It’s taken me a while to think of what to say here, as I actually think we did ok overall and for most of that game, it didn’t deserve us losing by two goals.
You could probably even go so far as to say we were the better side for the first half hour, with us doing what we do best in playing fast and furious, taking it to them and generally doing a pretty good job.
Benteke’s penalty decision was a bit soft, as there was no intent in my opinion, but yes, he’s brought him down so probably the correct decision.
The resulting penalty effort was reasonable, but Howard made an excellent save in a game that looked like it was going to be a battle of the goalies, not the Belgians.
Talking of which, when Benteke’s Pen was saved, I got a feeling it wasn’t going to be our day.
Lukaku’s goal was a bit unexpected by me, although I suspect a few of you might disagree. I thought we were holding our own and countering pretty well.
We were fading slowly though, just as I was expecting and the second goal just killed the game didn’t it?
I’m loathe to slate the defence, as we’d kept a decent Everton side restricted to few chances, but well, they were poor for the goal weren’t they?
Luna had a shocker and for me Baker did much better when he took over.
Again, I can’t really fault the team for effort, but again we just looked bereft of quality.
And I know we were playing a team on a roll and flying high, but the simple fact is we’ve now lost four out of five at home.
That’s not even relegation form.
We quite simply have to get it sorted out, as for some reason it’s just not working. Regardless of who you play, you should at least be expecting some draws.
Laugh of the day?
Tim Howard’s beard. Am I the only one who thought he had his head on upside-down?
It’s not funny though really, is it?
Lambert out? Lerner out?
This is the depressing part for me.
Get rid of Lambert, we’ll only get another Mr average, as I don’t believe Lerner knows how to choose a manager. Although in fairness, I was in favour of Lambert coming when he did, the same as many fans.
I’m not convinced he’s a bad manager as such, but he had us playing some nice stuff at one stage, but now seems to have taken a pragmatic approach in his home tactics.
What the hell has happened to our fluid, one touch footy that was a joy to watch at times?
I suspect the job is too big for Lambert and he’s seriously feeling the pressure, myself.
As for Lerner, I don’t see him leaving anytime soon, so we’re stuck.
As long as he refuses to spend serious money (and I’m talking £50-60 mill) we’re doomed to more of the same.
“I suspect the job is too big for Lambert and he’s seriously feeling the pressure, ”
My thoughts exaclty Badger, I was in favour also and I think he is a decent manager but Villa is a big job, we’re a big club with big demands.
Spot on badger that’s the million dollar quest if lambert goes then what? No manager worth his salt is going to come unless like u say Lerner is prepared to spend £50 m or so. I just can’t see Lerner spending that sort of money whether he’s got it or not.
So are you saying we have to take it? Its time for fans to rebel, write into the media , write to the club, don’t buy, I looked today and could see corporate boxes empty, seats in the directors box empty, holte end spaces, Doug Ellis stand 3/4 full , surely it has to be saying something to the cub. Or are they thick.
Problem is bill that Lerner dosnt give a shit. He’s got his £90m sky money now do a couple of million less in fate receipts is neither here or there
Our next 2 games are West Ham away and Cardiff at home both winnable.We would be about 10 th UTV
Newcastle game and hull were winnable to so was today game. Should if got at least a point Ffs. West ham away is never easy and Cardiff at home will put 10 behind the ball knowing we create fuck all at home
Yes, I think they should be winnable too JD, but I’m nowhere near convinced.
I still don’t think our performance was that bad today; certainly the effort wasn’t.
In fairness, Everton are currently worth their fourth spot.
But we so lack any creativity, it’s shocking.
That’s the other problem Bill.
People aren’t as militant/reactionary as they used to be.
Imagine if AM had been appointed 40 years back?
There’d have been 40,000 down VP protesting, not just the few hundred that turned up.
Hence the vast majority of the fanbase we have left will still keep turning up.
And it’s not like income from the turnstiles is the major source of income anymore.
It’s daft really, because we struggle to fill the ground at the best of times.
Stay mediocre for years and you have to wonder what crowds we’ll be getting in 20-30 years time.
Kids don’t want to be associated with mediocrity and I know I’ve said it before a few times, but you only have to look at Brummy kids wearing the usual suspects shirts.
