Lambert meeting supporters at Villa Park tonight

[Monty]

I agree generally with Chris and Paulie (though Chris, I'd argue that the top of the game shows that passing football is just a basic requirement now - Real Madrid and Barca disagree on the emphasis and methods of possession among other things, but its importance is never in question). We may not get short term results, but to be honest we'd be just as likely as Lambert is shaping a team and a style for the long-term which, we hope, will be better in the long run than the previous 'style' (which, I might remind people, got us a total of seven wins last season). Given that we're not going to pull up any trees in the top six this season, I want to have as much fun as possible watching my team with an eye to one day being competitive again, and it just so happens that evolving towards a passing game does both things.

[Irish villain]

I might be a bit old fashioned - for me the time to play neat attractive football is when you are 3-0 up. Its all about results - yes I want to see open expansive football, but firstly I want to watch my team win games - the rest is the icing on the cake.

Results are number one. But, for me, villa's downfall in recent years has been our tendency to give the ball away. Generally, the more pressure you invite the more chance there is you will lose the game. If Villa are focussed on keeping the ball, the opposition can't score but a villa attack is likely. I am sick of watching villa sides hoof the thing out from the back straight to the opposition to build yet another attack. I'd much prefer it if we tried to hold onto it and didn't give it away so damn cheaply.

[Monty]

I might be a bit old fashioned - for me the time to play neat attractive football is when you are 3-0 up. Its all about results - yes I want to see open expansive football, but firstly I want to watch my team win games - the rest is the icing on the cake.

Results are number one. But, for me, villa's downfall in recent years has been our tendency to give the ball away. Generally, the more pressure you invite the more chance there is you will lose the game. If Villa are focussed on keeping the ball, the opposition can't score but a villa attack is likely. I am sick of watching villa sides hoof the thing out from the back straight to the opposition to build yet another attack. I'd much prefer it if we tried to hold onto it and didn't give it away so damn cheaply.

Exactly. The idea that keeping the ball and getting results are completely divorced is nonsense.

[OCD]

I would always look at the possession stats after games and (with the exception of some of the Houllier football), I got annoyed at constantly seeing us have the minority of possession. We're addressing that and you only have to look at what Swansea did last season - especially at home where they dominated possession and conceded very few goals let alone lose games. Of course, we have to learn how to turn that possession into goals but that's evolution. That's the tough part but it will come.

[Ads]

Monty, I think we've already seen a new Delph.

I was very impressed with the way he burst from the midfield to drive the game on.

The issue we had is that there was no balance in the full backs with Baker not offering any support/width and Lowton not enough. It takes time though.

But it was nice to see Delph keep the ball and look like a good player in the midfield.

[Monty]

Monty, I think we've already seen a new Delph.

I was very impressed with the way he burst from the midfield to drive the game on.

The issue we had is that there was no balance in the full backs with Baker not offering any support/width and Lowton not enough. It takes time though.

But it was nice to see Delph keep the ball and look like a good player in the midfield.

I agree. I was among those who were very close to writing him off, but it appears just having the right manager playing the right style for him is making all the difference. Hopefully the same for Ireland and Bannan (KEA will be helpful to them as well, with his tidiness in midfield).

[OCD]

I thought Delph played well too - I was surprised to see the post-match thread where people were laying into him. The biggest thing with Delph is staying fit and Lambert may well alternate between him and Bannan depending on the opposition.

Regarding the point about Baker, I think he was just used at left back because one of West Ham's tactics is to put crosses into the back post for Vaz Te. Baker dominated that battle and the tactic worked. I imagine Lichaj will play on Saturday.

[pauliewalnuts]

I thought Delph did look dangerous breaking forward, it was the only time we really looked like we could fashion something, as the full backs weren't gett forward much (well, Lowton did a bit, but Baker not at all).

I would imagine Lambert would have wanted him to get forward more often than he did, though

[fredm]

Think it may well have been a confidence thing with Delph on Saturday.  I thought on occasions he looked as if he was going to drive right through but he seemed to think heck I'm way up the field I had better give it to somebody else so he stopped and usually passed it backwards to someone before trotting back to his defensive position.  Hopefully, as he gains confidence in himself and his team mates then these surges will progress.  That is what he did at Leeds and he hasn't got a bad shot on him either.

[Toronto Villa]

It's a confidence thing with all of our players. Once we start winning again and knowing that we can be a good team it will lead to consistency. It doesn't happen all at once. Last year you would swear that every player had fifty pence pieces for shins. They could trap anything and we were top of the league in giving the ball away and putting pressure on ourselves. This year we are going to see a marked difference in that and it will lead to us having more sustained pressure. That will lead to better movement and as the players realise that they can play that way it will heighten confidence. The final piece is in the last third of the pitch and we cannot rely on getting the ball to Bent all the time. The other players will need to shoot a lot more and get into goalscoring positions themselves and contribute. Bent will get his share if the onus isn't solely on him. We still need some more options to add variety to the current mix, but everything in small steps.

[robbo1874]

Swapping style to get a few wins under our belt is short term. Lambert is obviously looking to the long term, and it is going to take a while to change the way we're set up.

I saw the West Ham game, and listening to / reading the comments of puindits following that, a great number of them commented on how we kept the ball so much, played short passes, triangles of passing.

The problem is we didn't have the final ball, but that is a massive, massive change from last season, and it is a change I'd like him to work on.  Surely the last thing we need now is short termism just to keep a few people happy?

We've got a manager who knows what he wants to do, and we all like what he is trying to get us to do - why not give him a chance to do it?

It will take time, yes, but we've played 90 minutes of competitive football. Preseason friendlies mean sod all.

I can't believe so many people have got their arses in their hands after one match (a match against the worst type of opposition to face for us at this time, too), it's like they can't wait to roll out the "he's as bad as the last bloke" line. I get the impression some would be happy for us to play that offensive bollocks Allardyce has West Ham playing, "throwing it in the mixer", lumping it long and high, just to get a win.

My thoughts exactly. I thought we'd beat west ham and it was disappointing not to get something out of the game for all the possession we had. But the encouraging signs are there of what we are trying to do. We looked a completely different team to last season and for the better in my view.

[JD]

I think Lambert needs time and will be a great long term manager for Villa, but only if he is given the backing to get the players he wants/needs to move us upwards. I don't see him as the sort of manager who will pay stupid money and wages for players, but prefer to sign good imports and young up and coming British players.

My biggest fear is that he doesn't get the backing he needs, gets fed up and leaves.   

[OzVilla]

He simply must be given the financial backing he needs by Randy.  That's doesn't mean MON style funding but we need to bring atleast 2 or 3 more quality players into the Club to move us forward.

I've toatl faith in PL's abilties to take us forward, it's Randy i've got my doubts about.

[silhillvilla]

Anyone else had the invite for breakfast with Faulkner ? Sounds a bit desperate

[Duncan Shaw]

I can't think that Lambert would have even begun to consider the Villa job if the level of funding/backing and terms of reference of the "project" were not to his liking.  He will be backed, I'm sure of that.