Aston Villa v Everton Post-Match Thread

[se16]

At least Lambert now knows what a major task he's got on his hands.

First half was dire but what can you expect when half the team are academy players against an in form team. It's not fair on them.

45 minutes before our first shot at goal! Woeful, and what's the point of continually lobbing the ball up to Darren Bent when he's on the edge of the penalty area all the time! Fat lot he can do there.

N'Zogbia and Fonz are a waste of space and Bannan isn't the answer.

Being a Villa supporter hasn't been much fun for a while now.

Oh well, at least Birmingham are losing.

[nuninho]

It wasn't the fans sitting in the stands letting 3 goals in either.  Its about £125 per home per win in the last season and today based on an average season ticket of £500.

[pauliewalnuts]

Alternatively, we had a lot of young players on the pitch, a new manager and four debutants. It's hardly an endorsement of our fans to be booing them off after a bad 45 minutes. It's hardly getting them thrilled at the prospect of being here. Might as well take this nonsense down if we carry on like that.

Hmm, a few of the young players have had quite a few chances over a few years to show something now, and have shown very little.

[jembob]

Everton are a strong team and their first half display was full of confidence. They may regret taking the piss in the second half - if we were playing Chelsea or Manure today they would have kept their foot on the gas and it would have been 6 or 7.

I can take a loss like this if the manager learns something about his squad. Today he will have seen the Bannan, Fonz and Given aren't good enough. We seemed to have a lot more purpose and energy once that Wee Barry had been taken off.

Impressed by all the new players.

[Tom_Mc9?]

Reasons to be optimistic:
We're trying to pass the ball nowadays.
The new signings looked good, which is promising.
We are looking to improve the squad and I believe we will.
We're shifting some of the 'bad apples.'

Everything that could go wrong today did go wrong - a red card, an early goal, a goalkeeping blunder. Yes, we could have conceded more, but I think we'll actually be just fine. I hate saying this, because it's a massive cliche, but it's another season of transition (hopefully the last for a while) as we are trying to totally change the attitudes of many of the players both on and off the pitch. People can moan all they like, but it's not all bad news.

[PaulWinch again]

To be fair that first half performance was about as bad as it gets on every level, so if people are ever going to boo it's then.

[Tom_Mc9?]

Hmm, a few of the young players have had quite a few chances over a few years to show something now, and have shown very little.

I agree to an extent. Players like Delfouneso are never going to make it at this level. No shame in that, and also not his fault he got picked. It could also be argued that after graduating into the first team, they haven't exactly had the best mentors.

[Ross]

I don't seem to recall Bent's movement being a problem when he could make runs knowing Young, Downing and Milner could slide balls in or him. It's a bit harder hen his 'service' is a 50 yard hoof over his head. It's the service, stupid.

[nuninho]

Hmm, a few of the young players have had quite a few chances over a few years to show something now, and have shown very little.

I agree to an extent. Players like Delfouneso are never going to make it at this level. No shame in that, and also not his fault he got picked. It could also be argued that after graduating into the first team, they haven't exactly had the best mentors.

Haven't had the best Mentors is a brilliant point Tom.  We have no-one to look up to in the squad.  No one prepared to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, go round bollocking people for mistakes.  No leaders.  That's the main reason I think we're in this position.

Bent isn't a captain.  No one in that squad today deserves to be.  At 1-0 down today heads went down, I saw no-one going round picking everyone up.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert after his side's 3-1 home defeat to Everton: "I know it's a huge job here. We are trying everything to sort it out. For every negative there's a positive and at least we didn't capitulate.

"Will there be any new signings? We'll have to wait and see what happens over the next few days. It's a really young side and sometimes you need a bit of help."

As Norwich fans warned us, he gives nothing away.

[Tuscans]

I'm hoping a home win against Tranmere on Tuesday will boost the confidence of some lads there.

My team for Tuesday......          Guzan (Think Shay is 3 seasons past his best)

                       Lowton         Ron       Baker           Lichaj


                                                 Delph

                                     Ireland        El Ahmadi
                                               
                                                Holman

                                  Weimann           Bent


A good display, coupled with a few goals to send us into the next round then announcements on Thursday and Friday of 4 new signings.... 

[achilles]

PL didn't help himself with that team selection, it was dreadful... so lightweight in midfield, Everton just overran us and it was so easy for them.

That was utterly shocking, at least we found out that some of those players are at best championship players! By the way if Bent does not get any service he does absolutely nothing to help the team.

Pretty depressed and its only the second game of the season!

[SoccerHQ]

Don't understand the criticism of booing at half time.

I was in the Holte end today and even after the early goal, it was all still pro chanting and support.

There's only so much people can take, I defy anyone to say any other prem team wouldn't have been booed off if they were 3-0 down to Everton and being pissed off.

Last season I fully expected it with TSM being in charge and all I've seen this season is more of the same standard really.

[Monty]

Hmm, a few of the young players have had quite a few chances over a few years to show something now, and have shown very little.

I agree to an extent. Players like Delfouneso are never going to make it at this level. No shame in that, and also not his fault he got picked. It could also be argued that after graduating into the first team, they haven't exactly had the best mentors.

Haven't had the best Mentors is a brilliant point Tom.  We have no-one to look up to in the squad.  No one prepared to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, go round bollocking people for mistakes.  No leaders.  That's the main reason I think we're in this position.

Bent isn't a captain.  No one in that squad today deserves to be.  At 1-0 down today heads went down, I saw no-one going round picking everyone up.

Not to mention the managers. MON was hardly interested in the young players, Houllier's season was marred by disciplinary problems with the older players (each undermining each other) and McLeish spent half his time blaming young players and not helping their confidence at all (and I would be surprised if his training methods helped develop their skills). Maybe they need some time and care under Lambert before we really judge them finally.

[john2710]

We are lacking any physical presence in midfield or up front.

It was, in most parts, men against boys.

We need experienced premiership players, not a team full of so called promising players who may never be good enough.

Signing players from lower leagues are not what we need now.