Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
11th time lucky
28 Comments: Thank god the Premier League will soon be back up and running ? I can't get passionate about Ashley Cole and Young falling over and moaning constantly, then checking on our players and hoping for no injuries/niggles ? of which we have had 3.
Anyway, Saturday is a massive game: we need to get a win for the players to believe that they are better without Arteta. When Rooney, left we went on a winning streak and that bred confidence for the rest of the season; let's hope that's repeated.
Going into the Villa game though, we need to get over our bogey team; we haven't beaten them in our last 10 games!! In the last few seasons, I have been at the game where Lescott scored late on only for Young to win it even later. And last season, when Villa were awful and there for the taking, we scraped a draw through a Baines penalty. Why? they are Villa and a poor team, I just can't understand this run against them.
I believe that if we win, the confidence will be very high and this squad and young midfield can go forwards and push on for the rest of the season; if we have a defeat, we may be in for a tough September-October with City and Liverpool to play...
Andrew Fair, Posted 07/09/2011 at 10:09:55
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Chris #3: Bent is a good goal poacher but I'd prefer a fit Saha over him any day, Abonglahor is perennially on the verge of having that elusive good season he keeps promising. N'zogbia is a decent winger, but he's hardly world-class. come on, are you really terrified of those three?
This Villa side are going nowhere under Mcleish, I'd be surprised if we didn't finish at least 5 places above them. COYB
I'm wondering what the odds are on a 2-0 victory, with osman first goalscorer and jenas first booking!
On a side note, everyone mentions Randy Learner as an ideal example of a chairman, and yes he has "invested" in the team, but, I watched England last night, and 5 of the starting 11, Young, Downing, Barry, Cahill, Milner have all been sold under his regime. Almost makes me grateful for Kenwright (sarcasm!)
So thats him out, Baines, Cahill, Gueye, Coleman, Saha and I suppose Arteta, Yobo, Beckford and Yakubu.
I'm bringing my boots.....
Agree absolutely,
We should have creamed them last year and contrived to miss more than a hatfull of chances.... not saying we will.. but no reason to fear them.. or not beat them.
A lot of players have come to us with a point to prove.
Johnson,Beattie, VDM, to name but a few.
Only for Moyes to play them everywhere but their natural position, i'm not holding my breath with regards both of em being given a fair crack of the whip.
We bought both Beattie and AJ at the height of their careers so it's quite the opposite to Drenthe. Comparisons can be drawn between them two & Denis as far as, he too is at the peak of his powers but the jump in class for him is far greater and puts him back into the "point to prove" bracket/mentality.
Drenthe and Denis both, IMO, have a healthy point to prove, unlike VDM who had a 'mental mountain' to climb.
My point is.... Will Moyes allow them to prove a point?
I can see both of them being played out of position and getting pissed off with his negative hoofball tactics.
History has proven he likes utillity players, I only hope to god he plays these lads in their preferred positions.
I honestly can't see Moyes playing Denis anywhere except as a striker ? but you never know! Drenthe maybe (please not left back!). I hope they both start.
COTB
If there not fit and Drenthe hasn't played any pre season i would be suprised to see them from the start and it would be to much of a gamble to just throw them in this early in the season imo.
Ok they might not be fit but if they are I really cannot fathom why they shouldn't start????!!!!
This club needs a serious shot in the arm after the window and just the presence of these 2 from the off will make a huge psychological difference
1) The crowd will be buzzing looking forward to seeing what they are about
2) The rest of the team will be galvanised by hearing the crowd as explained in 1 meaning greater speed and urgency
3) Just a few moments of skill from Roy or a near miss from Denis will keep the noise up everytime they get the ball during the game
3) The opposition will be aware of this "buzz" and will possibly be intimidated.
All in all this adds up to a positive injection and we cannot afford to lose to Villa as the feeling of gloom will only deepen if we do.
In my opinion it's an absolute no brainer (if fit) but I just know Moyes wont see it in the same way. I'm fully expectant to see neither of them bar a 10 minute cameo with the game nearly over.
Anyone else agree ?
On another note, i'm sure if Moyes had a bottomless pit of cash he'd be a bit more adventurous with his transfer targets but as it is we're the poorest team in the PL with the smallest squad. Versatile players are what we need at the moment, especially with the state of the squad coming into this weekend's game.
If Cahill is injured still, I would imagine Bily being played behind the striker...his actual preferred position.
However let's not write off our chances just yet.
The way I see it is that defensively we need to improve greatly especially after the Blackburn game when they were all over the place. If they do get their act together then hopefully the offence no matter who plays will produce the goods.
Villa have been somewhat of a bogey team in the last few years but that should not have any bearing on the next game as there are many newer players on view.
Hopefully Moyes can motivate the squad into getting a solid showing so that we can look forward to some of the big guns we have to face over the coming weeks.
Stop being pedantic, you know what i was getting at.
For the record he turned Johnson into a channel runner, maybe Bily would have been a better example as well as Cahill and Rodwell.
For the record, who the fuck is Meattie.
COYB.
I get you want to be positive before a match but hello, we have been beaten before by Villa and they have Darren Bent who is lethal while we have a unproven Straq and an unfit Saha. Holy testicle Tuesday, that is hardly nothing to be positive about.
Even if I in theory were to agree with all of you, Moyes will somehow fuck it up, as he did last season, and the start of this also. Anichebe is not missed by anyone here, gee I wonder why that is Moyes!!!
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1 Posted 07/09/2011 at 15:12:24
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