It’s going to be a very brief preview, as I quite simply want to get us back to talking about the Villa.
The biggest news of course, is that Benteke the Beast will be back for this game and his re-appearance can’t come quick enough for me.
I’d like to see his return combined with Gabby being “rested”, myself, but very much doubt that’s going to happen for one minute.
I know that’ll be controversial, given that Gabby was our biggest threat on Saturday, but there is reasoning behind it.
My thinking is that we’ve become more reliant on Gabby than we really ought to be.
Hence we ought to go with Benteke up front, with Weimann behind him, just to see if it works or not.
It then leaves us the option of pulling Benteke off if he’s tired through lack of games or pulling Weimann off, if he’s his often ineffective self.
And bringing Gabby on as an impact player against a tiring Palace defence.
Like I said, it won’t happen, but I just get the feeling Gabby is beginning to get a little too comfortable at the club. Whether that’s because he’s a genuine favourite of Lambert’s, or he just has too much clout, I don’t know.
So onto the headline question.
Am I confident?
I’m afraid not.
Even with Benteke back, I’m not sure we have enough of a cutting edge in the middle.
The big question there, is will Cole get another start after being somewhat a revelation against Burnley?
I’d expect so, myself.
I can’t see past another draw, but that would be four on the trot, which I just don’t see happening at all.
Hence I see it being a one nil win.
“Which way?” I hear you ask.
God only knows.
But if we don’t get anything from this game, we’re surely going to be in for a poor Christmas aren’t we?
I so want to say I think we’ll pinch it, but I really have my doubts.
For clarity;
Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Clark, Okore, Cissokho, Cleverley, Westwood, Cole, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke.
Subs: Given, Herd, Lowton, Sanchez, Richardson, N’Zogbia, Grealish.
Same old, same old, it is then.
Richardson on for Cole, when he tires?
I really hope not, unless we’re at least two goals up (ahem).
hows its same old same old, their are 2 holding fielders instead of 3 cole is attacking gabby weimann and benteke plus cleverley isn’t what i would call a holding midfielder
how would your formation differ, using the players available to us this minute
I’d have stuck with Sanchez, as I see something in him. He offers more (when he doesn’t give it away).
And Cleverley and Westwood?
PROVEN non-productive, imo.
My guess is we’ll lose this in the middle and on the wings, so why not try something different?
Either go for it or put a strong 5 in the middle, to try and match them.
Which means no Weimann or Gabby.
Then if we’re holding our own, swap it back to a bit of pace.
Could that really be any worse than what we’ve been seeing?
Look at the difference in the workrate, straight from the off.
Who do we think wants this more?
We are being battered, absolute embarrassment. Cole off injured, sanchez on to replace. What the hell are we doing
We’ve started to slow the game down now and string a few passes together. Confidence was lacking right at the start.
Sanchez pre match warm up was described as absolutely half arsed and an embarrassment….. I take it he weren’t very happy being dropped. Don’t want big I ams like that about!!!
Agreed. Any player who doesn’t put the effort in should not be part of the squad.
But Sanchez is the only one looking for something, imo!
The rest are utter gash.
I agree with ya, Benteke looking lively too now. Would love to know what secret Gabby n Weimann have on Lambert
Surprise, surprise its 4-3-3 with Gabby and Weimann out wide! Would never have guessed that one.
How the hell is lambert still employed these are his tactics and his team. This is shocking yet again. Lambert out
Lerner will you please remove lambert were are going down fast
Good effort from Benteke.
And who set him up?
No one set him up, just seen the goal and it was a great one man effort.
Shame crystal palace keep knocking because eventually they will score.
No, I’m on about the effort before that Mr C.
We are playing terrible to be honest, lucky Benteke could do what he does.
Benteke, you beast!
That was pure sex
Badger, serious sexual emphasis on the “Beast”
I can’t cope, Guzan earning his pennies far too often!!!
Okore can’t cope, he is all over the place.
Substitues at half time,
westwood off, Grealish on.
Weimann off, Robinson on.
It is now time to test them. Westwood keeps giving it away and Wiemann just hasn’t been in the game. Lets get stability and creativity going. It really needs to stay away from our defence because Okore just can not cope with the onslaught and I believe this may be why Lambert was reluctant to include him.
Agree although I’d like to see a defender have to deal with that onslaught any better. Weve been murdered, cross after cross. Someone needs to deal with the wingers Bolasie n Zaha
mr cheese
you read my mind
what are our tactics
guzan kick ball towards hutton from kickout
throw in every body run away ball is dangerous weapon
what does west wood do
ditto wiemen
our fullbacks get skinned reguarly because we have shite formation
why does gabby not pass ball to benteke
is benteke lambert only hope left
Aaaaaaaaand breath
You have to give our defence some credit. This seems to be the way we play nowadays.
Our midfield are making it difficult for the defence. What midfield I hear you ask!!! Couldn’t light a candle between them!!
We couldn’t hold one either!
To many passengers in midfield. Westwood is shocking cleverly is the same and gabby and weimann should both be replaced. We are just a shocking team with a manager who is clueless with tactics and man management
LMBERT IN!!!!!
To be fair, Guzan and our defence have had to put up with an absolute onslaught every game this season and deserve some credit for not having conceded a hell of a lot more goals than they have. The midfield keep leaving them exposed and it’s too easy to get at us down the channels. How many minutes do you reckon Joe Cole will manage this season? For sure, he’s the type of player we’re lacking, but not much use to us injured.
Is Joe Ledley suspended?