LancsVillan

news hits Liverpool late about something called carpet bagging

B23's pictures are out, but something isn't quite right.

Google catches trim trying to get the money for a round as trim spot Laura's purse

I'll settle for number one again.

good job you can type ;-)

Is that you on the big screen too!!!

astonAVFC - halo mainly. Hope to get PES soon

I definately agree with this. I do too, though I never wrote the original.

An interested party wrote in with Two days have now passed and a bit of reflecting has been done. I’ve read various comments from people on messageboards, the odd television pundit and newspaper columnists who really are no more qualified than ourselves, and the thoughts of our management team and I don’t think I’ve agreed with anyone. Am I really on my own? The very fact that I’ve been thinking about this for two days probably shows that this game, this team has taken a grip on my life too much and it’s time to let it go. Or at least end this cycle of spending so much money on the ‘Golden Ticket’ (minus cup games, of course) followed by excitement – this phase seems to have lasted longer over the past few years – and the inevitable disappointment and let down when the realisation strikes that actually we won’t be achieving the success that we craved, that we thought we might achieve this year. And for what it’s worth, I think finishing fifth, even sixth and qualifying for the UEFA Cup could have been perceived as a success for this season, or at least a pretty decent consolation prize had we not treated the same competition pretty poorly throughout our participation this season, concluding in fielding a team which pretty much said “forfeit”. If I believed in such a thing as Karma I’d be willingly suggesting that our subsequent fall from grace would be down to our behaviour in throwing away our participation in one of the world’s top club tournaments (not THE – but one of the…) – a tournament in it’s last year which we hadn’t won before. But I don’t believe in Karma, mainly because if I did believe in such then I’d end up being a character in ‘Hollyoaks’. And I hate that programme. Despite that, I think those pointing towards the ease at which we gave up European competition are slightly missing the point. I can’t understand how a competition that we only played a full strength team once in could affect team morale, play or even fitness. Surely even in the group stages, despite the noises coming from Villa Park (in an attempt to push up ticket sales, dare I say?) this competition was never anywhere near the top priorities. I certainly think that now we are facing UEFA Cup qualification rather than Champions League it could cause an issue though. Why bust a gut to participate in a cup competition that we'll probably just throw away again next season? A competition where the first team squad probably won't be playing in anyway? I could understand that trial of thought. I also don't subscribe to the line of thought that it's all down to tired players. Yes, they have played a lot of games, but the period we found ourselves playing the most number of games seemed to be when we were progressing and winning game after game. It was when players began being 'rested' that it seems we've had problems - and it's got worse over the past two games where after a week off due to the reserves being sent to Moscow, and then a week in Dubai when we've still been, lets be honest, pretty poor for huge periods of the game. I wouldn't argue with someone suggesting that it put doubts into the players minds when they were left behind for the game against Moscow, though. Just as we saw how winning can become a habit - lucky deflections and the like - losing can be just as easy to get into the habit of - as we are all unfortunately experiencing at the moment. It's not the players unable to get to places that has caused downfalls. It's the way we are playing. We simply aren't playing as a unit. Players don't know what to do, where they should be - they aren't looking prepared. Never would you find a greater example of that than last Sunday, looking at Reo-Coker's face when being told to play center back or seeing James Milner screaming at the bench for five minutes asking where exactly he was supposed to be playing. And I think this is one of the biggest problems Villa have at the moment. We don't seem prepared for the opposition in front of us - just there at the game ready to play. Perhaps that's down to the time between games (two games in the past two weeks is hardly a lot though - what did they do in Dubai?!) - just a lack of time for preparation - I don't know, but the Tottenham Hotspur fans had it absolutely correct when they were singing "One Plan, You've only got one plan!". I can't help but think that this isn't being helped in the slightest by playing our players in positions which make no sense. I just can't understand it some of the choices. Surely playing a left back in his rightful position is going to be better than playing a central midfielder at rightback, a left back at right back and a right winger - somebody who can actually create things - at right back. This was actually done on Sunday - and the only reason I could possible fathom why was to keep Heskey, our one January signing on the pitch (but being played out of position, naturally!) at left wing and moving Young to the right wing where he is less comfortable. I'm not saying I am a better manager than Martin O'Neill. I'm not. Let's get this straight now. But when confidence is low, when pressure is on you to get results and you haven't been playing football that has been anything like you have shown earlier in the season for months now, then surely it's a good idea to go back to basics - play players in the positions which they are comfortable in. Our main tactic for Spurs was the same as against Stoke, as against any team this season. Get the ball to Ashley - if that doesn't work hoof it up to the guy up front. There's only one problem with this - when you face defenders who are good in the air they can bat away Young's crosses and deal with the long balls. And there doesn't appear to be an answer to it when we become stuck. There's no plan 'B'. O'Neill is a fantastic man manager. When he gets the players in the right frame of mind then we can (and usually do) beat anyone. He can make an average player great - which is a good job because he has brought in a fair load of average players. The only problem with that is that occasionally, no matter what you say to an average skilled player he will put out a distinctly average performance. Sidwell has added nothing to Villa since his signing. Heskey (who I thought was going to be a star here) won us the game at Portsmouth and has done nothing since. Is Zat Knight good enough to be in a team looking to be in the top four? Why buy Shorey or Harewood if you never had any intention of playing them? I know you are more likely to get a player who won't flop if you buy a player who has already played in the Premiership - but it would be nice just for once to go that extra bit further and gamble on someone from a league abroad who could do the business. Fellaini - or Harewood, Sidwell and Shorey? If we'd have used that cash on one big spend and it had flopped it wouldn't have been any more a waste of money than the cash wasted on those three. That last bit nearly turned into a rant then, so I apologise for that. The problem is that whenever we get into a position where it looks like Aston Villa might finally push on up - something - always something - seems to get in the way. Is 5th really the best we can aim for?

