Tactics

[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?

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

He could play Bent, Ireland and N'Zogbia?

[ciggiesnbeer]

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.

Agree with this strongly. If anything we have gone backwards since West Ham. My worry (and I know its not popular) is the rot seemed to kick in once Benteke joined and we had an outlet for the long ball which we use too much. In addition Lambert has started to play more and more with width, which is a mistake for a possession based team (which is how I thought he wanted us to play).

Forget wingers, forget long balls, pack midfield to support the front two and get creative players of quality to unlock defences. Ireland is genuinely capable of this and on his best days so is KEA.

[brian green]

Agree with pretty much all of that but I think if we are to survive this season it will be with goals from Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann.   I have a gut feeling that they could form a formidable combination.   Let's face it we need it desperately.

As for KEA we were having an across the seats discussion about him yesterday and we all agreed (a rarity) that too often he finds himself behind the man he is attempting to tackle or dispossess.

I am one hundred percent in agreement with the comment that our midfield is technically sloppy.   If you are going to try to play the passing game the passes have to be exactly right for weight for direction and for distance.   Teams like Spain and Barca have destroyed opponents with the passing game for three reasons.   They pass the ball accurately and well, they are superbly fit and if they lose the ball they harass and harry the opposition until they get it back.   You cannot play passing football until you can tick all three boxes.   If you cannot do it properly you are better off playing like Stoke and grinding out Premiership security than sloppily passing your way into the Championship.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Agreed. Its just bizarre we have gone backwards since the start of the season. I also think Benteke is not a one dimensional player who needs crosses and he can thrive off good service whether crossed or through the middle, he does when playing for Belgium for example.

[tomd2103]

Well, I thought Herd was outstanding today.
And Delph demonstrated his fallibility.
So it'd be this for me:
                                   Guzan
          Lowton    Vlaar      Dunne / Baker  Bennett
                          Herd                Clark
                                        KEA
                     Holman                  Weimann
                                    Benteke

Mr E - that would be the formation I would go with going into the next few games.  The Only changes I would make to personnel would be to play KEA in a deeper role alongside Herd and play Ireland in the AM position.  Apart from that, I'd be tempted to go with that team.

[onje_villa]

Agreed. Its just bizarre we have gone backwards since the start of the season. I also think Benteke is not a one dimensional player who needs crosses and he can thrive off good service whether crossed or through the middle, he does when playing for Belgium for example.

Yep, I was really, really optimistic after the Swansea performance. It was like a breath of fresh air. Last few games have been back to the depression of old. Lambert has probably been guilty of over-tinkering.

[supertom]

We're playing too much with fear. We're too tense. We've got that air of desperation in our play and it makes even the simplest things look difficult. I also think it makes some players look less technically capable sometimes than they are. That's not helping. We're scared pussies as someone said on another thread.
Our system, which isn't working, largely because of personel (or lack of suitable quality) just makes it worse.

[MarkM]

Looking ahead to the Utd, City and Arsenal games I doubt it really matters what tactics he uses as I think getting anything out of them will be pretty difficult.

Perhaps he will call TSM for advice on parking the bus and holding out for a 1-0 loss.

[Merv]

It's baffling that Bannan can't get a start at the mo. He was excellent at Newcastle. Set things up right, he'll keep the ball all day.

Whether it's a 4-5-1, 4-3-3, 4-1-2-1-2, 4-2-1-3 or whatever, we need three central midfielders to get hold of the ball and give us a chance of running a game. I'd have KEA just behind Holman and Bannan, with Westwood, Ireland and Delph as the understudies for those roles.

N'Zogbia's injury has knackered my plans for the front three somewhat, so I'd be looking at Weimann, Bent/Benteke and Agbonlahor.

[JUAN PABLO]

I watched a bit of manure game before I fell asleep. All I was thinking watching the game was width , manure using the flanks with Young and Valencia at times and thinking to myself . I wish we had some bloody width at times.

[Clampy]

I watched a bit of manure game before I fell asleep. All I was thinking watching the game was width , manure using the flanks with Young and Valencia at times and thinking to myself . I wish we had some bloody width at times.

I think that with every game i watch.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Looking ahead to the Utd, City and Arsenal games I doubt it really matters what tactics he uses as I think getting anything out of them will be pretty difficult.

Perhaps he will call TSM for advice on parking the bus and holding out for a 1-0 loss.

It would be very handy if PL could pull a surprise win out the hat from one of those 3 games in November. TSM at least managed that with Chelsea away.

[JUAN PABLO]

maybe arsenal will be the shock result again . we did once with Bent I remember .

[MarkM]

maybe arsenal will be the shock result again . we did once with Bent I remember .

I think with our lightweight midfield there more skillfull players [Utd, City and Arse] will tear us to pieces, we may get a real spanking of one of them

[paul_e]

It's baffling that Bannan can't get a start at the mo. He was excellent at Newcastle. Set things up right, he'll keep the ball all day.

Whether it's a 4-5-1, 4-3-3, 4-1-2-1-2, 4-2-1-3 or whatever, we need three central midfielders to get hold of the ball and give us a chance of running a game. I'd have KEA just behind Holman and Bannan, with Westwood, Ireland and Delph as the understudies for those roles.

N'Zogbia's injury has knackered my plans for the front three somewhat, so I'd be looking at Weimann, Bent/Benteke and Agbonlahor.

Agree totally with the first paragraph, I just can't understand the logic of dropping Bannan for Delph and persisting with it, it's the only really big mistake I think Lambert has made so far.