I was supposed to be working today, which would have meant me missing the game.
Sod that, I thought. So I worked a grueller yesterday, with the idea being that I wouldn’t get so much of a rollicking tomorrow, for not turning in.
I wish I hadn’t bothered.
Let’s make no mistake about this; we were poor. Again. At home.
To think we were facing a Man Utd side that are as bad as I’ve seen them for around thirty years (although I’ve made my opinion clear that I haven’t thought of them as a good side for at least a couple of seasons) had me drooling at the prospect of us actually beating them at home for the first time since 1995.
They even call Villa Park their second ground, for goodness’ sake!
Never have I felt more confident that Man U were there for the taking.
I thought we started off quite brightly and were taking the game to them.
Albrighton looked well sharp and had a couple of early chances.
He was willing to go at the opposition, something I’ve sorely missed of late and have mentioned a few times.
I thought it was interesting though, that he seemed to run inside all the time and I was asking myself why?
Why didn’t he stay wide and try and get the ball in behind the defence?
I’m convinced this is down to Lambert, for what it’s worth.
Anyway, after a bright start, you could see what was coming.
Man U targetted our left hand side, same as the last home game against them and Rooney fired a couple of long balls to the same area today with very good effect.
Put simply, Valencia tore us a new one in that area, something that had me fuming.
I’ve deliberately laid off Luna up to now, as I think his best strength is going forward and that’s how Lambert sees him.
Fair enough.
But Luna is simply awful as a defender, it’s as simple as that.
As someone who believes that the full backs should be defenders first and attackers second, it seems my opinion was somewhat vindicated today.
He will never make a defensive LB in a million years.
Which places too much pressure on the centre backs in my opinion.
In fairness, Luna was hung out to dry, but surely Lambert knows he isn’t good enough?
This Left back problem has been a concern for longer than I care to remember.
Anyway, it seemed to me that Gabby, who had also looked up for it, was told to cover Luna, which meant he was taken out of the game for a good period.
The second goal came from our left and that was it for me, game over.
One of the commentators summed it all up in one sentence.
We played too much in front of the defence and never tried to get behind.
It’s something I’ve hinted at for weeks and truth be told, I’m sick of it.
How often were we having to resort to shooting from longish range, yet again?
Why bring Albrighton in and not tell him to get in behind?
I’m calling Lambert out today, as I think we lost this game because of his poor tactics.
Am I calling for his head?
No, I’m not.
To my mind, many of our players are simply not good enough.
And that’s quite simply down to the meagre budget any manager we might get in will have to work with.
How much did we miss Vlaar?
I’m totally fed up of playing the same record, but we just need some decent quality.
It’s just blatantly obvious.
No doubt “we’ll go again”.
I’m sick of that too.
Man of the match?
Albrighton, because he was the only one who looked to really go for it and looked better than the rest of the dross.
Here’s our next three games;
Premier League
Stoke V Aston Villa
Sat 21 Dec 15:00
Premier League
Aston Villa V Crystal Palace
Thu 26 Dec 15:00
Premier League
Aston Villa V Swansea
Sat 28 Dec 15:00
January 2014
How many points there?
El Ahmadi was at fault for the first goal – not picking up his man. Our midfield are all ball watchers and don’t mark up when the opposition are on the attack, which leaves our defence exposed.
Baker (sloppy pass) and Westwood (not marking up) were at fault for the second. Baker was very poor and looked like he had heavy legs, which was disappointing, as he looked a good prospect last season.
Beneteke didn’t break a sweat. Not a team player. The team are carrying him at the moment.
Luna was totally off the pace and at fault for the third goal. Valencia embarrassed him a few times.
Only bright light was Albrighton, who looked hungry and was full of running.
Another inept display along with a different formation. I dont think the players know how they are supposed to be realy playing and I dont think Lambert has a clue how to play them.
El Ahmadi and Sylla are not PL players. Benteke was completely isolated and looks pretty unhappy with life. We were lucky it was only 3.
Two straight defeats without scoring…should be three if we hadnt got lucky at Southampton. Our home form is a joke and doesnt look like getting any better. Yes, we played Man United (who are off-form anyway) but we were also outplayed by Sunderland, Newcastle, Everton…etc.
I dont see where we go from here, apart from Benteke trying to get out in Jan. Maybe it is time for a change…
Agree benno except that benteke has still got similar service around him as last season am put a couple of decent crosses in that he failed to convert. He is def sulking because we wouldn’t sell him and lambert should drop him.
I agree. Get Kozak or the mysterious Helenius in up front. Benteke isn’t doing his job and isn’t trying. I can’t help think he has a clause in his contract which means he has to play every game if he’s fit, why else do we put up with him? He isn’t bothering to play, does he think this will make Lambert sell him? Lambert has stuck other players on his ignore list, Lowton for example has been out since the first or second game. Surely after nine matches with no goals Benteke needs to be dropped?
Of all the people who received new contracts at the end of last season isn’t it ironic that Clark is the only one playing well, albeit only when he’s next to Vlaar, and he (Clark) was crap last season and I for one though he should get the boot rather than three more years. AFAIK Vlaar didn’t get a new contract and he was playing really well until his injury.
I don’t think Benteke has a clause he will always play as pl left him out recently. And all pl has to do is pkwy him for 5 mins and sub him. He’s no chance of wc place in thus form. Lambert needs to drop him for a few games and just use him in cups. He is playing bad and maybe hoping to drive his price down in jan so we will panic sell IMO. Problem is we have no one better to replace him which is why he will always ve picked bar injuries or suspensions
The Belgian staff aren’t daft, they know their national players will create chances on a plate for Benteke and that he is happy to work hard in their squad, so of course he will get a place.
