Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on March 29, 2013, 11:17:09 PM
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Paul Lambert has defiantly declared that sought-after strike duo Christian Benteke and Andi Weimann will still be Villa players next season.
Benteke and Weimann have become the subjects of intense speculation about their future after hitting 28 goals between them for the claret and blues.
But in his most forthright comments to date about Benteke and Weimann, Lambert insists the in-form forward pair will not be sold in the summer – and he will have the final say.
Lambert claims his stance would be the same even if Villa were relegated, although convincing the strikers to stay in Championship would be remarkable victory for the manager’s powers of persuasion.
Benteke, 22, has burst onto the scene in spectacular fashion in his first season in English football, notching 17, including 13 in the Premier League following the Belgian international’s £7 million move from Genk.
Weimann, 20, has made himself a first team regular, contributing six goals in the league and five in the cups to take his tally to 11 during a camapaign in which the academy graduate has progressed to the full Austria team.
Lambert dropped a strong hint that the claret and blues would reward Weimann by meeting his request for improved terms on a new contract this summer with his current deal expiring at the end of next season.
He also suggested Benteke could be in line for a payrise to reflect his impact and despite having three years left on the agreement he signed last August.
Asked if Weimann and Benteke will remain at the club next season, Lambert replied: “Yes, yes. I think they want to be here. I’ve spoken to the lads as well and they’ve been great with it.
“I certainly hope so. There is no point in coming in for one year and after that the lads go away again. I don’t think that is building for any sort of future.
Asked if he has the final say, Lambert answered: “Oh yes. I’ve got to. Yes.
“Randy Lerner has been great with me. Everyone knows the situation. If players do well, then teams speak about them.
“The thing is they have only done it for seven months. If they do it for seven years, or play 900 games, I might think...
“When I first came in here we sat down and explained what we thought we were going to do. Randy was right behind it and he’s been excellent with us, regarding that side of it.
“I don’t want to go back to square one because they are only guys in their early 20s, who have got so much to give and so much to prove.
“You want to work with them to keep them progressing.”
Questioned about the prospect of boosting Benteke’s contract, Lambert joked: “I might give him a fiver more – being Scottish that is generous!
“I think you do that (give improved contracts) with most lads who are performing well for you. I tend to look at the whole squad and think ‘you’ve done brilliant, we’ll look at that’
“But you just don’t want people to become comfortable. You want them to always keep that hunger and not the monetary thing to over-rule having success.
“If you have success, then things like that follow, but the big guy has been excellent for me and is a top guy as well.”
Lambert is convinced both Benteke and Weimann will want to repay the faith Villa have shown in them by committing their futures to the club.
“You’d like to think so,” he said. “We’ve given them an opportunity to go and do it.
“We might have bought Christian and it might have taken a year-18 months to settle.
“But he has come in, hit the ground running, and is getting talked about and it’s the same with Andi.
“Up until this year, Andi wasn’t in the side and you give him an opportunity and he has been excellent.”
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paul-lambert-insists-christian-benteke-2207244
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I think if we stay up Weimann will stay, seems to have a great fondness for the club and should be rewarded for his fine performances with a new contract that will be worthy of that.
As for Benteke, I certainly hope he stays. I really think this bloke can be a world beater with more experience and I hope he gains that here. Am concerned his agent is already mouthing off, but hope we can reward him with an improved contract and he stays for another season at least. He seems to have integrated into the team ethos massively and seems a popular bloke from comments made. Lets hope we can keep him
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Good.
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I hope so, we need the pair of them.
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Lets hope they do stay, could become an outstanding partnership.
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I think they should open a law practice together.
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If he can keep them both, then I am further convinced that Lambert will do great things with Aston Villa.
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I think they should open a law practice together.
With Barry Bannan to make the tea.
Weimann Weeman Benteke, Barristers at Law.
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I've heard this sort of thing before and it's always lead to woe and despair.
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Bit of a crap article really. He "defiantly declares" that they'll stay, but when actually asked about it, says "I certainly hope so". Not that defiant really.
