Wes

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.

I'm worried. Wet spam will not be this bad for the whole game surely?

Surprised by the Bowery hate, I didn't think he'd been THAT bad!?

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.

I dnt mean to be a moony bastard but why the hell didn't we get this guy in time for yesterday's vital game? Or even for Bradford

Panic stations

Let's hope more are on their way

Perhaps needed Hutton and Warnock off the monthly wage bill first.

Sounds ideal considering our needs and budget constraints.

Great news!

He was abysmal tonight. He's been on a downward spiral performance wise for a long time now but tonight took the biscuit. He's way too keen to play a low percentage pass which, as the name suggests, more often than not fails in periods of the game when we were applying constant pressure and his erratic passing gave them time to regroup.

I sincerely hope we have a centre midfielder coming in before the end of this window in some shape or form. Bannan has been asked to do too much and is simply not capable of either the holding or driving forward pressence we need from central midfield in this current team.

He's not getting sacked. We can't afford it, there's no money for a replacement to bring in players of his choosing and for better or worse the owner is sticking with him and we have to do the same.

Now not to say he's been doing a great job. Far from it. Tonight we have hopefully seen the end of the 3-5-2 debacle and that Benteke and Bent will never start games together again.

Great alertness by Baker there.

Well said Harry.

How about we stop spending more of our transfer budget sacking managers.

Regarding the issue of transfer dealings known to the press. It seems clear that the current administration don't like to do things through the media for better or for worse.

To be honest I'm quite thankful for that as look at what is happening to Newcastle, They had Remy sniped away from them because they had been courting him in the media for so long and there were reports today that Mbiwa may have been tapped up in the last few hours too by another club even though he had a planned medical at Newcastle! (Should be noted it seems he is now on his way to the North-East).

We can't (or perhaps better but, we are not willing to) compete with the wages being offered by other clubs in the league right now and as a result we can't afford to let our targets be known and end up in a potential bidding war which we would almost certainly lose.

M'Vila would be perfect but you have to think long time suitors Arsenal would be his likely destination. Definitely worth an attempt if the staff didn't think we would be immediately rebuffed.

To be fair though, there could be various negotiations going on that we have not a clue about and many times these deals will take time. Even more so because it is January so fees will be bumped up by selling clubs and buying clubs will really have to haggle to get reasonable deals. I'm sure defenders are being worked on as well, just because we haven't heard, it does not mean the wheels aren't in motion.

I think you're exactly right. If the rumour was true that Southampton were also interested in him perhaps that is why we've made our bid now.

Also if we get an attacking player in earlier in the window it gives more flexibility in trying to move someone on from the same position (I personally think Ireland or Bent) in the same window.

Delph and Bannan actually beating their man and not passing backwards.

Their keeper keeping them in this.

Bannan and N'Zog playing well....the rest? Well...

Bannan and Delph have been awful!

Bennett has been getting abused but we're insisting on keeping Gabby too far up to help.

It's more (quality) depth at full back. Hard to turn down. Maybe it's also someone for Benteke to bond with? There aren't that many French speakers in the team. Another reason why, if that ridiculous link of Coutinho would somehow go through, that we may go back to Porto for the defender Ba.

Hopefully can act as a confidence builder. Great to see some injuried players back with some play time.

aubameyang would be a superb signing. Exactly what we need upfront. Aubameyang and Gabby either side of Benteke would frighten the living shit out of defenders. He looks quicker than Gabby with a better finish.

I agree. He'd be a great signing although I think Villa have missed the chance to get him. In the past summer it was possible but his perfomances this season so far have put him on the radar of teams around Europe that are simply in a better position than us at the moment to entice that kind of talent.

We've also been tenuously linked with Iago Aspas from Celta Vigo. I'm not so sure about all this lack of experience talk surrounding us (I think it's more quality that we're lacking in) but in his case he's 25 and won promotion with Celta vigo to La Liga last year. If he can perform in a scrappy promotion race, I would think he'd also be capable of performing in a dogfight at the bottom of a top league. This can also be seen by his 6 goals in 12 games for Celta Vigo so far this season - who, like us, sit just outside the relegation zone - contributing roughly 40% of all their league goals this season.

ESPN reported his agent saying he wouldn't leave until the summer but I never believe anything an agent says.

A sobering result. Shows up the deficiencies we have heading in to January. Let's face it though, our starting eleven cost half of one of their players they signed this season.

I'd rather concede to a fantastic header and a world class free kick away to Chelsea than, say, home to Wigan.

The game is over but lets see if the youngsters liven up in this second half. Let's see what they'll do for Lambert. Hopefully not capitulate further. Get the most out of this 45 minutes as possible.

Finnbogasson with an assist and another goal today. He's now scored 14 in 16 in the league. Unlikely that he leaves in January but worth keeping an eye on.

I think he could be good for us but if he's set to come into the first team which of the three central defenders do we drop to play him? I mean Baker has been very good, Herd has been good and Clark has been good. Granted Herd will probably get benched when Vlaar returns as he's our utility guy he fills the gaps when they appear. I don't think Clark has played badly enough for Ba to replace him though, but a back three of Vlaar, Baker and Ba does look exceptional I must admit.

Don't need to drop anyone immediately. If we continue playing three at the back we're going to need additional cover anyway. By purchasing him in January he gets an extra 6 months to blend in to the squad before the new season than if we would get him in the Summer and between now and then he can fill in for injuries/suspensions that are bound to add up, integrating him gradually.

It doesn't sound like he'll cost the world and obviously has a bit about him. Sounds like a good addition to the squad and as others have mentioned already PL and his scouting team have done a good job thus far. No reason not to trust them all further.

Much like against Liverpool at Anfield, perhaps even more so, any kind of point at Stamford Bridge should be seen as a very successful trip.

Many Liverpool fans thought our midweek game against Norwich would tire us and be in their favour but that wasn't the case. Like previously mentioned, it'll be interesting to see what their lineup is like midweek.