Aston Villa’s forgotten man Charles N’Zogbia will be out of action until next year, with his injury proving to be more serious than first feared.
It was thought N’Zogbia, who ruptured his Achilles tendon on holiday in the summer, might be able to resume training in time for the festive programme of fixtures next month.
But it now seems as if the 27-year-old winger will be sidelined from Paul Lambert ’s squad until January at the earliest.
N’Zogbia originally sustained the injury while keeping fit ahead of pre-season during a summer break in Miami.
He had an operation in the States in June and Villa’s head of sport and exercise medicine, Dr Roddy MacDonald, flew over there to accompany him back to England for his rehabilitation.
N’Zogbia impressed in flashes last season during an individual campaign which summed up his stop-start claret and blue career since being signed by former boss Alex McLeish in July 2011.
The French international was stripped of his No.10 shirt by Lambert and given No.36 during the summer, amid suggestions that he was surplus to requirements.
However, the £9.5 million wideman still has two-and-a-half years left on his contract, having been signed on a five-year deal committing him to Villa until 2016.
N’Zogbia, who has scored five goals for Villa in 60 starts and substitute appearances over two seasons, played his last game for the claret and blues in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United in April , when he was substituted at half-time.
Meanwhile, Villa hope a fortnight’s break from Premier League action will give some of their other current casualties time to recover before the derby with West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns a week on Monday.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan and central defender Ciaran Clark have been excused as a precautionary measure from international duty with the United States and Ireland respectively.
Central midfielder Fabian Delph (knee), striker Andi Weimann (hamstring) and left-back Antonio Luna (hamstring) are also expected to be fit for the November 25 match.
Gary Gardner is believed to be making good progress with a back problem and could resume training in the next fortnight but Joe Bennett’s back injury could take longer to clear up.
Along with N’Zogbia, Jores Okore is Villa’s other long-term casualty.
Okore had an operation on his knee in late September with the cruciate ligament problem still set to sideline him for the rest of the season.
We have had rotten luck with injuries since MON left. Houllier and TSM hardly had it easy with injuries either.Is it luck? We never seemed to have problems with this kind of thing under O'Neill. Surely coaching and conditioning have a lot to do with it.
That's a strange article. I thought it was common knowledge that he was out until the new year anyway.
I thought he was out for the season anyway.
I'd like to see him fit and playing for us again. He has the talent to be that creative spark we so badly lack. It's just getting consistency out of him which is the managers job. Not just toss him to one side.
Again with nzogbia the problem will be moving him on due to his wages and long contract .
Again with nzogbia the problem will be moving him on due to his wages and long contract .
In ways, TSM and Houllier left us a bit of a poisonous legacy but MON gets all our blame!
Makoun, N'Zogbia, Given, Hutton. At a push you could even argue Bent but I wouldn't personally.
Lambert inherited a mess that has stretched back about four years before he arrived really.
Again with nzogbia the problem will be moving him on due to his wages and long contract .
In ways, TSM and Houllier left us a bit of a poisonous legacy but MON gets all our blame!
Makoun, N'Zogbia, Given, Hutton. At a push you could even argue Bent but I wouldn't personally.
Lambert inherited a mess that has stretched back about four years before he arrived really.
Unless I'm missing someone, all MON's signings have now left the club.
Again with nzogbia the problem will be moving him on due to his wages and long contract .
In ways, TSM and Houllier left us a bit of a poisonous legacy but MON gets all our blame!
Makoun, N'Zogbia, Given, Hutton. At a push you could even argue Bent but I wouldn't personally.
Lambert inherited a mess that has stretched back about four years before he arrived really.
Unless I'm missing someone, all MON's signings have now left the club.
Delph?
Again with nzogbia the problem will be moving him on due to his wages and long contract .
In ways, TSM and Houllier left us a bit of a poisonous legacy but MON gets all our blame!
Makoun, N'Zogbia, Given, Hutton. At a push you could even argue Bent but I wouldn't personally.
Lambert inherited a mess that has stretched back about four years before he arrived really.
Unless I'm missing someone, all MON's signings have now left the club.
Delph?
And you could argue Guzan I suppose.
Again with nzogbia the problem will be moving him on due to his wages and long contract .
In ways, TSM and Houllier left us a bit of a poisonous legacy but MON gets all our blame!
Makoun, N'Zogbia, Given, Hutton. At a push you could even argue Bent but I wouldn't personally.
Lambert inherited a mess that has stretched back about four years before he arrived really.
Unless I'm missing someone, all MON's signings have now left the club.
Delph?
And you could argue Guzan I suppose.
Tut tut tut , someone always comes in with this one when the discussion is had, - although as the gentleman says it can be argued as true as mon did originally sign him .
Again with nzogbia the problem will be moving him on due to his wages and long contract .
In ways, TSM and Houllier left us a bit of a poisonous legacy but MON gets all our blame!
Makoun, N'Zogbia, Given, Hutton. At a push you could even argue Bent but I wouldn't personally.
Lambert inherited a mess that has stretched back about four years before he arrived really.
Unless I'm missing someone, all MON's signings have now left the club.
Delph?
And you could argue Guzan I suppose.
Tut tut tut , someone always comes in with this one when the discussion is had, - although as the gentleman says it can be argued as true as mon did originally sign him .
So no need for the tut tut tut then?
You could argue that O'Neill's teams were better conditioned and so lasted the season relatively injury free. You could also argue that the lack of conditioning and fitness seen from O'Neill's teams meant that from march onwards we could barely stand up for 90 minutes.
We do rack them up but at least its not long-term injuries. Okore can't really be counted as he only just broke into the team and we don't know if he would have improved us over the course of the season. Weimann, gabby, and Delph should all be back against Albion so no problem there.
Not sure its been mentioned but we haven't performed too badly without our injured players. What is it? One win and two draws?
Again with nzogbia the problem will be moving him on due to his wages and long contract .
In ways, TSM and Houllier left us a bit of a poisonous legacy but MON gets all our blame!
Makoun, N'Zogbia, Given, Hutton. At a push you could even argue Bent but I wouldn't personally.
Lambert inherited a mess that has stretched back about four years before he arrived really.
Be it bad choices or bad scouting but all our big-money signings since O'Neill (bar Benteke) have been failures.
Yeah, fair do's, I'd forgotten about Dazza. Harldy a rip-roaring success either, ultimately, but all-told his goals during his first few months probably kept us up in 2011.
Back in January just in time to be sold/loaned out I suspect.
Yeah, fair do's, I'd forgotten about Dazza. Harldy a rip-roaring success either, ultimately, but all-told his goals during his first few months probably kept us up in 2011.
I'd say that alone is good reason to not label him a failure.
Without his goals, we'd have gone down, and who knows, we might still have been there.
Back in January just in time to be sold/loaned out I suspect.
I'd hope not, I'd like to see him in the team.
Can't see him playing for us again.
This injury sounds horrific and we may be heading for an insurance claim.
This injury sounds horrific and we may be heading for an insurance claim.
It's also with the benefit of hindsight. As I recall there weren't many dissenting voices when Given or N'Zogbia were signed, the opposite in fact. Makoun's signing was heralded as he was somewhat of an unknown and it was right at the start of the MON hate campaign so someone coming in from abroad was the ultimate signing. For one reason and another none of them have proved to be good signings. As far as i'm concerned we've got N'Zogbia on our books until his contract runs out and as such he should be utilised when he regains fitness.
I'd like to see him fit and playing for us again. He has the talent to be that creative spark we so badly lack. It's just getting consistency out of him which is the managers job. Not just toss him to one side.
I agree, he could well be the missing piece of the jigsaw - has the creative ability no doubt - does he have the desire though?
He certainly had the desire to be fit and ready to return to pre-season training enough to go running on his holiday and unfortunately injure himself. Whether that was to be fit for us (even if it was would Lambert have even played him #bombsquad?), or to get a move away, but it seems to me he seriously wanted to play football this season. He has been hit and miss, but I'd like to see him given a couple of games this season if he recovers in time.I'd like to see him fit and playing for us again. He has the talent to be that creative spark we so badly lack. It's just getting consistency out of him which is the managers job. Not just toss him to one side.
I agree, he could well be the missing piece of the jigsaw - has the creative ability no doubt - does he have the desire though?
I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
Yes Easters, or something else? Maybe.I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
Are you thinking maybe another richard dunne scenario sil?
I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
Are you thinking maybe another richard dunne scenario sil?
I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
Are you thinking maybe another richard dunne scenario sil?
I think it is. In fact I thought it as soon as I heard about the inury.
I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
Are you thinking maybe another richard dunne scenario sil?
I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
Are you thinking maybe another richard dunne scenario sil?
so nzogbia will rock up and be the best player in the championship next season then?
I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
Are you thinking maybe another richard dunne scenario sil?
I think it is. In fact I thought it as soon as I heard about the inury.
Changing his squad number to 36 did suggest he wasn't particularly part of the plans.
He is obviously feigning an injury and we have no qualified medical staff to verify that etc etc. Clearly we are being duped and the player is happy to destroy his career just because he is getting £40K a week. There it's easy to work out!I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
Such as?
Bet you a tenner he'll still be out injured in February. He's this year's Richard Dunne.Exactly my thoughts, although you'd think the club would want to get him out on the pitch.
I've never been a fan of N'Zog - as you'll know from having read previous posts from me about him: he has always been an 'in-and-out' player who really only ever had one sustained run (of half a season at Wigan) where he looked genuinely a match winner. Funnily enough, I had more expectation of Hutton when he arrived ...It's also with the benefit of hindsight. As I recall there weren't many dissenting voices when Given or N'Zogbia were signed, the opposite in fact. Makoun's signing was heralded as he was somewhat of an unknown and it was right at the start of the MON hate campaign so someone coming in from abroad was the ultimate signing. For one reason and another none of them have proved to be good signings. As far as i'm concerned we've got N'Zogbia on our books until his contract runs out and as such he should be utilised when he regains fitness.
agreed. not sure if there was that many dissenting voices even when it came to Hutton. McLeish had managed him before and Luke Young had left. From early on it was clear that Hutton was going to be a disaster. Makoun too struggled despite a good performance at Old Trafford. Given had a fine season I recall under McLeish. Nzogbia at half the price of Downing seemed great value but he arrived overweight and unfit which was damning. With the exception of Given, I suspect the character of the other 3 players is a bit dubious. Hutton has proved a decent player at other clubs and for Scotland but clearly off field issues with him. Remember him playing for Spurs a few times early in Redknapp's reign and his conditioning was a disgrace.
I think there's more to this saga than meets the eye.
Such as?
I look forward to him being back. I also hope we sign Zaha as rumoured, as it would give us 2 genuine attacking options for the second half of the season that we need badly.
I don't really get why so many fans want to see Nzogbia back in the, to me he's never looked anything special. Yes he had a good few months when he saved Wigan from relegation but what else has he done to deserve the fee we paid and the wages we're still dishing out for him?
I don't see much between him and Ireland.
I don't really get why so many fans want to see Nzogbia back in the, to me he's never looked anything special. Yes he had a good few months when he saved Wigan from relegation but what else has he done to deserve the fee we paid and the wages we're still dishing out for him?
I don't see much between him and Ireland.
I'm not sure he deserves to be compared with Ireland but other than a free kick against West Ham and his goal against QPR, he's not done a fat lot for me so far either.
It also soon became evident that whilst Zog was doing okay last season in that short spell, the balance of the team on the whole wasn't quite right.I don't really get why so many fans want to see Nzogbia back in the, to me he's never looked anything special. Yes he had a good few months when he saved Wigan from relegation but what else has he done to deserve the fee we paid and the wages we're still dishing out for him?
I don't see much between him and Ireland.
I'm not sure he deserves to be compared with Ireland but other than a free kick against West Ham and his goal against QPR, he's not done a fat lot for me so far either.
