WBA v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[SashasGrandad]

Wasn't it Herd who got sent off and Hutton who ended Shane Long's career until their next match?

Should have played Hutton last night - marking Long - we might have won!

[brontebilly]

In fairness to Lambert, Gabby and Weimann have been crap recently when they did play. This is generally accepted by the vast majority of fans on here. Restoring the glorious front three from the end of last season hasn't worked at all recently.

But if the likes of Sylla, Tonev, Kozak, Helenius and KEA are the answer then the question obviously needs to be looked at again. Luna too has been poor when fit recently. Two players who haven't got any kind of look in are Herd and Bennett who deserve a go imo.

Delph comes back into the team no question. Bacuna has been one of our better players but chancing Lowton at right back and pushing Bacuna into midfield should certainly be considered for Sunderland. After that it's places up for grabs as far as I'm concerned. Maybe dropping Benteke to give him a much needed kick up the arse should be considered. The alternatives, Gabby and Weimann have only one league goal each thus far.

Problem that I see is that there is a lack of quality throughout our squad.

[Clampy]

It is strange that a few weeks ago people were wondering what Sylla had done not get a place in the side. He has one bad game  (as did KEA and Westwood in the first half) and now people want him dropped.

[SheffieldVillain]

In fairness to Lambert, Gabby and Weimann have been crap recently when they did play. This is generally accepted by the vast majority of fans on here. Restoring the glorious front three from the end of last season hasn't worked at all recently.

But if the likes of Sylla, Tonev, Kozak, Helenius and KEA are the answer then the question obviously needs to be looked at again. Luna too has been poor when fit recently. Two players who haven't got any kind of look in are Herd and Bennett who deserve a go imo.

Bennett's out injured and has been for a while.

[danlanza]

It is strange that a few weeks ago people were wondering what Sylla had done not get a place in the side. He has one bad game  (as did KEA and Westwood in the first half) and now people want him dropped.

Maybe we should move this thread to the "Are we fickle" thread.

[eastie]

It is strange that a few weeks ago people were wondering what Sylla had done not get a place in the side. He has one bad game  (as did KEA and Westwood in the first half) and now people want him dropped.

In truth neither sylla, or Westwood have looked like the players of last season - kea was hit and miss last season and this - Westwood is showing signs of regaining his form , sylla looks somewhat off the pace right now - teams should be picked on current form and I can see why sylla would find his place at risk .

[Dave Clark Five]

It is strange that a few weeks ago people were wondering what Sylla had done not get a place in the side. He has one bad game  (as did KEA and Westwood in the first half) and now people want him dropped.

Maybe we should move this thread to the "Are we fickle" thread.

Is there a 'rose tinted spectacles' thread as well?

[brontebilly]

It is strange that a few weeks ago people were wondering what Sylla had done not get a place in the side. He has one bad game  (as did KEA and Westwood in the first half) and now people want him dropped.

Sylla has been shite all season. KEA is bang average and Westwood has been way off last season's form. Westwood I have good time for and I'm sure his form will come good again. I don't see anything at all in the other two.

Think Lambert made a big mistake spending decent money on the likes of Kozak when we could have brought in the likes of Gareth Barry (dominated Gerrard at weekend) into midfield and looked to bring in a quality attacking midfielder.

[Clampy]

Another thing before I forget, well done to all of us in the away end for the minutes applause for a player of theirs who most of us had never heard of. We showed them how it's done.

[Dave Clark Five]

Any news from Ads who I believe was in the Villa Rose Tavern before the game? It seems a couple of StripeyFilth went in there and started throwing bottles at the Villa fans before being nicked by two coppers who also happened to be in there.

Hope he's okay and just suffering a hangover.

I saw an ambulance heading that way about 1750.

[Clampy]

Any news from Ads who I believe was in the Villa Rose Tavern before the game? It seems a couple of StripeyFilth went in there and started throwing bottles at the Villa fans before being nicked by two coppers who also happened to be in there.

Hope he's okay and just suffering a hangover.

I forgot about this, PC Bladen mentioned it to us before the game that there'd been some trouble in there. Hope no-one was seriously hurt.

[danlanza]

It is strange that a few weeks ago people were wondering what Sylla had done not get a place in the side. He has one bad game  (as did KEA and Westwood in the first half) and now people want him dropped.

Maybe we should move this thread to the "Are we fickle" thread.

Is there a 'rose tinted spectacles' thread as well?

Somewhere, there must be.

[levico]

Dreadful first half performance but no big surprises there. It's been said before but the most disturbing thing was Bentekes form. He hardly won a header all night and considering our hoof strategy (why not if you've got no credible midfield?) it's no wonder we looked so impotent for most of the game.

On the plus side, if only our defence could have kept its composure in the first 10 minutes, we could have ended up winning that match with the subs.

[peter w]

In the first half they set up wityh 5 in midfield to smother our midfield and it worked. They were looking to stop the ball getting forward and hit us on the break. Tonev started lively enough but we soon found ourselves 2 down and it gave them all the confidence. Yet, we still tried to play the ball around. I'm not saying it was good, but you have to give them, the more experienced midfield a bit of credit for taking their early chances and dominating the midfield area.

In the after match interview both Vlaar and Lambert said that there had been words in the dressing-room at half-time. A few people were told a few things and a few changes made. It worked although I thought our higher tempo turned into us being too keen and over exuberant. We should have been a little bit more patient ratehr than trying to rush things. I always felt, though, that 2-1 would become 2-2.

Other than the opening period I thought tehd efence, and in particular Vlaar were fantastic second half. A free-kick into the mixer on 60 mins when he had a head of steam up, and a corner in the dying seconds. Last season they would have been goals. This season, and last night, they did not create one chance in the second half from a ball into the box. Not only Vlaar, but Bacuna got his head onto everything. As did Baker.

Talking of whom I can't see how he was singled out for criticism for the first two goals. A lovely take down and brilliant finish for the first. Bacuna poor pass for the first and as Long went wide Guzan should have come out further to push Long wide. baker had got back onto the line and would have made the finish a lot more difficult.

Yes, we didn't play well and we come away with something. We are still a young side and Roma weren't built overnight. I don't know what to expect Saturday but I go into the game without fear, trepidation, or panic. That in itself is an improvement.

As for the Albion. 'We know what we are. Pride of the Midlands'. This got me thinking. Surely to be the pride of anywhere or anything you will have either had some tangible success, or have been valiant in your resolve to attain something brilliant or to excel. Have they? Are they the pride of the midlands now simply because they've had a couple of seasons above us? Are they setting the bar that low becausethe only thing they can try and achieve? If we lose 1-0 on Saturday and they lose 3-0, are we then the pride of the midlands again because we'll be above them?

[rougegorge]

but chancing Lowton at right back and pushing Bacuna into midfield should certainly be considered for Sunderland

Definitely. Also, whilst every game is different, Lowton had an amazing game against Sunderland last season.