Chelsea v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[sirlordbaltimore]

Yes because apart from this game we've done really well. It's not like we're only three points above the relegation places.

Well that's an original response and no mistake.

Firstly, it's better than using four letter words about fellow fans and secondly it may be unoriginal but it's also true. The view that it'll all be alright, the view we are doomed and the view that its all a bit of a worry but we'll probably be alright in the end (which is my view) are all unoriginal so I fail to see the point of the remark.

He makes a good point though. It's December, and we're just above the relegation zone. AGAIN. It's hard to see where these bright lights are. I've still got a huge question mark hanging over Lambert. It's a right old mess we've got ourselves into.

[olaftab]

So none of this applied in the last week when they 'strut and swaggered' around Carrow Road or Anfield?

Well said Hipkiss92. There is no point in questioning character of our team and than ignoring the good bits.

[Legion]

Perhaps you saw a different game from me Mal?

The one I saw, they got at us every which way, but with a definite plan to target us down the left. It worked inside two minutes.

The ball was played into the left channel, 15 yards inside the touchline and our half and crossed from there. Bannan was the closest Villa player. When you make a statement like ' definite plan to target us down the left' you are saying a wide man takes the fullback at every opportunity and plays effective balls into the box. That did not happen.
I say again how many assists did Moses contribute?

How many times did he part our defence?

[damon loves JT]

I am going to pretend that this never happened.

[Legion]

What never happened?

[ciggiesnbeer]

Lambert needs to take this one on the chin. He got it all wrong and didnt make enough changes when he saw it was going wrong.

Oh well, onwards to Spurs.

[curiousorange]

It's consistency we need. Experience brings that consistency. I'd imagine players like Westwood and Lowton dreamed of days when they'd be on the winning side at a place like Anfield - training in the last week must have been a doddle. But what we need are players around them that can say 'these are the ways you pick yourself up' and provide advice on positioning, how to learn from basic errors etc.

[sirlordbaltimore]

I'd say Given kept the score half respectable in some ways as they could easily have had 10+

We played with 2 keepers?

That makes the score line even worse.

Oops 

Maybe Guzan needs a little wakey up call too. Nobody should be above the drop according to Lambert. I recall some folks wanting Given dropped for letting in 2 or 3

I await Lambert's Boxing Day team selection with a mixture of excitement and dread.

[Legion]

If it hadn't been for Guzan it would have been 10+.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I have been going since 1966. That may be the worst defeat ever, but its not the worst performance. The players should be hurt and also embarrassed with that result - I certainly am -  but stuff like `not fit to wear the shirt` is a complete over reaction.
We have a young set of very promising players and all that potential doesn't dissolve away in 90 minutes. When we lost 7-1 there, that was a sign of how things were starting to go wrong. When we lost 6-0 at Newcastle it was a sign the wheels had come off. As heavy as this defeat is, it is not a sign that we are in a deep malaise with an incompetent manager and useless players.
After the last home game, many would have accepted a draw at Anfield and Stamford Bridge as a good sign of progress - well we come back to Villa Park on Boxing day one point better off than that !
With the right attitude from players and management, they can come back from this stronger and better. It may well be Lambert has to look at introducing a little more experience in the transfer window to help along the kids. Whatever he decides, on the evidence of his signings so far I trust him to get it right.
Come on you Lions !   

[sirlordbaltimore]

If it hadn't been for Guzan it would have been 10+.

I know, I said that myself. He still let in 8 mind no matter how good they were.

[brian green]

Hipkiss, the problem is one of caving in when they lose their nerve.   They did not reach the cracking point at Liverpool or Norwich but they very, very nearly did at Swindon.

[curiousorange]

Hipkiss, the problem is one of caving in when they lose their nerve.   They did not reach the cracking point at Liverpool or Norwich but they very, very nearly did at Swindon.

They pretty much did against Everton, Spurs and Southampton too, though they only took the lead in the latter game.

[avfcpg]

I have been going since 1966. That may be the worst defeat ever, but its not the worst performance. The players should be hurt and also embarrassed with that result - I certainly am -  but stuff like `not fit to wear the shirt` is a complete over reaction.
We have a young set of very promising players and all that potential doesn't dissolve away in 90 minutes. When we lost 7-1 there, that was a sign of how things were starting to go wrong. When we lost 6-0 at Newcastle it was a sign the wheels had come off. As heavy as this defeat is, it is not a sign that we are in a deep malaise with an incompetent manager and useless players.
After the last home game, many would have accepted a draw at Anfield and Stamford Bridge as a good sign of progress - well we come back to Villa Park on Boxing day one point better off than that !
With the right attitude from players and management, they can come back from this stronger and better. It may well be Lambert has to look at introducing a little more experience in the transfer window to help along the kids. Whatever he decides, on the evidence of his signings so far I trust him to get it right.
Come on you Lions !   

As above...good lad...

[hipkiss92]

Hipkiss, the problem is one of caving in when they lose their nerve.   They did not reach the cracking point at Liverpool or Norwich but they very, very nearly did at Swindon.

But then I can point out they didn't in the cup game at Man City, there's clearly going to be games where they do or don't. But their not going to build up this kind of mental confidence within half a season, the regular players we had last year (Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Ireland, Zog) clearly hadn't in 5-10