Aston Villa will be looking to bounce back from consecutive 3-0 defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea and get back to the good form that saw them become the league’s early pace setters. In spite of back-to-back defeats, Villa still sit in sixth position in the league, just one point behind the visitors who they will look to leapfrog with their fourth victory of the season.

Prior to their last two matches, Villa had based their early season performances on defensive solidity, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance tells us how important their shot-stopper Brad Guzan is to them. The data reveals that he has made 13 saves already this season and that the American keeper conceded just one goal in his first four appearances of the season. He will be looking to return to that form that has seen him keep three clean sheets already.

In front of Guzan, his back four have been equally impressive, in particular Alan Hutton. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Scottish international has won a highly impressive 88.89% of his tackles in addition to making 21 clearances and a squad best 12 interceptions. The full back has played every minute of the season so far and will want to keep up his impressive start to the weekend come this weekend.

Up front, the Villans find themselves with two in-form strikers who look as though they will threaten any side. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals that Andreas Weimann has already grabbed himself two goals and an assist, and that strike partner Gabriel Agbonlahor has also bagged two goals. The pair have scored four goals from just eight shots between them, and Weimann is 7/2 to score anytime with 888sport.com, whilst Agbonlahor is 37/10 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

This weekend’s visitors to Villa Park, and current reigning champions, will be looking to make it two wins out of two in the Premier League, following their victory at Hull last weekend. The free flowing football that Manchester City play when they are on song is a joy to watch, and they will be looking to add to their 12 goals from their opening six games.

The main goal scoring threat for Manchester City will come in the form of Argentine forward Sergio Aguero. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals that Aguero has found the net four times this season in just 348 minutes of football. His key seems to be getting as many shots off as possible, and has hit the target 10 times already this season. He has completed 169 sprints this season and attempted 22 dribbles and will look to threaten the Villa defence with more of the same hard work. He is 21/20 to score anytime with 888sport.com.

At the other end of the pitch, captain Vincent Kompany has been in equally impeccable form. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index tells us that he has made 27 clearances and 12 interceptions. Argentine centre back Martin Demichelis has also racked up an impressive 30 clearances and seven interceptions, and even managed to grab himself a goal. This pairing will prove difficult to break down if they continue their first class form in line with the statistics.

In between their back and front lines, you will find the majestic David Silva, who is capable of changing any game in an instant. The Spaniard has already opened his scoring account for the season and laid on a further two goal for his teammates according to EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He has completed 263 passes in the opposition half, and will pose a threat any time he gets the ball in a dangerous position.

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Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.

Comments 124

  2. Frem

    Well, the thing is with our manager is that he won’t change a single thing from our last two shameful performances. If you lose two games in a row 3-0 and have one shot on target, then 99.9.% of managers find that unacceptable and realise that a change to the system is needed. Unfortunately for us, we have a special one, but not in a good way. He thought we were comfortable against Chelsea ( WTF!!!!!!!) and won’t change the system or personal one bit. He is a coward, rather play the tried and failed then be brave and ply Grealish on Zoggy. It will be Richardson and Wiemann out wide, gabby up top etc. the city defence won’t have a problem with those 3

    It will be good to see Benteke back, finally. Top class player fans can watch.

    Good to see Helenius doing well. Such a shame he was never played. Won’t ever play for us again with this chap signing a new four year fecking contract . Johnson doing well on loan, robbinson, graham etc have ability but will all have the same fait as carruthers

    Park that bus Lamberk

  5. Trinity

    I also think a draw is on the cards. That would be a satisfying result against Citi.

    Frem

    “Coward” is a pretty strong word.

    Good for Helenius.

  6. Mark King

    frem- with predictions like “Everton and Qpr away after today. I’d like 6 points but Lamberk will take 1 happily” we are going to have to start calling you madame Frem.

  7. B62 Villa

    A new Villan has arrived in the form of Archie who was born at the QE last night, Mom and Baby Villa fan doing great.
    As for the match, iv lent my ST out as I’ll be busy!!
    I think a 1-3 loss unfortunately,

  10. Frem

    Congrats B62. Bet he already knows more about football than Lamberk.

    Trinity- in managers terms, he seems very much so a coward. He’s happy with 3-0 defeats, he’s happy if the score is kept down. He’d take 3-0 defeat now if you offered it him and then say City are great, can’t fault our efforts etc. he doesn’t attack, he doesn’t have any plan ever to let players pass and express them selfs. He never changes a losing side, it will be the same 11 and system that has lost 6-0’in there last two games. He’d rather lose 3-0 again then risk playing Grealiah, Zoggy on the wings.

    Losing is hard enough, but it’s how we lose that’s makes it even harder. We didn’t give arsenal or Chelsea a game what so ever. It was a walk in the park for both. We’ve already played dire against Orient and Newcastle that’s four shocking matches and the season isn’t very old. For me, Lamberk is the same old, clueless, just has decided to be even more defensive and anti football this time around

    Fox is going on about Europe but there is no chance if Lamberk is in change

    It might well be that we win today like we did last season, parked the bus and took out chances. That’s ok in the odd game, bit every single game we play even if it’s Newcastle home or a pool away, his tactics are the same. Park that bus, don’t create and never play creative players.

