VillaAndLoyal

I also remember thinking to myself during the first-half of last season's home game, that they were the worst side i'd seen at Villa Park for a number of years.

Like Sunderland, if we play well and are up for it, we will win. The class will shine through. However if the last week has taken too much out of us, we are slightly complacent, or make a bad start then it could be a potential banana skin. Heaven forbid.

I HATE it when people use CAPITALS for no REASON.

Kenwyne Jones, or whatever his name is, is shit. Certainly no better than we have got. And talking to a few Sunderland fans last night, they would agree with that assesment.

To be fair, any Sunderland fans we spoke to last night were sound as anything. One even thanked us in BK for sending the barcodes down, so any keyboard warriors saying that on the internet are perhaps just a bit fed up that they got torn apart by a class side last night.

Like I said in my initial post in this thread though, personally I can't help but be dissappointed by the turn-out last night. At the moment we're playing like a top four side, had just recorded a historic win at OT and it would be brilliant if we had the fan-base (in terms of numbers) to match that current standing. I was also dissappointed that a section of our fans were more than happy to sit down throughout the game, which I don't like to see at away games, but that's just my personal opinion.

Having said that, I CAN definitely see why the factors mentioned by someone above would contribute significantly to our rather low turn-out. I understand it completely and it is not surprising in the slightest, but it still doesn't help me being dissappointed by the numbers for a team that is flying so high lately. Those that did sing though did the Villa proud and I thought we were quite loud considering everything.

And of course, things on the pitch, are great.

Just got back from the North-East, what a brilliant win and another three points to carry into our game with Stoke.

Dissapointed with the numbers of fans that went to the game (640 I believe), considering how well we're doing at the moment. And the stewards at the SOL are an absolute disgrace, as people familiar with this away day will probably verify. But a massive, massive win and a very professional performance from the lads. We rode our luck at times in the first half and if Sunderland could finish it might have been a different outcome, but we came out second half and controlled the game, created chances and looked the dominant force, without really ever getting out of third gear.

Friedel- 8- Brilliant save in the first half which could have proved the turning point in the game.

L.Young- 7- Looked solid, although was caught out of position a couple of times in the first half.

Cuellar- 8- No longer a headless chicken, more like a brave warrior putting his life on the line for our cause. He improves with every game, is getting better in the air and has a knack at making some brilliant last ditch tackles.

Dunne- 8- Turning out to be the steal of the season. A rock and a leader at the heart of our defence, something that we missed last season.

Warnock- 7- Guilty of some defence-like finishing in the first-half when a bit more composure might have seen us score, but defensively very sound and growing in statue every game.

Downing- 6- Clearly will be a massive player for us but tonight I thought he was our weakest player. Looked lightweight, gave the ball away and let his man go in the first half which almost led to a goal. Although was very unlucky to see his superb free-kick come off the bar.

Petrov- 8- Does what it says on the tin. Mr reliable in the centre of the park, dictated the pace of the game in the second half, made some good tackles and full of running.

Milner- 9- MOM- World-class goal to sum up another brilliant display in the centre of the park. His work-rate is absolutely comendable, he can score, he can tackle and he can pass. Who was that Barry kid again?

A.Young- 7- Very unlucky with his shot which cannoned off the post but he still flatters to decieve at times. His desision making still needs to improve if he is to improve as a player.

Heskey- 8- I've never been his biggest fan, far from it, but another very good display from him tonight. Calm finish for his goal, and if he had bulleted that header home in the second half like he should have, he may have pushed Jimmy for the MOM award. Used his strength much better tonight to hold the ball up.

Gabby- 8- Another tireless display on a night where the chances fell to his team mates rather than himself which is always frustrating for a striker. Deserved a goal for his efforts.

All in all- Brilliant. We did what we needed to, and we've kept that momentum going which is vitally important.

These are the games in my opinion that define us as a top six team, rather than a top four team.

We all know that on our day, we can beat anyone in this league, but it's the consistency against the smaller teams (no disrespect to Sunderland) and that know-how in terms of grinding out results that we still need to work on.

This, for me, is the type of match that will determine where we finish at the end of the season. After we played out of our skins to beat Chelsea at home, we then played awfuly in a midlands derby and were very lucky to grab a point.

A win tomorrow, and we go into our home game with Stoke with the whole place buzzing from the last two results. An off day tomorrow and like people have mentioned that momentum will have taken a battering and put more pressure on us in the Stoke game.

