John

I wonder if it will work in quite the same way with Gabby?

Such bad news for Jordan and for us. I hope he will return for us next season as good as new.

My thoughts are with the families of those who have loved ones that will not be coming home tonight and that they will not see again. How can those who have done this evil to innocents see it as being in any way justified?

This is terrible news for both club and player. I hope things are not quite as bad as they seem and that Jordan will be playing again for us sooner rather than later.

Do we know the sort of injury he came off with? I hope it may just be a knock and he will be available for next weekend.

Where are these rumours floating around? £8m would seem a huge drop on what they were after a couple of months ago and even if they were prepared to accept that sort of fee how likely is it that he will wait until the summer and leave for nothing in the same way that Ings did?

Thanks for providing your thoughts on the above ratings lexicon along with your well put reasoning.

I do not give the manager a mark Grasshopper but I have no problem with the one you have given.

I note that the boss asked if there was any reason he could not pick N'Zogbia before he did so. I wonder if he asked the same question about Traore and got a different answer? This looks a player with real potential and one that can play a big part in keeping us up. If our new boss sees it that way I cannot see him not playing him when he considers he is ready. I suspect Watford's visit might see him selected to do some damage to them possibly from off the bench.

I suspect we may be giving Wenger a call to see if they can loan us a player or two that they are not expecting to use in 2016.

I can see where you are coming from on the ratings but I do not think anyone was worth a 6 on that performance and I felt those 3 did well enough to merit more than a 7 on balance although it is a matter of opinion and thank you for giving your one Tom13. The difference between those players is known only to their respective parents I suggest. Thanks for your comment as well srsmithusa that is how I viewed it.

An unwelcome snake slithered into Villa Park yesterday and spent most of the game sitting upon the bench which has now become its usual habitat. That greedy snake came onto the playing field on 78 minutes and received the welcome it so merited but was happily denied a victory. Manchester City arrived as table toppers whilst we were embarrassingly propping up the rest of the division. There could only have been one result couldn’t there? Many of us arrived expecting the worse as we have grown accustomed to seeing it at Villa Park this season. But we left the ground with smiles on our faces rather than frowns and for once not having tasted defeat. We were encouraged that the first team to be selected by the new boss contained none of the usual shocks. It was in fact unusually near to that which most of us would have selected for the game so we had little cause to question it. Our new manager was described as a “Wenger clone” by both Henry and Keown yesterday. That will be good enough for me on yesterday’s showing. We looked organised and our players seemed aware of what was expected of them. We played some very nice one and two touch football. Our defence showed a steely determination not to be breeched and achieved a very rare clean sheet. We continue to lack a cutting edge up front but did suggest that we might have it in us to play our way out of the mess we are now in. Manchester City were below their best in the first half and our players will have been encouraged that they went in level at the interval. Our opponents did improve in the second half and had opportunities to win it. They may claim that we rode our luck and clung onto our point. But we earned our valuable fifth point of the season yesterday along with any luck that may have been with us. This result will not keep us up in isolation. But it stops our run of defeats and does provide us with hope that we can turn things around in what is left of this season to finish it with three clubs below us. The new boss now has the international break to work with those players who are not away on international duty. All we ask for is a second new manager “bounce” in two seasons to rescue us from the unthinkable. My player ratings from a game that provided grounds for optimism that were missing before it are: Brad Guzan – 7 – Kept out a low Kolarov shot at his near post on 17 minutes which bounced off him for a corner. Brad needed to have a third player in his wall for Kolarov’s 52nd minute free-kick from the edge of the area. His shot was hit past the 2-man wall and was fumbled rather than caught by Brad keeper but fortunately Clark was on hand to clear the loose ball. Spread himself well 5 minutes later when Sterling ran between Hutton and Richards to connect with a Navas cross only to see his unchallenged close range header bounce clear off Brad’s head. Oh and I just have to mention that free-kick that he put straight out! Alan Hutton – 8 – Alan worked tirelessly as he always does. He was very solid at the back. Jordan Amavi – 8 – How could he possibly not have been selected in recent games? Michah Richards – 8 – He was so determined to not be on the losing side yesterday. Ciaran Clark – 8 – Gave everything he had to keep their forwards at bay and produced a very committed performance Carles Gil – 8 – MOTM – Carles fitted into the way we played yesterday so easily. Was held back on 35 minutes when in the process of running on to a superb ball played from inside his own half by Gueye for him. Jordan Veretout – 8 – Looked increasingly confident during this game and can build upon this encouraging performance with a run of games. Carlos Sánchez - 8 – Carlos seemed much more comfortable in our midfield yesterday. He along with his colleagues seemed aware of what was expected from them and produced it. Idrissa Gana – 8 – He was a touch hesitant to begin with but soon found his feet and played a crucial role in what was a solid midfield display. Hit a 14th minute shot wide of the post from outside of the box. Scott Sinclair – 7 – An encouraging performance from Scott after some recent ones that had been below par. Returning to his goal-scoring early season performances would be timely. Jordan Ayew – 7 – Ran himself into the ground yesterday. Given service he will get goals and he merits a run in the team for me. Substitutes: Charles N’Zogbia – 7 - Replaced Gil on 65 minutes for his first outing since the FA Cup Final. When he is up for it he can provide the sort of measured crosses Gestede could feed on. Brought out of the cold by the new boss and needs to reward him for that with his performances for us during the rest of this season. Hit a sweet cross on 70 minutes that Sagna just got to and turned out for a corner before Sinclair was able to reach it. Leandro Bacuna – 7 - Replaced Sinclair on 72 minutes. Played a nice one-two with Ayew that started in our own half and touched the ball into space past Kolarov only for Hart to come off his line and beat him to it. Rudy Gestede - Replaced Ayew on 88 minutes and flicked a Veretout corner just over the bar that he had himself won in controversial circumstances. Not on long enough to claim a rating. Stay up Villa! John Lewis