Badger123, that came about in the late 70s about fans no longer support the game in going through the stiles, them words was said to me by Steve Stride, but my reply was if you had an empty ground, would you not be concerned Steve, he had to admit it would cause panic not having support, so I still think you as a person that goes to the game still have a say as to what the club has to do. In our case our club that now is a yanks toy, we have to show we are not happy, its to late not to buy tickets because I believed in the change and got 4 seats(adults) now I see I was conned into believing them. Bagder today has put the cat amongst the pigeons, Villa are going nowhere with Lamdert and his camp.
Agree bill but every year 20,000 plus season ticket renewals fall for the same bullshit that next season will be better. Hence why are linked with decent £10m signings like wanyama etc who like u said at the time we will never sign and I got slated for it. It’s all a load of bollox to get st sales and when they’ve hit their target of 20k plus they start signing the dross shite we have now. Used to do it under ellis always at end if season we would be linked with a big name to sell season tickets. Can’t believe people can’t c thru it
Unfortunately Oohah I’m one of them idiots that bought, never again will I do that unless a massive change comes around, I cannot see us doing that this year,
Just watched game on motd I could cry how we missed out getting Barry. He was different class
West Ham Cardiff winnable don;t make me laugh when we can;t even score one goal none of this dross could score against a team of five year olds and anybody whom thinks we are going to win anymore games this season are as deluded as Lamberk and his Lemmings.
We created chances,got in the right positions just didn’t take them today.I am willing to concede our home form is poor and needs to be addressed and probably is but if you make a mistake you need time to rectify it.Lambert is not at AVFC to destroy it he wants success as much as we do.Im not saying agree with me but I think Lambert will be ok…..UTV
Oh gord here we go with the excuses how much longer do you think we fans are going to put up with this crap.Lambert is nothing more than a conman full of bullshit and lame duck excuses afraid to admit he is a failure.We have picked up more unwanted records under him than anyother manager in the clubs history.
Don’t hate the player, hate the game
I think our poor home form is down to playing counter attack every game, it doesn’t work at VP and that has been abundantly clear for years now.
There is no point calling for Lambert to be sacked, then what? Watch Lerner bumble through another recruitment process, we’d only end up with someone like Avram Grant or Tony Pulis. Likewise, its Lerner’s club, saying ‘Lerner Out’ won’t change anything, he can do what he wants and sadly he clearly isn’t interested in competing.
We are now perennial relegation battlers, lower mid table at best. Yes it sucks and it isn’t good enough, but other clubs have it worse. It may appear downbeat but the days of this club winning trophies are over barring a City style takeover. Its no surprise people are drifting away from the game in general, there is no dream any more. Mediocrity is the norm for clubs like ours now, accept it and move on.
Spot on Ritchie
I hope he can sort it mate.
I’m sure we all do.
I’m personally hoping we go on a streak, as in fairness, overall we’ve had a pretty tough start.
But we need to start winning sharpish, else I can see another major struggle.
The trouble is, I’m not convinced Lambert has made specific mistakes as such that he can rectify. It’s more that the team overall simply isn’t good enough.
And that’s a serious worry for me.
We have 29 games left
We created loads of chances today could of had at least 4 they just didn’t go our way UTV
You’re right, but then after Villa created chances, they folded, and what did Lambert do? Nothing… Helenius on for our best attacking player of the game is the dumbest move he could have made. And that’s all he did. We were very good at the start of both halves and should’ve won, but Villa didn’t, and Lambert did absolutely nothing but fuck it up when Lukaku scored.
WE want Lerner out say We Want Lerner OUT NOW what a wanker. Bring baCK doug!!!!!!!
I personally don’t think we were as bad as so many are making out, I was pretty pissed off after the game and decided not to write a ratings report because of this. Now level headed again I feel that we weren’t bad, weren’t overally good either. We had the best of the first 25 minutes, Everton took over from there and the first half was pretty even, both teams could have had goals on the board and if it wasn’t for both keepers, someone would have. The second half was much the same, not much in it until one brilliant piece of play and finish that we could do little about. After that the side went into a bit of a rable, lost concentration and struggled, the second came and the scoreline looks a lot worse than how the game was really played out.
We still need a better midfield as Delph is the only one who has any sort of quality and the only one capable of running with the ball and not losing out.
Villa’s Player Ratings, in my opinion of course.
Guzan: 7.5 Cracking reflex saves in the first half. Could not fault him and he could do nothing about either goal.
