Tactics

[john in oz]

bent,ireland and n'zogbia in for me,to many inexperienced kids there   and some are not ready for premier league

[onje_villa]

What struck me yesterday and has to be honest struck me many times over recent years is just how hopeless our team is technically.

Every pass, even the successful ones are a yard to far, a yard short, behind the man. Norwich for all their averageness could control a football and pass it with ease and pace to a team-mate.

That's why Delph in particular baffles me, how can a central midfielder have poor technique? You can excuse a centre back to an extent but as a midfielder, it's your bread and butter. Trap the ball, look around you, pass it on.

KEA is frustrating, he appears to be suffering from Draperitis, a quality midfielder who was brillian elsewhere, comes to Villa and plays so within himself it's not true. Where are the driving runs he used to offer for PSV?

In fact, drive is one of the things we miss so much. Someone to pick the ball up and just have a go, get forward, try and engineer things. In fact, only really Vlaar our centre back, appears to have that in his locker.

[Holte L2]

For all his baggage Ireland is the only genuinely creative player we have.   For me he has to be in the starting line up

Why, what has he created since the Chelsea game?

My view too. We can't afford to have players who drift in and out of games. For that reason three of our most expensive assets, Bent, N'Zogbia and Ireland are struggling to start regularly. Ireland even at his best last season still to me, never had a decent 90 minutes. We really can't afford that. N'Zogbia is a ghost sometimes. For all Irelands technical ability I've never seen him dictate a game. I was one hoping he could be our new Merse, but he's nowhere near (aside from the questionable party lifestyle).

Even if we could get the best out of all of them you couldn't get away with playing all three. We'd get ripped apart (more so than usual).

N'zogbia has showed promise against City,so I would be tempted to play him, but in a central role behind Benteke.

But I'm also shouting for Gabby to play in midfield to allow us to maximise his workrate so i could be completely wrong.

What I do know, is that Ireland isn't the answer.

[Pat McMahon]

At the moment I don't ever feel that any of our substitutions will make a positive difference.

I honestly don't know what our best team is, and the players on the bench seem about the same as the starting XI

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We have to first sort out the central midfielders and for me that has to be Herd in a deep defensive role allowing KEA to get up and down the pitch. Neither Bannan or Delph are defensive midielders.

I'd then look at playing Gabby on the left, Ireland in the centre and Bannan on the right.

Then you have the option of either Bent or Benteke up front. One thing our midfield fail to do is provide  service to the strikers but hopefully with a creative attacking midfield that would no longer be a problem.

N'Zogbia simply isn't good enough and we should look to get rid in January.

Holman for all his workrate has difficulty completing a pass and even when he does, it's often short putting the Villa player under immediate and unnecessary pressure. He should be fighting for Bannan's place.

Albrighton only from the bench. His confidence is shot. One big groan from the Holte yesterday when he misplaced a ball and he never recovered.

Andreas can come on from the bench and needs to get more game time. Let him fight with Gabby for a shirt. The kid will not go missing and is ideal to replace Gabby on 75 mins.

Delph will have to bide his time but can be our midfield sub. He needs time to develop and currently can't take the heat. I'd like to see him replacing KEA in a box to box role from the bench.

Westwood - no idea.

We need to start playing to our strengths and use what experience we have as the next feww weeks are going to be tough and not the place for the innocent or inexperienced.Lambert needs to instill a sense of responsibility on the players. As somebody mentioned earlier, Ireland needs to start dictating games, not just playing a bit role. Bannan fancies himself but now he needs to step up and show us what he can do, as he so often does in the Reserves.

Above all we need the team to start acting like a team. If you're not good enough, you're out. We can't afford to carry any passengers.

[onje_villa]

We have to first sort out the central midfielders and for me that has to be Herd in a deep defensive role allowing KEA to get up and down the pitch. Neither Bannan or Delph are defensive midielders.

I'd then look at playing Gabby on the left, Ireland in the centre and Bannan on the right.

Then you have the option of either Bent or Benteke up front. One thing our midfield fail to do is provide  service to the strikers but hopefully with a creative attacking midfield that would no longer be a problem.

N'Zogbia simply isn't good enough and we should look to get rid in January.

Holman for all his workrate has difficulty completing a pass and even when he does, it's often short putting the Villa player under immediate and unnecessary pressure. He should be fighting for Bannan's place.

Albrighton only from the bench. His confidence is shot. One big groan from the Holte yesterday when he misplaced a ball and he never recovered.

Andreas can come on from the bench and needs to get more game time. Let him fight with Gabby for a shirt. The kid will not go missing and is ideal to replace Gabby on 75 mins.

Delph will have to bide his time but can be our midfield sub. He needs time to develop and currently can't take the heat. I'd like to see him replacing KEA in a box to box role from the bench.