  12. Frem

    And by the sounds of things, Gabby will be back on the wing when the beast is back so Grealish probably won’t even make the match day squad. He won’t drop is favourites for an extremely young talented exciting player.

    He could go 442 with Grealish out wide and gabby and the beast up top, but we all know that’s two attacking for our managers liking

    Park that bus

  13. steamer

    B62,
    Congrats mate, great news, do the lad a big favour though, don’t point him in the direction of VP.
    Frem,
    Fox & Faulkner are two cheeks from the same arse, these mugs are killing the club and they use words like stability to justify it, it was bad enough giving the useless twat Flabby another contract but to give Lambert FOUR years is just insane. Lerner, Lambert, Keane, Fox OUT. see you when they’ve gone.

  15. Frem

    Fuck me he’s dropped Wiemann. For grealish though? Ha. Course not. Probably not even on the bench. Zoggy in. Benteke on the bench

  22. rogermuffin

    evening all, congrats b62, much sleep yet ?

    i know how you fell as my second boy ( still to be named) came along on weds night .

    I have to get some sleep tonight though,

    coyvb’s give me a something to smile about !

  26. rogermuffin

    Ha!
    The boys screaming his head with off the missus, so bring him in to watch the match march,
    He’s gone all quiet.

    I think he’s listening to the VP crowd, & he’s hypnotized !

    I think he’s come over all with a villa rash!

  30. Mark King

    fcuk me not one shot on goal with 60% possession sack Manuel Pellegrini.
    roger my dad was called neville nev for short and arthurs a good old name, don’t give him anything that sounds like a rap or porn star he won’t thank you

  31. southwestvillan

    Congrats B62 on the little one if you want to send him off to sleep stick him in front of the telly this is god damn awful to watch i pity those who have paid to watch this shitten.

    UTV

  35. @RonnieBiggs

    Congrats Rog,
    Give him a flair name we need more skill in the Villa camp, I’m thinking Brazilian… Roginho!

    Thought we’ve played like Warriors so far. Pleased.

    You look at the world class talent assembled on their Billion dollar budget and look how well we’ve competed then who’s to complain.

    Baker is really on his game so far!

  44. John Lerwill

    Villa could have got a draw out of that but the last two subs were particularly weak. Grealish is not yet experienced enough to change a game like that and he made very little contribution.

    Zoggy should have stayed on the pitch and Sanchez brought on for Richardson i.m.o.

  45. James Gill

    so 3 points from 12 we got 10 out of 24 last season against top4 fluke v stoke hull beat them last year a ONE point at home to newcastle who maybe slightly worse than us people say we are better dont know what tablets they are on, never seen so many empty seats when CHAMPIONS visited lambert is a complete fraud 3 matches in a row not one serious attempt at goal FOX better wake up nobody going to spend hard earned money going to watch 10 men behind the ball

  46. @RonnieBiggs

    Mark and John, yes agree with you both which segways into my next point. Perhaps this was not the best moment to bring in Benteke either. The team had done well to that point. Zoggy was playing well and really looking like the player we thought we were buying from Wigan for a change. Weimann was getting in positions and should have done better with his header (also offside once but made a good run).

    It seems like PL finally caved to fan pressure. Benteke didn’t look ready and Grealish as well but for completely different reasons.

    Expecting those two to deliver against the Champions in the last 20 minutes of a tense, hard fought affair was a lot to ask. The fans were hoping for the storybook ending with Benteke snatching a late winner from a Grealish mazy run but it didn’t seem likely a point would have served us well.

    Live and learn!
    UTV

  47. John Lerwill

    Ronnie,

    Technically I agree with you about CB, but I didn’t think that particular sub made too much difference. Zoggy would, however, have kept City on their toes and might have given CB a chance, while Sanchez coming on should have helped to keep them at bay. At least I think he would have done better than the subs that came on.

  48. Frem

    Spot on James. It’s the same old dire shite all in all

    Lamberk still has one dire home record. 3 defeats already at VP and a 0-0 against the worst side in the league when we didn’t have a single shot on goal

    10 thousand empty seats tonight. Great atmosphere though. It people just ain’t gunna turn up to watch Lamberks anti football. We invited city to score Last 20 mins we were useless. Sat back and panicked and let Toure walk into the box and pass it into the back of the net

    Lamberk won’t change though, ever. QPR will be the same, and Everton. Little to no shots on target

    So thAts 8-0 in our last 3 matches and about 2 shots on target in all 3.

    Paul Lambersk claret and blue army. Clap clap clap.

    If he had his way Grealish wouldn’t have even been in the squad. Wiemann is one truly useless footballer and Richadrson a dire winger. Liked the look of Zoggy though. Only player who was going to cause city any problems. Westy done ok first half. Delph will be taken of our hands

  49. Frem

    And now Benteke is back, we have to start going 442. We pack the midfield for some in know reason. We can’t pass or defend with a 5 man midfield or attack so it’s time to change it

    Get Gabby running of Benteke, Grealish and Zoggy out wide. No more 451. It’s dire. It won’t happen though, Lambert won’t drop the trio in midfield and Grealish won’t even make match day squads now. I wonder if we will ever eve see any other formation than 451 ? Anti football

  50. Frem

    MOTD sum it up. Commentator saying going forwards we are shite, and when they get the ball, it’s 451 straight away from us. 11 men in our own half at All times. Dire

    Lamberk saying he’s happy despite defeat. He said that after Arsenal, he said that after Chelsea and he’s still happy after 3 defeats in a row. That’s the type of manager we have. A loser. He actually said on the radio he doesn’t mind losing. Wow. How is this guy in a job? Doesn’t mind losing ?!?!????