I don't think he's been as bad as Ireland but I don't think the gap is big enough to want one out by any means and to want the other playing often. His decent spell basically revolved around him trying to do everything on his own and it working. Since he joined us he's played exactly the same way, but most of the time he's given the ball away in good positions rather than winning us games.
It seems like anybody on high wages has been treated as 'the problem' at Villa, under Lambert.
It seems like anybody on high wages has been treated as 'the problem' at Villa, under Lambert.
It seems like anybody on high wages has been treated as 'the problem' at Villa, under Lambert.
Allegedly he is not just a high earner but the highest earner at the club, even after Bentekes wage increase.
It seems like anybody on high wages has been treated as 'the problem' at Villa, under Lambert.
Most of them were the problem. Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Ireland, Hutton and yes, as far as I'm concerned N'Zogbia bled the club dry for years and provided sod all in return. The only two I'd excuse from the high earners are Bent, who probably kept us in the division, and Given, who did nothing wrong other than get old and past it.
And Albrighton has been recalled by the sounds of it.
I'm a bit pissed off with this whole "he's earning big money so bomb him out" attitude there seems to be. Not just from Lambert and the club but also the fans too. It's ridiculous really.
I'm a bit pissed off with this whole "he's earning big money so bomb him out" attitude there seems to be. Not just from Lambert and the club but also the fans too. It's ridiculous really.Why is it ridiculous when his performance levels have been so poor and his attitude hardly inspiring?
Are we, as a club, allergic to high wages now? Yes, N'Zogbia has been disappointing but we've seen glimpses of what he can do. He deserves another chance.since you ask, I'd prefer Weimann, Bacuna or even Albrighton, because I would at least be assured of commitment and effort. Carrying Charles through a game on the off-chance that he might do something is not an option for us at the moment ... Although I accept that we need more flair.
Who would you rather see on the right wing - Weimann or N'Zogbia?
If he was only injured he'd surely have had a squad number ? Wtf is going on ?
If he was only injured he'd surely have had a squad number ? Wtf is going on ?
Call me crazy, but if Lambert doesn't want to use N'Zogbia as a winger or attacking midfielder, he'd still improve our team as an attacking left-back- a position he played numerous times for Newcastle.
Bowery was on the bench ahead of Gardner on Saturday. Not sure Lambert rates him.
No squad number mate. All a bit suspect if you ask me.If he was only injured he'd surely have had a squad number ? Wtf is going on ?
I thought he has a squad number but it was a high one from what I recall in the 30s?
No squad number mate. All a bit suspect if you ask me.If he was only injured he'd surely have had a squad number ? Wtf is going on ?
I thought he has a squad number but it was a high one from what I recall in the 30s?
No squad number mate. All a bit suspect if you ask me.If he was only injured he'd surely have had a squad number ? Wtf is going on ?
I thought he has a squad number but it was a high one from what I recall in the 30s?
The French international was stripped of his No.10 shirt by Lambert and given No.36 during the summer, amid suggestions that he was surplus to requirements.
I wouldn't read too much into squad numbers too much. Lowton is no.34 and he's still a regular.That's what he was given on arrival though, I think the point being made is that nzogbia was number 10 and then given number 36 .
N'Zogbia, much like Albrighton has been poor to average at best in his Villa career so far - says a lot that we are pinning our hopes on him coming back.
If Charles is fully fit he should be at least on the bench
Sorry I just checked the back of the latest programme for the squad and Nzogbia doesn't feature at all. Is the official complete squad listed elsewhere ?
No squad number mate. All a bit suspect if you ask me.If he was only injured he'd surely have had a squad number ? Wtf is going on ?
I thought he has a squad number but it was a high one from what I recall in the 30s?
If you look on the Squad page (http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/FirstTeam) on the official site N'Zogbia's number 36 has been given to Daniel Johnson
Wasn't aware Nzogbia was a trouble maker aswell?
Wasn't aware Nzogbia was a trouble maker aswell?
I don't think Hutton or bent were trouble makers or given - he just didn't seem to want them - glad to see shay has kept a few clean sheets at the boro and the team are picking up.
Bowery was a low risk punt, which is fair enough. However he clearly isn't good enough and him being in the first team squad at Villa isn't really acceptable.
Lambert ditches experienced player shocker...
It will be interesting to see what happens when he is fit. I don't think he will be part of the plans.
Wasn't aware Nzogbia was a trouble maker aswell?
I don't think Hutton or bent were trouble makers or given - he just didn't seem to want them - glad to see shay has kept a few clean sheets at the boro and the team are picking up.
Bowery was a low risk punt, which is fair enough. However he clearly isn't good enough and him being in the first team squad at Villa isn't really acceptable.
I can understand a risk like varney ?? is it , at Leicester but not a bloke that was on Chesterfields bench , he should be playing one of our own young players .
Looking at the playing staff list it seems donacien has no number either - I wasn't aware mark Delaney was on the coaching staff in the academy - pity we can't get him coaching the full backs.
Yeah, very strange and potentially very expensive if Lambert has no intention of using him - on an expensive contract running til July 2016We could really do with Zog at present. A top manager would be getting the best out of him not bombing him out. Ridiculous scenario.
N'Zogbia has a hideous injury.How on earth did he do that ? You don't do that jogging along a beach.
He snapped his achilles tendon.
If he is not going to play this season, so what is the point giving him a squad number?
N'Zogbia has a hideous injury.How on earth did he do that ? You don't do that jogging along a beach.
He snapped his achilles tendon.
If he is not going to play this season, so what is the point giving him a squad number?
N'Zogbia has a hideous injury.How on earth did he do that ? You don't do that jogging along a beach.
He snapped his achilles tendon.
If he is not going to play this season, so what is the point giving him a squad number?
N'Zogbia has a hideous injury.How on earth did he do that ? You don't do that jogging along a beach.
He snapped his achilles tendon.
If he is not going to play this season, so what is the point giving him a squad number?
NZogbia is not going to fake an injury all season to hide us bombing us out.
Plus, even with his pride, Lambert would have had him in the side well before now. He did last season, and he helped turned the side around in that period where for a few games he was outstanding. Getting him fit and back in the side would be very good for us.
NZogbia is not going to fake an injury all season to hide us bombing us out.
Plus, even with his pride, Lambert would have had him in the side well before now. He did last season, and he helped turned the side around in that period where for a few games he was outstanding. Getting him fit and back in the side would be very good for us.
I always got the feeling Lambert was trying to get the best out of him.
If he was fit, he'd be in the match day squad.
N'Zogbia has a hideous injury.How on earth did he do that ? You don't do that jogging along a beach.
He snapped his achilles tendon.
If he is not going to play this season, so what is the point giving him a squad number?
Is there something like injury insurance to cover any of his wages?
N'Zogbia hasn't faked no injury, he's been having treatment between America and France, my mate who sits next to me spoke to him at birmingham airport 9 weeks ago, he was still on crutches and said be back soon.Ok that's great news. Will be useful to have him for the run-in / dogfight in March April May.
The N'zogbia i've seen for us so far has scored a couple of good free kicks but also had an annoying habit of running into two or three players and losing the ball. I can't think of too many goal scoring chances he set up either. He's not been worth what we paid for him so far.
Slightly bizarre comparison, but neither of the players will ensure our safety this season. N'Zog is vastly overrated; Tonev doesn't look up to it.The N'zogbia i've seen for us so far has scored a couple of good free kicks but also had an annoying habit of running into two or three players and losing the ball. I can't think of too many goal scoring chances he set up either. He's not been worth what we paid for him so far..
Completely agree, although I'd rather have a £9million player not providing value for money over a £2.5m player not providing value for money in Tonev!
Slightly bizarre comparison, but neither of the players will ensure our safety this season. N'Zog is vastly overrated; Tonev doesn't look up to it.The N'zogbia i've seen for us so far has scored a couple of good free kicks but also had an annoying habit of running into two or three players and losing the ball. I can't think of too many goal scoring chances he set up either. He's not been worth what we paid for him so far..
Completely agree, although I'd rather have a £9million player not providing value for money over a £2.5m player not providing value for money in Tonev!
Why Lambert put him in the bomb squad and replaced him with tonev i will never know.
When he started he contributed a lot more than people seem to remember. Cant remember him starting much of the first half of the season as he was injured but our best spell of the season was during feb/march and he was in the team regulary.
West brom away 2 2-set up both goals and created another for lichaj i think who should have scored
everton 3 3-set up Christians first goal
west ham 2 1win -scored a great free kick and won the penalty
arsenal 2 1 loss-assist for weimanns goal
qpr 3 2 win-his driving run and pass through to weimann to set up bentekes winner
fulham 1 1 scored a great goal
He only started a handful of other games and was either on the bench or injured.Hes a good player and makes things happen and should have started more games. Why Lambert put him in the bomb squad and replaced him with tonev i will never know. He was disapointing in his first season i have to admit but we could realy do with him now, hope he gets fit soon
The N'zogbia i've seen for us so far has scored a couple of good free kicks but also had an annoying habit of running into two or three players and losing the ball. I can't think of too many goal scoring chances he set up either. He's not been worth what we paid for him so far.Definitely not worth the £9.5m but he didn't get the chance to take many free kicks as Bannan used to grab the ball all the time. I doubt if we will ever get repaid much of that transfer fee. Players like that must see the gates of Villa Park looming ahead and starts thinking of getting the deck chairs out.
Lambert didn't put N'Zogbia in the bomb squad, nor drive him out for Tonev. N'Zogbia snapped his Achilles tendon in the summer. Lambert's preference didn't come into it.
Guess you get what you pay for.Why Lambert put him in the bomb squad and replaced him with tonev i will never know.
I'd imagine it was because of his salary. Tonev's probably being paid a 10th of what NZog is on.
Lambert didn't put N'Zogbia in the bomb squad, nor drive him out for Tonev. N'Zogbia snapped his Achilles tendon in the summer. Lambert's preference didn't come into it.
So why was the number 10 shirt taken from him, and he's bow got 36 or whatever it is?
Guess you get what you pay for.Why Lambert put him in the bomb squad and replaced him with tonev i will never know.
I'd imagine it was because of his salary. Tonev's probably being paid a 10th of what NZog is on.
I guess it was the double use of 'not' - sorry, I probbly misunderstood what you meant.Slightly bizarre comparison, but neither of the players will ensure our safety this season. N'Zog is vastly overrated; Tonev doesn't look up to it.The N'zogbia i've seen for us so far has scored a couple of good free kicks but also had an annoying habit of running into two or three players and losing the ball. I can't think of too many goal scoring chances he set up either. He's not been worth what we paid for him so far..
Completely agree, although I'd rather have a £9million player not providing value for money over a £2.5m player not providing value for money in Tonev!
Why bizarre? They both play in either a wide or central attacking role. If N'zogbia is to get fit and force his way back into Lambert's plans it's Tonev's place in the current squad that I would imagine to be most under threat from him.
Don't know whether it's made up bollox by the paper, but we (SAFC) are being linked with a move for N'zogbia!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sunderland/10542867/Sunderland-manager-Gus-Poyet-targets-Charles-NZogbia-and-others-in-January-transfer-window.html
Apparently we are in negotiations with Brighton for Liam Bridcutt (a DM) and Will Buckley who is a winger, so a move for Charlie, (if it's correct) might depend on the success/outcome of the Brighton discussions.
What do you guys think, have you heard anything down there?
Don't know whether it's made up bollox by the paper, but we (SAFC) are being linked with a move for N'zogbia!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sunderland/10542867/Sunderland-manager-Gus-Poyet-targets-Charles-NZogbia-and-others-in-January-transfer-window.html
Apparently we are in negotiations with Brighton for Liam Bridcutt (a DM) and Will Buckley who is a winger, so a move for Charlie, (if it's correct) might depend on the success/outcome of the Brighton discussions.
