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Villa Midfielders Left 'Dismayed'

James Nursey at The Mirror says that both Nigel Hokey-Cokey and Steve Sidwell will play tonight against Rapid Vienna.

The report says the midfielders both went to the manager after Fabian Delph and Marc Albrighton were preferred over them in the match against Wigan at the weekend.

From where I sit (right by the bench) it was clear to see that NRC was far from happy through the game and after young Mac Albrighton was brought on instead of him, with Sidwell by then on the pitch in place of Delph, he looked hopping mad. In fact, to be fair, he looked incredulous.

As the report by James says, both had been in form through pre-season and NRC was captain in the Peace Cup win, the next he is on the bench and a kid is preferred over him!

The report says that the duo were left 'dismayed' which I think accurately portrays how the Hokey Cokey - and to a lesser extent Craig Gardner looked when they remained on the bench with an inexperienced youth player getting on instead. I'd love to say Marc proved the managers decision right but he looked a little out of his depth at that stage of the game, we were 2 down and all at sixes and sevens. Would NRC or Gardner made much difference? Probably not but I suppose they were more interested in how far they had perhaps sunk in the pecking order, especially NRC.

Still, it is a squad game, looks like MON is going to start using more players this season** so I guess they just have to fight to get into the team and once in play to stay in.

** MON Surprised By End Of Season Numbers


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Writer: J P Fear Mail feedback, articles or suggestions

