Bazmonkey

I think talk of sacking him at the moment is a bit early...having said that I think he has made some basic mistakes...not enough support in attack and defence...a simple 5 in the middle instead of persisting with 3 would improve us greatly...every other team plays 5 against us...why...strength in numbers...Brentford did it and exploited the space in the middle...maybe something like Hogan Kodjia Hourihane Lansbury/grealish Jedi Thor/lansbury Taylor, Chester, elphic/ Baker, Bree Jonhstone

With my coaching hat on...I think it's just a formation change...too many games this season we have lacked support up front and been over run at the back...why....three in midfield...every team we have played have had to in the middle...they stretch us across the pitch and don't allow us to play through...because we end up so deep the defence have to go long ball to an isolated kodjia...play this in middle and I bet we would look better defensively and have more bods in attack

It was always going to happen...5 against 3 in the middle...every game picks 3 in the middle...over ran in defence...nothing to help up front....simple maths 5 against 3 isn't going to work

I think Westwood is a good player and has a good eye for a pass...I can see why some opinions are divided on him as too...what does he do....etc...but then if you look at the Norwich assist...is it more of a forward problem rather Westwood himself...it's not often you see our forwards making good runs like that one by gabby for him to play a pass????

As much as the 3 points and finally a win at home is great and hopefully this will urge the team on lets look at the game with our heads rather than our hearts. I have only seen the highlights so don’t shoot me down but the result, as much as it is a big one it it definitely papers over the cracks. The defending and ball retention throughout was atrocious and needs to be addressed big time. The amount of times players who ball watched and 3-4 who chased down one man was unbelievable, to call it school boy would be disrespectful to school boys. The amount of times Villa have 6 -7 – 8 players in or on the edge of the box and still fail to miss a cross, loose a player, not intercept a pass is constant throughout not only in this game. Our defending is more ‘backs to the wall’ than controlled and organised. If you think I am wrong please look at the highlights and when we are defending pause the play and count, you will be surprised. In addition look at the goal, another corner. 5 city players to our 8. As for 5 at the back, this only adds to the problem stated above as there is now another body in the box. you can see it all of their play they don’t know whether to stick or twist. The amount of times Saturday Nasri out on the left had 40 yards of space to run into against a so called back 5 was unbelievable. We need to have more players in midfield rather than at the back, let’s break teams in the middle rather than let them go past our 3 in the middle with ease and bombard our back line. Having said that this team is not far from being what could be a useful team, it just needs Lambert to play players in a better more suited formation. Having more players defend means the front line has no support this is shown in many games as most of the time we have to hoof it and often the ball comes back anyway. Lets have a 5 midfield with 2 holding…the two holding can support the back 4 but more importantly the other 3 can support a lone forward. Our current 4-3-3 is more a 7-3 has the midfielders play too deep and there is huge gap between them and the forwards, again no options, often hoof ball from the back, no ball retention up top. Effectively a 4-2-3-1 would close that gap and hopefully shave a better balance all over the pitch. Lets allow Westwood to make better unchalleged passes, lets allow Delph to pick up a ball and drive at the oposition, lets give the forwards more to run off, better service and support. Overall...am I glad for three points at home YES…..beating a top 4 side….most definitely…room for improvement…ABSOLUTELY. UTV

With my coaching hat on…..The problem is the formation and the severe lack of movement upfront and midfield. We are so poor at creating space and supporting the ball carrier its unbelievable. Due to the defensive nature of the those that play in midfield we are effectively playing more a 6-4 formation rather than the 4-3-3 Lambert loves. Westwood Delph Sylla are too alike and play to central thus leaving open to attacks from out wide and play way to deep. We are ok in our in half with the ball but because the midfield is so deep after two passes it always ends going long as there are no options and when we do get it in final third the rest of the team are too far away to support. Most teams effectively play 5 in midfield with two holding/deep these days so against our three its always going to be over ran as most of the time the long ball up top ends up coming back. I still think we need quality in midfield but a better formation would help get better results especially art home. Maybe something like this Guzan Lowton Vlaar Baker/Clark Luna/Bennett Westwood ????? Gabby ????? Weimann Bentekers I have left a couple out in midfield as its open to debate as to who would be better suited in either position. This formation would suit us better as more support for the midfield and when attacking more support up top. It also allows for more options when we have the ball as hopefully the gap between the midfield and forwards is not massive like it is now.

