Aston Villa Banter Archive February 01 2015 to March 03 2015

01 Mar 2015 17:06:59
Totally fear for us now. This squad is better than qpr Burnley Sunderland Leicester and the baggies but just shot of confidence. We need to beat westbrom and hopefully get a boost from that. 2 bidders on the table for club but I fear they will walk away and we will head down and be stook with Lerner. Come on the boys you can beat the baggies. Stuff it up them and start the fight back and I feel if we pull this off we will be sold and the future will be a lot brighter. Thoughts anyone.

Kingvilla, I don`t think our squad is better than the teams you have mentioned to be honest.
If it was we would have more than 13 goals on board mate, we are where we are because we are a poor side. A squad becomes a good squad when it wins games consistently over a couple of seasons, it then gets stronger or weaker depending on additions or departures, we are not in that position.
I will ignore the buyers on the table bit.

Kingvilla, this squad is totally unbalanced, thanks to Lambert.
He Loanded out Bent, Robinson and the big lad who had his pants pulled down and never replaced the injured Kozaz despite the fact that Benteke was also missing for the first few months of the season.
Net result, no options upfront.
The man was a nightmare and we are paying a heavy price his appointment and the subsequent decision not to sack him 9 months ago.

Need funds to do what you ask.

All the players I mention are on the books Oldvillain. Lambert then made a bid for Lambert on the last day of the January window. He was also trying to sign Cleverley. Let's not kid ourselves he had no money to play with; he did.

Mendax, your dislike of PL is akin to mine for Lerner.
I saw no evidence that an attempt was made for Cleverly and believe that money for Lambert the player was made available at the last minute when the extra tv etc money was known.
We will have to wait till the end of the season (hopefully) to judge whether TS has been successful and if we can get an owner willing to fund the manager but because of the fair play rules more money has to come through the tills.

Once again, you are 1/2 right on this Oldvillain; My dislike for Lambert was as great as yours is for Lerner. What you fail to see is that my dislike for Lerner is comparable to yours.
You've always seen this as a Lerner only issue. I never have

Mendax you are right. However it is history.
TS has inherited a squad put together on a shoestring and this is down to the owner.
Many posters have stated that the players are good but badly coached.
How has TS managed to bring in coaching staff when PL had none to mention? Lerner opened the purse realising that options were slipping away.
That is now gone and 3points gives everyone a lift and we wait now to see if TS is good enough on a small budget.

Oldvillan, the squad have been poorly coached, its stands out a mile.
You can see even now they are finding it very difficult to adapt to a more forward approach, getting men into the box is alien to them.
Paul Lambert had coaches but from what we are lead to believe he allowed bullying to go on, he was devoid of ideas and people skills.
I believe Tim Sherwood has got more B---s than Lambert and told Villas chiefs exactly what he wanted or forget it, result he was obliged.
Oldvillan try and forget Lerners purse, He has spent money and will spend more before he goes,
I am trying my best to forget Lambert but his name keeps cropping up for some reason, he`s gone.

Sherwoods words were that he was approached and agreed, negotiations were for later.
So when did this money for extra staff appear?

Come On Oldvillan you don`t really believe that do you! that was Sherwoods way of saying the Job was too good to turn down, and a bit tongue in cheek, he knew what was on offer.
He would have looked dam foolish if what he said was true, and then told after starting work that his wages were £50 a week and his contract was for 15 years, think about it mate.

I'm not going on with same argument any more

26 Feb 2015 23:13:30
I see a lot of stuff talked about by Geordies, including their manager, about how much they'd love to see us relegated and how hurt they were by our reaction to them when they went down etc, etc
If Sherwood does not make sure our lot read this and if subsequently they are not up for the game on Saturday, we really are doomed
On the other hand, a win for us and a loss for the Baggies would not be beyond the bounds of possibility,
By Tuesday night we could be above them in the table ????

Blimey Mendax you are getting very optimistic in your old age mate.
Would be nice but can`t see it to be honest, stranger things have happened though.

Oh christ mate, I can't see it either but you never know.
Getting bored of smug baggies fans and in the words of mr Keegan." I'd love it if beat them, love it"

I just hope Timmy boy has sussed out Agbonlahor.
Sherwood said last week he would be looking back at some of villa`s performances this season, surely if he does that he will see that Agbonlahor is a player that must be labelled as impotent.
This man must be dropped for the sake of our club, his desire has evaporated and he has become a totally ineffective passenger.

