Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: villa kicks on May 23, 2013, 12:42:57 AM
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Eric lichaj out of contract is to be released. I hope he can do a Guzan and be signed later in summer! If not good bye and good luck Eric! Always put an effort either at right or left back! I remember the time you matched Bale for pace and shackled him. All the best !
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I'm surprised he's being released because he was good enough to be cover on either side and I don't think we've got any up & coming youngsters who could take that place in the squad. Good luck to him, though.
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I'm surprised by this too. I thought he'd be a useful squad player but I guess he is 24 and isn't likely to get significantly better from here.
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I liked him, not the greatest but put the effort in. A useful squad player, but at his age he really needs to be playing regular football. Good luck Eric.
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That is a surprise, actually. I couldn't ever see him being much more than cover, but loads of players are happy with just being cover. All the best to him.
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I wish him well, but think it is the right decision. We need better options in the squad if we are to move forward.
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I too am suprised. Not to mention he had a long throw on him which could have been useful for Benteke... I can see him flourishing in the championship.
Best of luck Eric, I'll always remain indebted to you for allowing me to go mental to the point of tears in the Holte at your assist and subsequent equaliser here:
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By the way, have you got a source for this? There's nothing on Pravda.
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Shame. I liked him
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Mat of the Mail said it on Twitter.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-allowing-darren-bent-4003591
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Found this from an Irish supporters group.
Mat Kendrick reporting this evening that Darren Bent will be allowed to leave if a suitable offer comes in. Eric Lichaj, Andy Marshall and Simon Dawkins are to be released. Mixed feelings on that news. I like Bent. 25 goals in 52 starts is an excellent record but it's clear he won't get much playing time in our current system. Feel sorry for Lichaj too. Reliable and decent back-up but Lambert obviously has plans for that position.
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Really good professional. Did a job more often than not in a position that wasn't his favoured one. Likeable character too judging from the odd interview I've seen on Pravda. Should get a decent club coming in for him (wasn't he on-loan at Leeds last season? Maybe even same time as Delph).
I'll never understand his surname but I will miss my Dad saying "Lee-high to a grasshopper?" whenever his name cropped-up.
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He can replace Bardsley at sunderland. Di canio would like someone with his attitude keep definitely an athletes life! Certainly would make that team
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Best of luck. May well have been a mutual thing as he is too old to bench warm now realistically. Hope he makes it somewhere else.
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Good luck Eric. Good squad contributor and I always liked his attitude. Probably mutual, he probably wants first team football somewhere and we have told him that is unlikely.
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I didn't like him at left-back but thought he was more than capable of covering at right-back. Not sure whether we have someone in place lined up to replace him or perhaps whether Eric had said he couldn't be bothered hanging around to be second choice anymore.
In either case, good luck.
Good luck also to Marshall who hung around without any chance of getting in the team without too much fuss and, by all accounts, being a good influence on the youngsters in the reserves.
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Best of luck Eric!
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I'm in the "should have kept him, good squad player" camp, but if he moves on because he wants a crack at more games and playing time then fair play to him. Nothing bad to say about the fella, his only fault simply seems to be that he isn't, and won't be, great.
Good luck, Eric.
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I'd hope the Bent news means Bentekes future is sorted, at least for a year
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Strange decision given we're so thin on numbers at the back and he was useful cover. I guess if we fail to strengthen there adequately and run out of defenders next season Lambchop will have no excuse. Decent Championship level player currently i guess so he should have no problem finding a club and will be a bargain for someone
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That's true, he will do very well somewhere else and I hope he does.
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Good luck, I think he will end up at a Championship club.....maybe even that lot across the City!
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Always seemed to have a good attitude.
He can certainly do a good job at mid table prem, upper third championship'
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Good luck for the future Eric.
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Strange decision this one but like Ozzjim said, he may have wanted to move on anyway. I liked him a lot. He had a cracking game against Gareth Bale at home a couple of season's ago and he's definatley good enough to hold down a regular place elsewhere. Best of luck to him.
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He was very popular at Leeds perhaps he will go back there. Good pro who always gave his best. Best of luck to him.
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Good luck Eric, hope you find a good club with regular football.
