Aston Villa vs Stoke Post Match Thread

[claret and blue blood]

Best prepare for life in the Championship.

Yup.'fraid so definitely.

[hilts_coolerking]

You can say they're theoretical, and have limited applicability, but you never actually give me much by way of examples. It's hard to argue with this: every tactic you might like is practical, and everything else is highfalutin hypotheses from the ivory tower. This is clearly an unfair way to debate.

Perhaps but if you had suggested an alternative line up, formation and tactical approach then a fairer debate could be had; if you did then I missed it and apologise.  But today it just seemed as though all I heard was 'he got the tactics wrong'.  Speaking personally, I had no problem with the side or formation apart from starting with Gabby.  I think he was right to pick what he thought would be his best side and, as we know from what outsiders think of the Villa, he probably thought Gabby was still a good player.  I think he had to pick Vlaar for the same reason.  Turns out they were both desperately poor calls but I can't really blame him; unlike Lambert, I'll be surprised if he makes the same mistake next week (although Vlaar is presumably be suspended anyway).  Similarly he saw Sinclair do well in the Cup and seeing the size of Benteke I can't argue with him wanting his wide men to sling as many balls into the box as they can.  Yes Stoke are all brick shithouses but so is Benteke and if you've got two up front there ought to be a man there for the knockdowns.  So maybe he made some wrong decisions today but blimey he's had seven days to try to weigh up the players and, regardless of the tactics, most of them - especially those he is entitled to regard as his senior pros - let him down badly.

[Stu]

Everybody wants us to roll over, give in without a fight...

Tell the players that, because today we were there for the taking. No fucking fight from any of them.

[oldham_villa]

Not sure you can say that about Clark or Hutton

[b23]

It will be interesting to hear Sherwood's media comments.  I feel numb.  So much for the new manager bounce. We are a soft touch and the players need to grow some balls and stand up and be counted.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31566724

[PeterWithe]

After 10 mins our little crowd looked at each other and grimaced at the centre backs booting the ball up to an isolated Benteke, it didnt really get any better.

Its rare Ive walked away from the game quite so down, we made the change and at least expected a  buzz from the players to impress the manager, as it was, same shit, different day.

[LTA]

I really thought I would see some vigour and a buzz from us today.  A keenness to impress the new manager and show that the shackles Lambert had us on had been strewn away.

Its really worrying that the malaise has set in so deep.  If anything, its shown Sherwood how big a job hes got to turn this mob around.

Hopefully a week of training with Sherwood and K-Mac and the other new coaches can get some good work done.

[VillaAlways]

After 10 mins our little crowd looked at each other and grimaced at the centre backs booting the ball up to an isolated Benteke, it didnt really get any better.

Its rare Ive walked away from the game quite so down, we made the change and at least expected a  buzz from the players to impress the manager, as it was, same shit, different day.

I read somewhere that Lambert was popular with the players and they were sad to see him go. It must have been easy turning up every week and being told you've been excellent regardless.

I just get the feeling the players don't really care, they'll be alright Jack regardless. No passion, no fight. No matter how many rockets Sherwood puts up them at the end of the day I just don't think they care enough.

Worrying.

[FranzBiberkopf]

I've said this all along, regardless of who the manager is, this is a really poor set of players. We are absolutely where we deserve to be. They go hiding, are too cowardly, and are badly lacking in intelligence. Not one of them can grab the game by the scruff of the neck. They each and every one of them expect someone else to take responsibility. They shirk. Neat, tidy, ineffective.

[PeterWithe]

Gabby was abysmal, when the hoofs went toward Benteke he didnt run anywhere near where the knock downs could have gone.

[class-of-82]

Just like the soul 2 soul record

" back to life back to reality"

[PeterWithe]

I've said this all along, regardless of who the manager is, this is a really poor set of players. We are absolutely where we deserve to be. They go hiding, are too cowardly, and are badly lacking in intelligence. Not one of them can grab the game by the scruff of the neck. They each and every one of them expect someone else to take responsibility. They shirk. Neat, tidy, ineffective.

I respectfully disagree, I think the players are fine given the right management, I hope Sherwood, given time, will prove this.

[Fin Feds Dad]

I've said this all along, regardless of who the manager is, this is a really poor set of players. We are absolutely where we deserve to be. They go hiding, are too cowardly, and are badly lacking in intelligence. Not one of them can grab the game by the scruff of the neck. They each and every one of them expect someone else to take responsibility. They shirk. Neat, tidy, ineffective.

I agree - the biggest coward being Gabby - who hides all game long . Pathetic.

[b23]

Abject, especially the second half.

It's got to the stage now where such bad times call for desperate measures. I'm going back to starting the pre-match, match and post-match threads, starting with Newcastle.

I agree about the desperate measures bit.

Gabby/Weimann can stay at home on match days. It's not their fault, as they are not wide strikers. Villa have to win some games. It's Do or Die now. My next team would be
                                                              Guzan
Hutton          Okore                                                    Clark                                   N'Zogbia
                                    Westwood                                            Delph
Bacuna                                                    Gil                                                          Sinclair
                                                                Benteke

Subs. Given, Sanchez, Cissokho, Cole, Grealish, Kozak and recall Robinson

Villa have to attack. Bring back the Orange Dot !                           

[Legion]

Lambert broke it.