The Club can confirm that Marc Albrighton has been released.
The 24-year-old Tamworth-born winger made nine Premier League starts last season and 10 more as a substitute after a loan spell at Wigan Athletic.
He joined the Academy as an eight-year-old and made 101 appearances in total following his debut in the UEFA Cup game at CSKA Moscow in February 2009, starting 48 Premier League games and making a further 38 appearances from the substitutes' bench.
He also featured in 15 cup games, scoring nine goals in total and seven in the Premier League.
Villa manager Paul Lambert said: "We wish Marc the best in his future career and acknowledge the contribution he has made to the Club over the past several years having graduated from our Academy."
Nathan Delfouneso, another Academy graduate who spent last season on loan at Coventry, has also been released.
The 23-year-old striker made four starts in the Premier League and 27 more appearances as a substitute.
He also made 19 appearances in cup competitions, having marked his first team debut as a 17-year-old in the UEFA Cup second round tie against Icelandic side FH Hafnarfjörður in August 2008.
Lambert added: "We also wish Nathan the best for his career and thank him for his efforts since he, too, graduated from our Academy."
Albrighton and Fonz confirmed as let go by the club.Crazy to think that this could be close to 40k a week off our books.
That bird at the beginning of the Cliffhanger movie with Sly Stallone fell further than expected.Hyperbolic post with Game of Thrones S04 E07 reference follows
Two honest plodders, good lads and good luck with their careers but not a meltdown moment.
Two honest plodders, good lads and good luck with their careers but not a meltdown moment.
(http://www.irishexaminer.com/media/images/e/Examiner04042013DavidOLeary_large.jpg)
I'd rather have 1 Albrighton than 10 Tonevs. Another masterstroke by our esteemed leaders.
Pretty disappointed by the Club letting Albrighton go. We've got no one who offers what he does.
Two honest plodders, good lads and good luck with their careers but not a meltdown moment.
She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed is working late tonight and I have been at the rosé.
I am Villa Until I Die.
That is my Stontribution to the Current Cate of Affairs.
Good luck to both. Think releasing Albrighton is a mistake.
Good luck to both. Think releasing Albrighton is a mistake.
Albrighton is the only crosser of the ball we have, and no one else offers what he does. He's not a world beater but how much will it cost to buy a player of similar standard? Madness, absolute madness. Whose decision is this? I was just enjoying not thinking about Villa and then they go and fuck my evening up once again. Thanks.
For how many million?Albrighton is the only crosser of the ball we have, and no one else offers what he does. He's not a world beater but how much will it cost to buy a player of similar standard? Madness, absolute madness. Whose decision is this? I was just enjoying not thinking about Villa and then they go and fuck my evening up once again. Thanks.
I reckon you could get a much better player for £35K a week.
Albrighton is the only crosser of the ball we have, and no one else offers what he does. He's not a world beater but how much will it cost to buy a player of similar standard? Madness, absolute madness. Whose decision is this? I was just enjoying not thinking about Villa and then they go and fuck my evening up once again. Thanks.He is not the only crosser of the ball. I think you will find most players can cross the ball as well as him. He does nothing other then lose the ball as soon as he gets it. It will cost about £500,000 to buy a player of similar standard. Good luck to the lad if he can get a contract with whoever.
For how many million?Albrighton is the only crosser of the ball we have, and no one else offers what he does. He's not a world beater but how much will it cost to buy a player of similar standard? Madness, absolute madness. Whose decision is this? I was just enjoying not thinking about Villa and then they go and fuck my evening up once again. Thanks.
I reckon you could get a much better player for £35K a week.
I seriously hope someone knows what they're doing in B6.
[/quote
That's it, the management in B6 are fucking useless. Lerner will see us into The Championship next next season. A pathetic custodian of our club.
Nothing. But I'll imagine he'll go out on loan again next season. Lamberts' hardly been proactive in blooding the youngsters so far in his tenure.For how many million?Albrighton is the only crosser of the ball we have, and no one else offers what he does. He's not a world beater but how much will it cost to buy a player of similar standard? Madness, absolute madness. Whose decision is this? I was just enjoying not thinking about Villa and then they go and fuck my evening up once again. Thanks.
I reckon you could get a much better player for £35K a week.
How much do you reckon Jack Grealish will cost?
Nothing. But I'll imagine he'll go out on loan again next season. Lamberts' hardly been proactive in blooding the youngsters so far in his tenure.For how many million?Albrighton is the only crosser of the ball we have, and no one else offers what he does. He's not a world beater but how much will it cost to buy a player of similar standard? Madness, absolute madness. Whose decision is this? I was just enjoying not thinking about Villa and then they go and fuck my evening up once again. Thanks.
I reckon you could get a much better player for £35K a week.
How much do you reckon Jack Grealish will cost?
A very original post by Villafirst. Well done.
A very original post by Villafirst. Well done.
I'm sorry, I forgot what great management we have at the club....you know the drill "Proud history, bright future"
For how many million?Albrighton is the only crosser of the ball we have, and no one else offers what he does. He's not a world beater but how much will it cost to buy a player of similar standard? Madness, absolute madness. Whose decision is this? I was just enjoying not thinking about Villa and then they go and fuck my evening up once again. Thanks.
I reckon you could get a much better player for £35K a week.
How much do you reckon Jack Grealish will cost?
Sure I read they were both on about £5k a week at villa. No way is Albs worth £35k a week , Fonz I still think never got a proper lengthy run to show what he can do
The Grauniad tonight is suggesting that the Bomb Squad is set to be disbanded.Jesus what a mess. Will these 2 guys really put a shift in for lambert after what's happened ?
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/20/aston-villa-paul-lambert-darren-bent-u-turn
Albrighton is the only crosser of the ball we have, and no one else offers what he does. He's not a world beater but how much will it cost to buy a player of similar standard? Madness, absolute madness. Whose decision is this? I was just enjoying not thinking about Villa and then they go and fuck my evening up once again. Thanks.
I reckon you could get a much better player for £35K a week.
The Grauniad tonight is suggesting that the Bomb Squad is set to be disbanded.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/20/aston-villa-paul-lambert-darren-bent-u-turn (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/20/aston-villa-paul-lambert-darren-bent-u-turn)
The Grauniad tonight is suggesting that the Bomb Squad is set to be disbanded.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/20/aston-villa-paul-lambert-darren-bent-u-turn
The Grauniad tonight is suggesting that the Bomb Squad is set to be disbanded.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/20/aston-villa-paul-lambert-darren-bent-u-turn
The Grauniad tonight is suggesting that the Bomb Squad is set to be disbanded.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/20/aston-villa-paul-lambert-darren-bent-u-turn
It'd be more understandable if it were a different manager making this decisions, but it's not, it's the same one.
So, having been told two years ago by Lambert to stop training with the big boys and go and play mini golf or something amongst themselves, the very same manager is now going to reintegrate them into the fold?
Yaya Toure is available now provided we remember to get him a birthday cake.
It'd be more understandable if it were a different manager making this decisions, but it's not, it's the same one.
So, having been told two years ago by Lambert to stop training with the big boys and go and play mini golf or something amongst themselves, the very same manager is now going to reintegrate them into the fold?
The inference in the Graun's piece was that Lambert had been told to ditch the bomb squad players and now he's been told to do the opposite. He must know what an absolute numbskull that makes him look, so he's hinting as best as he can that it's not his doing.
The old football man on the board mantra. How many times have we commented on that omission? I fear it would be too late now, even if Randy realised that we needed one.
Lambert Leaving? I Was Colchester`s Happiest Man!
Matt Lockwood made blistering comments in criticising Paul Lambert`s managerial style yesterday on BBC Radio Essex, saying after a loss to Gillingham he was totally "banished" from first-team duties.
Vital Colchester exclusively reported earlier this summer how Lockwood`s name appeared on the PFA free agents` list, despite the fact that he had a year remaining on the contract he signed after arriving from Nottingham Forest.
Speaking in reaction to questions during a BBC live broadcast over how he had been spectacularly dropped, a relieved Lockwood explained: "It was good to be back. It`s been a while - I`ve to be mentally strong and endure some not-very-nice-treatment; it was brilliant to be back out there wearing a Colchester shirt. I didn`t think I`d ever wear one again."
Lockwood went on to say he felt himself "bullied" under former boss Lambert and warned any player on the fringes of football at his Scot`s new club to expect similar treatment.
"Obviously the manager made it perfectly clear that I wasn`t I was no part of his plans - I wasn`t invited to see the team train; my shirt wasn`t even printed up. I was banished - training with the kids - I didn`t even see the first-team at all. I was basically being bullied, outed at the club. I stayed mentally strong and professional."
The left-back, who also said he has no idea who the club`s new manager will be, added: "When I heard the news he was going to Norwich, I was probably the happiest man in Colchester!
"Basically, he`s now gone to Norwich and will probably do the same to their players. I`m 32-yereas-old and been in the game since I was 16 and that was the worst I`ve ever been treated - it was disgusting."
All the club’s players have been promised a fresh chance after Bent, Alan Hutton and Shay Given were all previously omitted as Villa sought to slash their wage bill.
Scottish international defender Hutton, who earns £32,000-a-week, even trained with the kids in the past.
But Lambert knows he needs all the personnel he can now owner Randy Lerner has put Villa up for sale.
Lambert faces having to wheel and deal on loans and free transfers and will still listen to offers for the trio. But he has spoken to every player and says everyone who remains at Villa Park over the summer will be considered for selection.
Lambert said: “Everyone is even now, everyone is level. It is publicly known what is happening. Everyone is on a level playing field.”
Enda Stevens, Aleksandar Tonev, Nicklas Helenius, Antonio Luna and Yacouba Sylla are also available for transfer.
The ‘Bomb Squad’ of out of favour stars was created under Martin O’Neill and initially featured players such as Nigel Reo-Coker, Curtis Davies and Marlon Harewood. But Lambert has now abolished it and insists he will still get the final say on players, despite Lerner wanting out.
Lambert reckons star striker Christian Benteke – currently injured after surgery on a ruptured Achilles - will not be sold. And he plans to battle to keep Fabian Delph, Ron Vlaar and Gabriel Agbonlahor despite being unable to offer the trio contract extensions.
Villa have made offers to their out of contract players though and Gary Gardner is due to sign a new one-year deal. But Marc Albrighton is set to snub fresh terms and sign for promoted Leicester on a Bosman.
Lambert is also looking for two new assistants, with the exits of Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa due to be rubber-stamped.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-plot-darren-bent-transfer-3577660#ixzz32IcDN85W (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-plot-darren-bent-transfer-3577660#ixzz32IcDN85W)
Lambert said: “Everyone is even now, everyone is level. It is publicly known what is happening. Everyone is on a level playing field.”
It'd be more understandable if it were a different manager making this decisions, but it's not, it's the same one.
So, having been told two years ago by Lambert to stop training with the big boys and go and play mini golf or something amongst themselves, the very same manager is now going to reintegrate them into the fold?
The inference in the Graun's piece was that Lambert had been told to ditch the bomb squad players and now he's been told to do the opposite. He must know what an absolute numbskull that makes him look, so he's hinting as best as he can that it's not his doing.
The old football man on the board mantra. How many times have we commented on that omission? I fear it would be too late now, even if Randy realised that we needed one.
I dunno, I saw this posted somewhere earlier today about Lambert in years gone by.
It sounds a bit familiar:
http://www.colchester.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=168733QuoteLambert Leaving? I Was Colchester`s Happiest Man!
Matt Lockwood made blistering comments in criticising Paul Lambert`s managerial style yesterday on BBC Radio Essex, saying after a loss to Gillingham he was totally "banished" from first-team duties.
Vital Colchester exclusively reported earlier this summer how Lockwood`s name appeared on the PFA free agents` list, despite the fact that he had a year remaining on the contract he signed after arriving from Nottingham Forest.
Speaking in reaction to questions during a BBC live broadcast over how he had been spectacularly dropped, a relieved Lockwood explained: "It was good to be back. It`s been a while - I`ve to be mentally strong and endure some not-very-nice-treatment; it was brilliant to be back out there wearing a Colchester shirt. I didn`t think I`d ever wear one again."
Lockwood went on to say he felt himself "bullied" under former boss Lambert and warned any player on the fringes of football at his Scot`s new club to expect similar treatment.
"Obviously the manager made it perfectly clear that I wasn`t I was no part of his plans - I wasn`t invited to see the team train; my shirt wasn`t even printed up. I was banished - training with the kids - I didn`t even see the first-team at all. I was basically being bullied, outed at the club. I stayed mentally strong and professional."
The left-back, who also said he has no idea who the club`s new manager will be, added: "When I heard the news he was going to Norwich, I was probably the happiest man in Colchester!
"Basically, he`s now gone to Norwich and will probably do the same to their players. I`m 32-yereas-old and been in the game since I was 16 and that was the worst I`ve ever been treated - it was disgusting."
The Grauniad tonight is suggesting that the Bomb Squad is set to be disbanded.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/20/aston-villa-paul-lambert-darren-bent-u-turn
That does seem sensible to me, but the fact that it's being done now is just more evidence of the utterly cack-handed way the whole bomb squad thing has been handled. It looks very amateur.
I am actually starting to believe that he genuinely did just stick the club up for sale last Sunday night after a couple of pints.
Honestly, in recent months we are showing the sort of utter ineptitude in the way we are being run that usually marks out a club that is going to get relegated.
If there is no takeover by the end of the transfer window, I am going to stick a ton on us going down.
Blimey, it all sounds dreadfully amateur, and I do think we are in a very shitty place: if the Bomb squad has been defused it sends out a really weird message.
I don't have a big concern about the list of offloads, other than I think we've missed something with Helenius.
With what we are now seeing, the departure of Lerner and Lambert can't come soon enough.
I don't think Albrighton has developed enough over the past few years to earn a 'bumper new deal.'
But for the sake of a not leaving a significant gap in an already light squad, it might have been worth splitting the difference and offering him £25-28K. Then offering an increase on that if he can hold onto a regular first team place. He might still have opted for Leicester, and if he had, good luck to him.
But it does seem a bit off that we are letting a homegrown player, and a player with decent ability and work ethic go for nowt.
And here it is, as expected. The mess of others' making is being laid at the feet of the fans. Surely we wouldn't let this get any worse by NOT doing our duty and buying tickets / merchandise, would we? We couldn't be THAT fickle, could we? Well, if we don't turn up and cough up in supportive numbers while all this goes on, and the worst should happen, then it'll be our fault too, y'know.
What a mess.
And here it is, as expected. The mess of others' making is being laid at the feet of the fans. Surely we wouldn't let this get any worse by NOT doing our duty and buying tickets / merchandise, would we? We couldn't be THAT fickle, could we? Well, if we don't turn up and cough up in supportive numbers while all this goes on, and the worst should happen, then it'll be our fault too, y'know.
What a mess.
I've already renewed and to be honest I'd be there whatever happened but I do slightly resent the fact that the fans' loyalty is being taken as read regardless of how far we are pushed.
There is a story to come out of Villa Park and it will make uneasy reading.
We could do with a couple of teams being absolute no hopers next year. But burnley aside I can't see anyone else being down by January
Lambert might have discovered the odd diamond in Benteke, Vlaar and Okore, but consider these against Tonev, Helenius, Luna and Sylla who are available for transfer and you have to wonder about how good Lambert's ability to spot a player is?
Maybe it's a cunning ruse.
I don't think Albrighton has developed enough over the past few years to earn a 'bumper new deal.'
But for the sake of a not leaving a significant gap in an already light squad, it might have been worth splitting the difference and offering him £25-28K. Then offering an increase on that if he can hold onto a regular first team place. He might still have opted for Leicester, and if he had, good luck to him.
But it does seem a bit off that we are letting a homegrown player, and a player with decent ability and work ethic go for nowt.
How do you know this didn't happen? From Albrighton's perspective, he is not only being offered circa £10k more than the figure you suggest, he is also being offered a regular first team place I imagine, something he will be keen to have at this stage of his career.
It would have been good to get money for him, Bent & Hutton a year ago, but no-one wanted more than a loan. It is a shame that out of these 3, he is the one without any time left on his contract.
Still, with Benteke & Kozak both injured, I can maybe see the sense in giving Bent a go. I wonder if that level playing field also applies to Helenius?
I would say the fact that the fact we have mentioned nothing about it screams out that we are happy to let him go. We look like fucking amateurs at the moment so why keep schtum to save the dignity of a well paid footballer. They could have easily included a line like "Despite our best efforts to keep Marc at the club, in the current situation we could not match the offers he has had from elsewhere so he has decided to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere. He goes with our best wishes"
But no, they release a slow slurry of basically drivel which, again, tells us fuck all about what has actually gone on
Again I admire your positivity Ads, I really do but the reason I cannot buy into the concept that it will be alright on the night is that I see the central issue of funding being constantly fudged by belief that players who have form for underperforming and players who have suffered serious injury can pull us back from the brink where we now seem to be permanently located. We must have serious and substantial investment in new players of quality. To me it stares us in the face so when I see hats thrown in the air because the release of Marc and Fonz is going to save us £40K a week I think so how much is Lescott going to cost us? or Barry or anybody of the quality we so transparently lack. The whole posture to me is still what was described in these threads as not so much a plan, more an experiment in survival in the Premiership on the cheap. Sorry, that is the way I see it.
I think it's good news that the likes of Bent, N'Zogbia, Hutton etc are coming back into the fold.
For better or worse, we're paying these players a lot of money in wages and I think Bent offers more than Bowery and makes the squad stronger as a result. I don't think Hutton is very good, but if it means we are able to play Bacuna in his right position, then fair enough. He can't do any worse than Lowton.
N'Zogbia is a plus. He is very in and out, but he does have undeniable quality. With Kozak and Okore to come back we seem stronger than what finished the season.