What do you guys think, have you heard anything down there?
He's injured at the moment and being an ex-newcastle player, would that go down well anyway?
Don't know whether it's made up bollox by the paper, but we (SAFC) are being linked with a move for N'zogbia!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sunderland/10542867/Sunderland-manager-Gus-Poyet-targets-Charles-NZogbia-and-others-in-January-transfer-window.html
Apparently we are in negotiations with Brighton for Liam Bridcutt (a DM) and Will Buckley who is a winger, so a move for Charlie, (if it's correct) might depend on the success/outcome of the Brighton discussions.
What do you guys think, have you heard anything down there?
Alright Davey
Like I said he's injured at the moment so at a guess I'd say it's just idle speculation. He's been ok without being great. Some half decent games, a couple of goals but not a lot else. The talent is there, there's no question about that but I think we all expected a lot more from him considering what we paid.
Have a great new year yourself (apart from tomorrow).
Don't know whether it's made up bollox by the paper, but we (SAFC) are being linked with a move for N'zogbia!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sunderland/10542867/Sunderland-manager-Gus-Poyet-targets-Charles-NZogbia-and-others-in-January-transfer-window.html
Apparently we are in negotiations with Brighton for Liam Bridcutt (a DM) and Will Buckley who is a winger, so a move for Charlie, (if it's correct) might depend on the success/outcome of the Brighton discussions.
What do you guys think, have you heard anything down there?
Its a load of bollocks davey, he's not expected to play again till next season and a long way off a return.
Don't know whether it's made up bollox by the paper, but we (SAFC) are being linked with a move for N'zogbia!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sunderland/10542867/Sunderland-manager-Gus-Poyet-targets-Charles-NZogbia-and-others-in-January-transfer-window.html
Apparently we are in negotiations with Brighton for Liam Bridcutt (a DM) and Will Buckley who is a winger, so a move for Charlie, (if it's correct) might depend on the success/outcome of the Brighton discussions.
What do you guys think, have you heard anything down there?
Its a load of bollocks davey, he's not expected to play again till next season and a long way off a return.
Cheers Eastie! I was thinking as much tbh. The wage structure here affected our chances last time and i doubt whether they'll break the bank for him now after not doing it when we had the opportunity last time! ;)
The injury thing is a funny one, 9-12months is the normal recovery so if it's closer to the former he could be available by march but I'm not sure if anyone would buy him at this point. I guess if he's back in light training by the middle of the month it might be possible but it's a really bad injury (it'd have ended his career 25 years ago) so I guess theat report is a journalist seeing him out of the side and not featuring at all and not realising just how badly injured he was before making the link.
As a player he's a lot like Sessegnon was for you, he can be special in the odd game but the rest of the time he looks disinterested and nothing works for him. I'm not really sure where your problems are at the minute as I haven't seen many comments from the in-laws recently and I don't really watch many premier league games when we aren't playing so no idea if he'd be worth the risk for you.
Alright Davey
Like I said he's injured at the moment so at a guess I'd say it's just idle speculation. He's been ok without being great. Some half decent games, a couple of goals but not a lot else. The talent is there, there's no question about that but I think we all expected a lot more from him considering what we paid.
Have a great new year yourself (apart from tomorrow).
Cheers mate, properly laughed at the (apart from tomorrow) bit! ;D ;D
Shame you couldn't make it mate, i'd have popped around to the away end to say hello and share a pint!
atb
Davey
Don't know whether it's made up bollox by the paper, but we (SAFC) are being linked with a move for N'zogbia!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/sunderland/10542867/Sunderland-manager-Gus-Poyet-targets-Charles-NZogbia-and-others-in-January-transfer-window.html
Apparently we are in negotiations with Brighton for Liam Bridcutt (a DM) and Will Buckley who is a winger, so a move for Charlie, (if it's correct) might depend on the success/outcome of the Brighton discussions.
What do you guys think, have you heard anything down there?
Its a load of bollocks davey, he's not expected to play again till next season and a long way off a return.
Cheers Eastie! I was thinking as much tbh. The wage structure here affected our chances last time and i doubt whether they'll break the bank for him now after not doing it when we had the opportunity last time! ;)
Davey O'Neills out, Wes Brown's out, even Cuellar's out. Does this mean a late call up for Charlie Hurley?
Alright Davey
Like I said he's injured at the moment so at a guess I'd say it's just idle speculation. He's been ok without being great. Some half decent games, a couple of goals but not a lot else. The talent is there, there's no question about that but I think we all expected a lot more from him considering what we paid.
Have a great new year yourself (apart from tomorrow).
Cheers mate, properly laughed at the (apart from tomorrow) bit! ;D ;D
Shame you couldn't make it mate, i'd have popped around to the away end to say hello and share a pint!
atb
Davey
Yeah our normal boys are not running a coach so we thought we'd leave it. Just as well, it's a long bloody way on New Years Day. We're bound to win now though.
Alright Davey
Like I said he's injured at the moment so at a guess I'd say it's just idle speculation. He's been ok without being great. Some half decent games, a couple of goals but not a lot else. The talent is there, there's no question about that but I think we all expected a lot more from him considering what we paid.
Have a great new year yourself (apart from tomorrow).
Cheers mate, properly laughed at the (apart from tomorrow) bit! ;D ;D
Shame you couldn't make it mate, i'd have popped around to the away end to say hello and share a pint!
atb
Davey
Yeah our normal boys are not running a coach so we thought we'd leave it. Just as well, it's a long bloody way on New Years Day. We're bound to win now though.
Wel if you ever make it up here, give uz a shout! ;) deffo have a pint mate!
Happy New Year Davey. Have a good one mate.
Davey, what on earth has happened to Adam Johnson up there? I guess people were going OTT with saviour of England stuff when he was at Man. City but he's surely capable of better than he's shown in his 18 months at Sunderland?!
Charles N'Zogbia still has Villa future, insists Paul Lambert
By Matt Kendrick
4 Feb 2014 22:30
Villa boss says winger could return to action before the end of the season as he continues recovery from Achilles injury
Charles N’Zogbia is expected to play for Aston Villa again this season after Paul Lambert dismissed suggestions the injured winger’s claret and blue career is over.
N’Zogbia has been out of action since July after rupturing his Achilles heel during a pre-season jog while on holiday in Miami.
There were strong rumours N’Zogbia was no longer in Lambert’s plans after he was given the ‘Bomb Squad’ treatment and stripped of his number.
But Lambert is hopeful the 27-year-old wideman will return to action before the end of the campaign as he steps up his rehabilitation.
N’Zogbia lost his No.10 shirt and was handed No.36 last summer but that has since been given to rookie midfielder Daniel Johnson.
The twice-capped French international is listed without a number on Villa’s official website and not listed at all in the club’s matchday programmes.
It has been made clear that other players with squad numbers in the 30s, including Darren Bent, Alan Hutton, Shay Given, Enda Stevens and Nathan Delfouneso, are surplus to requirement and can leave.
Asked if the number situation with N’Zogbia carried any significance, Lambert replied: “No, you’re looking for something that’s not there.
“The lad’s hurt his Achilles and we’ve got to get him back fit. He’s doing really well.
“You would think he would play before the end of the season, yes, but it’s not nice, that injury. I think his Achilles heel just went and once you get that it’s a major injury.”
N’Zogbia is contracted to Villa until summer 2016, having signed a five-year deal when he arrived from Wigan for £9.5 million in July 2011.
His spell in claret and blue has been largely disappointing, barring fleeting flashes of quality, but Lambert insists he is not ready to write him off.
N’Zogbia has started some light training exercises with Villa’s fitness coaches but is still quite a way away from being match-ready.
With Villa failing to recruit a No.10 style playmaker during last month’s window it seems Lambert is prepared to give N’Zogbia’s creative potential another chance.
“You’re right, when you have those sort of players coming at you, you know you can score,” said Lambert.
“I think I’ve said before, if you damage your Achilles heel, it’s a major injury.
“Sometimes you’re better off having a straight break rather than that injury because it’s a nightmare.
“He’s doing well. He’s just started back with the fitness lads, doing little bits, but his match fitness is not there.
“He’s not really done training or anything. He’s just getting the fitness levels up a little bit.’’
Lambert confirmed N’Zogbia sustained the serious injury during an innocuous exercise session in the States as he tried to get in shape ahead of returning to Bodymoor Heath last summer.
“I think he did it on a jog,” added Lambert. “He was running. I think every player does that in pre-season.
“They go out for a jog just to get going again and maybe your legs just aren’t as good as what they were during the season. It can happen that, from a really simple jog you can hurt yourself.
“That’s it, I just need to get him fit.”
Looks like Lerner has told him that he can't act like O'Neill. Players are our assets and need to be used where possible.
Looks like Lerner has told him that he can't act like O'Neill. Players are our assets and need to be used where possible.
Looks like Lerner has told him that he can't act like O'Neill. Players are our assets and need to be used where possible.
Or Lambert means what he says in the article, and wants to try out N'Zogbia in the team. Not everything that happens is a sign of Lerner's tightfistedness!
I remain grateful to Charles for his efforts this time or so last season. He really gave a damn and for a few games helped us get some points.
If Lambert thinks he is our answer to a play maker though he is mistaken imho. I have never seen that from N'Zobia. He can beat a man, hell he can beat two (but he usually tries three), regardless of his ability to take on players I dont recall him picking out the killer ball to make a goal very often. He either takes the shot himself of whacks in a cross. I dont think he is the kind of player who can unlock a defence. Sadly.
I remain grateful to Charles for his efforts this time or so last season. He really gave a damn and for a few games helped us get some points.
If Lambert thinks he is our answer to a play maker though he is mistaken imho. I have never seen that from N'Zobia. He can beat a man, hell he can beat two (but he usually tries three), regardless of his ability to take on players I dont recall him picking out the killer ball to make a goal very often.
Let's face it, N'Zogbia or KEA?......no brainer!
What's odd is Lambert says that we shouldn't read anything into the lack of squad number, but he doesn't actually explain the reason for it does he?
Be good to get him back,can be a very good player on his day it's just a shame them days don't happen often enough. But as someone else has said would be a lot better option than Tonev.
A bit pathetic, but I remember about five years ago seeing something on Twitter or somewhere frivolous on the internet, where people were changing footballer names to insert the names of animals, and someone said Charles N'Dogbia, and ever since then, every single time I see his name written, I read it "N'Dogbia".
IMO, just half a season of real quality with Wigan, and not much before or since. You can see why the Barcodes offloaded him.
I have some symptahies as he was the star man for the Wigan team the season before be bought
The whole McLiesh debarcle has been done to death, but really, that summer, where £5 million was piad in compensation to Small Heath and probably just shy of £18 million in fees. These fees being spent on players who aren't really up to it and the 6 or 7 million in wages we pay out to them annually, shows just how costly those few months of bad decision making was.It's the 5 year contracts that TSM was authorised to give that is the real killer.
I think my opinion of N'Zogbia will always be tainted by what he symbolises.What does he symbolise? - the madness of the TSM year or more generally the Lerner naïveté?
The whole McLiesh debarcle has been done to death, but really, that summer, where £5 million was piad in compensation to Small Heath and probably just shy of £18 million in fees. These fees being spent on players who aren't really up to it and the 6 or 7 million in wages we pay out to them annually, shows just how costly those few months of bad decision making was.It's the 5 year contracts that TSM was authorised to give that is the real killer.
The whole McLiesh debarcle has been done to death, but really, that summer, where £5 million was piad in compensation to Small Heath and probably just shy of £18 million in fees. These fees being spent on players who aren't really up to it and the 6 or 7 million in wages we pay out to them annually, shows just how costly those few months of bad decision making was.It's the 5 year contracts that TSM was authorised to give that is the real killer.
i don't think offering a 5 year contract to a 25 year-old is that mad.
a 5 year contract to 35 year old shay given though....
