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Post by shatter2 on Oct 28, 2023 18:32:33 GMT
Dedicating this MDF to Luton fan and Fools poster Curlz who passed away on Friday night. RIP mate. Could be a tough one tomorrow against a free scoring Villa side our goal difference may suffer but I would hope better than Sheffield Utds come 4pm Sunday!! I'm up in the Midlands now and it's pissing down but should clear for a fine Sunday afternoon. Hope to catch up with a few fools at the match.!!COYH!! Villa Trivia My last trip to Villa Park was against Everton in the semi final of the cup I managed to catch chicken pox from a friend who I drove up with, hope I just catch an unlikely away win tomorrow.
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Post by shatter2 on Oct 28, 2023 18:51:58 GMT
Just had a couple of pints of Guinness Curls favourite tipple in a pub in Sutton Coldfield. Watched the Wolves game on TV in the bar. They certainly support the local teams.
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Post by 8two on Oct 28, 2023 21:20:41 GMT
RIP Curlz
Please click on image to view
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Post by Lake on Oct 29, 2023 10:03:25 GMT
Dedicating this MDF to Luton fan and Fools poster Curlz who passed away on Friday night. RIP mate. Could be a tough one tomorrow against a free scoring Villa side our goal difference may suffer but I would hope better than Sheffield Utds come 4pm Sunday!! I'm up in the Midlands now and it's pissing down but should clear for a fine Sunday afternoon. Hope to catch up with a few fools at the match.!!COYH!! Villa Trivia My last trip to Villa Park was against Everton in the semi final of the cup I managed to catch chicken pox from a friend who I drove up with, hope I just catch an unlikely away win tomorrow. Thanks Steve, RIP Kev.
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Post by bms on Oct 29, 2023 10:06:18 GMT
Shatter, thanks for dedicating today’s MDF to Curlz - I too will raise of glass of Guinness to his memory at some point today. On the subject of points, I think we are all concerned about a possible scarcity in the coming weeks combined with a possible assault on our goal difference. It would be marvellous to put up a real fight today for all the obvious reasons - COYH!!!
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Post by Wimbo on Oct 29, 2023 11:35:44 GMT
A nice gesture Steve dedicating the Villa thread to Curlz: what a Hatters supporter he was.
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Post by 8two on Oct 29, 2023 13:00:36 GMT
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Post by 8two on Oct 29, 2023 16:19:36 GMT
3 - 1 hardly did Aston Villa justice. They were superior in every department for the majority of the game, it was embarrassing at times.
I'm not sure if Rob Edwards tactics of defending until we go behind is going to work very often and it is noticeable that when, late in the game, that when we throw caution to the wind we can look a real threat. The substitutes today were too late with the two that should always start, Pelly and Adebayo, making a difference.
In all honesty I didn't expect much being away with a top team, but was hoping to be entertained and apart from the last knockings it didn't come near.
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Post by greeno on Oct 29, 2023 17:05:27 GMT
Is that the first time a World Cup winner has scored for Luton Town?
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Post by bms on Oct 29, 2023 18:05:57 GMT
Maybe but not the last 😂
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Post by rutlandhatter on Oct 30, 2023 9:47:47 GMT
I really can't understand why Pelly doesn't start, especially if we are defending. Barkley is a skillful player but not a defensive midfielder.
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Post by 8two on Oct 30, 2023 10:39:42 GMT
I really can't understand why Pelly doesn't start, especially if we are defending. Barkley is a skillful player but not a defensive midfielder. I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's a manager defending his signing decisions.
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Post by proudhattersince74 on Oct 30, 2023 11:30:38 GMT
It is very hard to know what to make of the Villa game. Decimated by CB injuries means we have to be cautious as there are too many players playing in alien positions expecting them to perform as though it's second nature to them. That said, if we are going to try to defend the life out of the game than Pelly has to start as he has a nose for opposition midfielders making runs - I don't put Barkley in that same category.
