Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: ozzjim on October 30, 2014, 11:15:27 PM
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How do we solve it then? How would you solve it, selection wise to get us creating chances and looking threatening? 4 goals so far is a dismal return and we are lucky to have 10 points from those 4 goals. Who do we change, how do we get more of a threat in the side?
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We need to get 2 strikers playing closer together to start with. Benteke and Weimann for me.
On top of that we need to rethink the midfield. I don't think we have the players to play a standard 442 so I'd look at a diamond with Sanchez sitting in deep, Richardson and Cleverley in front and covering left and right defensively and then someone in the hole (cue the gif). I'd probably alternate between Cole and Grealish there to start with but Bacuna and Nzog could be worth a look as well. Whoever it is I'd want them to drift wide and slightly deeper as well, just to try to make us less predictable.
I'd then start playing a lot of balls in to Benteke (to his feet as much as his head) and get Weimann moving off him and trying to get shots away with 1-2 touches, which is where he looks a good player, as soon as he starts setting himself and taking players on he looks poor. The good thing with doing it that way is that game plan perfectly suits Kozak as well so when he comes back he can start competing with Weimann to start.
Gabby would be my option to change things up from the bench for now.
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I'd totally forgotten about Bacuna.
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We need to get 2 strikers playing closer together to start with. Benteke and Weimann for me.
On top of that we need to rethink the midfield. I don't think we have the players to play a standard 442 so I'd look at a diamond with Sanchez sitting in deep, Richardson and Cleverley in front and covering left and right defensively and then someone in the hole (cue the gif). I'd probably alternate between Cole and Grealish there to start with but Bacuna and Nzog could be worth a look as well. Whoever it is I'd want them to drift wide and slightly deeper as well, just to try to make us less predictable.
I'd then start playing a lot of balls in to Benteke (to his feet as much as his head) and get Weimann moving off him and trying to get shots away with 1-2 touches, which is where he looks a good player, as soon as he starts setting himself and taking players on he looks poor. The good thing with doing it that way is that game plan perfectly suits Kozak as well so when he comes back he can start competing with Weimann to start.
Gabby would be my option to change things up from the bench for now.
Agree. You can see it, I can see it, why the f**k can't Lambert?
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Anyone up for Zarate on loan in January?
Isn't making the West Ham team at the minute (don't think Big Sam wanted him) but a talented player and someone who could play off Benteke.
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Stop playing hoofball. Play the ball to Benteke's feet. Play with greater width. Use the whole width of the pitch going forward. Take on defenders by running hard for the by line then smacking it hard and low across the face of the goal. Cut out passing the ball two yards on the central edge of the box. I have no problem with lateral passing to retain possession, just when you do go forward go at pace and with strength.
Non tactically, everybody goes on the scales twice a week. No bone or tendon snapping ferocity at BH, train like track athletes to become lean, quick and go the full 90 minutes flat out. Too many of our players are both mentally and physically flabby - Cole, Bent, Gabby - flabby players usually end up on the side with a 0 on the score sheet.
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I agree with improving the fitness, we don't look as fit as we should to me, which is frustrating because the way Lambert seems to want to play works best with a very fit team.
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Lambert will not change his style or system. You have to think 'Lambert'. He is managing at the higest level. He has had success as a player (European Cup) and managing in the lower leagues playing the narrow system. To him it is the only way. I have never met him, but he is probably a stubbon sod who will stick to his beliefs.
The odd thing is, his system can work but it relies on excellent full backs providing width and a player in the hole who can walk past players. We have neither. The sad thing is a player like Delph playing in a 442 with width would have licence to attack and he would probably score 10+ goals a season. At present the midfield is far too cramped to find space.
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Stop playing hoofball. Play the ball to Benteke's feet. Play with greater width. Use the whole width of the pitch going forward. Take on defenders by running hard for the by line then smacking it hard and low across the face of the goal. Cut out passing the ball two yards on the central edge of the box. I have no problem with lateral passing to retain possession, just when you do go forward go at pace and with strength.
Non tactically, everybody goes on the scales twice a week. No bone or tendon snapping ferocity at BH, train like track athletes to become lean, quick and go the full 90 minutes flat out. Too many of our players are both mentally and physically flabby - Cole, Bent, Gabby - flabby players usually end up on the side with a 0 on the score sheet.
Agree with all the above, although according to stats, whilst we've always been right up in the top of the charts in Lamberts first two seasons in terms of long balls, this season we've hoofed it far less frequently. I think we're comfortably bottom half of the table in terms of long ball.
Honestly it gets to the point sometimes, and we're that hopeless that I've actually wanted us to start humping some high balls up to Benteke. The times we do try it we have him pulled out wide, so it's not going to hurt anyone.
For all our 60% possession on Monday, and keeping the ball on the deck in midfield we got nowhere, yet QPR spank one long ball up to Zamora, he flicks on and they score.
We certainly need a lot more width as you say. But still come 70 minutes in a game, if we haven't scored I'd not be adverse to sticking Andi or Bent close to Benteke, keeping the big man locked in a central area and giving him a few high balls to try and win. It could be a tactic in the right situation and as last resort. It'd be no good if Tekkers is on the wing, or when we also tend to use it most, when we're backs to the wall in defence and hump it out vaguely in the direction of either no-one or Benteke for him to chase.
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Our supposedly creative players need to create, and the strikers need to have more boldness in front of goal. There are so many times I've seen a striker or a midfielder get into a shooting position only to dither with the ball or look for a pass when they could shoot.
