Gentingthereslowly

the second half is meaningless, we didnt play well, NUFC played to hold out and did, they sat so deep anyone would of threatened them...

Shocking performance

and bent started ahead of Andi because??

oh piss off bannan 

formation is pathetic, theres a reason where one of the only teams in the league playing it and it reflects our results,

Full backs are horrendous, bannan not good enough at all, 

Get weimann and Ireland on and get some shape

Bent isnt as effective when a team sits deep as he likes to play on the shoulder, we didnt have the composure further back the pitch to coax them out to create space for him. Felt sorry watching them thump balls in on him. Him and Ireland, sacpegoats again even though people supposed to give us width (namely gabby and CNZ) didnt turn up in the 2nd half and Benteke had a mare all night although he tried hard.

Cant find any stats yet so just my opinion. Would say Weimann was more involved in creating chances in the short time he was on than Ireland was in his whole time on the pitch. Failed to provide much required width to support Lowton in the 1st half. The only time he did he was able to supply a half-decent ball which Benteke nearly managed to manufacture something out of. Just seemed to drift in and out the game to me and didnt look like he wanted to get involved.

So you would say Weimann was involved in more than 4 chances while he was on that pitch that all could have led to goals? Examples?

And he probably should have been (not that im bashing Weimann) he's a striker in a team that were all out attack, Ireland was sitting with Delph for majority of second half.

Very hot and cold player for me. Can see what all the Genk fans were warning us about tbh.

To be fair the majority of balls he got tonight were pumped at him from 70 yards and not whipped at him at pace from the wing, hardly a strikers dream

took his goal well again

He was **** awful, barely did anything. Strolled around the pitch without giving a **** about anything. How he lasted the 90 I'll never know. Only player worse than him was Bent but of course neither will get much stick because Lambert doesn't play them much and it's become fashionable to disagree with just about everything Lambert does

Reply to either of my points above? What was his distance covered? If im wrong il hold my hands up, looked to be doing a lot of running to me

This is probably going to get lost in the mire but I'll go anyway.

Got back about an hour ago and am drowning my sorrows in a beer.

It started wonderfully; the fans were in full voice, in a singing competition with the Bradford fans, all the flags waving, massive wave of positivity.

We absolutely dominated them all the first half. They hardly got the ball over the halfway line and we had one scare with a shot. Bennett put in a great cross and Benteke scored. Bennett is obviously low and confidence and is not liking getting stick from the fans as Bannan went straight to him where you could see he was really pleased.

After that, we turned up the heat even more. Bennett was excellent, getting involved in everything and was very dangerous. I wish that mazy run would have resulted in something because until there was an offside it was sublime.

We got to half-time and it was great. I was sat near the Holte and was looking forward to seeing a few going in in the 2nd half.

It was going well. We started the 2nd half in the same way as we finished the first. "We've done it before and we'll do it again".

Then we conceded the corner. Everyone knew what was coming, but secretly hoped we'd not let them undo us from our obvious weakness. Obviously we would defend every set piece with our lives, watch every ball coming in and make sure we were first to everything.

I didn't see what happened to allow their player to get in and score as I was too far away. But firstly you wonder if Guzan would have claimed it, and there seemed to be a hell of a lot of pushing and shoving going on. If corners are so easy to score from, why can't we do it?

The players walking back to the centre circle knew what the rest of the ground knew. It was over. If we'd taken 45 minutes to get 1 goal, it was going to be difficult to get at least 2 more without conceding in the last 30. The heads dropped and our shape went.

Lambert rolled the dice by bringing Bent on, who was almost a saboteur. Then as we were desperately trying to get the ball up front quickly, he also brought on Weimann. The worrying part was when Bent came on giving directions of who should go where and no-one understood who was covering where. Delph wasn't sure if he was covering left-back when Bennett came off so there was a massive gap Hines exploited.

We threw everything up top, everyone was getting in each other's way and it was a bit of a melee. We didn't have time to be patient and Bradford got 11 men behind the ball. Given was able to dribble the ball to the halfway line to put it into the box but to no avail. We had a few chances but again we don't have good enough, and we can't afford good enough players to be clinical.

Special mention to Bent at the end who ended up celebrating with the Bradford players while all other Villa players were skulking off. Sell him for anything to get him out of the club.

Given: 5. Wonder if he could have got to the corner? Didn't have a lot else to do.

Lowton: 4. Not at the races

Vlaar: 6. Solid

Clark: 6. Solid

Bennett: 7. Few mistakes but everything good went through him

Delph: 7. Was on a mission. Tidy, committed. How I wish his run and shot would have gone in.

Ireland: 5. The reason no-one was passing to him was because he just wanted the ball to feet without moving. Everyone else is looking to play the ball into space. They don't realise Ireland can play tight, so unless he's in acres of space they don't pass to him. Cue tantrum.

Bannan: 5. Divides opinion. Passes were fine, he was the engine, keeping the ball moving around. Couple of fantastic long passes, but not the quality to channel everything through. This is the position we need a top quality CM.

N'Zogbia: 6. Forced stuff to happen. Still Charles N'Zogbia FC but a bit more composure would have reaped rewards.

Gabby: 5. Tried, but ultimately failed.

Benteke: 5. Was playing the hold-up striker, but doesn't have a great first touch. Well taken goal, but doesn't run or take chances anywhere near enough.

Bent: 0. Please leave. Should have been on the end of a knock-down from Benteke at 94 but couldn't be arsed.

