26 passes

[supertom]

The trouble is sometimes that even though we keep possession we move the ball around quite slowly. There has to be some purpose and we often need to just move up a gear or two quicker. Plus with Lambert not really liking to use the width as much, we can look a bit boxed in sometimes. In recent weeks we've been using the whole of the pitch a little more, and if we keep doing so we should improve and score more goals (Hopefully).

As for fans getting restless at tippy tappy football. That probably will happen but the players just need to keep on. I'd rather we had the ball in our possession than not. I know Arsenal fans who get frustrated at times when it seems like they try and walk it in the net, so it's not just Villa fans.

We need to mix our game about a bit. Sometimes when a games crying out for us to be a bit more direct and add a bit of thrust, we're playing it round the middle of the pitch and across our backline with seemingly little intent to get the ball forward. We've got to be more forceful. We need 1 or 2 from out midfield to make a burst in the box. If we have to try and whip in an early cross so be it. But as much as when someone is on the ball, there needs to be a bit more directness from players off the ball.

With time and experience for some of these players, we'll improve. Plus the balance of midfield needs to be right. I think we look better with a more conventional 3 in midfield. There's always an outlet. In defence there's more cover for the backline with 3 in mid too.

[Lastfootstamper]

We need 1 or 2 from our midfield to make a burst in the box.

I miss that sort of stuff. Can anybody remember the last time a midfielder looked to get beyond the forwards? Something for which ball retention is imperative. If we can start playing that way consistently, I can see Delph doing such quite effectively.

[Percy McCarthy]

We need 1 or 2 from our midfield to make a burst in the box.

I miss that sort of stuff. Can anybody remember the last time a midfielder looked to get beyond the forwards?

Saturday when Bannan hit the post?

[Mister E]

If the problems with the defence are allowed to run on through next season, then it won't really matter how we play, we're going to go on giving away stupid goals, and get nowhere.

He has to fix that, it goes without saying.

I agree, but retaining possession is one way of taking the pressure of the defence.

True, but i think our defensive problems go way beyond them having too much pressure on them. Any time a ball comes into the box, for example, we seem all over the place.

There's a lot of work to do there.

Interestingly, the BBC's so-called expert, Garth Beachball, has put Polysterene Ron in his team of the week for his calming infuence on Saturday.

just thought I'd mention it, like.

[Mister E]

We need 1 or 2 from our midfield to make a burst in the box.

I miss that sort of stuff. Can anybody remember the last time a midfielder looked to get beyond the forwards? Something for which ball retention is imperative. If we can start playing that way consistently, I can see Delph doing such quite effectively.

Delph did it against Citeh in the last quarter; damn near got through, too.

[Lastfootstamper]

We need 1 or 2 from our midfield to make a burst in the box.

I miss that sort of stuff. Can anybody remember the last time a midfielder looked to get beyond the forwards? Something for which ball retention is imperative. If we can start playing that way consistently, I can see Delph doing such quite effectively.

Delph did it against Citeh in the last quarter; damn near got through, too.

Typical, happens in a game I had no choice but to miss!

Percy: oh yeah, forgot about that one!!!! But it emphasises my point, it's bloody effective when we look to do it

[Percy McCarthy]

We need 1 or 2 from our midfield to make a burst in the box.

I miss that sort of stuff. Can anybody remember the last time a midfielder looked to get beyond the forwards? Something for which ball retention is imperative. If we can start playing that way consistently, I can see Delph doing such quite effectively.

Delph did it against Citeh in the last quarter; damn near got through, too.

Typical, happens in a game I had no choice but to miss!

Percy: oh yeah, forgot about that one!!!! But it emphasises my point, it's bloody effective when we look to do it

Indeed. Wasn't being funny, just nice to give BB some propers.

[SamTheMouse]

We need 1 or 2 from our midfield to make a burst in the box.

I miss that sort of stuff. Can anybody remember the last time a midfielder looked to get beyond the forwards? Something for which ball retention is imperative. If we can start playing that way consistently, I can see Delph doing such quite effectively.

Stan had started to do it again, before he got ill. He was good at it, too.

[eamonn]

We need 1 or 2 from our midfield to make a burst in the box.

I miss that sort of stuff. Can anybody remember the last time a midfielder looked to get beyond the forwards? Something for which ball retention is imperative. If we can start playing that way consistently, I can see Delph doing such quite effectively.

Delph did it against Citeh in the last quarter; damn near got through, too.

Typical, happens in a game I had no choice but to miss!

Percy: oh yeah, forgot about that one!!!! But it emphasises my point, it's bloody effective when we look to do it

Indeed. Wasn't being funny, just nice to give BB some propers.

