What's actually wrong with our team?

[Jarpie]

We have 2 major issues.

The players aren't confident in themselves or the rest of the team.  Defensively this means we have a tendancy to back off to the edge of the box and then go completely the other way and get drawn to the ball, mainly to cover each other.  On top of that none of them is willing to take command which leads to things like the baker/stevens none clearance before the penalty.  The biggest problem this leads to is that we end up with 6 at the back so the only way out is a punt to Benteke.  Once that happens the attacking support players all get up closer to him which causes us to be 6-0-4, leaving their midfield with acres to play in.  From an attacking point of view we're taking too many touches or trying to overplay it.  Check how little space there is when we get the ball into the box, it's generally because we've fannied around with somewhere 'safe' before we put it in the box.  The attacking players we have would all look much better with space to break into.  Oddly the only one who's trying to do that is Benteke and he's being slated for being caught offside because of it.  a lot of the time if the player with the ball was more aware he could put Benteke clean through.

We don't have leaders on the pitch.  Clark tries and Weimann is very vocal (too much so at times) but the rest of the team are too quiet.  Getting a leader in there to kick them up the arse and get them playing in the right areas is the key to turning things around.

Thank god we have Vlaar back for the next game who will be leader in the defense but we need replacement for Petrov ASAP.

We might not be out cold yet IF Vlaar and Dunne can instill some foightin' spirit into our players in next three-four league games.

[jembob]

This thread accurately describes the issues on the pitch. I'd just love to know what's going through the minds of Lambert and team today and what they plan to do to rectify these problems. Furthermore, what do the players think? Are they really only bothered about being paid and don't care about getting us relegated? For once, I'd just love an insight into what they are really thinking because to me it doesn't look like many of them give a shit.

[PaulWinch again]

Another issue is that a lot of these young players have always been in a losing Villa side. Ever since Bannan, Clark and the like have started playing we've lost a lot more often than got any other result. They are conditioned to accept defeat, which is why we can never bounce back.

[mike]

Another issue is that a lot of these young players have always been in a losing Villa side. Ever since Bannan, Clark and the like have started playing we've lost a lot more often than got any other result. They are conditioned to accept defeat, which is why we can never bounce back.

That is a very good point.

[PhilGibson]

A ridiculously disjointed and unbalanced squad;

Younger players, who either lack confidence, experience or talent or a combination of all three. Mixed with overpaid seasoned pros who either cannot be bothered, have been frozen out or are injured.

Lowton, Bennett or Stevens, Clark, Baker or Herd is not a premier league standard defence.
Westwood, Bannan, Delph, Albrighton is not a premier league standard midfield.
Benteke & Weimann probably will be a premier league standard attack given time and support from the rest of the team.

Hutton, Warnock, Dunne are all seasoned premier league defenders who have offered nothing to the team this season, one who has been injured with the others on loan or training with the kids.
Ireland & N'Zogbia supposed flair players on well over £100k a week between them, are offering nothing to the team.
Makoun is never coming back, El Ahmadi & Holman flatter to deceive, Vlaar is injured a lot and we still conceded goals with him in the team.
Petrov is critically ill, and probably our biggest miss this season, and someone should have been brought in to cover his absence.

Bent and Lambert are not working for whatever reason, and he has been injured for most of the season.
Gabby has been injured more this season than most others, he has also flattered to deceive in his time on the pitch, tries really hard for the team, but just does not have the quality.

The scary thing is even with players back from injury I do not think we have a strong enough first 11 to win a sufficient amount of games to stay up.

I cannot remember a worse Villa squad in all my years supporting the club.

Criminal for the money we have spent over the last 6 years.

Everyone at the club from the board down shares a portion of the blame, we are nowhere near good enough at the moment as a premier league side, and if we do go down we will fully deserve it.

[john2710]

In no particular order

Leadership
Experience
Quality
Tactics
Luck

[Dave Clark Five]

Leadership
Experience
Resoluteness
Nous
Endeavour
Robustness

[pauliewalnuts]

The midfield is weak, and that in turn puts pressure on the defence, which is young and still learning.

This has been a pretty horrible season, but whatever is wrong with the side, a decent left back, centre back and midfielder would improve it significantly.

[Legion]

Leadership
Experience
Resoluteness
Nous
Endeavour
Robustness

Clever.

[john2710]

The midfield is weak, and that in turn puts pressure on the defence, which is young and still learning.

This has been a pretty horrible season, but whatever is wrong with the side, a decent left back, centre back and midfielder would improve it significantly.

Correct - I just hope that Lambert / Lerner see it the same.

[Jarpie]

The lack of off-the-ball movement is because only player we have like that is N'Zog. Gabby suits only direct style, Ireland and Bannan are the players who would spread the ball to the players who move around and none of Benteke, Bent and Weimann are not that maybe with exception of Benteke who is alone since Nzog is mostly shit.

[villa `cross the mersey]

Leadership
Experience
Resoluteness
Nous
Endeavour
Robustness

Clever.

Cunning
Understanding
Nerve
Talent

(Ok not so clever)

[PaulWinch again]

I expect us to sign two or three players by Wednesday. The time is for action now, the club needs to stop fucking around.

[PhilGibson]

I think part of the problem is the 4 different styles of manager we have had in the last 3 years.

O'Neill brought premier league experienced British players who suited a direct counter attacking style of game, with large wages and purchased a few gems who have since left for greener pastures.

Houiller had one transfer window and broke our transfer record on a poacher who thrives on service, from said gems purchased by O'Neill. He also purchased Jean Makoun a continental lightweight style midfielder who wants loads of time on the ball and cannot tackle for toffee (See Karim El Ahmadi)

McLeish who purchased Given who was 35-36 at the time and gave him a 5 year contract, brought in N'Zogbia (McLeish tried to sign the same player at Blues, who upped his wage demands and the deal never went through, might have seen his temperament at that point) a player who was supposed to replace the departed Ashley Young, never going to happen and Wigan saw us coming and stung us for £10 million. The less said about Alan Hutton the better.

Lambert who went for the young and hungry lower league players route, different to the 3 previous managers and left us with a vicious mixture of four managers ideals and no consistency.

This all stems from the owner having no clear plan in his mind of what the strategy on the football front should be, hoping that this scatter gun approach to managerial appointments would work without destabilising the team. It was never going to happen, and we are now left perilously close to the precipice.

I do not think this would have happened had we had anyone with football experience on the board making decisions.

[JUAN PABLO]

No width. No experience. No leadership.

thats about it.   

I keep hearing kids all the time , they are not kids.  Too many inexperience players at the same time.

They were talking about Zaha today ( £12 million pound player ) , saying he will be a top player for England but would not have the experience of playing in the Prem yet , but we throw in the likes of Stevens , Bennett , Westwood , Lowton , Bowery , Benteke , Baker , lichaj etc etc etc all at the same time .  Its not going to work.