Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on November 29, 2013, 06:03:18 PM
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Available Saturday 30.11.13 @4.50pm.
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Very very poor - not good enough and getting a bit sick of watching this kind of insipid display so often - garbage!
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Pifft
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Utter utter garbage football thank fuck I didn't go.
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We never have a clue against the teams that close us down and shut up shop, so we shouldn't be surprised.
We also shouldn't be surprised that Lambert has no idea on how to fix it.
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AWFUL !!!!!
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Goodness me, that was appallingly bad. Turgid, lacking in creativity, balance and utterly devoid of excitement.
It's getting boring now.
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Pathetic. We were lucky to get the point. I'm starting to worry there are three teams worse than us.
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Lambert you are slowly draining all the Villa life left inside of me , you are sucking me dry .
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Lambert needs to sort this.
I no longer give a fuck about Lambert to be honest. Absolute drivel week in week out. If we continue like this we will be down there 16th again because other teams will click and go on runs. We can't penetrate at all and the players do not seem to give a shit.
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I am expecting his royal highness to declare that he was not amused.
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Absolute rubbish... but no real surprise.
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Oh dear, I could have been doing the vacuuming.
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Can I make a point?
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We didn't lose, but let's be honest that was an utterly uninspiring performance. Terrible movement, terrible technique, terrible passing. We could play like that until next Saturday and I doubt we'd score.
Lambert needs to find a way to make us a threatening side again, because nobody wants to watch shite like that.
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That was fucking dire. Not even a clear chance.
Piss poor.
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Well, that's another 2 hours of my life I won't get back. Absolute garbage. If this is 'progress' and building on Lamberts 'vision' then god help us. Awful, just awful. Now going to have to put up with Lambert saying how pleased he was with our attacking display and how he would be disappointed if we 'weren't' creating chances.
So bored of this crap
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Dreadful performance I believe.
Dreadful manager I certainly know.
We detested other managers who played this dross.
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I think we can clearly say Lambert's honeymoon is over. Right now if he resigned tonight I wouldn't be bothered.
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Lambert has stopped me wanting to go. Today was my first Saturday I could make it for a while but I thought fuck it, we are shit at home anyway, not worth the money and effort. Im so glad I didn't. Gutted for my cousin who travelled up from Plymouth
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Lambert you are slowly draining all the Villa life left inside of me , you are sucking me dry .
What did McLeish do to you then?
Poor result and sounded like a woeful performance, but a clean sheet and another point.
We clearly need 2-3 forward thinking players that can create and control games for us going forward. We don't have that in the squad at the moment. Until we do it will carry on.
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That was bad.
We barely had a chance to speak of, while they missed a sitter, hit the bar and had a goal ruled out. With Benteke totally off his game, we look devoid of threat - a situation not helped by the lack of creativity either in the middle or out wide.
Piss poor.
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Not great at all.Benteke should of been off alot earlier than 85 mins was very poor against O'Shea all match.
Once again all three CM are all right passing sideways but not enough creativity in them to break down a stubborn defence and with that narrow midfield there was AGAIN no real width.
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PWS and Ads, are you miserable yet?
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I think we can clearly say Lambert's honeymoon is over. Right now if he resigned tonight I wouldn't be bothered.
This
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Lambert has stopped me wanting to go. Today was my first Saturday I could make it for a while but I thought fuck it, we are shit at home anyway, not worth the money and effort. Im so glad I didn't. Gutted for my cousin who travelled up from Plymouth
We have been fucking awful at home since Martin O'Neill was here in all fairness.
Lambert has made some mistakes but slaughtering him alone for the home form is not really a true picture.
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I support Lambert but this is happening way too often.
We are probably a better team than last year because we are more resolute, but the football has been horrific most of the season.
He needs to buy us some inspiration in January because too many of these players aren't good enough.
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I think we can clearly say Lambert's honeymoon is over. Right now if he resigned tonight I wouldn't be bothered.
This
Indeed.
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Lambert you are slowly draining all the Villa life left inside of me , you are sucking me dry .
What did McLeish do to you then?
Poor result and sounded like a woeful performance, but a clean sheet and another point.
We clearly need 2-3 forward thinking players that can create and control games for us going forward. We don't have that in the squad at the moment. Until we do it will carry on.
that makes it all good then Ozz - it was bloody pathetic mate
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I think we can clearly say Lambert's honeymoon is over. Right now if he resigned tonight I wouldn't be bothered.
This
This x2. At this rate we will remain relegation candidates for another season or two. We are light years off where we even need to be to be on the road to recovery. We nicked a point today against one of the worst sides in the league, at home!
We could so easily have lost that game.
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Aimless, clueless, feckless, classless and useless. This was sub-McLeish.
I really don't see the big picture. We lack quality and Lambert is tactically clueless. The players are well short on ability and ideas. We work hard, we run a lot and it's getting some results, with no small amount of luck along the way. But what happens when the luck runs out and the results start getting worse?
I'm getting fed up with it to be honest. We'll probably finish comfortably safe from the drop zone this season, but with what ambition? With how much quality? We play wretched football. There's not an ounce of consideration or composure.
Being defensively more resolute this season is good, but much like McLeish's season, if we lose 2-3 key players throughout the team, we could well falter. We can't afford to lose Vlaar or Clark, because then the solidity is gone.
If Benteke continues to struggle and look like he couldn't give a toss, then we'll struggle to score.
We're awful at home. We grind out results away I suppose, but with no style whatsoever.
I've lost faith in Lamberts ability to put us in the right direction. His goal, which he made clear, was to have us playing football in the right way. Passing, movement, on the deck. That's nowhere near close. He's not even signed the right players to do that because right through our side we've got players with substandard ball control and passing ability.
As for today. Vlaar, Clark and Gabby did okay. Everyone else was poor.
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Some draws feel like wins and some feel like defeats. That feels like a defeat.
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We should have been 1-0 down at halftime except for the miss of the season. Absolute garbage. So so tired of this shit winding me up. As others have said, of lambert resigned I would not give a shit. The man has a shit plan A and that's it. If it doesn't work then there is zero room for alteration
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Christ it was cold in the second half. Benteke was woeful second half. Draw fair result. Too cold to type more
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Lambert has stopped me wanting to go. Today was my first Saturday I could make it for a while but I thought fuck it, we are shit at home anyway, not worth the money and effort. Im so glad I didn't. Gutted for my cousin who travelled up from Plymouth
We have been fucking awful at home since Martin O'Neill was here in all fairness.
Lambert has made some mistakes but slaughtering him alone for the home form is not really a true picture.
He has had two full pre-seasons, the FULL backing of the fans despite some of the worst performances that I have ever seen from villa and money to spend and he is still serving up turgid, impotent, football, at home against a relegation candidate a third of the way into his second season. Garbage.
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Well, I'm glad I missed this one.
Not impressed, but reports of recent Blunderland performances suggest they are more resilient than under the Fascist.
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Aimless, clueless, feckless, classless and useless. This was sub-McLeish.
I really don't see the big picture. We lack quality and Lambert is tactically clueless. The players are well short on ability and ideas. We work hard, we run a lot and it's getting some results, with no small amount of luck along the way. But what happens when the luck runs out and the results start getting worse?
I'm getting fed up with it to be honest. We'll probably finish comfortably safe from the drop zone this season, but with what ambition? With how much quality? We play wretched football. There's not an ounce of consideration or composure.
Being defensively more resolute this season is good, but much like McLeish's season, if we lose 2-3 key players throughout the team, we could well falter. We can't afford to lose Vlaar or Clark, because then the solidity is gone.
If Benteke continues to struggle and look like he couldn't give a toss, then we'll struggle to score.
We're awful at home. We grind out results away I suppose, but with no style whatsoever.
I've lost faith in Lamberts ability to put us in the right direction. His goal, which he made clear, was to have us playing football in the right way. Passing, movement, on the deck. That's nowhere near close. He's not even signed the right players to do that because right through our side we've got players with substandard ball control and passing ability.
As for today. Vlaar, Clark and Gabby did okay. Everyone else was poor.
Post of the season for me - well said!
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Poor result and sounded like a woeful performance, but a clean sheet and another point.
The day we start celebrating a point and a clean sheet against a team that hasn't scored away since August will be a very sad day indeed.
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I really am struggling to see the plan. It really is tedious. We ended last season so well and started this season with some gusto but I don't see it now. Off the field we are treading water and living off our financial stomach acid and on the field it's just boring. Especially at home.
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The almost total lack of composure in possession is very worrying.
I also wonder what he sees in Luna, because what I see is a clown way out of his depth.
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Turgid stuff.
So many of our side have an atrocious first touch it's untrue. That, coupled with a scattering of truly half assed performances meant once again coming away from Villa Park fed up and underwhelmed.
The sad part is, its all starting to get incredibly, incredibly predictable.
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Formation doesn't work at home! We can see it, why cant he? Because we're keeping clean sheets now against teams with mediocre attacks Lambert seems to think that's progress but its come at the expense of our attack at the other end. Midfield creativity seriously lacking and Weimann/Agbonlahor are expected to create their own chances. From all accounts Benteke anonymous today, how long before he decides he wants out? Amazingly though, we're tenth.
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complete and utter shit yet again. our goal led a charmed life today and sunderland were certainly the better side.
our forwards were woeful, everyone wanted the golden trio reinstated for the game and got their wish. gabby ran around a bit but only in areas that werent going to hurt the opposition. playing for the galleries rather than offering a threat. same old same old. reckon weimann's career will fizzle out ala Albrighton. Benteke's lack of effort today was a new low for the shirt. Yorke at Everton type behaviour.
positives .....thought westwood was decent. Clark was too apart from getting beaten in the air for Borini's header
not sure how we ended up with a clean sheet, luck really. both full backs were shite.
guzan 6
bacuna 4
vlaar 5
clark 6
luna 5
kea 5
westwood 7
delph 6
weimann 5
benteke 2
gabby 5
tonev - just absolutely hopeless
albrighton - flashed one nice cross in but gabby and benteke were both on their heels
lambert 5 - the selection everyone wanted but team was horribly flat today. tried to change it to 442 but gabby started playing in midfield then bizarrely. The change that brought us the win against Cardiff should surely have been replicated again today. Need to get Lowton back in for sure.
In summary, we are complete fucking muck.
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Draw fair result.
Can't agree with that PWS. We were lucky to get away with a point.
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We're in the top half. Every cloud!
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Benteke was absolutely dreadful. O'Shea and Brown had good matches but it wasn't like they were facing much. We looked better when we switched to a 4-4-2 but still woeful. Sunderland have nothing about them in all honesty. They were second best the entire match in what was probably the worst performance from a Villa team under Lambert. All they did was sit back and, as usual, against teams like that we couldn't break them down. I'm disappointed, it was a horrendous game but the future is still bright under Lambert in my opinion.
Looking on the plus side we're in the top half of the table as it stands. Plus we still have plenty of easy fixtures against shit like Fulham, Stoke and Palace before the New Year comes around.
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People losing faith a third of the way into the second season shows how predictably fickle it all is.
Not defending the display, but if those of you who have lost faith can suggest a better replacement in the circumstances I would love to hear it.
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Wasn't today an "easy fixture?"
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I liken our side (the imports mainly) to being carried away on holiday in Greece. You know when it's a beautiful evening, and it's the last night of the holiday. The Retsina wine is tasting absolutely fabulous so as a going home present you decide to push the boat out and bring home half a dozen bottles, that again in September taste ok once home. Then the winter draws in and they turn into foul imports totally unconsumable and eventually get thrown out before you end up having a glass of vinegar.
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we needed quality bringing in and hes bought players in that are not good enough , we are even going back to the Albrightons to help us out and there are signings he bought last year that cant get into this poor team .
He as had nearly 18 months and we are seeing too many of these performances , no tactics , no motivation , nothing , he is clueless .
we are going back in my opinion .
We wont go down as I think there is 3 other teams who are worse and thought Sunderland was one of them but this is not good enough.
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Lambert has stopped me wanting to go. Today was my first Saturday I could make it for a while but I thought fuck it, we are shit at home anyway, not worth the money and effort. Im so glad I didn't. Gutted for my cousin who travelled up from Plymouth
We have been fucking awful at home since Martin O'Neill was here in all fairness.
Lambert has made some mistakes but slaughtering him alone for the home form is not really a true picture.
I thought we were average at home under O Neill. I'd take stinkin average at the moment over utterly piss poor.
We look totally clueless under Lambert. There's plenty of hard work, running and youthful exuberance, but tactically it's clueless, and we've been unable to do what we did from Feb-March because teams have worked us out. What we did then was hardly subtle either. It worked, but was always going to be short term because teams will wise up to it.
This season we're very much McLeish-esque. Fairly solid, tough to beat, no style whatsoever. We could nick the odd goal here and there. Under McLeish we were in a similarly solid and safe position until Jan. Then we lost Petrov, Dunne and Bent all between Jan-Feb and it went tits up. The defence wasn't as good. The guy getting the goals was gone, and our best midfielder had gone.
If we lose Vlaar for example, and 1-2 other better players longer term, would Lambert have an answer? I don't think he would. I think we'd implode as badly as we did under McLeish. Right now it's Vlaar and Clark largely responsible for getting us results because they've been pretty solid. We looked less solid last time out because of Baker playing centrally.
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Turgid stuff.
So many of our side have an atrocious first touch it's untrue. That, coupled with a scattering of truly half assed performances meant once again coming away from Villa Park fed up and underwhelmed.
The sad part is, its all starting to get incredibly, incredibly predictable.
One of the problems is that if you look at those who put in half-arsed performances, then look at the options to replace them, there aren't any.
I am as pleased as the next man that we are FFP compliant now, but look at the state of that squad. There are not many weaker squads in the league.
We are, however, tenth, somehow. If that is the basis on which we are going to start to play some good football, then fine, but that needs to start happening pretty quickly because, patient though we are, people are not going to put up with absolute guff like that at home for much longer.
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Aimless, clueless, feckless, classless and useless. This was sub-McLeish.
I really don't see the big picture. We lack quality and Lambert is tactically clueless. The players are well short on ability and ideas. We work hard, we run a lot and it's getting some results, with no small amount of luck along the way. But what happens when the luck runs out and the results start getting worse?
I'm getting fed up with it to be honest. We'll probably finish comfortably safe from the drop zone this season, but with what ambition? With how much quality? We play wretched football. There's not an ounce of consideration or composure.
Being defensively more resolute this season is good, but much like McLeish's season, if we lose 2-3 key players throughout the team, we could well falter. We can't afford to lose Vlaar or Clark, because then the solidity is gone.
If Benteke continues to struggle and look like he couldn't give a toss, then we'll struggle to score.
We're awful at home. We grind out results away I suppose, but with no style whatsoever.
I've lost faith in Lamberts ability to put us in the right direction. His goal, which he made clear, was to have us playing football in the right way. Passing, movement, on the deck. That's nowhere near close. He's not even signed the right players to do that because right through our side we've got players with substandard ball control and passing ability.
As for today. Vlaar, Clark and Gabby did okay. Everyone else was poor.
I agree with all of that SuperT. I would add that Benteke was garbage as he wasn't at the races at all. He made O'Shea look world class! Did Benteke win one header? Not that I remember!
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Wasn't today an "easy fixture?"
I expect us to beat Southampton away. That's how odd the season has been. Today was dire. Sack the manager talk is utterly ludicrous. We've gone from a team that opens up like your every day street tramp to one trying to figure out how to still remain creative while tight at the back. Days like this, shit though it feels are to be expected.
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People losing faith a third of the way into the second season shows how predictably fickle it all is.
Not defending the display, but if those of you who have lost faith can suggest a better replacement in the circumstances I would love to hear it.
I don't think its fickle when we have been consistently serving up shit for a long period if time, with no attempt to alter it
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People losing faith a third of the way into the second season shows how predictably fickle it all is.
Not defending the display, but if those of you who have lost faith can suggest a better replacement in the circumstances I would love to hear it.
Maybe they are losing faith because we don't seem to be moving in the right direction. When we saw the fixture list we knew this run was a chance to pick up points and build a bit of momentum at home given that we have been fighting relegation for three years and have won about eight times at home in those three years.
