Wes

Lambert doesn't want to disrupt his central midfield trio of Delph - Westwood - El Ahmadi. I'm not saying whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, but all his choices are revolving around that. I think he'll be hoping Lowton will be crossing a fair share of ball from the right, hence why there's no Albrighton at the start (whose inclusion would also unsettle the midfield 3) and on the left that Bertrand, Delph and Gabby's movement from deeper positions can unsettle and overload their right flank. I would be quite content with a point. Take any that you can get.

Their best chances have come from defensive lapses on our left side. Holt is doing a particularly good job holding up the ball. Most of the game is going on in midfield where we are edging it just slightly. Our crosses aren't being particularly effective and they're blocking any efforts to through ball or shoot from range equally well. It's a scruffy performance, not bad but not quality either. Given the number of injuries though we should be accepting of this. I fear Holt is only going to tire towards the end of the match and Fulham may be the dominant force in the final 15 minutes - although that may help with our innate counter attacking style.

Drost was an example of just grabbing another midfielder for cheap depth who had potential upside. My KEA upgrade from the list was Propper. I rather like him. He's got three years experience in a three central midfield system at Vitesse and he's still only 22. He's bigger than what we have, good technically and isn't shy getting forward. He doesn't have a history of being a prolific threat though, but I think we'll continue to rely on our forward three to score the majority of our goals next season. I think that's what Lambert had hoped this year too, complemented by Delph's runs from deep, but Gabby and Weimann haven't had scintillating seasons by any stretch of the imagination.

I consider Westwood really lightweight too but Lambert seems to adamantly like what he does. Drost isn't too similiar in style but he's having a darn good season and his price is only going to rise I would think. Klich has only been there a year or two (?) and I tend to believe a player is hardly ever transferred after just a year, especially if they're any good! Certainly a promising player though, you're right. His stature would probably suit us at the moment.

Maybe we're at the mercy of our current crop of players to choose from but I'm finding it hard to suggest against us predominantly playing 4-3-3 again next season. Maybe it'll be a diamond 4-4-2 but that would be a fairly radical change from the norm so I'm not speculating that way at the moment. Whilst this is subject to change the way I currently categorise our needs, considering where we've spent resources in the past two years, looks like this to me (With 1 being the highest priority: 1) Right sided central midfielder. 2) Right back 3) Right winger 4) Left back 5) Left winger 6) Other midfielder I think there'll have to be two big discussions internally in the club before the summer window really kicks in to gear. Firstly, is Lowton staying? Secondly, what's happening with Benteke. In my case I'm assuming that Lowton is leaving and Christian is staying. Personally I'd like whatever issues there are with Lowton to be resolved so that we can spend resources elsewhere. This summer should be tilting more towards adding quality than quantity. I think somewhere upwards of £10m may be combined to be spent on a box to box-ish central midfielder to mirror Delph on the other side of Westwood and a winger to give Gabby and Weimann competition for a starting place as both have been poor this year. I know people are fond of names and numbers cropping up in speculation threads so for examples sake, here you go: Davy Propper, CM, Vitesse - £5m Oliver Sorg, RB, Freiburg - £4m Massimo Bruno, RW, Anderlecht - £7m Aaron Cresswell, LB, Ipswich - £4.5m Lucas Piazon, LW, Chelsea – loan Jesper Drost, CM, Zwolle - £2.5m

I consider Welbeck as a more expensive version of Weimann. Full of endeavor and movement, capable of moments of the sublime, but currently lacks any kind of consistency to his game.

The unknown factor in a lot of these discussions is the World Cup. History shows that a player's profile can dramatically rise and fall as a result of international competitions and as a result how desirable they may be to other teams. As for Benteke in particular, Villa's valutation of him wont have changed. Upwards of £20m. His value in the eyes of other teams has probably fallen somewhat this season, but not terribly. A strong world cup could bring back suitors. Again, I don't think we would sell him unless either we get a bid that we simply can't say no to (which is unlikely to happen) or we had a deal with Christian himself that we would let him go this summer after one more season for us (which we have no way of knowing if such a deal exists).

