I usually like to chew over a result before I say anything, but what I saw today seemed to be a continuation of our performances in the previous 2 or 3 matches. It is now - I hate to say it - a reminder of the days leading up to relegation in 2016.
So what is going wrong? Injuries, clearly, are not helping and we have Mings, McGinn and also Davis on the bench: 3 more than useful players.
But what is making the manager persevere with playing Wesley on his own? As the lone striker he cannot achieve much except being the target man. At half-time, however, I was thinking that to bring on Kodjia to partner Wesley would not be a bad thing, but we had to wait until 70 minutes before that took place. From that point on Villa looked more capable of getting something out of the match as Kodjia's manoeuvrability worried their defence. When Jack scored I actually thought we might get back to parity, but it was not to be.
Villa just look too light in midfield and rely too much on Jack to conjure up something. It's rather like the beginning of 2015-16 when several continental players were brought in, and though they clearly had skill, collectively they were mostly ineffective. I see a bit of that now - in Nakamba and Luiz there is promise, but not enough power. So too for Conor, though his shooting has proved handy.
Well, Lambert had to deal with three matches in one December when we conceded 15 goals, and yet the season went on to develop in much better fashion: Benteke, Gabby and Andy came into pretty good goal-poaching form. I can only hope that we can get one or two players in the January 'window' that will help restore our confidence.
Well, enjoy your Christmas Dinner, and let's try to put this matter on one side for the time being, though a win over Norwich is surely a 'must'.
UTV!
So what is going wrong? Injuries, clearly, are not helping and we have Mings, McGinn and also Davis on the bench: 3 more than useful players.
But what is making the manager persevere with playing Wesley on his own? As the lone striker he cannot achieve much except being the target man. At half-time, however, I was thinking that to bring on Kodjia to partner Wesley would not be a bad thing, but we had to wait until 70 minutes before that took place. From that point on Villa looked more capable of getting something out of the match as Kodjia's manoeuvrability worried their defence. When Jack scored I actually thought we might get back to parity, but it was not to be.
Villa just look too light in midfield and rely too much on Jack to conjure up something. It's rather like the beginning of 2015-16 when several continental players were brought in, and though they clearly had skill, collectively they were mostly ineffective. I see a bit of that now - in Nakamba and Luiz there is promise, but not enough power. So too for Conor, though his shooting has proved handy.
Well, Lambert had to deal with three matches in one December when we conceded 15 goals, and yet the season went on to develop in much better fashion: Benteke, Gabby and Andy came into pretty good goal-poaching form. I can only hope that we can get one or two players in the January 'window' that will help restore our confidence.
Well, enjoy your Christmas Dinner, and let's try to put this matter on one side for the time being, though a win over Norwich is surely a 'must'.
UTV!
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