PaulC

Regarding the Bell or Root argument I think the selectors will be weary about Root at 3 as he had such a lot of failures at the top of the order in the summer. Bell is a number 3 batsman. That's where he bats for Warwickshire and that's where he wants to bat for England. He has never been given a consistent run there. I think he batted there and made a double hundred against India last time out when Trott was injured. Seems a pretty obvious choice really!

Is that Chico as your avatar drat01? One of my first "Villa Hero's" :-) We are showing our age here

Perhaps, but how long can you go on past laurels and not current form? It's true about Benteke winning the headers. But, then, he was the target for most of the forward balls. Kozak doesn't strike me as a forward that plays off the shoulder of a target man - but that is what he was asked to do. If he was the target man for the last 30 mins instead of Benteke, I doubt he would have performed any less. For a long time. Lambert isn't going to drop Benteke. Even without him playing well he still creates opportunities for other players. leTS face it we were toOTHless without him. I know we beat City but in the other games we had zero threat, Kozak looks better when Benteke plays than when he plays as a lone striker. FACT!

Is that Chico as your avatar drat01?

I got it wrong anyway because the website was out of date. Its not just about goals I just think Suarez is slightly better when he's got to weave around players in the box. His has slightly quicker feet. But its marginal and its just my opinion. They are both great players. If Aguero is as good as people say he is then with Messi as well Argentina should win the world cup. The world cup should define who the greats are.

I think people are being over critical. He just needs a goal!

Yes you were spot on. Lambert brought them on sooner than he wanted to.

Exactly 2-2 at West Brom is a very good result.

It wasn't a good cross though. Weimann made it into something.

Bacuna wasn't bad second half when he played more as a wing back. His crosses were poor though, That's one area Lowton is better at. Anyway he deserves a bit of slack because hes been very good so far

Agree with a lot of your post but not about Westwood. I thought he had a really good second half. Controlled the midfield.

He won quite a few headers but he's not 100% yet but that will come in time. Form is temporary, class is permanent. Yep, all the chances he had, he created them himself. Bacuna, had a pretty shit game in terms of his crossing and there really was no supply at all from the left side of the pitch. Did Bacuna actually hit one decent cross?

Have to say apart from an early shot he was pretty awful in most aspects. Still think he might come good but not starter for me if Weimann is fit. Weimann might shoot widely at times but he offers so much more to the team.

He had a lot of stick on here this season but he's one of the certainties to play every week in my view. I said before that KEA and Sylla cant play in the same team and some disagreed with me and I think after some of performances we have seen with them both in the side we've seen enough.

I cant believe Delph got 5 votes. Not saying he didn't do well when he came on but not our best player.

Yes i still gave Westwood motm though as i thought he had a really good 2nd half and the brilliant goal too. Between him and Vlaar though!

I disagree he was a big improvement on Tonev

I'll take that after a truly shocking first half. Subs made the difference. Great goal by Westwood who also had a part to play in our first goal.

Get Weimann on asap. As least he will be up for the fight

Just a really awful first half. We are second to everything. Ok the first goal was a world class first touch but Bacuna for the 2nd. We have had a couple of half chances. The shot from Tonev I thought might be the turning point for him but he's been awful since then. Our midfield have been outplayed and apart from Vlaar the defence vunerable.

Oh dear Bacuna

Its ok, its a defensively sound formation . Clarke will play left back I guess and he's better defensively than Luna. we can always bring on Weimann and Gabby to get behind them later on in the game.

Yes but when you have had a serious injury like he did and you come back it takes a long time like it did with ramsey who is now 22/23. There's still time for Gardner but he needs a clear run from injuries.

??? scored one less goal than Suarez and he plays in a much better team and Suarez missed how many games! Think Suarez is better myself. Each to our own opinion though!

Thanks anyway that gives us a strong bench!