If we turn up, keep focused and play well like we are doing more regularly at the moment, then we have a great chance of winning. I just hope they will all take the confidence from Saturday into the game, without being complacent.

Myself & two others are going.

Maybe we should 'rest' Brad Friedel and give Brad Guzan a game. Just to put the shits up Sunderland like. They'd certainly think twice about taking a dive in the box.

That is a brilliant call.

Who won?

What kind of a question is this?

It's like saying I wish i'd jumped out of that aeroplane without a parachute!

Think its just a straight question do you want Heskey playing or Not ?

*WHOOSH*

lol what do you mean by *WHOOSH*

Okay, put it this way. I'd rather play with 10 men than have him on the pitch...

What kind of a question is this?

It's like saying I wish i'd jumped out of that aeroplane without a parachute!

Think its just a straight question do you want Heskey playing or Not ?

*WHOOSH*

What kind of a question is this?

It's like saying I wish i'd jumped out of that aeroplane without a parachute!

Notice quite a few supporters giving reasons for or nearly apologising for not going. To me, its irrelevant. Geographical, financial, and logistical reasons for not going have no reflection on being a fan. Sit anywhere in Villa Park on match day and you'll meet some fans that couldn't name the players sat on the bench, who don't know the result of the last away game, who can walk out of an embarasing defeat with a big smile on their face.

All that matters is how much the club means to you. True fans would have felt sick/angry/depressed on Saturday and would have been buzzing last night. Some of us are negative and worry, some of us are defiant in our support for everything the club does, doesn't matter or effect how much of a fan you are.

Hopefully on this site we're all fans who bleed claret and blue and show it in many different ways, doesn't mean we'll agree on everything, doesn't mean we won't argue, but it does mean that when win it makes our whole life so much better.

Best post i've read on here for a while.

For the record... STH for around 14 years and do about 5-10 away games a season depending on money.

And whoever made up the MYTH that Coker can't pass....well....they are wrong, plain and simple.

THAT'S THE VILLA I KNOW!

11 Lions on that field tonight, everyone 100% committed and that's all I ever ask for!

Nigel Reo-Coker- Man of the Match- He should be the first name down on that team-sheet EVERY week!

And the rest- complete stars!

Oh and **** OFF YOU CHEATING, GYPPO, SCOUSE words removed!

YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! Have that you Scouse bastards!

Nigel Reo-Coker 10/10

I think it is crucial this season that we don't finish below 8th. I don't wanna see us dropping places, but finishing 6th twice on the go has givn us a bit more credibility as a top of the league challenger. Our position can attract better players that we don't seem to be going in for during the transfer window. However if MON keeps buying rather average premier league English players/just relegated players or players who never even get into the team then we can easily slip further than 8th this season. We'd have less chance getting some real quality star players at the club. Since the signing of Heskey in January, I've not seen real much from MON thats really inspiring. If these funds are available for him that we hear about, then he should be bringing in quality this summer. Our squad is not as good as our squad this time last year, not at all. It is getting very frustrating as the things fans have highlighed this summer were proven in our first game of the season. If hes got some tricks up his sleeve for the next few weeks then that would be fantastic, but how things stand right now with his management of the current team, I don't think it looks good. I remember our best performances in the Peace Cup came was when MON was sitting in the stand .

Some people saying it is embarrassing to have this thread but this is still a continuation or bad results and lackluster performances from the tail end of last season, and the only thing thats changed about the sqaud is that it is weaker!

Spot on.

Some people are talking as if Season A is completely different from Season B and they are foolish to think that. In reality, momentum is a BIG factor in football and when you're in relegation form, that can quite easily carry on into a new season, which, in reality is just a break of around 8 weeks or however long it is.

Then if you couple that with the loss of two of our best players (the spine of our side) and failing to replace them despite having a whole summer AND longer to do so, and to then put on a performance like that yesterday, it is little wonder that many people are beginning to question the gaffer.

There is a distinct difference between critisising and seriously questioning Martin O'Neill and wanting him gone now. 30% on this poll want him gone now, and that doesn't even take into account people like me, who have completely lost faith in him, but feel he should be given a little longer to rectify this very worrying trend we are in and therefore voted 'stay' (for now).