Date:Thursday August 20 2009

Time: 9:28AM

Your Comments

I'm still furious with MON at this. Give NRC a break. Whatever anyone thinks about his passing ability, he was a lion in the peace cup against sterling opposition. I wouldn't blame him if told MON to do one.
Kiwivillan
I'm still furious with MON at this. Give NRC a break. Whatever anyone thinks about his passing ability, he was a lion in the peace cup against sterling opposition. I wouldn't blame him if told MON to do one.
Kiwivillan
if the manager believes that a bit of pace on the wing is better than a defensive midfielder when we are 2-0 down then as players they have to respect that. however i can see why they would be *****ed off to not actually start the game. thats a different story all together
100% prepared
if the manager believes that a bit of pace on the wing is better than a defensive midfielder when we are 2-0 down then as players they have to respect that. however i can see why they would be *****ed off to not actually start the game. thats a different story all together
100% prepared
Maybe he should have started (for one thing I would have him over Habib Beye every day of the week) but how anyone can moan about him bringing on Albrighton instead when we were chasing the game is beyond me. I would love a nice long chat with MON about a lot of the drivel I saw on Saturday but I can't really moan about that. The fact is though, we all seem to understand that 4-5-1 is the way to go so surely at least one of NRC or Sidwell should have started.
Sheriff Kimbo
Maybe he should have started (for one thing I would have him over Habib Beye every day of the week) but how anyone can moan about him bringing on Albrighton instead when we were chasing the game is beyond me. I would love a nice long chat with MON about a lot of the drivel I saw on Saturday but I can't really moan about that. The fact is though, we all seem to understand that 4-5-1 is the way to go so surely at least one of NRC or Sidwell should have started.
Sheriff Kimbo
DROP HESKEY and play 3 centre midfielders
Villan444
DROP HESKEY and play 3 centre midfielders
Villan444
Give NRC a goddamb chance! he is a good footballer who hasnt had a stint in his natural position since signing!
goodb_2
Give NRC a goddamb chance! he is a good footballer who hasnt had a stint in his natural position since signing!
goodb_2
Villan444 I agree, trying to fit Heskey into the team has caused us many problems, although, on another thread I perhaps went a little too far for some by suggesting we should sell Heskey!! He is a good player, an England International, but I think MON feels he has to play him and this, perhaps as much as anything else has caused us huge problems controlling a game. Heskey should not start!
26.05.82
Villan444 I agree, trying to fit Heskey into the team has caused us many problems, although, on another thread I perhaps went a little too far for some by suggesting we should sell Heskey!! He is a good player, an England International, but I think MON feels he has to play him and this, perhaps as much as anything else has caused us huge problems controlling a game. Heskey should not start!
26.05.82
Makes you wonder if the "Messiah" reads the forums here.
evoflash
Makes you wonder if the "Messiah" reads the forums here.
evoflash
NRC either plays wonderful or goes missing there seems to be NO in between, but he is a tiger and puts in a shift, when he stays focused. SS is like all as far as I can see, of the players that left Reading on the back of their PL season and Championship runaway success, an under achiever. He just isn't good enough for the EPL and it shows. he should be what he is a , journeyman pro plying his trade in the Championship. MoN gets paid Mega bucks to manage so he carry's the can, although his road to Damascus moment re the no of players used last season is hilarious, and a PR gaff extrodinary, that should win the PR dept an Oscar, do we have a PR dept???
PagliacciVillan
NRC either plays wonderful or goes missing there seems to be NO in between, but he is a tiger and puts in a shift, when he stays focused. SS is like all as far as I can see, of the players that left Reading on the back of their PL season and Championship runaway success, an under achiever. He just isn't good enough for the EPL and it shows. he should be what he is a , journeyman pro plying his trade in the Championship. MoN gets paid Mega bucks to manage so he carry's the can, although his road to Damascus moment re the no of players used last season is hilarious, and a PR gaff extrodinary, that should win the PR dept an Oscar, do we have a PR dept???
PagliacciVillan
i am totally fed up with reports like this!! This is the third this week with people just trying to cause trouble for the club!! 1. John Carew storms out........no he was injured..fact!! 2. Luke Young off to Hull...asif!! hes on compasssionate leave any douche bag could of figured that out and now this rubbish about NRC and sidwell my guess is never happened or it was no where no like people are thinking!! What ever happened to getting behind your team which means NOT booing......in case you guys didnt no that does not help your team in anyway at all so all those *****s who were boo and turning there backs on the Villa on saturday were actually helping wigan.......(so great work) why not look at the positives as in poss signings of upson and distin ........i guess all im saying is lets get behind the boys they wont let you down they never do!!!
pricey3004
i am totally fed up with reports like this!! This is the third this week with people just trying to cause trouble for the club!! 1. John Carew storms out........no he was injured..fact!! 2. Luke Young off to Hull...asif!! hes on compasssionate leave any douche bag could of figured that out and now this rubbish about NRC and sidwell my guess is never happened or it was no where no like people are thinking!! What ever happened to getting behind your team which means NOT booing......in case you guys didnt no that does not help your team in anyway at all so all those *****s who were boo and turning there backs on the Villa on saturday were actually helping wigan.......(so great work) why not look at the positives as in poss signings of upson and distin ........i guess all im saying is lets get behind the boys they wont let you down they never do!!!
pricey3004
Im sure delph will be good,But at this point can he do anything that coker and sidwell can`t?This report is *********,You can count on that but at the same time i want to see reo-coker given a real chance in centre midfield and to stop being *****ed around.He is a useful bloody player,Use him.
lerneravfc
Im sure delph will be good,But at this point can he do anything that coker and sidwell can`t?This report is *********,You can count on that but at the same time i want to see reo-coker given a real chance in centre midfield and to stop being *****ed around.He is a useful bloody player,Use him.
lerneravfc
evoflash no way, not if he has any sense (which I am sure he does) I can't see he goes near any of the sites or fans opinions, it would be a quick road to lunacy!

Maybe facts are just being reported though pricey304? I don't think it is causing trouble or a real stretch of the imagination that the midfielders would be dismayed OR that they would go and see the manager and talk about what is going on, what they need to do, why there are on the bench etc. The booing isn't really the issue in this thread, there is another article on that and 58% seem to agree it is wrong. There is no way the crowd were to blame for Saturday though, come on, give the fans a break here, sometimes the team need to get behind the fans as well, it is a two way street, fans pay through their noses (not blue ones!) to go and see games, they expect a little bit of effort surely!? I know what you are saying but think the fans are a good bunch (feck me I sound like DOL) and do generally get behind the team, just there are frustrations at the moment! UP THE VILLA!
The Fear
evoflash no way, not if he has any sense (which I am sure he does) I can't see he goes near any of the sites or fans opinions, it would be a quick road to lunacy!

