TRO

It wouldn't surprise me to see him walk in the summer.

...After the Manager described the capitulation as the worst he had been associated with in his career, I would suspect you may be suffering with a dose of denial....

I really don't think so TRO, (though I would say that). It's hard to deny what's there in front of your eyes. I think my outlook is that I've been to quite a lot of games, over quite a lot of years - 3 decades worth, plus a few more. So, as Chris said in the pub after, we've seen it before - it's not like we're 10 and the impact a defeat has is not the same for us as it would be for a bright-eyed nipper. In other words, after a few minutes, or hours, the hurt is gone. I can handle it, hopefully with some equanimity. Looking forwards however, to next week, I'll be at the Reebok, and if they do it again, I'll be mad as anything.

I sort of look at the Chelsea game as the coming together of a number of rare factors - Chelsea seriously motivated following Euro league exit, and on the back of a confidence boosting tonking of Pompey, Villa sapped after recent games and a number of injured players, or half fit players. Then a bit of luck that turned a 3 or 4 goal win into a complete gubbing. And Villa kept attacking, rather than going for damage limitation - commendable in my eyes, though I know a lot would say that they should have just sat back, but not me.

Anyway, Bolton next week, the players and manager owe us a performance of steel. Though from time to time (more at home games) us fans perhaps could do better for the players.

And in reply to Gen. Krulak, thanks for the thanks, and to everyone who's responded - it's nice when anyone reads or responds - the last couple I've written have had next to no comment, and I was thinking of not bothering to do them any more.

God help any of you, mind, if your view is shaped more than a sliver by what I think.

Thanks for that, no keep them coming I always enjoy your posts.

you are clearly better equipped than me at handling disappointment and more patient in waiting for repair.

i've voted probably not. However I definitely want him to go.

All these peoiple suggesting MON will go to Liverpool or Man U it's a joke, he's not good enough for us let alone them.

I really don't know how I feel, I kinda don't want him to go , but feel inclined he should come out and give us some clear and honest indication of where we are going what the likely/realistic plans are.

I don't feel inclined to seriously consider Mon for Liverpool or Man U even if the jobs were available.

.....Thats interesting,

I'm not sure what will happen, but I would suspect that, if he goes it will be of his own volition.

I suspect some folk will look at the departures

Arron Hughes

Craig Gardner

Kevin Phillips

Gary Cahill

Steven Davis

JLloyd Samuel

Gavin McCann

Thomas Sorensen

Zat Knight

Liam Ridgewell

and say we have spent c £100 million to improve our squad and yet these boys above are still performing in the prem and are not involved in any relegation teams.....??????? just being devils advocate.

ps ....yes davis is in the SPL, but still a decent standard of team.

Right then....

Arron Hughes-At Fulham not better than Luke Young or Cuellar at RB

Craig Gardner-shame he didn't get more of a chance really

Kevin Phillips-aged 138..good goalscorer but way past his best

Gary Cahill-IMO should never have gone..especially after his goal against the scum :winkold:

Steven Davis-playing SCOTTISH football

JLloyd Samuel-at Bolton..not better than Shorey/Bouma or Warnock

Gavin McCann-Bolton and struggles to play

Thomas Sorensen-We have Friedel and Guzan..maybe could have stayed but fell out with MON

Zat Knight-We have Davies/Cuellar/Dunne/Clark/Collins Villa fan but too prone to a mistake

Liam Ridgewell-seems to be doin quite well at LB for the scum

Shaun Maloney-Again, shame he didn't get more of a chance

The point is not should they have gone but their improvements have cost c £100 mill ..... just saying do you think we got value for money on the improvements.... the answer maybe yes... just asking.

.....Thats interesting,

I'm not sure what will happen, but I would suspect that, if he goes it will be of his own volition.

I suspect some folk will look at the departures

Arron Hughes

Craig Gardner

Kevin Phillips

Gary Cahill

Steven Davis

JLloyd Samuel

Gavin McCann

Thomas Sorensen

Zat Knight

and say we have spent c £100 million to improve our squad and yet these boys above are still performing in the prem and are not involved in any relegation teams.....??????? just being devils advocate.

Sorry, but i'd have none of them back. We've improved on every one of them.

I'm sure you right ...me too, but c £100 mill?

should the improvement have been a bit more?

.....Thats interesting,

I'm not sure what will happen, but I would suspect that, if he goes it will be of his own volition.

I suspect some folk will look at the departures

Arron Hughes

Craig Gardner

Kevin Phillips

Gary Cahill

Steven Davis

JLloyd Samuel

Gavin McCann

Thomas Sorensen

Zat Knight

Liam Ridgewell

and say we have spent c £100 million to improve our squad and yet these boys above are still performing in the prem and are not involved in any relegation teams.....??????? just being devils advocate.

ps ....yes davis is in the SPL, but still a decent standard of team.

Typical of moaning/booing Villa fans.

I was at the Bridge yesterday with my 6 year old son and we got behind the team all the way through.