I think fans will be forgiving if they see effort and endeavor (as we did last year). They will be less forgiving when they see a lack of effort and displays that are boring as we are seeing as this season progresses.
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People losing faith a third of the way into the second season shows how predictably fickle it all is.
Not defending the display, but if those of you who have lost faith can suggest a better replacement in the circumstances I would love to hear it.
I haven't lost faith in him yet, but why must those who have done come up with a better man to replace him?
There are plenty of people saying they've lost faith but almost nobody saying we should sack him.
And that stuff about fickle is cliched nonsense, too. It's not like we started with a clean slate. Last season was abysmal too.
I still gave faith in him but to suggest those who feel otherwise are fickle or that there aren't reasons to do so strikes me as burying your head in the sand.
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People losing faith a third of the way into the second season shows how predictably fickle it all is.
Not defending the display, but if those of you who have lost faith can suggest a better replacement in the circumstances I would love to hear it.
Are you saying there is not one manager out there who could do a better job than Lambert?
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The almost total lack of composure in possession is very worrying.
I also wonder what he sees in Luna, because what I see is a clown way out of his depth.
yeah luna is a charlatan of a footballer. No heart, brain, strength or positional sense
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Wasn't today an "easy fixture?"
I expect us to beat Southampton away. That's how odd the season has been. Today was dire. Sack the manager talk is utterly ludicrous. We've gone from a team that opens up like your every day street tramp to one trying to figure out how to still remain creative while tight at the back. Days like this, shit though it feels are to be expected.
Right now I look at a trip to St Marys as daunting as it would be to visit Old Trafford. Arsenal and Chelsea aside I cant think of any performances where we've looked solid and consistently good for 90 mins. I may be being unfair but we're going to get a hammering sooner or later and I can see it happening next week. We're hoping to snatch a goal at the minute and hope for the best. Lambert is tactically inept!
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The almost total lack of composure in possession is very worrying.
I also wonder what he sees in Luna, because what I see is a clown way out of his depth.
yeah luna is a charlatan of a footballer. No heart, brain, strength or positional sense
Positionally, he is terrifying. Sadly, Bennett is no better. I have no idea what he saw in either of them.
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People losing faith a third of the way into the second season shows how predictably fickle it all is.
Not defending the display, but if those of you who have lost faith can suggest a better replacement in the circumstances I would love to hear it.
Yawn.
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there must be managers out there like the Soton manager . These scot managers do
seem to bring me down ;)
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If Benteke is indeed not up for it, he needs to be dropped.
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Sending out a group of players who can't string 5 passes together and consistently balls up even the simplest 5 yard passes is not good enough at this level. You can blame the players, but the person who's head is first on the chopping block is the manager, and this is mostly his team now too.
If one of our players was on Mastermind they'd strike out with 0 points. For one they'd be clueless and wouldn't know the answer, and for another they wouldn't be able to move on because they can't pass.
I think our next managerial appointment needs to be ballsy. We need someone who's tactically astute and can get the side passing the ball. Randy will have to fork out to attract a good coach, possibly from abroad. I don't think it's time to sack Lambert by any means, but a whole season of this, even if we're safe at the end, isn't good enough.
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While Benteke was gash, especially second half, I was very surprised at the vitriol aimed at from a number of fans in the Lower North.
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we seemed lacklustre as well , we didnt bother closing down , we just seemed limp. No passion and no cutting edge again but we have known this for a long time.
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People saying we are mid-table should look at the table. We are three points ahead of Cardiff who are 17th. This could very easily go badly wrong, especially if we can't beat the likes of Sunderland at home.
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They were second best the entire match in what was probably the worst performance from a Villa team under Lambert.
Oh come on, remember Chelsea away and Spurs and Wigan at home last season? I'd take this game over those three travesties any time.
It was rubbish, yes, we're still a team in transition as well; I don't think Lambert knows his best formation and I don't think he's honest about our style of football. However, we are still building a team IMO; I'd like to think this is not the finished article.
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The almost total lack of composure in possession is very worrying.
I also wonder what he sees in Luna, because what I see is a clown way out of his depth.
yeah luna is a charlatan of a footballer. No heart, brain, strength or positional sense
Positionally, he is terrifying. Sadly, Bennett is no better. I have no idea what he saw in either of them.
and the alternative is moving to Clark to left back and bringing Baker in....
at least baker can physically compete and does give his all. nowhere near good enough either mind
if either clark or vlaar got injured I think we would start conceding goals to the level of last season
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We have had tough times and crap results with many managers in the last 15 years.
I struggle to remain positive, and really feel for the fans that go to home games week in and week out without reward.
What happened to winning at home?
If this an experiment when do we see some Fizz and reaction ?
On the other hand we can not just keep having new management teams.
But, if we fuck up and do not buy experienced players who can offer more in Jan I despair.
Is it a plan that the next guy comes in with no liability in overpaid players etc ?
For me Lambert has until this time next year or what was the point of finishing 6th so many times and agreeing it was not good enough.
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The almost total lack of composure in possession is very worrying.
I also wonder what he sees in Luna, because what I see is a clown way out of his depth.
yeah luna is a charlatan of a footballer. No heart, brain, strength or positional sense
Positionally, he is terrifying. Sadly, Bennett is no better. I have no idea what he saw in either of them.
For a Spaniard he's shocking on the ball too. Likewise Bacuna on the other-side is rapidly appearing to be Hollands answer to Reo-Coker, with the addition of the free-kick ability of Ronaldo. But we can't have one of our main tactics be to win freekicks on the edge of the opponents box.
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we seemed lacklustre as well , we didnt bother closing down , we just seemed limp. No passion and no cutting edge again but we have known this for a long time.
That's what I was getting at earlier. I thought the strategy was to buy youthful,hungry players who are full of determination. I haven't seen that from us for the past few games. We only woke up after the triple substitution at Baggies.
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Lambert played pretty much our best team. Poyet set up to frustrate and shut up shop.
Yeah it sucks we couldnt unlock them but these things happen.
2 pts dropped but hats off to Sunderland for grinding out a point.
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People losing faith a third of the way into the second season shows how predictably fickle it all is.
Not defending the display, but if those of you who have lost faith can suggest a better replacement in the circumstances I would love to hear it.
I haven't lost faith in him yet, but why must those who have done come up with a better man to replace him?
There are plenty of people saying they've lost faith but almost nobody saying we should sack him.
And that stuff about fickle is cliched nonsense, too. It's not like we started with a clean slate. Last season was abysmal too.
I still gave faith in him but to suggest those who feel otherwise are fickle or that there aren't reasons to do so strikes me as burying your head in the sand.
Well said paulie.
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Well 2 hours of my life I can never get back.
Dire overall though Clark and Gabby did well. Benteke was shite.
Anyway thanks to Legion for H&V back issues. Nice to meet you and look more or less howcI thought you would.
Hope the beer in German market is better.
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While Benteke was gash, especially second half, I was very surprised at the vitriol aimed at from a number of fans in the Lower North.
it was richly deserved imo
players not trying is unacceptable
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Total dross. Boring, lacking creativity, displaying little skill. Woeful.
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Lambert played pretty much our best team. Poyet set up to frustrate and shut up shop.
Yeah it sucks we couldnt unlock them but these things happen.
2 pts dropped but hats off to Sunderland for grinding out a point.
I like your style :P
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The stat that our passing accuracy is the worst in the league along with palace says a lot about this team .
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While Benteke was gash, especially second half, I was very surprised at the vitriol aimed at from a number of fans in the Lower North.
it was richly deserved imo
players not trying is unacceptable
He should have been taken off much earlier.
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Beats me how Lambert is still the manager ,it really does. At any other club he would have been sacked for the home performances alone .I say it nearly every week ,he is clueless .
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33,036 attendance today - gates are going to drop further with this shocking brand of football.
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The stat that our passing accuracy is the worst in the league along with palace says a lot about this team .
Even the simplest passes appear beyond us at times. Westwood is turning into Bannan too. He'll pull off a good Hollywood pass (yes, yes! the term is not dead!) but from then on every long pass is just telegraphed. He makes it so obvious what he's doing too.
That said at least he can get the five yard passes on target, which is more than can be said about the rest. KEA was anonymous too.
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Aimless, clueless, feckless, classless and useless. This was sub-McLeish.
I really don't see the big picture. We lack quality and Lambert is tactically clueless. The players are well short on ability and ideas. We work hard, we run a lot and it's getting some results, with no small amount of luck along the way. But what happens when the luck runs out and the results start getting worse?
I'm getting fed up with it to be honest. We'll probably finish comfortably safe from the drop zone this season, but with what ambition? With how much quality? We play wretched football. There's not an ounce of consideration or composure.
Being defensively more resolute this season is good, but much like McLeish's season, if we lose 2-3 key players throughout the team, we could well falter. We can't afford to lose Vlaar or Clark, because then the solidity is gone.
If Benteke continues to struggle and look like he couldn't give a toss, then we'll struggle to score.
We're awful at home. We grind out results away I suppose, but with no style whatsoever.
I've lost faith in Lamberts ability to put us in the right direction. His goal, which he made clear, was to have us playing football in the right way. Passing, movement, on the deck. That's nowhere near close. He's not even signed the right players to do that because right through our side we've got players with substandard ball control and passing ability.
As for today. Vlaar, Clark and Gabby did okay. Everyone else was poor.
Post of the season for me - well said!
Agree, shite..but got a point..what's the point?
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Beats me how Lambert is still the manager ,it really does. At any other club he would have been sacked for the home performances alone .I say it nearly every week ,he is clueless .
I think the honeymoon is over - he is very lucky he followed Mcleish and has been given so much time but I sense fans are beginning to lose faith in him at some pace now.
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Lambert won't be sacked whilst he keeps us in the Division. This is now the ambition of the club. I don't entirely blame Lambert given that it was revealed in midweek that a lot of the players he bought in cost a lot less than was advertised - which was already horrendously low by Premier League standards. Villa want to buck the trend of the entire rest of the division by going with young, hungry players - unfortunately the quality just isn't there.
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Everton have been harder pressed for cash than us over the past decade but they look outside bets for the Champion's League places because they invested properly and had a coherent strategy to management etc.
We have been a feckin shambles. In fact, Everton post Moyes did exactly what we should have done. Got in an ambitious manager and backed him. I still trace our problems to the dithering of Randy after MON went. The right appointment there and we could have got to where MON was unable to take us. Since that our finances have gone to pot because of bad business/bad league positioning.
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The worst 90 minutes of 'football' I have endured for a long long time. Woeful European bargain basement additions in the summer + clueless managerial tactics = that shower of shite . Awful.
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Garbage.
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Dear any Arab with a few bob...
Good club with solid history, big ground, wants a bit of the Man City treatment.
Sincerely,
Aston Villa F.C
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woeful boring crap
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No doubt Lambert will be over the moon about another clean sheet and telling us he is not worried about Benteke or the failure to win at home yet again .
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Dear any Arab with a few bob...
Good club with solid history, big ground, wants a bit of the Man City treatment.
Sincerely,
Aston Villa F.C
Sunderland 1 - 0 Man City Zillionaires
Funny old game innit ;-)
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
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Well prince William chose a stinker of a game for his first ever visit to villa park - as someone said earlier he could have had so much more fun at home with the delicious kate!
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I wouldn't have begrudged Sunderland that win at all, had a goal offside, missed a sitter and hit the bar in the 2nd half. That's a decent enough claim to win the game right there. They were better than expected after the opening 15 mins when we were on top, passed it quite well in tight areas and got forward well in numbers, much better than Cardiff the other week.
Good do we need a number 10 or someone who has some idea of how to pass forward in the final third of the pitch. Gabby did well today in fairness but if you're relying on someone who hasn't scored yet this season to break the deadlock it's a bit of an ask. Weimann is infuriating me, we can't say it's just the early weeks of the season now, it's December in a few hours and he has 1 league goal. He takes up some intelligent positions on the pitch but his touch just isn't good enough on a consistant basis and too many attacks break down with him.
Benteke? I believe it's a case of just bad form. It happens. You can't say he hasn't looked interested this season when he started with 4 goals in the first 5 league games. Looks like the injury at Norwich took 10% out of him. He'll start scoring again soon so I'm not worrying about him.
Vlaar was excellent again, our defence isn't an issue now playing against bottom half teams. Ultimately though a poor performance and missed opportunity but as ever with us let's see what these two away games bring as that's where the good performances and results occur.
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
If you are happy to watch that sort of drivel then fair play to you - it was crap and yet you think he's doing a fine job ?
Words fail me !
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Everton have been harder pressed for cash than us over the past decade but they look outside bets for the Champion's League places because they invested properly and had a coherent strategy to management etc.
We have been a feckin shambles. In fact, Everton post Moyes did exactly what we should have done. Got in an ambitious manager and backed him. I still trace our problems to the dithering of Randy after MON went. The right appointment there and we could have got to where MON was unable to take us. Since that our finances have gone to pot because of bad business/bad league positioning.
Since you brought up the comparison, what Everton have done is mix youth and experience in their purchases. They have some gnarled CB and an experienced MF string-puller.
Lambert has - in contrast - steadfastly committed to inexpensive youngsters and unknowns. It's a singleminded strategy which ain't delivering as yet.
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No doubt Lambert will be over the moon about another clean sheet..
Paul Lambert: "It is another clean sheet and we had some lads back from injury who got some match time under their belts."
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People losing faith a third of the way into the second season shows how predictably fickle it all is.
Not defending the display, but if those of you who have lost faith can suggest a better replacement in the circumstances I would love to hear it.
Heard this all before. There are more managers out there than the 20 in the Premier league. We haven't become such a sad state that we can't attract better managers than dire Blues or Norwich ones. Use a bit of imaginative thinking for once.
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
That is a great point. I agree in scheme of things as Lambert made an excellent point of only being here 18 months so it is a work in progress. If we beat Southampton on wednesday 4points would be a great return. I would like to see a few loan signings in Jan de bruyne and essien of chelsea to come in my calls.
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Yes, we have young, technically crude, inexperienced players and a youngish, tactically naive, moderately experienced manager. But in my opinion, we have a bigger problem. There's no expectation and no pressure. The manager knows it'll take something of a catastrophe to get sacked. The players know they will get picked because, well, who else is going to take their place? We've downgraded our expectations sufficiently, so that a mid table finish will be considered a success. Who busts a gut for mid table? Nobody.
The result is a dreary, uninspiring outfit festering in a culture of complacency and mediocrity.
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We are so painful to watch that its almost embarrassing to say that that these are professional footballers playing for Aston Villa.
I've stopped going down Villa Park because I simply can't justify the cost and time going to watch these displays week in week out (and full respect to those of you that still do but I notice this may have been our lower attendance so far this season?)...and even watching this online feels like I've been ripped off and wasted yet another afternoon.
Its hard to say who's to blame...it can't be the players fault if they've been signed and simply aren't good enough, so do you blame Lambert and his back room staff for bringing in cheap sub-standard players, do you blame Lambert and his back room staff for failings with tactics or coaching...or do you blame Lerner for mismanagement of the club under previous managers and subsequently enforcing financial restraints on Lambert.
There's so much thats wrong both on and off the pitch that its hard to know where to start.
On a positive note...our results have largely improved from last season (but it seems even Lambert can polish a turd).
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We need to improve, that much is obvious.
Benteke looks to be playing within himself, I wonder whether it's concern about his recent injury just before a WC year, or whether he's been tapped up. But he's key to our frontline functioning, when he's off colour, we look short of ideas.
The midfield is pish, and has been for a while. Though I thought Westwood was better today.
It's another clean sheet (despite them having the better chances) so whilst I'm not blown away by Lambert's tactical brilliance, talk of throwing him overboard does seem premature. He does seem to learn, based on our improvement in the second half of last season and our defensive resolve this.
We are short of quality in a number of key areas though, and that needs to be addressed. He's signed two left backs and I don't particularly rate either. We could do with at least one new CM in Jan and an attacking mid/ second striker to play in between the lines, someone with a bit of guile.