So i wouldn't call 30% a 'vocal minority' at all, as that imputes a much lower percentage who want him gone, i'd actually say 30% is an extremely high percentage. And in reality, there are still certain posters who seem to be papering over the obvious cracks and can't possibly comprehend that a 'supporter' of this football club doesn't necessarily have to have a positive mind-set about things happening from within the club.

A supporter is one who pays money to watch their chosen club. And from that, they can choose to have whatever opinion they like. Some people seem to be going on the literal meaning of the word 'supporter' whereby one should show blind faith to the people employed by the club whatever the circumstance, and that people who do otherwise are not 'true' supporters and want the club to fail. That viewpoint is quite clearly blinkered, naive and quite frankly bullshit at best.

Teams don't finish sixth in the Premier League due to luck, let alone doing that twice. Silly comments really.

Who has said we finished 6th place twice due to luck? No one, so stop spouting your diatribe.

How are they silly comments when it is a factual statement to say we picked up a lot of points last season (during our good run) where a huge slice of unforseen luck went our way. Luck that as Villa fans we don't usually get much of I think it would be fair to say.

Yes, we also played some very good football against the likes of Arsenal and United during that run, but games such as the ones stated above we were extremely fortunate to get anything out of. And i would say that overall, we played better football the first season we finished 6th under MON, rather than last season.

Nothing silly about these comments at all I think you'll find.

Here's a scenario! before the season started how many people would have took 3 points from our opening two fixtures? well what happens if you go and spank Liverpool? aren't we where we thought we would be? I know it's all if's and but's....BUT let's not give up after one game eh?!

For the umpteenth time, it's not just about one game.

What about all the games before when we played some fantastic football?

7 Away wins on the bounce.

This all proves to me that MON and the squad have it in them to turn things around.

It was not just because of Laursen and Barry.

Oh yes this famous run of away wins....

Hull- Last minute Goal- deserved to lose

Sunderland- got a pen that never was

Gillingham- exactly the same as Sunderland :shock:

West Ham- Got hammered and got a lucky milner deflected goal

Everton- routed all match and got an ill deserved 3-2

Absolutely spot on. We got a HUGE slice of luck during our brilliant run last season, that much is fact.

If I might tease something out...

You complain that MON has spent more than most managers. He has managed 2 consecutive 6th place finishes, while those teams who have spent within the same ball park have fallen below.

This pre-season, his net spend has been in the region of £4 million if I'm right, which is nothing. He lost Laursen and Barry, but that was unavoidable, yet aside from Bent, I don't think there was one truly attainable quality player that we have missed out on. So i don't know what else the anti-MON brigade are expecting. Don't say he's tactically inept, because as you yourselves have said, this is a results business and he has gotten results.

After what he spent we finished well up in the league. He hasn't spent this time around because there was really nothing available and he has also lost two vitally important players. If we are lacking in quality (and we are), he is a victim of his situation. He could buy some players to fill up the squad, but with the market inflated as it is, he probably didn't see the point while we have young talented players who would not be completely eclipsed by what we would get if we started bringing in squad fillers. Based on reports we got screwed by Portsmouth into losing Knight and being left without Distin, which could be blamed on MON, if you really want, but is moreso down to the desperation of Pompey.

So the squad is lacking. And it is. But what else could he have done? We shouldn't be losing to teams like Wigan, but the backbone has been ripped out of our side and we are still reeling. I don't think he has, or ever will lose the dressing room, as the team have a great respect for him as a manager. We're trying desperately for Wesley Sneijder who would kick-start our season, but if he doesn't come rolling into Bodymoor Heath in the next 2 weeks, this isn't going to be a hugely successful season, but I really don't think too much of the blame can be laid at Martin's door.

I think i've heard it all now Now Martin's a victim is he? A victim of a situation that is.

How do you know there were no players attainable of the quality needed? Unless you are someone ITK then you saying there was "really nothing available" is about as accurate a statement as Gabby is with his shooting.

And how can you possibly sit there and blame Portsmouth for US selling Knight to Bolton, not 'losing' him as you state. WE decided to sell him before we had a replacement lined up, how is that anybody's fault apart from our own? Take your rose tinted spectacles off please.

Victim of circumstance. Not a victim of a rape, which is the connotation of the word you are trying to invoke. I didn't say I knew no one was available, but if a quality player was available, wouldn't he have been seized by another club? The story was that Portsmouth had verbally agreed to sell Distin to us, but circumstances changed. I said it could be blamed on MON, so there are no rose-tinted spectacles.

