Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 15.
Aston Villa fell to a 2-0 defeat away to Hull last time out in the league, a result which left them in the bottom three and on a run of five straight league losses. New manager Tim Sherwood will be hoping to make an instant impact and gain all three points on his first outing as Villa manager.
Villa fans will be hoping that Sherwood can not only get their team back on track, but get star striker Christian Benteke firing again. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the big Belgian has so far racked up 38 attempts on goal, the highest total in the Villa squad, suggesting that if a bit of luck comes his way he won’t be far off finding his best form. Benteke is 28/17 to score at any time with 888sport.com.
Defender Aly Cissokho has been quietly going about his business this season following his summer arrival at Villa Park, quickly establishing some impressive stats. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, he’s covered the most distance of any Villa player this season, with a total of 230.2km to his name.
Villa’s opponents this weekend are a physical and well-organised Stoke outfit, meaning that Villa’s best chance of a win may come from getting around their defence rather than through it. This is not a Villa side bereft of quick players though, with striker Gabriel Agbonlahor their foremost speedster. He hit the highest top speed of any player on the pitch against Hull, registering 33.8km/h. His pace, amongst others, may well be a key weapon should he feature this weekend.
Despite initially drawing level through Peter Crouch after Sergio Aguero’s opener, Stoke struggled to contain City’s attacking threat and eventually fell to a 1-4 defeat that left them just inside the top half of the table.
Marshalling the Stoke defence against what will likely be a rejuvenated Villa outfit in their first game under a new manager will be captain Ryan Shawcross. The big centre half has once again been the key defensive focal point for Mark Hughes’ side this season, racking up a squad-best 253 total defensive contributions (blocks, clearances, interceptions and tackles won) according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Jonathan Walters has been one of Stoke’s key threats this season, finding the back of the net seven times to top the scoring charts for the Potters. He’s scored on average with every 2.1 shots he’s had on goal this season, meaning he will need to be carefully marked by the Villa defence this weekend. Walters is an industry best 4/1 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.
Although perhaps most noted for his technical ability with the ball, midfielder Steven N’Zonzi has nonetheless been making waves with his workrate off it. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, he’s covered the fourth highest total distance of any player in the Barclays Premier League this season with 279.3km to his name.
The Author
Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.Comments 214
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Massive game and one we have to win. We are going down as it is and if we don’t get wins in our next 3 games I think that’s us done
I really hope Sherwood gets the win for him self. I love how he speaks in his interviews. I hope we change formation and get body’s forward. I still worry though if teams sit back against us we don’t stand a chance. My other worry a how he’s been saying we will get the ball to Benteke ASAP. What about if Stoke Mark him out the game, I hope we have a plan B
Frem,
No, the next 3 games won’t decide … unless we get (say) less than 5 points from them. But a win today is a necessity to stop the rot.
I don’t necessarily think that TS’s arrival will bring us the immediate return we hope for, but I see it being a progressive improvement with just enough juice in the tank to drag us over the line.
Anyhow, I have 500% more hope than I did 10 days ago, so c’mon you Villa men! UTV!!! 🙂
John- We could be cut adrift after 3 games if teams above us pick up wins and we don’t. It’s worrying.
My gut says we will draw today. I expect Stoke to get body’s behind the ball and stay there for a while
Saying that Cleverley and Westwood are not in Sherwood’s team today.
Yes folks match day is here and we are about to see the reality of the situation. Looks favourable as Stoke have half their team out but I’m not expecting us to change completely we’ve been crap for a long time.
Frem don’t worry about tekkers if he returns to form he wont get stopped easily. The plan is to look for him so he has to stay alert, if we can’t hit him we go elsewhere simple really but should improve his movement no end
Coyvb
Today the talking stops, and our actions have to speak louder than words, no more hiding places, players have to stand up and be counted and give their all for the cause.
TS has good a massive job on his hands turning a side that has been so abject and poor lacking in, effort, desire, quality and confidence, into a team that can put a run of wins togetherness turning our form table on its head.
TS has stated he want 6 wins from our final 13 games, that would put us on 40 pts, that should be enough, I think it will be 37/38!to stay up. But it all starts today!!!!
PP- If it’s a 442 then I’d be amazed if Sanchez starts in it. The last thing I think he is a box to box CM.
Mark- he’s been stopped easily so far. I just hope we don’t lump it to him all game and Instead get it wide to cross in
frem,
There are lots of possibilities now….could be a very interesting team. Maybe Zoggy is back in contention, and the flying Flabby…
Apparently Westwood has been axed…….too much a Lambert man..?????
Frem are you getting match day nerves? 🙂
Lol Yes Mark I am.
Being 18th is horrible and the fact we are playing Stoke makes it worse. I hate them so much. I love my mate, but he’s made me hate Stoke even more than I hate the Scum. Being there in the home crowd on the first day of the season was good when Andi scored 🙂
Hello people. I’m at the NIA for the athletics. Seemed like a good idea before Christmas. Now I wish I was going to Villa instead.
Fancy us to win today. Be nice to go into injury time with a 2 goal cushion to save Bibulus’ fingernails while he watches the seconds tick down on his mobile.
Why not, 3-0 to us.
AVFC
To kill a Clattenburg
It’ll be very interesting to see TS’s first line up.
I must admit Stork are one of those teams that throw a spanner in the works, you don’t enjoy playing them, however i think it’ll finish 1-0 to Villa.
We’re running out of games aren’t we ? this is one of the more winnable fixtures so hopefully the team has the rub of the green, they’ll be well prepared, mentally clear of negativity and given a certain amount of freedom, given that there’s a decent amount of talent in the squad then defeat is unthinkable.
Think he’ll play a front three of Gil, Benteke and the passenger.
Apparently Tom Fox has confirmed that Carles Gil was a Paddy Reilly signing.
Im hoping ha starts 2 up front and plays Weimann not Gabby. Hearing he has dropped Westwood and Cleverly is a good thing, means the partnership of Delph and Sanchez can get going! I don’t get this notion of he wants 2 box to box midfielders, even if you like your midfielders to do everything, surely you still need one to be more defensively minded than the other? We’ve seen the inability of Gerrard and Lampard o compliment each other, both quality in their own right.
I’m guessing 442 with Gil and Sinclair/Bacuna. I think Bacuna could be one of the players that could do well under TS. The guy runs all day and does have ability but he hasn’t shown it enough. Vlaar and Clarke at the back and Given in goal.
2-1 UTV
On Given… His shot-stopping ability is huge *but* for me he doesn’t command the area as well as Guzan. And Guzan has done pretty well in the shot-stopping area too. So (marginally) I opt for Guzan of the two.
I really would like to see Sanchez back with Gil in central midfield and Bacuna and Sinclair wide.
*Nearly* the team I hope for:
01 Guzan
21 Hutton
04 Vlaar
06 Clark
18 Richardson
25 Gil
24 Sánchez
16 Delph
09 Sinclair
20 Benteke
11 Agbonlahor
Interesting line up, could we be about to see Gabby and Benteke in a front 2, a 4-4-2?! I hope so, exciting times… Still, 4-3-3 is equally as plausible.
Richardson a surprise and gabby
I am surprised to see Cissohko dropped, but it’s a more positive line up.
Let’s face it, we only need one of either Delph, Cleverly or Westwood in the middle and Delph is the pick of the bunch.
Let’s hope it’s a win as I’m not sure I can take a loss after the expectation I have created in my mind that a new gaffer will solve all our problems whilst suppressing the bit of my brain that knows it isn’t that simple.
Villa to win 3-1
And the bench also looks better than before. No Grealish though.
No Cissy a risk, Richardson is very poor defensively but better going forwards, if it is a 4-4-2 I really don’t think that gamble is worth it, happy to be proved wrong though!
a journo said TS would look to get the fullbacks forward I hope they do better than they have done recently as its never been successful under lambert
Decent line up, only question is if it’s a 442 or 433, I guess it’s a 442 given Sherwood said he would play players in their correct position. Gabby must have impressed in training let’s hope he carries it into the game. Richardson is a surprise, he needs a good game. Every time he has played LB before he has messed up. Quick start pls lads lets get a goal in the first 15 make our lives that bit easier.
UTV
Good to see Benteke starting after his two stints on the bench . Good line up – I just hope Stoke don’t mark Teckers out of the game given the details given already by TS of our game plan .
http://mirr.im/1Gd6LCl
Incredible confidence from the gaffer . Wish I could be there today !
Steamer OReilly suggested benteke too
Can we buy nzonzi he’s bullying delph
What a header liking sinclairs game quick and intelligent
Good start.
Pleased to see our U18s won 3 nil at Southampton today.
Delph is pants today lucky Sanchez is playing
Well, it’s very difficult to turn things round after it’s been so bad for so long. I wish there was an easy way.
Lambert should have gone months ago, of course, but the chairman had to wait until we were in the bottom 3. But we know Lerner is no football man!
In fact I thought a 1-1 draw was likely before the match and that was the way it looked as though it was going … until the very end. Hey-ho.
We live to fight again, though, and if anything this should steel TS into being a better manager as he realises now that nothing can change just because he’s arrived.
