As soon as Kieran Richardson was sent off, for what for me, was a good decision by Mike Dean, I thought we were in trouble.
In real time, it looked a terrible tackle and although the slow motion replay showed it wasn’t quite as bad, you just can’t go in like that with your studs showing.
While I can see that some of you might debate that, I thought it was a potential ankle breaker.
So a good decision.
I want to give a bit of credit to the ref here, by the way, as I thought he called most things correctly and gave probably a man of the match performance.
So in short Richardson is out for our next game.
No major loss for me, as I really don’t rate him and it surely makes Delph’s return easier for Lambert.
So we were down to 10 men after 21 minutes and I just had the feeling that even though Albion were quite toothless, we wouldn’t be able to hold on.
I have to say our performance today seemed to revert back to our usual level of a lack of creativity, but I have to temper my thoughts with that fact that we were a man down.
That said, I still think we had too many invisible players.
N’zogbia was one. Surely his days at the Villa are numbered now, but I can’t see a way out for him, given his wages. The only way he’s going is if we swallow a big percentage of his wages.
What about Cleverley? I really don’t see it with him at all.
He needs to be replaced with someone better. Someone who gets involved more.
While I’m loathe to complain about Okore (who was probably my MOTM) or Clark, am I the only one who thought our defence overall was very poor at actually clearing the ball?
Hutton, who had a torrid time early on actually looked our most creative player at times.
That’s the crazy world of Villa at present, it seems.
Sanchez gives the ball away far too much, but I still like the looks of him and hopefully he’ll improve that side of things. He’s looking a very good buy for the £3.5 million he cost.
The actual goal itself, from Gardner of all people, was poor. Guzan should have done better, but it shouldn’t have mattered, as we had two defenders near enough on the line, which should have seen us safe.
Hmm……
Did we deserve to lose against a very average Albion side?
I don’t know really, but going 70 minutes with a man down, the odds are against you.
Then again, if we’d have kept eleven players on the pitch I reckon we’d have probably taken all the points.
While it’s disappointing to lose against Albion, who have actually become a bit of a banker game for us over the last good few years, you won’t find any hysterics from me today.
For once I agree with Lambert.
We go again.
Trouble is, it’s Man United next, isn’t it?
Richardson has been one of our worst players all year along with NZog. I don’t understand how they keep getting games. Sanchez and Okore are both looking the goods. Clarke also and Hutton has been our best player so far this season. So basically our defence has been good and well our defensive midfielder is looking good. Benteke has gone cold. And our midfield is non existent. I agree would like to see Robinson, Grealish and Bacuna. Herd is a defensive midfielder and lets be honest, Sanchez is a lot better.
Lambert Out. Still as clueless as ever.
It’s not benteke has gone cold it’s nobody can create anything for him or even get close to him most of the time our while team except him are on the edge of our box! We need that link up man now the DM is sorted.
Benteke has always created his own chances as well do not as dependant on service like some strikers
Steve Clarke as number 2? Would be absolute quality.
Back on the Steve Clarke rumour…It might be that he is a better coach than manager, just as Lambert is probably a better manager than coach. It might be a combination that works. At least Clarke could probably understand Lambert 😉
Steve Clarke favourite for Reading job.
So no Steve Clarke, he’s now Reading’s manager. Seems we were never in for him. Interesting to see who actually is wanted.
Just a load more media bollox linking Clarke to us,I thought Dave Whelan was going to step down as chairman if he was charged by the fa obviously another load of bollox.
Think it was if found guilty. About time that muppet’s big mouth got him in trouble.
Could have ran our of idiots coming to VillaPark, who would come ? and If they did what could they do with what We have.sfa.
Out – not our .. as you said Giddy pipe Dreams mate don’t believe a thing medea says , never buy a paper that’s me.
Mate all I buy is my local rag it’s factual & tells you what’s happening in the area good or bad.the mainstream rags fuck em wouldn’t give them the time of day.
No need to buy papers anymore all over the Internet for free.
Yes I know that but I need a newspaper for the cat litter tray. 😉
Get Gregory back as number two…..spot on coach and motivator, he would jump at it, he was excellent under Little and would be great if his ego is controlled, he loves the club, bring him home.
Id happily have Gregory back. Has Laursen passed his coaching badges yet?
