During the week, Paul Lambert was quoted as saying, “Intense training with defenders today. The objective – a clean sheet at the weekend.” The intense training must be working as, since many on this site have bemoaned the leaky defence, we have kept two clean sheets away from home, which do not come easily in the Premier League. This season, the defence has looked much improved and Saturday’s performance illustrated that with all the players committed and raring to go at all times. Leandro Bacuna looks a fantastic buy. Deployed at right-back, he has the capability to defend and attack at pace with great agility. I believe he is better than Matt Lowton when Lowton is on song. Alongside Bacuna, Ciaran Clark is reformed: he now looks like an Irish international and not a small fish in a big pond. Antonio Luna is consistent while Vlaar is a rock at the heart of the ship. Guzan is ever present and never fails to please the manager.
The reincarnation of a certain Fabian Delph comes to mind when many think of great things Lambert has done. This time last year people would have laughed at you if you had suggested that Delph would be one of Villa’s most important players in a year’s time but he has proved his critics wrong with some outstanding performances this season. Furthermore, Delph’s suffered the wrath of many fans for his inconsistency and ill-discipline. Sadly, his ill-discipline remains but Delph is a now a more mature, influential man who is a born leader. Fabian Delph arguably deserves an England call-up. If Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend are called up, why isn’t Delph?
The Negatives
Without Christian Benteke we did look useless in front of goal, despite putting three past Manchester City last week. The side still looks out of sorts. The “one man” team perception is not far off it seems. Also, Libor Kozak is poor, in my opinion, and a stereotypical deadline day deal. Kozak is slow to distribute and slow in general, which is not what we need when we play our usual fast-paced counter-attacking way. If we lose Benteke and he is not replaced, I will be concerned about where the goals will come from since Helenius is yet to show up, Bowery is not of Premier League standard and Kozak is not what we need at the club but I will let you all make your own minds up about him.
Supporters should follow the club through thick and thin. Real supporters do not turn up for the good days and hide in the woodwork on bad days. I moan about the Villa ‘faithful’ for a few reasons. Saturday’s result was a good result, in my opinion. There are too many fans out there being overly critical about the display, saying it was “lacklustre” and “flat”. To me. a clean sheet away from home is great and we should be thankful of the confidence it gives the defence ahead of the international break. The supporters need to realise lambert’s Villa team is still a work in progress. Better results will follow so there is no need for fans to be as tetchy as they are the moment.
Couldn’t agree with your summary more. Definitely agree that the clean sheet and point were plus points, and in my opinion we have performed better at the back than last season. Bacuna is looking a real steal, he will get better too, he has already started to read the game better in just the few starts he’s had so far. I am one of the fans that had all but written off Delph, and if he can keep up this seasons form I’m going to have to eat my words. Just wish that Lambert had spent the Kozak money on an attacking midfielder because we are dreadfully short of invention, we were crying out for someone to play the clever pass against Hull. I’m really pleased for Ciaran Clark, hopefully the boo boys will get off his back now. Just one more word about Kozak, and that is we should give him some time. A certain Mr Benteke looked dreadfully out of his depth during his first handful of games and fans were asking why Bent wasn’t playing instead. Let’s hope he can come good.
This would suggest that he can hardly be classed a “stereotypical deadline day deal”
Paul Lambert “We’ve been on this one for the last few months, trying to bring him to the Club, so I’m delighted to get it across the line”
He may be the wrong player for the team (time will tell) but he can’t be classed as a rushed deal that you indicate.