Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic Post-Match Thread

[MarkM]

Poor, very poor.

Our midfield is a joke, and our tactics if there are any are rubbish,

On the up side, I have got home two games in a row in record time (I did leave the ground 10 mins early both games, which is not something I usually do)

[curiousorange]

This is my own verdict on the match: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/aston-villa/fansverdict/29-12-2012/aston-villa-vs-wigan-athletic

My other half's just informed me that she wanted to leave the stadium after an hour, find a quiet spot and try and forget she was there. She said it was physically painful to watch.

For my own part, i know it's a lost cause when you could hear a pin drop as soon as we lost the ball. The fight's disappeared from the fans and that's awful to realise.

As ever, comments on the verdict would be welcome.

[KevinGage]

A fitting end to 2012.

Worst ever home record, record defeat worst start to a season for decades.  And the hits just keep on coming.

Lambert can't take all the blame, but squads with less talent than ours won't get dicked at Chelsea 8-0 and then follow that up with two more abject results and performances.   We are not very good, but we should be better than that.

I think most of us -if we're honest- have felt uneasy since the Southampton game.  That a team who were clearly destined to struggle could turn us over so easily set alarm bells ringing. 

Since then, our form hasn't been too shit hot, though it did look like we had maybe turned a corner with the results (and performances) in the Norwich and Liverpool games.  Prior to that, I thought relegation was a possibility -not nailed on by any means- but possible. 

The Liverpool result gave me hope that this season we would be comfortable, maybe not threatening the top 6/ Europa League places, but a decent bet for 12th-16th.

Now we're back to relying on teams being more shite than us.  It's quite possible that will be our salvation, but really, they'd have to go some way to be as brutally bad as we've been recently.

[PeterWithesShin]

On the plus side, met Dante who is a lovely fella and didn't deserve the misery I inflicted on him. Sorry mate!

And also adrenachrome, who I didn't inflict any misery on but was still a pleasure to meet.

[eastie]

For anyone interested we are the third game on motd tonight, following the games at arsenal and Norwich.

[Rigadon]

For anyone interested we are the third game on motd tonight, following the games at arsenal and Norwich.

Are you insane? 

[CT]

I lost heart today. Terrible thing to say, but I did. After the third goal I was slumped back in my seat, looking around, down, anywhere but the pitch. I showed no passion, not even anger. I did stay to the bitter end, for whatever that was worth.

Our midfield is pitiful. That, today, was on a par from anything the 1987 relegated side produced.

[MarkM]

I watched the players having shots at the goal before the game during the warm up.

Lets just say that the fans in the lower Holte got more catching practice than the person we had in goal.

It didn't get any better in the game.

[MarkM]

Live text commentary as Arsenal beat Newcastle 7-3 while there are wins for Manchester United and City, but Aston Villa are thrashed at home.

Even the BBC sport website call it a thrashing, we are a joke at the moment

[john2710]

Not easy to get things in perspective after today but the following points needs to be made:
Vlar, Gabby, Bent, Dunne, N'Zogbia would make a big difference to our current performances, if they were available. Take 5 or 6 players out of any team & they would struggle. Our problem is that when these are out, we only have the likes of Herd, Lichaj, Albrighton, Weimann or inexperienced Benteke, Westwood, Lowton, Bennett to rely on. The very average Holman or useless KEA & Ireland add very little to any team.

With the exception KEA, Lambert signings have been good value.

The myth that our youth setup is a production line of premiership players has been blown apart; athough this is nothing that we didn't already know. In truth it's a production line for mediocrity, none of whom would get in any other premiership side. The fact that our clubs future is currently being left in their hands is frightening. I would swap all of them for 1 quality player.

Today I have to question Lamberts tactics, any manager that puts Bannan, Ireland & Holman in a midfield three, especially in front of a back 5 that has conceded 12 goals, shows a complete lack of tactical sense. He should have reverted to 4-4-2 after 20 mins when it became obvious that we were being run ragged in midfield. Fullbacks don't know when to push forward & when to defend. Lichaj is not good enough for a championship team.

Ireland can only play just behind the striker, he should never be put in a 4 man midfield, let alone a 3 man midfield. He is a 'luxury' we can't afford.

Benteke needs to realise he's no Drogba.

We need a centre half, 2 midfielders, a forward & cover for left back / right back. The next 4-6 weeks we need to buy the players we need & get the others fit.

[eastie]

I feel worse tonight than after Chelsea or spurs- they were both quality teams but to lose like this to Wigan is a bitter blow.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

For anyone interested we are the third game on motd tonight, following the games at arsenal and Norwich.

Are you insane? 

Might watch shopping channels instead.

[David_Nab]

I feel worse tonight than after Chelsea or spurs- they were both quality teams but to lose like this to Wigan is a bitter blow.

Agreed

[pauliewalnuts]

I feel worse tonight than after Chelsea or spurs- they were both quality teams but to lose like this to Wigan is a bitter blow.

Agreed

The worst thing is that the scoreline didn't flatter Wigan. Not even slightly.

[tomd2103]

Not easy to get things in perspective after today but the following points needs to be made:
Vlar, Gabby, Bent, Dunne, N'Zogbia would make a big difference to our current performances, if they were available. Take 5 or 6 players out of any team & they would struggle. Our problem is that when these are out, we only have the likes of Herd, Lichaj, Albrighton, Weimann or inexperienced Benteke, Westwood, Lowton, Bennett to rely on. The very average Holman or useless KEA & Ireland add very little to any team.

Sorry John, but I'm not sure any of those four would make much of a difference, N'Zogbia in particular.