samjp26

I thought Vlaar was 'extremely slow' ? :/

Just got in and and saw the half time highlights, **** screamer from Lowton - wanna see Tekkers now please Mr Lambert.

its a tough call now with so many players good enough to rotate

but saying that, we have alot of lads not quite good enough to start

i would go with something along the lines of...

____________Guzan____________

__Lowton - Vlaar - Dunne - Lichaj__

Holman - Ahmadi - Ireland - Nzogbia

_________Gabby - Bent_________

this is quite attacking, but i realise theres isnt a holding midfielder, maybe Ahmadi and Ireland and switch throughout the game?

I think we're better off playing Gabby out wide since Zoggy just hasn't proven that he was worth the outlay, although I'd love it if he did hit form.

Based on Bennett and Lowton both putting in decent performances, and Dunne returning in decent form, I'd like to see us looking like this:

____________Guzan____________

__Lowton - Vlaar - Dunne - Bennett__

___________El Ahmadi___________

Holman______Ireland_______Gabby

_________Benteke_______________

________________Bent__________

Ireland playing further up than KEA, but Benteke playing behind Bent, so that Ireland and Benteke can create the link between midfield and attack.

From what I have now seen I think Benteke has more to his game than just being a tall strong presence up front. He can clearly pass the ball and has a decent touch, and I think we can use his stature in other ways than just punting the ball up to him route one style. Hopefully some decent hold up play as well as being an aerial threat when needed will lead to some goals as well as contributing to Bent getting more chances.

Apologies if this has been posted already but just found a few more glimpses of him in the highlights of the U21 game between England and Belgium earlier this year:

Definitely watch the Lansbury goal before proceeding to check out Tekkers @ 0:54, 2:00, 2:55, 3:13.

Again, this may have already been posted, but only just seen it myself. Shows some diversity with silky hold up play, a header attempt and some passes that should have ended up in goals.

Blose would want silly money! 8m +

Yeah I heard their manager (can't remember his name) on SSN on the phone saying they want £8m or something if I recall, which would mean a 50% price increase since it's us, even though it's only going to go to the legal fee pot for Yeung - unsure how they rate Butland at the same price as Lloris.

Craig Gordon still has no club, he was a great keeper before the injuries.

Benteke offers something completely different to Gabby, Bent and Weimann, in his physical stature. Something we definitely lack is height and strength, and I think he'll start against Swansea because of this. Hopefully he'll be a useful in both boxes, and I'm pretty sure his presence will be useful when defending corners which is always something I get worried about (although Guzan seemed sharp yesterday).

Swansea have also lost Taylor, and there defence isn't the greatest anyway - send the big lad up to plough through them I say! Unbelievable Bentekkers

I think he is somewhat similar with Makoun but KEA looks much more comfortable playing in england than Makoun who seemed somewhat off-the-pace. As much as I was hoping for Makoun to get accustomed playing in PL I dont think he never even started to get adjusted into living in England and into playing in PL.

KEA seems much more commanding which is just what we need but one has to wonder what could've been those two in the middle...

Shame about Makoun as he would've been very good spreading the ball.

Think Makoun and KEA would've been a cracking partnership. If KEA is paired in midfield with somebody who can tackle and has a bit of strength well then we'll definitely have a better chance at bossing the center of the field - guess we'll see soon how this Westwood kid plays!

Good command of the area, better distribution of the ball apart from a few hick-ups (think he kicked the ball straight out for a throwing once), seemed to come and collect the ball in the air for the majority of corners etc. Crosses didn't really seem a threaten him in the air most of the time.

Also, I think what I liked most about the freekick save is that he got two hands on it and nearly caught it, which is definitely something I couldn't have seen Given do. I like Given, he's one of the best keepers the league has seen, but he may be a little past it to be starting every game. Guzan for number 1 and Given on the bench I reckon is the way forward, albeit based on the performances of the next few games I guess.

Really this thread should put to one side and revisited once we have played about 10 matches and have a more consistent view of the squad's capabilities. Good stuff today, though.

Not really, we can talk about our 10th match in say.. the 'November Optimism Gauge' thread?

To be fair on him it probably wasn't as easy to score that shot as it seemed, solid performance though and I hope he continues trying to earn that contract he wants

Well we're up out of the bottom three now!

I thought that KEA and Ireland both looked technically sound on the ball today, some cracking touches and flicks from Ireland, it's good to see him with some confidence going forward and it really helped today, should've been on the scoresheet. Holman's passing definitely needs work but his workrate and energy levels are high which made a massive difference to our play today.

Bent also looked better today, I even saw him track back into our half at one stage, more movement and all round better play from him, another one who should've scored IMO. Gabby made an impact coming on also, but Weimann played well before he was taken off.

Vlaar was solid at the back, as well as when bringing the ball forward, and Clark got a goal which will also boost his confidence. Lichaj a bit shaky if I'm honest, but on the other side, Lowton (who I was skeptical of when thrown into our first team) looks miles better than Hutton already and he'll undoubtedly improve as time goes on.

Today has made me a lot more optimistic, and I hope we take today's performance into the next game and get our first win - although Swansea will be tough opponents, I reckon Benteke will probably start and will want to make an impact.

Also liked the team huddle before the game, and Lambert ensuring all the lads went and applauded our fans.

Let us now push forward and keep the positivity high, sell out crowd against Swansea please, UTV!

Hopefully that knock he got is just that, and nothing more serious. Quality on the ball, quality signing, shown again today.

I'm actually going to be pissed off if we don't get 3 points here - really didn't expect to think that before kick-off. Ireland should've netted that one, he's played well though.

KEA injury is really not what we need ah ffs

Bent is gonna have some headache in the morning after that - come on Zoggy, make the difference

Ah feck, wonderstrike, we still deserve to win come on lads

Bring on the Bowery

Agreed. Maybe in the next 10 minutes for Weimann.

I just hope we can keep the tempo up, and keep pressing like we have been doing throughout the first half. Another goal within the first 10 minutes please!

A Wigan-type Zoggy or Gabby out wide rather than Holman, Benteke up front with Bent, and Bennett left back instead of Lichaj = If we play like this we're decent! Chuffed!

**** COME ONNNNNNN!!!

So glad we signed Vlaar

Few minutes in and already we're not looking good, come on boys get stuck in

Quite confused at no Baker, Delph or Bennett - both Baker and Delph been decent, and Bennett not even on the bench is just odd.

Hmm

I think we'll line up:

..........................Given.........................

.................Vlaar...........Baker...............

Lowton........................................Bennett

.............KEA.....................Delph..........

N'Zogbia.............Ireland................Holman

..........................Bent............................

Wish we had Benteke today, even though I haven't see a great deal of him I think his physical presence alone would help against Newcastle. I want to be optimistic and say we'll win, I really hope we will, but I'd definitely be happy with a point today. Hopefully we can put in a good performance and snag all three!

I was the same, I didn't think lambert had done anything to get the villa job (or Martinez or Rodgers)

, but he's here now and I'm backing him 110%.

Agreed, we had reasons NOT to back he who shall not be named - Lambert on the other hand has a decent record, albeit a little short in length, and he is our manager now, meaning we need to get behind him fully and hope for the best.