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Bit of a crap article really. He "defiantly declares" that they'll stay, but when actually asked about it, says "I certainly hope so". Not that defiant really.
Kendricks been a bit of a twat ever since PL blanked him at that press conference.
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Bit of a crap article really. He "defiantly declares" that they'll stay, but when actually asked about it, says "I certainly hope so". Not that defiant really.
It's the sort of article you'd expect a manager to be involved in (after all, he's hardly going to say the opposite) but it's inevitable that he'll contradict himself - "I'll certainly be assertive / defiant but cannot 100% say that they'll be staying".
Just more fairly meaningless mediatalk.
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
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You can write an article like this then keep it for years to use, copy and paste and just change the names.
Lambert for Mcleish, Houllier, O'Neill, Gregory.
Benteke for Milner, Young, Barry, Yorke.
In fairness to Gregory with his interview he did try to introduce armed conflict into it.... still didn't make any difference though.
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Lambert has got to be allowed to build a team. Bent and Weimann with a quality MF supporting them could be prolific. Survival is key to AVFC so small steps for now ......
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I would really love it if they both stayed I think they can do big things at Villa so we really need them to stay.
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I've heard this sort of thing before and it's always lead to woe and despair.
He didnt exactly say they will stay, he said he hopes they will stay as i am sure we all do- lets see how the season goes from here and we will have a better idea .
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http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/8606516/Paul-Lambert-keen-to-keep-star-players-at-Aston-Villa
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Bit of a crap article really. He "defiantly declares" that they'll stay, but when actually asked about it, says "I certainly hope so". Not that defiant really.
Kendricks been a bit of a twat ever since PL blanked him at that press conference.
Lambert only wants him to print positive stories. He spits his dummy out whenever Kendrick dares to write anything other than "aren't Villa great" even when we're losing games 8-0 and getting knocked out of Cup competitions by lower league opposition. He can't win whatever he writes.
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
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Do we actually know for a fact that Lerner has sold anyone against the manager's wishes?
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
Yes. I mean he could have said, "you're under contract and you're not leaving".
Lets face it, we wanted the cash.
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
Don't come here with your facts ruining another perfectly good 'Lerner is the devil incarnate' post.
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
Don't come here with your facts ruining another perfectly good 'Lerner is the devil incarnate' post.
Yes, sir!
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
Yes. I mean he could have said, "you're under contract and you're not leaving".
Lets face it, we wanted the cash.
So we're agreed then that he never sold anyone of note for the cash, he just sold and got the best price for players determined to leave. ;)
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
Yes. I mean he could have said, "you're under contract and you're not leaving".
Lets face it, we wanted the cash.
So we're agreed then that he never sold anyone of note for the cash, he just sold and got the best price for players determined to leave. ;)
Well that would be positive way of looking at it.
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
Yes. I mean he could have said, "you're under contract and you're not leaving".
Lets face it, we wanted the cash.
So we're agreed then that he never sold anyone of note for the cash, he just sold and got the best price for players determined to leave. ;)
Well that would be positive way of looking at it.
And positive would never do.
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
Yes. I mean he could have said, "you're under contract and you're not leaving".
Lets face it, we wanted the cash.
So we're agreed then that he never sold anyone of note for the cash, he just sold and got the best price for players determined to leave. ;)
Well that would be positive way of looking at it.
And positive would never do.
Not been a particularly positive last few seasons though has it, Dave?
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
Yes. I mean he could have said, "you're under contract and you're not leaving".
Lets face it, we wanted the cash.
We tried that with dwight yorke and look how that turned out - if a player wants to leave then they invariably get their wish , not just at villa as the cases of Rooney, Ronaldo, van persie, fabregas and countless others have shown.
Unhappy under performing players are not really the answer .
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Not been a particularly positive last few seasons though has it, Dave?
It hasn't been brilliant but some of us have managed to resist the temptation to moan about every single thing.