13/14's Dunne.
Wonder what he has done with his time?
I mean for the first part of the injury he must have been pretty imobile and with the money these players are on i owuld have been the size of a house if left to my own devices
5 years for a fella that had only really had half a season of decent football in the previous five seasons seems a little rich to me.The whole McLiesh debarcle has been done to death, but really, that summer, where £5 million was piad in compensation to Small Heath and probably just shy of £18 million in fees. These fees being spent on players who aren't really up to it and the 6 or 7 million in wages we pay out to them annually, shows just how costly those few months of bad decision making was.It's the 5 year contracts that TSM was authorised to give that is the real killer.
i don't think offering a 5 year contract to a 25 year-old is that mad.
a 5 year contract to 35 year old shay given though....
Now written off for the rest of the season!!
From the o/s
i do remember the 2 years when we signed Nzogbia and Ireland , some people saying they would be better than young and milner...
Wonder what he has done with his time?
I mean for the first part of the injury he must have been pretty imobile and with the money these players are on i owuld have been the size of a house if left to my own devices
With that sort of cash, and that much spare time, I think I'd almost certainly be dead by now.
i do remember the 2 years when we signed Nzogbia and Ireland , some people saying they would be better than young and milner...
Ireland, how is that world class spunk trumpet getting on at the home of anti football?
Now written off for the rest of the season!!
From the o/s
Oops! Saw that many "Paul Lambert" Quotes, (the same one over and over), that I forgot where I was reading it.
Apologies:-)
From the o/s? You mean the Press Review section where they re-print abstracts from the media. It's a valid story but it would be better to quote the original Birmingham Mail story rather than to make it look like there's been some sort of official statement where we've said he won't play again this season.
I think Nzogbia is much better than Tonev
I think we'll end-up doing a Makoun with Charlie boy and loan him out to some bottom-half French club for next season, paying 70% of his wages. We'll settle his contract with him next year as he enters the last 12 months. Another frickin' waste.
Hindsight is easy and all that but tying up about £100k a week over a combined 10 years for two players in summer 2011 - N'Zog and Given, looks nearly as wreckless as anything seen in the MON years.
Can we leave Tonev alone for a bit, not been given a full opportunity yet. N'Zog is a different story.
I think we'll end-up doing a Makoun with Charlie boy and loan him out to some bottom-half French club for next season, paying 70% of his wages. We'll settle his contract with him next year as he enters the last 12 months. Another frickin' waste.
Hindsight is easy and all that but tying up about £100k a week over a combined 10 years for two players in summer 2011 - N'Zog and Given, looks nearly as wreckless as anything seen in the MON years.
This twice.Can we leave Tonev alone for a bit, not been given a full opportunity yet. N'Zog is a different story.
This
Now written off for the rest of the season!!
From the o/s
Oops! Saw that many "Paul Lambert" Quotes, (the same one over and over), that I forgot where I was reading it.
Apologies:-)
From the o/s? You mean the Press Review section where they re-print abstracts from the media. It's a valid story but it would be better to quote the original Birmingham Mail story rather than to make it look like there's been some sort of official statement where we've said he won't play again this season.
I think we'll end-up doing a Makoun with Charlie boy and loan him out to some bottom-half French club for next season, paying 70% of his wages. We'll settle his contract with him next year as he enters the last 12 months. Another frickin' waste.
Hindsight is easy and all that but tying up about £100k a week over a combined 10 years for two players in summer 2011 - N'Zog and Given, looks nearly as wreckless as anything seen in the MON years.
I think we'll end-up doing a Makoun with Charlie boy and loan him out to some bottom-half French club for next season, paying 70% of his wages. We'll settle his contract with him next year as he enters the last 12 months. Another frickin' waste.
Hindsight is easy and all that but tying up about £100k a week over a combined 10 years for two players in summer 2011 - N'Zog and Given, looks nearly as wreckless as anything seen in the MON years.
Yep. Add Hutton on £40k a week wage and loaning Jenas probably on something similar and it was a terrible summer in the transfer market!!
I often find myself laughing in disbelief recently. I don't even get upset or angry about the Villa anymore. They seem to have sucked all the passion I once had out of me.I think we'll end-up doing a Makoun with Charlie boy and loan him out to some bottom-half French club for next season, paying 70% of his wages. We'll settle his contract with him next year as he enters the last 12 months. Another frickin' waste.
Hindsight is easy and all that but tying up about £100k a week over a combined 10 years for two players in summer 2011 - N'Zog and Given, looks nearly as wreckless as anything seen in the MON years.
Yep. Add Hutton on £40k a week wage and loaning Jenas probably on something similar and it was a terrible summer in the transfer market!!
And the £2m paid to The Neanderthals to prise their manager from them. And a similar amount 11 months later to dump him.
If I wasn't a Villa fan I would have been pissing myself laughing at the ineptitude.
I think we'll end-up doing a Makoun with Charlie boy and loan him out to some bottom-half French club for next season, paying 70% of his wages. We'll settle his contract with him next year as he enters the last 12 months. Another frickin' waste.
Hindsight is easy and all that but tying up about £100k a week over a combined 10 years for two players in summer 2011 - N'Zog and Given, looks nearly as wreckless as anything seen in the MON years.
Yep. Add Hutton on £40k a week wage and loaning Jenas probably on something similar and it was a terrible summer in the transfer market!!
And the £2m paid to The Neanderthals to prise their manager from them. And a similar amount 11 months later to dump him.
If I wasn't a Villa fan I would have been pissing myself laughing at the ineptitude.
He might have been unlucky with Jenas but when TSM says what a good job he did at Villa under difficult circumstances people should never forget the wages and fees for Hutton, Given and N'Zogbia.I think N'Zogbia is forgiveable. We needed to replace two wingers and given the way he was playing for Wigan I don't think we overpaid based on what we thought we were getting.
He might have been unlucky with Jenas but when TSM says what a good job he did at Villa under difficult circumstances people should never forget the wages and fees for Hutton, Given and N'Zogbia.I think N'Zogbia is forgiveable. We needed to replace two wingers and given the way he was playing for Wigan I don't think we overpaid based on what we thought we were getting.
With the benefit of hindsight it's easy to say that we shouldn't have done it, but at least at the time it made sense.
Unlike the Given or Hutton deals which were stupid at the time and even more stupid looking back.
He might have been unlucky with Jenas but when TSM says what a good job he did at Villa under difficult circumstances people should never forget the wages and fees for Hutton, Given and N'Zogbia.I think N'Zogbia is forgiveable. We needed to replace two wingers and given the way he was playing for Wigan I don't think we overpaid based on what we thought we were getting.
With the benefit of hindsight it's easy to say that we shouldn't have done it, but at least at the time it made sense.
Unlike the Given or Hutton deals which were stupid at the time and even more stupid looking back.
Even Hutton makes sort of sense sense, we had just lost Lichaj to injury and there was only a day or two until the window closed so we needed another fullback. TSM knew him etc so logical he went with him. And Hutton is on a lot lower wages than keeps getting reported as fact.Even at the time I'd have persevered with whichever of Herd, Beye and Lichaj seemed the least worst option rather than spending £4m on Hutton.
I might be alone in this but I hope N'zogbia gets another chance.
I think he'd do OK if we threw him upfront. (in one of the wide positions).
I also doubt that after being injured for so long, we could seriously ask for a fee.
Even Hutton makes sort of sense sense, we had just lost Lichaj to injury and there was only a day or two until the window closed so we needed another fullback. TSM knew him etc so logical he went with him. And Hutton is on a lot lower wages than keeps getting reported as fact.Even at the time I'd have persevered with whichever of Herd, Beye and Lichaj seemed the least worst option rather than spending £4m on Hutton.
It's not that we had load of great right-backs, it's just that it wasn't so much of a priority that it was worth throwing that amount of money at it.
Was Beye not bomb-squaded soon after McLeish came in? I can't remember him featuring that season.Think he played 1 pre season then was bombed
On his Instagram account fan asked why he not getting fit to help team replied ''will they allow me to training with them ''
Frozen
On his Instagram account fan asked why he not getting fit to help team replied ''will they allow me to training with them ''
Frozen out then ..
On his Instagram account fan asked why he not getting fit to help team replied ''will they allow me to training with them ''
Frozen out then ..
If true, then that is utterly ridiculous.
They did the same with Richard Dunne. They pretended he was injured when in fact he was fit. They just wanted him out of the club - probably because of wages.
Proves what sort of untrustworthy wankers that run our club. Quite disgraceful.
Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
They did the same with Richard Dunne. They pretended he was injured when in fact he was fit. They just wanted him out of the club - probably because of wages.
Proves what sort of untrustworthy wankers that run our club. Quite disgraceful.
Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
I dunno about that, it is pretty easy to work out what he's saying. And it's not as if there haven't been precedents.
Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
I dunno about that, it is pretty easy to work out what he's saying. And it's not as if there haven't been precedents.
Indeed and that's half the problem. If they hadn't isolated other players who were on high wages previously, this wouldn't even be questioned. The club has courted this sort of response whether it's accurate or not.
Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
They did the same with Richard Dunne. They pretended he was injured when in fact he was fit. They just wanted him out of the club - probably because of wages.
Proves what sort of untrustworthy wankers that run our club. Quite disgraceful.
If that is the case, why did Dunne give a very detailed interview last November stating how his injury was under estimated originally and three operations from differnt docs were required. He was starting to train again about Late April which is why he could play in that Irish game at the end.
Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
I dunno about that, it is pretty easy to work out what he's saying. And it's not as if there haven't been precedents.
Indeed and that's half the problem. If they hadn't isolated other players who were on high wages previously, this wouldn't even be questioned. The club has courted this sort of response whether it's accurate or not.
Or perhaps everyone is yet again jumping to the same conclusion as when Darren Bent was apparently not being picked because of a clause in his contract.
Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
I was thinking the same thing...I read that as not being allowed to train with first team squad not that he hadn't been injured.
They did the same with Richard Dunne. They pretended he was injured when in fact he was fit. They just wanted him out of the club - probably because of wages.
Proves what sort of untrustworthy wankers that run our club. Quite disgraceful.
If that is the case, why did Dunne give a very detailed interview last November stating how his injury was under estimated originally and three operations from differnt docs were required. He was starting to train again about Late April which is why he could play in that Irish game at the end.
He was fit early in the new year. A mate of mine spoke to him in Sutton Park and told him to his face he was fit. They just didn't want him in the team.
Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
I dunno about that, it is pretty easy to work out what he's saying. And it's not as if there haven't been precedents.
Indeed and that's half the problem. If they hadn't isolated other players who were on high wages previously, this wouldn't even be questioned. The club has courted this sort of response whether it's accurate or not.
Or perhaps everyone is yet again jumping to the same conclusion as when Darren Bent was apparently not being picked because of a clause in his contract.
Well other than the fact Lambert has admitted Darren Bent has no future at the club regardless, which suggests the club is isolating the biggest earners.
Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
I dunno about that, it is pretty easy to work out what he's saying. And it's not as if there haven't been precedents.
Indeed and that's half the problem. If they hadn't isolated other players who were on high wages previously, this wouldn't even be questioned. The club has courted this sort of response whether it's accurate or not.
Or perhaps everyone is yet again jumping to the same conclusion as when Darren Bent was apparently not being picked because of a clause in his contract.
Well other than the fact Lambert has admitted Darren Bent has no future at the club regardless, which suggests the club is isolating the biggest earners.
I'm sure if he wasn't allowed to train at the 'club' and hadn't been suspended he would have grounds for a case under employment law...if he is fit and able to train but isn't being allowed to train with the 'squad' that unfortunately is a managers decision.Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
I was thinking the same thing...I read that as not being allowed to train with first team squad not that he hadn't been injured.
