switters

He looks fairly promising but I don't think he's really ready. Noticeably one footed - got himself into trouble with unwillingness to use his right at times & yes I don't think he has the match fitness for 90 mins of PL football at the minute. Not sure who is best option at LB currently. tbh, Lichaj has probably been best of him, Stevens & Bennett, but none have been consistent and every team we play seems to target that side of the pitch.

Good try in 2nd half, but couldn't get the break. Oh, what a last minute equalizer might have done for our confidence. Delph and Clark had good games, for the most part. Though it was ironically Delph clearing the ball into Clark which led to the penalty. Benteke - v.good at winning the ball in the air, but needed to take one of those chances. Bannan, for all the criticism he gets about set pieces, actually put in 3 or 4 very good balls in the second half. but once that one was headed onto the bar, you knew it wasn't gonna happen. Positive thinking: in the last 4 league games we've conceded 4,3,2,1. Therefore clean sheet at WBA is guaranteed

Bannan's a good footballer. Don't get why so many are so keen to write him off or make him scapegoat for all the team's woes. It's clear he's not currently good enough to carry or lead the midfield, but I think he could be a very good cog in a functioning midfield (say he was alongside Young, Petrov & Milner). Just like I think Clark or Baker could be good with the right partner, but neither are yet capable of leading the defence. It's a matter of finding the right balance, not just writing everyone off for not thriving in an unbalanced team. I think El Ahmadi's been the bigger disappointment in midfield. Suspect he was the one Lambert signed as the steady hand in midfield who'd start 95% of games, but he hasn't really performed.

I'd go with Ireland on for either Weimann or Agbonlahor. Not getting either of them in the game enough atm. Zog has provided the most threat of the front 4. Bent on for Benteke would be tempting too, but maybe not yet. I think we'll come back okay. Just need a goal to settle nerves.

That was bloody lucky deflection. Don't panic now. We can easily come back if we keep making chances as we have been.

Would've felt so much better if the goals were the other way around. A game everyone expected to lose and we somehow manage to get a draw which feels like a kick in the teeth. Still, Swansea should've been out of sight early on, our defensive line was atrocious early on. At least the point gives us something to build on. Weimann MOTM - that goal from nothing is one of the most important of the season. After 16 or 17 consecutive against us, it was vital and confidence definitely started creeping back afterwards. Benteke also much better than the last couple of games. Great to have both strikers on scoresheet. Delph deserves some praise for his 2nd half. I was expecting a 2nd yellow but he was actually disciplined.

Definitely been better in 2nd half. Still not great of course, but goal has helped confidence. Would try Carruthers for Albrighton, maybe give something different in attack.

On a yellow, inexperienced & with Dyer brought on to run at him. Makes perfect sense to me.

Never a free kick against Albrighton there.

Bring on Bannan for Delph, who is a walking red card after getting stupid booking. He could easily have another one for persistent fouling.

Holy **** a goal!!!!!!

Benteke showing a glimmer of how he was vs Liverpool there. We need a goal so badly. something to give some hope.

Worst defence ever. could be another 8-0

God that was awful. Guzan saved us.

Think this might be our youngest lineup yet. Chris Herd is our oldest outfield player!

Actually think it will probably be benefit to be away from home in this one. Players clearly nervous and lacking in confidence in front of expectant home fans, maybe now that expectations are absolute minimum they will play with a little less fear. Assuming no-one is newly available from Wigan game, I'd go something like: Guzan Lowton-Herd-Clark-Bennett Albrighton-Westwood-Bannan-Delph Weimann-Benteke doesn't look good, but the options aren't really there - really hope either Baker or Vlaar is back. Get Albrighton & Delph working hard to press & help out the full backs vs Dyer/Routledge. We won't create much, but we could look to counter. Perhaps could sneak a draw, as Swansea have drawn a lot at home

Hard to know when we're in such a slump and nobody seems to be in form. People tend to have selective memories about players who have been out of the team for a while - when we're playing well, they are crap & good riddance to them, but when we're losing suddenly people think Hutton would be good Think we've generally been strongest at the back when it was a back for with Vlaar-Clark in the centre. Dunne might be good for a short term fix, but hard to know how he'll come back. This injury has been worryingly prolonged. Lowton only option for RB, while LB could be Bennett or Stevens, not sure we've seen either enough to know. Westwood-Bannan was best CM combo we've used, though it's clear that they are not ready to play every game & keep up their level of performance. If they were fresh & on form they'd be my choice. Similar story with Weimann-Benteke-Agbonlahor, but again I think it's the best we've got. Final place is between Ireland, Holman or N'Zogbia and I'd rather the former though it's getting hard to retain belief in him. That would leave pretty much the team vs Man Utd (of course it is also pretty much the team that lost 5-0 at Man City, but there's no-one who's played this season who isn't tainted with bad results!): Guzan Lowton-Vlaar-Clark-Bennett Westwood-Bannan Weimann-Ireland-Agbonlahor Benteke Bench: Given, Baker, Herd, Holman, N'Zogbia, Albrighton, Bent

Utterly dispiriting. Players looked downbeat walking out onto the pitch and played like it first half as Spurs were completely dominant. Needed a reaction after the 8-0 and really didn't get it. Brief spell after half time when it looked like we might be past the worst and might be able to get something from the game but as soon as we conceded it was back to zero-confidence & no way back. The only plus for the next few games is that we won't be up against such strong opposition as Chelsea & Spurs, who are capable of being so ruthless once ahead. Got to find some confidence from somewhere, can't let this 4 day spell be season-defining.

Perfect away performance - absorbed their pressure & got the blocks and saves when necessary, then potent on the counter attack. Only one man for MOTM 'cause his goals and assist won the match, but it was a great collective performance and considering only 2 of the starting lineup were over 24 up against a pretty experienced Liverpool side, that's so great. Feel happier about Villa than I have for several years! Chelsea away next - tricky, but with them having had to travel to Japan this week, we should be going there with a lot of confidence.

Thanks for the highlights. All the goals were nice in different ways. Dodgy header by Baker for their goal, mind. Will be interesting to see if he picks Gabby or Weimann vs Liverpool.

Thought we'd see Ireland and Weimann in for this one. Guess Ireland injured as he's not on bench even? It'll be interesting to see if Bent-Benteke can strike up a partnership.

I see the point and I was thinking the same thing at times, but we have to bear in mind that on several of those occasions when the ball went into the box and no-one was attacking it, the player putting the ball in was Gabby. Gain in one area might be a loss elsewhere. tough to get the balance right.

Good performance, but we just didn't have the final ball/finishing. Defensively strong & I think the system suits, with Herd as extra defender, but both him and Baker able to bring the ball forward. It's the link between Benteke & Agbonlahor/Bent and the midfield which is missing. Ireland didn't have a great deal of impact filling that hole. Holman was okay first half, but again just didn't quite provide enough link. Probably give MOTM to Baker or Herd. We limited Stoke to almost zero chances & defended set pieces well.

Good first half but shame we couldn't make the breakthrough. Really think this game is there to be won but we might need to take a risk and get the extra attacker around the hour mark. Half-thinking this is where we should re-introduce Bent - fair few times in the first half where the balls come into the box and you could imagine him being in the right place, where we have no-one. But of course, having Bent would mean sacrificing someone elsewhere and we don't want to lose the balance. Weimann would be another option.

I guess the question is if Herd will be in defence like at QPR, or pushed up into midfield. Would hope the latter as it'd free up Holman/Bannan to attack more.