Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: richardhubbard on April 29, 2013, 10:42:49 PM
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I know we not there yet but it's looking like there not one shit one in there. Benteke, Lowton , Westwood in recent weeks have been awesome.
Plus in Delph and weinmann he unlocked talents !
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They've been great, Sylla was also really good tonight and KEA even showed form last week.
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They have all had up and downs, the worst ones really were the more experienced ones (apart from Guzan). And although it has cost us nothing in the long run, but why Dawkins?
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The man is a proper genius.
Benteke, Lowton, Westwood, Guzan and Vlaar cost £13m between them. Then look at how El Ahmadi, Bennett, Sylla and even Bowery have been playing and there isn't a bad signing in there. Once the overpaid shit has been cleared out in the summer, Lambert will have plenty more wages and money to play with and I can imagine him picking up several more gems.
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let's be honest, Benteke may well go down as one of the best signings ever in this league, for a player to have got the 'who' comments he did and ram it down the pundits throats so emphatically is seriously impressive.
I like Lowton, he has excellent technique, he looks like a player who has worked his bollocks off to get where he has, which is hopefully a sign that he'll keep getting better.
Westwood has no fear of who he's playing against, just gets on and plays his game, a great attribute in the role he's playing.
I have high hopes for Sylla and Bennett as well, both looked very good tonight.
Oh and he brought back Guzan.
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I think he has done incredibly well for 23-24 million to have got what he has.
Dawkins was a shot to nothing and is on bugger all wages so not really a consideration.
Guzan - I would not swap him for any other keeper
Bennett - incredible left foot, and now confidence is coming he is getting into games more. Shooting will come next with him, and I reckon it will be a treat. Defensively poor, but an excellent footballer, so you can work with him. A bit like Gareth Bale "light".. give him time.
Lowton - Incredible tonight, started very solid, had a tough 2-3 months, but come out the other side and been terrific lately. Great technique, good going forward and confidence has shot up since the goal at Stoke. Proper player. Again work on defending to do, but it will come. If they were brilliant defenders as well they would be elsewhere I feel.
Vlaar - probably the biggest disappointment, nowhere near commanding enough, but has proved a good captain since returning from injury and the kids have clearly improved since then with him steadying the ship. Always talking and encouraging, and many a centre half has taken time in this league to settle. A better partner might help. For the money, he is a decent player. Needs an organiser with him.
KEA - jury is out, seen very little of him since the Everton game where he played really well and was important in us getting 3-1 up. Looked decent last week. Hope is there.
Westwood - probably my favourite of the lot - just such a tidy footballer. Needs to track his runners better, but his use of the ball after the first 5 minutes of a game is exceptional. He played a pass 45 yards from the edge of our box out to the wing tonight and I thought yeah, that is what we need. Time and confidence he will only get better. Allowed to dictate tonight by...
Sylla - the French Reo Coker... who I liked a lot and thought was useful. Sylla is the same. Needs to learn to get his head up before he has the ball so he knows where the next ball is going, Westwood is brilliant at that playing 1 step ahead, but he is a terrier and a half and does a lot of donkey work. Which any side needs.
Benteke - Are there words to describe him?? A true world class centre forward. Lucky to have him, and lucky Lambert got him.
Then what he has got from
Gabby - best season in 4 years?
Weimann - becoming a real talent in this league, and should convert more of his chances in coming years
Delph - total write off to essential player - he is a very, very decent player now
NZogbia - looked much better than under the pratt who signed him...
Now...
2 centre backs this summer, another couple of midfield options and Gabby and Weimann competition please Paul!
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I know we not there yet but it's looking like there not one shit one in there.
Your signature always makes me queasy Richard, even more so when you mention 'shit' in your post. If you contribute to the Cat Shit thread I'm gonna have to evacuate my guts or bowels.
