Fans reaction from our stats page (unedited and may contain adult language) following the loss to Everton.
Junk
Lost_In_Ca
So the players have started where they left off last season and, presumably, how they mean to go on.
VillaWillRiseAgain
euuuuuugh. Holman’s attempted cross at the end and trying to claim a corner summed it all up. El Almahdi’s in my fantasy team on the plus side 😐
Dumble
I thought we were maybe 2 or 3 £4mill players short, now its looking more like 2 or 3 £10mill players we need. I’m not doubting the potential of some of our lads, but there’s little or no immediate quality in that team – and I’m usually quite positive! Looking at the next 2 games I can’t see us picking up any points either which is a bit scarey.
villaiain
Defence in general weren’t bad, Baker especially but Given could’ve/should’ve saved 2 of them, Bannan was pointlessly Hollywood passing (sideways now instead of forward?!?!) and Bent hardly had a touch ( AGAIN .)
Villan444
Not sure what’s happened to you boys, it wasn’t long ago we were fighting it out in the top 6, you could be in big trouble this season.
EvertonMike
Villaiain – I don’t think it’s the 10m plus players that we necessarily need; it’s the quantity. We’re poor because there’s no quality throughout the team. We could get 4-5 4m players and completely change our fortunes in no time.
johnnyuk
Only plus is that we have a cup game to re-group and maybe try a few other options. Weimann and Caruthers have to be an improvement surely?!
villaiain
You’re right johnnyuk, what I meant was we need players with quality to improve the starting 11, not just for strength in depth like I originally thought. By 10m I just meant that thats the sort market value of players like Adam Johnson, Matt Jarvis etc. Even players like De Guzman who’s a find for Swansea was about 6mill I think, and we need 3 or 4 of him!
villaiain
Should off played the same team as last week
kenner
About ******** time we beat Aston Villa, been way too long. Shocking to see that quality gap today, given we were close rivals 3yrs ago, makes me appreciate David Moyes even more for the job he has done. As for the game, as I said, the quality gap was visible to everyone, when the game was on the line, Everton were dominant in that 1st half and the game was done at half time, would’ve liked to see Everton go in for the kill instead of just trying fancy flicks and such, but nevertheless, not going to complain happy with the 3pts. Good luck for the rest of the season, keep faith in Lambert he is a good manager, I think the owner is the one you need to pay your attention to, doesn’t seem to want to give Lambert any money from an outsiders POV.
Rob-EFC
Outrageous!
Pride of Lions
Everton were fantastic, and we were very very poor. We’re going to be in trouble unless Lerner opens his wallet before the window shuts.
monsters
Centre back, decent winger, and good strike should be priority. Then maybe sign a few of the old free agents on short contracts as cover (e.g. Michael Owen, maybe even Owen Hargreaves, etc.) The oldies give depth and expierience.
VillaJ
Well that was pretty poor, but I’m not going to start screaming for Paul Lambert’s head just yet! I think the target this season is to finish mid table…. it may well take a dozen games or so to start playing like a team. In Lambert we trust!
thorpyuk
Also, please bring back Makoun (if we can recall him). More options, and champo league experience
VillaJ
I’m sorry but no matter how good the academy players are, you can’t play 5 of them at once week in week out, the standard of the premier league is too high. Sure 2/3 and rotate them around but we are completely reliant upon them. I’m not 100% by the attitude of a couple but even so, it’s not fair on them or lambert. It’s tough for randy has mon spunked vast amounts of his money but we need a PROVEN forward, winger, centre half and left back. 5 very inexperienced outfield players and a very weak bench indeed. Gulp!
revolutionatlast
Also why listed N’Zogbia as no10?!
revolutionatlast
Rev – that performance doesn’t deserve to have him listed.
mike_field
The worst home performance I have seen within the last 5 years bar Swansea and Liverpool last year. Absolute dire. Why did he drop Ireland and Delph? IMO Hutton and Warnock would of made a difference today, bombing forward putting balls into the box.
PiperUK
Thought Herd & Baker were possibly the pick of a very bad bunch. Work needs to be done, but not sure why Delph and Ireland were on bench against a strong, experienced Everton midfield. I know they haven’t pulled up any trees but surely either would have been a better bet than Bannan (far too lightweight, can’t pass) or N’Zogbia, who is just dire. Either his confidence is totally shot, or he’s just s**t. Must have used up his 9 lives by now?
JuanPabloAngel
Baker looks like he’s becoming something very valuable to us.
