Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: richardhubbard on December 11, 2012, 11:09:23 PM
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Positive thread on a positive night inspired by Paulie Post
I feel we may be starting to build something good based on not losing in 5 games
Younger players in recent weeks starting to grow in confidence
Suddenly Weinmann, Clark, Baker , Lichaj, Bannan and Herd now getting runs are looking very decent players
Lowton, Benteke and Westwood look very decent young players
Vlaar and Holman have found their feet in English Football
If Nzgobia and Ireland can add some performance i think we could have good second half to season, mid table , some good football and may be even a final
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Amen.
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Plenty of them.
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Guzan has finally been given the place in the first team he deserves and has been outstanding. I can see him being our keeper for 10 more years.
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Despite our current league position it's been a long time since i've been this optimistic. I can only speak for myself but i'm finding it's fun and enjoyable to be a Villa fan again.
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The Holte End has been full and loud again for most games!
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We've a young, progressive manager who has proved he can do a job at this level.
He's finding it hard to get things moving in the league with sufficient momentum, but every now and then - sometimes in the league, sometimes in the CC, as when we won at Man City, and tonight - we get to see signs of what he's capable of, and what he wants us to do.
It's a fact that this season will be ups and downs - and i know some people don't like that description, but it's accurate - but we just have to stick with the manager, hope the chairman supports him in January, and see where we can go.
We at last have a bit of shape and a bit of purpose.
If you want an idea of what the manager wants us to do, then take a look at this, the comment made by the bloke doing the minute by minute description of our game on Sky Sports this evening, after our last goal.
Under McLeish, under Houllier, even under MON, how often did we hear people talk about goals we'd score in this way:
Honestly, that is one of the best goals I have seen this season. Villa pass the ball fifteen or sixteen times before working it to the edge of the area and allowing Benteke to strike. It makes you wonder how Villa are struggling
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Adding to the above, it is nice to have a manager I have faith in to buy well in January. His signings, coupled with his gift of true responsibility on the shoulders of the youngish but in all truth too old to see as youngsters anymore that were already here has been great. The chairman backed him well in the summer, similar support in Jan and we will be fine.
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Without wanting to piss on anyones chips we've got three difficult games coming up, and by the time we play Wigan 'league table pressure' could be right back on.
All season there have been some good signs - new players impressing, better performances from the youngsters, great cup wins - but we need to go on a run in the league before we can really say we've turned the corner. Back to back league wins at some point would be good as well.
That said I generally agree with most of the positives above.
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Get out of the shit this season (with hopefully a couple of older heads) and we can push on up the table in 2013/14.
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Guzan in goal.
Benteke and Weimann up top.
Westwood in the middle.
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Weimann.
What a finisher he is. Those two last night and the two he scored against ManUre are class finishes.
And I'm also a Chris Herd and Ashley Westwood fan - both will be integral to this team in the future.
And, can the real Fabian Delph pleasse stand up!
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Lets hope so
but we do look like two different teams between the Prem team and the Cup team but hopefullyand I am sure the cup form will go into the Prem form .
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The Holte End has been full and loud again for most games!
hmmmmm
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Get out of the shit this season (with hopefully a couple of older heads) and we can push on up the table in 2013/14.
That's pretty much how I see it.
I know we've said this for a while now since MON left, but this really is a transitional season. We hear a lot about Brendan Rodgers needing time and the sings being there and we're in exactly the same position. I think we're better now than the start of the season and will progress again before May. But the real test of what Lambert is doing will be next season.
After bring 8 players in, 9 if you include Guzan, it will always take time to gel, with the added change to the style of play from under TSM. And then there's the age of the squad/team as well.
So, in the next two windows we can focus on quality over quantity transfer wise, with the continued progression of what we have now. If I didn't think I'd get stick for it, I'd say we had a bright future!!
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The team is finding its way. Increasingly, the consistency is coming. We controlled the game against Stoke and were unlucky not to have won it. A bit more attacking balance would have been good but there you go. I honestly dont think we have the points we've deserved so far but they'll come. I'm not worried.
