Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2013/14

CSF

Savman wrote: »

This level of forgiveness astound me tbh, there are no positives to be taken from a result like that and if it doesn't serve as a wake up call then I don't know what will. That result should be the catalyst for change, it's far too early to say whether it's just a freak result as the blind faith supporters would have us all believe. Hammerings knock confidence and Spurs won't be doing us any favours.

Anyway it's Sh*tmas Eve so probably a good time to switch off from the misery and binge on wine and Cadbury's roses.

The lack of immediate panic is due to the league position. I'd have happily taken it at this stage of the season. If Villa can go beat Wigan now, ill gladly take that over a draw with Chelsea and not beating Wigan.

It's a young team and let's judge them over what they do over 38 games rather than slaughtering them for 1 (or 2 or 3 or 4) horrific day.

Doodee

Savman wrote: »

This level of forgiveness astound me tbh, there are no positives to be taken from a result like that and if it doesn't serve as a wake up call then I don't know what will. That result should be the catalyst for change, it's far too early to say whether it's just a freak result as the blind faith supporters would have us all believe. Hammerings knock confidence and Spurs won't be doing us any favours.

Anyway it's Sh*tmas Eve so probably a good time to switch off from the misery and binge on wine and Cadbury's roses.

Of course there are positives.
It's what you learn from your mistakes that is important. If you punish people then they won't take risks.

As has been said, if this same team go out fearing Spurs and getting thrashed then yes, cause for concern. If they go out there with something to prove and show a desire to win then they are going in the right direction.

CSF

Doodee wrote: »

Of course there are positives.
It's what you learn from your mistakes that is important. If you punish people then they won't take risks.

As has been said, if this same team go out fearing Spurs and getting thrashed then yes, cause for concern. If they go out there with something to prove and show a desire to win then they are going in the right direction.

3 points against Wigan is the key, still think against Spurs would be a bonus, that's just where Villa are in the plan at the moment.

Esse85

Neil3030 wrote: »

This approach is completely uncalled for without knowing more about the players' mindsets. Just because they lost 8-0 doesn't mean that at least some of the players didn't give their best and under no other circumstance should extra punishment be used. The players got a hiding in a televised match, do you think they are proud about that? Do you think they don't care? Do you think they didn't wake up this morning feeling like dog ****? I obviously can't say for certain that they did, but unless you are absolute sure of the contrary, you're just needlessly kicking people when they are already down; this is a dated approach to management in any context and in the long run it does far more harm than good.

A competent manager will first thoroughly analyse all the mistakes which led to goals and set reference points for future performances. Isolate the players that genuinely weren't trying and drop them. Commiserate those who gave it their all, and let them know that this result doesn't reflect on them as a player. You then set the challenge to the players that it takes much more of a man to come back from such a defeat, than it does to coast through in a team that wins every week. Get everyone together and collectively bought into the idea that the only way to shake the stink of the loss is to use it to their advantage, and come roaring back, full-throttle against the next opponents.

Or, you could go down the Phil Brown's half-time team-talk on the pitch approach....

Neil we're not talking about the U12's here.

Doodee

In the spirit of the other team threads; Merry Christmas fellow Villans. May Santa bring us more ups and downs for the new year!

pavb2

Doodee wrote: »

In the spirit of the other team threads; Merry Christmas fellow Villans. May Santa bring us more ups and downs for the new year!

Let's hope more ups, Happy Christmas UTV

Esse85

Merry Xmas fellow Villa fans.

CSF

Yeah Merry Christmas and heres hoping that things have come on big time by next Christmas.

BIG BAD JOHN

I can't see us doing any better than a draw this afternoon.

Patser

Well at HT in the 3pm kick offs and QPR and Southampton are losing, so if that stays to full time , anything thus evening would be a big bonus

Corholio

Bonus or not, the players need to show theyre good enough, because IMO quite a few arent, including some of Lambert's buys so far, but they will get more time. Talk of results being a bonus, bar United and City maybe, lets the team off too easily.

