Aston Villa v Swansea City Match Thread

[ROBBO]

Gabby is trying hard but we have no system no style and look like a plucky 3rd division side playing against one of the top four.

[citizenDJ]

I hope everyone watching this who ever advocates 4-4-2 is now seeing the futility of playing like that. It's not bad if you want to be defensive, dig in, frustrate and counter, but if you want to have a lot of the ball and go toe-to-toe with an opponent, especially one like Swansea, you just can't fucking play it.

It's not the formation, it's the style. We need to push up and press them. Any formation is shit if you have everyone in your own third except for your strikers.

Come on, that's willful blindness. The formation is a huge contributor to the crapness of the style: not having options on the ball, everyone being miles from everyone else, being too far away from anyone else to be anything other than stodgy and stuck in 'your position' and never interchange, being constantly outnumbered in the middle of the pitch and nobody knowing whether to commit or run backwards all of this virtually guarantees less possession and being overrun, especially by a side like Swansea.

What formation do you advocate with the players at our disposal?
Personally I don't see anything wrong with 4-4-2(1-1) as long as the players know where they are playing and what they are supposed to do, and perhaps more importantly are good enough to do the job they are supposed to do?

Well, there's the rub, really. It works as an attacking formation if you;re good enough to be the stronger team, keep the ball and pin the opposition back - although it puts you at risk of counter-attack. If you're the team, as we are, who don't keep the ball, then it leaves you in all sorts of trouble.

[Goldie.7]

Swansea players = skilful, Intelligent. Villa players = Why are there so many people here gaffer.

[mr woo]

What's so odd is how we actually looked up for it for 5 minutes or so. It suggests these players CAN do it if they want to.

I don't know what's wrong, whether it's confidence, malaise, revolt against the management or whatever.

 It's plain to me they aren't giving 100 per cent.

I can't accept 10 professional footballers are constantly out of position collectively and not know what they're doing..... They stand by a member of the opposition when we've got they ball, and then get as far away from one when we're defending.

I can't accept Lambert doesn't see it, I can't accept he is not trying to correct it.

I can only assume this lot don't want to play for him and his demeanor today suggests he knows it and is prepared to accept his fate.

[ez]

I thought Lambert's celebration of our goal wasn't very convincing, like he knew what was to come.

[David_Nab]

Lack of funds issue not a worthy argument against Swansea and especially Palace.It's poor purchases and poor tactics

[JUAN PABLO]

27% possession and 3 shots, at home versus the mighty Swansea City.   

they look a different class as well  . Chairmen can get decent managers .

[eastie]

Was there any booing at half time ?

[brontebilly]

Think the tactical change Lambert made for the last ten minutes, moving Bacuna into the centre and Weimann wide right has improved us a bit.

Delph and Westwood couldn't get near Swansea but the extra body has helped. I'd move Delph to left back for the second half and bring Sylla or Kea in.

Weimann has been much improved in fairness today as has Bacuna.

[VinnieChase84]

It's so so embarrassing. Lambert has not got a clue. Shame were stuck with this shit it seems for the long haul. We continue at this pace and we are championship bound.
23% possession at fucking home - sickening

[Goldie.7]

Was there any booing at half time ?

I heard a few groans.

[gervilla]

Same shit, different day.
We really are dreadful.

[Stu]

27% possession and 3 shots, at home versus the mighty Swansea City.   

they look a different class as well  . Chairmen can get decent managers .

Hasn't it taken Swansea about 2000 years to get this far though?

[Lamb_Stockmix]

I hope everyone watching this who ever advocates 4-4-2 is now seeing the futility of playing like that. It's not bad if you want to be defensive, dig in, frustrate and counter, but if you want to have a lot of the ball and go toe-to-toe with an opponent, especially one like Swansea, you just can't fucking play it.

It's not the formation, it's the style. We need to push up and press them. Any formation is shit if you have everyone in your own third except for your strikers.

Come on, that's willful blindness. The formation is a huge contributor to the crapness of the style: not having options on the ball, everyone being miles from everyone else, being too far away from anyone else to be anything other than stodgy and stuck in 'your position' and never interchange, being constantly outnumbered in the middle of the pitch and nobody knowing whether to commit or run backwards all of this virtually guarantees less possession and being overrun, especially by a side like Swansea.

What formation do you advocate with the players at our disposal?
Personally I don't see anything wrong with 4-4-2(1-1) as long as the players know where they are playing and what they are supposed to do, and perhaps more importantly are good enough to do the job they are supposed to do?

Well, there's the rub, really. It works as an attacking formation if you;re good enough to be the stronger team, keep the ball and pin the opposition back - although it puts you at risk of counter-attack. If you're the team, as we are, who don't keep the ball, then it leaves you in all sorts of trouble.

I would like to see them be told that they're allowed to attack.

[Boz]

Lack of funds issue not a worthy argument against Swansea and especially Palace.It's poor purchases and poor tactics

Spot on +  poor management