West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa Post Match Thread

[dave.woodhall]

Cleverley won't be allowed to play will he?

Oh. 5 yellows?

He's on loan.

And he's on five yellows after today's booking.
So he's banned for a game he couldn't play in anyway.

The FA will add one on. Just watch.

[cdbearsfan]

I don't think they can. Seems like we may have benefited from a ludicrous rule for once.

[Goldie.7]

It needs to be cleared up as the first was received playing for them. I reckon they'll class the Swansea game as his ban, but who know it's a weird one.

[olaftab]

Well I was very confident on my way to the Thornbush that that we will win or at least no way I could see them beating us. No point in poking more sticks into the dead body of Lambert's way of playing football and his tactical genius. I am also not going to blame Richardson entirely as even with 10 men we should have done much better against a very very poor Albion. My main point of angst is the performance of Agbonlahor and Benteke. They were both guilty  for allowing the  ball to come back into our half time and time again before they scored. Benteke was almost pathetic to the point of useless and Agbonlahor a waste of shirt. I agreed with the HT sub to restore our midfield numbers however It should have been both N'zog and Gabby off with Weimann on.
But there we are again....

[brontebilly]

With Hutton, Cleverley, Richardson Cole and Westwood out for the next game, Lambert will almost be forced to bring Vlaar back in and go with three centre backs. Sanchez sitting with Bacuna and Delph further forward. I'd like him to try Grealish in Cole's position but Gabby seems undroppable.

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

I don't like the way we set up for goal kicks, we've tried it for a few games now it just invites the pressure, if the ball is played short to hutton whatever he's been told to do in training he's not doing it, we just loose the ball on the edge of our own box.
11 against 11 we would have easily won our 3rd game on the trot. The ref was a homer.

[silhillvilla]

Agree the short goal kicks to FB's virtually on the goal line who then dangerously invite pressure around our box is a very disturbing tactic. Time and time again today we invited trouble and pressure onto ourselves.

[stuart445]

I'm convinced with 11 men that we would have got at least a draw, and almost certainly the win. We were playing well and were way better than them. 66% possession at the time. Then Richardson makes a fucking stupid challenge and we are going to be struggling all game.

Blame also to Benteke and Gabby, I said pre-match that if they play well we'll win. Even with 10 men that would have been true. First half they were okay but in the second half they were both woeful. When we needed them holding the ball up, especially when we were under pressure they were useless.

Agreed on Gabby and Benteke second half, both gave away the ball constantly and we couldnt get out as a result. Sanchez had a very good game protecting our back four and used the ball in the main well. His touch gets him into trouble at times but thought he was our best player.

Thought we played well in the main, took a brainfart from Guzan to hand them a goal although two of our players watched Berahino put in the cross without closing him down. Fair play to the players, with a man down we still managed to create a great chance at the end for Benteke. Cant be missing those. They were poor really. Varela caused Hutton problems but aside from that they struggled to create openings against us with an extra man.

Guzan 4, Hutton 5, Okore 7, Clark 8, Cissokho 6, Cleverley 5, Sanchez 8, Nzogbia 5, Richardson -10, Benteke 5, Gabby 5. Delph 7. Vlaar and Weimann werent really on long enough.

I've corrected your ratings

[Liam_Baggies]

Richardson cost you that - no need to make such a reckless tackle - if he hadn't you would have got a point, no doubting that.

Expected a lot more from Benteke and Agbonlahor who invited more pressure on you.

Delph looked good when he came on - he seemed to get you a foothold in the game.

Massive win for us though.

[silhillvilla]

A culmination of the team selection , richardsons rash challenge and bizarre tactics cost us. We only had 1 shot on goal - Delph from 25 yards out !
Even with 10 men with a more direct approach I think we'd have got a point. WBA look poor to me.

[olaftab]

Agree the short goal kicks to FB's virtually on the goal line who then dangerously invite pressure around our box is a very disturbing tactic. Time and time again today we invited trouble and pressure onto ourselves.

Agreed this is mind bogglingly stupid tactic and it worries me that when Lambert said "we tried a few new things in training yesterday" last week this is what he was talking about. Nothing good came out of that move as all we managed to do was invite pressure upon ourselves and/or giving them a throw in halfway in our area. The move is so noddy that even if it works once no one is going to allow it to work twice.

[silhillvilla]

One of the basics kids are taught is not to play balls across your own box. Time and time again we did this today.

[PeterWithesShin]

Paul Lambert was frustrated with the derby loss to West Brom - but not upset by the way his team acquitted itself with 10 men.

Lambert was happy with the way his team began the game but then came the vital incident in the contest - the 22nd minute dismissal of Kieran Richardson.

Villa boss Lambert was gutted to see his team concede near the death but he was adamant that it wasn't one-way traffic - and his team were well in the contest - after the sending off.

He said: "We started the game great.

"Our possession of the ball was excellent, the movement of the team was great, we looked really good.

"It was a big compliment to the team because for 70-odd minutes you wouldn't have known we had 10 men.

"The last 15 minutes or so, we had chances, Christian had a couple of chances.

"There's a way to get beaten in football. I am disappointed to lose but I am not disappointed with the way we played."

On Richardson's red card, he continued: "I can see why the referee has sent Kieran off.

"Kieran is not a malicious footballer. He's over hit his second touch.

"In the modern day game - or the climate of the game - if you raise your studs I can see why the referee has given the card.

"But I think his enthusiasm to win the ball back has got him sent off."

On a positive note, Lambert was pleased to see Fabian Delph and Ron Vlaar back in action after spells on the sidelines.

On Delph, he said: "Truth be told, I didn't really want to use him.

"I was going to give him a few minutes, not 45.

"He's back a week earlier than scheduled but the great thing about Fabian is that he wants to play.

"I thought he was very good for his first game back in eight weeks.

"Ron is just back. Philippe will hopefully train next week. Ron is a big player as well. It's good to have his presence back. But Clark and Okore again were excellent."

[olaftab]

Richardson cost you that - no need to make such a reckless tackle - if he hadn't you would have got a point, no doubting that.
Expected a lot more from Benteke and Agbonlahor who invited more pressure on you.
Delph looked good when he came on - he seemed to get you a foothold in the game.
Massive win for us though.

Liam I thought your 27 was very good not seen him before and AR leaving out Berhino was a real surprise. I agree with Gabby/Benteke comment as I mentioned  in my post. What a shame we always discuss which team is more shit rather than more progressive!

[WBAKev]

Got to be honest and say we've been done by a better side today and a better run club. It's embarrassing what we've become, and to cap it all Gardner goes and gets the winner, he's loving it, laughing at us like the laughing stock we've become. It's no wonder we've 15000 empty seats every week, who would want to pay to go and watch those jokers turn up and do that, Richardson he must think he still plays for Sandwell.

Livid.

Lambert out. Lerner out. Krulak out.

UTV.