We certainly saw a glimpse of the future last night. Hopefully it will click more as it did against Norwich because I honestly believe we're well on the way to being a comfortable top 8 side again. That may take another window or two and the natuarl experience these players will gain in that time but it's mostly all looking good.
Young hungry players, high work rate, a desire to keep the ball, a new found stinginess at the back, the emergence of Guzan as a top keeper, tactical flexibility and best of all: motivation. The players look or seem happy and motivated.
It begs the question how much do you want to change this team and risk that but I think anybody Lambert brings in will be selected specifically to fit this group in ability and personality.
There will be setbacks ahead and possiblly sooner rather than later but this is season one. There are bound to be some teething problems. I know all most of us ask for is a promise of better things around the corner and with the team we have, the continuing great potential of the academy and some resources thrown at it from the owner, there is plenty of that.
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I think we've got ourselves a truly great manager in the making.
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I'm happy as I've ever been with the Villa I like what PL is trying to do it will take time but the end results will be worth waiting for we have some really good young players at Villa and I can see them only getting better long may it continue.
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Positive thread on a positive night inspired by Paulie Post
I feel we may be starting to build something good based on not losing in 5 games
Younger players in recent weeks starting to grow in confidence
Suddenly Weinmann, Clark, Baker , Lichaj, Bannan and Herd now getting runs are looking very decent players
Lowton, Benteke and Westwood look very decent young players
Vlaar and Holman have found their feet in English Football
If Nzgobia and Ireland can add some performance i think we could have good second half to season, mid table , some good football and may be even a final
Agreed. The defence is shaping up and we are keeping the ball in midfield. Just the last third of the pitch to get right.
Sadly I don't think Bent, Ireland and Zog will make it for the Villa for different reasons and if I was PL would ship them out next month and reinvest the money.
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I said at the start of the season that it would be very similar to Houlliers season. Struggling for consistency for the first part with it coming together towards the end of the season as the players get used playing the system together.
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The team is finding its way. Increasingly, the consistency is coming. We controlled the game against Stoke and were unlucky not to have won it. A bit more attacking balance would have been good but there you go. I honestly dont think we have the points we've deserved so far but they'll come. I'm not worried.
We certainly saw a glimpse of the future last night. Hopefully it will click more as it did against Norwich because I honestly believe we're well on the way to being a comfortable top 8 side again. That may take another window or two and the natuarl experience these players will gain in that time but it's mostly all looking good.
Young hungry players, high work rate, a desire to keep the ball, a new found stinginess at the back, the emergence of Guzan as a top keeper, tactical flexibility and best of all: motivation. The players look or seem happy and motivated.
It begs the question how much do you want to change this team and risk that but I think anybody Lambert brings in will be selected specifically to fit this group in ability and personality.
There will be setbacks ahead and possiblly sooner rather than later but this is season one. There are bound to be some teething problems. I know all most of us ask for is a promise of better things around the corner and with the team we have, the continuing great potential of the academy and some resources thrown at it from the owner, there is plenty of that.
Top post Mazrim, hopefully Lambert and his scouts have unearthed some more great signings in the vein of Bentekkers, Lowton and Westwood. How many of us truly thought Guzan would be our number one goalie this season, and that he'd be so good and composed?
Couple of our own young lads seems to be finding themselves again, albeit some of them inconsistently (Delph, Bannan and Weimann). Hopefully this good run has instilled much needed confidence into the team to get through the three tough games even if we wouldn't win any of them.
I loved what Lambert said in the start of the season that "You don't know how good you are unless someone gives you the chance to show what you can do" and that summarizes him and his way of thinking pretty much, and I really like it.
As someone who's kinda looking to inside from the outside I've seen that biggest problem with all premier league clubs has been that they won't give chances to young players to show what they can do, so at least for my eyes the academy work by english clubs (especially premier league) goes to waste.
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Things are looking up and confidence growing - a couple of quality additions in January and we could not only find ourselves in mid table this season but back in europe with silverware on the table .
The future looks bright.
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It's coming together and Lowton, Westwood and Benteke look like excellent signing. We need to start picking up wins now and we'll be on our way. Hopefully last night was the catalyst.
