SiDanger

The third midfielder would have to be a monster for this to work imo. Don't think we have anyone with the defensive ability to accommodate both Ireland and Bannan in a midfield 3.

Had a reasonable 2nd half, one great pass that Gabby should have done a bit better with. One thing this guy has in his locker that all the other's lack (bar Bannan maybe) is the ability to see a pass and play it first time which he did on that occasion.

I think we need someone who can play a bit alongside either Collins or Dunne as they are both out and out stoppers. I'd pick Dunne ahead of Collins, maybe Clark is the one who could be our ball playing centre half but question marks remain over his lack of pace and aerial ability to play at CB.

Bannan had a great 2nd half today when we actually decided we could win the game and tried to attack. First signs this season of him fulfilling his undoubted potential. MOTM easily for me and must start next game maybe in the middle in place of Ireland or Delph.

So you're honestly saying that the way he's playing now is how he's played for his entire career? This is him? Hard to imagine such a shit player single-handedly keeping a team up, as he did with Wigan last season. Inexplicable hate, all of our players bar Bent and Given really, get some. It's quite funny really, if one of our players has 5 or 6 bad games then they're shit. Like Warnock last season, yes he had a terrible start to the season but all of a sudden he was shit. It seems nobody is allowed to have a dip of form without being completely written off. I agree with your point but completely disagree with your example. Warnock was shit going back to the Carling Cup final loss against United. He picked up a habit of wandering out of position and giving away fouls in spots that cost us goals. Most of us had been calling for Warnock to be dropped for the last 4 months of MONs last season and about 8 games at the opening of last season. Of course his moronic interview he gave where he trashed the city of Birmingham to engineer a move away from the club certainly didn't encourage Houllier to recall him from the reserves. This is my point though, if someone is out of form it is ok to drop them but it doesn't make them shit. He still is, and would have been last season, our best option at left back.

For Lerner this was purely a business move / toy thing and he's now lost interest For all we harassed HDE, he actually had/has genuine passion for the club. Still goes to the games as he loves the club A lot of us have been to games because we love the club but we'd all make a shite owner.

Neither!

So you're honestly saying that the way he's playing now is how he's played for his entire career? This is him? Hard to imagine such a shit player single-handedly keeping a team up, as he did with Wigan last season. Inexplicable hate, all of our players bar Bent and Given really, get some. It's quite funny really, if one of our players has 5 or 6 bad games then they're shit. Like Warnock last season, yes he had a terrible start to the season but all of a sudden he was shit. It seems nobody is allowed to have a dip of form without being completely written off.

Easy solution, don't click on the thread called 'Stephen Ireland'

How's the formation shaping up?

Yes we can really make a valid point using 1 game from last year and 1 game from this year. So if/when we lose to Man City anyone can say 'solid last year'.

Can he have the same injection every half time from now on please!

I agree, plus the form Gabby is in he deserves a chance to play his best position.

He is a good goal scorer but all the top teams have good goal scorers who offer so much more as well. He is about the best we can get and we are about the best he can get in my opinion.

The problem is not the front four though, its the central midfield trio. Its has no balance to it, and that knocks on to the wide player(s). Until we rectify that, Zoggy may continue to struggle. Jenas may just prove to be solution, since his passing and box to box play is superior to what we already have in there. Despite not being fit, the same could be said for Bent, since he likes quicker balls into him. The player at the club who picks a forward pass quickest is Stephen Ireland, you could see that when he came on yesterday. I really think it's time he was given a chance. N'Zogbia is struggling for consistency at the moment but has still shown flashes of what he can do but his end product has been poor, I'm not going to judge him on 5 games anyway.

If Bent isn't fit then Gabby deserves a chance, he's fully fit and looks like this could be his best season yet for us.

Think you got a letter wrong there mate :winkold:

We really have to stop blamig O'Neil for everthing!

Let's judge him on a season not 4 games.

I agree, even in his poorest games this season he hasn't majorly let the team down apart from a naive challenge that led to the penalty against Everton which I am sure he will learn from. Bannan also got away with an even more naive challenge in that game which the younger players will do from time to time as they learn the game.

I'd like to see this with N'Zog and Albrighton switching.

It doesn't really matter who is captain as long as there is someone in the defence who organises the back four and possibly someone in the midfield to organise there. I guess the best person to be captain is someone who leads by example and if that means someone who gives 100% whenever he is on the pitch and despite his limitations Petrov always does that as far as I am concerned.

GKs make the best captains imo. They can see all of their outfield players and can see whats happening in front of them, so should be in the best position to bark out orders. I agree that strikers shouldnt be captains though. Not unless its a special case like Bryan Robson who would get the armband through their sheer presence on the pitch Bryan Robson was a midfielder.

This is his first prolonged run in the team. Give the guy a chance is what I think, he has looked good at times and was very good against Blackburn. He definitely has talent, just needs to learn how to play as a box to box midfielder, when to tackle and how to tackle, etc.

Who needs a crystal ball? He's the only player at the Villa who would struggle to put together a 2 minute youtube 'highlights' compilation?? All these people who think he will ever come good!!! Let's see it on the pitch and not in your imagination!!! He needs to actually get on the pitch for us to see it.