All Goals Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa (08-12-2013… by video4all
The rumour was that Martin Jol had lost the dressing room when he was at Tottenham and I suspect this was also the case at Fulham too.
Sod’s law then, that we get to play them so early in the new manager’s reign.
Fulham certainly didn’t look like a seriously struggling side today, did they?
And just as some of us feared, Berbatov turned it on today, with some great runs and some lovely flicks.
That’s enough about them though and I’ll get back to what matters, ie the Villa.
Even though we lost (and I don’t really think it was a 2-0 losing performance), I actually thought we played ok. The central defence handled most stuff pretty well and it was a pleasure for me to actually think that we seemed to have stopped the pathetic standard of basic passing that it seems I’ve been criticising for weeks.
If I’m going to be critical though, I have to say Bacuna was our weak link today. Not because of the penalty though.
Hopefully many of you know that I’m not as one eyed as some of us when it comes to penalties and my take is that while the pen was indeed very soft, Bacuna seemed to impede the attacker.
Hence I can see why it was given.
But by the same token, I could easily accept that the attacker looked for it.
My point is that I can see why it was given.
Not that it mattered ultimately, as we were already one down with what I thought was a good goal from Sidwell. I thought the ball was well on the way out, but Sidwell persisted and caught out Guzan, who had committed himself far too early.
It was a bit of an off day for the goalie in some ways, but he also made a few very good saves, so I’m not pointing the finger at him.
Actually I’m not pointing the finger at anybody.
I think Fulham played very well and while I’ve just heard commentators saying Villa were poor, I think that’s denying Fulham the credit they deserved today.
To put it in context, they created 20 attempts.
It was pretty obvious how we’d set up in the first half, with our typical long ball out to the breaking strikers and to be honest, I’m beginning to find it tedious.
Paul Merson made me laugh at half time, when he said that he thought we’d go long in the second half.
Huh? Like we hadn’t in the first half?
Anyway, Lambert never took any notice of his comments and at least did try to play it a bit wider with Tonev coming on for Al Ahmedi and Albrighton coming on later.
It didn’t work though and as the game went on, so I thought it was more unlikely that we would score.
As for Gabby’s pen shout, no doubt about that one.
The defender didn’t touch the ball and trod on Gabby’s foot.
Clear penalty and a bad decision at the end of the day, I say.
The disappointing bit?
Delph getting suspended for the next game against Man U, with yet another poor tackle.
I like the kid, but I’ve got more chance of playing for England than he has if he keeps doing that.
That and the fact that we are so obviously lacking a quality midfield player with real guile who can unlock a defence.
Just the same as we’ve all been saying for ages.
If this isn’t addressed in the window, I’ll be asking serious questions.
I posted this a while back, but couldn’t see where you could reply.
Hopefully sorted now.
Highlights of the goals added, but you don’t see anything of us, I’m afraid.
Had a bad feeling about this match and it came true. Have to disagree about the performance, I thought we were shocking. The defence looked awful without Vlaar, reminiscent of last season, and multiple own goals were almost scored and yet again we see how the midfield cannot find that killer pass. Let’s hope we don’t see a repeat of last year’s collapse in December after a promising unbeaten run.
I also disagree – i thought we were very poor today. Really soft finish but good persistence by sidwell.
2nd goal shit decision sorry but you can quite clearly see Fulham player shove into bacuna to try and make space. It doesn’t work they tangle and he goes down.
” there was contact” argument is totally baffling to me. If that logic is applied then every single tackle is a foul because logically you have to make contact to win the ball?
That said we didn’t deserve anything today so it doesn’t really matter.
I thought westwood was our weak link today.
He failed to track sidwell for first goal. Poor corners and free kicks all day long and rushed passes and very little impact from midfield.
I thought herd played well today besides his temper loss.
I could criticize the set up and performance all day really but this exact same approach won us the game against Southampton
So i just hope this approach is a stepping stone to a more refined one
COLONIUS Deulofeu, this kid is going to be some player.
He will be at a sky four team next summer. Unless Everton sneak fourth then who knows.
He’s on loan from Barcelona.
