Lerner's Driver

Noun: Stalking Horse 1. Person or thing that is used to conceal another person's real intentions. Stevie to Philipe when he opts for top four security over the thrill of possibly flirting with relegation... "You know what, we're done. You've just used me as a stalking horse to get to Mikel"

Okay, that's good to know.

Our decision making near the goal is woeful - all too often ponderous and inaccurate. If we had a bit more quality in attack we would have won that easily. Shouldn't have lost it, but you just knew we would. Same old Villa. Our wingers are all trash.

Good player and on his day very good, but... he isn't consistent enough to be considered a bona fide excellent player. People said Smith can't take us to the next level and then Gerrard came came along and lifted us. There are better gettable centre backs out there than Tyrone. Mings can be replaced and must be at some point in the not too distant future if we are to get to the next level. He's been a great servant and will continue to be for as as long as he's here, but I won't be sad when he goes. We've seen his limitations enough to know his level.

All the stuff about work rate and 'being available in tight spaces', to me sounds basic. He should be doing this stuff (especially in a Gerrard team), as a matter of course. My original comment asked for evidence of standout contributions. We bought him to be the kind of player he was at Norwich last season, showing performances that would ultimately earn him a call up to the Argentina squad. Sure, that was a different team in a different league, which affords him some time to adjust at Villa, but we aren't seeing anything close to the hoped for levels, yet. Based on what he has shown before, I was hoping for more game changing skills, feints, dummies and threaded passes like the one that put El Ghazi in, before he set up McGinn for his pearler against Palace. That is a standout contribution for a player with his ability and role in the team. We need more of these. Can he still come good? Yes, he can and I hope he does. The questions about him are challenging, but fair. My main concerns relate to his stature and the amount of time he seems to want on the ball, which you just don't get in the Premier League.

What did he do to merit the praise? I can't remember any standout contributions.

Norwich were woeful. We totally dominated, but I was still worried we might throw it away. Annoying that we didn't kill it earlier. Some excellent close passing and movement throughout so that was a major plus. Buendia still looks off it. Watkins poor again apart from the goal. Ramsey MoM.

What does pride come before?

No sorry, I can't give you a break your viewpoint is unrealistic. Again.

What a ridiculous opinion. There isn't a single watcher of Premier League football who sincerely thinks we should be close to Liverpool right now, but that is what you have just implied. Why?

Refusing to understand is his m.o. mate.

You know all that stoppage time, kitchen sink stuff where we were pouring forward and were lucky not to concede a second? If we'd taken anything like that approach earlier in the game it could have been over by half time. They are the best team in the league. You may not think it correct to respect the opposition, but Gerrard did and I suspect he knows best.

You don't tell me anything I need to know about the game.

Decent battling performance, I love that we fight now. We did very well to hold a potent Liverpool team to a one nil loss. It was backs to the wall for long periods, but we defended manfully today and showed some promise moving forwards. Mings was done for pace with the pen, so yes, another rick from him, but he was excellent in many other ways. Plenty of positives, biggest negative is our inability to string passes together and has been for a while. Bring on Norwich.

He always tries hard, he just went badly off the boil after injury, being played out of position and losing his best mate. Like every player, he has experienced a dip in form and is now making all his doubters eat their words. Long may it continue.

Well, it's very un-Villalike to get a new manager bounce, but I guess if anyone was going to achieve it, it was probably going to be Gerrard. He couldn't have done more so far, but congratulations to the players as well, for responding in such a positive fashion. Very pleasing.

Benefitting from being more compact, braver on the ball and generally more confident. We are actually properly dominating an opponent. Very encouraging. Don't throw it away Villa. Keep up the concentration please.

Exactly. Belief.

Dumb to write him off, or even come close to that, he has ability, Gerrard just needs to unlock it. Buendia can and must do more, he's probably not fit, but it's mostly about belief. He needs to challenge himself to be better.

It was. Matty comes across as a decent, honest and fairly simple footballer, like most of them are. They function best when they have a clear idea of what they are supposed to do and a license to get on with it. Players passing notes when defending corners is probably more indicative of the issues we've been facing than we gave it credit for.

You were right to be concerned when you wrote this. He showed up today and showed some of what he is capable of.

Beautiful

Decent against a good Brighton team. You can see what Gerrard is trying to do - pressing high - and it looks to have potential. McGinn our best player but also indebted to Martinez. Could go either way in the second half. Score first and I think we will win.

Agree, we don't have to love him, professional is enough... if he gets results.

Each to their own.