An unwelcome snake slithered into Villa Park yesterday and spent most of the game sitting upon the bench which has now become its usual habitat. That greedy snake came onto the playing field on 78 minutes and received the welcome it so merited but was happily denied a victory. Manchester City arrived as table toppers whilst we were embarrassingly propping up the rest of the division. There could only have been one result couldn’t there? Many of us arrived expecting the worse as we have grown accustomed to seeing it at Villa Park this season. But we left the ground with smiles on our faces rather than frowns and for once not having tasted defeat. We were encouraged that the first team to be selected by the new boss contained none of the usual shocks. It was in fact unusually near to that which most of us would have selected for the game so we had little cause to question it. Our new manager was described as a “Wenger clone” by both Henry and Keown yesterday. That will be good enough for me on yesterday’s showing. We looked organised and our players seemed aware of what was expected of them. We played some very nice one and two touch football. Our defence showed a steely determination not to be breeched and achieved a very rare clean sheet. We continue to lack a cutting edge up front but did suggest that we might have it in us to play our way out of the mess we are now in. Manchester City were below their best in the first half and our players will have been encouraged that they went in level at the interval. Our opponents did improve in the second half and had opportunities to win it. They may claim that we rode our luck and clung onto our point. But we earned our valuable fifth point of the season yesterday along with any luck that may have been with us. This result will not keep us up in isolation. But it stops our run of defeats and does provide us with hope that we can turn things around in what is left of this season to finish it with three clubs below us. The new boss now has the international break to work with those players who are not away on international duty. All we ask for is a second new manager “bounce” in two seasons to rescue us from the unthinkable. My player ratings from a game that provided grounds for optimism that were missing before it are: Brad Guzan – 7 – Kept out a low Kolarov shot at his near post on 17 minutes which bounced off him for a corner. Brad needed to have a third player in his wall for Kolarov’s 52nd minute free-kick from the edge of the area. His shot was hit past the 2-man wall and was fumbled rather than caught by Brad keeper but fortunately Clark was on hand to clear the loose ball. Spread himself well 5 minutes later when Sterling ran between Hutton and Richards to connect with a Navas cross only to see his unchallenged close range header bounce clear off Brad’s head. Oh and I just have to mention that free-kick that he put straight out! Alan Hutton – 8 – Alan worked tirelessly as he always does. He was very solid at the back. Jordan Amavi – 8 – How could he possibly not have been selected in recent games? Michah Richards – 8 – He was so determined to not be on the losing side yesterday. Ciaran Clark – 8 – Gave everything he had to keep their forwards at bay and produced a very committed performance Carles Gil – 8 – MOTM – Carles fitted into the way we played yesterday so easily. Was held back on 35 minutes when in the process of running on to a superb ball played from inside his own half by Gueye for him. Jordan Veretout – 8 – Looked increasingly confident during this game and can build upon this encouraging performance with a run of games. Carlos Sánchez - 8 – Carlos seemed much more comfortable in our midfield yesterday. He along with his colleagues seemed aware of what was expected from them and produced it. Idrissa Gana – 8 – He was a touch hesitant to begin with but soon found his feet and played a crucial role in what was a solid midfield display. Hit a 14th minute shot wide of the post from outside of the box. Scott Sinclair – 7 – An encouraging performance from Scott after some recent ones that had been below par. Returning to his goal-scoring early season performances would be timely. Jordan Ayew – 7 – Ran himself into the ground yesterday. Given service he will get goals and he merits a run in the team for me. Substitutes: Charles N’Zogbia – 7 - Replaced Gil on 65 minutes for his first outing since the FA Cup Final. When he is up for it he can provide the sort of measured crosses Gestede could feed on. Brought out of the cold by the new boss and needs to reward him for that with his performances for us during the rest of this season. Hit a sweet cross on 70 minutes that Sagna just got to and turned out for a corner before Sinclair was able to reach it. Leandro Bacuna – 7 - Replaced Sinclair on 72 minutes. Played a nice one-two with Ayew that started in our own half and touched the ball into space past Kolarov only for Hart to come off his line and beat him to it. Rudy Gestede - Replaced Ayew on 88 minutes and flicked a Veretout corner just over the bar that he had himself won in controversial circumstances. Not on long enough to claim a rating. Stay up Villa! John Lewis