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Fairplay to him. Wouldn't write any of his signings off yet, and there's no doubt he's increased the value of our squad compared to the highly paid tat of the MON's years.. Just needs to keep us up or its all gonna be for someone else's benefit
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Getting Benteke, Westwood and Lowton in for peanuts (in today's market) is the best bit of business we've done since SGT got Sid, God, Platty and Yorkie for around a million quid.
If Taggart, Redknapp or Wenger had done similar, the press would be foaming at the mouth over their sheer genius.
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Special mention for Bennett - he has had a torrid time this season but tonight I thought he came of age. Not only did I think he played Adam Johnson pretty well, he also looked confident going forward and a real fullback.
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Special mention for Bennett - he has had a torrid time this season but tonight I thought he came of age. Not only did I think he played Adam Johnson pretty well, he also looked confident going forward and a real fullback.
Agreed. He'd been improving over the last couple of months, with the odd tough game here and there still (as you'd expect at his age). On the whole, he's finishing the season strongly. Looks like he'll be a good signing. Today was his best game yet. Superb.
I think he and Lowton need to improve their strength a bit though. A commanding presence at CH next season will help the two lads. We need an organiser. Someone to just wake them up when they're asleep positionally. Vlaar doesn't do that. Concrete will also be better for having a commanding partner. Now...where's the next Martin Laursen hiding?
I think if we get in a decent defensive coach too, just to really overhaul what we're set up, we can stop shifting too many sloppy goals. No doubt either, that this season will have been a steep learning curve for our youngsters. They'll be better for it next season.
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Bennett has really been a prime example of why you need patience. He'll miss a few tackles and get beaten by his winger as he learns the step up to PL level, which will get him a slagging from some on here. But if you put that aside and try to be more objective, you can see he has talent going forward and just needs to tighten up the defensive side of his game. Had we written him off and played Baker LB, as many wanted, we wouldn't have then had that last night from him. That's not to say he'll be like that from now on, and I'm sure the 'everything is shit' crowd will be on his back again soon, but like all our young players they need time.
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Bennett has really been a prime example of why you need patience. He'll miss a few tackles and get beaten by his winger as he learns the step up to PL level, which will get him a slagging from some on here. But if you put that aside and try to be more objective, you can see he has talent going forward and just needs to tighten up the defensive side of his game. Had we written him off and played Baker LB, as many wanted, we wouldn't have then had that last night from him. That's not to say he'll be like that from now on, and I'm sure the 'everything is shit' crowd will be on his back again soon, but like all our young players they need time.
Bennett had injury problems early in the season , now he is fully fit and confident his game is coming on in leaps and bounds - the signings made by lambert have been very good and only kea has disappointed but even he showed some signs of progress last week .
We have the nucleas of a decent young side that with confidence will grow - we are not safe yet but very close to it - if we achieve safety this season i feel we can look to much better season next year.
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Dawkins 8)
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Guzan has also been one of Lamberts best signings.
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Correct me if I'm wrong but Dawkins is only on loan presumably as potential cover for Albrighton's injury. I'd have preferred to see Carruthers getting a look-in, but Dawkins will be back off to Spurs next month as he just doesn't look good enough.
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Dawkins is a loan. Can't see him being kept on.
For all the talk of how good Lambert's transfer policy is looking right now, I do still think we may need to do things slightly differently in the summer. We need a bit of experience to get through the times when our youthful exuberence isn't working.
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I'm happy with Lambert's signings I think he has done really well with them I really like Benteke,Lowton and Westwood I think they are very good signings I think Bennett is starting to look good I'm more positive about the players he's signed if we stay up I think these players will push on next season.
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Agreed- the players who have let us down in the main have been the ones left here when he took over , the likes , of Ireland, nzogbia and co.
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Special mention for Bennett - he has had a torrid time this season but tonight I thought he came of age. Not only did I think he played Adam Johnson pretty well, he also looked confident going forward and a real fullback.
By far his best game for us. Had the debate with my lad who thought that he was crap, that there is a player there. Not all going to develop at the same rate as Lowton and Westwood.
