Villa's style of play

[danno]

We defended eleven corners reasonably well.

This season in terms of the amount of corners we've had to defend Norwich had 7 Man City had 13.
Liverpool and Newcastle 2 a piece. Chelsea had one. Arsenal four.

So that's 2 goals conceded from 29 corners this season.

Man City won a lot of corners on Saturday and we almost paid for it.

But overall I think a case could be made that we've improved in that area.

I agree we may well have defended the others fairly well, but the marking for the two that they did score was totally amateurish. It wasn't the luck of the draw and that they were bound to score from one eventually, it was just rank bad defending. Goals On Sunday picked up on it quite brilliantly

I think if you (as the opposition) force that many corners, you'd expect to score from one.
Law of averages rather than luck of the draw.

The Dzeko goal was very disappointing.
I suppose it depends if like last season and under TSM, we're under a lot of pressure in our own half
then we'll concede a lot of corners and goals from them.

Which takes us neatly back to our style of play.

[brontebilly]

The one genuine 'positive' bit of football i've seen us play this season as team was Delph's goal against Rotherham. That was football.

I can get behind that as 'a style of play'. What i can't get behind is people claiming that players running around a lot and niggling away is 'progress' on the pitch.

But everyone's different. And this thread is about our 'style of play' not results.

Fighting a losing battle here mate

I honestly saw nothing in the past two games to suggest the football we are playing has improved or that we will finish higher in the table this season.

Beating Man City at home is an incredible result especially missing our two best forwards but it was Citeh's lack of professionalism that was key to us getting a result at the weekend more so than any decent football we played.

Without Benteke and Gabby, some of the play at the weekend was every bit as bad as it was under McLeish. A lot of the players Lambert has brought in are pretty average technically too - Sylla, Kea, Bacuna for example. There is no defined style of play that I can see him implementing as opposed to let's say Swansea.

With Kozak, Helenius and Bowery in the squad, plan B is going to be pretty in a Tony Pulis kind of way it seems

[eamonn]

While joyless in their reasoning, I think William Bronte and Sir Baltimore (weren't they dominoes partners at Aston Hall circa 1865?) do have a point. Not pleasing to admit, but take a look at the way West Brom played at the other Mancs' backyard on Sat. Little in the way of defending deep and relying on quick punts/counter attacks. They took the game to Yanited from the off. Carved out plenty of chances and bullied the United defence into submission.

Amalfitano and Sessegnon (who, when on his game, is a joy to watch) played the cultured, quick-thinking midfield play that I'd love to see from us. Not in a lets laugh at Tony Mowbray 1970 Brazilbaggies way, just a team skilful and quick in their opponents half and at times outplaying superior individuals on their own turf.

[PaulWinch again]

Nonsense, you will notice that when we improved in the second half it was because we got the ball on the deck and passed and moved. That's probably because Lambert told them to stop panicking and to play on the floor.

[eastie]

Nonsense, you will notice that when we improved in the second half it was because we got the ball on the deck and passed and moved. That's probably because Lambert told them to stop panicking and to play on the floor.

I agree, although I do wish we wouldn't wait until we go behind before we start to look good, it would be nice to go out on the front foot and start well at times , hopefully at hull.

Man city are are a top team and the fact we came twice from behind to beat them with 4 of our best players missing augurs well for the future - i think we will gain a great deal of confidence from this win .

[dave.woodhall]

We're without our top defender, top two strikers and most consistent midfielder from last season. We're playing the favourites to win the league, go behind twice, come back to win and still some of our supporters can only moan.

[PaulWinch again]

Nonsense, you will notice that when we improved in the second half it was because we got the ball on the deck and passed and moved. That's probably because Lambert told them to stop panicking and to play on the floor.

I agree, although I do wish we wouldn't wait until we go behind before we start to look good, it would be nice to go out on the front foot and start well at times , hopefully at hull.

Man city are are a top team and the fact we came twice from behind to beat them with 4 of our best players missing augurs well for the future - i think we will gain a great deal of confidence from this win .

