Aston Villa v West Brom Post-Match Thread

[claret and blue blood]

Just got back, Albion look a stronger team physically than we do,but we matched them at the passing game and showed good character to come back when we could have buckled. Good attacking substitutions from Lambert .The defence does worry me  a bit Clark is  a good footballer and hopefully he will get better (still wouldn't mind seeing Dunne there though) I thought Bennett was really good considering it was his home debut.I thought we missed Ireland in midfield ? Left a lot happier than I thought I would with 15 minutes to go.

[oldham_villa]

I was quite impressed with West Brom, thought they played it around quite well.

Villa were neat and tidy but there was little interchanging between the strikers and the attacking midfield. 

For the third match running I thought Lowton has been lacking a bit of confidence, thought he was the weakest of the back line today. From the initial match at West Ham, where Vlaar was getting too close to the attacker i wonder if he has been told to calm it down a little. I saw him allow Tevez to bring the ball down too often without a challenge on Tues, and today with Long.  Clark is really growing into the centre half role in my eyes - his positioning was great on Tues, and i thought he did alright today, winning more headers. Needs to cut out the cynical ones - the one at the end of the first half was poor and a goal from that would have been harsh. I thought Bennett was excellent today for a young lad making his home debut. I think he will become a very good player for us from what i've seen upto now.

KEA is always available to receive the ball, which is what i like to see. The overplaying in deep areas can and will cost us at times but i like him. Delph had a good game also i thought, thought he was more impressive in the mid-week. Holman will always keep going, another great trait. If we improve our movement up front I think Holman will do an awful lot for us. Albrighton - i'm not entirely sure what Lamberts instructions were for him. I didn't think he did too bad and he is getting his fitness back. Will be great to see him firing on all cylinders again this year and will hopefully get those balls in the box for the strikers to pounce.

Gabby looks much happier up top than he does on the left and he whipped two great balls in early on. Benteke started okay but lost his way. I think he could do with dropping deeper at times, encouraging the midfield to move more into offensive positions. He had a great game at City, so i'm not too concerned at the moment. Once he gets to grips with the league more he will become an asset for us (I hope!) 

CNZ was unlucky not to start after Tuesdays game I thought, and i hope he can finally turn the corner now to become a good link player for us. Bent will surely be gutted not to be starting so i'm hoping this might kick him up the arse to start performing. Bannan did well when coming on also - plays the intelligent ball if the run is made (which hasn't been the case in recent seasons).

Great to see us continue to press forward - think the subs made by Lambert were spot on too. The defence seemed to sit too deep again second half though, which is a bit of a worry.

My mate was relying on us to win today to win his accumulator, so i'll not text him for a bit ! ha

[MonsXI]

We were poor 1-1 was a good result for us.

[Legion]

I thought we did OK. Fair game, fair result. I enjoyed it anyway.

[Brian Taylor]

Back to the drawing board eh? At least they didn't get the killer in the dying minutes. progress there anyway.
We can beat Citeh and we get the run around from the Bags.
Once we click they had all better watch out!

[Legion]

Was the initial pass played to someone in an offside position?

[SashasGrandad]

We were poor 1-1 was a good result for us.

We were not poor. Me thinks you are lacking in experience. It was a million miles from what we saw last season.

Just didn't find a way to deal with the Tesco Baggies tactics. We certainly didn't deserve to lose. There are some very encouraging signs - just be patient it will come.

Despite what some were saying on the radio on the way home - Lambert was right to keep Bent on the bench - he needs to know he is not an automatic choice. Keep him on his toes and he will score goals.

[andyh]

I am still not entirely convinced by Vlaar. I think we all want him to be the new Laursen, and boy god he's a million miles from that. I think he really needs the experience of Dunne alongside before we see the best if him, that said, I wouldn't be averse to seeing Dunne and Clarke together because Clarke is a player.
I think a Bennett deserves a special mention. I thought he was excellent considering the massive step up in class and it being his home debut. I thought he looked like he had being at this level for ever and coped very,very well.
Thought Lambert left it a touch too long to make the changes, but fair play to him and the boys, they kept going till the end, we'd have lost that game last year.

