Paul Lambert press conference

[VILLA MOLE]

how old was Cahill when we sold him .... doh

[Risso]

It is pretty tough to expect a 21 year old to go from Shamrock Rovers to the Premier League in one jump.

Without sounding funny......Then why sign him in the first place?

Because he's a prospect for the future?

How do you know, have you seen much of him?  He was signed on deadline day which suggests it was indeed a Salifou-type punt as I said before, rather than McLeish knowing anything about him at all.

According to his Wiki page, he had trials as an 18 year old with Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town.  The fact that none of them signed him doesn't exactly bode well for the future.

[Percy McCarthy]

Ian Taylor was a late developer.

[pauliewalnuts]

It is pretty tough to expect a 21 year old to go from Shamrock Rovers to the Premier League in one jump.

Without sounding funny......Then why sign him in the first place?

Because he's a prospect for the future?

How do you know, have you seen much of him?  He was signed on deadline day which suggests it was indeed a Salifou-type punt as I said before, rather than McLeish knowing anything about him at all.

According to his Wiki page, he had trials as an 18 year old with Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town.  The fact that none of them signed him doesn't exactly bode well for the future.

I don't know, the other poster asked why they signed him in the first place, I suggested a possible reason.

Why not wait till he's had a chance to show what he can do before writing him off?

[AvFc4eVeR]

It is pretty tough to expect a 21 year old to go from Shamrock Rovers to the Premier League in one jump.

Without sounding funny......Then why sign him in the first place?

Because he's a prospect for the future?

How do you know, have you seen much of him?  He was signed on deadline day which suggests it was indeed a Salifou-type punt as I said before, rather than McLeish knowing anything about him at all.

According to his Wiki page, he had trials as an 18 year old with Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town.  The fact that none of them signed him doesn't exactly bode well for the future.

I don't know, the other poster asked why they signed him in the first place, I suggested a possible reason.

Why not wait till he's had a chance to show what he can do before writing him off?

I am more than willing to give him a chance, but you have to wonder if he will ever play for the first team.

One thing is for sure, he will either get his chance in next few months, or will be moved on.

[curiousorange]

It is pretty tough to expect a 21 year old to go from Shamrock Rovers to the Premier League in one jump.

Without sounding funny......Then why sign him in the first place?

Because he's a prospect for the future?

How do you know, have you seen much of him?  He was signed on deadline day which suggests it was indeed a Salifou-type punt as I said before, rather than McLeish knowing anything about him at all.

According to his Wiki page, he had trials as an 18 year old with Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town.  The fact that none of them signed him doesn't exactly bode well for the future.

I don't know, the other poster asked why they signed him in the first place, I suggested a possible reason.

Why not wait till he's had a chance to show what he can do before writing him off?

I am more than willing to give him a chance, but you have to wonder if he will ever play for the first team.

One thing is for sure, he will either get his chance in next few months, or will be moved on.

Ashley Young's career was famously heading for obscurity before he knuckled down at Watford.

[Risso]

It is pretty tough to expect a 21 year old to go from Shamrock Rovers to the Premier League in one jump.

Without sounding funny......Then why sign him in the first place?

Because he's a prospect for the future?

How do you know, have you seen much of him?  He was signed on deadline day which suggests it was indeed a Salifou-type punt as I said before, rather than McLeish knowing anything about him at all.

According to his Wiki page, he had trials as an 18 year old with Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town.  The fact that none of them signed him doesn't exactly bode well for the future.

I don't know, the other poster asked why they signed him in the first place, I suggested a possible reason.

Why not wait till he's had a chance to show what he can do before writing him off?

I am more than willing to give him a chance, but you have to wonder if he will ever play for the first team.

One thing is for sure, he will either get his chance in next few months, or will be moved on.

Ashley Young's career was famously heading for obscurity before he knuckled down at Watford.

He was Watford Young player of the year, and in the PFA Championship team of the year in the two years before he joined us! 

[Rip Van We Go Again]

sportinglife.com

New Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has already identified several new faces he would like to bring to Villa Park.

The 42-year-old Glaswegian was formally unveiled as the new Villa boss on Wednesday, taking over from Alex McLeish.

The Midlands club could only manage a 16th-place finish last term, while Lambert guided Premier League newcomers Norwich to a 12th-place finish on the back of consecutive promotions.

Now he will look to rejuvenate Villa - and plans to introduce new blood to help with that aim.

"I have spoken with the chairman and (chief executive) Paul (Faulkner) and they know there are a few lads I want to look at," he said.

"We are going to try and bring in new lads to help and try and keep the feelgood factor that is around the club at the moment.

"I have to assess the players when I get in and see them.

"We will try to bring in lads to help them which any football club needs.

"You need people to help you and that's what I will try and do.

"I know last season was tough but the main thing was they stayed in the league which everyone at the club would have wanted them to do and I will do everything to try and help them.

"Once I get my feet under the table I can start to look at what's going on and dig a bit deeper. I am really looking forward to it.

"There is a good feeling around the place and it's up to me to try and keep that. As long as we give it a go that's all we can ask. I will do everything I can to make this club successful."

