It’s going to be a very brief preview, as I quite simply want to get us back to talking about the Villa.
The biggest news of course, is that Benteke the Beast will be back for this game and his re-appearance can’t come quick enough for me.
I’d like to see his return combined with Gabby being “rested”, myself, but very much doubt that’s going to happen for one minute.
I know that’ll be controversial, given that Gabby was our biggest threat on Saturday, but there is reasoning behind it.
My thinking is that we’ve become more reliant on Gabby than we really ought to be.
Hence we ought to go with Benteke up front, with Weimann behind him, just to see if it works or not.
It then leaves us the option of pulling Benteke off if he’s tired through lack of games or pulling Weimann off, if he’s his often ineffective self.
And bringing Gabby on as an impact player against a tiring Palace defence.
Like I said, it won’t happen, but I just get the feeling Gabby is beginning to get a little too comfortable at the club. Whether that’s because he’s a genuine favourite of Lambert’s, or he just has too much clout, I don’t know.
So onto the headline question.
Am I confident?
I’m afraid not.
Even with Benteke back, I’m not sure we have enough of a cutting edge in the middle.
The big question there, is will Cole get another start after being somewhat a revelation against Burnley?
I’d expect so, myself.
I can’t see past another draw, but that would be four on the trot, which I just don’t see happening at all.
Hence I see it being a one nil win.
“Which way?” I hear you ask.
God only knows.
But if we don’t get anything from this game, we’re surely going to be in for a poor Christmas aren’t we?
I so want to say I think we’ll pinch it, but I really have my doubts.
Lerner will you please remove lambert were are going down fast
Good effort from Benteke.
And who set him up?
No one set him up, just seen the goal and it was a great one man effort.
Shame crystal palace keep knocking because eventually they will score.
No, I’m on about the effort before that Mr C.
We are playing terrible to be honest, lucky Benteke could do what he does.
Benteke, you beast!
That was pure sex
Badger, serious sexual emphasis on the “Beast”
I can’t cope, Guzan earning his pennies far too often!!!
Okore can’t cope, he is all over the place.
Substitues at half time,
westwood off, Grealish on.
Weimann off, Robinson on.
It is now time to test them. Westwood keeps giving it away and Wiemann just hasn’t been in the game. Lets get stability and creativity going. It really needs to stay away from our defence because Okore just can not cope with the onslaught and I believe this may be why Lambert was reluctant to include him.
Agree although I’d like to see a defender have to deal with that onslaught any better. Weve been murdered, cross after cross. Someone needs to deal with the wingers Bolasie n Zaha
mr cheese
you read my mind
what are our tactics
guzan kick ball towards hutton from kickout
throw in every body run away ball is dangerous weapon
what does west wood do
ditto wiemen
our fullbacks get skinned reguarly because we have shite formation
why does gabby not pass ball to benteke
is benteke lambert only hope left
Aaaaaaaaand breath
You have to give our defence some credit. This seems to be the way we play nowadays.
Our midfield are making it difficult for the defence. What midfield I hear you ask!!! Couldn’t light a candle between them!!
We couldn’t hold one either!
To many passengers in midfield. Westwood is shocking cleverly is the same and gabby and weimann should both be replaced. We are just a shocking team with a manager who is clueless with tactics and man management
LMBERT IN!!!!!
To be fair, Guzan and our defence have had to put up with an absolute onslaught every game this season and deserve some credit for not having conceded a hell of a lot more goals than they have. The midfield keep leaving them exposed and it’s too easy to get at us down the channels. How many minutes do you reckon Joe Cole will manage this season? For sure, he’s the type of player we’re lacking, but not much use to us injured.
Is Joe Ledley suspended?
Gabby is a fucking donkey.
We know what happens when Richardson comes on………
I am livid with Aston Villa tonight, absolutely livid.
I despise Lambert so much, i’m shaking with anger.
Me too, but this will end any hope we had of getting rid of the twat.
That’s my thoughts good win and great goal but no chance if lamberk going now
so sorry to hear livid… did dums, will try and lose on Sunday just for your.
these cracks we keep papering over must be nearly covered by now given that it’s now 4 unbeaten 🙂
I agree Mr Cheese, we played crap as a team but our defence was great. we did need those points Lambert here to stay 🙁
Back 4 sraight 10s (Hutton 10+), Midfield defended well and not much else, Benteke played for 10 minutes and Aggy didn’t turn up till the 92nd min, But a brilliant result brave and disciplined
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssss
A win is a win but he should still be sacked that was absolutely shocking yet he will say we played brilliant the bloke is a deluded fool
Agree good result I said we would win 2.1 so not far off. Mixed feeling glad we won but it means lamberk escapes again. And with a home certainty v Leicester who looked awful tonight it means we’ve got him well i tithe new year at least.complete joke
Great result in one respect, not so great in another – will buy Lambert more time. Problem is he will see this as a fantastic 3 points and no doubt say “I can’t fault the lads for effort, I thought they were tremendous” and not make any changes to the team or tactics. Sick of relying on the brilliance of one individual to bail us out of trouble all the time. It was Bent one year, Robbie Keane another, and Benteke on several occasions. On a positive note – nice to see us have more possession than the other side for a change and keep a clean sheet. 🙂
that win was huge FOOKING huge, i won’t mind the moans and sulks, as for me we needed that. had palace been able to cross, well who knows or who fooking cares 3points VTID
Whats is it with you lot. I said a few weeks that this team is so desperate for a win that we can’t play pretty football. That was as ugly as it gets but it was a GREAT win. Off to the pub for real Guinness and not that shite that we sent to the UK.
Now we can push on for a Champions League spot!!!