  52. r0bb0

    Frem, do you think you’re the only person on here that watched match of the day? Did you not hear them agreeing that we were organised and have had a good start to the season?
    Did you not hear them say that we missed Gabby up front as he had to withdraw through illness?

  53. r0bb0

    Man city were clearly the much better team today and yet we had chances to snatch the game just as we did last year. There were glimpses of us playing some lovely football today and some really nice interplay in midfield.
    It’s really hard to tell where we really stand this season though considering the fixtures we’ve had so far. The big question is whether we can turn those glimpses of good football into long periods of possession and penetrative football against lesser opposition

  54. Heroes-and-Villans

    Alot better than i thought today. Delph, westwood, baker, nzog in patches impressed. Weimann annoyed me. Great chances spurned at nil nil and if you dont take them a team like man city will kill you. There packed full of £££££ players. Silva is immense.

    Where we are now going into 2nd international break…..level on points with arsenal and pool i would of taken it without question.

    Going forward…..new contract for delph vlaar grealish.
    Tekkers and vlaar coming to fitness. Attack must be improved greatly. Should do now tekkers is back and quality of opposition gets worse. Looking forward to delph cleverly wesrwood playing more. All in all im happy as i had us down start of season

  55. B62 Villa

    Cheers for all the comments chaps, Archie has his first Villa kit already.
    As for the football, I don’t think we have progressed as far as some initially thought. It’s a bloody job we bagged some points early because we won’t be getting any more for a long while.
    We won’t win many football matches this season because we don’t try to win, just not to lose, and as soon as we concede we are knackered. We create so little, so little adventure or idea.
    Our stats this season are horrendous , possession, shots on target, pass completion , goals scored etc etc are showing tha Lambert hasn’t learnt his lesson, he never will and he is stifling this team, with his anti-football tactics and sheer stupidity. Lambert has shown time and time again he simply isn’t good enough at this level, whilst he and Lerner are here this club will continue to die on it’s feet, we won’t break the top half and will remain relegation strugglers, the fans have seen thru these charlatans as the attendances show( well down on last season),
    We have become a nothing club, just here to make the numbers up incapable of getting the basics right. I hate Lerner and Lambert they both make my piss boil, I cannot forgive them for what they have and continue too redux ice our club to being, I cannot wait for the day they leave, until then it’s gonna be a weekly jaunt of watching paint dry, not even a bright vibrant colour, just plain magnolia.

  57. John Lerwill

    B62, and all…

    The policies and events that have occurred over the last 3 or 4 years have taken their toll, and that no doubt has had its adverse affect of the attendances at Villa Park. To me it has been ludicrous that we have had to endure what has transpired these latter years.

    But though the fact is that we seem to be imposed with the situation as it is there is (on the other hand – in my view) no need to think that the future is so bad. But on the other hand those steeped in past hope for a leap forward from the early 1980s will be shocked if we keep on developing as if we are some mid-table side of the ilk of Stoke or some such side. That’s not to denigrate Stoke, but we know full well that Birmingham deserves something a lot better to represent it in the world of sport. Thank goodness for Birchfield Harriers. 😉

    Unless the club is taken over by its support base (and I can’t see that happening), we are in the hands of people who are disconnected from the Villa’s past. Only a decade or two ago we still had Eric Houghton and Johnny Dixon around to remind us of the love that once existed within and around the club, but though the likes of Peter McParland, Charlie Aitken and Denis Mortimer are still with us, they have kept strangely quiet about the state of affairs.

    And the truth is that no matter what anyone else says, the ownership wants to do it his way. We have to sit and watch.

    But as I said at the start, there’s no reason to think the future will be so bad. I still feel that Villa will not be fighting relegation this year for starters, and there is an indication that the team structure is on the way up rather than in further reverse. Just as well – it couldn’t have got much worse, could it?!!

    But the key thing si that as long as the Villa support is showing its discontent by staying away, the more chance that the owner will try harder to improve matters.

  58. Frem

    Robbo- good start ? Mmm. -5 goal difference, about 2 shots on target all season, no football being played. Lost to,orient, drew to a shocking Newcastle side with no shots, didn’t even turn up against Arsenal or Chelsea. When City scored we didn’t even try to attack.’beat a Hull side who Bruce said after was there worst performance since he’s been there.

    Since he’s signed that fecking new contract, we’ve conceded 8, scored none and can count the amount of shots on target with one hand . Sums he’s time up at Villa perfectly

    Yes, we’ve had the odd win against Pool, but Mcliesh also won away at Chelsea. It happens.

