Before the game started, I predicted a Villa win and I thoroughly thought that we would win 1:2 but alas, we didn’t.
THE STARTING 11
Once again, the starting 11 was the best choice of the bunch and it really added to what is starting to look like a growing team.
The introduction of Joe Cole over N’Zogbia was a fantastic choice, and Lambert should be applauded for that decision, even though it has taken so long to get to it. Joe Cole added a new dimension to that game as he showed creativity, good choice of passing, control on the ball and most importantly, he scored. Not the greatest goal in the world, but it was a tough goal and it was he who scored it. From this match alone, it looks as if he has earned himself a starting place in the match 11 and nobody should disagree with that. I was slightly mythed as to why Lambert took him off in the 70th minute, but I can only assume it was due to match fitness. Either way, Lambert did something I never thought I would see and that was make a good substitution. He swapped Cole for Grealish and like Cole, Grealish showed a natural ability on the ball. he was very confident, passed well, pressed well and I still think given the right chances, Grealish will go on to be a huge player with massive ability.
After last week, I really thought that Wiemann would be swapped for young Robinson, maybe not to start but at some point during the game. This is when Lambert showed his true substitute colours again and instead brought Richardson on. Maybe I am biased here and you all think this was the best substitution for the team, but we will talk about that later on.
THE GAME
I thoroughly enjoyed the game, but would be writing this drunk had the last 10 minutes not occurred. The first half was well thought by both sides with a lot of chances going either way and in all honesty, it could easily have been 2 nil us, 2 nil them but could have been is not doing and we was the team who went into the 2nd half leading with a Joe Cole goal.
We built on our previous performance against Southampton and managed to look like the team we all witnessed at the beginning of the season. We attacked, and not just counter attacking, it was creativity and well worked attacking. I remember thinking that this game would have been ideal for Benteke because it complimented his abilities in every manner and if the style and passion is continued, his return should be something of a marvel. But lets not get a head of ourselves.
Burnley played well and looked dangerous whenever they attacked. You have to give extra credit to Ings (who I wish we would have signed) because he is great to watch and even better to have on your team sheet. Not only did he score the penalty, he also had an individual moment straight after that hit the post but should have been one of the highlights of his scoring career. It was simple and beautiful football that didn’t quite make it. So let’s talk about that penalty…
Our defence had a really good game for the most part, but I think they should from here on out be known as the Aston Stranglers as on more than one occassion, Clark had his hands/arm around a players throat, Hutton followed suit as did Cissokho and then Okore went against the grain and took a standard kick at the legs allowing Burnley a penatly and the draw to be conceded. It should not have happened, but it did.
VERDICT
There are a lot of positives to take from this game if we look beyond the penalty.
- Firstly, even though we only scored one goal, we found our attacking form and looked as though we could score during any given opportunity.
- Joe Cole is a great player and will go on to have a key role in our team (provided he stays fit and healthy)
- Clark and Okore are great players and work well together which shows that we can rotate our CB’s
- Grealish is still a confident and great player
- A draw does not give Lamber immunity to being sacked
- Benteke returns next week
The bad?
- Cissokho still can’t cross a ball.
- Wiemann and Gabby played and attacked a lot better but still need to convert more
- We lack a lot of proven choice on the bench (Youngsters not included here)
- **EDIT** Richardson being put on for Wiemann was a slap in the face. Wiemann played well today and I thought it was Gabby who should have been replaced and not by Richardson, who I feel has no part in this team. It was the time of Robinson. One striker off, one on. Show the attacking intent and not the settling of the draw.
We still came away from the game with a point which is more than most of you thought we was going to get and credit to the 4000 Villains that made their way up north. I wanted a win, but the draw is good enough especially if we can continue to build on this fresh energy. With Benteke back next week, I hope it see more goals, but not just from the giant, I want all round goals from other strikers and the midfield. Even though he may seem like our best shot, I do not want an Aston Villa team built up around one player, because it is bad for the rest of the team and even worse for the future if said player decides to leave and we cash in.
Whilst on the subject of cashing in, I hope Vlaar does go in the winter, because I do not like the lack of confirmation or dedication from not just him but any player. We are proving that our other centre backs are not just capable of stepping up but also show dedication to the team. He will be a loss, but i’d rather lose him now and get some cash than have him not sign a contract and leave on a free.
LAMBERT OUT and I still think we will win against Palace.UTV.
Hmm, moving on….
Or rather back to OLL’s point;
Yes OLL, you do need someone who can be a bit nasty, but you have to be careful about how you go about things.
I’m seeing this as part of my job right now (but won’t expand on it).
The point is while my instincts would agree that players need ripping into when they perform poorly, the fact is that young kids are a lot more canny these days, in that they simply won’t stand for it.
They think they’re being picked on etc.
Someone said earlier that Keane will be writing about what a bunch of wimps the team are and I suspect whoever said it was 100% correct.
Kids today often are a bunch of wimps and can’t take criticism.
Which is why I think Keane was totally the wrong man for the job.
It’s interesting to note that Gabby always seems to come into any list of players that have been involved in dressing room bust-ups.
