Heaton and Wesley

[Colburn_Claret]

Both out for the rest of the season.

Gutted for Tom especially, at his age the last thing you want is long term injuries. I hope they both recover. Wether its good for us or not is irrelevant, plenty of time and money to get replacements this window, just sorry for the pair

[JohnDearyMe]

Selfishly this might help us in the relegation scrap.

Sad for Heaton missing out on potentially being part of another international tournament again though

[Marney&Mee]

Villa fans and others in uproar about Mee's challenge. I see nothing but a tremendous tackle. Same with the Gomez one last year; fantastic timing

[dsr]

Villa fans and others in uproar about Mee's challenge. I see nothing but a tremendous tackle. Same with the Gomez one last year; fantastic timing

Do they have anything specific about the tackle, apart from being upset that their man was injured? They both played the ball, they both played it hard, and Mee played it first. Their legs were bound to crash into each other and one of them suffered from it. Why would it be Mee's fault more than Wesley's? The ref thought it wasn't a foul, VAR thought it wasn't a red card - what are they seeing?

[Bordeauxclaret]

The same thing as the Liverpool fans last season.
Seeing what they want to see.

[claretonthecoast1882]

There was someone describing as racially motivated as he had done the same to Gomez...

There are some real bellends out there

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

I hope Mee and the club been talking to a solicitor about some of the tweets especially the one that said it was racially motivated.

[Marney&Mee]

Do they have anything specific about the tackle, apart from being upset that their man was injured? They both played the ball, they both played it hard, and Mee played it first. Their legs were bound to crash into each other and one of them suffered from it. Why would it be Mee's fault more than Wesley's? The ref thought it wasn't a foul, VAR thought it wasn't a red card - what are they seeing?

the scissor action apparently

[Zlatan]

I wonder if Villa will want Hart on loan...?

[IanMcL]

I wonder if Villa will want Hart on loan...?

That could be a good move!



(For all)

[jrgbfc]

The way he took him out with the scissor movement. If someone crocked McNeil like that all you lot would be going mental.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Took him out ? jesus

[Burnley1989]

The way he took him out with the scissor movement. If someone crocked McNeil like that all you lot would be going mental.

I'm in the same camp here, they don't know Ben Mee and his style of play and if we were them I'm sure we would all be saying the same

[TVC15]

The way he took him out with the scissor movement. If someone crocked McNeil like that all you lot would be going mental.

Seriously why don’t you go and support someone else ? You never have one fecking positive thing to say about the club. You would be the first to be posting on here berating Ben Mee if had not put a challenge in and tackled Wesley or Gomez.

The Gomez and Wesley injuries were both unfortunate - neither were even given as free kicks. Of course opposing fans or managers are upset - their players are injured and just like we have nobhead fans making up stuff so do they.
Which of our players are you blaming for the Tom Heaton injury ? Jeff Hendrick ?....maybe Joe Hart did it ?

[deanothedino]

The way he took him out with the scissor movement. If someone crocked McNeil like that all you lot would be going mental.

You mean the way the lad overstretched to try and keep the ball and got himself clattered?

[SalisburyClaret]

It sure it was a deliberate scissor action - his leg has to go somewhere and he’s not double jointed.

[JohnMac]

the scissor action apparently

That's what I keep reading on social media. The only alternative to that action is to go in two footed.

Much ado about nothing as usual.

[BOYSIE31]

Heaton's injury was because he was cold as he had bugger all to do before the incident ha

[Vintage Claret]

I wish both players a speedy recovery, especially Tom.

There was nothing malicious in Ben's tackle and it was just unfortunate for Wesley that he came off worse.

With Tom, you can see how his leg goes out to the right at a 45 degree angle as he lands rather than straight down, again just an unlucky injury with nobody to blame, a bit like the one Sam Vokes suffered at home to Leicester a few years ago.

[jrgbfc]

That's two players he's crocked in the last 12 months or so. Rightly or wrongly Ben Mee's going to start getting a reputation and players will be going out of their way to get him in trouble.

[Bordeauxclaret]

They can go for it.

He’s not had a suspension in years. There is a reason for that.

[AlargeClaret]

Gutted for big Tom , as his last Eng chance has surely gone .As for the Mee tackle it’s hard and clean the end

[Flying Without Ings]

Villa fans just looking for someone to blame. Unlucky for Tom, but their loss is our gain.

[conyoviejo]

Nothing wrong with the tackle Brian o Neil would put at least 10 of them in during a game in the sixties and think nothing about it..

[tim_noone]

Nothing wrong with the tackle Brian o Neil would put at least 10 of them in during a game in the sixties and think nothing about it..

Very true.....but the game has changed. And less we forget some on here still moan about one of ours being injured at leeds utd all those years ago. Was it norman hunter on frank Casper...Villa fans rightly upset but no malice from ben mee. Shame for wesley.

[Steve1956]

Villa fans just looking for someone to blame. Unlucky for Tom, but their loss is our gain.

I don't see that their loss is our gain,Villa will just go out and buy two replacements,simple.

[Burnley1989]

Very true.....but the game has changed. And less we forget some on here still moan about one of ours being injured at leeds utd all those years ago. Was it norman hunter on frank Casper...Villa fans rightly upset but no malice from ben mee. Shame for wesley.

