srsmithusa

I think it's completely unarguable that this is the most accurate description of Downing's day. Mod, can we close this thread now?

contractors here never show up anyway. They're always "on another site." In this case it could be some Villa site, right?

I would go (as several others have suggested) with same, except Makoun into middle, Downing on the wing, Gabby on the bench. But I would be looking to try a couple things later depending on how things go. All three points seem quite possible here, best not to take too many risks. Better to take risks against ManU when the odds of getting points are not so good, or wait a few more weeks, till confidence is much higher and safety a bit more assured (at least we all greatly hope so).

Can't be anything less than delighted with a win and a clean sheet against the best team money can buy. 7-Friedel - not a lot to do really. Should have taken more control, especially on some of the early corners 9-Cuellar - He is a master of the clutch, stabbing, tackle/block and he showed it today. 9-Collins - He will need extra treatment for bruises from the point blank blocks he threw today. 9- Dunne - Not quite as spectacular in his defensive heroics as the others, but solid, steadying rock in the center 8- Clark - Really good out of position... needs to do better forcing opponent into the middle where help is waiting. 7- Albrighton - Not his best game... but he worked his socks off, tracked back brilliantly... gave no silly tackles... made Manc play honest. 9- Petrov - not the kind of performance everyone notices, but kept the middle clogged and difficult going 9- Downing - Also helped keep the middle clogged but also did good and closing down space very quickly. 6- Agbonlahor - A few good runs, his speed makes the opponent play honest on his side, too. He kept boateng completely quiet.8-8 8- Young - Really strong, aggressive, defensive work. Took several dangerous chances that again made Manc play him honest. 9-Bent - Great poacher's goal. I like that he had the intelligence in the second half to hold up, slow down, and keep possession. 8- NRC - Solid defensive display, but did good and keeping possession when possible as well. 9-Houllier - Gutsy call to go so Attacking. Would really have liked to see NRC about 10 minutes sooner. But I would have taken off Bent, NRC in the middle, Downing playing in front of NRC and Petrov, with Young only slightly in front of Downing. That leaves a 6 way tie for MOTM. I'll give it to Collins for three reasons. I can't vote for all 6. I want to see what ya'll voted and I need to put somebody in to do that. I think he fairly regularly catches some unfair criticism on this board.

Those of you that are Man Shitty fans here just to get a reaction will be bored with this. Just so we play well. Obviously better to win, but won't really be too upset about the result in this one. We can't possibly have a great understanding amongst the attack or the defense, so a few moments of real connection is all I need to see at this point. If they result in some great goals and great team defense and a win that's certainly better, but not necessary.

This is true and answers the earlier question why Gabby was played on the left. He's not a winger, but he's better there than playing in the hole. You can't put 2 up top when you don't have 2 center mids that can hold the center of the pitch. We don't have those. We may have just gotten one. Delph may be the second. Petrov is not, NRC is not. Sorry.

In principle, I agree we should go with 2 up top. The problem is we do not have the central mid-fielders to do that. We need 3 in the mid-field to hold the game. When we put on Bannan and Delph, we moved to 2 up front and OVERALL that's when the scum kept the most sustained pressure on us. I hope Makoun provides enough in the middle that we can push one more up and have a front line of 2. We'll see. Delf was a great improvement over Carew. 'Course a tree stump would have been about equal with Carew, bar one run where he outpaced Ridgewell

we do **** all from free kicks

Downing needs to move left. Clark can use the help, but more importantly Downing pulls out of far too many challenges to play in the middle of the pitch. The harder question is what to do after that. Bannan in the whole with 1 up front? Who? Two up front? Why? Nobody seems to do anything up there. Actually, the most frustrating thing is the flopping morons in blue shirts. They have 15 flops for every shot.

Massively **** up again? that suggests that he **** up for a while then went on a decent run. He hasn't stopped **** up. 3 wins in 16 league games, one win in our last 8 league games losing 6. Worst defence, second worst away record leading us into relegation mire. Serving up some right tripe along the way,falling out with players and insulting his own fans at Anfield. The man as been one big **** up from the day he arrived. One saving grace I guess is that he can't get any worse can he? actually maybe I should wait till 2pm Sunday before suggesting that. Is that you Martin?

Heart - we'll beat blues when Bannan hit's an amazing through ball to Clark who puts a screamer in the top corner in extra time Head - we can't score... we allow silly goals. My honest opinion... how we do next weekend depends on what personnel GH and Randy can add this week.

Most important, glad to have a win. Walker earned MOTM with Albrighton close behind. Good sign about GH in the market. But for me, very worrying. How can a 19 yo from the championship look pretty easily MOTM unless the team he's joining has crap for quality? He made some defensive errors and a couple nearly disastrous give-aways. I also note that he did best when he just kept the ball at his feet and took somebody on. Will our current players not do that because they lack confidence? My other concern is that while we had better speed and individual skill, Sheff Utd played together as a unit much better. We looked like 11 individuals with 11 different game plans.

I thought I would join the tone of this entire board lately and just make it plain that unemployment is very high here in the States right now and I blame Houllier for it. I also blame him for global warming and the fall of the Roman Empire. Anybody who says otherwise is blindly ignoring the facts that are plain for all to see.

