On-going progress..

[Clampy]

That is another top side we have beaten and also another game where definsively, we limited them to two soft corners and next to notbing from open play. Much like Chelsea and Liverpool, Guzan hasn't had to make a serious save.

The defence is so so much better than last season. We let in two sloppy goals yesterday and we probably will from time to time, every team does but we do look a lot more organised. Last season will have done some of them young un's some good.

[eastie]

That is another top side we have beaten and also another game where definsively, we limited them to two soft corners and next to notbing from open play. Much like Chelsea and Liverpool, Guzan hasn't had to make a serious save.

The defence is so so much better than last season. We let in two sloppy goals yesterday and we probably will from time to time, every team does but we do look a lot more organised. Last season will have done some of them young un's some good.

I think okore will be an immense player for us in the future and his injury worried me greatly , but Vlaar, Clark and baker all look better this season - i don't know if the change in full backs has helped them but they certainly look more assured .

I love the way throws himself in to block shots and Vlaar is growing into the captains role nicely , regarding Clark , he seems to have got some confidence back in his game .

[claretandbeer]

The great feature of the performance for me was the sheer guts of it.An outstanding team,buoyed by a thumping Derby win over last year's champions,were well on top but we  didn't throw in the towel,we kept competing and got the rewards.To do this missing several players shows the character of the side.We 've played 4 of the current top 6 and have a goal difference of 1+ in these games .
Lambert has been criticised for having no Plan B,yet he has already put out 3 different team formations.The problems of defensive  frailty and the side being a soft touch have been tackled if not fully solved.KEA looks a good signing now as do Bacuna,the unfortunate Okore and Kozak who looks ideal for English football.
Let's not get into Arsenal fan mood where one home defeat creates crisis headlines.

[villan from luton]

I feared for our club, but with this bloke in charge I have faith again. We have fecked up (Bradford and more), but really think we are on te right tracks and hopefullyPL will get the trust of Randy. We dont play one tactic, and that is good

[OCD]

We took on a defensive coach in the summer - an ex-Arsenal player. I think that's the main reason why we look more organised.

[PaulWinch again]

I think today showed how badly we need a creative midfielder. The defence is definitely improving and we look a lot more solid, but we need a creative spark and I think we need to shell out decent money on that player.

[supertom]

I think today showed how badly we need a creative midfielder. The defence is definitely improving and we look a lot more solid, but we need a creative spark and I think we need to shell out decent money on that player.

Definitely. Norwich was a grind. Today we didn't create anything clear cut. This could be a worrying indication that our away game might not be quite as effective this season. I think generally speaking, teams will be a bit more cautious against us and defend deeper. This leaves us needing a bit of guile we don't appear to have.

Lack of width is also a problem. We can't rely purely on the full backs, because in the second half, Hull were more adventurous (whilst remaining tight) and Luna and Bacuna couldn't bomb forward as much.

Wiemann can't have so many anonymous games. I'd like to put Albrighton in to be honest. He was good against Spurs and if he can get close to his best form he could be useful. Kozak isn't getting any service, and he's certainly not got the ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck like Benteke. And if Kozak is just going to stay on the fringes of a game waiting for service like Darren Bent did, then I'd honestly rather have Bent, because you give him a sniff and he'll score. Kojaks got to start putting himself about a lot more. He did that against City, he's got to keep it up in games like today.

If at this point, Helenius can't get in over Bowery, you have to worry about the big Dane. He's got a good touch and can provide a little of the unexpected. I'd throw him in and see what he's capable of. JB isn't good enough I'm afraid to say. Not as a CF and certainly not playing right wing.

Defence is getting there though. I actually think we look better with Bacuna playing. He's got pace and defensively he's better than Lowton. I like Lowts and actually, maybe there's a place for Lowton in midfield? He reads the game quite well. He's tidy with the ball and he's capable of hitting it from distance.

I take my hat off to Clark too. He'd been all but written off by most of us at the start of the season. Many of us had him down as 4th choice (if that). I think he's been top draw since stepping in. Today he was superb again. Concrete Ron is having a good season too. We've looked more solid in fullback areas defensively of late too because they're getting more help, whilst Bacunas form is making up for how weak we were left on the right due to Lowtons poor form.

[Ads]

No Gabby and no Benteke sees us struggle to open sides up. Gabby was nowhere near fit today, but in flashes, he opened Hull up.

Most sides would lose some edge without them in fairness, but we need to improve the attacking quality of the midfield.

[supertom]

I actually think two players who could give us a bit of attacking quality, at least from the bench, are out on loan at the moment...

Bannan and Ireland!!!



No I'm kidding...

Grealish and Carruthers. I mean Helenius and Tonev seem to be struggling to settle. That's obvious. I'd see no harm giving two of our own kids some game time at the moment. Why not? The majority of the rest of our side are kids anyway. Grealish looks a great prospect. Carruthers has unpredictability. Both a good with the ball at their feet. And Johnson. I'd like to see him get some time in CM. He's comfortable on the ball and has an eye for a pass. He's also got a bit of mobility that Westwood and KEA don't really have.

At the moment it actually seems that Grealish and Samir would be better in our matchday squad and Tonev and Helenius would be better out on loan.

[SoccerHQ]

If we want to seriously challenge the top 6 again we certainly do need a creative midfielder.

Still a clean sheet and 10 points is certainly decent enough for the first 7 games.

[PaulWinch again]

If we want to seriously challenge the top 6 again we certainly do need a creative midfielder.

Still a clean sheet and 10 points is certainly decent enough for the first 7 games.

Yep agreed, we badly need that creative player.

[supertom]

For want of a good creative midfielder, at the moment I'd like to see us play with more width. We've got 6ft 4 Kozak in the middle, so we should be getting crosses in the box.

I'd be tempted to go for a 4-4-1-1. Play Wiemann just off Kozak, which seemed to work against City. Bring in Albrighton on the right handside to whip some balls in.

[eamonn]

We took on a defensive coach in the summer - an ex-Arsenal player. I think that's the main reason why we look more organised.

Oh, that was a bould move. Seriously though, who is it? Perry Groves (or is he doing a Rick Astley tribute act nowadays?)?

[danno]

We took on a defensive coach in the summer - an ex-Arsenal player. I think that's the main reason why we look more organised.

Oh, that was a bould move. Seriously though, who is it? Perry Groves (or is he doing a Rick Astley tribute act nowadays?)?

Scott Marshall.

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3220007,00.html

[Monty]

We do indeed need that creative midfielder, but I do think it's progress to solidly, boringly rack up another point away from home at an in-form side, having never been threatened with defeat and having had much the best of the game. It's not where we want to get to, but it's better than where we were.