There is sure to be continued speculation that wantaway Norwich striker Grant Holt will be one of those new faces, but Lambert says he has not even thought about making a move for the Canaries star yet.

He added: "I haven't even thought about that at all.

"Grant Holt was brilliant for me. In the three years I was there (at Norwich) he was a huge part of what happened at the club.

"He is a terrific guy and I have a lot of time for him.

"He was brilliant for me as a footballer and a captain but things move on and I need to know about Aston Villa Football Club before I do anything else.

"I will look at things here first and foremost. We will try to bring some guys in but I swear to God I haven't thought about that.

"I am really excited to be here but I haven't thought about anything like that."

[andyh]

A very good piece in the mirror (ahem) to get the old expectation rising.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/james-nursey-reckons-aston-villa-866222

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Crikey, Nursey has turned full circle and become a fully fledged Villa fan.

[Jimbo]

Don't be fooled by Nursey. It's an old Fleet Street trick. You have to build someone up before you can knock them down again.

[Californian Villain]

sportinglife.com

New Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has already identified several new faces he would like to bring to Villa Park.

The 42-year-old Glaswegian was formally unveiled as the new Villa boss on Wednesday, taking over from Alex McLeish.

The Midlands club could only manage a 16th-place finish last term, while Lambert guided Premier League newcomers Norwich to a 12th-place finish on the back of consecutive promotions.

Now he will look to rejuvenate Villa - and plans to introduce new blood to help with that aim.

"I have spoken with the chairman and (chief executive) Paul (Faulkner) and they know there are a few lads I want to look at," he said.

"We are going to try and bring in new lads to help and try and keep the feelgood factor that is around the club at the moment.

"I have to assess the players when I get in and see them.

"We will try to bring in lads to help them which any football club needs.

"You need people to help you and that's what I will try and do.

"I know last season was tough but the main thing was they stayed in the league which everyone at the club would have wanted them to do and I will do everything to try and help them.

"Once I get my feet under the table I can start to look at what's going on and dig a bit deeper. I am really looking forward to it.

"There is a good feeling around the place and it's up to me to try and keep that. As long as we give it a go that's all we can ask. I will do everything I can to make this club successful."

There is sure to be continued speculation that wantaway Norwich striker Grant Holt will be one of those new faces, but Lambert says he has not even thought about making a move for the Canaries star yet.

He added: "I haven't even thought about that at all.

"Grant Holt was brilliant for me. In the three years I was there (at Norwich) he was a huge part of what happened at the club.

"He is a terrific guy and I have a lot of time for him.

"He was brilliant for me as a footballer and a captain but things move on and I need to know about Aston Villa Football Club before I do anything else.

"I will look at things here first and foremost. We will try to bring some guys in but I swear to God I haven't thought about that.

"I am really excited to be here but I haven't thought about anything like that."

C'mon Paul, which is it ?

[PeterWithesShin]

It is pretty tough to expect a 21 year old to go from Shamrock Rovers to the Premier League in one jump.

Without sounding funny......Then why sign him in the first place?

Because he has potential and came cheap. Doyle, Coleman and Mclean have shown that singing League of Ireland players can be a shred move.

I really wish the notion that players of 21, 22, 23 etc have potential. They have potential at 16, 17, 18. By the time they get to 21 they should have made the grade or not. They aren't kids anymore!

Disagree completely.Players develop at different ages.Some are fully developed physically at 16 where others can be early twenties before they even stop growing.Kevin Phillips,Stuart Pearce,Ian Wright. All playing non league in their early twenties yet went on to represent England. I've done several years of youth coaching and seen players developing are far different rates.

Indeed. Look at Chris Herd. Very rarely mentioned when folks talked about that batch of kids and I would imagine most expected him to go the way of Hogg.
Last season he was 22 when he was given the chance and I doubt many would want him gone now.

[curiousorange]

It is pretty tough to expect a 21 year old to go from Shamrock Rovers to the Premier League in one jump.

Without sounding funny......Then why sign him in the first place?

Because he's a prospect for the future?

How do you know, have you seen much of him?  He was signed on deadline day which suggests it was indeed a Salifou-type punt as I said before, rather than McLeish knowing anything about him at all.

According to his Wiki page, he had trials as an 18 year old with Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town.  The fact that none of them signed him doesn't exactly bode well for the future.

I don't know, the other poster asked why they signed him in the first place, I suggested a possible reason.

Why not wait till he's had a chance to show what he can do before writing him off?

I am more than willing to give him a chance, but you have to wonder if he will ever play for the first team.

One thing is for sure, he will either get his chance in next few months, or will be moved on.

Ashley Young's career was famously heading for obscurity before he knuckled down at Watford.

He was Watford Young player of the year, and in the PFA Championship team of the year in the two years before he joined us! 

Yes, but they first refused him a contract. He then worked hard to turn his fortunes around and got a place in the first team squad. He spoke at length about taking the chance when it came his way. I know it's not a perfect example but I'm using it to illustrate that footballers can grow in attitude and stature even if they had early setbacks.

[Percy McCarthy]

PWS - Hogg is doing well at Pompey (I think). I realise they're not spoiled for choice but didn't I read on here that he won Player of the Year?