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
That's the worry. If Lerner wants the cash he'll sell, as he's proven in the past.
With who?
Barry wanted to leave. As did Young. And Milner. And Downing. So who has Randy sold because he wanted the cash?
Yes. I mean he could have said, "you're under contract and you're not leaving".
Lets face it, we wanted the cash.
We tried that with dwight yorke and look how that turned out - if a player wants to leave then they invariably get their wish , not just at villa as the cases of Rooney, Ronaldo, van persie, fabregas and countless others have shown.
Unhappy under performing players are not really the answer .
True, but when the likes of those players you mention are sold they are replaced with like for like players. We haven't done that. That's why we're in this mess.
Anyway this has been argued on here over and over again.
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Not been a particularly positive last few seasons though has it, Dave?
It hasn't been brilliant but some of us have managed to resist the temptation to moan about every single thing.
And some of us haven't buried our heads in the sand either.
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Not been a particularly positive last few seasons though has it, Dave?
It hasn't been brilliant but some of us have managed to resist the temptation to moan about every single thing.
And some of us haven't buried our heads in the sand either.
Indeed. Some of us have attempted to remain calm and rational.
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Not been a particularly positive last few seasons though has it, Dave?
It hasn't been brilliant but some of us have managed to resist the temptation to moan about every single thing.
And some of us haven't buried our heads in the sand either.
Indeed. Some of us have attempted to remain calm and rational.
And pretend all is well.
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Logic should dictate that they stay with us. There have been plenty of players who have burst onto the scene only to fail to build on to a promising start and, despite the hype, that's all either have demonstrated so far.
We all know though that logic often goes out of the window when pound signs are dangled in front of players (and their agents) eyes.
I'd like to think that they owe the club a debt of gratitude for giving them the platform where they have been able to show their abilities; time will tell.
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Not been a particularly positive last few seasons though has it, Dave?
It hasn't been brilliant but some of us have managed to resist the temptation to moan about every single thing.
And some of us haven't buried our heads in the sand either.
Indeed. Some of us have attempted to remain calm and rational.
And pretend all is well.
Which doesn't happen, but carry on saying it if that's what makes you happy.
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Not been a particularly positive last few seasons though has it, Dave?
It hasn't been brilliant but some of us have managed to resist the temptation to moan about every single thing.
And some of us haven't buried our heads in the sand either.
Indeed. Some of us have attempted to remain calm and rational.
And pretend all is well.
Which doesn't happen, but carry on saying it if that's what makes you happy.
It doesn't make me happy. Don't flatter yourself.
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I'd like to think that they owe the club a debt of gratitude for giving them the platform where they have been able to show their abilities; time will tell.
I don't believe that any side owes the other side anything. Both were happy to enter into what they believed were mutually acceptable contracts, and if a bigger club comes in with an offer of big money then I'd expect both would be off. The only logic in football is money these days, shame, but that's the sad truth.
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Not been a particularly positive last few seasons though has it, Dave?
It hasn't been brilliant but some of us have managed to resist the temptation to moan about every single thing.
And some of us haven't buried our heads in the sand either.
Indeed. Some of us have attempted to remain calm and rational.
And pretend all is well.
Which doesn't happen, but carry on saying it if that's what makes you happy.
It doesn't make me happy. Don't flatter yourself.
Why keep repeating the lie then?
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Not been a particularly positive last few seasons though has it, Dave?
It hasn't been brilliant but some of us have managed to resist the temptation to moan about every single thing.
And some of us haven't buried our heads in the sand either.
Indeed. Some of us have attempted to remain calm and rational.
And pretend all is well.
Which doesn't happen, but carry on saying it if that's what makes you happy.
It doesn't make me happy. Don't flatter yourself.
Why keep repeating the lie then?
You repeat the lie that I moan about everything and anything but it doesn't seem to worry you.
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I tried to find evidence to the contrary but the battery ran out.
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I tried to find evidence to the contrary but the battery ran out.
Ha!
