ROTTERDAM1982

Good post Wes. For me though a defender's first priority is to defend, if he can play football/a pass, then that is a bonus for me.Bacuna is a far better defender than Lowton, and so for me i would persevere with him in a back line of Bacuna .......Vlaar.......Okores.....Bennett/Bertrand. That offers a good balance of pace, aggression, strength.imho.Delaney and Barratt were the best 2 defensive RBs i saw at VP in the last 40 years, and they were crap at going forward, but Giggs said Barratt was his toughest opponent. In midfield, PL does seem to have a bit of an obsession with Westwood to me.He does see qualities in him that i can't see, and as you say he seems to be his project, around who he is going to base his team around.For me however i would play a diamond 4 away rom home, and 2 holding midfielders and an attacking midfielder just in front, a 4 :2:3 :1 system if you like, and i'm not sure Westwood has the right attributes to play in either system.Delph does, but we need , either Sylla to come good, or another player to come in to play on the right side of midfield, and a good attacking midfielder, a la Sissokho. Hoolihan could do that role for a while, but a Hughes/Lestienne kind of player is probably more needed.

Bacuna, who wasn't far off MOM wouldn't get in? A defence of Bacuna, Vlaar, Okores, and Bertrand, and i wouldn't rule out Bennett either, would be a good defence imho. I still think Sylla will come good, and Delph has had a reasonable season.Not convinced about Westwood, so for me need at least 1 good midfielder, maybe 2, and good attacking wide players to put Gabby and Weimann under pressure.

Should stop at RB now, could be a very good RB, gives the team a better defensive foundation.His strength and pace are much more superior than Lowton's .

Never been a big fan of CLARK, no E, but i think he has played well the last few months.Probably caught on his heels a bit for the 1st goal, but played well yday.Fair play to him.

Two fast FBs, who support the attack at every available opportunity, who are comfortable on the ball, quite aggressive, and defensively comfortable, make all the difference, and give confidence to the team. A good start to the team, keep that defence as much as possible, until Okores comes in to the team anyway.

Agree TRO, the year we won the League Cowans had a poor season, the year we won the European Cup though was probably his best. For me though, my favourite Villa player, and hence , in my eyes the best midfielder, Alex Cropley.For me a better passer than Cowans, liked a tackle, not as quick or as athletic though of Cowans, but them two stand out.

Gudietti or Holt on loan?.........hmmmm, let me think about it. I don't trust Lambert anymore, i think he has completely lost it.Quicker he goes the better, if we stop up this year, it will only be because CB gets us out of it.Take CB out of our team and we incredibly average.Lamberts making, don't give him any more money.

He is one of the worst players i have seen in a Villa shirt.Last night summed him up.Very poor in the 1st half, too negative, too slow, not aware of his position, not aware of his role, too weak, and failed to pick up his man for the goal.In the 2nd half he tried to be more positive, but only did passes i expect an average Prem player to make, nothing exceptional.His lack of quality passing, plus his lack of pace, strength, positional awareness makes him a liability, he is not as good as Bannan, and hes not Prem quality. The quicker Westwood and Lowton are out the team, the better.

Yet another 30 minuite performance.Too little too late for me.

I love that Gif Carew.

Naughton.....not for me.Capoue on loan, with view to a permanent, Hollihan and Ings, i would be happy with. I still think Bacuna could be a good RB, plenty of pace, aggression and strength, not too bad positionally, but that will come with Vlaar talking beside him.

Sack him and get a proper coach him.This team is embarrassing in their lack of coaching.No overlapping FBs, no movement off the ball, no support for the player with the ball, no "triangles", or "3rd man running". Personally i'd have Hoddle every time, but anyone who can coach players properly would do me.

We're playing a 3rd division team, granted CB should do better, but who else missed chances?.....surely against a team 2 divisions below us we had chance after chance, however, we did'nt did we? Yes CB should do better, he IS better, i'm not sure anyone else is though.

Well no doubt Ashley "Hoddle" Westwood, who you so adore Stef was setting up chance after chance for him, as always. I suggest you look up the goal scorers for Villa this year.Apart from Benteke and Kozak, who scores?....Gabby 2 or 3, and then KEA.Thats the problem

No movement, no tactics, no competition for players off form, no quality in squad, similar quality players.Of course PLK has to take the blame, of course he has to go, i'm all for giving a guy a chance, but this guy will take us down.There is no fight in the players, they are such a fragile team, no experience, no belief.For the sake of AVFC, i hope Randy has had enough as well.

Unfortunately he is our only goalscorer atm. Still rate him.Needs better players around him.

I thought that joey about Kaboul, but some managers just don't rate players, look at God from Ure.

If Spuds wants Lescott, how about Kaboul?.......really rate him.Boyota from Citeeehhhhh i rate as well.

Yeah, really like Ki.Should be the kind of player we go for, him and Delph, plus a no 10 kind of player, would be a good midfield.Don't think he would cost a great deal either.

I think Essien is a shadow of what he was, not for me tbh. Would definately go for a de Bruyne kind of player, but only with a view to a permanent deal, and would prefer that Kiyokate, that beast from Anderlecht. Then in the summer buy 2 fowards to put Gabby and Weimann under threat. Sell CB under no circumstances though.

Scored a great goal about 2 months ago, look it up.

Can't get out the habit Stefan . Not a big fan, never will be, would'nt have singled him out for praise or criticism today though. I tell you who did play well though, and won'g get any praise for it....Baker.

Dear me, some complete over reaction on here.Thought he was completely anonymous tbh.Played the ball quicker than normal, and looked better for it, but nothing more than i expect . Delph had a strange game, but if you think Westwood was better than Bacuna, then i must be watching a different game. Needs replacing asap imho.

His hold up play was brilliant today.He is the key player to our team, when he holds the ball up as well as he did today, we don't look a bad team.If PL brings a couple of quality players in, it really could be an ok season.

Played well today, not his biggest fan, but the perfect player to play an away game with, put a lot of effort in today.Mind you i thought CBs hold up play made a big difference today.