Sunderland v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Boz]

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.

Spot on.

While everyone has their opinions that should be respected, there is often not enough tolerance with some players, who get a lot more stick then others who are just as guilty of similar errors.

It's Lambert's job to improve these players as a part of their training when they are new to this league.

You only have to look at the posts on the match thread to see a wide divergence among fans about various players during the game. We are all frustrated at times but how easy it is to play the game as a spectator.

I thought there was a slight improvement over the Swansea game and if Vlaar and Benteke can keep fit we should see a move up rather than a move down, but Lambert needs to improve his part in Villa progressing.

[RussellC]

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'm not sure how he could have been inside the box and "25-yards out" at the same time?!

The fact is he was clean through on two occasions. On the first occasion he decided to put his head down and put his foot through the ball. The keeper saved the shot. On the second occasion, he could quite easily have taken another touch and side-footed the ball past the keeper, or at the very least brought a save from him, won a penalty,corner,etc. Instead he attempted the exact same thing again and blazed the ball into the stand.

When a player with 72 Premiership appearances lacks both the composure and decision-making skills in those situations, it makes them not good enough to play at that standard in my opinion.

[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.
 

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.

When has Luna been brilliant?

[peter w]

Emirates. Around the 85th minute.

[peter w]

He also coped with Navas better than any other left back when he has come on.

[London Villan]

With regards to Luna and Bennett last season, they are/were both poor game after game. Bennett, getting bullied by 4th division players and Luna giving wingers as much time and space as they like.

Firstly it's up to the management to address these problems, but if the player doesn't adapt or change then they should be out of the first team because they cost too many goal etc...

We can't afford to give players 10 games when they get murdered week in and week out... It will cost too many points or a cup final appearance.

There is not reason why these players can't come back better and stronger once they have worked at the fundamental problems with their game, as players like Delph has done and Petrov before him.

[Ron Manager]

In the aftermath of Benteke's shot that was cleared off line I noticed that Benteke just stood around as Gabby desperately tried to get hold of the ball. Not sure if he did that because he would have been offside or it's another cause of his lack of involvement just now?

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he thought he might have been in an offside position.

As for the Sunderland offside decision, the striker was leaning forward so his head was ahead of the Vlaar and the rules are any part of the body a goal can be scored from. It even showed it on the graphic yet Hamann said he was level. And they wonder why they get beaten time and again in punditry stakes by Sky.

Absolutely right The graphics showed the decision was correct Im surprised Lineker didnt correct Hamann.....no im not!

[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.

On the second occasion, he could quite easily have taken another touch and side-footed the ball past the keeper,

Side footed the keeper, are you sure? He wasn't that close to him. I'd watch it again if I were you.

[paul_e]

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. 

That's far from the only conclusion that can be made about a 22year old after 15 games in a league very different to his previous one.  the sensible conclusion is that he's struggled in the same way Bennett did (Lowton and Bacuna as well to an extent, but they've made up for it with 2 wonder goals and natural athleticism), and, like Bennett, there have been signs that he has enough ability to make it but he needs to keep fit and keep learning.  People on here (and everywhere really) are far to eager to label a player as 'useless' without really giving them any time to settle in to a new club/league/country, it's almost as if the concept of improving with experience is lost on people.

[Legion]

MotD

[MarkM]

In the aftermath of Benteke's shot that was cleared off line I noticed that Benteke just stood around as Gabby desperately tried to get hold of the ball. Not sure if he did that because he would have been offside or it's another cause of his lack of involvement just now?

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he thought he might have been in an offside position.

As for the Sunderland offside decision, the striker was leaning forward so his head was ahead of the Vlaar and the rules are any part of the body a goal can be scored from. It even showed it on the graphic yet Hamann said he was level. And they wonder why they get beaten time and again in punditry stakes by Sky.

Absolutely right The graphics showed the decision was correct Im surprised Lineker didnt correct Hamann.....no im not!

If it was the other way around we would have been saying he was onside, that's the difficulty with an offside that is so close, it could have gone either way I'm just glad it went our way.

Happy with the result

[RussellC]

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.

On the second occasion, he could quite easily have taken another touch and side-footed the ball past the keeper,

Side footed the keeper, are you sure? He wasn't that close to him. I'd watch it again if I were you.

I'll make sure I do, although unless I see a huge bobble in the pitch I doubt anything will change my mind that it was either a poor decision, dreadful execution or both.

My comment about it signalling the beginning of the end of Albrighton's career is based on a few things. Firstly Lambert's reluctance to play with out-and-out wingers very often. Secondly the fact that I think he'll look to buy a player who can play there and behind the striker. Thirdly, I honestly think Jack Grealish will be in the first-team squad next season and will be aheard of MA. Fourthly I saw Lambert's reaction to Albrighton's miss.

I really like Albrighton, and would love him to prove me wrong, but I just genuinely don't think he's good enough.

[Ron Manager]

Nothing the matter with Albrighton. The first the goalie did his job. The second he should have done better . But hes a breath of fresh air when he attacks his defender.

[Simon Ward]

Happy New Year anyway!

[Clampy]

Nothing the matter with Albrighton. The first the goalie did his job. The second he should have done better . But hes a breath of fresh air when he attacks his defender.

I think he's been very good since he's come back. He offers us something a little bit different to what Weimann does on the right hand side and the way we play on the break away from home will suit him, especially coming off the bench like he did yesterday.