halfs ? |
scott harwood
said:
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... i was pissed off after the game but have calmed down a tad.i put a 2-2 draw in the other thread and wouldve took a draw.but as it was we played shite and didnt get out of 1st gear.all this talk about the football under mon is a moot point.its NEVER gonna change with him in charge so we should just get behind the team and hope its enough to see us into europe. ill say one thing though i expect nothing less than 6 points out of the next 2! |
fastbackace
said:
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... chiefy, damiam, keef, what was our record 3 years ago? 2? 1? i think we have gone from turning losses into ties. then ties into wins. i think we've only lost 5 times this year. thats an improvement. or at least i think so. |
paul mclafferty
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... which team is the only undeafeted team in all divisions in 2010?????? answers on a postcard you doom and gloom mongers!!!!!! |
Luckynumber7
said:
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... decent draw. could have done with 3 points but it's a tough place to get a win. i stumbled across this site a very short while and i hoped it would be a bit more positive.. by and large it's the same negative stuff. We are still in with a great shout of getting 4th. |
john doyle
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... holtend paul you numpty what if we had won 5 of the last 7 games and not drawn and lost 2 how meny ponnts would we have have you forget you get 3 for a win would much rather go for a game and risk 1 point than always going for 1 point from the start do you see man u or chelski do that no thats why we wont win anything with this clown |
AVFC 4 LIFE UTV
said:
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... GOOD ON YOU HOLTEEND PAUL YOUR EXACTLY RIGHT! And for the idiot who gave away his season ticket why? At the end of the day we are slagging off our players for a bad perfomance and we still got a draw. Can i just say what is every one moaning at exactly? we are a big club that a few years ago people tipped us to go down, now people are tipping us to get into champions league. But just because we have won the eurpean cup dosent mean we should have a given right to be in the competition. If we are not careful you fans will get rid of o'neill and give me some suggestions of who would come in and do a better job than MON has done? |
FatKevs
said:
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... donegalvillan writes a good article on Vital re our gates I am still pissed from being moved from my loved seat a VP without anythought from our new owner. With the wembley tickets there on the 1st day 1st hour with the most expensive not corporate ticket only to be told i could not buy a band A Ticket. The club still treats its fans like shit & loses players sighting lack of ambition Simple reasons why we cannot fill the ground |
john doyle
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... avfc for life i am not slaging off all our players just 1 the lump and the manager as he dont go out to win just not get beat when he has spent 53 mill on the defence and 54 mill on the midfield and 12 mill on the attack you can see how his clown sets out his stall i would much rather see us attack and win more games that is why we have drawn more game than any other team because we set up to draw not win we cannot score if the attack are only 5 yards in front of the back 4 all the time |
James
said:
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... I was talking to a bloke in the pub the other day and as he revealed his story to me a grin spread from ear to ear. Having finished he shook my hand and skipped out into the last of the late afternoon sunshine. His story began several years back. His brow furrowed as he described the man he was: an angry and unsettled individual, despite being married with healthy happy kids, he could see nothing of value in his life. He spent his days mournfully bent over magazines and papers. Enviously eyeing other men's homes and cars. On evenings out he would glance furiously around the room and occassionally stare longingly at the glamorous wives and girlfriends of his friends. At work he scratched distractedly on his notepad and longed to be elsewhere, anywhere. By the time my drinking companion had recounted this mournful tale, he was almost in tears. He snatched up our empty glasses and shook his head, as if to wipe away the words he had spoken. However, on his return from the bar, armed with fresh pints, his smile had returned, yet it was the next part of his tale that was the most moving. He proceeded to reveal how he had unexpectedly (though he admitted, deservedly) lost his job and, within a few months, his wife was threatening to leave him. I stared in disbelief at the smiling figure before me, and asked the only possible question, 'Why so happy?' Well, it seems these traumatic events were just the wake up call that my companion needed. His eyes were opened and he was finally able to see his life as others saw it. He took time to appreciate his family and especially to enjoy time with his beautiful wife. By this stage, I too was smiling. I felt that, in some strange way, my fate was now tied to his: from now on, his joys would be my joys. His last words to me as he exited those swinging pub doors? 'Make the most of Martin and those wonderful boys.' |
Damian
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... Nan I had tears in my eyes reading that And I know exactly what you are trying to get across And I appreciate it. Better the devil you know, to some extent Or, be happy with what you have And if football was only a short lived thing I would completely agree But football will be here a lot longer than 1 manager and Aston VILLA will ne here a long time after martin O'Neill |
