Aston Villa v Norwich City Match Thread

[eric woolban woolban]

We should just play 4-3-3 and go for the jugular from the off. Get into an unassailable lead and take it from there.

[ozzjim]

I would have given Bent/ Benteke a shot. Gabby has not scored and still not threatened despite playing well last week, and his lack of goals in the league despite playing the vast majority of the last season up front is not good enough, and a large part of why we struggle so much. If Benteke is to be stuck with, which at his age he should as he shows promise long term, niether Gabby nor Bent are the solution alongside him for me.

Anyhow, strange selection all round for me, and Lambert still does not know his best team at all. Just hope we can get a goal up, a bit of confidence and see it through. We need a win, very, very badly.

[VillaAlways]

Last time we won on Sky in the league was when we beat Arsenal 1-2 at the Emirates, May 2011 ( I think).Just another shocking statistic

[JUAN PABLO]

well one win in 18 games is bloody awful.

We have to win .

[OCD]

For those who are asking what's Gabby done to be in the side, I expected him to play purely because of what he did to them in the same fixture last season. He was all over them in what must have been his best performance of the season.

It will be the same formation with the diamond and Albrighton/Herd providing the width on the right. PL likes to have one of Bannan or Albrighton in the side at any one time because they are the main set-piece takers. The Fulham game was a rare occasion where neither were used but I assumed that was because Benteke wasn't playing. We were awful on set pieces last week though.

I thought Albrighton played well in the first half against Albion and then he was awful until he got subbed. Wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happened today. Interesting that there's no N'Zog though - the club's second biggest earner and he can't get on the bench? The biggest earner might not be able to get into the side but we haven't been playing to his strengths - hopefully we can evolve to a point where we can get him the supply he needs.

[Morten]

Agree that Lambert still does not know his best team yet. The various combinations in midfield turn out average, not bad but not breathtaking either. Albrighton owes a really good game, it would be a shame if all that early promise fades.

[richard moore]

I would have given Bent/ Benteke a shot. Gabby has not scored and still not threatened despite playing well last week, and his lack of goals in the league despite playing the vast majority of the last season up front is not good enough, and a large part of why we struggle so much. If Benteke is to be stuck with, which at his age he should as he shows promise long term, niether Gabby nor Bent are the solution alongside him for me.

Anyhow, strange selection all round for me, and Lambert still does not know his best team at all. Just hope we can get a goal up, a bit of confidence and see it through. We need a win, very, very badly.

We could have had Van Persie and Aguerro up front last week but unless someone starts creating chances with accurate balls into and around the area, we won't score in a month of Sundays. The final pass was shocking last week

[ldavfc4eva]

Agreed, must win game this.

Need the 3 points or we we find ourselves in that little group of teams struggling with relegation I think.

3-1 villa benteke 2 and KEA 20 harder, Hoilahan for them

[ozzjim]

I would like to see Westwood get some games at some point - of all the lower league ones signed, he was the one his fans rated the highest of all. Delph has been poor and must be on borrowed time if poor again today.

[ldavfc4eva]

Just seen the team, Herd at CB? No Bent again? Strange choices, 4-3-3 to start with would have been good I think.

[JUAN PABLO]

He's saving Bent for Swindon ;o

[eamonn]

The top five earners - Given, Dunne, N'Zogbia, Bent and Ireland all benched (or injured). It's clear we need more seniority in the team; I'm worried Lambert is trusting youth and inexperience too much.

[Monty]

I would have given Bent/ Benteke a shot. Gabby has not scored and still not threatened despite playing well last week, and his lack of goals in the league despite playing the vast majority of the last season up front is not good enough, and a large part of why we struggle so much. If Benteke is to be stuck with, which at his age he should as he shows promise long term, niether Gabby nor Bent are the solution alongside him for me.

Anyhow, strange selection all round for me, and Lambert still does not know his best team at all. Just hope we can get a goal up, a bit of confidence and see it through. We need a win, very, very badly.

We could have had Van Persie and Aguerro up front last week but unless someone starts creating chances with accurate balls into and around the area, we won't score in a month of Sundays. The final pass was shocking last week

That's not totally the point though. Van Persie and Aguero help create chances as well as finish them. This idea - Bent's idea - that the striker is an isolated figure waiting for his teammates to serve him up ready cut-up, bitesize chances on silver platters. He needs to do his fair share not just hang around and wait for the glory.

[richard moore]

I would have given Bent/ Benteke a shot. Gabby has not scored and still not threatened despite playing well last week, and his lack of goals in the league despite playing the vast majority of the last season up front is not good enough, and a large part of why we struggle so much. If Benteke is to be stuck with, which at his age he should as he shows promise long term, niether Gabby nor Bent are the solution alongside him for me.

Anyhow, strange selection all round for me, and Lambert still does not know his best team at all. Just hope we can get a goal up, a bit of confidence and see it through. We need a win, very, very badly.

We could have had Van Persie and Aguerro up front last week but unless someone starts creating chances with accurate balls into and around the area, we won't score in a month of Sundays. The final pass was shocking last week

That's not totally the point though. Van Persie and Aguero help create chances as well as finish them. This idea - Bent's idea - that the striker is an isolated figure waiting for his teammates to serve him up ready cut-up, bitesize chances on silver platters. He needs to do his fair share not just hang around and wait for the glory.

Agree totally, I was just making the point that it is not down to the strikers and the idea that swapping them around will somehow make some huge difference

[JUAN PABLO]

Delph's eyeballs get me every time on that team sheet