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Special mention for Bennett - he has had a torrid time this season but tonight I thought he came of age. Not only did I think he played Adam Johnson pretty well, he also looked confident going forward and a real fullback.
By far his best game for us. Had the debate with my lad who thought that he was crap, that there is a player there. Not all going to develop at the same rate as Lowton and Westwood.
I think Bennetts actually done okay in the last couple of months. He's been getting better. He's had the odd nightmare game still, but he's most definitely been on an upward arc of late. He was superb yesterday. I think he'll do well here. I still think we need another couple of full backs to push Bennett and Lowton next season, and to provide suitable cover, because Enda and Eric aren't good enough.
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Special mention for Bennett - he has had a torrid time this season but tonight I thought he came of age. Not only did I think he played Adam Johnson pretty well, he also looked confident going forward and a real fullback.
By far his best game for us. Had the debate with my lad who thought that he was crap, that there is a player there. Not all going to develop at the same rate as Lowton and Westwood.
Agreed, he missed one tackle by the corner flag in the first half but other than that put in a good, confident performance.
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Last night was tremendous but after 35 games of a 38 game season we are still in danger of relegation. Lambert has made good signings in terms mainly of potential but if we stay up then I like many others will want to see additions made to the squad or face another relegation struggle next season. Last summer I was concerned of the lack of experience in the squad and i'd still like to see a couple of signings with 200+ prem appearances in their locker.
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Last night was tremendous but after 35 games of a 38 game season we are still in danger of relegation. Lambert has made good signings in terms mainly of potential but if we stay up then I like many others will want to see additions made to the squad or face another relegation struggle next season. Last summer I was concerned of the lack of experience in the squad and i'd still like to see a couple of signings with 200+ prem appearances in their locker.
As long as they are good value I have no issue. If the Black Shirts go then I'd like Rose (not just because of last night) rated him for a couple of years and can still improve
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Last night was tremendous but after 35 games of a 38 game season we are still in danger of relegation. Lambert has made good signings in terms mainly of potential but if we stay up then I like many others will want to see additions made to the squad or face another relegation struggle next season. Last summer I was concerned of the lack of experience in the squad and i'd still like to see a couple of signings with 200+ prem appearances in their locker.
Can't say I agree with that reasoning; a significant improvement has been made in the 2nd half of the season, with all the newbies getting to know each other AND the standard required to play well in the premiership.
If you consider the same improvement in the next half a season, equivalent to the difference between the 1st and 2nd halves of this season, then we would be pushing for a top 6 position.
Couple that with an obviously required improvement in defence and we would be comfortably top 6 before next season ends.
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Yes, we've been in great form since Newcastle at home, which, if extrapolated over 38 games, would represent a challenge for Europe. However, we can't ignore the bad bits and not ask ourselves what can be done to combat these next season. When we're not playing well, can we dig in and get a point? Do we need a better organiser at the back? To me, that sort of experience we're still short of, so it needs to at least be considered for the summer. If it makes financial sense and we don't overload with them, one or two expereinced players would accelerate our progression.
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Anyone know what the transfer budget will be like for summer?
Who's likely to be fucked off as well?
Hopefully the defence is addressed and we can push on but as others have said I think his buys have been very good generally and he's done well with the players already here.
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Last night was tremendous but after 35 games of a 38 game season we are still in danger of relegation. Lambert has made good signings in terms mainly of potential but if we stay up then I like many others will want to see additions made to the squad or face another relegation struggle next season. Last summer I was concerned of the lack of experience in the squad and i'd still like to see a couple of signings with 200+ prem appearances in their locker.
Can't say I agree with that reasoning; a significant improvement has been made in the 2nd half of the season, with all the newbies getting to know each other AND the standard required to play well in the premiership.
If you consider the same improvement in the next half a season, equivalent to the difference between the 1st and 2nd halves of this season, then we would be pushing for a top 6 position.