Failure to get the last two could mean more games at home like that today. And I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.
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They were second best the entire match in what was probably the worst performance from a Villa team under Lambert.
Oh come on, remember Chelsea away and Spurs and Wigan at home last season? I'd take this game over those three travesties any time.
It was rubbish, yes, we're still a team in transition as well; I don't think Lambert knows his best formation and I don't think he's honest about our style of football. However, we are still building a team IMO; I'd like to think this is not the finished article.
With a manager like Lambert I fear there is no actual finished article, just endless talking amongst fans of plans and youth and nit picking amongst the bones for hope.
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This is all part if the nothing season the club has planned.I will take it,mid table finish after the past 3.I see it as very slow progress.
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Sideways, backwards, sideways, forward, backwards, sideways,sideways, backwards, sideways,sideways, backwards, sideways, sideways,sideways,backwards,backwards WHACK!!
It's fucking easy to be a football manager.
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Not sure how to read this one. When I saw O'Shea and Brown were paired at CB for Sunderland I suspected we might struggle even more than usual to score - they may not seem all that individually but they were well schooled at Man Yoo and as a pair are probably pretty robust.
That said Lambert does appear to have lost the plot somewhere along the line and it really is difficult to see any longer where he is trying to take us. All that guff about the players he signed being even cheaper than reported smacks a bit of getting some excuses in for their under performance.
I think he and Lerner are both very close to alienating the supporters once again. A very decent January window is required I think, with some proven experience and quality need badly.
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For Lambert to really succeed and turn this club into a footballing side rather than well intentioned, hard working headless chickens, he's either got to find some serious nous from somewhere, or we need to employ a tactician to work with him, be it a better number 2, or a D.O.F.
I really don't think he's got the nous to be honest. My worry too is that, though we're safe, we've seen how easily we can slip into a bad run in the last couple of seasons.
Again what he says he wants, and what he's purchased don't really match either. He's made a few astute signings, but still, most of them are questionnable as to whether they're Prem quality. He's got people who can run for 90 minutes and will work hard, mostly with good attitudes, but players with genuine quality? Aside from Benteke, I'm not sure.
Who had the better plan in terms of where the club was going, and who we had, and were going to sign, Houllier or Lambert? For me it was Houllier. It could have been a very interesting summer in 11 had he stayed.
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Yes, we have young, technically crude, inexperienced players and a youngish, tactically naive, moderately experienced manager. But in my opinion, we have a bigger problem. There's no expectation and no pressure. The manager knows it'll take something of a catastrophe to get sacked. The players know they will get picked because, well, who else is going to take their place? We've downgraded our expectations sufficiently, so that a mid table finish will be considered a success. Who busts a gut for mid table? Nobody.
The result is a dreary, uninspiring outfit festering in a culture of complacency and mediocrity.
Bang on for me. Every point, no matter what is greeted by and large with a 'stop fucking moaning it's progress'. A 0-0 celebrated because the manager couldn't organise a side to keep a clean sheet last season.
Anything could happen and there will be an excuse from '' who can do better?'' to '' it's a goal better than last season''.
It's simply not good enough, we're aiming for the gutter.
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Cant think of anything positive to say about that performance.....but you can be sure Lambert will!
I was very cold and throughly demoralised by the end of the match. Most supporters would have picked the same starting eleven so what Lambert can do now I just dont know.
Luna was shocking even by his standards and our much lauded centre forward gave the impression that he was not exactly over doing it with the effort.
It a good job for us that there are so many clubs with poor forward lines this season.
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We can't play Westwood and Kea in the same midfield at HOME. I've said this a million times. Lowton should have been RB with Bacuna on the right of a midfield 3. The lack of creativity is shocking and at home we should be having more of a go
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We can't play Westwood and Kea in the same midfield at HOME. I've said this a million times. Lowton should have been RB with Bacuna on the right of a midfield 3. The lack of creativity is shocking and at home we should be having more of a go
To be fair Bacuna had a touch like a dinosaur today. I don't get him sometimes he looks one of our better technically adept players and othertimes like he's never touched a ball before.
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I think he and Lerner are both very close to alienating the supporters once again. A very decent January window is required I think, with some proven experience and quality need badly.
I wouldn't hold your breath. If it didn't happen last January, why would it happen this?
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So we've failed to score in 4 out of 7 home games now. Unbelievable.
In the three we have scored we have one from a corner, two Bacuna free kicks and just three goals from open play. Three in seven games. Horrific.
We are desperate for a number 10, an attacking midfielder with a bit of guile. Delph/El Ahmedi/Westwood at Villa Park is three players doing two jobs. It's been obvious for over a year now, how Lambert can't see it is beyond me.
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I Think we need Lowton back in at right back, push bacuna further forward. If we stay with 3 up, put gabby left bacuna right andi on the bench. If we go with two up, play gabby just off benteke.
Tell Guzan to play it out from the back instead of whacking it. Put Bennett back in for Luna. Give one of the midfielders the job of sitting and keeping things simple, the other two need to link with the forwards, otherwise we are outnumbered.
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
If you are happy to watch that sort of drivel then fair play to you - it was crap and yet you think he's doing a fine job ?
Words fail me !
Well, Eastie, I'm trying to look at the bigger picture and the job that I hope/think Lambert is trying to do. If, in two/three years' time, we are playing awful football and we haven't progressed under Lambert, I would understand fan frustration. I agree it was a stinker of a game from us but look at how Lambert is trying to build us up again and make us stable. We are taking - in my opinion - small, assured steps in the right direction. Hitting tenth spot is not what a club like Villa should aspire to but, for the moment, I'll take it. For the first time in three seasons I feel as though we are moving back on an upward curve.
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Lambert said: "It wasn't a good game. We didn't do enough to win but we will take a point.
"For every negative there is a positive and we have another clean sheet. That's also the first game some of my players have played for a month.
"We can't kid the supporters but we'll probably play worse and win but the way it went we'll take a point."
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
If you are happy to watch that sort of drivel then fair play to you - it was crap and yet you think he's doing a fine job ?
Words fail me !
Well, Eastie, I'm trying to look at the bigger picture and the job that I hope/think Lambert is trying to do. If, in two/three years' time, we are playing awful football and we haven't progressed under Lambert, I would understand fan frustration. I agree it was a stinker of a game from us but look at how Lambert is trying to build us up again and make us stable. We are taking - in my opinion - small, assured steps in the right direction. Hitting tenth spot is not what a club like Villa should aspire to but, for the moment, I'll take it. For the first time in three seasons I feel as though we are moving back on an upward curve.
Fair enough billy.
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
If you are happy to watch that sort of drivel then fair play to you - it was crap and yet you think he's doing a fine job ?
Words fail me !
Well, Eastie, I'm trying to look at the bigger picture and the job that I hope/think Lambert is trying to do. If, in two/three years' time, we are playing awful football and we haven't progressed under Lambert, I would understand fan frustration. I agree it was a stinker of a game from us but look at how Lambert is trying to build us up again and make us stable. We are taking - in my opinion - small, assured steps in the right direction. Hitting tenth spot is not what a club like Villa should aspire to but, for the moment, I'll take it. For the first time in three seasons I feel as though we are moving back on an upward curve.
If we are still playing terrible football in 3 years time he would have had 5 years of poor results and there is virtually no chance we would be in the top flight anymore. I'm personally not willing to let someone have 5 years of poor performances.
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Is Lambert really the problem? What would be the point of changing the manager when there is little or no money to spend. If WBA are outbidding us on players then the problem is higher up than the dugout
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Benteke seems to have lost all his confidence - not just today but look at the chances (and penalty) he missed against Everton. Maybe he was a one season wonder. Maybe other teams have found out that if you put 2 or 3 players on him, and Guzan (probably under instruction) continues to launch the ball at him, he's completely negated. Whatever the reason his game against Liverpool last season seems surreal in comparison to his form this season.
As for the game today - I'm fed up of getting served up with that turgid, unimaginative crap practically every home game. I understand the theory that a team can be greater than the sum of its parts, but we have too many players who just aren't up to it at this level. I'm not against Lambert - yet. But 7 home wins in his 26 so far simply isn't good enough. It's boring
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I'm still expecting the real Lambert team to show itself, because the one at the moment doesn't justify patience, money and expectation. He's the master of putting eleven players onto a football pitch and not much else.
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4 games unbeaten including 3 clean sheets. Sunderland Manager described his team's performance as best away game they have played. Yes disappointed we didn't win but not the end of the world.
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
If you are happy to watch that sort of drivel then fair play to you - it was crap and yet you think he's doing a fine job ?
Words fail me !
Well, Eastie, I'm trying to look at the bigger picture and the job that I hope/think Lambert is trying to do. If, in two/three years' time, we are playing awful football and we haven't progressed under Lambert, I would understand fan frustration. I agree it was a stinker of a game from us but look at how Lambert is trying to build us up again and make us stable. We are taking - in my opinion - small, assured steps in the right direction. Hitting tenth spot is not what a club like Villa should aspire to but, for the moment, I'll take it. For the first time in three seasons I feel as though we are moving back on an upward curve.
Unfortunately fans (at any club) are not prepared to watch their team play awful football for two or three years it just wouldnt happen.
Lambert however is in a position where he is safe. Randy Lerner, unless he sells up appears to be quite happy to see us become another mid table team who might have a cup run and he doesnt want any more changes that would cost him a big financial outlay.
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Last on MOTD? They should broadcast the Football League Show before they screen those lowlights.
Just home from the match. Sunderland are dreadful and yet they had more chances. We cannot get through defences and visiting teams know it. Why is Albrighton the answer rather than Lowton and Bacuna in front of him? Benteke's form and confidence is rock bottom.
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Last on MOTD? They should broadcast the Football League Show before they screen those lowlights.
Just home from the match. Sunderland are dreadful and yet they had more chances. We cannot get through defences and visiting teams know it. Why is Albrighton the answer rather than Lowton and Bacuna in front of him? Benteke's form and confidence is rock bottom.
I understand Benteke being frustrated with the lack of service and crap build up play but he should take a look at himself after todays performance. He barely got off the ground for the majority of headers and only once did I see him drop deeper to do something. If he carries on like this Lukaku is a shoe in for the world cup.
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I understand Benteke being frustrated with the lack of service and crap build up play but he should take a look at himself after todays performance. He barely got off the ground for the majority of headers and only once did I see him drop deeper to do something. If he carries on like this Lukaku is a shoe in for the world cup.
Agreed. He has been useless since his return from injury.
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Last on MOTD? They should broadcast the Football League Show before they screen those lowlights.
Just home from the match. Sunderland are dreadful and yet they had more chances. We cannot get through defences and visiting teams know it. Why is Albrighton the answer rather than Lowton and Bacuna in front of him? Benteke's form and confidence is rock bottom.
I understand Benteke being frustrated with the lack of service and crap build up play but he should take a look at himself after todays performance. He barely got off the ground for the majority of headers and only once did I see him drop deeper to do something. If he carries on like this Lukaku is a shoe in for the world cup.
Quite right. And he kept falling over when it was obvious that ref was giving us nothing at all. Ironically, Chris Brunt has just now hit the hard fast goal that Benteke should have, when he opted to try to loop it in after Westwood teed him up in the box.
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Wasn't today an "easy fixture?"
I expect us to beat Southampton away. That's how odd the season has been. Today was dire. Sack the manager talk is utterly ludicrous. We've gone from a team that opens up like your every day street tramp to one trying to figure out how to still remain creative while tight at the back. Days like this, shit though it feels are to be expected.
That is the trouble. We do expect days like this. However, it is being a bit too often. Mañana.
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
If you are happy to watch that sort of drivel then fair play to you - it was crap and yet you think he's doing a fine job ?
Words fail me !
Well, Eastie, I'm trying to look at the bigger picture and the job that I hope/think Lambert is trying to do. If, in two/three years' time, we are playing awful football and we haven't progressed under Lambert, I would understand fan frustration. I agree it was a stinker of a game from us but look at how Lambert is trying to build us up again and make us stable. We are taking - in my opinion - small, assured steps in the right direction. Hitting tenth spot is not what a club like Villa should aspire to but, for the moment, I'll take it. For the first time in three seasons I feel as though we are moving back on an upward curve.
If we are still playing terrible football in 3 years time he would have had 5 years of poor results and there is virtually no chance we would be in the top flight anymore. I'm personally not willing to let someone have 5 years of poor performances.
I'm not willing to let someone have five years of poor performances either. I am, however, prepared to give a guy who has been in the job barely one and a half seasons a chance. Let's not forget the state of the club when he took over. It's not as though Lambert took over a club with a top six squad and a hundred million quid burning a hole in its back pocket. We're playing a long term game here and re-building in a structured, measured way as far as I can see. I'll take the dire nil-nils at the moment as long as I feel and see overall progress.
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(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1488270_754869381207289_1765619159_n.jpg)
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33,036 attendance today - gates are going to drop further with this shocking brand of football.
I think we will struggle to get 40000 for the Utd game.
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(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1488270_754869381207289_1765619159_n.jpg)
Looks like he's been a Villa fan all his life.
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(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1488270_754869381207289_1765619159_n.jpg)
Caption competition sir if ever there was one
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
If you are happy to watch that sort of drivel then fair play to you - it was crap and yet you think he's doing a fine job ?
Words fail me !
You're on good form, Eastie. I totally agree with you.
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(http://i.minus.com/ibeU89fBdBHtm7.gif)
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(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1488270_754869381207289_1765619159_n.jpg)
Caption competition sir if ever there was one
Westwood is going to float every corner in towards Benteke - every single one - and we will have all of our 11 players back every time we defend a corner , never leaving a forward up to break quickly and occupy a couple of defenders.
Easy - I can tell what's going on with my eyes shut - and I've never been here before .
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Hold your horses! Caption Competition thread will be started shortly.
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(http://i.minus.com/ibeU89fBdBHtm7.gif)
Sign him up!
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Sell up Lerner! You've clearly got no ambition or passion for the club. Investment has all but dried up.
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Lucky Sunderland were shit because we definitely were, I'm not saying I want Lambert out but it's gotta improve. We were lucky they hit the bar and missed a sitter because we created fuck all. Midfield is awful and there is a severe lack of quality. I could go on but I can't be arsed
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(http://i.minus.com/ibeU89fBdBHtm7.gif)
Sign him up!
We had God on our side today J.
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We're in tenth spot and the ship is being steadied after a couple of years of serious turmoil. Lambert is doing a fine job in my view.
If you are happy to watch that sort of drivel then fair play to you - it was crap and yet you think he's doing a fine job ?
Words fail me !
Well, Eastie, I'm trying to look at the bigger picture and the job that I hope/think Lambert is trying to do. If, in two/three years' time, we are playing awful football and we haven't progressed under Lambert, I would understand fan frustration. I agree it was a stinker of a game from us but look at how Lambert is trying to build us up again and make us stable. We are taking - in my opinion - small, assured steps in the right direction. Hitting tenth spot is not what a club like Villa should aspire to but, for the moment, I'll take it. For the first time in three seasons I feel as though we are moving back on an upward curve.
If we are still playing terrible football in 3 years time he would have had 5 years of poor results and there is virtually no chance we would be in the top flight anymore. I'm personally not willing to let someone have 5 years of poor performances.
I'm not willing to let someone have five years of poor performances either. I am, however, prepared to give a guy who has been in the job barely one and a half seasons a chance. Let's not forget the state of the club when he took over. It's not as though Lambert took over a club with a top six squad and a hundred million quid burning a hole in its back pocket. We're playing a long term game here and re-building in a structured, measured way as far as I can see. I'll take the dire nil-nils at the moment as long as I feel and see overall progress.
Agree with this
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Lucky Sunderland were shit because we definitely were, I'm not saying I want Lambert out but it's gotta improve. We were lucky they hit the bar and missed a sitter because we created fuck all. Midfield is awful and there is a severe lack of quality. I could go on but I can't be arsed
The sad thing is that most post match home threads are very similar and yet still the abysmal home displays continue.
4-3-3 rarely works at home and kea and Westwood in the same midfield at home is too negative.