JPA

VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark, Bennett, Holman, Westwood, Herd, El Ahmadi, Delph, Benteke

Subs: Given, Bowery, Lichaj, Ireland, Carruthers, Bannan, Albrighton.


Team for this evening.

Seems very defensive.
The wing backs will have an important role.

Patser

JPA wrote: »

VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark, Bennett, Holman, Westwood, Herd, El Ahmadi, Delph, Benteke

Subs: Given, Bowery, Lichaj, Ireland, Carruthers, Bannan, Albrighton.

Weimann completely dropped or injured?

And Ireland still benched

Edit : just to add that as a plus none of the teams around us in the league - except Sunderland - won. So regardless of result we''ll remain 3 points above relegation

matrim

JPA wrote: »

VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Baker, Clark, Bennett, Holman, Westwood, Herd, El Ahmadi, Delph, Benteke

Subs: Given, Bowery, Lichaj, Ireland, Carruthers, Bannan, Albrighton.


Team for this evening.

Seems very defensive.
The wing backs will have an important role.

Very very little creative threat in that lineup. Ireland should have started

Savman

Not an inspiring team selection, parking the bus at home or so it seems. Giving Spurs the initiative there too, hope Mr Lambert knows what he is up to...

CSF

Ain't been pretty so far, thats for sure.

JPA

15 corners to nil for Spurs.
Shocking. :O

matrim

0-0 at half time so that's something but we've been awful. Hopefully in the second half Ireland can add more / anything to our attack.

Some very poor passing in midfield could cause us an issue. It's partly because of good closing down by spurs but there have been some poor passes without anyone near them.

CSF

On the plus side, fixtures are much more kind after this one and still away from the ****zone for now.

Neil3030

Pragmatism, people. Spurs murder teams on the break, so it's far safer to try grind out the 0-0 here, maybe get lucky with a set-piece goal.

After an 8-0 shoeing, a point at home would be huge.

MarkJD

CSF

Neil3030 wrote: »

Pragmatism, people. Spurs murder teams on the break, so it's far safer to try grind out the 0-0 here, maybe get lucky with a set-piece goal.

After an 8-0 shoeing, a point at home would be huge.

Course it would, don't think anyone is complaining about Villa not going to win, moreso it just looks inevitable that Spurs will score.

matrim

Albrighton on for Westwood

Neil3030

Did Baker get injured?

matrim

Much better start so far. Just need to keep it tight at the back.

Bennett seems to have a good touch but he is way too left footed. He doesn't seem to have any right foot in attacking positions

matrim

Neil3030 wrote: »

Did Baker get injured?

Yeah. Just before half time. Seemed to land awkwardly after going up for a header

Neil3030

0-1

Defoe

Neil3030

0-2

Bale.

Rekop dog

Clark with yet another defensive howler, prob been the worst defender in the league this season.

Corholio

Lowton daydreaming for Defoe's goal (Not for the first time this season) Benteke's poor pass for the second. We're still appalling to watch at home, not a whole lot has changed since McLeish in that regard.

Corholio

Rekop dog wrote: »

Clark with yet another defensive howler, prob been the worst defender in the league this season.

You seem to have a hard on for criticising Clark. Worst defender in the league? Ah now.

matrim

Rekop dog wrote: »

Clark with yet another defensive howler, prob been the worst defender in the league this season.

It was Herd as much as Clark. Clark miscontrolled and gave the ball away but Herd should have been quicker and more aware to get to the ball after Bennetts challenge.

Neil3030

0-3

Bale

:mad:

shoutman

What on earth was lowton doing for the third spurs goal

Neil3030

Getting absolutely murdered down the right flank. Bennett's half decent going forward, but my good god he can't defend.

matrim

Poor defending but for the last 2 goals there has been absoulutly no support from midfield.

We need at least 4 players in January. Lerner better open the purse strings and Lambert has to go for experience in the centre instead of youth.

Corholio

Appalling stuff, I'd be shocked only for the fact it's been like that in the league all season, just had a lot of luck where Villa haven't been punished. People talk about a plan for the future and ideas. Lambert needs better of both before we can start to even get a bit excited about anything.