Carl Main
said:
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... John Doyle. Your right, we do play some ugly football alot of the time, but we do still play some good stuff too. You will never see a team play well against teams like Stoke because they simply dont let you! Look at our second half against Burnley. We were awesome! I dont rate Heskey either but there is something about him. You ask any defender who has played against him and they will all say they hate playing against him! I hate having to mark players like him, because he is a lump! I lost my rag with MON early on this season and I regret it now! Its a matter of fact that we have improved each year he has been incharge! Our cup runs this year have made this season my best as a Villa fan for years! Our squad is nearly awesome! As for the people who say we just lump it up the field, statistically 16 more teams in the prem have used passes over 30 yards this season! According to skysports news anyway! We are improving and our football will improve, MON isnt an idiot, hes just a little old fashioned but I believe he will learn the modern agem and will swallow his pride on some of his annoying habbits sooner rather than later. |
john doyle
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... people say that martin is so stubben because of playing under clough and he used to say that he was always right well most of the time he was but he had peter taylor to give his point of veiw on certan players and respect it but martin sees things that nobody else does and the only thing that matters is what he thinks no one can question him and thats the trouble he is to close to his pets and wont give the fringe players a chance even though he has brought most of them as for our young players they are the best in the country for the third year in a row look at the prem reserve leage but he dont run the 2nd team so he dont pick any of them i have said before many times on this site that the best player at the club by a mile is the fonz went to see the 2nd team againt small heath last week and he was on another planet again 2 goals and 2 dissalowed he has more skill than any one else at the club his controle is better than any one at the club and his goalscoring record is better than any else has ever been for the 2nd team and england u 17 and 19 and now u21 one goal in 10 mins and even for the first team he has played 4 full games and 3 games as sub and scored 5 goals compere this to heasky a player who has no pace no controle and cannot score and falls down every time anybody blows on him this is my main gripe along with the full back issue heasky would not get a game in the 2nd team if the team is picked on merit yet alone for the first he might have been good 7 years ago but he now has no pace and cannot score goals and he is keeping out the best young player that has ever come through the villa youth team quote gorden cowans if any of you get the chance to watch the second team go and watch him or the next england u21 game as the manager quoated we would have won the last game if he had played the full game insted of the last ten minns as when he came on he was the best player on the pitch by a mile quoate and its this lack of playing him that i cannot understand if martin had been at everton Roony would still be in ther 2nd team as he would say he aint ready yet and i dont want to rush him this kid wants to play he has hunger and most of all he knows where the net is i am sure that the last 5 draws 3 of them would have been wins if only he could become one of the chosen pets |
john doyle
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... main dog thanks but dont you think burnley like redding just gave in look at burnley against wolves |
john doyle
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... on the fonz just look on the villa web site at his profile where the french football mag onze rates him better than thierry Henry at his age what more do you want martin |
john doyle
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... did you see gardner for small heath what a manager who belives in him can do if you give players a chance please take note mr stubbern martin make a few changes it might suprise you to see some of our so called fringe players playing better than your worn out pets |
John Clark
said:
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... Well said, Nan. The wailing and gnashing of teeth is so predictable. As are the names that only come out to play when there's something negative to say. Are we the best team in the league? No. We're chasing three teams that can beat any team in Europe, home or away, on their night, and by more than two goals. We're in touching distance. We can play with them. You can talk of MON's spend, but Spurs and City spend money, too. For all the huffing and puffing, 4th-7th might be decided by one game's worth of points and goal difference. Or less. I'll agree with Damian that it's all so much hot air until the final standings are known. But we're still very much in the thick of it, the other results bear out pretty much everything the "optimists" are saying in terms of the strength in the PL, etc., etc. As someone else said, you'd think we were in a relegation battle, coming on here and reading the comments sometime. If we were Utd., you could complain all you like about a point at Stoke and be properly aggrieved. But we're not Utd., and no one's pretending we are. We aspire, someday, to be that successful, that deep, experienced, talented, and tough. Until we're there, we won't be. If you know what I mean. And I know I'll hear "we'll never get there with this football, with MON, blah, blah." And you may be entirely correct. There'll be this season, and likely one more for MON. So just relax, enjoy what's there to enjoy, let the rest go, and don't get bent out of shape over things that you can't control. Not good for your health. Play a game with yourself (not that sort!), see if you're right. Watch it all play out, see if your predictions/pronouncements are really borne out, whether "optimist" or "realist". Enjoy the wins, nervously await the other results following the draws or the occasional loss, and just see where it all ends up. This will not be our only chance for 4th. Last season wasn't, this season isn't, and next season isn't either. |
