Chelsea v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[LTA]

Two games in a row where we've effectively given up as soon as we've gone behind.  We're just far too negative and have been all season.

To be fair it being 0-3 down in 4 minutes takes the wind out of most team's sails I would have thought?

But Hull were 2 down today after 10 minutes.  Yes they did lose, but at least they came back and made a fight of it. Our attacking statistics are frighteningly bad and, if we had these stats under McLeish then people would be apoplectic - there just seems a resignation about accepting defeat at the moment. 

[Stu]

Easy hits though. Our main striker and his back up are still out injured.

[PaulWinch again]

Granted our losses are to Arsenal and Chelsea, but we really need to address our lack of creativity.

[kippaxvilla2]

Fairly pleased. Jesus.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert came away “fairly pleased” from Stamford Bridge in spite of the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Goals from Oscar, Diego Costa and Willian saw the Blues ease to victory but Lambert was still satisfied with his side’s effort.

“I thought we gave a good account. We looked comfortable,” the Scot said.

“To come here to play a club like this and play the way we did you have to be satisfied.”

Villa created little throughout with only one effort on target as they put men behind the ball in an attempt to stifle Chelsea - and Lambert admitted the visitors needed to take the few opportunities that came their way.

[SoccerHQ]

We created plenty v Hull.

As much as they're horrible, Chelsea are comfortably the best all round team in this league and will win it comfortably.

I criticised lambert last season for our ability to go on losing streaks after great wins but I think we've been unlucky with the two games following Liverpool, last week was a write off and well hardly anyone will pick up a result at Chelsea so it's hardly points dropped.

Hopefully we can nick points v Man. City and Everton as four straight defeats would be disappointing.

[PaulWinch again]

Fairly pleased. Jesus.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert came away “fairly pleased” from Stamford Bridge in spite of the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Goals from Oscar, Diego Costa and Willian saw the Blues ease to victory but Lambert was still satisfied with his side’s effort.

“I thought we gave a good account. We looked comfortable,” the Scot said.

“To come here to play a club like this and play the way we did you have to be satisfied.”

Villa created little throughout with only one effort on target as they put men behind the ball in an attempt to stifle Chelsea - and Lambert admitted the visitors needed to take the few opportunities that came their way.

I'm sorry but it's these sort of comments from Lambert that just aren't great PR. We barely created anything(again) and we lost 3-0, that shouldn't be comfortable in anyone's language.

[PeterWithesShin]

Granted our losses are to Arsenal and Chelsea, but we really need to address our lack of creativity.

Hard to make a judgement though when our last 3 games have been Liverpool, Arsenal and Chavski and the last 2 came after the players, and I assume training last week, were fecked up with that virus.
I'll be more worried if we are up to speed, and have Benteke in the side, and are still creating smeg all in a month or two.

[PeterWithesShin]

By now we know that's how Lambert is, he isn't the type to give much criticism in public. I hope he does in the dressing room though when required. From what i've heard, and especially with Keane there now, I think he does.

[SoccerHQ]

Granted our losses are to Arsenal and Chelsea, but we really need to address our lack of creativity.

Hard to make a judgement though when our last 3 games have been Liverpool, Arsenal and Chavski and the last 2 came after the players, and I assume training last week, were fecked up with that virus.
I'll be more worried if we are up to speed, and have Benteke in the side, and are still creating smeg all in a month or two.

We created plenty v Hull and a decent amount at Stoke, I'm not too concerned about that at present especially as Benteke's imminent return will give us another good option as he can create stuff on his own.

[Jimbo]

How utterly depressing to be 'comfortable' in a 3-0 defeat. What a shithouse football has become.

[PaulWinch again]

Granted our losses are to Arsenal and Chelsea, but we really need to address our lack of creativity.

Hard to make a judgement though when our last 3 games have been Liverpool, Arsenal and Chavski and the last 2 came after the players, and I assume training last week, were fecked up with that virus.
I'll be more worried if we are up to speed, and have Benteke in the side, and are still creating smeg all in a month or two.

In fairness our wins were all built on defensive solidity, we weren't creating many chances we were just taking those we created. I hope Benteke being back makes a difference, but we still need to create chances for him.

[SamTheMouse]

Time for spending limits and foreign player quotas, please. Otherwise, football can just fuck off.

Wont that just make things worse? That means clubs who buy their way to success (like everyone) will buy up a very limited resource (good british players) and less rich clubs will then be unable to buy up decent foreign players to help close the gap.

Also the quality of the league will go down if we start using more British players leading to a decline in the leagues European performances.

Fixed spending limits though, I agree. That would be helpful in leveling the playing field. Unlike FPP which makes things much worse.

No, because simply put, the best English players aren't much better than your average English player.

[PeterWithesShin]

Time for spending limits and foreign player quotas, please. Otherwise, football can just fuck off.

Wont that just make things worse? That means clubs who buy their way to success (like everyone) will buy up a very limited resource (good british players) and less rich clubs will then be unable to buy up decent foreign players to help close the gap.

Also the quality of the league will go down if we start using more British players leading to a decline in the leagues European performances.

Fixed spending limits though, I agree. That would be helpful in leveling the playing field. Unlike FPP which makes things much worse.

No, because simply put, the best English players aren't much better than your average English player.

Overnight Nathan Baker would become one of the top CH in the league!

[john e]

I don't expect him to criticise the team that lost to Chelsea
But I don't expect him to be 'fairly pleased' with a 3 nill loss either

[PeterWithesShin]

Sounds a tad better when in context.

Paul Lambert was far from frustrated at the manner of his team's performance in the defeat to Chelsea.

Lambert said post-match that he believed his players were "well in the game for long periods".

He felt they were strong throughout the encounter and the boss pointed to decent efforts from Fabian Delph, Aly Cissokho and Nathan Baker as evidence of their cautious endeavour too.

Importantly, the gaffer is confident his players will head into the Man City game in good spirits despite the Blues loss.

He said: "I thought we gave a right good account of ourselves.

"We looked solid enough. We were coming up against a team who, in my opinion, will be really close to winning the League Championship and in Europe too.

"I can't fault the lads for the way they played.

"We had one or two chances here. And you come to places like this and when you get chances you've got to score.

"They have quality all over the pitch but I thought my own team did really well.

"I thought 3-0 was a little bit harsh on us. But I was relatively pleased with how we came here and applied ourselves.

"We came here and for long periods we were well in it.

"Chelsea scored in the second half when we were on top.

"Fabian had a great hit - the shot just went by - there was Aly's effort at the back post and Nathan's header too.

"We are in a run of games where it's really tough but we've certainly played well enough.

"I've seen Chelsea score six at Everton. That's how good they are. They can rip you open at any time. All credit to the team.

"If you come away with your confidence still intact, it's half the battle.

"If someone had said to me that we'd take a point from Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, I'd have taken it. That's the reality of it.

"But the lads have been excellent for us."