West Ham v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

Another problem that yesterday exposed was that without Gabby we're very one paced which tends to make us very easy to defend against, particularly when the passing from midfield becomes predictable as it did after a bright opening.

As I keep saying it's going to take time; both in terms of the players getting used to the managers ideas and he in turn getting to understand the strengths of those at his disposal.

Been saying the same for ages Chris. We might be the slowest team in the league and especially in midfield and defence. Even with Gabby, he's only one player. When we had Ash and Downing with Gabby, and Barry quickly knocking the ball into wide areas we could break with speed. We struggle now with that and it does make us vunerable in all three phases of the game.

[KRS]

The main conundrum is Bent...if we dont play to his strengths and provide him with service then we might as well sell him as he's just a waste of space otherwise. We need to compliment him with a couple of wingers, a big hold up guy to play alongside him...or both. Bent is never going to be that striker who can control the ball, look up and hit a powerful shot into the top corner from outside the box, so unless we play to his strengths which is playing the ball over the shoulder of the last defender or into the box, then we're going tp have many games where he hardly touches the ball let alone have any shots on goal.

You've captured the Bent problem exactly, but if we play two wingers and a big guy alongside, we suffer the problem we had with MON: we become soft through central MF.

I think that out-and-out wingers on each side is a luxury we cannot afford: the conundrum for me is who plays in the middle and who plays up front! (sorry about the statement of the bleedin' obvious).

Bent will deliver for us if we have a dynamic attacking midfielder 'in the hole': Ireland could be that player but - as Brian says  - he's a bit too in-and-out; GG could play there but his development seems to have slowed at the moment; Johnson might be the man but lacks experience; Holman might be that player once he's got the pace of the EPL sussed.

Width has to come from the FB, IMO; and from the striker's movement.

I can see Gabby playing much better than Bent in the set-up we saw yesterday.

The solution is a combination of both otherwise you have no plan B if either the man in the hole or the fullbacks are unable to push forward. Personally I would deploy a winger over a target man to work with Bent...an attack minded player that can switch flanks during the game, look for weaknesses and disrupt the oppostions defence, whilst providing service to Bent in and around the box. To compliment this when we push forward, you have the man in the hole behind Bent and fullbacks providing support. The only alternative with a target man upfront is someone like Carroll holding the ball up and providing flick ons which is hit and miss at the best of times and doesnt really fit with Lamberts footballing philosophy.

For me, having a player like Adam Johnson on the ball can frighten the living daylights out of any opposition fullback and makes them less likely to push forward...or if they do, they will expose space to be exploited at the back. Arguably Albrighton or N'Zogbia could do this role but neither player seems to be as confident, skillful or capable as Johnson who can beat a man, deliver a dangerous ball into the box or test the keeper with a powerful shot from range.

On a side note...Adam Johnson hasnt even made the bench today for Citeh, so spending £10-15m on him could easily be justified if it brings us goals and provides an outlet relieving pressure on the back four. Bring in a LB on the back of the sales of Hutton and Warnock and we should be good to go till January when we can decide if we need anoher striker.

edit: this would work in a 4231 with the 2 defensive midfielders protecting the back 4 and distributing the ball, Ireland playing centrally behind Bent, with 2 players from Holman, Albrighton and N'Zog providing width or coming inside...ideally one of those players would be Adam Johnson if we're in for him.

Based on yesterdays starting XI...

Given
Lowton Vlaar Clark Baker
KEA Delph
Holman Ireland Johnson
Bent

[KevinGage]

Does anyone thing Clark will be switched to left back when Dunne returns? 

If money is tight (and that seems to be the case)  I think he'll get an extended run there. 

Not many sides play with two attacking fullbacks, so -for balance-  I reckon whoever plays on the left will be more defensive minded. Clark is more of a footballer too. Might lack a bit of pace, but could be more comfortable in the role than Cuellar was at RB, for example.

[Walmley_Villa]

I think Pubehead will get Johnson at the SoL.

[Toronto Villa]

Does anyone thing Clark will be switched to left back when Dunne returns? 

If money is tight (and that seems to be the case)  I think he'll get an extended run there. 

Not many sides play with two attacking fullbacks, so -for balance-  I reckon whoever plays on the left will be more defensive minded. Clark is more of a footballer too. Might lack a bit of pace, but could be more comfortable in the role than Cuellar was at RB, for example.

Too slow Kev. It will be like that game when Barry played LB against Reading and the winger (Little I think) tore him a new one time after time. That's the game that the ginger ninja scored twice.

I'd sooner he keeps developing at CB and we bought a pacy LB that came cover behind the CB's as needed but can also join the attack and add width.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I was buzzing on the way down on way back it felt like last season all over again. Not pressing the panic buttonyet but were going to have to up our game. Football was better but it just wasn't goin anywhere, didn't have that quality in the final 3rd very disappointing

[Chipsticks]

I know a lot of people keep saying we're lacking a winger, and we did, but we've got Albrighton to come back yet. And to a lesser extent Gabby as well.

[silhillvilla]

Just back from game / London
That was thoroughly shit
As bad as anything McLeish served up

[andrew08]

Just back from game / London
That was thoroughly shit
As bad as anything McLeish served up

Agree, no better than the last game against Norwich.

[luke25]

Just back from game / London
That was thoroughly shit
As bad as anything McLeish served up

Agree, no better than the last game against Norwich.

It was just as shit but its going to take time, a lot of time probably.

[Matt Collins]

There will be more games like that - possession and no penetration - as we adjust to an entirely new style.

[Dave Clark Five]

Does anyone thing Clark will be switched to left back when Dunne returns? 

Depends how much you read into Lambert saying he is a centre half.

[john2710]

Just back from game / London
That was thoroughly shit
As bad as anything McLeish served up

With more or less the same group of players should we expect anything else, especially while the style of play settles. Under Houllier we were changing to a similar style and it was beginning to deliver results.

As much as we lacked penetration, in no way was it as soul destroying as watching any team inspired by TSM. We may not finish much higher in the table but the football will NEVER be as dire as what we had to endure last season. 

[Percy McCarthy]

It might have been as bad as Norwich, but I seriously doubt it will be when the manager's had a whole season in the job.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Bannan doesn't have the pace or one-on-one running ability to be an out-and-out winger. I still think we should play him ahead of N'Zogbia though.

I wouçd have Hutton ahead of NŹogbia.