samjp26

For long periods in the game Gabby decided to run over to the right side, but Weimann stayed put too. So we had Gabby and Weimann on the right, and Benteke drifted over to the left. We have the widest pitch in the league yet at home we play with no width, it baffles me.

Out of our three strikers, Benteke was the one who was out wide the most today. We have no permanent wingers with our 4-3-3 system since all three players are out and out strikers bar Gabby who can play as a winger if needed. Gabby and Weimann didn't get give us any width today in terms of attacking or defending, which left both Lowton and Luna trying to do so without any cover. I do think that both players are usually good at getting back to help their fellow wide men but today they didn't see up to it. Any form of wing play or crossing will nearly always come from our fullbacks and they need to be covered, more so when we're at home and teams sit back hoping to hit us on the break. I think this is where Sylla is vital, as our most defensively minded midfielder he is the one who in theory should be able to provide cover for our fullbacks. I also think Westwood is a better passer of the ball than KEA, I would replace KEA with Sylla. I agree but think KEA offers more in terms of possession play than Andi at the moment. Gives us the option to bring Weimann off the bench for KEA too. I agree and I certainly wouldn't play a 4-3-3 at home personally, I think a 4-1-2-1-2 could work or a 4-1-3-2: ..............Guzan.............. Lowton Okore Vlaar Luna ..............Sylla.............. .....Westwood Delph..... ..............Gabby.............. ........Benteke Kozak....... or ..............Guzan.............. Lowton Okore Vlaar Luna ..............Sylla.............. KEA Westwood Delph ..............Gabby............ .............Benteke............ Roughly, sorry for the crappy fullstop formation method. We played Sylla in an anchoring role during pre-season and he seemed to suit it well so I have no idea why Lambert has gone back on it.

Out of our three strikers, Benteke was the one who was out wide the most today. We have no permanent wingers with our 4-3-3 system since all three players are out and out strikers bar Gabby who can play as a winger if needed. Gabby and Weimann didn't get give us any width today in terms of attacking or defending, which left both Lowton and Luna trying to do so without any cover. I do think that both players are usually good at getting back to help their fellow wide men but today they didn't see up to it. Any form of wing play or crossing will nearly always come from our fullbacks and they need to be covered, more so when we're at home and teams sit back hoping to hit us on the break. I think this is where Sylla is vital, as our most defensively minded midfielder he is the one who in theory should be able to provide cover for our fullbacks. I also think Westwood is a better passer of the ball than KEA, I would replace KEA with Sylla.

I think he brought Kozak on at that time for the set-piece. After we scored from it though he should've put Sylla on for Weimann and played a 4-1-2-1-2 with Gabby behind the two strikers and Sylla behind the two center midfielders (in my opinion). Trying to defend a 1-1 draw would've been easier than trying to get a 2-1 win with 4 strikers.

Tactically we work very well when away from home and the home team is the one coming at as. We don't work well at home where the opposition have no problem in taking their time and sitting back if needs be. Think we will beat Norwich away, Lambert tried a different formation against Liverpool but it wasn't working, I'm sure he'll continue to work on it.

Majority of the time we obtain the ball in our half we pass it to Guzan who hoofs it up towards Benteke. This may work sometimes, but constantly doing it will not work.

Of course, an over-reaction, something I have said consistently for about 3 months. 1) Buy cheap, young talent. - check. 2) Survival first. - check. 3) Willing to sell on players from number 1. - check. 4) Fans happy with lack of success as long as we survive. - check. Who did we sell? Bannan? http://www.thefreedictionary.com/willing Who were we willing to sell then? The guy that we decided to give £60k a week to, rather than selling, yeah? As shown by Barry, Young, Downing and MIlner, if the money is there we will sell. Lowton, Westwood, Benteke and Delph will not be at Villa in three seasons time, we will sell them and buy potential. Just as Wigan waited for the right moment to sell their players. Oh right I see, we're in the Paul Lambert thread discussing how we've become the new Wigan under his reign based on the fact we sold 4 players before he was even our manager.

Of course, an over-reaction, something I have said consistently for about 3 months. 1) Buy cheap, young talent. - check. 2) Survival first. - check. 3) Willing to sell on players from number 1. - check. 4) Fans happy with lack of success as long as we survive. - check. Who did we sell? Bannan? http://www.thefreedictionary.com/willing Who were we willing to sell then? The guy that we decided to give £60k a week to, rather than selling, yeah?

Of course, an over-reaction, something I have said consistently for about 3 months. 1) Buy cheap, young talent. - check. 2) Survival first. - check. 3) Willing to sell on players from number 1. - check. 4) Fans happy with lack of success as long as we survive. - check. Who did we sell? Bannan?

We can't keep playing a 4-3-3 formation for starters and we certainly can't keep hoofing the ball up from Guzan to Benteke.

Come off it mate

Benteke and Kozak may work together but we'll rely on our full backs for the crosses in whilst playing 3 in the middle of the park still I reckon. Delph and Westwood with Sylla anchoring to provide cover for which ever full back is pushing forward.

It is vital that Sylla starts to get some game time in that anchoring midfield role, he'd be able to much provide better cover for our defenders than KEA or Westwood when we have to push on. Hope he starts ahead of KEA against Norwich, we'll no doubt be trying to play on the break being as it is away, we'll need him in there.

I feel Delph was the only player who seemed to give it his all in the first half, although after his yellow card he seemed to lower the pressure (for obvious reasons). I don't know what we do in training but there is a serious problem with throw-ins on both sides of the pitch, nobody seems to want to come and collect the ball or get into space to receive it, very amateur to be honest as this is just the basics of football. Putting Kozak on made sense but not to replace KEA, big mistake in my opinion as we lost the ability to keep hold of the ball in the middle of the pitch and literally every pass was a punt up the pitch. I think Weimann needs a break, although against Norwich he could work well he just doesn't seem to be playing well for whatever reason, I love the guy but we can't play him week in week out if he isn't performing. Benteke is still top scorer in the league.

Inb4themods.

Why on earth does nobody want the ball when we get a throw?!!?!?!?

More the performance I am disappointed with than the result.

We are no good at playing with the ball in our possession.

Hardly gambled with the tactics by playing the same formation and same team bar KEA coming in for Bacuna have we?

Weimann needs a break, I'm all for giving players extra time to try and re-hit form but he isn't playing well at all so far this season.

The gap we leave between Luna and Ben Arfa is almost as big as Tiote's forehead

Ben Arfa > Us

Kozak and Benteke running for the same ball = steamroller

Come on Kozak!

Away I expect us to beat anybody and everybody. Home I expect us to get beaten by anybody and everybody.