Aston Villa v Norwich City Post-Match Thread

[bertlambshank]

We will end up with Joey twitter Barton.

[JUAN PABLO]

I thought Albrighton was poor today, exemplified by his decent chance at the death when he took far too many touches.

glad you brought that up. That was frustrating , he should have just hit the damn ball.   Hes a championship player at best Im afraid , in fact he wouldnt get into Blackpools team.   There is to many championship players in our team and Delph and Marc should be nowhere near the team when you have Ireland and Bannon on the bench.

Lambert made a lot of mistakes and needs to learn about them quick .  I was happy with him and have been telling everyone he will sort us out and make us a solid team but today he lost a lot of brownie points  with me . He was dreadful.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Lerner opening his wallet is one thing. Attracting decent players will be the issue. That's if any are even available in January. Then if you get them, they have to hit the ground running. No time for bedding in.

It just proves the folly of Lerner's policy of selling your top players and replacing them with cheap lower league crap. The man really hasn't got a clue about PL football.

Worse than that, I reckon he really doesn't give a shit anymore.

[saunders_heroes]

I thought Albrighton was poor today, exemplified by his decent chance at the death when he took far too many touches.

glad you brought that up. That was frustrating , he should have just hit the damn ball.   Hes a championship player at best Im afraid , in fact he wouldnt get into Blackpools team.   There is to many championship players in our team and Delph and Marc should be nowhere near the team when you have Ireland and Bannon on the bench.

Lambert made a lot of mistakes and needs to learn about them quick .  I was happy with him and have been telling everyone he will sort us out and make us a solid team but today he lost a lot of brownie points  with me . He was dreadful.

Agreed. I was mortified when he wasn't taken off when Bennett was red carded, as he's the one player you don't want to rely on when your backs are against the wall. He's one of the most lightweight players I've ever seen play for Villa, and ultimately he'll always let you down. He can't track-back, can't tackle and can't hold the ball up. He's the one player you take off when you're down to ten men, and not Agbonlahor, who holds the ball up well and relieves a bit of pressure by Keeping a bit of possession. Bad mistake from Lambert. One of many he's made since taking over at Villa.

[amfy]

We were awful yesterday, and the substitutions were worse.

However - the stats were showing us as having 2-3 more shots on target, and 2-3 more shots off target than Norwich up until the sending off. I think their chances were better but they didn't take any of them, whereas one of ours was a goal.

Within 10 minutes of the sending off they had had twice as many shots as us. We weren't good before the sending off, but to argue that it made no difference is nonsense.

I also thought that we were bypassing our (non-existant) midfield in the first half and had reverted to hoofball, but in the first 10 minutes of the second half were showing signs of addressing this and trying to play it through. As soon as Bennett went off, any attempts at football evaporated again and we just stayed under the cosh.

I think the problems caused by the sending off were exacerbated by us already playing a severely weakened defence. An extra defender had to come on immediately, there was no time to think about it (although of course our manager is paid to make decisions like this, and quickly if needed - he got this wrong). Once the first wrong decision of taking Gaby out was made, the further subs became like a pack of cards, which didn't start to be re-built till we got Weimman on.

If it weren't for the sending off, I believe we could have held on, or even added one. I am not by any means certain, but the signs were there despite us looking terrible. The reasons for that are just 2 - Guzan's heroics, and Benteke looking like a man who can take his chances.

[nornironvillain]

what has happened to Albrighton?

he looked the part when he first got in the team but has been awful this season and last

[Mister E]

I agree that Delph defintiely is no holding MF: nor does he seem to play particularly well alongside KEA.
I'd bring Herd back alongside KEA and use Bannan as the third MF. When all are fit, consider playing Clark in there (not something I've previously considered since I think he's a better CB).
Upfront, I think we have to go with 1 - Benteke - with Weimann and Holman as the supporting runners / providers.

Alternatively, why not look at 3-5-2? Delph and Holman have the energy to play wingbacks; Clark / Baker, Vlaar and Lowton can play at the back; Herd, BB and KEA in CMF; and Bent / Benteke upfront (with Weimann and Gabby as impact replacements).

Whatever, PL now needs to 'man up' with his team selection.

[mr woo]

I thought Albrighton was poor today, exemplified by his decent chance at the death when he took far too many touches.

glad you brought that up. That was frustrating , he should have just hit the damn ball.   Hes a championship player at best Im afraid , in fact he wouldnt get into Blackpools team.   There is to many championship players in our team and Delph and Marc should be nowhere near the team when you have Ireland and Bannon on the bench.

Lambert made a lot of mistakes and needs to learn about them quick .  I was happy with him and have been telling everyone he will sort us out and make us a solid team but today he lost a lot of brownie points  with me . He was dreadful.

Summed it up for me.

Lamberts decisions were baffling.
If he doesn't address the midfield this January I fear relegation.

So Paul, please no more 5'9 pretty little ball-retaining, sideways-passing featherweights. We have half a dozen of them as it is. We need a dirty, horrible , mouthy 6'6'' muscle bound, striding beast. Good luck finding one we can afford.

[Clampy]

At least Dave Woodhall made it into yesterday's match programme ;-)

Is that why it was a quid cheaper?

[JUAN PABLO]

We were awful yesterday, and the substitutions were worse.

However - the stats were showing us as having 2-3 more shots on target, and 2-3 more shots off target than Norwich up until the sending off. I think their chances were better but they didn't take any of them, whereas one of ours was a goal.

.

yes but you have to remember is Guzan made top save after top save , where I cant really remember Ruddy making any top saves .

[PeterWithesShin]

We were awful yesterday, and the substitutions were worse.

However - the stats were showing us as having 2-3 more shots on target, and 2-3 more shots off target than Norwich up until the sending off. I think their chances were better but they didn't take any of them, whereas one of ours was a goal.

.

yes but you have to remember is Guzan made top save after top save , where I cant really remember Ruddy making any top saves .

All but one top save were after we were down to 10.

[saunders_heroes]

We were awful yesterday, and the substitutions were worse.

However - the stats were showing us as having 2-3 more shots on target, and 2-3 more shots off target than Norwich up until the sending off. I think their chances were better but they didn't take any of them, whereas one of ours was a goal.

.

yes but you have to remember is Guzan made top save after top save , where I cant really remember Ruddy making any top saves .

That's why you should never trust stats. We barely bothered their keeper all match, where as ours was man of the match.

[PeterWithesShin]

Would he have been man of the match if the game had ended the second Bennett was sent off?

[saunders_heroes]

Would he have been man of the match if the game had ended the second Bennett was sent off?

We were shit before the sending off. Don't delude yourself.

[PeterWithesShin]

Would he have been man of the match if the game had ended the second Bennett was sent off?

We were shit before the sending off. Don't delude yourself.

Would he have been man of the match before the red card?