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I agree with improving the fitness, we don't look as fit as we should to me, which is frustrating because the way Lambert seems to want to play works best with a very fit team.
Absolutely. Far too many players look wobbly in the middle. We've got pace players who've now lost all their pace. Is that purely age, injuries, or is it also extra timber? Bent, Gabby and N'Zogbia just don't have pace anymore. If they all lost a bit of weight, they'd gain a yard or two I reckon. Cole doesn't look fit but that could be age and injuries, and stamina has always been a weakness for him. Richardson has lost a yard or two he used to have. He could be a bit more lithe, but I guess he's also turned 30 too.
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isnt it good when you have a wide player that can get to the deadball line and cross, i dont see that much from our boys, is that a lack of confidence, or worse?
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I don't think playing Benteke, Agbonlahor and Weimann works. Only one of them is a goal threat.
I'd personally drop Weimann and play 3 defensively minded midfielders (Sanchez, Cleverly and Westwood) with someone more creative - I guess N'Zogbia or Grealish.
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I don't think playing Benteke, Agbonlahor and Weimann works. Only one of them is a goal threat.
I'd personally drop Weimann and play 3 defensively minded midfielders (Sanchez, Cleverly and Westwood) with someone more creative - I guess N'Zogbia or Grealish.
Yes i agree Weimann is not at it, and i think at the moment to frustrate the opposition, and as weve done nick a goal maybe is what lambert is thinking as well.
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I don't think playing Benteke, Agbonlahor and Weimann works. Only one of them is a goal threat.
I'd personally drop Weimann and play 3 defensively minded midfielders (Sanchez, Cleverly and Westwood) with someone more creative - I guess N'Zogbia or Grealish.
Yes i agree Weimann is not at it, and i think at the moment to frustrate the opposition, and as weve done nick a goal maybe is what lambert is thinking as well.
We have been the same for ages....hope to nick a goal on the break and hang on from there.
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We certainly need to freshen up our system and also the starting 11. Lambert has his favourites and they're not delivering the goods. Westwood and Gabby in particular need a spell out to let them know they've got to raise their game.
Weimann isn't good enough but at the very least he gives you work-rate.
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I wouldn't start with either Gabby or Weimann. Would agree with giving Grealush and/or N'Zogbia a go. As we all know we are worryingly short of options up front. Pace, movement and creativity is no where to be seen.
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That nick a goal and hang on has been with us for a long, long time but it flowered into the equivalent of our club motto under McLeish for whom it had the all consuming importance of virginity to a nun.
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I think the main issue is that we don't shoot. No shots = no goals. The other issue is that our players aren't very good.
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I agree on abandoning the long ball stategy, Benteke was always better when we played it in to him or crossed it. The hoofball doesn't work clearly and needs to stop. We also need more of the midfield getting in and around the box. Yes it might open us up more, but at the minute we're conceding anyway and if we don't score we're never going to progress.
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Gabby and Weimann need to be dropped.
Grealish should be given a couple of games. I'd even try CNZ as well.
Also drop Westwood for Richardson to give us more energy.
J Cole is past it. As is Bent.
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See I don't really understand that, call for Gabby and Weimann to be dropped but CNZ to be recalled. The latter has, for me, been comfortably our worst player to have appeared this season, he looks disinterested and unfit whilst continuing with his usual tendency of running down blind alleys and overplaying.
We need to drop 1 of gabby or weimann I agree on that much but the main thing is we need to get our attack working as a unit and working together. The best we've seen of that was Weimann and Benteke in 12/13 where they showed signs of forming a really good partnership, if we're going back-to-basics (which we should) then that's the pairing you start with and work from there.
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I am no fan of CNZ but something must change.
Maybe the Weiman / Benteke combo is worth a punt when Benteke is at full fitness.
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There needs to be a coherent plan as to how we attack sides that extends beyond having your full backs put crosses in from 25 yards out.
It doesn't have to be a work of genius, football is a very simple game afterall, but there are a lot of things we could be doing better. Exploiting space beyond the opposition full back would be an idea with either balls in there or runs dragging defenders wide to create a bit more room for Benteke or a midfielder to hit the box.
Actually having the midfield get into the box would be a start, as well as having another forward get closer to Benteke.
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There needs to be a coherent plan as to how we attack sides that extends beyond having your full backs put crosses in from 25 yards out.
It doesn't have to be a work of genius, football is a very simple game afterall, but there are a lot of things we could be doing better. Exploiting space beyond the opposition full back would be an idea with either balls in there or runs dragging defenders wide to create a bit more room for Benteke or a midfielder to hit the box.
Actually having the midfield get into the box would be a start, as well as having another forward get closer to Benteke.
The midfield is why I, and I nicked the line off someone else on here, prefer Richardson over Westwood as more mobility and energy
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See I don't really understand that, call for Gabby and Weimann to be dropped but CNZ to be recalled. The latter has, for me, been comfortably our worst player to have appeared this season, he looks disinterested and unfit whilst continuing with his usual tendency of running down blind alleys and overplaying.
I guess because Gabby and Weimann have been playing regularly for over a year and underperforming while Zog is coming back from a year out injured. It may also give those 2 a kick up the arse if they start being dropped.
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Scoring what? Goals you say? Hmmmm, nope, can't say I recall what you're on about.