If all you want to do is slate the manager and players then can I suggest you buy blue and white scarves and go down that sh*t hole in Small Heath.

Masssive couple of weeks coming so lets give the lads as much support as possible.

Again, don't go to Wembley if all you want to do is slag off the Villa..

ENOUGH SAID

Wish I could be as forgiving as you. Yes you have to give them support, but equally I think at some stage we deserve some answers too.

Those fans who went to Chelsea deserve medals....I certainly havn't got the resolve they have.

Perhaps now the Manager can see some of the things he does don't work.

General Krulak here:

1. Since I wasn't able to see the game nor any highlights, this is the first full game report I have seen. Thank you. I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist at this point in time...I am a realist. There is no question that we were outplayed although it does sound like our lads played hard and did not quit...which in my "old business" counted for a great deal. Still, 7-1 is 7-1 and we are going to have to live with it. On any given day, we can take any of them...but it has to be "our" day and we need an "our" day at the semi final. I NEVER give up so all I can say is Up the Villa!!!

General, in your old business, if lessons were not learnt lives would be lost so it was pretty important that they were learnt and I guess ( because I don't Know) that reports would be raised to ensure all and sundry were sure that lessons were learnt.

Football, so to speak is a bit of fun, except yesterday and the comparisons are dubious, but I am unsure from previous incidents that any lessons will be learnt and moreover will be communicated.

This was by no means a one off, its been coming and the team we played yesterday were well equipped to exploit our recent slump. Some of us were predicting a poor result yesterday i said 4-0 my one pal a season ticket holder for over 40 years was more bullish he said 6-0 those were pretty emphatic predictions when most games in the Prem measure up to 4-0 max by and large.

some of us can see a (more than a bad day at the office)problem, can we bounce back? I don't know, I hope so.

I recognise only too well, that this is a time to stick together, like no other time, but I also think it is a time for the lessons that we speak about to be "on the table".

I haven't see any TV of it at all, nor read any papers, nor heard any radio. I'm not in the mood. But I really don't think things are so bad. We got gubbed, stuff happens, move on. There are lessons, learn them. Next game.

If we learn the lessons your post will have merit as it was quite accurate.

There is a danger, that we can keep saying the same things and despite the lessons clearly not being learn't.... we keep saying there are lessons to be learned.

if you get my drift.

I have to say the way you have handled this annilation is commendable to some and naive to others....After the Manager described the capitulation as the worst he had been associated with in his career, I would suspect you may be suffering with a dose of denial.

only time will tell.

Have seen a result coming like this a mile off. We looked very poor recently and have been shipping goals against poor opposition. Since the turn of the year, Warnock has started to look shaky defensively, Carlos at RB has been a disaster, and Collins hasnt looked as confident as his early games for us. Dunne luckily has been solid....unto the sunderland game....

Petrov and Milner both good players, but a very awkward mix. We have the most important area of the pitch manned by an attacking midfielder and a winger by trade. We get waltzed through time and time again. Our ball possesion is appaling. We hand the opposition the ball back again and again in the most cheap ways possible. Theres no pass and move, no variety, unless milner produces a moment of magic, or ash hits an inch perfect cross we dont look like scoring.

I think most people who get to see us in the flesh each week have known for a while that we are behind man city, everton, spurs, let alone the liverpools, arsenals etc.

The balance of the team seems out of kilter. We never seem to dominate even weaker teams, never have long periods of possesion, and only ever seem to play decent football in 10 -15 min spells.

Ive not given up on MON yet, theres alot of potential in the squad if it can be balanced and added to with quality in the right areas. Times running out though because for me he isnt grabbing the oppotunitys we have been gifted on a plate (arsenal last season, liverpool this), and doesnt seem to be learning from his mistakes.

We need some fresh faces. Id like to see Bouma, NRC, Delph, Davies, Beye and Albrington utilised.

good post and someone who clearly has a grip of things on the park.

No I'm not TRO, thanks.

.....you must be a relation then.

If we were owned by a man who would, following this season, sack the manager on the back of 1 result like this, I'd be concerned.

1 result

are you blind?

none of em

ditto

The worst performance I've seen from a Villa side in my life!

A defence that looked all over the place and not comfortable with the ball and a midfield bybassed so easily with no general ball winner in the team.

We're predicatable to watch (get the ball wide and put the ball in the box in hope)

No way near enough quality for the money we've spent.

End of the road for O'Neill for me!

This defence thing is a myth.we just get bodies behind the ball, sit deep,deny ourselves offensive options and then pat ourselves on the back for having the best defensive record in the PL and then go in to important games and concede with the ease of a knife through butter.

Jekyl and Hyde thats us.

People say I am talking bollox because I say that Petrov and Milner are knackered after 60 minutes

You lot are deluded you really are.

And you know what = I saw Milner run 90 yrds in the last minute - it doesn't mean he wasn't knackered.

What it does mean is he is the only one who actually gave a shite !

MON will destroy Milners world cup dream - coz his body cannot take this - believe me !