I stayed to the end to let the traffic clear…shite team, shite Manager, robbing bastard chairman….Ashley Westwood explain?
fair enough but lambert is only 2 blame for the time hes been ere ~ excuses b4 that are only the same but different names the buck stops somewhere and money being thrown at it like spurs isn’t the answer
lambert needs 2b given at least until the end of this season cos sacking him now only takes us back further and we are already miles behind
iam not saying games against Fulham are acceptable but at least if hes given the time 2 finish the job, u never know ~ benteke form is a big difference from this and last year if he played only half as good we would be far better off ~ the team as a whole is miles better just big players like benteke and vlaar are needed 2 perform, we cant carry passengers
Told you all Lamberk was shite, was slagged off by pretty much everyone.
Crap manager, with no tactical ability and no personality. He can’t even speak without mumbling the weekly we go again shite. Couldn’t think of anyone worse to be at the helm.
Mind you, don’t even get me started on Lerner, along with his Faulkner, they have pretty much killed Aston Villa Football Club. We’re a complete and utter embarrassment and I’d happily be relegated if it meant we could rid ourselves of this trio of muppets
FUCKIN RUBBISH same shite different day.
You have to ask the question, are we any better than we were this time last year? And honestly, the answer is no. Yes, we may have picked up more points- but most of them thanks to a lot of luck. Man City, Southampton, West Brom…etc, we deserved to lose all of these games.
I think Lambert has lost his way.
If we play the team below and play along the floor we could be pushing for Europe. Get me in as manager ffs
Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Donacien Bennett
Bacuna Sylla
Gabby Helenius Carruthers
Benteke
It’s really funny because watching Villa play, every single game the commentator’s claim “where was this in the first half, why weren’t Villa trying in the first half, Lambert’s gotta be wondering why they didn’t try”… It’s never “Why hasn’t Lambert gotten his team to play football in the first half, why do Villa play to not lose every game, why do Villa sit back constantly in the first half?” It’s always, Lambert’s gotta be frustrated, like this isn’t his doing. If this was McLeish, he’d have been booed out every game, whether Villa won or not, this being Lambert, it’s not happening and it’s utterly pathetic. I mean last year we were out playing small clubs, big clubs, middle clubs, now Villa are getting out possessed by the likes of Fulham to United. Wouldn’t surprise me if we went even, if not less against Stoke. And it’s not even like Villa try to attack like they did under O’Neill when Villa were a constant counter attacking team.
I just read that Herd was supposed to be playing but was injured from training. Does that mean Lambert was going to play a 5-3-2 with presumably Albrighton left out? I think it’s what worked against ManC, with hit long and hope happening to work that time.
Sacking the manager at this stage of the season is always a gamble, unless you get the right man in to replace him.Personally I would want to see Lambert gone but who is there to bring in ? We will just have to put up with him I’m afraid. I was a season ticket holder but, due to work commitments, am unable to go to every home game, just as and when I can.I do feel sorry for those who are season ticket holders.If I were them I would be knocking on Lerner’s door asking for a refund. Six goals in eight home games, five of them were in two games. Lambert is only surviving because we are just getting away with scraping some points with our “counter attacking” football away from home and even that doesn’t guarantee anything. After 27 games in charge at home Lambert has won only five.Any decent manager would have sorted out that statistic by now. Benteke lost my support when he put in for a transfer in the summer and my feelings have been justified with his perfromances and attitude when he plays.Cash in on him in January I say before his value drops even more.
That does seem to get thrown around a hell of a lot when it comes to Villa. To paraphrase: “We can’t sack *insert Manager name here* because who else will we get?”
That hasn’t stopped a number of clubs sacking manager’s and getting better ones in during the season still. Crystal Palace got Pulis and they’re looking at being possibly safe (not that I’d ever want Pulis, but an argument to be made), Southampton got Pocchettino. There are a number of Manager’s at even “lesser” countries that are far better than Lambert. Basel’s Yakin would be a huge upgrade to Lambert and he’s likely to possibly join Lazio in January. A small chance at best but AVB did just get sacked. Though he prefers a high-line no matter who’s playing so it probably wouldn’t work well. :p Then there’s Zola or Di Matteo who neither I rate at all, but both better than Lambert, Clarke would be better than Lambert, can’t really blame him much at West Bromich as they’re basically a team full of loans with a few decent players. Schmidt would be one of my biggest choices, Managing Salzburg and doing a great job. They play some great football, great up front, strong at the back. Luzon at Standard Liege, OGS is linked to every management position in England still, possible going back in for him? Go to bigger leagues there’s Gillot of Bordeaux who’s put under worse financial difficulties than any Villa manager ever will and is still having them around European spots. There is a host of better Manager’s in Germany, Italy, Spain that Villa could go for. We’re not stuck with him if Villa really wanted to sack him.
Yes, Lambert was going to play Herd and then had to change the system at the last minute. Ironic that Albrighton was the only player who did anything positive.
Agree that Clark has improved massively from last season when alongside Vlaar, but without Vlaar he seems to try to control things, which causes a lot of confusion!
Benteke looks worse than Heskey at the moment. Not doing himself any favours whatsoever. His work rate is virtually zero and everything he touches seems to turn to turd. Don’t know if he’s doing it on purpose as some form of protest or if he is still struggling after his injury. Did still seem to be banging the goals in before that.
I did say he’s tge new Heskey when he arrived. Heskey was great to at start if his career then he joined Liverpool and became a national joke