I'm not sure what you think it meant.
To me it reads he's not allowed to train with the club. Not that he's not injured, nothing at all about that - that bit is obviously true, and I don't thnk anyone has suggested otherwise.
I think Dave is mentioning when he wasn't played, it was supposedly due to a clause that bumped up his money. Obviously the clause didn't take into account last matches of the season.
And since Lamberts claim, this is the same Darren Bent who is such a regular at Fulham that three separate managers have had his name as first on the team sheet.
I'm sure if he wasn't allowed to train at the 'club' and hadn't been suspended he would have grounds for a case under employment law...if he is fit and able to train but isn't being allowed to train with the 'squad' that unfortunately is a managers decision.Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
I was thinking the same thing...I read that as not being allowed to train with first team squad not that he hadn't been injured.
I'm not sure what you think it meant.
To me it reads he's not allowed to train with the club. Not that he's not injured, nothing at all about that - that bit is obviously true, and I don't thnk anyone has suggested otherwise.
We could all do with being on holiday in Marrakech though :-)
Why is everyone getting so worked up about a phrase on a social media site that doesn't even make sense?
I was thinking the same thing...I read that as not being allowed to train with first team squad not that he hadn't been injured.
I'm not sure what you think it meant.
To me it reads he's not allowed to train with the club. Not that he's not injured, nothing at all about that - that bit is obviously true, and I don't thnk anyone has suggested otherwise.
I think Dave is mentioning when he wasn't played, it was supposedly due to a clause that bumped up his money. Obviously the clause didn't take into account last matches of the season.
And since Lamberts claim, this is the same Darren Bent who is such a regular at Fulham that three separate managers have had his name as first on the team sheet.
I think there are two separate things being discussed here. One is the question of the Bent extra money clause if he played another game. Another is the way certain players have been treated - sent to train with the kids, exiled from the first team.
I don't get it. I don't understand how it makes it any easier to sell players we no longer want (and is it any coincidence that we have failed to sell any of these bomb squad players?).
I don't see the logic of finding us paying players huge amounts of money with absolutely no intention of actually playing them. Have our leadership looked at the players who make up our PL squad? Did they take a look at the state of our bench yesterday?
N'Zogbia cost us £10m. That's a huge amount of money. We should be doing absolutely everything possible to get him fit. Even if we don't play him again, at least with a view to selling him.
If there are those of us who think people are too eager to believe him in what he said, maybe it's worth thinking why we're like this - because we've seen exactly this sort of mentalness from the club before. it is not as if there is no precedent here.
For what it's worth it was my son who tweeted CNZ. He posted a pic of him on holiday in Marrrakesh and Nick asked if rather than being on holiday he would be better at BH encouraging his struggling team mates. CNZ's reply questioned whether he would be allowed to train. It doesn't say he has been banned but implies he fears that he would be if he reported fit.
I guess everyone has to draw their own conclusions what that means but CNZ IS in Morocco whilst his teammates struggle and clearly doesn't expect to train again any time soon
For what it's worth it was my son who tweeted CNZ. He posted a pic of him on holiday in Marrrakesh and Nick asked if rather than being on holiday he would be better at BH encouraging his struggling team mates. CNZ's reply questioned whether he would be allowed to train. It doesn't say he has been banned but implies he fears that he would be if he reported fit.
I guess everyone has to draw their own conclusions what that means but CNZ IS in Morocco whilst his teammates struggle and clearly doesn't expect to train again any time soon
Wasn't he supposed to be back in January/Feb? Wasn't it the same with Dunne last year yet he didn't get back and then was suddenly fit when he left?
And then he had a breakdown on the morning of the Bradford match (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2459753/Richard-Dunne-interview-QPR-defender-return-fitness-Harry-Redknapps-side.html)
Or are you now saying this is all made up bollocks that the club paid him to say?
They did the same with Richard Dunne. They pretended he was injured when in fact he was fit. They just wanted him out of the club - probably because of wages.
Proves what sort of untrustworthy wankers that run our club. Quite disgraceful.
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
Isn't that slander or a liable comment.
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
According to Kendrick and others, he and Lambert had a falling out during the last end-of-season awards dinner. Let's not forget that he was stripped of his shirt-number even before the injury.
They did the same with Richard Dunne. They pretended he was injured when in fact he was fit. They just wanted him out of the club - probably because of wages.
Proves what sort of untrustworthy wankers that run our club. Quite disgraceful.
If Lambert's starting premise was that he needed to change the culture of the club then it makes sense to isolate those players that would make the process more difficult. It is a very difficult thing to achieve amongst a group just by grafting in a few new players every now and then and hoping things will change for the better. The new guys are just sucked into the existing mentality and nothing really changes. In part this is what happened to McLeish.
If that was the thinking it was the right thing to do. Lambert can take a fair bit of stick for a few things, but he got that bit very right. By the end of his first season he'd got a group of players playing with an esprit de corps that I haven't seen at Villa in a long time. Things seem to have gone nipples up this time around, but it was still the right thing t do.
It is only natural that with things going badly those excluded should suddenly possess qualities they have not previously demonstrated, but in two years at the club how many games has NZogbia delivered true influence? So few they can probably still be recalled. He's had less impact than Bacuna has managed in less than half the time.
If Lambert's starting premise was that he needed to change the culture of the club then it makes sense to isolate those players that would make the process more difficult. It is a very difficult thing to achieve amongst a group just by grafting in a few new players every now and then and hoping things will change for the better. The new guys are just sucked into the existing mentality and nothing really changes. In part this is what happened to McLeish.
If that was the thinking it was the right thing to do. Lambert can take a fair bit of stick for a few things, but he got that bit very right. By the end of his first season he'd got a group of players playing with an esprit de corps that I haven't seen at Villa in a long time. Things seem to have gone nipples up this time around, but it was still the right thing t do.
It is only natural that with things going badly those excluded should suddenly possess qualities they have not previously demonstrated, but in two years at the club how many games has NZogbia delivered true influence? So few they can probably still be recalled. He's had less impact than Bacuna has managed in less than half the time.
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
According to Kendrick and others, he and Lambert had a falling out during the last end-of-season awards dinner. Let's not forget that he was stripped of his shirt-number even before the injury.
If N'Zogbia is fit, get him in the squad and use him. We are crying out for options.
can you imagine adopting the 'bomb squad' approach in any other business?
Madness. I'm afraid there are twats in any workplace, you just have to deal with them. Maybe its time Lambert looked at himself, he's the guy that should be isolated from the rest of the club.
I watched Bill Kenwright in the stands and no matter wht you may think of him he is passionate about Everton
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
According to Kendrick and others, he and Lambert had a falling out during the last end-of-season awards dinner. Let's not forget that he was stripped of his shirt-number even before the injury.
Funny that as the injury was in June and no squad numbers were issued until August.
It is only natural that with things going badly those excluded should suddenly possess qualities they have not previously demonstrated, but in two years at the club how many games has NZogbia delivered true influence? So few they can probably still be recalled. He's had less impact than Bacuna has managed in less than half the time.
can you imagine adopting the 'bomb squad' approach in any other business?
Madness. I'm afraid there are twats in any workplace, you just have to deal with them. Maybe its time Lambert looked at himself, he's the guy that should be isolated from the rest of the club.
Football isn't like any other business. In this case employment law pretty much precludes an overt 'bomb squad' type approach. Why this should be so could be down to the nature of players contracts or perhaps the 'victims' aren't that disappointed to find themselves being paid a few million a year to do nothing other than take the odd holiday in Morocco. Which is part of the problem Lambert was trying to deal with in the first place.
Changing the culture of an organisation amounts to a whole lot more than dealing with a few 'twats'.
Expect Martinez to buy him and he will have a cracking seasonI think this is true. I suspect he plays Marc for want of better options. Probably more so because Marc is a classic winger and Lambert doesn't like using them. I honestly think there's been so many sub appearences from Marc which warranted starting the following game but never happened. It's only now in an injury crisis that the lad might get a run of starts, which he deserves.
I still think Lambert did not want Marc Albrighton here neither , he has had to suck egg a bit because he looks better recently than most of his signings.
The theatre impressario has wandering hands I've heard, from a theatre employee. That's not libellous as well is it? :-X
If Lambert's starting premise was that he needed to change the culture of the club then it makes sense to isolate those players that would make the process more difficult. It is a very difficult thing to achieve amongst a group just by grafting in a few new players every now and then and hoping things will change for the better. The new guys are just sucked into the existing mentality and nothing really changes. In part this is what happened to McLeish.
If that was the thinking it was the right thing to do. Lambert can take a fair bit of stick for a few things, but he got that bit very right. By the end of his first season he'd got a group of players playing with an esprit de corps that I haven't seen at Villa in a long time. Things seem to have gone nipples up this time around, but it was still the right thing t do.
It is only natural that with things going badly those excluded should suddenly possess qualities they have not previously demonstrated, but in two years at the club how many games has NZogbia delivered true influence? So few they can probably still be recalled. He's had less impact than Bacuna has managed in less than half the time.
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
According to Kendrick and others, he and Lambert had a falling out during the last end-of-season awards dinner. Let's not forget that he was stripped of his shirt-number even before the injury.
Funny that as the injury was in June and no squad numbers were issued until August.
I thought he lost the number 10 shirt in the summer and started the season with the number 36 (which he's now lost). Can't help feeling there's more to this than is being let on
Expect Martinez to buy him and he will have a cracking seasonIt's Albrightons wages. The only reason he hasn't been playing. He is on one of the old regime on a relatively large contract. Lambert is squeezing him out of the club.
I still think Lambert did not want Marc Albrighton here neither , he has had to suck egg a bit because he looks better recently than most of his signings.
Expect Martinez to buy him and he will have a cracking seasonIt's Albrightons wages. The only reason he hasn't been playing. He is on one of the old regime on a relatively large contract. Lambert is squeezing him out of the club.
I still think Lambert did not want Marc Albrighton here neither , he has had to suck egg a bit because he looks better recently than most of his signings.
Okay, we will see if he signs a new contract or moves to another club in a few months. Marc Albrighton, lifelong Villa fan. A 'young and hungry' homegrown player, albeit on a big contract, one that isn't going to be renewedExpect Martinez to buy him and he will have a cracking seasonIt's Albrightons wages. The only reason he hasn't been playing. He is on one of the old regime on a relatively large contract. Lambert is squeezing him out of the club.
I still think Lambert did not want Marc Albrighton here neither , he has had to suck egg a bit because he looks better recently than most of his signings.
You can't say that really when he's started the last two games and been generally been involved since he came back from Wigan.
Okay, we will see if he signs a new contract or moves to another club in a few months. Marc Albrighton, lifelong Villa fan. A 'young and hungry' homegrown player, albeit on a big contract, one that isn't going to be renewedExpect Martinez to buy him and he will have a cracking seasonIt's Albrightons wages. The only reason he hasn't been playing. He is on one of the old regime on a relatively large contract. Lambert is squeezing him out of the club.
I still think Lambert did not want Marc Albrighton here neither , he has had to suck egg a bit because he looks better recently than most of his signings.
You can't say that really when he's started the last two games and been generally been involved since he came back from Wigan.
I don't think Albrighton has had enough starts. When he first broke back in he impressed. In fact he's been one of our better players whenever he's played, even if it's been the best of a bad bunch. But he's had a lot of impressive sub-appearences, making a difference, only to be dropped for the next game. In part I think that's because Lambert is loath to play wingers. Its part of his tactical inflexibility.Expect Martinez to buy him and he will have a cracking seasonIt's Albrightons wages. The only reason he hasn't been playing. He is on one of the old regime on a relatively large contract. Lambert is squeezing him out of the club.
