Aston Villa vs Bournemouth Post-Match Thread

[Ron Manager]

Benteke looked more half arsed than frustrated today. Maybe if he actually moved it may help. Wasn't impressed with him today I have to say.

He seems to have adopted a half hearted stance towards leading from the front in the past couple of months. I do hope Uncle Paul has a quiet
word in his ear shortly.

[Walmley_Villa]

Enjoyed the second half obviously and a fair few positives for me:
1) Clark and Okore are a very good pair. I would let Vlaar go now without a doubt with Senderos and Baker as cover.
2) Gil is a potentially great footballer and a joy to watch.
3) Delighted for Andi, he is a striker and a great finisher when given the chance, fab movement and finish. His chasing down also helped lead to the opener.
4) I thought Cleverley had his best half for us, was tidy and industrious and also made a few runs into the box which we need.

I think Benteke has been feeling the weight of expectation on bailing us out so hopefully he will get through it, he is still young and I think his confidence needs boosting. Once it is he will start scoring again.

Did we miss Gabby, no, didn't think so. Impact sub at best.

[Walmley_Villa]

Also Lambo does deserve credit for changing the formation and moving Gil to the right. Let's have a bit more dynamic management and tactics in future.

[Goldie.7]

In the second half I think around 65 or 75 mins we had a lovely passage of play which was leading somewhere until 'I can't be arsed anymore Benteke' gave it straight back to them, really wasn't impressed with him today. Even Cleverley put in a decent ball for him and he was nowhere to be seen.

[Legion]

Okore and Gil were excellent. Benteke needs a kick up the arse. The rest did a decent job.

[adrenachrome]

Interesting that they made 8 changes today, I wonder why?  I also wonder what their 6000 fans think of that?

Maybe because they lost on Wednesday at home to shitty Leeds.

At least now they can concentrate on getting promotion, so they can spend next season getting twatted at big stadiums all over the country.

Apparently they do this for all of their cup games, so their supporters are used to it.

Apart from the goals and the win, I was pleased that we were moving the ball around quicker, even in the first half which  they shaded. Like most other posters I was not happy with Benteke, and his failure to ever acknowledge good work from his team mates which I have noted in previous games does not augur well. I get the impression that PL is going to have to earn his corn to get him back on track.

[nigel]

Enjoyed the second half obviously and a fair few positives for me:
1) Clark and Okore are a very good pair. I would let Vlaar go now without a doubt with Senderos and Baker as cover.
2) Gil is a potentially great footballer and a joy to watch.
3) Delighted for Andi, he is a striker and a great finisher when given the chance, fab movement and finish. His chasing down also helped lead to the opener.
4) I thought Cleverley had his best half for us, was tidy and industrious and also made a few runs into the box which we need.

I think Benteke has been feeling the weight of expectation on bailing us out so hopefully he will get through it, he is still young and I think his confidence needs boosting. Once it is he will start scoring again.


Did we miss Gabby, no, didn't think so. Impact sub at best.

That's how I'm seeing it, too.
His injury is a real b*stard of an injury. Players struggle to come back from Achilles injuries, so I think we have to be patient for him to gain confidence and form.

[nigel]

Typical cup game for me.

1st Half: They started brightly and tried to unsettle us. Apart from a couple of half chances I can't recall any great danger.
2nd Half: Felt we controlled the game.

Thought our back four were excellent.
And well done Shay Given, too.

[clash city rocker]

Benteke needs to realise that you have to give 100% in every game if he wants to be a top class player. If he isn't going to put the effort into a game then he's going to get fuck all out of it..Today was his chance to give the Bournemouth defenders a torrid time but he never really bothered them.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Just back and celebrating with a bottle of Hopping Hare!
A bit of a stalemate 1st half but they definitely looked better on the ball and better movement off it. Wish we could play as slick.
Much better second half, once the nerves were relieved by the early goal...which was brilliant! Best move of the game for our second -well taken Andi.
Thought Given had a really solid game considering he hasn't played for yonks.
Back four were solid but thought Okore and Clark were truly outstanding. Jores is a talented footballer but how much better does Clark look this season...both got us out of a few tight spots with apparent ease. Ron who?
Cleverley ok, not the best of games for Sanchez, but he's got it, Bacuna was poor except for the brilliant ball through to Hutton for the 2nd goal, Gil looks a genuine threat but I felt played too deep 1st half, Andi had one of his better games. Benteke was very poor and looks like he's got lead in his boots and he needs to put himself about a lot more. Defenders used to be afraid of him...their guys had him pretty comfortably tied up for most of the game.

On paper this should have been a close game with the Prem side just edging it.
And that's what happened.
The potential banana skin was a massive one.
Pity we conceded right at the death, but some encouraging signs.
Home draw please!

[Chris Smith]

I couldn't go today but had updates and got back in time to watch from just before the second goal. For the next 15 minutes or so I thought we controlled things really well, moving the ball quickly, instead of always needing an extra touch, which makes the play so much more threatening. I know we have had a dozen false dawns over the last couple of years but add Delph into that midfield and get Benteke back on form and things just might start to turn around.

[Astral Weeks]

I said the same to my mate. A midfield with Delph, Gil and Sanchez is beginning to sound a bit more like it

[KevinGage]

It's possible that Benteke looks at Bony getting a move to Man Citeh and thinks that ought to be him.

He does seem to be going through the motions.

At his best, he is a better all-round forward than Bony.  Problem is, injuries have robbed him of a chance to show that on a consistent basis.

At the moment, he doesn't even look good enough for us -and that's with our well known limitations.

All that said, it was from February onwards in his first season that he really started motoring. A repeat of that and Delph getting back to something approaching his best and we should be fine.

[silhillvilla]

Bentekes touch was really poor today and he won very little aerially . Looked under the weather perhaps ?

[ciggiesnbeer]

Fun game! Wish Westwood would have put that last chance away though. I love Gil. I thought Richardson had a bit of a mare.