Aston Villa v Stoke City Post-Match Thread

[Monty]

I don't think it's as much Bannan and Westwood, but they don't have much creativity or incision near them to help them out. Bannan yesterday spent a good minute giving and receiving the ball from Lichaj and Westwood, and whenever he got it back he would stare ahead of him where there was just no movement or help forthcoming. They're doing well, but the best we have in that role is Holman and Ireland - who are perfectly fine, but we need something a bit more inspirational.

[ez]

A decent result. Lets not forget we are the underdogs in a lot of games this season like this one.

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't think it's as much Bannan and Westwood, but they don't have much creativity or incision near them to help them out. Bannan yesterday spent a good minute giving and receiving the ball from Lichaj and Westwood, and whenever he got it back he would stare ahead of him where there was just no movement or help forthcoming. They're doing well, but the best we have in that role is Holman and Ireland - who are perfectly fine, but we need something a bit more inspirational.

For at least an entire decade, lack of movement off the ball has been our biggest failing. It drives me fucking nuts, and it seems to persist through managerial changes and squad refreshes.

[Mister E]

I agree about the lack of movement yesterday, and I said in my earlier post that if we want to play 3-5-2 we need better wingbacks - players with pace and good passing / vision; and the ability to beat a player. I don't think Lowton or Lichaj have these skills, good as they might be as traditional full backs.

[Monty]

I don't think it's as much Bannan and Westwood, but they don't have much creativity or incision near them to help them out. Bannan yesterday spent a good minute giving and receiving the ball from Lichaj and Westwood, and whenever he got it back he would stare ahead of him where there was just no movement or help forthcoming. They're doing well, but the best we have in that role is Holman and Ireland - who are perfectly fine, but we need something a bit more inspirational.

For at least an entire decade, lack of movement off the ball has been our biggest failing. It drives me fucking nuts, and it seems to persist through managerial changes and squad refreshes.

Agreed. It's better in midfield this season - Bannan and Westwood know what they're doing, especially as a partnership - but ahead of them it's still all a bit static.

[nick harper]

I agree about the lack of movement yesterday, and I said in my earlier post that if we want to play 3-5-2 we need better wingbacks - players with pace and good passing / vision; and the ability to beat a player. I don't think Lowton or Lichaj have these skills, good as they might be as traditional full backs.

They are the most important positions in that formation. Charles and Wright were a key reason why Sir Brian's team looked so good in the 90's.

In fairness, I think Lowton will develop as his work in the oppositions half is improving but we need much better than Lichaj. I hope Lambert sees N'Zogbia as the player for that role as I think he'd be areal threat playing from there.

Good wing backs would probably have won us the game yesterday.

[PeterWithesShin]

I don't think it's as much Bannan and Westwood, but they don't have much creativity or incision near them to help them out. Bannan yesterday spent a good minute giving and receiving the ball from Lichaj and Westwood, and whenever he got it back he would stare ahead of him where there was just no movement or help forthcoming. They're doing well, but the best we have in that role is Holman and Ireland - who are perfectly fine, but we need something a bit more inspirational.

For at least an entire decade, lack of movement off the ball has been our biggest failing. It drives me fucking nuts, and it seems to persist through managerial changes and squad refreshes.

It does my head in. I've mentioned it so often on here. Even at throw ins we seem to stand like statues most of the time. I reckon it's been crap since the height of the Sir Brian years. There are some signs it's improving at last, albeit quite slowly.

[dave.woodhall]

I don't think it's as much Bannan and Westwood, but they don't have much creativity or incision near them to help them out. Bannan yesterday spent a good minute giving and receiving the ball from Lichaj and Westwood, and whenever he got it back he would stare ahead of him where there was just no movement or help forthcoming. They're doing well, but the best we have in that role is Holman and Ireland - who are perfectly fine, but we need something a bit more inspirational.

For at least an entire decade, lack of movement off the ball has been our biggest failing. It drives me fucking nuts, and it seems to persist through managerial changes and squad refreshes.

It does my head in. I've mentioned it so often on here. Even at throw ins we seem to stand like statues most of the time. I reckon it's been crap since the height of the Sir Brian years. There are some signs it's improving at last, albeit quite slowly.

(Lack of) movement off the ball has been one of my particular obsessions since the ball had a lace. I think it's some Villa tradition.

[pbavfckuwait]

Not sure what we are looking for this season, after 3 years of having nothing and I am not saying we have anything special this season, but we were all crying out 4 or 5 weeks ago to tighten up and I dont think anyone can disagree we have, PL is making us hard to score against he is getting a midfield together that works for each other and yes if you have got the ball and you dont give it away, even with a side ways or backward pass, if the opposition have not got the ball they cant score. The creativity needs a 100% improvement and we need to get a cutting edge and not just rely on a 21 year old and one week but I do believe that we will look back on this season as one when we changed the corner and became a team that can hold it's own in the top half of the table and that being a much of a muchness why not back to being a top 6 side.

[pbavfckuwait]

Oh and bye the way with a plan that may just let us get a bit more than that with patience by the fans and a Manager that is about long term build not short term spunking of money

[OCD]

I don't think it's as much Bannan and Westwood, but they don't have much creativity or incision near them to help them out. Bannan yesterday spent a good minute giving and receiving the ball from Lichaj and Westwood, and whenever he got it back he would stare ahead of him where there was just no movement or help forthcoming. They're doing well, but the best we have in that role is Holman and Ireland - who are perfectly fine, but we need something a bit more inspirational.

For at least an entire decade, lack of movement off the ball has been our biggest failing. It drives me fucking nuts, and it seems to persist through managerial changes and squad refreshes.

Agreed. It's better in midfield this season - Bannan and Westwood know what they're doing, especially as a partnership - but ahead of them it's still all a bit static.

There were times where we got to crossing positions but there was either nobody in the box or Benteke was on his own. Our midfield, Bannan and Westwood included need to be prepared to break into the box. Of course there is an emphasis on Holman/Ireland as the attacking midfielder but I don't think we need both Bannan and Westwood to sit at all times. As a partnership they should have the license to get forward and know that the other will cover for them.

As for the movement off the ball, I can't disagree there. It was noticeable in the short time Robbie Keane was here how frustrated he got with the lack of movement and would yell at people. We could certainly do with that sort of leadership.

[Legion]

Bring him back.

[rutski]

I agree about the lack of movement yesterday, and I said in my earlier post that if we want to play 3-5-2 we need better wingbacks - players with pace and good passing / vision; and the ability to beat a player. I don't think Lowton or Lichaj have these skills, good as they might be as traditional full backs.

They are the most important positions in that formation. Charles and Wright were a key reason why Sir Brian's team looked so good in the 90's.

In fairness, I think Lowton will develop as his work in the oppositions half is improving but we need much better than Lichaj. I hope Lambert sees N'Zogbia as the player for that role as I think he'd be areal threat playing from there.

Good wing backs would probably have won us the game yesterday.

lowton will be excellent in that role as will bennett when he comes back. as for n'zogbia as a wingback, i just cant see it from the lazy arsehole!

[brian green]

He is on his way to a deep and mysterious place.   Harry Redknapp's pocket.

[eastie]

I think Lowton and Bennett will bot rove to be very decent wing backs given a few games in the role .