alexf

I hate Pardew in general but seems bit harsh to say just pick the best players and they'll do the rest. ( saw that comment a few pages back and I'm a bit behind on whatever the current topic is ) I was speaking to a few villa fans I know when we met up outside the ground after the game and all of them were impressed with how well drilled we were. Yes we had the Ben Arfa magic but we still needed a solid base to work from and I think one thing Pardew has proved before is that when he can get a consistant back 5 together we tend to look stronger defensively.

Just glad he stayed really as there would have been no replacement and I'd rather have Cabaye than McCarthy anyway. Still he's been back for 2 games and we've won both so all you can ask for really.

Very similar to Jelavic in that they came in and were excellent (Cisse more impressive imo) and then both seem to have declined massively ever since. Still believe he just needs a game where he grabs a brace.

yep, think he also was doing some defending "analysis" and they paused the footage there was a player mid side-step who had his legs crossed and he started going on about how stupid it was to defend with your legs crossed and "what's all that about" Like to think he was joking for the legs crossed one though

They are useless on MOTD. It's not just us either. Hansen was ripping into Eto'o saying he couldn't do this and couldn't do that and that he "doesn't have a left foot either" either? haha this guy has been one of the top strikers in world football for about a decade and he's judging him on less that 10 minutes of highlights in one game Used to like Hansen but the way he judges teams and players on tiny bits of footage is embarrassing.

Yep with the Fa bitching about England not producing players anymore then they might to focus on the fact the top 4-5 hoover up all the decent english talent and leave them to rot. If some of these players had been allowed to continue to develop naturally at other clubs then they may become better players.

should of had

Forgot to say yesterday, in that interview he gave, can't remember if it was bbc or sky. But he said "I am proud of my team" Every time he speaks he always sounds like the captain.

what did the remster say then on his nufc interview, that us peasants can't afford.

People worrying because of what happened last time with Hull need to realise how toxic the atmosphere was last time. We would have lost to anyone on that day. Now we're on the back of 3 straight wins, players in form and playing in proper positions and no significant injuries. We should be looking to boss this game.

Yeah if they had actually bothered to show proper highlights they would have seen he went down the line on his right foot atleast a couple of times to put the doubt in the defenders mind. Doubt the MOTD pundits even watch more than the crappy edit that bbc put together.

Surely they are just repeating what another journalist would have said. Plus it seemed logical for us to have a clause but from the man who apparently did the deal it sounded clear we didn't have a deal in place. I tend to believe more that Kinnear is a complete idiot who fucked up the deal rather than newspapers guessing.

Ben Arfa barely played the first half of that season. It was more often than not Best partnering Ba.

Goals on sunday is far better than Match of the day. Showed far more highlights and actually analysed the goals and the penalty claim.

as good as useless if that's the case as they are favourites to come up.

First time seeing him play live yesterday. He's a big strong lad. Promising thing is he didn't even seem fully fit so there is a lot more to come from him.

If it means Hatem signs a new deal I couldn't care less. Same Was thinking though. With all last seasons signings really settling in now; Anita,Sissoko,Gouff,Yanga,Debuchy. Have we made a single bad signing on his recommendation? I mean I think Obertan and Gosling were widely speculated to be Pardew signings were they not? Even so if we count them as Carr's that's still a ridiculous success rate.

Hasn't played as the furthest forward midfielder for about 2 years so think it just needs time. Certainly helped us having him constantly pressing their players high up the pitch. Think that position will suit him better in home games where he will get more time to try and pick out runs of the front 3 and thread the ball through like we know he can.

Sissoko can't head for shit. His timing and everything is terrible Shame as he's a unit.

That Villa goal last season Hansen last night just saying "just show him on his right" some of these guys just have no idea how good he is do they. Far easier said than done. EDIT* on and it didn't make any of the highlights but there was a cross with his right foot yesterday in the 2nd half right infront of us away fans that was absolutely brilliant. Between defenders and goalkeeper, was perfect but Cisse wasn't close enough to attack it unfortunately.

Really solid game yesterday. Just dealt with everything basically. Strong in the tackle and strong in the air. One of his best games so far.

Thought it was the correct decision actually at that point. Tiote is stronger defensively than Anita and that's what we needed at that time just to see out the game. Thought Tiote did ok when he came on and that's a role I'd be happy for him to continue as rather than starting every game.

Yeah hate to say it as I love the guy but can see him being the weakest link in this starting lineup if he doesn't get some confidence soon. Just never gets the ball out of his feet to get a shot away like he used to. Happy to persist with him for longer though. Still believe the old Cisse will reappear and go on a little run of goals soon if the rest of the team continues to play well.

Been saying for awhile but we have a far stronger team now than the one that finished 5th except for Ba. When u think in the 433 we had simpson, williamson, r.taylor, guthrie and jonas all playing regularly. Now we've added debuchy, mapou, anita, sissoko, remy and gouffran. Far more suited players to 4-3-3. shame we had to suffer the abomination that was last season but if we keep the core of this team fit, then I'm excited again.