Aston Villa v Manchester City post match thread

[supertom]

Bringing Benteke on for Weimann was right. Bringing off Zog who was having a fine game and our only attacking threat and then Richardson being replaced by Grealish just screwed up our shape. There was no need for that change. We were poorer for it.

We certainly did miss Richardons although in all honesty he looked absolutely shattered by the time he came off. Zogbia possibly was too and he's never generally been a player who can run his arse off for 90 minutes.
But yes, our shape was buggered after that and we lost all will to try and get forward.

To be honest, I'm not sure he is going to be too effective as a wide player and is more suited to being one of the midfield three. 

I agree. I think he was better for us early season when he played more a holding role. TC and Westwood have been very tidy on the ball but I think we have to sacrifice one for the sake of balance. They're too similar. Both very much modelled after Carrick. Have Rico sitting and allow one of Westwood or Cleverely to try and dictate things from further forward. Alternatively play the diamond and have TC at the tip, in which case you can have both he and Westwood in the side but more onus on Cleverley to try and do something a little different.

[villan from luton]

I think Cleverley will prove to be far more than a sitting player

[Matt Collins]

Richardson sitting? It's not Kevin Richardson!

I do agree though that for the lower league teams, especially at home, we need more creativity. The problem is that there's not much in the way of options. That's why I'd err on the side of playing n'zogbia. He's the only player we have who can penetrate between the lines, unless you're gonna count cole or grealish

I'd still try to get one or maybe two creative players in January though. A proper winger and a number ten would be ideal. Really not sure who though. Ki or sigurdsson would have been perfect

[supertom]

I think Cleverley will prove to be far more than a sitting player

I'd like to see us push him forward a bit more, as Wigan did when he was there. Right now we've got both he and Westwood keeping it simple and tidy but not doing anything remotely penetrative. TC has a good eye for a pass, but we've got to get him into a playmakers position. Lord knows Joe Coles not gonna provide that from the treatment table.

[PeterWithesShin]

I think Cleverley is more attack minded than Westwood.

[SashasGrandad]

I think Cleverley will prove to be far more than a sitting player

I'd like to see us push him forward a bit more, as Wigan did when he was there. Right now we've got both he and Westwood keeping it simple and tidy but not doing anything remotely penetrative. TC has a good eye for a pass, but we've got to get him into a playmakers position. Lord knows Joe Coles not gonna provide that from the treatment table.

Should have put some viagra in the half time cup of tea.

[villan from luton]

I think in the coming games Cleverley will play a more advanced role, I certainly hope so. I think we are trying to change the style of play we certainly need to. I can accept being sec ond best against the top teams, but want us competing and being attacking against the rest and that is starting against Everton. They have lost Stones for a month today and we have to go after their defence

[supertom]

I think Cleverley will prove to be far more than a sitting player

I'd like to see us push him forward a bit more, as Wigan did when he was there. Right now we've got both he and Westwood keeping it simple and tidy but not doing anything remotely penetrative. TC has a good eye for a pass, but we've got to get him into a playmakers position. Lord knows Joe Coles not gonna provide that from the treatment table.

Should have put some viagra in the half time cup of tea.

[Ian.]

Hopefully when the playing field is more fair and we're not playing these super rich clubs every week we might push TC further forward.

[Legion]

Finally the horrible run of games are over.

Yes, thank God we've got Everton and Spurs next. Piece of piss.

Everton and QPR.

[villan from luton]

I think we can compete against Everton and Spurs anyway

[PeterWithesShin]

We've left Goodison with at least a point 8 of our last 10 visits.

[Ads]

We've left Goodison with at least a point 8 of our last 10 visits.

Positive bastard, everybody knows it's only 1 win in 10.

[silhillvilla]

A smash and grab on merseyside seems more likely than opening the London aristocrats back door in Witton. 4 points v them two would be good but isn't it the shepherds bush boutique outfit sandwiched inbetween the pair?

[old man villa fan]

It wasn't a bad performance yesterday but seemed to lack confidence in pushing players forward and losing their shape.  For the final quarter of the match we seemed too happy to string five across the field just in front of the back four.  The problem with this is that the midfield sat 10-15 yards off their back four/holding midfield players allowing them to pick passes through us and eventually made it count.  Also, it left Benteke very isolated up front or he was having to come very deep to receive the ball.  It was also a little unfair on Grealish to ask him to effectively mark Milner and Zabaleta.  If Lambert is going to bring him on he has to let him have a free role at the head of the midfield or his confidence will dip dramatically.

If we are only going to play one up front, we cannot afford to string the five midfield players across the field as in effect just another line of defence.  It either has to be tight 2 and 3 or 3 and 2 holding.  As effective as our defence has been at the start of the season, we have to do more than just try and defend games.  As Cleverley showed last season at Man Utd, he is no good playing deep and has to be allowed to play further forward linking play with the forward(s).  If Gabby can show some of his better performances over the next 3 months, we should look far better with Benteke back but if not, we are going to have to go out and buy a forward with pace that can drift out wide.  I do not think we should go back to playing 4-3-3 with the current players we have.

I was disappointed with Delph for their first goal as he just seemed to give up on Toure and allowed him to go past.  Baker looked a bit more assured but he was constantly losing his player when Man City were putting the ball in from wide.  It is also a bit disconcerting as a central defender that he cannot seem to get good contact on the ball when he is heading it.  I would like to see Hutton being a bit more positive when he gets past the half way line.  He is falling into his old ways of going forward and then stopping and turning to look for a pass.

In the coming games we have got to show more going forward, otherwise at PL level even the weaker sides have the ability to work chances.