There’s work to be done at t’ Villa and it’s going to be a *long* week until the next match!
Stoke were the better team today and deserved the win. At least Sanchez looked great in midfield, proved me wrong there. Weimann is truly world crap.
well our balloon is well and truly burst now
relegation here we come if flabby wiemen benteke delph can t put in shift for new man we have no hope
westwood cleverly dropped we are no better
gil starting to look more like a villa player by every minute crap
hutton has been shocking yet not dropped at fault for first goal either no shout or didn t pick up on vlars mistake same for ivanovic goalchelsea gave away goal in cup too
vlar shocking today first goal and second one down to him
gabby no effort
benteke same as gabby
delph not a bit wonder he stayed no one wanted hisissko why was he dropped
bacuna same as cissko
sanchez bit slow but other wise got about and made his presance felt
wiemen useless useless what more can you say even his corner attempt was shocking we had free at half way line he comes running from penalty area looking for short one then when balls played in he nowhere hiding
Well what an anticlimax….
Cant believe we lost, such a stupid mistake from the experienced Vlaar… gave the ball away with a dumb pass then gave away the penalty! Tbh the turning point of the match was Stoke’s first goal. Came directly from a cross from a throw-in, real bad defending everyone had switched off esp Vlaar who was nowhere near his man. It was a great cross tbf but more should have been done to stop it and to prevent that header.
We had started the game pretty well too, Sinclair was our MOM imo great header but was busy all game. Their goal came right before half time and shook us up, second half we lost all composure looked so raggedy in possession. All effort but little brains. We did not out-effort Stoke, they sat back and broke second half, kept the ball at times. Thought it was a poor decision to bring off Gil, he wasnt having his best game but he is really the only one in our side who plays with composure. He drifted inside first half and got involved with play. Weimann came on and was poor. He should have replaced Gabby who was poor all game and played up front.Instead he played out wide and gave some woeful deliveries in good positions as did Hutton, he was poor too. Sanchez and Delph were all over the place and that worked against us. Nothing really worked second half.
Even still we didnt deserve to lose, to lose in that suicidal way is a kick in the teeth. We really should have capitalised on our lead first half and I think if we went in 1-0 up we would have won. Nothing is going our way atm, we really need something out of our next game now.the jon is that much harder now, we really need some luck to go our way.
Dissapointing
James:
I agree that there were shortcomings in midfield (particularly first-half, Gil and Sanchez included).
That was a daft penalty given away, yes, but I don’t blame the defence for the first goal – you have to admit when a good goal is a good goal, and their first *was* a very well constructed and finished effort. No complaints from me.
Vlaar and Hutton for me were OK, especially in distribution.
Gabby – I disagree. His movement and contribution today was not perfect but a lot better than of late.
We just have to hold on tight and cheer them all the way…
James, the team selected today has to get used to one another and according to the kind of play they’ve been ordered to adopt. This has been their third system change this season (or fourth?) and they’ve got to stick with it until it works.
Also the way Walters plays for Stoke is truly a sight to behold, true winner, wish we had a guy like that at the club.
Well TS now knows what he has taken on.I don`t think anyone else will agree,but I thought we faded because Stoke were fitter than us after the 1st hour Villa were burnt out,and this contributed to us fading and dropping deep.
B6,
Yep, an hour in the kiln makes them a lot stronger than our lot! 😉
Why don’t we all just believe that the score was 1-1? After all it looked that way until the very end. I felt there was little in it – that neither side deserved to be winners.
to be honest we did ok first half even though we were playing with 9 men, delph and tekkers anonymous.
Richardson withdrawal saw Sinclair struggle as sissy has no subtlety and he was our main threat.
I thought there was a lot of aimless running, hoofing and poor passing.
Blessing in disguise that loss,TS will see who he can depend on,and who s not up for it. He is stuck with `em now,no window,but he can see he has a few who are not good enough.I am still quite calm about rhe R word.TS WILL save us,but it will be close.
Man City slaughtering Geordies.
Not sure if its a blessing in disguise. We needed points, even 1 would have got us out of the R zone. We have a decent set of 5 or so games against sides we could beat but then we face Man Utd, Man Cit yand Spurs away in a period of 4 games. We need to get points on the board before then. Now it looks like we will have to pull some results out of the bag.
I do think we tired second half, a lot of running around aimlessly not enough brains being used. Im afraid this may well be the case with TS. We have the Geordies next and I feel like we need something out of that game.
Don`t msunderstand me REE,I would have prefeered a point or 3 even,What I mean is that a win would have possibly papered over a few cracks,at least now TS can see why we are where we are.
Refreshing interview he said it was a poor football match,he didn`t say we were great.He implied we still play with fear and aprehension,loads of self soubt.
How many saves did Begovic make? As I said last week, Villa are going down because they cannot win football matches. Stoke are the weaker of the games that remained and we came not even close to winning; the remainder of the games are against vastly superior teams or those fighting for survival…none of which this shambles is capable of beating.
Hello Everyone.
I usually read all comments but I have no time to on weekend break with missus so taking advantage of her being in the shower how did the game go?
Ignore my last request just speed read the last few
Just got back.
Too many long balls to Benteke against a bigger, more physical side. Lack of movement up front. Still no ability to deliver a ball from a set play.
I’m all for optimism, and I hope Sherwood keeps us up but, on the face of the performance I just witnessed, I’m starting to seriously worry about the possibility of relegation…
Yeah, relegation is a distict possibility.I just heard someone say on the radio that we should have stuck with Lambert as he knew how to keep us up-a bit of warped logic there.
Paul W.not trying to sound flippant but we can`t even draw matches,never mind win,it`s just L,L,L,L,L, every flippin` week.
Matt,
You have the right to worry because everything is pointing towards relegation just two shots on target at home with a very attacking line up.
TS now knows the task is probably bigger than he could imagine he needs Kmac and Robson to get stuck into this lot in training, it is starting to look like three from the bottom four and this ones going right to the wire, does anyone know where i can buy some bum oil.
AVFC
Just home, what a shocking second half, make no mistake we play like that against the Albion and co we will get slaughtered. That second half was as bad as I’ve seen us, TS has got a massive job on keeping these wage thieves in the league. We started brightly and seemed more positive, and when we scored I thought we would go on and win comfortably , but once Stoke scored we withdrew, lacked shape and pretty gave up hoping to hang on for a point. Far too many passengers again today, and for a bright new dawn a poor attendance. We struggled to string passes together or take a proper corner, Guzans distribution and decision making were awful, and the less said about Vlaar the better, it seems his head is already elsewhere.
We simply have to crawl over the line, but on that showing I don’t think we can
We have a fight on hands that’s for sure
Just hope Sherwood learns from today that Gabby and Wiemann aren’t footballers . If he captains us against Newcastle I’m going to get straight back in the car and drive home.
Rags- You thought Sanchez was good. I thought he was dreadful. Strange game. I think Westwood should replace him in a 442.
As Matt says, we played way to many long ball so Benteke who won nothing in the air today
At least Sherwood was honest as said it was a crap game and we didn’t do enough to win the game
Newcastle getting hammered. Have to beat them and WBA twice in a week
UTV
Don’t agree with who said it was a 4 team relegation scrap… we win one match and it could all of a sudden be a 9 team battle, 12 matches left, not a lot but still enough to say the race is for from run… UTV
Newcastle getting beaten this badly is bad news for us, they will re group and put a performance in next week in front of their home fans, I fully expect another defeat at St James’s. I have a horrible feeling deep inside that we are going down, each passing week just reinforces that. I’m praying that somehow Sherwood can turn it around, but I feel time is running out, we can’t rely on other as Burnley showed at Stamford bridge.
I cant see how we are going to get the points needed.
I expect relegation.
Its been coming
B62
Stoke have been leaking goals before today,and they had key injuries,yet had too much for us,far too streetwise and savvy compared to us.TS said the Flabmeister “was on fire” in training,well Tim someone needs to extinguish him,we were better-not that much I admit butbetter without him versus Leicester.
We still can`t threaten from a corner can we?
I did expect more of a reaction today. We didn’t really ever get at them and I can’t say I saw more fight in the players
Sounding like people are finally turning on Gabby. As someone on twitter says, he’s the ring leader of a group of players who couldn’t give a fuck about this club. We were better last week without him . He needs to leave this club
And did anyone see Wiemanns attempt of a corner?
Dire players
Andrew
I agree mate, we need at least 37 points, yet here we are with 12 to play on 22 with a desperate -GD, looking at our fixtures today was a massive missed opportunity, I just can’t see us getting the wins we need.
Frem
Our attempts and taking a corner were simply embarrassing, we struggled to reach the edge of the 6 yard box, We were so easy to defend against yet again, we lack penetration, it’s not like we’re unlucky, we’re just not very good and the table doesn’t lie, we will go down because over the course of a season we have been shit. Those periods of constant defeats and goal droughts are gonna do us, we haven’t been able to grind out a draws, just defeats, only wins can save us now.
Goals at the end of each half reinforce my opinion that we are not fit enough to play 45 mis of footy at full throttle and then do it again 15/20 mins later.The players must have had it cushy at BMH.Too late to get fit now,that should be done in the summer and training should just top it up.