Good to see Osho back and I cannot recall any truly serious blunders in his 57 minute showing, which I thought may be evident when I saw his name on the starting sheet. I found it interesting that he started on Lockyer's right but, after two or three through 'simple' balls between Doughty and Mengi had split us open, Osho and Mengi traded places and I thought we looked a lot stringer for that. When Osho exited stage left and Mengi reverted to LCB, Villa's third goal came from a relatively simple chip that turned Mengi around the wrong way.
No out ball, no ability to hit Morris and expect him to hold it whilst our deep-set midfield made up the yards to get to him, no exploiting Ogbene's Roadrunner pace despite him proving that he could use it midway through the first half. Quite why we were unable to bring Ogbene into the game more once this was known is another oddity. As I say, very hard to know what to take from a game that we didn't look interested in trying to win against the (current) second best team in the PL this calendar year.
I can fully comprehend RE's damage limitation tactics to a large extent as GD could be massive this season. However, I've only really encountered damage limitation tactics AFTER falling behind, not from the outset. Sitting so, so deep from minute 1 and inviting a massively confident team with such individual talent (let alone collective organisation) to 'show us what you can do' was somewhat disappointing.
One thing about the two 'top' teams we have recently faced is their reliance upon midfielders running past their forwards from deep. This seems to outwit us as ATM as there comes a point where a midfield tracker has to hand the opposition player over to defender to follow. Villa, more so than Spurs, had midfielders and wingers sprinting past their own forwards followed by Watkins pulling away from his now back peddling markers: it is a very clever was to create space in a congested area. Conversely, our forwards do not find that sort of space in the penalty area as our MFs don't often make those types of bursts of speed and, when they do, they need to be into areas that pull the defences about. With the possible exception of Ogbene and Doughty, who will usually look for overlapping runs that may affect the oppo's FBs rather than infield runs that stretch their CBs, our MF is quite passive. Meaning Morris, Brown, Adebayo, Woodrow have to make space for themselves ... which is incredibly difficult given the quality of the defenders they are facing.
Oh and the more I see of our GK, the more worried I am about us ever keeping a clean sheet this season. Yes, he made a fabulous save against Watkins (that's what he is there to do!) but some of his decision making (punching weakly early in the game when under relatively little pressure and a catch should have been the first choice) and kicking (he is not left footed yet he deliberately opted to kick with his left foot two or three times with poor distances) must give his defence kittens.
I pray that we DO learn and move on - more importantly, let's hope that the recovering wounded may be available to jack up the quality and improve the round-pegs-in-round-holes team selection.
COYH
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Post by bms on Oct 30, 2023 13:52:52 GMT
V much enjoyed the day out, Brum always a great place to visit and Villa Park an absolutely outstanding stadium. Lots of friendly Villans too, had a few chats whilst walking to and from the ground, all eager to record their respect for our rise through the leagues and our attempt to retain PL status on a shoestring budget. Terrific support from our fans too, exchanging some humorous chants with the Villa crowd. Marvelous and Rob Edwards both given a great reception too. Good to see Shatter and the spare seat next to him, we enjoyed a terrific view of the proceedings from the corner flag area.
Villa have pace, skill, fitness and flair in abundance and are now led by one of the best managers in the top leagues. So it wasn’t a massive suprise that it was one way traffic for much of the game. Thought our players did their best with Barkley having his best game yet, clearly gaining in fitness and influence. Also a special mention for Kaboure, so much running and effort. Coming away with a mere minus two goal diff for the day felt quite pleasing in an odd way.
Will be a treat to watch Salah and co next week, whatever the outcome.
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Post by proudhattersince74 on Oct 30, 2023 15:16:07 GMT
BMS: "Will be a treat to watch Salah and co next week, whatever the outcome." You appear to have mis-typed "wondering what hit them" at the end of that line. I suggest that you check your keyboard.
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