28 Feb 2015 16:53:29
3 subs that would not make my bench, will all no zog is s it

Looks like Sherwood has fallen under the incredible spell that Gabby seems able to cast
Incredible that he gets a game regardless of the manager

22 Feb 2015 13:03:38
Yesterday, s result puts the size of Sherwood's task into perspective.
Local media harp on about Pulis as if he were some coaching wizard who had invented the game ( no, sorry. That was Van Gaal wasn't it) but Pulis has had the luxury of bringing in a couple of players. Sherwood is going to have to work with Lambert's squad entirely.
13 games may not be enough to turn it around I'm afraid
I think we need 4 points from the next 2 games to stand a chance of staying up

Mendax. The games part of you post is the point I was trying to make below and I agree.
Its 12 games left mate not 13.
We have six home games left and we must be aiming to win them all: West Brom, Swansea, QPR, Everton, West Ham, Burnley.
Our away games are tough; Newcastle, Sunderland, Man Utd, Totenham, Man City, Southampton.
Its not looking good really is it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, I know mate. I was talking about the 13 games he has since his appointment, I am hoping that he will have learned something from yesterday; namely that Gabby is not up to the job and needs to be dropped
I really to be positive but it's difficult to see a happy end to this season

Sorry mate, its my age

Who are you again ?

Ha ha ha love it

18 Feb 2015 19:34:18
Banter please

I know Sherwood has only just started as Villa manager and hasn't tasted defeat yet but there is
just something I have noticed, and great to see I must say, and that is every time I have seen Tim Sherwood be it a photo shoot, or an interview, and even just walking about VP, he has a swagger and a "SMILE"
Something that previous Villa managers have found hard to muster, unless they had wind that is.
Surely this could and should rub off on everyone involved at VP, footballers, managers, coaching staff are in a privileged position and should enjoy the moment.

As long as doesn't go other way, and every one else rubs off on him

Absolutely brilliant that Kevin Mcdonald is back.
And a great move by Tim Sherwood to get him in as No 2, he is a man that is loved and respected by all at Villa Park
With the other appointments earlier this week we now look to have a very sound platform to go forward.

The only thing we have going for us is that there are some equally poor sides in the division with us; QPR, Leicester, Palace, Burnley, Albion (have you seen their run in ?)Sunderland, Hull
Let's not forget, if the ref had blown up a couple of minutes earlier we would have been out of the bottom 4 tonight
Whether or not Sherwood is the right man for the job, it will take a little time for his ideas to sink in. The damage of 2.5 years of Lamber "coaching" is not going to be reversed overnight

14 Feb 2015 14:32:50
Sherwood then?!!

Good, bad??

Thoughts

A 50% win ratio for his 28 games in charge at Spurs.

If he can negotiate a similar ratio for us to the end of the season, we'll probably survive.

I just hope it doesn't come down to goal difference.

Let's hope he sorts out the strikers out

He always played attacking football at spurs and can't really complain about a 50% win ratio! Also not worried about upsetting people and won't stand for players not showing fight which is exactly what we need! Also showed at Spurs he won't play people on merit so hopefully he'll see Gabby, Weimann and Cleverley are useless and drop them. At least it gives the club the shake up it needs. I don't think he would have been many peoples first choice but that's who was chosen so we've just got to get behind him and hope he gives us the kick up the arse we need! Also will be interesting to see who he brings as backroom staff.

{Ed001's Note - he also lets the players do little in training, which is why they love him. They just have a laugh instead of getting fit. Not sure what on earth Lerner was thinking, it has to be a short term thing or he will make things worse than Lambert managed.}

14 Feb 2015 16:36:59
can we recall Gary Gardner he seems to be hitting form and everyone knows a fit GG would add to our under scoring midfield

Some one who has the club at heart as a coach,

Magic Mersin??
Ian Taylor??
Larson??
Melburg as player coach??

Hi Flackie.
I can see your point mate and don`t disagree with you, but I am not going to desert Hoddle just yet.
So as it stands I would like to see Hoddle as Sherwoods No 2.
But we must all now back this guy completely and let`s try and make Villa Park the fortress it once was.

I agree Dave, just can't see hoddle being his number 2.
Would be perfect though!!

I can`t to be honest mate, but as you say it would be perfect .
Anyone with any thoughts on who Sherwood is going to upset first ?
Remember if we want results some of these players need to improve big time or drop out.

Only one.
Big Ben

Rest might not be great, but 100% of the time give 80%

He gives 100% 50% of the time.