Nursey's written an article saying how we should be thanking Lambert, not calling for him to go:Didn't he write an article a month ago saying Lambert had to go? I get confused with Nursey and Kendrick sometimes, but I'm sure Nursey has called for his head a few times.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villa-fans-should-thanking-3580253?
Frankly, it's perfectly reasonably written, not some Joe Lovejoyish calumny. However, certain horrible phrases stood out, such as "He feels the pressure is now off as expectations should be lowered." I hated that when reading it.
I would say the fact that the fact we have mentioned nothing about it screams out that we are happy to let him go. We look like fucking amateurs at the moment so why keep schtum to save the dignity of a well paid footballer. They could have easily included a line like "Despite our best efforts to keep Marc at the club, in the current situation we could not match the offers he has had from elsewhere so he has decided to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere. He goes with our best wishes"
But no, they release a slow slurry of basically drivel which, again, tells us fuck all about what has actually gone on
Nursey's written an article saying how we should be thanking Lambert, not calling for him to go:Didn't he write an article a month ago saying Lambert had to go? I get confused with Nursey and Kendrick sometimes, but I'm sure Nursey has called for his head a few times.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villa-fans-should-thanking-3580253?
Frankly, it's perfectly reasonably written, not some Joe Lovejoyish calumny. However, certain horrible phrases stood out, such as "He feels the pressure is now off as expectations should be lowered." I hated that when reading it.
One month he's telling fans to get behind Lambert, the next he say's he should be turfed out.
Two can play at that game. You continue to undermine my hopes for the club and I will react by viewing everything you do and say in the worst possible light.
Bent will never play for us again. And frankly I don't want him to - he wasn't much of an asset in Fulham's struggle against relegation.
Edit: apparently the news this morning is that he might play for us again. Fab. Christ knows we've got enough movement in the side - what we really need is more stasis.
Say what you like about the bomb squad but they are still all very well paid employees of the club.
Bent,Hutton & CNZ are all a big improvement on what we had last season & if nothing else should be trying to put themselves in the shop window.
With Okore,Kozak & hopefully sooner rather than later Benteke our squad looks a little better.
Nursey's written an article saying how we should be thanking Lambert, not calling for him to go:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villa-fans-should-thanking-3580253?
Frankly, it's perfectly reasonably written, not some Joe Lovejoyish calumny. However, certain horrible phrases stood out, such as "He feels the pressure is now off as expectations should be lowered." I hated that when reading it.
I would say the fact that the fact we have mentioned nothing about it screams out that we are happy to let him go. We look like fucking amateurs at the moment so why keep schtum to save the dignity of a well paid footballer. They could have easily included a line like "Despite our best efforts to keep Marc at the club, in the current situation we could not match the offers he has had from elsewhere so he has decided to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere. He goes with our best wishes"
But no, they release a slow slurry of basically drivel which, again, tells us fuck all about what has actually gone on
So that wouldn't have had anyone saying 'for fucks sake - now we can't even compete with Leicester!' ?
I don't think it's about the dignity of the player. The club statement does wish Marc well, but leaves us to conclude it was the club's decision to let him go, which it kind of was, on the basis that he isn't worth £35k a week to us in the current climate.
I'm not under any illusions it's a worrying mess we're in - I am just so wholly convinced of it that I really cannot spend my whole summer being outraged at every new example of it.
That is true ev, but it matters to me.
That is true ev, but it matters to me.
And me, which is the thing that makes it so fkn annoying, painful, frustrating etc.
I'd love to be able to switch off and spend my time on more worthy causes but it simply isn't that easy.
If they do play again, it will depend on the attitude that they show in training and on the pitch. You have to think it would be a lot better with a new manager/owner in charge. You have to think Bent/Hutton etc are massively pissed off at how everything has gone down and as much as they might try to play it will affect them.
If they do play again, it will depend on the attitude that they show in training and on the pitch. You have to think it would be a lot better with a new manager/owner in charge. You have to think Bent/Hutton etc are massively pissed off at how everything has gone down and as much as they might try to play it will affect them.
same happened to Given too . I think they are professional enough to do what they can for Villa but deep down I would be pissed.
If they do play again, it will depend on the attitude that they show in training and on the pitch. You have to think it would be a lot better with a new manager/owner in charge. You have to think Bent/Hutton etc are massively pissed off at how everything has gone down and as much as they might try to play it will affect them.
same happened to Given too . I think they are professional enough to do what they can for Villa but deep down I would be pissed.
Lambert had some kind of bustup with Holt at Norwich. I'm not saying it was on the same scale as with Bent, but I believe Holt was out of the team entirely for a while. He came back in and scored loads of goals. *
Lets get this straight: they're fucking footballers and all they have to do is play football, which as an aside has also made them millionaires – a lot of it coming from our club.
*EDIT: Er, it might have been about a week :/
Nursey's written an article saying how we should be thanking Lambert, not calling for him to go:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villa-fans-should-thanking-3580253?
Frankly, it's perfectly reasonably written, not some Joe Lovejoyish calumny. However, certain horrible phrases stood out, such as "He feels the pressure is now off as expectations should be lowered." I hated that when reading it.
All day long I have been fuming about the way the club in general and Lambert in particular have been congratulating themselves on the reduced expectations of the fans as though it is something to be proud of. They should be deeply ashamed not crowing about it as though it is part of some grand plan. They are such bunglers and cock up artists that they are peddling this self congratulation for bringing the fan base to a position of resigned defeatism while at the same time playing up the only real asset the club has to appeal to a buyer, namely the dedicated and loyal fans. With one breath Lambert is saying the pressure is off because the fans really don't care any more and with the next breath he is saying how vital we are to the future of the club. And just how small time is it to say you hope the fans will still keep buying the club merchandise. Pathetic.
All day long I have been fuming about the way the club in general and Lambert in particular have been congratulating themselves on the reduced expectations of the fans as though it is something to be proud of. They should be deeply ashamed not crowing about it as though it is part of some grand plan. They are such bunglers and cock up artists that they are peddling this self congratulation for bringing the fan base to a position of resigned defeatism while at the same time playing up the only real asset the club has to appeal to a buyer, namely the dedicated and loyal fans. With one breath Lambert is saying the pressure is off because the fans really don't care any more and with the next breath he is saying how vital we are to the future of the club. And just how small time is it to say you hope the fans will still keep buying the club merchandise. Pathetic.
I think you're a bit harsh sticking it on Lambert though Brian. It not him setting the budgets, but he's the twat that's got to stand out there all tell everyone what they don't want to hear.
Every week now he will have a list of ready-mix excuses to roll out. Best job in the PL , no pressure , no expectations
But they do need their cake!
Lets get this straight: they're fucking footballers and all they have to do is play football, which as an aside has also made them millionaires – a lot of it coming from our club.
I do blame him though Lee because he is their stool pigeon. He is just a gaffer's man without the pride or the dignity to do anything but speak the lines they give him. It is made worse by his own lack of articulation and the ability to speak in anything but sound bites.I had a view that he was not like that however number of things this season have made me change my mind and agree here. Those being the FA cup v 17th, Culverhouse/Karsa affair and now resorting to restoring the so called bomb squad.
We're fucked.
I do blame him though Lee because he is their stool pigeon.
We're fucked.
Is the right answer. Well and truly.
Every week now he will have a list of ready-mix excuses to roll out. Best job in the PL , no pressure , no expectations
We're fucked.
Is the right answer. Well and truly.
Maybe it would have been better to have gone down this season rather than face another year of the garbage we've just dealt with ?
His results have been appalling and some of the things which have happened like the two legged semi final defeat by Sheffield United are among the worst things ever to happen to the club in its entire history.Erm...
Going back to this 'bomb squad' malarkey. Did Lambert mention players by name or just that there is now a clean slate?Hopefully Zog is back and integrated quickly. I'd also start Hutton ahead of Lowton
In all walks of life, in all businesses or undertakings there occur instances of the people at the top not caring sufficiently or being too stupid for the responsibilities they carry. In those situations it is the duty of those charged with the day to day running of that enterprise to resist and make known the problems. Lambert has never done that proactively, only retrospectively.And this is piss poor management. I hold a reasonable senior level assignment at my workplace and it is not only my job to work within the set parameters but also to point out risks that those parameters are likely to bring to the business before the event not after. This is the case with most people. Any fool can deal with issues with hindsight however a bigger fool goes on with the same path even with hindsight. That is where Villa are going now. At my place that fool will not be in his/her assignment at that stage.
Let's not worry that Brian should have said Bradford. The statement is valid.
You then have the job of trying to put a positive spin on it to your team.That happens however managers, depending on their position in the hierarchy, accept that purely to protect their job as there may not be another choice. May be Lambert has had a word however we are talking about a Principal player in the business and in that position it should be your way or way out.
How do you know that Lambert hasn't had private conversations with Lerner warning him about cutting the finances to the bone?
I discussed a bomb squad theory with my brother last night.
Despite two years of being marginalised, none of the players have bad mouthed the manager about it. None.
Maybe, and it's just a maybe, it's because they understood the decision was purely financial and manager was frank and honest with him, but his hands were effectively tied.
Step forward to last weekend, and the manager asking the chairman if he can bring these players back in as there is a bit of room on the wage bill and we can't afford to buy anyone else.
Viola, bomb squad reinstated.
Makoun was sold to Rennes, and apparently is going to be playing as (as Lambert likes to call it) 'a number ten' for Cameroon in the World Cup.Resign him!
Makoun was sold to Rennes, and apparently is going to be playing as (as Lambert likes to call it) 'a number ten' for Cameroon in the World Cup.Resign him!
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
I know, missed opportunities.
However (bracing oneself) we are where we are.
And it is going to be fabulous.
When we get bought. Whenever that is.
I ain't holding my breath Louzie0!UTV Frankmosswasmyuncle
Well, of course, I have been since August!
Nice to exhale!
UTV!
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
I know, missed opportunities.
However (bracing oneself) we are where we are.
And it is going to be fabulous.
When we get bought. Whenever that is.
I sincerely hope so Lou
I am actually starting to believe that he genuinely did just stick the club up for sale last Sunday night after a couple of pints.
Yup. This past week had been this creeping feeling that things are actually going to get worse, not better in the months and years ahead. That we will have less money, not more. That we will look back on the past few seasons with fondness of when Randy cared versus the neglect we have ahead of us.
I see a dark sail on the horizon
Set under a black cloud that hides the sun
Bring me my Ron Saunders know how and Cowans pass
Bring me my Toney Daley 7 shirt as a talisman
I am actually starting to believe that he genuinely did just stick the club up for sale last Sunday night after a couple of pints.
Yup. This past week had been this creeping feeling that things are actually going to get worse, not better in the months and years ahead. That we will have less money, not more. That we will look back on the past few seasons with fondness of when Randy cared versus the neglect we have ahead of us.
I see a dark sail on the horizon
Set under a black cloud that hides the sun
Bring me my Ron Saunders know how and Cowans pass
Bring me my Toney Daley 7 shirt as a talisman
Have I missed something before on H&V. People quoting Jethro Tull lyrics ?
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
I know, missed opportunities.
However (bracing oneself) we are where we are.
And it is going to be fabulous.
When we get bought. Whenever that is.
I sincerely hope so Lou
Pinning hopes on people doin due diligence, Toronto.
I hope the same things, Toronto.another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
I know, missed opportunities.
However (bracing oneself) we are where we are.
And it is going to be fabulous.
When we get bought. Whenever that is.
I sincerely hope so Lou
Pinning hopes on people doin due diligence, Toronto.
I think things are quiet because that is how it should be. I've said before that I don't think Randy would have said he wants out so publicly if the process wasn't already underway to some to degree and that he'll want all of this done as discreetly as possible. He has already tarnished his football legacy as chairman, but he won't want his entire legacy destroyed by selling to the wrong person or prolonging the sale any longer than he needs to. I think he understands that after such a period of uncertainty the club needs to approach next season in a much better state of mind than how it departed the previous one.
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
Nice in theory, in practice Cabaye caused unrest at Newcastle and sulked until he got a move
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
Nice in theory, in practice Cabaye caused unrest at Newcastle and sulked until he got a move
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
Nice in theory, in practice Cabaye caused unrest at Newcastle and sulked until he got a move
and Makhoun had about the same number of good games for us as Didier Six.
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
Nice in theory, in practice Cabaye caused unrest at Newcastle and sulked until he got a move
you can't apply what happened there to what might have happened anywhere else. There was a lot of unrest at Newcastle so without applying the same rules and circumstances we cannot say for sure he'd have done the same thing. While he played for them he was excellent and that got him noticed and a big move in the end. As much as Newcastle clearly missed him they also ended up with a very tidy profit.
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
Nice in theory, in practice Cabaye caused unrest at Newcastle and sulked until he got a move
and Makhoun had about the same number of good games for us as Didier Six.
Houllier became ill, and that changed a lot at the club. He didn't just buy for him for that season. He clearly had plans for him beyond that and the fact that he was going to buy Cabaye might have significantly changed everyone's views on Makoun. What I know is he played well prior to his Villa career, has played well in France since and has been very influential in Cameroon making the World Cup.
Cabeye is an excellent player. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened over the summer under Houllier.
Cabeye is an excellent player. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened over the summer under Houllier.
Cabeye is an excellent player. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened over the summer under Houllier.
I think the summer Houllier had planned frankly scared the shit out of our board.
Yes Chris, I agree the "lowest point ever" is often trollied out to refer to a bad result but I did say one of the worst things, not the worst, and I have now the honour of having watched the Villa live for more than half their existence.
another player had Houllier stayed would still be at the club. Him alongside Cabaye isn't a bad start at all when attempting to put together a creative, ball retaining midfield unit.
Nice in theory, in practice Cabaye caused unrest at Newcastle and sulked until he got a move
and Makhoun had about the same number of good games for us as Didier Six.
Houllier became ill, and that changed a lot at the club. He didn't just buy for him for that season. He clearly had plans for him beyond that and the fact that he was going to buy Cabaye might have significantly changed everyone's views on Makoun. What I know is he played well prior to his Villa career, has played well in France since and has been very influential in Cameroon making the World Cup.
and his career in France was so good prior to Villa we paid c40% less for him than his previous transfer
Cabeye is an excellent player. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened over the summer under Houllier.
I think the summer Houllier had planned frankly scared the shit out of our board.
It must have been a horror show if they thought McLeish was a good appointment.
Like Charlie's Angels bloke but from the Infirmary with McAllister as the Angels.
Cabeye is an excellent player. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened over the summer under Houllier.
For all his foot in the mouth tendencies and the cringemaking Liverpool love in, Houllier had the right ideas at the very least.
Towards the end of that season, we started playing some really decent football.
It was a pivotal moment for the club when - and I honestly still can not believe it - Lerner then appointed McLeish. Absolutely zero continuity there, even if you can get over his piss poor record.
Makoun only played seven games for us.
I can't really see any circumstances under which that would be enough of a sample to form a realistic opinion of him.
Makoun only played seven games for us.
I can't really see any circumstances under which that would be enough of a sample to form a realistic opinion of him.
Michael Bradley was written-off after the whole team surrendered at Citeh in the cup. Did we get any money back on Makoun?
There's a lot of misty-eyed revisionism over the Houllier chapter, and quite frankly it's baffling. He was largely poor, had little understanding of the club and its culture, blatantly threw in the towel in the FA Cup and was looking decidedly vulnerable before he was given a now unthinkable amount of money to buy Darren Bent, whose goals kept us up. Our upturn in fortunes at the end of that season occurred when Houllier was in l'hopital, and the largely unpopular Gary McAllister took control.
Our capitulation at home to the dogheads in March was a classic Houllier performance, listless, chaotic, complacent, all with a team containing the likes of Young, Downing, Bent, Makoun and Cuellar. I'd argue that with the current crop of crap at Villa, Houllier would have taken us down like a concrete balloon. He was a dreadful appointment.
There's a lot of misty-eyed revisionism over the Houllier chapter, and quite frankly it's baffling. He was largely poor, had little understanding of the club and its culture, blatantly threw in the towel in the FA Cup and was looking decidedly vulnerable before he was given a now unthinkable amount of money to buy Darren Bent, whose goals kept us up. Our upturn in fortunes at the end of that season occurred when Houllier was in l'hopital, and the largely unpopular Gary McAllister took control.
Our capitulation at home to the dogheads in March was a classic Houllier performance, listless, chaotic, complacent, all with a team containing the likes of Young, Downing, Bent, Makoun and Cuellar. I'd argue that with the current crop of crap at Villa, Houllier would have taken us down like a concrete balloon. He was a dreadful appointment.
I thought Houllier was setting us on the right path and I think if we'd had 2-3 more years of him we'd be in a significantly better place.
I didn't like him but I did trust him to get it right, McLeish and Lambert I like but I never trusted McLeish to do the right thing for us and I don't trust Lambert any more.
For me the Houllier era was an example of how impatient and spoilt the fanbase can be.
IMO the only way we'll ever sort ourselves out is by sticking by the manager – the current one – the one so many of us wanted.Excellent post, Rolta. Apart from this bit. I didn't want Lambert. ;)
For me the Houllier era was an example of how impatient and spoilt the fanbase can be.
So many people wanted him out, called him a clown (ring any bells) – and look what happened, we got Mcleish. It's a shame, because according to the man himself we had Cabaye lined up that summer. If that was a sample of his recruitment policy, then I would have loved to have seen what else he could do. And we really did play some nice football at times under him, but again, because we didn't do it in every single game then Houllier was clueless and all the know-it-all fans could have done so much better.
Bosko Balaban.