I said the result against Southampton was papering over tje cracks Lamberk out
and i remember stating something like Man utd have papered over the cracks for 20 odd years of so. cleverly disguising all their weaknesses with 13 titles, a couple of champions leagues and other nefarious smokescreens.
you dont paper over the cracks with winnning games you succeed by winning games .. unless you are saying that by us winning games we are fooling ourselves into thinking we are going to win trophies soon.
i don’t think anyone on here or in the Villa world think we are anything more than what we are. which is a mid table club a year and 15 games into a new managers reign that has a different approach that doesn’t involve spending money that may or may not work
You are taking that totally out of context, what was said was we scraped a result on the back of a piss poor performance (WBA) and that Man Wankers FC had been doing that for years as they whinged cheated and bullied their way to 13 + undeserved trophies.
Agree with most points. Most of my frustration is aimed at Bacuna and Westwood. Lowton, with Bacuna in front of him would have been my selection. Whilst I agree about Delph and his tackle, its difficult to see who else could replace him in our pathetic midfield. Most of his tackles are ‘tired ones’….he is constantly doing the work of two. Westwood, absolutely pathetic at corners and cant even take a basic free kick. I believe that we should throw in as many academy players as we can in the FA cup tie against Sheff Utd. We need to find out what the likes of Grealish, Carruthers,Gardner etc are made off! Its sad, but I really dont give a damn about the FA Cup with this team. If we did progress with todays team it will, IMO be costly in terms of our league position….throw in the kids..they need to be properly tried and tested, otherwise we will never know!
It seems you’re a new person commenting under the name of Langford, but I know you’re not 🙂
I tend to agree about Lowton behind Bacuna, but as I’ve suggested before, I think something has gone on re; Lowton and Lambert. ie an arguement or something, as it just doesn’t make sense to me.
As for throwing the kids in, I’m not convinced.
I’d much rather they had bit parts. Apart from Gardner, who when fit, is worth a start, imo.
One thing’s for sure and that is our mid just isn’t good enough.
DMVillan, It seems you’re not the only one who thought we were very poor and I’m in a minority.
Totally agree that it was the midfield that did us today.
To think we were outworked by a load of old men is poor.
We’re just not good enough in that area, it’s plainly obvious.
Good summing up Badger, I think to many underestimated Fulham and overrated our lot. They have some class players with EXPERIENCE plus a new manager (it always peps a team up) so it was never going to be easy, we were piss poor that didn’t help matters,
I predicted 1-1 but my heart ruled my head I sorta knew we’d lose this,
For a change I thought we had lead feet.Utter shite today.Boring average pish.Very disappointed in today’s attempt at playing football.It won’t always be this way but we missed Vlaar.Bacuna was wastefull.We couldn’t string anything together poor…UTV
Wow, many different viewpoints already.
I like it.
JD says we were just pish (very unlike you mate, so I have to listen to that) and BWS says we underestimated them.
I’m somewhere in the middle, I think.
Probably because I think we need some experience!
I think that was the difference the experience.Fulham seemed to pick us off and looked one step ahead of the game.I can see why they are down there because their defence can be exploited.We looked lack lustre and tired just a bad day at the office……UTV
They ain’t a bad outfit, loads of experience and a genius on his day up front plus a manager that supposed to be very savvy. Then add to that we are every thing they aren’t (inexperienced, lacking in class and a manager that appears to be very one dimensional) and it was never going to be a good day at the office.
Sooty mate but we have played some good football this season and 19 points also says that to.We have not been that bad this season and we are only into Lamberts 2nd season and we are improving.If we have a good day we might get something from UTD as they are not at their best.I didn’t expect us to get a win at ST Mary’s but we did.I think we will buy in January and again in the summer…..We keep building…..UTV
Improving defensively – Our goalscoring isn’t much better and our passing game is just as shocking.
Bring on utd things can only get better.
Im not sure how people are surprised, we have been this bad most of the season, only the luck has gone our way. This time it didn’t and we were made to look like the bottom 3 side. Long ball after hoof after pump it…..No wonder Benteke looks disinterested with that being our only service, I am too…!!
I said at the beginning Westwood is useless…..And was shot down with the usual “Give him time, he might be class” tripe….. He’s probably the worst CM in the league – I bet Crewe were as dumbfounded as me when we put in an offer….!!!
Herd is the same, will never be good enough…Id have had Lowton on with Delph left back and Bacuna in the middle, couldn’t have been any worse.
Weimann is poor, Gabby is hit and miss, Clarke and Baker need Vlaar or they’re crap and so on and so on…..
Men v boys today – Experience v amateurs – I hope Lambert learns from this and gets in some much needed known and proven Prem League players.
