villa89

Great win considering the amount of changes made. I like it when squad rotation works.

Bollocks if baker is suspended then we might have to keep warnock.

Friedel

Walker Dunne Collins Baker

------- NRC --- Makoun

Albrighton--------- Downing

Heskey ------- Gabby

That's what I'd go for but I think Ged will play a stronger side than that.

So this game isn't on telly its just moved to 1pm cos of the Filth?

The kid looked very good last night, although wigan are not exactly a massive test. Hopefully he can step up and we can ship out warnock.

Easiest away ground to make a debut in the PL I reckon, no fans, shit team and great away support, pitch played ok

Have to agree with this and also mention that wigan are absolutely dire. 20 goals in 24 games is it?

Friedel - 7.5 - Had a good game and made a decent save.

Cuellar - 7.5 - Looks a really decent palyer. I hope he stays as he's a great squad player.

Dunne - 7.5 - Looks back to near his best

Collins 8.5 - MOTM - a bargain at the price we paid for him.

Baker 7 - I thought he did okay. I'd sooner see him play than that word removed warnock.

Makoun - 7 - He looked good but not quite up to the pace of the Premier league just yet.

NRC - 6.5 - Did the usual NRC performance, tackled well, full of energy, woeful passing.

Downing - 7 - PLayed okay, should be playing on the left and should have pulled that ball back for Bent instead of shooting.

Gabby - 7.5 - Need s to have the confidence to run at his man more often. Nice to see him score.

Young - 8 - Work rate was fantastic, poor peno though if the keeper went the right way it was an easy save.

Bent - 7 - His touch was poor but his work rate was good and its nice to havea forward willing to make runs unlike Carew...

Petrov - 7 Came on at the right time and played well. Lovely to have a player like him to come off the bench.

Albrighton - 6

Herd - N/A

I thought he looked decent last night. He seems keen to pass the ball as soon as he gets it not hold onto it for 45 seconds and then hoof it to nobody. Nice to see houllier bringing in players that want to play the short passing game rather than the hoof to heskey game. I won't judge him on one match though...

Looked uncomfortable playing on the right wing which is understandable. Always wanted to cut inside onto his left foot, other than that I thought he did fine.

-------------------Friedel

Walker----Collins-----Dunne----Clark

-------Makoun----------Petrov---------

Young---------------------------Downing

----------Bent---------Heskey

That's what I'd go for.

I'm not bothered who wins TBH. Its hard to call, I think they're both evenly matched.

Is it Jean two makoun, or Jean Makoun the second, Jean il Makoun or what?

EDIT:Its seems its Jean Dir Makoun...

Great result. I had bent backed to score first and a double on that and a villa win. Jackpot!

Abrighton has some engine and overall we looked well setup. Petrov should have been taken off earlier as his legs were gone and gabby is wasted on the left wing.

Jesus that should be an attacking side. I hope we beat these Manchester filth.

The team I'd play:

--------------------------Friedel-------------------------------------

Walker----------Dunne------------Collins---------------Clark

Young-------Petrov------------Makoun-------Downing

---------------Bent----------------Gabby-------------

The team we will play:

--------------------------Friedel-------------------------------------

Walker----------Dunne------------Collins---------------Clark

---------Downing--------NRC-------Petrov

Young---------------------------------------------Gabby----

------------------------Bent-----------------------------

I'm going to back Villa to win 3-2 and Bent to score first, its 125/1.

**** knows what kind of deal Sony have done with Valve to make this happen

An expensive one. :winkold:

Bent apparently on Villa TV inside VP with a Villa shirt on.

Is that the new ITSOTP?

Also now led to believe that Bent deal will be £24m straight cash deal NOT an £18m plus add-ons. All to be paid in installments.

F%$K me tuesday that's alot of money for Darren Bent!

Skysports.com understands Liverpool have made an approach to sign Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing.

The England international has impressed for Villa this season and has been an ever-present for the club in the Premier League.

He is Villa's top scorer with five goals in the league and is understood to have been the subject of an enquiry from Sunderland last week.

The 26-year-old is now being targeted by Liverpool as new manager Kenny Dalglish seeks to inject some fresh blood into his squad.

Downing cost Villa £12million from Middlesbrough 18 months ago and he has made 64 appearances after injury delayed the start of his career in the Midlands.

Villa boss Gerard Houllier revealed last month that he was confident that he would be able to retain the services of Downing during the January transfer window.

However, Villa's pursuit of Sunderland striker Darren Bent could prompt the club to consider letting Downing move on.

An offer of £18million is reported to have been made for Bent and cashing in on Downing would provide some of the funds to bring in his fellow England international.

LINK

I can see Ireland going the other way!

Hopefully.

Delphonso just needs a run of games. Im not sure its the right stage of the season to do this considering the position were in, but he just needs to be given 5 straight games to see what he's capable of doing. Tell the lad he will play the next 5 games no matter how many goals he scores. only then will we be able to see how good he is.

He did more in the time he was on than Carew did all game. He should start ahead of Carew while heskey is out IMO. He won't though, now that A. Young is back.

I suspect Gabby was picked not on form because he can't hit a barn door at the moment

But he's not being played up front. If he was playing as a out an out striker and was getting chances and missing them then crictising him would be fair but at the moment he's the only decent available striker we have and Houllier is playing him on the wing???

I think playing Gabby on the left wing is a sackable offence in itself. You have to wonder what Houllier is thinking sometimes.

I'm also on the bone marrow donor list, but am yet to be called upon.

One of my mates is on that list too. What's involved if you do get called?

I have never given blood but always meant to do it. I should really get off my arse and find a blood donation centre.

Houllier will keep us in the league.

That's hardly an achievement though is it? The minimum expectation for a club like ours, with the squad we have should be a top 10 finish.