I'm not confident in the slightest for the next 2 games, Delph out means we may have to rely on an unproven french league 2 player and on his debut he looked well of pace but yet we need to hope if he plays that he turns out like a Viera or Keane type, Going forward against City I thought we looked clueless in final 3rd, We had no imagination to even try and open them up and it's something that has been happening all season, If we got 6 points from next 2, I would be over the moon, If we got zero it would not surprise me at all

Weinmann has scored 10 this season, Benteke 15, its not Bent that we need

jonnah just shows how boring villa are real, nothing to say about them

Fact, we have not won back to back games this season, that includes playing all the teams around us.
Can anyone explain to me why we are suddenly going to do that, this is a genuine question as i would be interested to find out as to why other fans are thinking this way.
Please dont just say you can see improvements as i am sick of hearing that trotted out after yet another defeat, that doesn't put points on the board and right now we need points desperately.
On the Man City game some were saying our passing was the best they had seen all season, well yes, our passing sideways and backwards was impressive but, as soon as we got in the final third of the pitch we were clueless as they closed us down and stopped us playing with some ease. You only need to look at how many chances we created, or didn't as the case was.
Sorry if i seem negative but, in reality we are unlikely to win both these games if any.

For as many as Weinman and Benteke scored they also missed a few.

dont know why we are on about the strikers,when it has been our defence and midfield that has been the problem all season.

Expat

Quite simply I would play a 4-3-3 against Reading.

Take the game to them, Reading are the team that have been conceding lots of goals of late, we have conceded fewer, ok lost but not been conceding as many. That would be my philosophy moving into this next game

Fact, we have not won back to back games this season, that includes playing all the teams around us.
Can anyone explain to me why we are suddenly going to do that, this is a genuine question as i would be interested to find out as to why other fans are thinking this way.
Please dont just say you can see improvements as i am sick of hearing that trotted out after yet another defeat, that doesn't put points on the board and right now we need points desperately.
On the Man City game some were saying our passing was the best they had seen all season, well yes, our passing sideways and backwards was impressive but, as soon as we got in the final third of the pitch we were clueless as they closed us down and stopped us playing with some ease. You only need to look at how many chances we created, or didn't as the case was.
Sorry if i seem negative but, in reality we are unlikely to win both these games if any

You can go on about different systems all day long, if the players are not good enough you' re going to lose a lot more than you win.

mintvilla,

correct about the league table doesnt lie,ive used that fact all season.
but it still doesnt guarantee 6 points against reading and qpr.
as someone pointed out the other day,over the last ten games,we have the lowest tally of points out of all the bottom sides.

muz1: that is the bottom line you are correct. For me put our best strikers on and get the ball to them as often as we can, does not have to be pretty anymore our situation is dire and we need to score to give ourselves the best chance of survival, I would be happy with 10 draws, how we survive matters not, its all about survival.

You can go on about different systems all day long, if the players are not good enough you' re going to lose a lot more than you win.

I find it interesting to note that quite a few people are disapointed that delph is suspended from the next two games? i thought the general consenus was that he was crap?

While it was very funny to see fergie furious like that, it was never a red card, just more bias towards the spanish teams that fifa love so much, like the RVP sending off for arsenal against barca the other season

correct about the league table doesnt lie,ive used that fact all season.
but it still doesnt guarantee 6 points against reading and qpr.
as someone pointed out the other day,over the last ten games,we have the lowest tally of points out of all the bottom sides

To give Deplh some credit he has looked better the last couple of games I have seen him. I think you see how poor he is though when you see him play live at the game rather than the tv. His positional play is not good and he seems to bottle out if given a scoring opportunity.

For as many as Weinman and Benteke scored they also missed a few

aren't*

My point was I just think Bent would have matched or beat either Andi or Benteke's tally had he been able to play as many games as they have.

mintvilla,
too true about the midfielders not chipping in with goals,same applies to our centre halves as well.

Delph looks ok in our midfield. Let's put it that way.

I think we SHOULD win the next 2 games based on our recent performances. Anything can happen though.

pitbull,
whos going to come in for delph.thats the problem.
he has played better these last few games.

As for Bent, I don't think he would have matched Benteke's goal tally this season playing in the team we have currently. I'd agree that however, that Bent and Benteke should have played more games together this season.

Lambert gave them one game early on (Soton) didn't he - and then went off in a huff about it.

You know how that kid dialled 999 when Nani was sent off? I might be tempted to do that if we don't get anything from the next two games!! Report Lerner and Lambert and have them hauled away for crimes against Villa!!!

I spoke to a few refs. The consensus was that the only grey area can be the interpretation of Nani's intent. However, studs up is dangerous play whichever way you look at it and that's always potentially a red card offence

JCV, it's hobson's choice for me.