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There are promising signs that both the signings and home grown players are starting to find their feet in the PL. However it remains a fairly high risk strategy putting all the faith in them and I still think we need at least a couple of solid additions in January. A dominant, dynamic midfielder and someone who can create things in the final third.
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Positive thread on a positive night inspired by Paulie Post
I feel we may be starting to build something good based on not losing in 5 games
Younger players in recent weeks starting to grow in confidence
Suddenly Weinmann, Clark, Baker , Lichaj, Bannan and Herd now getting runs are looking very decent players
Lowton, Benteke and Westwood look very decent young players
Vlaar and Holman have found their feet in English Football
If Nzgobia and Ireland can add some performance i think we could have good second half to season, mid table , some good football and may be even a final
Agreed. The defence is shaping up and we are keeping the ball in midfield. Just the last third of the pitch to get right.
Sadly I don't think Bent, Ireland and Zog will make it for the Villa for different reasons and if I was PL would ship them out next month and reinvest the money.
I, on the other hand, would keep them all for the season. Sounded like N'Zogbia got involved when he came on last night and Bent started off well also. If you can get these players playing with confidence and playing with a team spirit, then they're worth having.
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There are promising signs that both the signings and home grown players are starting to find their feet in the PL. However it remains a fairly high risk strategy putting all the faith in them and I still think we need at least a couple of solid additions in January. A dominant, dynamic midfielder and someone who can create things in the final third.
Agreed.
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I think the sale of Darren Bent is inevitable. We suckered Liverpool into paying over the odds for Downing, hopefully we can do it again. I really trust PL to bring in some cracking good, hungry players for us in exchange and build on the way he wants us to play. That equaliser from Holman I keep playing again and again. Wow.
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I think the sale of Darren Bent is inevitable. We suckered Liverpool into paying over the odds for Downing, hopefully we can do it again. I really trust PL to bring in some cracking good, hungry players for us in exchange and build on the way he wants us to play. That equaliser from Holman I keep playing again and again. Wow.
Yes it's nice to see Holman starting to score goals , that is something we've missed from midfield and the signs are encouraging.
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The club and first team are progressing, maybe not quite quickly enough at the moment to make the league table comfortable reading but our position will improve given more time. Our form over the last 10 games is a vast improvement on the begining of the season.
The young lads that looked stranded and completely overwhelmed at the end of last season are coming on nicely and now look organised and like they can make it in the premier league, and should get better still. Paul Lambert with his emphasis on youth is an ideal manager to help them progress and get the best out of them. Add to this the creative signings that were made over the summer who will also hopefully improve further and its going to be a fun time being a villa fan.
The other thing that is an enormous positive is the emphasis that the manager has been putting on the importance of getting behind the team and the influence supporters in general on team performance. When he says that the support has helped during a game you get the feeling he actually means it rather than it just being a sound bite for the club to use.
We haven't always got what we have deserved from games (Stoke coming to VP and setting up for a point was a compliment in my opinion!) but I'm finding myself enjoying going to the match again after what has been far too long.
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Although we have only taken two points from the last twelve, the football has been good - citeh away the exception. Hopefully with a couple of additions we will continue to improve.
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Although we have only taken two points from the last twelve
Eh? 6 points surely?
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It begs the question how much do you want to change this team and risk that but I think anybody Lambert brings in will be selected specifically to fit this group in ability and personality.
Completely agree, Maz.
I think Lambert's constant insistence on the fact that if the players work hard and prove themselves in training then they will get a chance in matches is starting to pay-off. It looks as though they are starting to believe in what he's been telling them and are starting to believe in themselves as well as a result. I would have thought any promising young player looking in from the outside would appreciate being a part of that.
As for last night, whatever else, a 1-4 away from home against an in-form team can only be good for confidence.
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I love this villa team. Heroes with potential.
Was delighted to see Clark captain villa last night.
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Clark has been destined to captain as long as Alistair Cook has. Inevitable.
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I can see Westwood being a strong candidate for captain also.
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Although we have only taken two points from the last twelve
Eh? 6 points surely?
Sorry. Blonde moment...
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I'm not sure I know why and it is difficult to find the correct words but I feel far more "connected" to the present set up at the Villa than I have done for a fair few years.
