To Paul LambertYou have inherited the dross and sh*te of past of past incumbents.I trust your judgement and you have done well so far, with reservations.Get rid of the rubbish and buy well.Get us through this quarter and show us what you can do after Xmas! Good luck mate!
Quote from: Can Bent Be Bettered!?!? on October 27, 2012, 08:41:03 PMQuote from: PeterWithesShin on October 27, 2012, 08:34:07 PMQuote from: Can Bent Be Bettered!?!? on October 27, 2012, 08:31:55 PMQuote from: barrysleftfoot on October 27, 2012, 08:02:27 PM Have to say after watching Bennetts 2nd yellow, that he was conned into that challenge a bit, and it was probably a bit of 6 of one and half a dozen of another.Bollocks. He acted like a little schoolboy in what he did and contributed to our defeat because of it.Still, he'll (hopefully) learn and continue to progress.Did Norwich score after the final whistle? And the ref allowed it? That's taking Fergie time to a new limit. Eh?Has no one told you we didn't lose today?
Quote from: PeterWithesShin on October 27, 2012, 08:34:07 PMQuote from: Can Bent Be Bettered!?!? on October 27, 2012, 08:31:55 PMQuote from: barrysleftfoot on October 27, 2012, 08:02:27 PM Have to say after watching Bennetts 2nd yellow, that he was conned into that challenge a bit, and it was probably a bit of 6 of one and half a dozen of another.Bollocks. He acted like a little schoolboy in what he did and contributed to our defeat because of it.Still, he'll (hopefully) learn and continue to progress.Did Norwich score after the final whistle? And the ref allowed it? That's taking Fergie time to a new limit. Eh?
Quote from: Can Bent Be Bettered!?!? on October 27, 2012, 08:31:55 PMQuote from: barrysleftfoot on October 27, 2012, 08:02:27 PM Have to say after watching Bennetts 2nd yellow, that he was conned into that challenge a bit, and it was probably a bit of 6 of one and half a dozen of another.Bollocks. He acted like a little schoolboy in what he did and contributed to our defeat because of it.Still, he'll (hopefully) learn and continue to progress.Did Norwich score after the final whistle? And the ref allowed it? That's taking Fergie time to a new limit.
Quote from: barrysleftfoot on October 27, 2012, 08:02:27 PM Have to say after watching Bennetts 2nd yellow, that he was conned into that challenge a bit, and it was probably a bit of 6 of one and half a dozen of another.Bollocks. He acted like a little schoolboy in what he did and contributed to our defeat because of it.Still, he'll (hopefully) learn and continue to progress.
Have to say after watching Bennetts 2nd yellow, that he was conned into that challenge a bit, and it was probably a bit of 6 of one and half a dozen of another.
Formation and tacticsIf you play a basic 442. Your wingers or full backs have to have the quality to beat the opposing player. Your 2 cm players can be water carriers who compete and feed the ball wide. Thfc man utd play that way and have pace and power on the wings. Cfc & mcfc play without wingers but have clever players in the 3 behind the striker. The only 2 players in our squad who can cause problems out wide are gabby and nzogbia. Our full backs look instructed to stay back which means they invite the winger and full backs on. The result is we concede the wide positions and have no attacking threat. When I saw Holman and MA as wingers I thought we had no chance. One cross each and one shot between them. Villa squad would better suit a 4231. We have player options in that formation. We can fill the midfield and pass the ball. To be fair that formation was played against mcfc and then sfc. Two contrasting performances. Trouble is its either bent or Benteke in that formation. We are not good enough to leave Ireland bent nzogbia and Bannan on the bench though. Play gabby zog wide and 2 up top or play 2 holding and three flair players behind 1. Yesterday's team will go down Also down to ten men you expect to defend deeper. Would gabby not albrighton be your best option to break on the opposition ?
Have to say after watching Bennetts 2nd yellow, that he was conned into that challenge a bit, and it was probably a bit of 6 of one and half a dozen of another. One thing i would say in support of Delph, is he has got it in him to be a really good player.He produced 2 great passes in the 1st half, one to Gabby on the edge of the area, when his touch was too heavy and the chance went, one to Benteke when he shot over , but should have laid it back.Granted he doesn't do it enough, but hes not as shit as say Albrighton, who was trully awful today. I am prepared to give Lambert the benefit of the doubt atm, but if he keeps picking Albrighton and Gabby then i might change my mind.