Reading the OS lambo reckons he might use Clarke in a midfield role Saturday.hmmm
southampton seem 2b struggling no wins in 7 (seven) and sheff utd latest conquest, still top manager, unless he was villa manager then hes pants, whats this utd manager playing at. playing wingers as wingbacks, dutch managers, what the fook do they know. surely thats a weakness we can exploit, villa need to recruit this January, who ever’s running the show.
my midfield 3 for weekend sanchez ( improving game by game) delph ( tosser ) okore ( another growing each game) i think okore or clark will play the deep mid role. i would love villa actually get at utd, they will expect us to sit deep and counter. but utd is weak defending and strong attacking. push their wingbacks back and you stop them creating and both are weak defending
ho ho ho
We won’t get at Utd Nath. Not Lambert’s style. In fact, not Villa’s style going back many years. The only exception in the last 10 years I think was Houllier’s team at home in his one season. Lots of young players due to injuries but run them ragged before getting pegged back late on. Not this time though.
well i can’t speak for everyone, but iam quite optimistic, man utd aren’t the team to fear.but like i said, if villa stand off like they have been doing, villa will lose, grow some balls and attack them, villa can beat these muppets. you have to get the wingbacks defending were they are weakest, i don’t know how the current manager will play this game, i think this is how you beat utd
Sign him up permanently? Yes or no what do people think..
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/12/17/tom-cleverley-better-in-four-key-areas-since-villa-loan-move/page/1/
i feel a vote coming on 🙂 i would say certainly not. we need a player or 2 that can deliver a decent freekick or corner, maybe score a goal or two, heaven forbid create a scoring chance. hes not done anything to warrant a 8 million fee, so hell no
also this swap thingy with spuds, is another thanks but NO thanks. Dembele is a step down from delph, in my opinion his stats are better on passing, cos the facts are spurs play more of possession game than we do and the spuds team around him, are of a better quality than delphs teams mates i reckon lennon would be a fair swap otherwise suck my plums and pay for delph
I think I’d like to see what he can do before I make my verdict, he has shown he’s got a good delivery, the arsenal game??, and we all know westwood can deliver a ball and find the back of the net. It’s just hard for them to get into scoring positions with Lambert forcing them out wide, I think. 8 million sadly is now seen as “cheap” in football these days. How much did Liverpool pay for Mignolet again..
As for January I have 2 wishlists, 1 realistic and 1 just a pipe dream.
Realistically;
1- Bolasie.
2-Teophile Catherine
3- A cheeky bid for Kagawa to test Dortmund’s resolve if they keep struggling.
4- Try again for Canales
Wishfully;
1- Bolasie
2- Gyan
3- Caulker
4- Belhanda
Kagawa would most likely never wanna come here even if Dortmund get relegated. (which is unlikely). Better sides would want him. And I have my doubts that’s even close to realistic.
Catherine wouldn’t be a signing I’d wanna see, nor would Caulker who was massively overrated last season but quite often a terrible defender. I’d rather look at bringing Davies back.
I’d take Canales over Belhanda as well. Bolasie would be a solid signing. Gyan would be an incredible signing. All fairness I’d take the realistic signings bar Catherine over the Wishful ones, though I’d still want Gyan.
Bolasie, Canales, Gyan and a much better CB than either two CB’s mentioned would be an incredible, incredible market for us.
I think Catherine was a shining light in a dark season for Cardiff last year, and he’s continued his progression at Saint Etienne in my opinion. As for Caulker I don’t know, I’ve always liked the look of him for some reason. You’re probably right about Kagawa, but it would most definitely be worth the shot, Rather try and fail than not try at all.
Haven’t seen him since Cardiff and I didn’t really rate him. Caulker’s been good in attacking but defending? He’s garbage. I’d love Kagawa, don’t get me wrong, but I do think he’d rather stay at Dortmund.
No no a lot of money for a player who offers FUCK all.
Laursen would be immense!
I personally wouldn’t waste £8m on Cleverley. I’d only want Holtby or Lennon from Spuds and I wouldn’t swap Delph for either.
Dembele’s better than Holtby who’s out on loan and Lennon hasn’t been good enough in years.
Dembele is a good footballer but reports have him as a Billy Big Boots who thinks he belongs at Real Madrid or somewhere. Doubt Villa fit the bill for him but him or Holtby would be a step up. Both would be even better.
I’d agree both are even better, if you mean better than Delph. However people forget Holtby’s out on loan. We’re not gonna just get him willy nilly because their loan club’s not gonna just let him go.
Eh, the media have everyone thinking everyone should be at Madrid. I do think Dembele would come to us if offered the chance.