The Villa is in all of our DNA but sometimes at different levels, I'm back to caring again and have been since Lambert's appointment.
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I can see Westwood being a strong candidate for captain also.
Vlaar, Westwood and Clark are the three obvious choices.
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The great thing about Lambert putting such a young team together, is that provided they stay clear of trouble this season, we can look forward to seeing steady improvement over the next few years. 2013-13 is about putting the foundations in place. If they're solid enough, the sky's the limit.
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I'm not sure I know why and it is difficult to find the correct words but I feel far more "connected" to the present set up at the Villa than I have done for a fair few years.
The Villa is in all of our DNA but sometimes at different levels, I'm back to caring again and have been since Lambert's appointment.
I agree with that sentiment. The appointment of Lambert is something virtually all of us wanted and most of the players he has bought have been met with a positive response.
I get a real sense of vested interest and a real desire for the young players in our team to succeed. Its something we have really lacked for a couple of seasons now and it gives me optimism that when things go right, the whole of the crowd responds magnificently.
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I'm not sure I know why and it is difficult to find the correct words but I feel far more "connected" to the present set up at the Villa than I have done for a fair few years.
The Villa is in all of our DNA but sometimes at different levels, I'm back to caring again and have been since Lambert's appointment.
I agree with this too, i think its possibly because we're naturally more forgiving of players who aren't fully established. Especially when those who are playing, are clearly giving it their all. The likes of N'zogbia Bent Dunne Ireland annoy us collectively, because they should be bringing more to the table. They all have ability but you do have to question their application sometimes. We finally have a manager who isn't afraid to drop established pros, bruise egos, and who rewards hard work.
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I said at the start of the season that it would be very similar to Houlliers season. Struggling for consistency for the first part with it coming together towards the end of the season as the players get used playing the system together.
I dont see any similarity to le Mug season!
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like many others on this thread i also feel very optimistic about our future under Paul Lambert
he was way down on my list of who i wanted to be the next manager, but i wouldnt swap him now,
it all boils down to whether you believe what he is building is going to work with all the young players etc,
he has changed the whole team virtually, the back 5 including the goalie has completly changed, so it was always going to take some time, but its whether you can see it coming together or not,
theres plenty of folk who cant, they just see our position in the league and all the inexperience, and cant believe it will work, i do,
to coin a phrase from Chrismas time
I believe
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I will be a hell of a lot more optimistic if we can get a few more points on the board.
It is entirely conceivable that we will reach the halfway point of the season with 16 points. Unless we significantly improve our haul in the second half we will be right in the mix of the relegation places come May.
So although there are clear signs of improvement we also seem a bit fragile, an injury to Benteke for example would completely derail our season.
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The great thing about Lambert putting such a young team together, is that provided they stay clear of trouble this season, we can look forward to seeing steady improvement over the next few years. 2013-13 is about putting the foundations in place. If they're solid enough, the sky's the limit.
I think we have the basis of something very exciting too. The key thing is that Paul Faulkner and Randy Lerner recognise and understand this also. I hope our Boardroom understands now that a strategy has to be in place to rebuild and grow the commercial side of the club in parallel to the development of this team. For example, I genuinely believe we could have a side good enough to challenge for top six/top four by next season. I would hope the club is looking for potential sponsorship (I think the Genting deal finishes at the end of this season) to reflect this ambition and to help us push on.
If, in the next couple of seasons, these players develop as we all hope they should, I hope our Boardroom is thinking ahead and strategically getting a well thought-out wage structure together to make them want to stay with us and win trophies with us. Vultures will start circling soon enough and I hope very much that we are ready to swat them away, sending signals of our own out that we are back in the game.
I feel a whole lot happier that Randy has no more Cleveland Browns to worry about. I hope he is now 100% focused on getting Villa back to the very top. This is a crucial time for us at boardroom level, if we get the planning and thinking right, real, sustained success could follow.
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I feel a whole lot happier that Randy has no more Cleveland Browns to worry about. I hope he is now 100% focused on getting Villa back to the very top. This is a crucial time for us at boardroom level, if we get the planning and thinking right, real, sustained success could follow.
We'll see.
