Hello and welcome to today's webchat. Mat Kendrick is back with us after his trip across the other side of the world. Who's going to start us of?
by Birmingham Mail3/11/2013 11:59:43 AM
hope you had a good break? what did you think of sylla on sat?
by John M3/11/2013 12:01:00 PM
Hello folks
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:02:23 PM
Where have you been? Seem to have been gone ages Alright for some eh
by Barry3/11/2013 12:02:50 PM
John M, lovely break in New Zealand with my family, cheers John. Nice to come back and witness a Villa win. Thought Sylla did well enough. Looked busy, covered plenty of ground, came close with an ambitious shot and less close with another. Sometimes seemed a little unsure which pass to make, but kept it simple.
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:03:51 PM
Hi Matt, what's the situation with Stephen Ireland?
by James Downes3/11/2013 12:04:13 PM
Barry, yes, been a few weeks, but refreshed and ready to go now for the end of season run-in!
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:04:31 PM
what a cushy job
by Barry3/11/2013 12:05:18 PM
any further injuries after the game?
by John M3/11/2013 12:05:21 PM
James, from what I gather, the Ireland situation is similar to situation with Hutton/Warnock earlier in the season. Either the player's form/commitment is failing to impress the manager, and he has decided his first team squad can do without him, at least for the moment. This is the piece I wrote on it before my break www.birminghammail.co.uk
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:06:21 PM
Barry, ha! You must have a tough taskmaster of a boss if he doesn't allow you a holiday. I was lucky enough to take most of my leave in a big chunk.
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:07:10 PM
Hi Mat, do you now think Villa have the fight and momentum behind them to stay up? Would you say if we beat QPR this weekend it would be a shock if we did go down?
by Sam3/11/2013 12:07:19 PM
Villa are shocking and going down, aren't we Mat?
by Melvin823/11/2013 12:07:48 PM
John M, Baker hobbled off towards the end, but Lambert says it was just cramp, so he should be ok for QPR match this weekend. Don't think there were any fresh problems.
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:08:14 PM
So it seems Ireland will be another forced out, perhaps correctly. How much can we get for him and Bent realistically? Or are they both going to sit on the wage books until they're contract runs out?
by James Downes3/11/2013 12:09:30 PM
Sam, I still think Villa need three wins to stay up, so whether they come in the next three games, in the final three games, or somewhere in between, that should be enough. I'm not sure they have momentum yet, although two wins in four games (even with two defeats in the middle) is probably as good a run of form as they have managed for some time
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:10:09 PM
Melvin82, I think the wins over West Ham and Reading have given the club renewed hope. Probably need another 10 points from final nine games to make sure of survival though
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:10:57 PM
With Delph suspended, we looked solid in possession, should we continue without him, I think he's a hindrance, what's your opinion Mat?
by Harry p3/11/2013 12:11:02 PM
Has Richard Dunne played his last game for Villa?
by Colin Cull3/11/2013 12:11:46 PM
James Downes, I think they will probably both leave for knockdown prices, sooner rather than later. Ireland's contract is up at the end of next season. He was valued at about 8 million when he joined from Man City in the Milner deal. I can't see Villa getting more than a quarter of that for him
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:12:24 PM
by Birmingham Mail3/11/2013 12:13:35 PM
do you know if nzogbia was left of the starting line up for 'footballing reasons'?
by John M3/11/2013 12:13:46 PM
Harry P, Bannan and Westwood with Syllla alongside them looked decent enough on Saturday, but Delph does add the grit if not the fluency. Centre mid still an area of concern for me when Villa come up against stronger opponents than Reading.
by Mat Kendrick3/11/2013 12:14:05 PM
Harry, why is he a hindrance? Granted he's a walking yellow card, but he always looks likely to make something happen
by James Downes3/11/2013 12:15:06 PM
surely guzan should make prem team of the year he has been immensely busy and rarely puts a foot wrong
by John M3/11/2013 12:15:15 PM
Can't believe Garth Crooks put Vlaar in his team of the week. I thought our backline was very flatfooted again and I'm thinking of calling my blog this week "White Men Can't Jump". Every team we play gets loads of free headers.
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