Westwood - no idea.

We need to start playing to our strengths and use what experience we have as the next feww weeks are going to be tough and not the place for the innocent or inexperienced.Lambert needs to instill a sense of responsibility on the players. As somebody mentioned earlier, Ireland needs to start dictating games, not just playing a bit role. Bannan fancies himself but now he needs to step up and show us what he can do, as he so often does in the Reserves.

Above all we need the team to start acting like a team. If you're not good enough, you're out. We can't afford to carry any passengers.

Good post.
It's funny but when us lot pick the side, our midfield can end up looking pretty decent. Bannan, KEA and Ireland are good technical footballers, Herd is a terrier, Holman will run all day - get it right and everyone in the right positions and suddenly we're a pretty good side.

Lambert just appears to be trying every midfielder in every different position at the moment.

[Holte L2]

We have to first sort out the central midfielders and for me that has to be Herd in a deep defensive role allowing KEA to get up and down the pitch. Neither Bannan or Delph are defensive midielders.

I'd then look at playing Gabby on the left, Ireland in the centre and Bannan on the right.

Then you have the option of either Bent or Benteke up front. One thing our midfield fail to do is provide  service to the strikers but hopefully with a creative attacking midfield that would no longer be a problem.

N'Zogbia simply isn't good enough and we should look to get rid in January.

Holman for all his workrate has difficulty completing a pass and even when he does, it's often short putting the Villa player under immediate and unnecessary pressure. He should be fighting for Bannan's place.

Albrighton only from the bench. His confidence is shot. One big groan from the Holte yesterday when he misplaced a ball and he never recovered.

Andreas can come on from the bench and needs to get more game time. Let him fight with Gabby for a shirt. The kid will not go missing and is ideal to replace Gabby on 75 mins.

Delph will have to bide his time but can be our midfield sub. He needs time to develop and currently can't take the heat. I'd like to see him replacing KEA in a box to box role from the bench.

Westwood - no idea.

We need to start playing to our strengths and use what experience we have as the next feww weeks are going to be tough and not the place for the innocent or inexperienced.Lambert needs to instill a sense of responsibility on the players. As somebody mentioned earlier, Ireland needs to start dictating games, not just playing a bit role. Bannan fancies himself but now he needs to step up and show us what he can do, as he so often does in the Reserves.

Above all we need the team to start acting like a team. If you're not good enough, you're out.
We can't afford to carry any passengers.

Agree with the majority. But Herd hasn't the quality to be a deep lying midfielder. He has a great engine but his quality is limited. And again,reff Ireland he hasn't demonstrated the qualities to warrant a place in the team. I would though,give N'zogbia a run based on his performance against City and Fulham.

A fit Joe Cole on loan would be ideal.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

But Herd hasn't the quality to be a deep lying midfielder. He has a great engine but his quality is limited. And again,reff Ireland he hasn't demonstrated the qualities to warrant a place in the team. I would though,give N'zogbia a run based on his performance against City and Fulham.

A fit Joe Cole on loan would be ideal.

Herd has enough quality to do the job. Even NRC in his last season for us did the job and with the exception of Downing was our player of the year. All Herd needs to do is make himself constantly available for the pass and keep it simple.

Not sure how you can dismiss Ireland and in the same sentence say give N'Zogbia a go. The same N'Zogbia who has achieved the square root of fuck all since he's ben here, unless you include running into cul-de-sacs.

We need men not boys, players to take responsibility and whilst Ireland may not have controled games the way he did at City, I certainly have him ahead of N'Zogbia who I doubt even takes the responsibility of dressing himself in the morning.

[DB]

From yesterday, I think the defence and forwards played well. The 2 full-backs (until the sending off) did really well. It is our midfied - Delph and Albrighton have to be dropped, lightweight and giving the ball away. MA put 1 good cross in the whole match early in the 2nd half, apart from that offered nothing. As for Delph, I would sell him back to Leeds or whoever, sorry, he just isn't good enough.

[Holte L2]

But Herd hasn't the quality to be a deep lying midfielder. He has a great engine but his quality is limited. And again,reff Ireland he hasn't demonstrated the qualities to warrant a place in the team. I would though,give N'zogbia a run based on his performance against City and Fulham.

A fit Joe Cole on loan would be ideal.

Herd has enough quality to do the job. Even NRC in his last season for us did the job and with the exception of Downing was our player of the year. All Herd needs to do is make himself constantly available for the pass and keep it simple.

Not sure how you can dismiss Ireland and in the same sentence say give N'Zogbia a go. The same N'Zogbia who has achieved the square root of fuck all since he's ben here, unless you include running into cul-de-sacs.