Right, game digested. Not very good in all. First half we were pretty comfortable and looked good value for the lead. I think we had enough to see the game out, perhaps grab another. Unfortunately Bennett got himself sent off. We're a shit side, lets be frank. I mean Norwich are too and yesterday looked very much like a game between two dross teams. We struggle enough with 11 players, so going down to 10 was always going to be an even bigger struggle. The goal was inevitable really, they put us under a lot of pressure. Far too many needless fouls too. Silly freekicks given away. We did it a lot last season and we're still doing it, need to cut it out. Bennett got two yellows with needless, reckless challenges he didn't need to make. Schoolboy errors.Guzan- 8 good game. Made some good catches and punches and a very good safe from Holt. Could have lost the game if not for the Goose.Lowton- 5 Poor. Struggled against the Norwich width. Vlaar- 6 Did okay, but for me doesn't command an area just yet. That might come, but he's struggling a little keeping such a young back line together. A big onus when he himself is stepping up to the Prem. Plays it dangerously physical with the attackers too. He's gonna give away Pens if he's not careful.Herd- 7 Thought he stepped into CH very well. Made some great challenges and clearences. I like Herd, he always comes off the pitch having given his all. Perhaps we should sign a few more Aussies. Pushed his luck a little. Had Bennett not already been off, Herd may have seen red for persisent fouling.Bennett- 4 Poor. Bad decision making, offered nothing in attack and was suspect defensively. No qualms about the sending off. He fouled persisently and could have gone off for an earlier silly challenge. He'd been warned. There's no excuse for these silly fouls but he's not the only guilty party.Albrighton- 4 Poor. Doesn't have the ability and more importantly, stamina for this league. He always looks dead after 60 minutes IMO. Offered nothing and why, after 3 subs he was still on the pitch I don't know.Delph- 6 Did okay but as we've all noticed, he's no holding player, nor is he a Scholes who can sit deep and ping perfect 40 yrd passes for fun. Let him attack more, use his pace otherwise he's not good enough. I'd play Herd in his place next game. KEA- 6 I think he's our best all round midfielder, but I still think he's pretty average. He needs a decent holding player next to him and perhaps he'll be more effective pushed forward more. Can't tackle so he's not gonna be our anchor.Holman- 7 110% as always. Ran himself into the ground. The only one in mid who really wanted to be adventurous. Gabby- 7 His hold up play is very good. IMO Lamberts biggest error was taking off Gabby. We missed his experience and his pace. Could have been a good outlet out wide. Didn't look tired or injured so it must have been tactical. I'd have taken off Alby and put Gab wide. That he lead a pre match huddle says a lot. He's a senior statesman now and players like him will be vital for us to stay up.Benteke- 7 Scored, looked a threat. Looked lost when we went a man down. Inexperience at this level, but then again IMO, he should have been sacrificed, and not Gabby. Or Gab should have been left on with him. Lichaj- 5 looked poor and suspect against pace.Bent- 5 Showed good willingness to work but that's about it. Not his fault as we were defended for most of his time on the pitch. Weimann- 6 Desire almost got him half a chance.Lambert for me got it wrong with the tactical switch. Watching the game the line up suggest we'd play 4-2-3-1. Wasn't the case of course. Standard 4-4-2 really and again too narrow. Albrighton kept wide but offered nothing so there was no width again. Albrighton should have been first man off with the tactical change. His legs were going and he was poor. Gabby's team play had been good and his pace and hold up play would have been a good outlet against Norwich on the counter. We could have alleviated a lot of pressure.Quite clearly though we're too inexperience and there's not enough quality, especially midfield. The sending off killed us as I thought Norwich would struggle to score whilst 11 v 11. Poor game with two crap sides though. We'll struggle over the next fortnight and this was a must win.I hope Bennett got plenty of wet towel treatment last night. Foolish, schoolboy defending. We may as well bring Warnock back if the lad is gonna do that. He needs to learn quickly though.