Where is Poll and I'm sure his missus wouldn't allow him to be text dating.

Excellent piece as always Scott. Thanks for bringing up some things I'd forgotten and plenty I never knew.

Night Ian

To do some proper twitching he'd need a clearing in the woods, not far to look - the mirror.

Excellent piece Chris and about time too ;-)

Got a couple of bottles of El Cid in myself tonight Rob. Gaymers IIRC.

That article cannot be hers surely, even she cannot knowingly take the piss out of everyone at her own club....

Hands up who checked to see they were that way Tony said they should be?

Maybe because we have too many songs about that lot already?

Just had my two nieces wondering why I was laughing at Bicks' post at the top. So so good , nice one bicks

As was said last night by Simon. Can we keep the thread to questions to The General please. The General has seen and commented on the UEFA cup squad and has mad his feelings on the subject. There is no need to keep going on about the same thing - cheers.

Amazed at the 8 for Heskey - I thought he was poor and although giving trouble to Terry is something a lot of players don't do he did nothing with it. I keep seeing that Petrov was poor yesterday, I'll agree he was but he was also outnumbered in there. The way we play means a good passing side can spot our foibles and take advantage of them, the one where we have little / no pace in the centre of the park. I love the duo of Barry and Petrov but if any game had screamed for 451 it was yesterday. Nullify them and then attack in the last few mins. 442 gave the opportunity to play around GB / Petrov into the feet of Drogba / Anelka and play off them. I keep seeing that we missed NRC too, we didn't we missed the energy and drive that Gardner has played with in the last two games and he should have been on. I'm guessing he'll start Thursday to allow Stan / Gareth a rest.

In a game where the overall record is W5 D6 L5 in the prem I'm not surprised by the vote, it is that close.

Was looking for that one too Pelle. Hardly a surprising result of the poll but it's valid to hold one to see that people have different valid opinions. I'm about to add OG and see if it makes a difference

Interesting point this one as to me it is as much about our fans reaction to us not scoring or even going behind that could make a difference. On Wednesday you could hear after 15minutes the displeasure with some of our passing coming through from the fans. Patience could well be the key for both players and fans.