I still think Lambert did not want Marc Albrighton here neither , he has had to suck egg a bit because he looks better recently than most of his signings.
You can't say that really when he's started the last two games and been generally been involved since he came back from Wigan.
If Lambert's starting premise was that he needed to change the culture of the club then it makes sense to isolate those players that would make the process more difficult. It is a very difficult thing to achieve amongst a group just by grafting in a few new players every now and then and hoping things will change for the better. The new guys are just sucked into the existing mentality and nothing really changes. In part this is what happened to McLeish.
If that was the thinking it was the right thing to do. Lambert can take a fair bit of stick for a few things, but he got that bit very right. By the end of his first season he'd got a group of players playing with an esprit de corps that I haven't seen at Villa in a long time. Things seem to have gone nipples up this time around, but it was still the right thing t do.
It is only natural that with things going badly those excluded should suddenly possess qualities they have not previously demonstrated, but in two years at the club how many games has NZogbia delivered true influence? So few they can probably still be recalled. He's had less impact than Bacuna has managed in less than half the time.
Ok, but the game has been littered with greats who dont fit that remit - Cantona, Gascoigne, Di Canio, Ibrahimovic, Keane, Yorke etc etc etc. Would they have been shipped out as well? Lambert and or the current remit seems to want toally strip the club of anyone outspoken or a little difficult to handle in favour of limited, hard working yes men. Almost all of our players with alot of natural talent have been shipped out - Bannan, Bent, Ireland. Now it looks like NZog as well
Okay, we will see if he signs a new contract or moves to another club in a few months. Marc Albrighton, lifelong Villa fan. A 'young and hungry' homegrown player, albeit on a big contract, one that isn't going to be renewedExpect Martinez to buy him and he will have a cracking seasonIt's Albrightons wages. The only reason he hasn't been playing. He is on one of the old regime on a relatively large contract. Lambert is squeezing him out of the club.
I still think Lambert did not want Marc Albrighton here neither , he has had to suck egg a bit because he looks better recently than most of his signings.
You can't say that really when he's started the last two games and been generally been involved since he came back from Wigan.
And both Bannan and Bent have since shown that they can't do it at teams below us (how many starts has Bannan had under Pulis?)
How can a manager be reluctant to play a player, that F...ing Aston Villa are paying his wages, I dont care if he is on two pounds a week or 50k, we as a club employ footballers to play football, or at least thats what I thought we did.
I would say that Albrightons contract is nowhere near Gabby's current contract, and even if Gabby takes a cut, will still be more than Albrighton.
I'd say Albrighton is on more than you would expect for a player of his age and experience though, which is why I feel Lambert has a problem with playing him, and only has done when he has few options. Just ask yourself why he was sent on loan to Wigan this season, when he was fit enough and comfortably good enough to play in the first team, as he has shown in the few games he's played recently.
And both Bannan and Bent have since shown that they can't do it at teams below us (how many starts has Bannan had under Pulis?)
As someone with Palace family, I can assure you they all loved Bannan. In fact when he was the best player on the pitch against us on Boxing Day they all said after the game 'that was Bannan on a 6 performance, you should've seen him last week'
I wouldn't read too much into Pulis not playing him because it's quite obvious Pulis doesn't like small technical players in his side. He sent Williams one of their other best prospects on loan to Ipswich for a similar reason (and much to their annoyance)
How can a manager be reluctant to play a player, that F...ing Aston Villa are paying his wages, I dont care if he is on two pounds a week or 50k, we as a club employ footballers to play football, or at least thats what I thought we did.
Bent, NZogbia, Hutton.. and that's not even counting all the others over the past two years. Ireland, Given...even Lowton at times this year.
How can we justify the miss-management of so many resources? Our league position certainly doesn't...
Expect Martinez to buy him and he will have a cracking seasonIt's Albrightons wages. The only reason he hasn't been playing. He is on one of the old regime on a relatively large contract. Lambert is squeezing him out of the club.
I still think Lambert did not want Marc Albrighton here neither , he has had to suck egg a bit because he looks better recently than most of his signings.
You can't say that really when he's started the last two games and been generally been involved since he came back from Wigan.
Just catching up on this newwhat a joke of a club we have become
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
According to Kendrick and others, he and Lambert had a falling out during the last end-of-season awards dinner. Let's not forget that he was stripped of his shirt-number even before the injury.
Funny that as the injury was in June and no squad numbers were issued until August.
How can a manager be reluctant to play a player, that F...ing Aston Villa are paying his wages, I dont care if he is on two pounds a week or 50k, we as a club employ footballers to play football, or at least thats what I thought we did.
Bent, NZogbia, Hutton.. and that's not even counting all the others over the past two years. Ireland, Given...even Lowton at times this year.
How can we justify the miss-management of so many resources? Our league position certainly doesn't...
Yes, lets play those players, they would certainly improve our league position. We already have full backs who give away freekicks in dangerous areas, but we need one who is a sending off waiting to happen. Lets get in a keeper who is past it.
Lets get in a midfielder who had plenty of chances last year, who was not signed by any manager and bombed out of the first team by FOUR other managers before he went to Stoke. Lets play another Striker who isn't scoring but one that doesn't even try up front if the ball doesn't come correctly.
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
According to Kendrick and others, he and Lambert had a falling out during the last end-of-season awards dinner. Let's not forget that he was stripped of his shirt-number even before the injury.
Funny that as the injury was in June and no squad numbers were issued until August.
Err..they were revealed in June actually.
I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
According to Kendrick and others, he and Lambert had a falling out during the last end-of-season awards dinner. Let's not forget that he was stripped of his shirt-number even before the injury.
Funny that as the injury was in June and no squad numbers were issued until August.
Err..they were revealed in June actually.
So squad numbers are always revealed at the start of pre season before anyone is signed. I never knew that. And why did we announce ours in June when every other team waited to July and August. Faulkner obviously knows nothing about football.
You'd think anybody without the memory of a goldfish would've remembered this anyway. The news about N'Zogbia being stripped of the No. 10 shirt came way earlier than August.
I would like to see him playing as well to that form, however for most of his tenure here, he has run down blind alleys or tried to take on the same player three times.
If you were Charles N'zogbia, fit and ready to play, would you want to play football for Paul Lambert right now?Yes, I certainly would. It would be good to get myself in the shop window. Also, good to be a creative player in a team that lack any sort of flair. He could actually look quite decent. Not sure his attitude is right however.
The frustrating thing for me with NZogbia is for a few weeks, he was our best player last season, he ran Albion ragged in the 2-2 at their place, won the game for us against West Ham, scored against Fulham etc. All sides he will kill because he runs at pace with the ball and opens teams up.
I for one would like to see him in a Villa shirt again, as he is a good footballer.
Zogbia's preferred position is on the right wing. We've rarely played him there. Lambert's used him mostly as a second striker or occasionally on the left. The problem was, it made our system often appear to be 4-2-4 when he played, as neither Gab or Weimann were dropped to accomodate him.
But yeah, use him right, get him motivated and there's potentially a hell of player on our books.
If you were Charles N'zogbia, fit and ready to play, would you want to play football for Paul Lambert right now?Yes, I certainly would. It would be good to get myself in the shop window. Also, good to be a creative player in a team that lack any sort of flair. He could actually look quite decent. Not sure his attitude is right however.
Ha ha. That's true. Weimann has been absolutely wrecked this season, and I think in no small part to playing as a right forward so much. He's an out and out striker, and his touch and team play (or lack there of) show that. When he's confident he can finish a chance. You always get 110% from the lad, but he looks drained physically and mentally at the moment. Any potential he has to be a Prem striker is rapidly disappearing.Zogbia's preferred position is on the right wing. We've rarely played him there. Lambert's used him mostly as a second striker or occasionally on the left. The problem was, it made our system often appear to be 4-2-4 when he played, as neither Gab or Weimann were dropped to accomodate him.
But yeah, use him right, get him motivated and there's potentially a hell of player on our books.
does Lambert ever play any one in their right positions . The positions to improve the team , he is like a MON without the budget
Yes it is, and can people please not make such allegations on here. Legal fees are expensive.I would say he has failed a drug test and that's the reason for lack of involvement.
Isn't that slander or a liable comment.
Paul Lambert: Charles N'Zogbia is not in the Villa 'Bomb Squad'
Boss insists Charles N'Zogbia is not surplus to requirements at Villa but says winger is not yet fit enough to train with the first team
Paul Lambert has revealed Charles N’Zogbia is training with Aston Villa’s kids – but insists he is not a member of his notorious ‘Bomb Squad’ of unwanted players.
N’Zogbia has been sidelined all season with a ruptured Achilles sustained during the close season on a holiday in Miami and is no nearer a return to action.
The French winger posted cryptic comments on social media site Instagram this week, hinting that he was out of favour with the claret and blues.
But Lambert insists N’Zogbia’s exile is purely because his recovery has yet to reach the stage where he is fit enough for the tempo of first-team training.
Asked if N’Zogbia was surplus to requirements like Darren Bent, Shay Given and Alan Hutton – collectively nicknamed the ‘Bomb Squad’ – Lambert said ‘No’.
“It’s just in my opinion he isn’t ready for training in the first team at the minute. It’s too much for him.
“Charles has been training with the kids. His injury is the same as Christian’s got. It’s really bad.
“He’s still really short of match fitness. You can do all the training you want, you can work with the fitness lads, but for this level of football you’ve got to get yourself up to top level.
“I don’t think he’s ready for anything like that at the minute.”
Lambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.
“He’s training but when you return to train with the first team it’s difficult because of the speed of it and the tempo of it,” he said.
“It can put you back if you’re not 100 per cent ready for anything.
“It’s not one of those ones where you can go ‘there you are Charles, you’re fit and you’re in’. It’s too far off.”
N’Zogbia has posted pictures on his Instagram site of him relaxing in foreign climes – but Lambert insists he has been reporting for training.
“Unless that was somewhere different I saw the other day, he’s here,” smiled Lambert.
“I don’t know if that (photograph) is old or whatever but he’s here. He’s training but he’s still not fit.
“It’s a long time to come back to fully playing football. Everybody’s body reacts differently to how they can come back from it.”
Lambert has been pleased with the attitude of the £9.5 million former Wigan favourite, who has two years left on his Villa contract.
“It has to be right, for every player,” he added.
“You’ve got to put the graft in or else you don’t come back. Charles is putting the work in and that’s a big thing.
“If you don’t put the work in in the rehab then you’re cutting yourself short. He’s been fine on that.”
Jores Okore is making good progress with his rehabilitation from a cruciate ligament injury and could still return to action before the end of this season.
Lambert is also pleased with Libor Kozak’s recovery, but confirmed there is no chance of the Czech striker playing until next season.
“They’re doing all right,” added Lambert.
“Libor is doing well actually. He came off his crutches a few weeks ago which is really good.
“Kozak won’t be back this season. Okore is touch and go but he won’t be too far. He’s doing really well.”
So, just for the sake of managerial consistency then, I am sure that Benteke and Okore and Kozak will also train with the kids? Just to build up their fitness and stamina?
So, just for the sake of managerial consistency then, I am sure that Benteke and Okore and Kozak will also train with the kids? Just to build up their fitness and stamina?
And be given shirt numbers 37, 38 and 39 whilst recuperating
Who is to say they don't? When we hear someone has returned to light training, has anyone asked what that involves?
Lambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.
QuoteLambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Who is to say they don't? When we hear someone has returned to light training, has anyone asked what that involves?
Making sure that they are all switched off when everyone has gone home.
QuoteLambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
The thought had crossed my mind too. I guess Kozak's leg, Benteke's achilles and okore's Cruciate probably can't be blamed on the intensity of training sessions, but it would explain why so many players seem to pick up little strains and knocks.