14 Feb 2015 22:24:04
With all due respect ed I can't see what would make you say that. There's no way he Tottenham would have finished 6th last season if he didn't work them. From what I see of him is that he won't take any s**t from anyone which is exactly what we need. Agbonlahor needs to be taught just because he's been here a while he's not guaranteed to play. Weimar the same and if he can get benteke scoring like he did to adebayor there is no way we will go down. He brought through Kane, mason and Bentaleb into Spurs so hopefully will will see a bit of grealish and maybe Robinson if he can recall him. He isn't scared to try more things which lamberts was. Nothing can get worse that what it is at the moment so at least give the man a chance UTV

{Ed001's Note - perhaps you should speak to some of the Spurs players then, who have said that they struggled early season due to the fact that Sherwood went too easy on them last season and they had lost their fitness edge. So with all due respect, you don't have a clue.}

Under the circumstances he was probably our only option
Don't like the sound of Ed's comments but then again you can't believe every rumour you hear, particularly if the origin is sports journalists
He certainly can't be any better than Lambert
Spurs looked a lot more potent going forward when he took over from AVB so maybe there is hope for us
I'll be particularly interested to see what formation he adopts

{Ed001's Note - it is not a rumour, it is something every Spurs player has mentioned in their interviews regarding the difference between their current manager and Tim Sherwood.}

Well, we are going to find out pretty soon. To be honest I doubt that would be an issue at this stage of the season.
If they are not fit now, they never will be
Just hope he is tactically astute
Fingers crossed !

{Ed001's Note - exactly why I said it needs to be a short term thing.}

To be honest Ed, don't you find that when managers are replaced in football, they are are always talked about in pejorative terms in contrast to the new guy ?
For example, I just did a search on "Sherwood's coaching" and came up with an article where Danny Rose was saying what a hard task master Sherwood was on taking over from AVB
To be honest, I don't trust a word that comes out of a premiership players mouth so it 's sort of academic really.

{Ed001's Note - I am going on what they told me personally as well to be honest. None of them said that Sherwood was a hard task master to me. But then I don't know Danny Rose to ask his opinion.}

16 Feb 2015 00:39:39
Seems from first evidence I have got a bit of a clue. How could sherwoods 2nd half of the season mean they were unfit for this season. That is not sherwoods fault it pochetinos fault not working them hard enough in preseason. Even if they did say that its rubbish as late season training isn't meant to improve fitness that's preseasons job when sherwood wasn't there 👍

{Ed001's Note - seriously? You are just trying to be funny and it is not working. I suppose the comedy in Brum is all left on the pitch these days!}

16 Feb 2015 12:14:38
Haha, ran out of comebacks, in what bit was i 'trying to be funny'?

{Ed001's Note - with your clear lack of any idea what you are talking about while trying to talk down to me, who actually does know what goes on. You do realise that players are given a fitness plan to adhere to over the summer, that the manager sets with his fitness coaches right? Or did you not know that, hence your idiotic comment about Sherwood's training not affecting the player's basic fitness for preseason?

Or perhaps the stupidity of questioning if Poch is working them hard enough in preseason, when everyone with a clue knows that his preseason training is the toughest in the Premier League and he constantly emphasises fitness throughout the season as well. He introduced a second training session each day at Southampton, as he wanted the players to be fitter. He has done the same at Spurs.

Sherwood is used to dealing with youth teams, where the training is better if it is fun and also not too hard in terms of fitness, as kids are developing physically and overdoing it can cause problems. He got the job because he has the right friends, the same reason that Klinsmann was under consideration, who tell people he is good at his job, even though he has never proven to be any good at it. Even as a youth coach he was not particularly highly rated by those who I would trust to know their stuff, rather than his friends in the media.}

You seem to be a bit Irate Ed, Pray tell us what has got up your Goat.
It seems to me that you are having a pop, are you a spuds fan by any chance and have a dislike to Sherwood ???
Also us Brummies have an abundance of humour we are known for it.

{Ed001's Note - not at all irate, it was not me having a pop. I am far from a Spurs fan, I also have no personal issues with Sherwood, he is a decent enough guy, he is just not a particularly good coach.
As for being known for your humour, you are known for being miserable, not sure that is quite the same thing. Not sure if it is true myself, the only Villa fans I know are cheerful souls, but that is what most people think of when you mention Brummies.}

Mendax, your earlier post states that "he certainly can't be any better than Lambert!"
Freudian slip or what?
Only 13 games to find out if your slip is showing.

Ha ha, Brillianty spotted Oldvillain. I was checking you were still awake to any subject other than Lerner

Errors do creep in when one is unsure. Perhaps you are wondering about Sherwood?
The ed. is making strong opinions about TS that do have credence and his record is no better, albeit in different leagues, than that of PL.
Apart from that, what has Lerner told him that he has as funds to improve the squad for next season. Sherwood could not get an agreement from WBA nor QPR regarding funds and talks were cut short. Then he signs with an owner who without doubt is the meanest in the prem.
C'mon Lerner show us the money!

I didn't need Ed to say anything about Sherwood to make me unsure Oldvillain
Sherwood is an unproven and unknown quantity as far as I am concerned .
But we were definitely going down with Lambert so the guy has a free swing at the job for my money .
He can't possibly do worse than Lambert was on course to do

14 Feb 2015 13:52:03
we need someone who is going to do jobs for us, one for the rest of this season and another to build something from the summer so that we can embrace mid-table mediocracy (sanctuary). for me there is only one person to fit the bill and that's Dyche, but I think he has too much about him ethically to leave Burnley at this stage. if it is sherwood then as long as he is half as good as he thinks is we'll stay up, but I'm not sure he is.

