It was a weird game against Hull, I don’t think either team did enough to win the game and frankly the reason it was a goalless draw was because both teams had their top scorer absent. But last week I wrote an article about providing that element of surprise that has helped us win all our games. This wasn’t done at all against Hull, just about everyone predicted a 4-3-3 formation with Westwood and Agbonlahor returning. What made it worse, was the fact we played a narrow 4-3-3. This works well with Benteke, not with Kozak. Again ,too predictable.
The problem appears to be within Lambert, he has his favourites and tends to select them too often. The likes of Weimann, Westwood, Benteke, Vlaar and Guzan seem to start almost every game. There are a few players on this list who deserve to play, those are Benteke, Vlaar and Guzan. Yet, on Saturday Lambert elected to go with our defensive midfielder, Westwood against a Hull side that offered very little attack. This was a fact many experts predicted before the game. As a result, he had a torrid game, failed to get involved in attack and was lucky to stay on the pitch. In-fact many believed it was unfair that Sylla didn’t keep his spot, he offers more support to the attack. Westwood would’ve been more affective against the likes of Everton and Tottenham in two-three weeks later.
Weimann is one player whose form isn’t anywhere near as good as last season, I might even go as far as stating that his form drop is similar to that of Lowton’s. Weimann has only scored 1 goal so far this season and provided 1 assist. Not great for a forward who has made 8 appearances and played more minutes than any other forward (689 min’s). His work-rate is appreciated, but he has been very invisible this season and isn’t getting involved nearly as much as he should. I hope that Lambert has released this as well, however I imagine it’s difficult for him to pick a replacement. It would have to be a winger or another forward, that means the candidates are Albrighton or Bowery. Playing either will be a risk for Lambert and if such risk had to be taken, why didn’t he make that call against a ‘weaker opponent’.
I reckon Lambert will not bench his favourites ahead of Everton and Tottenham, but with our current attack, Villa will struggle to create chances. And we have, we only had 4 chances against City and against Hull, Agbonlahor was our only threat up front. Kozak doesn’t have any technical ability, and I am absolutely astounded that Lambert hasn’t realise this and play a proper winger that will provide a cross for Kozak. I’m sure he’d be a lot more of a threat if he was attacking a cross. Besides, Albrighton was our second best player against Tottenham in the League Cup, so how much of a risk would it really be?
A lot of good points Adam in what you’ve said, but it won’t matter what you or I say or see will make any difference, Lambert is out to proove and show that he has the gift in changing things to his thinking. Many more players in that squad need to be shaken up, Kea to me is under par for us , Delf is being sacrificed by getting to much attention with tackles, he is the most improved man in our team but because of others and trying to hard getting booked or told off. All this has come about by Lambert not putting a old head in the team, having said that I’m quite happy with our position in the league, again over this weekend refs have made bad decisions, we was robbed twice so far this year. Utv.
Weimann, Westwood and Lowton have all been very poor so far this season. Lowton has rightfully been dropped from the matchday squad and Westwood should follow suit.
The common link?
They all were given new contracts in the summer. Now they are too comfortable, a combination of 2nd season syndrome and becoming a little too arrogant and cocky over their starting positions.
Fair point villain 1 I forgot they had new contracts. Yet again Clarke has improved a lot this season despite a new contract. Will do these players good to get dropped IMO.
Clark was actually dropped for both Baker and Okore. I think that did he wonders. Same as Guzan.
There’s a common trend here isn’t there? It will benefit Lowton, Weimann and Westwood in the long-run if they are benched.
Benteke has also been terrific after the contract, but he does have something to fight for. A starting spot in a Belgium squad that has a chance of winning the World Cup.
Call me crazy, but how long is N’Zogbia out for again?
Not sure, but even if he does come back. I’d be very surprised if he played for Villa again. Having said that, I thought he was very good last season and we’re missing his creativity.
It strikes me we have nothing but sick list players, when will managers understand lightweight people are not always long term players, Gardner, we have not seen him play a game to show if he’s good enough.
Agree the few times iv seen Gardner play he us nothing special IMO. I really don’t get the hype about him
I actually agree with you on that one.. i’m not doubting he may have potential but haven’t see anything to believe the hype so far…
Weimann should be dropped but like others hav said, do we hav anybody better? Tonev looks like he will need a lot of time just to figure out you can’t always shoot! Albrighton is a mystery as he was great in his 1st season and showed he can cross a good ball and get in the box for an odd goal but he hasn’t been the same since mcdraw came in, now he looks like one of the worst crossers i have ever seen and bowery is not a winger, what i would like to see is bacuna take that position and bring lowton back in at RB, he has lost form no doubt but if he can get back to last years form i think that would be a good idea, and as for lowton don’t write him off yet, you don’t play consistently for 38 prem league games and then suddenly lose it, i think he will be back.
I’m on the same page as you. Bacuna in midfield and give the spot back to Lowton. He has learned his lesson, he needs to perform. If not Lowton then Herd can play there. He has played well in the right-back spot in the past.
Totally disagree with that.. Bacuna is playing very well at RB and is part of a defensive unit that is keeping clean sheets.. why change it.. what if Lowton comes back plays half decent but Bacuna is pants in midfield.. where does that leave Bacuna.. let the lad have a run of games at RB so he can settle in one position.. its just tough luck for Lowton…
Is Westwood Lamberts secret love child?? He has not been that good so far this season anyway, yet to walk straight in after injury on the back of a win ova Man City is criminal from Lambert. If I were Sylla id be fuming…!!!
For me, Weimann has been pants for a majority of this season and needs benching.
