Aston Villa took the lead then conceded four for the second time in three weeks as they were beaten 4-1 at home by Manchester United.
Is Martin O’Neill really the right man for the England job?
Wayne Rooney got over his mid-week England blues to strike twice.
He also missed a penalty as United eased to victory against nine-man Villa.
Gabriel Agbonlahor headed Villa into an early lead, but Rooney’s two composed finishes put United in front.
Craig Gardner’s own goal gave United a third before half-time, and Nigel Reo-Coker was sent off on the hour.
Keeper Scott Carson followed for a foul on Carlos Tevez, and even though Stuart Taylor saved Rooney’s spot-kick, Ryan Giggs added a deflected fourth.
After going 4-1 up away at Tottenham only to draw 4-4 on October 1, Villa conceded four and ended up with no points.
Villa fans - can you be still be serious contenders to break into the top four?
All fans - is Martin O’Neill still a leading contender to replace Steve McClaren if England do not qualify for Euro 2008?
11 Comments
Fair play to Man U as they deserved the win but we gave it to them on a plate. At 1-0 we had them rocking and looked like the only team certain to score. then a few mistakes set in and we go in 3-1 down. how can supposedly top division defenders give away so many goals so quickly? Martin needs to sort it out - fast - or it’s mid-table again for us. if we’re lucky.
what a joke
I see why Randy is touting O’Neil for the England job now. Instead of having to pay O’Neil compensation for sacking him, Randy can get compensation from the FA and then find a manager who knows how to deal in the modern transfer market. Clever.
Zat Knight has put in some very solid defensive performances since he signed for us so it would not be fair to go overboard with the criticism. He has however got away with occasional lapses in concentration in recent matches but against a team like United you are always going to get punished.
I reckon Curtis Davies must be very near to starting in the Prem now. Let’s just hope this time whatever happens Curtis keeps his mouth shut and just gets on with his football.
Oh my god - lets sack O’Neill, we could bring in O’Leary and replace what is developing into a strong team, with a team of overpaid mediocre players ! Just over a year ago there was disguist at being labelled “Fickle” - well look at the above article and comments !!!! hmmmmm appears to me that some elements of the villa fans (and local “sunday league” press) are happier when we loose so they can get their “I told you so” attitudes out for all to see ….. I for one am impressed with the transformation at Villa park - yes we have lost 4-1, and played poorly - but we are playing the Premier League champions - put it in perspective. In conclusion I have 3 words for you doom and gloom merchants….. GET A GRIP !
i have got to say martin oneills only mistake so far is a big one ZAT KNIGHT we are much more solid without him
What progression have Villa made in the last 12 months? Very little it seems after watching the display against United. That defence would concede four goals against Walsall and the offence is no better. Get rid of Carew, Moore, Harewood, Bouma, Knight, and Mellberg. We need two top strikers and three good defenders.
Still think Martin O’Neill will come good.
This game further emphasised the fact that 3 or 4 teams are so much superior to other Premiership members.
Villa are capable only of playing 30 minutes of good football: United stepped up the pace and our flaws were immediately obvious.
Like most other teams in the Premiership, we are at best ‘mediocre’. 50 years a Villa fan this year, I despair of us ever again being a major force.
However, it won’t stop my son and I making the journey to Villa Park. Despite the hard evidence to the contrary, we live in hope of brighter days.
Why are we being so fickle all of a sudden? Martins done a great job in my eyes. Ok we all know we needed more signings in both quality and quantity over the summer, but who ever thought Ashley was worth the money…now look at the lad, bargain in my eyes!
We all know that was a bad day at the office (for both us and Mr Styles)…our own defensive blunders screwed us up. But lets not let 1 result judge him, lets see how we pick ourselves up against struggling bolton this week.
And whoever thinks we should get rid of Bouma just because Nani outplayed him is ridiculous. That bloke is one of the better left backs in the league. 1 bad game, thats all! Get a Grip, n get behind the boys!!
UTV!!
Hey, i think anyone already asking mon to get rid of players is a fool. Yes Zat knight had a bad one BUT he will learn, mon will make sure of that. He will probably lose his place to davies which is good coz its about time we saw him. Our defence needs two things, a right back and a left back. I like bouma but would love to see Riise and boswinga at either side. Our midfield is one of the best out there no doubt, now that salifou’s work permit has come through we finally have a right midfielder. Berger is back soon. Barry and reo coker, gardner and Osbourne and don’t forget the fantastic ashley young and the decent back up which is petrov. Up front Gabby is looking dangerous and thats where we hit another problem. Luke moore is getting better in recent games but still looks lazy, Carew tempts to team to play a long ball which then ruins our flow of passing. Harewood is probably a lost cause. So we need a goalscorer aswell. So in January Two full backs and a striker. Then make it all work together. Doesn’t sound so bad in perspective really.
I said recently that as an England fan i would NOT want to see MON in charge of England - and yet before he went to Villa he was my No1 choice.
This is not an anti villa rant but he has not taken you forward in the way a man with his supposed experience and quality - not to mention unlimited financial backing - should have done.
As an outsider I don’t know all the ins and outs of the villa season - but from the outside it seems “average” - not threatening but not in trouble. i would hate to see that mentality put into the national team.
As I say - not anti-villa, just not sold on MON.