I don't get this post era love in a minority of fans have for houllier. The guy was a dinosaur and a condescending twat of one. His tactics were awful his signings were ridiculous and I hated him as manager as do 99% of villa fans I speak to. Signing Pires was a joke, mako un useless oh and let's not forget Omar Cummings
I don't get this post era love in a minority of fans have for houllier. The guy was a dinosaur and a condescending twat of one. His tactics were awful his signings were ridiculous and I hated him as manager as do 99% of villa fans I speak to. Signing Pires was a joke, mako un useless oh and let's not forget Omar Cummings
Who he never signed? He was only on trial as far as I remember.
For me, 'His tactics were awful' seems like an easy thing to say whenever things are going wrong :/ It's jus tthe way I see it. I think with Barry Bannan and Hogg in midfield anyone's tactics would seem awful. I think this phrase ignores the other teams we have to play and the quality and qualities of their players etc. IMO, it's part of the "We're Aston Villa, we should just win" mindset. It's a football cliche that's used one week, forgotten the next when things go well, and comes up once more with the next defeat.
Er, Mcleish though – he had bad tactics :o :D
I don't get this post era love in a minority of fans have for houllier. The guy was a dinosaur and a condescending twat of one. His tactics were awful his signings were ridiculous and I hated him as manager as do 99% of villa fans I speak to. Signing Pires was a joke, mako un useless oh and let's not forget Omar Cummings
Who he never signed? He was only on trial as far as I remember.
For me, 'His tactics were awful' seems like an easy thing to say whenever things are going wrong :/ It's jus tthe way I see it. I think with Barry Bannan and Hogg in midfield anyone's tactics would seem awful. I think this phrase ignores the other teams we have to play and the quality and qualities of their players etc. IMO, it's part of the "We're Aston Villa, we should just win" mindset. It's a football cliche that's used one week, forgotten the next when things go well, and comes up once more with the next defeat.
Er, Mcleish though – he had bad tactics :o :D
Bosko Balaban.
Maybe, but you get the feeling that John Gregory saw enough of him in training to realise he'd made a cock-up. With Bradley you get the impression that once TSM came-in, he was sacrificed to make way for the loan-signing of Jermaine Jenas. (!)
It's frustrating because, by all accounts, he made quite a decent impression in Serie A after leaving us.
For me, 'His tactics were awful' seems like an easy thing to say whenever things are going wrong :/ It's jus tthe way I see it. I think with Barry Bannan and Hogg in midfield anyone's tactics would seem awful.
Whilst on the Houllier-era (which clearly divides opinions) the one that really baffled me was Michael Bradley. I had really high hopes when he came-in but I don;t think I can recall a VIall player being moved-on without being given a decent chance in the manner that he was.
QuoteFor me the Houllier era was an example of how impatient and spoilt the fanbase can be.
Going over old ground - but Houllier lost us the day he arrived. He gave the impression he thought we should be honoured that he'd stooped so low to take the job. He be-littled us from the off.
FFS we know are place in the footballing scheme of things. But we don't need anyone, least of all the manager, ramming it home continually in the press just how insignificant we are.
I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
I can't stand the 'blame the fans' stuff, I think any fan would be pretty disappointed after 4 dreadful years in succession.
I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
There is no revisionism on my part on Houllier. Had he remained at the club, he would have had the ability to bring in the types of players a top 6 side needs in the PL. They were not only high potential players e.g Fofana at Lyon who came close to joining, but also those that had experience and international standing. We were playing better football at the time of his illness and that wasn't because he was away. If it was then we are saying Gary McAllister was behind it and should have been given the job. Houllier played his part and laid some of the groundwork which McAllister executed.
The whole post MON situation was a gong show at the club. It was a mess so there was no way Houllier was ever going clean it up that quickly. If he hadn't become ill, and if he had received the right level of financial backing which I think he'd have got or else he wouldn't have joined, I firmly believe that within the space of 18-24 months we'd have every bit as solid a squad as Everton have today.
Houllier might not have been our cup of tea in the media and I didn't like the comments he made at Liverpool, but really, given what had happened he was always going to have an emotional attachment to them. But in my opinion, he came with an established record in domestic and european football with significant contacts within the game, and would have had us operating at the upper end of the table within a reasonable amount of time.
The results are there for all to see, as are the players at our disposal at the time, even taking injuries into account. What I don't understand is this "he got us playing better football" line. Did he really? To me, aimlessly squaring the football between the edge of your own penalty area and the halfway line before losing it isn't much better than hoofball.
Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
Whatever ambitions Houlllier might have had would have floundered on the spending restrictions that have since become the norm.
Exactly . And TSM did a better job than GED.Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
No, but it's salutary reminder to be careful what you wish for.
Exactly . And TSM did a better job than GED.Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
No, but it's salutary reminder to be careful what you wish for.
Exactly . And TSM did a better job than GED.Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
No, but it's salutary reminder to be careful what you wish for.
How?
Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
Exactly . And TSM did a better job than GED.Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
No, but it's salutary reminder to be careful what you wish for.
Erm where were we when GED went ill. The last 9 or so games when we got good were down to GMac not GED.
GED don't get the credit for those games.
Exactly . And TSM did a better job than GED.Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
No, but it's salutary reminder to be careful what you wish for.
I think you will find history has been re-written by most Nations at some stage.Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
What from ICU, highly unlikelyErm where were we when GED went ill. The last 9 or so games when we got good were down to GMac not GED.
GED don't get the credit for those games.
Wasn't he still picking the team?
He did. Based on resource available and discount the games GMac bailed GED out the shit.Exactly . And TSM did a better job than GED.Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
No, but it's salutary reminder to be careful what you wish for.
with all due respect that is complete and utter bollocks. I'll look forward to your riposte
What from ICU, highly unlikelyErm where were we when GED went ill. The last 9 or so games when we got good were down to GMac not GED.
GED don't get the credit for those games.
Wasn't he still picking the team?
He did. Based on resource available and discount the games GMac bailed GED out the shit.Exactly . And TSM did a better job than GED.Unfortunately you cannot re-write history.I remember walk out of the Reebok having just watched Houllier surrender a 2-1 lead and lose 3-2 . I thought as I walked out, bollocks to this Houllier shit I'm done with this bullshit football. Luckily he was gone soon after
To be replaced by TSM.
No, but it's salutary reminder to be careful what you wish for.
with all due respect that is complete and utter bollocks. I'll look forward to your riposte
Erm where were we when GED went ill. The last 9 or so games when we got good were down to GMac not GED.
GED don't get the credit for those games.
Well he had to say that.What from ICU, highly unlikelyErm where were we when GED went ill. The last 9 or so games when we got good were down to GMac not GED.
GED don't get the credit for those games.
Wasn't he still picking the team?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/8495333/Aston-Villa-manager-Gerard-Houllier-still-involved-in-team-affairs-says-caretaker-Gary-McAllister.html
Well he had to say that.What from ICU, highly unlikelyErm where were we when GED went ill. The last 9 or so games when we got good were down to GMac not GED.
GED don't get the credit for those games.
Wasn't he still picking the team?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/8495333/Aston-Villa-manager-Gerard-Houllier-still-involved-in-team-affairs-says-caretaker-Gary-McAllister.html
I think we can say that 10% difference over a 5 game period is well within the margin for error.Better in the sense of grinding out results .
You think Houllier was outdated, yet say McLeish was better. If you really think that, you should change your calendar.
I think we can say that 10% difference over a 5 game period is well within the margin for error.Better in the sense of grinding out results .
You think Houllier was outdated, yet say McLeish was better. If you really think that, you should change your calendar.
Also the best performance of the GED era was the 3-0 home win v west ham. A game that was under the guidance of KMac
I think we can say that 10% difference over a 5 game period is well within the margin for error.
You think Houllier was outdated, yet say McLeish was better. If you really think that, you should change your calendar, since your idea of dates seems miles off.
What is tsm's points per game?If my math is correct 1.0789 points per game
Let's not worry that Brian should have said Bradford. The statement is valid.
This is a club that got relegated to the third division in living memory for many of us, that were regularly humiliated by Small Heath a few years ago, suffered a record defeat at Chelsea etc.
There have always been bad results, and there always will be, and they are always met with 'lowest point ever' type comments.
Whilst on the Houllier-era (which clearly divides opinions) the one that really baffled me was Michael Bradley. I had really high hopes when he came-in but I don;t think I can recall a VIall player being moved-on without being given a decent chance in the manner that he was.
Paul Mortimer
They don't owe us anything, the entitlement that suggests is just silly. We've had a bad time of things for a number of reasons but I don't think it's fair to suggest that many people who've been at the club in that time haven't been trying to do more. If you want apologies look at the likes of Dunne/Collins/Warnock who were, by all reports, a poison in the dressing room for Houllier, or look at Stephen Ireland who regularly played like he'd rather be anywhere but playing football for Aston Villa.
I don't want apologies, I want them to do better.
It's 1 point per game.Just checked the records. Eck had an average of 1.12 ppg before he lost bent at Wigan .
Even if you take west ham as the last game of his reign (which is nonsense in my opinion), he was in charge for 28 games, garnering 33 points, which is 1.18 points per game.
Your inability to admit you're wrong is highly amusing.It's 1 point per game.Just checked the records. Eck had an average of 1.12 ppg before he lost bent at Wigan .
Even if you take west ham as the last game of his reign (which is nonsense in my opinion), he was in charge for 28 games, garnering 33 points, which is 1.18 points per game.
So a difference of 0.06ppg between the two. So in effect no difference .
It's 1 point per game.Just checked the records. Eck had an average of 1.12 ppg before he lost bent at Wigan .
Even if you take west ham as the last game of his reign (which is nonsense in my opinion), he was in charge for 28 games, garnering 33 points, which is 1.18 points per game.
So a difference of 0.06ppg between the two. So in effect no difference .
"Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest,"
"It's a club that according to me has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League."
Gerard Houllier admitted yesterday that Aston Villa are not good enough to beat Manchester City – a confession the club’s spin doctors immediately tried to have struck from the record.
I must have missed the bit where he constantly put down the club.Small sample of quotes supplied to help your memory loss.
Let's not worry that Brian should have said Bradford. The statement is valid.
This is a club that got relegated to the third division in living memory for many of us, that were regularly humiliated by Small Heath a few years ago, suffered a record defeat at Chelsea etc.
There have always been bad results, and there always will be, and they are always met with 'lowest point ever' type comments.
Let's not worry that Brian should have said Bradford. The statement is valid.
This is a club that got relegated to the third division in living memory for many of us, that were regularly humiliated by Small Heath a few years ago, suffered a record defeat at Chelsea etc.
There have always been bad results, and there always will be, and they are always met with 'lowest point ever' type comments.
Hallelujah. Perspective.
So is it purely coincidence that two of the worst (if not the worst) results in the clubs entire history have occurred on PL's watch? He had nowt to do with that at all?
He's broke loads more records
Eg First loss at home to stoke in 50 odd years
I must have missed the bit where he constantly put down the club.Small sample of quotes supplied to help your memory loss.
Bloody hell when people harp on about Houllier as the answer we know were in trouble.
His sickening love in at Liverpool and the televised embarrassment at Man City were enough to have him sacked.
Let's not worry that Brian should have said Bradford. The statement is valid.
This is a club that got relegated to the third division in living memory for many of us, that were regularly humiliated by Small Heath a few years ago, suffered a record defeat at Chelsea etc.
There have always been bad results, and there always will be, and they are always met with 'lowest point ever' type comments.
Hallelujah. Perspective.
You're right those were dark days but perversely as you say many of us look back on them as some of the best we had supporting Villa. I think we were still finding the bottom of our trough really. By the time we got promoted back to the Second Division, we had Chris Nicholl, Brian Little, Bruce Rioch, Ian Ross, Chico Hamilton and Ray Graydon playing regularly and John Gidman and Bobby MacDonald ready to start playing the next season. This core group helped us get back to the top division where all (except Rioch I think) helped us get re-established in the first couple of years before building towards the 80-82 era. I wouldn't mind starting next season with a comparable set of players. I'm not saying they were world beaters but they knew their jobs and held their own even if the first season back in Div 1 was a bit precarious.He's broke loads more records
Eg First loss at home to stoke in 50 odd years
Try going back to the 3rd division days. First time ever lost to (add in various clubs' name). People talk about the humiliation of the last two years but that relegation from the 2nd to 3rd division will not be beaten in my mind. It all worked out well in the end and we had some great days getting out of the 3rd division (which has masked what went on before, especially with time) but we should never have been there in the first place. The club had lost it's way and those were dark days.
So is it purely coincidence that two of the worst (if not the worst) results in the clubs entire history have occurred on PL's watch? He had nowt to do with that at all?
Still, he's only been here two years. Imagine how many more he could attain in four.
You're right those were dark days but perversely as you say many of us look back on them as some of the best we had supporting Villa. I think we were still finding the bottom of our trough really. By the time we got promoted back to the Second Division, we had Chris Nicholl, Brian Little, Bruce Rioch, Ian Ross, Chico Hamilton and Ray Graydon playing regularly and John Gidman and Bobby MacDonald ready to start playing the next season. This core group helped us get back to the top division where all (except Rioch I think) helped us get re-established in the first couple of years before building towards the 80-82 era. I wouldn't mind starting next season with a comparable set of players.He's broke loads more records
Eg First loss at home to stoke in 50 odd years
Try going back to the 3rd division days. First time ever lost to (add in various clubs' name). People talk about the humiliation of the last two years but that relegation from the 2nd to 3rd division will not be beaten in my mind. It all worked out well in the end and we had some great days getting out of the 3rd division (which has masked what went on before, especially with time) but we should never have been there in the first place. The club had lost it's way and those were dark days.
So is it purely coincidence that two of the worst (if not the worst) results in the clubs entire history have occurred on PL's watch? He had nowt to do with that at all?
Still, he's only been here two years. Imagine how many more he could attain in four.
Given the circumstances he has been asked to work under (enforced cost cutting, long term injuries to key players, disengaged owner) what more would you reasonably expect?
To employ a cliché, the buck stops with him, but I doubt a different manager would have made a great deal of difference.
The chances are that he will be gone within the next few months but I think when this period is reviewed in years to come the consensus will be that he was dealt a shitty hand and neither under nor over achieved.
So is it purely coincidence that two of the worst (if not the worst) results in the clubs entire history have occurred on PL's watch? He had nowt to do with that at all?
Still, he's only been here two years. Imagine how many more he could attain in four.
Given the circumstances he has been asked to work under (enforced cost cutting, long term injuries to key players, disengaged owner) what more would you reasonably expect?
To employ a cliché, the buck stops with him, but I doubt a different manager would have made a great deal of difference.
The chances are that he will be gone within the next few months but I think when this period is reviewed in years to come the consensus will be that he was dealt a shitty hand and neither under nor over achieved.
I believe another manager would have probably seen that our corners were almost pointless and that the persistent hoof ball tactics were on the whole ineffective. There is no rocket science in that for me, our players may be poor, but they're not that poor. I am of course guessing but I reckon most managers would have sorted that out. He may have been hung out to dry by Lerner, but his tactics are the pegs which have kept the washing on the line.
I'll remember him as both to be honest. Someone punching above their weight and then having a shit storm thrown on him to boot. We thankfully had just about enough individual quality to see us over the line. Our final 3 wins of the season all really hinged on players doing something out of the ordinary. Benteke dragged us into the Norwich game, Delph pulled a goal out the bag against Chelsea, and Weimann had probably one of about 3 decent displays that he's had all season. In the end, we crawled over the line.So is it purely coincidence that two of the worst (if not the worst) results in the clubs entire history have occurred on PL's watch? He had nowt to do with that at all?
Still, he's only been here two years. Imagine how many more he could attain in four.
Given the circumstances he has been asked to work under (enforced cost cutting, long term injuries to key players, disengaged owner) what more would you reasonably expect?
To employ a cliché, the buck stops with him, but I doubt a different manager would have made a great deal of difference.
The chances are that he will be gone within the next few months but I think when this period is reviewed in years to come the consensus will be that he was dealt a shitty hand and neither under nor over achieved.
I believe another manager would have probably seen that our corners were almost pointless and that the persistent hoof ball tactics were on the whole ineffective. There is no rocket science in that for me, our players may be poor, but they're not that poor. I am of course guessing but I reckon most managers would have sorted that out. He may have been hung out to dry by Lerner, but his tactics are the pegs which have kept the washing on the line.
Couldn't agree more - I'll just remember him as being shit rather than dealt a shitty hand. That's if I remember him at all because I'd really rather not
I'll remember him as both to be honest. Someone punching above their weight and then having a shit storm thrown on him to boot. We thankfully had just about enough individual quality to see us over the line. Our final 3 wins of the season all really hinged on players doing something out of the ordinary. Benteke dragged us into the Norwich game, Delph pulled a goal out the bag against Chelsea, and Weimann had probably one of about 3 decent displays that he's had all season. In the end, we crawled over the line.So is it purely coincidence that two of the worst (if not the worst) results in the clubs entire history have occurred on PL's watch? He had nowt to do with that at all?
Still, he's only been here two years. Imagine how many more he could attain in four.
Given the circumstances he has been asked to work under (enforced cost cutting, long term injuries to key players, disengaged owner) what more would you reasonably expect?
To employ a cliché, the buck stops with him, but I doubt a different manager would have made a great deal of difference.
The chances are that he will be gone within the next few months but I think when this period is reviewed in years to come the consensus will be that he was dealt a shitty hand and neither under nor over achieved.
I believe another manager would have probably seen that our corners were almost pointless and that the persistent hoof ball tactics were on the whole ineffective. There is no rocket science in that for me, our players may be poor, but they're not that poor. I am of course guessing but I reckon most managers would have sorted that out. He may have been hung out to dry by Lerner, but his tactics are the pegs which have kept the washing on the line.