B62
We cant get honey moon points from a new manager against injury hit stoke.
Its just not happening. We are going to be in the brutal championship with a novice manager.
We are another leeds, forest.
Our corners?Jeeezz I`ve been saying for 3 years ,can`t we just give the ball back to their keeper for a GK?Worse than pathetic.
New manager, lots of hype, winnable game……32k on the gate!!
Wtf
Another poor turn out Andrew and poor atmosphere. It’s like the fans have accepted relegation. We need to get the Villa Park full park and rocking, but to be fair, the players need to pay the fans back BIG Time
You watch us sell out against WBA in the FA cup though. The fans will turn out to that In Hope of getting tickets to wembley. They should ere very game supporting us
Hi Frem,
Interesting that we had polar opposite opinions on Sanchez. I was expecting him to be terrible in the 4-4-2 so maybe my low expectations tampered with my judgement. What made you think he was so bad?
Surprised no-one has mentioned Delph, but perhaps that is because most of us did not notice him being in the play, and when he was he did not know what to do.Perhaps the change of tactics and shake-up was too much in one go, and cost us the game.
The only two players who were worth a good rating were Hutton and Clarke again, besides Sinclair showing that he could become a major player now.
Sanchez had good moments and bad ones, but often recovered himself when he lost the ball, but his effort was spot on.
Rags- I also was worried that we would play him in a 442 and we did today and I don’t think he will start against Newcastle that’s for sure. I was actually desperate for Clev or Westwood to come on in his place, especially as soon as he got booked and looked like he would be sent off. He still slows the game down way to much, he still hasn’t realised how quick this league is. I like his physically, but that’s it at the minute. We missed Westwoods ability on the ball today. But Delph was awful again as well. Has been since he sighed his contract.
I really don’t know how to feel tonight. We look down and out. We look like a team with no fight. We certainly are a team with no quality and the minute. Sherwood maybe should have started Okore. Maybe. Only selection I was annoyed at was Gabby started and not Bacuna. Brining Gil of was a mistake, especially for one of the worst footballers in word football to replace him
Sherwood certainly has to learn from today. One thing for sure is he will realise what a huge task he has on his hands . He ends to motivate our players and keep getting body’s forward
The next 3 games are everything. 2 league games we need to win, and an FA cup tie
Frem is right. Westwood or Cleverley should have replaced Sanchez. Gil came off because he had a knock. Weimann should have been put inside and Gabby moved out wide.
Sherwood has a lot of work to do, and he needs to get them a lot fitter..!!
A lot of concerns showing in the above comments, and concerns that are valid.
But (as said before) maybe the rot under Lerner/Lambert is too ingrained and it may take a game or two more before we see much different.
The situation does remind me more (if not worse!) than the mid season change of managers in 1958/59 and 1969/70, when relegation could not be avoided.
There’s always the hope of the barcodes being as a bad defensively as they seemed against Man City yesterday!
Will relegation really hurt these players you know I don’t think it will, Delph Vlaar Benteke and a few others will engineer moves away from the club, Cleverley will go back to Utd, so have they really got a great deal to lose in fact if you think about it logically some have a lot to gain from going down, if people cannot see that then you are only fooling yourselves.
We have a group of players and some don’t give a shit what happens to this club because at the end of the day they will be alright Jack and we have some blatantly not good enough for this level of football, put all that together and relegation becomes a certainty.
Sherwood has players that just do not care anymore and the ones he needs to replace them with are not up to the job, we are second from bottom with the worst GD the table does not lie.
Is TS the right man to build a team to get us straight back up well only time will tell.
Not seen any of yesterdays game and i don’t want to but it seems the usual suspects were again the problem, I’m a fan of Delph but he isn’t good enough to make adifference to that MF, i’d sooner have a lesser player who actually fits in. In his six years at VP i still havent seen him play in the role he had at Leeds, he isn’t a general, he isn’t a ball winner or defensive MF he’s a MF runner who needs a passer to keep him supplied and picks out his forward runs. I wouldn’t play him in this team at all.
IMO Villa should pay off Agbonlahor and Weimann, mould them together and you still wouldn’t have a Prem player, both handicaps but at least AW breaks sweat. I’d say that realistically Villa need nine new players to reach mid-table if we stay up, i was a little too optimistic in my assessment yesterday, some players have ability but are losers, they lie down and let the opposition walk over them. We need, IMO, two FB’s three MF, two Strikers and at least four decent squad players, get rid at ANY cost, Gabby, Weimann, Clev, Westwood, Hutton, Cissoko, Bennett, Lowton.
I won’t predict certain relegation but i don’t think that this squad has the character to stay up, the situation has festered now for five years and possibly its gone too far, no doubt though.we do deserve to be relegated.
People finally finding out that Gabby is crap. Only amazing thing is it’s took them 5 years. He’s as lazy Bent and a worse finisher.
It’s Time Lowton and Bacuna play now. Only two players at the club who can cross ball
It’s horrible this morning waking up being a villa fan. The league table is painful reading and I can’t see us getting out of it
The next 3 games are everything and I hope this club finally turns a corner and wins all 3
As unpalatable as it may be it might not have all been lamberts fault other than he bought them in some instances. I’ve been saying this lot can’t do the basics for ages and anyone who comes in quickly goes down the same road as they have nobody to play with. Good players don’t play badly on purpose ,years of ingrained training and pride simply wouldn’t let them.
TS did well at spurs because he knew the players and coached the youngsters he brought through, this lot are a different kettle of fish. I suspect Kmac has been brought back as he has knowledge of our youth and any potential players who we could use to make a difference as they are his only options, unfortunately we have sold them.
That said its early days and miracles do happen, unfortunately this lot think they are the dogs and they quite clearly aren’t
Mark: TS did well at spurs because he knew the players and coached the youngsters he brought through…
Yes, this has been one of my fears … that his experience to-date has been based within his own comfort-zone.
But let’s give him a couple of matches to see what develops. I believe the squad is good enough – two of them had a good World Cup for goodness sake! (though one of them undid his good work yesterday.)
Boy this coming week is going to be a long one … we could do with a mid-week match to keep the players focused.
JL- I would like to see a training session to see what’s meant by gabbys tearing up the place? Are biggest problem is we have 3 strikers that don’t look at all like scoring or looking like anything in particular. TS needs to work his magic very quickly as this period is our easiest, good luck with that TS.
I would sincerely like the whole squad to have a taste of the life most people who support villa lead, same wage, jobs and pressures. maybe then they wouldn’t mope around the pitch like spoilt children and grow some
on the way to the fight yesterday l said to steamer , l have a horrible feeling for this game , and while sitting in the pub in wolves one of the lads who came out at half-time to come to the fight , came out with FFS , were down to 10 men and stoke up 2-1 , l have to agree with Andrew lm struggling to see where these points are coming from , it seems the problem is deeper rooted , and l wasnt a fan of sherwood but he’s here and the mumbler has gone , but he’s been left with some shit , l said yesterday to the lads , the twat learner has done what newc done and took on someone after the jan window , so he has to use whats left here , one lad even said are we booking hotels in london , l asked him why is springsteen doing a gig,
anyway had a fantastic evening , Chris (nephew) Knocked his opponent out with one blow and it was a blow , the poor bloke was on the canvas for 10 mins after , catch it on BAMMA18 , it was streamed yesterday , and have to blame my nephew for 70 villa fans missing the game as they were at the fight , but 31,500 gate was not what l was expecting , after the new appointment , oh hum !
JD, l bet them odds have sky rocketed now ,
A really good night, different pubs, good company, entertainment, everything you don’t get at VP.
well done to your cuz st75 i wlll see if i can watch it
Gutted about the game as mentioned we have major ploblems and a losing mentality that TS has a job on to reverse in such a short space of time.
gabby has only ever been useful when played as a winger – hope he doesnt play up top again but think his pace would cause problems out wide
Morning Lifers
Yesterday hammered home what we all already know………….a bad footballer is a bad footballer no matter whom the manager is.
TS`s issue now,and he knows this,is how to get the best out of a pile of monkey droppings with no transfer market to work with.
I expect several changes to the starting 11 next time out,not just Vlaar obviously.I think Bacuna and Craberly will start.
I agree with Sher when we preaches the need to get the ball to the front 3 quickly and often,but this should be done on the floor more,and movement is required.
Steamer,your post above (the longer one) has a telling and sad last para,in particular
“I don`t think this squad has the character to stay up….” perhaps true,no goolies,fight which can sometimes make up for a lack of ability.The fact that we conceded so late in each half is revealing IMO.Mentally weak and not fit enough.
Looks like everyone on here is realistic about our chances of survival in the PL. If we go down, we go down.
It’s not good enough, though. And it would go to show how poor the business side of things has been run, nothing new there.
I’m currently in Washington DC. Yesterday, I took a left from the hotel I’m staying at to visit the U.S. Capitol. It was all lovely and safe that end of New Jersey Ave. This morning I took a right from the hotel to go to Walmart, so many homeless people, hadn’t seen thet since India. A snow storm has been blowing trough too.