Luna: 4.5 Constantly out of position, struggled to deal with the threat of the constant attacks coming at him, tries to get forward too often and is not back in position ready. He did make some great last ditch blocks but generally was just recovering from his own errors made a few seconds prior.
Vlaar: 7.5 I think Vlaar was quality all night. Had a tough job and was solid, controlled the backline well and didn’t do much wrong.
Baker: 6.5 Was playing well as a CB and when moved to LB was good defensively. Stuggled to get forward and or create
Clarke: 6.5 Subbed on for Luna and went in as CB, didn’t do a lot wrong and was solid enough.
Bacuna: 7.0 Had a solid game defensively, didn’t get forward as much as we’d like to see him but for whatever reason Lambert didn’t play through him often enough. This kid is quality and one of our few players who can make a decent run and pass.
Westwood: 5.0 Did nothing for me again. Passes freely but lacks quality to create anything. Free kicks terrible, really Westwood for corners? Terrible. Get Bacuna to take them. KEA or Sylla for me please.
Delph: 7.5 The only midfielder with quality, again. Takes players on, keeps the ball at his feet and makes nice attacking moves. If Delph isn’t making the moves through the middle, Villa doesn’t attack. He is in dire need of some help
Tonev: 5.5 Struggled for most of the game, found it hard to get into the game and his final passes were quite often poor. I think he has something about him and given time could be a quality player.
Weimann 4.0 I’ve seen a headless chicken with more direction. Has no idea on whats happening around him, tries hard but lacks confidence. Should have scored and absolute sitter but squandered it and from then on was trying to hoof the ball out of Villa park instead of into the back of the net. Andy, maybe have a look around you before shooting.
Gaby; 5.5 Worked hard and got defenders out of position at times through his hard work and running but struggled on the ball and has little confidence to pull the trigger, at least he looks for other options other than himself, take note Andy.
Benteke; 4.5 Had two opportunities he should have converted and didn’t one a penalty and the other a one on one with Howard. Struggled all night and run out of legs as the game wore on.
Player Of The Match: Vlaar, Guzan
Overview: Villa played way too much down one side, and a side with little quality, not sure why we don’t use Bacuna going forward more and why Bacuna doesn’t take corners, or even Tonev for that matter. We had too many players that just arnt good enough that posses no quality. For the best part of the game we did match it with Everton but lacked the quality to finish and were a little all over the place after that. Weimann especially. I feel as though a few players should be dropped, our problem is who comes in? We will have to replace rubbish with rubbish, a different formation and better tactics is needed and this is Lamberts fault.
In my opinion this is a list of players that make a PL effort each week and who should be in the team, Benteke, Guzan, Vlaar, Delph, Bacuna, Clarke/Baker, Gaby. Now to find players to replace the rest of the team haha. Id like to see more of Helenius and give Tonev a run but our problem is its hard, because we don’t have the quality to support them as they are our best are good but only good enough to worry about what they have to do.
Agree with most of what uv written there Darren. Luna, Westwood and wiemann have to be dropped IMO. Vlaar was pulled out to right back for their first goal and left baker and Clark marking 3 players which led to their first goal what he was doing at right back il never know. Second goal he completely neglected Barry until it was to late when Barry passed and they scored so more of a 6.0 for vlaar as he still switches of and makes to many errors though he has improved. Benteke missed pen but even Messi misses them so can’t blame him and it was a great save to be fair. Though when he one on one with keeper he should of squared to bacuna who would of had open goal. Tonev very poor IMO. A bit unfair on weimann to saying he missed a sitter again it was a chance but their keeper closed him down within a second. Though he does need to go on the bench for a few games IMO.
I can see your points and understand where you are coming from RE; Vlaar, Benteke and Weimann. I do feel as though with Vlaar he mops up after poor positioning and mistakes from our other defenders regularly however when he makes a mistake, which yes does happen (less regularly now though) no one is there to help out as the others are well out positioned and arnt good enough to help others so his mistakes always look worse.
Benteke I agree with the penalty, it wasn’t a bad penalty but could have been taken better however yes it was a simple square up to Bacuna and we should have been 1-0 up. Maybe I am being a bit harsh on him but I expect a lot more from him, especially his second half was very poor, mainly due to lack of match fitness, maybe still carrying slight injury.
Weimann, I feel as though it was pretty simple to finish this, a quality striker would have. He definitely needs a rest and hopefully that brings him back to his best, because at his best he is good.
