Fulham v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[pauliewalnuts]

We're papering over massive cracks to be honest.

The odd win here and there is giving false optimism to what is all intents and purposes a very poor season.

The buck must stop with the manager. He is the clueless one.

If we're very poor and every win is only papering over cracks then what does that make the teams below us? We're tenth. Not great, but not disastrous. It's getting a bit tedious to read from our own supporters that every win is lucky and every defeat means we're doomed.

I'm not sure that's it, I don't think all our wins are lucky or that all defeats are a disaster. It's just our level of play and possession needs to improve for us to succeed long term.

That's the point - long-term. Every successful manager I've seen us under has started off with some pretty dire football (with the exception of Ron Saunders, who struck gold with the forward line he inherited, and even then his first season back up was pretty uninspiring). They got it right eventually and Lambert should be given the chance as well. If we're still playing this badly next season I'll complain and if the result are worse I'll complain  even louder but in the meantime let's accept what we are for the moment and not get so hysterical at every setback.

I think there should be more of an improvement over the course of two seasons, personally, let alone getting into a third. If by the end of this season there has been no qualitative improvement at all, then I don't think there is ever going to be.

Unfortunately, I suspect the major problem we have is that too many of the players are not good enough. Where the fault lies with that, though, is the important bit.

Do we have so many underwhelming players because Lambert hasn't spent well, or is it because we're restricted to working within a very tight wage budget? If it is the latter, then I can't really imagine many managers doing any better.

I am very glad we're having this conversation with us in 10th place rather than the arse end of the table, but that doesn't change the fact that for very large chunks of this season, we have been as poor at passing the ball as any Villa team I've seen for a long time.

I also wonder whether we've bought into this counter attacking thing a bit too easily, as there's a really thin line between doing that well, and simply being a team who defend and hoof the ball upfield because they can't create anything else - which is what we looked like today.

At the end of the summer window, I was worried that we hadn't bought any players of higher quality or more experience than the ones we already had, and we are again starting to look like a team which needs some wiser heads in it. It's noticeable that with the player who is probably our most experienced head - Vlaar - gets injured, we fall to pieces.

[lovejoy]

Went for the annual family trip and quite enjoyed it, certainly not as own beat as the consensus on this thread. The second goal was pivotal. They moaned at the ref a lot and we didn't. Thought Guzan, Delph, Clark and Gabby were great. Bacuna was out of position a few times. Never a pen though.

Chin up!

[BoldmereVilla]

What has Lowton done wrong !!!  Bacuna was shocking his positional sense is appalling and his distribution is woeful. TBF he should be playing midfield as he is definitely not a full back. Lambert has signed players who are all much the same, we have no creativity and no one to come off the bench to change anything. If Tonev and Albrighton are the answer then we are in big trouble.
Whether we have sacrificed some attacking play to be more solid this season I don't know but it is awful to watch and unless we sign some quality rather than cheap hopefuls we are in for a long long season !!

[Phil from the upper holte]

I can't for the life of me understand why "professional" players can not pass the Fucking ball to each other?

I thought my dad was posting on here when I read that.

Is you're dad clever as well then?

[martyn ellis]

I really can't believe some of the stuff I'm reading on here. Maybe I was watching a different match but in the first half I gelt we matched them and had the two best chances which last year he (Benteke) would have put away. Then we give away a softisimmo goal, foe which Bacuna was admittedly a disaster, but to be truthful so was Guzman (as Quinn insisted on calling him). But we came back strong and the penalty really killed us at that stage. Second half we were awful and that's my main criticism. When the chips are down the good teams keep patiently plugging away, believing in their systems and styles, but we tend to revert to hoofball and it never works (except against the Baggies but there you go). But overall we are not so bad as some on here are making out. Either of those Benteke chances go in, either of those penalties are given the way they should have been, and it's a different story. (I'm getting ready for the salvo now).

[mr woo]

I'm not saying Lambert's job should be under pressure at all, but he needs to show some evidence that he's aware that our football isn't working correctly for whatever reason.

I agree completely.