It has and I think I’ve been brainwashed by it all as well. I’m only 30 and used to love a good game in which we all kicked chunks out of each other, now a days if a players really good we are encouraged to protect them at all costs as no body wants to see them injured. I understand why clubs don’t want £10m+ assets injured and like you say the game has changed for this reason

[tim_noone]

It has and I think I’ve been brainwashed by it all as well. I’m only 30 and used to love a good game in which we all kicked chunks out of each other, now a days if a players really good we are encouraged to protect them at all costs as no body wants to see them injured. I understand why clubs don’t want £10m+ assets injured and like you say the game has changed for this reason

Mature beyond your years.....I'm sure though theres been a survey /Article done regards playing on pristine pitches today relating to more serious injuries and there does seem to be a lot compared to the boggy quagmire pitches of pre sixties.....which was the conclusion

[dsr]

Very true.....but the game has changed. And less we forget some on here still moan about one of ours being injured at leeds utd all those years ago. Was it norman hunter on frank Casper...Villa fans rightly upset but no malice from ben mee. Shame for wesley.

Hunter deliberately crippled Casper. He wasn't pretending to go for the ball; he went for the man. The ball had long gone and they weren't even on the pitch.

[tim_noone]

Hunter deliberately crippled Casper. He wasn't pretending to go for the ball; he went for the man. The ball had long gone and they weren't even on the pitch.

Yes tbh it was thuggery in this instance.

[Burnley1989]

Hunter deliberately crippled Casper. He wasn't pretending to go for the ball; he went for the man. The ball had long gone and they weren't even on the pitch.

Are there ever any pictures or video footage of it? I once went on a race trip with Frank and asked him about it, it’s safe to say, he still resents the bloke massively

[conyoviejo]

Very true.....but the game has changed. And less we forget some on here still moan about one of ours being injured at leeds utd all those years ago. Was it norman hunter on frank Casper...Villa fans rightly upset but no malice from ben mee. Shame for wesley.

If Ben Mees tackle has caused so much controversy,then it's changed for the worse..I hope Ben keeps dishing out more tackles like that on the opposition..

[CoolClaret]

If you think that Mee's tackle was malicious or has no place in the game, then you're everything wrong with football.

Mee plays hard but fair. The Villa players' reaction (Konsah especially I think it was) warrented a yellow for lashing out

[NL Claret]

The way he took him out with the scissor movement. If someone crocked McNeil like that all you lot would be going mental.

There is no scissor movement, it is momentum and natural. Mee only has eyes for the ball. You could say Wesley's touch makes it a 55/45 challenge and the position of his right leg puts him at risk of injury. Wesley could have the option of totally pulling out or going in as committed as Mee. As I told you yesterday, go into a challenge half heartedly and you are in trouble. I've retweeted a clip of the tackle and no one mentioned scissors just a fair tackle.

[AlargeClaret]

Are there ever any pictures or video footage of it? I once went on a race trip with Frank and asked him about it, it’s safe to say, he still resents the bloke massively

At a sportsman’s dinner a good few years ago with ex ref Keith Hacket speaking . Said the only player in his career who he felt was truly nasty was Norman Hunter

[claretblue]

That's two players he's crocked in the last 12 months or so. Rightly or wrongly Ben Mee's going to start getting a reputation and players will be going out of their way to get him in trouble.

some might avoid him!

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

That's two players he's crocked in the last 12 months or so. Rightly or wrongly Ben Mee's going to start getting a reputation and players will be going out of their way to get him in trouble.

Rightly in your world you strange individual.

[Grimsdale]

Here's a pic of the Wesley tackle at the moment Ben Mee makes contact with the ball:



As has been mentioned, there's nothing wrong with Ben Mee's technique, the issue is that Wesley has gone in with his leg straight and knee locked so that when the tackle is made, his leg takes the full force of the Mee's momentum after the tackle has been made so it's little surprise he's suffered an injury. This is exactly the same scenario as the Gomez incident last season.

As for the scissor action nonsense, the only way Me could have avoided the collision would have been to either not make the tackle (so basically not do his job), or go in with both feet, in which case I think he would have been rightly carded for being reckless and not in control.

[NL Claret]

Is it a case of "modern football" meeting proper football?

Does Wesley think I can get a touch on the ball and win a free kick not realising I'm going to get hammered here? Others might back out or go in as committed as Mee if they could.

[Dinks]

I don't really care about Villa's injuries,we have played them twice,I hope they get relegated and we don't play them for a while ...horrible club,being schooled by an asshole...John Terry.

[tarkys_ears]

Is it a case of "modern football" meeting proper football?

Does Wesley think I can get a touch on the ball and win a free kick not realising I'm going to get hammered here? Others might back out or go in as committed as Mee if they could.

This was my first thought.

They expect an easy free kick to be given so stay there waiting to be hit instead of trying to help themselves.

Wesley got everything he went looking for.

[cricketfieldclarets]

This was my first thought.

They expect an easy free kick to be given so stay there waiting to be hit instead of trying to help themselves.

Wesley got everything he went looking for.

Don't tell Damo whitehead and others that!

[tiger76]

The downside for Villa is the injuries to Heaton,McGinn and Wesley,the upside for them is they have the window to sign replacements,if these injuries had happened a month down the line,it would have hit them much harder,but the way Dean Smith is talking they will move quickly in the market.

I can't see them letting Grealish go in this window either,in the summer possibly if they get a large enough offer,but they'd be mad to sell him now,he''s on a long contract so his value is unlikely to diminish,indeed if he continues impressing and helps in keeping them up,his fee could even increase at the end of the season in the event of a bidding war.