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I agree with a lot of what has been written in this thread. Our 4-3-3 formation consists of a flat midfield and attacking three, which I think is quite easy to defend against. We're talking about a different quality of player, but when Chelsea play that formation, the movement of the likes of Oscar and Hazard pulls defenders out of shape and opens up space which they are able to exploit with their quality. In contrast, Gabby and Weimann are so stationary and easy to mark, and both end up squandering most of the possession they have. This makes us toothless in the final third.
For a couple of seasons now we have needed a player who can bridge the gap between the midfield and attack. Going forward, I would give Cleverley a chance in a more advanced role with Sanchez and Richardson supporting him. I'd also tinker with the front line a little. If we are going to persist with long balls, then I'd use Benteke in the way Graham Taylor used Ormondroyd many years ago (diagonal balls and him knocking them down for other players). I think it could be time to give Bent and N'Zogbia an extended chance and to use Gabby and Weimann used more sparingly.
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The thing about Oscar and Hazard is that they are also able to go past people at will. We have no one it seems to me (other than Delph) that is able to go past someone and move the ball forward.
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we must be the perfect team to play against, welcome Spurs just had their nosies rubbed in it, play Aston Villa they wont get at us and we can try things out as the least were going to get is a point.
whats the number for samaritans, ill ask my nose mate.
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Is this the most barren run since Spring '92 when Ron had his first sticky spell?
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Didn't that run end with us putting five past Spurs at the Lane?
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Didn't that run end with us putting five past Spurs at the Lane?
Yep. Before that it was 4 goals in 14 league games. Which included a run of 1 in 11.
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I think the main issue is that we don't shoot. No shots = no goals. The other issue is that our players aren't very good.
Well, surprisingly, we had 16 goal attempts vs QPR; 6 on target. In fact, statistically we got everything right - except in terms of goals-scored.
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How Clark didn't score both his chances against QPR, especially the second, I have no idea.
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'Not scoring goals has hurt us, but it will come'. I hope that's just a poor bit of phrasing from Lambert and that he actually has a plan to make us more of a threat.
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How Clark didn't score both his chances against QPR, especially the second, I have no idea.
the second one, probably because Sandro (I think it was) managed to get the end of his big toe on the ball just before Clark managed to connect
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maybe we just need to tell the goal shooters to kick the ball towards the white sticks !
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The stat I'm most upset about our shots on target. 18 in 9 games is in itself pretty dire, but when you add to that the fact that our percentage of shots that hit the target is just 23% (the lowest in the league) it all comes back to accuracy, as I've said a few times this year.
If you've going to play with low possession for it to work you need a high degree of precision in what you do when you have the ball; 2-3 sharp passes and shot on target at the end.
In rugby there's a big thing about not leaving the 22 empty handed, when you get territory you do something with it, the football equivalent of that is working the keeper, if you get loads of chances working the keeper and 'rolling the dice' is important, if you only get a few it's absolutely imperative that you make the most of everything you get.
Importantly more me a lack of precision is often down to mental preparation more than technical ability or physical attributes, you look at a player bang in confidence and they look comfortable and smooth in their actions and everything seems effortless, look at our guys and they all look like they're expecting things to fall apart any minute, so passes are powder puff (how many of our passes are underhit) and our shootting opportunities get snatched at and wasted. That's the thing we need to work on and the simplest way to do it is to strip back and make training as basic as can be, 1-2 touch passing drills on small pitches, 1 touch shooting from volleys or knockdowns, set pieces, fitness work, first touch and close control, focus on making the basic skills right so on the pitch that stuff just happens and the players have the confidence to take more on.
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Just want this turgid manager to provide a bit of excitement. He claims wingers are 'old fashioned' so what! I think they are thrilling if not always consistent. Perhaps the Spurs manager would let us have Lennon on loan after Sundays match or if not there must be a few Tony Daley types lower down the league. Or preferably a young Harry Burrows with a thunderous shot.
Or anybody that might raise the spirits of the fans.
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If this article by Gary Neville is anything to go by, we should be ashamed of ourselves at the lack of scoring opportunities.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/11202272/Premier-League-football-is-witnessing-the-death-of-defending-as-I-knew-it-and-its-not-coming-back.html
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It's simple for me. We don't have creative attacking players other than n'zogbia (an inconsistent dribbler but not a passer) Cole (well past it) or grealish (doesn't look ready to me). We've been crying out for someone like this for years now. I can't believe we still haven't bought someone. We definitely need to in January
Maybe cleverley can add a bit of that but I've not seen it so far
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Didn't that run end with us putting five past Spurs at the Lane?
I think it ended at home against (maybe) Norwich. Staunton?
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Still can't understand why a proven goal scorer like bent is on the bench gabby and weimann have never been goal scorers grealish has to be given a chance sooner rather than later or as usual he will be given a chance when it is to late.
Also is Callum Robinson out on loan why give him a run out against saints last year then loan him out you see other clubs bringing there starlets through and flourishing but us ??????
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Because Bent is as much a busted flush as anyone.
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If this article by Gary Neville is anything to go by, we should be ashamed of ourselves at the lack of scoring opportunities.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/11202272/Premier-League-football-is-witnessing-the-death-of-defending-as-I-knew-it-and-its-not-coming-back.html
I'd agree with that on the whole.