Just don't let him near any poppers.

[Legion]

All I could think about while watching the game back.

I think Legion will cry when he sees that video.

P.s. Leeg, look at my username!

Cringes. Twice.

[Legion]

I have stuck with Lambert all season and have said he should keep his job whatever happens. I have based this support on the following points:

1. Paul Lambert is an ambitious young manager with a fresh philosophy on the game. Do we want another dinosaur for the sake of a couple of years of mid-table mediocrity followed by ending up in deep crap again? That's what would happen under a Big Sam/Curbishly or whoever else of that ilk.

2. Last season, the life was sucked out of the club by a dour, negative and old-fashioned manager. We played some of the worst stuff I have seen from a villa side. If we're honest, we didn't look like Aston Villa, more like a Bolton or a Wimbledon trying to defend and nick a few 1-0 wins. This season has been tough but there had been a big improvement. OK, so we are six points worse off now than same stage last season but we look like scoring goals and winning games, something that looked (and actually was!) beyond us from early March. We had a dreadful spell in December and January, dreadful. However, we as fans need to look beyond it and see it as 'character building' for that young team. They got through it, will remember it and will have learned some hard lessons.

3. One thing that has been consistent this season: the players have played for the manager. They didn't play for Houllier, they didn't (couldn't?) play for TSM. They have stuck with Lambert and most importantly, they have stuck with each other. That tells me the manager has been doing something right.  When was the last time we looked like a team? Sometime in the spring of 2010? I'm not sure, I think we probably stopped looking like a team after the Carling Cup final?

4. Stability. We need stability. After so much change since August 2010 we simply cannot go through that process again. We have got to give this manager at least another six months. If we are really struggling at Christmas 2013 (whatever division) then I'd get rid but he has to be given time to build. If there are more Bentekes out there I want them coming to villa and this manager. By now Lambert knows who to keep, who to buy and who to sell. A new man would have to start again. I genuinely think that a change of manager again could be the thing that would relegate us next year.

5. I am disillusioned, don't get me wrong, but I (quite openly) have been directing this at the custodians of the club. I feel Lambert probably was working under the same kind of restrictions that led to us having to scrape the bottom of the barrel for a manager the previous summer. I think the decision making and leadership at Aston Villa since 2010 has been appalling and will take a few years to recover. However, and this is important, I feel those of us who have been disillusioned should be willing to wait and see what happens in the summer. If Randy and co stick with Lambert, see that the club is united again and try to genuinely kick on with some fresh investment I'd wipe the slate clean with Randy giving him the 'character building (!)' benefit of the doubt I'm also giving Lambert and players.

6. If we stay up, this could be an exciting summer. If Lambert can get rid of the deadwood and, most importantly, if Randy backs the manager with say £30m- £40m I could see us being a comfortable mid-table team in with a slight chance of challenging for the Europa League places.  I think we need to shore up the spine of our team while adding a top quality left back. Two or three good additions would transform us as would the removal of the few remaining bad apples. I think there is the makings of a good team there if we can make a few positive decisions (for once!) this summer.

Bravo. Post of the year so far and plenty of food for thought.

[Toronto Villa]

I really think Randy/Faulkner want to start from a fresh slate in getting rid of some of the collossal bank balance sucking contracts that they agreed to. That until the likes of Ireland, Dunne, Given etc etc are gone that they won't put real net investment into the club. I think this summer there will be a signifcant push to move out of those contracts irrespective of the fees received so that it frees up cash to invest properly again. If any of those players were actually playing today there would be no massive rush to get rid of them, but while it is a very dangerous game to have played, they want those gone first before spending like a PL club again.

Irish Villain makes solid points, but it is the last one that is the biggest question mark and will only happen if those players are sold.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We need 1 or 2 from our midfield to make a burst in the box.

I miss that sort of stuff. Can anybody remember the last time a midfielder looked to get beyond the forwards? Something for which ball retention is imperative. If we can start playing that way consistently, I can see Delph doing such quite effectively.

Delph did it against Citeh in the last quarter; damn near got through, too.

Though not a midfielder, it was Lowton that won the header in their box that led to Gabby's goal. What the hell he was doing in there I've no idea but I'm most certainly glad he was.

[Irish villain]

Thanks guys. *blushes*.

I would actually revise the investment figure down to a more realistic £20m-£30m which, if we can hold onto all our best players while losing a few high earning non contributors, would probably be enough to add two or three players of genuine quality to the spine of the team.

[Legion]

I've stuck it on the FB page.