uncy_chris

LOL @ Bowyer falling on his arse!

West Ham have been playing well recently so I wouldn't be so sure that SHA will win. Also, away goals don't count until extra time, so if West Ham can get any draw, they'll be through.

Old habits die hard. We need to keep more composed when we've got 10 mins left.

But plenty of positive from our performance - particularly Makoun, Cuellar, Dunne and a decent performance from Baker considering he was thrown in at the deep end. Great to have Gabby score - hopefully this can be the kick start he needs for his season

Balls....

Think I might give the last 10 mins a miss

Chelsea and Real have had massive bids rejected by Atletico. Ancelotti's hid that well!

This is very winnable, but the forwards need to make more runs for space. Wigan are shaky at the back and not confident up front, but they've been running at us and Baker has been done once or twice.

I'd get Gabby off, bring Heskey on and play 442 with Young on the wing

MM, in regards to this for e.g. Beye, why don't Villa try and negotiate a pay-off as it's obvious the player won't move.

Totally agree - Habib Beye has been such a waste of money. £40k pw for doing **** al

"Ah ah ah... but you promised!'

Love it! Makoun is going to be a monster for us.

I remain a bit on the fence. In a way I'm glad we've stuck with him. On the other I'm still not sure h'es the right man.

I'd always been in the "give him time as long as we'll stay up" camp. but then when it appeared we were just in free fall, I turned and wanted him out.

I don't know now. Part of me thinks he could do really well here given time. Part of me thinks he isn't the right man and the longer we keep him in the more time we're wasting.

That's basically my view as well. If he can keep us up this season, convince Lerner to spend some more and bring in three more TOP players, the sky is the limit, in my opinion. Someone had suggested that he be bumped upstairs into a DoF position and name his manager, which I think could work well.

Nice sounding plan, but you've gotta ask yourself, when has that sort of arrangement ever worked in the English game? Either way, it matters not what we say because Lerner is clearly backing GH all the way.

Very attacking line up... could spell disaster. But at the same time, we've got a very defensive back line. Really hope Gabby and Bent hit it off.

When's Heskey back? Would be interested to see how we works with Bent.

I don't think a Gabby/Bent front 2 will work, but we will probably have to play this game on the counter so maybe play SB's team with Gabby on the right, but put Young behind Bent.

24 flippin million is mental for Bent. I know it's spread over months and with add ons and what not, but he's really not worth that sort of money. £24m should get you a Tevez/Drogba/Torres/Dzeko - i.e. world class talent from abroad. Not that I'm really complaining because it's not my money! We are finally getting a proven goalscorer and someone who can single handedly get us the goals we need.

And that's that. Goodnight Villa. Probably goodnight Houllier.

Pushed Henderson in the face after we didn't kick the ball out when Gyan went down 'injured' (only to get up for a bit of a ruck when Heskey got involved)

Heskey sent off. Oh great - now I'm sure we'll win

And there goes the spoon. **** Snoods!

Gyan on for Steed. Does that mean 3 up top against our shaky defence?! Oh dear.

All over the shop atm

OMG How!??!

Oh Emily Heskey, you utter twatbag

Ben Arfa going to Newcastle on a 5 year deal. Good player, but a risky move after a leg break.

You can throw accusations at all of them, but it doesn't really help matters. None of them are coming out of this smelling of roses.

In my opinion we could sack Houllier now - but I don't think it would help. The cracks in our team go beyond the manager. FWIW I think Houllier is trying to do the right thing, but by changing some of the philosophies and styles that MON put in place, we're finding it very hard to adapt. But adapt we must, because the Premiership is becoming more European and we've been moulded to fit quite an archaic approach of football. At the moment we're predictable and stagnant in attack, always playing the same balls to the wingers who hopefully swing a cross in to the danger area for a big man to get something on the end of. In defence, our approach is similarly dated, tending to favour throwing ourselves in front of the ball and hoofing a clearance. I've seen some attempt to change this approach but the players we have just haven't got the technical ability and this has become abundantly clear against Spurs and City (both teams who have some of the best ball players in the league)

**** RUBBISH

**** RUBBISH

**** RUBBISH