Bradford City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Legion]

Cries. Sobs. Opens Duvel. Dreads tomorrow at work.

We'll do a Tranmere.

[Nev]

Is it just me or is there a lot of overreaction. Bradford must be doing well to get this far and they have have just knocked Arsenal out. Bradford's keeper wins man of the match and the majority are saying how crap we were.

Oh, actually on reflection, I think you're right. Let's crack another bottle of champagne

Just how bad does it have to get for us to be justified in 'over-reacting' on here??

I'm the biggest critic of the "Rita Hayworth" end of the world over reaction of the match thread but really, to see a non-plussed, static defence mirrored by a non-plussed static manager was rather hard to take.

[Billy Walker]

Embarrassing, we just lost 3-1 to a division 4 side!

No passion, guts or determination.

And Lambert looks like he has not got a clue, I can see a defeat on Saturday on the horizon

Of course he's got a clue.  Every manager we get the line get's trotted out eventually:  "He hasn't got a clue!"  It'll happen with the next manager and the next manager and the next...

Yes, where we are at the moment is frustrating but at some point we need to give the manager time, we can't keep sacking and starting all over again.  Lambert has earned the right to have a fair crack at the Villa job.  He's served his apprenticeship well and has proved he can build and motivate teams to success.  To say he hasn't a  clue is ridiculous. 

Maybe it would have been better for Lambert if he had thrown the earlier match v Man City then he would have avoided the raised expectations and anger of some of our fans now?  Houllier knew what he was doing after all!

[pauliewalnuts]

What happened tonight is that everything that went wrong for us did, everything that went right for them did... along with horrendous defending from set pieces. Not that I'll kneejerk like the usual people, we actually were the better team. We were on top for most of the game and I have no idea how they kept making save after save not letting us score. They did not look threatening really, apart from the goals they hit the bar that's it. We did not play badly, just poor defending yet again cost us.

I still think we can overturn a 2 goal deficit, however the pressure will be on which might  make it tougher... what I'm even more worried about now is the game on Saturday - what will a defeat tonight do to our confidence? It's a massive game.

There were lots of things we did do right.

We created chances, we passed the ball well, we managed to not give it away for long periods. Those are some of the things we did well.

The problem is that, yet again, we defended feebly, and if you defend like that, then the good stuff you do doesn't count for shit any more.

We were at 2-1 and had 7 minutes plus injury time to hold out, and we couldn't manage even that.

If you think it's just the usual people kneejerking, then you can't really have read much of the thread. I've defended Lambert to the hilt, and still think the best thing to do is not to sack him, but i can't sit here and pretend that that result wasn't humiliating or predictable, because it was both.

What we had was a chance to win this game, after winning against Ipswich, and go into a crucial six pointer with Southampton full of confidence. We now look even less condifent than we were after Wigan. We've blown it.

[mr woo]

For the younger lads here, I saw every game in the relegation year of 86/87.

Yes, this seasons defence is worse.

A lot worse.

[curiousorange]

Does anybody remember what actually happened to Vlaar? I'm just asking because my dad had a heart attack and a triple bypass and was back at work (a physically demanding job, by the way) after 8 weeks. As far as I know, Vlaar has a sore calf and has been out longer than that.

The choice is simple. Either he's going to play soon, or we need a replacement who can't look at anything over knee height without flinging his forehead at it.

[Matt Collins]

CNZ is the most pointless player in the world in my opinion. Doesn't pass and doesn't shoot. Just simply dribbles with the ball until he gets tackled. Yes he may beat one or two players but he eventually gives the ball away every time.

Apart from when he set up Gabby's chance, shot for Bent's chance? I thought apart from Benteke's flick ons he was our biggest attacking threat.

[Eurochamps82]

No way will I be paying my hard earned money into the pockets of those overpaid tossers anymore! Spineless, weak and pathetic! Wake up Lerner else we'll go down!

[pauliewalnuts]

CNZ is the most pointless player in the world in my opinion. Doesn't pass and doesn't shoot. Just simply dribbles with the ball until he gets tackled. Yes he may beat one or two players but he eventually gives the ball away every time.

Apart from when he set up Gabby's chance, shot for Bent's chance? I thought apart from Benteke's flick ons he was our biggest attacking threat.

But he holds on to the ball for far too long. Several times that happened tonight, and it is something which seems a feature of his game.

[mrfuse]

Is it just me or is there a lot of overreaction. Bradford must be doing well to get this far and they have have just knocked Arsenal out. Bradford's keeper wins man of the match and the majority are saying how crap we were.

Oh, actually on reflection, I think you're right. Let's crack another bottle of champagne

Just how bad does it have to get for us to be justified in 'over-reacting' on here??

The fact that we are still in the semi final while rebuilding the whole team is an achievement for me.

If someone had said we would be 3-1 down with the home leg to come in the semi final of the cup a few months ago I would have taken that.

Okay our League position is precarious but after the fucks ups with MON, Houllier and McLeish it was never going to be an overnight fix.

[bertlambshank]

You watch. We'll win the second leg 4-2 where they'll score in the 90th minute and take the game into ET. Neither team will score and we'll go out on away goals.

TV if your saying that we are fucked! You was my only hope.

[VinnieChase84]

The good news, the club has a plan: We have those flags to wave for the 2nd leg. Priorities, priorities...

Those flags should be set on fire and thrown on the pitch

[Billy Walker]

It's half time and we're two down.   Get behind the lads, get Villa Park rocking (even if the opposition score an early goal) and keep with the manager and players.  All the pressure is now on Bradford - we have nothing to lose.

[PaulWinch again]

N'Zogbia was one of our better players. Our midfield and defence is worse than amateur.

[mrfuse]

Embarrassing, we just lost 3-1 to a division 4 side!

No passion, guts or determination.

And Lambert looks like he has not got a clue, I can see a defeat on Saturday on the horizon

Of course he's got a clue.  Every manager we get the line get's trotted out eventually:  "He hasn't got a clue!"  It'll happen with the next manager and the next manager and the next...

Yes, where we are at the moment is frustrating but at some point we need to give the manager time, we can't keep sacking and starting all over again.  Lambert has earned the right to have a fair crack at the Villa job.  He's served his apprenticeship well and has proved he can build and motivate teams to success.  To say he hasn't a  clue is ridiculous. 

Maybe it would have been better for Lambert if he had thrown the earlier match v Man City then he would have avoided the raised expectations and anger of some of our fans now?  Houllier knew what he was doing after all!

Well said