Aston Villa vs Newcastle Post-Match Thread

[tomd2103]

I'll probably get stick for saying it but Amavi is just not up to the job

I don't think he is either

He looks decent going forward but has been suspect defensively.  Although he is only young, I don't think his future lies at full-back.  Didn't he play in midfield or on the wing for the French U21's?

[KevinGage]

Looked plenty good enough against Yanited and a whole host of other decent sides last season so -who knows- he might be just finding his way back after a longterm injury.

[Clark W Griswold]

Looked plenty good enough against Yanited and a whole host of other decent sides last season so -who knows- he might be just finding his way back after a longterm injury.

That's true, remember Delph was shite for at least a year after coming back from injury. I also agree that he's probably better as a left midfielder than left back, and that is where I'd play him. He's very skilful and puts in a superb cross, he's also prepared to battle but that's sometimes where he comes up short.

[Monty]

The Guardian article about the game barely f**king mentions us.

[SX150]

When I see Westwood walking out I can feel myself getting angry and my blood starting to boil. He is so invisible during the 90 minutes though that its not long before you forget about him.

[old man villa fan]

The thing with Westwood is that he is never the worst player on the pitch but, also, never the best.  I have never seen him have an outstanding game.  He is just too conservative.  For a team that needs to be progressive to get out of this division, having Westwood in the team is a waste of a position on the team sheet.

[Nev]

Westwood reminds me of those people at work that just coast along, never getting deeply involved with anything, never making waves, never having anything other than a neutral opinion, skillfully avoiding any sort of responsibility, beavering away but only having an impact on the "low hanging fruit"who manage to remain with the firm for 20 years to the bemusement of anyone who has worked with them.

[Jimbo]

Westwood is the Bartleby of our midfield. He doesn't do anything but we can't seem to get rid of him.

[Chris Smith]

The thing with Westwood is that he is never the worst player on the pitch but, also, never the best.  I have never seen him have an outstanding game.  He is just too conservative.  For a team that needs to be progressive to get out of this division, having Westwood in the team is a waste of a position on the team sheet.

But I think that is what managers like about him. They want a Steady Eddie type to do the boring stuff to allow others to do the more progressive work. Perhaps because that is the same job that a number of our recent managers did as players is why he has been a regular over a number of seasons. We need a player who can do the same job of keeping things ticking over and not giving the ball away but with a little more dynamism but until we get a player who demonstrates that they can do that I think he will continue to be in the side more often than not.

[old man villa fan]

The thing with Westwood is that he is never the worst player on the pitch but, also, never the best.  I have never seen him have an outstanding game.  He is just too conservative.  For a team that needs to be progressive to get out of this division, having Westwood in the team is a waste of a position on the team sheet.

But I think that is what managers like about him. They want a Steady Eddie type to do the boring stuff to allow others to do the more progressive work. Perhaps because that is the same job that a number of our recent managers did as players is why he has been a regular over a number of seasons. We need a player who can do the same job of keeping things ticking over and not giving the ball away but with a little more dynamism but until we get a player who demonstrates that they can do that I think he will continue to be in the side more often than not.

The issue is that he cannot influence games. I think once Jedinek gets up to speed, he will influence defensively where Westwood does not.  Tshibola has the legs and is strong, something that Westwood does not possess.  So in a midfield three, that leaves creativity.  With the best will in the world, Westwood does not offer that.

To accommodate Westwood, you are almost forced into two defensive midfield players which is never going to get us promoted.

[aj2k77]

You can't have a midfielder in the team just to play easy 10 yard passes.

[Jimbo]

You can't have a midfielder in the team just to play easy 10 yard passes.

Is what it boils down to.

[Nunkin1965]

It was fun watching Westwood in the second half on Saturday. He seemed to throw away the steady Eddie persona and turn into my Labrador. He just seemed to leg it forward aimlessly when anyone was holding the ball (stick). He'd then turn around to find that the ball (stick) hadn't been passed (thrown) in his direction and come back. Bizarre analogy I know but that's what watching Villa does to me.

[tomd2103]

Looked plenty good enough against Yanited and a whole host of other decent sides last season so -who knows- he might be just finding his way back after a longterm injury.

Maybe, but even in that game (against Manchester United) he made some pretty basic defensive errors.  The one on Saturday was schoolboy stuff and was exactly like the first goal at Luton.   

[Jimbo]

Yes, that's what he reminds me of. Either a daft dog, or a crisp packet in a breeze.