Carlos Sanchez

[Clampy]

I'd play him on Saturday ahead of Cleverley.

Why? Cleverley has looked every bit an integral part of a good looking midfield 3.

It's just that in the last two games, Arsenal and Chelsea had a lot of the ball and we didn't really have anyone in there who attempted to break up the play. We just tended to sit back. The way Man City play suggests it might be similar. Cleverely has done ok so far but he's not really stood out too much either.

[Ads]

I think Cleverley uses the ball well.


The problem we have had is that there aren't too many options advanced of him to play it forwards too, as the full backs are deep, while Andi and Richardson are also tucked back too.

[paul_e]

Nor would I. There is some re writing of history going on here. Sanchez had a very bad game against Arsenal. That was by common consent. All players have them. Cleverley does not deserve to be benched.

Not really rewriting history, he was poor as part of an overall poor performance by a team that, as a unit, clearly had some fitness issues.  Some of the singling out of Sanchez on this thread and the post match thread is unfair and a few people are trying to point that out.

[Matt Collins]

I noted that all three of our midfield have over 90% pass success rates v chelsea. Was very surprised by that. An encouraging sign of sorts.

I think I might play nzogbia ahead of Richardson though. We need creativity

[Ron Manager]

I would imagine that by the Everton game Sanchez will be fully up to speed. It will be interesting to see if he is in the starting eleven.

[brian green]

I am quite prepared to risk going into Villa Park and being singled out as the idiot who thought Sanchez had an absolute stinker against the Arsenal.

[N'ZMAV]

Sanchez was wank against Arsenal. He will improve.

[villan from luton]

I think Sanchez himself said he needs to improve, he is learning a whole new game and culture and luckily we can let him do that at the moment.

[Matt Collins]

It will surely be the same midfield three in the next few games. We need more creativity and that's likely to mean cleverley playing a bit further forward - like richardson did in the first few games. The Mail has been suggesting as much. I quite like the fact that now Gregg Evans is leading on villa, we're starting to get some tactical analysis. Don't know if mat Kendrick thought the readers didn't want that but he rarely focused on that. He does like a ropey pun though!

[SoccerHQ]

I don't expect to see Sanchez in the starting 11 for quite a while. It's infuriating we get knocked out of the cups early every season as a Carling cup game would've been an ideal match to give him and Joe Cole starts.

Thinking about it a good target for him and us to get him up to speed would be the Man. United home game in two months time. Cleverley will be ineligible for that and we will need as many defensive midfield players in there to track runs from Di Maria, Rooney etc so give him some sub appearances in the meantime.

[Ads]

Looking at what Lambert has said today I think we will see Carlos start against QPR.

The midfield needs some variety and hopefully him coming in will allow Westwood to get his range of passing going 15 yards further up the pitch and do a bit more damage.

[Clampy]

Looking at what Lambert has said today I think we will see Carlos start against QPR.

The midfield needs some variety and hopefully him coming in will allow Westwood to get his range of passing going 15 yards further up the pitch and do a bit more damage.

The only thing I don't get about what Lambert has said is that he thinks that Westwood's form has been 'really high'. It hasn't really has it? He's been ok for me, not much better than anyone else in the middle.

[JUAN PABLO]

Looking at what Lambert has said today I think we will see Carlos start against QPR.

The midfield needs some variety and hopefully him coming in will allow Westwood to get his range of passing going 15 yards further up the pitch and do a bit more damage.

The only thing I don't get about what Lambert has said is that he thinks that Westwood's form has been 'really high'. It hasn't really has it? He's been ok for me, not much better than anyone else in the middle.

I

I don't listen to Lambert no more.

[supertom]

Looking at what Lambert has said today I think we will see Carlos start against QPR.

The midfield needs some variety and hopefully him coming in will allow Westwood to get his range of passing going 15 yards further up the pitch and do a bit more damage.

The only thing I don't get about what Lambert has said is that he thinks that Westwood's form has been 'really high'. It hasn't really has it? He's been ok for me, not much better than anyone else in the middle.

I was thinking the same. Even the writer of the article for the official site stated that Westwood had been in "formidable form." Have the expectations of those working at the club, and the manager really been that low? Westy's done okay, but he's been an average 6/10 on the whole, nothing more. That's generally what he's been for the club, and he hasn't really got any better. Personally I thought he got totally overshadowed in the last four games by opposition that was far superior, and that includes Gareth Barry. I also think Cleverley, though he hasn't been particularly great, has looked a little better than Westwood in recent games.

That said, my preference for next week would be to play Sanchez at the base of a diamond, Westy and TC ahead and Grealish at the tip.

[adrenachrome]

Birmingham Mail

Aston Villa: Paul Lambert tells Gregg Evans that he believes in Carlos Sanchez

Colombian midfielder can be a vital player for Villa says Paul Lambert


    Dec 10, 2014 07:00
    By Gregg Evans


Things are looking up for Carlos Sanchez, says Paul Lambert

Paul Lambert reckons Carlos Sanchez is on his way to becoming an Aston Villa star.

The Colombian ace has impressed in recent weeks and is finally getting to grips with the demands of England’s top-flight.

Pleased with his bravery, willingness to learn and his ever-growing confidence, Lambert said:

“He’s learning very fast now and he’s loving life in the Premier League.

“He’s going to be a really big player for Aston Villa.”

Sanchez struggled in the early months of the season but is now starting to flourish.

Too often he was caught in possession and his general play was sluggish but that never concerned Lambert.

“The good thing about Carlos is that he never hides from it,” the manager told the Birmingham Mail

“I don’t mind him making mistakes providing he never hides from it.

The Aston Villa official photo-call at the club's training ground at Bodymoor Heath on September 16, 2014 VIEW GALLERY

“He wants the ball all the time and even if he makes a mistake he’s ready to get it back.

“He’s only been in this country for a short time and he still needs to adapt.

“But I believe in him.

“There’s no problems whatsoever from me.”

Lambert has always maintained that Sanchez is a class act.

He was wowed by his first-ever training session at Bodymoor Heath and from then he had faith that the enforcer would succeed.

Villa endured some complicated negotiations to get the former Elche man on board but the midfielder is now starting to repay the faith that was shown in him.

Speaking about his recent displays, Lambert said:

“I think he’s been excellent.

“He’s a top player, a really top player.

“He’s coming from a country which is completely different to England and it has been a big culture shock for him.

“But he’s played in the World Cup and he was excellent.

“I don’t want him to get fatigued, though.

“He does a hell of a lot of travelling with the Colombian national team so I was wary of that before the Crystal Palace game (which he started on the bench).

“What I like about him is that he’s an outstanding professional.

“What you see in games is what you see in training. He never slacks or stops working.”