Fulham v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Villafirst]

I don't think we should be at all surprised about today. This is who Villa are at the moment and probably will stay that way for some time under the current ownership.

Our natural level of form, affected by injuries will produce results like today or maybe a boring draw at home against teams we should beat like Sunderland.

However, we do get lucky as per Citeh and Saints. We'll probably slide down a bit over December and January but we'll pick up later.

It ain't pretty, it ain't fun but it is what it is.

That's a pretty depressing summary after 7 years of Lerner's tenure, but true - does he ever attend a match these days? We are light years away from being a top club with this regime.

Whenever I say that I get jumped on by three or four posters.

Say what you feel - that's what these message boards are for, to vent opinions.

[hilts_coolerking]

The rub of the green that had been with us for the last two or three games deserted us today.  On the days when we're creating next to nothing we need every bit of luck to go our way.  If you're scoring hatfuls of goals the occasional bad penalty decision doesn't matter much but unfortunately we're not in that position.

[Dave Clark Five]

We pick ourselves up and we are woeful again.

A light amongst the gloom of the day.

[levico]

I don't think we should be at all surprised about today. This is who Villa are at the moment and probably will stay that way for some time under the current ownership.

Our natural level of form, affected by injuries will produce results like today or maybe a boring draw at home against teams we should beat like Sunderland.

However, we do get lucky as per Citeh and Saints. We'll probably slide down a bit over December and January but we'll pick up later.

It ain't pretty, it ain't fun but it is what it is.

That's a pretty depressing summary after 7 years of Lerner's tenure, but true - does he ever attend a match these days? We are light years away from being a top club with this regime.

Whenever I say that I get jumped on by three or four posters.

Yes so do I usually, mainly the Mods. I'm just trying to be realistic. It's the younger fans I feel sorry for. They've seen nothing really and that's not going to change in the near future. Maybe I'm wrong and Lerner will sanction some quality signings in January, but I doubt it somehow. His enthusiasm seems to have waned significantly over the last year or so. He's like an absentee landlord who can't be bothered with his property or his tenants.

[Jimbo]

I don't think we should be at all surprised about today. This is who Villa are at the moment and probably will stay that way for some time under the current ownership.

Our natural level of form, affected by injuries will produce results like today or maybe a boring draw at home against teams we should beat like Sunderland.

However, we do get lucky as per Citeh and Saints. We'll probably slide down a bit over December and January but we'll pick up later.

It ain't pretty, it ain't fun but it is what it is.

That's a pretty depressing summary after 7 years of Lerner's tenure, but true - does he ever attend a match these days? We are light years away from being a top club with this regime.

Whenever I say that I get jumped on by three or four posters.

I think we have to abandon the idea of ever being a 'top club' again. Unless we're bought by a Qatari sheikh, or we sell our souls to Red Bull, this is it. We might get lucky in a cup, but we're never going to challenge the big boys with our 'young and hungry' lower league recruitment policy. So where's the enjoyment in that, you may ask? There isn't much on the pitch, which is why the safe standing campaign is so important. We're going to have to make our own fun, I'm afraid, because the club has pretty much thrown in the towel.

[Dave Clark Five]

^^^

[Toronto Villa]

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert:
"We never deserved to win the game but I'm disappointed at some of the decisions. I thought their penalty wasn't one whereas ours when Gabriel Agbonlahor was brought down was a spot-kick.
"I thought referee Mike Dean's performance was poor. I still don't think we did enough to win the game.
"We never got going but couldn't fault the lads for effort. I'm honest enough to feel we didn't deserve to win."

Can't disagree with any of that. It has to improve quickly though Paul. Too many games like this recently.

[Irish villain]

Lets speak my mind a little more then. I found it depressing how many posters were glorying in the fact that we were so shite on the ball against Soton. I found it very depressing in fact, and all this 'there's no right way to play the game' etc. Anybody concerned about how bad we actually were got the whole 'we scored three times' thrown in their face.

Football of course is about points accumulated but over the course of a season, teams who struggle with the ball will generally be under pressure more and therefore concede more goals. You might get away with it six or seven times a season and that can push you into mid-table. But that shouldn't be enough. We should be striving to get back with the big boys and to that the whole culture of the club has got to change.

Fulham didn't let us 'smash and grab' and instead played us off the park.

[Legion]

It's also worth pointing out we have a number of injuries, second highest in the Prem I think (?)

All those great players waiting to come back into the team...I can see a late run to the Champions League if we get everyone fit

Don't be a bellend, I'm just trying to point it out as a potential reason why were poor today.

Personal abuse is not tolerated on this site. Please apologise.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I for one am ready to see a top six Villa play at their traditional home The Red Bull Arena.

 

[PeterWithesShin]

I don't remember anyone glorying that we had so little possession. Just glorying in three points. There's a big difference. 

[Des Little]

That was utter cock rot. We desperately need to find someone to pull the strings in midfield - this long ball up to Benteke is as predicable as it is ineffective. For heaven's sake, please put Lowton in at right back, push Bacuna forward on the right and tell Weimann that he has to start doing some fecking work to justify his new contract. His performance today was absolutely appalling.

[Chris Smith]

Decisions didn't go for us but it was a tired, lethargic performance. As I'm in a good mood I'll put it down to a tough game mid week and a number of injuries.

I am starting to get concerned by Benteke, however. His confidence has deserted him and without that he looks a shadow of the player he was the second part of last season.

[Morten]

I did not watch the game, have just got home. How did we line up today - was it 4-2-3-1 ? And where did Tonev play when he came on ? Just curious.

[amfy]

Also, I don't think we're not 'striving to get back with the big boys'. Being satisfied with where we are this season is based on it bring progress of a sort on how we performed last season. I won't be satisfied with it next season.

Just cos we're not there yet doesn't mean we're not 'striving for it. Sadly, the slightly more solid version of Villa at this stage of transition is less fun to watch than the enthusiastic flakiness of last year.