davidp

No shit!

Don't see lack of effort...

Which is what?

Don't want to jinx it, but if you adjust for the aborations of the City and Southampton games we have one of the meanest defences in the league. We've struggled for goals but the past few games looks like this is being addressed (so long as Benteke stays fit/in form). The teams around us have tough/defining games over the next month as do we. After Chelsea we have a run of tough games that are winnable against mediocre opposition. The momentum is in our favour and it's up to us to take advantage. This is not saying we will or should get the points but if we're any good, this is the time to press home the platform we have built over the past 6 games or so.

......ain't that the truth

All PL games are hard, just some are harder than others - ManU, City, Arse, 'Pool, Chelsea, and some are a little less hard - Swansea, Wigan, West Brom, Southampton....which ones would you rather have as your next batch?

Great draw. I was at Old Trafford and Villa Park in '71 to see Law, Best and Charlton get done by Lochhead and McMahon....it's not done 'till its done but couldn't ask for a better chance. Just not a done deal.......yet!

I love Bent as a player and have been thrilled having him at the club, but in the current system and without wingers of the calibre of Young and Downing just don't see how it works. His contribution this season has been minimal and I don't blame him in any way for it, we just don't play in a way that accommodates his massive talent. Without a supply line, he's a very expensive block to someone else being in the side. What we do need to do is figure out how to create more chances as that's where we are really lacking at the moment. Bent could be a great piece of the puzzle but only if we had the players that enabled us to switch from the narrow "through the middle" approach we have to stretched wing play and I don't think with our resources we can accommodate two systems of play with the squad we can afford to assemble. So, I think with great reluctance I agree and look forward to what we do with the Bent transfer money and wages.

We're lacking in the linkup and creativity between midfield and the front two but overall there is just no comparison with the total and utter crap we played most of last season. Even if we don't improve our final position relative to last season I would take this seasons play over lasts every minute of every day.

Stoke coming back into it ...we've stopped controlling the midfield

I guess kind of. We were more on the front foot first half but I was happy we went in at half time all square having been pegged back expecting us to go again and try and win it second. I must say I actually didn't realise we were playing a back 5 until the second half when we were defending the Villa end and it was clear Herd was in the back line.

We played a back 5. The most frustrating thing for me was the lack of let's say controlled ambition. There were a number of times later in the second half where we'd passed the ball around a lot to take the heat out of QPR's game and either Lowton or Lichai could have easily moved up 20 yds on the right to give width in acres of space with Gabby and Bentekke central. We had opportunities to go on and win today without IMHO risking the defensive effort.

Yep, I think (i) we have been improving (ii) the last 3 games have gone pretty much as expected and (iii) our position after the next 3 will give us either cause for real concern or cautious optimism. Sit back and enjoy the ride for the next couple of weeks. (ok maybe enjoy's a bit strong)

Take it off line and give the rest of the board a rest. You're both so f--king tiresome. Way past amusing.

Oh FFS, shut the f--k up

Maybe a special room could be created where the kids could go to play...a bit like Sunday school during church (ok, it's been many years since I went to church but I do remember this happening :-) )

I'm watching the Chelsea Utd game. 2nd string for both (well kind of). The movement and speed of passing makes me so frustrated with the past few years at Villa. We've been so poor for so many years apart from a few occasions under MON. No idea how we put it right given we've had so many managers not able to change the deep rooted malaise that permeates B6.

Gabby off was a direct response to the sending off and Bent on was becasue Benteke was f--ked by then. What would you have done?

...and they'll do one way if you get the train there

Take a look at minicabit.com They're a website that aggregates long distance taxi companies and shows you who's prepared to accept that trip and at what price. Usually works out at about 2x the rail fare so if there are two of you, you'll most likely be able to do the trip for close to the price of the train between you.

Wigan are on 4 and Sunderland 7 with a +1 GD

Well I must be looking at a different table as I can only see us going ahead of Liverpool unless we win by 5.

Win tomorrow and we go up 1 place unless we score 5

Agree with this. Don't see what was wrong in his statement and he has simply expressed an opinion after being let go with seemingly little/no communication.

Julie you said "However good the management and ownership of a company are - if the employees of that company simply won't pull their weight, then the company performance suffers. " Can't disagree but the role of management is to motivate and get your team to perform or change it. It's what you sign up to.