VillaJ
That bad mike? Oh dear. And to think about his interview this week. Can’t help thinking he won’t improve, will run down his contract and we’ll ditch him for peanuts a year before he goes for free and that’s another £10m down the toilet. Hmpf!
revolutionatlast
Grim times. Take nothing away from Everton, looks like they might be on for a good season, but so, so much wrong in B6. Great goal by KEA though.
onlyteaminthemids
We need to be realistic are squad is ***** poor and the young players are no where near what some people think… this isnt the squad that finished 6th Young, Downing, Petrov, Milner thats the whole midfield from the that side how many do we have? I originally thought top 10 but Im dropping that to 15th or better unless we bring in a LB, CM, WMF, CF… Guzan will get the nod in the league cup and might get a run in the 1st team after today… Lowton needs time, Vlaar is the only senior DEF, Clarke is good, Baker will become very good, I like Herd but I think a conversion to CB is in his future, KEA solid, I dont like Bannan nice passer but offers nothing else, Nzog has til November to prove himself, Bent is lost without service, Delfouneso squad player… Unless Albie can do something by December he will be in the boat with bannan and be a squad man, Weimann has potential but I dont see him and Bent working in the same team, based on the last two seasons gabby is extremely overrated, Ireland is in the same boat as Nzog needs to prove himself, Delph still has something IMO but he needs a run of games, Lichaj pretty solid… Hutton, Dunne, Warnock decent defenders but make mistakes and dont fit the system… These last two games are a reality check we need to look at the squad for what it is and realise we may be in for another tough season… Its inexperienced, has a few overrated and over paid players, it has three players (Ireland/Nzog/Bent) with the potential to really push Villa up the league and we have a few new players who could really excel if the rest of the team was contributing… If we can get a couple more new faces, ship out some dead wood, unlock the chains on Ireland & Nzog, provide service to Bent and finish the league in a respectable position we will be on the road to Europe again… Until then we need to just keep the faith and accept we may be in a difficult few months at least… In Lambert we trust…
CDX_EIRE
Comparing the value of today’s starting elevens confirms the quality gap. Villa started with a team worth around £52m and Everton started with a team worth almost 50% more at around £76m. The comparisons look horrendous if you take out Bent at £17.5m and Villa are left with ten players worth a total of around £35m, which is the sort of value you find for relegation candidates. So Villa can congratulate themselves on building a Championship side and the fans can’t be surprised that they actually look like one.
Steve Wade
When you look at our squad how many of them have performed consistently well at premier league level for the last 3 years? Given and Bent are probably the only 2 – the rest just haven’t performed, don’t have much experience or have joined from different leagues. And that is our problem especially with less than a week til the window shuts and to be honest I don’t think that will help us – names like Cresswell are not going to come and do a job immediately, we need proven quality and I don’t see us getting it. The idiots like No.10 need to start performing and the kids need to grow up fast. I think Lowton, KEA and Vlaar are adapting quickly so I don’t have a problem with them. It least this puts it in perspective and we can stop getting carried away – this squad is weak and 14th would be a decent achievement in my eyes. Hope Lambert continues to get good support the poor bloke can’t polish a turd.
Lion Heart
So this early days and everyone is talking about our squad not being big enough / god enough etc etc. Whilst i agree that some of our squad aren’t good enough I am going to be the first to buck the trend of the love in with our new manager. He of course needs time and i had high hopes when he was appointed but…… He got it totally wrong last week playing 5 in midfield against a team that bypasses midfield routinely. Today he played baker at left back despite having Lichaj on the bench, in the first half there was so much room to attack into down the left that if we’d had a genuine LB on the pitch we could have created loads (no criticism of Baker btw who did his best). He played Bannan in central midfield against one of the most physically powerful midfield units in teh league and he played Nzogbia! Ireland and Delph must have been cursing on the bench and its all well and good alienating Warnock and Hutton etc if you have better to come in but Warnock would have been far better at LB today than Baker and why Lichaj was left on the bench only PL knows. So far its nil out of two, not just in terms of results but also in terms of getting the tactics right, having any style / pattern of play or having a clue what his best team is.
AVbornandbred
Given was ok last year lion heart but think that those 2 along with Bannan are the weakest links. And yes Steve, Randy has managed to give us a younger weaker team than when he turned up whilst wasting millions and millions which he’ll want back from us sooner or later. Proud history, bright what??
Villan444
Clarke is not a premier league standard centre back
avfcwills10
Bright ***** that’s what
PiperUK
Agree with the post that said that Lambert should have kept the same side as last week. Delph and Ireland will probably be feeling irritated to put it mildly. Paul Lambert probably isn’t the problem, however. His signings look useful and an improvement — mostly — on the rabble he inherited. Steve Wade is right to point out the gulf in investment between the two clubs. To be fair he has been saying similar stuff for a while now. The message seems to have been lost in the euphoria that greeted Lambert’s appointment. The problem appears to be that the owner doesn’t seem to have his heart in it. Lerner should, perhaps, cut his losses and sell up. The decision to sell Milner (and later Young) has led to this sorry point. Wouldn’t want to see a scheik or oligarch in B6, though. However, an owner who is willing to invest in quality players would be nice. Lerner has done a lot for the club and there are solid foundations being laid for the future. It’s probably time for someone new, though.