    QPR away will be interesting, will be passed of the park again? I expect every game this season we will won’t have any intention to retain possession and I think we will concede a lot of late goals the way we play. Just sit back and invite pressure

    Looking at Hull side, I don think we can compete with the quality they have now, west ham to

  59. Frem

    And judging by last night, Lamberk doesn’t even want Grealish on the bench unless we have injuries

    Wiemann and Gabby will be on rather wings now Benteke is back. No service for him. The midfield will be packed, won’t ever play a 442, won’t even play a number 10.

    Park that bus and still leak like a sieve

  60. Mark King

    City won that game by matching us in midfield and taking a forward off (and being full of expensive talent) up until then we had done ok. I think johns right we should’ve shut up shop further, a point would have been enough i think. Lambert got over excited at our good start to the second half and actually thought we could win. we still miss vlaar, baker played bravely as usual but has no finesse and doesn’t cover sissy as well as Vlaar. Grealish came up against a real defender in zabaleta and couldn’t get his runs going but did ok defensively apart from one stray pass.
    our glaring problem is running off the ball and seeing those runs while in the oppositions box. I have never seen a team so frickin useless at it you can see why he got cole in but when he going to play?

  61. Jenny Truman

    Congrats to B62 and Rodg ! What about Christian as a name ?
    Hope you are managing to catch up on your sleep today .

    I didn’t see game as I was in Tiger Bay aka The Bay in Cardiff at old school reunion. But followed on twitter – 80 mins 0-0 – brilliant then oh no Toure – but still hope – oh typical Aguerro.
    My friend saw David Moyes at VP.
    Fox is rolling out the slick PR statement for the fans – it’s his job after all. If he’d have left names out you could be forgiven for thinking he was talking about another club entirely . The Fox bite completely co transits what RL has said .Or are we to assume that because Fox says he’s a fan and wants to compete in Europe that there’s been another change of. heart . Completely nonsensical given the summer budget and instructions for sale.

  63. Lionheart

    Frem… who plays 4-4-2 these days.. what middle two wold you have and which two wingers.. Grealish did NOTHING yesterday to suggest he should be starting week in week out..

    I know you love a rant lol but seriously how do we play a 4-4-2..?

    PL has many limitations.. i totally agree.. he hasn’t brought in creativity.. As for our team.. There is POTENTIAL..

    Solid at the back and in the middle.. Now if PL has any forward thinking and nous he will be looking to get two skilful attack minded players in to play on either side of Benteke and let then create attack score..

    Sadly I just don’t see it in his make up.. But whether we like it or not.. He has probably at least TWO more transfer windows to prove me and plenty others wrong..!!

  64. John Lerwill

    Jenny,

    At Tiger Bay? So do we call you Burley Chassis? 😉

    Seriously … I can’t believe how much in tune with the Villa Park PR you are. They certainly are treating everyone as buffoons, aren’t they?

  65. Trinity

    B62 and RM

    Congrats on the sprogs.

    We’ll defo be underdogs against the Toffs but at least Villa play better away.

    Jenny/JL

    Yeah, we’ll believe Foxy once we see those statements actualised.

  66. Mark King

    Anyone else watch the manure game? Everton are beatable. I’ve got the feeling frems right and we will go 433 with gabby and weimann but hope he leaves zoggy in after that display

  67. Mark King

    also anyone wondering why zoggy isn’t given a run on the left? he can’t cross with his right, in fact he cannot do anything with his right foot bar stand on it

  69. Heroes-and-Villans

    We dont need two up top. Tekkers with gabby and nzog next to him should be enough.

    Nzog and gabby have crucial roles. They both have the ability to go past players and also get in behind. If they can do that its priceless. Something weimann cant do. Cleverly delph and westwood in the centre gives us, mobility and pace. If we keep vlaar and tekkers fit and get okore playing we can easily be the best of the rest.

  70. Heroes-and-Villans

    Id have grealish coming on or starting instead of gabby or nzog. Weimann. Now must just compete with tekkers for role in the middle. Not doing him any good flogging him out wide.,……although kuyt done it well.

    If lambert was so negative he would of brought on sanchez instead of grealish and should of done

  73. Mark King

    Ian- I think baker has all the attributes to be a great center half except a brain so no unless something clicks in him he will always need someone to hold his hand.

    andrew- true zoggy does that well but its embarrassing when he hits that invisible force shield on the right wing, his right legs cocks a few times, then he passes it backwards only to receive it again and repeat the process 🙂
    our fullbacks have to get forward and get crosses in now tekkers looks like starting again, which I think requires Vlaar back to not get sucker punched

  77. Jenny Truman

    John 🙂 funny you should say that – we ended up in a bar where there was a Shirley tribute – not sure what gender but had an amazing voice – and a Welsh Michael Buble – whose other job is cabin crew 🙂 we started off in an Italian with singing Waitors – hilarious .
    Steamer 75 – we had a blast 🙂
    West Ham seem to have improved and Downing having another great game . I know it’s only QPR but it just shows what a few decent additions like sackho can do. QPR look so slow !

  78. @RonnieBiggs

    Watching zoggy ghost past world class players like they were standing still was quite special. He’s earned a start next match for me. I like tekkers up top with gab and zog on the wings. New midfield trio. Usual defence. Winnable match. Would be nice to score 2 goals for a change and actually get one from a midfield runner. Crucial to be teams’ season and would give us momentum in either direction!