I would take Barry back but as already mentioned he would have to take a big pay cut. Although he is a couple of years older and what little pace he did have has probably got even less I still think someone like him could be beneficial to the team. Barry was always good at being calm on the ball and having a good eye for a pass, if he did come, the youngsters, especially Westwood, Delph, Gardner, maybe Bannan, if still here could learn a few things from him which would be beneficial in the long term both for the players and club in general. As much as I was a bit miffed he left, apart from the Liverplop thing a couple of years before he did leave, he was good professional throughout, and then left on reasonably good terms maybe he saw the writing on the wall regards where the team was going so took the opportunity to move on play champions league, win a few medals and a couple of extra £. Add to that he has always said good things about the club. Young, no chance, as much as in the earlier days he would be exciting to watch, beat defenders left and right I think he now believes his own hype, it became more about him than the team especially in his last season, failing over more and more each game, wanting to take every free kick…..yes he has won some medals but can he really say he contributed, even AF would drop him for the big games and would he get in the England team now, who knows? For me the main thing about Young that I can never forget is his petulant dive against us at Old Trafford the first year he moved on, you don’t do that in general but not against your old team….he can join the Downing club as players that can do one in terms of coming back.

the last goal sums up our entire season.....2 Utd players in the box against 4 Villa players...all of them run passed the player with ball and they still score....you look at most of our goals conceded....always more Villa players in the box than attackers...school boy stuff

IMO I think he will stay but at the same time I think he will want to go as the interest in him grows. Most of the big clubs are looking at him its his first season in the prem, and rightly so getting the attention for scoring goals and being a good forward player. However, I think most if not all the big clubs will give it another season, the second season syndrome, look at Grant Holt last season everyone looked at him now, zero interest. If Benteke has another season like this next year and a good world cup then he is definitely off. The big clubs will probably test the water this summer but next summer will be the real one.

Supporting and being loud aint going to turn what are poor players in to the Messi's et al of this world.....this team is gone and hurts me to say it.

As much as this signing doesnt really get me excited having come from Fench Div 2. However, if someone said you can have a very unknown player from a very unknown league who can play a defensive role, maybe win a few tackles and pass it 5 yards...keep it simple...then Id say yes I dont really care who and where he has come from at this stage, if he came in and just added a small amount of bite in midfield it would be a hell of alot more thean whats there now and hopefully give us a better chance of staying up....give the lad a chance.

Problem is it always ends up like this . Guzan............... Lowton Clarke........Vlaar.....Baker Bennet Bannan ................................Westwood.... ...............................Nzogbia .....................Benteke........Bent Hence the long ball zero service to the front two/or three in this case

He spent all half 10 yards from Clark or vlaar picking the ball up and passed to Bennett or Lawton it was only when we got to the edge of the box he then caught up the play and got in to a position he should have been in from the start. A couple if times he did pass it forward one of them was to Clark who was in front on him.....with him dropping back all the time it doesn't allow the centre halfs to bring the ball forward and soak the space....especially last night Bradford spent most of the half in there own half and we had banyan spending it most in ours....very rarely did he get pass the centre circle...get up the pitch..get in the game....let the back four/ five play it from there

This this this. And here lies the problem. Because he comes deep it means instead of getting the ball in the opposition half and having the opposition midfield in front of him he now as their front two on top and a bigger gap between him and our own front two. It also means he never gets the ball moving and looking forward he always has to stop to turn or worse give it straight back to where the ball came from. He doesn't create anything, his corners are shit, useless in the tackle and does he ever beat a man...there comes a point when you just have to say he isn't good enough. We are desperate need of someone who can play in midfield and stay in midfield dictating the play

