mikeyp102

Marshall Beye, Collins, Clark, L.Young Albrighton, Sidwell, NRC (if fit), Delph, A Young Delfounso Yes I know we are the home team and against a lower league team so 451 seems negative...however I think all 3 centre midfielders need games more than carew (comes on as sub pretty often). I know sidders does come on, but as centre mid you need a run of games to get upto the pace more than a striker... Was unsure over downing/young but downing did have a bad injury so may need a rest (wouldve put bannon there and rested both but obv cant do that as on loan...swings and roundabouts..) Marshall...well when else is he ever to play for us? Dont think MON will make quite so many wholesale changes though

At the moment Milner is no where in Gerrards league. Gerrard is one of the best in the world. I have no doubt Milner has great potential but he has a lot of learning to go before he can be put into the Gerrard league. Gerrard has constantly scored 15+ goals a season and dominated HUGE matches.

I thought NRC was superb today...and delph looked very good, if a little careless with his tackles. Surprised people are saying A Young was brilliant...at times he worked hard and put in some great crosses, however there were times when he could've put the ball in first time (and the strikers were making runs accordingly) however, he didn't and had to take a man on at least once (often more) when the cross was eventually made the strikers were moving away from the goal rather than running towards it. Although there is no doubt about his ability, I think he does need to look at his decision making. Still think he is not on the form he was a couple of years ago. Surprised that Albrighton didnt come on at some point. He did do a lot of warming up and probably would've come on if B'burn hadn't scored. Overall a decent performance, first half we were very good but second as we have throughout the season we have taken our foot off the gas..

For me I would prefer winning a trophy. Even though 4th would be great. The main reason behind my decision is that I don't think we are ready, for the quality or the amount of games that you have to play in the champs league. We play a very British style of football which although can make teams anxious and force them into mistakes, can easily be passed around by quality teams (as Arsenal who play a European style showed). Could you honestly see us getting a result against the like of Barca? For me winning a trophy this seasin would show how we have progressed, which would hopefully lead to 2/3 quality players added to the squad in the summer. Then next season hopefully, we would then get into the top 4 and win another trophy, so that a further 2/3 players would be added to the squad the following season. Then we would be ready for the competition rigours of the champions league. Remember it is a marathon not a sprint and MON said he had the 5 yr plan...

Arsenal deserved the victory, better than us all over the park...shows that we are not the finished article and that the team needs to be strengthened. Our MOM - Friedel Arse MOM - Fabregras, closely followed by Diaby. (Our midfield couldnt get anywhere near them).

The only reason Santas sledge is pulled by reindeer is because James Milner was too quick and santa kept on emptying the contents of his sack in random places..

65-69 (I think we will be 5th) I still think the "top 4" historically will finish there again....Yes Liverpool have dropped a lot of points but when playing well they as with all the "top 4" have the ability to go 15 games unbeaten...spurs, city, us as yet dont seem to have the ability to put runs like that together..

Only worked part time (student) in 2000 so didn't have enough money.. Family not into football much when younger so 94' 96' didnt go to that many games so didnt get wembley tickets

Don't agree. He put out a full team at VP and if we had got a result I'm certain he would have put out his strongest side in Moscow. We didn't so he decided to prioritise on the League, hoping to get that 4th spot. We didn't get 4th, but not all gambles pay off. At the time right decision. With hindsight wrong decision. Shame we don't all have hindsight isn't it. Your entitled to your opinion, but I am not using hindsight I always thought that we should've gone for that cup..besides a 1-1 at home was hardly a bad result..our away form at that time was good and we were set up to beat teams away..A full strength side could have beaten Moscow away..

To start off I DO NOT dislike MON and want him to stay in the job a long time. I would say however, that the UEFA cup last year was a bad move. I thought so at the time at I still think so now. Yes he decided he wanted to concentrate on the league but who honestly believes that we were ready for the champions league? Look at how Everton coped a few years back...our squad would not be firing now if we had to go through the champiuons league. I honestly believe that we could've won the UEFA last year. A trophy win is far more important at the moment than playing in the champions league...look at Arsenal they play in the champions league but are crying out for a trophy win...thats how the history books will remember things..

Imagine a team of James Milners. That would be The Best Team Ever. Carlsberg dont make football teams...but if they did...

Heskey's Goal Cheers. Superb through ball...think it was meant for gabby, but who cares...nice to see strikers actually in the dangerous areas.. Heskey finished well...Is this his best ever scoring run? 3 in 6 = 1 in 2...move over torres lol..

Anyone got a link for Heskeys's goal I only managed to get a stream for the second half..which is why I cant do a full player rating..Milner superb..always thought he would be good in the middle, but thought that would be in a 451 not as a 442..he is absolutely awesome..

Look how many want that freekick..

Milner for me.. Second would probably be Warnock and then Collins.. Most improved Gabby

Real one this...(even though not sure if situation is still the same) Whilst at Newcastle there was a thing on Football Focus which said that Milner didnt have an agent...he didnt see the point, just allowed the PFA to do his negotiations...which all players did that rather than having those merchants take all the money... it is down to those **** holes that players are on astronomical wages. Just liek the bloody bankers :evil:

Friedel - 6 Nowt to do L Young - 8.5 Warnock - 8 Cueller - 7 Dunne - 7.5 Petrov - 7 for first half, second half didnt realise he was on pitch..looked knackered why wont MON take him off? A Young - 6 Got into decent positions but then wasted possession. Looked more comfortable on the right than he has recently on the left but still not hitting his form..needs to be dropped for a couple of games. Milner - 9.5 - Brilliant Downing - 7 Looks good, good on the ball, fast and eager to get forward, but also has a good football brain and covered for warnock when he went forward. Great effort on goal from range. Tired at end but too be expectted. Heskey - 8 Just lacked a goal, defenders couldnt handle him, chased everything down defended and got some great flick ons for gabby. Should keep place in team. Gabby - 7. Not his best game, not his worst. Carew - 7.5 Took penalty well if a little predictable (down middle smacked very hard). Great impact when teams are tiring. MON - 7 - still could've freshed it up with with more than 1 sub. Why oh why do we think a game is won and second half sit back...Hull were awful first half and team should have pressed on second half...there were more goals there for the taking if we wnt for it... Ref - 3 What can I say..bloody awful, too many bookings for nothing. Didnt allow quick play.

anyone with any links yet? sky is down at the moment?

Anyone got any links for the goals?

James Milner is actually carved out of granite and was granted life by his fairy godmother (nora batty)

pointless thread people are always going to have their opinions on the manager...however, it is the board who decide..if they are unhappy then the manager goes, if not he stays.

Did you actually watch the game? Heskey went upfront, gabby on r mid and milner at rb...just because heskey replaced young doesnt mean he played in his position... My ratings Friedel - 6 (at fault for goal, but after that made some good stops) Young - 6 Warnock - 6 Dunne - 5 Cueller - 6 Young - 6 Milner - 6.5 Petrov - 7 Sidwell - 4 Carew - 5 Gabby - 6 Heskey - 7 Downing - 7 (Although both were very good, couldnt give them MOM or higher than 8 as werent on long enough) MON (Subs) - 7 Away fans - 6 (after the goal went very quiet for a long time, and it was only a concerted effort from 1 fan, constantly chanting MON claret + blue army over and over that finally got the crowd behind the villa boys again). Good day out irrelevant of the result, but it did feel that it was a step back in time.. 1800's anyone?

I did mean 50 sorry mustve been a typo..

James Milner has a pet Kestrel "kes" which he cherishes..