  79. @RonnieBiggs

    Also Frem the table doesn’t lie. We can say we beat hull and pool on their bad days but you could also bland the virus and injuries to our two best players as well and this wasn’t exactly an easy patch of matches?!?!? What is abundantly clear is we need runners like gab, zog to get behind the last man and hopefully westy and cleverly are good enough to deliver the ball. With tekkers holding the ball up that should bring more players into the game. Do you still want Martinez after this start???

  80. Frem

    Everton and QPr up next. Both desperate for wins and helping hand Villa on there way. Lamberk said he doesn’t mind losing games last night so he won’t mind a couple of 1-0 defeats cus one nills make it sound like a close game. He will play for a 0-0 though.

    Zoggy won’t play anytime soon. He actually looked dangerous last night and Lamberk can’t have a player in the starting 11 who does that. Weizmann will be on the right for Everton. No pace, no ball control, can’t dribble, can’t pass or cross but Lamberk will start him on the right cus he has no intentions to win games. Park that bus

    Lionheart-benteke was crap when he came on as well but is still a class act, as is Grealish.
    We put 11 men behind the ball and still can’t pass, attack or defend and leak like a sieve so we have nothing to lose going 442 or even 4231.

  82. bibulus

    Evening all & congrats to the sites latest breeders 😉
    Looking at our fixtures i was thinking we might have 10 points after ten games and reckon we probably will have ten points after ten games.
    There was a stagein the second half when we took the game to them and looked to be winning the midfield leaving Toure deep infront of their back four. Sadly after the subs it became clear the reason we had done this was KR and Zog linking nicely with our left back along with some decent play from the rest of the team. Our subs just failed to pick up the pace of the game to my mind.
    We sat too deep at the end and the inevitable was allowed to happen.
    I do worry that grealish “could” be a show pony and hope we dont heap too much pressure on him by starting him in games when he may not be up to it.
    Still compared to last couple of seasons there are signs of hope again but i’m keeping mine bottled until christmas.
    32k attended yesterday – interesting to see 42k at sunderland to see them beat the stokies a decent atmosphere at times mind you.
    UTV!

  83. SuperBox

    Chelsea beat Arsenal at a canter today, puts our performance in perspective.

    We’ve been dogged in defence, but the quality isn’t there going forward. Our midfield has improved but it’s still lacking. They are all too similar in my eyes. Forward options are lacking.

    Where does this leave us? With some momentum from the early games and results and some predictable results in recent weeks, I sense we are at crossroads. We need to build on those early games and frankly some disciplined performances against much better teams of late to carry on as we started. This will PL mission in the coming weeks. It will define our season.

    And I don’t think Grealish is the answer either. Sure he has talent, but is raw and inexperienced. He needs game time, not the weight of expectation lumping on his shoulders.

  84. SuperBox

    Ps Congrats to B62 and Roger. My tip, watching MOTD early on a Sunday morning with a baby won’t sleep earns brownie points with the Mrs. You can also tell then Villa won 10-0 as they are too young to know better!

  85. Mark King

    bibulus- we were out competing toure and their midfield and bossing it so city brought on fernando and took off Dzeko and that changed the momentum. we had brought on benteke to go for the win potentially and city cut off the supply pretty much and Lambert bizarrely took off nzogbia and richards when the tide had turned in midfield and things got worse with much more pressure and shots and the eventual goals.

    superbox- I agree on Grealish but QPR could be the perfect game to start him, they are a slow team and I’d give grealish an hour then bring on weimann/gabby with fresh legs. It would give the lad a lift to start

  87. Heroes-and-Villans

    Mentioned above Sunderland had 42k against Stoke. Sunderland who are below us and also been in relegation battles the last few years….and we cant get a full house at home to the champions.

    Brilliant away fans but our home support is poor.

    We just cant compete with Man city…it’s as simple as that.

    I’ts also proven we are a better team with Vlaar & Tekkers. Its a minor miracle we are sitting joint 7th with Pool and arsenal without those 2.

    Away to Everton next…..someone at the Fa really does not like us. Its a disgusting run of fixtures.

    A point would be fantastic. I expect a defeat. Hopefully then we can get our season going.

  88. Dee

    Andrew we are a far bigger club than sunderland with bigger expectations rightly or wrongly. Villa fans expect more hence the low-ish attendance. On the contrary I think 30k+ Villa fans deserve credit for turning out to watch utter drivel. I can’t stand the small club mentality that has engulfed our club. Can’t believe players and PL are in almost self-congratulatory mood for “only” getting beaten 8-0 over the 3 games. It truly beggars belief!

  89. Heroes-and-Villans

    Frem

    Im not so sure Nzog will be dropped.

    I was very surprised to see Weimann benched for him against Man city. If ever we needed Weimann to track back and work hard it would be against City! Bit of faith showed in zoggy there.

    Could very well start against the toffees.

    They will have Mirralas and Stones out which may help!

  90. Heroes-and-Villans

    Dee

    It’s called realism! I don’t know what else to expect. Whoever has the more ££££ wins….the Prem is that simple.

