Aston Villa v Norwich City Post-Match Thread

[Monty]

Very, very, very poor. Lambert is not immune to criticism here either - the tactics were absolutely wrong, for the second game running. He cannot persist with two up front - it's over, it can't be done with Villa as we are if you want to play passing football. Everything needs to change for the next game: one up front, not two (and that one has to be Benteke); Delph and Albrighton out, Ireland and Bannan in - they seem to have some sort of understanding and our play is quicker when they're on; the ball HAS to be played out from the back, we're just boofing and gifting away possession, it's like TSM all over again.

One plus point: I was actually pretty impressed with Herd at centre-back.

[PaulWinch again]

Two major problems are we're playing the wrong system completely and we're not even selected the best team available. I repeat Delph and Albrighton shouldn't be anywhere near the squad.

[citizenDJ]

4-4-2 was the wrong formation for the players we have, especially with regard to midfield.

Albrighton, Delph and Agbonlahor have done nothing to show that they should be in the first team. In fact, I'm not at all sure Albrighton is good enough for the Premier League.

Joe Bennett's sending off was stupid, and came about as a result of him struggling badly against an average at best winger.

Replacing Benteke with Bent at that stage of the game was a very poor decision (assuming Benteke wasn't injured or knackered - he didn't appear to be).

I know many of you won't agree with me, but I am starting to doubt that Lambert will be able to turn this around to any great degree.

On a positive note, I though Benteke played very well indeed, and Herd was impressive at centre-back.

[VillaAlways]

Bennett should have been subbed at half time.Why bring Bent on when we're down to 10 men?I don't think we can rely on 3 worse teams because we are easily one of those 3

[ez]

Well we got a point from a game we should have lost. The way our second halfs have been lately the red card may not have made such a difference after all.

[Eigentor]

So far this has looked like a season where we have to beat Norwich at home. And we didn't.

Still, another 87 points to play for. We're far from doomed, but it's a worry that the signs of steady progress we saw at the start of the season seem to have disappeared.

[Proposition Joe]

If I were Benteke I 'd be speaking to my agent about getting me out of this mess in January.

[rob_bridge]

As has been sited on here the midfield is lightweight.

I don't actually think playing Ireland and or Bannan would have changed much.

Lambert probably thought that with Delph, Ireland and CNZ we had enough quality because they looked good 2-3 years ago at other clubs. Add Bannan and Albrighton who looked very promising 2 years ago and he bought 3 others.

Fact is we have to play 5 in the middle of the park (not 4) and I am not sure what the best combo is.

If I am being really honest other than KEA and Holman I don't think any of the others are good enough and/or have the right attitude even for a bottom 6 team. Most of them have had more than enough chances over the last 18 months to prove otherwise and they haven't delivered!!

Well done to Guzan, Vlaar, Benteke and Herd today

[oldtimernow]

Bent on his own up front is as much use as a marzipan dildo.

Albrighton and Delph were headless chickens.

Bennett looks likely to get a booking every match and a sending off every 3rd.

Only Guzan ,Benteke, Vlaar and Herd emerged with any credit

[Monty]

Playing Ireland and Bannan would have made a difference,  as although the midfield would still be lightweight, at least it would be able to play with the ball. Delph today was a shambling slapstick parody of a footballer whenever the ball went near him.

[Percy McCarthy]

Montbert: spot on, especially about Bannan and Ireland. The annoying thing is they've been part of our best midfield performances this season, but Lambert seems to have missed it.

The passing game we played at Newcastle and at home to Swansea could reap greater rewards with Benteke and Gabby finding a bit of form.

Glad Herd did well, along with Guzan, Vlaar and Benteke. They've grabbed their opportunities and now others have to follow suit or we're in the shit.

[rbcuk]

Delph and albrighton needed to have been taken off, looked tired and kept giving the ball away, lichaj was awfull as usual

[dutchvilla]

Credit to Vlaar, Herd and Guzan.

The problem is we don't create enough chances. Maybe we have to go Holman, KEA, Bannan, Ireland, CNZ with Benteke up front on his own? (was CNZ not on the bench? Injured?)

[PaulWinch again]

Delph is a very poor player and if Lambert can't see that I'm very worried.

[Boz]

we will struggle in the championship next season

out played by Norwich, before we even went down to 10 men

in my 36 years of following Villa, that is the worst team i have ever seen - we are playing with at most 7 players every match, that "midfield" is shockingly bad - i have seen better football at my local saturday morning league matches


Randy has fecked us up big style

If this was McLeish still in charge there'd be even more diatribe, but it seems PL's honeymoon is over with the fans and it's understandable after a dire display like today.

When PL was appointed the general consensus was Lerner had got it right at last, now he's fecked is big style! I realise PL is working with constraints but there was optimism about his new players initially, but they are showing their lack of experience in the Premiership as well as an inability to even pass the ball to one of their own team consistently.

I think PL has to accept most of the blame for the performances we're seeing and to repeat again if it was still McLeish we'd have been seeing banners by now.

The fans need to get behind the team because after the next few games we'll be in the bottom three based on the last few performances.