Couldn't agree more - I'll just remember him as being shit rather than dealt a shitty hand. That's if I remember him at all because I'd really rather not
In terms of how we were sent out on the pitch 8-9/10 under Lambert, it was just headless chickens. Run around a lot and hope for the best, even at our most effective under him, Feb-May last year, it was more a case of pull the string on our back and let go, rather than any great tactical masterstroke.
In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
But his last two clubs (who weren't losing £50million a year and requiring high levels of investment to be cut) improved season by season under Lambert. He took Norwich from League 1, through the Championship, into the Premier League and got them 12th in consecutive seasons. Was that then a fluke? Or do you not think that maybe there is a bit more to this current state at Aston Villa than saying "he can't coach for shit". (Not that he was the coach anyway – his coaches did that, and I think Lambert might actually be the manager). :-\
In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
But his last two clubs (who weren't losing £50million a year and requiring high levels of investment to be cut) improved season by season under Lambert. He took Norwich from League 1, through the Championship, into the Premier League and got them 12th in consecutive seasons. Was that then a fluke? Or do you not think that maybe there is a bit more to this current state at Aston Villa than saying "he can't coach for shit". (Not that he was the coach anyway – his coaches did that, and I think Lambert might actually be the manager). :-\
In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
But his last two clubs (who weren't losing £50million a year and requiring high levels of investment to be cut) improved season by season under Lambert. He took Norwich from League 1, through the Championship, into the Premier League and got them 12th in consecutive seasons. Was that then a fluke? Or do you not think that maybe there is a bit more to this current state at Aston Villa than saying "he can't coach for shit". (Not that he was the coach anyway – his coaches did that, and I think Lambert might actually be the manager). :-\
In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
But his last two clubs (who weren't losing £50million a year and requiring high levels of investment to be cut) improved season by season under Lambert. He took Norwich from League 1, through the Championship, into the Premier League and got them 12th in consecutive seasons. Was that then a fluke? Or do you not think that maybe there is a bit more to this current state at Aston Villa than saying "he can't coach for shit". (Not that he was the coach anyway – his coaches did that, and I think Lambert might actually be the manager). :-\In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
But his last two clubs (who weren't losing £50million a year and requiring high levels of investment to be cut) improved season by season under Lambert. He took Norwich from League 1, through the Championship, into the Premier League and got them 12th in consecutive seasons. Was that then a fluke? Or do you not think that maybe there is a bit more to this current state at Aston Villa than saying "he can't coach for shit". (Not that he was the coach anyway – his coaches did that, and I think Lambert might actually be the manager). :-\
You need to trust me on this. The Manager also coaches! Shock horror but yes, it's true. He sets the tone for the club, the tactics, the formation etc. What the fuck does his success at a smaller club like Norwich have anything to do with how he manages Aston Villa. Take your tongue out of his arse and recognise that he has failed. Yes, there are restrictions in place, but he has failed at Villa. It happens.
Not having a go, but this highlighted bit sums something up for me. Surely you're implying we're too big a club for Paul Lambert – and plenty of other managers out there – but what weight is it we've really carried over the last few years? Are we a big club just because of our name and history? I don't think it is punching above his weight if he's had to cut costs the way he's done. He's taken a team investing at a certain level and ramped back that investment under the owners instructions, and for me that has nothing to do with him punching above his weight. For me that is purely, "yeah it's a shit job, Paul."
You'd say he'd been punching above his weight if we were a club full of big ego superstars who he couldn't win over – maybe like AVB at Chelsea. He's not punching above his weight if he's had to cut the wage bill and build a cheaper squad from scratch basically.
What does it sum up? People are in a dreamland (no offence) if you couldn't see this coming. And we're not entitled to be a big club based on our name. Big clubs stay as big clubs because they pay the wages of big club players and buy those players with big club level transfer fees.
For the moment we are due nothing, owed nothing and we have the right to nothing.
We're getting what we (Lerner) paid for – and if he can't afford to throw away his money there's nothing we can do about it. The sad state of affairs is as much to do with the state of modern football as anything else. The only way we'll ever become a club where a manager is punching above his weight is if we're in a healthy financial position, and we're not there yet. But – it was Lambert more than any of our previous managers under Lerner who has gone some way to fixing that, or possibly has fixed it.
If Lambert left now you could put Lambert's reign and MON's reign side by side and say one of these managers left us in a terrible state and the other took a terrible state and fixed it – just look at Portsmouth, Man City (pre this current insanity) and Leeds to see where MON's reign had us heading. There's a bigger picture to Lambert's reign than crying because we – what? – stabalised under him after years of steady decline? He fixed our finances AND stabalised us. Yes, we should be finishing in the top half, but is it fair to say that in two years he should have reduced the wage bill by tens of millions – saving us increasing debt, a money black hole – and at the same time definitely had us in the top 8/9? Show me the manager who has ever managed to ramp back the expenditure of a club and improve them at the same time, because that is exactly what he has done (2 points from relegation with Mcleish, 5 points for Lambert both seasons with less of a worry the second year and who knows what would have happened without the injuries/missing Benteke for so long). I bet it doesn't happen very often anyway. From the clubs I can think of most times the club gets relegated.
The people who run the club know this, and I will put money on him being our manager next year, even with new owners (except if we get some Venky's/Tan type owner who is going to go about making stupid decisions and ultimately really actually relegate us). I am absolutely convinced people are letting their hearts rule their heads in this – and because we spend our money, yes, and we have to watch rubbish. But I've said it before – us going to games doesn't mean we haven't got an underfunded team and doesn't make our team full of world class players – it doesn't take away the fact that the club was losing £50million a year and was in trouble, getting into debts of something like £200million. We have got exactly if not better than our financial situation demands. We do have a good amount of young players gaining experience who now need supplementing with fresh, experienced blood.
It's a dull/testing time right now. I feel sad/uninspired for Villa right now, but I think I'm being realistic. We have gone about it the right (possibly only) way. Actually, I think the way we've done it has been risky, but it's come off well in comparison to teams like Leeds, Portsmouth and old-City. We reduced spending and stayed afloat, and we have steadied. Reducing the wage bill dictates the levels and ages of players we have to buy – the likes of players like KEA and the youngsters is where we're at – or where we have been at. But these are not players whose wages are going to cripple the club or make it difficult for them to move on if needs be. Hopefully now, with the finances in a better place we can make some sensible experienced additions. Two or three decent additions like that and we can have a much better season than last season. The future doesn't have to be so bad, but we need stability in order to make it happen. I'm not expecting us to tear up trees, but I am expecting that (so long as we can actually sign people still) we will improve on last season.
Remember how long it took Moyes at Everton. He was at another club without the finanacial ability to spend £100million a year and pay out top level wages. That's where we're at, and it takes time.
In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
But his last two clubs (who weren't losing £50million a year and requiring high levels of investment to be cut) improved season by season under Lambert. He took Norwich from League 1, through the Championship, into the Premier League and got them 12th in consecutive seasons. Was that then a fluke? Or do you not think that maybe there is a bit more to this current state at Aston Villa than saying "he can't coach for shit". (Not that he was the coach anyway – his coaches did that, and I think Lambert might actually be the manager). :-\
It was a car crash before he arrived
In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
But his last two clubs (who weren't losing £50million a year and requiring high levels of investment to be cut) improved season by season under Lambert. He took Norwich from League 1, through the Championship, into the Premier League and got them 12th in consecutive seasons. Was that then a fluke? Or do you not think that maybe there is a bit more to this current state at Aston Villa than saying "he can't coach for shit". (Not that he was the coach anyway – his coaches did that, and I think Lambert might actually be the manager). :-\
I still think he should have done better than he has. He didn't seem to have the ability to build on good results. We should have kicked on from Chelsea win but instead we went alarmingly backwards, so far backwards even Vlaar admitted that had we had another couple of games to play, we'd have been in trouble.
He did an amazing job at Norwich and he had players of lesser quality than he's got here. Benteke's injury was a blow but we were going on losing runs even when he was playing.
There are parameters in place at every club. Every single club. Whilst I will apologise for the tongue comment, it does baffle me that some people seem to feel sorry for Lambert for doing such a poor job. In the meantime, whilst we seem to have no choice, we just take it and have to accept it.
It was a car crash before he arrived
Fair point.
I do think there has been a bit of step up from what was expected of him at Norwich and now, and I am not sure he has quite grasp the difference. In terms of how he sets his teams up, and the message he sends the players in interviews (an important part of management) he does seem to still be working at the Norwich level, and it just doesn't seem to be working.
There are parameters in place at every club. Every single club. Whilst I will apologise for the tongue comment, it does baffle me that some people seem to feel sorry for Lambert for doing such a poor job. In the meantime, whilst we seem to have no choice, we just take it and have to accept it.
Seriously though – I'm not saying anyone has to feel sorry for him. I don't. I also don't think he's done a poor job if you look at the club as a whole. Like someone else said, the club was in a mess before he came, only now, thanks to Lambert, we're not losing all that money.
It's not about choice or anything, it's seeing the situation at the club for what it is. My opinion: you come across as spoilt. I'd be sorry for saying it if you hadn't told me to take my tongue out of my arse (good one, by the way). I don't even know how you can be spoilt as a Villa fan, because in my experience supporting the club through the nineties and especially the last decade (bar the MON money money flurry and the FA cup final with Gregory – also helped along by stupid investment in aging players) there has on the most part only been bad seasons. I'm as into Villa as anyone, and I have hopes for us, but it doesn't just happen because I want it to happen. The club has to become well run for us to get anywhere. In reality we are not big enough to compete at the very top – in reality we are a mid-table team. I don't like how money has ruined football, but it has happened. And having said all that, I am still an optimist, and I hope when/if we do become well run (getting the finances in order is the first step – well done, Paul Lambert – I give credit where it is definitely due) we can emulate teams like Everton or Tottenham, and from there whatever. One step at a time though. I'd say to you to get your tongue out of your arse, but seeing your lack of logic I don't think you know where your tongue or your arse is.
There are parameters in place at every club. Every single club. Whilst I will apologise for the tongue comment, it does baffle me that some people seem to feel sorry for Lambert for doing such a poor job. In the meantime, whilst we seem to have no choice, we just take it and have to accept it.
Seriously though – I'm not saying anyone has to feel sorry for him. I don't. I also don't think he's done a poor job if you look at the club as a whole. Like someone else said, the club was in a mess before he came, only now, thanks to Lambert, we're not losing all that money.
It's not about choice or anything, it's seeing the situation at the club for what it is. My opinion: you come across as spoilt. I'd be sorry for saying it if you hadn't told me to take my tongue out of my arse (good one, by the way). I don't even know how you can be spoilt as a Villa fan, because in my experience supporting the club through the nineties and especially the last decade (bar the MON money money flurry and the FA cup final with Gregory – also helped along by stupid investment in aging players) there has on the most part only been bad seasons. I'm as into Villa as anyone, and I have hopes for us, but it doesn't just happen because I want it to happen. The club has to become well run for us to get anywhere. In reality we are not big enough to compete at the very top – in reality we are a mid-table team. I don't like how money has ruined football, but it has happened. And having said all that, I am still an optimist, and I hope when/if we do become well run (getting the finances in order is the first step – well done, Paul Lambert – I give credit where it is definitely due) we can emulate teams like Everton or Tottenham, and from there whatever. One step at a time though. I'd say to you to get your tongue out of your arse, but seeing your lack of logic I don't think you know where your tongue or your arse is.
You make a very interesting point, but to be fair it is not through choice than Lambert has had little to spend it is because the club want it that way. It may have partly been the reason behind his appointment given what he did at Norwich with very little money.
It is true than since the late 90s/early 00s we have mostly struggled to be anything other than a mid-table club, but then that is largely due to poor managers or the club being poorly run. The main point is that they should have not have let us drop so far since the MON days. I don't think anyone is expecting us to compete at the top level, but top eight or six shouldn't be beyond us, also we have become too negative when it comes to the cups. The odd good run, and threat to winning one of those combained with progress in the league I don't think should be too much to ask for.
It is not so much about him struggling with what he has (which I accept, but to be fair this is almost his team now), just that it seems like he is struggling to even get the best out of those players. When you look at some of our better results this season and the position we were in following the Chelsea win then I do think Lambert has to take some of the flak for not keeping the players on their toes. I also think it is more about how he handles interviews, by constantly saying that the team put in a good amount of effort after such bad performances just sends the message to the players than they can keep on playing at that level and it won't matter. We all know about his Spurs clanger. It is things like that which he has to learn from in terms of managing a bigger club.It was a car crash before he arrived
Fair point.
I do think there has been a bit of step up from what was expected of him at Norwich and now, and I am not sure he has quite grasp the difference. In terms of how he sets his teams up, and the message he sends the players in interviews (an important part of management) he does seem to still be working at the Norwich level, and it just doesn't seem to be working.
We are a bigger club than Norwich, but I think he's also got to be realistic about the players at his disposal. His more cautious tactics this year imply to me that he is aware as any of us of their limitations.
You can't get average/young players to be any better than they are just because they're at a bigger club. It's pretty clear by what's happened that the job he got given by Lerner was to take this club and cut the wage bill, which is what he's done. The expectations of the fans are, in reality, disconnected from that and almost irrelevant. Having said that I think I'm starting to sound like I don't expect anything from us, but I do. I do, I just think the process the club have taken over the past few years in stabalising the club have been more painful than any of us could have realised. But again – looking at the money side of things and how we have the youngest squad in the premiership, I don't think what's happened at Villa is surprising. I don't think our more chaotic set of results is surprising at all. And as I said above, one step at a time, and I believe we can, with fixed finances, look forwards with (eventually) more hope.
There are parameters in place at every club. Every single club. Whilst I will apologise for the tongue comment, it does baffle me that some people seem to feel sorry for Lambert for doing such a poor job. In the meantime, whilst we seem to have no choice, we just take it and have to accept it.
Seriously though – I'm not saying anyone has to feel sorry for him. I don't. I also don't think he's done a poor job if you look at the club as a whole. Like someone else said, the club was in a mess before he came, only now, thanks to Lambert, we're not losing all that money.
It's not about choice or anything, it's seeing the situation at the club for what it is. My opinion: you come across as spoilt. I'd be sorry for saying it if you hadn't told me to take my tongue out of my arse (good one, by the way). I don't even know how you can be spoilt as a Villa fan, because in my experience supporting the club through the nineties and especially the last decade (bar the MON money money flurry and the FA cup final with Gregory – also helped along by stupid investment in aging players) there has on the most part only been bad seasons. I'm as into Villa as anyone, and I have hopes for us, but it doesn't just happen because I want it to happen. The club has to become well run for us to get anywhere. In reality we are not big enough to compete at the very top – in reality we are a mid-table team. I don't like how money has ruined football, but it has happened. And having said all that, I am still an optimist, and I hope when/if we do become well run (getting the finances in order is the first step – well done, Paul Lambert – I give credit where it is definitely due) we can emulate teams like Everton or Tottenham, and from there whatever. One step at a time though. I'd say to you to get your tongue out of your arse, but seeing your lack of logic I don't think you know where your tongue or your arse is.
You make a very interesting point, but to be fair it is not through choice than Lambert has had little to spend it is because the club want it that way. It may have partly been the reason behind his appointment given what he did at Norwich with very little money.
It is true than since the late 90s/early 00s we have mostly struggled to be anything other than a mid-table club, but then that is largely due to poor managers or the club being poorly run. The main point is that they should have not have let us drop so far since the MON days. I don't think anyone is expecting us to compete at the top level, but top eight or six shouldn't be beyond us, also we have become too negative when it comes to the cups. The odd good run, and threat to winning one of those combained with progress in the league I don't think should be too much to ask for.
So what I'm saying doesn't rule out us getting back to being in the top ten. But when we were losing £50million a year post MON, we were losing money (on overpaid players, many aging and uncommitted and many more not even making squads or playing) that's money we were throwing away for effectively no reason – the club wasn't getting any benefit from it. We couldn't even afford it and built debts of something like £200million. Imagine what we could have done with £200million spent the right way. Basically we were broken, and clubs in similar, if not precisely, our situation have dropped far far lower than we are now – they've dropped not just into the Championship, but into League One and League Two.
We do seem to have stabalised under Lambert, and from here, because he has also stabalised the finances, we are now in a position to grow. We haven't been in that position since MON, because we've still been losing money. Factor in that we still have Bent, Hutton and Given (no matter if any of them are brought back into the team) we still have overpaid problem players. As they're mostly in the last years of their contracts that's another £10 or so million we don't have to throw away the season after this one.
I think the level of austerity has its logic, even if it was risky. I'd even say it has on the most part paid off. I hope next season and the season after we can get new contracts signed for those who deserve them, get rid of the last of the over-paid, sign a bit more experience and generally fine tune the slow process of building a committed squad who have come to Villa for more than a pay check. For that to happen I believe we need stability. I also think Lambert hasn't had the funds to be judged fairly so far, and I don't see any reason to think Lambert has become a worse manager than he was at Norwich, when it is clear as day his financial limitations could realistically have ended up in relegation under plenty of other managers. I just think we're still in the turnaround period. Again, without Man City levels of money there is no quick fix. A lot of what happens will clearly rest on what happens with Lerner.
Talking about the top 8-6, the clubs up there are investing. Look at Southampton – they spent £30odd million last summer, and they have surely one of the best youth academies in England – one that puts ours (currently) to shame.
And when we were bad throughout, say, the 00's – Doug Ellis had us run well arguably (we weren't building £200million of debt on an out of control wagebill), but for most of the managers he never invested in the team. He wouldn't even pay Erik Bakke's loan fee from a Championship club. No investment, no top 8.