Couple that with an obviously required improvement in defence and we would be comfortably top 6 before next season ends.
No clean sheets in 19 games. How many points dropped from winning positions? I'm not having a downer on the squad, all season i've been banging the drum about backing the young lads. However, with three games remaining relegation is a real possibilty and if that happens I can't see how the signings can be viewed as great. There has been a significant improvement recently and hopefully that will continue but I still am of the opinion a couple of seasoned pros would make a massive difference in a positive fashion.
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Last night was tremendous but after 35 games of a 38 game season we are still in danger of relegation. Lambert has made good signings in terms mainly of potential but if we stay up then I like many others will want to see additions made to the squad or face another relegation struggle next season. Last summer I was concerned of the lack of experience in the squad and i'd still like to see a couple of signings with 200+ prem appearances in their locker.
Can't say I agree with that reasoning; a significant improvement has been made in the 2nd half of the season, with all the newbies getting to know each other AND the standard required to play well in the premiership.
If you consider the same improvement in the next half a season, equivalent to the difference between the 1st and 2nd halves of this season, then we would be pushing for a top 6 position.
Couple that with an obviously required improvement in defence and we would be comfortably top 6 before next season ends.
No clean sheets in 19 games. How many points dropped from winning positions? I'm not having a downer on the squad, all season i've been banging the drum about backing the young lads. However, with three games remaining relegation is a real possibilty and if that happens I can't see how the signings can be viewed as great. There has been a significant improvement recently and hopefully that will continue but I still am of the opinion a couple of seasoned pros would make a massive difference in a positive fashion.
We're as many points from 9th as we are from relegation so if we're still stating that relegation is a very real possibility (which is true) then are we right to state that a top half finish is still a very real possibility?
I posted the 11 game 'splits' before we played man u and at that time we'd averaged half a point per game more in the last 11 than we did in the first 11. Given we signed a lot of new players who had no experience in this league that slow start should always have been expected. With no major additions to the squad I think it would be fair to predict us ending up somewhere between 45-50 points next year, so comfortably mid table. A few additions to add a bit of depth in a few areas (we're short of numbers across the entire defence) and give us a bit of extra quality and I think 50 points is a perfectly reasonable target next year.
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Yes, we've been in great form since Newcastle at home, which, if extrapolated over 38 games, would represent a challenge for Europe. However, we can't ignore the bad bits and not ask ourselves what can be done to combat these next season. When we're not playing well, can we dig in and get a point? Do we need a better organiser at the back? To me, that sort of experience we're still short of, so it needs to at least be considered for the summer. If it makes financial sense and we don't overload with them, one or two expereinced players would accelerate our progression.
I agree. We don't need too many recruits to this squad what we do need as you say is some experience alongside Vlaar someone Vlaar can learn from rather than him being the teacher to Baker/Clarke as is the case now. We also need a midfield general to orchestrate the play, if we could get Barry back for that role we would surely kick on.
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For me, the only one of Lambert's signings who hasn't had a positive impact is KEA, but even he still has time to come good.
Bennett has come in for a lot of stick, but he's only just gone 23, and if there's one position on the pitch where most players start out shit and improve significantly it's full-back. It's such a demanding position, in that it demands both good attacking talents, tackling ability, positional awareness and endless stamina. Going forward is no problem for him already, and he will no doubt develop his defensive nous and strength over the next couple of seasons. He'll be fine.
In terms of value for money, Lambert has already pissed all over O'Neill's record of transfer dealings. And McLeish's, for that matter.
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We've actually been in very good form since January, its just the poor start we had. We'd probably be around 8th - 10th had the table started in January so I have no fears for next season and that's without even thinking about what any new signings could add
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No clean sheets in 19 games. How many points dropped from winning positions? I'm not having a downer on the squad, all season i've been banging the drum about backing the young lads. However, with three games remaining relegation is a real possibilty and if that happens I can't see how the signings can be viewed as great. There has been a significant improvement recently and hopefully that will continue but I still am of the opinion a couple of seasoned pros would make a massive difference in a positive fashion.
