Aston Villa v Malaga Hyperstupendous Thread (post-match from page 16)

[silhillvilla]

Helenius, I call him The Gladiator because he sounds like he should be one.

Good nickname for him, fits like a glove.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm hoping it catches on better than my attempt to get the NRC used as monetary amount did.

[olaftab]

Tonev could be worthy of a shirt just for the fact he seems to be able to whip in scary corners. Since Young left weve been awful with corners.

Young was awful at corners most of the time let's not forget.

[Matt Collins]

Young's corners were often too flat at the outset. But one in three was an absolute beauty. And I'd take that ratio. Over time, he started to float them in and they were shit.

People often say "you have to beat the first man". You can do that every time if you float it in, but you won't score many.

Westwood's corners to benteke at the back post got us a few goals. But if Tonev can whip them in like he did a couple of times on Saturday, I'd accept it if a few of his were wasted.  That was an awesome delivery

[tomd2103]

Maybe he just wanted to try a few other options as this is the last friendly?

Could have been the case PWS, especially with Tonev.  El Ahmadi does seem to have featured in midfield fairly prominently in pre season though, whereas Sylla hasn't.  Having seen a couple of games this summer, I still think the midfield three of Sylla, Westwood and Delph would be our best midfield line up.

[tomd2103]

Scary for the ball boys maybe, a few were closer to hitting them than a Villa player.

I think 2-3 of his corners were very good indeed. I'll take those odds compared to the last few years where you're lucky for one good set piece delivery a game. I still haven't worked out whether he's a lefty or a righty either.

The corners he took with his right foot were markedly better than the ones he took with his left. 

[PeterWithesShin]

Maybe he just wanted to try a few other options as this is the last friendly?

Could have been the case PWS, especially with Tonev.  El Ahmadi does seem to have featured in midfield fairly prominently in pre season though, whereas Sylla hasn't.  Having seen a couple of games this summer, I still think the midfield three of Sylla, Westwood and Delph would be our best midfield line up.

It could be that he's confident in what certain players can do so wanted to try others to see more of them and to maybe give them confidence as well. Sylla looked impressive last season while KEA didn't, so maybe that's why? Then again, i'm starting to think that trying to second guess Lambert is a hard thing to do.

[tomd2103]

Maybe he just wanted to try a few other options as this is the last friendly?

Could have been the case PWS, especially with Tonev.  El Ahmadi does seem to have featured in midfield fairly prominently in pre season though, whereas Sylla hasn't.  Having seen a couple of games this summer, I still think the midfield three of Sylla, Westwood and Delph would be our best midfield line up.

It could be that he's confident in what certain players can do so wanted to try others to see more of them and to maybe give them confidence as well. Sylla looked impressive last season while KEA didn't, so maybe that's why? Then again, i'm starting to think that trying to second guess Lambert is a hard thing to do.

Again that could well be the case PWS.  KEA was busy yesterday, but I would still have Sylla and Westwood in ahead of him.

[PeterWithesShin]

I mentioned before, I will be a lot happier if we start with Westwood, Delph and Sylla against Arsenal. However I wouldn't be shocked if Lambert went for it more and played only one of Delph and Sylla.

[tomd2103]

I mentioned before, I will be a lot happier if we start with Westwood, Delph and Sylla against Arsenal. However I wouldn't be shocked if Lambert went for it more and played only one of Delph and Sylla.

Could be the case.  Think Delph would get the nod in that scenario, as having a left footer in there brings a bit more balance to the midfield. 

[Percy McCarthy]

Please start the season with Sylla Delph and Westwood PL. We can try the more fragile options when we're safely ensconsed in mid-table later on.

[Matt Collins]

Please start the season with Sylla Delph and Westwood PL. We can try the more fragile options when we're safely ensconsed in mid-table later on.

Yes yes yes! There seems virtually universal consensus on this point. Against the top sides I think we just have to go that way at the moment. That is how we ended the season. But I think ideally lambert would want to play 4231 and that's how we lined up away at Man U and arsenal last year. It worked ok at arsenal as we broke with real menace. But it was a big mistake at old Trafford where it left our full backs exposed one on one too often

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Please start the season with Sylla Delph and Westwood PL. We can try the more fragile options when we're safely ensconsed in mid-table later on.

This.
And confirmed our place in the FA Cup Final after winning the League Cup in March. :-)

[Ron Manager]

I think most of us would like to see a midfield of Delph/Westwood/Sylla as it looked very competent at the dog end of last season.

A centre back pairing of Baker/Okore  also would suit a lot of us.

But Lambert tends to see things in different ways.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I think most of us would like to see a midfield of Delph/Westwood/Sylla as it looked very competent at the dog end of last season.

A centre back pairing of Baker/Okore  also would suit a lot of us.

But Lambert tends to see things in different ways.

Agree with your preferences here Ron, but...
as you suggest, Lambert will mix things up - my Norwich mate informs me that we will find some of his selections baffling and infuriating.