Aston Villa 1 - Bolton 1

pathetic!! why drop NRC??

K-Mac has been a great servant for Aston Villa, and we can only hope that he continues to serve us in some capacity in the future. Unfortunately, he has been guilty of repeating mistakes he's made, and of picking the wrong players and playing them in the wrong positions. Sound familiar? At least under K-Mac we've played some decent football at times. Still, it is to be hoped that Houllier is capable of understanding how to get the best out of the kind of players we have at Villa. If he can do that, we'll be alright. If not... well, let's not even consider that possibility.

Now I have to say that really, really gets my goat. Kevin McDonald does NOT deserve to be called "a tool" by anyone, let alone somebody that (presumably) masquerades as a Villa fan. If you don't like the man's tactics and want to criticise, fine, but do it in a civilised manner? Go wash your mouth out, P.Avfc.

So what players were out of position today Albarnista? The team that I watched were all in the correct positions. And as you couldn't see from your vantage point then maybe you missed something?

I don't even know where to begin. Been massively disappointed with Ireland at every juncture but I credit that to where he's playing and his role there. Real tired of watching Young in the middle, still get sick to my stomach thinking of that header he missed at Stoke and how that ended. Gotta say, I LOVE Marc Albrighton but if he is the one that gets sent to the bench while Carew comes back and Ashley goes back out wide then I'll be quite pleased. I've even flirted with the idea of seeing us in the "vogue" 4-2-3-1 with Carew/Gabby up front Downing/Ireland/Young behind and Petrov/Reo in the midfield. Sometimes watching Petrov and Ireland get bossed by teams with more than two midfielders is painful. I feel like every time Warnock and Collins see a claret and blue shirt they fire long, no build up play to speak of. Ireland's passing and movement has been almost completely horizontal. And I hate that I feel like KMac is the majority of the problem cause I love the guy and all I want is for him to become a star manager but I just don't see it anymore...real shame. A difficult schedule is right on the horizon and I'm terribly afraid that 6 weeks from now we'll be wallowing in the bottom ten and so far off the pace of a European spot that this season just gets mailed in. Prove me wrong Villa, I need it. A carling cup win would do our collective psyche a world of good.

Why was Reo Coker dropped? Surely not rested? Ireland played out of position. He'll lose interest here just like he did at city. Hoping that Houllier can put players in positions that will get the best out of them, rather than make them struggle, look ordinary or just plain daft. Ash looks lost in the middle, much more lively out wide. with licence to come inside, just as Gabby looks better in the middle with licence to drift wide. That kind of movement makes for more possibilities. Defence and Dunne in particular loooks clunky without better midfield breaker-upper, so back where I started -- where was Reo Coker?

Bolton certainly looked a half-decent team compared to recent seasons. Coyle has got them playing decent football, and they weren't at full strength either. Think a draw was a fair result. Lot of work for Houllier and co to sink their teeth into.