Maybe facts are just being reported though pricey304? I don't think it is causing trouble or a real stretch of the imagination that the midfielders would be dismayed OR that they would go and see the manager and talk about what is going on, what they need to do, why there are on the bench etc. The booing isn't really the issue in this thread, there is another article on that and 58% seem to agree it is wrong. There is no way the crowd were to blame for Saturday though, come on, give the fans a break here, sometimes the team need to get behind the fans as well, it is a two way street, fans pay through their noses (not blue ones!) to go and see games, they expect a little bit of effort surely!? I know what you are saying but think the fans are a good bunch (feck me I sound like DOL) and do generally get behind the team, just there are frustrations at the moment! UP THE VILLA!
The Fear
Amazing. Has this site turned into a Blouse site at some stage, to give credence to this sort of report? Where on earth do you think this 'information' would have come from? The club certainly wouldn't have released it, and I doubt the players would have either, so that leaves the hacks who were at the game, simply guessing at how they would feel if they were left out. As for all those who are howling for NRC to play, where have you been when people have slated MON for buying him, calling him a donkey, not fit for the EPL? Where were you when people have been howling for the manager to 'give the kids a chance'? So as usual, the manager is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Fickle? I think so.
BobTheBuilder
Amazing. Has this site turned into a Blouse site at some stage, to give credence to this sort of report? Where on earth do you think this 'information' would have come from? The club certainly wouldn't have released it, and I doubt the players would have either, so that leaves the hacks who were at the game, simply guessing at how they would feel if they were left out. As for all those who are howling for NRC to play, where have you been when people have slated MON for buying him, calling him a donkey, not fit for the EPL? Where were you when people have been howling for the manager to 'give the kids a chance'? So as usual, the manager is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Fickle? I think so.
BobTheBuilder
Usually I don't give any space for these reports, as well you know if a regular here, however I know the source of this report and in this case its validity... so it has been used. Very depressing that you would think to insult the site as a blues site Bob, I'm off to have a little cry. :o)
The Fear
Usually I don't give any space for these reports, as well you know if a regular here, however I know the source of this report and in this case its validity... so it has been used. Very depressing that you would think to insult the site as a blues site Bob, I'm off to have a little cry. :o)
The Fear
by the way Bob, re-read the article? There is no rant from me, just a pretty level article about two players going to see the manager after them being on the bench on Saturday. I think that some of you are reading criticism where there isn't any but there has to be stuff reported and if I think there is some credence in a story, why should I not do it? I agree many have had a go at Hokey Cokey, personally I'd have him in the team and possibly as the captain, UNLESS we bring in better. He does have leadership qualities and gets slated too much in my opinion. Not sure that readers/users/fans have different opinions is fickle though, it is called football mate, we all have opinions and we all express them. Lumping everyone in the same bracket is just strange really!?!?
The Fear
by the way Bob, re-read the article? There is no rant from me, just a pretty level article about two players going to see the manager after them being on the bench on Saturday. I think that some of you are reading criticism where there isn't any but there has to be stuff reported and if I think there is some credence in a story, why should I not do it? I agree many have had a go at Hokey Cokey, personally I'd have him in the team and possibly as the captain, UNLESS we bring in better. He does have leadership qualities and gets slated too much in my opinion. Not sure that readers/users/fans have different opinions is fickle though, it is called football mate, we all have opinions and we all express them. Lumping everyone in the same bracket is just strange really!?!?
The Fear
The manager is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't because he is rubbish. He does what he shouldn't, and doesn't do what he should. Damn him all the way to St Andrews!
Albarnista