    Are wages are average 25k a week on players and our 1st team cost less than Agueros right foot. Our season starts when we play teams who we have a chance against.

    32k is a disgrace….sunderland are a smaller club and also have done worse than us but fill the ground. No excuse…it’s poor support.

  91. southwestvillan

    Lowest pass completion in the league
    – Lowest pass completion in the opposition half in the league
    – Lowest shots in the league
    – Lowest shots on target in the league
    – Lowest goals scored in the league

    A bunch of stats that tell you all you need to know about AVFC under Lambert, on Saturday we went out and played for a 0-0 draw, one up top and nine behind the ball at home and you wonder why the fans are staying away.

    We are all hoping Benteke rides in on his white steed and saves our season, we sat back on Saturday and chased the City players all over the pitch and once we won it we gave it straight back to them, talk about football suicide, we had an outside chance of a point come the second half but Silva was killing us, why did Lambert and Keane fail to see he was the player making the difference, why did they not put Sanchez on to try to take him out of the game, instead they took off CNZ who was by far our most effective player.

    Villa fans are not fools or generally most are not and they see the football served up and another four years of Lambert is too much for some to take, this will be the third successive season of anti-football and some just cannot take anymore.

    We are in a very false position in the table and we will be back where we deserve to be in the bottom six come xmas.

    RIP AVFC.

  92. Heroes-and-Villans

    Im not sure how you set this villa side up against a team like Man city…either way they will get you.

    There is no false position in the table…you are where you deserve to be.

    The subs were very strange. Sanchez should of been on instead of grealish or tekkers.

    I think we will be more attacking against the non top 4 clubs.

    Christmas time will show us where we are at. The attacking play must improve. I think with our 2 main strikers out it has killed us. We simply cant cope without our best players. Even the top clubs struggle like pool without sturridge so when we are missing vlaar and tekkers….playing pool, arsenal, chelsea, city in a row….its just impossible.

    A fighting fit Guzan, Hutton, Vlaar, Okore, Cissokho Cleverly Westwood, Delph, Tekkers, gabby, nzog should be more than enough to compete with the best of the rest.

  93. Mark King

    andrew- I think the way we set up with the full backs providing width doesn’t help against the top sides as our fullbacks are forced to defend to much. so without a truly creative force in the middle are options are few. I’d be up for giving Grealish a chance in behind benteke because he can beat a man maybe even Gabby say a 4411 with n’zogbia out wide and westy, delph and cleverly with delph out left.

    As for everton they are poor at the back at the moment, they are the third highest scorers but still have -3 goal difference and six points. they are made for the counter. nzogbia and gabby running at pace and delph will scare the shit out of them, should be interesting but we have to start taking our chances or at least hitting the target. keep baines quiet and we should pick up points.
    our problem is creating and finishing especially finishing. we had some guilt edged chances against city and fluffed them that’s why tekkers came on just before city clamped down the midfield

  94. Mark King

    SWV- Silva was the best player on the pitch, I don’t think anyone would of stopped him on saturday his movement was superb. I would of brought on Sanchez once it was clear city had reclaimed the midfield and sat the draw out. Lambert bless him thought we could win and made us weaker. I thought Grealish would get more joy but Zabo played him brilliantly. in the end we were pushed back onto the edge of our area and allowed two shots from the edge of the area to be taken and they were well taken. If you compare this to the first half city didn’t hit the target once.

  95. Heroes-and-Villans

    Mark

    Id like to see Grealish, zoggy, gabby behind tekkers which would mean dropping delph, cleve or westwood.

    I really think players like those 3 who can get in behind teams, quick, direct are worth there weight in gold.

    Guzan
    Hutton Vlaar okore cissoko
    Cleverly delph
    Nzog grealish gabby
    tekkers
    Thats a fit, speedy side full of energy.

  96. Mark King

    andrew- to be honest I’d keep those three together as I feel they can get better going forward against lower opposition. In the first three games we did get forward from midfield and got service from the fullbacks. I’d like to see someone trailing benteke interchanging passes and capitalizing on the havoc he can cause, Grealish or weimann could do this. it also gives us options to change tack in a game rather than just attack or defend by using say gabby from the bench as teams tire. 4411 gives us 5 in midfield very quickly if needed

  97. Mark King

    SWV- as for benteke riding in and saving us I think any team would be happy to have him let alone one thats goal shy. he would improve arsenal and liverpool let alone us,he got 10 in 26 while unfit and eventually got injured. do you think he’s going to make us worse then?

  98. Jenny Truman

    We are 10th on the table currently . I would say that’s about right if Teckers and Vlaar get back in and we go out to win games rather than not lose by too many, which seems to be the current raison d’être given the managers post match interviews . This mentality may be acceptable playing the likes of Man City but it’s not the mentality we should be adopting now these games are out of the way. For all RKs winning and leadership reputation , our ultra defensive , fearful of playing tactics and team set up are an odd and surprising fit . Whilst it seems that Pellegrini got his substitutions right , ours didn’t work according to reports . This has been a common theme for the last two seasons : our inability to use subs to change the game for the better. We have a better squad now and with viruses and big teams out of the way, we will really see what team Lambert and Keane have to offer.

