roscoe

Excellent! Need to make Spam pay for our defeat earlier in the year

Do they get a clean slate after Xmas? Does anyone know?

Yeah, I've booked half a day off work here to see the game in the morning Australian time. Wouldnt mind knowing before COB just in case I need to swap it....

Yeah CC's on fire at the moment

Although not hitting the dizzy heights of 12 months ago, I believe Ashley Young deserves more credit for his improved performances of late. Without him, we may have only got draws against Manure and Stoke. Those two crosses for both goals were world class. I just wish he could produce 2 or 3 a game like them, instead of the solitary one he is producing at the moment. He is slowly getting back to his best though, so hopefully he's up for a big couple of upcoming games over the festive season

Why doesn't/didn't MON bring on NRC instead of bloody Sidwell late in games when we are in front??!

I'm relatively happy with what NRC has done given limited opportunities. Again, he will be seen as a 'stepping stone' signing to where we are now and where we hope to be in the future

The LC success this year and what it hopefully has in stall for us Villa fans in the New Year has been awesome. It has really brought a great excitement and predominant positivity to the place in the last few weeks. Onwards and upwards I say, and who knows, maybe a Champions League spot for next season. Got to keep this roll going against a dangerous Stoke this weekend though

Keep the same side for this week I reckon. Bring on Carew in the second half to destroy them as he did to Bolton. Then bring on some young blokes for the last 15 mins, Delph, Fonz etc when we are 2-3 up hopefully! UTV!

The signings of the likes of Shorey, Salifou etc have been stepping stones to rebuilding the club to where it is today, and will hopefully be into the future. Yes these are seen as mediocre signings now, but they have all been part of MON's plan in building to the recent signings in August. Hopefully his signings continue to improve, which will take some bettering as Dunne, Collins and Warnock have been absolutely immense for us this year. He couldn't have made such signings without putting in the 'hardyards' so to speak with as I say, what are seen now as rather mediocre signings when he first started with Villa. Steady improvement is what he has always promised, and he continues to achieve this improvement season by season

Dunne was AGAIN immense for us at the back. Without him, they could have easily have scored two tonight, and for what he brings out in Collins and Cueller when they play alongside him, his $6M price tag has been an absolute steal for us this season. Working his way quickly towards legendary status at our fine club

I agree. Add at least 1 point to almost everyone there I reckon with the exception of Stan, who I agree played his socks off, but worth the 8.5 given. He is frustrating me at present, playing the house down against the top sides (wins against The Top 4 and the draw to City most notably), but has been quite average against the 'lesser' sides that we have lost and drawn to. Being our captain this year, he really needs to address this part of his game I think. Hopefully it starts with this week's matches against 'lower' opposition

Hope Sidwell reads this and gets his act together! He obviously has ability and was given plenty of chances to play in the run on side this year, but unfortunately for him and Villa in a few games, he didn't take this opportunity. Seems to be a missed one now with Milner progressing to CM and Delph hopefully coming along on the training paddock...

First time in a long time I felt comfortable when MON brought on his subs. All great changes IMO. Makes for a good change when MON ridiculously brought Sidwell on against Spurs a couple of weeks back.....

Heskey's best game since, well, the last time he played at Portsmouth

Great stuff Villa!!

I really hope Delph comes on soon. Depends who he has around him as support though I guess. Petrov hasnt helped him in his starts unfortunately

****!!!

6 poor performances AWAY from home I think he was getting at lapal_fan...

We've been excellent at home this season so far

NRC in for Sidwell for me. Sidwell can't hit the side of the bus when he has an opportunity to score, and hasn't been too impressive at the other end either (ie Wolves Penalty)...

Good report Blandy. I too thought Cueller played well until the harsh sending off. I guess this opens the door for Luke Young to return midweek does it....

Agree with Blandy's report from what I saw on tv. Not much happened until the last 15 minutes really. Very disappointing after the high's of the week before. Disappointed with Gab's first minute miss and Ash's late efforts on goal. If just one of those chances gets buried in the net, it obviously becomes a whole different story. Didn't make the keeper work enough, or at all, on those golden opportunities unfortunately. Have to be better at taking the few chances we are creating atm

Love the night games over there. 5am start here in Australia. The 3 O Clock your time games are a killer though! All good and wouldnt miss a game though. Up the Villa!!

I've kept optimistic and am going for 5th. I think the youth and enthusiasm with so many young rep players in the mix for WC spots next year and with the exit of Barry in the Summer will see us lift above expectations. Laursen is obviously a MASSIVE loss, but I have faith in MON and his pre season selections of Cueller and Clark stepping up this year with the hopeful late addition of a CB for some much needed depth up the back. The youngsters were brilliant in Spain and should provide some surprise cover for the abovementioned losses. Many teams would kill for the youth and enthusiasm we have at AV, plus with the experience of blokes like Carew and Heskey around Villa Park, we should again feature in the top quarter of the table. Any new signings will only be a bonus obviously providing me more hope of a shot at competing for CL