Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Arsenal 2 Albion 0 – Verdict
Tuesday 22nd September 2009, 9:53PM BST.
A petulant rush of blood to the head from Jerome Thomas cost Albion dear as they slipped out of the Carling Cup at the Emirates Stadium.
Thomas was sent off against his former club just before half-time for shoving teenager Jack Wilshire in the face.
And the 10-man Baggies, who had looked dangerous until the sending off, were made to pay in the final 25 minutes as Sanchez Watt and Carlos Vela scored for the Gunners.
Albion head coach Roberto Di Matteo will now be without Thomas until after the October international break through suspension.
The first half was frenetic and it was the visitors who had the better of the chances.
Robert Koren twice fired narrowly wide and Simon Cox had a good shot saved by Wojciech Szczesny in the home goal.
But the main talking point was the red card for Thomas that left the Baggies facing an uphill battle for the final 52 minutes.
The wide man’s hand in the face of Gunners teenager Jack Wilshire presented referee Lee Mason with only one possible decision.
Simon Cox missed a good chance to give Albion the lead 13 minutes into the second half when he beat Kerrea Gilbert to a Gianni Zuiverloon cross but he headed over the bar.
And the Baggies were punished with 22 minutes remaining, as substitute Carlos Vela made a telling contribution.
He side-stepped Jonas Olsson and hit a shot that goalkeeper Dean Kiely could only parry to the feet of Watt, who made no mistake from close range.
It was all over 15 minutes from the end when Vela made it 2-0.
A fabulous touch from Aaron Ramsey released substitute Mark Randall and his sublime chip hit Kiely’s crossbar.
It bounced down, but Leon Barnett failed to chest it back to his keeper and Vela nipped in to score.
Substitute Chris Wood should have halved the deficit with 10 minutes to go when he was sent clear by Filipe Teixeira but the youngster shot wide.
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A good performance, despite being down to ten men.
Jerome Thomas, a former Arsenal trainee, was causing them problems, too,
What was he thinking about?
A new club, playing well, generating excitement…then he self-destructs. Is this why he never really established himself as a regular at Arsenal, Charlton or Portsmouth? At 26, he should know better.
Dorrans another great game in midfield, Jara impressive – particularly in second half, when he had no outlet down the left – Olsson a real captain’s game, Barnett looked solid until the late mix-up with Kiely and Malumbu powerful again when he came on.
Up front, though, it was disappointing. Simon Cox runs his socks off, but looks short of class.
As for Luke Moore, he’s surely running out of chances?. When we needed him to make runs and put himself about in the second half, he was too static. He plays on the back of his heels rather than the balls of his feet. It makes him look disinterested. I would sooner see the raw and enthusiastic Chris Wood any day. He made more runs and showed greater positional sense in his 15 minutes or so on the pitch than Moore did in three quarters of the game.
Good atmosphere, must have been around 3,500 Baggies, but as I arrive back home tonight, can’t shake the disappointment of watching ten men v eleven for most of the match. Can’t help but wonder:’What if?’
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It’s not an excuse for Thomas, but he reacted to a comment by Wilshire. Players taking the law into their own hands is becoming common place this season. Thomas looked bright Saturday and once or twice tonight, so a real error of judgement on his part.
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I really think that with 11 men on that field all match last night we would win. We were by far the better team, even down to 10. Yes…Wiltshire went down as if he’d been punched by David Haye, but Thomas can’t do that. He must learn. Positives again though..Dorrans (outstanding), Jara (good 1st competitive match), Cox (worked hard-just needs a goal), Mulumbu (class) and Zuve….and the faithful following that was there last night (me included). If we weren’t there it would have been like being in church!!!
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Okay.
So Bellamy raises a hand to a fan on the pitch and gets a warning.
Thomas raises his to a player on the pitch and gets a 3 match ban?
How?
Why?
Surely the FA set a precedent this yesterday by not suspending Bellamy – so we should appeal it?
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well what a night that was,blummin brilliant,aye boing boing proud to be a baggie fan
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Hey Baggies just move on! Lets look forward to next saturday! THATS OUR TOP PRIORITY
COME ON YOU BAGGIES
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last night proved without doubt that we are by far the best supported club in the midlands other teams must look upon us with envy when they see our hoardes of coaches heading down the moterway,i see the dings struggling to sell the tickets for tonite,aye boing boing BLUE N WHITE ARMY BLUE N WHITE ARMY
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Great display under the circumstances. It’s not something I like to say but perhaps getting knocked out of the League Cup isn’t the worse thing in the world. With all the games you play in the CCC the extra distraction of the LC is now out of the way.
By the laws of the game Thomas had to go, no argument with that but I’ve just seen the Liverpool incident on TV. Mascherano swings round, nearly takes the Leeds players head off with the ref lookin straight at it, yet no sending off. Different rules for different teams again. Just like that game on Sunday, one law for the big four and another for the rest of us. No doubt it’s all down to the referees interpretation, funny coincidence that they always interpret it the same way.
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The moderator is an albion fan.
If only he was so efficient on the wolves page Eh?
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Sadly, I agree number 8 about being out of the cup. I remember the great nights of the sixties beating the Villa 6-1, two legged finals etc but sadly this competition is now way down the list of priorities for most teams, Europe, staying up, getting promoted are far more important. I am more concerned by the 2 defensive lapses last night when we were slow to react to rebounds. And what was Thomas doing? He was promising to try to keep his place in the team, saying the best is yet to come and then he gives it away (with Brunt, Marek and Morrison injured) forcing us to play with 10 men, 4 days before a vital league game which we need to win to build on the Boro victory.
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7. Terry- It was a tenner a ticket mate. I think in the away supporters we have the 3rd biggest in the midlands over the past 10 years behind the dingles and the vile. Great support last night.
I think it was an enjoyable experience but certainly a reality check. The gunners were full of academy kids and Senderos. Thought there were a few good performances but we are way short of survival if we did make it up. Lets put it behind us and get 3 points on saturday.
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Taking up the Point by No 4 Supermaths, I cant agree that you can compare the two.
Re Bellamy question to be asked is what was the fan doing on the pitch, whilst i appreciate that Bellamy is no stranger to controvacy he should never be subjected to a potential threat from a spectator no player should, however i find it interesting that hardly any press is given to the fan or is this because its United.
As for Thomas I have not seen the incident but again players know the rules the one thing you cant raise your hand, again however one thing i am getting brassed off with though, is the report saying Wiltshire went down easily, what with diving Edwardo in the press you must question what are they being told to do in training at Arsenal as the word Cheats springs to mind, no doubt the manager when asked will give the usual I didnt see the incident comment
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It was a typical Albion Prem performance
Playing really well for 30 mins & creating loads
of chances but missing them cause we still havn`t
got a proven goal scorer,
we then do something stupid by either giving a
pen away or getting a player sent off and the
opposing team gets a lift they then win the
match with good football and also get given a goal by yet another cock up from Leon Barnett.
My plus points:
Jara done well at left back.
Teixeira done alright considering he`s not played for ages.
and Cox had his best game for Albion so far.
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