13 Feb 2015 12:58:46
Potential two sightings of Brian McDermott outside Gungate hotel in fazeley, Tamworth 12/02/15 @ 17:30. . also spotted leaving hotel for a restaurant or pub around the corner a couple of hours later. The hotel is used regularly by Aston Villa for youth players, coaches and potential new signings. Quite often I see youth players outside in their kits on their way to Bodymoor Heath

Connections. .

Tom Fox formerly of Arsenal, Brian McDermott currently employed by Arsenal as a scout.

Leeds were in a similar situation as Villa, striving to be where they should be and not much money to spend. Brian left Leeds by mutual consent after a stressful season with new owners and gianluca Festa interfering on and off pitch.

I was so confident I put a tenner on it at 33/1

And wasted £10

In reply to Pluffy, why get someone in on a temporary basis until the end of the season ?
If we go down that would mean moving them out and have to start looking again, to me that would be nothing more than unsettling .
Get someone now give them a two and a half year contract with a promise of an extension if an agreed improvement is made, ie points or league position etc etc .
We must be positive about this, stop farting about and get it sorted.
Hoddle for me, I would stop all this crap and speculation, offer him the job and if he says No move on.

Spot on dave

12 Feb 2015 16:26:25
A new manager will have to work under the same restrictions that PL has worked under.
Little money, youth development, buy cheap etc etc.
The culprit is still with us!

Yes that is somewhat obvious Oldvillan.
Apart from your Chelsea`s, and Man City of this world most managers have to work within a tight budget, David Moyes did it.
The difference is they don`t bring down a shroud of dismay upon the clubs they manage.
Example: dire football, poor entertainment, unwanted records, dwindling gates, unhappy supporters, steady decline, poor team selection, negative approach, lack of ideas, poor coaching, oh I almost forgot shocking results.
The culprit for most of that has gone mate.
I agree Lerner is not ideal, but we now have a chance do don`t we ?

{Ed002's Note - All clubs have to comply with FFP constraints - Manchester City have been severely punished for not doing so. Chelsea have made a profit in their transfer dealings for the past three windows.}

Not sure what you mean Ed, I understand all of that to a degree, the point I am trying to make in reply to Oldvillan is that Lambert is no different to most managers who have tight budgets, but at least they entertain and score goals, we have gone backwards big time.

{Ed002's Note - What I mean is that Chelsea and Manchester City also need to work within a budget - so your separating them out is not correct.}

Dave, try giving your wife only half the housekeeping and see what a shroud of dismay falls upon your household.
When money is really short something has to give and Lerner kept the money short but PL gets the pain.
A bit unfair. We need Lerner to go forth and multiply if we are to get our club back up the table.
If he fails to supply the money who do you think will stand on the trap door next?

Hi Oldvillan.
My wife and I have been there in the past mate, but that is hardly a comparison is it.
Two different scenarios.
As I have said I agree Lerner will be better out of it, and if you think 8 – 10 mil is pain well something is wrong, I certainly don`t feel sorry for the man, he tried and failed and still made statements that all was ok.

To be honest I'm tired of arguing this point. It may surprise you OldVillain but we all know that Lerner is a major issue
He still is, of course
There is nothing prophetic in your condemnation of the man. You're preaching to the converted mate !
That does not mask the naivety and damn right foolishness of many of Lambert's decisions. The man was clueless
Let's get it right. We may still go down, I don't know; none of us do.
Yesterday morning however, I was certain, we were going down
That is the difference that sacking Lambert has made

Ed.
I think you have misunderstood me.
Can Burnley, West Brom, Everton etc afford to buy Benzema or Suarez, no they cant, because they have a budget that they can afford so I think I am correct in mentioning Chelsea etc in this instance.
I am giving an example of financial power nothing else.

{Ed002's Note - Chelsea would need to sell players to the same value in order to buy Dave.}

Was it 8/10m?
Think what that would have done in the transfer market. PL did buy several good players and if Lerner had given him that money we may not be in the position we are.
However PL is now confined to history and we wait to see what Lerner does next, after all his history on picking managers isn't exactly good.
I just wonder if the announced prize money influenced his decision to sack PL?
Whichever way it's looked at Lerner must get out.

Lerner want's to go; that's why he officially put the club up for sale
One problem with selling something; you need someone wanting to buy it
No point bleating about it, hopefully it will happen soon.
As for this supposed 8-10 million quid pay off to Lambert : None of us know what was in his contract but I doubt it will be anything like that. As for what Lambert could have done with £8 million in the transfer market ? He'd have spent it on securing Tom Cleverley given the opportunity !
(Thankfully Cleverley saved us from that fate)
That kind of deal on it's own would be grounds for dismissal due to gross incompetence as far as I'm concerned.