I agree a couple of signings would be of enormous benefit.
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[quote author=paul_e link=topic=49640.msg2323479#msg2323479 date
We're as many points from 9th as we are from relegation so if we're still stating that relegation is a very real possibility (which is true) then are we right to state that a top half finish is still a very real possibility?
I posted the 11 game 'splits' before we played man u and at that time we'd averaged half a point per game more in the last 11 than we did in the first 11. Given we signed a lot of new players who had no experience in this league that slow start should always have been expected. With no major additions to the squad I think it would be fair to predict us ending up somewhere between 45-50 points next year, so comfortably mid table. A few additions to add a bit of depth in a few areas (we're short of numbers across the entire defence) and give us a bit of extra quality and I think 50 points is a perfectly reasonable target next year.
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Spot on
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I think we will see Dunne, Petrov, Ireland and Hutton off the wages bill, plus possibly of Givens and Bent moving on. We will be able be more a lot more room for wages bill, then I think we will have 25 millions plus transfer raised this summer but expect us to continue in similar format young hungry and inexpensive and more signing like Benteke.
I think we will sign a young goalkeeper, a central defender, a left back, a winger, a playmaker (big money), and a striker (When Bent is sold) It would be interesting to see who are the targets.
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I think we will see Dunne, Petrov, Ireland and Hutton off the wages bill, plus possibly of Givens and Bent moving on. We will be able be more a lot more room for wages bill, then I think we will have 25 millions plus transfer raised this summer but expect us to continue in similar format young hungry and inexpensive and more signing like Benteke.
I think we will sign a young goalkeeper, a central defender, a left back, a winger, a playmaker (big money), and a striker (When Bent is sold) It would be interesting to see who are the targets.
Very good assumption of things i think Michael.
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By Matt Law | 30/04/13
Paul Lambert has more than kept his side of the bargain this season.
And if he guides Aston Villa to Premier League safety, it will be time for owner Randy Lerner to keep his.
As Christian Benteke stroked in his hat-trick goal against Sunderland, managers all over Europe will have been Google searching the name of his agent.
For those who do not know, Benteke’s agent is called Eris Kismet and he has already gone on record in the Sunday Mirror to declare his client is prepared to stay at Villa Park if the club remain in the top-flight.
Benteke feels a debt of gratitude to Lambert for taking a gamble on him and Lerner should also be grateful that the Scotsman was prepared to put his reputation on the line for a shot at the Villa job.
Despite Benteke’s goodwill, the decision on what happens next will still ultimately rest with Lerner once Tottenham and Co come calling.
The sharks know Lerner has recent form after cashing in on Gareth Barry, James Milner, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.
There were extenuating circumstances in each of those cases, not least former boss Martin O’Neill was around £20million over his agreed budget when Manchester City made their Milner approach.
But Lambert has stuck rigidly to the agreement to replace the big earners and start slashing the wage bill, while promoting from within the club and scouring Europe and the lower leagues for bargains.
Lerner’s radical change of philosophy could still blow up in his face because Villa are not safe from relegation danger, despite their stunning 6-1 victory over Sunderland.
The American asked Lambert to take Villa from A to C without going through B and it has for long spells been a painful process.
Lambert arrived at Villa Park with his reputation high after two successive promotions and an impressive first season in the Premier League at Norwich.
The task Lerner gave him threatened to put that reputation at risk, particularly after humiliations against Chelsea, Bradford and Millwall.
It looked for a long while like Lambert had taken the impossible job and made it even harder for himself by freezing out Villa’s record signing Darren Bent.
He didn’t complain when he was handed just £3m to boost the squad in January, while relegation rivals QPR and Newcastle were throwing money at so-called saviours.
