Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Saturday February 9 2008
Time: 6:19PM
UK time is: 05:15:29
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O'Neill & Keegan Post Match
Martin O'Neill was 'naturally delighted' after Villa saw off Newcastle United 4-1 at Villa Park.
He added, on the official site, 'It was fantastic stuff in the second half. I thought the first half was getting away from us a bit and there was a definite hangover from the Fulham game. I thought the substitutes had a big impact and made a real contribution. They added more drive and determination to our play - but that's not knocking Olof and Stiliyan who have been big players for us this season.'
Hopefully Martin will stick with the players that made such a massive impact for us today. He also singled out Freddy Bouma and John Carew for praise.
'I was delighted for Freddy scoring his first goal. Unlikely is the best word to describe it. When I saw him shoot with his right foot, I thought 'here we go, it's going to take a month to reach the goal' but fair play, it was an important strike. After that went in, we were terrific. '
He said Carew was 'fantastic' and suggests he has now set the benchmark by which he will be judged saying he now needs to be like that on a regular basis.
Meanwhile Kevin Keegan on Sky was honest about the loss, made no excuses and admitted Villa bullied Newcastle.
'I had no complaints about the first half at all. I said to the players we had built a good platform from which to go on and win a football match. Instead of going a goal down like we have been doing in most recent games, we went in front and handled everything Villa threw at us.' He told his team after the first half to just keep things tight for the first part of the second half and added,
'Before you knew it, we were getting bullied, especially by Carew and Harewood, and they were basically doing what they wanted to do with us at times. That was the disappointing aspect and that is what I told the players. There were still some very good performances but who cares when you get beat 4-1. We got the lead today and still couldn't go on and win so you sort of run out of excuses in that department. When you look at the second half the positives are forgotten because of the negatives and we are very fragile at the moment.'
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Your Comments
happy days, we have to go with the same team from the second half in our next game. i thought coker was superb against butt and barton, also maloneys work rate was phenominal. but is time up for stan??????
Stig
Where would you play Gabby then. Agree about Stan he was awful both last week and in the first half.
daveldvilla
The players today took their chances and deserve to keep their places, it would be up to Gabby to fight back to re-claim his place. He might do well for a break as he hasn't scored for a good few games now??
The Fear
I think that's afair assesment by both managers. I think he should play the same team for the next game. As for Gabby he needs a rest his form has dipped a little recently but he is still a willing worker. Sometimes players like that need to be told to rest.A stint on the bench will do Stan good. as for Harewood I think a run in the side might do him a bit of good he showed glimpses of quality today. Maybe MON's judgement of a player is not too bad after all!!!
gappy65
I think i'd go with a building a side gradually anyday, Newastle look a shambles, they've bought past it players Duff, Owen they were quality but no fire in the belly, look at Harewood, works his socks off and really showed some passion, Newcastle just don't seem to have any spirit, group of overpaid has been superstars. I'll never doubt MON in the transfer window again, he works wonders with so alled average players
krisvilla
Harewood has to start, Petrov has to find a new club! The difference was massive, and lets face it we might have been better off taking the old lady's money for Olof what a difference Gardner made, passing the ball to Villa players, shooting on target rather than into the stands.
I think Gabby will come back, replace Maloney, who is another who needs to go back to scotland, I can't believe Stig's comments about him, his work rate was high for about 30 minutes for the rest of the game the entire coaching staff were screaming and shouting at him, particularly the last 15 when he wandered around giving the ball away!
As for the managers comments, KK was less than generous, the real reason for the second half changing so dramatically was not his players falling apart, it was Villa getting there arses into gear and doing all the things they didn't do in the first! wake up Kev, you had a real easy first half, Derby could have cope with "what was thrown at them".
Waldorf
Cheers for that lads. Giving the Mags a right old thumping and allowing us to leapfrog them in the process. A day's work well done, I'd say.
Boro 01
Great second half from our point of view. Keegan still watches a different game to everybody else. I agree that we should start with the team that started the second half today. Give Gabby a well earned rest.He will come back stronger for it.
return of godzvilla
Today was unbelievable. First half was woeful. At half time I said "How sh!+ does someone have to be before they get
dropped!" I got my answer. Petrov is not a winger/leftsided player at all and it shows. The second half was an immense performance and atmosphere The XI that started the 2nd half have to be the starting XI for the next match. Marlon was excellent. I thought Maloney was good but he seemed to lose interest a little after Carew didn't pass to him in the 2nd half when they were 3 on 2 and Carew went on his own. We can not afford to rush Gabby back. Keep Shaun and Ashley on the wings with Marlon and Carew up front. Marlon is so strong and was oozing with confidence today. I loved the brief outburst of "Marlon for England". Going to watch the whole game on Sky+ now.
Adam Deuce
*I meant rightsided!!
Adam Deuce
Boro it may have escaped your attention but Villa are closing in on European football, we always allow loads of our players to retire to Boro so dont get greedy.
col8
I'm still wondering why we didn't see Mark Viduka in for Owen as Owen was next to useless (invisible). I would like to see Harewood have a run in the side, even if it is a sub on 70 minutes. He's a handful for a tiring defender, as he showed today. His dribble/run at 87 minutes was excellent and was almost another goal for us. Sell Petrov-he's had his kick at the can-Gardner is better.
gwyllum18
We have the worst defensive record in the top ten. Sort it out MON.
Hoss The Villain
Yeah, MON - sort it out . My fantasy football team is struggling!!! If it wasn't for Laursen's goals I would be in real trouble!!!!! Strange that we have a top man in Laursen, yet we are conceding more goals than last year? Is it because we are being more adventurous as a team, leaving the back 4 more unprotected? Is it because teams know the right is weak?
CLVilla
It's Carson! Probably a bit of both, we had too many draws last year so he's probably told em to be more adventurous, leaves us open a bit but we have scored 48 goals, when was the last time we ever did that? More exciting this way ;-)
krisvilla
How many clean sheets this year to last year? 2 new centre backs and a new keeper since then and we are defending worse. As for goals we have scored 25 from set pieces... exciting times ahead :-)
Hoss The Villain
Did anyone see MON's interview on Sky Sports? What was all that about. Carews performance was fantastic, but he needs to go from sixes to every four, if we can get him in every fourth match then i would be pleased. What? He talks some crap at times, dont he?
young_jonah
Bullied is the right word. Harewood was taking the ***** at times. Fantastic performance.
DeanoVilla
Keegan looks and sounds a worried man, and he needs to be. As bad as we were in the first forty-five, they were even worse in the second period.
glensider
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