12 Feb 2015 09:01:02
This is a shocking time to sack him, the board at villa haven't got a clue wait until after the transfer window closes ( is that because a new manager would have wanted money to spend ) I'm reading that it's going to cost 4-10 million to pay lambert off and we couldn't afford to buy anybody in the window it doesn't make sense to me, I'm reading some of the names been thrown about here and none of them have the experience of a dog fight we need a good man manager in to lift the players I think we missed that with pulis, so we have to be carefull who we wish for here after all we all wanted lambert, just a taught wouldn't Andy Gray give everybody at the club a big lift ;)

{Ed001's Note - depends on if the club can afford to pay him more than he gets from BeIn Sports or not? I remember he used Everton's job being available to get himself a big payrise in his Sky days.}

Hi Mick, you are having the same thoughts that I have stated several times.
Who?
Lerner is unlikely to get a top man to come so we could end up with a make weight.
Lerner jumped when he saw the money available following the announcements. As you state had Lerner given PL the money he is going to have to give PL for sacking him (for actually doing the job he was asked to do) he could have bought in a good striker during the window.

How on earth would you know what Lerner is having to pay Lambert for sacking him ?
Have you read the contract ?
Is it in the public domain ?
No

Mendex I never said I knew what it was going to cost I said I had read what it might cost

Villamick, I was addressing Oldvillain's point about losing out on a striker because we are having to pay Lambert off

Mendax, I was comparing what is being rumoured as a pay off and you could have got a striker for that amount of money.
But it is now history and we await the next chapter/choice of Lerners outstanding record in getting managers. I would not be happy with Sherwood whose record was worse than Villa Boas at Spurs but a story in a FAST Daily suggests that Pullis's WBA contract is being looked at for a release clause.

But you stated it as a fact Oldvillain
To suit your argument, no doubt

11 Feb 2015 20:27:30
I'm not a religious man but PRAISE THE LORD !
The hard work starts now though
The new appointment needs to be spot on and let's face it, Lerner's track record ain't good in that department
Anyway, one obstacle has been removed
I think the players will be as relieved as I am
Anyone for Laudrup ?

Yep Mendax I don't mind him at all.

Short term anyone for alex ferguson

11 Feb 2015 22:01:15
Laudrup is okay, but I think that Claudio Ranieri is even better. Ranieri is without a job.

{Ed007's Note - There were a lot of major problems behind the scenes at Swansea and most of them stemmed from Laudrup himself and some of his ideas and methods, he left them in a terrible mess. Laudrup was sacked after taking an unauthorised personal trip to France and giving players two days off after losing to West Ham, a game that the board felt was very important in the relegation battle. There was stories of players boozing etc on trips, he introduced a bizarre ruling that a maximum of 3 Spanish players could sit together at any table in the club canteen when they had lunch and on a training camp to Dubai the only rule set out to the players was the time they had to be on the bus to go to a 2 hour training session, the rest of the time they could do what they wanted, you can imagine what a crowd of wealthy footballers would get up to.
That's only some of it, oh and I almost forgot - he refuses to take training if it's raining.}

Hi Ed.
When you put it like that, not a good option then.
It has to be Glen Hoddle for me then.
We all say things we regret and maybe JUST maybe it was taken slightly out of context.
I don’t agree with a lot of things some people say, and the truth is most of us would be out of work if everything we had said in the past was taken into account.
Hoddle does after all know how the game should be played, and I think he would give us the entertaining team that we are all craving.

We have 13 games to get us out of trouble, that means someone who can work miracles very quickly
Glen Hoddle maybe a good choice but can he turn it around that quick?
We may have to be careful who we wish for!
I hope for once Learner gets it right as it's now up to him if we stay up or not!

WozdVilla.
I am not wishing for anyone, I am just suggesting someone.
That problem will apply to anyone we get in mate.
Anyone we get in faces the same task.
So why not Hoddle.

The manager has gone but the coach remains.
Now let us see what the head coach can do and what has he been doing this season?
Seems too late but we can hope that whoever comes to VP will get the results required.

11 Feb 2015 20:19:22
oh lord, please let it not be Harry R.

11 Feb 2015 20:01:44
Paul lambert sacket. About time. Onwards and upwards the villa

11 Feb 2015 17:16:49
I've never been a 'Sack the manager' fan. But 3 weeks ago Carlos Gil looked like a great player. Last night he looked like he'd be lucky to get a Sunday league game. Time for a manager who makes players better please!

WISH GRANTED!

The club will announce a new manager in due course.


this is on the club website - to me, that sounds like they have someone lined up.

