Aston Villa v Liverpool Post-Match Thread

[villan from luton]

As for Liverpool, am I the only one who thinks they are nothing special at all and not much ahead of us? No chance they will be top 4.

We made them look good for first 35 minutes, wrong formation and too much respect paid to them.

[Steve R]

We didn't play at all well. There was very little movement in the centre and we were very tentative when on the ball. That said we don't have too much to be downhearted about. Liverpool came to contain and did a reasonable job of it.

We still managed 17 attempts at goal. To put that into context, when Chelsea beat us 8-0 last season they had a total of 24.

If we had put a goal away we'd be saying it was a workmanlike point, or even three.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I've been saying for ages that at home we simply can't play with Gabby, Wiemann and Benteke. By playing three strikers it allows the opposition to fill the midfield and keep the ball better as they did first half. At home we need to play a variation of 4-3-1-2 with either Gabby or Wiemann with Benteke. This will allow our full backs the width to push forward and to have a Tonev/Bacuna/AM behind our front two.

[Goldie.7]

Just got back very poor game. Our poor form at home continues i think we've only won 5 or 6 home games under Lambert which concerns me. Hopefully we can do some more business before the barcodes match which will be just as tough.

[ChicagoLion]

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.

 Also, we play modern formations - no outmoded, static 4-4-2s from Lambo as from MON.

I think the MON Lambert team comparison is relevant. Counter attacking, lump it up to the big man, goalkeeper hoofing it even at home. I think Lambert has got a bit more about him, well I hope so.

[garyshawsknee]

before the barcodes match which will be just as tough.

You Bobby Moore ?

[villan from luton]

Helenius reminds me of Ian Ormondroyd, gangly git but looks like he has a good touch

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

9 home league wins in two seasons...abysmal.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Helenius reminds me of Ian Ormondroyd, gangly git but looks like he has a good touch

Just say it.

"nice touch for a big man"

 

[sirlordbaltimore]

We HAVE to buy a quality, creative link player/playmaker.

NOT a rough diamond that may come good, one that will go straight into the side

Other wise our home form will continue to dwindle to nothing

[Irish villain]

9 home league wins in two seasons...abysmal.

I'd like to think somebody at villa would have an internal inquiry into why, tactics aside, we are so poor at home. Even under Houllier and MON we weren't great at home. Our poor home performances must have cost us ten points each year surely, since about MON's third season?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Luna and Okore the only positives for me.
We give teams too much space and time in midfield.
Delph was a bit too stretched and became frustrated - another silly booking.
Don't rate Henderson but we made him look good and Gerrard didn't even get a sweat on.
Bacuna didn't quite seem to know where he was playing and whoever gave him MOM needs to sober up!
Inevitably disappointed after the last 2 games but hoping we will only get better from now!
UTV!

[Fin Feds Dad]

We need an attacking midfielder - we have done for years.

I am happy with the transfer deals done so far this summer - and I'm praying that if we can shift some of the bomb squad some funds will be made available for one final signing.

I think one more signing could be a real statement of intent for us.

Okore looked very accomplished and I thought Delph put in another great performance - on top of the two in London this week.

How Bacuna got man of the match off the sponsors is way beyond me.

The game was decided by the one bit of real skill in the match.

[Legion]

I thought we were second best for most of the first half. Defended too deep, gave them too much space and gave the ball away far too often. Much better for the last 10 minutes or so and then all of the second half where I felt we matched them. A draw would have been a fair result, an opinion shared by my Liverpool-supporting friend who was at the match today with his family. Two great saves from their G-K to deny Benteke. Did Bacuna really get MoM? Were they drunk or was it a name pulled out of a hat? Okore was far better than him as were Delph and Luna.

[PeterWithesShin]

Lambert:

Paul Lambert was in positive mood despite the 1-0 home loss to Liverpool, insisting: "We have nothing to be down about."

Lambert was thrilled with the way his side found a second wind after the break to push the Reds back and search bravely for an equaliser.

But, more importantly, Lambert sees the bigger picture and believes his team will have a good season overall if they continue in the same vein as their performances against Arsenal, Chelsea and the Reds.

He said: "I knew we would have an adverse reaction after the games on Saturday and Wednesday. I knew that.

"We had to hang in when Liverpool had the domination for about 30 minutes or so.

"I thought we started to get a second wind in the last 10-15 minutes of the first half.

"Then in the second half we were excellent. We gave it a go.

"We have played three teams who you'd expect to be in that top group. They have given every one of them a game.

"We won the first one, we just got beaten on Wednesday and the same today.

"The progress is there for everyone to see. That's what I am pleased about.

"We play like that for most of the season and we will have a good season.

"It's a big, big ask what we have done there - Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. That's a big turnaround in a week.

"Look at the intensity you have to play at in those three games, especially two away from home.

"But I have nothing but praise. We kept on going.

"The goalkeeper has made two fantastic saves from Christian and Gabby might have scored and Andi had a deflected one.

"It wasn't as if we never had chances. In the second half, I thought we dominated.

"How many teams will go to Chelsea and do what we did? I am not so sure.

"We had Liverpool on the back foot for much of the second half. That shows how far we have come.

"I said to the lads that they have nothing to be ashamed or down about.

"Those three games they have had they have gone toe to toe with every one of them.

"If someone had said to me at the beginning that we'd take three points from the first three games I'd have bitten their hand off.

"The bonus on top of the three points is the way we have played. That's important."

Lambert also spoke of his delight at the passion of the supporters, who backed the team throughout the 90 minutes.

He added: "It was great. Even after the game you can hear the crowd. They are right with us. I think that's the beauty of it.

"I think they have seen the effort we have put in these past three games.

"There were 42,000 here and what an atmosphere they generate. They have been absolutely fantastic for me and the team."