  99. Heroes-and-Villans

    Tekkers record is a goal every other game which is frankly insane considering he has been playing in a team finishing 16th every season.

    Arsenal would suite him down to the ground. 25 goals plus easily for the big man.

    Mark

    Im not sure delph westwood cleverly have the assists and goals in them. At home against other mid table teams id go with those 3 or weimann as well because more likely to assist or score.

    They do offer great energy though, away from home id play the 3 in the middle.

    What was the point in signing Cole?!

  102. Mark King

    jen- I think we did try and win the game and that cost us a point. the subs were both attack minded players who can deliver a ball, our fullbacks were penned in and maybe Lambert was trying to get some crosses in for tekkers?

    The main difference between this and last season for me is when we counter we are not committing 4 players plus the fullbacks forward, and it shows in lack of options as we reach their box, we run out of outlets or take the wrong option, this for me accounts for our low shots overall. We do seem to hesitate at the last moment to often and the chance is gone but It also means we don’t get hit on the break as easily. Having Tekkers back as a focus should improve this.

    Lambert saying its ok to lose 2-0 is the wrong thing to say and I think when it comes to statements he’s pretty poor overall, bordering on comical. that said in truth I don’t think we have been thrashed by anyone, we have lacked a genuine cutting edge though. everton got done 6-3 by chelsea but is that really a better result because they scored? maybe in entertainment?and would Lambert have been hammered if we had lost similarly instead of 2-0? I think he would as he is unpopular, whereas some would see martinez as brave, to me I’m starting to see parallels with wigan emerging at everton. Martinez would do really well with a team full of stars like city with his style as they would be pretty sure to score more than they concede

  103. Mark King

    Andrew- I think Westwood has but is continually played in the holding role, I think he has more to offer further up, delph also needs to carry his runs into the box more often at pace he’ll get goals or pens IMO

  104. bibulus

    Mark – agree PL did try and nick the win for whatever reason he had convinced himself to do so i wont knock him for it. Would also have liked to see Sanchez given the run instead of the show pony and maybe that would have allowed Delph to get further forward.
    Unless we suddenly discover another Silva lurking in our reserves we will have to continue to wait to see progress via hard work organisation (massively improved so far this season) and a huge slice of luck.
    UTV!!
    PS Sincerely hoping the Ruberrtoe love in has ended and we add another nail to his coffin after the break, whilst i’m on that wtf is it with internationals on thursdays and sundays what is wrong with saturday afternoons for football these days???

  107. Mark King

    bibulus- me too on sanchez mate. I think our lack of ball retention hurts us as we run out of steam chasing the ball. We then have to put the subs on who are not quite good enough yet. we have a bad habit of just losing the ball on the edge of their area instead of recycling it.

  108. Frem

    Hahaha. Lamberk saying it’s ok to lose 2-0. Sums him up. A loser. Not an ounce of winning mentality in him and it reflects to the players

    If you offered him 1-0 defeats in our next two games, he’d take it both being away from home . Everton and QPr both need wins and there’s no better team to play if you need that

    Let’s not forget we have a manager who does some truly mind blowing things, but not for the good. That spell from the end of December through to jan in his first season can’t be far from some of the worst sets of results this club has had in a long long long time. Nor can the end of last season, losing 8 of our last 10 games. Getting 4 points from a possible 30 and losing to stoke and Fulham at home. We haven’t had that spell yet but it might be closer than we think. Losing 3 on the bounce is shite, it could be 5 if the next two don’t go well. We will have a spell of games where we lose left right and centre, it’s what Lamberk does and it might be on its way

    Didn’t realise our last four away games of the season is a bastard either

    Mark- the subs weren’t really to win the game. Benteke was always going to come on but with our 11 men behind he ball, he was never going to get any service. Grealish played left back most the few mind he was on the pitch and bacuna is a much more defensive option that zoggy. Should have stayed on

    I can promise you there was no danger of Lamberk trying to go and win a game. He doesn’t mind losing

  109. Frem

    We will be even more defensive and clueless going forwards now the beast is back. He’s quality, but the two players Lamberk will put out wide aren’t. Gabby and Wiemann. They won’t supply him one bit, they can’t dribble, pass, cross. They can’t so anything a winger needs but they will track back and defend and that’s all our manager cares about

  110. Mark King

    frem- get a grip mate, Lambert changed two players that are definitely attacking, jury’s out on Bakuna but he wasn’t bought for his defencive qualities he’s supposed to be a box to box attacking midfielder, it was only because lowton couldn’t hack it he ended up right back. besides zoggy was shagged out as usual, he is slowly getting fitter but his end product is still questionable. if he was going to pull up the drawbridge he could of put on sanchez and clarke. funny how Tekkers scored 1 in 2 playing next to those useless players, no they are not the best but useless? i think you need a girlfriend mate your seem very frustrated 😉

  111. Frem

    Mark- he bought our only threat off for a more defensive minded player. Agree, his end product needs improvement it he’s always been a bit of a greedy player. Benteke was never going to get any service how we set up

    Yes, utterly useless beyond belief. Skirtel scored more goals last season than both put together.thats amazing. Wiemann is a bit like Bent, he’s a fox in the box but crap anywhere else.