Oh

and another thing - to those who say "I expect a reaction after this"

Funny, I thought thats what we were saying last week ?

you are not and do not talk bollox

The Midfield set up ain't right

who picks up Lampard, who picks up Gerrard, who picks up Rooney or even attempts to..... you just cannot let these players free its suicide.

Pure and simple...

MON is as stubborn as they come and he **** it up today, as he has done in a few of his selections this season.

I read his stories on the Ofiicial Site every day, and only this week, he was telling us fans, that he desperately needed to rest the likes of Milner, Dunne, Heskey, Petrov, Downing and Collins, players that have been pretty much part of the same starting 11 all season. Some of those mentioned players have, as he said, been struggling with niggling injuries...

So whats does O'Neill do? He plays them against Chelsea, a tired team with struggling players. Chelsea once again exposed our lack of strength in depth, scoring 5 goals in the second half as our players where 'blowing out of their arses'.

He refuses to make changes and use some of the fringe players that we have at our expense..

Today, is the first time in a long while that I have been embarrassed to be a Villa fan, I can accept defeats, but the manner in which we lost today is inexcusable..

I look forward to MON's post match interview, where he comes out, sticks his hands in the air and apologises to the fans for what was, an absolute crap performance, instigated by a manager who seems to have lost his way in the basics of squad rotation..

I think there is a tendency of contradiction From Martin O'Neill he seems to say one thing and do another.

We seem to bark on like a record player about how good the kids are, but they never get a proper run out..... now they are either good enough or they are not, Gabby seems to be the last real find, what 3/4 seasons ago.... so is this academy a myth?

I think a large dose of over hype comes out of B6 at times, just to feed the self gratification that is desperately in evidence.

No excuses from MON in the post-match it seems

what did he say?

"We were well beaten by a fine side. We were masters of our downfall. We stopped competing at 3-1 and that's unforgivable. We are devastated and we have to fight back from this."

He refused to blame tiredness as every team has a hard season - you can tell this result hurts him. But he thinks we have it in the squad to bounce back.

Do you expect him to say we havn't got it in us to bounce back.... employees of the club have to sell seats....of course he will say that, they all do.

I just feel right now, that I'm poking money in his pocket while he's pissing on my boots.

Delfouneso looked lively in the second half - it'll be a massive lesson for us but let's see how we bounce back.

"Lessons" can be a cop out unless you learn from them.

judging by last seasons " lessons" ......we havn't.

Very poor second half beaten by a clinical side who will win the league. Could have been very different had we gone in at 1-1 at half time and perhaps Mikel was sent off in the first half. All we can do is put the result behind us, I expected us to lose today but the score is flattering to Chelsea given our first half performance.

No doubt this thread will get double the pages it would had we not lost since the boo boys will be out in force.

This isn't a case of the boo boys being in the ascendency, this is a case of some fans can see the quality of play is not what some believe it to be and some seem to be in denial.

can't say I'm surprised, because I'm NOT except for the magnitude for the defeat.... never thought Aston Villa under Martin O'Neill could concede 7

No, my mind was made up months ago when we were winning that this team without numbers can't defend.

This is not a time for turning on the Manager, this really is a time for the Manager to quit this immature stubborness and get back to analysising the play and correcting it.

I did'nt watch the game today, but I'm told that by half time we were a good match for them and possibly the better team despite being 2-1 down.

without seeing the game I would be interested in who was responsible for picking up Lampard....it just strikes me the Lampards, The gerrards, The Rooneys just don't get picked up.

echoing the words of my old schoolmaster who coached our team and when I commented to him how good the opposition is that day before the game, the immortal words were mooted...."they're all good if you let 'em be"

simplictic -yes... but spot on IMO

I didn't say that I wasn't going because I thought we'd lose. I went to the CC Final knowing that it was going to be a very tough game and probably anticipating a loss. I went to the FA Cup Final against Chelski years ago knowing that we were big underdogs.

I said I'm not going because I am frustrated with MON's selection and tactics and I don't think we are giving ourselves a chance to compete as a consequence. I don't fancy a four hour journey back thinking "if only ......." again. I don't mind losing if we give it a go, or else I probably wouldn't have been a ST holder for nearly 20 years!

Barry....you've started it.

you lesser fan you.

there will be many that feel the way you do....me for one.

I've given mine up for a better fan too.

....I too have given mine away.... to someone who may enjoy it more than me.

Heskey was a bit naff wasn't he..

No not in the second half.

Apart from one run which he created himself to get one on one and then err miss, he still spent the majority of the second half giving them the ball straight back!

It's a bit harsh to say it was a miss, more a great save from the keeper i recon. He did get the ball up and over but the keeper got a hand up to it.

If it had of been sidwell, it would have been a miss....for sure.

...that was the Carew we all know he is capable of.

that was the carew that the Argentinian national coach said on one occasion was unplayable.

he can be quality, but also an enigma.

some of the deft touches was absolute class.

It is without doubt, vidic should have benn sent off, but he wasn't...... so its the next 85 minutes i was more concerned with.