Borgs

Why can't any of our footballers - perhaps Westwood aside - pick out a forward pass?!

That's exactly why... he's an incorrigible over-dribbler. If he can't work himself on to his left somewhere in the middle-front third he winds up down some blind alley with no end product. Nonetheless, running at people is nothing Gabby can't do.

Kudos, Lambert. With another opportunity Zog's yet again proven a waste of space.

Have to make this little flurry count because if we've learnt one thing recently it's that we'll probably concede again.

Thing is we could introduce Xavi and Iniesta and it wouldn't matter with the standard of distribution from the defence. There's no intent from back to front.

Can't blame Halsey for giving it. Surely a dive but had Rodriguez stood there he'd have copped inevitable contact. Stevens' lunging foot does end up exactly where the opponent withdrew his ankle.

Dive but we didn't half contribute to the whole debacle. What shocking, indecisive rubbish back there.

Clark's been a rock.

Getting used to Lowton passing it to Southampton and being caught out of position as they counter down his flank.

I second the above. Disgusted in people behaving like that, no matter how badly he played. Not interested in the Europa League? Being a finalist might be enough.

Just don't have the players. The centre of this team is as soft as any. There's not a single competent tackler/marker/ball-winner in central midfield/defence.

Weimann - excellent finish. The kind of bravery allied to sharp thinking sadly lacking at the other end of the park. As for Bent: there goes our 15 million.

Our defence isn't even good enough to be laughable.

That's more like it... good stop though.

Poor decision after poor decision on the ball. So many stray passes looking for too much. Keep the ball and play the simple pass and we'll eventually create a sitter or two. I'm sure Lambert tells them this, but Bannan and N'Zogbia....

Agree. He's been a great pro and I'll always remember that run-away goal at the Emirates in 2008 as typical of his strength as a player. It's not so much his thinking of the game that will be the problem in this post-pace phase, but his technique. He's never been technically sound nor left-footed enough for my complete devotion.

Thanks - needed confirmation I was hearing the same thing. Agreed - the front pair could prove the equivalent to Bent in terms of staving off relegation this season. It's a logical conclusion given the manager's selections. But Lichaj is absolutely not a more useful player than Chris Herd. Though the latter's ultimate role is bench/utility/squad player at this level, I don't think the American has much of a future in the Premier League at all. I'm guessing it's the difference between retaining possession and it skewing off the side of the boot for a corner or dribbling it straight over the sideline before attempting to choke the opponent.

Yep. Silly half-hearted gamble when the task was to stay behind the ball. A level of defensive aptitude similar to the Ben Arfa equaliser at Newcastle.

Lucky. All Herd's own doing - should've punted it, the clown.

Yeeaahhh.... let's commit theft right here and now, thanks!

Should've been yellow for Michu. Disgraceful striker's tackle.

Has he brought on the extra defenders yet?

Anyone got live odds on a Villa win? Must've blown out massively fifteen minutes in.

When in England....

Incorrectly given. It skimmed up off his thigh and hit his arm while it was moving away from a position it would've been struck without the deflection. A joke.