tgarve

Cracking game today and cracking atmosphere at the game, I think that Villa lost it by playing a ridiculous 424 formation hoofing the ball to Carew with just Barry and Reo taking our whole midfield, we kept our shape and I could see that Villa were going to find it very hard to keep track of our wingers. Butt and Barton played well playing short, intelligent balls mixed in with some long passes up front. The back four actually looked cohesive for once apart from Collocini having to cover for Taylors shortcomings a few times but with great class. Also Enrique had his best game imo. Duff and Guttierez's work rate was excellent and for as much as everyone (including me) slags off Duff's final ball he never showed less than 100% will for the cause, which is why he is being picked ahead of the more hit and miss nzog. Ameobi put in a good shift again upfront, and people really need to see around his weaknesses and highlight what he gives to the team in different ways, such as height, power and dragging defenders from his partner to leave oppurtunities for a dribble/ shot. Harking back to my first point Villa are a good team but you cant play soo attacking away from home against teams such as us and expect something every time. I think the player ratings would be: Given 7 Did Nothing Wrong and again stopped a near certain goal. Beye 7 Solid as ever Collocini 8.5 Looks classier and classier, cool calm and collected and intelligent! Taylor 7 Played okay but goes missing sometimes. His attitude is perfect though and should stay in the team. Enrique 8 Good game, simple balls and contained milner/ young/ carew well. Jonas 8 Set up the most important goal of the season so far, works hard and rarely gives away possession Butt 7.5 Took responsibility today for the midfield and while lacking in pace looks experienced and probally justified his selection today ahead of the more neat and tidy Guthrie. Barton 8 Combative, and shows a head for clever passes at times, just hope he can keep his head. Duff 8 Worked hard, sometimes should have made better runs/ decisions but he looks as though he is scareing defenders again. Martins 8.5 Once again hit and miss but his hits hit and his misses were few and far between, an inportant asset on this form. Very important Ameobi 8.5 Worked very hard today and looked very Heskey like in his play. Man Of Match Ameobi imo. Wouldnt have won with Owen/ Xisco in his place. Not for chances created but for his overall inpact in the game we played today. I though overall the game today reminded me of an old Bobby Robson game with passion, pride, skill, luck and dedication toward other team mates and the team Comon the toon, get behind the team and we will go up the league!!!

True. The gutierrez one failed so many times Scuds hooter is doing my head in aswell haha, squeeeeeek gutierrez needs his own song and tune. joans gutierrez can be fitted into the oba..obafem tune but he deserves his own song. Seven Nation Army: JO-NAS GUTIERREZ there was a guttierez song went off today from the singing corner (along with alot of other fine tunes boys!) cant remember what it was tho? as good tho

Just found out ive got free ticket for second match running! Cant wait now and being majorly optimistic I reckon will be 3-1 win Oba to play well for once. COOOOOMMMMOOOONNN THE TOON!!!! :colo:

doesnt look like he wants to stay tho with his non celebrations and muted face imo

Yes you can, keep quiet about things that need to be kept quite (ie transfers, contracts) and talk to the fans about the general structure and future of the club

No, he wasn't technically British. He was technically a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But Rep of ireland northern ireland and Great Britain are all in the British Isles.

I think given is now as good as he was under sir bobby after last seasons injury problems. Do you actually go to games?

I agree, but i think box to box players is just a term for someone who is just below good at every technique (parker) Is it s****. Bryan Robson as has been mentioned, Roy Keane as well, probably the two standouts in this league over the last 25 years. I'd probally say 1 in 20 supposed box to box players would fit in the keane/ robson mould tho.

I agree, but i think box to box players is just a term for someone who is just below good at every technique (parker)

Well, tbf, judging kinnear on 'if he wins the fa cup' is on a par with shola getting 15 goals a season, you'd stick with both, but neither are ever going to happen. To be honest if ameobi plays every remaining game this season he might reach 15 goals but theres no chance in the next 3 seasons we are going to win the fa cup at this rate

Smith tries his best as well, and he's another waste of f***ing space on the pitch. Butt is a much much btter player than Smith though, Hull want Smith anyway so one problem sorted I'm not sure Butt is much better than Smith anymore. He's been woeful all season imo. no i think he is

Im not saying he's getting on but at the moment we have nothing better, barton when he's match fit, he probally would be signed by a mid table/ lower down side (which is all that we are atm, take off ur rose tinted glasses) and he does a job untill be find a replacement (ala beye for carr) We cannot jut sign anyone, enrique nd xisco/gonzalez type signings just dont do it for me.

he was through otherwise, i would have liked to see barton come on earlier but tbh havent got anything better and butt did well today in parts

Absolute fuking gobshite

I know he scored but Ameobi was w*** mate. I wouldnt say that he created 3-4 opportunities, scored and genrally put himself about a bit.

What was "rash" about this tackle? Robinho was through into the box and only had Given to beat. Beye would never have caught him. The only chance to prevent Robinho from scoring was to try to sneak the ball away from Robinho with this kind of tackle - which he did with great perfection. Only that Styles got his decision wrong as usual. Yes but even thought he slightly touched the ball there was every chance it could have gone wrong, so thats why im calling it rash.

Honestly mate faye isnt that good.

Agreed he was taken on before the takeover and with big money takeovers always comes a chairman's friend at DoF and World class manager at Coach position

Felt so good for most of the match. The way the time was ticking on I thought we would sneak the win but never mind cant complain with a draw when we were a goal down 10 men. Given 8 Showed his worth again to the team. Glad he is finally back to his best. Not many other keepers in the prem would have saved that shot. Beye-4 Unlucky to be sent off but maybe shouldnt have been so rash in going in for the tackle. Taylor- 6 Didnt seem to do as much as Colo but harried and pressed wherever possible. Coloccini- 8 Best performance so far for us. Showed he is strong and dominant and wont be beaten by pace Bassong- 5 Looked shaky at times but Still would much rather have him there than Nzog or Enrique and is defo one for future. Geremi- 7 Showed why he is No.1 assister with his wicked balls in and didnt shirk responsibility at right back. Butt- 7 Cut out some clear cut chances for them. May be past it but seemed to find his extra gear today Guthrie- 7 Scott parker the second with a bit more guile and can pick out a pass now and again. Seems right selling emre now we have someone fit in centre mid who doesnt wimp out of tackles. Duff- 8 Looked to have his pace back at times, definately the best ive seen him play for us and could have got a goal. Martins- 6 Still looks hit and miss but his pace helped us today. Ameobi- 8 Reminded me of the Ameobi who showed up once in a while against the Arsenal, good performance but lets hope he can build on it.

They're even thinking about Allardyce. Sure signs of desperation. ha idiots cant spell

Oops deleted it, got caught up in the excitement of the thought of Spurs losing 2 out of the next 3.Thanks for the heads up. Whats this rule on place names all about? Fixture lists IIRC. IIRC?

absolutely quality, put a smile on my face!

Oops deleted it, got caught up in the excitement of the thought of Spurs losing 2 out of the next 3.Thanks for the heads up. Whats this rule on place names all about?

typical NE5 HTT debate. boring!

To sum up, Roy Keane good, Joe Kinnear bad. An alternative sum up: I've got a bit of spare time on my hands, need to justify my salary, Guardian readers'll (no disrespect) buy into this. lost interest in 2nd paragraph