VillanousOne

Been linked in Russian Media to him apparently, anyone know anything?

surely there can't be many proven goal scorers and former England internationals kicking around at the moment that are available? Bent's fee may well be decided by the amount of teams who want to sign him and that is a hell of a lot. About half the Premiership lack a proven 15-20 a year goal scorer, Bent maybe 29 but 8-10 mil is realistic, as there just aren't that many goal scorers out there, well not in England anyhow.

Bent wouldn't stay even if we wanted him to, if Benteke goes then I could see Weimann leaving if another club comes in for him. with Zog possibly leaving as well we could literally have no attack left aside from Gabby. I think those quotes are boll*cks though and massively disrespectful if true. Why do people think Lambert and Lerner would splash the resulting cash? A young hungry attack to go with our young hungry defence would seal relegation next season.

Annoyed Zog didn't play, aside from the goal Bent did feck all and Weimann was awful as was our defence. Hard to take positives really, Vlaar goal was amazing, but the fact we were largely second best really grates.

We've probably had worse but I'm struggling to think of a worse Villa defence in the top flight. Hmmm Delaney's two handed charge downs cost us a few penalties. But can't think of many worse defenders who start every week than this lot. Lowton and Guzan aside.

I don't care how good Lambert thinks we are, if we don't strengthen the defence we will struggle every season. Look at Boyce, the concentration and determination, and that's the captain of a relegated team, not even saying he's that good but we have nothing like that. Not all experienced defenders require hollywood wages so that argument is bollocks, whatever young hungry talent we uncover that is half decent we will have to pay more to stay after a season anyway.

Villa in comedy defending shocker

what worries me is that after a decent start at Blackpool he barely started, if he can't do well at Championship level then...... hard to see him doing well for us. Only exception to that rule is Weimann, who i believe had some pretty average loan spells.

Are there rumours that he may want to leave so he can play centrally? nothing concrete but he himself has commented on the fact playing wide right is not his usual position

Part of the problem is that neither Gabby nor Weimann want to play as wide strikers and yet their form has been superb as a result of that formation. I'm not sure if it's true or not but Andi may want to leave so he can play centrally. I don't know if Lambert believes 433 is always the way to go, but at some point he looked at the squad and saw that Ireland couldn't do a creative central anchor role, Zog, Bannan were too inconsistent, so with little else in midfield to provide fwd thrust he went with three forwards. Maybe if we sign someone else that will change.

Players to keep who have done well: Guzan, Benteke, Gabby, Weimann, Westwood, Vlaar, Lowton, Sylla, Delph Players to keep who either have potential or showed glimpses of what they can do but can't necessarily be relied on to come good: KEA, Baker, Bennett, Zog. To early to really tell: Dawkins, Bowery. Players I just don't know if they can genuinely cut it but unlikely to be sold: Clark, Bannan, Lichaj. Players to get rid of for one reason or another: Bent, Ireland, Delf, Holman, Dunne, Hutton, Warnock, Herd, Given. Players we need more than anything, 2 defenders one CM. I think we will lose at least one striker we don't want to and someone else will get picked off that we don't expect, so a lot of work has to be done to make us into a mid table side that competes well in cups again.

There is so much dead wood at the club i can only imagine a clear out will mean more players rather than TV money. The issue for every club outside of the top 5/6 now is the ridiculous wages players demand, and until that changes we will have to gamble wildly on young bucks from lower divisions.

I don't get the Westwood vs Bannan debate, they are two completely different players doing completely different jobs.

wow can't believe this thread still rages on even when the guy isn't playing I think we will only truly get an idea of how good some of the fringe players are like Bannan when the pressure is off - hopefully at the start of next season. For much of the season everyone who has had come into the team has done so under truly grim circumstances, and if they have made mistakes or not done enough to change the terrible form they have been savaged.

what worries me is when we are losing and not playing well Lambert's subs/tactics are usually awful, anything that has ever involved KEA or Holman have been classic examples of ineptitude. But if we get one or two experienced players in midfield and defence and keep this attack we could be awesome.

we need Clark back and Baker at left back, if not Lichaj there instead v Chelsea. As soon as Bennett is targetted by physical players or players with pace then he looks a liability. He is a great crosser and passer and you can see he has the pace and nous to track players, he just lacks a defensive brain to do the simple things well. I like him but he is a liability at times and not a natural defender.

I just hope all the Gabby critics are choking on their words, the man is one of the most loyal and consistent performers of the last decade

Gabby 2 Norwich 0 Grant Holt is such a cheating f*ck

sounds bollocks, it wasn't even in the print version of the Metro and no Arsenal fans have come gloating at my door and i know plenty of them

I think a lot of our defensive issues is down to confidence, regardless of age these players were all playing together for the first time and regulalry in this league for the first time in a team that was largely new to one another with an experimental midfield and strike force - regardless of the fact Gabby is an old head. When you have that many followers and no leaders - mistakes really hit hard, and no player has been allowed to hide. In many ways we can all see the ability and potential in Lowton and Bennett, but if we stay up and Dunne leaves or retires then we still need another experienced central defender, plus if Lichaj isn't going to be used then we may as well let him go and get another defender that Lambert rates enough to play. If we stay up i will literally cry if Lerner doesn't give Lambert the chance to strengthen further, as i don't care how good anyone thinks these group of players is or could be, we will still struggle if we don't strengthen.

Benett 6?

I was really impressed by Sylla and Bennett today

all that was missing was the clean sheet. Guzan 8 Lowton 9 Baker 7 Vlaar 8 Bennett 8 Westwood 7 Delph 7 Sylla 8 Weimann 7 Gabby 8 Benteke 10

so that's what that feels like

the ground Sylla has covered is incredible