No post for a whole day? Well to kick start some discussion: Do you think we will, more often than not, play with a midfield three again next year? Personally I think that's what has worked well for us this season, when we've played our best. It hasn't always been effective. I'm currently looking for other teams in Europe who also play with a playmaking/intercepting central figure in a marginally deeper position flanked by two more box-to-box types. This is the structure I think we'll continue playing with current personnel next season as I'm not expecting a radical overhaul of the squad. Just wondered if others felt the same or if we'll go in a different direction. Deeper middle figure, with a fourth guy at a point of a narrow diamond perhaps? Change to a 2 deep, one attacking mid?

I've only seen bits of his play but what I have seen has generally impressed me. I think he takes their penalties so his goals stat is inflated in case anyone goes looking. If I had to sum him up in a word I would say control. He doesn't come across to me as a blunderbuss of a winger. There is a purpose to his movements. Also I think he has the stature and physicality to likely be effective in the English league. I just wonder if there may be a tiny bit of a bond forming between Villa and Chelsea. Chelsea were not pleased with how Liverpool handled Moses' loan. I can't see them having any complaints with how we've handled Bertrand getting all the time he has had. Plus, Jose seems to like Lambert. Piazon has been on Chelsea's books for two years now. He's had a spell in Spain and now one in Holland where he was doing well up until the turn of the year where he has fallen short on a number of occasions by all accounts. I think the powers that be at Stamford Bridge may want to see how he does in England next year. He's not going to get ahead of Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle, Salah and the likes and he offers no English nationality bonus to the squad that the likes of Moses does with regards European competition. On the subject of potential links from the past with players as we look towards the summer, Okore came from a "lesser league" but had Champions League experience. I wouldn't be surprised if we bring in one or two players that meet that description this year also.

I think Griezmann will be approached by clubs far above our current station. He would, for instance, be a natural solution for Manchester United's odd left flank who'll be throwing money about like nobodies business this summer. I think his fee would be closer, if not exceeding, £20m rather than £10m. A promising left sided talent, as that's the topic of discussion, that would be a more likely target is the likes of Maxime Lestienne of Brugge or, if I got my way, Lucas Piazon of Chelsea (currently at Vitesse).

Lambert's interview with Pat Murphy on 606 last night, immediately after Murphy had spoken to Jose, was brilliant. Definitely worth finding on iPlayer.

The way he pauses as if he was about to put his hands on his head because of missing Looks to me he was just savouring his moment of utter brilliance.

Got any reports on anyone There's a couple of people that certainly interest me but I'm going to wait until the end of the season before posting them. A lot can happen in two months to both them and us - players can become injured, their form can go up and down, the formations we play to name but a few. I concur with samjp26 with regards Ziyech from Heerenveen. Oozes quality. I believe, as others havealready said, his contract situation is a bit awkward. If he was on a free I can see him going elsewhere, a club that can offer him higher wages than would be the norm for a player such as him but they'd just absorb that and imagine it as part of a transfer fee that they never had to pay. Dare I say we may stand a better chance if we actually had to give them some cash.

After the success of Bacuna and the integral role Vlaar is having on the team I would wager we dip back in to the Belgian and Dutch leagues for at least one player this summer, if not two or even three.

I have been waiting for this thread. The fun starts here.

"It's not just about Benteke" - Christian Benteke on MotD2, 3rd March 2014 He's talking in the third person. Unbelievable Bentekkers.

After a horrible first 20 minutes, Benteke sparked everyone in to life and everyone executed their duties really well. I thought El Ahmadi had a terrific game.

An early warning.

Just seen the replay of the Delph block. I thought it was a Guzan double save at first. I really admire Fabian's engine at times.

El Ahmadi made that goal. Won the ball 3 times in under 30 seconds.

That's brilliant composure by Bacuna. Great set up by El Ahmadi through to Gabby running strong through midfield and then Weimann picking out the pass.

Hoolahan continues to cause problems. Has shown a class weight of first touch pass.

Weimann's touch is heavier than Windsor Castle.

Yes Christian! Get him the ball as much as possible before the half.

WE NEEDED THAT FROM YOU BENTEKE WELCOME BACK