So lets see Hart (Manchester City) - fully expected Ruddy (Norwich) - more hole than a tea bag Forster (Celtic) - don’t know nothing about him Baines (Everton), - will only play if Cole doesnt Cahill (Chelsea), - chance to seal a permanent place Cole (Chelsea), - automatic choice wont play if injured Gibbs (Arsenal) - see Cole and Baines, Jagielka (Everton), - could partner Cahill G Johnson (Liverpool), - no body playing any better i.e Walker / Richards Lescott (Manchester City), - 1 of 3 for centre halfs looking to start Shawcross (Stoke), - making up numbers might get 10 mins against San Marino Walker (Tottenham); bound to pull out injured Carrick (Manchester United), - ah the pontoon choice stick or twist in or out still be talking about it in years to come. Cleverley (Manchester United), - not playing well, plays for a big club must be good Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), - looks good, attacks well, great pace, causes trouble, wont play because of this. Gerrard (Liverpool), - every team needs someone to carry not exactly the player of old A Johnson (Sunderland), - only just getting games under belt could be the same as the Ox Lennon (Tottenham), - Johnson and Ox are better all round players IMO Lampard (Chelsea), - will probably play alongside bessy mate Gerrard que the daily build up can they play rubbish we still hear about years on Milner (Manchester City), - not getting a game, probably not fit, at a big club standard automatic choice. Walcott (Arsenal); - winger, forward, winger, forward who knows only Theo does in a Theo world. Carroll (West Ham, on loan from Liverpool), see Milner plus everyone loves a big man Defoe (Tottenham), - only one in a bit of form looks sharp Rooney (Manchester United), again see Milner Welbeck (Manchester United) plays every week misses every week but plays for big team So there you go...sorry if I dont seem to excited same shit different game….next!!!!

Mate at work told me he saw Lambert an the Wolves game last night....rumour as it he was looking at Zaha????? Anyway..to me its just lazy journalism, if he hadn’t had the captaincy taken off him it would have just been…well Benteke and Gabby looked good against Man City so they went with them….2+2 together and have got 5…after all only Laaandon and the North West only exist in their eyes. Back to Bent, give him the service he will score goals, however if there is no service his general game offers pretty much nothing to the team, that said its about time we had a bit of healthy competition for places, keeps the players on their toes, if Bent wants to play week in week out then performances like Sunday, looking interested and scoring will certainly give Lambert something to think about.

Every now and then someone posts something actually well-worth reading. This is one. 10- 4 that. Having Man City's money would be good but as a Villa fan I can I say iI am Villa because well I am and my little boy will be because thats whats happens my dad to me and me on to him. Anyway I wouldnt't want to be a Man City fan in a way because now they have to justify their reasons for being a fan....its the old where were you when you were shit thing.....everyone at Villa park on a game day wants to be there for their love of Villa not becasue we are flavour of the month....just think of how many z list celebrities would want to get in...bet Man City are batting them off. Money has killed the game but like someone said earlier its like winning in cheat mode, eventually it wear out...celebrating a win now is like yeah we won great game...bet a win Man City fans is a little less exciting more expected. As for the players its a bit the same....I bet when they look back and see they have a winners medal can they really turn round and say they actually won it....i.e a Milner or a Johnson...both won a medal but did they really contribute.....I know Sky will get the kleenex out everytime their on tv but deep down when alot of them retire they really have won nothing

great photo So you got to ask yourself one question......do you feel lucky punk!!!! Great result last night…to be honest I was expecting a bit of a kicking, great to see the team show some character and score 4 goals especially away from home at the current champions Good thing about last night is other players like Delph, Gabby etc have now given Lambert something to think about but most importantly the other players something to think about. For years a lot of players have been picked simply because they were there…it looks like Lambert has put a bit of competition in to the team so players now cant automatically assume they will be picked. With Gabby scoring two bet Bent is looking over his shoulder, healthy competition can be only good for the team. Future is looking good but I do feel there will be some up’s like last night but also some downs like Southampton but its showing more encouraging times ahead more than last two years. Roll on Sunday UTV