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Paul Lambert on Black Cats draw.
Paul Lambert looked to the positive after the 0-0 draw with Sunderland.
Lambert admitted frustration that his team were unable to break down a resolute Black Cats defence.
But he was pleased with the defensive sturdiness of his team as they clocked up their fifth clean sheet this season - the same amount as the whole of the last campaign.
He said: "It was frustrating, yes. I don't think we deserved to win it or lose it. But it was another clean sheet on the positive side of it.
"It's now the same amount of clean sheets as last season.
"Some lads have come back and got more game time, which is another positive. But on the whole we didn't deserve to win the game. We didn't do enough to win. I didn't think we were going to lose it either.
"You have got to keep building. That's four unbeaten now. You always look to the positives. That's the beauty of it.
"It's another game that we might have lost last year. That's the good thing.
"Lads have come back from injury, it's another clean sheet, it's another point and it's another game unbeaten. There's ways to look at it.
"Yes I am disappointed not to win the game. But you always have to be positive."
Lambert was pleased with the contributions of Gabby Agbonlahor and Marc Albrighton - and backed Christian Benteke to come through his own personal barren spell in front of goal.
He continued: "Gabby was a spark who could make things happen.
"Gabby has done very little. He only trained on Friday and he's been out a long time. But the 90 minutes will do him the world of good. He looked very good.
"Since I have been here Marc has been unfortunate with injuries. I let him go to Wigan to get some games and I think he did really fine.
"I thought he deserved to be back in the squad and he looked alright.
"He needs a little run. He can certainly cross the ball, that's for sure. He just needs a break where he can sustain it.
"Christian has not scored. He's having a bit of a barren spell as all players do but I have never seen a player alive who has not had a barren spell.
"You have to keep going. That's football. It builds up your character. He will come through it."
Lambert also spoke of his pride at seeing HRH, the Duke of Cambridge, in the crowd for the clash.
He joked Prince William wouldn't be watching be highlighting of the goalless encounter.
He added: "I don't think he will watch Match of the Day.
"It's the first time he's been here. It's a great thing.
"It was probably not an ideal one to come and watch.
"I knew he was coming to watch. It's a really nice thing for the football club."
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That's an afternoon of my life i'll never get back. Dismal.
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How can Lambert say "It's another game we may have lost last year" when we won that game 6-1?
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Things are mediocre, dull, dreary and we all want so much more, when we are all so miserable it is worth reminding ourselves how we were doing at this point last season.
2012/13 season played 13 games 10 points GD -12
2013/14 season played 13 games 16 points GD -1
I know its a long slow road were travelling on but we are improving, today it may not have felt that we are but those stats dont lie, CHIN UP FELLOW VILLAIN'S
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We may be keeping more clean sheets but we're playing some of the dullest and uninspiring football I've ever seen. Not sure what the plan is or if there is one. Benteke looked like someone who just couldn't be bothered any more. For someone who has the ability to soar and cause mayhem when he puts his mind to it he didn't get off the ground today or contribute at all.
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Worst performance of the season for me. We played the bottom team at home and we're lucky to come away with a point. I wouldn't mind if this was a one off but we've been dishing up shit like this since Lambert took over.
Lerner, invest or sell up. I've had enough.
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Ive lost count of the times we get caught out by short corners at home....driving me nuts
Ive lost count of the times we give the ball back to the opposition from one of our throw-ins.......driving me nuts
Can we not keep a player up the pitch when defending a corner ?
What has Lowton done to annoy the gaffer ?
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Thanks for honouring your promise to get the back issues, Rob. You'll be surprised how many people ask for them then never turn up. Good to meet you aswell. Also, Witton Warrior made good on his Movember promise too. Cheers.
That was dull. Not the worst I've ever seen but dull. They parked the bus and we couldn't break them down plus we got away with it a couple of times, especially with the miss of the season so far. Did Guzan get a fingertip to the shot that hit the bar?
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Thanks for honouring your promise to get the back issues, Rob. You'll be surprised how many people ask for them then never turn up. Good to meet you aswell. Also, Witton Warrior made good on his Movember promise too. Cheers.
That was dull. Not the worst I've ever seen but dull. They parked the bus and we couldn't break them down plus we got away with it a couple of times, especially with the miss of the season so far. Did Guzan get a fingertip to the shot that hit the bar?
I thought I was the only one who saw Guzan touch the header onto the crossbar.
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Things are mediocre, dull, dreary and we all want so much more, when we are all so miserable it is worth reminding ourselves how we were doing at this point last season.
2012/13 season played 13 games 10 points GD -12
2013/14 season played 13 games 16 points GD -1
I know its a long slow road were travelling on but we are improving, today it may not have felt that we are but those stats dont lie, CHIN UP FELLOW VILLAIN'S
Spot on. Until that apostrophe S - WTF?!
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Just back from the game. Did anyone notice 2nd half how the sky turned a lovely reddy grey colour as the winter sun set and it's dying rays illuminated the moody sky. Was quite beautiful.
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(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p296x100/1457551_10151858643748763_1922311562_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/555888_10152075957570320_1856517929_n.jpg)
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That's it thanks.
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(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p296x100/1457551_10151858643748763_1922311562_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/555888_10152075957570320_1856517929_n.jpg)
Beautiful.
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Westwood's delivery is shocking. In fact, I'm not sure what he does for the team. Yes, he can pass sideways and occasionally hit an accurate long pass but what else? We have no defensive midfielder and no creative midfielder. Delph is our only good central midfielder and he had a frustrating game today.
Benteke will score soon. You don't just give up on quality players because they're having a poor run in front of goal. This reminds me of when he first joined and a section of our support came to a ridiculous conclusion after a few games.
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Caught myself looking at that sky instead of the football several times today. Eased the pain
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In the closed season fans said they wanted to see the defence sorted and a mid-table finish was a realistic target. Villa are on track on both counts. Of course it's not always going to be pretty but when you're buying on a budget it will only get you so far. People have mentioned Southampton and how a change of manager has benefited them but let's not forget that they have also spent a few quid since he arrived. I don't believe another managerial change is the answer; Villa need some stability. We all know that the team needs some quality additions but it's not likely to happen so you'll have to accept it and realise there's more to life.
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Bennett-Championship.
El Ahmedi-Lower half Premiership if that.
Westwood-Meh.
Luna-Utter garbage.
Bacuna-Forget free kicks. Practice controlling a ball.
Tonev-Hopelessly raw.
Lowton-Just maybe.
Vlaar-Unconvincing.
Helenius-?
Okore-Who knows, bless him.
Bowery-WTF!
Kozak-7 Million? 7 Million!
Benteke-What a bargain. Why is he so appalling now? If I was his manager I'd be having words. Huge wages, amazing stadium. What's his problem. Go sulk elsewhere.
I don't completely blame Lambert as he has a very tight budget to work with but I can't see this working.
Awful football, awful prospects.
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(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p296x100/1457551_10151858643748763_1922311562_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/555888_10152075957570320_1856517929_n.jpg)
Looks stunning, great photos!
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In the closed season fans said they wanted to see the defence sorted and a mid-table finish was a realistic target. Villa are on track on both counts. Of course it's not always going to be pretty but when you're buying on a budget it will only get you so far. People have mentioned Southampton and how a change of manager has benefited them but let's not forget that they have also spent a few quid since he arrived. I don't believe another managerial change is the answer; Villa need some stability. We all know that the team needs some quality additions but it's not likely to happen so you'll have to accept it and realise there's more to life.
Some people say you have to ignore these results and look at the bigger picture, we're building a side that will grow together slowly but surely.
Well I'm sorry to piss in their chips, but there's an even bigger picture than that I'm afraid.
It's not the seventies any more.
Wake up. Football's changed.
The minute you get a good side together other people will notice. And chances are those people will have more money than you. I'm sure I dont need to spell out the events that follow.
I agree with you NastyLee, you have to accept what we are, because market forces will ensure that things will not change unless serious investment comes our way.
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Transition or not, we can't accept the piss poor excuse for footballing skill we see most weeks now. Even down to the very basics of controlling and passing a ball a couple of yards to a team mate. We might be working on a budget but we're still paying millions for some of these players, and some are internationals too, or have come from a solid standard. Even accounting for buying from lower leagues, the ability to perform simple passes should be a given. We don't see that at all. It's honestly embarrassing to watch sometimes. We are getting some results, we are tough to beat, but our luck will run out if we don't start improving on the fundamentals on the ball.
I don't care that we're on a budget, that we're not the same side that would spend 30-40 mill a summer under O Neill. An inability to pass a ball 5 yards, or to show any sort of decent movement is unacceptable in the Premier League. We were lucky against Cardiff and West Brom, we had a slice of luck today. Gardners offside was very tight and could easily have been given, they also hit the bar too. When the luck isn't going our way and we're losing games, then all our huff and puff, with no style whatsoever, will be all for nowt. If Ron gets injured, we're buggered.
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Today was a good day to pick the option of some hospitality at Lichfield RUFC - & I saw then demolish Malvern 115-0.
Perhaps it's me.
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Malvern need a new goalkeeper.
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The defense is looking a lot more organised and we are much harder to beat than previous years, that's about it for the positives.
Utter dirge. Benteke is a worry, without him on anything approaching form we are very ugly to watch. He played like his head was elsewhere, we really can't afford that.
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I am waiting for the voices of reason. My view is that we were crap.
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I think we have to take he positive in that Lambert would appear to have steadied the ship. People keep talking about a midfield play maker but a ball winner is a bigger priority and the midfield is unbalanced. I have no idea what KEA brings to the team.
Benteke looks like a bloke who cant wait for January, and on that performance we are better off without him.
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Benteke is a worry, without him on anything approaching form we are very ugly to watch. He played like his head was elsewhere, we really can't afford that.
No. He is not leaving in the January window. That has already been discounted.
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Benteke is a worry, without him on anything approaching form we are very ugly to watch. He played like his head was elsewhere, we really can't afford that.
No. He is not leaving in the January window. That has already been discounted.
He does not look like someone who s pleased to stay though.
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Does anyone know why Lambert put Luna in from the start, after delaying the return of Gabby, Delph and Andi until the 55th min last week?
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Unfortunately our 7m reserve striker isn't any better than our disinterested/injured first choice.
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First post
I have avidly read several villa forums for several years but post rarely.
Just a bit of background, supported villa since late 1960 s followed home and away from then until mid 80 s.
Still go 2 or 3 games a year but watch mostly every game through the magic of tinternet.
Ok, on Lambert, means well , is he good enough now , No.
Is the team good enough for Villa , No.
Is is better than Mcleish, O Mcgrath yes. Lambert tries not to be negative ,just fails mostly. Mcleish embraced negativity.
My hopes. 1.He learns from mistakes. . 2 He he has finished building squad depth and now wants to add quality/creativity (1 or 2 players) to squad. 3. He learns from his mistakes.4. Do I want him sacked, not yet.
If not then he has 12 months left to prove he is right.
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Oh by the way, on today`s game.
Can`t break down sides who park the bus. We knew that hence the need for more quality.
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I'm pretty sure that PL would like to see his players dribble round the massed rank of Sunderland players and belt one in but unfortunately we dont pay the wages to keep players who can do that.
Not losing is the new black.
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If we compare this season to last then it looks like improvement, if you compare the last 10 games to this season then the team has definitely gone backwards.
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We're a better side than last season in the sense of points on the board.
We are also harder to beat than last year - or at least at this point of last season.
The problem is, our tenuous connection with excitement last year has been largely severed this season.
Whereas last season we'd chase the opposition down and win the ball back and try to use it, this season we seem to be far less bothered with that, and when we do get the ball, we are utterly shite at keeping possession.
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Draw fair result.
Can't agree with that PWS. We were lucky to get away with a point.
Same here. I'm struggling to think of a single clear cut chance for Villa today. Sunderland hit the crossbar and missed an absolute sitter. If that was us in an away game I'd be gutted we didn't take all 3 points.
We really were dreadful today.
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First post
I have avidly read several villa forums for several years but post rarely.
Just a bit of background, supported villa since late 1960 s followed home and away from then until mid 80 s.
Still go 2 or 3 games a year but watch mostly every game through the magic of tinternet.
Ok, on Lambert, means well , is he good enough now , No.
Is the team good enough for Villa , No.
Is is better than Mcleish, O Mcgrath yes. Lambert tries not to be negative ,just fails mostly. Mcleish embraced negativity.
My hopes. 1.He learns from mistakes. . 2 He he has finished building squad depth and now wants to add quality/creativity (1 or 2 players) to squad. 3. He learns from his mistakes.4. Do I want him sacked, not yet.
If not then he has 12 months left to prove he is right.
Welcome PaulJAVFC and very good post. I agree that Lambert is making mistakes but everyone does. Hopefully he is learning.
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(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p296x100/1457551_10151858643748763_1922311562_n.jpg)
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/555888_10152075957570320_1856517929_n.jpg)
Beautiful.
The top one being one of my better Facebook photos.
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Just back from the game. Did anyone notice 2nd half how the sky turned a lovely reddy grey colour as the winter sun set and it's dying rays illuminated the moody sky. Was quite beautiful.
NO.
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thanks olaftab.
No point changing managers every year. Give the man a fair chance (2+ years). Next question, what are his targets ?.
he may already be achieving them. (I hope not).
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How can Lambert say "It's another game we may have lost last year" when we won that game 6-1?
I think you will find he is talking about a close fought game.
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thanks olaftab.
No point changing managers every year. Give the man a fair chance (2+ years). Next question, what are his targets ?.
he may already be achieving them. (I hope not).
Hopefully a bit higher than just keeping us in the Premier League.
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Just back from the game. Did anyone notice 2nd half how the sky turned a lovely reddy grey colour as the winter sun set and it's dying rays illuminated the moody sky. Was quite beautiful.
NO.
Did you notice anything?
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Concentrated on defending their short corners and realising how crap Craig Gardner actually is but not much else!
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I wasn't there today so didn't have to see that rubbish first hand but from my armchair it's good to see us on the first page of the table.
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Concentrated on defending their short corners and realising how crap Craig Gardner actually is but not much else!
Craig Gardner is not crap, unless he must be because he is a nose. I was surprised that they took him off as he was one of two who looked like scoring.
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It was not good. I like Lambert and what he is doing, trying to get a team together from mediocre money in a league ruled by the obscenely weathly. We will be OK this season and for me that's progress.
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It was not good. I like Lambert and what he is doing, trying to get a team together from mediocre money in a league ruled by the obscenely weathly. We will be OK this season and for me that's progress.
Progress from what?
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It was not good. I like Lambert and what he is doing, trying to get a team together from mediocre money in a league ruled by the obscenely weathly. We will be OK this season and for me that's progress.
Progress from what?
Progress from very nearly not being OK last season, I would imagine. Which it is.
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I think that if you told everyone we would be 10th in the table by december then most would be happy with that. But its worrying that we were lucky to get a point against the bottom club at home. awful football today, my biggest concern was we had no clue how to deal with or break down what was a mediocre team at best.
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It was not good. I like Lambert and what he is doing, trying to get a team together from mediocre money in a league ruled by the obscenely weathly. We will be OK this season and for me that's progress.
Progress from what?
Progress from very nearly not being OK last season, I would imagine. Which it is.
Thought so. No progress at all.
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It was not good. I like Lambert and what he is doing, trying to get a team together from mediocre money in a league ruled by the obscenely weathly. We will be OK this season and for me that's progress.
Progress from what?
Progress from very nearly not being OK last season, I would imagine. Which it is.
Thought so. No progress at all.
Erm. No. That is some progress.
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Blues yet again.
I honestly don't believe, ANYBODY that watches us week in week out really thinks we've progressed as a football side under Lambert.
In fact i refuse to believe it
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There are highs and lows of being a Villa fan, I joined when we were on a massive low, but we got to everest and thing have gone down massively and up and down and likewise since. Suffice to say I love my club and always will do. I like the way the club is going in no spongers as it has gone on for so long
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Benteke is a worry, without him on anything approaching form we are very ugly to watch. He played like his head was elsewhere, we really can't afford that.
No. He is not leaving in the January window. That has already been discounted.
