WBA v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Virgil Caine]

When was the last time we had two midfielders score? Have to say watching it looked like two mid table teams playing a mix of occasional good football combined with long periods of ineptness. Happy with a draw when a season ago we would have capitulated.

[Morten]

it just shows that we can not play a midfield 4 of Tonev, KEA, Westwood and Sylla at the same time. Only KEA and Westwood should play ;-)

I have been disappointed with Sylla recently, but I think it has more to do with the balance.

Also, I wait on my judgement on Kozak until he plays with a balanced midfield that creates chances. As I said at half time, I do not have any idea what our tactics were in the first half.

[Steve R]

I thought Westwood played well all game, him and Vlaar were the only one to do so. I wonder what the score would have been if Lowton had been on the pitch and putting in the crosses Bacuna was fluffing. It's a bit of a bugger when you really need 4 subs to get out of the mire the initial selection put you in.

Lambert seems to be out-thinking himself. Get back to 4-3-3 with the players that looked so good at the end of last season and build on that.

Some serious upgrades in midfield would be nice too.

[mr woo]

Oh and I love Ron Vlaar, he's got a great attitude and has been excellent this year.

I agree, he has been really good.

It was always obvious to me Vlaar has every attribute required to be a top class central defender. The problem has always been he is being asked to do the job of two men. If you put him alongside a second experienced man (Olsson for example?) we'd have a solid central pairing.

[PeterWithesShin]

Oh and I love Ron Vlaar, he's got a great attitude and has been excellent this year.

I agree, he has been really good.

It was always obvious to me Vlaar has every attribute required to be a top class central defender. The problem has always been he is being asked to do the job of two men. If you put him alongside a second experienced man (Olsson for example?) we'd have a solid central pairing.

Him and Okore would have been a superb pairing I reckon.

[barrysleftfoot]

  I beg to differ about Westwood SR, thought he was awful until the goal, and then was better and more positive.

 Delph made a big difference, kept Amaltifano quet, and nullified their main danger.

[mrfuse]

lots of complaints but with Gabby, Delph and Weimann not able to start Luna injured and Benteke not 100% that's a fantastic result.

[mrfuse]

Oh and I love Ron Vlaar, he's got a great attitude and has been excellent this year.

I agree, he has been really good.

It was always obvious to me Vlaar has every attribute required to be a top class central defender. The problem has always been he is being asked to do the job of two men. If you put him alongside a second experienced man (Olsson for example?) we'd have a solid central pairing.

Him and Okore would have been a superb pairing I reckon.

Yeah totally agree about that .

[Meanwood Villa]

I thought Kozak played better than Benteke before he went off.

[Deano's Mullet]

Bit of Kent Nielsen about that Westwood goal.

Great point considering how it started, I only just got in from work so delighted to see we pulled it back. Beat Sunderland and its a tidy little run we're on, I just hope we don't fuck it up at home against a team everyone else is spanking on home turf.

[tomd2103]

Incredibly naive team selection and strange tactics from Lambert, but I'm glad he had the guts to finally make the necessary changes. Until the subs we were utterly dire. I think the enthusiasm of Gabby, and his understanding of what a derby match really means, helped to galvanise us in the second half. I'm thankful for the draw, and full credit to the players for pulling it back. But the complacent attitude prior to the fight back still worries the hell out of me.

The other thing about Gabby coming on was that we were finally able to put some pressure on those two carthorses at the back for them and they were all over the place.  We got back into the game and then for some reason went to a flat back 5 and invited them on to us again.  Just some general observations:

- I accept that they wouldn't be playing if other options were fit, but after three seasons I've had my fill of Baker and to some extent Clark as well to be honest
- Benteke needs to be the main target man with others playing off him
- Bacuna needs to play further forward
- Westwood and KEA together in midfield doesn't really work
- Tonev isn't ready for the top flight yet
   

[Meanwood Villa]

I have been very critical of our midfield and really for most of the game they were crap again but well done for the goals lads. Win on Saturday and this is an even better point.

[kippaxvilla2]

The problem with this performance as welcome as the point is from the position we were in is that none of the big questions about the quality of some of the players that started tonight will be answered.  Lambert has already been on sky saying how excellent we were in the 2nd half and how Westwood grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

No doubt the subs made a difference but I still don't think it was massive quality in the 2nd half and I thought West Brom were made to look like world beaters at times which they most certainly are not.

[Irish villain]

Good for morale I reckon, we feel as though we won, they feel like they lost.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I winder if Lambert had planned his ambush subs regardless of the scoreline? Anyway it worked. I am amused two of our worst players on the day scored.

That formation Lambert plays leaves a huge gap at the back (or the players he plays in it do). We need to sort that or good teams will rip us apart and wont be as wasteful as mediocre sides like West Brom.