The other games today - 2009/10

[Guest firetotheworks]

We were s**** today.

 

We've f***ed it up big, big time.

 

brummie, do you think O'Neill is capable of getting you to the next level, ie the top 4.

 

Just seems he'll never have a better chance than this year.

 

No.

 

He's too limited tactically, and his transfer market approach is weird beyond belief.

 

He can keep us top 6 or 7 with his eyes closed, not even trying, but he won't take us any further than that. He's an infuriating man.

 

See today, the crowd see Delfouneso and Luke Young warming up, looking like they're coming on, start cheering ironically (Cuellar at RB and Heskey anywhere are subjects of some discussion), so he changed his mind and puts Albrighton on instead, just to remind us who is boss.

 

He's infuriating at times, like I said.

 

No chance of him leaving, though?

 

No. Not until he decides he's had enough.

 

To be honest, though, he's always had an uneasy relationship with sections of the support, which would surprise most neutral observers.

 

I can see it tbh. As mad as it sounds, Im not sure I'd like us to play like Villa. I see Villa as a bit of a glorified Allardyce team really. In that rather than play the percentages through long balls and set pieces, you play percentages through constantly getting the ball wide and whipping crosses in. I get bored watching you quite often tbh.

[Keefaz]

Bolton.

[Dave]

Darren Bent has scored half of Sunderland's goals this year.

 

Can see him looking at moving on if he doesn't get to go to the World Cup this summer.

 

Again? Why?

 

I think he'll feel he's carried them this year & not got the credit (internationally anyway) because of where he is. He'd have a decent choice of clubs, if Torres moves on for massive money I could see him replacing him at Liverpool or going to a club in the top half.

 

He seems the type to kick up a fuss as well.

 

Not sure he'll want to go somewhere and not be guaranteed first choice again. His MOTD interview suggests he's still very bitter about Spurs.

[brummie]

I can see it tbh. As mad as it sounds, Im not sure I'd like us to play like Villa. I see Villa as a bit of a glorified Allardyce team really. In that rather than play the percentages through long balls and set pieces, you play percentages through constantly getting the ball wide and whipping crosses in. I get bored watching you quite often tbh.

 

That's a bit harsh, certainly the Allardyce bit, but there's a lot of truth there.

 

This is the issue. When teams have a go at us, we love it, it gives us time and space to do that counter attacking thing. Which is fine, because we're really very, very good at it.

 

When teams defend - and a lot of them do just defend when they play us at Villa Park - we struggle, like today, to unlock them, and we just concentrate on getting it out to the wingers (which in itself isn't bad, I love watching teams with wingers). The issue there is that if that doesn't work, we genuinely don't know what to do.

 

Given that most teams do defend against us when we're at home, that has produced a marked difference in attitude between the home support and those who follow us away. Away from home, we get the chance to play to our strengths. At home, we don't get that chance, and we often struggle, hence the lack of empathy between manager and fans.

[Guest firetotheworks]

I can see it tbh. As mad as it sounds, Im not sure I'd like us to play like Villa. I see Villa as a bit of a glorified Allardyce team really. In that rather than play the percentages through long balls and set pieces, you play percentages through constantly getting the ball wide and whipping crosses in. I get bored watching you quite often tbh.

 

That's a bit harsh, certainly the Allardyce bit, but there's a lot of truth there.

 

This is the issue. When teams have a go at us, we love it, it gives us time and space to do that counter attacking thing. Which is fine, because we're really very, very good at it.

 

When teams defend - and a lot of them do just defend when they play us at Villa Park - we struggle, like today, to unlock them, and we just concentrate on getting it out to the wingers (which in itself isn't bad, I love watching teams with wingers). The issue there is that if that doesn't work, we genuinely don't know what to do.

 

Given that most teams do defend against us when we're at home, that has produced a marked difference in attitude between the home support and those who follow us away. Away from home, we get the chance to play to our strengths. At home, we don't get that chance, and we often struggle, hence the lack of empathy between manager and fans.

 

You're right that I was a bit harsh, but it was mainly to highlight a point more than anything. I guess to put it in a nutshell, when I watch Villa, I know what you're going to do, it's all very formulaic, I know that Young will turn inside and whip a ball towards the far post, and that it's all about probability. Don't get me wrong, as a team you're obviously very effective, I just sometimes wonder why you aren't figured out more than you are. Or perhaps it's that you are, but you have the players to make it count regardless. But when teams defend against you, I get bored really quickly, there's never anything unexpected.

[Keefaz]

What does a fucking dog know about racism?

