bose

I was very pessimistic a few days ago for this match but I've got a very good feeling for it today. This is based on absolutely nothing but I think we'll win. Matt Kendrick is reporting that Warnock might be left out which is good news if true, he's been diabolical.

Damn, that's unlucky. Hope your recovery goes well, mate.

Not worried about the ACL? Hopefully it's just the break but a tear in the medial ligament shouldn't be too horrific.

Sorry to hear about that. If I were you I would get it repaired, no question. I assume you're still, at most, in your twenties and even though you're not in competitive sports you say that you like casual sports and skiing. I've done my ACL twice (I'm 23) and the most important thing is to get a physio who has good experience at dealing with these types of injuries. The operation isn't that much of a pain and if you follow your physio and do what they tell you then you'll be as good as new. Like others have said don't rush the rehab because the progress will be slow but in the end it's worth it.

Fantastic watching the way they play. Villa and Swansea are on two different planets when it comes to entertainment and aesthetics.

I must admit that I was convinced that he would never come good here. Big credit to him for finally managing to show us what he can do and long may it continue.

wow that is over the top! He might still be very raw and naive but I think he'll turn out to be a decent player. He's at least not an awful player. He also comes across to me as a willing learner and I think that will help him. He makes stupid mistakes sometimes but he'll learn.

Terrible match. Hutton was once again dreadful, Warnock, Albrighton and Petrov were all poor as well. Our only danger came when either Ireland or Gabby had the ball and that didn't happen to often.

Cuellar on the bench apparently. Not fit enough to start or does he really prefer Collins/Hutton?

Josh McEachran on his way to Swansea. With him and Sigurðsson they've got some good youngsters there in the middle of the park. I look forward to see Swansea's next games, think they'll have no trouble avoiding relegation.

I thought bringing in McLeish cost us something like 2.5m pounds?

Fantastic to see him tonight. Even though I didn't want Arsenal to go through, I couldn't help but smile when he scored. Good to see that there are still players that have passion to play to for the club they love.

Yet another betting scandal in Italy? This video at least shows a very odd reaction from Napoli keeper Morgan De Sanctis when his teammate Edinson Cavani scores to make it 4-1 for Napoli. I don't know the whole story behind it but their teammate Lucarelli can be heard saying "there are still 7-8 minutes left". It's all very odd.

Even now I'm in shock as to how this has happened. I remember when the odds dropped dramatically on him becoming the next Villa manager I wasn't in the least bit worried he'd get the job because of how crazy it would be. I just couldn't believe it right up until it was announced. Didn't quite a few people here lose a good bit of money laying him?

Wrong team apparently. Don't give a **** then.

Lindegaard, Valencia, Evra, Carrick, Jones, Giggs, Rooney, Nani, Welbeck, Hernandez, Berbatov. Man United team vs Newcastle. That is a ridiculously attacking line up.

paul Green was a fantastic talent, I've never seen anything like it on the pitch. if MON had given games then we would have the the next essien on our hands. amazing prospect. sincerly, sir_gary_cahill ©.

I agree to an extent with what you're saying and in theory a combination like that would be a dream but that would never ever work in the real world. For one MON is way to stubborn to work under a DoF and his ego would never allow it. I think if you want a DoF you would need to have a very good relationship between the manager and DoF. It seems that every time this is tried in England it blows up after a bit of time. An experienced football manager (with good connections) as DoF and then a younger manager who is up and coming and a strong character could work well IMO. They would have to work together as a team and given the right combination I think that is the way forward.

We agree on something. If your club is down and needs galvanising, then there is no better man than O'Neill. Gear up for a shelf life of 3 years, don't let him go too mad with the spending, so there is something left for those who follow, and don't let him anywhere near contract negotiations. After three years, when your club is rejuvenated, move him out and get a football manager in. But if you go the fourth year, woe betide you....... Yes thankfully O'Neill wasn't here for a fourth season. We would be in relegation battles and playing shit football every weekend...oh wait Only the latter, eh? Ah I really don't care now. I still don't like him for the way he left us but for me his football wasn't poor.

We agree on something. If your club is down and needs galvanising, then there is no better man than O'Neill. Gear up for a shelf life of 3 years, don't let him go too mad with the spending, so there is something left for those who follow, and don't let him anywhere near contract negotiations. After three years, when your club is rejuvenated, move him out and get a football manager in. But if you go the fourth year, woe betide you....... Yes thankfully O'Neill wasn't here for a fourth season. We would be in relegation battles and playing shit football every weekend...oh wait

Well this is a **** depressing thread. Amazing how many people were unhappy in those days. Imagine if Lerner had done the same thing as Levy did with Modric and held on to Milner, Young and Downing?

It's not just about the points though is it? It's about how we play and if we even give it a go. Today we didn't stand a chance against a newly promoted team.

if Rodgers or any Villa manager tried this they would fail with our players adn would lead to abuse on these pages So we should stick with the McLeish way? never said that but passing football fails at Villa. Houllier tried it and was slaughtered by fans I agree to a point but while Houllier did try to implement a certain style some performances were shocking and I think that it wasn't just down to our style of play but the players lack of spirit and, on the surface at least, them not wanting to play for Houllier. I think a manager like Martinez or Rodgers could well make things happen here if the they got the respect of the players and tried to implement their style over a couple of seasons. That doesn't have to mean that we have to be lurking near the relegation zone for most of the season though. Implementing a short passing style of football with our current players is not something that should be impossible, most of them are good on the ball (with some glaring exceptions!). Alex McLeish has no clear way of how he wants us to play and as a bonus we are horrible to watch most of the time.

if Rodgers or any Villa manager tried this they would fail with our players adn would lead to abuse on these pages So we should stick with the McLeish way?

Alex McLeish manages yet again to produce a horrible, painfully boring performance lacking in even a shred of creativity. Up there with the performances vs Man United, Spurs and Liverpool but this was **** Swansea City. A win against an out of form Chelsea team isn't enough if you can't even perform against a newly promoted team. Petrov should never have started the game but yet he played the full 90 minutes! Then of course he takes Stephen Ireland off, our only creative player and puts a winger on. McLeish is clueless.