AVFC-Prideofbrum

I thought he may have something but I was mistaken, one of the worst ever performances in a Villa shirt.

Get him back in the side alongside Benteke. It could be a really good partnership.

21 Jump Street is funny. Oh and watched a beautiful mind last night, really enjoyed it.

4 months after this thread was created, Lionel Messi made his league debut. Ha. You should have seen that one coming folks.

If I'm capable of murder and whether I could get away with it. I'm going with no and no.

The Olympics from start to finish was pretty special. Barely missed anything. Personally, Moving into house at Uni , been best times of my life. Slightly cheating but NYE was amazing, Sheffield basement house party about 40 of us, half of which all my mates from school i've known for 10+ years. Being selected for trials for uni team GB.

Football is comfortably the biggest passion of my life and for adding to it's beauty and allowing me to enjoy it and witness greatness, my vote goes to Messi. God damn it, I love that guy.

We need players but 2/3 players on top of returning injuries would make the world of difference. Centre back, central midfielder and winger all the main priorities I think.

I'm not and I don't think he's good in possession either but I do know his hold up play is much better than Weimann at the moment and if we are to be better as a team you need to retain ball better with both strikers. That doesn't mean to say Bent offers anything with the ball but I do believe he protects it better yes. Maybe it is or maybe that's your thought because it's the ONLY partnership we've seen for a fair period of time. Bent and Benteke as far as I'm aware have started just two games together, Southampton and Norwich, combined about 90 minutes or so I think. not just Bent by the way, would prefer Gabby as well up there alongside Benteke. I know I'll get stick from fair few I imagine but just think he won't prove to be good enough.

My honest opinion is he needs to badly improve his all round game if he's going to cut it at this level. He's a good finisher and works hard I'll not doubt that but in possession and in terms of holding the ball up, he's woeful. Had two good chances to play Benteke in and failed miserably due to a lack of ability. Bent isn't ever going to beat his man as well but he is far stronger and careful in possession. Too many times Weimann is brushed a side like a little boy. He also doesn't score enough goals to justify it, he's never going to score so many goals that his all round game you can let off IMO. When Bent is fit, I'd rather him slot alongside Benteke, think it would be really dangerous. Weimann as a player to come on from the bench later on in games either needing goals or extra energy levels up front.

Well I did say I'd hoped we'd go 4-4-2 play with more width and more direct and we certainly did that to an extent. We didn't get the ball into the box from wide areas at all that often, mainly down to the lack of good possession in good areas which was difficult to come by but for the first time going forward in a while we did seem to have more of a plan which I thought we have lacked going forward recently. It was hardly a plan of great intelligence but hitting Benteke early as soon as we got the ball with Weimann gambling every time and wingers getting closer looking for lay off just meant we seemed more comfortable in what was trying to be achieved. Defence is the major issue but with the lack of quality, I can accept that to an extent. Chris Herd would do well to be a CB in any top half championship side never mind Premiership while Clark at best is just about good enough for where we are, Stevens championship at best as well. CB, CM, WG need most in January, get rid of a couple clearly not doing it if we can and with a positive result vs Southampton and all our returning injuries, I'll be very encouraged of a really good finish to the season

I actually thought he played well, did the job he was given, played with maturity, looks for the ball, was good with possession and defensively was good also. Doesn't mean to say he's good enough or whatever but this does now give him a chance in these cup games to get himself a spot or at least put himself in the window!

I agree don't get me wrong but once you know you haven't got that then you play in a way which is easier for the players, move the ball into the strikers and wide men early, get the ball into the box, be competitive on second balls, press around the pitch when it's on and get deeper runs. Problem is I think we're playing like a team who needs that quality and ability in central areas and simply we don't have it. Let's attack wide areas and get the ball into the box for our strikers who are perfectly suited for that game.