[brummie]

You're right that I was a bit harsh, but it was mainly to highlight a point more than anything. I guess to put it in a nutshell, when I watch Villa, I know what you're going to do, it's all very formulaic, I know that Young will turn inside and whip a ball towards the far post, and that it's all about probability. Don't get me wrong, as a team you're obviously very effective, I just sometimes wonder why you aren't figured out more than you are. Or perhaps it's that you are, but you have the players to make it count regardless. But when teams defend against you, I get bored really quickly, there's never anything unexpected.

 

That's precisely, precisely the issue.

 

Talk to any Villa fan and they'll tell you that. They'll also say that they know, prior to a match, which team we'll start with (ignoring injuries, which we seem to be largely immune from).

 

Our plan A when it works is very watchable, and I'd  be a hypocrite if i said i didn't like watching it. Our plan B, on the other hand, doesn't actually exist.

[80]

We were shite today.

 

We've fucked it up big, big time.

 

brummie, do you think O'Neill is capable of getting you to the next level, ie the top 4.

 

Just seems he'll never have a better chance than this year.

 

No.

 

He's too limited tactically, and his transfer market approach is weird beyond belief.

 

He can keep us top 6 or 7 with his eyes closed, not even trying, but he won't take us any further than that. He's an infuriating man.

 

See today, the crowd see Delfouneso and Luke Young warming up, looking like they're coming on, start cheering ironically (Cuellar at RB and Heskey anywhere are subjects of some discussion), so he changed his mind and puts Albrighton on instead, just to remind us who is boss.

 

He's infuriating at times, like I said.

 

No chance of him leaving, though?

 

No. Not until he decides he's had enough.

 

To be honest, though, he's always had an uneasy relationship with sections of the support, which would surprise most neutral observers.

 

Really tempted to do a Ronaldo...

[Guest firetotheworks]

Fucking goal from Dorrans, mind. Off da hook.

[Guest kingdawson]

You're right that I was a bit harsh, but it was mainly to highlight a point more than anything. I guess to put it in a nutshell, when I watch Villa, I know what you're going to do, it's all very formulaic, I know that Young will turn inside and whip a ball towards the far post, and that it's all about probability. Don't get me wrong, as a team you're obviously very effective, I just sometimes wonder why you aren't figured out more than you are. Or perhaps it's that you are, but you have the players to make it count regardless. But when teams defend against you, I get bored really quickly, there's never anything unexpected.

 

That's precisely, precisely the issue.

 

Talk to any Villa fan and they'll tell you that. They'll also say that they know, prior to a match, which team we'll start with (ignoring injuries, which we seem to be largely immune from).

 

Our plan A when it works is very watchable, and I'd  be a hypocrite if i said i didn't like watching it. Our plan B, on the other hand, doesn't actually exist.

 

Out of the 4 champions league challengers which team do you think plays the better brand of football (ie more pleasing to the eye for a neutral)?

[Guest kingdawson]

FFS my sky has broken down for a 6th time (in like 2 months). Off to virgin for sure.

[Liam Liam Liam O]

You're right that I was a bit harsh, but it was mainly to highlight a point more than anything. I guess to put it in a nutshell, when I watch Villa, I know what you're going to do, it's all very formulaic, I know that Young will turn inside and whip a ball towards the far post, and that it's all about probability. Don't get me wrong, as a team you're obviously very effective, I just sometimes wonder why you aren't figured out more than you are. Or perhaps it's that you are, but you have the players to make it count regardless. But when teams defend against you, I get bored really quickly, there's never anything unexpected.

 

That's precisely, precisely the issue.

 

Talk to any Villa fan and they'll tell you that. They'll also say that they know, prior to a match, which team we'll start with (ignoring injuries, which we seem to be largely immune from).

 

Our plan A when it works is very watchable, and I'd  be a hypocrite if i said i didn't like watching it. Our plan B, on the other hand, doesn't actually exist.

 

Out of the 4 champions league challengers which team do you think plays the better brand of football (ie more pleasing to the eye for a neutral)?

 

City.

[Guest firetotheworks]

You're right that I was a bit harsh, but it was mainly to highlight a point more than anything. I guess to put it in a nutshell, when I watch Villa, I know what you're going to do, it's all very formulaic, I know that Young will turn inside and whip a ball towards the far post, and that it's all about probability. Don't get me wrong, as a team you're obviously very effective, I just sometimes wonder why you aren't figured out more than you are. Or perhaps it's that you are, but you have the players to make it count regardless. But when teams defend against you, I get bored really quickly, there's never anything unexpected.

 

That's precisely, precisely the issue.

 

Talk to any Villa fan and they'll tell you that. They'll also say that they know, prior to a match, which team we'll start with (ignoring injuries, which we seem to be largely immune from).

 

Our plan A when it works is very watchable, and I'd  be a hypocrite if i said i didn't like watching it. Our plan B, on the other hand, doesn't actually exist.

 

Out of the 4 champions league challengers which team do you think plays the better brand of football (ie more pleasing to the eye for a neutral)?

