Sunderland v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Marton]

I have to admit that Bacuna is starting to be a favorite for me in Villa this year.
He made maybe 3-4 massive mistakes this season that infuriated some people but look at his positives.
He scored twice (how many have done that this season?) in 18 appearances. Important goals too. (Cardiff and Man C).
He has really great workrate and never gives up. There was a sequence against Swansea where he and Lowton is going forward and gets countered.
Lowton gives up the chase despite being the defender while Bacuna runs almost the length of the entire pitch flat out to make the critical challenge at the last moment.
Lambert been moving him all over the pitch to cover for injuries and when players fail to handle their role (Luna, Lowton, Weimann mostly.) He is obviously very versatile though I think he is at his best as a right midfielder.

Yesterday he and Delph literately babysat Luna who early showed that he was heading for another horrendous performance. (Did you see him misjudge that high loose dropball and letting it bounce behind him in the penalty area? 5-10 min into the game). Thanks to Delph, Bacuna and honestly also to Sunderlands ineffectiveness, Luna managed to get through a game without costing us points. But he HAS to get out of the first team for Villa to improve.
Covering for Luna was holding both Bancuna and Delph back some in the 2nd half but he still managed some great forward runs in the 1st often linking up with Gabby. This in turn seemed to inspire both Benteke and Weimann who both actually put in an effort for once.

[rob_bridge]

Commendation to Clampy and Ozzjim for correct use of 'should have' and 'would have'

Personally I'd stipulate a day's temporary ban for those who, after sufficient warning, use 'should of' or 'would of'

Just a pet bug bear of mine.

[RussellC]

I think 'bugbear' is all one word mate...

[paul_e]

Marton - I agree on Bacuna, I thought he looked really good yesterday, I said in the summer that he'd be the one of the new signings who'd have the biggest impact so I'm pretty happy with how it's going for him so far, there's something really likeable about the guy in general, and his attitude on the pitch just adds to it.  I love that he plays with a smile on his face so often.

I think you're a touch harsh on Luna, I thought he started poorly for the first 20minutes but after that I think he was fine.  I think he'll be ok for us, he's clearly struggled with the pacey guys but I think he's learning, he's also been on his own on the left a bit too often for a guy new to league, Bennett had the same problem last year and it took him 20 odd games learn how to play in our system.  Luna's issues seem very similar to Bennett's for me and there are 2:

1. He gets caught 2 on 1 and does nothing, he needs to learn to make a decision early in that situation and do the best he can.  Once he's more decisive the other players around him will get used to what he's going to do and can help him better.

2. He gets drawn infield and leaves himself vulnerable to crossfield passes, this is a common one for fullbacks, it's very easy to take a couple of extra steps inside to give yourself a bit of time and end up out of position, this will improve with experience.

[oldhill_avfc]

I think you're a touch harsh on Luna, I thought he started poorly for the first 20minutes but after that I think he was fine.  I think he'll be ok for us, he's clearly struggled with the pacey guys but I think he's learning, he's also been on his own on the left a bit too often for a guy new to league, Bennett had the same problem last year and it took him 20 odd games learn how to play in our system.  Luna's issues seem very similar to Bennett's for me and there are 2:

1. He gets caught 2 on 1 and does nothing, he needs to learn to make a decision early in that situation and do the best he can.  Once he's more decisive the other players around him will get used to what he's going to do and can help him better.

2. He gets drawn infield and leaves himself vulnerable to crossfield passes, this is a common one for fullbacks, it's very easy to take a couple of extra steps inside to give yourself a bit of time and end up out of position, this will improve with experience.

You can analyse things as much as you like but only one there's only one conclusion - he's absolutely useless and by far the worst player in a very poor team. 

[Pete3206]

Luna has been hopeless. I would gladly see Joe Bennett or Enda Stevens there instead.  Don't know why we jettisoned players like Eric Lichaj, then brought in players like Luna, who are no better.
 

[Clampy]

This time last year Bennett was getting the same stick as Luna is getting now and people were knocking Vlaar as well. When are we going to give players time instead of slagging them off after half a season.

[peter w]

He hasn't been useless - Luna- started okay and then has struggled after injury. Easy to forget he's still young, too. He'll grow into it. Like Vlaar. Also both the incorrect offside line on MOTD showed the Sunderland players feet being ahead of Vlaar's never mind his head and body. It was offside so doesn't matter about hamann or whomever.

[Clampy]

However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.

He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.

[peter w]

That Albrighton is getting more minutes on the pitch recently shows that under Lambert he's far from being nailed into any coffin.

[dekko]

However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.

He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.

Plus he did far more in those 15-20 minutes than Weimann managed all game, so whatever his long term future is, he's gotta be a starter for the forseeable future

[olaftab]

I think 'bugbear' is all one word mate...

and it should be "It is just a pet bugbear of mine".
Anyway RB where  and how did use of "of" rather than "have" came about  in Birmingham?

[RussellC]

Luna has been hopeless. I would gladly see Joe Bennett or Enda Stevens there instead.  Don't know why we jettisoned players like Eric Lichaj, then brought in players like Luna, who are no better.
 

For a start Luna can use his left-foot. Which is generally considered to be a plus for a left-back.

Luna has looked brilliant at time, and struggled at others, but the amount of times he's left 2-on-1 is frightening. I'm still confident that he'll adapt and prove to be a decent signing. As much as I liked Lichaj, I think he's very much a Championship player at best.

[Ian.]

However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.

He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.

That's what I thought, slightly over the top.

[Chris Jameson]

However, that game for me is the final nail in the coffin of hope for marc Albrighton's Premiership career. 2 clear opportunities to wrap the game up for us and only managed to even work the keeper on one of them. Simply not good enough.

He made a mess of the second one but brought a very good save out the keeper for the first effort. 'Final nail in the coffin' because he didn't score from 25 yards out is ridiculous.

I only ever see highlights but he looks the one player capable of putting decent crosses in, I like Albrighton and reckon if he's given a run he'll regain his confidence.