We lack in central midfield, we lack quality cover in most areas on the field but possibly the most disappointing thing so far during the reign is not getting the best out what we have. I have defended Lambert and do hope he stays and is backed and as positive and refreshing it has been to see us play with the young guns, he needs to one be careful he isn't leaving out players who'll win us games and two, once playing the youngsters then play a game which can suit the players we have. We have no source, no 'way' of scoring goals, no continued threat and our biggest problem, we're not creating chances in the best areas. What I mean is, while say an O'Neill only had a Plan A, give it the wide men and put a cross in, but currently, we don't even have a plan A. We don't yet have a system in place and that's a massive worry. Our attacks are varied but without quality both as a team and individually. Whatever system we play, we don't have wide men and width (in terms of overlaps and good crosses into the box) our full backs get forward but they haven't got the ability to beat a man on a regular basis which allows opposition to engage them and not allow baring the odd wonderball (like Joe Bennett vs Wigan, just once) any crosses of quality to come in. When we work the ball inside, firstly we have too many players who pop it off within a couple touches, problem being that we don't commit players, we're also not good enough to play our way through teams and not many in the league and we don't get runners into areas we'll cause problems. We're relying on individual quality to score goals and when that happens in a team with very little individual quality, it's difficult. Liverpool prime example, Benteke was unplayable but he's not going to reproduce those games more than maybe once, or even twice a season. In Benteke we have a striker who isn't that disimilar to someone like Carew, a player who can hold the ball up, protect it, use it well and be a constant threat from balls crossed into the box in the air and on the floor. Darren Bent is one of the best strikers for scoring goals from crosses, again on the floor or wide, great movement and knack of being in the right area. Agbonlahor, physical but lacks movement, still though as we've seen, deliver good balls and if he's up front, he'll score goals in the box. Weimann, I'd say most similar to Bent in that his movement and striking know how will get him in great positions. Getting the ball to the by line or in a dangerous wide position is especially for the players we have at our disposal, surely the most important aspect of our game and yet it's something Lambert hasn't even seemed to consider. It's also the easiest way of creating chances because it's player for player and where the most space is. In Lowton and Bennett, you have two good attacking full backs not just without the ball in terms of being able to support attacks but with the ball. When Darren Bent first arrived, plenty of his success came from the ability of Kyle Walker to drive past players, open up gaps for himself or Downing to then pick Bent out. Would like to see Lowton and Bennett carry the ball infield more often and drive spaces which they can't do at the moment because they are often occupied by within the way we play (a lot of players coming short for the ball in central spaces) we need to back this up with wide players. We admittedly don't have much in terms of choice as I don't think Albrighton is good enough. What I would maybe think about given Bennett's attacking ability is someone like Barry Bannan who can not only retain the ball and have the ability to find passes into their feet but has an excellent ability to cross the ball both floated and whipped. He crosses the ball more than anyone in our team but always from bad areas, deep central/wide areas. Let him sit wider and allow for Bennett and a more aggressive midfielder to support him. Bannan is a player you can feel comfortable with to retain the ball so runners off the ball firstly, can cause problems themselves if the ball is on like Bennett free on the overlap, midfielder attacking a channel space and also creates space for Bannan himself to take a touch out his feet and find a cross, an example being Beckham type wide play. Other side, I'd really like to see N'Zogbia or if not, Gabby maybe, just someone who can get the ball and attack a player, get them on the back foot and get the ball into the box. Gabby is a good crosser of the ball either foot and has pace to scare his man and push him back while N'Zogbia can be a player on his day to attack full backs and play more individually without support of runners. That's the biggest change I'd like to see anyway, play with more enthusiasm going forward, directness and energy. Currently we have nothing, it's labored, lacking ideas and creativity. Once you've got a settled squad after a year or two then maybe we can start looking at more intricate ways in order to break teams down as well as wide but for now I think we need to concentrate on what we have and do the fundamentals right and for me when attacking that is providing a threat down either side with runners in behind which we haven't done all season.

I don't see past; Guzan Lowton Vlaar Baker Holman Benteke Gabby Bent. Those are the only ones with real genuine conviction I'd say were good enough. HOWEVER; Joe Bennett - Not seen much but I actually have liked what I've seen from a potential good attacking full back point of view. Ashley Westwood - Good start to his career here, looked solid but few things have made me have a few doubts but promising. Charles N'Zogbia - The games i've seen him play this season, mainly from the bench i've really liked and he's proven and a game changer so I hold hopes we'll see a revive. Then; Ciaran Clark & Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton - I don't know, they look at times like very good players then often disappoint, possible back ups but don't mind if get rid. Andraes Weimann, - Simply put, I don't think he's good enough overall, maybe 4th choice striker or something. Chris Herd, Eric Lichaj - Woeful, no place within our squad. Ireland & Delph - Just too long, not enough performance, Delph glimmers of hope with age but sell both. KAE - Just doesn't seem up to it at the moment but not going to rule him out completely. Given & Dunne - Age and wages and probable quality. Hardly rave reviews, definite strengthening required out wide and central midfield.

We'll win 2-1.

His back is in agony.

Hmmm, such a difficult one. Guzan Lowton Vlaar Dunne Baker N'Zogbia Westwood Bannan Agbonlahor Benteke Bent That's a really aggressive line up so not sure how well it'd work but both central midfielders play deeper so should be covered. Only real other players i'd say knocking on the door would be Joe Bennett, Bret Holman and Ireland/Delph/KEA if Bannan (most likely) isn't performing well. I don't want players like Lichaj, Herd even near the line up.

