Next 7 games

[Boz]

2 games without scoring is worrying (on top of the Everton game where we scored from our only chance). Benteke hasn't really looked close. We had 2 gilt edge chances last night but in both cases I never felt confident the ball would end up in the net. Gabby looks well off the boil at the moment. Perhaps not 100%, but as the ball came to him I knew he'd fluff his lines.

There's a few games coming up which I can see us getting a point here and there, but none, besides Norwich, that I fancy us winning. Likewise, if Vlaar is out, then staying solid and tight at the back will be a problem.

Could be, especially against Man City, when our goal difference could take a hammering.

[not3bad]

It's ironic that Tekkers and Gabby have dried up in the last couple of games when Albrighton has finally started putting some good crosses in.

[supertom]

It's ironic that Tekkers and Gabby have dried up in the last couple of games when Albrighton has finally started putting some good crosses in.

Benteke isn't getting in the box nearly enough for my liking. Albrighton has put in a lot of good balls when he's been in the side, but we don't have players in the box attacking the right areas. It's a constant frustration.

[Richard E]

2 games without scoring is worrying (on top of the Everton game where we scored from our only chance). Benteke hasn't really looked close. We had 2 gilt edge chances last night but in both cases I never felt confident the ball would end up in the net. Gabby looks well off the boil at the moment. Perhaps not 100%, but as the ball came to him I knew he'd fluff his lines.

There's a few games coming up which I can see us getting a point here and there, but none, besides Norwich, that I fancy us winning. Likewise, if Vlaar is out, then staying solid and tight at the back will be a problem.

Could be, especially against Man City, when our goal difference could take a hammering.

Hopefully having got through 90 minutes against Cardiff, and then having a 12 day break before the next game, with warm weather training, Concrete Ron will now be fit for the duration.

[Ads]

It's ironic that Tekkers and Gabby have dried up in the last couple of games when Albrighton has finally started putting some good crosses in.

More by luck than judgment against Cardiff though.

[old man villa fan]

It's ironic that Tekkers and Gabby have dried up in the last couple of games when Albrighton has finally started putting some good crosses in.

Benteke isn't getting in the box nearly enough for my liking. Albrighton has put in a lot of good balls when he's been in the side, but we don't have players in the box attacking the right areas. It's a constant frustration.

I would say Benteke is getting into the box but it is the others that are not.  Even when Gabby gets in there, where are the rest.  We just do not seem to be able to get midfield players up quickly enough to support.

Perhaps I am old fashioned but when I hear commentators saying that x player has just put a good cross in and there is nobody near it,  I think how can it be a good cross when it does not go near his own player.  A great player will be aware of where his players are and a good player will look up to see where his players are.  To me, a cross into an area where a player should be, is just a hit and hope.  For me, Albrighton plays too many hit and hope crosses when we only have two players in the box.  They might be more effective, however, if there were more players in there.

[supertom]

It's ironic that Tekkers and Gabby have dried up in the last couple of games when Albrighton has finally started putting some good crosses in.

Benteke isn't getting in the box nearly enough for my liking. Albrighton has put in a lot of good balls when he's been in the side, but we don't have players in the box attacking the right areas. It's a constant frustration.

I would say Benteke is getting into the box but it is the others that are not.  Even when Gabby gets in there, where are the rest.  We just do not seem to be able to get midfield players up quickly enough to support.

Perhaps I am old fashioned but when I hear commentators saying that x player has just put a good cross in and there is nobody near it,  I think how can it be a good cross when it does not go near his own player.  A great player will be aware of where his players are and a good player will look up to see where his players are.  To me, a cross into an area where a player should be, is just a hit and hope.  For me, Albrighton plays too many hit and hope crosses when we only have two players in the box.  They might be more effective, however, if there were more players in there.

It's a tough one. You'll often hear commentators, especially any ex midfielders/strikers on co-duty, who bemoan the lack of players attacking the right areas when someone like Albrighton whips a ball into good areas. It depends on what you define good wing play. Is it picking out players, or is it playing the ball into dangerous areas and leaving the onus on your attacking players to attack those areas and the ball. It's probably something in between.
As for the latter, we don't do that nearly enough. Alby puts in his fair share of very good crosses. He's very good at whipping them in between the 6 yard line and the pen spot, that area that keepers and defenders absolutely hate. On occasions like that we should have players absolutely busting a gut to hit the near or far posts, or get in the box, but all too often they don't, which is frustrating. It's particularly annoying when Benteke doesn't, because he'd naturally thrive on some of these balls. Ironically I think Bent would probably net a fair few from Albrightons delivery.

[London Villan]

Interesting to see how it panned out - minus the Man City game which has been moved...

[ADVILLAFAN]

I wonder if Sunderland have a thread like this on their forum?

Sunderland Fixtures:-

Tottenham (a)
Everton (H)
Man City (a)
Chelsea (a)
Cardiff (H)
Man Utd (a)
West Brom (H)

[supertom]

Our last 7 games:
Fulham H- L
Palace A- D
Southampton H- L
Swansea A- D
Hull H- W
Man City A- L
Tottenham A- D

40 points.
Dems my predictions and I'm sticking by them. Plenty of dull football, sloppy goals conceded, not many scored. Think Benteke will grab 3-4 more goals.
We'll start by obliging Fulham with a false dawn. Any time a side, or manager, really needs a win, we seem to deliver it to them (unless that manager is Lambert, or that side is Villa).

[ozzjim]

WDLWDLL

42 Points

[Ads]

I wonder if Sunderland have a thread like this on their forum?

Sunderland Fixtures:-

Tottenham (a)
Everton (H)
Man City (a)
Chelsea (a)
Cardiff (H)
Man Utd (a)
West Brom (H)

I hope they've got enough Vaseline.

[Concrete John]

Fulham H - win
Palace A - lose
Southampton H - draw
Swansea A - win
Hull H - win
Man City A - lose
Tottenham A - lose

[Ads]

Fulham H - win
Palace A - win
Southampton H - draw
Swansea A - draw
Hull H - win
Man City A - lose
Tottenham A - draw

46 points, as I said back in February.

[PeterWithesShin]

Fulham H - Win
Palace A - Draw (we never win at Selhurst)
Southampton H - Draw
Swansea A - Draw
Hull H - Win
Man City A - Lose
Tottenham A - Draw