Andi
said:
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...This will not be our only chance for 4th. Last season wasn't, this season isn't, and next season isn't either. As someone else said, you'd think we were in a relegation battle, coming on here and reading the comments sometime. If we were Utd., you could complain all you like about a point at Stoke and be properly aggrieved. But we're not Utd., and no one's pretending we are. And I know I'll hear "we'll never get there with this football, with MON, blah, blah." And you may be entirely correct. There'll be this season, and likely one more for MON. Couldnt say it any better myself so i didn't hear hear  |
Keith
said:
|
... john doyle, keef villa for 130 mill we should expet more You better tell Man City fans that!!!! While you are at it, tell them they have no chance of finishing 4th as they failed to beat Stoke and Sunderland. |
Keith
said:
|
... I forgot to mention that I watched yesterdays game on the internet, so that makes me an expert now |
Damian
said:
|
... keefvilla Don't do yourself a disservice. You are an expert even when you don't watch  |
Steve Oldaker
said:
 |
... keefvilla, don't rise to the bait buddy you cannot change the views of these people, they want to much to soon as i say don't rise to it just let them rant away to there heart's content |
Keith
said:
|
... Steveo I know, you should see how happy they are when Villa lose. That's why they are all so touchy, as Villa haven't lost a league game in 2010. |
robb david
said:
 |
... Yesterday was poor, really poor, and a draw wasnt a fair result. I think our league position is fair. I think if we are being honest every team above us in the league has a better squad than us. They all also have managers that utalise the full squad available to them, so their players are still fresh. The big thing for me is that they all have players that can change a game in an instant. man u --> rooney chelsea --> drogba arsenal --> fabergas liverpool --> torres Spurs --> modric man city --> tevez we dont have anyone like that, and that for me is the difference between us going to stoke and getting a draw, and going to stoke and getting a win. |
Steve Oldaker
said:
|
... keefvilla, lets me and you have positive moment, lets go through the team freidel class cuellar class dunne class collins class young class warnock class petrov class milner class downing class (contary to what some of you dim wits think) gabby class carew class all bar one signed by mon not bad eh ? oh and before you doom mongers answer back heskey has his uses too ! |
Keith
said:
|
... ronrabbit Were Torres and Tevez the difference between Liverpool and Man City going to stoke and getting a draw, and going to stoke and getting a win? We got 1 point against Stoke last season and 4 points this season. That is an improvement in my book. |
david
said:
 |
... one possible bright spot in this blog today is from john doiley ... I'm hoping you're the idiot that sits near me and shouts abuse throughout the game. I do hope it's you and I won't now have to hear you again! |
frem
said:
|
... it is really anoying. we need a drogba, modric or a fabragas but we dont have one. even everton have arteta . we will just end up with ohara and doyle whilst spurs and city will get top players. mon has had the money but spend it on the sidwells, shoreys harewoods etc etc. downing for 12 or kranjar for 2 mil ? its really poor and it wont change. |
PAT.PORTAFERRY
said:
 |
... I was glad we got out off there with a point & no injuries so we now move on 2 Wigan where i hope we can win,because i feel we just R going 2 draw so many games from now until the end of a very good season.I'll HOPE 4 a 2-1 WIN cause we owe them ONE.. |
Lew Chatterley's Lover
said:
 |
... Great goal by Gardner yesterday, why he never got a run in central midfield I'll never know, oh yeah the mighty Sidwell was keeping him out of the team ! Shame we gave them Agent Ridgwell to, he's a better centre half than Davis, a better centre forward than Heskey, and a pretty decent left back by the look of things. Bit of a give away at 2.5 million. Let's hope they don't come back to haunt us. |
david
said:
|
... Another John Doyle quote: i have said before many times on this site that the best player at the club by a mile is the fonz Yes John, I have been to reserve team games and I also go to some of the youth games. I also think that Delfouneso has the potential to be a good player, possibly even a very good player. However, right now, he is not by any means 'the best player at the club'. I look forward to seeing him have more chances to prove himself where it matters, in premiership games, but let's not pile too much pressure on him before he is ready to bear it. There have been numerous players who have shown huge potential but not been able to make the final step up. MoN clearly rates him and believes he will come good and hopefully we'll all see him fulfil the potential that you and others see in him. |
PAUL BOLTON
said:
 |