Well yes it's not ideal, but I think that's a lack of experience rather than some sort of anti-football sentiment. Lambert wants to attack and keep the ball on the deck, he's said as much.

[Clampy]

We're without our top defender, top two strikers and most consistent midfielder from last season. We're playing the favourites to win the league, go behind twice, come back to win and still some of our supporters can only moan.

It's the way some people are Dave. Instead of looking at the positives from beating a team who cost god knows how much more than us, it seems they try and claw any negatives they can just to have a bit of a whinge.

There's criticism about Dzeko's goal. Yeah it was sloppy but to some people we're the only team that lets in goals from set pieces. Totttenham's defence left John Terry totally unmarked for Chelsea's goal, it happens.

[walsall villain]

We're without our top defender, top two strikers and most consistent midfielder from last season. We're playing the favourites to win the league, go behind twice, come back to win and still some of our supporters can only moan.

It's the way some people are Dave. Instead of looking at the positives from beating a team who cost god knows how much more than us, it seems they try and claw any negatives they can just to have a bit of a whinge.

There's criticism about Dzeko's goal. Yeah it was sloppy but to some people we're the only team that lets in goals from set pieces. Totttenham's defence left John Terry totally unmarked for Chelsea's goal, it happens.

Genuinely think the manager does want to win every game not hope to hang on for a draw. Saturday was difficult for lambert as injuries limited the attacking options. I remember often thinking even when winning under MON that I was bored, TSM well it went to despair but I like how we try to play. Yes at times I wish we had genuine width and we appear to launch goal kicks towards Benteke without variation (sure goal licks went short at the start of last season) but I like watching them now! it's never dull for me.

[nick harper]

Nonsense, you will notice that when we improved in the second half it was because we got the ball on the deck and passed and moved. That's probably because Lambert told them to stop panicking and to play on the floor.

To be fair, I would like to ask Lambert why we have only done that for one half in the games against Newcastle, Spurs and Man City.

[Concrete John]

We're without our top defender, top two strikers and most consistent midfielder from last season. We're playing the favourites to win the league, go behind twice, come back to win and still some of our supporters can only moan.

It's the way some people are Dave. Instead of looking at the positives from beating a team who cost god knows how much more than us, it seems they try and claw any negatives they can just to have a bit of a whinge.

There's criticism about Dzeko's goal. Yeah it was sloppy but to some people we're the only team that lets in goals from set pieces. Totttenham's defence left John Terry totally unmarked for Chelsea's goal, it happens.

Genuinely think the manager does want to win every game not hope to hang on for a draw. Saturday was difficult for lambert as injuries limited the attacking options. I remember often thinking even when winning under MON that I was bored, TSM well it went to despair but I like how we try to play. Yes at times I wish we had genuine width and we appear to launch goal kicks towards Benteke without variation (sure goal licks went short at the start of last season) but I like watching them now! it's never dull for me.

Yep, watching us play is fun again.  I think MON's team did try to attack, but just in a different fashion that a lot of people found dull. 

Lambert's team is really speaking still a work in progress and I expect the style and entetainment to get better, along with the results, as we progress.

[sirlordbaltimore]

We're without our top defender, top two strikers and most consistent midfielder from last season. We're playing the favourites to win the league, go behind twice, come back to win and still some of our supporters can only moan.

AARGGHH

[LeeB]

We're without our top defender, top two strikers and most consistent midfielder from last season. We're playing the favourites to win the league, go behind twice, come back to win and still some of our supporters can only moan.

AARGGHH

Indeed.

[eastie]

We're without our top defender, top two strikers and most consistent midfielder from last season. We're playing the favourites to win the league, go behind twice, come back to win and still some of our supporters can only moan.

AARGGHH

Indeed.

Quite

[PeterWithesShin]

We're without our top defender, top two strikers and most consistent midfielder from last season. We're playing the favourites to win the league, go behind twice, come back to win and still some of our supporters can only moan.

AARGGHH

Indeed.

Quite

Agreed.