Thirded.

I had the guy down as stubborn up to now, but I'll confess I'm teetering on the edge of questioning his credentials right now.

That said, he deserves time. January is important and next summer more so. If money's tight,  I'd rather he go against his ideals and take quality experience on loan instead on punting the same amount on a fee for a squad filler.

In other words, without stating the obvious, I think taking someone like Gareth Barry would benefit us more than say, (for example) another Helenius. It may be short term but I think the likes of Westwood would benefit greatly being alongside experience. Surely therefore we win both ways?

My worry, referring to my earlier point, is I fear Lambert is all consumingly determined with his crusade to champion young unknowns as proof he can see what the rest of us can't.

[pauliewalnuts]

In other words, without stating the obvious, I think taking someone like Gareth Barry would benefit us more than say, (for example) another Helenius.

I can understand why he bought Helenius if he sees him as one for the future (and he may be a brilliant prospect, I have no idea, we've hardly seen him). Same with Bowery, I guess.

I do think we need to start signing some players for now, though.

[Jimbo]

I'm not saying Lambert's job should be under pressure at all, but he needs to show some evidence that he's aware that our football isn't working correctly for whatever reason.

I disagree. He needs to be under pressure, because pressure drives excellence. That's not to say I believe he should be in imminent danger of the sack, but I do think that both Lambert and some of the players (Weimann and Westwood especially) would benefit from a kick up the arse occasionally. It all seems a bit too comfortable in mediocrity. 

[dave.woodhall]

I'm not saying Lambert's job should be under pressure at all, but he needs to show some evidence that he's aware that our football isn't working correctly for whatever reason.

I disagree. He needs to be under pressure, because pressure drives excellence. That's not to say I believe he should be in imminent danger of the sack, but I do think that both Lambert and some of the players (Weimann and Westwood especially) would benefit from a kick up the arse occasionally. It all seems a bit too comfortable in mediocrity. 

The Zen of Swain.

[Fin Feds Dad]

The disappointment comes from the feeling that we are formulaic and devoid of any creativity .
Every corner is the same - crap delivery from Westwood - never short , never a near post flick on.
We are a counter attacking team that cannot break teams down. He has bought poorly and we are paying the consequences when it looked so simple to improve. An experienced head in midfield - a number 10 with creativity - would make a massive difference .

I am beginning to lose sight of his plan.

[pauliewalnuts]

Weimann's was an incredibly anonymous performance today, really, really poor.

On the flip side, I thought Chris Herd did quite well.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Weimann's was an incredibly anonymous performance today, really, really poor.

On the flip side, I thought Chris Herd did quite well.

Agreed I do actually like Herd it just sometimes feels like he's made of glass

[eric woolban woolban]

Then we give away a softisimmo goal, foe which Bacuna was admittedly a disaster, but to be truthful so was Guzman (as Quinn insisted on calling him).

I think he was getting him mixed up with Swansea's Jonathan de Guzan.

[rougegorge]

Still haven't seen us play well this season although in contrast some results have been good. Most of the 'edge of the seat' action comes from wondering if we are going to clear a dangerous situation rather than because of exciting attacking play.
We don't get wide often enough to cross ourselves but let the opponents cross with impunity from wide open spaces. Set piece delivery is rarely accurate let alone threatening; we readily cede possession and seldom press opponents. Players try, but generally lack skill and awareness and last ditch tackles and clearances bear witness to the panic created by players constantly being caught out of position.

[ROBBO]

In the second half Delph gave a short pass to Westwood and ran forward into space for the return pass what did Westwood do he passed it backwards to a defender, that sums up our main problem, we can complain all we like about the pointless long balls to Benteke but what option can a defender do if the midfield keep passing the ball back to them and then stand still. Delph aside who i think has carried the side this season our midfield is diabolical, Westwood and Kea have no creativity. Benteke needs a goal, since the penalty miss he has lost confidence, credit to Gabby he looks the only forward we have who looks good enough. What does the manager do with all the dross he has bought we have so many players that clearly will never make the grade?