VillaGoMarching

I can't remember a more depressing window as a villa fan.

The Djemba-Djemba window

I'll raise you a can't afford Erik Bakke window.

yea

and ill raise you an Emile Heskey the window the dream died

We would have got champions league that year if only we made a decent friggin signing!

If only we'd signed Darren Bent to play with Gabby, Downing, Ash and Milner. Instead of after we'd started selling them all off.

I can't remember a more depressing window as a villa fan.

Decided to go to this because of the cheap tickets. Wish I hadn't. I was also at the Bradford exit last season when their fans invaded the pitch and it looked like the same thing would happen again today.

We started slowly like we always do. I put this specifically down to fear and lack of confidence. We try to keep it tight and not give anything away early but in actual fact it ends up doing the opposite, we're not fluid and can't take the game to the opposition from the start, setting the tone for the game. So we're always on the back foot and it takes conceding a goal and needing something to chase to drive us on.

We had complete control of the ball, Westwood and especially Delph were controlling the midfield comfortably, and Albrighton looked busy on the wing. Then they got the ball in a dangerous area, had a speculative shot, big deflection and we're 1-0 down.

I chuckled at that point because I knew we would be able to come back but all that happened is the players tightened up and went for the ball up to Benteke which seldom worked. From there there was no real rhythm or cohesion with the players and lots of misunderstandings and misplaced passes just caused further frustration.

The pattern of play when we did keep on the floor was for the back 4 to pass it between themselves, then Westwood or Delph would come deep to pick it up, but then there was a massive gap so they couldn't go any further, they had to go back to the defence and go around the back again to try and get it wide. It really highlighted the desperate need for an AM. Tonev was supposed to be that player I'm sure but he's failed to impress so far. Weimann may have been playing that position but was awful today.

Benteke got double or triple penetrated all the time. For a big man he's not got a lot of strength. When he does try to give as good as he gets, he seems to give away a foul instead.

Obviously Lambert was trying to silence his FA cup importance honesty critics by fielding his best team but the irony is, the reserves probably would have played with more freedom, less fear, more expression, and better shape than trying to squeeze the 11 best available players in. I thought today really needed Gardner linking the 2 DMs with Benteke. Lambert took a gamble and it's backfired.

That's 2 mistakes I can say I feel qualified to criticise him for since he's been here. Panicking playing Bradford at home and putting 4 CFs within 5 yards of each other, and now today going for his most senior players rather than players who could play a system to beat the other team.

Finally, once we scored we then looked very dangerous and it was obvious we were going to go and get another 1 or 2. They cleared the ball upfield, then the ref gave them a free-kick against Weimann for absolutely nothing. They scored almost directly from it with admittedly a superbly hit strike.

I'm getting a bit sick of watching us whimper out of cups to lower league opposition at Villa Park. It happens to everyone but twice in 2 seasons with the same faults is inexcusable. Though another day we would have got the lead then cruised to an easy victory. But we didn't.

Worth popping in just for this post. Great contribution.

Got to admit I also thought he's been sold.

Without doubt would be one of the biggest signings since Martin Laursen signed from AC Milan. A midfield of Bacuna, Defour and Delph

You say this but the guy has been so bang average for Porto. Who knows how he'd play for us.

We need to stick together in times like this, it's how we got through last season.

Turning on lambert won't help the situation. This is his squad and his players, so I doubt changing managers would help us out, the fact is we need to ride it out till our players return to form/fitness.

I'm happy with anything that has pissed off keys and gray, couple of big headed rocket polishers. Thinking we tuned in each week for them pair.

This probably could have gone in the small Heath thread but wanted to get something cleared up.

In my life time as a villa fan (20 years), the term 'blue nose' has always been a derogatory term in my eyes. My friends and family have always used as such.

So I've been to the German market this week and seen all sorts of paraphernalia, with blue nose scrawled on. Gingerbread, Santa hats etc. while all the villa stuff had 'Aston villa' on it.

So is this an attempt by small Heath fans to reclaim the term or have they always used the term as a form of endearment (sick)?

Despite today's totally depressing set back I still have 100% confidence in the Paul Lambert project.

Sometimes you have to take a couple of steps backward before you can move forward again.

The bigger picture needs to win out here & I hope the majority of fans still buy into this.

Patience is a virtue & patience is the key. I hate the waiting too but it will be worth it in the end. Today's result & performance is par for the course as is the opposite extremeties of a win at the Emirates & a home win against Man City.

The truth for now lies somewhere in the middle & that is most probably where we will finish for a couple of seasons until the project really bears fruit.

patience, patience, patience.

I just can't see him magically turning into a manager who plays proper football. He didn't with Colchester or Norwich, and he doesn't with us. It's absolutely excruciating to watch the dross he serves up.

I'm not sure how qualified we are to judge the style of football lambert put on at Norwich or Colchester.

In fact I hadn't watch a Paul lambert side play until Norwich got promoted to the Prem.

I personally wouldn't change the shape of the team, I just think we need to try and seize the initiative against a generally poor and aging Fulham squad.

Although I think fatigue may play a part with some of our lads especially those who recently returned from injury.

Gabby, Luna, Delph have played a lot if football in a week.

I hope we'll see more of helenius as the season rolls on, looks a talent but not sure how he'll actually fit in our team, definitely needs a partner upfront from what I've seen of him.

Pretty poor performance all around until Lambert brought on the non-Lambert players - go figure

whaha

Good fightback, didn't really see that coming, and didn't expect to see KEA and Westwood get the goals. Beauty by Westwood, too. 

 

Fair play to PL for making the big changes, it seemed to put the Baggies on the back heel and allowed us our chances.

 

Still plenty of concerns though. Despite their goals, KEA and Westwood didn't offer much as usual. 

 

We need a creative MF in January, otherwise we will struggle to get points. 

i still think for the foreseable, We need to play either 3 at the back, or a 3 in the middle of Delph, Westy and Bacuna. I still think the squad needs balancing out before we're trying to get a playmaker.

shane long is a word removed.

**** ell Andi

how many offsides benteke?

dont **** it up villa

 

I still don't get where Delph is playing

 

looks like left wing back with 3 at the back

 

honestly this system suits us best.  3-4-3 variation works for us.

When we are live on tv bacuna looks absolutely useless

Drop him and bring lowton back

great reasoning

here come the cavalry.

i dont think we've played that badly tbh, apart from the first goal, and then Bacuna having a mare.  Need Delph in and Gabby providing some width.  We have to lose one of Kozak or Benteke IMO to get back in this game.  whatever this system is that Lambert's trying just isn't working.

anybod spotted Kozak?

erm.  WTF? shane long turned into a world beater.  Wish Hutton had of snapped him now.

minutes silence for who?

In all honesty, give him till January but I think I'd rather see Callum Robinson warming the bench.

You can't be critical of the lad, he certainly tries but he doesn't seem to be able to cut it at this level. I hope he proves me wrong.