VillanousOne

i can't take another 45mins!!!!

you wouldn't think we were the home team the way sky sports are noshing Sunderland off

we presumed Sylla was brought in as a defensive CM yet the last time he played he replaced Zog as a wide attacking midfielder. Lambert just hasn't got a clue how to protect the defence, he encourages the whole team to rush forward at which point we often play a poor final pass or cross and are then left horribly exposed. Collins may have been a donkey but he does the basics well, none of our defence does that, also what is the bet Cuellar scores a header? Bennett's injury may turn out to be a blessing as vs Sunderland he would be targetted as a weakness - and i respect he has done better of late but her was horridly exposed vs Manure. I am not a huge Bannan fan but part of me now thinks he would be a more stabilising option than Zog, but it looks like KEA is back in favour and no idea hpw that will pan out.

It is difficult to work out whether the need to sell and bring the wages down hurt the club more than the signings made and the tactics played and not all are without considerable merit. Everyone can see what Lambert is trying to do and the glimmers of hope for the future, but you can't build a castle on a swamp. The horrid truth is tactically he has learnt nothing, we are still getting our arse handed to us when we play a team even half decent, all we have managed to do is through a excruciatingly painful process of trial and error - compete with the teams in the lower half. He is the first manager at this club I have ever seen who does nothing to change tactics when playing the top teams and that level of dillusional arrogance troubles me, ok vs Liverpool we had a good but lucky result but you'd think he'd crave a nil nil draw considering our goal difference and perilous league position. It feels like he thinks he is the manager of Roy of the Rovers or some fictional team in a film. I love Villa and I love this club but part of me feels that even if we stay up next season - Lerner won't back Lambert enough to bring in the experience we are crying out for and we will continue to struggle. It doesn't feel like we have any ambition anymore, Lerner just wants this Utopian and idyllic football model where we buy incredibly cheap foreign and lower league players and turn those players into bravehearts.............. who knows it might work, but i don't know if we will be in the Premiership to see it happen. I hope i am wrong, i am just pretty jaded from being the laughing stock amongst all my friends for a third season.

Were you saying the same thing when we went there last season and lost 4-0 with 1 shot on target? I hated the way we played under McCleish, but the dour goaless draws towards the end of the season kept us in this division and at this stage that is all that matters, playing spineless attacking football like headless chickens will be why we get relegated.

i would genuinely rather we parked the bus for 90 mins than this gung ho 'waaahaaay lets ave a go lads' shit that never ever **** works

The one thing that has worried me in recent weeks is our total lack of composure in the final third, so many awful passes, crosses and rushed attempts at goal. Its one thing having a utterly clueless defence but if we don't start burying chances then we are as good as down.

we've had some good chances to score but luck is completely against us

Twice by Utd? ok the first time not so much but i'm including this one........

Lambert must like getting **** as he's learnt nothing after drubbings by chelsea, spurs, city and now twice by united.

we've been making Utd like amazing for years so it's hardly anything new then again for all it's potential and youth this is the worse defence i've ever seen. our final ball is also pure comedy. nice foul by that f uck wand evra

I've never seen Lambert try and park the bus and play ugly, his tactics are the same game in game out - counter at speed score a few and then hope the comedy goal we concede doesn't mean we lose.

it's infuriating but he's been frozen out by more than one manager, he must have had some kind of a row with Lambert. It feels like he has been made the fall guy for something and it's hard to fathom why. We badly miss creativity in midfield and playing four strikers doesn't ever seem to work for 90 mins. But Lambert won't play a 442 as he has no faith in the players we have, yes we play well but never for an entire game. It does feel like we are running some players into the ground considering how many players now rarely get a look in Holman, Ireland, Bent, KEA, Dawkins, Bannan, Lichaj, Given That is a lot of players who barely figure - not saying they necessarily deserve to start but there will be a big clear out in the summer even if we stay up.

I like Bowery and want to see more of him but I would play Nzogbia over him every time even if we only get 60-70 mins out of him.

The decision to sub Zog was **** terrible, unless he was injured. Zog came in and was our best attacking threat by far - he should be starting instead of Bowery if fit - Bowery did ok yesterday but shouldn't start week in week out.

i hope this game doesn't come back to haunt us!

It is gauling, Baker, Westwood and Delph have been brilliant at times yet three own goals!

Also how many free kicks and corners did we have that failed to even test the keeper once, have we really got no-one on deadballs who can cross?????

Taking Nzogbia off was a baffling decision, that could well of cost us the game!

if he gets his confidence back and stays fit i think he is worth keeping. Delph has proven that lost causes can be turned around. You do begin to feel though that fringe players like him Delf, Lichaj, Ireland etc etc. need to be replaced by players the gaffer actually has faith in.

he will make other mistakes, but he will learn from them. Technically he looks as good as any left back we have ever had, if he can toughen up and add a bit of muscle and stop looking like an 13 yr old extra from Attack the Block he will do well.

i'm sure he's not a bad player - just don't think he's a natural winger/wide man. Lambert doesn't seem to understand the difference between the roles of striker or winger, he just see's attackers and if he can play at least 4 of them he's happy as fox on a glacier mint, ok that reference is older than Bruce Forsyth's penis.

Lowton doesn't score tap ins does he I really thought we were going to throw the whole game away when Stoke scored Guzan 8 - Immense Lowton 9 - What a goal! Baker - 6 - Solid enough Vlaar 6 - Did the job needed Bennett - 6 Did ok Westwood 7 - Did well Delph 6 - Not back to his best but not far off Bowery 6 - Helped set up the first goal but don't think he should start Gabby 8 - He has been awesome of late Benteke 8 - Great goal at the end Weimann 7 - Unlucky not to score

Collectively a defender can make mistakes as long as you have someone playing with you to mop up. Or heroic dick splashes like Steven Gerrard to head off the line. None of our defenders are good enough to account for their own mistakes let alone anticipate anyone elses. The most frustrating sight this season apart from uncontested headers flying in is when you see a goal scored from inside the box where there are literally 6 Villa players all sprawling all over the place as they try and fail to block the pea roller goal effort that always goes in.

Westwood is a tidy player who does the basics well and in many ways he is one of a few players like Lowton who is consistent. he rarely lets anyone down but does he tackle and offer a midfield defensive shield? Ummmm not really although he covers a lot of ground and closes down well does he create lots of goals or score goals? Ummmm well he's had his moments not many but a few, but i wouldn't say he is very creative or attack minded player. Aside from a few blips he has definitely been getting better but at the moment he is a slightly above average player in a team of mostly average players who i think will continue to improve.