I also don't think the parking the bus technique is actually a valid defensive tactic either. It will fail more than it'll succeed and works only in the right circumstances, but for me, and this was particularly evident in the first four defeats in our five game winless run, that camping 9-10 of year players in and around your own penalty area and letting the opposition try and dig a way through is essentially more of a numbers game rather than anything particularly tactical. It always suggests to me a lack of tactical nous from a manager, which is why I think Lambert uses it against pretty much any top 10 side.
What we should be doing with our side, is pushing up with a high line against sides and pressing them high up the pitch. Whenever we're good (which is rare) we inevitably press teams high, in their own half. We force errors. Look at our defence. Cissokho and Hutton both have decent turns of speed at full gallop. Vlaar is deceptively quick. Okore (if he ever plays) is also quick, so we could afford to push our back line up and be ready for the counter.
We should be attacking teams with pace and movement. We've got midfielders who can actually pass the ball, but the cohesion and the system ahead of them isn't working at all. No one gets close to Benteke. There's too little movement, and we need one in our midfield to push up into that playmaking 10 role. Or we switch to a diamond formation and play a dedicated 10.
Fullbacks these days are better attacking than going forward. They leave gaps, so our lack of attacking width is a problem. We need to push players wide and exploit defensive weakness and gaps. Our fullbacks provide all our width, but our first choices are a rare breed in modern football, who are better defensively than in attacking.
Most of the sides in the league tend to go for it, we should be no different really. If we attacked games more we have the ability to win games. We've got matchwinners. We just need the intent firstly, but also the right personnel and system. I think the Weimann, Gabby and Benteke triple pronged attack ran it's course by the end of May 13. We've got to switch things up. I'd adopt a 4-2-3-1.
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I don't see why Bent can't be given a run out tomorrow. Jordan Bowery got a game or two and he was nowhere near good enough.
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I've seen nothing from Bent this season that suggests he can be of much use. Even on the training day he looked pretty immobile.
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I have very serious doubts whether Darren Bent actually wants to play football.
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I've seen nothing from Bent this season that suggests he can be of much use. Even on the training day he looked pretty immobile.
If that was the case though, he wouldn't be on the bench surely?
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We certainly need more width and get coaching the wide men how to cross a ball. Also corners , we've been dire at them for at least 5 years! What do they do at BH all week other than kick lumps out of each other !
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Bent might be a busted flush but at this moment he's the only busted flush we got in our locker
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How do we solve it then? How would you solve it, selection wise to get us creating chances and looking threatening? 4 goals so far is a dismal return and we are lucky to have 10 points from those 4 goals. Who do we change, how do we get more of a threat in the side?
Im struggling to think of alternatives to be honest. We have so many players in our squad that are at the fag end of their careers especially in midfield and up top. Might be worth trying wing backs again with Hutton out. We dont have any wing men in our squad, Richardson and Weimann arent suited to playing on the wings in a 442. Bacuna might be but apart from that we just dont have that type of player in the squad. Maybe try Bacuna and Richardson as two wing backs on Saturday. Okore, Vlaar and Cissokho as the three centre backs. Sanchez to be fair does give us some ball winning ability in midfield to protect them.
As for the other positions, without Delph we lack any kind of drive in midfield. Westwood and Cleverley are far too passive on the ball and in their play. Neither of them ever looks to get past the forward, Platt like. Could Bacuna develop into that player for us. Has the build of an Ian Taylor anyway and he showed last season he can get goals. Would add much needed pace into our midfield in Delph's absence but can be incredibly headless at times. Benteke took ages last season to get properly fit and looks like it will the the same this term. Either Gabby plays on the left or on the bench for me. Weimann, Nzogbia, Bent, Cole - its like bald men fighting over a comb, the further up the pitch you go. Not sure what the least worst option is, probably to keep playing Benteke for the 6-8 games it takes for him to get up to speed
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It is strange as we look set up for 3-5-2 with his purchases too.
I would try it but have Lowton over Bacuna simply for his ability to cross the ball which is much better than Bacuna.
Then have Sanchez, Cleverley and Westwood with Cleverley pushed right up, and Benteke up front with Grealish off him. The rest are failing, why not give the lad a run there.
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If this article by Gary Neville is anything to go by, we should be ashamed of ourselves at the lack of scoring opportunities.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/11202272/Premier-League-football-is-witnessing-the-death-of-defending-as-I-knew-it-and-its-not-coming-back.html
I'd agree with that on the whole.
I also don't think the parking the bus technique is actually a valid defensive tactic either. It will fail more than it'll succeed and works only in the right circumstances, but for me, and this was particularly evident in the first four defeats in our five game winless run, that camping 9-10 of year players in and around your own penalty area and letting the opposition try and dig a way through is essentially more of a numbers game rather than anything particularly tactical. It always suggests to me a lack of tactical nous from a manager, which is why I think Lambert uses it against pretty much any top 10 side.
It also falls apart if you concede. The sole purpose of playing that way is to prevent the opposition from scoring , but if they do manage to then a whole new approach has to be adopted. That's not particularly easy to do during the course of a game.
It might sound obvious, but I think the first goal of the game is crucial for us. If the opposition get it I always feel we will struggle to get anything out of the game.
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We need to score within 34 minutes of playing spurs
If we don't manage it, we will break into the Premier League top 10 of minutes without scoring
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I have serious doubts about Jack Grealish. I think he is not ready. Over the past few seasons we have set young players back by throwing them into shit or bust games without proper help and support around them. Look at the kicking he got against Hull. If we had had a Teale or a Taylor or a Mellberg in that team the first Hull player to crunch Grealish would have paid the price. Who is going to offer him that kind of protection today, Cleverley? Westwood? Bacuna? As if.
