I was going to post that yesterday, but just couldn't be bothered actually doing it.
We were trying to attack, but the very strong Villa defence were rebuting all of our attempts.
MON is a conservative manager.
With good defenders + that mindset, we're always going to be a difficult side to get behind/break down.
By no means are we an all-defence unit but away from home (in particular) we wait for, instead of create opportunities.
Oh, and welcome to MM
He's only welcome if he posts reguarly.
You're totally right. Which is why our Boltonesque desire to keep pumping in long balls and physically hustling and bustling while hoping for a slip/lucky drop boggled the mind.
That's fair enough.
Milner was causing Gardner (through no fault of his own) all sorts.
And Owen barely/if at all got a touch of the ball since he came on.
There were issues.
Not enough was made of the Milner v Gardner - mismatch
& Owen wasn't being fed the ball on the deck.
BSA probably went more direct because of
1. Viduka - who didn't actually benefit. Laursen had his number. everything was coming into him at blimp height and it clearly wasn't working. 'The Big Dukes' is just as dangerous/tricky/effective when the thing is below blimp level. Infact, probably better. Long balls onto his noggin doesn't even suit him.
2. Martins - general ineffectiveness. probably saw this and realised he was getting nothing from the left. hence, the more direct tact.
Milner could've/should've switched sides a one of the genuine left-sided options could've been tried. Shame about Duff.

This is probably why he went direct (near the end), not wanting to be predictable (going to Milner on the left everytime) and also to utilise the small man/big man combo. Which was doing nothing other than cancelling out whatever rapport the two may have had.
Those tactics might work against dud defences (ours circa 1969-2006, notso ironically Bolton's last week) or soft prima donnas (Arsenal) but against an experienced, tall and strong back four marshalled by a superb keeper you're not gonna get much if any joy.
I'm glad you rate Carson.
1. The dude could be mistaken for about every porn dude in history.
2. Not a thinking mans keeper. See - penalty shootout, U21 Semi England v Holland. The Holland dude was jumping about 12 feet off his line, narrowing the angle to such a ridiculous level that if the player even though about kicking the ball in the wrong direction, it would be saved. Amazingly the ref let the Holland dude get away with this. So what does Carson do? Follows the ****ing rules!!
3. A little small for my liking. (Given is an obvious 'against' but he's a far better shot stopper)
4. From Liverpool.
5. From what I've seen, convinced I have not been.
He did have a good, somewhat commanding game though.
Amazingly Rozehnal nearly scored his second goal (in whatever the commentator said), in I think 4 or 5 years. His high-speed broadband connection shot suggested otherwise.
That save was top-class.
With guys like Milner, Viduka, Smith, Geremi, Milner, N'Zogbia and then Owen on the pitch our inability to change-up was frustrating as fook.
Remembering,
The Spanish LB dude is not fit, forcing a talented attacking and non-defensive player to line-up there.
Cacapa could/will slot in somewhere. Eventually. (Kudos to being the 1000th dude as well)
N'Zogbia (moving back), Duff, Emre and Barton are pretty big 'outs' from your midfield. Alot of goalscoring, creativity potential there.
4 points from 2 games. Not the best performance from your lot but considering the injuries, how you played and all. 1 point isn't/wasn't so bad.