Villa team hero? or the biggest petulant twat of the lot?
Take your pick, as I really don’t know.
I do know his performances generally, over far too long, don’t give him much right to argue with anyone, in my opinion.
But I believe Randy rates him and Gabby has his ear.
I really don’t like you villan or not you aloof twat.
I think Keane left because he couldn’t get through to that crap bunch of shitkickers who couldn’t close a fuckin door let alone close out a winnable game.Shame Keane could of taught them what it is to have a pair of bollox.
I’m getting fed up at this bitching and name calling.
We’re all on the same side and I’m sure we’re all bloody adults, so let’s have an end to it please.
Come on people, stick to the football debate.
That’s all we’re asking.
How does it look to newcomers?
I just don’t have time to try and constantly monitor the site, deleting totally out of order and frankly offensive personal insults.
From now on, people will be temporarily suspended if they carry on.
Any offenders should realise that suspensions may well be much longer than the one day that I have in mind (seeing as the only option we have is to manually ban and then re-instate), given my lack of time to constantly check things.
I really don’t want it to come to this, but the insults have plainly got way out of hand.
YOU’VE BEEN WARNED AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT DON’T BOTHER POSTING AT ALL!
Just to reiterate what Badger says Im getting fed up too of bitching and point scoring. If Badger dosn’t have time to ban people then I will as some of the comments on here are farcical. If one poster is positive and one is negative and one is fickle, does it really fuckin matter!? Im sick of this oneupmanship bollocks if people disagree with each other so what everyone is different virtually no one agrees with me but I try not use name calling as I dont give a toss whether or not anyone agree with me. If some posters on here cant handle other posters on here having different views to them then they know what can they can do. Lets keep it to football and banter not insults. Rant Over
Hutton is having a blinder of a season ATM.Im glad he’s proved a lot of his critics wrong.I thought Mcleish was a strong manager for what it’s worth and think he could of done a lot better given time.You can dig out my comments I held out for Mcleish for along time.You can build on not loosing & that was one of his tactics just drew to many but with resources of a better ilk he could and would of done better.Lambert is trying but you can’t squeeze a lot of juice out of a small orange only big oranges do that and Villa ain’t got no Jaffes
wow its like a battle field on here, many fallen hero’s and none down to me.but i will try to take one down. i remember before the start of season and hutton topic came up. i said i watched a few games pre season. hutton will be a force down the right,he was solid defensively and creative when attacking. i wasn’t wrong for ONCE. even badger slagged him and me off. i was correct, thou i also was wrong. as i claimed nzog had a decent understanding with him down that side, hell 1 out of two aint bad
lets get a new topic, how about a game preview before the game 🙂
This bitching and name calling is great. Makes up for the lack of posts (not my job to post topics for debate, not when it involves lining other people’s pockets) I say keep it going, the bitching and name calling mean, it makes the site interesting (which for this site is rare).
Interesting to see your comment mentions nothing at all about football, which is why I normally wouldn’t allow this sort of thing from a first time poster.
But it seems you think you’d be lining our pockets if you were to post something?
Let me assure you, that’s laughable.
We don’t make a single bean from this site. Not a penny.
BUM BUM …. i dont understand why you want me banned just for being positive. i am only saying what i believe. the situation we are in requires a calm and positive head IMO. we need a togetherness regardless of what you think about Lambert. I am NOT a Lambert fan, but we are stuck with him……… if you want to scream at someone it should be Lerner for 4 years of pennypinching. Its like trying to build a house with inferior materials. yes, the house will be built, but, eveventually it will collapse and our great club is almost at that point!! we are simply living in the hope that Randy finds a buyer soon. in the meantime, i will continue to remain ‘loyal to shirt’ as that’s what really counts at the end of the day. the personnel will continue to change, but my love for the club WONT. we’ve been in far worse situations before. we will be back!!!
I don’t! I was just ribbing! As Churchill said, I may not agree with you but I’ll defend your right to say it!
I don’t get angry about any comments here. I imaginge us all around a big pub table, taking the piss out of each other in a half decent manner.
The only one I’m angry at is Lerner.
well said bum bum, banter is good as long, as long as its not getting personal, your spot on, we all should be angry with lerner. i wish he would join us, in this pub of yours, iam sure we all would love to say our peace to him
…as long as he gets a round in! 🙂 All are welcome!
Hallelujah committedvillan totally agree, but spreading the word,around here isn’t welcome. most are stubborn and stuck in their old ways. if its broken its the manager fault. or we can’t get randy out cos its his toy.nobody will buy so he can’t sell.
its ok to debate as long as you agree with the regulars,some people or new people will refuse to post, afraid to stand alone with their comments, people calling you names like you jump back into the playground at your junior school
Just a test post to see where this ends up.
As for a preview, I’ll see if Mr C has time to knock one up, as he’s much better than me at that sort of thing.
I’d like to move on from this thread, as it’s basically done my head in and we need to get back to talking about the Villa.
ASTON VILLA NEWS & VIEWS = THE CLARET & BLUE ARMY.
Testing
Badger my comments are landings well of target & I’m sober.
I know, that’s why I’m in touch with the host.