For our CM's, I would drop Westwood and go with El Ahmadi - he's fairly skilful and intelligent and Holman - who can score occasionally and works hard. Those two would make a reasonable fit with Gabby and N'Zog in a 4-4-2.

mintvilla,

therein lies the main problem, our midfield very rarely score goals and very rarely create chances for our frontmen, and, if you're not scoring it puts more pressure on the defence to keep a clean sheet. Many times this season i have seen the opposition get the ball in our half and our midfield not tracking back picking players up.
If players cant get the basics right at this standard they will soon be found out.
IMO, the midfield has been our major problem all season.

Mint,

Interesting post. Food for thought about Fifa. I'll be watching out for that.

As a direct Interpretation the rule book though, it does appear the red card was legitimate. Agree with you about the consistency of decisions - and some of the politics involved.

pitbull inferno,

" I think we SHOULD win our next 2 games based on our recent performances"

Enlighten me, our form has been very poor while QPR have better recent form than us.

Re Nani, I can see why he was sent off. Di anyone see that he had a little flick out at the player as he landed? You can see that movement in his foot. He definitely had a nibble in my opinion and maybe that's what the ref saw.

Pitbull - I agree with you, I'd go with El Ahmedi. He looked tidy against Man City.

If herd is fit i would play him in clarks position and clark can play in place of delph. To my mind clark looks a better holding midfield player than a c/half.

muz1

Am mainly looking at how we have played as a team and who we have played against compared to the qualities of QPR and Reading.

Looking at our last game - I doubt QPR or Reading would have been able to contain our strikers quite so effectively as Man City. It's not for nothing that their defence is the best in the league - I was really impressed, anyway.

QPR's goal threat is nothing to write home about and seeing as the defence is the weakest part of our team, then that augurs well for us.

Reading are poor all around with only a few exceptions. As long as we look out for Le Fondre we should be ok.

With a front line of Gabby / N'Zog / Weimann (or Bent) / Benteke - we should be too much for both of them.

Our last 4 games, we've played as well as we've played all season. If we carry on, I can see us nicking a few results and staying up.

abz1888,

While I agree KEA looked tidy against Man City, I have my reservations about him in a game of this importance.
From what i have seen of him this season he bottles 50-50 challenges, and with both teams scrapping for their lives there will be plenty of these flying about.
Not sure if we have any options but, if we have we need someone in there who is not afraid to put theirselves about.

pitbull inferno,

Mate i hope you're right with your assumption.

muz - I hope so too. Agree about KEA, looks a bit lightweight. I think he'd nick it for me purely because Westwood (and Delph) isn't that great at knowing when to play the strikers through. It was getting a bit embarrassing against Man C, all of our strikers got pissed off about it at various points in the game.

bobvillan - that's a good shout.

pitbull inferno I hope PL is not as complacent about Loic Remy as you are. Jay Bothroyd if he plays and Bobby Zamora too, any of these will give our defence the run around and thats before the likes of Taarabts in midfield QPR worry me greatly.

QPR and 'Arry have put the club on the edge if the do not stay up they could well go bust according to what I have read this morning, and there were those who think 'Arry would be good for us? QPR to become the new Portsmouth and the common denominator is?

How about giving Sylla a start?

Against QPR we will need to stop Taarabts and I question who we have who is capable? Sylla needed game time Arsenal and Man City games we would probably not expect (if we are honest) to win may have been the ideal games to have played him in, I think it is too risky to play him from the start against Reading or QPR these games are just too big and important.

Football today uses sports science to the degree where players have every part of their make up monitored in pursuit of the perfect specimen, how far they run, heart rate, etc etc. We can no longer compare players from different era's and also players themselves today choose a club on the basis of what they will earn and it's geographical location, something that did not really come into play until recently.

just to pick you up on that expat.Did they stop Fergie being inteviewed? Why are they going to charge the club then for him not speaking or letting his players speak which you are legally obliged to in the CL? Not calling you out but im interested.

mintvillaT

heres lots to say about the Villa, just goes to you show you what a glory supporting troll you are.

mintvilla

quite simply I would play a 4-3-3 against Reading.

sjh It would appear that they thought that the Club being put on charge was the lesser of two evils as Fregie was on fire and they did not know how to put him out. Also if you saw the players reaction after the final whistle and they could not be trusted either. Although they have tried to keep it under wraps it appears that some within the club could not keep their mouths shut!!
It would have been wonderful to have seen Fergie interview, how many shots would there have been on Utube

sjh
Sorry what I should have pointed out that it was put to Fergie that he should not be interview because of his past record of his after Rafael da Silva's dismissal in United's quarter final defeat, three years ago.
It would appear that reluctantly he agreed as it would be a repeat offence. They will still get wracked, but they must hope not as bad as him fouling mouthing off at the ref!! Again I would have love to have seen it.

