Aston Villa vs Chelsea post match thread

[Monty]

I think that's right Chris & Ads. There's clearly a lack of confidence, and perhaps there's also a lack of structure there. I remember when people would look at Barca players making these amazing runs and say 'how did they know where to run?', and some of it was individual inspiration but a lot of it was planned. I watched the Keown analysis of our rubbishness v. Arsenal, and it looked like there was absolutely no plan in attack, no understanding that in certain situations player X will go over there, player Y will make a dummy run, any of that.

Lambert appears to think that 'passing football' literally just means, like, passing it around and then something will happen by magic.

[nodge]

It's down to coaching as well. We're not encouraged to shoot, so we don't.

That's what Merson was saying before the game yesterday. As far as he could see we have a goalkeeper, a midfielder and a defender (Marshall, Marshall and Lambert) on the coaching staff and questioned what a striker would get from them.  He suggested that Lambert should be able to see that and get a forward coach in until the end of the season as West Ham did with Sheringham.  Off the top of his head he suggested Dion, as he's a similar type of player to Benteke or Gary Shaw.

[Damo70]

I'm not sure if Shaw's knees would enable him to coach. He can't even turn out for a few minutes for the old stars can he? Henceforth known as 'Harry's Syndrome.'

[Jimbo]

It's definitely down to coaching, structure and planning. Our silly habit of foul throws could be put down to a lack of discipline, or just plain stupidity. But teams that study things like Prozone know exactly where they're going to put a throw in before they've even won it. From any given area of the pitch, you should know where to put that ball, where there's a greater probability of gaining an advantage. It's just one aspect of our game where we seem to be reactive rather than proactive. We don't seem to have anything thought out in advance, other than playing keeps in our own half and sitting back after we score.

[brian green]

We need a coach in the Dave Brailsford mould who demands attention to detail and won back to back Tours de France much on the strength of it.   As Mont says correctly Lambert thinks the passing game is like a magic incantation.   You pass the ball a few times and something happens by magic.   No it does not.   The players have to be coached into comprehending the patterns of play.   The ball goes there, I go here, he goes there.  If they do it often enough they do not even have to think about it.   It become automatic.   Besides I don't think you have to play either or passing or direct football.   The players should be capable of both.   Mix it up.   It is so naive to switch from one system to another like the flip of a coin as somebody once said.   Do whatever entertains the supporters and wins games.

[simboy]

It's definitely down to coaching, structure and planning. Our silly habit of foul throws could be put down to a lack of discipline, or just plain stupidity. But teams that study things like Prozone know exactly where they're going to put a throw in before they've even won it. From any given area of the pitch, you should know where to put that ball, where there's a greater probability of gaining an advantage. It's just one aspect of our game where we seem to be reactive rather than proactive. We don't seem to have anything thought out in advance, other than playing keeps in our own half and sitting back after we score.

I've never understood how a professional footballer, semi professional footballer or even a half sober pub player gives away a foul throw. You would have thought that it was a pretty straight forward, basic and fundamental part of the game.

[SoccerHQ]

I have, to my knowledge, only castigated two Villa players on this esteemed forum, namely Steven Warnock and Al Hamedi. May I add another to this rather short litany of  failure and ask the following simple question-' Tom Cleverley- Why?'

Based on what I've seen, El-Ahamdi was twice the player Cleverley has been even if he himself was pretty mediocre.

[pauliewalnuts]

The thing which concerns me most about Lambert is this "I'm not worried, the goals will come" routine he has, which doesn't look likely if you look at the first 24 games of the season.

It is right up there with that absurd "buy kids, play them a lot and in time they'll become good enough" mantra

[PaulWinch again]

The thing which concerns me most about Lambert is this "I'm not worried, the goals will come" routine he has, which doesn't look likely if you look at the first 24 games of the season.

It is right up there with that absurd "buy kids, play them a lot and in time they'll become good enough" mantra

Well this is it, there seems to be no coherent plan at all. Just the 'I'm not worried it'll be alright', which frankly is bizarre. We're dropping like a stone and are showing no signs of stopping that slide.

[nodge]

Well he was right when he was asked if we'd stay up a couple of years ago and when questioned further as to why he thought that, he said "I just do." Genius.

[Damo70]

He looked rather gaunt and unwell on telly last night. He has had a tough couple of years personally and professionally.

[silhillvilla]

He looked rather gaunt and unwell on telly last night. He has had a tough couple of years personally and professionally.

He looked like he has lost a lot of weight. Despite the mega salary he is getting he cannot be enjoying this appointment .

[Richard E]

He looked rather gaunt and unwell on telly last night. He has had a tough couple of years personally and professionally.

He looked like he has lost a lot of weight. Despite the mega salary he is getting he cannot be enjoying this appointment .

He ain't the only one!

[Jimbo]

It's definitely down to coaching, structure and planning. Our silly habit of foul throws could be put down to a lack of discipline, or just plain stupidity. But teams that study things like Prozone know exactly where they're going to put a throw in before they've even won it. From any given area of the pitch, you should know where to put that ball, where there's a greater probability of gaining an advantage. It's just one aspect of our game where we seem to be reactive rather than proactive. We don't seem to have anything thought out in advance, other than playing keeps in our own half and sitting back after we score.

I've never understood how a professional footballer, semi professional footballer or even a half sober pub player gives away a foul throw. You would have thought that it was a pretty straight forward, basic and fundamental part of the game.

For me it's a little clue as to the off-the-field approach. Lambert doesn't strike me as the analytical type, but studying the stats and probabilities can boost performance, even if it's only by a few percent. And that extra percent might be crucial. There's a science to football now, and while Lambert might dress like a schoolboy on the touchline, I doubt if he's applying himself to his studies. 

[Damo70]

Wise old heads like Jim Smith and Siralex both appointed Steve McCLaren as their number two due to his knowledge of the things Jimbo mentioned.