He does not look like someone who s pleased to stay though.
He looks like a forward that is disappointed in his own form and feels he is letting down his team. That's what I saw. Someone who for the first time since arriving at the club finds things aren't going all his way. He needs to find the solution. It's the mark of every great player.
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I'm coming to believe that Tekkers has been "found out". O'Shea completely dominated him today.
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I'm coming to believe that Tekkers has been "found out". O'Shea completely dominated him today.
I'd like to think he's unfit because I can't ever remember him giving a poorer performance than he did today. He was dismal and at times he just looked like he wasn't bothered. To be fair to him the service to him was practically non existent but it still doesn't excuse his shift today.
As I said, I just hope that he's not match fit and he'll come good again.
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He looks like a forward that is disappointed in his own form and feels he is letting down his team. That's what I saw. Someone who for the first time since arriving at the club finds things aren't going all his way. He needs to find the solution. It's the mark of every great player.
He just looked like a poor player today. I can't really ascribe anything more than that to it, he just looked off his game.
If the rest of the team were playing well, it'd be more worrying, though. We're not though, we're creating next to nothing. I can imagine how that'd dishearten pretty much any player.
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I'm sorry, but Benteke isn't the slightest bit interested. Wrap it up how you like, but todaywas as clear an indication as anything that hs hearts not in it. It's bloody obvious. He barely jumped for a ball all afternoon.
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He looks like a forward that is disappointed in his own form and feels he is letting down his team. That's what I saw. Someone who for the first time since arriving at the club finds things aren't going all his way. He needs to find the solution. It's the mark of every great player.
He just looked like a poor player today. I can't really ascribe anything more than that to it, he just looked off his game.
If the rest of the team were playing well, it'd be more worrying, though. We're not though, we're creating next to nothing. I can imagine how that'd dishearten pretty much any player.
The answer is somewhere in the middle. He's not playing well, the players around him aren't creating, he's not fully fit and the frustration keeps growing for everyone. It doesn't last forever even though it feels like it might right now.
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It was not good. I like Lambert and what he is doing, trying to get a team together from mediocre money in a league ruled by the obscenely weathly. We will be OK this season and for me that's progress.
Progress from what?
From last season, we are so far, this season better than then.
Progress from very nearly not being OK last season, I would imagine. Which it is.
Thought so. No progress at all.
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I miss Lowton and Bennett and their ability to link play on the wings, to get forward and to actually cross a ball. Yes, they (mainly Bennett) make mistakes and yes, Bennett doesn't seem to be that popular...BUT he was in our team for most games at the end of last year and looked like he was improving. Get him fit and get him back in. Lowton too. I don't like Luna much, if he was actually any good, he would be playing for Sevilla. We all know that, surely.
Out with KEA and lets inject some pace into the team, some trickery, a few new (and good) players in January please. None of this 'we can't compete with (insert tin pot clubs name here)' and bring some atmosphere back to Villa Park. Our last home game of the season we played Chelsea in May. I thought we played excellent football.
More of that please, Lambert.
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I miss Lowton and Bennett and their ability to link play on the wings, to get forward and to actually cross a ball. Yes, they (mainly Bennett) make mistakes and yes, Bennett doesn't seem to be that popular...BUT he was in our team for most games at the end of last year and looked like he was improving. Get him fit and get him back in. Lowton too. I don't like Luna much, if he was actually any good, he would be playing for Sevilla. We all know that, surely.
Out with KEA and lets inject some pace into the team, some trickery, a few new (and good) players in January please. None of this 'we can't compete with (insert tin pot clubs name here)' and bring some atmosphere back to Villa Park. Our last home game of the season we played Chelsea in May. I thought we played excellent football.
More of that please, Lambert.
I did not watch the game yesterday so cannot really comment on the performance. I will let those who were there do that. But to be truthfull Axl, i really do not see that much being done in January, if anything at all. I hope i am wrong by the way.
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Concentrated on defending their short corners and realising how crap Craig Gardner actually is but not much else!
Craig Gardner is not crap, unless he must be because he is a nose. I was surprised that they took him off as he was one of two who looked like scoring.
yeah thought he had a good game for Sunderland.
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He looks like a forward that is disappointed in his own form and feels he is letting down his team. That's what I saw. Someone who for the first time since arriving at the club finds things aren't going all his way. He needs to find the solution. It's the mark of every great player.
He just looked like a poor player today. I can't really ascribe anything more than that to it, he just looked off his game.
If the rest of the team were playing well, it'd be more worrying, though. We're not though, we're creating next to nothing. I can imagine how that'd dishearten pretty much any player.
He looks totally lacking in confidence. I think back to last season and the way he bullied defenders, won almost every header and looked likely to score any time he got near the penalty area. Then I compare to his performance yesterday where he seemed to be hiding and was easily handled by Brown and O'Shea. He needs a goal.
It's one of the perennial problems at Villa Park, the inability to break down a team that stick ten men behind the ball. There were one or two decent enough individual performances and one or two shockers but overall it was just dull.
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Its been six years, after three relegation battles and three top six finishes, but we are back in mid-table and its just not very exciting.
I recommend that you attend home games hungover, it has a numbing and calming effect.
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Its been six years, after three relegation battles and three top six finishes, but we are back in mid-table and its just not very exciting.
I recommend that you attend home games hungover, it has a numbing and calming effect.
Out of intrest when was the last time we had 3 relegation battles in a row?
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Usually its one brush with 16th and then back to 6th. This cycle though is taking a long time to run its course; 12/13, 11/12, 10/11; I cannot recall three previous times where we have struggled so consistently.
Paulie said after the Newcastle hammering "we will be feeling the effects of O'Neill long after these next few games". I don't think even he believed that it would take three seasons before we brought the wage deficit into line and began to plod up the league again.
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Usually its one brush with 16th and then back to 6th. This cycle though is taking a long time to run its course; 12/13, 11/12, 10/11; I cannot recall three previous times where we have struggled so consistently.
Paulie said after the Newcastle hammering "we will be feeling the effects of O'Neill long after these next few games". I don't think even he believed that it would take three seasons before we brought the wage deficit into line and began to plod up the league again.
Plod is an apt word. It's not particularly exciting but, hopefully, any progress from here will be built on solid foundations.
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I'm coming to believe that Tekkers has been "found out". O'Shea completely dominated him today.
Being dominated by O'Shea who is the ultimate 'solid pro' is worrying. He didn't get a sniff.
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Concentrated on defending their short corners and realising how crap Craig Gardner actually is but not much else!
Craig Gardner is not crap, unless he must be because he is a nose. I was surprised that they took him off as he was one of two who looked like scoring.
yeah thought he had a good game for Sunderland.
Compared to our midfield he had a good game.
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Lambert summed it up in one word, frustrating. We just needed a goal to open them up but we didn't really look like scoring it.
As for Benteke, he's just off form and nothing more. He's coming back from his first ever injury and he's finding it tough. Once he get's a goal, he'll be fine.
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I can understand that we may make slow progress up the table to a position most of us expect to be in'that is 5th-8th. Without capital we cannot expect to go any higher. Everton are our benchmark in every sense.Except they could afford Lukaku's loan fee(and wages) and we couldnt.Both Moyes and Martinez have been extremely good value for that club.
On reflection Gerard Houlier could have been the best manager we have had in years if his health had stood up(it didnt) or if he had given up his other job as Tourism CEO for the city of Liverpool (he didnt.)
Unlike Lambert ,Mcleish and MON(mainly) he appeared to have the right contacts and the ability to attract top players
I really had high hopes for Lambert. I thought we would see a couple of highly skilled technically adept German players in. Players I had never heard of, but in the end nothing transpired.
We have relied on Benteke far too much and now he has had a dramatic loss of form we have very little to excite us.
You know what I miss the days of Ron Atkinson and Graham Taylor and yes MON.
Nothing to look forward to now.
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I miss Lowton and Bennett and their ability to link play on the wings, to get forward and to actually cross a ball. Yes, they (mainly Bennett) make mistakes and yes, Bennett doesn't seem to be that popular...BUT he was in our team for most games at the end of last year and looked like he was improving. Get him fit and get him back in. Lowton too. I don't like Luna much, if he was actually any good, he would be playing for Sevilla. We all know that, surely.
Out with KEA and lets inject some pace into the team, some trickery, a few new (and good) players in January please. None of this 'we can't compete with (insert tin pot clubs name here)' and bring some atmosphere back to Villa Park. Our last home game of the season we played Chelsea in May. I thought we played excellent football.
More of that please, Lambert.
I did not watch the game yesterday so cannot really comment on the performance. I will let those who were there do that. But to be truthfull Axl, i really do not see that much being done in January, if anything at all. I hope i am wrong by the way.
I hope you're wrong too mate, but I fear you could be right. You never know, though.
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Although frustrated by the game yesterday I am beginning to think that the fault does not lie with the players but with the level of coaching - I cannot see an improvement in a general level of ball control, mobility off the ball, variance in corners, possession in key areas, running into channels and decisive and defence splitting passing. I will admit that on the positive side the defence looks a more cohesive unit so the extra work being done there is paying off. What is a concern is that there appears from my viewpoint a degree of lethargy and possibly a lack of developed fitness.
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Concentrated on defending their short corners and realising how crap Craig Gardner actually is but not much else!
Craig Gardner is not crap, unless he must be because he is a nose. I was surprised that they took him off as he was one of two who looked like scoring.
yeah thought he had a good game for Sunderland.
Going by his passing and shooting I thought he had a good game ....for us!
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I miss Lowton and Bennett and their ability to link play on the wings, to get forward and to actually cross a ball. Yes, they (mainly Bennett) make mistakes and yes, Bennett doesn't seem to be that popular...BUT he was in our team for most games at the end of last year and looked like he was improving. Get him fit and get him back in. Lowton too. I don't like Luna much, if he was actually any good, he would be playing for Sevilla. We all know that, surely.
Out with KEA and lets inject some pace into the team, some trickery, a few new (and good) players in January please. None of this 'we can't compete with (insert tin pot clubs name here)' and bring some atmosphere back to Villa Park. Our last home game of the season we played Chelsea in May. I thought we played excellent football.
More of that please, Lambert.
Our team in not good enough at the moment to do both ie score goals and keep clean sheets. Lambert can do one or the other. Last quarter of last season was do or die and we attacked and succeeded however whilst that is exciting and fun it is not a long term sustainable policy. I was personally ok with that but evidence is that successful teams are based on good defence.
And Nik yes I was pissed off with " we can't compete with **** ****" comment.
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(http://i.minus.com/ibeU89fBdBHtm7.gif)
Sign him up!
We had God on our side today J.
Yeah 'cos he's only standing about 5 yards off-side when the ball is played to him. Mind you, the number of off-sides that fucking grey-haired lino missed below us was obscene.
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I can understand that we may make slow progress up the table to a position most of us expect to be in'that is 5th-8th. Without capital we cannot expect to go any higher. Everton are our benchmark in every sense.Except they could afford Lukaku's loan fee(and wages) and we couldnt.Both Moyes and Martinez have been extremely good value for that club.
On reflection Gerard Houlier could have been the best manager we have had in years if his health had stood up(it didnt) or if he had given up his other job as Tourism CEO for the city of Liverpool (he didnt.)
Unlike Lambert ,Mcleish and MON(mainly) he appeared to have the right contacts and the ability to attract top players
I really had high hopes for Lambert. I thought we would see a couple of highly skilled technically adept German players in. Players I had never heard of, but in the end nothing transpired.
We have relied on Benteke far too much and now he has had a dramatic loss of form we have very little to excite us.
You know what I miss the days of Ron Atkinson and Graham Taylor and yes MON.
Nothing to look forward to now.
I know how you feel mate. I would add Little and Gregory to that list. 1996-2002, we were stacked full of potential and never out of the top eight. It just has felt like our stock as fallen really far and as though those we once competed with are too far ahead now to be ever caught.
I don't think Houllier was the right manager for us though. Maybe as a DoF but not a manager. I also thought Lambert's transfer business would be more progressive than it has been. I also didn't quite anticipate how bad we would be technically this season and also how direct.
It's just frustrating watching us, we are so ordinary for a club that had Champion's League aspirations just a few years ago and are now somewhat lucky to be still in the division. How we stayed up the McLeish year is still a mystery to me.
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(http://i.minus.com/ibeU89fBdBHtm7.gif)
Sign him up!
We had God on our side today J.
Yeah 'cos he's only standing about 5 yards off-side when the ball is played to him. Mind you, the number of off-sides that fucking grey-haired lino missed below us was obscene.
He's not offside because he is behind the player that headed it to him.
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the manager picked the team we wanted,they did not perform for one reason or another
we obtained a very fortunate point.
we can only play on the counter attack
eg.away record this calendar year lost 4 I think? in the league
so until we select players who can open teams up with the present staff or the transfer market we will tread water at home
players can improve with gametime.eg ramsey at arsenal and the late great Gerry hitchins who was in my opinion was the
man.having watched villa since 1948
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I can understand that we may make slow progress up the table to a position most of us expect to be in'that is 5th-8th. Without capital we cannot expect to go any higher. Everton are our benchmark in every sense.Except they could afford Lukaku's loan fee(and wages) and we couldnt.Both Moyes and Martinez have been extremely good value for that club.
On reflection Gerard Houlier could have been the best manager we have had in years if his health had stood up(it didnt) or if he had given up his other job as Tourism CEO for the city of Liverpool (he didnt.)
Unlike Lambert ,Mcleish and MON(mainly) he appeared to have the right contacts and the ability to attract top players
I really had high hopes for Lambert. I thought we would see a couple of highly skilled technically adept German players in. Players I had never heard of, but in the end nothing transpired.
We have relied on Benteke far too much and now he has had a dramatic loss of form we have very little to excite us.
You know what I miss the days of Ron Atkinson and Graham Taylor and yes MON.
Nothing to look forward to now.
I know how you feel mate. I would add Little and Gregory to that list. 1996-2002, we were stacked full of potential and never out of the top eight. It just has felt like our stock as fallen really far and as though those we once competed with are too far ahead now to be ever caught.
I don't think Houllier was the right manager for us though. Maybe as a DoF but not a manager. I also thought Lambert's transfer business would be more progressive than it has been. I also didn't quite anticipate how bad we would be technically this season and also how direct.
It's just frustrating watching us, we are so ordinary for a club that had Champion's League aspirations just a few years ago and are now somewhat lucky to be still in the division. How we stayed up the McLeish year is still a mystery to me.
When did the rule come in that where you are now is where you will be forever?
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
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Where also did the rule come from that our form will last forever?
If I remember last season I thought we would never tick and get going after that period. However we did and the confidence grew and grew.
Hopefully this will click again very soon and we can start putting some good performances together. One thing we have got this season to build from is we are a lot more organised at the back than this time last year.
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Last season we were too eager, this season we're not eager enough.
It's almost like we've sacrificed our attacking prowess for a solid defence. It may be boring but it's got a better chance of us steering clear of the relegation fight.
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On a brighter note I see we are now Pride of the Midlands.
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He's not offside because he is behind the player that headed it to him.
Percy don't you think he offside when ball is first played?
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
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On a brighter note I see we are now Pride of the Midlands.
Dafabet are making a banner for us.
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Yesterday I gave up after reading the first 3/4 pages of this thread. What do people want? The same crew were hammering Lambert for lack of clean sheets and are now hammering him for lack of exciting football.
After defeat to Everton 8 points from our next 4 games would have been very good. We have 6 and no losses. Pretty good IMO.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
Good post and we know what we are!
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I'm glad we've face opponents who've come through the Jason Lee school of finishing in the last two games. There's been a couple of absolute sitters missed.
We've got to up our bloody game next time out though. Southampton are a decent side. They're punching above their weight but I don't think they'll fall apart in time for our visit.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
True, but we're still painful to watch. You'd have to be some kind of masochist to enjoy the football this season, and like it or not we're only 6 points above the relegation zone.
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Lambert summed it up in one word, frustrating. We just needed a goal to open them up but we didn't really look like scoring it.
