Friedel starts, Lichaj is not even on the bench. Game is on FSC at 10 est. Friedel, Walker, Cuellar, Dunne, Clark; Albrighton, Pires, Reo-Coker, Bannan; Young; Agbonlahor Collins, Petrov, Downing, Delfouneso, Hogg, Herd and Marshall
Guess I'll watch cartoons instead. Please Houllier, let Eric out of the doghouse or better yet let him move to another club.
I agree... let him out on loan if this is how far he fell for one bad game for him that was a horrible game for the team.
Pires starts? Dude's only got 30 minutes in him. I guess it's fait to say Lichaj is in the doghouse at the moment.
Yeah it's pretty irritating, unless there's a loan in the works. I don't even know what Herd has done to get on the bench...that gives them 3 CMs on the bench. I searched Lichaj on twitter and there are a couple of tweets about him being injured. I couldn't find anything on google though.
Decent goal by Walker - and no celebration too, classy. Lichaj ain't gettin' any PT any time soon - healthy or not.
Time for a loan. Walker basically went unmarked for the goal. I hope Eric stays in the EPL there are plenty of teams that can use him
Name them. If a loan is possible (not sure that it is given Villa's lack of depth), it would almost certainly be to a team in the Championship.
Once Villa sells Luke Young, I'm not so sure they'll be willing to let Lichaj go. They simply need the cover. But, I think you're right. I really can't think of any EPL squads that Lichaj would step into at RB. Wolves, perhaps? Bolton? Nah - lower leagues it is - if it is, at all.
West Brom need some help. Their defence is leaky with a backline that always sees the wing backs covering in the center. Plus Eric fits their "total" playing style.
Dunne has been one of the biggest problems this season. I wonder if Clark will move to CB if they get Bridge.
It's hardto say because of the their coach. Eric shut down Bale, played well in the Carling Cup and had one bad game, where there was enough blame to go around. I think West Ham, Fulham hell even Liverpool. Who knows until he gets another chance.
2-0 Villa. Albrighton. And you're vastly overestimating where Eric is in his development. He's not ready to start regularly at the PL level.
I really like watching Pires in this game. Barely moving, a bunch of shrugging of the shoulders. Makes me keep hope that I can be a footballer on Villa too.
Folks, as a gameday thread this is not the place to bemoan and dissect the fact that an American isn't playing.
Good half from Friedel - came up with a huge save the one time he was called upon - saved Dunne's bacon.
Friedel's a legend. I think the referee and his assistants are calling the uniforms instead of the game. It's not over the top, but there clearly seems to be a bias against Sheffield on some of the calls. Considering their place in the championship that makes it pretty tough on them when they are playing against an EPL club.