Well there are some. Villa fans seem to have picked up 'the divine right to success' spectacles as worn by Newcastle fans every season up til May 2009.

You think you've heard it all now?

There we go, you're basing your accusation on Portsmouth from a newspaper story, hardly giving you the morale high ground to make such statements.

And for the record, you said "which could be blamed on MON, if you really want, but is moreso down to the desperation of Pompey." Which is the biggest load of bollocks i've read on here in a long time, stop trying to swerve from the facts. Martin let Zat Knight leave for Bolton BEFORE he had completed the signing of a replacement. Those are the facts my friend.

It's quite obviously not me wearing the spectacles

If I might tease something out...

You complain that MON has spent more than most managers. He has managed 2 consecutive 6th place finishes, while those teams who have spent within the same ball park have fallen below.

This pre-season, his net spend has been in the region of £4 million if I'm right, which is nothing. He lost Laursen and Barry, but that was unavoidable, yet aside from Bent, I don't think there was one truly attainable quality player that we have missed out on. So i don't know what else the anti-MON brigade are expecting. Don't say he's tactically inept, because as you yourselves have said, this is a results business and he has gotten results.

After what he spent we finished well up in the league. He hasn't spent this time around because there was really nothing available and he has also lost two vitally important players. If we are lacking in quality (and we are), he is a victim of his situation. He could buy some players to fill up the squad, but with the market inflated as it is, he probably didn't see the point while we have young talented players who would not be completely eclipsed by what we would get if we started bringing in squad fillers. Based on reports we got screwed by Portsmouth into losing Knight and being left without Distin, which could be blamed on MON, if you really want, but is moreso down to the desperation of Pompey.

So the squad is lacking. And it is. But what else could he have done? We shouldn't be losing to teams like Wigan, but the backbone has been ripped out of our side and we are still reeling. I don't think he has, or ever will lose the dressing room, as the team have a great respect for him as a manager. We're trying desperately for Wesley Sneijder who would kick-start our season, but if he doesn't come rolling into Bodymoor Heath in the next 2 weeks, this isn't going to be a hugely successful season, but I really don't think too much of the blame can be laid at Martin's door.

I think i've heard it all now Now Martin's a victim is he? A victim of a situation that is.

How do you know there were no players attainable of the quality needed? Unless you are someone ITK then you saying there was "really nothing available" is about as accurate a statement as Gabby is with his shooting.

And how can you possibly sit there and blame Portsmouth for US selling Knight to Bolton, not 'losing' him as you state. WE decided to sell him before we had a replacement lined up, how is that anybody's fault apart from our own? Take your rose tinted spectacles off please.

Heskey- Not good enough. It's as simple as that. Squad player at very best.

You chat shit.

I agreed with one thing; what you said about Milner.

Heskey (closely followed by Sidwell) was our best player today by a mile, so i'm guessing you treat him as a scapegoat, just like Shorey.

You can tell them two are scapegoats, 'cause if they give the ball away, they get a mouthful of abuse, but if its Young or Petrov, no reaction whatsoever.

It appears that it is you that is 'chatting shit' as you are clearly forming incorrect conclusions about my opinion.

Have I not just said how poor Petrov was and how over-rated Young is? So that puts your arguement to bed then.

And I fail to see how you can actually type that 'Heskey was our best player by a mile today' without a sly grin appearing across your face? "By a mile" would infer that he actually had quite a decent game, and as such, I'd love you to recall anything remotely productive Emily did in the game today or even better, provide me with some video evidence.

I obviously blink for longer than I thought because I missed what contribution he made to the game today? And no, he's not a scapegoat, he's just not good enough, as were the other 10 starting players today.

One thing to say after this awful performance:

The players who were booed and the fans who booed them deserve each other.

Too bad for the decent fans, though. They did not deserve this crap.

The fans who booed that pile of shite off today are also 'decent' fans..... they also didn't deserve that crap.....shame you don't understand the difference.....

Enjoy your happy-clapping for the rest of the season - by the way, we're the team in claret and blue....

But surely booing the team you support sort of contradicts the term 'supporter' no? I'm all for people being pissed off about today and rightfully so. But it was funny around me seeing some tossers stay around for the final whistle for the sole reason of booing them, just so they could feel happy inside and then leave.

