Aston Villa v Liverpool Post-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

Think PL got it wrong by starting 4-4-2, their midfield ran the show and it was only when he changed near the end of the half that we started to get into the game.

You thought we were playing 4-4-2, it looked 4-3-3 to me,

It looks like we have got a lot of pretty average midfield players.

If we were playing 442 I don't understand football.

[villan from luton]

Think PL got it wrong by starting 4-4-2, their midfield ran the show and it was only when he changed near the end of the half that we started to get into the game.

You thought we were playing 4-4-2, it looked 4-3-3 to me,

It looks like we have got a lot of pretty average midfield players.

Not at the start, Weiman was up top with Benteke and Bacuna was wide right. He changed after about 35 minutes

[villan from luton]

Think PL got it wrong by starting 4-4-2, their midfield ran the show and it was only when he changed near the end of the half that we started to get into the game.

You thought we were playing 4-4-2, it looked 4-3-3 to me,

It looks like we have got a lot of pretty average midfield players.

If we were playing 442 I don't understand football.

No need for the sarcasm, but Weiman was playing through the middle with Benteke in the first half hour or so and Bacuna was playing wide right. Then the manager changed things. Bacuna was playing more in the middle and Weiman went wide right

[Kent Villian]

If an attacking number 10 is needed how about Victor Moses on loan from Chelski - according to the Portuguese Gimp he is available?

He's another winger rather than a proper central player. We just need someone who knows how to manipulate space, when to quicken the game up and when to slow it down, and who has the patience and technique to do it.

How about we compromise and describe him as 'versatile' - he has played in a number of positions for both Wigan & Chelski with good effect?

[Ron Manager]

I thought we might pull this one back as the second half progressed but it didnt happen. Its obvious we lack a playmaker but I cant think who. Liverpool without Suarez aren't  that good. Gerrard played well enough but Rodgers has a few problems as we do. I thought Luna looked the part and Vlaar played a steady game. Weimann lacks technical skills at this level and tries to do everything at 100mph but I doubt if he will change. Delph had a good second half. Bacuna I cant make my mind up. He has something but its early days yet.

We really need to beat Newcastle to keep the momentum going.

[Monty]

If an attacking number 10 is needed how about Victor Moses on loan from Chelski - according to the Portuguese Gimp he is available?

He's another winger rather than a proper central player. We just need someone who knows how to manipulate space, when to quicken the game up and when to slow it down, and who has the patience and technique to do it.

How about we compromise and describe him as 'versatile' - he has played in a number of positions for both Wigan & Chelski with good effect?

Well I do agree that sure, he could play behind the striker, but so could Tonev or Weimann, and we'd still have the creativity problems. We have plenty of pace and energy and raw threat - we need a bit more vision and composure.

[SoccerHQ]

Ozz called it pre match and I suppose that was the fear at the back of our minds after the "heroic" loss to Chelsea we'd get a flat performance. First half we were not at it all and when we were in possession we were just so sloppy and second to most of the second balls.

That was a solid, professional performance from Liverpool. Ironically they didn't create much at all apart from the goal but they're an interesting side for me to compare us to as I feel they have a similar set of players that we have but are more rounded as a team. Coutinho is a terrific little player mind.

Was amazed Bacuna got MOTM tbh,would've given it to Okore who looks like he has all the qualities needed to be a good premier league centre half. Really I only felt we improved significantly when Bacuna was shifted to RB and KEA came on.

We could still have easily nicked a point today without hitting the standard required, was certain Benteke was going to equalise but top save from Mingolet.

Not going to lose heart, the break now is unfortunate but we have two winnable games after it in Newcastle and Norwich.

Edit: Hopefully any business we do between now and the next league game will involve an attacking midfielder. I'm not expecting a Coutinho standard player but it would be nice to have a midfielder who when he gets in the final third actually relishes the chance to try to play a ball through a packed defence rather than to the wings all the time. With the firepower we have we really should be winning more home games this season.

[Jockey Randall]

Think PL got it wrong by starting 4-4-2, their midfield ran the show and it was only when he changed near the end of the half that we started to get into the game.

You thought we were playing 4-4-2, it looked 4-3-3 to me,

It looks like we have got a lot of pretty average midfield players.

If we were playing 442 I don't understand football.

No need for the sarcasm, but Weiman was playing through the middle with Benteke in the first half hour or so and Bacuna was playing wide right. Then the manager changed things. Bacuna was playing more in the middle and Weiman went wide right

It was indeed 4-4-2 for about 35 mins. Strange to change from a formation which served us well over the last 2 games I thought. I presume he wanted the 2 strikers to pressure the back line so they couldn't dictate and keep the ball as well as Liverpool love to do. They ended up passing around us with ease.