QuoteLambert insists the intensity of training with the senior squad at Bodymoor Heath risks setting back N’Zogbia’s recovery and aggravating his injury.
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
So, just for the sake of managerial consistency then, I am sure that Benteke and Okore and Kozak will also train with the kids? Just to build up their fitness and stamina?
And be given shirt numbers 37, 38 and 39 whilst recuperating
By the time Benteke is back 'training' (playing frisbee with the Junior Supporters club) the bomb squad will be so big, we'll be forced to use hexadecimal for squad numbers.
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
I simply don't believe anything Lambert says when it comes to N'Zogbia.
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
This secret photo was taken of The Bomb Squad training earlier this year.
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02096/stepehen-ireland_2096300b.jpg)
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
This secret photo was taken of The Bomb Squad training earlier this year.
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02096/stepehen-ireland_2096300b.jpg)
The Bong Squad, surely?
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
I don't think he even worked that hard in the game to be fair mate. In that pic he's got a pipe in one hand and a glass of grog in the other. That's multi-tasking right there.Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
This secret photo was taken of The Bomb Squad training earlier this year.
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02096/stepehen-ireland_2096300b.jpg)
The Bong Squad, surely?
That was taken during the Bradford second leg.
I don't think he even worked that hard in the game to be fair mate. In that pic he's got a pipe in one hand and a glass of grog in the other. That's multi-tasking right there.Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
This secret photo was taken of The Bomb Squad training earlier this year.
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02096/stepehen-ireland_2096300b.jpg)
The Bong Squad, surely?
That was taken during the Bradford second leg.
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
And you believed it? Do you want to buy some Magic Beans?
Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
This secret photo was taken of The Bomb Squad training earlier this year.
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02096/stepehen-ireland_2096300b.jpg)
The Bong Squad, surely?
That was taken during the Bradford second leg.
Just watched the Premiership Years where he seemed to beat West Ham 3-2 on his own to help keep Wigan up. He's a miserable bugger isn't he? Has he ever smiled? Scores two crackers and he's got a face like a faded fart.that'll have been the half-season when he looked something like a decent footballer ... He's a waster.
I don't think he even worked that hard in the game to be fair mate. In that pic he's got a pipe in one hand and a glass of grog in the other. That's multi-tasking right there.Maybe everyone is getting injured because if the "intensity" of training
Didn't someone claim they hardly do any training the other day ?
Alleged the players had numerous days off a week and when they were in they were doing barely an hours work on the training pitch.
This secret photo was taken of The Bomb Squad training earlier this year.
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02096/stepehen-ireland_2096300b.jpg)
The Bong Squad, surely?
That was taken during the Bradford second leg.
You've got your problems
I've got my hash pipe
So, just for the sake of managerial consistency then, I am sure that Benteke and Okore and Kozak will also train with the kids? Just to build up their fitness and stamina?
And be given shirt numbers 37, 38 and 39 whilst recuperating
By the time Benteke is back 'training' (playing frisbee with the Junior Supporters club) the bomb squad will be so big, we'll be forced to use hexadecimal for squad numbers.
Nice. Who will get the dreaded FF shirt?
I have heard today that N'zogbia is fit and has been fit for some time but is unable to play for us because he was never given a squad number by Lambert (even in January when he had the opportunity)!
I have heard today that N'zogbia is fit and has been fit for some time but is unable to play for us because he was never given a squad number by Lambert (even in January when he had the opportunity)!
Cant believe that
Your source?
Plus, Randolph named Zoggy in that list of players who would have whisked us away from the drop zone had he not been injured.
Fucking Lambert is a twat to not allocate Charles a squad number. We really could do with him back - he single handledy saved Wigan from the drop previously. It sounds like bollocks from Lambert saying he's unfit to play. The club is run by amateurs and clowns!
Fucking Lambert is a twat to not allocate Charles a squad number. We really could do with him back - he single handledy saved Wigan from the drop previously. It sounds like bollocks from Lambert saying he's unfit to play. The club is run by amateurs and clowns!
and if he'd been advised by the club doctor that given the severity of the injury there was no chance of him playing any real part in the season, so why take up a squad allocation? He might very well be training again but if he's up to PL speed what would have been the point. I get the club have fucked up on many levels but not lets not just generalize everything.
Fucking Lambert is a twat to not allocate Charles a squad number. We really could do with him back - he single handledy saved Wigan from the drop previously. It sounds like bollocks from Lambert saying he's unfit to play. The club is run by amateurs and clowns!
and if he'd been advised by the club doctor that given the severity of the injury there was no chance of him playing any real part in the season, so why take up a squad allocation? He might very well be training again but if he's up to PL speed what would have been the point. I get the club have fucked up on many levels but not lets not just generalize everything.
It's hard not to assume the worst every time when their record of fuckwittery is so utterly staggering.
My default setting these days is not to believe anything that comes out of the mouths of Lerner, Lambert, Faulkner or Doogan.
They are all credibility voids, and they made it this way.
Really don't care about N'Zogbia, his heart isn't in the club, and has not showed me the sort of form since arriving which suggests he can make that much of a difference, not to mention that he's just another one burning a hole in the wage bill.This
N'Zogbia isn't great. I think he would have made a decent squad player in the days of O'Neill. His £50k per week wages would have fitted the mould.
He would make a credible option at the moment though. With Albrighton playing well, then him on the other flank or up the middle would make us a lot more dangerous than we currently are.
As people have said although he's not at the heights that he showed for Wigan he definitely seems to have got his head down and is working for the team. Dare I say it he's almost like a new signing now that Lambert has gone. If he can continue to improve from now until the end of the season he could be invaluable.All I'll say in defence of Zogbia is that he's been under two (on the whole) incredibly dour managers in his time here before Sherwood came in. Some attacking players haven't been given enough license or confidence to express themselves. He's certainly shown quality in the last three games, and appears to be getting better with every game. Hopefully he keeps it up. It's last chance saloon for CNZ.
As people have said although he's not at the heights that he showed for Wigan he definitely seems to have got his head down and is working for the team. Dare I say it he's almost like a new signing now that Lambert has gone. If he can continue to improve from now until the end of the season he could be invaluable.All I'll say in defence of Zogbia is that he's been under two (on the whole) incredibly dour managers in his time here before Sherwood came in. Some attacking players haven't been given enough license or confidence to express themselves. He's certainly shown quality in the last three games, and appears to be getting better with every game. Hopefully he keeps it up. It's last chance saloon for CNZ.
As people have said although he's not at the heights that he showed for Wigan he definitely seems to have got his head down and is working for the team. Dare I say it he's almost like a new signing now that Lambert has gone. If he can continue to improve from now until the end of the season he could be invaluable.All I'll say in defence of Zogbia is that he's been under two (on the whole) incredibly dour managers in his time here before Sherwood came in. Some attacking players haven't been given enough license or confidence to express themselves. He's certainly shown quality in the last three games, and appears to be getting better with every game. Hopefully he keeps it up. It's last chance saloon for CNZ.
I see what you're saying about our last 2 defensive minded managers. As an attacking flair player your confidence is gonna take a beating over time (I'd not considered that myself being stuck in the mental mire of our appalling football/results). Even so I pretty much thought he'd had his last chance (and was surprised and admittedly underwhelmed that he was recalled in the first of those 3 games). Not sure how long a contract he has left? It would be wonderful to see him reproducing what everyone knows he is capable of in a Villa shirt (it seems like we've been waiting an eternity lol) Fingers crossed - Charles will do the do and repay that not too small transfer fee. It's nice to be talking about him again though. I might even eventually warm to Sherwood at this rate.
I still thought he was crap at the weekend
I still thought he was crap at the weekend
I still thought he was crap at the weekend
I still thought he was crap at the weekend
I don't care how good he was, I would not renew his deal under any circumstances, arrogant sulky fucker
I still thought he was crap at the weekend
You either know very little about football or you think crap means very good.
I don't care how good he was, I would not renew his deal under any circumstances, arrogant sulky fucker
"Under any circumstances". What about more circumstances like the goal he set up this weekend? How sulky did he look when he was smiling ear to ear with his team mates in the photo afterwards?
I don't care how good he was, I would not renew his deal under any circumstances, arrogant sulky fucker
"Under any circumstances". What about more circumstances like the goal he set up this weekend? How sulky did he look when he was smiling ear to ear with his team mates in the photo afterwards?
How many good games has he had since he's been here? Under 3 managers, he's not good enough, move him on. Yes he had a good game saturday I won't deny that and I'm glad but no new deal, not from me
I would not renew it under any circumstances. Thats my opinonI'm glad to see his form improving, and he's got the ability to keep us up. But I wouldn't renew either. He's almost 30. His fitness is still quetionnable too.
I'd say that makes us even!
I don't want to seem harsh but we've had 5 years and and a handful of good games, his attitude and work rate has been awful, I'm sorry but get rid.
I'd say that makes us even!
I don't want to seem harsh but we've had 5 years and and a handful of good games, his attitude and work rate has been awful, I'm sorry but get rid.
He'd be a very decent player if he lifted his head.
Most of us had written him off. He was brilliant at times today. The superb flick for the first, superb play in the middle before setting up Gabby for the second. Constant running and chasing. In fact just about everything none of us believed he is capable of or could be the least bit bothered to do in a Villa kit.
Most of us had written him off. He was brilliant at times today. The superb flick for the first, superb play in the middle before setting up Gabby for the second. Constant running and chasing. In fact just about everything none of us believed he is capable of or could be the least bit bothered to do in a Villa kit.
Love it. The bit of dribbling last week to set up Delph was amazing as well. What a difference. All of a sudden CNZ, Gabby and Benteke look unplayable, when two week ago I reckon I could have marked all three of them out of a game by myself, such was their abject lack of effort.
Most of us had written him off. He was brilliant at times today. The superb flick for the first, superb play in the middle before setting up Gabby for the second. Constant running and chasing. In fact just about everything none of us believed he is capable of or could be the least bit bothered to do in a Villa kit.
Love it. The bit of dribbling last week to set up Delph was amazing as well. What a difference. All of a sudden CNZ, Gabby and Benteke look unplayable, when two week ago I reckon I could have marked all three of them out of a game by myself, such was their abject lack of effort.
I do not think the problem was ever a lack of effort. Rather, it was a lack of direction.
So, anybody for an Alan Hutton-style surprise new contract?
So, anybody for an Alan Hutton-style surprise new contract?Ha ha. Not quite. He's got one more year hasn't he? I'd say let him see it out, by which time he'll be coming up to 30 and we could consider a 1-2 year extension if his fitness is up to scratch still.
Zogbia was trying things today that he'd never looked confident enough to really go for under the Scots. Timmy's really taken the shackles off it seems. There was a great moment in the second half where he knocked it round their midfielder and sprinted round the other side before laying it off to Bacuna (I think). He was buzzing. Not only that but he's been working hard too. He looks like a 9.5 million pound player now. The player many of us hoped for when he came in.
So, anybody for an Alan Hutton-style surprise new contract?
So, anybody for an Alan Hutton-style surprise new contract?
Ask me in November unless we can unload him in the summer. As I mentioned in the Match thread, he's still infuriating, he makes the difficult look easy then fucks up with the basic. Great run and through ball to Gabby today though. More of that please.
So, anybody for an Alan Hutton-style surprise new contract?Yes as the bare minimum.
He was great today and in the last match, too.
Well done Sherwood for squeezing those performances out.
I was in the never want to see him in a Villa shirt again.Same here. I couldn't understand why he was even on the bench previously and he wasn't one I thought we would see the Timmy effect on. It just shows how it is more psychology and tactics than ability that makes things happen-or fail.
Never thought I would see him as effective as he has been the last 2 games.
Long may it continue.
I reckon he'll keep Gardner and Bennett.
