Everton v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[eastie]

Defence battled well and in the end the pressure told - can't complain about the result as everton deserved the win but we gave them a hard game - hope Vlaar isn't injured , he didn't seem to be limping when he went off but we look dodgy without him at the heart of things .

Tenth place but still only 5 points above the relegation zone - 3 huge games against west ham, Cardiff and Norwich coming up which hopefully will yield some points - enjoy your weekend all!

[ozzjim]

Please explain why Vlaar was taken off in that scenario. I did not see that his leg had fallen off and that is about the only reason I would accept. Stupid.

I would love to know why an experience backup for a player so vitally important if he is carrying a knock was not signed by the club.

[mattjpa]

As i said in the match thread, only one side played football today and it wasn't us.

The way Lambert had us set up was practically 10 men behind the ball, we played very deep and compact, and this initially made it difficult for Everton to get through us, but it was very 'anti-football'. We had no out ball though and by the end we weren't even hoofing it in Benteke's general direction, we were just hoofing it. You can't 'play' like that for 90 minutes, all of our defending and closing down takes it's toll towards the end of games and players begin to tire, and their players then begin to find the space and make opportunities.

I'd have been happy if we'd of sneaked a win or draw, but FFS can we please try and play some football. We've played some good stuff against better teams than Everton so there really is no excuse for that kind of performance.

If you set up in a defensive formation with defensive tactics you end up in a negative mindset which is very hard to reverse. By the 60th minute they looked like Barnsley playing Barcelona. I will be go smacked if he shoulders any of the blame though

[Dribbler]

Slight over reaction today I think....yea we were poor but take away the Liverpool game and Wednesdays and we have played like this most of the season. No real surprises today for me, Everton are a good side.

Surely you counter your own argument there, it's not an over reaction precisely because we have played like this for most of the season, despite the fact we know we can play better and  a better style of football.

[PaulWinch again]

We got what we'd deserved that simple. I have two issues with that display and they're related. Firstly I've been banging on about this for ages if you have possession stats of 40% or less on a regular basis you will lose more than you win, and considering we have less than 35% possession quite regularly that balance will be even more skewed. Lambert really doesn't get it.

Secondly I find it embarrassing that Villa as a club have become so small time. It's one thing for a team who get promoted to regularly play with their backs to the wall, but it's frankly embarrassing that we go to clubs and desperately try and cling on and offer nothing. That coupled with our transfer strategy is just not good enough. Aston Villa are a much bigger football than we look and play like at the moment.

Very well put across.

I've had a few weeks to think about it!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I wish Poyet was our manager. Lambert just doesn't learn.

Poyet is looking a good manager in the making.

It's all well and good buying young, up and coming players and building a team but we need the right man in charge to make it work. Lambert most certainly is not that man. This team is no where as bad as he makes them.

[Rudy65]

Those stats could represent many games under PL

[Steve R]

Tactics absolutely terrible. I wouldn't agree we got it spot on first half, Everton had nothing up front, yet we barely kept them out. And it was always going to be harder once Martinez had opportunity to tweak things second half.

It didn't help that Guzan's hoofs forward went largely uncontested, despite us having two of the best aerial foragers in the league.

We got what we deserved. We didn't even try to play the game in the one area of the pitch that we have Everton outclassed. Fckn stupid.

If we really are short on spending power we need a team that is set up to punch above its weight not below it. I bet Martinez cannot believe his luck. 

[enigma]

An embarrassment of the highest order.

That is anti football

Get that f in scottish tw@t out of my club

Were you saying that on Wednesday evening?

I was. Unlike some I wasn't letting one win paper over the cracks.

29% possession is embarrassing and I'm really fucking sick of it. He's turned us into a long ball team and probably the worst team to watch in the division. He really isn't the manager I thought we were getting. His tactics are from the stone age.

[Nastylee]

Disappointing following the euphoria of Wednesday night. One of those that had we pulled it off it would have been a defensive materclass. However, I was surprised to see the changes to the line up and formation and ultimately our lack of attacking interest invited the inevitable.

Next four games before the Man City thrashing will determine whether we meander until the end of the season or get dragged back in for an uneasy finish to the season.

[martin o`who??]

I`m seriously beginning to wonder whether in years to come, the Lerner/Lambert combination will be looked on as an absolute catastrophe for Aston Villa football club, screw the "we`re better off than last year" argument, fact is, we are a piss poor side in a poor league, we`re bringing in sub-standard signings, investing less and less on the pitch and it shows, it`s just a matter of time before this disasterous policy catches up with us. In terms of quality of performance, we are going backwards. If things don`t improve, the gates will plunge next season, less revenue = even less investment and then what??....

[Rudy65]

Defence battled well and in the end the pressure told - can't complain about the result as everton deserved the win but we gave them a hard game - hope Vlaar isn't injured , he didn't seem to be limping when he went off but we look dodgy without him at the heart of things .

Tenth place but still only 5 points above the relegation zone - 3 huge games against west ham, Cardiff and Norwich coming up which hopefully will yield some points - enjoy your weekend all!

I have to take issue with giving them a hard game. I think we made it far too easy for them

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Why did he change to three centre backs after the last two games being, arguably, out best. Bizarre. Would like him to explain his changes.

[lovejoy]

I think we need some perspective here. Everton are a quality top 6 side. Also we do need to accept highs and lows. After Wednesday today should come as no surprise. West Ham a big game now.
Without wishing to sound like the manager, we go again.

[Mazrim]

As is our way recently, one step forward, one step back. A team who just triumphed in a derby versus a team who were just humiliated in a derby. We needed to be ruthless and shove it up this poxy club, but of course, that was too easy wasn't it.

And it seems we're just scared of the ball, or indifferent to it. It happens too often and I'm fucking sick of it. I really hate giving Everton points and we're making a habit of it. This team, this club, unfortunately, is going nowhere with very little idea from any level on what to do about it. I can feel myself losing interest. And I hate that.