Seriously Fulham are woeful – We must be total dogshit
Helenius you are spot on mate. Long ball and shit football just like under McDoom but the Lemmings won’t have it. ‘He’s doing it the Dortmund way’ – is he bollocks, he’s doing it the Alladyce, Pullis way and it looks terrible and produces the odd freak result but the fans have had enough. Westwood, KEA and most of Lamberk’s signings have been shit. Second rate crap in on the cheap. Lamberk won’t be learning anything from this as he has learned nothing in the months previous.
#HELENIUS,
“Seriously Fulham are woeful – We must be total dogshit”
No, they really weren’t today mate, imo.
As I’ve said, I thought they played well.
Weimann is an interesting point though.
He’s another that I really like, but the truth is he’s been mostly anonymous this season.
And when he isn’t, he just isn’t taking chances.
Same with Benteke.
I hope that’ll change though.
I don’t remember weimann getting a chance today. Benteke needs to play of the bench and we need to give helenius or kozac a run out. Btw does anyone know why kozac wasn’t even in bench today.
Kozac, injured toe mate.
Or dropped???
Cheers
Badger, they played well mate because we way we play!! sunderland and west brom played well against us aswell but guess what??? west brom have lost the last 3 games?
tactics woeful…. by far the worst footballing team in the English game I would say and definitely in the premier league..
Bang on – They were only made to look good because we are sooooo poor. Time to start being realistic
21 shots Fulham had which tells you how effective our midfield was. FFC have only won one other home game. We are going nowhere under Lerner.
Dont get me wrong.. like the bloke on twitter keeps saying, we re still 10th, Lamberts tactics will work, its just how many fans will be left wanting to watch the kind of football we are dishing up 99% of the time now?????????
Lambert hasn’t got any tactics now Wev been rumbled. All teams will do is when they are at home they will let us play it around at the back knowing we can only create on the break so effectively it’s like playing at home. Plan b is lump it up to benteke who’s been found out also and suffering from second season syndrome. Today we were desperate for a Barry or Parker type player.
Not very often I agree with you oohah, but I think you’re spot on this time.
I disagree with Benteke having 2nd season syndrome – Id put a huge bet on him getting 15-20 goals if he were at a creative club, he would look awesome at Arsenal
Its a centre backs heaven to defend against the long ball, even if it is against someone of Benteke’s size, and it makes the forward look rubbish.
He won so many flick on’s but not one person had the awareness to pick up the 2nd ball.
Got to just look at Sidwell’s goal, he overlapped the striker to get in the box, none of ours have the desire to do that.
He’s grossly overrated never in the same league as Lukaku .
20 odd goals last season and a proven international goalscorer – Hardly overated, just needs to be in a half decent side, ans sadly,we’re miles off that
We weren’t a good team last year but he still manager 20 odd goals so that dosnt stack up
But he was in an even worse team last year and did ok.
Ok you’re both right, just had my arse in my hand because we lost.
Very fair points villa4me.
And I don’t disagree
It crossed my mind that I don’t see me wanting to take the grandkids down the game much, this season.
We’re tedious to watch and as BWS said, very one-dimensional.
We create very little and are usually restricted to long range shots.
As I suggested in the article, I think Lambert tried to change it.
But when it boils down to it, we quite simply just aren’t good enough.
I could point the finger at Lambert there, as he signed most of them.
But that’s not where the blame lies imo.
Badger FFS get rid of that snow it really f**ks up my pc. (is it just me?).
Ah and I thought it looked ok too.
Sorting it now mate, as I don’t think it’s that good tbh.
Lol nice one Badger.
Some interesting stats;
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3567780,00.html
Hmmm.
Talk about spin, is Alastair Campbell working in the press office at VP??
Exactly how I saw it mate.
Our problem is our midfield is very lightweight and lacks any creativity. We need someone who can feed the likes of Benteke, Weimann and Gabby.
Bencey, I don’t think you’ll find any argument from anyone there.
If we’re thinking five as the midfield, KEA and Westwood, combined with Weimann and Gabby, or the full backs is weak, whatever way you look at it.
Delph’s the only one with any real guts about him.
Sylla adds some steel and I must admit I was wondering why he didn’t start today.
As I’ve hinted a few times, favourites, imo.
Bencey, Lamberk has had months to get this right and we’re no better off now than three years ago. It’s about time the remaining fans behind Lamberk woke up and smelled the coffee. At the start of the season the fans banged on about this tough start, fair enough. But we’ve now played some of the shit of the league – Hull, Wet Spam, Sunderland and Fulham and proved that we’re in that bracket – the shit of the league.