I didn't vote in this early because I think it's like asking if you think Heskey should have shoved Henderson. Nobody can think it's going swimmingly, but GH is here. I am convinced he's going nowhere until the end of the season at least. Whether I like it or not is kind of beside the point. It's done. He's staying. That's my opinion. I'll back him, not beucase "he needs more time." But because he is Villa's manager now. I hope he has spectacular success and I will continue to provide whatever support I can. Having said that, if you think he should leave, waive your banner that says so. It won't make him leave, but it might impress on everyone the urgency that things improve. And there is certainly that urgency that we improve.

As before, I think GH was given a guarantee of at least a year to get it turned around. But it's hard to see much hope of him salvaging this season. Avoiding the drop will be success at this point. (Before you react, I didn't say Villa should be no better than this, I said that at this point, with GH staying, I will be happy if we stay up.... hopefully next season will be better.)

If it makes you feel any better, I've been pretty certain you're insane for some time now.

I take it back. he should have subbed Heskey a bit ago.

I would like to see a change, but not sure Heskey should come off. He is clearly working his socks completely off. Probably bedcause he realize we would be 1-0 if he hadn't wanked the cross in the first half.

Oh Ashley Young goes so close on the free kick, just barely going over the top of the bar OUTSIDE THE PARK AND DOWN THE STREET !!!!!

And just saved us from a certain goal by busting his ass to clear it off the line !

how did that miss !?!?!

Same start as chelsea, but I'd have Hogg on the bench (and Delph if fit) to move into center mid if by chance we are holding on late since petrov will have tired. Might pull off Gabby and or Downing for the extra center mid.

Referee: I don't think any single decision he made was indefensible. Cumulatively, however, is a different thing. I think he started the match expecting Villa to play with fire and grit and fight for everything. For that reason he interpreted contact initiated by Villa as aggressive and physical. Then we got frustrated with it, and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Petrov: I know there are some that think he is key to our success. Others think he is a liability. I am somewhere in the middle. His combative play and safe possession are great. But even with double fitness training he still tires and becomes less a factor. He could score with a great shot from distance at Celtic. I don't know why he can't do it here but it let's opponents lay off him in shooting range because he can only blast it high. I would like to see him take advantage of the space opponents give him in 25 yard range (or so) and deliver the incisive pass instead. I was especially bothered by his caution today. I thought the one card most well earned. Could easily have been red. I despise Malouda, but this foul was late, from behind, high, no chance at the ball. I don't much care for dirty players. And Petrov is not one... but that foul was dirty. Collins PK: The main reason I despise Malouda is that he is probably the best in the league at drawing contact and then collapsing in a heap of screaming pain to get the foul call. Collins went for the ball. Malouda played for the foul call (as he does more often than not). Malouda won that contest. Clark: Delighted with him. If you take his contribution out, we only score 1. He had some great intercepts, but if he will be consistent at left back he needs a bit of work. When you steer a player to the end line, you must then close the door on advancing to goal on the end line. At least twice he "bit" at a feint to go back up field and left the end line open. (on both occaisions I noted, the Chelsea ball was poor so it wasn't punished, but still worrying if we want him to be a more regular option there. Gabby: When he plays up front alone, he seems to always drift out to the left. I don't know if that's coached, or unconscious, or a personal preference.... but I guess it makes sense to just play him there... since he ends up there anyway. His work rate today was better than it has been in a very long time. Albrigthon: Some have put much of this result down to a return to the veterans (not counting Clark for some reason). His contribution to their third goal would give credibility to that view. His contribution to our third goal would show why I think that view is oversimplified. GH: My view is that like him or not, the club has committed to him for a relatively long-term. The best to do is support him. If he gets all the blame for the lack of fight and the discontent in the club then he deserves all the credit for this win. The team played with genuine passion and commitment. No divisions seemed apparent on the pitch. I wish this would silence his critics but it won't. It has become personal for some. On the negative side, I would have done the Alby for Gabby sooner. I would have also put Herd on for Petrov (as he was tiring). Lerner: Best video clip ever is his reaction to Clark's goal. Some complain that we should have done better against a Chelsea side that's been struggling. I think that should be balanced with the idea that they should even more expect to do better at home against a side that's struggling even more. It's a good day to be a Villa Fan

I don’t think Cummings is possible. He needs to get a work permit. I assume it’s hard to get one on a Holiday weekend. What I wish we could play Friedel -Parish-Siegrest L Young-Lichaj-Beye-Cueller-Collins-Dunne-Clark-Baker-Warnock-Lowry Albrigton-Bannon-Sidwell-Petrov-NRC-Delph-Downing-Pires-Salifou-Osobrn-Johnson-Hogg-Herd-Ireland Young-Gabby-Heskey-Carew-Delfouneso-Weimman I know, I know, before you get critical, playing Warnock is still a risk and Ireland might not be any good on the outside of midfield. But I like living dangerously. What I think is more likely Friedel Lichaj Collins Dunne Warnock Alby Petrov NRC Downing Young Heskey I hope we play with enough grit to be respectable. If we do, a good result is always a lucky bounce away.

Which poster recently banned for outrageous posts attacking anyone that disagreed with his hatred for GH has created a new user name?