Faulkner said that the Browneye sale would have no effect on Villa at all.
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That's what I'd say too if I didnt want to be picked clean by all selling parties. But we'll see.
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We need to pair Benteke and Weimann up front, at Gabby's expense. Every time Weimann plays he either scores or looks likely to...unlike Gabby. It's time to give them a go.
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We need to pair Benteke and Weimann up front, at Gabby's expense. Every time Weimann plays he either scores or looks likely to...unlike Gabby. It's time to give them a go.
Totally agree, gabby may b a useful option off the bench late in games with his pace but he shouldn't be in the starting line up .
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We need to pair Benteke and Weimann up front, at Gabby's expense. Every time Weimann plays he either scores or looks likely to...unlike Gabby. It's time to give them a go.
Totally agree, gabby may b a useful option off the bench late in games with his pace but he shouldn't be in the starting line up .
Doing that also opens up the possibilities of playing a playerin the hole behind them, such as Ireland. Keeping the three CBs, it could look something like:-
- Guzan -
Vlaar - Baker - Clark
Lowton - Bannan - Westwood - Lichaj (Bennett when fit)
Ireland
Benteke - Weimann
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We need to pair Benteke and Weimann up front, at Gabby's expense. Every time Weimann plays he either scores or looks likely to...unlike Gabby. It's time to give them a go.
Totally agree, gabby may b a useful option off the bench late in games with his pace but he shouldn't be in the starting line up .
Doing that also opens up the possibilities of playing a playerin the hole behind them, such as Ireland. Keeping the three CBs, it could look something like:-
- Guzan -
Vlaar - Baker - Clark
Lowton - Bannan - Westwood - Lichaj (Bennett when fit)
Ireland
Benteke - Weimann
Ireland or nzogbia in the hole , I think this system will really see joe Bennett come on leaps and bounds and see no reason not to be confident at anfield.
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We need to pair Benteke and Weimann up front, at Gabby's expense. Every time Weimann plays he either scores or looks likely to...unlike Gabby. It's time to give them a go.
Totally agree, gabby may b a useful option off the bench late in games with his pace but he shouldn't be in the starting line up .
Doing that also opens up the possibilities of playing a playerin the hole behind them, such as Ireland. Keeping the three CBs, it could look something like:-
- Guzan -
Vlaar - Baker - Clark
Lowton - Bannan - Westwood - Lichaj (Bennett when fit)
Ireland
Benteke - Weimann
Ireland or nzogbia in the hole , I think this system will really see joe Bennett come on leaps and bounds and see no reason not to be confident at anfield.
Bennett was aiming to be available for the Liverpool game. Does anyone know if he will make it?
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Bennett was aiming to be available for the Liverpool game. Does anyone know if he will make it?
I think Lichaj has done enough to keep his place, so fit or not I'd say Bennet needs to wait for his chance. Which is as it should be and I think the way Lambert views these things as well.
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Bennett was aiming to be available for the Liverpool game. Does anyone know if he will make it?
I think Lichaj has done enough to keep his place, so fit or not I'd say Bennet needs to wait for his chance. Which is as it should be and I think the way Lambert views these things as well.
True, I was just wondering if anyone knew how he was recovering from the injury/cut on his shin?
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Bennett was aiming to be available for the Liverpool game. Does anyone know if he will make it?
I think Lichaj has done enough to keep his place, so fit or not I'd say Bennet needs to wait for his chance. Which is as it should be and I think the way Lambert views these things as well.
Lichaj is a capable deputy but if Bennett is fit I'd bring him in at lichajs expense, Bennett is a natural left sided player and better suited for the role.
Same as Vlaar I would expect him to return in place of herd once fit.
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Threads like this worry me a little. Not because I disagree with the sentiments but because of the raised expectations that it reflects. It's still a young, developing side and there will be setbacks along the way.
Now I've got that out of the way, for the majority of us with the patience and good sense to see what is going on it's going to be a really enjoyable journey.
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Threads like this worry me a little. Not because I disagree with the sentiments but because of the raised expectations that it reflects. It's still a young, developing side and there will be setbacks along the way.