Obviously Sherwood has a Midas touch in getting players to play more expansively and with confidence. It would be interesting to see what he could do with Tonev, Sylla, And Luna though I suspect they will be put on the market in the summer.All the players you mention, and Charles, are beyond redemption, IMHO. TS needs to focus on Bennett, GG and Robinson ... as well as the promising kids in the academy.
There's a good player in N'Zogbia somewhere but i've been more impressed with Sinclair and he's only been here 2 months.
Would like to see us cash in on Nzogbia in the summer. Think this is very much a temporary improvement and we might get a few million back based on a few decent recent performances.
Would like to see us cash in on Nzogbia in the summer. Think this is very much a temporary improvement and we might get a few million back based on a few decent recent performances.
We'd get £2m at best. Might be worth holding onto him if he has a few more decent games before the end of the season.
I think he's had some trouble at a paintball massacre.
(http://i.imgur.com/cb4Nl4B.png)
This will sound ridiculous but his car really annoyed me when he came - it was something sporty with a personalised plate and a really really daft paint job - matt black or something but it looked like a finish you'd get from painting it with Humbrol.
God knows why anyone with all that money and some free time would choose to go to an absolute cultural desert like Dubai.
I imagine it's heaven for anybody who enjoys a bit of materialism.So is london though.
God knows why anyone with all that money and some free time would choose to go to an absolute cultural desert like Dubai.
I know staggering. I don't get the appeal at all.
God knows why anyone with all that money and some free time would choose to go to an absolute cultural desert like Dubai.
I know staggering. I don't get the appeal at all.
it's probably so he can spunk bucket loads of cash and put the receipts on twitter again
I've got a bit of a soft spot for him. If we could harness him and get some consistency out of him he can be genuinely devastating.
I've got a bit of a soft spot for him. If we could harness him and get some consistency out of him he can be genuinely devastating.
Didn't you say the same thing about Michael Boulding?
Nice to see that we're beating up someone who's buckled down lately and started playing well. I could understand it if the criticism came when he was nowhere near the first team.
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/14/11/278E528F00000578-0-image-m-38_1429007233257.jpg)
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/14/11/278E528F00000578-0-image-m-38_1429007233257.jpg)
Thanks! That's the one. I think it should be the cup final outfit should we get there. In fact I'd happily wear it for a week if we won the cup!
PS. How did you do it?
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/14/11/278E528F00000578-0-image-m-38_1429007233257.jpg)
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/04/14/11/278E528F00000578-0-image-m-38_1429007233257.jpg)
Thanks! That's the one. I think it should be the cup final outfit should we get there. In fact I'd happily wear it for a week if we won the cup!
PS. How did you do it?
Googled "N'Zogbia outfit"
That came up almost as first link, a Daily Heil news link I think.
Right click on the picture, 'copy image URL'
Put the URL between
Click quote on my post and you'll get the...errr...picture.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given does not think much of team-mate Charles N'Zogbia's fashion choices. The Republic of Ireland keeper labelled the Frenchman's floral outfit the "worst ever" in a post on Twitter with a picture of the offending fashion crime.
(http://www.heroesandvillains.info/Users/mark*******/Desktop/nzogbia.jpg)
Downer it doesn't appear to be loading the photo? Do you just copy the link between the image insert brackets? All this time and I've never posted an image on here.
Pity as this outfit is something else lol
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given does not think much of team-mate Charles N'Zogbia's fashion choices. The Republic of Ireland keeper labelled the Frenchman's floral outfit the "worst ever" in a post on Twitter with a picture of the offending fashion crime.
(http://www.heroesandvillains.info/Users/mark*******/Desktop/nzogbia.jpg)
Downer it doesn't appear to be loading the photo? Do you just copy the link between the image insert brackets? All this time and I've never posted an image on here.
Pity as this outfit is something else lol
I think it failed because the picture link you gave (http://www.heroesandvillains.info/Users/mark*******/Desktop/nzogbia.jpg) was to your own desktop, which we don't have access to unless you invite us all over for a cup of tea.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given does not think much of team-mate Charles N'Zogbia's fashion choices. The Republic of Ireland keeper labelled the Frenchman's floral outfit the "worst ever" in a post on Twitter with a picture of the offending fashion crime.
(http://www.heroesandvillains.info/Users/mark*******/Desktop/nzogbia.jpg)
Downer it doesn't appear to be loading the photo? Do you just copy the link between the image insert brackets? All this time and I've never posted an image on here.
Pity as this outfit is something else lol
I think it failed because the picture link you gave (http://www.heroesandvillains.info/Users/mark*******/Desktop/nzogbia.jpg) was to your own desktop, which we don't have access to unless you invite us all over for a cup of tea.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given does not think much of team-mate Charles N'Zogbia's fashion choices. The Republic of Ireland keeper labelled the Frenchman's floral outfit the "worst ever" in a post on Twitter with a picture of the offending fashion crime.
(http://www.heroesandvillains.info/Users/mark*******/Desktop/nzogbia.jpg)
Downer it doesn't appear to be loading the photo? Do you just copy the link between the image insert brackets? All this time and I've never posted an image on here.
Pity as this outfit is something else lol
I think it failed because the picture link you gave (http://www.heroesandvillains.info/Users/mark*******/Desktop/nzogbia.jpg) was to your own desktop, which we don't have access to unless you invite us all over for a cup of tea.
And biscuits. Don't forget the biscuits.
This is gonna end up costing me more than Charlie's outfit
Well we all know he's got goals and assists in his licker from his time at Newcastle and Wigan so no reason why he can't rediscover that part of his game under Sherwood. I'd say he's one of those confidence players and, like the majority of the squad, that was drained out of him over the last few years so hopefully he will grow in confidence with the team and we'll start to see him contribute more in these areas.
At least he now puts a shift in. 25 games, no goals and two assists this season, we're really lucky to have him.
For me his biggest faults are, that he tends to make wrong decisions when having the ball. Also very often slows up play, running into trouble while we push squad up, getting succerpunched on the counter.
Needs to improve much more before I start liking him. (if Cleverly can, so can he)
That floral outfit is the worst decision making I've seen in a long time.For me his biggest faults are, that he tends to make wrong decisions when having the ball. Also very often slows up play, running into trouble while we push squad up, getting succerpunched on the counter.
Needs to improve much more before I start liking him. (if Cleverly can, so can he)
You're right, that is his biggest fault. It's some of the worst decision making I've seen.
Off to Baniyas in the UAE on a free according to Sky Sports & a few papers. Waste of oxygen.
I'm sure I read somewhere this morning that N'Zogbia has scored 5 goals for us and had 17 assists in 91 games.
Have I missed all these goals and assists or are these numbers completely false?
All I can recall is a goal away at Man Citeh in the League Cup when we beat them 4-2...
I'm sure I read somewhere this morning that N'Zogbia has scored 5 goals for us and had 17 assists in 91 games.
Have I missed all these goals and assists or are these numbers completely false?
All I can recall is a goal away at Man Citeh in the League Cup when we beat them 4-2...
There's absolutely no way he had 17 assists for us. Apart from that goal, he got a free kick against West Ham in 2013, one against Fulham shortly after that, and I remember a goal against Blackburn under McLeish where we dominated the first half and got completely battered in the second. I'm sure he would've netted another one at some point.
So, since he came here, a winger who's been involved in a goal once in roughly every eight games.
Just had a look on Fantasy League, and in the league they have 4 goals and 14 assists for us. So 5/17 sounds right when you add in cup games.
Just had a look on Fantasy League, and in the league they have 4 goals and 14 assists for us. So 5/17 sounds right when you add in cup games.
This makes him seem marginally less shit than I thought!
Just had a look on Fantasy League, and in the league they have 4 goals and 14 assists for us. So 5/17 sounds right when you add in cup games.
This makes him seem marginally less shit than I thought!
Given all the blind alleys he's run into I genuinely can't conceptualise the idea of him setting up another goal, because that would seem to involve actually looking up and picking out an option.
Hopefully it means we don't have to pay a penny on the remaining year of his contract.
I remember us being quite pleased about him signing. Terrible mistake it has been. Off you trot Zoggy. I hope!Speak for yourself ...
All the best zog, yourCorrected.best years wereonly decent passage of play was the half-seasonwasat Wigan.
You have been aprettypoor performer, good luck in uae.
"I didn't know whether to toss myself off or block her passage"Class!
ha! Charles' daywear makes Camila Batmanghelidjh's wardrobe look positively monochrome in comparison.
And take his ridiculous comedy wardrobe with him.To be fair, his dress sense was, for the most part, the most entertaining thing about his stay in B6.
I think his ultimate future is in a SpecSavers ad. Burrowing down the line, eyes on his bootlaces then delivering an inch perfect pass to the club mascot.Ha ha. Excellent.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-still-hoping-move-9957327
I thought he had gone!
but with the same outcome? i.e. He's made it clear he won't play and doesn't travel with the big boys
“Charles is a good lad,” he said. “I have never had a problem with him.
“He is training with the group and he is applying himself very well.
“When I think it is time for him to get a place in the side he will.
“But I was looking for experience from him last season and he certainly had that, he is still there and if I need him, I know I can lean on him.”
but from all accounts Tim's desperate to flog him to raise some money ; I can't see him featuring unless we are down to the bare bones.
Yeah but there's a reason he's not with the squad and any prospective new club surly can't be fooled by that too much?
Yeah but there's a reason he's not with the squad and any prospective new club surly can't be fooled by that too much?
He's training with them at least.
If someone wants to buy him, they will, but I never saw how the bomb squad was supposed to facilitate moving players on in any way, shape or form.
as a flower arrangement
I reckon he'll end up going out on loan somewhere which whilst not being totally ideal, would at least get him off our wage bill.
I reckon he'll end up going out on loan somewhere which whilst not being totally ideal, would at least get him off our wage bill.
I reckon he'll end up going out on loan somewhere which whilst not being totally ideal, would at least get him off our wage bill.
I reckon he'll end up going out on loan somewhere which whilst not being totally ideal, would at least get him off our wage bill.
great in theory but who would want him!
he will sit on his arse for the season and pocket his 63k a week then go on a free
I reckon he'll end up going out on loan somewhere which whilst not being totally ideal, would at least get him off our wage bill.
great in theory but who would want him!
he will sit on his arse for the season and pocket his 63k a week then go on a free
There's always some other club enough of a mug to think they can get the best out of him.
I think most of us are mentally picturing him as some sort of unshiftable outcast who has been ostracised. It is only five or six games ago that he started the FA Cup final for us.
I reckon he'll end up going out on loan somewhere which whilst not being totally ideal, would at least get him off our wage bill.
great in theory but who would want him!
he will sit on his arse for the season and pocket his 63k a week then go on a free
There's always some other club enough of a mug to think they can get the best out of him.
I think most of us are mentally picturing him as some sort of unshiftable outcast who has been ostracised. It is only five or six games ago that he started the FA Cup final for us.
pedant alert- he was on the pitch I don't recall him ever actually starting
He's like an U2 record. The more you want to dump it to someone else, there's always no taker.
I honestly though some mug punter would come in - Norwich or someone like that but sadly not. The only way he'd go is if we continue to pay most of his wedge I suppose, although someone like Bristol City might be able to afford him. Another soccer Croesus, only interested in show me the money.
little weed?
I reckon Charle's has made a hash of of his career.little weed?
No thanks, trying to give it up.
I reckon Charle's has made a hash of of his career.little weed?
No thanks, trying to give it up.
If there was any substance to the rumour of him going to a side in the UAE their transfer deadline doesn't close for another 3 weeks according to this.I think the substance being discussed right now is even more dubious than that.
http://www.fifatms.com/en/Football-Data/transfer-windows/
Great banter today from Charlie, not really holding back today.
https://mobile.twitter.com/CharlesNzo/status/639155764733607936