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Didn't Herd sign a long (5 year) contract about only 2 years ago? I don't see him getting a look in for central midfield over Sylla, Delph, Westy, KEA, Gardner etc., so I guess he'll cover Lowton. To be fair in the Wolves match last season when he played right back he performed brilliantly, probably better than Lichaj ever has done in that role.
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In the 2-3 games I have seen Herd at right back I have been impressed in truth. Maybe that is the thinking.
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I think Herd is more versatile than Eric being able to fill in at full back, midfield or central defense so it makes more sense keeping him. Eric is a steady player with a good attitude. The 3 promoted teams should be interested as he's exactly the sort of player required to bring some experience.
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Good luck Eric, hope you do well, apart from when you're playing the Villa.
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decent enough defender at right back but at the top level full backs need to have more ability on the ball.
should easily fit in as a right back in the second tier with his pace and strength. Regular football will improve his decision making and the best of luck to him.
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Good luck, I think he will end up at a Championship club.....maybe even that lot across the City!
All the positive comments and then you throw that in! Why would you wish that on anyone??
Joking aside I'm a bit surprised by this as he puts in a shift and is OK playing wise but hoping it means Lambo has lined up the next big thing in the full back world.
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He's a 'nearly but not quite' sort of a player.
Hasn't really got the ability on the ball that Lambert wants but a solid, dependable defender.
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Lambert must have targets in mind. I just think Eric wasn't quite good enough on the ball, and lack a bit of pace. Positionally questionable too. He always gave it 100% though, so good luck to it.
I would guess PL reckons he can find someone as good, or better, who's 4-5 years younger and has more potential. Lichaj's not really classed as a youngster any more. He's 25 this year. He's also not going to get that much better. I do see the logic in letting him go. Not that he'll be on huge wages, but we may be able to save a few grand on someone younger.
He'll be very good in the Championship, and if he's lucky he'll be back in the Prem with a team that gets promoted.
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I thought we should've kept him as a squad player. Relatively low wages I would've thought and someone to fill a gap when need be.
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I am surprised! I would have thought he was worth a squad place, but hopefully in Lambert we trust!
My missus will miss him though, she quite likes Eric..
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I would have kept him, personally, but then I trust Lambert's judgement.
Did OK when he played, but not anything to get excited about.
Good luck to him and I think he'll find a decent Championship club.
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I'll miss his Movember handlebar tache. It's a thing of beauty.
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Liiiiiiiiiiiiiii-hiiiiiiiii
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Surprised we're letting him go. He's a decent right back and always gives 100% but with Lowton there, he's always going to be second choice. I'm sure he'll find a decent club and hopefully he can go get more first team experience and on to develop his potential. At 24, he really needs to be playing week in, week out. Leeds is a very good shout.
Good luck, Eric.. and thanks.
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He's got a good long throw....Stoke
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It may not be our choice to let him go. He may want to leave to further his career in which case we have no say in it unless we were to guarantee him more game time, which is unlikely given his ability.
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I wish him well, but think it is the right decision. We need better options in the squad if we are to move forward.
why is bennet still here then
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I wish him well, but think it is the right decision. We need better options in the squad if we are to move forward.
why is bennet still here then
I assume you mean Bennett? and in case you haven't noticed he's improved a lot since he got fit and a run in the side. Give the guy a chance.
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Good enough to have a decent career in the upper leagues of the game, I hope he does well.
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I wish him well, but think it is the right decision. We need better options in the squad if we are to move forward.
why is bennet still here then
I assume you mean Bennett? and in case you haven't noticed he's improved a lot since he got fit and a run in the side. Give the guy a chance.
i agree he has improved, but i just dont think he is a prem player
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I wish him well, but think it is the right decision. We need better options in the squad if we are to move forward.
why is bennet still here then
I assume you mean Bennett? and in case you haven't noticed he's improved a lot since he got fit and a run in the side. Give the guy a chance.
i agree he has improved, but i just dont think he is a prem player
I agree. He was beaten easily by Boyce on Sunday and has been poor for most of the year. My fear is that Lambert thinks Bennett is the answer and we go into next season with the same defensive frailties, for which Bennett was one of those majorly responsible, that we had this season...
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I liked Eric, never let us down, played well against Chelsk, not quite quick enough for me.
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I wish him well, but think it is the right decision. We need better options in the squad if we are to move forward.
why is bennet still here then
I assume you mean Bennett? and in case you haven't noticed he's improved a lot since he got fit and a run in the side. Give the guy a chance.