There isn’t a fan who wasn’t crying out for a creative midfielder or wide men to feed Benteke but no, a £7m pound striker. It’s sad to see but I reckon David Moyes couldn’t wish for a bigger gimmee of three points than what he faces next week to get the fans back onside.
I see PL has admitted we weren’t good enough but has blamed the ref. Sounds too much like the struggling manager of a small club to me and not what I want to hear as a fan. What about how it’s going to be different anytime soon?
I’m also baffled as to how Lambert thinks playing 3 defensive CM players is ok. We are on the backfoot before the games even started.
Im afraid we were Shite today utter utter Shite! How anybody can say we played well is beyond me seriously this is a fulham side that if you put them under a little bit of pressure they will crumble but if you just hoof it all day like of have been doin all season then you make it easy for any team, i can see why benteke is disinterested, nobody can create anything for him and the rest of the team don’t move into the opposition half when the ball is yet again hoofed up to him, and yes i know style won’t win games but either will our hit and hope tactics! And the worst part about our hit and hope football is we don’t even play it correctly! If the ball is hoofed up field then the midfielders should be surrounding benteke to pick up the 2nd ball, instead they are sat in front of our center backs waiting for the opposition to come attack AGAIN! Every time the ball is hoofed up to benteke there are 5 or 6 opposition players waiting to pick up his knock ons and we have gabby, so its 2 vs 5 it doesn’t take a genius to figure out win will most likely come out with the ball! I am becoming more and more disillusioned with Lambert and his hit and hope bullshit just like benteke looks to be, not only that but villa will not attract any young fans to villa park when we only hav the ball for 23% of the game! We might have better results this year than last but the football is as bad as it was under mcdraw and our squad lacks serious quality. Sort it out Lambert!
You can forget lambert sorting things out lads he would have done that in the summer having learnt from last season to think we could of had martinez
Another diabolical performance.At times we can’t even do the basics right, this season I’ve seen countless corners floating into nothing or even go straight out of play, WTF is westwood doing, and why on earth is a league 1 player in the centre of a PL midfield. I’d like Lerner and Lamberk to explain that one.
Many times we haven’t even been able to take a throw in properly, its embarrassing and completely unacceptable for a PL side
I don’t see the plan or a vision, what I see is a manager with little character and tactical ability, buying lower league “tryers” on the cheap, as the chairman refuses to part with any siginificant funding.
We can all put up with hard and difficult times, by damn we’ve had 3 seasons of garbage now, But at the moment there is little reason to bother with Aston Villa Football Club because the owner and manager are giving us no reason to believe better times will come. Directionless, ambitioness and sadly pretty pointless. This isn’t the AVFC I love.
Most accurate post I’ve read in ages.
Westwood should be taken off set pieces full stop he coukd cross the road Ffs
I dropped to my knees in anguish after each one he took
I’m not entirely sure we played a midfield today. Gabby, Benteke and Kozak are incapable of bringing down a ball and holding onto it even if by good fortune it gets knocked on to a Villa player. The midfield seems to be there as a forward defensive line ahead of the actual defence, it certainly isn’t there to bridge the gap and get balls to the attack. It also looks very much like the attacking line is static, waiting for a ball that rarely comes, with one or two of the opposition marking each one. The entire tactic (there’s only one) for each mach is optimistic long ball. I’m really struggling to understand how Wiemann and Gabby have only scored one goal each this season and yet they’re first choice players. I really like both of them but if they’re not contributing anymore (excepting Gabby’s goal on Wednesday and his excellent start to the season) then we need to do something about it.
We missed Luna and Vlaar today (is Bennett injured or have we given up on him?) but really, even with them playing Fulham would still have scored two.
It’s no fun watching Villa anymore is it? We don’t know which team will turn up but it does seem every game relies on luck happening or not while we watch a couple of halves of constant attack from the opposition.
Another dreadful display. The only difference today was that unlike recent weeks, we got what we deserved: NOTHING!
No creativity whatsoever, no idea of how to break down Fulahm once they had taken the lead. Very frustrating to watch.
Bacuna had a bad game, although the penalty was harsh. El Ahmadi was not involved at all in the first half, Westwood was terrible-I have no idea why he keep taking corners and free-kicks.
The front three were totally isolated just fed with poorly directed long balls. No link to the midfield, no triangle passing in the opponents half, no width…etc…etc.
However, as someone posted above, to most of us this was not a surprise, as we have seen the same stuff every week this season.