Ratings and Reactions: Newcastle 1-0 Villa

[Villa87]

Times up for me guys. Think Cardiff and Fulham are down. That 3rd spot is ours. No form, cannot score, tactically inept manager who received no backing from a lacklustre anonymous owner. You cannot behave as we have done in the transfer market and expect to be competitive in this league.

 

There was a sense of inevitability throughout that game. No urgency or quality.

[trevor]

New contract? Surely having a laugh.

Last two games could easily have yielded 4 points and we fail to score in either. Baffled by the Bennett substitution, what is going on with Benteke and where 12 points will come from? This is going to be a very close call with the drop and if we go I would obviously be disappointed but not in the least bit surprised. Aston Villa Proud History.

[steve1986]

who brings on a left back for no reason?

[Daveburnside]

Still far too much hit and hope. Much like our transfer policy. 

 

After having ten minutes to digest the result, I think we are doomed.

[Vincenzo]

We played OK first half

Newcastle were devoid of confidence and there for the taking. If we'd have scored they would have crumbled. But we didn't!

Second half we did nothing. Final ball was shocking, Bentekes pass when 3 on 2 summed it up for me.

He doesn't look interested.

[Hanky]

Newcastle are awful. Absolutely there for the taking. I understand the subs were forced, but Sylla? It's tactics that McLeish would get abused for.

[The_Steve]

Still level on points with Swansea don't forget.

[HanoiVillan]

I missed the first half of this game, because I was watching the men's ice hockey final with my Canadian partner. She was understandably delighted, and had the whole family on the phone, everyone very jolly. Of course, because I'm a masochist, I couldn't wait to fire up a broken stream to watch the beloved Villa . . . and half an hour later, the mood is completely ruined, I'm totally miserable, it's yet another week I'm frankly embarrassed to be a Villa fan. 

 

To make a number of points based on the second half - the substitutions. Okay, Westwood was injured. But why not bring Albrighton on and put El Ahmadi into the centre? Why not have Lowton in the matchday squad so that Bacuna could be pushed up? Because Sylla is a dreadful footballer who hasn't had a good game for nearly a calendar year at this point. He's detritus, and just as much 'bomb squad' as Alan Hutton. Why Bennett? Was Bertrand really injured? And couldn't Clark have come on and Baker gone to left back? Because Bennett is as terrible a fullback as has a Premier League contract. One of the few things Lambert has done right since having this job was ditching him at the start of the season, and now lookee at this, the turd that won't flush is back costing us points again. 

 

Benteke is a lost cause. It's funny watching him play in the same game as Papiss Cisse, it's hard to tell who's had the more dramatic fall from grace. Probably Cisse, who might just never score again, but Benteke is lost. He won't be leaving in the summer, he shouldn't even be starting games next season. 

 

Awful, pitiful, infuriating, dismal. A win next week or Lambert out for me. My patience has expired. 

[dpt666]

Westwood was obviously injured, but if Sylla is the answer, I don't want to know what the question is.

Only central midfield option on the bench.

I'd av sooner steer come on and try tbh sylla is no footballer as I'm no male model

[Mantis]

Newcastle are awful. Absolutely there for the taking. I understand the subs were forced, but Sylla? It's tactics that McLeish would get abused for.

Who would you have put on in CM instead then?

 

The McLeish comparison doesn't even make sense.

[GasGasGas]

The one game Lambert could have done bringing on Holt in place of Benteke who was absolutely useless and a liability, he doesn't. 

 

But then again he already made better decisions such as taking off our best player who was controlling the game, for someone who probably passes worse than a person who has never played football.

 

When that wasn't enough, he took off a sound, safe and effective defender and replaced him with one who ensured chaos ensued in the defence.

[LordSepulchrave]

Random thoughts on the match:

 

The match was summed up when Benteke stormed forward against two defenders, with Weimann and Gabby free either side of him, and he just puts it straight into the feet of one of the defenders.

 

We pressed brilliantly, especially first half, but without a goal we were always gonna run ourselves into the ground and eventually we tired enough to let them lay siege to our goal.

 

Subs were crap. I have to assume Westwood was taken off due to injury, because otherwise massive mistake by Lambert.

 

Great performance first half but, like against Cardiff, I didn't think we had the composure to put away chances if one had fallen to us.

 

KEA, Westwood, Bacuna, Vlaar (except for a couple of almost massive mistakes), Baker, Guzan all great today.

 

Not getting any luck either, on top of everything.

[Daveburnside]

Times up for me guys. Think Cardiff and Fulham are down. That 3rd spot is ours. No form, cannot score, tactically inept manager who received no backing from a lacklustre anonymous owner. You cannot behave as we have done in the transfer market and expect to be competitive in this league.

 

There was a sense of inevitability throughout that game. No urgency or quality.

12-1 on bet victor

[foreveryoung]

Thought we were ok first half and could of gone 1 nil up a couple of times but alot of that was down to newcastle being non existant. Second half was absolutely unberable to watch at times. Aint the worst ive saw us play but overall it was pretty poor, for as good as vlaar can be hes ano utter donkey at times and he should of stayed on his feet for the goal. Yet another dull display from the villa and a big loss. If the teams below us win their games in hand were right in it. We have got to beat norwich because with chelsea, city and united coming up it dont look good

This is down to Lambert all day long, why do people continue to defend him. Yes the team is shite, but first half proved we can play a good game and could have been 2-0 up. To lose all that in the second half is unforgivable. He has had nearly 2 seasons now to coach this team. So they are either completely useless or Lambert is!!!!!

Why can he not get the quality back out of Benteke. Wenger or Mourinho would not put up with his shit, so why does Lambert if he is such a good manager!!

[danceoftheshamen]

Well we were playing the team in the worst form in the Premier league who carried little threat.... But then they were playing Villa... So of course they get the chance to turn their form around...

 

Says it all really.... Still good to see the hard earned holiday in the sun worked 

 

We are shocking.

 

Still at least it'll be some different stadiums to visit next season.

[Danwichmann]

who brings on a left back for no reason?

 

No one. I'm pretty convinced you'll find there was a reason, and I'll guess that either Betrand had a knock or is simply not match fit yet. 

[OutByEaster?]

who brings on a left back for no reason?

 

I don't know - who brings on a left back for no reason?

 

(And what's it got to do with today's game?)

[Hanky]

Newcastle are awful. Absolutely there for the taking. I understand the subs were forced, but Sylla? It's tactics that McLeish would get abused for.

Who would you have put on in CM instead then?

The McLeish comparison doesn't even make sense.

Why the need for Sylla? Albrighton for Westwood. We did nothing second half other than play for a draw. Our tactics were to lump it up to the three strikers who once again didn't seem to know what they were doing (although they're not innocent in this either. Sounds like exactly the sort of stuff we employed in 11/12 and I have had enough of it.

[villan_007]

Westwood was obviously injured, but if Sylla is the answer, I don't want to know what the question is.

 

Gardner and Carruthers are out on loan, they won't be forever though.

This match was as much about Lerner as it is Lambert.

I thought our game plan worked a treat, but gabby, tekkers and andi could have played all week and not scored.

Lambert got it right and the front 3 let the team down.

I'll leave the OTT club to do it though.

[darrenm]

I'm gutted at the result, but I really don't understand the comments about the subs.

 

It's the standard desperate need to find blame at the end of a lost game. I thankfully don't suffer from it but I've learned to tolerate those who do.