10 Feb 2015 22:36:54
He has to be sacked now, surely ?
I can understand the reluctance to change manager late in the season as it can be a risk
However, things could not get any worse than they are now
The truth is, the players have lost confidence and respect for the manager
Hopefully he has enough respect for himself to admit defeat and resign this evening

10 Feb 2015 21:46:39
Well I hope that will wake Lerner up because we are going down.
68% possession at one point and 1 shot on target.
A few weeks ago I stuck my neck out and said I thought Lambert would go round about the Hull game, please let me be right.

Hope you are Dave
Can you see them winning another game with this muppet in charge ?
I really feel we could go toward the end of the season with not 1 more win

Hi Mendax.
Problem here is, that Lambert said after the Chelsea game that our season will not be defined by the Arsenal & Chelsea games it will be he games after ??????
Well that Hull game was after.
I think it is going to be very hard for us to put any sort of run together with the fixtures we have mate.
Even Gil has started to pass backwards already from deep positions.
Shocking

07 Feb 2015 17:27:20
You've not scored for 10 hours, your at home against the league leaders; it's a tricky one to deal with strategically, so what do you do ? Drop your only goal threat !
Lambert has been trying to hint that Villa's ills over recent weeks have been down to the loss of form of Benteke; suggesting that we have been making chances but not converting.
To me Mr Lambert that makes you not only a liar but a cowardly one at that
Show some self respect and walk
I could find it in my heart to give you credit for that if you did

Benteke is not a goal threat and that is why he was on the bench.
We don't have a goal threat and the reason, Lerner will not open the purse.
PL has had peanuts to buy players and that is why we are in trouble.
Mendax, you are going to respond that it is the coaching etc that is at fault and past buys indicate that the manager knows nothing. Yet many fans are realising that PL has made some good buys along with some lemons and has little support via the purse from Lerner. And just because he doesn't leap up and down on the line doesn't mean he lacks enthusiasm.

Thanks for letting me know how I am going to respond Oldvillain but I'll have a stab at it anyway thanks
Benteke is not a threat because we create NOTHING
Despite that, he is still our best option upfront. Incase you hadn't noticed, we don't have Ronaldo or Costa on the bench and even if we did, they would struggle behind this midfield
Benteke is not the problem, he is a symptom
And who did we bring on in his place by the way? Oh yes, it was that goal machine Agbonlahor
Yes, we know Lerner is the main problem. But how you cannot see how poor our manager is bemuses me.
I don't talk for other fans (something that doesn't faze you) but if there is a collective realisation amongst fans that is tangible, it is that we need to get rid of this muppet

Mendax, you have to agree the last few games Benteke has looked uninterested and a shadow of his former self, and in those games we have created more and looked more like doing something (not counting arsenal game) than the rest of the season.
I was not surprised by him being left on the bench but lambert needed to change things up and unfortunately the only players we have in replacement at the moment is Gabby
I agree it is probably time to get a new manager but you have to realise whilst Learner owns our club he is going nowhere, you can wish all you want buts it's not going to happen
I believe we do have strong enough squad to survive and I know this is not what we want every year but it's where we're at so we need to get behind the team!

I do agree that Benteke has not been at his best. My point is, a Benteke "not at his best" is still a lot more likely to score than Gabby
Why you are lecturing me about the difficulties of getting rid of Lerner is a bit of a mystery; I don't believe I've ever said otherwise
My prime concern is the manager
As for getting behind the team ? I always do mate. And for the 100th time, there is a difference between supporting the team on match day and voicing your concern about the team on this site

Totally agree Mendax.
I honestly felt that Chelsea were there for the taking yesterday after we scored, basically I felt they were below par “thank god”
So we are on the front foot, they are starting to realise that Gil is our best player and start to cover him better, they succeed, and score again.
Then for all his infinite wisdom Lambert decides to make changes ?? too late.
My feelings are, he should have Brought Benteke and Sinclaire on to give us another outlet within a couple of minutes of us scoring, took Cleverly off (forever) Brought Sanches on and stuck him in front of the back four and I don’t think Ivanovic would have had the room to score his winner !!.
Gil looks very good, and should be allowed to play in positions he enjoys, “Quality”
Bad team selection, and changes at wrong time, but I am just another supporter who knows nothing.

Hi Mendax, I don't remember you ever stating that Lerner was the main problem.