‘
Compare the Spurs mentality and fitness levels to our lot.The number of Spurs late goals and comebacks is not the result of luck.Fitness and a strong mentality or grit or whatever you want to call it,counts for a lot.
brazil- I think they have been shaded from most of the crap by lambert and they’ve bought into it. that’s why Keane told them the truth and they didn’t like it.
as for gabby on the wing he would have to replace sinclair and I cant see that happening
Yes Mark
Keane tried to raise the standard of training and urgency but the wage thieves were having none of it…..or so we are led to beleive.
trinity- shocking mate but no surprise they like to keep a tight lid on things, might hurt their rep
brasil – I agree, I banged the fitness drum ages ago. how many late collapses did we see even in mons time?
before delph got injured he was taking extra training with a fitness coach and he got into the England team, what does that tell you other than England were desperate
No-one seems to have commented on the fact that after turning things round in the second half against Leicester, and the team playing well, that maybe there were too many changes from a winning team, and also the change, not only in formation, but in style, was too much for the players, when all you want to do, is win the match. I have some sympathy with the players, against a well drilled team of giants…ball on the floor with Westwood and Cleverley, may have been much more appropriate. Delph was just totally lost most of the game as the ball evaded him.
Sherwood needs to look more closely at the players who suit the system he wants to play, and playing Weimann wide was just a waste of time, and against what he said, of playing players out of position.
PP- Good point. We played to Stoke strengths booting it to Benteke all game. A trio of Clev Delph and Gil in a triangle might have been better with Sinclair and Bacuna wide. Hey ho.
Bacuna has to start on Saturday. Wiemann should never play wing again. Gil isn’t a winger either. Needs to b played number 10 behind the beast
As Steamer says, I don’t think we have the character to stay up but we will see
TS will realise he’s taken over a bunch of losers.
Hopefully we can stay up and he can get rid of most the crap in this side
Funnily enough Frem, if it had not been for two stupid lapses at the end of each half, we could have won the match.
This failing by Villa in the final minutes has been there for a long time, and perhaps, that is the most important thing that Sherwood needs to change….can one of our lads become a Harry Kane….!!
sherwood will wake up today and wonder what the fuck have i done
a group of players in all honesty benteke is the only one that a top 8 team would want
start
guzan 170 goals let in in 100 games first goal yesterday cross was along 6 yard box why did he not come and punch it it was only floated in
hutton 3 games out of 4 goals down to him switching off can t cross a ball great chance yesterday after goal to pick out benteke had a shot himself with his great scoring record
richardson pointless
sissko defends well enough thats his main job it was delph didnt pick up ireland from throw
vlar won t sign new contract does nt deserve one and will soon see who wants him not be real madrid or man u shocking performance for captain and can anyone pick out 2/3 real good matches for villa in his time here
clark should be captain yes makes errors not many now puts body on line
okore don t know why he was dropped cause bar aresnal game we havent conceded more than 2 a game since october
sendross joke signing from joke manager waste of 2/3 million wages
baker to injury prone error prone championship at best
sanchez bit slow keeps trying his size big help defending set pieces
delph so overrated unreal don t know where he should play
westwood step up from division one too much for him dead balls shocking championship player at best
cleverly crab backwards sidewards like all rest man u rejects will have rest of career using fact played for man u to get contracts at sunderland stoke everton
zog where did he go
gil to early to say
sinclair great start more goals in 2 starts 2 subs than all villa midfield all season
cole what a waste of 2/3 million wages finnished 5 years ago
wiemen bit like westwood championship at best one highlight yesterday delph taking free kick at halfway line wiemen comes short looking for it or hiding from the box another one simple chance to cross near end mess it up like his attempt at corner
benteke hope sherwood can work some magic with him our only chance
gabby words i can t write needs 2 weeks away from dinner table and extra training for start joke of new contract he should be handing it back for lack off effort
hope grealish lowton bacuna robinson get a chance
leicster 2 1 up now as well
Holy crepe,Leicester come from 1 down to lead,we might go down bottom of the pile!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man City ladies beat us 5 nil,well they beat our ladies team,but they would have a good chance against our men`s side.Sherwood out.
PP No-one seems to have commented on the fact that after turning things round in the second half against Leicester,…
Well, I did … sort of! 😉 I alluded to yet another transformation – the 3rd or 4th this season – which is tantamount to the same thing, I think.
There’s an awful lot that TS has to work on with the players and we will see what happens given a couple more matches, I suppose.
We are fucked
20th place is ours if things keep going like they are
There showing fight we don’t
It will be a long drive back from Newcastle of we don’t win. We bloody better
We need to win
Yes. 2-2
Gawd Bless Ya Everton.
Trin,
The inequality in the wealthy countries a crime against humanity, wall to wall billionaires and what do they care ? What sticks in my craw is the way these people take control over society and tell us how to live.
Even on Saturday night we encountered an old bloke in a shop doorway with a cap attempting to get enough money for a meal, no, S75 didn’t nick his cap, he surprised us by dropping him a couple of quid which he appreciated, thats a true story.
Not impressed then James ? I think most would agree with your points.
So Steamer,it would appear the only way I can get my money back from you lot,all those £20s is to lie ina shop doorway when I come over?
Thanks for the advice.
What does my nut in Steamer,is knobs like Blair who preach socialism from their million pound houses,in his case,6 houses I believe,and he has a son who is a footy agent.Spivs,liars,hypocrites.
JL,
True that we’ll see what Sherwood can do shortly but how disappointing that the players couldn’t bust a gut for his first game. I wonder how many would be signed by EPL clubs if transfer listed ?
Ironic that Bent was accused of being lazy yet Benteke hasn’t done a thing for weeks and Gabby, the so-called legend, can’t even be bothered to break sweat. At least Bent produces, explain that one Lambert.
Fox has called our recent sponsorship deals as ‘pathetic’ it makes you wonder how much damage Lerner was going to allow Chubby to do before taking action, and even McCleish is chirping about ‘I could have turned it around,’ does anyone take responsibility nowadays ?
B6B,
That other pretend socialist John Prescott has returned to the political spectrum, all we need is Neil Kinnock to guarantee a Tory landslide.
brazil- you’ve done it now, and I was up to £12 as well.
haven’t you got 6 houses? its the very least you need, what if one got dirty and the cleaner left?
Our transfers after downing tell it all for me, we could of cashed in on tekkers but that’s it, delph and Vlaar a good cheap option as on last year of contract but where are the solid offers?
can we start a new league players wives only
ST75
I couldn’t stream Chris fight at work(I’m on nights), but I was able to check the results on the BAMMA website, a good knockout just over 4mins into the fight, Seems Chris is showing his all round ability, as he is already well known for excellent round game.
Watching the Saints v Red Scouse, more excitement and flair in the first 8 minutes, than in the whole 90 at VP yesterday. I agree with Sherwood yesterday, who was refreshingly honest( after the mumbles), it was a poor game, but I didn’t care as long as we won, but that second half was dreadful, the Stoke goal on 40mins saw us revert to type, the crap that Lambert has instilled into the players came out yet again. MOTD cut to TS on the bench just before the final whistle, his face told a story it said WTF have I done, his body language walking up the tunnel looked like a man who has realised he is right in the shit, and is going to have a relegation on his CV already.
The lack of everything yesterday showed to me that relegation is a certainty, these lazy fucktards couldn’t give a shit, their agents will move them on, Lerner will withdraw all funding and pocket the parachute payments, in the current financial climate, where the PL is awash with more cash than ever before, and a new obscene TV deal is signed, Villa throw it all away by being tight and keeping a man in a job he clearly couldn’t do for far too long. Lambert should have been sacked last May , I have nothing but contempt for him and Lerner.
Mark
I do have more than one gaff,and I ain`t knocking anyone who has property and cash.You will not hear the politics of envy from me…………….but,I don`t preach to others how they should live.New Labour equates to do as I say not as I do.
Tony Benn,who is highly lauded,left nowt,zilch .nada in his will to charities or unions etc.Look ,he is perfectly entitled to leave his estate to his family or distribute his estate how he sees fit,but don`t get on a pedestal about socialism and the distribution of wealth and then not distribute it.
I see Bent scored again yesterday, he has 6 at Derby now and knocked in 3or4 for Brighton that’s 3/4 of the total goals the entire Villa team has scored, cheers Lambert you cunt, we can’t even recall him, yet another Lambert legacy pissing £26m down the drain, yes he has high wages( of which we are still paying half), but that’s nothing compared to the millions we are going to lose because we can’t win football matches, it’s nearly March and we have only scored 13 goals. I’d bring Gardner back, as our current midfield has been so ineffective for so long.
My team for Newcastle
Given
Hutton. Clark. Okores. Cisshoko
Gil. Delph. Westwood Sinclair
Bacuna
Benteke
Subs Guzan, Gardner, Kozak Cleverley Sanchez Senderos
The problem Sherwood has is the squad Lambert has created offers little in the way of quality or variation, but what can never be excused is lack of effort, fight and willingness to do whatever it takes to win, that was sadly lacking yet again yesterday.
Personally I think we found out yesterday that yes it was right to remove Lambert, but it is far too little too late.
