WBA v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

I think the diamond doesn't work, because we don't have players to influence the game. Hopefully the goals for Westwood and KEA will boost their confidence and get them playing better.

[richard moore]

Well, well, well, delirium reigned in the pub in Chichester from whence I have just returned. Five Villa fans and one Albion fan in there - which is about representative of course - and you can imagine the scenes when Westwood scored....did I say we were boring in another thread perchance?!

[KevinGage]

A point against a side like that is always two dropped. 

Good that we showed he resolve to get back into the game, but this side needs resolve. As it has precious little else going for it at the moment.

Serious lack of quality from both sides. Us more than then, which is a concern.

The Kozak deal is looking increasingly like a bizarre waste of limited funds.

The subs made a difference, and if Delph, Gabby and Bill were't fit to start the game then PL had his hands tied, so fair enough.  But even with those three of the pitch, we didn't ever really look like picking off the opposition with incisive passing.    It all looked a bit O'Neill, pump crosses into the box or boot the ball up to the big man and hope something breaks. Feeding off the scraps. Minus the quality of Ashley Young (and boy could we do with someone like that at present).

People have talked about a lack of a number 10, but on that showing, we need three midfielders this Jan.

[Brian Taylor]

Long's first goal makes him worth Bale money..get out son while the sun is shining..rainlng like blazes here!

[richard moore]

I think the diamond doesn't work, because we don't have players to influence the game. Hopefully the goals for Westwood and KEA will boost their confidence and get them playing better.

Funny old game innit, they spend most of the night doing a passable impersonation of Ray Wilkins and then score two cracking goals

[jeowje]

Lambert does sometimes seem to overrate us. I think thats part of how tries to motivate players, keep their spirits up. I remember him last season raving about how good Bannan was, at the same time as many of us were absolutely sick of him. But soon after he dropped him and never played him again. So i generally take what he says with a pinch of salt, i think he sees the same things we do.

[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.

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

Yeah totally agree about that .

Would go with that too. They looked very promising for the short time they played together.

[berneboy]

Lambert does sometimes seem to overrate us. I think thats part of how tries to motivate players, keep their spirits up. I remember him last season raving about how good Bannan was, at the same time as many of us were absolutely sick of him. But soon after he dropped him and never played him again. So i generally take what he says with a pinch of salt, i think he sees the same things we do.

Good point. The best managers rarely openly criticise their players. I don't think Lambert ever has. I wonder what he says behind the scenes? What will he say to Bacuna about 'that' pass?

[ChicagoLion]

Our best 11 is  just about OK, shows the signings of Kozak and Tonev were poor decisions.

[pauliewalnuts]

Lambert does sometimes seem to overrate us. I think thats part of how tries to motivate players, keep their spirits up.

I think that's it.

He's dealing with what is pretty much a bunch of kids. At times confidence will be really fragile. That's why that 8-0 4-0 3-0 sequence over christmas last year was so damaging. It wasn't about zero points or the 15 goal GD hit, it was the fact that it totally bollocksed our confidence for months after.

he has to manage their confidence very carefully, and I would guess that is the reason why he says things like that.

[paul_e]

Our best 11 is  just about OK, shows the signings of Kozak and Tonev were poor decisions.

Or it shows that not every player arrives in English football ready to go straight away, judge them at the end of the season at the earliest.  I thought Kozak did ok today but whilst he was on there was a lack of energy about the whole team.  Tonev looks to me like someone who, when it clicks, will go from average to a match winner over night.

[pauliewalnuts]

Our best 11 is  just about OK, shows the signings of Kozak and Tonev were poor decisions.

I think those two players might turn out to be decent signings - let's not forget, Kozak was within an inch of scoring a very good goal tonight - but I'd like us to be in a situation where we had a strong enough squad to be able to blood them slowly.

[PeterWithesShin]

Lambert does sometimes seem to overrate us. I think thats part of how tries to motivate players, keep their spirits up. I remember him last season raving about how good Bannan was, at the same time as many of us were absolutely sick of him. But soon after he dropped him and never played him again. So i generally take what he says with a pinch of salt, i think he sees the same things we do.

Good point. The best managers rarely openly criticise their players. I don't think Lambert ever has. I wonder what he says behind the scenes? What will he say to Bacuna about 'that' pass?

I said last season when we had a decent last third of the season that for all the piss taking of the "we go again" it must have meant a lot to players to still be supported by the manager and to be getting picked after that month from hell. Must have done their long term confidence a lot of good to have the manager believing in them.

[Ian.]

I know it's the same for everyone but this stop start season is not doing us any favors. I mean our fixtures have been very eratic from that first 3 matches in a week then nothing for nearly 2. Since then I'm sure we have had another 2 weekends off.
It's been a strange season so far.

[ROBBO]

The midfield is woeful, our two goals were scored by our two weakest midfielders Lambert must be aware that we are not good enough and will remedy it. Benteke is becoming a worry, the passion has gone out of his play and we need him to get it back quick, still we got a draw after a terrible display for most of the game.