JB

Is that our fans singing "We are shit"? **** pathetic rocket polishers. Should be ashamed of themselves. Scum.

We don't seem to be playing with any desire (a couple of players excepted).

Why is Ashley still taking the corners?! Each one of them has been absolute shit!

Things are ALWAYS too good to be true when you support Aston Villa. Build us up just to knock us down! I'm just so gutted right now, I feel sick. It doesn't really need to be said again, but that was shit from Warnock. Really, really, really shit. Despite City looking shaky at the back, we aren't putting enough pressure on them, or putting in enough crosses and shooting from distance to put pressure on Fulop. COME ON VILLA!!!

Exactly. It's the arrogance of the "aggressively atheist" that bugs me. Anyway, after you've summed it up so, I think it's time for me to steer clear of this rather unpleasant thread now.

That's because we're right. Nobody ever died in the name of atheism. Once again, organised religion becomes confused and/or aligned with a simple belief in a higher power or intelligent design. I think it's very important to separate the two. As I said, I have an open mind but to write off anyone with faith as stupid is even more so IMO.

Totally agree. Being interested in thread title, I decided to give it a read but found that it once again got turned into an off-topic slanging match. I wish this whole thing would just be put to bed on here. I was pretty disgusted to see one poster call another "dumb as ****". It seems that, more often than not, the atheist side of the debate that starts throwing the insults around. Personally, whilst not religious, I have an open mind. Faith is of great comfort to some people, and the apparent pleasure that others take in ridiculing, insulting and deriding this is quite disturbing. A belief in intelligent design doesn't mean you necessarily adhere to the beliefs set out in words written by men. In my experience, it seems that when it comes to these debates, the atheists are the ones more likely to aggressively force their beliefs upon you.

Three points away from home, clean sheet, job done. What a finish by Gabby. Thought we played much better than we did against Pompey. Never had to get out of second gear to win. Hopefully keeps a lot in the tank for Sunday. Well done lads.

Always rated Bale. I seem to remember someone on here saying that they worked with/for the Welsh FA and claiming that Bale had some long-running injury problems that he'd probably never recover from? What's the score with that now?

My complaint was a cumulative one based on what I've seen for the past few months and not a complaint about the result. That would be silly. Obviously, I'm delighted we won against Pompey but the rigid style of play and the lack of passion on display from many of the players has cost us points recently and will continue to do so. We conceded possession again and again with poorly executed crosses, and whilst one eventually yielded the winner, it could only be healthy for the team's fortunes if we had other ways of attacking.

I'm obviously delighted with the 3 points, but the performance is a different story. I'm just not enjoying watching Villa anymore. Before every game, I let myself get excited and up for it. And then every time, we're subjected to the same predictable line-up, tactics and performance. Over-hit cross after over-hit cross. That seems to be the extent of our game plan. Yes, we won, but only because Pompey were so hopelessly awful. Anyone else would've held us out IMO. Pompey were there for the taking. I was crying out for some incisive play, or semblance of passion and desire from our players. They barely even bother celebrating goals anymore. I really think they have the quality to produce a better, more effective style of play but seem set in the old cross, cross, cross routine. We've become very predictable and easy to defend against. Until now, I been a huge supporter of MON's and one of those who found all the critical, "negative" posters to be annoying, and to be honest, full of shit much of the time, but I have to say, after another performance of this nature, today was the day that I think I lost my faith. I can't see how we will move forward. There are no excuses for not rotating or not strengthening in January. Because of our failure to do these things, our players are on their arses. I genuinely think we'll lose to Blues now. We just don't seem to have to the desire or ability to find a plan B to compete in a derby at the moment. I feel sorry for Carlos. He's a quality CB who I believe would've had a genuine shot at going to the World Cup, but he's been consistently played out of position as an ineffective RB. Most of his good work comes when he moves into the middle and he gets involved in defending in the box. I've been holding off posting this, as I didn't want to make a knee-jerk reaction but, when I thought about it, this has been the case pretty much since the new year, with the odd exception. I don't want MON sacked but I'm desperate to see something else from this group of quality players, be it passion, desire, aggression or even a different way of getting the ball into the box.

FONZ YES!!! There's the poacher we've needed all season, Martin!

Regardless of whether we score again in the next 10 minutes, today was the day that I officially lost faith.

Spurs blow Chelsea off the park whilst we bravely hold Portsmouth to a battling draw. Says it all about the direction we've gone this season. Perhaps our wingers should start aiming their crosses to the near post as they all seem to be ridiculously over-hit at the moment. Maybe smash them in with a bit of pace too rather than hopefully floating them over.

I'm not sure I can watch this crap anymore. I stay up til all hours down here in Australia to watch us and each time, I let myself get reasonably excited about the upcoming game, only to be bored to tears or sleep by the football we produce and the lack of passion and urgency on display from our players. It's a real shame, as I genuinely think that we have the players with the ability to play much more attractive, varied and effective football as opposed to the cross, cross, cross we employ at the moment. This can't go on.

Nail on the head there. We're appear utterly devoid of alternative ideas.

Our players look like they don't care. Hardly celebrate goals anymore. Compare that to the hunger, desire and quality shown by Spurs lately and it's really quite alarming.

Great goal. Assist from Warnock too . Good lad.

Not sure I can recall a more surprising and rapid decline in a player than Stephen Warnock. Done the exact opposite of Gareth Bale! How did JC manage to pick James out there?! That is a ridiculously easy sitter - was simpler to score!

What a load of shit.

Arteta is ridiculously lucky to still be on the pitch after that blatant poke in the eye, the sly, dirty little word removed.

Yep, what a quality, quality goal. Superb build-up play and a wonderful finish. Any side in the world would be proud of that one. Fans singing MON's name. Love it .

What nonsense. Precisely. Paulanddonya, I don't think anyone has ever stood out to me on this board for posting quite as much bollocks as you do. We're all upset, gutted, distraught or whatever about this result (I know I am), but please don't just make things up.

I may be coming back from the a night out and full of booze (I'm in Australia), so please forgive me for any nonsensical comments in the match thread, but I don't think I've ever seen Villa concede six, let alone seven goals in a game. I'm distraught by the nature of that hiding and it almost proves the negative people on here correct. I never imagined that that could happen to our team. I feel like crying.

You might have to explain that to me I think. 6-1. I'm sorry, I'm in AUstralia, just got home from a night out which included many drinks and got my literary terms confused!