Vive_La_Villa

I don't understand why we can't have a conversation about why we can't string a few passes together without it being seen as moaning or having a dig at the manager.

I think 3 years in its fair enough to voice concerns over issues that have been evident from day 1.

It's got the potential to get better but its a definite concern.

Apparently it's not an issue because we are playing top 6 teams and we have not been relegated yet.

Well that's not true.

Of course it's not but there are some fans that do not seem to think it's worthy of discussion.

I don't understand why we can't have a conversation about why we can't string a few passes together without it being seen as moaning or having a dig at the manager.

I think 3 years in its fair enough to voice concerns over issues that have been evident from day 1.

It's got the potential to get better but its a definite concern.

Apparently it's not an issue because we are playing top 6 teams and we have not been relegated yet.

I'm genuinely interested to know what the issue is with keeping the ball and why we can't do it.

I don't understand why we can't have a conversation about why we can't string a few passes together without it being seen as moaning or having a dig at the manager.

I have to say the moaning about possession is getting a little tedious - over half of our opening 7 games have been against teams far better than ourselves and we've been without two of our best players for many of those games.

Stoke (a) - Shots on target (1) Possession (38%)

Newcastle (h) - Shots on target (0) Possession (40%)

Leyton Orient (h) - Shots on target (1) Possession (53%)

Hull City (h) - Shots on target (4) Possession (45%)

Liverpool (a) - Shots on target (1) Possession (26%)

Arsenal (h) - Shots on target (2) Possession (29%)

Chelsea (a) - Shots on target (1) Possession (37%)

Man City (h) - Shots on target (1) Possession (32%)

How is this acceptable? Why are people still defending him? I was very much behind Lambert at first but last season was awful and this year is no better. Results/League position is great but we are only heading one way. We have failed to score in 4/5 home games.

He hasn't had any money to spend? Well you don't need a ton of money to develop a good style of football and at least have a game plan/decent tactics. How much have Swansea spent over the last 3 seasons? £8m total outlay compared to our £38m.

If these performances were under the McLeish era he would be slated. There were tons calling for his head last seasons, what's changed over the summer? Nothing as far as I can see. Apart from Hull at home every one of these games has been dire to watch. Is anyone honestly enjoying these games?

Probably because results-wise we've done ok. I didn't realise that football was all about having the most possession and having the most shots rather than outscoring the opponent.

Ok so playing against a better team means you can put more than 5 passes together? How does that work?

Is it not possible that the players tired and City found another gear, forcing us back?

Why are they so tired? Because they spent the whole of the first half pressing Man City to win the ball back. How about they try and keep it a bit longer instead?

You reckon giving it away all the time is the game plan or something?

I'm trying to understand why they can't keep the ball for more than 5 passes. Any ideas?

Perhaps it's something to do with Man City being the current champions and one of the most expensive teams ever that is packed with top quality international players. Just a thought.

But no you are probably right, it's probably just a tactic of Lambert's to not want his players to retain the ball.

I'm not having a direct dig at Lambert. I'm talking in general. So just because the opponent is far superior it means you forget how to do the basics? Maybe it's a mental thing and the game is lost before they even come out on pitch.

I don't care that we lose to top teams and I'm proud of how they battled for most the game. It's the basic ball retention I can't get my head round. We really do make things harder for ourselves then it needs to be.

Possession wasn't much better in the first 3 games to be honest.

Fair play to Baker yesterday. Starting to see the player we thought he could become. Hope he can keep it up.

Is it not possible that the players tired and City found another gear, forcing us back?

Why are they so tired? Because they spent the whole of the first half pressing Man City to win the ball back. How about they try and keep it a bit longer instead?

You reckon giving it away all the time is the game plan or something?

I'm trying to understand why they can't keep the ball for more than 5 passes. Any ideas?

Is it not possible that the players tired and City found another gear, forcing us back?

Why are they so tired? Because they spent the whole of the first half pressing Man City to win the ball back. How about they try and keep it a bit longer instead?

Worst possession stats in the league

Worst shots on target in the league

Worst number of passes completed in the league

People will say we've had a difficult run but we we built up these stats in the first three games and have simply continued them.

There is no denying that Lamberts brand of football is horrible to watch. Despite the poor run of games I'm struggling to see much that will change once we play the poorer teams.

There is no pattern to our play and no real gameplan other than wait until we win the ball and then run as fast as we can to the other end of the pitch. There is no invention to our play, it's all so predictable. We play with wide players but rarely spread the play and stretch teams. When we play down the middle our attacks break down because we have nobody who can find pockets of space or thread a nice ball.