Socialism is an admirable principle, unfortunately i don’t know of a country thats adopted it.
Captaincy, Ciaran Clark, the only natural captain on the books and they say it adds another 10% to your game. I could never understand Lamberts choices, Westwood ? not good enough to hold a place down never mind as captain, Vlaar i thought was a leader by example but not an organiser, Delph, no, Gabby with his gloves was/is a joke figure ( in more ways than one ).
By the way, is Gabby on his 6th or 7th manager ?
B62,
Good call about GG.
13 goals is beyond pathetic.
B6B,
You missed a good night, Chris had a tough opponent but he didn’t half whack him one, a peach of a punch.
GG would be TS’s wet dream if he could return to former glories
Brazil more than one house and you cadged £20 quid that’s capitalism for you 😉
Steamer: True that we’ll see what Sherwood can do shortly but how disappointing that the players couldn’t bust a gut for his first game.
Mate, I *saw* the game and what it did not tell me is quite what you suggest. 😉 What my interpretation of it was that the team were being made to play another different style and it just didn’t work properly. As for the players who didn’t perform the biggest disappointment for me was Gil who seemed mostly out of ideas. Gabby – for all the criticism he gets – didn’t play at all badly (for me at least) and was the only Villa player to force a decent save from their keeper. Gabby in fact looked more up for a match and with more purpose than he had for weeks.
The midfield didn’t look right though Sanchez tried hard and Delph did improve second half. Sinclair looked as though he might win the match by himself at one stage but then was not brought into it often enough.
Not playing Bacuna on a the right was a mistake for me, with Gil inside.
Tekkers? When is going to get off his flat feet?
But it was not a good game of football from either side, though Stoke shaded it. To say they deserved the last minute winner in the way it happened would be a travesty though.
We are badly disappointed – more was (of course) expected, but maybe reality is better faced by TS as a result of this defeat.
And TS has got to get the players working on the basics of dead-ball situations. Nearly all suck kicks were useless yesterday.
My team for Newcastle:
Guzan (Given doesn’t control his box well enough i.m.o.)
Hutton, Okore. Clark, Cisshoko
Sanchez, Gil. Delph
Bacuna, Gabby, Sinclair
Tekkers to come on when needed.
steamer
gabbyplayed for david o leary mon g houillier alec mac paul lambert sherwood 6 managers 10years about 70 league goals and is first choice say s it all
and steamer i am not impressed with lamberts squad 50 million sspent and only benteke to get money back on say you get 15million at min for benteke thats a spend of 35 million to finnish what was it 15 15 and god help us
alex mac spent 18 m not a penny back not many games either to finnish 16
houiller spent 25 m plus somebody bought ireland at 8 million finnished 9not a penny back on hoiuller buys or ireland either
mon had probably net spend per year 15/18 million 3 top 6 finnsh cup final semi final yes lerner you are total knob
steamer see you on face book s 75 saw knock out old boots would have been proud of that as for the bet took 18 to 1 to finish in top 10 now 25 to on had a bit more on only a slight set back when he gets rid of scabby we will be ok
Agree about Gil, i don’t think he’s a wide player, i’d like to see him behind a front two, but are we good enough in MF assuming Sinclair plays. Talking of Sinclair, it appears i was wrong about his capabilities, or was i mistaken ?
JD,
Stick 50p on for me ….. on second thoughts, i’m not made of money.
Mark,
Bung that 20 you owe me on JD’s bet, i reckon B6B’s spent the 20 he owes me at carnival, serves me right for being so generous.
JL scabby is the worst player in all 4 divisions of the league the worst footballer i have ever seen would rather bring back Sylla and play him there scabby has gone and unless he loses 2 stone he is finished for good went yesterday and he was the worst player on the pitch by a long long way think that given would be a better front man than scabby at least he can control a ball and pass it any body but scabby i will go as far to say if scabby starts against any team in the world we will lose would be better with 10 men he is completely useless
I would personally reseved my opinion on a lot of the players as it was the first game with what is hopefully more positive progressive training
on gabby mark i would drop sinclair for hm either but if he does come on its out wide either side for me as the most he has to offer is pace
hoping the lads will getter better at what they are being asked to do and a win with a few goals could restore some much needed confidence
staying postive noe lambert has gone but is work with be difficult to undo so quickly — sqeeky bum time
John- It’s time Guzan gets benched for a few games. Given is a better keeper in every way apart from coming of his line which Guzan hasn’t been doing much of lately. Given will love to play at Newcastle as well
Gabby should be left at home. Even better sacked. I’m sure some conference team could do with a donkey on there family fun days for the kids. Wiemann can join him as well.
I wouldn’t mind Lowton coming back. Even it’s rig mid. We need someone to cross a ball because god knows Sissy and Hutton can’t.
Bacuna Gil Sinclair should be the 3 behind the beast. Delph and Westwood in centre mid. Grealish and Zoggy on the bench
JD & others – I take it you don’t like Gabby? 😉 To be frank I don’t where you’ll coming from – though I accept he’s not the world’s best I’d rather have him than Benteke … at this very moment.
Frem – About Given – you just stated “better keeper in every way apart from coming of his line” which is reflecting exactly what I was saying!! – and I disagree that Guzan has not been coming off his line. The centre for Stoke’s first goal was whipped in fast enough that it caught out Villa’s entire defence – Guzan really didn’t have time to think, or you could say the defence was not really awake, not just Guzan It was an excellent piece of work by Ireland and we just have to forget that one as they won’t happen too often.
Good calm piece on the MOM site …
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/what-we-learnt-as-aston-villa-fans-after-sherwoods-first-game-as-villa-boss/
John- Newcastle aren’t exactly a team of giants so I don’t think there’s any need for Guzan.
One thing that has to happen of Lowten has to come in either right back or right mid. The guy has great cross on him and Benteke would score of a few for sure.
i agree with lowten rember against Sunderland when we got 6 he was on another planet then he scores goal of the season the kid can play and can cross a ball him bacuna and i think cleverly is a far better player than west wood and will play for Sherwood JL gabby is finished the sooner you get that in your head the better he would not get into a good pub side he only has himself to blame could you see a player at any other club in the world being allowed to play 2 and a half stone overweight
Evening all – and to John , our master of ceremonies 🙂
Well it’s all been said now : reality time , feet back firmly on the ground . There are a few questions I have – not rhetorical either .
1. Why did TS tell the press what our plan a is – words like “I’ve told them to get the ball to Bebteke, look up and if he’s not available – but Bebteje shoukd be making himself available / if he isn’t then pass to someone else. I know it’s all pretty obvious and was our game plan until Guardiola interfered , but doesn’t that take the “new manager , new ideas – surprise ” away.
2. We played ok first half – Stoke contained us 2nd half – surprised to see Gil taken off – he looked the most confident and eager one on the pitch. They dudnt say he had a knock on the commebtary
3. Benteke – where was he – where was he supposed to be – did he know here he was supposed to be ?
B62 – Bent has scored 7 goals not 6 – and in 8 games .
From MOTD – Palace looked good – Ill say it again – Bolassi fantastic player – in years gone by we’d have been able to poach him – not now.
Leicester – gave Everton a game and I thought they’d get all 3 points – thank God they didn’t .
Burnley – fighters
QPR – Barton does it again .
AVFC – where was the “new manager play with more passion – fight fir place etc effect ”
They still look fearful and confused . There was a point in the game when Benteke shoukd have taken a shot – he was in the box but he passed it instead – that tells you where his confidence is .
You can’t judge TS on one game . However , he does make some startling claims (which are admirable for their cavalier attitude but verging on the Barry all in one go ) He said in the week in relation to his managerial expertise that “experience is overrated ” (daily mirror) and used the example of Rooney playing at 17. This is like comparing Tom Jones with Rita Ora (for Voice viewers :-))
Making your debut as a footballer is not the same as managing a premier league club . My big worry is that his plan A – get the ball to Teckers directly is a. Too obvious and b. Been done before and has been sussed out c, Teckers has lost confidence anyway .
We had more long balls than Stoke yesterday , which is fine if producing goals , but the fact is our goal came from a set piece – not from our “new tactics”
Anyway – it’s his first game in charge and it’s good to see he is closely involved on the training ground so he can see for himself – “Gabby was electric ” 🙂
Ppl have commented about our fitness – and physique – I seem to remember Bent getting pilloried for being fat – well he’s in fine shape at Derby . Time to get them on the running track Tim !
But John D – Gabby was electric in training – that from Tim Sherwood 🙂
I think you will find Gabby playing next week . There is an aura about Gabby from the national media and other managers . How many times have we heard “AV have a fantastic forward line with Benteke and Agbonlshor with his pace “. It has been the case for years – his reputation hire before him. Also, wasn’t it his shot at the end of the game that was just tipped over by the keeper ? That was our only other shot on target so will earn him the place in TS eyes
jenny no it was a header from Clark and if sherwood plays scabby i for one will not attend
Was it John – I thought Gabby had a shot . My mistake – but I still can’t see him being dropped .
That’s what’s exciting about new mgr at least everyone shoukd have a chance now – not the same old favourites each week .
