First of all, the facts. Villa have taken four points from two tough games this week and are this evening sitting fifth in the Premier League. If you win your home games and draw your away games, you finish in the top four. Full stop.

Now to the game this afternoon.

Villa were terrific in the first half. The passing was crisp; Barry and Reo-Coker ran central midfield; Ashley Young, Gabby and Luke Moore looked sharp, quick and menacing.

On the few occasions West ham got forward, Martin Laursen and Zat Knight were well on top of Camara and Ashton, and Mellberg and Bouma stopped any threat down the flanks.

We should have gone in more than one up at half time, and if any of us thought there would be a hangover from the hopeless surrender against Spurs in the last twenty on Monday night, they were all put well and truly to bed in a great forty-five minutes.

And then the second half began.

You might think that Villa had learned a lesson or two from White Hart Lane, mightn't you? With experienced international players on the field in the shape of Mellberg, Bouma, Laursen and Barry, you might even expect that Villa would push up and ram their clear advantage down the cockneys' throats.

But no, not a bit of it. Instead of pushing up and trying to put the game beyond the Hammers, Villa sat back far, far too deep and invited the East Londoners back into the game. For the best part of half an hour, it looked for all the world like we were going to surrender again.

The defending all started to look last ditch again. Barry and Reo-Coker were increasingly chasing shadows. And only the stalwart rearguard determination of Knight and Laursen prevented the game turning. It was all so unnecessary.

Villa need some leadership at the moment, and our more experienced and seasoned players need to instil in the younger team members a sense of belief in their own football. I was concerned at Gareth Barry's leadership on Monday night, and I remained concerned this evening. I would have expected him to order the back four up and press West ham back into their own half - not to spend half an hour running after Lee Bowyer.

But there was to be another twist to this game, and it was all about Celtic.

First of all let's talk about Shaun Maloney. He's a better player than Luke Moore, with wonderful, impish attitude, fabulous vision and mouth-watering touch. He brought attitude to the game and looked both intelligent and dangerous.

Maloney cannot, for heaven's sake, be far from commanding a starting position in Villa's side and I for one will be using this forum to urge Maloney to stay at Villa. He is a few performances away from becoming the true darling of the Holte End - please, Martin, give him his chance.

And then to Stan Petrov.

I brought guests to Villa Park this afternoon, and I was ashamed and disgusted by the booing which accompanied Stan's introduction to the game. We all have a right to criticise Petrov's performances so far, and on many occasions I have done just that.

However, I think it should be a "given" that any player who treads the hallowed Villa park turf wearing our beloved claret and blue deserves the total support of the fans. Those "fans" who booed Petrov when he came on are nothing more than morons, doing nothing to support the side and everything to undermine it.

In case you didn't get that point - I said MORONS.

Petrov has had a difficult start at Villa and put in some very indifferent performances. But the Bulgarian needs the Holte End to get behind him, not get on his back.

I was delighted by the way Stan stuck the booing back down the morons' throats. He looked busy, aggressive, determined, composed and skillful when he came on. That takes some real character after the reception he got, and I give him all credit for that. Let's hope he can keep it going. But we have a role to play in any resurgence too.

So we won the game and took the points. I'm sure that will act as a real tonic for the squad, no doubt struggling for a bit of belief after the Leicester and Spurs debacles. And I'm chuffed to bits with the result and where it takes us. With Petrov and Maloney swinging the game back in Villa's favour late on, it probably should have been two.

One last point: I try not to bang on about poor refereeing. Premier League referees have a thankless and "no win" task. But Tanner was useless today - showing no understanding of the "advantage" rule, stopping play unnecessarily, and repeatedly giving decisions against Gareth Barry which should have gone the other way. 1/10 mate - sorry.

We won the game, took the points, and have a healthy position in the league. Let's hope the jitters have gone.

Villa: Carson 8; Mellberg 7; Laursen 8: KNIGHT 9; Bouma 7; Gardner 7; Reo-Coker 7; Barry 7; Young 8; Agbonlahor 7; Moore 7 Subs: Maloney 8; Petrov 8

Man-of-the-Match: KNIGHT - a cool, faultless, composed and commanding performance in central defence.

Comments (21)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Andy C said:

Spot on Doc!! Maloney for me was brilliant, I hope he does get a starting role next match. His touch is delightful, his work by the corner flag to run down the clock was just brillieant.... I have never boo'ed stan EVER and NEVER will, he did the job today and did it very well...... My only concern is the fact of Mellberg constantly drifting out of position..... RB still needed... Otherwise hard working performance!!

