Paul Lambert press conference

[eamonn]

Interesting that he may already have decided the fate of certain players. And not the usual ''everyone starts with clean slate'' approach usually taken by new managers.

[TheSandman]

I'd clear out the whole so called senior back 4.

Agree Maz. There might be a player in Hutton but I was at the end of my tether with the other three before the start of last season and none of them have done anything to make me re-evaluate that appraisal.

[Matt Collins]

But we'll get no money for any of our back 4. Can we really afford to replace 4 defenders?

[PeterWithesShin]

There's always some schmuck who will buy players like them.

[Matt C]

Just watched his AVTV interview - sounded pretty definite that he had already identified players to come in.

[KRS]

But we'll get no money for any of our back 4. Can we really afford to replace 4 defenders?

We'd get a few million each for Dunne and Collins being International defenders, Warnock as a left back would also have interest...as for Hutton, cut our losses and give him away on a free transfer if we're lucky.

[ozzjim]

But we'll get no money for any of our back 4. Can we really afford to replace 4 defenders?

We'd get a few million each for Dunne and Collins being International defenders, Warnock as a left back would also have interest...as for Hutton, cut our losses and give him away on a free transfer if we're lucky.

We wouldn't though. Dunne is 32, almost 33 and on 60k a week, with a year left on his deal. We would get 2 million at best.

Collins is almost 29, also in the last year of his deal and known to be trouble off the pitch for a couple of incidents, and his form has been poor at the very best. 4 million would be a miracle.

Warnock, 30, 31 in December, is also on massive wages, and has been so poor the crowd have been on his back. 2 million at the very most. Again 12 months to go on his deal.

Which would give us at the very optimistic most 8 million quid. Possibly 5-6 as we would have to pay their "loyalty" bonuses after not asking for transfers. To buy 3 centre backs, a left back, and of course a right back as you have released Hutton on a free.

Getting rid of the back 4 is a football manager moment. They have been poor a lot, but have had a lot of excuses since MON left, who had them as the one of the best units in the league. Lambert will, I am sure, not be so quick. If we want to see us have a go at teams, and get on the front foot as he said in his press conference, and see us take the game to the opposition next season, then a couple of wingers, a centre forward and a couple of central midfield players would be on my list before any of the defence, apart from Warnock. I would muddle through and re sign that Spanish lad for a couple of seasons if he fancied it.

[Merv]

I'd happily see all four go too - Hutton I still think can be a solid RB for us but I prefer Lichaj there so I won't lose any sleep if he goes. Not looking at big fees for any of the quartet, but there are all still sellable and I think there are some real bargains out there; we'll need two CBs, one of them a top class starter, and one to be in the mix with Clark and Baker. A left-back (with Stevens cover) and a right-back (with Lichaj cover or starting).

Go for it, Paul.

[pauliewalnuts]

But we'll get no money for any of our back 4. Can we really afford to replace 4 defenders?

We'd get a few million each for Dunne and Collins being International defenders, Warnock as a left back would also have interest...as for Hutton, cut our losses and give him away on a free transfer if we're lucky.

We wouldn't though. Dunne is 32, almost 33 and on 60k a week, with a year left on his deal. We would get 2 million at best.

Collins is almost 29, also in the last year of his deal and known to be trouble off the pitch for a couple of incidents, and his form has been poor at the very best. 4 million would be a miracle.

Warnock, 30, 31 in December, is also on massive wages, and has been so poor the crowd have been on his back. 2 million at the very most. Again 12 months to go on his deal.

Don't forget - pubehead is back in the game.

[Nev]

Let's not start any revisionism, Hutton is an awful player. Maybe not the "worst player ever I've ever seen" which is a phrase I heard, and more than likely used, last season, but he really needs to be the first out. Couldn't defend and poor going forward. It would be great if the new manager can get something out if him considering the money we paid but he's a football manager not a magician. One of the things that typified last season was the constant catastrophic performances of both Hutton and Warnock. Week after week.

[N'ZMAV]

But we'll get no money for any of our back 4. Can we really afford to replace 4 defenders?

We'd get a few million each for Dunne and Collins being International defenders, Warnock as a left back would also have interest...as for Hutton, cut our losses and give him away on a free transfer if we're lucky.

We wouldn't though. Dunne is 32, almost 33 and on 60k a week, with a year left on his deal. We would get 2 million at best.

Collins is almost 29, also in the last year of his deal and known to be trouble off the pitch for a couple of incidents, and his form has been poor at the very best. 4 million would be a miracle.

Warnock, 30, 31 in December, is also on massive wages, and has been so poor the crowd have been on his back. 2 million at the very most. Again 12 months to go on his deal.

Don't forget - pubehead is back in the game.

We'll have to let them lot go for nominal fees to clear them off the wagebill. The whole back 4 needs replacing. It's old, crap and over-paid. Thanks, Martin.. thanks a lot.

[Lambert and Payne]

The back four have been shite the last two seasons (Hutton aside, but he never played anyway). We need to replace them, looking to bring Clark and Lichaj through. Dunne and Collins are awful, I'm so sick of them, Dunne eats too much and Collins off the field antics constantly let us down, and he cannot judge the flight of the ball
I wouldn't be sorry to see the back of them

[Brian Taylor]

article in The Independent.
'Lambert free to rebuild Villa by raiding Norwich' Headline..
sorry if posted already..
Is there a link?

[QBVILLA]

I like Dunne. We really struggled without him last season and he made a difference when he came back. I'd get shut of Collins, can't knock his effort but he isn't good enough.

[Concrete John]

IN many ways Hutton, Dunne, Warnock & Collins are probably the key to our summer business.  If we replace them all, then there won't be much money for anywhere else.  If we keep them, will they be shit again and cost us?

I think we should be looking to flog 2 and keep 2.  Warnock and Dunne to go, Collins can be the experienced cover behind Clark and a new CB and Hutton to compete with Lichaj for RB.  If you go with ozzbert's figures above, that's £4m in, which you'd hope with a bit of clever navigation of the market could get a new LB, but Randy would then need to stump up for the CB.  However, the more important factor would be saved wages of around £100k a week, which we could replace them for and still have £30k-£40k a week left over.