Xander11ncfc

Only edit for you, which is fair enough as you were at the river end and I was near the goal in the Barclay, the Naismith block was Martin not Garrido. Only pointing it out as the credit is fully deserved

Good to know about the hesitating, I wasn''t honestly sure as couldn''t see from my seat, if so that is disappointing, but suppose adds to a supporting factor that maybe someone like Fer would have been less nonsense about it

Just having a quick read through and cannot honestly believe how negative people are (well I can knowing this forum but there we go). Anyone saying we were awful/negative/lucky have no idea. Our tactics were spot on, Martinez focuses on passing and very little else, we pressed when needed too without over rushing and leaving space (something I will say Holt did last year on occasions but thats irrelevant). They had quality pace in Mirallas and Barkley with Fellaini having an easy time as we had no Fer to give us a taller stronger battler to compete with him, which caused slight problems. At the back, Martin with numerous great blocks and Turner read the game well allowing a good solid back line. Their two goals, Barkley''s was a great hit, would need another look to see if we should have closed down better, and the only downside possibly was Garridos slowness for the second. Otherwise, with technically our "spine" (other then RVW) out injured we were still very strong, Redmond played well, just needs to pick a pass which will come with age. Bennett did his job and great stuff from Whittaker down the right. In attack, Wes was very poor, taking players on and failing constantly, he really didn''t want to play a pass it seemed, but that is the frustration. Due to his poor performance we couldn''t fully see RVW getting chances, but he looked class! His movement caused hassles, ran when needed to and to score a header against two giant centre backs is a massive compliment. With a couple of players back from injury, we could have made better subs and pushed on but thats luck. Overall, would have loved a win but Everton played their strongest team and Martinez if anything cost them by taking the threat of Mirallas off and getting rid of a lot of pace. Finally, again Russell Martins blocks were incredible! I had a great view of the one from Naismith after Ruddy''s save and it was world class.

[quote user="Costa.canary"]we cant have blue, any other colour except that. iv''e always liked orange the dutch always look good in it and very few other clubs use it , just like yellow, which would make us stand out and be different, plus the new boys might feel at home![/quote] Orange wouldn''t work, too close to Yellow and the only other team we ''need'' away kit for is Hull... though their away kit changed to yellow and green blocks could work http://www.sportsdirect.com/nike-holland-away-shirt-2013-371029

Personally I would love dark green and black hoops, think would look good, though there may be problems with tv (if I remember thats what was said about the 2004-05 away?) though if not, take erreas Italian nature into context have a Juve style black and white stripes with a bit of green mixed in...

I suppose it brings that thought people have about one deal sparking another etc... Kone to Everton, Holt to Wigan, someone to us...

Though having a big tie would be a great start to the season, I think Chelsea is up there with the worst it could be. Especially during his time at Chelsea before, and since, Mourinho is known to hit the ground running with his teams to make sure they are starting solid and use that as a platform, which does lead to a slight thinking of how they may be opening day... May just be overthinking but big club yes, but maybe not most ideal it being Chelsea

Am I the only one who thinks in the video the kits look baggier then recently? They seem to be quite sparing in the sizing, especially if you compare to other manufacturers such as kappa or under armour

The reasoning behind it not being one of the centre midfielders (aside from that Wes wasn''t having as strong a second half) is that at that stage it was not just a slight, acceptable risk it was an extreme risk. With the midfield Villa were playing Johnson and Howson has to work so hard to get even into the battle, which they did well. Had one of them gone off, then we would have been even more bare in the middle, which would have led to more space for players like Delph to control the game and cause more of a hassle. The substitution came later then needed to however but still a diamond with two wide players is something which only works in the world of fifa. The side to that arguement would be the Wes would have given the extra cover, which I do not doubt would have happened but it is different. It would have either meant Wes would not have got back as strongly as others, or from getting back and having to cover would have lost out on his attacking influence. So then comes whether should have been one of the wingers. With Pilks not playing at his best (fitness maybe, just the fact sometimes didn''t happen) would have been the option seen by some, but this creates its own problems. We would have become more narrow out on the left, defeating the two "big man" option a little as less chances for crossing means less options from that front. When it comes down to it playing two wingers means a lot for a team like us where our strikers have a lack of pace (or ability in general to be honest) and they become the outlet which means a lot. Just a slight view on maybe some of the thinking of the substitution, I can see why some think it was negative but in the context it may have been the only option. The people around me were only unhappy as to why it wasn''t Holt going off after another noshow up front, so who knows exactly why people weren''t happy

[quote user="GJP"]Something that particularly disappointed me today is that Villa have got well known problems with dealing with balls into the box and we didn''t do enough to exploit that.[/quote] well thats what happens when the centre forward is cluelessly wandering around

Howson was class except for that little period, which just seemed like possibly down to fitness, getting himself back at to full pelt took a bit more then needed. Although if anything his problem meant he was having to hold the ball longer due to lack of movement. Bennett was class, considering the size of Benteke, always felt confident at a 50/50

Another (and maybe better) shout if looking at teams who have ''excess'' strikers or ones who may want away is Le Fondre. I know he didn''t play on saturday but I am sure someone said they thought it would be crying out for him, or their Reading friend said something. Plus his interview today means may want out? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22247839

Another player who will be coming back of course is Ayala

We are essentially making the same point here. By even saying anything against the ref Hughton is taking some risk. My point with Warnock was has can have that freedom, as you have said, but I also mean that he was essentially saying managers should have more right to some freedom without this so called risk. But anyway, I am happy with what Hughton said, he has questioned it and though I know it won''t make the slightest difference at least thats something.

When managers in the premier league get any decision against them, they will come out and defend these decisions in a blink of an eye, had it been the other end Wenger would have said nothing but the decision because thats his style. Fergie is another who often states stuff as over the top and against his side (RVP ball situation as one major example). As for him cracking under pressure I don''t agree, he has come out and said something, which I agree with what I said he could have happily gone further without "cracking". It is just the unfortunate way of the premier league that managers will often throw their toys out of the plan. Warnock on final score actually seemed delighted to show a view and not be under such extreme restrictions, now I am not a fan but he makes a valid point about how little allowance for speech the lower managers get