October 07, 2007

vilan1 said:

I hear what you say Doc. I was relieved when Maloney came on for Moore. Moore was on another planet yesterday and didnt seem to want to be there, strange. While Carews out I think its time maloney got his chance alongside Gabby. ps How come Harebrain didnt even make bench?

October 07, 2007

Gubbel said:

as usual a very well written match analysis. i totally agree with you, but from my point of view i think you missed something. once MON said in an interview that our side should learn NOT to play the long ball (kick and rush) when Big Carew isn't able to be in the starting lineup. but yesterday (is saw the game on german television) in the second half we did exactly that from 5 minutes after the kick-off till MON replaced (in my opinion almost too late) Moore with Maloney. We are looking so much more dangerous when we're attacking over the wings, instead of playing the high ball to Agbonlahor who can't hold it that long and the ball comes back immediately. (i hope everyone understands what i wanted to say, if not, than sorry for gramma or other mistakes, but i'm trying to improve my english )

October 07, 2007

Woodinho said:

Apparently he was sick, perhaps he saw his challenge on Darren Bent, it made me feel sick too!

October 07, 2007

Villa4Europe said:

Not the best performance over the full 90 minutes but good enough to beat another poor team who are apparently challenging us for european places.(Newcastle, Man city, West Ham) Negatives: Moore looked on a different planet tonight, the defence although good seem to struggle with communication at the moment, regularly going for the same headers and panicking to often. Plus the right side is just not good enough! Gardners a good prospect and has done well dont get me wrong but compare him to young on the left and hes just no where near as threatening. Add mellberg to that at right back and were strugglin. Everything spurs and west ham created came down there right hand sides, worrying! Positives: The usual suspects Barry, Aggy, Young, Laursen. Plus good performances from Knight and Maloney when he came on, must be due a start up front or even on the right! All in all, good result, good league position and the fact that we've looked better than another so called rival for europe makes me feel positive.

October 07, 2007

adamL said:

Two points in response to the docs comments. Firstly I agree no player wearing the shirt should ever be booed & have been disgusted by this ever since I started watching villa. However, for the first time in my life I think this was right yesterday as a clear message needs to be sent to the manager that this player is simply not good enough and is not wanted in the team.Ive been following villa for 20years and have not seen many worse especially given the price tag to put on a shirt. There was no need to bring gardener off for him as there was no need to have both osbourne and petrov on the bench instead of harewood unless he was injured. The way the game went and playing against his former club harewood may have helped prevent the ball from coming staraight back at us in the second half. Secondly no one has given credit to west ham for realising at half time that there tactics weren't working and realising that a direct, long, high ball game would cause us problems and stop us playing. It was something im sure oniell didnt expect and full credit should be given to villa for keeping control of the game and not letting them score. they knew that by playing that way it would turn the game uglier and prevent us from playing as we had the first half. It is also a compliment as it said they knew they were second best and resulted them to change to a style of play that was less likely for them to score but they had to in order to prevent us playing. Welldone villa, bring on man u!

October 07, 2007

eire villian said:

Got to see it live on Setanta Ireland. I was a bit dissapointed with that performance to be honest. Barry and NRC with missing for about 30 minutes of the 2nd half again just like the spurs game. The only diff was that west ham didnt have the quality to punish us. Cant believe Barry got man of the match. He's not a centre midfielder. I just dont think he can camand this part of the park for the full 90 which is what we need if we are to break into the top 6. Id put him back on the left with Young on the right and Gardiner in the centre. We need to buy anonther striker, centre mid and a rb come Jan. Saying all that its great to see us getting results when we're not playing that well.

October 07, 2007

IanB said:

Excellent summary, Doc. We deserved to win, and the referee heads a long list of shockers we've endured at Villa Park. www.claretandbluewedding.com

October 07, 2007 | url

I HATE BLUES said:

How can you say our right side is poor when Gardener has scored 2 in 2 ???? what more do you want.As for the people booing Petrov they are probably teenage brain-deads who do it to look hard infront of there equally brain-dead mates

October 07, 2007

steveAV said:

AdamL we are all entitled to our opinion but we need to get behind players not on form not boo them and put the pressure on them even more, he knows he's out of form but did he moan when dropped, no, he said he will fight for his place and show the club and fans the reason why MON brought him here. He played well and did what was needed of him. Moore has not taken his chance so its time to give maloney a shirt and give him a few games to show his class and what he can do when given the chance, and to be fair he has not let us down, one of the best players who can read a game. Harewood, honestly a place on the bench, let alone coming off the thing. hold play up you say, did you see last weeks game, he gets chances and seems to do more damage then good, cant hold the ball up, clumbsy in takling, ie spurs, the spurs player had his back to goal 20 yards out on the corner of the box, no immediate danger, dont dive in, stay on your feet, no reckless challenges, especially in the box(thats suicide). We are not pro footballers and seem to know more than a guy who earns 30,000 a week. 4m he cost, im sorry best of luck to him but let him go for 2m in January, he cant even score for the reserves and that does not bow well, we need a world class striker, i mean, a world class striker even if paying over the odds, also RB really needed badly, olef is trying hard as always in the villa shirt but he drifts out of position and does not produce crosses of any danger. man utd next, dont sit back, attack from the off, there full backs wont cope with the pace of young and aggy. moore and maloney upfront. 2-1 villa