The manager is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't because he is rubbish. He does what he shouldn't, and doesn't do what he should. Damn him all the way to St Andrews!
Albarnista
I agree with The Fear, just because one is a passionate supporter of a football team does not mean that one should be un-critical. In fact, one could argue that being a supporter who pays good money to watch a team does give one the right to criticise if something appears to be wrong. Rememebr we were around long before MON and are likely to around much longer afterwards. It is our team and we do care, passionately, what happens. Besides everyone has a right to a point of view and they can still be expressed, censorship is not here yet.
Obediah
I agree with The Fear, just because one is a passionate supporter of a football team does not mean that one should be un-critical. In fact, one could argue that being a supporter who pays good money to watch a team does give one the right to criticise if something appears to be wrong. Rememebr we were around long before MON and are likely to around much longer afterwards. It is our team and we do care, passionately, what happens. Besides everyone has a right to a point of view and they can still be expressed, censorship is not here yet.
Obediah
Only 'likely' to be around long after MON Obediah? Bit of a morbid view dude ;-)
Sheriff Kimbo
Only 'likely' to be around long after MON Obediah? Bit of a morbid view dude ;-)
Sheriff Kimbo
<> Would it have appeared if we'd have beaten Wigan? I doubt it somehow.... and I guarantee that NRC would have been just as upset....
gmvillan
<> Would it have appeared if we'd have beaten Wigan? I doubt it somehow.... and I guarantee that NRC would have been just as upset....
gmvillan
I've posted many times on here that I think NRC should play in the centre of midfield especially during last season when we were so soft through the middle of the park it was embarrassing. I have absolutely no problem with the bringing on of a young kid in an effort to change the game either. Albrighton looks superb and has the ability to set the world on fire but needs the platform to play from that only some steel in the middle can give. Fear I agree that the criticsm of NRC is unjust, half the time out of position and when he is in the centre everyone is expecting way too much. The guy is a leader and a ball winner who will pop up in the box from time to time, good enough for Keane and Viera but clearly to satisfy his critics NRC has to be able to cross, play 40 yard passes etc. Give him options to play it simple and he will be dynamite, his biggest fault IMO is trying too hard
AVbornandbred
I've posted many times on here that I think NRC should play in the centre of midfield especially during last season when we were so soft through the middle of the park it was embarrassing. I have absolutely no problem with the bringing on of a young kid in an effort to change the game either. Albrighton looks superb and has the ability to set the world on fire but needs the platform to play from that only some steel in the middle can give. Fear I agree that the criticsm of NRC is unjust, half the time out of position and when he is in the centre everyone is expecting way too much. The guy is a leader and a ball winner who will pop up in the box from time to time, good enough for Keane and Viera but clearly to satisfy his critics NRC has to be able to cross, play 40 yard passes etc. Give him options to play it simple and he will be dynamite, his biggest fault IMO is trying too hard
AVbornandbred
think it would have appeared anyway gmvillan, it is interesting to say the least to see an £8.5m signing who looked favourite through the summer as captain to be benched for two kids? It is a story, whether we like it or not and as said above, it wasn't a slating article in the mirror or here, just a statement of discontent or at least worry from two senior players
The Fear
think it would have appeared anyway gmvillan, it is interesting to say the least to see an £8.5m signing who looked favourite through the summer as captain to be benched for two kids? It is a story, whether we like it or not and as said above, it wasn't a slating article in the mirror or here, just a statement of discontent or at least worry from two senior players
The Fear
agree avbornandbred, would like to see him play in his natural position, something he doesn't get the luxury of doing very often, I think he has a tough nature about him and does try to organise. Also think Gardner would add a bit of grit but hey, I could be wrong! lol :o)
The Fear