Now I've got that out of the way, for the majority of us with the patience and good sense to see what is going on it's going to be a really enjoyable journey.
Lets enjoy this good feeling , there have been so many lows in recent months we deserve to bask in the pleasure of victory and dream of happy days again.
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Sorry- Double post.
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I have a slight feeling we're going to rip Liverpool a new arsehole.
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I have a slight feeling we're going to rip Liverpool a new arsehole.
I doubt that very much, but a win would be very very welcome. We really need to start winning league games and distance ourselves from the bottom.
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I think we're actually pretty evenly matched as sides at the moment , so I'd be thinking possibly a 1-1 draw, dependent on which Villa side shows up.
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The thing about the L''The Mighty Reds YNWA' game is that I suspect their CB will do rather better against Benteke than others have recently.
Whereas against Chelsea, I can see our Christian beating up on their defenders something rotten!
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The problem is that against some clubs/players a striker like Benteke gets unfairly penalised. I noticed this a lot with Carew and John Terry, where the adultress racist would appeal for a foul everytime Big John came near him. And he usually got it!
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I reckon Benteke will give Skrtel nightmares. Don't rate him at all.
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John Terry must hate playing against Gabby. He's always got too much pace and power for him. I don't know how long before Terry's back though.
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We always cause Chelsea problems, Benteke and Gabby would tear their defence apart. I'm more confident about Chelsea than the Liverpool game
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I reckon Benteke will give Skrtel nightmares. Don't rate him at all.
Same here. Not a fan of Agger either.
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I rate Agger highly, don't rate Skrtel at all.
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What exactly does Agger do do do?
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Pushes pineapple, shakes the tree!!!!
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Pushes pineapple, shakes the tree!!!!
Do you really know the words? ;)
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I reckon Benteke will give Skrtel nightmares. Don't rate him at all.
No, but both their first-choice CB are pretty rugged; whcih was my point (having said that, he beasted Huth and Shawcross last week so maybe I'm just wrong!).
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Threads like this worry me a little. Not because I disagree with the sentiments but because of the raised expectations that it reflects. It's still a young, developing side and there will be setbacks along the way.
Now I've got that out of the way, for the majority of us with the patience and good sense to see what is going on it's going to be a really enjoyable journey.
Agreed. There's still a lot of hard work to do, and I think we're still a million miles away from where PL wants to be. That said, I'm beginning to feel a tiny bit excited about where this side might go, and the ways in which they might develop. And I get the impression that PL is the last bloke to get complacent.
PL played at Dortmund of course, and it's no surprise that he's following the Dortmund model as a manager, i.e. buying promising players at bargain prices and promoting youngsters from within the club structure. It's an approach that's worked a treat for them, let's hope it can do the same here.
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I think the next transfer window will be important in that I believe PL will have a couple of players lined up and hope that RL will back him. Then, hopefully, we can move out of the bottom third of the table and if we do it would not surprise me to see a few of the younger players (eg Williams etc) be given some game time to see how they adjust so he knows what will be required next summer.
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I think the manager has shown in startling fashion that he is capable of spending money well and managing his squad financially, and as a result the chairman will repay that by backing him strongly.
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I think the manager has shown in startling fashion that he is capable of spending money well and managing his squad financially, and as a result the chairman will repay that by backing him strongly.
Richard Dunne
Charles N'Zogbia
Darren Bent
Shay Given
There's a LOT of wages and transfer value (OK, most of the latter is with Bent) being taken up there for very little contribution to the cause so far this season this season. If we're still running a tight financial ship, I'd say how much Lambert is backed will depend on shifting one or more of them. I think Randy will back him anyway, but the scale of that backing may increase if he moves a few on.
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I think the manager has shown in startling fashion that he is capable of spending money well and managing his squad financially, and as a result the chairman will repay that by backing him strongly.
Richard Dunne
Charles N'Zogbia
Darren Bent
Shay Given
There's a LOT of wages and transfer value (OK, most of the latter is with Bent) being taken up there for very little contribution to the cause so far this season this season. If we're still running a tight financial ship, I'd say how much Lambert is backed will depend on shifting one or more of them. I think Randy will back him anyway, but the scale of that backing may increase if he moves a few on.