 

It's between you and Man City for me. You probably do it more regularly though.

[Liam Liam Liam O]

You're right that I was a bit harsh, but it was mainly to highlight a point more than anything. I guess to put it in a nutshell, when I watch Villa, I know what you're going to do, it's all very formulaic, I know that Young will turn inside and whip a ball towards the far post, and that it's all about probability. Don't get me wrong, as a team you're obviously very effective, I just sometimes wonder why you aren't figured out more than you are. Or perhaps it's that you are, but you have the players to make it count regardless. But when teams defend against you, I get bored really quickly, there's never anything unexpected.

 

That's precisely, precisely the issue.

 

Talk to any Villa fan and they'll tell you that. They'll also say that they know, prior to a match, which team we'll start with (ignoring injuries, which we seem to be largely immune from).

 

Our plan A when it works is very watchable, and I'd  be a hypocrite if i said i didn't like watching it. Our plan B, on the other hand, doesn't actually exist.

 

Out of the 4 champions league challengers which team do you think plays the better brand of football (ie more pleasing to the eye for a neutral)?

 

It's between you and Man City for me. You probably do it more regularly though.

 

Is the answer he was looking for.

[Guest kingdawson]

I think it's us by a distance to be totally honest. Even the games we've lost this season we played pretty well in (just failed to take our chances).

 

Also when we play the teams around us, we've been the better team (Villa twice, City at home , Liverpool at home, Everton away and first half at home). The second half performances against Liverpool (away) and Everton at home (to an extent) was the only time we didn't show up. Still don't think we'll get 4th though.

[Keefaz]

'Group of lads' bingo!

[Liam Liam Liam O]

'Group of lads' bingo!

 

Starting to think he now does it deliberately.

[brummie]

You're right that I was a bit harsh, but it was mainly to highlight a point more than anything. I guess to put it in a nutshell, when I watch Villa, I know what you're going to do, it's all very formulaic, I know that Young will turn inside and whip a ball towards the far post, and that it's all about probability. Don't get me wrong, as a team you're obviously very effective, I just sometimes wonder why you aren't figured out more than you are. Or perhaps it's that you are, but you have the players to make it count regardless. But when teams defend against you, I get bored really quickly, there's never anything unexpected.

 

That's precisely, precisely the issue.

 

Talk to any Villa fan and they'll tell you that. They'll also say that they know, prior to a match, which team we'll start with (ignoring injuries, which we seem to be largely immune from).

 

Our plan A when it works is very watchable, and I'd  be a hypocrite if i said i didn't like watching it. Our plan B, on the other hand, doesn't actually exist.

 

Out of the 4 champions league challengers which team do you think plays the better brand of football (ie more pleasing to the eye for a neutral)?

 

Man City at their best are the better.

 

You lot hit it long to Crouch far, far too often. You're also about as clinical as Birmingham City.

[Keefaz]

Don't think there's much in it. Spurs are a great passing side when they're at their best.

[Guest kingdawson]

We really don't hit it long often but ok.

[brummie]

I think it's us by a distance to be totally honest. Even the games we've lost this season we played pretty well in (just failed to take our chances).

 

Also when we play the teams around us, we've been the better team (Villa twice, City at home , Liverpool at home, Everton away and first half at home). The second half performances against Liverpool (away) and Everton at home (to an extent) was the only time we didn't show up. Still don't think we'll get 4th though.

 

Your problem is - as we've agreed here - you don't do it against the better (ie top four) teams. That is why you won't finish in the top four.

[brummie]

We really don't hit it long often but ok.

 

Statistical analysis of our game against you - the one where your fans were screaming "hoof" in an attempt to make Wenger like them - showed that that is precisely what you did.

 

EDIT I should also add that we're just as bad, with the difference that we rely too much on crosses whipped into the box, but then again we're not the ones lecturing others on how they should play, or telling people what great football we play. Or fishing for compliments on here

 

*wink*

[Guest kingdawson]

We really don't hit it long often but ok.

 

Statistical analysis of our game against you - the one where your fans were screaming "hoof" in an attempt to make Wenger like them - showed that that is precisely what you did.

 

Which is why i said "we don't hit it long often".

 

Don't really think the fans did that for Wengers sake tbh. Think it had more to do with the 1st game at yours where you camped inside your half for near enough 65 minutes of the game defending. Probably why MON plays Cueller at rb and why Fulham and Birmingham are the only teams in the top half of the table that have scored less goals then you.

[Liam Liam Liam O]

17,000 at Boro today.

[Guest kingdawson]

oh and i wasn't fishing for compliments. I specifically asked you the question because i honestly feel you've been brainwashed by your teams style of play. I actually wanted to know if you had the audacity to say Villa (luckily you didn't).