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I'd like to think that they owe the club a debt of gratitude for giving them the platform where they have been able to show their abilities; time will tell.
I don't believe that any side owes the other side anything. Both were happy to enter into what they believed were mutually acceptable contracts, and if a bigger club comes in with an offer of big money then I'd expect both would be off. The only logic in football is money these days, shame, but that's the sad truth.
I strongly disagree, particularly with Wiemann. A lot of time, effort and money has gone into his development, for him to clear off after one decent season would be a poor way to repay the club.
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Football isn't a particularly loyal business. I would argue that the world of business generally is less so than in previous years. Footballers have a career and want to do as well as they can and earn as much as they can. They would probably view loyalty as 'settled' through the transfer fee the club get. I'm not sure that clubs are particularly loyal to players now either so it cuts both ways.
Anyway, I hope they both stay and wouldn't be surprised if they did for one more season (I would hope Weimann would stay longer, doubt Benteke will). A lot depends on how the club value them and how this comes across in contract negotiations. We also need to stay up.
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I'd like to think that they owe the club a debt of gratitude for giving them the platform where they have been able to show their abilities; time will tell.
I don't believe that any side owes the other side anything. Both were happy to enter into what they believed were mutually acceptable contracts, and if a bigger club comes in with an offer of big money then I'd expect both would be off. The only logic in football is money these days, shame, but that's the sad truth.
I strongly disagree, particularly with Wiemann. A lot of time, effort and money has gone into his development, for him to clear off after one decent season would be a poor way to repay the club.
He might argue that if his goals help keep us up, he's repaid the club in spades. But whatever, that's bringing old-fashioned values like morals into football. They don't exist in today's Premier League I'm afraid, I Spurs or Liverpool come in with a big money offer I expect he'd be tempted, as would Lerner.
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I wonder what Crewe, Genk and Sheffield United fans think of this debate?
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I'd like to think that they owe the club a debt of gratitude for giving them the platform where they have been able to show their abilities; time will tell.
I don't believe that any side owes the other side anything. Both were happy to enter into what they believed were mutually acceptable contracts, and if a bigger club comes in with an offer of big money then I'd expect both would be off. The only logic in football is money these days, shame, but that's the sad truth.
I strongly disagree, particularly with Wiemann. A lot of time, effort and money has gone into his development, for him to clear off after one decent season would be a poor way to repay the club.
He might argue that if his goals help keep us up, he's repaid the club in spades. But whatever, that's bringing old-fashioned values like morals into football. They don't exist in today's Premier League I'm afraid, I Spurs or Liverpool come in with a big money offer I expect he'd be tempted, as would Lerner.
Seeing the fuss he kicked up to get his move when we made a bid i suspect if one of the top clubs came calling he may try to force the issue- hopefully not.
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I don't think Lambert will get the final say.
No, their agents will.
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I wonder what Crewe, Genk and Sheffield United fans think of this debate?
It's a fair point. The only one I can speak of with any real knowledge of is Crewe, and my mate accepts that developing and selling young players is the only way a club like them can keep going as a league club. So the difference, I suppose, is that in that situation you have a willing seller whereas we wouldn't be.
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I wonder what Crewe, Genk and Sheffield United fans think of this debate?
It's a fair point. The only one I can speak of with any real knowledge of is Crewe, and my mate accepts that developing and selling young players is the only way a club like them can keep going as a league club. So the difference, I suppose, is that in that situation you have a willing seller whereas we wouldn't be.
It's also, in reality, the only way we can succeed. The bottom line is that no club in the country could hang onto a player the Manchesters want.
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I don't think we should be overly concerned about losing either. One of the things that I like about the players Lambert buys is that they are not bigger than the club. Even though it's been a pretty poor season, I like to think that it is a stepping stone onto bigger things. If Benteke or Weimann don't want to be part of that, it's their decision. I like this team because nobody is bigger than the team or club itself.
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i'm going to like the team a lot less if we get relegated
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Sorry posted in wrong thread