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We don't help ourselves by not buying a raffle ticket, I have never witnessed a team so unwilling to have a long range shot as the Villa. At least Sanchez had a go last week, but don't worry son, they will coach that out of you.
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Bent might be a busted flush but at this moment he's the only busted flush we got in our locker
Give me a chocolate teapot over a busted flush anytime....and we've got 2 of them
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Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere else but Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 20 times since we scored a goal.
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Irrespective of what selections Lambert makes, we are entirely predictable in the way we set up.
No width, no support for the front man, a midfield that never moves ahead of the ball & a complete reluctance to take a shot.
In all honesty, I don't trust Lambert to know how to change things.
A period where we didn't keep losing key players to injury might help too.
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What's a 'goal'?
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Having just watched Arse on MOTD, I was struck by how they represent almost everything that we're not: their flowing, dynamic football wherein each player seems always to be looking to make an instant impact on the game, are interchangeable and have something a little different in their skillset.
Compared with us: our players are static, slow in build-up, lacking in an overall footballing philosophy and seemingly limited in perspective.
It's a bit frightening, really; certainly despairing.
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I'm not really bothered about Arsenal being the antithesis of Villa - they have better players, an intelligent manager and don't seem to be scared of a football. What bothers me is that the Arsenal I grew up knowing - lucky, one-nil, arms permanently raised for offside - is ancient history. There's no reason to really hate Arsenal now apart from the sense of entitlement being a member of the Big 4 fosters. Wenger went in and changed a nasty, cynical side into a team that plays beautiful football. They should score far more than they do, but what pisses me off when I watch Arsenal is how much pleasure those fans must get just seeing them mount an attack. I bet half the chancers who have season tickets at the Emirates don't realise how fortunate they are.
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I didn't think Lowton did that badly against QPR. Yes his crossing wasn't great but he needs a lot more games to get match ready. All the crossing was poor so I'll leave Lowton alone. But, he got into the right areas, was always looking to link play and venture forward and he defended well. I'd play him against Tottenham.
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I'm not really bothered about Arsenal being the antithesis of Villa - they have better players, an intelligent manager and don't seem to be scared of a football. What bothers me is that the Arsenal I grew up knowing - lucky, one-nil, arms permanently raised for offside - is ancient history. There's no reason to really hate Arsenal now apart from the sense of entitlement being a member of the Big 4 fosters. Wenger went in and changed a nasty, cynical side into a team that plays beautiful football. They should score far more than they do, but what pisses me off when I watch Arsenal is how much pleasure those fans must get just seeing them mount an attack. I bet half the chancers who have season tickets at the Emirates don't realise how fortunate they are.
No, but they exemplify the type of game we should be playing and aren't. Regardless of player-quality, if we were playing more dynamically and with greater purpose we'd be enjoying the games and doing ok.
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Lambert keeps on going on about we have to put the chances away....we don't create enough....it's really that easy.
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I have serious doubts about Jack Grealish. I think he is not ready. Over the past few seasons we have set young players back by throwing them into shit or bust games without proper help and support around them. Look at the kicking he got against Hull. If we had had a Teale or a Taylor or a Mellberg in that team the first Hull player to crunch Grealish would have paid the price. Who is going to offer him that kind of protection today, Cleverley? Westwood? Bacuna? As if.
Rather him than the midfield three we have today. Id rather play Grealish through the middle not out wide
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Scored more than 1 only 3 times in 26 games. Worse before it gets better.
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why not give bent and benteke a chance together up front?
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why not give bent and benteke a chance together up front?
With Tekkers out for three games, I think we should give Bent a chance to stake a claim. Stick Weimann up by him to do the donkey work and leave him ready to do some poaching.
When Benteke comes back, hopefully fitter and more ready to go, then who knows. I certainly think if there's one player who could get the best out of Bent, it would be Benteke. He used to have a field day playing with Kenwyne Jones. CB can all that Jones did and a truckload more of course.
Bent is looking more and more like a busted flush but just for the sake of freshening things up and shaking us about a bit, I'd like us to give him one more chance now. He's no good coming from the bench. Better to start him and take him off after 60-70 minutes.
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Stop playing hoofball. Play the ball to Benteke's feet. Play with greater width. Use the whole width of the pitch going forward. Take on defenders by running hard for the by line then smacking it hard and low across the face of the goal. Cut out passing the ball two yards on the central edge of the box. I have no problem with lateral passing to retain possession, just when you do go forward go at pace and with strength.
Non tactically, everybody goes on the scales twice a week. No bone or tendon snapping ferocity at BH, train like track athletes to become lean, quick and go the full 90 minutes flat out. Too many of our players are both mentally and physically flabby - Cole, Bent, Gabby - flabby players usually end up on the side with a 0 on the score sheet.
Precisely.
And stop using Weimann and Gabby to cross the thing and get them on the end of the crosses.
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As we saw on Sunday, getting Weimann in the box will help, regardless of anything else that happened his goal was one hell of a good finish.
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Scored more than 1 only 3 times in 26 games. Worse before it gets better.
Hull twice and Norwich? That is really damning.
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My Albyun mates are currently pissing themselves at our expense with an internet photo-fact stating the official website has had to cancel the October goal of the month competition because we didnt score one. I cant be arsed to check whether its true but I currently have no comeback. I feel like ive had my pants pulled down in front of the whole class.....
