Stoke City vs Aston Villa Post Match Thread

[WestleyArmsAV]

Lambert haters very quiet today. Great day, love the Villa. Away fans immense today.

[Clark W Griswold]

Great start,maybe we'll finally get a good mix of experience and youth this year. Lots of quality still to come into the side as well so very promising.

[paul_e]

In Lambert's first year, one of the things I liked was that when we didn't have the ball, we'd work really hard to get it back, we'd harry and hassle the opposition, close them down in midfield, and make it difficult for them to play, then try to do something when we had the ball back.

Other than the first few games last season, we hardly saw that at all.

Today, there was plenty of that again. It is only one game (and let's not forget, the first game last season was an even more impressive performance), but it was good to see some of that coming back today.

The other thing is, if you're going to play 433 with  3 genuine strikers as we have been the pressing to win the ball high up the pitch isn't just a nice thing to do, it's actually the entire point of the 'plan'.  Creativity in football is, effectively, the ability to get defenders into places they don't want to be and then getting the ball into the holes left behind.  If you're not picking 2-3 players who can do that with skills then the other option is to press high up the pitch and force the opposition players who are off the ball to move out of their positions to make angles.  If you then win the ball back they've created the gap for you.

To put it simply, if you're not creating for yourself and not forcing errors by pressure you're going to struggle to score in open play, this basic fact holds true in any sport where you're in direct competition.

[UK Redsox]

And for anyone who doesn't believe Legion is a walking disaster area. The car has been pranged twice with him in it. On the car park. Stationary.

Seriously, this really happened. I'd just got back in the car after taking the first drivers details when someone else drove into the back of us.

[dave.woodhall]

Has anyone pointed out yet that we only had 37% possession?

[*shellac*]

Bring on the toon!

[kippaxvilla2]

Lambert haters very quiet today. Great day, love the Villa. Away fans immense today.

It's one win, a worse win than on the first day of last season.

I don't rate the guy as our manager and its going to take something monumental to change that view.

I'm delighted with the win obviously.  But I noticed he was back with crap like we were excellent comments and we had enough chances to win two games (we had two shots on target).

It's. a good solid start.  The back four looks miles better.  But lets see if we are still saying this in November when not out of the league cup via Lower league opposition and languishing in 13th ready to launch our challenge for 16th.

[adrenachrome]

As low as 37% you say? Goodness!

On the car parking issue, I must say I take an extremely pessimistic view of a car body's survival at many entertainment venues.  And even some pubs: The Swallows Nest at Romsley springs instantly to mind.

When I lived in the the US, I would be surprised if my car had not been pranged after they had decided it would be a good idea to park 5000 cards in a field with no markings.

[Marton]

Has anyone pointed out yet that we only had 37% possession?

Isn't that like alot for us? Especially away..
We also excelled in getting players in the box on the counter. Stoke barely had one target when they got a cross in.
Not to mention that their strikers was belittled by Senderos and Vlaar. Vlaar just grows to a giant when he surrounded by quality.
Also liked that they gave Grealish some playtime despite so much at stake with a slim lead, opening game and replacing a playmaker . He will build on that, I think.

[Hoppo]

Can Lambert lovers and haters not descend into a row please... Anyhow I was stood/sat by the tunnel and Lambert stopped applauded the fans, then pointed to the players saying they were the ones who deserved the praise. A nice touch.
'Ally Cissokho' will be a big hit.
Jack Grealish is already a fans favourite and did some great runs.
Great day, great night..

[Dave Cooper please]

 a worse win than on the first day of last season.

Brilliant, when desperately trying to find negatives from a winning start to the season this is a doozy!

[ChicagoLion]

Lambert haters very quiet today. Great day, love the Villa. Away fans immense today.

Why?

Isn't it enough that your team won?

But you would rather have a pop at other Villa supporters. Well done.

[pbavfckuwait]

Good solid performance from the back 4, midfield pressed hard and supported the front line by getting numbers in the box, negatives, Brads distribution, again at times lack of movement of the ball, Gabby works hard but worries me as to getting goals in between now and the two giants coming back, Andi worked hard as he always does, but quality needs to be better.
Seemed to be a good bit of fight in the players today and as for the 37%, it was impressive at times what we did with so little of the ball.
Well done Villa

[brian green]

Why should anybody who has criticized Lambert's failings over two seasons be termed a Lambert "hater"? I am thrilled and delighted for the team and the fans by an excellent start to the season. My joy is qualified by the belief that if better times lie ahead it is in large measure because Lambert has been forced to abandon the gamble that was young and hungry, the stupidity of bomb squaddery, have his brother in law and his mate evicted from the club and Roy Keane parachuted in. The presence of experienced players played a big part in the fine victory at Stoke, something we Lambert "haters" have been begging for for months.

[Olneythelonely]

He's openly admitted that the young, lower league player route wasn't working and has changed things. Call that being forced if you like, I call it making a decision to change things.

This win doesn't suddenly mean he's a genius, but he got a fresh start from me and it's disappointing that some end up being so entrenched that they struggle to keep an open mind.

That's not aimed at anyone in particular, but you're not a better fan for ignoring Lambert's faults. The same goes for anyone unable to see anything positive he does.