Aston Villa: International Break Comes at a Perfect Time for the Weary Villans

As the Barclays Premier League takes a week off for an international break, few teams will be more glad for a chance to recuperate and reassess things than Aston Villa.

For 80 minutes, Aston Villa looked as if they were set to win a useful point after a hard fought display against Manchester City. Unfortunately for the Villans, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero struck late to earn City the win and hand Villa a third consecutive loss. 

With the good feelings that came with the team's early success fading away, the international break is a welcome reprieve for the club and fans alike. Having faced last season's top four in successive games, Villa cannot be totally ashamed to have only come away with three points across four matches.

Nonetheless, rather than pity their difficult schedule, the team can now look forward and begin to make the positive strides that have been so frustratingly inconsistent during Lambert's time in charge.

The simplest reason the international break will benefit Villa is that it will give their injured players more time to get fit. Injuries have been a recurring problem for Villa in recent years and a week without football is just what the doctor ordered at Villa Park.

Villa's last three matches have seen them forced to desperately defend their own goal against superior opposition. A week without a match will give their tired legs a chance to rest and will hopefully restore some of the momentum Villa had built up. 

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Additionally, Christian Benteke made his long awaited return against City and he will greatly appreciate a prolonged period to prepare for his next match. More time training with Villa's new arrivals and less pressure to play again so soon will help Benteke get back to his best for Villa.

Unfortunately, the return of one of Villa's long-term absentees will have to wait. According to the Birmingham Mail's Gregg Evans, striker Libor Kozak has suffered a setback in his recovery from a broken leg that will keep him out of action until the new year.

Kozak's bad break makes it all the more important to ensure that Benteke does not push himself too hard too soon after returning to the pitch.

In a like manner, the break will give an opportunity for Villa's stalwart defender Ron Vlaar to recover as well. Vlaar has been sorely missed at the back and it is no surprise that Villa's defensive record has greatly suffered without their captain.

Vlaar's primary concern during the break may surround matters off the pitch, however. Alongside midfield ace Fabian Delph and starlet Jack Grealish, Vlaar's contract will expire at the end of the season and this trio of players must be tied down to new deals over the next week.

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Without a match to prepare for, Lambert and newly appointed CEO John Fox must make it their top priority this week to retain the services of these three key players.

Thankfully for Villa fans, James Nursey of The Mirror reported that Villa's bosses are set to do just that. The pair will meet with owner Randy Lerner in the United States to receive the necessary financial backing to re-sign these players and begin planning for the winter transfer window as well.

The January transfer window will arrive in no time and the Premier League season will only grow more strenuous over the coming weeks. This week may be the best chance for Villa to convince Vlaar, Delph and Grealish to reject the advances of rival clubs and to stay in Birmingham.

Furthermore, Villa will be grateful for any amount of extra time to pin down their tactical approach going forward. With the new players settled in and seven matches to draw conclusions from, Lambert can reflect on his team's performances and make necessary adjustments to improve.

Defensively, the team has clearly made great strides since last season. Villa conceded just one goal over their first four games and were well organized defensively for the majority of the 90 minutes against both Arsenal and Manchester City.

Offensively, there is a far greater need for change. With Benteke on his way back to full strength, the team has its offensive fulcrum back and Villa's focus in attack will need to be adjusted to suit the Belgian's strengths. 

Falling back on the team's former strategy of playing off of long balls to the tall striker simply will not cut it, however. With Villa's midfield trio growing in confidence, Lambert must implore his team to remain patient on the ball and play it calmly across the ground more rather than desperately punt it long.

A long outlet pass from Brad Guzan or a quick counterattack can still be effective, but even with a more disciplined defence to support them, Villa have to evolve offensively if they are to truly grow and mature as a unit.

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Villa's next match back will be against Everton, another of the league's best teams last season. Thankfully for Villa, the Toffees have had a very poor start to the season and present Villa with a good opportunity to end their skid and get back on the right track.