I think Dunne would have gone but for injury and Bent's as good as gone anyway.
I wouldn't think we'd get a new keeper in Jan so Given would have to stay as cover, and whisper it but there seemed to be a spark about N'Zogbia on Tuesday that I hadn't seen before, he might just kick on and I think Lambert rates him.
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I have this dream...
Benteke/Weimann = Withe/Shaw
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I think the manager has shown in startling fashion that he is capable of spending money well and managing his squad financially, and as a result the chairman will repay that by backing him strongly.
Richard Dunne
Charles N'Zogbia
Darren Bent
Shay Given
There's a LOT of wages and transfer value (OK, most of the latter is with Bent) being taken up there for very little contribution to the cause so far this season this season. If we're still running a tight financial ship, I'd say how much Lambert is backed will depend on shifting one or more of them. I think Randy will back him anyway, but the scale of that backing may increase if he moves a few on.
I think Dunne would have gone but for injury and Bent's as good as gone anyway.
I wouldn't think we'd get a new keeper in Jan so Given would have to stay as cover, and whisper it but there seemed to be a spark about N'Zogbia on Tuesday that I hadn't seen before, he might just kick on and I think Lambert rates him.
Agreed about Zog. He's a player that needs to be motivated and if Lambert can't do it, nobody can.
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Lamberts got his plan, he's sticking to it and wont be put of by a load of internet softies saying he must ditch the kids as they are only championship players at best and bring in a bunch of players with experience
we have been crying out for a no nonsense manager for a long while, now we have one who doesnt care about upsetting a few high earners if thats what it takes to build his team and most of us are right behind him,
as others have said Ron Saunders wasnt mr popular with players and it didnt do him any harm in building a great team
i cant think of any other prem team that has ever changed its whole back 5 (including goalkeeper) completely from one season to the next, especially from a very experienced back 5 to a rather youthfull one, so it was always going to take time and still will, but you can generaly feel we are on the right track
there is absoltely loads to feel optimistic about, and like Sinatra once sang 'the best is yet to come'
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I think the manager has shown in startling fashion that he is capable of spending money well and managing his squad financially, and as a result the chairman will repay that by backing him strongly.
Richard Dunne
Charles N'Zogbia
Darren Bent
Shay Given
There's a LOT of wages and transfer value (OK, most of the latter is with Bent) being taken up there for very little contribution to the cause so far this season this season. If we're still running a tight financial ship, I'd say how much Lambert is backed will depend on shifting one or more of them. I think Randy will back him anyway, but the scale of that backing may increase if he moves a few on.
I think Dunne would have gone but for injury and Bent's as good as gone anyway.
I wouldn't think we'd get a new keeper in Jan so Given would have to stay as cover, and whisper it but there seemed to be a spark about N'Zogbia on Tuesday that I hadn't seen before, he might just kick on and I think Lambert rates him.
Agreed about Zog. He's a player that needs to be motivated and if Lambert can't do it, nobody can.
I get the impression Lambert really rates the Zog. I really think/hope he comes good
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We are doing very well with two or three key additions and maybe one departure it could be useful. Richard Dunne will notice we are doing well without him, so he will want to grab his chance when he recover from his injury. I think we will have one very big signing in midfield next month and a young upcoming winger.
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I think we will have one very big signing in midfield next month and a young upcoming winger.
Very possible. We may also get a foward if Bent goes.
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Lamberts got his plan, he's sticking to it and wont be put of by a load of internet softies saying he must ditch the kids as they are only championship players at best and bring in a bunch of players with experience
we have been crying out for a no nonsense manager for a long while, now we have one who doesnt care about upsetting a few high earners if thats what it takes to build his team and most of us are right behind him,
as others have said Ron Saunders wasnt mr popular with players and it didnt do him any harm in building a great team
i cant think of any other prem team that has ever changed its whole back 5 (including goalkeeper) completely from one season to the next, especially from a very experienced back 5 to a rather youthfull one, so it was always going to take time and still will, but you can generaly feel we are on the right track
there is absoltely loads to feel optimistic about, and like Sinatra once sang 'the best is yet to come'
Preach on, Brother John.