[Tuscans]

Has Paul Lambert been through the filing cabinet and stumbled upon MON blueprint of a team? I'm slowly seeing a very very similar side that MON assembled when he was working here and although I'm not saying that its a negative thing, does Paul Lambert have that plan B that MON didn't?

I have the utmost respect, admiration, love for what Paul Lambert is doing, but at the end of last season and this I feel like I'm almost watching a team I watched a few years back. The similarities are obvious so I won't go through them. My point is where MON struggled and become stubborn in his weaknesses, I hope Lambert doesn't and has the intelligence to see where we might be failing.

[Marton]

If an attacking number 10 is needed how about Victor Moses on loan from Chelski - according to the Portuguese Gimp he is available?

He's another winger rather than a proper central player. We just need someone who knows how to manipulate space, when to quicken the game up and when to slow it down, and who has the patience and technique to do it.

How about we compromise and describe him as 'versatile' - he has played in a number of positions for both Wigan & Chelski with good effect?

Well I do agree that sure, he could play behind the striker, but so could Tonev or Weimann, and we'd still have the creativity problems. We have plenty of pace and energy and raw threat - we need a bit more vision and composure.

Helenius might yet prove he can play in that position. With limited time today he produced that lovely flick on for Benteke that almost equalized it for us. True he looks a bit like Bambi on ice with the ball but that height paired with Bentekes its alot for defenders to deal with. Plus we get less predictable. Liverpool had to convert Gerrard to a fullback in 2nd half to bail out their defence.

[Tuscans]

Think PL got it wrong by starting 4-4-2, their midfield ran the show and it was only when he changed near the end of the half that we started to get into the game.

You thought we were playing 4-4-2, it looked 4-3-3 to me,

It looks like we have got a lot of pretty average midfield players.

If we were playing 442 I don't understand football.

No need for the sarcasm, but Weiman was playing through the middle with Benteke in the first half hour or so and Bacuna was playing wide right. Then the manager changed things. Bacuna was playing more in the middle and Weiman went wide right

It was indeed 4-4-2 for about 35 mins. Strange to change from a formation which served us well over the last 2 games I thought. I presume he wanted the 2 strikers to pressure the back line so they couldn't dictate and keep the ball as well as Liverpool love to do. They ended up passing around us with ease.

Yea I agree when I seen us after about 3-4 minutes I thought to myself the shape looked strange and then you could see the were set up in 4-4-2.

Credit to Lambert for seeing our home form was a weakness last season and we needed to take it to the opposition. It just didn't work today so I'm ok with that

[villan from luton]

Think PL got it wrong by starting 4-4-2, their midfield ran the show and it was only when he changed near the end of the half that we started to get into the game.

You thought we were playing 4-4-2, it looked 4-3-3 to me,

It looks like we have got a lot of pretty average midfield players.

If we were playing 442 I don't understand football.

No need for the sarcasm, but Weiman was playing through the middle with Benteke in the first half hour or so and Bacuna was playing wide right. Then the manager changed things. Bacuna was playing more in the middle and Weiman went wide right

It was indeed 4-4-2 for about 35 mins. Strange to change from a formation which served us well over the last 2 games I thought. I presume he wanted the 2 strikers to pressure the back line so they couldn't dictate and keep the ball as well as Liverpool love to do. They ended up passing around us with ease.

Thank you, I thought the scrumpy had gone to my head. We took control as soon as he changed back to normal formation

[mr woo]

As for Wiemann, he looks like he's come back a good half stone overweight. I'd give Helenius a run in the side to give him a kick up the arse. How many times do you see a player get a new contract and immediately take their foot off the pedal.

[Somniloquism]

Coutinho is a terrific little player mind.

We were linked to him massively in the January window. I wonder how close to signing him we actually got (if anywhere) before Liverpool had him.

[Monty]

Has Paul Lambert been through the filing cabinet and stumbled upon MON blueprint of a team? I'm slowly seeing a very very similar side that MON assembled when he was working here and although I'm not saying that its a negative thing, does Paul Lambert have that plan B that MON didn't?

I have the utmost respect, admiration, love for what Paul Lambert is doing, but at the end of last season and this I feel like I'm almost watching a team I watched a few years back. The similarities are obvious so I won't go through them. My point is where MON struggled and become stubborn in his weaknesses, I hope Lambert doesn't and has the intelligence to see where we might be failing.

There are huge differences though, huge differences. MON would probably have never signed any of the players that Lambo has, and vice versa. If Lambo had MON's money I think he wouldn't have spent it better. Yes we played with similar problems to MON, but that was partially down to finance and partially down to Westwood playing much less well than he can. Also, we play modern formations - no outmoded, static 4-4-2s from Lambo as from MON.

Most importantly, Lambo will know that there's a problem - MON was blind to anything that couldn't be solved with 'peeyace and poworr'.