Quote from: supertom on October 28, 2012, 03:42:16 AMRight, game digested. Not very good in all. First half we were pretty comfortable and looked good value for the lead. I think we had enough to see the game out, perhaps grab another. Unfortunately Bennett got himself sent off. We're a shit side, lets be frank. I mean Norwich are too and yesterday looked very much like a game between two dross teams. We struggle enough with 11 players, so going down to 10 was always going to be an even bigger struggle. The goal was inevitable really, they put us under a lot of pressure. Far too many needless fouls too. Silly freekicks given away. We did it a lot last season and we're still doing it, need to cut it out. Bennett got two yellows with needless, reckless challenges he didn't need to make. Schoolboy errors.Guzan- 8 good game. Made some good catches and punches and a very good safe from Holt. Could have lost the game if not for the Goose.Lowton- 5 Poor. Struggled against the Norwich width. Vlaar- 6 Did okay, but for me doesn't command an area just yet. That might come, but he's struggling a little keeping such a young back line together. A big onus when he himself is stepping up to the Prem. Plays it dangerously physical with the attackers too. He's gonna give away Pens if he's not careful.Herd- 7 Thought he stepped into CH very well. Made some great challenges and clearences. I like Herd, he always comes off the pitch having given his all. Perhaps we should sign a few more Aussies. Pushed his luck a little. Had Bennett not already been off, Herd may have seen red for persisent fouling.Bennett- 4 Poor. Bad decision making, offered nothing in attack and was suspect defensively. No qualms about the sending off. He fouled persisently and could have gone off for an earlier silly challenge. He'd been warned. There's no excuse for these silly fouls but he's not the only guilty party.Albrighton- 4 Poor. Doesn't have the ability and more importantly, stamina for this league. He always looks dead after 60 minutes IMO. Offered nothing and why, after 3 subs he was still on the pitch I don't know.Delph- 6 Did okay but as we've all noticed, he's no holding player, nor is he a Scholes who can sit deep and ping perfect 40 yrd passes for fun. Let him attack more, use his pace otherwise he's not good enough. I'd play Herd in his place next game. KEA- 6 I think he's our best all round midfielder, but I still think he's pretty average. He needs a decent holding player next to him and perhaps he'll be more effective pushed forward more. Can't tackle so he's not gonna be our anchor.Holman- 7 110% as always. Ran himself into the ground. The only one in mid who really wanted to be adventurous. Gabby- 7 His hold up play is very good. IMO Lamberts biggest error was taking off Gabby. We missed his experience and his pace. Could have been a good outlet out wide. Didn't look tired or injured so it must have been tactical. I'd have taken off Alby and put Gab wide. That he lead a pre match huddle says a lot. He's a senior statesman now and players like him will be vital for us to stay up.Benteke- 7 Scored, looked a threat. Looked lost when we went a man down. Inexperience at this level, but then again IMO, he should have been sacrificed, and not Gabby. Or Gab should have been left on with him. Lichaj- 5 looked poor and suspect against pace.Bent- 5 Showed good willingness to work but that's about it. Not his fault as we were defended for most of his time on the pitch. Weimann- 6 Desire almost got him half a chance.Lambert for me got it wrong with the tactical switch. Watching the game the line up suggest we'd play 4-2-3-1. Wasn't the case of course. Standard 4-4-2 really and again too narrow. Albrighton kept wide but offered nothing so there was no width again. Albrighton should have been first man off with the tactical change. His legs were going and he was poor. Gabby's team play had been good and his pace and hold up play would have been a good outlet against Norwich on the counter. We could have alleviated a lot of pressure.Quite clearly though we're too inexperience and there's not enough quality, especially midfield. The sending off killed us as I thought Norwich would struggle to score whilst 11 v 11. Poor game with two crap sides though. We'll struggle over the next fortnight and this was a must win.I hope Bennett got plenty of wet towel treatment last night. Foolish, schoolboy defending. We may as well bring Warnock back if the lad is gonna do that. He needs to learn quickly though.Gabby- 7 His hold up play is very good. IMO Lamberts biggest error was taking off Gabby. We missed his experience and his pace. Could have been a good outlet out wide. Didn't look tired or injured so it must have been tactical. I'd have taken off Alby and put Gab wide. That he lead a pre match huddle says a lot. He's a senior statesman now and players like him will be vital for us to stay up.Christ! Agbonlahor was dreadful he brings absolutely nothing to the team and yet some of you (and to be fair other Villa forums) think hes wonderful. I know its all about opinions but Ive been watching the Villa for fifty six years and I cant recall another player who divides the fans as much as he does.Can someone please explain why he keeps getting in the team I just dont see it Im afraid.