We have a few options at left back, assuming we sign a new partner for Vlaar, then Baker, Clark, Williams and Stevens can all compete with Bennett for that spot.
i agree he has improved, but i just dont think he is a prem player
I agree. He was beaten easily by Boyce on Sunday and has been poor for most of the year. My fear is that Lambert thinks Bennett is the answer and we go into next season with the same defensive frailties, for which Bennett was one of those majorly responsible, that we had this season...
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He'll go to a Boro or Bolton and do fine. That's his level. Was a 6 out of 10 sort. Steady but average. He'll have a decent career in the second tier.
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He was good cover, but deserves the chance to stake a claim for a regular place somewhere else.
Good luck to him.
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Always thought he was decent enough, good luck.
I expect to see him back in Prem somewhere
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Good luck to him. Couldn't fault his attitude and he probably is good enough to be a regular for a lower-half Prem team. Although he might have to go to a Championship team first.
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Good attitude but poor player. I think herd does offer more although I'm not sure he's up to it either really.
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Never lacked effort or commitment, we're just looking for better quality now. Sure he can carve out a decent career somewhere else, good luck to the lad.
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Cheers for the effort lad. I hope he gets a job in the the Championship, a couple of full seasons would do him good. He's a lot older than I thought somehow, and isn't going to get a regular game here so it's probably for the best.
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Good luck Eric, I think he's a decent pro who always put in a shift for us. Decent long throw as well.
It'll be interesting to see what plans Lambert has for full back cover now.
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Good luck to Eric,not quiet premiership quality for me. Be a good signing for someone in the championship for sure
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Solid player who had some good games for us, WBA on his debut, a couple of games against Spurs and he wasn't bad against Chelsea the other week.
It's when he starts 4-5 games in a row teams start targeting him that he struggles and probably being part of the 15-0 over xmas meant Lambert lost faith in him as a possible starter.
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I rate Lichaj as a full back and would have retained him.
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I rate Lichaj as a full back and would have retained him.
This
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Honestly , if we wish to improve , he's not good enough. Wish him well, this is a good sign for me in terms of lambert raising the bar.
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He's certainly a better player than 'championship level' and would be a good signing for any of the promoted clubs, and one or two survivors from this season too.
I would guess that what Lambert wants from a full back is not what he has to offer. Under another manager he may well have started the season first choice.
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In terms if full backs, I wouldn't be surprised to see us go for cresswell and perhaps Sam Byram from Leeds
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Good luck in the future Eric.
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I think Lambert would probably be more than happy to give Eric a one year extension but we couldn't really do much more. That however would probably do little good for Eric. He's got to be looking to play regularly for someone at this stage of his career. I think that will mean dropping to the Championship for a year, where a club will probably give him 40 odd games.
I don't think we'd actively be looking to sell Eric if he still had a couple of years left on his deal. But as it's run out, and at his age it's probably just best for all concerned for him to leave now. A good servant, hard worker and mostly reliable. Good luck to him.
We'll replace him with someone 4-5 years younger with more potential.
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Best of luck Eric.
He never left us down in terms of effort.
Not a bad RB. Not so great at LB.
He will do a good job wherever he goes from here.
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Ireland and Bannan being shipped out as well according to SSN.
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Worth mentioning he has a few caps for the US and gets called up for most of their squads so in world cup year he'll want to be playing week in week out.
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Ireland and Bannan being shipped out as well according to SSN.
No complaints here!
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Ireland and Bannan being shipped out as well according to SSN.
No complaints here!
Or here.
I'll be amazed if we get some money for Ireland.
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Somebody like Besiktas will come in for him and give us 5 or 6 million.
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If someone was stupid enough to pay for Ireland i'd carry him wherever they are. Even if it's to join Emile in Australia.
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If someone was stupid enough to pay for Ireland i'd carry him wherever they are. Even if it's to join Emile in Australia.
You are on standby.
Await further instructions...hopefully.
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Looking for Eric ! ! This thread is for Eric and how he always made an effort and committed. Pls dont spoil with needless Ireland. (he has his own thread if needing to vent/speculate discuss)
well done lichaj you certainly put higher paid players to shame !
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I would have given him another year. Still think he will improve further