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The Official Villa supporters thread |
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#226 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: walsall woohoo!!!!
Posts: 2,628
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Quote:
We won't be top 4 playing like we did today against an awful Everton team.
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#227 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,359
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Quote:
We won't be top 4 playing like we did today against an awful Everton team.
Ashley Young is a player I've always rated. He's a bit like Wright Phillips with a better end product. I'd love Capello to get the best out of him in an England shirt. The basic difference between the teams was the pace you had with Agbonlahor and Young and our slightly more lumbering approach. Well done for realising the game isn't over till the final whistle is blown - a few of our lads switched off to me at the end. Certainly Arsenal have serious competition for fourth place; for Villa its just about establishing consistency now and minimising the poor performances. |
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#228 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Redditch. Yeah, THAT place.
Posts: 8,435
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Quote:
Certainly Arsenal have serious competition for fourth place; for Villa its just about establishing consistency now and minimising the poor performances.
It's crazy that we're only seven points off the top. We've dropped so many silly points this season - I guess everyone has though. I'm not saying that we should be looking at the top of the league and realistically expect to be there, but it's an indication of how close we are in the table to the top 4. Arsenal drawing today was definitely a bonus. |
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#229 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: In Gods Own County
Posts: 20,678
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Just about to watch the game on Sky football First
Consistantcy and the same team as the last three games ? Why do we always let the first goal in ? |
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#230 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: In Gods Own County
Posts: 20,678
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Quote:
Why do we always let the first goal in ? Let in the first 2 goals tonight
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#231 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: walsall woohoo!!!!
Posts: 2,628
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One positive from last night is the main players got a deserved rest for the west ham game.
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#232 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,063
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I don't really blame MON for resting players last night to be honest. We've got some huge games coming up and a good chance to really push for 4th if we can get a good result this weekend against West Ham and then the following week with Arsenal. It would have been plain daft if we'd put our strongest side out and picked up injuries in a game where the result wasn't really that important - or certainly not as important as our upcoming league matches where we need everyone fully fit.
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#233 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: In Gods Own County
Posts: 20,678
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If that was our second team then we don't have strength in depth
For MoN to say (prior to the game ) " the result is not important ,we have already qualified " set the tone for the players who took part , he as good as said " Just turn up , don't worry about winning , we have qualified for the next phase " Which is what the players did . Teams usually come a cropper when they rest en mass first team players for matches not are deemed to be not important I look forward to the draw at lunchtime today . I do hope we can string together a couple of wins over Xmas with West Ham (A) , Arsenal (H) and Hull (A) I can only see a win and 2 draws and 5 points out of 9 |
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#234 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Posts: 1,670
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Tough UEFA Cup draw.
CSKA Moscow, the only team to win all 4 group matches. If we get through that we play Spurs or Shakhtar Donesk in the last 16. Oh well it should get us prepared for Champions League next season.
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#235 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: In Gods Own County
Posts: 20,678
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Quote:
Tough UEFA Cup draw.
CSKA Moscow, the only team to win all 4 group matches. If we get through that we play Spurs or Shakhtar Donesk in the last 16. Oh well it should get us prepared for Champions League next season. ![]() And come on a possibility of Spurs in the next round ![]() http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...pe/7790724.stm SD finished 3rd in their CL table |
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#236 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: walsall woohoo!!!!
Posts: 2,628
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I think CSKA Moscow will be a good match and dont forget we arent doing too bad away either and hopefully by then gabby will have a strike partner so we can go back to the 4-4-2 formation.
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#237 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Redditch. Yeah, THAT place.
Posts: 8,435
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So, if you read the papers over the last couple of weeks or so, we've been linked with Heskey, Santa Cruz and Doyle...assuming we'll only sign one, which one would you guys go for?
They all have their merits and I'd be pretty happy with any of them. Fresh off seeing Doyle score against Blues at lunchtime, he'd probably be my first choice. He's good in the air, decent at holding it up and he's got a good turn of pace. Heskey is always a trier and a good team player, although he isn't getting any younger. He's worked with MON before so there are benefits there. Santa Cruz is the best finisher of the three but apart from his time at Blackburn, he's spent most of his career on the treatment table... Also, Bullard could be leaving Fulham - he'd be a good signing for us. Can't believe we go into 3rd if we win tonight - but it is quite a big if. It really depends which West Ham turns up and which Villa turns up. |
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#238 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,063
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I'd probably prefer Heskey out of those options if Carew is going to miss lengthy periods regularly because without him we don't really have a plan B. I think against the lesser sides we need 2 up front especially at home when they are happy with a draw and park the bus.
Good result for us today managing to grind it out and keeping a clean sheet in the process. Even a draw now against Arsenal wouldn't be a bad result on boxing day. |
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#239 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Redditch. Yeah, THAT place.
Posts: 8,435
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So West Ham played alright and we played dreadfully...but it's the mark of a good team when they play badly and win!
