reddwarf

Apart from being pretty from the outside the new wembley is shit

1.£70 for a ticket £4 for beer, which I don't mind - but where I was served none of the bar staff could speak english - the bloke in front of me asked for tetleys and the geezer gave him crisps

2. I took my dad who is 77 - no one sat down when the game started - no attempt by stewards to ask themor put an announcement over the PA - not good enough for £70

3. The villa fans were great - but the atmosphere just couldn't get going in this faceless staduim

My memory of this game will be taking my seat at 2.30 - a sea of claret blue,Flags,balloons,going barmy just be there .....than the Manu fans - sitting there arms folded in silence - this match meant everything toAston Villa fans - but very little to Man utd Fans

Dowd was a **** disgrace. He didn't send Vidic off because it is Man Utd and in the 3rd or fourth minute of the game. Then he proceeds to book two of our players but not theirs for similar tackles. Utter garbage and an investigation should be served on him (not saying it cost us the game but it could well have been different either way).

Agree

Not to bothered about the non red card for Vidic. But thought his performance throughout the rest was poor - He booked downing early on,for his first challenge, then 30 seconds later - Dowd was seen on the big screen saying to Raphael 'thats two bad tackles - one more your in the book' ....WTF

Then in stoppage time - Gabby was flagged OS - and the game stopped,when the ball was never played to him....WTF

Anyone see MON's post match interview? He was down and rather negative. I'd rather see a more positive reaction , gung ho spirit and saying we'll turn it around starting on Saturday. I was extremely hackd off tonight but have calmed down now

Of course he was down.....look at his favorite sons

Heskey is injured

Cuellar and Petrov didn't play well tonight

Yep, surely that's all the manager is concerned about, isn't it?

Watching the footage, I saw the pain on MON's face just after Torres scored when he was in the dugout with his head in his hands.

Regardless of whether you think he is doing a good job or not, to think that he is only concerned with the performance of a few individuals rather than the results of the team is pretty perverse.

I noticed the pain on NRC'S face when substited. despite playing better than the chap alongside him.

Wonder when Collins will get another match

Anyone see MON's post match interview? He was down and rather negative. I'd rather see a more positive reaction , gung ho spirit and saying we'll turn it around starting on Saturday. I was extremely hackd off tonight but have calmed down now

Of course he was down.....look at his favorite sons

Heskey is injured

Cuellar and Petrov didn't play well tonight

Dunne for captain. Petrov does **** all.

We ain't gonna finish higher than 5th, not with this team.

I did wonder tonight how someone who does as little as Petrov - can look so spent after an hour.

Gutted. Was reo-coker carrying an injury for him to be replaced? As me and my mates was saying it should have been petrov that got taken off, as he couldnt run 10yards in that second half, he looked knackered

Agreed - but MON will never sub petrov.

We did mount an attack of note for about 20 minutes after coker left the field.

Thought Cuellar looked a bit suspect tonight - hurried clearances and tangles of his own making.

I know yeh, its just annoying that we can see it but MON cant see it about petrov

where does this take us though.? Decent player though Petrov is - we need better - Try as he might MON can't seem to attract anyone better.

We aren't good to dismiss the jan window either.

Gutted. Was reo-coker carrying an injury for him to be replaced? As me and my mates was saying it should have been petrov that got taken off, as he couldnt run 10yards in that second half, he looked knackered

Agreed - but MON will never sub petrov.

We did mount an attack of note for about 20 minutes after coker left the field.

Thought Cuellar looked a bit suspect tonight - hurried clearances and tangles of his own making.

I think he'll stay.

If he stays here ten years, that will be until the standard retirement age.

In his position, having had a relatively good managerial career, wanting one more big job before you retire, thinking you could do something like Wenger has done with Arse, then joining us was a good move. And right now, looking at what's happening with other clubs, if you're trying to build something rather than get a few quid in the pension fund and slope off to a beach somewhere, well, where would you rather be than right here? I don't see too many clubs offering long-term support and stability to someone who wants to build. They don't have the patience.

if he is building for the future, why aren't albrighton and co getting a look in ?

I think you're all dreaming - another season at the very most. sooner if the england job comes up. Hes done great for us so far.......but with the transfer kitty drying up, and Randy coming to fewer and fewer games - it wouldn't surprise me if he went out on a high in the not to distant future

Never thought I d say this.................thought heskey did a good job today

What better manager have we had than Martin over the past 60 years? Ron Saunders, Big Ron, Graham Taylor or Joe Mercer? I think sometimes we don't recognise what he have until it is gone....

Brian Little, John Gregory....

I liked them both but to be fair, the two of them are younger than Martin O'Neill and neither has had a decent managerial job since Villa whereas O'Neill could walk into most jobs outside the top four and has been tipped to take over teams in it.

and will take up such an option, at the end of the season.

You mean you think we'll reach the CL this season? I like your optimism.

I think he will realize how much work needs to be done - and at this point - can move on with his reputation still intact.

What better manager have we had than Martin over the past 60 years? Ron Saunders, Big Ron, Graham Taylor or Joe Mercer? I think sometimes we don't recognise what he have until it is gone....

