Wes

How do you not even hit the target?! Incredible!

Whats this? An actual crowd at a Wigan home game?

That's a less than inspiring lineup from the Swans. Shechter hasn't scored for them in 6 starts and 10 sub appearances. Hope they're up for this and have something to prove rather than going through the motions.

Danny Rose is a talent for sure but I think 1) AVB would prefer him to Assou-Ekotto who has been inconsistent for them at LB. 2) Spurs would rather loan him again than sell, and failing all that 3) would demand a high transfer fee if they did sell - last paper report was saying Sunderland were considering an £8m bid. I think there are cheaper alternatives out there to be had that would still suit our style of play on the flanks.

Personally I think our main focus will be: A Centre Back An Attacking Midfielder A playmaker who can play behind the striker or on the flanks And we'll also pick up: A second-string keeper Competition at left back And perhaps another body in midfield.

Sunderland have all the momentum and Stoke don't seem to have the players to punish them on the counter. Would not be surprised it they score another in the next 10 minutes.

Aubameyang would indeed fit our style nicely but I think he's now put himself in the window of clubs currently a level above us with regards potential transfer fees and wages. I can see him going to Arsenal. Simon Kjaer, the Danish centre back at Wolfsburg hasn't kept up with his level of play that he had at Palermo, he's even been dropped in a fair few games this season I believe. He's still only 24 though and still regularly picked for the international team. His contract is up next year so I imagine Wolfsburg will try to get some money back for him this summer. Would you take the risk at £5m+ knowing that he's not the very highly rated player he once was and has been criticised for making mistakes recently?

If we're talking about potential targets we like the look of here's a couple of mine for now: Fabrice N'Sakala, 22yo Left Back, Troyes. Has performed well in a side about to be relegated from Ligue 1. Makes the most tackles per game out of everyone in Ligue 1 this season. Has expressed in the past his interest in one day playing in England. Only has one year on his contract left so could be got very cheap. Would be a cheap option to give competition to Bennet for the left back position. Previously linked with West Ham and Fulham. Cost guess: ~£1.5m. Marco van Ginkel, 20yo Central Midfielder, Vitesse. 8 goals and 8 assists for a side in the top half of the Eredivisie this season. Very promising midfielder that could supply the attacking thrust we need from midfield. Has played for the Dutch national U-21 side for two years and got his first call up to the full national side recently. Has two years left on his current contract and has recently said that he may move on at the end of the season if he knows he can go somewhere he'll get minutes. Sounds like the right kind of attitude that Lambert likes. Has been linked with Ajax, Everton and Norwich. Cost guess: £6m-£8m.

Yes he's had an awful game. His selection was justified though after this good performance on Monday and Clark still not being fit. I don't think we should get rid of him. I do agree though that we should bring in some competition for the left back position next year to try and push him to get rid of these mistakes. I don't think we should write him off completely after one poor season. He could be a competent backup for us in the future. Lets bring in some competition and see what happens.

GABBY!!!!!! COME ON GUYS - HOLD ON TO THIS FOR ALL YOUR WORTH.

Crap. Wigan in front.

Woeful first touches across the whole team today.

We look very leggy to me. Nothing clicking up front either. Troubling.

Unchanged lineup. Subs: Given, Holman, Lichaj, Bent, Bowery, N’Zogbia, Bannan.

Like someone mentioned previously, raiding The Lowlands again along with France would be my guesses for targets from the continent. I think slightly unlike last year Lambert will look for experience from the British Isles and youthful talent from the mainland. I was wondering what formation do you think we'll line up for the most part next year (knowing that Lambert more than most likes to tinker with formations to suit the opponent) Will we be a true 4-3-3 with distinct differences between the midfield and attack? A 4-2-3-1 where the wingers are in fact forwards with lots of stamina, a keen work rate and ability cutting in from the wings? Or a 4-1-2-3 with a deep lying mover of the ball in Westwood with two midfielders in front of him? I'd be very interested to hear others views on this, particularly with regards to the midfield. I think our third midfielder no matter how we play will have to be more attack minded than the guys we have playing there at the moment who are all more defensive and retaining possesion orientated. Are we going to be looking for someone who sits in the gap between the midfield and the striker and plays from there or someone who breaks forward from a deeper position alongside a partner in midfield? It's this third, attack minded midfielder, who I think we're currently missing on our squad and to me is one of the key roles that needs filling in the summer.

His work rate tonight was a wonder to watch. Sprinting 20 yards just to close down a full back. He was doing it all night. A joy to watch and well deserving of his goal.

Inspired performance tonight.

Guzan - Reliable as always. Great save at the end on the line shows that he is always aware. Bennett - Best game in a Villa shirt. Made some cracking runs and overlaps. Lowton - Incredible. How many interceptiosn did he get? 6 or 7 maybe? Utterly brilliant. Vlaar - What a goal. A rock in our defence. Really happy for him. Baker - Solid. I love his mobility and his steadfastness. Delph - He's growing in to the team. Less mistakes and he works tirelessly. Westwood - The metronome in our midfield. Keeps us ticking over nicely and always offering himself for a pass. Sylla - Love this guy's stamina. His running style makes him look like he's not putting effort in but he closes down a lot and made some nice one touch passes. Gabby - Incredible work rate. Incredible. Well deserving of a goal. Andi - Sensational first touch and execution for his goal. Deserved two after starting off rather quietly. Benteke - What can you say. This guy is a Villa legend already. Astonishing performance. The number of balls he held up was fantastic. Bent - Only on for a short time but did well. That's the best perfomance I've seen under Lambert. In the spotlight in one of the most important matches of the season. I am gobsmacked. A hint of things to come in the future one hopes. One final note. The crowd was spectacular tonight. Was listening on the radio and I haven't heard Villa Park like that in a long time. Great work to everyone who went.

Incredible goal. He's been a great signing. Consistent performances and his game is constantly improving, especially his crossing delviery.

Ooof. Close by Bowery.

Good work ethic by Bowery there to slip the ball back to Lowton to cross it in. Now please guys, don't relax. Need to keep pressing for a second.

I thought he played some neat passes. Sure he made a mistake or two but if you criticise him for them then you have to criticise every other player we had on the pitch too. I believe he was involved in the early build up to both set pieces that got us our goals too.

Relief. Utter relief. I liked that Dawkins kid a lot. Looked smart and composed. Well done to Guzan and the defence. Hopefully Lambert stays with this back four going forward. Baker at left back is our best option.

Clark saved us three times in a row there.

Nor me. He's doing the best he can in the role he's been given today. He has no pace and mediocre ball control compared to most wingers but he's covered Lowton who has been trying to get forward an awful lot and he's played smart balls inside to Westwood/Delph. I imagine he was bought in to help from set pieces but seeing as how much we've controlled vast majorities of the game I imagine Lambert will bring him off for Holman shortly after the break should things stay the same or we get a goal. Hopefully Weimann can get over that miss too. Horrid as it was we really could do with him with having some confidence.