St75 – good you and Steamer had a great evening and most importantly Chris wasn’t hurt – but it sounds pretty brutal fir the other guy
If Gabby plays on Saturday I’ll consider leaving The stadium. If he plays and has the captain arms band on, I will definelty leave. I dont mind driving all that way to watch Clark lead us out. He gives a shit about this club. Gabby, he’s taking the piss out of this club. Has done for years.
As a lad on twitter says, he’s a bad egg in the dressing room. He falls out with all the staff. He’s a crap footballer who knows it but still take 60 grand a week from a
AVFC
The last good game he had was over 12 months ago away at Anfield. 2why? Because he didn’t play with his back to goal, he didn’t try and be a number 10 plYer, he simply ran in behind it never does that anymore
Jenny- I don’t know why TS said what our gAme plan would be. We all went to VP knowing we would go long to Benteke, and that’s all we did. Better come up with a another plan for Saturday p. TS needs to work on players running on Bentekes flick on’s
anyone else feel like we played at 200 miles an hour? launch ball chase, launch ball chase.
Frem – we all knew the game plan and so did Stoke as Teckers was marked out the game – as I expect he will be now until end of season 🙂
Mark – all except Sanchez – who I am sure lacks fitness judging by his inability to keep up . I do like him though – just needs to do more fast running training . Which is a topic of interest – heard an ex pro talking about how he felt the modern footballers desire to concentrate on upper body was more to do with the six pack , body beautiful vanity than helping them to play better football . He said all the gym work was slowing them down and years ago players were leaner and faster . When you watch old footage this certainly seems to be the case . I can’t imagine the likes of George Best workjng out on his abs and pecs .
On Gabby
A game or two ago I remember clearly Gabby running back at full steam to cover the result of a silly pass by Delph. OK he didn’t succeed with the tackle and gave away a free-kick, but he was absolutely determined to stop the opposition. I remember another occasion (maybe last season) when he chased right over the pitch for a similar reason.
No please don’t tell me he doesn’t have any heart. He does. He is *not* the world’s best by far, but when *the system* suits (and it was pretty one-directional vs Stoke) he can be very dangerous – and has been a couple of times lately in putting Benteke through.
Other than perhaps Sinclair taking over from him (and that could well be how it will go) I don’t see any alternative to playing Gabby. He (and Weimann) were scoring well a couple of seasons ago but PL seemed to change their style of play with bad results. Now it will take some stimulation from TS to get Gabby properly firing to the best of his ability. But please don’t tell me he’s a waster.
Jenny,
On Gil – I agree that he looked keen but to me he seemed to be played out of position and didn’t make any progress. I like it when he comes inside – then he looks dangerous. Against Stoke it looked to me as though the was instructed to stay on his wing – with little value.
As Billy Wright led England out at Wemberlee versus Hungary he remarked that the opposition captain was a little fat bloke, dunno what he said after Puskas put him on his backside with a brilliant drag back before scoring.
Gabby has directly cost us at least THREE goals this season by leaving the bloke he was supposed to be marking, who knows how many indirectly, he also gives away ridiculous free kicks when Villa are on the offensive and as for daft bookings !! He neither scores nor creates goals and that amazing contract was awarded by Fox because he thought it would make him popular by tying up a ‘club legend,’ so now we’re bunging 50,000 odd pounds a week to an overweight, non-productive passenger who shows absolutely no desire or ability and has been instrumental in the removal of three members of the back room staff by being disruptive. Even by footballing standards GA is a very, very lucky man.
Staying positive, have to, but one more game gone from the possibles of getting a result. Don’t really want to talk about the game as the task Sherwood faces is immense, installing confidence, determining which players will play for him in his preferred system and most importantly finding the net, the lads with the arrows need to give out a few more to the Holte and North stands.
We go again
UTV
John,
If Agbonlahor actually cared then he’d get rid of that spare tyre, its not muscle, its fat and its a disgrace that he’s allowed to let himself go and an even bigger one that AVFC have let him. Regarding ability, he was in the right place at the right time, 25 years ago he’d have been playing Sunday football. Still can’t get over Vassell calling him a legend.
DO,
Whatever happens, TS is in charge and we’ve got to support him. i think we’ll beat Newkie but lose both of the Boggies games. IMO the home games are a right off, we don’t have the correct players to win a home game, we’ll pick up more away points whoever TS selects and that is a DISGRACE. This is Lamberts legacy.
Gabby versus Kim Casey, dear oh dear, not much difference, only about 250 goals. Pity Kim had a great job and turned us down.
Steamer: He neither scores nor creates goals…
Well, in the past 2 or 3 games, Gabby has provided the great Benteke 2 or 3 very good scoring chances. If CB can’t put them away then of course we can’t say Gabby’s created goals! 😉
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that GA does not deserve criticism – but I honestly believe what he’s getting is OTT and my view is that his game has deteriorated largely because of PL.
In the examples I gave earlier, it is clear that Gabby still has pace and is still committed – but he’s the kind of player that needs a good manager to point him the right way. Ron Saunders, please come back! 😉
In general…
I’m reading a lot of understandably disappointed reaction to the defeat vs Stoke. If it had been a draw or a win then the tone here would be a bit different I think. Stoke played a game that was good enough to stifle Villa, while Villa are still finding their feet. It will take time and Villa will beat Albyun 2-1 and 3-1.
Let’s keep calm Mr. Mainwaring! 😉
Not Match of the Day @NOT_MOTD · 21 hrs 21 hours ago
Gabby Agbonlahor @G11Agbonlahor · 15 hrs 15 hours ago
I’m fucking useless
Was at Villa Park yesterday. Got the impression Sherwood suddenly realised the enormity of the task ahead of him. #avfc
Lots around me at ground at Yesterday had already accepted relegation! Such a shame. #AVFC
0 replies . 1 retweet 2 favourites
One things for certain , Agbonlahor needs selling in summer regardless of what league we are in #AVFC
One thing, spoke to a well respected member of staff at vp today. He said Sherwood will be backed massively regardless of league #AVFC
GetTheHolteEndBack @BruceRioch4
People say gabby is ‘Mr Aston Villa’ I firmly believe Clark has more Villa in him #avfc
Just selection of Tweets, some optimistic others not.
Interesting one about the investment.
Yes John,
We desperately need a win, i think the players have developed a complex about VP which given the results is understandable but they have been given an easy ride by the fans so again who do you blame ?
Gabby scored 45 goals in 4 seasons under MON. Played out wide at times but a decent return for a developing player and enough to suggest he could play at this level. Since MON left he’s scored 24 goals in nearly 5 seasons. Somethings gone badly wrong and it started before Lambert joined Villa. For me he’s the worst kind of footballer, some talent but no heart or integrity.
jen your probably right on the excess upper body emphasis although a strong core always helps. I remember seeing players years ago with legs like tree trunks I guess the emphasis has shifted 6’4″ players weigh 13 stone. now its considered good upper body strength when a player backs into someone without touching the ball, used to be called obstruction remember that?
I think slide tackling’s demise has made a big impact with the emphasis on tackling while stood up preferred. a strong upper body means you can hold someone in place, stop someone turning etc without looking like your holding
the player although that doesn’t seem to stop the majority from using hands, arms etc to stop there man.
was interesting to see TS rubbing his eyes nose etc in the after match chat, quite a few similarity’s to Lambert he looked in shock
Our midfield can not score goals, assist or protect the back 4.
Our only striker tekkers is shot to bits.
We concede goals, we cant score goals.
We have no fight or passion or concentration to grind out the odd point.
We have no idea how to win a game.
We are in a massive downward spiral which will be too hard to turn around.
I will be very surprised if we stay up.
Andrew, but other than that we’re alright.
hahah andrew P!
I see on twitter and other blogs people seem to think we can pull 4 or 5 wins out of our ass in like 12 games!
Its just not going to happen to a side who have scored 13 goals all season and won 2 in 22!
TS is saying we have to improve very quickly/ does he not know that was improved for us 😉
I discovered on the weekend that some things in life are worse than being a villa supporter, food poisoning being the main one, combine it with a heavy work load and a 6 hour drive to the job and back and you quickly realise its place 🙂
TS said this which to me rings true, we always panic and rush in the final third
“I want them to play a little bit more relaxed in the final third, get on the ball and express themselves a bit more”
both Lambert and TS seem to think the players look great in training, could be because they are playing against a level they can cope with 😉
I haven’t watched the interview Mark – only read it – but I will take a look as our facial expressions give away far more than words can ever do.
John – I can understand why TS played him on the wing – I hope that he finds his best position soon
The Home fear continues – together with the fear in the final third 🙁 I will say it again – get some practice/training games at VP – you have to crank up the pressure as much as you can in training to prepare for the big game. Some teams in US pipe the crowd booing in training to condition the players to deal with every situation and it has been proved to work. I think Trinity referred to this some time ago. I am sure even Guzan can score worldies at BMH -= but it’s a different kettle of fish in front of a roaring 32,000 in a relegation fight .
It is all very well saying you want them to relax in the final third – doesn’t every manager want that – it is how we get them to do it.
