Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Post-Match Thread

[midnite]

Lambert has the same problem now that he had 5 months ago, a weak - bordering on feeble - midfield. If he solves that we can be a decent side.

It is no coincidence that the three strongest midfields in the league have handed us our arses on a plate.

To be fair, Delph did show glimpses today of the player he should have become by now. But Westwood - who looks a very good prospect - should be the only one not on the 'to be replaced' list. We need presence and the ability to keep the ball.

To add to the problem our defence has been all over the place. We really have missed Vlaar. Individually the players have good qualities. As a unit they have been all over the place.

Completely agree with everything there... Well except for the Delph bit. But you're spot on there

[eastie]

We seem to concede a very high percentage of goals in the 2nd half, saints, man city, spurs and Chelsea have seen us concede 17 goals in just the 2nd half alone - is fitness and stamina an issue?

[Small Rodent]

Knowing our board, after fucking about with sacking a manager we don't want, they'll sack a manager we do want ASAP.

[eastie]

The thing with the premier league nowadays is there is such a gulf now between the top 4/5 and the rest.

Look at how Spurs played tonight, the way they passed and moved. TBH it was lightyears away from what we were doing when we were finishing 6th three years in a row.

Brings me onto the 5 match unbeaten run we had recently, how many games did we really play well in that run.

Reading at 0-0 could've gone either way as they had chances. QPR we didn't play very well did we?

But we got points in these games because we're playing other poor teams and I'd say we will pick up points in the next 6 games as we'll be playing opponents much more on our "level" as much as it pains me to say it.

But we need wins, not just scrapeing draws.

Norwich beat arsenal and man utd - any team is beatable if you get the tactics right and play to capacity, we had utd on the ropes but let them escape - yes the top teams are very good but they can be beaten as Sunderland showed today against city.

[eastie]

Paul Lambert on keeping spirits at a good level.



Paul Lambert insists he will keep spirits in the camp at a good level despite the loss to Tottenham.

Lambert accepts it's been a frustrating few days, with the home defeat this evening coming on the back of a heavy loss to Chelsea at the weekend.

But he says he won't let his players get too low - just as he wouldn't allow them to get too high after the wins at Norwich and Liverpool.

He said: "I have belief they will do it. They will give us everything again.

"People get carried away after the Norwich and Liverpool wins but I didn't and neither did the team.

"I never let them get too high or too low. The nature of football is that you can get hurt at any moment.

"If you win, let it go. You have to move on to the next one. It's the same with a defeat.

"They will be fine. If we win, lose or draw, we always treat them the same, we keep spirits the same.

"You can't dwell on it, win or lose. You have to bounce back, there's no other way, you have to do it.

"All I do is try to train and coach them the right way and try to get them to play the right way. We want to keep that going!

"Because we beat Norwich and Liverpool, everyone thinks X, Y and Z. But deep down I know what we've got."

Lambert praised the claret and blue faithful who sang his name loud and proud, despite the side being 4-0 down at the time.

He continued: "The fans were brilliant. They are fantastic in the way they have supported us.

"They see what we're trying to do. They have been terrific.

"It's pleasing to hear them back us. But we know we have to get results.

"We are in a semi-final in a few weeks, you have a chance to do something there.

"And if you look at the league you're not a million miles away from mid-table. That's what you have to strive for."

On the game itself, Lambert was frustrated with Tottenham's first goal, which set them on the path to victory.

He felt Fabian Delph was fouled in the build-up to Jermain Defoe's clinical finish.

He added: "We rode our luck massively in the first half. Spurs were very good in the first half.

"We started the second half well. I thought we were in the ascendancy.

"But I thought the first goal was a foul on Fabian in he first half. I think a free-kick should have been given.

"The second goal we had a good chance to make it 1-1 and then they go up other end and score again. That's what can happen when you play these type of players.

"But I have seen it. My view is Fabian gets hit, body charged. I think it's a free-kick."

[OzVilla]

Guzan - solid, keep
Lowton ~ two years more experience needed
Bennett ~ three more years experience needed
Herd ~ never good enough go.
Clark ~ not a centre half, keep but in midfield.
Holman ~ a trier but not good enough I'm afraid ~ go.
Delph ~ never good enough. Go.
Albrighton ~ one season wonder, not good enough. Go.
Ireland.  Good enough, no heart. Keep on account of lack of other options.
El Ahmadi ~ not good enough. Go.
Benteke ~ good enough but not there yet. Keep.

Ireland good enough are you having a laugh.

He was extremely slow
Never made a tackle
Over hit the passes he made
Went missing a lot
He was the worst player by far today and he's getting paid the most!

Agree completely

I cannot stand Ireland, absolute piss taker of the highest order from the first day he got here and the whole episode of his arrival was the epitome of how we've been mismanaged. How many decent games has he had?


He's the first person i'd like to see out of the Club, and that's a fucking long list right now.

[Stu]

Garbage. Total and utter shite, and Lambert needs to sort out that defence.

How did our decent little run suddenly go so spectacularly awry?

[Villafirst]

Lerner out! End of...

[Lky]

F**k me. 12 goals against and only 2 shots on target in 2 games.

We never looked like scoring.

We always looked like conceding.

Which was worst. First half 0-0 when we didn't get out of our half or the second when we tried to get forward but got spanked 0-4.

The midfield was absolutely shocking in these 2 games. Offered nothing going forward and no protection. Will a midfielder score this season ? Bale had so much time and space for his goals arriving late in the box with no one tracking him.
Delph/KEH should never play again

Serous question : When Ireland plays does he play in midfield or as a second striker ?

Its my firm belief he plays in the position of a second striker. His positional play is up front but his movement and tracking back is nowhere near the levels of Holman/Gabby/Weinmann/even Keane last year. Ireland should also never play again as he simply aint good enough for that position and he cant play anywhere else.

I'm gonna get lashed - again !

[eastie]

Anyone interested we are 3rd in the running order on motd tonight after the games at Man U and Sunderland

[charleeco7]

We are a poor side with players who arnt good enough. From Lamberts quote he knows it:
"Because we beat Norwich and Liverpool, everyone thinks X, Y and Z. But deep down I know what we've got."

It's up to the board now to back him or they should give up and move on.

[eastie]

Although old doug gets a lot of flak he at least travels home and away to watch the villa well into his 80s whereas randy rarely  ever watches the team play - as chairman and owner I wonder if his heart is still really in the club or his interest has waned?

[OzVilla]

Well the Chickens are coming home to roost in a rather spectacular way.  Play an academy side with a sprinkling of Championship players and the odd highly paid mercenary who doesn't give a shit against top quality, well drilled sides that are pushing for Champions League and you get absolutely humiliated.  And that's what we are right now.

Mr Lerner, we've all had you sussed for a couple of years now so how about we get through the january window with the last bit of investment you'll be required to put in, get us through to the end of the season and then you can cash in your chips when that new TV deal kicks in.  It'll be better for all of us that way.  Because let's face it, you've proven that you havn't a feckin clue what you're doing.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Apart from 5 mins at start of 2nd half it was appalling, 15-1 corners we only managed about 1 shot 1st half. No leadership, we look like Rabbits in the headlights, I really don't know what to say and who to blame??? Help me someone please

[Ads]

Who cares if Doug follows us home and away? So do I. What's the difference?

I have put money, however small, into the club and taken nothing tangible from it. We have been smashed over two games, is that the call for sense to leak from your head and the ok to look wistfully back as if Herbie was a good thing?