Weimann: 4. Proved why he wasn't picked. Obviously wasn't fit.

Lambert: The only blame I can really lay at his door is that the set pieces still haven't been sorted out. The worst thing tonight was to concede so you make sure everyone knows their job from corners. He has to take the blame for that. I don't attempt to second-guess him looking lost or aloof, or panicked etc., because that means nothing. But defending corners is a basic that should have been fixed by now.

This is a great point, in essence his game suffers in that regard because other players cant do it so by their nature don't put ireland in the position to play from tight when he actually can. Its crazy because the tighter players get the more gaps appear but yet we blame Ireland for this.

Look at his interview on AVTV.

He is genuinely heartbroken about this defeat.

so bloody what, that doesnt make him good enough to play

I thought he was awful. Would love to see him off the wage bill, just can't see anyone touching him with a ten-foot barge pole.

I forget its hard to get a constructive debate around here with statements backed by facts.....

Which player was involved in more chances than him outside Benteke

really cant believe the stick Irelands getting in the match thread after tonight and people creaming themselves over CNZ running down blind alleys again,

Ireland had one disallowed, one effort saved by a finger tip, and put one on a plate for Benteke in the first half,

Second half he was forced to play a deeper role and still was closest to scoring outside the Weimann goal, was full of running, winning possession and composed on the ball.

Seems he is getting more criticism here than on sites with the public ratings which is normal i suppose.

Wouldnt mind seeing some stats on our players from tonights game.

thought i'd do a full reflection:

Given - 4 - might have done more on the corner they scored from, very poor distribution, captain? what captain?

Bennet - 6 - gets a 6 purely because he setup the 1st. Gave the ball away, got caught in possession every other minute and conceded the corner that led to their goal when he could have and should have done better.

Lowton - 3 - shocking performance, awful in defence, passing was abysmal, got into good positions but every delivery was to a bradford player, very poor

Vlaar - 4 - looks like a man rushed back from injury too soon, barely able to move about the pitch and lost his man for the goal

Clarke - 4- wasnt really aware he was playing until about the 80th minute when he popped up on the left wing and put in a cross so bad i thought it was marc albrighton

nzog - 7- looked decent in the first half but disappeared as he always does in the second

ireland - 4 - shocking, only passes he made successfully were less than 5 yards, i'd expect more from a player of his ability

bannan - 3 - not good enough for professional football - everyting he did, he did wrong

Delph - 7 - possibly his best game for us, tried very hard and put himself about, pity he lack any real ability

Benteke - 6 - yeah he's a good player, but he doesnt work hard enough and isnt clinical enough yet. too big for his boots and should have had a hattrick tonioght had be put a bit more effort in and focused on doing his job

Gabby - 6 - i think he ran himself ragged tonight despite ppl saying he looked like he cdnt be bothered, it wasnt up front we were losing posession and playing backward passes after all

Subs

weiman - 7 - scored the only chance he got and started some nice attacks

Bent - 5 - offered absolutly nothing, he needs to get out of his club if he ever hopes to play for england again and good riddance when he does - LAZY!

Manager & STaff:

0 - what on earth did they say at half time? what on earth did they do to the formation? what kind of subs were they to make? What on earth were thse tactics about? Utter utter dross!

Post match interview is very interesting:

"will you be bring in new signings..."

"well ive spoken to the chairman and hes aware of the situation - its not the right time to answer that/..."

Does that mean theres no money? does it mean hes been sacked? has he offered his resignation and doesnt know if its been accepted yet? Very Interesting!!

Ireland a 4?? honestly what game did you watch? The guy worked his socks off all night, forced a very good save from the keeper in the first half, had a goal disallowed, put a sitter on Bentekes head just before half time, got into a great position in first half but delph blasted over the bar instead of putting him through one on one,

Second half he came closest to scoring outside of Weimanns goal, harrassed players to the final whistle and was committed....its hard to pass it more than 5 yards with no movement around you...Charles, Gabby and Co were non existent in the second half...

Nzog a 7 then and gabby a 6....hahaha

very poor player,

Cost us a goal tonight, weak and not aggressive enough all game...

Concrete Ron my ass...absolute woman

Gabby is an absolute joke, no interest at all, didnt get out wide, didnt look for it in the middle, never came out after half time,

Vlaar - **** off you are an absolute pussy, awkward and afraid of your shadow,

Clark as bad, how do we have a squad full of defenders who cant defend...

Delph cant tackle, terrible

Zoggy all flair and no end product

Ireland the only player with composure in the second half, has to start next game, movement in front of him and delph was shocking

Weimann pops up with a goal as usual, fair play

Does lambert have any control over the players??? If so, his tactics in the second half were pathetic either that or they just ignore him

cant understand how anyone can say the second half performance was decent...it wasnt at all, we hoofed, chased and prayed

happy with point, we deserved nothing....

Should have been 5 down...second half was shocking i dont care what anyone says , the only difference is swansea were deflated after us getting a goal and never got going...

Special mention to brett holman who let his man skip past him for the goal....minimal effort by the man who only has effort....disgraceful

**** you holman, pitiful effort on the edge of the area when ppl were putting there bodies on the line

hate to be a swansea fan lol

Bannan on. Last minute pen for Villa!!

What a shout

nick on here

bannan surely

swansea have very little shape now and movement is gone very poor...surely we can take at least a point from this

swansea look out of ideas