Gabby divides fans – and he is lucky that he can live on his reputation – which is very generous to him. I noticed that when DB came his nose seemed put out of joint and there were times when he should have passed to him and he didn’t. With Lambert’s fall out with DB, Gabby and Weimann have had a free ride – and appear to be very influential in the dressing room as far as resisting training go. The appointment of KMAC was good as he knows them of old – and vice versa.
jen maybe a sun-lounger and cocktails by the corner flag? would have to shift gabbys kebab van though 😉
I remember the booing over speakers being talked about before, think our lot need to step it up a bit further, doorbells,
ringtones, text alerts and alarm clock sound should do it.
So the positives about being in the Championship…..2 games against the blues. Lots of midweek games……
Andrew, we might avoid a relegation scrap & that’s about your lot.
andrew- we can call ourselves champions because we are in it?
February 28: Newcastle United (A)
March 3: West Brom (H)
March 14: Sunderland (A)
March 21: Swansea City (H)
April 4: Manchester United (A)
April 11: Tottenham Hotspur (A)
April 18: Queens Park Rangers (H)
April 25: Manchester City (A)
May 2: Everton (H)
May 9: West Ham (H)
May 16: Southampton (A)
May 24: Burnley (H)
Out of those 12 I have written off 6 as losses which means we will have to win the other 6 to get to 40 points, which if we had to be honest I cannot see us winning 4 of those so the figures speak for themselves, along with a terrible GD I think the second city derby beckons.
We have flirted with relegation for far too long and now it seems to be a reality which you have got to admit we fully deserve, we have shown no ambition over the last four years other than to survive in this division and a team like Burnley have given it a real go and shown some fight and truly warrant a place in front of us although I know they will go down with us.
AVFC RIP
If we get a new owner in and blitz the championship, relegation would be worthwhile? We would also be on the tv a lot.
Everyone says about the prem £££ but we had it last year and we don’t see any of it under learner so whats the point.
In 2015 villa are bottom of the form table….gathering 1 point so far.
It is nearly March.
Reading the above it strikes me that Jenny would make a big difference to the Vanillans’ thinking.
After all, it’s all in the mind, init? … We just need self-belief…
It’s done and dusted in my mind after sat SWV
I nearly cried sat night and felt sick yesterday.
Accepted it today. It’s not the end of the world, villa will still exist. It’s not like we will dissapear.
The trick is trying to love and enjoy villa again.
Can easily get behind ts. When we go down though i want a new owner to fully get behind Aston villa again.
Whilst Learner is here we are going nowhere.
SWV: Out of those 12 I have written off 6 as losses which means we will have to win the other 6 to get to 40 points, which if we had to be honest I cannot see us winning 4 of those so the figures speak for themselves, along with a terrible GD I think the second city derby beckons.
Well it’s points that’s the chief factor that’s going to determine whether we stay up or go down. The GD could be a vital factor but not necessarily … so long as we start scoring and winning.
Being foolishly +ve, I *can* see us potentially getting 20 points (including 6 wins) OR 18 points (5 wins) in the remaining fixtures, but we *must* start with a win this Saturday to stand a chance of that. A win at Newcastle is absolutely vital, and a first win in an away match is probably more likely. Otherwise you’re right, it could be a sticky business…
Relegation can be no surprise. Bad management at every level for years.
Getting rid of Lambert now has been said it’s good timing.
It’s the worst timing, should of gone in the summer with pf or in november to give new guy more of a chance and a transfer window.
John,
Blimey step away from the sherry.
Andrew,
It will be a major rebuilding job when we go down, loads will leave the sinking ship and we will have to replace them with championship grade players to go with those already at the club and then if we can get back up at the first time of asking then we will need many changes to try to stay up.
AVFC RIP
Still positive, but I did say the longer we go without winning the closer we get to having a win ratio equivalent to Chelsea or Man City to survive and given we can’t find the net with any consistency and certainly not above 1 possibly 2 goals per game, the chances of other teams denying us the points we need is too great.
We need to go all out first 15/20 minutes using 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2, get a goal and revert to 5-4-1 for the remainder of the game to secure the points, it won’t be pretty. Out of the teams left only Man City, Spurs, Southampton have the players with enough guile to break down the lack of space. even Man U reverts to the Fellaini battering ram in times of desperation.
We need to knock Newcastle down while they are reeling from Man City and get some goals early( away win), get their supporters wishing for Pardew to come back, West Brom has draw all over it given the context of an important QF a few days later. Away win v Sunderland. I’d take a draw against Swansea and Man U, Spurs will beat us, home win against QPR, Man City will beat us, home wins against Everton, West Ham and Burnley and in between defeat at Southampton.
This takes into consideration Sherwood influencing things enough to change things in the weeks ahead, teams playing out the season like West Ham with nothing to aim for but league position and other teams like Sunderland/Burnley/Leicester going adrift in the bottom 3. This maxes out at 21 points.
UTV
andrew- another positive about the championship, 46 games to get 40 points or if we do ok we might get 50!! 🙂
We have to stay positive. Looking at the games we have left, all the home games are very winnable. Not to say that we will win them all, but equally that does not mean we will lose all away games. Newcastle had a horror show and will be looking for a reaction, if we’re clever we can use that against them. Sunderland a big 6 pointer, the pressure is on them. Man Utd away is not as daunting as it once was and Im sure S will want to get something out of the Spurs game.
We have opportunities there, we just have to take them. Starting with Newcastle. Next 2 games are vital, if we dont get at least 3 points (preferably 4) then it may just be looking for miracles. Looking at whoscored is depressing, bottom of the form table with 6 losses in a row. Its disgusting and should not be happening, but it is and all we can do is show our support.
The honeymoon factor did not work for us but tbh I dont think we deserved to lose that game, we didnt look like scoring but neither did they until Vlaar’s moment of madness. No point crying over spilt milk, hopefully with another weeks training and some tactical work with the new coaches we can come out firing again against Newc.
Ree
The thing is we aint clever.
We do things like playing hull & stoke on the bounce and collect 0 points.
To keep on dreaming we can do this and that, grap a win here and there…..it’s not going to happen.
grab
We will be lucky to get a draw at geordie land….any team can get spanked at man city (we do).
They are no worse than us and in cisse, cissokho and dar matt? they have 3 players better than any of ours.
Christ it’s easy to be negative at villa.
B62
for the full fight ,
MMA-core (in search )
MMA stream
BAMMA 18 chris miah fight ,
on saturday we sat in the pub looking at life in the championship , and a couple of us who went to all the away games in the then Div 2 started remembering the great times we had . it might have been the beer as well but we seemed quite calm about it , and as one of the Andrews have said , “why are we bothering about the sky money ?” we never benefit from it as it goes in Learners pocket ,
Frem . if it goes off at Newc , make sure your fisticuffs is with a bloke , the birds up there are bloody frightening ,
now steamer is going to put a load of bollox on here about me , just warning you .
jenny xxxxx
Yeh You’re right Andrew, we aint clever. If the players used their heads a little bit more we would have been more composed in the second half and at the very least got a point if not the win. Thats one thing that concerns me about Sherwood, the effort and fight may be good but the brains may be lacking. There was a lot of effort against Stoke with no end product. Im hoping they can refine that in training.
One other thing we are severly lacking in is a bit of luck, when is the last time we had a lucky bounce go our way or a goal gifted to us like the first goal Newc gave City?
Well it took a couple of days to post after the game against Stoke. When I looked at the starting line up I thought they had more than a chance to win the game. Two goals at 45 and 90+. It boggles the mind. It’s going to be difficult to follow the team in the championship as only Prem games are played here and any computer stream is poor at the best. Look at the bright side, you will be able to go to St Andrews for a home derby. And don’t forget the Wolves. Two teams waiting to dish it out.
Ree
It’s because we dont shoot or attack! We average 2 shots on target a game, aint going to get many lucky deflections like that!
Same with pens, we have no one in the box to get fouled!
You look at the 2 Defoe and Lampard, always getting crappy goals, defelcted or wrong footing the keeper.
Its because they have about 10 shots a game.
Andrew: The thing is we aint clever.
Well, I’ve just heard that we’ve appointed a new manager who comes complete with an upgrade kit for non-clever players! 😉
Its not just that though, whens the last time the opposition made a mistake that led to a Villa goal? It seems like every time we make a mistake it gets punished. Vlaar against Stoke, Okore against Hull and Chelsea, too many to recall against Arsenal. In these tight situations you need those pieces of luck. But it seems whenever you’re in a relegation fight, you dont get those lucky bounces or gifted goals. Happens to all teams fighting relegation, probably from heightened nerves due to knowing how much a mistake will cost. One slice of luck can spark a recovery, I dont think its too much to ask given the amount of lucky goals we see weekly in the PL.
ST75- just watched chris’s fight he’s a good little fighter where did he learn to wrestle? most English lads have none.
who was the the bloke he was fighting? looked like a midget from the hills have eyes. didn’t see you and steamer presumed you must be looking for change under the seats x
I hope that upgrade kit is the substitutes bib John. Either that or they can watch in a suit from the executive boxes.