Of course, Lerner stuck with Lambert through the bleak mid-winter, when Villa conceded 15 goals in just three Premier League games and other owners may have panicked.
But Lambert will deserve more than just his job if Villa book their place in next season’s Premier League and Lerner must not be naïve enough to think he can keep getting away with selling off the club’s best silver.
Lambert will have earned the right to work with Benteke for at least one more season, which will require Lerner turning down big bids and handing the striker a new contract.
Benteke was signed for just £7million and put on £20,000-a-week. Villa have already indicated their willingness to double the 22-year-old’s salary, but Lerner may well have to go even higher now he has broken the 20-goal barrier.
Andreas Weimann is another beneficiary of the Lambert regime and has shone almost as brightly as Benteke.
His £15,000-a-week deal is due to expire next season, which has already alerted Newcastle and Norwich, and will no doubt encourage others to bid.
Lerner will not have to turn down the same eye-watering offers for Weimann that he will receive for Benteke, but he needs to sort out the Austrian’s contract and fast.
Weimann is said to be happy at Villa, but the club cannot afford the uncertainty of going into the summer months with his long-term future still unclear.
Right-back Matt Lowton has proved to be Lambert’s most successful find in the lower leagues.
Signed for just £3m from Sheffield United, Lowton underlined his improvement with the wonderful assist for Weimann on Monday night.
The 23-year-old still has work to do defensively, but his ability on the ball and willingness to roam forwards has already impressed a number of Premier League bosses.
Fulham have been linked with a move for Lowton, but the day Villa sell one of their most promising players to the Cottagers should be the day the white flag is unfurled over the Holte End.
A turbulent season could still prove to be the first days of something for Villa. But for that to be the case, Lerner will need to pay back his manager.
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I think we will see Dunne, Petrov, Ireland and Hutton off the wages bill, plus possibly of Givens and Bent moving on. We will be able be more a lot more room for wages bill, then I think we will have 25 millions plus transfer raised this summer but expect us to continue in similar format young hungry and inexpensive and more signing like Benteke.
I think we will sign a young goalkeeper, a central defender, a left back, a winger, a playmaker (big money), and a striker (When Bent is sold) It would be interesting to see who are the targets.
Very good assumption of things i think Michael.
Mostly agree but I'm not sure a young goalkeeper will be on the list, given the reputation Seigrist has we either need to trust him to step up as our number 2 or we need to give him a year or 2 by signing an experienced backup on a shorter deal.
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I think we will see Dunne, Petrov, Ireland and Hutton off the wages bill, plus possibly of Givens and Bent moving on. We will be able be more a lot more room for wages bill, then I think we will have 25 millions plus transfer raised this summer but expect us to continue in similar format young hungry and inexpensive and more signing like Benteke.
I think we will sign a young goalkeeper, a central defender, a left back, a winger, a playmaker (big money), and a striker (When Bent is sold) It would be interesting to see who are the targets.
Very good assumption of things i think Michael.
Mostly agree but I'm not sure a young goalkeeper will be on the list, given the reputation Seigrist has we either need to trust him to step up as our number 2 or we need to give him a year or 2 by signing an experienced backup on a shorter deal.
If we stay up, I think that Lambert will intensify his current approach - focus on the academy graduates and some surprise selections from the lower divisions.
I suspect we might see the back of Stevens, Albrighton and Holman. Possibly Lichaj and Bannan as well.
I fully expect to see 2-3 low-cost, curved-ball players in as development opportunities.
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Still lots of deadwood to get rid of but you can't argue with the football we are playing compared to TSM.
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As for the negligence some accuse him of in Jan... (and I was gutted at no defender too)
Sylla played 8, won 5, drawn 2 lost 1. Not bad that impact.
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As for the negligence some accuse him of in Jan... (and I was gutted at no defender too)
Sylla played 8, won 5, drawn 2 lost 1. Not bad that impact.
