Borgs

I approve of his sale. It's hardly a revelation to say Bannan is technically good enough but very limited by physique and, latterly and possibly related, reticence. I'm not au fait with the Crystal Palace team but, as an Australian familiar with their captain Mile Jedinak's attributes, I'd understand if Ian Holloway sees a good fit as a central midfield pairing.

MOTM poll, please - I want to cast my first vote for Okore.

Yet

Why the **** are Sky still banging on about the 'penalty' for Liverpool?  Clearly not one, as shown immediately and clearly by their own replays, but that doesn't stop the commentators, pundits and interviewer all suggesting that it probably should have been - even though Liverpool won anyway!  clearings in the woods.

Agree. Yet another "contentious" penalty decision, as with Gabby's second won pen last Saturday and Terry's non-handball on Wednesday. All three decisions right but don't the pundits love to concoct a furore?

The lads get the benefit of the doubt for the first half being that Okore, Bacuna and Luna are still bedding in, and that miscommunication between centre-backs meant Sturridge got free for the winner. Also, if Liverpool sustain today's first-half performance for a whole match they'll beat one or two of last season's top four this season. Kolo Toure's patch was a vulnerable area we could've done more to exploit, but we had our chances and deserved a point. Not to be, alas.

Those calling for a Coutinho-like attacking midfielder are asking for a luxury player that wouldn't fit in to Lambert's tactical set-up.

Paul Lambert might consider a switch to a 4-4-2 if things aren't turning around, bringing Tonev on for Bacuna to play left mid and moving Gabby or Weimann on to Kolo Toure to run in behind, the other a makeshift right mid.

Fab Delph our only penetrative player. The rest of them not in Liverpool's class to this point. Their players are so much more technically sound and as a result they've largely bossed us. Except for Kolo Toure. What a muppet he's become. I'll be surprised if he doesn't cost them a few points this season.

Appropriate move by both parties. For the club because he was technically sub-PL standard, unlikely to fetch a worthwhile fee and money was saved. For Brett Holman because he's on the precipice as an international starter - in fact he shouldn't have begun his last match ahead of eventual replacement Tom Rogic (Glasgow Celtic) - who needs to find confidence and form ahead of Brazil 2014. Even though, sadly but truly, so shallow is the talent pool that Australia awards the clubless its captaincy (see: Neill, Lucas), playing in Arabia instead of the Premier League won't hurt Holman if he's doing it well and regularly. Given his age and style, if he's ever noticed again by non-Aussie Villans it'll be as a scoring sub in the next World Cup.

From the "I told you so" files (though, it ended at 16 starts in 27 apps):

I can't get comments published at the tail of Mail journo Neil Moxley's articles lately. Even deliberately banal attempts. Probably something to do with hammering him for shabby transfer reporting and his fierce anti-Lambert stance (and for which I was heavily down-arrowed, by the way) around Xmas. Anyway, this time I wasn't allowed to convey the thought that, if the club's determined to get rid of Charles N'Zogbia, his age should allow for recovery enough to maintain his pre-injury value and spice up what has often been a moribund (Bent 2011 aside) January transfer window for Villa fans. And, though it works both ways, the inflationary mid-season market might even see him garner a few extra quid. If it comes to it, spending an extra 10-20% on some cheap, young prospect (as per recent acquisition strategy) is fine if they're making the same margin on Charles.

Keeping my summary brief and personal (as most of you know the problems/needs)...

Infinitely more interesting than season 2011-12.

"Developing Story"

... stay tuned.

Isn't this the sign of a good team... winning despite a poor performance? The distance between Gabby and our second-best player spans half the country. And the distance between our second-worst and Joe Bennett is about the same.

JHHEEEYYEEEZZZZUUSSSS! Well left, Brad.

Get Given on for Bennett, PL!

 

Don't mind Holman, but should've been Weimann instead of Sylla. Or even Benteke, which I've said a few times this season just before he's popped up with a goal.

 

Benteke?! That's almost as ridiculous a suggestion as the Holman on instead of the Zog, or anyone else for that matter.

 

I know Benteke's a threat, but what has he done or even done to indicate he's on the job today? One touch through to Gabby isn't much to boast about, nor risking a justifiable dismissal.

The amount of f___ups by naive youngsters this season... it's overwhelming at times.

Shit, Weimann. Not his day at all.

Don't mind Holman, but should've been Weimann instead of Sylla. Or even Benteke, which I've said a few times this season just before he's popped up with a goal.

Stating the obvious but when contrasting the fullbacks' curve this season Lowton has left Bennett for dead.

That's the icing on a shocking performance from Bennett.

Bugger. Did well to get nearly there, Andy.

Top ten? Imagine that, after the BS this season.

i'm still not very worried despite that 1st half, i'll see what happens opening 10 mins of the second half, then panic or relax

Try both simultaneously and instagram the result.

Hmmm... Zog or Holman for Weimann, depending on his performance from 46-55 mins.

Portends a good result, the form this half. We're typically a 45-minute team and we've got the poor half out of the way.