    A lot of Benteke goals came from Lowton crossing and a lot of his goals are through his own doing, not because of good service. Luckily enough cus the donkeys out wide can’t cross for shit.

    I want to move to Canada Mark so I don’t have to go to VP every game cus as long as I’m living in England I’ll keep going. I think I might miss something if I don’t go but then you realise who the manager is and you know what the outcome will be

  112. Frem

    If he gets a new contact based on 3 wins, why can’t he get the sack based on three defeats ?

    There’s no way he got a new contact cus of what he’s done to us in the last two seasons. His record is probably the worst out of any villa manager. It was being in the top four and winning 3 games early on that got Randy excited.

  113. John Lerwill

    Frem,

    I think Mark is talking sense. The subs decision (who he brought on) sank Villa’s chance to take any points from the game.

    Maybe he was trying to cheer up the fans by bringing on fresh attacking players and trying to convince us all that he’s an opti at heart! 😉

    Whatever the reason for those 2 subs, I think it takes creative players longer to get into a game and they weren’t given much chance to by City.

  114. John Lerwill

    Frem,

    This is containment season. As I’ve said before, we stand to win sufficient games against the bottom half teams to finish mid-table – and that’s all they want to achieve for this season, I’m sure.

  115. Jenny Truman

    Frem is entitled to his opinion and yet each week ppl make cheap remarks thinly disguised as banter . What I do notice is that Frem never makes personal remarks back . When you have to resort to “get a girlfriend mate” it shows you’ve lost the argument . It’s wearing thin now and as most on here are twice Frem’s age it’s pretty unfair too. Can’t people just post their opinions without trying to demolish others .

  116. Frem

    John- When the three guys came on then, did you think it was game over straight away? I still thought we would hold out for a draw but I new we wouldn’t go on and win it.

    3 seasons as manager and the 3rd is just a containment season? Doesn’t that in its self show how badly he’s failed as manger ? First season really should have been about trying to get mid table, second season nothing but 10th should have been accepted, we all know how it ended up. 3rd season should of been about trying to get 10th again, maybe even push for a place like 7th. That’s what I would have hoped for when Lamberk took charge but 3 seasons in, we’ve done nothing but break club records and stay up by the skin of our teeth playing horrible football. The horrible football is still in play, where we finish yet to be seen but the fact that even 10th place 3 seasons in is a long shot shows for me how bad he has done

  117. Mark King

    jen- thinly disguised as banter? I assure you its Banter. have we had a humour bypass on here? frem makes the same point constantly that he doesn’t like Lambert and he is welcome to voice that, I have no problem with him he’s a good lad and have defended Frem against much worse than you need a girlfriend . he’s just in danger of sounding like a broken record lately. frem doesn’t mind or he’d probably give a gob full back, he’s not a child .

    frem- I agree about lowton but he didn’t create them all, gabby and weimans pace give tekkers space and draw away defenders granted we could get better and probably will eventually. I’m hoping the full backs can get forward in the next few games and fill the Lowton hole. for the record the new contract was over the top for me but Lerner wanted some stability maybe to stop the exodus of our better players.
    If you can get to Canada mate I would go but I’d want a better reason than avoiding Villa park 🙂 , don’t think you can go wrong, sometimes worth just going and getting work while you’re there

  118. John Lerwill

    Frem,

    Against Man City and the way they were organised, I thought that bringing on the last two was a waste of time and that City would then get the points. Benteke coming on was OK perhaps.

    Sanchez and/or Clark was needed i.m.o. – to try to keep City out.

  120. Frem

    Mark- that was one thing I loved about Lowton, the shape and pace he got on some of crosses were Beckham esc. Always remember away at Everton in the first season when it ended 3-3, one of his crosses for Benteke to score was top class. Made one in pre season as well against the German side. That’s why I love wingers who can get that kind of delivery in, defenders nightmare, strikers dream but we have know one who can do that. Ashley young and Milner were that last players who could do it. I don’t think Hutton has that in his locker bit he’s a much better defender and adds height

    I’m not sure he will replace those two on the wings anytime soon. He kept playing them there last season and they didn’t deliver one bit but still we see Wiemann on the wing

    In all honestly Leaving Villa would actually be one of the hardest decisions if I could ever get the chance to move there. I’d still pay for season ticket with same seats cus I never want to sell them. Can’t have anyone else sitting there 🙂 it just seems an epic place. Don’t really want to leave in England all my life and if I can get fully qualified in electrics and then apply to move there, see what happens

  122. Mark King

    frem mate you’ve got so much life ahead of you get out there, plenty of time to sit in villa park later lifes an adventure and we might even have a team when you get back 🙂
    you don’t rate sissies crossing then?

  123. Frem

    True Mark. I want to tour America as well one day 🙂

    Cissy has put a few nice crosses in so far this season. Stoke away he had a couple, and a few times at home but knowone has been on the end of them. Benteke hopefully will change that. I don’t think Sissy will be a regular assister cus I don’t think he’s technically the most gifted but I like him. Can’t get over Dross or Baker either. Fair play to those two. Vlaar and okore have a fight on there hands if they ever get fit

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