![]() I thought Friedel, Luke Young, Laursen and Davies were immense today, as was Reo-Coker when he came on. Sidwell and Petrov didn't really do much and Milner, Ash and Gabby hardly played a part in the game - but it doesn't really matter as long as we get the points. The game against Arsenal on Boxing Day will be awesome. Mixed emotions about the Liverpool v Arsenal game tomorrow - do we want Liverpool to win to put us further ahead of Arsenal, or do we want to Arsenal to win to keep us closer to the top? Seriously though, we can't keep playing this badly on the road and winning. We probably deserved a point each from the Everton and the West Ham games, but we've got six points which is incredible really. Our luck's going to run out sooner or later but whilst we keep on winning, I'm not going to complain. |
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#240 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Redditch. Yeah, THAT place.
Posts: 8,435
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Oh and on a different note, today brought back all those painful memories of watching Carlton Cole play for us in the 04/05 season. His link-up play is alright but you're not a Premier League striker if you miss a header from three yards.
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#241 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,359
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Villa always impress me. If that is them not playing well, what an encouraging sign.
I'd put them in now as front runners for fourth. I thought West Ham were a bit unlucky but you have to put the ball in the net - and what a shrewd piece of business it was to get a 'keeper of Friedel's quality. If he's after someone to cover for Carew, perhaps Heskey would be the better option. I've been very impressed with Doyle, but you do have to say its a big step up if he's charged with firing the goals to get Villa the CL spot they are challenging for. |
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#242 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,250
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The next two games we have are Arsenal and Hull.
If we manage to defeat both of those teams, I reckon we're in for a chance of getting the 4th position at the end. Come on, we have to be the first to break the "top 4". Everton had their chance last season and they blew it. |
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#243 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,063
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I think a Liverpool win or a draw would be the ideal result for us tomorrow as its highly unlikely we'l be in contention for 1st at the end of the season somehow lol. It does annoy me though to think where we could have been if we hadn't slipped up against Fulham, Boro and Newcastle.
I didn't think we played that badly today - certainly nothing like as bad as we did at Everton. First half we were the better side and should have been ahead with the chances Ash and Sidwell missed. Second half we didn't create much and Cole did miss that simple opportunity, but overall i thought it was a pretty even game that we managed to edge with that deflected goal. |
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#244 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,359
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Quote:
Come on, we have to be the first to break the "top 4". Everton had their chance last season and they blew it.
I should also emphasise we have already cracked the top four in 2005, so Villa wouldn't be the first by my reckoning though they have a great chance, off course depending on how far back you go. |
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#245 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Redditch. Yeah, THAT place.
Posts: 8,435
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Quote:
I didn't think we played that badly today - certainly nothing like as bad as we did at Everton. First half we were the better side and should have been ahead with the chances Ash and Sidwell missed. Second half we didn't create much and Cole did miss that simple opportunity, but overall i thought it was a pretty even game that we managed to edge with that deflected goal.
I think I just get frustrated watching us sometimes, because we sit back and drop deep, and just let the opposition come onto us. I understand that's all part of playing on the counter attack but at times, it just looks like we're being over-run. Like today, West Ham played one ball through both Petrov and Sidwell and all of a sudden, the back four was completely exposed. Also, we seem to rely on playing a lot of long balls out of defence that completely bypass the midfield, and without Carew, they're just a waste of possession imo. I'm kinda arguing with myself here I guess, but in a way, it's alright for us to drop deep and soak up the pressure with the defence we have - we look as solid as I can ever remember. £3m for Laursen was an absolute bargain, as was £2m for Friedel. I'm looking forward to Bouma getting fit again so Luke Young can go back to right back, although he's done brilliantly filling in at left back. |
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#246 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,063
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Quote:
£3m for Laursen was an absolute bargain
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#247 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: In Gods Own County
Posts: 20,678
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Quote:
So West Ham played alright and we played dreadfully...but it's the mark of a good team when they play badly and win!
![]() . Liverpool also seem to play badly but still eek out the points. We are lacking when Carew plays but doesn't give 100% just as we are lacking when he is not there . I doubt any Villa fan will argue we want a striker or two if that means losing midfielders such as Petrov or NRC I would even let Gabby go for the right £ Doyles name was linked with Villa , we should have taken him when Reading went down , his worth must have increased with his goal tally for this season 16 goals in 24 games Forget Heskey , I even fancy a fit Michael Owen but prefer Doyle if I can have just 1 |
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#248 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 227,055
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Quote:
Forget Heskey , I even fancy a fit Michael Owen but prefer Doyle if I can have just 1
is there such a thing.
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#249 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,063
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It sounds as if the signing of a young 17 year old defender from holland called Arsenio Halfuid who's apparently highly rated is virtually a done deal according to skysports. Another defender as cover will be useful if Zat knights European displays are anything to go by.
The problem with Doyle is he'd be very over-priced in his current form in the championship for an average premiership player who only really had 1 good spell of scoring in his 2 years in the Premier league. His return of 6 goals in 36 games last season means the money would be probably better spent elsewhere imo. |
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#250 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: In Gods Own County
Posts: 20,678
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Quote:
Doyle would be a good acquisition. A fit Owen
is there such a thing.7 goals this season is not a bad start in 15 games ? |
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is there such a thing.