Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion Post-Match Thread

[tomd2103]

When I woke up this morning the first thing I thought about was the crossbar twanging like a guitar string and the ball in the back of the net

Everything about that goal was utterly sexual.

72 mph baby

It made Brunt's effort look like a lob. It's been said elsewhere but I love it when the ball crashes in off the bar like that

I actually don't like the bar being touched, gives it an air of lucky. Clearly wasn't in this case but I prefer to see it rip into the net.

Have to say I don't think Lowton was that bad. Yes a couple of slips but he made up for them at the other end. Our excellent play between 1-2 and 3-3 was as much to do with his contribution as any. Whatever your views are on second season syndrome I do think that we have a few players who are showing symptoms of that. Lowton being one of them. He, like most, are doing better as a team compared to this time last season, and as a team overall, and I think that we'll see him back even better next season.

Some players may fall by the wayside but I think that Lowton, and maybe Westwood could develop into very good players still. I think Clark's performances next to Vlaar this season has shown how his experiences have helped him develop.

Sorry, but I thought Clark was pretty poor again last night.  His distribution was bad, he got physically bullied at times by Anichebe, he gave away a number of stupid free kicks in pretty dangerous areas and got caught out for their 3rd goal.  Still far from convincing.   

[tomd2103]

One thing I noticed last night was how often Westwood would give the ball away, but then compound the error by watching the game totally pass him by as a result of this.

I think he's potentially a good passer of the ball, but it's just not working for him at the moment, and he constantly gets caught out like that.

Agree Paulie, but his passing is his game really.  I just don't think he has the athletic and physical attributes to be a top flight midfielder, so if his passing game is off then he struggles. 

[olaftab]

I don't like our supporters singing "shit on (whoever)". It's a crass classless song and rightly belongs to SHA and Tesco bags.

[Monty]

One thing I noticed last night was how often Westwood would give the ball away, but then compound the error by watching the game totally pass him by as a result of this.

I think he's potentially a good passer of the ball, but it's just not working for him at the moment, and he constantly gets caught out like that.

Agree Paulie, but his passing is his game really.  I just don't think he has the athletic and physical attributes to be a top flight midfielder, so if his passing game is off then he struggles.

Plenty of great midfielders haven't need athletic and physical attributes. It is a worry when his passing goes, but when his positioning goes (he was so good at interceptions last year) then you really start to worry.

[tomd2103]

One thing I noticed last night was how often Westwood would give the ball away, but then compound the error by watching the game totally pass him by as a result of this.

I think he's potentially a good passer of the ball, but it's just not working for him at the moment, and he constantly gets caught out like that.

Agree Paulie, but his passing is his game really.  I just don't think he has the athletic and physical attributes to be a top flight midfielder, so if his passing game is off then he struggles.

Plenty of great midfielders haven't need athletic and physical attributes. It is a worry when his passing goes, but when his positioning goes (he was so good at interceptions last year) then you really start to worry.

Yes, but they made up with that by being exceptional in other departments.  Even when on form, Westwood is hardly exceptional in any department. 

[D.boy]

Cowans was hardly Mr Muscle but he got stuck into tackles and could spray the ball around the pitch with ease. Scored a fair few goals along the way.

[tomd2103]

Cowans was hardly Mr Muscle but he got stuck into tackles and could spray the ball around the pitch with ease. Scored a fair few goals along the way.

Also played in a different era, but Sid was way better on the ball and a better passer than Ash W.

[ChicagoLion]

Cowans was hardly Mr Muscle but he got stuck into tackles and could spray the ball around the pitch with ease. Scored a fair few goals along the way.

Also played in a different era, but Sid was way better on the ball and a better passer than Ash W.

Should not even  be compared. Ludicrous

[Damo70]

It was interesting to read their manager said they knew exactly how to stop us hurting them. This was by stopping Benteke. They knew exactly how to stop him and their pre match preparations focused on that. But when it came to putting the theory into practice they were incapable of stopping him doing what they knew he would.

[pauliewalnuts]

It was interesting to read their manager said they knew exactly how to stop us hurting them. This was by stopping Benteke. They knew exactly how to stop him and their pre match preparations focused on that. But when it came to putting the theory into practice they were incapable of stopping him doing what they knew he would.

I doubt Benteke will ever come across another opponent as feeble as Lugano on Wednesday night.

[PeterWithe]

In an ideal world I wouldn't be against three midfielders coming in, KEA doesnt have any real assets, Westwood is promising but inconsistent and defensively fragile and Sylla hasn't come on in the way I thought he would. Two starters to go alongside Delph and a squad midfielder are needed if Gardner's progress has also slowed.

[rob_bridge]

I don't like our supporters singing "shit on (whoever)". It's a crass classless song and rightly belongs to SHA and Tesco bags.

Correct. It is a vile song so should not be sung by us. Leave it to The Nearderthals and mini Barcelona (ha).

[supertom]

Westwood is an okay passer of the ball, nothing more. When he looks to play (pardon the phrase) a Hollywood, he's easier to read than Roger Red Hat. I lose count of the times that a defender intercepts because he's read Westwoods intentions really easily. The main problem right now is he doesn't get the freedom of movement he got last season and it's ruined his game. Last season, from Jan-May, anytime a Villa player was on the ball and needed an option to pass to, Westwood was always there. Now he goes missing. He's either shadowed more closely, or worse, he goes hiding. Westwood at his best wasn't as much about his range of passing, but more about his ability to keep things ticking over, just by always being there and not wasting passes.
Now he's marked out, and is given less time on the ball because he's now a known quantity at this level. When he has the ball he has to be a lot quicker than he had to be last season, and I don't think he can hack it. I think he's been found out at this level and needs replacing ASAP.

Lowton is similar. Teams continue to exploit his defensive weakness, notably positioning and the huge gaps he leaves. They've also eliminated a lot of the attacking freedom that Lowton used to get. He barely gets any space and freedom down the wings these days, to get crosses in. It's not helped by poor ball retention of course, but rival wide men and fullbacks are wiser to Lowton. Cut out his attacking threat and then all he is, is a weakness to be exploited.

This happens a lot when you shop at a certain level. Just the way it is. Some players, when they need that extra level, just don't have it. Lowton and Westy will inevitably end up in the Championship I think.

[LeeB]

I'm finding some of the opinions on Westwood puzzling, as anyone who has to play in a midfield containing Karim El Ahmadi should be cut a hell of a lot of slack.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'm finding some of the opinions on Westwood puzzling, as anyone who has to play in a midfield containing Karim El Ahmadi should be cut a hell of a lot of slack.

To be fair to KEA, he put a shift in on Wednesday, I thought he worked very hard