Aston Villa v Arsenal Post-Match Thread

[djbone]

How much longer must we suffer KEA? He's fcuking useless. Surely Lambert must see that by now.

i said after the game, I cannot imagine what chain of events contributes to Lamberts thought process when he is writing out the team sheet that culminates in puttin KEA's name anywhere near it.  The cheer was embarrassing when he went off, but my goodness we were all relieved.

Have to disagree with an earlier poster, and say I'm bloody glad to hear we cheered that clown coming off. He "earns" in a week what many of us earn in a year, by jogging about pretending to play football. I cannot now resist winding myself up when watching the game by paying special attention to KEA and his special skill of moseying about looking vaguely interested, about 3-4 yards off the play. There's the occasional accidental interception, perhaps an additional 10 seconds' effort some 2-3 times a game that results in a half-tackle or a shot bouncing off the shin. That's it.

And it takes something special to be booked after one minute of the match, in the centre circle.

Sylla (and every other non-playing midfielder on the books) really must be looking piss poor for this guy to get anywhere near our team.

Pretty crap again for too long tonight; we have a serious inferiority complex which is all the more ridiculous when you see how much better we fare when we play football and get about teams. Better performance than Sheff U, Palace, and Swansea is the best you can say - thought we were fckd when their 2nd went in but we did come out looking more purposeful after the break and got some reward.

Will the club need to get a bend on with signing some quality and experience? Can't really believe we are going after Grant bloody Holt, but from Lambert's comments tonight it sounds all but certain.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

We seem pretty clueless at times - eg: when Delph broke on the right 1st half not a single Villa player went with him/wanted the ball, so from a really promising attacking break we ended up giving it away, Delph totally isolated!
Salvaged a bit of pride late on, great to see the Beast score, and why didn't we press them from the start? When we did it 2nd half their passing game almost collapsed! That's how we beat them up their end in August! Benteke's 2nd half chance would have been buried this time last year - hope he is starting to get back to the way he was last season!
Blindingly obvious - we need to work more closely as a team, not run away from each other when we get the ball so that we're 25 yards apart, making passing to a team mate difficult!
Blindingly obvious - we need at least one creative/calm midfielder - Dembele, Parker, Tiote etc.
Strangley looking forward to the trip to Anfield on Sat - if we can reproduce the form of the last 30 mins!
Wilshire was a tosser, as was the ref - if you give a free kick early on for a high foot you have to give them all, not set the standard then change it cos it's the Arse!!!
UTV!

[Goldie.7]

Is there any news on Baker?

Mild concussion.

[PeterWithe]

We didn't play badly, we just needed a little direction for our efforts from the manager. We didn't get  it and the aimless hoofs started again.

I've lost my faith in him.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Grant Holt?
F**k my old boots!

[SoccerHQ]

KEA is just a negative selection at Villa Park. In fairness I think he's done o.k away from home this season but in home games seeing him on the team sheet just sets a negative tone.

Really Delph and Westwood sitting infront on the back 4 should be enough, enough have Bacuna as a defensive wide midfielder and then play a creative mid....oh wait we don't have one as Lambert is busy buying more 6ft 4 in lumps upfront.

[l_mckay]

Just back from the game,was a dire first half,typical of us to only start playing once the game has gone from us. Why don't we get stuck into them from the first whistle,drives me mad. But at least there were some positive sighns in the second half and of course great for Benteke to score,hopefully the first of many between now and may

[supertom]

KEA is just a negative selection at Villa Park. In fairness I think he's done o.k away from home this season but in home games seeing him on the team sheet just sets a negative tone.

Really Delph and Westwood sitting infront on the back 4 should be enough, enough have Bacuna as a defensive wide midfielder and then play a creative mid....oh wait we don't have one as Lambert is busy buying more 6ft 4 in lumps upfront.

If only. I think Holts 6ft1, so not huge and add in the fact he probably can't jump higher than 2 inches off the ground (luckily for the VP foundations). I can't see Holt winning that many headers to be honest. The only thing he'll win is a hotdog eating competition, but him and Weimann will be the sole competitors unless Dunney comes round for a visit.

[JUAN PABLO]

Is there any news on Baker?

been eaten by Grant Holt

[frank black]

Is there any news on Baker?

been eaten by Grant Holt

Lol

[Smirker]

A lot of harsh stuff on here. They did nothing with the ball while we had three at the back with Baker - admittedly neither did we but we had the odd chance even then. Baker's injury was fairly key, did force us to change the shape and allowed them in to score the goals. The first was soft but the second was an absolute gift from Delph and then lucky woth the ball bouncing off Giroud's knee. unlucky to be two down at half time and I think we did boss parts of the game in 2nd half. yes their football is pretty but we threatened more. Not good but a lot better. Let's give them a bit of credit.

Pretty much my take on it as well. The injury and mistake killed the game.

[Monty]

Christ I hope he doesn't sign Grant f**kin' Holt. In fact, calling Holt a 'proper man' pretty much ruined his evening.

Anyway, we lost, but two silver linings: first, every time both Chelsea and Man City drop a league place there's hope in the world; second (and more seriously), that second half was a real performance. People have gone on about the fight, but sod the fight, anyone can fight - they actually moved off the ball, passed, stayed calm, stayed a danger and pegged back title contenders and gave them a real game.

As for players, Benteke looks nearly there and got a good goal, Vlaark looked pretty good and, most importantly to me, Westwood shook off another dreadful first half to produce one of his best performances in ages in the second. It's a virtuous circle: the players move off the ball, Westwood has options, increases in confidence and passes well, encouraging the players to move off the ball. There was plenty of encouragement in that second half.

[baddowvillans]

The morning after and looking for positives. Benteke scoring and looking like he had found renewed confidence and vigour. Not sure I saw the same game as some other posters who believe Arsenal did nothing with the ball in the first half. Yes I thought Giroud got a very fortunate double bounce for his goal but I thought Arsenal always looked like getting a third or more. We did play better second half - partly because Arsenal sat back - but thee was a step up in effort and effect and at 1-2 we could have got something out if the game with more craft.

My big worry remains that after 18 months into the Lambert era I can't remember a single game where we have come out, played to a game plan, dominated for a sustained period, taken a lead and gone on to look comfortable. Not one game.

I still live in hope there and three worse teams than us and generally I believe there are. At the moment though I won't be renewing my three season tickets at VP. Give us a performance Lambert. Just one to give us a reason to believe.

[curlytailavfc]

cant see us winning another game this season at home I didnt go and couldnt even give my ticket away says it all.

[mr underhill]

well we have to believe we can, and do, otherwise we're down