West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

My issue with subs was that Gabby was wasted after 60 mins and possibly part responsible for their dominance in the second half. He should have gone off instead of N'Zogbia. Gabby was brilliant in the first half however in the second half he kept losing the ball, falling over and not able to make runs that would pocketed us a third goal. Delph  was also a loss but he was limping towards the end of first half.

Agreed.
Gabby was a massive threat to them in the 1st half and a lumbering galoot in the 2nd.
We made them work hard in first half and held the ball up and put them under pressure - in the second we wasted possession (again!) and gave them far too much time and space on the ball - almost inviting them on to our defence with the midfield nowhere to be seen.
Thought Delph was fab! ;-)
Hope he's ok for Tuesday.

[olaftab]

This season since the demise of VS I have had limited access to watching our Villa live.  I have been limited to listening to us on the wireless and to you good people keeping me informed on match threads. I was lucky enough to get to the pub tonight and watching the match in HD live. Having endured the results of the past 4 weeks I have to say that this team will NOT be going down.

Cheers Tony I am with you. The first half was the best I have seen us play for a long while. Team was bright and correct and the front 3 absolutely terrorised them. Albion fans around  me were dumbfounded at what they were seeing. This was similar to the last 20 mins against Southampton and if we  play like  that in most of the matches most of the time  we will be alright.

[russon]

For what it's worth Weimann and Benteke would be my first choice forward line.

It's worth very little given it's a statement of the bleedin obvious! For what it's worth, I wouldn't have Bannan in the country never mind in the squad

[Walmley_Villa]

So our fans join in their minute's applause before the game and then they mock the 19th minute.... just proves who has the class - as bad a s Small Time Small Heath.... Albion - that is why you will never be a great club - shame.

[old man villa fan]

Disappointing to only get a point after a good first half.  We looked very good going forward but wasted chances and good positions that eventually cost us two points.  We coped well after losing Baker and I thought Eric had a reasonable game, although he has to learn that if he pushes right up the pitch when we have possession, he has to race to get back when we lose the ball.

The turning point was losing Delph to injury and Lambert having very limited choices of players to bring on.  Bannan was just about the only player he could bring on and he is so lacking in confidence at the moment.  His size is also a problem and I pointed out to my son during the game that the long striding WBA players simply lost him with a simple push of the ball to the side of him as he is not tall enough to slide in on them.

First goal was simply that we could not get players out to the edge of the box quick enough.  This is not just a current problem but it has been one we have had for years.  The second was basically that we do not have enough players with a physical presence in the air.  Our midfield and wing backs are too small and lightweight to get up and challenge.  Vlaar, Clark and Benteke are not enough in todays football.

I do not know how bad Baker's injury was but it looked like a pulled hamstring.  So having got Vlaar back, we are now back to only two central defenders.  I have always liked Clark as a player but he is struggling at the moment and when he struggles I get worried that he is going to get himself sent off, so putting pressure on an already wafer thin squad.

You could see that CNZ was drifting out of the game but I said at the time that I thought the substitution was 10 minutes too early.  For me, Holman does next to nothing in a game now and he has been like this for the last 2 to 3 months, except for an odd moment or two.  For a key position and in an area of the pitch where we need everybody to give everything, he is not good enough.

I was pleased to see Bennett have a good game as I really think he will be a good player with a bit more experience.  Vlaar certainly added something today and Westwood played well when he had Delph alongside him.  Today was probably the best I have seen Delph play and Benteke had one of those games when he looks top class.  Gabby and CNZ both decided to put something into todays game and it showed that we can be very good going forward.  The change in formation up front worked and the manager should be given credit for this (but this does not seem to be fashionable now).  Although playing well, they were both guilty of giving away good opportunities in failing to see players in great positions or taking to long to shoot.

All in all, although disappointed, I will take a point from tonights game.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Just a quick point. Admittedly a repeated one- I'd love to see John Robertson brought back in as a specialist coach to work with the wingers.

Especially N'Zogbia.

At the minute he's like a man with a twelve inch cock and premature ejaculation. (N'Zogbia that is - not John Robertson)

I'm not disagreeing with the idea, but if he still wanted a role in football, wouldn't he be at Sunderland?