As for Benteke, he's just off form and nothing more. He's coming back from his first ever injury and he's finding it tough. Once he get's a goal, he'll be fine.
I see things differently Clampy - At times yesterday he just wasn`t trying at all - he didnt win an aerial ball all game and hardly seemed to be able to jump. Someone earlier compared his performance to the one Dwight had at Goodison years ago - and I too recalled that yesterday.
He looked disinterested and lethargic. We can only speculate as to why he is not performing - he certainly didn`t even remotely look like scoring. Are we trading him in January?
As to the performance from the rest of the team - we are bereft of skill (many of the team cannot even control the ball and have poor first touch - Weiman and Bacuna spring to mind.) Gabby gave his all but I wished he would he would always run direct at goal rather than across it - yesterday he had 3 and 4 players around him when he was attacking at pace - get yourself into the box and one of those defenders will almost certainly make a lunge at him.
We play too deep at home and fail to press the opposition - when Lambert first arrived I loved the way he got the team to press - why has that stopped? This week I watched Valencia players close down Swansea each and every time they were on the ball. Its simple but effective.
We allow teams to push us high up the park - we have enough young players who should have the energy to do just that - or are they not fit enough?
Everything is just so flat at Villa Park - the team , the fans , the whole atmosphere is just not right.
It is a sign of the times when well supported clubs like Sunderland fail to sell their allocation or is that a reflection of their poor away form?
For those of you identifying the green shoots of recovery I admire your sense of vision - personally I consider that the team are mirroring the manager`s personality - dour and uninspiring
Why did he not play Lowton at the back and push Bacuna forward like he did against Cardiff?
I am led to believe that there may be 3 signings sanctioned either in the January window or in the summer - I sincerely hope they will be players with more experience, flair, skill and technique.
Finally - there is a reason why Luna is not playing for one of the top sides in Spain - he is woeful.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
True, but we're still painful to watch. You'd have to be some kind of masochist to enjoy the football this season, and like it or not we're only 6 points above the relegation zone.
And six points behind Manchester City. This season has been horrible at times but we can both remember rebuilding work under previous managers that was equally bad (Saunders' first season after promotion, BFR's first one, Sir Graham's second, Brian Little's first) but brought eventual rewards.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
True, but we're still painful to watch. You'd have to be some kind of masochist to enjoy the football this season, and like it or not we're only 6 points above the relegation zone.
And six points below sixth place. We're as mid table as it is possible to be.
Most of it isn't pretty, you're right, but the critics are moving the goal posts. Last season it was that they'd settle for dull and boring if it meant not conceding soft goals every week. We look to have sorted that out so now they switch their sights to something else.
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I'd like to see Robinson and Johnson given some game time. Both attack minded with ability. The opposition won't really have much idea about them, so they could take people by surprise. Both seem comfortable with the ball at their feet too.
We need some sort of creative spark from somewhere.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
True, but we're still painful to watch. You'd have to be some kind of masochist to enjoy the football this season, and like it or not we're only 6 points above the relegation zone.
And six points behind Manchester City. This season has been horrible at times but we can both remember rebuilding work under previous managers that was equally bad (Saunders' first season after promotion, BFR's first one, Sir Graham's second, Brian Little's first) but brought eventual rewards.
I remember Big Rons first season, and didn't we hardly score for 2 months until we thrashed Spurs at WHL in early April ? The lack of patience in football shown by Chairman,players,fans,etc is becoming more depressing for me than Skys over hyped bullshit.
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I can see why Luna was in a relegated spanish side that shipped a shit load of goals, he's worse than Bennett, I hope it wasn't £2m we paid for him. If Bennett bulked up a bit he wouldn't be so bad either.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
True, but we're still painful to watch. You'd have to be some kind of masochist to enjoy the football this season, and like it or not we're only 6 points above the relegation zone.
And six points behind Manchester City. This season has been horrible at times but we can both remember rebuilding work under previous managers that was equally bad (Saunders' first season after promotion, BFR's first one, Sir Graham's second, Brian Little's first) but brought eventual rewards.
You're right we've had rebuilding work before but when was the last time we've been this bad for so long? This is our 4th season of just horrible football now, when is it going to end? It's the lack of investment that's depressing me. You just can't compete in the PL without real investment, and it looks like Lerner has given up. If I knew that he was going to increase the quality of player we sign in the near future I'd be a little bit more positive but I just don't see any evidence of it. The players we signed in the summer look out of their depth and it's showing on the pitch.
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I think playing 4-3-3 we are over reliant upon the front three getting the majority of the goals especially when all 3 in the middle are largely defensive midfielders.
When the front three are returning from injury/out of form/ facing 10 men behind the ball we will struggle to break teams down and get a lot of performances like yesterday.
We need to find a more effective plan B, but I'm not sure the other players in our squad are quite good enough to achieve this yet. Hopefully with more experience and a couple of buys in January we can retain the defensive solidity but improve the attacking balance of the side.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
True, but we're still painful to watch. You'd have to be some kind of masochist to enjoy the football this season, and like it or not we're only 6 points above the relegation zone.
And six points behind Manchester City. This season has been horrible at times but we can both remember rebuilding work under previous managers that was equally bad (Saunders' first season after promotion, BFR's first one, Sir Graham's second, Brian Little's first) but brought eventual rewards.
You're right we've had rebuilding work before but when was the last time we've been this bad for so long?
The 60's.
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I don't think Luna's that bad. It's his first season in English football and he's adjusting to the league, just like Vlaar was doing last season and this season he looks better for it.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
True, but we're still painful to watch. You'd have to be some kind of masochist to enjoy the football this season, and like it or not we're only 6 points above the relegation zone.
And six points behind Manchester City. This season has been horrible at times but we can both remember rebuilding work under previous managers that was equally bad (Saunders' first season after promotion, BFR's first one, Sir Graham's second, Brian Little's first) but brought eventual rewards.
I remember Big Rons first season, and didn't we hardly score for 2 months until we thrashed Spurs at WHL in early April ? The lack of patience in football shown by Chairman,players,fans,etc is becoming more depressing for me than Skys over hyped bullshit.
But the following season we nearly won the league title.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
True, but we're still painful to watch. You'd have to be some kind of masochist to enjoy the football this season, and like it or not we're only 6 points above the relegation zone.
And six points behind Manchester City. This season has been horrible at times but we can both remember rebuilding work under previous managers that was equally bad (Saunders' first season after promotion, BFR's first one, Sir Graham's second, Brian Little's first) but brought eventual rewards.
You're right we've had rebuilding work before but when was the last time we've been this bad for so long? This is our 4th season of just horrible football now, when is it going to end? It's the lack of investment that's depressing me. You just can't compete in the PL without real investment, and it looks like Lerner has given up. If I knew that he was going to increase the quality of player we sign in the near future I'd be a little bit more positive but I just don't see any evidence of it. The players we signed in the summer look out of their depth and it's showing on the pitch.
Those four years you mention include one when we finished ninth despite everything going wrong from start to finish and this one which is currently a third completed.
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Likewise Chris - last year we battered a poor Sunderland side and scored six - yesterday we played an equally poor Sunderland side and never even looked like scoring, whilst they will consider themselves unlucky not to have got 3 or 4.
As I state in my earlier post it is the manner in which we are playing at home that has got people frustrated - and I think rightly so.
Sunderland were there for the taking in my opinion - we failed to play intelligently enough to break them down.
Ok, maybe we are grinding out results and slowly advancing towards the 40 points to register safety for this season, however I would expect us to be able get some additional points on the board against a very weak Sunderland team, especially when we feature potent centre forward like Benteke on the pitch - although his potency of late is somewhat lacking - injury or cofidence? I don`t care, however I do expect effort and that was seriously lacking yesterday.
Oh well, for us Villa fans 10th place is now the new "4th" :)
At least we know what we are !!
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Oh well, for us Villa fans 10th place is now the new "4th" :)
You're sounding like Paul Franks there. Nobody sees tenth as a long-term goal but for this season it would represent improvement.
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Dave, will Lambert actually buy a player with previous Premier league experience?
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
True, but we're still painful to watch. You'd have to be some kind of masochist to enjoy the football this season, and like it or not we're only 6 points above the relegation zone.
And six points behind Manchester City. This season has been horrible at times but we can both remember rebuilding work under previous managers that was equally bad (Saunders' first season after promotion, BFR's first one, Sir Graham's second, Brian Little's first) but brought eventual rewards.
You're right we've had rebuilding work before but when was the last time we've been this bad for so long? This is our 4th season of just horrible football now, when is it going to end? It's the lack of investment that's depressing me. You just can't compete in the PL without real investment, and it looks like Lerner has given up. If I knew that he was going to increase the quality of player we sign in the near future I'd be a little bit more positive but I just don't see any evidence of it. The players we signed in the summer look out of their depth and it's showing on the pitch.
Those four years you mention include one when we finished ninth despite everything going wrong from start to finish and this one which is currently a third completed.
I know we finished 9th under Houllier, but it wasn't an enjoyable season and we struggled for most of it. The next 2 seasons were just plain awful. This season started with a brilliant win at Arsenal but since then it's been just horrible to watch. Is that really such a controversial opinion?
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;)
Oh well, for us Villa fans 10th place is now the new "4th" :)
You're sounding like Paul Franks there. Nobody sees tenth as a long-term goal but for this season it would represent improvement.
It was tongue in cheek Mr Woodhall ;)
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Sounds like another very full game. I think we've been pretty poor to watch all season, which I'm surprised by
But we can't deny that we're better than we were a year ago by some distance. Let's hope that our performance yday was partly the result of having so many players just back from injury.
Some big players for us have only just come back into things
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I'd like to see Robinson and Johnson given some game time. Both attack minded with ability. The opposition won't really have much idea about them, so they could take people by surprise. Both seem comfortable with the ball at their feet too.
We need some sort of creative spark from somewhere.
I think Callum Robinson has got serious potential. Why not have him on the bench and Grealish too(when he returns.) At least we could see if they have anything where it matters.
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;)
Oh well, for us Villa fans 10th place is now the new "4th" :)
You're sounding like Paul Franks there. Nobody sees tenth as a long-term goal but for this season it would represent improvement.
It was tongue in cheek Mr Woodhall ;)
Oh. I don't do humour.
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We struggled under Houiller mainly because of the horrendous injury list. I don't think this season's been horrible to watch. We haven't been as free flowing going forward as we were at times last season but we've tightened up at the back and the midfield have weighed in with a few goals (and about time). If we can get Gabby, Benteke and Weimann (who have all picked up injuries) firing again, we should be fine.
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Dave, will Lambert actually buy a player with previous Premier league experience?
Probably not, but then again, next season this team will all have at least one or two seasons of Premiership experience under their belts won't they?
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We struggled under Houiller mainly because of the horrendous injury list. I don't think this season's been horrible to watch. We haven't been as free flowing going forward as we were at times last season but we've tightened up at the back and the midfield have weighed in with a few goals (and about time). If we can get Gabby, Benteke and Weimann (who have all picked up injuries) firing again, we should be fine.
You are Paul Lambert and I claim my £5!
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We struggled under Houiller mainly because of the horrendous injury list. I don't think this season's been horrible to watch. We haven't been as free flowing going forward as we were at times last season but we've tightened up at the back and the midfield have weighed in with a few goals (and about time). If we can get Gabby, Benteke and Weimann (who have all picked up injuries) firing again, we should be fine.
"we should be fine" - I am reading that in a dour Scottish accent - is that you Paul?
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Opposition park bus and villa fail to break them down!!
Not exactly new news is it....
Still got to go with the half full viewpoint, overall still better than the last few years. Yes midfield needs some creativity but can we just do the basics for now. Not happy watching their centre half carry the ball 40+ yds unchallenged. If you havent got skill then you can always go with tempo and closing them down. Thats how we changed the 2nd half against the baggies but little or no sign of it yesterday.
Really dont know about Benteke, think he's still not 100% fit and may need a break (or 60 mins max).
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I'm coming to believe that Tekkers has been "found out". O'Shea completely dominated him today.
I'd like to think he's unfit because I can't ever remember him giving a poorer performance than he did today. He was dismal and at times he just looked like he wasn't bothered. To be fair to him the service to him was practically non existent but it still doesn't excuse his shift today.
As I said, I just hope that he's not match fit and he'll come good again.
He played a bit like that against Wigan at home last season and then started banging them in soon after. I firmly believe he'll start scoring again soon so I'm not concerned. Weimann needs to pull his socks up though.
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I am happier keeping clean sheets regularly and worrying if we are going to get a goal to turn it into a win than going into every game feeling we need to score three goals to get anything from it.
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I came out of the ground yesterday not feeling too bad and certainly nowhere near as pessimistic as last year. Then I come on here and feel like topping myself. I think Brown and O'Shea probably both had their best games of the season for them and Benteke had his worst for us. I suppose we'll see in the next couple of games what his attitude's like. I certainly think it's time Lowton was brought back and Bacuna was given a chance where KEA plays. That chance where KEA got through and then his touch let him down so he had to try and cross under pressure would hopefully come more naturally to Bacuna.
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I can understand that we may make slow progress up the table to a position most of us expect to be in'that is 5th-8th. Without capital we cannot expect to go any higher. Everton are our benchmark in every sense.Except they could afford Lukaku's loan fee(and wages) and we couldnt.Both Moyes and Martinez have been extremely good value for that club.
On reflection Gerard Houlier could have been the best manager we have had in years if his health had stood up(it didnt) or if he had given up his other job as Tourism CEO for the city of Liverpool (he didnt.)
Unlike Lambert ,Mcleish and MON(mainly) he appeared to have the right contacts and the ability to attract top players
I really had high hopes for Lambert. I thought we would see a couple of highly skilled technically adept German players in. Players I had never heard of, but in the end nothing transpired.
We have relied on Benteke far too much and now he has had a dramatic loss of form we have very little to excite us.
You know what I miss the days of Ron Atkinson and Graham Taylor and yes MON.
Nothing to look forward to now.
I know how you feel mate. I would add Little and Gregory to that list. 1996-2002, we were stacked full of potential and never out of the top eight. It just has felt like our stock as fallen really far and as though those we once competed with are too far ahead now to be ever caught.
I don't think Houllier was the right manager for us though. Maybe as a DoF but not a manager. I also thought Lambert's transfer business would be more progressive than it has been. I also didn't quite anticipate how bad we would be technically this season and also how direct.
It's just frustrating watching us, we are so ordinary for a club that had Champion's League aspirations just a few years ago and are now somewhat lucky to be still in the division. How we stayed up the McLeish year is still a mystery to me.
When did the rule come in that where you are now is where you will be forever?
Football has changed since the 90s though Dave.
Back then if you spend a bit and wisely it was realistic to finish above the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, Newcastle did, Blackburn did and we did in 95/96.
Now with all the billionaires it's a little bit more tricky. We tried it with someone not far off that status and we couldn't quite do it.
We were finishing above Man. City regularly fairly recently....between 07-09 but we didn't in 09/10 and I felt that was our last chance for a while as Man. City were signing some quality players and so it has proved. We certainly won't be finishing above them in the league for a long time now.
It is much tougher just to finish 6th now than in the 90s I'd say and below that you're just treading water. Really that's where the good football thing comes into it, likes of Swansea and Southampton are good to watch most weeks so that can make finishing 8-9th that bit more enjoyable.
That and actually win one of the domestic cups.
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Anyone know a site where you can compare player's stats between seasons?
Benteke looked incredibly immobile. Not sure whether he runs were wasted of wether he didn't bother.
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Football has changed since the 90s though Dave.
Back then if you spend a bit and wisely it was realistic to finish above the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, Newcastle did, Blackburn did and we did in 95/96.
Now with all the billionaires it's a little bit more tricky. We tried it with someone not far off that status and we couldn't quite do it.
We were finishing above Man. City regularly fairly recently....between 07-09 but we didn't in 09/10 and I felt that was our last chance for a while as Man. City were signing some quality players and so it has proved. We certainly won't be finishing above them in the league for a long time now.
It is much tougher just to finish 6th now than in the 90s I'd say and below that you're just treading water. Really that's where the good football thing comes into it, likes of Swansea and Southampton are good to watch most weeks so that can make finishing 8-9th that bit more enjoyable.
