West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Mortimer's Bear]

Why do we ask our best forward to keep defending their best player at a corner.
He is just a kid for fucks sake.

Our best forward didn't play today.

[PeterWithesShin]

Why do we ask our best forward to keep defending their best player at a corner.
He is just a kid for fucks sake.

Our best forward didn't play today.

Not sure i'd say Weimann is better than Benteke.

[Steve R]

I suppose a point is a point and we are out of the bottom three but it is still annoying.

We're perfectly ok in attack. The defence is ok too truth be told. It's the bloody midfield. It's the problem we have had since close of business at the end of August.

Almost every Albion possession from about 40 minutes onwards ended up with them having possession - and free players - on the edge of our box. Lambert should be moving heaven and earth this week to get a couple of strong midfielders from somewhere.

Sort that out and we could actually be quite a good team.

[damon loves JT]

I much prefer to be moaning about only getting a point, than to be moaning about a 4-0 defeat and wondering if the manager has resigned yet.

[Monty]

Why do we ask our best forward to keep defending their best player at a corner.
He is just a kid for fucks sake.

Our best forward didn't play today.

Not sure i'd say Weimann is better than Benteke.

I think it's fair to say he's more consistent, though. Benteke was magic tonight but has been really poor the last few games.

[The Situation]

Ah well, it was a good game, and the good first half just about overshadowed the bad second, and we've moved out of the bottom three. 

I agree with Risso.

and darren woolley?

[danno]

Can't complain about the result.

But I can complain about us winning corners, and then almost immediately conceding chances.
Not winning the second balls.
Looking totally inept when a ball is lumped into our box.

I still think the good stuff outweighed the bad today.
Delph and N'zogbia caught the eye, the Zog looked good against Ipswich too.

One central midfielder who isn't a pushover please.

[aj2k77]

. The defence is ok too truth be told.

Disagree, defending is still appalling at corners and crosses and always look capable of dropping a goal costing clanger.

[bertlambshank]

Why do we ask our best forward to keep defending their best player at a corner.
He is just a kid for fucks sake.

Our best forward didn't play today.

of course he did,if you think you are being clever go and play with somebody else.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Why do we ask our best forward to keep defending their best player at a corner.
He is just a kid for fucks sake.

Our best forward didn't play today.

Not sure i'd say Weimann is better than Benteke.

Just my opinion, Benteke shows flashed of brilliance but also shows the ability to miss sitter after sitter.

There's definitely a good player in there but he's very hot and cold for me.

[mattjpa]

A big problem was Delph going off. Bannan is not a defensive midfielder at the best of times, and certainly not in a two against five situation!

In all farness neither is delph. I think he is best when he picks the ball up and drives at the defence-he was outstanding in a more adanced role for leeds, i think it is a case of needs must for him at the moment. I hope that if we can get in a dmf or two he can be utilised in a more advanced role.
and for all of those  ripping into Holman, today he was pretty crap to be fair but on  a couple of occasions this season he has been the post game focus in the highlights, dont be so quick to write him off

[curiousorange]

Looking at the game today, I think the Baggies will be where we are now next season. Lukaku will return to Chelski, Odemwingie will go in January or the summer, Morrison's having the season of his life, Olsson really isn't that great. They're an average side who had a great start, but in a struggle they've not got what it takes to battle. Their best player today was Jerome Thomas and he didn't start - you've got to question Steve Clarke for getting that wrong.

[Greg N'Ash]

I'm in full blown count the points mode so its a good point - i certainly would have settled for it beforehand. Gabby actually looked like he gave a fuck for a change, wasn't as impressed with N'Zog as some of you but then i don't rate him - he was better, for him. Problem still boils down to the defence - you can't give away 2 goals a game and expect to win unless you have RVP up front.. Peter omyweeble or whatever his name is, should have had a hattrick second half.  Overall, simlar feeling to the Swansea game except we played a bit better. Something to build on hopefully.

[barrysleftfoot]

 Forgot about Weimann, i must say a foward choice og Bent, Benteke, N'Zog, Weimann and Gabby is quite good, the trouble is the defence and the midfield is not strong enough.

[ktvillan]

Even at 2-0 you knew it probably wouldn't be enough.  The miss by Lichaj just before half time could have sealed it and again you kind of knew that would probably end up costing us.

The priority for the second half was not to concede early, but this is Villa, so no surprise when we did just that. 

I can kind of see the logic of why he replaced N'Zogbia with Holman but Charlie was having perhaps his best game for us and they were constantly worried about the quick break while he was on.  Plus Holman isn't up to much apart from a lot of largely ineffective chasing and harrying.

Great dummy and strike by Benteke but the lad is shite at defending set pieces.

Positives- Gabby and N'Zogbia were tremendous, especially first half, and we need more of that from them.  We didn't lose and we're out of the bottom 3 again - just.

Whilst our form is relegation form, I still don't think there is too much wrong that a couple of strong and influential central midfielders wouldn't go a long way to putting right.   Unfortunately there are few signs we will get even one.