Yeah, I was very disappointed in last season. It's a fine line between where we ended up and how we looked to be finishing after beating Chelsea. We were 4 points from 12th, but unlike last season we finished this one without Benteke – if we had him fit, who knows.And it is this post which sums up why Lambert has been a bit unlucky and I agree with your point here, but it is also the final part of the post which sums up his biggest flaw so far which is relieing too much on youth. You don't have to spend bucket loads to get some decent experience into the side. Hopefully he has learnt from that mistake and will put things right this summer should he get the chance.
We spent £20million last year (but we bought low wage players, not £20million on experienced players on high wages – I can't see Tonev/Helenius/Bacuna being on much) but £10million of that was also injured for basically the whole season.
That happens though. It's all part of it. Anyway, I do hope we get some experience and next season might be a little less painful.
There is a positive with this summer of limbo, come the end of June there will be some v nice seats available on season ticket relocation weekend :-) ....exactly the same as the summer DOL effed off, MON wandered in & Randy arrivedYep we got our current great seats 6 rows from the front and central in the Upper Holte thanks to Dolly.
The only meaningful defence of Lambert is that he has been unlucky with injuries.
The debit side however is full with, what the Fcuk was going on with his coaching staff supposedly under his nose, if it wasn't under his nose then where the hell was he?
Look at the money he has wasted on crap players. Look at the god damn awful tactics. Look at the baffling way the team could go from playing well for a game then playing crap for 6 or 7. Look at the records he has broken. Look at the humiliating defeats he managed with a decent squad at his disposal. He is incredibly lucky to be in a job and being paid a Premier League Managers wages.
There is a positive with this summer of limbo, come the end of June there will be some v nice seats available on season ticket relocation weekend :-) ....exactly the same as the summer DOL effed off, MON wandered in & Randy arrivedRisk & Reward strategy. Be brave.
The only meaningful defence of Lambert is that he has been unlucky with injuries.
The debit side however is full with, what the Fcuk was going on with his coaching staff supposedly under his nose, if it wasn't under his nose then where the hell was he?
Look at the money he has wasted on crap players. Look at the god damn awful tactics. Look at the baffling way the team could go from playing well for a game then playing crap for 6 or 7. Look at the records he has broken. Look at the humiliating defeats he managed with a decent squad at his disposal. He is incredibly lucky to be in a job and being paid a Premier League Managers wages.
You don't understand finances + wages. There is plenty to defend Lambert if you choose to look at all the facts, and look at how other teams go from playing well one week to playing badly the next. In fact, imo if you took context of football as a whole, took context of the state we were in when he came, and appreciated he has had to lower the wage bill, hence buying players you dismiss as crap (without appreciating that cheap wages gets you what it gets you) then you'll see that at least from a financial point of view he has done a good job – a good job of running the club in a healthy state, and not say the way Redknapp likes to do business (spend loads on wages and fees, crippling clubs). He's bought enough decent players anyway, or at least got his moneys worth for what he paid for them (KEA/Sylla – as in, yeah they're not that good, but they were cheap and – as our wagebill has been reduced – cheaper than what came before).
The football side of things (which is the tip of the iceberg, but certainly not the whole issue) has been pretty uninspiring at times, but there are mitigating circumstances. The financial limitation is one. Injuries another. Trying to rebuild a club under limited funds is another as it will take time.
Youngest squad in the premier league (dictated/encouraged by financial constraints). This is not a decent squad – it is an underfunded squad filled with young cheap buys and average academy players. We're doing better with him than we were doing before he came, with a vastly reduced squad. Funnily enough, sometimes he shows good tactical awareness – Liverpool away and so on – the results against Man City/Southampton this year etc, but they're totally dismissed.
He fixed our financial problems. If you don't appreciate just that, then I think you're not being honest with yourself. We were in trouble, now we're not.
You don't have to agree with me, but to say the only meaningful defence is injuries is a farce that ignores everything bar the most simple black and white view of where we are at the moment. Football bad = Lambert bad. Presumably you're impressed with how O'Leary and Redknapp got success at Leeds and Portsmouth? And yet, where are those clubs now? What happened to them when they were losing the money we were losing? Considering what's happened at Villa for the last four years your view is, imo, short sighted.
We've had our moments anyway.
I accept to a degree he has been given a shitty hand.
But you can't defend for example amateurish tactics in the 2nd half at Bradford (6 forwards was it).
In hindsight, I wish Randy had kept his trap shut and not said anything. All we have now is doom and gloom with many thinking we have no money to spend and that we are stuck with Paul Lambert as Manager. I think I would prefer to know when the club is sold. Whatever Lambert does spend is wasted because the guy can't coach for shit.
But his last two clubs (who weren't losing £50million a year and requiring high levels of investment to be cut) improved season by season under Lambert. He took Norwich from League 1, through the Championship, into the Premier League and got them 12th in consecutive seasons. Was that then a fluke? Or do you not think that maybe there is a bit more to this current state at Aston Villa than saying "he can't coach for shit". (Not that he was the coach anyway – his coaches did that, and I think Lambert might actually be the manager). :-\
I still think he should have done better than he has. He didn't seem to have the ability to build on good results. We should have kicked on from Chelsea win but instead we went alarmingly backwards, so far backwards even Vlaar admitted that had we had another couple of games to play, we'd have been in trouble.
He did an amazing job at Norwich and he had players of lesser quality than he's got here. Benteke's injury was a blow but we were going on losing runs even when he was playing.
You say we've got a higher quality of players here than what he had a Norwich, but look at our squad – I think you're blinded by the name "Aston Villa". After the cost cutting and financial limitations, do we really, on average, have a better squad than he had at Norwich?
He's broke loads more records
Eg First loss at home to stoke in 50 odd years
No, no Steffo, Lambert is doing a wonderful job. He's a record breaker, signed several fantastic players AND kept us very lucky fans in the premiership. For such a small club, who could only spend a very meagre 43 million pounds in the two years he's been at the club, we should count ourselves very, very fortunate to have such a cracking Manager. NOT.
He's broke loads more records
Eg First loss at home to stoke in 50 odd years
what about Palace at home? what was that ?
Or even any sign of improvement of the young players already here, Baker Lowton Clark Albrighton Weiman, no they all went backwards, why was that? oh yes the lads at the training ground were bullying and apparently coming up with hoofball tactics. Whos fault was that? Who was responsible for Bradford, Shef Utd, Milwall Chelsea 8. The list goes on. What was the point in buying players who were not good enough just because they were cheap? Short sighted? I don't think so.The only meaningful defence of Lambert is that he has been unlucky with injuries.
The debit side however is full with, what the Fcuk was going on with his coaching staff supposedly under his nose, if it wasn't under his nose then where the hell was he?
Look at the money he has wasted on crap players. Look at the god damn awful tactics. Look at the baffling way the team could go from playing well for a game then playing crap for 6 or 7. Look at the records he has broken. Look at the humiliating defeats he managed with a decent squad at his disposal. He is incredibly lucky to be in a job and being paid a Premier League Managers wages.
You don't understand finances + wages. There is plenty to defend Lambert if you choose to look at all the facts, and look at how other teams go from playing well one week to playing badly the next. In fact, imo if you took context of football as a whole, took context of the state we were in when he came, and appreciated he has had to lower the wage bill, hence buying players you dismiss as crap (without appreciating that cheap wages gets you what it gets you) then you'll see that at least from a financial point of view he has done a good job – a good job of running the club in a healthy state, and not say the way Redknapp likes to do business (spend loads on wages and fees, crippling clubs). He's bought enough decent players anyway, or at least got his moneys worth for what he paid for them (KEA/Sylla – as in, yeah they're not that good, but they were cheap and – as our wagebill has been reduced – cheaper than what came before).
The football side of things (which is the tip of the iceberg, but certainly not the whole issue) has been pretty uninspiring at times, but there are mitigating circumstances. The financial limitation is one. Injuries another. Trying to rebuild a club under limited funds is another as it will take time.
Youngest squad in the premier league (dictated/encouraged by financial constraints). This is not a decent squad – it is an underfunded squad filled with young cheap buys and average academy players. We're doing better with him than we were doing before he came, with a vastly reduced squad. Funnily enough, sometimes he shows good tactical awareness – Liverpool away and so on – the results against Man City/Southampton this year etc, but they're totally dismissed.
He fixed our financial problems. If you don't appreciate just that, then I think you're not being honest with yourself. We were in trouble, now we're not.
You don't have to agree with me, but to say the only meaningful defence is injuries is a farce that ignores everything bar the most simple black and white view of where we are at the moment. Football bad = Lambert bad. Presumably you're impressed with how O'Leary and Redknapp got success at Leeds and Portsmouth? And yet, where are those clubs now? What happened to them when they were losing the money we were losing? Considering what's happened at Villa for the last four years your view is, imo, short sighted.
We've had our moments anyway.
There are plenty of people who acknowledge - or as you say "understand" - the wage situation.
Where they differ from your point of view is that they don't think the wage situation explains or justifies just how shit we have been this season.
Have you not noticed tactical errors, for example?
Or even any sign of improvement of the young players already here, Baker Lowton Clark Albrighton Weiman, no they all went backwards, why was that? oh yes the lads at the training ground were bullying and apparently coming up with hoofball tactics. Whos fault was that? Who was responsible for Bradford, Shef Utd, Milwall Chelsea 8. The list goes on. What was the point in buying players who were not good enough just because they were cheap? Short sighted? I don't think so.The only meaningful defence of Lambert is that he has been unlucky with injuries.
The debit side however is full with, what the Fcuk was going on with his coaching staff supposedly under his nose, if it wasn't under his nose then where the hell was he?
Look at the money he has wasted on crap players. Look at the god damn awful tactics. Look at the baffling way the team could go from playing well for a game then playing crap for 6 or 7. Look at the records he has broken. Look at the humiliating defeats he managed with a decent squad at his disposal. He is incredibly lucky to be in a job and being paid a Premier League Managers wages.
You don't understand finances + wages. There is plenty to defend Lambert if you choose to look at all the facts, and look at how other teams go from playing well one week to playing badly the next. In fact, imo if you took context of football as a whole, took context of the state we were in when he came, and appreciated he has had to lower the wage bill, hence buying players you dismiss as crap (without appreciating that cheap wages gets you what it gets you) then you'll see that at least from a financial point of view he has done a good job – a good job of running the club in a healthy state, and not say the way Redknapp likes to do business (spend loads on wages and fees, crippling clubs). He's bought enough decent players anyway, or at least got his moneys worth for what he paid for them (KEA/Sylla – as in, yeah they're not that good, but they were cheap and – as our wagebill has been reduced – cheaper than what came before).
The football side of things (which is the tip of the iceberg, but certainly not the whole issue) has been pretty uninspiring at times, but there are mitigating circumstances. The financial limitation is one. Injuries another. Trying to rebuild a club under limited funds is another as it will take time.
Youngest squad in the premier league (dictated/encouraged by financial constraints). This is not a decent squad – it is an underfunded squad filled with young cheap buys and average academy players. We're doing better with him than we were doing before he came, with a vastly reduced squad. Funnily enough, sometimes he shows good tactical awareness – Liverpool away and so on – the results against Man City/Southampton this year etc, but they're totally dismissed.
He fixed our financial problems. If you don't appreciate just that, then I think you're not being honest with yourself. We were in trouble, now we're not.
You don't have to agree with me, but to say the only meaningful defence is injuries is a farce that ignores everything bar the most simple black and white view of where we are at the moment. Football bad = Lambert bad. Presumably you're impressed with how O'Leary and Redknapp got success at Leeds and Portsmouth? And yet, where are those clubs now? What happened to them when they were losing the money we were losing? Considering what's happened at Villa for the last four years your view is, imo, short sighted.
We've had our moments anyway.
There are plenty of people who acknowledge - or as you say "understand" - the wage situation.
Where they differ from your point of view is that they don't think the wage situation explains or justifies just how shit we have been this season.
Have you not noticed tactical errors, for example?
Rolta, it all comes down to the fact that you think: firstly, Lambert must either be a good or a bad manager, look at the signings, therefore he's good, without realising that the nuance might be that he can spot a player but doesn't have the tactical awareness to use them properly; and secondly, that your opinions are facts, and anyone who disagrees with you has just misunderstood your message, like Zarathustra coming down the mountain. It's wearying - answer the points put to you, or stop posting interminable essays where you say the same thing over and over again in an increasingly insulting and hysterical manner.
He may have been wrong about that, but you have utterly failed to answer the point about Lambert's long-ball tactics, which really are indefensible when it's so obvious that these players, when they play well, play a style based on high pressing and passing on the ground, not sitting deep and chasing long balls. Despite this self-evident situation, Lambert kept up the same tactics game after game after game, as if he's actually got no mind.
at the end of the day , what he has spent with the regulars who were over a quarter of the first team and the youth , he still should have finished higher than he did and the football should not have been that dire.
As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.
I too am suspicious of grass-is-greener, but any grass is greener than mud. So we were made more stable by having exactly the same season, only consistently more depressing to watch. Some progress.
As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.
Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year.
As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.
Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year.
We lost 20 games out of 38. How is that 'more solid'?
Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.I'm not sure that "we didn't lose any more games 8-0" is really a feather for Lambert's cap.
Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.I'm not sure that "we didn't lose any more games 8-0" is really a feather for Lambert's cap.
I didn't call you a bluenose. You raise some interesting points and I respect you for that. I just struggle with you not seeing that Lambert has made us worse that at any point I can remember other than when we were relegated in 87.
As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.
Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year.
We lost 20 games out of 38. How is that 'more solid'?
Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.
As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.
Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year.
We lost 20 games out of 38. How is that 'more solid'?
Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.
Well, we conceded 26 goals in our last 9 games which was bad enough in itself.
Next season 35 points ? May just keep us upHalf a season minus Benteke would suggest that, short of the takeover going through, that might even be a struggle. We looked hopeless without him this season and even then, he was having a pretty mediocre season by the standard he set last year. But that tells you about how important he is. Only played 26 league games, didn't have a very good season, but was still comfortably our top scorer and still managed double figures.
I bet that trophy on Paul's mantelpiece with the words 'didn't get spanked 8-0' engraved shines bright.
As it turns out, being more solid has got us fewer points, and whenever we reverted to something which looked like the previous season we looked a lot better. But even last season we looked a little haphazard even when playing well - there's no plan in possession, no purpose, no sense that the players have been instructed how and where to move in relation to each other, as there is even when watching Sunderland last year. He may sign good players, but if his tactics are inadequate (and I'm sorry, thinking that long balls are a viable attacking tactic is just inadequate), then it's like buying great nails then trying to hammer them in with a slab of wet jelly.
Last year we were truly under threat from relegation. This year we were safe in about March (as it turns out). Like it or not (well, nobody actually likes the long balls) we have been more solid this year.
We lost 20 games out of 38. How is that 'more solid'?
Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.
Well, we conceded 26 goals in our last 9 games which was bad enough in itself.
Any argument, however long and condescendingly written, which includes the premise that we were 'more solid' this season is hard to take seriously. Any argument that includes 'at least we didn't lose 8 - 0' demeans what we expect of Aston Villa. In fact it would demean any club.
I too am suspicious of grass-is-greener, but any grass is greener than mud. So we were made more stable by having exactly the same season, only consistently more depressing to watch. Some progress.
lol, ok, there goes your nuance again. You want better – go find us an owner who'll throw his money away on big wages and fees.
Fewer goals conceeded, not ever getting spanked 8-0.You know its so easy to forget how good we have been this season gone. Thank you Rolta for reminding us.
I too am suspicious of grass-is-greener, but any grass is greener than mud. So we were made more stable by having exactly the same season, only consistently more depressing to watch. Some progress.
lol, ok, there goes your nuance again. You want better – go find us an owner who'll throw his money away on big wages and fees.
And there yet again you commit your principle fallacy, namely the assumption that it's all about the money. I'm not arguing this with you - I think that Lambert has proved himself actually pretty astute with signings. The problem with him is that it almost doesn't matter how much money you give him, he'll always perform slightly below expectations with us. Why? You'd say it's because our expectations are too high; I'd say it's because we've seen Rodgers and Martinez and Poyet survive and sometimes thrive with a bit of style, with a way of playing which gives the fans hope and a reason to show up. Lambert could be the greatest player-spotter ever - he still thinks that lumping the ball to the big guy is a viable tactic (incidentally, when there wasn't much money to spend, he spent a whole summer tracking a £7m Big Man forward who wasn't even coming to be first choice. To do that instead even of signing a Hoolahan or loan player simply exposes his priorities).
Lambert's long-ball tactics, which really are indefensibleIf only!
Just look at the difference in investment in the Sunderland squad compared to ours – their 18 is worth basically twice ours. I think it's easier to make game-changing substitutions when you've got £24.4 million on the bench as opposed to £6.2 million.How does our level of investment compare to Palace or Sheffield United?
Just look at the difference in investment in the Sunderland squad compared to ours – their 18 is worth basically twice ours. I think it's easier to make game-changing substitutions when you've got £24.4 million on the bench as opposed to £6.2 million.How does our level of investment compare to Palace or Sheffield United?
I'm surprised at the reactions tbh, I thought this was a place for discussion. Oh, but now I realise...it's half term!
Well, that would be a convincing argument, if you hadn't chosen us at our weakest moment of the season in terms of squad strength (and Sunderland at one of their strongest). There's £14m (Kozak and Benteke) unaccounted for which, even when playing, didn't stop us looking for the most part horrifically one dimensional. By the way, that's £14m which cannot really be expected to play together except in kitchen-sink chucking final ten minute desperation (or, 'doing a Lambert') - how is that prudent use of such limited finances? It's not. It's the action of a man who played Grant Holt and Steve Morison up front together at Norwich quite regularly, in order to chunt long balls at them. This goes back a long way. What Poyet did was quite extraordinary, and when you set him up against Lambert it's an embarrassing no-contest.
