Delphinho123

An Awful player, should be nowhere near the starting XI. I like Marc though and hope he does well in the Future. He just needs to make that step down to the Championship and I'm sure he will have a long and solid career. Worst comes to worst, we get 1/2m for him and the academy has done its job. Cannot afford to have him in the team at the moment though. Brings absolutely nothing.

Guzan - 10 Bennett - 3 Vlaar - 6 Herd - 7 Lowton - 6 Albrighton - 3 Delph - 3 KEA - 3 Holman - 4 Agbonlahor - 3 Benteke - 7 Terrible performance from a terrible team. We desperately need to buy a whole new midfield in January otherwise we are in serious trouble this year. Delph and Albrighton are Championship players at best. Oh and I hate Phil Dowd as much as the next person but he wasn't the reason we were shit today. Norwich could arguably have had two penalties and Chris Herd was lucky to be on the pitch at the end. UTV

Delph - 7? lol

----------------------Guzan--------------------------- Lowton--------Vlaar-------Clark-----------Bennett Holman--------KEA--------Ireland------Agbonlahor ------------------Bent------Benteke------------------

What are you basing this on? The 3/4 sitters he's missed for us already? People laughing at him at training? The sky commentators slating him? His all round poor performances? Will Bannan and Herd be off to big clubs too?

Yet another average player unfortunately. Haven't been impressed with him at all. Probably does just enough to start in our midfield but that is more of a reflection on our strength in that area rather than the player himself. He seems to bring energy at least and that's something we need. Apart from that though, there is not much to his game.

He is probably our best midfielder. He isn't great by any means but far better than Delph, Westwood, KEA and Bannan. He definately doesn't do enough to justify his 60/70k a week wages but at the end of the day, if he's fit, he should play. We have a piss poor midfield.

What do people expect? Honestly? We are a very average international team with some very ordinary players. In a group we are very likely to qualify from, going to Poland and getting a point in difficult circumstances is decent IMO. We aren't Brazil, Germany or Spain, we are England and we are average. Why do people act surprised when players like Carrick, Cleverly etc. play poorly? These players wouldn't even make the Spain reserve team's bench. Its time for people to wake up and get real in England. We have no divine right to go to Poland and outplay them with the team we have. It's a good point tonight and it puts us in a good position for the remaining games in the group.

Sorry if this has already been discussed but just found this online and it made my blood boil... http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/19924802 Thoughts? (apologise for the link)

I've watched the whole match. His goal has masked a somewhat poor performance in my opinion. More often than not he has given the ball away and has won very few headers. The most worrying aspect of his game for me is his work rate. Sometimes he seems to just amble around the pitch. I'm all for giving him a chance but he needs to use his physical stature a lot more and certainly win more headers. He is 21 so will get better I'm sure but the only way he will do this is if he works harder to create chances for others. UTV

So according to you CI, Ireland has been our worst player this season so far? Do you honestly believe this?

I know its still early on, but it seems there is such a difference in opinion of players performances for the first few games of the season. So all things taken into consideration, how have the players (out of 10) performed so far this season in your opinion? For me: Guzan: 8 Holman: 7 Lowton: 7 Ireland: 7 Vlaar: 6 Clark: 6 Delph: 6 Bennett: 6 Bannan: 6 Agbonlahor: 6 Bent: 6 KEA: 5 Westwood: 5 Albrighton: 5 Benteke: 5 N'Zogbia: 5 Given: 5 Lichaj: 5 I know its hard to tell with some players because they have only played 90 mins or so, but thats how I feel we have started the season. A lot of work still needed to be done.

Still unsure about KEA. I honestly can't work out whether he is a good player or not! Adds a lot of energy to the side but often gives the ball away in silly situations. Ill reserve my judgement until after the next 5/6 games.

I've actually been quite impressed with Delph and Albrighton. Replace Benteke with Bent and we have a chance in this game. Holman has been the stand out so far. Pretty good first half I'd say. UTV

Is this really the rating? I picked those ratings, dont knock em'.

:shock:

BBC Manchester's coverage of this game is beyond shocking. Truly awful. They haven't even figured out what formation Man City are playing yet. Decent start by Villa though I think. These idiots are poisoning my ears.

The main thing that worried me about Benteke today was his work rate. We cant have someone alongside Bent who doesnt at least work the channels or bust a gut to get into decent positions. I wouldn't worry too much about the long ball thing, Lambert obv. set his stall out like that based on what he's seen on Southampton this season. Im sure against WBA we will be different. Ireland is a massive loss to our team though.

Maybe but thought he was our worst against Swansea too, Hope he doesn't get into a habit of them Me too. Was poor against Swansea and again today. Hopefully its just a blip.

Our best player today, as he is for a lot of games and has been for 12 months. Why did he come off? Was he injured? Badly need him in the side as KEA and Holman look incapable of making a pass at times.

Terrible, terrible result. Guzan - 5 Lichaj - 4 - I like Lichaj but he looked poor on the left today. He would be more comfortable on the right, but even then, still a squad player. Vlaar - 5 - Didn't really do too much wrong. Clark - 4 - Poor. Gave the ball away a lot. Lowton - 4 - Didn't really do anything. Holman - 3 - Did he actually complete a pass? I'm all for work rate, but you actually be able to play a bit too. KEA - 3 - Woeful. And worryingly so. Have not been impressed at all last two matches Ireland - 6 - Hassled, won the ball back, looked threatening. Wasn't brilliant but our best player on the day Bannan - 5 - didn't do that badly. Faded and went missing but was better than the KEA and Holman Bent - 5 - Got his goal. Apart from that, not great. Didnt read Benteke's flick on's Benteke - 5 - Worryingly poor work rate. Also perhaps could have scored Subs: Westwood - 4 - Not impressed at all. Frustrating really as I had high hopes. Give him time though Agbonlahor - 4 - Didnt touch the ball. Looked a bit fat as well Bennett - 5 - Didnt really do anything. Awful performance against a very poor side. They will lose heavily plenty of times this season Southampton and at 1-0 at half time, they were there for the taking. Lambert's tactics seemed a bit off for todays game but I'm sure he will sort it out. Big game against Albion next week. If we lose that, I will genuinely be concerned for our safety this season. Up the Villa

The worrying thing for me is not so much the result (Even though Southampton are shite), its certain players performances. Mainly that of Westwood and El Ahmadi. Our midfield last year wasn't that strong and we brought these two in to bolster it. El Ahmadi was poor against Swansea as well and although its early on for Westwood, I'm not sure exactly what he will bring to the table. Our goal has to be to stay up this year and consolidate for a little while, but losing already to two promoted sides in West Ham and Southampton doesn't bode well, especially when they are both very poor sides. Slightly worrying times.

Awful Awful Awful. Southampton are poor. We only have ourselves to blame. Come on villa for **** sake, they are woeful.