October 07, 2007

sammyD said:

adamL said: There was no need to bring gardener off for him as there was no need to have both osbourne and petrov on the bench instead of harewood unless he was injured. The way the game went and playing against his former club harewood may have helped prevent the ball from coming staraight back at us in the second half. Mate, i appreciate your 20 year support the the c&b army, anyone who has support like that gets respect off the bat for that. But to actually promote the idea of Harewood coming off the bench as a positive idea should have their eyes transplanted. No one player wins or loses a match, but against spurs on monday he cost us a pen at 4-2 up for a challenge my nan wouldnt have made, and even i of championship manager on the PC experience knows that all a forward of his type is good for in that situation is holding up the ball to take pressure of the teams defence. He didnt, frankly, he is s**t. The two games i've seen him come on for, he has lost us the game and started a fight with agbonlahor. And to think he gets money from supporters. People are entitled to their opinions mate, but im sorry, your totally wrong on this one.

October 07, 2007

villa 82 said:

Great post Doc I totaly agree on all points.In my opinion this should be the team to line up against Man U. Carson Gardener,Knight,Laursen,Bouma Reo-Coker,Barry Petrov Maloney,Agbonlahor,Young Bench-Taylor,Melberg,Osbourne,Berger,Moore

October 07, 2007

the_flabster said:

Well we are 8th with 14 points and im very happy with that, we could have had 16 points and been 5th but thats life, we will hopefully learn from the Spurs draw, even though it didnt look like we had yesterday. But back to the positives, if someone had said to me that we would be only 1 point behind Chelsea with a game in had after about 1/4 of the season i wouldnt have believed them. Ok Chelsea arnt where everyone would have put them at the end of last season but we are not far off the top. I think if we can stay very near or in the UEFA cup places by january we should definatly be able to convince a top class goal scorer to come and i dont mean Defoe. For the money Spurs want (£12Mn) we could get someone from outside England who is better. And then if they come and perform from the off then who knows? UTV

October 07, 2007

Richard Beech UTV said:

"we could get someone from outside England who is better. And then if they come and perform from the off then who knows? " im afraid o'neil is scared to shop outside of england, or for someone who is not english for that matter and he wont spend 12m on anyone!

October 07, 2007

ViLLaN said:

We tried that before, shopping abroad in Jan whilst in a promising position, we got Angel......and waited til April til his first goal! Defoe is proven in the premier, Luke Moore, whilst myself and a lot of Villa fans had hope he'd be the answer, either needs a kick up the arse or some time on loan cos he really isnt doing the business nor looks like he will

October 07, 2007

Leroy said:

I agree Moore has been quiet, and not as threatening as i thought hed be. Im a huge fan of his so it hurts me to say it, but he isnt getting the job done. But having said that, i dont think we should bench him, definately not for Harewood, and i dont think Maloney should start this week against Man U either. I hope Burger is right for this one, we need those classy through balls of his so we can unleash Gab and Ash. Just need to play similar to when we beat Man U, counter attacking and switched on at the back.......

October 08, 2007

monsoon said:

Is it right that we have only been beaten at Villa Park in the Premiership by Aresnal and Liverpool since Chrismas? If so that says it all - we are moving forward.

October 08, 2007

Villa4Europe said:

I hate blues: Fair enough gardners scored two goals in two games, but both spurs and west ham, although more so spurs, created the majority of there chances down their left. I do like Gardner and Mellberg but just not together down the right, we neither look strong down the right nor solid. However its neither players fault there both playing out of position for the club and manager who should have sorted this problem in the summer!

October 08, 2007

Dizzy Mugs said:

Yep Monsoon, completely correct.

October 09, 2007

ryanvilla3 said:

Its good to see the Villa getting 3 points when they are not playing at there best. Hopefully Moore will get his first and crack on from there. He looked ok against West Ham busy butjust needs a goal.

October 09, 2007

paddy said:

we need a striker i think we should try to buy huntelaar, farfan or alfonzo alves in january. alves scored seven over the weekend. harewood is the worst player ever. UTV.

October 09, 2007

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

Add Comment