Lambert does, as you tenuously put it, have it in him to want to play better football, which as you say makes him better than McLeish. However, that also makes him MON, who too wanted to play better football, but whose limitations were such that he couldn't achieve it despite huge amounts of money being chucked at the team. He got results, but he should have done better and was held back by his stubborn adherence to a rigid 4-4-2, counter-attacking, overrating speed and strength over skill, having not the first clue about modern methods of pass-and-move training and generally boofing it all the pissing time. Lambert is more flexible in formation, and doesn't share MON's winger addiction (more's the pity), but being stuck in the 90s isn't all that much better than being stuck in the 70s, and he exhibits all he same traits otherwise.
Like MON, Lambert's team can look exciting if given space into which to play. Basically, on the break. He's a reactive manager, and the difference between a defensive performance and a counterattacking one is often no more than getting the breaks to escape from the back. However, give us a massed defence to break down and his teams have no plan, so we end up with the long balls into a congested space where it's almost certain not to work.
This is why we're horrendous at home - a number ten would help (even if he only appears to have heard of them yesterday), but what would help much more is actually looking like there's a plan when we have the ball. If you look at Rodgers' teams (interesting how you skipped over him, but we'll come to that), there's real purpose in possession. That's because Rodgers trains them maniacally in what to do when you get the ball, where to move to depending on where you are in relation to the player, one and two touch passing to keep the ball moving - you know, practicing. MON got them to jog around the pitch and play a five-a-side, if he was there at all.
Lambert's probably in between, but there's absolutely no evidence on the pitch that there's been significant work on the training ground. The players look lost, unguided by any helping hand, and that hand should be the managers. When they do break forward (usually Delph) all the running off the ball looks painfully improvised, which slows us down two-fold: firstly, the player has to decide where to move instead of just knowing by second-nature, as training would have helped him to acquire; and secondly, the player with the ball has to look for his teammates before making the pass, instead of trusting to the plan. This is the case all the time, and it's agony to watch.
Forget the money, because I've already said I think Lambert's actually good in the transfer market (though a good scout doesn't necessarily make a good manager) - is Ashley Westwood really a worse footballer, on the ball, than Lee twatting Cattermole? Because when Westwood arrived his off-the-ball anticipation and movement was fantastic, I thought we'd found a bargain Petrov, but two years of Lambert and he looks like he's trying to stodge his way through a bog with lead shoes without a map, whereas the lump Cattermole is moving into space like Busquets. Who's fault is this?
Please don't tell me that I need to 'really look' at what we've got right now, believe me, I've been really fucking looking for two years. And you know, you say your posts have to be long because you need the 'substance', but actually I'm afraid all I read is a lot of bluff, quite a lot of cliche, much over-simplifying and innumerable half-truths of a pretty mendacious nature. You say 'Baker costs us twenty goals a year' - then why did he keep playing him? Clark was always available but practically never given the chance, because despite being better on the ball he doesn't do Big Physical Things, and Lambert just loves those unreservedly.
You just say, for instance, of Martinez that 'well, he got Wigan relegated', neglecting of course to mention that he kept Wigan alive way beyond their life-expectancy and won them the FA Cup. You say these managers had more time at their clubs? Well, Poyet hadn't, and had to work with players who'd been exposed to Paulo di Canio for several months, and now look at them. Lambert's had two years and the football is getting worse - not 'more solid', as you keep saying, because we've either had the same or a worse season than last year, and we've just been worse to watch. Lambert needs time? The more time he's had, the worse it's got.
There's more than one way to play football, but none of them involve honestly thinking that long-balls, at home, in a winnable match, against a massed defence, are a real option. Lambert appears to think so, and it'll always, always, always hold him back no matter how many bargains he finds.
This essay shall be the last time I respond to you, unless you can come up with a new point better than 'you don't understand, simpleton, hark at my superior cod-economics!'. Over and out.
Half term? Oh of course. Yep, we're the childish ones. Because we're the ones who respond to every criticism with wearyingly endless essays, peppered all the way through with phrases like 'if you'd actually tried to understand/read what I posted'. I tried. I read. I understood. It was one of those essays which is a good deal easier to write than to read, but I trudged through. And I gave you what I thought was a detailed - perhaps over-detailed - response. And you come back to me and say 'well, you just didn't understand it'? And then call me childish?
I'm out. You can't be argued with because it's so much more important to you that a bunch of people on the internet are convinced of the genius of your rightness than it is to actually argue the point through. As such, there's no point in trying. Ta-ta.
*sigh* Guess I'm back in then.
Being called pompous by you is funny in ways which it wouldn't be worth my time trying to explain to you. As for Lambert apparently having heard about the number ten five seconds ago, it was the incredibly cringeworthy way he said 'I call them number tens. Number tens I call 'em, me. You can call them what you like, but me? Number tens.' Unlike everyone else in the world for the last seventy years then, Paul.
He's a simplistic football thinker. Like you, in fact. But at least he can still spot a player, whereas your best attributes appear to be quick touch-typing skills and proficiency with an abacus.
I do like the fact that we can only discuss teams that Rolta wants us to discuss. Try throwing in teams like Stoke, Fulham and Sheffield United and the argument turns to 'well it must be half term'.
Completely agree about the devaluing of the bomb-squad. It was a bit like trying to sell something on eBay by posting a photo of it in the bin.
No please, let's have it. Judging by your average post-length I'm intrigued to see how you'd attempt 'wit'.
I do like the fact that we can only discuss teams that Rolta wants us to discuss. Try throwing in teams like Stoke, Fulham and Sheffield United and the argument turns to 'well it must be half term'.
I was talking about Poyet, specifically. My point was he has had a team with investment to draw from. You can't pull a rabbit out of a hat if there isn't a rabbit already in the hat. The teams I chose – the date I chose – was picked as it was the last of Sunderland's wins, so effectively the last part of Poyet's miracle escape. That also coincided with the penultimate game of our dreadful end of season, which is the Villa team I posted. That was more of an interesting comparison. And anyway, we don't have a rabbit in our hat – not in our budget team.
That's all.
Bringing up teams who have beaten us in one-off games was not part of my point, so it was a side argument. I was hoping to stick to the point. If I offended you with the half-term thing, then I apologise.
Completely agree about the devaluing of the bomb-squad. It was a bit like trying to sell something on eBay by posting a photo of it in the bin.
Fixed.Rolta's long-post tactics, which really are indefensibleIf only!
Well, that would be a convincing argument, if you hadn't chosen us at our weakest moment of the season in terms of squad strength (and Sunderland at one of their strongest). There's £14m (Kozak and Benteke) unaccounted for which, even when playing, didn't stop us looking for the most part horrifically one dimensional. By the way, that's £14m which cannot really be expected to play together except in kitchen-sink chucking final ten minute desperation (or, 'doing a Lambert') - how is that prudent use of such limited finances? It's not. It's the action of a man who played Grant Holt and Steve Morison up front together at Norwich quite regularly, in order to chunt long balls at them. This goes back a long way. What Poyet did was quite extraordinary, and when you set him up against Lambert it's an embarrassing no-contest.
Lambert does, as you tenuously put it, have it in him to want to play better football, which as you say makes him better than McLeish. However, that also makes him MON, who too wanted to play better football, but whose limitations were such that he couldn't achieve it despite huge amounts of money being chucked at the team. He got results, but he should have done better and was held back by his stubborn adherence to a rigid 4-4-2, counter-attacking, overrating speed and strength over skill, having not the first clue about modern methods of pass-and-move training and generally boofing it all the pissing time. Lambert is more flexible in formation, and doesn't share MON's winger addiction (more's the pity), but being stuck in the 90s isn't all that much better than being stuck in the 70s, and he exhibits all he same traits otherwise.
Like MON, Lambert's team can look exciting if given space into which to play. Basically, on the break. He's a reactive manager, and the difference between a defensive performance and a counterattacking one is often no more than getting the breaks to escape from the back. However, give us a massed defence to break down and his teams have no plan, so we end up with the long balls into a congested space where it's almost certain not to work.
This is why we're horrendous at home - a number ten would help (even if he only appears to have heard of them yesterday), but what would help much more is actually looking like there's a plan when we have the ball. If you look at Rodgers' teams (interesting how you skipped over him, but we'll come to that), there's real purpose in possession. That's because Rodgers trains them maniacally in what to do when you get the ball, where to move to depending on where you are in relation to the player, one and two touch passing to keep the ball moving - you know, practicing. MON got them to jog around the pitch and play a five-a-side, if he was there at all.
Lambert's probably in between, but there's absolutely no evidence on the pitch that there's been significant work on the training ground. The players look lost, unguided by any helping hand, and that hand should be the managers. When they do break forward (usually Delph) all the running off the ball looks painfully improvised, which slows us down two-fold: firstly, the player has to decide where to move instead of just knowing by second-nature, as training would have helped him to acquire; and secondly, the player with the ball has to look for his teammates before making the pass, instead of trusting to the plan. This is the case all the time, and it's agony to watch.
Forget the money, because I've already said I think Lambert's actually good in the transfer market (though a good scout doesn't necessarily make a good manager) - is Ashley Westwood really a worse footballer, on the ball, than Lee twatting Cattermole? Because when Westwood arrived his off-the-ball anticipation and movement was fantastic, I thought we'd found a bargain Petrov, but two years of Lambert and he looks like he's trying to stodge his way through a bog with lead shoes without a map, whereas the lump Cattermole is moving into space like Busquets. Who's fault is this?
Please don't tell me that I need to 'really look' at what we've got right now, believe me, I've been really fucking looking for two years. And you know, you say your posts have to be long because you need the 'substance', but actually I'm afraid all I read is a lot of bluff, quite a lot of cliche, much over-simplifying and innumerable half-truths of a pretty mendacious nature. You say 'Baker costs us twenty goals a year' - then why did he keep playing him? Clark was always available but practically never given the chance, because despite being better on the ball he doesn't do Big Physical Things, and Lambert just loves those unreservedly.
You just say, for instance, of Martinez that 'well, he got Wigan relegated', neglecting of course to mention that he kept Wigan alive way beyond their life-expectancy and won them the FA Cup. You say these managers had more time at their clubs? Well, Poyet hadn't, and had to work with players who'd been exposed to Paulo di Canio for several months, and now look at them. Lambert's had two years and the football is getting worse - not 'more solid', as you keep saying, because we've either had the same or a worse season than last year, and we've just been worse to watch. Lambert needs time? The more time he's had, the worse it's got.
There's more than one way to play football, but none of them involve honestly thinking that long-balls, at home, in a winnable match, against a massed defence, are a real option. Lambert appears to think so, and it'll always, always, always hold him back no matter how many bargains he finds.
This essay shall be the last time I respond to you, unless you can come up with a new point better than 'you don't understand, simpleton, hark at my superior cod-economics!'. Over and out.
Well, you are a pompous man. I think I've said my piece too, and I believe you expect too much for the money, as I've been saying. Your bluff doesn't cover up for that. We clearly have different opinions, so we'll both stop I guess. Also, it is funny you say Lambert only just heard of the number 10, and the number 10 he tried to buy is the same one he had at Norwich and Livingston. This is Wes Hoolahan who credits Lambert with converting him from a winger into a number 10.
I've got nothing wrong with Martinez, and I have huge respect for Rodgers, of course. I am staggered why Lambert chose Baker over Clark – it was the most baffling of all decisions last year, imo. It doesn't make me want him sacked though. Er...because he has done a job with those finances :o
I actually did the Crystal Palace team a while ago. I think it's on this thread.
I put that Sunderland team up because I was talking about Poyet, and you'd have known that if you'd actually tried to understand/read what I posted. Putting our team up was more for interest. As for the guy who said we've got £70million worth of talent out of that squad (an over estimate anyway, surely) – there are clearly players like Bent, Given and Hutton who have been marginalised as part of the cost cutting. Getting rid of them is part of that cost cutting (we didn't pay Bent's wages this year for instance), so they have not been a part of Lambert's plans, which has been dictated by the finances.
I'm surprised at the reactions tbh, I thought this was a place for discussion. Oh, but now I realise...it's half term!
And as for the over-focus on Bradford/Sheffield United – we all know things happen in cups. Bringing them up in an argument doesn't overrule all other logic.
When DOL left he couldn't get another job in the PL when he had to work under similar circumstances. Lambert will: he kept to his Chairman's budget and kept us in the league. It's been horrible to watch, but only some really care about that in reality. I prefer my post match evenings to be full of 1-0 wins not 4-3 defeats!
When DOL left he couldn't get another job in the PL when he had to work under similar circumstances. Lambert will: he kept to his Chairman's budget and kept us in the league. It's been horrible to watch, but only some really care about that in reality. I prefer my post match evenings to be full of 1-0 wins not 4-3 defeats!
Well, we got the '1' of the 1-0s you want, but sadly also the '4' of the 4-3s you don't.
Serious question. How bad does a bad manager have to be? I cannot believe that there is a single proper Villa fan who can make a case for Lambert. I can only put it down to a collective guilt complex which has grown from our detestation of DOL and TSM and our recognition of the premeditated spite which was in MON's walk out. If Paul Lambert had not been preceded by Alex McLeish he would have been thrown out neck and crop months ago. If Paul Lambert is still manager of Villa come Christmas of this year my 67 consecutive years on the Holte will be at an end.
Serious question. How bad does a bad manager have to be? I cannot believe that there is a single proper Villa fan who can make a case for Lambert. I can only put it down to a collective guilt complex which has grown from our detestation of DOL and TSM and our recognition of the premeditated spite which was in MON's walk out. If Paul Lambert had not been preceded by Alex McLeish he would have been thrown out neck and crop months ago. If Paul Lambert is still manager of Villa come Christmas of this year my 67 consecutive years on the Holte will be at an end.
You get the managers you believe you deserve. Each year our expectations fall a little lower. There is a general malaise around VP - Lawro called it the stench of relegation. If Lambert stays then I cant see how we can stay up.
Shay has reminded other clubs he is up for a transfer or a loan move. But will they pay him what he is currently picking up?
I think you know the answer.
Serious question. How bad does a bad manager have to be? I cannot believe that there is a single proper Villa fan who can make a case for Lambert. I can only put it down to a collective guilt complex which has grown from our detestation of DOL and TSM and our recognition of the premeditated spite which was in MON's walk out. If Paul Lambert had not been preceded by Alex McLeish he would have been thrown out neck and crop months ago. If Paul Lambert is still manager of Villa come Christmas of this year my 67 consecutive years on the Holte will be at an end.
I'm totally with Brian on this. The difference between Brian and myself is that I left Birmingham almost 27 years ago. If I had not, my attendance record would in all probability have been up there with his.The difference between Brian and you, Dave, is 2 years.
There is only so much people are prepared to put up with. People like Brian, myself, Ron Manager, E I Adio et al, have, over the years put up with more than our fair share of shit and believe me, the last three years in particular has been right up there with the worst.
Serious question. How bad does a bad manager have to be? I cannot believe that there is a single proper Villa fan who can make a case for Lambert. I can only put it down to a collective guilt complex which has grown from our detestation of DOL and TSM and our recognition of the premeditated spite which was in MON's walk out. If Paul Lambert had not been preceded by Alex McLeish he would have been thrown out neck and crop months ago. If Paul Lambert is still manager of Villa come Christmas of this year my 67 consecutive years on the Holte will be at an end.Lambert is past past sackable point. Way past. However as he is still around I hope we are top of the League at Xmas so that you continue to grace the Holte End.
If he got money and we actually had the opportunity to buy players to compete – and we begin to do better – you'll do an about turn on that last statement, I think. I am a proper Villa fan, by the way ::)You are working late today Rolta? Faulkner is a hard master I suppose!
Signing players and picking the right tactics are only part of it. If you're going for bargain basement approach, then the really crucial quality in a manager is coaching and player development. Rodgers, for example, somehow managed to make Wayne fucking Routledge look like a good player. How many people think Lambert would have been able to do that?
Shay has reminded other clubs he is up for a transfer or a loan move. But will they pay him what he is currently picking up?They don't need to pick up all his wages.
I think you know the answer.
Mister E, you have my genuine respect and admiration as do all Villa fans who pay in advance knowing that there is a probability there is more of the same going to be served up.
I don't know if I would do it, but then again if I was still at home I more than likely would it's in the blood. I had a mate with whom I went to Rotterdam with and when we got home he said he didn't care if he never watched the Villa again. His reasons? I've now seen them win everything in my lifetime there's nothing left. I never understood that. I don't believe he's ever been since.
Pretty disappointed by the Club letting Albrighton go. We've got no one who offers what he does.Same here, he was our most threatening player in the few games he played. I think this is a sad day for Villa.
Pretty disappointed by the Club letting Albrighton go. We've got no one who offers what he does.Same here, he was our most threatening player in the few games he played. I think this is a sad day for Villa.
We still have Tonev though.
I really like Villa fans playing for the club, so yeh when it does not work I do feel sad about it. He is a better player than most of the first 11 we have right now.Pretty disappointed by the Club letting Albrighton go. We've got no one who offers what he does.Same here, he was our most threatening player in the few games he played. I think this is a sad day for Villa.
We still have Tonev though.
4 months nobody would have batted an eyelid if a reserve player was allowed to leave on a free. Sad day. Come on, really? He played well in a team that was going fast downhill, but lets not get carried away and make him an offer well beyond what he is worth. Good luck to him at Leicester if they are willing to pay that much, and well done to him for getting it.
I really like Villa fans playing for the club, so yeh when it does not work I do feel sad about it. He is a better player than most of the first 11 we have right now.Pretty disappointed by the Club letting Albrighton go. We've got no one who offers what he does.Same here, he was our most threatening player in the few games he played. I think this is a sad day for Villa.
