Paul33

Vlaar is the weakest of our three CBs so I'm hoping Okore is being rested for good reason and not because Lambert actually thinks Vlaar is better. As for playing Nzogbia ..... unbelievable that any manager sees anything in him. He offers nothing that a headless chicken wouldn't offer !!!

Disappointing result but more than happy with the performance ...... keep that up and it will be top half finish for sure. Sanchez was outstanding and is starting to establish himself as real top class.

KEA was one of the worst players EVER to pull on a Villa shirt and Cleverley is really only mediocre at this level. He COULD improve but there is no way he wants to be here at Villa ..... he only has eyes on getting back to United so will never sign a contract here so best to get rid and invest in better.

Can't stand the prospect of 10,000 gloating cockneys !

Neither Richardson nor Zog should have started .... crazy line up !!!

Okore MUST start ..... dropping him would be a disaster on many levels. He will be a better player than Vlaar and dropping him during a run of good form would send out real bad signals to him. Leave the two CBs as they are please.

It isn't the individual talents that let us down, it is the tactics and shape of the side that lets us down and that is where our current coaching team have got it wrong ...... albeit there are a few small signs of improvement now.

Unless Vlaar commits to stay at Villa then he should be left in the reserves unless we are desperate. Okore will be a better player than Vlaar and we need to stick with him ..... he is the future top man in this position.

Not true. Very true actually !!! We've got an ITK-off! Grab a chair! What makes you so certain, Paul? A contact on the inside and yes I know people hate hearing that and, to be honest, I would have just sat back and watched it all happen if it wasn't for the official BS about Ireland/family being rammed down people's throats. Nothing against Keane - did a good job at first but always going to be a wrecking ball and bust ups are always sure to happen. You could see from the freedom of performance in the first half on Saturday and the long overdue involvement of Grealish to see the impact of his departure !!!

Not true. Very true actually !!!

Benteke would have been a beast today - we lacked a strong presence in the box and he'd have filled his boots ! Decent performance - albeit better first than second - and encouraging stuff at times from the likes of Cole, Sanchez and even Gabby ..... just need to see it every week now.

Possibly same people who've been giving him grief for not putting Grealish on - who gave ball away before pen. It was Gabby who gave the ball away for their goal... It was Richardson actually !

Whatever was said at half time turned us from a free-flowing, positive side playing good football into a negative, hesitant side who looked like they expected to concede. Mmmmmm !!!

..... and watch what happens with Grealish now Keane has been booted out !!!

Word from the training ground is that a number of "senior players" had complained about his attitude and were blaming him for certain "issues" within the camp ..... but I have no idea what they are. It definitely is NOT a move that has anything to do with Ireland ..... he was pushed !

Pretty crap thing to do by a player who has been either injured or garbage or both for 90% of his time here and yet was never dumped on throughout ....... but that's football today and it doesn't surprise me. Not sure he'll be well received next time he pulls on a Villa shirt !!!

Play him at the TOP of a midfield diamond, not the bottom of it. He has the sort of vision and passing ability that will unlock defences and he has a tidy shot on him too !

If we start Sunday with Gabby/Tekkers/Weimann then that's it for me ..... all the remaining belief in Lambert will go !!!

With Delph out, we have no midfielders prepared to carry the ball forward ..... they all pass sideways or back and that means 50 passes to cross the half way line, it means next to no service to the forwards and it means no goals will be scored. How obvious does it need to be to Lambert that somebody has to be a risktaker and the only lad I have seen this season - aside from Delph - who is prepared to take risks is Grealish and he don't make the bench ! Without the forward momentum from the midfield, the forwards are too easy to pick up and mark tight. When we run from midfield, we challenge the opposition backs and that creates space for the forwards ..... basic U12s coaching FGS !!!

I'll give Tekkers the benefit and say he is on his slow way back but Gabby is so over the hill that I can't see him anymore and Weimann wouldn't get a game at Small Heath at the moment !

One of the most embarrassing Villa performances in my 50 years as a Villa fan ...... we have NO future with Lambert in charge. Totally clueless and out of his depth by a million miles ! Bring back McLeish !

My mate was diagnosed as being a Precognitive Dreamer and has the ability to see up to two days into the future. He casually told me this morning that Villa won 2-1 but had a player sent off for elbows at 1-1 so there you go ...... we win ...... wooooo !

Okore could be VERY good for us but he was spectacularly unfit pre-season ..... looked like a pub footballer so must have quite a way to go yet.

Meh ...... feel like I want to rant but can't really ! Set up to contain them and once that failed, it was all over ...... different class, need to keep heads up and again next week and get over this crazy run of tough fixtures.

Baker for England !!! #nuffsaid