That and actually win one of the domestic cups.
In 2002 Leeds were the club we should emulate and Liverpool were always going to be in the top four. Liverpool are still spending daft money, they're no closer winning the league and are level on points with Everton. Back then money had supposedly changed football for ever as well.
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The likes of Liverpool still finish above us 9 seasons out of 10 though despite their decline.
I do agree that we were a bit unlucky that when they started to decline and open up a top 4 place Man. City suddenly were taken over.
There's just so many teams above us that I just don't see us finishing above anytime soon and that's even if we address the midfield issues, maybe Spurs now their golden run is over but Everton look stronger to me than in the last few years.
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I miss Lowton and Bennett and their ability to link play on the wings, to get forward and to actually cross a ball. Yes, they (mainly Bennett) make mistakes and yes, Bennett doesn't seem to be that popular...BUT he was in our team for most games at the end of last year and looked like he was improving. Get him fit and get him back in. Lowton too. I don't like Luna much, if he was actually any good, he would be playing for Sevilla. We all know that, surely.
Out with KEA and lets inject some pace into the team, some trickery, a few new (and good) players in January please. None of this 'we can't compete with (insert tin pot clubs name here)' and bring some atmosphere back to Villa Park. Our last home game of the season we played Chelsea in May. I thought we played excellent football.
More of that please, Lambert.
Our team in not good enough at the moment to do both ie score goals and keep clean sheets. Lambert can do one or the other. Last quarter of last season was do or die and we attacked and succeeded however whilst that is exciting and fun it is not a long term sustainable policy. I was personally ok with that but evidence is that successful teams are based on good defence.
And Nik yes I was pissed off with " we can't compete with **** ****" comment.
Yes mate! It was of the O Leary school of comments. Really bothered me and still does. If that's the case, then what's the point? I feel it is a ploy to play down expectation, probably on Lerner's orders. I look forward to you visiting Tokyo Aftab. Hopefully Villa will be playing some better football by then.
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For me its still very much work in progress and although it was poor yesterday, defensively we are getting better and Vlaar is looking more comfortable.
I watched Sunderland beat man city and it was a similar performance by them, Man city couldn't break them down either so I don't feel that disheartened.
I still think a few player are not 100% fit and Benteke is one of them, he just needs a goal and the confidence will come flooding back. I was surprised we didn't make the same change that we did against Cardiff and move Bacuna further forward.
Stating the obvious but we still lack that creative spark in midfield Westwood and KEA are too similar, nice and neat but not direct enough.
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The fact is we were as bad yesterday as in any of our dismal home defeats last season, ie Southampton or Wigan and were it not for the miss of the season we would not be clutching at 'solid defence, clean sheets' straws.
If we continue to sign £800,000 players, we will be relegated within a couple of years. That i see as a relative certainty, the lack of ambition is crippling us.
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We have improved on last season yet we are now more likely to be relegated?
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The fact is we were as bad yesterday as in any of our dismal home defeats last season, ie Southampton or Wigan.
That's not a fact though is it? That's your opinion.
If we continue to sign £800,000 players, we will be relegated within a couple of years. That i see as a relative certainty, the lack of ambition is crippling us.
Yet having been signing '£800,000 players', we're in the top half of the table.
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I saw some people get up and leave on the 68th minute. That kind of summed the game up. That's a trio of 0-0's I've seen now that whilst dire to watch, have been 3 solid points with Guzan virtually a spectator in all. West ham, hull and Sunderland .
Progress.
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Anyone know a site where you can compare player's stats between seasons?
Benteke looked incredibly immobile. Not sure whether he runs were wasted of wether he didn't bother.
He`s playing with his back to goal, not getting any service from the flanks, ball just gets hoofed up to him, were not playing with much width at the moment and its affecting his contribution greatly.
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A few weeks ago some on here were very derisory about our 0-0 at Hull however I notice that newborn magnificent Liverpool have got a 3-1 beating there today.
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The fact is we were as bad yesterday as in any of our dismal home defeats last season, ie Southampton or Wigan.
That's not a fact though is it? That's your opinion.
If we continue to sign £800,000 players, we will be relegated within a couple of years. That i see as a relative certainty, the lack of ambition is crippling us.
Yet having been signing '£800,000 players', we're in the top half of the table.
This is all true, just being a miserablist after a disappointing performance I suppose. Bring on Wednesday night!
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A few weeks ago some on here were very derisory about our 0-0 at Hull however I notice that newborn magnificent Liverpool have got a 3-1 beating there today.
Some people will be calling for Steve Bruce to replace Lambert after today.
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Doesn't sound like it was particularly pretty yesterday.
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Doesn't sound like it was particularly pretty yesterday.
I've seen some boring games over the years. 2 X 0-0 v Bobby Gould's Cov Hoof Merchants in 1993 still pain me now. This was as bad as those.
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We seem to be regressing badly as an attacking force, I can't comment on yesterday as I didn't see it but we've been really poor for most of this year.
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Doesn't sound like it was particularly pretty yesterday.
I've seen some boring games over the years. 2 X 0-0 v Bobby Gould's Cov Hoof Merchants in 1993 still pain me now. This was as bad as those.
Come on on pain scale cov home match in 93 was a warzone amputation with a sledge hammer without anaesthetics. Yesterday was tweezers!
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I havent got any logical reason why but I am really looking forward to the Southampton game. Will Lambert drop Benteke to the bench..no and will Christian come roaring back to form..he might. Will our defence cope with Lambert....they may well do.
For those of you making the long journey I hope our boys do you proud. Forget Sunderland lets move on.
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Having watched MotD and got frustrated that Ferdinand & Murphy were as uninciteful as the Alan's & Lawro...Murphy did impart one nugget of wisdom that we have a huge pitch that teams enjoy playing on...implies we are a soft touch or should be employing width...
Thought we were poor & lack a true #10 to try and break teams down but can't help but think a 7/10 performance from Benteke would have seen us win at a canter.
Need plan B, C & D because Benteke (however long he is here) won't always bale us out.
How picky was that ref?
Fletcher isn't keen on getting hurt is he, always thought he was a good player but y'day I thought he was soft, maybe why he is only at S'land!
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Im a Lambert fan. He isn't the messiah though. He deserves criticism, he gets it. I haven't enjoyed a game of football at Villa park all season (2nd half v MCFC) aside.
I pay alot of money to go down and i expect some entertainment. We need something extra in the final third.
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All through the game I thought the ref was Kevin (Chelsea's) Friend and that's why we didn't get any decisions, it wasn't till I got home and read the match report that I realized it wasn't. Thinking about it now, Benteke must have really pissed some people off because the bloke in front of me even shouted something about him at one point and he hasn't uttered a word in the three seasons I've sat there!
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Thinking about it now, Benteke must have really pissed some people off because the bloke in front of me even shouted something about him at one point and he hasn't uttered a word in the three seasons I've sat there!
It was probably Benteke's capitulation to the the defensive legend that is John O'Shea that wound up the bloke in front of you.
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Anyone know a site where you can compare player's stats between seasons?
Benteke looked incredibly immobile. Not sure whether he runs were wasted of wether he didn't bother.
He`s playing with his back to goal, not getting any service from the flanks, ball just gets hoofed up to him, were not playing with much width at the moment and its affecting his contribution greatly.
Agreed. When we have Gabby dropping deep or out by the touchline it allowed Sunderland to double up on Benteke and effectively take him out the game. Hoofing the ball up to him all afternoon is always going to play into the hands of the defenders. I really don't blame him looking disheartened, who wouldn't given such crap service. It's not as if it was only yesterday, we're currently such a poor footballing side that creates next to nothing, I can understand his frustration. It wouldn't surprise me if he's had a January move turned down. If I was him I'd be looking to get away as soon as possible.
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I'm disappointed with our performance yesterday we just need to get a result against Southampton on Wednesday to get yesterday out of our system.
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Anyone know a site where you can compare player's stats between seasons?
Benteke looked incredibly immobile. Not sure whether he runs were wasted of wether he didn't bother.
He`s playing with his back to goal, not getting any service from the flanks, ball just gets hoofed up to him, were not playing with much width at the moment and its affecting his contribution greatly.
Agreed. When we have Gabby dropping deep or out by the touchline it allowed Sunderland to double up on Benteke and effectively take him out the game. Hoofing the ball up to him all afternoon is always going to play into the hands of the defenders. I really don't blame him looking disheartened, who wouldn't given such crap service. It's not as if it was only yesterday, we're currently such a poor footballing side that creates next to nothing, I can understand his frustration. It wouldn't surprise me if he's had a January move turned down. If I was him I'd be looking to get away as soon as possible.
That smacks of making excuses for him, we were set up much as were at when he had his best spell last season, he just didn't play very well yesterday - easily beaten in the air, poor first touch and a general lack of movement. He's coming back from injury so I'm not writing him off but it's a bit rich to blame others for his lacklustre efforts.
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Lambert this lambert that Jesus Christ didn't seem to read all this slagging off of him after man city at home or west brom away etc etc etc. houllier slagged off MacLeish slagged off this is getting us know where. We ain't got no money to spend until we get rid of benteke who played like a player who is on his way in January I just hope it's a straight swap with lukaku. Yea we all know we played shite but like I've said before if u ain't gonna support the team or manager go and support a team who has been run by a pair of Man U supporting Asians a scrap metal merchant or a pair of west ham supporting cockneys with a Cardiff fan in tow. So next time the chant of Paul lamberts claret and blue army goes up come and tell us to shut the fook up but I doubt it very much. Villa till I die
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That's quite a rant, but I think you'll find most people are fairly measured and it's not a case of you either think everything is perfect or you want Lambert out. There's quite a lot of middle ground between those, and criticism doesn't mean you don't support the side.
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Lambert this lambert that Jesus Christ didn't seem to read all this slagging off of him after man city at home or west brom away etc etc etc. houllier slagged off MacLeish slagged off this is getting us know where. We ain't got no money to spend until we get rid of benteke who played like a player who is on his way in January I just hope it's a straight swap with lukaku. Yea we all know we played shite but like I've said before if u ain't gonna support the team or manager go and support a team who has been run by a pair of Man U supporting Asians a scrap metal merchant or a pair of west ham supporting cockneys with a Cardiff fan in tow. So next time the chant of Paul lamberts claret and blue army goes up come and tell us to shut the fook up but I doubt it very much. Villa till I die
Er...what?
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Er...what?
He is saying same thing as me and you but not in English. Luckily I speak perrybarrian so I understand and basically it's all positive stuff!
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Sorry folks but sometimes it gets me so mad all this anti lambert stuff. Who would of picked a diff team from that one yesterday after the comeback against west brom. Gabby ran his heart out Delph was his usual self the defence is getting better. We all know we need a midfielder that can unlock defences and a goal poacher to. Also glad some of you can speak perry barrian actually I'm a essex boy from south bham and if you don't no why i call my self perry Barr pet then u don't no your history. Ok folks rant over villa till I die
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Sorry folks but sometimes it gets me so mad all this anti lambert stuff. Who would of picked a diff team from that one yesterday after the comeback against west brom. Gabby ran his heart out Delph was his usual self the defence is getting better. We all know we need a midfielder that can unlock defences and a goal poacher to. Also glad some of you can speak perry barrian actually I'm a essex boy from south bham and if you don't no why i call my self perry Barr pet then u don't no your history. Ok folks rant over villa till I die
Because you've gone to the dogs?
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Although frustrated by the game yesterday I am beginning to think that the fault does not lie with the players but with the level of coaching - I cannot see an improvement in a general level of ball control, mobility off the ball, variance in corners, possession in key areas, running into channels and decisive and defence splitting passing. I will admit that on the positive side the defence looks a more cohesive unit so the extra work being done there is paying off. What is a concern is that there appears from my viewpoint a degree of lethargy and possibly a lack of developed fitness.
Agree 100 per cent. They might not be the best players in the league but if they are coached/drilled into a cohesive unit they would achieve more than they are at present. I think everybody would agree that our movement off the ball; our taking/marking at throw ins and our tactics at corners (both attacking and defending) are abysmal. The coaching staff really need to start getting their act together or PL wants to forget some of the old boy network and get some coaches in who will improve things.
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Let's be clear I'll be happy with a steady mid-table season which it is currently shaping up to be. However we need to address our obvious issues, one of which is the on-going lack of creativity from midfield. A decent quality creative midfielder will massively improve our results at home.
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We need a decent centre forward who can pull the defence apart and create the space we need to complement our build up, which looks fairly decent up until the final ball.
Someone like that Benteke bloke we had last season would do.
Unfortunately he's decided to imitate a wardrobe.
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Er...what?
He is saying same thing as me and you but not in English. Luckily I speak perrybarrian so I understand and basically it's all positive stuff!
Excellent thank you. I used my Perry Barr translation guide, but it's a little outdated considering I booked it out from Erdington Library in the late 80's.
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The persistent hoofing of the ball up to Benteke who was beaten by O'Shea every time shows a massive lack of nous - from the manager and the players who did the hoofing. Gabby was our biggest threat and hope of doing something yesterday, but too many players around him wanted to give the ball to someone else as soon as they got it, not take responsibility/risk for trying something that might create a break through their defence or lose possession. We seem too constrained/frightened at VP to do anything that might be the slightest bit creative, take a chance, or when we do get into a decent position the quality of the delivery/cross is shit!
Keep the ball on the floor, pass and move early, not stand and wait for the predicatble ball to arrive - again!
I see progress in the terms of being safe, but regression in creativity, attacking play and the threat on goal that we had in shedloads from Jan/Feb last season.
Plumbutt's right - if we could get that Benteke bloke back that we had last season, we'd be a pretty happy bunch.
Looking forward to Wednesday, if only the thought that we can't be so shite again!
Things can (only) get better!
UTV!
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http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/720188/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2013-2014-Aston-Villa-Sunderland
Not great stats from Benteke's point of view. From my perspective he didn't seem to go marauding like he used to. I hope this is because he's coming back from injury and lacks fitness rather than a mental/sulking problem.
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We need a decent centre forward who can pull the defence apart and create the space we need to complement our build up, which looks fairly decent up until the final ball.
Someone like that Benteke bloke we had last season would do.
Unfortunately he's decided to imitate a wardrobe.
Well summed up. You should be one of those pundits on TV.
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The statistics and increase in clean sheets (not difficult to get more than zero) would seem to indicate an improvement defence-wise but I still think our defence is far from convincing and nowhere near what it should be. Where we do seem to have improved to an extent is on defending corners and set pieces, but our general defending is still very erratic to say the least. We were all over the place first 20-30 minutes against Albion and they could and probably should have been three or four up - it reminded me of the first half against Swansea away last season. We looked very fortunate not to concede a couple to Sunderland, thanks to Giaccherini missing a sitter and a fortuitous penalty call. So I'm not convinced that our new found lack of penetration can be explained by greater focus on defensive solidity. We've been unlucky to lose Okore but Luna looks an awful defender, Baker is questionable, and Clark has never impressed me and still doesn't. I doubt very much the likes of Bennett or Herd would improve things much.
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The statistics and increase in clean sheets (not difficult to get more than zero) would seem to indicate an improvement defence-wise but I still think our defence is far from convincing and nowhere near what it should be. Where we do seem to have improved to an extent is on defending corners and set pieces, but our general defending is still very erratic to say the least. We were all over the place first 20-30 minutes against Albion and they could and probably should have been three or four up - it reminded me of the first half against Swansea away last season. We looked very fortunate not to concede a couple to Sunderland, thanks to Giaccherini missing a sitter and a fortuitous penalty call. So I'm not convinced that our new found lack of penetration can be explained by greater focus on defensive solidity. We've been unlucky to lose Okore but Luna looks an awful defender, Baker is questionable, and Clark has never impressed me and still doesn't. I doubt very much the likes of Bennett or Herd would improve things much.
In the center we look fine. Actually the funny thing was against W.B.A we had Clark at LB and looked better there, but of course weaker then in the middle because of Baker.