We still have Tonev though.
4 months nobody would have batted an eyelid if a reserve player was allowed to leave on a free. Sad day. Come on, really? He played well in a team that was going fast downhill, but lets not get carried away and make him an offer well beyond what he is worth. Good luck to him at Leicester if they are willing to pay that much, and well done to him for getting it.
This thread is turning into the Monty Python 'Four Yorkshiremen' sketch, lighten up you miserable buggers. ;¬)
That was a cheap shot Chris comparing me and other older fans with comedy Monty Python characters. I and other long standing supporters have earned the right to make demands upon the club. I have no problem with other fans wanting to present Lambert in a favourable light. What I do have a very big problem with is the conviction that I have that the acceptance of Lambert has come about from the insidious peddling of the heresy that the diminution of the fans expectations is a positive and praiseworthy accomplishment. It is neither, it is negative and shameful. As I have said several times of late, in the troughs of relegation and despair we experienced in the past we always believed we would rise again and the club encouraged us to believe it. We did rise again. This time we are not encouraged to believe we will rise again we are told that we must hope for us not to be quite as bad as we were. That way the club does not have to spend very much, a manager who does not deliver anything much can be considered competent and the fans once brainwashed pay to come to the games regardless of the results. It is what a bookmaker would call a round book. Win, win, win.
We have had to swallow some bitter pills over the years but none as big and as bitter as this present one they are trying to force through our clenched teeth that Villa is a mediocre club with mediocre expectations. I shall not stop going to games at Christmas if Lambert is still there because of Lambert, I have seen plenty of crap managers of Aston Villa, I shall stop going because it will mean that the lies about what we are and what we can dream of are still being peddled as truth.
That was a cheap shot Chris comparing me and other older fans with comedy Monty Python characters. I and other long standing supporters have earned the right to make demands upon the club. I have no problem with other fans wanting to present Lambert in a favourable light. What I do have a very big problem with is the conviction that I have that the acceptance of Lambert has come about from the insidious peddling of the heresy that the diminution of the fans expectations is a positive and praiseworthy accomplishment. It is neither, it is negative and shameful. As I have said several times of late, in the troughs of relegation and despair we experienced in the past we always believed we would rise again and the club encouraged us to believe it. We did rise again. This time we are not encouraged to believe we will rise again we are told that we must hope for us not to be quite as bad as we were. That way the club does not have to spend very much, a manager who does not deliver anything much can be considered competent and the fans once brainwashed pay to come to the games regardless of the results. It is what a bookmaker would call a round book. Win, win, win.
We have had to swallow some bitter pills over the years but none as big and as bitter as this present one they are trying to force through our clenched teeth that Villa is a mediocre club with mediocre expectations. I shall not stop going to games at Christmas if Lambert is still there because of Lambert, I have seen plenty of crap managers of Aston Villa, I shall stop going because it will mean that the lies about what we are and what we can dream of are still being peddled as truth.
That was a cheap shot Chris comparing me and other older fans with comedy Monty Python characters. I and other long standing supporters have earned the right to make demands upon the club. I have no problem with other fans wanting to present Lambert in a favourable light. What I do have a very big problem with is the conviction that I have that the acceptance of Lambert has come about from the insidious peddling of the heresy that the diminution of the fans expectations is a positive and praiseworthy accomplishment. It is neither, it is negative and shameful. As I have said several times of late, in the troughs of relegation and despair we experienced in the past we always believed we would rise again and the club encouraged us to believe it. We did rise again. This time we are not encouraged to believe we will rise again we are told that we must hope for us not to be quite as bad as we were. That way the club does not have to spend very much, a manager who does not deliver anything much can be considered competent and the fans once brainwashed pay to come to the games regardless of the results. It is what a bookmaker would call a round book. Win, win, win.
We have had to swallow some bitter pills over the years but none as big and as bitter as this present one they are trying to force through our clenched teeth that Villa is a mediocre club with mediocre expectations. I shall not stop going to games at Christmas if Lambert is still there because of Lambert, I have seen plenty of crap managers of Aston Villa, I shall stop going because it will mean that the lies about what we are and what we can dream of are still being peddled as truth.
You tell 'em, Brian. The club have desperately tried to lower our expectations these last few years and so many fans have fallen for it.
I can't stand the "oh it ain't that bad" brigade who pounce on posters like you for telling it the way it is. The club is in a mess from top to bottom and it's all self inflicted by the man at the top, but don't dare to criticise because you'll get the usual apologists who'll jump to the club's defence no matter what state the club is in and shout out that clichéd buzzword "hyperbole" in an attempt to discredit you.
Keep on posting, Brian.
Dave come on, even you have to admit that right now there is almost nothing to enjoy about watching the Villa football wise (thank god the season is finished). It might change by the start of the season but I wouldn't be surprised if any takeover takes longer than expected because top of anyone's priorities right now we are not and more drifting along wouldn't be unimaginable.
The question is, if there is no takeover will Lerner put any transfer funds forward? If not we are in serious jeopardy of going down next year. No doubt.
Hutton, Bent and Given coming back in to the fold suggest there will be very little money. There's your new signings. No other reason for the about turn is there.
Dave come on, even you have to admit that right now there is almost nothing to enjoy about watching the Villa football wise (thank god the season is finished). It might change by the start of the season but I wouldn't be surprised if any takeover takes longer than expected because top of anyone's priorities right now we are not and more drifting along wouldn't be unimaginable.
The question is, if there is no takeover will Lerner put any transfer funds forward? If not we are in serious jeopardy of going down next year. No doubt.
Hutton, Bent and Given coming back in to the fold suggest there will be very little money. There's your new signings. No other reason for the about turn is there.
I think things are pretty unappealing at the moment, drifting even. But that's not the point - when someone says he "can't stand" anyone who doesn't agree with his permanently pessimistic views and continues to attack them then he shouldn't be surprised to be challenged.
Dave come on, even you have to admit that right now there is almost nothing to enjoy about watching the Villa football wise (thank god the season is finished). It might change by the start of the season but I wouldn't be surprised if any takeover takes longer than expected because top of anyone's priorities right now we are not and more drifting along wouldn't be unimaginable.
The question is, if there is no takeover will Lerner put any transfer funds forward? If not we are in serious jeopardy of going down next year. No doubt.
Hutton, Bent and Given coming back in to the fold suggest there will be very little money. There's your new signings. No other reason for the about turn is there.
I think things are pretty unappealing at the moment, drifting even. But that's not the point - when someone says he "can't stand" anyone who doesn't agree with his permanently pessimistic views and continues to attack them then he shouldn't be surprised to be challenged.
I Still wonder why Lambert is there. Has he been promised a bonus? Is it loyalty to Lerner? Does he actually care for Villa? It's gotta be the money hasn't it?
Dave come on, even you have to admit that right now there is almost nothing to enjoy about watching the Villa football wise (thank god the season is finished). It might change by the start of the season but I wouldn't be surprised if any takeover takes longer than expected because top of anyone's priorities right now we are not and more drifting along wouldn't be unimaginable.
The question is, if there is no takeover will Lerner put any transfer funds forward? If not we are in serious jeopardy of going down next year. No doubt.
Hutton, Bent and Given coming back in to the fold suggest there will be very little money. There's your new signings. No other reason for the about turn is there.
I think things are pretty unappealing at the moment, drifting even. But that's not the point - when someone says he "can't stand" anyone who doesn't agree with his permanently pessimistic views and continues to attack them then he shouldn't be surprised to be challenged.
I Still wonder why Lambert is there. Has he been promised a bonus? Is it loyalty to Lerner? Does he actually care for Villa? It's gotta be the money hasn't it?
He's only there until the new owners come in. Would a new manager come in knowing that he might be out on his arse in a month's time if we're taken over?
Dave come on, even you have to admit that right now there is almost nothing to enjoy about watching the Villa football wise (thank god the season is finished). It might change by the start of the season but I wouldn't be surprised if any takeover takes longer than expected because top of anyone's priorities right now we are not and more drifting along wouldn't be unimaginable.
The question is, if there is no takeover will Lerner put any transfer funds forward? If not we are in serious jeopardy of going down next year. No doubt.
Hutton, Bent and Given coming back in to the fold suggest there will be very little money. There's your new signings. No other reason for the about turn is there.
I think things are pretty unappealing at the moment, drifting even. But that's not the point - when someone says he "can't stand" anyone who doesn't agree with his permanently pessimistic views and continues to attack them then he shouldn't be surprised to be challenged.
I Still wonder why Lambert is there. Has he been promised a bonus? Is it loyalty to Lerner? Does he actually care for Villa? It's gotta be the money hasn't it?
He's only there until the new owners come in. Would a new manager come in knowing that he might be out on his arse in a month's time if we're taken over?
And if a new owner doesn't come along? New contract? God forbid.
That was a cheap shot Chris comparing me and other older fans with comedy Monty Python characters. I and other long standing supporters have earned the right to make demands upon the club. I have no problem with other fans wanting to present Lambert in a favourable light. What I do have a very big problem with is the conviction that I have that the acceptance of Lambert has come about from the insidious peddling of the heresy that the diminution of the fans expectations is a positive and praiseworthy accomplishment. It is neither, it is negative and shameful. As I have said several times of late, in the troughs of relegation and despair we experienced in the past we always believed we would rise again and the club encouraged us to believe it. We did rise again. This time we are not encouraged to believe we will rise again we are told that we must hope for us not to be quite as bad as we were. That way the club does not have to spend very much, a manager who does not deliver anything much can be considered competent and the fans once brainwashed pay to come to the games regardless of the results. It is what a bookmaker would call a round book. Win, win, win.
We have had to swallow some bitter pills over the years but none as big and as bitter as this present one they are trying to force through our clenched teeth that Villa is a mediocre club with mediocre expectations. I shall not stop going to games at Christmas if Lambert is still there because of Lambert, I have seen plenty of crap managers of Aston Villa, I shall stop going because it will mean that the lies about what we are and what we can dream of are still being peddled as truth.
You tell 'em, Brian. The club have desperately tried to lower our expectations these last few years and so many fans have fallen for it.
I can't stand the "oh it ain't that bad" brigade who pounce on posters like you for telling it the way it is. The club is in a mess from top to bottom and it's all self inflicted by the man at the top, but don't dare to criticise because you'll get the usual apologists who'll jump to the club's defence no matter what state the club is in and shout out that clichéd buzzword "hyperbole" in an attempt to discredit you.
Keep on posting, Brian.
You can't stand anyone who disagrees with you. You said it.
As wank as things are at present, there is no way they are worse than when we spent 8 years outside the top flight, and a total of 14 years without finishing higher than 15th.
That was a cheap shot Chris comparing me and other older fans with comedy Monty Python characters. I and other long standing supporters have earned the right to make demands upon the club. I have no problem with other fans wanting to present Lambert in a favourable light. What I do have a very big problem with is the conviction that I have that the acceptance of Lambert has come about from the insidious peddling of the heresy that the diminution of the fans expectations is a positive and praiseworthy accomplishment. It is neither, it is negative and shameful. As I have said several times of late, in the troughs of relegation and despair we experienced in the past we always believed we would rise again and the club encouraged us to believe it. We did rise again. This time we are not encouraged to believe we will rise again we are told that we must hope for us not to be quite as bad as we were. That way the club does not have to spend very much, a manager who does not deliver anything much can be considered competent and the fans once brainwashed pay to come to the games regardless of the results. It is what a bookmaker would call a round book. Win, win, win.
We have had to swallow some bitter pills over the years but none as big and as bitter as this present one they are trying to force through our clenched teeth that Villa is a mediocre club with mediocre expectations. I shall not stop going to games at Christmas if Lambert is still there because of Lambert, I have seen plenty of crap managers of Aston Villa, I shall stop going because it will mean that the lies about what we are and what we can dream of are still being peddled as truth.
You tell 'em, Brian. The club have desperately tried to lower our expectations these last few years and so many fans have fallen for it.
I can't stand the "oh it ain't that bad" brigade who pounce on posters like you for telling it the way it is. The club is in a mess from top to bottom and it's all self inflicted by the man at the top, but don't dare to criticise because you'll get the usual apologists who'll jump to the club's defence no matter what state the club is in and shout out that clichéd buzzword "hyperbole" in an attempt to discredit you.
Keep on posting, Brian.
You can't stand anyone who disagrees with you. You said it.
Neither can you, Dave. In fact you hate it.
That was a cheap shot Chris comparing me and other older fans with comedy Monty Python characters. I and other long standing supporters have earned the right to make demands upon the club. I have no problem with other fans wanting to present Lambert in a favourable light. What I do have a very big problem with is the conviction that I have that the acceptance of Lambert has come about from the insidious peddling of the heresy that the diminution of the fans expectations is a positive and praiseworthy accomplishment. It is neither, it is negative and shameful. As I have said several times of late, in the troughs of relegation and despair we experienced in the past we always believed we would rise again and the club encouraged us to believe it. We did rise again. This time we are not encouraged to believe we will rise again we are told that we must hope for us not to be quite as bad as we were. That way the club does not have to spend very much, a manager who does not deliver anything much can be considered competent and the fans once brainwashed pay to come to the games regardless of the results. It is what a bookmaker would call a round book. Win, win, win.
We have had to swallow some bitter pills over the years but none as big and as bitter as this present one they are trying to force through our clenched teeth that Villa is a mediocre club with mediocre expectations. I shall not stop going to games at Christmas if Lambert is still there because of Lambert, I have seen plenty of crap managers of Aston Villa, I shall stop going because it will mean that the lies about what we are and what we can dream of are still being peddled as truth.
You tell 'em, Brian. The club have desperately tried to lower our expectations these last few years and so many fans have fallen for it.
I can't stand the "oh it ain't that bad" brigade who pounce on posters like you for telling it the way it is. The club is in a mess from top to bottom and it's all self inflicted by the man at the top, but don't dare to criticise because you'll get the usual apologists who'll jump to the club's defence no matter what state the club is in and shout out that clichéd buzzword "hyperbole" in an attempt to discredit you.
Keep on posting, Brian.
You can't stand anyone who disagrees with you. You said it.
Neither can you, Dave. In fact you hate it.
If that's the case, how about you going through every post I've made, in fact every word I've written, anywhere, at any time, and finding some evidence?
Name one single person who was banned solely because they disagreed with Dave, or any mod for that matter.
The Factory of Sadness has closed for the Summer.
What was that I said about you abusing anyone who disagrees with you? Again, try to find evidence for your accusations, please.
What was that I said about you abusing anyone who disagrees with you? Again, try to find evidence for your accusations, please.
Depends what your definition of abuse is though. I've seen you call someone an idiot on here without any comeback and just the other week one of your mods issued a "come and say that to my face" Classic internet threat to me without any comeback from the mods on here. So there seems to be a bit of a grey area when it comes the definition of "abuse" on H&V.
What was that I said about you abusing anyone who disagrees with you? Again, try to find evidence for your accusations, please.
Depends what your definition of abuse is though. I've seen you call someone an idiot on here without any comeback and just the other week one of your mods issued a "come and say that to my face" Classic internet threat to me without any comeback from the mods on here. So there seems to be a bit of a grey area when it comes the definition of "abuse" on H&V.
Nice avoidance again, with bonus points for getting worked up about 'idiot' while avoiding other stuff that flies around. Still waiting for the evidence.
If I was sad enough to trawl through your posts and blogs on the internet I bet I wouldn't find much criticism of Lerner and co. I bet I'd find lots of smarmy sarcastic comments and banning of people who disagreed with you though.
I'm asking for you to provide proof of the allegations you made. If you can't - which you won't be able to because such proof doesn't exist - an apology would be nice. I didn't "twist" your words, I quoted them back to you exactly as you said them. Fergal was banned, as well you had the opportunity to find out, for reasons which had nothing to do with any argument with me on here, although it's ironic that you mention him as you, he and a third party all said much the same to me at the same time - how's that for the ganging up you find so reprehensible? The mods, presumably, "leapt to my defence" or to put it another way agreed with me because they wanted a false claim to be dismissed.
If I was sad enough to trawl through your posts and blogs on the internet I bet I wouldn't find much criticism of Lerner and co. I bet I'd find lots of smarmy sarcastic comments and banning of people who disagreed with you though.
The "banning people who disagree" thing is the one thing that pisses mods off, and that's because it is so far from the truth it's actually offensively incorrect.
My views, for example, aren't that different from yours, so why would I have any truck with banning anyone whose views were largely the same of mine (the difference being the way we communicate them / interpret them) because of their views?
I don't even agree with Dave W on a lot of issues myself, and if you look at the moderators here, there's a pretty wide range of view points, so the suggestion that there are bannings for in some way being different is way off mark.
Can you even suggest me one person who has been "banned for disagreeing"? A single one?
If I was sad enough to trawl through your posts and blogs on the internet I bet I wouldn't find much criticism of Lerner and co. I bet I'd find lots of smarmy sarcastic comments and banning of people who disagreed with you though.
The "banning people who disagree" thing is the one thing that pisses mods off, and that's because it is so far from the truth it's actually offensively incorrect.
My views, for example, aren't that different from yours, so why would I have any truck with banning anyone whose views were largely the same of mine (the difference being the way we communicate them / interpret them) because of their views?
I don't even agree with Dave W on a lot of issues myself, and if you look at the moderators here, there's a pretty wide range of view points, so the suggestion that there are bannings for in some way being different is way off mark.
Can you even suggest me one person who has been "banned for disagreeing"? A single one?
How about Fergal? It does seem that many long term posters who disagree with pro Lerner stance of Dave and co seem to have gone the way of the dodo. Risso is another, and there have been others, but their names escape me at the moment.
Incideentally, you say
"the pro Lerner stance of Dave and co"
Who is "co" in this instance? If it's the moderators, I think you'd struggle to find much of a shared opinion on the subject there.