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My Albyun mates are currently pissing themselves at our expense with an internet photo-fact stating the official website has had to cancel the October goal of the month competition because we didnt score one. I cant be arsed to check whether its true but I currently have no comeback. I feel like ive had my pants pulled down in front of the whole class.....
If you have an Albion friend, now is the time for that friendship to end...
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My Albyun mates are currently pissing themselves at our expense with an internet photo-fact stating the official website has had to cancel the October goal of the month competition because we didnt score one. I cant be arsed to check whether its true but I currently have no comeback. I feel like ive had my pants pulled down in front of the whole class.....
Weimann's got to think he's in with a great chance of bagging November's now.
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We could organise a "Simpleton of the Month" competition for West Bromwich Albion supporters. Let's face it, there would be no danger of it having to be cancelled for lack of entries.
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My Albyun mates are currently pissing themselves at our expense with an internet photo-fact stating the official website has had to cancel the October goal of the month competition because we didnt score one. I cant be arsed to check whether its true but I currently have no comeback. I feel like ive had my pants pulled down in front of the whole class.....
You could always tell them we don't have a goal of the month competition.
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Scored more than 1 only 3 times in 26 games. Worse before it gets better.
I can remember going 2 up against Hull and thinking wow this is quite a treat having a two-goal cushion, but even that didn't last and we had to cling on! The problem is Lambert's teams retreat when we go a goal up which invites pressure and we inevitably concede.
I really wish we would go 442 and just attack. Everyone we play knows exactly what to expect.
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My Albyun mates are currently pissing themselves at our expense with an internet photo-fact stating the official website has had to cancel the October goal of the month competition because we didnt score one. I cant be arsed to check whether its true but I currently have no comeback. I feel like ive had my pants pulled down in front of the whole class.....
You could always tell them we don't have a goal of the month competition.
You can also tell them we only played 3 games in October. I have a sneaky feeling we aren't the first side in history not to score for 3 games.
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My Albyun mates are currently pissing themselves at our expense with an internet photo-fact stating the official website has had to cancel the October goal of the month competition because we didnt score one. I cant be arsed to check whether its true but I currently have no comeback. I feel like ive had my pants pulled down in front of the whole class.....
You could always tell them we don't have a goal of the month competition.
You can also tell them we only played 3 games in October. I have a sneaky feeling we aren't the first side in history not to score for 3 games.
you could also just remind him he's an Albion fan and walk away. They know who and what they are.
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Don't worry, all will be fine:
Midfielder Joe Cole has backed in-form forward Charles N'Zogbia, 28, to provide the goals Aston Villa need.
From The Sun and repeated by the BBC Gossip Column.
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Don't worry, all will be fine:
Midfielder Joe Cole has backed in-form forward Charles N'Zogbia, 28, to provide the goals Aston Villa need.
From The Sun and repeated by the BBC Gossip Column.
I'd rather Cole backed himself to run more than ten yards without looking like he needs a defibrillator pretty sharpish.
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Yes a player with a career average of 1 in 10 is the key to all our goalscoring woes.
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Goo....Goe..Gee.......sorry no comprehende..........
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We're now the lowest scorers in the division in our own right. 27 more goalless draws would probably be just about enough.
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We're now the lowest scorers in the division in our own right. 27 more goalless draws would probably be just about enough.
I presume we're also the lowest scorers in all four divisions as well, not just our own.
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It's not acceptable whichever way you look at it.
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5 goals scored all season.
FIVE fucking goals.
The next time we play, it is virtually the end on November!!
FIVE FUCKING GOALS.
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Not sure what is the fewest league goals we've scored in a season since we were founded but were heading for an extremely low figure which puts so much pressure on the defence, great to get a point today but I'm so worried, just got to hope the Beast can hit the net enough to keep us up but its looking really bad.
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We're now the lowest scorers in the division in our own right. 27 more goalless draws would probably be just about enough.
I presume we're also the lowest scorers in all four divisions as well, not just our own.
Yes we are, what a discrace. Burnley have scored 6, no other team in any of the four leagues is on single figures. I am desperately hoping he goes this week.
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Not sure what is the fewest league goals we've scored in a season since we were founded but were heading for an extremely low figure which puts so much pressure on the defence, great to get a point today but I'm so worried, just got to hope the Beast can hit the net enough to keep us up but its looking really bad.
1969/70 36 goals
1968/69 37 goals
2011/12 37 goals (Mcleish)
2013/14 39 goals (Lambert)
2005/06 42 goals
Very good chance that Lambert will smash the record for lowest goals scored in a season ever.
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Our current rate of scoring would leave us with around 17/18 goals by the end of the season. If it wasn't so depressing it'd almost be funny how bad we are. Maybe we'll have a good laugh in years to come.
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I guess Man. City fans do.
Didn't they score only 10 home goals in a season a few years ago under Pearce? They must've been pretty low scoring that season.
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While it's not normally as bad as it is now, our goal scoring record over the last 30 odd years is pretty shite. Apart from the 71 under Pubey I struggle to think of a good season. And even then a hell of a lot were from set pieces (I know they all count but you know what I mean).
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Lowest goal scorers in the PL so far this season. We're into November and we've scored just 5 bloody goals. It's just appalling. David Moyes is available yet we still stick by this absolute disaster of a manager.
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It's all very worrying
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It got me thinking what our actual record is during my time, so here goes.