Firstly, Lambert deserves plenty of criticism however, he still has my backing for now. Defensively an absolute shambles and tactically not getting it anywhere near right last couple games, badly needs to invest in quality over January. Players who we know would walk straight into this side, not 'potential'. In his defence, we have some real key players out at the moment, Vlaar, Agbonlahor and even the emerging Nathan Baker has been very good for us during our good form. Bent and N'Zogbia also, it's difficult to fully measure if they would have been able to improve things given the lack of game time each has received but both were starting to move into the squad and get game time before their injuries. Probably N'Zogbia more so who has looked good when he has been fit from the short spells I've seen him. The biggest problem for me at the moment is a simple lack of quality. It doesn't matter about their age, a lot of them are simply not good enough. Eric Lichaj and Chris Herd are footballers who don't belong in this league. Ciaran Clark isn't the defender we had hoped for and at best is an average Premiership player, yet he's captaining our side and our best central defensive option. In midfield, I have no idea for starters why Westwood was left out and also Albrighton who at least offers intent and direct attacking play. Westwood and Bannan I actually like but neither are dominant and neither are great Premier League players, both are players for where we are with potential to be a mid-table/top half player as experience grows. You look apart from that, Delph, KEA, Ireland, they are either inconsistent or not good enough at this level. Holman is a hard worker but doesn't offer much. Benteke is still for me a shining light in a poor team and a player we can build up on, while sorry to say but i'll stick with my original opinion that Weimann simply isn't good enough. In fairness to Lambert, his signings within his ideas aren't bad at all. Bennett looks like he can play and is good going forward, Matthew Lowton is a right back I like, Westwood is steady, Benteke is Benteke, re-signing of Guzan who for the first time this season I thought could have done better with the latter two goals, more so the 3rd but down slowly on the 2nd and Ron Vlaar who I thought has looked pretty good. Unfortunately, we are building from rock bottom and think we have to remember that. There has been so little quality bought in over the past years in areas like central midfield that all the best players are the signings made by Lambert. He got it wrong with KAE though admittedly. There is absolutely no doubt he's making mistakes and has done in recent games and I'm very surprised at how poor we are doing but I still believe that with funding available and luck regarding injuries, we'll be absolutely fine in the league and with hopefully a Wembley trip as well, it could still yet be a decent season for us. I said to myself at the start of the season that even if we got relegated, i'd back Lambert as I think long term it will be for the best and the club needs a structure in place and something settled. It's been a depressing week and a reality check after the week we had beating Norwich and Liverpool but hopefully just a blip and while you have to look at Lambert, my general thoughts are that the players we have at this current moment and we've had fit for these games (i.e. not counting Vlaar, Gabby etc..) are not of sufficient quality to stay in the league and I'm not sure who is to blame for that, probably all managers going back to the days of O'Neill as well of course as the owner. back him and build on the potential we do possess, because without sounding crazy, we really aren't far away, a commanding centre back, central midfielder and then quality up front/wide/playmaker IF Bent is sold and we really do have the base of a good team. Obviously getting the right players will be the problem, who? but yes, I genuinely think we are close to having a good team that could play within various ways and styles. Or maybe I'm just trying to be optimistic in a very difficult period.

I've always been one of his biggest critics but was really happy today he started given the lack of quality in our team at the moment but he was absolutely dreadful. Delighted when he finally goes.

Firstly, definitely agree that the good press went to his head slightly, started playing with too much confidence/swagger, forgetting hard work and aggression that has made him so good in previous games. However, even today he still won the large majority of the balls into him, yet everything into him was either of poor quality or into an area where he could only head it down for someone else.

He was aguably our man of the match vs Spurs!!! Absolutely not, he's been one of our best players this season.

Thought he was our best outfield player comfortably and played very well, unfortunately he doesn't play like this anywhere near and defensively is guaranteed a booking. Such a frustrating player when in terms of ability, he has a lot to his game but never plays consistently well or uses what he has very well. If were to play him more, think he's far better suited driving from midfield as opposed to sitting.

Today was woeful, no excuses but given our recent good form, solid defence it's so out the blue that it's not a massive worry to me anyway. It's not one where it had been coming or anything like that so hopefully it's just a one off and we'll bounce back vs Spurs with a good performance. At the end of the day, if we can bounce back vs a point against Spurs, however poor we were today, that'd be 4 points from 3 extremely difficult games.

Messi 1/10 on with most bookies to retain Ballon D'Or. At one point this year it looked as if it would be a close race! 35 goals in 24 starts so far this season, crazy how easy it is and how he seems to improve each year. His ability to read the game and off the ball movement I think have been the two big factors which have improved him most over the past couple years. I guess just keep enjoying what we are witnessing because it's unlikely we'll see it again for a very long time. I mean we could be talking about a player who can score 175 goals in two years of football. Need to find the right words but he's almost carrying Barcelona through to records as well as his own records. Only 4 times they have trailed this season, in 2 of the games, Messi scored doubles to get the game to 2-1. In another game, down 2-1 at Sevilla, he assisted both goals in the last 5 minutes to win 3-2. Atletico being the other (scored 3rd/4th) Games like Depor, 2-3 up, Depor tails up he scores for 4-2. Again, tails up 4-3...soon 5-3 Messi. Opener vs Zaragoza, they equalise, so he goes past 3 and sets up Song before adding a 3rd himself later. Doubles vs Betis and Levante, two very hard places to go to give Barca 2-0 leads. Mallorca, scores 2nd goal. Mallorca come back from 3-0 to 3-2, making it difficult but he goes again and puts game to bed. Today, not just the 2nd goal which was superb but the first goal comes from him speeding the tempo of attack of completely from nothing and 7-8 seconds later the ball is in the net. Just a series of brilliant and game winning displays every single week. Especially when you think 2nd top league goalscorer for Barca has just 5 goals compared to his 26 and he's still the 3rd highest assister in the team as well (as well as joint 3rd in the league itself) it's incredible. Bah, what can you say. Not as good as Ethan Moore.