What an utterly self-righteous view-point to have. The term 'supporter' means paying money to watch your team, are you telling me that someone who goes to every home & away game would not be classed as a 'true supporter' because 'he' decided to boo a completely abject performance? Of course not, so stop spouting shite.

It seems that some people can't win... you get tossers moaning when people leave before the end... and now we've got you saying some fans stayed behind to boo just to make them feel better? What **** planet are you on?

For the record, I don't boo. But as a fan supporting the wages of gutless individuals wearing the colours that most of us would LOVE to play in, if they play as utterly shite as they did today, a rational person would both expect and accept a certain amount of booing from other fans.

Comprende?

Match ratings:

Friedel- Good keeper but parries too many shots and we should give Guzan a run in the side now.

Shorey- That's what you get when you buy full-backs from Reading i'm afraid. Not good enough.

Cuellar- Had an encouraging pre-season but back to a headless chicken today with absolutely no communication with the rest of his defence. It's a big season for him and if he keeps playing like that then we may aswell pay Rangers to take him back.

Davies- Similar to Cuellar. Couldn't distribute out of defence, he showed no leadership, poor positioning, lacking pace, no communication. VERY worrying.

Beye- Had an awful debut. He looked slow, not very agile and he seemed vulnerable to diagonal balls. Having said that, it's not his fault that he was signed so close to the start of the season and hasn't had time to settle in.

A.Young- One word: Over-rated. Everyone has him sussed out now and for every good ball or set piece he delivers, he sends in about 7 more shit ones. He also has an awful attitude on the pitch and to be honest, I can't see him staying if a big club tables a bid. As soon as MON foolishly branded him "world class" last season he left Young wide open for extra attention from defenders and has probably led Young to believe he is better than he actually is (hence the change in his attitude out on the pitch)- Well done Martin, he is certainly not world-class!

Petrov- Long been an admirer of him, but today he was a poor leader, never bossed the middle of the park and seems incapable of ever getting forward, prefering instead to make backwards and sideways passes.

Delph- Completely the wrong decision to play him, what must NRC be thinking? He's definitely one for the squad and one for the not-to-distant future, but asking a former League One player to act as a replacement for Barry in his first PL game? Don't make me laugh.

Milner- Had a poor game but can't ever fault his commitment or desire for the team. Must have been thouroughly pissed off to have been moved to right-back AGAIN, if not used to it by now. Why not play him on the left where he looked brilliant for England the other night?

Heskey- Not good enough. It's as simple as that. Squad player at very best.

Gabby- What the hell has happened to this kid? He used to be full of enthusiasm, pace and had a sharpness infront of goal. Now he just looks like an over-paid, uninterested passenger. I don't even think he's that fast anymore and i'm beginning to wonder if he's going the same way as the Moore brothers? Very worrying- where is the desire to play for the club he supposedly supports? I can't see it.

This season could be an extremely tough season unless O'Neill addresses the transfer market and addresses it quick. Even now, it is too late. When he came to the club, our squad was too small, and now three seasons on, not only do we have a smaller squad, but we've lost the spine of our side and he thinks it's okay to fill one of the void's with an un-proven 19 year old straight from League One. It's madness!

He drones on about needing to make new signings every **** minute, of every **** hour, of every **** day...rather like O'Leary... I wish he would do less talking and actually do something about it. And if the money that we clearly need is not being made available by RL then I think the fans, who fork out so much bloody money to watch this dross, deserve to know.

Where the **** has all this ambition gone about cracking the Top Four? At this rate we'll be lucky to stay in this league, and that's no exaggeration after today's performance and the performance in 2009 as a whole.

Usually, even in the shocking games towards the end of last season, there was at least one small positive to take away. But today, I can't see one. This current team looks under-equipped, lacking creativity, stale, lathargic and lacking a spine and leader. It signalls that something is wrong when your manager comes out after the opening game of the season and makes a remark about the players 'tireing' in the second half, god knows what excuses he will be making in March if they are already struggling with fatigue?

Unless these issues are addressed pretty quick by making some significant signings in the transfer window then I fear about this season, I really do. At an absolute bare minimum I think we need another CB, CM and CF and I'm not talking about unproven talent or Championship knock-down bargains, I mean real quality signings which are at the peak of their game, cost serious money and are likely to make an IMMEDIATE impact.

31st August 2015.