Fulham v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

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.

The continued lack of form of Benteke is a massive worry. If he is on form it makes us a totally different side attacking wise.

[richard moore]

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.

I agree. It's why I always smile when people say it's a sign of a good team that they can play badly and still win and get three points. Yes, perhaps that's true for one or two of the top teams, but down at our level it usually means you're pretty poor, got away with it, and will get found out sooner or later. As tended to happen with MON as the season wore on...though tiredness due to lack of squad rotation was clearly a factor there

[ciggiesnbeer]

I thought we would avoid it this year but maybe we will have our traditional Christmas collapse after all. Merry Christmas everyone! 

[Legion]

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.

Eh? You're perfectly entitled to your opinion as are the moderators.

[Monty]

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.

4-3-3 first half, then 4-2-4 second half with Tonev wide left and Gabby behind Benteke.

[Tom_Mc9?]

My opinion is the most valid.

[Toronto Villa]

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.

The continued lack of form of Benteke is a massive worry. If he is on form it makes us a totally different side attacking wise.

There will be a collective sigh and roar across the Villa world; fans, coaches and players when he scores again. The players will visibly grow a foot.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I did not watch the game, have just got home. How did we line up today - was it 4-2-3-1 ?
 Just curious.

You know that machine they use for the lottery where the balls bounce about inside a glass container, we were something like that. Tactically random.

[PeterWithesShin]

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.

The continued lack of form of Benteke is a massive worry. If he is on form it makes us a totally different side attacking wise.

There will be a collective sigh and roar across the Villa world; fans, coaches and players when he scores again. The players will visibly grow a foot.

I just hope for most of them it's not a third left foot!

Baddum bish.

[Morten]

I take it Tonev did not play well... I would like to see players in their normal role next game, so perhaps Guzan - Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Luna - Westwood, KEA/Sylla - Albrighton, Helenius/Tonev, Gabby - Benteke/Kozak in a 4-2-3-1. From what I read, Albrighton deserves a chance ahead of Weimann. And Helenius or Tonev behind the main striker.

And someone else than Westwood with the set pieces.

[Ron Manager]

Benteke reminds me of the boxer Danny Williams. When things were going well Williams looked a very good heavyweight indeed.
When the confidence waned Williams looked awful.

Benteke looked as if he wanted to be elsewhere today.

We missed Kozak.

[eastie]

I take it Tonev did not play well... I would like to see players in their normal role next game, so perhaps Guzan - Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Luna - Westwood, KEA/Sylla - Albrighton, Helenius/Tonev, Gabby - Benteke/Kozak in a 4-2-3-1. From what I read, Albrighton deserves a chance ahead of Weimann. And Helenius or Tonev behind the main striker.

And someone else than Westwood with the set pieces.

Tonev did little when  he came on , but in honesty the team played so poorly it was hard for him to change things - particularly poor were Westwood, Weimann, and bacuna .

[Toronto Villa]

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.

The continued lack of form of Benteke is a massive worry. If he is on form it makes us a totally different side attacking wise.

There will be a collective sigh and roar across the Villa world; fans, coaches and players when he scores again. The players will visibly grow a foot.

I just hope for most of them it's not a third left foot!

Baddum bish.

Unless of course they all grow a left foot like Sid Cowans

[Tayls_7]

That all went pretty well then.

I'll concede that we aren't quite Arsenal and won't be for a couple of months yet but if Lerner can divert his attention away from whatever else he's currently fucking up and hands over some cash then a couple of further purchases from Chesterfield and Crewe should put us back on track. Merry Christmas one and all.

[Legion]

I haven't seen the match today and only got the chance to listen to occasional snippets on the car radio. A brief, constructive synopsis would be appreciated. Or a link to highlights as I cannot find any yet.