srsmithusa

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?

GK - Reactions are not good enough any more. Need a new one Right Back - Lot's of promise but very young and still makes some bad mistakes. Should continue in the side because of attacking ability. May need a back up depending on Luke Young's future. Center Back - Still not getting it done. Dunne was (IMO opinion) the biggest reason for our problems. He did not want to change for the new manager and sabotaged it all the way. Carlos and Collins still have problems. Need a commander there. left Back - Warnock has all the physical ability to be good, but cannot play intelligently. Stupid mistakes and lack of effort at critical times. Need a new option here. Wings - Alby and Downing. Downing needs to sit until he decides if he wants to play or not. He also should not be taking any more free kicks. Need a new option on the wings if AY will continue to play more forward. I would put Alby and Young on the wings. Center - Lot's of options but nobody great. Need an Essien to stop everything (holding) Need a VDV to make everything go (attacking). Forward - having one that could finish would be nice. That's at least 7, probably 8 we need. Sorry I can't blame Houllier for that yet. BTW - if Houllier is as smart as most of his critics here, his agreement to come here included transfer funds being available. It also included a minimum stay to solve the problems noted above. He will be here through most of the summer at least. The fear is that we'll be relegated by then. Possible, but not likely.

It's my opinion that Petrov has put in a good match. He has made a couple poor passes, but he clearly showed that he's pissed off by teammates that don't show commitment to doing their JOB! It's what we have needed from the field all year. I think the biggest problem this year has been Richard Dunne. He was far too impressed with himself and didn't want to make the changes the new manager wanted. Houliers biggest mistake has been that he let Dunne stay a team leader far too long.

Dear Mods, I would like the match comments to pertain to the match. The manager must go discussion thread is available for those that want that discussion.

Admittedly looking for positives. Petrov has clearly shown that he's pissed at teammates for lack of urgency and concentration at least twice that I've seen. We need a lot more of that. When Warnock makes a rash challenge, it should be is mates ripping at him at the moment, not us couch dwellers. BTW: if there's a camera angle that shows the second goal crossed the line. It hasn't been shown on my stream yet.

Lichaj MOTM. Albrighton the only other one worth thinking about. Pires was a waste of jersey. Is it January yet. The season is a disaster so far, but I still put the blame on a man the walk with no notice and no time for the team to recover. Houllier gets more time from me. I think I see what he's trying to do. If so, his biggest mistake is that he's tried to make the changes faster than the players were ready for them.... but that may be the best course in the long run.

Worst possible game to lose. Amateurish mistakes in defense. Nobody able to create a goal. AARRRRGGGHHH !!!!!! On the other hand, a midfield 4 of Downing, Bannan, Clark, and Hogg has an average age of about 13 and dominated the match. Houllier is playing them, MON would not. Houllier obviously prefers the pairing of Dunne and Collins, and it does appear to be shaky, but it was MON's preferred partnership as well. Gutted, but still think we are moving in the right direction. I don't like the results. No villa fan can. But I still see signs of hope.

It seems to me that our defenders can all put in brilliant performances. We've seen this same 4 be a rock wall. It looks to me that when they were rock solid they seemed to be all on the same page and playing intelligent team defense. When they look like 4 individuals it all goes wrong very quickly. IF I'm right, where did they get that ability to think as one, and how do they get it back? (I played on the wing and never paid any attention to how my defenders sorted out their marks and positioning.)

I think it would be interesting to hold another vote. UPOTM Useless prick of the match. This match (like many others) should go hands down to Carew.

Efan Ekoko just said that Clark was not afraid to expose himself

Just saw replay of first goal. Those who say collins to blame for going to same ball should note that he didn't go to support dunne until after dunne was beaten.

I set the alarm to get up to watch this live.....

Pires get's the ball deep and breaks. Makes a dangerous looking run looking for a pass. Young is ahead of him but marked. Downing is level hugging the line. Carew is.... nowhere to be seen.

The announcer on ESPN 2 just assured us that Ashley and Luke are not related !!!

I wonder who is roommate is on road trips?

Actually, I like the fact that we're not simply resorting to hoofing as our defense. The ball is staying in our end because we're trying to play it out and the kids (bannan and clark) are not patient enough with it. Clearly it's a poor start, but I'm feeling optimistic about the long run and even gradually coming into this match.

He wasn't man of the match, but then again neither was Carrick or Fletcher, and maybe that's the bigger point? Maybe neither of them are fit for this league either? And no, I don't need a history lesson about how they have proven themselves over time... because "over time" is the whole point. And props to the original poster.... any source that accurate deserves to be cultivated... send him a gift.

I will be purchasing a home kit with the name "Krulak." General, what's your favorite number?

Same problem all season. i.e. lots of wasted chances. The good news is that 1. we put three in. 2. we take three points. Both are an improvement even though the basic problem remains the same. Remember those videos on the OS this summer with Ash and others hitting left post, right post, and crossbar, and putting the ball into a moving cart, all from 50 yards away? We should shoot those same videos again except this time PUT THE BALL INTO THE NET !!!!!!