Aston Villa v Chelsea

Alan Hutton has been excellent this season but he's the reason why our current system isn't working as it should. Have you noticed how the final ball after some good approach work mostly ends up out on the right with Hutton? Even Gil favours slipping it through to AH for the final cross. That's the problem .... as well as Hutton's been playing, his ability to hit an accurate cross is very limited so most of our good work is wasted as well. Nines times out of ten AH's touch and accuracy is poor so that's a hell of a lot of wasted "service".

We need to change the "tactic" so that it doesn't rely on one man.

Good point VB

I'm sure Lambert will revert to 3 at the back at some point, maybe even tomorrow night?...when he does, I think Lowton is worth a go...his delivery is better.
The style of play that relies on full backs for width is now 'the norm' in the modern game. We do play it pretty well to be fair, only as you say...our final ball is woeful. Our approach play regularly releases both full backs in the final third, but sadly neither of them can consistently deliver a decent cross.

Of course a little bit of movement in the box may help, instead of them waiting for the ball to land at their hear/feet!

Great point VB, you deserve some.....

My son was saying during the Chelsea match that if you could transplant Lowton's crossing onto Hutton, then we'd start scoring goals again.

Have one (two?) back Mardy .... it's cheered me up!

A full backs job is to defend , play a winger or two who specialise in delivering a cross , if we don't at least try , we will never know, what i do know is that our current philosophy is not working & relegation is a reality !