kieranavfc

Love the way that we all declare that Makoun isn't ready. We know better than Houllier, what does he know?

It could be a 4-5-1 with Downing tucking in and Young on the left....but probably won't be.

nice one yankee, it's always interesting to hear about what the players are like off the field.

Saw him after the match outside players exit. He was talking to a short, black 30s looking Blackburn player (sorry don't know who) and to a smartly dressed skinnier black guy in his early 40's (at first I thought he was a former Villa great because Villa players were going up to say hello (Bannan and Albrighton + Fonz...help me out with my limited pre-2006 Villa knowledge!!)

Anyways, Nathan came across as a little whiney baby. He said "Yeah man, well it ain't my position, the gaffer should know I'm a striker...I don't play out there....But you know, I bang in the goals cause that's my job baby, banging them in...."

Not exactly eloquent.

BTW, no clue what Bannan was saying except for a couple words here and there ...I don't understand HIS Scottish accent.

Met Albrighton and sat next to his parents at the match, great people.

Delfouneso 'I bang in the goals' has got 2 in 15 appearances this season...

Any other stories to tell about any other players?

Excellent ball by Makoun then, better first touch from Bent and he was clear!

Has anyone got any stats on long balls attempted by each Prem team this season?

Bloody hell, Houllier isn't scared of new ideas is he?

at least we have attacking options from the bench if we're in a spot of trouble. Very good ones at that.

tbf Lyon were in a pretty false position to begin with, even moreso than us!

Excellent, i was slightly cautious about this signing, with him coming from the French league and for such a modest fee...but it looks like Houllier's previous dealings have got us a deal that we wouldn't have got otherwise. A lot more optimistic now!!

7/1 to score first on saturday!

can't remember the last time i saw a player at the villa with better ball controll/technique than barry bannan...

Great ball from Gabby, great cross by Ash, super finish mark

I think i could have offered more than pires so far today. Albrighton looking sharp!

tough sh*t you stupid bald tosser

anyone know where one could download this game/get it on dvd? someone must have recorded it from Football First. ta!

To be honest, although we lost we played a damn sight better than we did here last season, and on another day could have won it. All in Houllier's 2nd league game. And I'm convinced we'll get better. A very, very good player made the difference today. Onwards and upwards!

any idea whether this will sell out?

Current Betfair (decimal) odds

KMac 3.2

Curbs 3.8

Houllier 6.4

Sven 11

Where is Luke Young?

Would have been nice to get a "and we will also reject any subsequent bids" in there, but i'm not complaining. Quite happy with the way the club are dealing with this.

great win, satisfying to see us grinding wins out at the business end of the season, unlike last year.

thought milner was outstanding yet again. gabby was good and took his goal brilliantly. the defence were rocks. also what a run by carew before the penalty!! monster.

bring on SHA

I'd forgotten about that. He really is a monster at times, he looked like an 18 year old in an under 14 game with that run.

That was only Milner's 5th yellow of the season, you only get a match ban if you have 5 yellow cards by December. Milner is not, I repeat not suspended for the Small Heath game. Feel free to start breathing again now.

*breathes*

I THINK MILNER IS SUSPENDED FOR SUNDAY!

I'm only counting 8 yellows for him, needs 10 to get suspended.

Sorry I got panicky there didn't mean to worry anyone.

Premier League website makes this his 5th yellow...