Aston Villa v Manchester City Post-Match Thread

[curiousorange]

I wish there was a way we could just see the results for these last 10 games now, because I can't be arsed paying attention.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

In addition, I've slated Delph many, many times in here, but I have to say he's having his best season this season and played well today. Neve stopped. However, I wish someone would tell him to stop his lunatic, over-the-top tackles, but other than that, he's starting to change my mind. Keep it up lad!

[ktvillan]

Well CBBB Clark has made so many balls ups this season that maybe Lambert could have got his coaches to work on improving his defending, or maybe he could have signed one or two better CBs in the January window.  But hey he's only paid a few million to manage, so perhaps we shouldn't expect him to actually do that much.

[pauliewalnuts]

Well CBBB Clark has made so many balls ups this season that maybe Lambert could have got his coaches to work on improving his defending, or maybe he could have signed one or two better CBs in the January window.

Bingo.

I honestly can't even begin to imagine how anyone who had watched us play this season up to that point, could have got to January and not thought we urgently, urgently needed a bit of experience at centre back.

[SoccerHQ]

4 points is a must from the next two. Six would be great but four is more realistic.

I don't think even three would be good enough as that would mean losing one of the games and letting in either Reading and QPR.

Was happy how we played tonight but Clark's error summed up why we're down there really. It could've been a foul but you don't get those decisions when you're battling relegation.

[kippaxvilla2]

Lambert is Comical Ali - standing on the top of the hotel, (the Holte), claiming we are winning the war on Premier League survival when down below, opposition players are firing a continuous loop of free shots on our goal.

[Greg N'Ash]

I just can't see how we'll stay up with this defence. Its like starting a goal down every game. Citeh weren't on top form but they still could have had 3 bar Brad. Seeing Lambchop refuses to play the DM he bought in January why doesn't he at least try something. Surely even holman or N'zogbia at the back is worth a try.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Anything less than 6 points from the next two games and I fear we will be dead and buried

That's what worries me.

Our next two games are against QPR and Reading. We need to win them both. I genuinely wouldn't back us to win either of them, let alone both.

I disagree. Beat Reading and not lose to QPR wouldn't be the end of the world. QPR will be the tougher fixture.

[FatSam]

The club was relegated in January 31st, and we fully deserve it, we brought it on ourselves. The squad is pathetically weak, nowhere near good enough, and we did nothing to improve it.

I agree with this. The two players who were brought in in January make the occasional 80th minute substitute appearance between them - which suggests that they aren't capable of providing the impetus that was desperately needed. At the same time our defence continues to look like an accident waiting to happen.

I don't think we played too badly tonight, and could easily have got something out of the game with a bit of luck - the same story as at Arsenal. The goal goes down as a Clark error for me, and whilst that particular error isn't what will have relegated us, its one of the many errors that collectively will. I don't understand the licence given to supposed 'ball playing' centre backs. If they can't defend then they are a liability, regardless of how good there are on the ball. Other than being committed, I struggle to see what defensive attributes Clark has.

I didn't really expect us to get anything out of the game tonight, but we are going to have to get some unexpected points from somewhere or we are going down.

[villadelph]

Well CBBB Clark has made so many balls ups this season that maybe Lambert could have got his coaches to work on improving his defending, or maybe he could have signed one or two better CBs in the January window.

Bingo.

I honestly can't even begin to imagine how anyone who had watched us play this season up to that point, could have got to January and not thought we urgently, urgently needed a bit of experience at centre back.

Or give him the armband.. 

[Greg N'Ash]

Lambert had the money for a centre half. He chose not to spend it.

[silhillvilla]

I actually think we will get heavily beaten at Reading. Our team has no substance.
It will be a repeat of Sept at St Mary's.

[FatSam]

I just can't see how we'll stay up with this defence. Its like starting a goal down every game. Citeh weren't on top form but they still could have had 3 bar Brad.

Yes, as with Arsenal in the last game, I think we were actually playing Citeh at a good time. They clearly weren't quite at it, and didn't have the urgency that you would expect of a team chasing the title - which suggests that they have pretty much given up. Even in these circumstances a combination of ineptitude and poor luck mean we conspire to get no points. This team doesn't seem to be capable of taking advantage of beneficial circumstances.

[DB]

Get real. We lost 1-0 to the current champions who have team that any one player is worth more than our team. Did we really think we would get anything out of it? As said next 2 games are huge the ones we MUST win. We did not look that bad.

[forzavilla]

Anything less than 6 points from the next two games and I fear we will be dead and buried

That's what worries me.

Our next two games are against QPR and Reading. We need to win them both. I genuinely wouldn't back us to win either of them, let alone both.

I disagree. Beat Reading and not lose to QPR wouldn't be the end of the world. QPR will be the tougher fixture.

I see where your coming from but stand by my opinion on needing 6 points to stand any chance of avoiding the drop.
I believe that 37 points would see us staying up and winning the next two games is a big step to hitting that target.