Brian Little, John Gregory....

I liked them both but to be fair, the two of them are younger than Martin O'Neill and neither has had a decent managerial job since Villa whereas O'Neill could walk into most jobs outside the top four and has been tipped to take over teams in it.

and will take up such an option, at the end of the season.

5-1 today because the team had no golden boy passengers - Heskey, Petrov - 11 players, all in there correct positions , - however pretty sure MON will restore petrov at the expense of NRC - and as the very least Heskey will come off the bench.

ll,

I'd like to see Young/Milner really come off there flanks and anytime a ball goes into Heskey, dart inside to look to play off him

Are you being serious ? - Two of our better performers, should be taking a lead of our biggest non performer ?

You make the defence move with your presence, opening gaps in the back line. For example a defender would be marking a striker, who would move off, the defender will often follow if man marking and if the other defender isn't thinking/the other striker is smart enough, he'll run for the gap that;s made and exploit the space.

That's a very simple example but it's more or less what Heskey's made a career of. He was very good at it. More or less every striker can do it to an extent and have the goals as well, but Heskey was limited in the sense that he was very good at that aspect but had the finish of a toad.

Might be simple - but it doesn't work for me. If for example played Delfonso instead of Heskey - the opponents defence will still 'move with his presence' in the way you suggest ? ........or do they move differently because its Heskey ?

Heskey played on the wing more than once for Leicester and Liverpool. He can play there.

I still can't believe people just think striker = goalscorer. He's never scored many, no, but he's often helped other strikers score more, particularly at Liverpool with Owen. Thats why people buy him, to anchor attacks and play off him.

I do believe the assist v wolves - was his first assist for villa

He's not been a success here, as I said.

I also didn't say he directly set players up, he'd make space for them and so on, which wouldn't be classed as assist, would it?

I will bow to your superior knowledge. But how does he (or anyone) 'create' space? ....in practical terms ?

As for the world to choose from, are you seriously saying that Emile Heskey was the ONLY striker available around the entire planet for a move in January? Or do you think MON just pounced on a player that he has worked with previously due to relative success in the past?

I think the history the manager had with heskey played some part in the signing.

I really don't think we had brilliant options though.

If a player was real quality chances are they are at a big club and happy or at a small club and want to leave but most clubs don't want to sell their best players in the middle of the season.

The player has to be available for sale, has to be the right quality and has to be interested in joining aston villa at that point in the season.

I can't imagine the list was endless of players meeting that criteria, also signing someone from abroad would have been a big risk and wouldn't have solved short term problems as those players usually require a period to settle in.

Heskey was playing well for wigan, back in the england team, added a physical prescence we missed and the manager knew him as a person, it hasn't worked out but it also wasn't the stupidest decision in the world.

Even if is this true - this still doesn't explain his continued selection - after almost a year of dross ?

Heskey played on the wing more than once for Leicester and Liverpool. He can play there.

I still can't believe people just think striker = goalscorer. He's never scored many, no, but he's often helped other strikers score more, particularly at Liverpool with Owen. Thats why people buy him, to anchor attacks and play off him.

I do believe the assist v wolves - was his first assist for villa

Worst signing in over 30 years. At least with the likes of babalan - the manager had the balls not to select him. Cascarino - yes he flopped - but at the time he looked good purchase. Emile Heskey coming to villa, and not scoring was as predictable as night following day. FFS the manager is even playing the useless roller skating donkey on the wing now.....

with the game poised at 1-1 - What did you think when Heskey came on on

The problem is when we signed him he was smashing it for Wigan really on top of his game I thought he would be a quality signing but he's turned out to be pants ...... I say give him until Jan to sort himself out then if still pants , get rid

Yeah those 3 goals he got for wigan, must have clinched the deal

Jesus Heskeys got 20 fans - MON will be having a statue of him built at this rate

What does Delfonso have to do to get a game ? - I mean how much worse than Heskey can he be ? - in the few minutes I seen him v floreinta, he seemed to pose a significant goal threat....surley he deserves 45 minutes ?

I disagree...

PLEASE STOP PLAYING PETROV!!!

I'm with you. He just doesn't have the energy to play in a 4-4-2. It is becoming a joke. And if he does play 4-4-2 he is always dead on his legs after 60 mins hence the CBs get absolutely flooded by opposition runners not being picked up by our supposed DCM!

Why can't MON see this. It was there for the last 15 games of last season. There in pre-season before he was injured - massive change in our form after Petrov went. And there in the Wigan game and tonight.

Stop playing Stan in a 4-4-2!!

I agree that Heskey and Carew should not be played together. I'm surprised MON didn't go for Crouchie to give him more big men pairing options. It is just basics and embarrasing. This from a supposedly top coach?????

But in essence in the same problem. These players(Petrov\Heskey) seem to MON's favourites - and can turn in a string of duff performances - yet the manager still picks them. I really feel if MON gets wind of this petition he would walk, rather than not pick heskey. Its been the turning point of his villa managerial career