1) Who would you say is 'poor'? And how do they figure in the first team and subs at the moment? 2) Bannan is a good player. 3) Did you really expect this year to be easy given all the factors? 1 - didnt really say they were poor, just not good enough for where we would like to be in the prem, the only one so far that I would say has potential is Clark, all the others simply dont have the qualities needed. 2. Bannan a good player....no...back to you...based on what... a few passes...hollywood balls as someone else said....how many goals...how many assists...stand out perfomances....cant think of any...again if he played for someone else would you say ah yes bannan at villa good player...probably not. 3. No I didnt expect it to be an easy year, based on the previous two I thought my expectations would be the same as the board....do we need to improve...yes...do we need to bring in 4,5,6 good quality players..yes...do we need to get rid of some of the deadwood...yes (though some have gone I suppose)....do we need to give the manager a good amount of money to do this...yes (not MON standards but you would have thought 15 - 20 mil)...can we expect the team to do well based on its current situation minus some of the deadwood gone (this is where we are now)....no The team needs players not just in numbers but in quality I really do hope the board backs PL as if they do I think he will do well for Villa...probably not the correct saying but hopefully you get what I mean "it doesnt matter how much you polish a turd at the end of the day its still a turd" we havent got a good enough squad to lift us up the league, take away the 'polish' that ids a new manager, new season, mctwat gone and what you left with...the same squad. I'll still be there tomorrow and hope for a good vibe and performance at VP....at the same time I cant help be not very optimistic at the season ahead.

Nobody can magically turn poor players into good ones but what Lambert is good at, and what I think he picked up from MON, is the ability to motivate and get the best out of his players - all you have to do is look at Norwich for that. Our academy products are actually pretty good and will be an asset for us - it's obvious that we could do with signing a couple more players but I think we will. Agree with Smetrov..I've been saying this for a while...they are just not good enough..I'm yet to see anything that really stands out that makes me think these plyers are going to be any good...in an ideal world I would love to see them all make it and perform to highest standard but two years on now third year that comes a point when we just have to realise we can not rely on these players....IMO too many people like to say they are better than they actuially are purely because they are one of ours.....Would they get the same 'hype' if they played at another club....would they even be at another club in the prem?????? No other team has come for them, even when they went out on loan to the championship most, if not all came back sooner rather than later without setting the world on fire. The club really needs to put its money on the table and get in some good, technical players in and add one or two in, your albrighton's bannan's et al as you cant take a player from what effectively is a boys league in the reserves and ask them to perform against the big boys...simply wont happen...with some good purchases these players will develope (hopefully) in to better players as at the moment who can really show them the way. If our transfer window is effectively closed already as some make out and this the squad for 2012 2013 then I think it could be another tough year, not as bad as last but at the same time no where near as good as some believe is expected. UTV

Agree, Josh Barton looked very good….looked to get forward most of the game, very comfortable on the ball. Another good one was centre half, Dan I think his name was??? No nonsense centre half but called also play, gave Boldmere forward nothing. DC, DJ?? in the middle, no 3 looked very good pulled most of the strings, funky haircut, kid n play style, passed in round nicely and was also strong on the ball This was my first time watching the reserved, best player for me was player they called ‘Jacko’ played in most attacking positions especially when subs were coming on but he stood for me as he was very accomplished on the ball, most things went through him in the middle, great skill, strength too, when under pressure…all round a good player, caused no end of problems for Boldmere It was only when he was later subbed I heard it was Jack Greelish….IMO defo a player to keep an eye out for. Interesting to hear Sid giving instructions to the team, often he would say stretch the game, good to see the midfield keeping the ball, moving it from side to end creating space for guys in the middle to eventually take on the back four, play through them. I know it was only Boldmere and the Juniors but they could teach the 1st team a few things in that the movement was excellent by all of them, everyone seemed to want to play and look for the ball.

