kevpants

Nice settled, positive spirit in the squad before the match. Nice one. Let's do this!

FIFA (the game) and the World Cup may well be the salvation of Aston Villa Football Club.

He's one of the best crossers in the league never mind the club. I don't get why he's never on corners or free kicks. He's produced some absolutely cracking crosses in his time.

Just play him. I don’t care anymore about “up to speed” or how he looks in training. I feel the same way about Grealish, there are young raw players positively influencing games up and down the country. PLAY THEM!! I’m in Ireland so don’t get to see Villa in the flesh but I saw this lad in last year’s pre-season against Shamrock Rovers and to say he’s an intimidating physical presence is an understatement. I’d love to know what his best vertical leap is because the guy was clearing 3ft off the ground getting up for headers as well. Also I believe he recorded the 3rd fastest speed of any player last season in the few games he played. I think some company track every player in every game, don’t know how reliable it is though.

Thought he was brilliant. A misplaced pass shouldn’t lead to an automatic concession of a goal. He was the reason QPR had little or no possession and couldn’t string a legitimate attacking move together for 99% of the game. From time to time, even with a holding midfielder playing really well, our defence may have to deal with the odd ball or two. Maybe our defence hadn’t been made aware of this? If he’s dropped against Spurs it will tell me all I need to know about Lambert. Dropping Sanchez after that performance would bear all the hallmarks of someone who only looks at the superficial elements of someone’s performance. The amount of ball he won then quickly handed off to players who should have then made positive influences was immense. For me he was the one piece of the puzzle with regard to a functioning team that actually fit last night. Look more closely at what we do after he wins the balls and plays it to Cleverley or Westwood.

It's ok we're following the Borrusia Dortmund model. They can't win in the league either.

First post! Last night I would have voted to sack him now. Having calmed down and looked at the table I voted give him until January. If we beat Spurs (lol) we go ahead of them by 2 pts. Crazy as that seems. What annoys me most about this team is our lack of any ability to do the things in football that make you realise why you love the game. I’m talking about the goals in the minute before halftime that changes everything, the 3 goal turnaround in the last 10 minutes. When have you ever seen us with a head of steam absolutely bulldozing team? I can only think of Sunderland 2 years ago and Norwich last year and on both of those occasions it was our 1 man Belgian bulldozer doing the damage. For all the flukey wins and scraped results this team looks incapable of creating “something out of nothing”. It’s encapsulated by us having all that possession last night, away from home and never looking like scoring. At no point did you think a little one-two would put someone in one and one with the goalkeeper. Have we even had a 1v1 with a goalkeeper this year!? What baffles is me is that this isn’t Lambert’s “style”, you could forgive McLeish, I’d say he’d play with 2 holding players in a game of 2 vs 2 with jumpers for goals. Lambert was responsible for Norwich who were the originals of what Southampton have done, he was responsible for the free flowing play with brilliant goals and no defence of 2 years ago. What’s wrong? At this point it’s impossible to point to something in particular. We’re just really terrible. I’ve no idea what to whinge about, including the manager. Maybe there’s just a malaise around the club that sucks morale and belief. Maybe it’s a simple tactical shift that’s required and it will all click. I’ve absolutely no idea.

Irish Villa fan here. Just witnessed the QPR debacle. Looking forward to riding this crazy train of bitter disappointment for the remainder of the season with you fine fellows.