VillaWillRiseAgain
Took Moyes 10 years but he has a great team! While we were extremely poor Everton were also very good so not going to complain, the result flatters us really…Either Lerner buys or do one, just ***** off and sell, he should be getting the blame.
p.avfc
The upcoming fixtures will be tough. The game against Norwich on 28th October is, arguably, the first one Villa have a chance of winning.
VillaWillRiseAgain
We may have changed manager, but that was as poor as last season in many many ways.
revdpete
We are a very very poor side. Unfortunately the board over the last two years have decided to run villa as a championship or league one club. It can only continue with us as a premier league club for so long. We are masquerading as a big club now, a premier league club. I find it insulting that the board attempt to bu****it the fans with what are quickly proving to be hollow patronising nonsense about pushing the club up the league. I back Paul Lambert all the way and would plead with fellow supporters to give him time, remember that he can’t make something out of nothing.
Lock
Agree with AVBornandbred. I couldn’t understand the selection today and we looked so wide open. OK Given was to blame for two of the goals but we never competed in the first half. Also was surprised by PLs reaction. After the second he sat down and sent out the coach. After the third they both sat down. What message did that send to the team? In fairness to MON, who I still despise for what he did to this club, at least he kept going for the whole game. Yes we need more good players. But we also need to use those we have wisely. Lichaj looked good when he came on. I could go on, but won’t.
Gordonsleftboot
There is no worries 99% of fans back Lambert and the % of fans who will be turning on Mr Lerner as soon as we are rooted at the bottom will be loads, many Villans are realising Randy has run this club down to worse than when he purchased us, i feel sorry for Lambert taking this job on with no money it seems, but Randy will soon feel the heat of the fans soon enough!
CLIVETHEVILLAN
Randy doesn’t/won’t give a toss Clive. We need some very wealthy Arabs or similar very soon, or we’ll be through the trapdoor by Xmas. What we probably need to do though is stick with Lambo – he’s a proven promotion manager.
onlyteaminthemids
otitm — Maybe we should put a brochure together like Michael Owen did and send it to Dubai or Moscow? ‘Fans of historic English Football Club require generous benefactor?’ Sad isn’t it. Scheiks and oligarchs aren’t the answer, though. Neither, sadly, is RL.
VillaWillRiseAgain
I like it VWRA – will start on a Powerpoint doc now. Trouble is, sheikhs and oligarchs are what the Prem is all about. Having an owner who is ‘just a billionaire’ is no longer enough, sadly.
onlyteaminthemids
my god…what happened to all the pre-season optimism?…yes it was bad but come on…it was only our second game.
Steve64k
Second league game Steve, but we scraped a pre-season win against 4th division Burton, lost convincingly to 2nd division Forest, etc etc. The squad is paper thin;the kids could probably all be really good if drip-fed into the team one or two at a time alongside seasoned pros, rather than being expected to be our saviours at a time of crisis. Those seasoned pros? Well we know what Bent can do, but he needs service. Ireland is inconsistent and unreliable, Nzog clearly regrets coming here – body language suggests he’d rather be anywhere else. Given and Dunne are past it. Warnock’s confidence shot and wants out. Hutton tried hard, but lacks Prem quality – shall I go on?
onlyteaminthemids
Not the best news to wake up to…….get quality in and fast!
holte ender 1969
I’ll have my detractors for saying this but Given was at fault on ALL THREE goals. The first was within a saveable distance if he’d been moving his feet. The ball crossed the line about two yards INSIDE the post (ie about two yards from the middle of his goal. The second was obvious… For the third he was nowhere near positionally correct. When that ball was on the by-line he should have been touching distance from his near post. The ball would have hit him square in the chest if he’d been positioned correctly….
gmvillan
I don’t think any of our players are terrible, I think some young lads have really bright futures. Baker was the best I’ve seen him, great last ditch tackles. It’s clear to anyone that watches football that we need signings and fast, I’d say 4 min by the end of this week. We need a LB, CB, CM and Striker but Randy needs to spend. I just feel he’s not interested anymore, he should sell if he’s not!!!! What have spent 8mil?? Havin a laugh Randy. In Lambert I trust but he needs help as a manager is only as good as his players
AdzVilla11
gmvilla, totally agree with Given being at fault and surprised not more have picked up on it…not even mentioned by the supposed professionals on the box apart from the obvious one, then again it is a specialised position and het the naked eye you may not know…first thing I said after the pienaar goal was that he did not sort his feet out quick enough regardless of the strike!!!
marcobavfc
Match thread: Click Here
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