DC_Villan

It hurts to think that this is what our club has come to... Signing unknown MLS and second tier french league players that get us nowhere.

DC_Villan

keeping Bennett in the line up. The last two games were the best I've seen him play, although that is still not saying very much

(DC_Villan): Spurs will sell Bale if they get a big enough bid.

Lambert now saying he has found it difficult to leave out the club's experienced stars.

When needs must we have to play our best players that will give us a fighting chance to stay up.

N'zogbia is coming into form which is a good thing. Now when Bent is back we play Bent and Benteke up front.

Weimann is a good player in the making BUT he is not the player that will get us out of the situation right here right now. We have to put the fear of god into the oppositions defence. Weimann is NOT the player to do this right here right now !

Everyone thinks Weimann is great, we need to look beyond Weimann for the 10 remaining games to pull us through. Bent comes back we play him, N'zogbia now back in form, and we terrorise the opposition defence.

I don't really know why I should be talking about this because Benteke and Weimann have scored goals but they cannot elevate us from our current position.
Weimann and Benteke has been going all season and we are in the bottom 3.
**** that, it's Bent and Benteke if we want to get out of this!!!

Think outside the box, it's not worked with Weimann and Benteke.

We play Bent and Benteke up front from now on.

Or are some still happy plodding along with Benteke and Weimann up front?

Bent back he plays with Benteke from now on!

Or do we just limp out of this league because some Villa fans including Lambert, love Weimann ?

(Griffb23): Talksport is just tabloid radio, its a joke of a station whose opinions and views are meaningless.

jonnah: if Bent is fit he has to start simple as.

jcv Where are you mate.
Its getting desperate on here. Just come in from the bar and decided to see what has been posted since I went for a drink or two and what do I find! Five (5) posters in well over three hours, this is the depth that we have sunk to.
Villa fans are so despondent that they can no longer bother to contribute! I have made the effort. Why! I haven’t got a fu*king clue maybe I thought it will help to get us motivated to inject a little enthusiasm before the Reading game.
I cant enthuse myself so why I think I can help other Villa fans to have a feel good feelings, God only knows. I try desperately to be confident that the Villa will turn over Reading, fu*king Reading not Man U, Man C, Chelsea, its Reading a nothing Club and I fear the result.

As someone posted earlier, what have Aston Villa come to, it’s the pits and it is very difficult to be passionate any longer following The Villa.

Still you, me and other long standing fans are cursed and whatever the outcome of the next two games and this season we will still be lumbered next season and the seasons after that. It’s a marriage without the option of divorce and we are committed and will go to the grave following The Villa.

Muz, Wind,

Agreed lads, there is nothing that we can do with our defence, they will continue to ship goals as its proven all season.
The way to get out of it is to put more emphasis on our strikers to remove the pressure from the back line.

Bent has to play !

It has to be the Kevin Keegan philosophy: if you score 3 we will score 4.

Jonnah

I think Bent is as good as gone mate, can't see him wanting to stay anyway as he hasn't really come out with anything suggesting he likes it at Villa.

We do need to get more goals though, it seems to be all about that final delivery and Gabby sprinting down the left wing isn't really doing it. What about if we were to move Bennett up to left mid and bring in Lichaj as a left back instead? Bennett looks like he can cross and attack pretty well but can't defend to save his life.

Guzan

I can only look to Bent's last game. He came on, transformed the team and we scored two goals, in which he uplifted the team in the process against West Ham. It was the last game that we have won.

We have to change something, we cannot just go along as we are for the next 10 games, hoping and thinking that we can pull through. Lambert has plans and choices that he only can make.

The defence is not going to change and will continue to leak goals between now and the end of the season, as we have seen all season, there is nothing the team can do about it. So the strikers have to try and make up for the loss that our defence keeps making.

What we have to do is try and remove the pressure from the defence by putting more pressure on the oppositions defence.

Weimann is not the player that can achieve this. Darren Bent is.

We have 10 games left, and as we have seen this season it's obvious that how we play has not worked.

What can be any worse than playing Darren Bent from what we have seen this season ?

Darren Bent has not come out complaining about what has happened over the course of season, kept himself to himself. We cannot just sit still as we have seen from the last 15 games or so, we have to do something.

Darren Bent is a Villa player, and from what I have seen particularly in his last game against West Ham, he wants to play, we need to change tack.

Score more goals, make the opposition become more worried about playing Villa by playing Darren Bent, which will relieve pressure on our back four because it's clear the system or players that we are playing is not working, and has been a total failure moving through the season.

Do we just carry on as we are doing nothing ?

Why wouldn't we change the strike force. What have we achieved this season? We have not scored that many goals. Why not put at 20 goal a season striker back into the team knowing that the likes of N'Zogbia is playing better.