We need men not boys, players to take responsibility and whilst Ireland may not have controled games the way he did at City, I certainly have him ahead of N'Zogbia who I doubt even takes the responsibility of dressing himself in the morning.

But Herd hasn't the quality to be a deep lying midfielder. He has a great engine but his quality is limited. And again,reff Ireland he hasn't demonstrated the qualities to warrant a place in the team. I would though,give N'zogbia a run based on his performance against City and Fulham.

A fit Joe Cole on loan would be ideal.

Herd has enough quality to do the job. Even NRC in his last season for us did the job and with the exception of Downing was our player of the year. All Herd needs to do is make himself constantly available for the pass and keep it simple.

Not sure how you can dismiss Ireland and in the same sentence say give N'Zogbia a go. The same N'Zogbia who has achieved the square root of fuck all since he's ben here, unless you include running into cul-de-sacs.

We need men not boys, players to take responsibility and whilst Ireland may not have controled games the way he did at City, I certainly have him ahead of N'Zogbia who I doubt even takes the responsibility of dressing himself in the morning.

Herd hasn't got the qualities to play centre mid in the top flight. He'll end up flying in with rash challenges and leave us over exposed. He will be Delph x2.

I understand where your coming from reff N'zogbia, but he's be in on merit of his display against City where he was excellent and his camio against Fulham. We need to be picking on form. I'm guessing you were not at either games in order to dismiss those performances? Again, Ireland started against Fulham and contributed fuck all.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Herd hasn't got the qualities to play centre mid in the top flight. He'll end up flying in with rash challenges and leave us over exposed. He will be Delph x2.

I understand where your coming from reff N'zogbia, but he's be in on merit of his display against City where he was excellent and his camio against Fulham. We need to be picking on form. I'm guessing you were not at either games in order to dismiss those performances? Again, Ireland started against Fulham and contributed fuck all.

Herd: Two things on why he should start ahead of Delph.
1. Herd no matter where he's asked to play, never let's us down.
2. He's far more suited to the role than Delph and let's face it, we don't have anybody else.

N'Zogbia: You're right, due to late night bus services I didn't attend the games but whilst I admit he had a good game by his standards against City, against Fulham he managed to do all the complicated stuff but failed to deliver. The man could final a dead end on a motorway.

If I was feeling generous, which let's pretend I am right now, I'd possibly have him coming off the bench to replace Ireland in the attacking midfield free role but I'd really have to be bloody Father Christmas generous. Not only does he not deliver despite a ridiculous number of opportunities, I don't see him being able to connect with those around him. He's on a completely different plant, nevermind wavelength. Planet Zog is my guess.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but I noticed Lawrenson commented on how he wondered why Lambert hasn't taken his attacking approach from Norwich to us. I'm inclined to agree with him, why hasn't he?

[Californian Villain]

bent,ireland and n'zogbia in for me.....

It's up to the manager to start getting the best, or something closer to it, out of these guys...or at least out of one or two of them.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but I noticed Lawrenson commented on how he wondered why Lambert hasn't taken his attacking approach from Norwich to us. I'm inclined to agree with him, why hasn't he?

Probably as he still hasn't sorted out the midfield.

[Holte L2]

Herd hasn't got the qualities to play centre mid in the top flight. He'll end up flying in with rash challenges and leave us over exposed. He will be Delph x2.

I understand where your coming from reff N'zogbia, but he's be in on merit of his display against City where he was excellent and his camio against Fulham. We need to be picking on form. I'm guessing you were not at either games in order to dismiss those performances? Again, Ireland started against Fulham and contributed fuck all.

Herd: Two things on why he should start ahead of Delph.
1. Herd no matter where he's asked to play, never let's us down.
2. He's far more suited to the role than Delph and let's face it, we don't have anybody else.

N'Zogbia: You're right, due to late night bus services I didn't attend the games but whilst I admit he had a good game by his standards against City, against Fulham he managed to do all the complicated stuff but failed to deliver. The man could final a dead end on a motorway.

If I was feeling generous, which let's pretend I am right now, I'd possibly have him coming off the bench to replace Ireland in the attacking midfield free role but I'd really have to be bloody Father Christmas generous. Not only does he not deliver despite a ridiculous number of opportunities, I don't see him being able to connect with those around him. He's on a completely different plant, nevermind wavelength. Planet Zog is my guess.

Personally I wouldn't start Herd or Delph. I'd play a midfield three of Bannan,KEA,Holman with N'zogbia supporting Bent and Benteke.

How do you justify Ireland's inclusion then? Considering he hasnt contributed ANYTHING for nearly 12 months. R.E N'zogbia. It was his cross that created the Benteke chance! I was nearly ready to pull the plug on N'zogbia but the City performance made me want to give him a chance.