... People will always have gripes and groans about different players or managers, but I will be going to Wembley at least twice in one season. come on guys lets see the bright side eh? I would have been impressed with seeing Villa at wembely twice in a lifetime. My only complaint about the boss man was mentioned at the start of this blog but not discussed by any of you doom mongers and thats, what has he got against using a fresh pair of legs during the game? I swear that will be the difference for us this season will be tiredness. Use your subs Martin, please, they get payed enough, make them earn it for the team yeah? |
Dave Lynch
said:
|
... I dont care if Man City and Liverpool didnt win at Stoke .. and for everybody who is happy to amble through 2010 undefeated but settling for draws (and being outplayed)with agricultural teams .. I just want Villa to play there best team possible and Martin is not doing that . I dont care if you label me a doom and gloom monger , I would much rather have a bit of passion than settle for watching Villa's uninspirational draws and saying its ok not to try to win because we were in a Cup Final . Heskey has to go ffs and play specialist players in their correct position ffs and use a bit of imagination in your substitutions Martin |
Paul Theiss
said:
 |
... I despair. Our team has gone out there and, with few exceptions, left everything on the pitch this season. The players want to win. MON wants to win. We ALL want to win. Did you see how gutted our team was after the Carling Cup Final? Did you see how gutted MON was after the Carling Cup Final? That told me everything I needed to know about our team's desire for success. They crave it. Yet, after we drop points (and sometimes when we get the full 3 points), some of you can do nothing other than come on here and insult the team. |
tashofmountfield
said:
 |
... Having watched yesterday on a jerky free stream and not seen real highlights it's very hard to comment. Think I've pissed Damian off. If so I'm sorry. Wasn't intended. Don't diss the cult of Mountfield mind... with or without. UTV |
Andi
said:
|
...i have had enough of this crap went yesterday and thats enough for me have given away my season card.......as i said before i wont go agai while heskey is at the club Are you a mong?? I mean i aint the MULE's number one fan but that my friend is plain stupid, Your the type of fan that really gets on my tits, something dont go your way, and lets face it your years of football management several cups and champions league medals not to mention national team experience, and you do something so stupid as give your season ticket away. EMULE is bad but is a reason to take your support from the club that will be here along time after him ?? NO go a support the WING WAH UTD at the sty you are not worthy of a season ticket if thats how fickle and moronic you are, Although i will be quite pleased if you the numpty that sits by me with the small kid who tells me not to swear YOUR IN THE HOLTE END YOU PLANK WHAT DO EXPECT MR TUMBLE< W DO HAVE A FAMILY STAND !!!! |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... I wish people would stop parping on about not losing a league game in 2010. 2 wins in 7 games. 11 points from a possible 21. Not really that good is it? |
Andi
said:
|
...I wish people would stop parping on about not losing a league game in 2010. But we havent lost in the league in 2010 !!!  |
Chris Harper
said:
 |
... This blog is pure comedy. Chiefy YOUR IN THE HOLTE END YOU PLANK WHAT DO EXPECT MR TUMBLE< W DO HAVE A FAMILY STAND !!!! |
Andi
said:
|
... Villa-Chris - do you not agree ?? Once the Holte end was a feared 12th Man now they want a soft play area for the kids |
Chris Harper
said:
|
... Yeah I do agree. Thats the reason why i don't take my 7 year old nephew. Its not the right environment for them. |
John Samuels
said:
 |
... A point at Stoke? I'll take it. I think away to Wigan will be slightly easier considering they actually try and play. The weather will hopefully be kinder too. Stoke killed the game, Pulis throttled the life out of it and it wasn't our fault. A win at Wigan and we're still in the mix. Has everyone forgotten that Spurs have Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea back to back in April? It's still on boys, Man City drew and so did we. We need to beat Man City when we play them and Hope Spurs drop points against the top three. Very possible imo. |
Andi
said:
|
...Thats the reason why i don't take my 7 year old nephew. Its not the right environment for them. I am all for taking the kids but pick where you sit properly, North Stand upper is there for this reason even trinity road but the holte end come on..... common sense you would have though |
Chris Harper
said:
|
... I mean the Holte isn't the environment. I would take kids to the stands you've mentioned. JPA Its true you know, it is possible despite what people are saying. As Damian keeps saying....we will see. There is no point spitting the dummy out when there is such a big chunk of games to be played. |
Damian
said:
|
... Juan Pablo Angel if it were just about spurs dropping points and us beating man city i'd say we have a very good chance - but it is also about us winning i mean - even you had stoke down as an away win in the predictions - did you think before saturday that we would cruise to 4th or just steal it. if you thought we would cruise to 4th then dropping 2 points is fine. if you thought we were just going to steal 4th - then we could be in trouble i want to go back and revise my predictions personally because after that display, i just worry where goals are going to come from when playing premier league opposition |
Andi
said:
|