Working backwards it is
39
47
37
48
52 (Pubey last season)
54
71
43 (Pubey first season)
42
45
48
42 (SGTII)
46
46
46
51
49
47 (5th uncer BL)
52
51 (42 games)
46 (42 games)
57 (42 games, 2nd) Oldham scored more and only stayed up on GD
48 (42 games)
46 (38 games)
57 (38 games 2nd)
45 (38 games)
68 (44 games in div 2)
45 (42 games from here on down)
51
60
59
62
55 (1982)
72 (CHAMPIONS!)
51
59
57
76 (1977)
51
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Someone had better appreciate me being a sad git and doing all that!
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Well done PWS. Nice work.
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Great stats PWS, can't see us getting anywhere near 37 our previous worst under TSM
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Someone had better appreciate me being a sad git and doing all that!
Well you had to have a break from staring at Kaley's Cuoco's. ;)
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Lambert to break another unwanted record? Yep, sounds about right. On current form in front of goal we're done for and it'll take a significant turnaround to sort us out.
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Seriously, think about it. Ignore the results part, just the goals scored bit.
We have played seven games and scored ONE goal.
We've played 11 matches this season and scored FIVE goals. We didn't even score in our Capital One Cup match at home to Leyton Orient.
That is the worst in the Premier League.
How anyone thinks this bloke is going to turn things around is beyond me.
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Lambert stifles creativity. Delph, Westwood and Cleverly, or Sanchez, are not creative players, if we insist on playing this diamond, or playing a totally disinterested Agbonlahor and consistently underperforming Wiemann as wide players, what do we expect? Benteke needs a winger or a solid partner. Lambert wouldn't know what a creative player is, judging on the current bunch.
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Seriously, think about it. Ignore the results part, just the goals scored bit.
We have played seven games and scored ONE goal.
We've played 11 matches this season and scored FIVE goals. We didn't even score in our Capital One Cup match at home to Leyton Orient.
That is the worst in the Premier League.
How anyone thinks this bloke is going to turn things around is beyond me.
Good point. Lambert moans about perspective yet fails to consider that we also played Orient and QPR during this spell, lost to both, failed to score, creative next to piss all. This tenure is boring, tedious, totally fucking annoying and yet Lerner does fuck all about it.
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Seriously, think about it. Ignore the results part, just the goals scored bit.
We have played seven games and scored ONE goal.
We've played 11 matches this season and scored FIVE goals. We didn't even score in our Capital One Cup match at home to Leyton Orient.
That is the worst in the Premier League.
How anyone thinks this bloke is going to turn things around is beyond me.
Sometimes during a goal drought you can have an element of misfortune. It could seem like nothing goes right. The woodwork keeps you out time and again, or an inspired opposition goalkeeper.
What makes our run most worrying is that there has been no misfortune about it whatsoever. We've not created enough, we not tested goalkeepers. Adrian didn't have a decent save to make all game.
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The fact is that we can't get other scoring options in until January, and probably wouldn't get them in until deadline day, so February 2015. This manager can't seem to wring goals out of what I think is a fairly mediocre squad, but not in essence a terrible one. Austin at QPR isn't a vastly different proposition from Weimann, for example. I maintain another manager with less stubborn ideas could see us out of trouble fairly swiftly.
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I agree. The goalscoring options aren't the biggest problem.
The manager, week after week, sends out that team and has them look less than the sum of its parts.
I honestly don't know how the club can really expect us to put up with this shit. I look at the clubs around us, and I see them play, and invariably I see them showing much, much more life than we do. We just look so moribund.
In fact, the first half today was the most moribund I've seen us look in years.
Buying players will not change this. The problem is the manager. He is absolutely clueless, an absolute fucking chancer. He needs to be moved on at the earliest opportunity. The problem is, the chairman loves him.
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The fact is that we can't get other scoring options in until January, and probably wouldn't get them in until deadline day, so February 2015. This manager can't seem to wring goals out of what I think is a fairly mediocre squad, but not in essence a terrible one. Austin at QPR isn't a vastly different proposition from Weimann, for example. I maintain another manager with less stubborn ideas could see us out of trouble fairly swiftly.
First thing we need is a fresh system and a new game plan. Any decent manager worth his salt would see that and I also agree about Weimann. Austin is all about finishing. His all round game is pretty limited, as is Weimanns.
I honestly thing Pulis would have a field day with having the likes of Benteke, Bent and Weimann at his disposal. I'd also fancy him to get the best (or close to) from Gabby again, as well as Zogbia. We'd not be particularly pretty but we'd probably be effective.
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Everything points to the club needing a new manager
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I agree. The goalscoring options aren't the biggest problem.
The manager, week after week, sends out that team and has them look less than the sum of its parts.
I honestly don't know how the club can really expect us to put up with this shit. I look at the clubs around us, and I see them play, and invariably I see them showing much, much more life than we do. We just look so moribund.
In fact, the first half today was the most moribund I've seen us look in years.
Buying players will not change this. The problem is the manager. He is absolutely clueless, an absolute fucking chancer. He needs to be moved on at the earliest opportunity. The problem is, the chairman loves him.
It is made all the worse when said Manager describes a performance such as today as 'excellent' and 'first class'.
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One of Agbonlahor's issues is that he needs to be given one task rather than told to play up front and get on with it. He hasn't got enough about him to sniff out a chance.