And I do remember thinking what the hell was Vlaar doing out at right back for their first goal. None the less I don’t blame anyone for the goal as it was just so beautifully worked and finished.
Vlaar seems to get caught in no mans land always seems to be out on the flanks when there is no reason to be and caught between defence and midfield. I just don’t think he gets what he’s supposed to be doing half the time. Though that could be lamberks fault.
Haha anything is possible as a Lambert tactic at the moment. I feel as though Vlaar sometimes has been asked to do too much or tries to do too much. I’m sure he knows our team is below par in many areas of the ground, midfield being the worst at the moment. After all he is a Dutch international regular, which isn’t an easy feat by any means.
Agree Darren though I think Benteke lacks a bit of sharpness and still think he is more of a threat away from home. He is just going through the motions with us that’s obvious but will do his best as his position in Belgian team is under threat from lukaku.
Ye great analysis…!!! Im one who was full of optimism and said id give it 5ish games until i made a full analysis myself.
How oh how are Weimann and Westwood anywhere near Premier League starting lineups?
My mates have now started to kill me off for these 2 useless prats and I dont like it. I hate it a VP now because we NEVER WIN.
Even MAN U grind out shitty wins…..We aren’t even close to that…!!! Our boys will make Chadli and Capoue look mustard when they are back to full fitness, and thats shocking……!!!!!!
We need to get a grip and get rid of the shite and invest in real quality of we’re doomed
LAMBERT IN!!!
B6 finish your sentance, the shit there said it for you, Ooharh both goals came from Barry, you and I both know that old man or head was the answer to our game, Lambert is into kids only, I’m beginning to wonder about that.
Lol now now bill. Joking apart nothing wrong with kids but someone like barry needs to be in squad to bring them on. He was the difference yesterday did you see motd different class. If Barry was playing for us yesterday we would probably have won. Lambert is a useless twat for bit resigning him when we had a chance. Lamberk out
Oohah was at the match , met up with Everton fans and had a few bevies came home watched it again ,and yes as I’ve said Barry would have been an asset to us.
Agree mate
B6 Lambert in my god did not know we had Lemmings in B6.Time we had our club back and if reports on facebook are anything to go by that Red Bull want to buy Villa then i say Randy sell first thing on Monday morning.Then we may get owners whom are not only prepared to invest but get rid of Lambert the Lemming and bring in a manager whom does know something about football.
No side has conceded the first goal of the game more often than Aston Villa in the Premier League this season (7).
just another little ray of sunshine to deal with in my little bunker over here in the orient 🙁
Yep we are crap in every department
possible, it’s that simple
Lowest possession stats, most long balls, 4 defeats at VP already, playing players out of position who are out of form, shit substations, wrong formations
What more can Lambert do wrong before he gets the boot??
Lads i have said it a fair few times.. our problem is simply that our midfield is SHIT…
NO GOALS and NO CREATIVITY..
We need to spend money to get a DM AM and a winger min.. plus sell Bennett and get in a proper LB..
Guzan.. Bacuna.. Vlaar.. Okore/Baker/Clark.. Delph and Benteke are all good Prem players.. what they need is quality around them.. get the DM AM in and then you have players like Gabby and Weiman on the bench.. instantly making us stronger..
Yesterday we weren’t bad.. could and should have been 2-0 up..
The problem is the midfield.. it is piss poor.. it doesn’t hold the ball and doesn’t offer a shield to the defence.. against quality players it is impossible to hold out for 90 minutes without them creating a chance(s)
Same goes for LB.. as a CB if you are always worried that your LB will get ripped up then it will affect your game..
We have had three years plus of cosy cutting and watching depressing football.. last week against a team that was on a par with us just a few seasons ago they had Erikssen and Lamela on the bench while we have Tonev and Bowery.. depressing stuff..
We have suffered enough.. if our chairman next season can’t give the manager 50M to spend which includes the normal transfer budget plus extra sky money and the probably Benteke sale then boycott is the only way forward….
I remember some years ago when MON was in charge a wolves player (can’t remember who) said that the villa midfield was one of the worst in the prem and that’s when we had Barry and petrov. I can’t remember the last time we had a good midfield prob under Bfr when we had Townsend, Richardson, houghtin and Parker. Though they were all just past their peak with us it was still decent.