bobzy

This summer is huge. Huge. Will also give us a better understanding of exactly what kind of a manager Lambert is (assuming he gets money to spend).

From Young and Downing? Loads. I'm not sure Benteke's strength is running onto through balls though (Barry/Milner?). He's good with the ball at his feet and he's great attacking aerial balls but I'd leave the running onto stuff for Gabby/Weimann. Obviously we should still have a number 10/am because we desperately lack creativity in this area and, naturally, Benteke would probably see some benefit from it. The one against West Brom for me. Love dat goal.

That's not a fact - it's one of your many opinions. So you think we've really utilised a quality player this year then? Has scored more headed goals than anyone else in the Premier League this season. Has been injured for a significant part of the season and struggled for form/fitness after being pushed back in too soon because we're over reliant on him. But yes, we're obviously misusing him. We also play a ridiculous amount of long balls and struggle to keep the ball. I'm sure that's had nothing to do with a quality player struggling for form. Long balls = Benteke's strength (see: the overhead kick today). We play to it (far too much, granted). The trick we've missed is using actual width and crossing the ball to him which apparently only happens when Matt Lowton plays.

:D :D :D :D

That's not a fact - it's one of your many opinions. So you think we've really utilised a quality player this year then? Has scored more headed goals than anyone else in the Premier League this season. Has been injured for a significant part of the season and struggled for form/fitness after being pushed back in too soon because we're over reliant on him. But yes, we're obviously misusing him.

It's the same problem at home, though. It's all about confidence. After 7 minutes, the crowd were booing. How does this inspire players to come out and play well? Benteke's moment of magic was huge because the crowd got onside and the players started to play. Exactly the same against West Brom. Exactly the same problem we've had all season.

Today's result confirms my opinion that Lambert is doing a very good job so far. I agree. The team's reaction for the immediate 20 minutes after is pre-match team talk, coupled with their reaction after his half time talk clearly define the man as a managerial genius. You're right. The manager deserves absolutely zero praise. Might as well have me in charge.

He possibly does take too much flack (the 3rd goal will be praised for Delph's run for example, but KEA rescued Delph running into a dead end yet again) but he's not got a specific strength. I don't know what his best attribute is - apart from first time passing maybe as alluded to earlier - and he's slow to track back once the ball has been lost. StanBalaban does make a valid point, though. Apparently that's the first time we've started 2 games in a row with the same starting eleven since November? Unreal.

I think a lot of Lambert's 3-at-the-back thinking is that Bacuna and Bertrand (or Luna to be honest) have the ability to be more effective as proper wing backs rather than full backs. Got no problem with him being right back in this defence, though. He offers us a lot going forwards and seems to be better defensively too (esp. against both Newcastle and Norwich)

So far spot on and I think 38 will keep us safe

Hahaha - he's nowhere near International class, but I love his enthusiasm and application to the task at hand. He's been great recently.

You'd honestly say the job he's done so far is "awful" rather than "average"? Comon chap. first 20 minutes were awful so disorganised. Second half, Lambert should have kicked on, we cannot afford a defensive half. Scoring more would have instilled more confidence and motivated the team for next game. Against Chesea im sure normal service will resume. ZZZZZZZ!! Spending restrictions. Didn't really see much of a problem with that today!!! The first 20 minutes doesn't have anything to do with Lambert though? It was exactly the same against West Brom - just low on confidence at home and making silly mistakes early on when not settled. He'd hardly have said "go out there and defend!" - even his pre-match interview was about attacking and sorting out the home form etc. He hasn't done a great job at Villa by any stretch, but he's not been awful and he literally hasn't spent much money. The most expensive signing he made has broken records at Villa and scored twice tonight. I actually think we'll be OK now. We didn't **** up todays easy game. Have you checked out the fixture list, for the coming weeks? can't see many points in there I think it will be close but there's some shit below us. Norwich were shocking today. Agreed with this really. We need 2 more wins I think (or 6 more points, whichever way you want to look at it).

You'd honestly say the job he's done so far is "awful" rather than "average"?

Westwood seems to just go quietly about his business and keep it calm in the middle of the park. Had another take of a downward ball today that was class. Genuinely think if we got a solid DM in and could allow this guy to move forwards with the ball, we'd see more through balls along the deck for Gabby/Weimann in particular to run onto. I think there's potential in this lad.

Leadership and composure to be honest. Looks for a pass, comfortable on the ball. Against Newcastle he overdid it once (and Remy should've really scored) but it's refreshing alongside Baker who just hoofs it.

I like that playing well makes "no difference" to you. Once a hater...

He looked a bit languid at first in my opinion but the first goal was sheer class. Gave him confidence, his touch was back after that and he looked like the striker we were saying would cost £30m to take. Changed the game for us and probably worth MotM for that alone.

Such a mixed performance. Gave a lot of energy, instigated some nice possession football with Bertrand especially but then still contrived to give the ball away by fannying about. If he cut that out, he'd be a good midfielder!

This guy was class today. Defended well, great energy all game long not to mention the composure for his goal. Top stuff.

Not sure about brilliant but what I HAVE finally noticed is that he's good with first time passes forward... that's his thing!

No idea if it's purely down to Lambert or whether it's a confidence thing... Start of the game, we purely played it long (often a complaint on here); I think it took 3 seconds for a hoof from Guzan up to Benteke. This is fair enough - playing to Benteke's strengths - but we can't only do that. The first 15 minutes were insipid but, as soon as we scored a couple, we've mixed the play up. It's on the deck a lot, some quick passes as well as some longer balls. Much, much better.

The sign of a good player is to come back from poor performances - he's been very good this half.

He's basically stated exactly what a lot of people on here think - the summer is crucial. Obviously it's a short-term gamble on Premier League survival but, should the worst case scenario happen and we get relegated, we won't be stricken by the sudden wage:income ratio drop that relegated teams suffer. If nothing happens in the summer, I'll be seriously worried.

Dare not lose to Swansea away?

He's not the perfect midfield player but he's the best one we have and IMO is the only one good enough to play for a top half team. It's more COULD BE good enough to play for a top half team. If Delph managed to cut out the headless chicken running, didn't fanny about on the ball and lose it as often or could actually find a pass, he'd be a good midfielder. There's still more to come from him, I'm sure of that. For the time being, though, it's fairly reassuring that Westwood does the simple things well but none of the flair stuff. Our major problem in midfield is El Ahmadi.