For me much of our resoluteness has rested on Guzan, Vlaar and Clark. They've been well drilled and in good form. Bacuna initially looked solid but he's all over the shop now. Luna is positionally frightening, and our fullbacks do still get isolated too often.
We've been a little fortunate thanks to some dire finishing by some sides, or playing sides who are just pretty poor (like Cardiff who barely got a sniff).
I worry about losing Concrete Ron. I think if he picks up an injury then our defence will part like the red sea. Much as Clark has done very well, if he's got to partner Baker, firstly one of them has to play RCB and I don't think Clakkys ready to be the commanding officer at the back yet. He's worked immensely hard on his concentration, so he could do without worrying about what Baker and his fullbacks are doing.
And if we start conceding a lot, we're in big trouble, because offensively we're woeful.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
In comparison to our average finish in the Premier League - leaving the last 3 seasons aside I think he may have a point.
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The statistics and increase in clean sheets (not difficult to get more than zero) would seem to indicate an improvement defence-wise but I still think our defence is far from convincing and nowhere near what it should be. Where we do seem to have improved to an extent is on defending corners and set pieces, but our general defending is still very erratic to say the least. We were all over the place first 20-30 minutes against Albion and they could and probably should have been three or four up - it reminded me of the first half against Swansea away last season. We looked very fortunate not to concede a couple to Sunderland, thanks to Giaccherini missing a sitter and a fortuitous penalty call. So I'm not convinced that our new found lack of penetration can be explained by greater focus on defensive solidity. We've been unlucky to lose Okore but Luna looks an awful defender, Baker is questionable, and Clark has never impressed me and still doesn't. I doubt very much the likes of Bennett or Herd would improve things much.
In the center we look fine. Actually the funny thing was against W.B.A we had Clark at LB and looked better there, but of course weaker then in the middle because of Baker.
For me much of our resoluteness has rested on Guzan, Vlaar and Clark. They've been well drilled and in good form. Bacuna initially looked solid but he's all over the shop now. Luna is positionally frightening, and our fullbacks do still get isolated too often.
We've been a little fortunate thanks to some dire finishing by some sides, or playing sides who are just pretty poor (like Cardiff who barely got a sniff).
I worry about losing Concrete Ron. I think if he picks up an injury then our defence will part like the red sea. Much as Clark has done very well, if he's got to partner Baker, firstly one of them has to play RCB and I don't think Clakkys ready to be the commanding officer at the back yet. He's worked immensely hard on his concentration, so he could do without worrying about what Baker and his fullbacks are doing.
And if we start conceding a lot, we're in big trouble, because offensively we're woeful.
In the second half of the season there is usually a team who plummets from an apparent comfortable mid-table position to a squeaky bum position jostling with other relegation candidates. It is all very well saying we are comfortable but an injury to Vlaar could well see us being the team that plummets as there just does not seem to be any leadership, guile or general ability within the rest to take hold of a game and I fear for us if we got on a bad run.
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The statistics and increase in clean sheets (not difficult to get more than zero) would seem to indicate an improvement defence-wise but I still think our defence is far from convincing and nowhere near what it should be. Where we do seem to have improved to an extent is on defending corners and set pieces, but our general defending is still very erratic to say the least. We were all over the place first 20-30 minutes against Albion and they could and probably should have been three or four up - it reminded me of the first half against Swansea away last season. We looked very fortunate not to concede a couple to Sunderland, thanks to Giaccherini missing a sitter and a fortuitous penalty call. So I'm not convinced that our new found lack of penetration can be explained by greater focus on defensive solidity. We've been unlucky to lose Okore but Luna looks an awful defender, Baker is questionable, and Clark has never impressed me and still doesn't. I doubt very much the likes of Bennett or Herd would improve things much.
I think to be fair, Bacuna had improved us a lot at right back defensively. Physically strong, has pace to get back if he makes mistakes and good in the air. But in the last two games he has had shockers and as a result we dont look as secure down the right flank. Luna is a charlatan pure and simple. If he carries on in the same vein as his last few performances he wont be long getting the Stephen Warnock treatment from the fans.
I think Clark has improved a lot this season but lets be honest he wont take long to get found out again at left back anyway. Vlaar has improved definitely this season, still tends to go to pieces when he makes a bad mistake but has been solid generally. Bennett if fit deserves another shot at left but some of his performances last season were worse than anything that Warnock *spit* ever put in. Agree on Baker, he is an honest pro but I dont rate him in the slightest. Delph's improvement this season is a big reason why we havent been letting them in all over the place.
An injury to Vlaar particularly or even Clark and I think we will start leaking goals big time. Lambert has been very unlucky with Okore's injury but lets not forget he has also bought Bacuna, Lowton, Vlaar, Bennett and Luna.
Like last season I see it being a 7 or 8 team relegation battle, with our goals having long since dried up I think we will be well in the mix for it again unfortunately. Our performances thus far against Cardiff, West Ham, Hull, Sunderland, Norwich were worrying as we looked no better than any of them.
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Our performances thus far against Cardiff, West Ham, Hull, Sunderland, Norwich were worrying as we looked no better than any of them.
Even though none of them beat us.
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Yeah, from 2 home games and 2 away games against those 4 we have taken 8 points, bearing in mind as well Hull turned Liverpool over yesterday. We also kept clean sheets in all 4 of those games having gone a year without a single one.
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
In comparison to our average finish in the Premier League - leaving the last 3 seasons aside I think he may have a point.
If you are using an average you can't just ignore 3 years that don't suit the argument. In any case, surely it's rebuilding from the mess of the previous seasons that has the most bearing on where we are now.
Yes, a couple of bad results might see us slip down the table but equally a couple of decent wins might see us pull away. However, that's all conjecture and relies on other results to go a certain way. If we stick to the facts we're in the middle of the table.
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Our performances thus far against Cardiff, West Ham, Hull, Sunderland, Norwich were worrying as we looked no better than any of them.
Even though none of them beat us.
I think we kind of lose sight of the reality of the premier league sometimes. Anyone below us or a perceived "poor" team we should be twatting week in and week out. Alas, it doesn't work like that...
Cardiff 2 vs 2 Man Utd
Hull 3 vs 1 Liverpool
Sunderland 1 vs 0 Man City
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Our performances thus far against Cardiff, West Ham, Hull, Sunderland, Norwich were worrying as we looked no better than any of them.
Even though none of them beat us.
I think we kind of lose sight of the reality of the premier league sometimes. Anyone below us or a perceived "poor" team we should be twatting week in and week out. Alas, it doesn't work like that...
Cardiff 2 vs 2 Man Utd
Hull 3 vs 1 Liverpool
Sunderland 1 vs 0 Man City
The Villa side of the back end of last season would have twatted those five teams. Those were five truly awful games where an ounce of quality would prove the difference for either side. Gabby v Norwich and Bacuna v Cardiff were enough. The other three were risible.
All depends where you want to set the benchmark for expectations.
a) the Xmas of last year, 8-0 defeat etc
b) the end of last season scoring goals for fun
some here are using a and some are using b.
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Our performances thus far against Cardiff, West Ham, Hull, Sunderland, Norwich were worrying as we looked no better than any of them.
Even though none of them beat us.
I think we kind of lose sight of the reality of the premier league sometimes. Anyone below us or a perceived "poor" team we should be twatting week in and week out. Alas, it doesn't work like that...
Cardiff 2 vs 2 Man Utd
Hull 3 vs 1 Liverpool
Sunderland 1 vs 0 Man City
I think this is what pisses me off most. The same people who say we're shit and we know we are, this time we're going down, yes I know I said it last time, the time before that and the time before that but this time we really definitely are going down, are invariably also the same ones to say we should be battering other teams without fail.
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Our performances thus far against Cardiff, West Ham, Hull, Sunderland, Norwich were worrying as we looked no better than any of them.
Even though none of them beat us.
Or even scored a goal against us.
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a) the Xmas of last year, 8-0 defeat etc
b) the end of last season scoring goals for fun
some here are using a and some are using b.
I think people are using last season and what went before to shape expectations. I haven't seen too many proclaim how great our current form is based on us not being beat 8-0. That's just daft.
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If we are scoring goals for fun then we are usually shipping them for fun as well. Lambert seems to have addressed one problem at the cost of another and I have no problem with that, it's the way to build surely? Hopefully given time & patience (sacred commodity these days it seems), he will slowly address the other.
Given our flirt with danger last year I'm happy to get results first and performances second, but that's just my opinion. Spurs spent 90 million on "flair players" and yet we've scored 2 more goals than them this season...
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Our performances thus far against Cardiff, West Ham, Hull, Sunderland, Norwich were worrying as we looked no better than any of them.
Even though none of them beat us.
I think we kind of lose sight of the reality of the premier league sometimes. Anyone below us or a perceived "poor" team we should be twatting week in and week out. Alas, it doesn't work like that...
Cardiff 2 vs 2 Man Utd
Hull 3 vs 1 Liverpool
Sunderland 1 vs 0 Man City
I think this is what pisses me off most. The same people who say we're shit and we know we are, this time we're going down, yes I know I said it last time, the time before that and the time before that but this time we really definitely are going down, are invariably also the same ones to say we should be battering other teams without fail.
If anyone reckons we are going down I would say that I don't tend to associate clean sheets, decent away form, the ability to come back from losing positions and a mid table position with teams heading for relegation.
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There is a poster on this thread who has said we are going down every season for the past few years.
Can you guess who it is?
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At this stage last season we had scored 10 goals from 13 games and conceded 22 so no doubt notonly has our points tally improved but our goal difference has considerably improved - it has not been pretty at times but we knew we had to tighten up the defence and have still scored more this season than we had last season at this stage.
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There is a poster on this thread who has said we are going down every season for the past few years.
Can you guess who it is?
Rolf Harris?
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Nope. Read the Southampton thread for a clue.
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. However we need to address our obvious issues, one of which is the on-going lack of creativity from midfield. A decent quality creative midfielder will massively improve our results at home.
... AND he can be over 25 yrs of age too ...
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The fact that we are all still arguing and debating means that we care and expect better no matter how deluded we may appear - the day we accept just being in the Premiership as our reason for being we become the Albion. Keep ranting Villans!
I did attend hungover and it did have a numbing effect ;-)
Bang on. We shouldn't just be happy with just being in the PL. We're Aston Villa, not the Albion or Stoke etc. We are into our 4th season of struggle now, this hasn't happened in decades. We should demand better.
It isn't happening now. It might not suit your argument but we are in the top half.
In comparison to our average finish in the Premier League - leaving the last 3 seasons aside I think he may have a point.
If you are using an average you can't just ignore 3 years that don't suit the argument. In any case, surely it's rebuilding from the mess of the previous seasons that has the most bearing on where we are now.
Yes, a couple of bad results might see us slip down the table but equally a couple of decent wins might see us pull away. However, that's all conjecture and relies on other results to go a certain way. If we stick to the facts we're in the middle of the table.
But I think his point is that this has been the 4th season of struggle therefore we have gone backwards and he doesn't accept this is where we should be as a club. But I might be wrong.
I think my main point is that although we are in a better position and we are building slowly I think the excitement factor has gone a bit. As daft as it sounds, when we were getting twatted and then we picked it up after Christmas last year it was exciting to see us attack teams the way we did - notwithstanding the obviously rankness of the defence. I find it is very typical of Villa to fix one end of the pitch only for it to go temporarily at least wrong at the other.
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All depends where you want to set the benchmark for expectations.
a) the Xmas of last year, 8-0 defeat etc
b) the end of last season scoring goals for fun
some here are using a and some are using b.
I think you have to view it over the course of the whole season, as that's the only way that really matters. So it's the ups and downs of 12/13 balancing off to where we actually finished.
That makes this season look better so far, even if it isn't as exciting.
And on another point, I don't think our defensive improvements are the reason for the attack getting blunted, despite some people immediately linking the two. For me, Benteke's lack for form since the injury is why we're struggling to score and that's nothing to do with us stopping to shift daft goals at the other end.
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If Benteke hits form then we turn draws into wins. He looks a long way off right now, but hopefully he'll hit a purple patch soon.
When we were bloody ordinary under McLeish, Bent looked likely to nick us a goal. In fairness that tactic, while fucking awful on the eyes, did work up until Jan. When we lost Bent of course, the game plan was buggered and we fell from solid in mid-table to surviving by the skin of our teeth.
Likewise we were pretty ordinary under Gregory, but we had players like Merson, and later, JPA with a touch of flair and the ability to turn dour games.
We've got the basis to be like this again. It might not be pretty, but we will be comfortable I suppose.
What we certainly need more than anything is to really work bloody hard on our basics. Some of our passing has been horrifically inept. Simple passes. A good coach brought in could make a difference and help give our boys a lesson in passing, movement and some composure. We're not expecting to be the new Arsenal, but if you're a professional footballer, there's no excuse for the amount of unforced, basic errors we've been making lately.
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If Benteke hits form then we turn draws into wins. He looks a long way off right now, but hopefully he'll hit a purple patch soon.
When we were bloody ordinary under McLeish, Bent looked likely to nick us a goal. In fairness that tactic, while fucking awful on the eyes, did work up until Jan. When we lost Bent of course, the game plan was buggered and we fell from solid in mid-table to surviving by the skin of our teeth.
Likewise we were pretty ordinary under Gregory, but we had players like Merson, and later, JPA with a touch of flair and the ability to turn dour games.
We've got the basis to be like this again. It might not be pretty, but we will be comfortable I suppose.
What we certainly need more than anything is to really work bloody hard on our basics. Some of our passing has been horrifically inept. Simple passes. A good coach brought in could make a difference and help give our boys a lesson in passing, movement and some composure. We're not expecting to be the new Arsenal, but if you're a professional footballer, there's no excuse for the amount of unforced, basic errors we've been making lately.
That's confidence though and I don't think that can be coached. You see it when we go in front, suddenly the passing is crisper, players want the ball and are less worried about making mistakes. It also transfers to the crowd. When we're anxious a misplaced pass is met with groans, if we're in front then there is more likely to be shouts of encouragement.
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If Benteke hits form then we turn draws into wins. He looks a long way off right now, but hopefully he'll hit a purple patch soon.
When we were bloody ordinary under McLeish, Bent looked likely to nick us a goal. In fairness that tactic, while fucking awful on the eyes, did work up until Jan. When we lost Bent of course, the game plan was buggered and we fell from solid in mid-table to surviving by the skin of our teeth.
Likewise we were pretty ordinary under Gregory, but we had players like Merson, and later, JPA with a touch of flair and the ability to turn dour games.
We've got the basis to be like this again. It might not be pretty, but we will be comfortable I suppose.
What we certainly need more than anything is to really work bloody hard on our basics. Some of our passing has been horrifically inept. Simple passes. A good coach brought in could make a difference and help give our boys a lesson in passing, movement and some composure. We're not expecting to be the new Arsenal, but if you're a professional footballer, there's no excuse for the amount of unforced, basic errors we've been making lately.
That's confidence though and I don't think that can be coached. You see it when we go in front, suddenly the passing is crisper, players want the ball and are less worried about making mistakes. It also transfers to the crowd. When we're anxious a misplaced pass is met with groans, if we're in front then there is more likely to be shouts of encouragement.
What actually did bug me a little about the game was that in one passing sequence where we actually kept it for a dozen or so passes, because it was going nowhere, the crowd started booing a little. Obviously the frustration of the whole game is duly noted, but it obviously didn't help the players. It was at that point someone tried to force a pass forward that wasn't on and gave it away.
It is a multitude of factors. Again this is where an experienced, calmer influence in midfield could help, just to settle players down a bit.
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Toronto villa you would not happen to live in dalcourt drive west hill Toronto if you do then it's a good chance your my cousin. If not then at least we are all in the villa family. Also have you been to the aston villa hotel some where in the Rockies that's if it is still open or still standing
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Toronto villa you would not happen to live in dalcourt drive west hill Toronto if you do then it's a good chance your my cousin. If not then at least we are all in the villa family. Also have you been to the aston villa hotel some where in the Rockies that's if it is still open or still standing
What a small world! I spent three months at the FJ Horgan Water Treatment Plant in that area. Going back there in June.