We do look a lot better with him in the side. His presence really helps and he cuts the workload for Westy and Delph.
Zoggy had a handful of decent games since the turn of the year. He is talented, but the balance of the side doesn't look right, especially because Lambert won't drop one of Gabby or Wiemann.
We look far, far more solid with a 3 man midfield.
Sylla is very raw, but there's promise. I hope he keeps his place for the last 3 games.
Zogbia should be sold to raise funds for a more suitable signing or two. Lambert could get two of his well scouted bargains for the fee and wages we're paying Charles. Unlike Ireland, Charlie would have some takers.
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Special mention for Bennett - he has had a torrid time this season but tonight I thought he came of age. Not only did I think he played Adam Johnson pretty well, he also looked confident going forward and a real fullback.
By far his best game for us. Had the debate with my lad who thought that he was crap, that there is a player there. Not all going to develop at the same rate as Lowton and Westwood.
Agreed, he missed one tackle by the corner flag in the first half but other than that put in a good, confident performance.
Hasn't really been mentioned I thought he was culpable for their goal. Once Vlaar and Baker had been dragged across, and I'm not sure why Baker is getting the blame for the goal, Bennett needed to get across and cover the big area between the centre-halves and him. he didn't and left a huge hole which rose scored in.
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Which paper did that article come from Eastie? I've never heard anyone, least of all O'Neill, admit that he was £20 million above budget before. I hope they've got a good solicitor.
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I'm sure after a full pre-season knowing what to expect from the Prem, Vlaar and KEA will go up another level next season. Both have had interrupted seasons with the associated yo-yo form that would be expected with newcomers from the Dutch league. Dawkins was a lotto ticket that hasn't payed off. Sylla and Bennett have shown enough to make me feel that they will develop into, at worst, solid players. Benteke, Lowton and Westwood have such high ceilings they could be anything. It's hard not to give that recruiting a big tick overall.
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Which paper did that article come from Eastie? I've never heard anyone, least of all O'Neill, admit that he was £20 million above budget before. I hope they've got a good solicitor.
I presume they're referring to the budget from the season before? It's not very clear from the report, but it's the only thing that would make any sense.
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Hasn't really been mentioned I thought he was culpable for their goal. Once Vlaar and Baker had been dragged across, and I'm not sure why Baker is getting the blame for the goal, Bennett needed to get across and cover the big area between the centre-halves and him. he didn't and left a huge hole which rose scored in.
But Bennett still had his own player to mark, if he had covered the middle then there would have been a huge gap on the left side of the area, harsh to blame the left-back when the centre-halves both got dragged across to the same man.
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Hasn't really been mentioned I thought he was culpable for their goal. Once Vlaar and Baker had been dragged across, and I'm not sure why Baker is getting the blame for the goal, Bennett needed to get across and cover the big area between the centre-halves and him. he didn't and left a huge hole which rose scored in.
But Bennett still had his own player to mark, if he had covered the middle then there would have been a huge gap on the left side of the area, harsh to blame the left-back when the centre-halves both got dragged across to the same man.
Westie and Sylla could've made a better fist of it, too.
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Hasn't really been mentioned I thought he was culpable for their goal. Once Vlaar and Baker had been dragged across, and I'm not sure why Baker is getting the blame for the goal, Bennett needed to get across and cover the big area between the centre-halves and him. he didn't and left a huge hole which rose scored in.
But Bennett still had his own player to mark, if he had covered the middle then there would have been a huge gap on the left side of the area, harsh to blame the left-back when the centre-halves both got dragged across to the same man.
Westie and Sylla could've made a better fist of it, too.
I think it was more a case of a well worked goal rather than poor defending.
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Hasn't really been mentioned I thought he was culpable for their goal. Once Vlaar and Baker had been dragged across, and I'm not sure why Baker is getting the blame for the goal, Bennett needed to get across and cover the big area between the centre-halves and him. he didn't and left a huge hole which rose scored in.