The same John Robertson that couldn't teach Young or Downing to cross a ball? The Sunderland fans think his absence is the reason they play hoof ball...

If their crossing was that bad, would we really have got the thick end of £38 million for them?

All hail King Kenny. To say he paid over the odds for a player that has a great knack of failing to beat the first man is putting it mildly. Ashey had his moments, as did Albrigton but to heap praise on Robertson is as off target as one of Downings crosses (should he get passed the first man).

[villan from luton]

So our fans join in their minute's applause before the game and then they mock the 19th minute.... just proves who has the class - as bad a s Small Time Small Heath.... Albion - that is why you will never be a great club - shame.

Well said, they will never be a big club, let alone a great club

[old man villa fan]

Horrible subs and that is squarely on Lambert. Why the heck, when down 2-1 and we are struggling a bit, does he put Barry Frickin' Bannan on?!?!? He adds absolutely nothing defensively! Once I saw that, I knew we were in trouble. Knew it well before that, actually, but that sealed it...

Did you not see that Delph had to be replaced.  So we are now into blaming the manager for players getting injured as well.  If Lerner would give the manager some money to bring in a midfield player or two, he would not have to bring on 'Barry Frickin' Bannan'.

[Simon Jones]

Just back from the Tesco bags
Thought we were the best I have seen all season first half
Delph MOM for me - how bad is the injury?
Nzog best I have seen him - did not agree with taking him off
Sat with friends from work in the Albion Directors box. My 11 year old son Ben experienced his first away game and I had to stop him singing yippie i eie (hand over mouth) with the fantastic away support 
I would have taken a point before the kick off.
Need more backup
Randy either shit or get off the pot
Sorry bit pissed 
 

[Nastylee]

Charles is a real talent, a real, real talent,” said Lambert, who was forced to shuffle the team around when Nathan Baker and Fabian Delph limped off at the start of each half.

“He goes past people as if they’re not there at times. I would like to see him shoot because he has the ability to do it. In the first-half he was excellent.

“I took him off. He wasn’t injured. He’s back from a long lay-off so you have to watch him. We have games coming up. We have to protect him. We lost Fabian to an injury and Nathan too.”

A mistake imo, lost all impetus with this and invited pressure.

[lamboslions]

A point is a point and we can't be turning down a point away from home. Yes we conceded two in the second half but I was happy to see some passion from the lads and some passion from the manager. UTV.

[Louzie0]

I need Villa to win and stop conceding before I run out of things to throw and/or demolish the house.

Barnstoneworth, Barnstoneworth, Barnstoneworth

Had forgotten Golden Gordon! And 8-1(checking) it's a sign.

[TonyD]

This season since the demise of VS I have had limited access to watching our Villa live.  I have been limited to listening to us on the wireless and to you good people keeping me informed on match threads. I was lucky enough to get to the pub tonight and watching the match in HD live. Having endured the results of the past 4 weeks I have to say that this team will NOT be going down.

Cheers Tony I am with you. The first half was the best I have seen us play for a long while. Team was bright and correct and the front 3 absolutely terrorised them. Albion fans around  me were dumbfounded at what they were seeing. This was similar to the last 20 mins against Southampton and if we  play like  that in most of the matches most of the time  we will be alright.

There was a couple of very very vocal Baggies in the pub tonight I have NEVER met any baggies fans in 17 years of moving to Bristol.  They were so cocky.  "You are going down" was there continuos mantra.   After they composed themselves after the equaliser I turned round and said "that's your FA cup final for this season".   They then looked like a couple of scoulded kids and left.

We are BACK.

[Nastylee]

As an aside, was reading an article from Bradford's ticket office and saw this:


“And since we beat Villa 3-1, I’ve had around 100 calls from West Brom fans saying they’ll give them the run-around in the league game at the weekend, as well as offering advice!"

SAD TWATS!

[andrew08]

Dunne and Vlaar will make a difference. Gabby,Benteke, Weiman and Bent will score, we just have to keep clean sheets.

Feeling better about us tonight. New signings will be a bonus, but we still have enough as it is.