Probably because I didn't. My belief is that the issue is not one of Lerner or Lambert; I believe it is both
I don't catalogue my posts but you can check if you like
The thing is Oldvillain, we should not be falling out on this. At the end of the day I don't think you are wrong (about Lerner ) I just feel you are only 50 % right (you don't see Lambert as awful)

It's frustrating Villadave. Tuesday's game is now massive. If we lose that he has to be sacked, surely ?
Ironically that means I hope Lambert is still in a job on Wednesday (it messes with my head I can tell ya)

As long as Lerner is here, so is PL. He has to work on his own, no asst, no team coaches, no help.
We do not know if he should/could/would do better when a supply of money is available, but I am sure that he too wishes he had funds. there is evidence to suggest he is capable of buying quality at a reasonable price and yes some lemons. Our problems have been with us since MO'n left and successive managers have been unable to improve the situation. The only thing that is common to all the managers we have had is Lerner. PL inherited the situation and has had meagre help from the owner.

You totally miss the point Oldvillain
He should be doing better with this squad.
Your dislike of Lerner, whilst justified, is totally blinding you to the inadequacies of Lambert.
How many records (unwanted ones that is) Lambert needs to break before you consider him a large part of the problem is anyone's guess.
Let's agree to diagree on this one as I can't see either of us changing our minds (particularly me as I'm right ;))

Now Now you two, up the Villa

08 Feb 2015 21:41:46
Oldvillan do you think this is the worst team in villas history? I'm guessing the answer is no. Well why are we breaking all the wrong records? That has to be the manger and coaching. In his time here he's broke the records for the longest time without a goal, the longest time without a clean sheet, the longest time without a win ( which is looking like its going to be smashed again), what worse records are there to be broken? Bradford smashed 4 past chelsea an there an average league one team. We've barely scored that many all season!!!!!!! We don't have league 1 strikers, there not much better than championship granted but niether are many of the bottom teams but we have scored 9 less than any of them. 12 goals is an embarreament of a once proud club. He dropped benteke who by his standards is badly out of form yet when he is out of form he has scored just as many as agbonlahor in half the games but no agbonlahor gets the call. Sanchez has been our best player before the arsenal game but he drops him for headless cleverly. He's spent over 70 million since being here-burnley have spent 7 million- their one point behind us. The bad thing is I could go on. Still think it's all Lerner to blame?

My sentiments exactly VillaTID.

Quite simply I accept that we are not performing and it is easy to blame PL. However none of the managers have performed after MOn depart and one must ask why? Lerner has been a constant. Has he been instructing his managers as too what he wants, after all it is his money.
This is not the worst team but they are a dreadful group of players who are under performing.
Is it PL? I don't know.
These guys are intelligent millionaires and are very capable of using their brains on the pitch.
Contrary to belief I don't really care if PL stays or goes, what I state is that he will not walk and Lerner will not sack him.
Mendax has a rather dubious thought about why but I think that Lerner will not lose face. He has no interest in AVFC but he cannot look a complete plonker by dumping another manager. My thoughts!

What is this this "dubious thought" I have Oldvillain ?
Not taking the P; I really just don't know what you mean there

Are you suggesting Lerner is picking the players and coaching the team ?
Sounds like it
I think Lerner is poor: I think most of us do. No need to embellish the point with mad conspiracy stories mate.
Lerner's biggest crime is that of indifference and just letting the manager get on with it with the limited (compared to previous seasons) funds that he will supply.
Unfortunately the manager "just getting on with it" happens to be Lambert

Something about a "compromising" situation recently posted.
More a light hearted post than a critique.

Ha ha ha, yep I know the one mate (I stand by that by the way)

So now we will see the compromising situation.

07 Feb 2015 09:06:16
I have a question for you guys, we play chealski today what team would use line out and what way would use play, park the bu, counter, in there faces, personally with our current crop of players I think I'd just award them the points and not show up, lambert should just give them free do to go out and try play this is like a free hit our big game is next week

Park the bus and the rest, one man up top and just kick the crap out them for 90 minutes. kidding at best we can hope for a hard fought draw but not banking on much else

I'd go 4_5_1 with Sinclair and Weimann on the wings (I don't like Weimann there but we don' t have many options; Nzog is not an option in my eyes)
I'd have Sancez and Delph in the middle with Gil ( pronounced "Jill" by the way ; he's a Catalan) playing further forward and supporting Benteke when he can
The rest of the team picks itself aslong as Lambert has Cissoko at left back
Then I'd pray for a miracle

05 Feb 2015 18:18:51
Banter please Ed.

"Has Benteke been remodelled"

Just a thought, I have been watching Benteke`s movement in the last few games, and apart from the Palace game and his winner he has not been at the races for me. When he arrived he was a runner and target man with very good technical ability for a big man, this was backed up with pacey and direct football. His current form and demeanour prove to me that if you spend a couple of seasons under the supervision and coaching of Paul Lambert he will coach your natural ability out of you.
You cannot have a player who thrives on a plentiful supply of balls into the box standing waiting for the odd deflection coming your way, play to his strengths for god's sake.
Watching and listening to Lambert he seems devoid of any personality, has no passion, and no motivational qualities at all, and I have said before if he can`t motivate himself how can he motivate the team, if he hasn't lost the dressing room already it will not be long before he does.
He would be better off reading the epilogue at bedtime before the white dot goes on the screen.
I would love Paul Lambert to do the descent thing and walk away in the interests of our club.
I for one would thank him and commend him for his guts to stand up and admit that it is not working; surely he must know that he is fighting a lost cause.
He has said many times that he will not roll over, that's great but your teams are being rolled over mate, I admire a fighter, but try and hit your opponent.

