BodieBroadus

Iv always felt 4-5-1 is the best formation away from home...i feel more comfortable when we play away then when we are at home...at home we cant rely on counter attack football so much...and we dont have a plan B for when Ash is double teamed...a more attacking 4-5-1 can work with say Tuncay behind Carew or Gabbi with a midfielder who can split defences with his passes alongside Reo Coker who can protect the back 4...Sidwell, Petrov, Reo Coker are grafters who are what is neccesary when away from home...but what we need at home is a bit of flair...

What a brilliant day to be a Villa fan...so glad i decided to get ESPN... Friedel 9...outstanding...stopped everything that continued to come at him...in particular the save from Cuellar...hes getting younger by the day... Shorey 7...good going forward and defended better...however i feel he was still our weak link defensively...looking forward to the Warnock signing but Shorey certainly showing he can be a more than useful deputy... Cuellar and Davies 9...both were outstanding...got their heads to everything...iv always though Cuellar would step up but Davies surprised me...iv been quick to write him off...i hope people can see one centre back is all we need...Cuellar is more than capable of being the 2nd centre back... Beye 8...very strong performance...defended brilliantly and held his own in some tight situations... Reo Coker 9 MOM...brilliant display...lots of interceptions...perfect protection of the back 4...he was everywhere and winning the penalty...hope this cements his place in our first team... Petrov/Sidwell 8...both were impressive...Sidwell grafted well and certainly was far from his invisible self...Petrov distributed well and won free kicks when we needed them... Ash 9...good display...he was marshalled well against a good defence...got the crucial free kick and what a satisfying penalty...more than his attacking his defensive play was to be admired... Milner 9...similar to Ash...his defensive work was outstanding...when he had opportunities he got forward well but like Ash his main work was protecting the full backs... Gabbi 8...did everything that was required of him...not easy doing his role but he did it well...closed down and rushed the Liverpool defence often and what a killer ball for Reo Coker...hes certainly the man for our 4-5-1...his defensive work was brilliant... MON 9...brilliant away performance...perfect formation and the players fulfilled his desires to a tee...if only he can sort out our home form...

5th with either the EUROPA Cup or FA Cup would be improvement enough for me...and ideally a 5th which isnt far off 4th...id like us to challenge as much as we did this season without the capitulation...