I'm asking for you to provide proof of the allegations you made. If you can't - which you won't be able to because such proof doesn't exist - an apology would be nice. I didn't "twist" your words, I quoted them back to you exactly as you said them. Fergal was banned, as well you had the opportunity to find out, for reasons which had nothing to do with any argument with me on here, although it's ironic that you mention him as you, he and a third party all said much the same to me at the same time - how's that for the ganging up you find so reprehensible? The mods, presumably, "leapt to my defence" or to put it another way agreed with me because they wanted a false claim to be dismissed.
What I actually said was, "I can't stand the "oh it ain't that bad" brigade who pounce on posters like you for telling it the way it is" and what you claimed I said was, "I can't stand anyone that disagrees with me". So you twisted my words, Dave. Don't try and deny it. Any chance of an apology for that?
As for the rest, I haven't got a clue what you're on about. All I know is that Fergal had an internet row with you and he ended up banned. And there's been others as well - Risso springs to mind. He's another one that took opposite views to you and he's gone the way of the dodo also.
Oh and how come either you or any of your mod team never said anything to PWS for his underhand threat to me the other week? I wonder if you would have been so silent if the boot was on the other foot?
Has anyone ever been banned for agreeing with the mods too much.
I'm asking for you to provide proof of the allegations you made. If you can't - which you won't be able to because such proof doesn't exist - an apology would be nice. I didn't "twist" your words, I quoted them back to you exactly as you said them. Fergal was banned, as well you had the opportunity to find out, for reasons which had nothing to do with any argument with me on here, although it's ironic that you mention him as you, he and a third party all said much the same to me at the same time - how's that for the ganging up you find so reprehensible? The mods, presumably, "leapt to my defence" or to put it another way agreed with me because they wanted a false claim to be dismissed.
What I actually said was, "I can't stand the "oh it ain't that bad" brigade who pounce on posters like you for telling it the way it is" and what you claimed I said was, "I can't stand anyone that disagrees with me". So you twisted my words, Dave. Don't try and deny it. Any chance of an apology for that?
As for the rest, I haven't got a clue what you're on about. All I know is that Fergal had an internet row with you and he ended up banned. And there's been others as well - Risso springs to mind. He's another one that took opposite views to you and he's gone the way of the dodo also.
Oh and how come either you or any of your mod team never said anything to PWS for his underhand threat to me the other week? I wonder if you would have been so silent if the boot was on the other foot?
You've just said yourself - you can't stand anyone who disagrees with you. You've also been told why others were banned and so far nobody, mods or anyone else, has agreed with you.
I really don't know how Darren gets away with some of the ....oh ok all of the stuff he posts? A clear case of one rule for one and another for the rest!Has anyone ever been banned for agreeing with the mods too much.
Darren Wooley.
Richard Moore, quite correctly, remains unbanned. I think that rests the case, doesn't it? I wouldn't think of him as cuddling up to Lerner.
Richard Moore, quite correctly, remains unbanned. I think that rests the case, doesn't it? I wouldn't think of him as cuddling up to Lerner.
As far as I know Villafirst is still a member, and he is not Lerner's biggest fan.
I do love the West Wing approach from Mods here. A rebuttal statement quickly enforced by two further supportive comments from different sources. Nice.
Richard Moore, quite correctly, remains unbanned. I think that rests the case, doesn't it? I wouldn't think of him as cuddling up to Lerner.
Wallander?
Richard Moore, quite correctly, remains unbanned. I think that rests the case, doesn't it? I wouldn't think of him as cuddling up to Lerner.
I treat the abuse I get on here like road rage. The more angry someone is with me, the more I smile and say nice things about/to them. Either that or I just admit to whatever I'm being accused of. It keeps whoever it is happy in the knowledge they are right...
Bring back Greg Nash.
I see that Beckford is at it again.Bring back Greg Nash.
I was looking at TBAR today (I know, I know) and saw a poster called CI.
His style sounded familiar, then I realised it must be Coopers Injury.
Bring back Greg Nash.
I was looking at TBAR today (I know, I know) and saw a poster called CI.
His style sounded familiar, then I realised it must be Coopers Injury.
He was like a Greg minus the humour. For all his (many) faults, the Nasher was a funny fecker at times.
I think they generally had similar Villa-related viewpoints, but Greg was quite bright whereas CI was thick as a whale omelette. That was main difference that I recall.Bring back Greg Nash.
I was looking at TBAR today (I know, I know) and saw a poster called CI.
His style sounded familiar, then I realised it must be Coopers Injury.
He was like a Greg minus the humour. For all his (many) faults, the Nasher was a funny fecker at times.
Greg was alright, but if I remember rightly CI was a nasty so and so.
I see that Beckford is at it again.Bring back Greg Nash.
I was looking at TBAR today (I know, I know) and saw a poster called CI.
His style sounded familiar, then I realised it must be Coopers Injury.
What did make Risso go nuts?
This thread is turning into the Monty Python 'Four Yorkshiremen' sketch, lighten up you miserable buggers. ;¬)
At Last The 1948 show if my memory serves me well. And it does!
Pies at half time? Coal we had. And bloody grateful we were too.
I think the takeover will happen by Founding Father's Day.
Personally I thought Greg was a twat. His sole aim most of the time was to come on here and just argue for the sake of it until he got bored.
Was he a mod when he went crazy and got banned?
The annoying habit he had of proclaiming himself the winner of an argument should be up there with "I know you'll ban me" as an automatic ban.
I like the way people are better fans than others. We're humans, some are cheerful by nature some are downright miserable bastards but we're all Villa fans. Whether you haven't missed a game in 50 years or have only seen one game at Villa Park in your lifetime you have a right to an opinion. As for the banning of posters, well it's only a forum there are others. As with all forums there are some characters who are never wrong and come across as condescending pricks but again it's justa forum. Log off it affects your blood pressure.
I like the way people are better fans than others. We're humans, some are cheerful by nature some are downright miserable bastards but we're all Villa fans. Whether you haven't missed a game in 50 years or have only seen one game at Villa Park in your lifetime you have a right to an opinion. As for the banning of posters, well it's only a forum there are others. As with all forums there are some characters who are never wrong and come across as condescending pricks but again it's justa forum. Log off it affects your blood pressure.
Chill out, mate, it's just a forum.
I like the way people are better fans than others. We're humans, some are cheerful by nature some are downright miserable bastards but we're all Villa fans. Whether you haven't missed a game in 50 years or have only seen one game at Villa Park in your lifetime you have a right to an opinion. As for the banning of posters, well it's only a forum there are others. As with all forums there are some characters who are never wrong and come across as condescending pricks but again it's justa forum. Log off it affects your blood pressure.
Chill out, mate, it's just a forum.
I've logged off and knocked one out to the Kays catalogue. Feeling much better now.
I thought I woz your mate?I like the way people are better fans than others. We're humans, some are cheerful by nature some are downright miserable bastards but we're all Villa fans. Whether you haven't missed a game in 50 years or have only seen one game at Villa Park in your lifetime you have a right to an opinion. As for the banning of posters, well it's only a forum there are others. As with all forums there are some characters who are never wrong and come across as condescending pricks but again it's justa forum. Log off it affects your blood pressure.
Chill out, mate, it's just a forum.
I like the way people are better fans than others. We're humans, some are cheerful by nature some are downright miserable bastards but we're all Villa fans. Whether you haven't missed a game in 50 years or have only seen one game at Villa Park in your lifetime you have a right to an opinion. As for the banning of posters, well it's only a forum there are others. As with all forums there are some characters who are never wrong and come across as condescending pricks but again it's justa forum. Log off it affects your blood pressure.
Chill out, mate, it's just a forum.
I've logged off and knocked one out to the Kays catalogue. Feeling much better now.
Works for me every time, too.
Don't recall Cooper's Injury too much.I miss CI; you were never in the dark about prices on the forecourts with him. In fact, if the price of a barrel of crude increased by more than +0.0001 cents, up he would pop giving it the Full Daily Mail.
We must have had such innocent teenage years compared with the young'uns these days. While we furtively teased one out over a nice lady in a peekaboo bra in the Littlewoods catalogue, today's adolescents probably can't get it up without a movie of some lass getting torn a new one by six blokes on the bonnet of a stretch limo.I don't know. Most of the teenagers I see daily (at home and at work) are too brain-dead to be at it. They just watch shit TV and look at their phones.
Ahhhh the lingerie pages of a catalogue. Such memories of my youth. And yesterday.I've got Agent Provocateur in my favourites folder incase I get any "free time".
Hedge porn, always a great day as a teenager.
Hedge porn, always a great day as a teenager.
Making copies of your mate's dad's Confessions of a Window cleaner vhs. Then you'd lend it out and it would come back with noticeable wear on the 'good' bits from repeated rewind and replay. That stuff would be allowed before the watershed nowadays.
Ha, i'd forgotten all about Electric Blue. Everyone knew someone who had copies of Animal Farm, Debbie Does Dallas, Deepthroat, Flesh Gordon etc.
Making copies of your mate's dad's Confessions of a Window cleaner vhs. Then you'd lend it out and it would come back with noticeable wear on the 'good' bits from repeated rewind and replay. That stuff would be allowed before the watershed nowadays.
Did anyone else have the "It's stuck in the bastard video player!" nightmare, or was it just me?
Did anyone else have the "It's stuck in the bastard video player!" nightmare, or was it just me?
You mean the tape I hope?
Making copies of your mate's dad's Confessions of a Window cleaner vhs. Then you'd lend it out and it would come back with noticeable wear on the 'good' bits from repeated rewind and replay. That stuff would be allowed before the watershed nowadays.
Always remember to rewind the tape to the start or risk being caught out leaving it just a few seconds past the money shot.
Making copies of your mate's dad's Confessions of a Window cleaner vhs. Then you'd lend it out and it would come back with noticeable wear on the 'good' bits from repeated rewind and replay. That stuff would be allowed before the watershed nowadays.
Always remember to rewind the tape to the start or risk being caught out leaving it just a few seconds past the money shot.
Or using that counter thing on video players to make sure you left the tape in the exact place it was when you started watching it.
Timing recording stuff from the charts so as you started after they stopped talking and stopped it before they started again.
And it's only week 3 of the sale process hopefully. Let's see what week 6 brings when perhaps all the processes may be complete. Anyway getting Roy Keane (if true) and losing Marc Albrighton already puts us in a better place than last season !
No Aston Villa offer says Marc Albrighton
The winger signed for Leicester on a four-year contract last month after being allowed to leave.
Boss Paul Lambert had previously said Villa were confident of sealing a deal – but Albrighton insists he didn’t get an offer.
“Having been at Villa for 16 years it’s going to be weird and strange to make that change, but it was a decision made by the club,” he said.
“They said they didn’t want my services any more but I don’t hold anything against them.
“I wasn’t expecting a massive bumper deal from Villa but, if I’m honest, I was expecting something.”
QuoteNo Aston Villa offer says Marc Albrighton
The winger signed for Leicester on a four-year contract last month after being allowed to leave.
Boss Paul Lambert had previously said Villa were confident of sealing a deal – but Albrighton insists he didn’t get an offer.
“Having been at Villa for 16 years it’s going to be weird and strange to make that change, but it was a decision made by the club,” he said.
“They said they didn’t want my services any more but I don’t hold anything against them.
“I wasn’t expecting a massive bumper deal from Villa but, if I’m honest, I was expecting something.”
I'd have to agree with him. He might still have signed for Leicester on double what we offered, but it's strange we didn't offer anything at all.
However, I read things like Lambert saying they were confident of sealing a deal, then Albrighton saying we never made an offer, and it's one more of those occasions where Lambert sounds like, well, a massive fibber.
Albrighton was not very good and physically weak. We won with him in side against Hull but struggling to remember other wins with him in side. Very glad he's gone.
Quality or nor he was the only outfield player who gave a fuck at the end of last season. He earned the respect if the manager for that alone but Lambert is in the bunker and only wants his own around him. Marc will be brilliant for Leicester of that I have no doubt. It has echoes of Cahill being pissed off to Bolton.I generally agree with this - I dont think Albie will reach the heady heights of Chumps League and Ingerland stalwart but he could become a very handy P'ship player in the right circumstances.
Albrighton may have been average but he was still one of our better players, and one of the most determined.Indeed - and if we're going to have average players then I'd rather have ones like him who at least showed they were up for it. Otherwise we're left with average players who aren't bothered, and that is no good at all...
Albrighton may have been average but he was still one of our better players, and one of the most determined.Indeed - and if we're going to have average players then I'd rather have ones like him who at least showed they were up for it. Otherwise we're left with average players who aren't bothered, and that is no good at all...
I'm sure he'll score when they play us.Agent Albrighton :-)
I'm sure he'll score when they play us.
I like Marc but it's not a huge loss.
I don't think we'll sign a winger to be honest. Lambert doesn't really like playing with the old fashioned chalk on the boots winger. We'll hopefully sign 1-2 players capable of player that number 10 role, and perhaps another wide forward to compete with Gabby and Weimann (unless Zoggy is re-instated).I like Marc but it's not a huge loss.
It is if we don't sign a quality winger. He never played under Lambert so we might as well have sold him, but for the reasons mentioned before I see it as loss.
Another bad decision by that idiot Lambert,
No idea what he is being paid, if or what he was offered to stay. Just like every one else on here. As a footballer he is better than most of our current squad.Another bad decision by that idiot Lambert,
So you're saying Albrighton is worth 35k a week?
No idea what he is being paid, if or what he was offered to stay. Just like every one else on here. As a foAnother bad decision by that idiot Lambert,
So you're saying Albrighton is worth 35k a week?
otballer he is better than most of our current squad.
I agree with Chicago, who are you going to bring in better than Albrighton basically on a free who would be better value
No idea what he is being paid, if or what he was offered to stay. Just like every one else on here. As a footballer he is better than most of our current squad.Another bad decision by that idiot Lambert,
So you're saying Albrighton is worth 35k a week?
That is indeed one of the key things. Coming up to 25. He needs to be playing regularly now. There'd be no point in him hanging around here another couple of years and maybe getting a dozen starts a year (if he's lucky).No idea what he is being paid, if or what he was offered to stay. Just like every one else on here. As a footballer he is better than most of our current squad.Another bad decision by that idiot Lambert,
So you're saying Albrighton is worth 35k a week?
No, he isn't. He's a trier who is quite good at one thing, crossing the ball, and who is more effective as a sub against tiring defenders. He's also a liability in his own half as he can't tackle and gives away too many needless free kicks. If he was willing to take a pay cut and accept that he's not going to get many starts then fine. Clearly, though, at his age that isn't what he wants or needs.
He certainly is not. Only Benteke and Delph are worth that out of the current lot.
He certainly is not. Only Benteke and Delph are worth that out of the current lot.
if he can rediscover his better form, then yes. Started to be a bit Friedel like at times, where most things seemed to go past him. That's just the high standards his previous form has set. Good player.He certainly is not. Only Benteke and Delph are worth that out of the current lot.
Guzan?
I understand the reducing the wage bill argument, but there was far more dead weight which I would have shifted before Albrighton.Albrightons contract had run out though, so it was easy to shift him.
I understand the reducing the wage bill argument, but there was far more dead weight which I would have shifted before Albrighton.Albrightons contract had run out though, so it was easy to shift him.
If we get any sort of offer for Bent, Hutton, Given, Zogbia, Sylla, Helenius, Lowton and perhaps 2-3 more, I would expect them all to be sold on. The trouble is...no one is making the offers.
Spurs dont look too great this season. QPR anyone? Sunderland? I think they could give us a go at signing players that arent good enough.There were rumours coming out of Denmark, or from his Agent IIRC, quite early that he was struggling to adapt. Lambert also mentioned it was taking Helenius a while to settle in England.
The Helenius thing does look from the outset the most disappointing of all the signings. All of Lamberts signings otherwise have had redeeming features, and some outstanding performances, just not always up to it consistently (downside of buying youth). Helenius however appears to be a none starting non starter
I agree with Chicago, who are you going to bring in better than Albrighton basically on a free who would be better value
That's not the whole story though, is it?
It's not just "who can we get who is better on a free", that sounds like the only influencing factor is the transfer fee. it isn't. We'd have had to make Albrighton a commitment to pay him whatever he earns - and by the sounds of it, it is quite a lot - for three or four years.
I appreciate we don't know precisely what he earns but you can not just ignore the wages aspect of it all. It is far from just a "keep him or let him go" decision, it's a multi year commitment to a player.
I agree with Chicago, who are you going to bring in better than Albrighton basically on a free who would be better value
That's not the whole story though, is it?
It's not just "who can we get who is better on a free", that sounds like the only influencing factor is the transfer fee. it isn't. We'd have had to make Albrighton a commitment to pay him whatever he earns - and by the sounds of it, it is quite a lot - for three or four years.
I appreciate we don't know precisely what he earns but you can not just ignore the wages aspect of it all. It is far from just a "keep him or let him go" decision, it's a multi year commitment to a player.
It would still cost the same to buy a comparable player on lower wages. Which is why Leicester have stumped up the reported 35K a week. Same as paying him £25K with a £2-3m transfer fee.
He was over in Bruges for the game. https://x.com/dsj_itv/status/1896973656250835040
Will we have to change the thread title to 'Going to Paris/Madrid/Munich' as we progress?
He's a fan like the rest of us , but was also fortunate to play for us.
James Chester was over there too.
He's a fan like the rest of us , but was also fortunate to play for us.
James Chester was over there too.
Albrighton won the league and FA Cup and played CL. I think he was one we let leave too early rather than one who was 'fortunate to play for us'.
It's good to see him supporting his club in Europe.Yes met him last night. Good lad.