Honest bunch of lads

Barry isn't really what we need though is it?

Well that's what I thought in the transfer window because of Westwood, but now I think we could have really used him.

I hear a lot of talk of this magical 'playmaker'. Is there any player in the world who sets up guilt edged chances every time they get the ball? Then scale your options down further on who Villa can actually attract and afford. Then look at how lots of Villa fans bemoaned Bent's supposed lack of defensive workrate or any player's lack of defensive workrate. I don't think Ozil/Carzorla/David Silva offer all that much defensively. Ultimately it's a balance, you have a squad who are training and kicking footballs everyday. They all have SOME creative/playmaking ability. It's not like you assign a playmaker and that is the only player who is allowed to take someone on or thread a ball through. 2 of our more creative attacking midfielders in Bannan and Ireland, most people wanted out and I don't disagree there necessarily, but when you say 'we need a playmaker' you're really saying we need better playmakers.

Still have faith in PL, he's sort of the polar opposite to MON in terms of signings, but maybe he does need to mix it up a little more in terms of buying the odd experienced Prem player. Can't help see Barry's performance yesterday and feel he would have really sured things up in midfield and helped us in that clean sheet quest. The likes of Stoke and West Ham may not win as many friends as Villa with their approaches, and that is the other extreme but maybe you do need the odd stalwart.

If Sylla is fit I'd like to see him start, he was the bench so I assume he is fine to play.

Henrik Larsson = top player

What has happened so far? Gutted I am missing this.

I think it said on the commentary they are going to bring a DVD out for charity.

Berbs cares a lot more about this game than the game against Newcastle recently!

Gabby 

Bacuna looked inexperienced, and that combined with starting a game for a new team showed. He just didn't seem to know where to go on the pitch.

One thing I like about Lambert is that he is building a team for the future, and seems to care about the club not just his own reputation. In general the media & fans put an enormous amount of emphasis on the most recent match, and the now. It's good to have a manager who thinks about the bigger picture and doesn't use a 'buy now, pay later' transfer policy like certain managers have done in the past. Of course I want Villa to buy players if the money is there, I just think PL is prepared to try new things and give less well known players a chance and not be overly obsessed with his own reputation like say MON was to an extent. It probably helps that Lerner has assured him that he has a job here for the long run.

Shit performance, tired from Wednesday? Not a good excuse really as plenty of teams play midweel Euro/cup games.

Can't help feeling loaning Bent out was a mistake.

COME ON VILLA!!!!

God forbid any team going to two top 4 London clubs in a row and picking up points. 

I know it's typical London/rich club bias.

Well done to Villa, great effort and very unlucky not to get a point or 3.

Friend was desperate for Chelsea to win. Probably hoping for a blowie from Mourinho in the tunnel.

 

Just watching the MOTD anaylsis, credit to the pundits for picking up on the contact for the second pen. However, Alan Shearer's analysis of the first pen was laughable. He said Sczezny shouldn't have been sent off because Gabby was going away from the goal. Well whenever the striker dribbles past the keeper they are always going to push the ball away from goal otherwise they would just be taking a shot! So according to his logic whenever a player dribbles past the keeper and gets taken out then it can't be a red!

I agree with Shearer. The point is it was open to debate. 

 

You could argue that had Gabby jumped the challenge would he have had the goal at his mercy from that angle? Its open to question.

 

The ref handled the situation perfectly IMO.

 

I think the penalty was a big enough punishment, no need to send him off when it was not malicious.

 

But you're forgetting that there is always the chance of a referee not giving the foul. The penalty alone isn't enough punishment to put players off committing fouls like this in the first place. With no chance of a red card, the keeper's options are:

1. Let the striker have an attempt on goal/open goal (chance the striker will miss)

2. Foul the player, and concede a pen (chance the referee will not give the foul AND chance the penalty will be missed.)

That's why the keeper should be sent off in these situations. Yellow card isn't enough.

Just watching the MOTD anaylsis, credit to the pundits for picking up on the contact for the second pen. However, Alan Shearer's analysis of the first pen was laughable. He said Sczezny shouldn't have been sent off because Gabby was going away from the goal. Well whenever the striker dribbles past the keeper they are always going to push the ball away from goal otherwise they would just be taking a shot! So according to his logic whenever a player dribbles past the keeper and gets taken out then it can't be a red!

F'n love the guy, I think he has really captured the fans' imaginations.

Got to say the fitness levels looked excellent today. Got to give big credit to PL and the players for the hard work they have clearly put in during pre-season training to get ready for the first game.

UP THE VILLA! WHAT A PERFORMANCE!

Surprised Okore isn't starting to be honest. 

UTV!

Got a good feeling about tomorrow!

 

Are any of the people in this thread relieved that he won't be playing against Villa next season the same people who considered him surplus to requirements here? I mean if the latter is true why would such a useless player lining up against Villa bother you?

 

He's definitely not useless. I expect him to score 12-15 next season if he stays fit. He wasn't much use to us on the bench though,

 

Sorry, I meant to put useless in inverted commas. I personally don't think that.

Let's hope we bring in another player before the deadline of Darren Bent's quality, otherwise the bottom line is that the squad is weaker than before Bent left.

Are any of the people in this thread relieved that he won't be playing against Villa next season the same people who considered him surplus to requirements here? I mean if the latter is true why would such a useless player lining up against Villa bother you?

I think another quality defender would be more useful to us than Milner right now.

I agree with PL about the 19th minute thing coming to an end. Of course we love Stan but we don't want to become anything like Liverpool with their victim mentality/obsession/fetish.

I would like to keep him, if you want any kind of top level success you need more than 11 quality players. Look at how many strikers the top clubs have.