agree avbornandbred, would like to see him play in his natural position, something he doesn't get the luxury of doing very often, I think he has a tough nature about him and does try to organise. Also think Gardner would add a bit of grit but hey, I could be wrong! lol :o)
The Fear
I agree... NRC has been very professional upto now, and very patient, but at the end of the day, any player would get bored sitting on the bench all the time! The guy is strong, quick, an awesome tackler, and has a work rate of the modern diesel engine.... give him a go in the centre - at the least it'lll make us harder to break down!!
Ericols_Son
I agree... NRC has been very professional upto now, and very patient, but at the end of the day, any player would get bored sitting on the bench all the time! The guy is strong, quick, an awesome tackler, and has a work rate of the modern diesel engine.... give him a go in the centre - at the least it'lll make us harder to break down!!
Ericols_Son
reo coker is quality.
ric112
reo coker is quality.
ric112
The fact that you somebody has a different opinion isn't the point, it is that so many criticise for one thing, and then criticise for the opposite when it suits. I'm NOT referring to those fans who hold a different opinion from me - simply those who really are fickle. As for calling this a Blouse site - my apologies - uncalled for, but in response to soooo much negativity posted here. As for you Albarnista, my only response is to question your recent post stating that all of O'Neill's signings are crap. Utter rubbish and you know it.
BobTheBuilder
The fact that you somebody has a different opinion isn't the point, it is that so many criticise for one thing, and then criticise for the opposite when it suits. I'm NOT referring to those fans who hold a different opinion from me - simply those who really are fickle. As for calling this a Blouse site - my apologies - uncalled for, but in response to soooo much negativity posted here. As for you Albarnista, my only response is to question your recent post stating that all of O'Neill's signings are crap. Utter rubbish and you know it.
BobTheBuilder
too late now BobTheBuilder, I've had a word with Wendy, she's leaving you for PostmanPatt and Farmer Pickles is apparently taking his business elsewhere, along with Scoop and Dizzy (and yes I was said enough to google to find the names! LOL)
The Fear
too late now BobTheBuilder, I've had a word with Wendy, she's leaving you for PostmanPatt and Farmer Pickles is apparently taking his business elsewhere, along with Scoop and Dizzy (and yes I was said enough to google to find the names! LOL)
The Fear
MON isn't making any sense anymore. He talks about the need for players to step forward, form partnerships. He talks about the need for heart. On what basis did Petrov, Delph, Gabby or Hesky deserve a place in that team ? No wonder Reo & Sidders were confused. And to say this is just made up by the press is silly. Anyone would be in to see the boss after a kick in the teeth like that. - - - Now MON is saying he wants to reach the group stage because it's good for the young players. Who does he think we are ? Arsenal ? - - - Play Coker MON. Play him until you've built a team that's good enough not to need the qualities of heart, guts, hard running, and tackling that sum Reo up. Play him until you have a defense that doesn't need the protection a player like Reo gives. OK so Hokey isn't a cultured technical player. So what. Play him MON. Play Him. And under no circumstances play him against Viena then drop him again for Liverpool. Justy don't do it.
Faangler
MON isn't making any sense anymore. He talks about the need for players to step forward, form partnerships. He talks about the need for heart. On what basis did Petrov, Delph, Gabby or Hesky deserve a place in that team ? No wonder Reo & Sidders were confused. And to say this is just made up by the press is silly. Anyone would be in to see the boss after a kick in the teeth like that. - - - Now MON is saying he wants to reach the group stage because it's good for the young players. Who does he think we are ? Arsenal ? - - - Play Coker MON. Play him until you've built a team that's good enough not to need the qualities of heart, guts, hard running, and tackling that sum Reo up. Play him until you have a defense that doesn't need the protection a player like Reo gives. OK so Hokey isn't a cultured technical player. So what. Play him MON. Play Him. And under no circumstances play him against Viena then drop him again for Liverpool. Justy don't do it.
Faangler
Which FACT!! is it tonight then, Carew has deng fever, small pox, i hate mon itis.
ant1ant1
Which FACT!! is it tonight then, Carew has deng fever, small pox, i hate mon itis.
ant1ant1
 

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