Villa (a) Post Match Thread

[Sarb]

Anyone think Barry would be a good signing for us As alonso was a bit slow today?

Barry was utter gash today so no I don't think he would be. By all accounts he's been average in their three premiership games this season

[EST_1892]

I didn't think Barry played any better than Alonso today, I thought they both put in average performances

Thankfully for us. Can you imagine the media frenzy if he had of had a good game today and god forbid, even scored?



P.S Exiled, The only garcious way to accept an insult is to ignore it.

Is that a typo or some sort of tribute to Luis Garcia?

[Craig_H]

yep if all you aspire for is a top 4 finish.

What do chelsea aspire to?

Because they toiled at Wigan and drew at home to a rubbish Spurs today.

I dont think we were crap today. Maybe i saw a different game from Villa Park than i may have done on TV, but i thought we were ok, we showed more in wide areas in the 2nd half and put some decent quality into the box.

We were without our two best players and it showed in the final third, but we defended well, we were decent in building our attacks, just lacked top quality in terms of actually finding a goal.

I dont know what people expect really, i'm bewildered. Are Villa some second rate nobodies? Not from where i'm standing. They're a very good side, the 5th best in the league for me, and we went to their place and held our own without Gerrard and Torres.

Dossena looked very useful going forward, got high up the park on a regular basis and delivered decent quality into the box.

Mascherano was immense, full of power and energy, and MOM for me.

Pretty solid at the back, Reina made a couple of decent saves and N'Gog looked useful. Keane's slowing coming into his stride and Lucas was fairly decent too.

Let's see how Arsenal, Manchester and Chelsea do at Villa Park. I'd be surprised if more than one of them takes 3 points.

People need to gain a sense of realism.

[Craig_H]

Dossenna needs games, he is a good player but he needs to be given the licence to get forward more as he has a good cross on him although he doesn't look a little laboured. On tthe other side Arbeloa looks poor but he can play through that I feel.

Nothing needs to be added on the wide areas that hasn't been said already, Rafa doesn't have much idea about attacking football.

We went for a draw and got one.

I think we went to get a foot hold on the game, not be controlled or overrun and ease our way into it. The plan would obviously have relied on utilising torres but what can you do when he pulls up with a hamstring injury?

People are being incredibly harsh, i think.

[Craig_H]

Ok ok. I counter you're "acceptable" point with a "we won't win anything whatsoever playing like that". If you think a point is acceptable at Villa, gained without having a shot on target, then maybe you will enjoy this season more than most of us.

The Villa Park scoreboard credited us with 3 shots on target and 4 off target.

[Craig_H]

Not the best but I though they were quite a few positives out of today's game.

Dossena was really good, was in and out of the game, but I think we had genuine width when he did manage to get involved.

We kept hold of the ball much better than we have so far this season. We we're far more solid and you didn't ever get the impression we would be over-run as we have these last few games.

Did well from set pieces another thing which had been worrying. Also think Arbeloa did pretty well, Ashley Young was a non-issue in the game, am pleased because Arbeloa has been a bit on and off so far this season.

The attacking unit still hasn't clicked and I guess with Torres going off and SG being out that wasn't likely to happen in this game. I was really hoping that Xabi would step up in this game as he had the extra support of Lucas and El Jefecito around him, a pretty solid platform, but alas it was not to be.

Just need to get the forward line working better and I think we'll be doing OK this year. I still think were 5 or so games away from getting into our groove. So I'll not be worrying overly until then.

Totally agree, we've had performances a hundred times worse than today, i didnt think we played poorly at all and, under the circumstances (without SG and FT), it was always going to be difficult.

[Craig_H]

you dont go to villa looking for a draw

has rafa not learnt anything

When you're without Gerrard and lose Torres early on, playing away at the 5th best side in the league, who are also totally up for it after the Barry saga, you realise it's going to be very hard and try to ensure we compete and hold our own.

Not much to complain about today, i dont think.

[Craig_H]

He didn't go for a draw. He set his team up to eliminate the Villa threat in the thought that we would get plenty of chances on the conter. We stopped Villa playing and should have nicked the game with Keane through one on one.

Personally I though we should have put Babel on from the start and given them something to worry about. No doubt Rafa thought Milner and Young would be on the flanks from the start and set his team up accordingly.

I had no problem with N'gog coming on - It was striker for striker and people complain when youngsters don't get a chance. But Babel should have come on instead of Aurelio.

I think we may have seen a more attacking team had we not played 120 minutes in mid week, we would have pressured them on the ball far more and forced mistakes. As it was we decided to soak up pressure for fear of tiring too early.

If Nando Torres hadnt got injured, he'd have probably got us a goal on the break and we'd have won.

[Shaggy]

He certainly would've gobbled up that chance Keane had.

[Craig_H]

My problem is none of our rivals will go to Villa Park looking for a draw, it's about the intent. Barcelona just lost to Numancia, they had 28 shots on goal and hit the woodwork, they also kept the ball etc. OK it didn't happen and a defeat sucks but they had a go at least.

I just don't like the way we play football and our mentality. Did Friedal have to make a save today?

I'd rather see us make sure we're solid and take one point, than try and go all out, and lose.

[Craig_H]

He certainly would've gobbled up that chance Keane had.

I think a settled-in and relaxed Keane would've gobbled up that chance too.

[Darth Marty]

I thought Alonso was cool and composed again today, at present his main problem is a complete lack of width which instantly negates his range of passing and quick footballing mind. Get some fluidity in our attack and maybe a winger (or two?) and we will see the best of Xabi, of that im sure. Whilst im at it I thought Barry was merely average today, and hes usually like that when i see him play.

[Marky]

Im not one to single out players but i thought Lucas put in a horrible performance against Villa.

He looked unfit, weak and half hearted.

This lad came with a big reputation and i thought he showed glimpses of his quality last season but the bottom line is he'll have to ****ing step it up a gear or three if he wants to stay at Liverpool beyond this season.

[lfc1394]

We had no Gerrard and no Torres, and Villa looked ****, we should have gone at them there is no hiding it.

[Marky]

Really impressed with Dossena and Mascherano, strong performances by both.

Dossena is starting to show what he can do, some lovely whipped crosses into the box, i know he's gone and we have to move on but i bet Crouch would of got on the end of some of his crosses.

After a few dodgy displays i thought Arbeloa had a decent game too.