03 Feb 2015 13:04:12
I think last night proved that learner has no interest in this club anymore when we are in bad need of an extra spark we wouldn't open the wallet, lambert is been left high and dry by the owner and I agree 80-90% of his signings have been shocking but some of that blame has to lie with the scouting system aswell tom fox came out last week and said it will be 5 yrs before we challenge for Europe again but he never said when this 5 yrs start we here nothing from learner at all, We all shouted Lamberts name from a high we he was at Norwich because he had them playing good football and spending big money, but he built that team he didn't add much to them when they came and got the best out of them, we were all impressed by that, he came to us bigger club and have to be honest possibly a poor class of players, players that know what fight is and I do agree that some of his decisions have been strange but all of this blame can't fall on one man we were a mess before he came and we will be a mess when he leaves FACT

That depends on is replacment

Have you forgot what that nutter said about disabled kids ?
Or "Diamond Lights" ?
Would not want him anywhere near the club

07 Feb 2015 12:40:42
Glen Hoddle would suit villa he is respected by everyone in football, we all say things we regret, RL get him now

02 Feb 2015 22:40:01
If not for the reluctance of the players involved, £13m would've been splurged on Tom Cleverley and Rickie Lambert. Bullet[s] dodged. Granted Lamberts had limited funds to work with but what he has been given he's largely wasted. We could have signed Messi tonight and i'd still be gutted Lamberts still in a job

Totally agree mate. Lerner is a waste of space but Lambert is far, far worse
I keep saying out but it bears repeating
This is not a top 6 squad and that's Lerner's fault; it's also not a bottom six squad and that is squarely Lambert's

02 Feb 2015 12:01:14
Players we should try and sign:

Rickie Lambert

Deli Alli

Demba Ba

Mohamed Salah

Maybe

Adebayor

Aaron Lennon

Darren Fletcher

01 Feb 2015 15:39:37
Just totally peed off now with this joke of a manager, worst goal difference after that pathetic show today. players don;t seem to know what their roles are anymore, nobody knows how to shoot, could't hit a barn door most of them. scott sinclair must be wondering what the hell he as walked into. Carlos sanchez is poor to say the least keeps passing to the opposition, how he is an international god knows. just a poor poor side.

01 Feb 2015 21:09:51
How dose PL keep his job please someone explain

He has photos of Lerner in an uncompromising position is my best guess
Nothing else makes sense
How can you break every unwanted record the club have and get rewarded with a new contract ? It's staggering.
I cannot think of anyone in an equivalent position in a different field who would not have been sacked at least a year ago.

He is doing what he was instructed. Buy cheap, TRY and develop as you have only the money that the fair play rules allow.
Lerner is the Villan of the piece.
If Lambert had the money he would have paid big to secure a striker.
The players on the pitch were naive and did nothing. It is not beyond there limited mentality to realise when there is an opportunity to be an individual but some of them showed no fight.
There was no problem with the formation played, the problem was the players attitude or lack of attitude. Without a list of expletives it is hard to express total feelings about the useless bunch on the pitch with perhaps a couple of exceptions.

Sorry Oldvillan I beg to differ.
You say there was no problem with the formation, Gil was played out wide, he would be far more effective as a No 10 sitting just behind the front two, he can drift out either side if need be.
Secondly he picked Cleverly again he has brought nothing to the side at all, I think Bacuna would have been a better option out wide on the right if needed.
Thirdly I think playing Richardson at left back was way of the mark, cissokho although not great is a far better left back, we had only conceded 8 goals in our last 11 games not that bad really, you don’t repair a tyre if it ain`t got a hole do you !!
I think it is also obvious that a couple of players are not at the races right now, so a few changes should be made.
My team for Chelsea would be:


Guzan
Hutton Okore Clark Cissokho

Westwood
Bacuna Delph

Gil

Weimann Sinclair

I think Sanches, Benteke, need a reminder that places are up for grabs, and Gabby needs a complete rest, maybe at Reading or Cardiff.
The whole team needs to wake up and speed things up a bit, move the ball quicker.

I agree Dave; we need to move the ball quicker.
Problem is, you need to be well coached to do it
You can see why that's a problem I'm sure

Absolutely Mendax, surely you know my feelings on Lamberts coaching methods by now.
This bloke couldn't coach or motivate 6 year olds dosed up on jelly tots.