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Gabby is so annoying , he has this habit of smiling in all the wrong moments. Seen again today.
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Gabby needs to be moved on asap he's been here far too long doing nothing. Today was a prime example of him at his finest, blazes a shot miles over and just laughs about it. I do not rate him and can't wait for the day he gets sold.
I said at the start of the season he wouldn't score more than 6 goals. I'm still standing by this.
Why on earth are we still relying on this knucklehead to win us games, he's had his best season of 13 league goals 4 and a half years ago.
Lambert is a prized donkey, Gabby should of been transfer listed in the summer and we should of bought Finnbogason. He would of been relatively cheap but so effective.
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Imagine you are at work, and you make a fairly major fcuk up. I dunno, a company goes down stinging you for £400k for example and you turn to your boss and laugh. That is the equivalent of what Gabby does when he misses.
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I agree. The goalscoring options aren't the biggest problem.
The manager, week after week, sends out that team and has them look less than the sum of its parts.
I honestly don't know how the club can really expect us to put up with this shit. I look at the clubs around us, and I see them play, and invariably I see them showing much, much more life than we do. We just look so moribund.
In fact, the first half today was the most moribund I've seen us look in years.
Buying players will not change this. The problem is the manager. He is absolutely clueless, an absolute fucking chancer. He needs to be moved on at the earliest opportunity. The problem is, the chairman loves him.
And yet he seems to have a network of boneheads in the media like McInally and Charlie Nicholas who always excuse him with the no money, bringing young lads through schtick. Randy is probably too dumb to notice but his own failings have masked Lamberts deficiencies among what seems like a fair number of neutrals as well as many of our own fans.
Speaking of Nicholas, why is it that he always covers our games on Soccer Saturday? Maybe he's told the producer that Lambert doesn't deserve to be scrutinized so let me take all the Villa games.
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Why we persist with Gabby through the middle in the absence of Benteke or Kozak just mystifies me, he has not got the intelligence to play there, his speed has gone , he is useless in the air and his finishing is championship standard at best.
In the poor state we are in for forward players and I do not count Bent as one of our options, again a player that gets better in peoples minds for every game he misses, he needs to play Andi through the middle at least he has some sort of attackers instinct, Gabby has none.
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I think the reason we persist with Gabby is because our clueless manager actually believes he will score goals
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Whats the plan to score goals? We dont get any decent crosses in our midfielders dont play any through balls we realy should be doing better with the players we have
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Agree with a lot if the above posts but genuinely think we'll be fine when Delph returns to play alongside Sanchez and either Westwood or Cleverley, and Benteke has Weimann up front with him with Charlie or Jack floating
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Agree with a lot if the above posts but genuinely think we'll be fine when Delph returns to play alongside Sanchez and either Westwood or Cleverley, and Benteke has Weimann up front with him with Charlie or Jack floating
Morning Paul.
Delph is out till the new year.
Loads and if, buts, and maybes in that statement.
Yeah, we'll be fine...this team has goals in it and we go again!
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Agree with a lot if the above posts but genuinely think we'll be fine when Delph returns to play alongside Sanchez and either Westwood or Cleverley, and Benteke has Weimann up front with him with Charlie or Jack floating
Morning Paul.
Delph is out till the new year.
Loads and if, buts, and maybes in that statement.
Yeah, we'll be fine...this team has goals in it and we go again!
If Delph decides he wants to leave we may have no choice but to cash in when Jan arrives. Alternatively if he signs a pre=deal with someone there's very little to stop him taking his foot off the gas for his last 4 months.
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It's not just the movement of the front men that needs to be increased but also the practicing of the runs they intend to make so the midfield can make correct decisions. It was apparent yesterday that the midfield didn't know where Gabby was going to make a run to.
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In terms of Gabby I think Lambert uses him all wrong. Whenever Gabby has been good for us it's been when he gets the ball and runs at defenders and commits. He had 2-3 moments yesterday when he did that. Not enough. He roasted Collins (sadly going onto his left peg) and also one a free kick which we wasted. That's what Gabby does well. We've seen it so rarely in the last couple of season.
I don't want to see Gabby with his back to goal or trying to be a playmaker. He's a crap footballer. He can't trap a ball or pass it, so why do we push him to be something he's not?
Play Gabby wide, or pull him a little deeper and play the ball in front of him. Get him running at fullbacks and center-halves. Getting him committing players to draw fouls. It's the only thing he's good at and he's actually very good at it.
If our midfield and attack seem like separate entities I'd like to give Gabby the ball in midfield and just run with it. Nothing subtle just a bit of the old Run Forrest Run!!!
I do worry he hasn't got the legs to do it too much during a game, which might mean making him an impact player.
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It's not just the movement of the front men that needs to be increased but also the practicing of the runs they intend to make so the midfield can make correct decisions. It was apparent yesterday that the midfield didn't know where Gabby was going to make a run to.
Macdonalds?
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Lambert is too short of ideas or tactics. Counter attack doesn't work when you're losing. As we have seen this season, when we have gone behind it's game over.
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I wonder if we'd signed Ki would he have made more of a difference than Tom "just there" Cleverly.
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I wonder if we'd signed Ki would he have made more of a difference than Tom "just there" Cleverly.
Hard to say. He's very similar to Westwood, though a much better version. But Lambert would play both and thus have then cancel each other out in the same way as Westwood and TC do.
Ki is the best of the bunch though. Evidently he was probably our first choice and TC is the back up.