A really tough first game. Anything less than 0-3 would be a bit of a bonus for me and then we have an international break to look at things before our next game. Guzan, Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amarvi, Veretout, Gil, Gana, Sanchez, Sinclair & Ayew for me with Jack, Traore, Rudy and Westwood ready to come offf the bench as and if needed. But I am happy to leave team selection with our new boss for now . We have nothing to lose on Sunday other than the game itself, another 3 points and potentially our top flight status. Make a game of it Villa and give us some grounds for hope!

I think it is all about wanting to improve your match fitness or not. Those that do not soon get found out on the pitch. I guess those players will not see a lot of first team action from now on whether they had a get out of jail free card previously or not. For me it is not asking a lot for well paid players to work at their fitness in a way that is suitable to the club and to their own capabilities to do so.

Welcome back Robert! You have a big part to play in keeping us up alongside Remi. Both you and the players will need to hit the ground running. Bon chance!

Bon chance! I think you will need it. Bring us back our pride and keep us up. That is all we ask. I suggest you pick our best players and then stick with them to give them the opportunity to gel as a team. Most of us would suggest that you will need to bring in a new keeper, a striker and a few loan players from your mate Arsene in the next window. Your biggest task may prove to be securing the funds to make this happen.

The decision to ask him to step in again on a temporary basis was the wrong one. I think he still has issues after having done so before and his team selection tonight along with some of his comments since stepping into the role again suggested he was trying to make some sort of point to someone. If not his reliance on Gabby and on some of the other players he selected tonight suggests his knowledge of the current first team squad was very much lacking.

I really doubt that he would be and what he picks up each week would be a hell of a lot to pay for what would be at best a Championship class forward. 8 first half touches 2 of which were from a kick-off says it all for me.

Rien au monde pourra nous arreter!

Oh Remi! It is a big task he has agreed to take on but I trust Remi will prove to be a relegation remedy and we will not be saying Oh, 'eck! What a mistake-a to make-a in a few months.

Good point. I think Tim probably needed Chris Ramsey alongside him to make it work this season but QPR chose to keep him as their manager despite their relegation. Would Garde without his own staff possibly be the same and would he want the job without them given it will be tough enough with all of them in place?

I guess the delay may be due to the club not wanting to pay the money the clubs want to let their staff join us in much the same way that the club did not want to pay for the sort of players that would not have left us bottom of the table now. Get this sorted now Villa something other than the anticipated defeat at Spurs may make a very big difference at the end of the season.

Garde is one of several potential managers "prominently mentioned recently in the press" although Garde would be the name that springs to mind from this comment. I cannot imagine that those that make the decisions at VP will be happy that KMac has added to the speculation on the identity of our next boss particularly if they have to go to other less mentioned choices later on and he is not in the loop when it comes to being aware of progress or otherwise on their primary target.

So as things stand it seems Garde may not happen if he cannot take his management team with him, Christophe Galtier may be the next cab off the rank but we would need to pay off his current club to get him if he wants to join us and if the club are prepared to do so. It seems we may have either not approached Moyes yet thinking possibly that if he is sacked shortly we will get him for nothing or he has decided to stay where he is. If these or say Rodgers and Gourvennec do not happen other potential targets will be aware they were not our first, second or even third choice and we may then have to turn to someone like Rowett, Dyche, Pearson or Bruce with the help of a full time French interpreter. The sooner this gets done the better so that our new boss can see what he has to work with and begin the tough task of getting us out of the bottom three.