We will see this midfield three of Westwood Delph and Cleverley all season and 9 times out of 10 it will provide us with nothing other than sideways passes and good pressing of the ball.

I can't see who is going to create chances once Benteke is back. We are simply going to have to rely on him creating his own wondergoals. Seeing Diame ripping it up at Hull is really annoying me as i knew he would have been perfect for us. Such a better player than Cleverley.

A creative midfielder is an absolute must in January.

I think our problem is lack of patience. Better teams move the ball around until they can see an opening. If the opening is not a good one and start again. Our problem is the players feel they have to attempt the killer ball whenever we get chance too. 9 times outa 10 there was no ball on the quality isn't there. If they can move it around quicker in the middle spaces will eventually open. If Swansea can do why can't we?

Unfortunately I think the quality of our players is maybe poorer than we realise.

Seriously though what is Lamberts philosophy? What style is he trying to create? Do we have a style? I know we playing the champions but does it really need to look like men against boys. Is he not drilling it home to the players that we do not have to attack as soon as we get the ball.

For their goal we had the ball and aimlessly ran in to their defender to give it back.

Pass he bloody ball around. Kill some minutes. Get some confidence. You're Premier League players earning mega bucks. I refuse to believe you're not capable of stringing 5 passes together regardless of opponent.

Until the players can learn how to pass and start to understand that when we get the ball we don't have to instantly attack we will be battling relegation.

All I heard in the first half was their fans.

Didn't hear a peep until 80 mins sitting in Holte lower, L1. Normally I can hear the away fans quite well from here.

Fair enough mate but I was sitting opposite then and couldn't hear a peep from the holte. No point saying the away fans are only sing when they winning when our ground is silent.

As for the game. Yes they have players worth more than our squad but it doesn't excuse the fact we can't hold on to the ball for more than 5 passes. It's embarrassing.

All I heard in the first half was their fans.

I don't care about the results. I just expect Premier League players to be able to keep the ball for long longer than 1 minute.

I counted the passes today to see how long we could hold the ball before losing possesion. It was rarely even 5 passes. Pathetic.

Not judging us by last two games but I really wish we could hold the ball for longer. Want to just get the next game out the way and then start looking forward to games again.

Clark nearly scored, great save, after that Arsenal took control. We are looking far better than last season and that's enough for me. Atmosphere was good until the 3rd goal, lower Holte.

There was a few Arsenal fans in the lower Holte as well, which is fair enough i suppose but they should at least have enough about them to keep it quiet, they didn't and it nearly kicked off on a couple of occasions.

An Arsenal fan in one of the box's celebrated a bit too much and a villa fan climbed and punched him.

Stupid really because that fan can probably never go to Villa Park again.

Do you have to be a Villa fan in a box as well? Do they have boxes available for away fans if say a group of Arsenal fans wanted to get a box?

i have no idea having never been in or near a box.

Boxes are for anyone who pays for it.

I don't expect us to have a go at Chelsea but I expect us to be able to put more than 5 passss together before losing the ball or trying an attacking pass. It was interesting to see the difference between us and Chelsea. While they would pass it around patiently until they saw an opening we would fling it aimlessly in to the box as soon as possible. I just don't get it. Surely Lambert and Keane must be trying to put this accross to the players but why doesn't it happen? Is the quality of team really that poor?

It is worrying that we could get a poor owner at this price but 100M is still a lot of money. As for ruining us at least we'd be protected by FFP.

Ironic the thing we hate could end up being crucial for us.

If Delph leaves can you really blame him? If he has the chance to play at a better club with better players he will have to take it. If we lose him on a free it's club fault letting his contract run down.

Good job we only need one.

Biggest difference for me is our lack of patience. If Chelsea have nothing on they pass and pass until they see an opening. We get so far forward then feel the need to swing the ball aimlessly in to the box. Just keep the bloody ball!

Look at the damage losing 8-0 to Chelsea did.

If we're 3-0 down, with half a team and a sickness bug in camp, you shut up shop and wait for next week. How that can argued is baffling IMO.

Edit: sorry misunderstood your point. I agree it was right to avoid further damage. Should have done same against Chelsea 2 seasons back. To continue to try and score was a joke.

Remember this game?

I was in the Trinity Road that day, I really thought we were going to win the League that year

Anyone who says football is better than it's ever been, right now, is talking shite.

Ability wise it is, but for enjoyment, passion, entertainment and just about everything else it's definitely not.

The quality is pretty poor to be honest.

not intoxicated by substances.

Ohhhh. Got ya.

just had sex straight headed for the first time in over two months might sound daft but its a big pressure off my mind and the missus is happier which is always a good thing.

Straight headed?