But Bennett still had his own player to mark, if he had covered the middle then there would have been a huge gap on the left side of the area, harsh to blame the left-back when the centre-halves both got dragged across to the same man.
Westie and Sylla could've made a better fist of it, too.
I think it was more a case of a well worked goal rather than poor defending.
Baker had come across Vlaar though, so Bennett could have tucked in further, but in all fairness it would be very very harsh to blame him for that goal.
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As for the negligence some accuse him of in Jan... (and I was gutted at no defender too)
Sylla played 8, won 5, drawn 2 lost 1. Not bad that impact.
We do look a lot better with him in the side. His presence really helps and he cuts the workload for Westy and Delph.
Zoggy had a handful of decent games since the turn of the year. He is talented, but the balance of the side doesn't look right, especially because Lambert won't shouldn't drop one of Gabby or Wiemann.
We look far, far more solid with a 3 man midfield.
Sylla is very raw, but there's promise. I hope he keeps his place for the last 3 games.
Zogbia should be sold to raise funds for a more suitable signing or two. Lambert could get two of his well scouted bargains for the fee and wages we're paying Charles. Unlike Ireland, Charlie would have some takers.
Fixed that for you. The front 3 have been excellent in 2013 and all of them should be playing as many games as possible right now. 23 goals in 15 games between them is a fantastic return for any attack.
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Yeah Lambert's transfer business has been his trump card so far. It should be noted that even the most astute managers make the odd bad signing. Although having said that, I don't think Lambert has made a particularly bad one. Benteke, Guzan, Lowton and Westwood have been great signings. Sylla looks promising too. Bennett, Vlaar and KEA have been hit and miss but have shown in flashes what Lambert saw in them. Bowery and Dawkins haven't really had much game time but given the nominal fees payed for them, they are very low risk.
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Hasn't really been mentioned I thought he was culpable for their goal. Once Vlaar and Baker had been dragged across, and I'm not sure why Baker is getting the blame for the goal, Bennett needed to get across and cover the big area between the centre-halves and him. he didn't and left a huge hole which rose scored in.
Well, you're a hard man Peter. Bennett had Johnson to mark and rightly was not sucked into the middle.
I said elsewhere that I thought Bennett came of age on Monday; he dealt with Johnson - a tricky international winger (who has admittedly been very in and out this season) - pretty well and offered himself as an outlet when we were in possession.
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Hasn't really been mentioned I thought he was culpable for their goal. Once Vlaar and Baker had been dragged across, and I'm not sure why Baker is getting the blame for the goal, Bennett needed to get across and cover the big area between the centre-halves and him. he didn't and left a huge hole which rose scored in.
Well, you're a hard man Peter. Bennett had Johnson to mark and rightly was not sucked into the middle.
I said elsewhere that I thought Bennett came of age on Monday; he dealt with Johnson - a tricky international winger (who has admittedly been very in and out this season) - pretty well and offered himself as an outlet when we were in possession.
In fairness I think most are saying Sunderland's goal was mainly just a really good piece of football, there may have been small defensive errors but it wasn't a howler. On the Baker issue if he ever wants to make it at the top level his positioning needs to get a lot lot better.
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Unless it is a worldy, then technically every goal conceded is the result of a defensive error. Sunderland's goal was just good play and even a better defence then ours would've been undone by it.
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Unless it is a worldy, then technically every goal conceded is the result of a defensive error. Sunderland's goal was just good play and even a better defence then ours would've been undone by it.
Indeed, good run and, to give him credit, Graham did really well to get it back to Rose. Can maybe ask a small question about why no one covered Rose but I think it's very harsh to blame anyone, much like it's hard to blame the Sunderland defenders for Weimann's or Benteke's 2nd (the rest are all questionable though), they're just very good goals.
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I've not seen the goals since Monday - what was Weimann (or maybe Gabby as they did swap sides) doing? As our right forward should have tracked their left back.