We have to do something, we cannot just carry on as we are!

Why should we not play Darren Bent, i'm still dumbfounded that a 20 goal a season player is not playing in a team that is 3rd from bottom of the league.

Jonnah,

Not saying we shouldn't play Bent, just that I don't think Lambert will. He doesn't seem to be part of the "plan" for some reason which I can't quite understand myself! I just try not to care too much now as it p****s me off to no end and I don't like being in a bad mood, especially when none of my mates are Villa fans eh?

I should probably get some sleep now

Tomorrow = "D" day part 1.

Jonnah

Bent for Weimann?

Bent for Agbonlahor

makes more sense to me if scoring goals is what we need to do [and we do]

If we are going with Bent and Benteke then we need to play with width, N'Zogbia has to play one side but the left side is more of a problem Weimann is not a natural winger but Gabby looks totally unfit.

If we play with Bent and Benteke the whole team will be given a natural boost. Confidence will sweep through the team that has not been evident all season. Imagine if you're the opposition manager and just been given Villa's team sheet an hour before kick off and you see Darren Bent and Christian Benteke's names in the starting XI.

Readings 1st choice striker Pavel Pogrebnyak is still suspended. Winger Jimmy Kebe still out injured, plus their 1st choice goalkeeper Adam Federici is a doubt for tomorrow.

When you see what Wigan did to Reading - surely we can beat them or are below even Wigan now as a club?

One report says that Readings 1st choice keeper Adam Federici is a doubt for tomorrow. Another report says that goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (shoulder) is still out injured. Perhaps they do not have a goalkeeper fit at all, and we can shoot into an empty net !

Belfast Telegraph

'Villa players to blame - Dublin'

"Dion Dublin insists Aston Villa's players have to shoulder the full responsibility for an "absolutely woeful" season ahead of Saturday's relegation clash at Reading.

"Former Villa striker Dublin believes Villa boss Paul Lambert should have paired strikers Christian Benteke and the currently injured Darren Bent on a more regular basis."

But Dublin claimed: "I thought Villa might have played Benteke and Bent both up front but there is something gone on. We don't know what it is.

"Bent is a goal scorer, you can play him in the fourth division or Champions League and he will still score goals. Having both of them up front would have given Villa more of a chance of having a better position in the league and scoring more goals."


* See even Super Dion Dublin says that Bent and Benteke should be playing together more often.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/villa-players-to-blame-dublin-29117607.html

Dion Dublin was a top quality and respected Aston Villa striker, he knows what is best for Villa moving forward.

If Dublin says when fit, we should play Bent and Benteke together, then we should do !

Granger ha ha... Reports also say that this La Fondre has gone missing in front of goal, plus also Jason Roberts is out injured.

Could it be the best time to play Reading with all their injuries and suspensions... ?

Could it be the best time to play Reading with all their injuries and suspensions... ?

Wind

It could be like watching two pub teams tomorrow

jonnah & windofchange

It could be like watching two pub teams tomorrow

expat

And neither would be able to find the brewery in the first place !!

expat007: aint that the truth?

James Nursey on Twitter:

Speaking after Lambert's press conference today.

James Nursey ‏@JamesNursey
"#AVFC Lambert says Vlaar trained last 2 days and appears likely to return tomorrow."

Has anyone seen or heard official notification that our Chief Scout - Henke has officially left the club ?

He was due to leave middle of February.

jonnah

Has anyone seen or heard official notification that our Chief Scout - Henke has officially left the club? He was due to leave middle of February.

Expat

Does it matter and anyway The Yank will be glad to get him off the pay roll. Next one Lambert????

Timothy Abraham on Twitter:

Lambert's post press conference.

Timothy Abraham ‏@TimothyAbraham
"Karim El Ahmadi doubtful for tomorrow's trip to Reading with an ankle injury. Ron Vlaar should be back, Darren Bent likely to miss out."

This game looks like it has come too soon for Bent.
Hopefully and it looks like Bent will be back next week against QPR.

Desperate Villan

You could argue Bent doesn't offer much but his goal record speaks for itself and as others have stated "how can a team in our position be turning our noses up at a 20goal a season striker???"

If we can't beat Reading tomorrow, it's over for us as far as I'm concerned. Reading are the poorest team in the prem currently by my reckoning.

All this talk of Bent - isn't he injured?

If we can't beat Reading tomorrow, it's over

Reading are starting with their 3rd choice goalkeeper tomorrow, the other two are injured !

If that's not an incentive to go and win this game then I don't know what is ?
Shoot on site should be the orders !

Stuart Taylor ex Villa GK will be playing against us.

jonnah

Reading are starting with their 3rd choice goalkeeper tomorrow,

d-day tomorrow guys,day of reckoning 3 points or goodbye.Time to see what these guys are truly made of!!!