Aston Villa v Newcastle United Post-Match Thread

[tomd2103]

Just got back in from the game and thought it was the proverbial "game of two halves".  Least said about the first half the better, but the change to 4-2-3-1 worked and we were unlucky not to get something out of the game.  I ,like many round me, stayed and clapped the team off because I thought they deserved it tonight.

Even though we were much better in the 2nd half, there were still a couple of things that puzzled me.  Early in the 2nd half, Gabby absolutely skinned their RB, but then proceeded to move inside for the rest of the half leaving us no wide option on the left.  Also,we played some good football in the 2nd half and caused them real problems, yet towards the end, we reverted back to hoofing it long towards Benteke and looked worse as a result.  I really don't know why we do that, as it just doesn't work. 

Finally I tuned in to 1152 AM on the way back (not even sure what the station is called now) and was getting really wound up with Tom Ross and Pat Heard going on about playing 4-4-2.  Heard has been going on about it for weeks, but was really on one tonight.  I tried to phone up because I really wanted to ask the pair of them how they thought 4-4-2 is going to work when we have no real natural wingers at the club.  Couldn't get through unfortunately. 

[john2710]

Just back, game was lost as soon as Lambert sent the team out with that fucking 3-4-1-2 formation. It doesn't work, we don't have the players to make it work & the players don't believe in it either.

That incoherent twat should be sacked for the tactical incompetence of putting a team out, yet again, with a formation that will never work & effectivley hands the game to the opposition.

I can't fault the players for their 2nd half efforts.

[OCD]

Is Lambert completely deluded.

Standing Ovaation at the end oof the game ?
Did anyway else bar the manager see this ?

Presumably he means people were clapping as they got up and walked away from the ground. Not exactly a standing ovation.

[tomd2103]

Oh yeah and well done to the H&V scouts on here who have been raving about Sissoko - the kid looks a real player!!

[Legion]

Is Lambert completely deluded.

Standing Ovaation at the end oof the game ?
Did anyway else bar the manager see this ?

Presumably he means people were clapping as they got up and walked away from the ground. Not exactly a standing ovation.

The Newcastle fans were ecstatic.

[curiousorange]

I wonder what he says to Mrs Lambert when he gets in at night? Presumably something along the lines of 'Has my Glasses Direct order arrived yet?'

[ROBBO]

Sorry if i was harsh on bannan, i am deeply depressed tonight after this defeat !

No need to be sorry, he only came to life when there was no pressure on him in the second half.

[old man villa fan]

It was clear to me that the players were so frightened of making mistakes in the 1st half and losing the match, that the passing went to pieces.  I doubt if I have seen so many half hit passes to players that were in worst positions than the player with the ball.  How many times did Lowton and Bennett have the ball passed behind them instead of in front of them with Newcastle players marking them.  How many times did players choose the wrong pass or try over ambitious long passes.  How many times did our players just want to get rid of the ball.  That is mainly down to the pressure of the occasion.

The first goal was the result of Baker ball watching and allowing Cisse to get behind him onto the through ball.  In fact, Baker had a nightmare 30 minutes in the 1st half.  The 2nd goal was as a result of not defending the edge of the penalty area.  What is it with Villa, for years we have conceded goals like this because we fail to put 2 players either side of the 'D' and about 10 yards outside the area.

Quite a few have commented about playing 5 at the back.  What I saw was 3 at the back and two fullbacks pushed forward, both of whom do not look to have the pace to play wing back.

Although Newcastle dominated the 1st half, we did not look so uncomfortable at the back compared with recent games.  The only player that looked ok in the 1st half was N'Zogbia.

The changes at half time made a difference for the first 20 minutes but then Gabby faded badly.  Also, the changes did not suit N'Zogbia and he looked lost in the 2nd half as he did not have the freedom of the 1st half.  The formation 2nd half looked to be more 4-2-4 than 4-4-2 and once that early energy went, we became predictable.

Somebody else mentioned about Benteke in the last 15 minutes and I thought he tried to do too much on his own when there were players in far better positions that he could have knocked the ball back to.  As a matter of interest, if he had missed the penalty, would the referee have had the kick retaken because their 'keeper was moving around as though he had a pogo stick stuck up his arse.

[tomd2103]

Is Lambert completely deluded.

Standing Ovaation at the end oof the game ?
Did anyway else bar the manager see this ?

Presumably he means people were clapping as they got up and walked away from the ground. Not exactly a standing ovation.

I wouldn't have called it a standing ovation, but there were a fair few in the lower North Stand who stayed to clap the players off.

[Somniloquism]

I haven't thrown in the towel just yet.

Same here.  There's fourteen (?) games left to play, we've just got to keep digging deep.  It is far too early to give up!

Although there are lots on here predicting relegation, I'm sure they will be at the next match wanting a Villa win. But I don't know how us digging deep will stop the actions on and off the pitch beyond out control.

The worst thing you can do when you are down there is gift your rivals points. Wigan have shown you can survive after atrocious losses and GD but if you don't take points from around you, it then means trying to get them from better teams battling for the top prize. Swap the results from Wigan and Liverpool matches around, and suddenly we are out the relegation zone. Take 6 off Southampton and we look quite comfortable.

[olaftab]

The 352 formation has to go

If its proper 352 than it may be ok but the problem is that in the first half it was 5212 with vast open space out wide when we attacked.

[bertlambshank]

As long as he doesn't come off the line no.

[Lizz]

Back home. Right now only hope is to clutch at straws. May have different perspective tomorrow.

[Somniloquism]

Oh yeah and well done to the H&V scouts on here who have been raving about Sissoko - the kid looks a real player!!

I will reserve judgement until he is playing against Midfielders who didn't make Bradford and Millwall midfield look good.

[Lastfootstamper]

They omitted a crucial apostrophe aswell.

This is a war crime in my opinion.

I'm not 100%, but if you look really, REALLY closely, it might be there