Neil3030

0-4

Bale.

CSF

Abysmal.

Savman

FFS.

Patser

Lerner has to open the wallet again. Has to.

CSF

Pure ****e, Wigan is such a must win at the weekend.

fullstop

Worst goal difference in the league now too.

Neil3030

Goal difference has taken a pummelling, but 3 points from the horrid run of Liverpool (A), Chelsea (A) and Spurs (H) is an acceptable return.

A win against Wigan is big, but it's still not a matter of life or death.

I still reckon this team will continue to grow and there is enough to stay up, however a few new faces in January would be a massive help.

Corholio

Neil3030 wrote: »

Goal difference has taken a pummelling, but 3 points from the horrid run of Liverpool (A), Chelsea (A) and Spurs (H) is an acceptable return.

A win against Wigan is big, but it's still not a matter of life or death.

I still reckon this team will continue to grow and there is enough to stay up, however a few new faces in January would be a massive help.

Thats a very generous and positive way to look at it. 1 decent half of football out of 6, with the other 5 bordering on disgraceful.
Lambert needs to get this 'grow a young player' philosophy out of his head, the situation is more immediate than that. Buying players is one thing, the thinking behind what players is more important.

CSF

Neil3030 wrote: »

Goal difference has taken a pummelling, but 3 points from the horrid run of Liverpool (A), Chelsea (A) and Spurs (H) is an acceptable return.

A win against Wigan is big, but it's still not a matter of life or death.

I still reckon this team will continue to grow and there is enough to stay up, however a few new faces in January would be a massive help.

A win against Wigan will be the difference between a good or bad January for me.

Neil3030

Fixtures from now through to Feb are actually quite favourable:

Wigan (H)
Swansea (A)
Southampton (H)
West Brom (A)
Newcastle (H)
Everton (A)
West Ham (H)

Then on the 23 Feb we have Arsenal, followed by Man City.

But out of the other 7 games listed above, we really should be expecting 10 points or more.

So all going well, on the 23 Feb, we should have 29 points from 26 games. This is nicely on form to stay up.

I'll only start fearing the worst if we get anything less than 7 points from these 7 games.

Savman

Ah Neil, the shining light of positivity, I genuinely wish I shared your optimism dude.

Only saw the highlights on MOTD, a couple of the goals were a comedy of errors from Villa, that one that started from a Benteke attack was just awful to watch. Not only was his wayward pass into the box intercepted, but Villa had 2 or 3 subsequent chances to stop Spurs counter attacking that we absolutely fluffed. Low and behold, Bale literally walks the ball into the Villa goal.

The naivety of this Villa side is very apparent, again Ireland being the only cool head I could pick out. The rest are not up to the task of keeping the club in the top division, talented though they are, we need experience or we will drop like a stone.

Relying on youth in a relegation scrap is poor management, whether Randy or Lambert is to blame I'm not too sure, but you run the considerable risk of knocking these players by asking too much of them IMHO.

I wonder how far into a torrid spell we would go before questions are asked of the manager and just how much faith our chairman has in him.

LeBash

To be fair we have one fit centre half at the club and it was 0-0 until Baker came off.

The one fit centre half is 22 and should have that kind of pressure on him. When Vlaar is back we will more than likely go to a back 4 again and we should hold the ball and pass better.

I still think we are in a much better position than last year and the club looks like it has the base for some great things in the next 4-5 years.

PL still has a few big wages to clear which should open the way for more players to come in.

Savman

LeBash wrote: »

To be fair we have one fit centre half at the club and it was 0-0 until Baker came off.

The one fit centre half is 22 and should have that kind of pressure on him. When Vlaar is back we will more than likely go to a back 4 again and we should hold the ball and pass better.

I still think we are in a much better position than last year and the club looks like it has the base for some great things in the next 4-5 years.

PL still has a few big wages to clear which should open the way for more players to come in.

4-5 years! :eek:

Immediate action is needed, not fantasising about the great squad we'll have in 5 years time and how much use that'll be if we're in the Championship.

If the squad is weak in depth, that is a failing of the manager and/or the club policies.