DeepDish

I think Heskey did fine when coming on. One great tackle at the back and the nice back heel flick.

Nigel Reo Coker on the other hand.... WTF was that?

Carew - 4 - Woeful.

Madness!

Worked harder than I've ever seen him work in a Villa shirt tonight.

Perhaps but I'm sorry if Heskey had done what Carew had done tonight, he'd be called the Worst player to put on a Villa shirt. He gave the ball away most of the time, he didn't hold it up for us, didn't provide us with a threat. I like him, when he's on it he's one of the best strikers in the Premiership but for someone who is so big and strong, the amount of times he just lost the ball simply was just fustrating.

Heskey comes on wins a couple of flick on's, lack of communication with Milner and it's a "Heskey - 4 - Awful" etc...

I'd maybe move Carew upto a 5 for his sheer work but in order to get a 7, you've got to at least do the simple things right like hold the ball up..

I agree. Carew was knocked off the ball far too easily in their half of the pitch. Holding it up should be one of his major strengths. He couldn't make it stick tonight.

I disagree. I think Carew showed how important it is to have a striker that are working hard defensively to give valuable protection to the midfield, so they can adjust one step lower to provide protection for the defenders.

When City were struggling in the first half and ending up playing the ball back to Given or out of the pitch, it was Carew's fantastic work that forced them to do this, and at the same time giving our midfielders more peace to start their defending a bit lower.

I think Carew was one of our most important players in the first half. Together with Gabby, Warnock, Dunne and Collins.

Decent result. Today showed two teams with probably the same abilities, but neither quite up there to break into the top 4.

I an extremely happy with our new defenders. Specially surprised by Collins, who I had barely seen before he signed.

And I think Lescott is the most overrated defender in the world. He will not stop City's defence to let in goals.

What amazes me most is that Small Heathens keep having this wank-fest over Chucho when he's played for them six times so far this season and hasn't scored once. So much for him being apparently better than Agbonlahor.

NO its Pele he is better than

Heh, and I even suggested that we should have bought him after seeing him in Copa America two years ago....

Did not like it when I heard Scum had bought him, but took some comfort that most South Americans will fail in the Premier League.

I thought: Why has he left Carew, that complete waste of space, on the pitch? Bold move all the same.

I think that's a fair statement, but I can see why he put three strikers on the pitch. But from the sounds of things, he should have actually put Heskey up front where he belongs if he's going to play, then either Milner, Young or Gabby in attacking midfield, so we had some pace to get back and help if necessary.

would that be gabby who scores goals? you would replace him for heskey who doesnt score goals?

weird

and so the heskey points per game total gets even worse, as does the lets play 4 4 2 instead of a winning formula of 4 5 1.

never mind, im sure once 4th is out of reach more excuses... i mean explinations, will be brought forward.

But you did not expect top 4, so there would be no need for excuses. I mean, if you expect top 8, you surely has a reason to be happy with yet another 6th place.

I felt it was the right thing to play him, but Carew should have been the one subbed. And we should have subbed Delph for Reo Coker.

Disappointing result. Was hoping for a draw.

Cant give any ratings as I only saw it on a stream and it fell out several times.

Good thing the City match is on the telly.

Heskey putting some extra pressure on the Blackburn defence. Winning some extra corners.

Come on, gotta go for this win. Would be thrilled if we manage that.

Samba pushed Dunne just when he was heading the ball, and the ball were not cleared before Samba could head it in the goal.

Looked like a free kick for Dunne.

Looking forward to watching this one on the telly.

We will win. 3-0.

Reminds me of the Phil King, Fashanau and Lamptey window

Phil King - Meh

Fashanu - hmmm, don't like him, but he might be good

Lamptey - Woooohooooo, foreign, cool name and branded Africa's Pele. I love the fact that Villa buy the most talented young players in other continents.....

In some matches, I want him to play. But in most matches I think he should start on the bench. It all depends on the opposition.

Some good pressure now.

And Rangvald Soma is playing CB at Rapid Vienna. He was considered a much bigger talent than Hangeland when they were young.

Good to see 4-4-2 in this match. Would have been clueless to play 4-5-1 in these circumstances.

Absolutely agree. Of course we should be playing the same formation (and practically the same team) that lost to Wigan at Villa Park rather than the one that beat Liverpool at Anfield.

Hehe, so an all out attacking Liverpool does not warrant a different approach than an Euro Cup match against a team that will defend all match because they already are ahead of us? Well....

Good to see 4-4-2 in this match. Would have been clueless to play 4-5-1 in these circumstances.

I live in Norway, so I can't fly over to watch more than once or twice a year.

This year I will try to go to an away match with the supporters.

Awesome effort, awesome performance, awesome result.

This match has strengthened my belief that our defenders needs more backing from the midfield, and when they do get it, they are more than capable of playing well.

Fearing we are the new Tottenham (great pre season and rubbish start of season).

Ratings:

Guzan 6 Couldn't do anything to save the goal

Beye 6 Decent match

Cuellar 6 Our best defender

Davies 4 Take a looooong break, son

Shorey 6 Was good, until I commented it in the match thread, then the passes went everywhere

Milner 5 Poor deliveries, poor tactical choices - worked hard, though

Sidwell 5 Who?

Gardner 4 Bad passes, clumsy, takes to much time when he has the ball

Reo Coker 7 Best of the bad bunch

Young 5 And that is because he finished better than he started

Heskey 5 Is having too few finishes at goal

Gabby 5.5 started brightly, but hopeless when he did not play Milner

you were saying about shorey?

He's looking good, even though he has made two errors in this match.

Shorey is looking good.

I like that team.

What is wrong with putting milner at right back to bring a winger on when you are losing?

I think it would be better to take Ashley off after a bad performance and put Milner on the left side.

Agree. Would give him a kick up the arse he needs instead of being told he is 'world class'. A massive mistake with regards to Young IMO.

Read a RAWK poster after the Peace Cup match against Atlante:

Still, I think unless Martin O'Neill decides to put some faith in his young players and/or acquires more players, I think Villa will struggle to repeat last year's effort. This season could be a bit of a wake-up call, as their back four still looks shaky, although Guzan was quite good throughout this game. Judging by his lavish goal celebration, I also predict this is the year Ashley Young's ego inflates to the point that it perhaps becomes a detriment to Villa.