I'm sorry but that is bollocks. Because a club wants to sell, it doesn't mean you need to go. He had a contract with the club and it is the players choice. What do you think Messi would say if Barca said we've sold you to Stoke! I loved the guy as a player, but the club agreed the fee as they thought it was good money, and Milner agreed a fat pay rise and the chance of winning trophies. Youre kidding yourself if you think he didn't want to go. He might have been sad to leave, but the player always has the choice. I do think Milner will leave if he's benched all season again. How am I kidding myself, these are worlds from horses mouth, all be it 3rd hand info. I’d say its you who’s kidding themselves, how are so sure that what you say is gospel… How many times does a bid for a player get accepted and then the player refuses to sign purely because he doesn’t want to leave…….cant think of many…whats he going to do sulk back at the club, I don’t think so, more than likely ask for a stupid amount of money per week. As macandally said, when a club tries to sell you, it doesn’t really give you a warm and fuzzy feeling does it? Everyone could see from his interview as he left Bodymoor Heath he didn’t want to go. He that doesn’t happen if you are trying to manipulate your way out of a move, he played well in his last game, scored, wasn’t exactly the Dwight Yorke way of doing things. I think your just using the ‘I’ll get more money’ aspect to cloud what I know are real facts. Agreed, if he spends another year on the bench he will leave...maybe this time he put in a request, sorry couldnt resist

I’m sorry but Milner did not want to leave, this is my ITK. As a coach who worked there for best part of 8 years I still have a few contacts. Milner only left because City came in with a stupid amount of money at Randy, which he could hardly refuse, this is also why MON let has he wanted a big chunk of it but Randy said no, anyway that’s a different topic for another day. The summer leading up to his leave he was in the process of building a £2 mil house in the Four Oaks area, when he was told City were in and we accepted he had to scrap the plans, big expense if he was thinking of going. Also Milner has a little girl who went to a junior/childcare school in Four Oaks, his girlfriend befriended my mates Mrs as their younger daughter also went to the same school. They are still in contact today, whilst it was going on she was saying that his hand was being forced to move because City were offering so much money to Villa, he told Villa he didn’t want to go has he loved the club, MON (at the time) and the area. He expressed that if he went he would only get a few games here and there because of their wealth and buying so many players, so he didn’t want to go. Anyway, take it as you will, but in the meantime, I would love to have him back, great engine in the middle, something we have missed last couple of years.

Wonder what mcleish's 3 special steps are.... Sorry have a 9 month old who loves it. Anyway something needs to be sorted I'm usually optimistic but a feel the fat lady is warming up when it comes to the big R. I just can't see where 3 points is coming from 1's are not enough..... Wolves acted quick I think we should too

You must have read my previous post as this was in response to it but I'm seriously struggling to understand how you could post this in response to what I'd posted. No the blame doesn't clearly lie with the players. As I previously stated as an example, look at Sunderland under O'Neill compared to Sunderland under Bruce. This is nothing to do with comparing O'Neill and McLeish, just compare Sunderland under O'Neill to under Bruce with exactly the same players. The players haven't changed, there the exact same players and they haven't become better players. They are simply playing for a different manager, they are motivated and they are playing to their strengths or he is picking players that who's strengths match the system he wants to play. In short Sunderland are an example of the impact of the manager on a group of players. I firmly believe while we have some issues with some players the main problem is the manager not the players. How about not pick him in the first place, especially not in midfield. I don't think we would be that much better off put it that way. We are no better than Birmingham were last season and I'm damn sure he has a better set of players to work with than he did there last season. So I'd argue that despite better resources the end result is the same so the problem quite clearly is the manager. Trent - I do see what you mean and in parts you are right....perhaps you dont see what Im saying....you say look at MON with Sunderland now to Bruce...yes great but thats the same team of players. Mcleish hasnt got the same players MON had thats what Im getting at, if he did then by al means we can compare but we cant. For arguements sake.....if it looks like a duck...walks like a duck...sounds like duck...then stands to chance of being a duck.....therefore if it looks like a poor team...with poor players...plays like like a poor team...then maybe we have a poor team...regardless of who is incharge. I'm not blaiming just the players, the manager does have to look at himself more like Heskey in midfield, but to be fair Nzog, Albrighton, Bannan to name but a few have also played but havent really set the pitch on fire...different arguement for a different day..... but also some people are so anti Mcleish, which they have the right to, they maybe dont see the bigger picture which includes the playing staff