Reasons to be Cheerful

[not3bad]

Must be the most positive I've felt after a 2-0 defeat! Here's why...

Nobody will be left in any doubt how popular Cleverly is after the crowd's reaction to his substitution. There's an outside chance we won't see him in a Villa shirt. No bitterness it just didn't work out. I think he may need to try the Championship to find his level.

The same cannot be said for Carles Gil! Very promising debut and the crowd love him already!

The introduction of Gil served as a catalyst for good second half performances from Sanchez, Delph and Hutton. The midfield were passing and moving! There were even flashes of impudent skill near the end! OK, this would be more enjoyable to watch if we weren't losing but the fact that the players had the confidence to play like this is very heartening.

However you feel about Lambert he looks like he may again have proved that when he's got a reasonable amount of money to spend, he can pick a player.

Next week is a good time to have a cup match. The players won't feel the same pressure they do when playing in the league and I believe we'll see a good performance and a good win. This will be a great boost for the remainder of the season.

Nurse! Where's my meds!!

[villadelph]

ha.

[Richard E]

The only reason to be cheerful is that it is one game closer to the end of Lambert's tenure as manager.

[damien]

Good on you. I needed to hear something positive.

[pauliewalnuts]

bstitution. There's an outside chance we won't see him in a Villa shirt.

I bet he starts the next league game.

[Damo70]

Probably just my negative mood but I am getting a whiff of Didier Six when it comes to tales of Gil's debut and how well things may pan out.

[silhillvilla]

Only 3.5 more years of lambert hooray
Roll on summer 2018.

[Toronto Villa]

bstitution. There's an outside chance we won't see him in a Villa shirt.

I bet he starts the next league game.

Today was there perfect chance to change things up completely. Play Grealish, play Gil, drop Gabby etc etc. And what happened? Exactly what we all thought would happen. I have no doubt that next league game Gil is on the bench and McLeish MkII picks Cleverley over him.

[PeterWithesShin]

I just won season 1 of Sledge Hammer from someone ebay, so i'm cheerful. Please Hammer, don't hurt 'em.

[Dazvillain]

Only 3.5 more years of lambert hooray
Roll on summer 2018.

At last, some sense ! A club up for sale is not going to get rid of manager on a new 4 year contract. He is the continuity in a sale/ new regime and we wouldn't be able to pay him up amyway !.?

[Damo70]

I just won season 1 of Sledge Hammer from someone ebay, so i'm cheerful. Please Hammer, don't hurt 'em.

Thursday nights 10.30? Sledge Hammer, Married With Children and what was that fifties/sixties thing? Followed by Mariella Frostrup reviwing films.

[DeKuip]

Having just watched Carles Gil's first appearance in a Villa there's a lot be cheerful about tonight.
Players of his type are a joy to watch but they've always been playing for other clubs - while our heroes have been defenders or big lump centre-forwards.
Of course it's too early to judge him properly, but he made a miserable old git like me cheerful.

[eamonn]

Impudent skill?! *splutter*

[Ad@m]

Seeing Cleverly played on the right wing it wouldn't be the most outlandish thing to think there's a clause in his loan agreement that contractually obliges Lambert to pick him for every game.

[Clampy]

Some chap won festival tickets at half time. That was nice.