[SoccerHQ]

Bizarre reading the BBC report, they reckon it was a game of few chances?!

[gervilla]

Benteke seems to run quite hot and cold
Superb v Swansea, poor v Southhampton, I gather he looked good v Man City and today he just didn't seem to have his shit together.
Hopefully he'll have a blinder next weekend...if he gets a game.

[barrysleftfoot]

  Just got back, my thoughts.

  Guzan.....ok, not really a save to make, dealt with crosses ok.

  Bennett.......will be ok, plenty of pace, with confidence and belief will be a good attacking FB.Got caught out by the pace of the game, but at 21 is fine.

  Clark.....for me a defensive liability, does'nt read danger, has'nt got the pace to cover his lack of anticipation, left Long wide open for the "offside" goal.Not sure he is better than Baker, certainly not better than Dunne.

 Vlaar.....i thought was steady today, most of their danger came doen Clarks side, and unlucky with the goal, as he actually hit it against Long.

 Lowton, was ok, needs to close down quicker and be a bit more aggressive.

 KEA......for me had a good game, won a lot of the loose balls, and kept the ball well.Needs to speed the game up a bit, but will come with confidence.

  Delph.....for me had a reasonable game.Good bursts throughout the game, drawing defenders out of position, but still prone to the odd mistake.If he could regain his confidence, he could be a very good player.

  Holman.....again for me MOM, the goal come from him closing the LB down, going out for a throw to them right by th corner flag, us getting the ball back, winning a corner, and scoring.Not the most gifted, but tries things.Played well.

  Albrighton......completely devoid of confidence.Needs to go on loan to a Championship club, to see if he can develop some character to be the player he threatened he might.Should'nt be in the 1st 16 on this performance.

  Gabby, and Benteke.....similar games to me, show flashes, show aggression, but don't look like scoring.Benteke to be fair is young, and i think will be a very good player for us.Gabby need s to be a bit more adaptable, and learn how to utilise his strengths more.Should be England C/F , but is a long way off.

 Subs.......every sub worked, Bannan played well, N'Zog made a difference, and Bent scored.Well done Lambert.

 Overall a game we didn't deserve to lose, but probably didn't do enough to win.We will get better, and at least we have a team now that doesn't lie down and die.We would have lost that last season.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I thought Smethwick bossed the midfield for long spells. I like the look of El Ahmedi, but i'm not convinced he's a central midfielder in a 2 man central midfield, he looks better in a 3 to me. I would have liked to have seen us play with Gabby, Bent AND Benteke when chasing the game with Gabby playing wide. I wasn't convinced by the Ollbeyun full backs and I think he could have got at them a little.

On a side note, I couldn't help but laugh at the TEN coaches of Ollbeyun fans who paid £10 to travel how many miles down the road?

[Legion]

I thought Smethwick bossed the midfield for long spells. I like the look of El Ahmedi, but i'm not convinced he's a central midfielder in a 2 man central midfield, he looks better in a 3 to me. I would have liked to have seen us play with Gabby, Bent AND Benteke when chasing the game with Gabby playing wide. I wasn't convinced by the Ollbeyun full backs and I think he could have got at them a little.

On a side note, I couldn't help but laugh at the TEN coaches of Ollbeyun fans who paid £10 to travel how many miles down the road?

We counted eight. £1.80 on the bus.

[Richard Richard]

I thought Smethwick bossed the midfield for long spells. I like the look of El Ahmedi, but i'm not convinced he's a central midfielder in a 2 man central midfield, he looks better in a 3 to me. I would have liked to have seen us play with Gabby, Bent AND Benteke when chasing the game with Gabby playing wide. I wasn't convinced by the Ollbeyun full backs and I think he could have got at them a little.

On a side note, I couldn't help but laugh at the TEN coaches of Ollbeyun fans who paid £10 to travel how many miles down the road?

We counted eight. £1.80 on the bus.

It never fails to amaze me how many coaches Albion and Blues bring.

[ktvillan]

Was the initial pass played to someone in an offside position?

No Lowton on the far side played him on.  It was highlighted by Neville on the Sky commentary.