Aston Villa v Swansea City Post-Match Thread

[saunders_heroes]

Those two occasions near the end where he mis controlled the ball and let it out for a throw near our corner flag were real highlights for me. Sadly.

I thought he did it deliberately knowing they'd regain possession directly from our resultant throw-ins

Bloody hell, you're right. Our throw-ins were unbelievably bad, weren't they

Our throw ins have been unbelievably bad from day one under Lambert. This is training ground stuff. Lambert can't even get the basics right.

[supertom]

When Swansea had players in space down the wing they were found with a ball quickly.
When we had someone in space out wide for example, the player on the ball in midfielder would take way too long to get the ball to them. Delph did this a few times in finding Luna. Instead of controlling, looking up and banging over a pass, he took an age to get the ball under control. Dribbled himself to within 5 yards of Luna and then passed the ball to him, by which time they had plenty of defensively cover and any hope of get one of our players offensively one on one with someone was gone.

Poor movement off the ball is costing us. Poor ball control and passing is killing us. A total lack of composure is also a problem. One sniff of something and our players will generally snatch at the delivery or the chance. The ironic thing is that our goal came from having Gabby clean through, one in one. I was all set to put my money on him scuffing it straight at the keeper, but he finished it fantastically. It was the one piece of composed play we had in the entire match. The rest of the time our players seem to treat the ball like a hand grenade. The person on the ball looks incredibly awkward dribbling with it. They look up and almost everyone ahead of them is hiding behind a marker because they don't want to get blown up. It's the definition of Anti-Football and it's even sub-McLeish. At least Big Eck was fairly unapologetic in his style. We knew what we were getting. Someone who'd put teams out not to lose and hope to nick the odd winner. It might have been shit but it was a plan.
What is Lamberts plan? There never appears to be a clear one.

[Legion]

As we dont seem to like conflicted opinions let me just say what I believe - no offense intended to anyone who doesnt agree :

1. Possession. I completely agree it isnt everything BUT generally the sides which finish higheidea in the league and do well in cups have majority possession OVER A SEASON.We rarely have more than 50% and when we do have no idea how to use it.  On balance keeping the ball IS advatageous.
2. Lambert.  Any suggestion that I or anybody else on here doesnt want him to do well is ludicrous. Support 'en masse' during games has been positive  with frustration only really boiling over in recent games.  If things were as they were a month ago I.e. 9/10 points over relegation and with a benign fixture list ahead I would be 'happy' to see him continue.  Then I was very confident that there were at least three teams worse than us.  I apologise for admiting that I would accept staying up as acceptable but I was being pragmatic.  A month on we have wasted the opportunity that those 'winnable' games offered and at the moment I honestly cant see a team worse than us.  I fear cannot see that this manager has any idea how to change that or have any confidence that even if guven money he woukd soend it wisely,  Defeat at Sunderland anf he MUST go.
3.  The players.  Whilst I accept that some are not up to it there are others who are no worse than many in other teams in the bottom half.  With coaching and a game plan (look it up Paul) I believe Lowton, Westwood, Weiman, Gabby, Clarke and Bacuna can look like Premier league players. Baker I will accept as back up but to me he appears to be in receipt of no coaching whatsoever.  These need to ge supplemented with some experience
4. Expectations.  I have three season tickets for the family with a 280 mile round trip oer game,  Not the longest by any means but not just round the corner. I know that a Champions league place is no longer possible (for now) and accept that.   I do not expect us to be flirting with relagation every season and playing kick and rush football but would settle for a level of football style with ability tobthreaten in cups - kets call its the Everton approach.  Give me that and then ill get greedy.

Everybody who takes the time to read and post on here cares about Aston Villa and EVERYBODY deserves a brighter 2014.  Happy New Year folks!

There wouldn't be much point in having a discussion board if we all agreed on everything. Conflicting and differing opinions are welcome and encouraged. Here's to a brighter, better 2014.

[barrysleftfoot]

 He has'nt got a plan supertom, thats the point.He won't sign anyone decent, if he is still here, because he will be found out.The basics yday were significant by their absence.No support for the player with the ball, no movement off the ball, no closing down, no structure, no pattern of play.

 I think we need to realise, that game yday was a relegation battle, yet look at the way Swansea played, they had a style, a purpose, a resolve, and lets be honest deserved to win.I can't see us getting anything against Sland, who i don't think will go down, then we have Arse and Lplop and Boggies, probably nothing there as well then.

 For the sake of our great club, he needs to go.

[mr woo]

Just seeing the 'highlights' on MOTD this morning drives home how poor we are.

Swansea were creating space at will because we get drawn to the ball instead of picking up a man, and that's just when they're static. Once the opposition start actually moving off the ball it seems to fuck with our heads.....like no one is sure which man they should be following.

You could say it's inexperience but more likely it's poor preparation and coaching. 

Other posters are spot on with regards to throw ins. It's most apparent at a set piece but it happens throughout open play too, we collectively won't show for the ball. I've noticed players stick with their marker deliberately - I can only assume that's a confidence issue.

You know things must be bad.
Even Alan Hansen spoke in a sombre, apologetic tone when summarizing our game.

Still, it's seems Lamberts going nowhere. Let's see what Randy pulls out of the hat in January.

[abc123cox]

I'm overweight, very slow and can't do much but when I play football on a Monday I always make 2 very good passes during the game which even surprises myself....

Does this mean I'm as good as Westwood?

Anyhow woke up this morning and just watched highlights on sky from last night and now matter how many times you watch it, you can't say anything other then atrocious, inept and useless.

If Lambert does not get the sack then I'm dreading any signings he will sign. Experience needed, everyone can see it so should he.

[supertom]

If there was a MOTD table based on game order, we'd have to be bottom of it wouldn't we?

[eastie]

I'm overweight, very slow and can't do much but when I play football on a Monday I always make 2 very good passes during the game which even surprises myself....

Does this mean I'm as good as Westwood?

Anyhow woke up this morning and just watched highlights on sky from last night and now matter how many times you watch it, you can't say anything other then atrocious, inept and useless.

If Lambert does not get the sack then I'm dreading any signings he will sign. Experience needed, everyone can see it so should he.

Are you andi Weimann ?

[Olneythelonely]

Even our ball boys/girls are shit.

[Legion]

I'm overweight, very slow and can't do much but when I play football on a Monday I always make 2 very good passes during the game which even surprises myself....

Does this mean I'm as good as Westwood?

Anyhow woke up this morning and just watched highlights on sky from last night and now matter how many times you watch it, you can't say anything other then atrocious, inept and useless.

If Lambert does not get the sack then I'm dreading any signings he will sign. Experience needed, everyone can see it so should he.

Are you andi Weimann ?

Ha!

[abc123cox]

I'm not that bad!

[Legion]

Yes, he definitely needs to strengthen with experience. We have plenty of youth and experimental purchases already.

[Irish villain]

Oh for the days when we looked at players to'take us to the next level'. Now we want players who might give us some steel and help keepus in the division.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. I still think Lambert is the only manager that can get anything from these players because he did last season.

[Legion]

All the action! (49 seconds long)

[abc123cox]

Lamberts not got much out of them this season.