Werder Bremen 3 - Aston Villa 3

Bent ONLY scored 2!!!! Sell now.

I did not get to see the game but going by everything I have read sounds like it was all that could be hoped for. It is a completely new defence, it takes time for them to bed in and get to know each others game. It is still to early to know if Stevens and Lichaj will make it under Lambert (although I must say every time I have seen Lichaj I have been impressed). The first few months will be hard on the defence but should lead to some very exciting attacking play. UTV

i was just trying to be a bit positive at the end about ahmadi at the end i think mike lol. but i agree clark is a good player and has a potential big future with us but i feel sometime he is poor when he has players coming at him with his back to goal and is sloppy sometimes. eg when he slipped in the box they could easily have scored, and although it wasnt really his fault for their third goal he only partially cleared and sent it right to the edge of our box for them to then score. also when we were defending set pieces he lost his headers twice and fell to the ground whilst his man got a header away. its all well and good being able to pass the ball etc but his defensive attributes even though subtle at times are not that good. he also comes out alot and gets exposed which is why there is space behind and vlaar was dropping very deep and clearing for most balls put into and across the box

wills - clark is a class CB but hasn't played there for a couple of years now and so will take time to readjust. As for lichaj never making it lol he's looked excellent on many occasions and gets better every time he plays. Not seen enough of Stevens to say and it seems a bit harsh to write him off so early when he's only had a couple of games. I do agree that the defence conceeding 6 in two games is worrying though

Got it down on the forum that it was Vlaar who slid and deflected and Clark closed but not quick enough - no coverage from midfield for that goal. The partnership is looking good though, they just need more than 2 games to click really. By the flipside on one corner, Clark totally out wrestled his man so he's learning that side of the game aswell. He also cleared his fair share I thought of crosses, but Vlaar was superior as you'd expect given experience.

In many ways the comments are right though, he has a lot to learn still but he also has a lot to remember after being shifted around the park over previous seasons. His versatility is an asset, but he really could've done with bedding in in his natural position so the instant stuff he had to learn when making the step up had already been done and it hasn't been.

I also think we are too quick to write off youngsters in many ways. This crop haven't been bedded in properly apart from maybe Carruthers, they have been thrust in, often out of position, so it's hard to judge.

No idea on Herd, just about to check for final updates of the night, so will cover it if an answer is given. Lowton was precautionary over an ankle issue though.

As for players making it, Stefan wasn't interested outside of Villa, Luke should've been given the faith Gabby was but he's still back in the Prem now. Ridgewell Prem, Cahill Prem, Davis Prem, Whits has interest now he's found himself. But loads go on to have good careers but if the benchmark is Rooney then almost every club fails don't they.

Ive just watched it back it was 100% clark who made the slide and assisted their third goal lol. obviously rooney is not a benchmark, i was not talking about our academy failing or succeeding? we can not judge this, the academy could equally been seen as a success if players such as albrighton and licahj get sold for £3m a piece in a few years time because it is the club nurturing an asset from nothing and making a huge profit on money invested in the players development. What my point was is putting faith in players who probably never really will make it is not beneficial to us because when they struggle (e.g albrighton last season) all it means is we then realise they are not good enough but players seem to become indispensable because they are aston villa fans regardless of whether they are good enough or not, ALA agbonlahor..... Hopefully Clark will turn out to be as good as we all obviously hope. but at the same time he is certainly weak defensively at the moment and it is another case of us saying that he will get better as time goes on, which as we can recall, hasn't always worked out.

I'll happily bow mate. As said I thought it was Vlaar but not seen replays or the like. Not sure Clark (formerly Vlaar) could've done much else given the stretch they were at but hey ho. Still if we'd have had Ahmadi following up to cover the hole, it would've been dealt with in my mind.

Misunderstood your point then aswell chap, yes we do get carried away with faith, BUT a lot of our Academy history could've been different based on different managers not the players themselves. We have a tendancy to sell them too quickly in my opinion, I wouldn't have got rid of Crouch, Stef when we did. I wouldn't have got rid of Cahill, Ridge when we did, nor Whits or Lukey - especially when you look at who replaced them, they all just needed longer than we'd give them because we were looking for quick fixes. This is where I hope Lambert is different, he'll give them chance to grow instead of taking the first offer.

So shockingly I end the night agreeing with 444 lol and his comment about a players worth in many ways being based on what the manager can achieve. Stevens specifically is too new to judge, seen good and bad, but the class of Bannan, Albie etc need to make this their season and Lambert's style is how they play at their best, so time will tell.

Night folks! Bring on the Spam covered Dildo's!

avfcwills10...all your point are moot points. You have to give youngsters time. Then you discover whether they are any good or not. Aggbon....has probably had his time though and I agree that he is never going to be a 20 goal a season striker.

he said moot

which really means "debatable"

wills - your judgement on the game and players are clearly based on different material to me. Luke Moore could have been class and we'll never know what might have happened if he'd been managed properly instead of being benched just when he was threatening to find his feet. As for Lichaj, not every full back is in the Ashley Cole mould some are more like Gary neville. Lichaj is steady, has an awesome long throw and is learning his trade. How on earth you can write off players of the calibre of Clark and Lichaj and yet think Bannan has a future is beyond me (but as they say football is a game of opinions). I'm the first to say we overhype our academy prospects but equally I am happy to recognise potential when I see it.

6 goals in 2 games defence?????? what`s Dunne doing ???? oh wait ,,,he has to ,,,,,,,,,

As the match finished at almost 1am for me, I'm now up and have read the comments made and I think the main thing to draw from yesterdays match is...... Our squad is still paper thin.

I know its all a matter of opinion, but I get a bit ticked off at people who keep saying Gabbi hasn't "made it". The only time he's played in his proper position i.e. up front along side a bigger goalpoacher, was under MON with Carew when he was scoring 15 odd a season. Since then he's been on the wing and up front by himself. He's a very limited player due to certain short comings, e.g. not the best finisher, relies on his pace, but play him the right team and formation and he does an important job that would cost a lot to replace-I think with Bent in a PL team he could prove some doubters wrong. Also, we'd run the risk of replacing him with someone who doesn't care about the club, where Gabbi is the only one in the present squad who I genuinely believe is a true Villa fan. Just my opinion is all!!!