Id replaced Kozak with Helenius too, although still not up to the task of replacing Benteke (who is!) he is IMO a better all-rounder than Kozak and Bowery.
I think kae is his love child another pile of shite from lamberk. How many good signings has that joker made I’m struggling. Kozac for £7m ffs.
More nonsense. KEA has improved massively this season and has put in several good performances. And Kozak was not £7m, nearer £4.5m.
And as for calling our manager “Lamberk”, sums up how childish you really are.
Kae has improved because it was impossible to get any worse!! Just because he’s improved dosnt mean he is any good all that’s happened is is yes gone from a 3/10 player to a 5/10 player.
Oohaah.. FFS it is a different post now and ur still churning out the same garbage.. Kozak was 4.5M.. WTF do u want from these signings and people on 20K..
The man found Benteke Okore Bacuna.. Westwood and Lowton for 1M signings were good last season.. Vlaar looks a juch better player this season.. Luna decent too.. hence the clena sheets.. not forgetting he re signed Guzan.. yes a few are still to hit the mark but what do u expect on that budget!!??
As someone pointed out earlier you constantly bang on about K EA being offside more then a Man City fan..
Your a fecking joke when it comes to these matters..
Next season if he can bring in players of Benteke and Okore’s calibre with players like Lowton and Westwood on the bench/squad who are on less then 20K and we paid 1M for.. WTF more do u want!!!???
Better then the days of sh!t like Beye warming the bench on 35K a week..
True but I want a successful villa team I’m not settling for second best anymore especially when teams like utd etc are not the same anymore and in transition. This is a good time to start closing the gap in the sky four next summer while we still have a bit if a chance. If we don’t take advantage if their transitional periods the gap will widen even more and it coukd be decades before we get another chance.
I still don’t get why Helenius hasn’t been given a chance. He has so much more technical ability and reminds me more of Benteke. Kozak has been given a chance and it’s time for the Dane. He get’s the wingers more involved.
However, I think Helenius would be better suited in a 4-4-2 formation. Because he does tend to set up his second striker partner quite well.
Kozak and Helenius together would actually be brilliant. Defenders would seriously struggle to contain the two tall forwards. Especially if we get two proper wingers on.
Our defence hasn’t massively improved, maybe worth the risk
I was wondering why he helenius wasn’t even on bench in sat very worrying esp as Bowery was ahead of him. Another pile of shite players of lamberk
Bowery 500K.. nothing special but hardly a fcuk up waste of money like some toher clubs are churning out for squad player..
You just churn the same old shite post after post…
The same KEA who has the highest pass-success rate of any of our midfielders and the most successful tackles out of anybody in the team so far this season?
KEA is in the team on merit, unlike people like Weimann and Westwood who have been poor for ages.
Spot on, KEA is doing well. Westwood has been very poor IMO, very surprised he got straight back in place of Sylla, who did fine against City.
No the same KEA that let’s Delf do most of the work, and shots that just about gets to opposition goal, I don’t know what some people see in his so called efforts on the pitch, I just hope that he can prove me wrong, but up till now he is to me substandard in driving midfield forward.
Kae is shit did you not go to Newcastle game. Yes whole team were rubbish but iv never seen our players play as bad as kae it was embarrasing. He is shit with no quantity. Lerner out
How can he have made the most tackles in the team if he let’s Delph do all the work? His work-rate has been excellent and if you are going to criticise a player for that reason it should be Westwood who offers ziltch off the ball. Obviously though KEA is a much easier target for most then ‘Westy’…
Also please explain what Delph contributes offensively?
KEA has more CM attacking ability than most he is just starting to settle in to PL life.If he can reproduce his form from the Dutch league into the PL he can be quite a flair CM…UTV
Delf has more drive, that’s why he’s going to get a red card soon for aggressive tackles, but to me he’s showing wanting and determination KEA seems to hang off, as for more tackles and passes its still down to the end product and if he’s that good we should be top. As I’ve said let him prove me wrong, and you focus yourself on his abilities you will be surprised.
Why does he have more successful tackles then Delph if he is inferior to him in terms of determination then? It’s Westwood (the actual weak link in our midfield) you should be directing your argument against but he can do no wrong in anybody’s eyes it seems…
Delph is not exactly the best player on the planet either. He is just the best of a shot bunch of midfielders.
I actually agree with this. Delph wouldn’t stand out in most other midfields. My point is that KEA shouldn’t be scapegoated when there are other players that are playing far worse. But because Westwood and Weimann are fan-favorites, they will continue to get away with serving up the sort of shite they have been for a good while now.
Fair point but as much as I like Westwood and weimann they both need dropping at the moment
kae was pretty poor last season but i see an improvement this year.
specifically when he pops up in the hole or zone 14 he can play a neat 1-2 or get himself into a dangerous position
He’s a headless chicken no quality whatsoever
a headless chicken that scored against city last week. all be it from an offside position.
regardless of offside or not, you still have to finish it. which he did. not bad for a headless chicken ..!
lets not get ahead ourselves he hasn’t done much at villa – I still don’t regard him as a good signing yet. but i won’t write him off either.
whats the story with the name lamberk!
should we all get nicknames too?
i was thinking knee jerk might be a good one
Yep ur nickname colonoscopy! 🙂
I will change my user name if you change yours!
Oohah I agree Kea is not ticking the right boxes for me, at the moment our midfield is a little mixed up and not creative enough, if it was not for Abonglahor and at times Bacuna what strikes would we have on goal, answer sweet fuck all. Lads let’s get real we are far from what we would like our team to be, reasons no generals in our side, we need a player that creates moves.
True, but we need to select players from those we have available and at the moment if we’re playing three in midfield then KEA gets into the team along with Delph and Sylla.