Afternoon all Lifers
We have an unhealthy Norwich complex,Tony Parks the new GK coach,Culverhouse and Karsa,MON was there briefly,Lambert,Robson,Grant HoltMaybe if we played our home games there we might win a few.
1 Liverpool DWWWDWW 17
2 Arsenal LWWWLWW 15
3 Chelsea LWWDWWD 14
4 Southampton WWWLWDL 13
5 Tottenham WLWWWLD 13
6 Man City WDLDDWW 12
7 Man Utd DLWWDWL 11
8 Stoke DLWWDLW 11
9 C Palace DWWLWDL 11
10 West Brom DWDLDWD 10
11 Hull WLLLDWW 10
12 Swansea DDLWDLW 9
13 West Ham DDWLDDD 8
14 Everton LDDWDLD 7
15 Burnley DWLLDLD 6
16 Newcastle DLLWDDL 6
17 Sunderland LLLWDLD 5
18 Leicester DWLLLLD 5
19 QPR DLLLLWL 4
20 Aston Villa DLLLLLL 1
The table does not lie.
look at that bloody table, thats the reason im currently a miserable sod.
Tony Parks just goes to show that you can be a crap player and still make a lot of money out of footy, expect Guzan to be staying on his line from now on.
I think Villa have an arrangement whereas just before City sack them they phone us and we pay them compensation.
Had to chuckle, S75 phoned me and asked me to take my guitar lead over to his, this is a bloke who’s totally ripped into me and his brother for our lack of musical talent, lo and behold when he opened the door what was in the corner, no, not a triangle, or one of those recorder thingies, but a bass guitar. Our new band is now officially up and running although the drummer has a weight problem and the vocalist a bad stammer, if U2 can make a few bob then so can we.
Looks horrible…. That being said it is Sherwood’s first game in charge and Newcastle aint exactly in the best form either. They havent managed a home win under Carver (trust Villa to break that record!) and their only win was at Hull who were playing diabolical at the time.
Mark,
His opponent reached the ABA semi finals and was in the elite squad.
steamer- he looked like he hadn’t learned to duck, only a mother could learn to love that face. bet he kept the helmet on when he went out 😉
my suggestion is take all the strings bar the E off ST75’s bass he’ll only get confused, and let him wire the plug up
swv- steamers new band will be trying to play those chords you’ve put up
I really think we’ll win at Newkie, they’re in decline again and i reckon they’ll be relegation candidates again next season. They’re not really a top Prem club, won a few FA Cups but only three titles, people would ignore them even more if it wasn’t for their ridiculous superiority complex towards bigger and better clubs.
However, like Villa they do seem to attract chancers to their boardroom, the Halls and Ashley spring to mind.
Obviously our home form is a problem but 13 goals all season is both pathetic and an utter disgrace, if the players had any shame they’d donate the rest of this seasons wages to charity. This is the worst team in the club history and was managed by it worst manager and owned by its worst owner ( equal with Herbert ), what more can be wrong with a club. Someone on twitter reckons he’s been told by someone in a high position at the club that Lerner will invest a lot of money whatever division we’re in next seaon, too late, i’d rather he just left, a total waste of space who’s destroying AVFC by his ridiculously arrogant and uneducated decisions.
Mark,
How close you are ST75 can play all the losers notes.
You have got to be pulling my pisser a bass guitar, at what point in life is it too late to start learning a fucking musical instrument, jesus H Christ I have heard it all now, Jack Bruce would turn in his urn.
Time to go negative, get a few of the more aggressive players in, that LB at Worcester City will do, team for Saturday –
Given
Hutton
Vlaar
Senderos
Clark
Cissy
Clevs
Sanchez
Sinclair
Benteke
Gil
Subs – Guzan, Bacuna, Weimann, Westwood Lowton, and recall Gardner to intigrate into the first team.
Play a back five, two sitters, one wideman and one playing off Benteke. Not the time for pretty football, sneak a few one nils. I don’t rate most of them and hate that type of footy but everything else has failed so why not give it a go ?
By the way, Senders and Baker look like being fit for Sat.
Steamers75, I’m good friends with Artem Lobov, he’s in the same game and spars with Conor McGregor, what weight division does Chris fight in.
look l noticed in steamers house how the guitar on its stand became a talking point , l mean theres fuck all to talk about at the moment , so l got one , just got to find a corner , better than a fish tank , no cleaning , and the only notes l want are them £20 ones you gits owe me , talking about triangles steamer has got me some cheese triangles today , l think he thinks were going the Craven pub wednesday for the cheese night , he’ll get noticed mark my words , taking the expensive ones and leaving the triangles ,
keep an eye on the evening news as one of the c-crew and his wife are being interviewed today as she is a wba fan ,
we had a chat saturday about what albion game we want to win and it was the FA cup one as us 60 year olds have only that cup final to see us win , fucking dropsy James , saying that though l reckon Bradford would take the piss .
oh well off to get the pledge out and polish my new ornament
have a good evening all
D’O’ R , he’s in the Fly weight Div but was on about possibly going upto Bantam , l will ask him about your mate , they all seem to know each other ,
steamer- hasn’t vlaar now got a one match ban for a second yellow plus being a prat? would love senders back if fit miss his guidance
SWV gulp – that table is scary — time for the lads to hold there nerve and roll there sleeves up and fight for the life of this club
JL thats a very good assesement of gabby imo – it all went wrong with some poor management
One win and things thou and a fair amout of gloom should be lifted QPR Liecester , sunderland are possibly playing worse than us and if burnley loose Inges they will not score many more goals
spelling grammar as per soz
talking of strikers, I’d bet TS would of brought someone in jan like a Troy Deeney or the other decent watford lad. If TS stays I can see us becoming a better academy than we have ever been. with more pulling power etc, I think his mate at QPR might join him because I cant see QPR keeping him ether way. we will then have Kmac and half the spurs academy staff that brought there current crop through. plus our scouting has got better has just moved beyond the Lamberts mates.
sickening to read Robinson and Johnson are combining well together for yet another goal from johnson whom we sold for pennies
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/possible-aston-villa-dressing-room-leak-cause-of-concern/?
be nice for this lad to make it after all his injuries
http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/doing-a-job-2291164.aspx?
Could the spy be the same one that leaked info to Crystal Palace last season ?
GG would possibly be in the England team by now if not for his injuries.
Mark
the wrestling( Greco) comes from a few of the Polish lads he knows , the boxing from Frankie Gavin , and there was this small asian lad in his corner really nice kid and from what l heard , although he would be about 8 stone he would have you on your back in a blink , his profession sounded something like mui-tai , maybe runtins can help me here ,(will find out) and he does jui-jitsu . and the brawling off the steamers lol (well his dad) , sometimes me and his dad have to whack him with a piece of drain pipe on his thighs , shins ,back and arms , fucking drains us , (excuse the pun)
st75- he looks the whole package, tall but not skinny for his class and has good reach as the bin dipper found out. greco is just what you need, very hard to get to the top without it IMO as its needed to give you breathers and points. His style looked like the new generation, like John bones Jones who have learnt the lot together so they don’t rely on one style too heavily. hope he does really well mate seems a sound lad
my Mrs does the same to me but with pan
ST75
Just watched Chris’s fight, top drawer and a great KO.
for MMA i think brazilian jui-jitsu , Gracey’s form is the most dominant style and most of the title holders are amazing at it
mui-tai , kick boxing either or seem to be essentail for a top fighter these days along with anythng else you can learn
Mark i think bones jones is the complete animal fighter right now and he has taken apart some very skilled , aggressive guys without loss and still so young – he tested for coke after his last fight thou
Anderson Silva is the most entertaining fighter i have ever seen though – was champ for many years until that leg break and he is the ronaldo of MMA
love the sport and st75 your lad is the real deal
learn wing chung if you can boys n girls – invented by a woman it is very effective for all how learn
Jl on scabby do you not agree he is at least 2 stone overweight and thats being kind look at him 3 years ago and his shape when he could run the fact is he was 11 stone 7 and he is now 14 stone does that not mean anything to you these are facts from sid the weights of players are on the board ad body more it does not take a fitness coach to work that out
runtingz- your right you have to have the lot jui jitsu for the ground, wrestling for the transitions from standing to ground, and kick boxing for hurting people. I used to do kung fu in my youth but not wing chung, lau gua I think, did judo later on wasn’t that bruce lee’s style or at least part as he studied it all. wonder how he’d of fared at MMA?
JD at 14 stone he should be 6’5″ in the modern game, I’m shock how thin they are these days
Mark yes bruce lee used wing chung but was more adapted for the camara – without groung game it would be hard for him and the general principal of chung as banned moves in MMA
is
Runtingz from what I’ve read of lee he was incredibly quick and powerful, I’m sure he would of learnt the ground game as his own style took in so many others would be interesting to have seen him fight
JD,
But the thread I was on was about his play and not about his weight, although the weight will affect his play, of course. Yes, he could be doing with being a bit slimmer. I seem to recall this bulk business started during MON’s latter time at VP and that it was suggested by MON.
I think we’re maybe disappointed he didn’t develop into a better player but I am basically saying that as far as I am concerned he still shows that he is committed and I tried to give illustrations of that. Perhaps he could do more, though.
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