... Now we all acknowledge we have a need for two types of player Creative Midfielder (lock picker) 20 goal a season striker now although we all acknowledge the need for these players we seem some what confused as to why it was we only managed a draw against a team that parked a bus in front of their goal. By the very definition of the players we need it is obvious why we need do not beat Stoke and it is even more obvious why we will or should beat Citeh, Wigan, Wolves, Blues even Chelski. We can compete with teams that want to play against us because we lack 2 players, we struggle even more so when we dont have the pace of Gabby on the pitch when we play teams that wont let us play. If nothing else this proves why we need these two players and while making our life a little bit harder it is not impossible and certainly not over. I think we have a better chance a much better chance that what some give us credit for and hopefully MON had his shopping list book out over the weekend and has a big fat list to work through in the summer |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Chris and Damien. I think we might do it, but we might not. Personally I don't think we're ready to qualify for CL, but that doesn't mean to say we aren't capable. My prediction was more wishful thinking, but we are definitely in the run for fourth and MArch is the month for us. We could come out of this month in fourth and heading into a semi final. We might not, in which case I will be quite happy that we will have a full tilt at the Europa next season with a new strike force. It's no coincidence that we've spent upwards of £30m on the defence. upwards of £50m on the midfield and £7m on forwards. We will see a big spend on two strikers this summer and maybe a midfielder too due to Petrov's age and one other leaving. We are progressing and will have progressed even if we finish 7th this season. It's looking like if we do miss fourth it will only be by a handful of points. How anyone can suggest that a whole season that has seen us turn our defensive frailties around and go on two tremendous cup runs is a failure because we get two less points than last season for example is mad. We have a great defense and very good midfield. The players have another years experience and are all older and stronger, we have a young team that will get better. I'm looking forward to the summer more than I am the end of this season. If we go out to Chelsea and miss out on fourth it's not going to bother me at all because I have seen enough this season to keep me believing. |
Chris Harper
said:
|
... JPA You feel exactly the same way as me. I don't think we're ready for chapions league yet, but with a couple of good signings in the summer, along with the progression of a young team, we have a lot to look forwrd to. |
john doyle
said:
|
... you lot can all take the piss out of mee but i speke from the hart i have villa in my blood and if you lot are pleased with the way we play and our 50 k a week players good luck to you nobody has replied to the fact that wenger has spent half the money that the great martin has on his team and look at them the way they play compered to our crap thats is at least the stanard we should be looking at as for heasky i will say no more on the subject as he aint worth breath and yes i would love gorden cowans to take over at the top he knows how the game should be played and would play players at least in the wright places |
Andi
said:
|
...I'm looking forward to the summer more than I am the end of this season. If we go out to Chelsea and miss out on fourth it's not going to bother me at all because I have seen enough this season to keep me believing Praise the lord although i dont need to see anything to believe i choose to believe some people choose religion, politics or superstition I choose Aston Villa Football Club and Villa Park is my Church |
Jonathan Walker
said:
 |
... Talking of taking kids to the holte end I'm taking my nephew this weekend. He's 10 years old and we will be sat three rows from the back slap bang in the middle. I've taught him all the songs without swearing and explained that there will be bad language. I would normally sit in the trinity road stand when I take him, but my mate who I go with is away. I carnt wait to see his face at a local derby right in the tick of it his so excited. I have thought to myself is it suitable for a 10 year and I would say not. Though if we dont start them young and show them how to support your culb we will end up like Man utd all standing up and clapping when we score then sitting down again. UTV |
StickyAV
said:
 |
... I bet the americans on here cannot understand how us brits can be so fecking negative and depressing. I'd like to point out we aint all like that... |
PAUL BOLTON
said:
|
... Top shout Chiefy!!!!! I will be at church on Saturday because regardless of how we play or "who plays" I love my team. Although a little frustrating at times they do entertain. Ok for all you experts out there in the managerial hot seat for one game only, who on current form, variation, skill, determination and playing in the right position would you pick? Friedel, L young, Collins, Dunne, Cueller, Warnock, Milner, Downing, A Young, Fonz, Gabby. My reasons are this- Petrov as superb as he has been this season has been carrying an injury and needs a rest. That is why I would use Luke Young in his normal position and push Dunne into defensive mid and have Collins and Cueller in the centre. I would use the pace of Gabby and Fonz to scare the bejesus out of any defence, but I also picked Fonz because for me he is the all round striker we need. He has pace, more skill than Gabby and a natural strikers instinct for goal. the subs would be utilised at some stage for definate in my team. |
John
said:
 |
... A point at Stoke keeps the Villa in contention but where was thwe ambition not playing Gabby? Surely every possible effort has to go into the last few games and starting Emile hasnt shown that ambition. I would love Villa to get that 4th place or show that they are determined to get it. It cant slip away again (can it?????) Lets hope a good striker is bought at the end of the season! |
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